Some who support the dictatoresque takeover of Benton Harbor say some awful things such as the citizens there created the financial crisis and are unwilling to help themselves. They also say that individuals who are against the hostile takeover do not have any other solutions other than to complain. I would like to take just a minute to clarify a few things concerning these lies that are being perpetrated.
First off, the citizens of Benton Harbor have been fighting for years to have their voice heard and have been willing to be a part of the solution. In fact, when this all broke loose we at Heartland Revolution called into the community to discuss a plan of action. The great part is that it was the citizens not Heartland Revolution who pushed for a rally and subsequent actions after. They are tired of being left on the sidelines and furthermore disgusted that their rights as citizens have been flushed down the toilet. They just needed allies that will stand with them to fight back, which Heartland Revolution is dedicated to and in fact, many Americans across this great nation have voiced their support as well.
The solutions I am about to list are a start and need fleshing out, but we need to open the dialog of what happens next. Truly, Benton Harbor is ground zero and just a starting point and it must stop here. Some ideas of moving forward:
1. A referendum and lawsuits to end the “emergency manager” bill
2. A recall of Al Pscholka, Rick Snyder and many others who support the ideal of dictatorship over democracy
3. Empower citizens in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and throughout the United States by injecting funds into job and education programs from the federal level
4. Continue to protest and demonstrate wherever possible to ensure our voices and grievances are heard
The justifications for these actions are simple, but profound:
1. Slashing $1.7 billion from senior pensions to fund a $1.8 billion corporate tax cut.
2. Usurping the rights and democratic process of city governments and their citizens by empowering non-elected Emergency Financial Managers to take over the day-to-day operations of said municipality.
3. Attacking the rights of organized labor to collectively bargain for fair pay, benefits and quality working conditions.
It doesn’t get more fundamental than this. If these radical Republican policies are allowed to run amuck in one state, how long before they find their way to your state capitol.
Join the rally April 27th at 12p 200 Wall Street Benton Harbor, Michigan!