In Ohio, Will Vote for Food

News broke this weekend of a staggering statistic for the state of Ohio, a state which has been hit hard with jobs leaving via N.A.F.T.A. and more attractive offers for employers being presented around the country. The mortgage crisis has also come along and claimed its fair share of casualties in the state. No one can dispute Ohio is facing tough financial times, that it has been for the better part of this decade.

What needs to be disputed, however, is how Ohio is dealing with these problems. This weekend it was reported in the Columbus Dispatch that nearly 10 percent of Ohioans are receiving food stamps, a number which has nearly doubled since 2001.

Ohio finds itself with a first-term governor, Ted Strickland. Gov. Strickland has enjoyed bipartisan support and popularity since being elected in November, 2006. The Democratic Strickland is forced to work with a Republican-controlled legislature, though no one would be surprised if the Democrats did not pick up substantial seats in that legislature in this November's election.

Ohio is notorious for being a "swing state," and the swing is currently strongly in the Democrats' favor. After eight years of what many viewed as an incompetent and corrupt reign from the Republican governor (Bob Taft), Strickland won election easily. While campaigning, the Republicans made a futile attempt to brand Strickland with the moniker of "Taxing Ted," as he clearly favors dishing out governmental support. With his winning office convincingly, it is clear the state either did not buy the moniker or after the inept and scandal ridden years of Gov. Taft, did not care.