My Weblog

Congratulations

I wish to congratulate Bob Mecklenborg on his victory in this election. I wish him the best of everything in the upcoming term. I want to thank him for running an absolutely clean campaign-- we can both say we adhered to those standards at the highest level. I wish also to thank my wife, my family and the great staff for all the time and work they have put into this effort. Of course, I thank all the people who cast their vote for me and also the many peole from the labor organizations who supported my candidacy. I will continue to work in any capacity to help Ohio pull out of this economic crisis and to help all the people in this great state to succeed. So, I end this experience with thanks to all who participated and God bless this great state!

Sincerely,

Bob Klug

The Time is Near!

Election day is only seven days away and every candidate is getting edgy and anxious. This last month's economic collapse has wiped out trillions of dollars worth of investments and it seems that no one can come up with a plan that can even slow downthis avalanche of sell-offs that is happening. Total collapse of smaller nations such as iceland, mean they must now go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for their survival. They begged Russia to lend them $5 billion to prevent this, but apparently Russia doesn't have it to lend right now.

And it just keeps getting worse. Where it will bottom out, no one knows at this point in time. But one thing for sure is, this downturn is not going to be contained in just a few week or months; it will take years to build back our economic superiority. For many people, years of hard work, conservative living and investing in their future has been wiped out due to these economic thieves who promoted this pyramid scam. These crooks are now walking off with millions in severance packages from these banks that caused this crash. now they want the government to bail them out.

This is so wrong. The CEOs of outfits like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Bros., AIG and many others like those, should be jailed for promoting fraud, certainly not getting severance packages. That would restore some confidence in the economy for many who have lost so much. This is the time for a little common sense.

No one, including me, can come up with a clear-cut solution ; it's going to take years of hard work and super intelligence to get the market back on its feet. I can, however, help Ohio through these tough times by coming up with some much needed reforms that I have stated in my Top 10 Promises to the People and reasons why you should vote for me, Bob Klug for State Representative:

1. Give new entrepreneurs with less than 25 employees a 5-year  moritorium on the dreaded workman's comp tax and the unemployment tax. This will give them a chance to build enough capital to survive in competition.

2.  Give seniors 78 years or older who have paid property taxes for at least 25 years a true Homestead Exemption Act. These people will be completely exempt.

3.  Give free college education plus a living allowance to the surviving children of any Ohio armed services men and women who were killed in the line of duty. This will also apply to the children of police and firefighters who die in the the line of duty.

4.  Get the state out of the liquor-selling business. Allow current holders of C1/C2 licenses to also sell liquor bought directly from distributors. Let each county decide where these operations should be. Any loss in revenue will be well made up for in sales tax on these new liquor purchases.

5.  Protect the property owners from being ripped off by utility companies such as Duke Energy by restoring the controls to the PUCO.

6. Set education as the most important thing that the legislature does and find money other than property taxes to pay for it.

7. Bring OHIO into the 21st Century!

Follow-up to the Enquirer interview

I want to thank the Cincinnati Enquirer for the interview responses that were published on October 12. However, I also want to expand their answers to include all of what I said that wasn't printed.

On Question #1, regarding problems with School Funding: I did say as quoted that we have a problem. I also said that additional property tax is not an option as far as I'm concerned. I said that property taxes are maxed out. Raising money from other sources is the answer, but it must be equitable to all. I'm a good listener, like the article said. I'm willing to hear the different proposals and decide which one will work the best.

On Question #2, regarding the best way to keep new business alive: My answer is pretty well as published, however, I put a complete emphasis on getting Ohio out of the business of selling liquor. We need to privatize this operation. Let all holders of C1 and C2 lincenses handle the sale of hard liquor. The same as surrounding states already do. Any loss in upfront revenue would be more than made up for by the increase in sales tax collections. With better prices and better opportunity, Ohioans will be buying their liquor in Ohio now. Let the counties issue permits based on guidelines already on the books as to numbers and locations and let the counties police them. This will be much more effective. We need to reign in these bureaucracies and bring Ohio in the 21st Century!

On Question #3, regarding Casino Gambling in Ohio: Again, my answer is pretty well as published, however, I emphasized that my solution would be to go to "Off Track Betting (OTB)," which would help the horse breeding and race track industry also. Allow OTB's to have slots and tables also, if desired. Again, allow each county to choose how many and at which locations these businesses could operate as long as there is enough to have competition among them. The net result would be that the enormous profits would stay in-state, thus benefitting the state as a whole and not just a concentrated area.

Last, but not least, I encourage everyone to vote in this election. Vote democratic down the line, from the White House to the State House to the Court House. I would certainly appreciate your vote and I need it in order to help Governor Strickland carry out his policies and help this great state of Ohio and all its people.

It's not too late to donate. Up to $50 per person can be deducted from your Ohio State Income Taxes. Make checks payable to Bob Klug for State Representative and mail to Pete Savu, Treasurer. 5381 Manortree. Cincinnati, OH 45238.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative, Pete Savu, Treasurer.

Fire! Fire!

If someone shouts fire, everyone pays close attention-- or at least they should. Well, the financial meltdown in the last week or so has caused even the president to shout "Fire!"  So we had all better start paying close attention to the proposals for not only containing this situation, but preventing it from ever happening again.

However, Secretary Paulson's plan that was submitted to the congress is totally unacceptable.

First of all, why the big rush all of a sudden? Anyone with any sense at all knew this was coming. Twelve months ago, most economists were all talking about what was going to happen, but the administration poo-pooh'd their predictions as pessimistic. Drivel.

So much for the optomists.

Meanwhile a group of leeches were making millions short selling and driving the economy deeper and deeper into the black hole. Finally, after the barn had already burned to the ground, the president said, "Boy have we got a problem here! We have to ask the taxpayers to bail out all these millionaires." Forget the middle class, forget the homeowners, we have to save the millionaires. They are the ones that keep this country going. Yeah Right.

Well fortunately, there are enough intelligent people in congress who saw right through this B.S. to say, "Bail out- OK, but sell out- absolutely not."

We can bail out this event without burdening the taxpayers if we do it correctly. I will refer you to an article in the Sept. 23 issue of the New York Times written by Carter Daugherty about how Sweden dug out of a similar situation.

The crooks who caused this catastrophe, and  yes, I call them crooks because that is what they are, should be in jail and not in big golden parachutes for their action in the debacle.

The people who set this into motion, through their instance of removing the safeguards, should be voted out of office and a new president and congress should study real hard the rules to keep this from happening again. We must protect the Middle Class, hard-working people of this country from these individuals who try to fleece their fellow Americans.

The constitution says quite plainly that it is the duty of government to protect the citizens from enemies both foreign and domestic.

Throw out the crooks. Vote straight Democrat from the White House to the State House to the Court House this year.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative. Pete Savu, Treasurer.

Where do we go from here?

The financial markets are in complete turmoil. If the European and London markets go to hell along with the Asian market, we could have a snowball affect that will be unstoppable. And if that happens, 1929 will seem just a mild recession compared to what we will be facing.

How in the world did we get into such a mess? Easy. The last 12 years or so, the big Republican brains convinced our legislators that regulations controlling banks and lending institutions were going to be a problem in a world economy.

Just the opposite is true; lack of regulations and outright greed on the part of big time financial institutions have left us in a situation where the government must bail out the really gian Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the tune of $100 billion or more. And they still have other giants like Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch left hanging out to dry. These are just the more prominant banks; many other banks are on the verge of collapse, both here in the US and in England and Japan.

I have said many times over the years that our system of "Capitalism with proper restraints" is the best economic system in the history of manking; however Laissez Faire Capitalism is no better than Communism-- they simply don't work.

We must go back to the 30s and do it right again. We had a good balance, but greed won out. For small independent businessmen, they had better get their thinking straight, quit listening to all the BS about government and unions being their big enemy and the reason for their failure.

They should realize that competition from ruthless gian corporations with access to limitless capital is thier real enemy. Government and union employees are their biggest friend and asset.

It really bothers me when I see all these few remaining independent business operators displaying big yard signs supporting the republican congressional candidates who are really their biggest obstacle to survival! Do they have no brains to tell them where the real threat lies? It's Wal-mart, Walgreens, CVS, Home Depot, Target and on and on, so many that I cannot count, that are the real threat to their livelihood.

The government tries to help out the unethical practices of these giants, but they come up with new gimmicks as quickly as rules are made to stop the abuse. Unions help by giving workers a dignifying wage and outlook for others not so fortunate.

We're about to take a long terrible ride to financial hell, but if we all hang in together and respect the rights of all citizens to earn a decent living, we can still save this great society.

Only when we realize that government is about 350 million different beliefs, all that must be respected even when not agreed upon. We cannot and should not demand that all people be Christian, that all people attend church, that all people must do things in a prescribed manner that the pulpit dictactes... The churches must stick to the spiritual side and let politicans worry about the secular side.

So this year especially-- VOTE! It's the most important thing you will do all year and please vote for me and the other great candidates we have this year. Working together we can avoid this great collapse. Working together we can leave our children a society we can be optimistic about.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative. Pete Savu, treasurer.

The Morning After

I sit here at my kitchen table wondering how well I did yesterday in my interview with the Enquirer Editorial Board, regarding my views on what can be done to solve the problems facing the State of Ohio.

I usually do not expect too much agreement with these people, but I do know that I will get their respect. It's very important to the survival of our republic that we can air our difference about how we can best serve the entire population with civility. I and my opponent (B. M.) avoided all negative flare-ups-- probably because we have known each other for many years and respect each other's right to have different opinions. "M" is a lawyer and looks at things in the way Republicans theorists normally do. I however, am a retired businessperson who looks at things in the light of, "How can we do the most for the people in the most cost-effective manor?" We are very close on some issues, however, his English-only law for our state is ridiculous. I submit that English is the official language of this country already and we certainly do not need to create another wedge between ethnic groups.

We have Asian, Middle-Eastern, Latin-American, African-American and Caucasian people all attending the same schools and they all learn English together. No big deal!

School funding was the lead-off question of the interview and I took the position that property taxes for school operation are tapped out. We must find additional ways to fund schools besides taxing the citizens to death. "M" said the state was putting up $175 million every three months and that should be enough. However, if that's truly enough, why are all the local districts still putting additional levies on the ballot? Or, as Oak Hills is doing, moving inside millage to outside millage in order to raise our property tax without our being able to vote on it! This is "Smoke & Mirrors" governing and a flat-out, unacceptable way of doing business. I think we must give our children a good primary education in order to encourage them onto a good secondary and college education. "M" thinks we are at the "tipping point" now, but I am afraid we are only seeing the "tip of the iceberg," similar to the one that sank the Titanic. 

We must do more. We must help those with talent to get a good education and not end up owing thousands of dollars at graduation. The inquisitors then asked, "What was the most important thing I could do for the state?" I answered that I would try to reform the bureaucracies that stifle the citizens the the most. The worst of all happens to be the Liquor Control Board. On that issue I propose to: abolish the Liquor Control Board completely, get the state out of the business of selling liquor, let each of the state's 88 counties issue permits using state guidelines and do the policing of those permits. Each permit holder of C1 and C2 licenses would then be able to sell liquor purchased from local distributors, not the state, and in turn, sell it at a better price and much better convenience to the public. The sales tax increase derived from the public that would no longer need to go to surrounding states to purchase alcohol, would more than off-set any loss of revenue to the state.

Bring Ohio into the 21st Century!

"M" said he was optimistic about the future and that everything would work out. Well, I'm usually the optimist. I started three businesses from scratch and that surely takes an optimist; however, I'm very concerned about the future. We must work on the problems we have right now or we are going to pay an enormous price to get back to being fiscally viable.

So, we just have to wait and see if I made an impression or not. Til next time, God Bless.

Help Bob in his endeavors! All donations are greatly appreciated. Up to $50 per person can be deducted from your Ohio State Tax Returns. Make checks payable to Bob Klug for State Representative and send to Pete Savu, Treasurer. 5381 Manortree Ct. Cincinnati, OH 45238.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative.

McCain's Pick for VP

Today John McCain picked the Governor of Alaska to be his running mate, his Vice President of the United States. A woman who has been the governor for 1.5 years and who was mayor of a small town before that (population around 9,000).

I'm positive she is a fine woman and a good mother to her five children. Let's be frank, however; how much real experience does a person get from governing a state with a population less than that of the entire City of Cincinnati? A state where the top employer's total workforce is less than 35,000 people! A state where the revenue from the oil being pumped from the ground is so great that they have given the people rebates where no taxes have been paid!

The people in our 50th state really do not have much in common with our many cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, which all have larger populations than the entire State of Alaska.

One big difference is that all these cities have large poor groups of people who work hard, but have to live in less-than-decent housing and go to schools that simply don't do a great job of educating their children.

This selection is total desperation, trying to put life into a lost cause.

If he really had a need to pick a female to boost his chances of winning, he should have at least selected a person with some real experience and ability, who at the very least knows where 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is. One woman who could have filled that slot would be the Secretary of State.

John McCain, who truly was a war hero, doesn't have any more sense than our very own George W. Bush as to what is really going on inside inner America.

Take down your commercials about how inexperienced Obama is because selecting Sarah Palin for Vice President really makes a mockery out of the argument.

God Bless America; we certainly will need it if John McCain is our next president.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative.

Woe is me! What did I do?

When a person such as myself files to run for the office of state representative, or any other state-wide office for that matter, they become a recipient of countless forms to fill out about your qualifications and intentions as to what you can do for the people and the state of Ohio.

This week I got literature from the Sierra Club, listing their endorsements. Since I am a dues-paying member, I fully expected to be listed, however, I was not. I am running on my normal name as "Bob Klug," not "Robert Klug," as was listed on my membership card. I realize that I probably did not fill out their questionnaire either. This is a blunder I really did not want to happen.

I really cherish their endorsement.

Several years ago in Mother Earth magazine, I read about a fellow who built a hybrid electric car that got 99 miles to thee gallon and it led me to try to better that fete by making a wind/electric combination to go even farther at no cost. My experiment did not work, but at least it did keep me very focused on a large national problem.

Now T. Boone Pickens wants all of us to join him in reducing our dependence on oil.

I'm all for his proposal and I'll add a suggestion that can add to his goal economically and make it doable in 10-20 years.

I propose going back to trolley buses, not streetcars. Buses are versatile and can pull into a curb or different lanes and maneuver in traffic where streetcars cannot.

The bus I propose would have a battery pack so that it could operate on battery power for five to ten miles at any given time.

So in Cincinnati, for example, power lines could begin at convenient locations, such as Vine Street on the north side of Central Parkway, Hamilton Avenue, Colerain Avenue, Harrison Avenue and other main artery leading to the extreme edge of the county.

This vehicle could then start from downtown or any other place really, proceed to the desired street, hook up automatically of course, go to the end of the route or anywhere in between and run in to any shopping center, school or any other desired area.

Just think how much fuel and, ultimately, money would be saved!

This is not some wild pipe dream. With today's technology, this is very doable at a very reasonable cost. Just imagine how much cleaner the atmosphere would be with no exhaust being discharged. And as a big secondary benefit, there would be no noise pollution either.

I'm trying to contact both T. Boone Pickens and the Sierra Club to make this happen. Any help from anyone will be greatly appreciated.

Donations up to $50 per person are deductible from your Ohio State tax returns. Make checks payable to Bob Klug for State Representative and send to Pete Savu, Treasurer. 5381 Manortree Ct. Cincinnati, OH 45238.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative.

Thoughts on Current Events

I watched with great interest Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last night and I was truly amazed. This is "The American Dream" come true if there is such a thing. From such humble beginnings, in a rough town, to be able to overcome such adversity and get a great education, become a successful lawyer and be hired by a very prestigious firm, then to decide to work for the needy and underprivileged in her hometown just blows my mind.

When you can turn away that huge paycheck and all the comforts and privileges that it can create for yourself and your family, to decide that helping others have a better world is more important, that is the greatest "Christian Value."

She will be a wonderful first lady!

In another area, however, my reasoning makes me very upset. A day or two earlier I saw on television some pundit trying to tie all democrats to the unfortunate happenings of John Edwards. I certainly can't condone his behavior, however, it seems to me to be almost exactly like the behavior of one John McCain. The big difference is that McCain actually divorced his wife to marry his lover.

It brings to mind several people like Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, the senator from Idaho and a few others.

Let me ask a simple question: Is it alright if a Republican behaves like that, but unforgivable when a Democrat does the same thing?

I prefer to believe that this is just plain "human behavior" that happens to quite a few, for many reasons beyond their control.

This should not be the main criticism, however, about their ability to lead and hold office.

Help Bob in his race to victory. Donations up to $50 per person can be deducted from your Ohio State Income Tax Returns. Make checks payable to Bob Klug for State Rep. and mail to Pete Savu, Treasurer, 5381 Manortree Ct. Cincinnati, OH 45238.

Paid for by Bob Klug for State Representative. Pete Savu, Treasurer, 5381 Manortree Ct. Cincinnati, OH 45238.

Saddleback Church Interview

I have just watched Barack Obama and John McCain being interviewed by the pastor of the Saddleback Church. These were two one-hour question and answer sessions,w ith Obama having the first hour and McCain having the second hour.

It was very interesting. obama was very tight-- trying to give precise, logical answers to th big social and religious problems of our complicated century, such as abortion and gay marriage.

McCain was very loose and gave quick, short answers in the very bst "Regan-esque" delivery, which of course included humor, friendliness ("my good friends"), and faith in the future of our country, with a lot of peronal stories mixed in. He's "The Great Communicator!"

The first question of course had to do with the 40 million abortions since Roe-vs.-Wade. To with: at what point does a fetus deserve the protection of the law?

Obama tried to give a thought-out answer to a very complicated moral and ethical situation. I certainly can't argue Theology, but I do know a set-up when I see one. Therefore, I would have given quite a different answer.

If it is true that there are 40 million less people in our population today as a result of Roe-vs.-Wade, then how many less people do we have today due to people's use of some form of contraceptives? A billion? Should these people also face jail time?

As i said, I can't argue theology, but I sure can tell anyone with any sense at all that JAIL IS NOT THE ANSWER!

The interview then went on to Gay Marriage, which went somewhat easier than the abortion talk, but was still awkward compared to McCain's simplistic reasons, from which he reasoned that the Evangelicals had all the answers and the rest of the population should live by their rules.

of coruse Mccain had plenty of stories related to his confinement during the Vietnam War, which was truly horrible, but there were many other P.O.W.s who suffered similar experiences. McCain, however, is the only one who claims that this qualifies him to be President of the United States of America.

He claims he is a maverick, but he voted 95 percent with the Bush failed policies.

Like the present president, who claimed to be a "compassionate conservative," McCain claims that he has only the best interest for all the citizens of our country as his goal, when in truth, both Bush & McCain cater to the very wealthy, mostly white, elite of our society.

As I said before, this is quickly turning our middle class working families into poor working family. We are on our way to a class society-- super poor or super rich, with no in-between. Unacceptable!

VOTE STRAIGHT DEMOCRAT in 2008.

PS- I would like one of th enational polling organizations to take a very simple survey of the American Public and I encourage you to respond here on this blogsit to the following question:

In your opinion, how much jail time should a woman serve if she has an abortion?

A. No Jail time (0 years)

B. Three Years

C. Five Years

D. Ten or more years