As worldwide demonstrations try to thump the head of our rightwing government and knock some sense into it, I can't help but consider our city budget problems, present and future, in light of the political situation. A family that loses its means can cutback, but that is nothing but a bridge tactic. Unless means are restored, the cutting process is only followed by more of it. Our TROUBLE here is that everyone is looking at a deficit as though it is the main problem. And that's a short attention span. Not that long ago, we were considering far rosier "problems". But our economy has been sliding ever downward. And there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, to suggest that will be different a couple of years from now.
Some among us think somehow that the more Republicans take over government at various levels, the close to a solution we will be. But we HAVE more of them, and they have no solution. Even the Fed doesnt agree with the ideas they have offered us. I think it is a HUGE mistake for anyone here to think Minneapolis is going somehow to solve its problems in a vacuum. We can put a tourniquet on the arm, but until the ambulance heads for the hospital, one should assume the patient will get worse. In fact, our "solution", our tourniquet, will be deadly unless the source of the problem is addressed. And the source of the problem is wrong-headed national policies. Want to save Minneapolis? Work for change at the national level. We may not be allowed to discuss any of the issues, but the issues we are discussion in the economic area are deck-chair issues. Minneapolis' economy is so completely knit into the global and national economies that if we get international and national stupidity, we are caught in a whirlpool in a flushing toilet. -------------- Jim Mork--Cooper "Save yourself from this corrupt generation....All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need". Acts 2:4-45 "The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers". Acts 11:29 "From each according to his ability...to each according to his need." Karl Marx Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail 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
