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Nathan Roisen

St. Paul, MN
Commenter for
2 years 28 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 06/08/12 at 08:37 am in response to When it comes to public subsidies, Twin Cities light rail seems a bargain

No one, outside a few people on the very fringe, advocates an approach toward transportation funding that seeks to do away with the automobile.

The investment is not one of light rail at the expense of cars, but rather what balance between the two is appropriate for the metro area as a whole.

One of the reasons that LRT offers a relatively competitive operating subsidy is largely because lines are only built where they are appropriate, (MOA/Airport, Dowtowns, U of M) and...

Posted on 06/05/12 at 12:51 pm in response to Thought-provoking study of 'values' differences across party lines

Interesting article.

I am of the opinion that there are several interrelated causes to the steadily increasing partisan gap that have enabled a kind of perfect storm to form. I don't have time to go into all of them but I strongly disagree that it is the fault of any one person, group of people, or thing - be it George W. Bush, big-government Democrats, or the Internet.

It is also possible that, once unleashed, partisanship-above-all-else is an all-consuming beast whose own...

Posted on 05/09/12 at 02:10 pm in response to The question: More from the Vikings, or not?

The Vikings don't want user fees because that is their plan for recouping their side of the investment.

You would think the average Vikings fan would be among those most opposed to the new stadium. They are about to get shaken down, mercilessly.

Posted on 05/09/12 at 12:11 pm in response to Senate passes stadium bill, grabs user fees, $25 million more from Vikes

Interesting question that I am sure someone could do a lot of interesting research on.

I have to think it has something to do with the visibility of Vikings-related economic activity that masks its relatively small place in the grand scheme of the economy. One of the biggest arguments of the pro-stadium people: why, I come in from (insert distant location here), spend money on a hotel downtown, and go out to eat, and so on, and all of that would go away without the Vikings!

...

Posted on 05/07/12 at 09:02 am in response to It's 'Yea' or 'Nay' today for stadium

"But while other cities raised or introduced taxes to pay for their stadiums, the project’s chief cheerleader, Gov. William T. Cahill, promised that the racetrack would pay for itself and Giants Stadium, and that taxpayers would not be liable. In effect, the state gambled on gambling.

To ensure that there was enough money, the racetrack in the Meadowlands was allowed to keep 12 percent of each dollar bet as opposed to 5 percent at other tracks in New Jersey. That way, more cash would...

Posted on 04/26/12 at 04:57 pm in response to GOP heavyweights unhappy with all the additional stadium gambling

From the strib article:

"Everybody has to suck it up and get it passed," Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Vernon Center, said in an interview. "My constituents are saying pass this thing, and do whatever it takes, short of having it come out of our pockets."

1) I can't believe a legislator was dumb enough to say that out loud, but
2) It probably represents the most honest sentiment expressed by anyone during the stadium debate.

Everyone wants to root for the Vikings but no...

Posted on 04/23/12 at 09:38 am in response to What do the 1996 and 2008 Republican tickets have in common?

Of course the true believers will point out the winning percentage when a Bush is and isn't on the ticket....

Posted on 04/17/12 at 12:34 pm in response to Vikings stadium bill will need a ‘miracle’ after committee defeat, sponsor says

The commenters above have listed all the reasons why the stadium is a bad economic deal.

The Wilfs overpaid for the team in 2005/6 in the expectation that a stadium would boost the team's value...bad business decision on their part. I would not be surprised if the largest part of their unwillingness to chip a larger chunk into the pot revolves around the fact that they simply can't afford to.

I also dispute the notion that the city of Minneapolis benefits in greater...

Posted on 04/10/12 at 10:32 am in response to Twins lack passion, panache — and maybe heart

Spot-on article. I'm sure Mauer and Morneau are nice guys but they aren't the kind of leader that a languishing, rudderless team needs to keep from falling apart.

Personally, I am calling it the curse of the spruce tree. Their record is 63-103 since the trees were torn down.

Posted on 04/02/12 at 07:52 pm in response to Our ‘submerged state’: Invisible government policies may surprise you

Dennis, I get the point you are trying to make, but I doubt you will win a lot of converts to your cause by advocating for a post-soviet Russian model for anything. Just a bit of friendly advice in lieu of a flurry of sarcastic questions that will ultimately go nowhere.

:-)