Will Calabrese Clarify His Boast: Snyder Told the “Cold, Hard Truth” About Raising $900 Million in New Taxes From Michigan Pensioners

Response to Dan Calabrese Op-Ed “Rick Snyder: Leadership is found in thestatehouse, if not in the White House” in the Northern Star National on February 18th, 2011

Calabrese doesn't believe that he's misrepresenting Rick Snyder when he says in his recent column: Snyder is "Leading!" by the means of his honesty. "We have not had governors willing to do what Snyder did yesterday, which was to deal with cold, hard facts and tell the people of the state the cold, hard truth about where we are and where we need to go."

Dan genuinely values "the cold, hard truth."

So we ask:
Our Response (in the following parody dialog with Dan): Dan, let's see if you understand the basic facts of Snyder's budget proposal. Did Rick Snyder propose a new tax on anyone in Michigan? A simple "yes" or "no" is sufficient.

Dan: ...(Snyder) told the truth.

Our Response: Is that a "yes"

Dan: ...that's a "yes."

Our Response: Let me refresh your memory.

Here's the exact verbatim answer Snyder gave veteran reporter Tim Skubick, on FOX 2, Detroit, right after Snyder left the Senate Committee Room; having just presented his proposed budget to the state:

Skubick's Question: Some people are going to pay more to the state...Aren't they?
Snyder dodges the question: We are decreasing revenues this is not a net tax increase. When you look at all the numbers.
[Skubick stays on his question: Some people will pay more!]
(Again evasive and un-answering to Skubick's direct question concerning his proposed huge new tax increase.)
Snyder: But it's really based on the premise of a net tax decrease...
Skubick: Your pension tax is very controversial (it) raises $900m. Is that number correct?
Snyder: It's not a pension tax. It is actually removing a tax expenditure. We are actually reducing your tax rate. Our individual rate tax rate... [Skubick breaks in, still dead-on for an honest Snyder answer]
Skubick: It raises $900m? Correct?
Snyder: It generates $900m in revenue.

Our Response: Dan, there you have an honest answer given after an honest inquiry about the facts and following a lot of evasiveness and double talk from Snyder.

Snyder is raising taxes on pensioners by 9 tenths of a billion dollars and concurrently removing that amount, and more, from select businesses supporters in the state.

The "Leader" in Snyder said on the campaign trail repeatedly and very clearly to his audiences all across the state including pensioners: "My objective is not to raise revenue in the budget."

Our Response: "What part of "no new taxes" does Snyder's post-election budget proposal keep? Did he keep his pre-election promise not to "raise new revenue"? Did Snyder tell the truth about his new taxes?

Dan: If that's what Snyder's doing...could I have a moment to think over my answer?

Our Response: Take all the time you need, Dan. We all know how much you value moral absolutes like the "truth."
 
Original Post.

2/17 (February 17, 2011) will live on in Michigan History as a very dark day: The Day Gov. Snyder Robbed Kids & Grandparents

"Pensions are deferred payments for work done. 'Benefits' are pay for work, not a handout. Pensions and benefits are arranged by contract. If there is not enough money for them, it is because the contracted funds have been taken by conservative officials and given to wealthy people and corporations instead of to the people who have earned them." - George Lakoff

Simply put, Snyder has chosen to join on the Welcher Wagon. The numb nerd has bought into the "airy fairy" world of Karl Rove and William Kristol. Snyder has become the manservant of that nasty little corporate gofer , Grover Norquist and his anarchist John Bircher buddy, Saulis Anuzis.

The Back Story
Years ago, a nominal moderate (at the time), former House Speaker, now corporate officer at DTE, Paul Hillegonds, said that the local communities had been "too generous to teachers." He said that the state take-over of local schools was the way to force (that's "coerce" - a term of endearment our Tea-Publicans adore) by the "shift and shaft" mechanism that become Proposal A. That pushed costs back on the local taxpayers so that they, in Hillegonds' scheme, would have to make "hard choices."

Prop A was a clever device that gave the taxpayer a sugar coated, measured dose of arsenic, accumulative poison. The candy coating was the immediate "tax relief" in the form of a 60% annual reduction in local property taxes for "homesteaders" and hoped owners ignored the "hit" that was backloaded in the form of "state transfer taxes" at the point of sale. Prop A saw several categories of state responsibilities such as retirement costs (state obligations) drilled back to the local schools as part of the required responsibilities due under the so-called "foundation grant." That provision included what has amounted to hundreds of millions of indirect support to private and church schools.

Sen. Jack Welborn was less sophisticated in his truth and revelations, he knew exactly what was happening in 1993 and spoke up revealing how "foundation grants" were designed to undercut public schools.

The sharp decline of the Michigan economy is now a decade along. The "gifts" and "ear candy" bandied about by John Mathias Engler and cronies (many of whom are back at the state salary trough under Snyder) were illusions. The slippage following Prop A created huge loopholes for corporations who weaseled out huge tax "give-backs" from local units of government. Tens of millions of tobacco taxes were lost to cross-state-boundary smuggling, which became an industry until the tardy tax stamp was affixed.

Did Engler save the Big Three? Did Engler's Revolution insulate Michigan from recession or produce a business boom in Michigan? Decidedly NO. The structural games and devices he and cohorts peddled began to ravish the state even before he left town for a millionaire Bonus for Bonzo as chief lobbyist at NAM, aggressively promoting China over Michigan. How weird is that!

The debt Engler left Jennifer, and the many, many holes "King John" drilled in the revenue bucket did just what he designed them to do, they revenue starved Michigan. That huge "unfunded" business connected to "state obligations" to pay deferred constitutional income to superannuated public employees: That's a nasty Engler legacy.

On 2/17 we said, "Shut up we don't want to hear about history," "we want what we want" taken back from our deserving retirees. And "Oh Yes," we have the majority power to do it, "so there."

2/17 will live on in Michigan History as a very dark day; the day Snyder walked the state away from its moral obligations in order to award his business cronies and boost Karl Rove's efforts to defund unions.

This last week we have seen the final chapter of the Engler Revolution make a direct hit on our children and our seniors. Granddad and grandma are hit with the leeching effects of a decades long campaign from Engler's Willy Wonks over at the Mackinac Center. They are so proud, so happy! Just drop by their new showy headquarters near the Lansing capitol and pay them a visit, ignore the party trash in the back conference room! MacCen benefactors: Dow, Amway, Consumers, the Insurance lobby as well as a whole host of outside anti-government foundations have been paid-off big time with the proposed Snyder/Engler Redux Michigan Budget proposals.

Whoa, just a jiffy!

Snyder is imposing dramatic "new taxes." Does anyone believe all those "NO NEW TAXES" Tea Party legislators can stay true to their solemn oaths and support HUGE NEW TAXES ?

Snyder's Voo Doo vocabulary usage, neutralizing the REAL facts, notwithstanding!

Just you wait, Just you wait. The people are coming to Lansing.


Original Post.

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.

Mackinac Center: Dancing On the Deck of Michigan's Titanic

It is as though the elite/high society passengers and crew on the Titanic were ideological "true believers" convinced that that ship, like Michigan's ship of state, is "unsinkable" no matter what kind dangers or sea condition the ship faces. 

The big shots announce that there is "no danger" just trust in their navigation and professional judgment, and proceed to pass around the Champagne casks and party-hardy. They play "Happy Days Are Here Again" as they arrogantly ignore the blind leadership of the Captain and believe the ship will survive any harm they or the ship can encounter. Just stick to the outline we have published sings out the Nerd, Michigan has entered the final chapter of the "Engler Revolution."

As this day unfolds the bubbly will be flowing over at the Mackinac Center. It's there unbelievable day of triumph The "againer geeks" have succeeded in bringing down Michigan.

The Party is on.
First Mate Frank Beckmann reports from the engine room: "...business leaders who have been briefed on the preliminaries call it a night-and-day difference in approaching Michigan's budget issues and economic environment. They complimented the candor and even courage of the administration to off what they termed "BOLD AND DRAMATIC" CHANGES that stand in stark contrast to what one business leader called the "anti-business" environment in Illinois.

'But these business leaders told me they're not surprised since the administration is led by Snyder (experienced CPA-CFO-CEO) and Lt. Governor Brian Calley (pro-business banker and ex-chair of Tax Policy Committee), who is taking the lead on a lot of the policy discussions.

'In the end, this will be a controversial proposal that will challenge conservatives to live up to their stated beliefs. But it's a grown up plan that's developing and has business leaders excited for the first time in recent memory over what state government is actually doing to stimulate business growth."

As this radical ignore the culture and the quality of life "navigation plan" their ideology has brought us to clash with "icebergs" of public resistance and anger.

True to the timeless tragedy: The common man, the working families, locked in steerage-the bowels of the sinking ship of state-won't be offered life boats. After all if the boat sinks, the myth goes, IT'S THEIR SOCIAL WEIGHT THAT TOOK IT DOWN.

Up on the promenade, it's Mackinac Center dancing jigs and giving high 5's all around!

Here's the MacCen score card, print it out and check off each item (hole in the hull) as the MacCen Grinch geeks pop another magnum:

1.) Eliminate the Michigan Business Tax- replace the money it raises with cuts in government spending.
2.) Pass Right-to-Work legislation. There may be no greater single economic development policy that Michigan could adopt.
3.) 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."
4.) (Stop) the state promising millions of dollars in targeted tax credits or subsidies to slick operators in sexy industries who promise to "create" jobs.
5.) 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.)
6.) Make public pay equal to "private" pay: Michigan Public vs. Private "hourly" compensation.
7.) Resend Gov. George Romney's signing of the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act, eliminate collective bargaining for public employees.
8.) Cut state government work force
9.) Change state revenue-sharing formula
10.) Let private firms run some prisons
11.) Eliminate the earned income credit
12.) 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.

The Mackinac Center has recommended hundreds specific ideas to save the state more than $2 billion a year. Most of them involve getting government out of certain activities, or eliminating costly privileges to certain groups. "101 Recommendations to Revitalize Michigan."

Michael D. LaFaive: "The solution to Michigan's problems is simpler than (people) are willing to admit."
Do it our way!

Interpretation: Just do as my Mackinac Center dictates you must.


Original Post.

Who guessed Snyder & TeaPublicans would brazenly put Michigan into further Depression

The "big" budget crisis in Michigan is not at all what it appears. It's capitalize on hard times, take maximum partisan advantage. There's a concerted effort across many states to achieve certain long-sought goals of the far right: Union Busting, elimination of public employee benefits & pensions, cut & shift the tax burden to ordinary people, cut welfare and unemployment, and unbridled attacks on public schools & more. Michigan has had budget deficits in the range of this one before, but never has it been mishandled as it is now! Michigan is being cut down, to achieve certain selfish objectives.

There's "big" trouble alright, it's a "big manufactured" crisis; hype piggybacked on the national crisis brought on by George W. Bush and cohorts-who singlehandedly brought down to near ruin this nation financially. TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS were ruthlessly harvested from working folk. And today much of THE LOOT sits on the sidelines UNAVAILABLE navailable to small businesses who desperately need it.

To do the kind of "blitz" legislation that is found in the current rush to pass House Bill 4215 (which literally disenfranchises communities governments and schools, puts in place DICTATORIAL CONTROL and throws out the vote of the people) and passes it on to the governor has another purpose. It's dirty politics: Revenge and Reprisals.

When the full scope of the Draconian "Cuts only" budget are announced by Rick Snyder, many of the Tea Party supporters want to know that there is in place (passage of H.B. 4215) A STRONG MECHANISM TO PICK UP THE PIECES WHEN DOZENS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS & LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT " WHICH WILL GO UNDER DUE TO SNYDER'S DRASTIC & UNPRECEDENTED CUTS having their direct debt-creating effect: A 33% cut in revenue sharing, with a harsh punishment factor to undercut pensions and benefits in units affected.

Raising taxes, if only for a short period, to get out of the state's crisis will look more than golden compared to the slaughter house/meat axe Snyder is about to apply across our state.

In the enumeration of the communities mentioned in the details of H.B. 4215 (now being steamrolled through the legislature on party-line votes) one finds these targeted "financial failures" are mainly minority/Black communities, some would say "who cares?" That's as it stands today. However, under the proposed legislation's sweeping new powers vested in Snyder Regime's complete control, by way of managers and "firms" appointed under Andy Dillon, could be bring down many other locations-both rural and urban. The axe will fall on many shocked and unsuspecting units.

Time to have more input concerning H.B. 4215 is desperately needed. The rush is the "bums rush" to mickey the public out of the entire process and achieve a Quickie: A huge partisan victory for those who ultimately favor "bankruptcy" for states.

How historically dangerous are these Know-Nothings; servants to Grover Norquist? And really who is Citizen Norquist that he should have command of our America?

Original Post.

Power-grabbing House Bill 4214: Who wrote this unbelievably revisionist & voter disenfranchising bill?

This bill is set to be rammed through the legislature at break neck speed. The new "Local Government and School District Accountability Act" in essence is radical, if not a fanatical bill. If it should become law, in its present form, the bill would "disenfranchise" certain communities, the majority being struggling minority-majority locations.

Under the unbelievably rugged provisions, many black/ethic voters would see their votes cast summarily voided, and local elected officials would be ejected from local control (disregarding the ballot box results) and excluded from public office for a long period of years.

This kind of legislation is set to be fast-tracked through to a floor vote, posthaste.

The impact on public employees, local elected government leaders, police and firefighters, teachers and other public servants would be harsh and overly severe.

Many people of color will be directly and adversely affected by such a legislative act. To remove the right to vote and void the power of the ballot box; destroying one's right to elect public officers it disenfranchises communities and reverses the intent of the voter rights struggle of the recent past.

The Law, if enacted, would:

1.) List 18 explicit events that would trigger a financial review by the state
2.) Include the director of the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget on the four-member review team (replacing the auditor general), and allow the governor to appoint more members to the team.
3.) Make explicit the differences between the municipal government and the school district review and intervention processes
4.) Set in place 12 review criteria
5.) Allow the governmental unit or school to be run by a "firm" rather than an "individual"
6.) Allow the Governor, after declaring a financial state of emergency, to "allow for appointment of emergency financial managers by the state treasurer or state school superintendent"
7.) Allow the state treasurer and state school superintendent to declare that a local government is in receivership, as they appoint an emergency financial manager
8.) Specifies that an emergency manager would be chosen on the basis of competence; need not be a resident of the local government; may be an individual or firm; and would serve at the pleasure of the state treasurer, with the concurrence of the state school superintendent
9.) Explicitly identify an emergency financial manager's extensive power and authority by listing 32 actions a manager may take, 16 of which are new
10.) Bust the unions - " Grant an appointed emergency financial manager the authority to abrogate existing labor contracts..."
11.) Remove local elected officials from office in financially distressed governments in receivership, and prohibit them from seeking office for 10 years
12.) Provide an explicit exit strategy to enable formerly struggling local governments to emerge from financial emergency status during which time local officials are prohibited from revising the emergency manager's two-year budget, labor contracts, or ordinances
13.) Suspend collective bargaining for up to five years in local governments placed in Receivership

Background:
Seven Michigan communities have had emergency financial managers appointed under Public Act 72 of 1990: Hamtramck (in 2000); Highland Park (in 2001); Flint (in 2002); Village of Three Oaks (in 2008); Ecorse (in 2009); Pontiac (in 2009); and Benton Harbor (in 2010). Additionally, a financial manager was appointed for the Detroit Public School District in 2009.

Definitions. Under the bill, the term "municipal government" is defined to mean a city, village, township, charter township, county, an authority established by law, or a public utility owned by a city, village, township or county.

The term "school district" is defined to mean a school district, an intermediate school district, or a public school academy (customarily called a charter school.) The term "state financial authority" is defined to mean (1) for a municipal government, the state treasurer, (2) for a school district, the superintendent of public instruction.

A long technical list of conditions is spelled out. Among them the item that requires the unit that is designated as in "financial emergency" to foot the bill: Employ at the expense of the local government and with approval of the state treasurer or state school superintendent, auditors and other technical personnel. Further these state appointed firms, auditors, or technical personnel are to have the power to liquidate the assets of the school or municipal unit: Power to sell, lease, or otherwise use the unit(s) public assets.

This bill goes far down the path of state dictatorial power over local government. Who wrote this terrible legislation and what was their authentic intent or must we guess?


Original Post.

Sacred Scripture Slams Dan Calabrese Thought

Responseto Dan Calabrese on the Michigan View in “Democrat observes 'money has replacedmorals' “ on February 14, 2011

Calabrese wrote:

"People the state has programmed to depend on checks from Lansing AREN'T GOING TO GET THEM ANYMORE. They're going to have to find a way to become more self-sufficient and EARN, ON THEIR OWN, EVERY DOLLAR THEY NEED."

(Here we could make a likely list of whom Dan has in mind, starting with our tens of thousands of unemployed and off unemployment and moving on to enumerate the usual pinchpenny "undeserving." Re: Calbrese 'Democrat observes money has replaced morals')

Dan goes on to justify the present rush to spun all those on his list of "undeserving": "That,(intervention to help and assist) my friends, is immoral. It's making the empty promise of money a substitute for real morality, which is the compassionate act of spurring someone to become self-sufficient."

Dan's thought is so anti-GOD !

'In case some one of your brothers becomes poor among you in one of your cities, in your land that Jehovah your God is giving you, YOU MUST NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART OR BE CLOSEFISTED TOWARD YOUR POOR BROTHER. For you should generously open your hand to him and by all means lend him on pledge as much as he needs, which he is in want of... You should by all means give to him, and your heart should not be stingy in your giving to him, because on this account Jehovah your God will bless you in every deed of yours and in every undertaking of yours. For someone poor will never cease to be in the midst of the land. That is why I AM COMMANDING you, saying, 'You should generously open up your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land." (Deut 15:7-11).

We have operated the state of Michigan over the years, through many cycles of downturns and recessions, but never, never did we endorse such a stoneheated attitude toward "God's poor" as yours, Calabrese.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave everlasting comfort and good hope by means of UNDESERVED KINDNESS, comfort your hearts and make you firm in every good deed and word." (2 Thess 2:16,17).

As Abraham Lincoln said,

"God must love the poor he made so many of them."THE LORD "HAS NO FAVORITES AT THE POOR MAN'S EXPENSE, but listens to his prayer when he is wronged." (Eccus 35:13).

If there is a zoo in heaven, in the section devoted to earthly predator's section, there's a purgatory cage for AYN RAND, AUTHOR OF THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS, SO BELOVED AND EMULATED BY HER UBER CONSERVATIVES, FELLOW TRAVELERS HERE ON EARTH.

God's Word says:

"My brothers, what use is it for a man to say he has faith when he does nothing to show it? Can that faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is in rags with not enough food for the day, and one of you says, 'GOOD LUCK TO YOU, KEEP YOURSELVES WARM, AND HAVE PLENTY TO EAT', BUT DOES NOTHING TO SUPPLY THEIR BODILY NEEDS, what is the good of that? So with faith; if it does not lead to action, it is in itself a lifeless thing." (James 2:14-17)

Other parting words from sacred scripture for Calabrese to ponder during his prayer time:

"...But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang."

Original Post.

Gov. Snyder: Stand & Deliver Your Budget Cuts LIVE & IN PERSON

Commentary on Gov Rick Snyder State of the State and Michigan Budget Cuts.

Let the Governor make his announcement of "bomb" like impact on TV, live. Let us see how much he shares in the grief and pain he is delivering to people of this state. This man who has skipped out on debates and has hidden his intentions quite nicely until now needs to be seen delivering the "pain and suffering" in person. We need to search his face and see his eyes, is he with us or is he somewhere up there over us doing what corporate bosses do all the time, handing down the edicts and the hardships and then driving off to cocktails and after glow with Neo-Engleresque advisers.

Snyder must follow his live announcement with a lengthy news conference, so that the public, who can not be there to receive Snyder's "destruction of the state message" and immediately respond, can at least read about it in greater detail the next day, or see on the 11 pm news an accounting for this historic infliction of unprecedented "pain."

Everyone should be allowed to look very, very closely at that gallery populated by the Mackinac Center operatives and be ready to see if any of their "sacred hogs" are cut or slaughtered by the cutting of the Snyder Team. If the Mackinac Center is high-five-ing that's a very negative signal. These "budget hawks" are driven not by the fear of those who elected Rick, but are totally beholden to those aggressive Corporate interests who "own them".

MacCen is in league with those TeaPublican Legislators who strode into Lansing full of rage and revenge against parts of government and society they dislike and now are bullheadedly pushing citizens out of the People's House, the state capitol; hardhearted pols locking out many: elderly, poor, unemployed, into that cold night.

Original Post.

The Crested Cowbird: The Mackinac Center State Bird

Cowbirds are very clever and naturally devious birds, they lay their eggs in other bird's nests and then as those eggs hatch and the young are born, some other bird gets the responsibility and intensive task of providing for the Cowbird's young. And so it is that metaphorically, the Mackinac Center has laid its "eggs" in Snyder's agenda nest by means of its total access to the Detroit/Mackinac News' editorial pages and the MacCen's other open access to numerous media outlets, conservative pundits, and news chains across Michigan. As is the Cowbird mode, Mackinac Center awaits its Cowbird outcome.

Yesterday (January 20, 2011), we heard the piercing cry of the Cowbird in this blog (Michigan View):

"While recognizing what he called the state's 'unsustainable financial model,' SNYDER NEVERTHELESS SUGGESTED PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE MORE GOVERNMENT.(emphasis added)

"{Snyder} proposed a new government 'Office of Urban Initiatives' in Detroit and two other locations, and a new Michigan Economic Development Corp. board member for agriculture.

"Though he gave no specifics, Snyder proposed an expansion of education emphasis to begin at the prenatal phase - sperm and egg? - and continue throughout life. And he suggested a government "system" to step into our private lives on health issues like smoking and obesity, hardly the platform of a staunch conservative.
"While Snyder touched on many issues in an address that had an overall uplifting feel to it, he also failed to mention plans for key issues such as film credits, early prison-inmate release, energy policy and the stated goal of House Speaker Jase Bolger to begin discussing right-to-work legislation.

"Of course, all this emphasizes the enormity of the job facing the new governor, who continues to come across as anything but a typical politician." Frank Beckmann,('Gov. Enigma' brings new era to Michigan's politics, 1.21.11)

Perhaps Frank should encourage the Mackinac Center to migrate-franchising their "gripe away government" method of operation, "taking-it-to-government" to other states.

The Enigma: Let's see if Crested Cowbirds have a wider range and can con naive natives birds elsewhere, who don't mind raising and supporting the Cowbird's greedy offspring.


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.