Normally on Sunday morning I get my humor from the comics section, it's pretty funny (Except for the Family Circus. I know it's a classic but there's only so many times you can see a "Not Me" bit before you start wondering if the publisher lost a bet). Yet this past Sunday I was treated to the comedy stylings of Lori Sturdevant and her one woman tribute to--I'm sorry, "article" on the newly remastered and digitally enhanced release of the Wrath of Kahn entitled "New wards mean there's a need for new city elections."
Not since Tori Spelling took a leading role for "acting" on her Dad's show have I seen such an ingratiating work of ironic comedic fiction. I thought it was supposed to be a serious, unbias report, but then I also remembered that Sturdevant referred to Phyllis as the Godmother of Woman's Sports. But whether your's a Phyllis Phan (who can forget those classic legislative works like the 16-year old voting and let cousins marry initiatives) or not, the fact remains that this is not about "Championing the People" but rather about one person's dogmatic obsession under the guise of destroying a "monster". I believe I already quoted Melville the last time I wrote about this, so I'll leave you to draw your own inference. Don't get me wrong, I understand the logic of realigning the district and accurate representation for the future, it's the retroactive election and cries of "injustice" that really make no sense. If Phyllis really believes in the need to make things "equal" right here and right now, I've got a copy of a Slavery Reparations Bill that she can champion over at the Legislature. You want to talk about untimely reconciliation... If you're going to claim ethics, they've got to be consistent. As Tamir pointed out, if this was such an important issue, why wasn't she beating down the doors and pitching her flag in the previous 15 terms she's served. It becomes suspicious when our party loses two seats (and a third is later won by an unendorsed candidate. David's right that the maps had nothing to do with Don's election, but Phyllis did restart her efforts during his election.)and suddenly it's an epidemic. Kind of like how the concerns about drugs and gun violence became really important once they hit the first ring of suburbs in this country. To say definitively that a person elected to a district can or will no longer represent that district because they no longer live in it reveals a different issue that is more disturbing. If someone is elected to represent an area and won't do it fairly and effectively because of geography, then that person shouldn't be in public service, because they don't have the skill set or integrity for the job. To say that they can't do it because they can't represent someplace they don't live leaves you stuck with question how does anyone represent you if they don't live on your block, much less your neighborhood? Districts and Wards are made up of a variety of neighborhoods, some of them as different as the people on the Council or in the House. Where is it that you get to honestly draw that line? Perhaps though, this is Phyllis' issue. Sturdevant said that "...it runs counter to the nature of the political beast. At the Capitol, legislators confess that they mentally adopt new constituencies instantly upon learning that redistricting has awarded them new territory." So maybe this isn't about fairness or what City Council Members would do, but rather a shortcoming that Phyllis or other legislators have. In psychology we call that "Projection". Whether you support Redistricting and the maps or not, the bottom line is that trying to retroactively change leadership "for the good of the people" doesn't hold water as a legitimate attempt to ensure representative government. To keep doing it after it's failed twice, your own party as well as the public at large has denounced it and your support comes from an opposing party and a handful of friends smacks of a deeper, more malicious motive and it's not the way, in my opinion to be part of a government, by the people, of the people and for the people. But it does make for good comedic fiction Jonathan Palmer Victory 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
