PAVELISH on FINAL THOUGHTS

It's showtime and time to vote. All the candidates have chimed in with with bold promises, recycled plans, and magical solutions to move Cincinnati to the" next level". We have entered (trespassed) your homes with mass mailings of literature, radio ads, TV ads, door to door visitations, and the all famous (disturbing) robo-calls. The landscape is littered with campaign yard signs (some the size of sheets of plywood) and the even bigger billboards. Some candidates have yard signs in approved locations and some candidates prefer to" litter" the right of way along the City streets. And some candidates (or their staff) remove other candidates' signs (and blame it on kids). City politics has a "dark" side that somewhat caught me by surprise. I have run an honest campaign. I have run a respectful campaign. And I am running for the RIGHT reasons. Others, I'm not so sure...My campaign is based on a true grassroots effort, representing all people, all neighborhoods, all the time. My campaign has been free of political party and big money influence. Others, I'm not so sure...

Maybe the biggest surprise to me is that we are a city and nation who depends on government so much. If the schools need improvement, "Oh, a new government plan, policy, and testing will be the fix." I rarely hear the suggestion of personal responsibility and family involvement. And if we need to bring back our traditional neighborhoods, "Oh, we need a City plan. Lets assemble a focus group," and another tax levy to pay for it, instead of (what we should do) using the private sector and private assets to begin and complete the work. Yes, we now rely on government to think and do almost everything for us. Personal responsibility, respect, education, family, and the love of God seems "old fashion" and maybe a thing of the past. Yes, the politicians who come up with the "great" new government proposals and policies are the favored candidates and get the endorsements and media coverage. Yes, these are the "great thinkers". But the truth is, folks, that 42 years of too much government is the problem. 42 years of too much government had destroyed or nation, city, neighborhoods, schools, family, and faith.

But we are a capable people. We can do well all by ourselves. Our lives are best managed when government is a partner and no more. And City Council should learn to deliver the BASIC services and do it well before moving on to other ventures. And please keep in mind that in the last few months you have heard ideas and proposals from NOT THE GREATEST MINDS IN CINCINNATI, BUT THE BEST POLITICIANS...

FINAL QUESTION: How did we go from the "MOST LIVABLE" city of just a dozen or so years ago to the THIRD POOREST??

Cincinnati, be careful. Please be careful... God Bless you all.

Steve Pavelish for FULL TIME, ACCESSIBLE Cincinnati City Council
http://www.pavelish.com/