Flashpoint: Experts talk right to work, Donald Trump

DETROIT – Flashpoint brought in the month of August with a conversation about the Supreme Court's decision that right to work should be the law of the land. Devin Scillian asked the panel about the issue and whether it's a good decision for metro Detroit.

John Truscott, president of Truscott Rossman said there are a couple of important factors: There are many long-term contracts in place that will eventually run out and that some unions have gotten much more competitive. He said it's all about competition with other states and the image that Michigan has.

"It's going to be a while before it plays out," said Jack Lessenberry, Metro Times columnist. "We really don't know and I think it's too soon to say."

Nolan Finley of the Detroit News said the ruling hasn't been as devastating to the unions as predicted.

Rochelle Riley of the Detroit Free Press said the unions are going to have to become a place you want to go to instead of a place you have to go to.

You can watch the first segment in the video posted above.

The panel returned in the second segment to talk about the presidential race. Devin asked about the impact that Donald Trump is having on the Republican Party in this race.

"I think he's bringing attention to the Party at a time when there would be nobody else paying attention to what's going on right now," Truscott said. "And you'd have these candidates out there just hitting Iowa and New Hampshire and nobody really paying attention. So from that standpoint, I think it's good."

Truscott said that on the other hand, he doesn't see someone with Trump's personality can last in the race.

Finley said everybody looks at Trump and thinks 'he's having a blast out there.' Finley said Trump isn't a serious candidate, but is just enjoying the spotlight. He said Trump doesn't really want to be president.

"Democrats have had a celebrity candidate from the beginning, now Republicans have a celebrity candidate," Finley said.

Lessenberry said there is danger for the Republican Party with Trump, but he could be a positive for the race.

Riley said Trump is the best thing to happen to the Democratic Party in the last 30 years. She thinks people will see Trump's comments as representative of the Republican Party's feelings.

Click on the video below to hear the full conversation about the presidential race.

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After the break, Riley said there was an assumption from 2008 that this election was Hillary Clinton's turn, but that she shouldn't assume that her "woman factor" still exists. She said her campaign so far hasn't been strong.

The conversation turned to the conversation about Riverside Park.

Riley said that Matthew Maroun doesn't want to be his father, but there has to be a wait-and-see attitude to change the feeling with the handling of the piece of property.

Lessenberry said that Duggan is greatly outsmarting the Marouns and that Canada would never let the family build a bridge on that piece of land.

The panel talked about whether Detroit needs another bridge. You can watch the entire third segment in the video posted below.

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