Dain Lyngstad: Pretty clever of you guys to launch into arguments with no one on the other side. I never said the subsidies we're discussing were arranged by Republicans. We all know it was the newly-departed DFL structure. The argument I DID make, the one you ignored or didn't get, is that we have a substantial history to prove that Republicans do exactly the same thing and have for a long time. We'd have to be dumb enough to ignore that to try to "solve" our budget difficulties by turning to Republicans. Republican government has always been a way to channel money from the poor or modestly well-off to people who don't need subsidies at all. What we need are people such as Jim Niland who resist subsidizing ANYBODY in business. After, about 95 percent of businesses survive with no subsidies. It is such a short step to 100 percent, and it is more equitable to those who aren't askng for handouts. What we can do for them, and should, is make it more easy for them to make it on their own. Concentrate on that instead of subsidies. That always seems a no-brainer to Republicans when the target is single mothers on welfare. Can't figure why the principle escapes them when it is business.
Steve Meldahl: "Lisa, Does that include the fees paid to outside law firms that handle many cases on behalf of the City (a hidden payment) or is that only the judgement amount or settled amount?" I think it is good if the total amount falls. But considering some of the HUGE deals that went sour, maybe the amount really went down because, faced with lawsuits, the city simply went along with bad deals to avoid the threat of lawsuits. The bottom line is that the city has more debts than it needs, and it really matters little whether the taxpayers pay lawsuits or pay interest on debt in order to avoid lawsuits. The real goal is simply to stay away from practices that put taxpayers on the hook. Stop things like impulsive acts by our uniforms. But also stop letting slick salesmen peddle projects that offer to make elected officials look good. Remember Norm Coleman's chief claim, that he "got things done". Not getting things done is maybe better if it leaves a little latitude for borrowing for really necessary things. ===== Jim Mork Cooper Neighborhood ------------ Progressive Minnesotans, get together at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MN_progressive_tradition/ __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch.yahoo.com/u2 _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
