Partisan Unemployment
Bottom 10 Unemployment States: Where jobs go to die
If states are the laboratories of Democracy, then we have the perfect opportunity to analyze some of the results of the most unique elections of 2010. Across the nation, we elected the Holy Grail for political parties, complete control of a state. So, how are the states fairing now that one party, the Republican Party, has such overwhelming control?
We have been told that Republicans are pro growth. We have been told that they are "fiscally responsible". We have been told that they know how to attract jobs. Mostly, we've been told to cut, cut, cut. Cut taxes. Cut regulations. Cut spending. Cut public employees.
As you can see from the chart above, the one thing Republicans have been very, very good at, and very consistent, is cutting jobs. Of the ten states with the worst unemployment, six are completely controlled by Republicans. Eight out of the ten worst states are at least partially controlled by Republicans. In only one of the worst states do Democrats have the total control, California. However, California has super majority requirements for taxes, so Republicans can easily block the Democrats.
Two of our worst states are in the top five for most friendly state taxes! If taxes were the key, or even a large factor in jobs, how are two of the greatest Grover Norquist states such lousy places to find jobs? Of the worst states, six of ten are in the top half for tax friendliness.
Obviously, correlation and causation are two different things. We cannot claim that Republicans have caused these terrible outcomes. However, we can be certain that complete Republican control has not made these states very attractive to jobs.
Crossposted at MNProgressiveProject
Citations:
Partisan data by state
Ranking of the most "tax friendly" states.
Most recent unemployment statistics.