Politics and Plumbers

The current Presidential campaign took an interesting turn recently with the introduction of a character called “Joe the Plumber.” It is safe to use the term “character” as Joe it seems is not actually named Joe nor is he a plumber. Senator McCain apparently was attempting to use Joe as a sort of everyman example of the supposed negative effects Senator Obama’s economic policies would have on, well, the “average Joe.” Rather than hold Joe up as a case in point, Senator McCain would have been better off seeking Joe’s (or perhaps an actual plumber’s) council for it has been my experience that plumbers are often filled with nuggets of wisdom.

As explanation I need to back up several years to a time when I myself was elected President. Not of the United States of course. Instead, I managed to somehow get elected President of the local Little League. Although this office holds slightly less responsibility than the one on Pennsylvania Avenue, the challenges are no less daunting.

While much has been made of Barack Obama’s supposed lack of experience, that same lack is never an issue in our league. The number one job requirement is only the willingness to take it on and while I certainly had the willingness I definitely didn’t have any experience.

Nevertheless, I took office and did my best to keep the league running. With the help of a lot of volunteers, things progressed smoothly and in no time at all, opening day was upon us. Opening day is marked by a parade of the entire league followed by a brief ceremony that includes a speech from yours truly the president.

I began with a message for the kids. I urged them to practice. “You don’t just wake up one day and suddenly become a great baseball player, or a great painter, or a writer, or a trumpet player”, I told them. “You cannot simply wake up and be a star overnight. But if you work hard, and practice, and practice, and practice some more, one day you’ll wake up and find you’re a better ball player, a better writer, or a better trumpet player.”

That seemed to go over well and I continued. Next, I had a message for the parents. I encouraged them to get involved. I told everyone that a very wise plumber (whose name is not Joe but is really a plumber) had told me that “if people don’t like the way things are, they should get involved.” He was right and it was that advice that ultimately led to my being President. “Of course being involved can means a lot of things” I continued. “Some parents are coaches or managers, some work in the concessions, and still others rake the fields or cut the grass before a game.” I told the crowd that help was invaluable and that we couldn’t run the league without it.

Then I went on to say that I understood not everyone could coach, or work in the concessions, or even be president. “But you can still be involved” I said. “Play catch in the yard, come to the games, cheer on your kids, and eat at the concession stand. The point is to stay involved in whatever way you can.” That part of the speech also went over well. Obviously it can and should be applied to more than Little League. As I said, he is a very wise plumber.

Of course getting involved is not the easy route. The easy path is to complain without offering any solutions or as the old saying goes “if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” While there will always be those that prefer to sit on the sidelines, thanks to my friend the plumber I’m no longer among them.

Next week someone new will be elected President. Not of the Little League but of the United States. And while I hope that people on both sides continue to stay involved in the issues we’ll be facing, my bigger hope is that the new President surrounds himself with the best minds this country has to offer. If he’s smart, that group will include a plumber.