4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 12, 2006 DONN M. FRESARD EEFFLEY BEAME EDtON nChieELBACHRISTOPHER ZBROZEK JEFFREY BLOOMER Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editors Managing Editor EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT T THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SINCE 1890 413 E. HURON ST. ANN ARBOR, MI 48104 tothedaily@michiganda ly.com OPINION 4 NOTABLE QUOTABLE G I have always argued that we should talk to parties whose behavior we want to change, and from that point of view I believe the U.S. and North Korea should talk" - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, speaking to the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, as reported by The New York Times. The limits of 21st-century jobs CHRISTOPHER ZBROZEK A Tiger-like economy Team can be a model for underdog state Saturday afternoon, while many stu- dents watched the Michigan football team dominate Michigan State, the Detroit Tigers clinched their American League Division Series against the peren- nial powerhouse New York Yankees. For a city so down on its luck, it was refresh- ing to see 40,000 Tigers fans celebrating in unison as their team defeated baseball's "Evil Empire" In the late 1990s, while Detroit's econ- omy spiraled downward, Tigers owner Mike Illitch announced his intentions to build a new stadium. At the time, Tiger Stadium was the oldest - and arguably the most historic - venue in baseball. Many Detroit sports purists opposed the closure of Tiger Stadium, but Illitch and Detroit city officials successfully marketed the construction of the new stadium as a necessary economic revitalization project. About $115 million in public money went toward the construction of Comerica Park. Detroit spent additional money to clean up the surrounding area in a series of urban renewal projects centered on the economic activity enveloping the two new sports venues. Detroit encouraged entre- preneurs to move their restaurants and bars to the area to foster a sports-friendly atmosphere and the revenue that comes with it. When Comerica Park opened in April of 2000, the fanfare surrounding the sta- dium quickly subsided because the team continued to lose. In a desperate grab for good publicity, Detroit landed the 2005 Major League All-Star Game and Super Bowl XL. Those events were well attend- ed but the continued failure of the Lions' and the Tigers' encouraged Detroit sports fans to stay home the rest of the year. Despite Michigan's poor economy, the success of the Detroit Tigers this season brought people to Comerica Park and gave the city back some of the hope taken by the state's economic woes. With the Tigers two wins away from the World Series, Michi- ganders have every reason to be optimistic in troubling times. While it can be tempt- ing to turn on the TV and turn off the real- ity of Michigan's uphill battle to get in the game, the fact remains that it will take a lot more than a successful postseason to get Michigan's economy roaring. State officials have something to learn from the Tigers' accomplishments, when analyzing the reasons for the Tigers' success and the Yankees' failures, one finds two competing business philoso- phies aimed at achieving the same goal - winning the World Series. The Tigers built their team by placing an emphasis on drafting, developing and growing tal- ent from within the organization, while the Yankees focused on plugging voids by buying the best available talent. The debate rages between the similar philoso- phies that aim to revive Michigan's strug- gling economy. The Tigers' model would focus on investing in higher education to grow the skilled workforce needed for 21st-century jobs and create a culture of loyalty to the state of Michigan. The Yankees' model focuses on recruiting companies through tax breaks and subsidies to temporarily relocate their jobs into Michigan - only to watch those companies leave when another state extends a better offer. If this year's baseball playoffs are any indication, the Tiger model is the way to go. After all, if the Tigers can go from the worst team in baseball three years ago to defeating the heavily favored New York Yankees, anything can happen. ts been unpleasant to watch the life trickle out of the Detroit Free Press ever since the mindless Gannett chain sank its fangs into a once- proud newspa- per that's been publishing since before Michigan gained statehood. I didn't realize how bad the situation was, how- ever, until the Freep started stealing story ideas from the youthful William Buckley-wannabes over at the Michi- gan Review. The Review's lead story last week Tuesday: "It's time to lead by Ann Arbor's example: How Ann Arbor avoided Michigan's economic down- turn." The Free Press, of which I am an increasingly less-loyal subscriber, on my doorstep six days later: "Michigan's high-tech hope: Ann Arbor's economy shines." Timing coincidence aside, there's moresupportfortheplagiarismhypoth- esis. Both stories, citing the same basic facts about the high-tech industries and low unemployment rates here, support the case that Ann Arbor has what the rest of the state needs - those new- fangled "knowledge economy" jobs. If only we can replace all those crum- bling auto plants with solar-powered, ethanol-fueled, computerized stem cell research centers, by golly, Michigan will be rich again! Or at least the state's median household income will move back above the national average - it fell below last year for the first time since the glaciers carved out the Great Lakes - but you get the idea. This notion that high-tech jobs can save the state is a common one, and it's sound in its fundamentals. It cer- tainly makes more sense than bemoan- ing the "unfair trade agreements" that have sent our jobs "on a slow boat to China and on the Internet to India" as borderline xenophobe Gov. Jennifer Granholm said during Tuesday night's gubernatorialdebate,theoneyoudidn't watch 'cause the Tigers were on. And a knowledge economy is a clear win- ner over Dick DeVos's belief that if we only cut taxes for millionaire business owners like himself a bit more, we'll magically see an economic rebirth that would make Milton Friedman proud, or at least we'll bankrupt the state gov- ernment. Building one of these high-tech knowledge economies may be the best bet our state's got - but that doesn't mean the odds are exactly in our favor. Even if we followed all the right policies - cranking out more math, science and engineering grads; making higher education more affordable; developing the vibrant communities that attract skilled young workers - we're still going to find that something's lack- ing. I've spent entirely too much time thinking about the state of this state over the past couple years, and I still have no idea how a knowledge econo- my can ever support the broad middle class that the auto companies and their unions once did. One key part of a knowledge econ- omy, as everyone must know by now, is a highly educated workforce. Older folks in Michigan, they just ain't as edumacated as they oughter be. Young people, meanwhile, flee the state about as quickly as its universities can print diplomas. If we could just attract and build a more educated workforce, the story goes, we'd be able to recruit the high-tech firms we need. That's great, but it's great mainly for those with the brains to soak up a fancy education and the savings or family support needed to keep fed while being educated. Wise policies can perhaps make sure more people can afford col- lege, but the fact is that most people just aren't bright enough to be alternative- fuel or stem-cell pioneers. Even less prestigious high-tech workers - the technicians and such who leave the top-flight innovators free to spend their time innovating - typically need a level of smarts that rules out the half of the population that, statistically speak- ing, is below average intelligence. Even if I'm wrong about how bright a person needs to be to have a future in the high-tech economy, there's still the issue that these knowledge-economy firms tend not to employ all that many people. YouTube, for all the buzz it's created, employs 67 people - each apparently worth nearly $25 million of Google stock. General Motors and Ford, meanwhile, are both shedding tens of thousands of employees. The emphasis in the knowledge economy is on educated workers who can provide added value - not on the massive industrial armies of yore. Plus, the unions that made sure manufactur- ing workers got a fair deal back in the day haven't figured out how to adapt to a more competitive global economy - and they're essentially absent in the high-tech world anyway. Michigan could do worse than to put its few remaining eggs into the knowl- edge-economybasket.Butweshouldn't kid ourselves: Even if it helps make our state more prosperous, this isn't a solu- tion that's going to do much to reverse the hollowing-out of the middle class that's been happening awfully quickly in Michigan these days. Zbrozek can be reached at zbrozek@michigandaily.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send all letters to the editor to tothedaily@michigandaily.com. VIEWPOINT End the power struggle BY JOANNA SLOTT Recently, our government has devolved into a state of stark mismanagement. Immediate issues plaguing our nation, such as America's depen- dency on foreign oil, education, the rising national deficit and the environment, go untouched in Washington while partisan wedge issues consume our legislature's time and energy - not to mention American tax dollars. Unity08 is a new bipartisan political movement aimed at reshaping political discourse. If you are like most Americans, you feel alien- ated by the two-party system. Neither party reflects your views, nor do you vote for a candi- date in whom you believe; rather, you settle for the lesser of two evils. The wheels have come off the two-party system as both camps spend more time attacking each other rather than working toward a better and more stable America. The idea of politi- cians as public servants has become laughable as corruption runs unchecked through the halls of the Congress and White House. The political practice of attack and destroy has consumed both parties and relies solely on the "integrity" of character assassination and position politics rather than inclusive debate. Wedge issues designed to polar- ize Americans have Washington concerned more with political alliances and party lines than the well-being of this nation. Given these problems, Jared Goldberg's recent article, (A case for apathy (10/06/2006), is cer- tainly tempting. After all, the entrenched politi- cal parties show no real signs of backing away from their rhetoric or coming together earnestly to address our nation's pressing needs. But this is our country, our government - and it is time we demand change. Unity08 is a new, nationwide, political move- ment that aims to instigate this change. Founded by former President Jimmy Carter's Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan, and former President Gerald Ford's advisor Doug Bailey, among oth- ers, Unity08 will run a bipartisan ticket on the presidential ballot in 2008: one Republican and one Democrat - or a pair of Independents reflecting a unity mentality. Composed of mem- bers across the political spectrum, Unity08 seeks JOHN OQUIST Lv{ . ,)NYo ;;i to jolt the entrenched political system, bringing both parties to the table for an earnest and forth- right debate on America's most urgent issues. While Unity08 does not have all the solutions, it seeks to spark honest debate. Global terrorism, the emergence of India and China as strategic competitors and/or allies, nuclear proliferation, the health care system and the education of our children are just some of America's most press- ing, unaddressed issues. But can it really work? We can't make any promises, but Newsweek, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, National Public Radio and others must think Unity has a shot or they would not have covered it so extensively. Today, eight out of 10 Americans believe Congress is too polarized to solve the nation's problems. With the use of the Internet, those eight people can coordinate a successful unity campaign to initiate substantial political change in 2008. How will all this work? How can you help? In the spring of 2008, Unity08 will hold an online convention to nominate candidates for the presi- dential ballot. Any registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, can participate in this inclusive convention. However, in order to recruit candi- dates for our primary, we need numbers. The most important action you can take is to sign up (www.unity08.com), and place your name alongside thousands - soon to be millions - of others concerned Americans. Signing up takes ten seconds, commits you to nothing and will show that Washington political apathy has been replaced with political action. It is time to rid our country of special interest distortion and political infighting. The solution is at hand. Through the election of a nonparti- san administration, Unity08 will work toward an America free from political power struggles. America needs your help to heal our self-inflict- ed wounds from years of corruption and partisan politics. Take back control of your country. Join us at www.unity08.com and help rehabilitate the state of our nation. Slott is an LSA senior and the president of LSA Student Government . Only shitty writers resort to foul language TO THE DAILY: Punit Mattoo's language in his review (Magazine's adven- tures adapt into bite size travelogues for Jackass' generation, 10/11/2006) pushes the editorial standards of this newspa- per from tolerably mediocre to positively unacceptable. The Oxford English Dictionary, with its 301,100 entries, seems to be a sadly underused object by writers submitting to this publication as it is, but I don't need or care for a flagrant demonstration of this in what is supposed to be the most eloquent and powerful voice of the student population of one of America's greatest universities. I object to and resent the continued lowering of editorial standards of print media in this forum that was destined for the education and bet- terment of the University community at large. Swear on your own time, not mine. Steven Ball Alum Daily insults both Tally Hall and engineer's intelligence TO THE DAILY: Thank you very, very much, Daily Arts, for helping me once again to be an involved participant in today's confus- ing society. You see, I am an engineer, and I spend pretty much all my time in the library, or up there on North Cam- pus (or in the library up on North Campus). You might not be aware, but up we are just a little behind the culture of the times. We're all still wearing parachute pants, and "Top Gun" just came out last week. (But man, do we love that movie) So it's always a joy when I am able to open up a copy of The Michigan Daily and be enlightened by the Arts section. I was moved to write this letter - writing being some- thing I don't do often - by the article about Tally Hall in yesterday's paper (Immature musicianship, 10/11/2006). Most shocking to me was the revelation that not only is Tally Hall's music garbage, but the ulterior motives behind their songs are, in fact, evil and the promotion of hatred. I will admit that sometimes when sitting alone in my room on a Friday night doing thermodynamics homework, I would loudly sing along with "Welcome to Tally Hall." Please forgive me, but political correctness is another one of my weaker areas of knowledge, along with psychology, culture and impressing women. In conclusion, I just wanted to thank the Daily Arts for helping me, a lonely engineer, feel like a part of cultural society by guiding me along the correct path of thought.I am sorry if this letter is poorly written, but Iam an engineer and do not have the ability to "write, to think critically, to speak my mind eloquently, and to discuss abstract con- cepts" that Whitney Dibo does. Aaron Johnson Engineering junior Don't hate on Tally Hall; they've been on late-night TV TO THE DAILY: Lloyd H. Cargo's article (Immature musicianship 10/11/2006) requires more than a mere rebuttal. Cargo attacks Tally Hall in three ways. First, he accuses Tally Hall of racist undertones. Second, he asserts that Tally Hall lacks popularity. Finally, he chastises fans of Tally Hall, claiming their lack of knowledge about the band proves the band's popularity is shallow. Lloyd's accusation of bigotry backfires horribly and dis- plays his own uneducated use of racial stereotyping. After declaring that Tally Hall's lyrics patronize those who take hip hop seriously, he continues by asking if you would recite Tally Hall's lyrics to a black person's face. Oddly, Lloyd, black people are not the only human beings who enjoy hip hop. Furthermore, if a person is African-American he doesn't necessarily enjoy hip hop. You may be the one who is downright offensive for singling out a group of people based on the color of their skin. Tally Hall has become a spectacularly popular group of hometown heroes. They've appeared on late-night television with Craig Ferguson, toured around the United States with sellout shows, starred on MTV's "You Hear it First" will be on Fox television this Saturday, and have received amazing reviews. On Amazon.com, out of 31 reviews, only two praised Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum with less than the full 5-star rating. They appear in papers like the Los Angles Times, described as up to their necks in musical style. Finally, Lloyd uses a passing quip from a young girl, who did not know the name of her favorite band member, in an attempt to degrade Tally Hall's popularity. Wow, Lloyd. Who attacks the character of a young girl at the Top of the Park festival? Sounds like someone might be jealous that his name barely makes the Daily. Steven Schwartz LSA senior 4 a .. wr. .. . .. t ... _ ... o t 4 Alo 10%c~ ~ ~ J Aif , , y4 U w O VV T. 4.v £5JO 1,G+h'MVa jj Tk, 4,4sai Ge-3Q}1r,ey W fr+i Lot 7 V °l *telr. P,- I Aeoas egk c6o We-i -nt? aro I o' YOU MIGHT UKE TO KNOW: During Tuesday's gubernatorial debate, Dick DeVos was asked whether he would push to change Michigan's abor- tion laws should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. His answer: "I'm comfortable with the laws we have on abortion in Michigan." The fact Wednesday's Detroit Free Press missed: Michigan's pre-Roe abortion ban is still on the books, ready to go into effect again if Roe is overturned. It seems Richard Nixon wasn't the only "Tricky Dick" in politics. JACK DOHERING TIME SIGNATCRE t . AIOO If i pr 4 I