No point in going back to the municipal anti-war resolution. The leadership isn't going there. No point in staying inside that box. Too bad about the redirection of precious federal dollars.
What about the next box, the one that defines choices as having only to do with cutting services - the "no new taxes" paradigm at the state level? Well. The Minnesota League of Women Voters isn't buying that one: "As we face the deficit we know that some things are clear. First, a dollar spent wisely now will save us many dollars later. As a reflection of the value of community, this budget should be about prioritizing in order to prevent future problems and to save the very fabric of community. If we invest now to make sure that children get a good start in life and if we offer health insurance to those who need it, we will save many more dollars in the future and our community will not be endangered. Second, we get what we pay for. A healthy, well-educated people and a healthful, livable state come at a price. Any inefficiencies in government of course need to be corrected. But it is false economics to think that by cutting or scrimping on fundamental services and preventive programs now we won't have to pay, and pay far more, later." Amen to that. In the highrises, we are being asked to roll over for the demise of our crime prevention programs, the defunding of nutrition programs for seniors, measures that exclude immigrants from medical care, and the elimination of after school programs for kids. Then there are the proposed municipal cutbacks that mean fewer firemen, less access to libraries, fewer buses, and much more. I met a fellow recently who has a 15-year old niece that has to walk three miles at 6:00 am to get to her first class that starts at 7:15. We had better sense than that 50 years ago in my home town. Here's the ultimate box: this is a systemic failure of government. Why should our most vulnerable be asked to choose among these privations? This is the barbarian inviting me to choose who gets thrown off the cliff first. Not a box to be living in. Raise taxes. Government is good. Barbarism is catching. 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: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 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
