[pistonsfan70]

I'm doing a paper, as stated in another thread, and I've crossed off real estate as a problem in Michigan. I've already written two main points about the government problems (misspending, Kwame, Granholm) and the decline in the auto industry, due to outsourcing and various other reasons. I need a strong third main point. Any ideas would be great!

Thanks

[deslok]

The link I sent you before was 40 or so pages of data and information. Pick one of those and go from there!

[pistonsfan70]

Thanks....just re-read it and clicked the link. Must've glossed over it earlier.

[One Thousand]

It sounds to me like you're blaming the symptoms for disease.

[Coldjensens]

Attitude.

Negativity is killing the state.

[detshen]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Attitude.

Negativity is killing the state.

I agree. This state has the resources to change out of manufacturing to other industries and thrive, but it won't happen until people stop being negative and hopeless. We have tremendous natural resources, we are surrounded by huge bodies of fresh water, of course it can come back if people work to change.

[Driller1]

I can add it is a VERY hard state to do business in. The "wetland" part of the DEQ has stopped many projects.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by Driller1

I can add it is a VERY hard state to do business in. The "wetland" part of the DEQ has stopped many projects.

That is not intrinsically bad. If Michigan would stop perceiving sprawling development as "progress" and rather see centralized development around business centers as good, leaving the wetlands, beaches, and forests to be, perhaps in this highly competitive global market where people can live anywhere they choose, people might start seeing Michigan as the gorgeous state it is rather than the mess of anywhere suburbia it has become.

You would be hard pressed to attract the creative class to a state that doesn't respect its natural resources.

As for the OP's point - I think you're WAY off on the problems of Michigan. You're falling into the trap of blaming global trends that have persisted since about the 1960s on two people who happen to be at the helm today - one of which is in a little sex scandel. Actually, Michigan was just ranked one of the best run governments in the country (B+ I believe).

No... the problems are far more indemic of the culture that is just waiting for 1945 to return when people could make huge salaries and retirement packages without an education and hoping someone in government can pull that miracle off. When they don't, people start blaming them rather than themselves.

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

That is not intrinsically bad...

You would be hard pressed to attract the creative class to a state that doesn't respect its natural resources.

Actually, Michigan was just ranked one of the best run governments in the country (B+ I believe).

How many businesses have you started and run successfully? How many people have you employed? What kind of regulation have you overcome and what would you say is the dollar amount value of the inconvenience and expenses of being in business in Michigan because of it?

What is the "creative class" and why should anyone care whether they're around or not?
(Nevermind about "what" they are Creative class - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It's just my opinion, but I think there's something immoral in advancing questionable theory as fact.)


Who is the source and what are the criteria for that grade?

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

How many businesses have you started and run successfully? How many people have you employed? What kind of regulation have you overcome and what would you say is the dollar amount value of the inconvenience and expenses of being in business in Michigan because of it?

What is the "creative class" and why should anyone care whether they're around or not?
(Nevermind about "what" they are Creative class - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It's just my opinion, but I think there's something immoral in advancing questionable theory as fact.)


Who is the source and what are the criteria for that grade?

Meow.

I've started one successful construction business that employs up to 10 people (depending on the season). Sorry if that's not enough for you. I'm only 30.

Never run into any major regulation problems. A little city bureaucracy on specific construction projects - but that was more due to blind egos than any rational regulatory needs.

The creative class is the future of our economy, accounting for increasing percentages of the workforce. It extends across a wide array of industries and generally includes education-dependent or artistic career. They are the young people with money who are redefining the American Dream.

Most jobs are flexible to move anywhere, meaning cities must compete for quality of life, not simply providing jobs. As such, the most popular cities drawing this economy are usually walkable, open-minded, diverse, and focused more on moving beyond the "put a business anywhere you can" mindset and more toward creating a place for businesses to thrive while investing in protecting open space, creating bike / walking trails, mixed-use development. The data supports this shift in the American Dream and therefore the role of businesses within society.

I just saw that grade on TV a couple weeks ago. Not sure the source or criteria. It was some formal organization, though.

Best of luck to you.