Well they did it! With a little bit of scare tactics, a minor government shut down, a month late, and at the last minute, they juggled the budget. Unfortunately, they have done nothing more than put a small band-aid on a much bigger problem.

How Do We Solve This?

There is a lot of money wasted and used carelessly by our government. When the State allocates funds to operate the many different departments within its’ structure, it must rely on the information and cost projections given to them by the very representatives of these individual programs and services. The State budget “committee” must then begin to deal with one another regarding which programs or services to add, cut, cut back on or increase in order to make the current revenue and projected revenue cover these expenses. At the same time, they are hoping to retain some money to pay down a debt that they created through reckless spending, undeserved and inappropriate pay increases as well as poor planning and decision making at all levels of government. It is time that we, the citizens’ of Michigan, hold anyone who is wrongfully abusing their power, position and/or our revenue accountable. We need to start over and we need everyone in Michigan to help. This problem is not just a government problem, it is our problem. We have to go back to the beginning of each item and fix, adjust, tighten and cut without jeopardizing our jobs or our services.

A Part of the Solution ~ The Overseer

There are no tricks to this budget problem. It’s simple. Keep a close and controlled relationship with all of the State’s governmental departments. Have any recommendations, additions, changes or purchases be presented to, and approved by, an appointed Overseer. His or her job would be to review every department’s requests and make definitive recommendations to those departments as to how or what should be done with a given request. The Overseer would be held accountable only for the decisions or recommendations made to those departments that choose to utilize this individual. The head of each department would be held responsible for any decisions made without the written consent of the Overseer.

Another Part of the Solution ~ Responsible and Logical Business Practices

I may be stating the obvious… but each year is getting worse for you and the American public. Michigan needs help from its’ manufacturers, distributors and retailers to begin to turn this around. How? Quit moving businesses out our State and Country. This is not helping any one of us. Let’s start with fair trade. NO BRAINER! It’s clearly not working. It needs to be EQUAL TRADE or CONTROLLED TRADE. On one hand, Americans are partially responsible for buying all these goods from overseas…housewares, office supplies, clothing and just about anything else that is needed to live from day to day. On the other hand, it’s not as if we have a choice. Our manufacturers, distributors and retailers demand a specific profit margin, which seems to keep increasing every year. In addition, the cost of living for these companies’ employees is increasing as well. They are finding themselves unable to pay for the goods that the manufacturers, distributors and retailers are selling. The bottom line…when businesses are moved, jobs are taken away. Consequently, there are not enough people left who can afford to purchase the items your selling. The final outcome…you fail and our country fails. It is time for American companies to understand that, if they don’t bring home the jobs and help keep America strong, they will be leaving their children and grandchildren a very unpleasant place to live… a place where money will not buy you anything. We must start NOW. So I ask Michigan manufacturers, distributors and retailers to rethink and refigure all aspects of their company’s operations and show America how you can make the necessary changes to bring back jobs while still making a profit. Help Michigan and the United States, once again, be the strongest country in the World.