Why does it seem that discussions at the state level are always trying to focus on cities, when the real problem is the morbidly obese state bloatocracy?

Many of the problems that cities face are caused by the state taking money from the cities to keep its bloatocracy well fed.

Now the prescription for the current government funding crisis includes consolidating cities and public services, allowing the state to take over with EFMs, cut public employee pay and generally badmouthing cities as if they were the problem. [[Note, I support some of these efforts, the point is that the state is avoiding the real problem which is their own budget problem).

Just another comment, the proposal to cut all public sector salaries by 5% is like accepting the fact that the elected officials are completely incapable of managing their organization. They should be deciding which government programs to keep and which to get rid of, and then cut programs. That means layoffs. The state should be trying to keep the best state employees, because they are the only ones that can get the state back on track, because the elected officials have shown they are not capable of fixing any managment problem. So dump the crappy employees and keep the good ones, that is management 101. And choose the programs to get rid of and which ones to keep based on what services the people of this state really need.

What do you think of the states response to its budget crisis? Do you have any hopes for the Snyder plan which will be presented on Thursday at 11am?