Friday, April 21, 2006
They’re Still Leaving Allegheny County
The so-called experts who keep telling us we need to recruit immigrants from Latin America (and other places) to take jobs in western Pennsylvania and Allegheny County should take a look at recent Census migration data. Between 2000 and 2005, the County saw a net outflow of over 40,000 residents to other counties and states. Many of the movers were younger people looking for good job opportunities.
Once again we find that conventional wisdom held by much of the County’s civic leadership is nothing more than empty-headed rhetoric that, repeated often enough, comes to be accepted as true. Like those who sold stadiums as the key to renewed prosperity and as attractions to young people, the new “immigration” crowd is hopelessly off track.
The real and hard truth is that the County must solve its anti-business, anti-capitalist mentality wherein unions, especially public sector unions, get anything and everything they want and the taxpayers get the bill. Many of those taxpayers are business owners who have the option of not staying or not expanding in the County. Thus, fewer job opportunities and more out migration by County residents.
So the charade and the misbegotten policy recommendations continue. If we cannot deal with real problems, let’s try to create growth by chasing mindless schemes that will not work but at least create the appearance that we are doing something.
Once again we find that conventional wisdom held by much of the County’s civic leadership is nothing more than empty-headed rhetoric that, repeated often enough, comes to be accepted as true. Like those who sold stadiums as the key to renewed prosperity and as attractions to young people, the new “immigration” crowd is hopelessly off track.
The real and hard truth is that the County must solve its anti-business, anti-capitalist mentality wherein unions, especially public sector unions, get anything and everything they want and the taxpayers get the bill. Many of those taxpayers are business owners who have the option of not staying or not expanding in the County. Thus, fewer job opportunities and more out migration by County residents.
So the charade and the misbegotten policy recommendations continue. If we cannot deal with real problems, let’s try to create growth by chasing mindless schemes that will not work but at least create the appearance that we are doing something.
