Lansing's inaction makes roads more risky
Another fall-out from Lansing's failure to adopt common-sense, money-saving reforms is that our highways will be more dangerous this winter.
The state has told local road departments that they'll get less money for salting and clearing roads, and that keeping freeways passable will be the top priority. That means major secondary roads will get a lot less attention. That could be disastrous if the heavier snowfalls of the last two winters are repeated.
But it is a deliberate choice by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers. They could have chosen instead to trim public employee pay and benefits to match the cuts being made in the private sector. They could have chosen to force efficiencies on local school districts and municipalities. They could have chosen to reform sentencing guidelines to control Corrections spending. They could have chosen to do any number of things.
Instead, they chose to place you and your loved ones in danger. Remember that if you find yourself in a snow bank -- or worse -- this winter.
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Lansing Decisions = Punishment?
In lieu of trimming benefits and other administrative "fat" within state government (which would not be felt directly by taxpayers), could this Lansing's decision to make taxpayers directly "feel" the implications of the economic shortfall?
Is this a strategy towards making us more apt to approve additional funding for these purposes in the future?
Makes one wonder...
Pass the Salt
Pass the salt obviously does not get it.
With Granholm every move she makes is about politics just like Obama. Ipod Andy came up with a plan to save almost a billion dollars by consolidating health care benifits for govt. workers but she would have no part of it. Why?, because the NEA was against it. She doesn't dare piss of the NEA or she won't get their support when she runs for Senator Levins seat in the senate when he retires. She does not care about the people of Michigan, never has, never will. She only cares about her next political campaign. If the obviously stupid electorate (as evidenced by her re-election) of Michigan votes her in to the Senate then shame on them. They will indeed get the "goverment they deserve"
Lansing's inaction makes roads more risky
This is typical of the governor. Give her the tax increase that she demands, or, she'll affect a). your Safety,
b). your Health, and c). your Children. Nobody should be surprised at this.
Lansing inaction
Obviously the governor is betting that her comrads in Congress like Markey & Kerry are right & there will be no snow this winter due to man made global warming. I suggest we all go out & buy a giant SUV (Detroit made of course) & drive it around the clock at 10 miles over the speed limit. We could fix all the roads with the added gas tax revenue. We could also provide living wages, unlimited unemployment benefits, wellfare for all, reparations, & all the other causes Ms. Granholm loves. Let's hurry because she's only got 1 year left.
Pass the Salt
It's very amusing when I see someone complain about the lack of public works, and then complain about socialism. Here's a clue; ALL public works is socialism. If you don't want to pay the state to clear the roads, then clear your own (%*$& road. Sanilac country farmers have been doing that since the invention of the tractor. Not surprisingly, Sanilac county is over 75% Republican. Republicans need to do the Republican thing and clear your own &%&$ed roads. Quit whining about it, you wusses.
Every road not cleared by the government is one less road cleared by socialism. You should be jumping for joy at the prospect, Nolan.
If you don't want 'big govt.' to do it for you, then do it yourself. Michigans 'big govt.' is shrinking - exactly what Republicans want. You should be glad it's finally happening. So why are Republicans bellyaching? Seems to me, they're too spoiled - wanting others to do it for them but not wanting to pay for it.
And yes, Nolan was whining about having to pay for things he don't like. Now he whines about having to do it himself. He's just a whiny wuss. The difference between a conservative and a wuss is that a conservative does not whine about not having 'big gov' do it for him.
Man up Nolan. And if you can't man up, at least stop 'yer bellyaching.
Pass the Salt
Why is it the tax loving "left" in this state always threatens or imposes cuts on issues of Public safety? Is it because they think they can "bully" an already overburdened citizenry into the vortex of ever increasing "Tribute" to our masters in Lansing (or Washington)?
Before one thin Dime is cut on issue that affect the day to day safety of Citizens our "dear leaders" in Lansing should make sure they too have felt the same economic sting that the rest of the Citizenry has felt.
They should make sure that no taxpayer money is being lost to Fraud, Waste or Abuse.
They should insure that not one Cent is going to support people who have entered this country illegally.
Sadly, these alleged leaders in Lansing lack the personal integrity or intestinal fortitude to "offend" any of their special interest groups. Instead they threaten the safety of average folks just trying to get to what few jobs are left in Michigan.
Road safety should never have to be reduced to satisfy the whims of some in Lansing to keep their won nest well feathered.
Here's a "News Flash" Lansing (and Washington): We the People( you remember us lowly taxpayers don't you?) we are getting damned fed up with always riding in the back of the Bus while Billionaires and other assorted Criminals get to ride first class on our Dime.
Maggie Thatcher once wisely said: "The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money". When will our elected leaders figure that out?
Nolan Finley's bad roads this winter
RepubTeach................hmm..... let's think of what that means. Could mean that you are a republican teacher. That would say to me that you are a fiscal and moral conservative, valuing the concepts of living within your means and honoring life.
Could also mean that you fancy yourself as someone who teaches republicans, which therefore would imply that you disagree with republicans and know a better path and are brazen enough to take on the job of enlightening half the population.
I think the latter and would ask you these questions:
Do you think the solution to Michigan's woes is to raise the levy higher on individuals and businesses?
Has the state done anything whatsover to restructure government to the point of consolidation of school districts, departments, health insurance policies?
Are there any contracts that have been opened and brought in line with what the private sector has endured?
Don't you think that Gov Granholm and the pips (democratic legislature) are trying to punish the state and teach those recalcitrant (stubbornly disobedient) republicans a lesson by holding their nose in it?
Sometimes I think that those who fancy themselves as teachers are blinded by the wall of books they blockade themselves in.
Nolan Finley's bad roads this winter
Nolan has a problem that could be cured by additional revenue. Nolan projects himself into winter were he travels the roads and highways, with a bit of forethought he comes to the nagging conclusion that things on those pavements will be unsafe because of budget shortfalls.
How perceptive and insightful. Nolan suddenly has a problem which a few tax dollars additional on his part would help solve.
He's worried that he might be impacted, or worse yet hurt or killed for the lack of a little salt on the roadways.
Nolan has no problem with clawing back all kinds of revenue for a myriad of other important state services and provisions, salaries and/or benefits.
He can standby mute while a humble handicapped person with a fatally infected tooth dies for lack of treatment because of the cutbacks that Nolan staunchly editorialized for, begged the GOP legislature to make, were imposed.
At last we have found a tax-funded activity that grabs Nolan by the small hairs.
Why don't you take a scoop and a bucket with you Nolan, and make a voluntary citizen's contribution to safer winter roads by a private act on your part.
Toss some salt on icy pavement. That way you can alleviate, in a token way, the possibility that "you and your loved ones" may be in danger because of cut-backs you backed. Pray they won't be harmed by the general lack of winter roadway maintenance and service due to "no new taxes."
Just throw that dash or two of salt or sand out your window whenever you feel threatened by threatening or dangerous conditions created by lack of service from the tax-starved highway department.
This way perhaps you won't have to feel responsible for all the real damage you do with your encouragement of tax-hater's parsimony and your pinch-penny rants.
Nolan Finley's bad roads this winter
For months, Nolan Finley advocated for cutting the state budget without tax increases. Now that he's gotten what he wants, he complains there won't be enough snow removal this winter. This is called getting what you ask for. It's also called getting the government you deserve, and getting the government you are willing to pay for.
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