dear governor nerd,
on the cold evening of november 2, 2010, i heard the news that we would be embarking on a relationship together. i have to assume this is what it feels like to be a part of an arranged marriage. so i waited, relishing my last moments of a democratic majority in the state house and a democrat in the governor's mansion as we rolled into winter and inching closer to january. i had heard the rumors about you; you were going to be different than the others, you would save michigan and you would be like governor milliken, a moderate with the best interest of the state at heart. and while your business (and lack of political) background made me a little uncomfortable, i braced myself for the idea that maybe this could be a good thing. change is good right? and things always ache a little when change happens.
before we could even make it to our january date, you started to show your true colors, appointing former governor engler staff as your transition team. i felt betrayed. you were already breaking promises, the promises that got you elected, the promises that you would be different. january came and with you at the helm and republican leadership flanking you in the house and senate, you set off to work and i watched, hoping that it wouldn't turn into a catastrophe. as we approached your first state of the state, you were criticized for never talking about what your "plan" is for michigan. see, now that you are in office, you can't just say you are so much smarter than us. we have a right to know what's going to happen. i didn't join in criticizing you. i waited for the state of the state and listened diligently as you repeated ideas from state of the state's past and said almost nothing specific. there was no plan but there were still some good things that you said, like we need to invest in education.
before i knew it, it was february and you presented your budget proposal. you came in slashing with a machete where scalpel like precision was necessary. you came in with a wrecking ball when you just needed to make a small hole. it seemed that no one was safe. the young, the poor, the middle class, seniors, young adults. we were all pawns in your plan to make michigan a state for business. a state for business that would only be number two in the region and was being built on the backs of hard working men and women of this state. we have rolled through march and things have just kept getting worse. you have made law out of a bill that challenges citizens' fundamental right to vote for their elected officials and are sitting idle while the house and senate discuss taking away rights for domestic partnership benefits for same sex state employees, not to mention what is happening to our unions and our schools. you should be ashamed of yourself.
to be fair, i knew this had to happen. i knew the honeymoon had to end. and it has. but not just with me, with the majority of the citizens of the mitten state. you might have had many at hello but now they are wishing for a time traveling delorean driven by christopher lloyd to take us back to november 2, 2010 and have a do over. that's the fastest that people have given up on their governors, nationwide.
i know that you don't care about the politics of this because you "aren't a politician." but it is your politics that are ruining lives and you have become this state's worst nightmare. governor nerd, please listen to the people. we are the ones outside the capitol crying for justice. we are the ones considering leaving the state that has always been home because things are too horrible here. we are the ones that you need to be able to tax to support your buddies. you need us a lot more than we need you.
i'm writing to request a divorce. our relationship has gone as far as it can possibly go and whoever set up this arrangement should be punished deeply for the horror that it has been. i can't possibly be with someone who has no respect for good things and only thinks with his wallet. i await your reply (though your signature of resignation would be preferred.)
from the girl who is very worried about the future of her state.
until next time...
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