"One of the most shocking (and most radical)state government actions in recent years IMO,is Michigan's appointment of city managers to run the local governments of financially troubled cities. This action allows a single non-elected manager to disenfranchise local voters, overrule elected officials, void contracts and pensions, and generally act as an unhindered dictator. And yet nobody (except for some liberal cable TV talk shows) seems to even mention it.
    What gives?"

Dick, you have asked one seriously difficult question and made a brilliant observation. First, the brilliant part: it isn't mentioned imo because the majority of daily newspapers are 'right-of-center' owned. If Republicans saw any mileage to be gained from what's going on in Michigan (union busting, disregard of existing contracts and pension agreements, etc) it would be in the mainstream. This way on a relatively micro scale the federal Republicans can say "Hey, that's got nothing to do with us.", but if it 'works'--and how can it not in the short term. If ya wanna see what the USA would be like under another Republican government, take a look at Michigan. I'd never thought of it like that, so thank you.

A similar scenario happened in Alberta back in 1994(?). Government wanted to address the Provincial debt and set out a plan to do just that. In short shrift, public service workers were relieved of 5% of their income. That lasted for a few years. The issue is described here in this link, but it's a dry history (which I have found to be accurate and unbiased). Note I was an ATA member.


http://www.teachers.ab.ca/teaching%20in%20alberta/history%20of%20public%20education/pages/the%20nineties.aspx

Anyway, the dealing with the debt: it was predicated on the assumption that human services and needs were the main cause of the debt. So, with oil then at $17 ($32?) a barrel, Albertan began to pay on its debt. Then oil jumped over the years to $100 a barrel and has probably averaged out near $50 a barrel. Alberta paid off its debt before its self-set deadline and accredited that in/out cash payment to adroit assessment of the initial causes of the debt. They played that like a fine violin and were able to sidestep the issue that oil was three times its value when they budgeted for the debt.

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What I see at play is the business model that failed all over the world, but countries like ours know damned well that a good idea is worth fighting for, even after it is dead and buried, mostly. However, this time it will be enforced by people who should be addressing crime on the street AND crime in the boardroom, but they will no longer do that because crime today has begun to be seen as a subjugation of rich people by poor people. I do believe that a free press is the most important bastion we have to stand between what-is-served-is-for-us, and what is left is for you. The ideological aspect to this is way overlooked. That is a mistake we've made as a society.

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Anyway, I gotta go. With winter solstice coming up and all, I'll be skinning moose for a warm jacket and a roast dinner. And thinking about Michigan. Thanks, Dick

PS I've been so nice because I have seen you in shorts and I figure than any man who's lived his life with legs like yours deserves all the friendly commentary he can get.

BM