Showing posts with label Most Sensitive Man in Bexley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Most Sensitive Man in Bexley. Show all posts

Friday, October 22, 2010

ACCENTUATE the Positive by the Most Sensitive Man in Bexley.

Accentuate the Positive by the Most Sensitive Man in Bexley, Simon Doer

The 1944 election year pitted Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt against Republican Thomas Dewey in the campaign for President. While accusing Republicans of fraud in their attempts to claim credit for social gains of the New Deal, he also ridiculed Republican claims that his administration was corrupt and wasteful with tax money. He pointedly challenged a claim that he sent a US Navy ship to pick up his dog Fala, a terrier, in Alaska, noting that "Fala was furious" at the rumor. Meanwhile Dewey accused Roosevelt of being "indispensable" to corrupt big city Democratic organizations and American Communists. During that same year Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics to Accentuate the Positive, a song with the refrain:

“You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between”
Those earlier lyrics may still hold guidance for election campaigns during 2010.

As you consider those lyrics from an earlier time, are you frustrated by what appears to be a current election campaign dominated by negative information about opponents rather than positive information promoting what each candidate would bring to the office they seek?

When I look for campaign literature or information accentuating candidates’ positive qualities, experience and strategies candidates propose to bring to the issues impacting the offices to which they seek to be elected this year, I find the mail, television, radio and internet bring a proliferation of negative information on the opposing candidates. Bad hair day or expression photos of the opposing candidates that even driver license or school photo providers would discard are usually the norm on these flyers and advertisements.

Many of the pieces opposing particular candidates hide behind broadly labeled groups or parties with no attribution to the candidates contesting the election.

Does what appears to be a trend to negatively focus on the opposing candidate run afoul of common sense and long standing marketing and public relations tactics? The show business cliché is that “It doesn't matter what they say as long as they spell your name right." Plus what happened to the political maxim “never give a political opponent free publicity?” That maxim has been used effectively by political frontrunners to ignore their opponents, never referring to them by name, but perhaps by political party alone, to avoid giving the opponent free exposure.

When so much negativism is awash in the political media do voters connect it to particular candidates? Ohio voters have a history of electing certain surnames, sometimes regardless of political party or political stances, based on the political familiarity of names (Brown, for example). Perhaps this is a jaundiced view, however, particularly when it comes to lesser known political races voters may make their entries on the ballot based on “I’ve heard that name,” likely not connecting a positive or negative association (and conversely “I haven’t heard anything about the other candidate or candidates.”)

There are many scholarly research articles on the effectiveness of negative political attacks on opposing candidates. Some of these studies, available through an internet search, make fascinating reading addressing the impact analysis of negative political advertisements. Sadly the results suggest that negative campaign approaches can be effective with certain targeted groups of voters.

Perhaps the question we should ask the issuers of negative campaign materials and the candidates that stand behind them who state, “I have approved this message,” is despite whether or not the materials are effective, are they ethical? Do they reflect an effort to bring to light a very real concern or are they simply presenting a litany of opponent’s quotes through cleverly crafted catchphrases to place their opponent in a bad light?

So, tell us as voters what you bring to the office, not what your opponent fails to offer.

That is one sensitive man’s opinion. What is yours?

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Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2010. All rights reserved. MSMIB Most Sensitive Man in Bexley.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

MSMIB asks questions about county auditor and Bexley real estate taxes.

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FALSE LOGIC: NO FRANKLIN COUNTY-BEXLEY TAX DOWNTURN IN HOUSING.

By the most sensitive man in Bexley, Simon Doer

So the housing market is slow or stalled, home prices are down.

Logic would assume that with home values down, based on our firm American foundation of the relationship between taxation and representation, responsive government officials would quickly respond to adjust comparable tax assessments.

Yet in a contrary fashion the Franklin County Auditor’s Office decided simply not to increase house values for 2009, but in a “catch 22” after the fact proposition, was poised to assess any homeowners who recently upgraded their homes, even if the upgrade was simply to maintain market value in the declining market.

If a Bexley resident remodeled a kitchen, bathroom, basement or improved outdoor landscaping and a permit for the work was filed with the City of Bexley, the tax man awaits a return from that expense and labor in 2009.

In an August 6, 2008 news release the Franklin County Auditor Joseph W. Testa advised residents that:

“Residential values will remain unchanged through the next three years.”

“In a first for Franklin County , Testa has ordered no increase in residential values for the 2008 appraisal update. Unless homeowners improve their property or voters pass new tax levies, there will not be an increase in residential real estate taxes payable in 2009, 2010 and 2011.”


Question: Does remodeling always constitute “property improvement” that consistently results in an increased market value of a house from that previously recorded by the Franklin County Auditor?

This sensitive resident checked several neighborhoods and the assessment process. The Franklin County Auditor made a decision, which this resident contends appears to be based on false logic, that while it would not increase tax assessments for 2009 across the board for all residents, it would assess those residents who recently performed permit “improvement” work on their houses.

In one example a neighbor finished a basement and significantly upgraded a kitchen in 2006 without affecting their tax valuation, yet when a next door neighbor performed similar lesser value updates two years later the Franklin County Auditor’s Office revalued that neighbor’s home value using the current “property improvement” guidelines. So although the adjacent neighbor’s updates were simply keeping with adjoining homeowners’ properties the more recent updates resulted in a market value thousands of dollars above the higher end house next door.

Where is the equity and fairness by the Auditor’s Office selecting recent permit work while ignoring earlier updates?

The false logic is that remodeling always increases the value of the homes and that those residences should be singled out as being subject to an increase in the tax assessment. It does not account for remodeling that simply maintains the previously determined value of the house.

Residents intent on merely keeping their home value in line with competing houses in the neighborhood may have remodeled their kitchen, basement or a bathroom during 2007 or 2008. Unfortunately those residents now targeted by the Franklin County Auditor’s Office for an increased market value based on the permit value that was filed with the City of Bexley. So, if your neighbor remodeled their kitchen in 2006 and you simply remodeled to keep pace in 2007 or 2008, you, not your neighbor will experience an increase in Franklin County and resulting Bexley City and school property taxes.

The failed logic is that every remodeling activity results in an equal increase in market value. Houses that are not maintained and remodeled periodically should tend to decline in market value in comparison to neighboring properties. Even if we board up our homes and fail to upgrade them market value continues to keep pace according the Franklin County Auditors.

Is there any evidence that the Franklin County Auditor’s Office reduces the market value of houses that do not keep pace with the value of neighboring homes?

Assume side-by-side Bexley neighbors each with a house of equal market value. If the middle house never remodels during a twenty year period that house’s tax value will still keep pace with neighboring upgraded houses even without remodeling efforts as long as none of the homeowners make additions to their homes. Now adopting the false logic of the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, if the middle house remodeled a kitchen or bathroom during the past year or finished a basement or outdoor landscape two years after the neighbors made those decisions, the middle house will be tax assessed above the value of the neighbors’ houses.

Let’s test the logic theory…. If we boarded up our front windows (as one neighbor did while waiting for new replacement windows) the Most Sensitive Man In Bexley thinks that the value of the house is reduced, but the MSMIB also thinks that the Franklin County Auditor’s Office will not voluntarily reflect a decline in value in the tax assessment process.

That is one sensitive man’s opinion. What is yours?

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. The styles MSMIB and Most Sensitive Man In Bexley are the property of Bexley Public Radio Foundation.

Friday, November 7, 2008

MSMIB commentary. Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

This commentary is by the most sensitive man in Bexley, Simon Doer. The actual identity of the commentator is not disclosed.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs.

Yes signs. Neither crop circles nor close encounters of the third kind. But political yard signs as well as many telephone calls, television, newspaper and internet ads, and ongoing political conversations. Rather political conversations going on and on.

It has been the political campaign season once again; this time the quadrennial Presidential election contributing its own set of audible and visual voter consequences.

Bexley, the city of trees, is awash in color, not only in the changing leaves of the fall season, but with the vast (or half vast) variety of national and local political yard signs, brown for Brown, for example, and patriotic red, white and blue for McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden.

This sensitive man ponders whether presidential yard signs really have the same impact that signs promoting local candidates have in helping voters to make their decision at the polls.

Well do they?? Are presidential yard signs really going to influence the vote? Do voters look at the neighbors and the volume of presidential yard signs as a criterion to make their presidential decision as opposed to decisions in judicial or other local races?

Presidential signs may simply be a "Statement!" The yard signs may also be an informal support group.

As we all likely noticed, yard signs and vehicle stickers (both bumper and window cling) have become the dramatic statement that political campaign buttons previously were to the wearer. While some of us collect the buttons few appear to wear them in the same constant display that yard signs and posted vehicle stickers enjoy. The signs and stickers have become a statement in what has increasingly become an anonymous world. We still see George W and Kerry (and even Gore and Edwards) vehicle stickers on prominent display. Neighbors who have no other contact with each other connect or disagree politically through their yard signs.

Interestingly as I travel the streets of Bexley it is surprising how many times neighbors tout the same candidate for president and how often whole blocks appear to agree or disagree on a presidential choice with a lone holdout occasionally in evidence. All without apparent violence (well perhaps a few stolen yard signs on politically hardened streets such as Parkview, but still rather tame).

This voting exercise in democracy inspired this sensitive man to vote early (but not often, which would be wrong) and he or she (gender being truly sensitive) was impressed with the diverse sea of voters, each with their individual commitment to vote, at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial as they stood in line for over an hour and a half (many more voters exercising their democratic right stood in line for four hours h or more) to cast their hand completed ballots for the 2000 election.

We often see voters in other lands (those with skies as blue or red as ours) standing in long lines and may marvel at their commitment, while we take our own for granted. We should rejoice that our field of candidates for 2008 has engendered citizens to respond by going to the polls.

It may well be an historic voter turnout as forecast by some or as an historic election as promoted by others.

On election day the atmosphere at voting precincts appears to vary by the personalities of the voting officials. While some are jovial and permissive in enforcing election rules such as electioneering voting distance from the polling place, others more strictly interpret the distance, insisting that electioneering be held on the other side of the street when the sidewalk on the polling place side of the street is a foot or two within the 100 feet rule.

This is a closely watched election and observers are out in full force. This sensitive man enlisted the observations of other voters on election day and they filed the following reports suggesting that these voters experienced an easy and efficient voting process with small lines and courteous and younger than usual poll workers.

Here are the observations of the first voter reporting to the MSMIB.

“Report on voting experience at Precinct 4A and 4E polling place at the Capital University student union.

Tuesday November 4, parking is abundantly available. There are Obama campaign workers at one parking lot entrance. No McCain workers.

My first impression based on the parking availability is that turnout is light.

I arrive at the student union at 9:10. A nice feature is that near the entrance to the student union, there is a cart selling coffee and juices to voters.

Quick count of eighteen voters and ten to fourteen poll workers. A few poll workers are mobile, going in and out of the room where the voting machines are.

Ten electronic voting machines. All are being used.

There are four lines where you identify yourself and get the little ticket for authority to vote. The longest line had five voters.

Three minutes in line, one minute to identify myself with a driver license and sign the register. I even develop a connection with a poll worker.

The poll workers are younger than usual. One third, about four, maybe five are less than twenty-five years old. One appears to be about eighteen. Poll workers, some seniors from prior years, are not present.

After receiving my authority to vote ticket and standing in two lines, my wait is still only four minutes.

The voting machines are the electronic machines from the primary. The ballot is long but I’m still behind the machine for only three minutes.

The machine is easy to use.

Easy to review your votes.

Easy to correct a mistake.

I confirm my votes on the ballot and then hit the vote button.

I leave with only eleven minutes elapsed time.

A poll worker gives me a “I voted today” sticker.

At the edge of campus near where I parked, there are two Issue 5 (payday lending) opponents encouraging people to vote.”

One voter sought a sticker explaining she teaches “new citizens” and it is important to show them that she had voted.

MSMIB comment:The “I Voted Today” stickers appear to be popular bling rewards for voting. Some have suggested they are like receiving a Cracker Jack prize. Do some citizens vote to receive the stickers?

In another report filed by a second voter for this commnetary, the voter made the effort to travel by bus from college, indicating that:

“There were only two other people voting at the time with half a dozen poll works and that the precinct was not busy at all.

The voter observed that the height and angle of voting machines were not comfortable for voters over six feet in height.

Identification process easy. Driver license.

Outside, no campaign workers in evidence. No one approached the voter.”

So, another election year shall pass and we will return to some balance of political order no matter the outcome. Yet although the yard signs and ads will quickly disappear the political conversations will surely continue the day after, with congratulations or complaints. Can you participate in those conversations.. …..Can’t you read the signs? Did you vote?

This is one sensitive man’s opinion. What’s yours?

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. The styles "The Most Sensitive Man in Bexley" and "MSMIB" are the property of Bexley Public Radio Foundation.