Are you better off?

State of Suffering: Are you better off? Chances are the answer is no.

Which states have suffered most since the 2000 election? Well, it is not only the blue states, so all of the conspiracy theorists will have to try harder. No, our current economic policies can be summed up by the words, "misery loves company."

The table below lists the percent change in employment since the 2000 election.

-5.6% MI
-4.2% OH
-4.1% MA
-3.8% IL
-3.4% IN
-3.3% NC
-3.2% MS
-2.9% CT
-2.9% AL
-2.8% CO
-2.8% OR
-2.7% NY
-2.6% OK
-2.6% IA
-2.5% SC
-2.5% MO
-2.5% KS
-2.3% KY
-2.3% GA
-2.2% TN
-1.9% WI
-1.9% WA
-1.6% PA
-1.5% DE
-1.3% WV
-1.3% AR
-0.9% MN
-0.9% NH
-0.7% LA
-0.6% TX
-0.5% CA
-0.5% NE
-0.5% VA
-0.4% NJ
-0.1% UT
0.0% VT

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, Annual Data, 2000-2003.