Rustbelt Economics

Newsmax ^ | 11/22/04 | Ralph R. Reiland

[penowa]

PA ranks at the bottom of the pile when it comes to economic freedom and at the top of the pile when it comes to how much we pay our state legislators.

[penowa]

Interesting article on how legislators always look out for themselves at the expense of business and taxpayers and what it does to the economy. Applies to a bunch of big "Blue States," not just PA.

[LowCountryJoe]

Then again, look at Pennsylvania's constituency. President Bush risked putting many American export (i.e. Florida citrus) on the alter of EU retaliation when he decided to slap tariffs on steel in 2001 to protect the workers and industry in PA and WV from fierce competition. What did Bush get in return for the risk? A PA loss and a narrower than last year win in WV. Your politicians might understand the Public Choice School of thought, but the majority of PA are pretty damned ungrateful in my book.

[Graybeard58]

Simply stated, jobs and people are moving to the states that are the most hospitable in terms of business climate.

Somebody needs to tell that simple economic fact to our dim wit dem governor (Illinois)

[donozark]

I would note all the states mentioned as scoring highest in economic freedom are RIGHT TO WORK states, except Colorado, and they are working to become on this year. Most RIGHT TO WORK states are attracting new people, new jobs.

[Russ]

Pa. is a Red State which has a cancerous blue area known as Philadelphia. Somehow we have to find a way to rid ourselves of this tumor...

[RockinRight]

narrower than last year win in WV

Not according to my book. Look again-Bush won by 5 pts in 2000 in WV. He won by 11 this time.

[RockinRight]

PA is as conservative as the Midwest once you subtract Philly and Pittsburgh. Even just Philly. Pittsburgh seems to have been moving rightward in the last few decades.

[penowa]

At the top of the list of "ingrates" should be the Weirton Steel union (not USW, but Independent steel workers) who previously endorsed Buchanan, persuaded Bush to slap on tariffs to save them, then when he did, endorsed Kerry! Real deep thinkers who are employee-owners of the plant and vote to not layoff anybody or cut their salaries and let the bankrupcy courts do the work for them.

[penowa]

W PA actually now has some red counties and the rest even with P'burgh (city) thrown in is voting almost 1-1 Democrat to Republican, just a slight tilt to Dem despite the lopsided registration. Most have seen the light and recognize thanks to Rush, Quinn, etc. that they are conservative and have been voting liberal all these years. Soon the ninnies who vote like the union tells them to will be out of work and gone and their parents who think the voting machines only have one lever, Dem, will be dead, leaving everything but Philly area RED!

[Ditto]

What did Bush get in return for the risk? A PA loss and a narrower than last year win in WV. Your politicians might understand the Public Choice School of thought, but the majority of PA are pretty damned ungrateful in my book.

I think you are wrong on both states. W won WV by more than he did in 2000, and cut Gore's percent in half or better in PA.

The GOTD (get out the dead) drive in Philly is the only reason Kerry won PA.

[uncitizen]

I was feeling sorry for PA'ians for being called a "blue state" (since my ancestors were PA pioneers i'm a little impartial), but what you say is true. So they deserve the "blue state" label.

[foreverfree]

PA native bump