Politics Roundup: Private Sector, Military Leaks, More

Re: The Obama stimulus and jobs -- I live in Morris County, NJ, in one of the areas of that county made up predominantly of the three lower income quintiles. However, there are many in the top quintile and One Percent in other areas of the county, and they make this one of the wealthiest counties in the US. The Republicans run most of the county government (there a no Democratic freeholders), and Democrats trade office with Republicans in some of the more urbanized areas, such as mine.

I have not seen one sign indicating stimulus funds are at work.

I didn't realize there were signs like that anywhere until I had to go for an appointment in a predominantly Democratic county. Highway improvements, repairs on bridges and reservoirs were touted along my route.

But...this year the gas company has finally begun filling in the gas lines grid, and, after living here almost 40 years I'll be able to have natural gas for heating. Of course, I'd been told by the seller of my house that there was natural gas, and thus I had my gas stove moved the 900 miles. Alas, I was lied to, my stove went into the basement, and, eventually, after an interior flood caused by burst pipes after oil jelled due to one of our coldest winters, I got rid of the ruined stove. Along with a household of stuff.

(TIP: Hot water heating pipes can have special antifreeze added to them to prevent freezing and burst pipes. I learned too late.)

And...in discussing the new gas lines with the gas company rep --who had told me annually since I moved here that the gas co. couldn't afford to put in gas lines since the houses were so small their time to recoup their investment was too long to be feasible--, he told me the reason the gas lines were being laid was because of the Obama stimulus money.

Yes! A tangible infrastructure improvement, with the benefit of dependable, steady fuel, a less polluting and less costly fuel--and hardly anyone knows that this is coming about because of the Obama stimulus. Some jobs, possible cost savings on heating, some benefits for the ecology -- and no one knows why it's happening.

Is it because Republicans now hold the local township government? The county government? The governor's office? Is it because Obama ran a great campaign but doesn't know how to run a political party? That may very well come back to bite him in the form of low enthusiasm from that party's base who feel he hasn't done much for them lately. Saved the banks with trillions -- and what did he do for the 99 Percent?

Intersting at the very least.

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