Today in my American Issues Project column I address the economic mess in Michigan, but I focus particularly on the mass exodus of educated, high earning citizens who are desperately needed to rebuild the state. Are Michigan's leaders taking steps to attract more people to Michigan? Nope. They're continuing on their high tax, punitive regulations that sent people scattering to begin with. Here's a portion:
The children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way is how the song goes. Here in Michigan, the young and college educated are the future and they are leading the way right out of the state. It's gotten so bad that now half of Michigan's college graduates leave the state within a year of receiving their diplomas to move to states with more job opportunities, and who can blame them? College graduates are filled with excitement for what lies ahead in their future, so naturally they want to live where the economic prospects will take them to that exciting future. Unfortunately, that destination is anywhere but Michigan.The economy in Michigan is in such decline that it is not just college graduates who are leaving. Last year about 109,000 more people left than moved in, and those who moved out were the educated high income earners who lost their jobs and couldn't find any new jobs in the state. One of those was Dave Stefanic, a former Ford engineer. He hoped to stay in Michigan but the only job offers he got were out of state, so eventually he and his wife Cindi moved to South Carolina in January. And when others like Dave moved, the very people needed to rebuild the state's economy, they took with them about $1.2 billion more in earnings potential than those who moved into Michigan. And the size of their exodus is staggering. According to a United Van Lines 2008 migration report, 67.1 percent of Michigan-related moves last year were from people moving out of state. This trend, unfortunately, has not only not reversed at all in 2009 but it has only gotten worse. UVL issued a mid-year report for 2009 and, as of June 30th, that number has risen to 70 percent. Not one state in the country has an out-migration rate of even 60 percent.
Read all of it and check out what Michigan's Democrats are preparing for their state's remaining small businesses.
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Economics
Comments (18)
I wonder if the "7 years of... (Below threshold)1. Posted by 914_62 | July 31, 2009 3:58 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
I wonder if the "7 years of economic darkness" will make Michigan's Pharoah's see the "light."
Somehow, I doubt it.
1. Posted by 914_62 | July 31, 2009 3:58 PM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 15:58
2. Posted by GianiD | July 31, 2009 4:12 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Wonder how libs and ACORN will spin this topic?
2. Posted by GianiD | July 31, 2009 4:12 PM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 16:12
3. Posted by Mainstreet | July 31, 2009 4:56 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
It sounds like it may a good time to attend the University of Michigan. Off campus housing must be nearly free, you can get a diploma from a very respectable university and then leave as fast as you can.
3. Posted by Mainstreet | July 31, 2009 4:56 PM |
Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 16:56
4. Posted by corwin | July 31, 2009 5:11 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Ann Arbor has rent controls.(There is too much demand for the number of rentals)And there are some really trashy houses with multiple students. They probably look even worse than when I rented.
By nthew way,I'm planning oin leaving the state. Can't really make a living here.
4. Posted by corwin | July 31, 2009 5:11 PM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 17:11
5. Posted by epador | July 31, 2009 5:59 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
I would second Corwin's statements, and add that the 5 years it took my son to get a worthless degree from the undergraduate program, the insane fem-nazi and lefty liberal culture requiring think/speak/write their way or fail the course, well the college education at UM ain't all its cracked up to be. If you go to State, where at least you learn how to party like an anarchist, you might get a better education, and watch better hockey and BBall.
5. Posted by epador | July 31, 2009 5:59 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 17:59
6. Posted by jaiphx | July 31, 2009 6:32 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Have any of you gazed upon the city of Detroit. Except for the Down town area it's all slums. There are more abandoned homes than occupied homes. The demoncrap party has been in control, and watched, no make that presided over this catastrophe. Unless we right the ship by ousting this gang no in charge, you can expect the rest of the country to look like that.
6. Posted by jaiphx | July 31, 2009 6:32 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 18:32
7. Posted by Plumpplumber(balding) | July 31, 2009 7:23 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Unfortunately, these economic refugees have been infected with the the rabid disease of "entitlement". As these diseased individuals spread their contagion, the healthy parts of the country have to resist them. Here in Texas, we discriminate against the diseased. Right to work, and folks are actually expected to work, minimal welfare, and a lot of competition for jobs make this a hostile enviroment for disease carriers. As economic refugees from Blue states flee towards healthy Red states, we can't allow them to re-infect us.
t
7. Posted by Plumpplumber(balding) | July 31, 2009 7:23 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 19:23
8. Posted by bobdog | July 31, 2009 7:46 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Aw, hell. Just give the state to the unions and be done with it.
Unemployment in the Detroit area is now 17.2%. But WAIT! LOOK OVER THERE! GREEN SHOOTS OF RECOVERY!
We're saved.
8. Posted by bobdog | July 31, 2009 7:46 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 19:46
9. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 31, 2009 8:12 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Great article Kim!
9. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 31, 2009 8:12 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 20:12
10. Posted by GarandFan | July 31, 2009 8:36 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
This cannot be! Michigan is a prime example of a Democratic Worker's Paradise!
10. Posted by GarandFan | July 31, 2009 8:36 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 20:36
11. Posted by vech | July 31, 2009 8:45 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
I wonder how many retired union workers stay in Michigan? All the ones I know immediately left for Florida, North Carolina, and to other southern parts of the country. God bless our union, who helped destroy an entire state, then moved to non-union states where the cost of living is less.
11. Posted by vech | July 31, 2009 8:45 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 20:45
12. Posted by epador | July 31, 2009 8:48 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Kim:
Remember to turn out the lights when you leave.
12. Posted by epador | July 31, 2009 8:48 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 20:48
13. Posted by Stan25 | July 31, 2009 8:58 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
From what I understand the tourist business in the State Michigan is not doing too well either. I guess the word has gotten out about Michigan's high tax rates on tourists too
13. Posted by Stan25 | July 31, 2009 8:58 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 20:58
14. Posted by Gmac | July 31, 2009 9:26 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
You know, I used to think that the idiots in CA were going to go bankrupt first with their loony environmentalist idea's along with their massive income redistribution through taxation polices. Really, I did.
I can see now that MI is light years ahead of them in the race to the bottom. Hell, anyone with a room temperature IQ is bugging the hell out of the state leaving it to the welfare leaches and Islamic fundamentalists in Dearbornistan.
I suspect the only question is how much of the 'Stimulus' funding are they getting and how much longer will it prolong their decline.
Without a tax base economic de-evolution is sure to increase. There has to be a tipping point where government redistribution will fail from the lack of funds from productive businesses and citizens. At the current rate of loss it cannot be far off and the economic conditions there have to be crushing.
Looking at Detroit as an example of what Democrat control can lead to should be a warning to other cities everywhere. Looking at MI as a whole should be a warning to anyone that thinks they can tax their way into prosperity.
14. Posted by Gmac | July 31, 2009 9:26 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 21:26
15. Posted by Stan25 | July 31, 2009 9:55 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
When the Detroit Tigers finally get the nerve to move out, then that will be the bottom. How can a multi-million dollar organization like the Tigers exist when there is no one left to go to their games. Believe me, that will happen soon.
15. Posted by Stan25 | July 31, 2009 9:55 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 21:55
16. Posted by Arthur | August 1, 2009 12:39 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Directive 10-289 anybody?
16. Posted by Arthur | August 1, 2009 12:39 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 1, 2009 00:39
17. Posted by epador | August 1, 2009 8:30 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
re:11
It has nothing to do with the weather, really.
17. Posted by epador | August 1, 2009 8:30 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 1, 2009 08:30
18. Posted by Texan99 | August 1, 2009 3:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The only answer is the Cuban solution: post guards at the border with the guns pointing "in." Then await the workers' paradise!
18. Posted by Texan99 | August 1, 2009 3:05 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 1, 2009 15:05