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

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

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

  

Leery Erie

Those of us who live in Ohio should be aware that the Lake Erie eco-system is threatened again. As the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie seems susceptible to every potential fresh-water malady. Unlike the alarmism spread by the chicken-little earth-is-melting crowd, the Erie threats are visible to anyone who chooses to look. Invasive species and highly toxic algae are the headliners of the choking attempt to strangle Lake Erie. This challenge is not Ohio’s alone because 3 other states and the province of Ontario access the lake. Aside from Ontario, Ohio does enjoy the largest coastal area.

Last week I sat in for Brian Wilson, the afternoon host at WSPD, Toledo, and the topic of Lake Erie’s precarious position was one that we discussed. The danger from the invasive species and the algae is so great and so imminent that proactive measures must be initiated promptly. If they are not, the combined threats could prove to be devastating for the lake. State officials are aware of the lurking danger, but have spent the bulk of their efforts pleading for federal help and intervention. Given that Ohio is now controlled lock, stock and barrel by the Republicans, the EPA under an extremely partisan Democratic administration will not soon be rushing to the rescue. That is a fortunate development because the Environmental Protection Agency   is an out-of-control, sometimes-rogue element of the federal government.

The proliferation of algae is related to the phosphate discharges and runoffs in the Lake Erie Basin Area. Because of the federal EPA’s propensity for overreaching, it seems likely that their remedy for restoring the balance of the lake would include severe restrictions on watershed agriculture and more stringent discharge allowances for the many municipalities and water/sewer districts that use the lake and its feeders and tributaries as repositories for effluent. The typical heavy-handed EPA approach is to levy massive fines, issue “cease and desist” orders and require massive disruptions in policies, procedures and practices of the affected industries and political subdivisions. Clearly the lake must be preserved for a number of obvious reasons. First, good stewardship requires that we protect a valuable resource such as Lake Erie. Second, the lake is an outstanding economic factor for the state and the region as a source for fresh water fish and a recreational bonanza. In addition, Lake Erie provides a shipping and transportation resource that serves the entire Midwest region of the United States. There may be other critical reasons for protecting Lake Erie, but the final one that I wish to address at this time is the lakes’ fresh water. The Great Lakes’ water is a huge valuable resource that is coveted by other regions.

Because the federal EPA is so strident and restrictive, it is best if the states and Ontario can address and resolve Lake Erie’s problems. In a sense the coordinated effort could be similar to “passive nullification.” Even though political considerations have led to EPA foot-dragging regarding the condition of Lake Erie, if the feds observe an active approach from the states, they will attempt to intervene to protect their turf. The states should respond with a “thank you, but no, thank you.” I fear, however, the state legislature has already sought federal assistance and will submissively yield to any federal effort to assume control. The state political class will once again fail to do its duty and place the people and the economy of Ohio in peril.

From the point of view of a native Ohioan Lake Erie is a precious resource that should be protected and preserved. It is too important for federal government interference. If our state legislators lack the will to tackle the lake’s problems without federal intervention, the resource will eventually be lost to the state, the neighboring states and the region. The federal government will either make the situation worse or assume total control of Lake Erie and eventually the other four Great Lakes plus Lake St. Clair. The State of Ohio must stand firm, defend and restore Lake Erie. It’s a civic duty and a constitutional necessity. We are already drowning in a sea of big federal government statism. We do not need to watch our lake go underwater as well. It is time for the private sector interests who are stakeholders in the lake such as the shipping industry, the recreational businesses and agriculture to band together for solutions. In addition the private sector entities should insist on state action and resist any federal involvement. The attitude that the federal government will come to the rescue is mistaken and costly.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tue. & Wed., 1370 WSPD, Toledo   www.wspd.com