Comments on: Seen and heard in Grand Rapids

By: Mike Anthony

Mike Anthony — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:39:49 +0000

Since there seems to be some movement in state energy policy, friends of the alternative energy industry should keep in mind that old windmills present waste problems. Here’s a link to an English version of the story that appeared in the Danish newspapers recently:

http://www.cphpost.dk/get/109033.html

Maybe we’ll have to decide whether we want to get in on early in the windmill blade recycling industry. For better or worse, we’ve already got a bit of an industry in Canadian garbage.

By: David Waymire

David Waymire — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:59:53 +0000

It’s worth nothing that of the 53 metro areas in the nation with population higher than 1 million, Grand Rapids ranks 49th in per capita income and 45th in percentage of populatin with four year degrees — significantly behind metro Detroit, with all its problems.

Now, that may be good if you own a factory and want cheap, non-college educated labor.
But if you are father worried about your daughter’s future…is that the kind of economy you want, if you want to see your grandchild down the road?

Let’s just think about what kind of economy we want before buying someone’s — anyone’s — vision.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:50:21 +0000

Good job on both sides for bipartisan work to get the energy bill and water bill passed. Legislation is not always what either side exactly wants and may not have been the best overall bill, but the point to compromise is for both sides to give up something to get something. So getting something is better than nothing.

Nice job Mr. Sikkema on being a fair and good moderator to quell a single minded declaration with a pointed question of experience and knowledge.

By: Rick H.

Rick H. — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:43:32 +0000

Here’s a bit of a tonque-in-cheek idea. Let’s split Michigan into two states, East Michigan and West Michigan for, say, five years. At the end of that time, assess which state has the best economy, based on such factors as job growth, per capita income and college graduation rates. Then put the two states back together again with the loser agreeing to be governed by the winner’s public and economic policies. It may be the only way to settle the east-west divide.