Trump Discovers a Bridge, Decides to Hold It Hostage

Donald Trump has announced that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will not open unless Canada makes “significant concessions” to the United States — a bold demand considering Canada paid for the bridge, built the bridge, and owns the bridge.

But why let details get in the way?

The $5.7-billion Gordie Howe Bridge, fully financed by Canada, was designed to improve trade between Detroit and Windsor — a relationship that, inconveniently, benefits the United States enormously. Canada even agreed to pay for the U.S. customs plaza on American soil, a gesture that in most sane universes would be met with “thank you,” not a ransom note.

A Toll Booth Emperor With No Coins

Trump’s announcement plays like a man who wandered into a restaurant after the check was paid and demanded dessert concessions.

At no point did the United States foot the bill. At no point did Trump negotiate the financing. At no point did he show up with a pen, a plan, or a clue. Yet here he is, pointing confidently, declaring that the bridge “won’t open” unless Canada coughs up unspecified goodies for reasons that remain classified somewhere between his imagination and his ego.

This is not leverage. This is cosplay.

“I’ll Stop It,” Says Man Who Can’t

The bridge exists because of binding international agreements and years of planning. Trump’s sudden realization that the bridge exists does not grant him veto power, no matter how dramatically he points while wearing a red tie.

Blocking the bridge would not “punish” Canada. It would clog Detroit’s trade arteries, hurt U.S. auto manufacturing, and create economic damage that economists would describe using words like “why” and “who thought this was smart.”

Threatening to harm your own economy to look tough is not a strategy. It’s a tantrum with a podium.

The Concessions That Dare Not Speak Their Name

Asked what concessions Canada must make, Trump offers the diplomatic equivalent of jazz hands. No list. No numbers. No policy objectives. Just the vague assertion that America is being “taken advantage of,” a phrase that in Trump-speak often translates to “I was not personally in charge of this.”

This is negotiation as performance art — all bravado, zero math.

Infrastructure Does Not Run on Vibes

At the end of the day, the bridge will open. Trucks will cross. Trade will flow. Canada will collect tolls. Detroit will benefit. And Trump will move on to the next object he didn’t build but wants credit for obstructing.

Because reality has an unfortunate habit of ignoring Trump’s press statements.

The Gordie Howe Bridge does not require Donald Trump’s permission to exist. And Canada does not owe concessions to a man who showed up after the ribbon was already cut — figuratively speaking — and demanded applause for almost stopping it.

Detroit Teacher Sick Out Closes 60 Schools

More than 60 public schools in the city of Detroit, which is

more than half the district are closed this morning, as rolling teacher sickouts continue to move through Michigan’s largest school district.

Teachers are upset by large class sizes, pay and benefit concessions, and a state plan to create a new, debt-free Detroit school district.

These actions by the Detroit teachers are actually illegal in the State of Michigan and could and should warrant legal action including the dismissal of these teachers and the revocation of all Michigan certificates.

Here is how such actions are defined by the relevant law, the Public Employment Relations Act:

(j) "Strike" means the concerted failure to report for duty, the willful absence from one's position, the stoppage of work, or the abstinence in whole or in part from the full, faithful, and proper performance of the duties of employment for the purpose of inducing, influencing, or coercing a change in employment conditions, compensation, or the rights, privileges, or obligations of employment.

The next paragraph of the statute does state it allows for a public employee to express a grievance or opinion as long as it "does not interfere with the full, faithful, and proper performance of the duties of employment."

However, the law also states that enforcement of the law requires the public employer ,  which in this case is the Detroit Public School System, to initiate proceedings with the state Michigan Employment Relations Commission.

The district has 46,325 students in its 107 school buildings.

Schools closed on Monday

1. Bagley

2. Bates

3. Blackwell

4. Bow

5. Burton International

6. Carleton

7. Carstens

8. Carver

9. Chrysler

10. Clarke Preparatory

11. Cody - APL

12. Cody - DIT

13. Cody - Medicine and Community Health

14. Coleman Young

15. Communication and Media Arts

16. Cooke

17. Davidson

18. DCP at Northwestern

19. Detroit International Academy

20. Detroit School of the Arts

21. Detroit Lions

22. Dixon

23. Dossin

24. Douglass Prep Academy

25. Earhart

26. Edison

27. Emerson

28. Fisher Lower

29. Fisher Upper

30. FLICS

31. Gardner

32. Gompers

33. Greenfield Union

34. Henderson

35. Hutchinson

36. Jerry L White

37. John R King

38. Ludington

39. MacKenzie

40. Marshall, Thurgood

41. Marquette

42. Mason

43. Maybury

44. Moses Field

45. Munger

46. Neinas

47. Nichols

48. Osborn College Prep

49. Osborn MST

50. Palmer Park

51. Pasteur

52. Pulaski

53. Randolph Center

54. Robeson

55. Sampson

56. Spain

57. Thirkell

58. Vernor

59. Wayne

60. West Side Academy

61. Wright, Charles

Detroit Wants Its Own Auto Insurance Company? At What Cost To Michigan Taxpayers?

Yesterday on the Mitch Albom show on WJR 760 am in Detroit, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan continued his push for the City of Detroit's alternative automobile insurance option "D Insurance".   

There is no doubt that there is serious auto problem insurance problem in Detroit where auto insurance premiums are just about unaffordable for most.   According to study's and Mayor Duggan's comments on the radio last evening, 1 out of every 5 Detroiters are currently driving without insurance compounding the problem. 

Mayor Duggan stated on Mitch Albom's show that it is the medical claims that are causing such high auto insurance rates and something needs to be done to bring those down.  He implied that many are using their auto insurance for medical assistance.

Mayor Duggan's plan is to offer an alternative auto insurance plan that caps medical coverage at $250,000.  The question is though is that legal?  Currently in Michigan the medical coverage cap for all auto insurer's is $530,000 after that point is reached then the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association reimburses the auto insurance company.  

There are many questions as to the legal operation of the "D Insurance Company." 

The City of Detroit's "D Insurance Company" will pay up to $250,000 for medical expenses and then your health provider would pay.  In a typical auto policy your health provider would pay first followed your auto insurance company once your health limits were exhausted then followed by the Michigan Catastrophic Claims association.  This is why you have the option of medical coverage being primary on your auto policy or secondary as excess.  Medicaid and Medicare do NOT cover auto injury expenses.  What happens to those with out proper medical insurance that covers auto accidents?

With the City of Detroit's "D Insurance Company" if people who have this policy need more coverage beyond $250,000 will they get it from the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association?  

Will those insured with the City of Detroit's "D Insurance Company" pay into the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association as all other drivers in Michigan have to?  What will happen to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association fund rates when a pool of people stop contributing ?

Why must other insurance companies operate at an unfair advantage by having to pay up to $530,000 before being reimbursed by the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association?  

Isn't offering one product in one City considered redlining?

How can the City of Detroit, still in debt after bankruptcy afford to operate an insurance company?

Is the "D Insurance Company" going to be considered an admitted insurance company (standard market) or will it be considered a non-admitted insurance company (sub standard)?    Admitted companies are the responsibility of the state and taxpayers should they become insolvent, while non-admitted companies are not.

Is the recent rush to change Michigan's no-fault system really not to save consumers money across the state but to help Detroit set up their own Auto Insurance Company potentially on the backs of Michigan Taxpayers?

If the only guarantee coming from Lansing is that with No-Fault reform you will save $100 or less a year, and most reports say less at $64, for only 2 years then this reform is not worth putting through.

Michiganders pay twice as much as the national insurance average on their insurance premiums.  If there is to be reform, real reform must be put into place.  The best way to start with reform is to not so much reduce coverage but put in better safeguards to reduce auto medical fraud.

Does The City of Detroit Have A Justified Homicide Problem?

On April 29th, on the steps of the Capital Building in

Rick Ector
addressing the attendees on the Capital steps.

Lansing, Michigan a Pro-2nd amendment rally was held .  One of the speakers was Detroit resident and owner of Rick's Firearm Economy of Detroit.   While at the pro-2nd amendment rally, Rick had encounter with a State Senator who represents a portion of Detroit.  This is what Rick had to say about his in encounter in his own words on his facebook page.

While I was in attendance at the "Second Amendment March" at the Michigan Capitol Building on this past Tuesday, I ran into a State Senator who represents Detroit residents. After we exchanged pleasantries, he immediately stated to me that we should talk about doing something about Detroit's "justified homicide problem."

Rick Ector
Working To Teach People Not To Be Victims

Without hesitation, I countered by telling him that justified homicides are not a problem. I then asked him, "Why do you think that we need to focus on reducing justified homicides?" I may have caught him off guard because I did not get an immediate response.

I went on to tell him that a justified homicide only occurs when a person is faced with a reasonable and imminent threat of great bodily harm, rape, or death and that victim uses lawful self-defense which results in the death of the assailant. All shootings are investigated and vetted by the local police department and the results are submitted to the County Prosecutor to determine if criminal charges should be levied.

Detroit has already recorded roughly 12 justified homicides this year. Most of those cases involved a predator forcing himself into an occupied dwelling without permission, announcement, or notice. Under the "Castle Doctrine," the presumption - legally speaking - is that the invader of a home presents both a reasonable and imminent danger to the occupants. However, the presumption can be overcome but that burden rests with the Prosecutor.

Apparently, there are too many criminals being shot and killed while they are attacking citizens. No, I do not see justified homicides as a problem. Rather, it is a legal solution for selected victims to defend themselves and their families against danger. However, we definitely DO have a violent crime problem in Detroit and until that issue has been resolved will we see less citizens needing to defend their families.

Some anti-self-defense activists believe that home owners should not be allowed to shoot invaders. One such person suggested to me during a live airing of a local news show that invaded citizens should attempt to guide the attackers in prayer. Moreover, this same "activist" a few days later tried to chastise the local police chief because he referred to home invaders as predators. In my opinion, they are predators and a few other choice expletives that come immediately to my mind.

The bottom line is that the political agendas of some anti-gun people have become so desperate and amoral that they now seek to absolve violent criminals for their actions. If they had their way, home owners would face prosecution for nothing more than safe-guarding their families.

In any case, the aforementioned state senator made an overture to meet with me on the subject. If it happens, I will hear him out but I doubt he'll change my mind. Coddling invading predators will never make sense to me. I'll keep you updated.

You can follow Rick Ector on his Facebook Fan Page  HERE

Did a local media outlet in Detroit take down their Facebook post to shield former President Clinton from criticism?

Things that make you go hmmmm.

Local news outlet Fox 2 Detroit posted a picture of Bill Clinton and quoted Clinton saying "Detroit wasn't always such a basket case" 

 Well after numerous comment after comment of posters agreeing with Bill Clinton and all with a similar response saying, "You're right Bill.  Before the Democrats took control in 1962, the city was prosperous". Fox 2's post disappears. 

Clinton made this statement about Detroit today at an economic lecture at Georgetown.