Crossing Lake Michigan
It's interesting to watch events in Wisconsin from across the lake here in Michigan. In Michigan, the new Republican governor was also elected on a platform of fiscal sanity. Unlike Wisconsin, Gov. Snyder here has not taken on government employee unions directly. To the contrary, he has done what is usually called for but so seldom acted upon: cut spending, and actually increased taxes on, for example, pensioners. He keeps saying that he's interested in budget measures and not a war on collective bargaining.
Like to hear from anyone in the region on this. As an outsider, what strikes me is that whatever Gov. Snyder intended his battle to be, Wisconsin is changing it. The union guys taking buses to Wisconsin to support protestors there are not distinguishing between Walker and Snyder (and indeed there is a measure moving through Michigan legislature that would give emergency financial managers emergency authority to end contracts negotiated through collective bargaining -- which the unions see as the thin edge of the wedge). My hunch is that Governor Snyder is going to get Governor Walker's battle whether he wants it or not, and that other governors are going to get the same. And one of the reasons is federalism, Democrat style: the Democrats see, rightly, even the most modest reforms as a mortal threat to the public cash machine that funds both their party and their unions.
But I'd love to hear from people out here who know more than I do...
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Jul '10
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
I think that's exactly right, Bill. The union/public-employee/DNC pushback in Wisconsin in some way had to happen now...this seems to me to be tied into demonstrating that the Democratic Party is going to be utterly faithful to its base. Now that base is energized, in Michigan as well as Wisconsin, in Indiana, etc., etc., etc., whether or not Gov. Snyder likes it. They're looking for a fight.
So also are people on the other side of the argument. I think that's some of what is going on in the Ricochet arguments over Mitch Daniels (the other bit is the Libertarian-Social Conservative argument that's been happening since Whittaker Chambers dissed Ayn Rand, Russell Kirk scorned fusionism, and Buckley derided Murray Rothbard's concerns re lighthouses; the third part, speaking as a recent Hoosier, seems to be ignorance of Indiana politics and its constitution). Now the conservative base is dragging its leaders into fights that they did not envision getting involved in, did not feel the need to engage in.
The adage to employ here seems to be "There go my people; I must follow them; I am their leader."
Oct '10
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
I agree with you, Robert. It is interesting, and telling, that on the Left, the impetus for radicalization and action seems to be coming from the leadership, with the rank and file fully engaged, while, on the Right, the grass roots are the driving force and the leadership is in various states of readiness or denial.
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
I'm not so sure Gov. Snyder was wrong: in politics, you don't want to bite off more than you can chew. But the other part is that you get battles you don't want, and you don't always get the place and time. Reagan got air traffic controllers; Bush got stem cells; Obama has demonstrations in the Middle East.
Oct '10
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
Snyder may be suffering from denial. Whatever political strategy he might wish to pursue, events are being thrust upon him. He might want to loosen the steam relief valve, but the grass roots on the right will not cooperate. Let's hope the pressure continues to build until we see the lid blown off the entire government employee cash machine and leaves the Democrat party left to campaign with ideas, if they can, instead to vast amounts of free money.
May '10
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
This reality--that events force themselves upon office holders--goes to show again the importance of principles, and primaries. We want to know a given politician's proposed platform. But we also have to gauge what manner of man he is. Where will go when events derail the preferred agenda? How will he handle surprises (such as the sudden chaos in the Middle East or the announcement that the Justice Dept. will not defend the DOMA?) Which political constituency will he tend to fall back on? Is it the establishment types, or is it the grassroots? Will he buckle under pressure or will he hold firm? Will he articulate clearly and forcefully the conservative position, or will he start urging his side to "tone down the rhetoric".
These are highly turbulent times. They call for strong leadership.
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
Walker in Wisconsin is an experienced pol. He has fought some of these fights before in Milwaukee. Snyder is a businessman with no political experience -- apt to think that all that one needs is good management. Here in Michigan we have high hopes for him and for the Republicans. But I know of no one who thinks that Snyder knows precisely what he is doing. My bet is that things turn out less well here than in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio -- which, if true, is a great misfortune. For we are far worse off than they are. We are second in the nation in unemployment; for a long time we were first. When the economy comes back and the gamblers lift Nevada from the mat, we will reclaim that crown. The medicine needed here is harsher than that need in our neighboring states. That having been said, let me add that Michigan has one great advantage over Illinois. Unlike Quinn and the Dems in that state, Snyder and the Republicans here will not make things worse.
Dec '10
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
As a Michigan citizen, Snyder MUST take advantage of this situation. As I believe he is Ann Arbor-based citizen of the state, that is not likely. More's the pity.
Re: Crossing Lake Michigan
I'm with Paul. I think the Democrats and the unions are changing the debate. But I've asked Paul's colleague at Hillsdale, Gary Wolfram of the econ department, for his thoughts. When I get them, I'll post.