Governor, You're Misguided

Before I begin, I do understand the complexity of balancing government services with minimizing the tax burden on citizens.  This balancing act is performed at every level of government including school districts.

I have lived and paid taxes in Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio both as an individual and as a business owner.  These things I know:

1. Ohio has far and away the most byzantine und unnecessarily complicated tax reporting structure I have ever encountered.
2. No business owner or entrepreneur makes decisions on where to locate based on tax rates alone.
3. As a partner in an Ohio business, I was required to make monthly and/or quarterly reports (and payments) to no fewer than five separate taxing bodies within the state of Ohio.
4. Each of these taxing bodies was interested in the same information with only a few minor differences.

Ohio's government is currently directed by self-described fiscal conservatives who advocate for smaller and more efficient government AND reduced tax rates.  The situation described above (1-4) cries out for simplification and streamlining.  One would think that this would be a natural focus for these [fiscal] conservatives.  Instead, we get promises of reduced rates with no reduction in complexity.  There seems to be an assumption that everyone has an accountant or a lawyer (or both) retained to handle the tax relationships with the State of Ohio.  If we really want to encourage entrepreneurism, we need to re-examine the entire Ohio tax situation.

One suggestion, Governor, is to give new business startups a three-year running start with no business taxes of any kind during that time.  From my own experience, starting a new business usually means doing everything yourself.  Tax reporting in Ohio diverts an amazing amount of attention and effort away from where it really needs to be.

Maybe in three years I'll be able to afford to hire an accountant and/or lawyer but until then I have to do it myself.  A side effect of DIY tax accounting is mistakes and the fallout from those mistakes.  It's really no wonder that so many new business starts last less than three years.  How much I pay is important but manageable.  How I pay is even more important and is unmanageable.  Most new business starts do not go to investment bankers, they are forced to use sweat equity wherein the owner's time is the most important component and the only resource with a hard limit.

Governor, saving those with incomes > $350,000 an additional $10,000 MIGHT help you get reelected but it isn't going to win you very many friends.

Flag Frustration

We just returned from a walk here in central Ohio.  During the course of this 20 minute walk we passed several businesses as well as a Post Office.  What I noticed this morning was the flag poles, each of which displayed the US flag and some of which displayed the Ohio state pennant as well as (in one case) an ISO flag.

Some but not all displayed the US flag at half-staff.

I spent several years as a Cub Scout/Boy Scout/Explorer and many more as an adult leader.  I spent 5+ years on active duty with the Air Force at bases and Army posts in Texas, California, Alaska and Berlin (which was not part of Germany at that time).  I guess I have soaked up something about the proper display of the flag.

1. ALL US flags are flown at half-staff or NONE are.  This is not individual choice.
2. No one is forced to display the flag so if we choose to do so, we owe it to the community to do it properly.
3. Half-staff is accomplished by raising the flag to the top of the mast or staff and then lowering it to a point (at least) one-third of the way down.  This half-staff position is designed to keep large flags from touching the ground or interfering with pedestrian or other traffic.  This may be especially important when multiple flags are flown from the same halyard (rope).
4. The flag should be in good condition and not visibly dirty or frayed.
5. Unless the flag is lit, it should be retired at dusk and during inclement weather. 

These come from the manual from which NCOs are tested to qualify for promotion.

If you search the internet for flag etiquette you will find many interpretations, some of which refer to laws governing flags and their display.  US law is summarized at http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

The President or the Governor of a state or possession may order flags in their jurisdiction to be flown at half staff.  There is no authority for anyone else to do so.

Why display a flag?  Some sites are prescribed in the law.  All others are optional.  Typically the flag is displayed in the interest of patriotism.  While feelings of patriotism are desirable, display of the flag for this purpose is optional.  A patriot will become informed about the laws and traditions in order to display the flag intentionally to reflect on himself and his country. 

I'm going to try to put this aside now so that I can enjoy my walks again.