OHIO voters, please read.

[Osborn F Enready]

On November 8, Ohioans will be asked to vote on a staggering
array of issues. Most of the attention has focused on the five state issues,
but there will be 2074 local issues including: 36 bond issues, 1,076 tax issues, 557 local option questions, 101 tax changes, 183 charter changes 65 zoning amendments, among others.

"The Libertarian Party of Ohio urges Ohioans to vote "No" on the
five state issues. These issues collectively represent nothing but an
increase in the size and scope of government without solving Ohio's problems,"
declares State Chair Jason Hallmark, "We have good cause to believe that these
issues will actually make Ohio's problems worse." Our reasons are listed
below.

Unfortunately, the Libertarian Party of Ohio does not have the
resources to investigate all 2074 local issues. But we encourage you, the Ohio
Voter, to say "NO" to increasing taxes, increasing debt, and increasing the
size of your local government. Remember, the road to bad government is paved
with good intentions.

Consider these two questions before you vote on November 8th:

Does increasing government truly solve the problems in your area?
Or is government actually the problem, not the solution?

Issue One:

Summary: Issue One is a spending package proposed by Republican
Governor Bob Taft to attract high technology business to Ohio. The money will be
used to improve infrastructure deemed necessary to attract such business,
increase spending for research at state universities, and provide financial
incentives for companies moving to Ohio.

Libertarian Reaction:

The Libertarian Party of Ohio urges voters to reject this amendment to
the Ohio Constitution for the following reasons: The purpose of our state
government is to create a friendly economic climate for all Ohioans by
keeping taxes as low as possible, protecting our rights and property, and
maintaining the rule of law in our court system. This amendment would grant special
favor to businesses selected by Ohio's politicians and the rest of Ohio would
be forced to help pay for those favors. This will only encourage the
majority of business owners to continue moving their production to other states
with the end result of fewer jobs for Ohioans.

Issue Two:

Summary: Issue Two proposes that all voters should be able to vote by
mail with an absentee ballot for any reason. Currently, voters must show
some cause as to why they are unable to vote in person. It has been proposed by
Reform Ohio Now, a group sponsored by Democrats from Washington DC.

Libertarian Reaction: While increasing Ohioan's ability to vote is an
admirable goal, the Libertarian Party of Ohio recognizes this issue as
an effort to relax the rules that protect us from voter fraud. The
adoption of this amendment is likely to lead to a significant increase in cases of
fraudulent voting in Ohio, as experienced in other states that have
adopted similar proposals. The proposed amendment does not contain a reliable
method to protect the integrity of votes cast early, nor does it provide
adequate safeguards to ensure that only eligible and qualified voters would be
able to use these procedures.

Secondly, this amendment is not necessary because Ohio law already
contains generous absentee voting provisions. Currently, any Ohio voter with a
legitimate reason for being absent on Election Day can obtain an
absentee ballot. In fact, there are 16 reasons that allow absentee voting under
current Ohio law, including: military service; health and physical disability
issues; work related issues; being age 62 or older; or, simply that the voter
expects to be absent from the county on Election Day for personal reasons.

Issue Three:

Summary: Issue Three proposes to severely limit campaign contributions
made by individuals, yet allows unlimited "bundled" contributions from
organized labor. This issue was proposed by Reform Ohio Now, a group sponsored by
Democrats from Washington DC.

Libertarian Reaction: Limits on political contributions violate
citizens' rights under the US and Ohio Constitutions to free speech, peaceable
assembly, and petition the government. That is why, in fact, an amendment must be
made to effect this new rule. Besides the philosophical implications, it has
been demonstrated repeatedly, and most recently By Tom Noe and Gov. Bob Taft
that there are innumerable methods to circumvent the intent of these
restrictions. Creating more campaign finance limits only discourages honest people
from running for public office. Dishonest politicians love to create more
campaign finance laws because these laws increase their power over honest
politicians.

Secondly, by providing exemptions for labor unions, this amendment
shows its true colors as a benefit for Democrats at the expense of others.

Issue Four:

Summary: Issue Four proposes to increase the number of "competitive"
legislative districts by removing the legislature's ability to create
districts and granting this authority to a new commission appointed by
two sitting judges. This issue was proposed by Reform Ohio Now, a group
sponsored by Democrats from Washington DC.

Libertarian reaction: No one except politicians like gerrymandered
districts, and this issue will worsen the problem. There is a two-party monopoly
on political power in Ohio and this amendment is a desperate fight from
the party currently out of power to obtain more legislative seats. This proposed
amendment defines "competition" by creating districts that are 50%
known Republicans and 50% known Democrats without recognizing independents or
minor parties. This proposed amendment boldy assumes that Republicans and
Democrats own the voters and demand that these voters be divided up equally
between them.

Secondly, We believe that forcing districts to be 50% Republican and
50% Democrat will actually make gerrymandering even worse than it is today.
Democrats tried this before with the idea of "minority majority"
districts in the 1990's. They made a mockery of the system, and led to the
polarization of the electorate. Democrats have now apparently changed their minds and
prefer their own definition "competition".

Thirdly, Libertarians are generally opposed to granting more power to
appointed bureaucrats at the expense of elected officials. This amendment
would take away legislative power and grant it to an unelected and unaccountable board.

Fourthly, Libertarians know that there will be real competition only when Ohio is free to have more than two political parties.

Issue Five:

Summary: Issue Five proposes to end the Secretary of State's duties to
supervise and conduct elections and grant this authority to an appointed board composed of four members appointed by the Governor, four members appointed by the political party other than the Governor, and one non-partisan member appointed unanimous vote of the Ohio Supreme Court. This issue was proposed by Reform Ohio Now, a group sponsored by Democrats from Washington DC.

Libertarian reaction: This is yet another example of the "sour grapes" found
in these four amendments sponsored by Reform Ohio Now. It proposes to remove
power from the elected Secretary of State and grant that power to an unelected
and unaccountable appointed body of bureaucrats. History has shown that
granting power to unelected individuals has a tendency to encourage
corruption and discourage transparency. This amendment would also create a new
bureaucracy that would need additional tax dollars from the legislature to operate.

Conclusion

Ohioans are faced with five state issues this year. One of them is a pork
barrel project to increase spending and borrowing by Governor Bob Taft.
The others are desperate attempts by Democrats to wrestle for control over
Ohio while boldly presuming to own the votes of Ohio's residents. The
Libertarian Party of Ohio urges you to vote "No" on all five state issues.

For more information on the state issues, including arguments for and
against
please visit:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/Elect...tElection.aspx

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This is for all those Ohio voters out there, who still need to study up on the 5 major issues to be voted on this election.

2074 issues, that probably received about 12 minutes news time on ALL local stations combined. Ohioans need to start looking for accountability at the news stations, and then move on to accountability in local, state, federal government.

What do other fellow Ohioans think, or anyone from any state, for that matter. How long could it take to vote COMPETENTLY on 2074 issues? (keep in mind not anyone will vote on 2074 issues, this is just the overall count for all local AND state issues combined)

Be prepared Ohio. Our local news stations are about to let us DOWN again.

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready This proposed amendment defines "competition" by creating districts that are 50% known Republicans and 50% known Democrats without recognizing independents or minor parties. This proposed amendment boldy assumes that Republicans and Democrats own the voters and demand that these voters be divided up equally between them.

Actually, this sounds like a pretty good idea to me. If the district's republicans and democrats effectively cancel each other out, the minor parties could finally have some power to exercise. In a close race, the major parties might actually have to speak to the minor party issues.

[rcne]

We had discussed just what issues 1 through 5 actually were. The ads on both sides are nice - but they don't tell you anything.

Now that I know - I know how my vote will go. It almost like the sound bites - News at 11.

Just tell me what the issues are.

[RVonse]

If Ohio still has the electronic Diebold voting machines I don't think it will matter how you vote anyway.

[RVonse]

Actually Osborn, if you are concerned about these issues you should be taking them up with Wally O'Dell (CEO of Diebold). If you can get him on your side, you'll have the votes.

[Osborn F Enready]

I am going to vote.

I am going to watch.

I am going to decide.

Where the bottle stops, nobody knows......

[Osborn F Enready]

After reading through all the actual wording in the proposed amendments, I am voting no on every single one.

This is the biggest power grab I have seen in local politics in some time.

November 8th we will see how awake most of Ohio is, and how much is steered by media misrepresentation.

[rcne]

NO, is a good word. I'm voting NO on 2,3,4,5. Power grab sounds like an appropriate phrase.

[Osborn F Enready]

Thanks RCNE, and I would strongly recommend you do more research on issue 1.

In my opinion, that is one of the most important ones to see fail.

The debt that will be saddled on the youths of Ohio for years to come from issue 1 is extraordinary, unfair and unreasonable. (in my opinion of course)