[pirate_lafitte]

I hear alot of talk about the autombile jobs leaving the state of Michigan and the economy going sour. I thought about something I read about Detroit needing to transform its economy to a free market, low tax system similar to that of Hong Kong or Singapore. Lower taxes could help the state. There also should be a plan to keep jobs in the state of Michigan. I think I could take it a bit further. A duty free port and Detroit could be that port. So could other places as well. I also thought about the possibility of building a canal through southern Michigan(this is just an idea, I have to look at the details), making it a shorter route for ocean freight to sail into Chicago. Building the canal would create jobs. There are probably some holes in my idea, but i have to study the details.

[Coldjensens]

One minor hole. It would cost about $300 trillion to build a canal wide enough straight enough and deep enough for major shipping. then there is themaintenance cost of a billion or so a year. But the concept is good. If it were practical, it would be wonderful.

[pirate_lafitte]

Perhaps cost is a factor. I thought about the Erie Canal though. The idea sounds good though. Do you think the canal could work is it was a privatized thing?

[suydam]

There is no private entity with $300,000,000,000,000 ($300 trillion) on hand to build the canal.
Not when the cost of NOT having it is merely sailing north through the Straits of Mackinaw and back down to Chicago.

The difference with the Erie Canal is that it short-cuts the trip by much more than a Detroit-Chicago canal would.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by suydam

There is no private entity with $300,000,000,000,000 ($300 trillion) on hand to build the canal.
Not when the cost of NOT having it is merely sailing north through the Straits of Mackinaw and back down to Chicago.

The difference with the Erie Canal is that it short-cuts the trip by much more than a Detroit-Chicago canal would.

Isn't the distance from Detroit to Chicago shorter than the distance of sailing through Mackinac?

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I hear alot of talk about the autombile jobs leaving the state of Michigan and the economy going sour. I thought about something I read about Detroit needing to transform its economy to a free market, low tax system similar to that of Hong Kong or Singapore. Lower taxes could help the state. There also should be a plan to keep jobs in the state of Michigan. I think I could take it a bit further. A duty free port and Detroit could be that port. So could other places as well. I also thought about the possibility of building a canal through southern Michigan(this is just an idea, I have to look at the details), making it a shorter route for ocean freight to sail into Chicago. Building the canal would create jobs. There are probably some holes in my idea, but i have to study the details.

Check on permits first.

[xlabel]

A similiar idea was attempted in Florida a few decades ago. They started building the cross FL barge canal across the Northern part of the state to shorten the distance between Gulf of Mexico ports and the Atlantic. Even though the project was ok'd and started it was later haulted because of environmental concerns.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Isn't the distance from Detroit to Chicago shorter than the distance of sailing through Mackinac?

Of course it is.
But the difference is the existing waterway is already "built."

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by suydam

Of course it is.
But the difference is the existing waterway is already "built."

Where? And I am not talking about the Strait of Mackinac.

[Bluefly]

This might have been a good idea in 1890 when canals were all the rage. With trains and trucks, shipping isn't that big a part of the Great Lakes economy. Most of the shipping is minerals taken out of the Great Lakes region and most easily transported via the Great Lakes. Plus, where's the water coming from to fill the canal? Drain the lakes?

The ecological cost, in an era when quality of life trumps mere financial return and it is critical that we create the most pristine ecosystem we can to attract and retain business, would be astounding.

The low tax idea is just conventional Republicanism. Problem is that they've tried countless empowerment zones where taxes are slashed and delayed to try to spur development. It hardly ever works - and certainly hasn't in Detroit.

Perhaps wise investments in quality of life would be smarter. Tear down highways, build mass transit, increase walkability, invest in quality open space and clean beaches. As people have the flexibilty to live wherever they want, most in the educated creative class are turning to cities that have focused on quality of life. Michigan sold its soul to automobile development and is now paying a hefty price.

As one example, New Yorkers pay some of the highest taxes in the country, yet most are happy to because they perceive it as a quality ROI.