Unfortunately, rhetoric doesn't produce those jobs. That requires hard nosed decisions on issues like education reform, social welfare reform, public retirement benefits reform, and broad-based tax reform, not to mention a basic change in the "we hate business and the rich" attidue that characterizes too many Democratic leaders in Rhode Island. Could it be that educated workers are leaving because they realize those changes will never be made in time to forestall an economic collapse here?

If the RI government leadership continues the practice of habitually raising the income and property taxes in this state, then they should not be surprised to see how many young AND middle-aged educated, productive workers finally throw in the towel and move on to better opportunities in the southern states. The South offers affordable housing, reasonable taxes, and a better business and weather climate in which to raise a family. If this exodus of RI's most important resource is not stopped, then I predict the future for this state will be very disturbing, indeed. In 25 years, the population could then consist mainly of impoverished retirees and an underemployed immigrant workforce laboring at low skill, low paying occupations. Additional taxes will then be required to support this population. As a result, RI will face the nightmare that Michigan has experienced over the last 15 years in which the few remaining well paid workers will be taxed out of existence and relocated to other areas of the country.