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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Lansing's budget debacle reaffirms need for constitutional convention


    By dlennox, Section News
    Posted on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:50:08 PM EST
    Tags: proposal 1 (all tags)

    ~ Promoted because discussion is always good ~

    The debacle over finalizing a state government budget underscores the reason why Proposal 1, a state constitutional convention, must be passed.

    Our leaders in Lansing promised they would pass a budget by July 1. That deadline came and went, and it wasn't until this week, some two months after the original deadline, that a budget agreement was reached by legislative leaders and the governor.

    But a promise is a promise. And I doubt few Michiganders would receive a two-month extension from their boss after failing to meet a critical work deadline, as our legislators did.

    This charade, which has been repeated year after year over the last decade, illustrates why Lansing is fundamentally incapable of fixing itself. The change our great state so desperately needs won't come from within the halls of state government.

    With a constitutional convention, good-government reforms could be enacted to prevent future budget debacles and state government shutdowns.

    Notable outside-the-box examples include changing the commencement of the fiscal year from October 1 to July 1, requiring both houses of the Legislature to pass a balanced budget before taking up any other business and docking the pay of legislators for each day the budget is late.

    Here's another discussion-starter: The dissolution of the Legislature and immediate, parliamentary-style snap elections when a budget cannot be passed. This would give a much-needed popular mandate to one side of the budget debate, and force action.

    It is clear that the status-quo isn't working anymore.

    The only practical mechanism to right the ship of state is a constitutional convention.

    It would allow for the people to take back their government and circumvent the dysfunctional place in Lansing otherwise known as the Capitol.

    < A Moving Ad.. | Snyder to speak at CMU >


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    OK.. now on to discussion. (none / 0) (#1)
    by JGillman on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 01:43:05 PM EST
    Crazy.

    Absurd.

    Look around you..  What do you see?  I know what I SEE..  
    I see a crazed and degenerate Democrat machine that was willing to try and fake a tea party "party," and lie once again to this state's citizens.  
    I see that George Soros is STILL ALIVE..  it would be like Honey to ants.
    I see a process that could so easily be taken over by an unhinged but very well organized labor element.

    I see no reason to let this maniacal genie loose on unsuspecting Michiganders.

    No Freaking way.

    Good to have an open minded discourse... (none / 0) (#2)
    by sailingconservatively on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 03:01:55 PM EST
    With that being said...Ditto J - absurd, crazy, outrageous pick a superlative and insert it.

    The minor fixes that have our knickers in a wad are nothing in comparison to the major  SNAFU's that WILL happen if we convene a con con.  Judges are in play, big labor has never been in a better position to strike(in the metaphorical sense) Soros and Stryker are circling with their check books in hand.   Nothing good will be gained.

    Time to drop this Dennis and focus on the elections.   Let's get individuals involved in the process of rolling back the jugernaut that Lansing has become and put things back on track.   This can be done very effectively w/o a con con.    

    The promises you refer to that were of the "pie crust" nature, (easily made, easily broken) will only be kept with a moral and intergral legislature.  A con con, part time or full time legislature will be of little or no consequence if the character of these individuals is not beyond reproach. A document is only as vital as those individuals to whom it is charged. (witness our national constitution and its current butchering at the hands of immoral, unethical leadership).  It is our job now to find people of this stripe, inspire them to become candidates and elect them for the appropriate term.

    Stay the course...the right course.

    • Ha! by jgillmanjr, 09/08/2010 03:15:59 PM EST (none / 0)
    How about.. (none / 0) (#3)
    by jgillmanjr on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 03:14:19 PM EST
    You get 10% of the population that voted in the last governors race to agree with you and have a change put on the ballot instead of this con CON.

    So, discussion is always good... (none / 0) (#5)
    by Corinthian Scales on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 04:48:51 PM EST
    Here's an offering relative to discussed topic.

    Who is the genius here at rightmichigan.com that "Promoted" the imbecilic ramblings from a Northern Michigan political hack attention whore with a criminal record?

    The problem with this state comes down to the many dipsh!ts like Dennis 'Oslo, Norway Center-Right' Lennox that attempt 'critical thinking' and conclude that it's our Constitution thats flawed and not the career parasites drawing a taxpayer funded gummint pension in Lansing and DC.

    Especially flawed are those that elect and habitually re-elect them <cough>Granholm, Levin, Stabenow<cough>.

    I'll bite. (none / 0) (#11)
    by KG One on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 07:15:20 PM EST
    What is wrong with using the amendment process to make any future changes to the Michigan Constitution?

    Why should anyone horse trade in order to get important items added to the Michigan Constitution and the expense of important items already there?

    And given Michigan budget troubles, how do you justify the cost?


    More like a freight train (none / 0) (#14)
    by sailingconservatively on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 08:13:21 PM EST
    Dennis has crossed several lines between an active citizen and someone who likes to stir the pot for stirring sake.   Now, he is viewed as direputable.   If this does not suit him, he is (still) free to make amends and change his direction and methodology.   Until then, sadly, the light that he may think is the end of the tunnel is really an oncoming freight train.

    Let's see if we can redirect this thread and get it back on track.   This should not be about (Dennis Lenox) rather, we need to address the mess that is Lansing by  electing individuals with character, ethics and hold to moral law.

    • Sorry, but it's interlaced by Corinthian Scales, 09/09/2010 02:30:38 AM EST (none / 0)
      • Campus Conservatives by jgillmanjr, 09/09/2010 08:20:10 AM EST (none / 0)
        • Sad... by Corinthian Scales, 09/09/2010 02:16:12 PM EST (none / 0)
          • Punked? by jgillmanjr, 09/09/2010 03:50:38 PM EST (none / 0)
            • Sorry dude by Corinthian Scales, 09/09/2010 11:20:32 PM EST (none / 0)
    I Think a Constitutional Convention May be Useful (none / 0) (#15)
    by Seth9 on Thu Sep 09, 2010 at 01:29:30 AM EST
    I have a number of issues with our State Constitution, including the setup of the state judiciary (I'd rather appoint justices rather than have them campaign because that tends to overly politicize the judiciary, which I don't like) and the amendment process to the Constitution. I'd also like to see a balanced budget amendment or something similar, as well as several other amendments should be added (exp. Ban the straight party option from the ballot).

    That said, considering the problems currently afflicting the state and the potential for a incredibly bad result out of a Constitutional Convention, now is not the time.

    The downward spiral of... (none / 0) (#27)
    by Corinthian Scales on Thu Sep 16, 2010 at 11:42:09 AM EST
    ...a deranged twit.

    Let me see if I have this in order.

    1. Twit campaigns for Cheboygan Co Drain Commissioner to "Get Fired".

    2. Drain Commissioner Twit then abuses his Office to further his political aspirations and has to cut a deal to avoid criminal record.

    3. Drain Commissioner Twit is re-charged, with the additional charge of embezzlement because campaigning for Republicans in Twits mind somehow qualifies as Community Service.

    4. Drain Commissioner Twit, who said, "With no new drainage projects since World War II, the office -- responsible for overseeing water resources -- isn't needed and its statutory duties and responsibilities could be devolved to the county's Board of Road Commissioners."   Is now requesting a Deputy Drain Commissioner.

    During the regular finance/business meeting, the Board of Commissioners were faced with a request from Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox to appoint Ralph Pruder as deputy drain commissioner. An official request from Lennox was submitted to the county in writing and dated Sept. 3.

    Yes, I'd say Mr. Drain Commissioner is thee example of what's wrong with most local, state and federal government.  It's people such as himself in Office.  NOT our Constitution.

    Republicans and TEA Party folk really should put as much distance between themselves and Mr. Drain Commissioner as they can.

    • Ya know.. by JGillman, 09/16/2010 12:44:23 PM EST (none / 0)
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