Catherine Leighton: "PS - DFL loyalists shouldn't underestimate how average citizens view their arrogant, pedantic rhetoric, and gross over-generalizations. The DFL has abandoned critical thinking for slogans and insults. I can only hope that they will eventually realize that these attitudes are far more likely to antagonize than inspire."
JM: That really begs the question of what "the average citizen" is. Is Catherine "the average citizen" in Minneapolis? Is Kevin? I seriously doubt it. Catherine should, instead, consider what "the average citizen" apparently thinks of her Republican saviors. Most of us really don't believe them since we've seen so many Republican candidates posing as saviors of Social Security, the environment, and other things which we know they are hostile to. What do Kevin and Catherine and the others think Republican city government would DO? Stop handouts to busienss? Why should we expect that of Republicans? Where is the record of Republicans being resistant to offers from the business community? What would they do different in law enforcement? Until Bush got in, crime was DROPPING. No, I think this attempt to intimidate those who see through the sheep's clothing to the predator underneath is doomed to fail, Kevin and Catherine. David Brauer: "Of course, I don't want to say that all local parties are alike, or that the DFL doesn't deserve credit/blame for whatever you like/don't like in city governance. What I do think is that getting hung up on party at the Minneapolis level is far too inexact and superficial to be of great use; we're all smart people; let's talk about what people do & support, not what they call themselves for electoral purposes." JM: I'm all for debate on different approaches. We need a variety of voices on city policy. But the haranguing on "and this is what comes of DFL politics" is not really an argument at all. It is a party platform. It is a way of avoiding the issues and REASONING about what is wrong and what will work better. I think you really can't approach those in office until you approach them with a clear notion, based on facts not prejudices, on where the city should go and how to get their. A lot of people get tired of that and shortcut the analysis process. They want a magic pill, a savior, to come along. And in the two-party system, that is always the out party. But, hey, it has been tried everywhere for a long, long time without much success. I thnk that has been the genesis of minor parties. They try to represent alternatives that haven't been tried. But even that works poorly for the simple reason that most of the population is still stuck in the mode of "elect the other party". I think with clear ideas, you could just elect the CANDIDATE who seems to get it. Forget the party. Parties are about getting power, not solving problems. Lisa McDonald: "Don't let Niland off the hook so easily. He often voted for big projects if they benefited the unions or the unions lobbied him to subsidize their jobs (usually trades). He's not quite the saint you think he is." JM: Lisa could easily have cited all the Niland votes, rather than the glittering generality. That makes me leery of taking her words at face value. Too bad Niland doesn't participate more. He could correct what she's saying. My point is that Niland was a public campaigner for measures that forced government to seek public input on large projects. I really don't recall Lisa McDonald encouraging that. Maybe she just didn't get the press coverage? ===== 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
