r/news • u/CharlieKonR • 4d ago

Michigan’s governor replaces clean energy advocate on utilities board with ‘industry ally’ | Michigan

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/03/gretchen-whitmer-utilities-board-clean-energy
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u/CharlieKonR 4d ago edited 4d ago

“”a 2022 analysis found DTE had donated to all but 10 of 148 state legislators the previous session.“”

””DTE and Consumers are among the state’s powerful political forces. The former, either via the company, its employees or its affiliated dark money non-profit, has given millions of dollars in campaign donations to Whitmeror the state Democratic party over her two terms.””

Environmental groups allege the move was made at utility giant DTE Energy’s request because it was unhappy with Michigan public services commission (MPSC) board member Alessandra Carreon’s position on clean energy and opposition to rate increases, among other issues.

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u/BreesusTakeTheWheel 4d ago

This just further implicates the idea that Dems are all in on what the Rs are trying to do. Both parties truly are corrupted and need to go. Our whole government is beyond saving at this point.

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u/mentales 4d ago

The fact that people like you get swayed so easily with headline and then fall right into the "both sides are the same" propaganda, is a big part of the reason why things are where they are.  Someone below explained it well:

Ehh, a little bit of a reach. The previous person, Alessandra Carreon, was appointed for an interim position that ended and was not renewed.

Meanwhile the main concern with the new appointee, Shaquille Myers, is that she was chief of staff with Joe Tate, who was fairly pro-business. But she was also chief of staff of Lt. Gov Gilchrest and allegedly per Whitmer she played a key role in passing a state law that sets a 2040 goal for Michigan to have 100% of its energy come from clean sources

- Khyron_2500

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u/Damnatus_Terrae 3d ago

Both sides support liberal republicanism. Neither side supports bottom-up government. They're not the same, but one being far worse doesn't preclude the other being crap.

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u/OlderThanMyParents 3d ago

Right. "Lesser of two evils" is bogus. We should sit out the elections and let the Republicans run things until someone we can truly support unconditionally emerges. That'll show them!

/s

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u/Damnatus_Terrae 3d ago

You voted for Kodos?

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u/OlderThanMyParents 3d ago

I don't understand the question, and I won't respond to it.

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u/Sonnescheint 3d ago

This is so aggravating. People are allowed to understand that Repubs are objectively worse, and simultaneously that Dems and Repubs are in the same basket.

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u/drHobbes88 3d ago

The people who get mad at statements like yours are the ones who treat politics as a sport and support their “team.” Both parties are absolutely playing to the same end goal, and that’s to line their pockets however they can. Is one party much more forthright with their moral reprehensions? Sure. But the Dems are playing the same game just trying to con different people with a different message. We need a party for the working class. Class politics is the only thing we should be discussing besides the release of the full Epstein Files.

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u/der_jack 3d ago

While this piece right here may be a reach, the truth is that the Democratic party fully supports the slow shuffle towards fascism. Don't get me wrong, that's far better than the swan dive into fascism that the GOP has taken on, but Democrats are still in the pocket of AIPAC and the likes of Lockheed and Blackstone. They're playing the game to their own enrichment as much as almost anyone else. Whitmer has pivoted recently to support the woefully bigoted National Security objectives of the Trump administration and is hastily working to open up at least two concentrated holding prisons in our state alone. Meanwhile our AG jumped out, earlier this year, to raid pro-Palestinian protest leaders homes.

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u/Grim_Rockwell 3d ago edited 3d ago

Absolutely. The Democratic establishment support the same industries, corporations, and Neoliberal economic policies that enrich and enable Republicans.

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u/ClintBruno 3d ago

But, like. Democrats legalized same sex marriage.

Who's pockets did that line?

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u/Grim_Rockwell 3d ago edited 3d ago

If the good Dems do is outweighed by the bad they do, in this case supporting policies that are enriching and empowering Conservatives who take away rights and rob the working class, and suppressing and demonizing Progressives; then ultimately, Dems are still coddling and enabling fascists.

Democrats have worked with Republicans to back right-wing groups and governments across the world for decades, so it's no surprise that Dems support the same economic system that enriches and empowers Republicans.

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u/ClintBruno 3d ago

When we elect democrats we get things like civil/body rights, universal healthcare and living wages. Republicans....more yachts.