One of the things that makes me (and others) cynical about campaigns and
politics is the number of false credit-taking claims made by or on behalf of
candidates. Another thing is the number of false "attack" claims made
against opposing candidates.
Even more interesting to me is the increasing irrelevance of politics to the
real world.
For example, our local politicians dutifully refuse to relate our urban
infrastructure decisions to one of the biggest problems we face: global
warming and climate change.
Furthermore, our local politicians carefully refuse to acknowledge that our
present urban infrastructure demands war to sustain it.
Finally, we are in the midst of a dramatic population bloom fueled by a
comfortable way of mis-using fossil fuel resources without regard for the
consequences. Perhaps this was excusable when we were naive about the
nature of our relationship to the environment, but such naiveté is no longer
possible.
"Intentional ignorance" is the only term to describe the way in which our
local politicians exclude the most important issues from the way we plan for
the future.
Most of the "sustainable infrastructure" projects we are rightly so proud of
are mere window-dressing which provide a false sense of progress. We must
celebrate them but also realize that sustainable infrastructure is not an
optional addition to our way of life, but a vital necessity.
Politicians must instruct and inspire in order to lead us into a future
worth living. So far, they dial for dollars and are hobbled by those who
refuse to "know enough to care or care enough to know" about the
consequences of the way we presently live.
Rybak or McLaughlin: both will see that new unsustainable boondoggles
(sports stadia and lots more roads) are built while vital sustainable
infrastructure, education,, shelter and health issues are neglected. We
need to go in a radically different direction than we are. Neither of the
DFL endorsed candidates understand this. Neither will set a new course for
Minneapolis. Same old same old.
--pedaling into the future from Lynnhurst in the 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
