Michigan Government (moving to, weather, living)

[deb68]

Originally Posted by khfar

Right. I could be wrong, but I don't think it is the norm! You should see the looks I get when I tell people we're moving to MI. Now, keep in mind...most of them have never BEEN to MI, so they don't really know much about it. I will admit that I was beyond angry and freaked out when my husband told me that was where we were going. But after I visited, I felt much better.

My husband works for a very large company (non-auto) and in the Livonia office they are mostly transfers from other cities. Not one is from the South. Most are from OH, MI, NY, PA. I met a girl that lives in our new neighborhood in West B., and she's from TN. Aside from the fact that we clicked right away and "got" each other, she did tell me that I wouldn't find many southernors in the area.

So...take that for what it's worth. I might find it to be completely different once we get there and get settled! Maybe I'll find a little colony of southernors all drinking mint juleps and waving the Confederate flag (not really)!

Sorry but don't count on people being that down to earth in West Bloomfield-the people in that area are mostly snobs and think they are better than everyone. Don't want to be negative because you sound like a wonderful person and I wish you good luck with your move here in Mich.

I myself have lived in MI all my life and although I love my state I feel different these recent days. I'm too friendly and caring and don't seem to fit in around here. I would much rather be down south where people are not so rude.

Hope all goes well for you and good luck on your future here- take time to visit the northern part of MI -it is a beautiful place to see!!!!!

[khfar]

I'm too friendly and caring and don't seem to fit in around here. I would much rather be down south where people are not so rude.

Well, the people in MI are definitely different than the people in the South. But I haven't encountered anyone rude yet. Just...friendly but in a different way. Like they speak when they are spoken to, if that makes sense. People have been very helpful, but I've had to do a lot of asking and asking to get things out of them. They don't often volunteer up information unless I ask.

Down here, we say hi to complete strangers as we're walking past each other. I didn't encounter that up there, but I've only been once. I'm going back this weekend, so I'll re-evaluate then!

[cardwellave]

Amen to the lack of down to earthness in W. Bloomfield. I find Wayne county to be a lot more friendly. Oakland County as a whole seems snobby to me. (Minus a few east side areas).

[randomguymike]

Originally Posted by khfar

Down here, we say hi to complete strangers as we're walking past each other. I didn't encounter that up there, but I've only been once. I'm going back this weekend, so I'll re-evaluate then!

Actually this is something we were taught during my consulting days. In Michigan people typically don't make eye contact or say hi in the halls of an office building when they pass unless you know the person very well. When I did work in the south, we were reminded to make eye contact and say hello in the halls to everybody as they do that sort of thing.

Now that I work here all the time I find myself slipping back into "eyes down" walking.

[Virginia1]

As I have posted before, my fiance who lives in Flint when she comes to visited me in Va. Beach, that is one of the first things she noticed was that total strangers say hello and make eye contact, wether your walking on the beach or sitting at the bar. Visiting her I noticed the opposite, so for me that takes a little adjusting. I am still on the fence about moving up, depends on what day it is. I have visited the northern areas such as Petosky, Charlevoix, and coastal towns such as Saugatuck and Grand Haven and found them to be places I would love to live just based on there beauty. We'll see.

[deb68]

Originally Posted by khfar

Well, the people in MI are definitely different than the people in the South. But I haven't encountered anyone rude yet. Just...friendly but in a different way. Like they speak when they are spoken to, if that makes sense. People have been very helpful, but I've had to do a lot of asking and asking to get things out of them. They don't often volunteer up information unless I ask.

Down here, we say hi to complete strangers as we're walking past each other. I didn't encounter that up there, but I've only been once. I'm going back this weekend, so I'll re-evaluate then!

Well if I ever run into you I will say HI- I might get weird looks from everyone else but I DON'T Care- I feel better when I'm friendly to people.

Take care and good luck!

[Cato the Elder]

There are so many yanks moving to places like Atlanta and Charlotte, I wonder how long the "southern hospitality" will last! I suspect it's already changed and there are people on relevant boards posting, "I've lived in Atlanta for 30 years and I'm moving!"

[khfar]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

There are so many yanks moving to places like Atlanta and Charlotte, I wonder how long the "southern hospitality" will last! I suspect it's already changed and there are people on relevant boards posting, "I've lived in Atlanta for 30 years and I'm moving!"

I hate to tell you this, but I'm pretty sure that most southernors would NOT move just because a lot of yankees are moving in. We're all pretty proud down here, and won't be pushed out that easily! I have family in Atlanta, and haven't heard about any type of yankee invasion, lol!

And actually, a lot of my friends in TX are transplants from the north. They are THE coolest people. They also say that they have adapted quite a bit down here, and that they enjoy the friendliness.

[lavendersunrise]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

There are so many yanks moving to places like Atlanta and Charlotte, I wonder how long the "southern hospitality" will last! I suspect it's already changed and there are people on relevant boards posting, "I've lived in Atlanta for 30 years and I'm moving!"

I think "southern hospitality" in contagious and most northerners will adapt. My grandpa (and his family) were from Kentucky and came here from work, I've always said hello to people if I happen to make eye contact with them in passing (stranger or not), I wave hello and exchange pleasantries with neighbors who just move to the neighborhood, etc.

It's a much better place when everyone says hello and offers a smile. I don't foresee the southern hospitality changing.

[nickbii]

Originally Posted by khfar

Can anyone give me the lowdown on your governor, and the state politics? I wouldn't mind hearing about metro Detroit politics (we'll be in Oakland County) as well.

I'm not looking for right or left wing bashing, just simple facts and answers. Since we're new to the state, we don't really know much about your politics. Just that MI is typically a Democrat state, which is weird for us!

Thanks!

One thing you have to look out for in Michigan is that we are ruthlessly partisan. Part of our problem is we spend so much time fighting each-other we never figure out how to help the state as a whole.

Take Granholm. She's not actually that bad. IMHO, she gives into pressure far too easily; but other than that she's done ok with the hand she was dealt. She's never had a friendly State legislature, and every year she's got to figure out how to plug another $500 million hole in the budget. Cutting your way out of the hole is difficult; because the 12 years before she got elected the GOP Governor cut off almost all the obvious fat. Raising taxes is basically impossible, because the Michigan GOP is even more anti-tax than the national GOP.

The "budget process" currently consists of accounting tricks; while the GOP claims we could save money by unilaterally abrogating contracts their Governor signed. Meanwhile the Dems noisily demand a tax hike big enough to fill the hole, and leave some over for their pet social projects.

De Vos isn't exactly God's gift to government. He has no government experience, and his only executive experience is running a company his dad founded. He's earned a reputation for putting his foot in his mouth -- in the 2002 Secretary of State's race he said we should vote Republican because "Women are good at that sort of thing." During the Governor's race he was very well-behaved. He only questioned evolution once. But he totally bombed in the debates. That's why he lost by 14 points in a state Bush lost by 3.5 points.

The anti-Kwame stuff is another example. He hasn't actually done much, even if the accusations are 100% true. A lot of it is technically unethical, but it's all chump-change. It seems like he gets in trouble mostly because he acts city.

Nick