Business Leader: Michigan Has To Change Its Mindset

<p><em><a href="mailto:novshinsky@wdetfm.org">By Noah Ovshinsky, WDET</a></em></p> <p>The Mackinac Policy Conference opened yesterday with stinging words from one of the region's prominent businessman, John Rakolta, CEO of Walbridge. It's a major Detroit-based construction firm. Rakolta took a look around a large theatre at the Grand Hotel and pointed at the audience, blaming them for what he calls Michigan's "paralysis" and culture of denial. </p> <p>To fix the state's economy, Rakolta says the business community has to talk openly about race, demand transparency in government and lower the tax burden. He says government must also downsize.</p> <p>"We have 549 school districts. If you divide that 10 million, you get 18,000 people per school district. Guess what? Florida has 16 million people and only 67 school districts - only 250, 000 people per school district, much more efficient." </p> <p>Rakolta also said noted that Michigan has 630 towns, villages and townships - most of which have fewer than six thousand residents. He also dismissed the idea that term limits are to blame for political gridlock in Lansing. </p> <p>"I say that's an easy way out. Youth brings new ideas, new energy and a different outlook. Congress has plenty of seniority and experience and yet they suffer the same paralysis as our state does," he says.</p>