Civility: Near Extinction or What?

The thrust of today's Roland Hansen Commentary concerns the topic of civility.

I had a subtle reminder about this topic when I came across a note I had written to myself about six weeks ago to visit the topic after I had read an interesting editorial written by Kathleen Parker in The Washington Post that relates to civility in politics. May I suggest you take a bit of your time to read it? If you are interested, click on over to read "Politics with a little politesse" and see what you think.

Quite frankly, I think Kathleen Parker is right on target.

Along that same vein, I am reminded of a few entries here on Roland Hansen Commentary that relate to civility in the present age of electronic communications, especially so in the blogosphere such as Glass City Jungle and on internet social networks such as Facebook. Take a look at a few of my previous entries:
Glass City Jungle and the Trolling Flamer Cyberbully Factor
Not Again
Social Network Services Diminish Family Life And Friendships

Okay, what do you think? Is civility lost to humanity?

Peace on Earth. Goodwill towards Men.

The message "Peace on Earth. Goodwill towards Men." is often said. I wonder how many people truly believe in that message that they so easily say this time of the year.

I wonder if that message applies to:
Afghanistan
China
Gaza
Iran
Iraq
Israel
North Korea
Pakistan

and everywhere on this Earth.

Or in making that statement, are folks just demonstrating more hypocrisy?

I wonder if bible thumping conservatives believe this message applies to those who do not share the same religion or same perspective or same political beliefs.

I wonder. I wonder. I wonder.

"... the world is a little brighter ..."

These are not my words here "... the world is a little brighter..." but some one else's. The some one else is Rabbi Jason Miller; and, I got that phrase from an entry on his blog.

Read his entire blog entry over here.

Help Wanted: Governing Board Member, Lucas County Educational Service Center

Read about the opening on the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board over at Lucas County Educational Services Center Updates by Angela Zimmann OPEN SEAT ON THE BOARD; Fond Farewell to Judy Hansen.

To those people who live in the electing jurisdiction of the Lucas County Educational Services Center, I say:
Here is your chance people to step up to the plate and be a doer not just a talker. It really does not take up that much of your time and you will be providing a valuable service to the community and our children.

I had previously written about the opening in this Roland Hansen Commentary.

Pro Union = Good. Anti Union = Bad.

I am fed up with anti-union people bashing unions, blaming unions for the ills of our economy and our government, and using unions as a scapegoat to excuse the failure of private businesses and greedy corporations; and, I am fed up with the anti-union people's down-right ignorance of the facts concerning unions in the United States.

How in the hell do these people come up with their crap? All they do is point fingers, assign blame, castigate, malign, and provide negative commentary without providing raw, unadulterated facts to support their contentions.

The following short paragraph is only a starting point for some facts on union membership in the United States of America.

Only a small minority of the American workforce is unionized.
"In 2008, union members accounted for 12.4 percent of employed wage
and salary workers ... "
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Labor Force Statistics, Economic News Release, Union Members Summary. Read the full Union Members Summary over here.
And then, read the entire report: Union Members (Annual).

In my biased opinion, people should really bone up about unions before they spout off. A very basic primer to start the learning process on the overall subject may be read at Wikipedia. Go there to read Labor unions in the United States.

It has been claimed that Joe Friday said "Just the facts, ma'am." While that urban legend is untrue, I have to say I would like the anti-union 'dip squats' to back up their postulations with facts rather than unfounded conjecture.

And another thing to my anti-union friends (and I really do have friends who espouse anti-union sentiments) who may disagree with me or wish to debate me, anecdotal evidence just doesn't cut it with me on this one.

Incidentally, Roland Hansen Commentary has had two previous entries along the vein of union bashings. They are:
Teachers on Strike
Consumer Beware: Are cars overpriced?

Toledo Public Schools: Is TPS Administration A Breeding Ground For Criminal Activity?

I'm wondering if Toledo Public Schools is administered properly. I'm wondering if former Toledo Public Schools superintendent Eugene Sanders, now the superintendent for Cleveland Public Schools is so squeaky clean. How much responsibility and accountability should be assigned to Gene Sanders in what may be far reaching alleged criminal activity by Dan Burns, former Toledo Public Schools Business Manager under Sanders and whom Sanders took with him to Cleveland to serve as the Chief Operating Officer for Cleveland Public Schools? Has the Administration of Toledo Public Schools served as a training ground for criminal activity, such as theft in office, tampering with records, and racketeering?

I wonder. I wonder.

Read the article by Thomas Ott of The Plain Dealer "Daniel Burns, former Cleveland schools administrator, indicted" that is the underlying source for my wonderment.

Ben Konop, Lucas County Commissioner, Defendent in Court Law Suit

Continuing in my personal quest to bring about the downfall of the poor excuse of an elected official, I bring your attention to The Blade article Suit filed against Konop claims injuries in crash.

Hey, at least I am open and honest about my intent.

Elected Officials, Government Leaders, and Civil Service Employees

You know, there are a lot of political bloggers out there in cyberland from whom readers may gain a wide variety of perspectives. However, it is not uncommon for political bloggers (yours truly included), along with their readership who may comment back, along with everyday common folks outside the blogosphere to lambast our elected officials, government leaders, and civil service employees.

Quite frankly, while I understand much of the negative commentary and criticism, I also believe much of it to be misplaced. Oftentimes, I read comments from people who seem not to fully understand the American political system, the processes and operations of government, and the restraints of working in the public sector. All too often, I read comments from people who just want to tear down, but not build up. It is my opinion that a calling to be of public service is honorable. Furthermore, I think that many people fail to recognize the sincerity and selflessness that many of our elected officials and government employees bring forth in their service to our local, state, national, and international communities.

Head back to read two of my previous commentaries in which I have addressed critics of political and public service:
Public Service Laudable
Political Dynasty: Good Or Bad?
Independents and Politics: An Oxymoron

I appreciate those who answer the public calling to serve our community and nation, including those with whom I may disagree. Public service is much maligned. It's about time people took the time and effort to understand and recognize and (YES) appreciate the truly remarkable job that elected officials, government leaders, and civil service employees do in the service of this great nation of ours.

Barack Obama: A Socialist?

Is Barack Obama a socialist?

Many people seem to think that Barack Obama is a socialist.

Heck, I don't know if Barack Obama a socialist.

Many of the people who label Barack Obama as a socialist allege that Obama's proposal to adopt national health care is socialism and that any proposed public option for national health care is socialism.

Is Social Security socialism?
Is Medicare socialism?
Is the interstate highway system socialism?
Is the national park system socialism?
Is the national monument system socialism?
Is the national memorial system socialism?
Is the national museum system socialism?
Is the national preserves system socialism?
Is the national forest system socialism?
Is the national seashores system socialism?
Is the national trails system socialism?
Is the national military parks system socialism?
Is the public school system socialism?

FYI: Here is a whole List of National Parks and Monuments.

What exactly is socialism?

And, by the way, what does option mean?

Some people do not believe that Barack Obama is a socialist. Click on over to read:
The Capitolist, Patricia Murphy, Columnist: Top U.S. Socialist Says Barack Obama is Not One of Them.
The Washington Post: Obama's No Socialist. I Should Know. By Billy Wharton, Sunday, March 15, 2009.

What do you think? Is Barack Obama a socialist?

Glenn Beck: A Communist?

How much do you know about Glenn Beck?

Is Glenn Beck a communist?

Heck, I don't know if Glenn Beck is a communist.

But, I did find a blog entry by Tim Higgins over at Just Blowing Smoke... about Glenn Beck to be very interesting reading.

Check it out for yourself.

Click on over to read Glenn Beck & Communism.

Lucas County Educational Service Center: Governing Board Member To Be Appointed

The Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board is a five-member elected body that oversees, hires staff, establishes and provides programs and services, sets policy, etc. for the public educational service organization. As required by Ohio state statute, the Lucas County Educational Service Center provides services to the non-municipal school districts of Lucas County; these school districts are Anthony Wayne, Ottawa Hills, Springfield, and Washington Local. Additionally by means of contract, the Lucas County Educational Service Center provides services to the Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, and Sylvania school districts.

The five members of the Governing Board are elected to four-year terms with the terms staggered. Members are elected in odd-numbered years; two are elected in one odd-numbered year and three members are elected in the other odd-numbered year. This past November, three Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board positions were up for election.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the Toledo and Lucas County area traditional print or broadcast media carried any stories related to the candidates or any other type of election coverage, except for the vote result numbers of the two candidates after the election, in regards to the election of persons to this public body, the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board, that is responsible for millions of taxpayer dollars.

I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that three seats of the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board were up for election. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that only two persons filed candidate petitions by the filing deadline to run for election to the three positions available. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that a person could file as write-in candidate for a period of time after the filing deadline for persons who sought a spot on the ballot by the petition process. I am unaware any traditional news media informing the public of the fact that "only two of the three available positions" to the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board were indeed elected. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that in January 2010 the four members on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board will have the authority to appoint a fifth person to the Governing Board. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that should the four members on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board fail to do so within thirty days, the Judge of Lucas County Probate Court will then have the authority to make the appointment.

To the best of my knowledge, the only reference by a public medium to the upcoming vacancy on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board is the statement reproduced below which is a direct quote appearing as the last paragraph of the Tuesday, November 17, 2009 blog entry of Lucas County Educational Services Center Updates by Angela Zimmann.

The next regular board meeting is December 8th. The December date will be the last board meeting for Judy Hansen, who has served for twelve years, and opted not to run for re-election this year. The other two incumbants, Joseph Rutherford (current president) and Joan Kuchcinski, were re-elected. The remaining vacant seat will be filled by the board in January.

NOTE: The Judy Hansen mentioned in that blog entry happens to be my wife who has been elected three times to the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board. Before Judy was first elected to the Governing Board, I had previously been elected and served for three terms totaling twelve years.

To the traditional mass media in the Toledo Lucas County area, I say: SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

To the voting age public residing within the electoral jurisdiction of the Lucas County Educational Service, I say shame for not one person not having the interest in public service or the community commitment (other than the two remaining incumbents) to file for election to the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board.

But, LO! It is not too late. Any registered voter in the Anthony Wayne, Ottawa Hills, Springfield, or Washington Local school districts may seek the appointment to the soon-to-be open seat on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board. While there has yet to be any formal announcement as to the process of filling the vacancy, I would suggest that any person interested in seeking this appointment send a written letter of interest to each of the remaining LCESC Governing Board members; they are President Joseph Rutherford, Vice President Dr. Angela Zimmann, Karen Krause, and Joan Kuchinski.

Don't wait. Submit that letter of interest now!

Mike Bell, Incoming Mayor of Toledo, Ohio

The 2009 general election has come and gone and the now former candidate Mike Bell for Mayor of Toledo, Ohio has been elected Toledo Mayor.

Over on Facebook, you will find Toledo, Ohio wants to say congrats to our new mayor, Mike Bell!!

YouTube has the video Bell reflects on win, 2010 agenda that you might find interesting. And over this-a-way, you can read a very brief article about Mayor-elect Mike Bell having named a three-member transition team preparing for his assuming the office of mayor.

While not current as of the date of this Roland Hansen Commentary, you may wish to read Michael Bell: Biography from Answers.com.

Mike Bell has a proven record of public service and a proven record as a public administrator. Now, he is about to become the CEO of a major municipal corporation. I wish him the very best in his newest position as Mayor of Toledo.

AARP: Abandoning Older Adults To Serve Young Adults?

If you read the recent Roland Hansen Commentary AARP: Is the AARP Deceptive? then you already realize I have my questions of the legitimacy of AARP.

On the other hand, my ignorance really was exposed on the AARP issue when I read the hard copy October 27, 2009 USA Today article AARP starts youth movement by Laura Petrecca. Click on the following embedded link to read the USA online copy of that article which is entitled AARP offering financial advice to those in their 20s, 30s, and then feel free to provide your comments about AARP.

I am now convinced more than ever that I made the correct decision for myself when I did not renew my AARP membership. I think others such as myself, i.e. persons of retirement age, should have a real organization to represent our interests. It is clear to me that AARP has abandoned us.

Not Again

Did you read the immediately preceding Roland Hansen Commentary Boycott Kroger, and if you did read it, did you also read all the comments attached to it? I ask because if you have read those comments, you will have read my reference with its embedded link to the blog entry about Kroger on Glass City Jungle by Lisa Renee Ward.

It has been some time since I have written over on Glass City Jungle, but I thought I would give it another try. My reception was less than cool as you can judge for yourself by reading the excerpt below that had been posted as a response to me:

Not Again Says:

Roland makes me laugh. I think he would be pleased if obama would nationalize kroger and make them put a free soup kitchen in toledo. Kroger is dangerous, wrong thinking, and the worst of all, wants to make money. Ahhh, that is the way a progressive thinks.

Did you notice what Roland said in his blog? He said. “I have decided that people in Toledo, Ohio should boycott Kroger.” Roland knows what is best for us, because we are all, just stupid.

We will all be better off if we just let the progressives tell us what to do.

Aren’t they great, the progressives, I mean! We are all stupid, and only people like he, know what is right for us.

Well, upon reading that, I was reminded by Lisa Renee why I had stopped commenting over at Glass City Jungle when she wrote in that same message thread "Roland, .... you don’t participate here anymore because you don’t like the fact that I allow people to post without using their real names." Lisa Renee is indeed correct, or perhaps I should state she is partially correct. A more complete explanation may be read in this other previous Roland Hansen Commentary which also made a reference to the anonymous coward known as Not Again.

Glass City Jungle has a page Rules of Engagement in which one of the rules states, in part: Civil discourse is the goal, repeated personal insults directed at other members of the blog ... will be edited/deleted.

To me, the phrase "repeated personal insults' should be interpreted to include a history of making such comments. I further believe that a person who has such a history should be banned rather than just deleting the crude rude comments of the abuser. To me, cyber emotional abuse is of equal concern as real time in your face in-person emotional abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse. Cyber emotional abuse in the form of commentary practiced by Not Again. An abuser is an abuser is an abuser!

All persons who make public comments should be held accountable and all persons who allow such comments to be publicly published need to be held responsible. Enabling an abuser is not being responsible.

The fact that the 'poster joker' known as Not Again continues to be allowed over on Glass City Jungle to write personal attacks that are not in keeping with what I would consider civil discourse has reinforced my own rationale for not commenting on the blog Glass City Jungle of Lisa Renee Ward. To my chagrin, I feel morally compelled to return to my status as a nonparticipant on Glass City Jungle. In good conscience, I cannot be a participant in a public forum that permits people with a long standing history of making numerous and continuous inflammatory statements and personal attacks a public forum to express fighting words.

Boycott Kroger

I have decided that people in Toledo, Ohio should boycott Kroger. But then again, that is just my own personal opinion.

If you wonder why, then click on over to read Judy's Jewels Co-op.

For far too long, Kroger has had a stranglehold on the Toledo grocery market. And now, it appears that Kroger feels absolutely no loyalty or commitment to its Toledo customers. And yet, Kroger has the audacity to suggest that the City of Toledo (read that as Toledo taxpayers) build a new store for them.

I say it is time to boycott Kroger. Maybe then, other grocery stores will have more of an appearance in Toledo and just maybe, just maybe, Kroger will be more responsive and responsible to the Toledo market.

A few suggestions for new grocers in the Toledo market include Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods. Meanwhile, perhaps Giant Eagle and Food Town may expand their Toledo market presence.

What do you say?

Let's start Boycott Kroger in Toledo NOW!!!!

Is Ford Motor Company UnAmerican?

Well, I gotta tell ya, oftentimes I am amazed at the large number of people who cry about foreign companies who own and operate facilities in the United States claiming the USA is being bought and paid for by foreign interests, but nary a word from them when it is "American" companies who are doing likewise in other countries.

Remember, Henry Ford who revolutionized the American auto industry? Remember when the Model T represented the affordability of auto ownership for all Americans? Remember when the Ford Motor Company was as American as apple pie?

Remember this news article announcing that Ford was closing down a whole bunch of American manufacturing plants and putting thousands of Americans out of work? Do you know that the former all-American Ford Motor Company is global?

I recently read the article Ford to build new assembly plant in China and I remembered that I had previously read something about Ford manufacturing cars in India. That got me to thinking and I did some more research on the wide wonderful world of the internet. In doing so, I came across the article Ford Makes Push to Boost Asian Presence. It seems to me that Ford continues to expand its business overseas while continuing to downsize its American workforce. Gee, I wonder if Ford Motor Company is moving to India.


All of this seems to give new meaning to the phrase "Buy American." Is there really such a thing as an American car company any more?

Is Ford Motor Company UnAmerican?

Judy Hansen for Lucas County Commissioner?

I wonder if you remember the Roland Hansen Commentary Lucas County Commissioner in 2010.

Well, it appears that the possible previous candidate for Lucas County Commissioner with whom I had spoken has decided against running for Lucas County Commissioner in 2010.

Hopefully, you familiar with all the Roland Hansen Commentary Ben Konop entries.

If you have read all that, then you know why I think it is imperative that Ben Konop be replaced as a Lucas County Commissioner.

So, now, I think that my wife, Judy Hansen, should be put forth as a candidate for Lucas County Commissioner in 2010. What do you think? Should Judy Hansen be Running for Lucas County Commissioner or Not?

AARP: Is the AARP Deceptive?

You've heard of AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons.

Well, I have been wondering about the honesty, truthfulness, and sincerity as it relates to the stated and inferred purpose, goal, and mission of AARP for a long time now.

First off, this organization formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons is NOT an organization of and for retired persons. AARP allows and solicits persons age 50 and over, retired or not.

Then there is another small area of concern of mine that the AARP acts more like a propietary organization than a nonprofit organization. It seems to me that the AARP which promotes itself as "a membership organization leading positive social change and delivering value to people age 50 and over through information, advocacy and service" is more attune to dealing in and hawking the sale of various kinds of insurance such as automobile, motorcycle, home, mobile home, long-term care, life, health, hopiital cash benefits, dental, and the like than it is to the overall inferred purpose as an advocay organization for retired persons. There's also the annuities that AARP promotes to the members for purchase - er, I mean investment. Heck, AARP even hawks its own credit card label. I wonder what kind of sweetheart deal exists between the paid executive staff of AARP and all the "vendors" that are promoted ad nauseum to AARP members.

Oh, yeah, sure, the AARP offers its members discount deals on such things as hotels, motels, car rentals, air fare, cruises, and such other drivel to stimulate public interest in joining the AARP as it continues its cozy arrangement to contribute to full employment by expanding and maintaining jobs for its paid staff. Oh yeah, the paid executive staff also does some lobbying and recruits the AARP members to volunteer their own time and effort to the lobbying causes that the staff promote.

Well, enough of all that. Is the AARP untruthful, dishonest, deceptive, and misrepresentative it its name or is it just a matter of a misnomer?

"Why I am not a conservative"

I know many people and I enjoy people. I am a social creature. I also enjoy good political conversation with thought-provoking dialog. Some of the folks I know and with whom I have good intelligent conversations are Democrats, some are Republicans, some are liberal, some are conservative, and there are some who are anywhere within that range. I, myself, can lean right or left depending on the subject matter. In some areas, I am a liberal; in other areas, I am conservative; and still, in other areas, I am moderate.

Unfortunately, not many people can have a good intelligent conversation when it comes to politics. A lot of people have political thoughts and love to cram them down other people's throats. Those folks are generally strongly opinionated without having any factual bases for their opinions.

I have a high regard for anyone who can discuss any subject intelligently and with knowledge of that about which they are speaking whether it be current events, social sciences, natural sciences, technical stuff, religion, politics, or whatever. But lately, I have had some terrible, horrible attempts at political conversation with some moronic conservatives who have absolutely no clue as to how the government works, how politics works, or how laws are enacted and by whom.

I have no problem at all with thinking political conservatives; and, in fact, I enjoy discussing politics with them. It is the idiots with whom I have a problem.

I recently read an article in the Arizona Republic written by Richard Nilsen about political conservatives that pretty much hits the head as to my own thoughts. Following below are a few excerpts from that article:

"What was once an intellectual movement, ...... has decayed into a kind of anti-intellectual populism built on a foundation of bumper stickers."

"Hard-line conservatives everywhere want to keep what they have."

"In the United States, that means holding down 15th place in the United Nations Human Development Index (a sort of standard-of-living measurement."

"The U.S. is only 16th in its poverty rate, 17th in literacy, 30th in life expectancy, 33rd in infant mortality, and does not even make the list of top-20 nations in student performance in math, science, or reading."

"The conservative has always been suspicious of other nations and cultures, but such suspicion was once based on a belief that human nature ...... Now, that suspicion seems based in nativism, jingoism, and know-nothingism."

"I am not making my point against Republicans, per se. Party politics has almost nothing to do with political philosophy; it is a dog-eat-dog struggle for raw, bloody-clawed power."

"... modern conservatism seems to have regressed into a kind of infantilism."

Click on over to read the article "Why I am not a conservative" in its entirety.

I could not have done better in espousing my own views on this subject.

Toledo Mayor. Bell or Wilkowski?

The 2009 municipal primary election in Toledo, Ohio is now history.

The candidates for Mayor of Toledo have been pared down to the two who will face off in the November general election. They are Michael Bell and Keith Wilkowski.

Wil kowski b mayor or wil the bell ring in?

Any nonflaming thoughts you may have regarding these two mayoral candidates are welcome here. Now, then, what's on your mind?

The Toledo Jewish Community and Christian Association

In the past month or so, there has been a lot of controversery concerning the Toledo YMCA and its CEO Robert Alexander.

I find it extremely interesting that Robert Alexander, several of his supporters, and several of his opponents have brought up the Christian religion in their ongoing disagreement that has been very public.

I also found it extremely interesting when I saw costly paid advertising in the local daily newspaper touting the Christian aspect of the Toledo YMCA/JCC.

Quite frankly, I am very dismayed and disgusted in what I perceive as hypocrisy when in comes to the Toledo Jewish Community in its role, or lack thereof, in this whole fiasco as well as in its entire relationship with the Young Mens Christian Association. Why? - you may ask.

Quite simply put, I have a problem with the "cozy" business relationship with the Toledo Jewish Community and the YMCA of Greater Toledo. Together, they are known as the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo. Along with my simplistic mindset concerning that business relationship that I personally think is an affront to the intended purpose, philosophy, mission, and goals of each entity, I am troubled by the free use of phrases in the dispute about Christianity. Why has no one mentioned the Jewish Community in all this? Why hasn't the Toledo JCC voiced its position on all this? Why are the leaders of the JCC not being held accountable? Why are the JCC as an entity and its leaders not being called to task?

I say shame on the JCC for being a part of all this. I call upon the Toledo Jewish Community Center to disavow any connection with the YMCA of Greater Toledo. Don't tell me about business concerns. The two organizations should disaffiliate from one another and focus on each of their own individual organization's mission. The Toledo Jewish Community Center should bite the bullet.

Toledo JCC:
Do the right thing! Break the formal ties with the YMCA. Assert your Jewish identity.

James Hartung, Lloyd Jacobs: Controversial Fat Cats

Ohioans, specifically Toledo and Lucas County taxpayers, are being figuratively raped financially, yet once again by a couple of local fat cats.

James Hartung and Lloyd Jacobs, two prominant names in the Toledo, Ohio community are once again the center of controversy as you may read in the linked Blade articles below:

Fired leader suing port authority for $157,577 by Erica Blake
University of Toledo bonuses stir controversy by Meghan Gilbert

Neither Hartung nor Jacobs are strangers to readers of Roland Hansen Commentary as you may see by clicking on the following links to my previous commentaries concerning James Hartung and Lloyd Jacobs.

I guess my only comment today is:
Why do most people have such short memories, momentary reactionary verbal and political backlashes, and a total lack of committed corrective follow-through?

Keith Wilkowski for Mayor of Toledo Campaign Has New Web Site

I recently received an e-mail informing me of a new and improved campaign web site that has been launched on behalf of the Keith Wilkowski for Mayor of Toledo campaign.

The previous web site design has been given a face lift and now uses white behind the text to make it easer to read. There are also some new added features, such as a Media Center, an interactive map that gives directions to the campaign headquarters, Google Analytics providing the ability to track hits, visits, popular pages and more.

Click on over to take a look at the new and improved Keith Wilkowski, Democrat For Mayor web site.

The new look for the Wilkowski for Mayor web site was provided by Wilkowki campaign volunteer Nick Cron, President of NJCMedia.

Is Ben Konop A Liar?

I read an article in The Blade in which Toledo mayoral candidate Ben Konop is reported to have said he has knocked on the 10,000th door in his primary campaign efforts. Another part of the story states: "The 10,000 addresses include homes and apartments visited by members of his campaign staff." The article also reports that others have taken exception to Konop's claim of having knocked on more doors than any of the other Toledo mayoral candidates. Then, there is the admission by Ben Konop that half of the home visits (or more) were met with no personal face-to-face contact with the residents of those homes.

Read the article Konop declares he's knocked on the most doors; rivals disagree by Blade staff writer JC Reindl for yourself and then answer the question: What are we to believe? Is Ben Konop telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth OR is Ben Konop a liar?

This isn't the first time that the veracity of Ben Konop has come under scrutiny. Apparently, some people do believe Ben Konop is a liar.

Click over to read the SwampBubbles message thread Ben Konop Is A Liar.

Publius over at the Law of Reason wrote Ben Konop - A Liar In Liar's Clothing. Go ahead, click on the title to read it in its entirety.

Maxwell Austin can be heard calling Ben Konop a liar in the YouTube piece Toledo Mayoral Candidate Ben Konop Heckled at Press Conference.

I ask you:
Is Ben Konop a liar?

Lindsay Webb: Buys Citizen Action and Community Involvement

Do you recall reading the previous Roland Hansen Commentary Lindsay Webb: Pushes to Downsize Toledo City Council? If not, please refer to and read it now in order to better understand this new Roland Hansen Commentary regarding Lindsay Webb, the Toledo City Council District 6 representative.

It now appears to me that the citizen action and community involvement that has been spearheaded by Lindsay Webb to effectuate a specific change to the size and structure of Toledo City Council is not really a grass-roots volunteer effort. It was upon reading The Blade article Webb is top money donor to 'Nine is Fine' that I have concluded that Lindsay Webb is attempting to buy citizen action and community involvement as opposed to garnering voluntary citizen action and support for her efforts to overthrow the present Toledo City Council.

Oh well, so much for the idea that the councilwoman has strong community support for her ideas!

Acknowledged by Keith Wilkowksi, Toledo Mayor Candidate

A couple months ago on June 18, 2009, I wrote a commentary entitled Shunned by Keith Wilkowski, Toledo Mayor Candidate.

Very soon after having published that blog entry, or to be more precise on June 21, 2009, I received an e-mail that opened with "Hello Roland" and contained not only an acknowledgement of the contents of the blog entry but also contained some personal communication, and then closed with "Best regards, Keith."

Rather than rush to any new thoughts, I patiently awaited as events continued to develop. In the almost two months since the aforementioned blog entry, I have continued to receive regular updates from the Wilkowski for Mayor Committee by e-mail and by telephone.

That is all well and good, but the real icing on the cake came tonight when I was attending an event with my son, Adam Hansen, the creator of ToledoLinks.com, at which Keith Wilkowski was also in attendance. Keith sought me out, greeted me, and we had a very easy, cordial, friendly, personal, and political business conversation.

No other candidate for Mayor of the City of Toledo has contacted me in any way, shape, or form. Not one, nada, nil, zilch, none other than Keith Wilkowski. That tells me something.

I am pleased as punch to now write Acknowledged by Keith Wilkowksi, Toledo Mayor Candidate.

Take Back Toledo Should Take Back Lucas County

Take Back Toledo has failed in its efforts to recall the Mayor of Toledo, whose term expires the end of 2009 and who is not seeking re-election.

Quite frankly, my own personal perspective of those who organized the Take Back Toledo group and who comprised its leadership has always been that their underlying motivations were more about a personal vendetta directed toward the incumbent Mayor than an effort to truly improve our local government. None-the-less, they did show that they could initiate civic action and mobilize people.

Now that the mayoral recall effort is history, I have a suggestion to put all that energy into another cause in the effort to improve the quality of local government here in Toledo, Ohio and throughout all of Lucas County in what I consider a more proactive role.

I think those who made such a concerted effort to Take Back Toledo should channel those same energies to Take Back Lucas County.

For further information and explanation of that to which I make reference, I draw your attention to the following previous Roland Hansen Commentary entries to which all you need do is click and read:
Reinventing Ohio's Lucas County Government
Lucas County Government

I challenge the Take Back Toledo group to prove me wrong about their underlying motivations in their foray into Toledo area governmental politics. Put up or shut up. Prove me wrong by taking a proactive role in putting together and leading an organized effort to reform and restructure the government of Lucas County, Ohio. I dare you. I double dare you.

Social Networking Sites – R.I.P. ??

If you can spare the time and can spare a dime, you can read all about it over here.

Social Network Services Diminish Family Life And Friendships

The term social network has expanded to mean more than what it used to mean, especially given the electronic age with internet services, e-mails, texting via cell phone, blueberries, blacktooth, and whatever else these new-fangled techno things are called.

A social network, none-the-less, should not be confused with a social network service. All these social network services have provided a means to communicate with others.

But wait! Is that necessarily an advancement in human interpersonal communications? I have always been of the opinion that the best communication occurs when people are doing so face-to-face. More communication takes place that way in that nonverbal cues are part of the overall communication process.

The problems with social networking via e-mail, texting, and social network services are many. I will list just a few of those problems as I perceive them:

* It is less effective than communication that takes place live and in person in the same physical proximity.
* Nonverbal cues are not part of the communication.
* One-way communication tends to occur in that immediate feedback is not the norm.
* Misunderstandings may easily occur.
* Sniping, impoliteness, rudeness, etc. seem more common while civility seems less common.

Those are, as I wrote previously, just a few of the problems. However, in my opinion, there is another major problem that has occurred as a result of texting, e-mails, and electronic internet social network services.

That problem is:
More time is spent communicating electronically than in person. Interpersonal relationships are diminishing in both quantity and quality. Family and friends seem to spend less and less quality time visiting one another in person. While the younger generation may disagree with my assessment, I suggest that older people may tend to believe as I do.

Tell a grandparent that a text message or a note on a public electronic social network services is just as good as a loving smile, good live conversation, and warm hug. I suspect I know what kind of response may be given.

Toledo, Ohio: Old Orchard Neighborhood versus Glass City Academy Charter School

Back on May 13, 2009, I authored the Roland Hansen Commentary Glass City Academy: Charter School Uproar in Toledo, Ohio.

Some pea-brained, anonymous, gutless, coward, flaming troll using the pseudonym of Kenwoodrocket made a few accusations toward me trying to divert and hijack the topic of my commentary. If you had not read that commentary and the exchange brought about by it or if you do not recall it, I suggest you now click on over to read Glass City Academy: Charter School Uproar in Toledo, Ohio.

Here we are two months later, and the Old Orchard dissidents are still unhappy. If you may recall, some of the folks in the Old Orchard neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio said all they "wanted ... was simply due process" and that they wanted to be heard.

Well, they were heard - and heard again.

Toledo City Councilman Tom Waniewski held a public meeting with the Old Orchard residents that excluded representatives of Glass City Academy, and politician Waniewski even "... introduced an ordinance to 'strongly urge' the Toledo Plan Commission to strip Glass City Academy of its ability to relocate ..." (The Blade, May 21, 2009)

Then, there was the June 15, 2009 decision of the Toledo Board of Zoning Appeals that denied the appeal of the group from Old Orchard. (The Blade, June 16, 2009)

Flash forward to the present day.
The Old Orchard malcontents are at it again. This time, the malcontent dissidents are taking their crusade to the courts, as you may read in the July 15, 2009 Blade article Residents sue to stop school in ex-synagogue.

A question for Kenwoodrocket and others like Kenwoodrocket:
Can you define classism?

Chris Myers and the Toledo Board of Education

Will Chris Myers be appointed to the vacant seat on the Toledo Board of Education for the remainder of the term ending December 31, 2009?

Click on over to read Chris Myers' letter of application for the open TPS board seat.

I wonder what Toledo school district residents think of Chris Myers being appointed to the vacant seat on the Board of Education.

Consumer Beware: Are cars overpriced?

It is absolutely sickening that the hawkers of merchandise of all sorts attempt to persuade the consumer that it only costs "X" amount per month to purchase an item. This is especially true of automobile and truck sales gimmicks that most often boldly advertise the monthly payment of a vehicle rather than the actual purchase price of the vehicle.

I have been thinking for the past several years that the prices of cars and trucks are way out of control and that most cars and trucks are way overpriced. This thinking surfaced in my mind once again this morning when I read the Forbes article America's Most Overpriced Cars.

Upon reading the aforementioned article, it was with eyebrows raised that I performed an internet search on the cost and price of cars. After well over an hour, I threw my arms up in despair and frustration because most of the returns I received from my search that used a variety of terminology contained very little factual information and a whole lot of opinionated commentary about who thought what was the reason for the prices of cars.

On many of the web sites, web pages, forums, etc., I found a recurring theme of persons opining that American cars are overpriced because of unions, the UAW in particular, and because of highly paid automobile workers. Often, I read people stating that auto workers make $60 to $70 an hour. WHAT!!! - I said to myself. How can that be?? Then, I went over to FastCheck.org where I read the answer to the question: Do auto workers really make more than $70 per hour?

Somehow, I doubt that the facts will be used by many of the people who choose to fault the American auto worker and the UAW for the high price of cars and trucks. A union basher is a union basher.

It is my opinion that the people who strongly advocate America's free enterprise system of capitalism, open markets, supply and demand, private business, etc. would totally eliminate labor unions and government laws and regulations concerning minimum wages, health care benefits, sick leave PTO, disability benefits, retirement plans, and all the other aspects of employment that are employee oriented. Heck, if those folks had their way, I would not be surprised to see them advocate a return to the policies of slavery. Sometimes, I think that the conservative private business advocates might secretly hold the opinion that slavery is free enterprise at its finest. To them, I believe, their thinking is private ownership, maximize profits, and accumulation of wealth without regard to people or the effect on the environment.

I strayed. Back to topic.

I am of the opinion that cars are overpriced, as are trucks. However, I admit that my opinion is not factually based; and therefore, my opinion is subject to informed modification.

What do you think? Are cars overpriced? If so, why? I am interested in your opinions.

I would also appreciate if someone can help me with the facts. Perhaps, someone out there may know of a web site or two or three that can provide me with the factual information I seek.

Ben Konop: Buying An Election?

I never understood why a politician would need to pay people to circulate his or her nomination of candidacy petitions. It seems to me that a person seeking elective office should have the initial support of interested voters who would volunteer their time to support the potential candidate. If not, that tells me the potential candidate does not have a loyal following; ergo, that person is not a leader and is not worthy of my support. Such seems to be the case of Ben Konop, former Congressman wannabe, present Lucas County Commissioner, and Toledo Mayor wannabe.

It is my opinion that paying people to circulate petitions in order to seek elective office is the same as trying to buy an election.

Read Judy's Jewels Konop, Konop.

You see, when the young fella knocked at our door seeking our signatures on a Ben Konop petition in order for Ben Konop to appear on the primary election ballot as a nominee for Mayor of Toledo, we posed a couple questions accompanied by our own opinionated comments. It was from that discourse that the young man told us that he was doing the door-to-door thing as a part-time job to get some extra money. Gee, maybe that is why Ben Konop wants to be Mayor of Toledo.

Maybe, Ben Konop just wants some extra money from the salary. Who knows? I don't.

I just think Ben Konop is on one big ego trip, just like his sorrowful Aunt Sandy Isenberg, former Toledo City Councilman, former Lucas County Recorder, former Lucas County Commissioner, and former Lucas County Democratic Party Chairman. They are both so full of themselves as demonstrated by their egotistical, egocentric actions and behaviors and what seems rather apparent to me in what I perceive as their very own self-impressions. It makes me want to vomit.

Happy Independence Day and the Free Press Under Scrutiny

Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day for the United States of America. We celebrate the country's Declaration of Independence. In addition to the Declaration of Independence, I also think about our Constitution and its Bill of Rights along with other Constitutional amendments that make our country great.

Today, as I write this Roland Hansen Commentary, I am thinking of the First Amendment which amongst other things provides for a free press. And my thoughts evolve into the following commentary.

I found The Blade article in regards to the Toledo Free Press to be quite interesting. Click on the embedded link so that you may read for yourself the article Plagiarism at weekly used as teaching tool from toledoblade.com.

The major thrust of the article revolves around a fellow by the name of Gregg Schwartz who had written a monthly column for the Toledo Free Press from sometime in 2007 up until April 2009. Apparently, Mr. Schwartz did not totally use his own words in the columns carried by the Toledo Free Press. It appears Gregg Schwartz may have used the works of others without attribution in the writings he had submitted as his own to the Toledo Free Press and that they had been published by the Toledo Free Press as the works of Mr. Schwartz.

First off, for the record, I do not question the concerted efforts by the Toledo Free Press to provide adequate and proper attributions, to eliminate plagiarism, and to assure the veracity of the facts contained within its articles.

However, I do have several areas of concern regarding several items that are contained in the preceding referenced article, if indeed, those items have been reported accurately.

If you have read The Blade article or if you go back and read it now, you will note that there are several statements or reported references to statements that have been attributed to University of Toledo associate Professor Mary Lineham. I am focusing on two of those which I have copied and pasted as follows:

"She wrote a letter to Tom Pounds, the weekly's publisher and president, dated April 23, and included at least a half-dozen examples from a one-year span of Mr. Schwartz's work highlighting portions of his columns that were lifted without attributions from other publications." to which it is also being reported that "Ms Lineham said she did not receive a reply to her letter to Mr. Pounds and it wasn't published in the Free Press with other letters to the editor."

and

'What really makes some furious and angry and outraged and makes me feel threatened as an individual is that the Free Press would give Gregg my letter without bothering to answer it and send him on his way to hassle me,' "she said"

In addition to those items, there is another thing that causes me to raise my eyebrows in curious wonderment..The eyebrow raising is my reaction to The Blade statement that "Mr. Pounds did not return calls from The Blade seeking comment, and Michael Miller, editor-in-chief of the weekly, refused to answer specific questions about the allegations of plagiarism from The Blade, ... "

That sure seems to me like "the pot calling the kettle black" if my recollection of past events is correct. Unless I am mistaken. I seem to recall that Tom Pounds and Michael Miller have used the Toledo Free Press in the past as a means to attack the Blade and its publisher and editor for questionable practices and for not responding to inquiries from representatives of the Toledo Free Press.

This current situation as reported by The Blade gives me the distinct impression that there appears to me to be a "double-standard" on the part of Toledo Free Press. After all, if my memory is correct and if the Blade report is correct in that neither the publisher nor the editor of the Toledo Free Press have responded to inquiries from The Blade, then why has the Toledo Free Press in the past made negative remarks about The Blade not being responsive to inquiries from the Toledo Free Press.

Then there is the matter that causes me to think that there may be some serious concerns regarding Michael Miller in the area of ethics and possible conflict of interest. Of course, I may be totally off base in my thinking; perhaps I should not even think that there is any such possibility of a breach of ethics or that there might have been a possible conflict of interest. However, I cannot help but wonder when I read that portion of the article that states "And Mr. Miller has revealed publicly that he was once a client of Mr. Schwartz, writing in a September, 2007, column that he was trying to get in shape and that effort included strength training with Mr. Schwartz."


With all due respect, the bottom line for me is that it appears that the publisher and editor of the Toledo Free Press are exhibiting the very same characteristics of which they have been critical of the Blade publisher and editor.

Michael v. Michael OR All About Mikes in Toledo, Ohio

The field of candidates for Mayor of the City of Toledo, Ohio continues to grow. Some one seems to have yelled fire into the mike and the bell has been sounded with a result of the policeman running to the rescue. Take out the handcuffs for the collar. Perhaps, I should replace the word 'collar' with 'collins.' Golly gee, I hope you noticed all of the words in the embedded link; it seemed somewhat ironic to me.

With former Toledo policeman D. Michael Collins and former Toledo fireman Michael Bell both in the running as Independents for Mayor of Toledo, an interesting spin has been set in motion.

I really believe that Hooda Thunkit's (Dave Zawodny's) Blog: Toledo Councilman Collins considers run for mayor (June 27, 2009) is a worthwhile read and a message thread worthy of following closely. I encourage people to add comments to the message thread of that blog entry. Consider it to be like a mike night at the coffee house.

As far as my opinion is concerned, I really think Hooda Thunkit, a..k.a. Dave Zawodny, has this one pegged!

Evaluating Charter Schools

The topic of charter schools oftentimes brings about passionate discourse. Apparently some people have some very strong opinions on charter schools as they do on traditional public schools. Are charter schools doing a good job or a bad job of educating children? The same question may be asked of traditional public schools.

Frankly, I think the question is way too general. All schools cannot be lumped into a single category. There are way too many school systems. Furthermore, to answer such a question honestly and objectively requires a person to examine each school individually and to consider the resources available to the school.

Many methods and processes have been developed in evaluating both traditional public schools and charter schools. More often than not, we hear about evaluating the traditional public schools and we hear a lot of personal opinions on the performance of the traditional public school system. But what do we hear about evaluating charter schools?

Back on May 13, 2009, I wrote the Roland Hansen Commentary Glass City Academy: Charter School Uproar in Toledo, Ohio to which there were some responding comments, not all of which were kind and some of which took strong exception. I suggest you review that Roland Hansen Commentary and its comments before continuing on here to read more comments some one else wrote about it elsewhere.

Okay, now that you have hopefully done that, I will continue. I not only write this blog in addition to my other blog, Roland's Ramblings, but I also write and/or comment on other blogs and internet social networks. It is not uncommon for me to include links within my internet commentary input. Such is the case with the above referenced Roland Hansen Commentary regarding the charter community school, Glass City Academy.

On one of the social networks to which I placed that link, there was an interesting exchange between another person and me just a few days ago, actually it was on June 23, 2009, that I have copied and pasted below. (I am omitting the identity of the other person in that the social network is one in which identities are shared only amongst those who approve one another in the network.) Here is the exchange:

*** (link posting to Glass City Academy: Charter School Uproar in Toledo, Ohio.

Respondent: Interesting. I read all of it, including the comments and I only have one question.
I had heard that Obama and company were against any kind of charter schools, because it would take kids out of their indoctrination centers. Even our own governor was heard to say that he wanted to close them all.
In light of your party's opposition to charter schools of any kind, don't you think that this discussion is rather moot?
PS. I am FOR charter schools of ANY kind. They are the only salvation for this country. Schools must be made to compete with each other. Schools that get money from the government, can be controlled by the government. This is dangerous in my eyes.

Roland Hansen: I do not understand your question concerning "(my) party's opposition to charter schools of any kind." You must know something about MY party that I do not know.
Regardless of that aspect, it appears you assume that each and every person who identifies with a specific political party also supports every single plank of that political party platform. That is a gross over exaggeration of a stereotypical generalization.
Having been intrinsically actively involved in electoral politics and having been a college instructor of Political Science, I can say without hesitation that your assumption is totally erroneous.

Respondent: I guess. But, I have major problems with our public schools, and what I see this government (both state and federal) leaning toward, is making sure that the public schools are our ONLY choice. I will home school if I have to. And if they take that away from me, I will send them to the public schools, and then when they get home, I will RE-school them with the truth.

Roland Hansen: Perhaps you should take a more proactive role by running for election to a seat on your local board of education.

Respondent: I know where you are going with that. I flunked speech class. :-) However, _______ (note: another person is named) and I are on the same page on this issue, so I WOULD campaign with her to get her elected on the board. Now, SHE would be awesome! She is a phenomenal public speaker!

That exchange again got my thoughts reflecting on the seemingly continuing controversial debate on the subject of charter schools and the traditional public school system. That is a subject near and dear to me, and of which I have spoken and written to some length over the years. As a matter of fact, in addition to this entry and the Glass City Academy entry, there are two other previous entries here on Roland Hansen Commentary concerning the topic of charter schools; they are:

December 9, 2008, Cultural Diversity School: A Charter Idea
November 27, 2007, Marc Dann: Charter School Buster!

Now then, let's get to the subject of today. I found the above-cited exchange on the social network to be quite ironic. I use the word ironic because two days ago, just this past Wednesday, June 24, 2009, the day after that exchange on the social network, I read an article, actually it was an editorial piece in the local newspaper (The Blade Pages Of Opinion) that caught my interest. The editorial piece was in regards to charter schools, and it mentions an address given by Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education, at the annual meeting of the National Alliance for Public Charters, Barack Obama, and a report on charter schools that has been issued the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University. If you really want to read that newspaper editorial, click on over to The Blade, Charter school challenge.

On the other hand, there are several other interesting reports about that Stanford U CREDO report that I strongly suggest you read. Should you choose to do so, just follow my links to:

Reuters, New Stanford Report Finds Serious Quality Challenge in National Charter School Sector
Yahoo News, U.S. News, Charter Schools Might Not Be Better
NPR.org: Report: Charter Schools Aren't So Exemplary (from which you may click the link to listen to an interview by Michel Martin of National Public Radio with Nelson Smith of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Not to be left out is the full CREDO National Charter School Study itself from the credo.stanford.edu website where you may read the press release, the executive summary, the full report, the technical appendix, and the various state reports.
For that, all you need do is click this.

So, the report is in, but the question remains: What are your thoughts concerning charter schools?

Especially to those persons who vehemently criticize traditional public schools in their passionate strong support of charter schools, I ask: What about evaluating charter schools?

Shunned by Keith Wilkowski, Toledo Mayor Candidate

Politics is sometimes interesting. I say interest because right now I do not know what phrase to use. I'm thinking something is really strange in the Keith Wilkowski campaign for Toledo Mayor.

As I have previously written, I have known Keith a long time, long before he ever became a candidate for Mayor of the City of Toledo.

Several occurrences have transpired that lead me to believe that since formally announcing his latest candidacy Keith feels that I no longer even exist or that I am not worthy of being acknowledged.

You may ask what type of occurrences would cause me to come to such a conclusion. Well, I'll tell you.

I have been getting lots of Wilkowski campaign crap in various internet social networks, like twitter which I may soon block due to lack of personal contact and like the Keith Wilkowski for Mayor Facebook group that I did drop due to lack of personal contact, and from Ben Krompak or other cronies from the Wilkowski For Mayor Committee.

Then, there is the small matter of campaign literature and invitations sent to my house addressed solely to my wife, Judy Hansen, who just happens to be an elected official herself as a member of the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board, serving in her third 4-year term. That is the same body to which I had been elected for three terms and had served twelve years before deciding not to seek re-election, but to which my wife then decided to seek.

At any rate, it is one thing to send campaign literature and invites to campaign social events to my wife and omit me but the biggest slap of all came in today's USPS mail. Today, I was somewhat aghast to see in the mail an invitation stating, in part:

Join us for a festive informative evening
to learn more about
Toledo Mayoral Candidate
Keith Wilkowski
Join us for summertime drinks & hors d'oeuvres
at the home of
Michael and Jody DeBacker
3230 Hidden Ridge * Maumee, Ohio
Thursday, July 9, 2009
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Well, actually it is not the invitation that has left me aghast. It is the way the invitation is addressed. I mean, come on, what would you think if it were you - and you were Roland Hansen, the person who knew the candidate for many years (27+) and it was the candidate with whom you had worked with politically for years - and then you see the invitation addressed to:

Judy Hansen & Guest
What am I, chopped liver?

Lucas County Commissioner in 2010

Back on July 6th, 2007, I started a message thread on the Toledo area political message board, SwampBubbles, attempting to stir up some serious conversation about the next Mayoral election that was more than two years down the road; that is this year's election. While my posting resulted in quite a few comments, there was very little serious dialogue by the so-called self-proclaimed political activists, bloggers, commentators.

It was soon after that message thread that some people began to circulate a rumor that I, Roland Hansen, was going to be a candidate for Mayor of Toledo and posted some negative commentary along those lines on various political blogs and internet message boards. I guess these folks just had to practice their art of political predictions and character assassination.

Regardless of that bit about me, here we are today in the heat of the initial stages of the primary election battle to determine the next Mayor of the City of Toledo, Ohio in which many people are bemoaning the choices being proffered to date. I guess the electorate will always remain the same, a bunch of crybabies who sit on the sidelines complaining about "bad" government and "dirty" politicians. For reference sake, I suggest you take a look at that message thread: Toledo Mayor in 2009.
(Oh, incidentally, did you read my prediction back then about the recall effort of the Mayor? Such useless and wasted energy as is today's Take Back Toledo push!)

Now, what has all that got to do with the Roland Hansen Commentary of today? Okay, if you went to the aforementioned message thread and read it, you will understand more fully what I am now addressing.

Here goes ...

All right, I know we haven't even elected the Mayor of the City of Toledo, Ohio yet this year, let alone chosen the two candidates for Toledo Mayor in the primary election that is still just short of three months away. Heck, the general election is still five months off into the future from this entry of Roland Hansen Commentary.

None-the-less, one of the candidates for Toledo Mayor is Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop who was elected to a four-year term back in 2006 and who has broken his 2006 campaign pledge to complete his full term if he were to be elected a Lucas County Commissioner.

I suspect that Ben Konop will not even survive the September 2009 municipal primary election to be a candidate for Mayor of Toledo in the November 2009 general election. In the unlikely possibility that he does survive the primary election to be a candidate in the general election, he should be soundly defeated.

All of that brings me to my main focus today. The seat on the Board of Lucas County Commissioners currently held by Ben Konop is up for election in 2010. I'm going to assume Benny Konop will fall flat on his face in his Toledo mayoral quest and seek re-election as a Lucas County Commissioner, that is, of course, providing Benny-boy doesn't find some other political elective office that suits his political opportunistic fancy and go for it instead. In the event that Ben Konop does seek re-election as a Lucas County Commissioner, he should be tossed out on his ear. My previous entries here on Roland Hansen Commentary about Ben Konop provide the information as to why I have such thoughts. Just plug his name in up there in the blog search box and you can read them all if you so desire.

Onward.....

I have heard and read that some people are dissatisfied with the current political faces on the Board of Lucas County Commissioners and want change. Some have said the heck with the political parties. Some clamor for an independent. Whatever!

The reality is if you truly want something different in the 2010 election for the Board of Lucas County Commissioners, it is necessary to start now in order to offset the advantage of incumbency and political party affiliation.

That long-winded introductory statement is the lead in to a question. Here is the question:

Who do you suggest run for Lucas County Commissioner in 2010?

Gordy Heminger, Ohio Politician Extraordinaire

I read with interest The Blade June 9, 2009 article Bowling Green councilman leaving for job in Indianapolis which is about Gordy Heminger, a former two term Maumee City Councilman and present Bowling Green City Councilman.

Over this-a-way, you may read the Alpha Sigma Phi news release Heminger Named Fraternity CEO.

Back on June 16, 2008, Northwest Ohio Political Blotter had the blog entry entitled Councilman Gordy Heminger, Bowling Green which you may read by clicking on the embedded link.

From the April 13, 2009 BGSU Monitor, you may read in the following embedded link about Gordy Heminger in the article Administrative staff names 'BG Best' that tells why Gordy has received recognition as 'BG’s Best' by the Administrative Staff Council of Bowling Green State University.

I wish Gordy all the best in the world. He certainly has worked diligently not only in politics but throughout his professional career. I first met Gordy when he was a young teenager working as a volunteer in numerous Lucas County Democratic candidates' campaigns. Gordy Heminger made a lasting positive impression on me and, while I haven't seen him in many years, I have followed his career from a distance ever since I met him. Way back in the early 1990s, I got the gut feeling that Gordy would make a fine elected official someday and would be the best of the best. I thought then and said to many people that Gordy Heminger was the rising star in Lucas County Democratic politics. A few short years later, he won election at the age of 18 to Maumee City Council. He was off and doing well.

Then, for some strange reason - but what isn't strange in politics, it seemed to me that the Lucas County Democratic Party organization and leadership overlooked Gordy Heminger and all the wonderful work he had done in Democratic Party politics. Other people became the Lucas County Democratic Party favorites, a very select few and amongst them was a "favorite son" by the name of Wade Kapszukiewicz. That aside, it seemed as though the young man who had worked so hard in the trenches of the Lucas County Democratic Party since he was but a young child, Gordy Heminger, was not receiving the support of the Lucas County Democratic Party machine. Having been twice elected to Maumee City Council, Gordy eventually moved to Bowling Green. Lucas County lost one of its most promising Democratic politicians.

In Bowling Green, Gordy Heminger became well known and respected in both his professional and his political life. He re-entered politics in Wood County and was active in the Wood County Democratic Party. He has been twice elected to Bowling Green City Council and was the 2008 endorsed Democrat for Wood County Clerk of Courts. Click on over to read the Sentinel-Tribune Heminger cites his leadership skills article.

Now, Wood County is losing Gordy Heminger, the proven politician and elected official. Gordy is moving to Indianapolis to assume his new position as President and CEO of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. I wish him well, but am sad to see him leave. Ohio is losing a fine elected official and a real true politician of the best kind.

Gordy, if you should come across this blog entry, I wish you the best of everything. And, by the way, Gordy, I still have the note you sent me when you were still not of voting age in which you wrote "Mr. Hansen, Congratulations on your election to the Lucas County School Board. I hope to be able to work with you on a campaign in the future."

To me, Gordy Heminger has been and is an Ohio politician extraordinaire.

Lucas County Elected Officials Blog - WHAT A JOKE!!! Kapszukiewicz and Konop.

The title says it all. Don't believe me. Take a look at the Lucas County Elected Officials' Blog and decide for yourself.

How many elected officials are blogging there? Who are they? How often does each elected official make an entry? How much is this Lucas County Elected Officials' Blog costing the taxpayers of Lucas County?

Is the Lucas County Elected Officials' Blog really a public service or a total waste of taxpayers' money in promoting public images of political hacks?

Am I correct in my opinion that "Lucas County Elected Officials' Blog" is just plain political opportunism by the 2Ks (Kapszukiewicz and Konop)?

Why do the other elected Lucas County officials allow this farce of a blog to exist? And if they think the concept is so darn good, why haven't they made use of it? Who in the heck should be held accountable for this total and complete piece of crap?

Did you see my comments about the two Ks in the immediately preceding Roland Hansen Commentary of May 27? Check it out if you haven't done so already.

Come on, don't be shy. Tell me what you think of the Lucas County Elected Officials' Blog. I'd also LOVE to read your comments about the 2Ks.

Incidentally, have you noticed the absence of the 2Ks in the blogosphere, electronic bulletin boards, e-forums, and the like? For a couple of self-proclaimed techno-savvy guys, they sure seem to be conveniently and conspicuously invisible in the electronic internet media.

Ben Konop. A Dumb Idea.

From where in the world did Ben Konop come?

Here I am feeling somewhat aghast at the latest publicity in Toledo Ohio in regards to Ben "doesn't fall far from the tree" Konop.

Ben Konop may just hold the record for northwest Ohio politicians who are publicity seeking political opportunists. He may even have surpassed the political opportunistic Wade Kapszukiewicz.

Konop proposes privatizing Lucas County EMS ambulance service endowing college scholarships in the process. That's the latest scoop of Ben Konop poop from WTOL 11 and from the Toledo Blade.

(Hey, what are you thinking? Shame on you. Get your mind out of the gutter and bring it on up here to the sewer. When I wrote "scoop of Ben Konop poop," I was making reference to the "current details" of Ben Konop "inside information.")

As it turns out, this is really not new news from Ben Konop, as can be read over at Thurber's Thoughts Konop's college conspiracy. (Gee, for some twisted and strange reason, some how I think that entry could have been entitled KKK: Konop's Kollege Konspiracy, even though there really isn't any connection of any kind to the Ku Klux Klan; it just strikes me as a kute katchy konopism.)

My thoughts on the Konop proposal are three-fold.

One:
I am opposed to privatizing EMS.

Two:
I am in favor of college scholarships.

Three:
This Ben Konop proposal is A DUMB IDEA!!!

Independents and Politics: An Oxymoron

There are so many people who love to comment about politics who really have no idea of what politics are or how politics work. Far too many people confuse government and politics. Way too many people think that elected officials should be independent, as in not having a political party affiliation. These folks pride themselves on being independent voters. What a true disservice those folks do to the governmental electoral process while all the while believing they are doing a public service!

Politics is all about power; the accumulation of power and the exercise of power. Politics exist in every organization or group of people in which the number of members exceed one. It is not confined to government, let alone the election of governmental representatives. Politics are found and played in churches, charitable and civic organizations, places of employment, school parents clubs, little league sports as well as all amateur and professional sports, scouting, --- well, everything in non solo human endeavors.

In this Roland Hansen Commentary, I am focusing on politics and the process of electing and/or appointing people to positions in the service of government.

In order to accumulate and exercise power, it is necessary to have the support of others who will assist throughout the entire process of gathering, exercising, and maintaining power. That is where political parties come into play of the governmental electoral arena. Persons who identify with a political party do not necessarily give up their individual identities, ideas, or thought processes.

A political party is a coalition of a diverse group of people who may indeed have many differences but who have identified some common concerns, common ideas, and common goals they wish to see in the formulation and application of public policy. In order to accomplish those ends, a political party, as an entity unto itself, will find a common middle ground upon which its diverse members will rally. In doing so, the political party will establish a political platform consisting of many planks.

People who slam political parties and partisan politicians as playing politics are, in fact, in the process of playing politics themselves. Those independents who cry for independents to be elected to public office to the exclusion of those who identify with a political party would condemn us all to a world of chaos. Other than slamming political parties and slamming politics and slamming government itself, these "independents" have no common grounds upon which they think, believe or act. While these so-called independents may cry for less government, less taxes, less governmental regulations on private business enterprises, decry our public education system, despise universal health care coverage, bemoan "corrupt" politicians, condemn a mayor or city council or state legislature or Congress or other government elected or appointed office or body, and all the other negations they so espouse, they generally have no real proposals containing specific methods and means by which public policies may address the concerns of the community in a productive, positive, results-oriented manner.

Without a common platform with specific planks such as found in a political party, it is not possible to have a government that could function and be free of chaos. Thus, independents and politics equate in my mind as an oxymoron.

Meanwhile, here in Toledo, Ohio, there are a couple of factions that seem to be more about taking down the other guy rather than putting forth positive concrete ideas and suggestions on how to improve our community. I don't think I will mention Take Back Toledo or Teamwork Toledo. oops.

Glass City Academy: Charter School Uproar in Toledo, Ohio

There is a charter school uproar in Toledo, Ohio. The earlier opposition of Old Orchard residents to Glass City Academy just continues to grow.

Old Orchard residents are in the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome. I say shame on them. Fine upstanding citizens they are that do not want a school in their neighborhood for at-risk kids. I’d wager their opposition to Glass City Academy is based on social class prejudice, fear, and discrimination. Where was their strong vocal mobilizing opposition when the proposed location was originally approved for the Knight Academy, a charter school affiliated with St Francis de Sales?

That is the comment I wrote on the Judy's Jewels blog entry: Glass City Academy.

Old Orchard resident Donald Greenburg and several of his neighbors have been reported as they "think they've been duped" and all they "wanted ... was simply due process for this new school." Quite frankly, I'm not buying that story.

Regardless of the technicalities involved, I guess the Old Orchard complainants just don't think Glass City Academy students are in the right class for the neighborhood. I sure do not recall such a resident uproar when The Knight Academy had been approved for that very same Old Orchard location but later bowed out on its own volition.

Incidentally, can anyone tell me where I might find Archie Bunker? Gee, I wonder what Archie would say.