[A2Mich]

Originally Posted by detshen

It's preference also. I can't stand the heat, anything over 70 and I feel hot and I hate it. I prefer winter to a hot miserable summer. I don't like dealing with ice, but other than that I don't mind winter at all.

I'll second that. I actually grew up in Florida, and while there is all kinds of natural beauty, beaches, etc., I found the weather in Florida to be pleasant in the winter and miserable in the summer. Sure, it gets hot here in the summer, but it's generally more tolerable and definitely for a much shorter duration here than in Florida. I don't mind temps in the mid-70's, but 80 and above, I don't really care for too much. I much prefer the cold weather, my ideal winter temp would be from 20-40 degrees, but have to take the sub-zero days with that as well. The only thing I really don't like about winter is the extra time getting to work, between cleaning snow/ice off of the truck, and the longer drive time due to the generally un-plowed and un-salted roads in A2.

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

And amidst this very true and telling demographic data, we still as a state don't realize the importance of loosing skilled and educated young adults. According to the latest estimates from the Census, Michigan ranks in the top 5 for loosing people aged 20-29. This is central to growth in our future, but yet somehow we can still say there is improving situations. We say this, only because our media inflates reality, reality that 500 jobs will save a mere 80,000 unemployed Michiganders from loosing their homes, or all of their savings. That mantra is an attempt to further slow the population decline that has been in full swing for a decade... while Lansing quietly acknowledges the fact that no matter how many new positions are created, the pool of skilled and educated workforce has gone. Being a teen fresh out of H.S. (even now B.S level) looking for work has to be absolutely horrifyingly . Not only are you faced with competing with much more experienced displaced workers, your 7/hr wage is reduced to 4 when you calculate your fuel expenses to drive a short distance. Its mysterious....here we have many people tired of negativity, but yet Michigan has clearly been in a recession for years, although the public and the government choose to ignore reality and substitute their own.

I applaud this post. You would not believe the amount of Michigan plates I see when I conduct business in Charlotte (NC, not MI ). They're all young, professional adults. Hey, I don't blame them at all. No amount of hometown pride should ever come in the way of properly supporting yourself or a family.

It isn't a good state of affairs, not just for MI, but for OH, Western PA, Upstate NY and many places in Jersey. Lawmakers continue to miss the mark time after time by failing to recognize that it is imperative to retain young, college-educated adults. Not only will they shoulder tax burdens, they still have the wherewithall to conduct home improvements and other economically stimulating activities. I've been screaming this for years, and am a little red out of frustration. However, I now realize my place as it relates to local and state governments, and that is a mere vote. No one's interested... not an R, not a D, and not any of the so-called I's.

[Michigansnowflake]

Originally Posted by A2Mich

I'll second that. I actually grew up in Florida, and while there is all kinds of natural beauty, beaches, etc., I found the weather in Florida to be pleasant in the winter and miserable in the summer. Sure, it gets hot here in the summer, but it's generally more tolerable and definitely for a much shorter duration here than in Florida. I don't mind temps in the mid-70's, but 80 and above, I don't really care for too much. I much prefer the cold weather, my ideal winter temp would be from 20-40 degrees, but have to take the sub-zero days with that as well. The only thing I really don't like about winter is the extra time getting to work, between cleaning snow/ice off of the truck, and the longer drive time due to the generally un-plowed and un-salted roads in A2.

40 degrees is Spring weather to me!

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by malamute

I think the problem is that the "old-timers" are tried and true, they have job references, they have work history that speaks something about them. Someone fresh out of college who has never worked any kind of job has no employer references, it's up to the applicant to convince the employer why he should hire him, but the older applicant is also doing his own convincing and may have something to back up his claims.

A degree is great but it doesn't beat on the job experience because in almost anything, no matter what the degree, you're basically starting from scratch when it comes to the actual work.

I agree, but I came out of college with over 5 years in my field, not senior level by far, but one would assume that it is enough to know what I do well..along with the education to back it up. I came into my interview with references and certifications, although that didn't seem to matter as much as my age to the employer which is wrong.

[Ivorytickler]

Try being 48 and looking for work in this state. 30 something's do have a definite advantage. Old enough to have a proven track record and young enough to still be seen as valuable.

In answer to the original question, yes, Michigan is going down the drain. With no industry to replace automotive, we're in deep trouble when the baby boomers start retiring and move south taking their pension checks with them. Then we'll see a decline in jobs in the service sectors including health care.

This is bad. Very bad. And I fear it's going to get worse. To add insult to injury, high gas prices will curtail summer travel so even tourism is shot.

[A2Mich]

Originally Posted by Michigansnowflake

40 degrees is Spring weather to me!

Oh I know.....our spring here hasn't been a whole lot warmer. I was just saying that if I had a say in the weather, that 20-40 would be my ideal temperature range, but since I can't control it, I take the colder winter temps to be able and enjoy the spring, summer, and fall weather. Though it does get very hot here in the summer, I'm just glad that it's generally only blistering hot for a few days at a time, then cools off a bit, unlike Florida, where it seemed to be miserably hot for 6-7 months on end.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

Try being 48 and looking for work in this state. 30 something's do have a definite advantage. Old enough to have a proven track record and young enough to still be seen as valuable.

In answer to the original question, yes, Michigan is going down the drain. With no industry to replace automotive, we're in deep trouble when the baby boomers start retiring and move south taking their pension checks with them. Then we'll see a decline in jobs in the service sectors including health care.

This is bad. Very bad. And I fear it's going to get worse. To add insult to injury, high gas prices will curtail summer travel so even tourism is shot.

Especially with taxes going up for businesses and the continued unionist mentality that they will go on strike no matter how many they hurt. I know people who have just been laid off because of a union strike, the union workers think only of themselves and do not care about what effects their strike has on many people.

People who want to work will work, they'll go whereever the jobs are, those who prefer to live on unemployment and then get food stamps and government assistance of course will stay in Michigan, adding to the social costs.

[Guidone]

First of all...because of the state of the union, the whole country is in trouble and it's directly related to this republican administration and if you vote for McCain who is a Bush republican you will get more of the same.
I was born and raised in the u.p. and of course, moved away when I graduated. I will move back up there...once a yooper always a yooper. The climate and beauty is like no where else. I go up whenever I can. The problem with the mentality up there is this. If you're not a born yooper, you're not wanted, even if you are giving them your tourist dollars. They want it to stay the way it is. Now, after having been gone for 40 yrs. that kind of attitude has taken it's toll. Nothing is done to encourage tourism by the locals...no investments on welcoming tourists and God forbid if you want to build anything that would house the "tourists"! The small towns are becoming ghost towns and unless the young stay and make improvements there will never be jobs up there. Tourism is the only key and yes you can control the right kind of development...what a shame when I go back and see wonderful historic buildings collapsing under abandonment!

[Guidone]

Ditto on it all (sorry couldn't resist that little Limbaugh stupidity)! For all you out of touch republicans, Limbaugh does it for the $$$$$$$$$$$. Ever watch late night Dave and the presidental moments? Bush is sooooo stupid you would think the republicans would be so embarressed by his incompetance that they would have impeached him years ago! And lookout, if McCain gets in there, more of our young men will die in Iraq and Iran! It's about time this country got angry and stop the madness! Can Obama fix what the republicans have done to this nation? God I hope so! If he breaks under the pressure to have Hillary as the VP, he's going to be drained from her need for control. She doesn't have the demeanor to bring people together. John Edwards would be a good choice.

[Guidone]

I agree, ever climb Sugar Loaf after the leaves have fallen, it's still breath taking!