Special People for Special Sessions
I can't sleep. Oh, and I wrote a letter to the editor of the New Ulm Journal about my disappointment with the special session/goverment shutdown in MN. I thought I'd share.
To the editor:
I think I speak for many area residents when I say that the legislature has fallen into the well. We, as Minnesotans, have reluctantly come to accept the fact that our elected officials can no longer make deadlines and will be forced into special session every year. However, I am at a loss for words at the most recent debacle: the government shutdown. Now, in the weeks leading up to this horrendous event I, like most citizens, assumed that the Republicans and Democrats could put the brass knuckles and clubs aside to decide on a few important issues for the coming fiscal year. However, many are now jobless and we only have party politics to blame. Probably the most humorous event of this fiasco is the way our elected officials have taken to the shutdown and special session. Sen. Dennis Frederickson and Rep. Brad Finstad are both fine individuals. I’ve discussed many issues with them and they have always shown a great respect for the working people in Southern Minnesota. However, I have to slap the back of their hands this time around because in every article I’ve read dealing with the special session and shutdown in the New Ulm Journal, both Finstad and Frederickson seem to have out-of-legislative-body experiences. Both have separated themselves from the problem explaining their anger with the situation, when… hold on to your chairs… they are the problem. Or at least a part of it. The Democrats will blame the Republicans and the Republicans will shout at the Democrats and the Green Party candidates will curse as they drive their hybrid cars, wishing they had been elected. All this is expected, but what is not expected or accepted is our officials taking themselves out of the picture once something bad has happened. Now, I’m active at college and managed my college’s radio station this last year. What Finstad and Frederickson have done would be comparable to me saying, “Well, I’m pretty unhappy with the way things are running at the station and the staff is just not performing up to par this year.” Well, ladies and gentleman, I was part of that staff and, therefore, it was my fault from the get-go. In addition, Sunday’s New Ulm Journal had some more finger-pointing from either side of the aisle. My high school German teacher always said, “When you point your finger, there are three others pointing right back at you.” Politicians, let’s leave name-calling to the kindergarteners. Our leaders need to stop pretending like they are not MEMBERS of the House or Senate who have been a part of the problem’s creation. If they don’t want to take responsibility now, I would hope voters remember this on Election Day.
Tim Hellendrung
New Ulm
To the editor:
I think I speak for many area residents when I say that the legislature has fallen into the well. We, as Minnesotans, have reluctantly come to accept the fact that our elected officials can no longer make deadlines and will be forced into special session every year. However, I am at a loss for words at the most recent debacle: the government shutdown. Now, in the weeks leading up to this horrendous event I, like most citizens, assumed that the Republicans and Democrats could put the brass knuckles and clubs aside to decide on a few important issues for the coming fiscal year. However, many are now jobless and we only have party politics to blame. Probably the most humorous event of this fiasco is the way our elected officials have taken to the shutdown and special session. Sen. Dennis Frederickson and Rep. Brad Finstad are both fine individuals. I’ve discussed many issues with them and they have always shown a great respect for the working people in Southern Minnesota. However, I have to slap the back of their hands this time around because in every article I’ve read dealing with the special session and shutdown in the New Ulm Journal, both Finstad and Frederickson seem to have out-of-legislative-body experiences. Both have separated themselves from the problem explaining their anger with the situation, when… hold on to your chairs… they are the problem. Or at least a part of it. The Democrats will blame the Republicans and the Republicans will shout at the Democrats and the Green Party candidates will curse as they drive their hybrid cars, wishing they had been elected. All this is expected, but what is not expected or accepted is our officials taking themselves out of the picture once something bad has happened. Now, I’m active at college and managed my college’s radio station this last year. What Finstad and Frederickson have done would be comparable to me saying, “Well, I’m pretty unhappy with the way things are running at the station and the staff is just not performing up to par this year.” Well, ladies and gentleman, I was part of that staff and, therefore, it was my fault from the get-go. In addition, Sunday’s New Ulm Journal had some more finger-pointing from either side of the aisle. My high school German teacher always said, “When you point your finger, there are three others pointing right back at you.” Politicians, let’s leave name-calling to the kindergarteners. Our leaders need to stop pretending like they are not MEMBERS of the House or Senate who have been a part of the problem’s creation. If they don’t want to take responsibility now, I would hope voters remember this on Election Day.
Tim Hellendrung
New Ulm