People voting against their own interests

[Taylor Smite]

So im at the local political meeting today where all the local elected leaders come to meet-and-greet with one another. There are folks from the city, the township, the county commissioners, and the school board. We all talk about what's new and our problems.

All the problems revolve around reduced state funding and programs getting cut. Here is a brief rundown: The state told us the DMV is up for closure. The school district might be placed under the administrative control of the state if the levy doesnt pass. We cant get funding to fix the stretch of roadway described as a "death trap." The WIC office just lost its funding. On and on and on.

This is in Ohio which has a republican governor and about a million republicans in the legislature. The Governor and State Legislature have been slashing money going to local governments like crazy and redirecting the money toward corporate handouts like "JobsOhio" (look up JobsOhio...trust me). The area is pretty economically depressed. Reaganomics is a real blessing here. The only thing keeping the region afloat is a huge military base (funded by tax payer dollars no less).

I know the majority of the locally elected people at the meeting and all, except maybe one or two (husband and wife), vote straight ticket republican every election. They are nice people, they just cant connect the dots. The commissioner complaining about the 'death trap' road and how there is no funding is a republican. The councilman mad about the closing of the only DMV in this half of the county is a republican. The school board guy mad that the district cant afford all day kindergarten is a republican. The two guys upset about the WIC office losing its funding are Democrats.....no im just kidding they are both republicans. On and on and on.

A different republican councilman said, 'voting for Democrats is what is wrong with the economy'. Funny thing is, he is the union rep at his work and even campaigned against Kasichs HB5 (union busting law). The guy is a really cool dude....he just somehow doesnt get it.

So there we go. Everyone was very upset about the economic disaster caused by Republican economic policies....but they all vote Republican or run as republicans. These aren't just your average Fox viewers, these are the local leaders who are supposed to understand cause and effect.

I dont get it, you are mad about a union-busting rule or mad that Columbus wants to close the DMV, but you are a republican.

You vote for, and vocally support, the people who do things you hate....