I don't no much about Washington politics but I do know that the Democrats have been in charge here in NC for 16 years, and they have run the state in the ground we have the highest dropout rate and we are the least friendly state to jobs and growth in a region that has done well in both for years. Since Washington has had one party rule for 24 years I can only imagine the condition they are in. So go Dino!!!!
Finding a national ranking of HS drop-out rates by state proved difficult, but I would be surprised if Washington was in the top 10.
The Pew Institute ranked Washington as one of the three best managed states in the nation: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/gpp_report_card.aspx
Forbes says Washington is the third best state for business (and I believe fourth best to start a business from another ranking, Fortune IIRC?), and has given much credit to Governor Gregoire: http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/30/virginia-georgia-utah-biz-cz_kb_0731beststates_table.htm
And just who in their right mind would trust Rossi as someone who can be "fiscally responsible" with his joke-of-a-transportation plan? http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008165463_transpo08m.html
So I'll have to agree with the beginning of your post. You certainly don't "no" much about Washington politics at all.
Now, Washington's Republican Governors on the other hand...
Thats very good and I am sure Washington will continue to do well. As I said I am not that familiar with Washington politics or economy cause I have never been there. Appearently Washington Democrats no what they are doing. If things don't change here I might take up residence in better run state and Washington just might be on the list.
we are the least friendly state to jobs and growth in a region that has done well in both for years.
I don't think thats true. You don't add 1 million people since 2000 (one of the highest growth rates in the nation), without adding lots of jobs and growth. North Carolina is doing great compared to most other states.
I hope those WA numbers are an outlier, but now I see that WA has gone from Strong Dem to Slight Dem on our Polls Map.
Compared to what? Michigan. Yes NC has missed the Housing crisis to some extent but compared to other Southern states our economy has grown slowly. Both Governors Jim Hunt and Mike Easily made Education important issues and yet it has only gotten worse. We have one of the highest dropout rates. The requirements for graduation have become to complex to quickly so that will likely rise.
Dont read too much into the whole dropout rates thing. My dad works in administrative education and apparently every state has a different method of measuring drop out rates so basically it is useless to campare them across the country. I see North Carolina as one of the more sane sountern states. Oh and North Carolina ranks 11th in the US in terms of economic growth, not that bad.
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/economic_indicators.cfm/state=NC
