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The Reader Q & A

The Reader Q & A: Presidential Election

August 15, 2019 By Maria Hackett Filed Under: The Reader Q & A Tagged With: election, maria j hackett, reader q and a

Photography by Maria J. Hackett

We are now about a year out from the next Presidential election. There is already a large and ever growing field of possible Democratic candidates seeking to unseat Individual #1. We went around Park Slope to ask various residents who they think will win the Presidential election in 2020 and why. Here is what some had to say.

Raymond Tsway I would say Andrew Yang, in support of him. Also, it would be very new and different to have a Chinese President. I have some friends who out their own money there and to have some friends who are in the same position like me where they don’t have much money to put $2,500 down for a candidate you know speaks a lot. I think that, especially like now, we’re also proven that with Barack Obama, you know, minorities can actually win. You know, even though Trump was kind of like, “Oh, we had Barack now we had to go go to the other side, ” like hey, I think we can get a Chinese president. Andrew Gang.

Adam Simms I think the Smart money is on Bernie Sanders. All the Bernie supporters butt-heads decided to vote for Trump because he wasn’t water. I think I want Andrew to win, just because he’s new blood. But I also want Elizabeth Warren. Uh, so whose gonna win… Again, I feel like the smart money is on Bernie, even though he is another white guy, I feel he may be the best to get shi*t done. I’d really like Andrew to kind of get in there through and become more of something.

Najma Daylb Essentially, overall, Americans are very short term. So, like, it depends on the state of the economy and 2020. In my personal opinion, because if the economy is really like crappy, then people will go towards a different presidential candidate. The American people also don’t show up to vote often. The odds of Trump being reelected in 2020 is really high if the economy isn’t crappy, in 2020. Otherwise, I would say Elizabeth Warren is my first option because she’s pretty great.

Bernie Sanders, I don’t think so and Joe Biden, I think his time has passed. I think she’s [Elizabeth Warren] is more likely to win, because I feel like although in some places Bernie Sanders, or Joe Biden might win in the primaries. When it comes down to it, people are going to pick someone that isn’t too far off what they believe, and I feel like she’s not completely eradicate, like to completely make colleges free. She’s like not very radical about a lot of things where puts her int he middle for everyone of differing backgrounds to work with.

Melody To be honest, I don’t know. I mean, there’s how many now democratic people versus however many people are Republican. I’m really hoping everyone can get everything together to kind of just choose one candidate that’ll work. I’m really hoping that I mean, I loved Bernie before and definitely voted for Hillary when it was not an option. I don’t believe Biden is an option that we shall all take. I don’t know if, Elizabeth Warren, everyone will take. But I’m hoping with someone who’s a bit more, progressive a bit more in the essence of Barack Obama, where at least he got everyone together and was able to like get it. And be like “Okay, cool. We’re all in this together.” And we all really, really rally together. I’m really, really, hoping it’s not Trump. But I don’t think I have a set like solid in my gut of, yes, this is what’s gonna happen.

Filed Under: The Reader Q & A Tagged With: election, maria j hackett, reader q and a

The Reader Q & A: Is Legalized Recreational Marijuana a Good Idea?

January 16, 2019 By Maria Hackett Filed Under: The Reader Q & A Tagged With: first word, maria j hackett, marijuana, reader q&A

Marijuana has been used to cure illnesses for over 3000 years.

It has been found that oral cannabinoids (a substance in marijuana) has been successful in healing those with chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer and epilepsy to name a few. Despite the controversy over ruling this drug as safe and the unjustifiably high rate of incarcerated individuals, today, 33 states in the US has made medical marijuana available to those in need while 10 of those same states has made it available for recreational uses.

Govenor Cuomo has proposed legalizing recreational marijuana in New York State in 2019, and we want to know how you feel about that.  Here is what some of you think…

James Robbin w/ Girlfriend

I feel pretty good about it. I feel, ah, a little cop activity will die down, for sure. I feel that reasons people would be stopped on the street would be cut to like maybe 30%. The economy will explode like it did in any place that ever did that. And I feel that the overall level of human aggression as well as spending on frivolous drugs and as well as spending in places that are not necessarily the safest to acquire it, it’s going to change the whole game. 

And I hope they free everyone that they put in prison for stupid things.     

 

Michelle Davis & Wil Hamlin

(Michelle) Yes. 

(Wil)We don’t care. It should be legal. It’s not hurting anyone.

 

Kayleigh, 15 

People need it. Such as cancer patients and those with chronic pain. It’s some people’s religion.

 

Ava, 28

I think, personally, I am happy about it. It’s creating a lot of conversation, which I think is very healthy, no matter what the topic is, for us to kind of listen to each other and each other’s perspectives. Especially, over issues that can be a little controversial and taboo like this. I do believe that thinks are going to go in a positive direction. And that’s what I’m going to project and hopefully that’s what’s going to happen.

 

Joseph, 54

Yea. I’m all for it. I understand the concerns. If you don’t legalize it, people are going to smoke it anyway. So, you might as well legalize it and tax it.

Filed Under: The Reader Q & A Tagged With: first word, maria j hackett, marijuana, reader q&A

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