Fight Unfair Auto Insurance Practices With Ballot Measure

Of all the things that plague residents of Michigan, auto insurance rates add insult to injury. The high rates that are forced on our motorists across the state strain already tight budgets and can lead to drivers illegally operating vehicles without insurance coverage.

According to a February 2006 Insurance.com report, drivers in Detroit were paying approximately $5,984 for a plan that would cost the same driver in Los Angeles, one of the largest and most densely congested areas in the country, $3,303. This discrepancy is primarily due to unfair redlining practices used by the large insurers, who have leveraged their political clout in Lansing to stifle true public oversight. Proposed legislation to regulate insurer rate hikes, redlining, and reform the Kreiner liability coverage system in this state has been consistently relegated to rot in committee by Senators more concerned with special interest money than helping the motorists of our state.

It's up to us as Michigan drivers to let Lansing know that we want reform. State Sen. Hansen Clarke is backing a ballot drive to force insurance companies in Michigan to treat our drivers fairly and reduce our rates. By supporting this initiative, it sends a clear message to our elected officials and the insurance companies that we refuse to be taken advantage of by either group.

20 years ago this month, Communism was defeated by the people of Germany uniting and tearing down the Berlin Wall- a symbol of the oppression wroght on them for decades by a select few. Having the 12th highest car insurance rates in the country is a burden that we too must unite and throw off, and this ballot initiative is the means to do so.

For more information on the ballot initiative, please see the Detroit News article at http://www.detnews.com/article/20091109/BIZ/911090410/1361/rss41.

Beer Drinkers For Common Sense

When you're looking at a couple of billion dollars of deficits, you can't just cut your spending to get out of it. Decreasing revenues from a decade-long recession were the cause, so besides right-sizing government, a way must be devised to create a stable revenue base again.

Current back room chatter in Lansing says some of the players want to see an increase in Michigan's 'sin taxes'- the various excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products to be precise. The current excise tax on beer and cigarettes would be increased to net in millions of dollars of badly needed revenues.

But some are complaining, stating that this will hurt our economy. They cite our tobacco taxes as being among the highest in the country already, and are concerned about our alcohol taxes driving more consumers to smuggle in these products from our lower-tax neighbors.

However, I'm no politician. I'm not a vested lobbyist. Nor am I a member of a trade organization. I'm just a simple citizen of Michigan who wants to see his state succeed. Oh, and drink lots of beer and have some fine cigars along the way too.

My vote is: tax 'em. Tax the booze and the cigs and let's talk about things that DO matter in this state.

I know alcohol has its dangers: when abused, it can destroy lives in an instant, both the abuser and innocents. Even when consumed in moderation, it's loaded with carbs and leads to long term medical complications such as liver disease. Smoking - I think everyone can readily acknowledge those risks. The problem is, when all these costs come up, whether it be a crash witha drunk driver today or a liver transplant for an alcoholic in 20 years, the cost is at least partially bore by the public. The excise 'taxes' therefore are the way that users of these products can help to bear their end of the bargin.

How much of our beer money is at stake in this? After all, this is a recession, right? Why should we pay more for the things we enjoy. Well, the tax on beer would increase by pennies. Mere pennies. The same for cigarettes. Now I know things are tough, but I sincerely every beer drinker can spare a shiny Thomas Jefferson every once in a while to help out our fellow man.

It's not a burden to pay this increased tax, and it's not even really more taxation, but more responsibility. Last time I checked, responsibility was common sense. So let's not call this a 'sin tax', but a 'common sense' tax. And that makes me a Beer Drinker for Common Sense.

Education Aid Is Stimulus

When looking at the problems we have facing our state and nation, the economy is "issue number one". Our leaders in Lansing and Washington are trying to implement strategies to turn the financial fortunes of our state and country around.
The most ready solution would be to put more people to work- 15% unemployment in Michigan and 9.5% nationally are numbers that fail to accurately depict the devastating effect job losses have had over the past several years.
However, the jobs of the 20th century failed to prepare the majority of the American workforce for the jobs of the 21st century, which require in-depth technical knowledge and skills beyond what many have attained. Therefore, to get people back to work, we need to equip them with the skills necessary- enter the post-high school education.
This education is not free, though. Four year degrees can cost tens of thousands in tuition dollars, and even two year programs carry with them significant costs outside of tuition. How is someone without a job to afford this?
The Michigan Promise scholarship and No Worker Left Behind are key programs in this fight to get Michigan's workers retrained and ready to take on the jobs of the new millennium. They provide much needed funding to get our displaced workers back into the classroom today so they can get back to work tomorrow.
Some politicians want to take this funding away, which would prevent our high school graduates and unemployed population from gaining the education necessary to get a job, or worse: saddle them with more debt. With American public debt at an all time high, should we be forcing our citizens who are most vulnerable in these economic tumults to go further into a debt that will take years for them to emerge from? This added debt would hurt the workers and hurt the economy.
Please, urge your legislators to maintain education funding. We can ill afford any cuts.

Michigan Millenials

Last Tuesday I had the ability to attend a special meeting designed to help spur both our government and our people to action on the pertinent issues facing our state in the 21st century. This meeting, arranged with the help of the Governor's office in Southeast Michigan, included some of the brightest members of our state, and was held at a local business that has the potential to not only help change the fate of Detroit and Michigan, but the world as a whole.

When we met at Next Energy, located on Randolph street in the Midtown area of Detroit, all of us were impressed by this structure. In the midst of a city known for its decaying heritage of days-gone-by, to see these stylish, modern, and environmentally sound buildings emerging from the ashes brought Detroit's motto to life. Then, after a guided tour of the facility, we learned the broader implications of the growth of this non-profit corporation in our own back yard: technologies and products researched here are poised to reach millions through both the private sector and military applications, with some work even being done on a global-scale.

Afterward, we convened in the central plenum to focus on our group. When we, the 'Michigan Millenials' started discussing our backgrounds and our goals for the future of our state, we realized that our potential for change was just as great as the work being done at Next Energy. Our backgrounds and standpoints were varied, but helped to shed light on the multi-faceted issues that Michigan needs to deal with. Combined with officials from the Governor's office being on-hand to add their voice, we ended up leaving the meeting with a true sense that, at future sessions, we would have the power to effect real change in this state and bring Michigan back on track.

MI GOP Convention- Extremist Speaker, Failed Policies

The Republicans have their statewide convention this weekend in Lansing, where they will kickoff their attempt at reviving their party in the 2010 election cycle. Their main targets will be at taking back the Governorship on a platform that they know how to revive the state's economy.

How is anyone supposed to believe that from looking at the candidates? Rep. Pete Hoekstra was vocal in his opposition to the federal stimulus package to save and create thousands of jobs in Michigan, especially in his district. The other GOP candidates have followed suit in their opposition to saving our state.

They have even gone to the extreme of having former GOP chair and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour be the keynote speaker. He is so opposed to the stimulus that he will fight to keep the money from the people who need it the most. Quoth the DetNews:

"Barbour spokesman Dan Turner, for example, cited concerns that accepting
unemployment money from the stimulus package would force states to pay benefits to people who wouldn't meet state requirements to receive them"

That's right. The governor of one of the poorest states in the country is expected to fight against giving assistance to the poor. What's worse is the Michigan Republicans are endorsing these policies by giving Barbour the honor to address the leaders of their party.

Is this what Michigan Republicans believe is the way to save our failing economy, by imitating the policies of Mississippi? I sincerely hope so- that will make the 2010 cycle even more of an epic fail for Anuzis/Weiser and Co. than 2008 was.

Alma Wheeler Smith for Governor-A Great Candidate

Despite us being mere weeks out of one of the biggest elections in American history, there is always the desire to look to the future. Issues such as economic recovery in this state are much more far-reaching than just this year or next, and require long-term commitment.

When looking at the field of contenders who have emerged to offer their commitments to serve as the next governor of our state, I couldn't be more pleased. The Republican ticket is crowded with competitive politicians who are assured to have the most vitriolic primary in recent memory, while the Democrats are coming to bat with one of the best-stocked bullpens around.

Focusing only on the serious contenders (apologies to Don Williamson, George Perles, and Mark Hackel), and excluding those who have not filed but are expected to (including Robert Ficano) the Democrats seem to have two outstanding choices, Lt. Gov. John Cherry, and a candidate who just recently declared, State. Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith.

I was personally very heartened to hear that Rep. Alma Smith was going to run for governor again. Having worked with and met her several times in Lansing, I know that she has all the characteristics that our state needs in a leader going into the coming decade. Her experience, political acumen, and fortitude make her a great candidate and would also make her a fine governor.

To look at Alma Smith's resume is to see a life dedicated to public service. From the city, county, and state level, she has served the people of our state with distinction. In Lansing, she has spent time in both the state House and Senate, giving her the inside track on how politics work at the end of Michigan Avenue. Her experience on the Washtenaw County Commission and the School Board have also prevented her from becoming 'detached' from her constituents, as many in Lansing are known to do.

This wealth of experience has allowed Alma to become one of the most adept politicians that I have seen. After sitting in a meeting with her and several members of the Michigan Department of the Treasury, I witnessed first hand how she is able to fight fire with fire in a political debate and push through agendas that, at the outset, others may not be willing to do. In a mere thirty minutes, Alma managed to get the representatives from Treasury to go from being opposed to divesting money from the genocide in Sudan to becoming supporters of the bill, willing to testify in committee. This level of political skill is a key requirement for a governor who is going to have to fight lobbyists and entrenched special interests to enact the change our state so desperately needs.

All this experience and acumen would be for naught if it wasn't backed up with the most necessary requirement for any elected office: fortitude. The personal fortitude to stand up for what is right despite the costs is one of the defining characteristics she has. I think the most pertinent example is her decision to be the lone dissenting vote in the passage of the ineffectual resolution in the State House to 'reduce' legislative pay. This resolution was a superfluous document that could not reduce the pay, and did not further the real solution she advocates- putting a constitutional amendment in place voted on by the public. She stated that this resolution was only a political way to 'pull the wool over the public's eyes' instead of solving the real issue. Established and experienced lawyers agree with her assessment, and she was willing to stand up for it despite the politics associated with the issue.

I fully support both State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith and Lt. Gov. John Cherry in their bids for the Democratic nomination for Governor of the State of Michigan. However, I feel that it is important to bring to light these specific qualities of Rep. Smith that would make her a very effective candidate and governor. I wish all of the candidates the best of luck in the future.

Lt. Gov. Cherry at YDM Conference

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of hearing Lt. Gov. John Cherry address a group at the Young Democrats of Michigan convention in Detroit. At this meeting, the Lt. Gov. spoke on the vital role that technology plays in the increasing effectiveness of political participation by young people.

His speech was very eloquent, reminding the audience that each of us who has a cell phone has more power to immediately influence public policy than a group of lobbyists in decades past. To access the internet from anywhere, send messages to legislators through e-mail and other instant formats, and then invite all of our friends to do the same makes each of us a potent political force. However, apathy can stand in our way: the belief that we can't change our government is now the only obstacle to our generation.

In 2008, we saw a wave of 'change' and 'yes we can' attitudes sweep the country. It is in this new spirit that we can finally take the power from the entrenched special interests and force our leaders, up in their'ivory towers', to listen to us. With the major problems that our state and country face, it is this ability that can make this truly the 'greatest generation' and abandon the failed policies of the past.

To watch the speech, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/ltgovspeech

Economic Stimulus: Taxes and Infrastructure.

Infrastructure-the roads we drive on, the sidewalks we walk on, the pipes we drink from, the lines we plug into, and even more. Infrastructure is the measure of a country; the ability for a country to provide adequate services to its populace is one of the chief things that separates a "First World" country from a "Third World".
In America, much of this infrastructure is reliant upon the support of the government to be maintained and expanded. At the very least, private entities need to rely on government for permitting and oversight to implement infrastructure building initiatives. Lots of our infrastructure was built by the WPA in the Great Depression
When looking at stimuli to resolve our financial crisis (or at least stem the bleeding), fiscally conservative elements on both sides of the aisle have advocated for less direct government spending and more tax breaks.
However, with lower tax revenues, what will happen to our infrastructure that needs the government to survive? Privatization is not the answer. We need more stimulus to rebuild our infrastructure and ensure our economic and social viability into the future.

2010: A Wishlist

I'm no big advocate of front-loading election cycles, but, as citizens of a state that is in dire straits, Michiganians have to start planning for 2010 today. With the Governorship, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Senate, and State House all up for grabs, the very future of our state hangs in the balance.
Michigan's economic woes are only part of our problems. Dragged down by the national recession, we are nearing year 9 of our own recession with 10% unemployment, and grim prospects for jobless figures next year too. Our state is heavily reliant on others for producing our energy, and our roads are in shambles with no clear way to fix them. In fact, to list the challenges that our new administration needs to surmount would take pages.
We can ill afford to stumble blindly into this election and be swayed by campaign politics on either side. Michigan needs to put the candidates to the test and challenge them to implement the people's solutions to our problems, rather than the political solutions.
This means forming a wishlist of what we want to see our officials do for us. This policy platform will be what we as a state want to see. How to do this, where to do this, and more are questions that are not up to me to answer. Our situation today, though, is far too dire to allow our next leaders to sneak into office by mastery of the political game alone.