It looks like Matt Smith won the Senate race. PA Elections Information I haven't heard the final cost of Raja's campaign, but I think he could have paid for the Rec Bond. I wonder how many of the write-in votes were Dudley's. http://www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/201211gen/el45.htm There were 163 write-in votes for the Senate race, while there were 570 write-in votes for Representative in the 42nd District. Could Dudley have gotten that many votes?
Now the fun begins. Who is going to run for Representative when Matt Smith becomes Senator?
Update November 8, 2012 8:45 AM To check the results:
Detail District Report
Detail Canvass Report
Mt. Lebanon Ward and District Locator
111 comments:
Better question - does anyone think the MTLRC got the wake up call?
If it hasn't happened by now, given the dearth of liberal free-spenders they keep backing, it never will. The GOP is on life support. One more election cycle like last night will pull the plug. I don't blame the locals entirely. The county committee is a joke. They need to start from scratch with new leadership.
Wonder if RCML Pres. Tommy Dunn will run for the State House Rep. job Matt will vacate, and have Raja manage and finance his campaign for the election next Spring ?
Roddey, Heather, Tommy - hang it up ! It's all over. You've failed the course !
Based on election returns, perhaps Raja should move family and business to Washington County and run for County Council there ?
In his victory speech last night Obama said that “this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.” Future generations? This from the man who has overseen a $5 trillion increase in the debt that falls on those future generations?
Of course I'm not a member, but it seems to me, based on their history and recent showing at the polls, that the Mt. Lebanon Republican Committee could merge with the Mt. Lebanon Democratic Committee and there would be no noticeable difference.
I thought they already had, Richard.
Lots voted for Dudley
I really, really, really would like to see Dan Miller take the vacant seat.
Like I said before, it's a matter of supporting a candidate with character.
For all you Raja fans, don't be disappointed. Word is that he will try for Matt's old seat. Three elections. Wow.
Elaine
Raja will not be running for the seat, so you can toss that idea out.
-Charlotte Stephenson
I'm glad that Raja lost.
I hope that Raja does not run for Matt's old seat, but if Raja does run for Matt's old seat then I hope that Raja suffers another humiliating and embarrasing defeat just like the last two that he has suffered.
You never know, maybe the third strike will be the end of Raja's political career.
We can only hope.
And don't get the animosity towards Raja. A couple of bad political decisions does not an evil man make.
I don't think Raja is evil. Just was a bad commissioner and a negative campaigner. How about we just give him a title to parade around town with in exchange for him not sending out anymore mailers? Please?
By the way anyone know how much money was spent by both of them on this one?
2:48 I'll make an assumption though I usually don't like to.
You are a member of the MTLRC, I'll bet. If I'm right in that assumption, it speaks volumes about what is wrong with local R party.
The campaigns spent a combined $4 million. $3 million by Raja and $1 million by Smith. The big difference Raja self funded something like 80-85% of his.
I hope Raja is done but I would not bet against him running> I would agree he seems like a nice enough guy, just a bad elected official and worse campaigner.
My money and my hopes are on Miller.
Skip Ecole
I don't know how much Raja spent but I'll bet that it was enough to pay to turf a field or to fund a high school philanthropic project.
Maybe if he had funded one of these efforts, like cleaning up a park he would have done better?
Agreed 3:02, he's not evil, probably a fine father and husband. We know he's a savy business man, but all that doesn't translate into a good politician/leader.
How about do the calculation based on number of votes?
Then compare that to the two warmongers that ran for President. I wonder who spent more per vote.
OK, I'll bite. If we assume Raja spent 3 million and Smith spent 1 million, then, in round figures, Raja spent about $50-55 per vote. Smith spent about $15 per vote. At the presidential level, if we assume final totals are a little higher than current ones, and if we assume each spent about $1 billion (this doesn't include all the super-PACs), then Romney and Obama were each also around $15 per vote. Might be a little higher, as I'm guessing they both ended up spending more than $1 billion. Will have to wait for final reports later in the month. And, indeed, the estimates of anonymous for the Raja and Smith spending might be off as well.--Neil Berch
Hey Neil, very impressive! Congratulations! http://www.wboy.com/story/20034621/wvu-professor-weighs-in-on-presidential-election-outcome
Elaine
How many angry R's will show up at next week's Commission meeting to speak out against borrowing $1.2M to rework 2 holes at the golf course and beautify Robb Hollow with a fire pit and a dog park - neither of which generate 1 cent of revenue?
From Bloomberg News (Rubin, November 7);
“Boehner said negotiations between the parties should be held to avert the tax increases and spending cuts. Boehner said he would seek concessions from Obama.
“The president must be willing to reduce spending and shore up entitlement programs that are the primary drivers of our debt,” he said.
Obama has called for higher tax rates for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and married couples making more than $250,000. Boehner emphasized Republican opposition to raising income tax rates.”
So, through lobbying, the 1% raided the Social Security and Medicare funds that we paid for and are now unwilling to pay a higher tax rate to pay back what they stole according to Boehner.
Elaine: Thanks. That was a tv interview, where we talked on camera for 10-15 minutes. You never know what will get picked out. I did another one earlier in the day where they asked me what I could say to "console" the citizens of West Virginia. This guy was more interested in the networks' process of calling states.--Neil Berch
7:21...and how many D's will protest as a result?
At least one D will protest, Dave that is.
8:08, come one come all. Everyone should object to such useless borrowing/spending.
7:21 (Dave Franklin)
not generate any money?
8:31,
To what useless borrowing and spending are you referring?
$1.2M to rework 2 holes at the golf course and beautify Robb Hollow with a fire pit and a dog park
8:31 They should, but they don't. The D's and RINO's here are leading us to the same financial cliff that the nation is on, and when anyone gets in their way they turn into thugs.
Even Matt Kluck opposes the golf course proposal
Neil, I like to hear more on this "likeability" theory. Not arguing it, just find it interesting.
Could it be that the American ethic has changed from one that admired success, intellect and hardwork.
The best example i can come up with offf the top of my head - every college had the popular professor that allowed open book test and graded on a curve vs the task master that demand more, pushed hard.
One was likable while the other was to be avoided if possible. Could Obama's promises be behind his likeability?
Maybe Elaine could open another topic if enough people are interested in the subject.
You don't get the animosity towards Raja? I'll agree he's not a bad man. That said, he ran a very nasty campaign from the beginning with no real details on what he'd do as a Sen. Regardless of what his "advisors" told him about strategy, the buck stops with him. He alone set the tone for the campaign.
Anon. 9:41 doesn't like fixing a golf course that pays for itself with user fees year after year. User fees are quite helpful in paying for the financing of the golf course - just like YSA fees are helpful paying for field maintenance - when and if they are paid.
The golf course will not pay for the $500k in window dressing on two holes. I would be in favor of actually FIXING something at the golf course. This doesn't fix anything. Don't take my word for it. Ask the resident golf pro on the Commission . And to add insult to injury, the Commission has no intention of raising the fees on golfers to offset this spending. Sadly, I don't even think the Commissioners can verbalize what this moneybis for or why? Don't take my word for it, ask one. The folks who scream and fuss about the school project should be all over this one. It's no different.
YSA has contributed almost $350,000 to field maintenance. Can we expect the same from dog walkers? The Fraasch plan for R. Hollow calls for $300,000 in private funds. Who is passing the hat for that?
10:14 absolutely - Raja ran an absolutely horrendous nasty campaign agreed. But on the other hand the campaigns waged against Stephenson, Canon, Wertheim, Beis and Gillian were equally nasty but didn't seem to reflect on their opponents in the previous voting cycle.
Same with the Obama strategy to defame Romney.
That's what is so interesting about Mr. Berch's theory about Obama's likeability.
Every sport should have a user fee - that is paid on a regular yearly basis like the swimming pool, the golf course, the tennis center, the ice rink.
If Kluck isn't for the $500,000 golf holes improvements, which commissioners are and why?
Should the YSA $350,000 be called contributions or users fees?
If its contributions then why not call the golf course greens fees contributions, which I'm sure percentage wise pay more on the maintenance of the course than the YSA pays towards fields.
11:08 PM, Matt Kluck is voting against the Rec Bond. The other four are voting for the Rec Bond. I don't think the commissioners have decided specially how the money is going to be spent at the golf course. The commissioners have narrowed it down to two options, I believe.
10:57 PM, I did not run for office with the ones you listed. I ran in the Primary. Paula Bongiorno was the other write-in.
There is another budget meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6:00. Also, on Kelly's blog, I see that she is listing three dates to meet with Kelly over coffee or tea and talk about the budget. How many other commissioners are doing that?
Elaine
Specifically, not specially. Sorry.
Elaine
10:57 Yes, D, PTA and RINO thugs. What a wonderful community.
So we have the revenue question. Maybe I missed something but how much revenue would artificial turf generate? And our community is being forced against our will to spend over 113 million bucks on a school we didn't need. How much revenue will that generate? That's just a stupid argument.
Further, for all of Raja's faults, at least HE paid for his campaign, not a bunch of dirtbag trial lawyers. The guy is free to run for all the offices he likes. For those big mouths out there, instead of taking shots using the keyboard, why not step up and run?
There it is the name calling comes out.!
Ditto 11:45 what a wonderful community.
Think real hard about investment in Robb Hollow..how might it pay dividends....think...
Pop-there it is.
McNeily.
So the grand solution for RH is to add another $700,000 to the debt created by the McNeilly purchase? And buy more unuseable property on Kelso? Genius.
So, on the likeability issue. It's not as simple as my anonymous questioner(s) imply. Ironically, while Americans vote for Congress based in part on ideology or the state of the economy (largely because they know little about their congressional candidates; most people can't name their congressperson), they seem to employ other criteria in voting for a president. The person who wins the "cares about people like me" question in the exit poll (and Obama won that by about 8 points) usually wins the election. And some of that is simply about personal geniality. If you look by at virtually every post-Nixon presidential election, the candidate who has the sunnier personality, etc. usually wins. Some examples: in 1988, I remember saying that George H.W. Bush would have a hard time winning, because he didn't come across as terribly warm. Fear not, Republicans: the Democrats nominated Michael Dukakis, who seemed robotic in comparison. In 2004 (a very similar election to 2012), a country that had grave doubts about George W. Bush reelected him, in large part because his opponent, John Kerry, was successfully portrayed by the Bush campaign as an out-of-touch rich guy. It may not seem fair or rational to you, but, regardless of party, Americans seem to choose presidents on this basis. Add to that the very poor campaign that Romney ran in August and September, and the result is no surprise.--Neil Berch
The liberal D's and RINOs have ruined this community with their grandiose spending schemes leading to unsustainable tax burdens. And they still want more - now turf. What will it be tomorrow?
I think everyone with half a fiscally conservative brain should leave Mt. Lebanon and Pennsylvania for that matter. It's just going to get worse around here.
In his post under the Redskin Rule he comments: "Unless Republicans fix their problem with people of color (especially Latinos), they will continue their slow fade nationally.--Neil Berch"
If Latinos are considered "people of color" wouldn't Raja fall under that same definition? It seems at least locally the R Party doesn't have a have a color issue.
Mr. Berch's other comment about Mr. Obama being more likable got me thinking about a number of Dem vs Repub perceptions.
#1. when did the Republican Party become branded as the miserly, anti-education party?
Seems to me (and this is just seat of the pants observation) that the opposite is actually true.
Mt. Lebanon for most of it's 100 year history has been Western PA's premier school district. The benchmark that every other district attempted to achieve. For most of those 100 years, MTL jas enjoyed a Republican registration majority.
Relatively recently, the party majority has shifted to democratic registrations. Is there a correlation in USC rising to the #1 district and MTLSD falling to #2?
Which party holds the majority in USC, and how about up and coming North Allegheny?
Could Mr. Berch's Obama likability factor be based solely on a better marketing strategy rather than true performance.
Could it be that the Republican Party has lost it mojo?
I don't disagree with your 7:43 comments, but does the Obama entitlement promises also play a dole in likability?
I just updated this post by adding the election results by ward and district. If you're not sure of your district, I provided a link to Mt. Lebanon's Ward and District locator.
Elaine
Yes, 8:49.
Wouldn't you be more inclined to vote for the man if he gave you things like a free phone? Or 2 years worth of unemployment? Or a government mortgage?
Government is the drug. Much of America is addicted to this "entitlement" mentality. That is not a false claim. This is different than writing off the 47% as Romney did. It is just a fact that most Dems think their role is to be the provider for those in need. Most Rs would be more inclined to think those in need just need enough help to get them back on their feet. More like a kick in the ass. As in, if you don't look for work or get job training, you don't get a check from the government. The problem is that at least 1/2 the country WANTS government to be the nanny, the giver, the friend of first resort.
This will work. Until it doesn't. If you don't think we are going down the path of Greece, Italy, Spain, etc, then you haven't been paying attention.
Of course, when this all blows sky high, Obama will still blame Bush and the Republican Congress.
The suggestion that people of a certain political or economic inclination should leave Mt. Lebanon has been brought up before on this Blog; most famously by Mr. Franklin, who wondered why residents who think things are (or will get) so bad here stay.
I agree that there are some excellent reasons for leaving the village and the state (or for not even coming here in the first place), but there has to be a rationale, an opportunity, and a desire to do so for it to make sense.
First, why do people stay? Some people stay for family and medical reasons (St. Clair Hospital is close); some because it does not make economic sense to move at this time (i.e., a move may cost more than it's worth); some because of their misbegotten idea that the school system is "superior"; some simply love their homes and neighbors, and are willing to struggle to pay the cost of membership in "Club Lebo."
But for a person to leave one must have a destination in mind, and must have his (or her) own self-interest foremost. If one leaves in order to "financially punish" the Municipality or District it generally accomplishes nothing. People who rent and then leave can cause a slight revenue hole if the digs they are leaving go empty. Homeowners who decide to sell and get out don't hurt the Municipality or District at all! (There is some financial impact on the District should a family with children move out of Mt. Lebanon and sell their home to a person or persons who have no children.) In fact, both of those governments love it, as it generally translates into higher revenue on average for both entities (statistically speaking, buyers must have higher incomes than the current owner did at the time the current owner bought the house). Businesses, on the other hand, can financially hurt Mt. Lebanon if they move out (and are not replaced) because they generate considerable revenue.
Bottom line - If you have the resources, desire, and opportunity to leave then you should do so; you will be getting off the boat before it sinks. It is likely that you will be replaced by someone more "like-minded" to the goals of the Municipality and District. But if it is "not time yet" for you to go, then by all means stay and fight the good fight.
Absolutely 9:41.
Mr. Gideon, agree with you also. I found anyone from either side recommending one should "get out" a bore.
I do find it curious that Mr. Franklin covets USC's athletic facilities so much so that it intrigues me why he doesn't move. Not suggesting he "get out", just curious. It appears he has the means to move, it has the facilities he desires and the school district is number 1 in the region.
Everything he desires is right next door and with new development, new expanding housing it should be easy to get the residents to pop for even more luxuries.
Well we've had an analysis of Raja's and Smith's $/vote, do we know what Dudley's were?
I personally don't understand why people are attacking Raja? Whether or not you agree with his political views, you can't fault someone who is trying to do better for the community. As owner of a successful company, there is no monetary incentive for him to get involved in politics. He has made it clear publicly that he is running only to help create the same economic opportunities as when he moved to Pittsburgh over 25 years ago. Can anyone fault someone for wanting to run for office? I don't see any of you who are criticizing, try and run. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and do nothing - and only criticize.
Running for office with a bunch of empty words does not equate to wanting to help the community. The reality is that Raja had a chance to help the community as commissioner and was a complete disaster. You may want to give him another shot at that but thankfully the vast majority of Mt. Lebanon residents do not.
How about instead of Raja littering my mailbox with his empty promises why doesn’t he donate the money to get the Denis up and running? You remember that project- the one Raja bought in the middle of his commission campaign to “save it” for the town? And by “save” he meant that he would milk the nonprofit for every possible cent to make sure it never cost him anything. And that he would not only saddle the nonprofit with a ridiculous lease but then forbid them from disclosing its terms. And finally when they were on the brink of insolvency arrange for the sale to occur but only if they would repay him every possible cost he incurred while “saving it” in the first place. And just to add to the ridiculousness- he would keep a small mortgage on the property because he just couldn’t give an inch. Yea he’s trying to do better for the community alright.
Mallory, thanks for signing your name.
Mallory, I don't know how long you have been a reader of Lebo Citizens, but a little background here. Back in 2010, I was on a committee who gathered almost 4,000 signatures trying to scale back the high school renovation project. It was a grueling process, walking through deep snow, tabulating the signatures, and ultimately presenting them to the school board. I attended school board meetings and tried to stop the 10.5% increase in our school taxes which was quite an increase for those of us with limited incomes. I decided to run for commissioner and ran a low budget campaign. I felt that it was a waste of money to go all out. I didn't get enough votes to win the Primary. I have found other ways to give back to the community. I run a community blog and website. I also help the unemployed through Dress 4 Work. My point is that I don't have money to burn and have found ways to try to better our community. It is my opinion that Raja was/is running for reasons other than to help the community. I am sure that some of the anonymous posters have also tried to make a difference by serving as an elected official, or ran for office in some capacity. We're not all sitting by and criticizing.
Raja spent a lot of money and has nothing to show for it. In fact, if you look at the votes, he didn't beat Smith in his own ward. His own neighbors didn't support him.
As it is written in the previous comment, the Denis Theatre is just one example of how Raja wants to help the community. I can say this because I ran for office and try to work within my means to give back. Please explain how Raja is giving back besides keeping our postal workers busy.
Elaine
One personal opinion.
Raja's not a bad guy and is entitled to run for any office he choses or can afford. More power to him.
There is though a case that by his incessant running for office he detracts from anyone else running or getting attention in the local republican party.
After all if you were of limited means and interested in the same office as Raja, his bankroll and party circle of friends would have to be a factor in the decision to ccompete... right?
I still believe he's not a bad guy, just not the "right" guy.
Raja only cares about himself!
Great nations and proud empires have always collapsed from within before they were conquered from without.
President Obama's re-election mirrors the self-indulgent, greedy and envious nation we are rapidly becoming.
Pollsters Michael Barone and Dick Morris got it horribly wrong. Both predicted a 300 electoral-vote win for Romney. It was President Obama who reached that mark.
The central message coming out of the election seems to be that we are no longer the America of our Founders, or even the America that existed during World War II, which produced our "greatest generation."
Instead, the election validates the enormous cultural shift that has been taking place since the '60s when a countercultural bomb was dropped on society, producing moral fallout that continues to this day.
I am a child of the "greatest generation." My parents believed I should learn to take care of myself. They would have been too embarrassed to ask for help, if they needed it. If they did, they would turn to family first, or to a friend or neighbor. There were fewer social programs then, so people mostly did without, living only on what they truly needed. It said something about your character if you refused to strive toward self-sufficiency.
In 2012, nothing appears to embarrass us. Snooki. Honey Boo Boo. Reality TV wives. Look at what is paraded before us as normal. Oppose the new normal and it's you who are the anomaly.
Young people are taught in public schools, at major universities, on television and in movies, that every life choice is acceptable and every tenet open to interpretation. In politics, some proclaim it is right to oppose the successful and envy the rich to the point where they must be denigrated and penalized for their success with higher taxes. No one has to be personally responsible. No education; no motivation; no life plan? No problem. The government will take care of you.
One thing Romney might have done better is to have featured more people who had overcome government dependence by embracing the values he was promoting. Example trumps philosophy and success should trump victimhood. Inspiration follows perspiration. But in our "entitlement" age even that might have been impossible to overcome.
Other signs of cultural decay are accepted with little notice. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of babies born in America are born to unmarried women. Shrug. Abortion clinics continue to operate. Yawn.
There is no longer any cultural corrective because we have abandoned the concept of objective truth. Nothing is right or wrong, because that suggests a standard by which right and wrong might be defined. Personal choice is the new "standard," which is no standard at all. One might as well develop individual weights and measures.
Politicians bid for votes, making promises they can't keep to voters who will believe anything, as long as it appeals to greed, envy and their sense of entitlement. This undermines our culture. This fuels our massive debt, weakening our economic power and America's standing in the world.
Standards used to be defined and mostly accepted, if not always universally practiced. Many grew out of religious principles. According to a recent Pew Poll, a growing number of people, especially young people, no longer believe in God or religion. In this, and in our increasing flirtation with socialism, America is becoming more like Europe. Government seems to be replacing God as the only acceptable "deity."
So what is the answer? Should conservatives throw in the towel and say America, as passed down to us by previous generations, is no more? That was President Obama's announced goal four years ago when he promised to "fundamentally transform America." He's doing it and sufficient numbers of us appear happy to let him. When they realize what they have done, however, it may well be too late to reverse course.
Talking about egos, wouldn't a battle for Smith's vacant seat between Posti (D) and Birks (R) be a fun contest.
5:11 PM, Mary Birks has switched parties. She is now a Democrat.
Elaine
So the conversion is complete. That explains the spending in Mt. Lebanon.
School board: 5 Dems vs 4 Repubs
Commissioners: 4 Dems vs 1 Repub
Hold onto to your wallets folks - you asked for it.
5:44 - You're right! God help us!
5:44 - You're right!
God help us all!
John Boehner is all that stands between our great country and full-blown socialism!
Sell your house to a D or RINO so they can foot the bill for all the local horrible spending decisions. Those commenters who chide the suggestion of a geographical change must realize that there is no hope for Mt. Lebanon, it is on the edge and no one cared to pay attention so here we are. One of the criticisms of Cannon when he tried to get onto the school board was that he "failed" to crossfile. Holding true to his conservative spending convictions was cited as a misdeed! Nothing will change until the culprits are left to fight it out among themselves as to who is going to shoulder the outcome of local expenses and obligations. Really, hold on to your wallets and get out, go to USC or better yet, Washington County or best - a lower cost state. Those who "can't afford to move" surely will not be able to afford to stay. And 5:09, right on!
4 R's on School Board?!? Hah! That is a good one. With the way most of them vote on raises???
"R" is for RINO
We need a new slate of candidates in the party. We need candidates who will bring back the Reagan democrats.
They are still out there and their party isn't hitting the mark.
We need new blood.
I Didn't Leave the Democrats. They Left Me.
By SHELDON G. ADELSON
When members of the Democratic Party booed the inclusion of God and Jerusalem in their party platform this year, I thought of my parents.
They would have been astounded.
The immigrant family in which I grew up was, in the matter of politics, typical of the Jews of Boston in the 1930s and '40s. Of the two major parties, the Democrats were in those days the more supportive of Jewish causes.
Indeed, only liberal politicians campaigned in our underprivileged neighborhood. Boston's Republicans, insofar as we knew them, were remote, wealthy elites ("Boston Brahmins"), some of whose fancy country clubs didn't accept Jews.
It therefore went without saying that we were Democrats. Like most Jews around the country, being Democrat was part of our identity, as much a feature of our collective personality as our religion.
So why did I leave the party?
My critics nowadays like to claim it's because I got wealthy or because I didn't want to pay taxes or because of some other conservative caricature. No, the truth is the Democratic Party has changed in ways that no longer fit with someone of my upbringing.
One obvious example is the party's new attitude toward Israel. A sobering Gallup poll from last March asked: "Are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?" Barely 53% of Democrats chose Israel, the sole liberal democracy in the region. By contrast, an overwhelming 78% of Republicans sympathized with Israel.
Nowhere was this change in Democratic sympathies more evident than in the chilling reaction on the floor of the Democratic convention in September when the question of Israel's capital came up for a vote. Anyone who witnessed the delegates' angry screaming and fist-shaking could see that far more is going on in the Democratic Party than mere opposition to citing Jerusalem in their platform. There is now a visceral anti-Israel movement among rank-and-file Democrats, a disturbing development that my parents' generation would not have ignored.
Another troubling change is that Democrats seem to have moved away from the immigrant values of my old neighborhood—in particular, individual charity and neighborliness. After studying tax data from the IRS, the nonpartisan Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported that states that vote Republican are now far more generous to charities than those voting Democratic. In 2008, the seven least-generous states all voted for President Obama. My father, who kept a charity box for the poor in our house, would have frowned on this fact about modern Democrats.
Democrats would reply that taxation and government services are better vehicles for helping the underprivileged. And, yes, government certainly has its role. But when you look at states where Democrats have enjoyed years of one-party dominance—California, Illinois, New York—you find that their liberal policies simply don't deliver on their promises of social justice.
CONTINUED
CONTINUED
Take, for example, President Obama's adopted home state. In October, a nonpartisan study of Illinois's finances by the State Budget Crisis Task Force offered painful evidence that liberal Illinois is suffering from abject economic, demographic and social decline. With the worst credit rating in the country, and with the second-biggest public debt per capita, the Prairie State "has been doing back flips on a high wire, without a net," according to the report.
Political scientist Walter Russell Mead summed up the sad results of these findings at The American Interest: "Illinois politicians, including the present president of the United States, have wrecked one of the country's potentially most prosperous and dynamic states, condemned millions of poor children to substandard education, failed to maintain vital infrastructure, choked business development and growth through unsustainable tax and regulatory policies—and still failed to appease the demands of the public sector unions and fee-seeking Wall Street crony capitalists who make billions off the state's distress."
At times, it seems almost as if President Obama wants to impose the failed Illinois model on the whole country. Each year of his presidency has produced unsustainable deficits, and he takes no responsibility for his spending. Worse still, unemployment has become chronic, and many Americans have given up on looking for work.
Whenever President Obama deplores the wealthy ("fat-cat bankers," "millionaires and billionaires," "at a certain point you've made enough money," and so on), it tells me that he has failed to learn the economic lessons of Illinois, and that he still doesn't understand the vital role entrepreneurs play in creating jobs in our society.
As a person who has been able to rise from poverty to affluence, and who has created jobs and work benefits for tens of thousands of families, I feel obligated to speak up and support the American ideals I grew up with—charity, self-reliance, accountability. These are the age-old virtues that help make our communities prosperous. Yet, sadly, the Democratic Party no longer seems to value them as it once did. That's why I switched parties, and why I'm now giving amply to Republicans.
Although I don't agree with every Republican position—I'm liberal on several social issues—there is enough common cause with the party for me to know I've made the right choice.
It's the choice that, I believe, my old immigrant Jewish neighbors would have made. They would not have let a few disagreements with Republicans void the importance of siding with the political party that better supports liberal democracies like Israel, the party that better exemplifies the spirit of charity, and the party with economic policies that would certainly be better for those Americans now looking for work.
The Democratic Party just isn't what it used to be.
Mr. Adelson is an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
A version of this article appeared November 5, 2012, on page A17 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: I Didn't Leave the Democrats. They Left Me.
And now the Obama layoffs begin.
As with the local elections in Mt. Lebanon, votes matter. They directly impact your tax level and more importantly your spend level.
When so many politicians see the electorate as a nameless, faceless, endless source of money, they tend to spend on crazy things.
From $120 million high schools with $30 million athletic facilities to artificial turfing grass fields just because, to Obamacare. The mentality is all the same. It's only $5 a month. It's only $18 a month. It's only giving up your daily trip to Starbucks.
But then when it becomes reality and you see that Starbucks is closed and all the employees need to find other jobs, what have you gained? Your trade was turf for jobs? Your trade was thousands of American jobs lost forever to elect Obama? Your trade was elderly, fixed income people unable to afford their homes in order to build a monument to football and athletics?
A little melodramatic for sure but it isn't melodramatic to the thousands of people who will be getting laid off in the coming months. Sure, they will be able to pick up a sub-29 hour work week somewhere thanks to Obamacare, but how will that fix the economy.
This is just the start. Good people need to stand up now.
Boston Scientific anticipates $100 million in additional taxes next year, with layoffs to follow. Medtronic will cut 1,000 workers. Stryker plans 1,170 layoffs Smith & Nephew, with 770 layoffs; Abbott Labs, 700; Covidien, 595; Kinetic Concepts, 427; St. Jude Medical, 300; Welch Allyn 275; and Hill Rom, 200.
11:37, I assume you will be at the meeting on Tues to oppose borrowing $700,000 for Robb Hollow?
1:13 PM, I hope you are there too. It is going to be quite a meeting. Public hearings on the Rec Bond, Zamagias Properties, and the budget.
Elaine
1:13
I am not unknown to the commissioners. They know my stance.
As for $700,000 for RH, I am not opposed to it. It is money well spent to get out of the McNeilly property that the sports groups strong-armed former commissioners into buying.
McNeilly would sit idle forever. At least with Robb Hollow we have an opportunity to improve the land and do with it what we promised the grant makers we would. My understanding from certain staff is that the appraisals should come back just fine and the trade will hinge on some paperwork at the state level to make it right.
The question will come when we sell McNeilly or get it developed. Any windfall from that property ought to immediately be used to pay the debt we accumulated when we bought the property.
So yes, a trade of $700,000 now to get perhaps $1-2 million later (not including perpetual tax revenues if property is developed), I am ok with that.
The question is, why aren't you? If this is the first time you have heard this scheme, then you need to thank Kelly Fraasch for having it come to fruition. No other commissioner was on this until after she started figuring out how to develop Robb Hollow. Why do you think she pushed so hard? After the way the sports groups treated her it couldn't have all been just for them.
12:21 you should direct your article to Neil Berch under The Redskins Rule post earlier.
I believe he is arguing that the democrats have the best interest of Latinos, immigrants and the poor at heart. At least to me it appears that is what. he is implying.
Good article by the way.
In a telephone conversation with Ms. Fraasch not too long ago I said that 1)if the McNeilly property could be swapped for Robb Hollow and 2)sold at a profit, and 3)the proceeds then used to pay down the debt, it would be a step in the right direction for the Municipality. In essence I made points similar to those of the 1:52 PM poster. But this is Mt. Lebanon, and anything can happen.
Legislation that reduces Mt. Lebanon's debt and tax burden, privatizes as many services as practical (the Sandy Springs, Georgia model), and encourages Private/Public Partnerships that actually stand a chance of working should be supported.
If the plan is to move leaf mulching to McNeilly I wouldn't be so quick to start determining a sales price for McNeilly. There is no reason to move the leaf operation from Robb Hollow. Those legal issues have been resolved. To spend this kind of money only further deepens the hole created by the McNeilly purchase in the first place. And when can we expect the money from the dog walkers to start rolling in to cover $300,000 of the Fraasch plan?
4:01, you can counton dog walkers kicking in 300k just as soon as the soccer moms kick in the cost to build a new field. Said it before--that's a stupid argument.
I just found this blog. I'm embarrassed by some of the posts. Is this what Mt Lebanon is like?? If these negative and nasty people are an example of Mt Lebanon I question my choice of living here!
4:28 Go to a Commission Meeting you would be equally embarassed.
4:28 yes it would seem this pansies today's Mt. Lebanon is like. People can't place a political sign on their lawn for fear of refusal. Candidates for office are maligned. Office holders are besmirched.
I'm not a long time resident, but here long enough to believe there has been a significant shift in attitudes.
Is it politics, republicans used to be in the majority of registered voters. Now democrats ate.
Is it economics, an aging population? I don't have an answer.
4:28 it may be that MTL was always like this, but now the Internet and the blogs has pulled back the curtain.
For those of you who are new to the community let me assure you that as a long time resident (beginning in 1976) Mt Lebanon was never like this.
Mt Lebanon used to be a shining star that other communities came to visit, study and emulate.
Things changed.
Why did things change? No accountability. Everything was a big fat joke to the people who worked here. Lazy municipal employees, impotent school district administrators, incompetent teachers became the norm. Everything was justified.
Soon, the community really hit bottom as RINO's and BIG UNION DEMOCRATS took over to squeeze every drop of taxpayer blood out of our veins! When municipal and school district employees in particular departed they sneered, laughed and shit all over our community on their way down the road!
... and here we are.
To add to Mr. Kendrick's observations (I arrived in 1975), the population has shifted from one made up of a lot of private-sector, corporate executive types and entrepreneurs to a "progressive" population made up of a lot of public-sector executives and civil servants. Some of these people have no problem telling you that they are socialists at their core, but prefer to align themselves with an established political party. And that's not just an opinion - that comes from some of those very people who happen to live on my street.
Yep Richard, snug in their beds with visions of 80%. pensions, government provided healthcare everyday is Christmas.
Richard is correct and the result is that we have balkanized what was once a great and unified community.
So Richard, John how do we turn this around?
Waiting for the RINOS to rediscover their principals isn't going to happen. Plus the County and national RC don't give a hoot about MTL.
We can't change the world but we can change our little corner of it.
Any suggestions where to start?
The November 10, 2012 11:10 AM poster asks what can be done to counter the "government is awesome" trend in Mt. Lebanon (my quote, not his). I addressed this concern, somewhat, over on BLOG-LEBO in a letter to the editor entitled "Your Vote Counts - in the 2013 Election."
I'm sure if you asked 100 disenchanted Mt. Lebanon residents what is wanting in "Club Lebo" you would get 100 different answers. As a Libertarian I espouse certain free-market ideas that might not sit well with some of those 100 people - but the free exchange of ideas must be joined.
At the moment I think it will take a financial catastrophe at the local (and state) level to shake up the polity and get their attention before any meaningful change will occur. In the meantime, as I suggested over on BLOG-LEBO, I think some relatively young, independent candidates seeking local offices would do this community a world of good. They might not win on the first go, but the voting public deserves choice, not an electoral coronation.
You'll find in casual conversations with Mt Lebanon residents that absolutely nobody complains about the fire department, very few complain about the police, most men think that the public works employees are lazy; but mention the school district and everyone goes off like seltzer in water!
I've examined the organizational structure of the school district. The best approach is to impose an immediate 25% school district real estate tax cut and to redirect any revenue from the school district EIT to the municipality. I would continue the school district property tax reductions with an additional 10% reduction in the second and third years that follow the 25% reduction in the first year. Years four and five would have an additional school district property tax cut of 5% per year.
All money redirected from the school district EIT to the municipality would be directed in this order of priority: (1) funding the police department with any additional equipment or staff that are required; (2) public works infrastructure projects (storm water management projects, road repair and sidewalk restoration). I personally would like to see a sidewalk in front of every house in the community.
We need to create a sense of urgency for the school district to act. Cutting off thier funding and putting them in a fiscal crisis will force them to eliminate useless programs, employ technology in operations and instruction (automation/service delivery), increase the class sizes, cut staff, etc.
If the school district can't figure out how to restructure, then we simply let it go broke. I'm confident that it won't get to that point because the level of waste is so horrific.
We need to create an environment where residents want to invest in their homes. We need to enact policies that will encourage investment throughout the community. I've proposed replacing homes with lower assessed values with new homes and abating those taxes for five years. It's one idea, but there are others.
People will invest if we create an environment where everyone will benefit. As Reagan said, "Government is the problem, not the solution."
'At the moment I think it will take a financial catastrophe at the local (and state) level to shake up the polity and get their attention before any meaningful change will occur. In the meantime, as I suggested over on BLOG-LEBO, I think some relatively young, independent candidates seeking local offices would do this community a world of good. They might not win on the first go, but the voting public deserves choice, not an electoral coronation.'
November 10, 2012 12:33 PM
I agree Richard, we had some relatively young and some independent candidates and even managed to get a couple elected to office. But its not hard to tell what transpired. But even with all that only about 30% of registered voters showed up for the last crucial director and commissioner election.
I'm wondering if we need a LOCAL citizens party that concerns itself with nothing more than local issues to get things started.
Too bad we don't have a proposition system like CA.
3:12 doesn't California have some of the highest taxes in the country?
Regardless here in PA we have the infamous Taj Mahal Act 34 which is suppose to restrain school district spending.
But as any attendee to one of James Fraasch's audit & finance meetings can attest to is that Jan Klein is well versed in all the loopholes, exemptions and workarounds that make it meaningless.
3:12, CA passed Prop 13 we could do the same. We wouldn't have to if certain elected officials would get off of their fat asses and pass the pending legislation that would freeze assessments.
You have a point.
As for what can be done right now, please continue to inform everyone what is happening. The day of reckoning for the enormous heap of debt is coming soon.
Everyone will remember what they are reading today when they get the bill.
Then you will have your opportunity to chance the direction of the community.
Correction: "Then you will have your opportunity to change the direction of the community."
Those receiving a check from Mr O'Bama should not get too comfortable. The checks will stop coming sooner than everyone thinks - and there is nothing that the president or anyone else will be able to do about it.
Maybe Mitt is glad that he lost? It's going to be a real mess!
"The power of the government over its people resides in its war powers."
Col. L. Fletcher Prouty, Chief of Special Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President John F. Kennedy.
Regarding John Kendrick's post at 10:01:
It started with a petition requesting moderate and not exorbitant spending on the high school renovation. My effort, along with that of other like-minded residents, garnered 4,000 signatures which were ultimately ignored by our elected Board of School Directors. They became angry that others would try and interfere with their high school plan plan because their minds were made up.
My effort to organize a town hall with Matt Kluck and others to inform the community about our financial cliff was bitterly protested by others who were in support of the exorbitant pro-high school spending. They were afraid that our reality check would interfere with their debt and spending scheme. Who paid attention?
I then helped a fiscally conservative candidate run for school board. My role as campaign treasurer was scrutinized by School Board President Josephine Posti in a letter that she sent to the Allegheny County Board of Elections, complaining and copying various solicitors that my listed expense to the "Postmaster" was remiss in that the expense description did not contain the word "stamps". According to her, that was the important issue at hand. She sent this "for the Board".
Then there were subsequent personal attacks on me and my family when I became a write-in candidate for school board in the last election. These attacks were illegal and also were compiled by cowards who, I was told, are currently on the school board. The PTA, sports lobby and others circulated this political pandering as a vehicle to protect their selfish self-interest. I have the e-mails and the distribution lists.
Mt. Lebanon is fiscally doomed given that the horse has left the barn. The tax and spend liberals have had their way. Give it up John, you and everyone else will have to either pony up or get out fast. The community has remained asleep and it's too late.
-Charlotte Stephenson
-Charlotte Stephenson
Charlotte, the people that you are referring to are laughing at us because they are all in power, both on the commission and on the school board. They get elected and re-elected. They read this blog and make anonymous comments, some that I publish and most that I don't. It is bad enough that they are in control, but they like to rub our noses in it.
As you know, I grew up in Mt. Lebanon and I can tell you, as others will agree, it was never this bad.
To paraphrase what JFK (a Democrat) said, "Ask not what your [community] can do for you, ask what you can do for your [community]." It is tragic what we have become.
Elaine
Let's take of the simple things first. Alcohol consumption should be fairly easy as evidence by a recent incident.
The MTLPD should start monitoring athletic events at fields and immediately arrest ANYONE drinking. Alcohol consumption is illegal in our parks. Then their names should be published in the paper.
After all what is good for the goose, is good for the gander.
1:52, Great idea.
Maybe the police can handcuff those who drink alcohol in our parks and lead them away in chains. Right Lt. Auth?
No, no, no. It's not the police dept that's the dog here in my opinion.
The issue is how a minor incident that should have gone by unnoticed found it's way to major media.
This is a community that can't publish the names of scofflaws that ignore multiple parking fines, but makes much ado about nothing.
The lesson was don't buck the status quo.
Don't buck the teachers union, the police union, or the newspaper union. They all want those government goodies.
7:58 Exactly, how odd it was that the story you referred to that should have gone unnoticed was listed as "Breaking News". Once it worked its way down the stack of the online PG front page, it suddenly bumped back up to the top again. Don't you wonder.....
What's more suspicious-- how does an event that happened early on the 28th become "Breaking News" on the 31st?
http://teachersunionexposed.com/blocking.cfm
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