Beauty Pageant

Yet another city has entered the beauty pageant to win Amazon’s second headquarters prize. The promise of 50,000 jobs eventually and the prestige of having such a large e-commerce firm in one’s town has sent mayors and governors into a frenzy. One town and state after another has proclaimed it is best for the second domain. States have already promised billions in tax breaks should the company choose them. Jeff Bezos must be enjoying every moment of the competition because Amazon will get buildings and operations tax free for years. Is such pandering to a corporation unseemly? It is but the promise of jobs is driving the competition. Every mayor and ever governor wants to flaunt success in bringing increased employment and high-paying wages to his locale. It is a huge bonus come election time. So, the madness continues as one city after another dances to Amazon’s tune in an all-out public relations war.