Detroit: Behemoth 'Motor City' Whale Fights for Its Life as Snyder's EM & Scavengers Circle

As the sea of concern and support is siphoned away by Grover Norquist & the Michissippian TeaPublican  militant minions (Michigan Tea Party Republican) made up of many of Michigan's ideological scavengers, the large and once awesome form of the 'whale' metaphorically called the "Motor City Behemoth" becomes clearly visible: gasping for air, suffering in its darkest hour, it's thick hide filled with scars, spears, broken harpoons with long and tangled lines, and wounds to defy description.

Detroit Public Assets: Stripping and Scavenging anything and everything of Value
(16th Cent. Woodcut Royal Maritime Museum)

The Behemoth ‘Motor City’ Whale Fights for Its Life in Grover Norquist’s Drained & Drying ‘No Tax’ Clawfoot Tub

Deprived of the ocean of support it needed to prosper and survive, the 'whale' has been purposefully, more and more cut-off from normal human concern. Dry-docked by years of political neglect and blame-speaking by Too Far Right Republicans from out-state and confined by the noose of competing suburban elites, the gigantic 'whale' is now being carved up. Its great hulk is crushed by predators and scavengers, desecrated and purposefully neglected by a strong and very angry, repriseful,  TeaPartisan led lock-stepped Michigan's state government--all four branches of which have chosen to let it die, as it were.

The growing stench is unbearable and Oh! the inhumanity of it all.

Republican Leadership Sees Advantage in Detroit City's Economic Implosion & Seeks to Lay the Blame on the role of Government and Democrats

Here's how Saul Anuzis seeks to dole out blame for the downfall of Detroit City. Unwilling to make his own personal statement of fact, Anuzis did so by forwarding to Republicans statewide this generic piece from a third source titled “Detroit Nears Bankruptcy.“:

"It's hard to think of many social experiments that have more disastrously failed. Now many of these once flourishing cities are hollowed out shells, while around them suburbs and increasingly exurbs flourish away from the deadening influence of urbanist politics. None of this affects the hold of progressive and urbanist ideology on true believers; if anything, they believe even more passionately in the cause."

“Obviously the problem is that we haven't spent enough on enough tenured teachers, haven't written enough new regulations and established enough new bureaus to enforce them, haven't published enough white papers by enough credentialed planners, haven't extracted enough taxes and provided enough services. If we could just tax the suburbs and exurbs more heavily and spend more of the money in the cities, all would be well." 

Source: "Detroit Nears Bankruptcy" in The American Interest, March 11, 2012.

So the downfall of the city falls on its current residents, both in Anuzis' ideological mindset and in terms of affected Detroiters, with an  inability to buck the system and rise above the withdrawal of elite support or to obtain  further financial commitment. Thus the crisis will be framed by harsh critics in terms of today's challenges. All relevant references to the lead-up, decades of systemic abandonment and Jim Crow shortcomings, will be dismissed as 'old history' or irrelevant. But such is NOT THE CASE.

The failure seen today is long-term failure, deliberate neglect, which has inhabited wrongful decisions made time and again by the powerful, not by the state’s  poor or the victims of cruel conservatism.  A working faction of opinion leaders and corporatists have for years opposed and undermined an effective collaboration and bi-partisan responsibility for such root causes of the great Detroit failures of industry, banking, real estate, religion, or state partisan politics.  As they allowed the core city Detroit to be undermined and eroded of its viability, things escalated to this danger point, made much worse by the G.W. Bush Great Recession. Yes, we may include the majority minority citizens, those who now dwell in the shell-shocked remnants of a once great and thriving city of commerce, the arts, and industry.  They do have a more minor role, but out of the negativity, unemployment, years of assistance and Jim Crow they were and are divided and confined to powerlessness. They have no status to pull the levers of intervention and lack the ability to tap the resources of investment and renewal other than their vote and personal efforts in community or houses of worship--wherever support can be gathered.

Just How Did Detroit's Supporting Tide Recede? It took years and in involved the deliberate abandonment of Detroit by key elements:

• The need for manual labor, as during the auto boom years and the great wars, receded. Automation and foreign competition for superior product and the ravishes of overseas outsourcing have taken down the tide that floats us all in Michigan's world of automaking. One important and outstanding impact of the loss of auto related jobs is the loss of these well-paid jobs to men and women of color!
• Businesses have fled the core city. Hudson's fled downtown in a final shoppers' collapse. GM retreated from its historic former headquarters to the more moated and in-crenelated waterfront - the former the Renaissance Center complex.
• Urban grocery stores are now limited-service, often over-priced. Fresh fruits and vegetables are in limited, or non-existent supply.
• Black and minority children are relegated to neglect and abandonment by a complex list of social and spiritual maladies.
• The lack of adequate transportation for people confined to an urban area without personal transportation is daunting and a virtual impediment to jobs and getting to and from jobs on time.
• The core of remaining corporations and heavy-hitter investors has marched retreat. Business Leaders for Michigan has gathered the shards of the former Detroit Renaissance into a very aggressive posture:  “We want the power and we are prepared to use state government to get that power and financial, physical control. There are assets we will take or remove from urban Detroit via our support and full participation in PA #4, the Emergency Manager scheme.” Two leading and important A list corporations illustrate the BLM's own internal instability: the exit of both Comerica and American Axle from Detroit.  And the B list is long.
• Religious and sectarian forces  focused for decades around Dick & Betsy DeVos and the American Federation for Children have moved against the Public Schools of Detroit. Dozens of neighborhood schools are closed and gone. A wildfire crop of for-our-own-profit private charters paid with public tax dollars has been franchised by the TeaPublican 2011 super majority and the take down of 'government' schools is moving ahead unabated. Hundreds of career minority teachers are gone.
• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Detroit has over the last decades slammed shut dozens of parish/neighborhood churches. Some of the many thousands of abandoned dwellings and structures which house crack dens and child rapists are properties the Church owns or controls.
• Republicans and Corportists' ham-fisted desire to achieve homogeneity over unions, especially public service unions, has led to a litany of anti-union legislative grab-backs, health care limitations, retirement reductions, tax on public sector pensioners, and all manner of other devices such as dues control, and other on-going legislative intimidation.
• Suburban/Urban political and governmental infighting rages on.
• The withdrawal of Michigan State Police from the urban freeways will become retrogressive and threatening.
• The Black Middle Class flight from Detroit is a strong tell-tell of the growing disillusionment of successful minorities in regard to a productive and sustainable quality of life in urban Detroit.
• The level of social and familial problems in the core city, while it actually mirrors the kinds of problems or concerns of the nation's entire population (e.g. unwed mothers, many juveniles themselves) would appear to undercut future enculturation and success for those locked in this urban ghetto.
• Drug use is rampant. The failure to stem the highly successful pipeline of drugs from origin to destination on Detroit's city streets, while alarming and sinister, with its many criminal off-shoots, does not take from the drug culture the fact that even larger numbers of white Americans are customers than are Blacks for these illegal substances.
• The number of felons arising out of Detroit's morass (unemployment, early drop-outs, drugs, and vagrancy)  bode horribly for its future. With unemployment in or near the mid-twenty percent range for these many youths, what can be the possibilities for them? Even if they serve their time, when released they're felons and are negatively 'marked for life,' frozen out of good pay jobs.
• The cut-off of revenue sharing from Lansing [around $4 BILLION cut from Detroit and other municipalities by Michigan’s legislature 2001-2010], while at the same time billions of taxpayer dollars are currently being poured into commercial coffers is part of a deliberate business 'bailout' system.
• Plus the clever political chicanery designed to present an appearance that Michissippian TeaPublicans are not Wisconsin Walkerites, while forcing governmental units to face EM management and throw out contracts,  belies TeaPublicans are disassembling Collective Bargaining by a insidious, forced mechanism.

The Truth is out. 

Central planners in the pro-business cabal of Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Insurance Lobbyists, The Business Leaders for Michigan, the National Heritage Foundation’s  spin-off-The Mackinac Center for Public Policy (Between 2002 and 2009, the Mackinac Center's donors included the Charles G. Koch Foundation with $69,151), and rogue elements best identified as anti-public schools/anti-unions Amway Corporation and Americans for Prosperity/Koch Bros.  whose out-state contributions funneled through the 2010 Snyder Campaign $900K] have chosen to make the historic downturn under the G.W.B. Great Recession  their moment to utilize economic emergency turning it into prized 'opportunity' for achieving long-sought goals via Disaster Capitalism.

The advent of the Emergency Manager-style fascism is especially onerous. Such subterfuge and dictatorial power, in the hands of a Corporatocracy and band of highly-skilled and ruthless corporate law and accounting firms,  means drastic, undemocratic cancer will ravish our state's governmental units--all in a blatant and ideological attempt to achieve a long lasting homogeneity over liberalism and Democrats and groups, such as unions, with political abilities and powers.

-----

And then there is this: a haunting and threatening history of extreme racism related to the history of Detroit. Former Appeals Court Judge, the late Glenn Allen put it on point.  To Wall Street the shadow of Detroit is  a metropolis with a strong history, of a "low threshold" for Jim Crow, racial unrest, and violence. That fact is never 'out of mind' with investors.

“Judge Allen "was a paragon of public service and personal integrity," said Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura D. Corrigan upon hearing of his passing. Glenn Allen had served, among many other things, as Special Counsel for Legal, Fiscal and Legislative Affairs under Bill Milliken from 1971-74.

FINAL OBSERVATION:  Responding to crisis with "The Ghost Mayor,"  March 17, 2012,  Charlie LeDuff, Pulitzer Prize Winner, has sounded a clear alarm: Given the possibility that the validation of the anti-PA 4 Petition Drive suspends the EM operations until November's election, Gov. Rick Snyder's options are narrowed. "The governor might then use the only stick left in his bag. Let the city drown. According to LeDuff:

"Already vendors and contractors are not getting paid and the city will run out of cash in a month. That means cops,  paramedics and tax collectors won't get paid. Ambulances won't get fixed. Parks won't open.

Under that scenario, you can expect a long, hot, bloody summer." 
(emphasis added)

LISTEN UP ALL PARTIES: Financially taking down Detroit City is not ultimately about political winners and losers; it's about a city with hundreds of thousands of men, women, boys and girls and what is to become of their welfare.

What is done, the spirit with which it is done, and the potential of suspending and abandoning the provisions of the Civil Rights Act and the Voter Rights Act if Detroit is not financially made solvent for its necessary operations beyond April, will have far greater and more crippling, far-reaching negative impacts than this state and its present governmental mindset can bear or handle.

What then?  Game over?

Related Slate: "Michigan GOP's Power Grab Thievery: Patterson's 30 Year Jim Crow / EM Plot to Steal Detroit's Royal Jewels & Liquid Assets"

More on Detroit and Emergency Management on the Gazette.

Original.

Michigan GOP's Power Grab Thievery: Patterson's 30 Year Jim Crow / EM Plot to Steal Detroit's Royal Jewels & Liquid Assets

Jim Crow Is Ready to Deliver: Detroit’s EM “Plantation Takeover” Is Poised to Reward L. Brooks Patterson In His 30 Year Battle With Detroit Over Control of Detroit's Water & Sewerage Department

It took 30 years, but with Rick Snyder's ink on TeaPublican EM legislation, L. Brooks Patterson hovers over his long-sought goal, ready to pounce: Control of Detroit's multi-billion dollar water works-a coming reality within the egis of Snyder's retro - Jim Crow EM Plantation regime. City residents and their elected officials are to be disenfranchised and shutout of power.

Tyrannical state-controlled bureaucracy and highly-paid corporate lawyers replace local sovereignty and are commissioned to do as they please, no public control or limits on their entitlement to carry out radical liquidation of assets, destroy or ignore labor contracts,hire and fire at will, obtain new bids or cancel others, etc. Gone are the civil servants of yesterday, like Detroit's 19th century benefactor Chauncy Hurlbut, whose dedication and generosity to the common good made the Water Works possible.

Detroit Water Works (Cira 1910) (Burton Collection Detroit Public Library/UofM)

Privatizing and cannibalizing of Detroit's waterworks is but one of a longer list of "crown jewels" long lusted for, coveted by special business and corporate interests. The list includes, privatizing Cobo Hall, seizing Detroit City's electric grid, and privatizing conversion of Detroit Metro Airport into the part of the (Business Leaders for Michigan) BLM's expanded Aerotropolis scheme. And wait there's more.

The Old Curmudgeon Triumphs in His Dotage
L. Brooks Patterson's decades long, bitter battle with Detroit Water & Sewerage Department is about to payoff super big time. Patterson's Snyder backed and immanent multi-billon dollar "asset grab" is just an EM maneuver or two away!

Before the Reign of EM begins in earnest, a bit of local history.

The Sunday Detroit News, January 29, 1995, ran an editorial debate between Kay Everett, a Detroit City council member and the brash and bodacious L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive; the topic: Liquid Assets, "Should Detroit's Water and Sewerage Department Be Regionalized?"

Councilwoman Everett's position:

"The system is not for sale." "...(W)e (Detroiters) must be prepared to fight. The attempt to take our precious jewel, our water system, is real...we will not accept a friendly or otherwise takeover of our company."

In this historic, published News debate, political powerhouse Patterson laid out his position and harked back to the über conservative Heartland Institute to frame Brooks' stated 1996 aim: privatization and take over of Detroit Water & Sewerage.

Patterson's position:

"The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is operated by the city of Detroit and it is governed by a seven-member Board of Water Commissioners, all of whom are appointed by the mayor of Detroit. Four of the board's members must reside in the city of Detroit, and three others are chosen to represent Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

"The suburbs' lack of adequate representation on the board is ironic considering that the 120 communities, which contract with the Detroit department for wholesale service, account for 73 percent of the total water usage. The irony continues when one realizes the water system was built and expanded primarily with federal grants and user rates, not on the backs of Detroit taxpayers."

Patterson, is a wizard at casting canards to make his head-bashing claims, back in 1996 this was his choice of anti-Detroit put down:

"For more than 20 years, the suburban users have been treated to continual horror stories, including allegations of mismanagement, fraud, bad debt, no-bid contracts, exorbitant rate increases and hundreds of thousands of dollars in late penalties to Detroit Edison. Is it little wonder that the suburban users who are locked into a monopolistic system look for alternatives?"

To hone his boisterous negative zingers, Patterson's infamous trademark "gift", Brooks in 1996 harked back an additional 21 years to "April 1974 and May 1977," to cite certain past operations violations.

Has Patterson pursued an alternative to build newer and modern water and sewer system(s) for his Oakland County's municipal units and/or those total 120 communities which need service in the last 30 years? (Such a system Brooks could have controlled and managed at will.) No. Then, as now in 1995, Boss Patterson, ever the godfather of suburban politics and patronage, was looking for "privatization" or as it now stands and is altogether possible: The EM forced/outright sale of the Detroit Water & Sewerage to a private corporation or business combine.

Patterson's citing of the rad right Heartland Institute's proposal, September 1992, Brooks felt he had found a "convincing argument for privatization." Said Patterson then:

"In order to meet the growing needs laid out by the EPA....many communities across the nation have sold their waste-water plants to private firms, allowing private firms to build, run and operate new plants [along] with units of government, and contract with private firms to take over the management of government-owned facilities."

In Patterson's 1995 print debate, he cited again a litany of other Detroit based flaws and problems as proof of the need to take from Detroit city the control its Water and Sewerage department. Brooks laid down a challenge:

"[Detroit] prove to us, your suburban customers, that the water and sewer services are delivered in the most cost-effective manner possible. If not, then it's time to consider other options such as privatization or, absent that, the development of a new Southeast Michigan Regional Water and Sewer Authority..."

Stealing Detroit's Crown Jewels: Brooks Patterson's Big Grab - Detroit's Liquid Assets

As Detroit Councilwoman Kay Everett effectively pointed out in her rebuttal:

"Today (1995), we deliver water to 120 communities in eight counties. That's 43% of the state's population! The fine work of our 2,817 (1996 total employee count) dedicated employees should be applauded. We provide steady, quality, reliable sewerage treatment services for 75 communities, which is 35% of Michigan's population...note our (1995) rates are fair and reasonable. The rates charged our suburban customers are MARKED UP GREATLY BY THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHEN THEY SELL IT RETAIL TO THEIR CUSTOMERS-ant the hike is blamed on Detroit. In short, THE SUBURBAN GOVERNMENTS ARE MAKING MONEY ON OUR WATER!"
(emphasis added)

In 2012, nearly 20 years later, during the latest skirmish in this 30-Year War the battle continues with the same attackers, from the same trenches, with the same ammunition, but now supported by the Snyder shock doctrine of the Emergency Manager/Martial Law. The defense this time is manned by Michigan State Senate from Detroit Coleman Alexander Young II, in a well-crafted Op-Ed on the Huffington Post March 9, 2012 in "The Well is Running Dry":

"Efforts are under way to seize control of Detroit's Water and Sewerage Department, taking it away from the people and putting it into the hands of a private company. If this happens the people of Detroit will have no well at all.
(break)
The legislation introduced that would take control of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department out of the hands of the people of Detroit and into the hands of a governing board comes from the play book of the Mackinac Center (for Public Policy). This conservative, pro-big business group has a long history of supporting corporate interests over the needs of people. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is the third largest provider of water and waste water services in the United States. It currently runs as a non-profit basing its rates solely on the costs of providing services. If the Mackinac Center had its way, Detroit Water would be turned over to a private corporation, whose sole motivation would be profit. As water is an essential element for life, the people of Detroit would have little choice but to pay the increased rates charged by the new corporate owners of our well.

Water is a precious, life-giving resource, not a commodity to be exploited by greed. The only way to ensure it stays that way is to keep Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, our well, in the hands and control of the people."
(emphasis added)

Centuries Apart: Public Service vs. Private Profits from Public Services
Chauncy Hurlbut (Left) Civil Servant and Detroit Water Works benefactor (c.1855)
and L. Brooks Patterson (Right) Public Profiteer / Profitizer (c.1995)

Patterson's Back
Patterson is still around in 2012, 17 years later. He, as a gnarled fixture, is about to succeed in his decades-long power struggle with Detroit. As so clearly shown in the dictatorial tyranny surrounding the debacle of the current Pontiac EM regime located in Patterson's County, the Detroit Water Department will go on the block and with stunning speed. What could not be accomplished by Boss Patterson via compromise or regional cooperation will now be done via the extreme powers of a Jim Crow/Teapartisan assisted legislative super-majority, whose radical franchise of EM Plantations (metastasizing across Michigan) will make it "legal" for L. Brooks Patterson et. al. to "steal" one of the crown jewels of the Motor City. This action in no way improves life in urban Detroit, it acts recklessly, further impoverishing and humiliating a majority minority city.

This kind of maneuver is what clever race radicals can do, utilizing the power of legislation and the police powers of the state, to put/keep feared minorities under the thumb of the New EM "Jim Crow" régime and in their place-said to be in the "best interest of the general public" - total control under the repressive EM plantation scheme. EM includes fire and police protection, maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure (roads and bridges), tens of thousands of abandoned homes and buildings, and much more.

Detroit is learning what it means to be separate and legally unequal without franchise, without regress, without local control. These wrongful acts of Dillon & Snyder Inc. will serve to illustrate how eerily like indentured servitude, or life under slavery just surviving on a Dillon/Snyder EM plantation can be.

Detroit citizens' freedom and franchise, local control and autonomy, are not high priorities for L. Brooks. He's about to grab a coveted Detroit's Crown Jewel; delivered to him on a silver platter. If it weren't quasi-legal (to be challenged by ballot initiative and court action) under TeaPublican EM legislation, it would be a historic miscarriage of justice and miscarriage of equal rights strongly akin to the injustice enforced upon Dred Scott.

In point of fact, legal or not, EM will be condemned far into the future as a failure of democracy and basic human rights for all Michigan citizens. Gov Rick Snyder and the Republicans will soon own the future of the City of Detroit, something they are very ill-prepared to handle.

----- 

Dancing a Jig on the Grave of Mayor Bing's Administration
 Detroit News' Hank Payne jubilant ebullience over the immanent fall of Detroit's Mayor Dave Bing and the all encompassing imposition of "plantation style" Dillon/Snyder total Detroit Emergency Manager dictatorial control is evident in his recent opinion. What's so grand about all local rights of governance and voter sovereignty about to be indefinitely suspended/eliminated. Helpless Bing and Detroiter's will only be allowed to watch as municipal assets are put up for grabs via the Business Leaders for Michigan (Former Detroit Renaissance) game plan.

According to Payne in "Bing's failing franchise", March 9, 2012, shortfall finances have Detroit on the block for hostile takeover and conversion to an EM Plantation by as early as next month:

"Nearly three months ago, Treasurer Andy Dillon issued a preliminary state review of city finances detailing a bleak picture of a metropolis heading for April insolvency. With long-term debt at $12 billion, the city was paying out $597 million in debt payments. That is, more than its Big 3 revenue fund generators - income taxes, property taxes, and casinos - combined ($538 million)."

EM's Winners & Losers
The EM plantations include the same ideological spirit; the bare-knuckled and partisan attacks such as John Engler & Co. rolled out as prototypes of top down control back as far as 30 years ago. Now on steroids, via the TeaPublican takeover of the state legislature, statewide civic mayhem gains momentum with what appears to be unrelenting attacks and unlimited aggression against the autonomy of local units of governance, workers, the poor, the elderly, our children, and public servants by Snyder and Teapartisans, strongly supported by such big money as the Koch Bros.

L. Brooks Patterson is beside himself with greed and a filled with sense of vindication in his over-30 year struggle with Detroit centered on regional water and sewer service. The EM plantation will yield a multi- billion dollar bonanza for Patterson and Detroit's suburban rivals. The takedown of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is but the first of several multi-billion dollar "legalized" swindles about to be extracted from Detroit citizens. Bad things will happen; forced to their knees by the repression mapped out by the Business Leaders for Michigan and their CEO-style head honchos: Andy Dillon and Rick Snyder, Detroit city will be less well off, less viable in the end. The corporate looting of Detroit under EM Plantation control is about to begin, the process is even now well under way. The direct consequences of this neo-Jim Crow action include strong blowback that will negatively mark our state for years to come.

Dictatorship by means of aggressive, radical Teapartisan legislation gives freewheeling "overseers" the full run of their repressive EM Plantation(s).

-----

Is there an Republican "exit strategy"? It's far too soon to even consider how the GOP gets out of the economical, social, racial and civic mess they are so deeply and undemocratically stuck in long term.

On the Reader:
Histories of the Detroit Water Works by Detroit Water & Sewage Department: The Firts 300 Years (DWSD, Michael Daisy 2002) - Detroit's Water Works Park a gateway to the past (DetNews Laurie J. Marzejka 2000) - Detroit’s Vast Water System: A Tangle of Regional Resentment (Michigan Land Use Institute Dave Dempsey 2006) and Water wars: A deep history runs beneath the battle for Detroit’s water department  (MetroTimes, Russ Bellant 2002)

Related Slates:
On Emergency Management issue in "A Shout Out to the Overlords of Michissippian EM Plantations (Michigan Emergency Managerment)" and "High up in Jim Crow’s Nest: Constant Cawing Incites Civic Upheaval by the Detroit News - Michigan View" and a previous piece on L. Brooks Patterson in "A Political Marriage from Hell: The Blonde and the Political Godfather"

Original.

Pavlov’s Folly: Proposed Privitzation of the Teaching Profession in Michigan

"Folly is a more dangerous enemy to the good than evil. One can protest against evil; it can be unmasked and, if need be, prevented by force... Against folly we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it; reasoning is no use; facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved - indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions."
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Under Pavlov Teachers become Indentured Servants of the TeaPublican Rabble

Reports succinctly an informed Kos Michigan source in "The Wal-Mart of Education States: Michigan":

"Michigan's teachers are facing an uphill battle. Besides fighting off right to work legislation, tenure 'reform' and a host of other anti-teacher bills, there is a possibility that MICHIGAN MAY BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO LEGALLY HIRE/FIRE TEACHERS AND REPLACE THEM WITH PRIVATE EMPLOYEES.

"'I look at it as offering options. If there is something out there that can offer school officials the same options at a lower cost, schools need to take a look at that. It needs to part of the conversation on reform.' Senate Education Chair Phil Pavlov (R - St. Clair).

"Senate Bill 618 reported out of Senate Education Committee with a close vote, and was separated from the rest of the GOP 'reform' package.

"SB 618 was reported out of the Senate Education Committee this afternoon and now moves to the full Senate. SB 618 allows the outsourcing of teachers and removes the cap on charter schools.

"Committee members voted 3-2 on the bill and on a substitute amendment that broke the tie-bar between SB 618 and SB 624 which mandates schools of choice.

Advocates against 'schools of choice' rejoiced, but what does this mean for education in Michigan? Apparently Michigan's teachers are about the go the Wal-Mart way. Save Money. Live better. Seriously?"

Sen. Phil Pavlov may have his "moment" in regard to the pull down of the teaching profession, but his moment is limited. Pavlov too will be timed out.

Pavlov will go down as a bullheaded enemy of children, their mentors and instructors, a real destructive force -AN A.L.E.C.'TOOL'- that lowered our communities deeper into the muck of an unfolding and steep decline of a great state into a place called "Michissippi" -a state of broken social contracts and shattered achievements.

Only a gnarled ideologue would covet such a epigram: He did his best to kill the best in Michigan community.


Original.

“Queen” Elizabeth: Betsy DeVos, nouveau-riche, anti-social queen of mean

Perhaps Betsy DeVos and the Detroit / Mackinac News would favor Labor Day renamed, to be called: ROBBER BARONS DAY.

Michigan workers are overpaid says mega-wealthy scion ""Queen Betsy" (Elizabeth Prince DeVos). Queenie is the very personification of the havoc and damage which can be done with huge grudge money that is targeted and directed in a heavily ideological manner. A benefactor such as Andrew Carnegie (stately Carnegie neighorhood Libraries across the country; "2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929",  Betsy is not!

Bold Contrast from "The Nouveau Riche and the Noblesse Oblige":

"Bono & Angelina Jolie have refocused the light on the dark areas of the world and are leading us in the charge back to the side of compassion and righteousness."

Betsy DeVos, by contrast, has been moving in a steady anti-righteous, anti-social direction. She has taken the charge from the late Milton Friedman, with whom she is enthralled, into the direction of radical individualism: Free to Choose, was the Friedman bible. "Queen" Elizabeth is hiking the same god-less path as Ayn Rand, who authored that tiny tome, The Virtue of Selfishness.

Queenie Elizabeth would be shocked to learn that her activities to enlarge her wealth by profiting from privatizing public schools and riding her wave of personal power and influence are anti-Jesus:

Jesus spoke this parable:

"The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops."

This I will do: I will pull down my barns and build larger...There will I bestow all my fruits and my goods in enlarged storehouses. Thus the rich man will hoard his goods. Here is the beginning of his folly; to "hoard" his surplus instead of "using it" for the good of men. " 

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' That night his soul was collected by God."
--Luke 12:16-20

THE ROUTE OF THE TRULY COMPASSIONATE AND THOUGHTFUL RICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN 'NOBLESSE OBLIGE"

The Oxford English Dictionary suggests "noble ancestry constrains to honorable behavior; privilege entails to responsibility". Being a noble meant that one had responsibilities to lead, manage and so on. One was not to simply spend one's time in "idle pursuits."

One of the new noble, Betsy's "idle pursuits" are evil and destructive of community and democracy.

Betsy alone is a singular and special threat to the future of our great nation. Like all idle rich, Betsy has far greater responsibilities and societal obligations than she is willing to own.

Emanuele Corso, writes in his piece "Public education and the tentacles of profit":

"Privatizing public education is one potential source of new wealth being explored by the other-reality people. Achieving control of the public education system that has existed, for better or for worse, in the United States for more than a century requires operatives appointed to governmental offices of education willing to carry out the (PRIVATIZING) agenda... Why not start the takeover process with politicians who could use a little financial help with their campaigns provided by "foundations" dedicated to the (mislabeled concept of the) preservation of democracy?"

This take-down of public education is the clearly defined self-appointed task "Queen" Elizabeth has taken on; aided and abetted by unbelievable betrayal and loads of inherited money. To gain power, influence, and control Betsy needs mega-money at her personal disposal to direct and implement the privatization and parochiaid voucher schemes she promotes. Her campaign's successes have the huge potential for a source of "major" new money and profit for her and her ilk to carry on more anti-public/common good warfare.

To augment Betsy's anti-public school goals DeVos is allied with the Waltons, the Bros. Koch, the Chambers of Commerce, and Michigan's Mackinac Center. Here's a partial rundown from the afore mentioned article: Public education and the tentacles of profit:

"The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) sponsored model bills aiming to privatize public education, eliminate teacher's unions, and make American universities adhere to the right wing and libertarian viewpoint. From the Nation series on ALEC and the Koch connections:

"The Kochs have given ALEC contributions exceeding $1 million-not including a half-million loaned to ALEC when the group had financial problems. The Kochs' mistrust of public education can be traced to their father, Fred, who ranted and raved that the National Education Association was a communist group and public-school books were filled with 'communist propaganda...."

Interestingly ALEC was behind the scenes in Wisconsin in the education fight. Read this article by Dr. William Cronin.

The contravening truth: Privilege bestowed on Wealth, in a democratic nation, must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege:

"In ethical discussion, (noblesse oblige) is sometimes used to summarize a moral economy wherein privilege must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege or who cannot perform such duty. Finally, it has been used recently primarily to refer to PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RICH, FAMOUS AND POWERFUL, NOTABLY TO PROVIDE GOOD EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIOUR OR TO EXCEED MINIMAL STANDARDS OF DECENCY."
(emphasis added) -- Wikipedia

Writer John Ralston Saul (particularly known for his commentaries on the nature of individualism, citizenship and the public good) lays the axe to Betsy's platinum sugar plum tree:

"Indeed you can usually tell when the concepts of democracy and citizenship are weakening. There is an increase in the role of charity and in the worship of volunteerism. These represent the élite citizen's imitation of noblesse oblige; that is, of pretending to be aristocrats or oligarchs, as opposed to being citizens."

Betsy DeVos views her efforts to champion social, religious, and educational apartheid via her work on her front group The National Federation for Children as a noble and a chartable endeavor. Not so!

"The term Noblesse Oblige also serves as a warning to those taking part that they are not to use their power and influence for selfish personal desires ...lest they be 'removed from the game,'" summarizes Wiki, in a summary which fits completely the parable included above, as told by Jesus.

"Queen" Elizabeth's "charity" always comes with a barbed hook, and a large dead weight. The long trail of incivility, chicanery, misinformation, political dirty tricks, and reprisals in her anti-community efforts belie her "charity" and expand her image as a serious one track ideologue with an anti-public angst and ambition.

The "new man" in "Queen" Elizabeth DeVos' life is N.J. Gov. Chris Christie!


Original.

Greenhills: WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR ELITIST EDUCATION DREAM CAKE AND EAT IT TOO? (Part 3 of 3)

How satisfying and helpful it would be to Snyder's school of choice, Greenhills, Ann Arbor, to receive a sizable state voucher for each select student's expenses as Betsy DeVos' (AFC) American Federation for Children is pressing forward nationwide with the help of A.L.E.C (The Koch Bros. /American Legislative Exchange Council) championed by Tom McMillin"R, Rochester, and other A.L.E.C. members in the Michigan TeaPublican Super Majority.

Rick Snyder has two realities:
1.) His commitment to elitist education for his own child at Greenhills, and 2.) Snyder's serious and devastating legislative cuts for the children of all parents, those outside Snyder's tight circle of care.

Flint's WCRZ.com media commentator, George McIntyre, adds color to this summary of Greenhills School:

"Governor Snyder's daughter attends a private school, Greenhills School, in Ann Arbor. The annual tuition? $20,000. However, that's apparently not enough. The school has posted a video on YouTube appealing for funds.

"Ironic, don't you think, when you consider the fact that Governor Snyder just signed legislation which will cut per-pupil funding for Michigan public school students by $370, bringing the yearly allowance down to $6,846. That's quite the comparison."

McIntyre wraps up with this thought:

"It's amazing to me that $20,000 per pupil isn't enough to make ends meet for the Governor's daughter's school, yet public schools are afforded just over one third of that amount. IT'S NO WONDER ITHACA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT NATHAN BOOTZ WROTE A SARCASTIC LETTER, ASKING SNYDER TO TURN HIS SCHOOL INTO A PRISON." (emphasis added)

THE RICH ELITES HAVE, BY FAR, THE GREATER SHARE OF RESOURCES TO EDUCATE THEIR OFF-SPRING, THE POOR AND THE WORKING ARE FORCED TO SHARE THE DIMINISHING REMNANTS ON THEIR CHILDREN AND HAVE A DESPERATE FIGHT WITH TEA-PUBLICANS TO MAINTAIN PROGRAMS AND QUALITY.

How sad that we have allowed the TeaPublicans to plunge Michigan to this historically embarrassing low, dangerous point!

It's a sure sign that the usurping, profitization, in Snyder-led cultural and educational apartheid is designed to overpower local communities and neighborhood schools. Greed and privatization/profit-taking are indeed alive and metastasizing in Michigan. How shameful!

Original and Part 1 and Part 2.

Greenhills: Snyder, Greenhills, Betsy DeVos & THE GOAL: Universal Vouchers (Part 2 of 3)

If Nerd Snyder and his Tea-partisan crowd in legislative the super majority comply with the American Legislative Exchange Councils' Model Legislation, the anti-public schools Mackinac Center, and the heavy, heavy pressure from Betsy Prince DeVos' AFC, there will be a push to put vouchers in place for private and religious education in Michigan in the very near future as well as a plethora of other damaging legislation/profitization. See the VIDEO with an UW expert here.

Rick Snyder's private academy, Greenhills, would be the perfect private voucher venue. How much easier it would be to fund a student at Greenhills with a hefty taxpayer coupon/voucher to underwrite their high costs.

Elsewhere the voucher push is well under way as part of the GOP State-by-State Legislative (American Legislative Exchange Council - ALEC) coup; this legislative blitzkrieg is characterized in the manner that is being carried out in Utah and many other states-under Republican control. Previously, Betsy's high-buck voucher efforts with a Utah statewide voucher ballot proposal were soundly defeated 2-to-1, and now, using the TeaPublican majority in the Utah legislature, the DeVos backed vouchers are being pushed again in Utah this time in the legislature and in other state legislatures are involved in a massive and coordinated effort cross the nation with Betsy's backing.

Read how Betsy is involved in such brash and damaging acts against public schools as the Sen. Alberta Darling (Wisconsin Recall Election target) backed $800 million dollar cut in state support is hurting kids!

Betsy's front group "The American Federation for Children (AFC) has reportedly spent more than $500,000 in television ads to support Darling and other Republicans facing recall elections because of their support for Walker's anti-labor legislation."

Continues...

Original and Part 1 and Part 3.

Greenhills: Let's Pay A Visit to Rick Snyder's Personal School of Choice (Part 1 of 3)

Here's what Snyder's school has to say about its operations and outcomes.

Greenhills description:

"Diversity at Greenhills: 31 percent of Greenhills students self-identify as persons of color: 9 percent multiracial, 6 percent African American, 12 percent Asian AmericaN, 1 percent Hispanic American, 2 percent Middle Eastern, 1 percent of the student body are international students."

From Greenhills materials:

"(Greenhills) has earned for itself A REPUTATION AS A HUMANE AND CARING SCHOOL (emphasis added) that offers an excellent education to a wide range of students."

GREENHILLS IS A UNIQUE SCHOOL IN A MYRIAD OF FABULOUS WAYS, TAKE A LOOK AT THE ACCOUTERMENTS IN ITS OWN EXHAUSTIVE REPORT.

GREENHILLS FACTS:

1. MHSAA - Greenhills School is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and offers the following sports: BOYS-cross country, golf, soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, lacrosse, and track and field. GIRLS-basketball, cross country, field hockey, tennis, volleyball, soccer, softball, golf, and track and field. COED-swimming and equestrian." Greenhills is considered the "Number 1-ranked athletic program in Class C two out of the past three years, as ranked by The Ann Arbor News."
2. Tuition - The Greenhills YouTube video promotion pegs the costs at "$20,000 '.
3. Financial Aid - "Nearly $954,000 in need-based financial aid was awarded to 19 percent of the student body. The average award was $9,628."
4. Contributions to the Greenhills - "Since 1993, more than $18,500,000 has been contributed to Greenhills' Annual Fund, Auction, Endowment and Capital Campaigns to support the school." 
5. Fine & Performing Arts - "The Fine & Performing Arts Department offers concerts, theatrical productions and art gallery showings throughout the year. Fine and Performing Arts events include: A fall play, spring musical, annual senior Shakespeare performance, Middle School spring play, VooDoo Theatre Company (student-run troupe) Middle and upper school band concerts, Middle and upper school orchestra concerts, Jazz band and combo performances, Middle and upper school choir concerts, Middle and upper school forensics tournaments, Fine Arts Showcase and more."
6. Activities and student organizations - These include, but are not limited to the following; Evergreen (literary magazine), The Alcove (student newspaper), Forward (yearbook), Amnesty International, Peer Counselors, Student Council, African American Focus, Multicultural Focus, Science Olympiad, Gryphon Club, Chess and Go Club, DDR Club, Debate Club, Ski Club, Student Mentors, Honor Committee, The Discourse, Gay-Straight Alliance, Service Learning Board, and Improv Club"
7. Academic & Athletic Facilities - Smartboard technology in every classroom, Schmidt-Cassegrain 14" telescope, Ten dedicated physics computers, Wireless computer cart, Two computer labs, State-of-the-art microscopes, including a Phase-Contrast/Dark Phase research microscope."
8. Greenhills' "Campbell Center for the Performing Arts" - State-of-the-art theatre, scene shop, dressing room, green room, mirrored dance studio, two instrumental rehearsal rooms, choral rehearsal room, The Harry Anderson Library, Borders Athletic Center: Two full gyms, four locker rooms, weight room with mirrors, indoor batting cage, climbing wall, Eight Court Tennis Complex, Softball Field, Soccer and Field Hockey/Lacrosse Fields, All-Weather Track, Amphitheater, Weather Station,( and a) Wind Turbine."
9. Details on Instruction and Class Size: "AVERAGE CLASS SIZE-15 STUDENTS, STUDENT: TEACHER RATIO-7:1," (emphasis added)
10. There's a rigorous Matriculation/Admissions Policy at Greehhills - "Admission to Greenhills is competitive. Applicants in the 9th through the 12th grades are required to take the Secondary School Admission Test" and applicants are also "REQUIRED TO SPEND A DAY AT THE SCHOOL TO ENSURE THAT GREENHILLS WILL BE A PROPER FIT."(emphasis added) Applicants also have to have three recommendations, send their transcript, and complete short answer questions and essays."
11. Notable alumni by accomplishments - "A.F.W.K. - rock musician, E. K. - Special Assistant to President Barack Obama, P. T. - Photographer, Los Angeles, CA, E. Q. - Producer, New York, NY, B. L.- screenwriter, J. C. - frequent New York Times contributor, author, N.P. - opera singer, played lead role of Macbeth with BBC Scottish Symphony, E. M.-playwright and screenwriter" 12.)"Graduates Attending College:100%"

Contributions to Greenhills School (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) are tax deductable.

A FINAL NOTE
When the additional solicited contributions are added into the cost, when the spending from the endowment and other private sources are factored in, the cost of education for one student at Greenhills may reach into the mid-$20,000 range. This year's tuition is up $1,500 from 2 years ago.

Continues...

Original and Part 2 and Part 3.

Dead End/Bad Trade Off: Profitazation or Abandonment of Detroit’s Public School Children

Specious envy surrounds the sacred role of a teacher at a low period when unjust criticisms are being hurled about, as they are so often now days.

The kinds of snide remarks popping up in this blog are typical of the anti-intellectualism which has haunted the country from long ago and consistently undercut its greatness. Much of the anti-public schools spiel has the dark undertow of Michigan's historic KKK.

With all the puffery about the public wanting only the "best and brightest" to enter teaching, and knowing the uncertainty and vicissitudes of the occupation; why would an extremely bright young person go into teaching? Especially, as teachers now know, that one major political party, Michigan's GOP, has dogged and derided the profession (coming from every level from the Reagan Presidency on down, over decades) with every sort of encumbrance, criticism, and financial or legislated penalty that could be devised or contrived. Literally they are attempting to undermine public schools to de-certify the teacher's unions; and convert public schooling to a profit making industry via charters and vouchers- a monstrous blunder tainted with educational apartheid.

People Love Their Public Schools, They Are the Heart and Soul of Many A Community Communities celebrate the sporting events, the homecomings, the high achievements of PS science clubs and other extra-curricular activities. They follow their graduates progress into all manner of successes and higher achievement. And, of course, many graduates become teachers themselves. So many so that, there are hundreds of applicants for a single opening in schools--when schools are hiring.

How proud a parent is to say or learn their daughter and/or son will take up teaching! 

How welcome a new teacher is at the mortgage department of the local bank or as a new member of a place of worship; or as so many eventually do, a teacher becomes an elected local official or civic board member. Kill that spirit at your own peril, you mumbling detractors!

After 20 years of fierce and unrelenting Republican and "Anti-Tax" Libertarian attacks, cuts, and trash talk, the public still loves the schools. They respect teachers world's better than the politicians and far-rightist pundits who perennially attack and purposefully undermine public schools as an institution. Who are these greedy and cynical hacks-whose feral skills are on the prowl to tear it down the PS?

So many people say, "I owe it all to my teacher." What a testament to teachers! Teachers are the true heart of historic social acculturation and the proud soul/mentors at the core of this venerated institution. Except for inner cities, some depressed rural areas or isolated small communities, the Michigan school facilities are much better than those I have closely observed in Virginia or any number of other states.

Across Michigan, we take pride in our local schools. We really do want our children to have the best opportunities possible. Until Engler, the one very fundamental axiom of classic Republican scripture was local school control, which in Michigan was taken from us, ripped away by rouge Republicans in a bold manner in 1993. Now we see and realize the danger and the error of that plot. State control of local school funding is undependable and subject to the nastiest of politics and very anti-student.

The sad thing in all of this is, Nolan Finley. Finley has had moments when he was an advocate, supporter, and even a collaborator with MEA and public education. An important fact considering his own immediate family members, his daughters are members of the teaching profession.

Albeit, Nolan works for newspaper tycoons who have a very aggressive and dangerous ideological attitude/slant against public education. Such an un-civic attitude doesn't build good will, it doesn't foster cooperation; it cuts to the heart of the promise of our nation--a free and excellent education--underwritten by the public at-large.

The long dismal decline of Detroit is a humiliating, humbling, and a sadly tragic blotch on the pride of all Michiganders. The city's public schools reflect the systemic decline and despair of its trapped population, rather than produce that state of affairs.

Now comes the lowest suggestion, depraved conclusion of one Nolan Finley, "DEMO" DETROIT'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS: "DPS can't be saved. It pushed beyond the tipping point years ago, and must be allowed to slide into oblivion."

Aggressive Profitazation of public schooling as a new "disaster" capitalist's scheme: Profit at the direct expense of Children and their mentors. Don't even dare to call it "good for kids."


Original Post.

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.


Original Post.

Quote: What kind of system is it when...

"It is recognized by its determination to covert all public services to private entrepreneurship; all non-profit organizations to profit-making ones--so that the narrow but protective chasm between governance and business disappears.

It changes citizens into taxpayers--so individuals become angry at even the notion of the public good.

It changes neighbors into customers--so the measure of our value as humans is not humanity or our compassion or our generosity, but what we own."

--Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate & Author

Gov. Snyder gets beaned by the Mackinac Hardball Meanies

Snyder Budget Score Card Results

No surprises here. Hands Down: "Mac Mean" wins over "Thoughtful/Independent Nerd" 11 to 0- NOTHING !

Listed below are the items projected as possible Mackinac Center demands acquiesced to by Gov. Snyder and Snyder's actual list of "budget bombs":

1.) Mackinac Center Demand: Eliminate the Michigan Business Tax- replace the money it raises with cuts in government spending. Snyder's Budget Bomb Sez: - Eliminates the Michigan Business Tax and replaces it with a flat 6 percent corporate income tax on major corporations.
2.) Mackinac Center Demand :Pass Right-to-Work legislation. There may be no greater single economic development policy that Michigan could adopt.
Snyder Budget Bomb Sez:- Let's see what the Republican Majorities in the Legislature can enact as a way to bring down costs - Some things are being held for the second half of this legislative session.
3.) Mackinac Center Demand Rein in the Department of Environmental Quality. (Maintaining Michigan's high standards, means businesses) "won't be doing business or creating jobs in Michigan, period. It's a 100 percent tax rate:"
Snyder Budget Bomber Sez: Eliminate the dairy farm inspection program in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
4.) Mackinac Center Demand: (Stop) the state promising millions of dollars in targeted tax credits or subsidies to "slick operators in sexy industries" who promise to "create" jobs.
Snyder's Budget Bomb Sez: - Eliminates business credits awarded for films, brownfield redevelopment, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, etc., although current commitments will be honored. Sets aside $25 million for film credits from the 21st Century Jobs Fund. Cuts future credits for: battery tech & production, Green Energy including wind generation, and similar fields as these credits expire
5.) Mackinac Center Demand: Bring public sector employment benefits in line with the private sector (Using the tools honed and revised by MacCen as to that "private sector" benchmark is.):
Snyder Budget Bomb Sez: - Mandate a cut of up to $180 million from state employees through higher health care premiums and other changes. This matter is referred to the Republican controlled Legislature for immediate action.
6.) Mackinac Center Demand: Make public pay equal to "private" pay: Michigan Public vs. Private "hourly" compensation:
Snyder Budget Bomb Sez: - The "emergency" powers in proposed legislation now being fast tracked will handle this problem, schools and governmental units will be coerced into compliance with sharp reductions, or face State dictatorial take-overs.
7.) Mackinac Center Demand: Resend Gov. George Romney's signing of the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act, eliminate collective bargaining for public employees:
Snyder Budget Sez: - Let's see what the legislature will do with H.B. 4215 and its provisions in this regard
8.) Mackinac Center Demand: Cut state government work force:
Snyder's Budget Bomb Sez: - Eliminates 300 field worker positions in the Department of Human Services. And - Closes the Shawono Center in Grayling, and cuts 20 beds in capacity at the Maxey Training School in Whitmore Lake- Reduces the number of Michigan State Police posts
9.) Mackinac Center Demand: Change state revenue-sharing formula:
Snyder's budget bomb Sez: - Eliminate statutory revenue sharing payments for cities, villages and townships in FY 2012 The change impacts 509 local units of government with cuts totaling $92.1 million. Snyder will force villages and townships t to comply with tough teapartisan rigid standards or face penalties.
10.) Mackinac Center Demand: Let private firms run some prisons:
Snyder's Budget Bomb Sez: - Close one prison to be named later this year and privatize food service and prison stores operations in Michigan prisons, then throw in downgrading resident care aide services at the Grand Rapids Veterans' Home with competitively bid workers.
11.) Mackinac Center Demand: Eliminate the earned income credit:
Snyder's Budget Bomb Sez: - Eliminate the state Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers and take back welfare benefits and support altogether after 48 months.
12.) Mackinac Center Demand: Allowing for income tax exemptions for government retirement benefits, including pensions and proposed extension of those exemptions to private sector pensions is "unfair" as viewed by LaFaive.

Snyder's Budget Bomb: - Eliminates the state income tax exemption for pensions, Social Security benefits will continue to be exempt.

Score Card Results: The Beanie Nerd's Independence & New Re-Inventive Agenda - 0
The Mackinac Center "Meanies" -11 That's a trouncing @ (11 for 11)


Hands Down: "Mac Mean" wins over "Thoughtful/Independent/CEO Nerd."


It's very clear Rick "The Nerd" Snyder needs to learn how to play political "hardball" before he goes up to bat again !

Original Post.

Perceptively Upset, Mackinac Center is Out of Step With Gov. Snyder

Response to Mackinac Center’s Michael LaFaive on the Michigan View in "SOS: Snyder's mixed bag” and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy Press Release “2011 SOSExpansions/Limitations Tally: Snyder’s speech a ‘mixed bag,’ said author ofannual tally” on January 19, 2011.

A deeply disappointed Mackinac Center sputters:

"From the first female governor, To the first nerd governor. From blonde to bland. From theatrics to metrics. From dash to dashboard. Michigan has entered a different era of executive leadership." - Henry Payne (The State of the Nerd, 1.20.11)

There is big clue about where the legislature is going in regard to Snyder, Hank. Remember the Detroit/Mackinac Center News' editorial meeting with majority leaders, Jase Bolger and Randy Richardville. Richardville is "a product of Fortune 500 companies -La-Z-Boy, Herman Miller- like Snyder, Richardville said 'we're going to bring a business-like approach.' He also stuck to Snyder's script on promising bold reforms on taxes (a flat business profits tax), and government (consolidating school districts and municipal responsibilities)."

Desperate to get a commitment to the Mackinac Center lists and agenda for the new governor, the editorial board was deeply disappointed reporting "(Richardville) was also vague " as Snyder has been " on the sacrifices that will need to be made on labor contracts and Medicaid costs " two major drivers of the red ink engulfing Lansing.

"I don't think the first thing you do is go after workers," he said while also acknowledging that public employee benefits are way (out) of line with the private sector.

What is shaping up is "bland" as Granholm. Jennifer had been "blond" in the eyes of the Libertarian/Mackinac Center News editors, and now they are now quick to characterize and chide Gov. Snyder and the new leadership here-by way of Henry Payne as "bland."

Perhaps the blood sport that has thrilled the reckless far righters-who luxuriated in the "tough" games and pranks of the Era of Engler will be left out of the "command and control" seat they once held and are now left only to wilfully covet.

The News' editorial board are learning that (Richardville) "A veteran of the House and Senate since 1998, including a stint as House floor leader...will be a veteran field general for Snyder's agenda. But true to that military analogy, everyone will be looking to the commander-in-chief for bold leadership."

Gone are the Cropseys, Kuipers, Bishops, Dillons, and McManuses-who were expert provocateurs-calling for "reform," but who actually only bogged down progress and the Michigan recovery with their petty mind games and procedural pranks-like shutting down state government TWICE.

Such stunts succeeded in damaging and embarrassing our state in the eyes of analysts and investors, who clearly saw their zero net pro-active outcomes as a product of their "theatrics."

As the Editors reported out of their earlier meeting: "Both (Jase Bolger and Randy Richardville) spoke in broad generalities about what needs to be done. Both emphasized that fiscal - not social - issues will dominate the menu. And both deferred specifics to Snyder."

So now, the snarky Mackinac Center critics, feeling left out, set out their disappointment: ""Like all State of the State speeches, this one was a mixed bag," said MacCen's LaFaive {SOS: Snyder's mixed bag, 1.20.11}: "Gov. Snyder hinted at some positive things, but didn't go nearly far enough with specific, cost-saving ideas that Michigan desperately needs to right its economy."

MacCen's call to the governor: give it up and come over to our demands, play our game.



Original Post.