Something Fishy in Minnesota

Wellstone Action, a progressive organization that trains young progressives in the art of campaigning, has been accused of financial irregularities. The sons of Senator Wellstone, who the organization is named after, are demanding that the organization stop using its family name, saying it has betrayed the core values of its parents.

The brothers sent a letter to Wellstone Action's major donors, asking them to exert pressure and withhold funding until more answers are forthcoming.

The dispute originated over how $200,000 had been spent.

A City Without Police

According to the Star-Tribune, some politicians in Minneapolis have been flirting with the idea of a city without police. In a pamphlet entitled, 'Enough is Enough' these politicians and activists examine the first 150 year of the Minneapolis Police Department.

I hate to judge a book by it's cover, but this organization, called MPD150, sounds rather naive. This is from their website:

Through historical investigation, interviews and research into viable alternatives we have produced a performance review that examines the department's past – its track record since 1867 including the failure of reform efforts; its present – its current practices and impact on community life; and the future – the necessity of dismantling its overbearing political and paramilitary power and the transfer of its resources into alternative models of community safety, well-being and resilience. [Emphasis added.] 

Evidently MPD150 and its supporters intend to oppose Mayor Frey's proposal to expand the Minneapolis Police Department. At present the department is so overstretched that it almost only responds to emergency calls.

MPD150 and its supporters on the city council, would rather see the money spent on community organizers, not sworn officers. They also believe that reducing the number of police on the streets would benefit black and Latino youths.

Minneapolis has 2.15 officers per 1,000 residents [the Star-Tribune rounded up]. Milwaukee--that infamous gulag--has 3.15 officer per 1,000 residents.

The local police union would like to see a force of 1,000 officers.

Three members of the Public Safety Committee, Messrs. Cano, Cunningham, and Ellison, hope for the day when Minneapolis no longer has a need for a police force.

Up next, excepts from MPD150's no doubt ridiculous report and perhaps a bit of satire.     

Violence in the Culture

I'm sure it comes as no surprise, but multiple threats have been called in to schools across the country. I make a habit of skimming the newspapers from swing states, I have seen arrests made in Minnesota, Nevada, and Florida. And the Washington Post reports of threats made in Arkansas, Massachusetts, South Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina,  and New York.

I think it's a sad state of affairs and a damning indictment of our culture. In The Spectator Steven Pinker, who has written a book on the decline of violence, reminds us that a lot of good things are happening in the world. But the media is has a thing for suffering. He mentions how people that follow the news often suffer burnout and increased anxiety.

I think he's right. My mother is something of a news addict. But every six or eight months she goes cold turkey, completely fed up with it all. I have to confess, I'm rather similar. One of the joys of living in China is not being subjected to America's 24/7 news cycle.

Simply put, if you have talking heads spouting stuff 24/7, most of what they say is crap. That's why I focus on print media, and mainly magazines at that. But back to the matter at hand, why are so many young people making threats?

Some will say, they're merely trying to get out of classes, but it's more than that, I think. There is a certain alienation that occurs in highly commercialized societies like ours. People, in order to differentiate themselves, become eccentric, indulging in a pseudo-individualism. I'm not sure I fully agree with that claim, but it creates in interesting perspective for viewing a lot of the eccentricities we've been subjected to of late.

In the end, whenever a school shooting occurs, the debate boils down to this:

Democrats: It's the guns, stupid!
Republicans: It's the culture, commie!

When Democrats hear that argument, they assume we're talking violent movies, music, and video games. But we're not. What I am critiquing is the rampant materialism of our society. As a culture, we no longer believe in human dignity. And maybe that is why so many people find themselves dissatisfied with life.

Liberty is important not because it allows a man to flourish economically. Liberty is important because man only realizes his full potential when he governs. This is why I am a Neo-Conservative. Democracy, be it a republic or a constitutional monarchy, is the only form of government that respects man's inherent dignity as a political being.