Voters' Viewpoints: Yankee Kitchen diners express concerns ahead of election

In the fourth installment of Voters' Viewpoints, we visited Yankee Kitchen in Vienna, a local favorite known for its hearty breakfasts and award-winning burgers. The diner isn't just about food, it also has a rich political history. We sat down with regulars to hear their concerns ahead of the pivotal 2024 Presidential election.

Darrell Franks visits about four to five times a week, but lately inflation has been a growing concern for him.

"Everything I get is going up," Franks says. "My car insurance, my house insurance, the food, especially the food. My big worry is my pocketbook. Even when I come here, I decide how much I'm going to spend for food, and I have to back off sometimes."

Joseph Limposa, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, also shared his thoughts on the economy.

"We are in trouble, desperately in trouble," Limposa says. "We need to get our economy straightened out. We need to get the costs come down so everybody could live at least peacefully. Not only that, we got to worry about our country against the war, because it does not look good out there."

For Limposa, bringing back jobs and manufacturing is key.

"We need change in this country, economy wise, jobs and so forth. And we need to have more jobs here and keep the competition out of this country, we need to get back to industry like we used to. We've got to get our stuff together. Get back together. Quit arguing, quit fighting. We are brothers and sisters in this country, no matter what race we are, but we have to get the border taken care of. You know, I know we have to help people, but we have to help ourselves first before we can help the world."

On the topic of rights, Minnie Thompson-Taylor, a local pastor, expressed her concerns about women's rights and the state of politics.

"In the times that I remember, even though you don't agree with necessarily whether or not abortion is the right thing to do, but at least you should have the right to choose," Thompson-Taylor says. "And that bothers me that the women now, it looks like we've gone backwards instead of going forward, and that that bothers me a lot. I come from an era that at least, even if you had different opinions, you were respectful of one another, and now we seem like we're so divided down the middle, regardless of what opinion you have, if you don't have the same opinion that I have, it's just all out Civil War, and that really, really bothers me."

Tina Houston, another diner is focused on the need for action and getting grocery prices under control.

"When I leave the grocery store, I'm mad because you can't go in and spend $20, you're a minimum of $75 just for basically what you need."

Houston also wants to see someone in office who will get things done.

"I mean, we've had in the last how many years, how many said they were going to do something? How many did it? How many have done nothing other than tear down good things that have been done. You know, we need God back in school. We need truth in this country again. Help the people that need help, the homeless, the veterans, human trafficking. Do something about it. Let's do something."

Surrounded by the aroma of fresh coffee and sizzling breakfast platters, it was clear that the issues these voters are grappling with—rising costs, political gridlock, and a desire for change—are very real. The Yankee Kitchen, a place rooted in local tradition and community, has long been a crossroads of conversation and a reflection of the nation's pulse. This election season, those conversations are as crucial as ever.