see EDITORIAL page 7

Editorial

Where you want to be. July-August 2014

LeftoftheLinenewsmagazinehashammeredoutaconsistentmes-sageoverourinauguraltwoissues.Werepeatithereinourthird,andwithemphasis: VOTEORLOSE. AndifliberalsandprogressivesalmostallofwhomareDemocratsDONTvotethisfall,theyllLOSEoneofthebestfriendstheyveeverhadintheMichiganHouseofRepresenta-tives. Youknowwhomweretalkingabout:STATEREP.COLLENELAMONTE,D-91st,rep-resentingallthegoodpeopleofMuskegonCountyoutsidethecentralmetropolitanarea.However,the91stincludesthecitiesofWhitehallandMontague,NortonShoresandRoos-eveltPark,hometoplentyofgoodDemocratsandunionmembers. Weknowtheright-wingRe-publicannoisemachine,well-oiledwithcoolcashbybillionairesugardaddiesliketheKochBrothers(whohategovernmentsinterferenceintheirendlessschemeswillsoonkickintotrytoportrayLamonteasanineffectivefirst-termer. ThatswhattheGOPdoeswhenitfacesrealoppositionitlies,itdis-sembles,itobscuresandittrivializesthegreatmenandwomeningovern-mentwhotrulyservethepeoplesobewarewhenthemudbucketcomesoutandthedirtyhandsoftheright-wingspinmeistersstarthurlingwhattheyrewell-paidtofling. Thebare-facedomissioninalltheirspinningisthatColleneLamon-tecanonlyaccomplishwhattheGOPmajorityintheHouseallowshertoachieve,andpoliticalachievementin

ourrepresentativedemocracyisab-solutelydependentonmajorityrule. SowhathaveRepublicansman-agedtoachieveduringtheirgrosslymismanagedreignoflegislative,gubernatorialandjudicialmajori-tiesmajoritiestheyhaveheld,withonlyafewnotableexceptionsinonebranchoftheLegislatureandforaverybriefspellonthestateSupremeCourtalamentableTHREEDE-CADESofGOPmisrule? Lookaroundyou,friends,andwhatdoyousee? lOurpublicschoolsystemsarefightingtosur-viveinthefaceofright-wingdeterminationtoruinthesebelovedinstitu-tionsoflearn-ing. lOurroadsarecrumblingbeforeoureyes,andwhatistheRepublicansolutiontorais-ingmoneytopayfortheirdesper-atelyneededrepair?Youguessedit,increasetaxesonworkingpeopleratherthancorporationsorasanehikeinfueltaxesthatwouldhittheverypeopleruiningourroads! lLastissue,Left of the Linenewsmagazineexposedthefraudulentbills,passedoverDemocraticnayvoteslikeColleneLamontes,thatwouldmakeiteasierfortheoilandgastruststopourpoisonintoMichi-ganslandtofrackoutwhatremains

ofthefossilfuelswithintheearth. lThecostsfortheseRepubli-can-inspiredbillswillbeafurtherdegradedenvironment,befouledwaterandapotentialforfreakishearthquakesanddamagetothebed-rock.Yetraisetaxesontheserobberbarons?UnthinkableforGov.Snyderandhisfat-catcronies! lTeachers,anoblecallingofthemostrespectedprofessionalstand-ing,havebeenmarginalized,even

ridiculedbytheright-wingers,whohaveoverthedecadesrobbedthemofwhatlittlene-gotiatingpowertheyoncehad.lUnionshavebeendemonized,andSnyder,asdidBigJohnEnglerbeforehim,hastriedtodestroythisworking-mansfriendbycuttingintotheirabilitytoorga-nizeandraise

money.Unions,whichhavegivenordinarypeopledecentwagesandbenefitsandsafeworkingconditions,aretheenemytotheGOPscorpo-ratemasters.Letthemdenyit. lPensions?Why,thosekindsofworkerbenefits,thatallowordinarypeopletoretirewithdignityandcomfort,areconsideredancienthis-torytotheRepublicanParty,anach-ronismsthatshouldneverhavebeenbargainedawaybyownersinthefirst

As We See ItDont lose Lamonte in critical 91st District

Collene Lamonte

Mission Statement Americawasfoundedonliberalprinciplesandprogressiveideas,andLeftoftheLineisdedicatedtodefendingbothgoingforward.

Left of the Line Left of the Lineisafreebimonth-lyInternetnewsmagazineofferingprogressiveandliberalviewstoresidentsofMichigans2ndCon-gressionalDistrict.ThenewsletterispublishedbyLeftoftheLineLLC,aprivatelyheldcompanynotaffili-atedwithanypoliticalparty,politi-calactiongroupororganization.

Officers

DavidKolbCo-Publisher,Co-Editor

TerryJuddCo-Publisher,Co-editor

MichaelWalshResidentAgent/Attorney

Contact Information

LeftoftheLinePOBox1710

Muskegon,MI49440

leftofthelinellc@gmail.com

Letters Policy Left of the Linewelcomesyourletters,aslongastheyareverifi-ablebyus.Wewillprintyournameandcity,anecessitybecausewebelievethatinourdemocracynooneshouldfearspeakingoutin

public,andthatyourcredibilityandcourageasaletter-writershouldberecognizedbyyourneighbors. Lettersshouldbesuccinct,leg-ible,courteousandstaywithintheframeworkofasingletopic.Re-member,therewillbeanotherissueofournewsmagazine,andyouwillbeabletowriteagain. LetterscanbesubmittedthroughthewonderfuleffortsofourunionizedfriendsoftheUnitedStatesPostalServicebywriting:

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Made in the U.S.A.

2

Still Ringing TrueIhadalwayshopedthatthislandmightbecomeasafeandagreeableasylumtothevirtuousandthepersecutedpartofmankind,towhatevernationtheymightbelong.George Washington

Vol. I No. IIIJuly-August 2014

Progressiveviewsforthe2ndCongressionalDistrict

3Republicans only good at blaming others

IsimplycantbelieveSenateRepublicansignoreDemocratsforfoursolidyears,then,insteadofbeingaccountabletothecitizensofthisstateabouttheshamefulstateofMichigansroads,theyblameDemocrats. SenateRepublicanshavepassedonepieceofterriblelegis-lationafterthenext-withzerovotesfromtheDems.Now-whenMichi-ganiansaresickofpotholesandblowntiresandwanttheirroadsfixed,itisthefaultoftheDemsthattheRepublicanswontfixit?Really? TheRsareincompletechargeofeverysinglebranchofstategov-ernmentanditssomehowthefaultoftheDemsthattheywontfixtheroads?Unbelievable. HereishowRepublicanLeaderRandyRichardvilleisnowattempt-ingtoblametheDems:MostSenateRepublicanshaveworkedhardtoprioritizespend-inganddirecttaxpayerdollarsto

taxpayerpriorities,andwehavedonesowithoutthesupportofourcolleaguesontheothersideoftheaisle.Democratshaveofferedonlycriticisminsteadofworkingtowardasolution,accordingtoRichard-ville. Ihavenewsforyou,Randy.TheRshavebeendoinganythingandeverythingtheywanttoforthepastfouryears,neverlisteningtoDemsforevenhalfasecond.Now,be-causetheRepublicansrefusetofixtheroads,itissuddenlythefaultoftheDems?Thisisunbelievable!Theproblem:theywillneverraisetaxesontheirrichbuddies,onlyontheworkingpoorandmiddleclass.TheycanonlydothatAFTERanelection,neverBEFORE.Sotheywillwaittillameduck.Aftertheyaresafelyre-elected,thenraisethegastax-Iwishvotershadalongermemory.

MaryValentineNortonShores

(Editorsnote:MaryValentineis

aregularcontributortoLeftoftheline,aformerdistinguisheddemo-craticstaterepresentative,andnowanauthor.Hernewbook,CitizenMary,hasjustbeenprinted.)

Unitarians rose to the challenge!

Ohgolly!Ihatetocriticizeany-thingaboutthiswonderfulpublica-tion.However RogerRapoportsotherwisegreatarticleinLeftoftheLine(May-Juneissue)aboutthemarriag-esperformedherewasinaccurate.NancyWaters(mayshebeforeverblessed)didnotthrowopenthecourthousedoorstoissuelicensesforsamegendermarriages. Shetriedherownchurch,andatleastonemore,beforesheranintoaUnitarianUniversalistwhotoldherthatwewouldbehappytohosther.Thememberssetuptables,broughtflowersandrefreshments,andsupportedNancyineverywaytheycould. ItwastheRev.BillFreeman,UCCminister,currentlyserv-ingHarborUUinMuskegonwhoperformedthemarriages,withtheassistanceofsomefriends. Comeonguys!Liberalreli-gionistssupportyou!Dontshort-changeus!

NanaKratochvilMinisterEmeritaHarborUUCongregationMuskegon

Letters

see LETTERS page 16

2ndcongressional district Counties: Lake,Oceana,Newaygo,Muskegon,OttawaandportionsofAllegan,KentandMason. Cities: Fremont,GrandHaven,Grandville,Holland,Hudsonville,Jenison,Kent-wood,Muskegon,MuskegonHeights,NortonShores,WalkerandWyoming.

David KolbThe Outside

4

see OUTSIDE page 5

By David KolbLeft of the Line ShortlyafterourlastissueofLeftoftheLineappeared,thevotersofhisVirginiacongressionaldistrictdisposedofthatextra-nastypieceofwork,EricCantor. Thenutsandright-winggoof-ballswhomakeuptheradicalrightoftheRepublicanPartythatnowcon-trolsitsverysoulhadhadenoughoftheweasel-likeformerHouseMajor-ityLeader. Slick,slimyCantorwastoolib-eralforthem. Ipredictedthislongagothescenariowheretherightultimatelydestroysitsownpartyfromwithin.WasIconcerned?Frightened?Terri-fied? Notatall.Iveseeneveryblack-and-whiteUniversalPicturesFran-kensteinmovieevermade.Iknewhowthisonewouldultimatelyend:Badlyforthemonster,Imafraid. ButImableedingheartliberalwatchingthoseoldflicks.SoeverytimepoorFrankensteinsmonstergoesupinflameslikeagiantcamp-firemarshmallow,Igetalittlecatchinmythroat.Sob. Andyet,inspiteofallthedam-age,ruinationandhorrorhescaused,Iknowitsreallynotthemonstersfaultthevillagersallbandedto-getherandthrewhimintotheravine10,000feetbelow. Becauseitaintthelate,greatBo-risKarloffburiedunder35poundsofgreenishrubbermaskandmake-upwhoreallyangersthem. ItsDr.Frankensteintheyhate.Hestheonewhohadnobusiness

creatingthemonsteroutofdeadbodypartsinthefirstplace. Eventhemonsterhatesthedoc-tor. LeavingasideashortdiscussionaboutFreudandfathers,IdliketosayatthispointthatImnotgoingtobesheddinganycrocodiletearsinthiscolumnoverthecivilwarbetweenmonsteranddoctornowconsumingthepatheticcarcassoftheRepublicanParty. SomemightbeaghastthatIdontcarewhowinsthatfight. SomemightevenappealtomethathereiswhereIshouldputonmygoodcitizencivicshatandappealtoalltherealpatriotsouttherethattheloomingimmolationofthe RepublicanPartycausedbyrampantteapartyvictoriesalloverAmericathreatensomevitalpartofthefabricthatholdsthisnationtogether. ButIcantdothat. ThetruthisImrootingforthemonster,andIdontgiveafigwhathappenstotheRepublicanPartyasitiseatenalivebyitsownteapartyFrankensteinsmonster. Yousee,anyonewhoisaregularreaderofthiscolumn,onbothsidesofthepoliticalaisle,knowsIhave

beenanunrelentingcriticofcontem-poraryRepublicansandRepublicanpolicy. Iblamethesepoliticalquacks,fundedbyU.S.SupremeCourt-ap-provedgazillionsfromtheirregula-tion-hatingcorporateelitepals,forthelionsshareofAmericasongoingsocietal,economicandinstitutionalcrisis. Iwontrehashthefacts;theyreasplainasthehumponacamelsback,irrefutable.Anyonewithanopenmindcanseethetruth,namely,thatinordertopushtheirultra-conservativeagenda,acalculationwasmadetoexploittheworstfearsanddivisionsamongus. YoucanfollowthisdisgustingstoryallthewaybacktothedaysofRichardNixonsbestdirtytricksboyPatBuchanan. ThisledustoLeeAtwaterandtheGOPsracistSouthernStrategyandhencetothegreatdeceiverhimself,KarlRoveandhisdearfriendDickArmey,themastermindoftheteaparty(althoughdontblabthataroundbecausetheteapartiersarentsupposedtoknowwhospull-ingtheirstrings). Thatsomanycitizens,theirmindspoisonedbytheunrelentingliesoftheright-wingdominatedmajormedia,havebeenshovedcoweringundertheirbedseverynightbythepurveyorsof24/7Fearspeakstothesuccessofthesereprehensibletac-tics. ThattheselumpsofquiveringflesharesoothedtosleepwithfairytalesaboutVoodooEconomicsandRonaldReagansGhostnottomen-tionamillionandonelunaticcon-spiracytheories,alsoconfirmstomehowfarthethresholdhasfallenforcommonsenseinourcountrytoday. Thatsnotthebadpart,though.Forthat,youhavetoimaginethebro-kenchainsandbustedrestraintsinDr.GOPerFrankensteinslaboratory,fromwheretheteapartymonsterhasescaped. Frankensteinsmonster,theulti-matecreationofmodern-eraRepub-licansvile,sordidandunderhandedhistory,nowroamstheland,lookingforvictims,amusinglynowamong

A monster is on the loosein the right-wing village

The Monster

David Kolb is a reporter, edito-rial writer, columnist and author. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Interna-tional Herald Tribune, the Daily Kos and many other publications and media outlets. Kolbs journalism has earned numerous first-place awards from the Associated Press, Michi-gan Press Association, United Press International and the American Legion. A World War Chronicle, a collection of Kolbs editorials about World War II, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Kolb is publisher and editor of Left of the Line news maga-zine.

5

OUTSIDE from page 4themEricCantor,Dr.RoveandanassortmentofPartyofNobigshotsintheSenateandtheHouse,whohaveeitherbeenknockedofforhumili-ated. Youdonthavetolookanywherefurthertoseewherethisbeasthasbeenthanthetriumphsofsomeoftheworstcandidatesforofficeweveseeninrecenttimes,peoplewhoareclearlyunfittoholdpublicoffice,letalonehigheroffice. Onegoofycandidatewhowonadherestoananti-evolutionplatform,railsagainstmasturbationandthinksthevicepresidentoftheUnitedStatestappedherphoneline. Another,thegovernorofanimportantstate,madeanidiotoutofherselfinadebatewithheroppo-nent,andthenrefusedtodebatehimagain. AsenatorialcandidatereallybelievestheCongresshadnobusi-nesspassingcivilrightslegislation.AnotherthinksrapeisGodspunish-ment.

TeaPartycandidates,winnersandlosers,actuallybelieveourpresidentisaMuslim,oraKenyan,orboth!TheypreachtheirlovefortheCon-stitution,butwanttorepealoramendmuchofit. Theyhategovernment,buttheybark likemaddogsiftheydontgettheirSocialSecuritychecksorMedicarebenefits. Inshort,theteapartycandidates,createdwithsuchlovingcareinthevariousGOP,RupertMurdoch,SarahPalinandHateRadiolaboratories,arerunningamok. Thewildthingistheydontreallycarewhotheytakeout:Republican,Democrat,itdoesntmatter. Weveseensure-thingRepubli-canseatsdemolishedbyteapartierscheeringforwhat,theydontevenknow.Theverymonsterthemaddoc-torshavebuiltiscomingafterthem!EricCantorwasjustthelatestvictim.Well,thatsthewayitis,becausemonstersalwaysgotoofarandbreakstuffandhurtpeople. SointheRepublicanteapartysagawehavealltheingredientsfor

theperfectFrankensteinmovie: lDoctorcreatesmonster. lDoctorandIgorterrorizemon-ster. lMonstergetslooseandterror-izesthevillage. lMonstergoesafterdoctor. lPassthepopcorn. lVillagersgoafterthemonster. Icantwaitforthelastpart.

By Michael G. WalshLeft of the Line Criminaldefenseofthepoorcontinuestobeavex-ingproblemforthestate,andGov.RickSnydersaysheisreinventingasolutionbyappointinga15-membercom-mittee.Ofthose,10appearnottohaveanyactualexperi-encedefendingtheindigentandinfactmostspenttheircareerspolicingandprosecutingthem.ThroughtheJune2014appointmentsthiscommissionistocompileinformation,createstandardsanddeveloprequirementsforthoseallegingindigencetoreceiveapublicdefender.Eachmemberappearstobeaccomplished,ethical,andprofessional,butthemajoritydontbringmuchintermsofactuallyhavingrepresentedthepoorandknow-ingtheshortfallsofthestatesfailingindigentdefensesystems.Heresasamplingofmemberswithgreatcredentials,butapparentnoindigent-defenseexperience: 1.JonCampbellisaretiredcareerpoliceofficernowanAlleganCountycommissioner.Hewillrepresentlocalunitsofgovernment. 2.DavidSchuringa,ofGrandville,ispresidentoftheCrossroadBibleInstitute. 3.RichardLindsey,ofMarshall,isthecorporatecoun-selofCalhounCountywhereherepresentstheboardofcommissioners,countyelectedofficialsandallboardsandcommissionsassociatedwiththecounty. 4.ShelaMotley,ofOkemos,previouslyworkedinvariouscapacitieswiththestateofMichigan,mostre-centlyasaspecialagentwiththeMichiganDepartmentofAttorneyGeneral. 5.MichaelPuerner,ofAda,isthevicepresident,sec-retary,andgeneralcounselofHastingsMutualInsurance.HewillrepresentmemberssubmittedbytheSenateMajorityLeader. 6.CletusSmith,ofAdrian,isaLenaweeCountycom-missioner,andretiredafteranextensivecareerinlawenforcement. 7.ThomasBoyd,ofOkemos,ischiefjudgeofthe55thDistrictCourt.Hepreviouslyservedasanassistantattor-neygeneral. 8.NancyDiehl,ofDetroit,retiredfromtheWayneCountyProsecutorsOfficein2009. 9.JimFisher,ofHastings,willchairthecommission.Heisanattorney;hisprimarypracticeareasarearbitra-

tionandmediation. 10.GaryWalker,ofMarquette,isthesupervisorofChocolayTownshipandpreviouslyservedasthepros-ecutingattorneyforMarquetteCountyformorethan35years. Herearetheotherswithworkexperiencemoreclearlyrelatedtotheproblem: 1.KevinOeffner,ofHowell,isthecourtadministratorforthe6thJudicialCircuitCourt. 2.FrankEaman,ofHuntingtonWoods,isanex-officiomemberoftheCriminalDefenseAttorneysofMichiganboard. 3.BrandyRobinson,ofDetroit,isaresearchandwritingspecialistwiththeLegalAid&DefenderFederalDefenderOffice. 4.WilliamSwor,ofGrossePointeWoods,isanattor-neywhohaspracticedfederalcriminalandimmigrationlawformorethan40years.HeisontheboardofdirectorsoftheCriminalDefenseAttorneysofMichigan. 5.KimberlyThomas,ofAnnArbor,isaclinicalpro-fessoroflawatUniversityofMichigan,specializingincriminallawandpractice. Clearly,thepresentmake-upofthispanelisbeyonddefending.

Michael G. Walsh is senior partner of Michael G. Walsh & Associates, PLC, 8 Walton, Muskegon, a general practice of law that primarily involves trial practice for criminal, family, and probate matters throughout West Michigan. Because of the probate interest, Michael also is involved in wills, trusts and other estate-planning devices. This often ties in with post-divorce planning. Michaels entire career has been involved with legal matters - as an investigative journalist in Chicago and West Michigan, as an assistant prosecutor, and in private practice. His record speaks for itself a belief in hard work, digging for answers, and the relentless pursuit of whats right. His education came at Quincy University (BA), the Uni-versity of Oklahoma (MA), and Cooley Law School (JD), and Michael has attended numerous seminars such as a Knight Fellowship at the University of Maryland and a National Security Seminar at the U.S. Army War College. Michael is married to Pat, a high school teacher, and the couple has five adult children. The author is the resident agent for Left of the Line, LLC.

Poor choicesWhere are the defenders on Snyders panel?

Each member appears to be accomplished, ethical, and professional, but the majority dont bring much in terms of actually having represented the poor and knowing the shortfalls of the states failing indigent defense systems.

6

place. lAndifyoureluckyenoughtostillhaveapension,TheNerdandhispalshavelockedontothat,too,withanicefriendlytaxbiteTHEYENACTEDINTOLAWthatstealsthewealthYOUaccumulatedduringyourprimeworkingyears. Inthefaceofthisriptideofshameandoutragestandlegisla-torslikeColleneLamonte,whoaretryingtosalvagewhatspossibleinastatewhereREPUBLICANSCON-TROLEVERYTHING. AndLamontehasdoneamas-terfuljob. ShehasstoodtallforMedicaidexpansion,whichensuresthatourpoorestresidentsobtaindecentmedicalcare. Collenehasbeeninthefrontlinesforseniors,evenwhentheforcesofteapartygreedhaveover-runallcommonsense,suchaswhenshevotedagainsttheGOPsviciousschemetoputtelephonelandlineserviceinjeopardyaserviceolderMichiganiansrelyonandabsolutelyneedfortheirsafetyandsenseofwell-being. Manyseniorsrelyonlandlinestocallforhelpandtousewithheartmonitorsandothermedicalde-vicesthatonlyworkwithlandlines;thisbillcompromisestheirsafety,

Lamontesaid.ThereisnoneedtorushlegislationthroughthatputsmillionsofMichigandersatriskjusttosatisfythephonecompanies.Publicsafetymustcomefirst. Guesswhat?ItpassedwithALLRepublicanvotes.ThisisthefaceoftheGOP,folks! WherewastheGrandOldPartywhenitcametohelpingprotectthelivesofloneserviceindustrywork-ers,likeJessicaHeeringa,abductedfromaNortonShoresgasolinesta-tionandstillmissingtothehorrorofherfamilyandfriends? Collenedraftedabillthatbe-cameknownasJessicasLawtoMANDATEthatownersinstallwork-ingsecuritycamerasintheirstoressothatpolicewontbeginblindinanynewabductionormurdercasenextcommittedintheseverypublicplaces. Guesswhat?OnesingleRepub-licannotfromour2ndCongressio-nalDistrictsignedontoCollenesbill,meaningitisdead,thankstothem,becausewithoutamajoritybehindit,legislationcannotescapecommitteeinLansing. Rep.LamonteofMontagueekedoutanarrowvictoryin2012towinherfirsttermintheMichiganHouse. Sheisbravelyseekingtode-fendthatseatinNovemberagainstanarch-enemyofjustaboutev-

erythingprogressivesandliberalsstandfor-HollyHughes,thelikelyRepublicancandidate. The91stisaswingdistrict,meaningthroughoutitshistoryvic-torycanbelongtoeitherparty.SoVOTERTURNOUTwillbecritical.WeenthusiasticallyENDORSESTATEREP.COLLENELAMONTEforasecondterm. Sheisagreatlegislativerep-resentative.Shecaresaboutherconstituents.Shedeliversforthemwhentheyneedherhelp.Shereportsbacktothepeopleonaregularbasis. AndColleneisagreatperson,withawonderfulfamilyanddeepMuskegonCountyroots. DontlettheRepublicanswinbackthisseat!Theyaretargetingwithallthepowerandmoneyattheircommand,whichisconsider-able.ButYOURVOTEtrumpsalltheirmoneybags. Thebalanceofpowerbeingwhatitiscurrently,ifthe91stgoesred,theentireMichiganHouseofRepresentativeswillbelosttotheGoodGuysforatleasttwoyears,andtheRepublicanswillhavenocheckswhatsoevertoinhibittheirschemesandplotting. VOTETHISFALLTORE-ELECTDEMOCRATCOLLENELAMONTEinStateHouseDistrict91.

EDITORIAL from page 1

EncouragingregularcitizenstoengageinthepoliticalprocessisoneoftheoutcomesMaryValentinehopestoachievewiththepublica-tionofherrecentbook,CitizenMary,APoliticalMemoir. Valentine,whoranforstaterepresentativeafterretiringfromherpositionasaspeechpathologistatReeths-PufferSchoolsin2006,servedinthelegislaturefrom20072010. Thebookoutlinesherdecisiontojumpfromtheobscurityofaspeechpathologistinthepublicschoolstooneofthemosthotly-contestedlegisla-tiveracesinthestate. Valentinehopesherbookwillserveasaspringboardtoencourageeverydaycitizens,particularlywomen,to

engageinthepoliticalarena,includingrunningforoffice.Presently,outof38Michiganstatesenators,onlyfourarewomen,whilelessthan25percentofMichigansHousemembersarewomen. Alegislaturemustreflectitsconstituencytobetrulyeffective,saidValentine,andMichigansisclearlyoutofbalance.ThatswhyIencouragecitizenstoengageinthepoliticalprocess,includingrunningforoffice. Localaward-winningauthorMargaretWilleysaidVal-entinesbookisfilledwiththecandorandgritshewasknownforwhileservinginthestatehouseforthepeopleofMichigans91stDistrict. ValentinesbookisavailableatDemocraticPartymeetingsthroughSeptemberandisalsoavailableattheBookmaninGrandHaven,theBookNookandJavaShopinMontague,andtheUnityChurchofMuskegonbookstore.InterestedpartiescanalsocontactValentinedirectly.

Book encourages women to engage in the political arena

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By Eric C. Grimm Iamaliberalforthreereasons.First,tobeabitbluntaboutit,ourpointofviewismorallybetterthantheleadingalternative.Second,policiesbasedonliberalprinciplesdeliverbetterresultsthanpoliciesbasedonideologiesofourpoliticalcompetitors.AndthirdthisisperhapsasubjectforanotheressayIhaveseentheothersideinactionfromcloseathand.Theotherside,ifyoucarefullywatchtheminaction,turnsouttomakethemostpersuasivecasethereis,forsupportofourcandi-dates,andadvocacyofourvalues. Startingwiththethirdpoint,Ivepreviouslybeenpaidtoworkforthethen-ChairoftheNationalRepublicanCongressionalCommittee.Separately,intheearly1990s,IwashiredforanotherjobbyanofficialwholaterbecametheChairoftheNationalRepublicanSenatorialCommitteefrom2009-2013. Ivebeenwatchingthecompetingpartyinactionsinceatleastthemid1980s,andpayingcloseattentiontothedifferencebetweentheirslogansandpublicrelations,ontheonehand,andtheiractualbehaviorandpolicies,ontheother.Tomymind,theresnothingquitesoeffectivetoproducealifelongcommitmenttoliberalvalues,astowatchcloselyandwithwell-informeddiscernment,exactlyhowthesausagemakesitswaythroughtheRepublicanmachine. Turningnexttoliberalvalues,IsupposeitmakessensetobeclearwhatImeanbyliberal,andtodistin-guishliberalinthevernacularsense,fromclassicallib-eralism.Classicalliberalismisassociatedwithindividu-alismandlaissezfaireeconomictheories,andhasbeenforce-fedbytheIMF,theWorldBank,andwell-meaningdisciplesofMiltonFriedmanandFriedrichHayektoeconomiesaroundtheworld.Thatisnotmypointofview.Liberal,inourcountry,meanssomethingmorelikewhatEuropeanswouldcallSocialDemocracy. Nodoubt,theothersidewillemphasizethisyearthatthisyearselectionisaboutmoralvaluesandprinciples.

Andtheyareright,inasense;thisyearselectionisallaboutmoralchoices.Wheretheygowrongiswhentheytrytoclaimtheyoccupythemoralhighground.Inreal-ity,liberalshavethebettercasetomakeonthatscore. Self-identifiedconservativesandLibertariansoftenpresentpoliticsasafalseandmisleadingchoicebetweenanextreme,polarversionoflaissez-fairecapitalism,andanequallypolartotalitarianalternativeinvolvingcentralplanningofeverythingbythegovernment.EitherweliveinNorthKorea,orreturntotherobberbaroneraofthe1880s;thereisnoin-between,intheirrhetoric. Bothextremesareundesirable,andinanimportant

sense,immoral. Whatweliberalsactuallyadvo-cate,instead,isacommon-sensemid-dleway,betweenthetwoextremes,inwhichtheroleofthegovernmentistodowhatitdoesbest,andthemarketalsoistoplayitsownimportant,in-dispensable,role.Itisaboutbalanceandreason,notideology.Wemakepragmaticcompromisesabouthowtobalancepoliticalformsofcooperation(government)andmarketformsof

cooperation,toenhancethefreedomandopportunityofallnotjustatinyelitetomaintainasustainableworld,andtodeliverthegreatestbenefittothegreatestnumber. Thereisnoreasontorunfrightenedfrompeoplewhoclaim,mistakenly,thatthegovernmentcannotdoany-thingright,andwho,uponbeingelected,neverceaseintheirdeterminationtoturntheirideologyandhatredofgovernmentintofailedpolicy.Whenweengage,ratherthanrunningawayfromourownvalues,wewinandtheylosebecausetheyarewrong. Inthelastpartofthe19thcentury,manypeoplereal-izedthatunfetteredfreeenterprisecapitalismresultsingreatevilcorruptionandcaptureofgovernmentbyeconomicelites,vastsocialinequalityandhorrificexploi-tationoflabor,opportunisticwarsofimperialexpansion,

To my mind, theres nothing quite so effective to produce a lifelong commitment to liberal values, as to watch closely and with well-informed discernment, exactly how the sausage makes its way through the Republican machine. Eric C. Grimm

Liberals advocate in a common-sense middle way

see GRIMM page 98

pollutionanddamagetothenaturalenvironment,andmanyothersocialills.Andthepeoplewhorecognizedtheproblemsetaboutdoingsomethingaboutit.Andtheysucceeded. Despiteconcertedeffortssince1968,andespeciallysince1980,torollbackprogress,todaywestillenjoysomeofthefruitsofliberalsandprogressivessuccess. Whatdoweenjoytodayasaresultofthateffort?Well,startbyturningonthewatertapinyourhomeorflushingatoilet.Municipalwaterdidnotjusthappenbyaccident,andthisbenefitofcollectiveactionbygovern-mentjustworkssowell,thatsomepeopletodaysimplytakeitforgranted.Likewise,publiclyownedtreatmentworksinmodernindustrialcountrieshavedeliveredanenormous,incalculable,publichealthbenefit. Wedidnothavesuchsystemswhenthiscountrywasfounded,orforquitesometimeafterward;theconstruc-tionandcontinuedsuccessfuloperationofsuchsystems,todayinvolvesalllevelsofgovernmentlocal,stateandfederal. Whenlookingahead20years,neverforgetthatthepeoplewhofundtheMacki-nacCenterareinflu-encedbythesamerigidideologyandthesamehatredofallthingsgovernmentorcollectivethatledKennethLayandEnrontoturnprivatizationofwatersystemsintoabusinessmodel.Itoughttobenomysterytoanyonethateffortstoprivatizeschools,cor-rectionalfacilities,andothergovernmentfunctions,arejustthestart. Roadsandbridgesaresomethingthegovernmentatleasthistoricallyhasdoneright,andwereallyoughttobedoingmuchbetteragaininMichigan.Thisisnotanissuethatshouldbecomeapriorityonlyinelec-tionyears.WhenyougotothepollsthisNovember,onequestiontoaskyourselfiswhetheryourroadsarebetternow,aftermorethanfouryearsofone-partycaptureofallbranchesofstategovernment,thantheywerewhenRickSnyderorourlocalstatesenator,tookoffice. Thirty-sixothercountriesincludingeveryotherleadingindustrialdemocracyatlowercost,deliverbet-terhealthcareoutcomesthantheUnitedStates,duetotherecognitionthatgovernmentmethodsofcooperationsometimescandeliverbetterandmoreeffectivepracti-calperformance,thanprivatemarketmeansofcoopera-tion. UniversalpubliceducationwassoimportanttoAmer-icasfounders,thatinthispartofthecountry,theylaidthegroundworkforitintheNorthwestOrdinanceof1787.Butitreallytookthepoliticalreformsoftheprogressiveera,inthelate19thandearly20thcentury,todoaway

withchildlaborindreadfulsweatshopfactoriesoronsharecroppingplantations,andtomakeuniversaleduca-tionmandatory. Universalpubliceducation;universalhealthcare;publichealth;publicsanitation;ruralelectrification;sup-portforbasicscientificresearch;supportforevidence-basedandrationalpolicymaking;civilrights;equalrightsforwomenincludingreproductiveself-determination;mostrecently,marriageequality.Thelistcouldgoon.Liberalshavebothamoralandpracticalcasetomakethatourvaluesarebetterandwedeliverbetterresultsintherealworld. Thereisstillmuchtobedone,especiallythroughtheeducationsystem,toensuretrulyequalopportunityforeveryonesothatanystudentineventhemosttrou-bledschooldistrict,canhavethesamechancetobe-comethenextDickDeVos,asDeVossownrelatives.AskyourselfandanswerhonestlydidtheUnitedStatesbecametheworldsleadingsuperpowerduringthe20thcentury,becauseofeconomicinequalityresultingfrom

laissez-fairepoliciesinthe1880s,orduetoprogressivereforms,includinginvestmentinpubliceducationandhighereducation? Weliveinaworldof7billionpeople;fartoomanyofthempres-entlyinabjectpoverty.Imagineifeverysingleoneofthemeverysingleoneofus,tobemoreaccuratecould,

throughconnectiontoglobalcommunicationsinfrastruc-tureandaccesstotheaccumulatedwrittenknowledgeofhumanity,achieve,produce,liveandflourishattheirownmaximumpotentialnotheldbackbydisease,educa-tionalinequality,discriminationagainstwomenorminori-ties,oranyotherobstaclestohumanprogress. Whatcouldweallachievetogetherinaworldinwhichopportunitytoexcelisnotdisproportionatelyreservedforwhatstillamounts,principally,toanhe-reditaryelite?Thechoicebetweentheconservativeworldviewandtheliberalworldviewisamoralone,andisstark.Whiletheybelieveintheradicalindividualismofthepowerfulandfavored,theirideologypresupposesperpetualandhereditaryinequalityofopportunity,andfundamentallydeniestheequalworthanddignityofeachperson. Conservativesliketomakethefalseandmisleadingargumentthattheyareallaboutpersonalresponsibility,whilesuggestingthatliberalsdonotsharethisvalue. Nonsense. Weallagreethatpersonalresponsibilityisanim-portantvalue.Liberalsjustalsorecognizethatthosewhohavebenefittedthemostfromtheopportunitiesoursoci-etyoffers,haveapersonalresponsibilityandmoralob-

GRIMM from page 8

When looking ahead 20 years, never forget that the people who fund the Mackinac Center are influenced by the same rigid ideology and the same hatred of all things government or collective that led Kenneth Lay and Enron to turn privatization of water systems into a business model. It ought to be no mystery to anyone that efforts to privatize schools, correctional facilities, and other government functions, are just the start.

see GRIMM page 199

By Dallas DeanLeft of the Line Whenapoliticianorapoliticalpartyhasslashedfundingforclassroomeducation,taxedtheelderly,cuttaxesfortherichandthewellconnected,failedtocreategoodpayingjobsandthelistcouldbecontinued,whatdothesehypocriteswanttotalkaboutwhenanelectionisnear? THEPOORAREWASTINGTAXDOLLARS!!! OnMay6,HouseBill5536wasintroducedbyReps.McMillin,Lori,Hooker,Lauwers,Daley,Goike,Johnson,Kelly,Genetski,Yonker,Muxlow,CalltonandHowrylak-Republicansall-attackingthoseonfoodassistanceandthecashassistance(FIP)program. McMillin,aRochesterHillsRepublican,wouldelimi-nateallcashassistanceforwelfarerecipientsandrequiredirectpaymenttolandlordsandchildcareprovidersregisteredwiththestate. McMillinsbillgoesontorequirethatBridgeCards,almosttotallyfundedwithfederaldollars,couldonlybeusedtobuycertainproductsasallowedbythedepart-ment(DHS)atstate-approvedgrocerystores. HeisquotedintheGrandRapidsPressstatingWewillknowthattaxpay-ersdollarsaregoingdirectlytowheretheyareneededmost.NODRUGS.NOFILETMIGION.NODESIGNERCLOTHING.Taxpayerwelfaredollarsonlyforthebasics. Onewhohasworkedwithandforthepoormustwon-derwhereheisgettinghisFACTS. Whoarehissourcesofinformation?Icannotcallitintelligence. HowmanydesignerdressesaresoldatGoodwill? Infact,howmuchmoneyisgoingtothe(FIP)recipi-ent? McMillinsowngovernorhasappointedtheheadoftheDHSwhocouldanswerthatquestion.TheDHSgreenbookshowsthatduringthemonthofMarch201489,808peopleobtainedFamilyIndependenceProgram(FIP)as-sistanceinthestateofMichiganatacostof$12,976,148. AccordingtotheUSCensusBureau,9,895,519peopleliveinMichigan. SotheTOTALnumberofpeoplegettingwelfarehelpunderFIPis0.9percent.Lessthan1percentofthepopu-lation! Ofthese,24,306wereadults,and65,502werechil-dren18andunder.Some36,814caseswerehandledinMarchof2014.Ofthose,2,928caseswereconsideredemergencyFIPandtheyreceived,fortheentiremonthofMarch,onaverage,about$10! TENDOLLARS! TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies(TANF)ispaidbyFederalFundsandreturnsfederaltaxdollarsto

ourstate. FamilyIndependenceProgramisfundedbystatedol-lars. Statewide,theaverageTANFcaseisoneadultand1.27childrenwhoreceived,onaverage,$344forthemonthofMarch. Totalfederalfundsputintoourstateseconomywas$9,752,602inthemonthofMarch.Totalfundingfortheyearexceeds$100,000,000. Statewide,theaverageFIPcasewasoneadultand1.45children,whoreceived$388forthemonthofMarch.Totalcosttothestatewas$1,925,667.ThestateFIPalsofundstwoparentcaseswhenoneparentorbotharedis-abled.Theaveragetwo-parentcaseistwoparentsand2.5children,whoreceived,onaverage,$518forthemonthofMarch. Gosh,howmanyDESIGNERCLOTHESwill$344-to-$518per-monthbuy? InourSecondCongressionalDistricthowmanypeopleareonTANFandFIPduringthemonthofMarch? HerearetheTANFstatistics.Readitandweep. AlleganCounty:TANF-176cases,82adultsand346childrenlivingon$356percase.FIPoneparent-21cases,10adultsand35childrenlivingon$330percase.Twoparent-sixcases,12adultsand10childrenlivingon$497percase. KentCounty:TANF-1,609cases,448adultsand3,292childrenlivingon$345percase.FIPoneparent-180

Republicans only want to humiliate the needy

President Johnson conducts a fact-finding trip in poverty stricken areas of the United States. Here he visits with the Fletcher family in Inez, Kentucky in 1964.

10

see NEEDY page 11

Commentary

11

cases,108adultsand274childrenlivingon$331percase.Twoparent-41cases,80adultsand118childrenlivingon$532percase. LakeCounty:TANF-34cases,11adultsand62chil-drenlivingon$336percase.FIPoneparent-sixcases,twoadultsandeightchildrenlivingon$268percase.FIPtwoparent-eightcases,14adultsand10childrenlivingon$430percase. MuskegonCounty:TANF-952cases,499adultsand1,512childrenlivingon$323percase.FIPoneparent-131cases,76adultsand213childrenlivingon$341percase.FIPtwoparent-60cases,118adultsand139chil-drenlivingon$503percase. NewaygoCounty:TANF-124cases,36adultsand215childrenlivingon$274percase.FIPoneparent-28cases,21adultsand42caseslivingon$379percase.FIPtwoparent-fourcases,eightadultsandninechildrenliv-ingon$534percase. OceanaCounty:TANF-66cases,30adultsand131childrenlivingon$359percase.FIPoneparent-11cas-es,threeadultsand18chil-drenlivingon$257percase.FIPtwoparent-sixcases,12adultsand17childrenlivingon$568percase. OttawaCounty:TANF-189cases,61adultsand350childrenlivingon$330percase.FIPoneparent-21cases,13adultsand32childrenlivingon$308percase.FIPtwoparent-sixcases,11adultsand15childrenliving$262percase TheFoodAssistanceProgramisatotalfederallyfundedprogramthatnowusestheBRIDGECARDratherthanwhatwereoncecalledFoodStamps. Rep.McMillinandhis12otherRepublicanco-spon-sorswantpictureIDoneachcard.Whatagreatidea!PictureIDthatcanbeusedtoVOTE! Maybehefailedtorememberthatpoorpeopleoftenvoteagainstpeoplewhofeeltheyareallcheatsandun-deserving. InthestateofMichiganinMarch2014therewere1,684,253peopleneedingfoodassistanceontheBridgeCardprogram. Almostallworkedfull-orpart-time.Rememberingthat9,895,622peopleliveinMichigan,thatmeans17percentneededfoodassistancetolive.Onaverage,eachpersonreceived$127.10forthemonth.Thatequals$4.24perdaytoeatfiletmignon?At$18perpound(lowestpricefoundontheInternet)therecipientwouldhavetosurviveon3.7oz.ofprimebeefperday. Whydontyoutryeatingthatlittlefoodaday,Rep.McMillin? CanapersonrunningforCongressbethatfaroutof

touchwithreality? IfyoureaRepublicantheanswerisYES! TheSTATEwilldecidewhatcanbebroughtandwhatstoresareAPPROVED? Whatcountryisthis? HansensGroceryorWal-Mart?PlumbsorMeijer?Checkthecampaignfinancereport? Whataboutthatbackboneofsmallbusiness,theMomandPoppartystoreorthe7/11? InWestMichigan,howdependentareweontheBridgeCard? HerearetheFoodAssistanceProgram(FAP)statistics.Readthemandweep,fellowDemocrats.TheRepublicanswontbesheddinganytears! AlleganCounty:1,198people,769adultsand428childrenliveon$113.66permonth,$3.79aday.

KentCounty:92,625peo-ple,50,534adultsand42,091childrenliveon$121.96permonth,$4.07aday. LakeCounty:2,961people,2,038adultsand923childrenliveon$118.42permonth,$3.95aday. MuskegonCounty:40,818people,24,204adultsand16,614childrenliveon$123.90permonth,$4.13aday. NewaygoCounty:10,103people,6,081adultsand4,022childrenliveon$113.04permonth,$3.77aday.

OceanaCounty:5,108people,2,802adultsand2,306childrenliveon$127.72permonth,$4.26aday. OttawaCounty:19,760people,10,803adultsand8,957childrenliveon113.02permonth,$3.77aday. Seventeenpercentofourfriendsandneighborsneedfoodassistancetoputfoodonthetableyetonly0.9per-centofthemreceivecashassistance. Mostcashassistanceisusedtopayrent.Butlearningtohandlemoneyisanimportantfactoringettingoutofpoverty. Thisbillisonlydesignedtodemeansomeoneinpov-ertyandscorepoliticalpointswiththenarrow-mindedanduninformedwhosharethesponsorsviews. MerriamWebsterDictionary,10thedition,definesBIGOTas: Hypocrite,apersonobstinatelyorintolerantlyde-votedtohisorownopinionorprejudices. Thetermdoesapply. Dallas Dean of Grant in Newaygo County, has been chair of the Newaygo County Democratic Party since 2003. He prepared this commentary using information from the following sources: Grand Rapids Press, Michigan Legisla-ture, DHS green book, U.S. Census data from the US Census bureau, Merriam-Websters dictionary, 10th edition.

President Johnson signs the Food Stamp Bill in 1967.

NEEDY from page 10

12

By Roger RapoportLeft of the Line TerriLynnLandgrewupinatrailerparkandmotelownedbyhergrandparents.Sheworkedherwayupfromcleaningroomsatthemoteltomanagingit.Terriearnedacollegedegree,gotmarried,andranthemotel:asmallbusinesssuccessstory.Andsheusedthatexperiencetomakegovernmentmoreefficientandsavetaxpayers

millions.ServingourfamiliesandworkingforMichigan.- FromSuccessStoryTVadforRepublicanSenateCandidateTerriLynnLand ItsnotoftenthataU.S.Senatecandidatecanbragaboutherhusbandscompanyessentiallyevictingformerfamilyfriendsandneighborsfromthecommunitywhereshegrewup. Butgiventheopportunitytokickout170familiesfromGrandvillesLaGrandeMotelandTrailerParkwhereshecutherteethinthebusinessworld,wasclearlyariteofpas-sage. Sayingsayonaratoresidents,includingtheunemployedandthedisabled,wasnoproblemforthenewowners,herhusbandDanHibmascompany,LaGrandeLLC. Aftertheevic-tions,bulldozingthepropertyandrushingtorezoneit,thesitein2005,thenewcompa-nysproposeddevelop-mentdealfellthrough.Todaytheformertrailerparkisnowonlyhometosquirrelsandchipmunks.Itisonthemarketfor$1.6mil-lion. Assessedat$1.73millionin2012,the22-acreparcelcurrentlyhasavalueof$700,000.Whilethefutureofthispropertyon28thStreetisvague,itcertainlyundercutsLandstelevisioncampaignthatleansheavilyonthestoryofhergrowingupinhergrandparentstrailerpark.

ThestoryhasalsobecomethebasisforaDemocraticadpointingoutthatthethisdecisiontokickouttheresi-dentsandbulldozeherchildhoodhomejustoffI-196ledtoacommunitydestroyedfornothing. WhileLandsofficecallstheadafalseandscurrilousmischaracterizationofthefactsaBridgeMagazineTruthSquadreviewrebuttedthat.BridgeMagazineassertsthatthebroadoutlineofwhattheadallegesistrue. ThegapbetweenLynnsrags-to-richesTVcampaignandthefailureofherhusbandsattempttoprofitofftheevictionsofherformerfriendsandneighborscertainlydoesnotcomeasasurprisetostudentsofthispoliticianscareers. ThepropertysdiminishingvaluealsounderscoresanotherpointoftenlostinMichiganpoliticaldebate.AlltoooftenaRepublicantoutedsuccessstorycostsallofus. NooneprofitedfromthedecisionofLandandherhusbandtoturnatax-payingbusinessthatprovidedaf-fordablehousingfordecadesintoamoneylosingeye-sore. ThisstoryisemblematicoftheRepublicannarrative,

thatsomehowcandi-dateslikeTerryLynnLandknowwhatwillworkfortherestofus. Onceagain,indi-vidualtaxpayersfromallpartiesareforcedtopickupthetabforafailedbusinessven-turethateliminatesaffordablehousingwhilesimultane-ouslyreducingbadlyneededpropertytaxrevenuenecessarytopayforroads,schools,policeandfire. Itsraretoseeacandidateturnhergrassrootsstoryintoapoliticalliability. Unfortunately,thecontinuinginabilityofherhusbandscompa-nytoturntheformertrailerparkintoavi-ablebusinessnearlya

decadeafterallthoseevictionsdocumentswhatiswrongwithTerriLynnLand. Insteadofsimplyrecallingherlosingadandapolo-gizingforallthoseformerfamilyfriendsevictedbyher

Terri Lynn Landlords strange rags-to-riches sagaAll too often a Republican-touted success story costs all of us.

Roger Rapoport

She grew up in a trailer park and motel owned by her grandparents. Terri Lynn Land worked her way up. But thats not the whole story. Years ago Terri Lynn Land bought that property and evicted the 170

families living there - 170 families told to get out all so Terri Lynn Land could flip the proper-ty and make a profit. That didnt work out. Ms. Land bulldozed her childhood home and it sits vacant to this day, a community destroyed for nothing. Thats what she calls a success story. The families she grew up with, the ones she evicted, probably call it something else. Peters for Michigan television advertisement

see LAND page 13

Commentary

13

husbandscompany,shehasgonefromdumbtodumber. HereiswhatFoxNewspoliticalconsultantFrankLutzhadtosayaboutherrecentReallyad,theTVcommer-cialstinkbombof2014:Imgoingtoupsetthecandi-datebutthisistheworstadofthepoliticalprocess. Todocumenthisclaim,theGOPfriendlynetworkplayedtheadwithafocusgroupopiniondialoverlay. Theproblem,saysLutz,isshewastes20secondsdrinking(a)cupofcoffee(the)dialsweresolowthat

theFoxlogoactuallycoveredthescores.Iveneverseenthatbeforeinpolitics. InthegrandtraditionofRickSnyder,votersarepresentedwithanotherblackholecandidatededicatedtothepropositionthatbusinessfailures(seeSnydersrecordatnowdefunctGateway)areproofpositiveofacandidateselectability.

Roger Rapoport is the producer of the feature film Waterwalk and the forthcoming movie Pilot Error, based on his novel.

LAND from page 12

By Mary ValentineLeft of the Line SchoolfundingisatitslowestsincethepassageofProposalAin1994byfar.Thecostofeverythingtransportation,heat,electricity,supplieshassky-rocketed.Butthemoneytopayforit?TheRepublican-dominatedLegislaturerefusestoallocateit.Whentheytookcompletecontrolofstategovernmentin2010,thecutstoeducationwerequick,ruthlessandunnecessary.Andourkidsarepayingtheprice. Oh,sure.TheRepublicanswillgivealittletinybitbackthiselectionyear;theyresmartpoliticians.Butshouldtheelectoratereturnthereinsofgovernmenttotheseclowns,theywillcontinuetodecimatepublicedu-cation. Andwhataboutour34thDistrictsenator,GoeffHansen?Hessuchaniceguyanddearlyloveshisgrand-kids,certainlyhehastheverybestofintentions,right? Thesadtruth,though,isthatgoodintentionswillnotprovidetheartandbandclassesourstudentsneed,northeextrahelptheyrequirewhentheyfallbehindorsurgeahead. Hansenisquicktopointouthisinnocence,butwherewashewhenhispartydecimatedpublicschools? Standingidlyby. Iftherewassomethinghecoulddo,hewouldhavedoneitbynow.Hewouldhavegivenmovingfloorspeechescallinghispartyoutfortheircallousdisregardofthenextgenerationorrailedatthosehell-bentondestroyingpubliceducation. Instead,allwegotfromoursenatorwaslameex-

cuses.Hestoodbyandwatchedourschoolsfallapart.Luckyforthevotersofthe34th,theyhaveachoice,CathyForbes,aprovenfighterwhounderstandsthateducationiscriticalforourkidsfuture. WewontseeCathyForbessitbywithnothingbutlameexcuses. Wewillseeawomanfightforourchildrensfuture.Shehasthewill,intelligenceanddesiretodrawatten-tiontothediresituationourstudentsarenowfacing.

OnTuesday,Nov.4,2014,gotothepolls.VoteforCathyForbes.SendastrongwomantoLansingwhoiswillingtofightforthenextgenera-tion.

Mary Valentine is a former Demo-cratic state representative for the 91st District in Muskegon County, where she served two terms. Prior to that, she was a speech pathologist in the public schools of Michigan for more than 30 years. Presently, Mary is the secretary of the Progressive Democratic Womens Caucus and the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper board. Additionally, she is chair of the

NAACP political action committee, involved with Citizens to Preserve Public Education, and is a member of the Mus-kegon Heights Optimist Club. Mary lives in Norton Shores with Phil Valentine, her husband of 35 years, and is a proud mom of two adult chil-dren and proud grandma of two precious granddaughters. She is also the author of a new book, Citizen Mary. You can contact her at maryvalentine08@gmail.com

Hansen looked the other waywhile our schools got hurt

Cathy Forbes

14

By Chris SavageLeft of the Line OnFeb.7,2010,RickSnyder,arelativeunknown,de-butedhisfirstcampaignadofthe2010governorsrace.Thead,OneToughNerd,hadSnyderdeclaringItstimeforanerd.Thewealthybusinessman,venturecapi-talistandformerpresidentofGateway,Inc.,spentnearly$100,000ofhisownmoneytoairtheadacrossthestate. BecausemostpeoplehadneverheardofSnyderinearly2010,hewasabletocre-ateanimageofhimselfthatwas,infact,consider-ablydifferentthanthereality-andtheNerdadwasonlythebegin-ning. Pollinginlate2009putSnydersnumbersinsingledigitsbehindbetter-knownRepublicanslikeCongressmanPeteHoekstraandAttorneyGeneralMikeCox.Inthemonthsfollowingthead,thosenum-bersquadrupled. Snyderspentanenormousamountofmoneycreatingafic-tion:thathewasanerd,notapoliti-cian,andthatallhecaredaboutwasrisingabovepoliticsandusinghisnerdybusinessskillstoturnaroundMichigan. Anditworked.Snyderwonhisprimary,beatinghisnearestcompetitorby10pointsandthen,ridingananti-Democraticteapartywave,hetrouncedDemocratVirgBerneroby18points.EveninliberalAnnArbor,Bernerocameoutlessthan2pointsaheadofSnyder. Ittookonlyafewmonthsbeforevotersgottoun-derstandthekindofpersontheyputinMichigansmostpowerfulelectedseat.

OnMarch16th,2011,TheNerdsignedPublicAct4intolaw.PA4tooktheconceptofEmergencyFinancialManagers(EFMs),putinplacetohelpstrugglingmu-nicipalitiesandschools,andturneditintoacorporatistsdream. TheEFMsbecameknownasEmergencyManagers(EMs),theirpowersextendedbeyondjustthefinancialtosettingschoolcurriculumandevendismissingincon-venientlocally-electedofficials.TwoyearslaterwhenDetroitwasassignedanEM,morethanhalfoftheAfrican-AmericansinMichiganlivedincitieswheretheirdemo-craticallyelectedofficialshadbeenreplacedbySnyderappointees. Inamomentthatgotscantattention,RickSnydershowedhistruecorporatistcolors.AtafundraiserforthecorporatistfrontgroupMackinacCenter,Snydertoldthecrowdthathehadacopyoftheir101RecommendationstoRevitalizeMichiganonhisdeskandthathereferstoitoften. AmongsomeoftheirrecommendationswereLetDetroitsaveitselfandbetterserveitsresidentsthroughacomprehensiveprogramofprivatizingcityservices.AnotherwasAdoptaright-to-worklawthatprohibitscollectivebargainingagreementsfromrequiringem-ployeestosupportorbelongtoaunionasaconditionofemployment. Sincethen,bothoftheserecommendationsandcountlessothershavebeensignedintolawbySnyder Despiteallevidencetothecontrary,however,RickSnydercontinuestoportrayhimselfasasimpleNerd,aboveitall.Hisfirstmessageofthe2014gubernatorialrace,abizarreandsomewhatcreepyadshowinghimgloweringatthecameraandemergingfromapoolinafrogmansuit,hashimclaimingthatsavingMichiganisanerdyjobbutsomeonehastodoit. Snyderinevitablyblameshismostegregiouspoliticalmovesonothers.Theemergencymanagerlawand,morerecently,thecompletelefailureofRepublicanstopassroadfundingwerethefaultofanti-taxteapartiers. RighttoWork?Democratsandunionbossesarere-sponsibleforthatfortryingtopassProposition2in2012. TimeandagainSnyderhassignedextreme,pro-busi-ness,ultra-conservativelawsandattemptedtoavoidallresponsibilityforhavingdoneso. So,whenyoulistentoRepublicanRickSnyderonthecampaigntrail,rememberthathenowhasahistory.Hesnotanunknownandwhatweknowabouthimproveshesnotaharmlessnerd.Heis,infact,apurebloodpro-businessRepublican.Wemustallmakesureeveryoneweknowrememberssomeofthethingshehasdone: Defundedandprivatizedpubliceducationtoevery

Rick Snyder: A corporatist in moderates clothing

see SNYDER page 15

It took only a few months before voters got to under-stand the kind of person they put in Michigans most powerful elected seat.

15

extenthecould. RaisedtaxesonmorethanhalfofMichiganders-includingtaxingthepensionsofseniorcitizens.AttackedunionmembersandmadeMichiganaRighttoWork(forless)state. Takenovermultiplecitiesandschoolsinundemocraticfashion.Givenstatecontractstobusi-nesspartnersandrelatives.MichiganDemocraticParty

chairLonJohnsonputitbest:

WhydoyouthinkRickSnyderwantsyoutoacallhimanerd?ItsbecauseitsbetterthanbeingcalledaRepublican.

Chris Savage is the publisher of eclectablog.com, Michigans most widely read progressive blog. His work has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and in The Nation magazine and has been featured by numerous other nation-al media outlets. He lives in Dexter with his photographer wife Anne C. Savage. Chriss blog handle Eclectablog is justifiably famous on the Daily Kos web site dailykos.com for its penetrating looks at the destruction wrought by Republicans on our state.

SNYDER from page 14

(Editors note: The same sex mar-riages performed in Muskegon on March 22 took place at the Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation. They were performed by the Rever-end Bill Freeman with the assistance of some friends. We regret the error and applaud the heroes of Unitarian Universalist once again!)

Hansens work ethic is a joke

PeopleacrossWestMichiganandalloverourstatehavebeende-mandingasolidfixforMichiganscrumblingroads. Unfortunately,SenateRepubli-cans,includingmyopponent,GoeffHansen,refusedtolistentothemwhentheythrewinthetowelonroadfundingandlefttheCapitoltotakeafour-weekvacation. Icanthelpbutask-isthatthetypeofworkethicwewantintheSenate?Idontthinkso,andIdontthinkyoudo,either. Wedontsendourelectedoffi-cialstoLansingjustsotheycangiveuponthetoughissuesandtakeavacationinstead. Thislatestfailureofleadershipisexactlywhyweneedtomakeseri-ouschangesintheMichiganSenate! AsanOceanaCountyRoadCommissionersince2008,Ihaveseenfirst-handhowRepublicaninactioninLansinghasledtothedeteriorationofourroads. Isharethefrustrationofdriv-erswhoaretiredofwaitingforrealsolutions.IwillcometotheSenatereadytoworkforrealpeople,not

playpoliticalgames. Pleasecontribute$25orwhat-everamountyoucanaffordnowtohelpsendmetoLansing. Imreadytorollupmysleevesandfightforyou,butIneedyoursupporttogetthere! Thanksforallyoudo,LeftoftheLine!

CathyForbesHartDemocraticCandidateforthe34thDistrictSeatoftheMichiganSenate

The Huizenga record: Dismal

U.S.Rep.BillHuizenga(R-Zee-land)spoketomlive.comMuskegonandsaid,younevertakeanythingoranyoneforgranted.However,alookatthefactsgivesaverydiffer-entanswer. BillHuizengahasspenthisentiretimeinofficetakinghisconstituentsforgranted.Asanexample,accord-ingtohisownwebsite,betweenlastDec.1andtoday,whichis25percentofhisentiresecondterm,hehasheldonlyonetownhallmeeting. Thisisacleardemonstrationofhislackofcommitmenttohisconstit-uents,anopinionthatmanyvotershavevoicedonthecampaigntrail. HereswhatIsay: Itistheresponsibilityofarep-resentativetolistentothepeopleherepresentsandheisntdoingthat.Ifyoulookatwherehespendshistime,itisntwiththepeoplethatherepresents;itiswiththehighdollardonorswhofundhiscampaigns. Whenelected,Iwillholdmonth-

lytownhallmeetingstoensurethatthepeopleofthisdistricthaveanopportunitytobeheard,Iconsiderthatverymuchapartofthejob. Billsbehaviorisntlostontheaveragevotereither. DuringBillstimeinofficeCongresshasachievedthelowestapprovalratinginhistory.EventheGrandRapidsPresseditorialboardcharacterizedHuizengaasanirre-sponsiblezealot. Isay,wearegoingtowininNo-vemberbecausethepeopleofWestMichiganwantachange,andtheywanttoelectsomeonewhowonttakethemforgranted! Democratsandthemanymoderate-mindedRepublicansaremad.MadthattheirCongressmandoesntengagewiththemandmadthathespendshistimehobnobbingwiththerichandpowerfulratherthanworkingforthepeopleoftheSecondCongressionalDistrictinWashington. IgotintothisracebecauseIwanttomakeWestMichiganandthiscountyabetterplaceformychildrenandgrandchildren,nottoattend$1,000dinnersattheCapitolClubandmulti-thousanddollargolfjunkets.ThevotersareseeingthedifferenceincommitmentbetweenBillandmyselfandtheywillsendBillback-toZeeland!-inNovem-ber.

DeanVandersteltSpringLakeDemocraticcandidatefortheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives

LETTERS from page 3

Snyder

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By Eric JustianLeft of the Line InMay,DemocratsandtheiralliescorneredMichiganRepublicansintochoosingfromtwooptionstheyhate: PeopleVotingandPeopleGettingPaidtoWork. Democraticalliesadvancedaballotinitiativetoin-creasetheMichiganminimumwageto$10.10perhoursothatapersonputtinginanhonestdaysworkcanactuallyaffordtopaybillsANDbuyfood. SuchaballotinitiativemeansthegoodfolksofMichi-ganwouldhavegottentovoteonthehighlypopularissueoftheminimumwage. Thisisthesortofthingthatgetspeoplescramblingtothepolls.WhichiswhythisisthesortofthingthatRepub-licanshate. Theyrehighlyallergictopeoplevoting,becausewhenpeopledovotetheyusuallyvoteforthingsthatbenefitMichiganfamiliesandcitizens.AndtheRepublicansoflatehaventbeenofferinganyofthat. So,backedontoaledge,theright-winglegislativeleadershipswitchedtothestrat-egyofminimizingthebenefittoMichigan-ders,whichisasclosetocompromiseasthoseguysget(plusithelpedthemtoavoidallthisnastyAmericandemocracystuff). TheyfinallyenteredintotalkswithDemocratstoalterthelawtheballotinitiativewasaimedat,withRepubli-canstryingtopushforlessofcourse-andDemocratstryingtopushformore.ItsimportanttonotethatMichi-ganistheonlyRepublican-ledstatetoincreaseitsmini-mumwage,sotosomedegreethepressureworked. Thewingersfinallyagreedtoraisetheminimumwageto$9.25perhourwithannualincreaseslinkedtotheMidwestConsumerPriceIndexupto3.5percent.Thechangeswillbephasedinoverthecourseoffouryears,startingat$8.15perhourinSeptemberandmov-ingupfromthereuntilitreachesthe$9.25in2018.Itappliestoworkers18andolder. Sorry,youngerfolks.Youdogetaraise,butits85percentofwhatothersarepaid. RepublicanGov.NerdSnyderhailedtheincreaseaswonderfuldisplayofbipartisanship,sayingthechangeswouldputmoremoneyintothepocketsofaMillion

Michiganians. AMILLIONMichiganians.OrMichiganders.OrMichi-ganists.OrMichiganauts.Howeveryouwanttosayit. Amillionofuswillseeanincreaseinourincomefromthischangeeitherdirectlyorthroughmoreeconom-icactivityasfolkswhosuddenlyhavemoneytobuysomeofthenecessitiesoflifeactuallydo. So,letsputthisintoperspective.Theresan85-centdifferencebetweentheoriginal$10.10proposalandthedesperateRepublicanprofferof$9.25tokeepaninevi-tablemovetoahigherwagefromhappening. An85-centper-hourdifferencetimesaMillionMichiganitesmeans$850,000EACHHOURthatwillNOTbegoingintolow-incomefamiliesandneighborhoodsthatdesperatelyneedit. Thedifferencebetween$10.10perhourand$9.25perhourtimesamillionpeopleturnsouttobe: $850,000perhournotgoingintolowwagecommu-nitiesacrossthestate.

$6.8millionper8-hourshiftnotgoingintolow-incomefamiliesacrossthestate.$13.6millionper-16-hourdaynotgoingintoMichiganslow-wageeconomies$95millionperweek.ThesearejustgeneralnumbersdrawnfromacombinationofGov.NerdscommentandBureauofLaborStatisticsinfoonmedianearnings

amongdifferentworkcategories. Butcutthenumberinhalf.Cutitbythreequarters.Itdoesntmatter.Becauseitsallrealmoney,MichigansfamilieswontseebecauseRepublicanspushedforever-lowerwages.Losingthat85centsper-hourisnotchumpchangetoMichiganworkers. Thatextraeconomicactivityfromahigherminimumwagewouldhavedumpedmillionsintoourlocalecono-mies.So,onceagain,Republicanshavestrippedmoneyfromhard-workingMichiganfamilies,budgingonlywhentheyhadtoinordertostopanevenbiggerbenefittoMichiganfamilies. Theydoitoverandoverandoveraspredictablyasthesunrisesandsets. Yearsago,IcalledMichiganSen.GeoffHansen,R-34th,andconfrontedhimabouthimandhisfellowRepub-licansguttingthechildtaxcreditforMichigansyoungfamilies.

That minimum wage raise?Just another winger screw job

Eric Justian

Commentary

see JUSTIAN page 12

Sorry, younger folks. You do get a raise, but its 85 percent of what others are paid.

17

AsIpointedouttohim,diapersandbabyfoodcostminimum-wageworkersthesameamounttheycostmillionaires.Thedifferenceisthatthosethingscostminimum-wageworkersamuch,muchlargerpercentageoftheirincome.Hansensresponsewasbasicallythatregularpeopleneedtosuckitupandpaytheirfairshare. Thefolksrunningourstate,theRe-publicans,havenoproblematallpass-ingnewlawsthatsuckmoremoneyfromthepocketsoflow-wageworkers. TheykilledtheMichiganchildtaxcredit.Theydemolishedhousingtaxcredits.RepublicansOKedtaxingseniorsonpensionsandretirementmoney.TheyraisedtaxesonverysmallMomandPopbusinesses.TheGOPbraintrustrammedthroughRightToWork(forless)inMichigan.Theydraggedtheirfeetforyearsonraisingtheminimumwage.Currently,theyresellingourlow-wageschoolstoshiftyfor-profitcharterschoolsthatfailandrunawaywithourtaxdollars. Adnauseum. OverandoverandoveragainRe-publicansledbytheNerdandhiscro-niesusethepoweroftheMichigangovernmenttobeatthehelloutofhard-workingpeoplejusttryingtomakealivingandgivetheirkidsabettershotinthisworld. Andforwhat?MichiganSTILLhasthesixth-highestunemploymentinAmerica. TheirpoliciesDONOTWORK. TheyjustpunchusinthegutforthesakeofsomeideologicalpurityandtogiveevenhighertaxbreakstoMichigansrich. BottomlineisthattheRepublicanswhohavebeenrunningthestateforthepastdecadedontknowanddontcarewhatittakestogetbyinMichigantoday. AndwhenMichiganfolksstarttotakemattersintotheirownhandstopushforahigherminimumwagebyballotinitiativethatwoulddrivepeopletothepolls,onlythenwillRepublicansstopdraggingtheirfeetandacttosavetheirownskins. ButnotwithoutonemoretimetakingasmuchfromMichiganworkersastheycangetawaywithandknockahugechunkoutoftheproposedwage. BecausethatswhatourRepublicanleadershipdoes. Itstimefortheseblood-suckerstogo.Theyhadtheirchance. InNovembergetouttheretothepollsandknockthosebumsout.

Left of the Line columnist Eric Justian is a professional writer living near the natural sugar sand beaches and sing-ing sand dunes of Lake Michigan in Muskegon.

As Muskegon Critic, he is one of the 50 most-recom-mended active authors at Daily Kos (dailykos.com) and has been a front-page blogger at BloggingForMichigan.org, focusing largely in Great Lakes, renewable energy and Michigan topics. Erics work also appears at TriplePundit.com and LiberalAmerica.org . Eric co-founded a non profit organization dedicated to strengthening independent businesses and diversifying Michigans economy into sustainable industries.

JUSTIAN from page 11

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U.S. Sen. Rand Paul tries his hand at policy From Politico.com:Sen.RandPaulonFridaylikenedDemocratstotherecentlyreleasedTalibandetaineesatGuantnamoBayinaspeechhereattheTexasGOPcon-vention.Mr.President,youlovetotradepeople,theKentuckyRepublicanandlikely2016contendersaidtolaughs,areferencetothedealmadeforthereturnofSgt.BoweBergdahl.Whydontwesetupatrade?Butthistime,insteadoffiveTaliban,howaboutfiveDemocrats?ImthinkingJohnKerry,HillaryClinton,NancyPelosi,couldntwesendthemtoMexico?Askedabouthiscommentsinanewsconferenceafterthespeech,Paulreplied,Itwasajoke.ExceptforNancyPelosi,Iwasseriousabouther.Whenpressed,headded:Well,Imean,itshumor,andIhopetheresroomforhumor.Ithoughtitwasfunny.Itwasmeanttobehumorous.

Indianas treasurer lectures on history

From The Indianapolis Star: Reactionrangedfromangertoshocktobefuddle-mentafterIndianaTreasurerRichardMourdockcomparedthenationsdirectiontoHitlersNaziGermanyduringafarewellspeechattheIndi-anaRepublicanConventioninFortWayne.ThepeopleofGermanyinafreeelectionselectedtheNaziPartybecausetheymadegreatpromisesthatap-pealedtothembecausetheyweredesperateanddesti-tute.Andwhyisthat?BecauseGermanywasbankrupt,hesaid.

Mourdock,whohasstokedoutragewithincendiarycommentsinthepast,thenalludedtothe70thanniversa-ryoftheD-DayinvasionduringWorldWarII,saying,Thetruthis,70yearslater,wearedriftingonthetidestowardanotherbeachheadanditisthebankruptcyoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Thespeechreceivedastandingovationfromthenearly1,700delegatesfromacrossthestate.

Yes, Democrats are the real gun nuts From The Arizona Daily Star:CongressionalDistrict1candidateGaryKiehne,askedduringaRepublicanprimarydebatehowhewouldprotectgunrights,saidheownsmoregunsandammunitionthantheothercandidatesandsaidevery-oneshouldownagun.Whenitcomestomassshootings,ifyoulookatallthefiascoesthathaveoccurred,99percentofthemhavebeenbyDemocratspullingtheirgunsoutandshootingpeople,Kiehnesaidtoanaudienceofabout60people.SoIdontthinkyouhaveaproblemwiththeRepublicans.AnotherGOPcandidate,AdamKwasman,saidhesupportsgunrightsadding,itsaGod-given,naturalrighttokeepandbeararms.Arizonas1stCongressionalDistrict,thelargestinthestate,doesnotincludeTucson,wherein2011agunmanopenedfire,killingsixpeopleandwounding13others,includingthen-ArizonaRep.GabrielleGiffords.TheDemocraticcongresswomansufferedagunshotwoundtotheheadinwhatprosecutorssaywasanassas-sinationattempt.

Dr. Roves prescription for Hillary: Rest FromTheFiscalTimes:GOPcampaignphysician-and-healer-in-chiefDr.KarlRoveisworriedaboutloomingDemocraticpresidentialcandidateHillaryClin-

The contents of Other Side of the Line may be offensive to some of our readers, but we believe you really need to read exactly what the extremists of the right wing are saying in public. Only by peeking under the rock can you see their true agenda.

see OTHER page 19

Featured this month:

Wacked-Out Winger edition

Rand Paul

Richard Mourdock

Gary Kiehne

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ton. RovesaidonFoxNewsSundayhehadnoregretsaboutstronglysuggestingatarecentpoliticalconferencethatClintonhadsufferedtraumaticbraininjuryaftershefellanddevelopedabrainclotinlate2012.WhileinsistingthatheneverusedthewordsbraindamageindiscussingClintonscondition,Rovesaidhiscommentswerefairindiscussingapotential2016presi-dentcandidateespeciallyonewithasmuchsupportandcloutasClinton.DespitemountingevidencethattheformerFirst

Ladywouldseekthe2016Democraticpresidentialnomination,RovecouldntresistventuringapredictionthatClintonprobablywouldnotrunagainbecauseofherageandquestionsaboutherhealth.Mybrainsaysshesrun-ning,Rovesaid.Mygutsays,Youknowwhat?This[medi-calissue]isfarmoreseriousthanmanycurrentlyrealize.

ligationtodomorethansimplybehaveselfishly.They,likeallofus,haveasharedresponsibilitytoprovidethesupportnecessarytoensureopportunityforall.Andeveryonebenefitsfromsuchaworld,inwhichoppor-tunityisbroadlyavailabletoeveryonebasedsolelyoncommonhumanityandnotbasedonaccidentsofbirth.Weareallthepoorer,inourinterconnectedworld,ifasaresultofideology,anyoneisleftoutorassignedalifedefinedbysocialoreconomicclassratherthanper-sonalabilityandpotential. Now,imagineanotherworldinwhichthevastma-jorityofhumanityliveessentiallyinanartificialeco-system,managedandengineeredbyatinyelite,withthehelpofawell-paidsecond-tiermanagerialandpro-fessionalclass,andbackedupbyathirdtierthreatofmilitaryandpoliceviolence. Theelite,aseliteshavedonethroughouthistory,indulgetheirnaturalimpulsetoexemptthemselvesandthosetheychoosetofavorfromDarwinianselectionpressure.Theypickwinnersandlosers,whiletherestofusareconsignedtoincreasinglyrelentlessselectionpressuresurvivalofthefittest,exceptfitnessnolongerde-pendsonnature,butontheperformancepreferencesoftheeliteswhohaveassignedthemselvesnaturesroleintheequation. Farfetched?Norreally.CharlesKochhasreducedittowritingalready(thoughusingdifferentterminol-ogy)inhisself-publishedbookTheScienceofSuccess(2007).Kochrecentlypennedaneditorial,deridingcollectivistsforcallinghimun-American.But,totheextentthatAmericaisbasedontheprincipleoftheruleof,by,andforpeople,ratherthanatinyself-appointedelite,thenthecriticismKochseemstotakepersonally,iswell-deserved. ThecentralissueatstakeintheAmericanpoliti-calsystem,today,iswhethergovernmentof,by,and

for,thepeopleshallperish,andbereplacedwiththeillusionofdemocracy,freeexpression,andfreeelec-tions,inasystemorchestratedbythefewfortheirownbenefit.TheCitizensUnitedandMcCutcheondeci-sionshavemadetheseissuesmoreurgentthanever.Itistimetomakethemoralandpracticalcaseforwhyourgovernmentmustworkforus,andnotbehijackedinsupportoftheirideology. Eric Grimm is an attorney who works in Muskegon and resides in Roosevelt Park. An honors graduate of The University of Michigan Law School (JD 93) and of the University of Houston (BA 90), Mr. Grimm has more than

20 years experience in legal practice. He is presently a (non-partisan) member of the Roosevelt Park City Council, the chair of his citys Zoning Board of Appeals, and also serves on the Roosevelt Park DDA Board. Prior to return-ing to Muskegon in

2006, due to concerns about the health circumstances of his father, who has since passed away, Mr. Grimm worked in Austin, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Ann Arbor, Michi-gan, among other places. In the Save Owasippe case, he successfully sought to have Judge Mariettis decision in favor of Blue Lake Township affirmed on appeal, thus preserving the undeveloped condition of the Owasippe Scout Reservation. Over the years, as a Cooperating Attorney assisting the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Mr. Grimm has addressed a variety of novel technology-related legal issues. He is a Supporting Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation (this involves a 10-year continuing commitment to provide financial support for legal services to the indigent), a member of the Diversity & Inclusion, and Program committees of the Muskegon Rotary, a member of the Board of the Muskegon Social Justice Commission, and a member of the Steering Com-mittee for ROAD, which this year is presenting a series of fora, in which candidates from both political parties answer audience questions.

OTHER from page 18

The choice between the conservative worldview and the liberal worldview is a moral one, and is stark. While they believe in the radical individual-ism of the powerful and favored, their ideology presupposes perpetual and hereditary inequality of opportunity, and fundamentally denies the equal worth and dignity of each person.

GRIMM from page 9

Karl Rove

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By Brenda MooreLeft of the Line WeknowthatMichiganisextremelywealthywithsurfacewaterresources.Butdowerealizejusthowrichweare?TheGreatLakesBasinholds84per-centofNorthAmericasfreshsurfacewater.Thatmeanstherestoftheconti-nenthasonly16percentoftheremainingfreshsurface

water.Michigansitsrightinthemiddleofthattreasurechest(seealsohttp://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/basicin-fo.html). InMuskegonCountyalonewehavethousandsofacresofinlandlakesWhiteLake,DuckLake,Mus-kegonLake,BearLake,andMonaLakepunctuatehermajesty,LakeMichigan.Addhundredsofmilesofriversandstreamstothebountyandletthevastnessofourgreatestresourcesettleinyourbones. Havewebeengoodstewardsofthelakes?Nothistorically.AlthoughtheCleanWaterActandotherenvironmentalinitiativeshavemadeadifference,non-pointpollutionstillvexesournationswaters.Nonpointpollutioncomesfromrainwaterrinsingoverthelandandcarryingpollutantstosurfacewaters. Herbicides,pesticides,pe-troleumproductsandsedimentaresomeofthematerialsthataretransportedbystormwaterrunoffdirectlytosurfacewater.Stormwaterisanuntreateddischargethatgreatlyimpactsthequalityoflakesandstreams. Infact,muchofthefirstflushofstormwaterisworsequalitythanrawsewage. AccordingtotheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),unmitigatedstormwaterrunoffistheNa-tions#1WaterQualityproblemandMichiganhasfairlypoorgradesinthearenaofstormwatermanagement.Countydraincommissionerscanhaveagreatdealofimpact(goodorbad)onnonpointwaterpollution.TheyadministerthestateofMichigansDrainCode,Act40of1956.Thisisalawthatfirstemergedintheearly1800s. Earlydrainprojectsdrainedwetlands,reroutedstreamsanddrasticallychangedhydrologyacrossthestate;withverylittleconsiderationofenvironmentalimpacts. Intheearly1800s,however,therewasmoreconcernaboutpreventingdiseaseslikemalariaandcholerathan

worryingaboutwaterqualityorwildlifehabitat.EarlyMichiganderswerealsopreparinglandforagricultureanddevelopment.Itwasnotunusualforthecourseofastreamtobealteredwithafewsticksofdynamite.Mostofourcountydrainagesystemsareopenditchescre-atedover100yearsagothataremerelyseverelyalteredstreams.Historically,workinacountydrainwasexemptfrommostenvironmentallaws,aslongasthedraincommis-sionerstayedwithintheoriginalrouteandcourseoftheestablisheddrain. LastfalltheMichiganLegislature(promptedinpartbytheEPAtoraisethebaronnonpointpollu-tionefforts)madechangestoNREPA(thestatesNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalProtectionAct)thatholddraincommissionersmoreaccountablefortheworktheyconductinanopendrain. Now,countydraincommissionersaresupposedtoadheretocertainenvironmentalbestmanagementpracticesandworkundersomeformofgeneralpermitformostoftheirwork.Forsomecommissionersthisisabothersomeintrusionontheirauthority-theyareinclinedtodigouttheditchwithlittletonoregardof

impactsonhydrology,waterqualityorwildlifehabitat. Othersaresteppinguptomoreassertivelyaddressnonpointwaterpollutionproblemsbyusingtheirauthoritytobettermanageopendrainsasnaturalresources.WherecountydrainsmeetWatersoftheState-naturallakesandstreams-draincommissionershavesomeresponsibilitytoaddresswaterqualityissues. WhatthatresponsibilityisintheeyesoftheMichiganDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualityisclear

asmud,butitissafetosaythatitisnolongerbusinessasusualfordraincommissionersacrossthestate.Inshort,keepaneyeonthephilosophyandqualificationsofyourcountydraincommissioner. Brenda Moore, Muskegon Countys drain commis-sioner, has been working in the land use and community development field since 1984. Ms. Moore holds a Bach-elor of Science from Grand Valley State University (ma-joring in Natural Resource Management) and a Master of Science in natural resource management and community development from Michigan State Universitys College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She also has 30 years experience in government as a staff member or consul-tant in cities, townships & counties. She can be reached at 724-6219 or by email: moorebr@co.muskegon.mi.us. See also: http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/drain/

Youd better care about the drain commissioner

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The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Left of the Line

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Wearedoomed,wearelazy,wedontunderstandtheworldormaybeweunderstanditbetter,andwewillsaveit.Lately,avarietyofmediasourceshaverunarticlesabouttheyouthofAmerica.Mostly,ithasbeenBabyBoomersandGenXersdebatingtheworkethic,outlook,andpotentialofthemostrecentgenera-tiontocomeofage.IcantspeakforAmericaatlarge,butinMuskegonCountythismostrecentgeneration-theMillennials-aretakingtheirresponsibilitiestoheart. TheYoungDemsofMuskegonCountyisanextensionoftheMus-kegonCountyDemocraticParty.Itscoremissionistoempowerdemo-craticallymindedyoungpeopleinMuskegonCountywiththetoolsandstructuretogettheirvoicesheard.WearebringingMillennialsto-gethertoinformthedirectionoftheDemocraticPartyandthroughit,ourcommunity,ourstate,andournation.Wearedoingthisbecausetheworldweliveinischanging.Ourgenera-tionmustaddresstheproblemsofthefuture.Inordertodoso,wemustgaintheskillstoorganizenow.Wemustworktoupholdourmostim-portantvaluesandbeliefs. Andwhatareourvalues?Webelieveallpeopledeservearealopportunitytofulfilltheirpotential.Webelievewearestrongertogetherthanweareapart.Webelievepeoplewhoworkhardandplaybytherulesshouldattheleastbeabletoaf-fordagoodlifefortheirfamily.Webelieveinastrongeconomythatservesthebestinterestsofourpeople.Webelievepovertyandinjusticeanywherethreatenpeaceandfreedomeverywhere.Finally,webelievein

agovernmentthatissmartandeffective;guidedbythecommongoodofourpeople. Thesevaluesmaytakedifferentformsindifferentages,butatthecore,ourvaluesareconsistentwithTheDemocraticParty.Weinviteallyoungpeoplewhosharethesevaluestojoinus.FollowusonFacebookorTwit-teratYoungDemocratsofMuskegonCountyand@YD-Muskegon.Attendourmeetingsandsocialgatherings.Bringyourperspective.Bringyourstory.Helpshape

andinformtheactionswetake.Theworldischanginganditneedsyourguidanceinorderforittochangetoaworldwewantittobecome.Ifyouareconcernedaboutyourfuture,nowisthetimetogetinvolved,be-causeyourfutureisbeingdecidednow. Aswesaidearlier,youngpeopleareengagedinMuskegonCounty,wehaveagreatgroupofinvolvedyoungadults.GotoanyoftheupticketdemocraticcampaignsinMuskegon-DeanVandersteltforCongress,CathyForbesforStateSenate,andColleneLamontes91stre-electioncampaign-andyouwillfindourmembers.Wehavefunandwegetthingsdone.Wemeetwithelectedofficials,candidatesforof-

fice,anddiscusspolicyissuesthatconcernourgenera-tion.Wealsogobowling,paintballing,toformalnightsout,andsmallhouseparties.WehopeyouwilljoinusbecauseasFrenchpoetVictorHugosaid,Nothingisaspowerfulasanideawhosetimehascome,andourtimehascome. Contact Person: Branden Gemzer Phone: (231) 903-3838

Young Democrats in Muskegon County looking to shape the future of Michigan

Why are young Americans today destined to bring about the largest political shift in 50 years? (page 29)

What were the Boston Tea Partiers really protesting? (page 9)

Alexander Hamilton was never president. What achievement earned him his place on our $10 bill, and why have we forgotten it? (page 47)

What does the film Ferris Buellers Day Off have to do with the decline of the American middle class? (page 89)

Why cant our government seem to do anything right anymore?(page 133)

What can you do to make a difference? (page 167)

We The Future Order online:

SeanMullally.com `

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