Remembering dead dinosaurs

I agree this is a strange title, but there is a back story. I was in bed last night thinking about my frustration with the failure of republican senators to challenge the lack of experience or background in the Trump Dept of Ed nominee. My frustration focused on ND senator Hoeven. This is what made me remember dead dinosaurs.

I lived in North Dakota for a long time. For most of this time, the citizens of North Dakota had a great scam going. The would elect all republicans to state office and send democrats to DC. This translates as low taxes in state and lots of fed money coming back to the state. It is not really supposed to work this way. You either believe in paying taxes for the common good or you do not.

Unfortunately, the republicans whom have always controlled the state got greedy. Senator Conrad (D) retired. Representative Pomeroy (D) was defeated. However, times were still good. North Dakota was held up as an example because under the brilliant leadership of the republicans, ND was one of only a very small number of states adding jobs and making money post 2008. Then Gov. Hoeven was rewarded by being allowed to quit his job as governor and move to DC as a state senator.

This is the time when my series of posts focused on dead dinosaurs appeared. I was frustrated with the ND republicans congratulating each other on their brilliant leadership in avoiding the financial problems facing the rest of the country. I remember that doing nothing was not really something I thought you should take credit for. I could see the outcome (low unemployment, etc.). It was the decisions made that were supposedly responsible I could not identify.

At the time, the only decision I could think of to credit Hoeven and colleagues with was the heady move to position the state on top of a huge pile of dead dinosaurs. Who knew this would ever prove useful. You can search my blogs for “dinosaur” to find my comments – I think my way of explaining the issue began in 2010/2011. I noted at the time that aside from anticipating the benefit of oil, it was probably not wise to also lower taxes of those coming into this wealth. Depending on the Canadians who flocked to the state because of the weak dollar or the farmers to continue to bring in big bucks because commodity markets have a way of swinging on you whether you produce a good crop or not was not really much of a strategy. I suggested that instead of lowering taxes those in power should take the opportunity to improve the infrastructure of the state and invest in programs (I think wind energy was my personal favorite) that would diversify opportunities for the future.

As we are learning more and more, one of the interesting things about a public record – on the Internet or recorded statements recorded in the news media – is that you should be willing to stand behind what you claim because you will end up being reminded of what you said.  So when the state is in financial crisis when others states are now enjoying recovery those who congratulated each other for being brilliant and offering their public this brilliance as justification for continued and increasing support should continue to take credit for the present as well as the past.

North Dakotans – remember what I said about dead dinosaurs. One more related suggestion. How about changing the mascot for the state republicans? Elephants are out and dinosaurs are in. I really like this idea – the dinosaur that symbol of great brain power and adaptability.

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