Michigan Takes a Turn Toward One-Man Rule

In a stunning move away from democracy, the legislature of Michigan has enabled the governor to suspend the powers of elected officials in the state. (I have reported on this here earlier.) Now, Gov. Rick Snyder has exercised this power for the first time in Benton Harbor. The action purports to prevent the town fathers from exercising their duties under the law.

Almost certainly such an action would be against the Constitution of the state of Michigan. Under the guise of trying to help a municipality deal with a supposed economic emergency, the state legislature as enabled the governor to single-handedly suspend the democratic form of government in cities like Benton Harbor. One can be sure there are going to be more cities to follow. For instance, there is now an effort in Wisconsin to enact a similar measure. This, according to Democracy Now!"

Is this anything more than a power grab by wealthy forces acting through a Republican-controlled state government to seriously weaken the political power of a city unfriendly to concentrated wealth? Is there not an element of racism here, as Benton Harbor is a majority black city? It is a sad day indeed and a throw-back to Civil War times when municipalities lose their representative form of government. Snyder's action in Michigan gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "taxation without representation is tyranny."

In the article linked here, the Rev. Jesse Jackson decries this action and calls upon Michiganders and others to protest this outrageous assault on democracy.

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http://www.annarbor.com/news/rev-jesse-jackson-calls-on-michigan-residents-to-protest-gov-rick-snyders-draconian-policies/