As Michigan residents, we should be embarrassed at the lack of faith our house, senate and governor have in our ability to solve our own problems. Rather than supporting labor, education, health care, and other institutions which obviously encourage community and free thought, our state democratic institutions are taking serious steps to undermine them. The local governmental system, with all its flaws, can be used to help create a rich democratic culture, each city with its own individual personality. HB-4214 would pave the way toward a regression to feudalism. While we would be short-sighted to cry "fascism", we would be far more so to accept Gov. Snyder's signature on this cynical piece of legislation.

The full analysis of this fearsome legislation is laid out at Matt Endahl's blog:  http://mattendahl.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-about-emergency-managers-analysis.html