As the political signs are going up around town, I am hearing more and more chatter about “Eddystone Politics”. I’ve learned over the years that the political game in Eddystone is like no other. For such a small town, it makes me wonder…why should political party even matter? My guess is that on an Eddystone Borough level, it doesn't matter other than the need from the county for each candidate to put a check in the box of one or the other. I wonder if people really know the difference between Republicans and Democrats or is it just a popularity contest in the borough?
For instance, our residents are generally working class in an industrialized area. Some of our residents need the help of social programs such as welfare or WIC to help make ends meet. Many of our seniors citizens rely on Medicare. Almost half of Eddystone’s population are tenants and many of them are assisted by “Section 8” just so they can have a roof over their heads. How is it that so many of our residents consider themselves Republican but then have no problem using social programs supported by Democrats?
In the primaries, there was a term being thrown around like it was something horrible…”Republicrat”. My guess is that this would be a person with views from both sides of the aisle. How is this a bad thing?
Isn’t it time that the residents put political parties aside and choose leaders who would be more resourceful in identifying the needs of the borough residents? We need real solutions to our very real economic problems; not just some flower pots dispersed around town or someone handing out winter coats, claiming they are from a particular committee when they are really from PECO.
Our future is in our own hands. Ask yourself why you vote the way you vote. A lot of promises are made around election time. It will be interesting to see which ones stick after November 8.
