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What is this?
Numbers don’t always tell whole story
Published Sunday, June 27, 2010
You don’t have to be a Buckeye by birth to adore the great state of Ohio. Millions of transplants — just like me — love the region they now call home.
Americans are infamous for having strong state allegiances, a trait that likely dates back to the Revolutionary War.
It is often good-natured fun for residents to give their neighbors playful ribbing about how everything is better across state lines.
Everyone has heard the jokes. Ohioans can’t drive. Kentuckians don’t wear shoes. West Virginians are all related.
Of course none of those stereotypes are actually true.
But a nonprofit, bipartisan group called The Taxpayers Network takes it upon itself each year to look at dozens of facets of society and government compared from state to state.
The “50 State Comparisons” book always offers some interesting statistical insight into how Ohio stacks up against the other 49 states in the union. Here are a few that jumped out at me:
> Ohio rank’s 33rd in median family income at $60,061.
> The state ranks 21 in percentage of population below the poverty line at 13.2 percent. Lawrence County is higher than that. Kentucky and West Virginia are both at 17.2 percent.
>Think taxes are too high here? You may be right. Ohio ranks 7th with a 10.4 percent state and local tax burden on income.
> Only 58.5 percent of Ohio households have broadband internet access, ranking 34th. Alaska ranks first with 70.6 percent.
> The average income for a state employee in Ohio is $55,617, ranking 7th. Kentucky ranks 22nd at $46,537 and West Virginia 38th at $40,163.
> Ohio ingenuity is still shining. The state ranked 11th in 2009 with 2,341 patents issued. Kentucky had 368 and West Virginia 92.
> It has long been known that the state’s public school funding system is flawed. The numbers prove that. Ohio ranks 37th in per-pupil spending at $9,015. That is reflected in the fact that the state has a student-teacher ratio of 17-1, ranking 44th in the nation.
> But it is encouraging to see the state support higher education, ranking 8th.
> The state per capita spending on natural resources, parks and recreation is scary low at $42.06, ranking 49th.
> However, the roads are in pretty good shape, ranking 4th in terms of condition.
There is a lot more information there to be had. What does it all mean?
Maybe nothing. Maybe a lot. The bottom line is that it is interesting to have a numerical measure to at least start the discussion of key points.
Anyone who would like to access this data online or get a copy of this 3x5-inch reference book can visit the Web site www.taxpayersnetwork.org.
Ohio is a great place to live, as is the Tri-State. In fact, our three states combine to form a metropolitan area that has more in common with itself than it does many of the cities in the individual states.
We should all love the area we call home. It is important to understand the similarities, the differences, the strengths, the weaknesses and the way every situation is unique.
That is something that won’t fit into a neat numerical ranking or statistical category.
Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com.
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Comments
Posted by mikehaney (anonymous) on June 27, 2010 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The downside. Natives talk funny. I'm a native lawrence countian.
Had a job that required using the phone.
Call north,I felt person on other end found my accent humorous. Call south, couldn't understand them. Had a conversation with a man in Maine face to face, had no idea what he was saying.
I love this country.
Worked for thirty years in Ky, feel like a native Kentuckian but not.
Drank beer at the mug club in huntington, and took dates to rebels and redcoats in huntington. Done business in Huntington,Ashland and Ironton.
Native tri-stater, grew up and stayed in Lawrence county. Good place to raise a family.
Good one Michael Caldwell.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on June 28, 2010 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mikehaney; Be careful, "Rebels & Redcoats" your telling your age. What about Johnny Angilos, across from the Glass factory. The best Pizza I ever ate and the best 3.2 Beer. I think that may have been a bit before your time. Huntington was the place. The Tri-State area is the GREATEST. Our Appalachian accent cannot be duplicated, we are something special. I have been in Florida for sixteen years and they recognize the Southern and Yankee accent but cannot place the Appalachian. By the way, Sen. Bob Byrd died today, 92 years old, God Rest His Soul.
Posted by indieVoter (anonymous) on June 28, 2010 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here are some numbers worth looking at.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ohio...
In short, our county has applied for right at a quarter million dollars of federal block grant money. So will we get it??
' "The money should be available in October," said Commissioner Doug Malone. "Normally, the list is approved as submitted." '
That's the democrat commissioner speaking of course but what about his two republican counterparts on the county's Commissioner Board? What are they thinking?
"In other action, the board agreed to write a letter of support for House Bill 499 that would increase the amount of federal reimbursement to nursing homes..."
So there you have it, bipartisanship. Not only are the commissioners supporting the President but they're asking for even more federal money....and for health care, at that.
As for the slice of the pie we get here in Lawrence county, how could we possibly complain? If we pretty much get what we asked for (come October) then our county can do no better than to blame the president for giving us the federal block grant money we asked for in the first place.
Posted by tigerexpress (anonymous) on June 29, 2010 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems that our accent is something that we carry with us wherever we go. Most think we are from the south Tenn. seems to be one of the most quoted. What is funny is that if you have lived here long enough you start to make fun of those accents from other areas. How many times have heard someone from Lawrence County make fun of those people from Kentucky or West Virginia.
Posted by mikehaney (anonymous) on June 29, 2010 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Johnny Angilos??
Way before my time Mick.
Posted by Carlito42 (anonymous) on June 29, 2010 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great article, Mike. Just out of curiosity, where do you hail from? You are doing a terrific job publishing the Tribune.
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