[Milsurplus] Re: A Visit to Battleship Cove

[Mark Richards]

David Stinson wrote:

>I'm from the deep South,
> and brother, do we catch the "pickin'" from everywhere else!

Well earned.

There is an interesting statistic regarding the distribution of federal 
money to states that may put a quick end to the continued harassment of 
Massachusetts to rest.  Assuming that there's sufficiently-opened minds 
among the readers here to absorb them.

Many "Deep south" states, and even many in the central part of the 
nation, seem to get a better deal on federal cash.  Massachusetts 
figures low in the ratio.  For every dollar we give the feds, only 57 
cents comes back.  Such a deal.  New Mexico gets almost $2 back. 
"Kentucky, Virginia, Montana, Alabama, North Dakota, West Virginia, 
Mississippi and Alaska, which received $1.60 to $1.89 back for each tax 
dollar.", according to the article 
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/211080_sciglianomoney.html

These figures are based upon the federal government's own statistics.

I should think that the good people here in "Massauseless" as some wish 
to call us deserve a bit more respect and gratitude.  We're paying in 
part for your roads, bridges, firehouses, police protection, sanitation, 
water, various public buildings (including the courthouses which process 
the high number of divorces - Massachusetts, heathen "gay" capital that 
it is, has the lowest divorce rate in the nation, by the way) and of 
course the various oil wars.  We also have sent an enormous number of 
young people to die in Afghanistan and IRAQ.  Do we now qualify for 
inclusion in the nation?

I would be less polite to suggest that critics from the warmer climates 
shut up and stop being a federal welfare burden on states with 
prestigious universities and innovative industries like Massachusetts, 
but then I'd be stooping to the same level of discourse that is enjoyed 
on this list.

/mark richards