[Mpls] Re: Juicy Park Board Issues

[R L GUSTAFSON]

In a recent post I essentially challenged the minority group of four on the Park Board to acknowledge that they were indeed the minority, and that if they felt suppressed in that position that they should define what issues bind them together, figure out how they would pay for that joint vision, and then sell that vision to the public.   I was in turn challenged to imagine a different world where minority opinions would be included, especially important apparently are 49% minority opinions. I'm not sure philosophically why 49% minorities are more important than lesser minorities. I suspect if we attempt to argue that one however our fearless leader will tell us to go to St. Paul or somewhere other than this forum. It was also suggested that we should include the voices of "more than a well defined clique", that democracy does not have to be where a "one vote majority can push through what they want."   That sounds like a perfect world, sort of our own little Nirvana here on the tundra. Every voice heard and all opinions included before we set our visions. I think retreats, as Annie spoke of, where yearly goals are agreed upon, are an example of what can be done to work towards that sort of goal. But when it gets down to it, in a democracy, majority rules. And I can accept that.    As a member of the Middler Party of Minneapolis I don't have much choice but to accept that.   I really wasn't interested in getting into a discourse on the merits of democracy as much as trying to challenge the minority group of four to make use of democracy, with all its acknowledged flaws. The point I was trying to make is that I truly do not know what issues or vision that Annie has with her group of four that is being frustrated by the majority. I refuse by the way to call the majority a clique. A clique by definition and use normally assumes a negative connotation and is used to define a small and exclusive group, which is not an appropriate term for the working majority of the Park Board.   I somewhat suspect that the cause of the real frustration of the minority group is the tightening of the purse strings at City Hall. As budgets are tightened, more attention will have to be paid on what the core functions of the Park Board are. When dollars flow like the spring at Camp Coldwater before MnDot arrived, there are dollars for everyone's vision. When the flow is cut back, discretionary dollars dry up. Especially for those not in the majority. Until the minority is able to clearly express their vision, and sell it to a majority of the public that is then willing to pay for it, I suspect they will not see the dollars they were hoping to spend.     Bob Gustafson MMM