On the Stump to Downsize Michigan Government
Published July 24, 2008
There are some, like attorneys and insurance concerns, who are supporting the ballot proposal, but for the most part, most, like big business, politicians, and media, are vehemently against changing the status quo. Not only are the legislators quaking in their boots over a proposed 25% pay cut, judges are also up on the proposed chopping block.
Supposedly, the Detroit Free Press uncovered a "secret" plan hatched by the reformers that shows the Democrats are behind the measure in an attempt to fatten up the Democratic side of state government. Of course, that was after it was alleged that Republicans were behind the proposal. Now complaints are being filed in the hope that the proposal will die due to technical reasons.
What I don't get is that the detractors of Reform Michigan Government Now aren't acknowledging the signatures of over 380,000 (some say the number is closer to 500,000) residents of the state of Michigan. They are pooh-poohing the high numbers by saying that we signers were "duped" or that some of the signatures aren't valid. They are hiding their heads in the sand if they think that the ballot initiative was signed by kooks or stupid people. Reform Michigan Government Now is strong only because it is a grassroots movement, and frankly, a lot of us in the grassroots are sick and tired of the "same old same old."
As an Independent, I don't really care who is behind the proposal. (According to Reformers, they are made up of both Democrats and Republicans.) I don't care who is funding it, and I don't care that they imported California-based Progressive Campaigns to collect the signatures.
The initial ballot proposal suggests a complete overhaul of the state constitution (since they would have to retool the constitution to get the slackers out of Lansing). Among the items slated for change include: 1. Financial disclosure of legislators, judges, and state elected officials. 2. A paper trail for elections. 3. Stagger the senate elections and 4. Eliminate gerrymandering of districts. All of these items are just as important as the downsizing of state government.
I'm not sure if the Reformers have a snowball's chance in hell of getting this interesting referendum on the ballot, but I'm going to be there cheering all the way.
- On the Stump to Downsize Michigan Government
- Published: July 24, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Politics: Government, Politics: Elections and Candidates, Politics: Local and Regional
- Writer: Joanne Huspek
- Joanne Huspek's BC Writer page
- Joanne Huspek's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I've seen this stuff come and go in Minnesota. If it weren't for the vicious way execs slashed jobs in your state, I'd say, 'have a little sympathy for the poor bastards'.
But given that you are a business owner, and not some flunky drawing a paycheck on someone else's risk and gamble with fate and money, you have a right to hold the views you do....
Of course, you have to realize the downside with cutting wages and bennies of people who can legislate you out of existence, or wipe you away with a mere court order. It makes them even easier to buy than they are now. It's just like underpaying cops. Do that, and you may as well elect the local mafioso as your leader, because that is who the uniformed goons will be loyal to - their meal ticket.
I'm with ditching Granholm. She wants to be the governor, but she doesn't want to make the hard choices and govern.
As for cost cutting, everyone else is forced to do it, so why not the government? Why can't they operate as leanly as private enterprise? Why does a teacher HAVE to make $65K with full benefits? Does a state senator really have to get full benefits after six years?
I'm thinking being legislated out of business might not be a bad thing. Change is good. It's apparent that the state doesn't want to keep the old businesses here.
I can not support your effort. While I believe in the initiative process, this wholesale attack on our Constitution is not in the best interest of the taxpayers and voters of this state. It does not give the opportunity for clear analysis and consideration of the consequences that will result due to the magnitude of the changes.
The average voter will not be able to make an informed decision with only 100 words allowed on the ballot.
Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association
Hello.
While the Detroit Free Press has done a great job of covering the recent discovery of the PowerPoint presentation which documents the partisan nature of the proposed RMGN amendment, they admit that they were not the discoverers of that presentation.
Instead, as the Free Press article above reports, it was the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, MI who found the document and broke the news on Detroit's WJR talk radio. For more details on the Center and their discovery, please click here.
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The first thing the people of Michigan need to do is throw Granholm into lake Michigan.
Seriously...........the bitch needs to go and go now.