Speaking the truth once again. People get confused by all the stuff that is thrown at them, but I think that this is part of the political game and how the  powers play it so that they win.

The concept of regionalism has been tossed around and studied for a while now. I heard David Abbot address it 2 years ago, and heard him say that this was a bad idea. Now it is being touted as the solution to corruption.

Roldo,

Let's take this for what it is - clearly you are opposed to Issue 6, I'm guessing that it's because it was not an "open and inclusive" process (which has been disproved depending on who you listen to and believe).  However, to say that there will increased costs is misleading (perhaps just as much as you claim the PD is being misleading).  Currently, we have people performing jobs that they are simply not trained to perform - such as many of our financially related positions - elected and appointed.  However, the new charter requires these consolidated positions be filled by someone with a financial background - most likely a CPA.  Having these skills will help find inefficiencies and waste that exist within our government - waste that has led to diminished social services, a lack of representational faithfulness to the taxpayer via corruption and a myriad of other problems.  Bringing professionals into our government will certainly held reduce the cost for the taxpayer - not increase it.

This is just one of the many cost savings methods that can be gained from making our government more efficient and competitive in a continuously smaller world, where we compete with not just the likes of Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Columbus - but Brazil, Russia, India and China.

I would be interested to hear what your specific reasoning is against Issue 6 - other than the PD propaganda, elitist, and big-business interests argument.  Do you truly think that Ohio and the commissioner form of government is an effective means of running a county? 

 I realize that you posted to Roldo but can you tell me how you came up with the foundation of your first paragraph? Specifics would be greatly appreciated on the reasoning of how having a CPA that will lead to reduced inefficiencies and waste as I am having some problems with the generalizations on such an important topic. 

Not just professional accountants and those with strong backgrounds in public finance, but also those with backgrounds in technology and the use of technology in process driven environments. Consider Kevin Kelly and his qualifications for upper level technology management. Then who selected him and then who voted that person into office and who were they ultimately accountable to…we had to get the FBI to hold them to accountability.

The change needs to come with greater accountancy and that’s the purpose of the district representation. Those part time representative you vote for will be accountable to you and for what and how the county spends it resources.

Can the alternative save…certainly it can it will have to operate within a budget and could line up with hard times on the horizon…then some may say see I told you they are more expensive, when they may not be, the next county budget may come up short with the same old or new alternative.

Its all rudimentary the PD and the review, as in depth as a puddle from a poodle.

If we can't keep 3 commissioners honest how in the heck do we think we can keep 11 people accountable?  Now is not a good time to change the entire system.  Let's clean up the mess first and see what we have and then think about making major changes to the system. 

They want to consolidate the function of the Auditor, Recorder and Treasurer. That’s what I see in the proposal. I agree and thats because I see that they are all related and can be monitored and administered through a common process and related information systems.

Having what is it eleven district representatives that all would have access to that information.

What they do and how they do it riddled with conflicts of interests, and those links and associations are something that needs to be looked at closely.

I personally believe that government contracts should be non-profit and if the private sector has no activity then these are sure things to keep men and woman working. But making profit on government is inherently counter productive. So is taxing government employees, so is paying them above market wages. So is having government benefit programs it undermines the private sector.

The only recourse I can see is that of cooperatives, sneaking under the line and to undercut costs at all levels. Demanding better for less, local and even community based. That gets rid of the ‘what do I care I do not live here’ assholes, that’s who is building in the CDC’s that’s why you have these inferior over priced housing projects.

To many players and to many degrees of separation, its just a neighbor hood live in it and work in it. I think we can do better than the Europeans, we need the common structures and to use the technology to see it but much of it needs to exit in the free market and unregulated, but pulling down cost is really the way to do it. Making profit in hard times is incorrigible, it really is.

Gaining jobs and reducing unemployment is doing work and for low wages, then considering the options to do more and earn more by adding value to your self’s that can be seen, its real experience and augmented with education. Being examples and then answering the how and why to those surrounding you, with conviction.

Roldo--did you happen to notice that the PD has finally decided to play the new media* game by allowing commentators to have access to their content? 

However at the Cleveland.com site, commentators can not delete the content or modify it.  They can just track their content or "follow" certain writers and commentators.  

It is certainly an interesting time to find information in America.  How do we determine the credibility, veracity and motive of anything we read? 

 *Credit should go here to Norm Roulet for recognizing this media, BEFORE the media...but that will never happen :)

my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, my spouse, my cat, my neighbors, my extended family or anyone I happen to acknowledge on the street, bus, etc.

To CTB:

To say that there will not  be increased costs is misleading, as you say, is incorrect. I think I totaled up how the costs could be higher.

You seem to take for granted that the new system would be less corrupt, less political. One of the reasons I see this as a wrong move is that I see the good possibility that it will be more political and possibly more opportunity for corruption. Having 11 politicians around the county as "commissioners" will bring its own political demands for patronage.

I also believe that it will greatly increase the power of Bill Mason and I don't see that as progressive but as likely making a king-maker of a very political guy. He's willing to go along with this move that will allow a few Republicans to gain an office but not enough to change his power position.

There is little doubt that the three offices - treasurer, auditor and recorder - could be consolidated for more efficiency and less opportunity for patronage abuses.

The issue of Republicans not being able to get elected in Cuyahoga County is somewhat disputed by the fact that politicians as Perk, Voinovich and even Virgil Brown, first African-American elected a Cuyahoga County commissioner. Republicans need better political candidates.

Yes, we need better, more efficient people in government. But changing from the present form to the Issue 6 form doesn't insure that at all.

As to the Pee Dee I thought it has been over-reaching in its desire to push Issue 6.

I don't like Issue 5 either because I sense it could be simply a dodge if enacted. But I do sense that public opinion is so strong that those named to study and report will be under strong pressure to do it right. Not that it won't be political either.

Despite, the allure as Roldo, points out:

There is little doubt that the three offices - treasurer, auditor and recorder - could be consolidated for more efficiency and less opportunity for patronage abuses.

I am voting NO to Issue 6, and NO to Issue 5, because, I don't see how either ballot proposal will improve accountability. 

my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, my spouse, my cat, my neighbors, my extended family or anyone I happen to acknowledge on the street, bus, etc.

  Vote early, vote, vote, vote for accountability--a great show on WRUW's It's about Justice on 10/24/2009. Listen in:

Announcer and educator Meryl meet with Congressional District 13 representative Betty Sutton and Former Congressman Louis B. Stokes.  Talking about Cash for Clunkers, Healthcare Reform, the Employee Free Trade Act and Issue 5 versus Issue 6. 

PLEASE--at the very least VOTE  NO on Issue 6---we don't need to instill more power in government without accountability!

my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, my spouse, my cat, my neighbors, my extended family or anyone I happen to acknowledge on the street, bus, etc.