[fuzion79]

backtomichi,

people need to know the truth about michigan....it sucks. no jobs, rampant apathy and chronic government mismanagement. detroit is a slum. but when someone wants to tell the truth to others about these conditions, right away all the loyal michiganders decide to say "Oh no, no, no! Thats not true at all!". And thats because the truth hurts....especially if you've grown up here all your life. The only city there is to have pride in is Detroit because that could be all you have known your whole life. Ever lived near Boston or New York? I have. It was wonderful because those areas are thriving. There's a completely different atmosphere and some sense of direction, focus and hope. None of those things exist here. People are in a sense of dispair, no one knows what to do. Its been that way here for the last 40-50 years! Detroit has become more and more of a slum with each passing decade since the riots. Its never recovered. The auto companies dominate so much that any thought of implementing a subway/train system to link the metro areas and the city has been dismissed...over and over again. A rail system is VITAL if the city wants to make a comeback. People realize this, the government realizes it....yet they still cater to the needs of the auto companies and thus dismiss any action toward implementing it. Its pathetic. This place was known for more than its cars at one time. Remember Motown? Yeah...it was a huge music capital. So there you go. Sorry, but people need to learn the truth about this place and denial will not get anyone anywhere. I would not recommend moving here. And if you live here and are not comfortable here, leave here. You'll be better off for it.

[Paula Wunder]

I am going to be a new comer in September from Virginia. I will be sixty-two. I am moving because one of my sons moved to Commerce T with his family; and my only grandchildren. I thought it would be nice to see them more than four times a year. After reading some of the comments, I am a little worried my self. I will need to work a bit to maintain. I hope I can find a position to help me out. I am origianlly from Mass and moved to Wash DC for work. Michigan has always been a blue collar state. It has had its ups and downs.
Mass was a great state growing up in the Fifties. But like everything thing else, things change. I hate to say this but it is a democrate state and the money goes to hand outs. Michigan seems to be following. People leave, industry closes, school in decline. Mass was right up there with the best sisty years ago. So you have problems with RO -what is YOUR solution? The cities video sold me RO. I am looking forward to moving there. I love the idea of each little community having there own parks, love the trees and the fact someone will be picking up the leave. However, that does cost the taxpayers money. I hear they have a wonderful amimal shelter. I am worried that my taxes may force me to move at some point. If you don't like the school board, get rid of them. If things are so bad, why do you have newcomcers?
I see where they have done some advertisement on the hidden paradise for vacations, ie the beaches of the Lake Michigan. Could all this negitiveness be a ploy to keep people out of Michigan.???

[Paula Wunder]

Well good for you. The day of the union is over and thankfully you recgonized
that. When that happens, maybe we can find all those who have been buried in unidentified places. We still need industry but it will never be like it was. I myself loved the fifties.

[southernlady5464]

Great Lakes "catching on fire"

Actually, it wasn't the Great Lakes but a river that fed INTO the lakes that did catch fire back on June 22, 1969 before we had the EPA...in fact it is what finally triggered the EPA.

From the wikipedia article on Cuyahoga River.

Fires plagued the Cuyahoga beginning in 1936 when a spark from a blow torch ignited floating debris and oils. Fires erupted on the river several more times before June 22, 1969, when a river fire captured the attention of Time magazine, which described the Cuyahoga as the river that "oozes rather than flows" and in which a person "does not drown but decays".[1] This event helped spur an avalanche of pollution control activities resulting in the Clean Water Act, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the creation of the federal and state Environmental Protection Agency.

I think if most of the union workers did not have the attitude that they were owed a job, it might help.

My daughter and her fiance moved to AL where she was born because neither one of them could find jobs. Down there they have. My husband took a buy out because the company he worked for was talking about lay-off's if they didn't get enough people in the buy out...and the severance package in a buy-out is far superior to a lay-off. That's why we will be leaving. Liz

[crappinatbernies]

All this talk is just nonsense. Cmon people, drop the fear factor and get back to "reality".

Yes Detroit is in trouble. Oh well. Every state has it's problems. Mass is not all giggles, nor DC. Look at the cost of living in DC, jeez-o-pete, you won't find that in Michigan. I'm in Chicago, but moving back to Michigan soon because it's like no other place in the continental US. Beautiful.

Sure you won't find overcrowded, overpriced, over-hyped California here. If you need that, move to Cali.

But If you want to make an honest living and relax in God's country, than you have always belonged in Michigan.

Most of our state is forest. Detroit is in serious trouble, but everything works out in time. There's pros and cons no matter where you live. Mass isn't exactly the best place either (unless you're a son of a senator's son of a senator's son of a senator's son.) Roxbury, Southie. DC is crap. Both of these metros have nice and not-so-nice.

Michigan is mostly tighter knit communities with midwest values. Fusion79 is posting how bad it is, he just got done watching a Michael Moore film and wishes his mommy would pay for him to move to Beverly Hills.

Fairweather fan. That's what he is. If everyone moved out of state whenever the communities needed them the most, where would ANYONE live. There always has to be bad times to make there be good times.

Moderator cut: personal New york is so much better? How long does it take to get through the tunnel in New York???

Michigan - - - Where the living is easy.

[cloose]

Just moved back to the D after being away for 12 years. Wife and kids will be joining me within 45 days. Problem: Looking for houses in Oakland County, more specifically Rochester/Rochester Hills. My question to you all is regarding putting offers on houses there. How low are people going from their asking price. I certainly don't want to insult anyone with my offer but I do wnat to take advantage of the current market.

[Angel Bear]

Just moved back to the D after being away for 12 years. Wife and kids will be joining me within 45 days. Problem: Looking for houses in Oakland County, more specifically Rochester/Rochester Hills.

I don't mean any disrespect, but for me, it makes me laugh to see the phrase 'The D' and well, Rochester area referred to in the same breath LOL. I mean, can they be any different or any more worlds apart?

I know, I know, you meant 'Metro Detroit' not Detroit proper.

Sorry, just had to tease you

Psst, seems to me that houses are going pretty slow all around here and I live not far from Rochester. It seems like 7 years ago, we couldn't touch anything that was decent for less than $220,000-250,000 in Rochester area. But now, those same houses are selling for less than that! If I were going to stay in MI, I may take advantage of the market and get a home in Royal Oak, but not wanting to deal with this state any more.

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by cloose

Just moved back to the D after being away for 12 years. Wife and kids will be joining me within 45 days. Problem: Looking for houses in Oakland County, more specifically Rochester/Rochester Hills. My question to you all is regarding putting offers on houses there. How low are people going from their asking price. I certainly don't want to insult anyone with my offer but I do wnat to take advantage of the current market.

A lot of people are taking WAY LOWER than listing price. I know someone that looked at a $250k house in Rochester Hills and offered $200k. The owner took the offer. Some people want out of their houses really bad and they are willing to take low offers just to be able to sell. In the market there I don't think you can offend people much. Make a low offer, they can counteroffer.

[fuzion79]

fairweather fan? me? ha! you live in chicago pal, and you want to come back here? you must be completely cuckoo. this is what i'm talking about. you go to tell the truth about some place, and then some loyal "michigander" decides to chew you out because you express an opinion that has some element of truth to it. midwestern values? give me a break. live in southeastern michigan....its just like living on the east coast...rude people, pretty crowded. BUT....here's the difference. in new york you get the rudeness and crowds AND there's atmosphere and things to do. in metro detroit you get the rudeness with ZERO atmosphere and nothing to do. ann arbor...ok, its a nice place. royal oak...yeah, its a nice place. but the rest of detroit is a decaying slum...excet greektown, which is quite nice actually. did you know the city was the laughing stock of the nation when the superbowl was held here in 2006? people were wondering where the hell the subway was! people mover? people laughed at that. so go ahead and say what you wish, and enjoy your stay in michigan...the lamest state in the union.

[Angel Bear]

fairweather fan? me? ha! you live in chicago pal, and you want to come back here? you must be completely cuckoo. this is what i'm talking about. you go to tell the truth about some place, and then some loyal "michigander" decides to chew you out because you express an opinion that has some element of truth to it. midwestern values? give me a break. live in southeastern michigan....its just like living on the east coast...rude people, pretty crowded. BUT....here's the difference. in new york you get the rudeness and crowds AND there's atmosphere and things to do. in metro detroit you get the rudeness with ZERO atmosphere and nothing to do. ann arbor...ok, its a nice place. royal oak...yeah, its a nice place. but the rest of detroit is a decaying slum...excet greektown, which is quite nice actually. did you know the city was the laughing stock of the nation when the superbowl was held here in 2006? people were wondering where the hell the subway was! people mover? people laughed at that. so go ahead and say what you wish, and enjoy your stay in michigan...the lamest state in the union.

I'm moving out of Michigan, but I still think there are some good points to living here. We have a beautiful state Also, there are things to do, but you just have to know where to find them. I pick up the Metro Times every week and always find some art exhibit or concert to go to or some great restaurant I didn't know about.

But, it just doesn't work for me any more here. Where you live is such an individual decision and usually, when you're unhappy with where you live, it's easier to criticize things and the people. IMHO there's "rudeness" everywhere, but there are also kind, friendly, considerate people who live here in Michigan It's all about how you see things IHMO.