Back to basics on Labor Day

This Labor Day, the question we all need to ask is, what went so terribly wrong? The answer to that question is complicated, but the simple answer is that we the people dropped the ball and became far too lax in our duty to monitor just what in the hell has been going on in Washington and in city halls for at least the past 40 years. The Great Society didn't turn out so great, after all. - 09/04/2010

Bernero's Political Economics

You know when you get into financial trouble? Usually it's when you make financial decisions for reasons other than good, sound fiscal reasoning. Michigan is in lots of that kind of trouble, and if Virg Bernero becomes governor, it sounds like we can expect more of the same. - 09/03/2010

• Calabrese: Protest Jackson's protest march • Aug. 27
• Down with incentives, Nerd! • Aug. 20
• When government says 'fully funded,' hold your wallet • Aug. 13

Government-run health care = fraud

In a recent issue the Economist magazine pointed out that on July 16 the U.S. attorney general announced "The largest federal health-care fraud take down in our nation's history. " Federal authorities arrested 94 people in five states in a quarter-billion dollar plot to defraud Medicare." The Miami Herald, in an August 2008 article, reported that Medicare and Medicaid lost $60 billion to fraud, including $2.5 billion in south Florida. Much of the Florida fraud is associated with organized crime. - 09/03/2010

• Tax cuts for the rich help the poor • Aug. 27
• Ground zero mosque: A test of our principles • Aug. 20
• Unpredictable government depresses economic growth • Aug. 13

Jennifer Granola's Mexican jumping beans

Say some hypothetical person -- call her "Governor Jennifer Granola," decides that Michigan should grow Mexican jumping beans, to harness the environmentally sensitive alternative energy power of the jumping bean, and none of us will need yukky coal or gasoline any more. . . - 09/03/2010

• Are public agencies delivering the goods? • Aug. 26
• Strawberry or doggie vomit? That's it? • Aug. 19
• Time to bring 'Old Crazy' back to Michigan • Aug. 10

Despite loss, Michigan tea party stays on GOP bus

Bill Cooper was leaning against the Nerdmobile -- Rick Snyder's campaign bus -- on the floor of the Breslin Center on Saturday when he heard his name being chanted louder and louder by delegates to the state Republican convention. - 09/02/2010

• Despite loss, Michigan tea party stays on GOP bus • Sep. 2
• Commentary: State Democrats in a world of hurt • Aug. 29
• Michigan woos films, but lets horse racing tracks wither • Aug. 26

Clemens? Congressrats aren't exactly honesty all-stars, either

Nugent: By the time the investigation and trial of Clemens is signed, sealed and delivered, it will have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. It's no wonder America is broke and our Fedzilla gas pedal is stuck on stupid. - 08/31/2010