The Scolding Aunt

The Scolding Aunt - In nearly every Presbyterian church or Lutheran church I've ever attended - and I'm going to assume it's the same in most mainline churches - there's always one old woman who serves as the congregation's professional conscience.

In my church, it's an octogenarian scold who scowls at all comers, rarely says "hi" to strangers - but during open prayers always asks that we "Pray that we quit our imperialistic policy against Iraq", while in the next breath asking "prayers for the starving people of North Korea - and that our government will have the courage to feed them". She's still outraged - outraged, I tell you - that Wellstone lost.

The Strib has one of those: Lori Sturdevant, who wondered in an editorial yesterday on the seeming change in "Minnesotans' attitudes toward toll roads".

Sturdevant - who seemed so depressed by the Republican sweep in '02 and the purported "change for the worse in Minnesota" it swept in that I'm almost glad to see she hasn't harmed herself - says:

That may be because it isn't a toll booth on every freeway lane that's being proposed. It's "a choice," as the governor and his transportation maven, Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, have been saying with mantra-like repetition. Motorists will be able to choose. They can creep along on the existing no-toll lanes, or zip on the new private lanes, and see a few dollars charged to their credit card accounts for the privilege.

Crawl or pay. It's not a great choice, especially considering some of the possibilities that might have come from a governor less wedded to a no-new-taxes pledge and an auto-oriented political base.

Who says it's not a great choice? It's the choice they use in most of the more congested cities. It shifts the costs of roads from the taxpayer at large to the consumer of the lanes' services.

But no - in Lori Sturdevant's world, it's not just a change in the way transit is funded. It's yet another sign that we Minnesotans aren't worthy of the Humphrey/Mondale legacy - of which Sturdevant is a self-appointed steward:

It goes to show what changes in public thinking can be wrought when, in the name of efficiency or tax relief/reform or some other excuse, government is rendered unable to perform up to the expected snuff.

"Expected snuff?"

I don't "expect" my government to blindly hew to some outdated, pseudo-populist dogma.

But, indeed, dogma is what it's about to Ms. Sturdevant:

Starve a government service [in this case, starve it of increases in the gas tax] long enough, and the public can be made to turn against even the most revered of public-sector sacred cows, in favor of privatization.

If you think this column just morphed into one about schools, colleges, parks and libraries, you'd be right.

First: If "no tolls" is a revered public sector sacred cow, then it's one that's best slaughtered. But the real "sacred cow" is the sense of frivolous faux populism that drives Sturdevant and her limo liberal ilk.

There are elements of privatization that, but for the sense of aesthetic violation they'd cause Sturdevant et al, can and will make schools, colleges, parks and libraries better things for all of us.

And if you think this just morphed into a post about lower taxes, more government accountability, and rubbing Lori Sturdevant's nose in the demographic changes in Minnesota that have finally rendered her a political minority (albeit a loud, perpetually carping one), you'd be right.

Posted by Mitch at January 5, 2004 06:57 AM