I’m pleased to announce our first round of sponsors for the 2017 Eclectablog fundraising party. These folks have stepped up to make sure we can continue our good work and to keep growing, all the more important during this crisis time in America. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor – and many of our sponsors are individuals as […]

In March of 2015, Michigan Democrat Jim Townshend introduced legislation in the House – House Bill 4341 – that would change Michigan’s regressive flat state income tax to a graduated tax. Not surprisingly, it never went anywhere in the Republican-controlled House. And that’s a shame because, if implemented, it would increase state tax revenues by as much as $700,000,000 $870,000,000 […]

It’s Easter Sunday and that can mean only one thing: it’s time for the annual repost of our Peeps® post. However, before we get into that, today is the last day of our first quarter fundraiser. It’s been an rather quiet week on the fundraiser front, something that is a little dismaying. Our costs here at Eclectablog increase each year […]

I’ll be blunt: we live in a time where the moral imperative is that we resist the decline of our country toward fascism with everything we have. It’s no longer enough to talk about politics over beers or coffee with our pals. It’s no longer enough to post fun memes on Facebook. The time is at hand for actual action. […]

Would you pay 20¢ a day to make sure independent journalism survives? Then you should. I don’t generally refer to myself as a journalist. That said, there have been times when we have engaged in some dead serious journalism here at Eclectablog. During a time when commentators around the country were justifying and excusing the anti-democratic power grab known as […]

The following editorial essay was written by Ingham County Clerk and former State Representative Barb Byrum. Enjoy. Administering elections is a fascinating job, and one that I take very seriously. Like Michigan’s other 82 county clerks, I’m focused on providing reliable, secure, and hassle-free voting for all U.S. citizens, including military and overseas voters who face unique challenges in exercising […]

There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t hear some version of, “Wait, you don’t do this as your full-time job?!” And the answer is always the same: No. This blog is what I do when I’m done with my full-time job as a chemist and nearly full-time (volunteer) job as the Chair of the Washtenaw County Democratic […]

Earlier this year, the City Council of Jackson, Michigan passed a non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) that prohibits discrimination against anyone for housing, employment, or public accommodation based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The vote was 5-2. Shortly thereafter, a local group of Jackson residents, supported by clergy in local Catholic churches, started to circulate petitions to rescind the NDO and […]

Let’s face it, every day America is becoming more and more like a fascist society. The ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency and the takeover of so many of our state governments by corporatist stooges who are dismantling protections and public schools and civil rights is plain to see and those who are most vulnerable depend on the rest […]

Given the events over the past two months with the ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency, I don’t need to tell you that our progressive values are under daily assault. With blue states like Michigan under total Republican domination, it goes without saying that we are all feeling the brunt of their anti-women, anti-worker, anti-public schools, anti-government attacks on […]

Republican Congressman David Trott from Michigan’s 11th Congressional District has a long and sordid history profiting from the “human misery” caused when his foreclosure business threw victims of the Bush Recession out of their homes. He didn’t just run a foreclosure-based law firm. He created a vertically integrated machine to ensure that he got profit every step of the way: […]