The Spring of Our Discontent

I shouldn't make jokes about Randy Newman. It's like magical thinking. Yes,indeed, folks, Governor Kasich yesterday opened the Ohio state parks to oil and gas drilling and severely cut the state's environmental agencies. Yesterday, Koch Industries and their subsidiary Georgia-Pacific were being investigated for polluting the Coffee Creek in Arkansas, pouring 45 million of waste in, producing an "odorous foam and patches of black water." The Creek feeds into Louisiana's Quachita River, which had been a recreational area for its pristine waters but which has seen its local economy disappear with the pollution. So Randy and his burning river will soon return to Ohio. And our own House of Representatives just put on the floor a bill to limit any restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions--not limit greenhouse gas--limit the restrictions on them. Thanks Charles Koch.

Also, because Ohio had to deal with the budget, it was another opportunity to restrict abortion rights. The actual Ohio budget was published by the Columbus Dispatch, despite Governor Kasich's prohibition. And what a budget it is. All the prisons will be privatized and all parole officers eliminated. He says this will earn the state $200 million and save another $20 million per year. All the state liquor stores will be sold. (In Virginia, this is being debated but legislators found that after the first windfall, it actually costs the state money.)

Then we move to budget cuts. All local governments are cut by 25%. Libraries are also cut. Then the interesting stuff begins with the re-organization of the school systems. Education in theory gets a raise and tuition hikes to state colleges are kept to about a 3% range. But then you get into the whole hocus pocus of charter schools, vouchers and the like. I tend to think this creates educational apartheid but I may be wrong.

Now Back in Wisconsin, Governor Walker has already created 10,000 jobs through his policies. That was quick. Well, he was actually quoting the last governor's numbers as his own. Instead, what Walker faces is no longer a trickle but a torrent of retirements and he will soon face a severe deterioration of services throughout the government.

Walker also has proposed that the mediator for contract or labor disputes be a political appointee. Given the prospects of his recall, that might not be bad. But it's nuts.

Conservative websites are apoplectic over unions pulling out their funds from the M & I bank. They've even accused unions of being disloyal. Disloyal to a bank? What happened to the free market and choice?

Our Man, Randy Hopper continues to step in it. Complaints have been filed at the Attorney-General's office because of the discovery he doesn't live in his district.

Tough Man Majority leader Fitzgerald relented and rescinded the fines against the Democratic senators . He even decided to return their voting rights in committees. Big of him.

The occupation of the Michigan capital has begun. Michael Moore is leading the charge with the UAW. Newly elected Republican Rick Snyder has embraked on perhaps the most radical restructuring of Michigan. If you read the entire bill on "financial martial law", you have a fascinating document , which may serve as the model for other state governments and finally our national government. This program deserves real study and analysis because it is far worse in its implications than the unions or the Left believe.

This plan is like the entire state of Michigan becoming an auto company under U.S. government receivership. First, the Governor has severely cut state funding of local governments. Then to prepare for the impending disaster, he can unilaterally place "emergency managers" in charge of school boards,towns, counties and cities. First, a corporation must determine whether there is such an emergency. Once the manager is sent in, he or she can fire elected officials unilaterally,undo the results of democratic elections, dissolve or disincorporate governments, unite desparate governments and cancel union contracts.

You can play around with this for some delightful scenarios. The Mayor of Detroit becomes popular and thinks of running against a standing Governor. The Governor to embarass his rival declares a financial emergency in Detroit and sends a corporate manager to take over. The Mayor calls out the police to prevent the manager from taking office. The Governor sends in the National Guard. And off we go.

Now the next phase is something out of USAID programs gone mad. The officials, who the corporations have determined didn't make the grade, will be sent for re-education to a team of corporate managers, including General Motors and will be taught how to get efficient results. If they successfully complete the course, then they may be allowed to return to their position.

Now there is no sunset clause in this law when a school board or a town is returned to democratic rule. Let's say Ypsilanti goes under a financial manager and the situation straightens out in a year. There is no provision to allow the city to return to its original democratic state.

Then you have the reality of corporations wanting to own towns and cities. Since the Governor can act unilaterally,he just has to pay off campaign donors. You literally will have company towns back in America again.

This reminds me of the movie "Brazil". I have a cousin, a lesbian teamster with a semi living in Michigan and I hope she joins the WOW--WAR ON WORKERS rally of the teamsters. She looks just like the lady truckdriver in the movie. It would be appropriate if she drove by the capitol.

Now there is a little notion of democracy to consider here. This is a radical program, which brings up a whole host of public policy issues. There was no public debate over this. There was no discussion in the camapign on this. It's simply that one political party has agreed to ram this through without any dissent. This is such a significant move that the whole state should be hosting debates, having news casts about the pros and cons. If people are going to give away their democratic rights,at least have them do so openly and after discussion.

But, folks, this is the state to watch in terms of the dystopian future. These moves in Michigan and to a lesser degree Kasich's less radical but nonetheless politically altering policies make me think that the gig is up for the Republican presidential nomination. I believe alot of these managerial moves in government are preparations for Mitt Romney.

And this doesn't interfere with the social conservatives. Nine--that's right 9--anti-evolution bills have been introduced in state legislatures since January 1.