There is a new mensch in town.

Minnesota lost a powerful voice of reason when Governor Elmer Andersen died a few years ago. Elmer was a decent, caring, intelligent human being; he was a mensch. Over drinks last week two prominent University of Minnesota librarians thought it would be a good idea to make wrist bracelets that read “WWED” or “What Would Elmer Do?” and distribute them to the state’s policy makers. Although Governor Andersen is gone I heard his voice last week when I read Lee Lynch’s op-ed piece in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. I nominate Lee as Minnesota’s new mensch.
Lee Lynch asks if Minnesota is moving toward a state of mediocrity. He sees clearly that our state is off track from the direction we used to travel. He suggests that we increase the revenue (yes that means raise taxes) to where they were in the 1990’s saying “it is not too late to be great again”. This has been the frustration with conservatives in the legislature and with the Pawlenty regime. Great is not their goal. Our lawmakers, our Elmer Andersens, used to be proud to have great institutions. Not too long ago when you told legislators something like “The University of Minnesota Library lends more books than any other library in America” or “Our Historical Society is a model for the nation” the response surely would have been enthusiastic and positive. Now there are elected representatives who say, “Who asked you to be number one?” or “What is wrong with being in the middle?” Greed trumped pride. Lee Lynch’s articulate plea not to slip below average gives me hope that the pendulum is swinging back and that our business leaders –even the rich ones- want to live in a state they can brag about again; a Minnesota where the arts and humanities are alive and flourishing.
Read the entire text at http://www.startribune.com/562/story/1347536.html

I would suggest that there might be some well-intentioned ideological conservatives out there who believe that it has been a good thing to starve government and our cultural institutions. They may even believe they are getting the same amount of service for less money. That there was fat that could be liposuctioned without hurting the patient. As an example, we have often kept public library hours the same while cutting thousands of dollars out of their budgets giving the appearance that all is the same. Our task is to yell from the seven hills of St. Paul that all is not the same. That quality has suffered greatly. That our children are not being served as well as we were. The myth that we can reduce revenue without sacrificing quality and safety should have collapsed with the 35W bridge. It is our job to remind everyone we talk to and hold Republican feet to the fire.
As my brother Chris said in his budget address this week; “There are those who suggest that we can’t afford to continue to invest in high quality City services. They are wrong. We cannot break faith with those who have worked so hard to bring us to this day nor with our children whose future we hold in our hands.”