adam @ 404

As of October 10th 2007, all of my college loans are paid off in-full. Maybe I should go back to school now? Nawwww.

Michigan is in the news. UAW and GM come to terms on a contract, state government avoids shutdown by increasing taxes in a struggling economy to balance the budget. Times are tough. Reading through the comments section of a criticism of the recent UAW-GM contract, it struck me that I’ve never really read or heard any constructive debate about how to pragmatically solve the problems of these old industrial giants in day-to-day life. There’s a history of conflict and heck, I should say it, macho posturing between those who support corporate executives vs. those who support the union (and their leaders). It’s a godamn pity you would bicker all the way down on a sinking ship.

It’s one big 100 year hangover, and Michigan, please hear me. Simply working the same old factory line is not helping, urban decay chic bohemianism is not helping, leaving the state for a good job is not helping (*huhem*), insisting that your 20th century industrial executive strategy will come back into fad is not helping, and continually bickering about what should have gone right is not helping. The state really needs idea people, creativity, innovation and/or a diversification of industry, not necessarily interdependent on each other. At the base of all these is a willingness to walk off the cliff, and take risks in the face of entrenchment, oblivion, ignorance and outright discouragement. It’s not a focus on any bottom line, its a focus on one’s passion which usually yields far greater profits in one’s life and others.

My romantic motivational speech time is over. Here are some projects backed by Michigan friends that have the right passion, innovation and creativity: Envoi, Tyvek, and Zattoo.