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You Want to Talk about 8 Years of Failed Leadership? Look at Michigan’s Governor Granholm.
Way back in 2002, the citizens of the state of Michigan elected Jennifer Granholm to serve as governor on the promise to change the way Michigan does business. In the 8 years since, the only thing she has changed is the fact that Michigan does business, presiding over an economic decline that pre-date the national recession.
Some quick facts on Granholm’s time as Governor (courtesy of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy):
- Since January 2003, Michigan’s per-capita personal income rank among the states has dropped from 23rd to 37th. Our personal income is now $5,259 (13.1 percent) below the national average.
- A large decline in economic output as measured by state Gross Domestic Product, dropping from 26th at the start of the Granholm administration to 41st through 2008.
- Michigan’s unemployment rate leapt from 6.7 percent in January 2003 to 14.6 percent through December 2009. The state has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for 46 consecutive months.
It is no surprise then that 70% of Michigan residents rate her job performance negatively and Republicans are poised to capture the governor’s mansion because of it. The lesson here: you can be the biggest cheerleader for change in the world, but if you don’t pursue sound economic policies that produce prosperity you will find yourself in serious political trouble. Are you paying attention President Obama?
