John Kasich Unsettles Ohio's Beleaguered Middle Class

Mother Jones:

Erin blames the governor for her doubts now. She calls him some unsavory names.

A lot of people are doing that. A couple of weeks ago, a poll showed the approval ratings of John Kasich, the newly elected Republican governor, at 33 percent. Once upon a time Kasich was a United States congressman, before he left in 2001 to become a managing director at Lehman Brothers, where he worked until it imploded and destroyed a bunch of lives in 2008. On the side, he hosted his own show on Fox News, as well as frequently guest-hosting The O'Reilly Factor and appearing on the Sean Hannity vehicles. He took office in January, and his approval ratings have been abysmal since March, something to do, no doubt, with the release of his proposed budget for fiscal years 2012-13.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[evolved republican]

08:44 AM on 11/21/2011

How does Kasich expect to keep young people in Ohio when he so insensitively attacks the middle class, our schools, and our public workers? It has not taken long for the citizens of Ohio to recognize that he does not "get it". His most memorable act will probably be outlawing the keeping of Bengal tigers as pets.

[Okey Umez]

02:28 PM on 10/18/2011

The good governor was once asked why he never interviewed minorities for his cabinet. His response was: " I only work with the best". Well then governor, the people of the 'great state of Ohio' (dont know who coined that term), are having trouble distinguishing your best from your worst. That, folks, is who is in charge of Ohio!.

[truegreen]

07:53 PM on 10/17/2011

This type of economic injustice happens when voters vote out of anger and not commonsense. They tried to send Obama & the democrats a message and instead they punished themselves.

[WI Patriot]

05:49 PM on 10/17/2011

As FDR said:

"All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.


And the circus in Ohio (and previously in Wisconsin) is why that is so true.............


(p.s. - when FDR said collective bargaining - he meant collective bargaining - there is no way to argue otherwise for those who think he didn't mean what he said). http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=15445#axzz1b4pIkUxJ

[5041360]

05:26 PM on 10/17/2011

why wait for elections to get rid of this guy= start the recall now

why wait for elections to get rid of kasich? start the recall petitions now-push him out the door!

1

[WI Patriot]

05:41 PM on 10/17/2011

probably because there aren't many people who have the same view as you...........

[ltyler01]

12:29 AM on 10/18/2011

Tell us then what has this guy done to bring jobs here?

[Meils]

05:11 PM on 10/17/2011

Ohio is one of the most gullible states in the country... mixed with preconceived ideas and personal prejudices that are easy to stoke for personal gain. Only someone completely incompetent would think that a guy from a firm like Lehman Brothers, a company directly responsible for the economic collapse, would be someone with the "answers" to resolve the situation. One would first have to ask the question of "why was he connected to Lehman Brothers & financial deregulation ponzi schemes in the first place?" People in Ohio are not sophisticated enough to answer that question, and as a result, they are in this situation. They voted for W. & the Republican Party which created the financial deregulation that directly lead to global economic collapse, and then they doubled down in 2010 with Kasich & Co. .... they deserve all the hardship that comes their way.... it is the people who actually were responsible who deserve respect and sympathy, unlike the people of Ohio, they did not create and then exacerbate the mess that we are in-

[WI Patriot]

05:45 PM on 10/17/2011

So ....who do you feel should be running Ohio - a non-elected public union boss?

[ltyler01]

12:01 AM on 10/18/2011

They would not doubt be better qualified

[ConservativeChampion]

04:27 PM on 10/17/2011

Whoever wrote this article does not appear to be awake.

The middle class is getting squeezed throughout the country and the cause is the Democrat party.

[roger37]

04:58 PM on 10/17/2011

Yeah, right. The Democratic Party controls the to-big-to-fail banks and they're the ones refusing to loan money to get new businesses started so more jobs can be offered.

It's not the Demo's. It's humorless, tight-lipped, greedy little men like Kasich that are causing this complete breakdown of our economic system. It's just more obvious in Ohio than other parts of the country.

[WI Patriot]

05:42 PM on 10/17/2011

Actually the Public Unions own the Dems.......as the nation's largest specil interest lobby when public unions say jump dems jump.

That's what happens when you sell out.

[Okey Umez]

06:17 PM on 10/17/2011

Your micro-bio ain't exactly working out. Is it?.

[Boomer946]

03:55 PM on 10/17/2011

This story highlights very well the reason the Occupy Wall Street movement is under way. It showcases several educated, industrious Americans who have done everything right in terms of preparing for careers and then working hard to support themselves and their loved ones. Yet, at the same time, we have politicians like Kasich who have totally dismissed these folks as being of no concern or value. All efforts of these conservatives has been directed towards dismantling the benefits, the safeguards, the regulations and the opportunities these folks have depended on for years. Those poor people who have the misfortune to work in the warehouse are not treated much better than slaves. I mean getting fired for just saying something to the person working next to you is crazy! Yet Repug'icans are working feverishly to kill unions, collective bargaining and anything that might offset the inhuman behavior by companies against their workers in today's challenging economic environment. I hope the folks in Ohio successfully kill SB 5 and defeat any and all Repug'icans running for office. If they aren't successful and are fooled once again into believing Repug'ican promises can be relied on, then they should be prepared for even harsher treatment go forward!

[WI Patriot]

04:25 PM on 10/17/2011

If the volunteers who clean the little play village on wall street suddenly (and ironically) unionized for $40 per hour, with benefits or they would stop - what would you do?

[Okey Umez]

06:27 PM on 10/17/2011

Be suspicious of people who call themselves patriots. They usually have something to hide and are up to no good.

[errol44]

03:13 PM on 10/17/2011

Meanwhile, voters continue voting for republicans and against their own best interests... It's hard to feel sorry for Ohio, really.

[WI Patriot]

04:16 PM on 10/17/2011

Since when is Freedom and taking back the power of local governnce against a person' best interest, chump?

[errol44]

04:47 PM on 10/17/2011

Namecalling, huh? Very impressive. Ever try to breathe with your mouth closed?

[roger37]

05:04 PM on 10/17/2011

...and how exactly is localizing governance going to help? Greedy little businessmen are more ruthless at the local level, because they get less notoriety and can do less damage, so their actions are less constrained.

[BCS]

04:34 PM on 10/17/2011

Progressive rule eventually leads to economic collapse.

This has been demonstrated time and time again- the latest example is Greece.

Yet the Progressivism is a religion and with any religion, common sense is replaced by faith.

Progressives think they can regulate business to death and still tax them enough to support their welfare state.

Although, reasonable government regulation is desireable, the government is corrupt and sells out to the highest bidder. The only businesses that have to follow the regs are often the Mom and Pops who don't have the money to bribe the government.

That is why progressives demand a business license for a kid's lemonade stand, yet the big time crooks get away with crashing the economy.

It's not all Republicans who can be bribed, it's the Democrats too.

[errol44]

04:53 PM on 10/17/2011

That's a pretty typical Fox response... we've heard it ad nauseum... even as Republican economic policy brought our own economy down around us, the righties continue to tout pissdown economics. And your little theory flies out the window in the face of Clinton's budget surplus and the most robust economy this country's ever seen, so...

You can return to your regular Fox programming.

[Okey Umez]

06:43 PM on 10/17/2011

Why dont you apply your theory on Religion to your evangelical friends. Let's see how long it takes them to "refudiate"(sic) your argument.

[Democrat in the South]

02:51 PM on 10/17/2011

All the "liberal" pundits, writers, politicians, tried to warn voters all over the country what would happen if they elected these batch of right wing extremists that descended from the Reagan years, what would happen to the country, their cities and towns and ultimately to them. But the people fell for right wing propaganda BS and elected them any way. Right wingers convinced voters that "liberals" were the enemy and voters fell for it hook line and sinker. Now, sadly, so many who voted for republicans will have to learn the hard way, "elections have consequences". Republicans weren't kidding when they said they want Government to stay out of "YOUR" life. Republicans want Government to stay out of the lives of the middle class and poor so there can be MORE Government in the lives of the rich. What suckers voters are...

I really don't feel sorry for anyone who voted for republicans in the last 30 years. Republican politicians are giving voters what they asked for. Pain and suffering and no hope of recovery. Maybe it will be ignorant voters who decade after decade vote against themselves (by voting republican) therefore voting against their fellow citizens and neighbors who we should be willing to sacrifice to get back to a more fair, equitable and just America.

I am all for letting people "FEEL" the consequences of their elections so that maybe they will quit punishing all of America with their ignorance.

[WorkInCanada]

02:53 PM on 10/17/2011

F&F - en pointe!

[Democrat in the South]

02:59 PM on 10/17/2011

F&F back. :-)

[Lynette]

02:46 PM on 10/17/2011

Most people in Ohio are either middle class or poor, perhaps they are waking up...the middle class that Obama has been trying to help, are actually THESE people. Finally they are getting a clue....

[eva belle]

02:45 PM on 10/17/2011

Aaaaah, the incredibly shrinking middle class. The question is, how did Kasich get his grubby hands on them?

[WI Patriot]

03:57 PM on 10/17/2011

The Public Unions put them there.

[roger37]

05:08 PM on 10/17/2011

You're like those dolls they used to have that had a cord coming out of their neck, attached to a ring. You pull the ring out, and the doll uttered prerecorded, mindless phrases. The only difference is that your phrases come from the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove.

[Debbie Wathen Clute]

02:32 PM on 10/17/2011

And this could have been prevented at the ballot box back in November.

[eva belle]

02:45 PM on 10/17/2011

Well, there is next time, isn't there?

[Blue Pup in PHX]

02:27 PM on 10/17/2011

Oh poor Ohio. You've got yourselves the WORST governor in the nation, and these days that's really REALLY saying something. Just for kickers I wanted you all to know that A. Rick Scott is really ticked to lose the #1 moniker, as was Scott Walker, LePage, and Jan friggin Brewer..ticked off...

and 2, We love you all., We're with you., do NOT let up on that SCUM!

Go OHIO!!

[Gil1957]

03:08 PM on 10/17/2011

Illinois wins the contest for the worst governor. Quinn. He raises the state corporate tax, then has to bribe companies to stay in the state. It's costing the state more than if he had left everything alone and just cut spending.

[Blue Pup in PHX]

07:46 PM on 10/17/2011

I totally feel your pain Gil. Jan Brewer and her Repugnant cronies have run AZ into the dirt, killed Medicade, closed schools, parks fired police and firemen, cancelled state services, put up traffic cams on every square inch of road space in an admitted attempt to raise state revenues (tickets carry no points just massive fines) raised fines, fees and state income taxes to ridiculous new heights, people are losing jobs and homes and their future. Home values are in the toilet and yet our property taxes have more than doubled.... and she has given mega billion $$ corporations a nice fat $538 MILLION in tax cuts. I get it. It totally blows. But the reason I said Kaisch is #1 in the worst Gov category is that his approval ratings are lowest. Just 30% .. so technically he wins..

[gerald4]

02:10 PM on 10/17/2011

The Elite Government Bureaucratic state and local Union employees in Madison, Wisconsin were protesting to require that the State Government take more money from the wealth creating taxpaying businessmen, taxpaying non-government workers, and the property owners to then give that tax collected money to the Elite Government Bureaucratic Union Workers that do not create any wealth but only consume wealth in the form of more pay and benefit. What happens if the businesses leave that state to escape these additional taxes, and take their non-government jobs with them?

When the US, state, and municipal Union Bureaucratic Salaries and Benefits in the USA get to be too bloated, then riots by the US taxpayers might also occur as they are occurring in the Middle East.

In Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and Libya the wealth producing, taxpaying businessmen and the taxpaying, non-government, wealth producing workers are protesting to reduce the amount of money and oil royalties that the wealth consuming, tax supported, politically connected, family connected, non-productive, Elite Government Bureaucratic employees are taking from the government revenues to pay for the salaries of the non-producing government (politically connected) bureaucrats!

When the US, state, and municipal Union Bureaucratic Salaries in the USA get to be too much, then similar riots by the US taxpayers might also occur.

[MaeScott]

02:15 PM on 10/17/2011

Heh. Those salaries pale in comparison to the CEOs and other bigwigs in the financial markets that are bleeding us dry with a fee for this and a fee for that. That is why those folks are in the streets NOW.

Moved my money to a credit UNION.

[WorkInCanada]

02:47 PM on 10/17/2011

Wipe it, TGOPer's: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-frum/deficit-reduction-canada_b_1012487.html