tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post2058566124388601463..comments2023-05-24T06:02:06.480-05:00Comments on Chuck's Chatter: A different sort of tsunami?Chuck Doswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03099345055614900157noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-61163504112511752722011-03-13T13:57:11.360-05:002011-03-13T13:57:11.360-05:00Also wanted to clarify that the EFM doesn't ju...Also wanted to clarify that the EFM doesn't just drop out of thin air at the governor's whim... http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(helnglffv2sucvqh1m04mymr))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-141-1212&query=onRob Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132449143586969553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-26721773649045695242011-03-13T08:49:21.096-05:002011-03-13T08:49:21.096-05:00What a righteous, fact filled rant. And spot on!What a righteous, fact filled rant. And spot on!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06947485709514954397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-46456479792615722972011-03-12T20:35:01.265-06:002011-03-12T20:35:01.265-06:00Two things... Gov Snyder has appointed exactly 0 E...Two things... Gov Snyder has appointed exactly 0 EFMs. Gov Granholm (D) appointed one for Detroit schools and one for Pontiac at the least. Both have total authority over finances, but cannot touch union deals. But they can cut nonunion wages by 10%. Wouldn't it be better to share the cuts? 5% for all instead? Since these people have actually replaced locally elected officials, and were appointed by the governor, isn't that a real world example of dictatorship? Where was your outrage for this when it actually happened? They actually run those entities, yet it's okay?<br /><br />Next, if a EFM comes in and cannot cut union deals, and the city goes bankrupt, then nobody gets paid. No union, no nonunion, no government at all without money. The creditors then are free to do whatever. You are saying it's better to get to that point instead of preemptively fixing it with someone who has ties to an elected position?<br /><br />Do you really believe an EFM would come in and say "I am dissolving the city of Grand Rapids"? Really?Rob Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132449143586969553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-78220575219980496982011-03-12T19:06:44.806-06:002011-03-12T19:06:44.806-06:00I view this as an attempt amongst the few to restr...I view this as an attempt amongst the few to restrict the potential gain of knowledge amongst the many. This being the most effective way to maintain their control.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-44052124990952718692011-03-12T16:20:21.953-06:002011-03-12T16:20:21.953-06:00As it appears to me after some searching, the emer...As it appears to me after some searching, the emergency financial managers (EFMs) recently -- not 20 years ago -- have been granted enhanced powers. According to mlive.com:<br /><br />"...critics say the legislation drafted and approved by Republicans goes too far by giving a single individual unchecked powers to break union contracts and potentially dissolve local units of government by merging them with neighbors." <br /><br />Such actions, regardless of the reason, are inconsistent with the principles of representative democracy. It appears the CNP is using its majority to expand its powers in a direction that seems quite worrisome to many.Chuck Doswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099345055614900157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-45676706496928515412011-03-12T16:05:04.027-06:002011-03-12T16:05:04.027-06:00RDale sent (and I accidentally deleted):
The EFM ...RDale sent (and I accidentally deleted):<br /><br />The EFM has been in place since 1990. It's not new. It has been used in the past with no dictatorship enacted. With several cities and school districts ready to declare bankruptcy this year, additional powers were needed to avoid those entities going into receivership. This was discussed prior to the last election, so nobody was surprised. If your local government cannot find a way to get through that situation, then the EFM gives them tools to make it happen. To even get to an EFM declaration you have to get through the state treasurer.<br /><br />Who is a Democrat. The Democrats had plenty of opportunity to modify or even kill the EFM over the last 20 years but have not. Wonder why?<br /><br />So those cities have two choices. Get an EFM to work them out of that mess appointed by a government they elected, or go into receivership and have their creditors determine how the city is dissolved. There is no option 3 when you have no money.Chuck Doswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099345055614900157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-44792737335288764452011-03-12T15:12:03.662-06:002011-03-12T15:12:03.662-06:00Watch 'Inside Job' for a 'scratch the ...Watch 'Inside Job' for a 'scratch the surface' view of the crime that is taking place on Wall Street and the financial sector in general. It's not the ineptness of the Obama administration or the 'see no evil' attitude of the Bush Crime Family, but it is the multinational financial institutions (Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, etc, that are the root of the problem. Governor Walker, Scott, and others are just a symptom of the financial sectors' stranglehold on our economic and personal lives.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10201785273467187603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-65794034534313768552011-03-12T07:41:00.702-06:002011-03-12T07:41:00.702-06:00In his "landslide" victory, did the gove...In his "landslide" victory, did the governor campaign on a promise that if elected, he would remove other elected officials from their positions in order to carry out his goals? If not, and there's no provision in the state constitution for removal of elected officials on the whim of the governor, then his deeds can't be seen as carrying out the will of the good people of Michigan. It's a blatant act of crypto-fascism.Chuck Doswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099345055614900157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-34760505249738117322011-03-12T07:27:06.337-06:002011-03-12T07:27:06.337-06:00Did the governor remove elected officials from off...Did the governor remove elected officials from office or not? I'm sure there are rationalizations that can be used in an attempt to justify this tactic, but if the deed is a fact, then it's an attack on representative democracy -- end of story!Chuck Doswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099345055614900157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-70368144118184995472011-03-12T06:36:15.882-06:002011-03-12T06:36:15.882-06:00"The Michigan GOP governor has declared "..."The Michigan GOP governor has declared "financial martial law," replacing elected local officials with his own appointed minions."<br /><br />I just wanted to doublecheck -- did you review the legislation and come to that conclusion on your own? It sounds more like you saw this on the ticker during Rachel Maddow.<br /><br />The Michigan governor and legislators (elected by a LANDSLIDE in a fair and open election) are taking steps to avoid school districts and cities (plural) declaring bankruptcy. The previous Democratic administration ignored the root of financial problems and took the federal bailout money for plugging holes instead of a long-term fix. As a result, with no changes in the system, there will be mysterious bankers and creditors handling city finances after bankruptcy.<br /><br />Would you rather the local fire department get disbanded by a NY banker who wants to save costs? Makes sense to me to have a financial manager appointed by the government which was chosen by the people handling those issues.<br /><br />And the goal of this legislation is to get people to the table BEFORE they need an EFM. The goal is that communities will fix their financial woes AT THE ROOT on their own. They've been reluctant to so far because it's always been expected that the state will stay away but just send more money.<br /><br />That's not a fix. That's a band aid. It's been the process used the last 8 years, and we're in a bad position because of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com