Michigan Jobless Rate Hits 15.2%

**MotownSpartan** · July-15-09, 04:51 PM

What does this mean for those working to revive/grow Detroit? How do you all see this affecting the city and how should we change our approach in light of the severity of the economic crisis here? Is a change in approach needed and if so, why does it appear that there have been no substantial changes to business as usual in Detroit [[possibly with the exception of DPS)?

**Detroit500** · July-15-09, 05:23 PM

It has had a substantial change on the morning commute -- look at how many less cars are on the road. It also has slowed development --- look at how many more articles ModelD had about new development last year compared to this year.

This is devastating and suffocating the region. This once great state needs solutions and new leadership. Will the 2010 elections supply them? Will it be enough? I can only hope, because I [[like so many of us) don't want to have to move to Chicago or Los Angeles to find work.

**Baselinepunk** · July-15-09, 06:47 PM

"This once great state needs solutions and new leadership. Will the 2010 elections supply them? Will it be enough?"

I don't know about that. They way things are shaping up it looks like both sides of the aisle are screwed.

**Novine** · July-15-09, 10:34 PM

The "winner" of the 2010 race is going to have little impact on the state's economy. Engler benefited from the boom in the national economy and when the Dot Com bubble busted at the end of this final term, the state's economy went with it. That's why Granholm was given the present of filling her first deficit as soon as she walked into office. While the national economy rebounded, the continuous downsizing of the Big Three and now bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler have continued to pound the state's economy as no other state has suffered. No matter who is power in Lansing, none of the fundamentals of the national or state economy are going to change. Until they do, we'll hear lots of people talking about government solutions to the problems [[cut spending or cut taxes or increase taxes on the rich or more stimulus spending) which will have little impact on the state's overall economy but which will be debated far beyond their actual ability to turn the state's economy around.

**bailey** · July-16-09, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by MotownSpartan

What does this mean for those working to revive/grow Detroit? How do you all see this affecting the city and how should we change our approach in light of the severity of the economic crisis here? Is a change in approach needed and if so, why does it appear that there have been no substantial changes to business as usual in Detroit [[possibly with the exception of DPS)?

Well, first, before even addressing the problem, Michigan's unemployment is 15%....the last number I saw for Detroit proper was 22%. And that is just who they are counting. "discouraged" workers...those that aren't seeking work, and "under employed"..those working part time aren't counted. s o, easily we're talking, 1 in 4 in Detroit are unemployed/underemployed. In a city of 900k that is 225,000 people...just in Detroit.

Why have there been no changes you ask? Because we have a coward as governor and partisan provincial hacks at every level of government. We also have a generally stupid electorate that demands cradle to the grave employment turning a screw on a line, demands that they pay no taxes, possess a pathological hatred of education, and rely on a culture of victim hood and entitlement programs. We need massive, systemic, and painful changes to both the state and city governments. Massive rightsizing of both the tax burden and the size of government in each. Until then we'll keep circling the drain. but of course, tax increases will be met with talk of revolution from the teabaggers that run most of the state and local governments. Government spending and entitlement programs wont be cut, because that would take leadership....and it will be hard... and Granholm is not a leader and has proven herself incapable of making a hard decision. Think John Cherry will be any better? How about Mike Cox?

City of Detroit-wise.... anything about the current crop of Kilpatrick re-treads populating the Bing administration give anyone any optimism about a turnaround for the city?

So, to your question of "what if means for those working to revive/grow Detroit?" it means they're fucked.

**Danny** · July-16-09, 09:18 AM

If the Michigan jobsless rate goes up to 25% that would be a one state Great Depression.

**Locke** · July-23-09, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

Well, first, before even addressing the problem, Michigan's unemployment is 15%....the last number I saw for Detroit proper was 22%. And that is just who they are counting. "discouraged" workers...those that aren't seeking work, and "under employed"..those working part time aren't counted. s o, easily we're talking, 1 in 4 in Detroit are unemployed/underemployed. In a city of 900k that is 225,000 people...just in Detroit.

Just to chime in with some rough economics 101, when an unemployment rate is 25% in a city of 900k, that doesn't mean 225k are unemployed. It means 25% of the population that could work and are currently out of a job [[typically 18-60y/o demo) are affected [[leaving out children, elderly, and long-unactive jobseekers). I don't have my sources readily available, but the number is probably 25% of around 500k. Not exactly pretty by any means.

**bailey** · July-24-09, 07:23 AM

Just to chime in with some rough economics 101, when an unemployment rate is 25% in a city of 900k, that doesn't mean 225k are unemployed.

duh..brain freeze on my part. thanks for the correction.

croweblack · July-24-09, 08:45 AM

Novine, Nice servile platitudes and talking points. When will the increasing unemployment, forclosures, bombing of Pakistani villages, and attacks on our remaining civil liberties become Obama's babies instead of Bush's? My guess - one to one and a half years. All this economic crack to stimulate the economy hasn't even given enough hope to businesses to start expanding inventory.

you are really asking that question after he still blames ENGLER for everything in michigan almost eight years after he has left office?

I will answer for him NEVER will obama be held responsible for ANYTHING

**Novine** · July-24-09, 08:53 AM

"I will answer for him NEVER will obama be held responsible for ANYTHING"

NEVER will I need to use ALL CAPS to make my point.

As to the question, unlike some of the cowards in Congress and the Republican Party, Obama has no problem stepping up and taking responsibility for fixing the mess he inherited. If the Republicans in Congress would have had their way, we would have had 2 auto companies liquidated in bankruptcy, we would be doing the bidding of of the insurance companies when it comes to health care and we would have refused to continue the draw down of troops in Iraq. Unlike the Republican cowards, Obama realizes that the work that has to be done is difficult, can't be fixed overnight and requires patience that many on the other side refuse to exercise. You sound like a crack addict demanding your next fix. Go get some help.

**kathy2trips** · July-16-09, 09:32 AM

Just because Engler was incompetent, doesn't mean ALL republicans are. You have to judge by the PERSON, not the party.

**Sstashmoo** · July-16-09, 09:32 AM

People just need more credit available so they can buy a Hyundai. We don't need more manufacturing, we need to borrow more money.

**Danny** · July-16-09, 10:34 AM

Don't blame Granholm and Obama for this mess. The fault lies on former president George W. Bush with the rediculous globalization trade proposals that allow corporations to move their manufacturing industries overseas.

Granholm and President Obama is doing their best to bring jobs to Michigan. But we Americans have to help them out in return. If we cut our spending on foreign imports and but American products, then globalization proposals will not continue and be a reality for the free market.

**Novine** · July-16-09, 11:45 AM

"We need massive, systemic, and painful changes to both the state and city governments. Massive rightsizing of both the tax burden and the size of government in each. Until then we'll keep circling the drain. but of course, tax increases will be met with talk of revolution from the teabaggers that run most of the state and local governments."

Reform is needed. But the focus on government as the problem/solution ignores the reality that it's only a small part of what needs to be fixed.

**humanmachinery** · July-16-09, 11:52 AM

I hate to say it, but bailey is right. This state needs tax increases, spending cuts, and some serious political reform –starting with a redrafting or removal of the term limit laws. Of course nobody wants to admit these things, because they're all unpopular moves. Voters would all like to believe their services will increase, their taxes will be cut, and their politicians can all be brilliantly effective one term servants who move on to highly successful charity work.

So we're not likely to see any solutions soon, just like we're not likely to fix an economy that still depends far too much upon industry. With the minor exception of government contractors, the American industrial economy is dead.

**wazootyman** · July-16-09, 12:14 PM

If this thread were a room, it would be dimly lit, musty and occupied by a lone dirty, greasy drunk guy sitting in a chair in the corner. Don't even bother opening the curtains - it's not sunny outside anyway.

**Sstashmoo** · July-16-09, 12:12 PM

Quote: "the American industrial economy is dead."

You said it. And we are seeing the effects of it now. An "industrial economy" is the only economy that would ever work here in the US. The one we had was left unprotected and it was stolen. If you're having some fantasy about some "service based" economy, forget it. That get's outsourced too.

Raising taxes and cutting services are coming, no way around it. It doesn't have to be this way. So many are brainwashed via the local community college it's sad. They have drank the Kool-aid. When they wake up it will be too late.

**Sstashmoo** · July-16-09, 12:20 PM

I just tell the truth and it sounds like hell.

Quote: "Don't even bother opening the curtains"

That's the people with their air-filled positive outlook. They must never look outside. The unemployment rate is skyrocketing, companies are dropping like flies, many companies are cutting back to 32 hour work weeks. You people that ignore all this and tout your "global economy" are the one's living in the dark gloomy room and just do not realize it.

**docmo** · July-16-09, 12:47 PM

Please quit making excuses for Jenny and Barack. Their policies kill private investment and economic expansion. The only things that are expanding is government intrusion and taxes. Oh, unemployment too!

**Novine** · July-16-09, 02:24 PM

"Please quit making excuses for Jenny and Barack. Their policies kill private investment and economic expansion. The only things that are expanding is government intrusion and taxes. Oh, unemployment too!"

Obama cut taxes for many middle and low-income Americans since taking office. Try again.

**EMG** · July-16-09, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

Obama cut taxes for many middle and low-income Americans since taking office. Try again.

Let's be sure to revisit that issue in two to four years and see what the situation is then. Bookmark this thread, folks!

**bailey** · July-16-09, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by EMG

Let's be sure to revisit that issue in two to four years and see what the situation is then. Bookmark this thread, folks!

I'm inclined to give the administration some time to deal with the national economy. They have a plan. They ran on that plan. They are now implementing the plan. How about we give the guy more than 6 months into the first term to get some results?Book mark away.

While it may not hit all the [[somewhat unrealistic) goals, it's obvious it will go further to remedy the situation than "Drill, Baby Drill" and tax cuts.

With regard to Michigan....looking at the current "front runners" in the upcoming elections, I think stocking up on nonperishable foodstuffs, liquor and ammo might be in order.

You can't put a price on being able to wake up in the morning and not even have to look out the window to know it's going to be a great day. I don't even remember where I last put my umbrella, and I threw away my show shovel and my lawn mower almost a decade ago

all fine and dandy in January...however, July in AZ is not my idea of "pleasant".

**exdetroiter** · July-24-09, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by EMG

Let's be sure to revisit that issue in two to four years and see what the situation is then. Bookmark this thread, folks!

George W. Bush sat in office for two terms as a former alcoholic[[with burned out brain cells); he had been kicked out of college and received a dishonorable discharge from the military. His very own father had deemed him the screwed up son and JEB was the one prepped for political office. Now, Obama has been in office six months and you believe the state of Michigan's economy/the U.S. economy is all of his fault.
EMG, will you please inform us of your reasoning behind this blantant dump job?

**wazootyman** · July-17-09, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Sstashmoo

I just tell the truth and it sounds like hell.

Quote: "Don't even bother opening the curtains"

That's the people with their air-filled positive outlook. They must never look outside. The unemployment rate is skyrocketing, companies are dropping like flies, many companies are cutting back to 32 hour work weeks. You people that ignore all this and tout your "global economy" are the one's living in the dark gloomy room and just do not realize it.

I'm on your side, man. Trust me - I'm hurting. We took a 5% pay cut, and when I add up the mandatory unpaid weeks off, I'm looking at more like 15% on the year. I hate the consequences of the "global economy", buy local often, and own two domestically built GM vehicles less than 2 years old.

My point was that this thread is like opening the paper to the same old doom and gloom. Things are bad, but it does nobody any good to dwell on it, or to have a "pity party" as my soon-to-be wife would say. I spend most nights building a couple of side business ventures in the hopes that they will provide me future job security. Rather than worry about what the government will do for you tomorrow, we all have to determine our own future. Whether that involves going to school, becoming an entrepreneur, or whatever. Focusing on the negative day after day will only make you sick.

**docmo** · July-17-09, 08:28 AM

Conservatives are far from a one trick pony. Remove obstructions to business. Do not put US businesses at major disadvantages. Do not try and fix the planet during a major world recession by allegedly legislating the planet's temperature 30-40 years from now. Do not strangle our business with your regulations which allegedly protect the little guy.

Why not just take over the whole thing and manage everything, barack. Oh wait! He is doing exactly that with my business as a physician owner/operator. Add my practice to his growing list of businesses under his greedy grasp and control.

Sure, taxes are the most critical component. barack cut taxes a measly amount with a rebate. This rebate didn't go to me. It was tiny amount which went to consumers who did not spend it. Taxes absolutely were not cut to job creators. The prospect of the massive tax increases facing me and my partners is a major disincentive to the investment and expansion of our company.

barack is taking the US to where much of Europe was in the 80's, 90' and 00's. Europe has finally woken up and is moving away from their oppressive tax and regulation state. Instead, we move further toward their failed, socialistic state. Just great.

You know the thing that really ticks me off about this guy. He campaigned from a center-left position. He then gained power and mover further left than any MoveOn type could ever have hoped for. It's his narcissism. It's his pompous presentation. He states: we don't want to control the automotive bussiness. We don't want to control all aspects of Health Care. And then he just goes right out and controls every aspect. And, he lies to the public and tells them he doesn't want to run these formerly private businesses.

barack is about nothing other than control. He will control everything in your life. Hell, he wants to control the weather. Maybe he should just legislate how many earthquakes and tornadoes are going to be allowed in 2020.

Also, there are cyclic components to every economy. Yeah, this thing started with Bush. barack, however, grabbed it and has tossed us so far over the edge we didn't even know what hit us. He never even gave a single thought to letting market forces have a chance to correct themselves.

Too bad barack couldn't just wait out the economy [[maybe a focused stimulus entirely weighted to major infrastructure projects was indicated). No, he took it on his pompous shoulders to solve all of the planet's ills in 6 months. Doing so, he failed to focus on the "its the economy, stupid!" Doing so, we are now in the worst economic crisis in the last 70 years. As Rahm so eloquently stated, "Never let a good crisis go to waste." barack sure didn't, did he?

But, barack assured us that if we just immediately implemented his stimulus plan [[which not one single person read) we would all be OK. He would create 4.5 million jobs. The unemployment rate would go no higher than 8 percent. He would fix everything. Wrong!!!!!!!

Well, he fucked up. Worse than that idiot Bush ever did. Where is the outrage against this narcisstic, power hungry, zealot?

How's that Hope and Change working out for You?