My, my.....political ironies abound, do they not? I wonder what the real differences are between Mayor Rybak are?
RT Rybak seemed to me to surprise and upset a significant number of DFL/Republicrat insiders last mayoral election. Is Mclaughlin simply the stalking horse for a group of insiders hell-bent on getting him out of office?
So far, Mclaughlin has accused Mayor Rybak of "poor judgment" and is using the "law and order" political theme as a PR weapon, but I've seen no numbers or plans that persuade me that PM would be better or worse then Rybak. They have different personalities and experiences, different backers.
A big issue now is the violence and despair in many poor and largely minority neighborhoods. I am cynical about political promises regarding this issue. It is easy to use the "urban violence" political football during an election, It is very difficult to address the issue on the street or through government policy. Political games usually prevent effective public policy development and implementation.
I've finished reading James Howard Kunstler's "The Long Emergency, and recommend it. Read the 3-page section called "Racial conflict in the Long Emergency" (pp 297-300) to get an idea of what I imagine the future of our streets and the "law and order" theme to be. I don't agree with Kunstler's entire analysis, but do think that violence will increase, giving rise to further institutionalized violence and oppression of poor and minority people -- a "police state" if you will.
Politics alone are helpless here. Combined with intensive and sustained community-based action -- real citizenship or "dog-soldiering" as Mr. Graham has mentioned -- there is a bit of hope for a better future. Not much chance of success, but some. If we try to be the change we want to see in the world, there is some change of that change taking place.
The second big issue is as symbolic as it is concrete: "stadium giganticum." Ironic that Mclaughlin pushes the stadium, but his election as mayor would doom the project, in the eyes of many. This issue gets to the heart of Minneapolis (and American) politics. Politicians lie like Hell to keep up the appearance that our prosperity is forever assured if we elect them to mediate deals between special interest groups, with the menu of options created by the huge anti-democratic forces of concentrated wealth and corporatist oligarchy. "Citizenship" is reduced to a hobby, much like tuning into a home shopping network channel and buying bargain jewelry or watches or something. "Would you like your stadium here, or there? Would you like the convertible, or the somewhat cheaper model with no top at all?" Meanwhile, issues that matter -- developing sensible energy, transportation, food security, and other such policies get swept aside. "No need to worry yourselves, citizens...we'll keep the violence at bay, the "evil-doers" segregated from your little bubble, and prosperity flowing for you...just pick from the menu of options provided for you. Trust us. We know best. Leave the real world to us -- you just go on and play, now...."
Sorry for the rant -- but the Rybak Mclaughlin pseudo-campaign teapot-tempest alienates me more from the so-called democratic process of local politics every day.
-- pedaling for peace and ecojustice -- from Lynnhurst at present -- 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
