Revenuers, Speculators, and Taxmen

They Got Me! Despite my general cynicism and dislike of the mayor and the Blade, they got me. A bright full color picture in the sun, an artists rendering of the new upscale Swan Creek, and 4.2 MILLION DOLLARS plastered across the top. But the truth is, its business as usual for the Mayor, the City Counsel, and The Blade.

This is not a sale. This is land speculation. With a token deposit (which it can get back) Tetra Tech gets to hold its place in line, let the city do the homework, fact checking, and CLEANUP, and then MAYBE - Tetra Tech will spend some real money.

Not likely. I should have known when the mayor said "if you want the details talk to the lawyers" that something was afoot.

Its rare, but I was fooled; and had engaged in a discussion with a co-worked about how nice it was to see the city and the mayor do something right for a change.

Toledo's version of oil speculation has come to town, but I don't see Daniel Day Lewis skulking around town in 1820's garb, promising to build churches.

The A-Hole.

From a tad-POLL to a toad.

I decided if I was going to comment on the process, I should have some sense of it, so I worked the polls for the primary. I must admit, after my training session, and meeting my precinct team on the Monday night beforehand, I was sure it would be a fiasco. Luckily all went well.

I worked the Ottawa Hills H.S. polling location, and yes I am well aware that more populated precincts were much busier and less staffed, but I was pleasantly surprised at how the system worked.

We had input from “seasoned” poll workers (many of whom apparently have been doing their civic duty since before I was born), we had team leaders called “presiding judges” to help us regular poll judges get by, and we all worked well as a team. As I mentioned; armed and educated by a three hour training session and a pre-primary night meeting at the polling location to set up the machines, we leaped feet first into the fray Tuesday morning at 6:00 a.m. I left the location at just after 8:00 p.m. in the freezing rain and sleet. A long but satisfying day.

I saw children with their parents to join in the “historic vote” on the democrat ticket. I saw 17 year old students who will be 18 in November, vote for the first time. I worked with one dedicated 17 year old high school student who was there for the day, not for the money, not because he was president of the young republicans at his school, and not because he had some required community service hours to complete, but simply because he wanted to learn and experience the system first hand.

The machines worked like a charm. For the skeptics paper ballots were available upon request. I debated the machine vs. paper with a co-worker on Wednesday. Reading about the “lost memory cards” she was convinced that the old way was more reliable. I argued (successfully I might add) that we have no idea how successful the old way was, because we were comfortably naive about lost ballots, missing ballots, discarded ballots, ballots dropped in the ocean, or uncounted absentee military ballots. Because of the accuracy and immediate results which are possible with electronic ballots we now KNOW MORE about lost votes and can react accordingly. And knowledge is power, even if it only leads to finger pointing and cries of voter interference and disenfranchisement.

Like DeWine said - not a single electronic machine ran out of paper ballots. Yes in Lucas County some memory cards containing the votes were missing for at time; but guess what - officials knew exactly how many memory cards, where they should have been, and where to look because the cards are a known number. Therefore they could find them, and as necessary - return to the proper machines and re-record the votes. VWALLA!!

Did we ever know when a bag, box, crate, pallet or truckload of paper ballots went missing in the good ole days? No. Because we could not know the accurate number of paper ballots cast across the hundreds of thousands of voters, OR, design out the human error factor in casting, collecting, and counting them, we simply never knew the total of lost or incorrectly cast ballots.

So despite my initial cynicism, I became a convinced believer in the system, the machines, and the process. A proud, long day well spent.

The A-Hole.

PS…..and I get paid!!!!!

Please - for your own good - Read Walter Williams

Walter Williams

The A-Hole

An Electable Ticket

It looks like McCain is going to be the republican nominee. Question is, if he is facing a Clinton/Obama ticket or an Obama/Clinton ticket (less likely) who can republicans put up to win.

I know she has said NO WAY for years, but if the ticket for the democrats is that strong and historical, would Condoleeza Rice reconsider a vice presidency, for her country, for her party, for her race and for her gender.

McCain/Rice would be electable. She might reassure conservative republicans who are worried about McCain's liberal leanings. She would draw moderate, independent, and undecided women and African American voters to the right, and, she is probably the smartest person in the current cabinet.

CMON CONDI - Please - for God and Country - take a four year job in the Vice President's quarters. If you don't want to be President, so be it.

The A-Hole

Hillary's Hyphen??

So I will admit, the spark for my thoughts on this subject came from a morning radio comedy show co-host (Frankenstine never scared me).

What ever happended to Hillary's Hyphen?

For years she was the proud, bra burning, strong woman, independant Hillary Rodam-Clinton. Now she is just Hillary Clinton.

Liberal in moderates clothing? Pandering to the independants, the moderate republicans and the undecided? Pretending to be someone she is not. NEVER!!!

But what about the Gloria Stienem crew? Who has she abondoned to appear electable? And where are those long standing principles of independance, strength, I am woman hear me roar.

Next thing you know John McCain will BE HYPHENATED.

The A-Hole.

Let the fear Mongering Begin

Well it has begun! In response to a visiting civil rights leaders call for black citizens to vote against the renewal of the .75% income tax the Mayor has begun his fear mongering. Scare voters into believing that without the tax - fires will rage, criminals will rein, and garbage will choke the streets alleys and driveways of Toledo. The Blade Article outlines the Mayors comments on the recent call for a no vote to the tax renewal.

Please. The Mayor knows that the best way to insure the voters of Toledo will renew the tax is to scare them into it. Notice he does not claim that without the tax he may have to

1) Reduce the size of his staff.
2) Stop purchasing real estate in the failed Southwick Mall
3) Disband his fleet of ambulances and turn the service back over to private business
4) Trim the budget of entitlements and pet project give aways like lights for the trees downtown, or flowers, or Toledo Pride signs displaying his name.

There are lots of ways the City could and should reduce its spending and leave police fire and garbage alone.

But instead, right out of the political handbook - he spreads fear and insults anyone who dare challenge his control over the purse strings.

Vote no. Make the City trim the fat -- perhaps starting with his Honor.

The A-Hole

Private Investment in the Citizens, with proper Political Support

So some County Commissioners and state officials, along with PRIVATE BANKS are providing educational seminars to citizens to improve their credit, and free tax assistance through the VITA program. Kudos.

I know the utilities at the library, some of the advertising and administrative costs, and other items will be paid for with tax dollars, but the primary funding (including free breakfast) appears to be coming from private banks. WOO HOO. Finally our elected officials fulfilling their proper role; support private investment in the community, educate through press release and conferences, and keep the tax dollars spent to a minimum.

I know, I may be missing a big hole in the scheme, and may be naive in my early congratulatory remarks. But at least Ben didn't announce, COUNTY COFFERS PAY FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR THE NEEDY.

The A-Hole.