Accessibility menu
State Representative Jeanne Poppe
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4193
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
REMEMBER THE VALUE OF DEMOCRACY
Maybe it’s a coincidence that a unifying, patriotic holiday like Memorial Day comes just a few days after we see another legislative session fizzle. If it is a coincidence, it’s a fortunate one - because Memorial Day helps heal the divisiveness of politics and brings us together regardless of which party we belong to or political philosophy we hold.
This year in particular, however, we ought to take a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday while we enjoy the festivities. We will be especially honoring the men and women in our Armed Forces risking their lives in Iraq - just as their older brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers did in hundreds of places all over the globe during the past century. Many gave their lives, many sacrificed in countless other ways, but all did so knowing they fought to establish freedom for themselves, for their nation and for the world.
I was very pleased that this year the State Legislature passed a bill authorizing the building of a WWII Memorial on the Capitol Mall. The memorial will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices our parents and grandparents made for our sake, one that we can too easily forget as time passes. They fought to protect our way of life; our system of democracy that we take for granted but is the envy of many.
Some people may claim that the legislative impasse in St. Paul is proof that our political system is broken or at least not working any more. I don't see it that way. Our political logjam is the result of the very thing our ancestors died to protect-the right to disagree and work together to resolve our differences. I think most of us would be disappointed if our elected officials didn't stand up for the things we believe.
A lot of people are quick to blame runaway partisanship or an inability to compromise as the main reasons we need a special session. I believe that the real issue is that there are fundamental differences of opinion about the budget and the necessary balance between spending and taxes, important differences that are going to take time to work out. What we’re struggling to do is bridge the gap without sacrificing our core principles.
Eventually, that’s going to happen. We'll debate. We'll huddle in long meetings and struggle to reach compromises. The process isn’t always pretty, but for over 200 years, it's worked amazingly well.
So, this Memorial Day week-end, as you spend time with your families and take a break from your hectic, everyday pace, take time to reflect on the political diversity that has made our country great. We've seen dissent, protest, compromise and victory. The same freedom is offered to every one of us, and, this weekend especially, it's important to remember how fortunate we are.
Please continue to call or write if you have ideas or concerns you want to share about state or local issues. I can be reached by phone at 1-888-682-3180 or 1-651-296-4193, by mail at 231 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at the above address. If you are interested in receiving my e-newsletter, please email me at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn and your name will be added to our list.
News Items
- POPPE SELECTED AS AGRICULTURE POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Rep. Jeanne Poppe Encourages High School Juniors to Apply for Minnesota House of Representatives Page Program - Application Deadline is November 19th - (Posted: 2012-11-12 00:00:00)
- HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION SIGNED INTO LAW - 2012 legislative session adjourns sine die - (Posted: 2012-05-11 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.