Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Football on a Friday Night

Ann Arbor 58, Lincoln 13

Ann Arbor Pioneer High School's Hollway Field looks down on University of Michigan's Big House from the south. Claiming some of Ann Arbor's highest ground, several stadium light poles double as cell phone towers.

Tonight the brisk northwest wind evoked October in the UP or perhaps a summer dip in Lake Superior. It was cold, really cold. The band was great and the home team won.

An entire parking lot at the high school was cordoned off for tailgaters spending the night before tomorrow's University of Michigan--Notre Dame match. Large, fully appointed RVs filled the lot looking like a beached fatty seal herd.

Tomorrow will bring barbeques heaped with meat products, drink cozies snuggling beer, street vendors with knock-off block M merchandise, and ticket scalpers.

Pioneer High School profits from its proximity to the Big House. The school provides parking for hundreds of cars and safe space for revelers every Michigan home game. We take it for granted, but shouldn't.

Our students' graduation rate is among the highest in the state, as is their rate of college admission. These are hard working kids with a lot of advantages, all things considered; but they are not unscathed by the economic realities of today's Michigan.

Their parents work hard and stress over paying for college while saving for retirement. A number of them were employed at Pfizer, a larger number, in the auto industry. Many are successful professionals striving to provide every advantage for their children. And some live in subsidized housing.

Tonight, all was well at Hollway Field. Kids cheered on their classmates. Parents cheered their kids. And the band rocked the house, punctuating touch downs with funk. They'll be playing Carnegie Hall in the spring.

Hundreds Gather for Progressive Policy Summit in Lansing

Stewardship, transformation and hope emerged as key themes yesterday at the Michigan Policy Summit in Lansing. Hosted by Michigan Prospect, the event gathered hundreds of activists and concerned citizens from around the state with the purpose of drafting action plans for health care, clean energy and education.

David Hollister, Executive Director of Prima Civitas, summarized the economic and cultural challenges facing Michigan. Hollister served as a state representative, mayor of Lansing and director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. He assured participants that Michigan is "not facing a fiscal crisis," but rather a crisis of "political will." Hollister presented challenges and opportunities for Michigan. Among the challenges, an aging population, accelerating technological change, and "devolution in decision making" rendering the state processes nearly "irrelevant."

Among areas of opportunity and hope--the research corridor of University of Michigan, Wayne State and MSU; the 21st Century Jobs Fund; MSU President Simon's vision for a "World Grant Philosophy" in higher education; and the Venture Michigan Fund.

Keynote speaker, Donna Brazile, encouraged participants to move beyond single issues and build alliances among disparate groups and issues. Advocating inclusion, she said that working across interests will require trust and compromise. Progressives must "fight cynicism and negativity with hope for all."

She counseled,"Do not grow weary in doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Yes, that's scripture--Galatians 6:9.

Assessments of the Auto Industry from the Chicago Fed

September's Chicago Fed Letter (Transitions: the State of the Automotive Industry) considers the state of the auto industry. The summary of a recent conference, the letter examines areas of difficulty and ways for improvement.

According to Frits Pil, associate professor, University of Pittsburgh, “The auto sector is just starting on the path toward customer responsiveness.” Pil advocates a build-to-order approach rather than the current build-to-forecast method. The flexibility of a build-to-order approach could increase the profit margin per unit with a more efficient supply chain, leaner stocks, and less need for financing incentives.

Susan Helper, professor, Case Western Reserve University, acknowledges a lack of skilled workers in the entire manufacturing sector and suggests something called the learning lean model. This approach "focuses on organizational flexibility and quality while also combining lower waste practices within manufacturing. It promotes changes in training practices, which results in a work force with higher skills." The lack of skilled workers may affect manufacturers' efforts to develop better fuel economy or alternative fuel technologies.

Kristin Dziczek, senior project manager, Center for Automotive Research sees labor relations as a core issue for the industry. While manufacturers are struggling to remain competitive, the UAW strives to maintain a middle-class standard of living for members.

To grow more competitive automakers must address flexibility, fuel efficiency, skill level of workers, and development of alternative fuels. And this, even as they struggle with labor relations.

As Helper observed,“United States automotive manufacturing is not dead yet." Well, that's reassuring.

Michigan's New Economy--Basic Reading List

A Region in Turbulence and Transition--the Economic and Demographic Outlook for Southeast Michigan through 2035; SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments), March 2007

Preparing Michigan's Workforce for the New Economy: Recommendations of SEMCOG's Task Force on Workforce Development in the Changing Economy; SEMCOG, July 2007

Michigan's Economic Transition: Toward a Knowledge Economy; CLOSUP, (Center for Local, State and Urban Policy), University of Michigan, Summer 2007

Michigan's Defining Moment: Report of the Emergency Financial Advisory Panel; Feb. 2007

A New Agenda for a New Michigan; Michigan Future, Inc., June 2006

A Look at Michigan's Emerging New Economy, Public Policy Associates, October 2006

A New Economy for a New Michigan Initiative, Cherry Commission

Lumberjacks, Autoworkers and Turbo-charged Minds

There was a time when Michigan was teeming with lumberjacks. More recently Michigan was teeming with auto workers. The lumber era spanned 1860-1910. Michigan’s auto era seems to have spanned 1901 to 1995, when 72.6% of the cars sold in the U.S. were made by the Detroit Three. (source) Ninety five years was a pretty good run.

The lumber era made fortunes, created communities and our early infrastructure; but the auto era created our culture. And that is why this transition to our next economy is so hard.

Michigan’s auto era created a middle class of white collar and blue collar workers. It created an expectation that your physical labor could be exchanged for a comfortable quality of life (a small tract house, maybe a cottage and a fishing boat). It also employed a large cohort of knowledge workers–accountants, engineers, designers, managers. Domestic labor designed and produced domestic goods for domestic consumers. A blue collar or white collar worker was, by design, also a consumer. The economy seemed to function of, by, and for, we the people.

But historic innovations in telecommunications and computing power changed that. Ideas, knowledge and funds became digitized--able to move around the globe around the clock. Our data were no longer constrained by space and time. A global economy in real time was possible (for example, call centers in India deliver customer service to credit card holders in the U.S. during our business hours). Corporations integrated information technology advances with global petroleum-based transportation. And that is how we got into this fine mess.

There is growing consensus that Michigan must move forward into the New Economy, which is knowledge-based and not particularly new. To get there from here everyone--from line workers to lawyers, plumbers to politicians--will have to make a paradigm shift.

If you want to stay in Michigan, you will have to think differently about everything. Don’t expect heavy manufacturing to fund your local charities, the state budget or your retirement. Do not mistake car culture nostalgia for a viable way forward. Pursue continuing education as if your life depends on it, because it does. Understand yourself as a stakeholder in a whole new way. Make demands of your legislators to facilitate structural changes supportive of knowledge-based enterprises. Start with education.

The resource for the 21st century is brains. Education is the foundation of a knowledge-based culture and economy. And perhaps we need to think about culture first. Michigan is succeeding at attracting well-educated workers from elsewhere. But to retain them--people who value educational excellence--we will have to fund education more vigorously. We must create a culture of lifelong learning.

We need to produce turbo-charged minds from kindergarten through Ph.D. V-8 minds are good for the environment, the culture and the economy. Lumber built our towns; cars drove our culture. Well-educated minds will create our future.

Granholm Featured in WaPo OpEd Column Today

See E.J. Dionne Jr.--Who's for Big Government

His point is that even though the big government versus small government rhetoric abounds at the state level, conservatives are willing to support big government programs if their constituents will benefit.

"Could there be any more of a big-government endeavor than the invasion of Iraq, pursued by a president from the party of small government? Do the domestic spying programs have anything to do with a small-government agenda?"

Well, no.

And there is always the farm bill.

"In the meantime, the coalition against excessive government entanglement in the farm economy crisscrossed all ideological boundaries, running from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) to Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.).

Kind's amendment to reform the farm program attracted an admirable band of supporters, including some of the most liberal and most conservative members of the House. Yet it was overwhelmingly voted down because a slew of farm-state conservatives uncharacteristically joined the Democratic leadership in opposing it.

Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) said Kind's proposal "rips out the safety net for American farmers and ranchers." At last: a safety net many conservatives love. Democratic leaders, for their part, opposed Kind because they wanted an electoral safety net for their vulnerable members from farming districts."

Interesting, common ground among the very liberal and the very conservative.

Finally, to Granholm. On the issue of government provided health care, Granholm says that business leaders recognize such programs give competitive advantage to manufacturers in other countries.

"Shrewd industrialists who love the free-enterprise system have noticed how 'countries that have big-government health care' are at a competitive advantage, Granholm said in a telephone interview, and 'they're asking government to help them out.'"

Granholm also speaks to changing sentencing guidelines, as a way to help with budget woes.

Sadly, our partisan bickering and posturing over the budget and taxes has attracted national attention.

"Posturing on taxes will probably continue until very close to Michigan's fall budget deadline. But because the trade-offs between taxes and spending are clear, politicians can't afford to be too rhetorical."

All eyes are on you, Michigan legislature.

Finally, Granholm advocates investing in people through education and healthcare for the sake of our economy.

"Granholm argues that the United States is 'never going to be the cheapest place to do business,' in part because of its high labor and environmental standards relative to many of the emerging economies. She suggests that improving the country's competitive position will require 'investing in education, higher education and health care.'"

Right, we have standards for goodness sake! Let's not abandon standards that support a clean environment or educated citizens or fairly compensated workers. Sure, ditching those costly policies and regulations has seduced vast numbers of manufacturers to move abroad. After all, shareholders want better returns on investment and nobody likes a bear market.

Making commitments to invest in people will require a longterm perspective--a stretch for those focused on quarterly profits or election cycles.

Michigan Unemployment Hits 7.2% in June

Yep, we lead the nation in unemployment. We're number one again. This marks the highest rate for 2007--a full .5% higher than June 2006.

That's the bad news. But it could be worse. 208 of the state's 250 prisoner work crews (about 1500 workers) will be "laid off" by the Department of Corrections in a move to save $6 million. (source) That's right, the prisoners who cut grass, shovel snow and do other menial labor for the DNR and MDOT for next to nothing cost too much.

Actually, the prisoners don't cost too much. The Ionia Sentinel-Standard reports that the costs associated with the program include corrections officers' salaries, the leasing of vans and equipment and fuel. Agencies and municipalities only pay $15 per day per worker.

Which begs the question: who is going to do this work? And who could do this work for less?

Maybe scout troops across the state need to step up and earn some merit badges. They could even create a new one--The Other Invisible Hand Badge for literally cleaning up the messes left by the invisible hand of laissez faire capitalism, which should have been slapped a few more times along the way and is utterly incapable of picking up after itself.

At least the prisoners won't be included in the next unemployment figures--unlike workers at Pulte Homes, which announced Tuesday it is bracing for a huge second quarter loss. Tuesday's announcement didn't include news of more layoffs. The company already is in the midst of a massive restructuring announced in May cutting 16% of its workforce. Standard and Poor's has issued a strong sell recommendation on the second quarter news.

On a positive note, DeVry University will be setting up shop in Southfield as worker retooling is a booming growth industry in Michigan.

Michigan's Economy: Time for Two Steps Forward

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Michigan was the only state with a declining real GDP (gross domestic product) last year. A sadly unique position, but that isn't the whole story. The Free Press followed up with a more comprehensive assessment of our condition. And this is what we need, realism and hope together.

We took one step back; we are poised to take two steps forward.

From the Free Press article:

"Michigan ranked sixth among the 50 states in attracting highly educated workers." While we are seeing a reduction in manufacturing jobs, positions requiring higher education are increasing. Engineers are coming to Michigan. Let's not cut higher education funding, please.

"Michigan ranked 19th overall in the 2007 State New Economy Index, up from 34th in the 1999 version of the report and up from 22nd place in the 2002 index."
We are shifting to high-tech and knowledge-based enterprises.

Michigan "boasts a $376-billion-a-year economy, roughly the size of Sweden's, and remains a top 10 state in total output, exports and manufacturing, despite the elimination of one in four factory jobs since 1999."
In spite of shrinking manufacturing, we still have high output compared to other states.

"U-M alone has been spinning off an average of eight to 10 high-tech firms each year for the past five years, said Ken Nisbet, executive director of U-M's Tech Transfer office." Universities are doing their part to generate enterprises for the New Economy. As I said, cutting higher education funding--not a good choice right now.

Our unemployment rate is high. Our work force is shrinking. The number of businesses employing one to four people is growing and there is growth in high-tech. What does this all mean for our future? I'm not sure and neither are the professionals. As with any statistics, you'll find naysayers and optimists citing the same figures to make their cases.

Here's something true: time is not on our side. Our economy and morale cannot tolerate anymore state level budget crises. Our legislators must set aside partisanship, ideology, and electoral desires to work together on behalf of the entire state. They need to muster the same creativity and pragmatism of downsized workers starting small businesses in many of their districts. They need to think outside the hundred-year-old box of a manufacturing-based economy, and fast.

"The Law is the Law"

The list of public institutions discontinuing same-sex domestic partner benefits in Michigan grows daily. MSU will no longer offer benefits and the existing benefits will end when current contracts expire. (According to Pam Beemer, assistant vice president for Human Resources at MSU, 54 people currently use the benefit at MSU.) What took them so long? University of Michigan made that announcement immediately after the February 2 Court of Appeals ruling.

According to Rusty Hill, spokesman for Attorney General Mike Cox, "the law is the law." So public institutions will need to find creative ways to rename and restructure the benefits extended to same-sex domestic partners. And it behooves them to do so immediately, unless they want to lose valuable employees to more welcoming states and employers.

The law doesn't deny the right to provide health insurance or other benefits to domestic partners; it denies the right to equate the benefit in any way with the benefits given to straight married people. Certainly, human resources and legal departments can work around that. Let's see...what might we call this employment benefit? "Health Insurance Allowance" to be used at employee discretion? Fine. Call it something else, but don't leave couples and families with children in the lurch.

The New Michigan: Mississippi, But With Snow

Thank you Toledo Blade for being so darned blunt.

The Ohio-Michigan rivalry: historic, year-round, generational, played out on the football field and the press -- your adversary's failings are fair game, but in this case the Toledo Blade is spot on. Today's editorial, Michigan on the Rocks, chides legislators for missing the chance to make meaningful, structural, future-oriented changes to our state finances. Instead, Democrats caved to the no-tax ideologue Republicans, made cuts to higher education (our principal means of developing a high-tech, knowledge-based economy), and rolled over debt to the 2008 budget putting it $1.6 billion in the red from the get-go.

The legislature was responsible for resolving an extremely urgent and important issue. Yet, in the end they were reactive and avoidant, rather than pro-active, largely because of a silly tug of war entrenched in partisan politics. Democrats and Republicans all had a role in this masochism tango. Good luck in the next election cycle. This "balanced" budget puts off until tomorrow what should have been done last year. Politics as usual. Avoidance of responsible tough decisions.

Democrats, it won't suffice to blame the stubborn Republicans. Republicans, it is no excuse to blame domineering party leadership. Did the "no-tax" posturing look gubernatorial? No. But, it sure worked.

Reminds me of those late 1990s infommercials about the power of OPM. You know, Other People's Money. With OPM you can make your dreams come true. You can use OPM for unbelievable leverage and then when the going's good bail with your winnings, fat and happy. This was all about power, not Michigan's future. This was about leveraging power for future electoral gain. This was about making your opponent look weak and ineffective. This was about creating a paper trail and scenario to point to in future elections. So who won what?

We the people of Michigan, seem to have won the chance to witness "Michigan Budget Woes, the Sequel" in 2008. Too bad the sequel is never as good as the original.

1851 Was a Great Year in Michigan

"Michigan has five Colleges, one of them a State University, without fee for tuition, and connected with it a free medical department, with free lectures to all that will attend. An ample University and School Fund, with organized school districts all over the State, and district libraries."

"Michigan was never in a more prosperous condition than present--never more inviting to the farmer, the mechanic, the business man; in short, to occupations of all classes."

From Matters in Michigan, New York Daily Times, September 23, 1851

It seems that good libraries and public education with a shot at free tuition to University were a drawing card for business of all sorts. Hmm...

Hope for Howell

Children are our future...The Howell High School Environmental Club will be hosting the 2nd Annual Livingston County Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration on April 21, at the Howell Courthouse. Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first celebrated in 1970.
Show support for the progressive youth of Howell and visit their event.

That's Entertainment: Coulter in Livingston County

Is Coulter being brought in as a lecturer or an entertainer by the Livingston Economic Club and Cleary University? And does this distinction matter?

Here is a troubling hybrid: verbal abuse and propaganda merge with news and entertainment. And there you have the Imus problem, the Coulter problem, the O'Reilly problem, and more.

This communication approach presumes a single correct point of view for any issue and is utterly repulsed by dialogue. It has no use for other view points than to be foils for its own aggrandizement. If it really is entertainment, it aims to satisfy our demons not our better angels. Its central deceit is to portray hateful words and attitudes as playful articulation of beliefs held by a reasonable, but silent majority. (Glenn Beck does us the courtesy of self identifying,"Hey! I'm just saying what we're all thinking.") You all know who you are, apparently. And a number of you have already bought tickets for the Coulter event.

So, Coulter seems still to be commercially viable and politically useful.

From the Cleary website: "We at Cleary University have a strong past and proud tradition as a specialized business university and we remain committed to the enhancement of society through the many successes of our alumni and their employers."

Maybe for Cleary bringing in Coulter is an object lesson titled "Profitable Controversy: Hateful Sound Bite as Unforgettable Hook."

WIRED Weighs in on iPod Controversy

Michigan to Buy iPods for Every School Child

There has been quite a fuss over this proposal to provide iPods to Michigan public school students. Once again Michigan's profile in the national media features poor judgement, even stupidity on the part of legislators. Just last month, Standard and Poor's reported that Michigan is the only state with a negative credit outlook and here we are considering toys for the children.

I'm not a professional economist, but I am a parent and head of a household. So, in a common sense way I am an economist. If my household budget is running a deficit, I have two options: increase income and/or decrease expenses, both in the short term and long term. I will try to do both simultaneously. It's not rocket science. I have overhead that cannot be eliminated (utilities, medical expenses, transportation). I have secured debt that can be serviced (mortgage). I have operating expenses that can be finessed by purchasing fewer or cheaper versions of things (clothing, food). And while I'm dealing with these concerns, I'll be cultivating clients for my business. But, I won't be buying iPods for the kids. Period. No matter how great an idea. No matter how sweetly they ask. Even if it is Christmas! Which right now it is not.

If my financial situation does become critically endangered, it forces me to consider my core values--to ask "what must we have and do to continue to live?" Food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education. These are essentials. Does an iPod in every backpack support education of Michigan's youth? Does an iPod in every backpack teach fiscal responsibility? Does it reflect the budgetary reality in the state?

At this critical moment the schools should ask every public student to give something to their communities, to teach empowerment and social engagement--to challenge the youth of Michigan to become agents of change for the future wellbeing of their state, not consumers in search of more novelty, status and distracting entertainment.

Bullying: Political Strategy in Time of War

Anti-bullying legislation passed in the Michigan House, but may die in the Senate. Most opposition to the bill is due to it prohibiting bullying on the basis of sexual orientation.

And do we really need it? Civility and decency are values and practices inculcated in childhood, yes. But you cannot legislate tolerance or civility. These are community values, family values, the province of parents raising children, not legislators in Lansing.

Let's get real.

Kid tested, spin master approved, bullying happens on the playground or at the $100-a-plate political gathering. If you are Ann Coulter, you just skip the niceties, coyly tilt your head and with a smile say,"faggot."

Haven't we evolved? Aren't we beyond this? Nope. Bullying still works. It's the grown-up version of screaming "cooties!" at the top of your lungs. It's meme planting as a high art form, rhetorical deceit, basic propaganda 101.

Here's the condensed version that you will notice on the national level:

"Unite, for we're all Americans. Unite in this time of war. Unite for the sake of our soldiers in the field. Unite against the terrorists. Report all suspicious activity. Unite against those who hate our freedoms. Unite against the evil among us. Unite to hate sin. Unite against the immorality that weakens our resolve to win the war. Unite against the queers, because they threaten our way of life."

What the Michigan Senate needs to realize is that the pending law would only restrict behavior in Michigan public school districts and charter schools--not in churches, not on television or at fund raising dinners, not on the street or public transportation, not on blogs or in newspapers, not in most workplaces. While it might provide some safe space in schools, it'll still be open season just about everywhere else.

Third World Michigan?

Among the many trying to understand the state of the state, Prof. Bryan K. Ritchie, associate professor of international relations at James Madison College at Michigan State University, blogged yesterday about the parallels between Michigan today and Singapore in 1972.

"...Last week I presented a paper on how Singapore simultaneously created highly skilled people and attracted high-tech companies. After my presentation, a well-known colleague inquired if I had ever applied my research to Michigan. To be honest, I had never considered it. But as he talked I saw the potential application: globalization and an increasingly complex and technical international economic system is driving the primary location of competition to the state level. Michigan is not competing only with other states. Michigan is competing directly with Singapore and every other developing country. If true, why not act like these other countries?"

He goes on to offer a vision for business and government leaders:
"...Singapore’s success in the world economy has come from a mixture of technocratic and bureaucratic professionalism, strong political leadership, and active private sector participation. And by participation I don’t mean simply consultation. Heads of companies, leaders of unions, and leading academics have all taken turns directing the entire public policy process in key economic areas including forming, implementing, monitoring compliance, and ensuring enforcement of policy. The key to making this work is tight coordination between the private sector and government—not government as a regulating force, but as a facilitating one."

Still, in order to forge these alliances a lot of people will have to forswear an adversarial model of relating. United we stand (a chance of getting out of this downward cycle), divided we fall (farther and farther behind Singapore).

Willow Run: Lessons for Michigan

What factors created Willow Run's persistent social and economic vulnerability?

1. Willow Run's only unifying governing structure is the school district. Being split between Ypsilanti and Superior Townships, the community of Willow Run lacks a unified municipal governing structure through which to shape its future, develop economic diversity or express its unique historic legacy.

2. A large number of wartime workers were recruited from Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. The fact of a north/south cultural divide doomed Willow Run's prospective annexation into the City of Ypsilanti, which would have allowed it to benefit from infrastructure and services of an established municipality.

3. Residents depended on a single industry for employment. The wartime boom at the bomber plant transitioned almost seamlessly into the postwar boom of the auto industry.

4. Even as parents understood education's importance to their children's futures, children could consider the hard labor of factory work, a worthy well-paid pursuit.

5. Willow Run's historic and cultural identity is manufacturing.

Doesn't this resemble Michigan's present predicament?

1. While we have the appearance of a single governing structure, Michigan's legislature suffers a crippling partisan divide. Never mind two townships; we have two Michigans, red and blue. Or maybe it's a pushmi-pullyou in Lansing?

2. Certainly, the urban/rural cultural rift ensnares the state legislature when considering initiatives to help southeast lower Michigan, generally and Detroit in particular.

3. Michigan's historic and cultural identity is the automotive industry. The entire state has benefited from the auto industry. The tourism of "up north" developed from the prosperity of industry in southeast lower Michigan and the broad availability of cars.

4. While we say we value education, our tax policies say otherwise. And while industry was thriving, high school graduation could suffice. But this is no longer true.

5. Even though plenty of other businesses contribute to our economy, our principal economic engine has been auto manufacturing and associated businesses for nearly a hundred years. This primary dependence on one industry has had devastating consequences at the state level with downsizing and outsourcing.

What can we do?

1. Urge legislators to take view beyond the election cycle, detach from partisanship, and look in the same direction--forward.

2. Begin to see Michigan as a whole entity--one Michigan (Our Michigan), rather than a constellation of opposing, adversarial binaries (red/blue, urban/rural, rich/poor, labor/management, white/non-white).

3. Accept our special history and relationship to the automotive industry, but promote diverse economic development. Encourage small business and promote local economies that can sustain communities and cultivate local culture.

4. Educate children to become human beings, engaged citizens, and independent thinkers, not mere "good workers." Help them develop an appreciation and love of their home state, so that they might want to stay here, and improve the place, rather than become migratory workers in search of better opportunity.

5. Embrace Motown at the state level as the cultural gem that it is.

Any other ideas out there?

"Willow Run is America"

Lately, I have been fascinated by Willow Run, not the factory, but the community. To this day, it is synonymous with the history of government, industry and labor in the mid-twentieth century, and it has become a shorthand for the impact of the global economy on the American factory worker.

Something to ponder from Changing Classes: School Reform and the New Economy (2001), by Martin Packer,"The Willow Run community was a child of twentieth-century state-regulated industrial production, born of a union between the wartime demand for complex fighting machines and the efficiency gains of centralized production, and the power of the federal government. The community was created, and then shaped, to meet the needs of large-scale industry, first the military-industrial complex and subsequently the equally massive automobile manufacturing industry."

Marion Wilson, authored The Story of Willow Run in 1956, two years after the land was bought by Superior and Ypsilanti Townships. As the federal official who oversaw the community's transition from temporary government housing to permanent community, she had a unique perspective on its evolution. Her insight that Willow Run is America held true in the fifties. Then, it was a hopeful statement about community, industry, patriotism, and grit. What about today? And more importantly how is Willow Run Michigan? More to follow...

Morning Education News

Despite improvements, few attend preschools
"National report finds 16% of 4-year-olds attend state programs even though Mich. boosted funding, quality standards..."

Local educator is 2007 Teacher of the Year
"...Kathy Hurst, 47, spends many afternoons in class at Wick Elementary School after the bell rings, and it’s for a good reason: She says the higher you raise the bar for children, the more likely they are to strive to meet goals..."

Buddying up for education: Metro students in dire need of mentors
"...Statistics from Mentor Michigan, an organization started by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and first gentleman Dan Mulhern, indicate that there are 4,081 young people currently on a waiting list for mentors in the state, and nearly 1,400 waiting in southeast Michigan..."

Students fight rising tuition costs
"...According to a report card issued by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Michigan received an "F" when it came to affordability. While the state scrambles for answers, students are concerned others may not be able to afford higher education..."

Looking for a Sign in Willow Run