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Tag Archives: michigan
Hit the road, Mitt
As a Michigander, I would like nothing more than to have a President who hails from our great state. Someone who understands why we fight so hard to protect our state’s natural resources. Someone who understands our state’s tourism industry, and appreciates all of the great sites our state has to offer our fellow Americans. Someone who will fight to protect the auto industry which has contributed so much to our state and our nation. Mitt Romney is not this person. Despite accepting over a million dollars from our state’s residents, Romney has shown a clear disregard for the wellbeing of our state and its residents. When the auto industry faced bankruptcies which would have left millions of Michiganders out of work and decimated our already struggling cities, Romney not only opposed the President’s bailout plan, but suggested that Americans Let Detroit Go Bankrupt. I fully expect for Romney to play up his Michigan roots tomorrow night during the GOP debate at Oakland University, but I hope that the moderators and audience members will call him out on his poor record when it comes to standing with Michigan. Our state, and our country, deserve a President who will stand up for our workers and our communities.
A Place to Stay
At long last, allow me to present A Place To Stay: Combatting Michigan’s Brain Drain with Sustainable Communities. This short documentary was created entirely by Michigan students, in particular the Environmenal Committee of our very own organization. It presents one solution to the brain drain and suffering economy of Michigan, namely creating attractive communities where young educated people want to live, create, and consume. In it, we hear from experts on urban planning and tallent retention, as well as fellow Michigan students. Perhaps you will recognize a face or two. So without any further ado, enjoy!
Posted in Blog, Detroit, Economy, Environment, YouTube
Tagged brain drain, documentary, enviro dems, michigan, smart growth, sustainability, urban design, urban planning
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a pocket handbook: obama and the auto industry
President Obama exits following his address on Monday.
Many of you have been going through tough times for longer than you care to remember. And I won’t pretend that the tough times are over. I can’t promise you there isn’t more difficulty to come. But what I can promise you is this: I will fight for you. You’re the reason I’m here today. I got my start fighting for working families in the shadows of a shuttered steel plant. I wake up every single day asking myself what can I do to give you and working people all across this country a fair shot at the American Dream. (March 30, 2009)
preface.
“Good, but not good enough.” President Obama emphasized this particular point in yesterday’s address that focused on the administration’s recommendations for the struggling U.S. auto industry. Recall in February, GM and Chrysler both offered to restructure their companies and provide the government with comprehensive plans to stay afloat. After thorough evaluation, Obama’s Auto Task Force decided that the the plans don’t go far enough in attacking the problems plaguing the auto companies and put a date on company restructuring.
The reactions to the administration’s have varied from agreement to resigned dissent. Unsurprisingly, the Michigan delegation, though voicing support for the plan, is deeply concerned with the possible repercussions of the recommendations on an already struggling state. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) wrote only today, “I urge the Obama administration to review carefully the progress made by Chrysler and GM in 30 and 60 days, respectively, and give strong consideration to allowing more time for restructuring. The fate of these corporations and their cumulative impact on the national economy are too important to be subjected to an arbitrary deadline” (USA Today).
Is the deadline “arbitrary” and unjustified? There’s obviously multiple perspectives. Take a look at the actual plan and then make your own decision.
Posted in Barack Obama, Big Three, Blog, Congress, Detroit, Domestic Affairs
Tagged auto, auto task force, Barack Obama, Cars, Debbie Stabenow, Detroit, Dingell, Economy, flint, General Motors, gm chrysler, Jobs, levin, michigan, tim geithner
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Kaitlin Henry: Environmentally Destructive Habits Are NOT Something to Celebrate
- As you can see, Kaitlin loves the environment. Well, mainly leaves.
Our very own Kaitlin Henry wrote a great letter to the editor that appeared in today’s Michigan Daily. Here’s the full letter:
Victoria Miller’s letter to the editor regarding Earth Hour (Earth Hour exemplifies anti-progressive principles, 03/27/2009) was a disturbing example of a prideful attitude toward overconsumption. While the author should receive credit for putting her blatant selfishness up for the entire University to read, it is terrifying to imagine that her voice represents the opinions of many.
The suggestion that making personal energy sacrifices is somehow backtracking, “sacrificing humanity†or disrespecting the ingenuity of past inventors is absolutely absurd. Nobody denies the importance of their discoveries, but that does not make them appropriate for a sustainable future. In fact, it’s precisely that type of innovation that should inspire us to find every possible way to reduce our carbon footprints. Such a viewpoint does not demonstrate appreciation for modern technology but instead demonstrates the danger of ignorant and foolish pride. Environmentally destructive habits are not something to celebrate.
Kaitlin Henry
LSA freshman
Nice letter, Kaitlin. You’ve made us proud! For the article link, click here.
Posted in Blog, Environment
Tagged Chou, Daily, earth hour, Environment, Henry, kaitlin, kaitlin henry, Mark, Mark Chou, michigan, Michigan Daily
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America's high five sticks out like a sore thumb
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The NY Times made a cool interactive map of The US that’s color coded by unemployment rates. Michigan does have a ridiculous amount of unemployment and seems to boast 14 counties with 15+% unemployment rates. It’s sad. But, you guys should check it out. You can filter the counties out based on cool things like if they are around manufacturing centers to look at trends on how things like the auto industry may have affected it.Â
Daily Daily by Regler
*The following is the opinion of the author and her alter ego. It in no way reflects policies, public statements, practices or projections by the U of M College Dems, the University of Michigan, the MFCD or Josh LeVasseur. We tend to disagree a lot.*
1. The Daily leads off today with a thrilling story about the Bell Tower – don’t worry people, it still exists! According to the “full story” which is a three sentence blurb under the picture, one of the bells is the third largest in North America. Great, once again we’re just ALMOST the best at something. Maybe this explains the US News and Report rankings.
2. According to the Daily (the beacon of on-the-spot national coverage) Obama is committed to increasing aid towards higher tuition. Great!!! Everyone, stop worrying! This article includes quotes that allude to interesting points such as “money helps me pay for school” and “more money means more school.” Leaders and the best in bell towers and newspaper interviews.
3. MSA supported a resolution to get the ball rolling on “Stop the Hike” which is a campaign addressing the need for a tuition freeze. For the first time in my Daily Daily career I’m abstaining from a joke as I am shocked that something is finally happening within chambers, and know anything snarky I have to say would be wildly influential. Here’s to you, MSA. (more…)
Posted in Blog, Daily Daily
Tagged bell tower, Daily Daily, drinking, Gary Graca, John Roberts, michigan, pocket protectors, third largest
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Mark Chou's Take: BREAKING NEWS: SANJAY WITHRDRAWS
Sorry about the nasty headline, but it’s true: Sanjay Gupta has removed himself for consideration for the position of Surgeon General. According to the Huffington Post (article here), the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent was concerned abou the paycuts he would be taking as well as the fact that he would have to report to two bosses. Seriously, Sanjay? Less money? It’s for the good of the country. And two bosses? Whoa…..scary. I hate to say it, Sanjay, but GET OVER YOURSELF. You are one of the Leaders and Best. Represent properly. And hail.
Posted in Blog, Cabinet Appointments, Mark Chou's Take
Tagged Chou, CNN, gupta, hail, health, leaders and best, Mark, Mark Chou, Mark Chou's Take, medical correspondent, michigan, sanjay, sanjay gupta, surgeon general
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Race to 2010 – Terri Lynn Land IN
From the Detroit Free Press:
LANSING – Two-term Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said today she is planning to run for governor in 2010.
Land, 50, said she will file paperwork for a gubernatorial exploratory committee (with her agency’s Bureau of Elections) today, and plans to discuss her aspirations with delegates to the Republican State Convention this weekend in Lansing.
109,000 Jobs
White House numbers suggest that Michigan stands to gain or maintain 109,000 jobs with the passage of the stimulus package. With 3.5 million jobs expected to be spread out over 300,000,000 Americans, and 10,000,000 Michiganders we should expect about 15,000,000 – ideally more given the fact that we have been harder hit than most states by the current economic downturn. Still 109,000 is a big number. To put that in perspective, there are 114,000 people in Ann Arbor. Imagine this entire city minus the 5,000 people on the College Dems listserve, and imagine all of them unemployed and getting a job as a result of this bill. Then imagine you’re a Republican member of the Michigan congressional delegation and decided to vote against this bill. You’d have to be crazy. Or just blinded by partisanship.
Posted in Barack Obama, Blog, Economy, Jobs, Republican Party
Tagged Congress, Jobs, michigan, obama, stimulus
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Check It: John Conyers Op-Ed
U.S. Representative John Conyers (D-MI) put his pen to the paper (or Internet, really) yesterday in a small opinion piece on the Huffington Post. Geithner’s recent announcement of TARP 2, with its sparse details, sent ripples a few days ago. Conyers comments on both Geithner and the steps needed to make American citizens “hopeful again.)
The strength or weakness of the Obama plan shouldn’t be measured in terms of the day-to-day nerves of investors. I think there are three measures that make more sense: (1) in the short term, does the public at large think that this administration has learned from the mistakes of the Bush administration; (2) also in the short term, does the public at large think that this administration knows what it is doing and has a specific way forward that will work; and (3) in the long term, did the plan work? (Rep. Conyers, Huffington Post)
Check it out.
Posted in Blog, Congress, Democratic Party, Economy
Tagged Barack Obama, Detroit, HOPE, house of representatives, john conyers, michigan, stock market, tarp 2, timoth geithner
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