Tag Archive for Government

All the Other Stuff, Cronyism, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Rent Seeking

Franchise Envy

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The power of government can be instructive AND abusive.

When an operation hosted in publicly owned property is as successful as what might be considered only in ‘wildest dreams,’ it is then eyed with a lust that is found only within the failure of bureaucracy.

baseball1I’ve seen it first hand.  In Grand Traverse County in 2010, a highly successful  baseball program run by veterans was quite literally confiscated, and taken over by the landlords.  An empire building, bureaucratic strategist, coupled with a misunderstood management glitch in the popular 62 year old program opened the door to it being taken over by the county.

The PRIVATE program which began more than a half century earlier by veterans building ball fields was summarily sequestered because the landlord didn’t like the way ‘management’ of the program was operating.  The county board was convinced to back a parks decision to take the program away from the vets, and the participation dropped by 30%.

In the end, a newly elected county board (including myself) in the beginning of 2011 convinced enough of the old to give it back.  In the end as well however, we should note that it was a government entity (the parks department) trying to justify its existence, (programming beyond rental of properties) show a profit (a stated argument during the takeover) and be a controlling authority.

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All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Michigan, Philosophy

Saturday Wrap Up – And Other KrisAnne Hall Stops

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Can't Miss Classes On The Constitution

KrisanneToday’s KrisAnne Hall presentation in front of 100 plus in Traverse City was nothing short of eye opening.

Hall offered to a ‘Constitutional Conservative Republican’ Senate leader in Florida, the way in which the state could ‘nullify’ provisions of the healthcare law. The Senate leader Don Gaetz replied in an email to Hall with a disturbing note:

don-gaetz“After sending Senator Don Gaetz my letter explaining the positions of James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton on State Sovereignty, Mr. Gaetz says that citizens who agree with the writer of the Declaration of Independence should be summarily shot and hanged.”

…

Summing up the attitude that makes up a greater part of the leadership in the country.

While I digest all of the class information, file away the epiphanies, and prepare for the next round of historical fact based blogging observations, It occurs to me that other Michigan folks might appreciate a heads up of what to expect.  First off, you might THINK you know the constitution, and you might even know of the documents that were ‘plagiarized,’ to form the basis of the constitution, but her presentation will fill in where it matters.

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Michigan Politics

The Looting Continues Unabated

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While All Is Not About ONE MAN, This Example Of Pay For Play Is Clear

pure-somethingThere is an explanation I have always used for my sincerest dislike of the MEDC, its mission, and how it takes advantage of the taxpayer for political payoff.

“If a business owner finds it necessary to take taxpayer dollars to start, maintain, or expand their enterprise, then that business model is already in trouble.  If there is no NEED for the money to survive, then it is simply a matter of theft.”

Its hard to be any clearer than that.

Any politico who uses the term “Jobs created” when discussing the MEDC grants, is trying to justify the stealing that must happen first, and is central to the MEDC program. In the history of subsidizing business, one would think that the predictions of ‘job growth’ with accomplished results would speak for itself.  In fact,  one might think such mechanisms insofar as they are touted, would make the news at least once a month if not weekly as a raging human interest success worthy of celebration.

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Michigan, Philosophy

KrisAnne Hall In Michigan

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KrisAnneThere is enough going on that should make folks wonder whether our government is operating legally and under the framework it is supposed to be operating under.

To clear things up, KrisAnne Hall is sharing her wealth of knowledge with the curious and concerned in Michigan in a series of can’t miss seminars. (Scheduled appearances to the right and below) There are few people who understand the United States Constitution better than KrisAnne Hall.  From her site bio:

KrisAnne Hall is an attorney and former prosecutor, fired after teaching the Constitution to TEA Party groups – she would not sacrifice liberty for a paycheck. She is a disabled veteran of the US Army, a Russian linguist, a mother, a pastor’s wife and a patriot. She now travels the country and teaches the Constitution and the history that gave us our founding documents.

KrisAnne Hall does not just teach the Constitution, she lays the foundations that show how reliable and relevant our founding documents are today.

She presents the “genealogy” of the Constitution – the 700 year history and five foundational documents that are the very roots of American Liberty.

One cannot properly understand or interpret the Constitution without a firm grasp of its very foundation.

– See more at: http://krisannehall.com/about-krisanne-hall/#sthash.a6vvX9yd.dpuf

The flyer to the right is about the Traverse City event. The others are below.

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Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics

No Slap On The Wrist

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Michigan Capitol Confidential Said:

“.. if the Secretary of State stays true to its history of enforcement, it’s likely the district will receive a slap on the wrist.”

In 2011, Michigan Capitol Confidential looked at the Secretary of State’s enforcement of school districts it found to have violated the campaign finance law from 2006 to 2010. The state fined two districts that broke the law $100 each. In the case of TCAPS for their part 57 violation, it appears there is a new sheriff in town.

TCAPS was assessed a $26,656 fine to be paid back to the district.

“By whom?” is the question being asked so far by our local paper.

TCAPS officials must decide by May 30 whether to accept the ruling and prove reimbursement, which cannot come from TCAPS general fund or other taxpayer-supported funds. If TCAPS officials refuse to pay, the case could be referred to the state attorney general’s office for criminal prosecution.

The state did not specifically state who is responsible for repaying the $25,656.

I can tell you that however.

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Michigan Politics, Republicans

Bentivolio Safe Federal Websites Act Secures 100 Sponsors

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100 Congressmen Cosponsor Rep. Bentivolio’s Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act

Kerry_Bentivolio

The Information security community agrees: Healthcare.gov is an urgent national security risk

Following new revelations that the ObamaCare website, healthcare.gov, still lacks basic security protections, support for Rep. Bentivolio’s Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act attained 100 cosponsors this week.

Four committee chairmen, two-thirds of the Republican members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and three past and present chairmen of the Republican Study Committee count themselves among cosponsoring supporters of Rep. Bentivolio’s bill.

“I thank my colleagues for giving this issue the attention it deserves and responding quickly to the national emergency that this is,” Rep. Bentivolio asserted.

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Democrats, Michigan Politics, Republicans

About That Gay ‘Marriage’ thing

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First of all, people can want to their hearts desire.

There are certain truisms however.  Diamonds are sparkly, fish swim in the sea, electricity allows us to interact in this way, and “Marriage,” is between a man and a woman. 

Call it what you want, “pairing,” “Coupling,” “Partnering,” etc.. but its not marriage unless its between a man and a woman. And to be clear, it is NOT a civil right.

On the old blog, Kevin Heine posted a great article on a recent manufactured issue within the Michigan Republican Party.  At the end of it he posted a video that is well worth the watch.

Yeah.

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