The Hiller Instinct: Meet Carla Howell

Carla Howell
"I'm running for governor to make Massachusetts government small."

Thus, her campaign mantra:

Carla Howell
"Small government is beautiful."

Carla Howell
"Would you like to help us end the income tax in Massachusetts? I would love to."

To force state government to "get small" Howell led the successful effort to put question one on the ballot, which would cut Beacon Hill's budget by $9 billion dollars.

Carla Howell
"My ballot question one, to end the income tax, would give back an average of $3,000 each to three million taxpayers across Massachusetts every year."

In a TV debate, Howell's major opponents opposed her plan...saying it cuts too deep.

Carla Howell
"Mitt Romney, Shannon O'Brien...big government, high taxes. Anti-gun Mitt Romney, anti-gun Shannon O'Brien...the same thing. Most voters would know no difference whatsoever if either one of them is elected governor."

Guns are Howell's other issue. She believes anti-gun laws disarm honest citizens...and that guns save lives:

Carla Howell
"The mere brandishing of a gun scares away criminals. It makes us safe. And when everyone has the right to keep and bear arms, whether you own a gun or not, you're safer."

By any measure, Howell is a committed candidate:

Carla Howell
"I'm definitely not running to make a point. I'm running to grow small government, to make it possible, and possibly to win. Anything is possible; it's really up to the voters to decide."

And voters who decide to support her know what they'll get.

Carla Howell
"Governor Carla Howell will vote small government on every issue every time. No exceptions, no excuses."

Forgive me, Libertarians, but, right now, I think, "small is beautiful" is a small idea. Carla Howell will be fine if the state budget is cut by 40 percent, and so will everyone else who's made it...or has it made enough to not need anything from the state. But for some of the people who do, and some who will, the specter of a state government that's too small is just ugly. (AP)