I thought of Newton’s waffling yesterday as the new census results showed Massachusetts continuing to lag far behind many other states in population growth, a gap that will soon cost us a congressional seat and precious federal funding.
I asked Harvard economics professor Edward Glaeser what high-growth states like Washington, Utah and Georgia have to offer that we don’t, and he said the key element is new housing.
Right. Housing. Lack of new housing is why people are fleeing Massachusetts in droves. That's why Bruce left. Lissa and Borepatch too. Yes. It has nothing to do with the incredible mismanagement of resources that saw our sales tax increased for the first time in decades while Governor Patrick filled six-figure jobs that had been vacant for years with his cronies. It has nothing to do with the ever-encroaching nanny state that dictates we must have car and health insurance, can't eat trans fat or smoke in public areas, and rewards gross incompetence.
Ask Harvard economics professer Glaeser what ELSE states like Washington, Utah, and Georgia have to offer. Things like greater freedom, lower taxes, and a greater likelihood to not be micromanaged by government drones might factor into the equation as well. I'm certain that housing does play into the factors, but no one thought to ask what, exactly, that means. Keller alludes to the high cost of living in MA, but then inanely chalks it up to zoning regulations. Really? While I'm sure that zoning regulations and such play into the cost, it's hard to argue with things like:
- MA is third-worst for incorporation for businesses, second only to CA and NY.
- MA makes the Top Ten list for worst driving laws.
- MA is mentioned several times on the list for worst gun laws.
- MA having rampant corruption in the state political system.
Go ahead and rearrange those deck chairs pretend its our zoning laws - we'd rather states like UT and GA get the extra congressional representation anyways...
That is all.
8 comments:
What are you talking about? I left because we elected a REPUBLICAN! ;-)
(Been meaning to do a follow up post on him, but since I've got Rubio you're welcome to the idea)
Lissa FTW!
I do have to say, though, that the guy has a point. Restrictive zoning has doubled the price of housing in Massachusetts, at least compared with down here. For most people, that's a significant hit to their pocketbook.
THEN add in the taxes and other craziness, and you just need a whole lot more money to have a middle class life style in Mass.
So he's right that more housing will help, although I'd think that in the midst of the housing crash, proposing something that will cut people's home prices in half (and put 99% of everyone under water on their mortgages) is a sub-optimal reelection strategy ...
It's like the victim of bad a car crash coming into the hospital and then finding out that he has high blood pressure. Sure, it needs to be addressed, but it's certainly not the most pressing issue...
Lessee... Born and mostly raised in MAssachusetts, which ranks in the bottom of all those categories.
I now live in Idaho, by conscious choice; which ranks in the top of all those categories...
Coincidence?
Washington state (which I live 25 miles from) even though it's ruled by commies and hippies in Seattle, and as far as they're concerned everything outside of King county is either irrelevant or simply doesn't exist... Still has one of the lowest overall tax burdens.
The Mrs. & I are refugees too, although it was a while back.
Let's not put Washington on too high of a pedestal...I mean, we do have the Democrats in complete control of the Government, and we can't have Class III weapons like they do in our neighboring states of Idaho and Oregon...
Oh, who am I kidding. I was born in Quincy, Mass...and nothing could ever convince me to move back there from Washington.
And, yeah...housing isn't the reason why.
quincy eh? I mostly grew up in Milton, but lived in Quincy several times.
Last time was on Copeland street. Time before that, willard street.
I went to Montclair elementary for fifth grade.
My grandfather lived on Willard for 9 years. Owned the Gridley bryant building, and the double deckers across from it.
So is this a new version of "Build it and they will come"?
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