Nerd Snyder Goes Engler’s Mississippiafication of Michigan One Better: Rick’s Kicked Michigan’s Future Right Into the Crapper

John Engler presided over the beginnings of the future Mississippiafication of Michigan, now Snyder and the greenpea majority TeaPublicans have just taken the State a dozen giant steps further in that dreadful direction.

Recently John Mathias Engler has become a subject of renewed interest in Michigan media. He was a star panelist at the tax-hater sponsored Mackinac Leadership Conference in September of 2009. Engler's friends are happy "the fat boy" is back. But it isn't the best of times for Engler in the big picture here in Michigan. Most notably because pro-China Engler has been taken to task by state industrialists and the Traverse City Record Eagle as being vindictive, obstructionist and anti-Michigan manufacturing:

"Our own former governor has been completely blinded by the larger business interests that are running the NAM," Herb Trute, a southeast/downstate tool and die executive told Crain's: "And it's patently obvious to me that they have done very little to help the plight of the small manufacturer. "

Engler and the NAM have "betrayed" domestic manufacturers in U.S. dealings with the Chinese. 

That editorial was chased by a follow-up letter to the Record Eagle from Joyce Braithwaite Brickley, who served as a long-time top aide to former governor William Milliken. She made this observation about the record and character of John Engler:

"No two people on the face of the earth are more familiar with the machinations and childishness of former Gov. John Engler. We put up with his small tricks, dishonesty and continuous negativity over our 15 years in the governor's office when Engler was in the state Legislature." 

John Engler is a star example of a payroller politician's devotion to one's own advancement in politics at the expense of person ingenuity and civic responsibility.

Engler's policies deserve some deserve credit for helping Michigan in the '90's, however the success of the Engler Era (a robust state economy under Clinton/Gore boom) meant the national economy did most of the work, not Engler. 

Engler killed the high tech corridor which was first proposed by his predecessor, a diversification that would have built on our stellar state universities and skilled workforce at the time and would have put Michigan ahead of other regions and headed off the downward spiral of our over-dependence on the auto. Engler also failed to secure statewide "latest generation access" to the internet.

There are others who falsely believed that Engler's philosophy and tactics, while onerous and meanspirited, (constantly touted by the Detroit News and its conjoined philosophical twin, corporatist/insurance endowed and controlled Mackinac Center) were "the" building blocks of a better future for Michigan.

All those Engler tax cuts and give backs should have produced a "new economy" which would have taken the edge off our precipitous fall; when the auto companies and suppliers were sandbagged under George Bush and his former auto guy, Andrew Card which led to the near catastrophic disappearance of both GM and Chrysler.

If the Engler Era were the masterful marvel it bragged it was, and if, until just the before the 2002 election, the governorship, the entire state legislature and the judiciary was tightly controlled by mavens of Englernomics: Why did Michigan's fabulous manufacturing base and its world class, high-pay jobs market tank? 

Michigan's sharp decline started well before John Engler had cleared his mementos from the governor's suite? John left office having seen thousands of jobs lost and he left Jennifer Granholm a deficit of over one billion dollars.

Now, due to inherent and systemic weaknesses and flaws built into Michigan governance by John Engler (Cut and Scrap state programs), coupled with the crippling effects of term limits, and the massive effects of a failed George W. Bush administration, huge national debt, and the Bush 2008 financial collapse, Michigan is on the ropes.

Who will rescue Michigan Republicans from the pitiless Englerite games Snyder and crowd desperately continue, trying to duplicate utilizing and expanding the harsh "bully boy" politics of "Big John"? 

What will it take to ferret out those anti-tax wing nuts whop hide behind the flypaper ideology they have hung for unassuming tax-hating rustics, all those who bought the touted Engler's Revolution theme: Just do more with less?

Yes, Engler left Granholm a staggering debt, over one billion dollars in the hole. Worse yet, Engler left an overpowering negativist political attitude that blocks any real effort at bi-partisan co-operation to face the new reality even as the Mackinac Center sees it:

"For starters, states with an "agricultural legacy" such as Mississippi typically have a long history of lower incomes. In a paper on right-to-work states, economist W. Robert Reed wrote that an 'important determinant' of current wages is how large a share of a state's total income in the past was generated by the agricultural sector: 'The economic past still casts a long shadow on the economic present.' Scholars (or politicians) who fail to consider a state's economic past may misinterpret reasons for its economic well-being or lack thereof today... In plain terms, Michigan began the time period covered ...as a relatively wealthy industrial powerhouse, but over the past 60 years has trended lower. Mississippi started dirt-poor and has made great strides against long odds and obstacles."

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Daniel Howes, The Detroit News/Mackinac Center News & Ignoratio Elenchi

Response to Daniel Howes in "Crises necessitate emergency managers" in the Detroit News on April 22, 2011.

A commenter reporting in from (Mt.) Olympus, Michigan has grown giddy breathing in all that anti-public sector gaseous blather. Defending our sacred right to ignore the poor, with the bromide: "Our poor are rich by comparison." This intentionally misleading assertion does not account for what it means to be poor and unemployed, or worse yet mentally ill and/or unemployable in present day Michigan.

Food banks, homelessness, and re-sale shops, all of which now abound, testify to real needs or our neighbors. The new blight and seedy/greedy "licensed to steal" store fronts e.g. the Cash Advance and the Title Loan Outlets are covering the old Main Streets like a black-leafed kudzu.

Then comes Danny Howes: His message, blessed by the billionaire Koch Brothers and "Amen-ed" by the crudely partisan TeaPublicans, is: "The EM law would not threaten democracy if elected officials and those empowered to represent public employees instead trained their finely tuned political antennae on financial reality and charting a path out - because someone has to get the job done."

Howes might have had help developing the physical/mental flexibility to swallow his own tail like unto some mythical beast, when he so twists his flawed analysis of the serious nature of Michigan's "one state depression" into a contorted mis-truth such as his screed of local government: "Boil it all down, and the biggest rap against Michigan's stiffened Emergency Manager law is that it's anti-democratic."

The entire nation is looking on. Michigan has become the focus of dread and awe. Is this what a Republican Majority cowed by a smattering of anti-tax, "we got ours, go get your own" rowdies can do to a powerful state in real trouble? 

Lead into the taller Weeds, Howes.

You're taking opinion in this state further to the bottom; in a manner that is so blithely arrogant and condescending that its bitterness, in you opines, cannot be assuaged or sweetened. In fact, Howler Howes, your interpretation of the Emergency Finance Managers' purpose runs 180 degrees to Gov. Snyder's envisioned purpose of that new act: Preventive Help.

"An EM could privatize public services, restructure departments, rewrite supply contracts, assess the affordability of pensions and post-retirement health-care obligations and - the Big Kahuna - reopen collective bargaining agreements."

The Big Kahuna, as Howes so inelegantly labels this crisis, is demeaning to the citizens, first responders, teachers and a fleet of others you give over to the privatizers and the high-fee lawyers-all of whom like bottom feeders, will harvest for themselves much of the savings you pretend to believe will be garnered by this Corporatist Take Over of Michigan's local governmental units. 

Remember the top yearly pay allowed for an EFM is limitless, even beyond the salary of the governor. Over 300 EFM's have been "trained" that is run through a crip course. Danny, how many places do you think they will be needed?

There are scores of DetNews regulars who will agree with Howe's assessment: "There would be scant need for a new law empowering state-appointed outsiders to make the hard choices for municipalities and school districts if the people hired to make those choices in the first place actually did their jobs." But agreeing with Howes' pronouncement does not detract that the coming crisis, on top of the current crisis, the crisis created by Snyder's cut off of historic block grants is part of his Retro-Englerite advisers' Rube Goldberg tax-and-shift; the outright giving of approximately $.2.2billions to Snyder's base, the business community stolen from education, the poor, the elders. And what have these businesses done to earn bonanza-this gift outright?. .....That's right, Nothing!

Howes has blackened the reputations and integrity of every local governmental official in the state when he snidely concludes in his delusions and deductions: local governmental officials as a class are slackers: "(T)hey mostly don't," do their jobs properly or professionally. Put down that tarry broad brush.

Howes sees Michigan as diseased. Everywhere he sees, " symptoms of a disease whose cure begins with an honest, disinterested, financially sound assessment of where a locality or school district stands, what its revenue is and how the two can be reconciled free from the push and pull of power politics." Howes' shortsighted criticisms are invalid and decidedly injurious to the Michigan commons.

How over-extended is Howes' logic. He picks the "richest county" in Michigan to use as a dashboard for the state: Oakland Co. Even in the Kingdom of Patterson, roads turn to rubble, snow goes un-plowed, pot-holes do their damaging havoc, but Howes sees a bit of hope (in what may still, yet be a downgrading ) in Oakland's AAA credit rating.

Collectively all of these "incompetents" (as outed and so labeled by Howes) see the emanate dangers and the coming storm: "It is completely understandable for elected officials, union leaders and (semi-informed) members of the news media (caught an MSNBC rant on Michigan's new EM law, lately?) to rail against the apparent anti-democratic hooks of the controversial EM law." But Danny is more knowledgeable than these, more sure of his prejudices, he is, for sure his own favorite "expert". Yet Rachel Maddow has shown light in a very dark corner; Howes obviously must look away.

The problem is in Lansing, Danny. It's the deadhead TeaPublican Legislature, it's their inability to see that things are - actually in an upward trend. The main problem is they're fans and water carriers of A.L.E.C (The American Legislative Exchange Council- a secretive far right/pro-corporate and secret legislative bill mill) and also perennial partisan enemies of unions and public servants. The public reactions will continue. Recall efforts are underway. When 1,000 march in Marquette, even a paperboy knows there's real discontent and change in the air.

If Howes wants to be a cheerleader for Grover Norquist and his anti-civic gaggle of bathtub-drowners and silly "NO TAX" Pledgers, let him go to D.C. and ply, take up, his twisted trade on K Street. 

Howes would have us believe its all about lack of money-state revenues. No Danny, it's much more, it's about a culture of greed and resentment from many encouraged to whine rather than participate; People talk radio agitated and refusing to share in the responsibility and obligations of freedom and citizenship.

Gov. Milliken faced similar budget crisis problems; his good faith and belief in people; and a consensus to find real, across-the-board sharing; and even a temporary raise in taxes combo, brought us through former tough times. 

Look around, the wide-spread Koch Brothers' coup being rammed through state legislatures across America; represented in part by their paid mercenaries and the front they created, Americans for Prosperity; It becomes clear the Mega Wealthy have an "bum's rush" agenda designed in their favor.

This is an all-out attack on the Middle Class and a usurpation of dreadful opportunity created by a G.W. Bush induced near-Depression-crash of our national economy. For Bros. Koch, Amway, The Wal-mart Waltons, et. al. It has become an prime "disaster capitalist opportunity" to cash in on economic woe to carry out ideological and partisan reprisals and massive "take-backs."

For shame, Howes, in all of this you've become part of the greater problem, not the cure.


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Celebrating the Many Things That Made Hon. William G. Milliken a Great Governor

We Honor the Traits That Made William G. Milliken, Michigan's Longest Serving Governor, a Superb Example.

Let's start by enumerating the things Gov. Bill Milliken was NOT about:

He was not about raw power...
He was not about ambition...
He was not about profit before charity...
He was not about instituting arbitrary/dictatorial authority over local communities...
He was not about retribution or revenge...
He was not about looting the public's investment in civic institutions...He built and sustained them, even in several severe economic downturns...
He was not about sanctioning the majority to abuse or undermined the rights of the minority...He sat at the governors conference table, week after week, with both sides, and helped to build both cooperation and consensus...
He was not about putting profit and loss above the public good...

So What Did Milliken's Excellent Example Teach Us About Good Governorship? He Taught Us Statesmanship With Character.

He was about community and our children--the future!
He taught us it is all about credibility- expressed in constructive public policy.
He showed us all about serving to protect and enhance the commons, the natural resources.
He excelled in modeling for us honor and respect for the historic achievements of human and individual rights...especially in his concern for Inner City Detroit.
He reminded us governing is all about protecting the weak, the poor, the elderly, and the victims of crime, the disadvantaged, and the mentally ill; and it is about defending the public servants who serve them.
He knew it is all about the deeply human spirit.

Gov. Milliken has a personal understanding, that sacred sense of the high office and knowing the hearts of the people of his state, coupled with a driven sense of leadership that encompasses, yet today, the broader and deeper spiritual sense of the "common welfare of all."

In a word, Gov.William G. Milliken, tutored Michigan about doing the right thing in good times and bad: Acting on an equal basis regardless of race, class, achievement or life circumstance, putting people ahead of enterprise, denying favoritism and powerful players, for the good of every soul dwelling within one's state; so help us God.


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Rick Snyder’s Political Hell: Tricky Rick has “100 Kalkaska’s” Staring Him Straight In The Face

Remember Kalkaska! Snyder's underdeveloped sense of politics will confront him during the coming statewide crisis. Tricky Rick was busy the day the "Kalkaska thing" blew open in the national media. Snyder's way, way beyond his personal capacity to get out unscathed and he's about to take down the entire giddy, triumphant GOP majority as he loses effective ability to lead the state....

Snyder's Very Stubborn and Fiercely Proud.
We learn this from those trying to reason with him. This fact is coming from those inside the paneled walls, from his select team. Outside, fellow Republicans are getting a near-death chill. What looked an easy and slick political coup, setting back opponents 50 years, has become a deadly and inflamed civic travesty.

Peek Inside Snyder's Political Hell
When Michigan seniors learn of their heavy hit, a 300% increase in their tax burden and the media's human interest stories begin to crank out about how Miss Peach is being evicted from her home due to her inability to pay her new "Snyder Tax" every bright and even the "no clue" politicians in the Republican Caucus will be heading for the tall grass. Tea Party advocates will be pulling a "who me?" as they fall away, disassociating themselves from traditional Republicans over "new taxes."

When the harsh and heavy cuts in the Lansing BIG GOVERNMENT controlled school foundation grant is cut by $470 or more, parents will panic and schools will go into chaos and shutdown.

When small cities like Saginaw see a tailored Brooks Brothers suited, Bloomfield Hills attorney arrive at their city hall in his performance BMW; given full authority to run the town, like a dictator. Reality will dawn on the local officals and the angered public as they learn just what it means to be shutdown and liquidated, slick attorney style; and not on the cheap either. An Emergency Finance officer is permitted under the new GOP legislation to earn far more than even the Governor's salary per year, plus expenses, and like the days under the Colonial British, where households were forced to billet Red Coats, these cities will be forced to pony-up the lawyer's expenses, with no recourse.

As the state sees the Michigan State Police so reduced in numbers as to become an ineffective force for major crime investigations and pulled off the freeways to be replaced by far less professional, politically controlled sheriff's county mounties, a sense of dread and fear for public safety will be palatable.
As the reality of the plight of over 800,000 poor families and families with children are forced off assistance and have to go literally begging to local churches and neighbors for food and shelter, Rick Snyder will become a despised Dickensian pinchpenny troll.. Michigan is better than that. Becoming a Mecca of Misery has no appeal to companies considering "culture" and "quality of life" as they look for possible new start-ups in Michigan.

Conservative activists and diehards are panicked. Reports one conservative blogger:

"No Michigan city has ever gone into Chapter 9 bankruptcy, (Charles Moore, senior managing director at Conway MacKenzie Inc., a turnaround and restructuring firm based in Birmingham ) said, nor has any school district, although Kalkaska ended one school year early in the 1990s after it ran out of money.

"But all government entities are feeling more pain as Michigan's economy continues its sluggish recovery from a decade-long downturn that substantially worsened in the 2008-09 recession.

"And now Snyder's proposal to cut revenue sharing for local governments by $100 million and school districts by nearly $800 million in the budget year starting Oct. 1 could push more governments toward financial distress."

This right-leaning blogger went on to quote a Flint Firefighter about the measure Andy Dillon has made to "soften" opposition to the EFM's by proposing that a mayor may be given the powers of an EFM. To which the firefighter, experienced in his department's calls to up to 10 emergencies at day, expresses a new fear:

"The biggest fear I have is that they give a mayor or a city manager the same powers as a financial manager. That person could abuse that authority."

The opportunities for cronyism, corruption, and abuse are rife in the design of this terrible Snyder-led legislation, designed to create heavy pressure on local units to force local workers to surrender pensions and working conditions, as well as cutting salaries.

The Snyder plan to decertify unions and raise havoc with workers is a brutally cruel move, far more injurious to our local institutions than the acts of Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin, all Snyder claims to the contrary. The present GOP majorities in the legislature have forgotten, if they have even yet learned, the tables will turn, and the public's ire will be focused on them and not the present crisis Snyder wants to take advantage of. What they need to realize is that that's to be expected. Only pro-active, collaborative legislation and a healthy sense of the zoom-out view will benefit the party and Michigan in the long-run.

The Republican blogger ends with this lament: 

"The Bill Milliken saying is that GOOD POLICY IS GOOD POLITICS. I rarely agree with anything Milliken did, to the point where I'd vote for most democrats over him. That saying is true, and the inverse is even more true. Bad policy is bad politics. SNYDER IS PUSHING BAD POLICY RIGHT NOW. IT'S HORRIBLE POLITICS." 

There'll be hell to pay.


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When Is Totally Insane Nerdonomics Not Totally Bonkers, Way Beyond Crazy?

Nerdonomics: Gov. Rick Snyder's wide-ranging proposals have made it shockingly evident what's at risk for citizens of this state. 

Many services and essential state functions are dangerously at stake here in Michigan.

Truth be told: Businesses will realize more than a HUMONGOUS 80% DECREASE IN TAXES.

Nerdonomics demands, not a reasonable 10 percent cut, not a generous 20 percent or even half 50% cut; nor does it call for a temporary cuts to tide the state over (WWMD-What Would Milliken Do)"but a FULL 82 PERCENT DROP IN BUSINESS TAXES.

Michigan's Business Tax now generates $2.1 billion in revenue to help pay for vital services such as education, help for abused kids, and public safety, etc. as business' share of civic responsibility.

Under NERDONOMICS THAT WILL PLUMMET to $392 MILLIONS IN FY 2013; first full year of the tax changes are in effect. House Fiscal Agency Director Mitch Bean this week used a different base in his accounting to compute an EVEN BIGGER DROP - 86 PERCENT.

THIS WILL OCCUR AT THE EXACT SAME TIME PERSONAL INCOME TAXES WILL CLIMB A WHOPPING 31 PERCENT. That will not be shared equally. In fact those at the high end of the economic ladder (THE VERY WELL OFF, THE ECONOMIC ELITES, MANY OF WHOM WILL HAVE ALSO SEEN THEIR BUSINESSES SKIM UP TO AN 86 % GIVE BACK FROM NERDOMOMICS) will see the biggest TAX REDUCTION WINDFALL as the income tax rate shrinks from 4.35 percent to 4.25 percent.


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