Interesting perspectives.

My perspective is a little different. The state of Michigan is going down the tubes. Southeastern Michigan is in especially tough shape, because it's made up of 140-odd different governments all competing for a dwindling share of increasingly older, poorer and less educated residents.

I look at other areas and booming and I notice something: They invest in their central cities. We choose not to. So that's a whole segment of growth we'll never capture. I think that's how a great many people across the country see us: Refusing to make the necessary investments to create a 21st century kind of urban environment, instead wanting to enlarge 20th century growth patterns.

And, to top it off, we excuse all this idiocy by complaining about the city. Instead of other regions, where they invest in the city and it raises all boats, we blame the city and claim it's going to take us all down with it.

Hey, man: Whatever gets you through the night ...