The Detroit News, an already thin newspaper now only printed three days a week, normally publishes optimistic stories, especially with regard to the economy. No, really, the News’ pages are not full of murder coverage or our goofy, downtown Detroit politicians who seem to be outdoing themselves in the bonehead department. The news media in Detroit is quick to latch on to any story that may show a sliver of hope and expand it exponentially, which is why I cannot watch local news and can only stomach the paper on weekends.
When the Super Bowl or Final Four comes to town, it’s our salvation. When the streets are closed because of film production, it’s the Second Coming.
Believe me, I wish I had a pair of rose-colored glasses. It gives me no great pleasure to witness an economic contraction leaving Michigan reduced to a third world state. The drop-out rate in Detroit is alarming, the MEAP scores are sliding, and driving down a major thoroughfare during spring is like driving on the moon. Michigan is not a bad place to have spent the last 22 years, but it’s no paradise. However, you’d have to be blind or on serious chemicals not to see what’s really going on here. This state’s rocky downward slide has been readily apparent for many years, at least to me. And now there’s proof from the News.
Last weekend, the Detroit News ran a two-day series on the mass exodus from this garden spot of the Midwest. Since 2001, almost 500,000 people have left for greener pastures, usually opting for Arizona, California, Florida, and other southern states. Over 109,000 more left than moved in during 2008.
Many of those fleeing are young people, about half the college graduates this state pumps out. There are more Michigan State graduates living and working in Chicago than there are in any other metro area, including any in Michigan. My own two children, both of whom were born and raised here, left right after high school, opting for college on the West Coast. Are they coming back? Only if California falls into the Pacific, and then, “home” will be at the bottom of the choice barrel.
It’s not just the warm weather these migrants are looking for. The jobs here are getting scarcer by the day. Unemployment figures for February topped out at 12%, and that’s just those who are on the rolls. There are many more including those who I call friends who have given up the search. Thus begins the toilet bowl spiral. If people can’t work, they lose their homes. They may find jobs in other states, but they can’t sell their homes because the real estate market is awash with foreclosures and short sales. Either they leave and let the house go, or they give up on moving.
Article comments
1 - Ruvy
Excellent article, Joanne. So, my question is this? Will you be imprisoned on the Michigan Titanic because of falling equity values? Or can you see your way clear to leaving the Mitten State - and possibly, if necessary, the United States.
If you haven't thought about this seriously, your own article should give you pause.
I will not leave Israel - I came here because I'm Jewish. But putting myself in the shoes of a non-Jew possibly facing disaster in the States, my eyes fastened on Australia. It looked great for a while - until I considered the 1.5 billion Chinese to the north....
2 - Joanne Huspek
I only wish I could leave. As you know, I'm not from here, and I have relatives in other states. But where to run to? Australia looked good to me too, but it seems like civilization is eating itself alive. We're actually in better shape than most, but we've had that conversation: when is it not worth it?
Getting pretty close, if you ask me.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
First of all, the DN only delivers three times a week. I think they still publish daily, but only for newsstands.
But as for the state, I just bought a home in Ann Arbor because of my steady job. Maybe AA is a little different than the rest of Michigan (What? No Pfizer anymore? Meh) but I don't feel the crunch as badly as those in Detroit do.
Having said that, yes, having a major sporting event come to Detroit and listen to the national reporters feature the economic decline ... my god, men, do you have nothing else to discuss?
4 - Ruvy
my God, man, do you have nothing else to discuss?
Well, there is sports always, Matt. What are the Twinkies doing these days? What about the Mud Hens?
If that gets boring, we can always talk about the "Obama-villes" springing up throughout the USA. There is even Israeli politics, if you get desperate enough....
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
Here's what I meant, Ruvy.
When Michigan State reached the national championship game, they talked about a player from Saginaw, Michigan, noting that Saginaw "has about 20 percent unemployment." They said that if MSU could win a national title, maybe it could energize the people in economic decline.
Was there really nothing else related to Michigan that they could bring up in a sports telecast?
6 - Ruvy
Matt,
I understand you wanting to get away from this constant, depressing talk about economic implosion, and references to it everywhere. I'm sick of Israeli newspapers constantly talking about "poor Palestinians" every fucking time these damned terrorist try to do one of us in. But economic depression is the climate you live in, and the left-wing Arab-ass-kissing Hebrew press here is the climate I live in. Move here - nobody will talk about 20% unemployment - I promise you.
Also, in a country like the US, with its jive unemployment numbers, 20% unemployment means something a lot higher - like 29% or so, guessing at all the folks who have become too discouraged to look for a job, but whom the government no longer counts as "unemployed".
That is rough stuff, Matt. Rougher than the great depression was - and believe me, that depression was rough. And it is just starting.
7 - Joanne Huspek
Matt, the News only PRINTS three days a week, which is fine by me. It's hard for me to read computer screens and I won't read the online version except to snag links.
Ann Arbor huh? Lucky dog. Truly the garden spot of the state.
Like Ruvy says, the numbers are skewed when it comes to unemployment. If the state average is 12%, it's probably close to double that. I know people who have tried for two years to find a job, who live near Saginaw. Nothing. When I run an ad for part time office help, I might get 500 applications in a couple of days.
I feel at a loss as to what to do to turn it around, but I have a feeling the bottom hasn't been hit yet.
8 - bliffle
Such are the consequences of the Monopoly Manipulated Manufacturing Monoculture that was imposed on Michigan by the malignant managers of maniacal motorcar makers.
They ruined a beautiful state.