see EDITORIAL • page 5

Editorial

Where you want to be. May-June 2014

©

Yeah,weknow.It’searly.Wayearly.Butthere’sonlyonesanechoiceforvoterstomakewhencast-ingballotsforournextcongressman:DEANVANDERSTELT. LeftoftheLinenewsmagazineseesnopointinwaitingtohandoutourendorsementforthe2ndCon-gressionalDistrictseatintheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives. ItgoestotheDemocraticbusi-nessmanVanderstelt. Ourcur-rentRepublicancongressman,BillHuizengaofZeeland,bringsabsolutelynothingtothetableforcitizensofthedistrict. Zilch. Nada. Zero. CongressmanHuizengaisthemostdestructive,far-rightrepresen-tativeWestMichiganhaseversenttoWashingtonandtheresultsandhisrecordproveit. Incredibly,Huizengahassupport-edshuttingdownourfederalgovern-mentand,insodoing,hasgivenaid,comfortandhisvotetothosecraziesonthefarrightwhowerewilling–andarestillwilling–todrivetheUnitedStatesintoacatastrophicdebtdefaultthatwouldcripplethemiddleclassandconsignpoorerAmericansintoalifeofpoverty. Huizengalovestheruinous“PaulRyanBudget,”andhasinfactglee-fullyvotedforvariousversionsofthatsameidioticproposalthatwoulddestroyMedicareasweknowit–aprogramthatisasaviorforseniorcitizens-byturningitintoavoucherplanthatwillbankruptthem. Huizengahaslenthissupport–andhisvote–morethan50timesto

theteaparty’sobsessionwithrepeal-ingthePatientProtectionandAfford-ableCareActwithoutsubstitutinganyalternativewhatsoever. Gettingridof“Obamacare”woulddrivechildrenandthepooroffthehealthplan,andreturnmanytothedayswhenpre-existingcondi-tionsmeantyoucouldnotgetinsur-ance. Butwait. PerhapsweexaggeratedaboutRepublicansnothavingahealthcarealternative.AsoneDemocraticrepresentativeobserved,theGOPdoeshaveplan.Hereitis: “Don’tgetsick.Butifyoudogetsick,diequickly.” Elsewhereinthesepages,Huizenga’sbogusposeasa“friendtotheenvironment”isexposedasafraud.Thecongressmanratesbasicallya“zero”fromeverymeaningfulenvironmen-talinterestgroupthatisn’tcontrolledbyhispals,theKochbrothers,andhiscroniesatFoxNewsandintheteaparty. Buttheforthcomingelectionisn’tjustaboutthrowingtheridiculousHuizengaoutintothestreetandontohiskeisterwherehebelongs. It’saboutbreakingtheGOP’sdangerousstrangleholdontheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives.

Thoseyokels,havingalmostde-stroyedthenation’seconomyundertheirheroes,GeorgeW.BushandDick“DeficitsDon’tMatter”Cheney,somehowsurvivedtowrestadeathgriponanimportantbranchofthenation’slegislature. Beginningin2010,whenDemo-cratslostcontroloftheHouse,RepublicansthenhaveusedtheirwedgeintheU.S.Housetosystem-aticallythrottleanyhopeofarobust

economicrecov-eryengineeredbyPresidentBarackObama.TheyliedwhentheysquawkedthatObamawoulddestroyAmerica. Instead,thepresident’sadministrationsingle-handedlysavedtheauto-mobileindustrywhenRepub-licanslikeMittRomneywererootingfortheBigThree“gobankrupt.”

Republicans,shouldtheyeverregaintheWhiteHouseandCongress,liketheydidcompletelyfrom2001-2006-Godforbid-wouldagaintakethisnationintowarfornogoodreason. MembersoftheGOPwantto“bomb,bomb,bomb”Iran.They’dhavenoproblem,either,draggingAmericaintowarovertheUkrainecrisis,Syriaoroveraphony,trumped-upcrisislike“Benghazi.”

As We See ItDean Vanderstelt for Congress

Dean Vanderstelt

Mission Statement Americawasfoundedonliberalprinciplesandprogressiveideas,andLeftoftheLineisdedicatedtodefendingbothgoingforward.

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Still Ringing True“Alleyesareopened,oropening,totherightsofman.Thegeneralspreadofthelightofsciencehasalreadylaidopentoeveryviewthepalpabletruth,thatthemassofmankindhasnotbeenbornwithsaddlesontheirbacks,norafavoredfewbootedandspurred,readytoridelegitimately,bythegraceofGod.”•Thomas Jefferson, 1826

Vol. I • No. IIMay-June 2014

Progressiveviewsforthe2ndCongressionalDistrict

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First issue rating: Excellent WereallyenjoyedVol.1No.1:Itwasexcellent. Welookforwardtoreadingyourfuturepublicationsandarepleasedtoofferoursupport. Bestwishesandwarmestper-sonalregards.

JamesandNancyWatersMuskegonHeights

Editor’s note: Mrs. Waters is the Muskegon County Clerk.Stop man-made climate change!

Naturalgas.Weuseiteveryday.Weheatourhomes,warmourwater,cookourfood,anduseelec-tricitygeneratedfromnaturalgas.Manyofusonlythinkaboutthebillfromthegasorelectriccompany.Seemsprettystraightforward,butthereismoretothestory.Let’sgopastthebillwepayandlookintobackgroundofthisproductweuseeveryday.

InMichigannaturalgascomeswells from500to9,500feetbelowthesurface. GaswellshavebeeninMichi-gansincethe1930s.Oncethewellsstoppedproducinggastheywereabandoned.Butintheearly1950satechniquecalledhydraulicfrac-turing,orfracking,wasdevelopedtoextractmoregasfromthesamewell.Theprocessusesasolutionofmostlywater,somesand,andamixofchemicals.Someofthechemi-calsinthemixcausecancer. Themixtureisforcedintothegroundunderhighpressure.Thisbreaksuptherockholdingthegas.Nowthebrokenrockreleasesthegasanditflowsthroughthewelltothesurface. Whenfrackingstartedittook10tankertruckstodeliverabouta100,000gallonsofwatertofrackaverticalwell.Newerwellsgodownvertically,thenouthorizontallyforuptotwomiles.Frackingalargerwelltakes20,000,000gallonsofwaterandrequire2,000tanker-trucksrumblingdowntheroadto

thewellhead. Mostofthefrackingmixcomesbackoutofthegroundandmustbedisposed.Thispollutedwaterisinjectedbackintotheearthforeternity,orsotheplangoes.Ifthefrackingmixdoesnotfollowtheplan,itcouldmigrateintotheundergroundwaterthatisusedfordrinking. Oncenaturalgasexitsthewellitispipedtowhereitisburned.Duringtransmissionsomeofthegasescapesintotheair.Whenburned,toproduceheatorelec-tricity,thegasreleasesproductsofcombustionintotheair.Theseproductsofcombustion,orairpol-lution,aremajorcontributorstoclimatechange. Man-madeclimatechangeishappeningnow.Itisaloomingca-tastrophetomankindandalllifeontheplanet. Wemuststopman-madecli-matechangenow! Technologyexiststoreducethepollutionthatbringsonclimatechange.Windpower,solarpower,andenergyefficiencycangreatlyreduceourrelianceonburningfos-silfuelsthatcauseclimatechange. Morethantechnologyweneedpoliticalwill.Thepoliticalwilltomakethechangetoacleanereconomy.

DonMunskiSpringLake

Editor’s Note: Mr. Munski is the

Letters

see LETTERS • page 16

2ndcongressional district Counties: Lake,Oceana,Newaygo,Muskegon,OttawaandportionsofAllegan,KentandMason. Cities: Fremont,GrandHaven,Grandville,Holland,Hudsonville,Jenison,Kent-wood,Muskegon,MuskegonHeights,NortonShores,WalkerandWyoming.

David KolbThe Outside

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see OUTSIDE • page 5

Wecanmeasureearthquakes. Inlaboratoriesacrossthewest-ernUnitedStates,ink-filledneedlespoisedabovedatapaperjerkupanddownleavingaredtrailtorecordeveryresponsetotheearth’sgeolog-icalstimulus,measuringthemagni-tudeofeveryindividualshiftofplate,thegrindingofMotherEarth’steeth,ifyouwill. MeasuringthequantityandqualityofRepublicanliesisanotherendeavoraltogether. Iproposetheinventionofa“Lie-Ger-Counter”soaccuratethatitcanquantifytheseabominationstoamorecertaindegreethansimple“PantsOnFire”description. Itwouldmeasurenotonlytheenormityofthebewilderingassaultontruth,butthemind-blowingtwist-ingoffactandthethimble-riggingfraudofpublicdeceptionpracticeddailybythefrontmeninCongresswhoareworkingforeverythingtheGrandOldPartybelievesin. Acontender,absolutely,forournew“Lie-Ger-Counter”testistherecentpublicitycampaignginneduptoenshrineourCongressmanBillHuizenga,R-Zeeland,intothePan-theonofHeroesdedicatedtosavingourenvironment. Readers,Ikidyounot. Ifyouweretoreadwithoutrequi-siteincredulitytherecentheadlinesandstoriesfloggedtothemediapro-claimingBill’sprodigious“pro-envi-ronmental”work,you’dbeconvincedourcongressmanjustloveshimsometrees,freshwaterandnationalparks. ThisPRblitzresultedinheadlines

likethese:“GreatLakesPrioritized,”or“LawmakersPressforSleepingBearDunesWilderness”–allfeatur-ingtheeffortsofourerstwhile,tree-huggingcongressman.It’sallsmokeandmirrors,folks. TheHuizengaNoiseMachineishopingthattwoorthreevoteshereandthere,paddedwithahypocriticalhoorahforbipartisanshipthecon-gressmandoesn’tactuallybelievein,intimeforhisnextphonybaloneyre-electioncampaign,willbeenoughtomakeyouforgetaboutthemanbehindthecurtainsupportingalltheanti-environmentlegislationRepub-licanshavebeenpushingaspartoftheirrealagenda. Yousee,thespeechifyingandbell-clanginghasonlyonepurpose:todivertvoterattentionfromtheabysmal,awful,sickening,dismay-ingHuizengaenvironmentalrecord.TaketheHuizengastanceonSleep-ingBearDunesNationalLakeshore,signedintolawbyPresidentObama.ItwasveryniceofHuizengatoactu-allyvoteforthis,sinceitwashisfirstvotetoprotectanationalparksincehehasbeeninCongress. Littledidyouknowthatthe2014SleepingBearDunesProtectionActhappenedtobetheONLYnationalparksprotectionlegislationpassedbyCongresssince2009,avotecoin-cidingpreciselywhenDemocratslastheldcontroloftheHouseofRepre-sentatives.Sincethen,theHouseGOP–includ-

ingHuizenga–hasBLOCKEDallotherlegislationtoaddlandstoournationalparkssystem. ThisannualachievementwasatrulybipartisaninitiativethatwasastandardforCongressuntiltheteapartycraziesrantheGOPofftherailsin2010.ThatwasBillHuizenga’s“classof2010,”bytheway. HuizengathisyearispromotinghimselfasMr.BipartisanshipandMr.Environment.Lastyear,though,whatheWASN’Tballyhooingwashissup-portforthewretchedbillHR4089,whichwasgiventheridiculoustitleof“TheSportsman’sHeritageAct”byJohnBoehner’sspinmeisters. Thereisn’tatrueenvironmentalgroupouttherewhodidn’trecognizeHR4089forwhatitwas–anakedandblatantattemptbytheanti-en-vironmentalistsintheU.S.HousetodestroythehistoricWildernessActof1964. Here’swhatWildernessWatchwroteaboutthisdisgracefulmeasure,supportedbyaBillHuizengavote: “HR4089wouldgivehunting,fishing,recreationalshooting,andfishandwildlifemanagementtoppriorityinWilderness,ratherthanprotectingtheareas’wilder-nesscharacter,ashasbeenthecasefornearly50years.Thisbillwouldal-lowendless,extensivehabitatmanipulationsinWildernessundertheguiseof“wild-lifeconservation”andforprovidinghunting,fishing,andrecreationalshootingexperiences.Itwouldallowtheconstructionofroadstofacili-tatesuchusesandwouldallowtheconstructionofdams,buildings,orotherstructureswithinWildernesses.ItwouldexemptalloftheseactionsfromtheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)review.Finally,HR4089wouldremoveWildernessActprohibitionsagainstmotorvehicleuseforfishing,hunting,orrecreation-alshooting,orforwildlifeconserva-tionmeasures.”

Bill Huizenga

With “friends” like Huizenga,

environment doesn’t need

enemies

David Kolb is a reporter, edito-rial writer, columnist and author. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Interna-tional Herald Tribune, the Daily Kos and many other publications and media outlets. Kolb’s journalism has earned numerous first-place awards from the Associated Press, Michi-gan Press Association, United Press International and the American Legion. “A World War Chronicle,” a collection of Kolb’s editorials about World War II, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Kolb is publisher and editor of Left of the Line news maga-zine.

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OUTSIDE • from page 4Oh,ifthatwereall. BillHuizenga’senvironmentalre-cordinhistwotermshasbeenratedoneoftheworstbyanywildlifeandwildernessprotectiongroupyoucanname. Huizenga’s“lifetimescore”withtheLeagueofConservationVoters?Eightpercent. WiththeSierraClub?Zeroper-cent. CleanWaterAction?Zeroper-cent. DefendersofWildlife?Zeroper-cent. NationalParksConservationAs-sociation?Zeropercent. Ontheotherhand,Huizenga’sloyaltytothefinance,insuranceand

realestatelobbiesisatrue-blue,red-blooded100percent. Youcanfindallofthis,bytheway,ontheProjectVoteSmartwebpage,atvotesmart.org–agreatwebsite. Typein“BillHuizenga”inthesearchfield,andthenclickonthe“interestgroupratings”buttononhispage. There,ourcongressman’sex-tremeright-wingleaningsaredis-playedinalltheirglory. So,yeah,weneedaLie-Ger-Counter. Wealsoneedanearthquake. AnearthquakeatthepollsinNovembertoshakeupthe2ndCon-gressionalDistrict. Anearthquaketoshakeoutthemostfar-right,anti-environmentrep-

resentativeelectedtoapositionofhighresponsibilityinWestMichigan.

Theyhavenoregretsatallforlyingourbravemilitaryintoastupid,hopeless,incomprehensible,unnec-essarywarinIraq. Fourthousandofourpeopledead. Tensofthousandsofourmilitarywounded,manyofthemgrievously. HundredsofthousandsofIraqicasualties. BillionsofAmerica’swealthsuckeddownthatRepublican-Halli-burtonrathole. Right-wing,yes-manHuizengawouldhavebeencompletelyonboardwithallofthis.Guaranteed.TheGOP’slastmaninCongressfromthe2nd,PeteHoekstra,certainlywas. Huizengaproudlystandswiththepoliticalpartyhell-bentonturn-ingbackdecadesofprogressonaffirmativeactionandvotingrights. Thehated“JimCrow”lawsoftheevilConfederacyareembracedbytheGrandOldParty,becausere-implementingthemmeansfewerDemocratsgoingouttovote. Republicanswantcollegestu-dentloanratestosoardisastrouslyhigher. Republicanshatepubliceduca-tion. Theycan’tstandcriminalattor-neysbecauselawyerswinbigcasesagainstcorporateraidersandright-

wingcabals. Theyheldupthefarmbillforyearsinordertopunishtheworkingpoor. Perhapsworstofall,Huizenga’spartyinsanelydeniestheexistenceofglobalwarming,athreatnotonlytotheUnitedStatesbuttheworld. Insum,today’slunaticGOPstandsforNOTHINGthatwouldup-lifttheaverage,ordinaryAmerican. RepublicanshavenothingincommonwithformerpartylegendssuchasAbrahamLincolnandTeddyRoosevelt. PatriotslikeDwightEisenhowerwouldnevergetelectedtodayinapartyprimary.RonaldReagan?To-day’sfanaticsinchargeofthepartywouldcallhima“RINO”–a“Repub-licanInNameOnly”astheyliketoputit. Whowouldtheygiveusforpresident?Scoundrelsandignora-muses.SarahPalin.MicheleBach-mann.RickSantorum. ClivenBundy,too,probably.Don’trecognizethenameofthispro-slaveryRepublican?Lookitup,people.TheseareGOP“heroes.” The2ndCongressionalDistricthasbeentransformedintoanvirtu-allyimpregnableRepublicanpoliti-calfortress,buttressedwithmillionsofright-wingcash. ButhereatLeftoftheLine,wedon’tbelievesuchadauntingpros-

pectofunlikelyvictoryshouldbecausetositonthesidelines. Itshouldbearallyingcry! DefeatingHuizenga,evenforc-inghimtothebrink,wouldcountforavictorybeyondmeasure. ElectingamoderateDemocratlikeDEANVANDERSTELT,whosup-portsourpresidentandmostliberalandprogressivepolicies,wouldsendshockwavesacrossthenation. ItwouldbeakintotheshotfiredatLexingtonandConcord,thesparkthatendsthetyrannyofRepublicandominationofWestMichigan,andindeed,intheU.S.HouseofRepre-sentativeswherethatpoliticalpartyhasbeenresponsibleforsomuchofthedamageandmiserythatplaguesordinaryAmericans. Reprintthiseditorialendorse-ment. Shareitwithyourfriendsandneighbors. Don’tsitthiselectionout. DoEVERYTHINGyoumustdotoregisterandthenvotecomeElectionDay,Nov.4. LiberalsandprogressivesaretheREALpatriots. WemustsaveourrepublicfromtheRepublicans. AndwecanstartdoingthejobbythrowingBillHuizengaoutofof-ficeandelectingagoodman,DEANVANDERSTELT,asournextcon-gressman.

EDITORIAL • from page 1

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By The Very Rev. Jared CramerLeft of the Line ThoughGov.RickSnyderhaspreviouslyvetoedabillwithsimilarprovisions,thisinitiativewasbroughtbeforetheLegislaturebyaRighttoLifepetitionthatgarnered315,477signatures—around4percentofourstate’svot-ers. And,asapriest,Ifeelcompelledtosaythatthisbillisimmoralandcruel. Thenewlawrequiresnotonlythatwomenpurchasethiscoverageseparately,butthattheypurchaseitbeforetheyarepregnant.Therearenoexceptionsforanycircumstances—notevenrapeorincest. Thus,thisbillmeansthat,intheStateofMichigan,ifawomanisrapedshecannothavetheabortioncoveredbyherregularinsuranceandmustpayout-of-pocketforit. Ifayounggirlisviolatedbyarelativeandwindsuppregnantbyincest,shewillhavetopayout-of-pocketforanabortion. Ifawomanispregnantandsuffersseverecomplica-tionsthatputherlifeandthelifeofherunbornchildbothinjeopardy,shewillhavetopayout-of-pockettohaveanabortionthatwouldsaveherownlife. Nomatterthecircumstance,unlesstheseparateriderispurchasedinadvance,therecanbenoinsurancecov-erageforwomenplacedinthesehorriblesituations.

ThemeasurepassedourLegislaturedespitethepow-erfulandgrippingstoriesofseveralwomenlegislators,includingDemocraticSenateMinorityLeaderGretchenWhitmer,whorevealedthatshehadbeenraped20yearsagowhileshewasincollege. Iwanttobeveryclear:Iagreewithmyownchurch’steachingthatabortionisalwaysatragedy—butitisnotablack-and-whitequestion. Scriptureitselfacknowledgesthatlifeinthewombisdifferentthanlifeoutsidethewomb(seethedifferentpenaltiesinExodus21:22–25). Thatsaid,weshouldabsolutelyfindjustwaystolow-ertheamountofabortionsthathappenthroughincreasededucation,contraceptionandsocialprograms. However,thislawusesmoneyasacoerciveforceuponwomeninpainfullydifficultsituations. Itcreatesasituationwhere,oncemore,womenwhohavemoneywillhaveaccesstohealthcareandfreedomtomaketheirownchoices,butwomeninpovertywillbeforcedtofollowthemisguidedwillofourLegislature—nomatterthehorrificsituationthatresultedintheirpregnancy. Thisiswrong. Thisisreprehensible. Andthefactthatthishasbeensupportedbyso-calledChristianorganizationsmakesmyfaceturnredwithshame. Icalluponallcitizensofourstate,andinparticularallChristiansinourstate,tostandupandcallfortherepeal

ofthiscruellaw.Insteadofusingmoneyasacoerciveforce,insteadofforcingwomentomakethechoicessomepeoplewantthemtomake,let’sworkasastatetocreatecommuni-tieswherewomenneverfeellikeabortionistheironlyoption. Let’spasslawsraisingtheamountofmoneyweprovideforyoungfamiliesandsinglemoth-

ersinlow-incomehouseholds.Let’smakeourchurchesplacesofgraceandwelcomewherewomendonotfeellikeshameinchurchmakesthistheironlyoption. And,Godhelpus,let’sneverputawomanwhohasbeenraped,whohasbeenthevictimofincest,orwhoseverylifeisindangerintheevenmorehorriblesituationofrealizingthatherinsurancewillnotcoverherabortion. Wecandobetter—andthejusticeandloveofGodcallsustobeaverydifferentcommunitythantheonecreatedbythislaw. The Very Rev. Jared C. Cramer serves as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven and as dean of the Lakeshore Deanery of the Diocese of Western Michigan.

GOP’s new abortion law

“Immoral and cruel”

...this bill means that, in the State of Michigan, if a woman is raped she cannot have the abortion covered by her regu-lar insurance and must pay out-of-pocket for it.

7

By Chris SavageLeft of the Line TheStateSchoolReform/Rede-signDistrictwascreatedbythestateofMichiganin2010totakeoverthelowestperformingfivepercentofMichiganpublicschools. Ayearlater,thenewentitysignedanexclusivecontractwithagroupcallingitselftheEduca-tionAchievementAuthority.TheEAAwasheadedupbyJohnCovington,formersuperinten-dentofKansasCityPublicSchools,andpartneredwithEasternMichiganUniversitythroughaninterlocalagreement. TheEAAwasessentiallytheRe-publicananswerto“doingsomething”aboutstrugglingpublicschools.ShortlyaftertheEAAcameintoexistence,Coving-ton’sformerschooldistrictinMissourilostitsaccredita-tion.ThiswasthefirstofmanyredflagsthathavebeenraisedsincetheinceptionoftheEAA. TheEAAwasgivencontrolover15schoolsintheDetroitPublicSchoolssystem.ThreeofthemwereturnedovertocharterschoolcompaniesandtherestareoperatedbytheEAAitself.Afterthefirstyearofitsexistence,itlostnearlyaquarterofitsstudents. Asstatelegislators,primarilyStateHouseRep.EllenLiptonandStateSen.Hoon-YungHopgood,in-vestigatedtheEAA,theylearnedthatstudentswerebeinggivenasubstan-

dardeducation. Aprofoundlackofresources,neglectofspecialneedsstudentsinviolationoffederallaw,andadis-ciplinarysystemintotalchaosledLiptonandHopgoodtofileFOIArequestsformoreinformation.Ratherthanprovidingtheinformationvolun-tarily,theEAAadministratorsforced

themtopaythou-sandsofdollarsinexchangefortheinformationtheyrequested,despitethelegislators’rolesontheHouseandSenateEduca-tionCommittees. WhatHop-goodandLiptonfoundaftersiftingthroughthereamsofinformationtheyobtainedconfirmedwhattheyhadalreadylearned.Inthemeantime,Re-publicansintheLegislatureweremovingforwardwithlegislationtoexpandtheEAAstatewideandcodifyitintostatelaw. TheHouseinitiallypassedthelegislationin2013.TheSenatemadesignificantchang-estothebillthen

sentitbacktotheHouse.Thisspring,nearlyayearafteritfirstpassedtheHouse,legislatorspassedathirdver-sionwiththehelpoftwoDemocrats,HarveySantanaandJohnOlumba. Afterthevote,IlearnedformergubernatorialcandidateDickDeVosandotherwealthycorporatecharterschoolproponentshadthreateneduncooperativeRepublicanswithmas-sivefundingofprimaryopponentsiftheychosenottosupportexpand-

ingtheEAA.ThiswasatacticDeVosusedtoforceenoughRepublicanstovoteforRighttoWorkinDecember2012. Inthemidstofthismostlyparti-sanlegislativebattle,Ibeganrun-ningaseriesofwelloveradozeninterviewswithformerandcurrentEAAteachersandadministrators.Manyweredoneanonymouslybe-causeofacultureoffearandintimi-dationthatexistswithJohnCoving-ton’sEAA. TheseinterviewsconfirmedwhatRep.LiptonandSen.Hopgoodandal-readylearned:theEAAwasindisar-ray.Studentswerebeingphysicallyabused.Resourceswereseverelylacking.Specialneedsstudentswerebeingneglected.Educationalprog-ress,simplyput,wasnotbeingmade. TheEAAusesacomputerpro-gramcalledBUZZasthebasisforwhatitcallsStudentCenteredLearn-ing.Studentsaretaughtandtestedusingthisplatform.However,thefirstyeartheEAAopened,therewerenotenoughcomputersforthestudentsandtheBUZZplatformwasnonfunc-tional. HalfoftheEAAeducatorsarefirst-yearteachersandhalfofthosearefromTeachforAmerica,whichprovidesthenewteacherswithjustafewweeksoftrainingbeforeputtingthemintosomeofthemostchalleng-ingclassroomsinthecountry.TheseinexperiencedteacherswerebeingaskedtocreatecurriculumfortheEAA. TheEAAusesitsowntestingregimentoshowstudentprogress.Itclaimedthat,afterjustoneyear,theirstudentswereadvancingmorethanayearintheirtestscores.However,recentlyreleasedMEAPscoresshowsomethingquitedifferent:studentsarenotonlynotprogressing,theyareactuallygettingworseinsomeareas. TheDeVosthreatoffundingprimaryopponentswasusedonstatesenatorsinlateAprilastheylookedtotakeupEAAexpansionlegislation

ChrisSavage

The Education Achievment AuthorityMichigan’s failed experiment on Detroit students

see AUTHORITY • page 18

The EAA was essentially the Republican answer to “doing something” about struggling public schools.

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By Mary ValentineLeft of the Line “Politicsissuchanastybusi-ness.” IheardthatrepeatedlywhenIranforofficebackin2005.Andyes,itcanbe. Butifwegoodpeoplefailtoparticipate,that’swhoweleaveourdecision-makingprocessto,those“nasty”people.Solet’sallengage–andliftitupoutofthebasementof“nastybusiness.” Nowhereisitmoreimportanttodothatthaninthe91st,thedis-trictpresentlybeingservedbyourownDemocraticStateRep.ColleneLamonte. Asaneducator,CollenestandsupforourstudentsinLansing.Itiscriticalforeachofuswhowantsatop-notcheducationforourstudentsthatsheretainthatseat. The91stiswhatissometimescalleda“swing”district,swingingwildlybackandforthbetweenDem-ocratsandRepublicans.InLansingitiscalleda“marginal”seat. Whicheverpartyholdsthatseatonlyhasamarginalholdonit,be-causeitcouldslipbacktotheotherpartyatanymoment.DemocratPaulBaadewastheonlyrepresentativewhoheldthatseatformorethantwo

termsoverthe26yearsIhavelivedhere. Backandforthitgoes–fromRepublicantoDemocratandbackagain.Whyisitimportanttoknowthis? BecauseinLansing,whoeverholdsthegavel,whoeverhasthemajority,setstheagenda.IfitisinthehandsofRepub-licans,asitisnow,educationfundingisinthesewerandourstudentssuffer. Whatweallknowisthatwhenourcitizensarelessedu-cated,thereismorecrime,higherprisonrates,lowerwages,awholepileofbadnews. InthehandsofDemocrats,though,thereishopeforreasonablefundingofeducation,whichleadstoanin-formedcitizenry,nottomentionmoreandbetterjobsandlesscrime.Itonlymakessensetoeducatethenextgeneration,andnotonthecheap,either. SoifweDemscarelesslyletthe91stslipthroughourfingersinthe

nextelection,ourchancestosettheagendashrinkdramatically. WhenCollene’sRepublicanop-ponentwasintheLegislature,fund-ingtoeducationwasCUTbyanun-precedented$480perstudent.WhentheRepublicansgotthatgavel,theyraisedtaxesonthepoor,theoldandthemiddleclass.Theydecimated

fundingforeduca-tion.That’swhyvotersthrewherout. ButtheothersidehasnointentionofsittingidlybyandlettingCollenecon-tinuetodohergoodwork. Theywillthrowwildaccusa-tionsather,justastheydoeveryelec-tionyear.Theywillspendhundredsofthousandsofdollars

ontelevisionads,mailersandrobocalls,draggingupeverypieceofinformationandskullduggeryattheirfingertipstotearCollenedown. Rememberwhentheyhurledhateful,lyingaccusationsatNancyFrye?Whentheytriedtolead

Don’t let the right wing capture the 91st District

ColleneLamonte

High stakes

see VALENTINE • page 17

9

West Michigan Plumbers Fitters and Service Trades Local Union No. 174

The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry

“We do it right the first time.”

10

By Tony RobertsLeft of the Line Iwouldliketotellyouwhatmademealiberal.IgrewupashortdistancefromtheOldDutchRefinery(nowownedbyMarathon)inMuskegon.Acreekmarkedhalfofthepropertylineofour13-acremini-farm.Ire-membersittingonamakeshiftbridgeacrossthatcreekwhenIwasasmallchild,watchingthefishswimunderme.Wehadagardeninthelowlandnexttothecreek.Thiswasintheearly1950s. BythetimeIwasoldenoughtogoplaywiththeneighborhoodkids,therewereprettyrainbowsfloat-ingonthecreek’ssurfaceandifwesteppedintothecreek,wewentuptoouranklesinsquishyblackmuck. Thiswasduetothefactthattherefinerywasdumpingwasteintothecreek,whichranintoMonaLake.ThesmellwashorribleandonmanydaysittraveledallthewaytoneighborhoodsasfarasthecornerofAppleAvenueandQuarterlineRoad. Inthe1960s,ourneighborfoundadeadduckfloatinginthecreek.Hespreadthewordandtheneighborhooddecidedtosuetherefinery. Thereweretownshipmeetingswhereitseemedthatthestatewassupportingtherefinery,ratherthanthepeopleoftheneighborhood.Intheend,theneighbors,thinkingtheycouldn’twinagainstsuchabigcompany,acceptedabuyoutfromtherefineryanddroppedthelawsuit. Eachneighborreceived$3,000-minusthelawyers’fees.Inreturn,theysignedadocumentsayingthatthey,ortheirheirs,couldneversuetheoilcompanyforthedamagestotheneighborhood.Theoilcompanydredgedthemuckoutofthecreek.Itlookedfinewhentheywerefinished,butthesmellremained. Shortlythereafter,theoilcompanydrilledtestwellsonourpropertytocheckthewaterquality.

Alltheneighborswereimmediatelygivenwatertanksfortheirkitchensandwerewarnednottodrinkthewatercomingfromtheirwells(thisaftermanyyearsofhappydaysentertainingfamilyandfriendsaroundthekitchentable,drinkingendlesscupsofcoffeemadewiththatpoisonwater). Manyinourneighborhooddiedofcancerovertheyears.Bothmyparentsandallofmymother’s(andsomeofmydad’s)siblingsdiedofcanceraswell. Thisbringsustorecenthistory,whenMarathonOil,probablyattheurgingoftheEPA,boughtupallthehousesinthatarea,torethemdown,andmadea“green

space”outofthewholearea,sonobodycouldeverbuildahouseandliveonthatpoisonpieceofland. Itseemstheyhadfoundaplumeofbenzeneunderground,movingbyosmosisfromtherefinerytowardMonaLake. Italkedtoacivildefenseworkeraboutfiveyearsago,whosaidifyouflyovertherefineryproperty,youwillseetrenchesfullofoil.Hesaidtheyusedthatoiltomakeasphaltforarea

roads.Inthelastyearorso,theyhaveFINALLYstartedattemptingtocleanuptherefinerysite.Thatplumeofbenzeneisstillunderthere,headedforMonaLakeandontoLakeMichigan. So,whenconservativestalkaboutderegulationanddefundingtheEPA,Igoalittlecrazy. Thisisthemain(thoughnottheonly)reasonthatIamaliberal. Toni Roberts is a retired educator and union secretary. She is married, with two sons. Toni earned an associate’s degree from Muskegon Community College, where she studied biology and ecol-ogy. A gardener of 40 years, Toni tends her garden in the woods in Dalton Township, and sells books and papers at The Secret Garden store in Pentwater.

“...when conservatives talk about deregulation and defunding the EPA, I go a little crazy.” — Tony Roberts

Creek in Muskegon taught an important lesson

11

By Roger RapoportLeft of the Line MuskegonCountyClerkNancyWatersproudlymadehistorySat-urdaymorningMarch22whensheflungopencityofficedoorsandbeganissuingmarriagelicensesforsamesexcouplesfromacrossthestate.Herdecisionwasapplaudedasalongoverdueresponsetotherightsofgay,transgenderandbisexualpartnersdeniedmaritalbenefitsandthefreedomtoraisechildrenastheysawfit. Like250couplesacrossthestate,the48quickmarriag-esperformedinMuskegonwerecauseforcelebration.Butnotforlong. LessthanadayafterReagan-ap-pointedU.S.DistrictJudgeBernardA.FriedmaninDetroitstruckdownthestate’sconstitutionalbanongaymar-riage,shewasforcedtostopthankstoanappealfiledbyRepublicanAt-torneyGeneralBillSchuette. Despitethefactthatthe“DefenseofMarriageAct”waspartiallystruckdownlastyearbytheU.S.SupremeCourt,Schuettewasquicktolavishmoretaxpayermoneyonhisparadeofembarrassingexpertwitnessesridiculedbythecourt. JudgeFriedman’sdecision,whichmadeMichiganthe18thstatetorecognizegaymarriage,affirmedtherightoftwoDetroitareawomentolawfullywedandadopttheirthreefosterchildren.InWashington,At-torneyGeneralEricHolderquicklydeclaredthattheMichiganmarriag-eswerelegal. ButGov.RickSnyder,whohadrecentlystrippedsamesexcouplesworkingatstateagenciesoruniversi-tiesoftheirdomesticpartnerben-efits,declaredthatwhilethemar-

riageswerelegaltheywouldnotberecognized. ThisisCFOSnyder’sattacklatestattackonthemiddleclassthatincludesraisingtaxesonpensions,reducinghomesteadtaxcredits,cuttingearnedincomecredits,raisingpublicem-ployeeshealthcostsandslashingrevenuesharingtocitiesthathavebeenforcedtocutbackonessentialservicessuchaspoliceandfiretoavoidwindingupunderstateadmin-isteredemergencyfinancialmanage-ment. Snyderhasarguedsuccessfullythataconstitutionalprotectionofstateemployee’sretirementbenefitswerenolongervalidduetothecity’sbankruptcy.Buthehasprovedlessflexibleonsamesexmarriage. ThecaseofDeboerandRowsevs.SnyderandSchuetteisnotthefirsttimeMichigan’sAttorneyGen-eralhaschallengedwellestablished

federallaw. Schuettewaspartofamulti-statecoalitionofattorneygeneralswhounsuccessfullychallengedthePatientProtec-tionandAffordableCareAct.Nowtheright-wingAGhasgonebacktocourtagaintochallengeportionsoftheU.S.SupremeCourt-approvedlawthatisgivinghundredsofthousandsofMichiganresidentsreasonablypricedmedicalcoverageforthefirsttimeintheirlives. Ironically,oneofhisco-plain-tiffsintheoriginalchallengetotheAffordableCareAct,VirginiaAttorneyGeneralMarkHerring,hasdroppedhisdefenseofasamesexmarriagebanintheformerslavestate.LikeattorneygeneralsinCalifornia,Illinois,Oregon,PennsylvaniaandNe-vada,Herringnowrefusestoopposetherightsofsame-sexcouples: “IcannotandwillnotdefendalawthatviolatesVirginians’fundamentalconstitutionalrights.” JudgeFriedman’srulingonthesamesexmarriagecasebroughtbyDeBoerandRowsecouldbecomealowpointinSchuette’spoliticalcareeronewithseriousconsequencesforhisre-electioncampaign. SociologistMarkRegnerus,ataxpayer-fundedexpertstatewitness,wasridiculed

byJudgeFriedmanfordeliveringtestimony“entirelyunbelievableandnotworthyofseriousconsideration.” Thejudgecriticizedathird-partyfunderbehindthishastilypreparedstudy“whoclearlywantedaresultandRegnerusobliged.” JudgeFriedmanconcludedthatthissupposedlyscientificstudyof-feredatthebehestofSchuettewas“flawedonitsface”andaddedthatthewitness’sownsociologydepart-mentattheUniversityofTexas“hasdistanceditselffromDr.Regnerus’sviews.”

see MARRIAGE • page 17

Roger Rapoport

“Shame on Snyder.Shame on Schuette.”

Snyder and Schuette disgrace Michigan by fighting against basic decency for gay couples

“The antidote: Mark Totten”

Rick Snyder Bill Schuette

12

By Eric JustianLeft of the Line WhatdowegetfromnewlyproposedRepublicanen-ergylaws?Theftoflandrights.Higherfuelcosts.Moregroundwaterpollution.Futureenergyinsecurity.Morepotentgreenhousegassesthreateningtheweatherpat-ternsthatallowWestMichigantobeoneofthenation’smostproductivefruitgrowingregions. ThesearethethingsourRepublicanLegislatureistryingtoramthroughintolawRIGHTNOWwithanewsetofpro-frackingbills. Renewableenergy,likewindandsolar,isthebestandmostresponsiblethingMichigancandotoensureenergysecurity,ensureCHEAPERenergygoingforward,alongwithcleanerenergy,cleanerairandcleanerwater. ButMichigan’sGOP-dominatedLeg-islatureisinsistentonclingingtoanancientanduncertainfossilfuelmodelthathasfailedourstateandhasgivenMichiganthemostexpensiveanduncompetitiveelectricityintheMid-west.Meanwhile,ourneighboringstatesarerampinguprenewableenergyandseeingacostsavingsfromit. AttheendofJanu-aryMichigan’sRepub-licansintroducedasetofbillsthatbasicallyexpandtoxicfrackingandoilextractioninourbeautifulwater-richstatewhileraisingthecostswithnew,moreexpensiveextractionmethodsinadesperateattempttoscrapethebottomofthebarrelforhydrocarbons. Evenstranger,HouseBill4885lowersMichigan’scompensationwhenaprivatecompanytakesournaturalresourcesoutoftheground…itactuallyREDUCEStheamountofmoneyMichigangetsforaHIGHLYsought-af-tercommodity.It’sbeyondanyEarthlikeeconomicsense.Unless,ofcourse,somebody’spayingyouhandsomelytoselloutthepeopleofyourownstate. AlltheotherrelatedHousebills(5254,5255,5274)basicallyexpandthetypeofcrapthatcanbepipedthroughapipeline,orforwhichacorporationcancon-demnandclaimpublicpropertyfortransporting…stufflikethat.Thespecific“extracrap”inquestionhereis

referredtoas“gaseousorliquidsubstances,consistingprimarilyofcarbondioxide,thatwillbeusedtoproducehydrocarbonsinsecondaryorenhancedrecoveryopera-tions. Carbondioxideinjectionisanattempttoextractevenmoreoilandgasfromawell.Thinkofitthisway:youdoyourhydrofrackingandyou’relimitedtohowmuchnatu-ralgasyougetbytheamountofpressureisalreadyintheground.Oncethepressurefalls,thewell’sproductivityfalls.Bummer. Sohowdoyoufixit? Why,youhydrofrackANOTHERholeontheoppositeendofthefield,andthenpumpamysteriouscarbondioxidemixintothegroundtobasicallyblowthelast

crumbsofnaturalgastowardthewell! That’swhyit’scalled“secondaryorenhancedrecoveryoperations.” Thistypeoftech-nologyshouldterrifyus. Here’swhy:Ononehandourlaw-makersandtheiroilcompanycroniestellusthere’splentyoffossilfueltobehadandnottoworry,whileontheotherhandthey’redesper-atelyturningtotech-nologiesthatscrapethebottomofthe

barrelatmuchhigherpriceswithamuchlowerenergyyield:secondarynaturalgasrecoveryandtarsands“oil”whichneedstobeheatedbyotherhydrocarbonsjusttoflow. Bycomparison,just60yearsago,oldJedClampettcouldgoshootin’atsomefoodandupfromthegroundwouldcomeabubblin’crude.Oil.Texastea.Easyasthat. Youusedtobeabletojamapipeinthegroundandgetoil.Notanymore.Nowweneedtodrillmilesundertheocean,oilcompaniesareturningtotarsandsandoilshaleandtryingtocallit“oil”,we’retryingtograspatthelastremainingwhiffsofnaturalgas,allatahighercostwithsignificantlyreducedenergyyield. Tarsandsgivea6to1yield.Thatis,ittakesonebar-relofoiltogetsixbarrelsofoil.50yearsagowehada100to1yield.Tarsandsoiltakesalmostasmuchen-

Drill baby drillGOP’s insanity bared for all in new pro-fracking bills

Eric Justian

Commentary

see JUSTIAN • page 13

13

ergytoproduceitaswegetfromit.Andit’snasty,dirtystufftotransport.JustaskthefolksalongtheKalamazooRiverwhoarestillrecoveringfromamassivetarsandsoilspillintheKalamazooRiver. ThesenewtypesofenergyandextractionarenotsignsofaplentifulfuelsupplyasourRepub-licanleaderswantustothink.Thesearesignsofdesperationinthefaceofdwindlingsupplyandrisingdemand.We’rescrapingthebottomofthebarrelandpayingmoreandmoreandmoreforit. CreatinglawstobuildMOREpipelinesanduseMOREfossilfuelswon’tsolveourenergycrisis.Itwon’t. Itjustmakesitcomesooner,putsmoreburdenonfuturegenerationsandatahorrificcost.Cli-matechangeisalreadydiggingintotheMichiganeconomyandwayoflifewithlowerwaterlevelsrestrictingGreatLakeshippingvolumeanderraticweatherpatternswipingout95percentofsomeWestMichiganfruitcropsin2012andanotherclosecallin2013. Itshouldbenotedthatnaturalgaswellfailuresarereleasingfarmoremethaneintotheatmo-spherethanpreviouslybelieved.MethaneisagreenhousegastwentytimesmorepotentthanCO2…sowemaynotbegettinganytractionfromreducedcarbondioxideemissionsbyusingnaturalgas.Wemayinfactbelosingground. TheonlyresponsiblethingtodoistomoveMichigantowardrenewableenergy:wind,solar,geothermalheat-ingandcooling.Windpowerisnowcheaperthancoalplants,anditrivalsconventionalnaturalgasprices. Holland,Michigan,recentlysignedtwopowerpur-chaseagreementsforwindpowerat4.5centsperKwH!Thatischeapelectricity!Addtonaturalgaspricesthehighercostof“enhancednaturalgasrecovery”andwindputsthemalltoshame.Nottomention,wemanufacturewindturbinecomponentshereinMichigan.AndRIGHTHEREinMUSKEGON.Itputsourfriendsandfamilytoworkandputsfoodontheirtables. Meanwhile,thepriceofsolarpowerisexperiencingdramaticdropstothepointwhereanationalconsortiumofutilizescalledrooftopsolaran“existentialthreat”tothecurrentutilitybusinessmodel.AndMichigan,despitewhatmanymaybelieve,isanexcellentplaceforsolarpower.Ifthere’senoughsuntogrowcrops…there’senoughsuntomakeelectricity. Ifyouwanttodropthecostoffossilfuels,USELESSofit.CreateLOWERdemand.Ifyouwanttostretchoutoursupplyoffossilfuels,USELESSofit.CreateLOWERdemand.Renewableenergyisnowaprovensourceofpower,usedfordecadestoreliablyenergizeregionsacrosstheUnitedStatesandgrowinginuseeveryyear.Let’susemoreofTHATandstoptryingtohastentheenergycrisisbytryingtoincreasesupplyofacommoditysoclearlydwindling. Thesenewpro-frackingRepublicanlawsarebeyondirresponsible.

They’reinsane. Naturalgashasalwaysbeenanunreliableanderrati-callypricedcommodity.Naturalgaspriceswerestrato-sphericjustsixyearsago.Throughtheroof.Andnowwithjustacoupleyearsoflowprices,MichiganseemstobereadytogoAllInonnaturalgasasapowersourcewithplansformore,andverycostly,pipelinesandnearlybillion-dollargaspowerplantsthatwilltakedecadestopayoffwithnoguaranteeofcontinuedlownaturalgasprices. Meanwhiletheonethingwe’reabsolutelycertainofisthatrenewableenergyisalreadyrivalingnaturalgasinprice.Andthecostofrenewableenergyisfallingdra-maticallybythemonthwhilerisinginefficiency. Theworldhaschanged.Renewableenergytechnol-ogyhascaughtupwithourneeds.Therearenotechno-logicalbarrierstowidespreaduseofrenewableenergyanymore. Nowweneedourpoliticianstogetwiththeprogram,anddowhat’srightandwhat’sbestforMichigan:Morerenewableenergy.

Eric Justian is a professional writer living near the natural sugar sand beaches and singing sand dunes of Lake Michigan in Muskegon. As “Muskegon Critic,” he is one of the 50 most-recom-mended active authors at Daily Kos (dailykos.com) and has been a front-page blogger at BloggingForMichigan.org, focusing largely in Great Lakes, renewable energy and Michigan topics. Eric’s work also appears at TriplePundit.com and LiberalAmerica.org . Eric co-founded a non profit organization dedicated to strengthening independent businesses and diversifying Michigan’s economy into sustainable industries.

JUSTIAN • from page 12

Graphic/Occupy Denver

14

From the suburban Chicago Arlington Heights Daily Herald: “ARepublicancandidatewhobelievesthatGoddictatesweatherpatternsandthattornadoes,autismanddementiaareGod’spunishmentsformarriageequalityandabortionaccesswontheGOPnominationtochallengeRep.JanSchakowsky(D-Ill.)intheChicago-area9thCongres-sionalDistrict. “SusanneAtanus,ofNiles,Ill.,garnered54percentofthevoteinher(March18)winover(GOPprimarychallenger)DavidEarlWilliamsIII. “‘IamaconservativeRe-publicanandIbelieveinGodfirst,’Atanussaid.ShesaidshebelievesGodcontrolstheweatherandhasputtorna-doesanddiseasessuchasautismanddementiaonearthasinresponsetogayrightsandlegalizedabortions. “‘Godisangry.Weareprovokinghimwithabortionsandsame-sexmarriageandcivilunions,’shesaid.‘Same-sexactivityisgoingtoincreaseAIDS.Ifit’sinourmilitaryitwillweakenourmilitary.WeneedtorespectGod.’”

Reported by RIGHTWINGWATCH.ORG: FormerRepublicanPresidentialfront-runnerMicheleBachmannontheLarsLarsenradioshow. Rep.MicheleBachmann(R-Minn.)isstillnotpleasedwithArizonaGov.JanBrewer’s(R)decisiontovetoSB1062latelastmonth. InaninterviewwithconservativeradiohostLarsLarsonduringlastweek’sConservativePoliticalActionConference,Bachmannsaidthedownfallofthebill,whichwouldhaveallowedbusinessestorefuseservicetogayindi-vidualsonreligiousgrounds,illustratedhowLGBTactivistshave“bullied”votersandpoliticians. “There’snothingaboutgaysinthere.Butthegaycommunitydecidedtomakethistheirmeasure,”Bach-

mannsaid.“Ithinkthethingthatisgettingalittletire-some,thegaycommunity,theyhavesobulliedtheAmeri-canpeople,andthey’vesointimidatedpoliticians.Thepoliticiansfearthem,sothattheythinktheygettodictatetheagendaeverywhere.” Bachmannsaid,however,thatliberalslikelywouldn’tattempttochangetheU.S.Constitutionto“takeaway”religiousrightsbecause“activistjudges”andPresidentBarackObamawillsimplyignorethedocumentinstead. “He’salawlesspresidentwho’sviolatingtheCon-stitutionwitheveryexecutiveorder,”BachmannsaidofObama.

Also reported by RIGHTWINGWATCH.ORG: FormerFoxNewsTVstarGlennBeckchosetode-clarethatrecenttragedy–astabbingspreeataPenn-sylvaniahighschoolbyaderangedstudent–hadmoreominousimplications. BECKFROMHISOWNLIPS:“Pray.Pray.Pray.IknowwitheverythinginmethatGodlives,thatGodlovesus,thatGoddoesn’tpunishus.Wepunishourselvesbygoingagainstuniversalprin-cipals.Weendupgoingdownthisroad.ThatisnotGodmak-ingsomebodystabsomebody.Thatisbecausewehavebe-comedisconnectedfromuni-versalprinciples.Thehunger,anddareIsayit,starvation,wewillfaceinthecomingyearswillnotbeapunishmentfromGod.Itwillbeanacceptanceofprinciplesthatarewrong.Thatarejustwrong.Goddidn’tpunishthepeopleinZimba-bwe.Hedidn’tpunishthepeopleintheformerSovietUnion.Hedidn’tpunishpeoplewherethey’restarvingtodeathbecausethey’veembracedMarxistprinciples.That’snotapunishment.Thisisablessedland.There’snoreasonwhywedon’thaveenergy,alltheenergyweneed.Thereisn’tareasonwedon’thaveallthecleanwaterweneed,allthecleanairweneedallthefoodthatisrequired.Butwearenowdoingthingsthatgoagainst

The contents of “Other Side of the Line” may be offensive to some of our readers, but we believe you really need to read exactly what the extremists of the right wing are saying in public. Only by peeking under the rock can you see their true agenda.

see OTHER • page 15

For your pleasure:

A selection of assorted nuts

Susanne Atamus

Michele Bachmann

Glenn Beckphoto/Greg Skidmore

15

naturallaw.Andbecauseofthat,wewillpayaveryheavyprice.”

Finally, what would a bag of assorted nuts be with-out Sarah Palin? Here’stherightwingteapartyqueen,anotherGOPpresidentialhopeful,attherecentNationalRifleAssocia-tionconventioninIndianapolis: Theformerhalf-termgovernorofAlaskaaccusedtheObamaadministrationofadoptingcounterterrorismpoliciesthat“coddleadversar-ies.” “Comeon.Enemies,whowouldutterlyannihilateAmer-ica,theywho’dobviouslyhaveinformationonplots,tocarryoutJihad.Oh,butyoucan’toffendthem,can’tmakethemfeeluncomfortable,notevenasmidgen,”shesaid.“Well,ifIwereincharge,theywouldknowthatwaterboardingishowwe’dbaptizeterrorists.” PalinalsoobjectedtoanyeffortstoreinintheNRA-fueledweaponsmaniathatorganizationpromotes24/7: “DoyouknowwhythoseclownishlittleKumbaya-hummingfairytale-inhalingliberalswanttobetoughall

ofasuddenandcontrolyourguns?It’s’cuzguyslike(U.S.Sen.)AlFranken(D-Minnesota),and(SenateMajorityLeader)HarryReid,(D-Nevada),theyarenotsatisfiedwithjusttakingyourmoneyandyourjob,yourtruckandyourpropertyandyourrights,yourhealthcare-theydidn’twanttojuststopatthat.”

OTHER • from page 14

Why are young Americans today destined to bring about the largest political shift in 50 years? (page 29)

What were the Boston Tea Partiers really protesting? (page 9)

Alexander Hamilton was never president. What achievement earned him his place on our $10 bill, and why have we forgotten it? (page 47)

What does the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off have to do with the decline of the American middle class? (page 89)

Why can’t our government seem to do anything right anymore?(page 133)

What can you do to make a difference? (page 167)

We The Future Order online:

SeanMullally.com `

About RIGHTWINGWATCH.ORG

RIGHTWINGWATCH.ORGisagreatwebsitetoseeRepublicancrazyinallitsglory.Rightwingwatch.orgisaffiliatedwithPeoplefortheAmericanWay,andisdedicatedtomonitoringandreportingontheactivitiesofright-wingpoliticalorganizations. Theirresearchersmonitordozensofbroad-casts,emailsandwebsites,andusetheirexpertiseonright-wingmovementstoanalyzeanddistillthatinformationforthegeneralpublic.

Sarah Palin

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Democratic candidate for the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, District 10.

Gated Community Governor

RickSnyderisa“GCG”–agat-edcommunitygovernor.Tooelitetoliveinthegovernor’smansioninLansing,heresidesinagatedcommunityinAnnArborwherehisdaughterattendsaposhprivateschool.Attaxpayerexpense,thegovernorischauffeuredround-triptoLansingeveryday. Thisaloof,privilegedlifestyleisreflectedinSnyder’sgovernance.Herefusestorelatetoordinarypeople. ThegovernorrushedtodeclareDetroitbankruptandputcityem-ployeesandelderlypensionersatriskinfederalcourt.WhileSnydercouldhavelegallyshieldedpen-sionersfromfinancialruin,hesidedwithbanks.Hedidnotwishto“slowdown”thebankruptcyprocess. Snyder’schoiceofKevynOrr,abankruptcyattorney,forDetroit’sEmergencyFinancialManager,isproofthatthegovernorplanned

bankruptcyfromthestart.Thiscold,heartlessactionunderminestheMichiganConstitutionandjeop-ardizestheindividualsSnyderhassworntoserve. ItistimetoshowSnyderthedoorandtoelectaservantofthepeople,DemocratMarkSchauer!

BobBirdHolland

Thank you, Left of the Line!

ThankyouforwhatyouarealldoingwithLeftoftheLine. Ireadthefirstissueandfeelhopestirringinmyheart. Wehaveastronganddedicatedgroupofliberalsinthisarea.To-gether,wecanwellmakeadiffer-ence.

LisaFoxMuskegon

The Comatose Kid rides again Gov.Snyderis“TheComatoseKid”andnot“TheComebackKid.”TheNerdmustbeinadeepcomainhisGatedCommunitytothinkthat

Michiganislivinginprosperity.Arethefollowingsignsofprosperity?•EmergencyFinancialManagersdictatein12citiesandtownshipsandin6schooldistricts•Atleast56publicschooldis-trictsareindeficit•Detroit,Michigan’slargestcity,isinthethroesofbankruptcywithcityretireesfearfuloflosingtheirpen-sionsandhealthbenefits•TheDetroitInstituteofArts,aworldclassmuseum,worriesthatitstreasureswillbesoldtoappeasecreditors•OneoutofeveryfourchildreninMichigan(halfamillion)arelivinginpoverty•Michiganislastinper-capitaspendingonroadsandbridges Wakeup,Gov.Snyder!Wakeup,taxpayers!Theonlygroupsbenefit-tingfromSnyder’smanagementarecorporationsandtherich! VoteforDemocratMarkSchauerforgovernorinNovember!MarkisanexperiencedlegislatorintunewiththeneedsofMichiganfamilies!

BobBirdHolland

LETTERS • from page 3

DemocratSarahHowardischalleng-ingaRepublicanincumbentforMichi-gan’s30thStateSenateDistrict. HowardwillfaceincumbentSen.ArlanMeekhof,R-WestOlive,intheNovemberelection.The30thDistrictincludesallofOttawaCountyaswellasSpartaTownshipandGrandvilleCityinKentCounty. Howardmentionededucation,eco-nomicgrowth,equalityandtheenvironmentaskeyissuesforhercampaign. Untilrecently,HowardwasapartnerataGrandRap-idslawfirm,wheresherepresentedindividuals,nonprofit

organizationsandcompaniesofallsizes. “Workingwithmanyanddiverseclientsfromthebusinesscommunityhasgivenmeabackgroundthathelpsmeunderstandthechallengesbusinessesfaceandhaspreparedmetofindsolutionstothesechallenges,”Howardsaidinanewsrelease. Howardalsospokeofherexperienceasamother“whoappreciatesMichigan’slongtraditionofsupportingandproperlyfundingastrongpubliceducationsystem.” HowardwaslistedintheBestLawyersinAmericaforcommerciallitigationin2013and2014.Sheisa1994honorsgraduateofMountPleasantHighSchool,a1998honorsgraduateofWesternMichiganUniversity,anda2001honorsgraduateofUniversityofMichiganLawSchool.HowardlivesinGrandHavenwithherhusband,Kevin;theirtwoyoungdaughters,ThiaandClara.

Sarah Howard seeks 30th State Senate District

Sarah Howard

“Turn 2 Blue” events launched by Vanderstelt DemocraticU.S.CongressionalDistrictcandidateDeanVandersteltisattemptingto“turnthedistrictblue.” TheVandersteltcampaignrecentlylaunchaseriesofevents

“toraiseawarenessandtoworkcollaborativelywithotherDemocraticcandidateswithinthe2ndCongressionalDistrict,” Theeventseriesiscalled“Turn2Blue,”ref-erencingthenumberofthe2ndU.S.Congressional

DistrictandthegoaltoturnthedistrictfromaRe-publican(red)represent-ed,toaDemocratic(blue)representeddistrict.Inadditiontotheeventseriesitself,thecampaignhasintroducedtheTwitterhashtag#turn2blue.

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peopletobelieveIhadtiestoIraqiterrorists?Theythinkthatiftheythrowenoughmudatgoodcan-didates,Democratswillbecomediscouragedandstayhomefromthepolls. Sothefirstjobofeachofuswhocaresabouttheedu-cationofourstudentsistoignorethemud-throwingandmakesurewe–andallofourfriendsandfamily–gettothepollstore-electforCollene. Butinthesedaysofstiffpartisanship,thatsimplyisnolongerenough.SomakeacontributiontoCollene’scampaigninordertogivehertheresourcestofightbackagainstthemud-slinging. Noamountistoosmallandthemaximumis$1,000.Ifeverypersonwholovespubliceducationgaveamere$25,wewouldhavetheRepublicansrunningscaredinnotime. Youcanalsoknockondoorsforher,takeElectionDayofftogetvoterstothepolls,bringfooddowntotheheadquarterswhentheelectionisgoingatafeverpitch,makephonecalls,stuffenvelopes. Even“liking”herFBpageandthatofotherDemscanboostourchancetoretainthatseat. The91stDistrictraceisoneofthemostimportantbattlesliberalsandprogressivescanfightinthisupcom-ingelection. VictorymeanswehaveachancetotakebacktheHouse.DefeatmeanstheRepublicanswillhavethemeanstocontinuetodestroypubliceducation,andhurtourneighborsandfriends. Willyoustandwithmeandfighttore-electColleenLamonte? Mary Valentine is a former Democratic state represen-tative for the 91st District in Muskegon County, where she served two terms. Prior to that, she was a speech patholo-

gist in the public schools of Michigan for more than 30 years. Presently, Mary is the secretary of the Progressive Democratic Women’s Caucus and the S.S. Milwaukee Clip-per board. Additionally, she is chair of the NAACP political action committee, involved with Citizens to Preserve Public Education, and is a member of the Muskegon Heights Opti-mist Club. Mary lives in Norton Shores with Phil Valentine, her husband of 35 years, and is a proud mom of two adult children and proud grandma of two precious granddaugh-ters. You can contact her at maryvalentine08@gmail.com .

VALENTINE • from page 8

MARRIAGE • from page 11Respondingtocriticsoverthecostofcontinuinghiscase,Schuettepetitionedtheappealscourttofast-trackthematter.ThatmotionwasdeniedinApril. Meanwhile.Michigan’sRepublicanleadership,includingitsdisgracednationalcommitteemanDaveAgemacontinuestosendthewrongmessagetosamesexpartnersthinkingofmovingtoourstate. Unabletomarry,receivedomesticpartnerbenefitsorenjoyfullcustodyofchildrentheyareraisingtogether,it’seasytoseewhytheywouldchoosetoliveandworkelsewhereotherthanMichigan. ForplaintiffsDeBoerandRowse,dedicatingtheirlivestoraisingthreefosterchildren,Schuette’sactionstigmatizestheirrelationship. Andlivingassecond-classcitizens,deniedthefinan-cialbenefitsreceivedbyheterosexualcouples,theyalsoruntheriskoflosingcustodyoftheirrespectiveadoptivechildrenshouldoneofthemdie. Understatelawtheyarenoteveneligibleforsurviv-

ingspousedeathbenefits. PerhapsJudgeFriedmansummeduptheweaknessofSchuetteandSnyder’sdefensebestinhisopinionthatattemptstobringMichiganintothe21stcentury: “Inattemptingtodefinethiscaseasachallengeto‘thewillofthepeople’,statedefendantslostsightofwhatthiscaseistrulyabout:people. “Nocourtrecordofthisproceedingcouldeverfullyconveythepersonalsacrificesofthesetwoplaintiffswhoseektoensurethatthestatemaynolongerimpairtherightsoftheirchildrenandthethousandsofothersnowbeingraisedbysame-sexcouples.” ShameonSnyder. ShameonSchuette.

Roger Rapoport is the author of “Citizen Moore” and “Hillsdale,” and is the producer of award-winning “” movie Waterwalk. Roger’s forthcoming feature film “Pilot Error” is based on his novel about the mysterious disappearance of a French jet in the South Atlantic. Roger and his wife live in Muskegon.

Upcoming Events for Collene Lamonte

• May 25:11a.m.-1p.m.,“LostBoatCeremony”withU.S.Sen.CarlLevin. • May 26:noon-4p.m.,FruitportOldFashionedDays. •May 31: 3-5p.m.,CheeseandChocolateRecep-tionat2097Norman,NortonShores. •June 1:CampaignOfficesoftopening(GrandOpeningtobeannounced)986W.Norton,NortonShores. • June 2:9:30-10:30a.m.,ConversationandCof-feeatSuzi’sVillageInn,Fruitport;5-6p.m.,Conver-sationandCoffeeatTheBrewHouse,255Seminole,NortonShores. • June 6:8:30-9:30a.m.,ConversationandCoffeeatTheRavennaRoundTable,12396Stafford,Ravenna. • June 7:10-11a.m.,ConversationandCoffeeatTheBookNookandJavaShop,8726Ferry,Montague. • June 9:ConversationandCoffeeatWolfiesPizza,420S.WolfLake,Egelston. • June 29:KenDobsonFund-raiser. • July 4: IndependenceDay • July 12:LamonteSummerBashatKrusePark:Funforthewholefamily,includingthecanines!

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MAY • May 21:5p.m.,MuskegonCountyYoungDemo-cratsMayMeeting,MuskegonCommunityCollegeStu-dentUnion.Snacksprovided.SpecialguestisR.O.A.D. • May 24, Saturday: 3-5p.m.,18827NorthShoreDrive,Ferrysburg,fund-raiserforCathyForbes,DemocraticcandidateforOttawaCounty’s34thSenateDistrict.GuestsshouldparkatCoastGuardPark,18161NorthShore,Ferrysburg.Volunteerswillbeavailabletoprovidetransportation. • May 26:6:40p.m.,CanvasKick-OffforSarahHoward,Democraticcandidatefor30thStateSenateDistrict,Lemonjello’soutdoorpatio,Holland. •May 29, Thursday:6-8p.m.,Fund-raiserforSarahHoward,Democraticcandidatefor30thStateSenateDistrict,atthehomeofDarrylFischerandDanGleason.RSVPatinfo@sarahforsenate2014.comforhomeaddressandotherdetails.Suggestedcontribu-tionof$50totheCommitteetoElectSarahHowardtoStateSenate,POBox911,GrandHavenMI49417-0911.

• May 29: 7p.m.,MuskegonCountyYoungDemsBowling/Mixer,ShermanBowlingCenter,1531Sher-man,Muskegon. • May 31: 3-5p.m.,GardenPartyfeaturingcheeseandchocolatewithStateRep.ColleneLamonte.HostedbyJoyFairfieldandBrandenGemzer,2097Norman,NortonShores.Tickets:$25.JUNE • June 1-30: YoungDemsCalltoActionMonthtogetallyoungdemocraticallymindedpeopleinMuske-gonCountyengaged. • June 8: 3-4:30p.m.,JoinMarkSchauer,Demo-craticcandidateforgovernor,foranafternoonofmusicfeaturingLegalRehabatthehomeofMarciaHovey-WrightandBillWright,425W.Webster,Muskegon.Tickets:$50.ParkingisavailableonWebsterandinthelotacrossFifthStreet. • June 18:5p.m.,MuskegonCountyYoungDemo-cratsMeeting,locationtobeannounced.

JULY • July 7: LastdaytoregisterfortheAugustPrimary.Detailsavailableatlocalorcountyclerkoffices.

C A L E ND A R

forasecondtimeinayear.However,astheclocktickeddowntothefilingdatefortheAugustprimary,Repub-licansstillfoundthemselveswithoutenoughvotes.Asthedeadlinepassed,EAAopponentsbreathedasighofrelief. It’sstillpossibletheEAAexpansionwilltakeplace.However,it’sclearthatthepressurebeingappliedthroughexposingthefailingsoftheEAAhasimprovedthelegislationandmay,infact,killit.ThiswouldbeahugeblowtoRepublicanGov.RickSnyder,whohaschampionedEAAexpansionfromthestart.

Itwould,however,beaverypositivethingforDetroitEAAstudents. Whiletheydeservesomethingbetter,theEAAisdecidedlynotthat“something”. Chris Savage is the publisher of eclectablog.com, Michigan’s most widely read progressive blog. His work has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and in The Nation magazine and has been featured by numerous other nation-al media outlets. He lives in Dexter with his photographer wife Anne C. Savage. Chris’s blog handle “Eclectablog” is famous on the Daily Kos web site dailykos.com for its pen-etrating looks at the destruction wrought by Republicans on our state.

AUTHORITY • from page 7

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MEMORIAL DAY

TO THANKTO HONOR

TO REMEMBER

Left of the Line

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

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Left of the Line

"...ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."John Fitzgerald Kennedy • 1961

The Challenge

The Response“We’re working on it, one congressional district at a time.”Left of the Line • 2014

Contact us atP.O. Box 1710Muskegon, MI 49440Or email us at:leftofthelinellc@gmail.com Bless your liberal hearts!

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