It is ashame that the media and political insiders are able to present it as a foregone conclusion that the only candidates who stand a chance are two conventional politicians (at least in the context of Minneapolis politics), neither of whom have articulated one substantive policy difference from the other. Both represent politics as usual. One is a classic old guard DFL machine politician. The other poses as a reformer but delivers little meaningful reform. A contest between Rybak and McLaughlin is certain to lack any useful substantive debate on policies because the two candidates lack any real substantive differences.
It would be great if enough progressives and independent-minded voters resolved to forgo supporting a candidate who does not represent them, and vote for a candidate who does. Farheen Hakeen will at least present voters with a choice on issues, and force the other candidate to actually explain his substantive positions. We would certainly see a debate on public stadium funding (which the fraternal twin contenders of course both support). There could be a debate on a range of issues where the city government chooses how to balance the desires of the affluent against the needs of the poor (increasingly the two economic groups remaining in Minneapolis). Whether McLaughlin or Rybak win is of little consequence. Getting Hakeen through the primary would provide candidate whose focus is on principals and substantive ideas. The other surviving fraternal twin would at least have a real opponent. The voters would have a real choice. Jordan S. Kushner Golden Valley (Minneapolis resident for 14 years) REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
