All Elections are Local

We are paraphrasing a politician’s observation that “all politics is local.”

This election – in November 2012, is very, very local.  Obama sees it and he is counting on Romney’s not seeing it until it is too late.  Romney plays around with “local” issues but his overall approach – Obama is a bad steward and things will not get better unless we get rid of him – is not bringing the real issues home to those whose votes can still be influenced.

What are these local issues?

1.    Debt – responsible working citizen know that no one, including the local school district, the county park system or the state’s financial condition can withstand endless, increases in public debt.  They want the debt rise to stop; they want debt to be paid down; not endlessly increased.

2.    Lousy levels of public services – look at the roads in your town; look at the sidewalks, examine the reports about the condition of the sewage and water systems; street lights; the list goes on and one – money that is taken from taxpayers to provide tangible, good public products and services is now earmarked for hired public employees – their wages and benefits – not for the needed services.

3.    Schools.  Affluent towns just pay up – urban dwellers learn to live with it and hope for the best.  If you live near a town like Chicago and query the parents of suburban school age children, you will hear such negative, derisive comments about the politics, the politicians, the teachers, the unions and the horribly despicable circumstances that urban kids experience.  Most suburban parents shake their heads and simply ask, “Why do they put up with it?”  The Chicago school/strike situation is the mother of all political gifts – Romney has done nothing with it.

4.    Unions.   Touchy issue?  You bet.  But there is more anti-public employee union sentiment now than ever before.  And don’t forget – the current governors of Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey and Florida did not get their jobs by being pro government unionization.  Romney is doing nothing with this issue.  Nothing.

5.    Gas supply and prices.  Let’s focus on both even though today the focus is price; not supply.  We all need gas.  But it takes little foresight to predict that the radicalization of North Africa and the entire Middle East will jeopardize our oil supply.  Mr. Obama cares nothing about our oil supply in the sense of strategic planning – he thinks clean energy and escalating mileage standards will win the day.  He was not here in the 70’s when supply was a real problem.  Once again, Romney does little or nothing with this issue.

6.    Government employee pensions – no private citizen, unless you work in Hollywood or your last name is Buffett, enjoys a defined benefit pension provided generously to you at an earlier age and at a higher amount than a government employee.  Romney has taken no stand against this excess. 

7.    Government employment levels and pay scales and benefits.  Too high; too high; too high.  Must be cut back.  Romney says nothing but vagaries.

8.    Investments, interest payment on their bank deposits, inflation and malaise.  Every middle class family is dealing with some level of these issues.  Deal with the previous seven and these go away.  Romney needs to tell that story, if he can.

9.    There are a couple of issues that transcend the local – let’s just combine them here and call them – war and our peace loving, tolerant Islamic neighbors across the sea.  Most everyone who is not employed in the military industrial complex is just plain fed up with both.  Most everyone grasps that we are hated by most everyone living in North Africa and the Middle East and, except for that fuel supply/price issue (see #5 above); we want little or nothing to do with the entire, vast region – at least for a while, while they sort out their differences and issues.  Romney is on the wrong side of this situation; particularly with his Israel first leanings.

 That’s our take.  He (Romney) has less than six weeks to focus and compose a message/delivery combination that works.  On the other hand, if he ain't there now he most likely never will be and if he needs us to point it out, he most likely doesn’t deserve the job anyway.  We hope we’re wrong.