REBUTTAL - Shetterly
G Scott Aikens (aikens@free-net.mpls-stpaul.mn.us)
Mon, 24 Oct 1994 18:22:14 -0500 (CDT)
John Marty says,
>Can the governor point to any tangible evidence that he
>listened to Minnesotans and in some way changed the approach of state
>government as a result of Minnesota Milestones?
I can only speak for my wife and myself, but neither of us have heard of
Minnesota Milestones until this debate; it would not seem to be a very
effective way of learning the concerns of average Minnesotans. I believe
the state needs an annual referendum, so that politicians would have to
quit telling people what they want and instead have to deal with what they
actually want.
Eric Olson says,
> What effect would your policies on crime, welfare, and education
> have on individual autonomy and individual responsibility--would
> your policies foster self-reliance and accountability, or would
> they divorce people from the consequences of their actions?
On crime: No free society should throw away money prosecuting the
consensual activities of adult citizens. Non-violent social criminals
should be working in the community rather than wasting tax dollars in a
prison cell. But violent criminals should be excluded from society until
they have learned how to live peacefully within it.
On welfare: The government created work for the unemployed during the Great
Depression. We can do it again.
On education: Every American deserves to enjoy the world's finest public
education. That's why I support universal day care, smaller classes, a
longer school year, and free public university tuition for all who pass the
entrance exams.
All of those are tied to self-reliance: Punishments should fit crimes. Work
should be available for everyone. Everyone should have a chance to gain the
skills and knowledge that will keep our society strong.
Arne Carlson says,
>We know, for example, that our growing rate
>of juvenile crime is related to the increasing number of children
>growing up in broken or dysfunctional families,
> I believe we must reform our current welfare system that
>penalizes families who want to stay together;
Politicians love to pretend to know a lot of things that they do not know.
Juvenile crime may have more to do with the growing disparity between the
rich and the poor in our country, but it's easier to blame these things on
single-parent families than it is to question the consequences of the
politics of greed. Though I agree that our welfare system needs
improvement, the notion that it is responsible for families breaking up
could only be suggested by someone who has remarkably little faith in the
power of the family. (It is also an odd concern for someone who supports
mandatory drug sentencing that imprisons parents without regard for their
parental responsibilities and effectively orphans their children.)
> Specifically, I have proposed and will again submit a welfare
>reform package called "Workfare" which requires able bodied adults
>to work if they are going to receive any benefits.
It's easy to require work without providing it. A political leader should
do more.
> Another indication of the breakdown of civic values in our
>communities is the rising violent crime rate. That is why I have
>been proud to support and sign tough crime legislation each of the
>last three years. These crime bills have increased the sentences
>for violent predators, outlawed stalking and provided more money
>for prison construction. Punishment is the only effective
>deterrent to crime. We must insist that if someone commits a crime
>they are held accountable for their actions and punished. My 1994
>proposal included a "three-time loser" provision that called for a
>minimum 15 years in jail for those who commit three violent crimes
>against a person.
A politician should also be informed. According the the FBI 1992 Uniform
Crime Reports, there is a nation-wide *decrease* in all crimes except for
rape when you consider the number of crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. 11% of
our state prisoners and over 50% of our federal prisoners are non-violent
drug offenders, but rather than trying to save Minnesotan's tax dollars by
freeing those prisoners to make more room for violent criminals, Mr.
Carlson brags about this reckless spending of our state funds.
As for the "three-time loser" idea, politicians seem to love taking over
the duties of judges. Our nation's founders believed each case should be
considered on its own merits, and therefore gave the power of sentencing to
judges. I agree with them. Governors should govern, and judges should
judge.
Will Shetterly
Grassroots Party candidate for Governor
POBox 7253, Minneapolis, MN 55407