Should both sides in the state budget debate give something up to reach a deal?

A good friend of mine once said

‘When the tequila bottle’s empty, you act like Tim Pawlenty.’

Now I say

‘When the whisky leaves you brainless, you act like the Republican controlled Minnesota Congress.’

Not as clever I know, but still.

“No compromise”? What idiots.

These GOP legislators are throwing themselves under the bus to save the top 2% of MN earners from paying a little more in taxes.

Their mouths are full of, “everyone needs to sacrifice,” but they won’t ask ANYTHING from the people most able to help! If not now, WHEN should we ask the wealthiest people to contribute? Are they immune? Just takers? Are only the middle class and lower class people accountable?

The GOP are debating how much your tuition is going to go up at the U, how your kid’s school will no longer have sports, a nurse, specialist teachers, aids, how many cops and firefighters are going to get laid off, how many of your neighbors will be thrown off health care, how many of your neighbors will not get nursing care, how many teachers will be laid off (we are supposedly having an education crisis), how much your property taxes will rise (and they will): BUT THEY ASK NOTHING OF THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP.

How can this be right?

And, cherry on the top is: They are debating paying for a (explitive deleted) $1 billion FOOTBALL stadium for a bunch of overpaid pituitary mutants and for the poor, poor Wilfs, who aren’t making quite as many millions per year as they would like. They are asking YOU to subsidize these ridiculous millionaires! (They are not making more regular seating: They want more luxury boxes.)

How many police and firefighters should be lay off to support the Wilfs? How many teachers should we lay off to support the Wilfs?

The GOP plan should be properly named: The Zygi Wilf Memorial Millionaire Support Act.

The obscenity of this whole debate should be obvious to all.

Yes, both sides should compromise. Governor Dayton already has done his part. Now we’re just waiting for the Republican controlled legislature to do the same. Don’t hold your breath. Looks like we’re heading for a special session and then probably a government shut down.

To not compomise is to act like a SPOILED BRAT!!

Kudos to Gov. Dayton for governing, not campaigning. This one-sided (balance the budget on the backs of those least able to afford it) stalemate is absolutely idiotic. Where does the GOP get off lately DEMANDING that everything go absolutely their way? This is not governing, this is holding our reasonable society hostage.

If there is a government shutdown the responsibility will lie entirely on the GOP’s back. Unless our citizens have become zombies, it should come back to bite them on the part of their anatomy which they are acting like.

Of course! If all legislators bothered to ask their constituents what we wanted, they would have gotten this done weeks ago.

Well, it really all depends on whether the Representatives are working for themselves or the people of the state in which they were elected.

I think this question would be better posed to the Legislators.

Government could be likened to a gigantic relationship between the state and the people. And for anyone who has been in any sort of relationship ever, you tell me how to expect success without compromise. Or better yet, prove to me that compromise is not the cinder block foundation of a relationship.

I’d love to point fingers, but it appears we’re already paying people enough to do that, so I will refrain.

The Governor has already compromised. The Republicans are playing chicken – and risking the health, safety, and lives of real people in the process. Government is not evil and low-income and middle-income Minnesotans did not get us into this situation. It was former Gov. Pawlenty who was determined over the past 8 years to starve state government. This is what government on a starvation diet looks like. At some point, it needs enough calories to survive. I shudder to think what may become of our great state if the Republicans don’t meet in the middle.

We didn’t raised income taxes for all of Pawlenty’s administration and yet, the state hasn’t gained any jobs. Rich people are NOT using their persoanl income to hire people, they are putting their tax savings in the bank or in personal investments.

It’s interesting that they worry about the rich 2% moving but not the elderly consumers who shop the local stores, the gay entrepreneurs who are being trampled on by their self-righteous notions, the middle class family that can no longer pay their raising property taxes–all who are more likely to call this state quits and take their business with them.

If Republicans don’t start compromising with Governor Dayton over the issue of the paltry amount that a mere 2% of the rich are being asked to pay, they will be sorely surprised next election when the new question of the electorate will be: “Why did you let this state get so shabby?”

I can already hear “bye, bye, Republicans and take your so called “mandate” with you! Better yet–YOU move to North Dakota!”

Politics is the “art of the possible”. Without compromise nothing gets accomplished, which is what the GOP wants, Nothing.

We are looking at the endgame of policies that started with Reagan and have continued today, cut taxes to force reductions in the size and scope of government, until there is nothing left in pursuit of the narcissistic theories of Ayn Rand, Grove Norquist and Phil Krinkie and their ilk.

They pursue social Darwinism where only the strong (wealthy) survive and prosper, the rest of us assume the role of serf and vassal servant to the masters.

Of course there should be compromise-good grief its a government for all the people isn’t it?

I find it sad that this is the question of the day. It should not have to be asked and we should not have to sate that of course compromise is necessary.

I think it should be rephrased why is it that the one group doesn’t feel they have to compromise but feel that everyone else must back off of their views and bow down to them as if they are the Oracle of Delphi?

For one group to say is Okay for Tim Pawlenty Not to compromise….but Gov. Dayton must compromise. Is a double standard!

We no longer have Statesmen in the legislature in fact I wonder if we can even call them politicians any anymore. What seems to have been elected are one issue ideologists that are so small minded that they have no concept that someone could think differently. They don’t look at all the facts they just pick some things that support what they want to believe and ignore the rest. But they believe that they can force their view and morals on all others.

What scares me it that same statement describes the Taliban.

Where every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty. – Henry M. Robert

Give me back American Statesmen that believe in American Ideals, and Liberty

Cheers,

Steve

Good point Steve. I was wondering the same thing.

Hell no! Obviously the most important issue in our country must be to protect the rich from paying anything more in taxes!

Why has “power of the people” turned into “power of the party”? I used to vote Republican every once in a while, but never again! That group has become so immersed in their own power trip that they are delusional. Of course both sides need to compromise. To get out of our budget mess (both state and federal) we need to cut spending AND increase taxes, which are lower now than they were 15 years ago (at least federal taxes). Please, Governor Dayton, don’t bend one more inch to accommodate the Republicans. You have given enough! It’s their turn to start thinking about ALL Minnesotans, not just their big-business, privileged, money-donating party members. I am so tired of their claiming to speak for the people of MN. They are definitely NOT speaking for me.

Well duh…..!

Another obvious bait question designed to enflame leftist anger against the right and the left fell hook line and sinker for it. The absence of comments from the right indicates the right is smart enough not to take sucker bait.

THIS “leftist” didn’t FALL for anything, Stan. And the reason there aren’t any “rightists” commenting here is that they know they’re in the wrong and should be compromising just as Democrats have been doing all along. There’s no reasonable argument for them to make (I noticed that you didn’t make one).