So it is your contention that it was just random that when TPaw was in office cutting taxes (without cutting spending) things went to crap and since then when the Dems have held and raised taxes things got better? Interesting...
If you want to argue individual politicians have little to no effect I will agree with that but the overall fiscal policy of the party definitely does. It isnt like MSP wasnt "blessed" with the same advantages under GOP leadership but yet things tanked. (see also: Jesse Ventura giving back the surplus money) MSP runs smoothest when the taxes are in a certain sweet spot (about right where they are now) so they can fund that which needs to be funded and still put a little away for a rainy day. The MNGOP since the early 90s is hellbent on having any taxes and cuts them to dangerous levels whenever they can. TPaw and his Gang of Dubya Sycophants bankrupted education, underfunded infrastructure and tried to starve out all government functions. If another GOPer had followed that mess instead of Dayton Minnesota would not be in the shape it is in right now.
You bring up NoDak to try and prove your point but I would argue it proves mine. When the oil boom hit the smart plan would have been to re-invest that money and bank some of it. (you know, with a decent tax rate) NoDak could have been set up for decades of prosperity post boom and wise politicians would have done that. Everyone knew sooner or later the oil boom would dry up (it does everywhere) so why not plan for the future? They didn't and NoDak is pretty much exactly what it was before the boom only with more people who lost their shirts when things went bust. That isnt a party deal, that is just a smart economic policy deal.
This is the argument I get in with my parents all the time. They never planned for the future. They always assume prosperity will be forever and the "Rainy Day" will never come. They always spent everything they could and never saved enough to survive if tragedy struck. (and it always did) For years I made less money than them but struggled way less than them because I always plan for the "Rainy Day". The smart politicians arent the ones in office when the boom hits, they are the ones that make things better so when the boom ends things are ok. Right now, one Party plans for the future and the other doesnt. (outside of planning for the End Days cause...Jesus!) Both spend like contestants on Supermarket Sweep, but one of them at least tries to make enough money to pay for the spending and protect for the future. To deny that is ignorance.
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