A Very Bad Idea

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-298-a-very-bad-idea

YouTube: https://youtu.be/alo8dvgaetY

It’s no secret, we hate odd year elections. Very few people come out, and the majority of those are activists, union members, and the uber political. Should 3,500 people decide who makes policy for a city of 50,000? Why don’t we just make it easy for people to vote? We hear so much about making it as easy as possible for everyone to have their voice heard, and then so many places have these odd year elections. They are done solely so one side can control the election results. This is the wrong way to go about it.

You will find odd year elections in small cities like Appleton and in big cities like Minneapolis and St Paul. Some races have competition and some are completely uncontested. How do races even go uncontested, let alone an entire slate of races in a single city or school district? There were numerous referendums and sales tax implementations on the ballot, which passed more in the metro than outstate. Minneapolis also has a number of races where candidates are either on the Democratic Socialist ticket and the Socialist Workers’ Party ticket. Ilhan Omar hand-picked the new mayor of St Louis Park. Have fun with all that. We have to stop with the odd year elections. They do nothing, but secure the DFL’s hold on local elections.

We also discussed the recent death of Matthew Perry and those that went too soon that have left an impact on us. It prompts a discussion on the search for meaning, and I think we may have figured it out.

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!

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!

They Need More Money

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-266-they-need-more-money

YouTube: https://youtu.be/rGwVYwVmVRk

Today we bring you the story of some Minnesota cities that have asked for obscene amounts of taxpayer money to pay for things that they haven’t planned for in advance or that nobody wants. There hasn’t been so much begging for pork since the 1930’s.

Emily Larson, mayor of Duluth, took a taxpayer-funded trip to Washington DC in order to visit with lobbyists, senators, and whomever will listen in order to beg for money for the Arial Lift Bridge ($15 million), the Blatnik Bridge, the RAISE grant ($25 million), and more. It cost the residents of Duluth $932 for airfare and $647 for the hotel bill. At least the city will have room to live under the bridge they are trying to spend money on.

The Twin Cities Boulevard is back in the news. Minneapolis and St Paul are applying for a federal grant to ask for money to begin to move forward with ripping up I-94 through the heart of the Cities to put up a boulevard with stop lights. Who will stand up and stop this before it’s too late.

Chisholm hasn’t chosen to save money for a new fire station in about 100 years, so they are begging for other’s people money to do it. Aurora needs a new water treatment plant, and rather than saving for it over the last seventy years, they want a handout from the federal government.

We also discuss our bold predictions on the upcoming midterm elections and review the Oz/Fetterman debate for Pennsylvania Senate.

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 Go Camping

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-257-lets-go-camping

YouTube: https://youtu.be/dqXFzrj-BO8

Homelessness is at epidemic proportions. There are so many thoughts on how to handle it, and when government gets involved, bad ideas abound. How many stories have we seen where homeless encampments have grown in size and number, drugged out people are littering our streets with used needles, feces, and trash. Kids are having to walk right by these encampments on the way to school and back. How is that safe?

The League of MN Cities is pushing for a bill in the MN House (HR 4225) that would hinder cities in removing these encampments and force them to store their personal effects. Even in Minneapolis, residents are becoming frustrated with the growing camps. It’s not all about the filth either. There have been an increased number of break-ins. Rep Rena Moran (DFL) is pushing for a bill that will make it harder to evict tenants who don’t pay and harder for landlords to find out about those past evictions. California is leading the pack (of course) to make special stipulations for trans, gay, and BIPOC people regarding prostitution laws, because they are (wait for it)… racist. These kinds of policies are also causing residents and business to leave Duluth en masse. What is the best (and most humane) way to tackle this problem?

We also take a little time to discuss Vince McMahon stepping down as the Chairman of WWE, his contributions, and how wresting lost it’s edge.

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!

60 to 0 in 20 Seconds Flat

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-246-60-to-0-in-20-seconds-flat

YouTube: https://youtu.be/iGFgh3gTXME

Just when you think that we’ve talked about the stupidest thing on the face of the planet, we blow even our own expectations. I-94 is going to need some major repairs to bring it into the future, but Our Streets Minneapolis and MNDOT have a great idea. We need to rip out I-94 completely and replace it with the Twin Cities Boulevard. What? So we’re going to take one of the busiest corridors in all of the city, with hospitals, sports stadiums, and two major downtown business centers, and just remove the freeway that moves most of those vehicles from point “A” to point “B”. They would like to have a boulevard with stop lights instead, and push all the traffic to 694 and 494.

The MN Department of Transportation (MNDOT) has had their “Rethinking I-94” in the works for years. They are working with groups like Our Streets Minneapolis to develop alternatives to I-94, so that communities can be reconnected. There isn’t anyone around that remembers when I-94 was built, and is clamoring for a simpler day. It’s just not true. The activists say that highways are racist. What isn’t nowadays? It’s not just in the Twin Cities either… Duluth wants to remove part of I-35 too. The manipulation is off the charts and it’s obscene. Take the survey on MNDOT’s website and make your voice heard now. Soon, it will be too far down the line to stop.

Also, the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers is pushing for a 20% pay increase, plus a whole host of other unreasonable demands. They actually have the gall to claim that it’s for the kids. It’s time to get your kids out of that district while there is still time.

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!

Like An Umbrella With A Hole In It

Podcast Audio: Podcast Audio: http://Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-238-like-an-umbrella-with-a-hole-in-it

YouTube: https://youtu.be/PV_QIeL5-7Y

It was only a matter of time, but Minneapolis and St Paul have reinstituted a mask mandate. This has nothing to do with science, but is strictly political. The Mayo Clinic has stopped short of saying that cloth masks do little, and only by having an N95 or KN95 mask do you get the protection that you need. Governor Walz says that he will not implement a mask mandate “at this time”, but is urging other jurisdictions to do so. That is absolutely the case with Minneapolis and St Paul, and you have Edina looking at implementing a mandate, and other cities will follow. In fact, St Louis Park will be hearing public comments on a mask mandate on January 18th, 2022. Here’s the info in case you want to attend. Rochester may not be far behind. Thankfully, Duluth said no.

We keep hearing about how we need to take the vaccines and wear our masks from people that keep getting breakthrough cases. Something isn’t adding up here. Yet, they keep blaming unvaccinated people for the rise in cases. Schools districts are going online again. The things that didn’t work before are being forced on us again. Why, if it did nothing for us last time? We’ve got to start talking in facts and common sense if we say that we value science. Unfortunately, that stuff is in short supply in today’s politicians and media.

We also discuss The recent AOC trip to Miami, where it’s ok for her to go party maskless, but she’ll never fight for your ability to do it… in fact she tries to keep that moist, germ-infused rag strapped to your face for you to inhale.

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 Propaganda Machine

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-223-the-propaganda-machine

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAu_jAlPeXc

What if a city government was able to find out what was being said about specific local topics on social media? Well, you’re in luck! A corporation named ZenCity has made that possible. They use Artificial Intelligence to aggregate social media posts for a city (or a specific city department), so that they can gauge public sentiment and change the messaging (read: propaganda) to help sway the public into supporting whatever they want to do. That sounds cynical, but they’re saying it!

The Brooklyn Park PD has been using ZenCity, and the cost has come right out of the department budget, so that the city council never even had to vote on it! Other cities like Woodbury, St Paul, North Mankato, and Rochester have also been using them. In Meriden, CT, ZenCity was used to change the public perception about drones used in city parks to “encourage” social distancing. Apache Junction, AZ wanted to shape public opinion around a $245 million land sale. Scottsdale, AZ and Oak Ridge, TN both have similar stories as well. This is not listening to your constituents. This is using their unsuspecting opinions against them, and it’s growing in popularity here in Minnesota.

We also discuss the deadliest day in Afghanistan in eleven years. This was a complete travesty fueled by complete incompetency at best and evil intent at the worst. This total botched job could have handled better by anyone that cared at all about our citizens, our military, and our country.

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!

Lawlessness, Injustice, and the New American Way

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-220-lawlessness-injustice-and-the-new-american-way

YouTube: https://youtu.be/R4zS-6WCpe0

Can you name your county attorney? Each county has one. Too many county attorneys across the United States have decided to take on the jobs of defense attorneys and legislators. How can they just decide not to prosecute certain crimes? Our cities and counties are becoming less safe as they turn criminals back out into the streets. They will tell you that it’s only low-level offenses, but that’s not true. It’s shoplifters, car thieves, rioters, and in some cases, even violent crimes like murder.

We are seeing these county attorneys go soft on crime in Hennepin, Ramsey, and St Louis counties, among other Minnesota counties. Attorney General, Keith Ellison, has taken over prosecuting police in certain cases. Los Angeles County’s George Gascon is letting almost everyone go, and the police are fighting him every step of the way. These criminals learn that crime pays, and continue to violate the law, rather than letting the justice system deter criminal acts down the line. Ultimately, this makes all of us less safe, and feeling less secure in our communities. These cities need to fight back, and some are starting to.

In this episode, Jason attempts to take the “Travel Behavior Inventory” from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Met Council. Big shock… what a scam to track and trace where you go and how you get there. How far will we get into the inventory before we refuse to go any further?

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!

A Solution In Search Of A Problem

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-219-a-solution-in-search-of-a-problem

YouTube: https://youtu.be/FLsuwOtDm68

Hiring an Equity Coordinator is all the rage right now in cities, school districts, and counties. That would be all well and good if equity meant the same as equality, but it doesn’t. Equality is the equalization of opportunity. Equity is the equalization of outcome; two very different things. This is where certain groups of people play their little word games, making you feel all warm and fuzzy, while they undermine everything you believe in. Antiracism sounds good. Most people are anti-racism. But that’s not good enough… antiracism (per author Ibrahim Kindi) allows for discrimination against “the oppressors” in order to level the playing field. What? I believe very few people are in favor of that. Yet in most cities, this seems to be a solution looking for a problem.

Cities like Plymouth want to look like they are up with the times. I mean, who wants to get cancelled, right? So cities hire these equity coordinators to come in and search out the problems that may or may not even be present. They are tasked with looking at city core values, mission statements, and policies through the lens of race and inclusion. How about we look at things as they are, rather than tainted through a lens? There is certainly racism in our country (much of it by white liberals against other whites), but it’s not showing its ugly face by the sins of southern slave owners resurfacing in today’s whites. That’s just not true.

This is coming in to all of our cities, schools, and counties. We are hiring activists to come in and push their advocacy on our dime, rather than growing a backbone against the growing shadow of Marxism.

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!