Opinion: Instead of Occupying Detroit, Will Lefties Take Responsibility For It?

October 14, 2011 12:05 PM

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Occupy Detroit

By Paul Kersey, Mackinac Center For Public Policy

Occupy Detroit? How About Accepting Responsibility for Detroit?

Inspired by protests that started in New York and proliferated around the country, activists are preparing to “occupy Detroit,” with a downtown rally set for this afternoon.

Aside from the tragicomic imagery of activists occupying an increasingly unoccupied city, there’s the question of just what the “Occupation” movement, a vague grouping to begin with, would want to change about governance in the city. Over the last 40 years, the city has been governed by a political machine that is Democratic in all but name.

Union membership is well above average and organized labor is overwhelmingly powerful in city politics. If corporations are the occupiers’ main adversary, then Detroit is admirably free of corporate influence: According to Crain’s Detroit Business, the city’s seven largest employers are government agencies or nonprofits, rather than profit-making corporations.

Even Dave Bing, for all his business experience, is inclined to dabble in the sort of governmental planning — witness his ideas for consolidating neighborhoods — that progressives are fond of.

And somehow, in spite of all that, the city’s population has plummeted to less than half it was during its heyday.

And now left-of-center groups plan on “occupying” Detroit. Is it possible they’ll start accepting some of the responsibility for it?

Paul Kersey is the director of Labor Policy for The Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He blogs from a conservative perspective for CBS Detroit.

Opinion: Instead of Occupying Detroit, Will Lefties Take Responsibility For It?

Nedlip

Occupy Arrest Scam Unmasked
Kyle Olson
Columnist, Townhall.com

Leftists love to get arrested at protests. It must make them feel like adults and compensates for their otherwise very childish behavior.
But new video released exclusively by EAGtv shows the protestors pre-arrange who is to be arrested. That’s right – the arrests are as scripted as a professional wrestling match, at least on the occupiers’ end.
Cameras were rolling in Chicago recently and captured Chicago Teachers Union organizers finalizing plans for who in the crowd would be arrested. That’s right – it was staged.
Comparing lists on clipboards, the footage shows two union organizers in CTU shirts questioning whether a man standing with them would be arrested or not.
Organizer 1: “He said he’s not being arrested. He’s not on the list.”
The intent is clear: Overwhelm the system. Occupy the police. Provoke confrontation. Produce beautiful footage for naïve local TV rubes reporters. Clog the courts. Gain sympathy from citizens.
But it’s all just a game. And the media is continuing to fall for the ruse.
As more fringe elements continue to emerge in the #OccupyWallStreet movement (the Nazis and Communists recently declared their support), these types of staged activities will continue. But as their actions continue and there is inaction on the part of President Obama and the Congress, look for things to take a turn for the worse.
Sadly, I’m afraid, the teachers unions’ brothers and sisters in law enforcement will be the target.
sarah

You by asking this question are missing the point of “Occupy Detroit” Wall Street, etc..
Instead of examining the issue which prompted the protest you would rather use the occasion to enflame racial and political divides.

That tatic is weak, tired.

However judging by the numerous responses you’ve recieved you have managed to accomplish your goal.

Too many SE Michigan residents are scared,and unhappy looking for someone to blame.

It’s not surprising Michigan has lost more residents than any other in the last few years. Sure most have left seeking upward mobility and employment. But relocation also brings freedom from the pervasive anger and depression that has engulfed the state’s residents.
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