While we were venting our outrage at shenanigans in Wisconsin politics, in fact while Republicans were planning last night’s attempted coup, the Michigan state legislature quietly passed a bill giving the Governor of Michigan martial control over the state. Except instead of using actual military, the Governor is more likely to use private security. But make no mistake–rights would be suspended.
Here’s how it works:
The governor, on his own initiative, can declare an economic emergency in any town and appoint an administrator. The administrator can be any person, including a corporate person.
The administrator has the power to do anything in the name of economic stability, including void contracts, void collective bargaining agreements, dissolve the town council, dissolve the school board, fire anyone including elected officials, hire private security, unincorporate the town, and sell off public property.
The people of the town have no say in this. They can neither demand nor turn away the administrator. That is because this provision is meant to be used against the people.
What might constitute an emergency in the Governor’s eyes?
A labor strike is the first thing that comes to mind. Too many foreclosures. Crime! In short, anything he wants it to be–and with billionaire backers, any controversy can be created.
What might the administrator do in that emergency?
First, privatize everything. Fire public workers and take over all public functions–running schools, police and fire service, and so on. Michigan just made this legal.
Second, imprison dissidents, shutter businesses, and seize property by eminent domain. This is not legal, but hey, that didn’t stop the Wisconsin Republicans.
In short, take over control and turn it into a corporate town.
We need to pay attention to Michigan because they are farther along the road to corporate statehood–to where the Republicans want to take all of us.
Other things you should know:
–The outnumbered Democrats in Michigan tried to add an amendment that the administrator’s could be paid no more than the governor, but that was voted down. All the better to drain the public treasury.
–Michigan voted to increase taxes on the poor and elderly. What little property they own will belong to the government soon.
–Michigan voted to disallow charitable tax deductions for donations to universities. When universities depend more on public money, it is much easier for the government to control them. Universities liberalize people, so they must be changed.
–Finally, people have been leaving Michigan in droves due to its poor economy. If there had been no auto bailout–and it was hotly contested even by non-corporatists–there would be ghost towns all over the state. As it is, there are large ghost neighborhoods. These empty public nuisances are ripe for corporate ownership.
This is the Republicans’ end game: drain public entities of assets, privatize, turn what’s left over to corporations to run. In the running, they will use onerous taxation or find other ways to take away ownership of what is now privately held.
Corporations will control the government, and between the two of them, they will own all property. And there will be nary a peep in the bulk of the media because the corporations control that too.
We can stop this, and the protests that started in Wisconsin are the way to start. It may get uglier before it gets better, but we can take our country back.
Image: Business Insider
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elemenohpee
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
How to reverse this? Vote for Democrats.
Watch for the Rethugs to declare an emergency that will allow them to cancel elections.
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Marge
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
The thing is they didn’t read the constitution at all. It says that any state that organizes a militia or an army such as this would automatically be under the direction of the Commander in Chief of the US….President Obama. If you need clarification just look it up in the constitution.
Remember AZ was going to do that, but someone reminded them that Obama would be in charge and they vacated the idea. Michigan sure doesn’t read the constitution . OR only the parts they can screw around to fit their purpose. Let me…Obama can do what he wants with it.
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WAKE UP AMERICA
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Hi, just wanted to chime in here to state the obvious, are you talking about Obama NOW? or ???Republicon in future? This could pertain to the end of time or until we blow ourselves to smithereens… SO, this does NOT save us.
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Reynardine
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
¿¡Que?! Wake, take your meds!
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Richard Head
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Can you cite that section of the Constitution for me, please?
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Article 2 Section 2
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Rebellious Pagan
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
No. You are wrong.
He is CiC only when militias are called into actual service of the United States, and he has to have Congress approve, or the Governor’s permission.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
No where in the constitution does it say he needs anyones approvals. When a militia is called to action he is the CIC. Otherwise a militia is in stand down status.
The congress is responsible for raising, arming the militia. The states provide for the officers and training. Article 1 Section 8
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 1:48 am
This would not be a militia, this would be a private security corporation. The Constitution does not talk about or limit corporations. As someone else mentioned, it may certainly be argued that the private security firm is fulfilling a public function and thus should be held to the limits of public power, but as they are under the direction of the town administrator, that would likely make them the equivalent of local police, not a state militia.
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Sarah Jones
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:26 am
LOL. Yeah, the President has to ask a Governor for permission. Sounds like someone thinks this is a confederacy. The President is in charge of the National Guard and he doesn’t have to get permission from anyone. Ask Bush. If he wants to, he can hire Blackwater to come in to any state. Bush did it as protection for himself at the RNC and they beat people up and gassed them, remember?
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Maximus Max
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Bush hired Blackwater to beat people up!!!! I’ve read a LOT of Bush bashing comments but that one takes the prize!!! L M F’n A O !!!
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Bill
Mar. 22nd, 2011 at 1:29 am
Actually, this one is sadly true. They were at the RNC, and they were also used in New Orleans after Katrina.
I think the most disappointing thing I’ve seen in comments is: “vote democrat!”. When are you going to realize 95% of these politicians whether they be dem. or rep.; are two sides of the same coin?
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mic jordan
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
We voted for a Democrat and got a weasel for president. Where’s the hope in that???
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
And your thoughts on the bill in Michigan?
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Olen Rush
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:23 am
The most significant concern in our present time is the usurpation of local Government by Corporatists spouting propaganda under the pretense of Patriotic Speech in order to push an agenda that is counter-productive, and not at all in the best interests of the general citizenry. Often times the cliches of “family” or “traditional American” Values is used to cover an ideology that is completely opposed to the very concept of Democratic Self-Governance.
Because our present circumstances relate to similar methodologies as those used by Fascist Totalitarian Regimes, it is helpful to examine the organizational structure of the Third Reich in regards to its regional and local political influence.
The geographic areas of Nazi Germany were divided from a National level (Reich), as well as States and Provinces (Gaue and Reichsgaue). Since the U.S. is a much larger geographic area, one should think of State regional divisions in the U.S., such as: Provinces, Counties, Parishes, Townships, Cities, Municipalities, Villages, Neighborhoods, etc.
Government Officials were replaced in actuality by Nazi Party Officials such as these:
Gauleiters (over a Gaue; see above)
Kreisleiters (over a Kreise, or County)
Zellenleieters (over a Zellen, or “Cell”; like a township per se)
Blockleiters (over a number of Blocks in a region of a City)
In other words for public Officials to wield any power, they most be “appointed” by the Reichleiter (National Leader i.e. Reich = National, Leiter = Leader) who had now assumed the title of Führer. (Very similar to the State Governors in some areas of the United States who
appoint Emergency Financial Managers that rule over the Officials elected by the Citizenry, in effect politically castrating them.)
These are the equivalent of Michigan’s “Emergency Managers”… who will be paid nearly a half million per year after they abolish your town!!!
Rise up Friends and Unite!!!
Olen
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Maximus Max
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 11:12 am
I will bet anyone here any sum of money that in a period of one year from now not ONE town is abolished due to this law. NOT ONE! It is just more typical liberal hype to cause an imagined panic over something that for the most part has been on the books in Michigan for 10 years, and was in fact how we got emergency managers in Benton Harbor, Pontiac, the Detroit Public School system, all of which were sent to these places by who? Governor Granholm! Did Robert Bob dismiss the school board? NO. Is Benton Harbor still incorporated? Of course. You people have GOT to get a grip man, we ain’t buyin your bs no more.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
The fact that a town wont be dissolved is nothing compared to the fact that laws have been written to allow it. To give corporations the right to determine the fate or status of a city, to allow elected officials to just be brushed aside is mind lblowing to anyone that cares.
You really should care more about your country.
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Yes, there was a similar law on the books for ten years, and it was used without undue upheaval.
So why change it? And why make it so extreme?
Suppose you eat half a chocolate sundae. If I pour antifreeze on it, are you going to tell me it’s still a chocolate sundae? Are you going to eat the rest of it?
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Marvin
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Oh **** off! God Damn it! Stop whining about Obama. He is doing the best he can. He would never **** sell us out like the Republicans are doing over and over again. Whining about Obama/Democrats when Republicans are **** US IN THE**** is absolutely insane. God Damn It! Wake up! The Republicans are **** US ALIVE. We must stop them.
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akscene
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw
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Ray Medeiros
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Can I get a link to the legislation?
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Reynardine
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I also want a cite to this legislation. No American jurisdiction has ever recognized anything akin to martial law for financial crisis. The only remedy remotely akin is involuntary bankruptcy, an exclusively federal remedy. Aside from state and federal constitutional actions, I’d suggest looking into the ancient writ of quo warranto (Latin for: “Who said you could?”)
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oldsun
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
bill number 4214 2011
“http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billengrossed/House/htm/2011-HEBH-4214.htm” here is the text URL.
You know there is this thing called Google, Yahoo, Bing, ECT. that allow one to browse the internet to find things maybe you should try that first before asking you dumbass questions on where this or where that morons.
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Reynardine
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Before you get abusive, realize not everyone is on line. Some of us have brief time at hotspots; some of us are on cellphones. I warn you that if you shoot off your spitty mouth again, I can call you things in half a dozen languages.
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Malice
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
This is exciting! let’s not talk about the issue at hand, instead let’s call one another names. That’s way more constructive.
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Reynardine
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Not constructive, but instructive. Anyone should have a few handy phrases in several languages for common emergencies. I lived many years in a tropical port city and worked a number of those years at a well-known language school, and as the only affordable parking was someplace untasty, I used to keep a large, multilingual guide in my briefcase so I could beat muggers to death in twelve languages. Any well-traveled person should be able to do as much. As Roderick Dhu said, speed, Malise!
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:53 am
You give new meaning to the phrase “bringing a book to a knife fight!”
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sorval
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 2:43 am
If I call you an idiot, and you call me a bad name in ..german, but none of us here speak german (and how many Americans are fluent in even one other language) then you truly have not only been called an idiot, but have proved yourself to be one.
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Reynardine
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
Und du bist ein dummer Schwanz.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
I lived in Michigan for 50 years and it was a Democratic state. I wonder what happened to make them allow Republican majorities in a state full of working people. Or should I say former working people. It was bad enough that the job started drying up, now the Republicans want to completely do away with them and take over the territory.
If this doesn’t scare everyone in America then I think our country is pretty much lost to start with
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Phil Perspective
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
I’ll tell you why. Because too many Democrats(like Ben Nelson) sold their souls to the “Big Money Boyz.” That’s why. For all the good things in the health care bill, it still leaves the greedy health insurance companies in charge. And I am sure you remember the committee hearings when Max Baucus(another Democratic sellout) wouldn’t even allow the single-payer advocates to speak. And when is the last time you heard any Democrat on TV tout the health care bill? I know it sounds illogical, but people need to be given a reason to vote. Passing a mediocre health care bill and not having parts of it go into effect until 2014 is, and was, a recipe for disaster. I could go on if you’d like. ;-)
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
I have little more faith in the democrats than I do republicans. Right now I think they are either totally worthless or in on the whole ball of wax
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rod
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
These people and any other state bought this s**t on themselves when in 2010 they voted these monster Rethugs into office. They didn’t give a black man the time or chance to make things better. Their ingrained racism wouldn’t let them vote democratic because Obama was president.
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SHEL3364
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
If you leave race out of it, I think you’re pretty close.
We live in an age of instant gratification – everything NOW.
Music – download now
Messages – instant
Phone calls – anywhere anytime
Information – instant
Two years has become an eternity for some folks to wait for change. Unfortunately, the Democrats were in power in 2010 and were seen as being unable to deliver. I expect it to swing again in 2012.
Things are only going to stagnate or change for the worse. I’ve seen nothing that the Republicans have done that can come to any good.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
him I don’t think it’s a matter of we are and everything now people, we have the technology to do things now. We take the things that you mentioned for granted the same way that in a fire long time ago people took for granted they had put ice in the top of the refrigerator to keep their food cold. I don’t think the people are to blame for this. Imagine what the people of 100 years from now are going to be like provided we get rid of the Republicans. You think instant messages or something? Think of receiving that instant messaging your head instead of on your phone or computer.
But I totally agree with you that there has to be a swing in 2012. if there isn’t this country will be gone
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sorval
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 2:47 am
the time or the chance? The election wasn’t yesterday. Was Obama in wisconsin? No. He wasn’t. Who did the bailout? right. Who extended the republican tax cuts, again, instead of just letting them expire? (he didnt even have to do anything.. they were going to expire if nothing was done).
The only rascist here is you.
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Nefti17
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
I do believe they KNOW that THEY WILL WIN the 2012..why are they doing this? Someone is behind this and has given them the go ahead and not to worry about consequences. These republicans should all be put in jail and never again work in public office. Something is just not right here… this cannot be happening..I’m waiting for that sick coward Walker to pull a Ghadaffi. WHY ISN’T ANYONE STOPPING THIS MAN? WE ARE AMERICA!!!! wth?
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
I have the same feeling. They know they cannot alienate everyone in the US and then win an election. Somehow somewhere someone has the fix in
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Karen
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Im with you two.
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:38 am
I agree, someone called for “gloves off” so they must think they have a clear field.
What might they be doing to assure a win in 2012? Tons of money, of course. We know they are introducing bills to restrict voter eligibility. We know they are training people to be their tools at all levels of govt down to school boards.
The last piece I see is controlling both candidates running–I think it’s too late to start up a new party for the 2012 election. Boss Tweed is famous for saying that people could vote for whom they pleased as long as he got to pick the candidates.
Other than selection, another way to control candidates is the poison pill kind of blackmail, threatening a far worse fate if we as a country don’t cooperate, but that threat is losing its capacity to quell.
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Haymaker
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Liberals don’t want Republicans or Democrats or any politicians to have that much power. On the other hand, conservatives are quite happy to give such absolute power to government as long as Republicans are in charge.
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Joe
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
There’s this little thing called Constitutional Due Process . . . seems like this law runs afoul of that . . .
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:47 am
…and the benches are full of 30 years of conservative appointments. Not everyone of course, but certainly some key ones.
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john law
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
if the GOP really thinks they can get away with this they are morons. The people will declare war on them and every corporation that supports them. They will begin bombing and assassinating executives and they will all either be forced to flee or resign.
Corporations are not the govt and do not enjoy the same protections. Exercise your 2nd amendment rights against corporations. Make them afraid.
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Daniel
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Democrats outnumbered in Michigan? WTF is this article talking about? This legislation, which I have no doubt will lead to the abuse of power, was passed in an attempt to relieve the debacle in Detroit, which may I remind you was brought on over half a century of liberal rule. Michigan has historically been a blue state, which is now run by Republicans in response to the terrible things wrought by the policies of largely liberal Democratic policy.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
What terrible things? Are you saying the bill they are passing is in response to liberal policys?
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Sarah Jones
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
Republicans have been in charge at the state level for a long time. Mich had a democratic gov, but Republican controlled House and Senate. Furthermore, blaming Detroit’s woes on liberals is hysterically disingenuous. Have you heard of the auto plants that left years ago? And no mayor of Detroit has been “liberal”. You might want to refresh your ideology browser. There have been Democratic sleazebags like KK, but no liberals. And if you think KK was bad, what do you think of Ensign, Sanford, Newt, et al? Just wondering if it’s OK when they do it.
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ROCnPhilly
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
You folks are way overreacting. The bill is a rewrite of one that’s been on the books since 1963. The main difference is that school districts and communities can no longer declare bankruptcy for themselves. The idea is force these entities to produce financial reporting and when it looks troubling, to call in some conservatives who actually know something about accounting, finance, budgeting, etc.. before the liberals spend themselves into bankruptcy, thereby destroying their economies and bond ratings.
Read the law and calm the he77 down. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billengrossed/House/pdf/2011-HEBS-4214.pdf
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Sarah Jones
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
We tried that under Bush — remember when conservatives told us to calm down, there were WMD? And guess what……….there weren’t. I could go on and on about that. Calm down, Bush will send water to Katrina victims. etc. On average of being accurate, on I’ll side with liberals.
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CJ
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
And that’s the thing that conservatives never get about many liberals – we don’t want to spend into oblivion. We want our tax dollars to go to things that are good for the country – things that ensure our future as a nation. We want to spend in the right ways – since spending is not avoidable.
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RickSnyderSucks
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
How do we recall ALL of the Republican representatives and Rick Snyder? Families need unions to represent them, otherwise its going to get worse here. I can’t believe this shit. You don’t mess with Michigan.
Republicans are the ones driving people away.
Time to stand up.
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Angry Voter
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:10 am
Subverting the Constitution is Treason.
He should be stripped of his citizenship and deported to North Korea since he wants a dictatorship so bad.
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upnorth
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:31 am
SHUT IT ALL DOWN. Unions need to just say no. Shutdown – its what the GOP dreams of. Lets beat the crooked politicians to it.
SHUTDOWN. Stay home. Everybody. Unions now.
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Gary
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 12:54 am
not to be overly skeptical, but why are there no links in this article to news sites or public docs?
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 1:14 am
Rachel Maddow has mentioned this on several different days, and one of those segments was posted at this site the day before this article was posted.
This is the link to the legislation as posted in an earlier comment: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billengrossed/House/htm/2011-HEBH-4214.htm
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ann
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 2:00 am
To me this sounds a way Hitleresque (i know not a word). I seriously see the rebirth of the 3rd Reich here. It is a shame that this is what has come down to in Wi. The fed needs to step in and take over the state. Or what is probably best is a mass exodus by all citizens .. See how this republican government gets their wages paid or who will pay taxes then. What people need to start doing is moving to certain states that can easily be taken over and make it a people state not a corporate state.
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SgtPete
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 7:54 am
The unions sleep with the democrats. The unions give economic support to the democrats for election, in return the elected democrat give the union greater benefits. It was just a matter of time before the people, whom are the bill payers, awoke. Walker, and his republican are freely elected officials and passed a bill to limit this. The people spoke in November, not in Madison. Ohio is next.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 9:07 am
And the unions are a fraction of support compared to what the corporations you so blindly support give to republicans. The people spoke in Madison and will speak again with a recall of the republicans in the Wisconsin Senate. Then they will remmeber in 2012 of what the republicans did in Madison for the rich Koch Brothers. Again, the people you support.
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SgtPete
Mar. 11th, 2011 at 9:42 am
Shiva, Koch Brother, get real. The people are not stupid, they know what unemployment is. There is corporate greed, yes, but jobs make the family, these jobs are important. With out jobs, one has no home, food, medical care, but worst, there is no tax base causing less school funding, police, fire or infrastructure. Want to become Detroit? I agree that a recall is doable, the people have a right for a recall, but by then motivation and money may be lacking. After each teacher gets a $1000 raise in lieu of paying union dues and the quid pro quo is broken, then the cost of the recall just became higher. This is why the democrats fought so hard against this. The cost of the Madison protest cost money, busing protesters in from Chicago and Detroit, hence lost votes in 2102. One must pick their battles carefully. Ever wonder why people are moving to right to work states? Walker is doing the right thing for Wisconsin. I’m all for democracy, it’s the best, the people speak at each election, not the union. A right to work state is coming, or should I say right to work states.
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Kevlynn
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
This isn’t Wisconsin, last I checked.
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Nikolai
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 12:58 am
ERGO REPRESENTATIVE GO’VT; unless the people are there representing (their)government. Simple.
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Nikolai
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 1:07 am
I hate to say it, (or maybe not) but the repubs have the legislators and money in their pockets and they call the shots… legally. However, we have all seen how the shots can be called otherwise with physical action. Viva la revolution
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 1:56 am
None of these candidates across the Midwest campaigned on the things they are doing–in some cases they outright lied about what they would do once elected. They may be legally elected, but voters are not standing for bait and switch politics.
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Don
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 10:50 am
This template was also applied by the current Administration. It has become the modus operandi. And you are correct. The voters would not stand for it, hence the results of this past election.
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Michskin
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
The problem with Democrats is they like to blame others. We had eight years of a do nothing Democratic Governor, how did that work out for ya? Michigan is a terrible place to do business, so the guy is trying to improve the business climat for all, and keep some jobs here, where is the rub? Some thing is genuinely wrong when the only “new” business relies on tax credits to remain, and the instant this are resinded, off they go….
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Sarah Jones
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Yes, there’s nothing like Democrats for blaming others for starting illegal wars based on lies, ignoring intel and allowing 9-11 to happen and then claiming they are the best on national security, driving the country into the ground with reckless spending, no tax revenue and tons of borrowing while leaving the wars off the budget and allowing oil companies to dictate subsidies for auto makers only if they continue to make huge cars no one wants — yes, you are so right.
Also, the Michigan House and Senate are run by Republicans and have been for a long time. You might want to check out how checks and balances work, along with the national economy’s impact on MI, and exactly who passes budgets proposed by a governor, etc, unless you want to go around “blaming” people like a Democrat does. LOL.
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MichSkin
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 7:53 am
Darn those facts, they always seem to get in the way don’t they? During the Granholm Admin, Republicans had only a small majority in the Michigan Senate, and even then it couldn’t be counted on to vote against the Democratic Governor. She got pretty much everything she wanted, and where are we now???
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Anne
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
So, are you actually okay with the governor trying to usurp the powers to dissolve local governments whose officials were democratically elected, in the name of “attracting business?” One consequence, which would surely be unintended and unanticipated, could be a mass exodus from your state by those who could afford to move, without others moving in. In any case, what will you say if Snyder and all who support this travesty get recalled, as they should?
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Sarah Jones
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Ever notice how quick the right is to tell us why our freedoms don’t matter and why we should give them up so we don’t suffer more shock and awe as imposed upon us by their own policies?
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MichSkin
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 8:02 am
Anne, with respect, we are not living in a vacuum. I can think of three cities with nearly insurmountable administrative problems; Detroit, Hamtramck, and Pontiac, if the new laws can in any way help these cities do what they have to do to restructure faster so be it, I am willing to give it a go, the current system hasn’t exactly been working so great. Look at the problems caused by the “elected” Detroit School Board, if ever there was a case of “elected officials fiddling, while Detroit schoold burned” that is it. And I am sorry to repeat myself here but Michigan ranked 48th in business climate, companies, if given a choice don’t come here on there own, and there is no state left if we don’t bring more jobs here. Everyone cannot work for the government.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 8:09 am
all three cities depended to a great deal on the automobile industry. Which as we all know started disappearing in the 1980s. It’s no different than a city like Gary Indiana was totally dependent on the steel industries which also in the 1980s started to disappear( no I am not blaming Ronald Reagan).
I am all for austerity programs where required. But I would ask you are you willing to give up your right to elect officials to a Corporation? Are you willing to give up your right to have elected officials who could be brushed away whenever a certain person declares a crisis? That is the crux of the matter
Like other states, Michigan had a great many small cities that had factories the supplied the big three and that is what The cities going. once that industry was gone or reduced to what it is now the cities have no prayer of continuing on for an extended period of time without something to take the place of the auto suppliers. Of course Michigan has other industries, but I can’t think of any industry that is going to come in and take the place of the auto industry that literally built cities like Detroit and Pontiac. What industry and your thoughts is going to be big enough to commit and replace the auto companies that once employed a good part of the three cities that you mentioned?
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cassandravert
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 9:14 am
The road to economic rebirth is innovation. Silicon Valley was born at the junction of Cal, Stanford, and relatively cheap land around San Jose. With the great University of Michigan, cheap land, and a tradition of manufacturing, Michigan could be the next Silicon Valley if the government took the steps to encourage home-grown business. Instead, the state is asphyxiating education, the most attractive pro-business feature of Michigan and which itself is a great industry for producing “ripple effect” jobs.
Yes, Michigan has large and real problems, but what Snyder is doing is not fixing those problems. He is making them worse, and I believe it is by design. He is on the road to help private interests take over the state, and I don’t see the road he’s on leading anywhere else.
Snyder is using these real and somewhat desperate situations as an excuse to slash rights and concentrate power and wealth into fewer and fewer hands. This is not an isolated case. This is part of a plan Republican governors are executing around the country. The game plan of using or ginning up crises as an excuse to seize power has been the Republican MO for years (it got us into Iraq). There is a 2007 book called Shock Doctrine that lays it all out.
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Anne
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 9:35 am
Making it easy to override the will of people to vote whom they want in their local governments is about Snyder’s efforts to consolidate political power. This is being done in the name of bringing economic solvency, and it will not work.
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Karen
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
No Michskin –
what is genuinely wrong is thinking that the needs of Business are the needs of We the People and imposing Business’ needs on We the People without consent.
In the GOP Fourth Reich, Citizens are the at top of the org chart. Funny how its not people. but Citizens. And America has suddenly become an Idea – that is defined by Citizens and their legislating arm.. the GOP.
I’m assuming that the Citizens the GOP is prostituting themselves to are the Corporate Citizens, eh?
Just like Germany, where they instituted all kinds of new laws, and values and proscribments about the Real Germany and what Real Germans are supposed to do and think and say and live and work.
Only Real Germans had the privilege of Citizenship. And they revoked it from every group they found impure, bit by bit.
Wake up.
Fascism is real and its here, in America.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Michskin, you didnt read the article.
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MichSkin
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 8:17 am
I did actually, thanks. But I am regretting posting on this board, the vitriol, and Hitler references are turning my stomach. The right was villified after Gabriel Giffords shooting, for some illusiory “target” references, but I see that “left leaning” posters here have no problems equating the right to Hitler and using scathing verbal attacks. I may not agree with 98% of the Progressive agenda, but the difference was in the means not the final result, I thought it wasn’t personal. After reading this blog, not so sure. Some on the left are as mean spirited and hurtful as it gets.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 8:28 am
do try to get over yourself. Why not take a little trip to a website called viletweets.com and see what our conservatives have to say about the nice
While I am not big on the target references, let’s face it. The images were meant to be targets and Gabriel Giffords name was under those targets. The right was not vilified, however Sarah Palin was. It was unfortunately she used those targets.
And while you’re at it it’s easy enough to find references to the Obama administration and Hitler from the right. I think you’re just truly getting carried away trying to make a false point
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cassandravert
Mar. 15th, 2011 at 9:36 am
The right was criticized for more than just a few target references. It was for encouraging violence against the government, the result of which has been violence against the government across the country. I wrote a couple of articles about that, too, on this site.
Before you dismiss parallels to Nazi Germany, read Hraf’s articles. The philosophies, the strategies, and the methods sure do look familiar. And again I say, take into account everything that is going on today and try to construct a more believable scenario. I could not.
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Cassandra Vert
Mar. 14th, 2011 at 12:00 am
1. What ails business the most is a lack of customers–people with money to spend. How does taking people spending money (by tax) and giving it to corporations (by negative tax) solve this problem? This is not a pro-business move.
2. Even if the Governor had the purest heart, the best intentions, and the shrewdest mind, should he be allowed to dissolve a town and impose his own will on it through an appointed administrator? No. Really, no, that is why we have other elected officials. And because no one has a completely pure heart, certainly not Governor Snyder.
Everything Republicans have done, on the federal and state levels, have made it easier for a few people to hurt the rest of us, cf the market crash, BP oil spill, etc.
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katy thrall
Mar. 12th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
I think Rick Snyder is a dictator, just like Hitler.He is an a**hole! he is only taking care of his rich friends,screw everybody else. He wants to take the most from seniors & the poor working class that built this state. Republicans suck!
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