You have to hand it to the Republicans in the Michigan legislature. Just when you think it’s not possible for them to kick the 99% in the face any more ruthlessly, they go and prove you wrong. Their current targets are workers who are injured on the job and the creative ways they are coming up with the reduce workers’ […]

The Detroit Free Press characterizes a move by the Michigan Supreme Court as a “victory” for Governor Rick Snyder. The reality is that it is a solid defeat for the 99% and a “victory” for the 1%. The Michigan Supremes basically said it’s okay to tax seniors’ pensions but not okay to raise taxes on the 1%. A divided Michigan […]

The organization that tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to recall Republican Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder has reformed into a Super PAC called “Michigan Rising”. Yes, the times are certainly exciting and the optimist in us says that they are also changing for the better. Nationwide November election results clearly indicate a shift in public opinion when it comes to radical legislation. […]

Detroit News’ blatherer Nolan Finley outdid his normal degree of insipidity today with an editorial piece titled “Hollywood ramps up to help Obama”. I was watching an episode of “Hung,” the filmed-in-Detroit HBO series about a guy with a super big — well, the story line isn’t important — when all of a sudden an Obama campaign commercial broke out. […]

Last week, I wrote about the so-called “anti”-bullying bill passed by the Michigan Senate a couple of weeks ago that is not only not anti-bullying but, in fact, is generally known as “The License to Bully Bill”. In my article, I mentioned two Ann Arbor teenagers who stepped up to respond in a powerful way. Two Ann Arbor-area students, Katy […]

Back in October, I wrote about Brianna Amat from Pinckney, Michigan. In the span of about 30 minutes, Brianna kicked the game-winning field goal at her school’s homecoming game and then was chosen as the Homecoming Queen. She’s been feted around the country for what she did and has remained remarkably humble about it the entire time. From my piece […]

We all knew it, right? But it’s especially painful to hear it put so bluntly. Rep. Loretta Sanchez from California: Interviewer: Harry Reid said yesterday, and frankly we’ve heard this from a lot of Democrats, the Republicans oppose the jobs bill for political reasons, that it helps them if the economy stays in bad shape. But, is that fair? Sanchez: […]

Nearly every proposal I hear lately from Republicans in some form or another involves putting it back on states. Health care. Abortion rights (or lack thereof.) Job creation. Social security. Medicaid. Same-sex marriage. Environmental protection. It’s a nearly endless drumbeat during the Republican debates. I listen to that and then I look at what’s happening in my state of Michigan. […]

Politicians always talk about “trimming waste” in government. The Obama administration shows ’em how it’s done. Almost $18 billion-with-a-“B” in savings this year alone (and 2011 ain’t over yet.) Over $20 billion since 2010. And more to come, thanks to a new Executive Order, part of the President’s ongoing “We Can’t Wait” initiative where he’s taking action Congress just can’t […]

After spending scads of money to defeat the recall of Paul Scott, a recall backed financially by the Michigan Education Association (MEA), Michigan’s teachers union, suddenly Michelle Rhee’s anti-teachers union group StudentsFirst wants to play kissy-face with them. From their recent press release: StudentsFirst Vice President of Communications Hari Sevugan sent a letter to Michigan Education Association President Steven Cook […]

I received this very thoughtful response from Jocelyn Benson on my post criticizing the Engage Michigan conference. I thought it should be seen by a wider audience. Thank you for your feedback on the Engage Michigan Convention. I’m sorry that your experience was not what you had hoped. Allow me to offer my own reflections on your post. The question […]