The Checks and Balances Of Two Parties

In the last couple of days, the Cleveland area has been rocked by a Federal raid on two prominent Cuyahoga County officials, Jimmy Dimora, a county commissioner and head of the county Democratic Party, and Frank Russo, the county auditor. There were a number of other people listed in the warrants, most either family members or employees of the two named above. I have a link below, if you are interested in more details.

Now, don't be shocked by what I'm about to say, but what we lack in the Cleveland area is a viable Republican Party. For quite some time now, Republicans have had a dismal record of being elected to county offices. I can't tell you the name of the county Republican chairman, and I pay a good deal of attention to politics. Republicans do hold some local offices as city council members or mayors in some suburbs, but by operating out of such small bases, they have trouble moving to the bigger, county level. The Cleveland area is staunchly Democratic, with the exceptions of suburban Lake County on the Eastside, and suburban Medina County to the southwest. Cuyahoga County itself is overwhelmingly Democratic in voter sentiment.

A number of years ago, however, the Republicans had a man named Bob Hughes as county chairman. Hughes was great at developing candidates to compete on the county level for the Republican Party, and several, including George Voinovich, moved up the ladder to hold or compete for statewide offices. Since his death a number of years ago, the Republicans have been a mess, and they have essentially ceded the county elections to Democrats, with VERY few exceptions. Things have gotten so bad, that Republicans have trouble recruiting credible candidates for many positions. Folks, this is NOT a good situation for the public. We need both parties to be vibrant and on guard against abuses by the other party and to force the other party's candidates to have solid, well thought-out positions on issues important to us all. In more recent times, if a candidate can get the Democratic nomination, that's the same as winning the office, as the general election is a mere formality. Under these kinds of circumstances, recruiting viable candidates to face Democrats is tough for the Republicans to do, as their candidates have less chance against the Dems than General Custer did against the Indians at the Little Bighorn.

Now, there's been some speculation that with this Democratic scandal (if the charges are proven true), Republicans might be able to rebound somewhat. To be quite honest, I seriously doubt it. Many Republicans have openly supported free trade agreements that have devastated this region. Many people have lost jobs, as their work was shipped overseas. Many others have suffered wage and benefit cuts. The economic situation here is pretty dismal. The medical industry is in good shape here, and there is a blossoming tech sector, but overall, the region is depressed. Further, Republicans are identified with George W. Bush, and he's about as popular in these parts as poison ivy at a picnic. The Republicans have lots of work to do to rebuild their party in Ohio in general, and the Cleveland area especially. They certainly need to get back into politics right in the City of Cleveland, too.

http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/iscri/1217406633291130.xml&coll=2

Home Prices Slide Further

Just a link to an article about how home price fell by the biggest percentage ever recorded in May of this year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25903217/

Older Folks Hurt By The Economy

Wanted to post this link to an article about how many elderly people are being hurt by economic conditions. For years, Americans dreamed of the days when they could retire, and for years retirees could enjoy their "golden years." Now the situation has changed for many, and it bodes ill for those approaching retirement age.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25804814/

Bank Failures

The housing crisis, complete with an escalating foreclosure rate, and the overall weak economy have claimed a couple of banks. They have been taken over by Uncle Sam, and then sold. Here's the link to the story:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25857049/

Foreclosure Rate Soars!

"There's no place like home," unless that home is in foreclosure. The link below is to an article detailing how bad the foreclosure and housing crisis is, and how it has gotten worse, not better, in the past year. The "American Dream" has become a living nightmare to millions of Americans.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25846164/

The Ill Winds Of Hurricane Dolly & Speculators

I've never been through a hurricane, at least not the weather type, anyway. As "Hurricane Dolly" approaches American shores, some may say, "well, its only a minimal hurricane." Hey, hurricanes are dangerous storms, no matter the category. I think at times how bad a storm is here in Cleveland when the winds gust at 50 or 60 miles an hour. Even a "minimal" hurricane has winds of 74 miles an hour, and those are SUSTAINED winds, not gusts. In fact, gusts may clock in 80 to 100 miles an hour. The high surf, for those near the shore, can be deadly, and certainly destructive to property. The heavy rain can cause terrible flooding, even far inland. So don't write off category one hurricanes like they're a spring shower. I hope all those in the path of "Hurricane Dolly" will be safe, including those on the Mexican side of the border.

As the reports of this growing storm were released, the price of oil and gasoline headed higher. Why? The more honest among the oil/gas speculators came right and said how they figured the storm would hit the oil and gasoline region in southern Texas, and that they hoped this would turn oil and gasoline prices around from their fall of the last few days. Only a bunch of greedy, no good bastards would wish such a thing on their fellow human beings just for money. To be perfectly honest, I wish we could round up these good for nothings and tie them down on the shores of southern Texas and let them see what a hurricane REALLY means. I make NO apologies for my feelings! How disappointed they were when they found out that the storm was expected to miss the oil and gas areas, and so prices came back down. What a shame!

Effects Of Economic Downturn Still In Progress

With the "housing depression" the country is experiencing, the full effect still hasn't been felt. Why? For one thing, many local government entities, including schools, across the country rely on property taxes for a big source of their funds. Around the Greater Cleveland area, property taxes were adjusted two years ago, based on the inflated values of the "housing bubble," as it is now called. With all of the foreclosures and the drop in new and existing home sales, prices have plummeted; in some cases by 75%, in the inner city!!! Suburban values have also dropped, but more like 20% to 25%. Reality will soon hit home, as these new appraisal values will have to be used for property taxes. The amount of decline will be staggering!!! The county and school systems will be in crisis, and it won't only be around these parts, but nationwide.

This is just an example of what has happened: A house on my street (inner city Cleveland) was appraised for tax purposes at nearly $100,000 in 2006. The owners lived in suburban Cleveland and the property was foreclosed on last October, and the renters forced to leave. It was sold at a sheriff's auction for about $50,000. I "assume" some investor or investment group bought it, but I don't know that to be a fact, but a bank was appointed as trustee. From last October until recently, the house was vacant, but during winter, a snow plow crew would arrive to plow snow from the driveway and shovel snow from the sidewalk. In May, the house was sold to an individual for the stunning price of $36,500!!!!

Keep in mind, similar is taking place all over the country; sometimes with less of a drop in value, and sometimes with an even bigger drop in value. How will all of this affect the community where you live?

Are They Drilling Enough For Oil Now?

Here's a link to an article about charges traded back and forth between President Bush and Congress, more specifically Democrats in Congress, about drilling for more oil. I can't say that I know enough about the specifics to offer an informed opinion. I do know there have been "charges" (not saying whether they are true or false, or mixed) leveled by some that the oil companies have not been wearing themselves out trying to find oil in American territory, but rather that they have taken large sums of their huge profits and paid them out to investors, many of these investors being some of the richest people on Mother Earth. In an attempt to be fair here, some of the folks questioning the policies of the oil companies are not exactly left wing fanatics, but are some of the folks I've seen on CNBC, a cable business channel. When oil prices were like $75 or $80 a barrel, what now seems like bargain prices, some of the CNBC folks were asking like, "Where are all the oil rigs. The oil execs said that a lot of oil wasn't worth trying to get, because prices were too low (obviously in past years). They can't say that now."

I do like the idea proposed by Democrats (according to this article) about passing legislation requiring the oil companies to drill for oil on lands to which they already have lease agreements. Big oil needs to put up or shut up. Americans are not unreasonable, in my opinion. If we see the need to extend leases to new areas, we'll do it, I'm sure, especially if we have the proper information about the process and any environmental dangers to the areas involved.

ttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25653628/

Quit Whining and Go To Debtors' Prison

Ever the one with a stern thought for the day, former Senator Phil Gramm, THE economic advisor to John McCain's campaign, this week gave us all a good thrashing. When asked about the poor economy, he said it was all in our heads that the economy is not doing well. So I take it then, that the problems with the economy are just an illusion. Now, within the circle of people in which Phil Gramm travels, I'd say he's probably correct, as the rich are doing just fine, "Thank You!" So remember, by the end of this year, millions of Americans will have lost their homes in just the past three years, with 2.5 million just THIS year. That's no illusion, Mr. Gramm! Millions more will have lost health insurance during the Bush years. That's no illusion, Mr. Gramm! Millions more will have gone into bankruptcy. That's no illusion, Mr. Gramm! As to you and your friends, the income gap has widened to a point not seen since just before the Great Depression; thus giving America a "reverse Robin Hood;" take from the poor and middle income people and give to the rich! No wonder old Phil thinks things are so dandy! Hmm, I wonder if Phil is invested in oil and gas? Those folks are every bit as cheerful as Phil.

Further, Phil didn't want to just leave us with his thoughts on the economy, but also on Americans in general. He said we're just a bunch of whiners. Give me Phil's money, and I guarantee that you won't hear a peep outta me. I won't even write another blog. (Hey, what's that applause for???)

So folks, take old Phil's advice, and when you go to file bankruptcy, do it with a smile! When you get kicked out of your home, no whining, now! When you put twenty bucks of gas into your vehicle, don't whine when the needle barely moves. You'll make Phil Gramm just one big happy man. Another thing that would definitely bring a smile to his face would be for the country to bring back "debtors' prison." What a fun guy!

Check this:
http://pontificating-randy.blogspot.com/2008/07/june-foreclosure-stats.html

June Foreclosure Stats

And it gets uglier and uglier....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25612487/

A Couple Of Other Blogs To Try

Here are the links to a couple of other blogs you might want to check out. They are a bit more "personal" than my blog; meaning that they tend to write more about what's going on in their own lives. I hope you'll give them a try, as I am a bit biased here, since both are published by my cousins, who happen to be sisters to one another.



http://www.lindapages.com/blog/ajadedview.html

http://www.fermentedfur.com/