How bout those for regionalism?

**Hypestyles** · May-11-09, 01:40 PM

ah well... he's up for reelection in 2012, right? meh..

**Prodigal_Son** · May-11-09, 08:50 PM

Should Oakland help Wayne? Yes. Should Wayne help Oakland? Yes.

It doesn't matter if our interests are the same, or if helping each other will help ourselves. That kind of attitude is childish and petty. When a child is hurting on the side of the road, you don't think, "Gee, I wonder if helping this child will benefit me." You help, even at a cost to yourself.

When we are petty, we all -- collectively -- become worthless. If the voters of Oakland County hire an executive that only cares about the voters of Oakland County, then the voters of Oakland County have been duped. Public servants afflicted with myopia ought to catch the first train out of town.

Now that he'll be living in a smaller place, do you think Kwame needs a roommate?

**professorscott** · May-12-09, 12:30 AM

Many of you are missing a really important point here: the "region" does not exist. It is a figment of your imagination. It is not a corporeal being.

Brooks Patterson is in charge of Oakland County government and nothing else. Dave Bing is in charge of Detroit and nothing else. Nobody at all is in charge of this ephemeral "region" that I hear so much about. If somebody is, then who is it?

Wayne County is touting the Aerotropolis. How will that benefit Macomb County? Don't give me this "indirect benefit" claptrap. Industrial parks in Romulus don't benefit Mount Clemens any more than industrial parks in Shanghai.

If we want to be a region, then we have to create some sort of regional structure. There has to be some kind of governing body with influence over the region. Until we do that - and I seriously doubt we ever will - then we are only a region on census bureau reports, and no place else. And in that situation, it makes perfect sense for Brooks to pick and choose whom he wants to align with.

The structure is the problem, not the people. Vote in new people, keep the same structure, and you'll still have the same problems.

MIRepublic · May-12-09, 02:01 AM

Wha? There is not a city over 1 million with a regional government, and yet most all work much better as a region than Detroit. The idea that Detroit has to have a regional government to act like a region is ridiculous.

**irish_mafia** · May-12-09, 06:31 AM

"Conyers, Collins and Watson are going to make some inappropriate and ignorant remarks."

Every single day, no need to wait...and that exemplifies why the rest of the world moves forward while Detroit continues to rot.

**professorscott** · May-12-09, 11:02 AM

In a typical big-city region, the central city has 40% to 70% of the total regional population, so the city government has some de facto control over regional issues. Detroit was that way, once. Detroit now has probably between 15% and 20% of the metro population, so is no longer driving the bus.

**Patrick** · May-12-09, 06:11 PM

How will that benefit Macomb County? Don't give me this "indirect benefit" claptrap. Industrial parks in Romulus don't benefit Mount Clemens any more than industrial parks in Shanghai.

This right here!

**313WX** · May-12-09, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by professorscott

How will that benefit Macomb County? Don't give me this "indirect benefit" claptrap. Industrial parks in Romulus don't benefit Mount Clemens

That's fine. Chrysler should have never operated plants outside Oakland County and GM/Ford should have never operated plants outside Wayne County/Detroit nor should people who live outside of Wayne County/Detroit be allowed to work at these plants. While we're at it, Mount Clemens and Oakland County shouldn't use Detroit Wayne County Airport for the commercial/industrial needs Flint Bishop and Pontiac/Oakland County can't fulfill.

**7miledog** · May-12-09, 06:51 PM

What is so funny about LBP is that he automatically projects his own motivations on to others. He says the Wayne County Aerotropolis would steal business away from Oakland County, when the only business he has been able to attact to Oakland County is from Wayne. He has never been successful at attracting national or international companies to Oakland from other states/countries. He has only benefitted from the location of the Big 3, and others discontent with Detroit. Oakland County has only been successful because of what Detroit has/has not done; it has nothing to do with LBP's "leadership." [[i.e. business has not been running TO Oakland County, they have been running FROM Detroit; very significant difference when it comes to assessing his "success" as a leader).

His entire career has been as a big fish in a little pond; as he was never able to "run with the big dogs" globally. That's why every state-wide campaign he has run in has been a failure [[and why he didn't run for Gov next year). He knows he cannot compete and always picks on Detroit to make himself feel like a man.

**Novine** · May-12-09, 11:30 PM

You have a point 7miledog. What has LBP brought to OC that wasn't auto connected or wasn't already established in the area?

**firstandten** · May-13-09, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by 7miledog

What is so funny about LBP is that he automatically projects his own motivations on to others..

Thats on page 1 of the Republican playbook. Thats the MO of most successful Republicans.

**Irvine Laird** · May-14-09, 01:19 PM

For better or for worse, Patterson is in better shape than any other government official in metro Detroit. He has more power and more resources--and better prospects--than anyone else in the region. That means he also has the most to lose.

So, if you're the Oakland County executive, what do you do when you read the headlines every morning? When the Cobo deal falls through? When Wayne County sets out to build an aerotropolis? When people like Monica Conyers have such authority in Detroit? When Chrysler and GM are on the brink?

It's fine to burn off our dislike for Patterson , but we've got to follow that up with altnerative actions we'd like to see from the Oakland County executive.

So what would you do?