We're Saved!
The Arizona Republic had this headline on the front of the business section this morning:
Arizona economy will get boost
Oh, is there some interesting structural change in the economy? Did some local company get a big contract. No, it turns out that the state government is going to reorganize some of its committees:
Gov. Janet Napolitano announced creation of a new non-profit on
Thursday aimed at improving the state's economy and reducing its
dependence on housing and construction.The Arizona Economic Resources Organization, or AERO, will bring
together the state's "disorganized" business-recruiting efforts, she
said.AERO's board of directors will include representatives of government
organizations such as the Commerce and Economic Development Commission,
private enterprise and the state's universities, the governor said.
Is there a single person who reads this and thinks to himself "Oh, that should help?" Is this really what the Arizona Republic thinks boosts economies and creates value? Some reorganization among the bureaucrats that run around doling out taxpayer money for relocations so the governor can claim to have boosted the economy, or God forbid, to have created jobs? How about an income tax cut instead?
Just as an aside, I couldn't help but note this hilarious quote:
"The governor has taken some important and bold steps, probably steps
that we should have taken 20 if not 30 years ago," said Barry Broome,
president and chief executive of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council,
which he said has discussed representation on the AERO board with the
governor.
It's simultaneously "bold" and 30 years late. Is that possible?
Update: As to my last question, it probably is possible. After all, actually limiting the Congress to the enumerated powers in the Constitution would be both bold and about a hundred years late.
Mesa Econoguy:
“Gov. Janet Napolitano announced creation of a new non-profit on Thursday aimed at improving the state's economy and reducing its dependence on housing and construction.â€
Let’s see, the approximate contribution to GDP, i.e. economic “heavy lifting,†done by non-profit organizations is…………..hold on, I’ve got it here somewhere………….um…….0%. So that’s a good start.
Improving AZ’s economy: Our economy needs improvement? AZ is the fastest growing state in the country (for a variety of reasons, some of them legal), and our economy is same.
Reducing our dependence on housing and construction? Well, we certainly won’t need housing with enormous state-run non-profits.
I will give this mongoloid woman her economic props: she certainly knows what economic areas are related, just not the right ones.
This is yet another reason why journalists are clueless, as is our esteemed Governoressness.
October 5, 2007, 4:55 pmAllen:
I haven't paid attention to software jobs in different places for long. I'd be curious to see how much technology jobs now contribute to Arizona's economy now compare to 2000, 1990, 1980 and even 1970. I suspect it's exploded during the last 20 years. And it's done that without non-profits like this one.
October 5, 2007, 8:29 pm