So Scott Johnson of Powerline says Minneapolis has a high murder rate
because Democrats are in charge. I am outraged, absolutely outraged. I
am unbelievably shocked that anyone on the right would abuse facts like
this. It is unheard of. Things like this just don't happen in America,
people are supposed to be fair and balanced!
I think the only fair way to judge this situation is to compare this
with the national average and areas where Republicans are in charge.
Thanks to Google, I know that in 2003, we had 3 murders per 100,000
people in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Laredo Texas, the city
where Tom Delay was born, has a rate nearly 5 times that. Or god forbid
we live in Victoria Texas, where the murder rate is 25.4 per 100,000
people, nearly 10 times the rate in blue state Minneapolis/St.Paul. You
are safer in Beiruit than in Victoria Texas. Compare that with the
national average of 5.7 per 100,000 in 2003.
What does this all mean? Absolutely nothing! Arguing these things with
people like Scott Johnson is a complete waste of time. He can whip out
some Heritage Foundation study or an article by the Talon News that
selectively says whatever he wants, all of it "factual". He is a part
of an industry based on leading questions, shallow answers, half truths,
obfuscations and misdirection. I am sure some people do believe this
kind of stuff, but deep down they feel a little bit dirty on the inside,
because on some level they know it isn't really true, its wrong, and
their parents raised them to live up to a higher standard. Most Dems
and Independants I know just roll their eyes. They know it is a cheap
shot, there is no sense of basic fairness in his story. Republicans I
know just get a little smirk on their lips when they hear this kind of
thing. They know its fake, and they know that I know that they know its
fake. Its a little game we like to play. But I have to say, it must be
exhausting for Scott Johnson to stay angry all the time like that. In a
way, it is sad and pathetic too. When he looks back on his life, he
will only have a history of making people angry and miserable. Even
among his supporters he doesn't bring joy or happiness or the promise
for a better life to anyone. That will be his legacy.
Scott Johnson, Minnesota's own little ray of sunshine.
Peter Vevang
Audubon
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
