Washington’s governor forms space commission, even as others say it ain’t a good place to do business
Two stories today from the state of Washington nicely illustrate the bi-polar nature of modern America, especially in states dominated by leftist politics.
First, the state’s Democrat governor, Bob Ferguson, announced the formation of a space council made up of major players in the space industry and intended to encourage the growth of commercial space in the state.
Among their responsibilities, the Governor’s Space Council will evaluate Washington’s position in the aerospace industry compared to other states and countries around the world. The council is also tasked with identifying barriers in industry growth alongside workforce development, education and research needs in the industry.
The 23-member council includes Michael Edmonds of Blue Origin (an aerospace company led by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos), Cornelia Rosu of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Lisa Scalpone of Amazon LEO (an initiative to increase global broadband internet access), Kelly Maloney of Space Northwest, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. Other members include Andy Lapsa of Stoke Space (which has locations in Kent and Moses Lake), Rob Meyerson of the Seattle-based startup Interlune, Washington State University President Betsy Cantwell, Rep. Claudia Kauffman (D-47), Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-13) along with representatives from labor unions. [emphasis mine]
Modern Democrats, feeding on private enterprise
The second story involves comments by the highlighted council member, Andy Lapsa. Speaking at public event earlier in the week, he expressed great reservations about the business climate in Washington.
He said Stoke chose Washington state for its world-class talent in software, aerospace and manufacturing, and for a virtuous cycle in which iconic global companies bring talent and suppliers to the region, and their alumni go on to start companies of their own.
But if Lapsa and co-founder Tom Feldman were starting the Kent, Wash.-based rocket company today, he told a Seattle audience Monday, he’s not sure they’d do it here. Lapsa cited factors including a political climate that vilifies successful companies and their founders; a state that does less than others to court promising startups; Seattle’s public schools, which he described as a failed institution; and the push for a wealth tax on unrealized gains, which he said would put startups out of reach for anyone who isn’t already wealthy.
“What will it take to ensure the next Stoke builds here, too? If Stoke were starting today, I’ll be straight honest with you: I’m not sure we’d make the same decision,” he said. [emphasis mine]
It is very doubtful Lapsa’s presence on the governor’s space council will change the hostile atmosphere to private enterprise that he very accurately describes. It is very deeply ingrained among the leftist populations of these blue states, fueled repeatedly by the hate exuded by Democrat politicians to successful businessmen like Lapsa and Musk and others.
Ferguson’s council might be his attempt to paper over that hostility by his own party, but it is very unlikely to change anything. I would more likely expect the political members of this council to use it to crush private enterprise rather than help it.
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I heard this on the radio, got a good chuckle, and shook my head. This November, we will be voting on getting rid of the unconstitutional income tax that the legislature passed and “King Bob” signed last spring. This income tax was to be only on millionaires, but amendments were blocked to lock that in so they could not lower it. Two other laws the People’s Congress are trying to pass is a 5% payroll tax for anyone that makes more than $125k and taxing all retirement/investment accounts. They have already plucked the public pensions.
This triggered the great exodus from the People’s Republic of Washington, and yours truly is looking to move across the border to the free state of Idaho. I see many of these space companies leaving soon.
One other thing on the radio they mentioned was building a launch site. There is no way in hades that there would be launches over land. There is no way that the state could build a site to compete against Vandenberg with all the environmental laws here, noise complainers, hippies, NIMBies, and other kooky characters that would coming out of the woodwork to block it. It took the state decades to put in the Sound Transit light rail and that is still not finished. If a rocket were to be launched from a public launch site in this state, not only would hell be frozen over, there would also be an NHL expansion team there as well.
Don’t be if a “launch site” is actually built. However, it may be about as effective and as busy as the one in Nova Scotia and likely serve the same purpose.
I give you, South Whidbey Island; the current epicenter of all things hippie, dippy, and trippy. There are mushroom tours. It’s a lovely island, and really does feel like it’s own place, disconnected from the World. Many of the residents, are.
I lived five years in Seattle, and have been about everywhere there is to go in Washington. Like Oregon, the political weight resides in the western valleys. An example of geography defining politics. The valleys are lush and green and not hard to make a living from the land. The eastern 2/3rds of Washington and Oregon are high desert, paved with volcanic rock. Central Washington is especially inhospitable. It’s hard to make a living off the land, and the people that do it, have little use for anything that ain’t helping them out. I spent a week in central Washington in 2020, and they didn’t know from masks. It was like living in America.
There is a secession movement afoot for the Oregon counties bordering Idaho, to become part of Idaho. It would make sense for all involved, and I don’t think western Oregon would fight too hard if the eastern counties really pushed. It would certainly reduce the drive time to freedom.
Well, Andy and Tom, come on down to Texas! We’ll be glad to have you! The climate here is fine, both for business and for play.
Texas, the new Blue State.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6115967-talarico-leads-paxton-texas-senate/
I’m guessing that you have heard candidate Paxton’s disparaging remarks about the Midterm Convention and Mr. Trump’s part in it.
https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-deflects-audio-paxton-calling-221511000.html
No matter that Mr. Paxton, if he were to be described by Mr. Trump as a political opponent might be characterized as “low energy,” and “Where the hell did they find this guy?!” Like paint drying and grass growing. Yet, Paxton probably has a point. If President Trump has coattails at this point, they probably are of the negative variety, and he is not doing anyone a favor by campaigning for them.
Rather like watching Mike Pence’s less than stellar debate with Ho Harris* and knowing that it did not portend well, this episode has to be the point at which everyone knows that his campaign is effectively “done,” and Mr. Talafreako will be representing the State of Texas for the next six years. Sigh.
*You knew it was over when the fly landed on Pence’s head.
To be clear, I think that it is a tragedy that all of the good things that the Trump Administration has done / is doing are likely to be
ignored by the electorate in both Texas and in many other venues, but such is our massive failure to communicate these achievements — and the philosophy behind them — to anyone outside the MAGA choir. Better candidates — and a little humility / empathy in some quarters — would help as well.
The erstwhile Republic of Texas (Remember the Alamo) is about the become the Peoples Republic of Free Stuff (and six genders), and if “so goes Texas…” holds true, the American Republic will quickly enough follow the same trajectory.
No Worries! The new Washington Space Council will recruit advisors from the California High Speed Rail Commission. (do I really need to put the /s).
Andy Lapsa is obviously an alias for Jonny Quest. (Just look at the guy.) I’m certain that a grownup Jonny Quest would behave exactly like so-called “Andy Lapsa.” QED.