Irony is so cool.

It happened last week in New London, Conn., where the city took private property for the sake of Pfizer Corp., the “public use” required to grab private property from unwilling sellers being the additional tax dollars from an upscale development next door to the company. The U.S. Supreme Court ending up saying, “Sure, if the state doesn’t protect against this sort of thing, the U.S. Constitution has room in it to define more tax dollars as a public use, just as public as a use as roads or a post office.” One of the lawyers who plays here might check the exact wording, but I’m fairly certain that the 5-4 majority in the Kelo case said essentially that. But, it turns out that all of the particulars are of little consequence. Pfizer is up and leaving New London.

From the Hartford Courant last week:

Pfizer To Close New London Headquarters

“Pfizer Inc. will shut down its massive New London research and development headquarters and transfer most of the 1,400 people working there to Groton, the pharmaceutical giant said Monday.

“The move comes in the wake of Pfizer’s recent merger with Wyeth, and is part of a global consolidation of the two companies’ research operations. Groton will be the biggest of the company’s five major global research sites, the company said. The move from New London to Groton will take place over the next two years.”

If you the like the irony of Pfizer taking off on New London, you’ll love this: New London officials still will be able to see the reason they bounced the rightful property owners. Groton is right across the Thames River from New London. How do you like that plot twist?

There are all sorts of reasons that eminent domain - government taking property for a public use - is a bad idea, even when it’s used for its intended purposes, namely a public use. The traditional use still allows government officials to grab land with little in the way of negotiation, as Lima started off doing for a reservoir or as Allen County did to expand Eastown Road - even if it was for the sake of home improvement store Menards- but the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for local governments to take property only to increase the tax base.

The concern - which, granted, has yet to come to pass, which is hardly a reason to want to keep government from adding a power - is that any new project becomes reason you don’t own your home or business. A business wants to move where you live? Bye. A bigger company wants to pave over an existing mom-and-pop? Jobs and taxes, you know. Plans for better housing come along? You’re gone.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled this state has better constitutional protections against government than the U.S. Supreme Court was able to find in the U.S. Constitution. But, even if property owners elsewhere can’t always count on their local governments or their country’s highest court to respect their rights, we can rest assure that modern tragedy at least settles some scores.

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Perhaps my favorite objection to casinos came from current U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, back when he was state Sen. Jim Jordan and running for the congressional seat. He said something opposed to casinos, so I asked him why he talked about letting people do with their money as they wanted, a good argument he makes against taxes, but he was opposed to letting people spend their money in a casino if they wanted. His response?

Because you’re a libertarian and I’m a conservative.

Got that? But U.S. Sen. George Voinovich apparently doesn’t want to let Jordan hog all the self-righteous indignation on casinos. Voinovich issued a statement saying Ohioans are too stupid to live with casinos among them. OK, he didn’t say that, but he should have. It would be much more to the point than the roundabout way he said the same thing. Voinovich is going to be our conscience? George, act Republican for three seconds. Don’t worry about our consciences. Get government out of the way.

Here is Ohio’s senior U.S. senator talking up the self-control and responsibility of his fellow Ohioans:

“I am terribly disappointed. As a result of the passage of Issue 3 there will be a great deal of pain and suffering in Ohio - I feel for the families of those who will experience casinos for the first time in their lives and, once lured in, will become addicted to gambling. I predict there will be a particularly heavy burden on the city of Cleveland, whose poverty rate is already one of the highest in the nation. The jobs promised will not be forthcoming. I expect those who supported Issue 3 to be responsible for making sure the promises made are promises kept. And, I intend to be their conscience.”

Post from: Ron's Rants

Odd, considering what effect a sales tax increase typically has on consumers’ ability to spend. Odder still, considering what reaction state and national chambers and other such groups have to proposed sales tax hikes. How is that Allen County businesses can be so immune to consumers have less money to spend at the businesses?

Fortunately for Allen County business, shoppers and the overall economy, The Lima News still has greater sway than the Lima chamber. Consistency helps. The Lima News supported repeal of the Bassitt-Reiff half-percentage point sales tax, and voters shot it down 55-45.

If the Lima chamber were an actual business interest organization, this would be hard to figure. But, sadly, it’s run like a nonprofit that needs to rely on government for its very existence. Big surprise once you look at its board of directors. On it we have two men whose acknowledged interests relied heavily on the sales tax staying in place: Jay Begg with the Allen County Fairgrounds and Tim DeHaven, who acted as spokesman for the group fighting to keep the sales tax.

Then, we see that a local Realtor, Tim Stanford, who tried to get business helping the county with its properties, is on the chamber board. And, Judy Cowan, who spent a number of years in government? Also on the chamber board. Chris Seddelmeyer, a Shawnee Township trustee? Also on the board. So much for this being a business interest group.

So we know chamber president Jed Metzger had no control over the election forums his organization put on, allowing a city councilman suing one participation and endorsing another, to sponsor one forum, and having an avid supporter and person who owed her job to Mayor David Berger, Judy Cowan, to sit on the panel questioning the mayor and challenger Dan Beck. (For the record, I also was on that panel.) But, really, Jed? Your board has three people with an active interest in the county getting the sales tax, and your press release mentioning the vote on the referendum leaves that out?

Since the chamber is having trouble promoting business interests, let me help. Several such statewide organizations praised Gov. Ted Strickland for suggesting Ohio freeze the income tax reduction rather than bump up the state sales tax, since that latter tax increase would take money that otherwise likely would go to businesses, then to workers, and so on, as opposed to getting wasted by government. Yet the local equivalent of a chamber can’t figure that out? Of course not. Look who voted on this issues. Those who would benefit from it.

Business owners in Allen County ought to rethink whether they have a voice for their interests in the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce.

Post from: Ron's Rants

I guess you’re free to argue about why and how and the such, but I’m really just going for percentages in the races.

Here are some of my guesses:

• Lima mayor, Berger with 60 percent

• Allen County sales tax referendum, yes with 57 percent.

• Lima’s 5th Ward, Adams by one vote. OK, that’s hope. Pitts with 60 percent is my guess.

• State Issue 3 (casinos), yes with 60 percent.

Give me your guesses, but do it before 8 p.m. Polls close at 7:30, so after 8 and it’s a case of copying and pasting results. Of course, if you do that and can’t get it right, do it anyway.

Post from: Ron's Rants

Congratulations, Ohioans, your state government — it is an entity unto itself, a whole, not a collection of officials — doesn’t think you’re smart enough to stand in line or dress for winter without instructions.

Just to drive home this point: We’re actually paying someone tax money to come up with the below suggestions and someone else to write the below news release.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFERS TIPS FOR STANDING IN LINE AT H1N1 VACCINATION CLINICS

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohioans seeking H1N1 vaccine may find themselves standing in long lines at clinics due to large amounts of people taking part in H1N1 clinics across the state. Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., today urged Ohioans to be patient while standing in lines for H1N1 vaccination clinics and to bring items to help pass the time.

“We appreciate the patience that Ohioans are showing while waiting in line for their H1N1 vaccination,” Jackson said. “While it may be difficult to wait in line, especially with small children, it is worth it for protection against this flu virus.”

ODH recommends those attending an H1N1 vaccination clinic be prepared for the wait. Consider bringing the following:

• Toys, such as bubbles, battery-operated games or books
• A folding chair
• Healthy snacks
• Bottled water
• Tissues
• Comfortable shoes
• Hand sanitizer

It is also important for Ohioans to dress appropriately for weather conditions and take the following preventive measures to avoid spreading germs:

• Wash your hands frequently; alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• If you are sick, stay home until fever free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.

The vaccine is intended for high-risk individuals including health care workers and EMS workers who provide direct patient care; pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than 6 months; all people 6 months to 24 years; and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.

Local health department and hospitals may choose to vaccinate some subset of the above group depending on vaccine supply and the demographic makeup of the patients they serve.

Post from: Ron's Rants

We did that Thursday, Oct. 29, a tribute to the absolute desire of local politicians to in fact control every aspect of life, but also a caving on the Lima administration’s part to some less-than-commendable reactions from our neighbors.

Officials from the city and surrounding communities decided last year that trick or treat each year would be the Thursday before Halloween, hence the Oct. 29 date. Prior to that - and boldly rising up to the dilemma of having children here doing what they do everywhere else, go out on Oct. 31, the actual day we call Halloween - Lima, the surrounding townships and some of the villages in the area would set different days for trick or treating.

Turns out, some of Lima’s neighbors didn’t like having city kids coming to their communities. Forget for the moment, how you know they’re city children, because no one around Lima is racist, no sireee, as long as everyone knows their place. So, the David Berger administration - remember, Berger likes to think of himself as a promoter of diversity in this community - and the townships agreed on a date everyone could have Halloween. Oct. 31 seems an obvious choice, but we have a mayor and township trustees who need to have a little larger hand in our lives than to leave such decisions to calendar makers and tradition.

I’m no doubt being harsh on the townies, accusing them of bad thoughts about city people, but tell me: How do you determine who lives in the city? Anyone else think some, if not all, of that judgment had to do with skin color?

And the Berger administration, so harsh on Lima mayoral candidate Dan Beck for his xenophobic views as Allen County sheriff, went along to make the townies safe from city children. Is future annexation going smoothly that important, Mayor Berger?

Post from: Ron's Rants

But, Camp Beck, since you’re reading: This is funny. It really is. But we all know you don’t think Berger has handled the problems as you see them. But, you know, 12 days before the election, you might try to explain what your guy would do other than not be Dave Berger.

Post from: Ron's Rants

Challenger Dan Beck and Berger were answering a, well, let’s call it a question from panel member Charles Thomas along the lines of what the mayor of the city can do to bring to town a radio station geared toward a black audience. I guess either “buy a license” or “demonstrate there would be advertisers and support for those advertisers” is too simple an answer for Berger and Beck to give. So instead:

Beck said he would improve quality of life, cleaning up crime and the such, because someone asking about a black radio station clearly was using double speak to mask his question about getting carjacked. Poor Beck. So close to the right answer — that’s not the mayor’s job — but yet so far.

Berger said the city sponsors a Juneteenth event to commemorate the end of slavery, then said that although the city doesn’t support it he is a fan of Pickle’s Blues Fest. I give him points for mentioning Pickle’s event, although I’m not sure which of the two candidates was more patronizing to the black man asking the question. Thomas clearly needed to be told it’s not the mayor’s job to bring radio stations to the city. But, no, not from our uber problem-solvers.

A Ron-condensed version of the exchange:

Thomas: Can you get me a black radio station?

Beck: I’ll get crime out of your ‘hood.

Berger: I like the blues.

Post from: Ron's Rants

Hint: It involved me, my head, my reporting, a Lima city councilman and a gun.

Go ahead. Guess.

Post from: Ron's Rants

I was told (again) recently that Republicans are only blocking President Barack Obama’s attempt at health care reform because they’re racist. This requires us to ignore A) that Republicans cannot block Obama in either house of Congress; B) Obama has made no attempt of his own at health care reform, instead leaving it to his fellow Dumbocrats to come up with a handful of bad plans; and C) more than Republicans oppose government taking over health care.

But those are all factual issues, and Dumbocrats don’t deal well in those. So, oppose ObamaCare, and you’re racist. Does that mean we’ve progressed or regressed since 1993? Surely we objected (and blocked when Republicans didn’t have the numbers to block) HillaryCare because we’re sexist. None of us could object because we’ve never seen government save money or run an efficient program, or that we enjoy the level of care we already have, as do some 80 percent of the U.S. population. So is it better or worse that we’re all racist now?

I ask after reading in The Columbus Dispatch that another Democratic buddy went snooping into Joe the Plummer after his endorsement of Republican John McCain in the last presidential election (story here).

Post from: Ron's Rants