29 October 2005
JEL/GEL?
Today on KWLC "Community Conversation" I had Anthony Menendez, a Luther student, who serves as president of JEL. It was an informative show. I am excited to see the mock trial competition going on today on campus.
27 October 2005
Early A.M. thoughts
I am very concerned for the health of L'Etoile du Nord. If we can't oust Pawlenty and his evil crew from power, their reactionist agenda will continue to wreck havoc on the quality of life that we and our parents and grandparents have worked so hard to create. Warning: liberal ranting about to occur. We must get our state back on track and:
- Ensure every Minnesotan has access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare coverage. (I really don't care if this means single-payer, a socialized [God forbid!] system or massive expansion of MinnesotaCare, as long as everyone has access.)
- Reorganize the education funding system. Special School District #1 is consistently underfunded and in crisis, while just over the border at Independent School District 273 is plenty funded and doing well. Local property taxes have to be one of the worst ways of funding public education. Article XIII, Section 1 of the Minnesota Constitution says: "UNIFORM SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools. The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state." [emphasis mine] The state is failing its constitutional obligation to provide a uniform system of public education. This is one of the reasons I support Peter McLaughlin for mayor. He says he will sue the State of Minnesota to enforce its constitutional requirements. This must be done without delay.
- Reinvigorate transit. Fully fund completion of Northstar all the way to St Cloud. Consider rail connections to Rochester and Duluth. Fund light rail to the western suburbs and from Minneapolis to Saint Paul. Consider changing Minnesota law to make the creation of tollroads a feasibility.
- Amend the Minnesota Constitution to provide that reapportionment of congressional and legislative districts be performed by a nonpartisan commission. Although the Minnesota Constitution prohibits a Tom DeLay-like mid-decade redistricting, the possiblity of gerrymandering is always there. A nonpartisan commission could help.
- Adopt the Missouri Plan so we don't become Illinois with partisan judges or worse Alabama with corrupting judicial elections. This should be on the ballot in 2006 or 2008 at the latest.
25 October 2005
Homework blues
As I sit here in Olin trying to do homework for religion and poli sci for tomorrow I find myself getting distracted frequently...
One of the thoughts disturbing me is a fear of the DFL really screwing up the 2006 elections and ending up with another term of Pawlenty and two Republicans in the Senate representing Minnesota. This not an unfounded random thought, our Party has a history of screwing up gubernatorial and other elections (see 1986 onward). Our friends over at the IP our facing the fact that since Ventura left office their party has drifted a bit and hasn't one any major seats. Therefore, I propose a UNITY CAMPAIGN TO UN-SEAT PAWLENTY AND PROTECT THE SENATE FROM NUTCASES.
The specifics of my plan are thus:
1. The IP runs Peter Hutchinson or similar candidate for governor and endorses a DFLer for lieutenant governor. They run on the Independence line.
2. The DFL endorses the above and does not run a separate candidate for governor.
3. The IP endorses the DFL candidate for Senate (must be a moderate DFLer). The IP runs no candidate for Senate.
The result? Securing the Governor's Residence and the Senate seat from extremist Republicans, securing the IP as a major player, and granting the DFL some dignity. The reality is that this plan is a non-starter, which is a shame. But it would work.
One of the thoughts disturbing me is a fear of the DFL really screwing up the 2006 elections and ending up with another term of Pawlenty and two Republicans in the Senate representing Minnesota. This not an unfounded random thought, our Party has a history of screwing up gubernatorial and other elections (see 1986 onward). Our friends over at the IP our facing the fact that since Ventura left office their party has drifted a bit and hasn't one any major seats. Therefore, I propose a UNITY CAMPAIGN TO UN-SEAT PAWLENTY AND PROTECT THE SENATE FROM NUTCASES.
The specifics of my plan are thus:
1. The IP runs Peter Hutchinson or similar candidate for governor and endorses a DFLer for lieutenant governor. They run on the Independence line.
2. The DFL endorses the above and does not run a separate candidate for governor.
3. The IP endorses the DFL candidate for Senate (must be a moderate DFLer). The IP runs no candidate for Senate.
The result? Securing the Governor's Residence and the Senate seat from extremist Republicans, securing the IP as a major player, and granting the DFL some dignity. The reality is that this plan is a non-starter, which is a shame. But it would work.
20 October 2005
Back at L-U-T-H-E-R
I returned to the college late last night. Today in chapel was the installation of Pr Amy Larson, there were lots of prospies there as it is a fall admissions visit day.
My parents are now on the fence about McLaughlin as our neighbor told my mother that he "is an angry man." I feel that he is more of a passionate person with bold vision and a tough law-and-order stance that's desperately needed before the City of Lakes descends into the 1980s again.
My parents are now on the fence about McLaughlin as our neighbor told my mother that he "is an angry man." I feel that he is more of a passionate person with bold vision and a tough law-and-order stance that's desperately needed before the City of Lakes descends into the 1980s again.
14 October 2005
Estoy en la Ciudad de Los Lagos
I am home in the City of Lakes!
13 October 2005
Thursday musings
Tonight I am traveling to Winona to catch the train to MSP (or St Paul-Minneapolis as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation insists on calling it). Usually I hate breaks and want to return to Decorah almost as soon as I get home, but I am really looking forward to this break. Jennifer and John are getting married and I am in the wedding--hence the need to return a day early--which is at Breezy Point. I miss my sisters and my brother and am looking forward to seeing them. Yesterday was my last 08:00 weight training class as phy-ed classes are only 7 weeks of a semester. I need to keep up with the exercise as I feel pretty good.
11 October 2005
Wow! Egomania pays off
Wow! I was doing an ego-stroking Google search of my name and I discovered that City Pages named me blog of the day on 23 September. They called be a "crazy, pro-European, Lutheran-bred DFLer. That is the best description of myself that I've ever heard. I am so honored.
I need to get better at this
Once again, it's been nearly a week since I last wrote. On Saturday, I was proud to host Decorah Council Member At-large Gary Rustad to talk about his reelection bid. I then ran downtown (not literally, I literally rode downtown) where I anchored the Luther College Homecoming Parade
coverage on behalf of KWLC. I believe I did an excellent job and had a lot of fun. Just now, I was at a dinner for DIAKONOS (the pre-seminary or church vocation group) where reps from 6 of the 8 ELCA seminaries were present. I learned a lot and am really trying to discern some of this vocational stuff. Being in Rev Prof Deifelt's Vocation course is really helping me with some of this stuff. I then when to a lecture by Rev Prof Nave on rejecting the so-called Pax Americana, or the imperial peace and instead advocating for a radical peace in Christ. It was fantastic and reminded me of all the reasons that I decided to return to Luther.
coverage on behalf of KWLC. I believe I did an excellent job and had a lot of fun. Just now, I was at a dinner for DIAKONOS (the pre-seminary or church vocation group) where reps from 6 of the 8 ELCA seminaries were present. I learned a lot and am really trying to discern some of this vocational stuff. Being in Rev Prof Deifelt's Vocation course is really helping me with some of this stuff. I then when to a lecture by Rev Prof Nave on rejecting the so-called Pax Americana, or the imperial peace and instead advocating for a radical peace in Christ. It was fantastic and reminded me of all the reasons that I decided to return to Luther.
05 October 2005
Seven days later
It's been a whole week since I last posted. That's not good form. A lot can happen in a week. Last night the Decorah City Council approved both the Civil Rights Ordinance and a first reading of an ordinance to legalize contraception in the city. That's great! Some opponents of the Civil Rights Ordinance spoke, but as one council member told me, "they got enough rope to hang themselves with." The opponents generally were their own best enemies and little rebuttal was needed. One opponent was concerned that members of a pro-pedophilia group could not be discriminated against, that sort of bizarre thing. Mayor Vic Fye twice gaveled the speakers down and told them to stick to discussion on the particular ordinance and not random musings on the Bible or extended debates with the city attorney. See DecorahNews.com for all the details.
On a related note, Mayor Fye appeared on my program on Saturday and we had a great conversation about the city and its future. He is declining to endorse a successor and I respect him a lot for that.
Until later.
On a related note, Mayor Fye appeared on my program on Saturday and we had a great conversation about the city and its future. He is declining to endorse a successor and I respect him a lot for that.
Until later.