Martial Law in Michigan

[B_stanmarsh14]

While we were venting our outrage at shenanigans in Wisconsin politics, in fact while Republicans were planning last night’s attempted coup, the Michigan state legislature quietly passed a bill giving the Governor of Michigan martial control over the state. Except instead of using actual military, the Governor is more likely to use private security. But make no mistake–rights would be suspended.

» Martial Law in Michigan Dvorak Uncensored: General interest observations and true web-log.

Ouch!..... this bill needs repealing, and soon.

 

[phillyhangin]

It's not "martial law" in the strictest sense of the term; the bill gives the governor the ability to declare a "financial state of emergency" and then appoint "emergency managers" to deal with that false emergency. (Hmm, creating false emergencies...sounds familiar.) These unelected managers would have unilateral powers to fire local elected officials. (How's that for subverting democracy?) They can also break contracts (read union contracts), seize and sell assets (read privatize government assets), and eliminate services (read social programs that actually help people). If all of that weren't bad enough, these unelected, unaccountable political appointees would also have the power to eliminate whole cities or school districts - all without any public input.

I don't know what's scarier: unelected, unaccountable political appointees unilaterally firing duly elected officials; or unelected, unaccountable political appointees unilaterally dissolving cities and school districts.

These people are evil. Evil, evil, evil. With any luck, the law will fail on constitutional grounds, but that remains to be seen. (Part of me is highly suspicious that this is just a publicity stunt; they know it will fail on constitutional grounds, but since they didn't have anything useful to contribute, they resorted to political grandstanding instead.) If the law stands, I think the backlash when they try to exercise any of these powers is going to be nasty.

One more for the political funeral pyre...

 

[b.c.]

Nothing to worry about. Just another step in their agenda of rewriting law, eliminating social programs, undermining civil and employee rights, and generally disenfranchising anyone who doesn't fit into "der master plan".

This they hope to accomplish by the seizing of complete governmental control - by any means necessary, including the elimination of voters' rights. That's all. Wouldn't be the first time, would it?

Sieg heil!!

 

[JulieInNaplesFL]

Wonder what they will do when the general public start marching in the streets with guns in toe?

If this crap keeps up it's gonna happen.

 

[B_nyvin]

I really don't see Jennifer Granholm being a dictator-like leader....She's certainly strict and by-the-rules...but not really power hungry.

edit - nevermind...she left office in january, lol.

 

[Rikter8]

Yes... her term expired.

We are now under Republican rule, so does any of this suprise anyone?
Corruption sure surfaces fast with these folks, doesnt it?

 

[b.c.]

Well since November they've been feeling their "oats".

Since they figure "America" (or those who bothered to go to the polls in November) has given them "Carte Blanche" and that they've pretty much "taken control", they no longer have any reasons to couch their real agenda in their usual coded fashion. Now we get to see who they really are and what they're really all about, and it sure ain't pretty.

Serves America right for being such gullible fuckin' assholes, imo.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

Well since November they've been feeling their "oats".

Since they figure "America" (or those who bothered to go to the polls in November) has given them "Carte Blanche" and that they've pretty much "taken control", they no longer have any reasons to couch their real agenda in their usual coded fashion. Now we get to see who they really are and what they're really all about, and it sure ain't pretty.

Serves America right for being such gullible fuckin' assholes, imo.

Perhaps next time people won't decide to stay home and not vote due to whatever small reason? It was obvious who were the lunatics running for office in 2010. Many wanted to "send a message" that they were disappointed with how the current administration was handling things. But considering how things are in Michigan and Wisconsin now, are these same no-shows feeling like they did the right thing?