The Michigan Governor's Race
Jennifer Granholm is up for re-election and she has her work cut out for her. Now to lay my cards on the table I voted for the other guy but I did, a few years earlier, vote for her as Attorney General and believe she did a fairly good job at that post.
The economic situation in Michigan is not her fault, nor is it John Engler's fault (her predecessor). I have said repeatedly, and still believe, that Michigan's economic woes are cultural rather than political and changing politicians will not solve most of the problem. Too many people in this state believe that they are entitled to an upper-middle-class income with generous benefits, needing little or no education, (and sometimes very little work) as our factories gave us 30+ years ago and they will not accept the fact that it does not work any more. The people of Michigan must change their attitudes on this or the decline will continue.
Though it is not her fault it IS her responsibility because she willingly took that responsibility when she took her oath of office.
The state GOP has annointed former Amway executive Dick DeVos as their man, though things can still go awry in the primaries (as happened to the DEMs 8 years ago when the second biggest embarrasment to the state of Michigan -- right after Michael Moore -- Geoffery Fieger upset the annointed one and won the nomination.)
An editorial by Derek Melot in today's Lansing State Journal points out that there is very little difference in the programs espoused by DeVos and Granholm. Right now they are arguing over competence. I would have to largely concur with Mr. Melot.
I was especially intrigued by this line.
It's said there are no atheists in foxholes.
Dick DeVos' campaign for governor may prove there are no conservatives in Michigan politics.
and a ways down it says
The words may vary, but the theme is the same: Government is the answer.
Sadly our government is only a small part of the answer. The real answer lies in the minds and expectations of the people of Michigan.
Michigan can prosper again, but we have to concentrate on 1) educating our people to higher level and 2) getting businesses to notice the change when it happens. It's not going to happen overnight and we are micro-wave dinner generation. We want everything now.
Update 9:12 PM The Detroit News has an article on this as well based on a voter survey. The biggest difference here is that it gives statistics on what Michigan is thinking. The economy is the top concern of 79% of the state with nearly 2/3 saying the state on the wrong track. Voters seem to feel that neither DeVos nor Granholm have any real answers.
The economic situation in Michigan is not her fault, nor is it John Engler's fault (her predecessor). I have said repeatedly, and still believe, that Michigan's economic woes are cultural rather than political and changing politicians will not solve most of the problem. Too many people in this state believe that they are entitled to an upper-middle-class income with generous benefits, needing little or no education, (and sometimes very little work) as our factories gave us 30+ years ago and they will not accept the fact that it does not work any more. The people of Michigan must change their attitudes on this or the decline will continue.
Though it is not her fault it IS her responsibility because she willingly took that responsibility when she took her oath of office.
The state GOP has annointed former Amway executive Dick DeVos as their man, though things can still go awry in the primaries (as happened to the DEMs 8 years ago when the second biggest embarrasment to the state of Michigan -- right after Michael Moore -- Geoffery Fieger upset the annointed one and won the nomination.)
An editorial by Derek Melot in today's Lansing State Journal points out that there is very little difference in the programs espoused by DeVos and Granholm. Right now they are arguing over competence. I would have to largely concur with Mr. Melot.
I was especially intrigued by this line.
It's said there are no atheists in foxholes.
Dick DeVos' campaign for governor may prove there are no conservatives in Michigan politics.
and a ways down it says
The words may vary, but the theme is the same: Government is the answer.
Sadly our government is only a small part of the answer. The real answer lies in the minds and expectations of the people of Michigan.
Michigan can prosper again, but we have to concentrate on 1) educating our people to higher level and 2) getting businesses to notice the change when it happens. It's not going to happen overnight and we are micro-wave dinner generation. We want everything now.
Update 9:12 PM The Detroit News has an article on this as well based on a voter survey. The biggest difference here is that it gives statistics on what Michigan is thinking. The economy is the top concern of 79% of the state with nearly 2/3 saying the state on the wrong track. Voters seem to feel that neither DeVos nor Granholm have any real answers.
posted by shoprat at 8:19 PM
5 Comments:
I've said this before - whenever you analyze Michigan, it sounds like you're talking about Oregon - same misguided mindset. The blue-collar folk were spoiled since the Sixties and haven't recovered from their overblown expectations.
rolfe I think you read my posting and missed the point. Neither is offering Michigan what they truly need.
SR- I'm probably voting for Grandholm. DeVos seems too slash and burn. Grandholm is trying hard to land a Japanese Auto plant, and doing her best on a lot of other fronts. The Republican legislature is hamstinging her any way they can and mostly just to make themselves look better and the welfare of the people be damned.
On the whole, I agree with this post very much.
Don't you think Devos would be better than Granholm though? My parents live in Michigan and we were just talking about this race.
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