In Benton Harbor Michigan a black guy on a motorcycle crashed and was killed while being chased by the police. This resulted in two days of rioting, considerable property destruction, and attacks on police and firefighters.
According to today’s paper the Governor of Michigan while visiting the city said:
Aren’t these statements sending the wrong message, isn’t this a little like acceding to the demands of terrorists? Shouldn’t the number one message from the Governor be that the rioters will be captured and punished? If rioting and arson are rewarded doesn’t this encourage more rioting and arson?
As far as I know, the rioters didn’t walk outside, turn around, then burn down their own houses. A small percentage of the town destroyed the property of others. She offered an impoverished town some state help in the midst of a crisis. It’s not that odd.
[hijack]
FWIW, I haven’t heard a single democrat imply that they were embarrassed by Granholm. In fact, she’s one of the few Dems that I’ve heard some Republicans say nice things about. She took over a sinking ship and is trying to level off the rate of descent, but thanks for speaking for Democrats everywhere.
Maybe so. But the Governor isn’t offering to help with the damage caused by the riot, she’s offering to help with the conditions that caused the riot. This, to me, seems to be saying, intended or not, that if your town’s got economic problems then promote a riot and you’ll get help from the state.
It really grinds me, but riots seem to be an effective economic and political tool.