Edition #99! Thank you for reading and sharing! 
A priceless children's classic - The Little Red Hen Story. Would this story of capitalism 
be allowed in public schools today?   Video version #1    Second     Third

All That is Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing! | JOIN TODAY!
In This Issue
Quick Links
Pres. Trump Weekly Message
Support The Team!
Side Heading
Tenets of Great Education

Join MCU Membership - Application at end

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One B2 Bomber could take out North Korea  Video   (Thanks Joann)

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The transition from college to grad school - student to scholar.
Priorities for college Students - grades, impressing teachers, reading assignments, knowing the arguments of others, conforming to expectations, fear of rejection
Priority for Scholars - Publications, learning something useful, conducting independent research, developing one's own arguments, taking risks, acceptance of rejection.  ISI article
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"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land"                 ll Chronicles 7:14
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ISI (Intercollegiate Studies Institute is hiring: Collegiate Network Associate; Regional Program Associates (student outreach).    Link
At the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) we believe in a true education that is rooted in the liberal arts and empowers men and women to think for themselves and make a positive impact on their communities.
Our mission is to identify serious students, integrate them with a community of stellar thinkers, and connect them to mentorship and development opportunities.   
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Diversity is a one way street - a weapon against white people, A strategy for shake-down; a power grab?
(Thanks Thyrone)

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Michigan Conservative Union 's Board of Directors has set a schedule that includes significant events for serious conservatives. Consider adding them to your calendar:

11/11/2017 Campaign Tool Kit - Seminar for candidates, families and staff - principles, strategy, tactics, tools.

4/7/2018 MiCPAC (Michigan Conservative Political Action Conference)
Holt, Michigan
Annual issues and strategy conference for most conservative leaders across the state. Features top National, state and local speakers. 

5/19/18 (tentative)
Upper Peninsular MiCPAC
Marquette 
Plans are going well. If you are in the UP, a committed conservative who wants to help plan this event email micpac.hughes@gmail.c om
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MCU Southeast is a new chapter springing from area tea parties. Meetings  monthly. 
Next meeting Aug. 8 7PM American Polish Cultural Center, 2975 E. Maple Rd., Troy
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THE IRS because it is all THEIRS

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A communist, Muslim and illegal alien walk into a bar. The Bartender says: "Hello, President Obama" 

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We keep hearing about Social Security running out of money. 
How come we never hear about Welfare running out of money?

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"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
~Patrick Henry

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The cement of this union is the heart-blood of every American."
~Thomas Jefferson

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 "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
~Abraham Lincoln

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"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke - Join MCU!

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August, 7, 2017 
On this day in 1782 George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart); 1909 First Lincoln Penny

  

Why do we do this Newsletter?
Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."    -James Madison
We change public policies by changing public perceptions and beliefs. That is something we can all do wherever we are. 

We appreciate those who care enough to receive these briefings and synopses of key issues on a regular basis, and particularly when you share an article or two or the whole newsletter. You may notice as you scan the articles and information that some are submitted by readers, facebook friends, and interested individuals.  Because we receive so much information daily, it is not possible to include everything. We try to include links to some of the most important and interesting Feedback is always welcome by emailing micpac.hughes@gmail.com.   If the entire newsletter is not on your screen. please scroll to the bottom and hit the view entire message link

"The test of morality of a society is what it does 
for its children." Rev. Dietrich Bonhoffer
What makes good Education? We include in this edition the Tenets of Good Education as determined by the MCU Education Task Force Phase IV. A second plank is included: The Education Establishment: an impediment to great education. Enjoy and reflect! 
National and Michigan 

++ Going up 800%! Lifetime Senior $10 National Park and Federal Lands Pass extended to August 28 - then $80.   18 of the 417 National Parks sites charge a fee. Thanks to the Republican US Congress passing a bill last year the fee for those sites goes up from $10 to $80 on 8/28 for seniors.   


++ Are Sec. of Defense Mattis and President Trump on the same page?  OPINION  - It is related that allies are concerned with Trump's America First policy. Pulling out of TPP and the Paris Accord takes the USA out of agreements designed to sap USA money and sovereignty. And apparently some of the takers are upset with that. They want us to self-destruct or immolate to a lesser power, not thinking through that we would not be at their backs if we were the remaining wet noodle they seek. Trump has lectured that they need to pay their fair share to mutual defence. V.P. Pence again defined that at 2% GDP in talks in Eastern Europe last week. 
   And the takers squirm. They threaten to suck up to China or other "rising" nations. Without thinking that China contributed nothing to the UN Paris Accord raid on "developed" countries or the redistribution of National wealth, technology, jobs and trade. We are $21T in debt (actually, about $130T if unfunded mandates and the "black" budget were included) and they want us to put our children in deeper debt to satisfy UN bureaucrats and tin-pan dictators and others greedy for OUR money. 
   Putting the USA first is what got Trump elected. A strong America is a strong ally. We have always done our part, but playing the sucker is over as far as Trump in concerned. But does his Cabinet agree? Now comes this article:  Mattis Tells Asian Allies Stung by Trump: We're Still With You   Article   Mattis is quoted as saying:  "Bear with us, once we've exhausted all possible alternatives, the Americans will do the right thing," he said, paraphrasing an oft-quoted remark. "We will still be there. We will be there with you." 
   After talking tough about American interests he essentially tells "allies" just ignore the bluster and wait it out - we will do it for you? With the alleged Trump purge at NSA, the continued leaks by the "deep state", one hopes President Trump reins in or gets rid of Administration officials giving such mixed signals. 

Related articles of interest: 
Vice President Pence in Estonia: "President Trump has made it clear that every NATO member must in his words "finally contribute their fair share and meet their financial obligations."
  

++ Governor switches Parties:
W.VA Governor

++ A retired attorney in Virginia Beach is so incensed that Republicans couldn't repeal the Affordable Care Act that he's suing to get political donations back, accusing the GOP of fraud and racketeering.
  
  Conservative Virginia National Committee member Morton Blackwell who is also listed in the suit stated: "Too few conservatives are willing to invest their time, talent, and money and personally participate inside the Republican Party," Blackwell said. "A Republican majority will mean a conservative majority if and when a sufficient number of conservatives figure out why the success of their principles depends on their personal involvement in local, state and national Republican Party committees and in party nomination contests." More (Thanks, Tim)
One former Michigan Republican volunteer responded: Racketeering is typically the favorite son of organized crime pioneers like the Mafia and MS13, and newer kids on the block like the RNC, Dems and the MiGOP. You've come a long way, baby!
 
Blackwell is a long term ally of Michigan Conservative Union. We understand exactly what his point is. Many conservative complain or just withdraw, where joining MCU and/or getting more involved is what is needed mos t.


++ At some point more taxation means less government
income.
President Reagan proved the government actually gets more revenue when taxes are lowered to stimulate the economy. 

The Market hit another all time this week, greater than 22,000. Four TRILLION in increased net worth in seven months! Economy growing at 2.6% and climbing. 

That growth is anticipating Trump's tax cuys. We do not have to increases taxes. A smaller slice of a bigger pie generates more personal -and government - income. 

Michigan legislators - listen up! We are choking the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Playing the TRUMP cards
++ President Trump's weekly address: Improving the economy Link

++ Stephen Miller's Press Appearance on Trump's proposed new immigration policy - First new policy in 52 years - Green Card chain immigration, merit based citizenship, welfare, protecting American workers  Link

++ Attorney General Jeff Sessions pledged on Friday to rein in government leaks that he said undermine American security, taking an aggressive public stand  -  "No one is entitled to surreptitiously fight their battles in the media by revealing sensitive government information," Sessions said in an announcement that followed a series of news reports this year on the Trump campaign and White House that have relied on classified information. "No government can be effective when its leaders cannot discuss sensitive matters in confidence or to talk freely in confidence with foreign leaders." More

++ What are USA interests in Afganistan? Should we pull out? U.S. Senator (irrelevant) John McCain was blustery again towards President Trump, warning that Trump not change military leadership in Afganistan. McCain threatened Trump, stating he (McCain) had full confidence in leadership there. Does anyone remind John ("Obama is not a socialist - he will rule from the center") McCain that he was defeated, and is not the President? After defecting from his own caucus last week to keep ObamaCare this guy needs to be ignored until he starts acting of principles again. 
   "Our commanders-in-chief, not our commanders in the field, are responsible for this failure," he (McCain) added. "I urge the President to resolve the differences within his administration as soon as possible and decide on a policy and strategy that can achieve our national security interests in Afghanistan and the region."
   Trump's deputy assistant, Sebastian Gorka, pushed back against these reports, saying that the president is "absolutely" confident of ( Gen. John)  Nicholson's leadership. "It is not a question of confidence, it is a question of inheriting bad ideas, false assumptions and reassessing what's good for America."   Gorka did admit that "nothing is carved in stone," and that "He wants everyone to look at the core assumptions upon which our plans are based, and say are these assumptions sound."
    "the key question . . . is what is the national security relevance of Afghanistan to this country? When that question is answered adequately then we'll know which options we should apply and the President will make the decision." Article

++ Six Months of Accomplishments listed Here

Michigan

++ Many local elections Tuesday! This is an opportunity to turn down tax hikes and elect conservatives to villages and cities! Link to list of elections Tuesday

++ State Revenue Up Almost Twice The Amount Of Defeated Income Tax Cut -
All the projections showed renevue increasing when voters said NO by 80% to fuel rtax increases, but Republicans pased them anyway.  
   Last January, Gov. Rick Snyder was asked if he would support a modest income tax cut. "When people talk about rollbacks near-term or other things, the big question to ask is what are you going to otherwise cut or where are you going to get other revenue to replace that? So I'm open-minded but people need to answer the second part of the question, also,"
   There's now a new answer (in addition to some offered at the time): In the first six months of 2017, Michigan's major taxes brought in $875.9 million more than the same period a year earlier, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency. The state collected $13.9 billion through June 2017, a 6.3 percent increase over the first half of 2016.
   An income-tax cut like the one Snyder discussed in that January 2017 article was defeated in the Michigan House of Representatives in February. It would have trimmed state revenue by $463 million, according to fiscal agency projections
   Twelve Michigan House Republicans  joined all members of the Democratic caucus who were present to defeat that bill, which would have cut 0.2 percentage points from the income tax rate. Later that week, Snyder telephoned the 12 Republicans no-voters to thank them for their votes.   Article  (Thanks, Bob)        You can click the link above to see the roll call vote. Here are the infamous 12, as a reminder:     

++ Half the Detroit Mayor candidates have felony records: Link

++ Bills would force issuing drivers licenses or documentation to illegals: House Bills 4794 and  4795  sponsored b y  Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, and Rep. Dave Pagel, R-Berrien Springs, have introduced legislation requiring the state to issue a driver's license or state personal identification card to those who cannot produce documentation showing they are in the country legally but satisfy all other requirements. Click on the links above to see if your legislator is also a sponsor. (Thanks, Nick)

++ Michigan 36th in Fiscal Health - 

Compared to rest of the U.S., Michigan ranks relatively low in the quality of its (state government) fiscal health, at 36th among the 50 states, according to a Mercatus Center 

report
     The fiscal health of America's states affects all its citizens. Indicators of fiscal health come in a variety of forms-from a state's ability to attract businesses and how much it taxes to what services it provides and how well it keeps its promises to public-sector employees. NFIB Article

++ Why it costs nearly three times as much to insure a car in Michigan - 
 Michigan resident face the higherst rate in significant part due to "no fault" (MY fault!) insurance schemes. More  (Thanks, Joe)

++ The chairman of the Michigan House Energy Policy committee is threatening to sue state regulators if they move forward with rules he says would threaten the state's 10 percent electric choice market. State Rep. Gary Glenn, argues new rules proposed by Public Service Commission staff may violate state and federal energy laws while driving up electricity costs for schools and large employers in the choice program that buy power from alternative energy suppliers instead of incumbent utilities.
  The final version of the energy overhaul law Gov. Rick Snyder signed in late December did not include strict "local clearing requirements" included in earlier drafts. The contentious language was "deliberately removed," Reps. Rob Verheulen, R-Walker, and Chris Afendoulis, R-Grand Rapids Township, said in a July 25 letter to the commission.
  "This is clearly a back-door attempt by unelected bureaucrats to eliminate Michigan's Electricity Choice program by bureaucratic regulation, a protectionist scheme that was pushed by the state's two monopoly utilities in the last legislative session but was expressly rejected by the people's elected representatives," Glenn said in a statement. Article     Glenn Release

++ A start on reducing debt  - With a Constituutional requiremment to balance budgets, how did we get BILLION$$$ in debt?  Just being Republicans and Democrats, we guess. Promises against our children's incomes and futures. 
    The Michigan Legislature has passed a first of its kind, innovative pension reform bill that will provide a new set of retirement choices for state teachers and cap the growth of liabilities in the state's current, structurally flawed retirement plan. Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bill into law in July, ensuring the Michigan Public School Employee System (MPSERS)-currently only 60% funded with $29 billion in unfunded pension liabilities-will have its most realistic path to solvency in the past two decades.  
   


   The reform is grounded in a focus on reducing risk, while stabilizing cost, and preserving choice 
   The primary objectives of pension reform in Michigan started with ensuring that all promises made to existing employees and retirees could be kept, and that any solution ensure retirement security for all current and future members. Article
   
OPINION -
We keep hearing from politicians that we cannot reduce pensions. The bureaucracy has convinced some it is inbedded in the Constitution, and others do not have the courage to take it on. So, at a time when Granholm and unions were in charge, they bloated up the promises to state union employees, and we are forever stuck with that deal? We do not believe or accept that a prior governor or leglislator can forever commit future leaders and taxpayers to such a scheme. 
   Your editor recalls how his father-in-law lost his pension when the company he retired from went bankrupt. We recall all the vendors for GM and Chrysler lost promises when they went into fiscal chaos.
   This reform was long overdue, but just a down payment on needed reforms. 
   Under Governor Snyder and Republican leadership, we have seen several tax hikes passed such that they automatically increase in the fguture. No sunsets, no periodic reviews, just automatic tax increases.    We need to elect officials who will pledge to do a zero-based review of every contract, commitment and expenditure to assure they are supported by the Constitution, statutes, best practices, open and transparent competitive bidding, and that they are essential as legitimate state functions. 
  And we need to get rid of prevailing wage laws so the 83% of Michigan contractors who and non-union have a chance to compete for work their taxes are funding. 


Tomorrow night; Tuesday in Troy!

This speaker says the 16th Amendment clarified the excise tax - only income received from the Federal government (contract or employment) is subject to Federal income taxes. Where is the line between taking every available tax deduction, and tax fraud?
Bring questions!


The Tenets of Great Education
We believe it is the privilege and responsibility of the parent to ensure their child is being properly educated and prepared for a productive, fulfilling, life, within our capitalistic constitutional republic.
We defend public education as a legitimate function of LOCAL government.
We believe there is a legitimate role of the State Government in limited oversight duties of local public education, to ensure proper fiduciary attention and a consistency in adhering to any proper State law.
We reject the idea that the Federal Government has - or was intended to have - a role in determining when, how, or what students are to learn. Furthermore, we reject the idea that the Federal Government has been given the constitutional power to return the tax dollars to the citizens with educational mandates attached that impact the learning environment of any local institution. 
A finding of the MCU Education Task Force Phase IV  

WHAT IS GOOD EDUCATION? WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING IT?
The Education Establishment is a major impedimant to good and improving education!
No Collective in History has effectively improved things over time. Education must teach American values.
What is the Education Establishment? 
Colleges/Universities: Higher education has significant impact on what is taught in K-12 by setting standards and expectations, and enforcing them through admissions and scholarships. Etraordinary higher education inflation is driven by government backed student loans and unchecked college and university spending. Mandatory indoctrination cources drive up costs and mitigate further subject matter learning. The costs od education construction are unnecessarily high because of artificial prevailing wage requirements. Colleges should not be indoctrination centers trying to
 reform America to drive an international socialist oligarchy. "Diversity" cannot include stifling conservative free speech.
Colleges and/or universities which prepare teachers for the classroom must be held financially accountable to the community that employs an educator deemed proficient by the educating institution. 
MSB/MDE: The state organizations of education must uphold the State's constitutional parameters as they pertain to education. Given the clear power of the State and Local governments to dictate education policy and the lack of Federal power derived from the U.S. Constitution, the State must take a position on each and every mandate of the Federal government that most insulates the local institution of education from Federal government overreach and mandates that breach the State's constitution.
Unions: Every citizen must have the right to organize and/or collectively bargain the worth of their trade. However, no person shall be compelled to join or be represented by a union if that person chooses to remain un-associated with a union. An educator who chooses to not be in a union should be held to the same standards as any other employee unless they have negotiated otherwise. Public sector unions receive their monetary compensation from the taxpayers, as such, elected boards (or the boards appointed by the elected boards of a chartering organization) must affirmatively vote on pay increases separately from the rest of the negotiated items. Any proposed change in compensation should be
clearly posted in a publication of record giving a period of time for members of the taxpaying community to offer their support or air their grievances.
Certification: Communities must be free to employ whomever they wish to teach their children, provided the parents are informed of the background of those not formally prepared by an institution of higher education. Parents must give recorded consent to this flexibility in the local school board's decision to hire non-formally certified teachers.
Accrediting Bodies: Organizations that accredit institutions of higher education must be made up of a strong majority of members of the organizations they seek to accredit and devoid of ideological bias. Best practices should always be the goal, however, issues of hiring, courses offered, course content, or workplace culture are not the purview of an accrediting agency. Accrediting organizations must not be permitted to demand or drive decisions on facilities, books, curricula, etc. , or force expenditures as a condition of approvals. Multiple qualified accrediting bodies should be made available to ensure public, local, institutions maintain their individuality and independence.
MASB: Like accrediting agencies, the Michigan Association of School Boards must be made up of a strong majority of members and devoid of ideological bias. An alternative association should be cultivated to ensure multiple opportunities for school board members exists to be informed and trained in practices that best reflect the communities they serve.
Vendors: True free-market principles must be employed at all times when outside entities do business with public institutions of education. All contracts must be properly negotiated, publicly justified, and readily available to be reviewed by members of the community served.
Legislature: The Michigan Constitution sets specific education goals (see link below). 
The legislature has education committees in both houses, and has appropriations committees with oversight and budgeting responsibilities. Thus the Legislature shares in the failures of getting reduced results from ever growing budgets despite decreasing student populations. A business with high failure rates goes out of business. Schools with high failure rates get automatic increases. That paradigm must stop. We challenge the legislature to hold the line on spending - no increases for a few years - until the education establishment returns to local controls and we can track improvements in student outcomes. And, we ask the Legislature to repeal prevailing wage laws. 
(Education Monopoly is addressed within the above)
Dr. Russell Kirk's 
The Conservative Mind  began the modern conservative movement and was the guide Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, Wm.F. Buckley, Jr., and others looked to for clarity and focus on "the permanent things."  
Linked here a  
Condensation

++  F. A. Hayek on Social Evolution and the Origins of Tradition -  In this exclusive video, Nobel-laureate F. A. Hayek discusses the evolution of morality and social norms, arguing that they result from unplanned, emergent processes. He contrasts this conclusion with other philosophical accounts of law and morality.  Linkervatives believe in truth, and the other permanent things. Please consider joining and/or supporting Michigan's Conservative Team. 

THANKS! Michigan Conservative Union; Michigan Freedom To Work; Up Right
Michigan PAC and Unique Strategies, LLC  all contribute to Conservative Choices Newsletter, as do many individuals. 


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