A Resolution for Dummies

The what ifs of the above video are not what ifs at all. They are reality. The recent attempt by government to demand that religious institutions be required to offer birth control,the morning after pill and sterilizations to their employees, even if their fundamental beliefs are morally apposed, is just one more example of governments attempt to take over our lives.

We have been permitting an erosion of our liberties for many years but this administration has the most in your face implementation that I have ever seen. I hope that it has not gone so far that we are unable to retrieve them. How can we not see the damage these activities have done to Europe. How can we not see that in surrendering our rights for false security we have become less secure?

How can we keep accepting lies because we want to believe them then ignore and make excuses as the results of those lies so obviously prove them to be wrong. The Obama administration has backed off and offered a solution to the conflict that is so outrageous it is insulting. The objecting institutions won't have to pay for the the insurance to cover this any longer but the insurance companies will have to pay. What? Who pays the premiums to the insurance companies except the very people who hold the beliefs. When was the last time the government got involved with something and it costs less as they say it will.

I have to quit writing before my head blows up. Not to worry the government will take care of me. NOT!

Petulant Elected Officials

How can we have representative government if our Representatives refuse to show up to represent us. When they were elected they knew how the system was supposed to work. The idea was not to go home, if the majority did not agree with you, but to discuss the matter and try to convince the majority to your way of thinking.  Eventually, you must table or bring the proposition to a vote.

The lack of respect for their constituents and for the system that they swore to uphold through the Constitution can only be surpassed by the narcissistic, egotistical and childish behavior of those who would bring government to a halt because they did not get their way.   The American people deserve better than this.

I would defend anyone's  right to protest within the law.  But, protests at the expense of the rights of others is unacceptable. It is not just our elected officials that suffer from these maladies but society as a whole.  The me first generation has had it the best of any generation and has passed it down.  Now the tide is reversing and the frustration expresses itself in violence.



If we are to save our country, we have to undo what we have taught and reeducate ourselves and our children that others have rights as well.  We must respect others and realize that what belongs to them is theirs.

Recalling Recall and Senate Joint Resolution S

Senate Joint Resolution S is about restricting your right to recall to criminal offenses and misconduct.  Recall is more than that. The State Constitution provides a tool to the electorate when your representative refuses to represent you or does something illegal and that is recall. Recall requires that you collect the valid signatures of 25% of the number who voted in the last election for governor in the district. This is not an easy task.   After the signatures are gathered and certified, the person to be recalled gets to put a rebuttal on the ballot.

In the early 80's two recalls occurred. Senators Mastin and Sarotkin were successfully recalled from office from Michigan's state legislature for voting for a 38% increase in income taxes.  Having decided that it had to be stopped, the third senator, Patrick McCollough was prevented from being recalled.

As one of the instigators of that recall, I can accurately describe what happened. There certainly has been enough misinformation to go around. This was truly a grass roots movement. We had next to no money and we only had our anger to keep us warm in one of the coldest winters I can remember. The ability for politicians to curb their spending was not even a consideration.  Why should they when the taxpayer could pick up the tab?

So how did they end it?  Of course they made us look like the bad guys.  We were all volunteers. They harassed us as we stood out in the cold collecting signatures.  They followed us door to door.  They signed false names and addresses on our petitions.  They held cameras close to our faces and took pictures.  They signed our petitions more than once, knowing that both signatures would be discarded based on a previous court decision disenfranchising even those who may have accidentally signed twice over the three month signature collection period.  They tried to block  access to the tables we set up to collect signatures.  They became so disruptive that we had to call the police numerous times to stop them.

So who were these people?  Well some of them were Sen. McCollough's relatives or so they said.  There was also MEA union members who were also the largest contributors to his committee.  His mother was head of the House Education Committee and had a great deal of influence. There were others union and non union members involved in the disruption.  The Democratic Party was deeply involved because they pushed for the tax increase.  Many of the rank and file union members were on our side.

Years later in 2007, the propaganda continued with a program sponsored by MGTV Michigan Political History Soc.  with plenty of representation by those who are not supportive of recalls including McCollough himself who continued to call us names and tell lies about us.  

Apparently, I'm a slow learner and a true believer.  In 2007 I again attempted a recall with the help of others.  Rep. Andy Dillon voted to increased our income tax by 12% and  enacted a surtax of 22% on business that was passed down to us. He voted to increased General Fund Spending more than 8% and called it a cut. He voted to increased their legislative budget by over 7%. He did all this at a time when Michigan families are struggling to pay their mortgages and keep their homes. 

Again the same suspects tried to disrupt the efforts with their money and influence.  That effort failed as well.  But in both instances, it slowed them down by causing them lots of money and personal effort that they could have used for mischief elsewhere.  It also makes them think twice about their decisions and their consequences.

So why go through all the trouble? Because good government doesn't just happen. Because it is your obligation to pay attention. The less you pay attention the weaker you become and the more intrusive government becomes. I believe that the tax increases have hurt the people and the business climate of this state. So take a position, whatever it is, and get involved.

 I am frequently asked why recall is necessary when our elected state officials are term limited and will be up for re-election or moving on. The most important thing I could say is that a lot can happen in six months. It did not take them six months to raise our income tax 12%. It did not take them six months to enact a 22% surtax on business. ( May I remind you that the tax gets passed on to the consumer.) It took them less than six months to increase General Fund spending more than 8% for 2008. They succeeded in increasing the legislative budget by over 7% for 2008 in less than six months. Now add to that the cost of borrowing money at 40 cents on the dollar for the failed 20th Century Jobs Fund in 2005, which was a flop, and will take a long time to pay back with future revenue.

The next question is always ," What about the cost of the election?" It is minor compared to the damage they can do.

Please contact Senators Meekoff and Richardville and tell them you do not support the proposed change. Then contact the Committee on Government Operations with the same message.  Don't Forget your legislators as well.

Please Help

Just click on this link to locate your legislators. You can also copy and paste this to your browser.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28ufs3fxz5g22iryuvf0icrneo%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=home

We can stop this legislation. Right now many cities and townships share services and procurements without creating authorities. That is why we elect individuals to make decisions for us.  Please call, email or visit your legislators.

Please pass this information on.

Live Free or Choke On It

I have been remiss in my writing because I was almost catatonic. It seems like it is all to much.  The world as I know it is crashing. I have been feeling powerless. My country, the greatest on earth, is slipping both in influence and financially.  My state, county and local governments are controlled by the unions and spending is out of control.  I get so many requests for donations and phone sales in a days time that I am hanging up on them an refusing to donate to anyone.  What was happening to me?

Then I thought, when have you ever been a quitter? So here I am with renewed vigor.  Asking your help and your strength to work with me.  They want us to get worn out.  They want us to give up.  We can't let them win.  This is a great country!  We just can't let them change it to something else or convince us it is not.

When your tempted to sit back, step forward.  There won't be immediate financial benefit like there is most of the time on the other side, but you are still doing it for yourself, your children, grandchildren and (almost as important) me.  Make a phone call, write a letter or go to a political meeting. Unfortunately, you may not have someone to tell you what to do but you know what is right. If you need direction, join an organization  that will notify you when to act. Don't leave it to someone else to do. We have to keep the pressure on.  It is very important.  If you think you don't care, you will.

Not Binding but Strangling

The above flyer was distributed in Senator Randy Richardville's district.  But this legislation will effect all of us. It is for this reason I felt obligated, with AFP's permission, to cut and paste its content.  Make sure you contact your senator and representative as well. Tell them to tell Richardville how you feel.

Randy Richardville has sponsored Senate Bill 397 that expands binding arbitration. Binding arbitration means that unelected bureaucrats have the final say in contracts with government unions. Even the representatives we elect cannot change these contracts, no matter how costly they are or how much they will hurt our community. These types of contracts can cost our state millions. Binding arbitration can raise costs to municipalities by 3 to 5 percent. It can result in unsustainably high wages and benefits or burdensome work rules that are not in the public’s best interest.

The Facts:
SB 397 expands Public Act 312, which was passed in 1969 and requires binding arbitration for local police and fire fighters.

Even former Governor Jennifer Granholm’s own task force reported that PA 312 raises the cost to local government operations by 3 – 5%.

Besides Card Check, binding arbitration was one of the key provisions in the horribly misnamed Employee Free Choice Act. Like eliminating the secret ballot, binding arbitration is a
provision that only benefits unions.

Some politicians don’t get it. Some politicians want to increase the cost of government
and put unions in charge. Senator Richardville is one of those politicians that wants to increase the cost of government and take away our say in how government is run. As a Michigan taxpayer, we only get to pay more. It is unelected bureaucrats vs. citizens. It is taxpayers vs. government sector unions.
Senator Richardville it is time to put taxpayers first!


So lets review:
 Michigan workers are making less. Senator Richardville introduces legislation to increase the cost
of government.
 If Senator Randy Richardville has his way taxpayers lose and government sector unions win.
Call Senator Randy Richardville at (517) 373-3543 and tell him to cut government, reform government and stop sponsoring legislation that raises the cost of government and harms our democracy.

         www.michiganafp.com • 517-853-9073

Wayne County the Armpit of Michigan and It Stinks

How is it that everything in Wayne County government costs so much more? Accountability has been the missing ingredient as far back as I can remember. No one, not governors, Mayors, the commission, or anyone has challenged them effectively. Those that have challenged come out far less than successful. A temporary, partial victory with unjustified concessions has seemed to suffice in most cases. Then, it is back to business as usual.

Why is everyone afraid of Wayne County. Why are they held to a different standard? Are they afraid they will offend a person of color? That's the most insulting thing I ever heard. Do they think the taxpayers of any color in Wayne County would not be better off with good government and that the handful of loud spoken individuals actually represent the majority of the people who expect and deserve good government? Loud does not make it right.

I for one have had it. I accept everyone on the same terms. I will not tolerate excuses any longer. I will feel no guilt. Please stand with me! Make Wayne County accountable. Insist that Wayne County is transparent. Insist on prosecution for individuals who break the law. And, for goodness sake get them to fix those darn potholes.