Cruising around the candidate blogs

I was cruising around the candidate blogs - using the ever handy Ohio candidates link, and came to Rich Sifred's (OH-4). His banner looks like the Colbert Report's

It's like patriotism on steroids. Probably because Rich is a patriot

In September, 1965 he turned 21. Before that time his father had refused to sign to permit him to enlist in the Army. Two days after his 21 st birthday, he enlisted and was formally inducted on September 29, 1965. Basic training was at Ft. Knox (Kentucky); then he was sent to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for training in artillery. From Ft. Sill, he was sent to Germany where he served 14 months in the 3 rd Infantry Division in an artillery battery. This was the time for the build-up in Vietnam and he volunteered for service in Vietnam.

He served a one year tour from 1967 to 1968 in the Central Highlands in the 1/92 Artillery, a 155 mm towed artillery unit. His tour included stints in Pleiku, Kontum, DakTo, and various Landing Zones (LZ) and firebases, such as LZ Incoming and Bunker Hill. He rotated out of Vietnam in April, 1968.

Back in the states, he was stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he was selected to attend the Drill Sergeant Academy at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. He successfully completed the course, graduating 3 rd in his class and was sent back to the training brigade at Ft. Campbell where he served out his enlistment as a drill sergeant. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant in July 1969.

On his issues page I really like this, it's spot on

In October laws went into effect which made consumer bankruptcy more difficult. One of the major requirements was mandatory consumer counseling before one can go bankrupt. One of the major causes of bankruptcy is medical bills, due to an illness or injury. It is difficult to see how consumer counseling will help people avoid medical bills when illness and injury are unplanned and unforseen. Needless to say that is now the law.

Dana Corporation went bankrupt recently. In recent history Dana has been moving operations overseas and has been asking for concessionary contracts from the UAW which has gone along to try to help the company avoid bankruptcy.

Three days before Dana went bankrupt the board of directors granted the CEO a cash bonus of up to double his base salary based on certain undisclosed incentives. Other executives were also given bonuses.

This is similar to the deal executives at Delphi are in line to receive after its bankruptcy filing. The bonuses and incentives, whether they stay with the company or not, will run into the 100's of millions of dollars.

Perhaps the bankruptcy law ought to be changed again. Perhaps boards of directors, chief executive officers and chief financial officers should be required to take 6 months of credit counseling before their company can go bankrupt. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.