Perry-Fallin 2012? - Sister Toldjah

**Posted by Phineas

Sure, I’m being facetious in the headline (“Fallin who?”), but in one sense I’m not; freshman Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin is presiding over a economic mini-boom in her state. Check out this interview on Fox & Friends:

Now don’t you think Obama would give his last piece of arugula to have Oklahoma’s 5.3% unemployment rate? (1) But that would require him to give up his fallacious Keynesian dogmas and abandon his Socialist intellectual framework. I think I’ll see the sun rise in the West before that happens.

What Fallin and the Oklahoma legislature have done is what other states, such as Texas, are doing: establish a competitive tax burden, set out reasonable and predictable regulations, keep government spending within its means, and institute legal reform to prevent frivolous lawsuits. Oklahoma has followed this path and is reaping the benefits. The United States as a whole can, too.

If we elect the right man or woman.

Footnotes:
(1) As would my beloved California, where the official unemployment rate is a nauseating 11.8%. Governor Brown and the Oligarchs of the State Legislature, take note.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

H Hazell says:

August 18, 2011 at 1:43 pm

Couple that with the fact that most Oklahomans prefer to work for a living rather than subsist on entitlements. I think those states operating similarly to Texas and Oklahoma are governed by people that share a strong work ethic with those they govern.

Carlos says:

August 18, 2011 at 5:11 pm

They sho’ ain’t none a dem “work ethic” states borderin’ the Pacific, I’ll tell ya right now. All ya git here on the left coast is jist that – left.

Left politics, left dogma, and left behind.

Used to be asked, How is California like granola? Answer: take out the fruits and nuts and all you have left is the flakes.

That can be said of Oregon and Washington now, too.

Probably because too many Kalifornians moved to those states and gave them whatever infection it is that causes mass political dementia.

nina says:

August 18, 2011 at 9:40 pm

Big fan of Fallin. She’s the real deal.

Dana says:

August 20, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Let’s be realistic here: Governor Fallin took office on January 10th of this year! She may be a good Governor, but if Oklahoma has a good economic record, part of that has to be shared with (moderate) Democratic Governor Brad Henry, who served for the previous eight years.

The state legislature is controlled by the Republicans.

In one way, it could be argued that a combination of conservative Republicans and moderate Democrats — really, moderate to liberal on social policy, and conservative on fiscal and budgetary policy — did a fine job in Oklahoma, and that’s why the state has done so well.

A Mindful Webworker says:

August 23, 2011 at 7:13 pm

1. Please! Don’t talk about taking away our new Governor so soon!

2. Fallin, maybe. Perry, meh. Fortunately, we have Sarah for teh win.

3. It’s true as Dana says, Fallin hasn’t been in long enough to get the credit. Like Perry, she has a lot going for her that’s not hers. But she’s been doing pretty well to earn some points.

Resisting ‘Obamacare’ — “It was hard to reject such a large sum of money, Mrs. Fallin said [but] she was deeply skeptical that the administration would grant the promised flexibility in setting up exchanges.”

Tax reform task force
“The task force makes recommendations on how to simplify the Oklahoma tax code for individuals and businesses.” (My added emphasis)

She has also been talking up Oklahoma’s attractive business climate. Okla.’s no Texas, but it’s sure not California! She has talked about reducing bureacracy, lowering taxes. She took office talking about “right-sizing” the government. She’s moving a little bit slowly and too incrementally for some folks, but makes the right noises so far.

Nobody’s perfect, of course; like everybody she has her blind spots. Just hope she can follow through on her better rhetoric!