Many political pundits wonder why, with the Republican
primaries over, Mitt Romney still rarely talks about his days as Massachusetts
governor.
primaries over, Mitt Romney still rarely talks about his days as Massachusetts
governor.
Well, Slate magazine just gave the presumptive GOP presidential
nominee a wide opening of opportunity.
nominee a wide opening of opportunity.
Essentially, Slate has declared that Massachusetts is the
best state in America.
best state in America.
We’ve all heard the jokes – Taxachusetts, the People’s
Republic of Massachusetts – which were a key reason why Romney stayed away from
Bay State references during the primaries.
Republic of Massachusetts – which were a key reason why Romney stayed away from
Bay State references during the primaries.
But Slate’s Mark Vanhoenacker took a look at numerous
research groups’ rankings of the 50 states and found that Massachusetts ranks
at or near the best in numerous quality-of-life categories: life expectancy,
infant mortality, quality education, number of uninsured, suicide, divorce,
obesity, energy efficiency and traffic fatalities.
research groups’ rankings of the 50 states and found that Massachusetts ranks
at or near the best in numerous quality-of-life categories: life expectancy,
infant mortality, quality education, number of uninsured, suicide, divorce,
obesity, energy efficiency and traffic fatalities.
As governor as recently as 2006, Romney can certainly
take partial credit for all of these accomplishments.
take partial credit for all of these accomplishments.
But there’s more. The benefits of being a Bay Stater go
beyond social well-being to incomes, finances and employment.
beyond social well-being to incomes, finances and employment.
“If America wants to be a healthy, smart, rich,
globalized, high-tech powerhouse, we arguably have no better model than
Massachusetts,” Vanhoenacker concluded.
globalized, high-tech powerhouse, we arguably have no better model than
Massachusetts,” Vanhoenacker concluded.
What he found is that, even though Massachusetts has the
11th-highest state taxes, its moderate, pragmatic politics have
focused on issues that trump taxes.
11th-highest state taxes, its moderate, pragmatic politics have
focused on issues that trump taxes.
Here’s a sample:
“Finally, let’s take a purely dollars-and-cents look at
Massachusetts. No matter where you start on the political spectrum, this is the
most important question, because many Americans believe we must choose between
social investments and a competitive economy. So what economic sacrifices is
Massachusetts making to achieve such extraordinary educational and social
outcomes?
Massachusetts. No matter where you start on the political spectrum, this is the
most important question, because many Americans believe we must choose between
social investments and a competitive economy. So what economic sacrifices is
Massachusetts making to achieve such extraordinary educational and social
outcomes?
“None, apparently. Massachusetts has the second-highest per
capita personal income among the states. Unemployment in March was 6.5 percent,
well below the national 8.2 percent. Its state per-capita GDP ranks
sixth-highest. Its median household income (a measure of widely-distributed
income) is fifth.
capita personal income among the states. Unemployment in March was 6.5 percent,
well below the national 8.2 percent. Its state per-capita GDP ranks
sixth-highest. Its median household income (a measure of widely-distributed
income) is fifth.
“…Massachusetts has the highest per-capita venture
capital, patents, and technology licensing of 10 leading high-tech states.
Worker productivity in Massachusetts (GDP per employed person) is the
third-highest in the world. And research and development spending as a share of
GDP in Massachusetts is higher than any country anywhere. … (In) CNBC’s index
of America’s top states for business … Massachusetts came in sixth. Not bad for
the People’s Republic.”
capital, patents, and technology licensing of 10 leading high-tech states.
Worker productivity in Massachusetts (GDP per employed person) is the
third-highest in the world. And research and development spending as a share of
GDP in Massachusetts is higher than any country anywhere. … (In) CNBC’s index
of America’s top states for business … Massachusetts came in sixth. Not bad for
the People’s Republic.”
You can read more here.
