Jun 22 Call Me Irresponsible

Minnesota 2020 has published a jeremiad on Governor Pawlenty's unallotment plan that will "cut services that keep people happy, healthy and alive." That's right, our Governor is too dense to realize how he might actually be killing people by his benign neglect. Or is it worse than that? "Not everyone in Minnesota cares about our elderly," says the author, Elizabeth Rich. Could Tim Pawlenty be one of them?

Of course not. No, this is just another in the series of "get Pawlenty" attacks, just as weak, and decidedly more personal. Since the Governor doesn't care, we "should just put our disenfranchised population on a bus to Wisconsin." "Grandma is on her own." For those needing a special diet, "too bad. Get a job, you slacker." "The poorest of the poor better save their pennies to buy really soft food to go with their lack of teeth." The poor should buy lottery tickets, as Ms. Rich thinks "the odds are about the same that they'll get any quality of care." And finally, "nothing says 'I care about the people of Minnesota' quite like withholding money from the [doctors] that treat them."

We, the million plus in Minnesota who support the Governor's actions, and that includes me, just don't get it. How, pray tell, "can we [bear] our children's ridicule when they mock how we turned the 'Minnesota Miracle' into the 'Minnesota Mortification'?" Billions of dollars will be spent on Health and Human Services, but without that last $200 million, "at some point, it will hurt our quantity of life."

The DFL could have found that $200 million any number of places in a $32 billion budget. We could take that from the Minneapolis and St. Paul City Budgets in fact, and still keep all their police, fire, public works, courts, and parks running at full strength.

So, no, this piece and the DFL complaints in general aren't about the money, not this time anyway. It's about the nerve of an adult to say no to some very spoiled children.

Cross-posted and comments welcome at Speed Gibson.