Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Brain Drain

A recent report by West Virginia University shows that under fifty percent of West Virginia college and university graduates find work in West Virginia. As one might expect, high numbers of law and health care graduates stay. This means that newly created experts in business, science, engineering, and other key fields leave in droves.

Right now, WVU, Marshall, Fairmont State, and the other colleges and universities are the stae's greatest resource. We have little trouble attracting smart kids from inside and outside this state. We need to make a priority out of keeping them here. Scenery, quiet small towns, a vital urban center such as Morgantown, and other factors could sell West Virginia IF the state had opportunities.

Why would a budding entrepreneur with the next great idea want to locate his business here? Modern technology means that a lot of businesses could locate almost anywhere there is wireless internet. Even in areas where business can access this, why would they want to pay higher taxes, slog through more regulatory burdens, and put themselves at risk doing business in a "judicial hellhole?" In such an environment, government investment is about all you can expect because it's tough to sue them and it does not pay taxes.

Getting a small branch of NASA is nice. Convincing the next Bill Gates that this is the perfect place to take a risk and launch a major private initiative is much better. Time for West Virginia to realize that sometimes the business of government must be business.
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Thank goodness someone, somewhere came to their senses and realized that Congress is a serious institution of government, not a three ring circus or social hour. Caroline Kennedy can safely return to the cocktail circuit and New Yorkers can rest easy. Now, hopefully, we can dispense with the clown that may or may not have been elected by Minnesota.
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Speaking of weird decisions . . .

Thank goodness we are about to have a US attorney general who helped the Clinton Administration pardon Puerto Rican terrorists to help solidify Hillary's election chances.

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