Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Michigan
This poor old state is taking quite a beating lately. Today's headline puts Michigan in the top three as far as states for having the worst highway bridges. I think we're number one or two for sinking home values and one or two for unemployment. One of the local high-tech firms, Hemlock Semiconductor Corp, makers of polycrystalline silicon is thinking about moving a $1.2 billion expansion out of state because Michigan's electricity is to expensive. Chrysler, GM and Ford have all dumped thousands of workers lately.
Crime seems to be improving. The State Police are laying off troopers and a 1 year-old kid was shot last month in a drive-by. Some septuagenarian was murdered in Flint and the five accused range from 17 - 25. On TV, they didn't even have a worried look as they walked by in orange jumpsuits and shackles. I imagine it pretty cool to be busted for murder for a lot of kids now. Some 17 year-old called his girlfriend's parents to bring her to school - where he then shot her four times and then killed himself.
This area does have some plusses though. The cost of living is cheap. You can get a really nice house for under $100K. Weather is moderate. We don't worry too much about earthquakes or blizzards or hurricanes. There's the occasional tornado, but not that often around here - not enough house-trailers probably. We have some hot days in the summer, but not that many and while its cold in the winter, it rarely sees below the teens. The water is good and the countryside is beautiful - water and trees as far as one can see.
