Ever wonder what would happen to America, if by some fluke, Donald Trump got elected President?
Well, you just have to take a look at what's happening in Michigan right now, to get some glimpse of what unrestrained Executive Power, can actually DO to our long-held Democratic Principles ...
Benton Harbor EFM Suspends City Commission Voting Powers
wsjm.com, AM 1400 -- 15 April 2011
AP Reporting -- Benton Harbor [Michigan] Emergency Financial Manager Joseph Harris has suspended the powers of the city commission. On Saturday, news broke that Harris had issued an order on Thursday stating that the elected leadership of the city may no longer hold votes on any matter, other than to start a meeting, adjourn a meeting, and approve a meeting's minutes.
How Quaint. Democracy.
City Elected Officials -- you haven't been getting the "Job Done" -- So "Take a Time Out" ...
A serious Time Out. We'll call you back, when we need you -- Maybe. First have to fly that decision by, the State Chief Executive, Rick Synder, though. We'll see ...
When former CEO of Gateway Computers, promised to 'bring his Executive Experience to bear on Michigan's problems' -- I don't think most Michigan Residents realized, THIS is what Snyder had in mind.
Well at least Snyder's appointed ward, has some real-world experience "managing tough Budget problems" ...
However imperfect, emergency financial managers are preferable to 'sweeping' mayoral powers
By Jeff T. Wattrick, MLive.com -- April 17, 2011
Much has been made this week about Benton Harbor Emergency Financial Manager Joe Harris’ decision to basically lay-off the city’s entire elected government.
[...]
As Detroit’s Auditor General from 1995-2005, Harris was a constant annoyance for Mayors Archer and Kilpatrick as well as City Council. Every year some new trick or gimmick would “balance the budget” and every year the Harris would say they just kicked the can down the road.
Whatever the merits of the Emergency Financial Manager law’s expanded scope, the EFM process itself is a valid one. It usurps local control, true, but when Detroiters are paying an effective tax rate of 97 mills and the streetlights still don’t work, well, local control has failed.
So, because a City's Tax-base has dried up -- that means we can just "Cancel Democracy"?
Apparently some observers think so. Drastic Times, call for Drastic Measures, apparently.
God Forbid they actually Raise Revenues by increasing Business Taxes on the local successful Corporate Players ... like the Tigers, like the Pistons; like Dominoes, like Pizza Hut; like Fords, like GM; like the elite Suburbs, like Tourism targets.
Not everyone in America, thinks "Rule by Executive Fiat" and its associated "Corporate Pampering", is a good thing -- even if Donald-like tactics can make for mind-numbing reality TV, on occasion ...
Emergency manager cuts roles of Benton Harbor officials
by Santiago Esparza, The Detroit News -- April 16. 2011
[...] The action is likely the first since Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law in March a new statute that grants more powers to emergency managers appointed by the Treasury Department to take over distressed schools and communities.
[...]
But the move drew a strong rebuke from the AFL-CIO. The union represents administrative workers, among others.
[...]
Benton Harbor has struggled with a controversial trash hauling contract, lawsuits related to the contract, new competition for water services and city officials who sometimes clashed to the point that meetings dragged on for hours, [City Commissioner Bryan] Joseph said.
[...]
Emergency managers are in place at Detroit Public Schools and in the cities of Benton Harbor, Ecorse and Pontiac.
Oh My! Benton Harbor City Officials "sometimes clashed" ... they sometimes argued about City Services Contracts "for hours" ... yup that's enough reason to send Democracy Packing in small town USA -- at least according to Commissioner Bryan Joseph, it is.
Instead of "firing the whole town" in once grand sweep ... maybe the local citizens should "fire" those individual City Reps, "who aren't getting the Job done" ...
you know at election time, every 2 to 4 years ...
In that quaint system, otherwise known as Democracy ...
Government Of, By, and For the People.
CEO Snyder, may want to vest some power back into the People ... after he done with his latest round of Corporate Take-overs and all. And after the Auction to break apart and sell-off Benton Harbors most valuable assets, of course. Such wealth accumulation IS a CEO Raider's ultimate goal, afterall.
America should take note of these painful lessons, as they unfold in the State Acquisition of Michigan:
"Business comes first" ... in the Tea Party's script for an Austere America ... don't you know ... It's in the Constitution, somewhere ... in one of those "missing pages", I think.
The CEO is always Right. They are granted "Divine power" or something like that ... just don't get the Donald, MAD ... whatever you do! (Psst. your Job could depend on it.)