I think that all of us living in District 17 would agree that times are tough …tougher than most of us can remember. We hear about it on the television news or over the counter at the local breakfast shop, we see it as more and more homes display plywood boards instead of clear windows, and we experience it in our own lives. Too many of our children must return home because they can’t find work, or neighbors walk away from their foreclosed homes, or family members lose their jobs because local businesses owned by good people can’t pay the employees. My family has experienced our own trials and difficulties. As many of our politicians have said, there is no silver bullet or magic wand that makes everything better. There are glimmers of hope here in southeast Michigan, especially with Chrysler, Ford, and GM; all recently reporting unexpected profits. We hear daily news of studios and battery companies creating jobs here in Michigan, but how long will it take? How do we not only endure, but as a community, lead the efforts to help Michigan become prosperous again?  More