Giuliani: Michigan Can Rebound with Less Government
Written by Sam on September 23rd, 2007
Rudy Giuliani kicked off a weekend of pitches from presidential hopefuls at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference Friday night, telling 1,200 party activists that the solution to Michigan’s economic woes is lower taxes and less government.
“Michigan is going through a situation that to me looks like déjà vu all over again,” the former New York mayor told Republicans gathered in the ornate dining room of the island’s Grand Hotel. Giuliani said he faced the same problems Michigan now faces — job losses, an exodus of population — when he took over as mayor in 1994.
“There is a game plan for what you do when you have a budget deficit, people leaving, high unemployment: lower taxes, smaller government, less regulation,” Giuliani said….
Rudy is no slouch on the economy, and failed governor, Jennifer Granholm, along with a Republican State Legislature has sure done a number on Michigan’s economy. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate at 7.2% and was one of only four states to lose population in 2005. Rudy has a proven track record of cleaning up economic black holes as his history in New York City clearly demonstrates. The Michigan politicians would sure be wise to take lessons from him.
24
AM
Failed? She won reelection by 14 points last year. Obviously someone is happy with her performance…
24
PM
Publius, I guess you are not closely following Michigan politics. If you were you would be aware that the Governor has dug herself, and her party a giant hole so far this year.
25
AM
Ha! Following that logic, can I call W a “failed president”?
25
PM
I think that you missed the logic. See the following:
Governors are credited (rightly or wrongly) with the economic health of their respective state. Graham’s actions have contributed to both the economic collapse of Michigan, and its loss of population. Therefore Graham is a failure.
Presidents are credited (rightly or wrongly) with the economic health of their respective country. George W. Bush actions have not contributed to the economic collapse of the US (our economy is growing), or its loss of population (US population is growing). Therefore George W. Bush is not a failure.
25
PM
Publius should quit using his faulty logic. The Founders who wrote under that name would be scratching their heads in disbelief.
25
PM
What you said is that Governor Granholm has “dug her party into a giant hole.” I certainly think that even most Republicans would agree that this is true of Bush and the next election cycle.
And although the US economy has not collapsed, we can thank W for blowing a hole in the deficit with his ridiculous tax giveaways.
28
AM
The Republican party is not in a giant hole right now (nationally), it might be in a small whole as a result of the betrayal of 1994, by Congress, but the evidence is inconclusive (the 2006 results were not inconsistent with historical patterns).
Your deficit comments are silly:
(1) Deficits are caused by spending in excess of revenue
(2) Congress has on its own initiative engaged in deficit spending for most of my lifetime.
(3) Tax cuts (everything else equal) are beneficial for the economy because the free market is a more productive and efficient user of resources that the government (see microeconomics and macroeconomics).