♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL TAKE A TRIP TO CAMP O'CONNOR WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVICS.

>>> AND HOW MUCH WILL VOTING ISSUES IMPACT OLDER ADULTS?

.

>> WE VOTE TO PROTECT THE SOCIAL SECURITY WE WORKED HARD FOR.

WE VOTE BECAUSE FAMILY CAREGIVERS DESERVE SUPPORT.

FOR ALL THE REASONS WHY, AARP HAS INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN, WHERE AND HOW TO VOTE.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WE START WITH A COUPLE OF LATE HEADLINES, A SUSPECT IN THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS CHARGED LATE TODAY WITH ASSASSINATION OF A FORM POLITICAL CANDIDATE AND ARIZONA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERT BRUTINEL WILL RETIRE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 31.

>>> VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WILL VISIT ARIZONA'S SOUTHERN BORDER WHEN SHE MAKES A CAMPAIGN STOP IN THE STATE FRIDAY.

NO WORD WHERE HARRIS WILL BE OR WHAT ELSE WOULD BE ON HER ITINERARY, IT WILL BE HARRIS' FIRST VISIT TO THE BORDER SINCE BECOMING DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE AND AS THE CAMPAIGN LOOKS TO SHORE UP SUPPORT IN THIS BATTLEGROUND STATE.

>>> HARRIS IS TRAILING DONALD TRUMP BY FIVE POINTS IN ARIZONA.

TODAY A CNN NATIONAL POLL SHOWED HARRIS WITH A ONE PERCENTAGE-POINT LEAD, SUGGESTING NO CLEAR LEADER IN THE RACE.

IT SUGGESTS HARRIS' SUPPORT RESTS ON STRONGER VOTER APPEAL AND TRUMP IS HANDLING THE ECONOMY DESPITE LESS POSITIVE VIEWS OF EMPATHY AND TEMPERAMENT.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN GAVE FINAL SPEECH AT THE U.N., EXPLAINED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHY HE DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

>> I DECIDED AFTER 50 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, IT'S TIME FOR NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP TO TAKE MY NATION FORWARD.

MY FELLOW LEADERS, LET US NEVER FORGET, SOME THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN STAYING IN POWER.

IT'S YOUR PEOPLE.

>> THE PRESIDENT CELEBRATED DEFENSE OF UKRAINE AND THE REBUILDING OF GLOBAL ALLIANCES, HE ADDED THAT AMERICA CAN'T AFFORD TO RETURN TO ISOLATIONISM WARNING THAT THE WORLD IS AT A, QUOTE, INFLECTION POINT.

>>> NEW STUDY FINDS CHEMICALS LINKS TO BREAST CANCER ARE LEECHING INTO FOODS, THEY ARE USED TO MAKE FOOD PLASTICING AND TABLEWEAR AND DOZENS OF THE CARCINOGENS CAN MIGRATE INTO THE BODY.

BREAST CANCER RATES ARE INCREASING A TREND THAT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY GENETICS.

>>> HURRICANE JOHN EXPLODED TO A CATEGORY 3 STORM BEFORE SLAMMING INTO SOUTH MEXICO OVERNIGHT.

IT HIT THE COAST WITH 120-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS ALONG WITH HEAVY RAINFALL.

JOHN HAS SINCE WEAKENED TO A TROPICAL STORM BUT MOVING SLOWLY AND INTERACTION WITH RAIN DESCRIBED AS CATASTROPHIC RAINFALL ALONG THE COAST AND INLAND.

>>> A SURVEY BY THE CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA AND THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION IDENTIFIES SEVEN SHARED PUBLIC VALUES THAT MOST AFFECT THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF AMERICANS.

HALF OF AMERICANS CAN NAME THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND ONLY 25% COULD IDENTIFY A RIGHT GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

PRODUCER SHANA FISCHER AND RON BRUCE TAKE US TO A SUMMER CAMP THAT TEACHES THE ABCs OF GOVERNMENT.

>> THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SUMMER CAMP.

INSTEAD OF CREATING CRAFTS, CAMPERS ARE CREATING CAMPAIGNS, AND INSTEAD OF LEARNING TikTok DANCES, THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT DEMOCRACY.

WELCOME TO CAMP O'CONNOR.

THE PROGRAM IS PUT ON BY THE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY.

IT WAS CONCEIVED BY THE LATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DURING A LUNCH WITH THE INSTITUTE'S INTERNS.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF THAT LUNCH, SHE ASKED IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO OVER AGAIN WHEN YOU WERE IN SCHOOL, WHAT MIGHT IT BE?

THEY ALMOST UNIVERSALLY SAID WE WISH WE HAD MORE CIVICS BUT WISH WE COULD HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CIVICS.

>> Reporter: NOW IN THE SIXTH YEAR, THE MERIT BASED CAMP IS OPEN TO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SARAH SUGGS SAYS RESEARCH SHOWS EARLY CIVICS EDUCATION CAN LEAD TO LIFE LONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MORE.

>> THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SUGGEST A HIGHER VOTER REGISTRATION IN A GIVEN AREA BODES WELL FOR LOWER CRIME RATE.

>> WE THINK CIVICS EDUCATION IN GENERAL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: THIS EIGHTH GRADER SIGNED UP BECAUSE HE HAS AN INTEREST IN POLITICS AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS.

>> I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN CIVICS AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, YOU ARE REALLY LOST.

IF YOU'RE EDUCATED, YOU CAN REALIZE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR YOU NOT AGAINST YOU.

>> Reporter: VIVIAN MURRAY CAME FROM CALIFORNIA WHERE HER SCHOOL DOESN'T TEACH MUCH ABOUT CIVICS AT ALL.

>> I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT AT STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS BECAUSE I HAVE INTEREST IN GETTING INVOLVED IN OUR SOCIETY AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: AS IT TURNS OUT, VIVIAN'S STORY IS A COMMON ONE.

IN 2001, THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT DESIGNED TO CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AMONG STUDENTS REQUIRED SOCIAL STUDIES OR CIVICS STANDARDS BE TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS BUT VAGUE HOW SCHOOLS MUST ACHIEVE THAT.

ONLY SEVEN STATES REQUIRE A FULL YEAR OF CIVICS IN ORDER TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

31 STATES, INCLUDING ARIZONA, REQUIRE A SINGLE SEMESTER, AND 13 STATES DON'T HAVE ANY REQUIREMENT AT ALL.

THE WEEKLONG CAMP IS STRUCTURED AROUND THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

MORNINGS ARE FIELD TRIPS WHICH INCLUDE A TOUR OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND VISIT WITH LEGISLATORS AND UNDERSTAND HOW LAWS ARE PASSED.

>> WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT THE CONCEPTS IN ABSTRACT, YOU'RE SEEING WHERE THE DECISIONS ARE MADE, SEEING WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAPPENS.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A PRIVATE MEETING WITH ARIZONA GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS, A HIGHLIGHT FOR VIVIAN.

>> FOR ME AS A YOUNG WOMAN TO SEE WOMEN IN TOP OFFICES LIKE THAT IS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT FOR MYSELF.

LIKE I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT, READ ABOUT IT IN BOOKS.

>> Reporter: THE FINAL FIELD TRIP IS PART OF HEAD TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION CENTER TO LEARN ABOUT ELECTIONS AND VOTING.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU DO A FEW EXERCISES THAT GIVE YOU A SENSE OF EXACTLY HOW TO VOTE.

>> Reporter: THEY FILL OUT PRETEND BALLOTS AND COLLECT I VOTED STICKERS AND VISIT WITH RECORDER STEVEN RICHER TO SEE HOW BALLOTS ARE COUNTED AND VERIFIED.

>> IT'S COOL TO SEE HOW PEOPLE OPERATE THE GOVERNMENT AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> Reporter: THE CAMP CULMINATES IN MOCK PRESIDENTIAL CONVENTION.

THEY ARE SPLIT INTO FOUR GROUPS.

>> THEY NOMINATE SOMEONE AKIN TO A PRIMARY AND ON FRIDAY THEY BUILD UP TO THE CONVENTION AND NOMINATION FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES PARTY CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

>> Reporter: THE CAMPERS SPEND AFTERNOONS WORKING ON CANDIDATES' SPEECHES AND POSTERS.

BOTH VIVIAN AND RYLAND ARE THE CANDIDATES FOR THEIR GROUPS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE OPENED THEIR EYES TO HOW POLITICS CAN BE CIVIL.

>> I WAS NOT EXPECTING IT TO BE SUCH A WELCOMING, OPEN PLACE WHERE I FEEL LIKE I COULD SHARE MY VALUES WITH PEOPLE AND THEY COULD SHARE THEIRS.

>> FEEL IF PEOPLE DEMONIZE THE OTHER SIDE AND DON'T PROVIDE UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.

AND IF YOU GET INTO CIVICS EARLY ENOUGH, YOU CAN FOSTER RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND FOR CIVIL DEBATE.

>> Reporter: IN THE END, VIVIAN WON THE CANDIDACY, BUT BOTH CAMPERS SAY THE REAL VICTORY IS ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.

>> THE THING THAT CAMP O'CONNOR TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT.

NO MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU ARE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN OUR GOVERNMENT OR LAW OR POLITICS, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> TO ME, TO BE A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY AND TO BE INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY MEANS THE WORLD BECAUSE WE'RE ALL INVOLVED IN SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.

I THINK IT'S AWESOME TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT.

[APPLAUSE] .

TED: AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CAMP O'CONNOR, VISIT THE O'CONNOR INSTITUTE'S WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE CIVICS EDUCATION TAB.

>>> EVIDENCE THAT MANY AMERICANS DON'T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND CIVICS INDICATE A NEED THERE'S A NEED FOR BETTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.

THE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PUBLISHED A POLICE BRIEF TITLED WHEN AND WHY DID AMERICA STOP TEACHING CIVICS?

JOINING US IS LIAM JULIAN DIRECTOR OF DEMOCRACY AT SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

TED: BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR HERE, DEFINE CIVICS?

>> CIVICS IS THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF CIVICS EDUCATION, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A GOVERNMENT CLASS WHERE YOU DEBATE POLICY ISSUES AND LEARN ABOUT WORKINGS OF GOVERNMENT.

TED: SO WHEN AND WHY DID AMERICA STOP TEACHING THIS STUFF?

>> 11:32 A.M. -- [LAUGHTER] >> IT'S A LONG STORY AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE PUT OUT THE BRIEF BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CONDENSE IT IN A WAY THAT A READER COULD EASILY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED HERE, AND SO WHEN I SAY IT'S A LONG STORY.

THE BACKGROUND IS THAT CIVICS IS NOT INCIDENTAL TO AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, IT USED TO BE CORE.

AND CAN YOU READ THE FOUNDING FATHERS IN THIS HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO TEACH PEOPLE CIVICS IN A NEW NATION FOUNDED ON IDEAS, AND THIS WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT GOING INTO THE 19th CENTURY WHEN WE HAD ALL THE WAVES IMMIGRATION, THAT BECAME MORE IMPORTANT, AND THERE'S A TRICKLE-UP EFFECT, WHAT'S LEARNED IN SCHOOL IS STUDENTS PASS IT TO PARENTS.

STORY MOSTLY CONTINUES UNTIL THE 1960s, IN THE 1960s WHEN WE FIRST START TO SEE A SHIFT IN CIVIC EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

TED: WHY THE SHIFT?

WHAT HAPPENED?

WAS IT MOSTLY POLITICAL?

WHAT WENT ON THERE?

>> WHAT HAPPENED IN 1960s IS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A SUSTAINED WAY, CRITICS BEGAN SAYING THIS CIVIC EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE IS TOO ONE SIZE FITS ALL, THERE'S A DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, A DIVERSITY ON PERSPECTIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

THIS DISAGREEMENT STARTED BUBBLING UP.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE VIEWERS.

WE REMEMBER THE 1960s OR LEARNED ABOUT THEM.

TED: SOME OF US.

>> RIGHT.

THESE DISAGREEMENTS WERE NOT OXFORD-STYLE DEBATES WITH PEOPLE IN BOW TIES.

THEY GOT PERSONAL.

IDENTITY WAS PART OF IT.

THEY GOT KIND OF VICIOUS.

IF THERE'S ONE THING FROM THE BRIEF THAT VIEWERS SHOULD TAKE AWAY IS WHEN CIVICS BECOMES CONTROVERSIAL, WHEN IT'S PERCEIVED AS THE DISAGREEMENTS BECOME PERSONAL, WHEN IT GETS NASTY, THIS IS WHEN SCHOOLS START TO BACK AWAY FROM TEACHING IT.

TED: SO WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP IT, A, FROM BEING CONTROVERSIAL, TOO CONTROVERSIAL, AND B, GET THESE INSTITUTIONS BACK TO TEACHING GOVERNMENT, AND DOING SO IN A WAY, OKAY, A FEATHER MIGHT BE RUFFLED BUT YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE WHOLE THING.

IS THE THAT WHAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW?

>> IN SOME INSTANCES YES.

IN EDUCATION, A HYPERLOCAL ISSUE, DIFFERENT PLACES, DIFFERENT THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE'S A COURSE CAUSING CONTROVERSY.

THE HARD THING TO DO IS GET EVERYBODY IN A ROOM AND GO THROUGH THE COURSE AND TAKE TIME AND EFFORT TO SEE WHAT SHOULD BE IN, TAKE OUT.

THAT'S HARD IF EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM IS WORKING TOWARD A PRODUCTIVE GOAL, BUT IF EVERYONE IS SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, THAT HARD WORK IS IMPOSSIBLE.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS DIAL DOWN THE RANCOR ON THIS.

TED: SHOULD THERE ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME FEDERAL GUIDELINES IN CIVICS, BUT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LOCAL ISSUE, THESE DECISIONS GET MADE BY LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERS, DISTRICTS, STATES.

WE ARE SEEING SOME POSITIVE MOMENTUM, BOTH AT THE DISTRICT AND SCHOOL LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVELS WHERE PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZING SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE HERE.

TED: SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS IS THIS CONCENTRATION ON S.T.E.M., ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY CIVICS ENGAGED.

TALKING ABOUT SCIENCE, MATH.

ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HELP PREPARE KIDS FOR THE WORKFORCE, AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE CIVICS TOOK A BACK SEAT TO ALL THIS.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

CLEAREST EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2002 WHICH TIED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS TO MATH AND READING TEST SCORES.

SCHOOLS TAUGHT MATH AND READING MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

THERE'S ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN A SCHOOL DAY.

CIVICS WAS A CASUALTY OF THIS.

S.T.E.M.

IS THE SAME, AND NOTHING AGAINST S.T.E.M., SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH, VERY IMPORTANT.

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIS SKYROCKETS.

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CIVICS.

TED: AND TEACHERS ARE LESS COMFORTABLE AND LESS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN TEACHING CIVICS?

>> WE HEAR IN SURVEY AFTER SURVEY FROM EDUCATORS THEY DON'T FEEL PREPARED TO TEACH CIVICS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CIVICS IS, WHAT IS IT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE CONVEYING AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO TEACH IT IN SUCH A CONTENTIOUS ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THEY CAN'T BE SURE A DISCUSSION WON'T BLOW UP INTO SOMETHING BIGGER.

THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT THEY'RE WORKING.

>> LAST QUESTION, THIS REPORT, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO TAKE FROM THIS REPORT?

>> TWO THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, I WAS THINKING OF THIS ON THE DRIVE OVER, LIKE THE EQUITIES MARKETS, WHEN A SECTOR IS UNLOVED OR OVERLOOKED, THAT MIGHT BE THE TIME -- I'M NOT GIVING INVESTMENT ADVICE, THAT MIGHT BE THE TIME TO BUY.

I THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BUY CIVICS.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE DECADES WITHOUT CIVICS EDUCATION.

IF I COULD SAY ANYTHING TO THE VIEWERS, DIAL DOWN THE ANGER, DIAL DOWN THE RANCOR BECAUSE NOBODY WILL GET WHAT THEY WANT IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

COMPROMISE IS OFTEN PORTRAYED AS A NICE THING AND NICE TO HAVE.

WE SEE IN THIS STUDY, IT'S A NECESSARY THING TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN THIS SPACE.

TED: YES, TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN A LOT OF SPACE, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

LIAM JULIAN, O'CONNOR INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> YEAH, GOOD TO BE HERE.

.

TED: TONIGHT WE'RE HOSTING THE SECOND OF THREE VOTER EDUCATION SEGMENTS DESIGNED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER VOTERS IN ARIZONA.

THE FOCUS TONIGHT IS THE ECONOMY.

OUR PANEL INCLUDES TWO REGISTERED VOTERS, MARK GILES AND JIM RYAN.

MARK, START WITH YOU, THE ECONOMY.

HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE IS THIS TO YOUR VOTE?

>> IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE ECONOMY IS WORKING WELL AND WHAT WE SEE HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE WILL KEEP IT GOING WELL.

IF THE ECONOMY WERE GOING BAD, WE WOULD BE ALL OVER MAKING A CHANGE, IF THE FUTURE IS NOT GOING WELL, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ECONOMY FOR YOU, HOW BIG AN ISSUE?

>> BIG.

NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED.

ECONOMY FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND LOWER CLASS AND MORE WHAT IT'S TURNED INTO AN UPPER CLASS AND INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMY.

TED: YEAH, AND JIM, STICK WITH YOU, COST LIVING WITHIN THAT ECONOMY.

HOW BIG AN ISSUE FOR YOU.

>> LATELY ENORMOUS.

TED: YEAH.

IF A CANDIDATE SAYS I'VE GOT A WAY TO FIX THE COST OF LIVING OR KEEP IT FROM EXPLODING OR LOWER IT AND IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, THAT'S A BIG DEAL?

>> DEFINITELY.

TED: YEAH, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I AGREE, I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING AND NEED HELP AND SUPPORT, AND THE COST OF LIVING NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

WE'VE SEEN INFLATION GO THROUGH THE ROOF AND NEED TO SEE IT'S UNDER CONTROL OR NOT UNDER CONTROL, THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO FIX THAT.

TO ME THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

TED: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR OWN FINANCIAL SITUATION?

>> ME PERSONALLY I'M MORE CARING ABOUT INVESTMENTS.

AT THE MOMENT WE'VE SEEN THE MARKETS RIDE REALLY WELL.

IF THAT WERE TO KEEP THEM GOING, I WOULD HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN RETIREMENT.

TED: BALANCE THAT OUT WITH COSTS OF LIVING AND INFLATION.

>> IT'S HUGE, IF WE SEE OUR MONEY BEING SPENT MORE TODAY, WE HAVE TO WORK AGAIN, THINK ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO MAKE MONEY.

TED: JIM, THE MARKET IS DOING REALLY WELL, ACTUALLY, AND INFLATION IS EASING, LET'S BE HONEST.

IT'S NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS, COST OF LIVING TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

ARE YOU A SINGLE ISSUE VOTER WHEN IT COMES TO THIS KIND OF STUFF?

>> NO, I LOOK AT MULTIPLE ISSUES.

ECONOMY IS ONE THING.

LIKE WE ASK WHAT FLAVOR OF ECONOMY.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL, AND THE DIGITAL DOMAIN ECONOMY THAT IS INVISIBLE AND THE WILD WEST.

TO ME, SOMETIME WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT ECONOMY IS SPECIFICALLY THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS BECAUSE THEY'RE INTERWOVEN NOWADAYS, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KNOW WHERE THE HEAD OR TAIL IS.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS THAT AFFECT THE ECONOMY.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU, JIM, FOR BOTH OF THOSE?

>> I USE THEM BOTH.

SOCIAL SECURITY WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

IF PEOPLE TRY TAMPERING WITH IT, MEDICARE AND THAT -- TED: WHEN YOU SAY TAMPERING, RAISE SOCIAL SECURITY?

>> PEOPLE THAT MAKE MORE MONEY SHOULD BASICALLY GIVE LESS AND CONTRIBUTE TO A GREATER GOOD AS OPPOSED TO THOSE THAT ARE POVERTY SHOULD GET A LITTLE MORE.

WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE WELL OFF AND STILL GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND DON'T NEED IT.

IT'S LIKE MAYBE THEY SHOULD SHARE TO THE PEOPLE THAT DO NEED IT.

TED: MARK, IF I WERE A CANDIDATE AND SAID IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THE FUNDING FORMULA FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, FOR MEDICARE, YOU WOULD SAY, DO I HAVE YOUR VOTE IF I SAY THAT?

>> NO.

AND I THINK WE'VE MADE A CONTRACT WITH PEOPLE AND CITIZENS IN THE PAST, AND HAVE TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET IN MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY, AND IF WE MAKE CHANGES, IT HAS TO BE IN THE FUTURE IN SOME WAY.

SHOULD PROTECT WHAT'S COMMITTED AND MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE PUT AWAY ENOUGH SAVINGS TO LIVE RETIREMENT LIFE AND DEPEND WHAT THEY GET FROM SOCIAL SECURITY.

IF THEY CAN'T RELY ON THAT, THAT'S A DEAL BREAKER FOR ME.

TED: IF I SAY RAISE THE PAYROLL TAXES TO SUPPORT MEDICARE, YOU WOULD SAY?

>> IF NECESSARY, PERHAPS WE SHOULD.

TED: WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT BE A TURNOFF TO YOU?

>> IT'S AN AVENUE.

RAISING TAXES IS AN AVENUE.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT MORE WAYS TO GET REVENUE.

EASY TO GET THE FUNNY MONEY OUT OF THE TAX SYSTEM.

TED: PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS, HOW BIG A CONCERN TO YOU?

>> DEFINITELY I DON'T KNOW HOW SOME PEOPLE CAN GET BY.

IT'S LIKE A COMMODITIES MARKET.

TED: DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER, ONE CANDIDATE OR ANOTHER, IF THEY HAVE AN IDEA FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS, IS THAT GOING TO TURN YOUR HEAD?

>> IF THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR IT.

TED: YOU'RE FOR IT BUT DOES A CANDIDATE TURN YOUR HEAD?

>> I'LL LOOK AT IT.

TED: HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> LOOK AT THE HUGE COSTS THAT WE'RE PRESENTLY PAYING, IF THERE'S A WAY OF CONTROLLING THAT AND MAKING IT EASIER TO ENSURE WHAT WE'RE GETTING IS VALUE FOR US, THEN I WOULD LOOK AT THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, TO YOUR OTHER POINT, IF IT'S NOT OUT OF THE WAY, THIS IS STILL ONE OF THE TABLE ITEMS, I DON'T SEE IT BROKEN AT THE MOMENT.

I SEE IT GOOD ENOUGH.

TED: WE TALKED ABOUT INFLATION EASING, LESS IN THE WAY OF COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

WHERE DO YOU WORK ON THAT BALANCE?

AGAIN IN TERMS OF POLITICS AND CANDIDATES WHO TALK ABOUT THIS KIND OF STUFF?

>> YEP, IF WE SEE ONE MOVING UP AND THE OTHER MOVING IN PARALLEL, IT IS MUTUAL.

IF IT'S MOVING INFLATION UP BUT NOT ALL OF OUR ENTICEMENTS AND INCOME, THEN I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.

TED: JIM, YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE, THEY SEE SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASING NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD AND DID DURING THE WAY OF THE INFLATION YEARS, ARE YOU GOING TO SAY HMMM?

>> THE IMPACT OF INFLATION, THE MUSIC AND THE WORDS DON'T MATCH.

IT'S LIKE I HEAR THE RATE IS AT 5%, 4% AND MILK WENT FROM 97 CENTS TO $2.50 FOR A HALF A GALLON OF MILK.

THAT'S WAY MORE THAN 6%.

I FIND THE ARGUMENT OF INFLATION INTIMIDATING AND DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I'VE SEEN PEOPLE COHERENTLY DEALING WITH.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M A CANDIDATE AND PUSHING INFLATION, I'M PUSHING THE ECONOMY, I'M PUSHING COST OF LIVING, THIS IS MY -- THIS IS WHAT I STAND ON, ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO WOULD FOLLOW ME?

>> IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PLAN AND IT'S ACTIONABLE, YES.

TED: THAT WOULD CHANGE YOUR VOTE?

>> YES.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WITH THE SITUATION I'M SEEING AHEAD OF ME AT THE MOMENT IS HUGELY IMPORTANT THAT ECONOMY IS SORT THE OUT, BUT I DON'T SEE ENOUGH DIFFERENCE IN THE CANDIDATES TO SAY THIS WOULD BE THE DECISION-MAKER FOR ME TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

IF EITHER CANDIDATES OR IF ANY OF THE LOCAL CANDIDATES HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN THAT WOULD SCARE ME, I WOULD GO AWAY FROM THEM, BUT IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE PLANS WE HAVE AHEAD OF US, I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR ME TO DECIDE TO VOTE.

TED: REAL QUICK, THE PEOPLE YOU HANG OUT WITH, FRIENDS, FAMILY, THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY?

THE FOLKS THAT ARE OLDER.

>> MIXED BAG BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE SITUATION THAT JIM SAID WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT HARD TO LIVE INSIDE THEIR BUDGET, AND MAKE SURE THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THEIR MONEY WORK.

TED: LAST WORD ON THIS, JIM, YOU HEARING THE SAME THING?

>> DEFINITELY.

IT'S BASICALLY WHERE YOU ARE WITHIN THE HIERARCHY OF THE ECONOMY, AND PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE DOWN ARE SQUEEZED, THOSE UP, IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

TED: INTERESTING, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT MICROECONOMIES AND EVERYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION AND AFFECTS EVERYONE'S VOTE.

GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.