Atkins Letter to the Green Bay Packers

When I was 9, I wrote a letter to the Green Bay Packers.  The team was woefully bad back then, leading my buddies and me to challenge them to a game.  I noted in the letter that none of us could drive yet, so we would need to play the game at Groveland Park in Inver Grove.  Not surprisingly, we received no response.

Many years have passed since then.  The Packers have improved, and the rivalries between Minnesota and Wisconsin have grown.  It goes beyond sports, to just about everything, from education to taxes to job growth.  

When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker took some jabs at Minnesota recently, I decided to gather the actual data.  While I figured Minnesota would stack up reasonably well against Wisconsin, I was genuinely surprised at some of the findings.  I thought you might be as well.

• Since 2010, when Gov. Walker took office, Wisconsin has added 62,000 jobs, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Minnesota had added over 100,000 jobs.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce put Wisconsin 44th in overall economic performance, while ranking Minnesota 15th. Worse yet, the Chamber study ranked Wisconsin dead last among the 50 states in short-term job growth, and Minnesota rated 18th.

• Forbes magazine ranked Wisconsin 42nd in its annual Best States for Business survey.  Minnesota placed 20th.

• Minnesota had the fifth-fastest growing economy in the nation in 2012, with the state's gross domestic product surging by 3.5 percent. The U.S. Commerce Department found that Wisconsin's economy is growing by 1.45 percent.

• The latest U.S. Census Bureau numbers lists Wisconsin's median household income at $52,374, and Minnesota's is $58,476.

• State tax rate comparisons favored Wisconsin until property taxes were added in.  Wisconsin property taxes are roughly double those in Minnesota.

• Wisconsin's unemployment rate is 7.1 percent, and Minnesota's is 5.3 percent.

• Minnesota's high school students scored an average of 22.8 on the ACT Test, with Wisconsin students averaging 22.1.

• In sports, I came across a graph that compares the average winning percentage for both states' major sports teams for every year from 1961-2011.  I refuse to acknowledge what the graph shows, except to note that the year we wrote to the Packers was the year when the purple line on the graph reached its highest point ever.  To see the graph, click here:  http://fasthorseinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Minnesota-Wisconsin-sports-records3.png

As always, if I can be of help with anything, or if you have questions or concerns, please let me know.

Joe