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Old 06-18-2008, 05:57 AM
 
746 posts, read 3,727,448 times
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Arizona "flunked" the access to opportunity index...poorest grade in nation...survey says Az at the very bottom in Biz development and health care, but at top in home ownership...

In other words, they have homes, but no jobs...

Assets and Opportunity Scorecard (http://www.cfed.org/focus.m?parentid=31&siteid=2471&id=2476 - broken link)

 
Old 06-18-2008, 07:31 AM
 
Location: SE Arizona - FINALLY! :D
20,460 posts, read 26,330,678 times
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Well, I gotta tell ya, I have a hard time believing that site. The data seems a bit skewed to me. For example, Michigan is rated an overall "B" with the category "Financial Security" also set at "B". What the heck does "Financial Security" really mean. Aside from Puerto Rico, Michigan has the absolute HIGHEST unemployment rate in the nation and they rank the "Financial Security" of it's citizens as a "B"???????

Sounds like a messed up statistic to me.

US government employment statistics:
Local Area Unemployment Statistics Home Page

Ken
 
Old 06-18-2008, 07:51 AM
 
1,433 posts, read 2,982,530 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LordBalfor View Post
Sounds like a messed up statistic to me.
Not at all. If you read the report closely, financial security is measured by a number of factors in addition to unemployment rates including high-cost debt, consumer, and installment debt plus health care coverage.

While MI has a higher unemployment rate the 'quality' of jobs for those who are employed from the viewpoint of security isn't as shaky as the more numerous job available in AZ which pay less and offer fewer benefits.
 
Old 06-18-2008, 08:31 AM
 
1,169 posts, read 5,268,448 times
Reputation: 750
This is not a legitimate grading system, it is a back-door attempt to get their political goals implemented. It is set up to provide cover for left-leaning politicians. Check out the quotes from the page you provided the link to.

"Twelve core state policies are assessed separately and states are rated on the strength of their policies."

"Grades are not issued for the tax policy area since it does not include outcome measures."

All you have to do is look at the descriptions of the CFED board members and it's clear this is not a pro-business group trying to honestly access the climate in each state.
 
Old 06-18-2008, 09:26 AM
 
1,433 posts, read 2,982,530 times
Reputation: 889
Instead of dismissing the report as flawed please provide factual information to contradict. The 12 measures don't appear cherry-picked, rather they were used as most relevant.

We don't want to infer that screen names might suggest a hint of personal bias
 
Old 06-18-2008, 10:04 AM
 
1,169 posts, read 5,268,448 times
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How can a business climate rating system not look at tax policy? Why would they grade on government policies but not their outcomes? Are you really suggesting that this group is unbiased and isn't trying to promote their socialist agenda?
 
Old 06-18-2008, 10:27 AM
 
Location: The Miami Of Canada
1,043 posts, read 3,719,266 times
Reputation: 290
Quote:
Originally Posted by scongress1234 View Post
Arizona "flunked" the access to opportunity index...poorest grade in nation...survey says Az at the very bottom in Biz development and health care, but at top in home ownership...

In other words, they have homes, but no jobs...

Assets and Opportunity Scorecard (http://www.cfed.org/focus.m?parentid=31&siteid=2471&id=2476 - broken link)
I looked at that site and personally, with the exception of Colorado, most of those A and B states I wouldn't want to live in as they are too cold climates for me. If you click on the state and scroll down the linked page, it shows what factors make up the grading. As AZDreamer mentioned, it does seem like they're trying to promote some type of Socialist agenda.

If on the other hand, those factors are important to someone in deciding where to live, then I guess it would be useful for them. My concerns are more about affordable housing and job growth than whether or not there are many "Hispanic or American Indian owned businesses" or "College Financial Aid", which lack of it would cause the grade to fall.
 
Old 06-18-2008, 11:30 AM
 
4,563 posts, read 4,101,921 times
Reputation: 2285
Quote:
Originally Posted by actinic View Post
Not at all. If you read the report closely, financial security is measured by a number of factors in addition to unemployment rates including high-cost debt, consumer, and installment debt plus health care coverage.

While MI has a higher unemployment rate the 'quality' of jobs for those who are employed from the viewpoint of security isn't as shaky as the more numerous job available in AZ which pay less and offer fewer benefits.
In addition, the cost of living in Michigan is low, lots of houses available for not a lot of money. AZ is extremely overpriced with jobs that pay inadequetely. I go home to MI and see far more small businesses than AZ. Here in AZ it seems like aside from specialty shops, there is just a bunch of big box stores with minimum wage workers. Education here is a joke and most of the health care organizations are are also lacking.
 
Old 06-18-2008, 11:41 AM
 
Location: Mesa, Az
21,144 posts, read 42,134,028 times
Reputation: 3861
Quote:
Originally Posted by ITChick View Post
I looked at that site and personally, with the exception of Colorado, most of those A and B states I wouldn't want to live in as they are too cold climates for me. If you click on the state and scroll down the linked page, it shows what factors make up the grading. As AZDreamer mentioned, it does seem like they're trying to promote some type of Socialist agenda.

If on the other hand, those factors are important to someone in deciding where to live, then I guess it would be useful for them. My concerns are more about affordable housing and job growth than whether or not there are many "Hispanic or American Indian owned businesses" or "College Financial Aid", which lack of it would cause the grade to fall.
Excellent point there.

Myself; I will never live in a true '4 season' climate again.........otherwise, I would have not have left the Wash DC area 30 years ago.
 
Old 06-18-2008, 11:48 AM
 
Location: Pinal County, Arizona
25,100 posts, read 39,261,360 times
Reputation: 4937
Quote:
Originally Posted by odinloki1 View Post
In addition, the cost of living in Michigan is low, lots of houses available for not a lot of money. AZ is extremely overpriced with jobs that pay inadequetely. I go home to MI and see far more small businesses than AZ. Here in AZ it seems like aside from specialty shops, there is just a bunch of big box stores with minimum wage workers. Education here is a joke and most of the health care organizations are are also lacking.
Yeah - Mayo is bad. Arizona Heart Institute is bad. Barrows is bad - LOLOLOLOLOL

Great education here in Arizona also -
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