I kind of promised myself no more heavy stuff on Friday afternoon so Im not toting psychoshmutz into Shabbos, but this week Gov. Snyder spoke at our Rotary Club. I left the meeting feeling discomfited by the fact that the elected head of our state laid down a rap far more befitting a bottom line driven CEO. Of course I get that economics are key to our states well being, but the entire encounter left me thinking that he and his administration see their primary function/responsibility to be protecting and enriching those who own the means of production. The broader culture that defines us not as human beings but as consumers is at play in this as well. Its really about which paradigm works best for all Michiganders. I felt deeply unsettled, not surprised, but spiritually unsettled. There are core questions at stake: what do we see as the nature of the social/communitarian human being, and who do we see ourselves as being in relation to the state? Based on that, what do we see as the state governments job in relation to its citizens? Edit: probably its not spending MSHDA money on luxuries. Ive traveled for a living for years, and I saw it as my responsibility to balance my personal comfort and preferences with the fact that I was spending other peoples money. If I wanted luxury, I saw it as an ethical responsibility for that to be on my own nickel. Michigan housing director resigns following release of expense reports for luxury hotels, fancy meals - mlive/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/08/michigan_housing_director_to_r.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:54:41 +0000