All this talk about Joe the plumber could not help but remind me of my plumbing past. I mention this only to give me some credibility to comment on the new fifteen minute hero from Pennsylvania.
Anyone who read “Ten Thousand Working Days” will surely remember the chapter “Plumber.” The year was 1934 and we were in the depths of the depression. I was one of the few lucky kids to have a job. Since that time I have gone on to many things but never lost my plumbing skills. Ask my wife if you don’t believe me. So wherever I have lived I made friends with the local plumbers. The thing about plumbers is they know some of our best secrets. Like for instance, everybody defecates, and it all stinks--rich, poor, old, young, and even Hollywood beauties. I remember going to fancy apartments in NYC. Some very embarrassed young women would point me to the toilet, then hide in shame for the rest of my time there.
Because of this fundamental knowledge of the human condition, most plumbers I have known have a very low tolerance for bullshit, except in cases as the local plumber once said, “if he is a bullshitter himself.” So here we meet McCain’s man from Pennsylvania. Plumbers, who have their own philosophy, would have immediately spotted the fact that he did not have a license. Second, that he “owed taxes” meant he was taking cash for at least some of his work. Any of you living in a small town and who hire locals know this is not an uncommon practice by local craftsmen. Joe Plumber may need a new career once his 15 minutes is over, as the locals may be wondering about his tax problems? Oh I could go on about plumbers, but enough of that for now.
Here we are in the last weeks of the most historic election campaign that I have lived through. (Just turned 91.) As expected, the right wing nuts are going crazy just thinking about Obama winning, so all the stops are out. My hope is that all those young “warriors” that have joined the Obama crusade will be able to pull it off. “God I wish I could have joined them. The most memorable days of my life have been spent in crusades marching and singing and speeching. However this comes out, I just love those new recruits to the band of happy warriors who have made the world a better place and helped make it possible to have a candidate like Obama. That’s what people have done through the years to win the struggle for a better and more equal society.
Thanks Kate N.H.W.Y.
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That you call this the most historic election you've lived through means a lot, Bob. And while I'm not a young warrior, I have been an ardent Obama supporter since the day he announced his candidacy. I can report after four separate volunteer shifts in the local Obama campaign office that it's been by far the most fun campaign I've worked on. The positive energy is palpable, the mix of people wonderful to behold; and every time there's been a steady stream of people coming in wanting lawn signs, signing up to volunteer, giving money, taking pictures of their kids with the lifesize Obama cardboard cutout. It's been a blast, even for a not so young warrior.
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