MITCHELL: Mississippi leads nation in “starve the beast” approach to governance led by Lt. Gov. Reeves

CHARLIE MITCHELL: Myths undermine any honest jobs, welfare talks

Mississippi now leads the nation in the “starve the beast” approach to governance with Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves as champion of the movement.

The beast is government. The approach starves the beast by cutting funds. The appeal is that if government grows smaller, personal freedoms increase.

It sounds pretty good, and works pretty good on the campaign trail, too. Few speak out for higher taxes and more government. To no one’s surprise, a mailer praising Reeves and sent across the state smacked of preparation for a 2019 bid for governor.

There is another side to the coin, though. The sweet sound of “smaller government” translates to “eliminating services.”

Clarion Ledger
6/13/17