Marks of Capital
18th April 2011, 04:49
To fill people in who haven't been keeping up: For years, the US state of Michigan has employed Emergency Financial Managers, appointed by the Governor, to "help" financially ailing cities and school districts. Once a manager has been appointed, the city has much less control over their finances.
However, a few weeks ago, Public Act 4 2011 was passed, which increased the powers of the Emergency Financial Manager closer to that of Emperor. Their new powers include the ability to hire or fire staff, alter compensation for public employees, "reject, modify, or terminate one or more terms or conditions of an existing collective bargaining agreement," and so on.
Most distressingly, however, "the unit of local government may not exercise any of the powers of those offices except as may specifically authorized in writing by the Emergency Manager." This passage lets the Emergency Manager run the city without any checks, balances, or oversight from the existing local government.
Before the Act passed, there were claims that this is what it would lead to, but others thought these fears were conspiratorial, or over-blown.
Then came April 14. The Emergency Manager of the town of Benton Harbor issued the following decree:
"Absent prior express written authorization and approval by the Emergency Manager, no City Board, Commission or Authority shall take any action for or on the behalf of the City whatsoever other than: i) Call a meeting to order. ii) Approve of meeting minutes. iii) Adjourn a meeting.
All prior resolution or acts of any kind of the City in conflict herewith are and the same shall be, to the extent of such conflict, rescinded."
Benton Harbor is a town of 11,000 in western Michigan, it is over 90% African American, and has an unemployment rate of around 17%. It was a factory town for home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool. Presently, median household income is $17,471. 43% of people are below the poverty line.
Honestly, I suppose a Emergency Manager ruling by decree isn't that much different than bourgeois democracy as experienced in the United States as it is. But perhaps this could lead to revolutionary activity? What steps should the people take?
My recommendations:
Have each block elect a delegate to a constituent assembly. (Importantly, without parties or campaigns.) The Assembly would vote on one question: Whether power would be held by the Emergency Manager or returned to the city council.
I think the Assembly would have a hard time voting themselves into power at first. By returning power to the City Council, it would at least have some legal legitimacy. But the City Council would now rely on the Assembly for popular legitimacy. We could expect he bureaucracy to obey the old city council, because they might be sympathetic, and/or mad at the state for taking their authority away.
Next, each workplace should vote on whether to collectivize. Each collectivized workplace would send a delegate to the Assembly. Delegates can be recalled at any time by a majority vote.
General strike, followed by a community takeover of industry.
This is perhaps a bit of a fantasy, but as the prophet de la Rocha posed, "What better place than here? What better time than now?"
What do other Revlefters propose to deal with a takeover of local government?
Read Governor Rick's FAQ on Act 4 here:
http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1751_51556-198770--,00.html
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/treasury/FAQs_Act_4_348233_7.pdf
Read about the Benton Harbor takeover here:
http://michiganmessenger.com/48278/benton-harbor-emergency-manager-strips-power-from-all-elected-officials
However, a few weeks ago, Public Act 4 2011 was passed, which increased the powers of the Emergency Financial Manager closer to that of Emperor. Their new powers include the ability to hire or fire staff, alter compensation for public employees, "reject, modify, or terminate one or more terms or conditions of an existing collective bargaining agreement," and so on.
Most distressingly, however, "the unit of local government may not exercise any of the powers of those offices except as may specifically authorized in writing by the Emergency Manager." This passage lets the Emergency Manager run the city without any checks, balances, or oversight from the existing local government.
Before the Act passed, there were claims that this is what it would lead to, but others thought these fears were conspiratorial, or over-blown.
Then came April 14. The Emergency Manager of the town of Benton Harbor issued the following decree:
"Absent prior express written authorization and approval by the Emergency Manager, no City Board, Commission or Authority shall take any action for or on the behalf of the City whatsoever other than: i) Call a meeting to order. ii) Approve of meeting minutes. iii) Adjourn a meeting.
All prior resolution or acts of any kind of the City in conflict herewith are and the same shall be, to the extent of such conflict, rescinded."
Benton Harbor is a town of 11,000 in western Michigan, it is over 90% African American, and has an unemployment rate of around 17%. It was a factory town for home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool. Presently, median household income is $17,471. 43% of people are below the poverty line.
Honestly, I suppose a Emergency Manager ruling by decree isn't that much different than bourgeois democracy as experienced in the United States as it is. But perhaps this could lead to revolutionary activity? What steps should the people take?
My recommendations:
Have each block elect a delegate to a constituent assembly. (Importantly, without parties or campaigns.) The Assembly would vote on one question: Whether power would be held by the Emergency Manager or returned to the city council.
I think the Assembly would have a hard time voting themselves into power at first. By returning power to the City Council, it would at least have some legal legitimacy. But the City Council would now rely on the Assembly for popular legitimacy. We could expect he bureaucracy to obey the old city council, because they might be sympathetic, and/or mad at the state for taking their authority away.
Next, each workplace should vote on whether to collectivize. Each collectivized workplace would send a delegate to the Assembly. Delegates can be recalled at any time by a majority vote.
General strike, followed by a community takeover of industry.
This is perhaps a bit of a fantasy, but as the prophet de la Rocha posed, "What better place than here? What better time than now?"
What do other Revlefters propose to deal with a takeover of local government?
Read Governor Rick's FAQ on Act 4 here:
http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1751_51556-198770--,00.html
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/treasury/FAQs_Act_4_348233_7.pdf
Read about the Benton Harbor takeover here:
http://michiganmessenger.com/48278/benton-harbor-emergency-manager-strips-power-from-all-elected-officials