MEA Votes

Tuesday's election is all about jobs -- and Democrat Virg Bernero is a proven job-creator, according to The Detroit News.

The newspaper yesterday touted Bernero's job creation record with a banner headline, "Bernero’s jobs claim not just hype." The gubernatorial hopeful created 6,000 jobs as mayor of Lansing -- a figure that would be higher if positions that were kept from leaving the city were counted, too, a newspaper investigation found.

Far too many Michiganders are being forced to make dangerous decisions. They are choosing to overlook, ignore, or treat themselves instead of seeking the help of a physician. Why? Overwhelmingly many of them can’t afford it!

It is a dilemma that threatens society as we know it. Here’s what I think is at the center of it all.

This week’s events in Wayne-Westland have stirred lots of passion among MEA members. For many, it has rekindled a real fire for unionism – especially in showing how the power of collective action can be the impetus for positive change.

It’s important to keep that union spark ablaze as we approach the challenges ahead. Unions have a critical role in today’s America – particularly in protecting our middle class and growing an economy that ensures a strong future for our children.

The roller coaster ride of the financial markets and the anxiety it’s causing average Americans has been very troubling. Couple that with the economic funk Michigan has been in for years and you have a situation crying for a solution.

Given the news of the past two weeks about financial crashes and investigations and bailouts, it’s completely appropriate for this fall’s political candidates to stay focused on the economy. It’s the top thing on most American’s minds.

So everyone should be eager for a plan to pump $2.7 billion back into our local, state and national economies, right? How do we do it?

Graduate 21,185 more students from Michigan high schools.

As students head back to campus for the fall semester, they’re looking forward to new classes, reuniting with friends and hopefully catching some good college football games.

But many of them also are looking ahead to something less exciting – the prospect of repaying thousands of dollars in tuition debt.

Dropouts: One is Too Many.

That’s the theme of a statewide series of hearings MEA and other partner organizations are holding about the dropout crisis. To help our economy and our communities, we need to graduate more students from high school.

In this critical election year, the economy is the issue at the top of everyone’s mind. But it's another crucial yet less discussed issue – education – that really drives our economy by preparing students for future careers, encouraging local growth in 21st century jobs, and providing a cost-effective return on all of our tax dollars.

That’s why we’ve launched the MEA Votes Blog, providing a forum for discussion of the key education issues that are part of the political dialogue in our communities, our state and our nation. From how the dropout crisis relates to availability of local jobs, to how the No Child Left Behind law affects students and school employees across the country, the MEA Votes Blog is the place to make your voice heard on the issues you hear about in the school halls and on the campaign trail.