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Straight-ticket voter says no way
(by Dave Lange - November 05, 2008)
COUNTY LINE, BY DAVE LANGE
Straight-ticket voter says no way
Now that the 2008 elections are over, I can safely reveal how and why I voted on key issues that appeared on Ohio's statewide ballot without being accused of trying to influence the outcome.
Issue 1, to provide for earlier filing deadlines for statewide ballot issues.
No. At my age, I'm tired of early deadlines. Besides, it's hard enough for citizens to get their say on issues without the politicians making it even tougher.
Issue 2, to authorize the state to issue bonds to continue the Clean Ohio program for environmental revitalization and conservation.
No. As much as I appreciate environmental revitalization and conservation, I do not trust the state government with my money. When the state issues bonds, it has to pay the lenders back with interest, which means dipping into taxpayers' pockets.
The last time Ohio had an Issue 2 for the issuance of bonds, it was supposed to improve and replace aging and deteriorating infrastructure, especially in distressed communities that could not afford those investments on their own. But the state doled out $280,000 for wealthy Pepper Pike to relocate a perfectly fine Brainard Road and $250,000 for affluent Bainbridge Township to widen and reconstruct Savage Road, changing it from a quiet country lane into a noisy, high-speed truck route. Millions upon millions of tax-funded pork has gone to communities that don't need the money.
So who knows what the big spenders in Columbus might consider environmental revitalization? A Central Park for Solon? Socialized gas and oil wells in Gates Mills? While Ohio citizens' high taxes go down the tubes, its good-paying jobs keep going out the door.
Issue 3, to amend the constitution to protect private-property rights in ground water, lakes and other watercourses.
No. Constitutional amendments should be serious business, not willy-nilly political ploys to make a certain state senator from Chester Township feel better about his wrong-headed opposition to the Great Lakes Compact. The only private-property owners this amendment protects are those who would suck the ground-water aquifers dry for corporate profits. This was never about the people's right to use their own water; it was about selling Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes down the river.
Issue 4, to require paid sick leave for employees of Ohio companies.
This issue was withdrawn from the ballot. No, anyway.
Issue 5, a referendum on legislation limiting so-called "payday lending" interest rates to 28 percent.
No. Not unless the government gets its act together on re-regulating the big, bad, greedy financial institutions, including the mortgage industry and the credit-card giants, that have wrecked the American economy and continue to fleece borrowers. Small-time "payday lenders" are not the problem.
Issue 6, to amend the constitution by initiative petition for a casino near Wilmington in Southwest Ohio and distribute the taxes to all 88 counties.
No. The constitution should not be amended for the benefit of one single casino owner and for an inordinate tax benefit to one rural county. If and when Southwest Ohio voters support casinos for the Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and Youngstown areas, they might be due some reciprocity.
Finally, did I expect my fellow Ohio voters to see things my way?
No way.
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