Today we recall, on what would have been Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, the various hills and valleys traversed in world history as a consequence of his election to the Presidency of the United States. There will be claims and counter-claims as to the President's involvement in, or, even knowledge of, events such as the "arms for hostages" exchange, or support for the death squads of the banana republic "freedom fighters". We will argue whether it was Reagan's ascendency as a world leader, or the crushing weight of its own bureaucracy that brought about the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Because Reagan was so insistent upon revisiting the principles of governance exemplified by the writing of the founding fathers, we should re-examine those principles, beginning with the proposition that all politics are local.
Let us take this opportunity to examine events closer to home. It is often said among our friends and neighbors, "Sure, I'm gonna vote, for all the difference it will make!" This well-known and, often pardoned, sentiment is a commonplace event in discussing domestic politics. Yet, deep down, we vote because we believe that it might make a difference in our governance. We also believe that the platforms of our candidates' parties mean something tangible in our lives.
Let us examine just one "plank" in the Republican Party platform, that of "limited government". Many interpretations are possible, so let's look at just one, that of "smaller government". Smaller than what? Does this mean lower taxes, as the wealthy members of the Minnesota Taxpayer's League would have us believe? Smaller than the present Minnesota government, or the Minnesota of Alexander Ramsey? Or, does this mean government smaller than New Jersey's, or, South Dakota's? Does this mean that government appropriate for 150 million citizens is large enough for 300 million? Wouldn't that mean a soup thinned by half for the population as a whole? Smaller relative to a government at war with Germany and Japan, or not at war at all? No one knows, no one says, leaving us to fantasize at will.
Let us imagine that taxes can be frozen, and government agencies, rife with waste and lazy civil servants, can be allowed to atrophy at the death, relocation and retirement rate of about 4-5% per year. Hmmm, think compound interest accumulating over a 4-year gubernatorial term, or, 8 years! Wow, that could save a lot of money! Teachers, snowplow operators, license agents, policemen and restaurant inspectors can just do a little bit more on each shift to cover for the absent employees. Times are tough; we can all shoulder a slightly greater burden. We could even have the Lieutenant Governor double as Transportation Commissioner. Savoring yet another daydream, suppose we elect a woman as Lieutenant Governor? We get (choose your own flavor: 1) a person who can accomplish twice as much as any mortal man, or, 2) we have to pay her only half as much as a man would get).
Even the most outrageous fantasies can have egregious consequences. This one played out a few years after Tim Pawlenty, Boy Governor, was elected on the promise of "no new taxes", when years of erosion of infrastructure in Minnesota led to the collapse of an interstate highway bridge over the Mississippi River, killing 13 individuals, and injuring 124 others who trusted their government to provide safe passage on public highways. Then Governor Tim Pawlenty, quick to recognize a tragedy where innocent people gave up their lives, said "This is a catastrophe of historic proportions for Minnesota,… We are doing everything we can to make sure we respond as quickly as we can to this emergency." Too late, Boy Governor, to admit that governance is a matter of investment in a people's future rather than a patchwork of knee-jerk responses to catastrophes like Katrina and bridge collapse.
No amount of revisionist history and post facto rationalization can obscure the fact that a demoralized MN Dept. of Transportation, ravaged by years of under-staffing and under-budgeting, and the predations of unscrupulous "free-market contractors", abdicated its responsibility to inspect, analyze and oversee the structural integrity of the bridges in the state. The Twin Cities' CBS broadcast affiliate, WCCO, upon reporting the firing of then Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau noted the legislative struggles: Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller blamed Pawlenty appointed Molnau for standing with Pawlenty as he rejected bills that would have given her department more money. "She told committees over and over and over again that we didn't need the money,..." The bridge disaster was the culmination of the career of Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau, once boastful of simultaneously holding both the Transportation Commissioner's job and the Lieutenant Governor's job! Well done Tim and Carol!
So, could a change of political parties be in order? Who is the pot calling the kettle black? Could the DFL have overcome the narcissistic smugness of their party in hammering out a bipartisan solution mindful of the needs of the electorate? Where is their skill and expertise in compromise? The bridge of bipartisanship carries two-way traffic.
How can such devastation be avoided in the future? Were incompetent engineers at fault? Whoa! Most of us who are not licensed or certified to practice medicine or law, or to teach or engineer public works, would be amazed at the training, skills and dedication required to succeed in these professions. Incompetent, not! Simply too few to do what is necessary to accommodate a population growing without bound and individually demanding what they perceive to be their fair share of public resources.
All eligible voters in Minnesota are responsible for this tragedy. When did you last question the beliefs, the credentials, the numeracy, the literacy, and the judgement of those for whom you voted? Have you even spoken to an elected official, person-to-person, since the last election? We must demand answers to questions about their beliefs, the education of our children, the existence of "invisible hands" guiding economic policy, and the adequacy of our roads, bridges, emergency services and snow removal.
It is our responsibility to remember that our government is as we make it, one vote at a time.
(Cross-posted to the Renaissance Post)
Let us take this opportunity to examine events closer to home. It is often said among our friends and neighbors, "Sure, I'm gonna vote, for all the difference it will make!" This well-known and, often pardoned, sentiment is a commonplace event in discussing domestic politics. Yet, deep down, we vote because we believe that it might make a difference in our governance. We also believe that the platforms of our candidates' parties mean something tangible in our lives.
Let us examine just one "plank" in the Republican Party platform, that of "limited government". Many interpretations are possible, so let's look at just one, that of "smaller government". Smaller than what? Does this mean lower taxes, as the wealthy members of the Minnesota Taxpayer's League would have us believe? Smaller than the present Minnesota government, or the Minnesota of Alexander Ramsey? Or, does this mean government smaller than New Jersey's, or, South Dakota's? Does this mean that government appropriate for 150 million citizens is large enough for 300 million? Wouldn't that mean a soup thinned by half for the population as a whole? Smaller relative to a government at war with Germany and Japan, or not at war at all? No one knows, no one says, leaving us to fantasize at will.
Let us imagine that taxes can be frozen, and government agencies, rife with waste and lazy civil servants, can be allowed to atrophy at the death, relocation and retirement rate of about 4-5% per year. Hmmm, think compound interest accumulating over a 4-year gubernatorial term, or, 8 years! Wow, that could save a lot of money! Teachers, snowplow operators, license agents, policemen and restaurant inspectors can just do a little bit more on each shift to cover for the absent employees. Times are tough; we can all shoulder a slightly greater burden. We could even have the Lieutenant Governor double as Transportation Commissioner. Savoring yet another daydream, suppose we elect a woman as Lieutenant Governor? We get (choose your own flavor: 1) a person who can accomplish twice as much as any mortal man, or, 2) we have to pay her only half as much as a man would get).
Even the most outrageous fantasies can have egregious consequences. This one played out a few years after Tim Pawlenty, Boy Governor, was elected on the promise of "no new taxes", when years of erosion of infrastructure in Minnesota led to the collapse of an interstate highway bridge over the Mississippi River, killing 13 individuals, and injuring 124 others who trusted their government to provide safe passage on public highways. Then Governor Tim Pawlenty, quick to recognize a tragedy where innocent people gave up their lives, said "This is a catastrophe of historic proportions for Minnesota,… We are doing everything we can to make sure we respond as quickly as we can to this emergency." Too late, Boy Governor, to admit that governance is a matter of investment in a people's future rather than a patchwork of knee-jerk responses to catastrophes like Katrina and bridge collapse.
No amount of revisionist history and post facto rationalization can obscure the fact that a demoralized MN Dept. of Transportation, ravaged by years of under-staffing and under-budgeting, and the predations of unscrupulous "free-market contractors", abdicated its responsibility to inspect, analyze and oversee the structural integrity of the bridges in the state. The Twin Cities' CBS broadcast affiliate, WCCO, upon reporting the firing of then Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau noted the legislative struggles: Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller blamed Pawlenty appointed Molnau for standing with Pawlenty as he rejected bills that would have given her department more money. "She told committees over and over and over again that we didn't need the money,..." The bridge disaster was the culmination of the career of Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau, once boastful of simultaneously holding both the Transportation Commissioner's job and the Lieutenant Governor's job! Well done Tim and Carol!
So, could a change of political parties be in order? Who is the pot calling the kettle black? Could the DFL have overcome the narcissistic smugness of their party in hammering out a bipartisan solution mindful of the needs of the electorate? Where is their skill and expertise in compromise? The bridge of bipartisanship carries two-way traffic.
How can such devastation be avoided in the future? Were incompetent engineers at fault? Whoa! Most of us who are not licensed or certified to practice medicine or law, or to teach or engineer public works, would be amazed at the training, skills and dedication required to succeed in these professions. Incompetent, not! Simply too few to do what is necessary to accommodate a population growing without bound and individually demanding what they perceive to be their fair share of public resources.
All eligible voters in Minnesota are responsible for this tragedy. When did you last question the beliefs, the credentials, the numeracy, the literacy, and the judgement of those for whom you voted? Have you even spoken to an elected official, person-to-person, since the last election? We must demand answers to questions about their beliefs, the education of our children, the existence of "invisible hands" guiding economic policy, and the adequacy of our roads, bridges, emergency services and snow removal.
It is our responsibility to remember that our government is as we make it, one vote at a time.
(Cross-posted to the Renaissance Post)
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