Whose Ox Is Being Gored?

I agree that Michigan's governor has gone overboard with her power grab.  I'm not arguing the necessity of her isolation orders, although I think I could.  I could also question the illogic behind them.  Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders are, according to Michigan laws of 1945 and 1976, well, unlawful.  As much as that, I think they are also unconstitutional and, especially, undemocratic.

I think a lot of people agree with me.  (Obviously not everyone.)  But many of those same folks who agree wouldn't agree with this.  Despite the emergency manager laws, what former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, also did fits the same bill--unconstitutional and undemocratic.   I know, I know......

(Like I'm not arguing for or against the necessity or effectiveness of Whitmer's actions, I'm not arguing for or against the necessity or effectiveness of Snyder's actions.   For the record, as this post demonstrates, I oppose both on principle.)

The situations are very different, but the end results are the same--unconstitutional and undemocratic actions by state executives.  That some find Whitmer's and Snyder's actions different in this sense, seems to me, to be hypocritical.  Either you believe in the right of people to govern themselves through elected representatives or you don't.

It reminds me of the public schools when they insist, "We're here for the kids," but always omit, "except when we aren't."

Sometimes, in practice, democracy is messy.  It doesn't always turn out the way we like or want.  That's part of, well, democracy.  People aren't perfect and make mistakes.  Sometimes they are big mistakes.  But, again, either you believe in democratic principles or you don't.  I really don't think you can pick and choose which principles and when to support.

If some of these cities and school districts went underwater, well, then rather than pick dictatorially someone to run them, let these entities sink or swim on their own.  If one believes in democracy, one believes that the people will eventually work out of their messes.  Or is democracy only for some people?

I believe a federal judge, in his opinion upholding Michigan's emergency manager statute, wrote this:  "The act does not take away a fundamental right to vote because such a right has never been recognized by the courts."  Huh??????  In a democracy, perhaps only the right to freedom of expression is more "fundamental" than the right to vote.  Universal voting is the cornerstone on which representative government is based.

Consider this.  Why, after the Civil War all the way up through the 1960s and 1970s, did so many white supremacists in the South work so hard to prevent blacks from voting?

Again, at the end of a long day, please overlook/forgive any typos......