This Won't Be Popular - Maybe

This may not be a popular post, but think about what it says. Those of you who are waiting wistfully for Michigan to return to the glory days of "The Big 3" better not be holding your breath. The glory days of "American" auto companies dominating the auto buying market in the United States is clearly over. Don't get mad, it's a fact.

The auto industry is a global thing now with many competitors bringing their products to our doors here in our country. If you doubt the global reach of the auto industry, do a little research on where GM and Ford are investing their money. You don't have to look very hard to figure out that they're investing in a lot of places other than the United States - and well they should be. There isn't much news about any of the "American" companies building new plants in the U.S. - that's because they aren't.

So, the auto industry is writing a new chapter in its history and that means that Michigan and Detroit - the Motor City - are out of luck and used up, right? If you think so, you're just as wrong as the people waiting for the auto industry to swoop in and save Michigan. Sorry.

Is this all bad news? Of course not, unless you listen to the news and read the statistics without thinking. Michigan is poised to become a leader in alternative energy creation and the manufacturing of plants and related components. The corridor between Ann Arbor and Detroit has become a hotbed of technology developing firms. Whether you like casinos or not, it's hard to argue that they are driving Michigan ahead into a "Services" based economy from a Manufacturing based economy. The health care industry is growing as fast as anything in recent memory and with The Detroit Medical Center, the William Beaumont facilities, Henry Ford Medical System, St. John Health System, U of M Hospital and the Kresge Eye Institute, Karmanos Cancer Center and many more like Stryker Corp., you have to believe that Michigan is as well suited to capitalize on this boom as any state.

So, is the glass half full? Or is it half empty like everyone thinks who believes that Michigan is down for the count. I think it's half full and so should you.

Until next time.