I didn't need to be at this meeting to know that there's trouble ahead for all of us whether we tip our hats to NRP or not. From the federal government on down AND including the private sector, all the financial pies for the next few years are inevitably going to be smaller, lots smaller, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the enthusiasm for bottom-up governance, even the most ardent NRP loyalists have some nasty medicine to take about shrinking capital markets, increased competition for far fewer public dollars, and heartless triage when the State of Minnesota gets real about balancing current and forthcoming budgets.
I certainly didn't make this mess and I hope we all remember who did when we next come to vote on national offices. In the meantime, it is howling in the wind to blame our mayor and city council for circumstances beyond their control. Far better to work with them to salvage what really matters in the NRP experience: greatly improved understandings "on the ground floor" in all the nooks and crannies of this lovely city we live in. How helpful it is that we have this list and other improved communication networks to help us along as we strategize and find common ground whatever our previous agendas. The Minnesota Legislature and Governor are going to have to slice deep into state aids and like the Star Tribune editorial this morning, I applaud the Mayor and Council for being proactive. Bear in mind that catastrophic disruptions to the national economy are also possible - my favorite speculation is about electronic mayhem rather than the usual weapons of mass destruction, etc. - and be glad that at least we have clear-eyed leadership in the City of Minneapolis. Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.435 / Virus Database: 244 - Release Date: 12/30/2002 _______________________________________ 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
