Five things Americans don't want to hear, but must

Let's face it, we're moving forward into times where a whole lot of things are going to change.

At state and federal levels, the budgets are in deficits, serious deficits.

Government workers are having benefits severely cut back as well as jobs and pay. Ditto for private sector.

There are solutions to these problems. There are better times ahead, but we have to, as Americans and Minnesotans, understand some hard truths.

1. Medicare must be cut. 

Yes. It's a great program. It has served many of our families and most importantly our elderly. But the exponential growth in the number of people who will qualify will create expenses that exceed our ability to pay for them.

Smart people and political leaders are trying to figure out how to deliver the same services more efficiently, but it may mean you talk to a diagnosis nurse on an 800 number before you get the personal meeting with your favorite doctor.

2. We can't completely protect ourselves from terrorists and others around the world.

We can, to a certain extent, but the number of groups, the number of unstable countries and the risk of nuclear weapons getting into the wrong hands are all on the rise.

It helps that we're trying to forge peacekeeping transitions in a lot of these countries, mostly Middle East, but it's hard to say this risk is decreasing.

3. We can't rely on the stock market as much as in the past as a solid investment for our retirement savings.

This confidence was shaken after the 2001 terrorist attacks and was somewhat regained until the financial crisis of 2008.

For years, baby boomers were told to leave your investments in one place. Over time the stock market is the best place.

I'm no expert, but it seems to me, the confidence in the stock markets has eroded with 2001 and 2008 events.

There are thousands of people who invested for their children's college education in 1995 who have a "cost basis" that is above what they have in that account. In other words, they lost money.

They will not have great confidence about investing again.

4. Voting matters less than it used to.

Corporations and organizations will have unlimited financial power, thanks to the Supreme Court, to influence elections. Corporations were cleared by the court to spend as much as they want on influencing elections, and in many cases, it can be kept secret.

5. These first four problems cannot be solved by the same old "passive American" democracy - that is, wait for a while, let the politicians handle it and because they want your vote, they'll fix it.

No. Americans are going to have to get much more "physically involved" in democracy in the future if we want change. It may be protesting at capitols or organizing groups over the Internet to recall politicians, but a "vote" may not be enough.

Democracy will require tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

"Public influence groups" will need to be formed with like-minded individuals to counter the power of  "private interest groups."

If this all sounds a little depressing, that's not the intent. Rather, I write these things because I have great confidence in the American tradition of democracy directed by the people.

Happy 4th of July!

The most informative government shutdown/budget stalemate articles

Here's what I'm reading to stay informed on the impending government shutdown.

Eric Black's MinnPost story on Supreme Court setting a hearing on constitutionality of judiciary's role in keeping some parts of state running. 7/11/11. Major implications.

Another solid explanation of the impasse regards policy between Dayton and GOP by Elizabeth Dunbar, MPR. 7/11/11

Another good story by Elizabeth Dunbar of MPR on some real costs of a state shutdown. 

Star Tribune solid explanation of complicated budget numbers. GOP spending "not an increase."

Here's a solid opinion piece by Jim Mulder, former Independence Party candidate for lieutenant governor. It's a viable solution to the state budget stalemate.

Another good Doug Grow analysis from MinnPost. Friday, July 1.

Doug Grow's excellent analysis piece in MinnPost, Thursday, June 16.

Good info from people smarter than me: Medicare

Here's one from experts at the Concord Coalition, the nonpartisan budget watchdog group.

Contrary to popular belief and Michele Bachmann, the previously inaccurately described "death panels" are not, cannot cut Medicare, but can and are needed to offer a promising way to curb health care costs and inefficiency.

Here's a solid article by Joshua Gordon of Concord Coalition showing these kind of "advisory" groups are often useful and key to solving big problems but are demagogued away by politicians.

Gov. Dayton at Society of Professional Journalists banquet

A few quick observations from Gov. Mark Dayton's talk to the Society of Professional Journalists awards banquet in St. Paul Tuesday.

I talked to Dayton a month or so ago in Mankato. At that time, he said there was a 50-50 chance of coming to an agreement on the budget with Republicans.

Asked for an update Tuesday, Dayton said the odds are "less than 50-50."

That's alarming. It appears a government shutdown is imminent.

The other item of interest that drew the attention of other journalists at the event was the elimination of the early childhood funding bill (supported by both Democrats and Republicans and big money players like the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce).

Dayton said the bill was killed by a "tangential" fringe group, and Republicans bought the groups ideas.

Those ideas have been reported elsewhere as ones where the group feels all moms should stay at home to teach their children, and that government shouldn't do what parents should do.