Tom Henry and Matt Kelty debated issues regarding the race for Mayor of Fort Wayne last night. It was through the efforts of Allen County Public Library, Indiana NewsCenter, and WOWO. The people of Fort Wayne where able to hear both candidates speak about the issues without the spin or sound bite provided by local reporters. The hope is that many of the people with intentions on voting November 6th where listening.
The local blogging community has many posts and comments with respect to last nights debate. In fact, I posted my own comments on a number of them. The comments run dealing with the real subject matter to being off the wall. Nevertheless, all the comments make for interesting reading.
What I saw and heard may not be shared by any or many, but it is what now is stored in my old worn-out brain damaged head.
No one was perfect in "performance" last night. It runs from Tom Henry to the local media members who asked the questions. They all had their moments of finding the right wording, and communicating such. Frankly, I found it refreshing that everything did not seem like it was rehearsed.
Having met Tom Henry several times over the years I could tell he was not real comfortable. He seemed to struggle at times, like he was trying to remember things others may have told him to make a point of. To judge his fitness for office based on this would be in error.
Mat Kelty came across much more concise in his answers. They are the same points he has made from early on in his campaigning. He had his moments when the right words did not materialize, but they where limited. Again to judge his fitenss for office based on this would be in error.
Overall, I think both men did well. No, they where not perfect, but they are human! Frankly I have seen too many people running for office, that had all the right words, the right timing, and convincing mannerisms but delivered very little once they where elected.
I saw Kelty as the winner, in my humble view. But then again, I am but one voter, who is leaning toward voting for Kelty.
My belief was based on Kelty's view on property taxes and economic development. I do not agree with his view on Aqua Indiana. The issue of "illegals" was shared by both, and is the only one Fort Wayne can follow.
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I believe your right on illegals. You can be against illegal immigration all you want, but the city detaining illegal aliens at taxpayer cost does nothing to solve the problem.
The telling question for me was one of the first. Matt Kelty appeared to be for smaller government that controlled its spending and would look for answers in the private sector, while Tom Henry's answer to our property tax crisis was to give access to new taxes to taxing authorities so tax revenue could be generated without further affecting the property tax. I don't see moving from one tax to another as a solution. Henry came across as a typical Tax and Spend Dem.
The city CAN contact ICE, but aside from that, they don't have the authority to do anything of substance.
That doesn't mean we roll over and play dead or (heaven forbid) become a "sanctuary city" like Frisco.
As for the "debate"...was more like a big Q&A session, and Matt gets a solid B while Henry gets a C-.
It will be an interesting election...that much IS certain.
B.G.
I am generally in favor of Immigration, and interstate immigration of Native US citizens from one US state to another- you got to make your way- brain drain, where the jobs are, nicer weather, more freedom, and personal liberty, etc.
but consider this: the only ones who seem to be in favor of flooding an already economically depressed, rust belt city are:
local employers, in search of ever cheaper labor.
I wont reiterate the usual litany- you know how it goes. to be against illegal immigrants/aliens, is to be summarily called racist, and excommunicated.
however consider this:
first- we are here legally. we cant just move to another country, illegally, without eventually being deported, or worse. We need passports, visas, and other security driven documents.
these hispanics, and burmese, are here, due to failures of democracy, and the free markets in their own native homelands. when you are used to earning $5 a day, or month, $5 an hour seems like a lot of money. These foreigners live different than us- 2-or 3 families- 12 or more living in the same communal homes- overcrowded, but cheap, so they can send money home.
Consider the climate hardships- how would you like being relocated from a refugee camp in the jungle to Hoosier winters?
or from a tropical/desert climate to Indiana? Imagine if you had to move to upper Canada/alaska- for instance- brrrr! poor refugees.
Why Fort Wayne? we have enough problems of our own, without 3000 asians infected with TB. Or Hispanics, numbering in the thousands?
when there are hundreds of our own neighbors, and friends are out of work, laid off, downsized, outsourced, etc. from McDonnell-Douglass to McDonalds wages.
from GE, tokheim, harvester, fruhauf, etc to Wal-Mart, with the according cut in pay.
but we still get to pay for the rich in sycamore hills, and their downtown developments.
there are 500 convicted, registered child molesters/baby rapers, working at jobs all over town- and the companies who hire them.
the local govt is cooking the books on unemployed, poverty, food stamps- denying people- blaming soe other level of govt.At least they have well paid jobs- subsidized by us- not necessarily willingly, but necessary. Maybe if they were paid Mcdonalds wages.
And what of these immigrants? exploited, for minimum wage, or cash under the table-local businesses eveding taxes- making us pay more to make up for it.
I could go on, but these persons are being exploited i a classic marxist sense; as are the rest of us. Its time for another revolution.
Its not the refugees fault, or illegal immigrants- its the govts, and business faults- and a GOP candidate wont criticize his business supporters, and a democrat wont want to sound racist.
they both ahve their "secret agendas" its not simple- but the misery is everywhere..
maybe a graduated income/property tax system in Indiana, that taxes the rich,and punishes them for allowing the rest of us poor to starve. you know we've lose 1 entire congressional districts worth of jobs, and taxpayers,and jobs.
its time to look at what is working, globally- 6 sigmatize this problem, and solve it.
I will vote my wallet, and my liberties- 2 things which seem mutualy exclusive in Fort Wayne, bTW.
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