“My Hands Are Tied” – John Carney

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"It's a simple math problem. Our long-term growth rate for state spending is two times the growth rate of our revenues. We have to find a long-term way to limit our spending growth."
The more I think about Carney's speech the more I seethe. The sentence above gets to the heart of it. Wealthy Delawareans are more wealthy than they've ever been. The corporations benefiting from our courts and tax payer generosity are notching record profits. And yet, in Carney's mind there is just no way to increase revenue. It is simply impossible. Why mention it at all? Any and all revenue increases are off the table at the outset.

Reactions to Carney’s State of the State

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I listened. When you hear him speak, it is so plodding and dopey that you have to wonder if it is an act. A Forest Gump impression designed to lower expectations. An “under promise” set up for an “over deliver” approach to governing. Then you see him in action and you realize that is is no act.
Some smart commenter over at BlueDelaware said that. Other people said other stuff.

Here’s How Scared They Are

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The defining characteristic of most modern politicians is cowardice. They are scared of everything, most especially the opinions of the people they supposedly serve. That's in the best of times.…