Subject: [Mpls] Economics and free markets
We still object to taxes. It started in the Americas in the current Dominican Republic in1493 and we still object. Do we face a threat of force or property seizure if we do not pay our taxes? Of course. To imagine that all people would willing pay taxes if those levies were voluntary, is utopian. Living in California, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio, I have noticed that the patronage system still exists. The Civil Service Systems did not completely stop the practice. Electing Republicans to the Minneapolis City Council will only change who benefits from patronage. The only way to stop any city patronage system is to pull the city charter and go to a county patronage system with some Civil Service rules thrown in to provide some employment for the unaffiliated. Too cynical? Maybe. Subject: [Mpls] MPS superintendent? Apparently many people on this list believe that racism still exists. Some individuals who are Asian may not like the barbarians who are different. Some individuals who are black blacks may not like brown blacks because they are not black enough. And vice versa. Some Semitic individuals may not like Jews for political or economic reasons. Some individuals who are of Irish descent are still upset with the Church and Henry II and their descendents for the 14th Century invasions. Racism is not rational but the list members are right. They will probably be right for centuries to come if global warming doesn't do us in first. The man or woman who becomes the next Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools must be able to deal with that aspect of the job. That would probably be true in any similar position anywhere in the world. Ideally, the next Superintendent will have PHds in Economics, Education, Public Administration, and Psychcology. If such a person exists, they may not be willing to work for only a quarter of a million dollars per year. Rather than supplying the new person with Tevlar helmets, body armor, Rosary beads and Wiccan charms for personal protection, we need to coordinate support for that individual. There are ideas among list members and other that will make the job easier. One idea (D. Jennings?) is to budget the system from the classroom up to 807 Broadway rather than top down. When my children went to school, teachers were buying essential classroom materials out of their own pocket. That is still happening. I also still have a bag full of unfurled wrapping paper from fund raisers to fund basic school activities. Some feel that there are too many administrators and special assistants that are involved with bureaucracy rather than teaching. One idea, I heard last year, was to use $100 to $200 computer terminals to connect to $8000 to $10,000 central servers rather than have $1,800 to $2,500 units at each desk. Some suburban school districts are sending their "bad boys" to Minneapolis schools. Should there be an Independent School District to handle area students with disciplinary problems - short of boot camp or reform school? Many people have a working knowledge of the system as it exists. They probably know, better than I, of both easy or more complicated improvements that would help. We will have to select a Superintendent who is human. They will not succeed unless they get real support from the community. That's us and also others outside Minneapolis. Thanks. John O'Neal Shenanigans Watch Northeast Minneapolis - Holland [EMAIL PROTECTED] REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
