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Originally Posted by zimmy
racist? that's reaching. "performing better" is only related to sat scores, as it says in the post.
The question is why doesn't the great business climate translate to exceptional or even better than average economic standing for the people of NC, instead of the bottom 3rd of the states? I won't pretend to know the answer, but I bet you have one. What are the jobs that are being created?
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It will probably take some time for the Southern States to close economic gaps with Northern States, although they have gained considerably on some of the once heavily industrial ones that are heading toward the crapper. And you're right, there are many complicated factors involved in the forming of "economic standing." The racial/slavery heritage and its culture still lingers in holding down average "indicators." The past drain of educated and talented Southerners to States that offered jobs that weren't traditionally to be found in the South is a factor as well. But that may be changing, and if business sees a growing opportunity to settle in lower tax, lesser unionized States, things may change more rapidly. North Carolina ranks in the upper third in percentage growth of per capita income for the period 1980-2009, and is in the upper half of States with lower cost of living index. So life is not as harsh as your indicators might imply. No doubt that old cultural attitudes may hold back SAT scores, but those can rise as more jobs are captured from the North and opportunities attract and promote a different "culture." As for education being a key to higher income, there is a correlation that may suffer from the diminishing returns of investing in it. The greater the percentage of educated, the less the economic importance of education. And the more disparity in the percentage of educated the greater is the importance of education. Washington DC had by far the greatest percentage of growth of per capita income between 1980-2009 than all of the States, yet it's school system is the most pathetic.