To Caucus or Not

Tonight marks the true beginning of election season 2006. Caucuses will be held all over the State and attendence will likely be light. On the other hand, those forces commonly in control of the political football, will undoubtedly show. Listening to local talk show host, Lew Latto, you'd thing it was a big waste of time. He states, "the caucuses are only attended by extremists from both parties so I just won't go". Great attitude Lew. You don't like the forum, have your own comfortable little soap box you retreat to each day and are afraid to get out of your comfort zone.

For the rest of us rubes, instead of simply complaining, the other option is to attend and attempt to effect change. I am not happy where the local Republicans are taking the Party. I know where the DFL is taking theirs and it takes decades to climb the agreement ladder within that cronified Party so I definitely won't be going there. If there is a chance to effect change anywhere, it will be at the very scarcely attended Republican caucus. Maybe I am one of those extremists Lew speaks of with such disdain but I want things for this State and this City. I want my children to be able to stay here. I want my business to thrive and not be in survival mode all the time. I want prudent fiscal policy on a State and Local level. I want to see leadership within the Republican Party that adheres more closely to the principles and foundations of conservative and mainstream Republicans such as fiscal conservatism, smaller government, streamlined processes within government, pay and promotion for merit, economic stimulus through decreased taxation and finally, minimally invasive regulation.

Over the last several years, they have not adhered to these principles. While I admire and respect Tim Pawlenty and believe he is the best Governor we have had in decades, he has not reduced the size of government in any meaningful, long-term way. Further, he has transferred the lion's share of the expense of government on to small businesses and individuals through dramatic fee increases as well as extremely punitive penalty programs related to State taxes. While he has erased a large deficit by holding the line on taxes and reducing line items such as Local Government Aid, K-12 and higher education funding, core government agencies have not shrunk by any meaningful degree. Unions still largely control local political landscapes and therefore, local politicians and local elections. On that note, I would like to see some effort, any effort, to bring about right to work legislation. It has had dramatic results everywhere it has been instituted and would forever and positively change the political landscape in Minnesota. In the case of right to work, Unions only need fear the market, for employment, wages, and employee rights are universally enhanced by it. The only thing that tends to suffer is Union clout.

On a State level, our representation up North is almost entirely DFL and we need to take definite, affirmative steps to change that. We need to show up in numbers large enough to convince the Party that we are not happy with the direction. We need to bring in the next generation of politically and civically minded and get the ball rolling in the right direction. We need to caucus. Is it too late to get the word out? Maybe, but there's always the next caucus. Let's get organized and put out the effort toward getting things to swing our way. Go to your caucus and let your voice be heard.