Posted on 06/09/2012 4:28:54 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Back in January, we noted in this space that Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell "offer competing political visions. … McDonnell stresses fiscal restraint and believes government should live within its means," while O'Malley "sees taxes as boosters of prosperity."
The piece noted that others have remarked on the dichotomy — such as The Washington Post's metro columnist, Robert McCartney, who wrote: "Two states. Two governors. Two philosophies. Take your pick and see which succeeds." We concluded "conservatives are fond of likening the states to laboratories of public policy. The experiments on opposite sides of the Potomac will be fun to watch."
It's getting funner by the minute.
The other day, Larry Hogan, chairman of a nonpartisan group called Change Maryland, penned a piece for Reason magazine. He noted that Maryland and Virginia have "similar economies, demographics and a shared dependence on federal government employment and procurement" — but "sharply divergent job growth."
Our neighbor to the north "accounted for the largest taxpayer exodus of any state in the region between 2007 and 2010," Hogan writes, "with a net migration resulting in 31,000 residents having left the state. Where did most of them go? Virginia. Virginia is now home to nearly 11,500 former Marylanders — a shift of $390 million from the tax rolls of one state to another. … That's the position Maryland finds itself in after six years of damaging tax increases. Since 2007, taxes and fees have been raised 24 times, taking an additional $2.4 billion out of the economy each year."
But Maryland's tax-happy governor doesn't seem to have gotten the hint: "When Northrop Grumman opted to relocate its corporate headquarters in Northern Virginia over Maryland in 2010, the governor said 'it was a win for the Washington region,' as if the Redskins won the Super Bowl. It was not a win for Maryland job seekers who would have liked to work for the defense contractor. Other such 'regional wins' include Maryland losing out to Virginia in every major corporate relocation in recent years. Add Computer Sciences Corporation, Hilton Worldwide, SAIC and Volkswagen North America to the growing list of companies that chose the Old Dominion over the Free State."
The Free State. What an odd nickname for a state that taxes its citizens out the wazoo, costing them so much prosperity in the process.
Like most people above I am against having libs moving to my state. OTOH I am a former Mass lib in Virginia. But I reformed before I left Mass mainly by reading Chronicles and similar magazines.
great they F#*KED up their state now they are coming here to F&$K up this one.
My birth town ... sad to see if fall but hey, it’s been falling. Maybe Pelosi will go home and run for Mayor.
The Inner Harbor, trashed nightly by gangs of thugs. Driving tourists right outta there.
The Snake Mayor (and yes to whoever posted how obnoxious he was/is/will always be). All he’ll do is redistribute the taxes among those who decide to
stay although about 70% of the City pays no taxes - they are recipients. As they say, Well Hon, we’re in a pickle.
They sorta do that, but what is happening is places like Wisconsin and Mass and New Jersey and Pennsylvania are losing the liberals to Southern states and that is why they are voting in Republican Governors. However the South is getting bluer but the North is getting a bit redder. Same people, just different locations.
It is funny that you mention a ham sandwich. On our conservative talk station here in the Phoenix area, one of the shows does a segment where they bring up different reasons why Obama could be beaten by a ham sandwich. LOL!!!
I do not here it anymore since I do not commute at that time anymore.
I know that Fat Ed predicted an indictment of Scott but didn’t know the Gov also did.
Fat Ed is featured in the latest Hitler rant =
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWfgrn_VyY
So, mrsmith, why is it Virginia is voting so Democrat?
Is that perhaps because we had a one party state since 1876?
Having been a resident of Arlington VA for many years, I feel pretty superior to the idiot Marylanders. 8 times out of 10, whenever I see a driver around here do something idiotic, his car has a Maryland plate.
Massholes did that to New Hampshire a few years ago, IIRC.
They did it to south and middle Floriduh, too.
Great. More Maryland Marxists polluting my future adopted home state of Virginia. No wonder it is turning purple so quickly.
Tennessee here I come, I guess. Virginia will be liberal by the time I retire.
What hit my “hot button” is that he smirked when he said “indicted” as though it was a sure thing. It was if he was trying to say, “I’m going to mess up the party”. It was disgusting and very childish.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Don’t forget hurricanes. As was evidenced in NOLA in 2005, government dependents don’t fare well in hurricanes, so maybe they should stay in Kalifornia, Murderland, etc.
This is a very well written editorial about my home state under Dems.
Maybe this is why I was so supportive of Walker all along, he is the anti-O Malley. He is the polar opposite of him.
Northern Va. is a lost cause.
Loudoun Co. is a fine place to call home.
I know someone who sneaked out of a socialist state in the 50s. Now he wants obama to make America a socialist state. I don’t understand why he left.
I know a nurse who came here from England because of the low pay and low status nurses receive. Now he works as a nurse here in the U.S. and he’s for obamacare. Nothing makes sense when you’re dealing with a liberal. Oh, yeah. His wife complains because the hospital where they work apparently doesn’t offer a free retirement plan. They have to pay for it themselves. boo hoo And they worship obama!
And alligator gar! And lots of killer bees! They’re everywhere, I tell ya’!
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