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Ty Menna - Sunday, November 08, 2009   Back to Basics in Michigan: Agriculture Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (152 votes cast) According to my research(*), agriculture is one of Michigan's largest industries, and with the deterioration of manufacturing in our state it would seem that agriculture could offer economic opportunities for many of the unemployed. I do not mean as farm laborers, rather as farm owners. With the enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill there are a large number of pilot programs and grants available for people interested in beginning farming. However, the Michigan Department of Agriculture is severely underfunded and is not/cannot participate. Also, my research indicates that the average age of the American farmer is quickly approaching 60+ as their children left the rural areas for better paying manufacturing jobs in the cities. Well now with those jobs drying up, and the farmers dying off, farmers are needed. Speaking from experience, trying to get into farming with no prior experience is very challenging as there is no where to go to begin. If one was not born into it, it is all a black box. Still working on becoming a farmer and wishing the State would offer some help. So that is my idea. Ty

Maureen Hirsch - Sunday, November 08, 2009   Trashy Idea Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 2.9 (173 votes cast) You know immediately when you travel via highway you have entered Michigan. Trash everywhere. Let's beautify our state by having prisoners clean up our highways. I'm not talking about the lifer or the hardened criminal, but there are criminals in the system who sit on their butts and do nothing. Why not put them to work, picking up trash along the highways. Yes, I'm talking "chain gangs." OK - deal with it. The South has the right idea. Put them to work. Let's beautify our state. Potholes are another story, but, at least, you won't have plastic bags in trees, cigarette butts, soda pop cans, plastic water bottles, and paper along our roads. The best news of all it won't cost the taxpayers a dime. Please consider this. It can't hurt. Thanks for letting me vent.

Stephanie - Sunday, November 08, 2009   Invest in a Strong Early Childhood System Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (175 votes cast) Move Michigan to the top of state's that value their youngest citizens by investing in systematic changes to early childhood. Ensure a "great start" through cutting edge pediatric and family care, high quality child care and preschool environments, mentoring programs for new parents, and access to a variety of fun and free family activities. Create a place that new businesses want to locate and attract a young and vibrant workforce with family friendly employer practices.

Earlbob - Sunday, November 08, 2009   Double Michigan's Growing Season While Creating Jobs Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (166 votes cast) A product's footprint in a store is measured in $$$/square inch. Too big is not good. Or is it? A heated, 32 square foot, waist-level garden with a greenhouse canopy is just such a product. Imagine being able to stand up or garden from a wheelchair. Such a product does exist and has already proven to double the growing season in the Upper Peninsula with highly reproducible results. Furthermore, components of this product (and many others) can be produced in peoples homes as part of a job creation system that I call H.O.M.E.(HOME OPERATED MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE)™. It's a twist on a cottage industry that organizes people to manufacture products not likely to be seen in any store by reason of size. With the H.O.M.E. System, anyone can be contracted to perform whatever task that suits their ability. The real twist is that people can not only be paid to make the components, they can combine their efforts with others making other components and sell the finished products locally. Using the square foot gardening method, 32 sq feet can feed a family. Also/or, a third method for the same people to make money is to organically grow produce that can be sold to local retail grocers and restaurants. The government gets its taxes due, people eat cheaper, jobs are created, and the disabled can now enjoy gardening again. Besides, the logistics of a sizable product denies feasibility for manufacture in China. It's a win, win, win situation.

Guy - Sunday, November 08, 2009   Eliminate state-run rest stops Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (166 votes cast) Lease rest stops to fast food restaurants? Who needs more fast food? Why not close the rest stops which were a waste of money in the first place and direct travellers and their dollars back to the small communities where they stopped before the interstates pulled all the traffic away?