49yo. About the same as you.

This is the truth. I have family members planning to vote for Trump. They don't like him, but they like what they're told about Democrats and Joe Biden even less.

Most elections shine that same light. We just don't have a path to change... I mean, there are options, but they mostly require that same 2-party system to endorse them.

Affordable halthcare ;)

I kid.

The real answer is lemon-flavored Fanta. When I travel to Europe I always gorge on that stuff, bring a few bottles home even. It's literally impossible to find in the USA (as far as I can tell... I would love to be proven wrong).

Theee digit US roads connect two digit ones with the same last two digits.

I-75 on the east side has 275,375 in Detroit, 475 in Flint, and 675 in Saginaw.

31 is the main US highway, and 131 is its connector. 96/196 work the same way.

In Chicago you have 90/190/290 and 94/294. Same system.

It’s sorta logical I guess. But yeah, a little confusing too.

I did this (from Grand Rapids, MI) a few years ago. It's a great road trip.

My only recommendation is to go out and back different routes. South Dakota is one thing, North Dakota another. We spent a few days in the Badlands, Black Hills on our way west. On the way home, we hit the north unit of Teddy Roosevelt NP and it was super cool too.

What's the mint for? /s

Never. Not sure I ever have … like even once.

Does Baumgartners still have Limberger and Onion sandwiches? I recall eating one there before touring the Huber Brewery. Good old times!

Thanks for removing toxic batteries from our rivers!

This encapsulates what I love about the Midwest. There’s a lot of “we” in my life thanks to this collectivist attitude about social stuff.

I have seen that campground, thanks for the link.

Mostly I'm wondering if people know where the pulloffs are so I can get something quieter than a campground at a lake where sometimes you get partiers (I'm looking to get out by 5:30am, so you can imagine I'm not gonna be up late going nutz).

Previous road trippers:

2008 Outback -- Sold in 2018 with 140,000 miles on it

2018 Outback -- Going strong with 125,000 miles on it

Current road tripper:

2023 Tacoma + Teardrop Camper - 25,000 miles on it... a life of road trips head of it!

I've been happy with all of them over the years. The 2018 Outback would still be working but we gave it to our college student to take to school ... so I guess it's still a road tripper, just not ours anymore LOL.

That's a fair difference of opinion that leaves room for debate (police funding, privatization of schools). I'm not sure people want to try and eliminate property taxes... even those of us who aren't working in the public sector.

Where I live residents routinely vote in favor of dedicated millages (property taxes) to fund specific things. People seem happier with that and the transparency it brings.

We have dedicated millages for the library, parks, roads, and a general fund millage that covers city services. Only that "general fund" millage lacks specificity. We also have school bonds that pay for capital improvements to the public schools. Dedicated operating millages for schools are prohibited in Michigan or I'm sure that would pass too.

Those dedicated property taxes are passed with >75% of the vote at times, sometimes pass by a slim margin, and sometimes get voted down. What I've learned is that property tax as a funding mechanism makes the funding local.

I'd be interested in how we could use consumption taxes to pay for local municipal police, for example. Most consumption for residents of my town happens outside the boundaries of our town. Suburbs in general might have that challenge, but I'm not certain. I'd be interested in your take on how that could work in a practical sense.

LOL... but how do you really feel? ;)

OP, while the building is called the Willis Tower, as long as you refer to it as the Sears Tower you will endear yourself to the locals and get better advice. :)

It's incredible, I agree.

Sure I guess.... but as a means to helping apportion the resources we all consume it seems pretty fair. Schools, fire, police, roads, etc.... we have to pay for those things somehow. Property just seems like a way to measure who pays what.

Thanks, that's the argument I wasn't clear on. I appreciate you chiming in.

Michigan won the war.... by mistake LOL. The Yoop >> Toledo any day.

Well stated analysis here.

I was hoping to see the point of view of those folks living near me with the “end property taxes” signs in their yards. I’m always wondering what their actual reasoning is.

Gotta hit Hocking Hills for sure.

Yeah, I love a good road trip (not from Nebraska, but from Michigan... I'll drive across the country just to see what's out there).

North Carolina is an awesome tourist destination. It's a place I hadn't been until five or six years ago, but we loved it and have gone back several times since (mostly for the mountains, but once for the OBX too and enjoyed that as well).