Thread Drift

[OakLeaf]

You see that when you cross county and even sometimes township lines in Ohio.

Total speculation, but I wonder if more things are funded on a state level in Massachusetts, so there's more of a cushion and everyone shares the pain a little more equally???

[Owlie]

Oak, check your post count. I wonder that too--MA probably has a larger tax base than does Ohio, too.

I'm pretty sure we're all screwed. I've been e-mailing back and forth with one of my former professors (who wrote a couple of recommendation letters) for me. He asked why I wasn't in a PhD program--it's because the grant situation is so bad that no one is willing to spend money on people who they don't know or who aren't science rock stars. It's going to get worse before it gets better. And people whine about the US "falling behind."

[NbyNW]

They don't call it Taxachusetts for nuthin'.

Maybe MA also had someone on the congressional transportation committee for a while? That could help, too.

[Fredwina]

It was great - about 45 minutes - same as the bus -plus got in some exercise.
And I got my debit card from Cal EDD - i'm rich!

[Crankin]

I hate to tell you, but that Taxachusetts label went out the window several years ago. There have been several studies that show we are not up there in the top anymore. It is also a figure that can be calculated several ways. Besides, I get suspicious of anyone who complains about taxes. Really, how do people think we pay for roads, schools, public safety? New Hampshire brags about no income tax, but their property taxes make mine look like nothing. And they still don't have public school kindergarten.
I am not sure how much the state compares to others in the percentage that it contributes to different things. My only basis of comparison is public universities. Ours get almost no state support, due the the prevalent belief that you are a moron if you go to one . Despite this, my older son got a stellar education at U Mass Amherst. But, when I look at my alumni magazine from ASU, I see billions of dollars in new construction, lots of new majors, and the university really being engaged in the community. How does a state that has a 50% foreclosure rate and high unemployment do this?
And, outside of eastern MA, maybe starting ten miles from where I live, it's really rural, except for 2 smaller cities that are terminally economically depressed. So, I am not sure how large our population is compared to Ohio. Most of the population is within a very small area.
Oak, we see the same variation from town to town here, too. In fact, it is stark. We have 351 cities and towns and none of them want to give up their own unique identity, in order to share resources. We have counties, but in name only.
I think the difference this time, as opposed to the recessions in 2000 and the early nineties (which I was here for) is that now, our economy, which is driven by health care, education, and technology, is just in the right spot at the right time. Before, these industries were losing jobs and we lost a huge manufacturing base. But, that happened a long time ago and it's never coming back. And, we are tolerant...

[ultraviolet]

But, when I look at my alumni magazine from ASU, I see billions of dollars in new construction, lots of new majors, and the university really being engaged in the community. How does a state that has a 50% foreclosure rate and high unemployment do this?

Athletics. College football and men's basketball are cash cows, especially in the big conferences like the PAC-12. And they have to keep making bigger, shinier, more impressive facilities and programs to keep pace in the recruiting game, to make sure they keep the money rolling in from the marquee athletic programs.

[Crankin]

Yup, this has to be the answer. And you know what? I'd rather have the shabby 70's era concrete buildings than the glitz of Sun Devil football...

[crazycanuck]

*sigh* i'm having one of those "will rehabbing this injury ever end " days..Somedays i'm totally cool with it...others..

I had a bone scan(no new trauma, just same area still inflamed) & saw the sports dr specialist the other day n was told no super duper activity (besides the core work, walking & stairs i've been doing) for at least another 3 months. I'm not even sure I want to take the normal anti inflams nor the natural ones (nalgesic) as I know this is going to take time to heal. I didn't rehabilitate the injury properly the first time as I had no clue. My knee was the main body part that was the focus of rehabbing...I had no idea a dislocated SC joint would come back to haunt me this way...

I'm the cause of my own circle..as soon as things feel like they've really improved, I go out and test my body a bit (no not by cycling or swimming but a very very short walk on hard sand) & find out that that wasn't such a good idea. Nothing like doing a long walk & getting searing pains through your collarbones...!

I have to carry my food w me to uni as i've changed my diet & that will have to change. I'm borrowing a business briefcase trolley from a friend so i can remove the pressure from my shoulders. I have one of those portable shopping bag trolleys for groceries etc. I even purchased a waist hydration pack as carrying a water bottle doesn't work either...

The worst thing...I hate being a "cager" & when I can get back into cycling, I won't feel as guilty...

Anywho, I just needed to get this off my chest..