Flint, MI, came to the attention of the American public as a result of the
1989 release of the acclaimed film, “Roger & Me”, directed by Michael
Moore.  Since then Moore has featured Flint in his other films, “Bowling for
Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11″. Flint is struggling with de-population, a
declining tax base, aging infrastructure, and dissension over public school
policies.  The Democratic-nominee, Barrack Obama, visited Flint, MI on his
trail for support during the nomination process.  *USA Today* quoted him as
saying, “Here in Flint, it was the private sector that helped turn lumber
into the wagons that sent this country west; that built the tanks that faced
down fascism; and that turned out the automobiles that were the cornerstone
of America’s manufacturing boom.” It was also pointed out that the
metropolitan area had a seasonally unadjusted April unemployment rate of
9.3%.  The number of Flint-area automotive workers fell from 79,000 in 1976
to around 12,000 now, said Genesee County Democratic Party Chairman Dan
Kildee.  As we drove through town you could see the shells of old businesses
now with boarded windows.  Many homes are left empty and crumbling.  Even
many of the shops of down town Flint remained closed and unable to support
employees.  It appears even now, 19 years since the Michael Moore’s film and
even longer since the downsizing of GM and other large corporations, Flint
has still yet to find the way to recovery.