The elections of November 2010 certainly demonstrated that a majority of Americans, as well as a majority of Ohioans voted for change in government. It seemed that voters frustrated with the direction government had taken used the ballot to make changes. Ohio reversed its course voting out many Democrats holding office in favor of Republican representatives. Republicans swept all of the elected state offices, as well as retaking the House of Representatives and increasing their majority in the Senate.
Did the voters send a mandate to government demanding that conservative ideals be established? Yes, I believe that to a significant degree voters were demanding a more conservative approach to governance. However, as much as it seems that a conservative mandate was demanded, I believe the stronger message sent was that voters wanted government to become less complex, more approachable, more transparent and more accountable to the people.
Now that the Republicans are in office – even though they have held office for only a few short weeks – has government really changed or does it remain the same…business as usual? Let’s look at Governor John Kasich. He brings discredit to himself and the office of governor by demeaning a police officer. He calls the officer an idiot and rails against him telling a large audience how rude the officer treated him. However, the actual evidence unequivocally demonstrates that Governor Kasich lied about the entire event, and for what purpose? Obviously, he was trying to make a political point before the audience he was addressing at the expense of a police officer, who did his job professionally and appropriately. Thus, Governor Kasich is a liar and has shown that he cannot be trusted.
Governor Kasich, before officially taking office, declares that he will not move to the Governor’s Mansion. Why? His reason involves the educational situation involving his daughters. He doesn’t want to remove his daughters from the private school they are attending. His decision has cost the tax payers thousands of dollars, because tax payer dollars must be used to install security systems at the Governor’s private residence in Genoa Township. Even more tax dollars are being spent maintaining the security force staffed by Ohio Highway Patrol officers guarding the private residence, as well as the cost associated with maintaining the Governor’s Mansion in Bexley, Ohio. No savings there for the citizens paying taxes and no reduction of the 8 billion dollar budget deficit. His decision clearly demonstrates his lack of confidence in the public education system, as well as his penchant for elitism.
The next debacle involving Governor Kasich concerns his staff and the appointment of department directors. He has raised the salaries significantly of his personal staff, well exceeding the salaries paid to the staff employed by the previous administration. He drones on about how he must pay higher wages to attract better qualified people to take appointed positions in government. He appoints Tom Charles the director of public safety. Mr. Charles has been in state government his entire working career, going from the Ohio Highway Patrol to appointed offices as inspector general and now director of public safety. Governor Kasich declared that Mr. Charles was the best man for the job, even after he was challenged over the fact that the appointment may create a conflict of interest involving Mr. Charles’ wife and son who are with the Ohio Highway Patrol. Again, his response demonstrated a dictatorial attitude and elitism…I am the governor and I will do what I want to do.
Now the issue of Senate Bill 5 rears its ugly head. This bill addresses the collective bargaining law for pubic employees…mind you not just state public employees, but all public employees working for any public entity in the state. Governor Kasich wants to abolish collective bargaining, not just modify or change aspects of the current law. He wants to pass legislation that would effectively remove the employment rights of the public employee and increase the power of government in this arena. He has set a course to accomplish this endeavor without regard to the impact it will have, both short and long term not only on the public employee, but on the state, the citizens and the economy. He refuses to listen, to negotiate and demands quick action by the state legislature. His approach is dictatorial and mean spirited. He has demonized the public employee by placing partial blame for the economic woes in the state on them. He is using, what he perceives as a mandate of those who elected him, to hammer through SB5.
As a former public employee, as a retiree, as an employee in the private sector, as a person with conservative ideals and as a tax payer I am appalled by the actions of Governor Kasich. I am embarrassed to admit that I supported his candidacy and that I voted for him, not because I thought he was such a great guy, but because I thought that he would bring about the kind of change in state government that was needed. I was wrong and I freely admit my mistake.
If the conservative ideals I cherish are to be sustained by government, the citizens must hold our elected officials accountable. Fellow conservatives must cling to the idea of smaller less intrusive government; one that is completely transparent; one that is completely accountable; one that governs with compassion and understanding; one that continually demonstrates fiscal responsibility; one that is willing to sacrifice itself for the sake of the citizen; and one that demonstrates the principles of honesty, integrity and morality. Since Governor Kasich has failed miserably, it is now up to the other Republican officer holders to redeem state government and march to the drum beat pounded out by the citizens of Ohio, and not to march locked step with the Governor.
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