BlogrollRandom sections of our blogroll - changes when the page is refreshed |
WeAreThePeopleMichigan posted this on August 24th, 2011. Here are today’s top Michigan news stories…
DETROIT NEWS COLUMN: GOP flunks all efforts at reform — To say the GOP has earned an “F” thus far is an understatement. Now that the Legislature is back, Republican leaders can either continue attacking public education and the middle class or actually invest in our state and be the leaders that the public thought they elected.
GRAND RAPIDS PRESS: Another business tax reform in Michigan? — An obscure issue to most ordinary folks, the personal property tax is a huge concern for businesses and economic development leaders… But here’s the problem – and the reason for the visit from the mayor and the MML folks. Personal property tax revenue, all $1.2 billion of it a year, goes to local communities – cities, schools, libraries and other services.
9&10: CMU Faculty Strike On Hold, Students Protesting Against University Administration — The faculty at Central Michigan University is back in the classroom today, but that isn’t stopping students from protesting…Dozens of students spent the day picketing on campus in between class time. They say they’re doing what the faculty is no longer able to — that’s send a message to the university.
AP: EPA hiring jobless workers for Great Lakes cleanup — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will spend $6 million to hire unemployed people who can work on Great Lakes cleanup projects… Among the priorities are cleaning up toxic pollution, fighting invasive species, improving wildlife habitat and protecting watersheds from contaminated runoff.
MPRN: MLHS hopes Gov will put brakes on cash assist. cap — Legislative analysis estimates more than 12-thousand cash assistance cases would be closed on October first if lawmakers approve the cap. Judy Putnam of the Michigan League for Human Services says the state should look more closely into who would be affected by that cap. “Two-thirds of the caseload on assistance are children,” she says. “And the average age of a child on assistance is seven. That’s a second grader.”
The Journeying Progressive posted this on August 7th, 2011. It has been a tough news weekend for the United States.
I’ve been blocking out news coverage today and cringing every time I hear a partisan or pundit prognosticate about the decline of America, or our supposed shuffle closer to doomsday.
My heart breaks hard every time I think about the selfless men and women we lost in Afghanistan this weekend. Brothers and sisters alike, it seems almost trivial to sit here tonight and type–a freedom they have won for me–while so many are facing grim realities and long, tense moments of combat half a world away.
It’s easy to lose focus of who you are and what you stand for in times like these.
Tonight, I’m reminded of a famous speech given by a wartime American president from Illinois (emphasis added):
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
It is easy to cower in the face of disappointment or unspeakable tragedy, to cave to the demands of those playing the temporary game of political opportunism. In these times, we should not forget who we are:
We believe “that government of the people, by the people, for the people” shall reflect the values and humanity of those people. We believe that our markets and our people come together every day, and that their tenacity and innovation are our greatest national assets. Government can’t solve all of our problems, and neither can unchecked greed: We believe that both free markets and free people are essential for a free country and a [...]
Christine posted this on June 28th, 2011. Republicans are excellent at redefining things. They redefine reality through the use of false narratives, and they redefine their opponents through demonizing “the other.” Ever since George W Bush ruined the Republican brand, they’ve been using Libertarianism to redefine themselves.
Let’s take a look at the difference between real Libertarians and Republicans who say they’re Libertarians …
1. Real Libertarians believe that government should be no more than a “night watchman.” Government is there to keep order and nothing more. No roads, no schools, and the government military should be limited to combat only. The free market and philanthropy will provide for everything that we need as a nation. Republicans do not believe that philanthropy will provide, nor do they believe in a small combat-only military.
2. Real Libertarians complain about both sides equally. A lot of these self-proclaimed Libertarians will say that they don’t like Democrats, and they don’t like Republicans who act like Democrats. In other words, they “like” Republicans just fine, they just don’t like the way that the brand has been damaged by the failure of their policies.
3. Real Libertarians are socially progressive. Many people try to prove they are Libertarians by saying that they “don’t care” about abortion, religion, gays, etc. News flash: these people are socially apathetic, not socially progressive. Libertarians have a holistic philosophy and they do care about those things.
4. Real Libertarians talk about “the blessings of Liberty.” Republicans talk about “the devastation of taxing the rich.”
To be fair, a lot of these people really believe that they are Libertarians because that’s what they’ve been told they are. (Ironically these are the same folks who will insist that they are independent thinkers) And most of them are probably telling the truth about their indifference toward social issues. But these folks are actually Goldwater Republicans. They might hold their noses over some of the things the Republicans do, but they support Republicans, they vote for Republicans, and they give money to Republicans. They just refuse to own the Republican mistakes. Because you know, they are Libertarians.
Seon posted this on December 17th, 2007. At a press conference today, House Republicans pulled a rabbit out of a hat, and everyone cheered "Yay Republicans!" Except instead of a rabbit, it was a plan to magically jump start the Michigan housing market. And instead of a hat, it was their asses. And instead of cheering "Yay Republicans!", we all went, "um… that won't work…"
Break it down:
1) Kill the real estate transfer tax 2) Kill the property tax increase that occurs when property changes hands 3) Oh heck, just kill all property tax increases. 4) Restore debtor's prisons 5) Kill the waiting period on the homestead exemption.
(Only 4 of the above 5 are actual GOP proposals. Can you guess which one is fake? Remember … these are Michigan Republicans.)
But wait! (You say) Don't Michigan public schools rely on this money? Didn't we just suffer through a huge budget battle to get revenue for our state, so we can fund our schools?
Didn't we almost kill kill kill kill each other, just to get a budget done? And now we're going to kill kill kill kill school revenue? How we gonna do that without hurting the schools?
GOP Answer: There's that State Police building thing!
But wait! (You cleverly say again) That doesn't kick in until 2009. We have a whole year to go before that.
GOP Answer: Shut up! Stupid heads!
But … the math-
GOP Interrupts: MESSA! MEA! lalalala I am not listening to you!!!
Okay …
So to prepare Michigan for the new economy with all the knowledge jobs, we cut funding to schools.
Well … that's got to be magic right there.
Stay tuned next time, when we cover Magic Trick #102, when the GOP puts a woman in a box and makes her disappear. But instead of a woman, it's a piece of legislation, and instead of a box, it's the Michigan GOP controlled Senate.
Source: Gongwer, baby!
|
|
Conversation