I never said I came here for factual knowledge only opinions. Believe me I would never take anything I read on here at face value and assume it is factual but then would not just the same toss it aside because I do not agree with it. I strongly believe that the opinions of other outdoors people, (wether you or I agree with these opinions) on this subject is still valuable information in the debate. What makes this forum so interesting IMO is the varied social, moral and economic views the people on here have but still have the common appreciation for the outdoors. It is very unique in that way.

Has anyone noticed the absence of some our most prolific posters during the run-up to the election? It looks to me like we are settling back into our regular cast of characters...

Free country, free speech, freedom to choose, we can express our opinions of how things are unfolding and the people that are appointed to spend our $$$. If you want to blindly follow the pack that is your choice, there are some that don't.

Yep were all sheep!


Nicely Indeed!

For as much "doomsday negativity" there are equal parts of sunshine blowing up one's pant leg, so don't come off like it's a one-way street here.

Jackpine, I'm just relieved that there aren't 542 posts in this forum between the time I leave work until the time I get home. I suspect productivity has shot up in some offices around the state in the past four weeks.

From the Star Tribune today regarding the MN deficit:

One controversial source of immediate funds could be the state's newly passed constitutional amendment raising the state sales tax by 3/8 of 1 percent. The revenue, projected at $300 million annually, is dedicated to environment and the arts. Using that money to shore up the budget would prompt criticism and challenges, but the alternative, some legislators say, is allowing new spending on arts and lakes while schools lay off teachers and families lose health care.

Will they tap into this? Hard to say right now, but the fact that they are even mentioning it just goes to show this $300 million boondoggle is low hanging fruit for our state politicians. This was predicted to happen well before the election and it already is a possiblility before the first tax dollars from this amendment even hit the cash registers!

Now you wonder why some of us were skeptical about the amendment? As Jackpine said above, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Boy ain't that a fact.


I hate to say I told you so, but with disappointment, I told you so. I'm not gloating as it's my tax money too, but the writing was on the wall.

Who woulda thunk it? LOL

I figured they would want to tap it. I don't know that this is hard evidence that they are going to, but like you said, to even be considering it right now chaps me. The poeple voted for this bill for the reasons it was writen, if it goes to something else then it should be removed from the books cause they will be back in a couple of years for more.

LMTOUT, that must feel good. You sure don't have any trouble demonstrating your happiness with the possibility...many thanks.

Yea, right.

Well like I said, it's not something to brag about since it appears we may be taken to the cleaners again....all of us, not just the ones who voted 'yes'.

For those who believe this money will do some good for the environment and arts now's the time to make phonecalls or write some letters.

I also am going to claim "I told you so". I have a dozen or so posts saying this would happen, and it didn't even take a month to be proposed.

Repeat after me "more government (taxes) is not the solution to life's problems".

.......But this time it's gonna be different(in my best SNL nasely whiner voice....LOL


I hope it doesn't go down that road, but I will not in the least bit be surprised.

Who said this money is getting tapped? Anything right now is speculation, plain and simple.

They will get our money one way or another.

I challenge any legislator to even propose taking any of this money. It would be political suicide.

Wasn't the MPLS paper not long ago (The Rag)leaning one side?
What the Tribune says and whats done are two different things.
Spectulation is prompting egos? for self satification?
On that I TOLD YOU SO! I could claim that on the past whole election! But I wont/