Michigan

As a follow up to my previous post on Wisconsin, here's an interesting article by George Lakoff on the Wisconsin labor rights issue and the media's spin on it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/the-real-issues-a-wiscons_b_828640.html

With many things going in the world right now (e.g. conflict in the Middle East, natural disaster in Japan, labor rights issues in Wisconsin), let's focus for a bit on what's going on in Michigan.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/michigan-set-to-enact-sweeping-financial-martial-law_n_835526.html

Recently, there have been many protests in Michigan over Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's attempt at becoming the new dictator of Michigan, by enacting "financial marital law." Aside from his plan to cut taxes on businesses by $1.8 billion and raise taxes on retirees, middle class, and working poor by $1.6 billion (not such a great idea - another topic for another time), he is also making a massive power grab. His proposed law will allow the governor (i.e., him) to declare "financial emergency" in towns or school districts, which would allow him to appoint people who could take totalitarian power over those areas. Democratically elected officials could be ousted, property and assets could be confiscated, contracts broken, and services eliminated. Quite frankly, this law is unconstitutional and is obviously receiving heavy criticism, especially from Democrats, hence the protests. There doesn't even really seem to be an attempt to hide the contents of this law using jargon and euphemisms. Then again, there isn't much anyone can do to hide the contents of a bill this extreme.