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Tag: Michigan Civil Rights Initiative

Lies, Damned Lies, and "Defend Michigan Democracy"

By Kevin Rex Heine, Section News
Posted on Sat Nov 03, 2012 at 05:07:16 AM EST
Tags: Proposal 12-5, Michigan Tax Limitation Amendment, Constitution of Michigan - Article IX, Constitution of Michigan - Article XII, Headlee Amendment (1978), Constitution of Michigan - Article V § 18, Americans For Prosperity of Michigan, Michigan Alliance for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Two-Thirds Movement, RNC 2012 Platform, Michigan Banana Republican Party, kleptocracy establishment, Michigan tea party movement, Michigan's Debt Clock, Defend Michigan Democracy, red herring fallacies, Proposal 06-2, Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Citizens Protecting Michigan's Constitution, Taxpayers United Michigan Foundation, "super minority" firewall, S-I-N tactics (all tags)

A "Red Herring" fallacy (also known as an "irrelevant conclusion" fallacy) is a logical error in which an argument is, intentionally or not, constructed of irrelevant or false inferences, with the intention of masking the lack of substantive arguments and/or implicitly replacing or diverting attention away from the actual subject of the discussion, by proving a different proposition than the one it is purporting to support. And I can tell you that defending Proposal 12-5 out in the social media sphere has been an education in countering Ignoratio Elenchi.

(1 comment, 2773 words in story) Full Story

Speaking of the 11th State Senate Race

By JGillman, Section News
Posted on Fri Jul 09, 2010 at 09:08:53 AM EST
Tags: Jen Gratz, MCRI, Jack Brandenburg, 11th State Senate Race, Leon Drolet, Mike Cox, White Lies, Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (all tags)

Sometimes folks embellish a little when talking about accomplishments. Perhaps to "color" the experience they wish to share, or to keep interest of those who are falling asleep during the story of their "great mountain lion hunt" on Mackinac Island.

There are times and places appropriate for stretching of the truth.. Not LYING mind you.. but simply "seasoning".

One of these should not be when seeking a position of trust. Little white lies, indefensible inaccuracies, half truths.. not so good when looking to be elected.

It seems we will always see more of those aberrations from decency however. No matter which election, or political party that is involved, some people either conveniently forget their REAL accomplishments, or they hope the public will.

(11 comments, 584 words in story) Full Story

A Message To Our Legislators - Beware False Choices

Law? What Law? - U of M President Ignores MCRI

By JGillman, Section News
Posted on Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 09:40:09 AM EST
Tags: MCRI, Michigan, U of M, Mary Sue Coleman, Jen Gratz, Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (all tags)

Ann Arbor is hardly a bastion of right wing sympathy, and in fact has been referred to with many different flavors of name calling suggesting socialist, communist, and otherwise far leftist philosophy. The population as a whole is decidedly left of center on most issues. It should come as no surprise that discover the leadership of the resident university is quite comfortable with that characteristic.

But at what point does having an opinion that differs from that of a majority of Michiganders become an action that differs with a rule of LAW?

The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative which was passed in November of 2006 and became law December 22nd, that same year. The MCRI made illegal, the preferential practices based on race often used with university admissions. At least the case that spawned the initiative Gratz V. Bollinger was a result of the mechanisms of those university preferences.

(3 comments, 723 words in story) Full Story