Happy Wednesday!
Hail to the Victors. Ann Arbor makes the "most well-read cities" list:
Ann Arbor has a lot of bookworms, according to a new list by Amazon.com.
The online company on Tuesday released its annual list of 20 of the "Most Well-Read Cities in America," and Ann Arbor has… »
With friends like these...
The group working to recall Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan Rising missed a campaign finance report deadline by a few days this month. Though this isn't entirely uncommon given the unnecessarily complex and cumbersome reporting methods they use, it was still a… »
According to a study by Metlife, as reported on in The Nation, job satisfaction is dropping amongst teachers. Only 44 percent of teachers described themselves as “very satisfied,” and almost a third of teachers are considering leaving the profession. This news comes as the conservative… »
Tuesdays are just plain sexy, aren't they?
Let's start with some Great Lakes.
First, here's the Hoekstra trying to trade our lakes for some oil:
From the MDP release:
“Even most Republicans have supported the ban on drilling in the Lakes because they recognize that a disaster… »
As you know, the 2012 elections are less than six months from now and the stakes are higher than ever. Whoever wins this election will determine whether our nation will continue to move to a new tune or rewind the same old song. We want leaders who can relate to and implement measures that will… »
As many of you know, Kyle Olson has operated out of Michigan for 8 years now, working for secret funders to demonize public school unions. For years he focused on the MEA, but he has since gone national, parading as a school reformer in order to play the press and blame school employees for every… »
Yes! I love Mondays!
Let's brief!
Julie Mack has an interesting observation on marriage equality:
The fact is, it's hard to fashion a convincing case that gay marriage undermines American values or hurts society. If you accept the idea that homosexuality is a biological trait… »
I've chatted a little about the proposal to eliminate state licensing for certain professions. See here, here, and kinda here. Here's a little closer look at the subject.
Let's start with how it started. The Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) put together an advisory board of 14… »
“If corporations are people, they are the vampires of our age” – Larry Tunner Larry Tomlinson is a movie-maker out of Ypsilanti. Together with with Jeff Morgan, he is preparing to make an Occupy-themed movie called The Saga of Larry Tunner that could very well help to shape the conversation leading up to our election in November 2012.
Here’s the rub: they need funding. This indy film in many ways embodies the vibe of “Occupy”. It’s being made entirely on a shoestring with lots of people volunteering their time to make it happen. But even shoestrings cost money. They need funds for props and for promotion and for food, gas, and supplies and so much more. The only need to raise $36,000. And that’s where YOU come in. The have less than ten weeks to do it. That aggressive time frame ensures the movie will be released in time for the election.
Here’s a brief synopsis of this movie:
The Saga of Larry Tunner follows the classic hero tale, with a few exceptions. Instead of discovering a flaming sword our warrior discovers a huge check, and rather than questing against a great dragon that has plundered the countryside, our champion and his merry band struggle against an unchecked corporate power that has corrupted our daily existence.
Homeless drunkard has-been Larry Tunner has had a rough couple of years since the plant closed, but his luck is about to change! Along with some of his trusty friends, including an unemployed professor, a liquor store clerk, and a bag lady, Larry is about to turn the American political establishment upside down.
After hitting the jackpot and realizing that he really can do anything, Larry decides to run for President, giving voice to the real concerns of America’s ninety-nine percent. Unpolished, charismatic, and full of heart, Larry is on a mission to save America, or die trying.
Here is the video from their fundraising page with Andrew and Jeff explaining what they are hoping to do and why they need your help:
I have had a look at the script and it’s dynamite. Not only that, I spent time with Andrew and Jeff and had the privilege of watching a scene being filmed during this past weekend’s “Occupalooza” event in Traverse City. The actor the portrays Larry Tunner, Gary Brunner, is outstanding – a complete natural for the part.
But, as I have said, they need your help. Whether it’s a few wealthy benefactors or a whole lot of small contributions, they need to raise a fairly small amount over the next couple of weeks. Won’t you contribute a little bit of something (or, heck, why not a LOT of bit of something?!) to this very worthy effort?
They will be releasing promotional videos over the next few weeks, most shot in Detroit. Here are the first two.
The Colbert Report is making a bunch of noise since yesterday when Steven Colbert listed the Top 22 Super PAC donors revealing half of all Super PAC money came from their $67 million in contributions alone.
“I am sure that the good government goo-goos out there are saying this is just handing all the power to the 1% when in fact 22 people in a population of 300 million: That’s 7 one-millionths of 1 percent,” Colbert said, tapping away on his trusty calculator until it spewed smoke. “So Occupy Wall Street, you’re going to want to change those signs.”
Two of the 22 donors were Bob Perry (TX), who gave $3,600,000 to “Make Us Great Again” supporting Rick Perry, and Paul Singer (NY) donating $1,000,000 to “Restore Our Future” backing Mitt Romney’s candidacy in the Republican Presidential Primary flooded with billionaire money.
But did you know that Perry and Singer are TWO of the Michigan Republican Party’s Top 10 donors for 2010? Yep, that’s a fact (Page 94).
To Michigan Republican Related PACs
Snyder, Richard & Sue (Campaign) $5,943,702
DeVos, Richard, Sr. & Helen (FL) (Rich) $1,199,904
Lynas, Robert & Joyce $1,007,000 Perry, Bob (TX) $1,000,000 Koch, David (NY) $988,604 Singer, Paul (NY) $783,400 Cohen, Steven (CT) $482,604
Jandernoa, Michael & Susan $416,655
Weiser, Ron & Eileen $418,247
Johnson, Ruth (Campaign) $354,834
Mills, Ted $339,500
Meijer, Frederick & Lena $339,000
DeVos, Dick & Betsy $334,754
Moroun, M.J. & Nora $333,225
Nicholson, James & Ann $302,704
Actually, as you can see, if you add Koch and Cohen to the list, FOUR of the Top Donors to the Michigan GOP are billionaires from out-of-state.
Welcome to a new country, and state too, bought and paid for, thanks to Citizen’s United and the 1% (inside and outside) Michigan.
Zachary Steve will be on First Shift this morning at 7.50am to discuss the Detroit Occupy our Homes initiative.
The Occupy our Homes (Detroit) organizing meeting takes place tomorrow at 6pm, at the Arab Community Cntr for Economic & Social Svcs,** 2651 Saulino Ct, Dearborn, MI 48120-1556.
The Occupy Detroit organization meets tomorrow at 5.30, and has some overlapping goals with Occupy our Homes. I’m not sure of the difference between the groups or why they wouldn’t work together. (Maybe they will). If someone has the answer, please let us know in the comments
I know there have been articles on here about the Occupy movement sweeping the country. I don’t know how anyone could refute the immensity of this phenomena, regardless the side they are on. This is the definitely the hot new buzz word.
However, a friend of mine and I were talking today and he said something which was half in jest and half serious. He and his wife are toying with the idea of Occupy’ing Wal-Mart. Someone in our conversation wasn’t quite understanding the underlying topic… and for once it wasn’t me. H
His reasoning is “because they are also responsible for the downfall of the American economy by killing American manufacturing.”
Image via Wikipedia
Really? This company single handedly eroded American manufacturing?
Finding yourself agreeing with his sentiment?
I used to work there. I don’t recall ever being forced to shop there. Not even once. I can’t think of a single time I’ve ever seen the stores making anyone spend money there. Maybe corporate has different rules in the South than they do up here.
Have discount super centers like Wal-Mart, Meijer, and KMart contributed to the problems suffered by both the small business owner and the American manufacturer? Of course. But that doesn’t mean they are responsible for the results.
My friend didn’t have an answer when I asked about the last time he gave that corporate giant some of his money. Things got even quieter when I took it a step further and queried about his most recent shopping trip to the local hardware store. Somehow, this time, I don’t think I’m the one confused.
The Detroit Free Press characterizes a move by the Michigan Supreme Court as a “victory” for Governor Rick Snyder. The reality is that it is a solid defeat for the 99% and a “victory” for the 1%. The Michigan Supremes basically said it’s okay to tax seniors’ pensions but not okay to raise taxes on the 1%.
A divided Michigan Supreme Court has given the green light to the extension of Michigan’s 4.35% personal income tax to pensions, one of the cornerstones of the Gov. Rick Snyder-led overhaul of the state tax system that was approved amidst partisan rancor earlier this year.
The court did, however, unanimously strike down provisions in the new tax law that would have phased out the use of personal tax exemptions by wealthier taxpayers. That provision, effectively raising the taxes on higher income earners, is barred by the state constitutional ban on a graduated income tax, the court said.
With today’s decision, the state can go ahead with plans to implement the tax changes on Jan. 1. The new tax on pensions was expected to raise more than $300 million in 2012. It was not immediately clear how much lower that number will be because of the court’s decision to strike down the personal exemption phase-out.
To those of you that are asking what the “Occupy” movement is protesting, THIS is the kind of crap that the “Occupy” movement is protesting. Do we really need to make it any damn clearer?
Adding… I’d just like to point out that these two decisions came in the same ruling by the Supreme Court. Could there possibly be a more vicious stab in the eye of those who aren’t part of the wealthy elite in our society than that?
The Michigan AFL-CIO has issued this statement:
Today’s Supreme Court ruling on Governor Snyder’s pension tax proposal is a partisan decision that will hurt Michigan seniors, and is yet another example of the misplaced priorities of Lansing politicians. The tax proposal would impose $343 million in new taxes on seniors’ pensions, cutting deeply into fixed income budgets and leaving less for Michigan seniors to spend on necessities like groceries and needed medications,” said Michigan AFL-CIO President Karla Swift.
“Raising taxes on pensions while continuing to protect the CEOs and big corporations that have been outsourcing Michigan jobs is going to further our state’s jobs crisis. It will increase the hardship on working and middle class families and on local businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies.
Gov. Snyder and other politicians in Lansing need to stop the power struggles and the misplaced priorities if we’re going to get our state back on track for the 99% of Michiganders. Tax hikes on those that can least afford it is wrong for Michigan. Workers should be able to look forward to a secure retirement, but this ruling puts partisan politics ahead of commonsense values.
Two events this week for folks interested in the We Are the 99%/Occupy movement.
The Washtenaw Community Action Team (WCAT) (part of the We Are the People Michigan coalition), Occupy Ann Arbor and Occupy UM will jointly hold a pair of events this week that address the Occupy movements and how local labor, students and community members can get involved to rebuild political power for working people.
The forum is the culmination of a two-month, two part film series The Power of Working People held at 4 locations in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.
Invited speakers will explore different aspects of the following question – how can working people can build a movement capable of strengthening worker rights, social justice and genuine equality of opportunity for all?
Each speaker will provide recommendations for how to go forward in Washtenaw County and reflect on the significance of the Occupy movements.
Tom Weisskopf is emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan.
Students and faculty at the University of Michigan will host a Teach-In. The teach in is part of an Occupy Detroit initiative that will serve as a primer on the national and local Occupy movements as well as a jump start for conversations about student debt, tuition fees, university labor and the privatization of higher education. The event features discussion about what UM students can do participate in the Occupy movement locally and on campus.
The event will feature speakers from Occupy Oakland and Ann Arbor, the Graduate Employees Organization and a political economist at the University of Michigan.
The CC Little Building is located 1100 N. University Ave. Ann Arbor, MI on the University of Michigan’s central campus.
Nolan Finley at the Detroit News just can’t seem to bash the Occupy Wall Street folks enough. First, it was his article where he basically called the protesters a bunch of animals and derided them as being simply “malcontents”.
This week, he trots out a debunked-many-times-over myth that “the 1% does most of the giving”.
The civil rights center bearing the name of Detroit’s Judge Damon Keith was dedicated last week at the Wayne State University Law School. Its mission is to protect the legal rights of the nation’s most disaffected and powerless citizens, continuing the work to which Keith has dedicated his life.
And who do you think paid the $5.7 million tab for building the Keith Center?
Not the government. Not a dime of taxpayer money went into the construction. Not Wayne State — universities are too cash-strapped today to fund such ambitious projects.
The center that will stand up for the poorest of Americans was paid for by some of the wealthiest members of our community — that 1 percent being so harshly targeted by the Occupy Wall Street crowd.
~SNIP~
But philanthropy is not what those who call themselves the “99 percenters” want to talk about. They’ve convinced themselves that if there were no wealthy people, there’d be no poor ones.
That fact is that this completely false. Oh, sure, in absolute numbers, the uber-wealthy give more. But in terms of a percentage of their income? Not even close. Have a look at this graph from a report done a couple of years ago by McClatchy News Service:
Click for a larger version
The poorest group, the lowest one-fifth, give twice as much as a percentage of their income as the two top groups do.
Let’s not pretend that those top groups got where they are all on their own. They didn’t. Society has benefited them mightily and it’s not unfair to ask them to pay their fair share of taxes, no matter what apologists like Nolan Finley may tell you. And, really Nolan, do you think we don’t know that this abundance of philanthropy by the one-percenters is, at least in part, a way to avoid paying taxes? We know they get massive tax write-offs for this, Nolan. Please don’t blow smoke up our backsides and tell us it’s all altruism. It’s not.
Finley has the gall to claim that the wealthy are “being…harshly targeted by the Occupy Wall Street crowd.” That’s so utterly absurd that it hardly bears commenting on except to say what passes for “harshly targeted” in Finley’s odd universe wouldn’t even make the first cut for the rest of us.
His other strawman, that Occupy protesters think “that if there were no wealthy people, there’d be no poor ones” is equally laughable. But Finley the apologist has the eyeballs of a lot of wealthy people in Michigan and his efforts are clearly designed to make the one-percenters feel justified in sneering at and deriding #OWS protesters.
New Post: Wednesday briefing and open thread - Happy Wednesday! Hail to the Victors. Ann Arbor makes the "most well-... http://t.co/uZOM127h 20 hours ago
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Larry Tomlinson is a movie-maker out of Ypsilanti. Together with with Jeff Morgan, he is preparing to make an Occupy-themed movie called The Saga of Larry Tunner that could very well help to shape the conversation leading up to our election in November 2012.
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