R spent most of his or her life before coming to Arkansas.
I was in the military 20 years and lived many different places.
Lived in many areas in the US and abroad.
I was born here. Lived here all of my life.
Refused to give name of state where living before coming to Arkansas.
In the military; I lived in all 48 states.

Most important problem or issue facing people in Arkansas today.
Young people are not motivated to get a higher education.
You know we are the most poverty-stricken state.
You know I lived in NW Arkansas for the first 20 years.Now we live here in NE Arkansas. -over here is a lot different from NW Arkansas.Over here there's a lot of people who don't have jobs and do drugs; it's just so much more obvious over here then
Women getting enough pay to support their children when they can't get their husbands to.
Where I live it's money. There aren't enough employment opportunities.
Well, there are so many...the school situation is a pretty big problem for most people.
Well, I think it would be the elderly, or the school consolidation.
Well today I would have to say the most important issue facing the people in Arkansas is prescription drugs.
Well I think that education is the main concern facing the people of Arkansas.
Well I do not have any issues at this time.
We need more industry in our state and I don't think our government, local or state, is doing a very good job.
We have a lot of people without health insurance. Can't afford medication.
Unemployement or lack of finding a good job.
Too much liberalism, including the Governor.
Too many people on unemployment and welfare.
Too many people having to work for way too low a wage.
Today I think the most important issue facing Arkansas people is that too many Arkansans are getting away from God. They have no conscience.
This is probably more Nationally than just the state of Arkanas, marriage and family. I think something needs to be done to make us recognized marriage like it use to be.
They don't want to go forward. They like to keep it like it was. There is nothing for people to make a living here.
There doesn't seem to be anything that would be peculiar just to Arkansas.
The way that the laborers are treated in Arkansas
The utilities and high gasoline prices in Arkansas.
The thieving politicians are stealing all the money and not giving social security recipients a raise.
The state of Arkansas needs to utilize current educational materials, and create a budget that enables the schools to utilize all the resources out there to improve and revamp the educational system within the state.
The state and the people area little backwards, not educated.
The school system; children should attend school in their own neighborhoods.
The roads are poorly planned due to the influx of the population.
The most important issue would be the economy. I would say the economy because a lot of jobs have been lost due to a downfall in the economy.
The money being spent on the Clinton Museum should be spent on children who are hungry or on people who are in need.
The lack of freedom of choice. Mainly, being made to wear seatbelts when I don't want to wear them. I think being 50 years old I should be able to decide if I want to wear a seatbelt or not.
The high cost of prescription drugs and medical care.
The growth that our area is having. The long range planning needs to be more concise and more thought out.
The fact that the poverty is so prevelant, and the fact that we have the largest corporations and they are not paying enough.
The economy. The lack of jobs. AR doesn't have very many jobs at all. Especially good paying jobs.
The economy needs to be better, there are too many people in need.
The drug problems in Arkansas need to be addressed by law enforcement and the state.
The Drug Prescription program to help the elderly. And, to keep the country secure and safe. We know it's going to cost a lot of money.
The cost of insurance and health is to expensive and needs to be looked at by the goverment.
The communistic government we live under; we're the most taxed nation in the world.
That would be Mike Huckabee as Governor.
That when the President sends people to Iraq, they should send the people in prison, over there, because a lot of them that are in death row, or in there for life, they should send them there. The ones that are trying to make a living that don't want to
Teachers pay and benefits. If they don't teach, somebody ain't gonna learn.
Taxation. Looks as if there is no tax base in this state in order to provide taxes for social responsibility.
Taking away medicare (not enough medications allocations)
Single parent services needed more quickly.
Seniors need better goverment help with prescription drugs.
Senior citizens need financial help and medication.
Schools. I want all back to being black schools and white schools. It's not working with mixed black and white in schools.
Schools, kids are not getting the education they need because teachers think all kids learn the same. The kids that don't learn the same can't keep up so they don't do as well.
Salaries are not equal for men and women.
Right at this present moment, I would say that taxes for the elderly is one important issue facing the people of Arkansas today.
Results of having a Republican governor.
Ranking near the bottom as far as economics.
Quality of education for kids is bad- need more teachers.
Public schools lacking in competence and jobs in NWA are good but North central and Northeast and Southeast part of state have little jobs available.
Problems with elderly (medications mainly, medicare and tax issues).
Probably, the per capita income would be what I think is the most important.
Probably, I would have to say education. I just think we have a pretty poor education system. Graduation rate is not any better than in the past. People are just pushed through there. Kids are not disciplined now.
Probably the economy, the money, and the next would be the health. Lot of our people just don't have insurance.And, then taxes.
Probably jobs, I think that the wages are too low especially in South Arkansas.
President- mess with everything going on with him.
Poverty, which is the root of all other problems.
Policia bilengues needed. (Bilingual policemen needed)
Personally, Arkansas doesn't have a lot of public attorneys, like when you go to court, to help people in general, like in New York.
People who drink and drive. This what I have noticed most.
People legally getting off for due process mistakes. Criminals getting off because a police clerical mistake.
People can not afford medical care and the reason is because everything thing is too high.
People aren't making enough money, wages are too low.
People are turning their backs on Jesus.
Parents don't teach obedience through love; inconsistent in discpline.
Overcoming the stereotype of those who don't have a college education.
Our legislator and the governor - Basically the government.
One problem the people of Arkansas face is school crisis.
One problem or issue the people of Arkansas face is the economy.
One problem or issue is the present road conditions.
One problem or issue facing the people of Arkansas today is the ecomony.
One important issue or problem facing the people of Arkansas today is immigration.
No problem...rural roads are in bad shape. I'm in the Arkansas army national guard and dissastified with conditions there.
No medical coverage, no health insurance. No health insurance for the average working person. People can't afford insurance and have nowhere to go to get medical attention, or I should say adequate medical help.
No jobs and available the wages are too low.
No health and drug insurance provided through most employers in state.
My opinion, we have been catering to the opinion of the bi-lingual and not enough to our Arkansans, mainly talking about our schools...the overcrowdedness of our schools, and I feel our children - the ratio is almost reversed from what it was 10 years ag
Mucha gente hispana no tiene licencia de manejar. (Many Hispanics don't have a drivers license)
Mostly in all Arkansas you just about have to get out of Arkansas to get a job...its not going to pay well in Arkansas.
Most people in Arkansas don't know enough about political issues and laws.
Most important part is... now I would assume is trying to get black people interested in politics...because a lot of black people don't vote.
Moral realms of trusting what's going on in politics- trusting politicians to do what's right.
Meth labs and alcohol affecting families.
Mental illness, lots of bipolar disorder.
Low paying jobs, Arkansas is so rural that to make a decent living people need to go a big city.
Lottery to increase funding in education and prisons.
Lack of money to provide for poor families.
Lack of high paying jobs, with poor insurance.
Lack of good schools and teachers. Needs lots of improvement.
Lack of good paying jobs; too many jobs moved to Mexico and too many Mexicans moving here to take what jobs are, left-forcing wages down.
Lack of adequate medical coverage for people of limited incomes.
Lack of a living wage being paid to people with a higher education. Many jobs in Arkansas only paid the required starting wage but ask for many skills.
la educacion de sus hijos (education of her children)
Kids who don't go to school and are involved in gangs destroying property.
Jobs, the wages they recieve are too low.
Jobs, because everyone around us is getting laid off and there's nothing we can do about it.
It would have to be the work force. The cost of living, insurance... is going up and wages are not keeping up. Medicine is really expensive. At home here, we spend more than $100 a week in medical care and income doesn't keep up with that.
It might be image, when you tell people you live in Arkansas.
Interest has gone down so low and factories have moved to Mexico.
Infrastructure, not being able to keep up with the growth.
Infrastructure lack of roads and facilities
Incomes are low; it's hard to make a living in Arkansas.
In Arkansas, people need to identify themselves, they can't be California, new York, or anyplace else. They've got to be themselves.
Immigration- legal and illegal (too much of it).
I would have to say lack of jobs here in Arkansas. The employment rate has dropped over the last 6 to 7 years.
I think those people smoking dope are the worst problem.
I think this state hands out disability cliams like halloween candy. The state needs to get harder on this.
I think the high taxes and the high utilities bills that fluctuate, they're terrible.
I think the economy is one problem the people of Arkansas face.
I think that the schools is one problem the people of Arkansas face.
I think that low wages is one important problem facing the people of Arkansas today.
I think representation is one issue the people of Arkansas face today.
I think probably the lack of business opportunities, the lack of good paying jobs.
I love it here, I can't find anything wrong with it.
I know drugs are one. I guess that's all I can think of right now.
I guess probably the TEFRA (the healthcare for disabled children).
I don't like the way President Bush is trying to build back Iraq when they attacked us first. We are all having money problems here.
I'm strictly a Democrat and I'll never vote a Republican. And the biggest problem is Republicans give most of the money to rich folks.
I'm ambivalent about it. I guess more jobs, we need more jobs where I live in the north/central area. To keep our jobs, we need industry.
I'd say this day and time, it would be the learning process in schools.
High paying jobs. There's not enough of them
Health services--prices of drugs too high for senior citizens.
Health care. People without prescription drugs. Too expensive.
Health care for elderly is bad and unaffordable.
Generally, economics, that covers so many things, the wage or salary disparity here. You get into so many things.
For older people it is providing medicare and health care.
Factories leaving Arkansas; settling in other states.
Employment, poor education. Misuse of taxes.
Elderly, problems getting help to take care of them.
Education. The lack of it. Schools are insufficient. Not pushing enough.
Education. Lack of parents concerned for the education of children. Higher education particularly.
Education. Arkansas is at the bottom of everything. Consolidation
Education, I would say public schools and proper funding.
Education, I think that's what this state needs more than anything else.
Education system - don't pay teachers enough.
Education reform; the school system sucks!
Economy- downsizing and people losing jobs due to NAFTA
Drugs are bad, lack of good employment. We have too many low paying jobs.
Drug usage; not enough religous organizations to help maintain a presence in community.
Don't have enough money going to schools.
Crime rate is much too high, it has become outrageous in the past ten years.
County roads- we have begged and they have promised but they just will not do it.
Cost of medical care due to prescriptions.
Concerned with gay rights (against gays).
Complying with court order in education.
Care for the elderly, I am 91 and live by myself.
Better health care for individuals that are unable to pay. Doctors needs to have a cap on charges they are charging. Individuals with little money to live can not afford to be treated for fatal diseases and regular visits. Also prescription drugs need
Benefits for health issues for the elderly.
Being able to catch up with the 20th century
Arkansas makes it hard to make a living. Full of hate, still think slavery exists. Backwards attitudes.
Amount of methamphetamine traffic in western Arkansas.
Alot of people still don't have water directly in their homes.
Ain't enough wildlife. You have to drive up into the mountains to get into the forest. It's a two hour drive.
A combination of equality and income. There is too much disparity between the low and high-income.

Another problem or issue R would like to mention.
Transportation. If you don't own a car there is no way to get around.
The news media is really an issue as far as their control over what's being told to the public. Maybe they're being controlled by politics or getting misinformation.
Jobs, people are leaving because there are no opportunities for employment.
More industry in state and keep current manufacturing jobs in the state.
Education. Some people would like to have a college education and cannot afford it.
Gasoline for home keeps going up, it is hard for fixed income folks to make it. Rent was too high, wages are too low.
I enrolled in business schools in Little Rock, and they all went under, leaving me overburdened with student loans, when I thought I was on Pell grants. These Arkansas business schools really messed up many people's credit, due to their going under.
Another issue I would like to mention at this time is schools. It seems as if when they (Arkansans) start leaving God out of their lives and the schools it began to reflect on this generation. For example, dress code. The way these kids are dressing t
Too many counties in the state of Arkansas.
Taxes; money and taxes are spent inappropriately. Particularly around Searcy.
Politics- Mudslinging, dirty campaigns, school consolidation.
Crooked government on all levels: theft, etc.
There is beginning to be less funding for Medicaid and Arkids first programs for our children, especially involving foster kids and newly adoped children that need these services.
The roads here are horrible, you can tell when you hit the Arkansas state line.
Too much tolerance of bad behavior, and just less family values than there used to be. We moved here for family values and now it is declining here. Removal of corporal punishment is a problem.
Work ethic in the state leaves a lot to be desired.
There needs to be more public transportation.
As long as they let people coming in from Mexico, it's not gonna stop the problems.
The poor state of repair of our highways.
The health care. The homeless people I have noting hanging out there. A lot of the major companies are cutting out a lot of their benefits as well. Cutting back on the health insurance. No insurance, no pay.
The education which also relates to the poverty. The schools need to be improved so much.
Well... I think our schools need more help than they are getting and teachers are not getting as much as they should be getting paid.
Getting medical and dental help. And, the economy.
Pregnancy, in blacks, welfare shouldn't pay for more than one or two babies. There needs to be a cut off amount.
My one concern is about the terrorists, to keep the country safe.
Crack babies and crack whores down in Little Rock around the University and people in power don't give a shit about the smaller people. And the government spending cigarette money on the highways.
I wish the government would have more jobs. I work for 5 months, then don't have work. I wish they had programs for those who were retired, so they would have work all the time.
Highways are terrible, but it will take a 5 to 10 year plan to change that, and health care stinks not only here in Arkansas but also in the whole nation.
Now that new taxes are going into effect, it seems that people are spending less than they were 3-4 months ago.
A while back, the powers that be decided to close gun ranges over at Wedington Woods, just because hikers had a louder voice than the hunters did. Just a stupid thing to do.
Hate crimes are just a bad idea and should die.
Smoking in restaurants. It should be allowed again.
The prison system is overcrowded and needs more funding.
Service men going overseas for a long time.
Elderly and infirm cannot afford medication.
Jobs, college graduates have to leave because there is no job availablility.
Discrimination of colored people-- I was rejected an apartment twice and told not come through there anymore. These were white people who did this. They thought I didn't understand what they were speaking about, but I knew what they were saying.
Actually, what I think is worse, is the squandering of our tax dollar.
Arkansas' economy. It seems like we can't attract industry because we don't have educated people. People have too many kids and can't support them and it is a perpetual problem. Gap between the wealthy and poor increasing. Race is still an issue. I am no
The things that I am most worried about now are the economy and the health care system.
Government making too much of the 'Iraq deal' - spending way too much.
Growth as affecting the environment especially in Northwest Arkansas.
Health system is poor and nursing homes are very poor
They don't have a lot of laws to protect the children, because you are in Arkansas, the laws don't stand from the other state.
Rights of those who break the law they have more rights than the victims. State police salaries must be improved. At the moment it is an embarrassment.
Being a social worker, I seeing a very high rise in meth use among women, and education is a problem.
Another problem the people of Arkansas face is financing.
No medicare benefits, for example, for prescription medication.
Too many are people on welfare that shouldn't be.
Our roads. Definitely need to handle the traffic issue.
Mucha gente hispana no tiene licencia de manejar. (Many Hispanics don't have a drivers license)
Alcohol laws should allow you to buy beer on Sundays.
Roads are bad and low pay on current jobs.
Socialistic setting in the United States- people try to get something free- 'people mooching off workers'.
Wish the politicians would get together and solve our problems.
Law enforcement is very racist and biased toward people who have been arrested. Most of them are doing more illegal things than anyone they arrest.
Mental health care is low, due to financial reasons. I see alot of child neglect and abuse (I work in the mental health industry).
Problem in our schools. I think the kids are not prepared for adult life.
We should not allow illegal aliens into the state.
Senior citizens inability to pay for medication.
Drug problem -- manufacturing and distributing of illegal drugs.
In general the world is in bad shape, and that affects Arkansas as well.
We are not progressing in our lines of thinking.
our education system, concern for quality of teachers
Not enough help for the poor in this state
Cost of medical care and prescription drugs.
Exodus of manufacturing base from the state.
The mental health and senior citzen care need a serious overhaul; funding to provide prescriptions and medical care to the people that are in need of help.
no hay drenaje (no drainage for their house)
Juvenile delinquents who don't go to school or work and just hang around causing trouble like slashing tires, and vandalizing property.
Education, the kids in Arkansas. There are more going to home schooling and that bothers me.
Insurance and banks, you can't borrow money no matter how good your credit is.
I believe Arkansas could be cleaned up both alongside roads and politically.
Been promised health and drug bills; can't afford medicine or food.
Law enforcement, especially in drugs and especially in this area.
Don't like having some dry and some wet counties.
The housing problem. The costs are going up. Since I have been here, the housing cost has tripled.
I volunteer in the school system - some children not getting enough attention at home.
Bring our education up to speed with the rest of the nation.
Discrimination with police officers and the court system
They have got to do something about the education situation.
I think that the public highways are another major issue. There are no interstates that run north and south that connect or goes throughout the state.
I think spiritual conditions is another issue.
At this time I would say education is the second most important problem.
Our schools are a big problem right now.
I guess education would be part of it. They need to have better education. The taxes, the utilities, the low wages in this state, and education are the most important.
A second issue is that people are not honest.
The lack of Christianity and the lack of values in too many people.
Our families having to go to war in Iraq.
The school issue. The superintendents are getting too much money. They're not worth $80,000 a year.
It seems like so many decisions are made that impact everyone but just a few make those decisions. While you can always contact state representatives most of time, it is a big business that, in one way or another, buys what they want. Even in a local ar
The continous work on Arkansas roads systems seems to done poorly, so that the state is always fixing them.
Our public education needs to be improved.
Lack of a prescription drug plan for the general populace.
Roads, guardrails on the highways, and the economy/wages.
Unwilling to communicate with each other.
We need to keep our spending and taxes under control.
Unemployment or people having to work lower paying jobs.
The farming situation is terrible in Arkansas.
Lack of funding for education. Solved by allowing gambling.
Slow economy; lack of educational level in the Delta.
Really arkansas is in a state of depression....loss of so many jobs.
Future planning for growth such as roads, bridges, schools, land care, infrastucture.
Poverty; it seems to be based pretty much on what goes on in the delta and in the rest of the state, so I'm not sure if it's an issue about African Americans not getting the same amount of resources.
Inconsistent services for people who are homeless or have low income and red tape to get them.
Industrial growth in Arkansas. Manufacturing jobs, we need more of them.
Inequality of school funding/ teaching salaries.
We pay too many taxes. Where does it go?
Water is awful! Bad teeth in town, water needs more flouride -no joke.
Just Arkansas needs to find a better revenue source so the state is able to find funding to operate.
Arkansans make due and are very profficient in that. Tthe way of life could be much better.
Someone needs to help all these Arkansas grandparents who are raising their childrens' kids. We need some financial support- this is hard work.
Our school systems could be a little better.
To allow gambling we could get money for other problems too.
Social Security Diability and the SSI (Supplementary Security Income) programs are not very well put together. There's not enough money for a disabled person to live on.
Jobs, not just manual labor jobs. So people can have better lives.
Education in Arkansas below standard. The cost for higher education (College) should affordable so that people can be able to aquire better jobs. The state which be involved in the funding of higher education.
Well, I think that as we go forward, smaller communties need to upgrade, that is too many of them live too primitively.
Public schools are hurting, all money is spent on charter and private schools. They need to focus on public schools.
I have four acres of woods here but trees are being ripped down. I don't like the city. There used to be forest, now there are eight factories here. They are stripping down too many trees. Need more protected spaces. Also, VA benefits are not enough.
Education. Schools here in Northwest Arkansas are reasonably good but I still see the administrators more concerned with the rules than the child.

Does R usually think of self as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or what?
I don't think of myself affiliated with any party, but the candidate whoever is best for the job, not the party.
A Shwarzenegger Kobenizer.(Interviewer's note: Respondent refuses to answer in any other way)
Registered Democrat but doesn't vote a straight ticket
I used to consider myself a democrat but now I am not a affiliated with any party
depends on person..i don't vote politics.. I vote people
I am a "soured" Republican, gone Democrat.
i don't vote a party. i vote for the individual.
I vote for the person. It does not matter what their affiliation is.
I just vote for whoever I think will do the best job.

WE SHOULD DISCUSS LEGALIZING GAMBLING AND LIQUOR LAWS IN
ONLY REC SS INCOME DONT HAVE TO FILE TAXES
YEAR BORN 1979 AND 3 PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLD
WE SHOULD DO AWAY WITH THE FOOD TAX; I WOULD BE IN FAVOR
CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL AT NIGHT AND TAKE THE CLASSES I NEED TO
AS A PARENT OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD, I AM CONCERNED THAT
HE IS AN EXCELLENT COMMANDER IN CHIEF, BUT HE IS NOT REALLY
HUSBAND IN MILITARY FOR 22 YEARS, SO LIVED EVERYWHERE
SEEMS IKE SO OFTEN YOU DON'T GET ASKED CREATIVE QUESTIONS.
TAX WEBB SITE SHOULDBE MORE USER FRIENDLY FOR 0EN PUBLIC USE
HUSBAND WILL BE HOME IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES 645PM
THIS POLL SHOULD INCLUDE A QUESTION ABOUT LEGALIZING AND/OR
THERE HAS BEEN VERY POOR PLANNING IN THE NW AR AREA
Q46 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN RURAL AREAS HAVE A HARDER TIME ANSWE
SHE IS DOING A GOOD JOB FOR THE FARMERS, BUT DOESN'T REPRESE
SO UNSATISFIED THAT I WANT TO SHOOT MYSELF!
I'M NOT SURE THE STATE IS MOVING AT ALL.
THE TEACHERS NEED TO PROVE THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY CAN BE

ARKANSAS. PLUS THIS WOULD FUND LOTS OF STATE PROGRAMS THAT
OR INCREASING OTHER KINDS OF SALES TAXES
TAKE. SCHOOL IS SET UP FOR SINGLE PEOPLE WITH NO KIDS-
WHEN HE TAKES THE STANDARDIZED TEST AND HIS SCORES ARE LOW
I THINK THEY OUGHT TO DIVIDE TAXES ACROSS SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
NEED TO IMPROVE THE COURSES THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEG
RING THAT QUSETION BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME

I WOULD APPROVE OF INCREASING INCOME TAXES FOR THE WEALTHY
SCHOOL IS A FIVE DAY A WEEK THING- NIGHT DOESN'T OFFER THE
HE THEN THREATENS TO BRING DOWN HIS CLASS SCORES AS WELL AS
OPPORTUNITES THAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN CITIES HAVE.

CLASSES I NEED- ALG, ETC. HENDERSON ST- RIDICULOUS TRYING
PERFORMANCE GOALS FOR HIS TEACHER. HIS SCORES SHOULD NOT BE

AVERAGED WITH THE OTHER KIDS SCORES.THIS IS A PROBLEM IN AR.