Michigan residents would pay a 2 percent sales tax starting June 1 on everything from haircuts to movie tickets and legal fees under a proposal by Gov. Jennifer Granholm that was unveiled Wednesday. Full Story >>

Ms. Granholm -

I am one of the so-called “knowledge-workers” that you are so desperate to have live in Michigan. 

But here’s the funny thing - I, like most other knowledge workers, am by definition not tied to a specific geographic location.  I can work from anywhere. 

And frankly - it sucks being a knowledge worker in Michigan.  Regardless of your efforts, and in spite of Google’s recent decision to put an office here, Michigan is not considered a “cool state” by the tech industry.  Oh - there are spots of success like Ann Arbor arguably being the home of Information Architecture.  But I can’t tell you the last time I attended a tech industry conference, trade show, or seminar of significance.  Why?  Because they are all out of state - organizers of these events know where the money is, and it isn’t in Michigan.

And, also like most other knowledge workers, my income is service-based.

Simply put, ideas like taxing services give us just one more reason to consider moving out of Michigan.

Now don’t get me wrong—I love Michigan.  I was born and raised here.  I’m raising my family not two miles from where I grew up.  I have family here.  I love the seasons and the scenery.  I’d hate to leave.

But - it’s already hard enough to scrape out a living with what’s left of Michigan’s economy.  Most of my current business is non-local.  If moving out of state means a better life for my family, and an easier or more profitable time for my business—you can bet we’ll seriously consider it.