Joe Doakes of Como Park emails:

The state government is shut down because the Legislature and Governor can’t agree on an extra couple of billion to fund it; meanwhile, the billion-dollar stadium deal is all but done (St. Paul’s tantrum won’t change anything, they’re just pouting because Arden Hills got the glory this time).

Is the public insane? If we can’t keep state government doors open and lights on, how in Hell can we afford a new stadium?

For the same reason families who can barely make their mortgages somehow manage to squeedge out the money for snowmobiles…:

No, the public is not insane, they’re completely rational. They know the vast majority of state spending is welfare and welfare is boring. Football is fun and a new stadium is exciting. People would enjoy spending that billion much more than the other.

“Shut down the government, build a stadium instead.”

We should make signs and go stand on the Capital lawn. How’s Friday work for you?

I’ll be at the Dubliner.

Wearing my Bears T-shirt.