Oregon ranks 6th Best in Business touts Forbes Magazine! That’s terrific! It always ranks Oregon higher on its list than others. But with all the hand wringing about the Oregon business climate on this blog and in other publications, how did Forbes come up with Oregon as a great place to do business?
Well, I’m not an economist, but I do pay attention to the comings and goings–mostly goings–of Oregon business. Check out their chart here:

See that? In almost all the criteria listed Oregon does fair to middling. Oregon makes into the top ten because of its terrific availability of workers. The following chart illustrates why so many workers are available:

Forbes traditionally also looks at taxes on business, not fees. For every $1.00 in taxes in Oregon, there are $2.00 in fees according to Allen Alley who discovered this while running for Governor.
The article should ask: If it’s so great to do business here, then where are the jobs?
Forbes also doesn’t measure how government TREATS business in this state. They should ask Andrew Miller, Tim Boyle, Phil Knight. The heads of Stimson Lumber, Columbia Sportswear and Nike, respectively, may provide them with the answers. 
You should probably also question the accuracy of a ranking that, in business favor-ability, puts Oregon in front of Texas. 
I appreciate the liberals highlighting this story in their newspapers and blogs. It’s nice when they acknowledge that business is necessary and helpful to a state. They might want to remember that in the future.