RE: Shifting Packs, Political and Economic

Justin makes a good point: whether Rhode Island can take advantage of the company of other states experiencing Rhode Island-like economic misery will have a lot to do with politics. 70+ years of one party rule haven't done much for us and you'd think that Rhode Islanders would be ready to try something else. Yet, it doesn't look like the citizenry of our fair state are, as a whole, are inclined to change their voting habits given Gallup's recent polling that indicates that Rhode Island is the most liberal state in the country (and one of the most Democratic).

It's likely that the current speculation that the corruption/inside-dealing of Democrats Charlie Rangel or Maxine Waters will hurt the Democratic party nationally are correct. Both Rangel and Waters will have no problem being re-elected in their own Democrate-heavy districts, which will excuse the actions of one of their own (something that corrupt Republicans seem unable to benefit from). I suspect the innate reaction of many Rhode Island Democrats will be to ignore or excuse those and similar stories of inter-Rhode Island Democratic corruption as something that "their guys" ain't doin'. (Of course, if their guy did do that kinda stuff, well, that would be kinda quirky, wouldn't it?). Nope, all is well in the Ocean State...