In his final address to North Dakota, Doug Burgum couldn’t help himself. He had to go to his new boss’s playbook and criticize someone just to make himself look better. Never mind the fact that different times call for different measures.
Burgum went all the way back to the 1980’s to find someone to attack. He went after Governor George Sinner for having to raise state income tax to meet the needs of the people at one of the worst economic times ever in the state. Farm prices had plummeted, land values had been exaggerated by the Federal Government, farm foreclosures exploded and farmer suicides increased as a result. All of this during the Reagan Administration since we’re pointing fingers.
In other words, it was time for everyone to chip in to keep the lights on. It was time to call on those that made a bigger income. A lot of income to pick up the slack in Burgum’s case. Governor George Sinner did just that. Regardless of the fact that he didn’t want to, he knew he had to.
Now take a look at the economic times Burgum has enjoyed. Oil production and prices have been at all-time highs. Commodity prices have been at a place where all you want to be is a pickup salesman. A trained monkey could look good during the years he’s had.
The problem is, history will prove Burgum didn’t do as well as a monkey. His focus has been solely on reducing income tax. Which, I might add, has helped his own bottom-line immensely. All while property taxes have exploded.
The average person that doesn’t have property in a renaissance zone has to pay them. And pay them we have…or at least, some of us. Others, mostly elderly, have had to give up their homes because they couldn’t afford it. The very homes they raised their kids in.
No, if Burgum is going to punch the legacy of a man that governed at one of the toughest times, he should take a look in a mirror.
Lord knows he likes them.
Good riding with you,
Joel
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