November 19, 2006
Lori Sturdevant: Why it's easier to be optimistic about the State Capitol
Lori Sturdevant: Why it's easier to be optimistic about the State Capitol (Star Tribune, November 19)
Lori Sturdevant references the Citizens League Minnesota Anniversary Project statewide poll in this commentary about Capitol politics:
Minnesotans are of a mind to insist on it. A deeply probing poll of 800 Minnesotans conducted Sept. 15 to Oct. 5 by the Citizens League, as part of its Minnesota Anniversary Project 150, detected a restive mood in the electorate.Roughly half of those polled said they believe the state has been on the wrong track of late. A third said government institutions "no longer work for the common good and need to be significantly changed." Two of every five said government is "almost always wasteful and inefficient." Even more said most state elected officials "don't care what people like me think."
Those polled said in heartening numbers that they still think Minnesotans can solve their shared problems. But they are increasingly skeptical about using what has historically been a powerful tool for doing so -- state government. Minnesotans need reasons to believe in their government again -- and if this governor and Legislature are going to provide them, they need to keep this season's spirit alive.