Ideas From You

You can use the comment box further down this page to share your Three Things — the three suggestions you have for improving Michigan. Make sure to click “Like” if you think a comment contains useful suggestions.

Below are some selections that we thought were unique or interesting:

Jeff Voigt 01/05/2010 06:08 PM

- Create stronger zoning laws that make it more difficult to expand outward with the resulting increase in infrastructure costs.

- City of Detroit improvement. Declare a homestead act on Detroit property that has not paid taxes in the last 5 years. If the property has not paid taxes in 5 years, it is free of charge if someone will build on/improve/clean up the property, and then pay minimal taxes so that revenue can be brought into the city, and ownership of vacant properties can be established.

artseducator 01/05/2010 06:11 PM

- Become more aware of the political process and monitor your representatives to see that they reflect how you feel and vote them out if they don’t. These elected officials should be guided by their constituents needs and expressed positions and not by party politics.

- Be willing to shoulder a slightly higher sales tax by realizing that a small boost by a lot of people would make a huge difference.

Gregory Kruszewski  01/06/2010 10:59 PM

- Turn off the TV. That will free up a lot of time .

- Stop eating fast food and drinking soda pop, and start eating home cooking. That will give you more energy.

Robyn K. Angle  01/07/2010 01:53 PM

- Allow residents to volunteer to help elementary students, on a one to one basis, in the classroom, and as an incentive give them a monetary reduction on their property taxes. This could help both the student and the taxpayers. We have got to give children’s educations the priority they deserve. When I volunteered for the, “Helping One Student To Succeed”, (HOSTS), program, the child I tutored, improved his grade level in reading by several years. I’ll never understand why funds for that program were cut.

- To get the empty houses sold it would help if local property taxes, (taxable values), were adjusted as soon as the house sells, and those taxes were reduced to reflect the new REAL value of the property. The low prices of these foreclosures, are great but many times the monthly tax escrow is much higher than the principle and interest amount. This stops many people from buying. I know there is talk of delaying tax increases on new home construction, my idea could be included in that legislation. I realize that municipalities are struggling financially but well, we all have to learn to cut back. It’s hard to sympathize when townships are building new offices, instead of tightening their belts.

- As soon as a home that is designated as NON-HOMESTEAD, is sold to a primary resident, the HOMESTEAD exemtion should be immediately granted, instead of waiting until the following May. This would also help get homes sold. We do need to raise taxes. Citizens are loosing a lot more money in the lower value of their home by allowing foreclosed homes in their neighborhood to sit empty. They/we would all be much further ahead if we had to pay higher property taxes, at lease for a temporary time. While I talk of lowering taxes and raising taxes in the same paragraph, this is not a contradiction, but you have to do the math.

Ella619 01/07/2010 09:32 PM

- Raise sales tax to 8% to fairly generate revenue.

Parker 01/07/2010 11:42 PM

- Michigan needs to reform the current Business Tax system. We are not making it easy for business to come to the state and thrive. We finally did away with the stupid SBT a few years ago and now we need to reform the current tax system. Along with this we need to look into giving incentive to companies that bring money into the state. When a firm brings in a dollar from another state it gets used many times over as opposed to a Michigan dollar.

Amber D. Pedersen  01/08/2010 05:46 AM

- Realize that every dollar you spend is a vote. We live in a capitalist democracy and that means we vote with our money. Spend your money on your values, where your purchases make a statement about what you think is important.

robertkachadourian 01/08/2010 08:15 PM

- Stop the thievery in government, using government funds for trips, self aggrandizement and in any way which makes a mockery out of our system of rule.

johncoyne  01/08/2010 08:17 PM

- Invest like crazy in math education and ensure we’re #1 globally in mathematics performance at the elementary, middle-school and high-school levels. (not NCLB — but legitimate depth of math knowledge on par with leading nations)

- Strategic 20-year plan in emerging technology research (e.g. nano-scale molecular engineering) at Michigan universities and Bell-labs style laboratories co-sponsored by State, federal and private $’s, licensing innovations on favorable terms to companies that remain in Michigan.

Matt  01/09/2010 03:26 PM

- Part time legislature to help reduce state spenditure

- Eliminate life time health care and benefits for legislators (only need to serve one term)

Richard Derick 01/10/2010 05:32 PM

- Adopt a unicameral legislature. There is no reason to have a Senate which only represents special interests. The people should be represented by a single house in which all members represent the same number of voters. A majority of the representatives would be all that is required to determine government policy and get the state moving again.

Gus Teschke  01/11/2010 06:48 PM

- Consolidate school districts to eliminate small ones and save money.

Kelly Parker 01/12/2010 01:21 PM

- Unpave. Reclaim abandoned urban tracts, suburban sprawl, and fallow rural land. Plant urban gardens, build parks, support small-scale farming, and restore hardwood forests to the landscape.

Carol Higgins 01/12/2010 09:57 PM

- Clean up the neighborhood! Take a walk and pick up litter, add a fresh coat of paint, replace things that break. Keeping Michigan beautiful will make it more attractive so others will want to call it home and improve the spirits of those who are staying. There are advantages to retiring in Michigan. Let’s make some noise about it!

- Creative taxation. Tax disposable containers that consume fossil fuels such as single serving drink containers. Use funds for DNR or transportation. Tax pensions that leave the state. People who worked in Michigan but retired somewhere else are siphoning off money that benefits some other state. Tax sporting event tickets and other entertainment.

JD  01/13/2010 11:33 AM

- Use German concrete paving method for roads that lasts 50 years instead of using constantly crumbling asphalt. The travel delays from constant construction and repairs needed from driving on rutty roads cost citizens a fortune.

Steve Uptegraft 01/14/2010 10:14 AM

- Demand our state government stop and reel in contracts and purchases sent to out-of-state/out-of-country businesses at the expense of in-state jobs. Granholm and especially Engler sent thousands and jobs and millions in state revenue to other states and countries because “it was cheaper than doing it here”. They are right on the surface, and totally wrong when you factor in the people in Michigan who are collecting unemployment, working at low-paying jobs as a poor substitute, or have packed up and left along with their skills. The overall costs far exceed those nickels and dimes they “saved”.

Sarah Janssen 01/14/2010 10:38 AM

- Michigan public colleges should reduce in-state tuition by at least 25% and then freeze it until unemployment rates are significantly down (to 2% or so).

Kenneth Kasinger 01/15/2010 05:24 PM

- i would make interstate 94 a toll road. and find all the bridges i could and charge a toll. and raise existingtolls across the state

elizabethlurie 01/15/2010 05:41 PM

- The last one was that everyone who has a website should post a section on their site called “Visit Michign”, with pictures. My site is visited each month by almost a hundred visitors. They come mostly from the U.S. but also every other part of the world. The”Visit Michigan” button has now been created on the 2nd page of my website. . I’m still adding text to it, and organizing the pictures most of which were taken in Benzie county where I go each summer to meet with family. Click on the images to enlarge them to see one of the best reasons to visit Michigan, our abundant natural beauty.

Amy D Seetoo 01/25/2010 12:48 AM

- Keep school buildings open after school hours so that students who don’t have a good study environment at home can study under supervised conditions, and community volunteers can come to a neutral place to tutor students. In other words, make schools a community learning center. Who is to pay for the extra utilities, unionized custodians, and security personnel? Different communities can work out their own solutions.

- Keep women and girls educated. Give them tutoring and scholarships so that they can go to college. Educated mothers can raise better educated sons and daughters.

- Give community seminars on the basics of becoming entrepreneurs.

Jonathan  01/25/2010 02:45 PM

- Reduce the prison population. Although the bail-bonds industry is going to through a hissey-fit, their are ways to track non-violent criminals that cost much less than pre-trial confinement. Also, the legalization and taxation of marijuana will reduce the number of people in the prison system and generate revenue.

- Re-think the state higher education system. It makes little sense to have so many state universities that are all struggling. Also, allowing schools like Central Michigan University to shift their focus from undergraduate education to research or a medical schools shows a lack of focus and strategic planning. It may be argued that administrators are running away with the states smaller institutions. One option is to close one of the smaller schools and to fully fund all of the others. Another, more attractive option, is to create a singly administrative structure for all of the state schools with the exception of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. The goal should be to lower the cost of education, increase the number of professors, and fully fund the working degrees in all fields.

- Mandate the Michigan become the most connected state in the union. The Dominican Republic has better cell phone coverage than Michigan. It is time that the state has 100% 3G cell phone service and universal access to high speed internet. This can be accomplished through public-private partnerships.

- Bring the art communities into Flint, Lansing, and Detroit. The creation of artist workspaces, residency programs, and display spaces in the city-center will attract culture, and this will attract people.

- Bring our boys home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The National Guard is not designed to be used in this degrading way. Their is no national threat from Afghanistan. Its time to say that our Husbands, Wives, Fathers, and Sisters will no longer be used to fight this war, for they are needed to end crime in Detroit and Flint. They are needed to re-build Michigan, and needed to support their families. Its time to point out that we have had no deceleration of war, and this President has no authority to use the National Guard without it.

  • Ian Tran (of the Great Lakes)
    1) Be actively informed, educated, about local news, public hearings, and political candidates prior to elections; know the finer workings of our local and national government and the contexts which surround it, and articulate educated desires for government action. In other words, be a responsibly engaged citizen.

    2) Participate more in volunteer service in the company of others through environmental stewardship outreach, education as a volunteer to empower others to be responsible, well prepared and educated individuals who can better engage their society, economy, and environment. Create awareness and coordinate interest in comprehensive efforts for sustainability.

    3) Enjoy more things and share them in the public sphere, also explore local features rather than pass by them during my commute. Play music in public places more often and listen to music at open mics, use the library, re-create at local parks, etc.

    Also, when I do need to purchase something, venture into local shops and restaurants if at least to say hello and find out about the history of the place.
  • David_bohl
    1. Get a list of everyone (lobbyists, legislators, insurance execs) who has ever had anything to do with insurance in the state of Michigan.
    2. Round them up.
    3. Shoot them ... every last one of them.
  • 1. Change unemployment such that someone is not penalized for taking a lower-paying job. For example, allow those taking a minimum or low wage job some portion of their unemployment benefits so that there is incentive to taking a menial job.
    2. Michigan Conservation Corps...much like the CCC and WPA back in the depression, the MCC would put unemployed people to work on public projects to revitalize parks and infrastructure.
    3. Provide consistent funding for our schools! School districts must somehow be shielded from huge changes in state revenue.
  • Gsirna
    Allow all dams in Michigan to produce electricity. We import energy into the State. Consumers Energy now charges over 13 cents per kilowatt hour after a 600 base use. Producing local power will befit everyone.
  • Lee Rohrer
    Hi, most things are possible . I'll make a suggestion , most everyone has wind , some more than others. I'll be happy to hook up with people to show "how it works"
  • mtparadise
    Wave Action, off shore wind, solar farms. . . we should be doing it all here with a national WPA type program to get our exceptional work force into action because the utilities won't do it unless it's a gazillion dollar nuclear or clean coal project (that we all pay for). I can't wait for the day we can all sell power back to the grid for profit and unplug from the monopolies (I mean utilities).
  • Range 9
    1. List 3 Michigan Cities You have Wanted to Visit
    2. Visit each city. Find out about its history, museums, factories, public projects, unique products, famous people, plans for the future.
    3. If you are a Michigan City, put together a basket of items unique to your city that everyone who visits should have. Make it available in many stores/key tourist stops (local books, wine, honey, cheese, photos, maps/walking tours, t-shirts, calendars, lists, etc..)
  • Dalton_alicia
    Create a consortium of economics, social and urban engineering experts to study other large cities such as Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The goal would be to understand how they experienced a rebirth after suffering devastating unemployment, corruption and community despair. Are any of their method are applicable to reviving places like Detroit and Flint?

    Design a "Michigan Pride" website. Feature festivals, Products made in Michigan, Historical fun facts,. Perhaps sponsor essay and picture competitions with prizes being Michigan made products or discounts to our many wonderful attractions.
  • Michigan's future depends, in my opinion, on a return to three values fundamental to achieving a better future for all our citizens.

    -- The first value is transparency. Democracy and the free market only work when citizens and consumers can fully understand their choices. Transparency is essential in both processes. When a vendor at a farmer's market can label wholesale produce transported thousands of miles as "homegrown", trust in our food system is undermined and local farmers labeling their produce honesty put at a significant disadvantage. Likewise, when semi-official work groups meet behind closed doors to hammer out changes to legislative proposals, trust in government is undermined.
    Commercial and government actions need to be fully transparent. As Gandhi wrote, "secrecy is the enemy of democracy."

    -- The second value is listening, really listening to people on the margins of society. Too often, public and commercial decisions are made by the powerful in complete disregard of the voices and interests of the powerless. Michigan has a tradition of "command-and-control" government that mimicked the processes of the Big Three in the auto industry. As our economy continues to undergo fundamental change, the numbers of people on the "margins" grows. Our future depends on listening their voices and engaging them in the changes we need to make.

    -- The third value is community -- building local institutions that strengthen our connections to our neighbors. Wendell Berry says that "community is the most import resource of the 21st century." The solutions to many of our state's most pressing problems will be developed at the local level by neighbors helping and working with neighbors. The state needs to adopt policies to support urban gardening, food and energy cooperatives, and time banks that create community resilience and trust. Our future is literally in our collective neighborhood hands.

    Core values are, as the term implies, at the core of everything we seek to do. We need to focus on transparency, listening to differences and the margins, and community, if we are to succeed.
  • Bill Gallmeyer
    I have one subject that could be divided into 3 (or 30) things. The one subject is reforestation.

    There is no better way for us to leave this state and this world for that matter, than to provide more trees. Michigan is good at growing trees, but private enterprise does not reward it (except maybe pulpwood). The true cost of the great lumbering era is still being paid for, and although progress has been made, we need programs that will allow individuals to contribute. Here are 3 possible ways.

    1. Agricultural subsidies for private land not based on a crop or not planting a crop, but for re-planting native trees. The consequences of this will be felt by generations to come, and the benefits are many.

    2. Programs for planting public lands similar to the CCC efforts of the 1930s. We now know a lot more about tree health and the benefits of carbon sequestration...so the impact should be even better than the original efforts.

    3. Volunteer programs for re-forestation of MDOT right-of-ways. Taking the "adopt a highway" concept one step further, we could all invest in Michigan with a cash crop that could eventually be harvested, and the State could actually make some money some day. There are thousands of acres available in the medians of the Interstate system that are unused.

    The cost of these efforts could be very low. There are potential volunteers that could propagate seeds and transplant. The problem is that the payoff is such a long way off, only long-range state support will allow it to happen. It may take 10 years just to grow transplant stock. For the sake of future generations we should get started.
  • dianestark
    Interview Jeremy Rifkin, who is working so broadly and passionately to get ahead of the social problems and prepare innovative solutions before there is a crisis point. What are HIS three things?
  • sorrone
    I am part of the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems and we promote local and sustainable food systems, incluidng rural AND urban gardening, engaging youth in food produciton, getting our schools to include local farmers in the food procurement, helping communities to create healthy and active livlihoods. On that trail I would like to suggest 3 things to help Michigan be a stronger state: 1. For schools to include growing vegetables in a garden or hoophouse and use it for food AND learning 2. Every family have a vegetable garden even in pots, a community plot or at least visit a farm with the family 3. Buy as much of your food from local markets, farmers markets, farm stands and share the extras with your neighbors. I see community engagement around healthy food will provide much more than green stuff on our plates, but carry over to build stronger and more united communities.
  • leerohrer
    Hello sorrone, send a note . I can share info on Greenhouse Heating for the future . Free in a few years. gliderpilotlee@yahoo.com
  • gkzm
    Michigan has alot to offer; it's a beautiful state with very good natural resources. We have made choices in our marriage that allow me the pleasure and privilege to stay home with our children. I am thankful that I live in a place where we pass many small farms going down our road. We buy eggs from an organic farm, our meat is locally raised by a family we call friends, we have a small garden and that which we don't grow, I try to find at my local grocery, health food store, or farmer's market. Those choices mean sacrifices in other areas but I hope we are passing down health and good values to our children. My three things: 1. Support Michigan by buying local and encouraging the small farmers to return to Michigan. 2. Enjoy Michigan by getting out and exploring the magnificent creation we live in. 3. Protect Michigan by living green and advancing the development of green industry here in Michigan.
  • happyretiree
    Buy local products and services

    Replace the politicians in the Michigan House and Senate with people who understand that while we all have the things we passionately believe in, to get anything done, we MUST learn to compromise and we MUST start thinking in terms of what is best for Michigan, not what is best for political parties.

    Raise the income tax if necessary to help get us out the the hole we're in.
  • Chrissy Postema
    Find a way to support school libraries and information/technology literacy instruction in the public schools. Many if not most school districts have cut school library programs and staff (especially trained librarians with Master's degrees in library science or technology and state teaching certification) either completely or so drastically that service to students barely survives. Yet in this information age it is crucial that students receive adequate instruction on how to find, evaluate, and creatively use information and technology. Study after study has demonstrated that the presence of qualified library media specialists in schools boosts student achievement (see http://www.ala.org/aaslTemplate.cfm?Section=stu... ), yet these positions are being abandoned in Michigan.
  • Diane
    I think it would be really interesting to hear from Bob Fish and Mary Roszel, founders of the very successful, Michigan based company, Biggby Coffee. They always have a very positive message.
  • The Michigan Community Service Commission believes three simple things can help contribute to Michigan's future success: (1) volunteerism, (2) mentoring, and (3) national service. By committing individuals to our communities we can address some of our most critical challenges. We'd love to discuss this idea with you further.
  • Melanie R
    Michigan businesses need to purchase within Michigan to help our own economy. As a consumer also, buy Michigan made products to ensure your money is also going back into Michigan

    Recycle. Everyone knows the benefits of recycling.

    Spend more time with your children! You can ensure our childrens future here in Michigan by spending quality time with them and prevent them from getting into gangs or a crime related future.
  • sonya
    I would rehabilitate the empty houses in Detroit and put homeless people into those homes.
    I would make our roads and streets more drivable. Where you can drive down the streets without damaging your car.
    I would definitely establish more affordable if not free youth programs. I would put these programs in places where people aren't very mobile.
  • Kate
    I would like to see people stop complaining, and start taking action on their ideas, whether it's volunteering, going back to school or creating something you wish Michigan had.

    I would like to see every person in our state value higher education and understand it's essential to our personal and economic success.

    I would like to see people celebrating Michigan's assets and successes rather than focusing on its shortcomings and failures.
  • 1. Designate a couple highways to be toll roads.
    2. Put high taxes on medical marijuana.
    3. Reduce the amount of fines & punishment for DUI's.
  • Guest
    get the mafia out of the insurance business.....buy protection or we will stink bomb your store.
  • ralph101
    free up the patents, cut taxes, raise interest rates some so we don't have to bail out any more banks.
  • Guest
    get the mafia out of the insurance business
  • ralph101
    free up the patents, cut taxes, raise interest rates so we don't have to bail out any more banks.
  • Reneez
    3 Things to Improve Michigan...

    1. More Jobs. New businesses, New opportunities - By promoting sustainable living (i.e. "green jobs", promoting renewable energy, organic/local farming) Also, perhaps by allowing some sort of tax break for new development and businesses, with direct regards to Detroit/Flint - all that vacant land! Let's use what we got, before building/expanding more.
    2. Affordable School/College. Employment is a big issue in Michigan, most can not find work, or there seems to be the issue of being under-qualified or over-qualified for various positions currently available. Making education more affordable would help with preparation for more jobs.
    3. Support Locally! "buy local or bye-bye local"
    Support neighborhood businesses, Michigan Brands - keep our money within the state.
  • leerohrer
    Hi Reneez You have most of it, Hope to write this enough times someone (State) can see, understand common sense, look at the efficiency, look at the simple proof.  I'll share a story: When I bought a tool  -   X dollars  must equal     efficiency/time saved/ materials not used or fuel not burned of wasted.  OK , I have retired two trucks and two tools in 44 years. An insurance company weaseled me out of another truck that a drunk driver totaled and it appears the officers involved protected the driver and his father.  ( alcohol not a factor on 21st birthday party binge) Whoa! back to the subject - Business invested in by State must show profit in a few months ---- less than a year and return the investment so the State can evaluate and invest in the next worth while project. Again common sense, profitable jobs, get rid of the leaches.
  • tedwilson
    1. Michigan has been a great source of wealth and support to the development of the US over the years - especially during WW-2 and in the 60'2 and 70's from the auto industry. That fact however does not entitle us to be treated differently from the rest of the US. So first of all we need to get over our sense of entitlement and get down to work and quit complaining that the world owes us for our past accomplishments.
    2. The unions need stop controlling the legislature. Michigan needs to be a "Right to Work" state like all of the other states that have grown in the last 30 years. From the municipal workers, to auto workers, to the teachers - Michigan needs to be able to compete for jobs without having the fear of union reprisals.
    3. Our legislators need to listen to our higher education leaders like Mary Sue Coleman. Without a strong post secondary educational population, Michigan will never compete in the new world economy.
  • leerohrer
    Hi Ted, good point . If I get this right : If anyone produces a product for profit and can do well enough to expand and or reinvent his process .
      The State would do well to search for many with this brand of thinking and help them create more jobs here in Michigan. Read into this : Not one answer
  • Lee
    We need fewer people living in Michigan. So my first suggestion is that the State should provide a buy-out for anyone who is within something like 3 months of running out of unemployment benefits. These people won't find work here in all likelihood and the State needs to help these people move to other states. Perhaps they can pay the remaining unemployment in a lump sum if the family moves out of state. If they own a home and are underwater, the State might facilitate a sale at the going market rate and give some of the proceeds to the family who lived in the house and the balance to the lender.
  • jenniferknightstep
    1. Stop talking about how BAD things are in Michigan. Every time people here and across the country hear how bleak the outlook is, they are that much more hesitant to invest here, live here, go to school here. If you can't stop talking about Michigan, then try to focus on the positives... like our weather...

    2. Invest here. I don't just mean buying an American car or shopping at Wal-mart near your home. I mean buy things from locally-owned small businesses. Go to college here. Buy a home here. Work here. Pay taxes here. Encourage others to do the same. But for Pete's sake, stop "investing" more than you can afford, which is, of course, more than you earn.

    3. Ask our state government to invest in infrastucture here. Very little of the money we've received from the federal government for economic recovery that was supposed to be used in this way has been used to plug holes in the budget instead.
  • leerohrer
    You have it Jennifer , usually a few options : keep doing the same things thinking someone else will fix (It) . Do something different . Active search for capable / inventive. but make note : Intelligence does not need a degree. It shines brightly . If gov. would just open their eyes
  • jpbarrabee
    Introduction: These Ideas are Harsh.

    1. Do not have children. If you really want a child, adopt. We do not have the money in this state to support all the children. Do not add to the problem.

    2. If you are unemployed and can move, leave the state. At some point the unemployment benefits will end and at that point it will be a complete disaster. Get out now.

    3. If you are unemployed and can't move, spent time volunteering in schools.
  • The business community needs to be open to and hear new ideas. It needs to adjust the way its thinking. We can learn from whats worked in the past but it can't be the guiding light into the future. The state needs to do everything it can to attract new business.

    Expand the Pure Michigan campaign to continue to identify Michigan as a vacation destination and a great place to raise a family.

    Detroit/Flint? Give away all the unused, vacant land and buildings that the city has "acquired". Let developers/neighbors/residents have them for free. In order for them to be free they have to be redeveloped/cleaned up/maintained. Give them a 5 or 10 year tax rebate. Give the community incentive to rebuild the city.
  • leerohrer
    The State has the capacity to search for 100s of capable inventive people. I'm issuing the concept / challenge. Maybe the people could run their lives and create businesses and jobs if they are allowed to . Read into that---
  • Mickey Brown
    *Place webcams in every government supported office, beginning with our public schools. Not to catch our teachers or students "doing wrong," as our litigious society promotes, but to discover people that are "doing right." Why webcams? At home, a family member checks their student at school from their home computer. Or a teacher could share a special moment with parents, or settle a dispute.

    *Change the voting system by using the thousands of Michigan Lottery Terminals in Michigan's 83 counties. Lottery terminals are responsible for tallying millions of bets (millions of dollars) per day. Why reinvent the wheel (of fortune) when a simple software adjustment could change elections from one day of voting to a weeklong "voting week" at their local Michigan Lottery Retailer.

    *Double the size of Michigan's government by doubling the amount of government employees - legislators, teachers, police, firefighters, judges - anyone paid with taxpayer funds. Every employee would work only 20 hours per week. The government and it's facilities would remain open for longer periods of time and on weekends. Thousands of people would be eligible for employer-paid health insurance. Thousands of government jobs would be shared by thousands of workers, and because everyone only works 20 hours a week, they would spend more time with their family or be involved in other community/business event.
  • jefferee
    An easy thing we as Michiganders (and all US citizens) can do to improve our economy is to buy flex fuel vehicles. Ford, GM and Chrysler all now have extensive lines of flex fuel vehicles that can run on either gas or E85 ethanol. Unlike hybrid cars, flex fuel vehicles cost little extra compared to non flex fuel vehicles. This is a category that domestic automakers have a one up on the imports. Most imports are not flex fuel capable. Say you can't afford a new car? Buy a flex fuel vehicle that's a couple years old and save half off the sticker price.

    Besides supporting domestic automakers, E85 is a fuel that is produced right here in the good ole US of A. Currently most E85 ethanol comes from corn, but within the next two to three years commercial scale plants will be coming online that can produce ethanol from everything from switch grass to used tires. Ethanol is already competitive pricewise with gasoline at the pump. When these new plants come online ethanol will probably be cheaper than gasoline.

    Ethanol has both environmental and economic benefits. This is a closed loop carbon system. Even ethanol made from corn has economic benefits, and to a lesser degree environmental. And...BONUS...no more sending our hard earned money to OPEC!

    Switching to flex fuel vehicles is something easy we can all do, and the economic and environmental benefits are immediate.
  • leerohrer
    Hi, Good comment, I am not a fuel producer or the perfect math whiz. I appreciate everyone - trying everything , but I did notice a 20 percent fuel economy drop whenever I used ethanol. Corn is a food, and the price goes up when we use it for fuel,----- soon - other options I hope
  • jefferee
    There is a drop in fuel economy when compared to gasoline. However, it is also less expensive, currently in Grand Rapids E85 is 2.25/gal compared to 2.69/gal for gas. Even so you're still paying a little more per gallon using E85 compared to gas. But the profits are staying in our country. Yes, corn is a food. Right now I don't know about you but the price of a can of corn isn't killing me. If ethanol becomes crazy popular (which I hope it does) food prices might rise. However, as I indicated, cellosic ethanol plants are scaling up which use non food raw materials. This diversified feed stock solve the food issue and bring the cost of ethanol down further.
  • lauravandenbosch
    My wife and I own a farm. Stone Road eco farm. We are growing produce for our community and we are accepting contributions and pledging to use the proceeds to employ people in our community. We employed 3 people last season and this season we would like to employ between 15-20 People. We gave to the nccs and gleaner's food trucks over $10,000.00 of our produce. We would like to triple this amount. currently we are farming 3 acreas we have access to over 20 other acreas to farm. We are also looking at year around employement. and the availability of large hoophouse to help grow produce year around. We believe that the economy starts with small busines's and farms. on our farm you will learn how to become sustainable. We start with the seed that we saved the previous season. If we are to ask for change change must come from within. We are responsible enough to know that we control our destination. It should start from everyone enjoying great food. Join our passion and help us create this miracle. Thanks Laura
  • leerohrer
    Hi Laura, good job , where is your farm? Mine is west side of Washtenaw Co Michigan.  Would you like free heat for your greenhouses (almost)  I have a plan and ready to build wind powered heaters  Lee Rohrer  cell 734-846-0968
  • lauravandenbosch
    Lee great talking to you and sharing the heater with me. I am at
    www.ecofarmony.com and I am sitting on the tractor look forward to
    talking to you soon. I wanted to let you know to look into russian
    seed it grows during very cold weather and is 2/3's larger than our
    hay. Tom
  • leerohrer
    1- create profitable business
    2- I heard just today that inmates cost $65 a day. Green energy produced by inmates would pay for their keep, Plus pay them $65 a day and rehab. 1 to 3 out of 10. maybe more.
    3- search for 1000 people that can conceive of businesses that produce products for profit. Stop the" shuffle money around "to people that farm out their wind power products to China etc. American Loyalty might be suggested ---- I have two possibilities
  • Janice
    1. Pick a political candidate and work on his/her campaign - & try to pick one with a positive vision for the future for the whole district, city, etc. s/he is running in.
    2. Smile at at least 1 stranger per day - and every time you see your neighbors & acquaintances.
    3. Give your spouse or kids a soothing back rub, whenever they seem too tense.
    4. Do your taxes early, so your amount due / refund won't come as a big surprise when you have to file them.
  • Eva
    "Instead of being the warm centre of the world, the Middle West now seemed like the ragged edge of the universe -..." F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gasby.

    Michigan, with it's miles of beaches should be a destination resort. IMO Michigan should clean up it's industrial and chain-store parking lot culture and focus on making itself more charming and inviting through improved architectural design and adding more storefronts to create a more of a walkable city.

    1. Walking cities. Make GR and Detroit charming and walkable. Look at European cities for inspiration.

    2. Public transportation. Trains, monorails, trolleys. http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/15/smallbusiness/d...

    3. Public transportation. Add a ski lift down Fulton street to and from East Town to downtown Grand Rapids.

    4. Canals. Dig up downtown GR and add canals and quaint bridges like Amsterdam and Venice.

    5. Architecture. Brick, limestone, different building materials and sculptural details for city buildings to add charm. Look to Europe.

    Make Michigan charming in architecture and walkable in city design and that will make Michigan a tourist destination and frankly more charming for the people who live there.
  • eugenetbuckley
    1. I have written a plan that would make America energy independent in 15-20 years and greaty reduce pollution and greenhouse gasses. It would bring tens of thousands of jobs to Michigan. To date, it is a 500 slide PowerPoint presentation and is now a world project. It needs support and I would be happy to share it with anyone who might be interested.
    2. Michigan will never, ever recover without draconian educational reform. I have written a plan that would have our schools turning out scholars and eliminate the deadwood, saving the State billions of dollars and bringing the best minds here along with the best jobs. We could also replace all of the schools in our school districts without ever borrowing any money.
    3. I offered to balance the State budget with reforms of education, prisons and highway work. Again, it would only involve spending our tax money WISELY. Again no ear. BYW, I offered to do serious cost reduction at any manufacturing facility that would make a donation to the Haitian relief fund or a health clinic for the needy. No response including the Chambers of Commerce. Any takers?
  • fabian burks
    I would got rid of all the abandoned buildings. I would focus more on schools instead of prisons. I would also try and reduce the crime rate
  • Janice
    Dear NPR,

    My three suggestions are:

    1.Gov Granholm should gracefully bow to the forces of Nature (y'all have heard the phrase: Man proposes, God disposes...) and A. Put a bounty on Asian Carp (Bounties have near eradicated other pestiferous species...) and B. wait for human nature to take it's inevitable course as a. they are fish and therefore edible and b. they are new and unique to this eco-system so C. eventually, as they become more numerous, they will be re-christened (perhaps something like Fresh Lake Coi) and D. some enterprising individual will open a restaurant specializing in this 'new delicacy' and I'll bet E. ex-Governor Granholm will be pleased to eat some as surely it will taste nothing like crow, not to mention that the F. Army Corps of Engineers should only be involved if it's a guy with a fishing pole so G. When an edible-sized one is actually caught, it can be held up as an example so all the other fisherpersons on the lakes will know what they are looking for so H. the restaurant people will know what to advertise as 'Yellow Lake Coi' because I. didn't the State introduce Coho Salmon a few years ago and J. didn't that work out OK?

    2. Listen to NPR.

    3. Whistle a happy tune - but only when you're alone, as actually whistling can somewhat annoy the person you are sharing space with / working next to, even married to. When did whistling get to be socially undesirable, anyway. After all, it's how the Swiss & Native americans recognized each other over long distances: mutually recognizable bird calls -
  • Karen Bemus
    This is the best suggestion I have seen posted!
  • Carl L. Olsen
    1 have government join with unions and auto industry to establish union contracts that would make Michigan salaries competitive with southern states. The union have the most to offer and the most to gain.
    2. Make possible the sale of unused Michigan factories to foreign manufacturers by highlighting low cost ready made infrastructure, available skilled labor and attractive cost of living benefits.
    3. Sell the Michigan cultural assets to the nation. For example, WUOM do a piece for NPR which covers Detroit's School Of The Performing Arts and the College for Creative Studies school for the visual arts to demonstrate that Michigan is investing in arts education while other states are cutting arts support.
  • Jane Bowers
    Educate everyone on Michigan's redemption period. If your house goes into foreclosure you can live in it for free for 6 months after the sheriff's sale or 12 months if the property is over 3 acres, providing you maintain the property and keep utilities on. This allows people to build up some emergency savings or pay down other debt and reduces vandalism of empty houses. People should also be aware that banks are adjourning sheriff sales from week to week and it may take 6 to 12 months for a bank to sell the house after the notice of foreclosure.
  • jaredsalinger
    I have noticed that a lot of people are commenting on what they think OTHERS can or SHOULD do to make Michigan better, but are not commenting on what THEY can do. Therefore:

    1: I can ask people what THEY HAVE DONE to make Michigan better.
    2: I can ask people what THEY WILL DO to make Michigan better.
    3: I can keep asking myself those same questions, and do more.
  • jaredsalinger
    1: I can ask people what 3 things they would do to make Michigan better.

    2: I can not add offense to the world. I could not react negatively to negative actions or words of others. Instead, I can allow myself to have my feelings then think before acting, and maybe even do nothing; therefore, I would be not adding offense to the world by reacting defensively in an offensive way.

    3: I can Allow myself to simply come up with one thing for now that would make michigan better.
  • brianroscoe
    1.Develope the continuous wave power off the Great Lakes. I have an idea of off shore floating barges harnessing the almost contant motion of the water through various methods of electrical generation. This is an excelent opportunity specific to the Great Lakes.

    2. Run a statewide lottery where 75% of earnings goes to specific state needs (determined by a councel maybe or just going directly into the state budget to help out)25% vto winners tax free. If advertised and organized right it could encourage people to help out their state.

    3. Put an offer out around the country to viable home based business owners for free houses in areas like Flint. Offer them a vacant house that they have to live in for 5 years, give tax incentives, no opportunity to collect unemployment or live off the state in any way but once they have lived in the home and brought it up to a habital status it is theirs free and clear. This would bring income into the area not dependent on the local economy and perhaps revitalize areas in need and at the same time birng income into the state that wouldn't otherwise be there.
  • taxthegov
    Three Things I can do

    1. Strengthen the family. Place values back in the home. Spend time being a dad, mom, parent. I can read to my children; play make believe with them; teach them. Learning may be introduced in the classroom; it is engrained at home. It is my job as a responsible parent to ensure my child is learning.

    2. Be involved in my community. Volunteer. Take pride. Shop in my downtown. Support my local business. Take ownership of where I live. Rely less on tax supported government services.

    3. Live up to my civic duty. Be engaged in the political conversation. To remain mute while decisions are being made that will shape our society and affect our way of life could be costly. As decisions and laws are being crafted to which you may live under; you may want to have your say in it.
  • Jonathan
    Ten Radical Things that Can Fix Michigan (its going to take more than three)

    1.) Reduce the size of state government by half. This will require some tough decisions, and an outlaying of cash early in the process. Many state agencies can be combined (Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Military Affairs, and the State Police for example). The implementation of technological solutions can also help. State workers that choose to leave (or who are asked to leave) should be offered support in finding a new job and a full scholarship or funding apprenticeships program so that this is not increasing the number of people seeking jobs.

    2.) Reduce the prison population. Although the bail-bonds industry is going to through a hissey-fit, their are ways to track non-violent criminals that cost much less than pre-trial confinement. Also, the legalization and taxation of marijuana will reduce the number of people in the prison system and generate revenue.

    3.) Re-think the state higher education system. It makes little sense to have so many state universities that are all struggling. Also, allowing schools like Central Michigan University to shift their focus from undergraduate education to research or a medical schools shows a lack of focus and strategic planning. It may be argued that administrators are running away with the states smaller institutions. One option is to close one of the smaller schools and to fully fund all of the others. Another, more attractive option, is to create a singly administrative structure for all of the state schools with the exception of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. The goal should be to lower the cost of education, increase the number of professors, and fully fund the working degrees in all fields.

    4.) Create markets for Michigan Made goods in the state. The support of local farmers can be as easy as requiring every city to operate a weekly market where michigan made goods can be sold tax-free. The state should pay for the credit-card transaction fees for those markets, and hold the insurance required to sell goods in those markets.

    5.) Mandate the Michigan become the most connected state in the union. The Dominican Republic has better cell phone coverage than Michigan. It is time that the state has 100% 3G cell phone service and universal access to high speed internet. This can be accomplished through public-private partnerships.

    6.) Michigan needs to shrink the size of its cities. By consolidating people into neighborhoods with walkable access to food, medical services, and parks the cancer of foreclosed houses can be excises. Creating cities that people want to live in is the only way to attract the talent that business need.

    7.) Kick the federal highway funds out. The creation of a low-cost toll system that covers all state highways may take some power back from the federal government, reduce the burden of highways on the state budget, and will ensure better highways. Every state highway should have a small toll. Every state lenience plate should include a transceiver so tolls can be assessed without slowing out. In addition the state can take back every inch of rail and create a better system. We are ready for a high-speed passenger rail system, and (more importantly) a high-speed and well reasoned separate high capacity freight system. We could start by connecting every state university and major industrial center with a duel freight and passenger rail system. If the state owned the rails (like they owned the highways), stations, and control systems than a low-cost rail system will develop.

    8.) Bring the art communities into Flint, Lansing, and Detroit. The creation of artist workspaces, residency programs, and display spaces in the city-center will attract culture, and this will attract people.

    9.) Its time to take a common-sense approach to our culture. It is time to recognize that we live in a state where poverty has forced some people to become outlaws as they hunt to eat. The DNR needs to be required to offer a legal way for those people to feed their families. Also, we are a state with a long tradition of wine, beer, and sprits. It is time to embrace this and fully allow home brewing and relax restrictions on the selling of sprits. Perhaps it is even time to allow cities to create their own laws about open intoxicants and closing hours for clubs and bars. In addition, let us just make November 15th a state holiday. It’s time to stop punishing hard-working people who want to spend this special day with family.

    10.) Bring our boys home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The National Guard is not designed to be used in this degrading way. Their is no national threat from Afghanistan. Its time to say that our Husbands, Wives, Fathers, and Sisters will no longer be used to fight this war, for they are needed to end crime in Detroit and Flint. They are needed to re-build Michigan, and needed to support their families. Its time to point out that we have had no deceleration of war, and this President has no authority to use the National Guard without it.
  • Janice
    Jonathan - Wow - so many ingenious suggestions! As a guess, I suppose you live out-state and truly live a life I, who am tied to Southeast Michigan by job, family, etc. can only hope to retire to some day. I especially like #9 - yes, even where I live I occasionally hear the sound of out-of-season hunting as those 'outlaws' take it upon themselves to thin the deer herds that are over-running the county I live in. They can't all be killed by cars!
    #7 is intriguing also - Interstate & Highway funding is indeed complicated, overly so, in my opinion. I believe many of your ideas in this realm will be implemented gradually over the next several years, as the need for this type of change percolates up the hierarchy, and the funding trickles down.
  • jaredsalinger
    The question was about 3 things that YOU can do, not 10 things that you think others should do.
  • andrea
    Drink Michigan beer. Be it Bell's, Keweenaw Brewing, or Arbor Brewing, I will drink only Michigan beer.
  • I recommend Shorts (from Bellaire) and Founders (from Grand Rapids) as well
  • Amy D Seetoo
    1. Keep school buildings open after school hours so that students who don't have a good study environment at home can study under supervised conditions, and community volunteers can come to a neutral place to tutor students. In other words, make schools a community learning center. Who is to pay for the extra utilities, unionized custodians, and security personnel? Different communities can work out their own solutions.
    2. Keep women and girls educated. Give them tutoring and scholarships so that they can go to college. Educated mothers can raise better educated sons and daughters.
    3. Give community seminars on the basics of becoming entrepreneurs.
  • Jewel
    I admire the idea of schools being a center for the children of the community, but as a public school teacher I can tell you:

    1. There are heavy liability issues at play
    2. There is not more money to pay for custodians, utilities, and security.

    I am expected to be able to leave, per my contract, at 3:35, but I am here, clearing out halls from students who are hanging around-not going to latch key, sports practice, or an after school club-until 4, because school administration expects us to do this. I'm afraid your idea, as much as I really wish it would work, has legal implications that put it out of reach.
  • sas
    Amy, Your ideas have a lot of merit. I agree with you wholeheartedly. School buildings can be used beyond the school day for the purpose of educating and tutoring. I'd like to also suggest that kids also be offered mentoring in some basic home life skills: cooking healthy, simple home repairs, basic sewing and carpentry, basic computer and internet skills for adults, how to find solutions on the internet and where to go for internet access (i.e. library). There's a wealth of information out there and it's free.
  • Michael T. Paradise
    Detroit and Michigan needs three things it has lost site of in order to become a friendlier, welcoming, player in the Nation and World. 1. High Speed Rail. 2. Light Rail. 3. The Design and Manufacture of these systems and supporting infrastructure. This will demonstrate to the Nation and World there is no war between the freedom to drive and the pleasure to ride.
  • I wish I could come up with three, but I have this one: forgive/ help re-pay all or part of student loans, and/ or give significant tax credit, for graduates from Michigan colleges and/ or universities who stay in Michigan for X years following graduation. What a great incentive to find employment here. I think there are jobs available, but little incentive to go hunting in MI when you're sitting back, receiving offers from organizations in other states.
  • micheledalecannaert
    1. Stop with the Negativity! Postive results come from positive thoughts and attitudes. We need to stop bashing our own state and start promoting all the great things that are happening in this beautiful,resourceful state. I think there should be a moratorium on negative stories in the media for one week. Let's see what the power of positive thinking could do for our state...we all might be surprised!

    2. Buy "Made in Michigan" products. We have some of the finest products made right here in our own state. We all need to promote the companies that make these wonderful products. Tell your neighbors, friends, and relatives...especially those living out of state. My husband and I own a small coffee cafe in Benzie County that is open during the summer season. We sell a large variety of Michigan made products. It is amazing all of the wonderful things that are available and how much people enjoy purchasing locally made products (especially people from out of state!)

    3. Be an active Michigan citizen and stand up for your rights. Let your state representative and senator know how dissatisfied you are with how they are representing you in Lansing. Their job is to represent the rights and wishes of their constituents. We need to pressure these elected officials to do the will of the people. The partisan bickering needs to stop (refer back to #1) and the legislators need to work together to find a solution to Michigan's problems. My first suggestion would be to revisit the State of Michigan's constitution that was based on a very different economy in the 1960s. We have some fabulous business leaders who have great ideas about how to solve the economic issues impacting the state. Government leaders need to be willing to listen and work with these people to find solutions for our current economic problems.
  • Janice
    The city of Plymouth, near where I live, has a "Made in Michigan" store - Not everything they carry was indeed manufactured here, but many of them are. They show-case the work of Michigan artisans - for example, hand made baby clothes, and many different kinds of cherry flavored treats.
    One of my favorite vacations was in Benzie County, some 20 odd years ago. One of my personal goals is to get to, or at least thru, every county in Michigan. One of the few I've missed in up in your neck of the woods, so I'm planning on going there this summer. I collect postcards, patches or decals from each one I visit, and amaze my nieces & nephews with the fact that there are so many different counties in this state!
  • maureenfleming
    I know it may seem simplistic, but:

    1. Read a newspaper every day.
    2. Go to YOUR temple, church, mosque, at least one a month.
    3. Volunteer in something you love that makes a positive impact in your community.
  • Henry
    1.) Learn how a crosswalk works.
    2.) Learn how a turn signal works.
    3.) Learn how a 4-way stop works.
  • #1 - Make a personal commitment to care for the people around you and piece of earth where you live. If everyone could be more aware of what is going on directly around us, with our neighbors, friends and family we can make a vast difference in this fine state of ours. If your neighbor knew that they were welcome to come over to your house for dinner when money is to tight, families could rest easier. Or if you see trash along your street, pick it up and place it in your trash can, or even better, recycle it. Shop at your local hardware store to help your neighbor keep his job. Visit the Farmer's Market in your area to promote healthy fresh food produced in a fashion that strengthens this planet instead of destroying it. When we care for the needs of others we will live in a better place.

    #2 - Become debt free so you are free to spend your money as you desire. One of the biggest problems right now with the whole economy is the vast amounts of debt. People are unable to do more or make a difference, because all of their income is going to debt holders. You are not being a good consumer if you can not really afford what you are buying. Focus on paying off your debt then learn to budget your money and spend it in a way you can feel confident and proud of. If we as individuals and as a State could reach this point, many of the fears and stresses would be removed.

    #3 - Change your mindset! Be proud of where you live, if you are not, then it is your responsibility to make it better. You can not wait for the government or big business to fix all their problems first. You yourself need to step up, and make this place better. If each of us asked what we can do to make the world better for all, and then actually did it, the world would be better for all. If you want to see things better - great - take the initiative, learn all that you can and do all that you are able to do. Together we can be great.
  • karenne
    1. Spend $10/week on Michigan products - more if you can afford it. Even better if you can spend it at a Michigan-owned store.
    2. Visit and support our parks -both with money and time.
    3. Do everything you can to advocate for strict water quality provisions - in the future, clean fresh water will be more valuable than oil - so let's protect it!!
  • elizabethlurie
    A week or so ago, I wrote my three suggestions. The last one was that everyone who has a website should post a section on their site called "Visit Michign", with pictures. My site is visited each month by almost a hundred visitors. They come mostly from the U.S. but also every other part of the world. The"Visit Michigan" button has now been created on the 2nd page of my website. . I'm still adding text to it, and organizing the pictures most of which were taken in Benzie county where I go each summer to meet with family. Click on the images to enlarge them to see one of the best reasons to visit Michigan, our abundant natural beauty.
  • Linda
    Thank you for a wonderful idea. I visited your website and even though I am familiar with the areas you highlighted, I was impressed all over again with the beauty captured in the photos!
  • ken kasinger
    tool roads toll roads toll bridges get up to speed with newyork and illinois on charging tolls.
  • i would make interstate 94 a toll road. and find all the bridges i could and charge a toll. and raise existingtolls across the state
  • millerdi
    1. Michigan's infrastructure is in dire need of restructuring - Wouldn't it be nice to ride a train from Lansing to Grand Rapids or Detroit to Grand Rapids????!!
    2. Protect, maintain & invest in our natural resources - state parks, beaches, sand dunes, lakes, native species
    3. Less roads and more opportunities to walk/exercise - redesigning existing neighborhoods and also planning for future neighborhoods to be healthier - this type of design will also encourage more social interaction
  • kellylteachout
    1. Become a foster parent. There are 20,498 children in foster care in Michigan. 36% of children experience three or more foster care placements, sometimes due to not being placed in a foster home that was a good match for them due to foster home shortages. 15.6% (3,200) of children live in group care or institutional settings - some because there are not qualified foster homes to accept them and their challenges.
    2. Encourage support and acceptance of foster children and foster families in your community. Doing so will not only enable children who are placed in foster care have the most family-like and normative experience possible, but will also encourage your friends and neighbors to consider foster parenting.
    3. Report ALL suspected child abuse and neglect. Know your neighbors and if you're not comfortable offering help, maybe consider dropping a brochure in their mailbox letting them know there is help out there. Sometimes a good neighbor can help to intervene early before abuse and neglect happens.


    *This information is from federal AFCARS data, 2005
  • Green
    1. Funnel stimulus and federal tax dollars earmarked to combat neighborhood plight into our educational institutions. The effect would be long term in the sense that smarter, educated people would be able to revitalize their neighborhoods.
    2. Permanently break up GM and sell off pieces that produce zero profit. Since the company is tax payer owned, we should than vote in terms of what to do with the funds. I say, put it into infrastructure development for a trolley system that will cover the lower southeastern part of the state with public transit.
    3. Stop living in a fantasie world. Michigan needs an educated work force. China will not give us theirs, so we have to create our own. This means schools, educational resources, and top notch Universities.
  • gilwhite
    1) A built environment that emphasizes places for people rather than for cars
    2) Public and private sector joint ventures that create work/social facilities that bring together our busiest entrepreneur age group(55-64 yr olds) with our future entrepreneurs(Gen X, Y); and that incorporate Cultural Economic Development activities into the mix.
    3)Education. Increase both reform of existing system and funding. Incentivize staying in Michigan to college grads through home ownership programs, student loan interest forgiveness, small business entrepreneur assistance, etc.
  • Sarah Janssen
    1) Michigan public colleges should reduce in-state tuition by at least 25% and then freeze it until unemployment rates are significantly down (to 2% or so). 2) The interest rate on federal student loans is now 8.5%. (The interest rates on home mortgages is around 4%.) If the fed can't compete with banks, then maybe the state of Michigan should offer student loans for residents at a competitive (with banks) interest rate. 3) Every Michigan business should find a way to employ and mentor one or more young (age 16 to 21) person in order to develop and affirm the person's value to the state economy and encourage him or her to stay and work in Michigan.
  • Parker
    Out of curiousity, since I don't know, when was the last time Michigan's unemployment was 2%??? Has it ever been that low?
  • Steve Uptegraft
    1. Buy what your neighbors make...i.e. chose products and services from Michigan businesses and people. Think about what would happen to your job if everyone chose the out-of-state/out-of-country option to your companies product/service.

    2. Demand our state government stop and reel in contracts and purchases sent to out-of-state/out-of-country businesses at the expense of in-state jobs. Granholm and especially Engler sent thousands and jobs and millions in state revenue to other states and countries because "it was cheaper than doing it here". They are right on the surface, and totally wrong when you factor in the people in Michigan who are collecting unemployment, working at low-paying jobs as a poor substitute, or have packed up and left along with their skills. The overall costs far exceed those nickels and dimes they "saved".

    3. Be a good ambassador. Say positive things about Michigan instead of complaining about the negatives. Go to work on solving the negatives, instead of complaining about them.
  • sas
    I like your reasoning that although we may have been "penny wise" by sending production out of Michigan, we may have been "pound foolish" as this has resulted in loss of Michigan jobs and/or loss of revenue for Michigan. There's a lot to think about here and I don't believe it's a simple matter. But we should try to think of innovative ways to influence businesses to put roots in Michigan and stay here. Buying Michigan products is one positive influence....keeping our neighborhoods and streets clean and safe is another... need additionalcompelling reasons ....help us out here!
  • Harish
    1) Tell your heart, "all is well" : Be optimistic, whatever is going on now is out of our control, so don't worry much about the big picture, concentrate on the present and believe that the future will only be better.
    2) Time is tough, work hard : Once your heart believes that we are bound to enter in to the brighter future, please do remember that, it is not a time to sit back and wait for that brighter time to come, so be prepare to work hard.
    3) Create your own great story : Remember that history is written of every moment, and we are in historical period, coming generations will draw inspirations from us, so whatever you do today, do it to create a great story to share with your children and grandchildren with great pride.
  • MARY REED
    Create a STATE OF MICHIGAN border entrance SINGAGE CONTEST. The signage the greets/welcomes people in or out of the state is a disgrace at best. At any bridge crossings or major expressways have these outdated and truly unattractive signs that most people must not even notice. This is a lost opportunity for the State of Michigan to sell is best assests.
    Mary Reed
  • Parker
    All the ones I see are the new Pure Michigan signs.... I thought they looked nice...
  • I miss the "Great Lakes, Great TImes" signs though...
  • me
    You mean SIGNAGE not SINGAGE....right?
  • JD
    Michigan needs 1) Graduated income tax to fix the looming budget hole in 2010-2011. 2) Clean energy jobs for renewal energy like geothermal systems, solar, wind. 3) Use German concrete paving method for roads that lasts 50 years instead of using constantly crumbling asphalt. The travel delays from constant construction and repairs needed from driving on rutty roads cost citizens a fortune.
  • Carol Higgins
    There are so many "little things" that we can all do to help our grand state. Three that I will focus on include: 1. Discover Michigan! Take a weekend, a week, or a day trip to a place you've never been before, right here in Michigan. And, invite your out-of-state relatives and friends to come here for a visit. Sales tax dollars help our schools, etc. 2. Clean up the neighborhood! Take a walk and pick up litter, add a fresh coat of paint, replace things that break. Keeping Michigan beautiful will make it more attractive so others will want to call it home and improve the spirits of those who are staying. There are advantages to retiring in Michigan. Let's make some noise about it! 3. Take a class and learn a new "self-sufficiency" skill. Places like "Tillers International" offer weekend classes in such things as cheesemaking, soapmaking, and recaning chairs. Or, become a "Master Gardener", Bird counter for Audubon, or "Water Sentenel" for Sierra Club. Appreciation for our natural resources will help protect them for the future.

    On a greater scale, three big things that I would like to see happen in Michigan include: 1. Expand transportation options. Develop high-speed rail, expand bus routes, and create "golf cart zones", perhaps in conjunction with bike paths. Design cities to be more user friendly for those who want to walk or bike from place to place. 2. Creative taxation. Tax disposable containers that consume fossil fuels such as single serving drink containers. Use funds for DNR or transportation. Tax pensions that leave the state. People who worked in Michigan but retired somewhere else are siphoning off money that benefits some other state. Tax sporting event tickets and other entertainment. 3. Provide more incentives for locally produced, renewable energy options. Drilling in Alaska, offshore Texas, or Saudi Arabia does not help the Michigan economy. We will always need energy. Let's make our own and put people to work in the process.
  • Kelly Parker
    1. Unpave. Reclaim abandoned urban tracts, suburban sprawl, and fallow rural land. Plant urban gardens, build parks, support small-scale farming, and restore hardwood forests to the landscape.

    2. Educate. Restore, then double the Michigan Promise scholarship. The growth we need most is growth in meaningful and creative lives and communities, tied to Michigan's culture, cities, landscapes, and history. Teach science that promotes pure research and invention. Provide humanities and arts education that connects people to our places and traditions.

    3. Rebuild. The infrastructure and economy need to be redesigned to be sustainable and local. Our food and energy systems should draw primarily from the upper midwest region; our manufacturing should produce the tools and tech this requires.
  • Jonathan
    It is SO TRUE that we need to draw a firm line between urban and rural. No need to have rural roads paved. People will drive slower, we will spend less to maintain the roads, and we will keep an important part of out culture.
  • Gus Teschke
    1. We need to raise more money to fix our school systems and roads with a progressive income tax that we pass by ballot initiative because the State Senate and House are deadlocked.
    2. Consolidate school districts to eliminate small ones and save money.
    3. State-wide single-payer health care to save money, improve care, and business competitiveness.
  • Tina
    Michigan needs to raise the income tax so the local governmental units will stop asking for millages to replace the lost state shared revenue. The income tax is a more fair tax than the property tax on homeowners.
  • Richard Derick
    The present structure of the State of Michigan is thwarting democracy and blocking the government from addressing problems. To improve the situation we must 1. have elections run for two days, those days being Saturday and Sunday; 2 cancel the limits on terms that can be served;
    3. Adopt a unicameral legislature. There is no reason to have a Senate which only represents special interests. The people should be represented by a single house in which all members represent the same number of voters. A majority of the representatives would be all that is required to determine government policy and get the state moving again.
  • Janice
    Your third suggestion of a unicameral legislature for Michigan is ingenious. I'm not very conversant with other State's Legislatures, do any have such - or are they all based on the Federal Govt.system? I suppose that system is a just a hold over from the 'good old days'. So how do we get the ball rolling on this - is a new Constitutional Convention needed, or would a voter initiated Constitutional Amendment be sufficient? I only have a fuzzy understanding of how these things work. Thanks!
  • Klaus Breuer
    End the republican/democratic bickering by dissolving the legislature. Then have an election for a benevolent dictator. Then raise taxes so that services can be restored to the state. People seem to think they can get teh necessary social services without paying for them. Well people: Think again.
  • Marcie Nye
    1. People need to be less greedy; take less.

    2. People need to give more generously.

    3. People need to share more charitably.
  • disillusioned
    These three things would have the greatest impact and improvement: replace every state senator, every representative, and every executive, with people who are cooperative and can pass a basic test of intelligence!
  • Heather
    I interpreted the challenge of Your Three Things to be an energizing, even exciting call to action to each one us personally, asking: "what can I do, with what I have, where I am at". (I don't know the author of this really cool quote.) So with that in mind: I can regularly volunteer in a publicly funded or non-profit setting, e.g. school, state/county park, nursing home, library, mission/shelter, food pantry... I can make the effort to buy more local year round. And, lastly, when our family takes a vacation we can do so in Michigan. With this interpretation comes the ability for immediate action and accountability.
  • Thoughtful Educator
    I agree with your interpretation. Every one of us is capable of implementing your three things. Thanks for being inspirational and aspirational!
  • Matt
    1. Part time legislature to help reduce state spenditure
    2. Eliminate life time health care and benefits for legislators (only need to serve one term)
    3. Promote Michigan's State parks, Great Lakes and our forests.
  • Three Things

    We operate a non-profit organization that uses as its theme for youth support in Michigan:
    1. Education, 2. Service, 3. Devotion.

    1. We support education by giving computers to students who can't afford to buy one, 2. We help people give service to their community by requiring service to get a free computer, and 3. We encourage devotion to Christian principles to guide lives. The main principle:"Love your neighbor as yourself."
  • Dale S. Murney
    First and foremost, say something nice about Michigan. I am so tired of hearing the complaints about the weather, the taxes, etc. Truth is our tax rate is no worst than any of the neighboring states and is a whole lot less than N.Y. or Massachusetts. I have lived both in N.Y. and Kansas. You never hear their residents rip their states they way Michiganders complain about Michigan. We have snow, get used to it. We have four seasons and great, Great Lakes. We have beautiful orchards and farmlands. Let the rest of the country know it. Secondly, purchase Michigan products. Buy locally whenever possible. Three, promote our great colleges and universities and promote public/private partnerships with those institutions.
  • johncoyne
    Focus on practical, proven solutions by benchmarking what works in similarly sized populations (e.g. Ireland, Minnesota, ..). We know the following are empirically proven to grow GDP and sound economies:
    1) Invest like crazy in math education and ensure we're #1 globally in mathematics performance at the elementary, middle-school and high-school levels. (not NCLB -- but legitimate depth of math knowledge on par with leading nations)
    2) Strategic 20-year plan in emerging technology research (e.g. nano-scale molecular engineering) at Michigan universities and Bell-labs style laboratories co-sponsored by State, federal and private $'s, licensing innovations on favorable terms to companies that remain in Michigan.
    3) Amend the Michigan constitution to ensure an ongoing 20-yr strategic economic plan is reviewed, agreed and budgeted for.

    Acknowledge that our problems are long-term issues requiring a generational focus beyond the usual state political bickering over taxes and budget balancing. Focused strategic planning and execution will win everytime -- in life, economics and public policy. Let's go.
  • robertkachadourian
    Three ideas to improve Michigan:

    1)Truth in government with no nonsensical bills, useless studies of useless topics, hidden laws that benefit X Y & Z, etc., funds spent to put in a road through a property owned by Sen. or Rep. so & so that was put in his wife's name

    2)Stop the thievery in government, using government funds for trips, self aggrandizement and in any way which makes a mockery out of our system of rule.

    3)Take pride in our state and not to concentrate on the negative.

    In short, don't take people for fools. Taking advantage of your position to line one's own pocket is an abomination!!!!!
  • Daniel Susan
    Three things we each should do to improve Michigan:
    1. Buy Michigan products
    2. Pay taxes
    3. Vote
  • Oliver
    1. A competitive tech industry would attract skilled laborers to the state. I want to see Michigan harbor the silicon valley of the midwest.
    2. Mineral Mining in the Upper Peninsula. There's a lot of untouched iron, copper, and silver up here! we should be mining and processing these metals for use in state manufacturing. Big revenues and lots of jobs.
    3. Michigan should be the head of the alternative energy industry. Many wind farms already exist in the state. We should be manufacturing these products using our mineral resources in the U.P. for sale worldwide.
  • Parker
    The reason the mining stopped in the UP (keweenaw especially) is it is not cost effective to get the ore out of the ground. Unless prices continue to raise no company is going to try to go down in the mines. Some day this may be possible but it is not now.

    Personally I am not in favor of Sulfur mining but that is another topic all together.
  • Oliver
    While this is true, copper prices have more than doubled in the last year, a trend that is likely to continue with the world market's increasing demand. With this in mind, mining companies are starting to see the Keweenaw as a viable option for copper exploration.
  • Parker
    You are right. I do like your idea and if the costs do continue to rise it may be an extremely valuable resource. The question is when can mining be back in business and help the state?

    Heck, Houghton/Hancock area used to have around 100,000 people when mining was huge in the 1900's.
  • Thoughtful Educator
    It's interesting that your responses seem to be criticisms and reasons that other people's ideas would not work. In my experience, this sort of attitude stymies creativity, innovation, and idea generation.
  • Parker
    Not everyone agrees with everyone. If we all put our "three things" on here and do not discuss the merit of the ideas there is no point. I put down what I think are three things to help the state and stand by them. If you want to discuss the merit of those ideas feel free.

    If my idea was to print money like crazy and just give it to everyone in the state I would hope people would comment that it is a horrible idea (because it is).

    If there is a reason an idea is not great I think it should be discussed. Maybe more facts can be brought to the forefront and we can come to a conclusion on if it is indeed a good idea or not. Criticism is also useful. What does the idea actually do for the state? If it is nothing of value then it has no merit.

    We cannot just be all friendly and try every idea out there with out exploring the idea. (Heck I am even kinda skeptical of my second idea and how it would be implemented).
  • sas
    I like your ideas!
  • Thoughtful Educator
    My name is Amber, and my 3 things are:
    1. Realize that every dollar you spend is a vote. We live in a capitalist democracy and that means we vote with our money. Spend your money on your values, where your purchases make a statement about what you think is important.
    2. Care about each other, and act on it in public and private ways. We all want to live in clean,safe neighborhoods where libraries, public safety, and well-kept homes are the norm. This means that we all need good jobs with good benefits. Care about each others' jobs: buy American, buy Michigan, buy from your local city, buy union, and support your neighbors.
    3. Plant a garden. Growing food is rewarding. The nutritional benefits are obvious, but it also is personally satisfying to enjoy something you started from a seed. Live in an apartment? Look for a community garden near your block, plant a tomato and a pepper in a pot by a window. Gardening teaches simple goodness, patience, joy in the little things, saves money, and promotes independence. "Food is a basic need and I can provide it for myself."
  • Parker
    I tried to give this some thought before I came here to read others and post my own.

    1) Michigan needs to invest in becoming a destination. We need a reason for people to come here. We have lakes, rivers, and hills. We have skiing, kayaking, hiking. We have great parks and forests. Along with this we need to create other reasons to visit Michigan. Money needs to come into the state from bringing people to the state. The "Pure Michigan" campaign was really good and it is unfortunate that it had to be suspended.

    2) Michigan needs to reform the current Business Tax system. We are not making it easy for business to come to the state and thrive. We finally did away with the stupid SBT a few years ago and now we need to reform the current tax system. Along with this we need to look into giving incentive to companies that bring money into the state. When a firm brings in a dollar from another state it gets used many times over as opposed to a Michigan dollar.

    3) Invest time into the youth (middle and high school). We need professionals to go in and mentor these students into the right choices. We need to lay out the options in front of them and stop wasting time in University. We have to realize that not everyone needs to go to University. There are many people who need a two year degree or a technical internship or a few community college classes. Young people will get into the right job market faster and with wasting less money.
  • Jennifer
    I agree with your number 1, the Pure Michigan campaign was great for this state! Michigan need more of these effective and positive messages. These message can come from the state, they can come from Michigan buisness, or they can come from the people. The point is "we" collectivily need to sell the state to those who don't know what it has to offer.

    I also agree that the youth of this state (middle and high school students) are a solution to this problem that we face. But I disagree that University is a waste of time, an under educated workforce is one of the reasons why we are struggling today. The need to be engaged, their creativeity tapped into. Grow their potential. Appathy in the Michigan population has gotten us to where we are today, all of Michigan especially the youth need to understand that Action is the way forward.
  • Parker
    We do all need to "sell" the state to others. The more money we can bring into the state the better for everyone who lives here.

    I never said University is a waste of time. It is a waste of time for some people. I know many people who have gone to Uni with no idea what they wanted to do and spent 4-5 years getting a degree in nothing or something but not anything they want to do. The point is there are other options (Community College, vocational school, technical college, etc.). Every person is different and will have a different path they need to take.
  • sas
    I agree with this. Not everyone is looking for a 4-year degree or doctorate. Post secondary education in the area a person would like to grow in and in which they see their future, whether it be in a professional field, a trade, or other endeavor, is a leg up in achieving their goals and life-long satisfaction.
    sas
  • bobelton
    Many of the "three things" sound more like platitudes than action items. Here are three things that every individual can do, right now. No politics required, only personal responsibility,

    1. Pay your taxes. More spefically, pay the sales tax on items bought online or through the mail. It's called the use tax, and there is a line on the Michigan tax return just for this purpose. Very few people actually do this because there is no enforcement. But lack of enforcement doesn't make scoffing at the law right. And, the state needs the money.

    2. Buy a car made in Michigan. Nothing helps Michigan like jobs. Buy a car made here, and people work. Buy a car made somewhere else, and people don't work. It's that simple. And there are plenty of choices in Michigan made cars. Fuel efficient Ford Focuses, Mustangs, Ford and Chevy pickup trucks, Chevy Malibus, Cadillacs of all stripes, Lincoln Navigator, and a host of Chryslers.

    3. Vacation in Michigan. Paris can do without you this year. Try Macinac Island. Or lots of other Michigan vacation spots.

    These three things would do more to help Michigan than just about any suggestion I have heard so far.
  • Parker
    I wanted to comment on the online taxes. If I buy something from a store in Utah it is as if I am in that state and buying the product because Michigan does not offer it at the right cost or maybe offer it at all. That sales tax should not go to Michigan but the state which you bought from. Also it is a sales tax. It is a tax on the seller and the cost is passed onto the customer though as a means of collection. A good example is when the price is 1 dollar and the taxes are already included you do not see a tax line. The company still sends in the taxes to the state.


    I do agree about vacationing in Michigan. We took two vacations up North over the past weekends instead of going to Jackson Hole, WY.
  • bobelton
    I wasn't going to respond to your naive comments about sales taxes, but I
    thought of you when I was filling out my Michigan income tax form,
    especially line 25, which reads "Enter use tax due on internet, mail order
    or other out-of-state purchases from worksheet 1, line 3, p9" This little
    sentence is placed inside a box for emphasis.

    That's the law.

    Internet and mail order firms DO NOT collect Michigan sales tax if they are
    out of state, (or any other state save the state where they are located).
    That's the reality. Michigan has no way of compelling this collection, so
    they are reliant on the honor and integrity of the taxpayer.

    I haven't seen the phrase "taxes included" since I was a child (and
    Eisenhower was president).

    Michigan's state treasurer has laid this out many times. The latest estimate
    is that Michigan loses over $100 million a year.

    Really want to help Michigan instead of just thinking nice thoughts?

    Pay your taxes.

    Bob Elton
  • Fred
    Maybe the state should try to do what California is doing and require the companies that sell to Michigan to collect the tax and send it in.

    The burden should not be on the consumer.
  • bobelton
    Heaven forbid that people should have to take the responsibility for paying
    the taxes they owe.
  • Ella619
    The Three Things I suggest to fix Michigan:
    1) Raise sales tax to 8% to fairly generate revenue.
    2) Reduce middle and upper management costs/expenses of tax-funded services without cutting or compromising the direct services for people in need
    3) We all need to stop bickering and just do the right thing for the most good. We have to agree to disagree on a lot or we aren't ever going to get out of this mess. Everyone is going to have to make compromises and forget special interests at a time when many people are struggling to take care of the most basic of needs. Looking at things from a positive viewpoint is always better than gloom and doom--the glass looks better when it's half full.
  • Robyn K. Angle
    #1. Allow residents to volunteer to help elementary students, on a one to one basis, in the classroom, and as an incentive give them a monetary reduction on their property taxes. This could help both the student and the taxpayers. We have got to give children's educations the priority they deserve. When I volunteered for the, "Helping One Student To Succeed", (HOSTS), program, the child I tutored, improved his grade level in reading by several years. I'll never understand why funds for that program were cut.
    #2. To get the empty houses sold it would help if local property taxes, (taxable values), were adjusted as soon as the house sells, and those taxes were reduced to reflect the new REAL value of the property. The low prices of these foreclosures, are great but many times the monthly tax escrow is much higher than the principle and interest amount. This stops many people from buying. I know there is talk of delaying tax increases on new home construction, my idea could be included in that legislation. I realize that municipalities are struggling financially but well, we all have to learn to cut back. It's hard to sympathize when townships are building new offices, instead of tightening their belts.
    #3. As soon as a home that is designated as NON-HOMESTEAD, is sold to a primary resident, the HOMESTEAD exemtion should be immediately granted, instead of waiting until the following May. This would also help get homes sold. We do need to raise taxes. Citizens are loosing a lot more money in the lower value of their home by allowing foreclosed homes in their neighborhood to sit empty. They/we would all be much further ahead if we had to pay higher property taxes, at lease for a temporary time. While I talk of lowering taxes and raising taxes in the same paragraph, this is not a contradiction, but you have to do the math.
  • Diane McPharlin
    Wow! I was a volunteer for HOSTS, too. For grades 3-5 and that is an excellent program, though it takes someone who has the spirit and ability to recruit and train many mentor/tutor volunteers. That would be an excellent program for the students in Detroit schools.

    I also have heard there are groups already organizing community gardens in Detroit. What a wonderful reuse/reclamation of vacant lots. Detroit has the chance to become a blended urban/rural environment with open natural areas replacing urban blight. Such a grand part of reawakening the city.

    Those open areas could be reclaimed and serve very well for many recreational uses for folks who aren't able to or don't want to travel hundreds of miles to go on vacation.
  • Three things I do to help Michigan's economy are:
    1.Vacation in Michigan.

    2. Buy locally produced meats, groceries as much as possible. And buying products made in Michigan.

    3. Be an environmentally friendly consumer to protect our wondrous natural resources, by paying a green energy subsidy on my monthly gas/electric bill for energy research, by donating to environmental groups like Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and American Rivers, and at home by using native natural plantings, growing a small plot of vegetables, planting curbside flowers and using a rain barrel, to retain rainwater and not overtax our city water system.
  • Martha Kaiser
    Three things for our state legislature:
    Listen to those with whom you disagree - you might learn something!
    Don't caricature your opponents - caricatures keep us from understanding deeper issues.
    Serve the common good and the long term good - you'll know you are doing this when Michigan's poorest families have REAL access to education, jobs, transportation, and health care!
  • Nina B. Lee
    Very simple:
    Stay here, buy Michigan products, vacation here.
    All of this for the next decade.
    In addition, get involved in local issues/politics.
  • Parker
    That brings no money into the state. We cannot just pass money between people in the state. It will give us no growth.
  • SAS
    Three Things – Michigan Radio NPR

    I don’t have any ideas for an overall economic recovery, but I have a few small ideas that might be useful:

    Allow charitable organizations to make use of empty dealership buildings (until sold) for charitable organizations, food/clothing distribution, social aid programs, public think tanks, etc. (slice through red tape / liability issues?). Perhaps give the closing dealerships a break on their Michigan taxes or give them free publicity for their next business venture.

    Hold contests (over the radio or TV) organized by local businesses that need the free publicity. Possible contest types:
    • 24/7 dance contests (they had ‘em during the depression years)
    • Competition for invention of a new, useful, “ripe-for-its-time-in-Michigan” product (necessity is the mother of invention)
    • Name That Tune radio series (put a new slant on the old TV show)
    • Contest for a song, slogan, motto, poem that hails Michigan as a “can-do”, “pull-itself-out-of-the-gutter”, tougher-than-tough state

    (Contests won’t necessarily improve Michigan’s economy, but they might lift some spirits and spark enthusiasm.)

    Allow people to call in to express their greatest fear about the economy in Michigan (or in the country as a whole) with a follow up from radio listeners to give helpful suggestions on what that person might do to protect themselves from this happening to them. After all, one person’s fear may be another person’s opportunity to allay those fears. (example: one person expresses their concern that they won’t have enough money to pay for their heating bills this winter. A follow-up caller may put them on to an organization that can help…. Or someone that is trying to find some work to make a little more money to help support themselves/their family and they reveal that they are handy in / have experience with photography (or woodworking, or cooking) . A follow-up caller might know of someone looking for that particular talent and would be willing to pay for the work.

    (please excuse all the hyphenated "quotation" words)
  • The three things to make Michigan better that I propose are things that we can all do personally:
    1) Turn off the TV. That will free up a lot of time .
    2) Stop eating fast food and drinking soda pop, and start eating home cooking. That will give you more energy.
    3) Take that time and energy and go outside and plant your yard with native trees and shrubs for the sake of the environment. And grow some vegetables and fruits for yourself.
  • Karen Bemus
    1. Education--fund it in a reliable way. We should not fund it at the ballot box. 2. Tax retirement (even though I am a retired government worker) 3. Fix our roads. Tourism will never work if we don't have decent roads
  • Idell Henning
    I agree with buying locally. I also think we should invite people up to tour our great state. Snow is here. One can easliy go skiing, sledding, snowshoeing etc. Lastly help your community volunteer. Bring a meal to a family in need. Take their children sledding, walk their dog. Put a smile on someone face.
  • Dan conroy
    Three Things to Improve Michigan

    We must be accountable for our own actions. Most of us had little to do with the events that brought us to this point in time, but we should take responsibility for the fact we are as unprepared for adversity as we find ourselves. It is time to review our personal activities and make changes to improve our personal situation and help improve the state.

    Most of us spend when we could save. Drive 55 MPH, it can save 20-30% on your fuel costs, sure it takes a little longer to get where your going but it puts money in your pocket. Reuse and recycle. Nothing will be better for the economy than a populace with money in its pocket.

    Buy local in season produce whenever you get the chance. It helps the economy and is healthier for you. Support the local farmers. If you can’t get to the farmers market, look closely at the super market you can find lots of Michigan grown food.

    Buy Michigan made products whenever you can. We Michiganders make almost everything a person needs. It just takes a little looking; try Better Made Chips, Stormy Kromer Hats, Absopure Water, and American Plastic Toys. All are Michigan made. Go to buymichiganproducts.com and check out all the things made in Michigan.

    These are easy methods to be personally responsible and responsible to the state.
  • Parker
    1) Drive 55 mph. Although you will get better gas millage (my cars optimum is 62 mph personally) this is very dangerous on 70 mph highway. When traveling that much slower then traffic it causes a danger to everyone around you. On roads where the limit is 55 it makes sense to go the limit.

    2) Buy Michigan. This is a good thing but we also need to develop the Michigan business to bring in money for other states and countries.

    Also when you say we should save money I disagree. We need to spend as consumers to keep the economy going. Look at the great depression and what happened when no one spent and tried to hoard money. If you can spend money then you need to.
  • Imagine how many hours you could've worked, earning money, instead of going 50 on the highway.
  • Janice
    As a former Driving Instructor, and now someone who recognizes my own driving skills are deteriorating, I keep up with the flow of traffic in whatever lane of the freeway I'm in -- even when the exit ramp is over to the left and the speed limit is 70, and I have to push myself and my car to fit in.
    Yep, driving is dangerous, but less so on freeways now that the minimum speed has been raised from 45 mph to 55mph.
  • I like Detroit, I grew up here and though I've been away some I have built a company here - but in the suburbs. To help Michigan I think we need a strong city centered infrastructure. I like Dave Bing, I believe in him - I knew him and Tom Cunningham at Focus Hope a million years ago and since he became mayor I have 1.) Moved my company into the 22nd Floor of the Fisher Building (one of the top ten architectural triumphs of the 20th century), 2.) Moved from Keego Harbor to the 16th floor of the Riverfront Apartments on the river (behind Joe Lewis - look out fireworks!) and 3.) I am starting a small non-profit to help aging buildings (like the Fisher) capture their architectural treasures by casting replicas and making the proceeds go to continued restoration of the host building. The response is amazing, the buildings in Detroit are world class, the art phenominal and the view! sunrise to sunset the Fisher Building should be every Detroit visitors first destination. In short I love Detroit. I could not live this luxuriously in any other city on the planet!
  • Nathan Volz
    I look at Detroit and I see potential. Before cars, there were stoves, shoes, cigars, and seeds. Detroit wasn’t built in a day and it is too expansive and complex to be revived in a day… as painful as that is to admit. Detroit’s namesake, its major waterway, is its foundation and perhaps also its salvation.

    Detroit’s importance in the Great Lakes region and the world will likely parallel the scarcity of food and water. Consider the following:
    - Melting glaciers and rising sea levels threaten rice and crop production, access to drinkable water, the stability of major population centers, and migration patterns.
    - Fuel scarcity and pollution costs will restrict food distribution and force crops to be grown locally, also resulting in a general migration to the Great Lakes area.

    Facing this reality, let’s presume you are not a millionaire and you live in say, Las Vegas. You know you have no easy access to water or agriculture and you know the sea levels on the coasts are unstable. Wouldn’t Michigan or the Great Lakes region look like a good place to live? Millions of displaced people may agree.

    As for Detroit, I don’t have three ideas, but I do have one big seed to plant. Detroit’s massive size, vacancy rates, basic existing infrastructure, surrounding population, businesses, and universities, and it’s geographic and economic relationship with Canada, make Detroit the perfect candidate to be the world’s first experiment in creating a 100% Green City. Fossil-free transit systems, green buildings, community gardens, vertical farming, tree lined parks, bike paths, and parkways, sensible housing density, and mixed-use neighborhoods could define the new Detroit. Indeed, it’s a tough concept to grasp and certainly not lacking in irony, yet where else could you better test this revitalization? Furthermore, where else are the motivation for change and the desperation for innovation more evident? If it does not happen first in Detroit, it will surely be undertaken eventually in China or India. In fact, China and India should have a deeply-vested interest in Detroit.

    Additionally, Michigan should promote the development of a Great Lakes Watershed Management Area. The concept for this already has some foundation in the Governor’s Compact. The regional watershed area, which includes the lakes, tributaries, and ground water, extends from Maine and Quebec to western Ontario and Minnesota. Detroit, as a major trade center with Canada and the largest, most centrally-located city in the region, is the perfect setting to serve as the regional capital of the Great Lakes watershed. From this center, water use and quality, development, pollution, erosion, agriculture, air quality and other environmental factors can be weighed, measured, prevented or re-designed. Detroit could come to represent the pinnacle of environmental leadership and planning for the rest of the world. Perhaps similar to the way the United Nations in New York City represents the center for international political discourse. In the future, our perception of our natural resources and environment is going to become part of our personal identity.

    I think the destiny of the Great Lakes region is fairly clear. Its resources will be in critical demand and migration to the area will be challenging. The question is… will our future have a steering wheel?
  • Janice
    Your vision is truly sweeping - - - what, in your opinion, is the first step in establishing, for example, a -whatever organization- to manage this 'Great Lakes Watershed Area', and have it seated in Detroit? It seems to me that the nub of such an organization is already emerging, perhaps via the 'Carp Summit' which was recently held. Do you see it as a kind of interdisciplinary advisory committee, which will ponder decisions, and then make recommendations to the Great Lakes' States' Governors and / or Legislatures?

    If Mr. Bing invited the Governors, Scientists, Attorneys General, etc from the various states and Canadian provinces to such a conference [perhaps to be held in the half-empty Renaissance Center (now owned by GM - heavy irony there!)] do you think anyone would come? Whom would one even ask to get such a plan into motion? Anybody out there know?

    There's some knee-jerk Detroit bashing out there... Personally I think it all stems from the fact that the city is so bloody confusing. Downtown is one big 'round-a-bout', which, I, a native, can barely navigate - especially now that they've re-done it and improved it. (It really is better, and beautiful, and vital; I was just used to the old way.)
  • Ken
    Its not a discussion of just Detroit here. Don't forget that there is so much more to MI than that one disgraceful city.

    What about track between Ann Arbor and Holland, I think thats where your are going to see the most innovation in Michigan coming from in the future
  • MacDaddy
    Three things I would like to see: 1) A focused effort for Michigan to become the country leader in promoting the sustainable use of our abundant natural resources; organic growing, fresh water management, low impact recreation. 2) Reward those who attend four years of high school in Michigan with free in-state university tuition providing that the graduates start a new business in Michigan or work for a Michigan-based company for five years post-grad. 3) Attract younger, out of state workers / residents with healthy lifestyle recreation options "at their doorstep" (low cost skiing, transformation of rivers to kayak parks, adding bike paths to roads, etc.).
  • Parker
    A University education is not free and nor should it be. How would you implement this plan? Do students pay up front and then 5 years out get paid back? Do they take the free education and run? We do not need an entitlement program. People need to work for their education.
  • artseducator
    1) Know what is happening in our schools and cultural organizations - they are in crisis mode! When our educational and cultural infrastructure crumbles no one will want to live here anymore.

    2) Become more aware of the political process and monitor your representatives to see that they reflect how you feel and vote them out if they don't. These elected officials should be guided by their constituents needs and expressed positions and not by party politics.

    3) Be willing to shoulder a slightly higher sales tax by realizing that a small boost by a lot of people would make a huge difference.
  • Jeff Voigt
    1. Reverse Engler's programs for funding schools the allocates too much to capital improvements and not enough to support staffing.
    2. Create stronger zoning laws that make it more difficult to expand outward with the resulting increase in infrastructure costs.
    3. Raise the gasoline tax as well as sin taxes to close budget deficit.
    - City of Detroit improvement. Declare a homestead act on Detroit property that has not paid taxes in the last 5 years. If the property has not paid taxes in 5 years, it is free of charge if someone will build on/improve/clean up the property, and then pay minimal taxes so that revenue can be brought into the city, and ownership of vacant properties can be established.
  • mizveggie
    There are very few options for meaningful employment. The state is losing good minds to other states at a rapid pace. We need to find ways to encourage businesses to be here and make the tax structure work.

    We need our elected representatives to learn how to work together and to play nice. People say politics are terrible in Washington, I don't think they've been to Michigan!

    Education must be a priority. Political will must be exerted to sustain education and make it affordable to Michigan residents.
  • Lindylou
    1. Require all high school seniors to have served a minimum number of hours in volunteer service in order to receive their high school diploma.

    2. Encourage those unemployed or employed part time to volunteer in their communities. Their volunteer work could be in an area that they are considering being retrained for.

    3. Think about what we most love about Michigan and find a way to share that with friends/family members who live out of state.
  • Parker
    What does making high school students volunteer accomplish? Back in the day in High school many of us were in NHS. You had to do a bunch of volunteer work. Most people just did whatever was easiest and most was not even real volunteer work.

    I do agree that to get unemployment you should have to do at least 8 hours of volunteering a week.
  • Lindylou
    Parker, in your comments you suggested adults mentoring students. Not all students will get a mentor, but if all students were required to volunteer, they would have a chance of meeting up with adults that may have an impact on them. Certainly, not every student will find volunteering to be a formative experience, but others will. In addition, I believe that each of us must learn to look beyond our own wants and needs. This would be a way of encouraging that early on.
  • Parker
    That is a fair assessment. I think a key would be to make sure there is real volunteerism. No more 'oh I helped take tickets at a HS basketball game...' That really doesn't count. Some of the volunteering I do is self serving but at least I get out there and do some. Thanks for the reply.
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Michigan Radio’s Morning Edition host Christina Shockley will be asking artists, politicians, business owners, teachers, and people from all walks of life to give us their three ideas for things each of us can do to revive our state.

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