What's REALLY wrong with Michigan (Detroit, Grand Rapids: loan, jobs, house)

[michfam]

As a spouse whose husband had to leave Ford , I agree that our state newspapers do nothing to interest any outsider. Now my husband works in Omaha Nebraska- state sales tax and income taxes are through the roof (13% on everything) $2000 state fees for each auto, WHEEL taxes.
Plans to create racially segregated learning communities with the Omaha public schools. Flat land. No trees in new subdivisions because they are built on farm fields. No lakes (what they call lakes here are water hazards in Michigan golf courses!) Water rates through the roof.

I could go on....but the point is that Michigan has a lot going for it if people would pull together.

Support Michigan businesses- buy only PIONEER or other Michigan sugar.

Support Jiffy Mix before it is crushed by competition.

Support a one year moratorium on internet purchases- every $100 dollars we spend robs the schools of $6. It all adds up.

Bottom line- if all we do and say shows others that Michigan is a terrible place to be- what business owner will come, explore and fall in love with our beautiful state???

One visit to Nebraska and you will be a Michigan fan for LIFE. Go Green and White. Go blue and Gold. Maize not corn.

[fabpins]

I agree with you. I have never been to Nebraska but I can imagine the dull dull, dull landscape compared to Michigan. We have fabulous lakes, rivers, waterfalls, vistas, sand dunes, and nice people.

[M TYPE X]

Mid-Illinois is dull compared to Michigan. You don't need to go as far as Nebraska.

[southernlady5464]

Flat land. No trees in new subdivisions because they are built on farm fields.

Are you sure you aren't MIXING the two???? Okay, all of MI isn't flat but the area I live in IS FLAT and all the new subdivisions being built have NO trees cause it use to be farmland (sound familiar???). Liz

[Wabbit]

When people start complaining about Michigan not having enough trees
or greenery you know they're doing it out of spite.
As for Michigan being flat, I can only assume you've never done a lot of exploring in our great state. Thanks to the ice age not only do we have awesome rolling hills throughout Northern and Western Michigan but the biggest, best sand dunes in the country.
Say YES! to Michigan hun, It does a poster good.

[southernlady5464]

As for Michigan being flat, I can only assume you've never done a lot of exploring in our great state.

I did not say all of MI was flat but the area *I* live in IS FLAT! However, I prefer mountains to hills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan

The state's highest point is Mount Arvon at 1,979 feet (603 m).

The highest point in the Lower Peninsula is not definitely established but is either Briar Hill at 1,705 feet (520 m), or one of several points nearby.

And the highest point is only a touch over 1000 ft higher than the lowest point:

The lowest point is the surface of Lake Erie at 571 feet

Only a 1000 plus ft difference between low and high point isn't much.

http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=1 Now those are mountains. Liz

[cksh]

I thought the two were being mixed for a minute Most areas in southeast michigan are flat and lots without trees. It was all farmland and there is still a lot of it with treeless subs in between. You have to commute an hour or buy a house in a twenty year old sub to get any trees. Or spend lots of cash.

If you don't like flat then Michigan is not much better than anywhere else. I guess I am a bit biased growing up in PA. Sure we have hills in Michigan but they are nothing to rave about. You need to start getting into eastern Ohio or Pennslyvania before you start to see an actual "hill". And there are no hills in SE Michigan unless you count the garbage dumps I drive by everyday. Or the hill on the freeway as it goes over another road

And as far as exploring our state I don't think so. It takes me 4 hours to get up north. Maybe I will see some rolling hills and forests. For that amount of time on the road I would just assume head east to the mountains to see what a hill really is and still get the forest, rivers and scenery. Oh, and no traffic because the entire state of Michigan isn't in front of me on the way home Sunday night

[magellan]

I've always associated really hilly country with poverty. If you look at Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky, much of Tennessee, West Virginia, rural Carolinas, many of those areas are rife with poverty (much moreso than rural Michigan). Maybe it's just my perception, but any time I've driven South, the views are beautiful but the poverty is shocking (like much of the UP).

There are some pretty flat areas of Michigan like Northeast of Detroit, Macomb County (ick), South of Detroit to the Ohio border, the central Michigan area between Midland and Mt Pleasant, Saginaw Valley area. But West of Lansing gets pretty hilly, especially the further North you get.

[southernlady5464]

Yes, the mountains can hold poverty but also some of the wealthiest live there.

Some examples that I know of personally: Highlands/Cashiers, NC, Saluda, NC, Tyron, NC, parts of Asheville, NC near Biltmore Forest, Sewickley, PA and those are the ones I know of myself.

And even tho there is poverty in the mountains, it is a proud poverty...most would die than accept help from the government.

Part of the history of Detroit is based in that 1920's-30's poverty of the mountains of NC...many heads of households would leave the mountains and their families and go to work in the auto industry and send money home to those same mountains. My husband's grandfather worked at the River Rouge plant back in the 30's but refused to move his family...the mountains have a pull on the heartstrings that can not be denied.

Even now, I still need at least a yearly dose of those same mountains (the Appalachian Mountains)...it feels my cup. The hills of MI can not make the same claim. Liz

[Wabbit]

Originally Posted by cksh

If you don't like flat then Michigan is not much better than anywhere else. I guess I am a bit biased growing up in PA. Sure we have hills in Michigan but they are nothing to rave about. You need to start getting into eastern Ohio or Pennslyvania before you start to see an actual "hill".

If what you mean by "hill" is mountain, that's why I said the word
hill, not mountain. Michigan has rolling hills. The U.P has big hills.
And if you prefer to go to Eastern Ohio or Western PA for your natural
beauty as opposed to the Northern Great Lakes be my guest.


The hills of Michigan may not be able to make that claim for you liz, but I'm sure people born around the lakes feel that same pull of the heartstrings when they move away.
Sorry, but we dont have a 'Mountain' culture is this state, primarily because, gee, we dont have mountains. If you've got kin in the Appalachians and that's what plucks your banjo you should go where your happy.