Water Cooler Conversations

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

With a new school season upon us, I recall with some trepidation my school years.  When I was in elementary school (a very long time ago), “New Math” was introduced.  Looking back now, it was a pretty funny label as it was New Math for my parents but not for us kids – we had no reference point as we were never exposed to the old math.  New or old, the numbers are the numbers and none of it was particularly easy for me, especially in my high school years when I took Pre-Calculus (yuk).

There are two “campaigns” going on right now that also use a new form of Math:

• The
  Cleveland Plus campaign emerged, some time ago, as what looked like just another spin on the same old initiative…how to reflect a positive image of our region to residents and outsiders.  What differentiates this campaign is that it appears to be well funded with a smart and creative staff.  Slowly but surely they are making some noise and waking up the community to the positive attributes of Northeast Ohio (www.clevelandplus.com).  There is real interest in the positive news of Northeast Ohio. In fact, ERC’s own version of a regional resource listing www.neoisgreat.com, totaled over 8,000 visitors in July!  The Cleveland Plus campaign is a testament that when people work together across communities 2 + 2 can equal 5!
• On the other hand, in a recent report by Joe Guillen of the Plain Dealer, “Electing somebody to represent the 11th Congressional District for about two months will cost Ohio taxpayers as much as $5.5 million. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections must stage two votes - a primary and a general election, each costing up to $2.75 million - to replace the late U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, even though the winner probably will never cast a vote this year. The interim replacement for Tubbs Jones, who died last Wednesday, probably will not be elected until November. The term expires at the end of December. No House votes are scheduled after Sept. 26.”  I am not sure you caught this front page news story last week but my head just about popped off when I read the article.  It’s amazing to me how our state and federal governments can come up with (our) money so quickly! And, in this case money that will be spent for a position that will have virtually no meaningful impact for a few months. Let’s get responsible here Governor – no interim election – please do not spend our $5.5 million dollars needlessly!

In the campaigns highlighted above, the numbers just don’t add up.  Yet, the Cleveland Plus campaign would get an A+ for effort by my former school teachers because the sum of their efforts provides an extraordinary answer. On the other hand, the special election for the 11^th congressional district interim position is not even worthy of a grade - this is one that the parents need to be called in as the student is once again misbehaving.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

This past Saturday a young man stopped at our house to encourage support for a candidate running for the State legislature. The name of the candidate is unimportant as is his party affiliation.  What is important is the conversation that I had with the young man at our doorstep.

The conversation went something like this:

Volunteer:  ”Good afternoon sir.  I am a volunteer who is going door to door encouraging people to consider (name) for State office.”

Pat: “Thank you for stopping by…can I ask you why you are supporting (name)”

Volunteer: “Sure.  He lives in Mentor and he is a really good guy.  I really like what he believes in.”

Pat: “Can I ask you a few questions about your candidate?”

Volunteer: “Sure, fire away”

Pat: “What is his position on the war in Iraq?”

Volunteer: “You know…I don’t know.  That is a good question.  Let me write that one down.”

Pat: “Do you know if your candidate supports the proposed Ohio Healthy Families Act?”

Volunteer: “Gosh…I am embarrassed…I know about the proposal, but I really don’t know where he stands on the issue.”

Pat: “Let’s try one more.

Volunteer: “OK…incidentally, I’m really sorry I don’t know the answers to these other questions…but I will find out”

Pat: “No problem…I was just curious where your candidate stood on some of the bigger issues of the day.  So how about gambling in Ohio…where does your candidate stand on this one”

Volunteer: “I don’t know….I have to tell you that you are the first one on your block to ask me any of these questions.  Most people just listen to me, smile, nod their head, take my flyer and then close the door.  I appreciate you asking me these questions.”

Pat: “Really? Do I win a prize? I’m just kidding.  Please feel free to have (name) call me direct.  I would love to know his position on some of these issues in addition to the Workers’ Comp System in Ohio, the tax structure for individuals and businesses in Ohio and what he plans to do to impact the movement of new companies into our State.

Volunteer: “I will have him give you a call.  Thanks”

The conversation was pretty close to that…what is most disturbing to me was that this young man was representing a candidate that he apparently knew little about. 

In a few months, candidates will be shoving their signs into yards, showing up at Labor Day parades throwing out candy and for higher offices taking advantage of every media opportunity possible.  Many of the candidates will be smiling, kissing babies and doing their best to impugn the reputation of their political opponent.  The mud slinging and name calling will begin with little to be said about the real issues and possible solutions. 

We can point our fingers at some of the politicians who get into trouble, misuse tax money and lie to the public…but remember one thing…the majority voted these folks into office based upon a lot of nothing.  So what do you really expect when they are in office?

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Four unrelated incidents happened in the past few weeks that caught my attention.

• Unauthorized and “careless” smoking by a crew member caused $70 million in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington,
• Last week the Green Bay Packers announced that they were preparing a deal that would pay Quarterback Brett Favre $20 million not to play football and to stay retired (since the story broke, Mr. Favre is now reporting back to camp to play football),
• Last Wednesday I observed President Bush’s motorcade heading east on Route 2 surrounded by an incredible arsenal of state troopers, emergency vehicles, etc., and
• After President Bush’s speech at an east side organization he attended a $25,000 per plate fundraiser in Gates Mills ($35,000 if you wanted your picture with the President).

If these were the only headlines over the past few weeks you would never know that we might be in some tough economic times.  After I heard the Brett Favre story I was close to resigning my position and then asking the ERC Board to pay me not to come back to work.  But, this is the real world and I figured that our Board would not see this as a prudent business decision.

I know that we need to get the USS Washington repaired but it is always interesting to me how quickly our country can pay for some things (like war) but struggle to figure out how to fund education, feeding the homeless, etc.

This is not a partisan comment at all, but I really could care less if Mr. Bush or any other President comes to visit us.  They tie up traffic, cost us lots and lots of money - and for 99% of us the visits do not impact our lives at all. 

How cool would it be if we could take people who are willing to plunk down $25k to break bread with the President and have that same fund raiser for our local schools, eroding bridges, food banks, etc.  And, another $10k to take a picture with the person or family or institution actually helped with the money.

Maybe it’s time to take a reality check here folks.  Most people are struggling to get by on their paychecks these days.  We are at war, jobs are tough, crime and unemployment are on the uptick and we still have folks, including some people at all levels of our governments watching Rome burn.  It’s time to tighten the belts, make some sacrifices and pull together as a team.  Otherwise you end up like the State of Ohio now paying for years of neglect, misuse of tax dollars, a broken workers’ comp system and an unemployment system nearly broke.

But I guess in the end, if the mindless spending continues we can all resort to the solution recently instituted by Ohio - Keno.

Sleep tight.