Tim,

I already did share my ideas – something you – still - have yet to do. It’s easy to nitpick other people’s ideas, especially if you never offer your own. Some people seem to make a hobby of it, lets call it naysayer syndrome.

As for my ideas being “unrealistic”, lets examine that for a second. I propose that Governor Nixon try to attract new companies to Missouri, and leave the options wide open. Are you seriously saying that the actions, tax policies, deals and plain ‘ol fashioned palm pressing/smoozing have NEVER – EVER - attracted a company to a state? Seriously? Or is it just a bit more likely that if Governor Nixon makes it his priority Missouri could put together serious offers to companies looking to relocate or expand?

Anyway, enough of our discussion – I never intended to debate my proposal with you, or anyone else. The topic is what do you think the new Governor should do first. I think he should focus on job creation.

Here’s a question for you Tim – What do YOU think he should do first?

PS- I won’t nitpick your proposals, no matter how tempted I may be

Mr. Nixon:

1) Do everything in your power to attract business and industry to Missouri - and to St. Louis and Kansas City in particular. Missouri doesn’t evidence very much at first take that would be that much of an attraction, but as another poster suggested, we can tout a lower cost of living than many other states. Getting rid of the statewide personal property tax would also help.
2) Do something decisive, quickly, to put your stamp on Jefferson City, thereby letting it be known - please - that smarmy Missouri politics as perfected by the likes of the Blounts will no longer be the order of the day. Haul out the mop — you’ve got a lot of house-cleaning to do.
3) Look at wide-scale possibilities for stimulating the economy, such as obtaining our share of federal funds for badly-needed infrastructure improvements and the jobs they create. Also, bring pressure to bear on St. Louis to end the one percent earnings tax, which has always served as a disincentive for people and companies to relocate downtown.
4) Follow through on the state’s assumption of control over St. Louis public schools and bring in the necessary expertise to start fixing it. No one with a serious thought toward their child’s future will move to the city as long as the school system remains the mess that it is.
5) Oppose further sports franchise boondoggles and stop any further financing of sports venues with public funds, recognizing for the lie that it is that sports venues make a significant economic difference to the cities in which they are located.
6) Appoint a commission to investigate the St. Louis Police Department and initiate an effort to clean it up.

Lots of others where this comes from, but we’ll have to be patient and give you time to undo the mess you’ve inherited. It will take a HUGE effort to drag Missouri into the 21st century. You face a situation similar to that of Barack Obama, except on a smaller scale. Both you and our next President have a lot of cleaning up to do in the wake of the disasters left by your predecessors. Here’s wishing you the best of luck.

Immediately? Fire the upper management of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, like Blunt did his first day in office. Put in people who actually care about the environment, and haven’t used the office for political gain.

Long term: we need to work with the federal government to begin a health care pool for those without health care insurance. Too many people don’t have health care coverage, and it’s hurting the state’s doctors and hospitals–not to mention the people. Plus, the companies in the state can’t afford to pay for health care, and either offshore the jobs, or close.

Also long term, we need to go back after the stem cell research jobs we threw away years ago. Not only that, but let’s start attracting new industry to this state that doesn’t pollute, and that won’t lay people off every time there’s a new quirk in the economy.

We also need to work on education, both improving our public school systems, and providing financial help for those wanting to attend college. College should be based on merit, not wealth.

Someone mentioned forward thinking. Well, for this we also need a good public transit system. Instead of cutting back on Metro, we should be adding lines. Rather than new freeways, new rails.

My idea? I already told you Anon, he should resign.

You didn’t share ideas, you shared ideals. Anyone can give a list of generic feel-good thoughts. The devil is in the details.

Sure you can attract businesses to Missouri. How do you do it without giving away the farm? You want the state to match jobs with the unemployed but you also want to get businesses to relocate here. But with the tax incentives the Gov will have to cough up the already tight budget won’t have any money for infrastructure OR your job matching idea. So how to you propose to do it? Just ask really really really nicely? Or say pretty please? This is the second time this was explained to you by the way

Boyd is drinking from the same kool-aid vat apparently. More job creation magic. Hey Boyd, how does a Democrat governor quickly put his “stamp” on Jeff City with an overwhelmingly GOP House? The only thing that mop will be good for is leaning on. Boyd’s 5 and 6 sound good to me. He is right on about “economic impact” of stadiums and the need to seriously investigate the STL Police Department.

Start thinking like a Republican. Don’t put half the state back on welfare and Medicaid. Try to keep some of the eight hundred and something million excess that Blunt left you with.

Change the “Boy George” satin sheets at the mansion.

Gov. Nixon will do nothing to stop eminent domain abuse because organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and the St. Louis Business Journal support eminent domain abuse, because they no longer represent the butcher, hairdresser, barber etc. They pretend to represent the small businessman or woman, but they only want their money from dues or subscriptions. The Chamber of Commerce and the St. Louis Business Journal really represent the developers that can do a $100 million development. There are three ways to fight back, because for some reason Missouri Politicians are not as honest as Politicians in FL or NM.

1. Support http://www.mo-cpr.org with money or time (they are putting two initiatives on the ballot in 2010 that will stop eminent domain abuse).

2. When your next bill comes from the Chamber of Commerce or the St. Louis Business Journal, return the bill, and tell them you will rejoin when meaningfull eminent domain reform is law. They cannot survive on the membership of big developers only.

3. Make Governor Nixon a one termer like Governor Blunt, if good eminent domain law is not passed during his first term.

There is nothing else we can do.

Tim,

I won’t nitpick your idea, but truthfully, there’s not much to pick on, is there? “Resign”. Nice. Now of course, if Nixon had an ( R ) after his name, I’m sure you would be all for his life time appointment.

A blog is not the place for massive details. Do you really think that a job creation plan can be reduced to blurb – yet still have enough details to satisfy every angry nitpicker in the world? Its not going to happen. What can happen is you share your goals – your objectives. Not to explain it to you again (because the first couple of times were such a success) but my Goal/Objective would be for him to focus on Job creation. I know you want details, so I will recommend you consult other job creation plans (there have been lots) choose the ones that worked, and pick the items from those that you think will have the most benefit here in Missouri. Its called work – but every job starts with a Goal. Without an objective you just end up doing what you’re doing: angrily complaining about everyone else while offering nothing useful.

Frankly, I’m disappointed in you. It’s a sad day when you miss the chance to champion the goals of social conservatism, but today the best you can come up with is: “Resign”. Then again, perhaps that’s all you have left – a blind hope that all things Democratic will just “go away”. Well, click your ruby red slippers together and try wishing harder – the Governor has work to do.

Take reporters’ questions in his first public event, as a proper elected official should.

He ought look long and hard at a proactive approach to government. Apply an incentive based broadsweeping effort to create private sector jobs. Giveaways are not going to get the job done, by making spending advantageous everyone wins… especially the state of Missouri.