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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Poor or Pure.. Michigan


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 11:43:33 AM EST
    Tags: Business, Michigan, MEGA, FORD, Subsidies, Stupidity (all tags)

    THAT is a deal I want.

    I cannot even imagine the improvements I could make to my business If I was given $188,000 per each new employee I hired. I would be able to "blow away" the competition by undercutting them.  I could man the phone sales lines 24 hours a day.  I could invest in new equipment, buy new product, etc...



    $188,000.00 is not exactly chump change.. It is about 4 and a half times the national average manufacturing yearly earnings. (Or twice that of the average UAW worker's earnings)  And since my compensation package is even less, I could employ each person for about 6 years..  What the heck.. I would shoot the moon and go for the 5 year plan and pay em more!

    5 years of employment GUARANTEED for each man woman or donkey working for us!  No fear of unemployment, (Though we would gladly pay the premiums.. the least we could do...) or hourly reductions, or benefits losses.. Again in the spirit of the thing.. I would even pay the small employee contribution..  Its a win win!

    I mean if the Governor is straight up serious about  creating jobs, maybe she can talk to my accountant.. He'll set it all up.  I want a deal like Ford.

       
    Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. said the additional investment will create about 1,000 jobs in Michigan.

        "What we are doing with electrics is a big deal," Ford said. "It's a major development for our company, for our community and frankly for our country."

        Earlier today, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a $78 million tax credit for Ford for battery pack assembly and $110 million in job retention and other tax credits.

        Ford said those tax credits helped to make it economically feasible for Ford to bring the work to Michigan. A Ford supplier currently assembles battery packs for the company's hybrid vehicles in Mexico.

    But how might I secure such a thing?  Perhaps if I threaten to move my operations to Mexico?

    Well. maybe if I simply point out my "footprint" is quite small and will require no additional improvements around the warehouse..  Maybe the MEDC MEGA folks will cut my grass?  OR put in irrigation for me..

    One of the interesting arguments I recall for the incentive credits for the film industry, was that the local communities which were going to benefit from them would not be subject to "infrastructure improvements".   Use of factories like Ford or other major installations often requires road improvement, water, septage, etc..  Often with a time delay payback scheme where bonds might have to be issued for the community to afford them.

    So additional expenses by the local community which "benefits" will be incurred, but theoretically the benefit outweighs the cost locally I am sure..  Its not like anyone has to pay taxes or higher utilities to cover those bond costs.. That would be absurd.

    Then outside of our state money.. there is the "incentive.."  You know, that one where the government will be paying people who will still be just-so-uncomfortable buying the expensive electric vehicles, that they will have to be encouraged by the federal government in the form of rebates, credits, etc..

    Don't get me wrong..  I LIKE Ford.  I LIKE jobs..  I LOVE this state, its people, and all of the wonderful resources it offers.  But..  We are simply paying people in government to shuffle money around.  And to add to that we are shuffling money FROM those who require little assistance for their success to those who DEMAND it.

    Any business takes measured risks and seeks opportunities.  Sometimes those opportunities are generated by fear as in this case, where we would rather subsidize at ridiculously high levels, rather than lose job opportunities to Mexico.  The subsidies however sometimes coming from people who have no direct interest in the success of failure of this one company.

    Huh.. maybe like our state's advertising?  Pooor Mi... hmmm

    Subsidies are ALWAYS Wrong.  Typically they become a political tool to reward the support of particular constituencies, but aside from that, it is always better to create a truly competitive environment that provides benefit for all NATURALLY.  The advantage of lower and simpler (and STABLE) tax policy draws long term development.  The advantage of non interference by government in the affairs of a business employing and creating job opportunities, keeps that business from seeking the alternate path of least resistance.  Be it a move to another state, country, or simply closing its doors.

    No one in government creates anything but government jobs.  Frankly, any politician who claims he will bring jobs to your community may do so, but only while some other communities pay the bill.  Not one Republican or Democrat, or Libertarian or Communist can accomplish what a truly free market can.   When I hear the words "I'll create Jobs," I know the rest of the speech is likely riddled with lies and partial truths.

    Further, the spending of taxpayer generated revenue to give to a company that only needs a better environment essentially subsidizes an artificially high wage ceiling, and rewards the very institutions which have organized to create the environments that have driven business from Michigan (and the USA) in the first place.. the labor unions.

    Come one come all!  For the privilege of gaining entrance to one of these coveted attractions, you get to buy your ticket with union dues!  Step right up! Its the beast that never sleeps! Its paws can reach you all the way from Lansing! Its gaping Maw can swallow whole industries! Its Brutal! Its fierce! But feed it, and it purrs like a kitten.. for a short while..

    A cost to the taxpayers of $188,000.00 per job "created?"  Now THAT'S Pure Michigan..

    < In the MACKINAC CENTER Sphere Today | John Conyers Doth Protest Too Much >


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    Display: Sort:
    Curious given that... (none / 0) (#1)
    by KG One on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 01:14:15 PM EST
    ...according to yesterday's News, Michigan is $1.6-billion in the hole right off the bat (kind of like where we were at this time last year...and we all know how "accurate" that estimate turned out to be).

    Giving away money that we don't have...I'm sorry, but I fail the see any "leadership" here.

    Ford (none / 0) (#2)
    by grannynanny on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 03:50:32 PM EST
    That is why I will not buy a Ford either.  Even though they did not take bailout money they are in bed with government and buying into the "green" solution.  It is a farce and a waste of money.  In the meantime unemployment continues to grow and our "leadership" continues to throw more money into the holes of unions, environmentalists and such.  The little guys be damned.

    Higher taxes on gasoline will make (none / 0) (#3)
    by BruceB on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 07:57:58 PM EST
    electric cars more cost effective?  This is part of what I heard this morning on a Lansing radio show.  So why are we going electric?  It certainly isn't to help the American working stiff!  And where do these guys think most of the electricity we use comes from anyway?  It comes from coal, natural gas and hydroelectric along with some nuclear.  According to the Greens they aren't clean.   Solar and windmills are so iffy most days that they won't charge a car or run the cook stove most days.  Lansing Board of Water and Light got an ear mark from Congressman Mark Schauer for plug ins for electric vehicles, more of my, our taxes, for an iffy hope that probably won't work.  Sorry, I rant!  

    • We do! by sailingconservatively, 01/14/2010 08:12:42 AM EST (none / 0)
    Spending Money we don't have (none / 0) (#4)
    by Rougman on Thu Jan 14, 2010 at 12:13:59 AM EST
    It is hard for me to believe how obtuse these people are.  WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY!

    No private citizen could ever live his life in this fashion.  He would have been cut off at the knees by anyone that had ever offered him credit and would most likely be sitting behind bars for fraud.

    Yet, these clowns continue to spend and spend and spend like there is never going to be a tomorrow for their grandchildren.  They know that we are broke!  We will either become slaves to our creditors or will suffer through inflation worse than the Carter years.  They know this and don't care.

    I get so angry at this stuff that it makes me unbearable.  Nobody likes me these days.

    • I share by grannynanny, 01/14/2010 11:24:57 AM EST (none / 0)
    Why can't the politicians promise... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kenmatesevac on Thu Jan 14, 2010 at 12:55:05 PM EST
    ...that they will bring Michigan a pro-business environment by doing the sort of things discussed in this well-written post?  Sure, they can't "create jobs" any more than I can create light from darkness.  But they do have the ability to make Michigan a "pro-business" state once again.

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