Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, April 26, 2004.

Mr. McGuire: I just want to say one word to you -- just one word.
Ben: Yes sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Ben: Yes I am.
Mr. McGuire: "Plastics."
Ben: Exactly how do you mean?
Mr. McGuire: There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?
Ben: Yes I will.
Mr. McGuire: Shh! Enough said. That's a deal.

Every week the Business Journal has a special features section, and this week it just so happens to be on plastics manufacturers. It's hard for me to hear the word "plastics" and not think about the preceding bit from "The Graduate," the Charles Webb book and Mike Nichols movie. The overwhelmed and confused recent college graduate, Ben (Dustin Hoffman), is accosted at a family gathering by one of his father's friends. What is meant as canny advice to help Ben find a direction comes off as totally cryptic and only furthers Ben's sense of hopelessness.

Well, it's graduation season, and the State of Michigan is making a special effort this year to retain the young folks (and future taxpayers) newly minted at its colleges and universities. It's part of the "Cool Cities" program. And like a well meaning family friend, Michigan is taking graduates aside and whispering "high tech" and "bio science" in their ears to what I'm thinking is much the same effect as "plastics" had on poor Ben.

My other inspiration for this week's comic is the fact that our governor, Jennifer Granholm, is (how do I say this without overstepping a line of political correctness?) really, really hot! Yowza! (Maybe that wasn't the right way.) But she is, which in no way should diminish her considerable intelligence and leadership skills (her ability to empathize with the voters can only be described as Clintonesqe) nor should it in any way marginalize her as something less because of her gender.

And yet, hubba hubba. I don't think I'm being unfair. I never hesitated to point out that our previous governor, John Engler, was dumpy and unattractive, so I may be a pig but ya gotta respect the consistency.

That sounded a bit awkward, didn't it? Reminds me of another great part of "The Graduate." As Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) sets her claws further into Ben, the unfailingly polite and earnest Ben attempts to wriggle free without hurting her feelings:

Ben: Mrs. Robinson, I can't do this.
Mrs. Robinson: You what?
Ben Braddock: This is all terribly wrong.
Mrs. Robinson: Do you find me undesirable?
Ben Braddock: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. I think, I think you're the most attractive of all my parents' friends. I mean that.