Public Employees And Public Service

New York's subway system is mostly back in operation. New Jersey's not so much.

Half of the system's underwater tunnels (seven out of fourteen) were partially or completely submerged by Hurricane Sandy. The story has all the drama of a disaster movie with the added bonus that it is true. Today's New York Times tells some of the story.

I get a bit annoyed at confident assertions by Republican candidates, millionaires all, who have never done a dangerous days' work in their lives, that the "private sector" can do it better. Do what better? Why, anything, of course. Balderdash!

A Times reader from Massachusetts put the accomplishment in perspective:

"Going into a wet, dark, possibly electrified tunnel is beyond my abilities. I am not that brave nor am I smart enough to know how to fix it. So I would like to take a moment to celebrate the intelligence of what we typically call blue collar workers. Without these smart people who build and repair homes, cars, trains, roads, and all the devices we take for granted, the rest of us would be helpless. Intelligence comes in many forms; let's celebrate the hands-on form -- mixed with superior problem-solving skils -- that fixed the transit system of one of the world's most important cities. I hope that they get paid well for this! In fact, give anyone who worked on these repairs a jacket or something (after the extra pay, of course) so others can identify and thank them."

How many of the financial "geniuses" of Wall Street who brought our economy to its knees four years ago could make the slightest contribution to keeping our real systems going? Rhetorical question. We all know the answer. The "Masters of the Universe" don't know how to design or manufacture anything or indeed to make anything but deals. Why should they be so handsomely rewarded for what they do?

Better we reward people who actually produce useful goods and perform useful services. People who work hard and do challenging, often dangerous work on behalf of all of us.

The Past Isn't Dead- It Isn't Even Past: Faulkner

Is history destiny? I found this map today in a comment on a blog entry by Noah Smith. Noah's entire post on "makers and takers" is worth reading.

If This Be Socialism, Let Us Make The Most Of It

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Preamble, Constitution of The United States

"Article I

Section 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;"

Article I, Section 8, Constitution of The United States

I have noticed lately that conservatives, especially of the Tea Party variety, insist that any cooperative activity to our mutual benefit is "collectivist," and BAD, even "Socialism!"  Paul Krugman has some thoughts on that here.

Election's Over!

No more speeches. No more debates. No more annoying ads. No more robocalls.

No more ballots.

As a member of Pamlico County's Board of Elections, I am prohibited from publicly advocating or opposing any candidate appearing on my county's ballot. I have chosen to interpret that as prohibiting the display of yard signs or bumper stickers.

But the election is over and there is no more ballot that I am responsible for.

Today I put up a yard sign for Obama/Biden.

I can now celebrate my country.

We can be truly exceptional.

Election Day 2012

I'm watching the scene on ABC as the network calls Ohio for Obama. The scene is an open-air crowd, obviously not Republicans. How can I tell? The diversity.

This is America's future. Even in North Carolina, which has taken what I believe is a temporary deviation from its historic course as the most progressive state of the Old South.

Demographic change is happening across the land. 

North Carolina can lead, follow or get out of the way.

Siren Song

I won't be at Tuesday night's Town Board meeting. There's an election going on, and I have to be there.

In case anyone is interested, I think Alan Arnfast makes a good case that the siren should stay at Town Hall.

In any event, I wonder if the Town has tracked down which agency is the successor to the original 1953 federal funding source and what they have to say about location.

Remembrance Of Elections Past: 2000

Elections have consequences.

Counting votes has consequences.

Supreme Court interventions have consequences.

Consequences of 2000:

9/11;

John Roberts; Samuel Alito;

Iraq;

Twelve more years of global warming, aka climate change;

Vast increases in wealth of the top 1% of earners;

2007 economic collapse.


Cause of election outcome:

Press distortions about Al Gore;

Gore and his campaign were too polite;

Outright lies by Bush campaign given free pass.

In an earlier time, it was reasonably safe to rely on the mainstream press to provide objective coverage of elections. It was pundits (fed leaks) who did the dirty work. US law prohibited too much common ownership of media.

By 1992, the national press had pretty much shifted out of that mode.

In 1993 FOX got the rights to broadcast NFL football.

The rest is history.


Good results of 2000:

Help America Vote Act.

One More Day

Tomorrow is election day.

Unless you are a poll worker or other election official, the only thing you have to worry about is getting up and stopping by your precinct to vote. In Pamlico County, we hope election day lines won't be long - 46% of our registered voters have already cast their ballots.

We don't know how many voters will show up tomorrow, but based on four years ago, 2,500 seems like a good estimate.

Polls open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm. Each polling place will count votes as soon as the polls close and announce their local results to any member of the public present. They will then deliver election records to the Board of Elections in Bayboro. County returns will be posted in the upstairs Court Room as soon as they arrive.

What happens if we have an emergency? The Board of Elections plans for contingencies so you don't have to. If there is a loss of power, we are prepared to use paper ballots in place of our voting machines. If a machine fails, we have backups. If a precinct official gets sick, we have emergency officials on call.

And we are all thankful we don't have the problems facing election officials and voters in New York and New Jersey.

The election will take place.