Rampant Hypocrisy
There are days when I really, truly, hate Cleveland. The sort of gut-deep, cold, wasting hatred that almost makes you want to vomit. To be clear, I literally mean "Cleveland" here. Like from West 117th street out to somewhere around East 115. There are parts of Cleveland metro that I don't mind so much.
In the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention, all of the local news outlets hit the streets for "man on the street" reactions to the events, and to Obama's nomination. One theme became abundantly clear: Change. Clevelanders are apparently clamoring for it. Craving it in their souls like a drowning man craves oxygen. This city is #2 in the national poverty ranking, the city schools are sliding -- which is a statement considering that they were already on academic watch -- and the highest ranking officials in the county are under Federal investigation. Those are just the big visible chunks of this decaying iceberg.
If there's a more clear-cut need for change, I'd have a hard time thinking of it.
But lo'! This is not the sort of change Clevelanders seem to want. As they take to the streets and rally for Obama and "real change" in this world, they continue to vote for the same old politicians who actually have a measurable impact on their day-to-day lives.
For longer than the 14 years I've been in this town, it has been under a near-perfect single-party system. Cleveland city? All Democrat since 1989. Cuyahoga County? All Democrat since 1995. The same congressional representatives (until one recently died). Democratic governor, Attorney General (recently resigned under multiple sexual harassment charges and an admitted affair), State Auditor, Secretary of State and Treasurer. Mayors of the 5 other largest cities in Ohio.
... and on and on. All of this through the majority of the Clinton presidency, when the rest of the nation experienced a huge surge in economic growth and development. Yet Cleveland in particular, and Ohio in general, stagnated. Some of the most dramatic declines in Cleveland happened during the very height of the dot-com boom, and growth in the service industries.
If Clevelanders are so concerned about "Change", in the one political office that barely affects their daily lives, then why are they content to keep feeding the machine here at home that is grinding them into dust? There is no argument that can be made which states that the Office of the President has had any direct and focused impact on the fate of Northeast Ohio. Cleveland is not an "international city". The USA's stature in the world doesn't affect Cleveland any moreso than any other patch of the country outside of New York, LA, and the group of other true gateway cities. We're not a "hot target", who stands to be decimated should a war break out with China or North Korea or Russia.
In short, George Bush did almost nothing to enhance the fortunes of Northeast Ohio. And George Bush did almost nothing to destroy the fortunes of Northeast Ohio.
So why does Obama represent such an inspirational, tear-jerking Change to the residents of Cleveland? And why will they go to a voting booth and vote for Change with one hand, while voting for Stagnation with the other?
The rampant and mind-bending hypocrisy truly boggles the mind. More than that. It's angering. It's angering to watch the school system reject help in favor of pandering to parents who believe that race has more to do with their child's education than they themselves do. It's angering to watch city government screw over companies who tried to build something meaningful in this city. It's angering to see blatent light-of-day corruption in the Mayor's office, and at the County, go un-punished because they [usually] control the system. It's depressing to watch this city continue to crumble, while many of our neighbors have begun to pull their acts together and escape the Rust Belt.
And it's enough anger and depression to build a cold, cold hatred in the soul. Sad, but true.
Ohio has lost more residents in the last decade than any other state in the Union. Our Universities are going bankrupt, and our most profitable, job-bearing companies are downsizing or moving out of the area. Local taxes are going up, ostensibly for a new Convention Center and "Medical Mart" -- which has been discussed since approximately 1992, and will never be built (and by any analogous measure in other cities, wouldn't help much if it was). The revolving door of 20-year-tenured local politicians being drummed out of office by serious charges, only to beat them or serve their term, and then return to the reins of power, continues to spin.
But clearly, we need "Change we can believe in." Cleveland, may you reap what you sow. And may I have the foresight to get my ass out before it's too late.
In the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention, all of the local news outlets hit the streets for "man on the street" reactions to the events, and to Obama's nomination. One theme became abundantly clear: Change. Clevelanders are apparently clamoring for it. Craving it in their souls like a drowning man craves oxygen. This city is #2 in the national poverty ranking, the city schools are sliding -- which is a statement considering that they were already on academic watch -- and the highest ranking officials in the county are under Federal investigation. Those are just the big visible chunks of this decaying iceberg.
If there's a more clear-cut need for change, I'd have a hard time thinking of it.
But lo'! This is not the sort of change Clevelanders seem to want. As they take to the streets and rally for Obama and "real change" in this world, they continue to vote for the same old politicians who actually have a measurable impact on their day-to-day lives.
For longer than the 14 years I've been in this town, it has been under a near-perfect single-party system. Cleveland city? All Democrat since 1989. Cuyahoga County? All Democrat since 1995. The same congressional representatives (until one recently died). Democratic governor, Attorney General (recently resigned under multiple sexual harassment charges and an admitted affair), State Auditor, Secretary of State and Treasurer. Mayors of the 5 other largest cities in Ohio.
... and on and on. All of this through the majority of the Clinton presidency, when the rest of the nation experienced a huge surge in economic growth and development. Yet Cleveland in particular, and Ohio in general, stagnated. Some of the most dramatic declines in Cleveland happened during the very height of the dot-com boom, and growth in the service industries.
If Clevelanders are so concerned about "Change", in the one political office that barely affects their daily lives, then why are they content to keep feeding the machine here at home that is grinding them into dust? There is no argument that can be made which states that the Office of the President has had any direct and focused impact on the fate of Northeast Ohio. Cleveland is not an "international city". The USA's stature in the world doesn't affect Cleveland any moreso than any other patch of the country outside of New York, LA, and the group of other true gateway cities. We're not a "hot target", who stands to be decimated should a war break out with China or North Korea or Russia.
In short, George Bush did almost nothing to enhance the fortunes of Northeast Ohio. And George Bush did almost nothing to destroy the fortunes of Northeast Ohio.
So why does Obama represent such an inspirational, tear-jerking Change to the residents of Cleveland? And why will they go to a voting booth and vote for Change with one hand, while voting for Stagnation with the other?
The rampant and mind-bending hypocrisy truly boggles the mind. More than that. It's angering. It's angering to watch the school system reject help in favor of pandering to parents who believe that race has more to do with their child's education than they themselves do. It's angering to watch city government screw over companies who tried to build something meaningful in this city. It's angering to see blatent light-of-day corruption in the Mayor's office, and at the County, go un-punished because they [usually] control the system. It's depressing to watch this city continue to crumble, while many of our neighbors have begun to pull their acts together and escape the Rust Belt.
And it's enough anger and depression to build a cold, cold hatred in the soul. Sad, but true.
Ohio has lost more residents in the last decade than any other state in the Union. Our Universities are going bankrupt, and our most profitable, job-bearing companies are downsizing or moving out of the area. Local taxes are going up, ostensibly for a new Convention Center and "Medical Mart" -- which has been discussed since approximately 1992, and will never be built (and by any analogous measure in other cities, wouldn't help much if it was). The revolving door of 20-year-tenured local politicians being drummed out of office by serious charges, only to beat them or serve their term, and then return to the reins of power, continues to spin.
But clearly, we need "Change we can believe in." Cleveland, may you reap what you sow. And may I have the foresight to get my ass out before it's too late.