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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Wisconsin Hemorrhaging And Refusing Aid?

You've got to check out the choropleth maps over at Flowing Data.com. On this page, you can view unemployment trends for the past five years in one snapshot, or zoom in and around the country state-by-state. Very cool.

Yet, judging by these maps, Wisconsin is nowhere near the top ten bloodiest states for unemployment. Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan...ugh, are in a far worse state of affairs. The entire southeast including Florida, and California, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada all make Wisconsin look pretty in pink. Oddly, Texas appears to be closest to Wisconsin's coloration proportionally speaking.

Unfortunately, Rock County is one of only several counties in the state that has hemorrhaged jobs equal to that of some of worst counties in the country. It's not a pretty picture. View Wisconsin county by county here.

Also, according to News With Numbers, Wisconsin is ranked dead last in federal stimulus dollars! Why are we trying to compete in a world market by attempting to bankroll corporations like Mercury Marine or GM with meager state tax dollars when billions in federal funds remain untouched? Is this a problem emanating from Washington or are locals (cities and counties) or the state legislature dropping the ball? Or are we just slow starters?

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