Tag: Grand Traverse County

"Live now, pay later,"

Aside from the obvious reference to unearned hedonism and individual irresponsibility, it should be noted that governments derived from such careless individuals as the "live now" crowd can bring all of us even closer to being debt slaves.  Yet even without the notion of pleasure as an advance reward to leadership, the function of government runs unabated. One might find it differently in private enterprise however, according to Jack Spencer at Cap Con:

"In the private sector, businesses can't ignore economic reality by giving in to unrealistic union demands. They open their books and say, "look, we've had a lousy couple of years. We have to cut back or go under. We can't give you what you want." That reality check doesn't apply to government, which is always bargaining with other people's money. Those "other people" are us, the taxpayers. Over the decades, when faced with unpopular choices of cutting services or raising taxes, government officials have given unions most of what they asked for and left the tab to be picked up by future generations."

I've been there.  In fact, I have been in both places simultaneously.  At the business owned by my wife and I, folks haven't received raises in three years, yet as a county commissioner in 2012 I was present while union employees received automatic 1.5% increases. It made no sense to me that it should be so easy for a nearly unanimous Republican board to approve of such a thing, but over the years we have discovered that fiscal insanity is a scourge that has set upon both Capulet AND House Montague.

And it is generational too.  So much so, that entire infrastructures are collapsing from the weight that has long had its supports removed.  Pensions as a part of governmental financial negligence as referenced in the Cap Con piece above are responsible for cities literally falling apart, and legitimate public safety services being eliminated.

So what have we done to solve this?

Therefore, concerned citizens, MIGOP State Committee members, and grassroots activists are being invited to voice their opinion in a series of town-hall style forums.  (Details on the Kent County event follow the break.)

I think for once, the threat of a packed and organized Grand Traverse County commission chamber is a reality.  This time its not about a failed septage system, bicycle paths, or a grant to the money pit of the day.

It is about a simple resolution.

Its about a statement, a reiteration, and a declaration, that there are some people who still have a sense of why so many fought for their independence(and ours as well). That reminder that we have not lost the will to abide by the rule of law. Law established to protect us from the overreaches often brought about "for our own good" and the desires for power over our fellow man.

It is a resolution I am presenting in support of Freedom To Work for the state of Michigan.  

It is a transparent and open leverage of opinion that has no binding end, yet sufficiently threatens those who would hold the leash to our state's work force. The resolution is opinion only, yet its call to put away the whip speaks loudly enough to have them organize an opposition "Rally." This memo sent out to the local Democrat party faithful:

"This is totally unacceptable and we have to make our voices heard.  Please help us pack the room with strong union supporters. We need to send them the message that we will not tolerate this type of activity in Grand Traverse County."

How appropriate it is, that this would be an issue on a weekend where so many of us celebrate the independence declared by our nation's founders, as a resolution. One that is opposed by those forces who prefer to have no accountability, no real representation to the people they claim to serve. Those who would prefer to not allow a declaration of choice.  Those who want no limit to their role in attempts to control what we do for a living, what we make, who we work for, and would insist that the wage we make, (their persistent argument) could not be sufficient solely created by our own efforts.

The nature of the way that government is influenced is becoming incredibly complicated.

For the average person, it is often nearly too complicated to correctly know what certain groups represent, or WHY they wish to advance government in a particular direction, other than what might be stated as a flowery and appealing descriptive.  Positive reflections of outcomes wished for detailed in descriptive titles.

Grand Visions. Sustainable Growth.  Smart Growth.  Regional Collaboration. Visioning.

How could anything be wrong with that?  No one wants "bleak Visions," "corrosive growth," or stupid growth," or even "regional disagreement," right?  The descriptive labels can be misleading.  The method for deciding what growth is "smart," or who's vision we shall follow, is unfortunately-too-often a bit of a travel through the socialist myopic lens. One that means that we must all collaborate on what our neighbors should be allowed to do. Control of our community resources so that all (including our generational beneficiaries) may equally benefit, no matter their contribution.  Excluding those of course, who cannot survive the onslaught of new limits to their own plans.

Its sometimes hard to explain all the ways in which this happens, so that people understand the insidious nature in which their best participatory intentions are twisted into a socialist Utopian tool.

It requires a step back and an arms length review of the elements in play.

Folks its not trite to consider the serenity prayer appropriate before I continue.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

In 1915, Niebuhr an ordained pastor, served at Bethel Evangelical Church in Detroit, Michigan. The congregation numbered sixty-five on his arrival and grew to nearly 700 in 1928.

Strangely, I would have been as equally satisfied with a cheer instead.

Targeted along with two other commissioners, the editorial slap came as the result of a committee of the whole vote taken by the Grand Traverse Commissioners to eliminate the operation of a baseball program from county control.  The vote to do so was 5-3. My motion to do so, was motivated by a number of reasons, not the least of which was the illegitimate removal of the program by the county from the American Legion in 2010.  The removal in 2010, precipitated by community clamoring to "DO SOMETHING!" when there was a delay in the planning for the upcoming baseball season.

The American Legion ran the program for 62 years, and shares the tradition with other Legion Baseball programs around the country.  Its a big part of their year to year community involvement.

Yesterday at the Grand Traverse County GOP convention, I resigned as precinct delegate, and apparently made history.  It seems no one has previously resigned their seat as precinct delegate.  My position as an august winner for the county commission as Republican however, already placed me on the executive committee, so I figured it was redundant.

Anyhow, I didn't have two votes.. darn it.

In my place, I was able to nominate and secure a precinct delegate position through a vote for Jeri Irene Leroi.  She is a solid conservative.  A tireless advocate of vote integrity,  She has been pushing legislators to strengthen laws that protect us from illegals who make an attempt at voting in our state.  Her efforts have reached the desks of our local legislators, and she has made radio interviews on the subject.

Though the position of precinct delegate has little direct benefit to her primary issue, it has effect alongside the number of others who have begun participating in a more active manner over the last couple of years.  I was, and am quite comfortable supporting her.

Good luck Jeri!

Republican Bruce Hooper, 53, will have to win twice to earn a third term representing Peninsula Township and small parts of Traverse City and East Bay Township. Hooper, a farmer, will face Internet retailer and business owner Jason Gillman, 44, a local Tea Party organizer and son of Traverse City Commissioner Mike Gillman.

"I've been lobbying for responsible government for a couple of years, and I just decided it's time to get directly involved in the process," Gillman said. He favors private property rights and less intrusive but more efficient government.

Pretty much nails it.