Get Ready for Another Brain Drain? (2015, university, quality of life)

[timberline742]

Which isn't a huge deal. We're not talking a warm weather location. People don't move to Boston thinking its a mild climate. They move there because of jobs. If there are jobs, people would go to, or stay in, Wisconsin as well.

I doubt there was ever a person that said "Yeah, this Wisconsin weather is harsh, I'm going to move someplace with a nicer climate... Boston!". Which was (DUUUUUUUH) the entire point. It isn't the weather that really causes the brain drain.

[TRlaura]

Originally Posted by MassVt

The state is heavily in debt, and even refused federal money for setting up health insurance enrollment programs, AND also refused funds for high-speed rail from Chicago, headed for Minneapolis. ..

Refusing to set up Obamacare programs and the low speed rail were 2 of the main reasons he got my vote 3 straight times. Apparently I'm not the only one that agrees with that.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by TRlaura

Refusing to set up Obamacare programs and the low speed rail were 2 of the main reasons he got my vote 3 straight times. Apparently I'm not the only one that agrees with that.

Your own governor denying the very citizens of the state he governs access to an affordable health care plan--doesn't say much for his ethical standards. Then again, the ethical bar for Walker is pretty low anyway, or virtually non-existent.

[cheese plate]

Originally Posted by MassVt

I lived in Madison, and have lived in Boston for many years. Madison is definitely colder, on the order of about 10 degrees. Madison is a cold, relatively dry climate, while Boston is cold and damp.

Well, Madison is not Milwaukee. They aren't far apart in terms of miles, but the distance from the Lake is significant, as Madison has winter temperatures sort of in between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. A bit more sunshine, and a bit less snow, but colder than Milwaukee, especially along the Lake.

Originally Posted by timberline742

Which isn't a huge deal. We're not talking a warm weather location. People don't move to Boston thinking its a mild climate. They move there because of jobs. If there are jobs, people would go to, or stay in, Wisconsin as well.

I doubt there was ever a person that said "Yeah, this Wisconsin weather is harsh, I'm going to move someplace with a nicer climate... Boston!". Which was (DUUUUUUUH) the entire point. It isn't the weather that really causes the brain drain.

For sure - I went all roundabout on it, but I was simply trying to show that the true issue is jobs, not weather...and that Boston's weather isn't that much different on a day-to-day basis than with someone who lives in Bayview or East Side or whatever in Milwaukee. And that comparing Minny with Boston instead of Milwaukee with Boston doesn't make much sense, because Milwaukee is in between the two in terms of winter cold, trending a bit closer to Boston.

Basically, Boston (not all that far from our winter) and the Twin Cities (colder than our winter) show that it is in fact jobs, and not weather, causing "brain drain" or whatever economic hardship you want to discuss.

[thefragile]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Milwaukee is one of the most talked about destinations for young people around here, incidentally.

Very cool, that's nice to here that there are people out there who want to move here.

Originally Posted by timberline742

It isn't the weather that really causes the brain drain.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by TRlaura

Refusing to set up Obamacare programs and the low speed rail were 2 of the main reasons he got my vote 3 straight times. Apparently I'm not the only one that agrees with that.

That's too bad you voted for such a horrible person.

Incidentally, why are people arguing about the weather here & in other states so much?

[earthlyfather]

"...why are people arguing about the weather..." Maybe because progs have low impulse control, have trouble focusing for more than a 15 second soundbite. Wisconsin had problems with their economic base long before Governor Walker was first elected. Structural economic problems take a change in mindset, taxation policy and incentives for companies to start up, or relocate.

It is intellectually lazy to think the Wisconsin economic problems began with and came to fruition after Governor Walker was first elected. How about that? Full circle for the initial thought.

Reminder, the topic is "Intellectual brain drain....", and how it is all Scott Walker's fault. I know it is difficult, but try to concentrate.

Originally Posted by thefragile

Very cool, that's nice to here that there are people out there who want to move here.
Exactly.


That's too bad you voted for such a horrible person.

Incidentally, why are people arguing about the weather here & in other states so much?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by earthlyfather

Structural economic problems take a change in mindset, taxation policy and incentives for companies to start up, or relocate.

Agreed. But why then does Walker try to hurt the number one incentive for companies to locate someplace, which is a highly educated workforce? Or hinder start ups, which generally come from University research?

[cheese plate]

Originally Posted by earthlyfather

"...why are people arguing about the weather..." Maybe because progs have low impulse control, have trouble focusing for more than a 15 second soundbite. Wisconsin had problems with their economic base long before Governor Walker was first elected. Structural economic problems take a change in mindset, taxation policy and incentives for companies to start up, or relocate.

It is intellectually lazy to think the Wisconsin economic problems began with and came to fruition after Governor Walker was first elected. How about that? Full circle for the initial thought.

Reminder, the topic is "Intellectual brain drain....", and how it is all Scott Walker's fault. I know it is difficult, but try to concentrate.

What's a "Prog?" Did you learn that term from Michael Savage? Or was it on the "no spin zone?"

The topic is actually about a potential "brain drain" due to heavy cuts in education - fair enough, no? Less money spent for education could very well = a drop in quality of education. Do you somehow think it will increase the quality of education by pulling funds? However, someone threw out weather as the reason why there's a "brain drain" in Milwaukee, so some of us worked a bit to show that no, it's about economy/jobs. And potentially, education.

A valid argument could be made that it's merely trimming the fat, and education won't suffer but we'll be that much richer in taxes saved. However, you decided not to actually discuss the topic at hand, or add to it in any way.

I know it's hard for Ditto-heads to stay on-topic when there are opportunities to lob catch-all elevator speeches you learn on the radio at the wall, hoping something sticks, so that's why I simplified the thread with this short summary to get you back on track

[earthlyfather]

The case is nowhere proven that more money equals better quality and or outcomes, per education expenditures. So, I think this 'fearing the worst case' scenario is a bit overdone. In fact, given the poor performance of primary and secondary students and the incorrect education focus in college provide good support for smarter education resource allocation. Not more money.

Everyone could look to any of the right to work states and their success in attracting industry, and thus state it must be that they have highly educated work forces. All sorts of work is valued, right?

But, it does not stop there. Information Technology jobs are also growing in the Sunbelt, which happen to overlay the aforementioned 'right to work' states. I think that is a pure coincidence, btw.

No, I think quality of life - of which weather is a factor -, cost of living - of which taxation plays a key role, are just as important as a highly educated workforce. So, weather and overall business climate (taxation; personal and corporate, and business regulations), will outweigh a highly educated workforce if two competing states are in the same range, in terms of a highly educated workforce. Highly educated should mean functional - useful; therefore functional education is the cornerstone of what is considered highly education. There has to be a use for the skills and or the skills have to add value to an employer.

The Rising Stars

But the big story in the information sector may be the emergence of a whole series of smaller metro areas that are usually less expensive. Some of the names here would also not surprise, such as Austin, Texas (fifth), and Raleigh-Cary, N.C. (eighth). They have been pulling information jobs from places like Boston, New York and the Bay Area for almost a generation. For example, Apple decided last year to center its Americas operations division in Austin, which is likely to bring upward of 3,000 information jobs to the Texas capital.

The Cities Winning The Battle For Information Jobs - Forbes

Originally Posted by timberline742

Agreed. But why then does Walker try to hurt the number one incentive for companies to locate someplace, which is a highly educated workforce? Or hinder start ups, which generally come from University research?

[thefragile]

Originally Posted by earthlyfather

"...why are people arguing about the weather..." Maybe because progs have low impulse control, have trouble focusing for more than a 15 second soundbite. Wisconsin had problems with their economic base long before Governor Walker was first elected. Structural economic problems take a change in mindset, taxation policy and incentives for companies to start up, or relocate.

It is intellectually lazy to think the Wisconsin economic problems began with and came to fruition after Governor Walker was first elected. How about that? Full circle for the initial thought.

Reminder, the topic is "Intellectual brain drain....", and how it is all Scott Walker's fault. I know it is difficult, but try to concentrate.

I am concentrating, direct your immature retorts elsewhere. While you're at it, try to explain why Walker has such disdain for education. Is it because he himself is uneducated? Why not ask why he's insulting professors by claiming they don't work hard enough therefore they should have no problem taking on extra classes? There is nothing worse for a country than an uneducated society yet that is the direction the cons repeatedly try to steer towards. Easy to sway the masses when they're stupid, right?