Today Donald Trump will become the nation's 45th President. Some will cheer and others will mourn. If you are curious as how we came to this junction Public Broadcasting has a rather excellent series airing tonight . Not everyone will agree with our assessment however some found it tedious.
PBS’s “Divided States of America” tries to understand political polarization, mostly finds rage
Frontline’s exhausted recap of the past decade (or so) finds two very different countries with the same borders.
Updated by Todd VanDerWerff@tvoti Jan 17, 2017, 2:20pm
“The Divided States of America” explains just why Washington struggles to get anything done.
“So many people live in communities where nobody disagrees with them,” says a journalist midway through the second installment of “Divided States of America,” a two-part Frontline investigation into the political polarization that has come to define our era.
That statement might as well serve as a keystone for the entire project. What initially seems like a straightforward dissection of polarization — going all the way back to the George W. Bush years — instead turns out to be a kind of free-floating collage of many of the biggest news stories of the Obama era. But instead of simply laying out the facts, “Divided States” presents them as they were reported and/or discussed by two different entities: mainline journalism and right-wing talk radio.
The result is somewhat surreal: You’ll hear Obama’s rather anodyne reflections on the Trayvon Martin shooting (his famous “if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon” comment) juxtaposed with the voices of Rush Limbaugh and other conservative pundits saying that Obama is calling for a literal race war.
“Divided States” tries to understand American rage
As always, Frontline is sober and even-handed. It traces some of the divide between Obama and congressional Republicans to a handful of tactical errors made by the former when he was new to the presidency, and it underlines why Republicans have been so horrified by his use of executive orders in his second term.
But there’s also a sense of exhaustion that settles over the proceedings, particularly in the second installment, as every single thing that happens in the Obama presidency is neatly reframed by right-wing pundits as some outrageous scam liberals are trying to pull on the American public. Bipartisan attempts at gun control and immigration reform are defeated by rage, and Obama’s presidency only serves to underline just how stark racial divides still are in the US.
None of this is going to be particularly new to anyone who’s followed politics for the past eight years. But the approach “Divided States” takes in placing news stories side by side and then making you consider the various frames applied to them creates a new understanding of the effect they had on the public.
Above all, the two-parter serves up a series of tragic figures, from both sides of the aisle. So many people really believed in bipartisanship, only to have it founder on the shoals of both parties believing the other might bring about the literal apocalypse. (My favorite is when former Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is described as a Labrador retriever who tried to run with a pack of coyotes.)
It’s never clear what those who opposed anything and everything Obama wanted to do were hoping would happen, especially in his second term, when they could no longer stop his reelection. It’s clear they were trying to hamper his every move, but every potential explanation for their intransigence — racial, political, social, even cultural — falls short. The best explanation is also the one that leaves the most unanswered questions: They just wanted to stop the country in its tracks and force it to go backward.
Throughout “Divided States,” Frontline drops in quick flashes of whatever Donald Trump was up to at the moment it’s examining, as he jockeyed for political position. And it ends in the immediate present — with Trump about to take over the presidency from Obama and many Americans wondering how the same country could elect two diametrically opposed men.
But “Divided States” argues that the same country didn’t elect such different men; it argues that two completely different countries, sharing the same borders but very divergent understandings of reality, elected two very different men. But now that the other country will have its hands on the steering wheel of power, what happens next? Can it come up with a governing philosophy other than saying no all the time? And can Trump possibly survive a political movement that seems perfectly adapted to eating its own?
That’s where “Divided States” leaves viewers — on the precipice of a very uncertain future, after struggling through a past that seems just as riddled with uncertainty.
“Divided States of America” airs as part of Frontline on PBS. It will air at 9 pm Eastern on Tuesday, January 17, and Wednesday, January 18, in most markets, but as always with PBS, you should check your local listings.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Friday, December 23, 2016
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR SAVOIE FIRST CASULTY IN REDUCED PUBLIC COMMENT.
The irony of the situation can't be overstated and this writer finds it hard to fathom that none of the bodies on the Bloomfield Hills Township Board of Trustees could figure this out for themselves.
Since Leo Savoie was appointed Supervisor in 2011, The Township residents have enjoyed free and virtually unlimited access to their elected officials and the Agenda items they proposed via Public Comment at Public Meetings. Supervisor Savoie as an appointed Supervisor rather than elected may have felt a compelling need to listen to his constituents.The Public Comments privileges he initiated exceeded that of neighbors Birmingham and the City of Bloomfield Hills. The Former came close but lacked Savoie's stature, decorum, civility or Master of ceremonies cool.
Of a slightly similar persuasion was one Michael Mcready (2011) who in 2010 after four unsuccessful attempts became the Mayor of the City of Bloomfield Hills. His Predecessor disdained Public comment and suggested residents who wish to be heard to e-mail him.
McCready was the exact opposite who's Public Comment went often to the midnight hour. Critics said McCready could be generous with his
time because he owned his own company. In realty the Company Mcready owned demanded of him state wide travel and often overnight travel. Yet McCready never missed a commission meeting a record not yet equaled. Currently he is serving a third term as State Representative for Birmingham, East West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township. and the Cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills.
As kindred spirits McCready and Savoie became friends and the former invited the latter to lunch with the Lieutenant Governor at Buster Dave's Grand opening and later as McCready's guest at the Governor's State of The State's annual address.
There seems to be a definite link between a successful career as Public Servant and a willingness to listen ones constitutes. Occasionally Leo, always willing to serve where ever the need arose became became the defacto Mayor of of other communities in times of Crisis as well.
It happened in the winter or 2014 on Kensington Road in the City of Bloomfield Hills. The street is mostly in the City of Bloomfield Hills and dead ends at big Beaver but a few of the Kensington addresses belonged to the Township residents and are actually closer to Sommerset Mall than the Township City Hall.
What was as been described as fleet of tree cutting trucks contracted by DTE arrived and began cutting tree cutting on private property claiming they were asked to do so by by "City officials and public utilities" The City Manager of the City of Bloomfield however saw no evil or heard no evil that day nor was he anywhere to be seen or heard that day This despite the fact that The City of Bloomfield Hills was Ground Zero that day.
What saved the City that day was the fact that in their zeal to chop Tree Company in adherently cut down trees on Kensington which
were in.Bloomfield Township.
That brought the incomparable Leo Savoie who drove approximately five miles and by title and tone of voice alone demanded and got the immediate cessation of all cutting activities on private property until the Township or City said otherwise.
It was the beginning of Leo Law which was adopted by other communities in dealing with the utility.
Later in the day The Mayor of Bloomfield Hills one Michale Dull e-mailed a newspaper saying there was nothing the City could do about the matter but he was wrong.
Leo is and be will be until voters decide otherwise Township Supervisor.
As Recently a few weeks ago he was telling the Birmingham Bloomfield Eagle Newspaper that the Township was studying their contract with the waste hauler who bought out Rizzo to see what options the Township has. Leo Law II.? Too early to say but at least somebody is thinking about possibilities in terms of perhaps promises made and benefits continued for the township citizens.
Simply put when you reduce public comment for common man regardless of reasoner quantity you also diminish Leo Savoy because he ran it better than other governing boards for more half a decade.
That being said, even with Public Comment reductions opted for by the Township Board of Trustees Public comment for the Townships 40000 residents is still ahead of neighboring Birmingham (a close second with 20,000 residents) and the City of Bloomfield Hills which in reality has no public comment for its 2500 residents.
So suck it up Leo because it is really quite simple. the previous allowance for Public comment made the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees the most legitimate form of government in our area. Who says? Public Comment says and proves it by its existence. Sure the the masses may be unruly and disrespectful at times but you chair the meetings Leo and you most certainly know how to do that despite ambitious well wishers who suggest you cut back leaving others to wonder if you have lost your nerve or your verve, After all taking public comment is where it all began for you and you are still one of the few who can do it well.
Since Leo Savoie was appointed Supervisor in 2011, The Township residents have enjoyed free and virtually unlimited access to their elected officials and the Agenda items they proposed via Public Comment at Public Meetings. Supervisor Savoie as an appointed Supervisor rather than elected may have felt a compelling need to listen to his constituents.The Public Comments privileges he initiated exceeded that of neighbors Birmingham and the City of Bloomfield Hills. The Former came close but lacked Savoie's stature, decorum, civility or Master of ceremonies cool.
Of a slightly similar persuasion was one Michael Mcready (2011) who in 2010 after four unsuccessful attempts became the Mayor of the City of Bloomfield Hills. His Predecessor disdained Public comment and suggested residents who wish to be heard to e-mail him.
McCready was the exact opposite who's Public Comment went often to the midnight hour. Critics said McCready could be generous with his
time because he owned his own company. In realty the Company Mcready owned demanded of him state wide travel and often overnight travel. Yet McCready never missed a commission meeting a record not yet equaled. Currently he is serving a third term as State Representative for Birmingham, East West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township. and the Cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills.
As kindred spirits McCready and Savoie became friends and the former invited the latter to lunch with the Lieutenant Governor at Buster Dave's Grand opening and later as McCready's guest at the Governor's State of The State's annual address.
There seems to be a definite link between a successful career as Public Servant and a willingness to listen ones constitutes. Occasionally Leo, always willing to serve where ever the need arose became became the defacto Mayor of of other communities in times of Crisis as well.
It happened in the winter or 2014 on Kensington Road in the City of Bloomfield Hills. The street is mostly in the City of Bloomfield Hills and dead ends at big Beaver but a few of the Kensington addresses belonged to the Township residents and are actually closer to Sommerset Mall than the Township City Hall.
What was as been described as fleet of tree cutting trucks contracted by DTE arrived and began cutting tree cutting on private property claiming they were asked to do so by by "City officials and public utilities" The City Manager of the City of Bloomfield however saw no evil or heard no evil that day nor was he anywhere to be seen or heard that day This despite the fact that The City of Bloomfield Hills was Ground Zero that day.
What saved the City that day was the fact that in their zeal to chop Tree Company in adherently cut down trees on Kensington which
were in.Bloomfield Township.
That brought the incomparable Leo Savoie who drove approximately five miles and by title and tone of voice alone demanded and got the immediate cessation of all cutting activities on private property until the Township or City said otherwise.
It was the beginning of Leo Law which was adopted by other communities in dealing with the utility.
Later in the day The Mayor of Bloomfield Hills one Michale Dull e-mailed a newspaper saying there was nothing the City could do about the matter but he was wrong.
Leo is and be will be until voters decide otherwise Township Supervisor.
As Recently a few weeks ago he was telling the Birmingham Bloomfield Eagle Newspaper that the Township was studying their contract with the waste hauler who bought out Rizzo to see what options the Township has. Leo Law II.? Too early to say but at least somebody is thinking about possibilities in terms of perhaps promises made and benefits continued for the township citizens.
Simply put when you reduce public comment for common man regardless of reasoner quantity you also diminish Leo Savoy because he ran it better than other governing boards for more half a decade.
That being said, even with Public Comment reductions opted for by the Township Board of Trustees Public comment for the Townships 40000 residents is still ahead of neighboring Birmingham (a close second with 20,000 residents) and the City of Bloomfield Hills which in reality has no public comment for its 2500 residents.
So suck it up Leo because it is really quite simple. the previous allowance for Public comment made the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees the most legitimate form of government in our area. Who says? Public Comment says and proves it by its existence. Sure the the masses may be unruly and disrespectful at times but you chair the meetings Leo and you most certainly know how to do that despite ambitious well wishers who suggest you cut back leaving others to wonder if you have lost your nerve or your verve, After all taking public comment is where it all began for you and you are still one of the few who can do it well.
You most certainly know how to do that ambitious well wishers suggest you cut back leaving others to wonder if you have lost your nerve or your verve, After all taking public comment is where it all began for you and you are still one of the few who can do it well.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee, Leo.
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee, Leo.
These famous words by John Donne were not originally written as a poem - the passage is taken from the 1624 Meditation 17, from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and is prose. The words of the original passage are as follows:
John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
"No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee...."
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
On September 30th Canadian based Toronto company GFL Environmental and Waste removing company, as Reported By Crain's Detroit Business purchased Rizzo Environment Services for a reported 300 million dollars.
If that is news to you. It is because you were left in the dark by those you trusted to inform you. That would be your City Commissioners, City official such as Former City Manager Jay Cravens who resigned his position in early September to take an expanded opportunity in a Tennessee community of 80,000.
It is hard to believe however none of our elected or appointed officials knew anything of the sale of a company they brought to our City two years ago, for a sum of money that is astronomical even for Bloomfield Hills.
One can however take solace in the fact we were not alone is this regard.
Crain's Detroit Business says Patrick Dovigi President of GFL claims that neither Rizzo nor it's New York private equity firm Kinderhook Industries, the largest previous Rizzo stock holder ever mentioned a pending federal investigation. GFL says they learned of it only after seeing a local Chanel 4 news broadcast and says there is a high probability that GFL not have completed the purchase if it had if it had known of the investigation in advance.
What is being investigated is an alleged bribery of officials in three northern Macomb county communities in which money was allegedly given to procure long term waste hauling contracts.
Of note is the money and the economy of scale,
Two weeks ago in a detailed article The Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Eagle quoted Township Supervisor Leo Savoie as saying his township selected Rizzo in 2007 because of a price savings of less than five dollars per household per month. Of course multiply less than $5 times the number dwellings and the number becomes monster sized. The amount of money allegedly offered to those who allegedly took them In the current Macomb county case were reported to be a little than the cost of a compact car. There ae approximately 150 dwellings in the City of Bloomfield Hills and 90,000 in Clinton Township. Unless they won Power Ball nobody in the City of Bloomfield Hills has 300 million dollars.
In the Eagle Article the paper quoted Supervisor Savoie as saying he and his staff are reading the newspapers and watching the news casts to see what the Township's options are. The article also quoted our acting City Manager and Police Chief David Hendrickson saying the Our City Commission seemingly had no interest in reviewing options or contracts which figures. Our citizens it seems are small potatoes in the scheme of things.
Maybe the commissioners are waiting for Leo Savoie to lead the charge as he did in The Kensington tree cutting episode. It was our Mayor at the time Michael Dull who e-mailed the media stating that there was the nothing the City could do to stop the chain saws.
In regards to waste haulers Many promises were made to City Residents in waste hauling election of 2014 and not all of them were kept. Starting there would be a good idea.
If that is news to you. It is because you were left in the dark by those you trusted to inform you. That would be your City Commissioners, City official such as Former City Manager Jay Cravens who resigned his position in early September to take an expanded opportunity in a Tennessee community of 80,000.
It is hard to believe however none of our elected or appointed officials knew anything of the sale of a company they brought to our City two years ago, for a sum of money that is astronomical even for Bloomfield Hills.
One can however take solace in the fact we were not alone is this regard.
Crain's Detroit Business says Patrick Dovigi President of GFL claims that neither Rizzo nor it's New York private equity firm Kinderhook Industries, the largest previous Rizzo stock holder ever mentioned a pending federal investigation. GFL says they learned of it only after seeing a local Chanel 4 news broadcast and says there is a high probability that GFL not have completed the purchase if it had if it had known of the investigation in advance.
What is being investigated is an alleged bribery of officials in three northern Macomb county communities in which money was allegedly given to procure long term waste hauling contracts.
Of note is the money and the economy of scale,
Two weeks ago in a detailed article The Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Eagle quoted Township Supervisor Leo Savoie as saying his township selected Rizzo in 2007 because of a price savings of less than five dollars per household per month. Of course multiply less than $5 times the number dwellings and the number becomes monster sized. The amount of money allegedly offered to those who allegedly took them In the current Macomb county case were reported to be a little than the cost of a compact car. There ae approximately 150 dwellings in the City of Bloomfield Hills and 90,000 in Clinton Township. Unless they won Power Ball nobody in the City of Bloomfield Hills has 300 million dollars.
In the Eagle Article the paper quoted Supervisor Savoie as saying he and his staff are reading the newspapers and watching the news casts to see what the Township's options are. The article also quoted our acting City Manager and Police Chief David Hendrickson saying the Our City Commission seemingly had no interest in reviewing options or contracts which figures. Our citizens it seems are small potatoes in the scheme of things.
Maybe the commissioners are waiting for Leo Savoie to lead the charge as he did in The Kensington tree cutting episode. It was our Mayor at the time Michael Dull who e-mailed the media stating that there was the nothing the City could do to stop the chain saws.
In regards to waste haulers Many promises were made to City Residents in waste hauling election of 2014 and not all of them were kept. Starting there would be a good idea.
How will waste hauler sale impact on the City of Bloomfiield Hills ?
On September 30th Canadian based Toronto company GFL Environmental and Waste removing company, as Reported By Crain's Detroit Business purchased Rizzo Environment Services for a reported 300 million dollars.
If that is news to you. It is because you were left in the dark by those you trusted to inform you. That would be your City Commissioners, City official such as Former City Manager Jay Cravens who resigned his position in early September to take an expanded opportunity in a Tennessee community of 80,000.
It is hard to believe however none of our elected or appointed officials knew anything of the sale of a company they brought to our City two years ago, for a sum of money that is astronomical even for Bloomfield Hills.
One can however take solace in the fact we were not alone is this regard.
Crain's Detroit Business says Patrick Dovigi President of GFL claims that neither Rizzo nor it's New York private equity firm Kinderhook Industries, the largest previous Rizzo stock holder ever mentioned a pending federal investigation. GFN says they learned of it only after seeing a local Chanel 4 news broadcast and says there is a high probability that GFN not have completed the purchase if it had if it had known of the investigation in advance.
What is being investigated is an alleged bribery of officials in three northern Macomb county communities in which money was allegedly given to procure long term waste hauling contracts.
Of note is the money and the economy of scale,
Two weeks ago in a detailed article The Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Eagle quoted Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said his township selected Rizzo in 2007 because of a price savings of less than five dollars per household per month. Of course multiply $5 times the number dwellings and the number becomes monster sized.The amount of money allegedly offered to those who allegedly took them were reported to be a little than the cost of a compact car. There ae approximately 150 dwellings in the City of Bloomfield Hills and 90,000 in Clinton Township. Unless they won Power Ball nobody in the City of Bloomfield Hills has thirty million dollars.
In the Eagle Article the paper quoted Supervisor Savoie as saying he and his staff are reading the newspapers and watching the news casts to see what the Township's options are. The article also quoted our acting City Manager and Police Chief David Hendrickson saying the Our City Commission no interest in reviewing options or contracts which figures. Our citizens it seems are small potatoes in the scheme of things. Maybe the commissioners are waiting for Leo Savoie to lead the charge as he did in The Kensington tree cutting episode. It was our Mayor at the time Michael Dull who e-mailed the media stating that there was the nothing the City could do. Many promises were made to City Residents in waste hauling election of 2014 and not all of them were kept. Starting there would be a good idea.
If that is news to you. It is because you were left in the dark by those you trusted to inform you. That would be your City Commissioners, City official such as Former City Manager Jay Cravens who resigned his position in early September to take an expanded opportunity in a Tennessee community of 80,000.
It is hard to believe however none of our elected or appointed officials knew anything of the sale of a company they brought to our City two years ago, for a sum of money that is astronomical even for Bloomfield Hills.
One can however take solace in the fact we were not alone is this regard.
Crain's Detroit Business says Patrick Dovigi President of GFL claims that neither Rizzo nor it's New York private equity firm Kinderhook Industries, the largest previous Rizzo stock holder ever mentioned a pending federal investigation. GFN says they learned of it only after seeing a local Chanel 4 news broadcast and says there is a high probability that GFN not have completed the purchase if it had if it had known of the investigation in advance.
What is being investigated is an alleged bribery of officials in three northern Macomb county communities in which money was allegedly given to procure long term waste hauling contracts.
Of note is the money and the economy of scale,
Two weeks ago in a detailed article The Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Eagle quoted Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said his township selected Rizzo in 2007 because of a price savings of less than five dollars per household per month. Of course multiply $5 times the number dwellings and the number becomes monster sized.The amount of money allegedly offered to those who allegedly took them were reported to be a little than the cost of a compact car. There ae approximately 150 dwellings in the City of Bloomfield Hills and 90,000 in Clinton Township. Unless they won Power Ball nobody in the City of Bloomfield Hills has thirty million dollars.
In the Eagle Article the paper quoted Supervisor Savoie as saying he and his staff are reading the newspapers and watching the news casts to see what the Township's options are. The article also quoted our acting City Manager and Police Chief David Hendrickson saying the Our City Commission no interest in reviewing options or contracts which figures. Our citizens it seems are small potatoes in the scheme of things. Maybe the commissioners are waiting for Leo Savoie to lead the charge as he did in The Kensington tree cutting episode. It was our Mayor at the time Michael Dull who e-mailed the media stating that there was the nothing the City could do. Many promises were made to City Residents in waste hauling election of 2014 and not all of them were kept. Starting there would be a good idea.
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