Tag Archive for Traverse City

Economy, Fees, Government Incompetence, Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy, Research & Analysis, Taxes

Money Well Spent

by  •  • 4 Comments

"Bureaucracy" is never having to say you're sorry.

Government always has a plan for us.

In 2010 it was scam on the American people known as the “Affordable Care Act,” or ..more lovingly known as “Obamacare.” During the roll out of the healthcare.gov (unicornfarts.org) site, there was little demand, and it wasn’t until other aspects of the law destroyed traditional insurance plans that the site began to see broader use.

The price tag of course was a healthcare system that collapsed in terms of value, requirements that people buy a product in order to remain a free citizen, and about a trillion or so dollar funneled into the pockets of those well connected enough to be a part of the scheme.

Federal ‘health’ insurance asserted itself into our lives with a full blown partisan takeover, and a traitorous piece of garbage in the Supreme Court rewriting the law so that it had some semblance to legitimate authority.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (17)Nuh Uh.(1)

2020 Presidential Election, All the Other Stuff, Elections, Michigan

Trump In Traverse City

by  •  • 1 Comment

Some photos from Traverse City November 02, 2020.

Donald Trump is a machine.

Not only is HE a machine, they clearly have a machine working full time to manage the logistics of the Dozens of last rallies.  Managing 10s of thousands of rally goers and getting the president in and out of each event is mind boggling.

The only possible trouble his team might have had is evidenced by the President joking with the tech crew in Wisconsin as I type this. His management skills, or those of whomever he chooses are clearly superior.  Especially when one considers getting a 70+ year old guy to each of said evens in one piece, and having him remain coherent and understandable.

Incredible.

I want to give a shout out to the RBSN folks for a second.  (See pic at right)  These guys have made it possible to watch most of the Trump rallies out of sheer tenacity and showing up.  They have overcome technical issues and done what NONE of the other networks were willing to do; namely bringing the immensely popular president to those with an internet connection when ‘regular’ media refused.  God bless em for being able to keep up with Trump.

And Trump’s stamina notwithstanding, the throngs of supporters seemed to make all necessary efforts to attend the rush of gatherings scheduled iin the last days of the 2020 election cycle.   All these things were attended ‘bigly.’

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (12)Nuh Uh.(0)

2020 Presidential Election, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Donald Trump JR In Traverse City

by  •  • 0 Comments

Jr, joined by Ted Nugent et al made an amazing speech in TC today!

Unscripted and impactful!

When folks started to arrive the temperatures were about 35 degrees, and the wind was blowing hard.  The sun was shining however, and the Saturday Traverse City matinee to the main event Monday could not have been better. Donald Trump Junior blew it up!

General Jack Bergman (incumbent/candidate CD1), and John Roth (candidate R-104) opened the event, and were followed up with Ted Nugent and Cam Hanes doing warm up for the son of our President.  A warm up I might add, that was both entertaining, (Think hunting stories about truck beds full of goats) but not even necessary!

The President’s progeny brought it home.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (12)Nuh Uh.(1)

2020 Presidential Election, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Encore!

by  •  • 2 Comments

Trump's last stop before winning in 2016 will cap this year's effort as well!

In 2016, tens of thousands of folks in Grand Rapids gathered to wish the President well for the following day’s vote.

Trump won in Michigan by less than ONE vote per voting precinct, and won the election overall.  Grand Rapids was his ‘lucky charm so-to-speak.

Make no mistake about it, the president is working twice as hard this year, and his efforts will see him TWICE in Michigan on the same day, the second time returning for an encore ‘WRAP UP’ with his friends in Grand Rapids.

The First event in Michigan will be at 5PM in Traverse City.  I will of course be there to report and gather pictures, but those of you who want to travel can make your plans HERE

The Grand Rapids event will be at 1030PM reminding us of how late it ran in 2016.  It also reminds us of how hard President Trump is willing to work for us!  Make your plans HERE!

Gather your friends and make those events!

Have fun!

 

You Betcha! (8)Nuh Uh.(0)

Michigan, Philosophy

Should We Be Surprised?

by  •  • 3 Comments

Idealism don't pay the bills too well, do it?

Several years ago, crockumentary maker and liberal activist Micheal Moore said “I think I will start a film festival in Traverse City”

As a part of the effort, it required renovation of the downtown State Theater, so Moore found people willing to cough up money to do so.  Mind you it wasn’t HIS money, but rather the folks who thought that it would be cute to have the old decrepit theater fixed up and operational again.

In addition to Moore and Wilson, Richard and Diana Milock of Torch Lake, The Herington Fitch Foundation, and a person wishing to remain anonymous have collectively contributed $600,000 in recent months. Moore expects another $100,000 to come in from the opening weekend ceremonies. And he remains busy seeking out another couple of angels who might be willing to contribute the final $150,000 to complete the renovations, in what will be only $850,000 in restoration costs versus the three to nine million dollars people kept telling Moore it would be.

Note that the “In addition to Moore” reference was to how he was acquiring free things from those who thought he was bringing them something.

The theater renovated, and then a briefly raised question of the non profit being able to run new releases in competition with the other local movie houses.  It was full steam ahead, and the film festival was on.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (11)Nuh Uh.(0)

Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

Something In The Water

by  •  • 4 Comments

Traverse City pursues expensive power option.

There’s Crazy – Then There Is Traverse City Michigan crazy.

Once upon a time, Traverse City owned TCL&P (Traverse City Light & Power) produced electricity.  (see picture at right) We had coal docks, a steam producing boiler, and turbines that were able to produce all of what was needed for Traverse City, and some surrounding area power needs.

In the early eighties, TCL&P, contracted with the county to operate power generation from three dams that were deeded to Grand Traverse County a decade before by Consumers Power. It cost them nothing. In the 90s, TCL&P erected the region’s first windmill, while at the same time reducing output and planning complete decommission of  its coal fired facility which (by the way) was located on the valuable public waterfront.

Stories were plentiful about how the city was conscious of the environment, had to do their part, and how some folks would sign up for that ‘expensive’ energy which cost only 3 or four times the current rate. There were TCL&P customers who voluntarily paid for ‘green’ energy that came down the same transmission lines, even though it was the same electricity as the guy was getting next door for less.

I suppose a byline in the local fish wrap was worth it?

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (12)Nuh Uh.(0)

Michigan, Michigan Politics

It Burns

by  •  • 2 Comments

Orwellian titles alone should give pause to voters given the 'pitch.'

Traverse City has apparently honored the wishes of the voters last night.

Good.  They did the ‘right thing’ by allowing a requested exemption of the local library district from their TIF2 district renewal.

Some of you may be aware that the Traverse Area District Library received a solid 75.5% renewal vote for the millage last August. Some of you might also be aware what type of management and board makes up the library. Suffice it to say, the operation operation has in the past 6 years has found efficiency, improved technological services, and better staff competence and ability.

The district as a whole is an outstanding model of how government operations should run. We have addressed the pension gorilla successfully, stopped any growth (for-the-sake-of-growth) plans, and lowered the cost per taxable dollar.  Technological services are so advanced, that the library has literally been able to market out some of its advances to neighboring library systems, providing them with value added (and lower cost) services and recovering taxpayer ‘investment’ at the same time.

We have done our part, but still have expenses, and every dollar matters in crafting the best possible response to voter intent.

And some of those who did not vote yes in the last millage made it clear why they did not support the millage.  It wasn’t because they had misgivings about tax dollars being used to promote community literacy, but rather as an objection to the way in which that singular philanthropy doubles as a sieve to water ‘economic development’ efforts they have zero interest in supporting.

But with big government comes the sugar for the ants. For all the tax dollars we donate for the elected class to spend, there are a number of said class who believe they are smarter than free markets.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (9)Nuh Uh.(1)

Conservative News, Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Adverse City

by  •  • 4 Comments

Traverse City Adhoc Committee faces proper and righteous indignation over direction toward sanctuary status.

The left, in its unbridled pursuit of one world lunacy, is fully embedded in Traverse City, Michigan.

Considering a sanctuary city policy that ties the hands of local law enforcement, an adhoc committee of the Traverse City Human Rights Commission (the most concentrated batch of lefties and progressive lunatics in the north) held a public meeting at the Grand Traverse County building yesterday.  The meeting was met with (perhaps unexpectedly intense) opposition to the idea of a sanctuary policy from residents in, and out of Traverse City proper.

Outside the county building a couple hundred protesters gathered prior to the meeting to let the HRC know where they stand on the issue.  Many had apparently never been moved to protest till this point, and others were regular guardians of good government, and our constitution.

By the time it began, the meeting had to be moved to the larger County chambers venue because of the sheer number of people who showed.  The ratio of folks opposing the ‘sanctuary’ nonsense was about 10:1 to those who demonstrated support.

Interestingly, there were those who work with the migrant community as well who were in opposition to the sanctuary policy, because they feared increased ICE activity in the region as a result.  Even those who carried the signs protesting the protesters of this may have had some second thoughts after the commenting was finished.

Misunderstanding the difference between migrants and illegal aliens is apparently too easy.

The HRC will make a recommendation to the Traverse City Commission, which will then vote on whether to advocate lawlessness, and neuter it’s police force fully.

Stay tuned for updates.

You Betcha! (16)Nuh Uh.(1)

Michigan

March 4 Trump Video

by  •  • 0 Comments

In case you missed it. We've got you covered!

It’s been a week since the March 4 Trump event across the country.

There are apparently plans to have some other support rallies nationwide, and it would be no surprise if they are well attended.  After the March 4 rally in Traverse City, a number of folks indicated they want to attend the next events, and some wished they had better notice so they could have made it to this one.

For those of you who missed March 4 in Traverse City or somewhere around where you are, here you go.

Enjoy as you can.  We did.

You Betcha! (9)Nuh Uh.(0)

Fees, Fees, Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Taxes

More Trouble With TIF

by  •  • 3 Comments

Traverse City enables more cronyism in its latest money grab.

Does a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) scheme really work?

It seems that each year, special TIF districts are set up throughout our state in order to promote growth or development of a particular economy or industry.  The revenues raised through a TIF scheme are theoretically targeted, specifically for the district raising the value of that district over a specified period of time.

But does it work well enough and is it worth the effort, and goodwill lost, as it continues to be abused by those who hold the authority?  As voters look at the millage requests on the ballot, they now see the language that reminds them that not-all-of their voted in millage will go where it is intended.

A TIF scheme is done by

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (14)Nuh Uh.(0)