Is Michigan and Detroit really that bad?

[PeaceChild]

The same thing happened in the early 80's. Remember "last one out of Michigan turn off the lights?"

People say the economy always bounces back, it seems to me that it is worse than back then, but I was also in a worse financial situation then. Not much better off now. Starting to get a little scared of all of this. Correction: Have been scared for a while now.

[PilotKelson1056]

I was 6 when my family moved away but I remember enjoying the snow. The rest of my family is still there, and all seems to be financially okay. I would say there is just alot of stereotyping, it's not that bad of a place. I'm sure the job market sucks though.

[PeaceChild]

Originally Posted by PilotKelson1056

I was 6 when my family moved away but I remember enjoying the snow. The rest of my family is still there, and all seems to be financially okay. I would say there is just alot of stereotyping, it's not that bad of a place. I'm sure the job market sucks though.

Yes, the job market is pretty tough. One of my sons live in NW Arkansas right now and am trying to get him to move back here. He is worried that he will not be able to find a job and I can understand that. Have invited him and his family to move in with me until they can get on their feet. Something they are not too thrilled about. Want their privacy and I understand that. They are only making it paycheck o paycheck as it is now and the home prices down there have not gone down much at all. Had to wire them money the other day so they could eat and pay some bills. The pay down there is much less than most other places.

The houses here are about 2/3 less than a few years ago. Maybe that's the silver lining to every cloud they talk about.

I agree with you. There is a lot of stereotyping about Michigan. A lot of outsiders seem to think Michigan is all about Detroit, when it is only one city among many here.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by PeaceChild

The same thing happened in the early 80's. Remember "last one out of Michigan turn off the lights?"

People say the economy always bounces back, it seems to me that it is worse than back then, but I was also in a worse financial situation then. Not much better off now. Starting to get a little scared of all of this. Correction: Have been scared for a while now.

I remember the bumbper stickers. But I do nto remember being affected at all in the 1980s. However people who were older than I was tell me it was as bad or worse then.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by junior 88 fan

Movie industry is NOT going to put 850,000 people (who lost jobs in the Jenny years) to work and if it did put some to work, it will NOT come close to paying a liveable wage to remain here. People need to wake up. The liberal TV and press is ballyhooing about a small car plant here in Orion....this is the car that Americans WILL NOT BUY. If we wanted this, we would already be buying Cobalts. Its not going to happen. We want the freedom to buy the car/truck/SUV that fits our needs/appeals to us and not have some holier than now freek from DC telling us that this is the car we need to drive to 'save' the environment. Complete BS being spoon fed from DC. If you do not have a decent paying job, it does not matter how beautiful this state is and how great tourism is. If you cannot afford to participate, what good is it?! Tourism is a three month industry. To attract business, taxocrtats need to offer no or low business taxes to corporations. Period. When that happens, work comes here. Its magic.

We no longer need to put 850,000 people back to work. A lot of them moved away. They are slowly putting people back to work a few thosand or even a few hundred at a time. That is how we are going to get there. It will not be a sudden resurgance that creates 100,000 jobs in two months. It will be a trickle. It has started, but we need a somewhat larger trickle.

Low taxes alone does not bring in business. If you have lo taxes but terrible roads so that products cannot be reaily shipped, then you do not attract business.

[bunny_hopper]

I live in MIchigan and have most of my life. I live in Rochester Hills which is a great place to live. Unfortunatly there are no jobs here for most people. I have a BBA-Acct degree and am in school for my Masters, along with just under 10 years experience in high-level accounting jobs - and I cannot find a job! At all! I am working a temp job now but as soon as it ends (Aug) I am taking my husband and 3 kids to Seattle.

My husband has lost 2 jobs, one in construction and one in automotive. We have been struggling for over 3 years here and we have just had it. Yes, Michigan will recover. But we cannot wait for it to recover, we have to survive today! Michigan will take longer than most states to recover so even though other states aren't doing wonderful now - they probably will be doing better sooner than MIchigan.

Downtown is beautiful as long as you can look past all the gunk and grime. The architecture there is beautiful, but I would never live in Downtown, I won't even visit anymore after my car got a brick thrown through the window.

[wb3690]

Reading all of this makes me so sad. I used to live in West Bloomfield and then in Ann Arbor.....however I haven't been back in years. A good portion of my friends are having to move to find jobs and are being relocated south and in other areas......It seems so sad to talk to friends who say they have to move and just can't stay any longer.

I'll be back next summer for my high school reunion.......well hopefully this fall for a football game, but we'll see. I hope things turn around and fast. My family all moved away about 10 years ago as well.