By John Bebow - November 1, 2007
As the Free Press quipped, elected leaders in Lansing spent nine months haggling to produce a budget that essentially preserves the status quo.
It speaks to a lack of consensus vision for Michigan's future.
While the view from Lansing remains blurry, citizens across the state are getting down to business in dozens of Community Conversations hosted by the Center for Michigan and volunteer community leaders. Crain's Detroit Business Publisher Mary Kramer was among those who hosted discussions in October. Here's what she had to say:
"I wish elected politicians would take time to hear what young adults are saying about Michigan. The talented people in the room hadn't fled metro Detroit for Chicago or other cities, but they have plenty of friends who have. And they had a message for elected leaders: They are tired of old battles, old rhetoric. They hate the fighting between city and suburbs and they think we have too many wasteful, overlapping governments. Frustration with partisan bickering and the lack of bold ideas to fix Michigan is palpable in most every discussion I hear these days. If lawmakers and the governor are looking for new ideas, they should check out this nonprofit's Web site."
More than 200 everyday citizens have also participated in the online version of the Community Conversations. You can join in right now! In the early voting, the emerging top priorities to transform Michigan include:
One Comment
Why don't we go out and try and start up a rebate center for special offers of items or rebate checks? Why don't we increase the charge to Canada for all there garbage, either they pay it or go else where. Even if they dump it in their own back yard, that would be a blessing. Who in there right mind would want other peoples garbage? Only if it was going to make you rich and it sure isn't doing that. I am beginning to think that alot of our government officials should be checked for Bipolar. Alot of our government officials should also learn to stop wanting everything their way and do whats good for the earth, working man and women, children, the state as a whole. If they can't go into office and think of their job as raising a child, then they need to get out, they never should be there in the first place. Alot of them get in, get the easy money, and then lay back and get rich, (along with their relatives-you know what I mean?) and become lazy, travel, and get fat. Money, money, money, when is enough, enough? We also need a new govenor.
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