Other issues affecting Arizona need to be addressed

I would like to respond to the letter I read in the Sept. 14 Desert Advocate regarding priorities in the next election. The author stated that border security and second amendment rights are tops on his list, but I am curious why we should prioritize them over issues that actually directly impact residents of Arizona right now.

The border issue is a federal matter and should have been a priority a long time ago. Unfortunately it’s being used primarily for political gain and no politician will actually do anything about it. I would put immigration as a priority if I actually believed the politicians would punish employers for hiring illegals.

As far as second amendment issues are concerned, I don’t see any serious threat here at all. Guns are legal, easy to get and there’s no bill in the legislature that would change any of that. Certainly the second amendment is important, but right now there is no reason to make it a priority.

What I think is a priority is fixing a broken education system that has been regulated, starved and strangled by politicians for decades. Republicans want to destroy public education by starving it to death and by giving tax dollars to private, for‑profit, education. Democrats are unwittingly destroying it by regulating it to death and coddling underperforming districts and teachers. Also on the list of priorities are healthcare for the poor, crime, pollution and job creation.

I hope voters in this election will actually consider what affects us on a day to day basis and not just hot button issues. We need to do a better job on both sides of the aisle by electing politicians that will actually do something for a change, rather than just appealing to the emotions of the lowest common denominator.

Dave Thompson

Phoenix