Our view: It’s time for Minnesotans to make themselves heard

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This is ridiculous. Why is it that state legislative leaders and the governor have only met for a matter of hours since the state shutdown began two weeks ago?

Can anyone explain that?

The definition of “compromise,” according to Merriam Webster online is “a) settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions, or b) something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things.”

We certainly have two very different animals – a donkey and an elephant – in charge of Minnesota. The two were elected after running on very different platforms. Gov. Dayton proposed income tax increases on the wealthiest of state residents and an expansion in overall spending from the prior two-year budget while most Republican candidates – who swept to power in both the Minnesota House and Senate – proposed a halt in spending increases.

Big surprise. The two sides failed to reach an agreement on how to bridge a $5 billion budget deficit. Actually, it was only $1.4 billion that they couldn’t agree on.

Sticking your heels in the mud and refusing to budge is not compromise.

Two sides have to meet in order to achieve compromise. Each side must be willing to make concessions, to come up with an answer that will be palatable to both sides. If one side lets the other side get everything it wants, that’s not compromise.

It’s time for Minnesotans to tell our leaders that they’re failing.

We should be deluging them with letters, phone calls and emails. Legislative leaders need to hear from us, as do our local legislators.

Tell them about your wedding week from Hades, trying to find a new place to get married in front of 150 guests on short notice. Tell them your stories, tell them what compromise you are willing to accept, explain that their party – whichever one it is – won’t be getting your vote without a quick and intelligent compromise.

This is, after all, the state that was pictured on the front of Time Magazine 40 years ago for coming up with the Minnesota Miracle. And now, we’re the state that folks across the country all know is not functioning.

We should not re-elect politicians who play chicken with our lives. We should not support politicians who care more about the party line than the people of this wonderful state.

Take some time out of your day and write a letter, email or make a phone call.

Let them hear you roar, Carlton County!

P.S. Find contact information for the governor and legislative leaders attached to this story.

Tags: opinion, updates, editorials