I, for one, think that government -- especially the federal government -- is too big, too powerful, too intrusive and too expensive. I believe the best way to reverse this trend is for states and individuals to push back against the encroachment of the federal government into the minutia of our daily lives.
– Rep. Tom Emmer, Republican candidate for Governor, Star Tribune
After sending a response to Tom Emmer's op/ed on giving Minnesota veto power over federal laws, I realized if my letter emerges at all from the maw of the Strib, it will be next Sunday, given the print mentality of the OpEx section. So here it is now:
At Tom Emmer’s invitation, I took a close look at “encroachment of the federal government into the minutia of our daily lives” over the past week.
I flew on a commercial airline regulated by the feds and got courteous help resolving a boarding issue from some TSA staff. I landed at an airport governed by state and city appointees, and rode home inexpensively on a light rail train overseen by a similar entity.
I dealt with a city inspector regarding some improvements to a property we are selling and waited for the county to review the deed transfer. I attended two games at a ball park funded by a combination of public and private interests. I volunteered at a homeless shelter run by a nonprofit that works very closely with the county and from there rode with kids to visit the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
I took an old television, computer printer and used motor oil to a county-run disposal site, where I left them, free of charge.
I adopted a rescue animal from the Animal Humane Society; my new dog must by licensed by the city.
I paid taxes on beer and fuel to just about everyone.
So much for the encroachment of the federal government in the minutia of my life. Rep. Emmer must lead a much more adventurous one.
