Around Ohio

In order to balance the state budget in light of the postponement of gambling, Governor Strickland has proposed cancelling the last cut in the state income tax to balance the budget.

Let’s hear it for Captain Obvious!

Hip-hip, DUH!  Hip-hip, DUH!  Hip-hip, DUH!

About time!  What is the point in giving taxpayers a piddly tax cut when the state is going broke, local governments are putting levies on the ballot, license fees are being increased, etc.?

Ooh, that big tax cut saves me about 50 bucks a year.  What will I ever do?  Meanwhile Ohio sinks toward rock bottom.

Why couldn’t Strickland have proposed this idea a year or two ago?  If he only had a brain….

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia.

Okay, I’m really getting tired of the negativity on establishing rail service between Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus.

First, Columbus is the largest city in America without passenger rail service.

Second, yes, many won’t use it, but many don’t use schools or airports or whatever.  They are still important.  And don’t forget there are people in Ohio that can’t drive for various reasons.

Third, I am sick of the “it has to make money” bit.  Why does transit always have to make money?  How much money does I-71 make?  It loses billions, not only on building and maintaining it, but on State Highway Patrol keeping it safe, ODOT mowing and plowing, people cleaning the restrooms, etc.

Yes you can buy a tank of gas for what a ticket will cost.  But gas is hardly the only expense in operating an automobile.  For example, last year I attended a conference in Cleveland.  My truck is old, so I rented a car for the trip.  (My conference was in Tower City, so trains would have been perfect.)

The cost?  Rental car fee plus tax plus gas plus exhorbitant parking fees put the cost well over $15o.  That $25 train ticket would have been a bargain.

And I would have loved riding a train.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia.

At least according to this article:

Strickland Approval Rating Up

Up? Why? What has he done, let alone done right? If 48 percent of Ohioans approve, then 48 percent of Ohioans are morons.

Glad to be in the 52 percent majority.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia.

I overheard someone say this recently, and I thought, well, why not?

The state of Ohio already runs a numbers racket known as the lottery. Instead of bringing in out-of-state casino operators, or sharing revenue with horse tracks, why not have the state build and operate its’ own casinos?

And then I thought, heck, why build casinos at all?

Ohio state parks have lodges, why not just add a little space for it there? After all, Vegas lets children in as long as they don’t gamble. It would be a lot cheaper, and the state could reap all the profits.

But it won’t happen. Because the state wants the money, but not the responsibility. It’s like cigarettes, they should be illegal but, oh, that’s right, our government loves the revenue they provide.

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia.

Ahh….fall is here!  The days are getting shorter, the air is getting crisper….and the entire Central Ohio region shuts down on Saturdays to watch OSU football!

If you’re headed to “the game,” visit this page for things you need to know and links to more information.

Go Bucks!

Your Buckeye, John Kazalia.