A policy memo recently distributed by Common Sense for Maine – a nonpartisan group representing many of the state’s top business leaders – warns of the state’s imminent demise.

According to the memo and based on publicly available data:

• Maine leads the nation in child abuse rates…roughly double the national average.
• Maine’s infrastructure ranks dead last, receiving an F grade.
• Maine experienced the nation’s largest increase in electricity rates during 2025, with rates rising 36.3 percent.
• Maine ranks last in property tax burden.
• The state is projected to experience zero job growth between 2027 and 2029.
• Maine has the fourth-highest individual tax burden in America.
• Maine ranks 46th in ease of starting a business.
• Maine’s public education system ranks 41st nationally.
• Maine ranks 43rd in overall freedom.
• Maine’s economy ranks 43rd in the nation.

The report concludes that families are beginning to ask “whether they can afford to stay.”

Other than that things are going wonderfully in the state.

Here’s one big problem with Maine. By far the top two employers in the state are the state government and the state health care system:

The Common Sense for Maine report’s wise policy advice could apply to most shrinking blue states these days: hating Trump is not an economic comeback strategy.