Tag: Agenda 21 (page 3)

.. the price of liberty is eternal vigilance."

Somebody said it at some point or another.

Tis true.

I haven't done much here in the last couple of days, and I am super thankful to the KG and Scales for picking up on my slack.  Problem is that there are only so many hours in the day, and a local issue was coming to the forefront and demanding more study time.

Another authority was/is being foisted upon unsuspecting business owners, and the vote to move forward was going to happen upon the conclusion of the hearing at the East Bay TWP meeting tonight.  A DDA type of authority based on the 2005 PA 280 which allows for the creation of "Corridor Improvement Authorities" in certain districts.  A process which usually involves SOMEBODY making a boat load of cash in the process. (Thank you to a certain Mackinac fellow for reminding me of this earlier today.)

Studying PA280 up and down, I realized that for all the claims of "no additional costs to the business owners" there were in fact risks.  But from a pure property rights standpoint what was really more troubling was the possibility of further limits on land use for those who would be STUCK operating under the authority.

One particular individual (a professional planner) seems to be driving this, and he does not even live within the authority area, or even the township.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Calling Grand Rapids Community College "a cornerstone of our community for the past 96 years," Mayor George Heartwell is urging colleagues to pass a resolution of support for a millage that would ensure the school "can continue to serve their growing student population into the next century."

Rest here

So, what is the pay and benefit packages for GRCC employees compared to the private sector?  Ya, it's the buildings being neglected in this 'shared sacrifice' equation alright.

All we ask for is a little honesty in the party.  A little integrity.  A little expectation that Republicans behave like Republicans.  We simply believe that a man/woman's word is his/her bond, and at the very least that principles have SOME bearing on behavior, decision making, self control.

Its not too much one wouldn't think. However, in the background, we are challenged as those who are pushing too hard on Republicans.  The RightMichigan.com bunch has gone negative because we call out the bad.  RightMichigan.com is turning Republicans off because they "don't recognize it anymore".   And the current batch of writers needs to hit on the Democrats more, instead of the "10-1 assault on the GOP folks in power and in elected offices."  

I would submit we HAVE BEEN attacking Dems.  We have been attacking lefties, liberals, liberal pursuits, and questioning conservatives when they stray. If they call themselves Republican, it seems the fraud should not be called on our end.

But in the spirit of bringing together Republicans for a cause, let me at least stand up for a good man in the North, Dr. Dan Benishek.  He needs your support right now, as the leftists line up and framing the energy issue out of place, attack the good that he has been a part of.  As the Hard Core Democrat Agenda 21 FREAKS led by none other than former governor Milliken attack him in TV ads, he is being put at risk, and the congressional seat Republicans fought for in 2010 is at risk.

Who is Derek Bailey, you ask?

He is the current tribal chair of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians. Purveyors of environmental activism in the region, supporters of Democrat causes everywhere, and proprietors of the Traverse Bay Resort and Casinos.  His ability to move in an 'nonpartisan' manner through all manner of fundraisers for local politicians will undoubtedly reap untold benefits in his new venture.

Mr Bailey is running for congress in the first congressional district as a Democrat.

Truly he is a Democrat, touting the napehair raising 99 percent hogwash:

"And what I learned -- and what I believe today -- is that now more than ever, we must stand up for equity for America's worker, the 99 percent, not wealth for the top one percent of corporate CEOs."

Mr Bailey faces a challenger August 7, 2nd timer Gary McDowell who lost to Dan Benishek easily in 2010. McDowell will not have the help he received from the Democrats this time around however, and Bailey, while presenting a mild version of liberalism on his campaign site, carries another agenda entirely.

I have been adding to this all week, and have tried to make it as concise as possible, but as more information became available, editing was required.  Let me know if any clarification is needed.

I wrote at the beginning of the month about the coal fired plant in Marquette being threatened by a new and extremely aggressive set of EPA  rules.  The shutdown of that plant of course would leave in question the future of paper mills, and the electrical needs of yoopers.  At least the future of the cost being at all affordable.  The jobs that would be lost as higher costs come to bear also joined by a literal health care crisis as fewer would be insured, and less money in the pockets of those Michiganders would encourage poorer health choices.

Health, of course is the victim of the 'boogeyman' coal fired power industry.  You've seen the ubiquitous American Lung Association "coughing baby" ads supporting the Obama EPA's push to shut down the coal industry, right?  What might surprise you is that those ads are funded in part by Chesapeake Energy, the country's second-largest natural gas producer.

Coming amidst an impending decision by the EPA on the Utility MACT (maximum achievable control technology)  rule that is expected to lead to job loses, plant shutdowns, and rolling blackouts across the country, this strange partnership raises a question.  What does Chesapeake stand to gain, by pouring money into a seemingly disparate organization with extremely different objectives and priorities? Politico writes:

The ads come as the coal industry is at war with the Obama administration over new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. The EPA is expected to issue new rules on Friday to curb air toxics from power plants, which are estimated to cost industry about $10.9 billion each year.

Stricter rules for power plants are expected to offer a competitive advantage to the cleaner-burning natural gas industry.

Mr. Snyder acknowledged that the new bridge remains a tough sell in Michigan, where relatively few people understand the vital role the bridge plays in getting U.S. exports to markets in Canada and beyond. The project was first proposed more than five years ago.

The perception in many parts of the state is that the project is a political payoff for the heavily Democratic Detroit area, offering jobs and construction contracts to an economically depressed part of the state.

"This is a very tough project," said Mr. Snyder, who is in Ottawa to speak at a cross-border innovation conference organized by the U.S. embassy and Canada 2020. "I wouldn't underestimate the challenges. But we will get this to happen."

He blamed "special interest politics" for poisoning the debate on the U.S. side.

Certainly that has nothing to do with the $500 million gesture that you begged the Canadians for or your PAC.

"I understand why they're spending the money," he said of the Morouns. "It's economic self-interest. The troubling part is the lack of accuracy in what they represent."

Well, that inaccuracy has always been on the governments behalf, GoverNerd.  It's well documented here.  Simply hit any of the 'Tags'.

Minutes earlier, a substitute bill supported by Democrats, which provided community benefits for the Delray area of southwest Detroit, where the bridge would be located, was voted down, 5-2, on a party-line vote.

On the main bill, Sens. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan, and Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, were the only "yes" votes, with Sens. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake Township, Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, and Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek, voting "no."

The vote is also a blow to Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe (YES!), who backs the bridge and pledged to secure the votes to get the bridge bill out of committee.

Thank you to all the No votes that killed this unwanted boondoggle.