On being happy and business friendly, and MYODB

I’ve spent the last week soaking up Gov. Tim Walz’s midwestern-dad energy. As a Tennessean, two things I heard him say struck home for me. 

First was his unofficial Minnesota motto: “Mind your own damn business.” If our government would stay out of our personal lives and focus on getting more of us healthy and well educated, Tennessee wouldn’t be on the wrong end of so many state rankings.

Which brings me to the second thing: Minnesota was ranked one of the top states for business and one of the happiest states in 2023. Apparently one state can be both. Can someone please tell Tennessee?

Under thirteen years of Republican government, Tennessee’s business-friendly economic policies have come at Tennesseans’ expense.

Wealthy corporations love our big tax breaks and low wages. They make political donations to protect that status quo. But the taxes they don’t pay is money Tennessee doesn’t have for neighborhood schools and public hospitals, for addiction treatment and mental health care, for affordable child care and housing.

The cost of funding our public services falls most heavily on working Tennesseans, who pay the country’s second-highest average sales tax every time they go to the store. In return they get subsistence-level government that does very little to help them get a shot at the middle class.

The degree to which they’re struggling shows up in our state rankings. Earlier this year, a national survey by the wellness brand Komowa concluded that Tennessee is the most stressed-out state. We’re sicker and more depressed than most Americans. We work longer hours and make less money.

Money can’t buy happiness. But lack of money and resources can make any obstacle practically insurmountable. Smart governance helps people navigate those obstacles, giving them a better chance to survive and thrive.

That’s what Minnesota has done with its people-friendly, business-friendly policies.

Imagine if Tennessee adopted Minnesota’s balanced economic model. Then imagine if our state legislators stopped meddling in women’s health care, stopped obsessing over drag shows and trans people and library books, and put all that time and energy toward fully funding our K–12 schools and getting health insurance to the 647,000 Tennesseans who need it.

Of course, that would require minding their own damn business.

If you want a state government that focuses on commonsense solutions to real problems, please join my campaign. Click to donate, volunteer, or get a yard sign.

Allison
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