No Socialist-leaning Governor For Michigan

The last thing we need in Michigan is for the government to takeover private industry by creating a State-owned bank. In a word, I find government intrusion into free enterprise "nauseating".

I could only imagine the problems that would come from this socialist-leaning plan. If the State of Michigan owns the bank, will it make loans based on political leanings? Will it award loans after financial campaign contributions? Will the bank demand the employees of companies seeking a loan belong to a union? I can see an house of corruption we do not need to build.

See the March 10,2010 article below:

Candidate for governor Virg Bernero proposes state-owned bank to ease credit crunch
By Chris Knape | The Grand Rapids Press
March 10, 2010, 6:47AM

Bernero saying Michigan's businesses are being left behind by big banks, Democrat gubernatorial candidate and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero announced a plan Tuesday to create a state-owned bank to serve as a lending "backstop" and help ease a credit crunch.

The plan would mimic the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, which works with banks in that state to help finance business growth efforts, provide student loans and offer other banking services. Rather than being backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. -- and subject to its regulations -- the bank is backed by the state.

"We can't wait on Wall Street and Washington for our recovery," Bernero said. "The big banks have been saved, meanwhile small business in Michigan is being snuffed out."

Bernero's proposal calls for the bank to be capitalized with the assets of the state and a bond sale.

Whether the proposal gets legs, helps Bernero get his name out to voters who have never heard of him, or gets him labeled a socialist remains to be seen.

FACT SHEET
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, Democrat candidate for governor, proposed establishing a state-owned bank to help ease credit markets and encourage business growth. Here's a look at the Bank of North Dakota, which he wants to model the Michigan bank after:
Founded: 1919

Total assets (2009): $3.9 billion

Net income: $58 million

Insured by: State of North Dakota (not FDIC)

Governed by: State Industrial Commission, consisting of the governor, attorney general and North Dakota commissioner of agriculture; a seven-member advisory board appointed by governor

Don Mann, regulatory liaison for the Michigan Association of Community Bankers, said he has "grave concerns" about the government getting into the banking business, but the idea deserves more study and his group has not taken a position on the idea.

"We shouldn't shoot and say, 'That's not going to work,'" Mann said. "We have to have more dialogue from both sides. But the government being in the banking business to me is a scary prospect, especially after taking over auto companies and big banks."

Art Johnson, chief executive officer of United Bank in Grand Rapids and chairman of the American Bankers Association, said he's skeptical that Michigan could quickly and successfully clone North Dakota's success.

Since its state bank has been around since 1919, North Dakota has had plenty of time to ramp up and develop a track record, he said.

"It has the benefit of getting itself capitalized over a great deal of time, having a long learning experience, not having to go out and staff the thing overnight and get started in a tough economy," Johnson said.

He also said he was concerned the bank could be used for political purposes by whatever party is in control of state government.

The state-owned bank has been a boon to North Dakota but might be tough for others to replicate. Rick Clayburgh, president of the North Dakota Bankers Association, said residents organized the bank (and a state-owned grain elevator and mill) in defiance of big out-of-state banks and mill operators that were hindering its farmers early in the 20th century.

"Over the years, it has developed into a very good tool for the state as well as for the industry," he said. "The bank does not necessarily compete directly but works with banks and credit unions."

As an example, he said, the state bank might help finance a project too large for smaller banks to pull off or it might, at the Legislature's behest, provide more loans to programs like those to encourage new farmers. The bank also is profitable, contributing about $60 million to the state's general fund every two years.

Clayburgh said his biggest reservation about bringing the concept to a state like Michigan would be starting during a downturn.

"If a state were going to go down this path, it really needs to be done in good times to ensure it becomes well capitalized and gets off to good start," he said.

Unlike Michigan, North Dakota is slated to run an almost $1 billion budget surplus this year, he said. As a major farming and energy-producing state with a very small population, North Dakota has eluded many of the recessionary problems hampering other states, he said.

E-mail Chris Knape: cknape@grpress.com

God Will Not Be Mocked

Sunday, February 21, 2010
God will not be mocked
Praise God for the preachers who are not unafraid to oppose this radical change to the America we love! While listening to Coral Ridge Ministries this morning, I learned that Saul Alinsky's book, Rules for Radicals, is dedicated to Satan:

"From all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins – or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom – Lucifer."

It is chilling to think that our President taught this book at the Saul Alinsky Institute. Or to realize that Hillary Rodman Clinton's honors thesis was about Saul Alinsky, who believed in instituting fundamental change. This marriage of Marxism and black supremist theology is what Obama learned at Trinity Church at the feet of Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

How can our leaders believe it is okay to celebrate the establishment of the kingdom of Satan? Can it be that they wish to change America into a humanistic disbelieving society where Christianity and Judaic beliefs are suppressed and mocked?

I quivered before the election when Obama mocked the Bible. On June 26, 2008 Senator Obama asked "Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?
Should we go with Leviticus which suggests slavery is okay? Or we could go with Deuteronomy which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or we could go just stick with the Sermon on the Mount, a passage which is so radical it is doubtful our own defense department could survive its application. Folks haven't been reading their Bible.

The video is on you tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnmS_vULPxw.

Let us pray for our leaders- that the scales may drop from their eyes before it is too late. Let us pray for the citizens of America that we "stand as a watchtower" against the evil plans which arise while half of the electorate is sound asleep.

Is Your Child's Safety More Important than Teacher's Union Pay?

School Cutbacks or Endanger Your Child? Save R.O. School Buses
The Royal Oak School District decided to eliminate buses for children, beginning in September of this year. I wonder...Did the board or the superintendent consider the inconvenience for parents who may have to quit their jobs in order to transport their children to school? Did they think about how hard it is to get a job these days. How hard it is to arrange a new schedule with an employer. More importantly, did they think about how unsafe it is for children to walk unescorted these days?

I venture to guess they did not consider that a child from my house would have to cross Woodward Avenue, a six lane thoroughfare....in Michigan....during winter. I guess they did not consider that cars may slide off slippery roads and a child could become seriously injured. (Just ask the residents of Hilliard, Ohio as two teens were seriously injured this year) I guess they never considered that child predators would love the opportunity to snatch one of these darlings.

It seems it is more important to keep the six figure salary of Dr. Tom Moline and to keep intact the pensions and salaries of the teachers, than to protect Royal Oak's children. The superintendent and the school board chose to maintain the status quo of the teacher's union, over the general welfare of the students.

Though I no longer have a child at home, I remember a very serious situation when my daughter was in grade school. Despite writing a note in my daughter's personal file in the principal's office asking that my daughter not be dismissed from school without my knowledge, she was sent home anyway, across six lanes of traffic. There was no crossing guard at Woodward. Six inches of new snow had just fallen. I was at work and knew nothing of the school dismissal. Without the keen eye of a neighbor who spotted her freezing outside, my child might of died.

I formed a new Facebook group today: Save Our School Bus. Please join this on line group and join me in person at 6 p.m. March 11th to protest this decision at the next school board meeting. The very safety of your children is at stake.

On the Hunt for True Conservatives, Part 2

We don't have a choice anymore. The progressive policies of Jennifer Granholm and Kwame Kilpatrick have taxed business and their employees right out of Michigan. It is nigh on impossible to travel south on I-75 and not see a u-haul. Homes in my modest neighborhood have now lost 75 percent of their value. My only option if I want to move, is to rent now and hope to sell later. Homes are not selling unless you are willing to lose all of your investment just to get away.

I'm fortunate that I live in the suburbs of Detroit. Many parts of the inner city look like a third world country. If you were blindfolded and saw the houses you might mistake Detroit for Bagdad or another war-torn city.

So how did it happen? This video with Steve Chowder, released by PJ TV explains how it happened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hhJ_49leBw

This mini-documentary traces the history of progressive policies in Detroit. Once the progressive politicians have emptied everyone's pocketbook, they leave the state and move to their multi-million dollar mansions in some southern resort area. They played for your money, and like a con artist the skip town after robbing you blind.

So what do we do with those who are left in office? How do we determine those candidates who want to serve us (the taxpayers) or in politics to profit themselves? Let's begin by looking at incumbents.

The Repork Card, produced by the Club for Growth gives us a listing of which representatives voted for pork and which didn't:*

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland 97 percent
U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter, R-Livonia 85 percent
U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids 78 percent
Median score for Republicans nationwide 69 percent
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton 66 percent
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph 53 percent
U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek 43 percent
U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Twp 31 percent
U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland 24 percent
U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Twp 1 percent
Median score for Democrats nationwide 0 percent
U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit 0 percent
U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn 0 percent
U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint 0 percent
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, D-Detroit 0 percent
U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Southfield 0 percent
U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee 0 percent

Anyone scoring 1 percent or lower is a pork-barrel spender. These politicians are very dangerous to our nation's survival. This is a harsh conclusion for me to come to. But look at Detroit.....

Then I ask you for one more favor. Help me find candidates who are sincere about cutting the budget. Find people who will not vote for a bill that contains special privileges for some states and not for others. If you find a candidate committed to living a pork-free life in Congress- let me know. I'll post their names here.

* credit to Kevin Braun for posting the repork card: http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/12007

Jay Riemersma on Super Bowl Sunday Ad

Jay Riemersma, is off and running on a new field this time- and is standing strong in the 2nd Congressional District Race. It could be this field- politics- is dirtier and muddier than any he has traversed before in his football career. He was recently endorsed by AFP, and has served as the regional director of the Family Research council. Listen in his own words as he proudly takes a pro-life stance and stands with his "team-mate in Christ" Tim Tebow's Superbowl Ad by Focus on the Family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FCoFj8vCZQ

State of the Union

Barack Hussein Obama pointed a lot of fingers last night. But as my mother taught me... if a man points a finger at you, look at the three fingers pointing back at himself.

Our president pointed out the lack of bi-partisanship. How about all those close-door meetings crafting the failed health care plan? Republicans were not even let in the door. He pointed at the lobbyists. Yet the pharma lobbyists were present during every health care meeting.

He pointed at earmarks, yet the bailouts and stimulus funds were nothing more than one giant fat pudgy finger full.

He pointed at the out of control spending during the Bush administration. Yet under his watch the national debt is on course to double in five years and triple in ten.

Our president pointed at the Supreme Court justices, saying their recent decision will allow foreign monies to influence elections. Yet the foreign investment laws were left in tact. It was an unfactual point, not befitting the office of the Presidency.

He pointed at the banks and said we will tax those big bonusses. Any employer knows that taxing business means business just passes the tax on to the consumer. Do we really need higher interest rates and fees?

He pointed to the need for "cap and trade" -albeit surreptitiously hiding it behind the need to protect our planet. I don't know anyone who thinks we can sustain a triple increase in our energy bills.

I liked the part about exploring clean coal technologies, nuclear plants, and drilling off-shore. It was a way to point us out of this mess. We need a lot more of this type of pointing, and less of the other.

One reason why I like Governor Mike Huckabee so much is that he has ideas which could guide us out of this economic moross. "Balance, Cut, and Save." "Enact the fair tax". Taking this direction could bring in 15 trillion dollars of off-shore business. Our country needs business as business creates jobs.

The Governor also speaks to protecting life and securing the rights of the unborn. He speaks to protecting our second amendment. He is for a strong national defense and not treating terrorists as citizens with rights. Thats what we need in a leader. We don't need a leader who points fingers, but a man who can see a prosperous, safe America and lead us there.

The failed policies of Barack Obama

If Huckabee were to run against Obama today, he might very well win as he beat Obama in a Presidential popularity poll. Obama has given Huck a plethora of material. I can almost hear Huck beginning his campaign with these words: "The failed policies of Barack Hussein Obama over the last four years have produced skyrocketing unemployment. The failed policies of Barack Hussein Obama over the last four years have grown the federal government to a monstrous level. The failed policies of Barack Hussein Obama have made the womb the most dangerous place for a baby to live."

Feel free to add more failed policies to this list.