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Ohio's priority to grow its population and political muscle
Published on Wednesday, Dec 24, 2008
What's slowing the nation's longstanding population shifts is the risky business of relocating in a highly uncertain economy. That will ease, sooner or later. But even now, Ohio has one of the worst growth rates in the nation, at 0.1 percent from July 2007 to July 2008. Only Michigan and Rhode Island, which both lost population according to the latest census data, fared worse.
Population projections spell a continuing loss of political clout. Ohio is likely to lose two of its 18 seats in the U.S. House after the next census in 2010, the most of any state. In presidential election years, Ohio will remain a battleground, to be sure. Even with two fewer Electoral College votes, the state will still be a prize, its closely divided electorate attracting attention. Win an election by one vote, and all electors end up in your column.
The real damage becomes apparent after the campaign hoo-rah is over, when the business of governing begins. Ohio once had 24 seats in the U.S. House. The loss of influence begins to show when it comes to regional issues, the interests of states in the South and Southwest eclipsing the concerns from those in the North and Northeast and fueling tensions. For example, unionized car plants dominate the likes of Michigan and Ohio, with the foreign transplants sprouting in the South. The failure of the auto bailout in Congress was all but assured when opposition surfaced from the Southern states.
The anemic population growth makes it critical that this state and region develop an agenda that aims to restore and revitalize cities as the engines of job development and growth. Help may come from the next Congress and President Barack Obama and his Cabinet, but more must be done.
Schools, universities and local governments also have a crucial part to play, learning to work together more efficiently and pursuing every opportunity to expand the knowledge-based economy to make Ohio an attractive place to live.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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stow, oh
Posted 07:18 AM, 12/24/2008
Ohio will continue to sink in the mire in terms of population and economic activity as long as it remains the 5th most heavily taxed state in the union.
Want to keep people and jobs in Ohio? Cut taxes and government spending.
Want to bring new businesses to the state and keep the ones here from leaving? Make Ohio a right-to-work state.
Want better schools? Expand vouchers.
But no, all the ABJ can call for is higher taxes, more government jobs, and a hope of handouts from Washington.
Posted 08:30 AM, 12/24/2008
Peter, you have nailed it.
