During the years of the great covid scam, Hillsdale had shown it could stand up to Lansing when it mattered. Now, as the state demands that Hillsdale, and about 50 other Michigan municipal power communities, cut production by 1.5 percent each year for the next four years, the debate on Council was shaped less by law or principle, and more by fear.
Councilman Bob Flynn said it plainly,
“I’m just nervous that there is the chance that we could be the exception made, that if we say no, like Councilman Bentley says, stand our ground, I’d hate for us to be the example.”
That is not an argument for compliance based on facts. It is an argument for preemptive surrender, not because the policy is right, but because resistance might come with consequences, with no thought for the consequences of compliance.
This came after the most recent council meeting, when City Manager Mackie asked the Council for direction he could take back to other municipal leaders who had reached out to Hillsdale for its guidance, because Hillsdale has told the state no before, stood strong, and won. Oddly enough, a consequence for resistance against tyranny is being looked to for guidance against it.
As everyone reading this is aware, Hillsdale Conservatives rarely, if ever, agree with the City Manager on local issues. However, he has shown a willingness to stand up to state government when it counts, and it matters to recognize, and encourage, that kind of leadership, even when it comes from officials we often oppose. When a bad leader makes a good stand for the City and the people he serves, citizens should reinforce it, not sabotage it.
After Councilman Flynn made his statement about being made an example of, he went on to warn that the consequence could come in the form of a state fine. He floated an arbitrary figure of $350,000 or more, with nothing offered to support that assumption, other than that this is the number being discussed as the payment mechanism intended to force compliance with the new mandate. The problem is simple, this “law” has no teeth as presented to the public in this discussion, there is no immediate enforcement hammer coming down, and the only pushback described in the process is a later meeting with Lansing over “reasonableness.” This is not a joke.
As Councilman Paladino correctly pointed out, “A law is no law if it doesn’t have force.”
After discussion with the City Attorney, who did a great job explaining the City’s position, Council was told it had little to fear. The City is well within its authority to fight this, and the most that could happen in the near term would be a meeting about it, months from now, possibly never and especially not a fine.
Unfortunately, fear once again ruled the day. Councilman Flynn voted with the go along to get along bloc, effectively accepting a “law” that forces the City of Hillsdale, a city that has been expanding with new businesses and new homes, to reduce power consumption by 1.5 percent each year for the next four years.
The winners in this are the people who can afford to ignore the consequences of yet another edict from Lansing, one that has the effect of limiting growth for small business, and punishing the very residents who are already struggling to pay high electric bills.
Residents will be forced to use less power, not because they suddenly became more efficient, but because they cannot afford to use what they need. Small businesses, already fighting just to keep the doors open, will be boxed in, unable to expand, unable to invest, and unable to compete.
All of this is business as usual for officials who believe they were placed into their representative positions to decide who wins and who loses, and who have no problem governing through fear. You are not the exception. Step out of line, and you will be made an example of. This is what Hillsdale voted for after all.
Oddly enough, these are the same officials who keep pushing projects and extensions for the chosen winners. Later in the same meeting, the Keefer, one of those winners, once again got its extension passed. Do not worry, this is the final, final one. Then they will be held accountable, just like all the other losers who dare expect equal and fair treatment from those who hold the power of government force to wield against those not chosen. This is a joke. Everyone paying attention knows full well the government does not hold itself or the people within it accountable here in Hillsdale.
As Councilman Stuchell likes to say, his job is to “pick winners and loses,” and he is very good at it.
Gone are the days of Hillsdale being a positive example for the rest of the state, a place others look to for leadership.
What Councilman Flynn needs to understand is this, Hillsdale will always be the example. Now, it is simply becoming a bad one, at least when it comes to leadership.
in liberty,
the Hillsdale Conservatives
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