Coverage of the Senate blog blocking has widened.
Battle Creek Enquirer
WOODTV, Grand Rapids
Michigan Technology News
Red Tape Blog (geared to government documents librarians in Michigan)
In a partisan world there are us and them. It's quite binary like the ones and zeros that make cyberspace possible. Thumbs up or thumbs down. Boys on the bus and the rest of us slobs.
On election day, winner and losers. The blocking of Blogging for Michigan looks partisan. And that's a shame for the state of political discourse, policy making, public trust and transparency in Michigan government.
Now, of all times, we must come together for the sake of our state's future. Diverse opinion represents constituents' opinions. Legislators represent all their constituents not just the ones they agree with. Mature governing can tolerate, integrate and synthesize different perspectives into policy outcomes that move us forward. There's politics and then there's governing. Right now Michigan needs far less of the former and a vast helping of the latter.
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Blocking Political Blogs in the Michigan Senate
If you have children and internet access, you've probably worried about inappropriate content making its way onto the screen and into their impressionable minds. You may even use filters to keep your kids safe and protect their innocence. This week, while many liberal bloggers were in Chicago at the Yearly Kos Convention, Sen. Mike Bishop's chief of staff decided to protect employees from something called Blogging For Michigan, self described as "a managed progressive community." BFM's core contributors write "the purpose of this community is to provide news and commentary on issues that affect the people of Michigan. BFM believes strongly in the value of the Michigan progressive blogosphere and is committed to supporting high quality citizen journalism."
Several blogs have remarked on the situation. Check Among the Trees, Daily Kos, Michigan Liberal, The Conservative Media. And Senate Minority Leader, Mark Schauer weighed in at BFM.
After shaking off the initial outrage at what looks and smells like censorship, we can welcome this opportunity to consider the impacts, roles, and uses of blogs in the political realm. Blogs are as diverse as the people and groups who create them. Most have a point of view. Many are partisan. A large number make no contribution to civility in discourse and give shelter to the lesser angels of our nature, hidden with cyber identities. Some are even funded and promoted to disseminate disinformation. But, many blogs are the work of people who would otherwise not have access to the "conversation" for lack of wealth, social station, or celebrity. They are not now and never will be members of the club. A blogger needn't even own a computer to have an impact or share an idea, since many public libraries provide internet access.
Should blogs be considered part of the media or journalistic outlets? Some, definitely should. Bloggers keep the mainstream media on their toes by digging a little deeper, asking the next question, and breaking important stories. You cannot generalize about the skills, experience and intelligence of bloggers. You cannot categorically dismiss their research and writing. Some are outstanding writers and thinkers.
Should access to certain blogs be blocked in government offices? This depends on your understanding of the First Amendment. Are you concerned about Freedom of Speech or Freedom of the Press or both? Are the blogs you block political speech written by partisans or members of the press or a bit of both? And, in the absence of consensus around blogs as press, things are likely to get messier. Try this thought experiment: if you were sitting in your Senate office and political pamphlets contrary to your perspective started blowing in through the window would you close the window? If you closed the window and they stuck to it still readable what would you do?
Sen. Bishop's chief of staff said he blocked access to BFM because employees were accessing it too much and not doing their work on behalf of constituents. Couldn't he just have a conversation with the employees in question and advise them to get back to work instead of restricting access from all state Senate computers? And what about the state Senators who do want to read BFM at work?
to be continued...
Several blogs have remarked on the situation. Check Among the Trees, Daily Kos, Michigan Liberal, The Conservative Media. And Senate Minority Leader, Mark Schauer weighed in at BFM.
After shaking off the initial outrage at what looks and smells like censorship, we can welcome this opportunity to consider the impacts, roles, and uses of blogs in the political realm. Blogs are as diverse as the people and groups who create them. Most have a point of view. Many are partisan. A large number make no contribution to civility in discourse and give shelter to the lesser angels of our nature, hidden with cyber identities. Some are even funded and promoted to disseminate disinformation. But, many blogs are the work of people who would otherwise not have access to the "conversation" for lack of wealth, social station, or celebrity. They are not now and never will be members of the club. A blogger needn't even own a computer to have an impact or share an idea, since many public libraries provide internet access.
Should blogs be considered part of the media or journalistic outlets? Some, definitely should. Bloggers keep the mainstream media on their toes by digging a little deeper, asking the next question, and breaking important stories. You cannot generalize about the skills, experience and intelligence of bloggers. You cannot categorically dismiss their research and writing. Some are outstanding writers and thinkers.
Should access to certain blogs be blocked in government offices? This depends on your understanding of the First Amendment. Are you concerned about Freedom of Speech or Freedom of the Press or both? Are the blogs you block political speech written by partisans or members of the press or a bit of both? And, in the absence of consensus around blogs as press, things are likely to get messier. Try this thought experiment: if you were sitting in your Senate office and political pamphlets contrary to your perspective started blowing in through the window would you close the window? If you closed the window and they stuck to it still readable what would you do?
Sen. Bishop's chief of staff said he blocked access to BFM because employees were accessing it too much and not doing their work on behalf of constituents. Couldn't he just have a conversation with the employees in question and advise them to get back to work instead of restricting access from all state Senate computers? And what about the state Senators who do want to read BFM at work?
to be continued...
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Ionia County Commissioners Vote to Fund Strong Families/Safe Children
The Ionia County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously "to spend up to $20,000 on a complex family services program designed to keep troubled families together." The Ionia Sentinel-Standard reports that Community Mental Health stopped funding the Strong Families/Safe Children program July 1, due to budget problems.
The County will provide $5000 to make up the current budget shortfall, and will pay $15,000 toward next year's program costs.
The program provides services, through as many as nine agencies, to families at risk in order to keep them intact. From the DHS website:
"State legislative intent is focused primarily on the reduction of out-of-home placement numbers. This coincides with the federal intent of funds to keep children safe in their own homes, prevent the unnecessary separation of families, return children in care to their families sooner, and to find permanent alternatives for children who cannot return home safely."
Commissioners understood the cost effective nature of the program, comparing the county's contribution to the cost of foster care or annual expense of providing for a prison inmate.
Helping children and families makes sense. It is good public policy. It is fiscally responsible and provides longterm benefits to families and communities in which they live. The Ionia County commissioners could see this. Their sense of "we" included the least among them.
Kudos to those commissioners.
The County will provide $5000 to make up the current budget shortfall, and will pay $15,000 toward next year's program costs.
The program provides services, through as many as nine agencies, to families at risk in order to keep them intact. From the DHS website:
"State legislative intent is focused primarily on the reduction of out-of-home placement numbers. This coincides with the federal intent of funds to keep children safe in their own homes, prevent the unnecessary separation of families, return children in care to their families sooner, and to find permanent alternatives for children who cannot return home safely."
Commissioners understood the cost effective nature of the program, comparing the county's contribution to the cost of foster care or annual expense of providing for a prison inmate.
Helping children and families makes sense. It is good public policy. It is fiscally responsible and provides longterm benefits to families and communities in which they live. The Ionia County commissioners could see this. Their sense of "we" included the least among them.
Kudos to those commissioners.
Monday, July 9, 2007
New Traffic Information Website from MDOT
Great news for Michigan drivers--the Michigan Department of Transportation and the state Department of Information Technology have launched a website to provide traffic and road construction data to the public. The site will provide information about lane closures and various construction projects on state highways (M, I and US roads).
MI Drive has nifty features like MDOT's 2007 Construction Map; a search feature by regions, counties and routes; and links to gas prices and consumer protection information.
In Michigan there are two seasons: winter and road construction. Now, we have an internet resource to help us in the warm months.
MI Drive has nifty features like MDOT's 2007 Construction Map; a search feature by regions, counties and routes; and links to gas prices and consumer protection information.
In Michigan there are two seasons: winter and road construction. Now, we have an internet resource to help us in the warm months.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Driving the News--Automakers Push Back in Washington
Reuters reports today (Auto giants complain against Congress) that Detroit automakers continue to push back against Senate changes to CAFE standards. According to the article, GM, Ford and Chrysler lobbyists continue to make the argument that the "Big Three" are uniquely important to the American economy and so "deserve special consideration."
The article, sounding a little bloglike, quoted anonymous industry sources worried about congressional retribution for years of resistance to improved mileage and efficiency standards.
"'We went off the tracks somewhere,' said another official from the same company. 'The auto sector stopped having a huge economic impact and has become part of the problem.'" So there is some self awareness. That's encouraging.
Stabenow says part of the problem is that the industry is "not telling its story well." That sounds accurate. If you've been accustomed to "special consideration" for decades, explaining yourself to a hostile crowd might be a new experience.
Part of the story still to be told is why these companies can meet tougher standards abroad, but not at home.
Levin and Stabenow figure prominently in the piece as working toward an alternative to the leading Senate proposal that "would require a 4 percent annual improvement in fuel economy beginning in 2011. Under that plan, vehicles would have to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020."
"Levin and Stabenow were still working out details and mustering support among colleagues for their initiative, which would mandate a range of 36 miles per gallon for compacts, sedans and wagons by 2022 and 30 mpg for sport utilities, light trucks and vans by 2025."
cafe standards
The article, sounding a little bloglike, quoted anonymous industry sources worried about congressional retribution for years of resistance to improved mileage and efficiency standards.
"'We went off the tracks somewhere,' said another official from the same company. 'The auto sector stopped having a huge economic impact and has become part of the problem.'" So there is some self awareness. That's encouraging.
Stabenow says part of the problem is that the industry is "not telling its story well." That sounds accurate. If you've been accustomed to "special consideration" for decades, explaining yourself to a hostile crowd might be a new experience.
Part of the story still to be told is why these companies can meet tougher standards abroad, but not at home.
Levin and Stabenow figure prominently in the piece as working toward an alternative to the leading Senate proposal that "would require a 4 percent annual improvement in fuel economy beginning in 2011. Under that plan, vehicles would have to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020."
"Levin and Stabenow were still working out details and mustering support among colleagues for their initiative, which would mandate a range of 36 miles per gallon for compacts, sedans and wagons by 2022 and 30 mpg for sport utilities, light trucks and vans by 2025."
cafe standards
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Great Arts State?
Yesterday, Governor Granholm released some arts funding that had been frozen since the shameful budget standoff in March. $3.6 million will be released. Sounds good and arts organizations are certainly grateful. But another $3.6 million will be cut from the $9.4 million fund for the arts. Arts groups are looking at a cut of about "36% overall."
The Free Press reports that,"State arts funding in Michigan has now fallen 73% from its peak of $24 million in 2000." It goes on to report," Since 2001, Michigan's national rank in per capita arts funding has dropped from 4th to 35th." 35th in per capita arts funding and this when our population is declining? Pretty damning.
How can this be happening? Michigan is home to: Interlochen Center for the Arts, founded in 1928 and the 2006 National Medal of Arts recipient; University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance; Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, training youth for more than 40 years; the Detroit Institute of Arts (fifth largest fine arts museum in the U.S.); Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Music Department--the National Grammy Signature School for 2005-2006 and one of the top 7 in the country the previous two years; the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; the Ann Arbor Film Festival, oldest festival in North America that showcases independent and experimental film; MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit); Cranbrook, founded in 1904 and renowned for arts education; and the Sphinx Organization, bringing cultural diversity to classical music. And so many more extraordinary arts organizations.
Can the Great Lakes State become the Great Arts State? Not at this rate. Individuals and private funders continue to make up the difference as state funding declines. Ask any parent of a high schooler involved in arts (or sports for that matter). But there is a limit to those private resources.
The arts can thrive broadly only if they are understood as integral to the commons--a public good, which enriches all communities and citizens.
Do we need the arts to survive? No. The arts won't fill an empty belly. But we do need the arts to be fully human. The arts enliven hearts and minds and souls. We don't need to choose between food and joy. Work, art, human dignity--these are inseparable.
The Free Press reports that,"State arts funding in Michigan has now fallen 73% from its peak of $24 million in 2000." It goes on to report," Since 2001, Michigan's national rank in per capita arts funding has dropped from 4th to 35th." 35th in per capita arts funding and this when our population is declining? Pretty damning.
How can this be happening? Michigan is home to: Interlochen Center for the Arts, founded in 1928 and the 2006 National Medal of Arts recipient; University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance; Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, training youth for more than 40 years; the Detroit Institute of Arts (fifth largest fine arts museum in the U.S.); Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Music Department--the National Grammy Signature School for 2005-2006 and one of the top 7 in the country the previous two years; the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; the Ann Arbor Film Festival, oldest festival in North America that showcases independent and experimental film; MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit); Cranbrook, founded in 1904 and renowned for arts education; and the Sphinx Organization, bringing cultural diversity to classical music. And so many more extraordinary arts organizations.
Can the Great Lakes State become the Great Arts State? Not at this rate. Individuals and private funders continue to make up the difference as state funding declines. Ask any parent of a high schooler involved in arts (or sports for that matter). But there is a limit to those private resources.
The arts can thrive broadly only if they are understood as integral to the commons--a public good, which enriches all communities and citizens.
Do we need the arts to survive? No. The arts won't fill an empty belly. But we do need the arts to be fully human. The arts enliven hearts and minds and souls. We don't need to choose between food and joy. Work, art, human dignity--these are inseparable.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Our Michigan versus My Michigan
If Michigan were a person, she'd be unable to get a mortgage or car loan. She's the only state with a negative credit outlook, according to Jim Weimken of Standard and Poor's. Next month, she may be shutting down government offices, due to lack of funds. Her children are shoeless and hungry. If only she could increase her income. Relocating to find more lucrative work is out of the question.
If she were a person, she could get a second job or ask for a raise. She isn't one person, though. She is ten million; we are all Michigan. The Republicans, the Democrats, the unions, the car companies, the prisoners, the police, the teachers and students, the Walmart greeters, the intellectuals and the wrestling fans, the artists, the tool and die makers, the banks and the homeowners facing foreclosure, the political activists and the couch potatoes--we are all in this thing, everyone of us complicit. There is no "them" only "us."
Even so, there are people in Michigan who despise government. Schools should be privatized, artists should find market support, poor people should quit complaining and get jobs. And the homeless? Well, faith-based initiatives can help them find redemption in a bowl of soup with a side of scripture. According to this model, government enables those too lazy to help themselves. Michigan is filled with hapless slobs unwilling to do an honest day's work and looking for a hand out. (Well, except for the people who hold this opinion!)
Such we/they thinking is the fallacy that created our present mess. Our state police, our schools, our social services, our natural resources, our infrastructure, our arts, our economic development--all hang in the balance. For the sake of Our Michigan, reach out to your legislators and urge them to get mature, look across the aisle and see "us" in each other.
If she were a person, she could get a second job or ask for a raise. She isn't one person, though. She is ten million; we are all Michigan. The Republicans, the Democrats, the unions, the car companies, the prisoners, the police, the teachers and students, the Walmart greeters, the intellectuals and the wrestling fans, the artists, the tool and die makers, the banks and the homeowners facing foreclosure, the political activists and the couch potatoes--we are all in this thing, everyone of us complicit. There is no "them" only "us."
Even so, there are people in Michigan who despise government. Schools should be privatized, artists should find market support, poor people should quit complaining and get jobs. And the homeless? Well, faith-based initiatives can help them find redemption in a bowl of soup with a side of scripture. According to this model, government enables those too lazy to help themselves. Michigan is filled with hapless slobs unwilling to do an honest day's work and looking for a hand out. (Well, except for the people who hold this opinion!)
Such we/they thinking is the fallacy that created our present mess. Our state police, our schools, our social services, our natural resources, our infrastructure, our arts, our economic development--all hang in the balance. For the sake of Our Michigan, reach out to your legislators and urge them to get mature, look across the aisle and see "us" in each other.
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