February 10, 2011--Democracy's Laboratories

It is said that one of the great strengths of our system of government is that the 50 states constitutionally have the reserved right to control much of their destiny.

The 10th Amendment states this explicitly--

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This means, among other matters, that we have 50 ways of educating our children, determining who does and doesn't get state taxes cuts, deciding if women are allowed to have in-state abortions, and who is and who isn't allowed to marry.

To many on the political right, the 10th is their second-favorite amendment. Only the 2nd, which allows them to "bear arms" is more popular.

And to those looking for solutions to some of our most intractable problems, like out-of-control governmental deficits and how to provide health care to more citizens, there are literally 50 different approaches. It is as if, many claim, that the states are policy laboratories where competing approaches are tested and, if successful, might serve as models for other states as well as the federal government.

Also, governors who preside over effective policies are instantly considered potential presidential candidates.

A few current examples--

When Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts he presided over a radical overhaul of the state's health care system. It was so successful that it put him on the national political map and became the model for what he brazenly calls Obamacare. He is now trying to tap dance away from Romneycare in order to get Tea Party members to vote for him in the upcoming primaries.

You may recall that Sarah Palin was a governor before she was a vice presidential candidate and national superstar. More or less overlooked now by her acolytes, she served only half of one term before setting out to "serve the American people" in other ways. Mainly through lucrative speaking engagements and a pay-for-play job with Fox News. She may have to deal with these things politically if she wins the GOP nomination, but in the meantime, to those who literally adore her--who cares.

Then there is Tm Pawlenty of Minnesota who is mainly famous for getting elected in a state that generally goes for Democrats. His policy accomplishments include erasing a $4.3 billion deficit without raising taxes. The cuts in services (education, health care, social welfare) caused great pain but this is overlooked when conservatives search for someone who can cut big deficits while leaving their taxes alone. We will see where he stands on Social Security and Pentagon and Medicare reform as the campaign heats up because that's where the real money is. His one, thus far, significant liability is that he has a very thin neck. Potential commanders in chief need to look more robust. We'll know if Pawlenty is serious if he begins to bulk up. Or starts wearing turtle-neck shirts.

Also in the hunt is Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, who is best known for overseeing the largest pre-hurricane evacuation in the history of the U.S., in 2008 when Gustav struck the Gulf Coast. And, yes, he is prominent because he is of South Asian descent which could serve as a counterweight to Obama if Republicans decide to run a person of color. This, however, is unlikely for many GOP reasons, including that Jindal was a Hindu until he converted to Catholicism as an adult. This would blunt one the the right wing's favorite Obama slanders--that he is a secret Muslin. So with Jindal we'd have a Muslim running against a Hindu. And then, unfortunately, he is really best known for flopping when he gave the Republican's response to last year's State of the Union address. And, did I mention his thin neck?

But to find more noteworthy examples of how states, with a governor's leadership, can actually take on real problems in bold and innovative ways, one only has to look at how Chris Christie is doing in New Jersey after a year in office and how my while-snowbirding Florida Governor Rick Scott is performing after only a couple of weeks in office.

Some thing they seem to be operating so effectively that they are gaining consideration as potential 2012 presidential candidates.

Christie especially is already a media favorite since he is a tell-it-like-it-is kind of real guy. A Tony Soprano type who has already demonstrated that, in state-laboratory terms, he is willing to identify and take on tough issues, most dramatically and courageously the teachers unions. He has correctly identified them as the main impediment to improving the public schools. He, though, has been very explicit about not running in two years, claiming, sensibly and modestly, that he is not yet ready for prime time. On the other hand, Barack Obama didn't have that much experience before launching a successful campaign. So stay tuned and keep a close eye on Christie. The pressure to run may prove irresistible.

Rookie Governor Rick Scott is a curious case. He somehow managed to convince Floridians to electr him even though his company was fined one billion (with a B) dollars for perpetrating Medicare fraud. Scott, himself managed somehow to stay out of jail and clearly had enough money left over after paying the largest fine ever to spend at least $75 million (with an M) on his campaign.

In an effort to demonstrate that he could cut spending on education, health care, and all programs for the unemployed beyond anything imagined by Pawlenty, Jindal, Christie, and even New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo, late last week he unveiled his budget. He called for budget cuts this year of $4.6 billion and the elimination of 8,700 state jobs while giving businesses a $1.4 billion tax cut.

To make sure everyone got the picture, instead of rolling out his budget in the state capital, Tallahassee, he held it at a Super-Bowl-like halftime-type show at a Tea Party rally in rural Florida. In a Baptist church!

Entertainer Lloyd Marcus (who?) warmed up the crowd of about 800 with, and I'm not making this up, a musical tribute to Sarah Palin, belting out his famous version of My Girl. He then went on to one of her favorites, Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A. In case you've forgotten the lyrics and want to sing along, here are the first two stanzas:

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I'd worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I'd thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.

Also to make absolutely sure we know where he stands, before speaking, the MC introduced Dr, Jack Cassell. Remember him? He's the Florida urologist who gained national attention last year when he posted a sign on his office door that said anyone supporting Obama's heath care plan should seek medical treatment elsewhere.

For health as well as political reasons I thought that was probably pretty good advice.