Around Ohio

According to several sources, Ohio seems to be in the running for funding to create a high speed rail line. Gee, didn’t we create the Ohio High Speed Rail Commission about 25 years ago? What happened to that?

Anyway, ODOT’s Web site actually has a page devoted to the idea.

Now that COTA doesn’t suck and is expanding service, the logical next step is to provide some sort of transit service from Columbus to the rest of the state. This looks like a great idea to me.

Hmm….first COTA is actually adding service, now high speed rail? Wow, Ohio might actually have real transit sometime in the near future.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia.

Okay, okay, you’re thinking. You’ve been so critical of our governor. What are your ideas?

Well, first, Strickland should actually do the things on the “Turn Around Ohio” plan.  Haven’t seen much activity here.

Second, I laughed today as I was driving to work and noticed the “Visit Michigan” billboard along the highway.  Beyond the irony of putting this up in the heart of Buckeye football country, the joke is on us.  Because while Michigan is INCREASING spending on tourism promotion, our clueless governor wants to ELIMINATE IT!  Uh, gee, I would think when times were bad you would want to encourage people to visit–and spend–in our state.

Third, champion the state. I don’t see any “rah, rah” kind of activity. In fact, what does Strickland do all day? Other than cut, apparently not much. I’d like to see him visit neighboring states and drum up some interest in the Buckeye state.

Fourth, have some sort of plan.  To vehemently oppose VLTs and then do a 180° for them shows Strickland has no game plan.  Instead of trying to pull money out of his ass, he should have either supported VLTs from the beginning or had some other sort of revenue in mind in its’ place.

Finally, how about school funding?  Remember that?  Our Supreme Court has time and again called for a “systematic overhaul” of school funding in Ohio.  This doesn’t mean some lame “results based” educational flop that makes all-day kindergarten mandatory (without providing funding!).  It means a move away from property tax levies to an equitable, statewide source of school funding. How about some action on that?

Strickland has done none of these things. It’s about time somebody did.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia

So how should a Governor lead a state?

As I have stated earlier, Governor James Rhodes had ideas and championed Ohio.  Granted, a few ideas like his bridge to Canada were a little screwy, but at least he had ideas.

What ideas has Strickland had?

Elected on his “Turn Around Ohio” plan, we don’t see much progress there. Oh, that’s right, Ohio is turning around–around the drain!

Then there was the “faith based initiative,” whatever that is.  Oh, that’s right, the head of that was recently indicted on charges of running a prostitution ring!  Oh Lord, I’m coming!  I’m coming!

Now he’s talking about making the school day and year longer…all while cutting education funding!  Whaaaa????

Listen closely and you can hear the flip-flop!

A true leader has a plan, a vision, and ideas to move the plan and the vision toward reality.  Strickland has none of those.

What could he do to lead Ohio?  A look at some ideas next.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia

Governor Strickland’s latest stunt to pull Ohio out of the dumper may take a while.  Reports are that Pennsylvania had to endure legal challenges and lawsuits that delayed the implementation of video lottery terminals (VLT’s) in that state for years.

So that state of Ohio budget hole may be leaking for some time to come.

Hmm….maybe this could have been avoided if Strickland would have thought of this a few years ago? But that would have involved some forward thinking on his part. When you flip-flop you don’t have much time to think ahead.

So we’ll probably have to endure legal challenges for a couple of years before we can bring in a few bucks on VLTs. If there’s any money or people left in Ohio at that point.

As someone commented on another Web site, the “Do Nothing” Governor has done nothing again.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia

Better Lives, Better Ohio is the name of Jennifer Brunner’s new state of Ohio Web site.

Okay, but I have to ask, couldn’t we just have reorganized ohio.gov? And why not a better URL? No one on this planet is going to remember www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/betterLives.aspx. Why not betterlivesbetterohio.gov?

And what the heck is search general information, search detailed information? How about some explanation for the layman about what this means? Heck, I’m a librarian with 25 years experience and was stumped about what to do when I saw this.

Oh well, maybe it will get better.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia

I picked up the Sunday Columbus Dispatch and laughed as it said a new poll shows Ohioans are losing confidence in Strickland’s ability to lead the state.

Really?!?!  And in a related story, the sun came up today.  Just talk to anyone and you can reach the same conclusion.

Like the retired man I spoke with at a July 4th parade.  He said “what has Strickland done in three years except cut?”  Exactly.  What has he done?

A leader of any organization, the state of Ohio or otherwise, has to do much more than balance the books.  James Rhodes, for example, had lots of ideas and was a real champion for the state of Ohio.  Granted a few of his ideas, like building a bridge to Canada across Lake Erie, were a little screwy.  But at least he had ideas.  Strickland has nothing.

Whenever we have any kind of crisis in Ohio, Strickland’s response is to say “I encourage all Ohioans to look in on their neighbors and help each other.” Well, I guess so, as it looks like he isn’t going to help! Reminds me of that old joke about Jimmy Carter saying “you’re on your own, good night.” And Strickland kind of reminds me of Carter.

So his ability to lead is definitely in question.  So what is the answer?  I’m going to explore some ideas here in the near future.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia

From the DUH! file:  Cleveland City Council bans texting while driving.

I can’t believe we even need to pass such a law.

You can read more about it here.

Come on, folks–type on a keypad?!?!  While driving?!?!  What’s next, basketweaving while driving?  Use a little common sense, please.  (Although I’ve often wondered why they call it common sense as it sure isn’t very common.)

Texting while driving probably wouldn’t bother me as much if, say, something important were being texted. Like the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. Or the cure for cancer. Or at least something more than:

r u my bff?

No, I’m not your bff, I’m your BFD!  Hang up and drive, will ya?!

Let’s hope for similar statewide laws.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia

For years I have asked, why is it that when I drive in other states, the speed limit is the speed limit, but in Ohio it has all that “Trucks 55 blah blah blah” after it?

Well, whatdya know, those days are finally gone.

Today, I-270 on the way to work just says SPEED LIMIT 65. For everybody.

This makes a lot of sense. Because speed doesn’t kill, SPEED VARIANCE kills. In other words, going 90 won’t kill you but hitting the stationary object will.

If everybody is going the same speed, things are safer.

The only dumb thing is, only interstates are included. So say, US 33 from Bellefontaine to Columbus, built the same as an interstate, still has the TRUCKS 55 thing. Dumb.

But maybe it will change, sooner or later.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia