Walking the Point

posted by Writer on Aug 30

After the Michigan State Senate passed Medicaid Expansion in Michigan (against the wishes of many residents) I drafted a letter to the Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley after he sent out an email to some residents justifying its passage. I wont vote for Governor Rick Snyder, and will look for a more conservative candidate who favors limited government. However, I’m not holding my breath.

Lieutenant Governor Calley’s message to constituents is listed first. My response follows in italics:

“There are times when any family has disagreements. I have always been a principled conservative voice inside the administration, but when the Governor makes a decision I will support and help implement that decision.

Unfortunately, Obamacare is currently the law of the land and states have to decide how to make the best of it for working families and taxpayers. Conservative Governors such as Jan Brewer in Arizona, John Kasich in Ohio, and Rick Scott in Florida are all taking a similar approach to what we have here in Michigan – only our state added key personal responsibility reforms.

Although I understand the arguments that some people are making on the other side of this issue, the fact remains that there is a strong conservative argument for Medicaid Reform. By passing the Healthy Michigan plan, we will save hundreds of thousands of our friends and neighbors from being forced into the Obamacare exchanges, and it does so at a much smaller cost to the taxpayers.

I am very proud of our record of accomplishment in the last three years. We passed conservative budgets in record time, reduced debt, reformed the tax code, and have made the tough decisions to clean up the city of Detroit. Most importantly, we took on the liberal labor unions and won a major victory for hardworking taxpayers. Michigan is now a Right to Work state. Who would have thought that was possible just a few short years ago?

So although we as a family will have disagreements from time to time, I encourage people to remember that blood is thicker than water and we stand together fighting for our principles – lower spending, less taxes, less government regulation and interference, and a free market economy that can create jobs. Ultimately, we all need to decide whether we stick together through thick and thin, or whether we risk turning back to the failed policies of the past.

I am an unabashed, passionate Conservative, a team player, and I support our Republican family. I know you do too.

Much remains to be done, but thank you for all you are doing to help us move our State forward from the failed policies of the previous decade. I look forward to working with you to keep the Michigan Comeback alive.”

In his Farewell Address George Washington warned that political parties would “become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

Having said that, please don’t take offense because I’m not referring of you. However, I am referring to many now holding office, at all levels throughout the country, who make decisions based on self-interest or putting party first. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, because you see it first hand on a daily basis due to the position you hold. Putting citizens first no longer exists.

The current two-party system has ruined the most wonderful form of government the world has known because of greedy, selfish and career-driven politicians. I don’t see any statesmen out there today, someone I’d ‘take a hill’ for. But, what I do see though, is a bunch of people jockeying for political power resulting in great harm being done to the nation. 

Both parties spar back in forth in an effort to keep their bases angry at the other. All this serves to do is to divide the people, while those currently in office keep their jobs. In the end, nothing changes.

Those of us who read up on American history know Obamacare is not the law of the land, because it was passed without the ‘consent of the governed’ – just as Medicaid Expansion in Michigan was. 

The fact that other politicians are looking to implement similar approaches in their states is immaterial. The law should be repealed immediately, but instead of cheering their colleagues from Congress who are attempting to defund it, some of the high-rollers inside the GOP have chosen to crucify them. How sad!

Speaking on this topic, Samuel Adams stated; “Laws they are not, which the public approbation hath not made so. This seems to be the language of nature and common sense; for if the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.”

Some are also under the impression that when the Supreme Court rules on certain matters it ‘becomes the law of the land’. Not so, according to Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. In fact, Jefferson cautioned us with these words; “You seem to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy…The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal.”

A line from the from Marbury v. Madison decision reads; “All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution is null and void.”  Under this ruling, both Obamacare and Medicaid Expansion are repugnant not only to the Constitution, but the people as a whole.

The Snyder Administration has invited more federal control into our lives through healthcare, mass transit and education. Along with that, taxes have been raised on pensioners. Tell me, what right does government have in taking something that I worked for?  

While I voted for him in the last election, I won’t in the next. I hear too much talk on how the GOP has to reach out to other groups. Go right ahead, but you’ll do it without me. If the GOP is looking to appease special interest groups while abandoning their conservative principles, then have at it.  

You indicated in your email to citizens that you are “an unabashed passionate conservative, team player and supporter of the GOP party.” You were the main reason, because of your conservative stance, that Gov. Snyder was elected. But what I’m seeing now is a government that has become more intrusive at the state and federal level.

The only time I’m considered family is when you guys want something from me, which is usually my vote. Any other time you ignore our other demands. 

The only family connection I feel I have with the GOP is like the red-haired stepchild forced to sit in the corner at family gatherings, until someone needs something for him.