Nattering nabobs negative on business climate

My comments about Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), and whether the group's constant complaining was hurting the very business climate it complains about, have touched off some debate and commentary here and there.

This from Mike Serpe, executive assistant to Kenosha County Exec Allan Kehl:

Try to keep in mind that what WMC does and says is seen all over the world. How do you think that the people who do economic research view the endless moaning about Wisconsin being a tax hell or a regulatory quagmire?

Chambers [of Commerce] need to be on the front lines by being boosters of their communities...as their hero Tommy Thompson loved to do.

When I read the Bride of TABOR testimony of Mark Gusho, Director Global Tax for Manitowoc Company I was less than amused. He pointed-out that Wisconsin has the 5th highest tax burden in the nation according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation.

What he did not point out were these factors that are favorable to doing business in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin leads the Midwest in new job creation. Wisconsin's work force grew faster in the past year than any other state in the Midwest and faster than the U.S. average. According to U.S. Department of Labor figures, Wisconsin added 48,800 new jobs from July 2003 through July 2004 --more than 12,000 of them in the manufacturing sector. Wisconsin's 1.7% increase was higher than the 1.3% increase for the country as a whole. In comparison, Minnesota employment rose 0.7% during the period. Iowa and Illinois added jobs at an even slower pace, while Michigan and Ohio lost jobs.

Construction activity is at record levels. Wisconsin recorded $11 billion worth of construction starts between May 2003 and April 30, 2004. Construction employment in Wisconsin hit 121,600 in April--the highest level ever for that month--and grew to 129,100 in May.

Wages in Wisconsin are below the national average. Wisconsin's average wages are 11.6% below the national average of $36,764 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Wisconsin's business taxes are among the lowest in the country. Wisconsin's business taxes are lower than those in 35 other states, based on a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston that measures more than 15 taxes that can affect corporate profits.

Wisconsin is among the top 15 states in industrial production. Wisconsin ranks 3rd nationally in percentage of total jobs that are in manufacturing (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Best Places for Business . Forbes Magazine (May 2004) ranked Madison, Wisconsin as the No. 1 Best Metro Area for Business. Inc. Magazine (March 2004) ranked Madison as the No. 2 Medium City for Doing Business right behind Green Bay, Wisconsin that took the top spot.

International trade leader. Wisconsin recorded a 1.86% increase in exports last year compared to a 5.17% national decline.

Smart and safe. Wisconsin ranks as the 6th smartest state, the 10th safest state, and the 11th most-livable state (Morgan Quitno Press). In 2003, Wisconsin high school seniors topped the nation in ACT scores for the 7th straight year. Wisconsin has the nation's 3rd lowest dropout rate (U.S. Department of Education).

Most Livable State . Wisconsin was recognized as a 2003 Most Livable State (Morgan Quitno Press).

Tops in R&D. UW-Madison ranks first among the nation's public universities in R&D spending.

Low insurance rates. Wisconsin's homeowner insurance rates are the lowest in the U.S. and its auto insurance rates are fifth lowest (National Association of Insurance Carriers). Wisconsin is among the six best states for physicians to practice thanks to the low level of malpractice insurance premiums.

Low health care costs. Wisconsin's hospital patient-care costs are 20% below the national average (Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association).

Short commutes. Wisconsin has the nation's 10th shortest travel time to work with an average of 20.3 minutes (U.S. Census Bureau).

In a speech in San Diego in 1970, then Vice President Spiro Agnew used the phrase "nattering nabobs of negativism" to describe supposed intellectuals who attacked American policy. "Natter" is defined as "to nag, to find fault peevishly," and a "nabob" is "a native provincial deputy or governor of the old Mogul empire in India; a native district ruler in India" or "European who has become rich in India" or "a very rich man" (Websters New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Deluxe Second Edition).

Agnew's speech writers [William Safire takes credit -- Xoff] undoubtedly put the terms together because of their alliterative value, but the phrase does paint an interesting although unpleasant word picture of a self-important person nagging and criticizing everyone else, much like the leadership of the "premier" business organization in Wisconsin.

With all due respect, how is our state going to attract business, such as Abbott Laboratories to Kenosha County, if some of its most respected manufacturers put out one negative statement after another on the poor business climate they are operating in?

This is a great state to do business in. We ought to be working hard to let the world in on that fact.