In this article, I read with particular interest the passage recounting the successful outcome of Henry Ford Health system’s taking a risk in purchasing the robotic postrate surgery tool. My best friend — an anesthesiologist practicing among the hospitals between the Ambassador and Bluewater Bridge — has been saying for years that about half of his elective surgery patients are from Canada. To degree to which this is true would have politicial implications for Obama’s “everyone in” health care proposal.

Michigan, it seems to me, has a rather unique point of view; given its proximity to Canada and its tradition of quasi-sociallized medicine for auto-industry employees in the Henry Ford Health care system.

Maybe my friends anecdote, and Mr. Riney’s anecdote, could be the lead for a more comprehensive report by a journalist working for a print-media outlet.

If you’ve endured as many winters as I have, you’re not a fan of waist-high snow piles during the winter.

You’re not a fan of sharing the road with vehicles as a pedestrian when the sidewalks have not be plowed.

But go ahead and make your pitch for Michigan. It’s your job. But be careful – be very careful — of your narrative shorthand that borders on maniacal zeal and idiot zest.

Cheers from a Michigan expat,
Craig

While the most of the good news you share is worthy and welcome, one “light at the end of the tunnel” isn’t that bright.

While a survey for the Chamber by John Bailey & Associates does say 70 percent of “about 500 executives” questioned expect the Michigan economy to be stronger in five years, that means at least 150 fear we’ll be in the same fix — or a worse one — come 2014.

Seems like a large bloc of pessimists, assuming Team Bailey got responses from all 500 of those surveyed.

Also, the increased optimism since 2008 is just 4 percentage points — only 20 folks, again assuming a 100% response rate.

Just sayin’ it seems best not to read too much into this feel-good exercise with undisclosed methodology.

Rest of post is solid.