Democracy is on the march OUT of Michigan. Republican Governor Rick Snyder is using his new powers recently granted to him by the Republican state Legislature to take over a city – fire its elected representatives – and bust up unions and cut crucial government services. It’s part of Snyder’s plan to reduce his state’s budget deficit by putting cities that are struggling financially on a fast track to a Libertarian utopia...or nightmare.

The first victim of Governor Snyder – is the city of Benton Harbor. As of Friday – the powers of city boards and commissions of Benton Harbor have been usurped by a “Financial Manager” appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. That Financial Manager – although not elected by the people of Benton Harbor – now has authority over all the elected city officials of Benton Harbor and can break up union contracts – cut city services – and sell-off large chunks of the city to private corporations without any oversight.

Welcome to Republican rule in America – much closer to the ideals of Napoleon than the ideals of Jefferson.