Broke, But Who’s Counting?
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-289-broke-but-whos-counting
YouTube: https://youtu.be/x1qnOuY8kls
Minneapolis Public Schools just approved a $976 million budget. That’s almost $1 billion! They cite rising costs and lower enrollment. Shouldn’t fewer students equal fewer dollars spent? Maybe they can afford it? Not a chance. The district is running a $42 million deficit. This is absolutely irresponsible. Kim Ellison (yes, of the Keith Ellison “Ellisons”) is a major factor here. Minneapolis is spending $27,000 per kid. That’s a lot of money. Where is it all going?
Minneapolis is talking about closing schools and has great ideas for those locations… like housing homeless people. They are basing the poor results on COVID lockdowns and the recent teacher’s strike. They refuse to discuss poor student performance. The state of Minnesota is threatening to take over the district to right the ship, but we know that won’t help stop the madness.
We also discuss the case of John Thompson’s kid killing some people with his car. The video was leaked, and the Hennepin County Attorney, Mary Moriarty, is worried about the leak and not the crime. Also adults took to getting naked in front of kids in pride parades this year. No one’s getting arrested. Something is seriously wrong with our society.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
Flush With Cash
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episoode-288-flush-with-cash
YouTube: https://youtu.be/7_ga6zk29kY
I’m sure that you all heard that there was a huge tax surplus in St Paul. Don’t stay up waiting for your check. It ain’t coming. So after spending all of the extra money they stole, that should be the end of it… right? Of course not!!! They passed a bonding bill in a non-bonding year with Republican help! Thanks guys!!! Remember, that a bond is a debt instrument, so it’s a hidden tax, because you will not only need to pay back the principle on that debt, but the interest too. How do you feel about your tax money being used paying back interest on loans for the rest of the state to get goodies you’ll never see or use?
Republicans argued for $200 million more than the DFL originally requested. Some of it was for property acquisition. Sen Karin Housley secured funding for two projects in Stillwater. Forest Lake is getting funding for three projects. Oh, we’re just getting started. There is a 38% increase in public spending, which is obscene. When is enough, enough? Didn’t get what you wanted? Don’t worry, next year is an actual bonding year! Oh, by the way… is education fully-funded yet?
We also discuss our feelings on how the presidential primaries are shaping up. The fix seems to be in on the Democrat side, and the Republican primary seems to be all but decided, but there’s some interesting things happening. This should be a fun one to watch. This episode goes out to the late Iron Sheik.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
The Learning Curve
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-287-the-learning-curve
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZRtlNI6C91I
On their way out of session, the Minnesota Legislature passed an education omnibus bill. As you know, we hate omnibus bills. So much junk passes through in these things, and the Republicans are just as complicit as the Democrats. They could choose to stop this horrible practice with a unified “no” vote, but they refuse. Is education now fully funded? Instead, Republicans and Democrats are falling all over themselves to spend this money to serve their Education MN masters.
Not one word of this deals with academic outcomes, but has a whole lot of bad in it. $74.4 million was set aside for personnel aid and workforce development for student’s mental health. $45.2 million was earmarked for school library aid. $37 million of our money was given for “Grow Your Own Teachers” grants. $430 million for a special education teacher pipeline. This is only the tip of the spending iceberg.
Don’t forget the conservative policy changes. All schools have to drop their Native American mascots, unless every Minnesota tribe ok’s it. Schools have to limit their use of suspension and expulsion. There’s also a provision that prohibits schools from participating in the PSEO program if they require a faith statement to be admitted to the school. This is specifically an anti-Christian measure. Crown College and the University of Northwestern are suing the state, because this is purely unconstitutional. Way to legislate conservatively, Republicans.
We also discuss the recent Republican failure on the raising of the debt ceiling. It turned out that there was nothing gained, and the president was still saying that it wasn’t good enough and that he’d just do it under the 14th amendment. There’s no way that stands up to judicial scrutiny.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
Eye In The Sky
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-286-eye-in-the-sky
YouTube: https://youtu.be/AQnuhD1fbFI
Police departments are starting to fly surveillance drones over cities. Don’t we have a fourth amendment anymore? Aren’t we supposed to be secure in our persons, homes, papers, and effects? How can this be allowed? Yet if we say anything, the same people that marched in the streets and ran for office on the platform of defunding the police call us anti-police. Hello, pot? Meet kettle. But since when hasn’t hypocrisy been an artform for these folks. Those who want to hide abortions and sex changes from parents on the grounds of privacy, neglect our privacy when they want some of our info or property.
Over 70 law enforcement agencies in MN are using drones including Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Bloomington. They are supposed to get a search warrant to fly them, but there are rules to get around that too. Using them for rescue might be one thing, but using them for a threat assessment or to spy on people is unreasonable behavior. In Warren, MN, they are tracking heat seepage from resident’s homes. Did you give them permission to do that? They joined forces with other MN and German cities in the Climate Smart Municipalities Partnership. This doesn’t seem legal to me, but hey, what does that have to do with it anymore?
We also discuss the official “end” of COVID. The new Congress doesn’t seem to be doing enough to fulfil their promise to get to the bottom of the origins on COVID. When they have subpoena power, why isn’t there more pressure to get to the bottom of this?
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
Stacking The Deck
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-285-stacking-the-deck
YouTube: https://youtu.be/xrx0fZs9Ghk
Everyone is talking about 2024 and who will be running for president. Did you know that many places will be having school and municipal elections this year? There’s one problem… almost no one votes in odd year elections. Townships can have elections whenever, as can school districts with referendum votes. We currently see totals of 10, 15, 20%, of total registered voters turning out at the polls. That’s terrible, and we don’t understand why more people don’t turn out to have more control over who governs them and how much they pay in taxes.
Why are these elections placed on a year when no one shows up? Because they are easy to control, especially when the Democrats can turn out their unions and special interest groups. Why don’t others make more of an effort? Some of these cities also run Ranked Choice Voting to further confuse our elections, muddying the waters so that no one would ever know if there was fraud in the system. We need to have a uniform and simplified election system so that people with poor intent can’t manipulate things from the shadows.
We also discuss the media freak out over the Washington Post poll that showed Biden with a 36% approval rating, and losing to both President Trump and Governor DeSantis. The discussion then turns to the many problems we are having with our electoral system. Oh boy.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
The Total Takeover
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-284-the-total-takeover
YouTube: https://youtu.be/oZ7-CAx5WFw
Our cities are expected to be built the same as each other, using the exact same infrastructure, zoning, and policies. Everything is interconnected and collecting, analyzing, and reporting all different kinds of data. They’re pushing electric vehicles, smart meters, and safer streets. They monitor activity and use that to try and drive behavior. They are putting sensors on your garbage cans, taking readings off of your smart meters, and making commercial buildings report their carbon emissions. They try to limit the water you use, the electricity you draw, and how far you travel. This is why there are cameras everywhere, recording everything we do.
They are implementing a smart grid that delivers the right amount of electricity, at the right time, to the right places. Do you want the government or companies that are colluding with government to control if and how much energy you are getting? What about “wearable devices” that monitor and track your personal stats? At what point is this helpful and when does it cross over into being an invasion of privacy? Which cities are already considered “Smart Cities”? Never backing down from a little competition, we unveil the concept of “Brilliant Cities”. Send in your ideas!
We also discuss the recent departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox News and what that means for the network going forward.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
Fool’s Gold
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-283-fools-gold
YouTube: https://youtu.be/rwTFYyJTo-s
The Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line just got a huge financial shot in the arm from the Federal government. It is only a 10-mile line, and $240 million alone is coming from the Feds. $120 million a piece have come from Ramsey and Washington counties. That is such a short route, and it stops in so few places. It will serve such a small segment of the population, but that doesn’t stop them from building it anyways. All this in a time where more people are staying home for one reason or another.
They are looking to open the Gold Line in 2024, and they want to create bus-only bridges and lanes. You’d think that Republicans might stand up and put a halt to all of this spending and forced redevelopment, but they aren’t. They seem to join in with the Democrats and vote to spend, spend, spend. They know it’s part of a bigger agenda, but they refuse to stand up for individuals and small businesses that are being bullied by large corporations and government working together. For instance, Rochester is looking to put together a 3-mile BRT line to please Mayo clinic, complete with a 13 acre Transit-Oriented Development site. Southwest Light Rail is 10 years over schedule and double under budget. Metro Transit is cutting routes, because they are so empty. We’ve got to stop this madness.
We also discuss Wells Fargo’s recent plan to consolidate office space. Corporations are entering into a new era where more people are working from home, AI is replacing jobs, and fewer people are working at all. Having all of these big office buildings are no longer tenable for big corporations, so what’s next? We discuss.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
Green Fascism
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-282-green-fascism
YouTube: https://youtu.be/cKGmkmmuwtY
There is no end to the amount of money that government is asking from us. The problem is that the costs grow out of control as we implement all of these new green regulations. Thrifty is a word not found in the government dictionary. Stearns County wants a new jail, but it will cost at least $300 million, which is only three times what they originally thought. They want to pay for this jail with a local option sales tax, which hits the poorest people the hardest. And hey… the county may annex some township land and acquire some businesses to boot.
Remember that new Vikings stadium we just bought seven years ago? Well they want another $280 million for maintenance, and $48 million this year alone. They paid $527,500 to have the building assessed. They need the money for weather stripping, a broken sign, and to put into their A/V system.
Cities and counties are writing plans on how to renovate everything, making sure that they can make all of their green updates. They get all sorts of funding from the Federal and state governments, but there are always strings attached. Groups like Drive Electric Minnesota make zoning recommendations to move cities toward zero emissions. How do we get a handle on this and drive back the push to remake America in the image of autocrats?
We also discuss the recent indictment and case against President Donald Trump. Most people, regardless of affiliation, are in agreement that this is political. How is this going to play out? It’s throwing a bunch of gasoline on a fire that was already coming to finish the job it already started. All we know is that this is just warming up.
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
Let’s Take This Outside
Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-281-lets-take-this-outside
YouTube: https://youtu.be/6nz3yYhPcBA
We haven’t talked about Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) much on this show, but they make a lot of rules that affects a lot of local cities and businesses. When they mess around with the slot sizes and limits, it can affect the level of businesses at the resorts, bait shops, gas stations, and restaurants. If you can’t keep any fish, few people will want to spend time and money on the local economy. Their policies have brought hard times on many localities. Don’t people have a right to sustenance, yet you have to be able to afford a license and to hunt whatever it is in season.
Join us for some fishing stories; some great memories and some absolutely frustrating encounters with DNR regulations. Which MN lake had daily regulation changes? Who is in charge of figuring out what you are allowed to fish and hunt for anyways, and how that applies to various lakes and public hunting lands. They are also in charge of hunting with ATVs, biking and in-line skating, camping, horseback riding, fish hatcheries… and they even have something to say about prospecting for gold.
We also wax nostalgic about the early history of video games and our favorites. What are some of yours?
Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!
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