Two things which really illustrate an interesting point: Victoria Heller wrote: >I just did a search on the Star Tribune website for 1 bedroom units between >$500 and $699. Also keep in mind that lots of vacancies are not advertised >through the Strib.
This tells us absolutely *nothing* about the housing situation in the metro area or the specific needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. The only thing a search like this tells us is that X number of housing units are advertised through the Strib. The number of apartments available or accessible to persons with HIV/AIDS remains unknown. The larger issue here is this: We have excellent local public servants who are employed by various government agencies who can tell us exactly what the housing situation looks like. Their methods are a lot more founded than a search on a local newspaper's website. That's why we pay them so well (and it's why they deserve it). What this technique says to me is: "I came up with this really neat way to take a snapshot of the housing situation, and because it makes sense to me (and since it supports my point) it is unquestionably true." Jordan Kushner writes: >The emporer/president was not even elected but >installed by a court. The city elected officials, >who have smaller constituencies than any of the >federal elected officials and are more accountable to >grassroots interests, are more likely to be >representative and responsive to constituents than >Congress people and certainly non legitimate >president. Although the city officials do not have >any direct influence over military and foreign >policy, they are the often the only elected officials >who might actually be responsive to grassroots >activists. >It is also interesting that Patrick Peterson cited >the Green value of decentralization as a reason why >the city council should not be involved in foreign >policy. A belief in decentralization requires the >opposite counclusion. It means that more policy >decisions of any sort should be made by more local >units of government that more closely represent their >constituents. This means that local units should >have more of a say in foreign policy. (It may be a >problem for a staunch DFLer to try to interpret Green >values. I actually prefer the term: "entrenched party apparatchik." ;-) I would have egg on my face if you interpreted my comments correctly. I used the green party idea of decentralized control to question your statement that addressing local crime in Phillips (your example) should be attacked at the Federal level where you believe the root causes lie. My comment was that it is inconsistent for you to argue this point if your party supports "decentralized government." Of course, this principle would support your claim that local authorities have the power to make national and (taken to its conclusion) international policy. I don't argue this point, but I'll point out that there are documents (the Constitution comes directly to mind, although since Berkeley's resolutions and our own Burma resolution were not struck down by the Supreme Court, there is obviously many dimensions to this issue) which more eloquently make my point. One non-sequitur: Ever since Bush became President, whenever (for the most part) I've heard somebody from the green party speak, they've taken a shot at Bush's election and how he's not "the legitimate President." I find this quite humorous that individuals representing the green party make this argument over and over again, especially given the fact that the presence of the green party undoubtedly affected the outcome (and therefore the legitimacy) of the 2000 Presidential Election. Jordan's post reinforces my point and it is on this we apparently have a fundamental disagreement. I believe that it is best for local public policy to be made at a local level by qualified public servants. Meaning this: StarTrib searches do not evidence of a housing shortage make and it's not the job of the City Council to decide a course of action on Iraq. Patrick Dinkytown ===== -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
