A plan for Minnesota's North Country

This morning we stumbled onto an essay that we believe has a whole lot of relevance for the Iron Range and the rest of Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District: THE BIG PICTURE: RESOURCE EXTRACTION. The author provides what we find to be a very telling analysis of the problems facing places like the Iron Range, and offers what we find to be an excellent core for any solutions [we would include Minnesota as a "...purple, resource-rich state..." along with the four specifically mentioned]:

To show up with a plan, I think, means this: Blue voters and politicians in the cities, state governments, and federal delegations of purple, resource-rich states like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado have to seize the political moment to issue a vocal, organized demand for three things: (1) ambitious, transformative investments (including for tuition relief) in community colleges and universities in declining urban and rural areas, (2) capital investments in small businesses as a foundation for economic development, and (3) a jobs program (expanded from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act model) that meets urgent needs in these regions: such as rebuilding decaying water and wastewater infrastructure, thinning the overstocked western forests that threaten rural counties with wildfires, decontaminating waterways and land sullied by fossil fuel extraction, and treating the opioid addiction crisis.

not all treasures are underground

Photo by J. Harrington

As the Democrats move through their candidate nominating process this Spring, we hope they'll query those running to represent MN CD 8 in  Congress about what kinds of solutions they envision for the economy of northern Minnesota. We think they'd be well advised to compare answers with the plan outlined above. Then, come November, vote for the candidate, DFL or GOP, who they believe is most likely to pursue a course of better access to better education; providing small business better access to capital; and, funding for infrastructure improvements and better management of our remaining natural resources.

Although not specifically mentioned in "The Big Picture," we would also strongly recommend a two-fold approach for those who wish to see resource extraction jobs continue as at least a limited part of the economic base of the area. First, resource extraction industries should be required to implement their industries best practices, and do so in a third party certified program. This is not a complete solution to environmental impacts, but it is a more transparent solution than provided by Minnesota's underfunded, politically whip-sawed regulatory agencies. Second, the Minnesota legislature could go a long way to improving both the economy and the environment or northern Minnesota by requiring that materials used in publicly funded projects come from sustainably-sourced providers, mines, wood, and maybe even agriculture, some day. No one wins a race to the bottom, most of all those with the fewest resources to begin with. We need an economy for the rest of us.

                     Once the World Was Perfect

By Joy Harjo

Once the world was perfect, and we were happy in that world.

Then we took it for granted.

Discontent began a small rumble in the earthly mind.

Then Doubt pushed through with its spiked head.

And once Doubt ruptured the web,

All manner of demon thoughts

Jumped through—

We destroyed the world we had been given

For inspiration, for life—

Each stone of jealousy, each stone

Of fear, greed, envy, and hatred, put out the light.

No one was without a stone in his or her hand.

There we were,

Right back where we had started.

We were bumping into each other

In the dark.

And now we had no place to live, since we didn't know

How to live with each other.

Then one of the stumbling ones took pity on another

And shared a blanket.

A spark of kindness made a light.

The light made an opening in the darkness.

Everyone worked together to make a ladder.

A Wind Clan person climbed out first into the next world,

And then the other clans, the children of those clans, their children,

And their children, all the way through time—

To now, into this morning light to you.

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