editorial board
The Free Press
MANKATO
January 07, 2006 07:47 am
—
Thumbs down
To Attorney General Mike Hatch for putting politics into the serious issue of identity theft.
The Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force recently discovered that hundreds of identity theft cases were probably aided by the legal sale of the state driver’s license database.
Hatch immediately blamed the Pawlenty Administration for the release of the information and the rise in identity theft crime. Hatch may as well blame the DFL Senate and other DFL governors and legislators who’ve been in office as long as that information has been made publicly available for sale — which is years.
The data has been classified as public for years. It’s political hacksmanship to say Pawlenty’s at fault for the identity theft cases.
Thumbs up
To former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich for giving a tough love talk to his colleagues in the Republican Party and admonishing them to clean up the mess they’re involved with in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
He called for the party to remove embattled House Majority Leader Tom Delay and immediately begin to reform the lobbying system that created incentives for political corruption.
DeLay has stepped down from his leadership post while he fights a campaign-fundraising indictment in Texas. But Gingrich, who helped orchestrate the 1994 takeover of the House of Representatives by Republicans, said the party needs a leader who can address the important issues.
He also cut no slack for those Republicans connected to the lobbying scandal.
Says Gingrich: “You can't have a corrupt lobbyist without a corrupt member or corrupt staff.”
Thumbs up
To the Florida Supreme Court for striking down the state’s landmark school voucher law. The court said the program violates a constitutional mandate that the state provide for a “uniform, effective, safe, secure and high quality system of public schools” because it siphons public dollars to benefit private schools.
The rejection of the law is a victory for public education and its attempt to educate everyone equally. A voucher system allows public funding of private schools where no accountability exists to provide special needs or underachieving students an education.
Thumbs up
To the 175-plus area residents who showed up at the first Envision 2020 meeting to discuss the region’s future.
The impressive turnout at the long-term planning meeting is an enthusiastic endorsement from the community that we need to direct where this region is going. The vice president of the National Civic League, who is facilitating the project, said that of the 52 communities in the nation he has worked with, the Mankato meeting was the biggest turnout he’s seen.
Over and over again community members demonstrate they care about their home. They serve on foundations, committees and volunteer time for endless projects and groups. And now many of those dedicated people, as well as newcomers, support Envision 2020’s goal of figuring out the future.
It’s a daunting task, but the area demonstrated when it tackled Act 2000 that it’s up for the job. And the attendance at the first Envision 2020 meeting on Thursday shows that this region is more than ready to do it again.
Thumbs down
To businesses and residents who haven’t bothered to clear their sidewalks. The thawing and freezing process has left some sidewalks a mess with lots of slick ice and puddles to maneuver around.
If residents are unable to clear sidewalks because of physical limitations, that’s one thing (and organizations such as VINE can lend a hand), but that isn’t likely the case for the numerous sidewalks in the area that remained uncleared.
Some motorists who drive everywhere may find it hard to believe, but there are a lot of people who walk to where they need to go. Some who choose to. Some who have to. Not only is it common courtesy to keep walkways clear, local city ordinances require it.
The cities do their part in clearing sidewalks on bridges and other public walkways; now it’s the private land owners who need to step up and make sure stepping is safe.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.