President Obama’s 15.2%-unemployment-rate-Michigan buddy-pal, Governor Jennifer Granholm, recently passed legislation to put 20% of the state’s electric grid onto renewable power by 2020 (please note for the record that a similar program in Denmark has nearly tripled power rates to 30 cents per kWh compared with Michigan’s current 8.5 cents).  Next on her agenda was to bless a 2010 ballot proposal that would require state utilities to reduce their rates by 20%. 

Let’s do some green math.

A 20% increase in the cost to utility companies who create the power we use in our homes and businesses every day is going to be countered with a 20% rate decrease in payments from their customers.  To use a very simple example, that’s like taking something that costs you $10 to produce today and increasing the cost to produce it to $12, then turning around and charging only $8 for it.  By my calculations, you’d be taking a 44% loss on every item.

A fine way to run a business, don’t you think?

But wait!  There’s more!

The Michigan Democratic Party has also announced they want input from “online Democratic activists” to help them decide what to pursue next:

• Mandating all employers to provide affordable health care for their employees and dependents or pay a penalty.
• Raising the minimum wage from $7.40/hour to $10/hour and covering all workers with no exceptions.
• Increasing unemployment benefits by $100/week, making all workers eligible and adding six months to the time one can receive benefits.
• Imposing a one-year moratorium on home foreclosures.

According to Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer:

 “While the greedy corporate CEO’s of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Regional Chamber, and Detroit Renaissance are worried only about their selfish interests, the Michigan Democratic Party is focused on helping all the people of Michigan get through these tough economic times.”

“The corporate special interests are using these tough times to advance the same tired old agenda – cut jobs, wages, and benefits; reduce services; and shift taxes onto the middle class and the poor,” observed Brewer. “These proposals put people first and will help millions of Michigan citizens.”

Ummm…aren’t those corporate CEO’s of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Regional Chamber, and Detroit Renaissance the people who actually  work and give jobs to people in Michigan?

I know it’s been a cooler-than-average summer in Michigan, but apparently it’s cold enough to keep those Dove Bars from melting, too.