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Dave Thul

Dave Thul's picture
Owatonna, MN
Commenter for
3 years 37 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 01/17/12 at 09:25 pm in response to Dayton's ready to try again on familiar bonding projects, but GOP already is balking

'Dayton said that 21,700 new jobs could be created'

Can someone help me on the math here? $775 million for 21,700 jobs (or 20k, 25k, whatever number is being used) gets you a salary of $35,714 per job for a single year. That's not a bad salary, but it assumes that every dollar bonded goes for payroll.

Construction projects require construction materials. The whole point of capitol improvements is improvement to infrastructure, right? So there's no way that $775 mil can...

Posted on 11/22/11 at 06:07 pm in response to A video of Rep. Don Young every American should see

My Shelby, the fact that you can't see that both men were being rude to each other shows how biased towards your agenda you are.

Was the Congressman late, and did he get the gentleman's name wrong? Sure. But that is no excuse for Dr Brinkley constantly interrupting, raising his voice, and speaking with clear contempt in his voice. I'm pretty sure you would never have put up with that in an interview, let alone in the US Congress.

It all comes down to this-Dr Brinkley was in...

Posted on 11/15/11 at 10:59 pm in response to Why I'm building an energy-efficient house

But will it all really be Mr Shelby's money used to build this house?

Solar and geothermal systems are subsidized by the state and federal government in the form of generous tax credits. Energy Star appliances qualify for rebates from the federal government, utility companies are required to offer incentives for energy efficient appliances and weatherization. And many cities in Minnesota offer free or discounted rain barrels and water garden help.

Perhaps Don could keep track...

Posted on 09/06/11 at 10:59 am in response to Shawn Lawrence Otto fights against attacks on science in this country

Man caused climate change is a scientific theory, not a proven fact.

In order to prove a theory correct, scientists are supposed to use facts to support their theory and demonstrate to other scientists that they are correct. But in the case of climate change, advocates have not been able to persuade the majority of the public or even the scientific community. So they have resorted to calling those who have not been persuaded 'deniers', 'racists' and now Mr Otto is comparing global...

Posted on 09/07/11 at 01:00 pm in response to Shawn Lawrence Otto fights against attacks on science in this country

Thanks to the commenters for proving my point.

The commenters who are not sold on the theory of man caused global warming have been called deniers, bible thumpers, anti-science, outrageous, lairs, grumpy, dumb and proud of it, just in this comment string.

If you think that I am too obtuse to understand your point, that's fine. But you will never convince me that you are right by resorting to grade school name calling.

Posted on 06/27/11 at 08:56 pm in response to Furious state employee responds to GOP email

So it's okay for Dayton's commissioners to send letters and emails with partisan talking points? Careful not to trip over that double standard.

Posted on 06/05/11 at 09:25 am in response to Will state's biggest employer give us biggest layoff ever?

"There are about 35,000 employees working for various state agencies under the executive branch. That doesn't include some 4,000 people working in state courts and higher education"

Twin Cities Business Daily found closer to 55,000 employed by the state of Minnesota, 45,000 by MNSCU, and 25,000 by the University of Minnesota. And don't forget they 32,000 Minnesotans that work for the federal government. MPR fact checked those numbers themselves.

...

Posted on 03/04/11 at 09:13 am in response to Dayton's tax-the-rich plan isn't as radical as Walker's rights rejection

I have to firmly disagree with Mr Brauer on this. Looking at Minnesota and Wisconsin in relation to other states shows the extent that each idea is moderate or radical.

Minnesota is currently 7th highest in personal taxation rates, and Governor Dayton's budget proposal would catapult us into first. Think about that-Minnesotans would pay more taxes per capita than any other state in the country. That's radical.

In contrast, while the loss of some of the unions collective...

Posted on 02/15/11 at 09:45 am in response to Picking science that fits politics: Rep. Mike Beard on climate change

Don Shelby is criticizing someone for not being a scientist but trying to sound like one? This would be the same Don Shelby who is not an engineer yet tried mightily to sound like one when the I-35 bridge collapsed?

And for Neal #5, it's easy to be shook by doubts when you cite a poll that had a 30% response rate, was conducted online and by email, and where the majority of the respondents where scientists directly involved in climate research.

A decade ago I was open to the...

Posted on 02/10/11 at 07:14 pm in response to Fact-checking fact-checkers: Politifact's anti-GOP skew and MPR's reconsideration

The question of Politifact's bias came up on one of your stories in the last month, David.

I fully agree that Politfact tends to be biased in the particular quotes that it chooses to test. That being said, I'm not sure there is an un-biased method of choosing.

But in regard to Greg statement about the effect of cutting funds to MPR-the effect on the lives of real people is not a reasonable consideration. The question is, what government obligation is fulfilled by spending...