I've already seen some talk in comments and in social media about the inherent racism in the State of Michigan taking over the City of Detroit.

Well, let's personalize it; it's One Tough Nerd stepping in to overtake the city council. The state's top elected leader is stepping and taking over for the city's elected leadership, including Mayor Dave Bing.

But I can't help thinking now is not the time to look into history as to how these problems developed and grew so out of control. The color of issue here is green, one born of money and how to pay for services with a shrunken tax base as home values plummeted and people fled (2 million down to 700,000).

When I moved to this area, the 2000 census was just showing the population had dipped to under a million. It's still falling fast.

Something needs to be done and the answer is not in wild accusations but working towards solutions to repair the budget and pay the bills and provide some services.

"Are you sorry?"

That sums up the case against Kwame Kilpatrick and his administration's running of Detroit. Reporter Charlie LeDuff asked the right question when the disgraced former mayor stepped out of the US District courthouse.

Convicted of numerous racketeering and corruption charges today, along with friend and partner Bobby Ferguson, Kilpatrick is looking at a significant prison term for his role in plundering Detroit.

And as the man always decries how his family feels and feigned a love of the people of Detroit, he should have answered the question. Of course, he didn't.

He may yet, though, if he is convinced of that apology helping him get out of prison any earlier.  But for a man who has stuck to his story for years, he may be unable to admit guilt and apologize.

It'll be interesting, does he admit it and apologize in order to get to that family sooner or does he keep the lie going and miss more of their upbringing?

I find it very very funny that on the day Forbes declares Detroit and metro Detroit the most dangerous place in America, someone also finds a cannon in the Detroit River.

Hey Detroiters, guess what, I don't know the details of all the budget fights, but I have a single thought about the process: Go with the budget that cuts the most!

Why? Well, it's only going to get worse, and the longer you delay the cuts, the more difficult it will be on down the line. The city's schools are already run by the state-appointed emergency manager, just as the City of Pontiac is run.

With a dwindling population base, massive unemployment and almost non-existent property values, Detroit's budget woes are only to worsen in coming years — until someone on the private side invests money to build some industry and provide some jobs. City, county and school jobs cannot maintain an economy, as we learned in Eastern Europe.

It's only going to get worse for all us in Michigan, it seems, so to get through this recession (or this slow-to-develop recovery), we must cut what we can now in order to figure out what we can live with and what we can live without in coming years.

When revenues go up, the budgets can be expanded or any new taxes can be ended.

Ok, these two headlines active right now on the freep.com are bringing back painful memories.

First is the obvious kick to the gut of everything decent in public life: Sam Riddle, convicted of corruption and serving time for his role in a bribery scheme in Detroit and Southfield, will be teaching an ethics course in federal prison.

Second is one that hurts the heart, as Matt Millen — he who boldly led the Lions through their darkest decade in what has been a half century of mostly misery — is declaring that many NFL teams would be interested in Ohio State's troubled QB, Terrelle Pryor. Avoid him like the plague if Millen would be interested!

Oh well, at least I can read Kwame Kilpatrick's autobiography and fell better about myself as I watch society wash down the drain.

Good job on keeping Kwame Kilpatrick in prison and not allowing him to utilize the boot camp program.

But now his lawyer claims prison stint should be enough to cover the million-dollar debt.

Might have a point, but it seems like his lawyer is setting up His Dishonorable for a first-time parole rejection. "If you're not planning to pay and abide by parole-probation conditions, then we're not paroling you." I can hear it now.

Also, I think he'll still have that debt on his record. He may not pay it, but it should stay with him. He doesn't care about his reputation, his criminal history, and his public image, so why should he care about his credit rating?

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy will hold a press conference to announce charges against person suspected of fatally shooting a Detroit police officer.

I just wonder, if her office is going to charge the person with first-degree murder, then why withhold the announcement while announcing the press conference. Just announce the charges and file them as soon as possible.

However, there's one main reason to hold a press conference, and that's if the top charge is not being applied. Then you'll have to explain your office's reasoning. And if it's a negative thing that you're announcing, you want to be there to take the questions immediately and face-to-face.

Perhaps, she'll announce an initiative to make killing a police officer one of the felonies for which first-degree felony murder is applied. Right now, it's a limited bunch of felonies, such as armed robbery or rape, and the idea is this, even if one does not intend to kill someone, if someone dies during the commission of a felony, it's the same as premeditated murder.

So the press conference could be used to highlight a shortcoming in the law.

Otherwise, if you're announcing a top charge, are you just using the opportunity for some face time? I hope not, not with the death of a police officer. Let the wheels turn and don't make it about you, unless there's something tricky that needs explaining.

When Worthy announced charges against disgraced ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, she held a press conference, and that was necessary, for it was a political event and she owed it to the city and surrounding area to explain what she had and why she was doing what she did.

Whatever happens, I'm interested in what Worthy has to say about this current case. Nothing in Detroit will ever get fixed if police officers are getting killed or if teachers lack support to do their jobs. No one 'moves forward' if the basics are not covered.