Letter to the Editor:

I do not have much in common with Andy Dillon (Democrat Majority Whip) politically, but I am glad to see his stand against waste regarding the combination of pensions. He is attempting to combine the various pension obligations the state has for huge savings (some say it will save the state 600 million or more). He should be commended and supported across the aisle for his efforts to cut costs. The savings are huge for our state. Combining of these pension obligations should be considered. Mr. Dillon has taken a position that is against his own party and will have fallout. His efforts to lead and make tough choices should be supported by both Republican’s and Democrat alike.

We in this state have thrown a bunch of money at problems to see that money get squandered into wasted projects and political corruption. Both parties have been at fault and have contributed to the economic devastation we are now experiencing. Every piece of bad legislation that we have seen passed in this state has taken both Republican and Democrat votes. Its time our leaders put aside their differences and make the cuts to the pet projects (both democrat and republican) and start doing the people’s business.

Efforts like Mr. Dillon’s should be something that can be supported across both parties.

Todd A Courser, esq
Candidate for State Senate 2010

Today, we in Michigan find ourselves again in a budget crisis.  Yes, this is after being in session (less than half the days a normal full time person is at work), with a summer break and all the rest of the tough scheduling our legislators endure (what is it 8-10 days a month?). We find we are in a budget crisis again.  It appears, to no one’s surprise, that the last and most difficult special interest to satisfy is the Michigan Education Association (teachers union).  Both parties are sold out to keeping the status as is for the MEA’s leadership (regardless of the affects on our children’s futures).  We have Republicans and Democrats living in fear of the MEA and its leadership.  We commit far more than most states to education per child and we consistently underperform.  I don’t think this is due to a lack of talent from our teachers, on the contrary, I know we have some very talented people (I myself am a product of the public school). We have a system where people are, for the most part forced to participate due to lack of affordable alternatives and overtaxing away of resources to give their children a better chance.  I have a mother and two sisters who have taught in the public schools.  Both of my sisters (and we ourselves home school) are now homeschooling. We have two of our children that we home school and two are at St Paul’s Lutheran School.  I believe underperformance by our public schools is due to the incredible lack of understanding/denial of how to make education better.  The teachers union (MEA) and those who are charged with making policy fail to acknowledge that the best way to create a better and cheaper system is to allow choice to the families for their children’s education (much like fixing healthcare-more free market choices).  Wherever vouchers are tried they thrive (look at Washington DC which had thousands on a waiting list to get their children a better shot at a future). Vouchers should be embraced full force in Michigan.  We need to stop teaching about things like homosexual lifestyle choices in school and focus on teaching children to read / do math with our tax dollars. Money on alternative lifestyles and pornographic sex education has no business in our schools and should not be funded by our limited state resources.  The best move to fix the education system in our state (and greatly help the budget) is to give a voucher to children to attend any public school and transfer without limitation.  We should also create a private voucher system for both homeschoolers and private schools.  This voucher should be a partial amount of total that is set aside for the child thru the state.  If we give 3k in a voucher there will be 3-7k left from that child leaving the system and this leaves 3-7k that can be used on the children who remain in public schools.  I know this is going to create a backlash on me from some teachers union members. Most teachers and parents get this simple concept already and see why we need to change.  There are those who deny the facts of our failed schools and are not willing to put the interests of educating our kids first by allowing parents to make the choice. Vouchers and competition are the best way to close the gap for giving our kids the best education money can buy. Offering vouchers will help the public schools fund the remaining children’s educations, not harm it. Let’s get over Democrat versus Republican and do what’s right for our children.

The unofficial state song of Michigan contains this stanza,

The axe resounds ’mid woodland trees,
Michigan, my Michigan;
The sails of commerce court thy breeze,
Michigan, my Michigan.
And templed cities rise in sight,
And happy eyes catch heaven’s light,
Our God protects thee through the night,
Michigan, my Michigan.

Written for Michigan’s 50th year celebration as a state ¹ , the song writer noted the economy of Michigan as diverse, rich and prosperous. Capitalism was at work! Companies from all over the United States found  Michigan a haven for capitalistic endeavors. We can bring Michigan back! We need to encourage companies through tax incentives and less socialistic legislation.

What has the implementation of the Michigan Business Tax, obsessive legislation and an overall disdain for commerce done to our state? We were among the top states economically. Now, we are at 15% unemployment for the entire state. Lapeer county is among the worst counties. Now the Democrat state leadership wants to increase the minimum wage and unemployment benefits.

It is time for Michigan to capitalize on the industry that is remaining. No amount of so-called “stimulus” money will repair Michigan. Michigan needs to recapture the pioneer spirit of its earlier years. Let’s fight together against onerous legislation and taxation. A state never taxed itself out of trouble.

I am in favor of a decrease in the entitlement system which will help families to move on with their lives. The measure of success of a government program is in how many people no longer need it. We need to move people off the system into prosperity and economic freedom. This is done by allowing those “on the system” to work. We need to allow them to accept employment after losing their jobs without fear of having their unemployment benefits cut off. This can be achieved by supplementing the difference between their new pay and their existing unemployment pay. We need to give people the liberty and freedom to take responsibility for their own lives.

We need to be eliminating the hurdles of competition that exist in our state to healthcare. We need to allow companies to sell “craft your own health plans.” This will allow a person to pick and choose the types of coverage they want and desire. We do not need an ineffective and bureaucratic state government controlling our health care and making decisions for our health.

Michigan has a rich history of entrepreneurship, creativity and risk taking.  We have been a place where people came to make their futures and to build lives for their families.  Today, that is no longer the case.  Michigan is in a state of crisis that is destroying our way of life, our businesses and our jobs.   The taxes and business regulations in this state are making it extremely difficult for businesses to come and bring jobs to Michigan. The most pressing need in Michigan and Lapeer County is to have leadership provided to resolve our economic struggles and to correct our continuing loss of jobs.

Economic development – Steps to change our economic situation

• Reduce or eliminate immediately the MBT tax that is killing our economy
• Reduce regulations on businesses
• Create funding to eliminate road blocks to major developments. Some communities are not interested in growing, but for those communities that want to produce a major change in their development infrastructure, the state can lend a helping hand.
• Any economic plan to revitalize our state must account for the problems of Detroit and other urban areas. Their continued drain on the resources of the state are a huge drag on our state’s image and potential. If we all pay for their operation then we should all have a say in how the money is handled. We need to work to eliminate crime ridden areas and reduce entitlement program waste.