Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- The Upper Peninsula is home to just three percent of the state's residents, but that small population provides a sense of community and the ability to work together.  

According to the speakers at Friday's "Changing Michigan:  An Upper Peninsula Perspective" at NMU, the other 97 percent of Michigan needs to learn from the U.P.

"We need to speak with one voice and find a common agenda and go stand tall down in Lansing and say, 'The Upper Peninsula is a crucial and vital part of our state, and we need to be included in this debate, and we're speaking with one voice,'" said David Haynes of NMU's Political Science Department.

That sense of united optimism was popular among panelists at today's discussion.  Panelists included former State Representative Steve Adamini, former State Representative Doug Bovin, and former State Treasurer, Dr. Doug Roberts.

"We have certain things that other states don't have.  One is recreation, two is mining and forests.  Obviously all three are important in the U.P., so that is our future, at least in my opinion.  And so I think the U.P. has a very important role to play," said Roberts.

Adamini agrees.  Mining has ruled the U.P.'s economy, and it's not going away any time soon.

"Well I think mining has been and will continue to be an important part of the economic base of the Upper Peninsula, simply because we're blessed with a deposit of so many minerals," said Adamini.

As for "changing Michigan," Doug Bovin says that the state needs to rediscover optimism somewhere--anywhere.  Without a positive feeling, the state will remain in an economic rut.

"We have to change the attitude of the state.  We've got to get back to the ability to say 'Hey, we can do this!' instead of being pessimistic," said Bovin.

At this afternoon's discussion, panelists also noted that Governor Granholm will be ending her term next year.  Dr. Roberts was asked about the number one responsibility of Michigan's next Governor.

His response: Jobs!  Jobs!  Jobs!