THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
“How long will I stay peaceful?” That was the sign slogan in this jarring photo from last week’s Moss Message, concerning the March 16th Lansing Demonstrations.
The determined-looking fellow in the picture has now been identified. He’s none other than Scott Hagerstrom, the State Director of Americans for Prosperity--Michigan.
No, the sign is not his. Seeing Hagerstrom at a No-Justice-No-Peace union rally is like spotting Ted Nugent at a Vegan parade. Americans for Prosperity is a fiscally conservative, free-market, organization advocating limited government, civic liberty, lower taxes, and less regulation. The contrast could not be greater. Having tracked down Scott Hagerstrom, I asked him what’s the deal?
SH: “I was just at the Capitol, checking it out, to see what was going on. I wasn’t protesting. AFP is not a Republican, not a Democrat organization. We’re about the issues. Usually we spend more time calling out Republicans than Democrats.”
So what
did you think?
SH: I saw a lot of vulgar signs. The most troubling was the one I was photographed standing next to. (“How Long Will I Stay Peaceful?”) That sign was very troubling, I don’t know whose sign it was, although I believe BAMN was there.”
BAMN is
the radical leftist group “By Any Means Necessary.” They specialize in
protests, extreme rhetoric, and chanting “No Justice No Peace!” There
were people chanting “No justice No Peace," so maybe BAMN was in
the House. Not your sign?
SH: NO WAY! It’s just the opposite. We believe in being respectful. Vulgarity and threats of violence are never appropriate. I don’t understand how they can say Democracy is being threatened. We just had free elections and the people voted for the leadership we have. I was disappointed to learn 14 people had been arrested trying to occupy the Capitol building. Americans for Prosperity is a grassroots organization with 1.7 million members nationwide, 52,000 in Michigan and we believe in respecting the law.
You
don’t think evil business is attacking the little guy?
SH: Businesspeople are our neighbors. They’re employers. We want capital investment to come to Michigan. We need investment in people and plant. We’ve lost one million jobs in ten years, it was a lost decade. In 1965 we were 9th in per capita income in Michigan. Today we’re 39th per capita. We’re now a poor state.
Do we
need Right To Work?
“This isn’t about getting rid of unions. There will always be a role for unions. These are good hard-working people trying to put food on family tables. They’ve played a great role in Michigan: Fair Labor practices, safe working conditions, workplace reform. I come from a union family. But today’s system is not sustainable, and the union bosses should have less political power.
You’re
not protesting the Governor’s programs?
SH: the Governor has a plan. At least he’s made decisions and is moving forward. Do I agree with him 100%? No. But we can’t just keep business as usual. I have 4 kids, ages 5 through 13. I want there to be opportunity for them to stay in Michigan.
Maybe a
better sign is “How Long Do you Think I’ll Stay Productive?”
SH: Well, Atlas is shrugging. The new Atlas Shrugged film is coming out April 15th. Tax Day.
“Maybe
the employers should march on Lansing, chanting “No Reform, No Jobs!”
SH: We will be having a rally in Lansing, on April 14th at the Capitol, Noon to 1:30. Dick Morris will be speaking, as well as Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. We’ve invited Chief Justice Robert Young. (For more information, check out http://www.michiganafp.com/)
You can go hear the other side of the story.
Maybe I’ll bring a sign
that says “Who Is John Galt? YOU ARE.” Or “No CHIEF Justice, No Peace.”
SH: Laughter, but no comment.
