Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis seems to understand what makes for good comedy- saying something with a straight face that is so obviously not true that no one could possibly believe it. Last week on Michigan Public Radio he was quoted as saying that the Democrats have no chance to win two seats where his party won with under 55% of the vote despite outspending the Democratic oppenent by a wide margin in both races. It wasn't that Anuzis was simply doing his job which is to spin news in favor of his side but it was that as usual his argument was silly and demonstrably false and proves once again that state Republicans just can't be taken seriously.
News reports such as those at The Jackson Citizen Patriot, CQ Politics and The Detroit News have circulated in recent days that national Democrats are eyeing two GOP-held seats in the state's congregational delegation which are in districts that are looking favorable to the chances of a swing to the Democratic side. The seats are important since the Democrats will be looking to widen their margins in the house and Michigan is fairly friendly turf given that the Governor just won in a landslide and the state has two Democratic Senators and Dems are in control of the state house once again. In fact, some think the party could even play in as many as four districts. Whether you agree or not that Democrats will win these seats is not the point, the point is that the playing field looks pretty good as any time an incumbent wins by less than 10% they are to be considered vulnerable in the next cycle especially if the losing candidate tries for a rematch and carries forward the lessons learned from a hard fought race.
While, and maybe because, Mr. Anuzis would like to deny reality, the state GOP has become a joke. Every editorial board in the state outside of a handful of conservative papers as well as the Governor's bipartisan panel on the budget understands and is calling for the Governor and the State Legislature to cut spending, raise taxes and restructure the way the state government takes in revenue. Mostly, this dire predicament is due to the fact that the state GOP has been playing a game of chicken with Democrats since the Engler administration where they dare Democrats to stand in the way of tax cuts, tax cuts, and more tax cuts. For many years this worked as the economy rolled along and good times brought in just enough money to sort of keep up appearances though study after study showed Michigan wasn't investing enough money in roads, bridges, schools and other critical infrastructure that would make the state a desirable place to live, work and stay.
Now, it's become obvious to everyone that the state's fiscal situation is dire but what is the state GOP doing about it? They eliminated the Single Business Tax with no credible plan to replace it and now they're continuing along with their reckless binge of calling for even steeper cuts in revenue while trying to lay the problem at the feet of the "tax and spend" Democrats. This elephant simply won't hunt and it's time for the state GOP to own up to their responsibilities and offer some real solutions instead of rhetoric and look to offer compromise instead of looking for scapegoats.
The writing is on the wall, but why can't the state GOP read?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
48 comments:
Amazing how the "centrist" clones around here join in a collective shrug when the question of paying for government services becomes an issue. If on the other hand Pol had decided to discuss a tax CUT there would have been overwhelming commentary here on the divvy of the loot. Better to concentrate on People Magazine today than the fiscal statue of liberty play of the GOP.
As for the present gubernatorial administration. It is time to pound it up the middle with an inevitable across the board raising of income taxes. Stop using the short pass, and head toward the goal line. The fans will scream at the coach but the yardage gained will be appreciated in the end. Force the GOP to garner the penalty flag by using the hurry up offense.
I could have used a poker analogy but football seemed apropos.
Are you sure that the Adams quote was not pre-election 2006? Also, didn't he leave out, "and by the wives of the commmissioners."
Whatever "anaology" you use, the eventual result will be the same. Every basic politics/social studies/finance class will still lay this out better and explain how and why taking money away from the private sector by whatever means will eventually reduce actual tax revenue. It doesn't seem like many of the democrats understand this basic concept that you can't get something for nothing.
Right now is definetly not the time to be pulling more money from the private sector and/or making Michigan even more unfriendly to business by raising taxes.
I do find it amusing that just recently our area lost a huge employer due to the high cost of doing business in this state and in this blog there seems to be a push to make things even worse.
Would it not be a better idea to demand government to "tighten thier belts" by REDUCING services in much the same way most of us have had to do from time to time?
Ag3: http://lonesumgeorge.blogspot.com/
I am sick to death of watching the two major political partys twisting issues around to make their opponents look bad and thinking up catch phrases and inventing buzz words to put them on the defensive. This has become the modus operendi on the national, state and local levels. People have become very cynical about politics and are burned out by this constant bickering. Discussing issues is essential to democracy but what has been going on in this country the past 10 or 15 years is corrosive. We need representatives who are true bridge builders and can accept compromise. Ignorance and fanaticism are the enemies of a free society.
C.D. Reality hurts when it goes against your philosophy. So in an attempt to help you heal I offer you the podium.
Name some cuts! Roads? Schools? Welfare? Prisons? Name something that will not effect the wants and needs of a perspective employer looking to move to this state.
The truth is this is all stuff that has been left on the doorstep by conservatives such as yourself. You can fault past elected leadership for not following through as you would like, but this is the reality. People need services, and services cost money. Taxes are not something that were just put into place a couple of years ago. Stop acting as though the idea is foreign to this country. They have been around since the beginning of this nation. In fact they have been a part of what has made it the greatest nation.
Agnosticrat,
I have to assume that you are referring to “north american football” where the players are heavily protected, cushioned, highly-compensated and must conform to rules established and controlled by the media, rather than the more widely accepted worldwide sport of “Futbol” where the officials are allowed to use some judgment, and the kids don’t have to pay to play.
When it comes to grasping the bigger perspective it is required that you look even beyond the heavily patrolled vigilance at the borders of Mexico and Canada.
I have received my copy of the January 25 Hastings banner which paraphrased a press release from the RHJ International, SA, corporation of Belgium regarding its subsidiary corporations of Asahi Tec corporation of Shizouka, Japan, and Metaldyne corporation of Plymouth, Michigan, USA. While the global aspects of this shuffling of funds are intriguing, there didn’t seem to be any effort to focus on the local implications. Perhaps that will be in a future issue, or in the Sun and News that I won’t be getting.
The second part of creating an informed electorate is helping us to grasp an ever more complex world and how it will affect our individual lives. This requires the publishing of more than headlines, but requires in-depth investigation in the search for the whole truth. Will my family be looking for jobs in Middleville due to the increase from an unknown number of employees to a much larger number of employees, or will the unknown number of employees be reduced to another unknown number of employees to increase the profits and ability to pay off debt? Will the current employees be able to compete with the superior quality and quantity of parts for Asian vehicles dominating the world market, or will their work be limited to participation in a dying Michigan assembly business.
The first part is having an electorate capable of reading. Most of our comments will be unnoticed by people who neither read nor write. Blogging is a giant step for political leaders who don’t even use e-mail. Check out the e-dresses on the County website, for example.
The stagnation of Michigan government that is wallowing in its own excrement is obviously a result of political childishness. An informed electorate would be willing to be represented by a higher quality of leadership. The uninformed electorate continues to get the representation of an uninformed government. Do we deserve what we are getting? That’s the “rest of the story”. Who will be re-elected by being unopposed?
Although I am not well versed with the knee sock sport, I may use it in the future. In futbol, what would be the equivelent of "pound it up the middle"?
Agno, you haven't much business or finance experiences have you? Your speech bears this out. What happens when the business climate in Michigan gets even worse than it already is? What happens is more employers move out, the employers that create something. These employers are replaced by smaller, service oriented businesses attempting to grind out a meager living. When tax revenues fall even further due to the large manufacturing companies moving out, a certain faction of our government push for higher taxes to make up the shortfall. This in turn pulls even more money out of the private sector eventually reducing tax revenues even further... See the picture?
You seem to appreciate analogies so try this one on.
Farmers, like our government, live on income revenues that rise and fall for whatever reason. The successful farmers will reduce capital spending, reinvestment of any kind, halt expansion, etc... The farmers that end up in bankruptcy court begin their slide by removing funding for the actual operating business meaning they start to short their cattle on feed. Sooner or later (usually sooner) the cattle (crops, livestock, etc...)Reduce output causing income to drop even further. Our economy is no different that that. Remove funding (feed, fertilizer, etc...) by taxation and the end result will be a much faster slide towards bankruptcy court.
Yes, I admit this is not a very rosy picture. It is life no matter what or who it is. It is a tried and proven cycle nasty but true.
How to fix it? Well, it is a balancing act for sure. Reduce taxation thereby encouraging business to return and leave more money in circulation - VS - Raise taxes, drive out business, remove money from circulation. One is a long term fix with short term suffering and the other is a short term fix with disastrous long term repercussions. Not a hard choice on paper, lol. But I agree what and where to reduce? Maybe a wise choice would be to not increase any department’s budget until revenues increase. If this will not patch things sufficiently, an across the board reduction of 1% to 5% might help. Spread the shortfalls evenly so that not any particular area suffers more than another.
What do you do when your budget falls short in any given time period? Do you short the groceries or the entertainment? Or do you buy cheaper groceries and use coupons to maintain a reduced entertainment budget? There are certain areas of government that can be reduced or even eliminated I am sure. State government is no different than our local government in that many employed are only employed because of who they know vs. their actual ability or even necessity. Don't be fooled for a second, it is human nature and can be seen from local "non profit" companies/organizations all of the way up to the federal government level. State government is no different.
Put their backs to the wall. Limit what is available to spend by the elected representatives and those with no ability to perform will go on to other things. Waste in budgets encouraged and fostered by prosperous times will recede. We are not in some new environment, this has happened in the past and will happen again in our own lives.
And I do like your "pound it up the middle" phrase, lol. Even you can be a "centerist" at times.
"taking money away from the private sector"
Children's Dad, what does this even mean? Does money get destroyed when it goes to build better roads (for trucks transporting good) or schools (for educating the future workforce)?
We must ask ourselves WHY is it our budgets are short year after year? Could it have anything to do with the various cuts in the income tax during the years the GOP held power? Maybe it's time to simply raise it back up a tiny bit. Studies SHOW Michigan is in the middle in regard to taxes- the argument that Michigan is an unfriendly place to do business has no merit. We've made cuts year after year during all of these budget shortfalls. For Granholm's entire term in office we have whittled away at the budget and it's time to finally FIX the problem instead of applying band aids.
Government is historically inefficient at managing money. With politics involved it has and always will be a money pit. Why is it that a private contractor building private roads can build them to withstand freeze and thaw cycles yet in the 20 or so years I have been driving I-94 sections have been rebuilt 2 and even 3 times? Politics is a millstone around the neck of efficiency. Always has been and always will be.
To make the argument that people have needs implies that it is the responsibility of the government to meet ALL of those needs. Could it be that there will never be a way to meet all of the needs presented? There will always be an argument to "improve the roads" or to "build more prisons" or to "feed more people" and there will always be those pushing to expand the government to provide for all of these "needs" and more. Then there will be the eventual argument like now to "raise taxes" (the quick fix) and the eventual crash and burn when that approach fails.
It is human nature to want someone else to do the work or pay the bill. This is nothing new or strange. All through history wars have been fought to obtain someone else's possessions instead of working for them.
You bring up roads ("for trucks transporting good(s)") yet you don't mention railroads which are historically more efficient than trucks at transporting goods. Could it be that you too would like glassy smooth roads paid for by others? Don't misunderstand me, I would love those same roads but the cost of obtaining that level of roadway may just be too high for our economy. Would I rather see a poor family just getting by be forced to give up something to pay higher road taxes? Not hardly. We may just have caviar tastes (and wants) right now with only macaroni budgets.
And now that I brought up the poor, and that is who I am sure you are wanting to help, why not let them keep more of what they have instead of taking (taxing)what they already have and giving a portion back to them? Or is it the control that taxation obtains that you truly want?
You ask "WHY is it our budgets are short year after year?" this is just part of the process. Every department presents it's "wants" in a dream budget and is forced to settle for less. If one came forward with what they really needed they would of course be sent home with less. And if they did not scream that they were unable to do their jobs with what were given this year, they would certainly get less the next time. And as any department head knows, more money means larger departments and more people working for them (larger kingdoms). It's a power and control trip for many. It is something to be careful of and not get sucked into believing for the most part.
And one last item here, you claim we should raise our taxes "back up a tiny bit". I don't know about you but I am paying considerably more taxes now both directly and indirectly than I was paying under the past GOP leadership. My taxes are up way more than a "tiny bit". Maybe we should examine Costa Rica as their taxation is much less than ours and some claim they have a much better way of life. They might have the magic answer. Drop most of our taxes, our fancy roads, our vast infrastructure, etc... and live the simple life.
It sounds nice doesn't it?
As a matter of fact it has been the chant of conservatives for a long time.
"Lower income for government = more money to spend"
It is amazing how the pie charts are never at hand when this claim is made.
With smoke and mirrors this has been sold to the people of this country as easily as "Less filling/Tastes great" sells beer.
O.K....Let's all assume I know nothing of business and that the arguement that the state would chase away at an alarming rate if taxes were raised. Let's even say we have the highest tax rate of all of the states (not true, not even close). Where are these corperations going?
Florida?
Califonia?
No...China, India, Mexico.
If it is merely the tax rate that is causing them to move then offer them no taxes to stay. Right?
Nope! This has been done. Even in this state that has a tax rate that boasts itself as mediocre they continue to leave.
Well, Ag3, you seem to be back using the name of CD, and still haven't done your homework.
The sales tax rate in Costa Rica is 13%. If the sales tax in Michigan were 13% the guys selling your mind-altering drugs would be paying more for their BMW convertibles.
Using the pork-barrel farmers was a bad choice for an analogy. They get huge welfare checks from the rest of us for non-production.
Your claim to business expertise rests well and rusts well. The vast majority of businesses in Michigan and elsewhere are mom and pop outfits that are not affected by most of the subjects you refer to. A barber is not threatened by outsourcing and the beautician will not lose customers to China.
While I used to be a Republican, I am no fan of corporate greed such as dominates the production of food. When the best we can find in the diplomatic corps accuses Hugo Chavez of using "windfall oil profits to buy influence" I about puke.
There are many folks who avoided getting an education for the big bucks of auto assembly who are still smart enough to begin their own businesses. They will not move over 50 miles from where they were born (homework required).
You were doing better ranting about 911, as Lonesum George.
Agno,
In the knee-sock sport a ball hog who "pounds it up the middle" will lose the game for you. That tactic is discouraged. The knee-sock sport teaches cooperation and teamwork. Being a 500-pound bag of fat will not be helpful either.
Even sand-lot knee-sock is dominated by an unwritten rule that everybody should "touch" the ball before going for the goal.
Maybe that is why most knee-sock democracies turn out in greater numbers to vote than the old-fashioned concept inspires.
By the way, the knee-sock folks understand the fine points and vocabulary of the leather-helmet folks, and just don't enjoy the game or appreciate the high salaries paid for obesity.
Yes, as I assumed knee socks do not work for my purpose.
Maybe in the future (speaking of touching balls) I may use it as reference to moral standards and their inabilty to be followed by even the most vocal supporters.
You see it is not my intention to point out that conservatives are bad. It is merely a different road full of the same pitfalls as others. Their claim of wanting fiscal responsability is a good one. I would like that also. But as so many are beginning to find out it is not going to happen without first acknowledging that spending more without having more is not going to get you there.
Bringing us to the point that I believe C.D. is offering up. That spending less and bringing in less will be the ticket. A fantastic proposal that on paper works to a tee.
But it is not going to happen. There will always be those that want, or need more. It is human nature, and I might add the creed of capitolism. Consider this when you read in the Banner of federal funds made available to the local fire department, or on your walk to town in the near future using the rail trail. Wasteful spending? Of course not! They are deemed neccesary by the people that will use them, Including me. But without the funds available through taxes these things could not happen.
Point one: Saul is such a sleazebag that it is a bit of Republican genius to keep him as State Chair. Next to Saul, even the worst of them look almost good.
As to CD's ongoing rant, he just has no notion of reality.
The truth is that taxes have absolutley nothing to do with business migration. NOTHING!
The refusal of the domestic auto industry to even try to compete is the reason the Michigan economy is in the condition it is.
Governor Granholm not only caused Three Billion in cost reductions in the past four years, but, she has also proposed a positive course of action that will eliminate the structural defecit Michigan has labored under since the Radical Conservatives were able to sell the Big Lie that Michigan Taxes are out of line. The TRUTH is that the most prosperous states have far higher business and personal taxes than Michigan!
People who can read and understand what they read know that the important factors made in locating an industrial operation are the infrastructure and educated workforce offered.
These same Radicals have done their best to destroy public education. Michigan must be willing to fund it's needs or drop to the level of Mississippi or South Dakota. CD might be astounded that folks who have been displaced in Michigan by the massive failure of the auto industry have not migrated to either of the above named states.
It was refreshing to hear Governor Granholm face up to the real challenges and responsibilities of government.
Oh, and the best estimate of the cost of returning to fiscal sanity is that a family earning $57,000 per year will pay $65 more in taxes. I for one am more than willing to absorb the added $1.25 per week to reach this goal and even another $1.25 each week more to restore our state and bring the new generation of business and industry to Michigan.
No CD, you are not the same as the Radical Republicans who peddle this BS, you are just an uninformed consumer of their mental mush.
P=T=truth you chucked your credibility a couple of blog lines ago. I couldn't find much in this last entry to change that either. It might pay you to subscribe to the Wall Street Journal for a spell and educate yourself. One of the common complaints from business leaders IS the taxation rates here in Michigan. All you seem to know is individual taxes and not business taxes. To claim that taxation has no bearing on business migration is just pure ignorance of the subject. While there are several dominate reasons to move on to better business climates (little or no Workman’s comp, lower property taxes, less government intervention, etc...)Taxation is the most common complaint.
Agno, you state the vast majority of business here are "mom and pop" businesses but here you conveniently omit the fact that these businesses do not bear the majority of tax burden. Compare Maple Valley school system and Thornapple Kellogg. T.K. has Bradford White and several other large companies, and what does MV have? MV has the Feighner Company (OOPS! They were driven out to Charlotte). Look at their budgets. MV has considerably less to work with even though their villages are close. It shows Mom and Pops don't support their tax districts like the Bradford whites. And yes, I do agree that education helps the individual obtain quality employment but was it not a republican that evened out the amount paid to school districts for each pupil? That was obtained by increasing the sales tax with a corresponding drop in property taxes (a drop that has been lost and left us currently paying even more now PLUS the increased sales tax).
And yes, a sound infrastructure does help lure business but is not a major reason for one to move here. We have one of the best and most experienced work forces and established supplier/transportation infrastructures when it comes to manufacturing but why do major companies manufacturing cars and whatever move out? Let me guess, it has to be a major government conspiracy. Or let me take another guess. The CEO's that face election to their jobs by shareholders interested primarily in return on investment, are conspiring to destroy Michigan at any cost because we are union. Or maybe our toilet paper is not the right color. Or maybe the golf courses are greener elsewhere as we all know that CEO's of large companies do nothing but play golf.
And ElGrillo, I find your position puzzling as people with large incomes or financial holdings are encouraged to base their holdings in Costa Rica due to the MUCH lower taxation. I guess using the word "encouraged" is not quite correct but it is a common practice to use Costa Rica like that as a tax shelter. I am guessing that you only see a tiny slice of the taxation picture like many others.
I also find your ignorance of most farming very alarming. The vast majority of farmer’s receive little or no direct subsidy (welfare checks for not producing). In a five mile radius of where I am I could not come up with a single one receiving as much as even 1% of their gross returns from any "welfare" program. Most of the small farms (1000 acres/200 cows or less) in Michigan have found that the strings attached to any government money costs more than the money is worth.
For such a common battle cry in this blog line, knowledge of history is not being exercised in this discussion.
CD, you would do well to adress your replys to the proper person. On the other hand I don't mind as El Grillo has not taken the arguement in a direction I oppose.
For the time being I will step aside for others comments, As I am having a hard time decoding your latest manifesto. Let's just say an increase in literature funding may not be out of the question.
Oh My! I am mistaken for CD? I admit to not researching, forgive me, I have a life!
Ellie, I'm sorry, I just dismiss you, I have to discern the unintellible gibberish of your attempts to impress us? One has to delete half of what you say to make any sense of it! You don't impress me or others, trust me!
Michigan can not to be compared to others. Before tax raises, consider the southern States and their successful years on end triumpts on consolidation of serv ices, such as ONE County-wide Police Department (whether Sheriff or County Police Chief), a State-wide highway patrol or State Bureau of Investigation (Check Nashville Metro Police or Jacksonville Fla Sheriffs Police?).
Why a Wayland, Hastings, Battle Creek, and Ionia State Police Post?
Look at cutting costs and not raising taxes. Think out of the box and not out of the plastic baggie!
9119119119119119119zzzzzz
CD, not only do I read the Wall Street Urinal, I read the New York Times and the Economist. And by the way, I don't recall calling anyone Mom and Pop. Certainly not Google or the Solar Power people that Granholm brought to Greenville.
Maybe if WE ALL paid our bills even Mom and Pop would be beter off.
CD, you can peddle that crap endlessly. It will not change the fact that a balanced revenue program demandes structural changes. You might also recall the Governor Granholm proposed consolidated services in very specific ways.
The Radical Conservative Mossback Naysayers have dragged us into this mess and reducung our standards to mirror Mississippi and South Dakota might make you comfortable but frankly the high tax states who are doing quite well are more to my liking.
Michigan has suffered through periods of distress in heavy manufacturing for years. This Governor has an intelligent long and short term set of solutions but, alas, the Radicals who have convinced the stupid that you can have roads, schools, far too many prisons and endless duplication of small governments for less than they cost must bear the brunt of blame and can extracate themselves by starting to be honest.
As for mom and pop, even though I made no mention of them, if people, perhaps like even you, paid their bills mom and pop would do better as well.
At first I was thinking about how to respond to the issues raised, but it was like using tweezers on pepper to sort out the white grains without sneezing.
Pattt has nailed it quite well, and managed to stick pretty close to the subject.
The Governor has surrounded herself with some pretty smart people (as has Dr. Mike). They have a tough job of repairing the damage done in the past (as has Dr. Mike). This will require at least as much time as it took to do the damage (14 years?). It would be more fun if everybody was supportive and took the work seriously, but there are some people who have to be dragged to success (GOP, and unopposed candidates).
Your homework assignment is to realize that the majority of businesses in Michigan are Mom&Pops, and review the legislation and restoration projects in this light. Gov Jen seems to have a handle on what services are essential and which ones are pork (as does Dr.Mike).
Secondly, you should compare the obsolete Motown corporate Rust Belt and the equally obsolete concept of farming as something that happens in Barry County. If you think the farmers of Barry County are feeding the world, you need to travel a bit wider. There are a few folks in Michigan that are serious farmers, but they are up against the wall and will not last much longer. The “family farm” barely supports one family, and is in debt up to its armpits. Sure, we have a few farmers who inherited land from the original settlers that continue to go through the motions, but national and state policy has concentrated the true agricultural activities into the hands of 7 corporate giants. If you did more than carry the Wall Street Journal around under your arm you could name all seven. National policy provides farm supports to provide profits to stockholders of the “Big 7”. The “family farmers” would have been better off borrowing the same funds from the banks and investing in General Foods, or other successful corporate food stock. These corporations grow cardamom seeds on more land in Guatemala than all of Barry County, and you probably don’t even use it in your coffee.
Thirdly, I can’t possibly be better informed than CD on the taxation and economics of Costa Rica, since he has noticed that I accidentally got off the plane in Miami where I am now surrounded by luxurious affluence and crystalline cathedrals. The news reports and books I am reading in English should have tipped me off long ago. Those of you who receive my GeoGrafix newsletter will appreciate the next issue on “futbol”, or “knee-sox” as it is known farther north. I am currently studying the issue of “Joint Implementation Initiatives” and “carbon sequestration” (here in Miami, of course), and you might find these of interest on the Internet if you believe the globe is warming. It seems quite warm here in Miami.
Finally, no blog comment of mine would be complete without satisfying the need for personal attention by the former Ag3, now LonesumGeorge, whom I will henceforth refer to as “GeorgeIII”, not to be confused with GWBII. 91191191191191191911zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Globalization and megafarms have caused great havoc for the indigenous peoples of Mexico. They can't compete, they can't subsist any longer like they have for generations. The family and social structure in the numerous Zapotec and Mixtec Indian villages in the southern state of Oaxaca has been broken. This is causing great unrest and dislocation. Globalization is causing mega problems for Michigan but Michiganders should realize that they are not the only ones suffering.
Ahh! Good point, birdy.
The answer is the same though.
Unfortunately the part of NAFTA that was left out (intentionaly) was any provision for workers to organize. An organized workforce fights for protection of the workers. They have the ability to force corperations to comply with ecological laws as well as safety laws.
While at this time you may say aw heck the unions haven't done anything here in a long time. They are overreaching and have become too powerful. On the contrast, one has to ask how "all powerful" the unions have become when they couldn't keep this provision from being part of NAFTA?
Again I have no qualms with capitolism. But the "rising tide" that lifts all boats is not going to get it done, if the water is held back by a dam.
If anyone truely would like to see a fix to our immigration problem they would dig up Jimmy Hoffa and send him to Mexico.
PTTRuth, you are so right. Structural changes are necessary. Take Ag3’s suggestion to begin with. Why have so many State Police posts? Hand the money over to local police departments. Our county Sheriff is much more efficient with it anyways. I don't know about Wayland or Rockford or... but at least here things would work better with less separate police departments not working together or duplicating services. But this would involve reducing costs and not increasing taxes. It would not wrest control from others like you propose. This may be why you did not come up with it.
And as far as your lame attempt to impress us with listing what you read, you would have to read and UNDERSTAND them to make any use of them. Your continual rant of raising taxes and other irrational financial data pretty much bears this out. Slow down a little and stop trying to impress others.
I did a little research on this discussion subject in the last few days. I went to the recycle pile in the garage and picked up (at random) a WSJ issue from last week and just scanned through to see if there was anything in it concerning businesses and the reason they move to different locations. There was several different articles related to this in different ways but the most common reason was the high cost of operations due to taxes/government intervention(in the form of taxes)/mandatory assessments (meaning more taxes). Get the idea? Maybe if you actually paid for a subscription you would have access to this data.
El gillo, I contacted a couple of friends in the ag environment to discuss your position and they were amused as much as I. One of my friends is on the board of directors of the new grain to alcohol project in Woodbury. He wondered why nobody pointed out to them that they had built it in the middle of a bunch of "obsolete" farmers. In jest he said he might bring that up to others and see if they should move the entire operation to Costa Rica since they are the middle of the world. I think he reads this blog from time to time.
I did consider asking another friend if he felt his new operation was inherited and also obsolete but did not want him to move his ice cream shop out of state either.
And some more friends a little closer to home came from another country (without inherited funding) to milk over 2500 cattle using our obsolete farming practices. He thought it amusing too that he was part of one of the "big seven". We both are curious as to what your parameters are to be included in the big seven
Maybe you should adjust your intake of literature from spy/conspiracy magazines to the real world. But keep writing. I do enjoy deciphering your rants, lol.
My apologies to Agno if I addressesed something wrongly. There is just soooo much in this discussion that is twisted and will lead to disaster that I am glad I did not mistake more. It is all fun just the same and makes me glad we have the right to do this.
CD,
If you think that milking 2500 cows is a large corporate food production you need to dig deeper in your trash bin and do more than "a little research" into the financing of "American" agriculture. Being on the board of directors in Woodbury may be more impressive to you than deciphering long words by Pattt, but I've been to Woodbury as well as Miami, and I'm not really blown away. I can't comment on Costa Rica from my position of being in Miami, but converting grain to ethanol is not an idea created in Woodbury. While I applaud the project and hope for its success, it is long overdue and shouldn't have required Renaissance Zone help to become a reality. We have ice cream shops in Miami, and also supply stores with lots of cheeses.
Your friend who has the CAFO dairy needs to explain to you where his financing came from. Those weren't extra underwear bags he was carrying off the boat. If you knew the names of the "Big 7" you would know that this small operation isn't part of it. The parameters you mention aren't mine. I'm not ranting about small-time millionaires, I'm talking real money.
I'm happy that you have a couple of friends in the "ag environment", but if they don't understand what I'm referring to they are definitely obsolete, and need to wash some of that environment off their boots.
CD,
I hope that I don’t appear to be belittling your friends. It isn’t my intention, even if they have chosen to read and absorb, rather than write and contribute.
I would be much more likely to consider your opinions valuable if you said you actually had a conversation with a member of the board of directors of the Archer-Daniels-Midland corporation. I doubt that she would refer to what she does as being in the “ag environment”. If she did, she would be quoted in the WSJ and not on this blog.
That also applies to your opinions on World Religions, International Economics, Psychiatry, Psychology, I-94, and the other areas of your expertise.
There is a rumor, here in Miami, that the ADM corporation is relocating their world headquarters to Woodbury to be closer to the center of the universe. Be sure to mention this down by the intersection. There may be development potential for the farmers who are zoned AR (country estates). There is still time before gas prices wipe out the potential to convert great-grampa’s farm into a subdivision.
By the way, has the Dutch dairyman considered the potential for converting manure to methane. It is commonly done in Wisconsin and Minnesota (and other worldly places) and keeps the effluent from contaminating the wells downstream. If these words are too hard for you to decipher, I do have a four-letter one for effluent. You can google it on “dog pile”.
“If you keep standing in the alley, somebody will roll you a ball.”
Bo Ling Pin
ADM Corp.(roc)
“Show me a legitimate farmer and I will show you land zoned AA”
Barril DeCerdo
Barry County Pork Board
CD just never will get it. After parading his use of the Wal Street Urinal as a primary source, he berates me for reading beyond the constant business bases and biased propoganda.
Had CD paid attention to the Governor's speech and later budget proposal he would have been aware that consolidation of services was a linchpin of her proposals. He demand that we fight our way out of this BUSINESS CREATED disaster and not whimper instead. I would remind CD that the disaster of the Auto industry was not created by state govenrment. Their failure to meet the market demands has cost us all. And don't give me that hose pucky that paying wages and benefits make competition impossible. bEvery country we compete with save China has a stronger human services base and higher taxes as well.
PtTruth? You should start some type of business and show us all how it is done. That would do more for your position on this than your words here. With your self proclaimed knowledge you could lift Michigan out of its "business created" disaster. That would quiet all of your opposition and make you a hero. While you were at it, you could get the state to refund all of the excessive taxes levied on businesses. This would help return many of the failed businesses to profitability. But first, for all here, you should list the taxes you think businesses should pay. That would help us understand your ideas.
You attempt to sway this to your position by mentioning the governor’s speech and your surprise (or disgust) at my not paying attention to it. You are so right, I did not pay attention to it. It is because like all politicians, the governor gave a “feel good” speech and you were sucked in by it like many others. They all do this, GOP, DEMS, and Independents. Yes everyone loves it. They all stand, applaud, and go home afterwards feeling good that the politician has all the answers. This buys the politician more time to change the focus to something less difficult. What is more important is what actions this Canadian takes to begin to repair the damage of past burdens on businesses/individuals in this state.
Like many others, the governor could see this coming yet has done little to fix it. Only now is it important to her to do something about it. Do you believe that so many others are more “in tune” to the state of affairs concerning this state’s economy than the governor is? Don’t believe that for an instant. She is a very bright and adept politician that could see this problem coming. Why could not the state have reduced services just like businesses do when faced with declining revenue? Look at the paper today. Several large businesses are laying off, 1500, 4500, and 15,000 employees due to declining returns.
And you should research all of the awards the WSJ has won for UNBIASED reporting. Just a few years ago a WSJ reporter was beheaded for investigating a story in the Middle East. Do you think that was at the request of one of the "big three"? At the request of big business? If you truly read the Journal you would understand that the type of reporting done by this paper is predominantly facts, figures or actions taken concerning the economy/markets/business. Yes, there are opinions editorials just like other papers but learned readers take these with a grain of salt like they would with any paper. Since you profess to be an experienced reader, I am sure you remember the reporter for the "heard on the street" column being fired for leaning several columns for what ever reason. This reporter was a long term employee that was a favorite of many, his columns being read religiously. The authority of the paper felt it more important to maintain the integrity of the paper than to protect the reputation of his friend. This paper is not perfect and a regular section is dedicated to the printing of retractions or corrections but your slamming of this resource just continues your lack of credibility.
CD seems to have lost his head over critcism of the Wall Street Urinal. Sorry CD. The paper is printed in the Emerald City...
Well, the truth is that the reporting in the WSJ is fairly decent. It's their editorial page editors which are completely off their rockers. Sometimes, it seems the editorial page writers don't even read the rest of the paper.
CD, I love how you lay all the blame at the Gov's door step (DeVos tried this and it didn't work so well for him either). You remind me of State Rep. Brian Calley who seems to know the Governor's plan doesn't work yet offers no counter proposal other than your argument to "cut the waste" and then sobs that the Gov is being nice enough to him and his cohorts for sitting back and doing nothing but offer criticisms.
Shouldn't the GOP have found all the waste in the last decade under their 100% control of state government? PtT's right- the Gov has cut every single budget and she's still cutting. She's actually addressing the STRUCTURAL DEFICIT (look that up in your WSJ) which was created by Engler and the GOP lege in order to drown government in the bath tub to quote Grover Norquist.
How many more men (who should have been in mental institutions which the GOP closed to "save money" and "cut waste") have to die in our state prisons, how many more abused children (like Ricky Holland) have to die in our state because social workers are over-burdened and under funded, and how many more domestic violence shelters (like Green Gables) do we have to see closed before you guys figure out what's going on?
Do you think any business wants to locate to a place with zero quality of life and if so give me ONE reason why they wouldn't be better off just going to China or India?
Mom & Pops don't run to China.
Industrial giants escape from the USA, not Michigan.
The WSJ is about corporate giants, not "business". Business is on Main Street and employs more people than GM, etc.
The layoffs create jobs where people work hard for little pay to invent stuff and serve customers. Wal-Mart will shift around from place to place but if you want service and knowledge instead of cheap products you won't bother climbing over the barbed wire fence on the way out there on the walking trail.
The WSJ thinks Wal-Mart is the worlds largest retailer, which is corporate BS. They should rename it BSJ. The largest retailer in the world files a self-employment tax return.
CD, save your personal attacks for a less worthy forum. They are boring.
Pol, Your link http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/1/26/33047/2401on the GOP House seats in play affirms our debate in an earlier post on the Schwarz/ Walberg race. Again, here is a perfect opportunity for the Progressive Dems to latch onto a cause and become a player in the world of politics. The movies they show are a nice touch and gets them some media attentention, but they otherwise lack relevance.
Does "media attention" refer to the North COUNTY Trail meeting announcements?
PTruth, you hung yourself. It is Ok as we are in the USA where you can do that - unless you call it suicide. Then it is a crime (unless you can manipulate the government into doing it for you). Just continue on the the next discussion. I have some info for that one too. You won't like it I am sure but it does support your position there, lol.
Pol, I do agree with you as far as the editorial page in the WSJ. They too have their eccentrics just like we do here locally. Ours are a little more colorful but that may be just because we know them, lol. I sometimes think the writers in the WSJ Ed page attempt to support far out positions just to make noise - just like several writers in this blog! They seem to like to hear themselves. I probably don’t read the Ed page more than once every couple of months.
I do apologize if what I wrote appears to lay all of the blame at the governor’s feet. Some could legitimately be placed there but a good portion was in place long before even the prior GOP candidate held that office. If Granholm did what was actually necessary to correct this mess, no Dem would ever get elected ever again. As this blog discussion shows, the general public has little understanding of true economics and would associate the reductions with the current party in control. What she will PROBABLY do is little adjustments (30 troupers and 50 trouper candidates is more than a little though – But I am not sure she is the one that made that call.) until this economic cycle runs its course. Then the increase in tax revenue will compensate once again for government overspending.
Some of this mess was created prior to Engler. In fact some of it comes from pre Blanchard days even. If you remember, Engler took over to one of the largest (of the time) deficits ever encountered in this states history. He made some adjustments and the cycle ran its course and things worked out - just like Granholm is counting on now.
No big deal if all you desire business wise in this state is small "mom and pops" operating. But as is easily proved, mom and pops do not generate sufficient tax revenue to operate the state at current levels of service. If we were to totally fund everything you and several others propose, we would become a socialist state and suffer the same drop in standard of living. Simple political and social science.
El Grillo, I am unsure if your support of "mom and pop" operations is compatible with your support of raising the minimum wage. The Wal-Mart’s of the retail environment grump about increasing the base wage but it is the Mom and Pops that actually reduce their number of employees. They just can't generate sufficient returns on labor to justify paying more. So if you eliminate the Walmarts/Kmarts/Meijers in retail and replace them with The Bolthouses etc... Those not fortunate enough to run and own their own business will just be added to the welfare roles. Increase the number of welfare cases while at the same time reducing tax revenues (no large tax base and fewer wage earners) and you quickly reduce our state to less than West Virginia. Add to this the fact that 99% of ALL “Mom and Pops” have many payless weeks due to low/no business and WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS? And most Mom and Pops are service oriented businesses. Who is going to be able to hire their services?
Pol. Two ideas for future discussion: Who and what are "Progressive" Dems and the state and local wetlands issue.
Sent,
The local wetlands issue is about envy and greed. Since the Farmer Preservation group left town with a load of pork, they want a shot at ignorance as well. They will be disappointed. This is where the other topic comes in. The Progressive Dems are the Dems who don't seek political offices or power. The real Dems ran for office as Republicans and won. If they had really been Republicans we would have to be storing Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons alongside the arsenal at Homeland Security. The wetlands would be owned by ADM and would get funding from federal pork instead of seeking a few measly local pork dollars.
The only comment I have for CD's disjointed message is a request for a quote. When did I support the increase of the minimum wage? Dreams need to be kept in one's sleepy time. I will ignore the rest of the "If this...,then that" stuff and nonsense.
In order to get and stay elected the Radicals who call themselves Republicans cut taxes too far and knew it while the played the fear game and filled the prisons to a point where we as a state are a national joke...and to make it worse we replaced judicial competence with a calculator. Forget that the judge has heard all the evidence as well as the jury. So let the legislators set minimums for everyone, fill the prisons, build new ones and wonder where the money goes.
CD understands little of what he says he reads> Michigan is not a High Tax State. The crisis her is simply the result of Radical Republicans discovering that even when crime is going down, keep yelling fire, oh, and Cut Taxes...and don't pay your bills.
Excessive incarceration is a disease that is caused by over-stimulation of fear. The GOP has made political science into fear-mongering and is an embarrassment to those of us who used to support its ideals of free-enterprise, etc.
Pruth? Seems to be advocating letting criminals run free. I am not sure if ElGill is following as his sense of humor is acidic at best but either way, to blame republicans for filling prisons is nuts at best. Republicans did not force the druggies to deal drugs, the rapists to rape children, or anyone else to violate the law.
This is the same situation as a mother I know that put her daughter on birth control at 13 instead of actually parenting her properly. The child was being allowed to raise herself. A minister convinced the mother to stop this inappropriate action when the girl was 16 and parent the child instead. The girl became pregnant as the mother still refused to take any parenting action. Neither the mother nor the daughter even knows who is the father of the baby and now the mother blames the minister for the girl becoming pregnant. It was not the minister’s fault for the child having multiple sex partners yet the mother is attempting to lay blame for her daughter’s situation on the minister instead of where it should truly be.
This position of Pruth? And possibly Elgillo is parallel to this as it blames others for irresponsible behavior that lands individuals in trouble instead of where it should actually be. It is not the republicans, democrats, or any political parties fault as to putting people in prison. It is squarely the responsibility of the sentenced parties as to spending time in prison. I have witnessed many sentencing actions by this counties court and can easily say that very few were ever over sentenced.
What Pruth? should do is take public action to reduce or eliminate the criminal codes to her liking. I would gamble that even her hallowed democratic party will maintain what is on the books as they feel the laws are fair just the same as the parties responsible for setting them up in the first place. I will take the same position as another blogger here and ask "what would you cut?" The meth laws? Alcohol laws? fraud laws? child support laws? I am open. Honestly and more important, rationally, explain to me which laws you would eliminate or reduce that would elevate our standard of living.
Elgrillo, I do apologize for assuming that you supported the increase in minimum wage if you do not. I believed that you did support it as that is the one of the popular ways that politicians, especially dem's, increase their voter base. It is a way to legally purchase votes in a sense. I believed that I read in this blog or elsewhere that you supported increasing the base wage but once again, I apologize to you if I am wrong.
Pruth?, I once again ask that you form a business and get some actual experience at running one INCLUDING managing employees. I am sure this would open your eyes as to what it actually takes to run one in this state whether you believe we are a “high tax” state or not. Once you actually own and operate a successful business instead of puffing your “smoke and mirrors” over and over you will understand what is being said here. And just from my own experience I have found that most people that I have been forced to collect money from (due to non payment of bills) are those that believe that someone or something else “owes” them a living/life. If you are so intent on raising taxes on everyone to pay for excess state services, why not start by donating your own money to the cause. The state will take your money or are you advocating that everyone else should pay for the things you want?
CD,
I accept the apology for the assumptions you make regarding how everybody else thinks. The voices you are hearing seem to be emanating from an area that could benefit from some chemical correctives.
The connections you are trying to make between dealing drugs and mental health reflect brilliantly on your general perspectives of everything in the universe. Ignorance is not a crime, but it is a choice.
'gillo - Thanks for adding your wicked sense of humor to this acceptance, it's great. But do add stubborness to your choice of ignorance. Ignorance alone does not explain those chosing to remain in that state.
... and the State you are in is ....?
Hey CD...as for business, been there, done that and still have the T shirt and it was paid for...Got it at a place in Freeport. You ARE familiar with Freeport aren't you?
Judging from your various rants in several blogs it is very difficult to believe you have ever had any experience in any business environment. Since you failed to remain it is obvious that either you are not telling the truth (most possible) or left because you really do not understand business (also very possible).
A tax haven is a place where certain taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all. This creates a possible "haven", in contrast to jurisdictions with higher taxes, for those who wish to reduce their taxes. sportsbook High rates in some countries create economic incentives for individuals and/or firms to locate or relocate to areas with lower rates. This creates a situation of tax competition among governments. Different jurisdictions tend to be havens for different types of taxes, and for different categories of people and/or companies. http://www.enterbet.com
Saulius "Saul" Anuzis (born March 6, 1959) is a Republican Party leader from the U.S. State of Michigan, he is currently serving as national chairman for the Save American Jobs Project on the American Solutions team.Costa rica toursHe was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 2005-2009 and was also a candidate for national chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2009.
http://www.kingtours.com
Post a Comment