Sunday, June 27, 2010

It's time for voters to derail Upton dynasty

Editor,

For far too long the Upton dynasty has helped its corporate cronies to exploit the resources of Southwest Michigan for their own gain.

Over the years, they have turned our green pastures into brownfields, and are now in the final stages of choking us off from access to our great lake. Six years ago, Fred Upton installed a staff member and acolyte, John Proos, in the Michigan House of Representatives. Now that Proos has been term-limited, Upton is grooming his heir apparent for the state Senate as the next easy step along the red carpet to Washington. And to complete the choke hold, the Uptonites are now trotting out yet another staffer, Al Pscholka, to take Proos' place in the state House.

A child of privilege, Upon has held onto his seat in Congress for nearly half his lifetime. He is one of the longest-serving, yet most invisible and inconsequential congressmen in modern history. The formula is simple: stay under the radar and make no waves. He is the quintessential career politician, and has had virtually no experience in the real world. The same is true for his political clone, John Proos.

Proos has learned his lessons well. His smile has been likened to that of a TV game show host. Upton has run ad nauseam on his "nice guy" image. Meanwhile, Proos grins while we bear it.

Enough is enough! It is time we sent someone to Lansing who will honestly and fairly address the real problems and challenges faced by middle-class [and poor] Michiganders. Republicans, Democrats and independents [and Greens] must unite in throwing off this archaic oligarchy. Remember the words of our forefathers: "United we stand. Divided we fall."

Scott Elliott, Democratic Candidate, State Senate, 21st District

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Whirlpool Drains the Midwest

Jobs Washed Up

Whirlpool refrigerator plant closes; 600 lose jobs, [OVER ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE LOSE JOBS THIS YEAR]

Hundreds of people worked their final shifts Friday at a Whirlpool Corp. refrigerator factory in Evansville, Ind., that has been the site of protests over its closure.

The Evansville plant’s production line was shutting down after turning out refrigerators for 54 years, meaning the loss of some 600 jobs.

About 450 other workers were laid off in March when Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool ended its second production shift.

Whirlpool announced last year that it would move pro­duction to Mexico.

Detroit News 06/26/2010, Page A12

Saturday, June 19, 2010

A Benton Harbor resident comes forward with a personal story of police abuse. You'll read in these short paragraphs how corrupt cops (backed by Whirlpool) ruin peoples' lives, and relationships with family and others. This story illustrates one part of the larger corporate objective to remove BH residents - by any means necessary.

I was one of the people in their reign of terror. They raided my house in ‘07 and took my chevy van. They took a large amount of money from my mother-in-law, and gave her only a percentage back. They also took money from me, saying they had found 3 eight balls in the house on the cabinet in vases. They were lying because where they said they found drugs my wife’s mother had cleaned the vases the day before. I told Mr. White, my attorney, that I never made a statement to Officer Collins or Hall, but he indicated that I told Collins that I drove my van around selling drugs to each and everyone that called me.

They also raided my uncle’s house - the same tormenting - them trying to make him say I sold drugs. The only thing I regret is losing my mother-in-law’s trust.
She started calling me a drug dealer, and I had them put out of the projects. I tried to talk to Mrs. Hester - she didn’t want to talk. She said I was a target. I also told her that I didn’t have any drugs nor did I sell drugs.

No one believed me, so I spent 2 days in jail and 2 years on a felony probation. All I want back is my life that I can’t seem to catch up with. I’m glad they found out the truth because nobody was asking questions about what Collins and Hall were doing. Pope tried to talk to the chief, but was not able to. I don’t blame just those two because it took more cops to do the drug raids, and some of those cops were there to witness what was found and what was planted.

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Essentially the same article was published in the HP two weeks ago. Beginning with an obviously inaccurate headline, this is nothing more than another propaganda piece. Whirlpool and Herald Palladium efforts at glorifiying intense and harassing police presence fall on deaf ears in Benton Harbor.

In 6th year, BH citizens are becoming fans of extra patrols

By Scott Aiken, Friday, May 28, 2010 (commentary begins with capital letters)
Berrien Springs - A program that has put extra police patrols on Benton Harbor streets each summer since 2005 is helping keep the city safer, officials said Thursday night. The joint effort of the Benton Harbor Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff's Department and state police is gaining public support.

---WHAT public ANYWHERE supports a police state?

Benton Harbor police Chief Roger Lange said city residents in the past questioned the presence of officers from other departments. "That's not being asked anymore," Lange told Berrien County commissioners... he believes people now see the benefit of the joint effort. Lange and Sheriff Paul Bailey presented data...

---NO RESIDENTS from Benton Harbor, nor from anywhere, welcome continued police stops, profiling, harassment, and false arrests. What human being WANTS to be in fear of the out-of-doors? Big Brother/Police State techniques keep poor people indoors, unable to communicate with friends and neighbors, living in a state of siege.

For the years 2005-09, officers working in the joint enforcement effort made 340 felony arrests, 1,417 misdemeanor arrests, 3,082 traffic stops and issued 1,505 tickets. They gave 1,810 warnings and made 4,361 checks of people using the Law Enforcement Information Network, a computerized data system.

---CHIEF LANGE, you could put a stop to these unconstitutional "checks" which you inflicted on pedestrians and drivers. Why waste money on misdemeanor arrests when they're supposed to be dismissed? These statistics are OUTRAGEOUS. Can anyone imagine St. Joe residents being made this afraid? Misery, racism, war on the poor, poverty, genocide, and a police state to make it all possible - Whirlpool is an evil enforcer. That's an understatement.

Money for the program in the warm weather is provided by an annual $50,000 contribution from the county and $50,000 from Whirlpool Corp. The money enables the sheriff's department to put two patrol cars, each manned by two deputies, on the street in Benton Harbor on weekends.

---WOULD that Whirlpool created jobs for residents. Instead, jobs go offshore, and BH residents are imprisoned.

State police add patrols during the week. The deputies and state troopers work with city police. "We're also working together in community programs," Bailey said. "It's not all about enforcement.

---BAILEY, enforcement is all you've ever understood. People have spoken out regarding your racist tendencies. You've never had a clue about "To serve and protect." Whirlpool wants you just the way you are.

"The city police are doing an excellent job, and it's been a great effort with the sheriff's deputies and state police."

---PROPAGANDA, pure and simple.

Lange said the extra manpower enables the city police department to better deal with so-called quality-of-life crimes such as gambling and public urination, and citizens appreciate the effort.

---CITIZENS are in need of jobs. Whirlpool and other corporations outsourced instead of making sure human beings in their midst were able to lead stable lives.

"The citizens' attitudes are changing," Lange said. "The citizens are coming to us and helping us solve crimes." The city police department has brought back a long-dormant reserve officer program, and 18 people who are completing training are to graduate on June 5. Lange said the reserves volunteer their time and will generally work with a certified officer. The reserves will sometimes work alone, he said, but have close radio contact with full-time police. Some of the reserve officers aspire to become certified officers, and their work as reserves allows the department to get to know them and their capabilities, Lange said. That could give a reserve officer an advantage when the city considers applicants to send to the police academy.

---TEACHING the residents how to become members of the occupying force of oppression.

saiken@TheH-P.com

Thursday, June 03, 2010

The Berrien County controlling corporation continues it's plan of gentrification (removal by any means necessary) of an African-American population in the way of a resort for the wealthy

Whirlpool plant in Michigan to close, taking 216 jobs Wednesday, June 2, 2010

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.—Whirlpool Corp. said yesterday that it will close a machining plant in Benton Harbor, Mich., eliminating 216 jobs.
The appliance maker said it is discontinuing production of components at the Michigan plant and making its latest laundry products at a location in Clyde, Ohio. The Michigan plant is expected to close at the end of this year or early in 2011.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/06/02/whirlpool-plant-in-michigan-to-close.html?sid=101

on another note:
[Whirlpool Owned] Maytag Recalls 1.7 Million Dishwashers After Fires, U.S. Says
June 3, 2010, Businessweek, By Jeff Plungis

June 3 (Bloomberg) -- Maytag Corp., the appliance maker owned by Whirlpool Corp., recalled 1.7 million dishwashers to fix a faulty heating element that can ignite a fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
Consumers should stop using the dishwashers immediately and disconnect the power source by pulling the fuse or flipping a circuit-breaker, the agency said today in a statement. Certain Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa and Crosley models are covered by the recall.
The manufacturer, based in Newton, Iowa, received 12 reports of fires with the plastic-tub models, including a blaze that caused extensive kitchen damage, the agency said.