Featured Video Archive

“My name is Susette Kelo, and the government stole my home.”

Those chilling words came from famed Connecticut homeowner Susette Kelo at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s Issues and Ideas Forum in East Lansing. Kelo’s battle to keep her property from being seized by her city government and turned over to private developers led to a controversial 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision. … more

Meet Pat Gillespie. He and his company want to build two upscale apartment complexes where parking lots now lie along the riverfront in downtown Lansing, Michigan. Find out how Big Labor recently threatened to halt both the cleanup and economic development of the property unless the developer agreed to pay union-scale wages and benefits for all of the construction jobs needed for his project.

Please see the related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14006 … more

Read more about this and other school funding myths. … more

President Barack Obama has pledged $8 billion in tax dollars to build a national network of high-speed rail—trains that can carry passengers at speeds in excess of 150 MPH.

But the Supertrain fantasy was a mistake back in the 1970s, when it gave rise to one of the most expensive—and rotten—TV shows in history. And it's just as much of a wreck in the 21st century for at least three reasons. … more

How can Americans create private sector jobs?

The solution to America's jobs problem lies not with budget-busting federally mandated "stimulus" programs.

Instead, what is needed are specific reforms that wouldn't cost taxpayers, would create a broader tax base for cash-strapped cities and states, and would provide opportunity for millions of Americans who worry where their next paycheck is coming from. … more

www.Innovation-Movement.com - The Innovation and the American Dream" video expresses the frustrations that so many Americans are feeling, that the economy is not on track and the American Dream is no longer within reach for many hardworking citizens.

But it does not have to be this way. It's time Washington lawmakers take a page from Americans innovators and entrepreneurs to guide the nation toward a comeback. Americans, with their ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, have the ingredients for success. We only need Washington to support an economy where entrepreneurs are free to compete and pursue their dreams.  … more

How New Media Are Transforming the Political Landscape with John Fund, Henry Payne, Frank Beckmann, Ken Braun and Kathy Hoekstra.

A revolution is transforming a media landscape once dominated by the “mainstream media.” Democracy needs good information, but until recently, a media culture sympathetic to big government skewed the news playing field. No more. Talk radio, Fox News, The Drudge Report, state-based think tank reporting and online opinion sites have created a new, freedom-oriented national infrastructure that has fed a starved market, diversified coverage and provided an alternative to the legacy media. In this crucial election year, that new media universe is playing a crucial role. … more

An Evening With the Mackinac Center, featuring Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson speaking on "What Michigan's Next Governor Can Learn from Oakland County."

(The program took place at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2010.) … more

Detroit's current "light rail" system has been called a “Horizontal Elevator to Nowhere” and the “least cost-effective transit project in the last 20 years.” So what's the response to this epic disaster of central planning from the political class? To build more, of course.

Reason TV has just released a video about a new Detroit “light rail” transportation system scheduled to be built next year. Here's a quote from one of the most vocal advocates of the program, state Rep. Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak):

“So, we have a limited pool of money? Is that what you’re saying? There’s only so much money in the world, ever?...Well, obviously that’s not true. If that was the case, if we wanted to build a new school in Royal Oak, for instance, we’d say ‘We cannot build another school in Royal Oak because we only have some much money.’” … more

In part two of an interview with GOP governor candidate Rick Snyder, he sits down with MichCapCon.com managing editor Ken Braun and explains his plans for public employee compensation, closing failing schools, environmental regulation and more. Part one is here

Both the Democrat and Republican candidates were given an opportunity to be interviewed by MichCapCon.com. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, the Democrat nominee, has not yet accepted. … more

In part one of an interview with GOP governor candidate Rick Snyder, he sits down with MichCapCon.com managing editor Ken Braun and explains his plans for the state budget, a tax cut for every Michigan business, and the biggest misconceptions about him. Part two will show tomorrow.

Both the Democrat and Republican candidates were given an opportunity to be interviewed by MichCapCon.com. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, the Democrat nominee, has not yet accepted. … more

An ongoing investigation by the Mackinac Center into a preferential tax deal that was granted to a maker of solar panels in Saginaw has revealed that the company may have "misrepresented" information that was "critical" to the company receiving special help from state government as part of the company's decision to move to Michigan rather than Texas. … more

Just two months earlier, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a $9.1 million tax credit for a convicted embezzler who was on parole (http://www.mackinac.org/12345).

Background check, anyone? … more