“High Noon” in Ohio
This week in Ohio, Governor John Kasich faced “High Noon” which turned out badly, as voters chose to reject limits on public workers’ bargaining rights.
For those who do not recall the classic 1952 movie with Gary Cooper, the longtime marshal got married and turned in his badge. He learns that a criminal he brought to justice is due to arrive on the noon train. He and his wife leave town, but fearing that the gang will hunt him down and be a danger to the townspeople, he turns back. He reclaims his badge and scours the town for help with little success. The worried townspeople encourage him to leave, hoping that would defuse the situation. In the end, he faces the Miller Gang alone. He guns down two of the gang. As the townspeople emerge, he contemptuously throws his marshal’s star in the dirt and leaves town with his wife.
As is in many states, the public fisc is being blown out with deficit spending in Ohio. A good portion comes from the pay and benefits, relatively higher than private industry, of the public workers. Such is a direct threat to the economic future but, as usual, the politicians who are only concerned with winning the next election and not their place in history, will not make any tough decisions out of fear of alienating their vocal, albeit minority, constituencies.
And this week, the Ohio electorate also showed that they do not care by having a turnout of merely 46 percent of the state’s registered voters.
This is unfortunate for Ohio and reminds of how California voters re-elected Gray Davis last decade only to come out of their sleep and realize that he was running the state into a ditch.
It’s a pity that the Ohio electorate did not also see the urgency and weight of this matter. Given that the majority of Ohio voters did their “High Noon” townspeople impression, they deserve what they will likely get.
-I.M. Windee
