Iraq: 5 years and counting

At least 3,990 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the war in 2003. It has cost taxpayers about $500 billion and estimates of the final tab run far higher. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard University public finance expert Linda Bilmes have estimated the eventual cost at $3 trillion when all the expenses, including long-term care for veterans, are calculated.



Senseless and totally unnecessary, this colossal waste of lives and resources is President Bush's lasting legacy. To think of all the good that may have been accomplished within our own borders with countless infrastructure improvements which could have been made, makes me sick to my stomach. And we must consider the lives of our brave servicemen and women, lives lost and others forever changed by the horrors of war with the physical and emotional scars the survivors bring home, which sadden caring, thoughtful people across our country.



And the President never retreats from his premise that we are better off because of this war, with an ever-changing rationale. Let's pray that our next commander in chief brings an end to this atrocity.

Was the war worth it? Was the war worth the billions of dollars and thousands of lives wasted? I guess if you own stock in Halliburton it was. Gas prices through the roof, our own economy in shambles. We took out the existing power structure in Iraq and left a vacuum which still largely exists. This is Bush and Cheney's war and their sad legacy. And the violence continues, and we as Americans lose.

Howard Metzenbaum: Champion for the common man

Just a few words on the passing of Howard Metzenbaum, one of the last unabashedly liberal politicians of the great state of Ohio. As a young Democrat , I always felt that my interests and the interests of common, every day men and women in Ohio were being looked after while Senator Metzenbaum was in office.

Metzenbaum was a champion for the little guy, railing against corporate welfare through tax breaks. At times, it seemed as though the Senator was out of step with the more conservative Ohio voters, but he served in the Senate from his appointment in 1974, being elected in 1976 and re-elected twice, before leaving the Senate in January of 1995.

Howard made us proud to be Democrats during those years, and I think our state and country are worse off these days with the loss of men like Metzenbaum, as fewer and fewer of our elected officials exhibit the courage of their convictions as he did.

Like him or hate him, you knew where he stood, and in my opinion, that was on the side of working men and women in Ohio.

Rest in peace Senator.

Eliot Spitzer: Are we too interested in the private lives of politicians?

The huge scandal in New York has seen Governor Spitzer resign. In this case, I can see the critics having a point as Mr. Spitzer had advertised himself as a relentless crusader against corruption, and then has been implicated in one of the very industries he crusaded against.

In 2007, we saw Sen. Larry Craig, an avowed conservative, implicated in a sex scandal in a Minneapolis airport. Although he had decided to resign, he then rescinded and will serve out his term through 2008, mercifully choosing not to run for re-election for another term.

We've seen Congressman Foley in 2006 in Florida, another conservative, caught in what could at least be considered an inappropriate email relationship with a former house page , with this being quite serious due to the age of the victim. Foley was also out front as a spokesperson against this type of conduct, which again brings the hypocrisy factor into play.

In these three instances, criminal conduct is at least alleged, which makes this much different than a simple affair which should be left basically between the perpetrator, his/her spouse and their higher power.

We have seen many politicians over the years conduct themselves in less than holy ways and conduct their official government business appropriately. One can only expect that in this day and age, with our "gotcha" mentality in the press systematically rearing its ugly head more frequently , fewer and fewer people will expose themselves to the political spotlight and we'll have fewer and probably lesser choices when we cast our ballots in future elections.

Are the Dems going to party like it's 1984?

Take yourself back in time to 1984, Gary Hart was the new insurgent candidate of new ideas and a break from the old time pols in the Democratic Party. Walter Mondale was the old standard bearer, backed by all the old party faithful as in his words, he was "ready" to be president.

Well, as the story goes, Mondale was the inevitable nominee (sound familiar?) and Hart knocked him off his throne on the way to his coronation, shocking him in the New Hampshire primary, and winning more primaries and caucuses along the way than did the presumptive nominee, Mondale.

As Hart picked up momentum, Mondale mounted an increasingly negative campaign, mocking Hart's "new ideas" and new programs by asking, "Where's the beef?", a slogan from an old Wendy's commercial. Mondale also ran the obligatory red telephone advertisement against Hart, questioning Hart's readiness to be president (does this sound familiar?).

At any rate, pledged delegates were roughly equal between the two camps, and Hart scored far better in the polls than did Mondate shortly before the convention in match-ups with President Reagan (does this sound familiar?).

Then along came the so-called "superdelegates, the old guard of the party who took away the nomination from Hart and handed it to the sure loser Mondale, who went on to lose 49 states in November.

Fast forward to 2008. The current contest seems eerily similar to 1984 with Obama playing the role of Hart and Clinton playing the part of Mondale. My hope is that the similarities stop and the superdelegates do not come rushing in like knights on white horses to hand the nomination to Clinton. If this happens, many of the newcomers that Obama has brought into the process will feel disenfranchised (rightly so) and may sit the election out in November, thus leaving us with essentially a third Bush term under McCain.

Let's hope that history does not repeat itself in 2008. Let's hope the Dems get it right this time.

Looking for courage in our local leaders

After the defeat of the Anthony Wayne Schools 6.5 Mill levy in the March 5, 2008 primary, the spotlight shines bright on our state legislature which refuses to address the issue of public school funding in Ohio.

Those on fixed incomes and others in financial hardship who voted against the 6.5 Mill levy should contact our District 46 state representative, Barbara Sears, and the former District 46 representative and current District 2 state senator, Mark Wagoner and ask that they commit themselves towards working toward a solution which works for the citizens of Western Lucas County.

There is simply something wrong with a system remaining in place which has been ruled unconstitutional four times by the Ohio Supreme Court. Pushing this issue off into the future has been the modus operandi of the state legislature which has been controlled by the republicans for the last twelve years. This is simply irresponsible and short sighted.

Please contact these elected officials and ask that they exhibit the courage to lead on this issue. Let them know that they will be held accountable for their failure to at the very least work on a proposal for fixing this decade plus long dilemma.

The time is now, Mr. Wagoner, to exhibit some courage and take the time to use your position of leadership and make some progress on this issue. Ms. Sears, please make this a priority as the citizens of Southwest Lucas County are watching and waiting.

Our patience is wearing thin. The education of our children and grandchildren is at risk. We're ready for action to reduce the property tax burden on our citizens. Please don't continue to let us down with inaction and indifference to this issue of great importance. Please exhibit the courage necessary to propose solutions. Silly slogans and negative campaigning won't get it done this time.

Thank you and have a great evening.

Vote for the Anthony Wayne School Levy

On Tuesday, March 4, 2008 we have an important issue to decide within the Anthony Wayne School District. We are faced with the decision on whether to support our schools with a 6.5 Mill operating levy. I am proud to announce that the newly formed Anthony Wayne Democratic Club unanimously endorsed the levy at its February 27, 2008 meeting.

I understand the arguments against the levy and certainly feel for those who are on a fixed income and are being hit hard with the rising cost of living, and who feel that they cannot absorb yet another tax.

I believe we must support our schools which are achieving an excellent rating on an annual basis. If you are tired of seeing your property taxes go up and want to see some action by our do-nothing legislature on this issue which has been on the horizon for over 10 years, I urge you to take the following action:

Please contact our representatives in state government and ask them to act on this issue of great importance. For those in the Anthony Wayne School District, the folks to contact are Mark Wagoner, our newly appointed State Senator for District 2 and Barbara Sears, our newly appointed state representative for District 46. Ask them to work toward a solution for school funding in Ohio. Remind them that it may take political courage to tackle this issue, and ask them to step aside if they won't work to be part of the solution.

Political courage is a quality that is in short supply in the 21st century, and we should demand that our representatives address this important issue THIS YEAR. It is simply inadequate to continually push this issue off into the future. Mr. Wagoner is attempting to establish himself as a leader in this area, and it is incumbent upon those who would be leaders to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk.

In short, until we can devise a better way to fund our schools, I believe we should support our local educators and our children and vote yes on this operating levy. Let's keep a good thing going in southwest Lucas County.

Thank you,

Mark Dansack
President, Anthony Wayne Democratic Club