The winner:
"I’m the N.C. governor and I’ve come to say, 'If you want to relocate, I am willing to pay.'"
-- Michael B. Stein of Charlotte
The runners-up:
"Introducing, N.C.'s newest subsidized cash crop!"
-- Justice Robert F. Orr, Raleigh
"Dole out incentives!"
-- Douglas Cox, Albemarle
“Don’t forget – we’re a ripe to work state.”
-- Phil Clutts, Harrisburg
"This'll show those Banana Republicans in the legislature!"
-- Loyd Dillon, Charlotte
"Day-oh…Day-oh, Goodrich gone and I want to go home!"
-- Wade Davis, Charlotte
"Politicians have to ripen in a certain way!”
-- David W. White, Charlotte
Thank you for all your entries. Here's a selection of some of the other better lines we received this week:
"I'm exercising my Carmen Miranda rights."
"Taxpayers will experience Chiquita sticker shock."
"Too many corporate incentives drive taxpayers bananas."
"They want a whole bunch."
“The new North Carolina State Seal!”
"Looks like Chiquita is on the Dole."
“Orange you glad I’m Governor!”
"I'm Bev Perdue and I've come to say, I cannot be unduly influenced in any way."
"I'm an unappealing governor and I'm here to stay..."
"North Carolina will not play second banana to anyone."
"Let's not slip on this one."
"Charlotte has so much apeel."
"If you don't like Cincinnati, split."
"The nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away."
For a history of the banana and the political and cultural manipulations necessary to make it one of our favorite fruits and an industry for which states are willing to shell out millions, give Dan Koeppel's Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World a read. A fascinating NPR interview with the author can be found here, where, among other things, he talks about the history of the Chiquita Banana song and how Miss Chiquita taught us how to eat and store them in song and dance ("Because they come from the equator, never put them in the refrigerator!").
I really enjoyed this week's winners jingle!
Posted by: suzanne & co. | September 24, 2011 at 01:36 PM
I love the winner! Who would name their child "Justice"?
Posted by: Charles Randall | September 26, 2011 at 08:43 AM