Local residents aren’t quite warming up to state of union
By Bob Okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com January 24, 2012 10:50PM
Joliet resident Ruth Robinson expresses her thoughts on what President Obama should talk about during the State of the Union speech as seen Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 26, 2012 8:15AM
JOLIET — The state of the union is not good. Just ask folks outside of the Joliet post office.
“I think we’re doing awful right now,” said Ruth Robinson of Joliet.
Robinson does not blame President Obama, who delivered the State of the Union address Tuesday night. Obama has been fixing problems left over from his predecessor, she said. Still, “The economy is real bad. ...We just need a change. The cost of living is very expensive right now.”
Dick Norwood of Crest Hill does blame Obama for standing in the way of oil and gas development, which, he believes, would create jobs and ease what he pays at the gas pump.
“I think he needs to address that with all these fuel prices going out of sight,” Norwood said. “To me, that’s the main issue, and how we’re going to get out this economy.”
Opinions about the president were mixed among people asked to comment on the state of the union Tuesday before the president’s speech. But they were unified in their opinion that the country is in trouble.
“I like Obama,” said Karen Laschober of New Lenox. But she is worried.
“I have a job. I’m grateful,” she said. “But it’s the future. It’s the kids graduating from college.”
Patrick Sleik of Naperville said he does not like the “stagnation” he sees in government. “There’s no cooperations among people trying to do things,” he said.
Sleik said he’s a lifelong Republican and he owns a small business; and, he thinks President Obama is trying to solve the right problems.
“I do think he’s trying to work on the economic engine of the country, which is people who work and small businesses,” Sleik said. “The system is designed for you to grow up and get a car and buy a house. What if you don’t have a job? You can’t do that.”
John Diorio of Joliet said he likes what congress is doing.
“They are doing what I want them to do — nothing,” Diorio said.
Government action likely means trouble from Diorio’s point of view. He, too, points to oil and gas development, which, Diorio, believes could bring the country of its economic doldrums if President Obama and government regulators got out of the way.
“Open up the gas and oil fields,” he said. “Stop playing around.”
Joshua Robinson of Joliet thinks government has been too timid.
“It’s been hard for people who are low income. It’s sticking that way,” Robinson said. “People who have money continue to make money. It’s sticking that way. ...The government needs to push more.”
“The housing market needs to be addressed,” said Cathy Ghilain of Shorewood. “They need to examine how the banks are charging people and how they’re handling people who are underwater. They can help people stay in their houses by sacrificing profits.”
George Rademacher of Joliet said he thinks the United States because of its deficit is headed for the same debt problems facing European countries.
“Whatever is happening in Europe is going to happen to us in the next 12 months,” Rademacher said.
One issue after another, no matter who you asked, the state of the union reflects the state of the economy.
“Definitely the economy,” said Mary Stofan of Joliet. “All of the issues are based on the economy.”
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