August 1, 2011
World's Largest Farce
By Susan Olling
Editor:
We’re watching the world’s largest farce playing out 20 miles
away. It has 536 stars and a supporting cast of millions who
voted these 536 into office. As an independent who didn’t vote
for any of them, I’m holding my nose as I watch all this. Why the
apparent refusal to compromise? No one’s going to get everything
they want out of this. These people clearly have forgotten their
country’s history. The US Constitution wasn’t a perfect document,
but it was signed and ratified, and the experiment was started.
Benjamin Franklin, among others, would be appalled at what’s happened
to this country... Read More
***
July 27, 2011
Letter the Editor, Dayton Daily News...
Uniquely Poor
Journalism
By Al Bliss
July 25, 2011
The Dayton Daily News July 24, 2011 article on page E-1 with a header
of ECONOMY was extremely successful in stimulating a rant to promptly
and loudly address the presentation that so strongly wrote the biased
position of the Federal and State Departments of Energy regarding the
alternate energy values and wonderful successes. Before continuing, the
author should have verified the alleged job creation and the forecast
reduction of fossil fuels. These same rosy future results were heralded
as viable expectations in Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands. Please
spend a minute or two checking what are the actual results in just
those three countries and then write your article about the probable
results. The last item in the article is of significance to many
taxpayers but based on its’ location, the author (Steve Bennish) of the
article, apparently considers the end of the article an appropriate
place that will probably be skipped by most readers... Read More
***
July 24, 2011
Re: Increasing taxes
on the ultra wealthy...
Kurt Fritsch
Dear Dr. Reier,
Referring to your “Letter to Mr. Obama,” published on CNO, I must admit
that basically you would be right in your reasoning and in encouraging
Mr. Obama to increase taxes on the ultra wealthy....
... if there wouldn’t be several problems:
1) the folks you mentioned belong to the group (of ultra wealthy
people) of Obama’s greatest supporters (funds as well as in the usage
of Internet and Social Media in the 2008 campaign)... Read More
***
July 23, 2011
Increasing taxes on
the ultra wealthy
Charles E. Reier MD
TO: President Barack Obama
July 20, 2011
Subject: Necessity of increasing taxes on ultra wealthy
individuals: If low taxes are good, why has the 21st century been so
disastrous for the country as a whole while simultaneously spawning a
new class of multi-billionaires?
Dear Mr. President,
As a lifetime Republican millionaire at age 76, I urge that you not
depart from your commitment to increase taxes on the ultra wealthy to
levels approaching historic norms.
Who are Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Geoff Yang, and Mark Zuckerberg? They
are a group of young men hardly out of their tennis shoes that have
made excessive fortunes on the Internet that was built by the United
States Defense Department with hard earned American tax dollars at a
time when they were in grade school... Read More
***
July 9, 2011
White House Rural
Council
Al Bliss
All Darke County Residents:
I believe that we in Darke County truly qualify as a part of rural
America. This is July 8, 2011 and until yesterday July 7, 2011, I did
not know that the President had issued an Executive Order (EO)
pertaining to Rural America. I have included a copy of the EO
below with the addition of the individuals in the offices identified in
the EO for your information.
You are probably wondering why I am bothering with this and what
difference this EO makes or could make. Because of the importance of
this document and the fact that it was issued a month ago with
absolutely no fanfare... Read More
***
June 23, 2011
To All Darke County Voters/Taxpayers/Homeowners and County
Commissioners
Transfer
Tax/Conveyance Fee
Reference: Monday June 20, 2011 Darke County Commissioner’s Meeting
An improved name for the subject Tax/Fee has been suggested and will be
used subsequently. The appropriate name [my opinion] is the STEALTH
TAX. The reason that this is meaningful is that to date, no one asked
has any idea that this tax even exists. So STEALTH TAX it is.
The comprehensive report by Bob Robinson in the County News Online was
detailed and professionally done. Kudos to Bob for a job well done... Read More
***
June 19, 2011
Letter to the
Commissioners
Folks,
As we are out of county, cannot attend the public meeting(s) on the
proposed conveyance fee increase, here is my input .....
The current ‘fee’ rate of $2 per $1000 is composed of two parts -
A- the OHIO mandatory charge (R.C. 319.54(G)(3)), called “real property
transfer fee” of $1
B- the county permissive charge (R.C. 322.02), called “real property
transfer tax” of $1, (and for which state law allows for a max rate of
$3)
The proposal is to increase the permissive portion (the tax) to $2
A tax is a tax, any increase in tax rate is and will be unpopular... Read More
***
June 15, 2011
Attention Darke
County Commissioners:
A footnote to the Darke County Commissioner’s meeting today, Wednesday
June 15, 2011 at 1:30 P.M. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room.
My personal assessment of the hour and a half discussion regarding the
“Real Property Transfer Tax” --aka Conveyance Fees -- was that
virtually all present considered an aggressive Economic Development
effort was vital to the growth and financial well being of Darke
County. It also seemed that all present with the exception of the
Economic Development Director and the members of the Community
Improvement Council (CIC) opposed the option of increased funding for
the Economic Development effort via an increase in the current
permissive conveyance fee from one dollar ($1) to two dollars ($2)... Read More
***
June 5, 2011
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Next
Coffee with the Commissioner
Commissioner Mike Stegall will be having his next “Coffee with the
Commissioner” on June 18th, 2011 at Sweet One 0 One in downtown
Greenville. Commissioner Stegall will be answering your questions
and discussing any county issues that are brought up. This is an
opportunity for people to meet with your county officials and to learn
what is going on in Darke County. The session will last from 8:00
a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Everyone is invited, and it is sure
to be a fun time for both the commissioner and the people. Please
join him for an informative and fun morning, June 18th at Sweet
one-o-one in downtown Greenville. See you there!
***
June 5, 2011
The issue was
swimming in Greenville Creek
Editor:
I really didn't think my article would have been classified as a rant.
But that's OK. Although it is a little odd that the pool wasn't open on
Memorial Day I can deal with that and accept Ms. Beam's reasons for its
tardy opening this year. I'm not sure, however that the pool
should have been the real focus point of the article. Since the
Greenville Creek runs right through the middle of the park but in the
city of Greenville, it seems that one of those entities should concern
themselves with kids in the rain swollen creek. This didn't just start
yesterday. It's been going on for a while. The very day in
question, WHIO reported on a kid who jumped into a creek and the
undertow took him away. It could have easily happened in
Greenville Creek and still can. Budgets being what they are,
disabling the stairway to the creek could relieve the Park Board and
the City of some liability, maybe even a sign posted "No Swimming",
even though it wouldn't be read, might help. Next time I'll be very
explicit on what the problem is and I won't be accused of ranting or
have to write an explanation.
Bob Rhoades
Greenville
***
June 3, 2011
Right back atcha
Editor:
If there is a brain running loose in the Darke County Commissioners
Office it will die of loneliness. Nowhere in my letter do I even
mention the commissioners in relationship to what I said about CAUV and
the new taxes. A third grader should have been able to see that my
letter was on multiple subjects.
As for the real estate taxes and unemployment in Ohio, the key word
here was “real.” These investigative reporters dug out the “real”
numbers on Ohio. I believe them. Politicians lie to look good and keep
their jobs... Read More
***
June 3, 2011
Response to Bob
Rhoades’ Memorial Day in Treaty City
Bob, I really think that Bob Rhoades should have checked all the facts
before writing his rant on the park and park board. First, our pool and
general budget was cut by several thousands dollars, so this board had
to make decisions on the pool and other areas. I have been on the park
board for almost 2 years and I can count on my fingers how many people
have attended meetings, or even called me as a board member. In these
board meetings a lot of information is given and decisions are made. I
would invite those that want to “Rant” about the park and the park
board to come to our next meeting and voice your concerns. Thanks.
Kathy Beam
Greenville
***
June 2, 2011
We have to wake up
Editor:
According to Ted Finnam a proponent of CAUV and Scott Zumbrink
representing the State Treasurer Association, CAUV is losing it’s clout
in Ohio. Taxes on our farm acres will increase 100 percent to 300
percent in January 2012.
We have to wake up immediately and begin to protect ourselves from any
additional taxes.
A national TV program just revealed that Ohio has the highest real
estate taxes in the nation. Can you believe we pay more than New York?
We have the second highest real unemployment rate behind Michigan in
the nation... Read More
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