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Paul Bramscher

Circle Pines, MN
Commenter for
3 years 44 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 10/18/11 at 10:05 am in response to St. Paul ready to give Ranked Voting its first try

IRV has gotten quite a bit of support, but it's a shame that Range Voting never caught on. The Range Vote is essentially the system used at the Olympics, most every other contest, scientific studies, etc. For example, for each candidate, give them a point score 0-10. This allows you better granularity, ties in preference, and leaving someone you REALLY don't like 0 points (the default).

Some people have argued that this is too complex for the average moron, but the last time I did...

Posted on 09/22/11 at 03:15 pm in response to Capturing Keller Golf Course's beauty and history

It would be an historic shame to demolish these structures rather than hire historic architects to modernize them as-needed.

Reminds me when Maplewood destroyed the historic roundhouse nearby at Frost & English and has done nothing with the property since. Would have made an excellent Ramsey County historical site.

The Keller clubhouse was designed by a notable African-American architect, Clarence "Cap" Wigington (who also did the Highland Park water tower and original...

Posted on 03/24/11 at 10:51 am in response to Battle lines drawn as advocates try to fend off GOP proposal for biggest higher-ed cuts ever

It seems that everyone has had to tighten his belt except the two demographics that have enjoyed an enormous amount of wealth shift their way since the 1970's: the wealthy and the retiring Boomers. We've seen students, union workers, civil servants, young people, and pretty much everyone else sacrifice -- but where's the evidence of belt-tightening where most of today's real wealth actually sits?

As for the U of MN, most of its revenue now comes from tuition and other private sources...

Posted on 07/14/09 at 10:41 am in response to Political science: Poll reveals Americans' views of scientists

Looking more carefully at this article, it's worthwhile to note that so many scientists are apparently in favor of building more nuclear plants, as opposed to more research in solar/wind/geothermal/hydrogen. The TCO of nuclear must include storage/monitoring/security/real estate emcumbrances on the waste for thousands of years, uranium cartels (as with oil) already exist, it is extraordinarily subsidized and top-down in nature, etc. This would render it a dubious choice today from either a...

Posted on 07/13/09 at 12:46 pm in response to Political science: Poll reveals Americans' views of scientists

In high school I learned of the scientific method, but later in life, having earned a triple-major and done some graduate work (I now work at the U of MN), I've seen the less savory socio-economics and politics of science. All scholars need to go through various hoops in order to get a doctorate, a good position or tenure, and everyone needs to earn a paycheck -- scientists shouldn't be seen purely as altruistic arbiters of ultimate truth, since they work for many of the industries that...