Maybe it came as a shock to some that the Labor Day Parade was canceled in Grand Rapids, but it shouldn't have.
The lead sponsor (the UAW) said it was committing its resources to the fall election and would forgo the parade as a result. This is a clear recognition of the fact that the labor movement is at the breaking point in the U.S., and cannot take another Republican administration.
The industrial unions are in tatters from years of outsourcing and the decline in manufacturing in the U.S. They are in a defensive crouch, trying to protect the rights of current members and retirees. The emerging service unions are hamstrung by aggressively anti-union sentiment in Washington and the effective union busting tactics of corporations such as Wal-Mart.
Workers seem to have forgotten what the union movement did for them, and don't recognize that the demise of the unions could make benefits like vacations and pensions disappear (oh sorry, pensions have already disappeared.) A UAW friend of mind likes to saw "we are the people that brought you the weekend".
It's true, and workers need to remember that this November. The parade we really need is the union-hating Republicans marching out of Washington.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Other Countries
I have an interesting passport since I travel a lot for my work. I get to go to some out of the way places, and have had the opportunity to get to know a lot of people I would not have otherwise met.
One good thing about traveling is the perspective it provides on the U.S. It's unfortunate that more Americans don't go abroad, because it would help open their eyes about what is happening here, and how we are viewed by others. We are falling behind, and that is most clear when you look at the country from elsewhere.
I spent some of August in Argentina and most of it in Canada. Argentina has gone through some very tough times but is picking itself up and reestablishing itself as one of the leading countries in South America. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city and it would be a shock to many Americans who think that Spanish speaking people only do yard work or clean hotel rooms. You could easily think you were in Paris on some streets in BA.
Anyhow, what I heard in Argentina was the same thing I have heard on five continents: "We understand that you made a mistake electing Bush the first time; we like Americans and love your country. But when you reelected him, we began to wonder if maybe we really don't understand America; maybe you really are a violent, racist and selfish culture."
It is very, very clear to me that electing Barak Obama will re-establish American in the eyes of the world as an amazing place that can recover from its mistakes. If we elect McCain, many people are going to turn their eyes away from America and look to other countries for inspiration.
One good thing about traveling is the perspective it provides on the U.S. It's unfortunate that more Americans don't go abroad, because it would help open their eyes about what is happening here, and how we are viewed by others. We are falling behind, and that is most clear when you look at the country from elsewhere.
I spent some of August in Argentina and most of it in Canada. Argentina has gone through some very tough times but is picking itself up and reestablishing itself as one of the leading countries in South America. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city and it would be a shock to many Americans who think that Spanish speaking people only do yard work or clean hotel rooms. You could easily think you were in Paris on some streets in BA.
Anyhow, what I heard in Argentina was the same thing I have heard on five continents: "We understand that you made a mistake electing Bush the first time; we like Americans and love your country. But when you reelected him, we began to wonder if maybe we really don't understand America; maybe you really are a violent, racist and selfish culture."
It is very, very clear to me that electing Barak Obama will re-establish American in the eyes of the world as an amazing place that can recover from its mistakes. If we elect McCain, many people are going to turn their eyes away from America and look to other countries for inspiration.
August
Snipe has either lost interest in politics or has taken the summer off.
Since I'm starting to drive my wife crazy taking about politics again, the answer must be the latter. There are better things to do in the Michigan summer than whine about Republicans. Put another way, if you don't have anything better to do, you are too obsessed to qualify as even a junior pundit. Too much political naval gazing is not good for the spirit, especially in these times.
Since I'm starting to drive my wife crazy taking about politics again, the answer must be the latter. There are better things to do in the Michigan summer than whine about Republicans. Put another way, if you don't have anything better to do, you are too obsessed to qualify as even a junior pundit. Too much political naval gazing is not good for the spirit, especially in these times.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
July
So why only one post for the whole month of July?
Lots of reasons, but the main one being it's summer - and there are better things to do than bitch about the state of politics in Grand Rapids. I'm also tired of having nothing good to say about anything, and that gets old after a while. Maybe it's the nature of blogs to whine rather than celebrate but a little balance would be a nice thing.
On the positive side, the Press did not endorse Linda Steil for the 73nd District House seat. Maybe she's a great person but the Steil family has owned that seat for maybe 20 years and I have a real problem with family dynasties.
It's also nice that the GR Public Schools Board is disowning the nasty PR campaign being waged by a bunch of union haters called the Education Action Group. Probably another front for the DeVos family, who when they are not working on getting approval for new helipads at their estates are trying to be sure teachers never get health care or a decent retirement. I really don't understand why the conservatives hate the teachers union so much. The only answer I can come up with is that they think it's better if everyone suffers rather than having one group that others less fortunate might aspire to.
The Great Lake Compact appears to be moving forward, which is probably a good thing. It's inevitable that the desert states will eventually set their sites on the Great Lakes and the more we do now to stop them, the more likely we will be to succeed in the future.
The MDP (or whoever is behind it) came up with clever way to cashier a lot of John Engler's judges (a good thing) but it's too bad they left term limits in place. Like a lot of people, I voted for term limits because I was sick of the status quo. Unfortunately the new status quo is worse, and our legislature is populated with nothing but trainees.
The Tigers have recovered from the early season collapse but nothing but a major slump by the White Sox is going to save them now. Still, they are a lot of fun to watch.
Lots of reasons, but the main one being it's summer - and there are better things to do than bitch about the state of politics in Grand Rapids. I'm also tired of having nothing good to say about anything, and that gets old after a while. Maybe it's the nature of blogs to whine rather than celebrate but a little balance would be a nice thing.
On the positive side, the Press did not endorse Linda Steil for the 73nd District House seat. Maybe she's a great person but the Steil family has owned that seat for maybe 20 years and I have a real problem with family dynasties.
It's also nice that the GR Public Schools Board is disowning the nasty PR campaign being waged by a bunch of union haters called the Education Action Group. Probably another front for the DeVos family, who when they are not working on getting approval for new helipads at their estates are trying to be sure teachers never get health care or a decent retirement. I really don't understand why the conservatives hate the teachers union so much. The only answer I can come up with is that they think it's better if everyone suffers rather than having one group that others less fortunate might aspire to.
The Great Lake Compact appears to be moving forward, which is probably a good thing. It's inevitable that the desert states will eventually set their sites on the Great Lakes and the more we do now to stop them, the more likely we will be to succeed in the future.
The MDP (or whoever is behind it) came up with clever way to cashier a lot of John Engler's judges (a good thing) but it's too bad they left term limits in place. Like a lot of people, I voted for term limits because I was sick of the status quo. Unfortunately the new status quo is worse, and our legislature is populated with nothing but trainees.
The Tigers have recovered from the early season collapse but nothing but a major slump by the White Sox is going to save them now. Still, they are a lot of fun to watch.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Cut the Prison Budget
It’s clear that Michigan's budget is in trouble again. Last year’s tax increases pleased no one, so revenue increases are off the table. The economy is not going to bail us out so the only choice is to cut spending, and the most obvious place to start is the prison system.
Michigan puts more people in jail for longer terms than any of the Great Lakes states - yet studies show we are no safer as a result. Michigan spends more money on prisons than on higher education - an embarrassment shared by only three other states.
Michigan could cut hundreds of millions from the prison budget by releasing inmates who pose little danger to society. But politicians are never going to do this because they are afraid. They are afraid of being branded “soft on crime” and they are afraid that one of the thousands released will do something bad. Because they are too scared to make the tough decisions, everyone is going to suffer from the state’s broken infrastructure, failing schools and inadequate government services.
If Michigan businesses and citizens don’t want to pay higher taxes, they have to tell their representatives they are willing to accept the risk of reducing the prison population. Even if it is the right thing to do, the politicians will never do it alone.
As Franklyn Roosevelt once said: “You’ve convinced me. Now go out and make me do it”.
Michigan puts more people in jail for longer terms than any of the Great Lakes states - yet studies show we are no safer as a result. Michigan spends more money on prisons than on higher education - an embarrassment shared by only three other states.
Michigan could cut hundreds of millions from the prison budget by releasing inmates who pose little danger to society. But politicians are never going to do this because they are afraid. They are afraid of being branded “soft on crime” and they are afraid that one of the thousands released will do something bad. Because they are too scared to make the tough decisions, everyone is going to suffer from the state’s broken infrastructure, failing schools and inadequate government services.
If Michigan businesses and citizens don’t want to pay higher taxes, they have to tell their representatives they are willing to accept the risk of reducing the prison population. Even if it is the right thing to do, the politicians will never do it alone.
As Franklyn Roosevelt once said: “You’ve convinced me. Now go out and make me do it”.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Charter High Schools
June 26, 2008
Dear Senator Jansen;
I heard on the grapevine that an amendment was being introduced giving Charter high schools the ability to selectively recruit their students. I thought this would be a good opportunity to give you my thoughts on the issue.
Charter schools, especially the for-profit charters, have been financially viable because of the way Michigan pays the same tuition for low-cost elementary students as the far more costly high schools. I believe this is one reason why there are so few Charter high schools.
A second reason for Charter viability has been their ability to avoid responsibility for the extremely high cost special needs and at-risk students. There are exceptions of course, but my observation is that the public schools handle the vast majority of these kids and incur punishing costs since the Michigan formula again makes no distinction.
In both cases, the Charters win by segmenting the student market and picking off the most profitable parts. Ironically, this is presented as a good thing since it increases “competition” for the public schools. This is not competition; it is exploitation of a market loophole where one class of schools is required by law to take all students, while the other can selectively choose the most profitable ones.
If Charters are to provide competition, they must be made to play on an even field with the public schools. Any amendment to further skew the advantages they already have is bad public policy for Michigan, and I am strongly against it.
Sincerely
Snipe
Dear Senator Jansen;
I heard on the grapevine that an amendment was being introduced giving Charter high schools the ability to selectively recruit their students. I thought this would be a good opportunity to give you my thoughts on the issue.
Charter schools, especially the for-profit charters, have been financially viable because of the way Michigan pays the same tuition for low-cost elementary students as the far more costly high schools. I believe this is one reason why there are so few Charter high schools.
A second reason for Charter viability has been their ability to avoid responsibility for the extremely high cost special needs and at-risk students. There are exceptions of course, but my observation is that the public schools handle the vast majority of these kids and incur punishing costs since the Michigan formula again makes no distinction.
In both cases, the Charters win by segmenting the student market and picking off the most profitable parts. Ironically, this is presented as a good thing since it increases “competition” for the public schools. This is not competition; it is exploitation of a market loophole where one class of schools is required by law to take all students, while the other can selectively choose the most profitable ones.
If Charters are to provide competition, they must be made to play on an even field with the public schools. Any amendment to further skew the advantages they already have is bad public policy for Michigan, and I am strongly against it.
Sincerely
Snipe
FISA Cave, Part II
The collapse of the Democratic Party continued last night on the telecomm immunity and warrantless wiretapping issue with an 80 to 15 vote to invoke cloture.
Michigan's senator's both voted yes. If they vote no on the final bill, it's nothing but ass-covering since the cloture vote is the one that mattered. Both Levin and Stabinow voted against FISA last time around. I'd like to know why they reversed themselves.
Obama, McCain and Clinton skipped the vote.
Michigan's senator's both voted yes. If they vote no on the final bill, it's nothing but ass-covering since the cloture vote is the one that mattered. Both Levin and Stabinow voted against FISA last time around. I'd like to know why they reversed themselves.
Obama, McCain and Clinton skipped the vote.
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