By: Joe Wolverton, II
Date: 2011-06-09
In a letter proudly publicized on a state-sponsored website, Idaho Governor Butch Otter (left, a Republican) describes a program designed to “grow Idaho's Gross Domestic Product” by creating “quality jobs for all Idahoans by fostering systemic growth, recruiting new companies to Idaho, and selling Idaho's trade and investment opportunities to the world.” The following is from Governor Otter’s announcement of the plan known as Project 60.
Project 60 is just a name. But it stands for a goal, and a way of getting there.
It means more than some abstract concept for increasing our gross domestic product. It means jobs and opportunity, hope and independence for the people of Idaho. That’s what I want you to think about when you hear about Project 60. This is an initiative in which we all need to be involved, to build Idaho’s economy together in a way that strengthens our businesses, people and communities.
No state or local agency, no government of any kind can successfully tackle this kind of goal alone. Project 60 belongs to all of us and it needs all of us to be champions of this effort. Today, I invite you to be a Project 60 Partner. This Web site is built for you to participate in the process.
Consider this “home base” for Project 60. This is where you will have the chance to offer “Top-to-Top” help in our efforts to recruit new and expanding businesses to Idaho, the chance to tell us about networking opportunities with your vendors and customers in other states, and the chance to become an ambassador for Idaho’s future. I want you to tell us about your own success stories and offer us tips and advice about what it takes to thrive in business here.
That brief introduction should be memorized by students trying to learn the craft of political speechifying. There is in Governor Otter’s letter nothing of substance, plenty of weasel words, and an extraordinary display of misdirection all designed to lull the citizens of the sovereign state of Idaho into a stupor while their state is sold to the Chinese.