De Wayne Townsend wrote: > I have to side with Jordan. The "think globally act locally" phrase is > particularly poignant here. If you are opposed to the war you have to be in > favor of anti-war resolutions. If the citizens of Minneapolis think this is > an important issue the city council should at least vote on the issue. > I don't know how others choose how to vote for city council members, but I > choose to vote for the candidates who seem to have a similar view of the > world as I do. I seldom vote on how a candidate stands on an issue, but > rather what their general philosophy is regarding life in an urban center. > Votes on big issues gives me a deep insight into the council member and is > very helpful in molding my voting decision.
Mark Anderson response: Thank you DeWayne for getting the discussion back where it belongs. Namely, does the city council truly represent the city when it comes to international policy? If they don't, then they have absolutely no business pretending they do with a resolution about the impending war. You come down on the side that they do, since you vote based on holistic philosophy. You seem to believe that if someone agrees with you on international policy, they will also agree with you on city utilities, affordable housing, and police issues. Well, I certainly do not vote that way, because in my experience politicians that agree with me in one area often disagree in another. I vote based on the politician's specific viewpoints concerning the jurisdiction in which they may be representing me. And I bet that more people vote my way than yours. So our city representatives have no mandate from the city to vote on such issues. I don't care about the council wasting time on the antiwar resolution -- as many have stated, its importance outweighs anything else they could be doing. To my mind the downside of voting on an anti-war resolution is the danger it creates for democracy. This is an ethical issue. I would like to see in the new ethics law a policy that city officials do not use their offices for anything other than city business. It is the height of arrogance for a politician to think they represent the people of their city on every possible issue that may arise. From such an attitude comes the feeling that they are the kings of the city. Herron and Biernat both fell prey to that illusion. I am very gratified that the mayor and many on the council haven't acted like Minneapolis royalty, but instead are working on the business we elected them to do. Mark V Anderson Bancroft 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
