Late-Summer-Michigan-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 947

Great Summer Road Trip To Michigan

These days taking a long road trip is pretty much out of the question. But a short road trip from Minnesota to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and West Coast is perfect. Learn more in Late-Summer-Michigan-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 947.

You’ve Never Been?

First of all when I told friends I was headed to the Midwest’s ‘West Coast’ people said, “You’ve never been?”

Second as a Chicagoan I’d been to Benton Harbor and the Indiana Dunes, right?

The West Coast

However not on up Michigan’s West Coast.

The Upper Peninsula

I’d certainly been to the Upper Peninsula. But I haven’t spent much time there.

Wow

I’ll just say it. Wow.

I Want To Go Back…In The Winter!

More importantly, I think it is one of the best places to visit in the summer. So much so, I want to go back in the winter!

Not Big On Travelog Podcasts

Above all I am not one for travelog podcasts. Every bend in the highway is chronicled. Routes and places to stay talked about and so on.

The Routes

I can tell you about Wisconsin 77 connecting to Ashland County GG, and ultimately 77 all the way to Ironwood, Michigan.

Some Of The Campgrounds

Even more the Alpine Campground near Ironwood, or US 20 to US 41all the way to Marquette, Michigan. Then all the way across to Michigan 123 on down to the magnificent Mackinac Bridge.

But It’s The History That Gets Me

Then most importantly the great maritime towns along Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast from Petoskey to Charlavoix on down to Traverse City, Manistee and all the way to Ludington.

The SS Badger Is The Cherry On Top

Finally the cherry on top for me was the four hour ferry ride on the SS Badger the only steam powered boat on the lake these days, and the last remaining rail ferry.

The Old Industrial Midwest

I am product of the old industrial Midwest.

Factories, Farms, Railroads, Mines and Lakes

My home is a heartland of factories and mines. I can’t forget the farms and train yards.

Won’t Forget Working Class History

I won’t forget the working class history here.

Still An Industrial Powerhouse

Likewise I have to point out this area remains one of the world’s most powerful industrial regions.

Travel Is All About Learning

To sum up what gets me about this kind of travel is the history.

Plenty of that in this podcast.

Sponsored by Kim Nybo Insurance and Les J Hill Life and Business Coaching

Late-Summer-Michigan-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 947

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Podcast 584-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show-58

Podcast 584-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show-58. With the Electoral Vote, Donald J. Trump is the official President Elect of the United States. He’ll be sworn in as the 45th President on Friday, January 20th, 2017. As terrible coverage of the election, post election and the events leading up to the inauguration continues, time to shift the conversation toward the challenges ahead. Podcast 584-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show-58 my coverage of these challenges.

Last summer I predicted the final outcome of the 2016 election would center on the Great Lakes region of the United States. Ohio, Pennsyvania, Wisconsin, Michigan. The former industrial heartland has been plagued by bad economic and policy initiatives, excessive taxation, corruption and incompetent local governments. It’s not surprising people in these regions would have reached a point where they have had enough.

The new narrative is Donald Trump heralds a new kind of politics in America. Depending on the source, either a darker, jingoistic throwback to the 1950’s, a new kind of Populist-Conservative politics, or a new Centrism. Every politician wants to be thought of as a rail splitter, born in a log cabin. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump come from upper middle class backgrounds. Park Ridge, Illinois and the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, in New York City are hardly breeding grounds for American Populists.

While the tone of the executive branch might change under Trump the fact is moderate, establishment Republicans and moderate Democrats are still in control of the United States Government. How do we expect this group of out-of-touch politicians to address the challenges we face?

Since 2008 the US has had stimulus, banking legislation, the adoption of The Affordable Health Care Act and a change in Foreign Policy. The result is nominal economic growth, with 63 percent of the eligible workforce sidelined. A foreign policy that was supposed to herald a new era of peace and cooperation, didn’t. Despite major changes in technology, trade and comparative advantage the new story line is Manufacturing’s Greatest Days lie ahead. Is this true? Another initiative of the new administration is to force spending of a trillion dollars on ‘infrastructure’. Will this work? Is this a conservative economic policy approach? With only 8 percent of the work force is employed in manufacturing and construction and most of the rest of us are employed in value added services, one wonders.

Whatever the new president wants to do, it will be processed through the US Congress, State Legislatures and the Courts. With plenty of Democrats in congress and state legislatures ready to put up a good fight, we’ll see how much the GOP and Trump can get done. We’ll also see if the policy they end up with will work to address major challenges of the future.

Massive changes are taking place in our society and the world as the Fourth Industrial Revolution takes hold. While it’s good for Trump supporters and Republicans to celebrate, and for Democrats to prepare their opposition, the question is whether any of the leaders in Washington really understand what is needed for the people of the United States to grow our economy, move forward and prevail in the new world. Sponsored by Brush Studio and X Government Cars.

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Podcast 571-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show 52

Podcast 571-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show 52. Final Thoughts On Election 2016. The biggest loser in election 2016 is The Media. Specifically, pundits, prognosticators and predictors of the future. The Media did it to us through the masochistic 2 year presidential election cycle. Before President-Elect Trump has had a chance to get a good night’s sleep after a grueling election, we’re already being told what kind of president he’ll be. He is either the second coming of Reagan or the Anti-Christ. Four new mini podcasts for your weekend and some reminders about why I did not endorse, promote, defend, or attack candidates and positions. In 2016 the Media failed to cover any of the issues in favor of lurid, shock oriented gossip. So a new administration takes office while a poorly informed public nurses preconceived notions about what is ‘going to happen’. First thing to tackle? “The Polls Were Wrong”. What is wrong is the media’s reliance on national presidential preference polls, drawing incorrect conclusions and making predictions based on those conclusions. If you were surprised at the outcome of election 2016 it’s because of what you were watching and listening to. The Bob Davis Podcasts steadfastly maintained the polls were too close to call in key states. Given how close the race was in Ohio, and Pennsyvania, Florida, North Carolina and Wisconsin, Trump won because voters for Obama in 2008 and 2012 did not show up for Clinton. Trump was able to get enough people to vote for him to overwhelm Clinton where it counted. Elections are not won with polls. Elections are not won with predictions. Election outcomes are determined by the people who vote. Second thing to tackle? “Donald Trump Is Anti Establishment. The Establishment was Beaten”. Really? Who’s in charge of the Republican Party, the US Congress and the Senate? Who are the people running Trump’s transition team and where do they come from? In 2016 both mainline political parties rejected the grassroots in their parties in favor of candidates they thought could win. Finally, travel is the best way to temper judgements about what is going on in this country and what will happen as a result. The United States is still vibrant. From Silicon Valley to the Chesapeake Bay, from North Dakota to the Texas Gulf Coast. In my travels in 2016 I met people going to work, running their businesses, taking care of their kids and living their lives. Guess what? They weren’t hanging on every word spoken by Wolf Blitzer or Laura Ingram. While there are places worse for wear or facing tough challenges, on balance this country is not falling apart, despite what the charlatans say. The country now needs to think about the challenges and opportunity ahead. We need to take full advantage of the technology revolution on our doorstep. In Podcast 571-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show 52, I’ll run it all down for you. Sponsored by Brush Studio and Hydrus.

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