tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post115313738924122408..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1153230074581028062006-07-18T08:41:00.000-05:002006-07-18T08:41:00.000-05:00Whether or not the companies receiving state business are Indiana-based doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned. The economic theory of comparative advantage -- that is a nation or state should stick to the goods and services it provides best and should buy those it doesn't produce well from the best provider, wherever they are located -- means that state government is going to buy most of its products and services from firms that aren't based here. The more important issue is whether the companies fulfills its obligations to the state and does so at the highest level of quality and in a most cost-effective manner. <BR/><BR/>The whole "Buy Indiana" propaganda should be tossed into history's ashbin. The average person doesn't simply stick to Indiana firms when buying their computers or getting e-mail service. Why should state government? And if anything, such a line merely leads to graft and corruption with state agencies awarding contracts based on friendships instead of on most effective provider or producer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1153156299858031192006-07-17T12:11:00.000-05:002006-07-17T12:11:00.000-05:00Thanks for noticing my error. The $44 billion is the company's total revenues. The figure is actually $211 million as the post now reflects.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1153154661988002752006-07-17T11:44:00.000-05:002006-07-17T11:44:00.000-05:00<I>According to the information furnished to the newspaper, 81% of all state purchases goes to state firms.</I> <BR/><BR/>this is a crock, as tdw has pointed out numerous times, and <A HREF="http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS02/607170417" REL="nofollow">the AP has picked up on it</A>, too.<BR/><BR/>according to mitch's definition, <I>wal-mart is an indiana business</I>. (i wish i were joking, but i'm not.)stAllio!https://www.blogger.com/profile/00526303235883920702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1153153779281141232006-07-17T11:29:00.000-05:002006-07-17T11:29:00.000-05:00I'm sure this is an inadvertent error on the part of a weary blogmeister. It's got to be million.<BR/><BR/>But...the CEO of Anthem used to be (and may still be?) a guy named Glasscock. Build your own joke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1153152273401885402006-07-17T11:04:00.000-05:002006-07-17T11:04:00.000-05:00Is that really the Anthem number: $44 Billion with a B? I know we have high health care costs, but could that possibly be correct?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com