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David Greene

Minneapolis, MN
Commenter for
2 years 41 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 01/07/13 at 05:43 pm in response to Ranked choice voting is achievable and effective

We could instead present the same user-interface to the vote (rank candidates) but apply a Condorcet method to get a marginally better result. The counting complexity goes up a bit but it is nothing too difficult to do in software.

Condorcet counting has its own issues. The mathematical truth is that there is no "perfect" counting method.

Posted on 01/03/13 at 02:06 pm in response to Macy's downtown St. Paul store closing appears imminent

Amen.

Posted on 01/03/13 at 05:13 pm in response to Fuel taxes: the new third rail of public policy

Why would we need a constitution change to section 14 for a VMT? Just implement the tax and have the legislature allocate it to transportation as it sees fit. The gas tax can continue to be dedicated to highway purposes. It would be better to leave the VMT out of the constitution so it doesn't get similarly dedicated, except by statute. Then it could be used to fund all sorts of modes.

Posted on 12/23/12 at 05:01 pm in response to Voting amendment defeat: 'When they announced it, I was like, Yes! Justice prevails'

Myrna Nelson is a treasure to our state. I've had the pleasure of working with her for many years as part of ISAIAH. Both wise and practical, she has been a true role model for many.

Posted on 12/13/12 at 01:28 pm in response to Do proposed laws need a ‘poverty impact statement’?

That executive order only exists because Congress passed Title VI back in the '60's. An exeecutive order, while having great impact on the implementation of law, has no legal standing. Because Title VI exists, communities have the power of the law to force changes through the public comment process. Of course, having a friendly EPA, DOT, etc. make it that much more effective.

The executive order is only a directive on how to implement the law. Having an executive order without...

Posted on 12/13/12 at 01:41 pm in response to New MnDOT head Zelle ready to bring 'fresh perspective' to transportation issues

Which one? Molnau was a disaster but Tom Sorel was VERY good. So good that liberal groups called on Governor Dayton to keep him. And he did.

I will take a wait-and-see approach with Zelle. I am cautiously optimistic that he will bring more emphasis on transit to Mn/DOT but I am concerned about conflict-of-interest. Any changes to roads and transit is going to affect Jefferson Lines. He's said he'll recuse himself if there's a conflict but so many decisions around funding,...

Posted on 12/11/12 at 02:38 pm in response to With talk of tolerance and equality, one group is still forgotten: atheists

> While many LGBT Minnesotans have faith of some kind, there is much that is shared in
> common with atheists: the recognition of basic human rights and dignity, the freedom to
> realize one's full potential as a human being, and the right to live free of harassment,
> discrimination and abuse.

This is exactly the kind of thing Murphy is talking about. This statement makes the implicit assumption that people of faith are somehow NOT for human rights,...

Posted on 12/11/12 at 05:38 pm in response to With talk of tolerance and equality, one group is still forgotten: atheists

> except when others are trying to foist their religious ideology on me by enacting laws based on
> superstition

There's that condescending tone again. The first part of the phrase is fine. The second is not. It's not good to put negative labels on people when you want them to have a positive view of yourself.

As for organizing, I didn't say you should organize around atheism. Organize around something else and brand it with atheism to get people to notice you...

Posted on 12/12/12 at 02:04 pm in response to With talk of tolerance and equality, one group is still forgotten: atheists

> Frankly, David, I'm not interested in branding my bicycle-friendly Minneapolis, or affordable
> housing funding, or the neighborhood association, or education reform, or human rights
> work with atheism. (It wouldn't serve any relevant point, and I think it would scare many
> people I want to work with away.)

That's just fine! It may even be politically smart. I was responding to the notion David Phillip Norris put forth that atheists aren't...

Posted on 12/13/12 at 02:18 pm in response to With talk of tolerance and equality, one group is still forgotten: atheists

The paragraph reads that the "two groups" are LGBT people and atheists. The problem with the previous sentence is the use of "while." That makes it read like, "even though LGBT people can be people of faith, they still hold the same values I do.' In other words, the shared values are an _exception_ to their identity as people of faith rather than a core part of it.

To convey what I think you mean to say, it should be rewritten as:

"Many LGBT Minnesotans have faith of some...