All the Other Stuff

So, why aren’t we being more direct? And is this a good place to start? (see item linked at end of post)

Because we’ve seen Gadsdens flooding Lansing, over the State Income Tax hike? Medicaid expansion? The non-bailout Detroit Bailout A/K/A DIA Bailout? Doubling Tipping Fees (garbage collection tax for the mouthbreathers)?

With an alleged Republican executive branch? – Corinthian Scales November 14, 2014″

I’ll be 100% honest here, this comment from Corinthian Scales (along with Kevin Rex Hines’ follow-up…linked here) on the Snyder(Calley)/Richardville Gas Tax Hike, really bothered me over the weekend.

Despite 1,200 miles of driving and numerous other issues I’m currently juggling this weekend that aren’t exactly going according to “Plan ‘A’ “, both gentlemen’s very direct comments regarding this issue gave me reason to pause over the weekend.

Ultimately, I feel that this is a guestion that should to be addressed if the Conservative Movement here in Michigan (and elsewhere) is to have any long-lasting relevancy.

{More below the fold}

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Hey, would you look at that? We’re right back where we started from.

Betcha didn’t see this coming:

“Today, Detroit’s five state senators stood united in supporting a major road funding package. This bill will allow us to speed up repair of Detroit’s roads and make major improvements to the bus service for our 100,000 passengers daily. With their support HB 5477 passed the Senate by a 23-14 vote. Be sure to thank Senators Virgil Smith, Coleman Young, Jr., Burt Johnson, Morris Hood III, and Tupac Hunter for their leadership and encourage your representatives in the State House to support this important legislation.”

Did anyone catch anything earlier about paying more at the pump to support mass transit?

Me neither.

Oh, and it gets better.

{Story continues below the fold}

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Hey Tim Skubick!

Where is that 'tax cut fever' you promised?

cobweb-booksReposted from the Mackinac Center

Posted by Michael D. LaFaive on November 5, 2014 at 12:55pm

Nearly a year ago, popular Michigan pundit Tim Skubick opined on MLive.com that “another disease is starting to make the rounds in this town (Lansing): Tax Cut Fever.”

Personally, this observer welcomed the prospect of a bipartisan frenzy to convert a projected state budget surplus into tax cuts, even if the politicians’ motives included wanting to “help cement their 2014 re-election bid …”

The promise was especially welcome given that Lansing then looked more ready to raise taxes than cut them. I pointed out some examples in an article published last January. Among them:

The Legislature had recently enacted $82.6 million in fee hikes. It had also granted certain local “Business Improvement Zone” authorities the power to levy additional property taxes. And there was plenty of chatter about imposing taxes on Internet transactions (an Amazon tax) and other new extractions.

You Betcha! (9)Nuh Uh.(3)

Someone is waking up (and finally realizing that they’ve been scammed all along).

“In Detroit, where’re your leaders at?”

 

It’s a shame that they couldn’t cut this down into a :60 spot (or at least break it up among several spots). You couldn’t make the point any clearer (Especially after the democrats recent fundraising appearance for a governor who makes Granholm look like an off-the-charts genius).

Granted, this was shot in Chicago. But the subject matter is easily applicable to Detroit as well.

Should also give the trolls lurking from the other side (like Christine, Eric, that husband/wife team from the-site-that-shall-not-be-named), something to mull over…and dread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUSRZo1BE5o

Submitted w/o any further comment

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Glenn Opponent Applauded Legislative Malfeasance

Joan Brausch applauds legislative abandonment in Wisconsin while a spokesman for occupy, THEN denies she was a spokesman.

Brausch-wowJoan Brausch should be a NASCAR driver.

The Democrat candidate for Michigan’s 98th house seat would have voters believe she wasn’t a spokesman for the ‘occupy’ movement. Apparently she has been running the left turn at high velocity for so long, that the centrifugal force has drawn all the blood from the left hemisphere of her brain.

A Facebook posting denying involvement as leadership in the occupy contradicts with video evidence.

Of course, the “American Dream” group she founded might well be true also.

Considering who ALSO organized an ‘American Dream Movement’ on or about the same time, its very possible she was a part of that.

“In 2011, Jones worked with MoveOn.org to launch the Rebuild the Dream campaign, which was intended to start a progressive American Dream movement

I suppose linking to communists while denying her local ‘occupy’ suckers sends a signal she is willing to toss aside a few nobodies to advance a hardened ‘progressive’ agenda.

Even as she is afraid to debate and suffer an inevitable crush through unassailable logic and common sense by Republican Gary Glenn.

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Freewill

Looking at NOTA a little differently.

election-sheetDecision making can sometimes be extraordinarily trying.

On a personal note, this election cycle has left me as uninterested as I have ever been in who wins the day in far too many races.  Try as I might, looking for the half full glass choice escapes any reasonable satisfactory result.  Even by leaving a selection blank, it seems as if we cannot do enough to record our dissatisfaction with the choices made available to us. In fact, In 1980, the Canadian rock band Rush, reminded us

“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”

But even that ‘choice’ eludes us as an effective solution.

Local (Northern Michigan) writer Tom Kachadurian offers some thoughts worth considering.

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Pluck your magic twanger…and help out a good cause at the same time.

If you’re near St. Clair Shores this weekend, especially around the Nautical Mile, swing into Brownie’s on the Lake off of Jefferson and check out what’s happening this Saturday Night.

Starting at 8pm, The Ghoul and his Madhouse of Mystery will be appearing along with  WRIF/WCSX air personality Doug Podell as Spooktacular Guest MC.

There’s no cover to get in and food will be available. No, I won’t get into the whole “Shorian Pride” thing, although it is a nice restaurant.

The purpose of this event is to help raise funds for The Wounded Warrior Project.

Donations to Wounded Warriors can be made at the door and are greatly appreciated.

Help out a good cause and have some fun at the same time this Saturday at 8pm.

 

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Is the drug trade truly violent?

Before I get started, let me say this: A LOT OF DRUGS OUT THERE (including legally prescribed pharmaceuticals) ARE A BAD, BAD, BAD IDEA AND YOU SHOULDN’T USE THEM, TRY THEM, OR OTHERWISE GET INVOLVED WITH THEM. (See: Heroin, Cocaine, Crack).  Many drugs are bad, mmmmmkay, kids?

That aside, I’ll go on…

Yesterday I had lunch with one of my colleagues.  He’s a younger, very logical, well reasoned guy.  His father is a State Trooper.  That is to say, he’s probably grown up with the idea that the state (that is, a general term for Government) and maybe even the drug war are good things.  Along the way, we got talking about crimes and how I believe the only true crimes are crimes that involve a victim (crimes against person or property).  This lead into a talk about the drug trade.

One argument he brought up in support of Federal and State prohibition policies was: well, the drug trade is inherently violent and that’s why we need to keep prohibition.  Then I asked him: Why is the drug trade violent?

Let me ask you, the reader, the same question: Why is the drug trade violent?

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Hogwash: An American Pig Tale Theater Showing Oct 6

pighunt

The Michigan DNR ruled certain pigs feral and dangerous.

A Free family event in Beaverton MI!

The following popped into my in-box this morning:

“Remember our friends Mark and Jill Baker, Baker’s Green Acres, “feral” pigs, “floppy ears – erect ears”, “curly tails – straight tails”, $700,000 fine!  2 1/2 years of game playing, threats, interruption of a farm’s commerce, hearing cancellations, Dirty “Harry”, my goodness we could fill the page . .  .

Well, the story is out, it’s good and YOU need to see it.  Grab your family, your friends and join us for a viewing.

When:  7:00 p.m., Oct. 6, 2014 (doors open at 6:30)

Where:  Beaverton Gem Theater, 120 Ross St., Beaverton MI  48612

Following the movie, Mark will be available for a “question and answer” segment.  Is there anything about the story that you’ve always wondered but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? Monday, the 6th, will be your opportunity. 

There is no cost for admission.  A free will donation will be collected following the movie and “q & a”.  There will be concessions available.  Please no outside food or drink.”

There will likely be take-home copies available as well.

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