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Friday, September 28, 2007

Bad Question

posted by on September 28 at 17:12 PM

Maybe Dino Rossi really isn’t running for governor.

The resigned-in-disgrace President of Forward Washington, gave a speech this morning in front of the Marysville Tualip Chamber of Commerce titled: “What Businesses Should Look for Before Casting Their Vote.”

I didn’t hear his speech, but I gotta say, the answer to “What Businesses Should Look for Before Casting Their Vote” seems to point to Rossi’s rival: Gov. Gregoire. Under Gregoire, Washington state jumped from the 12th best state to do business in to the 5th best. Probably has something to do with our lowest-in-history unemployment rate and the whopping job growth.

RSS icon Comments

1

So why does Rossi hate Washington so very very much?

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 28, 2007 5:42 PM
2

I don't think Rossi hates Washington, any more than he hated Honda. It's just that he was a five time world champion whose accomplishments were being degraded by the assumption that anybody on Honda's bike would have been world champion.

When you have already overcome every other challenge there is to overcome, switching to Yamaha was the logical choice. If he can keep winning even when he isn't on a Honda, then he will truly be the god he is often taken for.

Of course he didn't win -- but neither did Honda. So he's maybe only half god.

Posted by elenchos | September 28, 2007 6:21 PM
3

The old economy view by business was that government should keep taxes and regulations low. With the new economy, businesses are desperate for trained workers, freight mobility, and other services. The D's are willing to invest in these areas, while the neocon R's, who now run the party, are not.

That doesn't mean that all Chambers are enlightened (especially the U.S. Chamber), but the Greater Seattle Chamber pushes for public education and transporation investment, while the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber hires Richard Florida to help that area grow its Creative Class and has people like Neil Peirce keynote their annual meeting.

It isn't that businesses all think alike and have all the same needs (just ask a group of small business owners what they think of big business), but in general, Gregoire has done a lot more to help Washington businesses keep and create good jobs than Rossi would dream of.

Posted by Ebenezer | September 28, 2007 6:56 PM
4

And now we know why housing prices are staying high, cool.

right a tight labor market is always what draws business, not.


it would seem that what we haven't done is what is attracting people. by your calculations people should be streaming to milwaukee and portland but according to this post they are coming here. we have no transit, a viaduct, expensive housing, lousy education, and can't get anything done yet they come and come. perhaps it's our regressive tax structure, or high standards for mobile food trucks, or our bad drivers, or maybe they are mostly gay and just want to be near dan.

Posted by whatever | September 29, 2007 8:33 AM

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