[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by northernguy1960

HI all, northernguy here. I just found this thread after being away from this site for awhile. Well, my wife and I DID move back to MI in November of '07, located in the beautiful area of Manistee. Had enough of SE MI and didn't want to go back there, even though all our family still lives there.

I won't lie, things have been tight, took my wife 4 months to find a plum job with a local opthomologist, full time. I took a job with a big box home center, part time, in June of '08, also picked up a few construction jobs.

But, just to show that opportunity is still out there, in April of last year I contacted the local real estate home inspector who I have done business with for years, to get some names of contractors in the area. In the course of our conversation, he informed me that he was retiring from the inspection business and was going to close the company. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to buy the business from him on a payment basis. I apprenticed with him through the summer, and in October took over sole ownership of the company. While business has been slow through the winter months, I have been encouraged by the number of downstate and out-of-state customers I have done inspections for. It truly is a buyers market for vacation and second homes. One recent inspection was for a downstate developer who got burned on some deals, and is buying a campground up here. Another was for a couple of school teachers in the St.Louis, Mo area.

Michigan isn't out of trouble by a long shot, but negativity will not help the situation. People need to be resourceful and willing to take a chance, possibly trying something completely different than what they have done before.

Sorry for the rambling.



Tony

Awesome! I heard Jennifer Granholm say last night Manistee is just one of the places that will be building wind turbines in Michigan. I think it was wind turbines, but there will be 2 or 3 other cities building these.

[northernguy1960]

Yep, a wind turbine manfacturing plant, and a wind farm just south of Manistee. The way the wind comes in off Lake Michigan, it makes perfect sense. When I lived in Phoenix, I could not figure out why they don't take advantage of the solar possibilities.

[xlabel]

For years I've read articles on how mass retirement of baby boomers are going to free up jobs in this country; hopefully this pans out. Those born in 1946 are a couple of years away right now. Retirees are especially good for the travel and home improvement industries among others and someone is going to have to fill jobs they left. I believe once we get through this mess we're in now there will be unprecedented prosperity in MI and the entire nation, but it's going to take 5 years or so to get it started.

[michmoldman]

She also said she wants everyone to be a wind turbine entrepenour. If you have one installed, you will be able to sell the extra back to the energy co. Not sure how logical, or profitable it would be, but its a great idea if you ask me. I remember a few months back I said on here that the possibilities are endless for wind. Every home and business could eventually have one saving untold amounts of money, which means more energy savings, which means a LOT of money going back into the economy. She basically said the same thing last night. Like I said....not sure if it could work that way, but if it could...it would be awesome.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

She has high tech business coming in--paying 25% or less of their taxes while I am asked to pay more...

And courts Toyota to build in Ypsi while reducing the mental health services and undermining the Big 3 all at the same time?

A) Granholm has INCREASED mental health services. The state recently lowered the bar for kids to get into Community Mental Health centers -- it's as easy now for them to get in as it was before the Engler cutbacks. (Can't say I'm happy with the "screw the adults, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN" message in there, but maybe that will change too.) I work in one such center and we got enough additional Medicaid funding last year to hire several badly-needed new people. A whole new children's program has been added, in fact, that is going to make it much easier for all the counselors to handle their caseloads while doing more effective advocacy for the kids at IEP meetings and stuff.

B) I think the average unemployed Joe or Jane would leap at the chance to work for Toyota, Yugo, Slimy Al's Fly By Night Motors or any of those tech companies who aren't paying all their taxes. A job is a job at this point. And there's no reason at all for thousands of unemployed auto workers to feel any loyalty to the companies that have totally failed to keep up with the times, stay competitive and keep their people in their jobs.

[60'sGal]

Didn't listen to our fair governor last night. If I want to be lied to, I'll ask my husband if I look like I've gained weight. At least I know his lies are in my best interest.

I just came back from a weekend visit to the thumb area of Sebawing, Unionville..about 30 miles from Bay City. They look like ghost towns. I've never seen so many empty houses and farms. I asked a fella at the birthday party I drove up to attend if it was as bad as it looked and he told me it was worse. He said all those empty homes and farms aren't just empty, but abadoned. He said the people just leave them and let them go back to the bank because there is next to no chance of selling them.

All that beautiful, flat farmland and no one to farm it.

jennifer granholm has been a plague on this State. I've heard rumors she will go to Washington soon and join her comrade obama. Good riddance to her. She can't go soon enough for me.

[Cliffie]

To be fair to Granholm, she has done a great deal to clean up the ungoldly mess Engler left behind. But she hasn't done the thing we needed the most: BROUGHT IN MORE JOBS. I'm not even sure she should have to; if the system is working -- if the Big Three are off their keesters and working -- the government should have no role in helping Michiganders get jobs.

[60'sGal]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

To be fair to Granholm, she has done a great deal to clean up the ungoldly mess Engler left behind. But she hasn't done the thing we needed the most: BROUGHT IN MORE JOBS. I'm not even sure she should have to; if the system is working -- if the Big Three are off their keesters and working -- the government should have no role in helping Michiganders get jobs.

With all due respect. Where did Michigan rank under Engler? I know where it ranks after 5 years of granholm. At the bottom of the heap. Bring jobs to Michigan? I'd be happy if she stopped losing the jobs we have/had! She is a nanny state advocate and one day the people of Michigan will admit she did exactly what she set out to do...turn this state into a democrat voting, welfare sucking wasteland. The white flight is staggering.

[Cliffie]

Well she's been out pounding the pavements trying to get Honda, Google and all these other outfits into the state, with limited success I admit, but she's trying. Engler never did anything but line his pockets. Granholm is even getting the roads repaired.

As far as welfare sucking goes, the cash-assistance rolls in the state are DOWN. People would be a lot less desperate if there WERE some welfare money available for them.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by 60'sGal

With all due respect. Where did Michigan rank under Engler? I know where it ranks after 5 years of granholm. At the bottom of the heap. Bring jobs to Michigan? I'd be happy if she stopped losing the jobs we have/had! She is a nanny state advocate and one day the people of Michigan will admit she did exactly what she set out to do...turn this state into a democrat voting, welfare sucking wasteland. The white flight is staggering.

Michigan is a Blue state , has been for a long time. Stop blaming all your ills on the Dems. , There is enough mis management from all factors to go around.
If you are so rabid about playing partisan politics , in a liberal environment , maybe you should move , or , suck it up , and get behind the new deal. Give it a chance to work .
On feb. 12th Granholm will introduce her new budget. be thankful She has friends in Washington..... She also has a veto pen , don't count her out... just yet..