David Brauer wrote: "If Republicans want to make more of an effort in Minneapolis, I welcome them. They need to abandon their cartoonish view of the city, though."
Perhaps it's worthwhile to wonder why Republicans have a "cartoonish" view of the city. Before moving here six years ago, I lived for 14 years in Moorh ead. I'm pretty well informed, I read the Fargo newspaper daily and the statewide edition of the Star-Tribune at least once a week. But I was really, truly stunned at how bad Minneapolis city government can be. I'm still surprised on a regular basis as I learn more about how this city has spent itself into virtual bankruptcy--and how they constantly blame the state, the feds, and anyone at hand in order to pass the buck. The legislators know more than the average well-informed citizen like me. After all, they live here for five or six months a year. I suspect they consider this city a black hole when it comes to state funding whether it's for schools, housing or infrastucture. And why should they ride to the rescue? Consider how they're portrayed here, on this list, and in the Star-Tribune, which, deserved or not, is the state's leading newspaper. The editorial board of the Strib practically covers the readers in spittle when it comes to invective. Look at how David Jennings was treated. A moderate Republican by all standards, he tried to bring sanity and reform to the Minneapolis schools, was recommended by his black, female predecessor, lobbied hard and successfully with his former colleagues and was villified unmercifully for his efforts. Sometimes you have to let someone you love hit bottom before they'll be willing to accept the help they need to recover. I doubt any Republican wants to see this city collapse financially, with the resultant costs to the taxpayers statewide when they have to step in and put the pieces back together. But when you look around and see the will to continue business as usual, a wise person might decide that it's better to wait than to continually patch and fill, all the while being constantly blamed for not doing enough. M. G. Stinnett Jordan 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
