Why we're a minority now

Guys like this.

In re the crime wave washing over Ann Arbor; cops say 'don't worry'

There have been a spate of armed robberies of late in Ann Arbor and which is a bad thing for our community, (and especially bad if you're the one with the gun barrel in you face), whatever the cops say about gun violence being "rare" in Ann Arbor.

I've always tried to be a friend of the lumpen, but frankly I'd rather be their friend than to be one of them.

Ivy-League philosophy-major pundits never seem to lack for things to bitch about and then feel guilty about it afterward do they? How about if they just deal with living amongst the lumpen and their common antics and STFU about it? That would be easier on all of us. Bottom line take-away:"...[T]he trouble with living in a low-rent neighborhood is having low-rent neighbors."

In re C.J. Sykes' book "Nation Of Moochers"

A video interview by the Instapundit (Glenn Reynolds) with a very self-righteous social conservative name Charles J. Sykes who has written a book called Nation of Moochers.

I have some problems with Sykes' approach. The crony-capitalist, rent-seeking corporations and special interests rig the system in their favor and then complain when the marginalized, downsized, and thoroughly beat down working classes are forced into expensive governmental dependency is a classic blame the victim dodge on their part. The problem I have with conservatives and libertarians such as Sykes and his ilk is that they will happily defend all but the worst excesses of this system which benefit them so handsomely but then go on to complain of the costs both social and financial. Go figure?

I call bullshit on all that. What has really gone on here for a few decades is that the ownership class and their lackeys in the government have turned millions of Americans into unemployed or low wage chavs and are now complaining that there are too many chavs! And to add insult to injury they bitterly piss, moan, and bitch that the chavery should go get a job or three and pay more in taxes. Again, go figure?

The decline and fall of the white working-class American family

From Kay S. Hymowitz's review of Charles Murray's new book on the decline of white society in America published at City Journal.

"In short," says Hymowitz, "America has become a segregated, caste society, with a born elite and an equally hereditary underclass. A libertarian, Murray believes these facts add up to an argument for limited government. The welfare state has sapped America’s civic energy in places like Fishtown, leaving a population of disengaged, untrusting slackers. It has also diminished upper-class confidence: the well-to-do dare not suggest they have a recipe for the good life. 'The underpinning of the welfare state,'  Murray writes, 'is that, at bottom, human beings are not really responsible for the things they do.' ”

It takes a lot of nerve to write stuff like this these days but I suppose someone has to.

Ann Arbor politicians dither while people freeze

Ann Arbor politicians and their bureaucrats say they want to find a downtown building for a warming center but while they are looking for the perfect site the homeless lumpen freeze. Jeez. So what if this proposed building is not a perfect gem of architectural quality? As a place to avoid freezing to death it will do fine. Clear out some space, get running water, and haul in some porta-potties and it'll do. The city could come with some cash to hire some of their laid off cops to provide overnight security. Not a perfect solution but it'll do.

Work union! Or Else!

John King of Lambertville, Michigan the largest non-unionized electrical contractor in SE Michigan & Toledo area finds car vandalized, investigates and is then shot. If the right-to-work types did shit like this you'd never hear the end of it. When union types do it nary a peep. Go figure?

Does Detroit needs martial law?

Unbelievable. The Detroit News reports today that from Friday morning until Sunday morning (a 24 hour period) 15 people were shot and six died in Detroit's neighborhoods. Martial law is about all that's left to the state government to reign in all the violence and I don't see that happening. Not yet anyhow.

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Man shot by Pittsfield Township police last January commits suicide (Detroit Free Press)
Devin Reddick's short, troubled life ends at 30.

Built in the 1920s.

Historical society seeking to fix up crumbling Irish Hills landmarks (Jackson Citizen-Patriot/MLive)

"The original tower was built by the Michigan Observation Co. on half of a hilltop purchased from Edward Brighton. The 50-foot structure opened amid fanfare in 1924 when U.S. 12 was still a dirt road. Admission was five cents."

The towers are landmarks but it'll cost $300K to fix them up.

ACLU of Michigan takes up causes of those jailed because they can't pay fines (Detroit Free Press)
"Can't" or "don't want to" is the real question. But fines backed up by the threat of jail is the main cudgel that the state wields to bend people to its will. Without that club who keeps the lumpen in line? Just like people that are "judgement proof" are largely immune from private torts tend to become rather feckless what will be the likely consequences if they become "jail proof" too? 

Hillbilly Handfishin' reality TV show on Animal Planet (Huffington Post)
Also known as "noodling" the sport consists of getting into the water near the shore and shoving your arm into the mouth of a big (20-70 lbs.) catfish and wrestling it to the surface. Sounds like some big fun, eh? (Hat tip: Detroit Metro-Times)

America's secret wars in 120 different countries (Tom Dispatch)
Contra the advice of the founders nowadays America does go abroad looking for monsters to destroy.

Living your life: Chicago versus rural Indiana (David Masciotra@ Front Porch Republic)
"Big money and big power cast their shadows over every deal and cloak their silence over every interaction in Chicago. Step outside on the stoop for a cigarette, and the City is with you. Wait on a train platform, and the City is with you. Sit an hour in traffic, and the City is with you. Walk down the street of a gentrified neighborhood, and the City is directing you. Pull a receipt or paycheck out of your pocket and the City is there to take its sizable Per Diem."

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Don't go away mad Dillion. Just go away.

Accused duckling killer Dillon Pearce pleads guilty to charges (Ann Arbor.com)
Sociopathic asshole.

Abundance of recall attempts in the state leave officials questioning if there should be changes to the law (Flint Journal/MLive)

On so-called "white trash" and the American experience (Fred On Everything)
"They don't fear the law because they are used to jail. You might call them pathetic from a distance, but you wouldn't do it to their faces. Not more than once."

The tragic death of pro-surfer Andy Irons (Outside)
Jut like with Kurt Cobain and now Amy Winehouse, Andy Irons had both talent and a deep seated self-destructive urge.

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Now that's progressive!

Politically progressive college town just won't face the facts about race and crime (Blaska's Blog)

Minorities make up less than 10 percent of Madison, WI's population yet they account for around half of all arrests. What does that tell us? Either there is a lot of racism up there or the minority populations are going feral.

Detroit to "ration" city services according to neighborhood's condition (CNBC)

"Detroit neighborhoods with more people and a better chance of survival will receive different levels of city services than more blighted areas under a plan unveiled Wednesday that some residents fear may pit them against each other for scarce resources." Sounds like that is exactly what they are doing.

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The cop, the beggar, the firemen, and the vet all meet on the side of the road in Detroit (Neal Rubin, Det News)

"The officer's name is on the citation. His initials are P.J. and his badge number is in the low 800s, and the department can find him if it cares to. The Office of Public Information didn't return a call, but what could a spokesman say? It's OK to shout amplified profanities at a harmless, armless citizen in a public place?"

Ex-Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez ripped to shreds by NYC sports writer (Phil Mushnick, NY Post)
"Big-time coaches who fall, regardless of why, are 'taken care of' by TV. They're hired as analysts, hired for their 'expertise,' though their expertise on exactly what it takes to succeed is left unspoken."

Detroit Neighborhood: U.S. Rep. John Conyers' home is an eyesore (Charlie LeDuff, WJBK-TV) video
Conyers has lived in D.C. since 1967. This dump is just a pro forma thing. Just sayin'.

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Ann Arbor city council is shocked to discover that providing a supportive and compassionate environment for homeless street people causes more homeless street people to come to Ann Arbor. Shocking, eh?


The Great Recession is over economists say. Whatever. There is a huge difference between the definition of recession used by economists and the reality of daily life however.

"Detroit Election Commission's rejection of marijuana [ballot] measure defies even stoner logic" - Curt Guyette @ Metro-Times

Bob Dylan is performing in Ann Arbor, East Lansing and Kalamazoo next month. How cool is that? Very, if you like his oeuvre, which I do.

"The sole purpose of Bill Maher’s HBO program Real Time is, it seems, to disappoint viewers by proving that the actors, musicians, and comedians they respect hold exceptionally dumb political views." Michael C. Moynihan @ Reason.com. True enough. But that's pretty much the case of all  celebrity comments and opinions on economics, politics,  and other serious topics IMO. And it's the principle reason I don't give a flying fook about what they think about anything as well. Some, like say Bono, Jerry Lewis and a few others, have made the effort to educate themselves about specific issues. But very, very few others do and that is why their opinions are worthless.

Cui bono? The California Beer & Beveridge Association is heavily funding efforts to defeat a ballot proposal to legalize possession & use of marijuana. That shouldn't really come as a surprise.