The Devil We Know
David Strom and the Tax Payers League have been taking even more bashing than usual of late from all the usual suspects advocating increased government spending and largesse. The new legislative session has begun and higher taxes is Job One for most within in the DFL. And those who effectively stand in the way of not increasing taxes must be demonized - literally. The latest example is from the Sunday Star Tribune:
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, like many members of the Legislature, wears his religion on his sleeve. He is also a supporter of gambling -- euphemistically called "gaming." Why does a good Christian like the governor support spending taxpayer dollars to build a casino? The answer is not redeeming: It's about money and ambition. Pawlenty made a pact with his own devil: the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.
The above, bylined with:
C. Ford Runge is distinguished McKnight university professor of applied economics and law at the University of Minnesota.
Leaving aside issues of scholarly fairness in characterizing the heroes of the middle class and all around nice guys at the TPL as "Satan!" (cue Church Lady echo effect), what's this BS with having the word "distinguished" included in your title?
"Distinguished," meaning: characterized by excellence or distinction; eminent. In a job title? It sounds more than a little grandiose to me. Or maybe it's something you get from your boss in lieu of even a cost-of-living increase in your salary for the fourth straight year.
There I go again, thinking like a private sector employee (and a lousy one, at that). Apparently, in the realm of public employees (the University of Minnesota), the term "distinguished" is handed out in addition to a fat bonus:
The purpose of the Professorship is to recognize and reward our most outstanding mid-career faculty. Recipients are honored with the title Distinguished McKnight University Professor, which they will hold for as long as they remain at the University of Minnesota. The grant associated with the Professorship consists of $100,000 to be expended over five years.
100 large? Nice little bump, C. Ford! If that's what he got, I can see why he might not be too concerned about tax increases in the near future.
I'm not at all familiar with his career and I suspect neither are most readers of the Star Tribune editorial page. C. Ford Runge may very well be distinguished. But how do we know that?
Superficial research shows he certainly appears to test well. He's a Rhodes Scholar, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (at least according to the distinguished conspiracy theorists at Illuminati Conspiracy Archive), and now he's getting commentary pieces published in a space often occupied by Syl Jones. All very impressive, indeed. But, I say, have a little confidence in your abilities man! Why insist on telling us you're distinguished when you could just as easily show us?
My advice, drop the eminence front, leave the grandiose adjectives off the business cards, and demonstrate to us non professors of applied economics and law some actual distinguishing characteristics. I'm easily impressed, trust me. But equating honest, hard-working, and well-liked advocates for lower taxes with the Dark Prince of the Infernal Regions - bad start. That's not distinguished. And, really, more appropriate for the Illuminati Conspiracy Archive.
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