John Mathias Engler Rejoices in Michigan's Economic Depression

Responseto Michigan View’s Henry Payne in “Nerd ignores Granholm's 'vision' Detroit News on Jan 1, 2011

The troubles of Michigan's worst economic crisis, huge unemployment, and loss of manufacturing-the worst in nearly four fifths of a century- is seen by Engler as "'THE" OPPORTUNITY" for his GOPers and "something that we all (Michigan Republicans to whom he was speaking) have been waiting for."

Have been "waiting for"? What does that mean?

Only Engler would find this kind of excitement in our dire times - a prime opportunity. An opportunity for what?

Only those of us who know and understand Engler's role played in the run-up to these hard times know that his remarks are predicated on the fact that Engler had every of Michigan governance under his control for an extended period, and failed to protect us from the failed presidency of George W. Bush. Jobs were being lost by the tens of thousands on a "pick up pace" and there was a 1.7 billion dollar shortfall in state revenues-deficit-when Engler handed the escalating crisis to Gov. Granholm.

Engler raged that he inherited an over 1 billion dollar deficit from Gov. Blanchard, yet for all his "Revolution" machinations, ENGLER PASSED ON TO GOV. GRANHOLM AN EVEN LARGER 1.7 BILLION DEFICIT. So down peacock feathers!

Since the early 1980's Engler, already ensconced in the state legislature, and Republicans holding a least one branch of the legislatue have had a major role in the policies and practices that created this mess.
Much of the budget, structural and economic problems of the state were developed and promoted under Republican control-who have had either complete or partial control, e.g. the State Senate of Michigan legislation, for decades.

Truly, only an extreme partisan, such as Engler is, would see this crisis time as "WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR."

Imagine the kind of misanthropic mind it would take to exalt in the "the opportunity" that the Michigan one-state depression would provide. The answer it's the fact that such a terrible crisis presents radical right wingers a prime opportunity to take advantage of such a crisis to do harm to their political and ideological enemies under the guise of "emergency fixes" designed to disenfranchise those Engler and company have habitually attacked.

Milton Friedman invented : A crisis is an opportunity.

Engler views Michigan as giving his brand of "revolution" (a classic example of "disaster capitalism)" a perfect segue to cuts and re-invention/"fixes" to be used to reshape the Michigan economy and infrastructure in the interests of business" and to trash the public sector-the pet campaign of Engler.

"It seems to me that this is THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US and it's SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR," Engler said.

Engler's sentiment reflects his personal lust for political reprisal and retribution, while the context and content of moderate Gov. Rick Snyder's inaugural speech are in sharp contrast a pro-active move to recovery.


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