Socialism in Sussex
I am interested by the juxtaposition of two stories during this blizzard. First, Sussex County has a budget surplus!
County officials plan to issue more than $100,000 in grants to local law enforcement agencies due to an unexpected budget surplus. According to County Administrator David Baker, $5,000 will be awarded to each municipality in Sussex County with a police force. The $105,000 total is still a 20 percent reduction from previous years, he said. […]
The County Council reduced several areas of its budget to make up for the estimated $8 million shortfall in fiscal year 2009. As a result, the county ended the year with a $1.9 million deficit, its third in as many years. But according to the mid-year budget report for 2010, the county is now in better shape. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, it has generated a $550,000 surplus.
I am very pleased that Sussex County is looking to restore surplus funding to areas it cut, like funding to local municipalities, rather than go the idiotic and typical Republican route of taking a surplus and giving it in tax cuts to the rich.
Second, despite the surplus, the county still made the appeal for volunteer farmers to use their own equipment to plow county roads, without any compensation from the county, I suppose.
Now, three cheers to Sussex County farmers for saving the day down south. And we should all take civic pride in that. But I find something here that is very interesting. Did we just not witness a form of socialism? Yeah, it was an appeal for volunteers but not an order from the government, but it was kind of an implied blackmail on the county’s part, since if the farmers did not volunteer and do the work themselves it would have been a race to see if the county ever got to the plowing before the snow melted in spring. It was sort of like saying “do it yourself or it will not be done at all.” And the farmers volunteered without compensation! That is surely not the free market capitalism. And if it is not capitalism….. then….
Chew on that, Sussex County conservatives.
It is probably more an issue of equipment and logistics. I don’t see how money would have helped. The farmers are probably better equipped than DelDOT. Plus they are already on the scene. I don’t see a problem with asking for local help. It is kind of like the maritime rule that the nearest boats have to help a ship in trouble.
Plus, how awesome is it to drive a big tractor around in a snowstorm?
Well, DD, I need to defend the Council on asking for volunteers to help plow some of the roads to assist first responders. Sussex makes up 49% of the land mass of the state and our population centers are not as compact as NCCo or anything north of the canal. That being said, we all pitch in down here to help our neighbors (I even asked Miscreant if he needed help with rebuilding – and I’m not a carpenter). It’s just the way we are. Also, we don’t have the # of snow plows that y’all have up north. The plea for help is mainly to help first responders and the electric repairmen.
I agree Anon, and in fact I have no problem with it. But what I cannot get past the lack of compensation for it, especially when we know the County can pay for it now. What I am saying is the conservatives down there don’t seem to have a problem with helping out their government and for the greater good. I suspect if Democrats ran the county they would be crying socialism.
I agree with all your points MJ and think it is great. I am not saying the county should not have asked for help nor that the farmers should not have volunteered. What I am saying is that what just took place was the evil horrible socialism that the same conservatives downstate so often decry.
DD – Jesus ffing christ. Are you really so stupid?
“since if the farmers did not volunteer and do the work themselves it would have been a race to see if the county ever got to the plowing before the snow melted in spring”
1. The county does not plow the roads. No county in Delaware does.
2. The request was not for plowing help, but help breaking through drifts in front of fire and medical crews.
3. Since when is asking for help “socialism”? It’s like calling “is there a doctor in the house?” when someone collapses at the opera.
We help our neighbors up here, too (and I have the aches and pains this afternoon to prove it). But both the city and the county contracted for additional snow removal help from people with equipment. Contracted as in Paying For. And made those arrangements largely in advance of the storms. Nonetheless it is a good thing to come out to help your neighbors. It is just that apparently it is the reddest part of the state who expects that people will do major snow removal tasks For The Good of the Collective.
Which means we expect them to STFU about socialism.
The state also “tops” the roads the farmers use to move equipment from field to field. Also, chicken feed deliveries and chicken buses moving fowl to processing plants need the roads cleared as well. Loss of a flock of 100,000 birds would hurt farmers alot worse than being snowed in for a few days.
So you see, it is a two way street.
It,s not just sussex county that rails against socialism it,s the entire, red state south that deplores it, the book “what,s a matter with Kansas” that was out a few years ago asked the same question, why do people who need government assistence the most vote against it every chance they get, is it a left over from the cold war anti-communist fervor, our have they just been hoodwinked by the republican propoganda machine? If anyone has any ideas, i,m all ears.
cassandra wrote: “But both the city and the county contracted for additional snow removal help from people with equipment.”
Prove it.
The city did, yes, because cities have jurisdiction over local streets. All Delaware towns and cities do. But counties don’t. That’s the state’s responsibility. A county cannot just start hiring plows and sending them out on the roads.
The county put out the call here because ITS responsibility is emergency medical services, and needed the help. It would have been irresponsible not to ask for it. The folks at Sussex emergency management are pure pros, and throwing them into some imagined political debate is simply silly.
Cassandra: If you can prove otherwise and I’m wrong on this, I’ll eat the smelly sweatsock currently on my foot, and send you all the video.
The city did, yes, because cities have jurisdiction over local streets.
So my point still stands, then, yes? Whether NCCo hired equipment or not. And my source on that is a City person involved with the snow removal — I assumed he would know, but it doesn’t much matter to my overall point.
Which I note that you evaded here.
Sorry, I was too busy counting your factual errors to see a point.
The city contracted for additional help … just like the STATE should have. Not the county. It’s not the county’s job. The county was, in fact, trying to backstop the state so paramedics, firefighters and ambulances could get through. It was not a “major snow removal task” – it was breaking through drifts.
What part of this do you not understand? Or just because there are some conservatives in Sussex, people can’t help each other out?
Oh, wait, This may be your point. “It is just that apparently it is the reddest part of the state who expects that people will do major snow removal tasks For The Good of the Collective. Which means we expect them to STFU about socialism.”
I defy you or DD or anyone on this blog to find a quote from the Sussex EOC or EMS directors about socialism. They’re professionals doing their jobs, and they don’t deserve your juvenile barbs.
Politics aside: It wasn’t Sam Wilson or Vance Phillips or George Cole putting out the call for help because they didn’t budget enough money for snow removal. It was a career emergency management worker putting out the call for help because the state didn’t allocate enough resources down here. Simple as that. You can’t put the onus back on the county BECAUSE IT’S NOT THE COUNTY’S JOB.
And we (even us liberals) expect y’all upstate to STFU about stuff you don’t know jack about. Which appears to include snow removal.
And apparently you still haven’t found a point.
But you’ve pointed out another piece of behavior that conservatives like to attribute to liberals — waiting for the government to do stuff for you. Maybe snow removal is not exactly the county’s job, but that doesn’t seem a decent excuse for waiting for everyone else to manage a once-in-a lifetime snowfall.
So there you have it — not just socialism but also waiting for the government to rescue them in the reddest part of the state.
And speaking of counting up the many factual errors — this:
I defy you or DD or anyone on this blog to find a quote from the Sussex EOC or EMS directors about socialism refers to no one I mentioned in my post.
Enjoy your smelly sock, tho. But you already have the sound of someone whose digestion just failed on him.
There are no County Roads in Delaware. All roads (Right of Ways) are owned by the State and are maintained by DelDot.
The fact that Sussex County “asked” the farmers to help plow the roads without compensation from Sussex County is a non point, they don’t “own” the roads.
It appears they simply asked citizens to help out and you somehow tie this in with Socialism??
My point is that yours and DDs points are utterly invalid because you both don’t know what you’re talking about. Clear enough?
“Maybe snow removal is not exactly the county’s job, but that doesn’t seem a decent excuse for waiting for everyone else to manage a once-in-a lifetime snowfall.”
ARGH. Good lord, do you still not understand what you’re writing?
It’s not “not exactly the county’s job.” Simply put, IT’S NOT THE COUNTY’S JOB. NONE OF THE COUNTIES HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SNOW REMOVAL. PERIOD!
You and DD took your anti-Sussex, down-with-the-stupid-redneck-hillbilly mindset and transplanted that onto a government system you know nothing about, with complete disregard for the facts. In Delaware, as opposed to maybe Pennsylvania, the state and incorporated municipalities handle snow removal. The counties coordinate emergency management functions. Read up on your state gummint before you spout off next time, please!
As for the “socialism” comment, you made it first, saying that people who ask for help shouldn’t cry about socialism. The people who asked for help were the professional emergency managers – who, I’ll say again, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SNOW REMOVAL OR POLITICS.
Right –it’s not my job man.
That’s gonna get all that snow out of the way.
Perhaps you should go back and try to get a clue on the topic at hand.
Sorry about your digestion.
Oh. My. God.
Please detail for me exactly what role Chris Coons and NCCo played in snow removal efforts during the last two storms. Then compare it to Sussex. What they did was PROACTIVE – getting out ahead of a problem and using their available resources. If Coons had done the same thing up in your neck of the woods, you’d be hailing him as a hero. Since it’s Sussex, you shit on them.
Speaking of the Democrats’ last hope, where was the Golden Forehead during all this? Rather silent, it seems to me.
“Second, despite the surplus, the county still made the appeal for volunteer farmers to use their own equipment to plow county roads, without any compensation from the county, I suppose.”
In Sussex, the farmers do this anyway without anyone asking. It’s just how we roll down here. It must suck to live in a third world shithole city like yours.
My sympathies.
“It appears they simply asked citizens to help out and you somehow tie this in with Socialism??”
How could they not? Their only reference point is dependency on others.
“Yeah, it was an appeal for volunteers but not an order from the government, but it was kind of an implied blackmail on the county’s part, since if the farmers did not volunteer and do the work themselves it would have been a race to see if the county ever got to the plowing before the snow melted in spring.”
As was already pointed out, the county doesn’t plow down here. In fact, the county doesn’t do much of anything of value. That’s why Sussex usually has a surplus. “Implied blackmail”? Who could have known your head would have fit that far up your ass?
“The farmers are probably better equipped than DelDOT.”
Indeed, they are. And more skilled. You should see the difference between the DelDOT plowed roads, and the ones that were plowed by the farmers and private contractors.
“You and DD took your anti-Sussex, down-with-the-stupid-redneck-hillbilly mindset and transplanted that onto a government system you know nothing about, with complete disregard for the facts. In Delaware…”
Don’t be so hard on him. Him being a pussified city boy, he’s just ignorant of the ways of real America.
“But you’ve pointed out another piece of behavior that conservatives like to attribute to liberals — waiting for the government to do stuff for you.”
Knowing this is hard for you to comprehend, nobody who was born and raised here waits for the government to do anything for them.
BTW, my nearest neighbors are farmers, and are VERY conservative.
“That being said, we all pitch in down here to help our neighbors (I even asked Miscreant if he needed help with rebuilding – and I’m not a carpenter). It’s just the way we are.”
Indeed you did, MJ. That was awesome, and captured the spirit of the people Sussex County and most rural areas. You’ve assimilated extremely well in your short time here.
HA!
I have temporarily resurrected the roof of the gazebo so the wife could barbecue tonight. Couldn’t do anything else today … State of Emergency here.
Kudo’s to the farmers. I was raised in Sussex County and spent most of my days in the summers on my grandparents farm helping with the farm work. Sussex County is the best county in the state in my opinion. Helping others is what we do best. Farmers do not sit around waiting for help from anyone. Farmers help each other. If a farmer becomes sick, the other farmers pitch in and help so that farmers crops don’t go to waste. This is how I was brought up and I continue to help friends and others in anyway I can. I have lived in Kent county since 1976 but Sussex County is and will be my true home. Everyone I know talks about how friendly people are down state compared to upstate. I have seen this first hand. I am proud to be from Sussex County and if helping others makes you liberals cry so be it. You always need something to turn into a political issue instead of seeing the good. And it seems DD shuts up after having his say and when others point something out to him.
One more thing, if you think so little of Sussex County then stay up north where you belong. I don’t get pissed off very often and have a say but leave Sussex County alone.
Susan, my dear, I think it is wonderful that you all help each other out when the going gets tough, like during a blizzard. If you think that is making me cry you lack reading comprehension skills. The point of this post is to point out to you conservatives that what just happened downstate, in having the community pull together to have strangers help each other, is a wonderful example of liberal values, values that conservatives like you have called evil for decades. So perhaps now you can grow up and realize that we liberals are just like you, and you are just like us.
My parents live in Sussex County, they are part of your community, and they are liberals too. You don’t own Sussex County alone. They own it too. I visit there often, so thus I am part of Sussex County too. And I will not stay away. And while you think we upstaters are rude and unfriendly sometimes, we also think you lower slowers are sometimes mean and unfriendly sometimes too, especially when it comes to treating people equally.
And Miscreant, the point of this post is to show that the VERY conservative farmers you know are acting like socialists, giving to back to the community without any expectation of what is in it for them, only to make the community better, for the greater good.
So perhaps you all downstate will tone down your histrionic rhetoric about liberals and socialism, given your tradition of socialism. And the more you argue about REAL America, the more you are proving the long tradition of socialism in REAL America. Thanks for that.
Speaking of the Democrats’ last hope, where was the Golden Forehead during all this? Rather silent, it seems to me.
*
hee hee
This is a ridiculous post by Dumb and Dumber and Cassandra just had to jump in to defend the indefensible cause that is what she does. Sick.
For one thing, didn’t ya’ll see the photo two days ago of the Sussex farmer hauling the National Guard out of the ditch? The farmers have been doing what they can to help ALL ALONG. They have the expertise, the equipment and if you’ve never hung out with farmers, they love the shit out of getting out their gear and solving these kinds of problems….because they can.
Since it was a plea to help get roads cleared for emergency vehicles and NOT an order from the government it’s not remotely akin to Socialism. Just isn’t, pals, just isn’t –get a dictionary.
And DD, your “having the community pull together to have strangers help each other, is a wonderful example of liberal values’ sentence shows what a clueless, divisive ass you can be.
I don’t think I misread your comments at all DD, and I do know that your parents live in Sussex County. Your father wanted to retire to the beach area. The difference in me from you and liberals in general is that I don’t discriminate against anyone regardless of their values or political preference. You liberals are the ones who do that. Not to say that Republicans are any better. I believe in treating a person for who he is not for his beliefs. I don’t condemn a person for what political party he or she belongs too. Unlike you and your father. I don’t like either party right now. I will not even help out my own party because I only belong to one so I can vote in every election. I vote both parties and see good and bad in each. I do not make off the cuff comments like lining up all in one party like you did or in what your father said to me at one time. So don’t try to tell me what I can and can not comprehend. I was brought up to love all and treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. I even do that for ones like you. I have a lot of friends who are on both sides of the aisle but the ones to the far left and the far right are ones that cause most of the trouble. I was enlightened to this from knowing people like you. I will admit I was in the dark so to speak as I was not brought up to say things that have been said to me and would not wish things on anyone no matter what they want to believe in but don’t try to take away my beliefs in the process. You believe in equal rights for everyone but you talk a different tune at times. I will continue to help where I can and feel needed as God leads me. I have been very busy donating my time to help others since I am not working full time. I lost my job after 35 years because of the company I worked for was bought and moved our jobs out of state. I continue to look for full time work but have been fortunate to find part time and with the rest of my time I can do the things I have always wanted and find it very rewarding to be able to spend time in the schools helping young children who need a little extra attention. I don’t look for hand outs from anyone. And I try hard not to judge anyone that is not my job. Perhaps you should do some of the same instead of being so fast to judge others you don’t even know.
Beautifully said Nancy!
Delaware Dem, you are not an intelligent person. Socialism is is when the government forces the type of neighborly assistance on each other, not when they ask for volunteers to do so. No one was forced, despite your paranoid conspiracy theories. What was done was simply community. It happens in small town America every day. Republicans have their problems, but don’t make up nonsensical ramblings where nothing exists.
Let me go out on a limb here and say that this is a dumb post/thread. I don’t see a whiff of socialism here (not that stops some people from screaming it at the top of their lungs, but I digress). Keep your powder dry. There will be plenty of places to point out hypocrisy in Sussex (keep an eye on Vance Phillips). This ain’t one of them. This is more like saying to “check in with your elderly neighbors”.
Thanks Geek. I will be sure to criticize your next post if and when you ever post one.
God forbid.
Kudos for putting the post back up, flaws and all.
“And Miscreant, the point of this post is to show that the VERY conservative farmers you know are acting like socialists, giving to back to the community without any expectation…”
That’s where you lack experience and understanding of human nature. They weren’t “acting” like anything. It’s just how they are… generous and helpful. Here, generosity isn’t an ideology, it’s a way of life, not something taught, or mandated by the government.
“And I will not stay away… ”
I certainly hope not. But if you ever need help down here, it’d be a good idea to keep your Socialism fantasies low profile.
ahahahahaaaaaaa
you’ll be out the door next you keep putting posts up like this. LG laid down some wood on your ass.
the other contributors (in name only) are too busy on FB to post, but have plenty of time to comment. No points for effort DD, keep putting them up though, UI can’t do all the work over here
that’s my tractor
Donviti cracks me up. Back in your hole. Your reader awaits your next post.
Miscreant, I am going to buy ads in the Sussex Countian and the Coastal Point thanking the County for its embrace of socialism, and inviting them to a reception where I hand out their Party ID cards. 😉
Think I should wear a bullet proof vest at that reception?
Farmers and the like don’t ask your beliefs before helping, that is just what they do. So give it a rest DD. Again I say don’t lump all people into one because of a few.
Understood, Susan. You can do the same with respect to us upstaters, too.
And I do DD, have several friends up your way. Not all people are the same, you proved that. I don’t get upset often but when I do I will comment. I don’t think you would ever be turned away by anyone in Sussex County unless you put your foot in your mouth.
What I learned from this thread:
Delaware Dem doesn’t understand Sussex County, at all. Also, socialism doesn’t mean what you think it means.
careful DD I’ve seen this play out before. If I could give you apiece of advice, don’t post anything on here about Obama telling bankers he doesn’t begrudge them for their payouts.
LG and Cass will jump all over you. You’ll be out if you upset the balance.
Hey Sussex – Doesn’t it suck to be falsely called socialists? Now you know how it feels. Learn from it.
There are way more bogus accusations of socialism flying OUT of Sussex than INTO Sussex.
Name one, alpha.
Uh, Hey Anonny Nonny, the 9-12 Patriots got their start in Sussex. The Mike Castle / Crazy Eileen Town Hall was held in Georgetown. If you don’t want that group and event to represent the opinions of your average Sussex County voter, you need to repudiate them.
Uh, Deluded Dipshit, you were making a direct link between socialism and Sussex County government. That’s what I’m talking about – not about groups and individuals.
I don’t need to “repudiate” every group I disagree with just because they come from my county. That would be like insisting you “repudiate” Paul Clark, Tom Gordon and Norman Oliver, just because they come from your county. See how stupid that sounds? Just because you learned a fancy word doesn’t mean you have to use it.
Hehehe, I love this place, for in one thread “Hey Anonny Nonny” says he agrees with me 100%, and in another he calls me a “Deluded Dipshit.”
And I have repudiated Paul Clark and Tom Gordon and once I remember what Norman Oliver did wrong I will repudiate him too if need be.
Friendly disagreements. 🙂
Here is a picture of Sussex farmers plowing snow…
Donviti – You obviously don’t know how things work. You are, in fact, a case study in not knowing how things work.
Well DD, at least no one accused you of posting while drunk.
I will chalk this post up to cabin fever yesterday.
Let me attempt to inform our northern neighbors about what has been going on down here in Sussex County, from the keyboard of Rep Pete Schwartzkopf, in his letter to Judson Bennett:
“Judd,
I am going to try to address some of hubmaster’s comments. As usual, people not charged with being out in the storm clearing the roads can always do it better. The first storm was a huge mess with 3-4 inches of slush which then froze making it very difficult to get the ice and snow from the roadway. And, they do use sand and salt(more sand than salt). I know he has had to have seen them spreading the sand/salt. When he sees the trucks running with their plows up, they are usually spreading the sand/salt or driving to an assigned location to begin plowing. But, the biggest problem on Saturday was that so many people lost power and the power company trucks couldn’t get to those areas to restore the power so they had to pull plows off of assigned primary roads to plow those power trucks to the outage areas. Some of those wreckers had to stay with the power trucks and some even got stuck for long periods of time. Bottom line is that they weren’t available to be used for plowing the main roads. Hubmaster is 100% wrong about the comment that there were only 12 plows in the county. Each DelDot maintenance yard has 12 trucks with plows assigned to it and there are 5 maintenance yards in Sussex meaning a total of 60 plows. Then there is a “floating” crew of 15 trucks with plows that move throughout the county. That brings the equipment total to 75 trucks with plows. Then each maintenance district also has an assortment of road graders that are also used to plow the roads. So, as you can see, his comment is erroneous. Rather than complain and compare us to someplace he left to move here, he and all of us should be thanking all of the state employess (DelDot, State Police, National Guard, DNREC), all of the volunteers (Fire companies, farmers, Red Cross, etc.) and all of the power company workers who braved this unbearable storm to clear the roads, rescue people from their homes without power or stuck in their vehicles, and to restore the power to thousands and thousands of homes and businesses. As a member of the State Police, I spent 25 years working in every major storm we ever had, not able to get home for days and catching short periods of sleep on top of desks. I can tell you that it is not fun. This is the first “biggie” storm that I have been able to stay home and take care of my family and my neighbors. Those of us staying at home really have no idea what these people put up with to get the job done. During these two storms, these men and women have spent days away from home leaving their families to cope with no power in some cases. They have been awake for hours on end, getting minimal sleep and not knowing where their next meal is coming from. They get soaking wet and freezing cold and many of them will suffer injuries from doing physical activity they are not used to. And, when the storm stops and the sun comes out, they finally get to go home and we forget all about what they have done until the next big storm. They deserve our gratitude and our sincere thanks and we should tell them that every day.
Pete
When help is needed, help is needed, and many folks down here in “red” country stepped up. That’s what really counts!
“Comment by Delaware Dem on 12 February 2010 at 9:45 am:
Uh, Hey Anonny Nonny, the 9-12 Patriots got their start in Sussex. The Mike Castle / Crazy Eileen Town Hall was held in Georgetown. If you don’t want that group and event to represent the opinions of your average Sussex County voter, you need to repudiate them.”
Delaware Dem digs the ignorance hole a little deeper…The 9/12 movement was started on the March 13th, 2009 episode of Glenn Beck’s show. The Town hall in Georgetown with Mike Castle was on June 30th, 2009. Also, the 9/12 Delaware Patriots had a Kent County Chapter before they had a Sussex Chapter. But, you know everything about conservatives and Sussex, so go ahead, keep spouting off…
“Well DD, at least no one accused you of posting while drunk.”
It wouldn’t have mattered. I was drunk when I responded.
Hey Mis, as long as you drank the drinkable stuff and not the gas intended for your generator, you should be OK 🙂
Crown Royal (high octane)
I know how it works all too well
Actually, they are Snowcialists.