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Contact Me: jacquelyn.k.thompson@hotmail.com

Welcome

Hello and Welcome:

Over the summer of 2010 I began to ask myself, "what do you do if two of our Rights, as citizens of these United States, are diametrically opposed?" I came to the only viable conclusion: you compromise. Our great Nation works when there is compromise.

Right now most of you will agree with me that our political system is broken. What we currently have is: the politics of destruction; special interest groups who have the power and money to dictate policy; politicians who must spend their time raising money for the next election instead of doing the People's business; and, there are those who are so concerned about getting re-elected they cede their responsibilities to the citizenry to those groups making the loudest noises and the greatest threats.


The attacks that we were inundated with during the this election cycle belittled the democratic process. Shame on everyone involved. And, shame on the political obstructionists who are more interested in gaining and maintaining power than doing the people’s business. During these very difficult times all of us should be supporting our President. The challenge for all of us is, how do we improve upon this imperfect union that we call the United States of America? One thing I know for certain...it is not by dividing us.

I can remember when I was sixteen years old there was a day when my father called out to me, "Jackie, come quickly. You have to hear this. It's Winston Churchill. Come listen." I raced to the radio and for the first time heard a recording of Churchill's speech to a Nation standing alone against the greatest evil the world has ever known: "...we shall defend our island no matter what the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; and we shall not surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until in God's good time, the New World, with all it's power and might, steps forth to the rescue and liberation of The Old."


That day my hero was born. Where are our heroes today? jkt

Monday, September 6, 2010

Jobs

I remember several years ago reading the results of a survey of business men and women in the surrounding area, that sought their opinions on our business environment. A "how are we doing" and "would you consider opening a business here" questionnaire. One business owner responded that he had no intention of bringing his business here because he thinks the workers are less educated and less sophisticated.

The Pew Center Education Report Card 2010 grades the states on education performance and policy. According to the Center, "the Nation scores high on education standards policies, but struggles to provide opportunities to succeed." In it "the Chance-for-Success Index grades the nation and states on 13 indicators capturing the critical role that education plays as a person moves from childhood, through the K-12 system, and into college and the workforce." Ohio ranks 25th among the states. And that raises the question...are our schools educating our children to succeed?

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of education and the role it plays in attracting businesses to Ohio and providing jobs for Ohioans. I understand that we have an immediate need to create jobs and I will work tirelessly to assist those who are unemployed to find jobs. But we need to lay the foundation for the future of Ohio and the future of our children.

No. 1 - A highly educated and highly skilled workforce will attract businesses to Ohio.
No. 2 - Agressive retraining programs for Ohioans whose companies have packed up and left the State or have shipped their jobs overseas.
No. 3 -We should not give tax breaks to companies who ship jobs overseas. Bring the jobs home.
No. 4 - There has been a change in consumer buying habits as a result of current economic conditions. We must discard old business stratagems that no longer work in today's economic environment and develop a blueprint for the future of small business in Ohio.
No. 5 - I will be looking very closely at the Ohio Department of Development; its structure and effectiveness. Peoples' livelihoods are at stake. We need to get politics out of it.


[to be continued]