I am one of those kids who, despite the rolling eyes of out-of-state friends, points to my hometown on my hand. I am a Michigander. Lately, there's been considerable chatter around the state emphasizing the need to attract college graduates to stay in Michigan. There have been studies (like the Cherry Commission report) dissecting this issue. Such efforts are obviously necessary. However, Lansing should not just focus on presenting economic carrots. There's one simple tactic that is yet to be employed: Ask us to stay.

On paper, staying in Michigan is a hard sell to worldly college graduates aspiring to earn six figures, plan for a family and live a purposeful, difference-making life all before hitting 30. Many of us Michiganders feel firsthand the crippling effects of unemployment, reductions in corporate benefits and financial stresses. It's easy enough to find households in a cash-crunch even in the state's most affluent communities. Regardless of whether Michigan's economy is getting better, we're already jaded.

Aside from woes about financial stability and unemployment, Detroit is hardly an urban center on par with cosmopolitan cultural centers like Chicago, New York or San Francisco. Furthermore, the city has no legitimate public transit system and faces constant accusations of governmental corruption and incompetence. I look forward to a day when Detroit returns to prominence as a metropolis, but that day certainly isn't coming soon enough for people like me who are graduating in the next couple of years.

To their credit, it's very clear that politicians in Lansing want college graduates to stay in the state, though their current plans may not bring results. Programs like the Cool Cities Initiative, Graduate Purchase Assistance program and the 21st Century Job Fund demonstrate that keeping us here and creating jobs for us is of importance to lawmakers. Unfortunately, when charted against present realities of life in Michigan - economic hardship, cultural mediocrity - even those programs seem futile. If college students perform a cost-benefit analysis on whether to live in or leave Michigan, the state will nearly always get the short straw.

Those of us who want to stay in Michigan - or return to the state someday - want to do so for reasons beyond finding a job and becoming wealthy. We want to see Michigan thrive. We love this state. Many have family ties. The Red Wings and the Tigers are classic sports teams. The suburbs are a wonderful option for settling down and starting a family. Michiganders are fair and decent people who make wonderful neighbors.

Lansing, do not humor yourself by believing that a few rounds of public policymaking will persuade us to stay. Think beyond tax incentives and appeal to loftier values like civic duty, love of community and state pride instead of only pandering to self-interest. Our generation grew up performing community service and volunteering: We do care about higher ideals. We have pipe dreams about being playmakers during our state's ascension from hardship. We have a will to be active participants in the revitalization of Michigan.

Furthermore, please engage in some domestic diplomacy. Speak to us directly, instead of just presenting strategic plans and economic initiatives meant to snag college graduates. Write in the pages of this newspaper and in those at other campuses. Make noise about staying in state, lots of it. Go to 20-somethings across the state and ask, in a measured tone, for us to stay. Attempt to persuade us, one afternoon and op-ed at a time.

Of course, any public campaign without the backing of sound public policy will surely fail in the long run. But as it stands now, I and other students across the state could easily slip into other regions of the country without a second thought. I urge you, Lansing, to not let this happen. Craft sound policies, but don't stop there. Ask us to be role-players in the rebuilding of our Michigan. Remind us of where home is. Ask us to stay.

Neil Tambe can be reached at ntambe@umich.edu.