The Roaring '20s

There is nothing new under the sun.

The saying, attributed to the Biblical King Solomon, can loosely be interpreted as a commentary on the cycle of life. And indeed, the 2020s are bearing some resemblance to the 1920s: bitcoin could stand in for the stock boom of the last century, we have brewing instability on the world stage and state is cracking down on the sale of intoxicating hemp products in a Prohibition 2.0.

Tennessee’s government is certainly spending money in a Roaring ‘20s fashion. Senior Reporter Sam Stockard reports today state officials approved a $30 million corporate handout to Starbucks, the $121 billion coffee chain moving some operations to Nashville.

The latest round of corporate welfare comes even as a few Republican lawmakers, notably Rep. Ryan Williams of Cookeville and Sen. Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga, attempted to rein in spending during the recent legislative session.

Even as Gov. Bill “Daddy Warbucks” Lee pressed forward with a plan to nearly double the number of school vouchers awarded, Democrats and Republicans expressed concern about the program’s impact on state finances. At least both parties can agree on something.

Of course, Lee will be out of office in eight months, leaving the next governor to deal with any shortfalls, so in the meantime, live it up! Let the good times roll!