Governor Lost and Found

December 6, 2012 — 2 Comments

Gov. Jan Brewer of my home state put on her high-heeled sneakers, and that ever-present wig hat on her head to sneak out to Afghanistan. This was done presumably to brighten the holidays for AZ National Guard troops stationed there…..as IF…..her presence was so exciting it is worth it to all to export it.  Troops used to get Bob Hope, Raquel Welch,and lots of  A list stars to light up  their holidays.

I am politically torn on this one. Although I loathe the Barry Goldwater style move that this seems to be, and as a true conservative deplore the expenditure of public money, I do so want to export her to someplace far from here.  I am also fully in favor of her putting herself more in harm’s way than even Phoenix can offer.  If she had paid for it herself and used her vacation days I would say,  “Vaya con Dios.  Stay for a while.”  In Spanish la gobernadora is luz de la calle, oscuridad de la casa (light of the street, darkness of the home). We had a lovely Gov Jan Napolitano who was imported to DC for the security of the homeland while we replaced her with a shadow governor.

In this woman’s mind it makes sense to deny hispanic youth dreamers the right to obtain drivers licenses.  If they have the nerve to drive they will be doing so without insurance, a very unappealing idea for anyone driving through the state.  If we gave them drivers licenses we would not only acknowledge them with some dignity, we would enhance the chances that they might find employment.  In Arizona we graduate only 25% of English learner high school students in the state.  We have few legal jobs but an abundance of easy fast (read instant) careers in crime that will have a rapid turnover.  That turnover feeds our for profit prison system, a big player in the new normal economy of Arizona.  It is easy to see how granting the right to legally drive to the dreamer is a slippery slope that could be disruptive to the current crime for profit model we have for growing our economy.