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April 17, 2008
Op-Ed
Ohio Republicans have lost their way
As a member of the Greene County Republican Central Committee and a candidate in the 7th Congressional District primary, I have the right to hold fellow Republicans accountable. As a veteran who on at least five occasions took an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, it's my duty. Unfortunately way too many blindly loyal partisans go along to get along, often with self interest as the primary motive. Bedrock Republican values of limited government and personal responsibility have virtually disappeared from the GOP discourse, especially in Ohio. Less than a month after the election, the following articles appeared in Greene County locals, presumably as a consequence of Republican Congressional candidate Steve Austria's press releases.
First, in "Austria to propose bill inspired by local case," responding to his concern for "shaken baby syndrome," Steve suggested that by increasing mandatory sentences from eight years to 10-20 years and mandating education on the dangers of violently shaking infants, he could legislate a solution to this tragic crime. Even if you believe mandatory sentences are a deterrent to violent crime, it's a stretch to conclude that simply increasing prison terms or reminding us that violent shaking can be harmful to infants would cause a meaningful reduction in this violent act, but it does provide a convenient photo-op during this election season.
In "Protecting Ohio homeowners from foreclosure," Austria also proposes a government solution. This is especially disingenuous as Steve admitted that at the end of 2007 the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that Ohio had the nation's highest number of home foreclosures. We should remind Mr. Austria that it was on his watch in the Ohio General Assembly, including a stint as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary-Criminal Justice Committee, that lenders, mortgage brokers, title companies and real estate interests were given a long leash to issue high-risk loans to high-risk borrowers. I am offended that in the article Austria writes, "I urge all Ohio homeowners to keep track of their finances and mortgage payments," when in fact both Austria and his campaign contributors in the industry were on the short list of those that caused the problem. For an elected official to offer that paternalistic advice when he is at least partly responsible takes arrogance and hypocrisy to a new level.
Politicians like Steve Austria are very good at proposing solutions to problems they have no chance of solving or even problems they caused themselves, but their solutions never, ever reach down to the root causes of crime, violent or otherwise, or any other economic or social malady. The simple truth is that Steve Austria and the special interests that keep him in public office are the problem, and there's only two ways to remedy that - either we take control of our own lives or throw the rascals out and replace them with honest agents who truly respect public service and the well-being of their constituents.
John Mitchel
Beavercreek
937 427-8442
www.patriotpressohio.com
www.reformcongress.com
Paid for by Americans for John Mitchel
