Thanks for the post!

You are either incredibly niave or have a skull packed full of dead maggots.

@ 61 Dean Masters:

“I’ve lived in Ohio all my life and have worked in the legislative process for many years.”

Please do give details– when, where, what?

“Starting in 1994, when Speaker Jo Ann Davidson took over the Ohio House, annual budgets grew in double digits every single year as the R’s grew government.”

What, no detials and specifics? I know Ms. Davison back from the mid-90’s when she was speaker. I also know what the Ohio dems where doing– care for an open debate or you here just “ra-ra” your party membership?

“AS usual, the average person didn’t know anything about what was happening in the state capitol, so budgets continued to grow.”
The dems wanted a closed door sesscion for the state budget hearings back in 95′ after it was obvious public hearings were not going to favor their goals. Did you forget that or you were not really at the capitol during all of that?

“When the economy fell apart, so did the natural tax growth that was feeding the growing beast and guess what? The spending base couldn’t be cut – it would be too draconian and sever too many ‘essential state services’ to the public.”

Public sevices are the main contributors dem coffers. Lawyers and public unions are the bitch masters of the Ohio democrat party– always will and will be. The natural tax base (eg. businesses and individual tax payers) was already fleeing before that time. Ohio was apart of the rust belt way before 1994. Voinovich was a RINO from day one and no Rupublican at 77 S. High St. in Columbus was sad to see him go to DC. The best thing he did was buzz Bill Clinton as he was taxing into Columbus on Air Force One. Ha! That only cost the Ohio taxpayers $10,000 with a fine the FFA, but I digress.

“Now the Dems have inherited the mess and have no idea how to make it better either!”

Boiler plate democrat excuse to every disaster of their own making. A pox on all democrats and their deception of the ignorant.

You forgot this, Texas7: “… okie, now means you’re a scumbag”.

Texas7, I’m looking for someone in Texas to trade places with me in Los Angeles – would you go for it? We have a very enlightened government here, I assure you, you don’t need to speak many laguages in order to get a shoe fixed, two or three is enough, we got LA Times, periodical riots for fun and profit, the works!

Come, let’s trade places!

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/05/april_state_rev.html

Yo, Ricky official democrat excuser – here’s one for you!
How do you explain the white flight from Los Angeles after the Rodney King riots? The fact that generally was middle class, including police and sheriff officers who left for northern pastures? Answer!

Then, if you again talk about employment, aren’t high/low employment rate actually a matter cultural?

I agree w/#91 Eon – I bolted because of employment struggles -with the politics giving little hope it would change. That said, while I would NEVER RETURN TO CLEVELAND, or anyhwere near it, I would consider rural ohio(at least 1-2 hours from any city).

All of my closest college friends I’ve stayed in touch went local country – such diverse rural locals as Cambrige, London, Mantua, & Willard. All are self-employed and have done well. Opting for a life similar to what we all loved at Kent – yet still remaining relatively close to family. They hate what’s happened to the state too but none have talked of leaving.

Besides return trips to keep the heart fonder – Phoenix has not materialized as the oasis I thought I’d found from 2000 to 2006. I once loved it here – the first 4 years were the best earnings of my life but with the massive illegal/legal latino migration (up 20% in 4 years – when it had already been a steady stream since the 80’s) – and the influx of California flakes – plus the problems Janet Napalitano left behind – I’ve already mentally vacated. It’s just a matter of timing.

What I thought I loved about Arizona, that it was devoid of the legacy of unionism some here have bemoaned, that it was a right to work & high growth & low tax state – that it’s twin cities Phoenix & Tucson are relatively new (and devoid of the problems of ancient beauracrates & infrastucture)- diversly beautiful in & outside of Maricopa – has a dark side too.

My nephew is at a great school in Awatuke but most of the rest of the state’s K-12 outright sucks – it’s appalling. ASU & Arizona has raised it’s tuition EVERY YEAR and with the budget problems they’ve doubled down with ticky tack fees.

The same with government. While not yet as bad as Cali – it’s all about deception – few outright tax hikes – just fees to the hilt. Long before the economy imploded here in ‘07-’08 everyone was feeling the cost of everything rising – despite always being told about how inflation & cost of living was low.

That was & is bunk. When I first moved here, after a year in Columbus, EVERYTHING WAS WAY CHEAPER – food, gas, you name it – plus there is a brisk secondary market with so many retirees. Garage sales & estate sales – I funished a two bedroom condo for less than a grand – and bought a buick 4 years old with less than 30k miles for two grand.

Now I get it – there is a lot of transience here – which partly accounts for why you can move in quick and cheap – staying is a different matter.

After four years of a Dem like Napolitano, ongoing strife – are we a sanctuary state are we not a sanctuary state – total Californication set in – the cost of living here sky rocketed while the quality of life has cratered. I’ve heard this over and over in the past four years, not just during the worst of the economy as it is now.

The truth is it isn’t just Californicators who moved in – it is very much a West & Southwestern mentality – small and midsized business are addicted to cheap labor – which is why we ARE A SANCTUARY STATE. It’s ruined California & it’s ruining Arizona – not just the latino invasion – but the plantation mentality that welcomes them.

The truth is that there hasn’t been much high-wage tech industrty growth here – so called ‘good jobs’. The companies that they lure from Cali are basically moving to Cali-lite – Cali of 1978. And they aren’t large anchor corporations – they are mom and pop outfits.

You have a tiny but vital upper crust of high earners who commute to Cali or other parts of the country (or world) who basically underwrite a service economy – gaga rich who need everything from nannies to puppy poo scrapers to accountants & lawyers – and a lot of low wage jobs – which despite protestations – employers like to give to hungry immigrants – legal or not.

Which to a former midwesterner from Ohio makes it seem very Bannana Republic. Everybody else pays for it – literally and figuratively – while those who like it (And the Pol’s) insist the majority don’t really (low INCOME tax & all).

Sure – as long as you shop the estate sales and engage in a barter economy – otherwise anytime you go anywhere and buy anything.

My two closest friends since moving here are life-long Arizonians – one’s moved back up north (Carefree) and the other is on his way. It’s a small world after all. I once dreamed about Sedona – not now. If my ship came in I’d buy a farmhouse outside of Cambridge or Jackson Ohio.