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Tom Miller

Coon Rapids, MN
Commenter for
4 years 25 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 07/17/10 at 12:49 pm in response to Minnesota's 6th District: It's been politically volatile for many years

The geographic boundary changes remind me of an acquaintance who has lived in the same house for 43 years and during that time has lived in four congressional districts: the 8th, 4th, 6th and now the 3rd.

Posted on 07/01/10 at 11:40 am in response to Taking Tentherism seriously in Minnesota

I wonder why there are no "Ninthers." Is is a libertarian's dream. Here is the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution:

"Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

Consider how a literal interpretation of this amendment would alter laws about reproductive choice, sexual orientation (don't ask don't tell among others), recreational drug usage, etc.

Back to the Tenth...

Posted on 06/15/10 at 11:25 am in response to Emmer searches for distortions -- and finds lame examples

Rep. Emmer continues to follow the Tea Party strategy: gin up anger and hatred; offer no solutions. Anger and hatred are visceral and FAST. How many voters have the time to consider the complexity of modern society and how best to govern it in a manner that benefits all citizens? It is easier to hate.

Posted on 06/12/10 at 06:10 pm in response to Emmer's amazing performance on cutting the budget

This article got me to listen to the program on the MPR website.

Rep. Emmer's performance was pitiful. Anyone who has been in the legislature for six years should have a solid basic understanding about how state government works. It didn't come out in the interview. There should be no need to dodge mild questions (Kerry Miller asked good, serious questions, but was nowhere near tough on Emmer). Anyone who proposes to LEAD the state and its citizens, and is already an endorsed...

Posted on 05/01/10 at 08:07 am in response to Everything broke right today for Tom Emmer, giving him the GOP endorsement for governor

Emmer's nomination will make the November choice clearer.

Posted on 04/29/10 at 05:25 pm in response to Sarah Palin endorses Tom Emmer, calls him 'hockey dad'

“Honoring the Constitution, Expanding Liberty and Fostering Economic Freedom.” Hmmm. This is exactly what liberal Americans stand for.

Posted on 04/14/10 at 03:15 pm in response to Dems slam Bachmann over rhetoric, warn of extremism

It is easier to hate than cooperate. Faster, too. It requires no serious thinking, and produces an instant and powerful gut-level sense of one's self as superior to the hated other. And it is catchy.

This is the root of tea party. More importantly, it is the reason that the incredibly wealthy are the chief funding source for both the tea party mobs and the the GOP. The rich and the Republicans know that fostering hatred will return them to power more quickly, easily and cheaply...

Posted on 04/07/10 at 08:19 am in response to The long reach of public policy -- for good or for ill

An assumption in the article and in the two comments is that our economy is bounded by the borders of the United States. American society exists within our borders; but the economy does not. Much of the reason that American employers are able to pay sub-subsistence wages is that they are able to pay workers in other countries even less. And if America were to collapse because its poverty could no longer suppport a functioning middle-class society, the rich will be able to move, literally...

Posted on 02/10/10 at 10:25 am in response to Race to the Top: For Minnesota, figuring out new federal education plan is far from elementary

In any competitive situation, there are winners and losers. In Education, which sets of children should be losers?

There are a couple of assumptions built into RTTT that have never been proven. One is that teachers are motivated by money. The law implementing Q-Comp had no provision for studying the program to make sure it was effective. The assumption that teachers are motivated by money was enough to get the bill passed; the legislature and governor didn't feel that objective...

Posted on 02/09/10 at 02:08 pm in response to A change of heart for Minneapolis board member on the value of school competition

Any system of competition will have clear winners and losers. Which set of our children should lose in an educational system, current or reformed?