Ed Fesler:
Thank you for your humorous posting of this serious problem. In my
opinion, the bus strike is a symptom of an unfortunate trend in the US,
Minnesota, and the Twin Cities.
On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 08:12:04 -0700 (PDT) Ed Fesler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
writes:
(snip) The subversive elements in Minnesota have been rendered
impotent and helpless. Much of their weakness is caused by old age and
chronic internet addiction. Enemies of our Administration know that we
will "bring justice to them".
COMMENT:
We often characterize the liberal faction of Minnesota politics in
two white stereotypes. The established loyalist (royalist) Norweign
Lutheran and Swedish Catholic wealthy families who rely on noblesse
obligee to retain control of government. They supported Otto von Bismark
tactics of workman's compensation and old age pensions to mollify the
masses. Sometimes, they used the John D. Rockefeller model of throwing
dimes into the crowd to watch them fight. The second stereotype is of the
Irish and Italian Roman Catholic coordinating with Eastern European
Orthodox Catholics in labor Unions. They have even been known to accept
occasional Finns from "da Range" into their groups. Both groups have
stereotypically occasionally talked at brown and black people, but
usually shunned them. At times, the groups have been less benign to their
neighbors.
The roughly half of Minnesota's population that now lives in the
Twin Cities can no longer be stereotyped. We now are groups with world
wide heritages. Large groups of our population are noticeably
Afro-American, Chinese, Hindu, Hispanic (of several cultures), Huomg,
Korean, Lakota, Lebanese, Objibwa, Palestinian, Russian Jews, Somali,
Tibetan, or Vietnamese. There are also a lot of Canadiens. These peoples
are not subversive but there is plenty of room for misunderstanding. Just
being here indicates that they are not submissive and will probably not
submit to shunning or cheap tricks.
Ed Fesler also wrote:
The bus strike in Minnesota is a state sponsored operation, led by
Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty should be supported in his
union breaking operations despite his ambition to replace the Vice
President with himself.
If successful, the bus strike operation will prove to lower income
people that labor unions and left/liberal elements cannot protect their
interests. The lower classes must be whipped and beaten until they learn
that RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.
The subversive elements have been unable or unwilling to interdict
transportation. They have not attempted to call for a general strike.
(snip)
COMMENT:
This brings us to the stereotype of conservatives. They are
presented as convinced individuals who mean spiritedly insist on John
Waynish God invoking, gun toting, hanging judge like, polluting, tax
hating behavior.
Actual conservatives want a better quality of life, just like actual
liberals. Adequate money is part of means to that better life. Many of
the immigrants who migrated to the Twin Cities came here specifically to
find that way of life. The Twin Cities have touted their good education,
clean environment, often honest government, good mass transportation, and
great parks and recreation.
The current penny pinching to avoid taxes must ultimately distress
conservatives as much as liberals. Transportation is a major expense. The
lack of transportation hinders commerce and development by reducing
mobility. Inadequate mass transportation causes wasted resources for
storing vehicles and requiring otherwise unnecessary third and fourth
vehicles. Inefficiency and waste is hardly a conservative principle.
Settling the bus strike will not solve all the problems in the Twin
Cities. Failure to settle the bus strike may help destabilize areas. Even
if resistance is futile, people may not be in a mood to care.
Thanks.
John O'Neal
Shenanigans Watch
Northeast Minneapolis
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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