LSJ Blogs: John Schneider

Decision on state workers’ $72 million due next week

State officials still haven’t decided whether they’ll give  state employees their money back, or take the fight to the Supreme Court. Look for the decision early next week. And, by the way, the pot now exceeds $72 million.

Fat people: pay more

Reader Ron Haywood of  Eaton Rapids called in moral question: Do health insurance companies have the right to dictate a subscriber’s weight?

Fit to be untied

I’m with Gov. Snyder on this one …
Up until a few years ago, I wore a tie to work every day. It was proof, after all, that I was a professional. Then one day, for some reason, I began to suspect that I could do my job without the noose.

Words fly over Red Cedar

EAST LANSING — In case you think that fans of Red Cedar Elementary are at a loss for words over the possible closing of the school ... Scott Harrison, a dad who lives on Lilac Avenue, sent me 2,000-plus words on the subject.

Designer genes

Speaking of longevity, as I was in Friday’s column …
Ninety-six-year-old Florence Drullinger emailed me — emailed! — to tell me the remarkable story of her durable family.

Running it down the flag pole to see who salutes …

Let your mind wander back to 2004, when some flag purists claimed Gov. Jennifer Granholm was abusing the American flag by ordering a flag-lowering every time a Michigan G.I. died in combat ...

Love didn’t keep the lights on for Barnes & Noble

As the sad news of the demise of East Lansing’s excellent bookstore, Barnes & Noble spread, I heard three people say they loved the store and often went there … but rarely bought anything.

The growing income gap … now THAT’S class warfare

So, let me get this straight …
If a working-class person says to an upper-class person, “You should pay the same income tax rate I pay,” that’s class warfare?
But policies that drive the wedge that continues to bloat corporate profits and widen the gap between rich and poor ISN’T class warfare …?

 

Stabenow congratulates herself for congratulating Tigers

 Some press releases from politicians are just plan silly. Consider this one I got Saturday from the office of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow:
 

The headline: “Senator Stabenow Congratulates Detroit Tigers for Winning Central Division Title”

Too much information, skipper

According to ESPN, before Thursday night’s Tigers-Oakland A’s game — the Tigers first lost after a 12-game winning streak, Tigers manager Jim Leyland  told reporters that he neither changed, nor washed, his underwear during the 12-game winning streak.