  Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 891 Registered: 10-2006 |
Nation grows wealthier while Michigan is poorer Michigan and the rest of America continue to follow different economic paths, with the nation becoming wealthier and less poor while Michigan lost ground on income and remained stagnant in poverty, according to annual figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. "Michigan low-income households are not gaining ground, despite improvements elsewhere in the country," said Terri Stangl, executive director of the Center for Civil Justice, which advocates for the poor. "The continuing struggles of low-income working families in Michigan are reflected in the growing demand for help with food assistance, utility shut offs, and health insurance. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=20077082903 96 (Message edited by yvette248 on August 29, 2007) | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 890 Registered: 12-2003 |
Way to go Jenny... | ||
Winstin_o_boogie_iii Member Username: Winstin_o_boogie_iii Post Number: 80 Registered: 02-2007 |
Mitch Ryder said it didn't he? "Jenny take a ride" | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2661 Registered: 06-2004 |
DetNews spinning madly. Look at the poverty figures the AP gave yesterday for the decade to date. Abominable. Almost every state had an increase. The 2005-2006 comparison is being touted so heavily to distract from the 1999-2006 reality. Only 10 states and D.C. have lowered poverty rates this decade. Even much vaunted North Carolina has a 2.4% increase for the decade. Michigan's 3%increase is second to Indiana's 3.2%, with TN, OH, and CO following, each at 2.7%. 'tain't Jenny's doing http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200 70828/ap_on_re_us/poverty_stat es_2 | ||
Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 897 Registered: 10-2006 |
When you can't make a policy change because the republicans keep voting against it, its kinda hard to lay all of this at Jenny's feet. Easy? Yes. Accurate? No. Every proposal the governor has made to try to jumpstart the economy has been soundly rejected by the fraidy cat right-wing who are too scared to take risks and try innovative solutions. | ||
Spartacus Member Username: Spartacus Post Number: 225 Registered: 07-2005 |
I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've seen innovative solutions and a reference to Granholm in the same sentence. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 933 Registered: 09-2005 |
To stop ignoring the elephant in the room: the federal government has not exactly helped Michigan's economy through its post-9/11 border restrictions. Michigan's great export-driven economy and manufacturers have likely lost billions of dollars due to border tie-ups in the past 6 years. Those kinds of losses mean fewer jobs for Michiganders. | ||
Gps Member Username: Gps Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2007 |
The poverty level the Census Bureau uses is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. So one can't assume that people are making less money now based on these figures. It could be that some people are doing so well and buying such nice things that they are driving prices up and skewing the numbers! Probably not though. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 6417 Registered: 02-2004 |
Michigan is not Mississippi or New Orleans and we are not acting like those folks with NO hope of recovery. Granholm is trying her best to bring international jobs here. This state still has international trades with Canada. It;s the automotive jobs that are lost. Michigan has a social problem that can be solved if we just stick together and put away our bickering. (Message edited by danny on August 30, 2007) | ||
Titancub Member Username: Titancub Post Number: 75 Registered: 08-2006 |
"Granholm is trying her best to bring international jobs here." Well her best efforts just aren't cuttin' it! Despite the best of her intentions she's in over her head. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 3090 Registered: 12-2005 |
A neighbor recently disappeared. A realty sign appeared in his window. A truck dropped off a large dumpster. Someone threw mattresses, etc. into the dumpster. The dumpster disappeared. Tonight there was a nice piano sitting in his driveway through the rainstorm. They could have at least covered it with a tarp or rolled it back into the house for the night. It's not as if the rain wasn't expected. All this obsession with money and property and rushing about and who owns what.... It only destroys value in the end. What a waste.  (Message edited by Jimaz on August 29, 2007) | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 3820 Registered: 10-2004 |
quote:Huh? Innovative solutions? The most obvious would be to bring state government costs in line with reality. Of course, that would require firing quite a few of the sacred cows among the ultra-bloated 56,000 state work force. Now, that would be innovative--not just catering to her number two constituency--the public-sector unions who helped bankroll both her election campaigns. Somehow, I just do not see that Jenny would ever pull that innovation off--being so socialist and all. But, hey! She's got an excuse... She's a Canadian! (Message edited by Livernoisyard on August 30, 2007) | ||
Unclefrank Member Username: Unclefrank Post Number: 80 Registered: 03-2006 |
Jenny doesn't have a clue. The comment about a bloated state work force is right on target. If she runs afoul of the Public service unions, she is cooked. I might add, that our senior US Senator's little jehad against George Bush ain't exactly helping us either. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1498 Registered: 04-2006 |
To stop ignoring the elephant in the room: the federal government has not exactly helped Michigan's economy through its post-9/11 border restrictions. Michigan's great export-driven economy and manufacturers have likely lost billions of dollars due to border tie-ups in the past 6 years. Those kinds of losses mean fewer jobs for Michiganders. Plus the other white elephant... Manufacturing in America is virtually dead. Or at least really, gravely frail. Jenny didn't kill it, it was partly Washington's policies and partly the nature of capitalism itself. The thing is, Jenny seems to be the only one in Lansing who is honestly acknowledging that manufacturing should not be Michigan's primary focus any more. She was the one to sound the alarms at number of educated 18 to 30 year olds were abandoning the state and not being replaced. She's been the most Detroit-friendly governor Michigan has had in decades, and that's saying a lot because she isn't really that Detroit-friendly. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2662 Registered: 06-2004 |
quote: As if dumping more people into the unemployment pool would help the state economy. It might help balance the budget, so would moving to a unicameral legislature, but ultimately a balanced budget doesn't fix the state's unemployment, declining income, and resident flight issues. | ||
Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 433 Registered: 07-2004 |
LY/UF - Michigan ranks 44th (as in "near the fewest") as far as state and local government employees per 1000 residents. Source: Public Policy Institute of New York and the US Census Bureau Who should take more blame for a stagnant economy here - a Governor of 5 years, or the Republicans who have held the Senate hostage since 1983? The 12 years of Engler? | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 6419 Registered: 02-2004 |
Titancub, If you don't like what Granholm is doing to our great state of Michigan, then you more than welcome to leave. Granholm is NOT the blame for the failing economy. Engler dump the bills to her so that she could pay it off. ENGLER AND BLANCHARD are on main ones responsible of leading our state into a great recession not Granholm. We choose her to bring jobs to our state and fix our $900 Million dollar deficit and she's doing an excellent job staying the course. In her second term, over 12,000 new jobs are coming to Michigan even through over 300,000 automotive and its suplier jobs are gone. It's time for Michigan to poise for new 21st Century international jobs not looking back to the stone age of making CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANGS! Wake up fellas! We're not in Pleasantville or Mississippi anymore we're everything is black and white. Michigan will rise again. We did it before in late 1980s and we can do in this decade and beyond. Don't blame your leaders. Don't even depend on our leaders for assistance. We the people of Michigan should represent the world for our productive future and to save our economy. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 3821 Registered: 10-2004 |
Obviously no political ally of the governor, Bishop would prefer to dump 25% of the state workforce: Early out proposed for 14,000 state workers quote: <snipped> | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 1739 Registered: 02-2007 |
I've always wanted a straight answer to this question: When Johnny was governor and there was a fully republican legislature, why did they do nothing to cut the size of the state payroll? instead of making cuts to "get the govt. spending in line", why did they raid the rainy day fund? | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 1740 Registered: 02-2007 |
of course, if a gay person wants to provide an answer, i'd be glad to read that too | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2663 Registered: 06-2004 |
quote: because they had one to raid | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 54 Registered: 07-2007 |
Michigan voted in and got what it deserved, A tax-sucking-socialist-hypocrit e in our Governor. Businesses will invest if our pigs at the trough in Lansing keep their grubby paws out of every facet of a business, and stop playing to the union vote and special interests. It's just too bad that most people aren't savvy enough to recognize how these politicians play them. | ||
Gazhekwe Member Username: Gazhekwe Post Number: 230 Registered: 08-2007 |
State government is not bloated. As posted above, we are on the low side for state workers to 1000 residents. There have been problems with massive exodus of state employees, as the buyouts take the older ones who own the history of their departments. Note, that might be a good thing, IF planning takes place to reconstitute the department mission and structure, rather than limp along with far less employee resources than needed. | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 2063 Registered: 12-2003 |
Start spending money on tasks and not insurance and pensions. All important functions should be funded first, then salaries and benefits. For example I saw the other day that SCS was spending 500k this year on IT, WTF do they need 500k for that provides anything to the residents. But yet we need to raise taxes for Police and Fire. Police and Fire should always come first. | ||
Gazhekwe Member Username: Gazhekwe Post Number: 231 Registered: 08-2007 |
You expect state employees to work for nothing? | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 1760 Registered: 02-2007 |
You mean the one person who actually made big cuts in virtually every area lefty? not engler who virtually bankrupted the state with his cronie contracting? | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 2064 Registered: 12-2003 |
quote: Typically response from this state. Yes I do, when Police and Fire have to cut services to its residents and schools are hounding for money, but who cares, as long Johnny and Jenny have Pensions & Benefits payed for by the taxpayers many who no insurance or pensions. Who cares about protecting and educating. | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 312 Registered: 02-2007 |
Don't expect it to get better anytime soon. With Multi-national corporations taking more & more jobs overseas and now plans to make the U.S. Canada & Mexico a common union-we're seeing the end of a sovereign USA. Ross Perot was right-Nafta and the aftermath will be sucking the jobs right out of this country. My dad was't the brightest guy around but he saw this happening over 30 years ago-governments & their masters in the business world are out to destroy the american worker and reduce us to slave labor. By the way laying blame on Granholm, Engler or Blanchard is barking up the wrong tree-they're all equally guilty same as Federal politicos. Bush # 1 negotiated NAFTA-Clinton got it passed now Bush # 2 has let our borders become open doors to illegals that come here and wants them to be handed all the rights & privledges of U.S. citizens and create a big international region. All are members of Skull & Bones as is John Kerry, Bush's last opponent. Republican or Dems they've ALL sold us out to line their pockets. (Message edited by Eric W on August 30, 2007) | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 339 Registered: 02-2007 |
Eric, It only continues because it hasn't effected enough citizens yet. Its really a bad brew here. People are losing their way of life and they don't trust the government. Every presidential election has fewer voters than the last. American Idol pulls more votes. When our president speaks it sounds like a page ripped from 1984 or Citizen Kane. I don't buy into their charade though and it doesn't appear that too many others do either according to the polls. We have another year of these blanker blankers, hopefully we'll get better leadership. | ||
Yvette248 Member Username: Yvette248 Post Number: 907 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hmmm.... could this be why the legislature voted for us to have elections mid-January next year? It seems like the only states that gets their concerns addressed are Iowa and New Hampshire. That doesn't sound fair to me. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 3827 Registered: 10-2004 |
quote:Some must lead shallow lives if they expect some politicians scrounging for votes to help address their begging concerns... (Message edited by Livernoisyard on August 31, 2007) | ||
Ferntruth Member Username: Ferntruth Post Number: 109 Registered: 11-2006 |
quote: "Way to go Jenny..." Yes, the Legislature (you remember them, the ones who actually CREATE the budget)has no responsibility in this. Could it be that nothing of substance gets accomplished because BOTH sides of the aisle are more interested in blaming and finger pointing rather than resolving issues like the friggin budget and the deficit. Less Government is not the answer to everything, no matter how much our Conservative friends may think it is...and before I get a poison pen response, this does not mean that big government is the answer either. Until we get a part-time Legislature and until they agree to give up their healthcare and other benefits, any talk of "trimming the fat" from state government is just bilgewater. | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 2076 Registered: 12-2003 |
Less Government or less expensive? | ||
Ferntruth Member Username: Ferntruth Post Number: 111 Registered: 11-2006 |
I'd support "less expensive" Government, but only if we start with the Legislature's pay and benefits. | ||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 193 Registered: 01-2007 |
Subject: ADVANCED MEDICINE A Japanese doctor says, "Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in six weeks." A German doctor says, "That is nothing. We can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in four weeks." A British doctor says, "In my country medicine is so advanced that we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have both of them out looking for work in two weeks." The Canadian doctor, not to be outdone, interjected, "You guys are way behind. We took a woman with no brains, sent her to Michigan where she became Governor, and now half the state is out looking for work." | ||
Russix Member Username: Russix Post Number: 44 Registered: 11-2006 |
Michigan should start printing its own money, and peg the value of it way under the US and Canadian dollar. Then it will be competitive for manufacturing jobs to return to Michigan, it works great for China! |
