[rubarb]

When clinton was president we in michigan had the best times in 30 years, under bush we have went into a black hole. High oil prices and a national slowing economy.
Do you think that hilary would be good for michigan?
I can't imagin another 4 years of bush polocys, but that is my opinion.

[deslok]

I really think the president of the federal government can only do so much for this state. He has kept taxes low federally that has allowed me to personally benefit from this investment wise.
I feel more like the Michigan government is what has lead us astray , far much more then what Bush has done. If he were the governer of Michigan, I think we would be much better off. Instead of giving handouts to poor people, or taxing everyone to death, we might actually make moves to make us fiscally competitive, instead of losing jobs.

[MainStreet]

You don't think that the war is the direct cause of the nation's economy woes? Michigan is in the same shape as Indiana and Ohio...a longer list. I've believed this entire time that it started with this war, the expensive outsourcing and privatization of military services.

So yes, Bush hurt Michigan.

[dmetro]

Originally Posted by rubarb

When clinton was president we in michigan had the best times in 30 years, under bush we have went into a black hole. High oil prices and a national slowing economy.
Do you think that hilary would be good for michigan?
I can't imagin another 4 years of bush polocys, but that is my opinion.

No, the federal government has very little influence over original state affairs. Clinton did not do anything for Michigan, he just got elected when the economy here was good. And please, please, please DON'T Vote for Hillary Clinton.

[deslok]

How has the war negatively impacted Michigan? This is not about our nation, it is about Michigan. Our economy here is dependant on the auto industry.
On a side note, our nations economy is doing great. In Michigan it may not seem great however, since the main industry we have is going downward. With increases in technology, if productivity growth of the auto industry improves, they have less reason to employ people. If productivity growth declines, they have more reason to employ people, but at the same time are not doing as well financially, hurting our state and losing more ground in our main industry. (productivity growth meaning, labor output per hour or output per worker. changes in plant, people, equipment can all affect this, as well as competition from other companies and the technolgies that they employ, which may cause Michigan's companies to be better then, or worse then current practices, depending on whose currently doing it better)
In reality, outsourcing is a problem, but more of a problem are people's reliance on the industry to employ them. Outsourcing might be good for Michigan in the long run, since it is getting folks out of the comfortable auto industry(manufacturing in general) , something the state desperatly needs to do.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by deslok

How has the war negatively impacted Michigan? This is not about our nation, it is about Michigan. Our economy here is dependant on the auto industry.
On a side note, our nations economy is doing great. In Michigan it may not seem great however, since the main industry we have is going downward. With increases in technology, if productivity growth of the auto industry improves, they have less reason to employ people. If productivity growth declines, they have more reason to employ people, but at the same time are not doing as well financially, hurting our state and losing more ground in our main industry. (productivity growth meaning, labor output per hour or output per worker. changes in plant, people, equipment can all affect this, as well as competition from other companies and the technolgies that they employ, which may cause Michigan's companies to be better then, or worse then current practices, depending on whose currently doing it better)
In reality, outsourcing is a problem, but more of a problem are people's reliance on the industry to employ them. Outsourcing might be good for Michigan in the long run, since it is getting folks out of the comfortable auto industry(manufacturing in general) , something the state desperatly needs to do.

It effects state and local governments because federal funding has been decreased. Heck...the Katrina mess? IMO...direct result of war spending...there is no way that that many people could be left without food and water if the agencies responsible had the petty cash to fuel up.

The economy has never been this bad in my life time and I would never have guessed it would be this way. The auto industry was out of Michigan long before these current problems occurred. It's a money flow problem.

Again, IMO.

[deslok]

Sure it might, last time I checked though, we weren't near Katrina. Our governor just "welcomed Katrina survivors with open arms", which I am sure is just what we need.
The auto industry was out, you are correct. In 2000 we were at our peak, and then it started to sink in...this is as good as it is going to get with our reliance on them. 9/11 happened, folks got scared, interest rates were low, people bought things they shouldn't have, our government ( Michigan's) can't agree to do anything, poof, were here today.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by deslok

Sure it might, last time I checked though, we weren't near Katrina. Our governor just "welcomed Katrina survivors with open arms", which I am sure is just what we need.
The auto industry was out, you are correct. In 2000 we were at our peak, and then it started to sink in...this is as good as it is going to get with our reliance on them. 9/11 happened, folks got scared, interest rates were low, people bought things they shouldn't have, our government ( Michigan's) can't agree to do anything, poof, were here today.

Rescue services went to the gulf from Indiana...they didn't come from Michigan? I guess my point is that Michigan is not the only one in this boat, every state is. If the auto industry was thriving in Michigan, ever state of consumers would not be able to afford those cars.

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE MICHIGAN...counting the days until I'll be able to move back...but what I'm seeing in Michigan (boarded up, vacant businesses and for sale signs on homes), is no different than what I see in Indiana and Kentucky, heard about in Ohio and Colorado...not to mention infrastructure nightmares in Minnesota...Pennsylvania government shutdown? Federal funding...

It's a national problem, not just Michigan.

[Miborn]

Does anyone think that the Dem's that have been in office have hurt Mi. in the way that their solution is to cut things and to raise taxes more and more?

[deslok]

The whole thing is is Bush to blame for michigan's problems. No he isn't. Huricane Katrina to try and tie president Bush to Michigan's problems? Nice try. Every state has housing problems now, borded up buildings, etc.. It is not Mr. Bush's job to federally bail out people for mortgage foreclosures.
Even if we had no war, would OUR Michigan government be able to do anything differently with the money in the budget? They prove time and time again they cannot. ( we even mortgaged off the tobacco settlement money)
What if Bush had done what most democrats seem to want, and raise taxes? Do you know how much worse off our economy in Michigan would be?