Ah Michigan

First we have State Government"
"Published September 22, 2007
[ From Lansing State Journal ]

Capitol veterans decry state budget impasse

Ex-lawmakers, pundits find faults with leadership
Kathleen Gray
and Chris Christoff


Veterans of Lansing's political wars said Friday that the state House and Senate and Gov. Jennifer Granholm all need to take a cue from past leaders as diverse as former Govs. William Milliken, John Engler and James Blanchard when they return late Sunday afternoon to try again to roll the big rock of a tax increase up a steep hill.

Drop the finger-pointing. Stop holding news conferences. It's time to do what you were elected to do - make decisions.

That was the assessment Friday - after the state House's failure again Thursday night and Friday morning to reach a deal to solve the state's budget crisis - from longtime observers of the Lansing political scene."

Then we have GM and the UAW
cue up Jethro Tull ..."Living in the Past"

How long can the strike last?:

"The strike many believed never would happen shut down General Motors Corp. plants nationwide Monday, casting uncertainty on whether the U.S. auto industry can get the kind of revolutionary changes it says it needs to compete.

An end to the first nationwide UAW strike in 31 years will depend on resolving the key union issues of wages and benefits, job security and investment in U.S. facilities and vehicles, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger indicated at a news conference Monday. He repeatedly said that the strike was not related to talks over a landmark retiree health care trust on which the two parties are believed to have agreed to a general framework."