The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

September 2, 2010

Your View: Both GOP, DFL to blame for state's problems

Michael Burger, Mankato

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Don Strasser’s Your View letter, published Aug 21, gives only half the story and half the truth. The last truly balanced budget without budget shifts or deferred payments was during the Ventura administration.

Tim Pawlenty and Roger Moe defeated the last budget Jesse Ventura submitted, only for their own and their party’s political gains.

Look at the mess we are in now. Heaven forbid a third party candidate lead this state in a truly balanced budget and create an environment where business and we the people can prosper. What would happen to the Democratic and Republican parties if a third party candidate did that?

Strasser is half right in that the GOP is not in touch with the majority of Minnesotans. But neither is the Democratic Party. Both parties are to blame for the conditions of our state, our state government, and the budget deficit.

Do you really understand how budget shifting to the next biennium affects cities, school districts, counties and the whole state? We all know we have a budget deficit in the next biennium of $4.2 billion and your party wants to defer debt from this biennium to add to that $4.2 billion. Where and when does this stop?

People, when are we going to hold our elected officials accountable for doing their jobs? We elect them and pay them to make the tough decisions to balance a budget without deferring payments or shifting gimmicks.

It’s more than obvious the Republicans and Democrats don’t get it. Stop the bickering and posturing and get the job done. I don’t think that will happen because of all the money they bring into their parties when they act like they do.

Their actions, or lack of, are why I am supporting candidates who are not from those two parties. It’s time to make a real change in Minnesota.

 

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