Looking for some positives in Michigan's population decline? Well this article helps you find some or at least think about some.
Rick Haglund: Look at the positives of Michigan's population decline | MLive.com
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Reapportionment Impact on the Midwest
The Midwest and specifically Michigan are facing huge implications from the loss of many congressional seats and resulting power that will have a major impact on state and local government budgets and operations.
The region's economy has been struggling for decades - the Great Recession just worsened problems.
Midwestern manufacturing employment has been declining since at least 1980. Michigan hasn't had a year of net job growth since the Clinton administration.
No state between Minnesota and Pennsylvania has gained congressional seats since the 1960 Census.
Will the Midwest matter in Congress and in the 2012 Presidential elections with such huge gains in populations in the south, southwest and west?
The region's economy has been struggling for decades - the Great Recession just worsened problems.
Midwestern manufacturing employment has been declining since at least 1980. Michigan hasn't had a year of net job growth since the Clinton administration.
No state between Minnesota and Pennsylvania has gained congressional seats since the 1960 Census.
Will the Midwest matter in Congress and in the 2012 Presidential elections with such huge gains in populations in the south, southwest and west?
Snyder Inaugural Address today
What will he proposed that is dramatic or will it be a motivational address getting Michiganders to come together to make tough choices?
what were the most intriguing proposals? The most dramatic? The most troubling?
what were the most intriguing proposals? The most dramatic? The most troubling?
Happy New Year
Today is 1.1.11
This is going to be a very traumatic year in the political and public policy arena.
We are going to see so much proposed change that it may bring about a lot of discord and maybe civil service.
Below is an interesting observation by a DC based political consultant and observer (from today's Washington Post)
Topic A: What will be 2011's biggest political surprise?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Post asked political experts to predict the biggest political surprise of 2011. Below are responses from Ed Rogers, Jennifer Palmieri, Douglas E. Schoen, Robert Shrum, Dan Schnur, Dana Perino and Catherine A. "Kiki" McLean.
ED ROGERS
Chairman of BGR Group; White House staffer to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush
The biggest political surprise in 2011 may come in the form of the shock produced by public-sector labor strikes and demonstrations that could stray into civil disorder as state and local governments cut budgets. Government workers could be laid off by the thousands, and millions of the beneficiaries of government-supplied salaries, pensions and benefits could see reductions in pay and program allowances they have been told to expect.
The same kind of protests that have rocked Paris, London and Rome could erupt in California, New York and Illinois.
We are heading into uncharted political territory as state and local governments face the reality that promises can't be kept. Will the unionized government institutions go down without a fight? Will the dependent class of Americans that government has created just shrug and accept the spending-cut medicine?
The schism between the governed and those governing could become greater than ever as the government tries to protect itself for its own sake and not for the public good. The millions of Americans who have lost jobs or face increasing economic uncertainty resent the relative posterity and security that government now provides for itself. President Obama will say he is for more "stimulus," but even the money-making printing presses in Washington are at their limits.
Besides, with a Republican majority in the House and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell having veto power in the Senate, there will not be a bailout from Washington.
Fasten your seat belts; there is trouble ahead.
This is going to be a very traumatic year in the political and public policy arena.
We are going to see so much proposed change that it may bring about a lot of discord and maybe civil service.
Below is an interesting observation by a DC based political consultant and observer (from today's Washington Post)
Topic A: What will be 2011's biggest political surprise?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Post asked political experts to predict the biggest political surprise of 2011. Below are responses from Ed Rogers, Jennifer Palmieri, Douglas E. Schoen, Robert Shrum, Dan Schnur, Dana Perino and Catherine A. "Kiki" McLean.
ED ROGERS
Chairman of BGR Group; White House staffer to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush
The biggest political surprise in 2011 may come in the form of the shock produced by public-sector labor strikes and demonstrations that could stray into civil disorder as state and local governments cut budgets. Government workers could be laid off by the thousands, and millions of the beneficiaries of government-supplied salaries, pensions and benefits could see reductions in pay and program allowances they have been told to expect.
The same kind of protests that have rocked Paris, London and Rome could erupt in California, New York and Illinois.
We are heading into uncharted political territory as state and local governments face the reality that promises can't be kept. Will the unionized government institutions go down without a fight? Will the dependent class of Americans that government has created just shrug and accept the spending-cut medicine?
The schism between the governed and those governing could become greater than ever as the government tries to protect itself for its own sake and not for the public good. The millions of Americans who have lost jobs or face increasing economic uncertainty resent the relative posterity and security that government now provides for itself. President Obama will say he is for more "stimulus," but even the money-making printing presses in Washington are at their limits.
Besides, with a Republican majority in the House and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell having veto power in the Senate, there will not be a bailout from Washington.
Fasten your seat belts; there is trouble ahead.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Dem Party Chair to Not Seek Reelection
Mark Brewer the head of the Michigan Democratic Party is said to be not seeking reelection. After some big, big wins by the Democratic Party under his leadership, the Party suffered some HUGE losses this year under Brewer. Not all his fault and maybe not any chance he could have controlled any of it--but someone has to pay the fiddler. Now who replaces him and does organized labor own him? The moderates? The liberals?
Legislature Done
Well they are gone and home. Out with old and in with the new. Interesting to see what the new Administration and new Legislature will set as priorities. This is not a divided government. Far from it. The Republicans own it all--all three branches. No one to blame. Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches all controlled. No one to blame. Also a great opportunity. Lets see what the new agenda is for early 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)