[Jwo85]

Michigan ranked as third-worst state for business by CEOs | - Latest Michigan Jobs & Career Opportunities - MLive.com

[michigan83]

Not a surprise at all.

Being a Union stronghold is a huge negative. Also, Jennifer Granholm is about as clueless about economics as someone in her position could possibly be.

I still remember a time when she said something to the effect of "we need to tax businesses more so that the burden doesn't fall to the people." Really, Jenny? How much of a burden is for the "people" when they can't find jobs because the businesses have left? What do you think businesses do when they pay higher taxes than in other states? They charge the "people" more. Or they set up shop elsewhere. Good grief.

[darstar]

I am not impressed to see Texas as number One. Michigan DOES need to get the ball rolling , but not at the expense of the workers, the environment , and our natural beauty. We do not need chain gangs, just to attract big polluting businesses. What we need is new thinking, outside the box , and a concentration toward developing clean,innovative industry that is and will be needed by the developing world. We have the right people,the will , and the facilities, whats needed is the demand.The demand we may have to create by making Michigan a household word as a place to come for new thinking in the business world.

[actinic]

As a Michigan resident I'm certainly impressed with Texas. We could use some of that Texan can do attitude and a pro business, right to work, no union, less tax & entitlement mindset, structured uniquely for this state.

Michigan needs to attract *all* types of business and can't afford to be selective. It's that kind of cherry picking mindset in this era of global competition that has got this country into trouble. If we can't make a product then some other state or country will.

It's time to stop talking idealistically and get to work with pragmatic manufacturing solutions even if it means our hands dirty <gasp>.

[Giesela]

I agree with darstar. There are people here who would have sold Great Lakes water back in the 70s when things first started going downhill during the oil embargo. It'd all be gone now. And there are people who want to sell it now.
People who think its just so easy to fix the problems. I honestly don't know that much about how TX really runs its economics and I doubt anyone else does either.
We are dead center at the heart of the western world problem - manufacturing has moved to the third world. That's not going to change for Michigan or anyone. If you want to just quit school and get a factory job like your grandparents did guess what its not happening - not here NOT ANYWHERE. I don't see that as Granholms fault and people who keep throwing spears at her like if she just went away it would all get better are just stupid. Who's in office barely matters - look at other states, hell countries, in the same boat.

[darstar]

Michigan must take advantage of its good points, its skilled workers, its natural beauty,environment, and go from there. Trying to model Michigan after Texas is the wrong way, and one that would not work anyway. Our success has nothing to do with getting our hands dirty, it has most to do with being smart and using what we already have , then expanding on it....Take oil out of Texas, and it would dry up quickly, and I don't mean just production . I have seen some pity slim times in the Lone Star state, when the price of oil was low.
Michigan needs to move forward with new thinking , not the old ways . One of the reasons everything went off shore , was the lack of being progressive, innovative, and just holding the status quo. WE need to develop business and industry that grows apart from trying to compete with other states and Countries.

[danielj72]

Michigan needs to rethink everything to turn this around. We need smaller goverment, we need lower taxes, we need to move toward being a right to work state. Socialism, militant union mentalities and total reliance on the auto industry has been the recipe for disaster. The people of this state need to learn some hard facts: The first one being that the company you work for does not owe you a craddle to grave system of handouts. (UAW workers) Second, the goverment is not your daddy. When things go wrong, it is your responsibility to fix it. It is not the taxpayers job to get you a job, pay your mortgage and feed your kids. If we keep going the way we have been, we will make Mississippi look rich. Well be a state of snow covered trailer parks, Jerry Springer on ice.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by danielj72

Michigan needs to rethink everything to turn this around. We need smaller government, we need lower taxes, we need to move toward being a right to work state. Socialism, militant union mentalities and total reliance on the auto industry has been the recipe for disaster. The people of this state need to learn some hard facts: The first one being that the company you work for does not owe you a cradle to grave system of handouts. (UAW workers) Second, the government is not your daddy. When things go wrong, it is your responsibility to fix it. It is not the taxpayers job to get you a job, pay your mortgage and feed your kids. If we keep going the way we have been, we will make Mississippi look rich. Well be a state of snow covered trailer parks, Jerry Springer on ice.

You need to go back and see how all this started. Its taken 70 years or more to get where we are today. There were some very good times along the way for the People of Michigan. Your simple talking points are no magic fix ether. The Unions grew out of a need, the exploiting of the worker by big business. The Auto giants grew to a point where they became less and less efficient. Giving in to Union demands for job security,health care, in Lew of higher wages became less costly than the alternative.
And yes , the Government is your daddy, someone has to look out for its people, that is what these United States is all about. But its also about being innovative, flexible, creative, get er done mentality. We did it during WW11, all pulling together, we can do it again, by thinking, doing more, and complaining less about who to blame for all out problems.

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by darstar

You need to go back and see how all this started. Its taken 70 years or more to get where we are today. There were some very good times along the way for the People of Michigan. Your simple talking points are no magic fix ether. The Unions grew out of a need, the exploiting of the worker by big business. The Auto giants grew to a point where they became less and less efficient. Giving in to Union demands for job security,health care, in Lew of higher wages became less costly than the alternative.
And yes , the Government is your daddy, someone has to look out for its people, that is what these United States is all about. But its also about being innovative, flexible, creative, get er done mentality. We did it during WW11, all pulling together, we can do it again, by thinking, doing more, and complaining less about who to blame for all out problems.

I agree. Michigan can come back...and come back strong. I think there are some great ideas out there, but we need a leader in this state to get the ideas and plans rolling...not just talking and blaming. Those who say Michigan is finished...done...are not true Michiganders. Those who are will want to help get this great state going again. How is it that other Midwestern states that have the same weather (maybe worse) can be way better off then us? Michigan has just as much if not more to offer then they do, so no-one can tell me Michigan wont and cant come back...sorry.

[Giesela]

Millions of jobs lost, many may never return - Stocks & economy- msnbc.com

Everyone is going to struggle unless they get innovative. Can the mindset of your typical 3rd generation factory rat or do that? I have my doubts but I hope so.