Sunday, April 12, 2020

Don't Be Fooled In This Time of Crisis


In this time of crisis, we may become confused about what is happening and what caused it.  We may begin to believe the leaders when they blame it on someone else.

But, don’t be fooled.

It is not the Church that has failed us in this time of crisis, it is the church leaders.

It is not our Government Institutions that have failed us, it is the leaders of those institutions.

It is not the health care system, or the business systems that have failed us, it is the leaders.

We intended by our naive nature, that all of the systems and institutions were designed to work together and build a society that protected everyone.

But, the leaders have hijacked those systems for profit, power and fame.

They all took risks with our health and safety by gambling that something like this wouldn't happen. 

The leaders thought, well if it does happen, we the leaders would be protected.

To make profit, to gain power, to attain fame, they took risks with our health and safety by reducing to the smallest possible size the safety net that should be there.

Listen, the smaller the safety net, the less leaders need to spend on the net itself, which means more profit for them.

In balance, that means when people fall and need the safety net to catch them, they will more than likely fall to their death.

The leaders are willing to accept the loss if they can make the profit they want.

The leaders did this while collecting our taxes, demanding their over payment for sub-par goods and services and accepting the adulation of their blind and adoring supporters.

In this time of crisis, rethink everything you have been told by the leaders. 

In this time of crisis, don’t accept the blame placed far and wide to all others but not on them, the leaders.

And, for us, don’t do the same thing our leaders are doing, don’t blame someone else.

Accept responsibility and change the leaders.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Covid-19 Infection Rates for Southeast Michigan


Here is how the individual communities breakout on the number of confirmed cases with Covid-19.

Numbers from the reporting sites change daily.  They correct the past numbers.

First graph is number of confirmed cases.

Next, is the daily increase.

Finally, days to double.  An important number to watch.  The best case is to have the days to double increase everyday. 


Here are the graphs for Wayne County, not including Detroit.  The county has only been report since late March.

Here is the graph for Oakland County.

Here are the graphs for Macomb County
Here are the graphs that combines all the data from above.

All sources are the individual counties or city own website.The data points will follow in a day or two.



Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Count Prisoners Where They Can Vote


I am in support of HR 3645 and S 3481, Correct the Census and count prisoners where they can vote.

Since the first U.S. census in 1790, the federal government has included incarcerated people in the population counts of where they're imprisoned.

The policy of counting prisoners were they are housed is outdated.

The census is designed to provide fair and equitable representation.

Prison is to be for the temporary incarceration and then returned to their home district.

If a person is counted for a district that he can not vote in, he has no representation.

Prisoners should be counted where their home is or their last address.

Morris Hagerman
Democratic Delegate for Royal Oak, Michigan's 21st District

Of Note:

Andy Lenin

Debbie Stabenow

Gary Peters



Thursday, February 20, 2020

The Lincoln Project Response to DOJ Involvement in Roger Stone Sentencing

A post from the Lincoln Project:


WASHINGTON, DC US, February 12, 2020 – Today, The Lincoln Project released the following statement:
Yesterday’s decision by the Justice Department to overrule the prosecutor’s sentencing recommendation on convicted felon Roger Stone, is a blatant example of political interference, retaliation, and coercion by an emboldened, unbowed President.
“Attorney General Barr’s subservience to Trump is both cowardly and damaging to the country,” said Jennifer Horn, spokesperson for The Lincoln Project. “It is obvious that Barr is overriding the best judgment of Justice Department professionals to appease an angry, vindictive president. Clearly, the President feels emboldened by his acquittal in the Senate and is now set on expanding his criminal enterprise approach to the Presidency and Attorney General Barr is aiding and abetting him in that effort.
The Department of Justice is intended to be an independent, neutral agency of justice in this country, free of political influence, assuring that all are treated equally under the law, not used as an enforcer for a wannabe strongman president. Barr’s actions, in this case, set a dangerous precedent and should alarm all Americans.”
Source:

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Trump is Reducing Clean Water Protection in the United States


Position Overview

The EPA is withdrawing from the 2015 Rule that manages American water ways which reduces the amount of water (water ways) that the agency governs.  

This action is being taken because of Executive Order linked below.

Water is only second to clean air as the most important resource on earth.

Every living thing on earth depends on clean water.  It is necessary to life and to a safe and healthy environment.

It is the responsibility of all people and governments to maintain a healthy environment.

Water, no matter where it is, needs to be kept clean, safe and natural.

The EPA should be in the lead on protecting clean water and not withdrawing from protecting United States waterways.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Trump is Meting Out Retribution to New York for the Green Light NY Program


Trump is denying the Trusted Traveler Program to residents of New York because they instituted the Green Light Program.

The Trusted Traveler program is a program established by DHS to pre check and clear travelers that frequently fly.

The Green Light Program is a New York program that provides driver's licenses to all residents regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

Application for the Trusted Traveler Program does not require a driver's license; passport or proof of resident is all that is needed.

Since the Trusted Traveler program doesn't require a driver's license, it appears that the Trump Administration is meting out retribution for the Green Light Program.

Trump continues to wield the power of the Executive Branch well beyond the authority that the Constitution, Congress or the courts have allowed.

Trump in this case, has no authority to issue the suspension of the Trusted Traveler Program to the residents of New York.
                        
DHS Trusted Traveler Program

Green Light NY Program

DHS suspends Global Entry, Trusted Traveler Programs for New York residents in response to sanctuary law. 

Saturday, January 11, 2020

“Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act”



“Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act” would end a loophole that allowed oil and gas companies to avoid paying $18 billion.
Should a 1995 financial break to incentivize offshore drilling remain 24 years later?

Responsible Community’s Position:
With huge deficits at the Federal level, we are not able to afford continued tax breaks that aren’t necessary.
The United States now has excess oil production.
The temporary reprieves that were intended to be in the act were “accidentally” omitted, so the reprieves should be removed.
Oil company profits for 2018 (latest available) was $28 billion, they hardly need incentive to drill for oil.
This bill should be supported in both the House (H.R. 5186) and the Senate (S 2906).

Context
The Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995 — part of a larger 1995 law dealing with energy production — attempted to spur oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, by offering companies temporary reprieves from the 12% royalty they were supposed to pay on the produced oil.
However, a clause supported across the aisle — which would have instituted the royalty payments if oil and gas prices exceeded a certain level — was accidentally omitted. Those price thresholds were exceeded years ago. Since then about $18 billion in would-be royalties were never paid.
What the legislation does
The Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act would close this quarter-century-old loophole, by banning the Interior Department from issuing any new offshore drilling lease to a company which already holds a royalty-free lease.
The ban would only be lifted for a company if they negotiate their existing lease to a new price threshold, presumably to begin paying royalties on it.
The House version was introduced on November 20 as bill number H.R. 5186, by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ3). The Senate version was introduced the same day as bill number S. 2906, by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA).
What supporters say
Supporters argue the legislation closes a loophole that neither party intended nor would have supported at the time.
“This money belongs to the American people, and some of the most profitable companies in the world are keeping it for themselves because they think they’re entitled to it,” Rep. Grijalva said in a press release. “This money should be building roads and providing health care for veterans. We have to decide once and for all whether the public or fossil fuel corporations really own our lands and waters.”
“Big Oil gets handout after handout straight from the pockets of the American people, all to fuel our fossil fuel addiction that is driving the climate crisis,” Sen. Markey said in the same press release. “It’s time to stop treating oil and gas companies like tax royalty and close this free drilling loophole once and for all.”
What opponents say
Opponents counter that the status quo provided a huge boost to the energy industry, to the point that the U.S. is now almost completely self-sufficient for energy.
The original 1995 law “was a bipartisan program signed into law by President Clinton that jumpstarted the U.S. offshore oil and natural gas industry,” National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito said in a statement.
“Between 2000 and 2018, a stronger U.S. offshore industry generated more than $122 billion for the Federal government through high bids, royalties and rents and helped unlock a higher quality of life through affordable and reliable energy,” Milito continued.
“Instead of sending jobs, economic growth and energy security abroad, Washington, D.C. policymakers should find new solutions that help America remain the offshore energy leader.”
Odds of passage
The House version has attracted one Democratic cosponsor, Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA47). It awaits a potential vote in the House Natural Resources Committee, where Rep. Lowenthal is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, making a vote there likely.
The Senate version has not yet attracted any cosponsors. It awaits a potential vote in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources. Odds of passage are low in the Republican-controlled chamber.