Michigan is the Comedy of Errors

Michigan is the Comedy of Errors.

Under the wise leadership of Jennifer Granholm the state has determined the best way to flee its decade long depression is to make it more difficult for viable businesses to survive through punitive taxation and heightened regulations, in favor of making multimillion dollar tax credit deals with other companies who are willing to expand here, relocate here, or start up here.

Taking money away from struggling businesses to be used as a lure to attract speculative ventures is a tactic often questioned by naysayers such as the Rougman and his Mom. Many of the jobs promised by such deals are very slow to be created, some are never realized, while there are also measurable job losses as a result of increased taxation and regulation placed on existing employers and consumers.

Another potential problem with any large grant or credit is the possibility of fraud. That is why due diligence has to be maintained at the state's end of the bargain to make certain that rare money resources aren't wasted on fly-by-night scam artists.

Oops.

Michigan and its control freak, socialism loving Governor have entered into a tax credit deal with a start up company represented by a man currently on parole with three felony convictions under his belt including both embezzlement and fraud.

LANSING — A convicted embezzler has snagged a $9.1-million tax credit from the state for a company it says will use renewable energy to provide electricity, clean drinking water, sanitation and Internet service to developing countries.

RASCO CEO Richard A. Short shared the stage Tuesday with Gov. Jennifer Granholm as she introduced the leaders of companies awarded tax credits. Short spoke briefly.

There is no way on Earth that Michigan officials can catch every criminal that tries to sidle up to the public trough for a little nourishment, besides, most of them were elected to be there. However this guy was publicly exposed as being a convicted criminal on the same day that Granholm walked with him on stage.

Based on the speed with which his unseemly history was exposed, this could not have been that difficult to uncover. Which leaves us with two options...either Granholm and company knew of his previous legal difficulties and decided to pull the trigger on the deal anyway, or they ignorantly bungled their way into a business relationship with a person who habitually defrauded at least one past employer and has the lengthy criminal record to prove it.

My guess is that Michigan accidentally decided to do business with a convicted felon because it was so intent on promoting the successes of the Granholm administration that it didn't adequately investigate who they were actually passing thickly stuffed envelopes to. The other option is too mind boggling to contemplate.

So, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, here's praying for ignorance over obstinance!