Correspondent Mark Shephard visited Concord Mall this week and asked, “What do you think the most important news story from 2012 is that will have a huge impact on 2013, and why?”



Destany Harness, retail and sales, Elkhart:

“Prices on food, or like just how the economy is not really doing well right now.” Follow-up question: So you haven’t seen any improvements in the economy? “Not with like gas prices and food — like me, even working two jobs, I have an apartment that’s like $100 a week, and so with two jobs I still can’t afford food, sometimes. I work a total, probably, 30 hours a week, sometimes 40, it depends how busy we are, but still then with rent and then gas... (And) I don’t get any kind of health care because I can’t afford that either.”



Ryne Balentine, jeweler, Elkhart:

“The national debt — I think that’s killing us.” Follow-up: How can we tell our politicians that they can only try to get so much leverage when they have to accomplish fixing this problem? “It has nothing to do with the guy that is older now. It has to do with our kids, his kids, my kids. Everybody’s kids are going to suffer later on with all this debt. It’s just going to kill everybody. If we hit that fiscal cliff, all the Democrats are going to blame it on the Republicans because we can’t sit down and make a determination. It’s a travesty is what it is. I think that we should come together in Washington, whether Democrats, Republicans, Independents or Libertarians. I think we all just need to come together and figure this out. You know, the people that are older already have Social Security. I’m not going to have Social Security. My kids won’t. There’s no more money. We need to stop spending money in Washington. It’s horrible. There’s nothing left. There’s not going to be anything left.“



Fearne Leader, paraprofessional, Elkhart:

“I think this fiscal cliff that we’re having. You know — having our taxes go up. The Republicans and Democrats need to come together somehow and pass something, because if they don’t, then all of our taxes are going to go up, so we need to fix that.”



Brian Whidden, pastor, Elkhart:

“Probably the national debt and what they’re going to do with the fiscal cliff, and how we’re going to handle the monies we owe, and the money we’re giving away.” Follow-up question: How have we gotten to this point, and why do you think that in a short period of time it has gotten so bad? “I don’t think it’s been a short period of time. I think it’s gotten much worse in the last few years.”



Michelle Salgado, college student, Elkhart:

“Have you heard about deferred action? It was done by Obama’s administration, and he announced this on June 15, and it took affect Aug. 15, and so now undocumented’s (young people) can apply for childhood arrivals if they meet certain requirements, and I think a lot of people will benefit from that — a lot of students that are here. Basically, they’re granted this permission — a work permit for two years — and they can renew it after two years if they apply again.”