Opinion Maker Piece November 4, 2026

If you had walked past a college dorm sometime in the spring of 1973, there was a good chance you might have heard the song Dialogue Part I and II from Chicago V blasting out dorm windows: “Are you optimistic 'bout the way things are going? No, I never ever think of it at all. Don't you ever worry when you see what's going down?... Will you try to change things, use the power that you have…?” Maybe Dialogue Part II’s message that “We can change the world now” and “We can make it happen” were overly optimistic. It depends if you are the type of person who considers the glass to be half full or half empty. Decades ago, Michigan was one of the wealthiest states in the nation. According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, Michigan in 1969 had a median household income that was 18 percent higher than the national median. Michigan also ranked the sixth highest median household income of the fifty states. Not so much anymore. According to Census Bureau data, by 2024 Michigan had fallen to 37th in the nation with a median household income of $72,389. Thirty-six other states had higher median household incomes than Michigan. Michigan’s median household income in 2024 was $72,389, half of households made more and half made less. How do counties in Southwest Michigan compare? All three counties, Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren, had household median incomes less than Michigan’s median. Cass County was 24th out of Michigan’s 83 counties with a median household income of $70,443. Van Buren was 27th at $68,114 and Berrien 35th at $65,425. Yes, Michigan has fallen in economic status. This did not happen overnight and did not even happen in the last decade. It happened over fifty or more years. As a youngster, I grew up in southern Saginaw County. In the 1950s and 1960s, our parents commuted to factories which produced automobiles. In Flint, it was Buick. In Saginaw, it was General Motors Steering Gear. In Lansing, it was Oldsmobile. Michigan jobs at the time were often relatively high paying union jobs. I did not move to Berrien County until 1993. But I am guessing that in the 50s and 60s there were factories here as well, factories that no longer produce. There are still some just not as many. I am not going to try and rehash why Michigan has become less wealthy. I will leave that up to the professionals with decades of working in or teaching economics. As an Accounting major at Grand Valley, we were required to take three classes in economics. That is not my expertise. I am more comfortable with debits or credits, and tax deductions. No, instead of laying blame or trying to regurgitate reasons for Michigan’s decline, I think I want to re-ask the Chicago Dialogue I question “Will you try to change things, use the (talents and passions) that you have?” What are your talents and passions? Would you be interested in helping at a local food pantry? As I type this opinion piece today, the Herald Palladium is reporting that some local non-profits, including the Caring Connection, have lost a significant amount of federal funding. Maybe your passion would be volunteering or fund raising for victims of domestic abuse. Perhaps you are concerned about homelessness or poverty in Berrien County and would be interested in the work of Emergency Shelter Services or the Soup Kitchen. None of that interests you? Call United Way, they may be able to connect you with a non-profit that will meet your talents and passion to make a difference. If I told you what my passion was, your first thought might be “What a geek!” You might be right. This coming income tax season will be my 21st as a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. I guess you must have some interest in numbers and tax laws to want to volunteer with VITA. However, what motivates me the most is the people. Many of our neighbors, more than you think, do not make a lot of money. In the last two decades, I have met a lot of our neighbors, good people. If you are interested in volunteering with VITA, the training is free. Meeting nice people is also free. There are eight sites in the three counties where you may help. Call United Way in St Joseph or email me for more information.