Interesting study

[onejayhawk]

It's from George Mason University, 4th annual.
https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

States are ranked in terms of solvency by various criteria. Florida is doing best, which I find a bit surprising. The other high population states are far down the list, with Illinois among the worst. Mexican border states are hurting, which is no surprise. Oil and Gas states are mixed. As a general statement, red states are doing better than blue states, again with exceptions.

 

[warpus]

So why is Florida is doing so well? What are they doing right?

 

[onejayhawk]

What they are doing right is spending less than they take in. "How?", is a better question.

J

 

[Lexicus]

"How?", is a better question.

Cutting more money from public services than they give to the rich in tax cuts?

 

[EgonSpengler]

Cutting more money from public services than they give to the rich in tax cuts?

Here's one data point to throw onto the fire...

The Florida Times-Union / Jacksonville.com - 7 April 2016 - "Florida gets an 'F' in new school funding report"

A new national study of how states pay for public education gave Florida an “F” for “Effort,” and ranked it near the bottom of states in how it spends tax dollars for education.

Florida ranked 42nd for education funding per student and 49th for the number of teachers per 100 students in public schools.

The national funding level per student averaged $9,766.80 while Florida’s was $7,033, after adjusting for regional differences and district sizes, said Danielle Farrie, Education Law Center’s research director.

I know that Boston, New York City, and Washington DC have been staggered by problems with their public transportation systems. Their subways, specifically. I don't know if any of Florida's major cities even has a subway, so their public transportation systems are, I would guess, much less of a fiscal burden. Does that make Florida's public transportation "better"?

 

[warpus]

So basically Florida gets good marks in this study by paying very little for public education or public infrastructure?

Go Florida! Time to lower the taxes even more!

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Right-wing 'pro market' foundation ranks states with the worst services and lowest taxes as best. I'm shocked!

 

[warpus]

Kind of dishonest of OP to not disclose the details of this report and pretend that those states at the top are "doing it right"

 

[hobbsyoyo]

You seem surprised ???

 

[EgonSpengler]

Yeah, as with so many things, too simplified a view is misleading. For instance, "One of the best states for public education is... Wyoming?" (The Washington Post, 8 Jan 15). So they are doing that right. But just one borough of New York City - Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn - has 4-5 times as many people as the entire state of Wyoming (Wyoming beats Staten Island in population, barely). I imagine public services and infrastructure get a wee-bit more complicated and expensive in NYC. (I had to look and see whether Cheyenne even has city buses. They do, but not on Sundays.)

 

[warpus]

You seem surprised ???

I guess I give OP the benefit of the doubt and hope that a new thread has been created under proper pretenses, as a default.

However now I have no choice but to declare shenanigans

 

[onejayhawk]

Kind of dishonest of OP to not disclose the details of this report and pretend that those states at the top are "doing it right"

Say what? Not disclose what details? They are all linked on line #2

Right-wing 'pro market' foundation ranks states with the worst services and lowest taxes as best. I'm shocked!

Look again. I 'll give you free market, but hardly right wing. Libertarian perhaps.

This, however, is right wing. IBD did an article with a predictable spin.
http://www.investors.com/politics/c...ican-worst-run-mostly-democratic-study-finds/

Of the 25 most-solvent states, all but four are solidly Republican. Of the bottom 25 states, all but five are solidly Democratic. The most fiscally sound states also tend to have the lowest tax burdens, according to a separate analysis by the Tax Foundation, which measures state and local tax burdens as a percentage of state income. The average tax burden among the 10 most fiscally sound states is 8.5%, according to the Tax Foundation's 2017 report. The average tax burden among the 10 least fiscally sound states: 10.2%.

Here's another way to look at it: Of the 15 least-solvent states, 10 are among the 15 states with the highest tax burdens.
​

That last line surprised me somewhat. I expected them to correlate, but not that strongly.

J

 

[warpus]

Say what? Not disclose what details? They are all linked on line #2

People read your OP and think that Florida is #1.

What you don't point out that Florida is ranked as #1 because they suck at taking care of their citizens and spending on education and public infrastructure. So since there is such an extreme 180 degree difference between what your OP implies and the truth, it seems to me that you should explicitly state this in the OP so that people don't get the wrong idea. Seems deceptive otherwise.

 

[sophie]

People read your OP and think that Florida is #1.

What you don't point out that Florida is ranked as #1 because they suck at taking care of their citizens and spending on education and public infrastructure. So since there is such an extreme 180 degree difference between what your OP implies and the truth, it seems to me that you should explicitly state this in the OP so that people don't get the wrong idea. Seems deceptive otherwise.

Well, to be fair, the graphic explicitly states it is evaluating "overall fiscal condition", and not a wider holistic.

 

[onejayhawk]

People read your OP and think that Florida is #1.

What you don't point out that Florida is ranked as #1 because they suck at taking care of their citizens and spending on education and public infrastructure. So since there is such an extreme 180 degree difference between what your OP implies and the truth, it seems to me that you should explicitly state this in the OP so that people don't get the wrong idea. Seems deceptive otherwise.

Now I understand why your reply confused me. We disagree on this.

You say that there is, "an extreme 180 degree difference between what your OP implies and the truth"? What is implied? What truth is 180° opposite? You conclude, "because they suck at taking care of their citizens and spending on education and public infrastructure." That is an opinion, not a fact which should be disclosed.

I also do not accept that posting the study and inviting commentary is in any way deceptive. I am often willing to post an opinion, such as yours which I just quoted, but chose not to do so in this case. Look at the information and ask questions or draw your own conclusions. Discuss. That is the purpose of the forum.

J

 

[warpus]

You say that there is, "an extreme 180 degree difference between what your OP implies and the truth"? What is implied? What truth is 180° opposite?

Your OP says Florida #1 but it seems that they actually suck.

You conclude, "because they suck at taking care of their citizens and spending on education and public infrastructure." That is an opinion, not a fact which should be disclosed.

Based on what EgonSpengler posted it seems to be a fact, not opinion. Which part of what he posted is not true?

 

[onejayhawk]

Your OP says Florida #1 but it seems that they actually suck. Based on what EgonSpengler posted it seems to be a fact, not opinion. Which part of what he posted is not true?

To use Egon's words, "as with so many things, too simplified a view is misleading."

You want to make value judgments on a bank balance based on whether the schools are good. Underspending on schools might partly explain why a state is very solvent, but it is hardly the whole answer. State spending on public transit even less so. Why no mention of state roads, which are a major factor in sparse population regions? Pension funding is a big element in Illinois problems. No mention. Payroll and working benefits? Public Safety and Criminal Justice?

The point is the article concerns the ability of the state to meet financial obligations. Florida is very able to meet its obligations while New Jersey is very strained. It is not about how wisely the state spends its money.

J

 

[warpus]

The point is the article concerns the ability of the state to meet financial obligations.

Sure, and if I'm a deadbeat father who spends $50 on food for my kids each month, then of course I'll save more money each month than my neighbour, who earns exactly as much as me but spends $400 on food for his kids.

In that situation "#1 Father!" would have to have a * beside it but in this case all you have done is said "some criteria" as though that is supposed to explain everything.

 

[Ajidica]

Minnesota is better than Florida, therefore, your study is invalid.
Case closed.

 

[VicRatlhead5199]

#1 in fiscal solvency but severely lacking in other aspects is a failed government to the point of almost meaninglessness. I get that that idea may appeal to a libertarian though.