"Five straight months of losing jobs is more depressing news for a state that's really been hit hard," said Patrick Anderson, an East Lansing-based economist.

Anderson said a troubling trend is the disappearance of 15,000 people from the state labor force between May and June. The labor force, which counts both the number of people employed and those looking for work, has dropped by 32,000 since June 2007, state data shows.

"That is confirming some of my fears that talented workers are leaving the state," he said.

Not every one of those fifteen-thousand necessarily left the state.  Some of them could have just left the labor force, giving up hope completely without having the means to get out of dodge.  Obviously John Engler's fault.  So was the big General Motors layoff announcement.  The Ivory Tower has forecasters who believe two of the state's hardest hit urban areas will feel the brunt of this round of bad news.

Global Insight automotive forecaster Rebecca Lindland says she believes GM will close Pontiac Truck, cut truck production in Flint from two shifts to one, and increase production at the car-assembly plant in Orion Township.

The Pontiac and the Flint parts, those are Engler's fault.  The Orion Township part, that was all Jennifer Granholm.  So, apparently, is the new casino operation over here on the lakeshore.  The Muskegon Chronicle reported last night:

"We are pleased to be able to make this investment in Western Michigan's economy as it will help bring jobs, businesses and tourism to the area," said Larry Romanelli, the tribal chief. "This move is being made by the tribe as a commitment to serve a region that is part of our historic nine-county service area (in which members of the tribe live)."

Romanelli said this investment of tribal funds is in keeping with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's announced goals for rejuvenation of the state...

And all it costs us is our soul.  

Now don't get me wrong, I'm as big a libertarian as the next guy (unless that guy's name is John Galt).  Do people have the basic human right to ruin their own lives?  Sure.  You want to give someone all of your money, destroy your relationship with your spouse, lose your home, get your car repossessed and leave nothing behind for your kids that is entirely your business.  But that doesn't mean I have to put on a party hat or break out the noisemakers.  

Are we so desperate for jobs that we'll take one-thousand of them in the short term if it sucks twenty, thirty-million dollars out of the local economy without producing any tangible product or benefit outside of emotional and familial devastation?  What am I saying?  Of course we are.

There are a few folks who can handle casinos and gaming.  One of my absolute best friends is a big fan of the Vegas.  She's got the neon disease and her parents had it before her... and still do.  They aren't on the street yet.  But if you're a part of a church, a community group, a neighborhood association... if you ever spend time with diverse groups of your fellow man you know folks who can't handle it and haven't handled it.  Folks who've faced times in their lives when they were so desperate for a solution that they literally gambled something away they couldn't win back.  

That's Jennifer Granholm's idea of statewide rejuvenation as told by Chief Larry.  Michigan as a giant money-sucking familial death trap.  Something we can all be proud of. Pass the kazoo.