Σήμερα, η Συνέντευξη του Λεωνίδα Ραπτάκη στον Ελευθερο Τύπο - Today, Leonidas Raptakis interview of Eleftheros Typos

• Κυριακή, 14 Οκτωβρίου, 2012
  
  Apart economy, which issue do you think it is the most important and will help decide the results of the presidential elections?

In this environment, the economy is the central issue to the election, but a close second will be the budget/tax plans of the two candidates. The Republican approach of tax breaks for the wealthy was tried and helped turn the budget surpluses of the 1990’s into huge deficits beginning in 2002 and a near-financial collapse in 2008.

• US President Barack Obama has always express his support towards the Greek people. Have the Greek-American politicians discuss any specific proposals for helping Greece?

Absolutely. There’s been a lot of attention paid to the J1 Visa program and the importance of finding another designation to help extend the stays of 125 Greek nationals teaching in charter schools in the US as part of a cultural exchange program. I reached out to my own Congressional delegation and Secretary of State Clinton on this issue to help get it resolved, as did a number of Greek-American elected officials.

There is always attention paid to matters related to the strong partnership between Greece and the United States and it is good to have a group of leaders there who understand the issues and the importance of that partnership.

• These past decades, there are less and less Greek-American candidates running in the elections. Why do you think this is happening?

Are you optimistic you will be elected once more?

Running for office is not easy, whether it’s state-wide or at the local level. The fundraising demands are enormous and it really turns qualified candidates away from the process. These things have an ebb and flow and I think the more we can do as a community to help Greek-American candidates, the better off we will be in terms of having effective representation in Congress and in state governments across the country. And I am very optimistic about my own prospects for election.

• What message would you send to the Greek people, who right now are suffering under the tough austerity measures?

You need to be involved in the democratic process and fight for policies that will help get the Greek economy back on track. As difficult as the last few years have been, the only meaningful solution will have to come from Greek citizens working together for the good of their nation.

Thanks again!!!

MARIA MAKRIDOY

Senior Editor, Eleftheros Typos