Republicans in Michigan, including Governor Rick Snyder are bragging to anyone who will listen to them about Michigan’s low unemployment rate. And it’s true. Our 5% unemployment rate is below the national average and at its lowest level since the summer of 2000.
What they don’t mention, of course, is that the wages of our workers is perilously low. In fact, according to a report published earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, Michigan ranks 36th in terms of per capita personal income. Our workers, on average, make 12% less than the national average.
Personal income, by the way, hasn’t changed much in the past few decades if you’re at the lower end of the income scale:
[Source: IncomeInequality.org]
Meanwhile, corporate profits continue to rise to historically high levels:
This shows just how successful corporatists in our state have been. High employment coupled with low, stagnant wages means that we’re all working hard – for THEM. They have us right where they want us.
So, when you hear Gov. Snyder and the Republicans crowing about how they’ve turned Michigan around, keep in mind they’ve turned things around, all right. Around to the place where they have citizens working hard for less money while corporate profits continue to rise.
It’s a corporatist’s dream come true.
