Personal stories from two people shaped the tone of the State of the Union. They weren't dramatic or scene-stealing, but two personal stories struck a chord with me.
They have, somewhat, been under-reported, but to a retired union man, you listen to these stories, get a feel for what the President actually did for them.
These were wonderful.
Let's explore them over the jump.
"Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie's tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant".
This reminds me of my daughter in law. She was raised on foodstamps and medicaid. Her mother insisted that she go to college. That she be like her aunt, who was a medical lab technician. You know, the people that take and type your blood and diagnose illness?
She went to a local community college on a pell grant. SOCIALISM!!!!!!!!!!
She's now got a full time job with benefits working at the same hospital that funded the program that the government paid for my daughter to go through.
We're just a bunch of fakin' commies!
(Even though she pays a higher tax rate that Mitt Romney?)
Congrats to Jackie Bray
And then there's:
"When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance. But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan. Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts. Today, it's hiring workers like Bryan, who said, "I'm proud to be working in the industry of the future."
I love the idea of a luxury yacht factory making wind turbines. It's like finding out that a local golf course will close and a new homeless shelter will be built on the property!
Republicans (now, anyway) will tell you government doesn't create jobs. "Reggalashuns!" they scream as their eyes glaze over in the back of their heads.
But the common thread of these stories is that government can play a positive role in the lives of Americans in desperate need of a positive role in government.
Well played, Mr. President.