Jack Lessenberry

Years ago, I heard a young reporter ask an old editorial writer what the difference was between Republicans and Democrats. The old guy said, “Democrats love big government, preferably controlled by and run from Washington. Republicans are in favor of smaller, less intrusive government, and local control,” he said, and then paused. “Except, that is, when they’re not.” The young reporter asked when that was. “Whenever local government does something they don’t want it to do,” the old cynic said. That was long before the Tea Party or Rick Snyder.