Well I know one thing... we're going to have a good look at what the far left is like. The ball is in their court and I, for one, am not looking forward top seeing what they do with a country who's economy is booming, has low interest rates, high home ownership, and all this while taxes are down (although not down enough in my opinion).
It's funny you say this, cause you hit the Michigan problem right on the head
The rest of the country has done better since 9/11, a lot so. The entire regime that has led Michigan through the last 4 years was re-elected, unlike the rest of the country, however, unemployment is highest in the country, taxes are high, and things are generally bad. The economy is a disaster, jobs are NOT plentiful, and people are leaving in droves.
That being said, our elections kinda went like this. Everyone I talked to about it hates our governor, didn't vote FOR HER to keep her in office, but rather voted against the other guy, a wealthy Republican businessman from Grand Rapids. Campaign commercials, went something like... "**** DeVos... Mike Bouchard... George Bush... **** DeVos made millions under the unfair Bush trade agreements that have destroyed this state's job base..." Being that the state is currently Democratic, and all the challengers were Republican, and Bush happens to be a Republican, all the bush bashers out there pretty much pounded the nail in the coffin. People voted for Granholm, and I kid you not, because "I don't like her, but I HAD to vote for her to keep the Republicans out", or "I can't stand her, but I'm gonna vote for her because she's the evil I know"
I don't claim to be a Democrat or a Republican, or whatever, I vote on a candidate based on their position for helping my state, or country. Mr. DeVos had some very strong points during his campaign, for example, the fact that yes, while a lousy economy was inherited by Governor Granholm, it has been 4 years, and the state of Michigan has managed to keep sinking. We're at 50% over the national unemployment rate, that's kind of tragic, with 35,000 jobs lost just this year... Under those unfair economic trade policies, that somehow, the 49 other states in the country seem to be doing OK with...
I'm just happy for the fact that I have my new job, so long as I continue living at home, I can keep my bills paid. As far as the proposals go, actually pretty well.
Proposal 1 was a Constitutional Amendment to create a specific funding level, and specific fund through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for things like trail conservation, the off-road parks, quads, snowmobiles, things like that. It passed.
Proposal 2 was a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate and ban all affirmative action programs which discriminate using ethnicity in hiring and admission practices. It passed, but analysts say the ensuing legal battles on THAT by the NAACP, One Michigan United, the ACLU, and U of M will probably go on for about 10 years.
Proposal 3 was a referendum to create a precedent to allow the shooting of mourning doves. It did not pass.
Proposal 4 was a Constitutional Amendment to restrict the use of eminent domain, so the Government cannot just take your house/property for development, and should it be deemed necessary, 125% of the fair market value shall be paid. It passed.
Proposal 5 was a legislative initiative to establish a manditory level of funding for the public school system which the state would continue to fund according to the rate of inflation. It did not pass.
The fact that we are stuck with the same governor, county commissioner, senators and representatives who have made Michigan the most sluggish economic climate in the country these 4 years past kind of scares the hell out of me, though
Incidentally, DeVos's first name is the other form of "richard", which has been *'d out.
), but I found myself voting for the person rather than the party. I've always been that way. However, there were only two Republicans on the ballot locally that I voted for. One was a friend running for the township board unopposed. Can't remember right off hand what the other was.
