Now For Something Not So Entirely Different

First a note on the Ohio Education Association endorsement. The committee has voted by a margin of 9 votes to 6 to endorse the Repulican Jimmy Stewart. Aparently they felt it was in their best interests to buddy up to their supposed winner rather than support a candidate who supports real education reform and organized labor. I am rather used to the perculiar propensity voters have for voting against their own self interests so.... no new news there.

And Now for Something Not So Entirely Different!

For the sake of this discussion let’s just assume that we are all rational thinking citizens who have witnessed the most destructive succession of events in our country in perhaps, our lifetimes. We have seen the illegal invasion and occupation of a foreign nation under false pretenses depleting our national treasure and more importantly causing the countless loss of innocent life and security. In the prosecution of that invasion and occupation we have willingly (as a nation) given up our civil liberties, our daily lives that we were so urged to continue in the face of terrorist attack. We have been subjected to the sacking of our economy for the benefit of multi-national corporations and the degradation of human rights on behalf of a for-profit health care system that makes decisions on patient care in line with the bottom line. Our legislators have continued to kow-tow to the fossil fuel industry in the face of record fuel prices, an industry that continually reports record quarterly profits and works daily to quash a waiting green economy. Our workforce has seen the ever-nearing end of organized labor, our country’s last line of defense for workers’ rights and the self-determination of dignity. Our leaders have fueled the expansion of religious extremism that mirrors the foreign religious extremism our leaders rail against, the same religious extremism that would usurp the constitution and deprive a woman of her rights. And all the while we continue to wallow in the farce of an elections system that discourages participation and is owned by private corporations amid a growing procession of elected officials on their way to prison.

But wait, there’s hope! In an unprecedented voter turnout the Democrats were swept into congressional office and poised to retake the White House. As we all knew they would move quickly to force an end to the war and had a plan to respond to our concerns. Oopps!!!

In recent days the Democrat-led Congress has once again voted to continue funding of the occupation of Iraq in direct conflict of their campaign promise. They have capitulated on FISA, extending immunity to lawbreakers in an assault on our civil liberties. Senator Obama has backed out of public financing for elections, instead choosing to accept millions of dollars in corporate-interest money from the Democrat Party under the guise of a populist funded campaign. Weak of will but strong on political correctness he has been dragged in a tit-for-tat demonstration of who is more religious when religion in government is not an issue for campaigns. And in the face of our greatest economic challenge the end of the oil economy, our leaders are teetering on the brink of consenting to the eminent domain seizure of OUR public lands to drill oil for the enrichment of their friends in the industry. All of this and not a passing word of acknowledgement of their capitulation in the stealing of the last two presidential elections, in the name of protecting the process, to be sure!

But honestly there is hope. It will require us to join together to challenge these people and their policies at every turn. No more can we expect them to someday represent the interests of working men and women, the poor and working poor when they are so insulated from our daily lives that they may hold themselves above accountability at our expense.

I ask you to support my campaign for Ohio Senate District 20 as one to bring about new leadership that will stand up to the challenges we face. As a committed peace activist I will immediately begin efforts to recall the Ohio National Guard. As a small businessman and concerned family member I will continue to seek the passage of the Health Care for All Ohioans Act. As someone who has been in business for twenty-two years in the environmental field but more importantly as someone who cherishes our public ownership of our pristine lands, who has experienced the elevation of quality of life through my family’s personal use I am committed to protecting and preserving that which is under OUR stewardship for future generations, our public lands, forests and waterways. If we are to retain those qualities, tools and strengths that have built our state, built our country, then we must resist the politics of fear and never capitulate or comprise our civil rights.

It is time to put some action behind our words and that will take your volunteerism and financial support. There is public money available to Ohio statewide candidates, but you and only you can designate its use. Contribute now and receive up to a $50 Ohio income tax credit and show your support for truly public-funded campaigns.