Tell me, DUers - How's YOUR state's economy?

[UrbScotty]

Bush economics have really taken a toll on the Great Lakes State. But the thing is, some Republicans here suggest that we're in a 'single-state recesion' - as if the other 49 states are doing well.

So, is your state's economy really doing well, or is it also in a funk?

[rubberducky]

1. Economy is "lousy" in MI

[OlderButWiser]

5. I'm in Michigan (Tri-Cities) also...

...I wish we could get up to 'lousy'.

[UrbScotty]

9. I hope you saw that I do live in Michigan too (nt)

[nam78_two]

18. I recently moved out of MI

When we were trying to get a U-Haul we were told that they were running short on trucks because so many people were moving out and so few were moving in. MI is in a really bad shape.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. The economy is pretty good in La since oil has approached the

100 dollar/barrel barrier. The roads on the other hand SUCK and the housing that is being put up is only going to add to the already 1/2 mile or more backups at most intersections in the morning and at quitting time... so I guess we are doing our part to make sure unnecessary fuel is wasted while sitting at intersections twice a day. Just where the money goes that should be repairing/widening the roads is a mystery to me. Putting the horse before the cart with regards to the housing developments hardly cuts it.

[Feron]

8. Personally I think that La.'s economy is lousy...

,but my perception may be skewed because of where I live.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

16. I should have stated that it is "ok" near the ports and southerntier

where the oil related businesses machine shops, downhole tool rentals, hotshots, welders and so forth are doing quite well. I am sure the northern parts of La could use a little help.

[DFW]

3. In Texas?

After 13 years of Bush and Perry?

That would be like asking Marie Antionette about
her health after she had been guillotined.

[w8liftinglady]

11. I've noticed DFW has 2 extremes

the very rich,and large communities of lower middle class/poor.Living in a rural area,I tend to see a lot more of the latter.I did noticed while grocery shopping today,EVERYONE had coupons and a list,and NO ONE was buying the more expensive cuts of meat.

[DFW]

23. I confess to not knowing the rural areas at all

I am a transplant from Virginia, and though I maintain
my legal residence in Dallas, it is near our regional HQ,
and I am station chief for Europe, and spend most of my
time overseas for work. I have driven through some rural
parts of Texas, but can't profess to really know them.

They struck me as poor, and populated by people who are
not very aware of the rest of the world, although this is
a gross generalization. Except for a lot of "private property,
keep out" signs, indicating ranches owned by rich people, there
were few signs of any kind of affluence, that is for sure.
Ironically, these people tend to vote for the party most likely
to keep them this way. Maybe Lakoff is right--as long as their
economic oppressors play the religion and "values" cards, they will
fall for it every time, and vote Republican no matter how much worse
off it will keep them.

As our house (we share it with another family who are best friends
of ours, and do live there full time) is right in the middle of Dallas,
and we tend to spend time with our friends when we are home, we don't
get out much to the rural areas of the state.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. It's so good in Illinois the governor & legislature decided we don't need a budget.

[UrbScotty]

17. The Michigan Senate (controlled by Repubs) says the same thing

[Vidar]

6. Also in Michigan, deja vu 1929.

[Sadie4629]

7. I'm in Michigan, too

I voted lousy, but we're nowhere near 1929. My parents lived through the Great Depression, and I can tell you things that my mother told me. She once wanted to write a letter to her sister, and her father asked her if she really had anything to say that was worth the price of the postage to send it--and it was only 2 cents!

Neither once of my parents ever trusted the stock market. Wish they had. If they had invested during the 50's & 60's, I'd be an heiress!

[Vidar]

12. My parents, both now deceased, did too.

[BlooInBloo]

10. More good than bad here in Seatteland.

[butterfly77]

13. Another Michigander here...

its terrible.

[Lady President]

14. Unless Ohio has merged with Michigan...

There is definitely one state that can be left off of the "49 states doing well." We're still bleeding jobs, losing a huge number of new college grads to other states, and foreclosing on entire neighborhoods of homes.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. Things aren't bad here...

The high oil prices have helped Alaska quite a bit. Our legislature tried to pass a very large budget with all kinds of goodies for everybody, but the new Guv vetoed a lot of it in the interests of fiscal responsibility. We go boom and bust up here, so she's trying to shore up for any future downturn. The Alaska Permanent Fund is doing great, up to $40 billion now, having gained $10 billion in the last three years.

I think all in all, Alaska's doing all right, although there are always segments of the economy that could do better.

[sailor65]

19. Michigan

I'm an engineer in the automotive industry up here. We've been watching our livelihoods slide down the drain for some time now. Between the automotive executives looking for bigger margins at the expense of the local economy, and the union bosses looking for power at the expense of their membership, more and more equipment and processes are leaving our shores. Last October a brand new Drive Axle Assembly system I helped build in Detroit was suddenly packed up and shipped to China. Equipment is being torn out and shipped to Mexico. Worse yet, the balance of investment in new systems in leaning heavily toward foreign sites.

[radfringe]

20. depends on which side you look at

[Thothmes]

21. Virginia seems to be moving along without to much problem

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Maine is economically unhealthy and they are taking it out on our schools

:cry:

[KillCapitalism]

24. I'm in Missouri & it's very bad.

We're doing just a LITTLE bit better than Michigan and Ohio if that tells you anything.

[hfojvt]

25. we've got to many Michigan people on this poll!

So you are hearing an echo.

The auto industry has crashed and is burning. Michigan IS taking the brunt of that, although there are dealerships and parts and tire plants all over the rest of the country too.

The economy is a subjective thing, unless you are looking at statistics. Otherwise people are only talking about their personal situation and their own optimism or pessimism. When Clinton was President I used to get furious at the pundits who kept talking about how great the economy was doing. They acted like everybody was rich and I spent 3 years working a temp job, unable to find, or get, a real job. Now that I have gotten a real job, paid for my house and semi-retired, I do not have knowledge of life in the temp or jobless world. Oddly enough, I still read the help wanted ads every day and find nothing there. I think to myself 'thank God I have a job', but I thought the same thing ten years ago even though I had a really crappy job - ($7.25 an hour, seven days a week and no benefits).