Bob Gustafson writes: >Happy Spring type weekend (to all)
I'm going outside for a jog in just a few minutes, honest! Bob continues: >There are some interesting ways that I believe we in Minneapolis can deal with our suburban neighbors as well as our state government if we are more willing to look at the positions held by them,�try to analyze their needs and desires ... � I continue: Bob touches upon a point I have pondered for a while now. The city is losing political influence at the state level. That has happened for four decades, but now the city delegation has lost seniority and/or majority-party status so even the most city-centric can't ignore the decline. Most Minneapolitans who are politically aware know they have for form coalitions to get stuff done, now more than ever. So how should city people try to maximize the political power we still posses? Should Minneapolis folks form an "interest group" that can advance city interests throughout the state. Just like other interest groups, it would contribute money, but hopefully bodies, to helping candidates identified as "city-friendly" win outside of the city. Just for fun, and just for now, I'm calling this group The Fellowship of the Ring, since the suburban rings are the ones that have the power and they're the one's we need to win over (if we can't build a rural-urban majority). There are pleasures and pitfalls. Here are just a few I can see. 1. Although I know the Green Party will be fielding stronger state-level candidates with each cycle, most Minneapolis races will still be over after the DFL delegates endorse, or, at the latest, in September when the DFL chooses its nominee. The Fellowship of the Ring would (at least) allow those in "safe" DFL legislative districts to have a hand in affecting other races - and give them a coordinated organization to do it. 2. Partisan pitfalls. I believe the group is best focused on principles, not party, and should be willing to make multiple non-partisan endorsements if it means hurting the chances of a city-unfriendly politician. I don't know if this would help or hurt membership - perhaps Minneapolis DFLers would stay away if there were races where the Green candidate was better than the DFLer...or the Republican was. Predictions? I do think a common situation would be to support one candidate over the other in a party primary, rather than just in general elections. 3. Negative blessings. I always like to check my ideas against a negative-image filter. So what would we in the city say if "Suburb PAC," a pro-highway-expansion, anti-Planetarium group made up mostly (but not exclusively) of Republicans and Constitution Party people endorsed Minneapolis-level candidates? Probably turn most of us off immediately, right? That's the danger of The Fellowship's endorsements in the hinterlands - the "city-lover" bears the Scarlet Political Letter. Anyway, curious what people think. David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 (or Ward 13 in Fred's Green #2 plan - go Fred!) Three-season jogger _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
