If you don't know where you are, you don't know where you're going.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s bipartisan Emergency Financial Advisory Panel preached that maxim more than a year ago.

"With regard to taxes, investment, and structural reforms, Michigan should set benchmarks drawn from best practices in Great Lakes and comparable states," those veteran state budget experts declared in February 2007.

But in the ensuing nine-month budget fight, there was little time or brainpower in Lansing for the cold calculus of comparison. So, the Center for

Michigan created The 2008 Michigan Scorecard: Benchmarks for Michigan’s Transformation.This new report tracks 36 measures of Michigan's competitive standing in three areas: Workforce and Talent; Economy and Quality of Life; and Accountable Government.

The verdict: ten "thumbs-up," seven "so-so," and 19 "thumbs-down" grades.

The scorecard reinforces some longstanding Michigan image problems. Our roads our lousy, our public sector is highly balkanized, our unemployment rate stinks, and our progress is mediocre on standardized student tests. But the scorecard also busts a few

Michigan myths.

MYTH: Michigan lags in K-12 education investment

Even in these tough times, Michigan had the 15th highest per-pupil spending in the United States in 2005. Average

Michigan teacher salaries that year were $57,000 – third highest in the nation. And $31 of every $100 collected by state government in 2006-07 went to local districts for school aid.

MYTH: Michigan is a horrible place to do business

Wall Street Journal readers might conclude from recent Michigan-bashing editorials that businesses might better locate in the Third World. Yet

Michigan's business tax burden and entrepreneurial activity rank in the middle of the pack, not the rear. We nearly cracked the top ten states for business openings in 2006. And, for site selectors who value workers' quality of life, Michigan shines in several respects. In 2006, our home ownership rate was second in the nation. We lead the nation in freshwater shoreline and public golf courses and rank near the top in registered boats and public recreation lands.

MYTH: The Great Lakes

State is a leader in environmental protection

The scorecard gives a thumbs-down to Michigan for "North Coast Stewardship."

Michigan ranks 35th in the size of its state natural resources workforce. And the MSU Land Use Policy Institute ranks Michigan 47th among the states in conservation spending.

MYTH: Michigan voters are so fed up, they just don’t care

Recent polls gave record disapproval ratings to the governor and the legislature. That doesn't mean voters don’t care. Michigan voters in set a gubernatorial election turnout record in 2006 and a presidential election turnout record two years earlier. In 2004,

Michigan's voter turnout was 11th highest among the states.

The Michigan Scorecard gives voters context for their concern and frustration.

Compiled by experienced researchers and edited by MSU Economist Charles Ballard, the scorecard is in use by some 1,500 statewide community leaders and engaged citizens meeting in "community conversations" to develop a bipartisan citizens agenda for Michigan's future. We will report their recommendations in May. We'll then use the scorecard and other tools to educate voters and hold officials accountable for improvement.

By November 2010, the governor, senate majority leader, speaker of the house, secretary of state, attorney general, three quarters of all state senators and 70 percent of state representatives will be replaced due to term limits. Reports like the Michigan Scorecard can help assure that no matter which political party wins those seats, new leaders can approach public policy with facts rather than dogma.

Benchmarks like those in the Michigan Scorecard have been used for years in other places. For example, the Oregon Progress Board, a state agency, has measured that state against others for the past 19 years.

Oregon has 91 official benchmarks for success. Michigan doesn't. But the Michigan Scorecard provides a start.