Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Michigan's May jobless rate hits 8.5 percent

Could the economy become a bigger election issue than gay marriage? Here in Michigan, it absolutely must.

With Michigan's unemployment reaching 8.5 percent in May, the highest rate in 16 years, Democrats have a golden opportunity to pitch a total overhaul of domestic economic policy. Just this week candidate Obama delivered an extensive economic policy speech in Flint.

According to the Washington Independent:
"Obama promised a $150-billion energy plan to create a green sector of the economy that would create 5 million jobs over the next 10 years. With that, he promised that jobs--"good jobs"--would return to Michigan. People would return to the assembly line, but this time to build hybrids and electric cars, along with the wind turbines that will supposedly power America in the years to come. He pledged to double federal funding for research and development at Michigan universities and to invest in high-speed rail."

In the meantime, as automakers continue to slash staffs, economic constriction will continue to choke Michigan. Each auto job lost represents multiple jobs in communities.

A pressing question: are social service agencies of Michigan positioned to meet the impending wave of demand?