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All Things Michigan

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Filtering by Tag: michigan-economy

Gov. Granholm proposing funding cuts for the State Fair and the arts

Andrew Norton

This article in the Detroit News is reporting that in order to help balance our state budget, Gov. Granholm is looking to cut funding for both the Upper and Lower Peninsula State Fairs as well as the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Weigh in on this issue via the comments and the poll below.

[poll id="15"]

The real reason Michigan's economy is in the tank?

Andrew Norton

I just read this article at the Detroit Free Press stating that Michigan is one of only 4 states to spend more on our prison system than higher education. For every $1 spent on higher education, Michigan spends $1.19 on its prison system. Contrast this with Minnesota (happy owner of the lowest ratio) who spends only $.17 on prisons for each $1 it spends on higher education. There are numerous rhymes and reasons for Michigan's poor economy, but perhaps this ratio is the most telling of all. How can you move forward and increase technology jobs and other brainy economic activity within the state when you are spending more money locking folks up than educating them for these new job sectors?

This article really struck me as I also read today that 1 out of every 100 Americans are in prison. Anyone else think that having 1% of your population locked away is a frightening statistic?

I hate bringing up bad news, but it was sad for me to see that Michigan is one of only four states that spend more on prisons than college.

Scary.

Top five words Governor Granholm used in her State of the State Speech

Andrew Norton

The Detroit Free Press had an interesting article on the number of times certain words were used in Governor Granholm's State of the State speech. Here is the breakdown:

  1. Jobs - 54 times
  2. Alternative or renewable energy - 25 times
  3. Schools - 18 times
  4. Taxes - 12 times
  5. Anger or angry - 8 times

And the two words most Michigan residents wanted to hear her say . . . I quit ;).

Read the full text of last night's speech.

Surprise! Michigan isn't broke

Andrew Norton

Well, this year anyway. The state finished up its fiscal year which ended September 30, 2007 with a surplus of more than $350 million. Don't pop the champagne corks and start the victory parade just yet, though. Dire predictions of another budget shortfall for 2008 abound. Hopefully the experts are wrong and we can start to build some economic momentum here in Michigan.

Read the article in The Detroit News

New website touting Michigan products and services

Andrew Norton

BuyMichiganNow.com recently launched to help promote Michigan and the number of products that are made and grown here. They have a petition you can sign to -

play an active role in building a strong, vibrant, and diverse Michigan economy. I will be a part of the solution by speaking positively about the state, learning about our products and services, and making a concerted effort to buy from Michigan businesses. I will Think Michigan First!

I found out about this new website from another Pro-Michigan site we support - BuyMichiganProducts.com. When I checked out the Holiday Christmas Shopping Guide from BuyMichiganNow.com I noticed that Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC was lucky enough to be mentioned as one of the places to get your Michigan gift baskets. Cool.

According to the feature run on Fox 2 Detroit - Lisa Diggs, founder of BuyMichiganNow.com, "hopes 5,000 people will take the pledge by Dec. 31." I signed it and was Number 620. I hope that folks take notice and check it out.

Check out the 'Do Something' blog for some positive ideas

Andrew Norton

Via the Detroit News Dosomethingblog.com has a single post asking for comments on doing something positive. According to the Detroit News, the Do Something blog is the creation of PR firm, Beach Communications.

People across Michigan know something is wrong with Michigan. Politicians have not acted quickly enough or in a manner that we can agree with and this gives folks a chance to voice their positive ideas. This is their chance to have a public forum, of sorts, where their voices can be heard.

Reading the positive comments and ideas helped me get in a positive frame of mind. It is far too easy to be pessimistic about things like gas prices (should I quit posting the average price of gas?), our economy, or our state government.

Lets be positive and creative and see what happens.

Have a Great Friday!