Dan Rather Reports - Oakland Institute

RATHER (VOICE OVER)LOOKING NOW, IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE THESE STREETS WERE ONCE HOME TOONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE CITIES IN THE WORLD. AT THE TURN OF THE 20thCENTURY, DETROIT WAS THE SILICON VALLEY OF ITS DAY -- A PLACE TO TURNNEW IDEAS INTO VAST FORTUNES ... A SPARKLING JEWEL CAPTIVATING THEIMAGINATIONS OF AMERICANS AND FOREIGNERS ALIKE.MUCH LIKE SILICON VALLEY, IN THE EARLY 1900s, IMMIGRANTS MADE UP ONE-THIRD OF DETROIT’S POPULATION.BUT TODAY, MUCH OF THE CITY IS A GHOST TOWN -- AND THOSE THAT STILLLIVE HERE ARE FACING THE WORST JOB MARKET IN THE CITY’S HISTORY. ONEIN FIVE DETROITERS IS LOOKING FOR WORK -- AND THE STATE ITSELF HAS ONEOF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE COUNTRY.THE STATE’S NEW REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CAMPAIGNED ON BRINGING JOBSBACK TO MICHIGAN. BUT NO ONE EXPECTED THIS PLAN...RICK SNYDER, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGANIt's the continual reinvention of the United States. And by getting more immigrants here in alegal fashion, particularly with advanced degrees, it's just a great opportunity to create jobs andkeep our kids in a wonderful position.RATHER (VOICE OVER)THAT’S RIGHT -- MICHIGAN GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER SAYS THAT TO SOLVE THESTATE’S JOBS CRISIS, IT NEEDS TO BRING MORE IMMIGRANTS.IT’S PROBABLY NOT THE KIND OF SENTIMENT YOU’D EXPECT TO HEAR FROMTHE LEADER OF A STATE MIRED IN A 10-YEAR RECESSION.SNYDERSimply fixing Michigan is not good enough. It is time to reinvent our state.RATHERGovernor, tell me about what I'll call "the plan," the immigration plan. What is it, why is it, andwhy do you think it'll work?SNYDER19