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

  

Littlestuff Weekender-10-1-2011

Here we are in October, and in many respects it resembles Groundhog Day. President Obama has apparently proposed extremely higher tax increases and additional spending to be used to bolster his re-election, but the GOP House and the Harry Reid-led Senate act as if they’re indifferent. Meanwhile our beloved leader is traveling around the country speaking to everyone who will listen and asking them to help him “pass this bill.” The ironies are amazing: he rarely produces a bill, but relies on rhetoric, and speculation runs high that he really doesn’t want this one to pass so he can blame the GOP for their inaction and failure to help the unemployed. This view has credence because of the huge tax increases that he is proposing. He knows that the Republicans will not go along with such a blatant skimming of the private sector while our economy languishes in the doldrums.

The GOP presidential sweepstakes has hit numerous speed bumps and potholes as it follows its tortuous path. One can witness the diversity of federalism (and the necessity for aggressive 10^th Amendment action) as various states conduct their straw polls, and as Republican debates become more frequent. Each state seems to have differing preferences and different order of finishing for the candidates. The question is: do those differences reflect the base’s desires or the strength of candidate’s organizations?

Here in Ohio what would be a routine local election day in November has become rather heated and important with three (3) statewide issues on the ballot. Issue 1 would extend state judges age limits to 75 (currently 70) for running for office or re-election (the people yawn). Issue 2 is an attempt to repeal Senate Bill 5 which was enacted to allow more freedom for local governments and school boards when negotiating with their employees. In the early ‘80’s Ohio adopted “collective bargaining and binding arbitration” standards for the various locales. Since that time many local units have been mired into fiscal bogs as they scramble to fund escalating pension and health benefits. A favorable (Yes) vote on the issue would continue to allow local governments to bargain, but wouldn’t force them to do so and wouldn’t require binding arbitration.

The third issue, Issue 3, The Healthcare Freedom Amendment, would in essence exempt Ohio from the monstrosity of Obamacare. The underlying premise of the issue is that no one in Ohio can be forced to purchase health insurance. The individual mandate is the precursor to national healthcare, and Issue 3 attempts to preempt the federal government’s overreach. As Obamacare moves to the Supreme Court, this issue may prove to be mostly symbolic, but it is absolutely necessary as a statement to reinforce individual rights and state supremacy. If our state legislatures were not so firmly attached to the federal teat, they would have been doing their jobs by resisting federal encroachment into our lives for the past several decades. Too bad so many of them are career politicians who love the expansion of government power at all levels, and many of them lusted for congressional seats so they weren’t about to undermine federal power.

Buckeye voters have five weeks to decide the future direction of the state and send a message to the General Assembly to stop playing footsie with the Feds and protect Ohio’s sovereignty. The campaigning on both sides of Issues 2 and 3 will be intense, but citizens must choose between a corrupt and bankrupt Nanny-state and a glimmer of hope for freedom and self-determination in Ohio. As Arte Johnson used to say…..”Very interesting.”

There is another big issue for folks in the Buckeye State that is rocketing down the pike as Democrats seek to wrest control of the redistricting/reapportionment processes from the huge GOP majority in the General Assembly. In addition they are challenging recently-passed legislation that alters some election laws in the state. All three branches of government plus one are now heavily engaged in the political aspects of how our nation and our states are governed. The legislative bodies, the administrations, the courts and now the people via referendum are all engaged in a mighty battle for the heart and soul of our future. Personally, I pray that we have a future as our nation resembles Greece on bankrupt steroids more and more every day.

Have a great weekend. Programming note: On Wednesday I’ll be sitting in for Brian Wilson from 3:00-6:00pm on 1370 WSPD so my 6-7:00pm show will not be on that day.  

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tue. & Wed., 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo  www.wspd.com