Live in Michigan? Toss my rant into your email

[TWiley]

First of all, consider the number "billion". A billion seconds ago it was 1959. A billion minutes ago was before Jesus was alive, and a billion days ago was 2,739,726 years ago. Pot-hole Engler left our state over 4 billion dollars in the hole. That is one Dollar per second, every second, since the year 1818. Governor Granholm was left scorched earth by the fiscally irresponsible Engler administration.

Governor Granholm was forced to cut State Services, and the size of our government to compensate for the Republican destruction. Today, there are roughly 55,000 State employees, this is approximately the size that our government was in 1971.

It is also true that roughly 25% of our tax revenue comes from the "Single Business Tax" Governor Granholm said the Single Business Tax is a very, very, bad tax, and she has been wanting to get rid of it. She said "It would be a supreme act of cowardice for me to abolish this tax for political gain without replacing the revenue it generates". "The damage caused to our school system and to those most vulnerable citizens in our state would be reprehensible." "I must keep this tax until a substitute is found"

Now for the hammer. Governor Granholm is the only person to propose an alternative to the Single Business Tax, and you can read more about that here: http://www.granholmforgov.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6837 The problem is that the Republican Majority in Lansing will not move forward with legislation. It seems they wish to create a campaign issue; a problem that only a majority in Lansing can solve.
,
What is the solution?

Well, lets examine a few differences between our Governor Jennifer Granholm, and dick whats-his-face the billionaire. We will start with dick.

dick is a cut-and-run Republican who has a firm record of exporting Michigan Jobs to Asia in order to earn an extra percentile on his inherited wealth. dick is an extremist who has promised to lift social responsibilities from business, and shift the tax burden to middle and lower income families. We have all seen what these so called "conservative" businessmen have done to our country during the past 6 years.

The massive deficit left by the previous Republican administration in Michigan is dwarfed by the estimated 512 Billion spent on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq alone. With the endorsement of the bush regime, Michigan is promised more of the same corruption, incompetence, and fiscal irresponsibility that has defamed our nation and its citizens. I have had enough of these charlatans, and it is time to be rid of their infestation.

Governor Granholm has said that as Democrats, it has fallen to us to defend our citizens from fiscal irresponsibility while defending everyones civil liberties. Governor Granholm is a sane and centered politician who is able to balance the needs of the environment, with economic needs, and the needs of the citizenry without leaving anyone behind. Governor Granholm understands that we need a strong and viable public education system to prepare our children for the jobs of the future. Her 21st Century Jobs program has received over 500 proposals from businesses who want to create jobs in Michigan. At a recent breakfast, Goverenor Granholm said that the academy of sciences has been commissioned to review each proposal and to order them as to which are most likely to produce jobs and growth in Michigan. Governor Granholm has a prooven track record of being able to accomplish these goals without sacrificing anything that makes Michigan a great place to live.

More about the 21st Century Jobs fund here:

http://www.granholmforgov.com/site/News2?JServSessionIdr006=y2udpmdbx1.app7b&news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=9089&security=1

So there it is. Will the Michigan of the future resemble a fascist state, or will we remain a beautiful place to live and grow where everyone's civil liberties are protected.

This November, pull that lever for common sense and compassion. Vote the straight Democratic Party ticket

[brentspeak]

1. k & r

:kick:

[muntrv]

2. What is DeVos economic plan? Have everyone in MI sell Amway?

I'm from Ann Arbor. Whenever you say no to those distributors, they become indignant. That alone is reason not to vote for Dick.

[TWiley]

3. In the debate Monday night

He gave his first offering about his "economic plan" during the debate.

He wants to end the single business tax and replace 50% of its revenue with new taxes. Governor Granholm asked which programs he planned to cut if he removed 1 billion dollars from state revenue. Well, he got that deer in the headlight look and started stammering incoherently about leadership.

What most michigan people do not understand is that the Single Business Tax has been on the books for 30 years. Why did the 12 years of the republican pot-hole Engler administration not end it?

Most voters I have talked to believe that Governor Granholm actually created this tax. They are astonished to learn it has been on the books as long as it has.

[verdalaven]

4. Try being related to one

a distributor, that is. It is hard sell (to join) all them time. Not my idea of the ideal business venture - where you have to annoy the hell out of family and friends to earn a buck.

[TWiley]

7. Those are not friends

they are "business" prospects. That really is a sick way to view the world. No friendship or compassion, only opportunism.

[JNelson6563]

5. Rock on Tim!

:toast:

Call me this weekend, you me and K can grab coffee and catch up on all those side conversations we tried to have at the meeting the other night. ;-)

Cheers,
Julie

[TWiley]

6. Hi Julie !

Kathie and I are going to be in Grand Rapids Saturday and Sunday night. Tonight we may go to that concerned citizens dance at the ski area.

2 nights in dick whats-his-face home town. The festering nest of regional aggressive stupidity. Although, the college there did mount a protest when the shrub gave a commencement speech. Maybe there IS hope.

We will definately have to make time to chew the fat though.

[JNelson6563]

8. Meeting Wednesday at Sleder's

for TC Commonsense event. See you there! :hi:

Julie