Politically directed investments? (Cambridge, Republic: fit in, 2015, home)

[WRnative]

A Republican candidate for Ohio Treasurer claims to be a conservative but advocates for politically directed investments:

<<Sprague also said he would address the threat of "radical Islamic terrorism" -- choosing a politically loaded phrase favored by many Republicans, including term-limited State Treasurer Josh Mandel -- by promoting state investments in Israel.>>

State Rep. Robert Sprague to run for Ohio treasurer | cleveland.com

Ohio shouldn't invest funds, especially pension funds, based on political ideology or "pay-to-play" considerations.

Investments should be determined based on risk/reward considerations, and the highest possible return.

Sprague's proposal seems like a political stunt to garner campaign contributions from big Republican campaign donors who also are supporters of Israel, such as the Wexners.

Here's an example of a recent pay-to-play controversy involving East Coast Republicans:

<<During the campaign, Democrats made hay of what they called a “pay-t0-play scheme:” the $10,000 donation Baker made to the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 2011, which was followed by a New Jersey pension fund investment with a Cambridge-based firm where Baker worked. Baker has denied any impropriety. The issue has been under review by the New Jersey state treasurer’s office.>>

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...zwI/story.html

JobsOhio and the leveraging of the Ohio Turnpike perhaps were influenced by "pay-to-play" concerns, given the heavy Wall St. backing provided to Ohio Republicans and the likely underwriting fees (7 percent?) paid on the billions of dollars of debt floated under these two programs.

[1watertiger]

"Radical Islamic terrorism " is not a loaded political phrase. Its strait honest talk. Something the politically correct left wont mention or say.

[hensleya1]

Radical Islamic terrorism is not a politically loaded term. It's reality.

And your bevy of political posts are a better fit in the Politics forum.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Radical Islamic terrorism is not a politically loaded term. It's reality.

And your bevy of political posts are a better fit in the Politics forum.

Ohio political issues are a proper topic for this forum. Your attempts to muzzle discussion merely reflect your disdain for honest debate on issues affecting Ohioans.

Regardless of the excuse used, "pay-for-play" directed investments are an affront to conservative political values. Any politician who advocates such a policy in my book has no business being Ohio's Treasurer.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by 1watertiger

"Radical Islamic terrorism " is not a loaded political phrase. Its strait honest talk. Something the politically correct left wont mention or say.

I didn't say radical Islamic terrorism didn't exist. It does, just as does radical Zionist terrorism and even radical Christian terrorism (abortion clinic bombings and assassinations and Centennial Olympic Park bombing). The phrase quoted was directly from the linked cleveland.com article.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centen...c_Park_bombing

National security adviser: Term 'radical Islamic terrorism' isn't helpful - CNNPolitics.com

Using the term to justify politically directed investments, however, is disgusting.

Ohio's pension funds already are on tenuous ground, with benefits, especially retiree medical and inflation adjustments, already reduced. We don't need politicians using the funds to curry favor with political supporters. Similarly, Kasich, Mandel and the Republicans, have redirected massive amounts of state resources away from direct governmental uses, such as local government funds, to secretive funds such as JobsOhio.

We don't need even more of these political shenanigans in my book. Anybody who characterizes as "leftist" objections to the politically motivated diversion of scarce public resources to special interest purposes and away from public needs actually is a fake conservative in my book.

Ohio pension and other funds should be invested only with the highest risk-adjusted returns as a goal.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by 1watertiger

"Radical Islamic terrorism " is not a loaded political phrase. Its strait honest talk. Something the politically correct left wont mention or say.

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Radical Islamic terrorism is not a politically loaded term. It's reality.

Something can be both reality and politically charged at the same time. E.g., abortion, gay marriage, 50 caliber machine guns for home protection, etc. What makes it politically charged is the context in which its used -- such as like when you're using terrorism as negative reinforcement to shill for investments in Israel.