The Connection

Tamar Ziff, Vienna: “America made a huge and terrible mistake, and I think we are going to be paying for it for the next four years. But I do also have a lot of faith in democracy and civic action and the organization of various constituents in a lot of states, so even though I’m pessimistic about the administration I’m optimistic about the kind of civic advocacy that will result as a product of the electoral decision. What I’m hoping is that it will inspire a lot of civic advocacy. A lot of people that had been kind of apathetic about politics prior because the Obama administration was doing a pretty good job will now be inspired to participate more even in local politics and just kind of give their voice to the administration and opine.”

Susan McVeigh, Vienna: “My fears and concerns—I don’t understand the huge polarized riffs and exaggerated views of either side. I am somebody who, when I was in fifth grade and Carter and Ford ran, my teacher put me as an independent. She knew something I didn’t know. I feel open about all the issues. I want to be able to talk about all the issues. I listen to C-SPAN when I drive down to work, and I love it because I hear real opinions and real voices of people on what they are actually feeling about the issues. And although I love watching TV it’s hard to hear all the stuff.”

Joel Niamien, Great Falls: “Change—there’s always an opportunity to improve things. So I would say it’s mixed feelings. Well opportunity because you have a new incoming administration. Right, so anytime you have change in any situation regardless of the outcome, there is an opportunity there. Having said that, we also make our decisions based on information that we have known or heard, so you also have to take things with a grain of salt. So on the one end we do have an opportunity, where the expectation might be kind of set in so to speak because of statements or behavior that has been shown.”

Jenna Graves, Fairfax: “I think there was a lot of people when Obama went in who were really scared, but then things obviously went well. So who knows, I mean I hope so. I think things are going to change from what we saw in this past presidency but as far as like in America you just never know so, hopefully for the good.”

Mike Tambea, Vienna: “Honestly, I’m a little hesitant about it. I mean everyone is, happens every four years, change of power. I’m kind of upset that things didn’t go the way that I had hopefully planned. I’m kind of scared about what the future is going to bring, because I’m at the point where I need to figure out what I’m doing in my life and kind of comes at a time where it kind of becomes a little more turbulent just because of how it’s going. I don’t know what to expect. I’m hoping for the best and part of me is trying to let that optimism shine rather than let all of the negativity that’s been around us for probably the last two years kind of overwhelm me. So I feel like we are in a time now where we need people to be more positive. And at a time where that’s challenged the most I feel like that’s what’s necessary.”

Robert Kincaid, Great Falls: “I see a whole lot more gridlock. I don’t see much change, no one is changing the swamp, what’s needed. Neither of the parties are really, I think the problem is the parties. I’ve thought that for a long time. I think if we don’t have valid options besides democrats and republicans, they are going to keep doing the same thing that they keep doing all the time. Just playing games while everyone else is stuck in the middle.”