Meet Justin. The Plumber. An Arizonan who voted for Obama.

[Bluebear]

On a chilly evening, a full moon adds a little extra light as Pettijohn steps outside to smoke. "The night air helps me clear my thoughts," he said. "I hope Obama can make a difference."

...He introduced himself as Justin Pettijohn, said he'd spent most of his 36 years around here, frequently stalked game in the brush-covered hills overlooking the McCain place and had bid for jobs at the homes of some of the senator's neighbors.

What kind of work do you do?

"I'm a plumber," Pettijohn said, handing over a card that promised: "If water runs through it, we'll do it."

So, I said, that makes you Justin the Plumber?

He smiled, as if he had heard that joke before.

"Yeah," he said. "I guess."...

Justin the Plumber did not pay much attention to the fuss over Joe. For the last few months, he has been preoccupied with a struggle to keep his business afloat -- a difficult passage brought on by a collapse in new construction jobs and, also, a plague of unlicensed plumbers.

"So many guys are out of work," Pettijohn said, "that customers know they can get Joe or cousin Dave to come do whatever they need for $15 an hour. As a business owner -- a licensed contractor, bonded and insured -- I can't afford to do jobs for half- or quarter-price."


Which was one reason, the plumber said, that here, in what might be considered the heart of McCain country, in a county that on election day supported the home state senator by 61.6% to 36.9%, Justin the plumber voted for Barack Obama.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-moment16-2008dec16,0,4591105.story

[BrklynLiberal]

1. K&R

[SoCalDem]

2. Unlicensed "handymen" cause a great deal of heartache to guys like Justin

Especially in the southwest, there are people who will do ANY job (whether they know how to or not)..

My son has his contractor's license, he's bonded, insured, and has had the full gamut of background checks...all at HIS expense.. Right now he has a "regular job", but still keeps up all his licensing etc, because he does the occasional side-job, and he often is hired to FIX stuff that "some guy" did for someone.

There are many people who end up with fires because "cousin Jim" knew how to wire that bonus room addition, or have a flooded bathroom because "that guy" they hired assured them he knew how to re-tile their shower.

People are desperate to save a buck, and the charlatans are crawling around like roaches..