Political propaganda and a great history lesson
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
An Ohio state agency had a very slow day today, or so it seems.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation – for obviously political reasons – widely distributed a "news release" from media contacts Dan Tierney and Breann Almos.
The essence of this so-called "news release" was nothing more than political propaganda in support of their boss, namely Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, from Yellow Springs way. (Read into that what you will.)
The state email – at taxpayers' expense, of course – began: "Please share this latest information from the office of Gov. DeWine with your stakeholders as appropriate."
The state's public relations flack included this headline: "Praise for Governor DeWine's Responsible RestartOhio Plan."
It was followed by the lede graph: "Business organizations across Ohio praised Governor DeWine's Responsible RestartOhio plan, which will restart Ohio's economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."
What followed was little more than an unpaid political advertisement for the governor, which included the usual suspects for his everlasting praise. I responded as most of our readers would expect.
All and sundry of the 15 or so notable-quotables had high praise for DeWine, as was the obvious intent of this taxpayer-funded release.
After reading through it a time or two, I couldn't help but notice there weren't any references to the locally owned small businesses across Ohio. All of the governor's "endorsements" were either from politicians, corporations, associations or leagues (not the sports types).
In other words, the small, "mom-and-pop" businesses get the hind teat once again.
While DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Dr. Amy Acton enjoyed yet another day of free political publicity across Ohio, House Speaker Larry Householder had the audacity to address the frustration of many House members and small business owners and their employees.
Householder, a Glenford Republican, issued the following statement this week: “There is a tremendous amount of frustration from the majority of members in the Ohio House regarding the administration’s unwillingness to recognize that small businesses that have much less daily traffic in their stores are closed while their large chain competitors have been open throughout the process. As long as small retailers continue to be shut down while national chains are allowed to remain open, government is assisting in the demise of many great small businesses."
I've been critical of Householder in years past, but I agree with him on this. As an owner of a small business, I get the reality of our plight – not only due to the COVID-19 panic (er, pandemic), but also because of taxpayer-funded politicians' response thereto.
State Rep. Paul Zeltwanger released a plan to Ohio responsibly.
A full version of the document can be found at https://www.dropbox.com/s/y39p59cse45s05f/Open%20Ohio%20Responsibly%20Framework%204.27.2020-0916.pdf?dl=0.
Zeltwanger said "We have over 30 state representatives who have signed on to this plan, and we are asking any elected leaders and any Ohio citizens who agree with this framework to join in by affirming their support. 90th House District Rep. Brian Baldridge, R-Winchester, has signed on in support of the proposal. 91st House District Rep. Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro, has not.
Wilkin has yet to respond to questions about the plan or about Speaker Householder's reaction to DeWine. To see which state representatives support the plan, go to https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftorje95msawvip/Open%20Ohio%20Responsibly%20Framework%20Signers.docx?dl=0
Today, a local public official asked me this question: "Would I be considered a lunatic if I opened all businesses, including restaurants and bars?
"I raised my right hand to uphold the Constitution of the State of Ohio, not adhere to an order from the Health Department."
I sent the public official my honest and sincere reply, which ended "watch your back."
The state administrators are in a no-lose position. If the virus does not spread, they will have saved us. If it does spread, they will say "We told you so."
Mask up. Stay 20 feet apart. No handshakes. Tell your spouse "see you in 2025 or thereabouts."
* * *
On a brighter note, with all the state-mandated, stay-at-home orders in place, please indulge me as I share this brief high school video assignment from niece and goddaughter, Claudia Fuller, of Washington Court House.
Claudia is a freshman at Washington City Schools. One of her high school teachers is Ryan Sheets.
It is my guess – and it is only a guess – that Mr. Sheets teaches either history or high school humor. (Note the alliteration.)
Miss Claudia (an Ohio State Fair 4-H champion, by the way) produced, narrated, starred in and submitted a wonderfully humorous video of her take on the Spanish-American War, a war between Spain and the United States in the Caribbean and the Philippines in 1898. She dedicated it to Mr. Sheets. Lord knows, I hope he has a sense of humor. If not, I have a good lawyer.
For a brief background, as Tom Tepe (my good lawyer) recalls, Spanish atrocities in Cuba and the destruction of the warship Maine in Santiago harbor aroused American public opinion as the U.S. declared war and later invaded Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, all of which Spain gave up by the Treaty of Paris in 1898.
I would encourage our friends and readers (and Gov. DeWine!) to take a break from COVID-19 and watch this humorous history lesson at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnPHkpqHkYA.
Kathryn Hapner and I are understandably proud of our bright and imaginative goddaughter.
Well done, Claudia. We'll talk about your usage of The HCP at a later date.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation – for obviously political reasons – widely distributed a "news release" from media contacts Dan Tierney and Breann Almos.
The essence of this so-called "news release" was nothing more than political propaganda in support of their boss, namely Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, from Yellow Springs way. (Read into that what you will.)
The state email – at taxpayers' expense, of course – began: "Please share this latest information from the office of Gov. DeWine with your stakeholders as appropriate."
The state's public relations flack included this headline: "Praise for Governor DeWine's Responsible RestartOhio Plan."
It was followed by the lede graph: "Business organizations across Ohio praised Governor DeWine's Responsible RestartOhio plan, which will restart Ohio's economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."
What followed was little more than an unpaid political advertisement for the governor, which included the usual suspects for his everlasting praise. I responded as most of our readers would expect.
All and sundry of the 15 or so notable-quotables had high praise for DeWine, as was the obvious intent of this taxpayer-funded release.
After reading through it a time or two, I couldn't help but notice there weren't any references to the locally owned small businesses across Ohio. All of the governor's "endorsements" were either from politicians, corporations, associations or leagues (not the sports types).
In other words, the small, "mom-and-pop" businesses get the hind teat once again.
While DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Dr. Amy Acton enjoyed yet another day of free political publicity across Ohio, House Speaker Larry Householder had the audacity to address the frustration of many House members and small business owners and their employees.
Householder, a Glenford Republican, issued the following statement this week: “There is a tremendous amount of frustration from the majority of members in the Ohio House regarding the administration’s unwillingness to recognize that small businesses that have much less daily traffic in their stores are closed while their large chain competitors have been open throughout the process. As long as small retailers continue to be shut down while national chains are allowed to remain open, government is assisting in the demise of many great small businesses."
I've been critical of Householder in years past, but I agree with him on this. As an owner of a small business, I get the reality of our plight – not only due to the COVID-19 panic (er, pandemic), but also because of taxpayer-funded politicians' response thereto.
State Rep. Paul Zeltwanger released a plan to Ohio responsibly.
A full version of the document can be found at https://www.dropbox.com/s/y39p59cse45s05f/Open%20Ohio%20Responsibly%20Framework%204.27.2020-0916.pdf?dl=0.
Zeltwanger said "We have over 30 state representatives who have signed on to this plan, and we are asking any elected leaders and any Ohio citizens who agree with this framework to join in by affirming their support. 90th House District Rep. Brian Baldridge, R-Winchester, has signed on in support of the proposal. 91st House District Rep. Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro, has not.
Wilkin has yet to respond to questions about the plan or about Speaker Householder's reaction to DeWine. To see which state representatives support the plan, go to https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftorje95msawvip/Open%20Ohio%20Responsibly%20Framework%20Signers.docx?dl=0
Today, a local public official asked me this question: "Would I be considered a lunatic if I opened all businesses, including restaurants and bars?
"I raised my right hand to uphold the Constitution of the State of Ohio, not adhere to an order from the Health Department."
I sent the public official my honest and sincere reply, which ended "watch your back."
The state administrators are in a no-lose position. If the virus does not spread, they will have saved us. If it does spread, they will say "We told you so."
Mask up. Stay 20 feet apart. No handshakes. Tell your spouse "see you in 2025 or thereabouts."
* * *
On a brighter note, with all the state-mandated, stay-at-home orders in place, please indulge me as I share this brief high school video assignment from niece and goddaughter, Claudia Fuller, of Washington Court House.
Claudia is a freshman at Washington City Schools. One of her high school teachers is Ryan Sheets.
It is my guess – and it is only a guess – that Mr. Sheets teaches either history or high school humor. (Note the alliteration.)
Miss Claudia (an Ohio State Fair 4-H champion, by the way) produced, narrated, starred in and submitted a wonderfully humorous video of her take on the Spanish-American War, a war between Spain and the United States in the Caribbean and the Philippines in 1898. She dedicated it to Mr. Sheets. Lord knows, I hope he has a sense of humor. If not, I have a good lawyer.
For a brief background, as Tom Tepe (my good lawyer) recalls, Spanish atrocities in Cuba and the destruction of the warship Maine in Santiago harbor aroused American public opinion as the U.S. declared war and later invaded Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, all of which Spain gave up by the Treaty of Paris in 1898.
I would encourage our friends and readers (and Gov. DeWine!) to take a break from COVID-19 and watch this humorous history lesson at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnPHkpqHkYA.
Kathryn Hapner and I are understandably proud of our bright and imaginative goddaughter.
Well done, Claudia. We'll talk about your usage of The HCP at a later date.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.