All's fair in love and politics

When Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm gives her State of the State address tomorrow, one of her proposals will be to save money by ending funding for the 160-year-old Michigan State Fair, one of the oldest in the country.

Coping With the Economy

The fair hasn't made money for 20 years and attendance has steadily declined. As a result, the state must provide a subsidy that in some years has been as high as $1.3 million.

The idea of deep-sixing money for the fair caused the usual gnashing of teeth that accompanies any proposal to cut much of anything from a state budget.