Michigan Information & Research Service News has reported the decision to waive the non-disclosure requirement contained in the departure agreement between former DHS director Robert Gordon and the State of Michigan. Per Gordon and Bobby Leddy, Whitmer’s spokesman, the secrecy provision was dropped “in the interest of greater transparency”. In a letter to the Michigan Senante immediately following the new agreement, Gordon said “reasonable people” disagreed in decisions related to the state’s COVID-19 response. This was healthy: the stakes were life and death, and different people have different role.” It appears the pressure that was applied to Whitmer requesting transparency prevailed. That is a good thing.
Hypothetical question, If up to 10 residents of the Upper Peninsula die this winter die because they were not able to have propane delivered to their homes, or if they cannot afford the higher price as a direct result of Governor Whitmer’s potential shut down of Line 5, do you think Governor Whitmer should be charged with involuntary manslaughter? I think not, because as AG Dana Nessel has indicated, bad policy decisions which result in death are not a reason to process criminal charges against the person making the decision. Civil court is where these type of issues need to be resolved. Unfortunately, AG Nessel has not applied these same principles to the charges she has brought against former governor Snyder and former DHS director, Nick Lyon. The charges against Snyder, Lyon and others are politically motivated and have no business in criminal court.
The IRS has moved tax day back to May 17, 2021. You have until this date to file your 2020 taxes and not be subject to penalties or late payment fees. The IRS is currently overwhelmed with distributing stimulus checks and is using the additional time to smooth out work demands. For all of the procrastinators who hate doing their taxes, this is a small reprieve.
Congratulations to Sara Haines of ABC News and The View for publically sharing that she suffers from anxiety and depression. It is a big deal when a person with her success comes forward. Sara is not how many of the public view a person who suffers from depression looks or acts. Her sharing of her issues will save lives.
The killings in Atlanta of eight women makes me wonder how many more people need to die, before this country begins to address the mental health crisis that exists in our society. It is estimated that 50% of all adults suffer from some form of mental health issues. The majority is for mild or moderate anxiety and depression. Most primary care doctors are not well equiped to handle these cases. The mental health professionals are overwhelmed with much more severe cases. As a result, we have a large portion of our adult society that are dealing with their mental health issues on their own without professional help.
For teams from the B1G, they have already been restricted to their hotel in Indianapolis, except for practice and games, for over a week. If any of the teams make a long NCAA tournament run, the teams will be have been restricted to their hotel for over 4 weeks, except for a small amount of time they are allowed to go outside of their hotel for scheduled but very restrictive outdor activities. The student athletes and staff of the teams that make it to the Final Four are going to be stir crazy by the first week of April. As Juwan Howard says, “they need to embrace the suck” I am thinking back to my college days and am wondering how long I could remain inside my dorm room without going outside. I am thinking 48 hours and that is only if I was sick.
Go Green tonight in their game against UCLA. It is now one and done for all 68 teams. What you did leading up to today means nothing. It is a new day and a new season. Make a good run.
Stay safe. Social distance. Wear your mask properly. Wash your hands regularly. Schedule your vaccine.
Quote of the Day: “So from now on, you won’t hear me complain about the food or anything like that. I’m embracing the suck, as he says.” Michigan freshman center, Hunter Dickinson, following the advice of Coach Juwan Howard to “embrace the suck” of the bubble the NCAA mens basketball teams must endure in order to compete in March Madness this year.
Orchid for the Day: Governor Whitmer and Robert Gordon for eliminating the non-disclosure agreement in Gordon’s resignation agreement. It never should have been there in the first place.
Onion of the Day: To whoever made the decision to withhold from the publc up until now, the newly released intelligence report on Russia/Putin interference in the 2020 presidential election. The report confirms what so many of us have thought all along.