Today’s Pioneer Press reports that citizens have been asked to submit their property tax ideas. Brainchild of Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, chairman of the House property tax subcommittee, it’s an excellent first step to involve citizens in a matter of vital importance. Five hundred people have sent in their ideas.
But imagine how much more powerful this could be if it were more than a suggestion box–if citizens had the opportunity to weigh in on one another’s ideas, offer information and find out what the consequences of their ideas would be. Who would it help? Who would it hurt? How much? MAP 150 is developing such a tool and we hope we have lots of takers.
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Ethan Yazzie-Mintz, who conducted a nationwide of student attitudes in school, writes to let me know that 14 of the participating schools were from Minnesota. His full report has lots of interesting comments from students, regarding their boredom in schools, what they like and what they have problems with. One disheartening set of responses mimics those we heard from Minnesotans last summer, for example: “these surveys are pointless because you guys will do nothing even if there is a problem.” Early on we become skeptical that anyone really cares what we think.
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