Let me just start out by saying this: there are few things I would consider worse to be called than a “Hoosier.” My wife is determined that when she is done with school, we are going to move to Indianapolis, in search of abundant jobs, a fun city to live in and low taxes.
I am not so convinced that I can be content waiting for the next set of racers in funny jumpsuits to go speeding around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (I don’t care how famous it is, it is still boring), pretending that Peyton Manning is not the most boring professional athlete in the history of sports or ignoring the odd smells permeating all over the state out of Gary, Indiana.
I don’t bring this up just to bash our neighbors to the southwest, but these are scenarios that many in Michigan could be facing over the next several years. Do we continue to be patient, believing what Governor Granholm (and Governor Engler before her) continually promise about this state’s future? Or do we abandon our quirky state customs, favorite local mom-and-pop spots and lovable sports teams to move to states that actually seem to have discussions about their present instead of just what the future holds?
We are beyond the point of placing blame. There is probably not a Republican in Michigan right now that wouldn’t gladly take the opportunity to pin all of our woes on the current Democratic governor. The numbers, when compared with other Midwest states, are simply too bleak for only one person to be responsible. Michigan’s current economic state is the result of a major lack of vision by numerous people over a lot of years.
Let’s look at some stats from comparable states in the Midwest: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
The good news? Michigan boasts the second highest average annual wage among workers in any of the states, trailing only Minnesota. The bad news? It is increasingly difficult to find those jobs. We also claim the highest unemployment rate of any of those states at 6.7 percent.
That roughly $40,000 a year average annual wage also gets further eroded when you consider that Michigan also boasts the highest average cost of living among Midwestern states. So you are one of the lucky few that found a good paying job, but the bad news is you are spending much more on groceries, utilities and other costs than your counterparts in other states.
So what do states like Indiana have to offer people seeking jobs that match their skill and experience levels? Low taxes are the main selling point. Indiana has much lower property taxes and taxes on business are the lowest among Midwestern states.
Housing in suburban areas is also lower. Brand new homes in Michigan suburbs sell for an average of about $60,000 more than homes in Indiana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
We have been told in State of the State addresses for several years now to look forward to the future, but little has been done that is reassuring. Politics has long been full of partisan hacks at the national level, but state and even local politics in some Michigan communities are becoming full of venom and short on substance.
People who constantly point to the future usually are great idealists, but lack the practicality of how to get there. That is what Michigan politics has been about since I have been old enough to pay attention. Until we get leaders who can live in the present, the best options for many will be outside of Michigan’s borders.

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