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05/14/2005: "Lets got to Betsyland!"

Spokane, Washington, a town sinking into the economic sclerosis of a former soviet-style backwater, where the locals have approved perhaps the most idiotic project ever conceived by a free and sovereign people -- a hyper-super-giant-mega-mall called Riverpark Square in the middle of the utter ruin of downtown Spokane.

Apparently, the idea is that people will flock to Spokane by car from places with equally sclerotic economies (Colville, Pullman) in order to go on shopping sprees for new sneakers and cargo pants, which for some reason may be in short supply where they live. Meanwhile, Spokane uses its HUD money, which is supposed to house the poor, to prop up the RPS finances. Specifically, its parking garage debt.

And gazing over it all, Betsy Cowles, shielded behind her media empire.