The challenge of itemizing and defining corruption in the state of Michigan is a daunting task indeed. If you have begun reading this document, you already have some sense of the magnitude and depth of this long term and in-depth subject. The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that “ For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

Can there be any doubt as to the absolute truth in this verse? I think not.

In a more recent quote; “Follow the money” is a catchphrase popularized by the 1976 docudrama film All the President’s Men, which suggests political corruption can be brought to light by examining money transfers between parties. I believe this widely accepting variant of 1 Timothy 6:10 is an excellent place to begin to find and understand the hidden linkages and fiduciary incentives that drive our government in Michigan. This is why I have attempted to follow the money to determine what corruption has taken place and who or what has enabled this corruption. Our entire Michigan corruption is based on finding “legal” pathways to enable the flow of money to influence decisions and providing opacity, not transparency, to provide cover for this money flow. This precisely why:

1. Campaign Finance Limits have grown to such unacceptable size

2. The Governors office and the Legislature has shielded themselves from FOIA Laws

3. The Secretary of State has illegally written Election Manuals to prevent Election Challengers from observing and challenging election proceedings that they are actually entitled to do under election law

I have spent most of my adult life in the state of Michigan and love this state. Unfortunately, I am finding it harder to live here knowing the degree of corruption and continually observing the pure insolence of the elected officials that are supposed to represent me; but clearly are not. When 10,000 Michigan citizens presented all of the Legislators and the Executive branch with notarized affidavits requesting their Constitutional Right to a Comprehensive Audit of the 2020 Election and there request was never honored, I knew that we have, in fact, totally lost control of our government. Our elected officials have no allegiance to us whatsoever.

Abraham Lincoln has always been one of my favorite presidents. One of the more impressive accomplishments of his, second only to freeing the slaves, was his profound intellectual ability to take the 6000 words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and summarize them into a ten word concise summary: “Government of the people; by the people; for the people.”

That simple but accurate phrase has stood as one of the guiding principles for millions of us through the years. Sadly, it clearly is only a dream and not a reality in Michigan. We have lost so much!

It clearly is our duty to regain this wonderful but elusive concept if our children are to have the benefit of living in a land of freedom and liberty.

Therein lies the reason that I have spent the majority of my available time thus far in 2022 seeking answers as to the misbehavior of many in our Michigan elected officials. This is a work in progress, that may never be finished, but I am duty bound to share my findings as I am able. Chapter three barely touches one of the more important problem areas of our Michigan corruption, expanded Campaign Finance Limits. Soon I will complete a more detailed study comparing Michigan’s Limits to other states. The simple fact is that one of the primary reasons that your reps and senators and governors no longer listen to you is because you cannot provide the monstrous sums of money that they believe that it will take to get re-elected. Neither you nor I can provide enough funds for them to be assured to continue to feed, clothe and house their families. That basic human need of all of us is the primary reason that our elected officials have deferred to the special interests that ever increasingly become the driving force in all of their decisions and law making. 

In the following chapters I provide some clues as to whom is providing and/or enabling excessive funds to help special interests and what the possible remedy(s) are.

God Bless you and the State of Michigan!

Keep Praying and working to share the truth!

Bob Cushman

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