Erik Riese wrote these amazing words: We are spending our own money. We are the government. Politics is the action of people.
Mark Anderson here: Sorry, I don't think I can be included with your "we" if money is being spent against my will. I voted against the referendum. And based on comments I've seen on this List, I think lots of people who did vote for it didn't think it would be spent to make a statement. The referendum was advertised as something the library had to do to continue to provide services to the people of Minneapolis. I didn't believe that at the time, and it sounds like I was right. Erik Riese continues: This is a rich city. A great library is not a trinket. A great library is not a luxury. Mark Anderson: When I read about people who end up with $25,000 owed on their credit cards, they usually make comments like that. "A nice car (read $30,000 sportster), and a nice house (read $1/2 million) are not luxuries, they're what I need to be comfortable!" When someone decides that the best of everything is a necessity, make sure you don't lend them money! If I thought this attitude was more prevalent in Minneapolis, I would sell my house now and flee the city before all my assets were gone. But I think most folks in Minneapolis accept that we don't need the best in everything. My biggest question is whether this attitude has been transferred to the people actually spending the money (those "we" people Erik talked about above). Erik Riese: Residents and citizens of the United States in general and Minnesota/Minneapolis in particular are not over taxed. We pay so little of our wealth and income in support of our multi layered governments at the same time demanding high quality services high level of control over the decisions made by these governments. If critics required accountability equably across all levels of government I would feel more magnanimous towards calls for less government. Mark Anderson: The correct level of taxation is obviously a matter of opinion. You think the level should be the same or higher, while I believe people get more bang for their buck when they spend their own money instead of letting some bureaucrat decide what to do with it. I don't understand that last sentence. I'd love to make you more magnanimous, but we're only supposed to talk about Minneapolis in this forum. Then Erik topped off his comments with this whopper: As it is, I'm happy to have leaders who help common people express their aspirations. Mark Anderson: Erik, do you realize how condescending that sounds? You may want to revise that sentence. Some of us peasants would prefer not to eat cake, thank you very much. Mark V Anderson Bancroft REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
