With yesterday's "historic" health care reform vote we have now have even greater incentive to elect the right State and Local representation. We must gird ourselves for the onslaught of continued infringement into our personal and State freedoms and liberties. This singular move, with all it's back room arm twisting and secret sweetheart dealings, has opened the door to even greater and more blatant encroachment into our personal lives.
We must be prepared to aggressively defend the rights and responsiblities given to States. These are the same rights and liberties expressly NOT awarded to our Federal government.
This is where courage, steadfast strength, and selfless concern must be paramount to the fundamental principles of each candidate. And this is exactly why I am running for the State House of Representative, 65th District.
Does it really serve the people of Michigan well for our Governor to call for a "No Meat" Day? What message does this send to tone of the few industries in the state that have maintained modest growth for the last 10 years? What message does this send to one of the biggest elements of our recreation and tourism industry....hunting and fishing? Suporting and educatiing "healthy eating and personal responsibility" is one thing.......but to call for a No Meat day........it just seems there are probably a lot more pressing issues to focus on. Additionally, what possible benefit is there in doing anything that would cause pause for future investment in agriculture? Cause pause equals "uncertaintly".
As we have been saying all along, the biggest deterrent to capital deployment is "uncertainty". And the result of hesitant or restricted capital deployment is FEWER JOBS! Under the current circumstances, each and every action being considered within our government needs to first be tested against the question of "how might this impact capital deployment and JOBS?". We have to work fervently and diligently to keep this absolutely top of mind. With actions like these.......all this does is add to the "cloud of uncertainty" the outside world sees Michigan operating under. It has to stop.
Today the State Senate took up the issue of the next 3% raise for State workers. These are the same State workers who already have compensation and benefit packages which dwarf equivalent roles in the private sector. These folks work hard, take their jobs seriously, and are unfortunately working for an entity that is broke. Just like many of the people who used to work at Chrysler and GM. And, if leadership in Lansing doesn't step up and demonstrate true courage and leadership......their fates will be similar.
No one has any reason or incentive to degrade the fine people who work for the State of Michigan. They are victims of poor, shortsighted leadership. This is the same Lansing leadership who call a budget balanced when the gap is filled with special "gifts" from Washington. These Stimulus "gifts" will end.......and where will that leave us? What kind of pickle does that create for our dedicated State employees?
Bad news never gets better with age. It's time we face the headwinds....and start making tough choices. The longer it lingers.......the tougher the choices.