Pity Michigan Its Hapless Politicians

I live in New Jersey.

I'm far from proud of that fact. I fervently wish I lived in another state. I wasn't born here, and, God willing, will move when circumstances allow, to a more conservative state.

But at least I don't live in Michigan.

Tuesday's Wall Street Journal ran a piece discussing the hilarious efforts of the state's Democratic governor, Jennifer Granholm, to attract the film industry.

Usually, states capitalize on one, or more, of three things which they possess: desirable geographical location, or; a unique or prized benefit to a particular industry, such as academic or craft talent, or; a significantly lower cost of doing business.

Silicon Valley is where it is because of the combination of fine universities and an area in which many talented engineers wished to remain. Boston's Route 128 technology belt shared this, with its dependence upon MIT and Harvard. Southern states provided lower labor costs to many industries.

What does Michigan offer the film industry? Empty old auto plants, for one. And tax breaks, for another.

Neither of which is even remotely unique among states.

The Journal article notes how the effort has failed, so far, to create meaningful, lasting jobs in the state. Apparently expectations were for as many as 3,600 new jobs from the film industry in the state.

Instead, a few films simply took advantage of narrow tax incentives for a specific movie, then left the state with no lasting benefit.

Maybe it's the result of too many years of reliance on three aging US industrial titans. It would appear that the state's politicians are as bereft of ideas for adding value with the state's population and resources, as well as an ability to face reality, as its once-vibrant auto makers are.

Then again, maybe bad ideas like Granholm's will eventually lead to a cleaning out of the state's old, tired Democrats and an infusion of more entrepreneurial governmental officials.