Continuing the Closing

Yes, the State of Minnesota is shut down for the holiday weekend. That means all those who had reservations at the state parks (like Whitewater) left on Thursday afternoon. None are open. Since it is a holiday weekend, some of the government offices would be closed for the weekend anyway. Which I guess is why there are no talks going on in St. Paul this weekend. (At least that's the official word. I hope they are talking privately about the impact that this could have. The papers were already reporting questions and concerns about some issues that may be affected.

I am not on the inside of any of this. on the surface it looks like the same kind of issue that has been plaguing the US for recent years- extreme partisanship. The governor wants to raise taxes on the wealthy (which means himself since he is a multi-millionaire). While the Republicans don't. They want to cut services. Sure that sounds like an oversimplification, but I think it is the crux of the matter. It is a seemingly unconquerable chasm of ideology.

In the end, it will be the people who lose- state workers, state residents, the state's reputation. I am very aware we are in a very difficult position economically and politically right now. But democracy is about working together and finding compromise. It appears to me as if some people aren't willing to do that.