Sometimes folks don't realize the limitations of both politicians and government; it is best that these folks don't get into public service any time soon. I won't name names, although since I'm responding to Don Johnson's redundant post, I'll mention just one who I believe should not pursue a career in government: Don Johnson. Of course that's up to the voters of Minneapolis to decide.
I recommend Peter McLaughlin for those who would like a mayor with the ability of translating lofty goals--like those spewed forth in Johnson's logorrhea--into reality. There are major differences in the potential of McLaughlin as mayor versus that of RT, who has shown us his limits in his first and hopefully last term. Minneapolis is a unique sort of place thanks in no small part to our "weak mayor" charter, but we cannot afford another term with a weak mayor. I voted for RT because Sharon Sayles Belton could not articulate and campaign for the sort of Minneapolis I wanted to see in the future; in a management position that has little more statutory power than the bully pulpit, it seemed like RT was the better choice to me. But RT has demonstrated a command of that pulpit and little else to me; he would make a great communications exec for any organization, but his administration has been little else to me. There is a better choice by far for me in this election: Peter McLaughlin. Mclaughlin can get things done, like hiring a PR person as good as RT while he quietly facilitates a future for our city of which we can be proud. It is about ability now, not potential As far as photovoltaics go, I look at it like any new technology: early adopters may take a big hit to the wallet waiting for a savings payoff when they make the wrong choices. City government can encourage entrepreneurs and early consumers of solar power, but it takes more than rhetoric on this list to bring the technology into everyday use. We can all purchase wind energy from Xcel at $2/kW through their Windsource program. If we've got some extra money hanging around, we can be early adopters of photovoltaic electric equipment (the stuff that makes sense in Mpls is in use already; one of the better things MPRB has done, for instance) and encourage our neighbors and government representatives to do the same where it makes sense; but I think we've still to reach the "Betamax or VHS" stage to use an analogy from two faded technologies--there are less expensive and more efficient technologies on the near horizon that will likely come into wide usage. All we can do is help build demand for it until photovoltaics are a better deal than our other poison power. Until then, as Johnson points out, conservation is king; we can all conserve in all kinds of ways through our choices to use or not use available power technologies. Life off the electric utility grid is great goal to have, but maybe not a realistic one for Minneapolis as a whole in the short term. Do it one household or business at a time and you will see things change as utilities and federal government see the error of their ways. Bill Kahn slowly switching to compact fluorescent bulbs in Prospect Park 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
