Land O Links

"Every addition to true knowledge is an addition to human power" -- Horace Mann, 19th century American educator.

* George Romney was the first member of his family to bid for the presidency. His effort for the 1968 Republican nomination disintegrated, however -- and in ways that may have influenced his younger son's political career and choices:

http://nymag.com/news/features/george-romney-2012-5/

* Another way for citizens to arm themselves to handle the barrage of polling data this year is to understand some key factors involving the polling sample. This post takes two polls (one in Tennessee and one in North Dakota) to illustrate how polls could be derailed if the surveyed samples are distorted:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/ok-2012-president-62-romn_n_1534117.html

* Jack Lessenberry explains that the huge reduction in the value of Michigan's Earned Income Tax Credit will reverberate through plenty of Michigan businesses and communities:

http://metrotimes.com/columns/the-gipper-giveth-state-gop-taketh-away-1.1319158

* Vallejo, Calif., once was bankrupt. Now it appears to be on the financial upswing. This review by the Washington Post goes into the conversion (hat tip to Staff Writer Nancy Derringer). Take special note of the idea of "participatory budgeting." Is there a lesson for Michigan cities in this?:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/vallejo-calif-once-bankrupt-is-now-a-model-for-cities-in-an-age-of-austerity/2012/05/23/gJQAjLKglU_story_1.html

* Where are the dead pigeons? Fascinating, but not for the squeamish:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/why-arent-cities-littered-dead-pigeons/2038/

* The tale of big Chinese dollars, U.S. visa policies and interest in attending the University of Michigan gets a thorough vetting:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2012/05/will-chinese-investors-build-chinese-town-rural-michigan/2066/