Credit where due
The Lunsford campaign for governor has been hit with accusations of thievery in its "Blueprint for Change." Kentucky Pundit was, to set the record straight, the first guy to bring this to our attention.
But the other allegations have suggested that Lunsford actually stole some text that went into the blueprint from similar plans unveiled for other states.
Doug Alexander of the Commonwealth Progress Council offers us a unique perspective on the whole situation:
As long as we’re borrowing ideas, let’s borrow some that work.
The latest dust up in the race for governor involves whether or not it’s okay for candidates to “borrow” ideas from campaigns in other states. Candidates Bruce Lunsford and Steve Beshear have been criticized by opponents for using language in campaign materials that originated in Florida and Iowa respectively.
If they like what they see in Florida and Iowa, maybe Mr. Lunsford and Mr. Beshear ought to reconsider their position on the right of workers to decide for themselves whether or not to join and pay dues to a union. Workers in Florida and Iowa have that right. Kentucky workers do not.
Take a look at how the respective states are doing:
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Florida – 3.3 % (Tied with Iowa and Alabama with the 9th lowest unemployment rate in the nation)
Iowa – 3.3 % (Tied with Florida and Alabama with the 9th lowest unemployment rate in the nation)
Kentucky – 5.7% (46th among all the states in unemployment)
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics, February, 2007)
(Alabama is also a Right to Work state.)
PERSONAL INCOME
Florida – Ranks 20th among all states
Iowa - Ranks 30th among all states
Kentucky – Ranks 46th among all states
(US Bureau of Economic Analysis)
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Florida – Ranks as the 3rd friendliest state for business
Iowa – Ranks as the 18th friendliest state for business
Kentucky – Ranks as the 45th friendliest state for business
(Pollina Corporation 2007 Pro-business state rankings)
More people are working in Florida and Iowa than are working in Kentucky. People are making more money in Florida and Iowa than Kentuckians are making. Florida and Iowa are considered better prospects for new business and job creation than is Kentucky.
Florida and Iowa are doing some things right. Feel free to borrow.
Sadly, if Kentucky doesn't borrow ideas from other states, Kentucky won't have any good ideas. The ones generated internally have given us our current problems.
