It is not the job of the federal government to improve the quality of life in Minneapolis. That job falls on the shoulders of the citizens of Minneapolis, and the council and mayor we elect to represent us. The more money we beg and scrounge from higher units of government, the more control over our own destinies we turn over to more distant powers. A largely republican federal government is not at all a discouraging factor in the future of Minneapolis. It's time we stop looking to others to deal with local problems, and issues. To maintain freedom and liberty, it is essential that management of local issues remains local. A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take everything away.
On the issues of protecting GLBT people, and demonstrating their value here, what dangers are GLBT people facing that require protection above that afforded all citizens? Why do we need to demonstrate any particular group or class of people's value here, or anywhere? All people have value. The worth of an individual is demonstated by the individual in their words, and actions, is it not? As to transit, you are right. The entire state shouldn't have to pay for Minneapolis to have the luxury of state of the art mass transit. Minneapolis should bear that cost, more to the point, the users of the service should pay for the service. I choose to drive a car. I don't ask the state to pay my insurance, or make my car payments. I pay for the transportation I use. I pay for the roads that I drive on through vehicle registration and fuel taxes. Why are transit users any different? One choosing to ride a train to work should pay the full cost of transporting oneself on that train, or bus, or trolley. Transit should be self sufficient. This will mean higher fares, of course, and some may begin to find it more cost effective to use a car instead as a result, but such is life. Sometimes you just gotta pay more to get what you want. Maybe billion dollar trains aren't the way to go. Maybe we need to find a more cost-effective, less fancy, more versitile mass transit solution which could truly support itself through reasonable fares. This would virtually guarantee no interferance from the state legislature, or the feds, because we wouldn't be dependent on money from those branches of government. So, I fully agree. Minneapolis needs more options, and less dependance on the state and federal levels of government. How to get transit out of hands of those who "hate" it and don't want to pay for it? Let the passengers pay for it, and I guarantee virtually all resistance to transit will melt away. Now, who has a new idea for transit? Dan McGrath Longfellow http://www.smokeoutgary.org 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
