Page 2 - aruba-today-20230103

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 3 January 2023
Dems, GOP have distinct priorities for 2023: AP-NORC poll

And while he said he un-
derstands the importance
of the right to bear arms,
he's concerned with how
easy it is for people to get
a gun.
Joseph Wiseman, a
52-year-old Presbyterian
pastor in Wichita, Kansas,
wants the country to priori-
tize protections for women's
health care, including ac-
cess to abortion after the
Supreme Court overturned
Roe v. Wade, and LGBTQ
individuals.
"I'm very concerned that
basic human rights are un-
der threat," he said. "The
blatant politicization of the
Supreme Court and the
handing down of that rul-
ing really brought home
in stark circumstance how
A Utah Food Bank volunteer carries groceries for the needy at a mobile food pantry distribution site Dec. 21, 2022, in Salt Lake City. deadly important this is
Associated Press for the livelihood of 51% of
By HANNAH FINGERHUT the percentage as a year which the public most recently extended Trump- God's children."
Associated Press ago, though down from cares. In the poll results and era pandemic restrictions Wiseman was a lifelong Re-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eva 40% in June, with inflation in interviews with the AP, on people seeking asylum, publican up until the past
Guzman's expenses have easing somewhat despite many people cite hostile as thousands of migrants few years, registering in-
swelled, but she feels com- remaining high. political divisions as part of gathered on the Mexico stead as a Democrat. He
fortable financially thanks Overall, the economy in the problem. side of the border seek- said he worries about the
to the savings she and her general remains a bipar- Stephens said the country ing to the enter the United "dangerous" shift toward
late husband stockpiled tisan issue, mentioned by is so divided that "it seems States. authoritarianism and Chris-
for a rainy day. Neverthe- most U.S. adults across par- close to impossible" to Roughly 2 in 10 Republicans tian nationalism happening
less, the 80-year-old retired ty lines. But the poll finds Re- imagine there would be also name crime, foreign in the country, especially
library clerk in San Antonio publicans and Democrats progress this year. policy issues, energy and within the GOP.
limits trips to the grocery have sharply distinct views Glenn Murray, a 59-year- health care. Republicans Still, he said he has to be
store, adjusts the thermo- of priorities for the country old in Little Mountain, South are more likely than Demo- hopeful.
stat to save on utilities and in the new year. More Re- Carolina, also called out crats to specifically name "I have to be optimistic that
tries to help her grandchil- publicans than Democrats the distance between the inflation, 37% vs. 26%, and the threat will be met and
dren and great-grandchil- name inflation, gas and left and the right, wish- gas prices, 22% vs. 7%. that basic human rights
dren get what they need. food prices, energy and ing that politicians would Among Democrats, about can be secured for all,"
It was difficult to raise her immigration, while Demo- recognize the "truth in the 4 in 10 rank climate change Wiseman said.
own four children, Guzman crats focus on health care, middle." But his priorities are and health care, 3 in 10 Most of those surveyed say
said, but she and her hus- climate change, poverty, different from Stephens'. prioritize gun issues and the opposite. About three-
band were able to man- racism, abortion and wom- Murray, a moderate Re- roughly one-quarter name quarters of U.S. adults say
age. She doesn't know how en's rights. publican, thinks inflation education and abortion or they are not confident in
young families today stay Elizabeth Stephens, a and the economy are criti- women's rights. Roughly 2 in the ability of the federal
financially afloat with such 41-year-old Democratic- cal issues and he worries 10 Democrats name racism government to make prog-
high prices for groceries leaning independent in that the U.S. will soon face and poverty. ress on the important prob-
and clothes. Houston, recognizes that a recession. But he is also For 24-year-old Osbaldo lems facing the country in
"It's really gotten worse in inflation is an issue right concerned about energy Cruz, the country's mini- 2023, according to the poll.
this age for a lot of people," now. But she thinks there policy, suggesting the na- mum wage is insufficient, About one-third of Republi-
said Guzman, who identi- are other problems that the tion's reliance on foreign oil especially to keep up with cans and Democrats name
fies as a conservative and government should focus is driving up gas prices, and high inflation. But the Dem- the state of politics as a crit-
blames President Joe Biden on addressing. he describes the surge of ocrat, who works as an as- ical issue facing the coun-
for inflation and economic "Inflation comes and goes," migrants at the U.S.-Mexico sistant manager at a fast- try.
instability. "It's really getting said Stephens, a manager border as "unsustainable." food restaurant, equally Michael Holcomb, a
out of hand." working in learning and de- "I definitely understand that prioritizes climate change 35-year-old audio techni-
Like Guzman, 30% of peo- velopment. But issues such immigration is what helped and gun policy, issues that cian in Los Angeles, wants
ple in the United States con- as poverty and health care build this country ... but you have been close to his less polarization in the elec-
sider inflation a high priority disparities, she said, "are al- have to have guardrails," home in Las Vegas. tion process, which he
for the country, named in ways there." said Murray, who works for Seeing record tempera- thinks leads politicians to
an open-ended question "Even if the economy is a university's audit services. tures and increasing waste, be more extreme. But he
as one of up to five issues great, there are still people "You just can't open the Cruz worries that conditions sees the issue as extending
for the government to work who are suffering," Ste- gates and let everyone in on Earth won't be livable in beyond politics.
on in 2023, according to a phens added. that wants to come in." the future. "People pretty "I think that it's more of a
December poll from The There is broad skepticism Named by 45% of Repub- much think short term, so cultural problem," the inde-
Associated Press-NORC from members of both par- licans, immigration is one we never take the time to pendent said. "We all have
Center for Public Affairs Re- ties that progress will be of the GOP's leading pri- invest in proper long-term to figure out a way to get
search. That's roughly twice made on the issues about orities. The Supreme Court solutions," he said. past it."q