SOTU and SOTS
I really enjoyed watching the SOTU last night with about 150 other Democrats, thanks to the 12th District Dems, the Washtenaw County Dems, and other sponsors of the gathering at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. It was fun to be able to cheer good lines by the Pres and boo at the GOP stupidity with like-minded folks. Lots of enthusiasm in the room; I think we're ready to roll this year.
I could not bring myself to listen to our pusillanimous, helium-voiced governor, however. His idea of leadership has been to cut taxes on businesses and the wealthy, and cut services and benefits for everyone else; I don't expect anything different from him now. Even though we are facing a quarter-billion dollar deficit this year, with likely worse to come, he persists with the same kinds of austerity-based measures which will continue to disadvantage the state. While I'm at it, let me just say that the proposed increase to 7% for our state sales tax, with the new revenue supposedly earmarked to pay for desperately-needed road repairs throughout the state, is possibly the worst solution of all: a regressive tax, with no assurances that the other budget holes will be adequately addressed.
But, what did you all think of the SOTU and the SOTS? Hard to think of them in the same league, I know.
Michigan Democratic Party Organizing
We have lots of meetings locally, throughout the state, leading up to the state party convention on Valentine's Day. There will be CD meetings this Saturday, if I understand correctly, and then county meetings on Saturday the 31st. Whew, it's hard to keep up with them all. I personally would be thrilled to have a Motor City or Michigan Kossack with more extensive MDP experience than I have to explain to us all how these various meetings support each other and the broader goals of the state party. Please offer your expertise either in the comments below OR (even better) write a diary for our edification. Just let me know when you're available to do so, and I'll be happy to yield the floor.
February 14th Meet-Up, after the MDP Convention at Cobo Center in Detroit
The good news is that we have a projected time at which the convention is supposed to conclude--6 PM. The bad news is that the Red Wings have a game at Joe Louis arena that same evening, starting at 7 PM. I suspect that means all of the local restaurants on that side of downtown will then be packed with Red Wings fans. What do you think? Should we look for a venue near Cobo, or cast our net wider? Suggestions welcome!
Sugrue, on The Origins of the Urban Crisis
DoReMI will be leading our kick-off discussion of this book, in a separate diary, later this evening (starting at 7:45 PM). I may or may not join you, depending on my ability to attend a planning meeting for a teach-in on Income Inequality in Washtenaw County. (Do please let me know if you're interested in helping out with that project, and I can get you connected.) But if you really want some solid historical underpinnings about how Detroit got to be where it is today, Sugrue's book is an indispensable source. I hope that you can join us in reading and discussing it.