Folks, when RINOs hand out candy to unions job providers end up paying for it. TANSTAAFL. The Chamber said so at the time, and they were right.

For some reason this makes me think of a recent exchange on TheNextRight.com, in which John Henke concluded with this:

"Without spending cuts:
 -tax cuts aren't really tax cuts.
 -Republicans lose their traditional stronghold on fiscal and tax credibility (which would explain why the public actually trusts Democrats more than Republicans on taxes).
 -Republicans end up playing a game of deficit chicken that ultimately favors the Democrats."

I'm probably going to p*** off everyone today by blowing the whistle on our RINO legislators (then and now), but the rainy day fund was wiped out by Rick Johnson, Dan DeGrow and John Engler's evil twin (the one who replaced the real John after 1997 or so).

They did it in one of the sneakiest, slimiest maneuvers ever seen in Lansing, and that's saying a mouthful. You may recall that the 23 year SBT phaseout (yeah, right) was to be suspended whenever rainy day fell below a certain balance. Repubs wanted the money back in 2002 so they wouldn't have to cut spending, but they didn't want the accountability for ending the phase-out.

Glen Steil Sr. had a bill to allow the SBT cuts to go forward even if rainy day was depleted, SB 117, and of course everyone said they were for that. They tie-barred it to the bill to wipe out rainy day, HB 5883. However, in a voice vote, they stripped out the tie-bar, and then passed the bill without it, leaving just $33 million in rainy day. Here's the stinker, though: Engler's evil twin had already announced he would veto 117, so they all knew that they were voting to end the SBT cuts, while setting things up so they could later say, "Who, me?"

And now you know the rest of the story - and why our legislature has been a truckload of dead rat heads in coke bottles for a long time.

Cut-and-dried that solves the tax problem.  All tax-hikes since and including the 2007 fiasco are rolled back and thrown out . . . permanently.  Every state-level tax except the sales tax is stricken from the books . . . permanently.  The entire state tax system is then placed behind a constitutional firewall that absolutely and unconditionally prohibits the introduction of any new tax, or the resurrection of any killed tax, without direct voter approval.

This is such a sound concept that Joel Sheltrown, he who has charter membership in the RM Wall of Shame, is now a Fair Tax supporter and possibly an advocate for its introduction and passage.

(Seriously, Nick, we really need to rework that wall to include a few RINOs . . . it's current form is killing my opportunity for an interview with Joel.)

Yup, taxes in Michigan suck large.  And as long as the legislature is allowed to control the tax system in this state, that's not going to change (regardless of who the controlling party is).

So what are you doing about it?  That's right, you . . . the one sitting on your duff and reading this . . . what are YOU doing about it?  What are you, personally, doing to make the Michigan FairTax Proposal a 2010 ballot issue in a way that ensures its passage?  What are you, personally, doing to hold your legislator's feet to the fires of hell and demand that he institute NO NEW TAXES!!!  (Read my lips, dammit.)

Let's also grow the f* up and realize that THIS IS POLITICS.  Yeah, Republicans are going to have to do some distasteful things.  Not everything you disagree with makes them a "RINO".  Trading favors and votes is what gets things done.  I'm sick and tired of people who think they're "involved in politics" and think that things can just happen in a vacuum.  The goal should be to ensure that we move towards a Republican view of government, and that's accomplished by the "Whips" and "Leaders" in the legislature, and the executive office.  

Finally, going back 6 or 10 years to blame people is not only incredibly lame.  It's counter-productive.  Engler and Johnson aren't in office, and as best I can tell aren't going to be seeking higher office.  What f*ing good does it do to go back in time?  Historical effect?  Grow the f* up.

The reality is that the increase in unemployment is here.  The reality, nationally, is that we have social security.  There are plenty of realities - things that exist today and have problems today.  So grow the F** up and figure out how to deal with them today.  Failing to hold CURRENT leadership accountable will keep the problem happening.

This is addressed to the folks blaming "Engler's evil twin since 1998...err, 1997... err..."  Seriously.  Grow the F*** up.

Increasing the amount paid through unemployment is supposed to be some "anti-conservative"/RINO/pro-Democrat thing?  I don't think so.  Changing the amount we pay to the unemployed through UIA is a necessary thing from time to time.

So blaming it (and the Republicans that passed it) is incredibly childish and shows a lack of understanding and appreciation for the same "basic economics" you claim to want more people to understand.

Let's also grow the f*** up and realize that THIS IS POLITICS.  Yeah, Republicans are going to have to do some distasteful things.  Not everything you disagree with makes them a "RINO".  Trading favors and votes is what gets things done.  I'm sick and tired of people who think they're "involved in politics" and think that things can just happen in a vacuum.  The goal should be to ensure that we move towards a Republican view of government, and that's accomplished by the "Whips" and "Leaders" in the legislature, and the executive office.  

Finally, going back 6 or 10 years to blame people is not only incredibly lame.  It's counter-productive.  Engler and Johnson aren't in office, and as best I can tell aren't going to be seeking higher office.  What f***ing good does it do to go back in time?  Historical effect?  Grow the f*** up.

The reality is that the increase in unemployment is here.  The reality, nationally, is that we have social security.  There are plenty of realities - things that exist today and have problems today.  So grow the F*** up and figure out how to deal with them today.  Failing to hold CURRENT leadership accountable will keep the problem happening.

Somebody said the fate of Michigans future economy rests at the feet of congress and GWB with the GM bailout.
I was thinking that if the taxes weren't raised in the first place there may be some jobs around for people who may actually purchase some cars.
Funding the status quo doesn't create one job, the same goes for this tax hike, there needs to be a quantum shift in the staus quo for an effective and lasting economic response.
Who'd a thunk lower taxes would mean more jobs and less people on unemployment?
Certainly not the staus quo Gov.

"This talented body will help us challenge the status quo on how best to develop and invest effectively in Michigan's 21st century workforce."

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Get-Michigan-Moving-Coalition-Will/story.aspx?guid=%7B5859F849 -30B0-421B-97BC-5772B60EC89E%7D

Now ... how long has Jenny, one of "the One's" economic advisors been running the show?  Because if the root of this dates back to 2002, 1998, or even 1812, Jenny's still in charge, and she's had more than ample time to solve it.  It IS her problem!

There are countless ways to find the money without raising taxes, but I'll bore you with only one.  While I haven't looked at the numbers, something tells me that the money spent on Jenny's Hollywood Welfare Program may have helped.  (ok, two) Or, how much was spent on her ever-brilliant "Cool Cities?"

Politics doesn't have to be a game of compromise.  That's only a false illusion.  I remember back to the Great Shutdown of 1995 and how thrilled I was!  It gave "we the people" a small open window to breathe, because politicians couldn't "legislate."

Bipartisanship is bullsh!t.  You either believe in something, or you don't.  Bipartisanship is the path of the weasel, the yellow-bellied man, and the snakeoil salesman.

Strong, principled partisanship, however, would bind the politicians ability to legislate, resulting in significantly lower budgets that wouldn't become the unbearable burden on the taxpayer that they all are today.

Our country, founded on a creed and birthed in revolution, was not fought for so politicians could "make deals" and confiscate 40% of the citizens income.  

Imagine what our forbears would think of the taxes we pay today?  Oh ... we're more "modern" than they ... Yeah, right ... Jefferson would just laugh, and then when he started talking, his insight and brilliance would make us all look like fools.