MBT, Granholm and the Detroit News as the Republicans Judge Dredd

The Detroit News, the propaganda arm of the Michigan RWNM, printed an editorial yesterday entitled:
"Use tax plan to make state more competitive"
and subtitled:
"Governor seeks to maximize revenue rather than attract jobs"

The opening run on statement reads:
"W e'll withhold judgment on the business tax restructuring that Gov. Jennifer Granholm is set to unveil this morning until we see all of the details, but the method for crafting the plan was flawed, and that leaves us pessimistic that it will accomplish its mission."

Boy, they sure did withhold judgement, didn't they? They waited until the first comma. The rest of the editorial is spent re-hashing the talking points of the Republican party. They wanted a net tax CUT, because, you know, the state and the schools and the services are flush with cash. Who needs to pay for education when businesses can make bigger profits?

Anyhow, I'm greatly amused that a credible news organization would contradict itself within the first sentence. They've clearly passed judgement on it already. If they were withholding judgement they wouldn't have launched this attack before the plan was made public. What they withheld was the piece by piece assassination attempt of the tax bill before it hits the floor. But ya gotta give them credit for having the balls to contradict themselves within the very first sentence of the editorial.

Here's the link.

In today's editorial, they mildly praise Granholm's tax plan. The big issues they seem to have are 1. again, not a tax cut 2. it "doesn't make Michigan stand out against other states." and 3. they find the Governors definition of "assets" to be too broad.

I'm not a policy wonk, but follow me here for a second:

1. Does anyone really think that Michigan is in a position to cut taxes? This isn't the go-go 90's with the Ford Taurus as the number one vehicle in America or the tech boom. The state isn't flush with cash. When they say tax cut it sounds like they mean tax shift. It seems that if you cut taxes you have to cut spending. If you cut spending you cut services and probably education. If you cut education, the community will have to make it up. Same thing with services like police, fire, security. Am I right?

2. DOESN'T MAKE MICHIGAN STAND OUT???? That's what a business tax is supposed to do? Huh. I never knew.

3. I can't comment on the definition of "assets" as I have absolutely zero background in business ownership and tax responsibilities. But based on their other two beefs, i question the legitimacy of their complaint.

Here's the link.

Hope everyone had a great holiday.