There’s an early episode of The Simpsons where Homer, vexed by a flashing “check engine” light on his vehicle dashboard, “fixes” the problem by laying a strip of electrical tape over the light. To his mind, if there’s no warning, there’s no problem.

The same mentality is on display by President Barack Obama, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and leftist commentators in the press and blogosphere. Labeling the recent S&P reduction in the federal government’s credit rating “the Tea Party downgrade,” big spenders everywhere are blaming America’s stuttering economic engine on those citizens raising alarm.

Read More →

It’s fascinating to consider the irony infused within the closing days of Governor Mark Dayton’s shutdown of Minnesota. The resolution, such as it is, pleases no one. The rabid anti-capitalists on the Left didn’t get their coveted tax increase. The fiscally sane did not see a reduction in spending. In fact, the resolution is the worst of both worlds – increasing spending beyond projected revenue while putting the balance on a credit card. However, the resolution is not nearly as disturbing as the means by which it was reached.

Consider, Governor Dayton set the process up for failure. He refused to sign individual budget bills or work with the legislature on points of agreement. Instead, he insisted upon reaching total agreement on every facet of the budget before signing anything. Such unreasoned intransigence assured a shutdown from the start. Governor Dayton’s repeated refusal to “turn the lights on,” and continued insistence that a special session not be called until a behind-closed-doors agreement was reached, shut Minnesota constituents out of the process.

Read More →

The following is a press release from North Star Tea Party Patriots.

ROCHESTER, Minnesota (July 14, 2011) – The Tea Party rallied dozens of protesters to an event attended by Governor Mark Dayton on Wednesday. The roundtable forum held at the Rochester Senior Center provided an opportunity for voters to confront the governor about the ongoing state government shutdown, now the longest of its kind in American history. Cindy Maves, coordinator of the Rochester Tea Party Patriots, indicated the group was eager to send a message to the governor. “We waited for him outside with our signs and shouted ‘sign the bills’ as he entered the building,” she said. Maves referenced several budget bills passed by the Republican controlled legislature and vetoed by the governor in favor of a shutdown.

Read More →

Everything happens for a reason. In the wake of Minnesota’s state government shutdown, many reasons have been offered to explain the impasse between Governor Dayton and the Republican-led legislature. Most seem to center around the notion of compromise.

On Friday’s Almanac, DFL party chair Ken Martin sparred with MN-GOP vice chair Michael Brodkorb over which party was to blame. Each accused the other of refusing to compromise. While there is certainly an instructive argument to be had over which side has been more willing to negotiate, it defers the important moral consideration which will inform any deal.

Martin evoked that consideration on Friday. “I ask you… Why is it so important in this state to protect 7,700 millionaires at the expense of 99.9% of Minnesotans?” Almanac co-host Cathy Wurzer summarized the DFL talking point as “millionaires over Minnesotas,” as if earning a certain amount of money is a renunciation of one’s residency and citizenship.

Read More →

The notion of a state compact to affect a national popular vote for President of the United States is a controversial issue among conservatives and libertarians. It's worth debate, but we must first disabuse ourselves of the notion that it is an attack upon our Founding Fathers, our Constitution, the Republic, and Mother’s apple pie.