Posted on Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 10:30 a.m.
Great Recession leaves Michigan poorer, Census numbers show
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Michigan families’ homes are worth less than before the recession. They own fewer cars, earn less money, work fewer hours and are more likely to be raising children in poverty than in 2006, according to 2010 Census interviews, Booth News Service reported.
Median income for Michigan households in 2010 was $45,413, a decrease of 3.7 percent from pre-recession levels. Adjusted for inflation, it was down 11 percent from 2006. That compares with the national average decline of 4.5 percent, according to the report.
Among the state’s 10 most populous counties, affluent Oakland County saw the largest drop — an inflation-adjusted 16.2 percent, the story said.
In Washtenaw County, that inflation-adjusted drop was 9.1 percent.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
Those who (apparently out of habit) complain about public sector workers being a "drain" on the rest of us fail to take into account: (1) If not for the drop in private sector wealth (due to the Great Recession AND due to the imbalance between the wealthiest and "average" income tax payers), the public sector would not be a "drain." (2) Headline news: the cutting by governors and legislators of the public sector pay and benefits. (3) the other headline news: the reduction in SERVICES provided to the private income sector (i.e. the majority, the PUBLIC). New definition (more accurate, based on facts) for "Conservatism" -- That philosophy which - conserves - the wealth, power and privilege of the few while throwing the rest of the American population under the bus.
Hot Sam
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 11:49 a.m.
If big government and experience were the solutions, we wouldn't have any problems...
shepard145
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 3:07 a.m.
Captain Obvious reports in!!
Tom Todd
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 12:09 a.m.
I'm not envious of the neighbor next store, who works his tail off in the public sector, doing the work of two people.
tim
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
Duh--- wages go down or are stagnate and prices of food and energy go up.
Dog Guy
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
"Private sector" and "public sector" are not similar; the one produces, the other consumes. As a lifelong tax parasite, I consider this a wonderful system. I am not poorer and I thank you for asking.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.
Glad to see you think so highly of the public sector. Might I send a Marine to your door so that you can tell them what you think of them? Good Night and Good Luck
psaume23
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
"That is unless you are a public sector worker sucking the life blood out of the rest of us." Are you referring to the "public sector" police officer? Hardly a whole lot of "lifeblood" paid by you or anyone else to fund this position. The teacher who makes around the same annual salary? The fire fighter? Those who work on improving roads and bridges? Would you prefer that the services these "public sector" employees provide be paid for a la carte by only those who benefit from them?
snoopdog
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
I have never ever needed a cop for anything. The only thing the police have done is write me several ridiculous violations, one for going 77 in a 70 downhill, one for going 32 in a 25 downhill and one for my rear license plate being obstructed because of mudd covering it. I have a CCW and my home is well protected so I am not too worried about needing a police officer any time soon. All they have done for me thus far is take money out of my wallet and raise my car insurance rates. How about they go after rapists, thieves , etc ? Naw, that does not bring in income, it costs them money ! Good Day
bobr
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.
I thought with a Republican Governor, a Republican Legislature, a Republican Supreme Court, that Michigan's economy was supposed to be robust by now. What happened?
godsbreath64
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 6 p.m.
Sorry, we owe him nothing. He had no public sector experience, no honesty during either the campaign or all of these 10 months, or any commitment to return the constitutions he was charged fro on January first. The people are assembling. It is time for Richard Dale Snyder to go back to corporate riding and let Michigan rescue it's heritage of constitutional insistence of government.
Lionel Hutz
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
The new budget did not go into effect until October. We owe the governor more than three weeks before passing judgment.
pest
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
It hasn't even been a year. Steps are being made to make Michigan more attractive to business.
JustMyOpinion
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
In Michigan, The wealthiest are: William Davidson 4.0 billion Richard DeVos 3.5 billion Rodger Penske 2.2 billion Rhonda Stryker 2.0 billion Jon Stryker 1.7 billion Mike Illitch 1.5 billion A Alfred Taubman 1.4 billion William Pulte 1.2 billion Dan Gilbert 1.1 billion John Brown 1.0 billion
KJMClark
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 2:28 a.m.
Um, Donbee, that's a pretty interesting reading of the history. Davidson took over the family business when they shed the company's debts in bankruptcy. Penske's dad was a corporate executive who financed him so he could do what he wanted. Richard DeVos built a pyramid scheme (oh wait, they were found to not *exactly* be a pyramid scheme, just price-fixing) - but his son Dick DeVos inherited the family fortune. Looks to me like Ilitch, Taubman, and Pulte came from fairly humble backgrounds, I can't find a decent bio of Gilbert. The rest seem to have inherited their positions.
godsbreath64
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
how many of these are corporate raiders like Richard Dale Snyder? How many outsource Michigan jobs? How many of Alfred Taubman's malls are empty? How many are glorified loan sharks? How many have abused the taxpayers? How many are guilty of buying elected officials? How many have contributed to their communities? ..... ..... .....
godsbreath64
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 7:35 p.m.
By his rationale little Charlie Brown's ghost is a fan of Al Capone, Sadam Hussien and Bernie Maddoff. Take a guess who employs him?
DonBee
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
William Davidson - born to a family with some (not a lot of money), built Guardian Industries into a Michigan powerhouse manufacturer - created a foundation to fund charitable causes Richard DeVos - Co-founder Amway -born to a middle class family - created thousands of Michigan jobs - created a foundation that funds conservative causes Rodger Penske - born to a middle class family - created Penske Corporation - created thousands of Michigan jobs. Rhonda Stryker - Granddaughter of the founder of Stryker Industries, one of the last large health care manufacturing companies left in Michigan Jon Stryker - brother to Rhonda - architect - founder of Arcus foundation that works to preserve non-human primates and LGBT causes Mike Illitch - born to a lower class family - spent 4 years in the Marines instead of college - founded the Little Caesars Veterans Program - which works with returning veterans. Has fixed most of the broken sports teams and theaters in Detroit A Alfred Taubman - The Great Depression wiped out his family, he created the modern shopping mall, his foundation has donated mega bucks to the UofM William Pulte - started out building houses out of high school - grew the company to what it is. Created low cost subdivisions around the USA. No foundation, no college. Dan Gilbert- Michigan State graduate - created Quicken Loans. He has invested heavily in the recovery of downtown Detroit. Responsible for approximately 2,000 jobs in Michigan at Quicken Loans John Brown - Another Stryker Company billionaire. Long time president of the company and chairman. Rebuilt Stryker in the 1970s and kept the company going and people employed. Only 2 of these folks came from money. Most of them worked 50 years or more to gain their fortune. Anyone who is willing to work hard can be rewarded. It does not even take a college education (though it helps more everyday).
godsbreath64
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
Sorry. The issue is crime. Nice try though. Hope you got a good lawyer.
pest
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.
@dogsbreath64 Most of those names I am quite familiar with and they are hard working people who made their way in life by their dedication, sacrifice and achievement. Some are fortunate to be born into wealth, but even so, it takes brains and work to retain and grow that wealth.
godsbreath64
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
Go pester someone else, thank you! You obviously equiped for this discussion. Great job JustMyOppinion!
pest
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
And? Your point is? I honestly don't get what point you are trying to make.
Mr. Ed
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
I think Snoop wanted a job in the public sector but was denied and now he has an ax to grind. The government is the largest employer in this country. Changes have taken place with pay and benefits for the government workers with more to come.
Basic Bob
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
"The government is the largest employer" - Wow, that is something to brag about. Walmart and McDonald's are also large employers. Now what did any of them actually produce? How many of these are good jobs? Is our life richer or poorer because they employ so many people?
cibachrome
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
The only reason companies take job overseas is to lower prices and compete with products made overseas and shipped here. People don't seem to care about buying high quality foreign products because they want the status or the low cost. The middle class standard of living is permanently lowered until we put in place the same monetary policy as the Asians, we put tariffs on their goods to equilibrate the consuner cost, we tax them for their free healthcare and company provided housing, and we somehow offset the effect of union demands. Oh sure, your Nissan Toyota Hondas are made in the USA, but the labor and tax advantages where their plants are gives them a huge advantage that they use for fit and finish, more expensive parts and worker satisfaction. Drunk or stoned on the job at the Camry plant? You are gone and black-listed. Here in Michigan? Wildcat strike, protest and lawsuit. Your Lexus, Infinity and Acura vehicles for example) are made in Japan and would cost twice as much if made here by the same companies. I say, OK, tax them at 100% to equilibrate the net costs and use the money to aid US workers whose jobs are now permanently gone. As for the CEOS of US companies and their high salaries? Tax them, too.
lefty48197
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
Yes, sh1 it is sad that some people's reaction to uncertain times is to try and drag down those around them. If the system won't let us better ourselves, then at least we can drag down the others, so we won't feel so bad! That's what's wrong with this country. We've been in an economic race to the bottom for about 25 years now. Corporations have insisted that they can't make any money unless the products they sell are manufactured in slave wage nations like China. Sure millions of Americans have been put out of work, but the stock prices of Walmart and Target have sure gone up haven't they? Corporations like Pfizer buy up century old Michigan companies like Parke Davis and UpJohn, then take away all the jobs and leave the factories vacant. The Pfizer defection may have hurt thousands of Michigan families, but I'll bet it helped Pfizer's bottom line and made their shareholders happy. We treat the Dow Jones and corporate profits as if they're what's good for America. If that's the case, then why is it that when a corporation lays off thousands of Americans and sends their jobs to China, their profits and dividends rise? It almost sounds as if what's good for corporate America is BAD for Americans.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 2:46 a.m.
@pest: There is a difference between "profit" and "salary" Profit is a good thing. Those of us who own stocks and mutual funds benefit from corporation profits. But corporate pay in this country is beyond ridiculous. Good Night and Good Luck
sh1
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
@pest--profit is not a bad word, but people do resent that those at the top, esp CEOs of major corporations, take in extraordinarily disproportional amounts of the profit. The progressive movement is about fairness.
pest
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.
Unfortunately, a corporation cannot stay in business unless it makes "profit". But "profit" has turned into an evil word by the left wing.
DonBee
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.
The one key item that is not discussed in the report is that most salaried private sector workers are not working fewer hours, but more. The 40 hour, 45 hour and 50 hour work week are a thing of the past if you are salaried. It is more like 55 or 60 hours in many companies. OBTW - don't expect overtime or bonus - that is purely for hourly workers.
sh1
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 3:20 p.m.
Seriously, snoop. You must just wait by your computer for these stories to come out so you can take a bite at the public sector. How about some data to support your opinions? We're all taking a hit and should be supporting each other through tough times.
golfer
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 3:15 p.m.
maybe we can ask our rick for some help?
snoopdog
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.
"Booth News Service: Great Recession leaves Michigan poorer, Census numbers show" That is unless you are a public sector worker sucking the life blood out of the rest of us ! Good Day
clownfish
Mon, Oct 24, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
Public sector workers have taken pay cuts, reduced health care benefits and unpaid days off. Many have been laid off and are in fact making less. Nice class warfare there, Snoop!
JustMyOpinion
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.
Really? Somehow I don't see the average public sector employee (other than in Wayne County) making over 240,000. The blood sucking, according the data, seems to be happening in the private sector, and at the top of that. That accounts for the wealthiest 5% of the nation controlling over 40% of the entire nations wealth. The public sector may have its faults for sure, but your statements beggars reality. By the way, the point of the data on wealth is that the number of people who are concentrating wealth are few, not many, as your statement would lead some to believe.