As awareness of Upstate Independence becomes more widespread, we have begun to be confronted by some of the more common objections to a new and independent state for Upstate. One of the most common we’ve heard is that Upstate does not have the economic base to support itself as a state, and were it to become independent, Upstate would soon become like “West Virginia and Mississippi.”
This last bit about West Virginia and Mississippi comes up with odd frequency and must be some sort of a talking point to dismiss the idea of a new state out of hand. So we decided to crunch some numbers and see if Upstate is, in fact, economically destitute, unable to support itself, and completely dependent upon the largess of Downstate.
It turns out that the opponents of a new state are completely wrong. Were Upstate its own state, it would rank about 27th in per capita income, about the same as Texas or Ohio. Upstate’s per capita income in 2020 was $54,753, while the state with the lowest per capita income, Mississippi, had a per capita income of $42,716.
No doubt that Upstate has much room to improve as we are below the national per capita income of $59,765, but it’s completely false that Upstate does not have the economic base to support itself when states with similar income levels (including Florida, Wisconsin, Maine, and Nevada) function just fine. I would also add that each of these states is likely in a much better fiscal position than New York State and does not run massive structural deficits.
So, once again, one of the most commonly cited objections to the creation of a new state falls apart under the most basic level of scrutiny.
But one insight I’ve drawn from this analysis is that the key to success for Upstate Independence will not be convincing people that New York State is incompetent, corrupt, and unsustainable. People have been largely convinced of this fact for some time, and it is made repeatedly in news story after news story, yet nothing has changed.
Instead, a new state will be created when Upstate has sufficient self-confidence and pride in itself. We have a large, diverse population, abundant resources, many great businesses, and unmatched natural beauty (have you seen the foliage recently)? But what is missing is the self-confidence and will to govern ourselves and take the destiny of our region into our own hands.
Upstate Independence aims to foster this confidence by showcasing analysis not provided elsewhere and by uniting Upstaters from all backgrounds who share a profound love for this region and a collective determination to create a better future.
If these words resonate with you or you just find this analysis interesting, please consider donating to help build a foundation for this cause.
Please note, these figures were drawn from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
