Don’t buy the right-wing myth about Detroit - Salon.com:
"Conservatives want you to think high taxes drove people away. The real truth is much worse for their radical agenda"
Friday, July 26, 2013
Corporate Interests Killed Detroit
Corporate Interests Killed Detroit - Ring Of Fire Radio: Robert Kennedy Jr, Mike Papantonio and Sam Seder:
"It wasn’t quite a bad national economy or even the Detroit municipal pension program that threw the Motor City into bankruptcy, it was right-wing, pro-corporate fiscal policy that did it.
So of course the right-wingers want to make it seem like it wasn’t their fault."
"It wasn’t quite a bad national economy or even the Detroit municipal pension program that threw the Motor City into bankruptcy, it was right-wing, pro-corporate fiscal policy that did it.
So of course the right-wingers want to make it seem like it wasn’t their fault."
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Child support law 'outrageous'
Child support law 'outrageous' | WOOD TV8:
"When a divorced dad was ordered to pay support for a child who isn't his, he turned to Target 8 for help.
It's legal for the state to order Joseph Chmelar to pay for another man's child and to deny biological fathers who want to pay from doing so.
One lawmaker called that "outrageous."
"When a divorced dad was ordered to pay support for a child who isn't his, he turned to Target 8 for help.
It's legal for the state to order Joseph Chmelar to pay for another man's child and to deny biological fathers who want to pay from doing so.
One lawmaker called that "outrageous."
The Wages of Bankruptcy: Stockton’s Cautionary Tale for Detroit
The Wages of Bankruptcy: Stockton’s Cautionary Tale for Detroit | TIME.com:
"More than a year after filing for Chapter 9 protection, the California city is struggling with protracted court battles and stripped city services — and that's exactly what the Motor City might be in for"
"More than a year after filing for Chapter 9 protection, the California city is struggling with protracted court battles and stripped city services — and that's exactly what the Motor City might be in for"
Coleman Young: the Communist Who Destroyed Detroit
Coleman Young: the Communist Who Destroyed Detroit:
"If one man could be blamed most for the destruction of Detroit, it would be Coleman Young.
Mayor from 1974 to 1993, Young set a city already in decline on the pathway to the disaster area it is today."
"If one man could be blamed most for the destruction of Detroit, it would be Coleman Young.
Mayor from 1974 to 1993, Young set a city already in decline on the pathway to the disaster area it is today."
Michigan board OKs new Red Wings arena in Detroit
Michigan board OKs new Red Wings arena in Detroit | Hockey - Home:
"LANSING, Mich. -
A state board has given the go-ahead for a new Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit that will be partially paid for with tax dollars.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board on Wednesday unanimously approved the Downtown Development Authority's request to use economic development taxes for the project.
The board also signaled the intent to issue bonds to build the arena."
"LANSING, Mich. -
A state board has given the go-ahead for a new Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit that will be partially paid for with tax dollars.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board on Wednesday unanimously approved the Downtown Development Authority's request to use economic development taxes for the project.
The board also signaled the intent to issue bonds to build the arena."
US Marshal Upset That Couple His Police Gang Terrorized Went to the Press
US Marshal Upset That Couple His Police Gang Terrorized Went to the Press - Hit & Run : Reason.com:
"Ultimately, Marshal Wiggins is upset that he has to answer a reporter's questions about his conduct while conducting a sweep through the war-torn streets of Kabul an apartment complex in a peaceful Florida city.
Goldsberry wasn't arrested or shot despite pointing a gun at a cop, so Wiggins said, “She sure shouldn't be going to the press.”
Let's hope Wiggins and his hopped-up gang don't decide to shoot first, in the future, just to avoid dealing with unpleasant reports in the press.
This seems like a good moment to mention former Reason staffer Radley Balko's new book, Rise of the Warrior Cop, about militarized policing.
And, as a side note, on New York City's WOR radio, yesterday, I was asked by guest host Brett Winterble if America is now a police state. Yes, I said. Yes, it is"
"Ultimately, Marshal Wiggins is upset that he has to answer a reporter's questions about his conduct while conducting a sweep through the war-torn streets of Kabul an apartment complex in a peaceful Florida city.
Goldsberry wasn't arrested or shot despite pointing a gun at a cop, so Wiggins said, “She sure shouldn't be going to the press.”
Let's hope Wiggins and his hopped-up gang don't decide to shoot first, in the future, just to avoid dealing with unpleasant reports in the press.
This seems like a good moment to mention former Reason staffer Radley Balko's new book, Rise of the Warrior Cop, about militarized policing.
And, as a side note, on New York City's WOR radio, yesterday, I was asked by guest host Brett Winterble if America is now a police state. Yes, I said. Yes, it is"
South Omaha matriarch dies after brutal rape, beating
South Omaha matriarch dies after brutal rape, beating - Omaha.com:
When their husbands went off to World War II, Louise Sollowin and her sister bought a house in South Omaha and moved in together.
There, she held court in the kitchen, whipping up vast meals and, as she did, shooing people from her sacred domain.
The house is where she sewed drapes and pajamas for her grandchildren.
And it was where the 93-year-old woman met her end in brutal fashion, where she was sexually assaulted and pummeled in her bed by an intruder, according to Omaha police.
Sollowin died Wednesday at the Nebraska Medical Center, four days after the attack carried out by a man she did not know......
Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, beat and raped Sollowin because he had been drinking much of the previous night and was “angry with women,” a prosecutor told a Douglas County Court judge Wednesday.
....U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has asked the jail to hold him, an official there said. That is often an indication that the federal agency is questioning an inmate's immigration status.
When their husbands went off to World War II, Louise Sollowin and her sister bought a house in South Omaha and moved in together.
There, she held court in the kitchen, whipping up vast meals and, as she did, shooing people from her sacred domain.
The house is where she sewed drapes and pajamas for her grandchildren.
And it was where the 93-year-old woman met her end in brutal fashion, where she was sexually assaulted and pummeled in her bed by an intruder, according to Omaha police.
Sollowin died Wednesday at the Nebraska Medical Center, four days after the attack carried out by a man she did not know......
Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, beat and raped Sollowin because he had been drinking much of the previous night and was “angry with women,” a prosecutor told a Douglas County Court judge Wednesday.
....U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has asked the jail to hold him, an official there said. That is often an indication that the federal agency is questioning an inmate's immigration status.
State and Local Pension Liabilities
State and Local Pension Liabilities | Cato @ Liberty:
"Yet $3 trillion is hardly chicken feed. Novy-Marx and Rauh estimate that to fund these pensions fully within 30 years, states would need to raise taxes by $1,385 per household, per year, over that period."
"Yet $3 trillion is hardly chicken feed. Novy-Marx and Rauh estimate that to fund these pensions fully within 30 years, states would need to raise taxes by $1,385 per household, per year, over that period."
Door-To-Door Mail Delivery To End Under New Plan
Door-To-Door Mail Delivery To End Under New Plan - Slashdot:
"Reuters reports that under a cost-saving plan by the US Postal Service, millions of Americans accustomed to getting their mail delivered to their doors will have to trek to the curb and residents of new homes will use neighborhood mailbox clusters. 'Converting delivery away from door delivery to either curb line or centralized delivery would enable the Postal Service to provide service to more customers in less time,' says Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan. More than 30 million American homes get door-to-door delivery and another 50 million get their mail dropped at their curbside mailboxes. But the Post Service, which is buckling under massive financial losses, sees savings in centralized mail delivery. Door-to-door delivery costs the Postal Service about $353 per address each year while curbside delivery costs $224, and cluster boxes cost $160 per address. But unions say it's a bad idea to end delivery to doorsteps and will be disruptive for the elderly and disabled. 'It's madness,' says Jim Sauber, chief of staff for the National Association of Letter Carriers. 'The idea that somebody is going to walk down to their mailbox in Buffalo, New York, in the winter snow to get their mail is just crazy.'"
"Reuters reports that under a cost-saving plan by the US Postal Service, millions of Americans accustomed to getting their mail delivered to their doors will have to trek to the curb and residents of new homes will use neighborhood mailbox clusters. 'Converting delivery away from door delivery to either curb line or centralized delivery would enable the Postal Service to provide service to more customers in less time,' says Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan. More than 30 million American homes get door-to-door delivery and another 50 million get their mail dropped at their curbside mailboxes. But the Post Service, which is buckling under massive financial losses, sees savings in centralized mail delivery. Door-to-door delivery costs the Postal Service about $353 per address each year while curbside delivery costs $224, and cluster boxes cost $160 per address. But unions say it's a bad idea to end delivery to doorsteps and will be disruptive for the elderly and disabled. 'It's madness,' says Jim Sauber, chief of staff for the National Association of Letter Carriers. 'The idea that somebody is going to walk down to their mailbox in Buffalo, New York, in the winter snow to get their mail is just crazy.'"
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Rep. Justin Amash's amendment to defund NSA spying defeated in close vote
Rep. Justin Amash's amendment to defund NSA spying defeated in close vote | MLive.com:
"Ninety-four Republicans voted for the amendment, as did 111 Democrats.
Amash's fellow West Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, voted in favor of the proposal."
"Ninety-four Republicans voted for the amendment, as did 111 Democrats.
Amash's fellow West Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, voted in favor of the proposal."
Why Muskegon County is giving free bus rides to the youth fair Thursday and Friday
Why Muskegon County is giving free bus rides to the youth fair Thursday and Friday | MLive.com:
"The bus service to the fair will run Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.
A bus headed for the fairgrounds in Sullivan Township will depart from the MATS downtown Muskegon terminal, 351 Morris Ave., at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The bus will stop to pick up more passengers from the Muskegon Heights transfer station on Baker Street south of Manahan Avenue, at 12:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., arriving at the fair grounds at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
A bus returning to town will depart from the fair at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., arriving in Muskegon Heights at 2:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and arriving in downtown Muskegon 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m."
"The bus service to the fair will run Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.
A bus headed for the fairgrounds in Sullivan Township will depart from the MATS downtown Muskegon terminal, 351 Morris Ave., at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The bus will stop to pick up more passengers from the Muskegon Heights transfer station on Baker Street south of Manahan Avenue, at 12:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., arriving at the fair grounds at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
A bus returning to town will depart from the fair at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., arriving in Muskegon Heights at 2:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and arriving in downtown Muskegon 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m."
George H. W. Bush Shaves His Head In Solidarity With 2-Year-Old Suffering From Leukemia
George H. W. Bush Shaves His Head In Solidarity With 2-Year-Old Suffering From Leukemia:
"Former President George H. W. Bush and members of the Secret Service wanted to show their support for Patrick, the 2-year-old son of a member of Bush’s security detail."
"Former President George H. W. Bush and members of the Secret Service wanted to show their support for Patrick, the 2-year-old son of a member of Bush’s security detail."
Iodization Effect On IQ
Iodization Effect On IQ - Business Insider:
"Iodine deficiency remains the world's leading cause of preventable mental retardation.
According to a new study, its introduction in America in 1924 had an effect so profound that it raised the country's IQ."
"Iodine deficiency remains the world's leading cause of preventable mental retardation.
According to a new study, its introduction in America in 1924 had an effect so profound that it raised the country's IQ."
Guardian Angels: Don’t Let Mag Mile Become “Muggers’ Mile”
Guardian Angels: Don’t Let Mag Mile Become “Muggers’ Mile” « CBS Chicago:
"They said criminals have been turning the popular stretch of Michigan Avenue into their own ATM, and attacks there have grown more violent. "
"They said criminals have been turning the popular stretch of Michigan Avenue into their own ATM, and attacks there have grown more violent. "
How do Americans with jobs get to work?
How do Americans with jobs get to work? - WatchdogWire - Florida:
"FL has reported on the growing costs of running publicly funded transportation systems (buses, light rail, AMTRAK). Public bus systems rarely pay for themselves.
Rather they are heavily subsidized by federal, state and local governments. "
"FL has reported on the growing costs of running publicly funded transportation systems (buses, light rail, AMTRAK). Public bus systems rarely pay for themselves.
Rather they are heavily subsidized by federal, state and local governments. "
Sen. Ron Johnson: Say no to Detroit bailouts
Sen. Ron Johnson: Say no to Detroit bailouts:
"Detroit's failure is rooted in an unholy alliance between politicians and public sector unions.
Its 47 municipal unions spent their members' dues to elect public officials who then "negotiated" with those same unions for overly generous contracts that resulted in bankruptcy.
The city's emergency manager laid out the gory details in a settlement he offered to creditors last month.
Health benefits to the city's 19,000 retirees are lavish and unfunded.
The city acted too late to reduce staff numbers bloated by union work rules — for example, last year it was discovered the city water department employed a horseshoer for $56,000 a year, though it owned no horses. Unions won "sweeteners," like extra pension checks and easier pension eligibility, that increased costs without benefiting the general public.
In exchange, residents suffer one of the worst homicide rates of any big city, an average 58-minute police response time, four out of ten streetlights are broken, and the highest per-capita tax burden in Michigan.
Sounds great, huh?"
"Detroit's failure is rooted in an unholy alliance between politicians and public sector unions.
Its 47 municipal unions spent their members' dues to elect public officials who then "negotiated" with those same unions for overly generous contracts that resulted in bankruptcy.
The city's emergency manager laid out the gory details in a settlement he offered to creditors last month.
Health benefits to the city's 19,000 retirees are lavish and unfunded.
The city acted too late to reduce staff numbers bloated by union work rules — for example, last year it was discovered the city water department employed a horseshoer for $56,000 a year, though it owned no horses. Unions won "sweeteners," like extra pension checks and easier pension eligibility, that increased costs without benefiting the general public.
In exchange, residents suffer one of the worst homicide rates of any big city, an average 58-minute police response time, four out of ten streetlights are broken, and the highest per-capita tax burden in Michigan.
Sounds great, huh?"
Questions raised about IRS executive travel
Questions raised about IRS executive travel | Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider | www.ajc.com:
"In some cases, the travel days exceeded the number of business days due to employees remaining in travel status during the weekends and holidays," the report said."
"In some cases, the travel days exceeded the number of business days due to employees remaining in travel status during the weekends and holidays," the report said."
Detroit council supports calls for federal investigation of possible civil rights charges against George Zimmerman
Detroit council supports calls for federal investigation of possible civil rights charges against George Zimmerman | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"The Detroit City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution calling for a federal investigation to see whether civil rights charges are warranted against George Zimmerman"
"The Detroit City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution calling for a federal investigation to see whether civil rights charges are warranted against George Zimmerman"
Derivative Losses, Bad Bets, And Aggressive Assumptions Leave Detroit's Pensions Massively Underfunded
Derivative Losses, Bad Bets, And Aggressive Assumptions Leave Detroit's Pensions Massively Underfunded | Zero Hedge:
"Rather incredibly, the city's General and Police and Fire retirement systems have a combined underfunding of $3.5 billion made worse by "aggressive actuarial assumptions,"
"Rather incredibly, the city's General and Police and Fire retirement systems have a combined underfunding of $3.5 billion made worse by "aggressive actuarial assumptions,"
Statism is turning America into Detroit – Ayn Rand's Starnesville come to life
Statism is turning America into Detroit – Ayn Rand's Starnesville come to life – Telegraph Blogs:
"Look at this description of Detroit from today’s Observer:
What isn’t dumped is stolen.
Factories and homes have largely been stripped of anything of value, so thieves now target cars’ catalytic converters.
Illiteracy runs at around 47%; half the adults in some areas are unemployed.
In many neighbourhoods, the only sign of activity is a slow trudge to the liquor store."
"Look at this description of Detroit from today’s Observer:
What isn’t dumped is stolen.
Factories and homes have largely been stripped of anything of value, so thieves now target cars’ catalytic converters.
Illiteracy runs at around 47%; half the adults in some areas are unemployed.
In many neighbourhoods, the only sign of activity is a slow trudge to the liquor store."
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