Ohio's problem..we're becoming a BLUE state. (Columbus, Cleveland: 2009, crime rates)

[James Taylor]

Originally Posted by Slash83

I hate to admit it - but this state is slowly becoming democratic. I wouldn't be surprised if it's blue come November. For some reason people like that idea yet this state has high unemployment, dirty rotten cities like Youngstown, all of our big cities are ran by democrats - yet people love those democrats! Tell me what these democrats running our cities have gotten us. Don't blame Bush like you want...it's our fault. How about the governor proposal..wants to tax groceries..what in the..?

You seriously need to study American politics.

The party that would be all in favor of taxing groceries would be the GOP.

It's Democrats who would say, "Making people pay taxes on something as fundamental as food is absolutely unfair and we are not going to allow it".

Don't be brainwashed by Rush and Hannity.

[JefferyT]

Kentucky is south of us, Louisville and Lexington are both booming cities and have a lot of development.

Lexington and especially Louisville are blue citys. Louisville is probably more Democrat out in the suburbs than Columbus or Dayton, if you can believe it (really more of a balance there, but certainly a tilt to the Dems).

The point is, I guess, that I wouldnt necessarily equate partisanship with a growing economy.

[1watertiger]

imo.. taft helped destroy this state. why cant we lower tax/utilities for business and future business that want to come to our state.? lower their costs enough so our higher labor costs do not become a concern. i think its better to abate taxes and offer incentives to attract or retain companies . on a side thought, does anyone really believe politicians (dem or rep) ?

[CortlandGirl79]

I thought i heard that Strickland was trying to overhaul our tax system and make Ohio more business friendly???? Taft was a criminal and we lost plenty of jobs under him. He also didn't give a damn about northeast Ohio, at least Strickland is trying to help us out! It seems to me that over the past 15 years our hard earned tax dollars have been sent to Columbus and they've stayed there. I feel like now we are actually starting to see some of those dollars spent in the most densely populated portion of the state.

[GeminiGal]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

I don't live in Ohio but I can vouch for the fact that lower taxes equal more jobs. I live in Alabama and our state has a wonderful governor that has brought in many many new jobs to our state. So far we have Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Volkswagon, and several new steel mills. It's up to individual states to provide incentives for companies to locate there, not Washington. Low cost of land, low taxes, and low regulation will bring in jobs. Unions are a job killer, just look at Michigan. The non union auto jobs in my state pay a decent wage and the workers seem to be satisfied. You just can't expect a factory job to pay $30 per hour and stay in business for very long.

There are an awful lot of unions here. I am from the South and there are virtually no unions. The one time that I saw a union come in and take over was at Fieldcrest Cannon in Kannapolis, NC. Within a few short years the place was shut down!

[GeminiGal]

As the economy tanks in this state, you'll see the a more "blue" (Democrat) Ohio. It's all about the economy. Hope & pray we don't become the next Michigan.

[chance2jump]

Originally Posted by GeminiGal

As the economy tanks in this state, you'll see the a more "blue" (Democrat) Ohio. It's all about the economy. Hope & pray we don't become the next Michigan.

Michigan's current struggle is the result of a multitude of issues.

First, the Rep gov Engler peeled through the rainy day fund. When he stepped into office, the state had a surplus. When he left, the state was teetering on bankruptcy. Next, the state has not diversified the industry base. The top employers are car makers or the state itself. It is the fault of BOTH rep and dem for not acting to change and diversify the state sooner! Shame on them!!

Once Engler was voted out and Granholm in, the house/senate was rep controlled. They could not come to terms on anything. She focused on balancing the budget (which resulted in significant cutbacks throughout the state), but neither party worked well together to allow the state to make changes to move forward for progress.

Meanwhile, the UNIONS have run just about any new auto business out of town and both parties have not worked progressively together to entice new business to come in. It is a shame...

There is more going on MI than just Rep VS Dem -C2J, lifelong MI resident & now refugee

[Daytonnatian]

This is the way I look at it:

8 yrs of a democratic president: economy grows, no major issues are on the table, tech industry grows, budget gets balanced, Ohio stays in ok economic shape, world is at general peace.

8 yrs of a Republican president: economy goes back to the 80's, large war that costs $10 bil. a month is on the table, not including Afganistan, LARGEST national debt in HISTORY, no industries grow (except oil and welfare), Ohio's economy goes down the toilet, everyone in the world hates us (but at lest some of the anger can be diverted to just Texans)

So, take your pick. I'd rather see an economically viable Ohio than a welfare Ohio, wouldn't you?

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

This is the way I look at it:

8 yrs of a democratic president: economy grows, no major issues are on the table, tech industry grows, budget gets balanced, Ohio stays in ok economic shape, world is at general peace.

You don't remember when the tech bubble burst and stock market crashed in 1998? That caused me to be laid off for four months. Do I blame Clinton? No, stuff happens.

[Buckeye in SC]

I think becoming a blue state is the least of Ohio's problems. I had a lot more issues w/the local bozo leaders when I lived there. It all starts at home, and the so-called 'city leaders' do a poor job of running things, they just solve all the problems by raising income and property taxes instead of actually trying to bring new business to their areas - wow, there's a novel concept.