Jonathan,
Sounds like you have a plan and can easily implement it without Ms.
Hastings' assistance. Don't wait for her or anyone else, for heaven's
sake! Go for it!!! I'll be cheering you on all the way.
Please keep in mind, that there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Serious social problems, like homelessness, need to be attacked on
several fronts.
As I've said in previous posts, activism, like good medicine, begins with
the least invasive approach that will hopefully bring about the desired
results. However, if the social problem persists or gets worse, then
it's time to step up with a more aggressive treatment.
To the best of my knowledge, Ms. Hastings tried less invasive approaches
in the past. When she asked Mayor Rybak if he opposed current
anti-camping ordinances which make life even more difficult for those
without homes, the Mayor neither answered neither yes or no, but
mentioned that he would like to know what other cities are doing to
address the problem of homelessness. Margaret then sent Mayor Rybak the
information he said he wanted, via certified mail, and got no response.
Keep in mind Jonathan, that early this year, Mayor Rybak threatened to
veto any resolution, passed by the city council, condemning U.S.
aggression in Iraq, his rationale being, rightly or wrongly, that
municipal office holders have a duty to address issues pertaining to
Minneapolis, not the country. Despite taking this position, he hasn't
hesitated to show his support for presidential candidate Howard Dean, but
has remained silent in regard to local issues like homeless people being
turned away from shelters in Minneapolis due to lack of beds and the 35W
Excess project.
So, excuse me, for supporting Ms. Hastings' tactics, which are not only
appropriate, but sound as well.
Furthermore, the Kaplan's fund raiser is good territory for confronting
the Mayor. After all, in 2001 R.T. won a lot of support from citizens
who took seriously his promise to refrain from off-year fundraisers,
thinking that he would concentrate at least 3/4 of his term on problems
facing Minneapolis, serious problems like homelessness.
Speaking of ACTIVISTS. Remember the start of Vice President Al Gore's
last bid for President? A dedicated group of ACTIVISTS from ACT UP
disrupted his rallies until he convinced his heartless boss, Bill Clinton
((I pity the new Democrat who uses all his power to do evil . But in the
end is always left so alone . . . ) to lift our country's embargo against
third world nations selling AIDS drugs at cost to their citizens living
in poverty. If it weren't for those ACTIVISTS and their offensive
tactics, Clinton would have continued taking his orders from large
pharmaceutical corporations and the WTO. Now that's what I call
democracy at work, and I hope Margaret's activism will yield similar
results.
Given the reality of economics and politics in the United States, our
elected office holders, whether they're Democrats, Republicans,
Independents or Greens, will generally serve the corporate interests
first unless concerned citizens apply considerable pressure.
Like so many of our elected officials, R.T. Rybak, I believe, is a
basically decent human being who genuinely wants everyone in this life to
prosper. But he won't do one lick of good for humanity unless ACTIVISTS
like Margaret hold his feet to the fire. That's reality.
Peter Schmitz CARAG
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