The LuLac Edition #962, Oct. 3rd, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: OUR INTERVIEW LOGO.

INTERVIEW

I had the opportunity to talk with a professional secretary who moved to the area three years ago from upstate New York. She is somewhat politically aware because her father was on the periphery of New York state politics and she does f0llow the news here in LuLac land.
Q: Why did you move here?
A: My husband’s company gave him the opportunity so we came. I liked the location to New York and we are discovering Philadelphia. But I think we might be moving again because a year after we got here he was laid off. Now he commutes to Jersey so I don’t know if we are going to stay.
Q: Good luck. What do you think of the politics here?
A: We came in late 2006 and I was struck by the sheer volume of signage. Yards, billboards, roadsides. All over the creation. And the papers too. Big coverage of politics.
Q: So you were here prior to the announcement of the scandals?
A: Yes but let me point out that politics in New York state on the local level is serious too. You have the petty back biting and quarrels but there it seems to be about principle. Here it’s like life and death.
Q: It is because politics here is an industry. It’s like a small time Snelling & Snelling employment agency and up until this year you had to pay a fee here too.
A: See this is what I mean. Very few of the people in my area of New York depended on this for their livelihood. And the people who did get political jobs needed to pass a test and then got a pretty good salary.
Q: Even at the local level?
A: Uh huh. Now the County Executive elected didn’t have to but say if that person hired a business manager or assistant book keeper they had to. By the way what’s up with this three commissioner thing?
Q: Been like that forever. Any thoughts on the Judicial scandals this year?
A: You know when it first hit, I followed it on a cursory basis. But then it got better than a soap opera. It was like a game show too, “who’s next to the jury box”? ya know? (Laughing).
Q: Where do you get your information from on this stuff?
A: The newspapers, the Internet, (your stuff and Gort’s are the only ones out there that don’t seem to have an ax to grind) and talk radio. Q: What do you think of talk radio here?
A: (Giggling) Wild and wooly stuff. The hosts are all right but the callers are flat out spectacular. I mean I hear some guy quoting the Bible, some crazed old chick from ((where is it Ashley?)) ranting and raving and it’s the only station I ever heard where the producers get recognition. I mean that’s right out of Frazier and I never heard that anywhere else.
Q: Are you working?
A: Trying like hell but I’m afraid to approach a school district because I’m told the jobs are promised to people. I walked into one district and a receptionist plain out asked me what was in the envelope. Now it could’ve been a medical test for my kid, an excuse from a doctor or a freaking love letter. It was her job to get the envelope to the person it was addressed to and not question me about its contents.
Q: Are you going to stay in the area?
A: I’d like to. But if the commute to Jersey is too much for him we might have to move to the Poconos.
Q: Maybe Jersey?
A: Christ no!
Q: Still continuing the job search?
A: Yeah, I’m doing transcriptions for medical on line but there’s no benefits. I’ll stuff a couple of envelopes this week and drop them off to people.
Q: Given your last experience, even some schools?
A: Yeah, I’ll throw on my power suit, and come strutting in there with my envelopes. (Laughing).
Q: What are you laughing at?
A: If some nosey secretary asked me what’s in it, (laughing) I’ll tell her it’s a subpoena!