Save Michigan Lives, Let Local Government Choose Economic and Public Health Response
                  “Local self-government is the life-blood of liberty”
      – John Lothrop Motley, famous American author and diplomat

My name is Jared, and as a proud Michigander, it has broken my heart to see the devastation the Corona virus has caused on local communities. The worst part is that a lot of the pain has been self-inflicted! Governor Whitmer and the State of Michigan have made economic and public health decisions on behalf of all Michiganders. We need to give power to those best-informed, Local Leaders.

Governor Whitmer’s response has caused:

•   ¼ of Michigan’s workforce to apply for unemployment aid
•   Unemployment rates will double unemployment rates of 2008 (expected)
•   Tax revenues to fall as much as $7 billion over the next 18 months
•   One in seven local businesses are not confident they will survive the pandemic
•   60% of businesses to lay off at least one employee

Economic shutdowns are appropriate for certain areas of the state, like Detroit and Grand Rapids, but Michigan is more than just two cities. The majority of counties in Michigan should not have total economic shutdowns!

Here are the facts (all sources listed at the bottom of the petition)

•   75% of all Coronavirus cases have occurred in Detroit and the immediately surrounding counties
•   Over half of all Michigan counties have active cases equaling less than .05% of the population
•   4 counties have no cases
•   No counties in the Upper Peninsula have more than .05% of the population with active cases

To put an end to the damage caused by blanket public health policy, we are asking the state to give power to local leaders. The federal government gave states the power to make critical decisions about their own public health and economies. It is time the states give that same power to counties and cities!

By giving local government the power to make decisions for their own communities, we can expect the following outcomes:

•   Immediate economic relief and possible prevention of a lingering recession
•   More appropriate public health measures
•   Decreased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide
•   Large and small businesses saved from bankruptcy
•   Increased tax revenue with decreased mandatory spending
•   More Michiganders back to work

Please join me in getting this message to Governor Whitmer, the State Senate, and the State House of Representatives by signing and sharing this petition!

Share on social media using the hashtag #empowerlocalgov

I would also urge you to express your right to freedom of speech and personally contact our governor in Lansing with our pressing concerns about the state we love.

You can reach Governor Whitmer at the following contacts:
•   Phone: (517) 373 – 3400
•   Address: P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, Michigan 48909

Sources used:
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/coronavirus-tracker-what-michigan-needs-know-now
https://www.michigan-demographics.com/counties_by_population
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/04/21/tracking-active-covid-19-cases-in-michigan/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/16/michigan-unemployment-coronavirus/