BLOG: Early Morning Musings, Adults at the Table

You know how Charlie Brown always falls for it when Lucy volunteers to hold the football for him while he kicks it?  It always works out badly for Charlie, but he just keeps believing that maybe this time it will be different.  But it never is.  Lucy always pulls the football away, leaving Charlie feeling frustrated.

I’m the same way with political pollsters. They call and ask for my opinion and I am interested enough in political issues to be willing to give that opinion. But a few minutes into the conversation it becomes clear that the pollster is actually representing this or that candidate, this or that party, and the questions take on a particular slant consistent with the candidate or the party. It’s too late by then; I’ve already sacrificed some precious time.

Here’s the question that usually gets me: “Do you think Minnesota should solve its financial problems by cutting expenses or by raising taxes?”

So I try the answer I really want to give: “Both.”

Pollster: “But you have to pick one or the other.”

Me: “I can’t do that.  I think we need to do both.”

Pollster: “But which do you prefer?”

Me: “I prefer both.”

Pollster: “You have to pick one.”

Me: “I can’t pick one.”

And it is usually along about here that one of us hangs up on the other.

This is the problem. I do believe that our state has a financial problem, just as our nation does. But I do not believe that problem can be solved by just cutting expenses or just raising taxes. I think we need to do both.

Are there sensible ways to cut government spending? Of course there are. And, while we might disagree to start with, I think that you and I could sit down at a table and talk this out. There might be some things you believe are essential that I think are excess spending and vice versa, but I think we could compromise and come to some agreement to economize governmental operations. That’s the way adults solve problems: By talking them out and compromising.

Should taxes be raised? I’ll answer that one personally. I’m a 70-year-old semi-retired guy. My wife and I live on my pension, our social security, and my part-time job. There has never been a year in our lives when our income has hit six figures. We have tithed to our church for as long as I can remember. And I think that my taxes should be increased. It might mean one less Twins game, a couple more dinners in rather than out, cutting a day off our vacation. But it is worth it to me to live in a state I can be proud of. I believe most Minnesotans would be willing to pay a little more to improve the quality of life in the state we love.  Just as you and I could sit down together and agree on spending cuts, I think we could agree on tax increases. That’s the way adults solve problems; by talking them out and compromising.

Unfortunately it has seemed in recent years like our state legislature is lacking adults. It has been dominated by my-way-or-the-highway adolescents who would rather hold their breath until they turn blue than compromise. We are all suffering for this lack of adults.

I hope we elect some adults this year. I don’t care what party they come from; only that they can act like adults.