The Paris of the West and the Vast Wasteland That Remains

TheBrennerBrief.com ^ | December 19, 2012 | Amanda K. Melson

[GreenEyedGal]

Michigan has been in the headlines recently with right-to work legislation and an omnibus abortion bill. What didn’t cause much stir is Michigan’s 2011 eighth grade education report card. The state as a whole is able to claim to be on par with the nation in reading, with 32 percent of eighth graders rating as “proficient” or better; in math, 31 percent of students ranked as “proficient” or better. Compared with national averages of 32 and 34 percent of eighth graders at or above grade-level in reading and math, respectively, Michigan’s public education system appears to be as mediocre as every other state. What the statewide numbers don’t show, however, is the complete failure of the Detroit Public Schools.

Decades ago Detroit, called the “Paris of the West,” was the fourth largest[...]

[GreenEyedGal]

I've posted a new article today on the damage done to Detroit by liberal government policies. The information is timely, considering the choice the country made on November 6, 2012. Please rate the article once you've read it. Feel free to leave comments on the blog, the website or here. I enjoy the exchange of ideas and information. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Blueflag]

Welcome to FReerepublic.com.

Personally I like your article.

Get ready to be blasted by some folks here who for whatever reason refer to anyone linking to their own blog as blog pimps.

Personally, I think it’s OK, especially if the writing is good.

Long time FReepers will get a chuckle out of your choice of screen names, as there is a certain history of sorts here with ‘green-eyed’ women.

Enjoy your evening.

[Paladin2]

FR used to have a green eyed something or other.

Is this likely to be the same?

(Classy Green Eyed Blonde iirc)

[Fiji Hill]

I have a policy of never citing Wikipedia when I post on this site, but I'll make an exception. The Wikipedia article on Detroit is all upbeat and positive, with pictures of gleaming skyscrapers and beautiful monuments, historic sites and sports stadiums. There are no photos of crumbling mansions and theaters, abandoned churches, hotels and factories, deserted streets, etc. that abound in the former "Paris of the West."

[GreenEyedGal]

Thanks for the welcome and your kind words.

I am new here, so I’m not yet sure what is or isn’t acceptable. I opened this account after speaking extensively about the upcoming Virginia 2013 governor’s race with another FReeper. He highly recommended the site and thought I would enjoy posting and discussing issues here with like-minded individuals. Right after that, I started writing for TheBrennerBrief.com and I’ve been rather busy ever since! I haven’t had much time to hang out here, on Twitter, Facebook or Twitchy (where I was commenting regularly) because the writing is taking up a lot of my time.

If linking to your own blog is frowned upon, perhaps you or others could share some ideas with me about how to grow my blog audience. I don’t know that I would normally be so bold, except I really believe I have an ability to write, it’s something I enjoy doing and I’m hopeful that maybe someday I’ll be able to make a career of it. To me, this is the entrepreneurial spirit conservatives admire, so I’m a bit dumbfounded FReepers would have a problem with it. But I suppose as I spend more time on here, I’ll gain better understanding of how it works and what’s expected of me. I’m a bit rebellious though, so we’ll see how that works.

By the way, you are the second person here to refer to another green-eyed “woman!” I can only imagine what that person’s posts were like (yikes!). Were you a fan? This individual apparently made quite an impression.

Thanks for taking the time to write and let me know that you liked what I wrote.

I hope you have a lovely evening!

[GreenEyedGal]

So THAT’S why the other commentor asked me if I was classy! Now I get it. LOL. No, I’m not that green-eyed person. I really am a woman (I’ve carried four babies in my womb - not all at once though!). And although I lighten my hair, I’m not truly a blonde :)

[Blueflag]

Green —

MY *OPINION* as that as long as you post in Blogger & Personal (not breaking news e.g.) you can ignore the haterz. ;-)

AND i encourage you to reply to “admin” and “Jim Robinson” on this thread and straight up ask.

I am unaware of any policy, but can’t hurt to ask, and then you are armed with facts.

the prior “classy Green-eyed Blonde” IIRC was a scam. She was really a he who snookered a LARGE number of FReepers into ‘true love’ ;-)

[GreenEyedGal]

Thanks for the advice, Blue. Yes, I heard that Classy had some hot comments. I have all the “true love” I can handle with my own DH, so I’m not looking to add to that burden (she says, with a laugh!).

Jim and Admin, are there any restrictions for posting links to my blog, as long as I post in Blogger & Personal? As I explained to Blueflag, I believe I have a talent for writing. I am also full of opinions. So I’m trying to put the two together and see if I can eventually make a career out of it. I’m new to the whole blogging industry, but I have found that FR brings more traffic than Facebook and Twitter combined! Smarter members? Certainly your members are more willing to read and inform themselves. And those are exactly the type of people I’d like to appeal to.

Because of your readers’ response to another of my articles, I was a guest on The Brenner Brief’s radio show.

There is a lot of news to be found on your site and your commentors appear to be very well informed. Their responses make me think and help me further develop my thoughts.

Any guidance you could give would be much appreciated.

[Jim Robinson]

If posters write and post their own material to FR, I see no legitimate reason for them to excerpt it here and try to get our posters to go read it on their blogs or personal web sites. If they wish to become contributing members and participants on FR then they should do it—all the way. We have absolutely no interest in providing third party bloggers a marketing platform.

[humblegunner]

To me, this is the entrepreneurial spirit conservatives admire, so I’m a bit dumbfounded FReepers would have a problem with it.

Allow me to explain.

We, the members of FRee Republic, fund this site with donations.

We do not do so in order to provide a free advertising platform for bloggers.

There is no reason you cannot post your own material in full, not as an excerpt.

Leave the excerpt button alone, it's not there for you.

Here are a couple of threads posted by our esteemed moderator staff on the topic:

A Suggestion for Bloggers Who Post at FR

The Pimp and The Poster (Mod Lecture Series)

So, given Jim's post above and the threads by the moderating staff, this should make things as clear as fine crystal.

Welcome aboard.

[GreenEyedGal]

Thanks for taking the time to let me know what’s objectionable about it. I will read the links you provided and make sure to follow them. My intention was certainly not to offend.

I would have written sooner, but my access to the computer has been severely restricted as of late. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year! All the best to you in 2013.