Michigan headed for shaggy highways

If you considered Michigan a fairly well-groomed state, hang on to your hat, it's going to get hairy.

This item moved today on the Associated Press wire:

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Department of Transportation is making fewer trips to  roadways in the state to mow the slopes, trim trees and pare bushes as part of a cost-cutting effort.
      The Detroit News reports Monday that MDOT hopes to save up to $30 million this year in labor and fuel costs by mowing and trimming less often.
      MDOT spokesman Bill Shreck says the agency will continue to concentrate on safety when deciding where to mow and trim. MDOT wants to maintain good sight distances rather than mow or trim for cosmetic reasons.
      Plans call for cutting once or twice a summer rather than three or more times in previous years.

After reading this story, my first thought was, "Wow, it costs a lot of money to mow this state."

Then I thought that maybe I should offer to do it for less money, but I rejected that as being impractical. My present mower (an electric) doesn't have nearly the cord I would need.

Then I thought, "All that mowing was cosmetic? Did it help our state's image? If so, could it be considered money spent to promote tourism instead of merely for grooming?"

I should stop thinking about this. It brings up too many questions.

(A recent backup on I-96 back in the day when we were a better groomed state.)