Edison Community College President Shares His Thoughts

The looming crisis of the national debt is forcing Congress and the President to make tough decisions on spending, taxes and entitlement programs in an effort to get the economy back on stable ground. However, a current proposal to cut funding for Pell Grants, the federal government’s primary program to help economically disadvantaged students attend college, is shortsighted and would have a devastating effect on students’ access to higher education, especially in today’s weak economy.

Congress is facing the daunting task of finding $11 billion just to maintain the current maximum grant of $5,550 and some have proposed making deep cuts that would reduce that figure down to $3,040 per student or reducing access to the program for key college-going populations.

From 2008 to 2010, the cost of the program has risen dramatically from $18 to $30 billion, mainly due to the hundreds of thousands of additional Americans who have enrolled in college to seek new skills and training during the economic downturn. In the most recent year, Pell Grant recipients at community colleges grew by 36.8 percent.

These changes alone would close the door to approximately 59,000 students in Ohio. Of all the students awarded Pell Grants, more than half receive the maximum award, which goes to the neediest students. From 2010-2011, nearly 50 percent of the student body at Edison Community College received funding from Pell Grants.

Cutting these students off from a higher education would be disastrous – not just for the students themselves, but also for the nation. Our economic vitality depends increasingly on more workers attaining postsecondary education. Even in times of high unemployment, millions of jobs across the nation are vacant because employers can’t find workers with the essential skills and training that community colleges like Edison are able to provide. Without the access to the Pell Grant funding, this problem will continue to worsen as the economy regains steam.

The Pell Grants program is an investment in our most valuable natural resource – educated American citizens. It’s an investment that is critical to rebuilding our economy and ensuring our future prosperity. Greater college attendance benefits our area directly, with higher wages paid to those with degrees and specialized skills leading to increased tax revenue that bolster state and federal budgets.

We ask our community members to contact their local representatives and urge them to support maintaining the $5,550 Pell Grant maximum as a necessary means to helping the country recover its economic stability.

Dr. Cristobal Valdez
President, Edison Community College

By JT Szabo
MCP Founder & Publisher

This is something that has been nagging at me quite a bit lately, especially since the heated and much covered elections of the past few years.

College football needs a playoff. Period.

  Yet, this situation goes far deeper than simply the now cliché BCS vs Playoff debate that has divided our nation into two separate and polarized ideologies. This goes to the very heart of our American way of life, and it might be of surprise to you how close this hits home.

Picture in your mind a world, peaceful and prosperous, where people reap what they sow, good and bad. A world where one's worth is paid appropriately and fairly without bias or restrictions. A world where those with a conflict of interest politely recognize this fact, and abide by the rules of equality and fairness. This is a world where division one college athletes are paid and compensated according to the equity, profile and profits they bring to their state and institution. Don't get me wrong...the NCAA and it's amateur protection rules still apply...maybe even more stringent than today. This is a world where our elected leaders, congressmen to the President, are faced with the same imposing and strict amateur rules that today's college athletes face.

Imagine that.

I find it quite silly, in 2011, that a star athlete can bring millions (maybe even billions?) of dollars into the local economy, the institution that washes his jock strap, and the state that charters and regulates said institution..and yet he can't even get a free bottle of Gatorade after a hard fought battle. Senseless.

Many NCAA-huggers (as I would call them) believe that university athletics is about pure athletic competition in an academic environment, free from the vices and other demons that today's professional sports has born. They are correct...back in 1901.

What they fail to see is clear to those who refuse to think that a teenager wants to be “QB #7” on their favorite video game.

Step into any major division one college football stadium at kickoff, and you will immediately notice that there is nothing “amateur” about college football. 105,000 screaming fans, spending millions and millions of dollars for tickets, shirts, hats, drinks, hot dogs, programs, cow bells and the like will quickly make you reevaluate how many NCAA-huggers see the world.

It is a proven fact that many NCAA football stadiums are bigger and average larger crowds that the USA's lovechild: the NFL. In many regards, NCAA football is more “professional” than many NFL clubs, both in terms of logistical advantages and sheer size of the program. Many more comparisons are equal. Many non-football fans would have a very hard time telling the difference between a college football stadium on game day, and say....[insert favorite team here]. The atmosphere, size, feel, smell and sometimes even the prices, are very similar.

So it kills me a little bit on the inside when I hear of the “scandal” of a college football player getting caught red handed trying to live his life. Why shouldn't someone who's sheer ability and talent generates millions of dollars for an organization not see at least something for his trouble? Maybe not a multi-million dollar paycheck, but at least give him the ability to earn royalty for his likeness as the famous “QB #7”? What is so evil about that?

There is no other occupation (and playing any college sport certainly fits that designation!) in the country that is so valuable and yet pays nothing. Anywhere else it would be called a crime.

Here's a better idea for the Huggers out there. Why pay professors, deans and college Presidents? Does their tireless work and abilities not generate revenue and exposure for their institutions no different than a must-see athlete? What is the difference between a star linebacker's amazing block being listed as #1 on ESPN generating exposure (and subsequent millions in sponsorship and ticket sales), and a biology grad student discovering a new moth species (hint: they pay grad students to do research, but not athletes).

Now we're onto something here.

I fear that the NCAA has become so large, so powerful that the very colleges and universities that are supposed to be in charge are now being “picked on” and under reverse control. Why else would an organization controlled by institutions start to dictate policy and personnel within it's very foundation. My eyes are crossed just thinking about that. My fear has prevented any hope of the NCAA going away anytime in my lifetime, so what is a way to channel all of that bureaucratic red tape somewhere it might actually be helpful?

Politics.

Why not restrict politicians from being paid by companies and interests that compromise their main objective (listen to us!)? Why not limit how and why they receive payment and monetary contribution, and have a national organization like the NCAA enforce the rules and investigate violators for “sanctioning”? Perhaps a third party organization could actually fulfill the long-winded promise of political transparency, and expose the dirty politics for all to see. Then punish them swiftly, publicly and without bias. That would certainly make your senator think twice before wasting your tax money and your trust.

Why not make politicians answer to more than just a committee of their peers for wrong doings? Why not make them answer to the NCAA investigators, who in turn disclose everything they find out to the press, and then issue their punishment that could be as severe as recommending impeachment and removal from office? The public very rarely gets the truth, or at least the bulk of it, about what their elected official is up to. The truth could be a very harsh reality for some, a vindicator for others. It would be the great equalizer between who has the right motives and allegiances: constituency and America or lobbyists and contributions.

And while we're nearby, let's talk about the elimination of campaign financing as we know it. Just as a handful of high profile sports essentially pay for the rest of them, a handful of high profile campaigns should be responsible for contributing their funds back to the NCAA, which issues equal funding to all other candidates, according to the population of the campaign demographic. Imagine what an equal footing would do to selecting the best leader...not the popular or rich one. Let's face it, this country today could use a lot more “leaders” and a lot less “politicians who raised and advertised the most”. Some could argue our nation has become accustomed to electing the biggest billboard, and we're paying the price for it with incompetence and corruption. George Washington didn't spend a greenback on attack ads, lawn signs, bumper stickers or whatever the 1780's equivalent was. He was elected because he was the best leader. Because he was the candidate who would spend his life working for the people he risked his life for, not a company and certainly not a deep pocketed “interest”. Think about who in today's gaggle of elected leaders fits that description.

Oh, and while you’re thinking, I can tell you about one time in college I got to witness grown men who would follow star athletes around all day, their only job to ensure the athlete goes and does what he is responsible to do. What a novel concept that would be if applied to politics. Picture a house whip, combined with a prison guard and maybe Dwayne “the rock” Johnson for good measure...all to make sure your congressman does what he promised you he would! Now that particular congress would get serious stuff done, that's for sure.

Finally, it all comes down to realizing that the current systems in place are not broken, but just need to be rearranged. College athletes should not fear a free movie ticket from an adoring fan after making the evening news, and elected officials should fear those who elected them in the first place, not the company that printed their “elect me” banners last fall. Most of all, it is the realization that this has nothing to do with petty “party affiliation” or any of the other BS that those idiots on cable tell you it is. It has everything to do with being an American first, and an intelligent and rational individual second. Then, and only then, will you finally open your eyes and see as clear as a summer day....that we need a playoff.

JT Szabo is the Founder and Publisher of MiamiCountyPost.com, and will always be a Tressel fan.

By Lee Mowen

Greetings readers, I have some good news.

My blog posts are now available on MiamiCountyPost.com! If you are unfamiliar with the site, it is a free website dedicated to what’s happening in the county just north of Dayton. For those of you new to my blog that clicked from Miami County Post, welcome. My name is Lee W. Mowen. I’m looking to become a sports broadcaster and I have about five years experience. I was the home voice of the Troy Bruins for the majority of the 2010 season. Before that, I was the Sports Director for Wright State’s radio station and held that job for two and a third years. In total, I spent four and third years at Wright State broadcasting the Raiders. I’m currently an intern with the Dayton Air Strikers, assisting with stats.

I’ve lived in the area all my young life and I absolutely love the Miami Valley. I know these are tough times in the Dayton region, but I think they’ll get better. My blog is about sports, from local to national topics. I cover a little about issues, uniforms, teams, and other things related. I also do a semi-regular series called “Sportscasters Anonymous” where I give advice to those looking to begin sportscasting.

To my regular readers and the new ones: I’m looking forward to continuing my blog as well as beginning a new project with Miami County Post. Expect to see a lot of new material in the future on the site.
I just wanted to take the time to mention that my blog will be posted on another site. I’m very excited for things to come. This will be something I will love being a part of. Thank you for reading my blog, regulars and newcomers. Until next time!

By MCP Founder & President JT Szabo

Ok, so it's not much of a surprise that despite MCP officially endorsing him, outgoing Ted Strickland lost his bid for reelection back in 2010 for Ohio governor. With the rather large chip on a lot of voter's shoulders heading into the polls last November, it was also not much of a surprise when little known Republican challenger John Kasich grabbed the reigns of our fine state, as part of a perceived conservative "takeback" of government Nationwide. Fine with me...i'm an independent and a business owner.

What my beef is with Kasich, is his complete disregard for transparency in office...while he claims to be a supporter of (you guessed it!) transparency in office. A recent article published in the Columbus Dispatch read "Kasich promises transparency", yet the article written by Mark Niquette is more about questioning Kasich's first few choices such as "conflicts of interest" and (once again..) a lack of transparency specifically related to Kasich's limitation of the public having any access to his swearing in. Feel free to read the article by CLICKING HERE. If that's not a big "thank you OHIO for electing me, now go away", I don't know what is. Kasich claims security for his family as the reason for not allowing the public to be a part of his taking over the most public job in Ohio. I'd buy it, had he not exploited his family and already put them "at risk" by using them in his campaign ads and appearances back in 2010. Sorry, that excuse doesn't fly anymore. 

While many of you might say "small potatoes" and who cares if we can't see him sworn in, the bigger picture should be one of uncertainty about the guy we put into the high chair in Columbus. Heck, before even technically taking the job, he has cast a lot of doubt in a lot of Ohioans with his seemingly shady decisions. If he won't let the public see him get sworn into office (something small and insignificant), what won't he let the public see when it matters?

And that's the bottom line. A lot of pissed of conservatives got Kasich elected, mostly to counter their discontent for the "status quo" and those darned liberals who were spending on a lot of apparently unnecessary things like "healthcare" and "schools". Pfshh. Now we've unleashed a Governor who has no problem excluding the public from normal Gubernatorial and state business. Whoah. That sounds like a bad nightmare I had once....only the man behind the curtain pulling the strings and levers won't give us a heart or take us home to Kansas.

This all adds up to a poor start to our new Governor John Kasich. Not a good start at all.

By JT Szabo, MCP Founder & Publisher

I'm the first to admit, I'm not a christian music fan. I dabble occasionally, thanks to christian-turned-mainstream rockers Skillet (who really do rock my face off), but for the most part, I know just about as much about the genre and it's players as I do how to operate a thermonuclear submarine in hostile waters. For those who don't read my content too often, that means not a whole lot.

So, naturally, when I first heard that "The Chapman's" would be making a mid-November appearance at Troy's Hobart Arena I was totally stoked and elated....for apparently the wrong reason.

Diving into hours upon hours of A&E on demand programming, I got myself ready to see a real American hero live in my hometown....Dwayne "Dog" Chapman - aka "Dog The Bounty Hunter", and his fugitive catching family.

Made famous by his reality show of the same name on the aforementioned cable network, and for his high profile asskicking of international fugitives such as Andrew Luster, Dog is one of those great heartfelt stories of a man corrupted by his surroundings change and become a part of the solution, eventually rising to almost Chuck Norris status, only Dog does it for real.

Accompanied by his "Chapman Family", including wife Beth, sons Leiland and Duane Lee, the Chapmans run their family business Da Kine Bail Bonds in the sunny state of Hawaii, also where they film their show doing their dangerous daily business. So, naturally, one can see how the confusion set in so rapidly. Unaware that there was a singer of the same surname, one particular online writer got his hopes up to see a true hero, someone who has changed countless lives for the better and is a positive role model for us all.

While i'm sure the musical Chapmans are just as entertaining and enlightening to their followers, i'm gonna go ahead and begin to scrape together some interest in getting the "real" Chapmans into town, perhaps to speak to children or inmates or high school students about life choices and consequences. Maybe he can even bring a guitar.

Thoughts?

A tough choice for an equally touch situation.

Unless you've been properly secured underneath the Adams Street Bridge for the past several weeks, it has been nearly impossible to avoid the barrage of pro and con political advertisements for a multitude of elected positions. Arguably, none has a more direct and important impact on the Ohio voter than the gubernatorial race between incumbent Ted Strickland and Republican challenger John Kasich.

So who does a poor independent voter root for?

If you believe Kasich's (only apparent) message, it is the fact that under Strickland, Ohio has lost a ton of jobs. Ohio's lost jobs? Why didn't someone say so! It's a good thing we've got someone going around telling us how bad the unemployment is, just as it is poised to begin it's slow resurrection and recovery out of one of the worst global recessions in America's history. For someone to constantly blabber about how many jobs this slob of a state has lost since 2006, while claiming no innovative solutions for a problem which any moron could figure wasn't a "state" issue, but a "national" and even "global" issue, is absurd at best. Stickland 1, Kasich 0.

Now as for Ted, he has had his share of ups and downs, but let's take a minute to think about how bad it could have been. Let's hop in the wayback machine and think about how much worse things could have been if Strickland had lost to republican challenger (and Bob Taft's shady right hand man) Ken Blackwell. That could have taken a bad situation and made it much worse for Ohioans by way of Blackwell's complete lack of experience or leadership in the statehouse. For everything that's happened since then, Strickland has stood by his guard, and has tried to maintain the status quo even while things were falling apart around him (see: foreclosure crisis, record national unemployment, bank and corporate collapses etc). Not much a governor can do about that, just don't tell Kasich. Yet, the biggest blight for Strickland is his inability to balance the state budget. Cuts and more cuts were forced throughout the state, putting a lot of blame and anger on the man in charge earlier this year. Yet, it was another political handcuffing that hurt his street cred, thanks to the state supreme court ruling that his plan to utilize gambling revenue to supplant his budget was not cool...forcing millions in forced cuts after Strickland had already gotten everything straitened out. Strickland 1, Kasich 1.

The country plunged into a hole so massive, even President Obama couldn't have hoped to get out by the end of the decade. The automotive industry, shaky at best during the good times, closed up shop and triggered a domino effect throughout the midwest as well as a well documented bank fiasco where (like the world's shittiest game of pacman) every bank went around trying to eat each other while avoiding the feds (ghosts) and receiving bailouts by the billions (fruit) ruined millions of families "American dream". The sheer fact that we are still functioning as a state is a wonder of the modern age, and the fact that our state has been able to hold it's head high throughout the entire ordeal is a tribute to the steady leadership of Strickland in this test of tests. Strickland 2, Kasich 1.

Finally, the sling. Kasich has spent millions of dollars forcing the message that Ted is the sole and only reason why Ohio has lost so many jobs down our throats, while backtracking years of Fox News segments where he boasted about his dealings on Wall Street before the collapse of his former employer Lehman Brothers. Now, let's not jump all over someone for doing their job. There's nothing better than good 'ol American capitalism, but when you're running for an office by placing blame on your opponent for something that you literally had a hand in doing (hey, Ted was in Columbus trying to keep things going while John was a part of a corrupted corporation that helped lose the jobs he claims Ted is responsible for....i know...doesn't make sense to me either) and denying any responsibility for it in public campaign ads (he only worked in a two man office in columbus.....so?) is completely unexcused for a potential leader of Ohio. Strickland has taken the high road and has continued to do what he does best...maintain stability in an otherwise unstable environment. Strickland 3, Kasich 1.

In the end it boils down to this: If this was 1998, Kasich may have been the better choice as the country continued to surge, and the republicans had good ideas for the country to thrive. It's not 1998. The country is not cranking out sunshine and skittles. The world, and the nation's economy is still in intensive care as it begins to make a painfully slow turn for the better. Ohio simply cannot afford to "shake things up" with a new and untested leader who has made it clear he wants to change the way the state works. Strickland's consistency and stability in the statehouse is the best available choice for the state to continue it's slow and steady climb out of the hole.

MiamiCountyPost.com officially endorses Ted Strickland for Ohio Governor in 2010. What are your thoughts as a reader?

I like to think that I have a say in how my tax dollars are spent. I bet most of my neighbors in Southwest Ohio feel the same way. No matter what their political leaning, most folks want to know that the government is using their money wisely.    In his almost 20 years in Congress, Representative John Boehner has never earmarked a single dollar for the 8th district. While the other 400+ representatives secured funds to repair infrastructure, promote business, and advance research in their own districts, Mr. Boehner stood by his “principles” and let OUR hard-earned tax dollars go somewhere else. We paid our fair share of what the government asked of us; I think we deserve to see a little bit of that put to good use right here in SW Ohio. Don’t you?

    This election cycle, Mr. Boehner is campaigning to be the Speaker of the House. Not to bring more attention to the issues facing the people of Miami, Darke, or Mercer Counties, but to be the leader of his national party. From the looks of things, Mr. Boehner seems to care more about his party in Washington than the folks back home. That doesn’t seem right to me.

    When I vote on November 2nd, I don’t want to vote for the leader of a certain political party; I want to choose my “Representative in Congress.” I want to vote for someone who I know will fight for my family and my neighbors. Someone who knows the definition of hard work and sacrifice. This fall, I’ll be voting for Justin Coussoule, a West Point graduate, small business owner, and family man. He’s not campaigning to be Speaker; he’s running to represent the People of Ohio’s 8th, and he deserves our support.    

Cameron DeHart
Troy, OH