August 15, 2002

3:23 PM

The Enemy Within. Which minority group in the U.S. has long since mastered the crafts of free-riding, self-dealing and cravenness? Their cunning results in the victimization of countless honest, hard-working Americans. [courtesy aldaily.com]
posted by apollo3000 (18 comments total)

Disclaimer: I've never been there. Also, South Park NB: perfect metrical substitution for "Canada."
posted by apollo3000 at 3:23 PM on August 15, 2002

Always wondered why some many california startups were incorporated in Delaware.. now I know.
posted by woil at 3:44 PM on August 15, 2002

delaware: the crinkly purple sphincter of the nation.
posted by quonsar at 3:58 PM on August 15, 2002

Okay....... Help me out here. I have no idea what we're suppose to make of this.

Are we suppose to seriously debate the author's assertion that Delaware is "a rapacious parasite state with a long history of disloyalty and avarice."? I'm sorry, but this isn't journalism, it's just being bitchy. Someone needs to inform Mr Chait that munching cranky pills like candy isn't going to help his credibility as a journalist.

The author needs to get laid, or perhaps eat more fiber. It's an f'ing toll booth dude. Chill out.
posted by y6y6y6 at 4:04 PM on August 15, 2002

I was thinking about posting this on the day it came out, but decided not to since while being well written seemed a bit harsh for the place I call home. I live in one of Delaware's Dupont-made residences, and would definitely agree that it is business friendly. The restrictions on business zoning are light at best, with no penalties that I'm aware of for even operating in a residential area.

Having no sales tax brings in lots of out of state business. Gambling also brings many a visitor as slot machines are legal in the state. (oh, did I mention Nascar?) Also, in Delaware, we wear hats on our feet and hamburgers eat people.

Surprisingly, much of Delaware is still under developed. I enjoy living here, but haven't really seen or experienced many benefits than from when I lived in Maryland. The state is in financial trouble just like many others, and has cut spending in many of the same areas.
posted by samsara at 4:10 PM on August 15, 2002

axis of evil: California, Delaware, Florida.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:16 PM on August 15, 2002

What has always confused me about Republicans is they way the act on a municipal and state level. Now I might not quite have the dogma down, but I understand Republicans believe in small Federal Government. With a small central power, the states would have greater freedom and responsibilities. The federal government shouldn't operate a medical system, they say on the federal level, the state government should. So they all vote down prescriptions for medicare or whatever it is that day. But then, on the state level, republicans are doing the same thing, voting down populist laws in order to make a 'smaller government.' Even after creating a 'smaller government' Republican administrations almost always run large deficits and spend more money - mainly on war machines. This feels paradoxical to me.
Delaware sounds like the ultimate Republican state: Free from federal oversight and out to make a profit for Delawarians.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:28 PM on August 15, 2002

Now Joe Biden being a leading senator makes sense. I saw him on some talk show and wondered how the hell some guy from Delaware has so much cred in DC? Now it is crystal clear: his constituents are the fortune 500 companies that are incorporated there. D'oh.
posted by birdherder at 4:44 PM on August 15, 2002

axis of evil: California, Delaware, Florida.

You forgot Texas.
posted by donkeyschlong at 4:49 PM on August 15, 2002

axis of evil: California, Delaware, Florida.

You forgot Texas.

And Wall Drug, South Dakota. Now that's evil.
posted by Ty Webb at 5:18 PM on August 15, 2002

birdherder: his overlords are the fortune 500 companies that are incorporated there.
posted by quonsar at 6:08 PM on August 15, 2002

As a Delaware native I must say.. ouch. Our politics are a bit shady but aint it everywhere.

Really though this is almost to much of a personal attack for me. Here is a more even handed take on our small state.

(Appropriate material for my first post an' all.)
posted by Dr_Octavius at 6:28 PM on August 15, 2002

Screw Delaware. I moved to Wilmington for work about a year ago, and let me tell you... the people of Wilmington are dickheads. Never in my life have I experienced such hostility, day to day...

The author didn't even get into the more recent race-relations problems there. Want to see a truly segregated town? Go to Wilmington... it did crack me up, though, that all the credit card companies are downtown.

I feel very thankful that the dotcom I was working for shut down and I was able to escape to philadelphia. Still, they steal my money on the roads every time I pass through that stupid state.
posted by ph00dz at 7:40 PM on August 15, 2002

I'm sorry, but this isn't journalism, it's just being bitchy. Someone needs to inform Mr Chait that munching cranky pills like candy isn't going to help his credibility as a journalist.

You may have seen the editor's note at the top of the article. I think that may have been inserted as a result of this blog entry.

Though, it also could have come as a result of another Wilmington News Journal editorial in response to Jonathan Chait's rant from Al Mascitti.
posted by bragadocchio at 10:55 PM on August 15, 2002

Dr_Octavius, welcome to MeFi. I'm not sure if the writer from Salon understood what was going on in the initiative from the Delaware Judiciary. A better description of the purpose behind the Gilliam Committee is described in this letter from Chief Justice Veasey. Some preliminary findings of the Committee do look at the possibility of provate donations going into a non profit fund, but also describe other ways to aid the courts, such as more volunteers:

The task force, headed by lawyer James H. Gilliam Jr., has met twice and is looking at six other areas besides the ethics of a court improvement foundation. Those include using more volunteers and interns, finding more government grant money, raising court fees and improving fee collection.

But, while the Chief Justice was sincere about easing the load on the state to provide funding for the courts, there have been some claims that the impetus behind the formation of the Committee was to get the General Assembly of Delaware to consider providing more funding to the Courts than they have been in past years.
posted by bragadocchio at 11:16 PM on August 15, 2002

y6y6y6: tongue in cheek. Think tongue in cheek.

It's actually quite common for freeways to be toll roads in states where much of the traffic goes right through. Examples abound, from the Tri-State Tollway taking I-80/90 traffic to points east and west, to New Hampshire's tiny stretch of I-95 which mostly carries vacationers from Boston to coastal Maine, and Delaware, which is a mainly non-destination sandwiched between much larger actual destinations.

As for the incorporation stuff, that's gone on for decades, and at least it beats Bermuda. There's a similar phenomenon with New Bruswick (IIRC) regarding non-profits, since there's no in-person requirement for board meetings. Several internet-related NPOs have set themselves up there.
posted by dhartung at 12:04 AM on August 16, 2002

The real Axis of Evil is: Texas, Wyoming and Missouri

But we all knew that to begin with.
posted by thewittyname at 5:50 AM on August 16, 2002

It is perhaps appropriate that Delaware boasts the lowest highest point.
posted by lysdexic at 8:30 AM on August 16, 2002