Veracity

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.

gyre: "He (Rick Snyder) will correct the failings of past administrations and will position the State for the future." If only that were true I would be on the Rick Snyder band wagon also. But, tell me, exactly what do you expect him to do as governor? A governor's powers are defined and limited. He will have to work with the legislature on all money issues. For instance, on day one of his term, Mr. Snyder can not write an executive order eliminating $1.5 billion dollars of business taxes. And if Rick Snyder (or Virg Bernero) were able to cut taxes how can you be assured that the private business beneficiaries will use the additional revenue to create jobs in Michigan? The money could be used for bonuses and salary increases. Publicly held companies can share some of the revenue with stock holders. Happy stock holders do not agitate against executives and board members. Finally, executives could share revenue with their present employees by raising salaries or provide productivity awards. Whether a tax reduction will create more jobs in Michigan is not guaranteed. Several factors effect the executive decision to hire new employees. Foremost is evidence that the products produced by the newly hired employee can be sold. So demand for more product must be identified before increasing employment. Reducing business tax reduces revenue the state government can use for buying products from private companies or that fewer state employees will spend. Demand for goods and services may actually diminish when business tax is reduced. Once executives recognize the need to expand production to meet the increased demand (and present employee productivity is maximum), new hiring will commence. However, executives must be assured that the income brought in by each new hire is at least equivalent to that of a present employee. Thus, new hires for manufacturing jobs will be Chinese or Mexican (e.g.) because employees in these countries cost the business less when compared to Michigan hires, union and non-union alike. Only service jobs will create Michigan hires, like nursing and truck driving, which can not be outsourced. So reducing taxes by itself may not solve our employment problems and can actually lead to increased unemployment if the governments, state and local, must reduce payrolls accordingly. For what it is worth, state and local government employees earn money as do employees in the private sector. Government employees will spend money just like private business employees. The dollar bills spent will have similar effects on the local and state economy. Every state employee fired will not be able to put money into the economy or pay off a mortgage. Thus, unemployment will rise along with mortgage defaults. The overall impact is negative on Michigan's economy and the quality of life for all its citizens. With no simple answers the next governor will have to work smartly and familiarity with government operation will be helpful. What may work for a private company will not necessarily work for a government. Voters need to keep issues in perspective and try to be more pragmatic when deciding for whom they wish to cast votes.

grye

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.

Sure, Bernero may have balanced the budget without raising taxes or laying anyone off. I can do the same thing with my personal income vs debt, but can Bernero create an environment to expand the economic base? Can he dig us out of the economic grave into which the State has fallen? If Bernero tries save all government jobs for fear of laying someone off, then he does not have the business savy needed to rescue our State's economy. These are tough times and tough decisions need to be made. Waste needs to be eliminated and climate change is required to allow businesses to start and flourish. My bet is on Rick Snyder to get the job done. He is not beholden to any political or special interest group. His objective is clear. Fix the problems. He doesn't need this job to be successful. He has tossed his hat in the ring because those in charge have failed. Rick cares deeply about Michigan. He will correct the failings of past administrations and will position the State for the future.

Speechless

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 1:15 p.m.

After opening this page, it turns out the counseling refusenik in question is the subject of the ASU case, not the one at EMU. The court decision is still great news, of course. Social discrimination centered on bad religion loses another round in the far right's legal efforts to reintroduce it into civil society. Maybe the EMU counseling student who awaits her own next legal round will want to drown her own recent courtroom sorrows in the midst of a lively tea party — by joining the hordes who will descend on the Republican state convention and likely make Rick Snyder's weekend a very interesting time.

Veracity

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.

The Detroit Free Press article, entitled "Can Rick Snyder win over tea party loyalists?", which annarbor.com selected for reader interest, is informative about voters. As expected the article favors Rick Snyder. Those interviewed admittedly knew very little about Rick Snyder. They express hope that his governing will be different and that, whatever the difference, it will be sufficient to resolve Michigan's problems. None of those interviewed referred to any specific actions that Rick Snyder will take as governor which will be beneficial. Some interviewed just do not want Virg Bernero as governor because he is considered as a part of the big, bad State government. One person interviewed considers Virg Bernero as a "tax and spend liberal." Apparently that individual was unaware of the fact that Virg Bernero balanced the Lansing budget each of the past 5 years without raising taxes or laying anyone off. Is this the accomplishment of a "tax and spend liberal"? The voters reported in the article appear uninformed about the experience and skills of the candidates and are willing to vote on wishful expectations and faulty impressions. If this attitude does not change by November, Michigan's problems will worsen rather than improve next year.