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 A SOLUTION-ORIENTED CANDIDATE WITH NO ISSUES, Just Solutions

Upgrade Michigan Industrial to Tech and Research

  • Pre-pandemic there was a shortage of 1 million high paying jobs in high tech, high growth industries.
  • As America transitions from a manufacturing to service sector economy, Michigan must not get left behind.
  • We must upgrade our industrial base toward IT and research fields to position Michigan as a leader in R&D and technology, attracting the highest level of talent from around the country.

Solutions

  • Establish high tech R&D ecosystems that create solutions to socioeconomic challenges while boosting the economy through new technology.

Outcomes

  • Position Michigan as leader in R&D and developing new technologies
  • Create solutions to socioeconomic challenges while boosting the economy
  • Economic expansion
  • Upgrade industrial base toward Tech and R&D
  • Reduced unemployment 
  • Attract highly skilled talent pool
  • Increase statewide collaboration

Explanation

  • We must promote Michigan as a leader in R&D.  Presently, however, there is no avenue for the brightest talent in the state to engage government in developing solutions for Societal concerns.  Establishing an exploration ecosystem of  government officials, experts across academic disciplines, research facilities, start-ups, and labs, along with public and private sponsors would catalyze R&D efforts to create new technologies.
  • We can establish the ecosystem within months on Polyplexus, a platform designed by DARPA, to facilitate breakthroughs through a highly methodological process flow whereby ideas are substantiated by scientific research to evolve into research projects, connecting with financial sponsors throughout the life cycle. 
  • A research ecosystem will attract the highest level of talent from around the country, critical to upgrading Michigan’s industrial base toward technology and research fields.
  • The ecosystem will create technology for municipalities such as autonomous EV snow removal vehicles and technology to support first responders.

Explanation

  • We must promote Michigan as a leader in R&D.  Presently, however, there is no avenue for the brightest talent in the state to engage government in developing solutions for Societal concerns.  Establishing an exploration ecosystem of  government officials, experts across academic disciplines, research facilities, start-ups, and labs, along with public and private sponsors would catalyze R&D efforts to create new technologies.
  • We can establish the ecosystem within months on Polyplexus, a platform designed by DARPA, to facilitate breakthroughs through a highly methodological process flow whereby ideas are substantiated by scientific research to evolve into research projects, connecting with financial sponsors throughout the life cycle. 
  • A research ecosystem will attract the highest level of talent from around the country, critical to upgrading Michigan’s industrial base toward technology and research fields.
  • The ecosystem will create technology for municipalities such as autonomous EV snow removal vehicles and technology to support first responders.

Explanation

  • Talented students can enter the workforce at a younger age, avoiding an additional two years of education debt, without compromising their productivity as they will complete all major requirements and enter the market only with job opportunities.
  • Michigan benefits from a younger, highly-skilled labor pool with less debt, requiring lower wages, making the Michigan labor market more competitive, and attracting businesses.  The growing labor market encourages workers from outside to relocate to Michigan, representing a strong consumer market for local businesses, which along with an overall strong economic environment, generates a growing source of government revenue.
  • A significant number of new, young teachers will be among those taking the 2+2 offer, attenuating the teacher shortage.

College-Workforce Upgrade to In-demand Jobs

Solutions

  • The (2+2) College-Workforce Initiative for all Michigan Students
  • Students attending public universities in high need fields – technology, teaching, etc:
    • Complete major requirements in 2 years 
    • Work in Michigan for 2 years
    • Equivalent to 4-year degree
  • Option for students from other universities to transfer to Michigan universities and work.

Outcomes

  • Reduce education debt by 50% or more.
  • Younger, high-skilled Michigan labor pool upgrade to tech and other high demand jobs
  • Attenuate teacher shortage
  • Firms in need of high demand labor open offices in Michigan.
  • Less debt translates to lower wages, making Michigan labor more competitive.
  • Hub of highly talented workers attracts more families to relocate to Michigan.
  • Growing labor market represents a strong consumer market for local businesses.
  • Increase tax base and government revenue

Explanation

  • Talented students can enter the workforce at a younger age, avoiding an additional two years of education debt, without compromising their productivity as they will complete all major requirements and enter the market only with job opportunities.
  • Michigan benefits from a younger, highly-skilled labor pool with less debt, requiring lower wages, making the Michigan labor market more competitive, and attracting businesses.  The growing labor market encourages workers from outside to relocate to Michigan, representing a strong consumer market for local businesses, which along with an overall strong economic environment, generates a growing source of government revenue.
  • A significant number of new, young teachers will be among those taking the 2+2 offer, attenuating the teacher shortage.

Strengthen Small Business and Startups

Solutions

  • Intensify micro-lending and management consulting services 
  • Create portal to streamline and fast track access to financing and support services

Outcomes

  • Economic expansion
  • Increase employment

Explanation

  • Small business growth traditionally drives economic (GDP) growth and represents a sizable proportion of employment opportunities.  There are several sources of support for small businesses, not just financial, but also management consulting, etc available to small businesses that many are unaware of.  Creating an online portal represents a cost-effective solution for lubricating this friction.  Additionally, the fintech industry in Michigan can be supported with low cost efforts in expanding micro-lending and small scale equity trading to open access to low cost liquidity for small businesses.

Explanation

  • An initiative between two of my startups, Laescient and Socivisus, the Project Kabar (to Keep and Bear Arms Responsibly), is an effort to bring gun owners and gun control advocates together to encourage the development of Bluetooth technology enabling civilian firearm owners to track their firearm assets in real-time like military and law enforcement agencies do with GPS.  We aim to severely reduce the frequency of school shootings and obstruct the flow of illegal firearms under the constraint of protecting the rights of responsible gun owners.
  • Gun owners and control advocates both want to reduce school shootings, stolen guns, and irresponsible use of firearms.  Joint efforts will be more productive at finding solutions.

Technology to Reduce School Shootings and Stolen Guns

Solutions

  • Develop bluetooth tracking technology, empowering gun owners with capability to track their firearm assets in real-time like military and law enforcement agencies do
  • Create collaborative efforts between gun owners and control advocates where there is common ground 

Outcomes

  • Reduce frequency of school shootings
  • Obstruct flow of stolen firearms to the blackmarket
  • Protect rights of responsible gun owners.

Explanation

  • An initiative between two of my startups, Laescient and Socivisus, the Project Kabar (to Keep and Bear Arms Responsibly), is an effort to bring gun owners and gun control advocates together to encourage the development of Bluetooth technology enabling civilian firearm owners to track their firearm assets in real-time like military and law enforcement agencies do with GPS.  We aim to severely reduce the frequency of school shootings and obstruct the flow of illegal firearms under the constraint of protecting the rights of responsible gun owners.
  • Gun owners and control advocates both want to reduce school shootings, stolen guns, and irresponsible use of firearms.  Joint efforts will be more productive at finding solutions.

K12 Education Enhancement

Solutions

  • Statewide testing every 4 years, not annually
  • Identify and remove outdated requirements (make such classes optional)
  • Enhance educational efficiency – increase and focus instructional time on 3-4 core areas – mathematics, English, computer science, and research-presentation
  • 40% of classroom time on independent learning and co curriculars that builds skills – e.g. debate, robotics, chess, etc.

Outcomes

  • Higher performing education system at lower cost of operation
  • Eliminate unnecessary requirements which reduce classroom productivity.
  • Reduction in cost of annual testing, which consumes excessive class time
  • Attenuate teacher shortage 

Explanation

  • Annual testing consumes 25-35% of classroom time in critical subjects, reducing productivity at a significant cost.  The gains in annual testing can be achieved at a lower cost by streamlining education to increase focus on fewer subjects that are critical to all areas of academic performance rather than subjects that are not useful outside of the classroom.  Streamlining education has the added benefit of requiring fewer teachers attenuating the teacher shortage.

Explanation

  • Annual testing consumes 25-35% of classroom time in critical subjects, reducing productivity at a significant cost.  The gains in annual testing can be achieved at a lower cost by streamlining education to increase focus on fewer subjects that are critical to all areas of academic performance rather than subjects that are not useful outside of the classroom.  Streamlining education has the added benefit of requiring fewer teachers attenuating the teacher shortage.

Investment in Education Technology

Solutions

  • Create video games that develop skills for computer programming for children and adults.

Outcomes

  • Cost-effectively retool the labor market preparing young and older workers with computer skills.

Explanation

  • My startup, Laescient, is developing a video game that will develop skills in logic and computer programming simply by playing the game.  Everyone plays video games, and there is a logical component to every decision in a game, allowing video games to be a vector to transmit both logical and programming skills to children and adults.  Teaching through video games can be a very cost-effective method to retool the labor market.

Protecting Our Protectors

Vetrams

  • Disabled veterans, their dependents, and the dependents of our fallen heroes should not have to turn to charity for their basic needs.
  • Their sacrifice deserves a higher level of dignity.
  • We will ensure all veterans, their dependents, and will receive full benefits and median income.

First Responders

  • Some of our first responders who put their lives at risk for our protection daily receive just 25% of health care coverage for themselves and their family.
  • State law to guarantee 100% benefits coverage and income pegged to statewide median income level

Aging Residents

  • Our aging residents, who have cared for us, should not be uncared for, unconnected, and lonely with no one to talk to.
  • We must proactively ensure the needs of elderly are met
  • Automatic sign up for benefits
  • Transportation to community centers, stores, etc

Explanation

  • The R&D ecosystem proposed will generate new technologies with commercial value.  Providing equity funding to startups that commercialize this technology through an investment fund allows the State to recoup and profit from the capital investment in R&D.  As shareholders in the fund, residents receive a share of those profits annually.
  • Profits that the State receives lowers the tax burden on households and businesses while new businesses lead to multiple rounds of economic expansion.
  • Like renewable energy, the government revenue generated from the fund provides sustainable financing for social programs rather than a tax and spend policy requiring higher levels of taxation to achieve its goals.

Michigan Investment Fund (MIF)

Solutions

  • Create a multi-billion dollar fund that will provide equity to startups commercializing technology developed in Michigan’s R&D ecosystem.
  • Michigan residents are shareholders in the fund receiving annual dividend payments.
  • Profits finance infrastructure and social programs.

Outcomes

  • Michigan resident-shareholders receive annual dividend payments, sustainable income.
  • Profits finance infrastructure and social programs.
  • Tax relief for Michigan households and businesses.

Explanation

  • The R&D ecosystem proposed will generate new technologies with commercial value.  Providing equity funding to startups that commercialize this technology through an investment fund allows the State to recoup and profit from the capital investment in R&D.  As shareholders in the fund, residents receive a share of those profits annually.
  • Profits that the State receives lowers the tax burden on households and businesses while new businesses lead to multiple rounds of economic expansion.
  • Like renewable energy, the government revenue generated from the fund provides sustainable financing for social programs rather than a tax and spend policy requiring higher levels of taxation to achieve its goals.

Tax Reform

Solutions

  • Lower statewide sales tax and allow local governments to control over portion of sales taxes

Outcomes

  • Out of state visitors and tourist share tax burden, lowering property and income tax burden on residents
  • More efficient tax system as local governments better understand economic conditions.
  • Effective policy tool to support economic development

Explanation

  • The price of bottled water differs from Downtown Detroit to Downtown Birmingham to Traverse City to Bad Axe while the sales tax is the same, pointing to inefficiencies.  A sales tax that has changed three times in 90 years, moreover, is highly inefficient, placing higher pressure on property and income taxes and mileage increases.
  • Giving local governments control over a portion of the sales tax would increase its efficiency, lowering the burden on residents.  Specifically, the State could impose a fixed sales tax statewide of say 4%, allowing local governments to add an additional sales tax of up to 8%.  Sales taxes would vary from 4% to 12% across the state similar to other States such as Illinois and Ohio.
  • Local governments have a better understanding of the economic conditions and can allow the sales tax to vary accordingly.  Moreover, could limit the controversy over litigation between the State and local governments over revenue sharing.  
  • Also, could help local governments expand their business districts.  Consider Birmingham.  Downtown Birmingham could very well get away with a 10% sales tax.  This would allow the city to establish another business district with e.g. a 4% sales tax, which would attract patrons.  As this new business district grows, the sales tax would rise to parity with Downtown.  A similar model could work in Detroit with the Renaissance zones.
  • Lowering sales taxes could represent a more effective mechanism for attenuating inflation.  One problem with raising interest rates to check inflation is that it concomitantly stifles access to liquidity for business expansion, which is precisely what is needed in the present economic downturn.  Specifically, we do not want to reign in demand, which is what we do when the economy is overheating during an economic boom.  Rather, we want to expand the shortage in supply due to supply chain disruptions, requiring low inflation rates for business investment.  Keeping demand low will also further deter business investments possibly leading to a recession, which is where the economy is likely heading.  Cutting sales taxes would immediately lower inflation while allowing interest rates to remain low and investment to flow.
  • Also, could help local governments expand their business districts.  Consider Birmingham.  Downtown Birmingham could very well get away with a 10% sales tax.  This would allow the city to establish another business district with e.g. a 4% sales tax, which would attract patrons.  As this new business district grows, the sales tax would rise to parity with Downtown.  A similar model could work in Detroit with the Renaissance zones.
  • Lowering sales taxes could represent a more effective mechanism for attenuating inflation.  One problem with raising interest rates to check inflation is that it concomitantly stifles access to liquidity for business expansion, which is precisely what is needed in the present economic downturn.  Specifically, we do not want to reign in demand, which is what we do when the economy is overheating during an economic boom.  Rather, we want to expand the shortage in supply due to supply chain disruptions, requiring low inflation rates for business investment.  Keeping demand low will also further deter business investments possibly leading to a recession, which is where the economy is likely heading.  Cutting sales taxes would immediately lower inflation while allowing interest rates to remain low and investment to flow.

Knowing the Costs of Criminalizing Abortion

  •  A fiscally responsible platform requires taxpayers know the costs of abortion prohibition to make an informed decision prior to adopting such a policy.
  • We need to know the cost of having no plan to care for unwanted children – i.e. increasing population of homeless children or children in foster care, projected increases in crime rate, the burden on the school system with increases in behavioral issues, etc.
    • Will neglected children lead to more violence in schools or more criminal behavior?
  • Alternatively, we need to know the cost of providing healthcare, education, housing, food, clothing, transportation, and parenting for possibly an additional 5 million children whose parents are unable or unwilling to care for them
    • K12 education is estimated at $120,000 per child
    • A four-year degree averages $150-200,000.
  • The cost projection must include and identify what segments of Society and taxpayers are going to bear the costs of each plan.
    • Will States cover the costs or the Federal Government?
    • If children without parents move to another State should the child’s home State pay for the child’s care or residents of the new State?