WE ARE DOING THIS ALL WRONG!

I think the residents of Ohio are looking at this "funding of our schools" issue all wrong. As a board member, I hear from my constituents that we need to find a better way to fund schools. As true as this statement is, it's not going to happen. What I am proposing, is to demand that the legislature allow the voters to determine what the legislature will do. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it. Let me digress......

It was explained to me by a State Representative, later to become a State Senator, that the State of Ohio Legislature does three things: educate, incarcerate and medicate. From the Representative’s perspective, these are the three responsibilities the Ohio Legislature must be accountable for in serving the public they represent.

If these issues are their responsibility, then it stands to reason funding these three entities should be done through the taxing of our income, our property, our purchases, in addition to the taxes levied against the business in Ohio who ultimately raise their prices to cover the additional taxes they must pay. Therefore the consumer ultimately pays the business taxes also.

We know that many of those receiving “entitlements” for whatever reason do not pay their share of the taxes in Ohio. After all, they feel they are “entitled” to a portion of my earned income and the earned income of my fellow Ohioans who are the producers of the wealth. Therefore, in order that “fairness” and "equity" is shown to all people, our state government feel it is only fair that those "less fortunate" should be provided subsistence to bring them to a certain level.

I realize the need to give those less fortunate a helping hand to get them through a difficult financial burden, and I have no problem offering my help. However, when I have no choice as to whom should receive the assistance, I get a little disturbed. Why am I disturbed? Because there are way too many who have their hand out who have no intention or motivation to help themselves. Why am I disturbed? Because there are too many incarcerated in "state of the art" prison facilities who wouldn’t spend a day in the schools many of our children are educated in.

When you stop and think about these three responsibilities, how come only educate is the one right that the public votes on? Think about it, when was the last time you voted to pass a levy to build a new jail, federal prison or correctional institution? NEVER! When was the last time you voted to approve your tax dollars going to provide medical assistance to illegal immigrants, second and third generation welfare recipients and those who feel that they are “entitled” to be cared for by the government? NEVER! When was the last time you voted for a school levy to help pay for a child’s education? LIKE EVERY ELECTION!

Why is something as important as a child’s education and the future of our society placed in the hands of voters while, by a simple vote of elected representatives we are forced to pay for first class prisons with all of the amenities of comfort, complete with big screen televisions, state of the art work out facilities, computers, three square meals a day, no responsibilities and no motivation to become a productive citizen.

Why is something as important as a child’s education and future of our society placed in the hands of voters, while, by a simple vote of elected representatives we are forced to continue to provide free medical care and other “hand outs” or "entitlements" to people whose hands have been reaching out for generations and those who are here illegally waiting for the government's (that’s you and me as taxpayers) to produce the money to cover their medical expenses.

For whatever reason (and really the reason is to get votes in order to get re-elected) our state Legislature, both House and Senate members refuse to tackle the important issue of properly funding schools. Why?

They know it is the school boards who will bear the brunt of the criticism from the local voters. It is the school board who votes the resolutions to place levies on ballots. It is the school board who has to respond to the many critics against how schools operate, where the money goes and where it comes from. It is the school board who is the focus of the problems of school funding in Ohio.

They know it is the school boards who have to make education work while the legislator continues to demand more "fairness" and "equity" and "accountability" mandates without the funding these mandates.

They know that eventually the residents will have to pass the levy in order to keep their buildings opened and maintained, to retain quality teachers and administrators and to provide the resources necessary to give their child a quality education.

They know that as long as their constituents refuse to look at education as the most vital part of the Legislatures responsibilities and continue to hold the legislator harmless, our legislature can continue to keep educational funding reform out of the workings of government. Yes, they know that tackling the funding issue will cause them to give a back seat to "entitlements" therefore costing them votes.

So putting things in perspective, maybe we are wrong to demand the State Legislature tackle the school funding issue. Maybe we need to demand that we vote on funding for correctional institutions and entitlements just like we have to do for education. I’m certain school boards will be looked on in a different light. Maybe our legislators can do the campaigning for levies for new jails, prisons and correctional institutions. Can't wait to see the campaign signs "VOTE YES ON ISSUE 24 FOR A NEW PRISON". Maybe our legislators can do the campaigning for increasing entitlements. How about the sign to read "VOTE YES ON ISSUE 13: BETTER MEDICAL CARE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE".

Let’s put it to a vote! Better yet, let's see if our Legislators have the courage to allow the public to vote on new jails, entitlement programs and education. Then we will see what gets passed.