It's amazing to me that anyone thinks there's "balance" in the two party system. I agree with Mary that the Minneapolis DFL hegemony is less than healthy, but the two-party domination of our larger democracy is only slightly better. We just elected a governor with less than 50% support for the second time in four years. The recent national GOP "sweep" reflected one or two percent margins in all of TWO senate races falling their way. Imagine: in many other democracies the concept of the "wasted vote" simply doesn't exist. Most votes (excluding write-ins) go to actually elect someone in legislative elections. Executive officeholders are elected with at least 50%+1 of the vote. Turnout of 80% in off-year elections isn't considered massive. I agree with Mary that there must be change. But we cannot expect lasting, positive change without some real democratic reforms. And in my opinion, the goal of such reforms should not be to make Minneapolis a reflection of the two party system gripping this nation and this state, but to provide a model for a better way of electing representatives. We'd be better off to include every political ideology with significant (let's say 13% of the citywide vote - enough to elect a council member under a proportional system) electoral support. No one party could dominate City Hall so totally for so long. Minneapolitans who hold common but less-than-majority views would have a seat at the table and a reason to vote. Our public policy would benefit. Robin Garwood Seward
It is amazing to me that the people who have been posting their reactions to the article about Andrew focus on the language versus the issue. I hear more excuses that because the Democrats have been in power in the city for such a long time the republicans are off the hook!? This is just more evidence that the DFL party is out of touch with reality and would rather blame and deflect everything onto others then look in the mirror. Maybe it is time for the city to get back to a two party system where there is balance. Is that possible? Mary Belfry Tangletown Mary Belfry (612) 822-6028 _____ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail <http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com> Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up <http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com> now _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
