The 2010 elections hit Michigan especially hard. In terms of statewide elections Demcorats lost the State House, shrunk to super minority status in the State Senate, and lost all three major top-ticket races (Governor, Attorney General and--perhaps most painfully--Secretary of State).
If there was anything you could call a bright spot, it's that Republicans didn't get either of the total right wing lunatics they wanted for Governor. Running as "One Tough Nerd," former CEO superstar Rick Snyder won the governor's race.
Snyder has a high favorable rating and most Michiganders say the changes he plans to make will be good for the state.
Snyder has been pretty light on specifics up until now... we know he plans to do away with the Michigan Business Tax and replace it with a flat business tax which will cost the state over two billion dollars (a year). We know he wants to get rid of Michigan's item pricing law, which will allow stores to stop pricing every item and get rid of needless employees so they can make more money. On the positive side, we know he supports the Detroit International River Crossing project....
But... like I said... not a lot of real specifics.
One of the more significant issues that has been plaguing Michigan in recent years is the Brain Drain. Obviously we've got some great schools here... Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech to name just a few... but people graduate from those schools and then get the hell out as fast as they can. It's no surprise really, Michigan is one of the nation's "leaders" in unemployment with a rate of over eleven percent.
But Rick Snyder? He has a plan.
Rick Snyder wants to launch initiatives to bring well-educated Immigrants to Michigan.
Supporters of the plan say well-educated foreigners often seek advanced college degrees in science, math and technology that can be used to help launch new businesses.
Now let's be clear here. I have no issue at all with people of the foreign persuasion, or immigrants, or well educated immigrants, etc. But does anybody see the problem with this equation?
PROBLEM: Our young people--disheartened by Michigan's terrible economic conditions and their prospects for success here--get an education then get out.
ROBOCOP-LIKE CEO HEADS UP DISPLAY: Profits=Non Optimal. Workforce=Outsource.
SOLUTION: Bring in well-educated immigrants to replace the kids that are leaving, that will fix the brain drain!
Except it won't. Because (work with me here Rick) those well educated immigrants will actually be applying for the same jobs that the people getting out of college currently can't find in the first place. Not only that, but they'll be competing for jobs that Michigan's CURRENT unemployed workforce is trying desperately to train itself for as we realize that a good number of our manufacturing jobs certainly aren't coming back.
If you look at the big picture (or even a moderately sized small picture) you have to conclude that a "Well Educated Immgrant" would have to be pretty stupid to come here in the first place unless (and I'm not generalizing) they were willing to do that same work for a lot less money than the people who who are currently fleeing the state and/or desperately trying to bail their families out of the post-industrial morass which would be good for hm....
- CEO's like Rick Snyder
- Well Educated Immmigrants
- ...
I guess just the first two. I'm trying to think of who might be missing from that list.
Anyway, that's it for this week's episode of Rick Fixes Everything. Tune in next week when Governor Snyder fixes Michigan Health care by installing Antibiotic Vending Machines at all our rest stops that only take American Express Platinum cards.