Up North Progressive

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Four sheriffs in Northern Michigan announced in a press release they would pick and choose when to enforce Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s constitutional executive order to keep Michiganders safe. State House Rep Jack O’Malley (R – “Screw ya!”) discussed this during a telephone conference with himself, the four sheriffs, and State Senator Curt VanderWall (R – Crabgrass!). Two of those sheriffs confided in residents of their counties they felt forced by O’Malley to sign on to that press release.

It didn’t take long after that for Jack O’Malley to begin one of his daily video tirades on Facebook by pointing out that “Up North Progressive passed this on to me” and then held up to the camera a screenshot from one of his previous videos used in the article published about the four sheriffs. Let it be known here and now that Up North Progressive blogs about northern Michigan politics. Articles about northern Michigan politicians are also published. Up North Progressive NEVER contacts anyone featured in an article in a cheap attempt to get a reaction. It’s always fun though when the subject of an article finds the website and provides free advertising. It’s even better when they decide to leave replies. Thanks, Gary Glenn!

But now that Up North Progressive is living rent-free in Jack O’Malley’s head, let’s discuss some things.

This pandemic crisis the world is dealing with right now is in no way coming to any endpoint. Even the FOB criticized the Governor of Georgia for opening up the state’s businesses too soon (and then immediately denied doing it in true Trump fashion).

Governor Whitmer used her constitutional authority to keep Michiganders safe. Jack O’Malley insinuates the Governor will need to make some compromises in the coming days or face the consequences. This means the Republicans cause the people of Michigan more pain and blame it the Governor to score political points.

This talk of an “economic” patient who demands the blood of Michigander lives to survive has to be some of the most disturbing imagery used by a politician. Yes, Michigan’s unemployment system is terrible. When unemployment in Michigan was low it was still difficult to use and according to a Michigan Works employee who confided with Up North Progressive, it was designed by the previous administration to be difficult enough that people would give up. Now millions every week try to access the system never meant to accommodate so many. It functions by design to frustrate people to the point they just stop trying. That is not Gretchen Whitmer’s fault. That is the fault of the businesses in Michigan that demanded $2 billion in tax cuts. Rick Snyder was more than happy to oblige at the expense of Michigan’s workers.

Now the Michigan Chamber of Commerce demands that Michigan’s economy needs to be reopened not because of workers suffering, but corporate profits are taking a hit.

No economy can recover if the engine of the economy – labor – is too sick to go to work. If they do go back to work, they will infect others, and the disease will continue to spread. A look at meat packing plants in other states where there are no stay at home orders show us what will happen if we reopen the economy in Michigan too soon.

Listening as Jack O’Malley rationalizes sacrificing Michigan lives is necessary to feed the capitalist gods and Governor Whitmer plays ball or else shouldn’t make anyone feel that better days for the state are right around the corner. Quite the opposite.

Oh, and Jack? There was a swastika at the Operation Gridlock rally in Lansing on April 15, 2020.