Change is a necessity for Michigan
I read with interest Jim Newell’s column in last weeks Grand Blanc View entitled “The necessity of change.” He wrote eloquently about change and how we as people react to it, using the race for the 51st Michigan House seat as a specific example.
As a Democrat running for the seat, I wanted to endorse his notion that change is not only necessary, but inevitable. The challenges Michigan faces require fundamental change. We cannot move Michigan into a bright future by doing the same old things with the same old folks and expecting different results.
Tax cutting and reducing government regulation on business have not moved Michigan forward. If tax cutting and reducing government regulation were the answer, Michigan would be moving forward, not racing towards the bottom. We had over a decade of the John Engler/ Republican tax cutting philosophy dominating Lansing — and to what gain? Our manufacturing sector has been decimated; our unemployment is the highest in the nation, we are losing our homes, and the gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing wider day-by-day.
How does a policy of more tax cutting, a policy that ensures that the fragile safety nets that remain for the vulnerable in our society are further eroded, represent change that moves Michigan forward? Will the funding issues for our public schools be solved by further starving them for funds? Is this the change that brings Michigan into the future? Will a continuing crime problem — which is the inevitable result of a declining economy — poor schools, poverty and lack of safety nets, create the Michigan of the future? Is continuing to spend more on incarcerating people in Michigan than we spend on our schools the real change we need?
Michigan and the 51st District do need change — real change. We need a graduated income tax system where the wealthy have an opportunity to share their bounty with those less fortunate. We need reform in our criminal justice system that creates new and creative ways to deal with non-violent offenders, allowing us to not only potentially actually rehabilitate offenders, but reduce the obscene amount we spend on our prison system. Instead of paying to imprison people, we need to change to a paradigm, where we invest money in child-care and pre-school.
We need an energy policy in Michigan that changes us away from coal and other polluting methods of energy production, to renewable energy sources that not only sustain our environment, but create jobs and industry for the future. If we want schools that will produce the skilled workers for Michigan’s jobs of the future, we need to change the attitude which holds that teachers are to blame for what ails our schools, and begin to invest the needed funding. Yes, we need the jobs of the future, but we also need jobs now...jobs for the many workers who the jobs of tomorrow will be too late for. Michigan needs a job program similar to the program that Franklin Roosevelt instituted to help move us out of the Great Depression.
Now, many will say those are “pie in the sky” ideas, that we could “never afford them.” I say that we have to afford these changes! As Jim Newell said, “Some people will always fight change, fearing something they cannot comprehend.”
Change is scary, and it is hard work and it requires sacrifice. I believe the people of Michigan are ready to step up to their fears, roll up their sleeves and make the sacrifices necessary to bring about the Michigan we all know we can have. — Harold “Rusty” Ward, candidate for state representative, 51st District

Candidates’ events can be learning experience
It was interesting reading Letters to the Editor in the April 3 edition.
Having attended both of the (Republican state representative) candidates’ events, I found it to be a learning experience. Not only in enforcing theories about our economy at the (Paul) Scott event, but also giving access to those legislators who formulate the laws which affect our lives and livelihood at the (James) Swenor event. I was able to discuss one-on-one legislative attitudes affecting my life and business. A rare opportunity indeed!
Shortly thereafter, I became aware of adverse pending legislation. Because of the personal contacts that I made, I was able to express views to people who now know me and my expertise on those subjects. — Richard C. Smith

Thanks for supporting Goodrich book sale
On behalf of the Friends of the Goodrich Library, I would like to thank everyone who helped in our first ever spring book sale on April 12. The Friends members wish to thank all of the people who contributed books to the sale. We received a very generous amount and had a tremendous sale.
A very special thanks to the members and their friends who helped with the set-up and tear down of the sale, the (Goodrich) National Honor Society students who helped on Friday and the Boy Scouts who helped on Saturday.
Also, welcome to the new members who our Friends group and were so much help to the sale. And, as always, a special thanks to Steve Keehn for use of his tables. Steve always delivers them upstairs to the community room and then picks them up after our sale.
Last, but surely not least, the local newspapers that provided our publicity. Thank you! All the monies being currently raised will be used to repair the cracked plaster in the library and a new paint job. Eventually we hope to put down the new carpet, both upstairs and downstairs.
Looking forward to seeing all of you at our annual September sale. Many thanks. — Nancy O. Dugas, vice-president, Friends of the Goodrich Library

More Tips