Wednesday December 19, 2012

Snyder Vetos Gun Bill

Bowing to public pressure or looking for better bill? Click Here for Details

NRA Makes Comment on Shootings

Prepared to make meaningful contribution to debate Click Here for Story

Stefphon and Sandy Hook

By Michael Goodell

I confess that the Sandy Hook massacre left me cold. I felt nothing at the time, and have felt nothing since. Based on what I have read and heard, though, if I were inclined to watch television, I would have felt something. I would have felt disgust for the tarted up media frenzy. I felt nothing because I have been numb since November 6. I did not grieve because I have been grieving since November 6. Sandy Hook was not a tragedy, but the culmination… Click to Read More

Back Tracking

Outrageous comments from school superintendent get walked back Click Here for Details

Dues Skimming to Finally End

SEIU dues skimming scam will end in February Click Here for Story

First Black US Senator in 34 Years

Nikki Haley to appoint Tim Scott to Jim DeMint’s post Click Here for Details 

Cheaper Than Dirt Caves?

Online gun retailer stops gun sales? Click Here for Story

Obama to Push for Assault Weapons Ban

Renewing the old ban or something worse? Click Here for Details

Guess Who Defeated a Mental Health Bill in Connecticut?

ACLU said bill would infringe on the rights of mentally ill? Click Here for Story

Fear of Being Committed

Did shooter snap on thought of being committed? Click Here for Details

Gun Sales Surge

Possibility of gun ban sends millions looking for guns Click Here for Details

Movement on Tax Plan?

Is Boehner looking at allowing tax hikes? Click Here for Story

Go Figure

Obama looking at Credit card company CEO for Treasury Secretary? Click Here for Story

 

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Tuesday December 18, 2012

Governor Looking More Closely at Gun Bill

Would legal arms in the hands of trained people be a better deterrent? Click Here for Details

Shooter Motivation Still a Mystery?

Most reports show Lanza had problems Click Here for Story

From Long Shot to Victory

Larry Reed recalls right-to-work fight

By Lawrence W. Reed |Courtesy of Michigan Capitol Confidential

Oh, how well I remember this piece in the Detroit Free Press from almost 20 years ago! Better yet, I remember the reaction to it: A scattering of lukewarm encouragement on the order of “good luck on that one” and “someday maybe, but not in my lifetime” and a whole lot of “no way, never” with some unrepeatable epithets tossed in to underscore the point.

It wasn’t the first time we had called for a right-to-work law for Michigan, but getting such prominence for the idea in the state’s largest daily newspaper was an early victory on a long road. While we knew from the start that it would be mostly uphill, our attitude was: “So let’s get to work on it!”

I had lived in Idaho from 1984 to 1987, running a small think tank called the Center for the Study of Market Alternatives. We worked on many freedom-related issues including right-to-work and when Idaho voters were set to vote on the matter in 1986, we researched and wrote and spoke our hearts out. In the end, Idahoans supported it by a wide margin and made Idaho the nation’s 21st right-to-work state.

I knew it could be done someday in Michigan, though I also knew that the path to get there would likely affirm these words attributed to Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

Many good people came to be involved, but no honest or thorough history of how Michigan ended the scourge of compulsory unionism can be told without citing the indispensable role of the Mackinac Center. I am immensely proud of that fact. We made the case for it when it was on no one’s radar. We produced studies, commentaries and lectures about the concept for two decades. We simply never gave up. When you know something is right, why would you?

One of the chief architects of our long-term strategy was my best friend and, before he died in a plane crash in June 2003, Mackinac’s senior vice president, Joe Overton. This great triumph for liberty is a tribute to him as much as it is to any person or any organization. Joe, we did it — just as you knew we would, sooner or later!

When I moved on from the Mackinac Center to the Foundation for Economic Education in September 2008, it was with the confidence that the lofty goals of the Center were in good hands and would not change.

The extraordinary and historic events of December 2012 confirm that. From my position at FEE and my home in Georgia (happily also a proud right-to-work state), I congratulate my former colleagues at the Mackinac Center and all those many others across the state of Michigan who fought the fight!

Larry Reed is President Emeritus of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Complete Hypocrite

Teacher Union Steward gets paid by taxpayers to protest against them Click Here for Details

 White House Keeping Mum on Gun Control…So Far

Its coming but what will it be? Click Here for Story

How to Protect Your Kids

Navy Seal has some advice Click Here for Details

Societal Woes

Are violent massacres indicative of societal faults Click Here for Story

Arm School Personnel?

One police chief says yes Click Here for Details

People Want to Rely on Themselves?

Requests for gun permits jumps again Click Here for Story

MSNBC Anchor Shows His Stupidity

Ed Schultz says guns should be confiscated Click Here for Details

Jumping On the Band Wagon

Dem Senators leading the charge for taking your guns Click Here for Story

 

 

 

 

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Monday December 17, 2012

As It Was Designed To?

RTW should hurt public sector unions Click Here for Details

Gun Grabbers Exploit Tragedy

All the usual suspects come out of the gun grabbing closet Click Here for Story

People Knew…

Killer had problems and yet nothing was done? Click Here for Details

Feinstein to Introduce Weapons Ban

Assault rifles will be on the dockett Click Here for Story

Gun Control Failed to Protect Children

Connecticut has strict gun control but… Click Here for Details

The Mayan Apocalypse

One more week or just more absurdity? Click Here for Story

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The Drift Radio Show December , 2012

The Drift Radio Show December 16, 2012

Join Gary Wellings on The Drift as we discuss excessive salaries for U of M executives and costs of tuition, the Newtown Connecticut school shooting, the possible reasons behind violent behavior of today’s youth  and Michigan Right to Work.

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Sunday December 16, 2012

Monaghan Sues the Feds

Dominos founder sues Feds over force contraceptino coverage Click Here for Details 

The Cost of Higher Education?

Top UofM Execs sucking up over $7 million per year Click Here for Details

Rogers Still in Charge of Intelligence Committee

Congressman Rogers gets re-appointed Click Here for Story

‘We’ll Be At Your Daughter’s Soccer Game!’

Union protest speaker tells governor that union members will ‘visit you’ everywhere over right-to-work bill

By Jarrett Skorup | Courtesy of Michigan Capitol Confidential

LANSING — A speaker at a union protest against right-to-work legislation said if Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bill he would get “no rest” and that protesters would be at his “daughter’s soccer game.” (Video below).

The Rev. Charles Williams II made the comments Tuesday to loud cheers before a group of thousands of union workers. After his promises to harass Gov. Snyder, he introduced Rep. Richard Hammel, D-Mt. Morris Township, and House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills. Williams is a Detroit-area pastor and left-wing activist.

Gov. Snyder later that day signed a bill into law making Michigan a right-to-work state. One of his daughters is a 16-year-old high school student.

“Just know one thing, Rick Snyder: You sign that bill, you won’t get no rest,” Williams said. “We’ll meet you on Geddes Road. We’ll be at your daughter’s soccer game. We’ll visit you at your church. We’ll be at your office.

~~~~~

~~~~~

“Because Michigan workers will not take it laying down — by any means necessary!” he said.

Geddes Road is where the Snyder residence is located.

After Williams’ introduction, both representatives gave short speeches with Rep. Greimel ending by leading the crowd in a chant of, “No Justice, No Peace!”

It appears that union protesters would have little luck finding the governor at the soccer field. According to a player profile on AnnArbor.com, his daughter participates only in softball and volleyball.

Schools Spreading Mis-Information About Reform

Corporations don’t take money from schools Click Here for Details

Union Vandalism Costs Lansing Company $35,000

Bussed in union protestors destroy tents from rental company Click Here for Story

Saturday December 15, 2012

What Motivated Newtown Shooter?

Another angry young man muders dozens Click Here for Details

Mental Illness the Cause?

Young man allegedly had disorder Click Here for Video Click Here for Story

They’re Coming for Your Guns

Latest murder will bring demand for gun control Click Here for Details

Our Next War?

US sends troops and missiles to Turkey Click Here for Story

Dems Ready to Exploit Tragedy

Dems and gun conrol lobby already pushing the case Click Here for Details

Alex Jones Says Gun Grab Imminent

Media and Obama use fake crying: This time they won’t let up on guns  Click Here for Video

It’s Not Just Guns

22 children attacked in China with knife Click Here for Details

 

 

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Friday December 14, 2012

Should the Uof M Offer Illegal Immigrant Discounts?

Protest wants the U to give illegal immigrants in state tuition rates? Click Here for Story 

Big Business Myth Put to Rest

Surprising data on how government isn’t aleays helping big business ? Click Here for Details

Union Rates Not Dropping Faster In RTW States

By James M. Hohman | Dec. 11, 2012 |

Over at Michigan Radio, Rick Pluta makes an interesting observation: “The fact is union membership has typically dropped off in the other 23 states that have adopted ‘right-to-work’ laws.”

The fact that unionization is down is true. But adopting a RTW law, counterintuitively, does not seem to impact the rates of unionization. Unionization across the country is down, and there seem to be no difference in these trends between right-to-work and non-right-to-work states.

It makes intuitive sense that allowing a worker the option of whether or not to be in the union would result in more people choosing not to be union members. But the data does not indicate much of a difference. Unionization rates in right-to-work states are not decreasing at a greater rate than in non-right-to-work states.

There are only three states that have adopted a right-to-work law in the past 30 years: Idaho, which passed right-to-work legislation in 1985 and Oklahoma, which did so in 2001, and Indiana, which passed it earlier this year. There’s no data available yet on how Hoosier union members have responded.

Both Idaho and Oklahoma, like the U.S. as a whole, have had falling unionization rates over the entire data period, which begins in 1983. The chart below shows that the rates of the decrease have been similar in both states to the U.S. average. You would expect that the fall would be noticeably different in Oklahoma after 2001, but there does not appear to be a change. Michigan, on the other hand, has a higher unionization rate and also a faster rate of decline.

Unionization Rates for MI, OK and AK

From the Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at unionstats.com

Indeed, looking at the number of union members shows very small declines. In the year prior to the passage of right-to-work, there were 93,814 union members in Oklahoma. In 2011, this had fallen to 93,513 members — a decrease of just 301 union members, or 0.3 percent. The number of union members in the U.S. as a whole decreased by 9.4 percent over the same period.

Idaho, which reports much greater volatility in union membership over the period, had 31,640 union members in 1984, which fell to 30,560 in 2011: a decrease of 1,080 members, or 3.4 percent. The nation as a whole at this time lost 14.6 percent of its union members. Idaho likewise shows that RTW does not cause union membership to drop off.

If right-to-work legislation is about what detractors have asserted — that it’s about eliminating unions — then it would be a poor strategy. It’s an ineffective way of decreasing unionization in the states that have adopted it. Instead, these detractors should give greater credence to what supporters say it is about: giving workers the choice whether to join a union or not.

Charter Schools Help Poorer Children

Many charter school children are from lower income levels Click Here for Details

Fiscal Talks Stall

Obama just doesn’t wan to cut spending Click Here for Video

Dem Congresswoman Tells Cavuto to Shut Up?

Can’t answer what if anything she’s willing to cut in the spending arena Click Here for Video

Out of the Running

Ambassador Susan Rice decides not to go after Secretary of State Post Click Here for Story

Detroit Shows the Country Obama’s Socialist Vision

A downard spiral with little to no hope Click Here for Details

Harry Belafonte: Racist and Marxist

Moronic political statements from a has been musician Click Here for Video

Only 15 States Will Run Obamacare Exchanges

Little to no suuport for Obama Care at state level Click Here for Details

Finally Seeing the Light

Russia fiannly sees the end of Assad in Syria Click Here for Story

 

 

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Thursday December 13, 2012

Green Oak Sues Liquid Manufacturing

Township wants wastewater treated

Michigan Senator Rebekah Warren Wants Men to Have Rectal Exams?

Strange Amendments to abortion legislation used to make a point?

The Angry Left

Union mob destroys property, steals food and assaults people Click Here for Story and Video

The Cliff is Already Damaging

Effects already being felt in the economy Click Here for Details

NOKO’s Satellite Launch Botched

Throwing stones into orbit Click Here for Story

Heavily Armed Florida

Nearly 1 million permits for guns Click Here for Details

 

 

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Wednesday December 12, 2012

12-12-12!

Right to Work Passes Legislature; Michigan now 24th RTW State

And was signed by Governor in private 

Pro-Union protestors get violent Click Here for Story

John “Chicken Little” Dingell Cries About Right to Work

The Sky isn’t falling but the Democratic big wigs should be fearful of losing big money from their campaigns Click Here for Details

Brighton Schools Back in Black

First time in nine years the district has positive balance Click Here for Story

Teachers Stealing Time from Your Kids?

Several school districts closed down as teachers left work to protest Click Here for Details

Right-To-Work Matters for Some Michigan Businesses

‘If you treat your people right, they don’t need a union’

By Anne Schieber | Courtesy of Michigan Capitol Confidential

AUBURN HILLS — When Michigan-based Android Industries needed a place to expand this year, it chose Ft. Wayne, Ind.

“Indiana became a right-to-work state and (it) offers us a competitive location,” Android Vice President of Human Resources David Donnay told the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Android added 4,000 square feet to a building and invested $7.3 million at the facility with a target of adding 70 employees.

So did the pending right-to-work law come too late for the company to consider Michigan?

“There are many factors that go into a decision on where to expand,” Donnay said.

He said Android prefers right-to-work states because it gives workers a choice whether or not to financially support a union.

The auto-supplier, which specializes in complex modular systems primarily for Detroit’s automakers, employs 2,200 workers throughout Europe and the Americas. Half of its plants are non-union facilities.

“If you treat your people right, they don’t need a union,” he said. The company bases wages and benefits on the market rate, he said, but he added that he does not anticipate wages and benefits changing in Michigan when it becomes a right-to-work state.

Android operates in two right-to-work states, Indiana and Texas. Donnay said the compensation packages in those facilities are identical to similar facilities in those areas. If the compensation packages in those states are too low, workers will go to other states, he said.

Donnay says he was surprised when he learned Michigan lawmakers were likely to approve a right-to-work law. He said he thinks a right-to-work law could open the door for Toyota and Honda to open a facility in Michigan, and he thinks it will preserve what he thinks was one of the best things to happen in the Detroit auto industry: the two-tiered pay system, which allowed the auto companies to hire new auto workers at lower wages than veteran workers.

Another company pleased with Michigan’s decision to likely become right-to-work state is Indiana-based Steel Dynamics. The company operates in 27 states, including Michigan.

“We’re not anti-union, but pro-choice,” said Ben Eisbart, Steel Dynamics vice president for human resources.

However, Eisbart said he doesn’t think a right-to-work law will influence the company’s thinking in deciding where to expand or acquire companies.

“We purchased companies in Michigan before a right-to-work law,” he said, adding that competitiveness and the productivity of acquired companies has to offset drawbacks from buying a company with a union workforce.

He said the company has maintained positive relations with its union workers, but he said what works best is allowing individual workers to reach their earnings potential based on incentives and productivity. He said he is convinced that kind of system allowed Steel Dynamics to get through the 2008 economic crash with no layoffs.

GOP Looking for Immigration Reform

Problem is long over due for a fix Click Here for Details

More Violence as Union Thugs Attack Opposition

Punching conservatives instead of behaving civilized Click Here for Story and Video

Boehner and Obama Face Off?

New deals being offered after meeting Click Here for Details

Lack of Education

Only 7% of Detroit 8th Graders proficient in reading Click Here for Story

 

 

 

 

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Tuesday December 11, 2012

Fed Legislators’ Threats to Snyder

Big bully Carl Levin threatens Governor Snyder to protect his union cronies Click Here for Details

Free Riders is a Myth in Union Debate?

Union supporters play fast and loose with the facts Click Here for Story

School Admin Hypocrites

Non-profit profiteers Click Here for Details

Dems Holding Up Fiscal Cliff Talks

Dems don’t want to discuss spending cuts Click Here for Story

From the Science Side

Camouflage reaches new high with invisibility Click Here for Details

Liar in Chief Comes to Michigan

Obama calls RTW a taking of your Collective Bargaining Rights knowing full well its not Click Here for Story

Bailing out on Paris?

French Actor leaves France because of high tax rates Click Here for Story

MoonBeam Brown Doubles Down

California Governor wants his carbon taxes Click Here for Details

 

 

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Monday December 10, 2012

Livingston Home Sales Up

Sales are up in the county Click Here for Details

The End of Mass Mexican Migration

Has the economy stalled immigrant influx? Click Here for Story

GOP May Accept Tax Increase

Senator Coburn says yes Click Here for Details

What Spending Cuts?

Obama not clear on any cuts at all in negotiations? Click Here for Story

The Dem Agenda Gets Clearer

What you will see in the next four years Click Here for Details

Go Figure

Russia and China Want Tight Internet Control Click Here for Story

Chavez Names Successor

Replacement for Chavez? Click Here for Details

White House Getting Cocky?

Seem to think the marginal election victory is a mandate Click Here for Story

 

 

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