Michiganders Are Leaving for Right to Work States

Freedom@Work ^ | Thursday, Spetember 13, 2007 | John Powell

[Rita Hayworth]

I looked at a home near Detroit last week.

The owners paid $560,000 for it 4 years ago. It’s for sale for $380,000. Taxes are $12,000 a year.

Then I looked at a home on the North Shore of Massachusetts. $2.2 million, 4 acres, ocean view, beach access. Taxes are $11,435 a year.

Need I say more.

[trisham]

Maybe they are running away from Howie Carr.

**************

Then they've really got a problem, since Howie lives here in Massachusetts.

[TChris]

Choices have consequences.

If you choose to strangle the labor market with the cartel of a union, some workers will find greener pastures.

[DesScorp]

Michigan will never recover as long as Democrats are in power, and the unions rule the state. Detriot will continue to resemble an American Dresden.

[grellis]

Ingham (Lansing) and Genesee (Flint) counties are two which spring immediately to mind when thinking of failed economic policies and downward-spiralling business communities.

It's all about how tight a union stranglehold can be.

[bmwcyle]

Bring your business to MI so we can tax you to death.

[Pencil]

Closed shop states only work if every state is closed shop and you can’t emigrate to a right to work state.

[napscoordinator]

More liberals going into Red states. Wonderful. No wonder the Red states are turning blue. We need to be worried about this.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

But the northern states keep doing what they did to run people off in the first place.

Not just Michigan. It's the whole Midwest and New England states. They're chasing folks away with their socialism. Pretty soon everyone is going to be living in the South and West, or in Panama like I plan on when I hit my 40s.

[Big Labor Hater]

well, i don’t think that is true everywhere. the city of atlanta has tons of yankees (if you don’t believe me, watch any braves’ game when the yankees, mets, red sox, or cubs are in town), however, the state of georgia is becoming increasingly conservative.

[napscoordinator]

Why would I not believe you? My statement was very generalized. I am glad that Georgia is turning more conservative but it has been red for along time. I am concerned with Virginia, Ohio and Colorado.

[cowtowney]

“Virginia is a perfect example of what happens when northern liberals flee to “greener” pastures.”

You are exactly right. In addition, the liberals from Maryland and DC have spilled over into northern Virginia and infected the place. They aren’t Virginians.

[Big Labor Hater]

i totally agree. however, i think the liberal growth in northern va is more attributable to the growth of the federal government. as government grows, so grows northern va.

[Mrs. P]

Western Michigan is doing fine.

Oh, you people from the west side of the state have always been so snooty. (c8

I love the South Haven area, spent a week there once when my husband was working in the area. Such a nice town and everyone was so friendly.

[Kieri]

Does MI have a looming benefits funding shortage for their state/teachers. In NJ we have a $ 5 billion annual budget shortage funded by increased fees, bonds and some cuts. Our biggest problem is that we have not funded our healthcare fund for state worker/teacher retirees since 1994. The state signed a contract with the state workers and teachers that if they worked atleast 25 years and have the age to retire, their health insurance will be 100% covered. No one told them that the state stopped funding the fund since 1994 and now the fund is $ 58 billion short. Unlike the federal government, the state can not print money, and unlike Social Security/Medicare the benefits between the state and the state workers is a legal contract. It must be paid (if union went to state court they will win) backed by court order or the state can declare bankruptcy (state court can block that and mandate the legislature to raise taxes or cut spendings to meet their contractual obligations). I am getting out of NJ as soon as possible.

In MI, teachers' health care and that for retires is *golden.* It's the cream of the crop compared to any other private or public plan in the state. Some in our legislature have been trying to allow districts to look at bids from other companies besides MESSA, but MESSA (and the MEA) refuse to open their books as to what they spend. Laws to change that are DOA. Most state workers (those who hired after 1991, I think) contribute to a 401(k) and don't have a traditional pension.

[taildragger]

More liberals going into Red states. Wonderful. No wonder the Red states are turning blue. We need to be worried about this.

Naps,

No, they are Conservatives voting with their feet. I know may that have left. The worse part is is the accompanying brain drain.

I hear through the grape vine that Mental Health Clinics are over-loaded, things look o.k., on the surface, but I see people selling their toys everywhere, Vettes, Harleys, etc. I drove through an upscale sub-division the other day, I noticed at least 4 McMansions that were vacant, as best as I could see and still be a good driver. There Is more, but I will reply privately.

[jrcats]

We left Michigan in 1996 for Florida. Now its too hot, 50% higher home insurance, higher taxes & we are looking to move to Missouri. Guess we want to be halfbacks too but Missouri halfbacks. LOL

[BurbankKarl]

Probably the same clowns that vote for Dems are bemoaning people leaving.

Arizona still has a 3.7% unemployment rate...

[JZelle]

“Michigan - What America will be if hillary is elected.”

Now that’s a bumper sticker!

[pnh102]

The term is Locust Liberals.

I skimmed the thread you linked. Personally, I prefer the term Moving Marxists.