What We're Ignoring

As we get ready to vote on November 8th, let's look at some of the issues which have, for the most part, been completely ignored on the national and Minnesota state level.

Nationally

Debt and Deficit - The debt and deficit have been bad, but it's very dishonest to point to Obama and say 'it's all his fault!'  The cost for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were specifically designed to come due, with interest, the first month of the next President's term, January of 2009, a massive fiscal irresponsibility laid out by W.  That said, Obama hasn't been able to reign in the debt.  Add to that a Congress which has done NOTHING themselves to stop it, and have insisted they'd rather die than work with the President to control the nation's spending.  On the positive side, the yearly deficit, the amount of money we're adding to the debt, has dramatically decreased under President Obama, down 69%, 2009 to 2015.  Obama has done this all by himself.  Republicans aren't bringing this up because they don't want to give Obama any credit.  Continuing to carry the debt burden in the long term is a dangerous thing, and we need solutions that aren't making the middle and lower class pay it off.

Jobs and Unemployment - In 2010, when a bombastic John Boehner grabbed the microphone after the election which saw his party retake the US House and Senate, his first comment was how "jobs, jobs, jobs!" were priority #1.  Since then, the Republicans have yet to even introduce a comprehensive jobs bill.  Today, 11/4/16, we learned the economy added 161,000 jobs in October 2016, the 73rd consecutive month of jobs gains in the US, a record that will likely never get broken.  Wages grew 2.8% in October and Unemployment is now at 4.9%.  Considering the country was losing jobs at a rate in the high six figures when he took office, you can't deny President Obama has done a magnificent job in saving US employment.  He also saved the US auto industry.  I know why the GOP is trying to avoid this issue, but shame on the Democrats for not highlighting these sensational numbers more, and asking what could've been if the GOP had cooperated.

Climate Change - It was 67 degrees in Minnesota yesterday, November 3rd.  The average high for this date in Minneapolis is 48 degrees.  We've been like this all week.  It's incredibly abnormal, but it's conveniently dismissed with a "it sure is nice out" comment.  Our weather is seriously broken, and climate change, due to humans pouring CO2 omissions into the atmosphere, is the cause.  We still have politicians with no scientific degree who not only argue against scientists with a lifetime of experience, they go out of their way to prevent ANY common sense movement towards renewable energy.  I know the oil industry has prepared their "you bringing up our refusal to even acknowledge climate change for years is only sour grapes.  Instead of playing the 'blame game,' we're looking for solutions now that the planet's dying" speeches, but we need to force this conversation now, as some countries on the planet won't even exist in 5 to 10 years.

Gun Violence - Around 33,000 people will die in the USA this year due to guns.  That's more than the populations of the state capitols of Montana, Vermont and Kentucky (Helena, Montpelier, and Frankfort, respectfully).  Everyday in America, there's a mass shooting of three or more people.  Everyday, people are shot by individuals who would've been denied a weapon with simple, common sense regulations.  Everyday, idiots with zero weapons training kill someone who they think is a bad guy, but ends up being a friend, family member or someone looking for directions.  Everyday, a child accidentally shoots someone.  These problems aren't going away; they're only getting worse.  The NRA's ignoring the issue in 2016, and they've ordered their paid for politicians to say nothing too, outside of dishonest pro-gun platitudes.

Minority Inequity - I think Black Lives Matter's legitimate complaints not being a larger issue in 2016 is a major failure of both parties.  The GOP has steered away from this issue because they don't want to seem more racist than they already appear to be.  Let's face it, their 'All Lives Matter' rallies sound a lot like 1920's lynch mobs at times.  I think many Democrats are afraid to tackle this issue.  Compared to white America, there's a horrible level of inequity in the African American community, in the Latino community, in the Native American community, and amongst enclaves of recent immigrants from across the globe.  And in white America, if you're poor, your life is already a series of insurmountable hurdles as well.  We're not talking illegal immigrants, but American citizens, and legal immigrants wanting to make a better life for themselves by becoming American citizens.  The longer we continue to ignore this problem, the longer it takes to solve it.  Equality for all shouldn't only apply to wealthy white communities.

Minnesota

Precious metal mining - We're at a crossroads in Minnesota where we can decide what legacy we want to leave future generations.  Will our grandchildren's grandchildren be able to venture into the pristine Minnesota Wilderness to experience nature at it's purest, or will they only be able to look at pictures of what used to exist. The type of precious metals mining being proposed in Minnesota HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER, AND LEAVES BEHIND A CATASTROPHIC MESS FOR CENTURIES!!!  Minnesota Republicans know this, so they passed the 'oopsie' law.  When one of these international mining conglomerate controlled mines does what everyone knows they will, and poisons the countryside, the MNGOP has already made sure they'll get away without paying a dime.  Two hundred mining jobs is not enough to offset the 15,000 tourism related jobs in northern Minnesota.  This should've been hammered home a lot harder by Democrats.  And speaking of mining, how does every anti-Trump ad in the state NOT feature his pro cheap Chinese steel comments from the 3rd debate?

Transportation - This election we've heard the MNGOP talk about how EVIL metro area mass transportation is, but no one has pointed out the MNGOP is proposing NOTHING to fix the incredibly dire transportation system of Minnesota, both metro and outstate.  We need a massive infusion of infrastructure spending to make the roads in the state work at the current traffic levels, and a plan in place to upgrade all roads across Minnesota.  We need a MN House and Senate which focuses on ALL transportation, including mass transportation for Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester and all of the state.  Inability for seniors to get to medical appointments, or even to the store, due to lack of transportation options, is a massive problem in outstate Minnesota.  The MNGOP refuses to talk about transportation, outside of telling us what they won't do.  In my opinion, Minnesota Democrats should've made this a cornerstone issue in 2016.

Education Spending - We need a major review on how we fund Minnesota public schools.  In the metro area, our solution for problems is to open enroll elsewhere, effectively running away from problems instead of fixing them.  In outstate Minnesota, an entire school district's budget can get drained by the enrollment of a handful of kids with special needs.  The state needs to step up and fund these schools properly, across the board, making sure small town farm districts and inner city schools have the same chances as the wealthy suburban schools.

Invasive Species/Decreasing Wildlife Populations - Whether you want to attach this to climate change, outdoor sportsmen, or stupidity, we've already had a lot of undesirable changes going on in Minnesota.  Invasive species are making some lakes unsustainable for recreation and habitation, and animal populations are disappearing faster than we can replace them.  The northern Minnesota moose seem to be leaving on their own, and with it one of the more iconic animals of Minnesota.  Walleye populations on major lakes like Mille Lacs are disappearing.  This is only going to get worse.  We need to have serious discussion on how to preserve the nature we have, so all Minnesotans can enjoy it.  And don't get me started in on how the lack of normal Minnesota winters has decimated the Minnesota winter outdoor industries, an entire business sector being annihilated by our inaction.


Maybe we'll discuss these issues in 2020, if it's not too late...