What is on our readers’ minds in 2010?

Governor Sanford and his problems? No, that’s “so last year.”

Funding for schools? No, there’ll never be “enough” funding.

Lowering taxes? No, because it always seems to be somebody else whose taxes are actually lowered.

By an overwhelming majority of 56 percent, those responding to last week’s Progress Poll asked lawmakers to concentrate on bringing more industry into the Palmetto state.

“More industry would help solve a lot of problems,” one voter wrote. “We would have more tax dollars, so we could increase school funding. And everybody would be paying a little less if we had more industries contributing to our state coffers.”

“As for Sanford, why waste a lot of time trying to solve a problem that will solve itself in November?”

Many voters traced the state’s and the nation’s current financial problems to the long-time lack of support for the textile industry in the South.

“Everybody up North said it wouldn’t hurt if our textile jobs were sent overseas,” one voter wrote. “But now there are even more jobs being taken by foreign workers. And the fewer regular jobs we have, the less we can support domestic industries, such as auto manufacturers. It’s a big, vicious circle.”

Tied for second in the polls with 19 percent each was “school funding” and “lowering taxes.”

“How can you expect industry to move into our state when we’re consistently ranked in the bottom five in education?” one voter wrote. “Today’s industries need people who understand technology, not fools who have a strong back and a weak mind.”

Another reader felt the state needs to make sure education opportunities are there for everyone in the state.

“Pickens County Schools can match up with schools across the country,” the voter wrote. “But our state scores are low because of some Lowcountry districts, where it is shameful how low the standards are. Don’t these children deserve a chance to succeed too?”

Some voters felt that lowering taxes is the key to economic recovery.

“BMW didn’t come to Spartanburg because they like to eat at the Beacon,” one voter wrote. “They came because the state gave them a great tax package. Other industries that do business with BMW have followed, and our state has benefited from those tax deals.”

Another voter agreed.

“Industry will locate where they have the best chance of success,” the voter wrote. “If our taxes can be lowered, we can be competitive with any state in the union.”

Only one of the voters who favored directing attention to issues associated with Gov. Mark Sanford emailed a verbal response.

“Before we can move forward, we need to have leadership we can trust. He betrayed his wife, his kids and the voters in South Carolina who had placed their trust in him. He needs to be kicked out of office now.”