That was ACTING!! Thank You!

Last night I spent some time with..................well........................lawyers. For the first time I attended the annual Toledo Junior Bar Association's Grid Iron Show. BRAVA!

I had gone to the pre-party the year before, but not the event. This spectacle provides a prime example of what lawyers and the legal community can and should be about. Good spirited, satirical, high and low brow self examination and discourse; with some local and national political humor as well.

This is not a common event among other Ohio or national metropolitan bar associations as far as I know. Perhaps that is why, for the most part, the members of our legal community - while being staunch advocates for their clients and personal beliefs - maintain a professional collegial respect with each other. And it never hurts to laugh at yourself a little bit either.

The name of my blog is after all, The Asshole Lawyer. While most people (ok the three who read it) understand the purpose of such a self deprecating title - others may take offense; believing I am catering to the chorus of voices who disparage our profession, discount our contribution, and seem to forget that when you have a problem who ya gonna call? Ghost Busters - nope, the cops and a lawyer. But as the Grid Iron shows, pointing the finger in the mirror and laughing can be great way to face reality.

Great job to the cast and crew of the Grid Iron. See ya next year.

The A-Hole.

Fatties - Foreclosures - and Floatillas

The city recently addressed a myriad of issues related to health, economic development and growth in our fair city and county. Over the last weeks the Mayor and council have voted, regulated and proselytized in areas of health (our fat city) land ownership and transfer (land contract restrictions) and recreational development (the marina funding).

These three subjects are only the most recent examples and illustrations of how our city government (much like all democratic party controlled governments) solve problems. MORE GOVERNMENT REGULATION FUNDED BY TAXES.

Yesterday's revelation that again Toledo is ranked as one of the most unhealthy cities in America spurred the Mayor to; call for more government built bike paths; highlight the 12 miles of paths and trails already constructed; and attack those who voice disagreement with those plans by calling them fat.

The council recently passed restrictions of land contract property sales to protect innocent citizens from predatory unscrupulous land speculators - claiming of course that the poor are victims of such schemes. Now that is both insulting and oppressive. "You are too poor and stupid to look out for yourself, so we will regulate your rights for you!" No cry of racism or elitism was heard however.

Lastly - we are now "benefiting" from state tax dollars being earmarked for the marina project. But wait - remember class - ALL TAX DOLLARS ARE YOUR MONEY!! Neither federal government, the state government nor the local government make their own money. So we are now stealing from a statewide tax base - for our benefit. Why - to "enable" the development of the project as promised for years and years. If the marina project, Swan Creek project and yes the unfunded arena project are good investments in the future of Toledo and NW Ohio, that investment should come from private sources - assisted by government DEREGULATION AND REDUCED INTERFERENCE - not by more tax dollars.

The A-Hole