Business as Prey

From Thomas Sowell:

Detroit and Michigan have followed classic liberal policies of treating businesses as prey, rather than as assets. They have helped kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So have the unions. So have managements that have gone along to get along.

Toyota, Honda and other foreign automakers are not heading for Detroit, even though there are lots of experienced automobile workers there. They are avoiding the rust belts and the policies that have made those places rust belts.

The auto industry is deserving of all the added attention these days because of its sheer size and extreme difficulties.

I would, however, take Sowell's comments one step farther. The state of Michigan treats every working person and struggling business in this state as prey rather than as an asset, this through punitive taxation, encumbering regulation, and through an ever expanding arena of invasion.

Recent changes in the building energy codes (adding restrictions and cost,) discussion of expanding smoking laws (more restrictive and hurting private business's revenue,) and skirt chasing green energy initiatives (stunting competition) that will wipe perhaps thousands of dollars a year out of individual's home budgets, are but a few off the cuff examples.

The well worn prey vs. asset miscalculation on the part of Michigan governments is certainly true, but it does not stop there. It is an attitude that is applies to all enterprise in this state, not just that of the automakers.

h/t Carpe Diem