Littlestuff Weekender-10-29-2011

Yesterday I attended Congressman Bob Latta’s (R-OH5) town hall meeting about agriculture. He discussed the likely breakout of the new ag budget/farm bill given the makeup of Congress and the fiscal constraints (odd….that’s never stopped Congress from spending in the past). The operative word for the day was “nutrition.” Bob anticipates that fully 75% of the Agriculture Budget will be targeted for nutrition programs….food stamps, Women infants children (WIC), and other similar government giveaways. The reason that those items remain in the ag budget is to ensure the votes from urban representatives. I understand, but since when should the bribe or the cost of the vote be three times the actual amount dedicated to agriculture?

Certainly as a strict constitutionalist, I am philosophically opposed to any direct government involvement in agriculture. Subsidies and direct payments should be phased out, and the market should be unfettered to provide a more realistic basis for the true cost of food and fiber. On the other hand, if our economically-challenged legislative cowards continue to underwrite other economic sectors and individuals belonging to “distressed” groups, then let’s continue to fund conservation efforts and crop insurance for our agricultural producers. If we continue to borrow obscene amounts of money to fund questionable and unconstitutional programs, we may as well continue assisting the 2% of our population who feeds and clothes us. Finally, one could argue that food and fiber production are vital national security interests. You can figure out why I wrote that.

Anecdotally, it seems to me that the agricultural sector has been more prone to bubbles and busts over the past several decades than have other economic sectors. Extreme weather often leads to inflated prices for crops and produce, and the agricultural community faces weather-based disaster on a regular basis. Early frost damages citrus, excessive rain may retard corn planting or harvesting, severe drought destroys crops, hayfields and pastures, and bitterly cold winters with minimal snow cover can negatively impact the winter wheat crop. Every weather phenomenon that damages urban areas can be as deadly for agriculture, but because of the broad acreage and sparser population, the losses go relatively unreported.

Briefly, I did have a moment to discuss the critical status of Lake Erie with the Congressman, and will continue to stay in touch as we pursue state-driven remedies as opposed to allowing the feds to mess it up. It’s time for Ohio and other Great Lakes states plus our neighbors in Canada to step up and resolve the issues ourselves and for the benefits of OUR CITIZENS…..

We have slightly more than a week until Election Day here in Ohio. Many of our local communities have offices up for consideration as do school boards, and other boards and commissions. Three statewide issues dominate the Buckeye electoral scene….especially Issues 2 and 3. Issue 2 is the ballot effort by public employee unions and their private sector fellow travelers to repeal SB 5….the public employment reform bill. A “yes” vote will continue the effect of the bill, and a “no” vote will repeal it. This issue will be a demonstration of pure electoral power. The outcome will determine the future solvency of the state and most of the local jurisdictions in Ohio. As of 10/27 the repeal effort had spent $17.3 million with another $4+ million on hand. The supporters of retaining the legislation had spent somewhat more than $7 million. It’s a showdown over who is in charge…taxpayers and their elected officials or the unionized public employees. I urge a “YES” vote. If the repeal fails, citizens must hold local officials accountable so that they NEVER AGAIN negotiate to give away the keys to the treasury.

Issue 3 is a constitutional amendment that forbids the state of Ohio from implementing the individual mandate contained in ObamaCare. Without the individual mandate in force, the remainder of that noxious legislative nightmare can be discarded piece by piece. This issue is a showdown between our citizens, state sovereignty and federal over reaching. A “YES” vote will tell the feds to take a hike and prevent the state government from implementing the mandate. Please vote “YES” on Issue 3.

Issue 1 deals with the retirement age for judges. It interests me nearly as much as a bucket of warm spit. I want constitutional judges with sound judgment. I don’t care how old they are as long as they aren’t napping and drooling while on the bench. I’ll probably vote “Yes” because geezers have rights too.

We’ll be on the air Monday night next week because we’re being preempted by the Tuesday night University of Toledo football game and the coach’s show on Wednesday. So to satiate our hordes of eager listeners, management asked us to do our little hour of pot-stirring on Monday, 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo. Our Monday guest will be James McCall, an independent candidate for President of the United States.  www.wspd.com

Tonight (Saturday) we are going to our son, daughter-in-law and grandson’s home for dinner and the OSU-Wisconsin football game. PJ, Heather and Sully have invited us plus a few of their friends to watch the Buckeyes dismember Bucky Badger.

Please remember…it’s not good parenting to eat all the Reese Cups from your children’s candy haul, and it’s really unfair if you leave them only the candy corn and apples while you greedily munch the remainder.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

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Mon.6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo.  www.wspd.com