What Happened to Michigan? 

The government is terrible here but the land is beautiful.

Fellow Michigander: Most of us like that people think Michigan is all shitty bc then it keeps tourists away and it’s like a hidden gem. Michigan has so much beautiful nature. Most of the people are pretty chill. Loved growing up here

A proud native Michigander here. Michigan's story isn't much different from other Midwestern states. Manufacturing helped build the economy before the war, the cities lost residents to the suburbs, crime and unemployment went up. But Michigan is evolving with strides in health care, IT, green energy, and electric vehicles. Detroit is making a comeback. And like the video says, the state itself is an asset, with tourism a year-long industry.

I'm a citizen of Michigan born here and probably die here in my opinion the worst thing that happened to Michigan is our governor

What happened is WTO, NAFTA, GATT brought to us by a government that paved the way for outsourcing of jobs. It wasn't just auto plants that took a hit. The machine tool industry which consisted of companies that employed hundreds at one plant such as DeVlieg machine in Royal Oak and the small ally shops owned by families that employed as few as 2 or 3 workers went out of business. These jobs took years of training and experience to learn a skill set that a person off of the street could not do. The pay rate was great and a person could support a family comfortably. What do we have now? Casinos, pot shops and tourism. The American worker was sold out by those that they elected to represent them, It is treason!

Michigan is one of the best states in the country to live. Shut up!

I’m a proud Michigander and I have hope the state and all of the mid west have better days ahead… except Ohio.

What happened to MI??? Our government.

Michigan is by far the best place to live in the USA.

Nothing happened to Michigan. It’s still a beautiful state with plenty of resources. As a Detroitier it’s unfair to make comparisons of state based on one city as you have implied even with the pictures used. As a whole Michigan is doing great.

I call it home. It saddens me that our decline is a direct result of corrupt politics. Bastards.

I've lived in the Detroit area for most of my life- I was a small child when the 1967 riots tore through Detroit, and I've worked inside Detroit city limits for most decades of my life. Only since 2010 has Detroit really rebounded from the urban core blight that predominated for so long. Michigan is well-poised for recovery, not least because of it's vast fresh water supplies, relative immunity to severe weather, and some of the most beautiful beaches and forests in the entire country. It's going in the right direction.

Once you realize what this place has to offer vs. many other parts of the country, reality slaps you in the face. I've lived here my whole life and often wondered why the mitten has as many problems as it does. Cold weather, government corruption (lots of that) lack of opportunity, and an overall lack of anything impressive is how I describe it. I plan on relocating next year because even as a grad student there are few real opportunities here that will get me very far. It's been a time, but evidently the mitten is declining. It's time for me to go.

Come to Michigan and see for yourself. I live in Southwestern MI. Due to its location and climate, it is the fruit belt. As a result, it provides fruit and vegetables to major suppliers. There is a growth in breweries and wines. Our beaches are so unique and beautiful, they are in tourism magazines. Tourism is huge in our area. We are close to major cities without having to live in them daily. The natural beauty is astounding. Housing is more affordable than most of the US. Overall crime is low. Schools are highly ranked. A great place to live. Manufacturing plants are an issue all across the US, everything is outsourced. People want high wages but, no one wants to pay more for products. My son works for a major auto manufacturer and the cost of cars goes higher and higher with all the materials, technology, regulations, and wages, there is not a very big profit margin. This is a national issue, not just a Michigan problem.

It went downhill ever since the people voted for democrat mayors in Detroit & other cities as well as democrat governors. Don't need anymore explanation than that.

Depending on unions and Democrats. South Carolina started down the same path.

i think the great financial meltdown of 2008 and the flint water crisis were two death punches this century that we could not afford. There is still a bright future ahead for Michigan

There's only one common theme in Michigan Democratic control.

There is nothing wrong with Michigan. WHAT F?

Perfect example of “a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous.” As others have stated, let people go on thinking that Michigan is an awful state in which to live.

What happened to Michigan? Short answer: The Democratic Party happened.

We voted democrat and union for so long. We are reaping the benefits now

One of Michigan's staple products is Corn Bread mix in the form of the Chelsea Milling Company's Jiffy Mix. Supplying the U.S. with corn bread mix that costs less than a dollar for a single box usually.

I've been here all my life what happened in Michigan is Democrats destroyed it sold us out for a lot of years

NAFTA, UNIONS, Coleman Young, Gilbert R. Hill, Crime, Corruption in City Hall, Police Embezzlement..

Michigan is still a good state to live in. I've been here all my life. I left Genessee County for my hometown in Oceana County. I refer the country life. My dad worked at Buick City in Flint for 31 yrs. After he retired, they leveled it.

I’m a Michigander, I always thought living here sucked- I’ve grown up more to finally understand that our state is beautiful! Our nature and lakes and accent are what makes us Michiganders! ❤️ Ofc we don’t have a perfect crime rate or anything but we sure do manage :)

It's not a forgotten place. It is literally the home of 10 million people, with its biggest metro area of over 4 million, 5.5 million if you count the CSA with Windsor and Ann Arbor. Southern Michigan is densely populated, and inner city Detroit is booming with reconstruction. You might not like the culture there, but it's not by any means forgotten. It's only certain inner city Detroit/Flint/Saginaw neighborhoods that were abandoned, but they are quickly being renovated. The rest of the Detroit area is FULL of people and it's overall a very good place to make a living. You want to call it a 2nd world state? Go ahead, but you're just dead wrong. Bemoaning Michigan's 'decline' is just perennial drama and not actually based in reality.

From a Michigander who has lived along the lakeshore of Lake Michigan my whole 58 years, we are very blessed in natural beauty and being able to grow up with memories of our daily lives that some considered "vacation"! Yes, Michigan! became "Pure Michigan"!

You can Thank the Democrat and rino voters for the way Michigan looks! You got what you asked for! Give them Welfare, Food stamps, housing, and health insurance and not have to work and theyll continue to vote for the ones that only care about putting more money into these crooks pockets!

I have seen many perks and flaws but in Michigan as I was raised in the state. I lived in Northern Michigan up until I was 16, and while it indeed is beautiful in some areas, I saw a different side of things. The students and many of the residents are only nice and respectful to you if you are not in certain minority classes. Once I moved to Southeastern Michigan, I thought it was the greatest thing compared to Northern Michigan. I enjoyed Metro Detroit for many years, but once Covid hit, I feel like many things changed for the worse. A lot of places that were once popular were no longer popular and it seemed that many people left the state in the midst of the pandemic. When I talked to people who left Michigan, the said the main reasons for leaving were lack of promise for a good career, lack of diversity, the increased cost of living, or the weather. I hope that someday the state makes a turnaround of some sort.

I live in Michigan and all I do is work on $10m plus mansions trust me there's plenty of money around here

Michigander born and raised in Lansing I noticed not one mention of this garbage heap of a city. Don't get me wrong, I love my state as a whole, but I feel "Capital City" has a bit to do with why people are leaving this state as well (think about who is running this state into the ground).

NAFTA, and the auto industry in Michigan collapsed and the plants in Pontiac and flint were shut down to a bare minimum, ruining those cities and eventually Michigan auto industry

What happened, last time I checked, I'm still here😂. The U.P (where I live) has barely changed. I mean yah we had a much bigger population because of the copper mines, but aye, we still kicking

I grew up in Grand Rapids from 1966 to 1990, then lived in Seattle for a decade and Minneapolis the past 22 years. I remain a Michigander and always will. Michigan has seen much hardship, but there is also a pride and resiliency amongst its residents. You even see it with its sports fans.

Democrats happened to Michigan.

I moved to Florida from Michigan in the mid/late 90s.. I can't wait until I move back next year.

I'm a proud Michigan resident for all 50 years of my life living in Metro Detroit. It's sad to see the decline in our big cities and especially Flint.! The city of Flint can't catch a break. Back in the day Flint was booming and it was a cool place to visit, but the decline started when the Big3 started leaving Flint and so many people were out of work. Then the water became poison and it's a shame. Detroit started to decline but when this AWESOME city went into bankruptcy things started to change and Detroit is definitely on a awesome comeback. I would put downtown Detroit up against most any other big city downtown except NYC, L. A., Chicago. There are so many things to do downtown with 3 casinos and beautiful stadiums next door to each other and across the street and kitty corner is Little Caesars Arena home of the Redwings and Pistons. All 4 teams play in downtown and right next to each other. Also downtown Detroit has a beautiful waterfront with the Detroit River and it looks so beautiful at night especially looking across to Canada all lit up.

Born in Florence, KY, moved outside grand rapids when I was 3, moved back to where my family was in Flint and lived there since

It’s nice to see an attempt made to show the course of these boom/bust industries in Michigan. I am a 4th generation Michigander. There are no miners, loggers or assembly line workers in the family. For some folks it was necessary for periods of time to take these jobs but we were taught that was not what you should aspire to do. It was easy money and would not last. Better to go into a skilled trade or go to college or start a business. It’s kind of like sleeping next to an economic elephant but we stay here because Michigan is beautiful.

Unions got greedy. Executives got greedier. Between the 2 , the jobs went overseas.

Michigander here. I’m from Saginaw Michigan. We have a really beautiful state and I’m proud to be a Michigander.

What happened? The Democratic Party is what happened

Depended way too much on the auto industry and lousy government.

Being from Small Town Michigan (I'm from a small town, its not the name of the town btw), its very nice and you can do a lot and enjoy a lot. Its the Big citys you want to stay away from. The Michigan shore line and U.P. are the places you want to be

Great content, you have a good speaking voice and manner, very easy to listen to, well done. Subbed.

Try bad Politicians and tons of Federal and State regs...and citizens who "look the other way" Count how many times they have promised to fix the roads in this state as they raise taxes. Just one example...and then lately the BS about the pandemic. Tell me again what MI and NY Gov had in common?

Democrats that's what happened democrats!!!!!!¡!

If Michigan is such a bad place to live why is it the 10th most populous state in the country?? I actually love it here.

Michigan is awesome, just not so much in the southeast. I would love to live in a small town on Huron or Superior, if jobs were more plentiful. So much wilderness to explore and enjoy in northern and upper Michigan. Not to mention our beautiful national park that most people don't even know exists. Shoutout to Isle Royale NP!

Gretchen Whitmer is what happened to Michigan…

Was born here and lived a huge chunk of my life here…..hopefully I’ll be gone south next year or so…….this state is rapidly decaying and I need to bail before it completely degenerates into something unrecognizable.

"decline of the unions" is responsible for Michigan's downfall? Riiiiiiiiiight hahaha

Michigan was the most important state in the US, possibly the industrial world for the first half of the 20th century. Greed, cheap labour, bad government policies, and a corrupt governments that make the mafia look transparent has sent our beautiful state through some rough times. Michigan is doing better now than really anytime since the 60’s, but it will never be what it was economically. However, we are STILL the most beautiful state in the Union.

I'm from Michigan, and my life's dream was to leave it. I try to make the best out of life, but the people suffer from the corruption of politics. I want to leave because I see Michigan as a sick and dying dog. And what do you do with a dying dog? You put it down.

If our government protected our domestic car sector, the way Japan, South Korea, and Germany do, we could've remained an auto-industry giant with thousands, if not millions, of good-paying jobs.

Shipping industry out of the country through nafta/gatt has been a disaster, we need to bring the factories back.

Born and raised in Michigan.I now live abroad and have few living relatives there especially in the younger generation. There are few jobs for an educated person. I spent my 20s 30s and 40s in other US states as my husband had a PhD in chemistry and couldn't find a job there.Beautiful scenery is great but anyone wanting to advance themselves has to look elsewhere.

American Motors deserved a mention along with the Big 3 as a driver of the Michigan Economy during its heyday up through the 70's & early 80's.

As a resident, I know some parts of Detroit are terrible, but painting all of southern michigan as an abandoned place is very inaccurate. The Ann arbor area is growing in the automotive software domain, and it's becoming quite expensive as a result. The western suburbs of Detroit, where I live, are basically starting to turn into suburbs of Ann arbor. Plenty of growth and new construction going on here, and crime is fairly low. It's not Southwest level of growth, but it's certainly not dead. I agree, the cold is a limiting factor in winter, but the summer makes up for it. It's basically the inverse from places in the South/Southwest where you stay in AC all summer and come out during the winter to enjoy the weather.

The UAW killed the auto industry in Michigan (along with the Big 3 producing crappy cars). Great cars are still being built in the USA. They have nameplates like Toyota, Honda, BMW. Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.

What wasn't mentioned is that GR was once called the furniture capitol of the world due to the plentiful wood and the very aggressive logging done in the late 19th Century. That all changed

I was born in Saginaw. Amongst my brothers and father were about 85 yrs of service to Saginaw Steering Gear, General Motors Division. I didn't work there, even after school. Although, I could have been walked in to a good job. Every thing this guy says in the video is true, how mom always said the downtown area of Saginaw went downhill, we'd drive by boarded up on both sides of the street. This was 50 yrs ago.

Forgot that Michigan has quite a few ports and importing and exporting brings in billions.

all michiganders unite to say "frick yeah michigan is cool"

Born and raised in Michigan. Been living in Ohio for 33 years. Ohio is a lot like Michigan, but not as left leaning and progressive. But Michigan will thrive under socialism while Ohio will most likely die in rebellion.

A refusal to move on from auto manufacturing will haunt this state for the next 20 years at least😢

What did happen to the Great Lake state

The unions are responsible in part for the ruination of Michigan. Specifically the UAW pushing down the throats of automakers that a worker could hire in right out of high school at age 18, work 30 years, and be able to retire with full benefits and pension. Prices for automobiles skyrocketed after that.

Fix the damn roads, and where is our fourth stimulus check we were promised in MI in October and who took our money

I was born and raised in west Michigan, never want to leave. Everything is beautiful. Driving down roads I don't know wouldn't feel as magical in any other state.

Every place and country has its day.History tells us that.

Grand Rapids is an awesome city.

The roads are terrible, no-fault insurance sucks, and our Governor is a better-than-you lunatic. Only things this state has going for it are the lakes and the legal weed...

Lifelong Lansing resident here. “Decline” is our capital city’s middle name. Michigan as a whole is beautiful and pretty livable overall, but there are definitely aspects of it that make it a bit of a rocky ride.

Democrats.

As the southwestern states run out of water get ready these people have to go some where. . .

Michigan and my Ohio are both struggling! It's been this way for almost my entire life and I am 64. I hope things are starting to turn around.

Liberalism

Michigan really isn’t that bad in most locations. I work in Detroit and for the most part, it has been rejuvenated to a point. I feel safer parking my vehicle in mgm casino’s structure than in front of my own home tbh.

Interesting! Cool video :)

Too much "Big Gretch" is what happend to it.

We should just make Detroit join Canada, let them deal with it.

Our best days are behind us here in Michigan

Yikes! I sure haven't noticed any mass exodus. Just try turning left onto Mission St in Mt Pleasant, or 28th St in Grand Rapids, or Saginaw St in Lansing or Woodward Ave in Detroit. Also try getting into a state park in the summer - and forget about it entirely on July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day. Maybe go shopping at Meijer close to Christmas, or on any Friday night for that matter. We too have a housing shortage like the rest of the nation. Yeah I'm not buying the mass exodus bit. :)

..what happened to America

Unions, outsourcing, white flight and bitter winters have rendered the state where I grew up into a geography mostly of municipal territories with weak economic bases.

Liberals happened to Michigan

How many towns did GM shut a plant down in Michigan? Too many to count, high wage union members force the big boys to move their plants to cheaper wage areas. Been happening since the late 70's.

Possibly in Michigan. Michigan was the state of horror. I would know because I still live there...

My great grandfather was one of the first truckers for Ford Motor Company and he delivered 2 model Ts to other states weekly from 1907-1928. He then worked in a place that is now known as Detroit Axle. The work really made a man something back in the day but now a days most production jobs tend to overwork and underpay their fellow employees. As businesses make billions most production jobs only went up by mere peanuts. To put this into perspective, back when my great grandfather worked for Ford, he was getting paid 1.09-1.25 per day for his rides and gas was paid for by Ford Motor Company. The same company in 1907 was making around 25k per day in revenue. This same thought… in 2022, if a worker makes 20.00 per hour but the business pulls in 39 Million per day. Just doesn’t add up. The amount they pay their workers could be paid out in twelve days of industrial lifespan work within Ford. This place could realistically pay their workers 55-70.00 an hour and just say this is blasphemy because then these people seem like the people they once were, Somebody. The job used to hold a special type of honor and that’s left the building years ago. 1980s really drained the US of this type of specialized workforce care. Back in the 60s and 70s even you could work for a place and be paid triple what entry level workers did within a couple years if you did a great job. It’s jut weird how the hourly position has held some work down but others flourish from it. (Cough cough AMC and it’s major use of Minors working afternoon positions so they can pay less and retain a good value)

Jennifer Granholm is what happened to Michigan.

You should have added the closure of military bases in Michigan. Sure didn't do anything for the economy - especially for their surrounding areas.

The Federal Government is what happened to Michigan

Michigan is a great state. I haven’t been over the Ohio state line in 10 years. So much to explore.

Too many big companies left, leaving little or nothing for lifestyle.

Where still very much here thank you very much

i live and michigan and my only complaint is i can’t legally own a pet capybara

Please do not confuse Michigan with detroit. 🙄 Polar opposites. I was born in Detroit. But my parents were smart enough to get out and buikd a house in Livonia in 1957. I arrived later.... We ran the streets thru the 70's and 1980's. Then it changed again... Vietnam War ended. A peanut farmer from Georgia was in the Whitehouse. Interest rates went double digits. Automotive Industry took BIG hits. People leaving...