Today's GOP Debate: It's Jobs Stupid!

Today's GOP debate in Dearborn, Michigan is a fitting location for an "economic" themed debate. The debate airs live at 4pm EST today on CNBC and is rebroadcast at 9pm EST on MSNBC.

If you are talking about economics in Michigan its more simply, jobs.

Here's the reality of life in Michigan since 2002 (per the Bureau of Labor Statistics):

- Most recent monthly unemployment, worst in the nation. At 7.4 (national average was 4.7%).
- Michigan lost 1 job every 2 minutes last month.
- Michigan looses a manufacturing job every 17 minutes (contrasted to the fact that nationally America has added manufacturing jobs).

And the numbers only get worse.
Other facts about Michigan:

- Michigan is first in the nation for move outs. That is in families leaving.
- Consequently, Michigan is 49th in the nation for retention of young people (aka, its future).
- Michigan is 50st (aka the slowest) in the growth of home value.
- Michigan is dead-last for per-capita productivity growth.
- Michigan is dead-last in hotel occupancy rates.
- A national survey of CEOs cited Michigan as 49th (or almost worst in the nation) to create jobs.
- Michigan is the 10th most expensive state to create jobs in.
- Michigan ranks 49th in state competitiveness for tax climate.
- Michigan-based companies will be hiring 43% fewer young people this year than it did last year, nationally companies plan to hire 5% more. In the same study, if Michigan were not in the mix, the national figures for additional hires would be up 13%
- Five of the top 10 worst performing cities are located in Michigan.
- Personal bankruptcies are at an all-time high, in 2005, it had already topped 88,402.
- Earning power in Michigan has eroded significantly in the last five years: Median incomes dropped by 12% from $52,000 in 2000 to $46,000 in 2005. Nationally, median income rose by 1.1%.

A couple of weeks ago, the jobs picture in Michigan got even bleaker. The state's Democrat governor signed a personal income tax hike from 3.9% to 4.3%. And signed an expansion of the state sales tax that for some businesses - including the Big Three auto companies, was retroactive - making it very difficult for big and small business to survive in the Great Lakes State.

This is the reality for Michigan as these GOP candidates take to the stage. Can they connect and provide hope and message of opportunity to a state that has been left behind?