[Mpls] City Council Cops Out on Iraq

[Jordan S. Kushner]

The City Council avoided taking a position on an issue of war and peace that is inevitably of interest to Minneapolis residents.   http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3331470.html    What is disturbing is that the City Council formally refused to even let the issue come up for a vote.  Paul Ostrow ruled the issue out of order, apparently having such a narrow view and low opinion of his governing body that he did not think it worthy of taking a stand, and/or just being just plain spineless.  Six of the eleven council members present backed up Ostrow.  These included Gary Schiff - what happened to Gary Schiff?!  I remember Gary's invovlement in the U of M Committee against the War [against Iraq] in 1990-91 when he was only 19.  He has gone conservative at too young an age.   As to the positive - kudos to the principled council members voting in favor of considering the issue - Dean Zimmermann (the initiator of the resolution opposing the war), Natalie Johnson Lee, Paul Zerby, Robert Lilligren and Joe Biernat.   I know the opposing argument - "he Minneapolis City Council exists to deal with issues affecting the city, and not to waste time on symbolic issues where it has no jurisdiction" - Nonsense! BS!  When it comes to a fundamental ethical issue where the emperor of the United States is starting an aggressive war to distract attention from economic problems and corproate corruption scandals, enrich his corporate sponsors, and fullfill the blood thirsty power fantasies of his puppeteers, it is incumbent on every visible democratically elected body to take a stand.  The elected representatives have an obligation to speak out.   Jordan Kushner Powderhorn