The months of early summer have been shaped by two significant events. First a natural disaster occurred when the May 22nd tornado traveled a path across North Minneapolis. Then what might be considered a disaster of the “man-made” variety befell Minnesota as the budget impasse caused a shutdown of state government at the end of June.
Both events had a profound impact. They also present dramatically contrasting examples of how shared responsibility for the collective good is exhibited in these times.
Response to the storm was swift and broad-based. Whether through volunteering time or treasure, thousands of people came to the aid of fellow citizens whom they mostly did not know. Governmental and non-profit agencies coalesced quickly as well with a high degree of cooperative focus on the immediate and longer-term well-being of North Minneapolis residents. Much remains to be done, but those harmed through no fault of their own understand the community is behind them. And those who helped are reinforced in their belief that should they ever be in need, others will respond as they did.
In contrast people harmed by the shutdown of Minnesota’s government were left to wonder about the tattered state of communal commitments as reflected by the political process in St. Paul. No matter the ultimate resolution, that concern lingers because a legislative spending plan which shredded the safety net, underfunded institutions and investments key to Minnesota’s economic future, and continued the trend toward diminished and mediocre public services could not be improved by general consent before a crisis ensued. A view that those who are financially able should pay additional taxes to make for a better budget clashed with the belief that those who receive state resources must utilize them in the most productive way possible regardless of the predicted impact of overall spending levels. At a critical point these arguments weren’t reconciled in the best interests of all of us. Through this painful process at the Capitol there was much talk of sacrifice – whether by taxpayers or direct beneficiaries of the state’s budget – but not nearly enough of the responsibilities we owe one another depending on our circumstances and role within the larger community of interest to which we each one belong.
At one level it is easy to understand how the emotional aftermath of a storm catalyzes individual action. The function of government, especially in these polarized times, elicits no such response. But to be effective, personal reactions to a tragedy like the North Minneapolis tornado have to be organized and aggregated for positive impact. Just like state government aggregates resources and organizes them to secure our collective interest in a safe and humane state which supports the aspirations of all its citizens.
Responding to the tornado and adopting a balanced state budget are enterprises which weave individual preferences into an effective shared vision for pursuit of needed results we value but cannot achieve alone. In one case, the community came through with flying colors. In the other, much work must be done to repair a broken politics.
~ Steve Cramer is a guest contributor.
Great insghts, Steve. Thank you for sharing them. I agree with what you said and am thankful for your eloquence. I want to offer another thought to build on what you said. It concerns access to the media and the role this access plays in the unfolding of both events.
The access to media is now contributing to progress (or lack thereof) in both of these circumstances. The majority of the folks hurt in the tornado are lower and middle/lower income families who do not have the access and the ability to generate public attention as do our public officials. I think we all know that intuitviely. The northside residents are trying to put their lives back in order without the magnifying lens of the media on top of their every move – which manes that they are not being influenced by the media presence. They are getting help from a lot of very generous sources (nonprofits, selfless individual, generous businesses and the government), though probably not enough nor fast enough I’m sur for most folks. It is overwhelming for many of them’ so much so that they do not have the time or ability to be in front of the cameras speaking about what is wrong or why it is taking so long – instead they are fixing their lives and trying to move on.
Contracts that with the legislature and the Governor. They are playing to the media constantly. If the legislature and the Governor did not have constant media access to keep solidifying their positions, they would more quickly about the business of governing. But instead they make pronouncements and decry the other side. It is a grand misuse of the public airwaves to allow them to spend time polticing rather than doing the work to solve the problems. And while the media are not to blame, we must recognize they are a vehicle for the destructive elements within contemporary politics.
Thank you for a most thoughtful essay. One factor that might make response to a natural disaster easier is that it cannot readily be blamed on those whom we have come to mistrust. That doesn’t let us off the hook for addressing our social and interpersonal disasters – and out political processes are surely as wrecked as the neighborhoods you described. In both instances, we may choose to act constructively, and as you observe, we must.
Steve, great essay. I have had the privilege to serve as a board member and a bit of a “right hand” to a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize nominee from right here in the Twin Cities.
http://bit.ly/p7TXpb
She learned and honed her skills in Disaster Relief… where, as she says, people are really forced to work together. They pitch in, roll up their sleeves, and overcome their differences because of the “seen disaster.”
Unfortunately, what peacemakers and collaborators are often trying to do is disaster prevention. The reason she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize was the proven results shown in bringing together groups that many thought were irreconcilable. And how is that done? By good old fashioned listening, openness and humility. St. Paul should send a limo over to Stephanie’s house and beg her to bring both sides of the aisle together!