All's fair in love and politics
Filed under: Sex Sells, Budgets
Coping With the Economy
Denny's Super Bowl ad, announcing a free Grand Slam breakfast for a limited time, drew crowds early Tuesday morning, Feb. 3, 2009.
Alex Slitz, The Saginaw News / AP
Denny's gave away Grand Slam breakfasts for one day in its 1,152 restaurants nationwide.
Alex Slitz, The Saginaw News / AP
Salvage groceries are items that get returned to warehouses for some reason -- dented cans, over-ordering, use-by dates are getting close or items that don't sell well. This "remainders" business is getting hot in our bad economy.
www.wiswebpro.com
Many libraries across the country are experiencing an increase in patrons, especially job seekers who use the Internet to look for work and borrow DVDs for cheap entertainment. Even with budget cutbacks, some are thinking of buying more computer terminals and expanding wi-fi options.
Pat Wellenbach, AP
To try to spur tourism and help out local businesses, the state of Massachusetts is sponsoring a new program called MassValuePass which has coupons, special offers and huge discounts.
www.massvacation.com
You don't have to just let unwanted gifts sit around in your house, gathering dust. With belts tightening, you need to make use of all your assets, so a new site, barterquest.com has found a way to match up people and their stuff to barter.
barterquest.com
To deal with the rising cost of food, Royal Caribbean is adding a surcharge for steaks served in its dining rooms.
AP
Hybrids are one option for fuel-conscious drivers, of course, but many are now opting for even smaller vehicles: scooters. Sales are up 66 percent so far in 2008. Honda is releasing its 2009 model early to capture as many customers as possible.
M. Spencer Green, AP
Blaming inflation and rising food and energy prices, the 99 Cents Only discount store announced it was bumping its top price to 99.99 cents -- or one-hundredth of a cent less than a dollar -- the first price increase in the chain's 26-year history.
Nick Ut, AP
As economic troubles keep diners at home, restaurants are starting to cut back on portion sizes and are using cheaper ingredients -- even high-end hot spots. In New York, restaurant owners admit to shrinking lobsters, subbing shiitake mushrooms for morels and offering discount appetizers.
Larry Crowe, AP
The idea of deep-sixing money for the fair caused the usual gnashing of teeth that accompanies any proposal to cut much of anything from a state budget.Agriculture is Michigan's second-largest industry after automobiles. The state leads the nation in producing 20 separate agri-food commodities, ranking second to California.
Nearly every state has a state fair, and if Wikipedia is to be believed, most of them are better attended than Michigan's.
It doesn't surprise me that the Michigan State Fair doesn't do all that well, considering that it's located in a rundown neighborhood in the City of Detroit -- not an agricultural hotspot.
Celebrating Michigan's agricultural industry seems like a good idea, but in these economically troubled times, it also seems like an excellent idea to ask the event to pay for itself.
There have been several proposals over the years to use the fair property for something else, but none of them has made it off the drawing board. In this latest plan, Gov. Granholm wants the property to be associated with job creation and public-private partnerships.
If creating new jobs in Michigan were easy, it would have been done a long time ago, but here's an idea.
Let's build a former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Marriage Counseling Center for Wayward Politicians. It would certainly be busy. After all, Kilpatrick has lots of recent compatriots, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Sen. John Edwards. And who better to run this operation than Kilpatrick himself -- it will give him something to do when he gets out of jail on Tuesday.
In fact, this might solve two economic problems in one fell swoop. Kilpatrick needs work in order to pay the City of Detroit $1 million in restitution, and the fairgrounds needs a purpose other than a state fair that loses money.
It could be a public-private partnership even a straight-laced governor could love.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
2-03-2009 @ 1:40PM
snowgirlie said...
I live in Michigan. Our economy here is terrible. With all the automakers going under and people literally losing their jobs by the day, things are really rough. We have over 10% unemployment here. I believe Governor Granholm's idea of cutting the fair is a good one. If that is one of things that needs to be done to get our state back on track, well then so be it. I was at the fair last year and while we had a good time, it is very expensive, rides are very costly and the food prices are outrageous and not everything there is included in the admission cost. I don't really think in this economy that Michigan residents should be spending money on frills. We need to find jobs for our citizens and stop worrying about if the fair is going to be here next year.
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2-03-2009 @ 4:24PM
OBAMAA said...
GOOD NOW YOU GOT OBAMA LETS SEE WHAT HES GOING TO DO ,IS GIVE TO HIS KIND (PEOPLE) BUSH GAVE US FREEDOM AND OBAMA WILL TAKE IT AWAY ....... STUPID AMERICANS YOU DESERVE EVERY THING YOU WILL BE GETTING
2-03-2009 @ 7:11PM
Lori said...
You're an idiot and obviously don't live in farm country here in Michigan. Do you realize the number of farmers that count on the state fair for selling livestock and such?
Let's just wipe out the farmers and everyone else in the state while we're at it. We already KNOW Granholm is a flipping idiot! She doesn't need to contimue to prove it over and over and over again!
2-03-2009 @ 8:54PM
Jim said...
I moved out of Michigan 5 years ago to WV, Gov. Jennifer Granholm has spent millions in overseas trips like her recent vacation in the Middle East. to try to bring the jobs she has drove out of Michigan back. I remember when she took office for the first time and started eliminating tax breaks for the Big 3 and other large corps., and drove them and the jobs they provided to other states. I think that if the fine Gov. would focus on moving the state fair to a nicer location it could make money but that would take someone with a sound business mind to make it a reality which she is not capable of doing. I would be willing to bet that the State of Michigan spends over the 1.3 million on her travel expenses.
2-04-2009 @ 4:43AM
stephani said...
Hey we need to lock up the # 2 Obama hater, I guess he doesn't want to be free nor does he appreciate a Pres. who does not want to steal from the tax payers at any cost. The cost being this mess of an economy. All BS aside the auto problems are NOT the fault of the auto industry, or they would have occurred long ago. The Washington crybaby bed wetter's are just mad cuz we wont let them steal any more. I feel for MI, I'm from there and we are hurtin in AZ too and they don't get it. Maybe the state should look to improve the fair starting with the site. I know ours sucks in AZ. I would never go cuz of the area and COST of thing at the fair. Some of that should go to the state. The vendors make sooooo much .money, all cash too. They should be paying more for their spots at the fairs. The easier it is for them to travel the more they make. Really even if they bought all their food retail still big profit on a fried cookie dough that sells for $6 or the prize that cost $20 to win a $ store prize & $50 to win a good (?) prize. Maybe combine with another fair, what about the one by Grand Rapids, in Ionia? Or just move it farther out into a more rural area? Hate to see it go if Ag is the #2 business, no matter how tech we get, we will always need Ag. Maybe we need to get them going again, teach people new stuff, about green energy, wind farms, organic engineered crops, the ones that cant hurt us like cotton, or corn at least used for fuel, ...... go back to having the science fair....
2-06-2009 @ 3:27PM
L Wheeler said...
Excuse me, but this is NOT the oldest fair in the United States. The Topsfield Fair in Topsfield MA has been in existence since 1818. If the Michigan fair is 160 years old, then it has only been in existence since 1849.
My goodness, does no one do research at all anymore before publishing?
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2-03-2009 @ 7:28PM
Kunni said...
while the location may not be the best, it is probably the city kids that most need to see what a fair offers- plants and animals. A fair is NOT rides and food, it is exhibits of agricultural products and home arts and possibly arts and crafts. The other stuff is carnival. In every fair with which I am familiar,the exhibits are included in the price of admission.
I hate to see any fair ended, they are so educational if you take the time to explore the exhibits and stay away from the midway.
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2-03-2009 @ 5:08PM
jim said...
if its 160 yrs old it made it though the great depression what the economy is slipped and its time to sell the farm i say no we need to get the economy going this wont help it will hurt now all those that depended on making money as food venders ect. will loose out we should be looking for ways to make people get back to spending and also feeling goood again
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2-03-2009 @ 2:33PM
Marie said...
I think that all of the politaion should only recieve $1 yearly income until this state and Country is profitable again, as they need to do all that they can to correct the mess that they help creat by allowing job to leave this country. I live in MI, and lost my job in 2001, and have not recovered!
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2-04-2009 @ 12:51AM
Thayer Jordan said...
Marie, you're on the right track, if this governor was so smart, instead of closing the state fair f Michigan down, why not move it to a twon like Lansing, or Ann Arbor? I live in North Carolina, and is one of the most popular State Fairs in the U.S. I really think the governor is making a mistake if she close it down. W e don't have enough farmers out there, anyway. Down close it, Just move it to another city.
2-03-2009 @ 2:33PM
Andre said...
I also live in Michigan and while things here certainly aren't good, things in the area where the State Fair is located are worse! If they had the fair in a nicer area they would certainly draw a nicer and larger crowd. As far as Granholm cutting funding of the fair, while I'm sure she doesn't want to do it, she has to do what she has to do. But I also believe she is looking into some private funding for the fair, which could help revitalize the fair.
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2-03-2009 @ 4:53PM
flashygrrl21 said...
Agreed, they need to move it elsewhere. Since agriculture is such a big part of this state, what good is it to close down something that showcases it? 4-H kids from all over the state look forward to coming and showing their animals and skills every year and if this is taken away from them they will no longer be interested in doing this kind of stuff and the "big factory farm" wins even more because they'll be the only ones left.
2-03-2009 @ 2:41PM
Don said...
Sorry This is NOT the OLDEST fair in th country. The oldest one is in topsfield Ma it started in 1818 That make it 191 yrs old. sorry the fair in MI is having problems but it is not the oldest Don
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2-03-2009 @ 2:55PM
Doug said...
THe Topsfield Fair is an Essex County Fair, not a State Fair. Ture it's older than the Michigan State Fair, but the article is about the Oldest State Fair, not the oldest fair. The MA fair is not held in Essex, rather it is Waltham. But you're being the Don and all, what do you care so long as you get to spout.
2-03-2009 @ 4:48PM
karen said...
the article didn't say IT WAS THE OLDEST IT SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE OLDEST! Anyways who really goes to fairs anymore?
2-03-2009 @ 9:39PM
Jim said...
The link to this page calls it the "oldest".
2-03-2009 @ 2:45PM
Terry said...
I guess only those from Michigan can truly make the best call on this deal. However, if our current nation wide way of corruption, graft, and greed in government would cease then maybe something that people can take a few moments to actually enjoy would not have to go away. Thank your politicians by voting the bastards out.
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2-03-2009 @ 4:06PM
Penny said...
The ones that were voted out but the US economy in the mess its in. Thank you. Give Obama a chance hes not been in office a month.
2-03-2009 @ 2:44PM
Angiebaby said...
I'm sad to see state fairs going the way of the dinosaur. Government subsidies are funds which are not recovered. This pattern of giving out money with no expectations in return is part of why our entire economy is in crisis. It's too bad the government didn't invest in upgrading the fair site, which might have helped turn the fair back into a profitable venue, making some money for the state. Updated buildings are great for the fair! But they can also be rented out for other events, like antique fairs, etc.! Investing in higher end entertainment to perform during the fair would have drawn in bigger crowds, and helped build the fair into a more positive, exciting venue for families. Too late now, I guess.
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2-03-2009 @ 2:52PM
Tanyia Altamuro said...
It's a shame to end a part of history. Hopefully there is another way to cut the budget. Americans still need the frills of the past to keep today real. The fair could provide a few jobs for some. But instead you want to make more people jobless. Hopefully the historic society will stop this from happening. Don't take away everything from the people. Give them hope instead of a shattered dream.
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