By MAC

April 26, 2011 8:58 PM | Link to this

IMO, far 2 many R entrenched on 1 side of the issue(s) or another and fail to realize changes need 2 B made across the philosophical divide. In times like these, does big oil still need assistance, what about foreign aid and or tax breaks for “the rich” who aren’t creating jobs, buying new equipment or investing in new business ventures??? By the same token, how much longer can we have 50% of R population not paying taxes - only taking from the system? Allowing politicians to frame the debate solely on middle class issues; only provides a smoke screen to allow the waste & abuse to continue at the top IMO. The WORLD has changed as we once knew it and everything needs 2 B put on the table & RE-Examined: can we keep doing X or Y, is it still needed? Problem is no one wants to let go of their “Sacred Cow” & as long as that’s the case, we’re bound 2 have grid lock instead of progress IMO. In the words of Gary Burbank, “Wake Up America!”

By yep

April 26, 2011 4:54 PM | Link to this

Rick, there has been a lot of reporting lately on how little taxes wealthier Americans really pay. Personally, I do make decent money, though less than $250K, and have standard deductions. I have no problem with people who earn significantly more paying their fair share of taxes, whether it is income, capital gains, or estate taxes. It seems like the bracket percentages went down in the 80’s, but those popular loopholes stayed in place. I am not in favor of tax hikes for the middle class, and neither is Obama. I will probably end up being taxed on the value of the health benefits I receive from my employer, which I am not too happy about, either. I do need the tax breaks on the kids! That is where most of my money goes. Complicated issue to say the least.

By Rick413

April 26, 2011 2:23 PM | Link to this

Have any of you liberals ever looked at the tax code? Last year I made twice what my sister made. Do you think that I paid twice as much in taxes? 3 Times? Guess Again…I paid over 4 times as much in taxes. No earned income credit. No college tuition deduction. No Child care credit. And you think that wealth is being redistributed in favor of the so called “rich” people? Do a little research and learn the truth.

By Great in Dayton

April 26, 2011 11:19 AM | Link to this

We need right to work legislation now. I wish the statehouse would get the ball rolling.

By @squirrelly

April 26, 2011 10:40 AM | Link to this

The REPUBLICAN leadership is redistributing wealth and resources. To a few people, and not even those who vote for them.

By Squirrellygirl

April 26, 2011 10:01 AM | Link to this

Universal hc was a glorified forced redistribution of wealth bill. In addition, it was written by Obama’s associates, and we are all familiar with what kind of people Obama associates with. As the old hag said, “you have to pass it to find out what’s in it” and we are still finding out what’s in the hc fiasco bill. When did it become the tax payers’ responsibility to pay for abortions? It’s in the bill. Why are seniors going to receive the short end of the stick when funds are short? It’s in the bill. That’s right. And you can’t keep your same doctor, neither. Ask Obama why, if his hc bill is so great, that he handed out over 1,000 waivers, including waivers to his union buddies??!!

By MAC

April 25, 2011 8:33 PM | Link to this

More Waste that puts a huge burden on State & Local communities: “It is estimated the federal cost of incarcerating criminal aliens — Bureau of Prison’s cost to incarcerate criminals and reimbursements to state and local governments under SCAAP — totaled approximately $5.8 billion for calendar years 2001 through 2004. BOP’s cost to incarcerate criminal aliens rose from about $950 million in 2001 to about $1.2 billion in 2004 — a 14 percent increase. Federal reimbursements for incarcerating criminal aliens in state prisons and local jails declined from $550 million in 2001 to $280 million in 2004, in a large part due to a reduction in congressional appropriations. At the state level, the 50 states received reimbursement for incarcerating about 77,000 criminal aliens in fiscal year 2002 and 47 states received reimbursement for incarcerating about 74,000 in fiscal year 2003.” Politicians don’t want 2 do their job, and expect middle class 2 take the hit for their weakness. Remember folks, these elected officials R suppose 2 work 4 us; let’s stop attacking each other & hold them accountable!

By MAC

April 25, 2011 7:59 PM | Link to this

IMO, there’s plenty of waste, over spending & bad polices on both sides of the isle. Case in point was Boehner’s comments on big oil 2day: “It’s certainly something we should be looking at,” Boehner said in the interview. “We’re in a time when the federal government’s short on revenues. They ought to be paying their fair share.” Roger That!! “President Barack Obama and congressional Democratic leaders have repeatedly called for the ending of the subsidies paid to large energy firms. Limiting or ending these tax breaks could generate anywhere between $20 billion and $45 billion in savings over 10 years, Democrats have said.” Until waste & fraud like this is eliminated, quite attacking the middle class & middle class careers & stop asking them/us to do more w/ less.

By Angus

April 25, 2011 6:34 PM | Link to this

Be sure to check out Kasich’s plan for private business overtime pay…no pay just take off an hour for every overtime hour worked, at the companys discretion. With him as the gov. everybody loses but the very wealthy.

By Angus

April 25, 2011 6:30 PM | Link to this

Be sure to check out Kasich’s plan for private business overtime pay…no pay just take off an hour for every overtime hour worked, at the companys discretion. With him as the gov. everybody loses but the very wealthy.

By Dude

April 25, 2011 6:09 PM | Link to this

So Kasich is (unilaterally) fighting for the right of every Ohioan to have “shabby” pay and benefits? Health care (along with food and water, the right to be free from assault, and education) is a basic human right. In any case, everyone uses the healthcare system, so better planning is needed, rather than just sticking to the most expensive system possible. Times are always tough, Winston, that’s when the tough get going.

By Winston

April 25, 2011 4:27 PM | Link to this

Ok… Benefits are not a right. So we should be having the discussion about if we think every person should have health care. If a person is lower middle class to poor do they deserve health care. Some of the comments state that the person was to lazy to go get a good job. What I am taking from that is he is saying let that person die. Ok what about that poor persons kids? Should we let them die too because of their parents? A lot of comments on here needs a little bit of critical thinking. But maybe the people saying its not a right did not have that class in college because they didn’t go. But some how got lucky an got one of the last low skill high paying jobs left. All I am saying is the people who are saying lower other peoples wages so the rich can “Create Jobs” just means that once the public workers with 4-8 years of schooling comes to your job and asks for your pay. Do not be surprised when your the low life welfare bum the rest of your buddies are kicking.

By no name

April 25, 2011 2:07 PM | Link to this

i happen to know working for bob evans is ok but their benefits sucks insurance high but wont pay most places wont except it it really sucks they took away all other benefits they even go as far as keeping charge tips for two weeks before giving to server been there eleven years have never been given raise they wont give anybody full time but i like the customers just not the corp.

By Dude

April 25, 2011 11:09 AM | Link to this

EVERYONE should have health benefits. F**k Bob Evans and all of the conservative old people that eat there. This just proves that universal healthcare/retirement is the answer. “You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down.”

By missed one

April 25, 2011 5:39 AM | Link to this

Kasich justifies his policies by saying he is trying to level the playing field. WTF! You don’t level the field by lowering everyones standards DOWN to slave labor!?! Just put your foot on the neck of anyone making a decent living? Unless of course you are a member of the country club… heaven forbid!

By mikeross

April 24, 2011 5:53 PM | Link to this

Thanks for an idea, you sparked at thought from a angle I hadn’t given thoguht to yet. Now lets see if I can do something with it.

By MAC

April 23, 2011 7:32 PM | Link to this

Dittos Jan; more of what U said. Kasich sounds like a typical politician…pitting middle class against one another in order 2 distract public off real problem..…politicians. Funny thing is, Kasich always prided himself on LESS Government, but it looks like he’s spending a lot of time trying to tell everyone else, what they can work at, how much they should be paid, what their insurance and benefits should be while spending our tax $ over indulging himself (airfare) & paying back his campaign buddies…..typical politician!

By mike

April 23, 2011 2:29 AM | Link to this

may i also add tht for many years we have been able to pay those wages to those who chose to work for the public until the health care people chose to keep raiseing the cost of their services this has been a dog chaseing its tail for at least 20 years and now the dog has caught up with its tail feel the pain we may pick on the teacher or the other public worker but until we see the real reason why the states cant pay their bills we need to lok at the politicians that are taking way more pay and benefits then they are worth starting with congress this would be the biggest waste of the tax payers money and the reason why are where we are today!

By mike

April 23, 2011 2:16 AM | Link to this

we would all like to place the blame on alot of people as well as business but when we signed the fair trades act we put ourselves in this situation we sent our jobs to countries that pay less money for the same services that we offer and we wonder why bussiness went away now those same business cant find parts to build the very products we need i guess they put all their eggs in one basket and when the basket broke as in japan they are up a creek without a paddle this should really be telling the A merican co wise up but unfortionatly their bottom line wont let them!

By Quentin

April 22, 2011 11:53 PM | Link to this

Scott, a hard life is not an excuse. Sorry but many of us who DO go didn’t have the support system, encouragement or etc but did it anyways. Of course many were also not part of a select group to get special treatment based on race or gender either so didn’t get that boost either. Bill, you REALLY need to read up instead of just looking at some DNC and union handout. Insurance companies make about a 5% profit. Almost zero business can actually survive on that scale in any other industry. The costs of inventory, labor, equipment, buildings and etc wouldn’t be covered so saying that Walmart makes less of a profit would be only by less business by a huge number Then again, you also ignore that most unions actually have applied and been allowed to be exempted from Obamacare which they were willing to beat up opponents of before.

By Bill

April 22, 2011 11:23 PM | Link to this

Every time an employee asked for a raise back before Bush, there was in many jobs the option take a little less on the check for more on retirement and insurance. That’s how Unions negotiated the contracts they worked with but non union also could use the same practice. they paid for their benefits over time. During Bush, Insurance companies and Millionaires got to write the laws to the point Insurance companies now make higher profits than Wal-Mart but it’s employees expected to bite the bullet while Millionaires still get the tax breaks and perks. If working people want better conditions they are going to start using some sense when they vote. The politicians we have now are bought and paid for. That goes for the tea baggers too.( Kock lackys )

By Beautiful Ohio

April 22, 2011 9:20 PM | Link to this

Hey, Stew of schools Why don’t you dunk your head in more union drivel? Your union cry baby neediness is showing.

By Beautiful Ohio

April 22, 2011 9:03 PM | Link to this

Hey, Stew of schools Why don’t you dunk your head in more union drivel? Your union cry baby neediness is showing.

By Scott

April 22, 2011 8:51 PM | Link to this

To Jan People with a higher education are exceptionally fortunate.More than the individual sacrificed for it.Always, parents encouraged and provided much including encouragement.Not everyone has people who care and are willing to set the stage for the educational process.Some of these less fortunate marry people who care.the unfortunate ones are those who no one cared enough to add the support system and became hindrances, in fact.

By Steward of Schools

April 22, 2011 2:51 PM | Link to this

By Nobody “This man does not think before he opens his mouth”. —Yeah, he should probably invest in a teleprompter like the other idiot…

By jan

April 22, 2011 2:47 PM | Link to this

Those who get a higher education are not “fortunate”, it did not magically appear like money from winning a lottery. They worked hard, sacrificed their free time and family time, and paid a lot of money for that degree. I hate class warfare, whether it is coming from a Democrat or a Republican. If politicians did their jobs, restrained spending and lived within their budgetary means, they wouldn’t have to try to pit citizens against each other. It is a diversion tactic so that the people keep blaming each other, instead of blaming the politicians.

By Quentin

April 22, 2011 1:40 PM | Link to this

First off, unlike public service, employers have a hard budget to balance and unless people are willing and able to pay a LOT more for the same products, then you will see the employees have fewer benefits. Basic economics drive that. As far as getting a job in the public sector, it is WHO you know more than WHAT you know. I am a service disabled veteran with the education and rest but gave up because those who were hired had no military background, less education and etc. It was who’s rear they kissed and who they were related to or neighbors with that decided who got the job. Now I have started my own business and seeing those idiots who WERE hired and people I know who have to deal with them STILL not doing the jobs they are paid for complain to me because they liked I actually WORKED just shows what a joke the system is.

By Dave

April 22, 2011 12:59 PM | Link to this

A national health care system will help businesses small and large by getting them out of the insurance business and allowing to focus on their core business. I agree with the Governor on this, he is right.

By KevinJ

April 22, 2011 11:43 AM | Link to this

Regardless of what the Politicos and Pundits may be telling you, Health Care, Pension Plans, Paid Vacations, etc. are not rights. Neither is having a job for that matter. These are all possible benefits offered in a Capitalist Democracy that a person can aspire to have if they so desire. To try and guarantee these benefits to all regardless of cost to the employer and/or the taxpayer is one of the things that is bankrupting this country. Health care in this country didn’t require Insurance to be affordable until Health Care itself became a employee benefit driven by Unions. The Insurance Industry then grew out of this benefit. Once the Health care Industry saw that Insurance Companies were involved, costs started to skyrocket. And now you see where we are at today.

By @Jack

April 22, 2011 11:21 AM | Link to this

Jack, your comments are ignorant at best and goes to show the stupidity of the people who “have worked hard and bettered themselves” Anotherwords, we are the best and the unfortunate are scum. You are a complete buffoon. Obviously, you have never been dealt a bad hand in life and have had to struggle to make it. Granted, there are those who want handouts but on the otherhand there are others who as the result of a divorce, layoff, or some other life altering event who are thrust into these positions where they will take any job to put food on the table for their families or to put a roof over their heads. I am sure if they could afford it and had the resources, they would gladly re train or further their education but you know sometimes that is not the reality of the REAL WORLD. It is narrow minded people like you that make this world the way it is. When is the last time you have taken the time to help someone in need?

By Jim

April 22, 2011 11:09 AM | Link to this

Kasich is a jack a*s.

By heath

April 22, 2011 9:35 AM | Link to this

My problem is that he wants the middle class to be the ones to make things even for everyone.We are the people who are also having hard times now.Do I see him saying lets take the top tier of wages and have them even thing out, no because he would be in that.Because of SB5 there are many people who will have pay cuts, there is no sympathy for that? But those are the people who are supposed to help everyone else?

By Allen

April 22, 2011 9:16 AM | Link to this

Just think!!!! You voted this idiot into office..

By Jack

April 22, 2011 8:36 AM | Link to this

Just notice how some on here say you are fortunate if you have a good job, or fortunate if you went to school. This is the attitude of those who make bad choices. They choose not to study for years, forego earnings for years and assume substantial debt. If you are a waitress, or work at McDonald’s, no doubt you work hard for little pay or benefits. But no body owes you anything! If you want a good job and benefits, then you owe it to yourself to work your butt off and get it. There is nothing more disgusting than a person who refuses to better themselves and then whines that someone who worked hard to make money owes them.

By Nobody

April 22, 2011 8:21 AM | Link to this

This man does not think before he opens his mouth. Did have provide proof that the benefits are “shabby at best”, or is that just his opinion? I bet he took plenty of money from them on the campaign trail. Bite the hand that feeds you. He is a disgrace to the office, in any state.

By Choices

April 22, 2011 6:45 AM | Link to this

If I am an auto mechanic or an electrician - I can choose to work for the small guy around the corner, but the pay and the benefits are going to be different than if I CHOOSE to find a job working for the Board of Education maintaining the school buses or having the knowledge about the electrical systems in the schools. I know the benefits are better for the Board and why I might pursue them as my employer. If you want the same benefits, take the test, past the physical, get the education and land a job w/ the city, state, or schools.

By Tom

April 22, 2011 1:30 AM | Link to this

Until the job market improves, until employers have to compete for workers, we will have these problems. Right now it’s an employer’s dream because there are more people wanting jobs than there are jobs. There are no laws requiring any employer to give anyone benefits other than their paycheck. When an employer has a hard time finding workers, they will increase their benefits. The answer is simple. We need more jobs. If you don’t like what the job offers, there are 100 other people that will take it.

By null

April 22, 2011 1:08 AM | Link to this

J , do us all a favor. Next time you have a thought, let it go. Most public sector jobs don’t require a degree either.

By karon

April 22, 2011 12:50 AM | Link to this

Kasich did his governor campaign at the Bob Evans resturants, he got alot of the senior citizens who frequent these resturants votes!

By E.BRUCE

April 22, 2011 12:30 AM | Link to this

Our ignorant Governor opened his mouth and had to apologize…again. Surprised? The man is the real idiot. The hell with Bob Evans and why are our tax dollars being given to them? Recall…

By Whew?

April 21, 2011 10:43 PM | Link to this

For the last 30 years, every time I have walked into the male restroom of a Bob Evans, there is a man with a vile digestive disorder. One has to hold their breath to supress a gag reflex. You know who you are, smelly Bob!

By Roland Tussel

April 21, 2011 9:25 PM | Link to this

The $11,000,000 is not for waitresses or employees, it is for Bob Evans…god rest his soul! The Governor has promised the State Employees a raise to keep them on his side too! Hey, when you have the purse with all the tax-payers money in it you can be generous…to the rich…it pays better for you! You want leather seats in that King Air…John? Ah, you know me, I was called to this job…your damn right I want leather…fly me to Marcellus

By Phil

April 21, 2011 8:36 PM | Link to this

“Working hard” is a complicated concept. For example, there’s no doubt waitressing is a hard way to make a living, but other jobs require complicated systemic thinking and all hours on call status and management of million dollar budgets.

By Ignorance Is Bliss

April 21, 2011 6:14 PM | Link to this

It is amazing the ignorant people on here who make ignorant comments. First of all, many of these people can’t afford to Quit their jobs in the restaurants. Handing it to them at least they are working and trying to get ahead in this economy. Just because many of you are fortunate enough to have a good job it is not right to degrade those wh are trying. I’m sure you would be the first to point the finger if they were on public assistance. Where is the compassion??? Second, if they are working, then they should be afforded the same opportunities as you pompous idiots who get benefits. But of course, you are the ones who are against the health care bill. Hypocrites….. God forbid if something should happen to your pious lives and you should have to start all over. All these naysayers and critics must be the happiest people around because as they say “if ignorance is bliss, they they must be the happiest people around.

By Raoul

April 21, 2011 6:03 PM | Link to this

Not all college graduates take jobs with government agencies, and getting a masters degree does not make you a better person more deserving of benefits than a waitress. It just means that you were fortunate enough to go to school for a long time. Kasich sure takes a lot of heat for saying what is on his mind. Its a pity that political correctness stifles our leaders’ freedom of expression.

By Steve Fought

April 21, 2011 5:48 PM | Link to this

Think about it. Gov. Kasich considers the benefits for workers at Bob Evans to be “shabby.” His concept of fairness is to bring everybody else’s benefits down to that level. That is the Republican vision of fairness: a race to the bottom.

By plutocracy

April 21, 2011 5:27 PM | Link to this

Plutocracy. Google it.

By JB

April 21, 2011 5:11 PM | Link to this

Why is that we have to lower the benefits of public workers. With the kind of profits Bob Evans makes, it can afford to provide better benefits to its employees, no matter how much they’re paid, or what their level of education.

By Unions Blow

April 21, 2011 5:05 PM | Link to this

A waitress works 10 times harder than ANY public employee (Except a Fireman). There are many jobs in the World that SHOULD be considered entry level, and benifits should not be expected. That’s ludicrous. And to call benefits a “right” is just plain stupid!

By Skeptic

April 21, 2011 5:02 PM | Link to this

How many waitresses have a master’s degree? Is this the standard that our society to aspire to?

By stonehenry24

April 21, 2011 4:49 PM | Link to this

people seem to forget benefits are just that benefits to workign for a company and you have a choice on weather or not to work for that company.having a pension and health insurance is a benefit of workign for certain places not rights.My work offers none of these but i dont complain because i liek my job and the wages i get are all i need to live.

By Stephen Mann

April 21, 2011 4:45 PM | Link to this

It appears to me that this comment was less about Bob Evans benefits and more about public employee union workers whining about giving up perks that most private employees never get in the first place.

By J

April 21, 2011 4:23 PM | Link to this

When it becomes a requirement for a waitress to have a college education, THEN I’ll believe it’s fair to ask a public worker to do more.

By superfly

April 21, 2011 4:12 PM | Link to this

quit if you are not happy. times are ruff.