A small Michigan town’s surprise deal with Microsoft illustrates tensions between corporate infrastructure projects and local residents; the author critiques arguments that dismiss local objections as mere obstacles to progress.
A township supervisor in Dorr, Michigan signed a land sale to Microsoft for a data center without a public hearing, provoking resident outrage.
Jeff Polet argues that dismissing local participants at town meetings ignores their stake in place and community continuity.
Polet questions Michael Munger’s framing that public objections create a prisoner’s dilemma favoring development, suggesting a different collective-action problem may apply.
Instead, to their dismay, they discovered the township supervisor had, without a public hearing, already signed an agreement. Microsoft, never bothering to send a representative to meet the public, now held the deed to more than 250 acres of prime farmland, an arrangement citizens knew nothing about until everything was signed and sealed. With the land already sold and the ink dry, the citizens' impotence turned to repressed rage.
I say "repressed" because the citizens have not, as yet, taken matters into their own hands. Munger characterizes this as a "prisoner's dilemma," although I don't think the metaphor quite fits, because he seems to believe that one of the parties should be able to get off scot-free. I'd think the "tragedy of the commons" more nearly fits the situation he describes, especially given the resulting allocation of resources.
Business Economics Economic Growth Monopoly By Jeff Polet, Sep 23 2026 SHARE POST: --> On a chilly Thursday evening last December, citizens in Dorr, Michigan, a small community about a half-hour south of Grand Rapids, attended a town hall meeting to discuss the possible construction of a data center on the north end of town. To my knowledge, no lawsuits have been filed, pitchforks wielded, or Sabo-tabbies unleashed. After all, what mattered Dorr's 7,900 souls when progress was at stake?
Your own backyard can be so much more than just a patch of grass; it can be your personal sanctuary, a place for you and your family to unwind, connect, and play. Turning your property into a private outdoor haven makes it feel like an extension of your home. It’s your secluded spot to escape […] The post Creating Priv
Having your own piece of land is pretty special. It’s your chance to create a personal haven for getting outdoors. And a walking trail? That’s more than just a path; it’s an open invitation to explore, get some exercise, and really connect with nature right outside your door. Building one yourself can be a super […] Th
A beautiful backyard brings so much joy and relaxation, especially during the warm summer months. And creating a fun space for your family doesn’t have to come at a high environmental cost. With a few smart choices in design and daily habits, you can enjoy your landscape, pool, and spa while significantly cutting down
Entomologist Doug Tallamy watched luna moths return to his Pennsylvania farm and documented over 1,380 moth species on land that was once overrun with invasives. The metamorphosis unfolded not through expensive intervention, but by pulling weeds and pressing native seeds into the ground. His insight, born from that qui
In the last thirty years or so, the United States has seen persistent shortages of housing, waste disposal facilities, electricity generation, and oil refineries. More recently, we have begun to see the difficulties in building data centers, portending new shortages. This is confusing in a wealthy nation. A “shortage”
How does anything get built? What are the political precursors to development? Michael Munger has an interesting, and at times persuasive, argument that self-interest combines with particular institutional designs, such as public hearings, to create a prisoner’s dilemma where everyone knows that development is in aggre
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.