Ohio voters rejoice! No longer are Republicans and Democrats fighting each other over the future of the state; now Republicans are simplifying the equation by fighting among themselves. Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and House Speaker Larry Householder have been engaged in a small spat for some time now, and things are starting to get out of hand. The situation has escalated to a 109-page report that has been made public. The report, written by Householder's staff, proposed a plan to destroy Blackwell's political career. In response to this report, Blackwell has hired lawyers to review it and to determine whether the plan proposed illegal activity. If such illegal activities were encouraged, Blackwell says he will turn the findings over to the proper authorities. It is good to know that these elected officials are more willing to pursue their own agendas instead of working together to find solutions to the problems facing the state.
Blackwell and Householder are too busy fighting with each other to realize - or care - that they are failing the citizens of Ohio. A political office comes with responsibilities, and it is not just a stepping-stone to a higher one. Rather than taking shots at each other or plotting the demise of their opposition, they should be working to fix problems within the state. Yet Blackwell and Householder are more concerned with getting an early jump on the governor's race in 2006.
The condition of Ohio is far from perfect. Unemployment is high, the budget is in crisis and our elected officials are preoccupied with personal vendettas. It will be hard enough for politicians to turn the state around, let alone to do it with members of the majority party battling with one another. Situations like this are major reasons for why so many people in this country are apathetic or view politics with cynicism. Campaigning is a necessary part of the political system, but these two men have committed a false start. Blackwell and Householder need to spend more time improving Ohio's situation, and put their personal feelings aside. It is doubtful that these men will ever be close friends, but they need to find a way to coexist. Voters should not stand for this childish nonsense any longer. If Blackwell and Householder continue their personal warfare, it would be fitting for Ohio voters to deliver the knockout punch by not electing either of them again.
The cost of the future
Now more than ever, Internet access is an important part of the public's everyday lives. With just a few clicks, people around the country can access all types of information from the comforts of their own homes. In keeping with the high-tech trends, the Bush administration is seeking to permanently ban taxes on high-speed Internet access and also is pushing for the computerization of all patient health care records. The administration hopes that all homes in the United States will have access to broadband capabilities within seven years. While this goal is admirable, Bush needs to rethink how it can be achieved. Taxation is the most fiscally responsible way to pursue this goal. If access to such technology is tax-free, the government will miss out on revenue to pay for it. Taxes would allow the government to avoid subsidizing technology companies to increase the broadband capacity. Otherwise, the combination of no incoming revenue and expenditures to keep high-tech companies in the black would put unbelievable strain on the country's budget and likely add to the national deficit.
In addition to the plans for broadband, the administration also is pushing for patients' health care records to be computerized within 10 years. Bush has said that the federal government wants to set the standards for computerization by the year's end. The administration needs to proceed cautiously, making sure the new plans do not violate laws set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. HIPAA outlined regulations for the transfer of medical records electronically to protect patients and their confidentiality. If confidentiality will be infringed upon in any way, the plans need to be reworked. By proposing these objectives, the Bush administration is committed to the project's development. Because it is an election year, it would be easy to label these new initiatives as nothing more than political moves. However, the administration should be given the benefit of the doubt, and these new ideas should be embraced. Only time - and the November election - will show the American public if Bush is serious about these reforms.
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