Comments on: Menu of Reforms Set for Lansing Action http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/menu-of-reforms-set-for-lansing-action/ A Forum for Our State's Future Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:40:29 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Dum Hillbilly http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/menu-of-reforms-set-for-lansing-action/comment-page-1/#comment-980 Dum Hillbilly Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:52:29 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1045#comment-980 Mr. Phil, You are right on with this post. The one question everyone needs to answer is: Why should public employees have higher wages and better benefits (including retirement) than the people who are paying the taxes that provide those benefits? If Michigan's economy is to make a comeback, we must be competative with surrounding states. Whether we like it or not. Mr. Phil, You are right on with this post. The one question everyone needs to answer is: Why should public employees have higher wages and better benefits (including retirement) than the people who are paying the taxes that provide those benefits? If Michigan's economy is to make a comeback, we must be competative with surrounding states. Whether we like it or not.

]]> By: Daniel Pushman http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/menu-of-reforms-set-for-lansing-action/comment-page-1/#comment-979 Daniel Pushman Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:17:01 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=1045#comment-979 I thought your entry on reforming the Department of Corrections was on the mark. As a fifteen year veteran of the MDOC I appreciate the fact that employee related costs are the largest expense in the department. When the DOC kept opening new prisons in the 1990's and increasing bedspace to house fifty-thousand prisoners, I knew the system was grossly overextending itself. I think everyone knew it, but tough on crime was the political darling of the day, and the incarceration of petty criminals such as petty junkies and deadbeat dads( I thought debtor prisons went out with Dickens)was the norm. We stacked prisoners in the system like cordwood, with the full support of the politicians and newspapers. Now that times are fiscally tough, the politicians and the fifth estate are outraged that the MDOC has done just that and its time to do a turnabout and finally put a stop to the madness. So how much should a prison guard get paid and what kind of pension and health benefits should I have? And what prisons should be privatized alltogether? Texas and New Mexico go about 20 to 25% privatized and they are the largest privatized systems. How many prisoners should Michigan house? Is there going to be a cap on that? how much criminal behavior is the public going to tolerate? These are going to be the future issues facing Michigan. I thought your entry on reforming the Department of Corrections was on the mark. As a fifteen year veteran of the MDOC I appreciate the fact that employee related costs are the largest expense in the department.

When the DOC kept opening new prisons in the 1990's and increasing bedspace to house fifty-thousand prisoners, I knew the system was grossly overextending itself. I think everyone knew it, but tough on crime was the political darling of the day, and the incarceration of petty criminals such as petty junkies and deadbeat dads( I thought debtor prisons went out with Dickens)was the norm. We stacked prisoners in the system like cordwood, with the full support of the politicians and newspapers.

Now that times are fiscally tough, the politicians and the fifth estate are outraged that the MDOC has done just that and its time to do a turnabout and finally put a stop to the madness. So how much should a prison guard get paid and what kind of pension and health benefits should I have? And what prisons should be privatized alltogether? Texas and New Mexico go about 20 to 25% privatized and they are the largest privatized systems.

How many prisoners should Michigan house? Is there going to be a cap on that? how much criminal behavior is the public going to tolerate? These are going to be the future issues facing Michigan.

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