tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post5659189727606991578..comments2023-08-20T07:06:14.115-04:00Comments on Thurber's Thoughts: Konop's college conspiracyMaggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-9880734199554139672008-12-16T00:05:00.000-05:002008-12-16T00:05:00.000-05:00If Ben can save $4 million, then do so. It will c...If Ben can save $4 million, then do so. It will come in real handy with the cost overruns that have and will continue to occur with the new arena project.<BR/><BR/>As far as the free college idea goes, it's better than his art loan program. But once again, Ben like many other politicians miss the point when it comes to jobs. It's about less taxes and less regulation.skeeter1107https://www.blogger.com/profile/15125467565568229281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-25599381473793408562008-12-15T15:52:00.000-05:002008-12-15T15:52:00.000-05:00Maggie,Once again we get one of Young Ben's Wimpy ...Maggie,<BR/><BR/>Once again we get one of Young Ben's Wimpy Ideas (I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today). <BR/><BR/>On top of my outrage that it should become the County's responsibility to college educate young people, there is additional anger that there are ways for the county to save TAXPAYER money that are not immediately being executed by our elected officials.<BR/><BR/>As for the concept of these students being forced to return to Lucas County after graduation, my congratulations to Ben for turning residency in the county into community service.Timothy W Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17118861693269565715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-85537769406310303592008-12-15T15:28:00.000-05:002008-12-15T15:28:00.000-05:00And, MadJack, I'm not aware of ever having been ki...And, MadJack, I'm not aware of ever having been kidnapped by a UFO and if I were, I wouldn't be telling it here, but trying to somehow make a buck out of the experience. LOL!Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-4791473206702539092008-12-15T15:26:00.000-05:002008-12-15T15:26:00.000-05:00MadJack - the $4 million becomes $70 million in bo...MadJack - the $4 million becomes $70 million in bonds - it works like this: how much bond money can we afford if we have $4 million per year to spend on interest and principle payments? Somewhere around $70 million.<BR/><BR/>So the county would go into debt to issue those bonds - in addition to all the other bonds they already have, based upon a yearly savings of $4 million. Of course, such 'savings' are not permanent, nor are they guaranteed to last the 30 or so years which is the term of most bonds...Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-50904938810233011502008-12-15T15:22:00.000-05:002008-12-15T15:22:00.000-05:00DeeDee - great question, but then, Konop's numbers...DeeDee - great question, but then, Konop's numbers rarely add up...Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-20153910918601853932008-12-15T14:31:00.000-05:002008-12-15T14:31:00.000-05:00Maggie:If you or Ben have ever been kidnapped by a...Maggie:<BR/>If you or Ben have ever been kidnapped by a UFO, I'd really like to know about it.Mad Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190137186843630543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-7411445393360761462008-12-15T14:30:00.000-05:002008-12-15T14:30:00.000-05:00I just love this stuff. Every time I read the phr...I just love this stuff. Every time I read the phrase "common sense" I tend to flinch and start looking for the loophole. I can't remember a plan ever being proposed where the phrase "common sense" was included in both the description, the press release and evidenced in the plan. Mr. Konop states that "the best way to truly get our economy moving again, and get our people back to work, is to invest in college education", which isn't true. Stop and think for a minute, although I know it must be painful. The college education you're talking about is not going to turn unemployable workers into residents holding down full time jobs, which is what is needed. It isn't going to miraculously bring industry into Lucas County. <BR/><BR/>From the article, "Under Konop's proposal, county departments would go to a four day work week, the county would adopt energy efficiency measures and open source software, and adopt a privatized EMS ambulance service." I have a few questions:<BR/><BR/>How does a four day work week cut costs?<BR/>Name the three most significant energy efficient measures that the county is going to adopt in terms of cost savings.<BR/>Why isn't the county already using open source software?<BR/>What do you mean, specifically, about adopting a privatized EMS ambulance service?<BR/>If the idea of funding college educations fails, does that mean that Lucas county will not adopt these cost saving measures that you've discovered?<BR/><BR/>Saving four million dollars a year appeals to me. The idea of somehow turning four million into seventy million is more than a little difficult to believe. Using the seventy million to pay for a college education supposedly for anyone who has graduated from high school and who wants a college education is, well, not so good. If nothing else a large portion of the money will get hijacked for other purposes, kind of like what happened to the Ohio turnpike that is supposed to be a free way.<BR/><BR/>If the article is to be believed, Ben Konop wants to cut governmental spending without cutting services, which is laudable, but is part of Mr. Konop's job. Ben has found a way to cut four million a year, which is excellent. Good job, Ben! And I'm serious as a heart attack when I write that.<BR/><BR/>Now, since you can save that kind of money, why not just pass it on back to the poor taxpayers?Mad Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190137186843630543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-87595246526767846072008-12-15T13:49:00.000-05:002008-12-15T13:49:00.000-05:00Maggie - Konop's numbers simply do not make sense,...Maggie - Konop's numbers simply do not make sense, and I'll just focus on privitizing EMS (something that should be looked at but was ignored in the County's move to bill for Life Squad). <BR/><BR/>Sylvania Township is paid $657,000 a year to man 1 Life Squad unit. There are 10 units total, coming up to $6.5 million. If these are eliminated and private ambulances are relied upon, why is the savings not $6.5 million, instead of some number under $4 million (since the total proposal would save only $4 million).DeeDee Liedelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04567259716599270756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-50779141193999158572008-12-15T12:54:00.000-05:002008-12-15T12:54:00.000-05:00Sounds like Konop is trying to do the "Kalamazoo P...Sounds like Konop is trying to do the "Kalamazoo Promise" thing, except do it with public dollars. <BR/><BR/>Ideally, that would draw people to Lucas county...and perhaps grow the economy...or, it will draw people that are not able to produce and become a further drag on our system. If people are not encouraging their children to do well in school and get scholarships, then what sorts of families will this be attracting?<BR/><BR/>Speaking as a college grad, the problem with our economy in Toledo isn't a *lack* of college educated workers, it's a shrinking industrial field. Are we going to magically populate our boarded up buildings with college grads?Antipelagianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08927734975794920598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-57993751909904300472008-12-15T11:52:00.000-05:002008-12-15T11:52:00.000-05:00SOLOMON SAMI AZAR - your comment about your experi...SOLOMON SAMI AZAR - your comment about your experience with UFOs is completely unrelated to the post and, as such, will not be included...sorry, but those are the rules.Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.com