The Republicans’ goal is to “try to find a way to educate students on the cheap” Photo credit: Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog Michigan Republicans have made their education “reform” plan quite clear: slash funding to traditional public schools, privatize schools to for-profit corporations, and knee-cap teachers to prevent them from collectively bargain for decent wages and benefits. This […]

The second in a series of posts about the Affordable Care Act, sharing info everyone needs to know. Healthcare is complex. Laws can be confusing. Put the two together, mix in some good old-fashioned misinformation being spread by Obamacare’s opponents and … voila! Complications ensue. But, really, the benefits of Obamacare are pretty straightforward. And they’re pretty cool. Maybe you’re […]

Omahgosh! Who woulda thunk it??? You are NOT going to believe this. It turns out (are you sitting down?) that the Snyder administration (I still cannot believe this is true), through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, gave wildly inflated job creation numbers to the state legislature last spring. INORITE???! The Legislature was told April 1 that companies that received grants […]

People have questions. We’ve got answers. The first in a series of posts with need-to-know info. Here at Eclectablog, we’ve been spreading the word about the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, since day one. We’ve been dispelling myths, telling the truth and providing insight into the political games that could have a direct impact on people’s lives. Because no matter […]

Dude, we KNOW the difference between a nerd and a corporatist [Caricature by DonkeyHotey from photos by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog] Rick Snyder has begun his campaign to remain governor of Michigan with a new website, a new video, and repeated statements that he hasn’t announced his candidacy. A website and Twitter and Facebook accounts used by the campaign […]

If only we could have a big election or something to decide if we wanted Obamacare. On Friday, House Republicans voted to embrace a strategy that ties “defunding Obamacare” to keeping the government open, a position embraced by about 27 percent of the population. They’re denying it publicly but what’s obvious is that for the strategy the GOP is embracing […]

Whassa matter, Tim. Embarrassed by your own vote? This is rich. Republican Tim Walberg joined the rest of the insane clown posse that is today’s tea party caucus in Congress in defunding Obamacare then has the audacity to call it voting “to keep government open”. Here’s the email: What an ass. Clearly not too proud of that vote or at […]

Woe be to the discontented, lazy rabble with heads filled with impossible ideas (like eating) Yesterday, on a nearly party line vote of 217-210, House Republicans passed a bill that would strip $40 billion out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, over the next 10 years. As Amy pointed out earlier this week, if […]

Sorry, Terri, they’re just not that into you. Photo by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog It’s not easy being Terri Lynn Land these days. Nobody really likes her that much. She was once the Michigan Secretary of State and she’s been a fairly prominent figure in Republican politics as a member of the RNC for years. With Carl Levin’s […]

The fact that nations with fewer guns have lower gun-death rates should surprise no one. Except maybe the NRA. Really, it’s just common sense and the law of averages. But now researchers report that countries with lower gun ownership are safer than those with higher gun ownership. This is sure to tick off the NRA, which has been actively promoting […]

Party like it’s 1999 and you’re back in high school

I just wanted to take a moment to make sure that everyone wishes our amazing Eclectablogger Amy Lynn Smith (aka @alswrite) a very happy birthday today.

Since she came on board last spring, Amy’s been killing it on health care-related issues and so much more. We’re thrilled to have her part of the team.

This one is for you, Amy. Happy birthday!

(Video after the jump.)