College days and Turnpike Ways

The day started with breakfast with Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman, who reminded a group of Republican women leaders that we are the new face of the GOP, once derided by the Democrats as the party of "old white men."
Then, it was onto to Gwynedd Mercy College for a spirited discussion with Professor Terry Wimmer and the students about the major American political parties and the core values of the Sisters of Mercy. One student, a Libertarian, added quite a bit to the discussion and perhaps the most interesting question came from the student who required me to "say three good things about Obama," and the Professor to do the same for McCain. The assignment was surprisingly easy but was an eye-opener all the same.
Speaking of College age voters, I was advised to get a Facebook internet account and use it to recruit election day volunteers, so I asked my son Tom Kelly, a Drexel University student to use his Facebook account to request help for me from his friends. The answer was quick and to the point, "Mom, that is so uncool..." Can you just see him roll his eyes ? I could. I might have been angry but he lives in the District and I am hoping to get his vote.....
Tonight was a great public forum with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission about their plans to widen the Northeast Extension. The plans had been revised substantially to reduce the number of "takings" from more than a hundred to a mere handful, and sound barriers had been added to protect nearby neighbors. This was a far different result from an earlier meeting where the Turnpike engineers had unrolled plans that required land from many properties and failed to offer sufficient sound protection. While any large project is worrisome to the neighbors, the revised plans were so much better than the first set than many neighbors simply felt relieved. I was grateful that the Turnpike engineers had listened to our concerns and made substantial revisions. They were grateful that the intervention of area legislators had helped smooth the way with the DEP to get the new storm water management system approved, and that the neighbors were no longer so angry. A good night all around for showing how reasonable people can disagree and work something out that gets the job done and respects the neighbors' concerns. Aint Democracy grand ?