Before the 2012 elections, the DFL tried to call the previous, GOP-run legislature a “do-nothing” legislature.
Leaving aside the obvious – the government that governs best governs least – it was a lie. The 2011-2012 legislatures accomplished some useful stuff – hobbled by a “governor” who was fully-owned by extremist special interests and some very un-conservative detours like the Vikings stadium.
But as we wait at the halfway point of a session of one-party government, what does the DFL have to show for their unfettered power?
- Business taxes – especially the warehousing tax – that lop a serious chunk off of Minnesota business’ bottom line, and that already have businesses heading for the exits.
- Two extra billion dollars taken out of the productive parts of the state’s economy. Remember – Minnesota’s GDP is about $267 Billion. Another two billion is nearly a percent – on top of the 30-odd billion in state spending that the state already sucks out of productive use. Imagine having an additional 1% of your productive income taken out of circulation – $500 a year if you make $50K. It’s not chicken feed.
- A home daycare system saddled with useless graft to the public employee unions, and with its revenue further cut by the state’s move into all-day kindergarten – which adds virtually nothing to kids’ education, but does create lots of new union jobs that pay dues to the DFL.
And all of that at the end of a session that wasted months arguing about DFL social-domination issues (gun control, gay marriage) and power-acquisition.
In exchange for what?
So far, nothing but damage.
I’ll take “do nothing”, thanks.
Well, along these lines, Mitch, a Travel & Leisure magazine survey has supported what we have been saying for years; The Twin Cities are the 4th “snobbiest” city in the U.S. The piece is, ironically, regurgitated in City Pages by one of the people that make it that way, Aaron Rupar.
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2013/07/twin_cities_are_americas_4th-snobbiest_metro_study_says.php
My friends in the building trades are expecting a good 2013 and projecting an even better 2014. They predict hiring should pickup significantly in the 2nd half of 2013. Private residential construction is usually the largest category for construction spending, and is now the largest category once again. Usually private residential construction leads the economy, so this is a good sign going forward.
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/02/meyer-on-construction-jobs.html
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/01/kolko-here-are-missing-construction-jobs.html
Hmm…The government that governs best governs least.
Please note, the opposite is not necessarily true: The government that governs least governs best.
Therein lies the challenge.
It seems to me that BOTH parties have failed that challenge of late.
Mitch:
You forgot lets undo the reforms like the sunset commission whose job it was to help create long term reduction in the size of the government.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
EmeryDougPenigma said:“An acquaintance of mine got his PhD in geophysics at M.I.T.”
“…hired by a Wall street firm”
“My friends in the building trades…”
LMAO! Welcome back dimwit!
swiftee try not to be such a tool. Are working on your father complex yet?
Emery said:
“try not to be such a tool”
That looks like some good advice for a guy named Emery.