DFL Education Foundation

Preview (5/8): Facing Our Fiscal Challenges with John Gunyou

Saturday, May 8
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Gardens of Salonica
19 5th St NE, Minneapolis (map)

John Gunyou, a government insider who thinks and frequently publishes common sense and entertaining op-eds, will be our May 8 speaker at the Stone Arch Discussion Group from 8 to 9:30 AM at Gardens of Salonica, 19 N.E. 5th St., in Minneapolis. His timely topic: "Facing Our Fiscal Challenges." Currently city manager of Minnetonka, Minnesota, he has served as Minneapolis' finance director and was Minnesota's finance commissioner in the Carlson administration.

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Only 3 blocks north up E. Hennepin Avenue (County Road 52) from our old meeting place, and a half block west.

As usual, invite anyone interested--free and open to the public. Come, buy your coffee (the law is you can't bring food or drinks into a restaurant), learn a lot and have your questions ready.

An Open Conversation about Politics, Governance, and Populism moderated by Martin Sabo

April 18, 2:00-4:00pm, St. Louis Park City Hall (map)

Get the conversation started for our annual meeting special event!  Read up with the linked articles and give feedback in the comments!

Politics: Should a politician vote his/ her conscience or constituency? What does accountability in politics and government mean? (Was Wellstone wrong to vote for the Defense of Marriage Act? Are too many Senators reliant on interest groups for campaign contributions?) What needs to change? And how do newly-elected public officials get up to speed on all the issues they must deal with? Are lobbyists educators as well as influence peddlers?

Populism: Populism is anti-party but aims to influence politics whether it's on the political right or left. What are the pluses and minuses of populist movements (e.g. Tea Parties and Meet-ups)?

State vs. Federal government: The Imbalance of Budget Balance. States must balance budgets (see: 51 Herbert Hoovers); the federal government can run deficits. What difference does this make for politics and government? What does federalism mean when states rely heavily on federal funds (see this report from Montana)? Is LGA (local government assistance) a way to alleviate income inequality or just a line item for the state to zero out in tough times?