During a visit to Argonne National Laboratory on Friday, President Barack Obama said federal budgets cuts would have harmful effects on scientific research and economic development in the United States. (Read the full story here.)
Obama visited Argonne, located just outside of Lemont, to tour its state-of-the-art research facilities and promote his proposed Energy Security Trust, which would set aside $2 billion over 10 years to research alternatives for oil and gasoline.
We reached out to Patch readers in DuPage County to see what they thought of the President's visit and the speech. Readers gave a mix of positive and negative feedback, and one in Lemont related a particularly interesting encounter with POTUS' security detail.
Here's a sampling of what readers shared with us:
Positive responses:
“Good stuff! If they can make electric cars a little more affordable I know that I would buy one.” – Danny Gray, Downers Grove Patch Facebook
“I agree with the POTUS: Tax the super rich, and leave the valuable programs in place.” – Lynnie Ley, Darien Patch Facebook
“I think that science and research is so important. It's what made us America. Many people don't understand that.” – Kathy Raci, Elmhurst Patch Facebook
“In addition to having the second fastest computer in the world, research on alternative energies, batteries for cars and other uses, doing the research and providing the facilities to the private sector (that the private sector cannot afford to do but can take advantage of) only scratches the surface. If you know a cancer patient and wonder what is being done in research for a cure, some of that research is moving forward at Argonne. Recently, a retinal implant to help the blind see was announced (of particular interest to victims of retinitis pigmentosa) and Argonne was part of that.” – William Waldack, Lemont Patch article
“The Republicans lost my votes a few cycles ago. They are for nothing and against everything now. They want less government, but want to continue corporate welfare, providing subsidies to oil companies for example when they are making huge profits while gouging us at the pumps. Corporations are sitting on record profits, but are still cutting positions. There goes the argument that when private industry profits jobs are created.” – Cindy Davis Oleynik, Wheaton Patch Facebook.
Negative responses:
"Only politicians can equate a reduction of the increase in spending with such doom and gloom." - Nick Gornick, Elmhurst Patch Facebook
“The government should stay out of the energy sector and let Capitalism function. Solyndra is just one example of why. Especially with this POTUS who has no clue how economies function and no scientific training.” – Greg Woods, Glen Ellyn Patch Facebook
“Did he take questions from federal workers facing ridiculous furloughs due to his lack of leadership in dealing with budget reduction through a sane process instead the media circus of sequestration that his staff proposed?” – John Czerwiec, Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch Facebook
“He lies and none of his supporters will admit that. We don't have $2 billion dollars.” – Stephanie Webber, Lisle Patch Facebook
“Less government intervention unless they can prove that they can be effective managing the programs they currently muck up. I didn't fall for any of the political banter either.” – Jeremy Kester, Wheaton Patch Facebook
“Could've saved the money spent on an Air Force One flight and security detail... and invested the money in energy.” – Maribeth Uhlenhopp, Naperville Patch Facebook
"I think he is a complete idiot who doesn't know anything about energy." – Lori Galandak-Anthony, Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch Facebook
And a bonus story:
Many people told us they saw helicopters flying overhead above Lemont and Darien, all day, but this story really caught our attention:
“My cousin and I went out to St. Patrick's Cemetery to visit our Grandfather Pollard Hanrahan on his anniversary and upon entering the cemetery we were greeted by 2 SWAT team members on 4X4's with machine guns! Needless to say the cemetery was closed.” – Nanette Paterson, Lemont Patch Facebook