Michigan

marmar

(77,081 posts) Mon Apr 1, 2013, 11:13 AM Apr 2013

The Real Stolen Government: A bloodless coup has taken place in this state

from the Metro Times:

The Real Stolen Government
A bloodless coup has taken place in this state

By Jack Lessenberry
Published: March 27, 2013

Detroit now has an emergency manager, and there’s a lot of rumbling that, as a result, government has been stolen, and democracy has died. Greg Bowens, for example, had an eloquent column arguing that in the Free Press last Sunday.

“A bloodless coup of the largest democratically elected government in our state has occurred,” he began.

Well, let’s leave aside, for now, the question of whether an emergency manager here was legal or necessary. Regardless of that, here’s the elephant we are all missing. Forget Detroit: A bloodless coup has taken place in this state, at a far higher level: state government itself.

Fanatic right-wingers first gerrymandered the Legislature to make sure that it would always elect a majority of Republicans, even if — as happened last fall — more citizens voted for Democratic candidates. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://metrotimes.com/news/politics-and-prejudices/the-real-stolen-government-1.1463705

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The Real Stolen Government: A bloodless coup has taken place in this state (Original Post) marmar Apr 2013 OP

Amen to that. I used to love Michigan and now I hate it. I am stuck because my catbyte Apr 2013 #1

Second that hope Demeter Apr 2013 #2

There are no more jobs here b/c of Snyder and his Legislative Brown shirts. MichiganVote Apr 2013 #3

You know, I never thought I would see a worse governor than John Engler. catbyte Apr 2013 #4

At least with Engler, a.k.a. Gov. Big Turd.... maddogesq Apr 2013 #5

Snyder is a Kochead. And what's with the no necktie thing? Like he's a host at Denny's or something. MichiganVote Apr 2013 #6

Detroit's biggest problem was the "at large" city council Lefty48197 Jul 2013 #7

catbyte

(34,403 posts)

1. Amen to that. I used to love Michigan and now I hate it. I am stuck because my

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Apr 1, 2013, 11:33 AM

Apr 2013

husband is much too ill to leave. My heart breaks every day. I hope there are enough fed up people in like me in 2014.

Demeter

(85,373 posts)

2. Second that hope

Reply to catbyte (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 1, 2013, 12:00 PM

Apr 2013

They couldn't have done it legally...so they didn't.

It can be fixed...but we have to work at it. This is my home, and they're gonna have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

MichiganVote

(21,086 posts)

3. There are no more jobs here b/c of Snyder and his Legislative Brown shirts.

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Mon Apr 1, 2013, 08:12 PM

Apr 2013

All they've done is lie to citizens in this state. They tell lie on top of lie and nobody calls it what it is. Total bullshit.

catbyte

(34,403 posts)

4. You know, I never thought I would see a worse governor than John Engler.

Reply to MichiganVote (Reply #3)

Mon Apr 1, 2013, 10:20 PM

Apr 2013

Tragically I was wrong.

maddogesq

(1,245 posts)

5. At least with Engler, a.k.a. Gov. Big Turd....

Reply to catbyte (Reply #4)

Mon Apr 1, 2013, 11:42 PM

Apr 2013

most "informed" folks knew what they were getting.

Again, I warned about Snyder. Even if he was once really a "moderate," his coporate background made it easy to become drunk with power once he realized how lopsided things were because of gerrymandering.

Sooner or later voters need to figure out that success in business should not always be a reason to vote for someone. Too many uninformed voters in this state were really foooled by Tricky Ricky, and our state will never be the same...in my lifetime anyway.

For my part, I will volunteer around election time and take part in local government where I can. That's where change starts.

MichiganVote

(21,086 posts)

6. Snyder is a Kochead. And what's with the no necktie thing? Like he's a host at Denny's or something.

Reply to maddogesq (Reply #5)

Tue Apr 2, 2013, 04:14 PM

Apr 2013

Lefty48197

(11,147 posts)

7. Detroit's biggest problem was the "at large" city council

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Jul 31, 2013, 02:39 AM

Jul 2013

The city council was elected "at large". i.e. they didnt' represent any specific district within Detroit. The elections were merely a popularity contest or a test of name recognition. The candidates simply ran as "Detroiters", instead of representing the citizens of specific neighborhoods and regions within the city. What the city needed for many years was to have their council members live in and represent specific wards. Detroiters recently voted to change to a ward style system which will be in effect from now on.

Reply to this discussion