David S. scribed, in part: >>>>> A change in representation in Congress may be required if we expect this kind of response. Our current representation has accepted a few too many donations from our own local purveyors of weapons of minor and mass destruction. <<<<<
Exactly: our local political choices -- the menu from which we choose -- is shaped by the military industrial complex.....arms dealers and plunderers. Wealth is extracted from us to pay for war and for a local infrastructure which demands war to support it. Gary H. had scribed, in part: >>>>> Our nation is ruled by the industrial-military complex so that regional and local economies are starving and are prevented from preparing responsibly for a peaceful, sustainable future. <<<<< A change in representation is needed at every level. Any "excess of democracy" will be met be huge sums of money and propaganda to maintain the status quo. Politicians who dare defy the elite will be marginalized and scapegoated. Myself, I am genuinely interested in the Greens running for office in and from Minneapolis. Scott Dibble and Frank Hornstein seem to represent us well at the state level, but seem to be out of step with the rest of the Democratic Party. We need an entirely different political discussion here in Minneapolis. The current discussion only binds us more tightly to a future of resource wars to support infrastructure development and energy usage that will end up killing our kids. Regarding funding issues: the world's wealthy currently have moved about $11.5 trillion to off-shore tax havens, and so avoid paying over $255 billion in taxes per year with this strategy alone. (See: http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/news_taxhavens.aspx ) Add to this the tax breaks and loopholes tailor-made to fit the wealthy. Those who are worried about the wealthy moving need not worry. They will avoid paying taxes here with a great variety of strategies. The politicians and media mostly act as a megaphone for the wealthy when they complain, but act as a muffler when the middle class and poor express genuine concern. I intend to vote Green -- I try to live Green, so why not vote that way too? The violence on our streets is a pale shadow of the death-dealing violence in our corporate board rooms and political offices. We imprison more people -- mostly dark-skinned people -- every year. We do a worse job of educating our children -- and especially poor minority children -- every year. We pay a premium war tax to kill tens of thousands of people every year to keep a shrinking minority living in a bubble. Meanwhile local politicians can't even talk about real issues. Except, interestingly, for some of the Greens. -- pedaling for peace and ecojustice -- from Lynnhurst -- Gary Hoover 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
