While I know I could never convince Gary, here's my attempt to answer his questions about the Twins Ballpark. 1. We ought not to spend tax money on this when there are a number of more pressing uses of tax dollars -- from public safety to health care to education to sustainable urban infrastructure.
I agree there are more pressing issues, but where do we stop? When the last homeless person has a home? when the last criminal is behind bars? when there are no more unemployed and all our kids are on the B Honor roll? Government needs to continue to work on the problems facing society, but it cannot stop funding other issues that are important to the community and whether or you think so or not, there are many many people who believe the Twins are important to the community. Finally the ballpark funding source does not take away any money from the more "pressing" issues it is a new source dedicated to the ballpark that goes away once the bonds are paid off. Want to propose a sales tax increase to fund pressing issues? Sign me up! 2. Tax money ought not to go for "corporate welfare" subsidies. Consumers must pay the true cost of some goods and services -- whether that is airline tickets or baseball tickets. Huge corporate subsidies tend to bloat the favored recipients and further distort their already disproportionate local economic and political power and influence (witness NWA). Interestingly, free marketeers seem blind to the reality of corporate welfare as an unwise market intervention. I'm not sure I classify this as corporate welfare. The community does get something in return, a new ballpark to watch Major League Baseball. 3. The professional sports entertainment industry is bloated with money as it is. Because it is so heavily subsidized, salaries of executives and some players are more easily kept at absurd levels. The league monopolies act to extort subsidies from cities far beyond any provable economic benefit to those cities. This must stop. Of course no one can defend the economic structure of major league sports. But why should the burden of fixing up the baseball's economics be placed solely on the shoulder of the Minnesota Twins? They didn't create the system, they are hurt by the system but they have to live with the system. Also the economics of the movie industry is also way out of wack with the biggest stars making more $$$ than ball players. Why no outcry over the subsidies the state gives to movie makers who come to Minnesota to make a movie? 4. Baseball is not about the Twins or about professional sports entertainment. I would gladly support a tax to enhance the richest programs of youth sports in our parks we can imagine. The staffing of such programs could provide very meaningful permanent employment for many people and could help our cities' youth to grow stronger and more mature as they learn to play team and individual sports. Of course, we need not limit such programs to sports. What a better way to spend my tax dollars! Baseball is not entirely about the Twins or professional sports entertainment but it is a big part. I'm watching youth baseball 2-4 times a week and I would gladly favor additional financial support for youth baseball, but the reality is professional baseball is what captures the interests of thousands of fans, not only in the City but through the State and Upper Midwest. Support for youth baseball and professional baseball does not need to be mutually exclusive. Witness the Twins Community programs where they provide $$$ for urban ballparks, put on youth training programs and cooperate with the Sports Facility Commission to allow youth and recreational softball to be played at the dome after Twins games. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 (look for me at Wrigley Field Sunday afternoon with my wife and 2 kids! - I'll have a Twins hat one) 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
