1977 Minnesota Participatory Commission on Minnesota's Future

[Benjamin Frank]

This is from the same book that I posted on the U.S general discussion forum the 30 problems in America, from the 1977 book 'The Future File' by Paul Dickson.

I'm not sure who was on the commission, but these were some of their suggestions. It seems many have been at least partially implemented, but I'm not sure if this commission had anything to do with it.

The commission that prepared the report was one created in 1973 by the governor and legislature. In the course of coming up with its package of recommendations, it worked with citizen groups, farm and labor organizations, businesses and agencies of both the state and federal governments.

1.Eliminate all local zoning ordinances and construction codes and establish statewide standards.

2.Consider creating a new form of state government: such as a one-house legislature or a parliamentary state with a 'first minister' elected by the parliament instead of a governor. (Obviously this hasn't happened, but Jesse Ventura proposed a unicameral legislature as well while governor.)

3.Actively encourage a future for the small, family owned farm.

4.Offer state subsidies for building insulation and give tax incentives for people who drive energy efficient cars.

5.Start up a broad plan to encourage lifelong learning which would include such things as educational sabbaticals for all employed people, schools that are open all year long, earlier and more flexible retirement, and the common use of colleges and universities by older adults.

6.Encourage large and small solar energy installations in the state and explore new energy concepts such as district heating plants and peat gasification.

7.Enact a broad series of programs and regulations to foster the maintenance, rehabilition and remodeling of existing homes throughout the state.

8.Mount a major effort to bring rising medical costs under control through preventative care, paraprofessionals, telecommunications networks, and noninstitutional care (such as encouraging families to care for members who would normally be putting in a nursing home of mental hospital.)

[PSOL]

Minnesota was an immensely left wing state on account of heavy social democratic presence in the DFL, they made state sanctioned video games like Oregon Trail through a statewide video game company MECC.

Privatization and austerity policies loved by neoliberals really set most of the country back and the possibility of reaching that postwar trajectory is nigh impossible now.