The United States of America turned 250 years old in 2026. Freelance reporter Madeline Lathrop asked four Rochesterians their thoughts on issues facing the country today in America's semiquincentennial year. Their answers are below.
The Democrat and Chronicle welcomes your own thoughts on issues facing the country today, which we will publish in coming weeks. Please send 100 words or fewer sharing your observations or concerns to mkilian@usatodayco.com
Dr. Erik Rueckmann: 'Emergency medicine should be re-branded'
"Emergency medicine should be re-branded and called 24-hour access care, because we really are the last and only safety net for so many people. Oftentimes, there is a misconception that people overuse our services, but for our patients, it can be really challenging, because a lot of people will
try to do everything the right way. They'll call their primary care team, they'll call their specialist, but for a multitude of reasons, they can't get the care they need, and smaller issues start snowballing, and before you know it, it could kill you.”
-- Dr. Erik Rueckmann is an emergency medicine physician at Strong Memorial Hospital
Mariella Santiago: Sorting through divergent political views
“I’m apprehensive about going out into a world where the political climate's a little bit iffy. My mom likes to have a lot of people over at our house. I’ll hear them talk about politics, and there are just some things that I really don't agree with. It’s heart-wrenching to hear, because I've known these people my whole life, and now I'm not a child, I can understand what they believe in, and if what they believe in is so fundamentally against everything that I stand for, I look at them in a different light.”
-- Mariella Santiago recently earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Rochester Institute of Technology, where she is continuing her studies as a master’s student.
Yasmin Taouil: 'You work nonstop to make your dream happen'
“The hardest part of America is that you work nonstop to make your dream happen. You don't have a schedule; you need to work around the clock. Still, you feel the results; this is what pushes people through. Everybody I met who came to the USA says that if you give this country 10 years, you will see results.
“In 2026, rich people get richer. The middle class tries to stay middle class. And poor people, they need a prayer. Only God knows how to get them out of there.”
-- Yasmin Taouil is a vendor at Rochester’s International Plaza, a marketplace celebrating the city’s immigrant and international communities.
Karen Wolgast: 'Why aren't we worried about protecting our children?'
”Four times a year, I have to practice silently putting my kids in the closet to hide in case there is an intruder. We actually have to practice that. It’s heartbreaking. They say they want to build a ballroom that's safe, but why aren't we worried about protecting our children?”
-- Karen Wolgast has taught kindergarten for more than 20 years at Monica B. Leary Elementary School in the Rush-Henrietta Central School District.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Please share your thoughts on a key issue facing America at 250
