I sit here at my kitchen table wondering how well I did yesterday in my interview with the Enquirer Editorial Board, regarding my views on what can be done to solve the problems facing the State of Ohio.
I usually do not expect too much agreement with these people, but I do know that I will get their respect. It's very important to the survival of our republic that we can air our difference about how we can best serve the entire population with civility. I and my opponent (B. M.) avoided all negative flare-ups-- probably because we have known each other for many years and respect each other's right to have different opinions. "M" is a lawyer and looks at things in the way Republicans theorists normally do. I however, am a retired businessperson who looks at things in the light of, "How can we do the most for the people in the most cost-effective manor?" We are very close on some issues, however, his English-only law for our state is ridiculous. I submit that English is the official language of this country already and we certainly do not need to create another wedge between ethnic groups.
We have Asian, Middle-Eastern, Latin-American, African-American and Caucasian people all attending the same schools and they all learn English together. No big deal!
School funding was the lead-off question of the interview and I took the position that property taxes for school operation are tapped out. We must find additional ways to fund schools besides taxing the citizens to death. "M" said the state was putting up $175 million every three months and that should be enough. However, if that's truly enough, why are all the local districts still putting additional levies on the ballot? Or, as Oak Hills is doing, moving inside millage to outside millage in order to raise our property tax without our being able to vote on it! This is "Smoke & Mirrors" governing and a flat-out, unacceptable way of doing business. I think we must give our children a good primary education in order to encourage them onto a good secondary and college education. "M" thinks we are at the "tipping point" now, but I am afraid we are only seeing the "tip of the iceberg," similar to the one that sank the Titanic.
We must do more. We must help those with talent to get a good education and not end up owing thousands of dollars at graduation. The inquisitors then asked, "What was the most important thing I could do for the state?" I answered that I would try to reform the bureaucracies that stifle the citizens the the most. The worst of all happens to be the Liquor Control Board. On that issue I propose to: abolish the Liquor Control Board completely, get the state out of the business of selling liquor, let each of the state's 88 counties issue permits using state guidelines and do the policing of those permits. Each permit holder of C1 and C2 licenses would then be able to sell liquor purchased from local distributors, not the state, and in turn, sell it at a better price and much better convenience to the public. The sales tax increase derived from the public that would no longer need to go to surrounding states to purchase alcohol, would more than off-set any loss of revenue to the state.
Bring Ohio into the 21st Century!
"M" said he was optimistic about the future and that everything would work out. Well, I'm usually the optimist. I started three businesses from scratch and that surely takes an optimist; however, I'm very concerned about the future. We must work on the problems we have right now or we are going to pay an enormous price to get back to being fiscally viable.
So, we just have to wait and see if I made an impression or not. Til next time, God Bless.
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Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative.
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