Confusing gun control decision

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Well, constitutional law experts having been vetting the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down D.C.’s hand gun ban, with varying opinions. But to a layman, the ruling makes no sense whatsoever, and the majority opinion written by Justice Scalia is even more non-sensical and highly confusing. Opinion: Confusing gun control decisionFurther, the opinion written by Scalia (who claims to be an “originalist” strictly interpreting the Constitution) again shows him, and others on the majority, to be quite the opposite and he seems to have based his opinion on politics, pure and simple. The Second Amendment right to bear arms is quite specific and clear. It states:“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
So why am I confused? Continue Reading

One year of moving the education debate forward

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Since launching a little over a year ago, Minnesota 2020 is moving the public education and funding policy debate forward. We’re producing thorough, vetted research reports. We’re highlighting underreported issues. We’re calling out people and organizations that deceive, inveigle and obfuscate the truth about education. Of all our important work, perhaps we have the most fun shining a light on those who try to negatively color the truth about education. Continue Reading

One year later: identified needs still go unmet as state economy worsens

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Minnesota 2020 announced its arrival last year by issuing its first research report, “Chasing Smokestacks, Stranding Small Business,” that identified shortcomings and chronic problems facing rural Minnesota and small businesses with economic development. A year later, those identified needs remain largely unmet. State budget realities for a state in recession outweighed political will to change. At the same time, state and local officials, nonprofit organizations and foundations have scrambled to fill voids in public policy in ways that make economic development possible and, in some cases, a reality. For instance, the city of Luverne in southwest Minnesota has picked up a couple of small businesses, or seen local small businesses expand, in the past year, said Luverne Mayor Andy Steensma. Continue Reading

The mystery continues: an update on MPD Black police officers

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For the past couple of months, many have waited breathlessly for the clearing up of a rather puzzling mystery. A couple of months ago, the major White press in the Twin Cities reported the high-profile suspension of two African American officers with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The first was Mike Roberts, the longest serving African American officer — 29 years — in the history of the department. A second officer, Lt. Lee Edwards, is the former inspector of the Fourth Precinct. There was also a third African American officer named as “a person of interest” by both the federal authorities and the MPD. Continue Reading

Video Voices students document issues in the Twin Cities

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Students at South High in Minneapolis explored the world with the medium of documentary video through a long collaboration between their school and the Minneapolis Television Network (MTN). MTN is the community television station in Minneapolis. The documentaries that the students produced through the Video Voices program this year are now available on-line and on MTN’s public access channel 17. Seventy-four students were in the Video Voices class this year. The class is taught at South High by teachers Neil Anderson and Carol Kantar. Continue Reading

A well considered patriotism

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I learned as a child that patriotism is love of our country and devotion to the ideals we believe in. Patriots are people who act courageously for their country. I love America, but never thought of myself as a patriot—that title was reserved for those who sacrificed greatly for the rest of us—usually on the battlefield. Somehow over the years the definition and symbols of patriotism changed for some to a narrow and shallow aberration disrespectful to true patriots: lapel pins, polarization, empty swagger, artificial conflicts, and a refusal to admit mistakes or errors of policy. Patriotism became a bludgeon used to intimidate anyone who criticized these pseudo-patriots or their policies in an effort to silence dissent and to deceive, frighten, and manipulate citizens. Continue Reading

Classic war propaganda: A case study

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The Wednesday, May 21st edition of the New York Times had a front-page article labeled “News Analysis” that gets the story completely wrong, even while reporting many of the facts needed to get the story right. It was a fascinating article. Indeed, I consider it a classic example of (intentional or unintentional) propaganda. Let’s have a look. The headline of this “analysis” was “An Iraqi Success, So Far Taking of Sadr City Bolsters Government, But Questions Linger Over Militias’ Role.” Continue Reading

Creating socially responsible corporations

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In the drive to please Wall Street investors, some corporations have shortchanged their customers and workers and polluted the air we breathe. Corporate scandals fill the news media. Opinion: Creating socially responsible corporationsProducing a good return on investment for business owners (shareholders) is an important function of any for-profit corporation. But society is ill served when we let profit trump fair treatment for the community. It is unethical for businesses of our generation to use up natural resources at an unsustainable rate, destroying the planet we leave for our children. Continue Reading