We spent a few days in Bethesda, visiting our son and his lovely wife for an extended weekend, taking advantage of the early Columbus Day official holiday. (No wonder no one takes Columbus seriously, since his day of memorial wanders around the month like a boulevardier on a stroll.) What is always striking in the DC area is the prosperity of it. The nation’s capitol wants for nothing. For the past three years or so, when we go it’s like visiting Boomtown, USA.. The area looks as if the country tipped east, folded, with a crease running into DC and whatever of the nation’s money that could be shook loose rolled right in. Of course, people chased the money there, and there are plenty of prosperous people or people who serve prosperous people and do fairly well out of it. Those folks are from all over the country and even from all over the world. Other areas of the country may be drained of capital, but THE capitol is awash with it.
We left Bethesda on Sunday afternoon and drove north to find the Lincoln Highway for a leisurely westward drive home through the fall foliage. The trees did not disappoint. The other thing we noticed on the drive west was the waning of Obama political yard signs and the waxing of Romney political yard signs. In the cities of Maryland where our trip began, were a mix of signs with pro-Obama signs more prevalent. Once well into the Pennsylvania countryside, the name of Obama disappears, except for on the occasional billboard. Romney/Ryan signs are everywhere. From overheard conversations in restaurants during our journey (and people seemed to be talking about the election everywhere outside of the DC area) at least some people, middle-class people who go to Ed’s Steakhouse or Shakespeare’s Coffee Shop, are convinced that Obama’s reelection would unleash all the worst implications of the proposed policies of the last four years.
The next day, in Pittsburgh, we saw one yard sign for Obama and there were many signs referencing Obama, but those said vote for coal, vote against Obama. Even in the corner of West Virginia that the Lincoln Highway crosses and in southern Ohio, Romney/Ryan yard signs prevailed. That was a surprise, as the area usually votes Democratic, but it is coal country, too. There were many billboards in PA that ask, “Obama supports abortion and gay marriage … do you?” Those were frequent in southern Ohio, as well. I wondered who paid for those.
Turning north, eventually the yard sign mix shifted again, with Obama/Biden signs prevailing in frequency in the Mahoning Valley, near Youngstown, but not in any overwhelming way. The balance went swinging back again in the countryside. Much of this political variation from countryside to city is as expected, but the yard signs in the Pittsburgh and southern Ohio area around East Liverpool were interesting and unexpected in their conservatism. Even the argument over fracking in Ohio’s oil shale region plays to Romney, although the Obama administration has made only the subtlest moves against oil shale fracking. Apparently, judging from signage, energy politics and social issues are heavy concerns along the Lincoln Highway and in rural Ohio.
I know that inductive reasoning is the worst. Driving across a few states and noting yard signs, billboards and local conversations may not be the best gauge of national politics. Yet, that drive and what I noticed of politics on the Lincoln Highway left me in good cheer about the election. (The Biden/Ryan debate and the upcoming presidential foreign policy debate ought to be very interesting, especially in light of the morning news.) I’ll go read what you gloomy guys have written while I was gone now. You’ve had me quite depressed about the election over the last several weeks.
October 10th, 2012 | 10:13 am
We’re well past the point where the government needs to be concentrated in one physical location. Certainly the legislature could easily meet via internet, so that the people’s representatives could actually live among the people, in their own homes and surrounded by their family and friends. That would also make it slightly harder for lobbyists to do their work, of course, and hopefully living at home would keep folks more grounded and sane. One can dream…
October 10th, 2012 | 10:20 am
Kate, sounds like you drove down Rt. 11? You were just a few miles from the old homestead. I live between Lisbon and East Liverpool, down the valley of the West Fork of the Little Beaver Creek.
You’re correct, of course, Obama is hated here for what he’s done not only to coal jobs but also to the power plants that employe hundreds of former Democrats. These people are rather conservative and voted Democrat because of the history and tradition that alledged support of the “workin’ man.”
No more of that silliness. The main Democrat support is from the gov’t employees in the county seat and the commie teachers unions. And, now people are starting to ask why teacher’s pay and pensions are so high and support Gov. Kasich’s efforts to cut ‘em back to reasonable amounts.
And, the pundits are not talking about this shift in ‘labor’ support.
October 10th, 2012 | 10:31 am
Cool post Kate, I enjoyed following around the political geography (very Tocquevillian, actually).
I had forgotten about all the “coal country” in Ohio and Pennsylvania, that indeed might garner some votes for Obama. In the section of the debate on energy Romney made a point of it that he was “in favor of coal too;” it didn’t register as that important to me, but maybe it really is for the purposes of his being elected.
I was in Steubenville Ohio last fall, which (other than the cheerful nearby Catholic University) is a very depressed and burnt-out town. There was only one resturant open on main street on a Friday night, a gyro shop run by an old Greek guy. I spoke with him, and all he could talk about was that the fracking business was coming to that area and that the hotels were full of Texans. I know that fracking isn’t the economic miracle many of these local communities hoped it would be, but it was definitely of interest to the old Greek man in Steubenville and probably is to alot of people in Ohio. Energy policy might be key
October 10th, 2012 | 10:32 am
*meant to say, “might garner some votes for Romney”
October 10th, 2012 | 10:59 am
CJ, I’m not sure you’re correct about fracking and the economic results.
If all goes as some predict fracking will go a long way to making the USA energy self-sufficient. Not only are there sundry and exotic gases but one farmer in Carrol County (north of Steubenville) permitted a railroad spur on his land to take the oil from the newly drilled wells, to the tune of four cars/day. Also, there’s at least three plants either being constructed or in the planning stage that will employe many. Then there’s the pipeline construction to move the gas to market. Indeed, yours truly is talking with a gentleman from Louisiana in reference to said pipeline(s).
With energy available locally and a well trained work force, I anticipate a jump in manufacturing jobs.
We’ll see!
October 10th, 2012 | 11:15 am
Yes, we were on Rt. 11 for awhile. We like that road.
Ohio is benefiting from oil shale drilling. So is Pennsylvania and anywhere else there is oil shale and the state allows exploitation of it. Fracking is a concern because it can be managed carelessly. Although that is very rare, it happened near Youngstown and the possibility makes some people very nervous. Fracking is a big topic in our area, too.
Yes, Bob, that pundits are not talking about any shift in labor support was what made me write about the signs I was seeing. You live in a beautiful area of the country. Coming into East Liverpool was one of the prettiest sights on the journey. Lucky you.
October 10th, 2012 | 11:53 am
Thanks Kate, I’ll link your kind words to friends and relatives.
Re: fracking, I’m not aware of any ‘problems’ that have resulted, anywhere, in the actual drilling process. If you’re aware, would you cite them for me as I frequently argue with derailed leftists and don’t want to be in error.
I am, however, aware of spills, improper techniques used in injection wells, etc, that really are not related to the industry/EPA approved processes and techniques used by the industry in the fracking process per se.
As I told my nephew, when man engages in commerce, there are mistakes, errors in judgement, and all those things related to flawed human beings. However, as far as I know, no one has been killed in the fracking process, while the automotive industry (and their overseers, the Dept. of Transportation) annually kill about 40,000 Americans and no one has suggested that we stop driving cars.
And, yes, the fracking process must be done according to industry wide standards and regulations.
October 10th, 2012 | 11:57 am
Not the drilling directly, no. Here.
October 10th, 2012 | 12:22 pm
Brian, as a fan of deliberation in Congress I don’t agree with what you wrote:
“Certainly the legislature could easily meet via internet, so that the people’s representatives could actually live among the people, in their own homes and surrounded by their family and friends.”
I see the benefit you point to in having representatives close to the people, but I think there’s a greater benefit to be gained in having representatives removed from the people to be able to argue freely. That’s what the “Federalist Papers” argues, anyway. I don’t think internet meetings can replace a forum like the House Committee markup sessions, where bills really do get improved through back and forth arguments; some the deliberation also happens in one-on-one conversations outside the doors of of Committee room late into the night, which would be much harder to do remotely.
Now, all of the agencies and bureaucracy, you can take that out of DC on my watch tomorrow. Get those suckers away from K street
October 10th, 2012 | 12:55 pm
CJ: With the internet nowadays you’re practically face to face anyway.
I also don’t share your idealism about how legislative markup works, given the way things have gotten shoved through the system in recent years…
October 10th, 2012 | 3:47 pm
Enjoyed the post Kate. I’m glad you could conduct research and enjoy the foliage at the same time.
Down here on the “Carcinogenic Coast” of Texas Romney signs and bumper stickers are predominant (whether due to the concerns of oil industry people, NASA folk, or just the general conservatism of the place). This holds true, except amongst the African American population in certain small towns here and there.
As you head up towards the “Peoples Republic of Austin” of course, the signage changes. This comes as no surprise to anyone. Since I work at a college, however, and most of my friends and acquaintances are bobo stereotypes, almost everyone I know is for Obama.
October 10th, 2012 | 4:06 pm
Thank you, John. At my community college, the full-time faculty (unionized) are Obama fans, but the part-time crowd (non-union) is split. I missed a major argument (complete with shouting Leftists) in the part-time faculty lounge the day after the debate. Our secretary says she can predict party affiliation by department: math is R, English is D., but she was saying that to two conservatives from the English department who were complaining about the shouters and I was privy to the confab. How’s this?
Links
Blogs
Find Us
Contact