Doesn't anyone want to talk about the issues in this campaign? Why are you and Wizard so fascinated by my personality-examining my motives, seeking the deeper meaning. Jim, how can you say, "I have to congratulate Eddie on his attempt to use a political race to boost circulation of his periodical?" My papers are free, Jim. If I wanted to boost their circulation, I'd just print more of them. Does everything fit so neatly into your political spectrum? I pay taxes. I run a small business. I've met a payroll for the past 20 years. I've owned commercial property in Central Neighborhood for almost 25 years. I'm worried about crime and good people leaving our neighborhood. Does that make me a right-winger? I'm concerned about giving millions of dollars to the 20th richest man in the world. Does that make me a radical? Floyd B. Olson once said, "I am what I want to be. I'm a radical. I believe we need a definite change in the system." Do you like the system, Jim? Does it work for you and your neighborhood? It's not working so well for us over here. Yes, I believe we need a change. We need to stop worrying about offending rich people and people in the suburbs and start taking care of the people around us. Yes, I think that means a more liveable community with less fly-over freeways for suburbanites to get home to their tv's. They say commuter traffic is way up, so we need more concrete. Talk to the Traffic Engineer at the City of Minneapolis. He'll tell you traffic on Lake Street is flat. In 1980 on a week day at Lake and Nicollet, there were 18,150 cars in a 24 hour period. In 1990 there were 26,100. In 2000 there were 23,000. So we don't need the extra lanes. Who does? The people that come in here to work or play and don't want to get too close to us? Jim, they're not just walking all over you, they're paving you over with concrete. What about the $300 million for Carl Pohlad for the baseball stadium? Do you like that one, Jim? If you go along with that, then you're a lot more liberal than I am. What about raising the salaries of your office by almost 20% in the last two years? Did you like that one, Jim? If you did, then you're more liberal than me. I think I'm being conservative when I say Hennepin County should be responsible for getting rid of its own garbage, but we shouldn't have to burn everybody else's upwind of the largest population concentration in the State. I don't think lobbyists should be able to buy elected officials. I think anyone who does business with the County shouldn't be able to contribute more than $100. The way Peter and most Commissioners run for election, it takes big money. $40,000 is about average. Where do you think that money comes from, Jim? Is that a left wing or a right wing position? Let's make a deal, Jim. Don't pigeon-hole and stereotype me, and I won't pigeon-hole and stereotype you. I'll treat all your ideas as worthy of consideration, without prejudice. I'll judge them on their merits. I won't slander you with labels, and I won't marginalize you by pushing you out to some fringe. I'm asking that you do the same for me. Ed Felien, Powderhorn
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