Re: [Mpls] d-e-f-a-u-l-t

[j c harmon]

As I was aggressively schlepping some long-ripening garbage out to my curb this evening (only missed the garbage crew by a day) I reflected on the fact that, regardless of the benefits offered, I'd rather be someplace south tonight, should I someday be homeless...I'd sure as heck choose someplace further south than Minneapolis. It's colder and windier out than it's been in years and I often cringe when I see our Somalian and Ethiopian neighbors walking (as quite a number of them lack motorized transport other than the bus) and can see by the look on their faces that they're out of their proverbial element. Strong people, I'll give them that - to move half-way around the globe the dress in layers and eat carbohydrates, in hopes of inducing winter slumber. I know they must feel the chill more than I - a carbo-overeatin', semi-Scandinavian, early-risin' Minnasoootan.
Incidentally, on a more positive and entertaining note, there's a band from Africa I've recently discovered that's been around longer than I care to admit, called Orchestra Baobab. They hail originally from Senagaal, Africa. It's the best motown you've every heard with a more spicy, jumped-up rhythm than zydeco. Really fun when yer slippin' and slidin' on these icy roads...
Jill Harmon
Cleveland

From: WizardMarks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "James E. Jacobsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Mpls] d-e-f-a-u-l-t
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:37:51 -0600

James E. Jacobsen wrote:

Then you got the social services mania, people coming here from all
over the world because the hand outs are the best.

WM: People come here from other parts of the world because they had a relative who came here first, maybe as a refugee, maybe as a student, or maybe because they had a job here. Then when things fall apart in their country of origin, they come to their relatives, running for their lives.

The city is now forced to get into sensible perspectives in its
budget. You can't blame the new Governor nor the nearly new Mayor, they are
locked in by law to a balanced budget.

WM: I certainly can and I do blame governors--and presidents--when budgets are cut because they want to "give back" the taxes which previously allowed them to balance the budget and meet the legitimate needs of the populace.

BTW, it's still very much up in the air whether the mayor's budget cutting will serve the city well or ill. So far these measures have been passed or will be passed, but the cost of enacting them has not hit all the way around.

WizardMarks, Central

________________________________

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

TEMPORARY REMINDER:
1. Send all posts in plain-text format.
2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible.

________________________________

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

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail


TEMPORARY REMINDER:
1. Send all posts in plain-text format.
2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible.

________________________________

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