Portlandia will never be the next Silicone Valley

http://www.newgeography.com/content/005189-your-city-is-not-next-silicon-valley

This points out a problem with our lackluster political class all over the country, but particularly here in Portlandia. They are always chasing after the Last Great Thing. But they only begin the chase after the Last Great Thing is mature, wealthy, and the chance of catching it is remote. These things take root for myriad reasons, few of which the politicians can alter. In the end, our lackluster politicians attach to an idea that they can cause the next cool thing to happen in their backyard, so they give any corporation part of the Last Great Thing, willing to come, all manner of tax benefits. Thereby, they dilute or destroy the value of the corporation's presence. But they have their prize, and are feted by their fellow progressives.

It would be so much easier to look to places which attract what these politicians want, like, Houston, and simply mimic the actions which make that location successful. But while Portlandia's lackluster politicians may want 27 Fortune 500 company headquarters in Portlandia, they do not want to do any of the things Houston does to attract them. So, Portlandia has 2 Fortune 500 companies, Precision Cast Parts, and Nike, and no substantive chance of gaining another. 

Today, Texas is attracting the new tech, space tech. Portlandia's lackluster politicians, appear to not even understand that this is a tech field. Expect Portlandia politicians to jump on this band wagon after the wagon is fully laden, mature, and offers little in additional wealth, or jobs, and to the contrary, requires the state to pony up significant tax breaks to attract. Sigh. 

Is there a reasonable argument that kindergartners would not do this better? No! I thought not.