Kasich Signed A Bill Killing Local Democracy in OH
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The Republican Party's worship of so-called local democracy and states' rights is a scam - and John Kasich just proved it.
On Monday, while most of the world was busy watching twin tragedies unfold in Berlin and Ankara, the Ohio governor signed a bill that effectively killed local democracy in his state's biggest city - Cleveland.
Until Kasich and his Republican allies intervened, Cleveland was set to hold a special election next year to raise its minimum wage to $15 - which while about 7 dollars less than where the minimum wage would be if it kept up with productivity - is still almost twice Ohio's current minimum wage of $8.10.
That won't happen now.
The bill that John Kasich signed on Monday - Senate Bill 331 - prohibits communities in the state from raising the minimum wage beyond the state's minimum wage rate.
So much for all that state's right's stuff - apparently.
There is absolutely nothing surprising about this.
Zero - zilch.
Republican support for local control has always been just a cover for the party's real purpose -- protecting the interests of big business.
When local control is good for big business they'll support it.
When local control threatens big business - Republicans will violently oppose it.
You can see this with North Carolina's bigoted bathroom bill - which also banned local minimum wage hikes.
You can see it with Tennessee congresswoman Marsha Blackburn - who wants to block municipal broadband to protect Comcast.
And you can see it with those Republicans in Congress who've tried to ban local GMO labeling laws.
When it comes down to it - Republicans will gladly run roughshod over small-d democracy if doing so means more money for the millionaires and billionaires who fund their campaigns.
You could almost call it hypocritical if it weren't so clearly the plan all along.
Comments
![Bdstevens's picture Bdstevens's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19359dd595cbe53f228675b004006588.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
![mwalkerco's picture mwalkerco's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9048bd44fdd7096e3a787a457eed3800.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
Every time... Yet Americans continue to vote for this kind of "change's I guess I will never understand.
![Dianereynolds's picture Dianereynolds's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cc5aa432ddd0b6dc4e346d5fa56ce5c8.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
I believe you are wrong. Big business could care less, they just pass the cost on to the consumer or automate as fast food restaurants have been doing one after another, but you already know that.
It is small business that is hurt by raising the starter wage.
![ErinRose's picture ErinRose's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/42aabeb1dd52720e732c9f4d8979d371.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
Until this country faces the issue of voting against their own best interests, this is going to keep happening. Part of the problem is that the DNC and the Democratic Party have so completely failed their constituents by turning Neo-Liberal. People have to get active and insist the DP go back to being sane, or leave the DP and start a new party. I don't understand why people haven't all left for the Green Party since it represents everything that true liberals stand for. I'm not sure if it's a case of Stockholm Syndrome and therefore people are afraid to leave the duopoly box, or if they are so disconnected from things they just don't understand who really stands for what and therefore blindly vote the brand name. Whatever it is, it's killing this country.
![deepspace's picture deepspace's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5180.jpg)
Yup, we're pretty much stuck with an unresponsive, corporate-controlled, two-party system. It's codified in the Constitution, which stipulates that only two parties can cross the finish line, taking a next to impossible constitutional amendment to change. Another option could be ranked voting: If your first choice doesn't garner enough votes to be viable, then your second choice would be awarded your vote, then the next, and so forth. This would give third parties more clout, as people would know that their votes are not being wasted.
Of course, the simplest yet equally difficult option would be to somehow infiltrate the Democratic party and try to wrest it from self-serving, corporate-stained politicians. That would be the long game; the trouble is, things are now moving so fast that such a generational shift might be too late to mitigate the worst of the damage that will be done by rapacious Republicans.
I smell the whiff of revolution in the air ... certainly not the best option, but possibly the most inevitable.
![stopgap's picture stopgap's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-59168.jpg)
I'm not sure if these trolls think that by telling their lies over and over, that eventually they will be believed. Or that they have to keep telling their lies so that they will continue to believe them themselves.
![deepspace's picture deepspace's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5180.jpg)
Probably a little of both. Although, some just do it for kicks, and others are dirty tricksters who are paid to regurgitate talking points sponsored by various propaganda arms of the Reich, many affiliated with the Kochtopus network of liars.
![Lucygoose's picture Lucygoose's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0fa0e73b59e3fbed5c56901f33bf91df.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
Thom, there is a problem with your podcast subscriptions. Your webmaster does not respond. I found a post about the problem from 2014 and if you read the comments on your app on the appstore you will find others with the same problem today. It should be a simple transaction to update a credit card, but there seemingly is no way to do it. I am moderately computer literate but imagine how many subscribers you lose who are not very computer savvy. Please fix.
![koshkamat's picture koshkamat's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-64858.jpg)
They did this in Floriduh, too. I think it also prohibited mandatory sick pay. But poor people still vote Republican -or don't vote at all - same thing.
![Howard Laverne Stewart's picture Howard Laverne Stewart's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-129633.jpg)
It seems that control, oppression, and power tripping is very important to corporations.
![ajackson23's picture ajackson23's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-119897.jpg)
GOP Operatives inside the Democrat Party?
The prize is The United States of America, and the GOP oligarchy stole it. Cleverly crafted voter oppression laws disguised as ‘protecting the vote’ by the GOP and their well established GOP Propaganda machine have successfully pulled a coup d'état. We defend The United States as a nation of laws, yet the Koch Brothers and the GOP with the help of the Supreme Court have been for years, infiltrating and redefining the law of the land. We defend the rule of law, but do we now defend the laws of sociopathic rulers?
And where is the Democratic Party? I find that their dereliction of duty, or even desertion, of their defense of democracy can only be explained by shills, moles and operatives within the Democratic Party. Much is being made of Russia, as an external nation, influencing our election. Has the subversive organization of the Koch Brothers been less influential? Would a Koch Brothers CIA be less likely than a Russian KGB to infiltrate our election process?
And why are we comparing Trump to Hitler? There is a much closer correlation between Trump and his oligarchy about to seize control of The United States and Putin and his oligarchy that now controls Russia. Does that now leave China as the odd man out, the bad guy that Trump forces will rally his followers against?
A Republican Governor of Michigan has already pulled a dictatorial coup with the declaration of marshal law over a city and subsequent appointment an economic czar-all because of financial problems caused by Republicans. The citizens of that city no longer have a democracy. And we as a nation do nothing? Is this going to be the blueprint for our future with the GOP, the Koch Brothers, and Trump’s billion dollar and military general filled cabinet?
The Democratic Party must use its organization to educate and enlighten the people of the United States of America of what the Republicans represent and what the Democratic Party represents. The Democratic Party has a duty to redevelop and learn how to communicate to this nation of people the ‘realities’ of today’s politics. If Trump and the GOP Propaganda machine can successfully brainwash their followers to believe that (1) the stock market has gone down and (2) unemployment has gone up what else are they capable of? The Democrats took the hit for Republican obstructionism in Washington. Democrats have to learn that this is a real civil war and they are losing.
America’s oligarchy has the GOP and the Koch Brother’s propaganda machine to sanction their rule. They are redefining ‘law’ to be their ally and the ‘rule of law’ is being used to sanctify their take over. And when that fails, there will be marshal law and Trump’s generals. We, The People, need the Democratic Party to enter this war on democracy now.
Get ready to see Republicans overrun state's rights in Congress in matters such as gun rights, LGBT equality, voter rights, abortion. Congressional Republicans, who complained about "government overreach" by Democrats, will state this would be necessary to protect the Second Amendment, "unborn babies" (thus illegally giving citizenship rights before birth) and America's "moral fiber" as well as to ensure an "honest vote" (despite the GOP's voter suppression and few cases of voter fraud in recent elections).
![deepspace's picture deepspace's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5180.jpg)
Absolutely, it is war! The guts of politics are what people perceive to be true. Period. Power struggles throughout history have succeeded or failed on whether or not the combatants get their message out to as many people as possible to build a consensus opinion. That's how armies are raised and people are won over ... or conquered.
In modern America, the Republicans have succeeded spectacularly in creating an alternate reality of elaborate and pervasive lies, and the Democrats have failed miserably in counteracting with the simple truth. It is time to attack on all fronts with everything and everybody and breach the propaganda walls on the radio, on TV, and on the Internet.
Its not good enough just to give inspiring floor speeches in Congress, or to conduct the occasional press conference to "outline plans," or to wait for the next election and hope the people will come to their senses. The Democrats must forsake Wall Street, the establishment media, and business as usual! They must get out among the people -- right now -- in every state, in every community and shout out the truth and never compromise with the lie! They need to learn to fight back hard! There is no other choice when your back is up against the wall.
The purpose of broad laws like min. Wage is to make everyone play by the same rules so no one business or type of business has an unfair advantage.
![maileme's picture maileme's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8af2e5cefc6e96650c4035e7356e5c24.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
great
![DHBranski's picture DHBranski's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3b1740c18c0b81ccd55d1a0dbcf70922.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
How does one define "democracy?" Some had hoped to see the US move toward a legitimately representative form of government, but it just didn't happen. The rich have full reprresentation, the middle class have quite a lot (and have the money and means to organize to demand more), and the poor have no representation whatsoever.
The last eight years revolved around more deeply splitting apart those who aren't on the right wing, pitting us against each other by class and race. This has ensured that this time, there is no chance of bringing the "masses" together to push back against the hard right -- those who meet the definition of "fascist."
Democrats split apart the Dem voting base back in the 1990s, middle class vs. the poor, and the past eight years confirmed that this split is permanant. The Dem Party is over for the forseeable future. Liberals embraced middle class elitism, alienating the masses of post-middle class/poor. Racial tensions have risen significantly. Divided, subdivided, conquered.
![DHBranski's picture DHBranski's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3b1740c18c0b81ccd55d1a0dbcf70922.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
And liberals can't understand why the poor didn't vote for the most anti-poor candidate to date. Much of the voting bases of both parties rejected their own party's candidate. Only some 60% of eligible voters voted, believing that no matter how this election turned out, masses of us will lose. This left much of the country with the choice of voting third party or withholding their votes.
Meanwhile (more broadly speaking) those on the right wing spent the last eight years building up their base, growing more inclusive, while those on the other side only more deeply divided their base by class and race.
![David Abbot's picture David Abbot's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96a96a003e26d930c781fec6d17dddef.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thomhartmann.com%2Fsites%2Fall%2Fmodules%2Fcontrib%2Fgravatar%2Favatar-clear.png&s=100&r=G)
It’s raining pigs and noodles
it’s pouring frogs and hats
chrysanthemums and poodles
bananas, brooms, and cats
assorted prunes and parrots
are dropping from the sky
here comes a bunch of carrots
and some hippopatami.
And why is this so worrisome, you might ask?
Read on, and in this prophetic wisdom you may bask:
The pigs will take your guns away
the frogs n’ hats don’t care what you say,
they’ll burn your American flag up anyway.
The chrysanthemums and poodles
will turn the constitution into socialist doodles,
the bananas, brooms, and cats
don’t like the mass murders, begots, and begats
in that wonderful old testament,
they'll pull that thing off Donnie's head
while trying to make sense of what he's said
and they’ll pour tar and feathers on ol' Mike Pence
and refuse to build the Mexican fence.
The assorted prunes and parrots
will take the rights for which you fought
will drench those suckers with paraquat,
and the bunch of carrots and hippopatami
will cancel your freedoms until you cry.
Now you know why the republicans are so scared of children’s poems.
(The first paragraph of this poem is from James Prelutsky's book, "It's Raining Pigs and Noodles" and its use herein as part of a parody is allowed by copyright law. I have no idea where Mr. Prelutsky stands regarding politics. The rest of this post was written in a highly patriotic manner by David Abbot and he can prove it because he wore a flag pin on his lapel while humming the Star Spangled Banner.)
If you are in the 1% I fully understand why you vote Republican. If not, and you vote Republican, WTF are you thinking?
It continues to amaze me how many of the people affected by Republican policies like this continue to vote against their own self interest.