Automation, globalization and fears raised by immigrants raise political stress that will only yield to leaders who can bring people together.
Phil Power
Former newspaper publisher and University of Michigan Regent Phil Power is a longtime observer of Michigan politics and economics. He is also the founder and former chairman of the Center for Michigan which publishes Bridge Michigan and BridgeDetroit.
Among likely candidates for governor, who can unite our divided state?
Phil Power visits three candidates, Dan Kildee, Bill Schuette and Gretchen Whitmer, all likely to seek the governorship in 2018. All are smart and able, but each has yet to find a theme that can bring Michiganders together.
New book on Detroit’s 1967 uprisings; events feel like yesterday
The riot – or rebellion, as some call it – raised long-suppressed issues of race, poverty, joblessness and despair among African-American Detroiters. How much has truly changed?
Election reform critical to restoring public trust
Michiganders told us they can’t count on Lansing to handle the basics. Ending term limits and legislative gerrymandering are two ways to make politicians more responsive to all residents.
Residents are giving up hope for a better Michigan
If we don’t have public confidence in our system of representative government and in our political leaders to reform and improve, our options are pretty much reduced to chaos or authoritarianism.
Send Bridge the worst examples of bad government writing
How you can help the state clean up the best of the worst examples of incomprehensible government forms, laws or other documents.
Phasing out income-tax revenue a dangerous game
Lansing’s tax-cutting obsession is leading Michigan down the drain
In Legionnaires’ story, an example of Bridge Magazine’s mark
Bridge Magazine just won its second straight “Newspaper of the Year” award. Dogged reporting like that shown in uncovering some mysterious pneumonia deaths near Flint is one reason why.
Getting Lansing to consider our long-term infrastructure needs
Lawmakers are floating elimination of the state’s income tax at a time when evidence shows that Michigan desperately needs more state revenues to fix crumbling roads and keep drinking water safe.
In search of common ground
Bridge Magazine’s “Michigan Divided” project aims to walk in the shoes of, and find common values among, those who are different from us.