The good news: things are generally getting better...
June 21, 2013 8:28 AM   Subscribe

Measure America offers a terrific tools for visualizations and charts of the Measure of America Project from the Social Science Research Council, which looks at the Human Development Index at a city and state level, with breakdowns by race as well. Among the general findings are that "Red States" rank lower, opportunity is increasing everywhere but Michigan, and Connecticut is the best state, Washington DC the best city..
posted by blahblahblah (24 comments total) 20 users marked this as a favorite
 
Washington DC the best city.

I take it Measure America has never had to drive on the Beltway?
posted by leotrotsky at 8:57 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Why does Minnesota have to so consistently one-up Wisconsin? What the hell, man.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:05 AM on June 21, 2013


Yet, North Carolina, which has approximately the same population size as Michigan and lost an even higher share of manufacturing jobs over the decade, didn’t experience the same decline in human development. Why? According to the report, it’s because North Carolina spent three times more per person on higher education than Michigan in 2010. “North Carolina’s public and private investment in building a workforce with the skills for new jobs in the life sciences, telecommunications, and software development helps sustain a competitive economy and a decent standard of living,” write Ms. Lewis and Ms. Burd-Sharps.

NO KIDDING.

Also, I really wish Michigan would catch a break. I love that state so much.
posted by HostBryan at 9:07 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


There's like a dozen counties with more than 50% of under-6-year-olds living in poverty?

Shatner, America.
posted by DU at 9:09 AM on June 21, 2013


Connecticut is the best state

Yeah, if you don't suffer from SAD and don't mind 9 months a year of mostly shite weather.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:13 AM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


From the Slate article: State GDP per capita, which measures a state’s total economic activity, is much higher in Louisiana than in Vermont. But residents in the Pelican State are not better off than their Green Mountain State counterparts as a result of the increased economic activity…

So wealth doesn’t necessarily lead to longer lives and better education.


Gosh, if only there were a way to measure distribution of wealth. I mean, I'm sure the petrochemicals industry that makes use of the largest bulk cargo port in the world reinvests its profit locally, so...headscratcher, man.
posted by psoas at 9:14 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


...don't mind 9 months a year of mostly shite weather.

It takes a pretty unhappy person to hate both spring AND fall.
posted by DU at 9:17 AM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


So wealth doesn’t necessarily lead to longer lives and better education.

GDP per capita is only a good measure of how well off people are if the GDP really is "per capita".
posted by DU at 9:18 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Don't move to - make that Mississippi. LO
posted by PuppyCat at 9:33 AM on June 21, 2013


Shatner, America.

Is this the best autocorrect ever?
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:34 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


No: Jesus -> Jesus H. Shatner -> Shatner
posted by DU at 9:39 AM on June 21, 2013


Missing: Jesus H. Shatner -> Jesus T. Shatner
posted by Flunkie at 9:47 AM on June 21, 2013


Don't move to Alaska or Nevada if you don't like carcinogens.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:56 AM on June 21, 2013


Don't you write us Michiganders off yet. We're a tough bunch.
posted by Kokopuff at 10:01 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I take it Measure America has never had to drive on the Beltway?

Or rely on WMATA?
posted by lullaby at 10:08 AM on June 21, 2013


Shatner, America

That's the new reality show where William Shatner moves into an unsuspecting small town and Shatners it up until they kick him out, right?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:28 AM on June 21, 2013


Michigan's definitely doing better now. The reason for the low ranking is that the state's economy was basically in a recession throughout the 2000s. Bad decade, that's for sure.
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 11:25 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Washington DC the best city.
I take it Measure America has never had to drive on the Beltway?


Avoiding the beltway is one of the many good things about living in DC.
posted by MtDewd at 11:29 AM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


After seeing the Daily Show report about Tennessee's healthcare lottery I'm very thankful to be living in a blue state.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:11 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


That's the new reality show where William Shatner moves into an unsuspecting small town and Shatners it up until they kick him out, right?

"KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANecticut..."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 12:14 PM on June 21, 2013


“North Carolina’s public and private investment in building a workforce with the skills for new jobs in the life sciences, telecommunications, and software development helps sustain a competitive economy and a decent standard of living,” write Ms. Lewis and Ms. Burd-Sharps.
But the gerrymandered state legislature put in place in 2012 will be working overtime to undo that.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:24 PM on June 21, 2013


Well, of course DC is the best city!
posted by C'est la D.C. at 5:12 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


State GDP per capita, which measures a state’s total economic activity, is much higher in Louisiana than in Vermont. But residents in the Pelican State are not better off than their Green Mountain State counterparts as a result of the increased economic activity…

Those are two states that are not often compared.

You got your syrup on my beignets! No, you got your beignets in my syrup! WAIT!
posted by maryr at 5:26 PM on June 21, 2013


Well, of course DC is the best city!

Which DC? The rich professional DC or the poor black DC?
posted by Nomyte at 9:18 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


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