Politics – Page 49 – Doug's Views

July 11, 2012April 18, 2020

Your Extended Power Outage Might Not Be Just Due To A Storm

Downed power lines Hamilton Rd Columbus Ohio June 2012

On Friday June 29th our area experienced a severe storm with 80 mph winds that knocked out power for over 600,000 American Electric Power (AEP) customers in Ohio and it took a week or more to get the power back on. AEP claimed the storm was more than their system could handle with the amount of damage not seen since the remnant of Hurricane Ike passed through in 2008. There might be another explanation as to why restoration is taking so long in recent years. Power companies seem to be more interested in profits over service and they want you to pay for their cost cutting.

The storm that blew on June 29th is called a derecho:

July 9, 2012April 18, 2020

Presumption Of Innocence Is For When Facts Are In Doubt

George Zimmerman

The other day, George Zimmerman, the over zealous member of his neighborhood watch, who shot and killed an unarmed teen named Trayvon Martin, was released again on bail. I tweeted that I guess it paid to shoot an unarmed teenager and become the darling of the GOP. A person replied back to me that I should be reminded of presumption of innocence and a fair trial. I don’t think the person knows what presumption of innocence means. In the Trayvon Martin case the facts aren’t in doubt.

July 2, 2012April 18, 2020

Yet Another False GOP Talking Point: The Affordable Care Act Is A Tax

Many people, including myself, were shocked when the US Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. The decision was based on the grounds that it fell under the taxing authority of Congress. Republicans and other Conservatives lost their mind screaming like little children about a TAX!!!!! OMFG A TAX!!!! Well like a majority of GOP talking points this too is false and shows they really have no idea how insurance works.

The penalty, which would only affect less than 1%, that people would pay for not buying health insurance is more like the fine you pay if you get a speeding ticket. No rational person would claim that the fine from a traffic ticket is a tax.

June 25, 2012April 18, 2020

Columbus Needs City Charter Reform

image of a I support City Council Districts in Columbus Ohio button

The current Columbus Ohio city charter was passed by voters in 1914. It has been amended many times since then but one part that has stayed the same is the size and make up of city council. Currently the council is made up of seven members elected to at-large seats. Also since Democrats have the majority on council, appoint new members on a regular basis, and seem to have decisions made before a vote is taken, it’s time to amend the charter again and change the number and make up of city council so it can be more responsive and more accountable to the voters of Columbus.

May 28, 2012April 18, 2020

Memorial Day: Their Sacrifice Must Not Be In Vain

As we celebrate Memorial Day in the US and it is an election year, we need to be reminded that the people who died in service of this country must not have died in vain. No matter your political party, we must work harder not to have more of our young people buried in military cemeteries. This post is my plea for us to work together to stop all war – both current and future.