With Michigan’s economy floundering — or as the more realistic see it, ready to roll off the edge into the abyss — it’s past time to discuss serious economic reforms.

Depending on one’s perspective, any discussion — other than the typical grandstanding and partisan divide that seems to plague most of our current legislators — needs to include everyone.

Paul Scott, republican candidate for state representative, 51st District, plans a panel discussion entitled “Michigan’s Economy ... Moving Forward in the 21st Century” on March 12 (see page 3 for details), with a few economic experts slated to discuss the economy, offer some perspective and suggest solutions.

Whether you’re a democrat, republican, socialist or something else; whether you support Scott or not; any honest discussion on the state’s beleaguered economy and viable suggestions for improving it is a necessity we cannot avoid because of political philosophical differences.

Many of FDR’s New Deal programs may have later (or even at the time) been deemed illegal or unconstitutional, but at least they worked. Think I’m exaggerating? Politicians told him he didn’t have the authority to create some of his programs, but at least he got many people back to work and the nation eventually clawed it’s way out of the Great Depression. (Okay, WWII did help spur domestic output. It’s a sad reality that wars usually do generate business — except in the current one, of course.)

It’s time for pragmatism: if something works, do it. If not, scrap it and find something that does. Lansing hasn’t figured out yet that we need decisive reforms and momentum — not partisan bickering — to get this state going again.

The Book Watch
Goodrich has a Family Fun Night at Reid Elementary from 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 14. Students can bring in 3-4 gently read books, drop them off at the book swap table and then come back later in the evening to pick out 3-4 books to take home.

McGrath, Anderson and Brendel schools in Grand Blanc are sponsoring a community book drive March 8-14. Collection boxes are at the Genesys Athletic Club and the Grand Blanc and Grand Blanc Twp. police departments. The Grand Blanc VIEW also is collecting books and will divide them equally between Goodrich and Grand Blanc.

Whether the books end up in the hands of a student, a classroom or school library, some child will benefit from your help. Reading and knowledge are cumulative: once a child’s mind is touched with the joy of reading, it continues to grow and bloom.

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