The idea that conventional wisdom says it's impossible to do what Gov. Snyder has done in getting tax cuts for corporations passed while getting tax increases on the working people of Michigan, and that he has defied the odds in doing so is, in a nutshell, complete and total bullshit. He has an overwhelming majority in both of Michigan's houses, thanks to Citizen's United the republicans have unlimited corporate support financially, and in case anyone hasn't noticed, the poor and the middle class have been getting their ass kicked in the American class war since Bedtime for Bozo Reagan was in the White House. This is the republican agenda and Snyder has followed the playbook exactly the way he has been instructed to.
Wondering when Grover Norquist will be here to berate and the lead the charge against the Michigan republicans for raising taxes on working Michiganders. Wait a minute...no, I'm not. No taxes raised on corporations--no one to pay him for his troubles. The middle class and poor are such a drag!
Note: not a single Democrat in either of Michigan's Houses voted for Snyder's proposal. Bravo Michigan Democrats!
Got to give props to the Free Press and Brian Dickerson for both miraculously remembering that there is that little pesky problem we're having here in Michigan with jobs. The Free Press did it's usual puckering (they endorsed the mother fucker, after all) for Snyder's ass and his unique (so-called) proposals but did manage to give themselves a later do-over by noting that if Snyder's proposals don't create jobs fairly quickly he's probably toast. Dickerson acknowledges what those of us on the left have been screaming for months: this is little more than lipstick on trickle down theory (which didn't work), there's zero evidence that tax cuts for corporations result in more jobs, and that republican claims of this not being a tax cut for corporations are a fantasy. He basically, though, gives Snyder the benefit of the doubt on his proposals with the caveat that if they don't create jobs, Snyder is history. Brilliance!
On the bright side, the movement to recall Gov. Snyder has begun collecting petition signatures. Don't really think it has much of a chance of eventually removing him from office, but with it being concurrent with the Wisconsin Senate recall elections and the completion of gathering signatures to repeal the draconian anti-union laws recently passed in Ohio, it ought to make for a summer of reminding everyone how much republicans suck.
And that is a good thing.
Peace,
emaycee
Showing posts with label 2011 Michigan Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 Michigan Budget. Show all posts
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Simple Simon met a pieman
I've written about this before, so no need to go into great detail, but Wonk from the Free Press has another one of his moronic columns comparing the budgets of government to those of a family. Apparently Wonk feels he has some sort of folksy charm (he absolutely does not) that can get those of us with a brain to overlook his simpleton views. Guess again, Wonk!
If anyone wants to know what's wrong with the whole process of government budgets, they need to look no further than columns such as this one. This whole idea of regular folks solving big problems works really well in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but truthfully, America's budgetary problems require a lot more than the heartfelt conviction of Jefferson Smith. It requires the best and the brightest, and above all else, it requires honesty. And to pretend that government budgets are just like the family budget is the height of dishonesty.
Peace,
emaycee
If anyone wants to know what's wrong with the whole process of government budgets, they need to look no further than columns such as this one. This whole idea of regular folks solving big problems works really well in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but truthfully, America's budgetary problems require a lot more than the heartfelt conviction of Jefferson Smith. It requires the best and the brightest, and above all else, it requires honesty. And to pretend that government budgets are just like the family budget is the height of dishonesty.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Yes, but...
Stephen Henderson continues to give me a sliver of hope for the Free Press--his commentary on teachers and their compensation vis-a-vis their peformance was for the most part, very fair and well thought out. Still, two points I think he missed....
For one, the idea that somehow we're going to have the first profession in history that has no below average performing employees is, I think, a bit naive. That's not to say it isn't a goal worth striving for, it's just that there are no tests or performance evaluations in a profession of thousands that are going to completely eliminate incompetence. And how to judge talented individuals who might not swallow the groupthink?
The second, and more important, I think, is that no one seems to notice that paying teachers less and making their benefit package worse is not exactly going to draw the best and the brightest to the profession. Seriously--in what other field would anyone consider paying people with four years of college (and many of them much more), the very people you depend upon to lead and grow your business, less money to be a good decision for the future of the business?
As an aside, Mr. Henderson might want to get a word with the Free Press editorial board--it's going to be awfully hard to get some of his sensible suggestions in place if the traditional media keep giving Snyder kudos such as this: "On the whole, Snyder's budget remains the boldest fundamental blueprint we've seen for reinventing the Michigan economy." Bold would suggest new and good, but Snyder's budget is little more than Reagan's and Bush the lesser's trickle down economy, both of which were unmitigated disasters for the poor and the middle class. Which basically leaves Snyder's plan as a retread which will do very little to create jobs for those in Michigan who need them. About as bold as rice pudding is savory....
Peace,
emaycee
For one, the idea that somehow we're going to have the first profession in history that has no below average performing employees is, I think, a bit naive. That's not to say it isn't a goal worth striving for, it's just that there are no tests or performance evaluations in a profession of thousands that are going to completely eliminate incompetence. And how to judge talented individuals who might not swallow the groupthink?
The second, and more important, I think, is that no one seems to notice that paying teachers less and making their benefit package worse is not exactly going to draw the best and the brightest to the profession. Seriously--in what other field would anyone consider paying people with four years of college (and many of them much more), the very people you depend upon to lead and grow your business, less money to be a good decision for the future of the business?
As an aside, Mr. Henderson might want to get a word with the Free Press editorial board--it's going to be awfully hard to get some of his sensible suggestions in place if the traditional media keep giving Snyder kudos such as this: "On the whole, Snyder's budget remains the boldest fundamental blueprint we've seen for reinventing the Michigan economy." Bold would suggest new and good, but Snyder's budget is little more than Reagan's and Bush the lesser's trickle down economy, both of which were unmitigated disasters for the poor and the middle class. Which basically leaves Snyder's plan as a retread which will do very little to create jobs for those in Michigan who need them. About as bold as rice pudding is savory....
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Fair and Balanced
As much as I bitch about the Free Press getting it wrong, I should give them their kudos when they get it right: the coverage they gave the protests this week in Lansing against Gov. Snyder and the republican policies here in Michigan (5000+ in attendance) versus the coverage they gave the tea party response the following day (less than 500 in attendance) was really pretty fair. They gave more ink to the bigger rally and it got a little more prominent heading (as it should have based on interest).
But the best part was the tone of the articles: the article on the good guys was hopeful and empowering; the one on the tea party losers clearly showed the negativity, their lack of gravitas, and was a decidedly sadder look at the future of America.
Basically, the 2012 elections in a nutshell.
Peace,
emaycee
But the best part was the tone of the articles: the article on the good guys was hopeful and empowering; the one on the tea party losers clearly showed the negativity, their lack of gravitas, and was a decidedly sadder look at the future of America.
Basically, the 2012 elections in a nutshell.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, April 10, 2011
There never seems to be enough time...
...and you have to wonder if I'm running out of music themed post titles when I start using Jim Croce lyrics.
Three quick takes on things not involving Michigan's continued horrible weather that pissed me off this week:
1) Old Nolan is still getting tummy troubles from the fact that school teachers actually believe they should get paid for the work they do--and that they should be paid a little more because unlike most of his dim-witted followers, they actually went to college to better themselves (not, of course, believing that fellating the wealthy would take care of this for them). When will someone of more stature than a piss ant like me ask old Nolan this simple question: WHY DO YOU HATE WORKING PEOPLE YOU FASCIST FUCK? They could even ask it in a nice fashion if they so choose.
2) The Free Press continues its love affair with that oh so different, tea party jihadist, Gov. Snyder. What a piss poor interview (if you want to call it that--in reality it's just Gov. Snyder said, "some bullshit in quotation marks")--the Free Press just seems to love any idiot who claims he's going to do something different, even if it isn't different, and regardless of whether it will work or not. Word to the wise: there were plenty of people who bought George W. Bush's bullshit about compassionate conservatism and all they were sold was a radical right wing agenda that nearly bankrupted the country both financially and spiritually. Michigan cannot afford even four years of some GWB clone.
3) Can't find a link for this so I'll hold my nose and type the Free Press' "Quote of the Week": "My band can't negotiate sick days. If you don't play, you don't get paid." (Ted Nugent, saying how he thinks union members are coddled). Leaving aside the fact that outside of the Free Press and conservative media (Christ, they have so few celebrity endorsements they'd fucking take Charles Manson if he joined the cause) there isn't a media outlet in the fucking universe that doesn't realize how culturally irrelevant Ted Nugent is (and always has been--Christ, we have Bob Seger, Eminem, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, and Jack White--to name a few--what the fuck did Nugent ever do of import? Even in his heyday he was a minor celebrity at best, and a talentless leech at worst) a few notes: pretty sure most of the members in his band belong to the Musician's Union already, not hard to worry about sick days when you work about a hundred days a year, for five or six hours a day, and don't have to show up for work until five or six in the afternoon, not to mention the fact that musicians list of demands for concert promoters is the definition of coddled and how many of us get to rehearse for a few hours before we do our job and get to call it a day's work? What the motherfucking fuck--the war on stupidity can begin with Ted Nugent and the Detroit Free Press (though Nugent's been brain dead so long he may be a lost cause....).
Peace,
emaycee
Three quick takes on things not involving Michigan's continued horrible weather that pissed me off this week:
1) Old Nolan is still getting tummy troubles from the fact that school teachers actually believe they should get paid for the work they do--and that they should be paid a little more because unlike most of his dim-witted followers, they actually went to college to better themselves (not, of course, believing that fellating the wealthy would take care of this for them). When will someone of more stature than a piss ant like me ask old Nolan this simple question: WHY DO YOU HATE WORKING PEOPLE YOU FASCIST FUCK? They could even ask it in a nice fashion if they so choose.
2) The Free Press continues its love affair with that oh so different, tea party jihadist, Gov. Snyder. What a piss poor interview (if you want to call it that--in reality it's just Gov. Snyder said, "some bullshit in quotation marks")--the Free Press just seems to love any idiot who claims he's going to do something different, even if it isn't different, and regardless of whether it will work or not. Word to the wise: there were plenty of people who bought George W. Bush's bullshit about compassionate conservatism and all they were sold was a radical right wing agenda that nearly bankrupted the country both financially and spiritually. Michigan cannot afford even four years of some GWB clone.
3) Can't find a link for this so I'll hold my nose and type the Free Press' "Quote of the Week": "My band can't negotiate sick days. If you don't play, you don't get paid." (Ted Nugent, saying how he thinks union members are coddled). Leaving aside the fact that outside of the Free Press and conservative media (Christ, they have so few celebrity endorsements they'd fucking take Charles Manson if he joined the cause) there isn't a media outlet in the fucking universe that doesn't realize how culturally irrelevant Ted Nugent is (and always has been--Christ, we have Bob Seger, Eminem, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, and Jack White--to name a few--what the fuck did Nugent ever do of import? Even in his heyday he was a minor celebrity at best, and a talentless leech at worst) a few notes: pretty sure most of the members in his band belong to the Musician's Union already, not hard to worry about sick days when you work about a hundred days a year, for five or six hours a day, and don't have to show up for work until five or six in the afternoon, not to mention the fact that musicians list of demands for concert promoters is the definition of coddled and how many of us get to rehearse for a few hours before we do our job and get to call it a day's work? What the motherfucking fuck--the war on stupidity can begin with Ted Nugent and the Detroit Free Press (though Nugent's been brain dead so long he may be a lost cause....).
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, March 17, 2011
It could be worse--it could be raining
The Detroit News posits this week that "cutting business taxes will lead to more jobs and higher wages in Michigan."
Ha, ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, tee hee, tee hee, hoo-haha, hoo-haha. guffaw, guffaw, giggle, giggle, ho, ho, ho....
Are these fucking people fucking serious? I don't even think tea party goons believe that bullshit--well except for the higher wages part, because those tax cuts will make for some nice raises for Michigan CEOs and their corporate executive brethren. For the rest of us, not so much. As for the jobs, well...corporate profits are at their highest since 1993, and unemployment in America is still hovering near 9%.
Not exactly hard to do the math.
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, March 4, 2011
The mild-mannered radical (not)
Well the pundits have spoken on Gov. Snyder's budget (at least in the Free Press)....
Props to Stephen Henderson--he's usually one of those wishy-washy vaguely liberal (think President Obama) pontificators, and while there's some of that in his piece on Snyder's budget, he basically makes a lot of good points, especially with regard to the EITC. He's right--cutting services for the poor is not going to make Michigan a better state.
Now that Rochelle Riley has decided to follow Mitch Albom's career path (mindless, completely thoughtless drivel) thank God the Free Press has added Jill Alper's thoughtful new columns. Alper absolutely nails Snyder's budget--republican bullshit to help corporations and the wealthy elite and do absolutely nothing to create jobs or help the working people of Michigan.
Media fail--for a Princeton grad, Brian Dickerson isn't as thoughtful as one might surmise from his educational background. He's buying into the cult of personality surrounding Gov. Snyder, calling him a mild-mannered radical. He got the first half right, but Snyder is no radical. Truly radical would have been to call for a graduated income tax and more investment in Michigan, not less. He's a republican--a nice enough gent, but nothing really much different than Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, or any other conservative who thinks the rich should get richer at the expense of the other 98% of Americans.
Uh...there was also a piece by John Truscott. Suffice to say, it was his usual fellation of tea party members. Enough said.
Perhaps the most telling opinions are these: 62% (32% favor) of Michigan voters oppose the K-12 cuts; a Free Press poll shows horrible numbers for the Governor: 53% (41% favor) are against taxing pensions, 58% (36% favor) against cutting the EITC, 49% (43 % favor) are against replacing the business tax. Even worse for Snyder? His numbers have dropped from 59 favorable/8 unfavorable to 44/27. Whoops! Note to Dems: please remember these policies the next time you cast a vote for a republican in anger. Independents might heed the same warning....
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Michigan's defining moment
That would be Gov. Snyder's description of his new budget unveiled over the last week. It would also be my description of Gov. Snyder--for all his posturing, he's just another republican. And guess what? Democrats and Independents are beginning to see the light (i.e., they were hoodwinked).
Ah, yes, Snyder's budget--a change is gonna come, that being the chance for Michigan to become the next North Dakota. Who wins? Corporations--to the tune of a $1.2 billion reduction in their taxes which will create zero jobs. Who loses? Everybody--and I mean everybody--else. Retirees will now pay a tax on their pensions. K-12 education loses 4%, universities 15%. State employees will pay more for their health benefits. The poor will lose their earned income tax credit--widely recognized as one of the most successful programs for reducing poverty. This is Snyder's idea of "shared sacrifice": CEOs, corporations, and their shareholders get a free ride; the poor, the middle class, the working people of Michigan--the burden once again falls on their backs.
Hey, Gov. Snyder: Fuck you, next idiot please! Sidenote: prouder than ever that I voted for Virg Bernero....
I can't say I'm really surprised--or disappointed--by Snyder's actions. I expected nothing less from a republican, especially one who was once a CEO. I shouldn't be surprised, as Liberal analysis in the Free Press is comparable to the zestiness of rice pudding, but Rochelle Riley's column on Snyder's budget was utterly and completely pathetic. Somehow Riley has bought into the conventional wisdom (a misnomer if ever I've heard one), that somehow this is an "adult" moment, that Dudley Do-Right Snyder is using this as a teaching moment, that somehow the "budget crisis" should take priority over all else, even job creation. What a complete and utter moron--thank fucking God she wasn't around when FDR was bailing out America from the last doomsday crisis created by Wall Street, or we'd still be hovering around 20% unemployment and half the country would be Hoovervilles. Want to fix the budget crisis? PUT PEOPLE TO FUCKING WORK! And the way you do that--because God knows businesses aren't going to do it--is for the government to spend money. Lots of it--on aid to the poor, on education, on infrastructure, on tax credits for new industries, and on more state employees.
Here's to Snyder's plan--and the tumbleweeks soon to be tumbling down Michigan's more and more deserted streets, and the little Snydervilles popping up all over the place for those without the resources to get the fuck out.
Peace,
emaycee
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