StooltimeCounseling's Blog

A one trick pony may be cute, but the act gets old after performing its one trick over and over.  Michigan is like the one trick pony because of its over-reliance on the auto industry to maintain a robust economy.  Michigan's economy needs to become diversified like the pony needs more than one trick to keep its act alive.

Diversification works well when developing a retirement portfolio, and it can work for Michigan's economy, too.  It is not smart to put all the eggs in one basket when planning for retirement.  So it is with Michigan's economy.  Michigan can no longer soley rely on its manufacturing base to keep its budget in the black.  Michigan needs to attract new businesses or face the same fate as the one trick pony that eventually loses its appeal with the crowd.

Revenue incentives for businesses (also known as corporate welfare or tax abatements) could again help attract new business to the state if the leadership would open their eyes.  Follow the money trail, Governor Granholm, and it will take you to the truth.  Offer tax abatements to businesses so they would want to set-up shop in Michigan.  The incentive has a history of attracting new money to our state, and offer some fiscal relief to already existing businesses who want to stay in Michigan.  We would hear less excuses to leave the state like offered by Volkswagon, who all of a sudden wanted to be closer to its customer base on the east coast.

Governor Granholm, no one will change your mind about your tax and spend philosophy.  You are a firm believer in redistributing the wealth so the basic needs of those-who-are-not-able-to-be-gainfully-employed can be met.  That is very compassionate of all of us.  However, if Michiganders want to be consistent, social welfare needs to be balanced with corporate welfare.  It will attract new businesses, new jobs, new tax payers, embolden the middle class, and the pony would have more than one trick.  Michigan needs new businesses to hire people and keep them working!

Governor Granholm, show all of us that you can teach an old pony new tricks.