THE 250-YEAR RECKONING: Breaking the Two Party Cabal from Akron to the Statehouse
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, Ohioans are being told to celebrate our "representative democracy." But for the working men and women of Ohio, the "representative" part of that equation has been replaced by a cabal—a tight-knit circle of political insiders, corporate management, and union bosses who prioritize their own bonuses over your paycheck.
From the executive suites in Akron to the backrooms in Columbus, the message is clear: The system isn't broken; it’s working exactly as intended for the people at the top.
1. The Akron "Smoking Gun": Secret Bonuses and Public Betrayal.
If you want to see the cabal in its purest form, look at Akron’s METRO RTA. For over 18 months, the drivers and vehicle service workers of TWU Local 1 have been forced to work without a contract and without a raise. They are exhausted, denied basic restroom breaks, and told there is "no money" in the budget.
The Reality? While workers struggle, the management cabal is quietly raking in the cash.
The Secret Payday: In a series of closed-door executive sessions, the METRO board—led by Board President Mark Derrig—voted to give CEO Dawn Distler massive bonuses, including a 20.5% hike ($72,000) in February 2025.
The Political Link: Mark Derrig isn't just a board president; he is the Chairman of the Summit County Democratic Party.
This is the two-party protection racket: A political party leader oversees a government board that hires $290-an-hour "union avoidance" lawyers to stall worker contracts while voting in secret to give the CEO a bonus larger than most drivers' annual salaries.
2. The "Union Trap": Backdoor Deals and Collusion.
This isn't just an Akron problem. Across Ohio, union leadership has traded the interests of their members for "access" to the duopoly.
The HB6 Blueprint: We saw it with the billion-dollar FirstEnergy bailout. Politicians and union bosses used workers as a "human shield" to pass a corporate subsidy, while those same workers saw their utility bills spike to pay for the bribery.
The PLA Pay-to-Play: Democrats mandate Project Labor Agreements to ensure union-only bidding; in exchange, union leaders funnel millions (nearly $9 million in 2024) back into Democratic PACs. Meanwhile, the GOP cuts "backdoor" deals for corporate tax breaks, leaving the taxpayer—and the independent worker—with the bill.
3. The 2026/2027 Strategy: We The People 250.
The cabal survives because it has a monopoly on power. They want you to believe that voting for anyone else is a "wasted vote." They are wrong. In 2026, the Libertarian Party of Ohio is launching the We The People 250 campaign. This is more than a voter registration drive; it is a declaration of independence from the two-party machine.
The 2026 Target: We are registering the voters who are tired of being "human shields" for corporate welfare.
The 2027 Mandate:
We are recruiting candidates for the 2027 local elections. While the cabal focuses on national theater, we are taking back the Township Trustee seats, City Councils, and School Boards—the places where property taxes are actually decided and where secret executive sessions like the one in Akron can be stopped.
Strike Against the Duopoly: Vote Your Liberty
The definition of insanity is voting for the same two parties and expecting them to stop taking your money. In 2026 and 2027, don’t just "vote your union" or "vote your party." Vote your home. Vote your paycheck. Vote Libertarian.
JOIN THE WE THE PEOPLE 250 MOVEMENT STOP THE AKRON CABAL: RUN IN 2027
INFOGRAPHIC: THE CABAL vs. THE WORKER
THE RIGGED SYSTEM (The Cabal)THE OHIO WORKER (The Victim)
AKRON METRO: CEO gets a $72,000 bonus while hiring "union avoidance" lawyers.AKRON DRIVERS: 18+ months without a contract or a raise; no restroom breaks.
THE POLITICAL BOSS: Party Chairs sit on government boards to control the cash.THE TAXPAYER: Property taxes spike to fund executive bloat and corporate bailouts.
BACKDOOR DEALS: Union PACs fund the very politicians who freeze worker wages.THE INFLATION TAX: Your hard-earned money buys less while bosses' bonuses grow.
THE "GAG ORDER": Leadership silences members to protect "access" to power.THE LIBERTARIAN VOTE: The only way to break the 250-year-old cycle of corruption.
Keith Castillo, Libertarian Candidate, Ohio, CD 13
Paid for by friends of Keith for Ohio
Posted on 20 Mar 2026, 11:06 - Category: Congressional District 13