The most knowledgable person I know when it comes to state of Michigan politics is Richard Milliman. He writes a weekly column, The Almanac, which appears in several newspapers.
Dick has been a friend of mine for more than 40 years. He’s owned several newspapers, dailies and weeklies, and still has some, though he’s officially retired.
Early on, he worked on the George Romney gubernatorial campaign and became his press secretary. He also sought, but didn’t get, a state legislative office.
Anyway, Dick sends his columns to me, and I want to quote a little of his state budget comments.
‘State government in Michigan is in financial trouble.
‘That’s an old story, of course. It seems as if every year for the past dozen or so ? and periodically most years in modern history ? the story has been repeated.
‘The main reason is because state government as a practice spends more money than it takes in. Sooner or later, that can create a huge problem. State legislators and most governors have found it easier to apply a patch than a solution.
‘These past practices of holding the state together financially with duct tape and baling wire are compounded by today’s grim economic truths of high unemployment, declining personal incomes, lower property values, business failures, bankruptcies, decreased tax yield, and ever-higher costs of running public programs.
‘The inevitable result is public budget chaos.?
Now me: Why does this happen and recur?
I’ll tell you why: Because our elected officials either don’t know how to do what becomes inevitable, are more concerned with getting reelected, or don’t have the guts to do what has to be done.
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I don’t know why sellers of beef brag about Angus. I’m sure they want to convey the thought that if it’s Angus, tenderness is assured.
Of course, it could be Angus breeders have a better public relations firm. However, it’s a slam to Holstein, Jersey and Guernsey raisers.
Back to the tenderness thing. Daughter Luan has me over for dinner many Sunday nights. Slow cooked beef roast was a recent offering. Luan always cooks enough for me to eat at home the next six days.
This particular slow-cooked beef was tougher than Tarzan’s ape. A leftover I gave to Shayna was so tough she gave up on it, and complained about her aching jaw and cracked tooth.
Almost always Luan does the food buying. This particular beef, planned for his father-in-law, was selected from the Angus label by son-in-law Bob.
‘Nuf said.
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How did the pig get atop the GM building?
Swine flu.
I could tell you who told me that, but you’d probably slap him.
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Three quick ones from Will Rogers:
1. Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie? until you find a rock.
2. Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.
3. It’s a good thing we don’t get all the government we pay for.