PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS HAD THE POWER FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES. WHILE UNION-SYMPATHIZER TED STRICKLAND WAS GOVERNOR THEY HELPED STICK OHIO WITH AN $8 BILLION DEFICIT POSITION.
I know. There are parts of SB-5 which is the law that Issue 2 seeks to repeal that might have been omitted. Not that any of the parts of the law are "bad" per se; I would just have not gone quite so far in restricting the power and rights of public employees. After all, they are the puppets of the unions--who are spending upwards of $20 million in advertising to repeal the law.
Take friends to the polls with you, then go have a cup of coffee afterward, and enjoy having practiced your rights as a citizen to vote freely. If only OH was a Right to Work state, a lot of SB-5 and the Issue 2 argument would be immaterial. I believe that IF Issue 2 NO voters win, the governor and legislature should consider Right to Work legislation for OH. If you study the difference in the economic well-being of states that have it vs. those that don't--it's a no brainer. And it doesn't "take rights away from anyone!"
It gives back to the citizens of the state the right to decide whether or not they want to belong to a union as a condition of their employment. How much more American can you get than that?
IF YOU THINK HERMAN CAIN'S 9-9-9 IS ALL WRONG, THINK AGAIN
At least Arthur Laffer--a distinguished economist from a bygone era, thinks it is a darn good idea. This article explains it better than Cain does. No wonder Rick Perry is going to try copying it.
NOTE THAT RICK PERRY SUDDENLY HAS THE "FLAT TAX" IN HIS PLANS
I wonder why? I am more and more disenchanted with Perry. His behavior reminds me more and more of a career politician who will say and do whatever he must to further his chance for reelection.
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT: I AM STILL A MITT ROMNEY SUPPORTER, AND ALSO VERY IMPRESSED BY HERMAN CAIN. I STILL THINK NEWT GINGRICH IS THE SMARTEST POLICY GUY ON THE DEBATE STAGE. IF I COULD SOMEHOW COMBINE THESE THREE--THAT WOULD BE A POWERFUL CANDIDACY.
The rest are also rans, even though Ron Paul makes a lot of sense about 1/2 of the time. The sooner Bachman, Santorum, Huntsman, et. al. hang up their campaigns, the better. (Huntsman has the "chops" but just doesn't seem to have much "fire or desire.")
I'M TROUBLED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS DURING POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS--PEOPLE BEING "SADDLED" WITH THEIR PASTS BEYOND ALL REASON
Show me a person who says their positions and opinions have not changed over the past 10-20 years and I will show you either a liar or a fool. Times change; circumstances change. Thus we all must change as time goes on. Who knew 20 years ago, that we'd know as much about operating computers, or that an iPhone would even exist, or streaming music or videos. Who could imagine all the changes. And yet, in the heat of these campaigns, past decisions are dredged up and pointed out for how "wrong they were." Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney--and Mitt more than the others--endure this constantly. Any candidate must endure it too. They get called flip-flopers. That is just so much crap. People, that the especially includes politicians, but adapt, evolve, adjust and modify their positions based on what they learn, what they know, what they believe, and current conditions. Thus my statement--any one who says their positions have not changed at all for 10-20 years, is either a liar or a fool.
FORMATIVE YEARS ARE DIFFERENT THAN SITUATIONAL CHANGES FOR AN ADULT--BOTH HAVE THEIR EFFECTS
I can accept that the environment during a person's youth--"the so called formative years"-- has a great effect on what kind of person they become. But a decision made in one set of circumstances by a "full-grown adult" might be quite different now than 10-20 years ago. First of all, that person has the insight of what happened. Would we have gone into Iraq the same way? Hell, no. Would we have conducted that war and the one in Afghanistan the same way? Of course not--or I hope that additional knowledge would have better informed us and allowed us to choose a different course. And yet, actions of more than a decade ago are often used (positively--e.g., by Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich), or negatively (against Mitt Romney or Rick Perry). Adolescent years have been repeatedly cited as a basis for Barack Obama's beliefs and policy positions. Were they? Possibly, maybe even probably--but who can say, with so much time for learning during the intervening years.
ROMNEY CARE VS. OBAMACARE
I have a philosophy--it's mine, may not be yours. An elected official should choose decisions that combine the wishes of his/her constituents, his/her own policy beliefs and the current situation. This is what led to RomneyCare as it has been named by the always voracious media--especially those who don't like Romney. In fact, it is amazing that a Republican was ever elected governor of one of the most Democratic and liberal states in the union. I think Romney did his duty there--brokering a consensus compromise between Republicans (him), Democrats (the majority of his constituents) and Labor (a major factor in health care in MA). Does this mean he must now, 5-6 years later, follow the same philosophy for the entire USA, as he did in MA? Hell no! He better not. He would be expected to adapt, adjust, and decide on a policy direction that fit his constituents (the entire USA), his own beliefs (a moderate/somewhat conservative Republican) and the needs of the nation. Thus I see no disconnect between Romney defending his action in MA and his current position.
WHY DOES VP BIDEN SAY IDIOTIC THINGS? HE DOES IT A LOT!
His latest tirade about how not passing Obama's Jobs Program resulting in increases in rape, violent crime, etc. is both stupid and inflammatory. It is also not borne out by facts. Crimes have been proven to be only slightly related to incremental changes in law enforcement. But then Biden never let the facts get in the way of a statement he wants to use. he openly made up information, distorted facts and lied outright in his debate with Sarah Palin in 2008. Of course the media knew it, but they were so enamored with Barack Obama that they buried it--until after the election. Biden even recalled going (more recently) to a restaurant/bar that had been closed for years before. This is analogous to Obama's statements about how Selma AL events shaped him, when they happened before he was born. I hope that whoever ends up as the GOP VP candidate does a big job of homework before debating Biden and calls him out as a liar and fabricator of fiction in place of facts. He deserves it.
I DID THE "BIG CALL" WEBINAR THIS PAST WEEK FOR BIGRESEARCH.COM--AND IT HAD SOME VERY INTERESTING RESULTS FROM OCTOBER'S SURVEY
Here's a snapshot of the headlines. It's still clear that consumers have little confidence in the direction of the economy and what it means for them. They will, however be spending during the holidays at levels not much different from last year. What continues to evolve is what they are buying...and where. Frugality--giving gifts of either necessities or entertainment value (electronics!). And many will be "gifting themselves" with what they want. Gift cards are still very popular too.
- Scary! Confidence drops to 22.0% this month
- Focus on necessities on par with recession-era Oct-08
- It’s bargain hunting season: cutting back on spending is top financial priority
- Pump price pressures have eased, but expect smart shopping strategies to continue
- One in four only buy clothing on sale
- Consumer Migration: Children’s Clothing
- 90 Day Outlook: Shoppers have more treats than tricks in mind for retailers
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SOME AMERICAN YOUTH HAVE IT RIGHT; HERE'S ONE!
I WAS GOING TO WRITE MY OWN TAKE ON THE "OCCUPY WALL STREET" MOBS...BUT THIS ONE IS SO GOOD, I'LL USE IT:
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POLLSTER DOUG SCHOEN IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DESCRIBES THE OCCUPY WALL STREET CROWD THIS WAY
"The protesters have a distinct ideology and are bound by a deep commitment to radical left-wing policies. On Oct. 10 and 11, Arielle Alter Confino, a senior researcher at my polling firm, interviewed nearly 200 protesters in New York's Zuccotti Park. Our findings probably represent the first systematic random sample of Occupy Wall Street opinion.
Our research shows clearly that the movement doesn't represent unemployed America and is not ideologically diverse. Rather, it comprises an unrepresentative segment of the electorate that believes in radical redistribution of wealth, civil disobedience and, in some instances, violence. Half (52%) have participated in a political movement before, virtually all (98%) say they would support civil disobedience to achieve their goals, and nearly one-third (31%) would support violence to advance their agenda.
The vast majority of demonstrators are actually employed, and the proportion of protesters unemployed (15%) is within single digits of the national unemployment rate (9.1%).
An overwhelming majority of demonstrators supported Barack Obama in 2008. Now 51% disapprove of the president while 44% approve, and only 48% say they will vote to re-elect him in 2012, while at least a quarter won't vote.
Fewer than one in three (32%) call themselves Democrats, while roughly the same proportion (33%) say they aren't represented by any political party.
What binds a large majority of the protesters together—regardless of age, socioeconomic status or education—is a deep commitment to left-wing policies: opposition to free-market capitalism and support for radical redistribution of wealth, intense regulation of the private sector, and protectionist policies to keep American jobs from going overseas.
Sixty-five percent say that government has a moral responsibility to guarantee all citizens access to affordable health care, a college education, and a secure retirement—no matter the cost. By a large margin (77%-22%), they support raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, but 58% oppose raising taxes for everybody, with only 36% in favor. And by a close margin, protesters are divided on whether the bank bailouts were necessary (49%) or unnecessary (51%).
Thus Occupy Wall Street is a group of engaged progressives who are disillusioned with the capitalist system and have a distinct activist orientation. Among the general public, by contrast, 41% of Americans self-identify as conservative, 36% as moderate, and only 21% as liberal. That's why the Obama-Pelosi embrace of the movement could prove catastrophic for their party.... "
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THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ONE WEEKEND. ENJOY THE FALL, BECAUSE WINTER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
BEST, JOHN
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When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation!
Author of the award winner: The Complexity Crisis & The Chinese Conspiracy (a novel)
Come see me on Forbes.com, and American Express Open Forum.com
Just search for Mariotti, and read...
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