Editor's note: This is a guest column by Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley.Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Ken Rogers

When you mention 2008 as a year for the record books, some might think of gas prices, auto sales or national debt. But I challenge you to focus on the positives - U.S. Olympians, voter turnout, and medical and technological breakthroughs.

Southeast Michigan residents and businesspeople have much to be thankful for. As we enter this holiday season I ask you, during these challenging times, to take a moment to admire the greatness all around us.

This region is strong. According to this year's Automation Alley Technology Industry Report, Southeast Michigan has a significantly higher concentration of technology industry employment than is found across the nation.

Jelka Petrovic

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Jelka Petrovic, President and CEO
UnitedHealthcare of Michigan. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

On a daily basis, Americans are inundated with numbers - gas prices, stock points, tax increases, credit scores - that are causing consumers more anxiety than ease.

These numbers, and the strain of economic resources, are inflicting added stress upon American families that is having an immediate impact on health care.

Health care is a vital resource in prosperous as well as challenging economic times; however, as the strain and stress on the average American is magnified, health care and its costs are a growing concern.

Tim Burns

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Tim Burns, public affairs director for the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan.. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

The economic downturn is putting many charitable organizations in Michigan and across the country in a difficult predicament. Requests for assistance from those in need are increasing at a time when donations to support charitable services are sinking.

More than 80 percent of food banks in a recent Feeding America survey said that they can't adequately meet the requests of hungry people asking for assistance. As potential donors are having to make their own difficult budget decisions to keep food on the table, gas in their car, and a roof overhead, charitable giving is often the first thing cut from a family budget.

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Lance Binoniemi, executive director of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Lance Binoniemi

Flint Journal extras: See below for more articles and opinions on whether to ban smoking in Michigan restaurants and businesses.

The debate in the Michigan legislature over a statewide smoking ban - House Bill 4163, which bans smoking in all work places including restaurants and bars - has been long and arduous.

Proponents of House Bill 4163 offer up this quick and simple answer that doesn't take into consideration the thousands of businesses in Michigan it will directly affect.

There are already more than 5,500 smoke-free restaurants and bars in Michigan.

The decision to go smoke-free was made by the owner of each establishment, who determined it was best for their business - the same business they invested their life-saving in.

Stephen E. Smith

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Stephen E. Smith, president of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Michigan. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Shrinking Arctic ice caps haven't convinced everyone about human impact on earth's fragile environment. However, rapid doubling of gas prices at the pump certainly hits home for most Americans.

Overlooked lessons from the 1973 Oil Embargo rematerialized in the 1990's as the impact of finite, diminishing energy and energy-related resources intensified. In architecture and engineering, constraints ballooned as Asia swallowed huge amounts of raw materials like gypsum, cement and steel. Then came energy consumption with a U.S.-like thirst in construction, manufacturing, and by consumers.

Editor's note: This is a guest column by William A. Donohue, professor of communications at Michigan State University. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

William A. Donohue

Nearly every Michigan citizen knows that Digital TV is coming on Feb. 17, 2009 as all television stations nationally will switch from analog to digital format on that day.

However, only about half of the people who have an older, analog TV and do not subscribe to a cable or satellite service have a plan to convert their TVs to digital.

Before winter really sets in, we have to set up a plan to switch.

I recently conducted a survey of Michigan viewers to determine their readiness for DTV in association with the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.

Jim Eggl

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Jim Eggl, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Restaurant Association. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Eating out isn't what it used to be. Restaurants used to be filled with customers most nights of the week, and particularly on the weekend. Patrons were glad to have a delicious meal served to them and pay for the dining experience.

Oh, how times have changed.

As a small business owner and operator of independent dining establishments in Milford, I have been faced with tremendous economic challenges to keep my restaurants in business and my customers well fed. And of course, my customers have been faced with similar economic challenges that make it more difficult to make ends meet.

Dale Kildee

Today, families across America face their greatest challenge perhaps since the crisis of the 1930s. And if we as a nation do not take the right steps now, we risk plunging into a long-lasting economic crisis. The single most critical action we must take to avoid a worsening crisis is to protect a major industry that supports the entire U.S. economy.

Before the recent economic tumble, the Detroit Three were on track in designing and producing leaner, greener vehicles. In recent years, the domestic automakers had already begun to restructure and produce quality cars that are competitive with Honda, Toyota and Nissan.

Tim Herman

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Tim Herman, chief executive officer of the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Prior to the credit crisis, the U.S. auto industry was aggressively and successfully restructuring. U.S.-based companies have eliminated the productivity gap with leading import carmakers, according to the authoritative Harbour Report.

And quality experts such as J.D. Power and Associates reported that GM has all but closed the quality gap with Asian carmakers.

In just the last three years, the Chevy Malibu and the Saturn Aura were both named North American Car of the Year, and the Cadillac CTS was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year.

Mike Cox

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Now that the election season is over, you may be tempted to rejoice and start focusing on the holidays. But this year, what happens after the election may be just as important.

That's because the Michigan legislature is meeting for a "lame duck" session, during which deals often are made with the hope you are too busy to notice.

This year, Blue Cross Blue Shield's controversial proposal is on the agenda. Their plan will cause dramatic cost increases for insurance and limit the oversight that helps protect your ability to afford health care.

Editor's note: This is a guest column Mark J. Perry, professor of finance and business economics in the School of Management at University of Michigan-Flint. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Mark Perry

Oil imports are at the 70-percent level - and climbing, and we should all be very concerned about America's increasing reliance on imported oil. Many in Congress, on both sides of the aisle, lament our inability to achieve energy independence.

This doesn't mean that the effort to lessen our country's dependence on imported oil is in decline. U.S. oil companies are continuing to invest heavily in domestic oil production and emerging energy technologies.

New investment for U.S. energy projects reached almost $200 billion this year, a more than 12 percent increase over 2007. And earlier this year Congress lifted a decades-old moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas in federal areas off America's coasts. But, if we're to make progress on energy, it will mean persuading Congress that clamping additional taxes on the oil industry could push investment overseas.

Jack Kay

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Jack Kay, provost of University of Michigan-Flint. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

They could have danced all night. And many of them did. The presidential election during which we hummed "This is the Song that Never Ends" is over.

Parties will continue as millions of people celebrate newfound hope. Others will lament what they felt could have been.

Over and over we will hear that our great nation has reached a turning point.

The coalition that enabled President-elect Obama to win was indeed diverse: Youth, women, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, liberals, moderates, Black, White, Latino, rich, poor, urban, suburban, rural.

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Flint resident and parent Julie K. Clark. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Julie K. Clark

Don't sell our kids out to marketers.

Should we put advertising on the inside of school buses? Local and national school districts, strapped for cash, are considering this move to help raise money for their schools.

Many people think this is a viable option for school budgets, others do not. A fundamental difference between these two camps lies in their attitude toward advertising in general.

Some are apathetic and feel that ads are a necessary evil in this consumer driven economy; others are put off by the omnipresent abundance of advertising in our society today.

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Genesee County Clerk Michael J. Carr. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists.

Michael J. Carr

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- County clerks from across Michigan have banded together to guarantee access to the election polls for all eligible voters.

As we ready for the presidential election in just a few short weeks, we are doing all we can to make sure that no eligible voter is barred from exercising their Constitutional right guaranteed under the 15th Amendment.

Those who register to vote through the mail-in registration process must currently vote "in person" in that city or township of residence the first time they cast their vote and they are not eligible for an absentee ballot.

Editor's note: This is a guest column by Michigan Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo. Under the name "If You Ask Me," each week The Flint Journal runs a guest column on a topic of interest. Read more by guest columnists. | Read a different view point on Proposal 2.

Michigan voters should be aware that Proposal 2, the embryonic stem cell ballot proposal, is deceptive.

The proponents argue approval is necessary in order for ethical embryonic stem cell research to occur, when in fact this research is already taking place in Michigan under current law.

What the proposal really does is create an unprecedented exemption for this new industry from future oversight.

A careful reading of the proposal reveals that if adopted, it would amend the state Constitution so that the legislature would be forbidden to design laws that "prevent, restrict, obstruct or discourage any stem cell research ... or create disincentives for any person to engage in or otherwise associate with such research."