Quote Originally Posted by Johnnny5 View Post
It's not always a game worth playing and competing for jobs doesn't necessary entail huge tax breaks. Do you really think Mike Illitch would have left and taken the Red Wings to another city? Do you think Marathon would have overlooked the huge advantages of adding to their existing facilities in Detroit [[Right on a major shipping corridor and and so close to their Canadian crude) and instead went elsewhere? If they actually had decided to expand elsewhere would that really have been such a bad thing for the city? [[We likely wouldn't be dealing with the huge petcoke issue).

I'm 100% opposed to tax breaks that are designed to lure businesses to an area or to keep them from "Leaving". It's blackmail, corporate welfare and pits city against city, state against state and often just brings temporary benefits to the community. These tax breaks are also a breeding ground for bribery and abuse by public officials and in the end the taxpayers are the ones that lose.
Oh yes without hesitation. If mike had a deal in his pocket that gave a great deal on the factory building and naming rights, complete control of parking and concessions. Something like 96 and 275 he would have jumped at it. He has no loyalty to anything but the best deal. A devoloper for Detroit? His track record has proven he is not. He tried to fly close to the sun 2 decades ago and his wings were burned off by corruption and his and theirs incompetence.

Marathon has other refineries, they would have shopped. In their line of work sending it down the pipe is cheap. It's the margins that are huge. If you really believe that government can dictate terms to big business you need to read more. It is the exception not the rule. Business leaves scorched earth at will if they think it works for them.

If you are 100% against tax breaks for employers then you support burger king, McDonald's, and party stores to move your economy forward because almost everyone else is making deals. You said it yourself " state against state" if you aren't doing it then your losing all the time. We've lost, they carried half our industry away from us because we were to slow to learn how to play. How has that worked out? We have a shit load of unemployed that's for sure. The last question remains are we going to just let them take the other half?
P.S I enjoy a good debate, and appreciate not having hate involved, on these boards that can be a refreshing change sometimes.