Politics in Michigan

Not sure if many of you know about Michigan and the many troubles it has. Unemployment is one of the highest in the Nation, I wonder if any other country is higher than ours really. Let me give you a summary to compare. {Information provided by http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm}

Overall, 21 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, 18 states registered increases, and 11states had no changes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates declined in 27 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 21 states, and were unchanged in 2 states. The national unemployment rate remained at 4.6 percent in August.

Over the year, 34 states posted statistically significant changes in employment. Of these states, all posted gains but one. The largest employment gains occurred in Texas (+229,000), California (+163,300), and Florida (+119,500). The statistically significant over-the-year employment decline occurred in Michigan (-56,400). Seven states recorded statistically significant increases in employment that were less than 15,000: Montana (+14,600), New Mexico (+12,900), Hawaii (+11,800), South Dakota and Wyoming (+9,300 each), North Dakota (+8,200), and Delaware (+6,100). Michigan ... 7.4 %

Now that is just the unemployment, now lets break it down even further shall we? {information from http://www.spmichigan.org/news.php?extend.70}

Home foreclosures nationally last year rose 42% to a record of .54% of Americans with a mortgage facing foreclosure in the last quarter of 2006. According to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association, Michigan, along with Indiana and Ohio, is now leading the nation in foreclosures with a foreclosure rate of 2.39% and a delinquency rate of 7.87% in last year’s final quarter.
In Michigan in particular, however, the recent explosion of foreclosures is symptomatic of the state’s economic fall-out resulting from the race to the bottom of its top employers. Since 2001 Michigan has lost 336,000 jobs.

Now I wanted to start things off this way, as some of you may not understand most of this being from a state that has an increase in jobs. So then, how do I say it...Our Governor has really made things worse instead of better to help balance our budget. This is just the start (as this was needed to pass so that the Government didn't shut down)
Increase to the state's personal income tax rate to 4.35% and to expand the state's sales tax to number of high-end discretionary services, including interior design, landscaping, and personal care services such as massages and manicures. The combination of taxes is expected to cost the average person approximately 1$ per week, {Love how the break down seems to be such a low number} The list goes on...and again this was just the one that our Governor wanted and our Lawmakers gave in, as it was the double bladed sword given. As if this was not passed, then the Governor was going to declare a Shutdown! This buys more time for all the other behind the scene that we are all sitting here waiting on pins and needles awaiting for phase two.
Most of us here, are barely getting by. Some of us don't even make a decent wage let alone have health insurance; or if its offered through their employment they need every last penny to their paycheck to survive, and cannot afford the cost that is being charged.
A lot more people in Michigan are leaving this State, and personally if the job came around for myself, I am gone. I know right now with the rate things are going in this State, my daughter maybe around 30 before we start to see some light at the end of the tunnel. By the way she is 13 now. I hope that some of you that are from this state are writing to our Lawmakers and making your voice be heard. I would like to share with you a site if you are from Michigan, that has caught my attention. Take a peek and see what you think, I mean really here is a person that cares and is taking action. www.savemymichigan.com ~Mare