Ok, here’s the deal.  I REALLY like talking to new people, making new friends, and all that jazz…but, seriously.  If I mention that Michigan is, like, the 1 state in the US as far as unemployment rating goes…I don’t want to hear you tell me how you know all about it because you watched Roger and Me.  First things first, there are more than 3 cities/towns in Michigan.  I know, I know.  It’s hard to believe that Michigan consists of more than Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Flint.  I know.  I have a hard time believing it, too, and I *live* here.  I mean, imagine my surprise when I discovered LANSING.  Or KALAMAZOO.  And, I mean, Adrian even has its’ own airport.  I don’t know exactly what it’s used for, other than air shows and to teach people to fly at the JCC Aviation department, but I do see airplanes and gliders in the air around it from time to time.

Anyway, sarcasm aside, really, REALLY, I need you to look at the big picture.  First things first….Roger and me was filmed in 1989.  THAT WAS 19 FUCKING YEARS AGO.  Flint has slightly grown since then.  Notice I said slightly.  Also, there are more companies in Michigan OTHER than General Motors.  Yeah, I know, shocking.  I mean, we’ve got Kellogg’s (Yes, the same company that makes Frosted Flakes), we’ve got Motown Records (yes, still), hell, we’ve even got SPORTS teams.  We even have a women’s basketball team!!  I don’t know if they’re any good, because I don’t fucking follow women’s pro basketball, but, really.  I figure, if Google thought it was a good idea to set up shop in Ann Arbor, then Michigan can’t be all that bad of a place.

On top of that…the problem isn’t with big business all the time.  Jobs in Michigan are moving elsewhere…to other states, to other countries.  Why?  Because our Governor, and past Governors, thought it a smashing fucking idea to tax the hell out of businesses.  The amount of tax imposed on established and budding businesses alike are enough to make companies move out of here in SWARMS.  Add to that the fact that our state government has NO idea what a budget IS, let alone how to stick to one, and we’re pretty much fucked until Granholm’s term is over.

Jobs all over the place, and not just in the auto industry are taking the hit.  Sure, new cars are selling less.  Michigan isn’t the only state with auto plants.  Yes, agriculture is taking a huge hit.  That’s why people started growing corn specifically for biofuel.  It’s a budding industry, and, hey, research into alternative energies is awesome.  (However, I think it’d be a better idea to start placing wind turbines in the Praries.  Have you BEEN out there?  Flat ground, tons of wind.  No fucking brainer.  It’s like putting a hydro-electric plant at the fork of two rivers.  It makes sense in an ecological manner, an economical manner, and a physical [as in physics] manner.  So, yeah, big duh.)

Anyway, I’m just ranting, and there’s not really anywhere to go with this other than…really, people.  I don’t say “Hey, I’ve watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, so I know ALL about Savannah, GA.”    Or, “Yeah, I watched The Grudge.  All of Japan is TOTALLY like that.  Especially for white people.”  Why?  BECAUSE BOTH STATEMENTS ARE TOTALLY FUCKING RETARDED.
Jeni out.