Commentary And now for something completely unexpected. Since the pandemic hit in the second quarter of 2020, the only state whose income has risen above inflation has been California, at 0.2 percent. That’s according to a recent study from Pew Research. All other states saw personal income shrink. The worst was Michigan at -9.5 percent and West Virginia at -9.3 percent. Michigan was hit by massive pandemic-related disruptions to the auto industry. West Virginia’s dominant coal industry is under attack. California’s Western economic rivals also fared poorly, with Arizona at -5.3 percent and Nevada at -4.4 percent. Our Southeastern low-tax rivals scored somewhat better, although still in negative territory, with Texas at -0.7 percent and Florida at -1.2 percent. The national average was -2.8 percent. Here’s a map: Inflation has become a national worry, with gasoline prices soaring above $5 a gallon at some California locations. When inflation is not included, …