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Common Sense Must
Prevail
That’s My Opinion
By Bob Robinson
I have a friend who has told me repeatedly that until we “ban” all
political parties the mess our country is in will not be fixed.
While I understand his perspective – we’ve debated it a few times – I
always get back to the same thing. If we have a thousand different
points of view, or in the case of nationally, a million or more, how
would we ever get a consensus?
I would go to my neighbor and tell him/her… “Yeah, I know, you and I
disagree on this point, but we agree on most others. Let’s pool our
votes and you talk to a couple of your friends… I’ll talk to a couple
more of mine… until we get enough support to get what we want.”
He/she agrees. And we build our “group.”
But down the street, a neighbor who is diametrically opposed to our
perspective does the same thing…
I think you know where this is going. A new political party (or two or
a dozen) is born out of chaos.
My friend says the Reps are just as bad as the Dems (or in his case
it’s the Dems who are just as bad as the Reps). In some ways I agree.
In others I have to disagree. In theory, there are two fundamentally
different philosophies… more dependence on government that has the
solutions to our ills vs less dependence on government as we seek our
own solutions to our ills.
At least that’s the way I perceive it. So, fundamentally my leanings
are Republican.
That’s where reality kicks in. And it is exactly my friend’s point.
Many of our elected leaders have gone from “public service” to “career
politicians.” They want to keep “serving.” Which means they have to be
re-elected every few years. Which means they have to have campaign
dollars (hello lobbies), and they have to give constituents a reason to
vote for them (hello “pork” and other perks).
As I have noted many times in the past, that’s where I begin to scratch
my head and wonder if there is any difference between the two parties.
It has often been noted that there is danger in having the nation’s
capitol or a state controlled by one party, regardless of the
orientation. We are seeing the fruits of that mistake in Washington.
The only thing saving us from a spiraling path toward Socialism was a
voter revolt in 2010. Of course, now nothing is getting done. And the
gridlock is being blamed on the very people we put into office to stop
the carnage.
Is there room for compromise? I believe so, but first we have to accept
that the damage we have done to our country over the past three
generations cannot be undone in one year. It has to be slowed down,
then stopped, before it can be reversed. In reality, that could take
another two or three generations.
In the same election (November 2010) we turned Ohio over to one-party
rule. From my perspective, it was absolutely essential to stop Ohio’s
similar downward spiral in competing with more fiscally responsible
states.
By constitutional mandate, we had to close an $8 billion budget hole.
There were only two ways to do this. Raise taxes or cut spending. The
voters spoke… no new taxes, cut spending. And we don’t have a printing
press in the basement like the feds do. The loss of businesses, the
financially well off who vote with their feet and our youngest and
brightest have to be stopped.
Immediately.
Ohio Democrats on the warpath with Ohio Republicans. The top target is
State Issue 2. I believe that is by far the most crucial vote we face
next month.
I am sick and tired of the half-truths and lies we see on television
and hear on the radio. I blame both sides for the frustration, fury and
animosity they are generating. County News Online has already posted a
debate between Sen. Keith Faber and “We Are Ohio” spokesperson Dale
Butland. It’s under our News tab. We hope to have more soon, and there
will be a local debate tonight between Rep. Jim Buchy and County
Engineer Jim Surber. American Legion, 7 p.m.
Get the facts!! Then vote.
I don’t believe Senate Bill 5 (which State Issue 2 addresses) is
perfect. I would like to have seen compromise in some areas, especially
where our first responders are concerned. And it is not, as has been
advertised, an all-out attack on our public employees. It is an attempt
to address just a few of the many problems our state faces.
However, nothing is perfect and there are too many things the bill
addresses that had to be addressed. Gov. John Kasich and his “crew” -
that WE elected - have started us on the road to recovery, but as
Kasich noted on Sunday, there is still a long way to go.
I’m not going to reiterate the talking points. You can read about both
sides for yourself. You’ll find many of them on CNO. Do it!
The progress that has started toward Ohio’s healing must be continued,
and Issue 2 is part of that progress. There is no option for compromise
at this point. It’s on the ballot. Five hundred miles away, compromise
is essential… Republicans have provided a roadblock to furthering our
path to economic destruction. They also have the power to stop the
gridlock that continues to harm our economy due to an uncertain future.
Common sense must prevail… in Ohio and in Washington. Vote for Issue 2
and demand a reasonable, fiscally responsible budget solution in our
nation’s capitol.
That’s my opinion. What’s yours?
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