The St. Cloud Times editorial board has called for a Town Hall meeting to be convened on the proposal to create a local economic development authority. Now I have no opinion on the merits of the EDA proposal, but I am thrilled at the prospect that actual direct democracy may break out in Minnesota.
For about a year, I have been toying with the idea of creating "Town Hall Minnesota": an organization dedicated to promoting the cause of direct democracy here at home. Engaging the public in the debate on public issues of the day will lead to better policies, I believe.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The American Nomenklatura
Keeping with our Soviet theme this week, check out Jerry Bowyer's column from Forbes documenting the difference between the "tribute-imposing" and "tribute-bearing" classes. Since I switched from the former to the latter in the past week, I am more keenly aware of the distinction.
Key quote:
"Increasingly our nation is divided, not between Rs and Ds, but between TIs and TBs: tribute imposers and tribute bearers. The imposers are gigantic banks, agri-businesses, higher education Colossae, government employees, NGO and QUANGO employees and the myriad others whose living is made chiefly by extracting wealth from other people. The bearers are the rest of us: the people who extract wealth from the earth, not from others."
(Via Instapundit)
Key quote:
"Increasingly our nation is divided, not between Rs and Ds, but between TIs and TBs: tribute imposers and tribute bearers. The imposers are gigantic banks, agri-businesses, higher education Colossae, government employees, NGO and QUANGO employees and the myriad others whose living is made chiefly by extracting wealth from other people. The bearers are the rest of us: the people who extract wealth from the earth, not from others."
(Via Instapundit)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Gov. Dayton's Energy and Environment Team
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has finished filling his core energy and environmental team, and the theme, in a word, is "environmentalist."
His three picks for heads of the Department of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, and the the Department of Commerce's Energy Division all hail from organizations belonging to the state's umbrella environmental organizational: the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Tom Landwehr of the local branch of The Nature Conservancy will head the DNR. Paul Aasen of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy will run the PCA. Bill Grant of the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League will run the Energy Division of Commerce (my old job).
Interestingly, Commissioner Aasen started his new job several weeks ago, yet his is still listed as the MCEA's advocacy director. When I started with state government, I had to cut all ties to my former employers. Or perhaps, MCEA is just slow on updating its website.
What does all this mean for state policy: I guess we will be finding out soon.
His three picks for heads of the Department of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, and the the Department of Commerce's Energy Division all hail from organizations belonging to the state's umbrella environmental organizational: the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Tom Landwehr of the local branch of The Nature Conservancy will head the DNR. Paul Aasen of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy will run the PCA. Bill Grant of the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League will run the Energy Division of Commerce (my old job).
Interestingly, Commissioner Aasen started his new job several weeks ago, yet his is still listed as the MCEA's advocacy director. When I started with state government, I had to cut all ties to my former employers. Or perhaps, MCEA is just slow on updating its website.
What does all this mean for state policy: I guess we will be finding out soon.
Post-Modern Law-Making
One of the points that I made in my testimony this morning centered on "declaratory law-making." I picked up this phrase from MEP Daniel Hannan, who also describes the phenomenon as "aspirational" or "post-modern" lawmaking.
I'll let Daniel give an illustrative example,
"Hannan: “EU policies are putting people out of work”.
Eurocrat: “Nonsense. We’ve just agreed a position paper that lists the fight against unemployment as one of our top three priorities”.
Hannan: “But the things you’re actually doing make it less attractive for firms to hire people. Look at the social chapter, the 48 hour week, the over-regulation of small businesses…”
Eurocrat: “Didn’t you hear what I just said? One of our top three priorities!”
The EU sees itself as a kind of Cartesian malicious demon: it believes it can define our reality by controlling our perception."
The EU isn't alone. We here in Minnesota engage in much the same thing. Instead of identifying real problems and legislating workable solutions, we state our beliefs and hope the bureaucrats (like me) can rework reality to match our good intentions and high-minded ideals.
I'll let Daniel give an illustrative example,
"Hannan: “EU policies are putting people out of work”.
Eurocrat: “Nonsense. We’ve just agreed a position paper that lists the fight against unemployment as one of our top three priorities”.
Hannan: “But the things you’re actually doing make it less attractive for firms to hire people. Look at the social chapter, the 48 hour week, the over-regulation of small businesses…”
Eurocrat: “Didn’t you hear what I just said? One of our top three priorities!”
The EU sees itself as a kind of Cartesian malicious demon: it believes it can define our reality by controlling our perception."
The EU isn't alone. We here in Minnesota engage in much the same thing. Instead of identifying real problems and legislating workable solutions, we state our beliefs and hope the bureaucrats (like me) can rework reality to match our good intentions and high-minded ideals.
This Morning in the House Env. & Energy Committee
I call one of my labels on this blog "The Energy Debate." In the Minnesota House Energy and Environment Committee this morning, we had something of an actual debate. It was great fun.
The occasion was a hearing on HF72, Rep. Mike Beard's bill to repeal the moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. As a private citizen, I was the last to testify this morning, and I will return Tuesday morning to answer questions from the committee.
On the "pro" side, we had the one utility actually trying to build a coal plant, and folks from the coal, labor union, and Chamber of Commerce lobbies.
On the other side, we had the usual suspects from the environmental movement.
More interesting to me, are the folks who bill themselves as "concerned citizens" who volunteer to testify. We had two very earnest high schoolers testifying against the bill. The one young woman from Stillwater, bless her heart, talked about the "plume of pollution" coming from the nearby NSP A.S. King power plant, that is destroying the "ozone layer." First, the "plume" is mostly steam. And second, whatever its faults, coal power is not the culprit on the ozone layer. (What are they teaching in the schools today?) But the kids seems so fresh-faced and concerned, it didn't seem sporting to point out these facts.
The occasion was a hearing on HF72, Rep. Mike Beard's bill to repeal the moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. As a private citizen, I was the last to testify this morning, and I will return Tuesday morning to answer questions from the committee.
On the "pro" side, we had the one utility actually trying to build a coal plant, and folks from the coal, labor union, and Chamber of Commerce lobbies.
On the other side, we had the usual suspects from the environmental movement.
More interesting to me, are the folks who bill themselves as "concerned citizens" who volunteer to testify. We had two very earnest high schoolers testifying against the bill. The one young woman from Stillwater, bless her heart, talked about the "plume of pollution" coming from the nearby NSP A.S. King power plant, that is destroying the "ozone layer." First, the "plume" is mostly steam. And second, whatever its faults, coal power is not the culprit on the ozone layer. (What are they teaching in the schools today?) But the kids seems so fresh-faced and concerned, it didn't seem sporting to point out these facts.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The (Deputy) Commissar Vanishes
Come to think of it, State Rep. Tom Rukavina once credited?/blamed? me for running a "Soviet-style" state agency.
CFL Light Bulbs and Mercury
Last night, I was lucky enough to attend a speech by John Hinderaker, co-proprietor of the Power Line blog. I had met John once or twice before, read his blog frequently, heard his old radio show, but had never heard him give a speech. He did a great job.
John gave his speech at the same time our President was delivering his State of the Union address. John couldn't help but note that Obama, in the text available in advance, planned to praise Edison as one of our greatest inventors, while banning perhaps Edison's greatest invention: the light bulb.
Tonight John provides a public service by posting the EPA instructions for the HAZMAT disposal of a broken CFL bulb.
John gave his speech at the same time our President was delivering his State of the Union address. John couldn't help but note that Obama, in the text available in advance, planned to praise Edison as one of our greatest inventors, while banning perhaps Edison's greatest invention: the light bulb.
Tonight John provides a public service by posting the EPA instructions for the HAZMAT disposal of a broken CFL bulb.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Is there anything that Walter Russell Mead can't explain?
I'm beginning to think not. Buried in his latest blog post he traces the love of New Urbanism in New England to the Puritan impulse to force people to live near the town center to better keep an eye on their moral behavior.
(Via Instapundit)
(Via Instapundit)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Hate to be that guy. Oh wait, I was.
Congratulations to Bill Grant who was named today to succeed yours truly at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. I've known Bill for at least 15 years, and I can say that he is a good man.
However, reading the press release from the Ministry of Truth, you would think Bill is the first to hold the position.
Let the debate begin!
However, reading the press release from the Ministry of Truth, you would think Bill is the first to hold the position.
Let the debate begin!
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