Governor Snyder’s Dirty Politics in Michigan

I sent the following letter to Governor Snyder just now, because both he and the Michigan Attorney General are involved in dishonest actions in direct violation of the Bible: (1) Thou shalt not lie or bear false witness–Exodus 20:16; (2) thou shalt honor all contracts you have entered into for their duration even if it hurts–Psalm 15:4.

Dear Governor Snyder:

We support Proposal 2 to protect collective bargaining because it gives Michigan workers a voice for fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions. While we understand you disagree with us on Proposal 2, we are writing you respectfully to ask that you condemn the false and misleading statements inundating the airwaves against Proposal 2, and to ask you to urge those running the “No” campaign to take these ads off the air now.

You have stated often the need to try to unite Michigan. These false ads dangerously deepen divisions within our state, and necessitate your action to stop them now.

These ads urging “No on 2” are built on a mountain of falsehoods. Protecting Michigan Taxpayers (PMT) has based its arguments on an opinion of the Attorney General that the Court of Appeals over-ruled last August.

Just yesterday, opponents of Prop 2 misled voters again in their latest 30 second TV ad. The ad, “Dangerous,” misrepresented statements printed in the Detroit Free Press by an opposition spokesman. After being confronted with the facts, the ad’s sponsor, PMT, has refused to take the ad down.

Other TV ads falsely claimed that that Proposal 2 would “make it harder to get convicts thrown out of schools,” “could prohibit schools from removing employees with criminal records” and “would eliminate safety rules for school bus drivers.” These pernicious claims do a deep disservice to Michigan, present and future.

You are currently touring the state, encouraging people to vote no on Prop 2. As we stated, we disagree with you. But we hope you do agree that on November 6th, voters will make a critical decision on a bed-rock issue, and that their decision should be based on the truth, not falsehoods. We hope your sense of decency will encourage you to urge the “No on 2” campaign to terminate their dishonest claims and to avoid similar conduct in the final days of the election.

Governor Snyder, if you are unwilling to stand up for what is right, and for the truth, you may be a politician but you are utterly unworthy of your office.

Collective Bargaining must be protected with the strongest possible protections available. Collective bargaining must not be subject to the whim of the party or person in office. I know, for as a Detroit teacher from 1962 until 2001, serving part of that time as the DFT Union Representative at both Southeastern and Denby High School, I saw how important it was for teachers to be protected against arbitrary actions and unfounded judgments against teachers by inept administrators.

Collective bargaining protects GOOD teachers against BAD administrators, because only by means of an enforceable contract can teachers be guaranteed proper DUE PROCESS.

I have discussed and documented this at length in one or more articles I posted on my website, www.realbiblestudy.com under the category “Politics and the Bible.”

I respectfully call your attention to the 15th Psalm, particularly Psalm 15:4, where God Himself condemns those who do not uphold the contracts they have agreed to. In the light of Psalm 15:1, such persons are in danger of never seeing heaven.

I have heard the false and misleading political advertising which you and your supporters have promulgated on WWJ and WJR. They are despicable because of their blatant falsehoods. I also saw a video clip from the Mackinaw Center which argued police officers would lose their right to the protection of binding arbitration. I am the teacher who suggested to the DFT that binding arbitration be included in the teacher contract with the Detroit Board of Education, and that contract year it was included in the DFT Contract. But the Mackinaw Center’s advertisement with the bright but misinformed young lawyer is mistaken.

I also do not appreciate our Michigan Attorney General appearing in advertising that counters the efforts of those in favor of Proposal 2. If his name ever appears on a ballot for re-election, you may be sure I will work toward his defeat, even though I usually vote for the Republicans. I have personally written to the Attorney General about this issue.

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