Plain Truth 2006 Voting Guide
Governor: Dick DeVos (R) or Greg Creswell (L)
I know I won’t vote for Jennifer Granholm. She has not provided any leadership on our economic problems. I don’t blame her for the poor economic conditions, but the policies she advocates are socialist in nature and ineffective. I don’t believe DeVos will have the courage to implement the policies necessary to turn this state around but Creswell doesn’t have a chance.
United States Senator: Leonard Schwartz (L)
Neither Michael Bouchard or Debbie Stabenow is worthy of being my representative in Washington. I despise Stabenow’s liberal policies and Bouchard is a career politician who will not stay true to conservative principles of smaller government. Schwartz won’t win but I’ll sleep better knowing I didn’t support the eventual winner.
United States Representative, 9th District: Adam Goodman (L)
Joe Knollenberg epitomizes the problem with the Republican majority in Washington. He spends like a drunken sailor and then claims he’s fiscally responsible. Nancy Skinner is endorsed by every labor union in the state. That can’t be good.
Secretary of State: Terri Lynn Land (R)
Attorney General: Bill Hall (L)
Too many questionable issues in this past term with Mike Cox and I have an aversion to voting for Democrats.
State Board of Education / University Boards: All Libertarian candidates
I don’t know squat about any of the candidates but I am opposed to the way Republicrats manage education.
State Senator, District 14: Tara Bellingar (R)
There’s no Libertarian in this race and I disagree with Gilda Jacobs so the Republican gets the nod. She won’t win though.
State Representative, District 37: Dennis Malaney (R)
I don’t agree with Malaney on some of his positions, but he favors charter schools. I disagree with Aldo Vagnozzi on nearly every issue. Peruse my blog for plenty of letters about him.
State Supreme Court: Maura Corrigan (Incumbent) and Kerry L. Morgan
Proposal 1: NO
“A proposed constitutional amendment to require that money held in conservation and recreation funds can only be used for intended purposes.”
I like the idea but this is not what the constitution is for.
Proposal 2 Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI): YES
“A proposal to amend the state constitution to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, or national origin for public employment, education, or contracting purposes.”
I think I’ve sufficiently covered the reasons why in this blog.
Proposal 3: YES
“A referendum on Public Act 160 of 2004—An act to allow the establishment of a hunting season for mourning doves.”
If they aren’t endangered, I don’t have a problem with hunting.
Proposal 4: YES
“A proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit government from taking private property by eminent domain for certain purposes.”
My letter to the Farmington Observer (a few letters down) addresses why I say YES.
Proposal 5: NO
“A legislative initiative to establish mandatory school funding levels.”
My letter to the Farmington Observer (a few more letters down) addresses why I say NO.
4 comments:
Interesting blog you have got going. So are you saying you plan to vote for DeVos? You would rather have a right wing radical as head of Michigan who plans to eliminate taxes that will dramatically reduce funding for public schools, police and fire departments and other services?
Actually I'm saying I don't know if I'll vote for DeVos. I think it would be a terrible mistake for Michigan if Granholm got another 4 years. Her past proposals for "fixing" the economy were re-treads from past governors that have been proven failures.
On the other hand, I don't believe DeVos will reduce funding enough. In fact, he'll apply the same superficial bandaids that Granholm tried. Having spoken with DeVos in a small group setting, I believe he knows what is necessary to fix such things as education but he will not have the political courage to do so.
Private citizen DeVos has done more for education in this state than Governor Granholm. He supported a ballot proposal to allow vouchers which was foolishly rejected by voters after a massive and deceptive campaign mounted by the education unions. DeVos supports the Education Freedom Fund which provides low-income Michigan families with tuition assistance through scholarships.
As governor, DeVos would not be able to impose vouchers as the Democrats are trying to infer (it's against the Michigan Constitution). However, he could impact positive education reform by lifting the cap completely on charter schools. This would inject free market principles into the system allowing reform to take place.
My concern is that DeVos will not have the will to stand up to the well-funded education union machine that will attack him mercilessly.
In addition, I disagree with DeVos's stated desire to replace half the revenue from the Single Business Tax which will expire in 2009. I think it should be replaced with spending cuts.
Regarding the SBT, I think DeVos will pass the burden onto the people by raising the sales tax or incorporate something similar.
I too believe he won't have the political courage to fight for what he wants. I base this on how his campaign has been going. He is constantly trying to present himself as a moderate when most people recognize he is a hard-line conservative. I understand he needs to convince people to vote for him but I don't think it's a good idea to pretend to be someone you're not.
Steve,
Thanks for the vist to The Other Club.
I can see that we are of quite similar opinion on the election. Your post does remind me that I did not discuss State Reps.
Slipped my mind, since in those races the result is a forgone conclusion.
On timbercake's question about "...would [you] rather have a right wing radical as head of Michigan who plans to eliminate taxes that will dramatically reduce funding for public schools, police and fire departments and other services?"; my answer would be, "Whoever will dramatically reduce funding for public schools, police and fire departments and other services will get my vote. It is not a requirement that they be a right wing radical."
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