Things are picking up

This past week was the first time my cycling broke 100 miles this year. By design. The low back/hip combo has been worsening, so in an effort to heal it, I've rested longer. I've hated the process mentally, but that's what had to happen.

I am currently doing 40 miles per week running and 70-100 miles riding. Hopefully it will warm up more this month and the riding miles will go up. That's the plan.

That's the update in training. Now to the discussions.

This morning I stated Indiana was one of the poorest states in the country. That statement was roundly booed by the group, so I promised to research the issue deeper. Now before I go further, I want to clarify I acknowledged the Indiana budget is in the black, one of the few states in the country to be able to say that currently. That however is not my measure of wealth. Employment, or rather the quality of employment, is an important indicator of how wealthy a state is. A state full of fast-food workers is not wealthy, even if the unemployment rate is low.

Here are some numbers I rounded up:

39^th in household income.

21^st highest poverty level.

15^th in job loss in 2012 (mainly public sector).

40^th in quality of life assessment.

37^th in access to capital (for business development).

34^th in educational spending.

Non-farm employment dropped nearly 10% in the last decade.

The good news:

Indiana ranks 14^th in states with the best business environments (meaning business-friendly).

9^th in job growth (mainly construction). Don’t get excited – we’re talking 0.60% growth here.

7^th in cost of living.

What this all means will depend on how you wish to analyze it. At first glance they appear to conflict, particularly with regards to employment gain/loss. To start, non-farm employment dropped nearly 10% over the last decade, yet in the last year construction jobs helped Indiana become 9th in job growth (albeit at an anemic 0.60%). Additionally, the Daniels push to reduce the public sector jobs made Indiana 15th in job loss in the country. As I said, mixed bag. 

Now let's look at household income. Indiana ranks 39th in the country, not the worst, but certainly not good. Fortunately this is offset somewhat with a low cost of living in most of the rural parts of the state, but that too comes at a price. With the reduction of automobile manufacturing in the state, tax revenues are naturally correspondingly reduced, which means services are cut back. This contributes to Indiana ranking 40th in quality of life.

It's true the state has heavily courted business with whatever tools at our disposal, which usually means things like tax abatements (which reduce services) or relaxed regulation. There is plenty of available property for development and expansion. Interstate access is improving all the time. Basic infrastructure is there, and there is a willing workforce. 

My Summary: 

Indiana is still a largely agrarian state. The industrial base shrank over the last two decades, and wages actually decreased over the period. HOWEVER.. Indiana is not the poorest state. Never mind I never said that... I will concede it isn't. I stand by my point it is a poor state, and all things considered one of the poorer states in the country.