"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.