Idaho Listed as Fifth Best Managed State

Sure, we grouse about life in Idaho.  The grass must be greener, right?  This morning a Lieutenant with the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office made a salient point.  If you’re a long time resident, you believe the lines at the DMV are too long.  If you’ve come from somewhere else, you can’t believe how easily the DMV functions in Idaho!

247wallst.com claims Idaho is the 5^th best run state in America.  You can read more at this link.  Unemployment is the 6^th lowest in the country.  Pension funds are well managed and 5^th overall nationally.  Credit rating is solid and GDP growth is 6^th best in the country.  The poverty rate is 20^th but still lower than the mean.

If you look at the list, you’ll see most of the top 10 are west of the Mississippi River.

The worst run state is New Mexico.  Most of the states with the poorest management are east of the Mississippi River.  You wouldn’t be surprised by most of the entrants on the naughty list.  Illinois, for example, is a basket case when it comes to unfunded pension costs.

24/7 Wall St. publishes nearly 3 dozen stories a day featuring financial and government news.

Newcomers to Idaho should appreciate the ranking.  They should also note one factor in maintaining responsible government is preventing it from turning into a bureaucratic leviathan, which is one explanation for the poor performance of the 10 worst states.

Still, there’s always room for improvement.  It would be nice to see Idaho finish first in the future.