Plain Truth

2011-11-19T06:32:00.001-06:00

World class transportation for a third world city
According to Sen. Carl Levin, Detroit “deserves a world-class transportation system.” Detroit has spent decades driving out businesses and residents with punitive taxes, bureaucratic nightmares, failing schools, public corruption, and high crime rates. Third world cities don’t deserve world-class transportation systems especially one funded and maintained by taxpayers.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 11/19/2011.]

2011-10-25T11:22:00.002-05:00

The Union Bus

The Detroit bus system fiasco can be summed up as follows: one group of union workers getting paid but refusing to work resulting in another group of union workers sitting idle and getting paid while yet another group of union workers, who are actually working, get to collect millions in overtime. Meanwhile those paying the fare wait at the curb.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 10/24/2011.]

2011-09-29T05:33:00.001-05:00

Screwed up priorities
Never mind the current law is so poorly written that no one can legally sell pot to a patient holding a Michigan medical marijuana card, the Michigan Senate’s first order of business is to make sure injury claims for medical marijuana aren’t covered by auto insurance or workers compensation. Apparently the sick and suffering are not a priority.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 09/29/2011.]

2011-08-29T05:13:00.001-05:00

Nothing a little tar and feathers can't fix

With the recent ruling banning medical marijuana sales, dispensary operators face arrest, fines, and the loss of their businesses. Meanwhile, the legislators who violated the demands of Michigan citizens to enact laws allowing medical marijuana face no consequences. Makes one nostalgic for the time when renegade rulers were held accountable with a little tar and feathers.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 08/29/2011.]

2011-07-26T05:16:00.002-05:00

Water restrictions in the Great Lakes? Really?

The late Nobel laureate and economist Milton Friedman used to say “If you put the government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there’d be a shortage of sand.” Similarly, if you put the government in charge of water distribution in the Great Lakes state of Michigan, you’ll face watering restrictions following one of the wettest springs on record.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 08/04/2011.]

2011-07-22T05:05:00.002-05:00

A drop in the bucket

According to the U.S. government, taxpayers lost $1.3 billion on the Chrysler bailout. That may be the official accounting loss, but the costs are much higher. Our government forever altered the playing field by changing the rules. Bankruptcy laws were turned upside down and companies will seek political favors as lenders, stockholders and labor look to the taxpayer to be made whole when their bets lose. Capitalism is about profit and loss. Bail out the losers and there’s no end to the cost.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 08/05/2011.]

2011-07-12T05:16:00.001-05:00

The blind leading the blind

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the feds are coming to the rescue. Federal bureaucrats will help city bureaucrats figure out ways to eliminate red tape and help spend federal funds efficiently. I dare anyone to read that last sentence with a straight face.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 07/12/2011.]

2011-06-30T08:17:00.003-05:00

It's not that complicated

Creating a teacher evaluation system is a simple three-step process (“What is a fair way to evaluate the effectiveness of teachers”, 6/30/11). Convert all teachers to at-will employees; make principals responsible for hiring and firing; and give children a voucher and the freedom to choose their school. Schools stocked with good teachers will flourish while those employing bad teachers will fail. Principals seeking to serve their customers will weed out the bad teachers. Principals who don’t, will be replaced. Happens every day in the real world.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 07/28/2011.]

2011-06-22T06:59:00.001-05:00

Earlier this month, Farmington Schools Superintendent Susan Zurvalec appeared on a local TV news and public affair program to discuss education. During her appearance, she commented that her district’s teachers were feeling unappreciated despite pay raises and generous benefits.

Zurvalec and Harrison High School Principal Aaron Johnson should know that some parents of graduating seniors did not feel appreciated during commencement as we sat and listened to well-compensated administrators lecture us about how education is underfunded. I'm sure the unemployed parents or those of us paying 43% of our health insurance premium and getting zero matching dollars on our 401Ks didn't really want to hear about your alleged funding woes.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 07/07/2011.]

2011-06-17T03:57:00.002-05:00

How about a truce?

In reference to the media storm surrounding Rep. Anthony Weiner’s sexting revelations, a recent letter calls on us to “get off our high moral horse and take care of our own character problems.” How about we offer politicians a truce? You stay out of our personal lives and we’ll stay out of yours. But as long as politicians pass laws prohibiting gambling, smoking, trans fats, marijuana and countless other victimless vices, their personal moral failings should be exposed for all to see - with some scorn and ridicule thrown in for good measure.

[Letter to the Editor - The Farmington Observer. Published 06-23-2011.]

2011-06-07T13:00:00.002-05:00

GM seeking more rents

General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson, who wants higher gas taxes, describes himself as a “Colin Powell Republican”. Actually, Akerson looks more like a crony capitalist beholden to his masters in Washington. GM needs higher gas taxes to make the Chevy Volt and future politically-designed vehicles profitable. Having been rescued from the marketplace once, GM wants future protection.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 06/28/2011.]

2011-05-18T04:03:00.001-05:00

Painting with broad strokes

Background: Former Governor Jenny Granholm and hubby Danny Mulhern took swipes at Arnold via Twitter. I'm a fan of using public shaming to encourage acceptable behavior in society so I don't have a problem with chastising or making fun of the Governator. However, Mulhern makes a stupid claim.

According to former Governor Jennifer Granholm’s husband Dan Mulhern, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s infidelity “brought discredit to men.” Schwarzenegger brought discredit to himself and only himself. To claim otherwise would be the same as saying Granholm’s eight abysmal years as governor brought discredit to women.

[Letter to the Editor. The Detroit News - Submitted 05/18/2011.]

2011-04-21T05:40:00.001-05:00

Fight speech with speech

Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr’s hypocrisy while denying Pastor Terry Jones a permit to protest was staggering (“Dearborn denies permit”). In the same breath, O’Reilly claims his “commitment to the Constitution is unwavering” but Jones will not be allowed to speak in “our streets”. In the United States, the appropriate response to speech we find offensive is more speech. Jones may be protesting “against an imaginary threat” but the city’s assault on free speech is quite real.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 04/21/2011.]

2011-04-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Stranger Danger
A recent letter from Ray Elyas uses the common fear-mongering tactic of union bosses opposed to privatization - stranger danger. According to their scary scenarios, parents should worry about strangers infiltrating our schools if the board contracts with businesses to provide support services.

As a parent, perhaps I should start worrying about these strangers. Not only those who might be in the schools, but everywhere. The cashier at the grocery store? I don’t know her. What might she have done to the food I plan to feed my children? Or the stock clerk? Never seen him before. Who knows what dastardly deeds he may have done.

I stopped at a fast food restaurant the other day and knew nobody. I shudder to think of the danger my kids were exposed to because I dared to go to a profit-seeking restaurant run by strangers.

Nearly everyday I visit private businesses employing people I don’t know, yet I’ve survived. Have I just been lucky or maybe, just maybe, this claim of “stranger danger” is overblown.

Does this mean the school administration should ignore potential threats? Absolutely not. I think everyone can agree there are some people who should not be around our students. For example a week after Elyas’ letter was published, a teacher in the Plymouth-Canton school district made a threat forcing the closure of 3 high schools. Over the past few years, several school teachers have been charged and convicted of sex crimes involving students. Obviously, administrators should be wary but it’s not only the “strangers” they need to keep an eye on.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Submitted 04/14/2011.]

2011-03-28T07:23:00.002-05:00

Hitting snooze for 50 years

According to Bing spokeswoman Karen Dumas, Detroit’s latest census count is being treated as a “wake-up call”. Wake-up call? Detroit leaders have been hitting the snooze alarm for the past 50 years.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 04/13/2011.]

2011-02-25T08:11:00.002-06:00

Look for the unseen

Background: A letter to my state representative Vicki Barnett who attended a rally with Jeff Daniels and Mitch Albom promoting corporate welfare for film executives.

Dear Representative Barnett,

I strongly urge you to reconsider your support for the corporate welfare program which transfers hard-earned taxpayer money to rich Hollywood executives. Folks like Clint Eastwood and Michael Bay are doing just fine and do not need handouts from citizens slammed by conditions brought on partly by foolish policies such as film subsidies.

I recognize supporters of the subsidy would prefer to ignore the Senate Fiscal Agency’s analysis which found no film subsidy generated more in revenue than was paid. Instead, supporters choose to focus on the 2009 study from MSU and the most recent one from Ernst & Young which confirm their bias.

Basic economic laws tell us the subsidies don’t provide the claimed benefits. The MSU and E&Y studies fail to acknowledge one of the most important truths when performing an economic evaluation. This truth was articulated by the famed political economist Frederic Bastiat in 1850 when he published an essay titled “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen.”

Bastiat pointed out what should be obvious, government policy has two effects: the seen and the unseen. And, as he noted in the essay, “There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one: the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect; the good economist takes into account both the effect that can be seen and those effects that must be foreseen.”

Based on Bastiat’s definition, the MSU and E&Y studies were conducted by “bad economists.” The millions handed to Hollywood didn’t fall from the sky. They were taken from the pockets of Michigan businesses and families. When E&Y claims each $1 generated $6 in economic benefit, a specious claim at best, they failed to account for the fact that each of those dollars would have been spent or invested if left in the hands of the rightful owners. This would have generated economic benefits without transferring wealth from the have-nots to the haves.

I strongly urge you to help the taxpayers of this state by reading Bastiat’s essay: http://www.econlib.org/library/Bastiat/basEss1.html#Chapter 1. Afterwards, announce your support for Governor Snyder’s plan to reduce the subsidies. Your next step should be to convince him to eliminate them.

Sincerely yours,

Steve Sutton
A vocal constituent and voter in Farmington Hills

[Sent 02/25/2011.]

2011-02-23T08:38:00.002-06:00

A little whine for that cheese

If striking DSO musicians who rejected a salary offer of $80,000 want to show solidarity with the well-compensated Wisconsin public employees protesting budget cuts, perhaps they should travel to Madison for a benefit concert of classical music. I hear whine goes well with cheese.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 02/28/2011.]

2011-02-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

Unions - Extortionists and Bullies

In writing about the DSO labor strife, performance art critic Lawrence B. Johnson points out an important fact that too many people overlook - “Professional orchestras are highly unionized; any musician taking a replacement job risks career suicide.” While touting workers' “rights”, unions immorally threaten to deny these workers a livelihood if they refuse to play by their rules and deny individuals their right to negotiate freely. This reveals unions for what they are - extortionists and bullies.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 02/22/2011.]

2011-02-18T04:51:00.002-06:00

At least we've stopped digging

Background: Farmington Observer editor Stacy Jenkins asked for comments from "regular" people on new Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's proposed budget. Here's mine.

As expected, Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed budget combines good and bad elements while revealing a profound difference between himself and his predecessor. Snyder understands what this state must do in order to allow the private sector to create jobs. Unfortunately, this aspect of the budget will receive the most criticism from the usual class warfare proponents - union leaders, liberal politicians, and recipients of government handouts - who fail to recognize some simple truths. Businesses don’t pay taxes - their customers do; high costs in the form of taxes and regulations deter businesses from investing in Michigan; and until this state reduces the cost of doing business, job creation will be anemic at best. Snyder’s budget is a step toward reducing these costs.

Another positive aspect of his budget is the reduction of special tax breaks for certain industries and retirees. Granting favors to some darling special interest group forces others to pay higher taxes and creates an entrenched lobbying group that fights for those favors and encourages others to get themselves some.

Snyder’s budget pushes more responsibility onto local units of government which have been too slow in implementing structural changes as Farmington Public Schools recently demonstrated. The district is finally looking for competitive bids to save up to $4 million per year on support services. These savings have been available for years but ignored.

The two most disappointing aspects of his budget are the plan to eliminate the final reduction in the personal income tax rate and not enough specific reforms in some of the most expensive areas of the budget.

Snyder’s elimination of personal deductions should be offset with the across the board reduction in personal tax rates to 3.9 percent rather than freezing it at 4.25 percent.

As far as reforms, Snyder’s proposal appears to be lacking some details. Reduced funding for higher education should be accompanied by a change in how those funds are dispersed. Today, each university lobbies for their slice of the pie. Attach those funds to individual students and let the universities compete for those students and the funding they carry. Corrections is a costly drag on state spending and Snyder should have proposed contracting out more of the services related to it. Simply cutting the budget does not result in structural changes.

Finally, Snyder doesn’t go far enough with his cuts to special interest programs. MEGA, Pure Michigan, and the 21st Century Jobs Fund should be eliminated not just funded at a reduced level.

Snyder first budget moves Michigan in the right direction. However, the political battles to come will be the defining factor. If Snyder blinks, Michigan will continue its downward slide. If he holds firm, he will have taken the first step toward helping us forget how former Governor Jennifer Granholm blew us away.

[Commentary - Farmington Observer. Submitted 02/18/2011.]

2011-02-17T15:11:00.003-06:00

About time they started being good stewards
I received a disturbing email message from Susan H. Zurvalec, superintendent of Farmington Public Schools, regarding the school board’s plan to accept competitive bids for support services such as transportation, custodial, maintenance, and nutrition services.

According to Zurvalec, “the continued uncertainty regarding the future of school funding in our state requires us to carefully manage our limited resources” and “consider any option that keeps dollars in the classroom.”

Why is this a new concern? School districts have always had limited resources that required careful management. This statement sounds like an admission the administration and board have operated under the delusion that resources weren’t limited and they could always come back to the well for more.

Zurvalec points out that based on other districts’ experiences, FPS could realize savings of $4 million per year. By all means, implement the changes to start these savings. However, I want to know why is the board just now getting around to saving this money?

On many occasions over the past few years, I have received emails from the administration imploring me to contact my state representatives and demand more education funding because budgets have been cut to the bone. Now FPS admits that wasn’t quite the case. Before they come to the well again, they need to demonstrate they are better stewards of my money.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 02/24/2011.]

2011-01-31T14:31:00.002-06:00

Froma's ridiculous claim
According to Froma Harrop, the social security trust fund is "just fine" with enough money to pay benefits for the next 28 years even though no money exists in the fund. Instead, politicians have stolen the cash to pay for expansive government programs and left IOUs payable by one government account to another. This is no different then if Harrop’s left hand borrowed $10 from her right hand, spent it and then claimed she still had $10. While anyone can see this is a ridiculous claim, people accept it when discussing social security.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 02/18/2011.]

2011-01-04T06:28:00.002-06:00

Attracting jobs while killing them
In the obituary for state representative Kate Ebli, the News described her as a lawmaker who "worked to attract jobs to Michigan and halt the importation of trash from Canada." On January 1, importation of Canadian household trash to the landfill in Sumpter Township ended. Local officials are considering a number of options to offset the loss of $700,000 a year in revenue including elimination of the police department, cuts in senior or recreation services, or closing the township-owned banquet hall.

Legislators must recognize intentions don’t matter; results matter. To attract and retain jobs, Michigan lawmakers need to stop raising barriers to business that chase them away.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 01/04/2011.]

2010-12-19T06:48:00.001-06:00

Crony capitalism is not a free market
According to the News, intense demand for the GM Volt, a vehicle supported by a $7,500 subsidy and built by a company that received billions in government bailout money, demonstrates the power of the free market. Wrong. This is an example of crony capitalism, not free markets.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 12/19/2010.]

2010-12-07T04:22:00.001-06:00

Judge exceeds power claiming Bobb exceeds power
Wayne Circuit Judge Wendy Baxter ruled that "Bobb's decision to make all academic and social policy choices for the district's more than 70,000 students 'runs afoul' of the legislative intent of the state's emergency financial manager law."

As a judge, that is one of her responsibilities. Provide interpretation of the law as written. If clearer law is desired, the Michigan Legislature needs to fix it.

However, Baxter has revealed her decision may not be based solely on the law. She has treaded into the area of judicial activism when she said:

"Bobb's academic vision to create a competitive marketplace of schools could leave less gifted children by the wayside. The plan is unauthorized, uninformed and a short-term fix where some stand to profit, shielded to some extent from the eye of public oversight of competitive bids."

That is not for you to decide Judge Baxter.

How ironic that Baxter "criticized Bobb's qualifications and those of his chief academic officer, Barbara Byrd-Bennett. . . This is a vision that emanates from a person who had to be chosen solely based on his finance credentials and who has no teaching certificate, training or experience, no education or counseling background; all his study in education has emanated from unvetted sources who may stand to benefit financially should his academic plans come to fruition and who have supplemented his pay."

So Judge, what are your education qualifications? Where is your teaching certificate, training or experience to claim Bobb's academic vision is wrong?

[Online comment - The Detroit News. Posted 12/7/2010.]

2010-11-29T03:36:00.000-06:00

Out demons out
In medieval times, evil spirits were blamed for illness. These beliefs resulted in useless treatments that were often worse than the disease. Today, this same irrational mentality demonizes medical marijuana. Marijuana relieves pain and encourages chemotherapy patients to eat. Self-proclaimed moralists and intrusive authoritarians need to abandon their dark age beliefs and recognize that denying relief for the suffering is barbaric and immoral.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 11/29/2010.]

2010-11-23T06:15:00.003-06:00

Welfare for the rich and famous
According to Jim Burnstein, vice chairman of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council, taxpayer funded subsidies to the film industry benefit Michigan residents. A more accurate description would be “some” Michigan residents at the expense of others.

The purpose of a subsidy is to reduce the cost of doing business in Michigan and coax companies to choose Michigan over some other state for their investment. Burnstein uses the phrase “If We Build It, They Will Come,” but a more accurate phrase would be “If We Give Them Taxpayer Funding, They Will Come.” Unfortunately, this has become Michigan’s primary economic policy - bribe business to locate here.

But if lowering the cost of doing business is good for some politically-favored few, why not for everyone? Why should one industry be burdened by the Michigan Business Tax and onerous regulation costs, while another receives a break on these costs? How can it be considered fair or moral when a lifelong Michigan business owner is forced to pay higher taxes while the latest Cinderella industry receives millions of dollars to offset their tax burden?

Burnstein claims some of the benefits of these film subsidies were demonstrated when audiences “all” applauded as “Made in Michigan” rolled during the credits of the movie Gran Torino. Perhaps a different reaction would have met a more accurate description - “Funded by millions of Michigan taxpayer dollars.”

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 12/2/2010.]

2010-11-16T06:29:00.001-06:00

Back to the future

Once a leader in the Industrial Revolution, Detroit now seeks salvation in a return to an agrarian economy. Yet the same bureaucratic mentality of city leaders responsible for driving industry out and producing a sea of vacant land prevents urban farming from taking root. If Detroit’s leadership can’t manage a 19th century economy, how can anyone expect it to handle the 21st?

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 11/16/2010.]

2010-11-16T04:28:00.003-06:00

Stimulated Ignorance - The Sequel

Background: My letter on the foolishness of Keynesian policies generated a response from the local Democratic Club Chair. Apparently I wasn't clear enough the first time around.

Darryl Conliffe’s response to my letter critical of the stimulus bill reads like President Obama’s playbook. Attack business - check. Blame Bush - check. Fault free markets - check. Sounds like a game plan guaranteed to lead a team to big losses.

Conliffe correctly stated “the idea [behind the stimulus] is that the business activity started will re-ignite consumer and business confidence, leading to more enterprise.” Keynes’ technical term for this confidence was “animal spirits”. However, some problems exist with appealing to these “animal spirits.”

First, it implies that consumers and business leaders are Pavlovian dogs salivating whenever more money is dumped into the marketplace. Contrary to the low regard the current administration holds business leaders, they aren’t stupid. These leaders fully recognize what “stimulus” spending means - attempting to generate artificial demand using money better left in the hands of the private sector.

This supports the main problem with Keynes’ theory that claims the solution to a recession is to increase aggregate demand. The business cycle is driven by investment spending not consumer spending. From 2006 to the heart of the recession in 2009, consumer spending as a percentage of GDP increased slightly while investment spending dropped 36 percent. Into the second quarter of 2010, consumer spending continued to remain strong while investment spending stayed flat. This explains why unemployment spiked over 10 percent earlier this year and remains high today - consumers never stopped consuming but investors stopped investing.

Conliffe claims the theories of Keynes are only discredited by economists “who espouse laissez-faire capitalism.” Some of the economists that Conliffe summarily dismisses include 5 Nobel laureates - Edward Prescott, Vernon Smith, James Buchanan, Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. Friedman, considered to be the most influential economist in the second half of the 20th century, once responded to a similar attack on his brand of economics - “there is no [laissez-faire] economics - only good economics and bad economics.” Government’s adoption of Keynesian theory is bad economics.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 11/18/2010.]

2010-11-04T04:20:00.003-05:00

Not for, but against

Whenever the Republican victors think to overreach, they should keep the election in perspective: Republicans weren’t voted into office, but rather Democrats were voted out.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 11/08/2010.]

2010-11-03T20:22:00.003-05:00

Who is childish and silly?

A recent letter from Gerald and Dolores Maxey called Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts’ decision to allow his fellow justices to not attend the Presidential State of the Union (SOTU) address “childish and silly”. Childish and silly may be apt descriptors, but not of Roberts.

First, Roberts made no such decision. Justices have always made their own decision whether to attend or not. In fact, when six justices attended the last SOTU address, it was the first time since 1999 that a majority of justices showed. No more than two justices attended each of President Bush’s first four SOTU speeches. In each of his last three, only four justices attended.

This shouldn’t be too surprising since the SOTU address is based on the constitutional requirement that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” This event involves Congress and the president, not the Supreme Court.

Reasons for not attending range from schedule conflicts to health issues to personal preference. As Justice Clarence Thomas explained when asked why he has only attended one SOTU address in the last decade, the speech has grown increasingly partisan. One side of the aisle responds with wild enthusiasm while the other sits somberly. Thomas questions whether his attendance as an impartial jurist is appropriate in the midst of such partisan behavior.

This concern over partisan behavior proved prescient in President Obama’s last SOTU when he crossed a line and rudely attacked the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision while the justices sat in attendance. Not only was the attack disrespectful, it was blatantly wrong.

Obama accused the Court of overturning a century of precedent but he exaggerated by about 80 years. In Citizen’s United, the Court overturned a confusing decision from 1990. Also, Obama claimed the decision opens the floodgates for foreign involvement in U.S. elections. Once again, wrong. Existing bans on foreign nationals and corporations continue contrary to Obama’s recent campaign rhetoric on the issue. Even the NY Times called Obama out on this rhetoric just a few weeks ago.

Another incorrect accusation states the decision declared corporations as individuals, but the ruling did no such thing. The concept of “corporate person-hood” has been recognized as common law for centuries and constitutionally since the 1880s.

The Roberts’ court ruling rests firmly on nearly 220 years of precedent - the First Amendment’s clear and unambiguous declaration that “Congress shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech.” Whether that speech comes from an individual or a group of individuals is irrelevant.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 11/11/2010.]

2010-10-21T04:16:00.001-05:00

Bush on steroids

The problem is not that nobody knows about Obama being the most successful Progressive since FDR. Obama's problem is that too many people know. Being a progressive means believing government needs to be involved in every decision we individuals make. It means believing government is an omnipotent god with the president as it's Messiah. It means believing that government spending more and more is good. Obama's problem is that people are on to his progressive bullshit. Unfortunately the result of all this is that Obama has managed to make W look fiscally conservative. In two years, he has managed to make people clamor for the "small" government days when the Republicans were in control. People were hoping for change and instead got Bush on steroids.

[Online comment - The Metro Times. Posted 10/20/2010.]

2010-10-15T05:13:00.001-05:00

Pradeep is wrong

Background: Pradeep Srivastava is a frequent letter writer to the Detroit News. This letter prompted my online comment:

I personally think the tea party is like a tea kettle that got overheated and as a result makes a lot of noise and generates a lot of steam that simply escapesto the atmosphere ("Tea party toppling the elites," Oct. 2). Yes, people are angry and frustrated because of the stubbornly high unemployment rate. But the tea party people don't understand economics 101. How can they expect to produce more jobs by reducing government spending at a time when the economy is still trying to recover from the Great Recession? If the consumers are not spending and the businesses are not spending, the government has to be the spender of the last resort to stimulate the economy to produce jobs. Pradeep Srivastava

Pradeep claims the Tea Partiers don't understand Economics 101. Pradeep is the one who doesn't understand. Government stimulus spending doesn't work. It didn't work when tried during the administrations of Hoover, Roosevelt, Ford, and George W. Bush and it didn't work for Obama. Money to spend is not magically manufactured out of thin air. It comes from borrowing or taxes that takes money directly out of the hands of consumers and investors. So when government spends $800 billion, it is merely redistributing the money from one group to another - usually a politically connected or favored group. This leads to misdirected investments which is what contributes to the recession to begin with.

According to Pradeep, consumers and businesses are not spending. According to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer spending increased during the downturn, not decreased. However, what decreased was private investment. This is understandable given that downturns occur due to the bursting of bubbles created by over-investment in markets. Over-investment encouraged by government policies. The bursting of the bubble allows for a correction and pulling back investments is a natural reaction. Once the correction occurs, investment restarts.

Government stimulus spending does several things to hurt this process. First, it removes money available to private investors through borrowing. The more government takes, the less available to private investors. Second, it spends that money as it (not the market) sees fit and re-plants the seeds toward the next downturn that seeks to correct the previous poor investments.

Pradeep may have mastered Mythology 101, but he slept through Econ.

[Online comment - The Detroit News. Posted 10/15/2010.]

2010-10-12T11:32:00.004-05:00

Stimulated Ignorance

Background: A local Democratic leader had a letter published singing praises about the "stimulus" bill. Economically, stimulus spending is a fool's game. But when have politicians ever avoided playing the fool?

A recent letter from the local Democratic Club chair Darryl Conliffe accuses Rocky Raczkowski of lying by repeating Republican dogma regarding the inappropriately-named American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Conliffe’s ignorance matches that displayed by Gary Peters, Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of Obama’s comrades in Congress.

Stimulus spending does not create sustained economic growth. It failed when tried by Hoover, Roosevelt, Ford and George W. Bush. It failed when tried by Japan in 1990s. Stimulus spending is based on the discredited theories of John Maynard Keynes which always make a comeback when politicians hold office during the downside of the business cycle and want to appear to be doing something to “fix” the economy.

Stimulus spending misdirects limited resources and wastes additional resources through an inefficient bureaucracy. Stimulus spending doesn’t even do what it purports - increase consumption. Any short-term gain in consumption is canceled out in the long-term when higher taxes or inflation decreases purchasing power.

Perhaps following this upcoming mid-term election beating, Democrats will learn that spending does not create prosperity. Let’s hope Republicans learned this from their 2008 defeat.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 10/21/2010.]

2010-09-23T05:52:00.001-05:00

Definition of Less Government

A recent letter writer wants to know what “less government” means and then proceeds to wonder about speed limits and purple houses. Less government means more personal freedom, less confiscation of personal income, and an increase in civil society.

Less government doesn't:

- Spend $3.5 trillion per year.
- Add $1.2 trillion per year to a $13.5 trillion debt.
- Create a health entitlement program costing $2.7 trillion over a full 10 years while adding $350 billion to the debt.
- Conduct unjust wars in foreign lands and spend taxpayer money on failed nation-building exercises.
- Use unwarranted wiretaps to spy on citizens (yes, even under Obama).
- Post 70,000 new pages to the Federal Register each year with costly regulations.
- Consume 44 percent of GDP.

So while some people worry whether less government means driving 95 MPH on the freeway or a brightly painted house in the neighborhood, others are concerned about the overbearing and crushing burden being placed on our backs.

[Letter to the Editor | Farmington Observer | Submitted 09/17/2010.]

2010-09-09T04:40:00.002-05:00

Don't build it and they will come

Mayor Dave Bing's plan to reshape Detroit will fail. Like all the previous plans to salvage the city, it will fail because if suffers from what noted economist, philosopher and Nobel laureate F.A. Hayek called “The Fatal Conceit”. This is the belief that a single mind or committee can do things better than the spontaneous, complex and creative forces of the market. Detroit needs to lower taxes, reduce regulations, and eliminate the red tape that kills the incentive for entrepreneurs to operate and live in the city. In other words, get out of the way and they will come.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 09/11/2010.]

2010-08-06T07:37:00.001-05:00

DPS is Zombieland

Nolan Finley is nearly correct when he says the death of DPS may be best. The problem is that DPS died long ago and crossed into the realm of the undead. Like a zombie, this failed institution preys on the most vulnerable (low-income children) with one purpose – satisfy its cravings.

Local boards and state oversight failed. While appearing to make progress, even emergency manager Robert Bobb has failed in his primary duty – stop the financial hemorrhaging. To think Mayor Dave Bing can stop this beast is foolish. Bing is busy battling other monsters.

Success can be achieved only when parents are given control through choice. When parents dictate which schools live or die, accountability and competition will produce quality schools.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 08/06/2010.]

2010-08-03T09:10:00.003-05:00

Technical Foul on Gilbert

Background: Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert published a scathing attack on LeBron James for leaving Cleveland for the Miami Heat. James' handling of his move leaves much to be desired but Gilbert's attack focused on James' lack of loyalty. Loyalty is a bit overblown when it comes to business arrangements.

Apparently loyalty wasn’t an issue for Dan Gilbert when he decided to abandon Livonia and move Quicken Loans’ headquarters to Detroit.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 07/12/2010.]

2010-06-11T06:56:00.003-05:00

Regulate the Regulators

Background: A state senator wants to require state registration of reporters and mandate a 25 cent deposit on newspapers sold through dealers or vending machines.

Sen. Bruce Patterson’s proposal to regulate the press is a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, he applies it to the wrong institution. Instead of imposing a 25 cent deposit on each newspaper, I propose a 25 cent tax on each word in any proposed bill. And instead of registering journalists to make sure they have "good moral character", I propose we apply those requirements to politicians.

If passed, this bill would solve some of Michigan’s biggest problems. The income generated from the tax would easily balance the budget while the new registration requirement would drastically reduce our bloated, full-time, and overpaid legislature.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 06/22/2010.]

2010-05-13T06:41:00.002-05:00

Levin's big pile of @#%*

Background: Politicians love to deflect blame from themselves onto private corporations. Certainly Wall Street holds some blame for the financial meltdown, but so do politicians who crafted the incentives under which those corporations operated. They created the moral hazard where a bank could make extremely poor investment decisions but be immune to the consequences. Levin, like all the other media whores in Congress, needs to look in the mirror.

In his persecution of Wall Street executives, Senator Carl Levin attempts to exude an air of middle America champion. In reality, Levin emits hypocrisy. While berating financial executives, Levin ignores the $145 billion in taxpayer funds flushed down the toilet by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who hold plenty of blame in the mortgage meltdown.

Then to wipe away the government’s role in the financial collapse, Levin voted to eliminate provisions of the Audit the Fed bill which will prevent any real audit of Federal Reserve policies that contributed to the economic bubble.

Levin’s insistence on ignoring government’s role in the financial crisis fails to pass the smell test.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 05/12/2010.]

2010-04-27T08:39:00.002-05:00

Sheffield goes to New York

When the task of defending its honor falls to Kwame Kilpatrick apologist Rev. Horace Sheffield, I’d say Detroit deserves any and all negative publicity it gets.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 05/14/2010.]

2010-04-12T17:20:00.003-05:00

The real public servants

Following Rep. Bart Stupak's announcement that he will not give voters the opportunity to hold him accountable for selling out his principles during the Obamacare vote, Rep. Gary Peters issued a press release praising Stupak for 18 years of "public service."

Can we dispense with the canard that career politicians are public servants? In 2010, the salary for a U.S. representative is $174,000 per year and according to previous congressional calendars, the legislature is in session for only about 120 days.

The average yearly wage in the United States is below $50,000 and we work about 240 days each year. If "public service" means earning more than three times the average American and working half as much, sign me up.

Public servants are those who provide useful goods and services to a willing public. The cashier at a grocery store and the barista at the local coffee shop are public servants. The creators of computers, medical equipment, and cell phones are public servants. The builders of homes, factories, cars and airplanes are public servants.

A politician with nothing to offer except what he took from someone else is not a public servant.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 04/22/2010.]

2010-04-04T05:55:00.003-05:00

Fairly Expensive

The 2010 Census provides an excellent lesson of how poorly government handles our money. To kick it off, we footed the bill for an expensive Super Bowl ad trumpeting the importance of being counted. For most of us, the bold warning on the envelope reminding us that, by law, we must complete the form is enough.

Just in case you missed the Super Bowl, the government sent every household a form letter announcing we’d be receiving a form. That letter encouraged us to fill out the census to be sure we would get “our fair share”. We’re cautioned that if we don’t fill it out, our community would be shorted when it comes time to distribute the government largesse. Personally, I think it’d be a whole lot fairer if we got to keep our money to begin with rather than send it to Washington for them to skim their percentage off the top and then make us beg to get the remainder back.

But if Super Bowl ads and mass mailings announcing mass mailings don’t seem wasteful enough, the goodie bags passed out to school children clinches it. Census workers are visiting elementary schools and passing out bags of Census 2010 branded trinkets and t-shirts. I don’t see how giving away cheap plastic key chains, spongy balls, and coffee cups will have much effect on forms being completed. Perhaps the belief is that by bribing kids with useless stuff, they will badger their parents to fill out the form.

I must admit however, I truly enjoy the irony of one of the trinkets that sums up our deficit-spending debt-ridden government – an empty piggy bank.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 04/09/2010.]

2010-04-04T05:44:00.002-05:00

Just Say No

Background: The following letter which appeared in the Freep is the reason for my letter:

The Republicans in Congress opposed Social Security. The Democrats passed it. Republicans opposed Medicare. The Democratic Party championed it and passed it in Congress. Health care reform is the law of the land and was passed without one single Republican vote. Many Republicans now say they want to repeal health care reform. The Republican Party is the party of "no." Just say "no" to the Republicans.

A recent letter calls Republicans the party of “no” because of their original opposition to Social Security, Medicare, and Obamacare. Social Security and Medicare have an unfunded liability of $107 trillion – in other words, Congress has promised $107 trillion more in benefits than expected tax collections. “No” ought to be a rallying cry for all responsible Americans. Then again, it was our cry during the Obamacare debate - we were just ignored.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 04/04/2010.]

2010-03-23T16:47:00.002-05:00

Maybe they prefer tar and feathers

Ad hominem attacks and name-calling detract from the legitimate complaints of citizens opposed to the Democrats' hijacking of our personal health care. However, our rulers who ignored the will of the people should be thankful for the times we live in. Back in colonial days, they would have been tarred and feathered for their defiance.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 04/09/2010.]

2010-03-22T04:48:00.002-05:00

Peters to cut Medicare benefits

According to Representative Gary Peters and his progressive cronies in Washington, the health care bill that President Obama is attempting to ram through Congress will not increase the deficit and promotes fiscal responsibility.

Let’s ignore the fact that in 1967 the government estimated Medicare would “only” cost $12 billion in 1990 but actually cost $110 billion and now exceeds $400 billion. Also, let’s ignore that every addition to Medicare has cost between 2 and 17 times the original estimates.

Further, let’s believe Obama's claim that the cost of the new entitlement program will be covered by reductions in Medicare coverage even though Congress has never been able to reduce that coverage in the past when faced by angry constituents.

So assuming what Obama claims is true. I have one question for Rep. Peters that I hope he’ll answer before the November elections:

In keeping with your support for Obamacare, when can we expect you to vote for those proposed cuts in Medicare benefits?

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 03/25/2010.]

2010-03-04T03:33:00.001-06:00

Wealth and property rights save lives

The Free Press learned the wrong lesson from the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. The devastating differences between these countries are not due to government enactment and enforcement of stricter building codes but rather to differences in wealth and property rights protection. Chile ranks in the top 30 percent of wealthy countries while Haiti lingers at the bottom of the list. Haitians barely afford basic shelter while Chileans can demand (and fund) buildings resistant to earthquakes. The Haitian government could regulate strict codes but who would be able to afford it?

Closely related to their ranks in wealth are their ranks in securing property rights. Only three countries provide less protection for property rights than Haiti. This means builders in Haiti have no incentive to invest in their property because at any time, it could be taken away. Who would invest in a building that could be taken away on a bureaucratic whim?

Strong property rights and wealth save more lives than government regulations devised by bureaucrats catering to special interests. Americans would be wise to keep this in mind whenever Congress is in session.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 03/03/2010.]

2010-02-04T03:43:00.005-06:00

State of the State

Background: I was invited by the editor of the Farmington Observer to comment on Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State speech

What stands out most from Governor Granholm's final State of the State speech is its timelessness. The same speech could have been delivered at any point in her term and it would have been relevant. In fact, each year's speech has been pretty much the same - education reform and jobs. Each year we're told to expect reform in our education system and each year we get the same results - wasted money, low test scores, and some new program from Washington DC that will bring improvement - tomorrow. Always tomorrow.

When not plugging education reform, her speech focused on jobs and how the state plans to create them- more investment, more targeted tax credits, and more sweetheart deals for select industries. In the beginning, the focus was the internet and information systems, then biotech, now the green industry. Yet in spite of all this focus, unemployment continues to rise while she blames outside forces - foreign trade, recession, and some mythological transition from an "old" economy to a "new" economy. The basics for a thriving economy have not changed. Granholm fails to understand that government does not create jobs. The jobs that appear to be created come at a cost of jobs unseen. A dollar used by Lansing to lavish on the latest darling industry is a dollar taken out of the wallet of a private citizen or business owner who would have invested or freely spent that dollar on a desired product or service. Perhaps that product or service wouldn't be as glamorous as the movie industry but at least taxpayers wouldn't be subsidizing it.

Granholm claims she wants to diversify our state's economy by spending tax dollars on select industries. Like so many before her, she suffers from what economist F.A. Hayek called the "fatal conceit". This is the belief that a single mind or a single committee can somehow do things better than the spontaneous, unstructured, complex, and creative forces of the market. After 7 years of trying to manage Michigan's diversification, it's long past time to reduce the cost of doing business in this state for every industry. Make Michigan attractive for all and diversity will flourish on its own.

To her credit, Granholm has proposed a number of reforms to cut government spending. Some will produce permanent savings while others are simply band-aids to slow the bleeding. However, as a group, they are too little, too late. In addition, she called for a much needed constitutional amendment to fix the budget process. However if she had been an effective leader by proposing and implementing structural changes to the state government over the previous 7 years, the budget battles would never have been fought.

Resulting story: Farmington Observer

Comments were published as a letter on 02/11/2010.

2010-01-29T03:42:00.001-06:00

Reject it if endorsed by Granholm

Background: Voters will be asked to approve a constitutional convention to open the Michigan Constitution for an overhaul. While the constitution has some painful deficiencies, opening it for changes will lead to disaster for the citizens of this state.

Granholm's support for changing the Michigan Constitution should be enough for people to oppose a constitutional convention. Granholm is clueless to what it takes to successfully run the state government. She says Michigan has changed since 1963 and the constitution needs to as well. Citizens would be prudent to consider something else that has changed - the influence of special interests in government. Those special interests will have a feeding frenzy if the constitution is opened up for change and instead of having ignorant policies come and go with each administration, we'll be stuck with them.

[Online comment - The Detroit News. Posted 01/29/2010.]

2010-01-27T05:10:00.002-06:00

Congress shall make no law

Background: I've posted variations on the following as comments on some news sites and a thread on Facebook during a friendly debate. At issue is the Supreme Court ruling that organizations are not subjected to many of the limits imposed by McCain-Feingold.

Re: Jason Dumas' claim of treason. Organizations consist of individuals voluntarily associating. Whether I join with 1 or 5 or 500 individuals with a common interest, my associates and I do not forfeit our right to speak collectively. Campaign finance restrictions attempt to treat the symptoms rather than the cause. Corporations are under assault daily by a government overstepping its constitutional limits. Politicians control money and favors to hand out to any who play their game. Corporations have a choice: play the game or get trampled. Restore government to its constitutionally mandated limits and the unemployment rate of lobbyists will skyrocket. To advocate against the ruling, it follows that we can deny the freedom of press to the Metro Times even while the journalists themselves enjoy the freedom of press. And we can deny churches and religious schools from the freedom to practice religion even though the individuals who make up that church are free to practice. Rights flow to individuals whether they act alone or in groups. The traitors are those 4 justices who ignored the Constitution - "Congress shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech."

[Online comment - Metro Times. Posted 01/27/2010.]

2010-01-27T04:10:00.001-06:00

FDR one of the worst presidents in history

Background: In response to this letter: Nolan Finley can criticize Barack Obama all he wants, but he should keep his hands off Franklin Roosevelt, who almost singlehandedly saved this country from an economic abyss that Republicans and their hacks thrust upon the people in the name of capitalism and free enterprise. The only thing that saved us from the Depression was the massive government spending for World War II. Raymond T. Jackson, Detroit

Apparently Raymond Jackson has not read much about the Great Depression since learning the myths promoted in grade school. The general consensus among economists who have studied the era is that FDR's policies completely and utterly failed to do anything but prolong the depression. His strategies of handouts, federal jobs, subsidized loans, demonizing businesses, and public works projects in swing states worked well politically and not only failed to stop the depression but exacerbated it. On top of all that, FDR's gravest sin was to abandon constitutional principles setting government on its current path toward total domination over our lives. For that, FDR qualifies as one of the worst presidents in history.

[Online comment - The Detroit News. Posted 01/27/2010.]

2010-01-21T06:37:00.002-06:00

Schools are service providers not job providers

Background: Rev. Wendell Anthony declares "If Detroiters are not retained or hired at every level, all hell is going to break loose" in reference to the $500.5 million to be spent on school construction projects in Detroit. DPS is obligated to get the best deal regardless of where the labor comes from. If a company in Farmington Hills can build it better and cheaper than a company in Detroit, the FH company is the one that should be chosen. Having worked on the $1.5 billion bond program that Anthony and others accuse of overspending, I know for a fact that hundreds of thousands of dollars were wasted on labor and other resources to track how much time was spent by Detroiters on the various construction projects. All for the sole purpose of appeasing economically illiterate power mongers.

Right from the start, Rev. Wendell Anthony, a member of the Detroit Public Schools' Bond Advisory and Fiscal Responsibility Committee, has set the stage for the wasteful spending on new school construction projects. By mandating that Detroiters are first in line for jobs, he has abandoned his responsibility which morally obligates him to be a good steward of taxpayer funds.

For too long, the school district has looked at itself as a job provider rather than a service provider. Anthony and the committee have one responsibility – secure the best quality construction at the best price available regardless of residence.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 02/02/2010.]

2010-01-17T18:00:00.002-06:00

Danny Glover and Pat Robertson are morons

Background: Pat Robertson claims the Haitian earthquake is God's punishment for their evils. Danny Glover claims it's from climate change. I think they're ignorant tools. Here's proof.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

2010-01-15T05:11:00.001-06:00

Polls say Michiganians back higher taxes

Background: A poll claims Michiganians support higher taxes (sales, income, beer & wine).

This is a state that re-elected Granholm and Kwame. It's no surprise that ignorance runs rampant through the population. Lansing has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. As the Mackinac Center has shown, this state is quite efficient when it comes to extracting revenue from its citizens. Fix the unsustainable growth in pensions and public employee benefits. Quit giving welfare to movie moguls and anyone that "promises" to generate a job. That'd be a good start to getting Michigan's finances in order. Raising taxes is just one more reason to get out of here (if I could just sell my house).

[Online comment - The Detroit News. Posted 01/15/2010.]

2010-01-04T05:41:00.003-06:00

Write on Maxeys

Background: A letter in the Observer called for a show of hands on those wanting a one-year moratorium on publishing letters from Gerald and Dolores Maxey. I think stupid letters like that do a disservice to those of us who seek to challenge the opinions and ideas of people such as the Maxeys.

As a long time reader and writer of letters to the Farmington Observer, I am very acquainted with the written opinions of the Maxeys and I could probably count on one hand (with fingers left over) the number of times I have agreed with them. However, I found the letter asking for a show of hands from readers who would like to see a one-year moratorium on the Maxeys to be silly.

While I give the author the benefit of doubt on his seriousness, the mere statement calls for a response. I want to see the Maxeys published. The editorial pages of the Observer would be bland without the diverse opinions and debates brought by various writers. Personally, I derive little satisfaction preaching to the choir. Society benefits when ideas clash and opinions are challenged.

Rather than silence them, better to refute their infatuation with Obama and support for bigger government with facts and a dose of reality. So write on, Gerald and Dolores. Write on.

[Letter to the Editor - The Farmington Observer. Published 01/07/2010.]

2009-12-23T06:34:00.005-06:00

Haggling

Background: The recent health care boondoggle was passed through the Senate after a few senators sold their votes. Strange, Monica Conyers was recently convicted for doing such a thing. Apparently you need to be an esteemed senator to get away with it. I don't expect this one will get published.

Update: Wow. The News published it. My last letter for 2009. I basically call a couple US Senators whores and a family newspaper publishes it. Looking forward to 2010!

Hearing that Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., Mary Landrieu, D-La., and others sold their vote on the bill to hijack our health insurance, I was reminded of a story sometimes attributed to Winston Churchill. Churchill asks a wealthy socialite if she would sleep with him for five million pounds and she responds "Yes". Churchill then asks if she would sleep with him for five pounds. Indignant, she responds "What kind of woman do you think I am?" Churchill replies, "Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling over the price."

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 12/31/2009.]

2009-10-31T06:17:00.003-05:00

E-Verify: Designed by a former Soviet bureaucrat

Background: A letter encouraged readers to contact their representatives and demand they implement the E-Verify system to stop illegal immigration. E-Verify is a government database that confirms whether an employee is authorized to be employed.

A recent letter encourages us to contact our elected officials and insist they adopt the federal E-Verify system for hiring workers. The stated goal of the system is to prevent illegal aliens from being employed. Unfortunately when we’re dealing with a government program, results rarely meet the goals.

Rather than take the necessary steps to reform immigration laws, Congress is attempting to push responsibility and cost for enforcing the laws to employers. State and local governments would call this an unfunded mandate.

In addition to sticking employers with the bill, E-Verify will harm innocent Americans and take us one step closer to Orwell’s vision. If E-Verify cannot confirm your eligibility, you get tagged as a "tentative non-confirmation". At that point, you have 8 days to report to the appropriate government office to get your papers reviewed. Failure to do so results in a new tag – "final non-confirmation" – and you are barred from working. Sounds like a former Soviet bureaucrat designed the system.

If you don’t think legal citizens and immigrants will get swept up in the search for illegal aliens, ask those who are hassled and prevented from boarding airplanes because their name wrongly appears on the government’s "No Fly List". These people are forced to jump through hoops to clear their name. So much for the bedrock principle of innocent until proven guilty.

Papers and government permission to work? In the land of the free?

[Letter to the Editor - The Farmington Press. Submitted 10/30/2009.]

2009-10-28T05:37:00.002-05:00

Audit the Fed - Rep. Gary Peters

Update: As of 11/3, I haven't heard back from my representative. I trust he's busy reading and analyzing all 1,900 pages of HR 3200, the Fannie Med bill.

Given your public statements supporting greater transparency in government, I would like to know why you are not a sponsor for HR 1207, the Audit the Fed proposal. The Federal Reserve acts secretively which is unacceptable in a free and democratic society. The American people have the right to know what the Fed is doing especially given the recent upheaval in the economy. I strongly urge you to sponsor and support this resolution.

A response that I'm satisfied with (albeit 2 months later):

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (H.R.1207). I greatly appreciate you taking the time to express your views on this important matter. Your input is, and will always be, welcomed and appreciated.

Like you, I believe that the federal government should serve with transparency and accountability. The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors, the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks, and submit a detailed report to Congress. Representative Ron Paul, who authored H.R. 1207, offered an amendment during a committee markup of H.R. 4173, The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, which mandates an audit of the Federal Reserve as called for under H.R. 1207.

On November 19, I voted in favor of this amendment, which was included in the final version of the bill. H.R. 4173 passed on December 11, 2009 with my support. It has been referred to the Senate, where it awaits further action.

I would like to thank you again for contacting me. I always enjoy hearing from constituents and hope that you take the time to contact me again soon. For more information, please feel free to visit my website, http://www.peters.house.gov.

[Online message to Representative Gary Peters. Sent 10/28/2009.]

2009-10-21T05:52:00.003-05:00

Pompous ignorant asses

Background: Representative George Cushingberry is the Appropriations Chairman in the Michigan House. Not too long ago, Jack Hoogendyk, a former state legislator and current rabble rouser (that's a good thing btw) encouraged citizens to contact Cushingberry about the state budget and his desire to raise taxes. Apparently George wasn't too happy to hear from citizens. He made the following rant:

"Don't call my office if you're not from my district. I ain't taking your calls. I don't have to. And you can't threaten me. I'm sick of you. And if I see you in person, I'll be trying to figure out if I find somebody to give me a case to sue you, because it's unfair for you to be so selfish in this society when you know we hurt. Doctors calling me up, telling me what they're going to do to me. That's the worst thing you can do to a boy from the projects!"

I usually save my letters for newspapers. But I couldn't pass this one up.

Your recent rant clearly shows the dangers of lifetime politicians. What a shame our system allows an ignorant, pompous ass such as yourself to feed at the public trough for decades.

No I’m not in your district (thank goodness) and you have probably stopped reading this by now but you are an elected official in the state legislature so your actions affect my family and me. I’m tired of economic illiterates who believe the solution to their overspending is higher taxes. You and your ilk have driven this state into the ground and you’ve taken too many hardworking families with you.

If you and the rest of the legislature had any sense of honor, you’d resign en masse and return to private life. Perhaps you’d be able to actually become a productive citizen by earning your keep. Given your lifetime in public office, you’d probably have to start off at minimum wage but rest assured, you’d soon learn some marketable skills and contribute in some small way to the overall wealth of society.

Until then, recognize Michigan has hit bottom and you need to stop digging. No new taxes.

[Letter to State Representative George Cushingberry. Sent 10/21/2009.]

2009-10-14T05:44:00.003-05:00

You can't ignore these facts

Background: A letter in the Farmington Observer slams opposition to Obamacare. Just trying to make sure people know the facts about our government's ability to accurate forecast and manage costs.

Contrary to what supporters of Obamacare would have us believe, the real debate is not between reform and the status quo. Most reasonable people recognize the need for changes in the health care and insurance industries. Unfortunately, the debate in Washington is over how much more control government should have – a lot more or a whole lot more. Too many people are lining up with their favorite partisans, casting insults and parroting half-truths, and reducing the debate to a playground spat like two children yelling “You’re a liar.” “No, you are.”

Some claim insurance companies are trying to hijack the debate, while others accuse labor unions. For those clueless about how the incentives in Congress work, you can be certain both special interests will get what they want and taxpayers will be left holding the bag.

For those who choose to believe that President Obama and an army of bureaucrats will lower health care costs and save money, here’s a reminder on how well our government manages the bills. Social security has an unfunded liability of $17.5 trillion while Medicare is at $38 trillion. The federal debt is $11.8 trillion and this year’s deficit is estimated at $1.7 trillion.

In July 2009, the Senate Joint Economic Committee released a study comparing the original estimated costs of various Medicare programs with the actual cost. The findings should give pause to even the most ardent supporter of government-run health care.

In 1967, the House Ways and Means Committee predicted that the Medicare program would cost $12 billion in 1990. Actual spending in 1990 was $110 billion, nearly 10 times higher than the original estimate. In fact, every single addition to the base Medicare program has cost between 2 and 17 times the original estimates.

Those are the facts. Ignore them and you’re just lying to yourself.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 10/18/2009.]

2009-09-30T06:29:00.001-05:00

Lying to themselves

Background: Jack Lessenberry is a columnist for the Metro Times. According to Jack, there is no social ill or problem that cannot be solved by applying more government. What I find ironic is that he rails on Granholm and the Michigan Legislature (and Bush for 8 years) for being morons but he believes government can still solve everything. The problem, as defined by Milton Friedman (paraphrased), is not that we need good people in government to do the right thing but rather we need to change the incentives so that bad people do the right thing.

Like most of the crass voices in the health care debate, Jack Lessenberry joins in the fray as if it’s an argument on the playground - you’re a liar, no you’re a liar. In reality, the truth in the debate is not going to be found by the extremists on both sides screaming at each other.

None of the alleged lies is clear and bald-faced. When Obama claims you can keep your insurance with his plan, he’s basing this on the fact that the proposal doesn’t prohibit it. But just because the bill doesn’t outlaw private insurance, doesn’t mean the incentives won’t affect whether you keep your plan.

On the other side of the aisle, we hear about death panels and free care for illegal aliens. Both issues are based in a kernel of truth but have been exaggerated to stir up opposition.

So what is the truth? When it comes to politicians and bureaucrats successfully reforming health insurance, people should keep in mind their track record.

The Madoff scheme known as social security has an unfunded liability of $17.5 trillion. Medicare is at $38 trillion. The federal debt is $11.8 trillion and this year’s deficit is estimated at $1.7 trillion.

In spite of this, some people trust that Obama and an army of bureaucrats will lower health care costs and save money. These people are lying to themselves.

[Letter to the Editor - Metro Times. Submitted 09/28/2009.]

2009-09-22T07:54:00.003-05:00

Worse than a hypocrite

Background: My letter on Obama's speech to school children generated a response in the Observer from Todd Noonan. Mr. Noonan takes exception with my position. Quite understandable given that Mr. Noonan works for the Royal Oak School District and was an MEA Delegate. When the Democrat majority leader in the Michigan State House recognizes that benefits for public employees are very lucrative and unsustainable, you know your monopoly hold on education is under fire. DC vouchers are a threat, therefore the letter.

As a supporter of limited government and personal liberty, I find myself opposing many policies promoted by our elected officials and I express that opposition in letters to local and national newspapers. In my experience, a handful of people dismiss my views as cynical. However, most people I meet profess general agreement because they just want to be left alone by the busybodies in government and the progressives that support them.

My jaded view of politics comes from listening and watching. Politicians from both major parties are notorious for saying one thing while doing another. As the old joke goes, "How can you tell a politician is lying? His lips are moving."

Still, some people choose to take President Obama at his word. However, recent history tells us to compare those words with his actions.

Not too long ago, Obama said he had no desire to run GM. A short time later he orchestrated GM CEO Rick Wagoner’s firing and appointed a czar to oversee the auto industry. During the campaign, Obama chastised Republicans for running up huge deficits and vowed to be fiscally responsible. Then he proceeded to triple the deficit.

As mentioned in my previous letter, Obama says he believes in improving academic achievement yet he shut down a program proven to benefit students in Washington DC. I claimed hypocrisy, but another letter writer, Todd Noonan, says I’m wrong. His argument: Obama doesn’t believe vouchers are the solution to public education’s failures so why should he support the DC program. I stand corrected. On this issue, Obama is not a hypocrite.

Given Mr. Noonan’s robust lexicon, perhaps he can come up with an appropriate adjective that describes a man who ignores clear positive evidence and the pleas of parents and children trapped in the worst public school system in the country. What would be a proper description for a politician who performs such a disservice to children because his union benefactors demanded it? Hypocrite seems rather tame.

If not taking a politician at his word is the sign of a cynic, I am guilty as charged. I find it curious, however, that before we voted for "change", criticizing the president was not cynical but patriotic.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 09/24/2009.]

2009-09-15T10:24:00.003-05:00

The more things change. . .

Background: Last week, President Obama imposed punative duties on tires imported from China. This make poor economic sense but perfect political sense. The United Steelworkers wanted the duties and Obama owes labor unions for their support. This is a typical win-lose political decision. American consumers lose. Domestic tire workers win. Keep in mind, there are far more Americans buying tires than making them.

Once again a president has abandoned free trade principles to appease a powerful labor union. Early in his term, President George W. Bush imposed duties on imported steel. Last week, President Barack Obama imposed duties on tires from China. In both cases, each president was pressured by the United Steelworkers and claimed he was punishing foreign exporters for "unfair" trade practices. In reality, American consumers are punished by higher prices. Seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Letter to the Editor. The Detroit News. Published 09/28/2009.]

2009-09-11T04:40:00.002-05:00

One man's bickering is another man's debate

According to President Obama, disagreement with the government plan to take over the health insurance industry is nothing but "bickering". This characterization offends Americans who reject the notion that government is supposed to be our caretaker. Health industry reforms are necessary, but those reforms must embrace free market principles and put consumers in control. Government intervention is the cause of escalating costs, not a solution. Until Obama recognizes this fact, he can expect the debate to continue.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Published 09/13/2009.]

2009-09-07T17:18:00.002-05:00

Actions not words

President Obama’s address to school children across the country generated plenty of misguided controversy. Most detractors were concerned with the Orwellian nature of the address, but that seems overblown. Personally I have enough trouble getting my kids to mow the lawn so I’m not too worried about them joining some Obama Youth Movement.

The real outrage should be focused on Obama’s hypocrisy. The president says he wants to encourage students to improve their academic achievement yet his actions tell another story. Earlier this year, Obama ended support for the private school choice program in Washington DC. According to the administration’s own education department, this program significantly raises academic achievement at one-quarter the cost of the district’s public schools.

In spite of the evidence, Obama condemned DC’s children to low academic achievement at the hands of a failed and pathetic public school system. The lesson students should learn from this speech won’t be found in any suggested teaching plan from a federal bureaucracy – actions speak louder than words.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 09/10/2009.]

2009-09-02T04:20:00.002-05:00

Parental control

Background: Emergency financial manager Robert Bobb wants the mayor to take control of Detroit Public Schools. While Bobb appears to be doing a good job cleaning up the financial mess and Bing appears to be a capable mayor, this is a bad idea. First, Bing has a bigger mess to cleanup than Bobb and will not be able to focus on DPS. Second, whose to say the next mayor isn't another Kwame Kilpatrick? Give parents control over their children's education. That's the long term solution.

Robert Bobb’s call for turning control over the Detroit Public Schools to the mayor is wrong and misguided. Mayor Dave Bing needs to focus on fixing a government entity even more dysfunctional than the school system. The only long term solution to save the children of Detroit from failed schools is competition through choice. Give parents the power, not another politician, by encouraging change through charter schools, tuition tax credits, and vouchers. Besides, when Bing is gone, what is the possibility he is replaced by a politician who fits the mold of a Kilpatrick or a Conyers?

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 09/04/2009.]

2009-08-24T04:22:00.002-05:00

Would hate to see failure

Representative Gary Peters and other elected officials claim the “cash for clunkers” program has been a success. At a cost of $3 billion, the federal government destroyed at least $2 billion of wealth by scrapping working vehicles.

At the same time, used car prices will increase because the supply decreased. This hurts low-income families who are more likely to purchase used rather than new. In addition, charities which rely on used car donations to help the poor were hurt as those vehicles were diverted to the scrap heap. Also, consumers who rely on used car parts to keep their vehicles running were hurt for the same reason.

Supporters claim the program helped autoworkers by generating new car sales and they're right. Like most redistribution programs, there are winners. Unfortunately, it comes at other people’s expense.

If a program that destroys wealth and hurts lower-income families is considered a success, I sure would hate to see what qualifies as a failure.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Submitted 08/24/2009.]

2009-08-16T06:39:00.003-05:00

Sounds pretty fishy

Background: Second letter on Obamacare.

Supporters of President Obama’s scheme to expand the government’s control over our health care claim it must be adopted to battle rising costs. Stop and think about that for a moment. Obamacare proponents say the government is going to transform health care by slashing waste and improving efficiency.

This would be the same government responsible for our $11.7 trillion debt which includes $1.2 trillion from this year alone. This same government has allowed Social Security and Medicare to balloon with an unfunded liability over $100 trillion.

Perhaps dealing with trillions of dollars is too much for Obamacare supporters too grasp. So let’s look at smaller examples of wasted dollars and blown budgets.

In 1985, the federal government estimated the Boston “Big Dig” highway project would cost $2.6 billion. The final cost was $14.6 billion. In 1989, the feds estimated Denver International Airport would cost $1.7 billion. Final cost was $4.8 billion. Even Obama offered up the U.S. Postal Service as an example of how poorly the government runs things.

To think the government will slash waste and improve efficiency seems pretty fishy to me.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 08/20/2009.]

2009-08-16T06:23:00.001-05:00

Lesson not learned

At the end of 2007, Governor Jennifer Granholm said "the most important thing I learned (this year) is I’m not ever going to raise taxes again." She must have forgotten that when she proposed increasing taxes again last week. Given the steady decline in Michigan’s economy, there have been plenty of lessons not learned by this governor.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 08/16/2009.]

2009-08-06T07:00:00.003-05:00

Obamacare Busters

Background: I anticipate writing a few letters on Obamacare and revealing the myths, lies, and propaganda.

In the debate on the massive government healthcare rationing plan, some obnoxious and ludicrous statements are getting parroted.

One of the most misleading claims a crisis exists because 50 million Americans lack insurance coverage. The truth behind this number reveals no crisis.

According to the Census Bureau, an average of 46 million Americans lack insurance coverage on any given day during the year. Of those 46 million, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates 20 to 30 million go without coverage for an entire year.

Of this number, the CBO says that 15 percent are eligible for coverage under existing government programs bringing the number down further. According to an economic study from Stanford University, one-quarter to three-quarters of those people can afford insurance but chose to spend their money on other products and services. This means 4 to 19 million Americans do not have insurance and cannot easily get it.

So 94 to 99 percent of us have or can get health insurance. Contrast this with President Obama’s proposed plan which he says would cover about 97 percent of Americans.

Leave it to our elected representatives to falsely cry “crisis” and then propose to spend a trillion dollars (for starters) to get us to where we are right now.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 08/13/2009.]

2009-08-02T06:12:00.001-05:00

Documentaries?

Background: The Detroit News reports that Michael Moore's last film may be his last "documentary". Moore makes propaganda, not documentaries.

Michael Moore can’t get out of the documentary film business because he’s never been in it. Moore makes propaganda films, not documentaries.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 08/02/2009.]

2009-07-27T08:34:00.002-05:00

The right kind of pandering

Background: A letter in the Farmington Observer slammed Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox for submitting a brief to the Supreme Court in support of gun rights for a pending case involving Chicago's unconstitutional and onerous gun control laws. I have a different opinion on Cox's actions.

Congratulations to Attorney General Mike Cox for seeking to secure the rights of Michigan citizens to bear arms by weighing in on the Chicago gun control lawsuit. Anyone following the efforts to overturn government infringements on our inherent right to protect ourselves understands this requires a vigorous defense wherever that infringement occurs.

Even with last year’s Supreme Court ruling that correctly asserted an individual right to keep and bear arms, the fight is far from over. When a clear and undeniable right is protected by a razor thin 5-4 margin, we cannot rest.

As a state that allows citizens to protect themselves with concealed carry laws, any ruling on the Second Amendment directly affects the taxpayers of this state. If more elected officials pandered to their constituents by protecting their rights, this country would be a more prosperous and freer place.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 08/06/2009.]

2009-06-24T06:07:00.005-05:00

George W. Obama or Barack Bush?

Background: The Observer has published a number of letters with writers going back and forth about the current administration and the one before it. Each tries to slam one and praise the other. I see no difference.

Four months into a new presidential term and I’m not sure who the president is – George W. Obama or Barack Bush. Based on the debates in letters to the editor, you’d think there’s a clear distinction between the new boss and the old boss. There’s not. Democrats and Republicans operate from the same principles – power, money and control.

I will admit one distinction between the current and previous president. Obama caters to labor unions and environmentalists while Bush favored neo-cons and evangelicals. I guess that’s great if you’re part of one of those special interest groups. On the other hand if you’re just a regular American who likes to keep what he earns and live his life with minimal interference from nannies and busybodies, tough luck.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 07/09/2009.]

2009-06-11T08:45:00.004-05:00

Told You So

Background: Ten years ago, the Farmington City Council purchased the Civic Theatre and promised it would pay its own way and no tax dollars would be used to cover costs. This past month, the council forgave a loan in the amount of $118,924. When first discussed long ago, I wrote this letter:

While the antics of many of our elected officials have provided us with hours of laughter, the city of Farmington has decided to formalize the relationship between entertainment and government. The purchase of the Civic Theatre will turn city taxpayers into speculative business investors.

Given the trend toward 20-screen megaplexes, the investment seems risky. To alleviate citizen concern, city leaders assure us taxpayer money will not be used to operate the theater. Perhaps, but the initial purchase and remodeling of the theater will use tax dollars. And if the Civic fails to generate enough income to pay operating expenses, how will the costs be covered? Will the city council skip payments to employees and suppliers or will they renege on their promise and dip into the city coffers? If the council is certain of the Civic’s success, maybe they wouldn’t mind personally covering potential shortfalls?

Here's today's letter:

Ten years ago, members of the Farmington City Council approved the purchase of the Civic Theatre turning city taxpayers into speculative business investors. Council members promised citizens that tax dollars would not be used and the theater was a good investment. The city council reneged on that promise when it wrote off $118,924.

Council members were so sure this was a good investment because they violated one of the seven principles of sound government espoused by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Nobody spends somebody else’s money as carefully as he spends his own. If council members were so sure of the Civic’s success, they should have invested their own money.

Taxpayers would be wise to remember this when politicians claim they need to spend our money on their “good” investments.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 06/25/2009.]

2009-04-30T04:37:00.001-05:00

Strike Back

Background: Detroit teachers are threatening to strike if they don't get their way for the next contract. DPS emergency manager needs to be prepared and act decisively.

Robert Bobb needs to be prepared if the teachers strike. On Day 1 of the strike, fire all the teachers. In advance, prepare for a nationwide marketing campaign that seeks to draw teachers to Detroit with an innovative contract that focuses on merit pay and performance. Allow fired teachers to apply for new positions. Re-hire the good ones. Plan for a school year that runs from January 2 through August 30.

Reforming Detroit schools need bold action that focuses on the needs of the kids. Bobb is cleaning house in the administrative offices. A strike would be his opportunity to do the same from an instructional point.

[Online Comment - The Detroit News. Posted 04/30/2009.]

2009-04-23T04:13:00.002-05:00

Jail Time

The only time DPS administrators and legislators such as Rep. Bettie Scott who enable them to repeatedly fail the children of Detroit deserve is jail time for child neglect. While Robert Bobb appears to be making positive strides toward fixing the financial catastrophe more is needed. Reforms such as school choice and tuition tax credits will inject needed competition into Michigan's education system and provide students of failing institutions some hope for a quality education.

[Online comment - The Detroit News. Posted 04/23/2009.]

2009-04-18T07:35:00.003-05:00

Escape from Detroit

Background: The Detroit News Reader Debate question for the April 25th edition asks about high speed rail: Should the federal government fund high-speed trains from Chicago to Detroit and other Midwestern cities?

Politicians need to stop wasting time and money on expensive, high profile, low value projects such as high speed rail. Passenger rail service is a declining industry and taxpayers have lost billions of dollars poured into Amtrak. The only benefit with a Detroit-based high speed rail system is that the unemployed whose homes have been foreclosed and cars repossessed can escape the state quicker.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 04/18/2009.]

2009-04-03T07:59:00.002-05:00

How embarrassing

Background: The Detroit News reports that Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers got her ex-con brother a job with the city. The brother was eventually fired for absenteeism. Conyers response - he isn't my brother. However, they do have the same parents.

Reggie Esters must be happy to hear that Monica Conyers denies that he is her brother. When you're an ex-con with a violent felony record and you manage to get fired by the City of Detroit, your reputation is tarnished for sure. But to be known as Monica Conyers' brother? That’s embarrassing.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 04/08/2009.]

2009-03-31T08:01:00.002-05:00

Do as I say. . .

Background: Longtime community organizer and auto industry neophyte, President Obama is taking over GM.

During Rick Wagoner’s tenure, General Motors lost $82 billion. The man responsible for his firing, President Barack Obama, is projected to oversee $3,200 billion in U.S. budget deficits over the next two years. Apparently Obama’s slogans of change and hope have been replaced by "Do as I say, not as I do".

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Published 04/05/2009.]

2009-03-26T14:59:00.001-05:00

Be sure to blame the right Americans

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton correctly claims Americans shoulder some responsibility for Mexico’s drug violence. However, she blamed the wrong Americans. Legislators who refuse to decriminalize drugs allow the existence of a lawless black market. Rather than waste limited military and law enforcement resources on a losing battle, Congress could save billions of dollars, save thousands of lives and restore liberty to countless Americans by recognizing drug abuse is a health problem rather than a criminal one.

[Letter to the Editor - USA Today. Submitted 03/26/2009.]

2009-03-26T04:12:00.002-05:00

Amazing how competition works

The Detroit Federation of Teachers is reconsidering its opposition to charter schools because they are worried about competition from the Michigan Education Association. Amazing how a little competition can change long-held attitudes and practices that don’t work. Kind of like how charter schools force traditional public schools to re-evaluate.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 03/29/2009.]

2009-03-12T08:20:00.001-05:00

The joke is the City Council

Background: Some Detroit City Council members are upset that Jay Leno is holding his free performance at the Palace of Auburn Hills instead of in Detroit.

Jay Leno is no fool. If he performed in Detroit his jokes would have to compete with the City Council. And we all know there's no bigger joke than that.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 03/12/2009.]

2009-02-25T13:33:00.005-06:00

Hope for a broken promise

In his first official address to Congress, President Obama promised to eliminate waste by ending "education programs that don’t work." Detroit Public School board members, administrators, and union officials better hope he breaks this promise.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 03/02/2009.]

2009-02-24T05:03:00.001-06:00

No-brainer

According to Governor Granholm, taking a bailout from the federal government is a no-brainer. Given the lack of intelligence displayed in crafting Michigan’s tax and economic policies for the past 6 years, a no-brainer fits right in.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 02/24/2009.]

2009-02-20T08:40:00.001-06:00

Power corrupts

Background: Power corrupts. Even men (and women) with integrity. The temptation is great when you have control over vast sums of money and the lives of others. That is why we are supposed to have a government of limited power. In Federalist 51, James Madison summed it up aptly:

"The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."

The "culture of corruption" that contributed to ousting the Republicans and currently plagues the Obama administration has nothing to do with political party. As Lord Acton pointed out, "Power corrupts."

The Founding Fathers knew this and set up a government of limited power but the federal government abandoned these limits long ago. Today, politicians scheme on how to spend an extra trillion dollars while special interests flock to DC, stroke their egos, and beg for cash. This power is addictive; tempting even the most ethical of men. Unfortunately, Charles Rangel and Roland Buriss are not exceptions to the rule.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 02/20/2009.]

2009-02-11T04:46:00.003-06:00

Blown away

Background: Governor Granholm is promoting wind energy as a solution to Michigan's woes. Another politician who allows ideology to trump economics.

Given Michigan’s economic nosedive, perhaps Governor Granholm’s obsession with unaffordable wind power is driven by a concern for her legacy. After all, she did promise we’d be "blown away".

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 02/12/2009.]

2009-01-31T18:35:00.003-06:00

The most ethical administration

Background: Doesn't every president make this claim? President Obama appoints two high profile people to his administration and neither pays their taxes. Nice.

Hopefully the IRS has learned from Timothy Geithner and Tom Daschle how to reduce the budget for tax collection. Simply ask President Obama to appoint more people to his administration.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 01/31/2009.]

2009-01-29T09:47:00.003-06:00

A better class of public servant

Recently, the Farmington City Council honored former U.S. Representative Joe Knollenberg for his contributions to the community. I’ve always wondered why we honor politicians and call their work "public service". In 2008, the salary for a U.S. representative was nearly $170,000 per year and according to the congressional calendar, the legislature was in session for only 120 days.

The average yearly wage in the United States is below $50,000 and we work about 240 days each year. Apparently "public service" means earning more than three times the average American and working half as much.

To add insult to injury, Knollenberg was honored for securing money for such items as the Shiawassee Park switchback and the traffic light in front of Harrison High School. The federal government takes our money, skims their percentage off the top, gives our public "servants" the opportunity to "secure" it for us, and then returns it for local projects. Apparently it doesn’t take much to be honored around here.

To paraphrase the Joker from The Dark Knight, this town deserves a better class of public servant.

[Letter to the Editor - The Farmington Observer. Published 02/05/2009.]

2009-01-26T08:52:00.002-06:00

It's all relative

Background: The Freep points out that passage of new labor legislation could benefit Michigan because the unions would focus on the Sun Belt and make those states less appealing.

According to a recent analysis, if the deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act becomes law, Michigan might look "less unattractive" to corporations looking to locate operations. Kind of like how Hurricane Katrina made Michigan more attractive than Louisiana.

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Published 02/04/2009.]

2009-01-13T06:53:00.002-06:00

Exactly

Background: If Detroit Public Schools can't keep toilet paper stocked, how can they be expected to educate children which is a much more difficult task?

In response to a shortage of supplies, DPS Vice President Joyce Hayes-Giles said, “If we can't do the basics, we should close our doors." At least one member of the board knows what needs to be done.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 01/28/2009.]

2009-01-05T06:57:00.003-06:00

The FARMINGTON Observer?

Background: The newspaper industry is consolidating. I understand. It's tough to make money in the industry. Experimentation is happening. Cuts are happening. Free markets can be brutal. But if you're going to publish a newspaper called "The Farmington Observer", shouldn't it contain news about Farmington?

Since the Observer and Eccentric closed its Livonia office, I have received 3 editions of the Farmington Observer. The first edition provided a wealth of information – on Rochester. The second expanded from Rochester to Southfield. The third introduced me to all things Oakland County. Just out of curiosity will the Farmington Observer be focusing on Farmington and Farmington Hills anytime soon?

Note: Received a response from the editor. For the holidays, the Observer scaled back and published combined newspapers. This was the reason for the lack of local coverage. All appears back to normal.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Submitted 01/05/2009.]

2008-12-31T06:05:00.002-06:00

They send one of yours to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue

Once again, Israel must protect itself from terror attacks. And once again, the UN is demanding Israel show restraint and stop using "disproportionate force". To keep it "proportionate", I suggest Israel mimic Hamas' tactics. For every rocket Hamas launches, launch one back - randomly. Forget about surgical strikes which target the terrorists, just launch them into neighborhoods like Hamas does. How’s that for proportionate?

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 01/20/2009.]

2008-12-10T03:41:00.001-06:00

Bankrupt long ago

According to Amber Arellano, the Detroit Public School district "is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy." This isn’t quite true. A business exists for one sole purpose – make money. When it fails to do that, bankruptcy results. On the other hand, DPS’s sole purpose is to educate children. By this standard, DPS went bankrupt decades ago.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 12/10/2008.]

2008-12-09T05:14:00.001-06:00

Built to government specifications

The list of conditions being placed on the auto companies who want to borrow taxpayer money reminds me of an old engineering joke. What’s an elephant? A mouse built to government specifications.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 12/09/2008.]

2008-11-25T06:41:00.003-06:00

Change you can believe in

During a campaign stop this summer, President-elect Barack Obama told a teacher’s union we need to fix and improve our public schools, not walk away. Last Friday evening Obama walked away when he announced his daughters will be attending an elite private school rather than D.C. public schools. How’s that for change you can believe in?

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 11/25/2008.]

2008-11-10T05:25:00.001-06:00

Governor Matt Millen

Background: Governor Granholm is expected to receive an offer to be part of an Obama Administration. Freep editor Ron D. doesn't think she'll accept an offer because of too much unfinished business in Michigan.

Ron Dzwonkowski believes Governor Granholm will finish her term and not join President Obama’s team. He says "Granholm is not the type to bail on a foundering ship that she was chosen to captain." Reminds me of Matt Millen’s insistence on sticking with the Lions. How’d that work out for us?

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Submitted 11/10/2008.]

2008-11-05T11:29:00.002-06:00

Meet the old boss

Background: Change? I guess it depends on how you define it. Age? Skin color? Party affiliation? Those are certainly different but those are insignificant characteristics. Obama loves big government, just like his predecessors.

Despite the slogans and the media hype, Americans did not vote for meaningful change. Skin color, age, and party affiliation were the only substantial differences between the two major candidates. Obama, like Bush, Clinton and countless presidents before him, believes that government is the solution to our problems. According to this government-as-savior ideology, everything can be solved with more regulation, control and money. Americans seeking change voted for Ron Paul or Bob Barr, not Obama.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 11/06/2008.]

2008-10-27T09:48:00.003-05:00

Thank You Big Oil

According to recent news reports, oil prices have dropped due to weak demand. This can’t be right. Everyone, especially our esteemed senior Senator Carl Levin who routinely conducts highly publicized investigations, knows that oil prices are set by greedy oil executives. With their stock portfolios taking a beating, I would expect prices to soar as they continue to fuel their jet-setting lifestyles.

Certainly it’s not outdated economic theories like supply and demand dictating prices, but rather the whims of corporate fat cats. The drop in price must be because these grinches actually have a heart and decided to spare us poor carbon-spewing-fossil-fuel-guzzling addicts. In that case, thank you ExxonMobil, BP, and Chevron.

Update: According to news reports, ExxonMobil earned record profits this past quarter. Here's a side to the story you won't read in most of the media.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 10/27/2008.]

2008-09-18T07:50:00.004-05:00

Who will watch the watchers?

Background: The financial markets are in a tail-spin and the calls for more government interference grows. This tail-spin is not because we lack regulation but is simply a correction to the market after years of interference from the federal government. Deficit spending and money supply manipulation have brought us to the current point where a correction is long overdue.

According to both presidential candidates, Wall Street needs more federal regulation. But, to paraphrase Socrates, who will regulate the regulators? The federal government is running a yearly deficit of $400 billion. Unfunded liabilities in Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are nearly $60 trillion. Congress and the White House, under both parties, routinely mask finances with tricks that would make an Enron accountant’s head spin.

And these are the people we trust to watch over the financial markets?

[Letter to the Editor - Detroit Free Press. Published 09/20/2008.]

2008-09-05T08:18:00.003-05:00

Always look on the bright side

Background: For some reason, mayors always have their name painted on the Detroit Zoo water tower. I find it to be a waste of money and an example of politicians who believe they are icons deserving of our undying respect.

Originally I was upset over the voter-approved tax increase for the Detroit Zoo. Just another tax on overburdened Michigan residents. However I’ve come to accept it by believing that my portion will go towards removing Kwame Kilpatrick’s name from the water tower.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 09/08/2008.]

2008-08-21T05:30:00.002-05:00

How about a truce?

Background: After John Edwards' affair was exposed, columnist Jack Lessenberry called on the media to stay out of the personal sex lives of politicians.

In “Sum of our parts”, Jack Lessenberry calls on the media to stop getting involved in the personal sex lives of politicians. How about we offer politicians a truce? You stay out of our personal lives and we'll stay out of yours. As long as politicians pass laws prohibiting gambling, smoking, recreational drug use, medical marijuana, prostitution and other victimless crimes, their personal moral failings should be exposed for all to see.

[Letter to the Editor - The Metro Times. Published 08/27/2008.]