@BetsyDeVosED: Yes She Really Said That About Historically Black Colleges Because She Really is That Willfully Dense

Tuesday , 28, February 2017 Up North Progressive Religious Fundamentalism, Section 16 1 Comment

Ignorant, insulting, and underhanded are words that best describe Betsy DeVos’s press release about historically black colleges and universities on February 27, 2017. You really have to read the whole thing to get the full impact:

“It sure was nice black folks had the option of attending schools for black people because schools for white people wouldn’t open their doors back in the day.”

A quick wikipedia search would have been a good idea for Betsy before she put her white, privileged, tone deaf shoe in her mouth. Here, let me Google that for you, honey.

Only a school choice pimp like Betsy DeVos could deconstruct the reason why HBCUs exist in the first place and call it school choice. No, it had nothing to do with options for children and parents, Betsy, it was the ONLY option for black people to receive a higher education. Schools in the south, and in many cases in the north (like Kalamazoo, Michigan in the 1970’s), simply refused to open their doors to black people, and this was a problem not only with colleges and universities, but with the whole system starting with the primary grades.

What many Americans don’t know yet about Betsy because they haven’t had the privilege of being exposed to her not-so-subtle racism, is the term civil rights has been hijacked by the school choice agenda as a way to get black people on board and promote re-segregating public schools with “options” like charter schools and vouchers.

DeVos’s Michigan school choice organizations have a track record of using the phrase civil rights as a way to get minorities on board to help them push their agenda and shame anyone who gets in her way. DeVos’s Great Lakes Education Project tweeted this image of Michigan’s then State Superintendent Michael Flanagan back in 2014 when he tried to make charter school authorizers more accountable to the abysmal track record they have in the state compared to real public schools.

Gary Naeyaert, the DeVos-funded yes man who runs GLEP for Betsy tried to explain with more tweets that no he wasn’t really calling Michael Flanagan a racist before deleting the offensive tweet completely. What the tweet did do was expose the school choice agenda: Shame those who get in their way by declaring school choice the “civil rights issue of our time.” The bullying tactic didn’t work, and Gary Naeyaert, GLEP, or Betsy DeVos to this day never apologized to Flanagan for their blatant attack on him doing his job.

Hopefully now that Betsy DeVos continues to make the same mistakes with using the civil rights struggle to push her personal agenda to segregate the nations’ schools, people will have a better idea of what she’s really trying to accomplish. It was never about more options, it’s about forcing people into the only school option she allows. It’s the burden of every white privileged rich dominion theology prosperity gospel authoritarian in America to tell you what your choices are, not let you decide for yourself. This press release about HBCUs is just a taste of what’s to come for real education opportunity in the United States.

Highland Copper Forced to Stop Drilling in Porcupine Mountains State Park Due to Lack of Frozen Ground

Saturday , 25, February 2017 Up North Progressive DNR, Environment, Upper Peninsula Leave a comment

Highland Copper subsidiary Orvana Resources U.S. Corporation halted exploratory drilling on February 19, 2017, in the Porcupine Mountains State Park due to unusual warm weather for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Winter drilling is required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources because the ground must be frozen. The ground in the western Upper Peninsula has thawed too much to drill per DNR requirements.

The company based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, leased the mineral rights from the Michigan DNR for the purpose of exploration of copper and silver deposits in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Currently, there are three projects underway in the park: White Pine, Copperwood, and Keweenaw.

The state of Michigan established the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in 1945. Mineral rights ownership however is separate from land ownership in Michigan, which means the owner of the mineral rights may legally lease to another company or mine for minerals regardless of who owns the land. Keweenaw Land Association retains the rights, and leased to Orvana Resources.

The Michigan DNR and DEQ both closely monitor the situation, to ensure no damage comes to trees, land or water in the park. The portion of the park where the company is working has seen core drilling in the past.

That the company had to stop work due to lack of frozen ground in mid-February must be a concern for Highland Copper. They have considerable capital invested in the three projects at the park, and according to the December 31, 2016 financial report, the company needs more funds to settle their current deficiency.

The conditions and uncertainties described above indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If the going concern assumption was not appropriate for these unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements, adjustments which could be material would be necessary to the carrying value of assets and liabilities, in particular an impairment of exploration and evaluation assets,as well as adjustments to
reported expenses.

What this means for the future of copper mining exploration in the Keweenaw Peninsula remains to be seen. With unseasonably warm temperatures in the Upper Peninsula making it difficult for Highland Copper to continue exploring for minerals, the likelihood of being able to resume drilling this season is poor. Highland Copper/Orvana Resources may have to wait until the winter of 2016/2017 before they can get back to work. Current weather forecasts for Northern Michigan don’t show any significant cooling trends that would refreeze the ground.

@RepHuizenga to Grace Lake County with His Presence Saturday, February 25, 2017

Wednesday , 22, February 2017 Up North Progressive Community, Obamacare Leave a comment

Good news everyone! Bill Huizenga’s going to be in Baldwin on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at Baldwin High School to meet with District Two constituents in Lake County:

Today, Congressman Huizenga announced he will be holding a stop on his listening tour for residents of the Second District in Lake County on Saturday, February 25th at noon. The town hall style listening session will be held in the cafeteria of Baldwin Senior High School. [b]This event is reserved for Second District residents.[/b] Media is asked to RSVP with Congressman Huizenga’s Office.

  • Who: Congressman Bill Huizenga
  • What: A Town Hall Listening Session
  • Where: Baldwin Senior High School located at 525 4th St in Baldwin, Michigan
  • When: Saturday, February 25th at noon

Why the distinction that only District Two residents are invited? The Republicans spread the fake story that all of the angry people showing up at the town hall meeting s are paid shills and not real constituents. If you’re not part of the GOP echo chamber, Bill Huizenga doesn’t represent you.

It‘s a sad state of affairs when an elected official declares he only cares about the people who agree with him. He’s supposed to represent every one in his district whether they voted for him or not. He’s also aware of what’s been happening around the country, like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this, saving the best for last:

Toby’s on his way to being a great progressive.

None of these people were paid to yell at their congressmen. Really, a seven year old is on the Soros payroll? The GOP wants people to think so, which is why rooms full of angry voters are showing their photo IDs now to prove they live in the district.

Elected officials can avoid the angry crowds if they only realized they’re supposed to do what their constituents want. This is why people like Bill Huizenga are called representatives. This means every one in District Two, not just the rich people in Ottawa County who donate large sums of money to his re-election war chest. Most of us don’t even have the last name DeVos.

Hopefully, many people from Lake County will make it to Baldwin High School on Saturday to let Bill Huizenga know what his constituents think of the GOP’s plan to take away health care coverage for thousands of his voters.

The Good News and Bad News About Record High Temperatures in Northern Michigan

Saturday , 18, February 2017 Up North Progressive DNR, Environment Leave a comment

Two times a year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers a free fishing weekend for people who would like to fish without a license and hopefully give people who have never fished the opportunity to discover how fun fishing can be. The winter fishing weekend is this weekend, and with temperatures in Northern Michigan ranging anywhere from the mid forties to the mid fifties, people may be more interested in fishing in February.

Unfortunately, the bad thing about bright sunshine and warm temperatures in February is that ice melts quickly in those conditions. It may not be safe on all Michigan lakes to try ice fishing during this free fishing weekend. We’re days away from the deadline to remove ice shanties from the lakes in some parts of the state, but with the warm temperatures waiting until the last day may be too late.

The warm weather we’ve had in Northern Michigan also means snowmobiling has been down as well. Like ice fishing, fewer people enjoying the outdoors up north means fewer people stopping by their favorite restaurants and shops. Businesses rely on that income to stay open over the winter.

Most of all, the warmer weather means our congressmen who have annual snowmobiling runs on our lovely state trails canceled their plans due to the weather. At least that’s what they’re telling us for now. They’re on break and supposedly back home in their districts; what else do they have to do other than spend time with their constituents asking questions in person? The warm weather means more people will travel to town halls to ask questions and expect answers. that’s what we pay them to do, right?

The weather is going to be unusually warm and sunny in Northern Michigan this weekend. Head outdoors, have some fun, and try not to think too much about how warm it might be this summer.

Whoever Made This is a Genius

Wednesday , 15, February 2017 Up North Progressive Sad! 2 Comments

Trump is such an insecure little bitch he has to knock people over to feel superior.

BREAKING: All Caps Trump Tweet in Comic Sans

Thursday , 9, February 2017 Up North Progressive Sad! Leave a comment

Better bring the herd on in, big one’s about to blow.

Smoke and Mirrors: Betsy DeVos Never Wanted the Job Anyway

Thursday , 9, February 2017 Up North Progressive Section 16 Leave a comment

So while everyone was watching Mike Pence break a tie in the Senate and allowing turbo checkbook writer Betsy DeVos buy herself an entire government agency, Congressman Thomas Massey of Kentucky introduced this bill into the house:

The seven co-sponsors of this bill include Michigan’s Justin Amash (no kidding), Andy Biggs of Arizona, Jason Chafetz of Utah, Florida’s Matt Gaetz, Jody Hice of Georgia, Walter Jones of North Carolina, and Idaho’s Raul Labrador.

This is something Republicans insist needs to happen, and have been since Reagan was president. Funny how it never happens though. Conservatives tell their constituents they’re in favor of state and local control of schools, but yet they continue to push policy nationally designed to undermine the party that supports public education. Do as I say, not as I do.

Let’s watch this one and see how far it goes.

Betsy and the Rest of the DeVos Crime Family are Monsters

Tuesday , 7, February 2017 Up North Progressive Section 16 Leave a comment

The results of today’s senate vote on Betsy DeVos were extremely disappointing, but not surprising. This woman owns as many politicians as she can without shame or remorse as she takes her must destroy public education show nationwide. She’s been laying the ground work for this for a long time.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette released a statement today.

And this is how much the DeVos Crime Family owns him.

Schuette wants to take his Schuette show to Washington D.C. too. He has eyes on the White House after he’s done being Governor of Michigan. Dick and Betsy’s money is practically limitless to accomplish this.

An Open Letter to the Senators Betsy DeVos Bought With Her Money

Monday , 6, February 2017 Up North Progressive Section 16 2 Comments

To the Republican Senators who intend to vote for Betsy Devos’s confirmation as Secretary of Education because she bought the office in the 2016 election:

“I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence,” she wrote. “Now I simply concede the point. They are right. We do expect something in return. We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues. We expect a return on our investment.”

This statement is literally the only qualification Betsy DeVos has in public education. She pays people to do her bidding and bullies them when they don’t. She comes from a family legacy of using their billions to force people to do things their way or else. Eliminating public education is part of the DeVos agenda to turn the United States away from the secular Democratic Republic envisioned by the founding fathers and into a theocratic state where only fundamentalist Christians rule. Some of you know this is true and support her efforts. Some of you don’t really care and pocketed the campaign contribution anyway. You really do need to stop and consider what’s happened to education in Michigan over the past twenty five years and ask is this really what you want to see nationwide.

It was ironic listening to Betsy during her confirmation hearing as she talked about giving back local control of schools, because she certainly doesn’t practice what she preaches. Everything that has happened politically in Michigan since the 1990’s is a result of the DeVos family fortune paying for political control of the state. Betsy DeVos and her billionaire family funded organizations such as Dr. Paul DeWeese’s Teach Michigan.

It was DeVos money that paid in part for Richard Mclellan’s Mackinac Center, the state’s political machine that champions anti-labor and anti-public education’s causes. DeVos money funded the recent Detroit ‘bailout’ passed by the Michigan legislation designed to in fact dismantle the state’s largest school district.

The results of DeVos buying politicians in Michigan to push her for-profit education model is a disaster of low-performing charter schools springing up all over the state by people with little to no education experience and even worse, using charter schools as a way to generate money for personal profit. The biggest charter school fraud case you’ve never heard of is the story of convicted felon Dr. Steven Ingersoll; a vision therapy optometrist who peddles snake oil treatments promising to cure ADHD and Autism. He’s now serving three years for federal felony fraud. The charter school he embezzled $5 million from refuse to lift a finger to recover the taxpayers’ money, and recently it was discovered the school board tried to secure a loan for Ingersoll after his indictment to open yet another school.

DeVos money funded all of this, and more in the state of Michigan and the country. States where Betsy can pay politicians to vote for vouchers now have school vouchers. If she can convince schools to pay for snake oil biofeedback treatments for kids with ADHD and Autism, she will do that too.

The DeVos’s are on record stating they want to eliminate public education and replace it with a Christian-based system. This is against the first amendment, but they don’t care as long as they can buy votes and politicians. It’s not about free access to public education; it’s about separating the “pig bones” of public schools from the narrowly defined theocratic society people like the DeVos’s want to create. Betsy DeVos is very open about children only having the option to attend Christian schools or receive Christian education at home. Her vision for schools is based on business and profits, not what children actually need.

This is the list of senators Betsy DeVos has bought and will likely vote to confirm her on February 7, 2016. If Republicans today had ethics and integrity, American public education would not hang in the balance. Perhaps between now and tomorrow, one or two of you will see Betsy DeVos for the wrecking ball she is and vote to not put her in a federal position she has no business occupying.

Moolenar’s Call for Civil Discussion Needs to Start at Home

Friday , 3, February 2017 Up North Progressive Obamacare Leave a comment


John Moolenar seems to be unhappy with his constituents.

Respectful, civil and dignified discussion of the issues facing our country is a vital part of our republic. I will always engage in civil discourse and respect the policy differences between us on any issue.

Right now, public debate is overheated on many issues, with health care being the most prominent. I have already received online comments and calls to my office wishing for harm to come to me and my family. These comments have no place in public discourse.

As our country debates health care it is important that we all look at the issue honestly, without personal attacks that impugn the integrity and character of our fellow citizens.

Moolenar goes on to insist the Affordable Care Act must be repealed, but it will be replaced with something just like the Affordable Care Act.

We all want a personalized patient-centered system that provides care for Americans, without interfering in the sacred patient-doctor relationship. Already, committees in the House are working toward a replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act that is expected to include coverage for preexisting conditions and allow dependents up to the age of 26 to stay on the plan of their guardian(s).

And he wonders why people are screaming at him.

The majority of Americans do not want their health care taken away. In the years since we’ve become accustomed to the ACA we’ve found that having health plans we can afford, free prevention care, dependents covered until they’re 26, and being female not considered a pre-existing condition are good things we want to keep. Yes, the insurance companies have raised rates, because we’re still relying on a for-profit insurance system designed to benefit CEOs instead of customers.

The only replacement possible for the ACA is single payer health care. This could be achieved by simply expanding Medicare to cover everyone regardless of age.  Unfortunately, the rest of the nation is held hostage by insurance companies and their profits, even to the point of letting people go bankrupt and die trying to pay their medical bills. Americans don’t want to go back to that, but repealing the ACA will do just that. Thanks to Republicans like Moolenar calling the ACA Obamacare, many of their constituents were confused when they realized the ACA and Obamacare were the same thing. Funny, how with the new regime in the White House Moolenar and the rest of his Republican cronies stopped calling it Obamacare.

Moolenar is perfectly fine with this, as long as his rich donors are taken care of; the people who voted for him are a secondary concern. This is becoming increasingly obvious with his public meetings being held at various locations throughout his 15-county district. The events appear to say that John Moolenar will be in person, but constituents attending these events discover that an aide is there instead. The staff member also is very ill-equipped to handle questions from residents of the district. People walk away frustrated with lots of unanswered questions – and venting their frustration on social media.

The next meeting scheduled is February 13, 2017 in Big Rapids. The meeting will take place at the court house from 11:30 to 12:30, but once again Moolenar will not be the one attending. Constituents are getting angry because they want to talk to Moolenar in person. Bring letters of concerns, and tell the aide Moolenar sends in his place he must attend these meetings soon. People are frustrated and stressed by the chaos in Washington D.C. and want real answers. One question that needs to be asked is why haven’t the Republicans come up with a replacement yet when they’ve had six years to get it done? They’ve had plenty of time to pass repeals to Obamacare over 60 times. The Up North Progressive realizes they’ve answered their own question.