Flint isn't the only city Snyder screwed up!
By Thom Hartmann A...
Flint isn't the only city in Michigan with problems. Detroit is dealing with their own disasters, one of which is the condition of their public schools.
And, the major issues at those schools have a direct connection with Flint's water crisis – they are ruled by the same emergency manger, Darnell Earley, who was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder.
For the last several weeks, teachers at Detroit Public Schools have been protesting conditions like broken plumbing, rotten cafeteria food, and even dead rodents by holding “sick-outs” that force schools to be closed.
Although the school district attempted to get a restraining order to block the protests, the Michigan Court of Claims denied that request. School sanitation and food safety shouldn't require teachers to protest to be addressed, but Rick Snyder's little dictator cares more about dollars than he does about student safety.
The people of Flint had to fight hard to be heard, and it looks like the teachers of Detroit have learned from Flint's fight for clean water.
If Snyder and his cronies want to run Michigan into the ground, they will have to do so under a national spotlight.
Comments
#2
Looks like "DISASTER CAPITALISM " has reared its ugly head in Michigan via Governor Snyder!
#3
Snyder, like our governor here in Kansas, Brownback, do want to drive the government into the ground ("drown it in a bathtub"). First his administration slashed taxes on business and transferred the burden to sales tax while beginning to dismantle the government for the purposes of selling it. They are very single-minded and determined. Evidence around them doesn't sway them. Democrats here are seriously outnumbered and Republicans are clueless. I talk to them. I know them. I was one.
They believe that they have the answer to how to save Kansas, but they're the ones the state needs to be rescued from. They are plunderers in the name of "liberty" with Orwellian terms like "efficiencies." They are forcing us into economic chains. This is the 21st century's "Iron Heel."
At this moment, the legislators did not know how to remedy the revenue shortage after the Laffer tax cuts (less taxes = more revenue bull sputum), so now Alverez & Marsal, a global vulture takeover outfit, are stepping in to rob the state. I don't know if even Brownback knows how bad this deal is. They're going to demolish a state building and put the state workers in rented facilities. They're privatizing our government is what they're doing.
Snyder's just ahead of us. And the proof of how the privatization project doesn't work is the poor in Michigan getting to drink poison. Thanks for everything you do, Thom. Good to see you on Real Time.
#4
This is what the demonic fascist GOP wants to do with the entire country and people still vote for them. Unbelievable. With them in power nothing will be safe to eat or drink or breath. Democrats, progressives, and independents need to make sure we all get out and vote for a progressive democrat. That is America's only hope. Go Bernie!!!!
#5
This is what happens when a government attempts to run itself as if it were a business. The idea of running a government as if it were a business is pure nonsense. The purpose of government is to SERVE the public good. To serve. The purpose of business is to make a profit. They are the opposite of each other. We need both and we need business to be controlled by government and not the other way around. The government makes the rules under which businesses operate. However, when the government becomes involved in a PUBLIC UTILITY, the purpose of government is to SERVE the public good, not to make a profit. The moment that the "administrator" decided that he found a way to lower the cost, he should have realized that he was making a mistake. You do not sacrifice safety and health by lowering the cost of drinking water. I wonder where the "administrator" lived, was he drinking the water he provided for the people of Flint Michigan. The Governor and all his people ought to be investigated by the FBI. I smell corruption.
#6
Right on, Philip Henderson!! Anyone who thinks running a government is the same as running a business is a fuckin' IDIOT.
Sounds like Darnell Earley is more the emergency creator than emergency "manager". Both he and Governor Snyder are not only political hacks; they are criminals who deliberately poisoned the population of an entire city, with lifelong conequences. I'd really like to see those guys lined up and shot.
#7
So! All americans have guns...
Why you don't shoot the oppressors?
That's the american way
#8
There's always the electric chair and the gas chamber, if you don't like guns. Or lethal injection. Or "drawing & quartering"... Take your pick!
#9
Alice! I don't think most of us have electric chairs or gas chambers or any of that other stuff you mentioned
My point is that since there appears to be no or little brain power applied
The only option then is to shoot people because that's what we do best
This is america and it's all in the movies and everything
#10
I'll NEVER understand the mindset of Racist white folks, who elected these Republican's into office, even after SUFFERING economic cuts to their state's education system, and City Services. What has taken place in Flint, is nothing short of what's happening all over America!
Here in Oklahoma, Earthquakes have increased over 100%, because of FRACKING, yet they voted Fallon back into office, along with the Majority of Republican's controlling our State Legislature!
I BELIEVE our votes are being MANIPULATED, because its mind boggling, to believe with all this suffering going on, these people go out to the polls and RE-ELECT these Robber Baron's, all while they are destroying our environment, and RAISING our Cost of Living, FORCING the citizens of this state, to PAY FOR the DAMAGE they have caused and created.
I keep asking myself ... WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICAN'S whom elect these bums into office? I'll never understand this kind of stupidity!
#11
FOR republicans across the nation - people are cost savings per unit - and nothing more.
#12
FOR republicans across the nation - people are cost savings per unit - and nothing more.
#13
The name of the creator of Occupy Wallstreet, Michael Moore, Is not mentioned in a Google Search.
People get the Government thye deserve. Americans have lost control of what used to be their Government
Until the fiat dollar is collapsed by action of the government of the world other than the U.S. collapse of the dollar will continue to be inevitable
Here are the details of what is happening and what is causing this
http://seekingalpha.com/user/25783813/instablog/full_index
http://seekingalpha.com/account/authorboard/instablog
alpha.com/user/25783813/instablog/full_index
http://seekingalpha.com/account/authorboard/instablog
#14
Michael Moore didn't create Occupy Wall Street, Dr. Palms, in fact, I don't think he had anything at all to do with it. It was a collective effort and most central to it were writers for a Canadian, anti capitalist, anti consumerist and environmentalist magazine, Adbusters.
#15
The Michigan Legislature stole $6.2 Billion dollars from Communities, including Flint. ($54,900,000) and Detroit ($734,000,000). A Link to MLive, at the end of this letter, will allow you to find out how much money your city or town lost to this crime.
The Michigan Constitution requires a portion of the state sales tax be distributed to local communities.
Lawmakers cannot revise that formula.
Constitutional Revenue Sharing
In accordance with the State Constitution of 1963, Article IX, Section 10, as amended, constitutional revenue sharing payments are based on 15% of the 4% portion of Michigan’s 6% sales tax collections. Distributions are made to all Michigan cities, villages, and townships on a population basis on the last business day of the even numbered months (October, December, February, April, June, and August).
Michigan State Revenue Sharing
The State Revenue Sharing program distributes sales tax collected by the State of Michigan to local governments as unrestricted revenues. The distribution of funds is authorized by the State Revenue Sharing Act, Public Act 140 of 1971, as amended (MCL 141.901).
FUNDING
Funding for the State Revenue Sharing program consists of the following dedicated tax revenues:
- Constitutional - 15% of the 4% gross collections of the state sales tax;
- Statutory - 21.3% of the 4% gross collections of the state sales.
In addition, the act authorizes the appropriation and distribution of state General Fund-General Purpose revenues when local governments qualify for certain supplemental payments.
- Source: Michigan Department of Treasury
Michigan communities have missed out on some $6.2 billion in statutory revenue sharing payments over the past decade as lawmakers and governors diverted funds to fill holes in the state budget. 1
“For example, look at Flint, which is now under an emergency manager. Flint will have lost $54.9 million dollars by the end of 2014. The deficit in its 2012 financial statements is $19.2 million. Flint could eliminate the deficit and pay off all $30 Million of bonded indebtedness and still have over $5 million in surplus.” 2
Cities declared to be in financial distress and forced to accept an Emergency Manager plus the money owed them by the Michigan State Government. 2
Detroit $734,000,000 Benton Harbor $6,900,000
Flint $54,900,000 Pontiac $40,500,000
It is safe to say the Michigan Legislature contributed greatly to the financial crises suffered by the cities mentioned above. Many other communities have been ripped off by those in State Government who knowingly and intentionally violate the laws and provisions of the Constitution of Michigan.
This criminal activity, and the resulting financial troubles, opened the door for appointing an Emergency Manager. The EM Law was passed, outlawed by Ballot Initiative and then reenacted by the Republican Party. The EM Law is a travesty of ethics and justice.
I suspect – and will investigate and later report – that the EM Law has been used to privatize government services, break Unions, eliminate jobs that paid a decent wage with benefits, and accomplish many items on the agenda of a radical, greedy and unethical group of business interests and billionaire(s).
1.according to a new report from the Michigan Municipal League highlighting losses by community.
2.By Jonathan Oosting | joosting@mlive.com
on March 18, 2014 at 1:34 PM, updated March 18, 2014 at 4:31 PM
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/03/michigans_62b_raid_on_revenue.html
#16
Sane people fail in their duty to vote, so the crazies take over. I'm pushing my 5 children and their friends to vote.
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Democracy has recently come to so many parts of the world, will it ever come to America?
No! The business elites know better than the people! TPP, emergency managers, Hillary Clinton, etc. are all of examples of our betters thinking for us - for our own good, ostensibly.
But really, they think for THEIR own good and to our detriment - or they readily sacrifice our own good for theirs. But, of course, they are our betters so it is their due. We deserve to work our lives out to make THEM rich and to live and die in poverty ourselves.
Feudalism in different clothing.