Henry Lamb, executive vice president of the Environmental Conservation Organization and chairman of Sovereignty International presents a take in America's infrastructure fire sale that can be considered in the context of not only Ken Blackwell’s ideas for Ohio’s Toll Road but the type of sell-offs of local public infrastructure one might anticipate under the structure of global capital and free trade ideology tendered by and for global elites, sell-offs that may one day be proposed for Lakewood.
Of course, the low saving rate of Americans, outsourcing, off-shoring, immigration are all factors that lead to the inevitable fire sale and the shift in accountability from local political representatives and diminished sovereignty.
So there are issues of policy, political economy and sovereignty raised in the piece that have global, state and local implications. Lamb's piece also reveals how the global corps interface with the pols.
It's not simply a partisan thing. The Elephants and the Donkeys have both sold out the U.S.A. under Neo-Con and Neo-Lib ideologies designed to trim down the blubbering middle to the 80%/20% wealth distribution model.
Let's not forget Clinton and Gore delivered for Chinese Hutchison Whampoa Limited, a mega corp Lamb mentions.
I therefore heap up some Lamb on the international financing of public infrastructure.
“The Chicago Skyway Bridge is a 7.8-mile toll road built in 1958 to connect the Dan Ryan Expressway to the Indiana Tollway. In 2004, the facility was leased for 99 years, for a one-time payment of $1.83 billion, to the Skyway Concession Company, LLC, owned by Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte S.A., and Macquarie Infrastructure Group.
This same consortium won a 75-year lease for the 157-mile Indiana Tollway for $3.85 billion…..
Cintra has also formed a consortium with Zachry Construction Company in San Antonio...
In December 2004, the Texas Transportation Commission selected this consortium to develop the Trans-Texas Corridor. The proposal included a bid of $1.2 billion to build and operate the first segment of this facility as a toll road. Zachry Construction Company has invested heavily in political campaigns of key Texas officials.
The Trans-Texas Corridor is a member of the North American SuperCorridor Coalition.
Greg Carey, managing director at Goldman, Sachs & Company, told the Texas Transportation Forum last June, that this method of financing should not be limited to highways, but should include airports, bridges, tunnels, parking facilities, ports, rail, water and sewer systems, power facilities, hospitals, government-controlled liquor stores and "... anything else that produces revenue."
The American Water Works Company, a subsidiary of Germany's utility mega-corporation RWE, already provides water to 18 million Americans in 29 states.
Carey also told the group that all but 14 states had already changed their laws, or were now considering legislation, to allow this "international" financing of public infrastructure.
This relatively new method of financing infrastructure has excited government officials who see these public/private partnerships as win/win solutions. Government gets an infusion of cash and is relieved of the burden of daily operations. The private sector is eager to invest in long-term projects that promise a payback of as much as 61 times the investment.
But the users don't win…..
In anticipation of the Trans-Texas Corridor, the Kansas City Southern Lines set up a Mexican subsidiary to purchase the National Railways of Mexico, with 2,600 miles of track that reaches to Mexico's ports in Veracruz and Lazaro Cardenas.
These ports are owned by another international mega-corporation: the Chinese Hutchison Whampoa Limited…..
The so-called "free trade" enthusiasts have no problems with this international ownership of strategic infrastructure…... Enthusiasts claim that this transfer of public infrastructure to private partners is the free market at work.
But it is a process that is rapidly erasing the concept of national sovereignty. Is it smart to allow America's crucial infrastructure to be controlled, if not owned, by foreign companies? Kenneth Orski reports that one of these toll projects in Stockholm has been used as a demonstration project to show that pricing can be an effective way to decrease automobile use and force public transit use…... “
For more:
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51688
Can and will Stickland say anything substantive and progressive about Blackwell's big idea on the Turnpike?
Does he have the guts? Or do politics dicate he say too much for risk of alienating elite powers?
Kenneth Warren
Blackwell forces hard at work in Lakewood
Moderator: Jim O'Bryan
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Kenneth Warren
- Posts: 489
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Jim O'Bryan
- Posts: 14196
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:12 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
Ken
What really hit me most reading this was that Americans have gotten stupid and lazy, allowing ourselves to paint ourselves into a corner. Tollbooths are one thing, like selling the Japanese the Grand Canyon and the Empire State Building. Hard to take home! But selling bridges and water companies, boarders on insane. At that point I really want to see the trail of money.
Our parents and their parents and their parents made any sacrifice to build this country, protect the family unit, and make this country strong. In 15 years we have undone a majority of the hard work they gave their lives to. For what? SUVs that no one can afford to drive both financially and morally anymore? A house and lifestyle beyond our means, that when the smallest thing happens like a tax raise it causes us to cry and threaten to move.
I know I am speaking to the choir leader, but this country is screwed in so many different ways, and "America" fell for it hook line and sinker. Refinance, credit cards, over extending, and now the bankers will come for what is theirs. This country is set up for a massive failure of unprecedented levels. No manufacturing, no industry, very little technology, no money, and now no friends in the world. This my friend is screwed up very bad.
Luckily we live in Lakewood. We can fish, and drink water.
.
What really hit me most reading this was that Americans have gotten stupid and lazy, allowing ourselves to paint ourselves into a corner. Tollbooths are one thing, like selling the Japanese the Grand Canyon and the Empire State Building. Hard to take home! But selling bridges and water companies, boarders on insane. At that point I really want to see the trail of money.
Our parents and their parents and their parents made any sacrifice to build this country, protect the family unit, and make this country strong. In 15 years we have undone a majority of the hard work they gave their lives to. For what? SUVs that no one can afford to drive both financially and morally anymore? A house and lifestyle beyond our means, that when the smallest thing happens like a tax raise it causes us to cry and threaten to move.
I know I am speaking to the choir leader, but this country is screwed in so many different ways, and "America" fell for it hook line and sinker. Refinance, credit cards, over extending, and now the bankers will come for what is theirs. This country is set up for a massive failure of unprecedented levels. No manufacturing, no industry, very little technology, no money, and now no friends in the world. This my friend is screwed up very bad.
Luckily we live in Lakewood. We can fish, and drink water.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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Kenneth Warren
- Posts: 489
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:17 pm
Jim:
I am sorry to say that the privatization of the infrastructure, including water, is the handwriting on the wall, going back to Pappy Bush.
We might not be as lucky as you imagine.
Check out Title 3 Executive order 12803 of April 30, 1992
57 FR 19063 / May 4, 1992
TEXT: By the authority vested in me as president by the laws of the United States of America, end in order to ensure that the United States achieves the most beneficial economic use of its resources, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this order: (a) “Privatization†means the disposition or transfer of an infrastructure asset, such as by sale or by long-term lease, from a State or local government to a private party.
(b) “infrastructure asset†means any asset financed in whole or in part by the Federal Government and needed for the functioning of the economy. Examples of such assets include, but are not limited to: roads, tunnels, bridges, electricity supply facilities. Mass transit, rail transportation, airports, ports. Waterways, water supply facilities, recycling and wastewater treatment facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, housing, schools, prisons, and hospitals.
© “Originally authorized purposes†means the general objectives of the original grant program; however, the term is not intended to include every condition requires for a grantee to have obtained the original grant.
(d) “Transfer price†means: (i) the amount paid or to be paid by a private
party for an infrastructure asset, if the asset is transferred as a result of a competitive bidding; of (ii) the appraised value of an infrastructure asset, as determined by the head of the executive department or agency and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, if the asset is not transferred as a result of competitive bidding.
(e) “state and local governments†means the government of any state of the United States, the District of Columbia. Any commonwealth. Territory, or possession of the United States, and any country, municipality, city, town. Township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, regional or interstate governmental entity, council of governments, and any agency or instrumentality of a local government, and any federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Sec. 2. Fundamental Principles. Executive departments and agencies shall be guided by the following objectives and principles: (a) Adequate and well-maintained infrastructure is critical to economic growth. Consistent with the principles of federalism enumerated in Executive Order No. 12612, and in order to allow the private sector to Provide for infrastructure modernization and expansion, State and local governments should have greater freedom to privatize infrastructure assets.
(b) Private enterprise and competitively driven improvements are the foundation of our Nation’s economy and economic growth. Federal financing of infrastructure assets should not act as a barrier to the achievement of economic efficiencies through additional private market financing or competitive practices, or both.
© State and local governments are in the best position to assess and respond to local needs. States and local governments should, subject to assuring continued compliance with Federal requirements that public use be on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms, have maximum possible freedom to make decisions concerning the maintenance and disposition of their federally financed infrastructure assets.
(d) User fees are generally more efficient than general taxes as a means to support infrastructure assets. Privatization transactions should be structured so as not to result in unreasonable increases in charges to users.
Sec. 3. Privatization initiative. To the extent permitted by law, the head of each executive department and agency shall undertake the following actions: (a) Review those procedures affecting the management and disposition of federally financed infrastructure assets owned by State and local governments and modify those procedures to encourage appropriate privatization of such assets consistent: with this order;
(b) Assist State and Local governments in their efforts to advance the objectives of this order; and
(c) Approve State and local governments’ requests to Privatize infrastructure assets, consistent with the criteria in section 4 of this order and, where necessary, grant exceptions to the disposition requirements of the “Uniform Administration Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments†common rule, or other relevant rules or regulations for infrastructure assets; provided that the transfer price shall be distributed, as paid, in the following manner: (i) State and local governments shall first recoup in full the unadjusted dollar amount of their portion of total project costs (including any transaction and fix-up costs they incur) associated with the infrastructure assets involved; (ii) if proceeds remain, then the Federal Government shall recoup in full the amount of Federal grant awards, associated with the infrastructure assets, less the applicable share of accumulated depreciation on such asset (calculating using the Internal Revenue Service accelerated depreciation schedule far the categories of assets in question); and (iii) finally, the State and local governments shall keep any remaining proceeds,
Sec. 4. Criteria. To the extent permitted by law, the head of an executive department or agency shall approve a request in accordance with section 3(c) of this order only if the grantee: (a) Agrees to use the proceeds described in section 3 (e)(iii) of this order only far investment in additional infrastructure assets (after public notice of the proposed investment) or for debt or tax reduction; and
(b) Demonstrates that a market mechanism, legally enforceable agreement, or regulatory mechanism will ensure that: (i) the infrastructure asset or assets will continue to be used for their originally authorized purposes; and (ii) user charges will be consistent with any current Federal conditions that protect users and the public by limiting the charges.
Sec. 5. Government-wide coordination and Review. In implementing Executive Order Nos. 12291 and 12498 and OMB Circular No. A-19, the Office of Management and Budget, to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the provisions of those authorities, shall take action to ensure that the policies of the executive department and agencies are consistent with the principles, criteria. and requirements of this order. me Office of Management and Budget shall review the results of implementing this order and report thereon to the President one year after the date of this order.
Sec. 6. Preservation of Existing m Authority. Nothing in this order is in any way intended to limit any existing authority of the heads of executive departments and agencies to approve privatization proposals that are otherwise consistent with law.
Sec. 7. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch, and is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentality’s, its officers or employees, or any other person.
/a/ George Bush
THE WHITE HOUSE
April 30, 1992."
This executive order can be found at http://waterindustry.org/12803
One of the sponsors of the site is Environmental Market Analysis, whose president is Larry Chertoff.
For bio see http://waterindustry.org/ema/bio.htm
According to a conspiracy writer Christopher Bollyn, Larry Chertoff is father to Ben, author of a Popular Mechanics (PM) article "Debunking 9-11 Lies."
To advance the NWO conspiracy take, with the ordo undermining local and national sovereignty for the sake of the Neoliberal model of "free market" corporate fascism masked in the language of public/private partnership, it worth considering how these quirky privatization interests are coming into fruition post 9/11 on so many fronts.
Waterindustry.Org is a very useful site and filter for becoming familiar with the debate and the frames that will be spun in privatization fire sale certain to emerge in Lakewood and greater Cleveland. At back the debate will be Pappy Bush’s exec order.
Here’s a taste from one article included, “Massachusetts communities struggle to understand virtues of private participation in wastewater treatment faculties," by Christopher Marcisz, writing for the Berkshire Eagle:
"The decision that Lee voters face as they consider partially privatizing waste-water operations is a familiar one around the country. Faced with flat revenues and rising costs, towns and cities face expensive, technically daunting upgrades to aging water infrastructure, with little prospect for state or federal help.
In such circumstances, it is inevitable that communities would listen closely to the companies that come along with promises of worry-free, multimillion-dollar savings through contracted operations.
But the process of bringing free market principles to municipal policy is not always smooth or pretty.
It can be traumatic and divisive, as seen last year in North County when bids for private operations failed after Williamstown and North Adams -- which jointly operate the Hoosac Water Quality District -- clashed over the wisdom of the idea.
For more:
http://waterindustry.org/Water-Facts/pr ... tion-5.htm
When you are broke there's little one can do but commence the fire sale.
That's why a water backed local currency would likely be stopped by executive order.
There's a lot riding privatization gambit, and very little prospect for intelligent resistance.
It seems only conspiracy freaks and paranoid patriot militias are following these developments.
But bit by bit, we shuffle off concerns about sovereignty and slouch 'segundo clase' toward the NWO.
Kenneth Warren
I am sorry to say that the privatization of the infrastructure, including water, is the handwriting on the wall, going back to Pappy Bush.
We might not be as lucky as you imagine.
Check out Title 3 Executive order 12803 of April 30, 1992
57 FR 19063 / May 4, 1992
TEXT: By the authority vested in me as president by the laws of the United States of America, end in order to ensure that the United States achieves the most beneficial economic use of its resources, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this order: (a) “Privatization†means the disposition or transfer of an infrastructure asset, such as by sale or by long-term lease, from a State or local government to a private party.
(b) “infrastructure asset†means any asset financed in whole or in part by the Federal Government and needed for the functioning of the economy. Examples of such assets include, but are not limited to: roads, tunnels, bridges, electricity supply facilities. Mass transit, rail transportation, airports, ports. Waterways, water supply facilities, recycling and wastewater treatment facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, housing, schools, prisons, and hospitals.
© “Originally authorized purposes†means the general objectives of the original grant program; however, the term is not intended to include every condition requires for a grantee to have obtained the original grant.
(d) “Transfer price†means: (i) the amount paid or to be paid by a private
party for an infrastructure asset, if the asset is transferred as a result of a competitive bidding; of (ii) the appraised value of an infrastructure asset, as determined by the head of the executive department or agency and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, if the asset is not transferred as a result of competitive bidding.
(e) “state and local governments†means the government of any state of the United States, the District of Columbia. Any commonwealth. Territory, or possession of the United States, and any country, municipality, city, town. Township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, regional or interstate governmental entity, council of governments, and any agency or instrumentality of a local government, and any federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Sec. 2. Fundamental Principles. Executive departments and agencies shall be guided by the following objectives and principles: (a) Adequate and well-maintained infrastructure is critical to economic growth. Consistent with the principles of federalism enumerated in Executive Order No. 12612, and in order to allow the private sector to Provide for infrastructure modernization and expansion, State and local governments should have greater freedom to privatize infrastructure assets.
(b) Private enterprise and competitively driven improvements are the foundation of our Nation’s economy and economic growth. Federal financing of infrastructure assets should not act as a barrier to the achievement of economic efficiencies through additional private market financing or competitive practices, or both.
© State and local governments are in the best position to assess and respond to local needs. States and local governments should, subject to assuring continued compliance with Federal requirements that public use be on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms, have maximum possible freedom to make decisions concerning the maintenance and disposition of their federally financed infrastructure assets.
(d) User fees are generally more efficient than general taxes as a means to support infrastructure assets. Privatization transactions should be structured so as not to result in unreasonable increases in charges to users.
Sec. 3. Privatization initiative. To the extent permitted by law, the head of each executive department and agency shall undertake the following actions: (a) Review those procedures affecting the management and disposition of federally financed infrastructure assets owned by State and local governments and modify those procedures to encourage appropriate privatization of such assets consistent: with this order;
(b) Assist State and Local governments in their efforts to advance the objectives of this order; and
(c) Approve State and local governments’ requests to Privatize infrastructure assets, consistent with the criteria in section 4 of this order and, where necessary, grant exceptions to the disposition requirements of the “Uniform Administration Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments†common rule, or other relevant rules or regulations for infrastructure assets; provided that the transfer price shall be distributed, as paid, in the following manner: (i) State and local governments shall first recoup in full the unadjusted dollar amount of their portion of total project costs (including any transaction and fix-up costs they incur) associated with the infrastructure assets involved; (ii) if proceeds remain, then the Federal Government shall recoup in full the amount of Federal grant awards, associated with the infrastructure assets, less the applicable share of accumulated depreciation on such asset (calculating using the Internal Revenue Service accelerated depreciation schedule far the categories of assets in question); and (iii) finally, the State and local governments shall keep any remaining proceeds,
Sec. 4. Criteria. To the extent permitted by law, the head of an executive department or agency shall approve a request in accordance with section 3(c) of this order only if the grantee: (a) Agrees to use the proceeds described in section 3 (e)(iii) of this order only far investment in additional infrastructure assets (after public notice of the proposed investment) or for debt or tax reduction; and
(b) Demonstrates that a market mechanism, legally enforceable agreement, or regulatory mechanism will ensure that: (i) the infrastructure asset or assets will continue to be used for their originally authorized purposes; and (ii) user charges will be consistent with any current Federal conditions that protect users and the public by limiting the charges.
Sec. 5. Government-wide coordination and Review. In implementing Executive Order Nos. 12291 and 12498 and OMB Circular No. A-19, the Office of Management and Budget, to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the provisions of those authorities, shall take action to ensure that the policies of the executive department and agencies are consistent with the principles, criteria. and requirements of this order. me Office of Management and Budget shall review the results of implementing this order and report thereon to the President one year after the date of this order.
Sec. 6. Preservation of Existing m Authority. Nothing in this order is in any way intended to limit any existing authority of the heads of executive departments and agencies to approve privatization proposals that are otherwise consistent with law.
Sec. 7. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch, and is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentality’s, its officers or employees, or any other person.
/a/ George Bush
THE WHITE HOUSE
April 30, 1992."
This executive order can be found at http://waterindustry.org/12803
One of the sponsors of the site is Environmental Market Analysis, whose president is Larry Chertoff.
For bio see http://waterindustry.org/ema/bio.htm
According to a conspiracy writer Christopher Bollyn, Larry Chertoff is father to Ben, author of a Popular Mechanics (PM) article "Debunking 9-11 Lies."
To advance the NWO conspiracy take, with the ordo undermining local and national sovereignty for the sake of the Neoliberal model of "free market" corporate fascism masked in the language of public/private partnership, it worth considering how these quirky privatization interests are coming into fruition post 9/11 on so many fronts.
Waterindustry.Org is a very useful site and filter for becoming familiar with the debate and the frames that will be spun in privatization fire sale certain to emerge in Lakewood and greater Cleveland. At back the debate will be Pappy Bush’s exec order.
Here’s a taste from one article included, “Massachusetts communities struggle to understand virtues of private participation in wastewater treatment faculties," by Christopher Marcisz, writing for the Berkshire Eagle:
"The decision that Lee voters face as they consider partially privatizing waste-water operations is a familiar one around the country. Faced with flat revenues and rising costs, towns and cities face expensive, technically daunting upgrades to aging water infrastructure, with little prospect for state or federal help.
In such circumstances, it is inevitable that communities would listen closely to the companies that come along with promises of worry-free, multimillion-dollar savings through contracted operations.
But the process of bringing free market principles to municipal policy is not always smooth or pretty.
It can be traumatic and divisive, as seen last year in North County when bids for private operations failed after Williamstown and North Adams -- which jointly operate the Hoosac Water Quality District -- clashed over the wisdom of the idea.
For more:
http://waterindustry.org/Water-Facts/pr ... tion-5.htm
When you are broke there's little one can do but commence the fire sale.
That's why a water backed local currency would likely be stopped by executive order.
There's a lot riding privatization gambit, and very little prospect for intelligent resistance.
It seems only conspiracy freaks and paranoid patriot militias are following these developments.
But bit by bit, we shuffle off concerns about sovereignty and slouch 'segundo clase' toward the NWO.
Kenneth Warren
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Colleen Wing
- Posts: 147
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 7:59 pm
- Location: Lakewood
- Contact:
Mr. Warren,
Please remind me what Ken Blackwell's plan to privatization the turnpike has to do with selling our water system. (Four Paragraphs or less please
) You lost me after the third scroll-I think you were talking about the whole slippery slope thing.
Maybe we could have a separate agency build it's own alternative route and see which one is better run. You know kind of like the libraries.
You are an incredibly smart man and I respect you very much but you and Jim are depressing me with your grim view of our world. Maybe you guys just need a hug.
Let me know if I can help.
The Compassionate Conservative,
Colleen Wing
Please remind me what Ken Blackwell's plan to privatization the turnpike has to do with selling our water system. (Four Paragraphs or less please
) You lost me after the third scroll-I think you were talking about the whole slippery slope thing.
Maybe we could have a separate agency build it's own alternative route and see which one is better run. You know kind of like the libraries.
You are an incredibly smart man and I respect you very much but you and Jim are depressing me with your grim view of our world. Maybe you guys just need a hug.
Let me know if I can help.
The Compassionate Conservative,
Colleen Wing
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Kenneth Warren
- Posts: 489
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:17 pm
Colleen:
I was making a broad ideological point about the privatization trend and the sell-off of public assets.
It is, indeed, a depressing scenario, one democrats and republicans have had hands in, turning over public assets to global capital consortia, calling politics and favoritism efficient economics.
Beyond Ken Blackwell's idea, which I would peg to a larger trend and hereby contest, I believe people need to wake up and scrutinize the ideological premises and the political practices unfolding with the privatization trend.
Kenneth Warren
I was making a broad ideological point about the privatization trend and the sell-off of public assets.
It is, indeed, a depressing scenario, one democrats and republicans have had hands in, turning over public assets to global capital consortia, calling politics and favoritism efficient economics.
Beyond Ken Blackwell's idea, which I would peg to a larger trend and hereby contest, I believe people need to wake up and scrutinize the ideological premises and the political practices unfolding with the privatization trend.
Kenneth Warren
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Stan Austin
- Contributor
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- Contact:
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ryan costa
- Posts: 2486
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:31 pm
colleen wing
Colleen Wing wrote:You want to know what boggles my mind?
Why would the Mayor author such a divisive and unnecessary post?
There have been many discussions on the Lakewood blogs about the evils of partisan politics.
This isn't a Democrat town, it is a town with the majority being Independents.
Personally, I choose to focus my attention on my own party. As the President of the Lakewood Republican Organization it is my responsibility to educate voters in Lakewood about the Republican candidates. And I will continue to do so.
It is good to know that our local schools are available to, I assume...rent, for rallies for candidates.
Blackwell's campaign commercials are so nasty I would vote against him even if I agreed with the general statements of his campaign(which he has no likely way of enforcing).
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Amanda Schoen
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:32 pm
- Location: Washington, DC
I feel it hard
I feel it hard to vote for a candidate who is personally responsible for the errors in the absentee ballots submitted in the May primary.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/14534725.htm
The absentee ballots had to be counted by hand because there was a compatibility problem between the optical scanners that read the votes and the printers that count the votes, Ellis said.
My vote was among those absentee ballots. As a college student who lives in Washington DC, and sees corrupt politicians working on a daily basis, it is against my morals to put a man like Blackwell in the Governor's office. We already have enough corrupt politicians in Washington as well as Columbus, and continuing this tread would be unthinkable.
Blackwell is connected and responsible for the Diebolt errors in the May primary. He needs to come up with a better solution quick, because right now, I'm not even convinced that my vote will count come Nov. 7th.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/14534725.htm
The absentee ballots had to be counted by hand because there was a compatibility problem between the optical scanners that read the votes and the printers that count the votes, Ellis said.
My vote was among those absentee ballots. As a college student who lives in Washington DC, and sees corrupt politicians working on a daily basis, it is against my morals to put a man like Blackwell in the Governor's office. We already have enough corrupt politicians in Washington as well as Columbus, and continuing this tread would be unthinkable.
Blackwell is connected and responsible for the Diebolt errors in the May primary. He needs to come up with a better solution quick, because right now, I'm not even convinced that my vote will count come Nov. 7th.
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DougHuntingdon
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:29 pm
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Charyn Compeau
- Posts: 324
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:11 pm
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Phil Florian
- Posts: 538
- Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:24 pm
DougHuntingdon wrote:I have no opinion on the governor's race, but I wonder if race is an issue.
Will Ohio ever elect a black governor?
Doug
I don't think race is as big an issue in elections as it once was. It has been made very clear that if a candidate sings the right tune, people will vote for them. Blackwell is doing that very well, singing the usual hosanahs of "My Opponent is a Tax and Spend Liberal" coupled with a song called "Gay Marriage and Abortion is What You Get if you Vote for _______." They are old tunes but the jukebox keeps playing them.
Phil