Posted on 12/29/2013 3:15:07 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Political polarization has ushered in a new era in state government, where single-party control of the levers of power has produced competing Americas. One is grounded in principles of lean and limited government and on traditional values; the other is built on a belief in the essential role of government and on tenets of cultural liberalism.
These opposing visions have been a staple of national elections, and in a divided Washington, this polarization has resulted in gridlock and dysfunction. But today, three-quarters of the states — more than at any time in recent memory — are controlled by either Republicans or Democrats. Elected officials in these states are moving unencumbered to enact their party’s agenda.
Republican states have pursued economic and fiscal strategies built around lower taxes, deeper spending cuts and less regulation. They have declined to set up state health-insurance exchanges to implement President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. They have clashed with labor unions. On social issues, they have moved to restrict abortion rights or to enact voter-identification laws, in the name of ballot integrity, that critics say hamper access to voting for the poor and minorities.....
....Tax policy is one area that often has divided Republicans and Democrats. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group that has offered legislative models for lawmakers, cites 18 states as having cut taxes this year. All but two have Republican governors, and those two — Arkansas and Montana — have Republican legislatures......
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Long but interesting piece.
The bottom line: Things get done with one-party government -- will the electorate give one-party government (power) to Washington D.C.
The GOP gives one of those over (Virginia) to the dems in January.
Americans are choosing sides. It is a recipe for civil war. “If there is to be trouble, let it come in my time so that my children may live in peace.”
That said, there will be no peace.
They may get things done, but what are the results?
How do the states rate on economic and personal freedom? Are they in debt or do they have money saved for unforeseen expenses? Are their schools a disaster or adequate?
It is a good way to be and will show up the contrasts in prosperity including the welfare of the poorer citizens until the Federal government moves to take over running the “reactionary” States by force.
It is a good way to be and will show up the contrasts in prosperity including the welfare of the poorer citizens until the Federal government moves to take over running the “reactionary” States by force.
Things get done with one-party government.... that may be but the destruction done by a certain one party government is killing this country.
We also live in an era of growing centralized Federal power and control, and shrinking state autonomy. This is the best hope for liberal statists.
mcawful could not have been elected without the gop actively helping him to defeat the threat of a Conservative republican Governor so close to dc.
The Republican states are the economic winners. Eventually enough people will figure this out.
Best example of changing direction or not is Wisconsin and Illinois. Wisconsin was headed the way of Illinois, but it looks like things have turned around. One big difference so far tho is that when Republicans lose, they say, well let’s try harder in 2 years/4 years. Dems start right away trying to assault the Republicans, they do not accept losing.
“Michigan’s long economic decline came during periods of both Democratic and Republican governorships, for example.”
Umm... Wrong! Michigan’s decline happened almost entirely under Grandmole’s rule.
The GOP needs to support American jobs.
That is what is tearing America down: jobs are being exported.
America needs to make things. Bring back American factories.
Sure make things in red states, and move out of blue states.
But bring back jobs to America.
The next presidential campaign probably will revive the national debate about whether the country should move decisively in one direction or the other, particularly if a Republican governor becomes the party’s nominee.Baloney. Can you name an actual example of a flesh-and-blood governor who lost a presidential election because he was too close to his party’s base? The only governor who has lost a presidential election recently has been Mitt Romney.But Thad Kousser, a political scientist at the University of California at San Diego, offered this caution to would-be contenders. “When a governor is running for president,” he said, “they push an ideological agenda that is tailored much more to the national primary voters in their party than it is to the average voter in the state. And they often crash and burn for that reason.”
Governors win presidential elections against senators - or even, in normal times vice presidents. And Gov. Dukakis probably would have beaten GHWB, too - if GHWB hadn’t been running as the third term of Ronald Reagan.
Revolt is coming.
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