Celeste Whiting compiled some curious Michigan stats and facts that recently made it into the news, including this little tidbit that would have made a great "Good Morning Michigan" trivia question:
Michigan drivers buckled up at record rates in 2007 -- over 93 percent -- making it a top ten state for seatbelt use. (Chicago Tribune)
Really Really Free Market, Grand Rapids
Sunday, July 27, 2008
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Parking Lot at the Corner of Wealthy and Fuller
Wealthy St SE and Fuller Ave
Grand Rapids, MI
bloom@mediamouse.org
Let's share what we've got and ask for what we need, because there is enough for everyone. Let's respond to the corporations that would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get something without paying. Let's meet this month to show that we mean what we've been saying--we want an alternative, and we're going to invent it for ourselves.
Come to the first ever REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET in Grand Rapids! Bring usable stuff that you don't need and/or aren't using to share with others. You might consider bringing clothes, furniture, records, toys, or even food.
July 3rd- Philip Dine (author of State of the Unions)
July 10th- John Czerwinski (Business Manager, UA 74 and head of Delaware AFL-CIO COPE)
July 17th- Paul Tucker (Editor & Publisher of the Union News newspapers in Pennsylvania)
July 24th- Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) on for our first segment discussing his new book
July 24th- Brian McGlinchey (LIUNA Eastern Region) on for our second segment
July 31st- USW International President Leo Gerard & USW 2599 President Jerry Green
August 7th- We have Sam Bennett on our show from 8:05am til 8:25am. She is the Chair of the Allentown Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional nominee in the Pennsylvania 15th Congressional District.
Advertisers and sponsors are badly needed to keep the greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania (Bethlehem-based) program on the air. Contact Stephen Crockett by email at demlabor@aol.com or call 1-443-907-2367.
We are planning a show reaching southern New Jersey, northern half of Delaware and greater Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. Interested? Contact Stephen Crockett by email at demlabor@aol.com or call 1-443-907-2367.
Shows are hosted by Mid-Atlantic Labor.com Editor Stephen Crockett. The WGPA broadcast is co-hosted by blogger, labor activist & talk show host Dana Garrett.
Host: Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10:00am - 2:00pm
Michigan State Capitol
Capitol Avenue at Allegan Street
Lansing, MI
517-373-1997
sdavy@house.mi.gov
The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (www.michiganlbc.org) will host a Minority Business & Professional Expo on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, on the State Capitol Lawn in Lansing. Food tables $100, 8-foot tables $75, 6-foot tables $65. Registration due by August 15. E-mail sdavy@house.mi.gov or SenMScott@senate.michigan.gov for registration forms and more information.
Hosted by Mark Casebolt & Commerce Grill
Sunday, July 13, 2008
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Commerce Grill
2528 Union Lake Rd.
Commerce, MI
248-366-3311
janeboudreau@yahoo.com
Come and meet with Jane and her friends. We are getting close to the August 5 primary. Have food, and beverages. Cash Bar. Suggested Donation $50.00. See you there. Please RSVP, you know we want to have enough food for all!
New State Web Page Has Tips On Saving Money
(wizardkitten)
Governor Granholm and the State of Michigan have unveiled a one-stop web page called "Save Money" that pulls together tips from both state government resources as well as private consumer-based internet sites. From local gas price comparisons and fuel economy tips, to help with health care issues and college financial aid, to ideas on lowering your home energy bills - it's all together on one page to help consumers do what they can to save money.
That possibility isn't out of the question according to one analyst:
General Motors Corp., battered by the slowest U.S. sales market in 15 years, faces the possibility of bankruptcy and may need to raise as much as $15 billion, a Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst said.
The ``dramatic drop-off'' in sales probably will continue through 2009, forcing GM to find additional funding, analyst John Murphy, who cut the Detroit-based automaker's shares to ``underperform'' from ``buy,'' said in a report, ``Bankruptcy is not impossible if the market continues to deteriorate.''
Dan Scripps: Workers Win as Minimum Wage Increases
(Kathy)
Michigan's minimum wage increased to $7.40 an hour this week. Democratic State House candidate Dan Scripps has more information on his blog.
"Every Michigan resident deserves to be paid a fair wage for a hard day's work," said Scripps, a candidate for the 101st House District. "In these difficult economic times, we can't continue paying today's workers with outdated wages. Raising the minimum wage will give our working families some much-needed relief." [...]
"Increasing the minimum wage is a win-win for Michigan," Scripps said. "It will put more money into our workers' pockets, which will then be put back into our local businesses.
Democrats. They look out for Michigan's working families.
He shares your struggle. Anyone who makes less than $30,000 a year as a member of the working class knows what Michigan is a going through. While other politicians love to demonize the American worker for not being in the top 1% of wealthiest Americans, Donald Bortz believes that anyone working an honest day's work deserves an honest day's pay!
He stays crunchy even in milk! In today's political climate, you need a tough politician, and Donald Bortz is that man! Even when faced with the overwhelming opposition of swimming in a pool full of skim milk, he stays extra crunchy with the full flavor you expect out of a candidate! His opponent is extra soggy! So donate today!
Look, it's not just that I disagree philosophically with Thaddeus McCotter and the Republicans - I wouldn't get that worked up about differences of opinion. I like health care for children born into poverty, he likes corporate welfare and endless war; agree to disagree. It's that, time and again, this man proves that he has NO interest in doing the Peoples' work as a real representative of his constituents. Rather, he repeatedly makes his own personal advancement and Republican Party interests a top priority.
Need further proof? Click here to listen to a speech McCotter recently made on the floor of the US House of Representatives, then ask yourself, "how many jobs will this bring to Michigan?"
Some straight talk from Bruce Fealk over at Vote No on Joe:
Joe Knollenberg and the Republicans have been screaming lately about increasing domestic production as a way to bring down prices at the pump. Guess what they did though, when the Democrats proposed a bill that would increase the amount of drilling on federal lands, most of the Republicans, including Joe Knollenberg, voted against it. Why would he do that you ask? Well, it turns out the proposed legislation didn't increase the amount of land available for drilling. That's Joe for you, hypocrite through and through.
Far Left Field has a great post about the accusations James Dobson recently lobbed against Obama: "deliberately distorting the Bible," "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter," "willfully trying to confuse people," and having a "fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution."
He gives us sensible minister Jim Wallis' response:
Obama said that religion is and always has been a fundamental and absolutely essential source of morality for the nation, but he also said that "religion has no monopoly on morality," which is a point I often make. The United States is not the Christian theocracy that people like James Dobson seem to think it should be. Political appeals, even if rooted in religious convictions, must be argued on moral grounds rather than as sectarian religious demands -- so that the people (citizens), whether religious or not, may have the capacity to hear and respond. Religious convictions must be translated into moral arguments, which must win the political debate if they are to be implemented. Religious people don't get to win just because they are religious. They, like any other citizens, have to convince their fellow citizens that what they propose is best for the common good -- for all of us, not just for the religious.
Dennis Archer recently spoke to a crowd of 75 Democrats in Howell and came across as gubernatorial according to Judy at Livingston County Democrats. He's what he had to say:
"I want to raise the bar. I'm not making a secret of what I'm doing. I'm looking at the governor's office out of respect of those who have asked me to," Archer told the audience, which burst into applause at the remark.
Archer stopped short of saying he definitely will run, but he said he wants Michigan voters to make sure that whoever does run for governor has done the hard work of understanding the problems and complexities of the state's problems.
