Mark Schauer
Despite alienating a large segment of Michigan's voters, Gov. Rick Snyder likely will defeat Democratic challenger Mark Schauer next month, Jack Lessenberry writes in this week's Metro Times.
It might have been different.
Lessenberry writes:
Tell them that the system is broken, and that one guy by himself in the governor's chair can't fix it. Tell them this is the time for a little bit of "ask not what Michigan can do for you, ask what you can do to make this a better state for all of us."
Here's what I think Mark Schauer needs to do – if he wants to win and have his victory mean something:
Tell the voters and the citizens the truth.
Challenge them to fight with him.
He should tell voters that if they elect him, he's going to challenge us to work hard with him to fix things.
To repeat: The system doesn't work. Even Rick Snyder, with his own party in overwhelming control, had to go around the corrupt, Matty Moroun-bribed legislature to get the badly needed new bridge with Canada.
Mark Schauer should be telling the people our state constitution needs a major overhaul, or, at the very least, a few major amendments. He should call on the people to:
Push to amend the Michigan Constitution to require a fairer way of redistricting congressional and legislative districts to end outrageous gerrymandering.
Amend the constitution to end or drastically lengthen term limits, which have weakened government and given added power to special interests and lobbyists.
Getting any of this done won't be easy.
