Counterpoint

"Some people in Pennsylvania see things as they are and say...why change?
I see things that never were and say...'What the hell is wrong with these people'?"
--Me, by way of George Bernard Shaw

I was talking to a co-worker the other day who isn't originally from Pittsburgh and told him that I recently came back from Vegas because I didn't like it. He was under the impression that I had blind allegiance to this city and was unable to recognize its faults.

Of course, I set him straight.

See, I've noticed quite a bit after being away...

Months ago, another friend (who's big into trains) asked me if I knew the three states where trains were still predominant. I guessed all three correct and one was...you guessed it...Pennsylvania (take a stab at the other two since I've spotted you one).


I knew that because navigating the streets here is like driving a Winnebago through a miniature railroad village. Everything seems so tiny to me and residents love to park on both sides of the street so that you need to grease your vehicle to pass (since only one lane exists in most areas). The copious amount of rainfall as of late offers wonderful lubrication as well.

Then there's the speed limits. In some areas where you have to climb huge inclines, you may not go over 35 mph...in other well traveled places, it's 25 mph. I believe those were kept since the horse and buggy years, if my sense of history serves me correctly.

The local bridge undergoing renovation is a major artery that directs traffic to an amusement park and a large outdoor shopping mall. Any person with intelligence would have looked into the future and said "Hey, why don't we either 1) start building another bridge with more lanes making these places more easily accessible or at least 2) take that vast amount of land that's just sitting there taking up space and not serving a purpose on the other side to create a huge parking lot and ferry service across the river charging a fee to reimburse us for the project?"

But no...we'll shut down half the bridge, thus creating a giant snarl of traffic while we repair it and then do the other side after that so ultimately, the project will take a few years and make this small town even smaller!


Finally, I remember when I visited other states and you could buy alcoholic beverages at grocery and convenience stores. I was amazed! They even have that luxury in Ohio! Not here. You have to go to specific places like a wine & liquor store or a beer distributor to obtain these items. I'm surprised we still don't have cobblers, apothecaries and blacksmiths too...

I know progress is slow, but (and correct me if I'm wrong), Pennsylvania still isn't one of the 13 colonies is it? I mean, this is a recognized state in America. Pittsburgh's team won the Super Bowl SIX TIMES...can't we see at least a little something in the way of coming into the 21st century?

Just wondering...

;)