By Sam Riddle
Special to the Michigan Citizen
Before I drove over to the offices of the Michigan Citizen, I called.
“Is he coming?”
“Yes.”
I was assured. Gas is not cheap.
I figured what the hell, if Governor Snyder’s Negro proxy emergency manager overseer of the Detroit plantation was going to show up, I certainly could.
Besides we’re both Michigan men. That is graduates of the University of Michigan Law School. I’m told that reality immeasurably enhanced the Mayor Duggan/EM relationship. Something like serf to master when it comes to bottom-line city of Detroit decision-making authority.
A solid hour into the EM-Citizen session after listening to predictable exchanges, I weighed in that while I understood the EM’s occupation with cold azz numbers on a balance sheet I was more concerned with Detroit’s human balance sheet citing carnage data of a Third World nation infant mortality rate, 60 percent of Detroit children living in poverty while every other person in Detroit is functionally illiterate even as the real Detroit suffers a horrendous unemployment level that approaches 50 percent. Hello?
I was informed there would be a new transportation system that could take folk to work and a shrug with “what do you want me do ramifications because I’m focused on blight and banks not the unfortunates.” Ok, a little tough love for the natives while the EM had no problem with the Detroit corporate welfare for the Ilitch hockey puck.
Ok, Ok, what about the destruction of democracy?
The EM launched into a praise fest about the travails that fellow Michigan man Mike Duggan had to overcome to win, therefore democracy was alive and well in the D. Literally, I said that was not an example of democracy when the mayor has to ask the EM’s permission to go to the bathroom. Figuratively of course, but you never know.
Hey, it was great that the guy showed up and there was total civility during the entire discussion.
At a subsequent NAN meeting, I discussed my take on the face-to-face with the EM proxy of democracy-destroying, union-busting Guv Snyder. Some felt I should not have participated in the meeting but since we compete in the marketplace of ideas, why not? Take the measure of a man especially when he represents the enemy even if he looks like you but is not of us.
After meeting with Detroit EM Orr, I know more than ever that in Detroit, we have a battle to wage against democracy-destroyers, as bankruptcy dollars trump human rights and democracy, while America rightfully gives $1 billion dollars to the Ukraine but ignores Detroit with Moynihan-like benign neglect. WTF? Where is John Kerry? Damn, it’s a small world.
We must never let haters cause us to lose hope or dislike ourselves and never let haters make you weak in your faith. Keep the faith. Stay on the battlefield.
Sam Riddle is political director for Michigan National Action Network. Follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/sam.riddle or Twitter at twitter.com/samriddle.
Sam and EM