30/07/2025
Let's talk about propaganda for a moment, shall we?
Take this post that is attached that I screen-shotted before I was blocked this afternoon from Chris Long and the group Free Michigan - People's Grassroots Campaign.
This group is a far right propaganda machine that likes to spin lies instead of unpacking truths.
I'd tag them, but you know, blocked after I posted facts on his post.
He'll be getting a podcast and article on the website for that honor. Thank you, Chris!
Now, let's unpack this post.
First off, what an excellent foray of rhetoric from Chris.
I mean, he hits every word of spin like the master orator that Republican talking heads have become in order to convince people they are on the side of working people and the middle class beyond being slave laborers.
Let me be perfectly clear:
I don't love neoliberal democrats anymore than I love fascist Republicans.
Important point to make.
With that said, let's start with the most important point of the article:
I quote from Chris: "While you're struggling to pay the bills and keep your family afloat, Gretechn Whitmer and the Democrat machine are orchestrating the biggest legalized shakedown in Michigan history...
Health insurance hikes?
Up to 18.2% increases coming from Blue Cross Blue Shield -- the same company Whitmer's father ran as CEO for nearly 20 years...
And who decides if these hikes get approved?
Whitmer's personal appointee at the Department of Insurance and Financial Services."
That's part of his long opening spin.
Here's the truth of the matter:
The insurance industry is asking for the rate increases, not the democrats wanting them or pushing them through.
And it's not just Blue Cross and Blue Shield. It's ALL of them.
That's an imporant piece that Chris chooses to leave out.
I have a link in the comments with the breakdown of what the requests are and from whom.
Again, informaiton that Chris is choosing to leave out of his spin.
I mean, Republicans do depend on their base remaining uneducated and uninformed on literally every subject in order to keep them invested in the propaganda machine.
So, the spin is not surprising.
Let's follow the money:
Upon a little digging, I discovered that the Health Alliance Plan PAC in Michigan gave about 70% of it's candidate contributions to federal Republican candidates in the 2023-2024 election cycle.
I'll be digging further into the state level funding for the article and podcast.
But from that number alone, one could easily assertain why this article was written and why the spin is so hard.
Unfettered capitalist billionaire shareholders and their CEOs are the ones asking for the rate increases, my friends.
And though neoliberal democrats vote in favor of big businesses a lot more than I would like them to, health insurance isn't one of the areas they have a record of screwing their constiutients over on.
In fact, they work hard to try to lower health insurance and to insure more people.
Case in Point: Representative Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), has introduced legislation for a state-based universal single-payer healthcare system. (Another link in the comments for the overview of this.)
It would cover ALL Michiganders regardless of income and status.
It would streamline the whole industry.
The insurance industry will hate this.
And so will Republicans.
Even though it would save us tens of billions annually, including $20 billion in the first year alone.
But that's the point of this article an others like it, isn't it?
More in our pockets, less in theirs?
Republicans, always try to screw it to the American people.
Always.
They vote in favor of big business always.
And the insurance industry is one of their biggest friends and contributors.
There is never a case where Republicans vote for lowering costs for their constiuents if it means regulating an industry or at the cost of a corporation's or an industry's profits.
Literally never.
Find me one example.
I challenge you.
But this piece of spin in the article right here:
"Are you seeing the scam yet?
Whitmer appoints the people
The people protect her donors
Your bills go up
They all get paid"
That's literally the blueprint for unfettered capitalism.
That is literally the blueprint for Republican policy.
That's literally the blueprint for Republican spin.
This article is nothing more than Republicans spinning propaganda -- yet again -- to take the focus off of them for wanting to literally gut the Michigan budget that benefits We the People, in order to funnel the tax revenue at big business, aka, their donors.
Now, there is a lot about Gretchen Whitmer's policies that I hold issue with.
I'm not for corporate personhood and all benefits going to the top -- to people who already have everything, which is more of a traditionalist Republican enforcement, but dems are guilty of it, too.
I'm not for tax breaks for these non-persons in order to create low paying jobs while destroying lives and our ecosystems in the name of unlimited profits.
I'm absolutley against the auto insurance fix a few years ago that actually increased rates and makes it harder for people to get insured in the no-fault hellscape of Michigan.
But these ongoing bu****it lies being spun by the lying two-faced fools like Chris Long in order to keep the victims of this system pitted against each other, is nothing less than vile.
Shame on your Chris Long and your propganda machine.
I'd say something a bit more harsh, but Facebook will just censor me.
You can be sure that I will in my article and podcast about this article, and your organization, Free Michigan.
And really with that name?
Talk about spin.
And if anyone knows Chris personally, be sure to thank him for me for being a🐔 f***s.
Michigan Democratic Party
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
