Enrieta Galeana, Bakery sales, Lynnwood

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"No. I think that there are a lot of miscommunications that I see, or hear a lot of. Elected people in Congress aren't really clear enough about what they're really all about... Gun control -- that's one of the most important things they should focus on because there are a lot of kids getting hurt. They should be more strict about who they really give a gun to. I lock up my guns because it's dangerous. It's too easy to get guns and for kids to get shot... If government did this -- was more strict -- it would mean I would feel safer. I would feel a lot safer and trust government more."

Nellitta Ayers, Porcelain artist, Woodinville

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"No. They've given us lots of reasons to not trust them. And we don't have the opportunity to vote for the right candidates -- the ones we have are 'Schmuck One' or 'Schmuck Two'. Plenty of good people who have the qualifications, and the compassion for people, will never get in the position to be a candidate. And there are a lot of ulterior motives to a lot of the laws that are passed... So I don't think you're ever going to get people in there to help fix what we really need fixing -- critical issues like the homeless, the AIDS crisis, the fact that our veterans' hospitals are manned almost entirely by volunteers... At this point, there's not one thing that could make me trust government more. But I'd like to see people-issues brought out. I don't like to see things covered up. And I want answers."

David Reese, Self-employed, Woodinville

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"No. I think they spend too much. They're too big. They need to be more fiscally responsible... The whole machine is 'they', and they do some good, but their overspending negates anything good they do."

Don Williamson, Small business owner, Snohomish

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"Unfortunately government -- some of government -- is made up of people which we find we cannot trust. Government is obviously the people and they have unfortunately proven that they cannot be trusted... And government itself is necessary, and not necessarily bad. But I definitely am radical on this point -- I would like to see substantially less government. I would like to see several things eliminated entirely from the federal government. Like I don't see any role for the federal government in education. The states can handle it just fine... The other major area is that I would like to see welfare handled on a total local level and by local non-profit organizations to meet the real needs of real people.... What I see happening is a polarization of the country with movements toward less government and 'let the people of the country be successful', and to more government control over peoples' lives and the feeling -- which I think is a big mistake -- that government has answers for problems..."

Justin Palfreyman, Student and administrative assistant, Kirkland

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"To a certain extent. I don't trust politicians -- their morals -- because they seem to be in it more for their money or other personal gain, rather than for the people... There is no specific thing I can say that I trust. I was brought up to not really question it. I guess I trust defense, but social security is running out of money and there's the national debt and things like that -- all of these have to cause some uncertainty or lack of trust... I think that if I wanted to take the time, I could have an impact. But as a 17 year-old, I think that there's discrimination because you're not deemed a legal adult until you're 18. I think that's b.s... But there is always the power of one..."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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