A TALE of TWO TIMS It Did Not Take Long for Governor Walz to Lurch Left of the Policies Endorsed by Candidate Walz

EXCLUSIVE The Legislature’s 50 percent energy mandate STUDY will cost each Minnesota family $1,200 per year

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CONTENTS 28 A TALE OF TWO TIMS It did not take long for Governor Walz to lurch left of the policies endorsed by Candidate Walz.

UPFRONT FEATURES Great Jobs Pearlstein’s latest book attacks 20 CAN EDINA’S the root causes of America’s SCHOOLS BE SAVED? The bill comes due for skills gap (7) sacrificing academic A Rock and a Hard Place excellence to a social agenda. The state of public employee 7 freedom in Minnesota (8) Child Care Welfare Fraud Easy to perpetrate, difficult to prove(10) Where Do Teachers’ Union Dues Go? 32 NIGEL FARAGE DESERVES Teachers may want to think about YOUR ATTENTION where those dues go (14) He’s actually behind Strength in Numbers something pretty big. Communications vet Katie Fulkerson arrives The from the GOP Senate 34 THE DOA AGENDA? THINKING Caucus (15) 8 Walz’s policy agenda MINNESOTA faces stiff opposition. POLL

Protect the 38 DOUBLING DOWN Neediest Children ON FAILURE The achievement gap How a 50 percent is not a rationale for renewable energy universal pre-K (16) mandate would cost 10 Five Questions with Minnesota $80.2 billion. Fran Bradley (18)

COLUMNISTS 42 FALSE FEMINISM Contemporary America is Ron Eibensteiner: Real-world teaching tools will confused and conflicted combat easy-answer policy solutions (3) about sex, sexuality, and Tom Steward: The high cost of ‘free’ money (12) social norms that should John Hinderaker: New newsletter calls out guide men’s and women’s politicians who waste the Legislature’s time intimate relations. and taxpayers’ money (48)

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www.risdall.com | 651-286-6700 GROWTH. POWERED BY RISDALL. Center of the American Experiment’s mission is to build a culture of prosperity for Minnesota and the nation. Our daily pursuit is a free NOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN and thriving Minnesota whose cultural and intellectual center of gravity is grounded in free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, and other time-tested American virtues. As a 501(c)(3) educational organization, contributions to American Experiment are tax deductible. STAFF John Hinderaker COMING TO President Mitch Pearlstein Founder & Senior Fellow Kim Crockett A GOVERNMENT Vice President & Senior Policy Fellow Katherine Kersten Senior Policy Fellow NEAR YOU John Phelan Economist Catrin Thorman We need real-world teaching tools to combat Policy Fellow Isaac Orr easy-answer policy solutions. Policy Fellow Katie Fulkerson Communications Director Tom Steward This issue of Thinking Minnesota de- And our superb Senior Policy Fellow Investigative Reporter votes more than a few pages to revealing Katherine Kersten (p. 20) contributes Mitch Rolling Researcher how the vacuous popularity of “Green another in her series of articles about chal- Micah Olson New Deal” politics is blowing across the lenges in the Edina School district. This Greater Minnesota Outreach Director nation, far beyond Washington, D.C., and time, she discusses how parents are trying Kristen Sheehan Development Director taking root like Creeping to regain their district’s Pari Cariaga Charlie in our own politi- academic excellence Donor Relations & Events Coordinator cal backyards. while the administration Peter Zeller Director of Operations In an original new continues to emphasize Greta Elsholtz analysis that proves its social agenda. Special Projects Coordinator how simple solutions I spend a lot of time Thinking Minnesota (ISSN 2573-6442) is pub- frequently produce far- trying to figure out how lished quarterly (January, April, July & October) by Center of the American Experiment, 8421 reaching consequences we got here because it is Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 110, Golden Valley, MN 55426, (p. 38), Policy Fellow happening everywhere. 612-338-3605. Free trial subscription currently available by sending name and address to info@ Isaac Orr concludes And these are truly AmericanExperiment.org. Send address updates that a proposal to raise some crazy and silly to [email protected]. Distributed in the United States by TNG, 1955 Lake Park Dr., Ste. Minnesota’s “renewable ideas. Such proposals 400, Smyrna, GA 30080, 770-863-9000. Letters to the editor are encouraged and should energy” mandate from 25 would damage our be sent to [email protected] for percent to 50 percent will energy businesses so publication consideration. © 2018 Center of the American Experiment ultimately cost each Min- that we go from energy All rights reserved. nesota family a whopping Ron Eibensteiner independence to energy Reproduction encouraged after obtaining permission from $1,200 per year while dependence. Even our [email protected]. Please visit our daily updated website having virtually no impact on the climate. agriculture industry would be required to at AmericanExperiment.org. In another piece (p. 28), Isaac details how counter the ill effects of cow flatulence. Custom Publishing by first-term Governor Tim Walz surprised As I say, silly and crazy. many voters in the early days of his term We all experienced a head-scratching with an abrupt leftward lurch toward the exhibition of modern progressive politics Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wing of his when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—and Tom Mason Publisher & Editor party. Our Thinking Minnesota Poll (p. many of her Democrat colleagues—first Scott Buchschacher 34) provides some relief by revealing the outlined her initial Green New Deal in the Creative Director skepticism with which most Minnesotans same 24-hour news cycle that the angry Jill Stoebe are receiving Walz’s rhetoric-centered Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Ad Sales Executive policy agenda, especially the 20-cent per had set up troops to block the delivery of gallon increase in Minnesota’s gas tax. continued on page 4

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 3 continued from page 3 row heavily from professional wrestling 50 metric tons of humanitarian aid for broadcasts? Or, are we victims of our his starving citizens. Today, his economy own economic success, in which our is ravaged by a 51 million percent infla- need for instant gratification seems to tion rate, and a recent five-day power be seeping from consumerism into our outage that effectively wiped out what politics? was left of the county’s industrial sec- Some analysts point to America’s tor. There is no food, no sanitation and young people, who—through no fault increasing anarchy in the streets, yet the of their own—have spent their impres- thug-president stubbornly sticks to con- sionable years marinating in a public- trolling his country through the power school stew of radical ideologies and of empty rhetoric and strong-armed unrepentant intolerance toward opposing tyranny—always the two fallbacks of points of view. Too many students today, failed socialist regimes. And trust me, they say, think about cultural issues and they always fail. public policies not in terms of societal challenges that must be solved, but as “solutions” that must be imposed. Any- one who questions their approach—or, Or could it be that we worse, disagrees with it—is vilified as either stupid or evil. Anyone who has just lack a Big Picture followed Katherine Kersten’s Edina teaching tool? series is well acquainted with that point of view. Or could it be that we just lack a Big Picture teaching tool? In some CAPITOL Still, here was AOC, the internet ways—facetiously only—I sometimes sensation, standing near the steps of lament the fall of the Berlin Wall. While the U.S. Capitol to outline the sweep- I consider that moment to be among the WATCH ing components of her vision of a new most significant hinges of history in my command economy for the U.S. Her lifetime, I confess to having a twinge A new newsletter proposal includes an American economy of regret—if only facetiously—that the free of fossil fuels but also single-payer crumbling bricks marked the loss of a that calls out healthcare, tuition-free education, and a powerful teachable moment. guaranteed income for every American. The Wall gave us a useful teaching politicians These are the same kind of utterly fatu- tool. It effortlessly symbolized the differ- ous free-for-all policy proposals which ences between triumphs of free-market who waste the Hugo Chávez first charmed Venezuelans capitalism versus the failures of top- and which Maduro has been trying to down totalitarianism, in which govern- legislature’s repair. From what I’ve been able to dis- ment squelched all in order to serve cern, like AOC, they never talked much the needs of the state. With the Wall time and about who would pay for these policies, in place, one did not need to be very or how. And history now tells us they analytical to conclude which system was taxpayers’ had no idea. better, which system cared most about What brings us to a position where so its people, and which system was most money many Americans place a premium on conducive to human rights. The Wall simple political rhetoric over real-world constantly reminded us all that socialism realities? Is it the fact that our internet- always fails. We need look no further based culture has shrunk our attention than the Soviet Union, Mao’s China, spans? Could it be that so many of us get Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela…and our news from screaming-head nighttime maybe now the Green New Deal. Expe- cable shows whose contrived rhetoric rience matters. With luck, it will bring us and predictable melodrama seem to bor- a more reasonable political debate.

4 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA BUSING Minnesota’s Supreme Court greenlights a REDUX? lawsuit that would sort students by skin color MAIL BAG

ISSUE 14 WINTER 2019 $4.95

The Greater Minnesota undue sway on what’s believed Advisory Board to be the thinking and priori- I just received my Winter 2019 issue ties of the average Minnesotan. of Thinking Minnesota and read Ron It’s time those of us “out in the Eibensteiner’s “Say What?” editorial. I sticks” feel like someone is hear- have to say, your words struck very close ing that the things we feel are to home for me on several fronts. important are different from the THINKING MINNESOTA • WINTER 2019 Having been in the field of Industrial large urban population. The true Maintenance and Reliability for over 30 contributors that create wealth— years, I have lived firsthand the talent agriculture, mining, and manu- shortage in areas involving technical facturing—are alive and well in Greater Minnesota. At least, as long as we’re able to continue to get the talent to keep those industries alive. and what stood out Wonderful, accurate, informative in particular was your mention article! Keep up the great work! of the “farm kid” economy. Like you, I —Steve Heimerman, Faribault grew up on a farm and, in reflection, that was a family model that needs duplicat- Thanks for your leadership with The ing in the modern economy. Greater MN Advisory Board! I read with —Lynn Tharaldson, Lakeville great interest your “Say What?” article, The Greater Minnesota Advisory Board sounds like a great idea. Ron was spot-on in —Warren Kapsner, Minneapolis identifying those highly Just finished reading Issue 14, Winter desirable skills that can’t 2019. Lots of good stuff in your maga- be taught: work ethic, zine, but I was struck by the amount of space you gave to the Beer Boom and a can-do attitude, and the drinking preferences of Democrats pride and ownership of versus Republicans. Two separate ar- work and duties. ticles and many pages to the beer craze. There must be some more hard-hitting topics. —Wayne Cassibo, Clearbrook skills learned in bygone years from classes taught in technical colleges. As a Minnesota History former hiring manager, I often gave the A friend of mine who is a Minnesota job to the “farm kid” in the candidate school teacher told me that he is not pool. Ron was spot-on in identifying allowed to teach Minnesota history those highly desirable skills that can’t be and cannot teach United States history taught: work ethic, a can-do attitude, and without violating Minnesota Department pride and ownership of work and duties. of Education rules. I believe him, but I I probably have to admit to having some wonder if he or his superiors are properly bias as a farm kid myself, but my experi- understanding Department of Education ence in hiring and promoting employees rules. By the way, my friend is teaching a has taught me it wasn’t just bias, it was U.S. history class anyway. He’s a patriot. results. Thank you for all the work you do to I was also thrilled to read about the bring truth about Minnesota politics and creation of The Greater Minnesota Advi- social movements. I read your excellent sory Board. As stated in the editorial, the magazine cover to cover. population density of the Twin Cities has —Jim Luger, Minnetonka

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 5 MINNESOTA’S LEADING CONSERVATIVE VOICE

For 28 years, Center of the MEMBERSHIPS American Experiment has been $100 Member $1,000 Patron Minnesota’s leading voice on $5,000 Benefactor behalf of freedom and conservative $10,000 President’s Club common sense. Most often, that $25,000 Chairman’s Circle voice has been that of Center staff DONATE ONLINE Please visit our website AmericanExperiment.org and click Donate!

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Books

by cultural, parental, peer, educator, and GREAT JOBS other pressures and signals,” he says. “I don’t expect to be bathed in such concur- Pearlstein’s latest book attacks the root causes rence ever again.” of America’s skills gap. Pearlstein founded the Center in 1990 and served as its president through 2015. MINNESOTA’S LEADING Prior to that role, he worked for two Education Roads Less Traveled: The idea for the book was born during years in the U.S. Department of Educa- Solving America’s Fixation on Four- a chance email exchange two years ago tion during the Reagan and (first) Bush CONSERVATIVE VOICE Year Degrees (Rowman & Littlefield) with a former editor, who immediately administrations, where he held three emerged from American Experiment’s understood the growing importance of the positions, including Director of Outreach major, multi-year initia- topic, Pearlstein says. for the Office of Educational Research tive called “Great Jobs The book’s urgency and Improvement. Before his federal Without a Four-Year “is found in the dif- service in Washington, D.C., Pearlstein Degree,” which aims to ficulty of picking up spent four years as an editorial writer and show students and parents a business magazine, columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. there are educational or the business sec- He has published widely. His books routes to well-paying jobs tion of a newspaper, include: and fulfilling careers that without reading about don’t require a baccalau- how skills gaps in the • Broken Bonds: What Family reate degree. Its efforts United States—espe- Fragmentation Means for America’s have made the Center a cially resulting from the Future (2014) nexus for communication retirements of 10,000 • From Family Collapse to America’s among industry, govern- Baby Boomers a day— Decline: The Educational, Eco- ment, educators, students in construction, the nomic, and Social Costs of Family and parents. Its activities trades, and advanced Fragmentation (2011) include original research, manufacturing are dam- • Riding into the Sunrise: Al Quie and digital journalism, video aging the economy,” a Life of Faith, Service & Civility production and public Center of the American he says. “Urgency is (2008) forums. The initiative is led Experiment Founder Mitch likewise found in the • Close to Home: Celebrations and by Mitch Pearlstein, Senior Pearlstein published his great numbers of young Critiques of America’s Experiment Policy Fellow Katherine eighth book in April. people who start at a in Freedom (2000), co-authored Kersten, and Policy Fellow four-year school only to with Katherine A. Kersten Catrin Thorman. learn it is not for them. Then, they wind • The Fatherhood Movement: A Call Pearlstein admits that without the up dropping out, become unemployed or to Action (1999), co-edited with Great Jobs project there would have been underemployed, and often have big-time Wade F. Horn and David Blanken- no book. “While I had written several college debt, when various non-four-year horn things over the last decade about how too routes would work far better for them.” • The Minnesota Policy Blueprint many people mistakenly ignored non- He is fascinated, he says, by universal (1999), co-edited with Annette baccalaureate routes to solid middle-class agreement on the topic. “Never have I Meeks jobs and careers, I wasn’t sufficiently in- pursued a subject in which everybody • Certain Truths: Essays about Our vested in the topic until John Hinderaker agreed with me; in this instance, that a Families, Children and Culture from asked me to immerse myself in it via the four-year degree is not for everyone and American Experiment’s First Five Great Jobs project,” he says. that a lot of young people are disserved Years (1995), editor

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 7 Employee Freedom A Rock and a Hard Place The state of public employee freedom in Minnesota.

In the wake of a Supreme employees about union mem- Court decision recognizing bership across the state.” The the First Amendment right of state should take the lead, but public employees to decline to local employers are not free to fund unions (Janus v. AFSC- ignore their legal obligation to ME), employers must comply employees. with the Court’s demand that This is why the League they get an employee’s “af- “also urges the Legislature to firmative consent” before de- act to protect public employers ducting money for a union. against [unfair labor practice The Court recognized charges]…when providing that all public-sector factual information to em- union activity, including ployees about union member- collective bargaining, is ship…[or] when requiring inherently political; thus, unions to provide original no citizen can be forced documentation of voluntary to subsidize it. The Court said employees consent to dues deduction…” Although Janus dealt had to waive their First Amend- Unfortunately, while this thorny issue with non-members who paid ment rights before an employer gets sorted out (most likely in the courts), a “fair-share” fee to (supposedly) just could deduct dues and that “such a most public employees remain unaware cover the costs of collective bargaining, waiver cannot be presumed… Rather, to of Janus. Cities, counties and state the Court’s reasoning applies to union be effective, the waiver must be freely agencies continue to transfer millions of members, as well. given and shown by ‘clear and compel- dollars out of employee paychecks into Following the June 27, 2018 decision, ling’ evidence…” That clear language government union coffers. the State of Minnesota ordered all public means employers must obtain a written, Why? Our government answers more employers to stop deducting fair-share voluntary waiver, not one signed under to public-sector unions than to the law fees from non-member paychecks. But pressure by the union. or its citizens. The Center conservatively the State was silent about union mem- Employees are asking for informa- estimates that government unions take in bers who had previously signed a union tion, but employers are afraid to talk to at least $181 million a year in Minnesota card authorizing the deduction of dues, employees for fear the union will file alone; only a small percentage is spent on leaving cities, counties and state agencies unfair labor practice claims against them. collective bargaining. The rest is spent on between a rock (the State which is under According to employees who contacted electing friendly lawmakers and defeat- the sway of government unions) and a the Center, employers are refusing to ing ideas and people who might curb the hard place (government unions). discuss Janus, telling people to talk to the growth of government and union power. Employers know that the union dues- union. But the union is not going to tell An AFSCME union card has a check-off authorization cards they are relying on employees about their Janus Rights. box proclaiming, “Elect Our Bosses!” do not meet the Court’s requirement of As a result, the League of Minnesota That kind of sums up the problem. “affirmative consent.” Prior toJanu s, Cities, and other government associa- If the State is not going to tell public employees could not waive their consti- tions around the country, are seeking help employees about their rights, the Center tutional rights; you cannot waive a right and legal cover. In its “2019 City Poli- will. Last year, we launched Educat- you do not know you have or that is not cies for Legislative and Administrative edTeachersMN.com, a website devoted recognized under the law. Something Action,” the League urged the state to to informing teachers about their Janus new is needed, but what? “provide and disseminate information to Rights. This spring we launched Employ-

8 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA THINKING MINNESOTA

eeFreedomMN.com, a website devoted to the needs of local and state employees. For example, union members who wish to resign from a government union are constrained by pre-Janus union terms; the cards restrict resignations to narrow windows once a year. (The Cen- ter expects these windows to be found unconstitutional.) For teachers, a seven-day window opens at the end of September. But for most public employees, the window is a unique date based on when they signed their union card. The typical language is, “This authorization shall remain in effect and shall be irrevocable unless I revoke it by sending a written notice to both my employer and [the union] during the period not less than thirty and not more than forty-five days before the annual an- niversary date of this authorization.” The challenge is that people do not have a copy of their card and must ask the union for a copy. The Center has heard from AFSCME members trying to resign who received letters saying, “We are in receipt of your request to revoke your membership. Based on the membership card you have signed, this cannot be completed at this time as you are not within your revocation period. To view Did the your card, please access your records by logging into MemberLink…” Supreme Court Another member who sent a resigna- tion letter to the Teamsters was told Restore the she “will continue to pay the full dues amount. However, you will no longer First Amendment have the right to participate in contract negotiations, bargaining unit votes, re- Rights of Teachers ceive mailings, attend union meetings, or receive other fraternal benefits…” and Public Given the power of government unions to “elect their own bosses,” it will take time, perhaps years, for labor Employees? laws to be brought into compliance with the high standards required by the Constitution. Our public sector has been corrupted by decades of forced union dues. To help reform our electoral Get all the details at politics, employees need to know about their Janus Rights. EducatedTeachersMN.com —Kim Crockett

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 9 Follow-up Child Care Welfare Fraud Easy to perpetrate, difficult to prove.

In May 2018, KMSP-Fox 9 aired a story the gathering of evidence needed in ditions at the involved child care centers. about $100 million in child care welfare these “labor intensive” prosecutions was The CCAP Investigative Unit. Jay fraud, some of which allegedly funded recommended, as well. Swanson, manager of the Investigative terrorists in Somalia and the Middle East. The Somalia connection. While the Unit for CCAP, sent a lengthy email on These allegations primarily concerned OLA was unable to substantiate Still- August 24, 2018 to Insepctor General the Child Care Assistance Program man’s specific allegations, the report con- Carolyn Ham at DHS. The email lays known as “CCAP,” a program meant to tained credible sources for the allegations out the case for widespread CCAP assist low-income parents with child care of widespread CCAP fraud centered in fraud. Swanson said his investigative costs so they can work or go to school. the Somali community, as well as CCAP team found “providers using a similar In 2017, CCAP spending totaled $248.2 funds going overseas to fund terror. It scheme to successfully steal large sums million, rising to $254 million in 2018. also outlined a dozen federal and state of taxpayer money from this program… The source of the fraud allegations was criminal prosecutions that lend further It is our opinion that while a significant former investigator Scott Stillman of credibility to the allegations. All the amount of responsibility for this large the Minnesota Department of Human prosecutions involved members of the scale theft…rests with the sophistica- Service (DHS). Somali community overbilling CCAP. tion and daring of the criminals exploit- The Legislature tasked the Office of Most cases involved kick-back schemes, ing the program, an equal amount of Legislative Auditor (OLA) with investi- wire and tax fraud, and substandard con- responsibility rests with the lack of gating the fraud claims, and on March 13, internal controls…that dictate how this the OLA released the first of two long- program operates.” awaited reports. This first report focused Swanson said, for example, that be- on Stillman’s allegations; a follow-up re- In a preview of the April sides large-scale overbilling and money port, due in April, will examine “whether report, prosecutors told laundering, some centers are opened DHS’s oversight of CCAP was adequate solely to defraud CCAP (operating with to safeguard financial resources of the the OLA that a lack 100 percent CCAP families). He said that program.” In a preview of the April report, of internal controls mothers are recruited as “employees” so prosecutors told the OLA that a lack of “makes fraud easier internal controls “makes fraud easier to perpetrate and more difficult to prove.” to perpetrate and more The March report also revealed a “seri- difficult to prove.” ous rift” between the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at DHS—who is tasked with overseeing the integrity of DHS programs—and its own 14-member CCAP Investigative Unit. The OLA stated the OIG “lacks independence” because it reports to the DHS commissioner (a political appointee of the gover- nor) and recommended that the OIG be independent of management. Moving the investigative unit to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to improve

10 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA THINKING MINNESOTA

their children qualify for CCAP. Centers percentage of the fraud proceeds that go then falsify employment and attendance overseas are being siphoned off by one records. In a typical case, mothers get or more Designated Terrorist Organiza- cash kick-backs for cooperating and may tions (DTOs)…. [S]ome of these… only be at the centers to pick up the cash. individuals have purchased or are in the “Providers do this to attract as many process of purchasing expensive homes parents/children to the center as possible, in stable foreign countries.” No prosecu- so that providers can bill CCAP for the tions, however, have linked CCAP funds largest number of children possible.” to any terror group. Swanson estimated that the fraud The Muslim Coalition of ISAIAH and involved more than $100 million in Somali child care providers protested at 2017. “Investigators believe auditors the Capitol following the release of the and elected officials should be very March OLA report, saying the allega- concerned about the high number of tions were “baseless” and calling for “an the highest paid child care centers that apology and action from legislators.” Imam Mohamed Omar, executive director of Dar Al-Farooq, a Bloomington mosque, said, “The Republican legisla- Investigators believe tors who perpetuated this rumor ir- auditors and elected responsibly fed islamophobia and hatred that leaves my community vulnerable to officials should be very harassment and attacks every day.” concerned about the DHS response. Inspector General high number of the Ham, who has been placed on administrative leave with pay, met with other highest paid child care DHS investigative units when she came centers that display on the job in 2017 but never met with the CCAP unit, even after the news story indicators of fraud. broke. Instead, DHS paid an outside firm $90,000 to assess the work of the CCAP Center of the American Investigative Unit. Ham, calling herself display indicators of fraud.” Swanson a “scapegoat,” told MPR news, “The Experiment wants to reclaim said that investigators “believe that the reason there was distrust between me and the lost art of listening. overall fraud rate in this program is at the fraud unit is because I was pushing least 50 percent of the $217 million paid them on their unsubstantiated beliefs.” We’re looking for input to child care centers in 2017.” DHS denies the credibility of the al- from conservative thought According to the OLA, “Swanson legations made by its own investigative based the 50 percent fraud rate on…con- unit, though there have been successful leaders all across cerns [that] involve not only overbilling, prosecutions. As of May 2018, there Minnesota to infuse better but also substandard child care that is so were ten other on-going investigations. insights and greater severe that Swanson called these DHS DHS does, however, agree that it licensed centers ‘fraudulent centers.”’ needs to improve management of relevance to our efforts. Federal law enforcement agen- CCAP by, for example, replacing paper cies cited. Swanson said bank records attendance records with an electronic obtained by the BCA “clearly show billing system. DHS called the problem that some owners/controlling individu- “complex” and asked for “greater state Want to join? als have made large wire transfers to investments” so it can hire an “eq- Email Ron Eibensteiner banks primarily in the Middle East or uity coordinator,” develop “culturally at Africa, often soon after they receive a competent practices in our investigation large CCAP payment…. [I]nvestigators process” and establish a “stakeholder [email protected] have been advised by federal officials… advisory group.” that it is a near certainty that at least a —Kim Crockett

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 11 TOM STEWARD

HIGH COST OF FREE MONEY Silver Bay can’t afford to maintain its humble airport. But closing it could require the city to repay $765,000 in government grants.

The city of Silver Bay can no longer The state calculates the annual lo- afford the luxury of spending $35,000 a cal economic impact of the airfield year to maintain a municipal airport. at $96,000, based on an estimated “I’ve got 20 some miles of 50-year- 60 visitors a year. Yet MnDOT con- old road,” Silver Bay Mayor Scott cludes closing the facility “will have a Johnson said. “Don’t you think I should significant impact on the State Airport spend some maintenance on that instead System,” which depends on a network of the airport?” of airstrips for emergency purposes. But neither can the small northeastern The closest airport is 21 miles away by Minnesota city afford to close the dete- air in Two Harbors. riorating airfield, faced with the threat The small airport has been in decline of $10,000 a day in fines by the Federal for years, as the city cut back on maintenance. But it wasn’t until June 2018 that MnDOT safety inspectors revoked the airport’s license and shut it down, declaring the runway unsafe. “A key reason for the airport closure was the sizable cracks that have opened up,” a 17-page MnDOT report states. “They are large enough to cause signifi- Tom Steward cant shock to an aircraft, and a small aircraft could become lodged creating a little airports are going to do what hazard to aircraft.” we’re doing?” The city points out that it did not Whenever you take a grant Silver Bay’s airport may be small, but close the airport in hopes of avoiding the ramifications of the city’s attempt liability. But MnDOT officials contend from the state or federal to quit the state and federal aviation Silver Bay owes the government big- government, there are system could be much larger. It’s among time anyway. strings attached. 135 Minnesota airports, mostly rural air- “Whether they make a decision (to strips, in the National Plan of Integrated close) or not, they’re in violation of Airport Systems (NPIAS), comprised of their grant assurances,” Isackson said. thousands of airfields nationwide. “Because part of their grant assurance Aviation Administration (FAA) and “The reality is there’s no such thing is that they keep the airport open and a bill for $760,000 in repaying “free” as a free lunch, right?” said Cassandra available to the public and in safe con- government grants the feds and state Isackson, director of the Office of Aero- dition. And today the airport is not open want to claw back. nautics at MnDOT. “Whenever you take or available to the public and is not in a “I think they (the FAA) are going a grant from the state or federal govern- safe condition.” to have to take the position to put the ment, there are strings attached. Those State and federal grants provide most hammer on us,” Johnson said. “Be- strings we call grant assurances, and we funding for small airports through taxes cause if we succeed, how many other have certain expectations.” on fuel, planes and other aviation-

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related sources. Local governments give them state and federal grants to typically cover five or ten percent of do that work, but they would have to a project’s cost with local matching have some money in order to do that funds. Silver Bay has refused to themselves,” Isackson said. HIGH COST OF Silver Bay has refused to accept accept airport funding since Mayor Johnson realizes David prob- FREE MONEY airport funding since 2010. But govern- ably stood better odds against Goliath ment grants come with a 20-year obli- 2010. But government than Silver Bay against the FAA and gation, leaving Silver Bay on the hook grants come with a MnDOT. to repay $761,609.05 on a prorated “We got to the point where we real- basis for previous grants, almost all of it 20-year obligation, ized the FAA basically is a bureaucratic to the feds. leaving Silver Bay on the beast that exists to perpetuate itself,” “The Legislature and Congress ex- hook to repay $761,609.05 Johnson said. “They are not designed pect when we’re taking tax money and to help somebody in our situation. They saying what it’s going to be spent on, on a prorated basis for have no capacity to help us.” they want to be sure that it’s actually previous grants, almost all Johnson still holds out hope of per- spent on those things,” Isackson said. of it to the feds. suading state and federal lawmakers to “And that it’s for the long term and not designate a new classification of safe just wasteful spending.” harbor airports without strings attached. “We and FAA are both prepared to But it’s a long shot.

DECEMBER 2-11, 2019 WITH DENNIS PRAGER AND MIKE GALLAGHER VISIT AM1280THEPATRIOT.COM FOR MORE INFO

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 13 Union Dues Where Do Teachers’ Union LOCAL UNIONS Dues Go? RECEIVE Teachers who are newly-freed to reject paying union dues may want to think about where those dues go.

E very year, Minnesota’s teachers’ national affiliates—the National union deducts roughly $800 to $1,000 Education Association (NEA) from its members’ paychecks. Because and the American Federation of dues are taken out as a single deduc- Teachers (AFT). tion before the paycheck is received While local dues vary among (like taxes), teachers tend to not know school districts, state and national the exact amount deducted or how the dues are levied across-the-board dues are disbursed. Teachers just know and typically increase every year. to $66.2 million. Aside from dues they benefit from paying these dues Local dues tend to hold steady. disbursements to union affiliates ($17.9 because, they are told, they go toward Here is a breakdown from one school million) and the money spent on invest- a wide variety of benefits including district for the 2018-2019 school year: ments and fixed assets ($10.8 million), counsel on workplace issues and col- the largest expenditures were on union lective bargaining. Local Dues: $150 administration costs ($13.3 million) State Dues: $478 and benefits ($8.6 million) and general National Dues: $247.56 overhead ($5.9 million). Spending on political activities and The union’s primary Total Dues: $875.56 lobbying increased by about $1.4 mil- function is collective lion, from $1.3 million in 2015-2016 bargaining, and most of In this example, the local union to $2.7 million in 2016-2017, whereas receives only 17 percent of dues, despite spending on representational activi- the costs associated conducting all the representational ties only increased by $193,000 ($2.7 with this are incurred at and day-to-day activities on behalf of million to $2.9 million). The union teachers. (Other school districts with self-identifies its political activities and the local level. Yet, the publicly available dues data range from lobbying expenditures in its filings, but local receives the smallest 17 percent to 20 percent of dues staying this is not the only category where politi- portion of dues revenue. local. Information on allocation of dues cal funding occurs, despite the union is hard to obtain because the majority reporting it as such. of this data is stonewalled behind union Thanks to the Janus v. AFSCME case member login requirements.) decided in June 2018, Minnesota teach- But these services are performed at the The allocation of dues is striking. The ers have a meaningful choice on whether local union level, and the largest propor- union’s primary function is collective to financially support a union. The battle tion of union dues goes toward under- bargaining, and most of the costs associ- is on for their wallets, and the union writing the political clout of the mam- ated with this are incurred at the local must convince its members its priorities moth state and national unions. Teachers level. Yet, the local receives the small- are worth the money. As teachers weigh who are union members must affiliate est portion of dues revenue. The bulk their options, it is important for them with these other union organizations and of dues, spent at the state and national to know that less than a quarter of their fund their political objectives. In Min- levels, focuses on funding administrative dues go to the local union responsible nesota, members pay union dues to their costs and political objectives. for most union benefits. The rest gets local union, their state union Education In the 2016-2017 school year, Educa- eaten up in a political maelstrom. Minnesota, and the state union’s two tion Minnesota’s expenditures amounted —Catrin Thorman

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Staff Strength in Numbers The Center recruits communications vet Katie Fulkerson from the GOP Senate Caucus. Three others join staff.

Katie Fulkerson has joined the staff of special attention to developing The Center of the American Experiment as Greater Minnesota Advisory Board. Communications Director. She replaces Olson graduated from the University of Tom Steward, who will devote his time Northwestern-St. Paul with a degree in exclusively to investigative journalism. communication studies. John Hinderaker, the Center’s Mitch Rolling is a researcher, assist- president, said he was impressed by ing policy fellows on projects ranging Fulkerson’s reputation for creativity and from energy issues to education. Roll- solid relationships with media statewide. ing graduated from the University of Fulkerson worked for the state’s Senate Minnesota with a degree in history and Republican Caucus for six years, where Jewish studies. While attending the Uni- she led media relations and outreach and versity, he wrote for a school newspaper, served as a digital advisor to various leg- gaining nationwide coverage for his islative campaigns. She also has nearly reporting on college campus issues. a decade of agency experience manag- Greta Elsholtz has the role of Special ing interactive projects for Fortune 500 Projects Coordinator. Elsholtz studied companies. public relations and event planning at Fulkerson grew up in Wisconsin the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, and Illinois before earning her B.A. at where she worked in student activities as Indiana University. the Director of Off-Campus Events and The Center has also added three other actively supported FORCE (Fellowship employees to its mix. of Reconciling Cultures Everywhere), Micah Olson serves as Greater an on-campus multicultural student Minnesota Outreach Director, with a group.

Katie Fulkerson, center, is joined by Micah Olson and Greta Elsholtz. The photo was taken in front of the nature preserve that abuts the Center’s Golden Valley head- quarters. Mitch Rolling is not pictured.

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 15 Education Funding Protect the Neediest Children The achievement gap is not a rationale for universal pre-K.

There is an old legal maxim: hard Governor Tim Walz picked up the UPK cases make bad law. refrain before and after he was sworn One hard case before the Legislature into office. is how to educate children deemed “at- Advocates boldly sell UPK to parents risk” so that one day they can launch by pointing to the high cost of child themselves into the meaningful world care. A Dayton administration fact sheet of marriage and work. These children, said, “Sending every four-year-old to most of whom are born to single preschool would not only give our kids mothers, do not just tug at our a great start; it would help families heart strings, they increas- too. ... Parents would no longer ingly tug at our purse have to pay out-of-pocket for strings, too. preschool, and they would One consequence avoid the high costs of child of family breakdown care while their children is the achievement attend preschool pro- gap between minority grams.” and white children. Do not doubt how In 2018, the Office of fast this could catch Legislative Auditor on. Recall that just a (OLA) catalogued few years ago, most 42 early childhood children went to programs aimed half-day kindergarten; at closing the gap, now, almost all chil- calling them “complex dren attend full-day and fragmented.” (The kindergarten. With 32 Department of Education percent of Minnesota just received a $4.7 million children born outside of wedlock federal grant to try to sort out and most young parents working, Min- the mess.) nesota could be at a tipping point for State intervention ranges from shifting the care of young children to offering subsidies for early learn- Advocates boldly sell already strained public schools. ing scholarships and child care (see, universal pre-K to parents Current cost estimates from the state “Child Care Welfare Fraud” on page range from $686.9 million with 95 10) to direct services like family home by pointing to the high cost percent of four-year-olds enrolled in visits and pre-K programs. The OLA of child care. half-day school, to $890 million for reviewed nine programs that cost $754 full-day school. Neither estimate in- million per biennium, plus millions in cludes year-round costs or capital costs one-time funding. achievement gap. It is easy to see how like new classrooms. Plus, what would The teachers’ union, working closely this “solution” would result in thou- working parents do the rest of the year with the Dayton-Smith administration, sands of new dues-paying members if the state wipes out other child care has championed the idea of universal to government unions, but less easy to options with “free” preschool? They pre-K (UPK)—sending all four-year- determine what it would accomplish need a full-day solution (8 to 10 hours olds to school—as a solution to the for at-risk children. Disappointingly, a day); so, watch for programs to turn

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into full-day, year-round child care. State Senator Carla Nelson (R- Rochester), chairwoman of the Senate E-12 Education Committee, is leading a bipartisan coalition with a wiser approach. She wants to preserve fund- BOARD ing for the neediest families and the existing “mixed-delivery” marketplace so parents from all income levels have OF DIRECTORS quality options. These options include early childhood programs and child care OFFICERS offered in homes, churches, schools, Chairman President Ron Eibensteiner John Hinderaker centers and non-profits rather than the Wyncrest Capital, Inc. state commandeering the marketplace. Treasurer Secretary Scott Rile Mark S. Larson Principal, Bernstein Global Attorney, Messerli & Kramer Wealth Management

All you have to BOARD MEMBERS do is empower the Edward C. Anderson Robert Kukuljan Forthright Solutions Stoel Rives LLP parents and let the Tara J. Anderson Richard G. Morgan market figure it out. TJA Business Law Bowman & Brooke Elam Baer Kenneth W. Morris North Central Equity The Apercu Group Asim Baig Charles Nickoloff “By investing in increased access to CATS Software Inc. Medical Equities Investments targeted early learning scholarships, we Michael E. Barry Rob Parish Twin City Fan Companies ensure our youngest learners have the Sawmill Management Molly Corrigan Cronin opportunity to grow and thrive in the Mitch Pearlstein future,” she says. Mitchell Davis Founder of Center of Davis Family Dairies the American Experiment “Close Gaps by 5” is a non-profit de- Rick Penn voted to preserving limited public funds Elizabeth Driscoll for at-risk children and their families. It Greg Frandsen Ted Risdall Frandsen Companies Risdall Marketing Group was conceived by Art Rolnick (formerly Michael Hayden Howard Root with the Federal Reserve) and other ELUX Marine, Inc. business leaders. “This is a bottom-up Lowell W. Hellervik Omni Leadership Thomas J. Rosen approach; this is using the market,” he Rosen’s Diversified, Inc. says. “We don’t have to try to figure out Carol Hockert Lanners Foundation Ronald Schutz how many schools we need or teachers Robins Kaplan LLP Robin Norgaard Kelleher we have to hire. All you have to do is Seaton, Peters & Revnew Chuck Spevacek empower the parents and let the market Meagher & Geer, P.L.L.P. Tom Kelly figure it out.” Dorsey & Whitney Ronald Youngdahl An enthusiastic Rolnick says the Keith Kostuch biggest return on investment comes from investing in mothers with in-home visits to teach parenting skills. “You give these parents tools, the tools that middle-class families have, and watch out,” he said. “Watch how quickly those kids catch on and how successful they can be.” —Kim Crockett

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 17 ADVERTISEMENT PEOPLE

You became an early adopter in Area Chamber of Commerce, and we American Experiment’s outreach ef- discussed why Rochester might express forts through its “Pioneers” program its support for jobs on the Iron Range. WITH and The Greater Minnesota Advisory Because I served in the Legislature, I’m Board. What attracted you to these aware how important it is to think of the FRAN efforts? state as a whole. I do a lot of mentoring Those of us in Rochester who are big with candidates, and I have tried to im- fans of the Center have been very press on them the importance of educat- BRADLEY enthusiastic about its outreach activities ing the public on many of these issues. from day one. I think it was over a year Fran Bradley, a long-time ago that we had dinner here in Rochester How have politics and public policy conservative activist in the and floated the idea of becoming a more changed from the time you served at Rochester area, recently involved and proactive force. We’d like the Legislature? helped organize an event to be an extension of the Center, and we To be objective about it, perhaps because have even floated the idea of starting a the national ugliness spills down to Min- for Center of the American chapter in Rochester where we actually nesota, the atmosphere may have become Experiment’s Greater have some autonomy. uglier. But partisanship has always been Minnesota Advisory there. I served as both a minority and the Board. Bradley is an Are you thinking about an indepen- majority, and partisanship power is part dent organization? of the way things work in a republic form engineer by training, with No, not independent, but trying to bring of government. But I think it’s become a 30 years of experience at the Center’s messages to Rochester bit shriller. I grew up as a Democrat, I’ve IBM’s Rochester facilities. maybe two to four times a year on topics known Democrats, and I have a lot of He also served in the that are particularly relevant to our part respect for mainstream Democrats. I may of the state. Beyond that, we’d like to not agree with them on a lot of things, Minnesota Legislature use our strong local voices to take those but we can have civil debates. However, from 1995 to 2006. messages to the public and local media. the Democratic party seems to have been We would also like to engage the Center taken over by far left extremists who are in important Rochester-area issues. out of step with common sense Ameri- cans. They are the loud voices we hear There seems to be a thirst in Greater so often. Minnesota for ways to express conservative values that go beyond mere Having said that, what’s your take on politics. Do you agree? Governor Walz’s “One Minnesota” Absolutely. And sometimes those things theme? can be hard to separate. When the Center Who could be opposed to that? I think takes a fresh, objective, and factual look most of us in Minnesota are proud to be on an issue like jobs in the Iron Range, Minnesotans. So concept wise, I think it gets discussed in political circles, but it’s great. Implementation wise, I think the Center stresses it’s important for Tim Walz is far off the mark by wanting the entire state. I serve on the govern- more government, more taxes, and more ment affairs committee of the Rochester regulation.

18 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA ADVERTISEMENT

WHY I SUPPORT Center of the American Experiment “As a conservative first and Republican second, the Center was fundamental to my education on why conservatism works and what conservatism represents.”

Name: AK Kamara Occupation: Insurance Agent Alma Mater: University of Minnesota Can Edina’s SCHOOLS

BE SAVED? The bill comes due for sacrificing By Katherine academic excellence to a social agenda. Kersten

20 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA ix years after officials at and citizens demand accountability and Competence” mandated change of two Edina Public Schools (EPS) transparency, they can build on progress kinds. First, going forward, EPS must decided to view “all teaching already underway to ensure that Edina view “all district work and initiatives”— and learning through the lens schools are once again the gold standard including “all teaching and learning”— Sof racial equity,” it’s clear the district of education in Minnesota. through “a lens of racial equity.” Second, administration has taken its eye off the it must “interrupt systems of inequity” ball of academic excellence. Today, EPS A brief history and “eliminat[e] barriers rooted in racial is experiencing across-the-board test EPS students are 73 percent white, 10 constructs” to end the racist practices that score declines—from third-grade reading percent Asian, six percent black, six officials believe to be the gap’s source. to ACT benchmarks in math, reading, percent Hispanic and five percent two or and science—along with an exodus of more races. As in virtually all American Six years later: families the district can’t afford to lose. schools, EPS’s white and Asian students, What has happened? Edina’s experience provides a caution- ary tale of what can happen when a Test scores school district renowned for academic Edina students’ academic performance excellence embraces a social mission The district’s learning has fallen dramatically since the district that requires viewing students, first and adopted the All for All plan. The EPS foremost, not as individuals but as mem- gap has failed to narrow learning gap has failed to narrow and, in bers of racial groups. EPS’s controversial and, in some respects, some respects, has widened, despite the mission shift was adopted in 2013 with has widened, despite the fact that white students’ scores are falling. the goal of closing the district’s racial Between 2013 and 2017, EPS lost achievement gap. That hasn’t happened. fact that white students’ ground in reading and math proficiency Many Edina parents have found it scores are falling. on the Minnesota Comprehensive As- painful and difficult to come to grips with sessments (MCAs)—which set state stan- their school district’s challenges. And dards—in comparison to 1) the district’s no wonder: Most families have made own history, 2) the state average, and 3) financial sacrifices—including paying a on average, perform at higher academic peer school districts in the Twin Cities hefty premium for a home—to gain ac- levels than black and Hispanic students. metro area. (Peers include historically cess to the district’s once-fabled schools. With the adoption of the district’s equity- top-performing districts such as Orono, Increasingly, however, they are troubled focused “All for All” plan in 2013, EPS Minnetonka, Woodbury and Eastview.) at evidence that a social justice agenda is leaders made closing this learning gap White students’ proficiency fell 3.7 inconsistent with a quality education. the district’s highest priority. They de- points in reading and 3.2 points in math No one wants to see test score fined “educational equity” as “promoting compared to their white peers’ statewide declines. In the past year, parents have equality of educational results” among proficiency average. Though EPS admin- come together across political lines to all student subgroups and set their goal istrators often assure parents that Edina is work for the good of the children of as “high achievement without predict- still achieving above the state average, it Edina. Their goal is to return to EPS’s able links to race or income [emphasis is losing ground at a troubling rate. traditional mission of academic excel- added].” For example, a comparison of Edina lence for all students, and to ensure that In pursuit of this goal, the district’s High School’s (EHS) 10th-grade MCA instruction is designed to enable each statement on “Racial Equity and Cultural reading performance with peer schools child to reach his or her highest potential. Unfortunately, continued resistance by the EPS administration suggests extraordinary challenges will remain, so long About the Author: Katherine Kersten, a writer and attorney, as a social agenda takes precedence over is a senior policy fellow at Center of the American Experiment. instruction in reading, math, and science. She served as a Metro columnist for the Star Tribune from 2005 This summer, the Edina School Board to 2008 and as an opinion columnist for the paper for 15 years will adopt a new five-year strategic between 1996 and 2013. She was a founding director of the plan and in November, the district will Center and served as its chair from 1996 to 1998. hold school board elections. If parents

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 21 in the Twin Cities metro area reveals that disciplines. Edina’s Strategic Plan As- In the past year, parents from 2008 to 2014, EHS ranked first or sessment Summary Final Report, dated have come together across second, and once third. In 2015, howev- December 2018, cited a “national study” political lines to help return er, it fell to 11th place and in 2017 ranked that demonstrated that “students who to EPS’s traditional mission 10th. Between 2013 and 2017, students do not read proficiently by third grade of academic excellence for at EHS fell 10 points in reading and 11 are four times more likely to leave high all students, and to ensure points in math relative to the statewide school without a diploma than proficient proficiency average. During that time, readers [emphasis added].” “There are that instruction is designed at the district’s two middle schools and other areas in Minnesota that have higher to enable each child to the high school, students in every grade ELL [English Language Learner], pov- reach his or her highest lost ground in reading relative to students erty, and/or special education program potential. Unfortunately, across the state. needs,” the report continued, “so Edina continued resistance by the Test scores in 2017-18 continued this has reason for concern on this measure.” EPS administration suggests downward trend. The district’s achieve- Last year, EPS also failed to reach ment gap failed to narrow as EPS of- other academic performance goals it extraordinary challenges will ficials had hoped, and Edina High School had set in conjunction with MDE. On remain, so long as a social fell to 14th place in reading among the MCAs (which are administered in agenda takes precedence peer schools in the Twin Cities area. reading in grades 3-8 and grade 10), the over instruction in reading, Academic performance declined across district sought to narrow the racial gap math, and science. the board—from third-grade reading by increasing proficiency rates for all stu- proficiency to high school seniors’ per- dents, while raising them more for black, formance on ACT benchmarks in math, Hispanic and English Language Learner reading, and science. students. However, overall performance Edina assesses third-grade reading in went down, black and English Language

2017-18 Combined WBWF Summary and Achievement and two ways: State MCAs measure profi- Learner students improved slightly (1.5 Integration Progress Report ciency (the ability to read at grade level), points), and Hispanic students declined District or Charter Name: Edina Public Schools Grades Served: PK-12 A and I Contact: Mary Manderfeld

WBWF Contact: Donna Roper Title: Director of Equity and Enrollment and MAP tests (Measures of dramatically—by 9.5 points. Title: Director of Research and Evaluation Phone: 952 848-3906 Phone: 952 848-4942 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Academic Progress) measure On 2017-18 career and college readi- New this year! This is MDE’s first attempt at asking districts/charters to submit one combined report to Workforce (WBWF) Summary Report and the Annual Achievement address two needs: the Annual World’s Best work in individual student growth over ness measures, the district’s goal—set and Integration (A&I) Progress Report. Hopefully this will help districts build connections between the both of these areas and simplify the reporting process with this integrated report. time. Last year, the district’s with MDE—was to have 67 percent This report has two parts: Part A: Required for all districts/charters Part B: Required for districts in the A&I program goal—set with the Minne- of seniors meet ACT benchmarks in to All districts/charters must submit this completed template between October 15 and December 15, 2018, . [email protected] sota Department of Education English, math, reading and science, up

WBWF portion of the summary, please feel free to email If you have questions while completing the or contact Susan Burris, ([email protected]).program manager [email protected] (MDE)—was to raise third- from 64 percent in 2016-17. Instead, the for District Support. [email protected]. If you have any questions regarding the A&I portion of this report, please email grade reading proficiency on number dropped to 61 percent. EPS did the MCA by 2.9 points. In fact, essentially meet its goal of graduating proficiency fell 7.5 points to a high percentage of students from all 70.8, the biggest drop in the 10 demographic groups, but it is not clear 1 years for which data are publicly that all graduates are well-prepared.

available. EPS has failed to significantly nar- The nationally normed MAP row its racial achievement gap, despite assesses whether a student’s read- a six-year investment of time, money ing level has grown as expected, and effort, including extra state funding based on his or her previous through Minnesota’s Achievement and performance. Edina’s 2018 MAP Integration program. Transparency has data show significant declines in been lacking in the district’s reports on the percentages of students (grades vital MAP scores, which do not make 3-8) who met nationally normed year-over-year comparisons possible. In growth targets in both reading and response to a request for five years of math. Last year, for example, about MAP data in the format used for 2017-18 24 percent fewer sixth-graders met data, EPS communications coordinator growth targets in reading and math Mary Woitte responded that the district In Fall 2018, a state-mandated report than met them as fifth-graders. “does not maintain data from previous documented a worrisome decline in Edina students’ test scores. Meanwhile, Educators agree that the ability years in the format you are requesting.” the district administration continued to read at grade-level in third grade is Fifteen years ago, EPS annual reports to push teacher training with a social, of vital importance, because reading is were detailed performance documents. not an academic, focus. the key to success in all other academic The 2003-04 report, for example, was 97

22 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA pages long. Today, with their limited will likely not provide school-aged information on student achievement, students into the future,” according these documents resemble promo- to the Strategic Plan Assessment tional brochures. The 2016-17 annual Summary report. Going forward, a report was a mere four pages. (View continued outflow of students spells these reports at www.edinaschools. trouble for EPS. org/page/3572.) Last year, about 24 percent What is going on? Enrollment declines fewer sixth-graders met Are EPS’s declining academic Today, families are streaming out of performance and its growing loss the Edina schools in unprecedented growth targets in reading of students related to district lead- numbers. The district’s enrollment and math than met them as ers’ embrace of a social mission report released last October revealed fifth-graders. in 2013? The goal of the All for that EPS had a drop of 125 resident All plan was straightforward: to students and gained 32 through transform the Edina schools. What open enrollment, for a net loss of 93 are the consequences of six years of students between 2017-18 and 2018- looking at “all teaching and learn- 19. This was a significant unexpected many are leaving. The “most important ing” through the “lens of racial equity?” shortfall: The district’s February 2018- factor” cited by parents who enrolled One transformative change occurred 19 “Budget Parameters” had predicted their children in other school districts in 2013 when the district expanded and “steady enrollment with zero percent to was that EPS had failed to “meet” their revised a pedagogical model called a small amount of growth per year.” In student’s “learning needs.” Another im- “personalized learning” in conjunction 2018-19, 321 students open-enrolled out portant reason parents gave was that they with the new equity mission. A district of Edina into other public schools—a 28 wanted “no liberal agenda.” The Morris document describes this new approach percent increase over the previous year. Leatherman Company, which performed to teaching and learning as a major Faced with this exodus, the Edina the survey, told the school board in No- shift (and a “core belief”) aligned with School Board last summer commis- vember that this survey marked the first “three key words that drive the district’s sioned the district’s first-ever survey of time in the company’s lengthy experience strategic work—All for All [emphasis “outbound” families to determine why so that Twin Cities metro area parents have in original].” “Only by applying a lens named “liberal agenda” as a reason for of racial equity to all district work and leaving local public schools. focusing on personalized learning” will A significant number among those who Edina Public Schools “truly advance its departed were high-achieving students. core mission of All for All,” declared the “Gifted students, in particular, suffer district’s statement on “Racial Equity and from the academic dilution resulting Cultural Competence.” from EPS’s changing focus away from EPS’s personalized learning model academic rigor,” one parent commented differs greatly from “the structured on the survey performed during the education system that has been in place district’s strategic planning process. for generations,” according to EPS’s Special education students have also FAQs on the topic. The new approach left in large numbers. At school board “redefines the role of the teacher to that meetings, parents of dyslexic students of a facilitator of learning rather than a have repeatedly expressed frustration at deliverer of knowledge,” in the words of what they describe as the district’s failure the district’s statement on personalized to provide reading instruction tailored to learning. “The end goal,” it notes, is to their children’s learning needs. give students “voice and choice about This exodus has significant financial what is learned, when it is learned, and consequences for the Edina schools. The how it is learned.” district is already facing worrisome bud- Many school districts have adopted get cuts, and the loss of state aid resulting some form of personalized learning. The EPS equity office’s online list of from the recent drop in students is adding The approach can have beneficial results “equity resources for families” features to the problem. Making matters worse, when its primary goal is to help children books like White Fragility—a state of the number of kindergartners enrolled in thrive individually. But it can undercut mind said to be marked by emotions like Fall 2018 was 100 fewer than the EHS student achievement when it is used as a “anger, fear, and guilt” that “prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue.” graduating class of 2018. Edina has a vehicle for engineering demographic bal- “relatively large aging population that ance in every classroom, with attention to

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 23 individual needs taking a back seat. Reducing Academic Tracking” A prominent advocate of personalized on the foundation’s website. In learning is the New York City-based this model, schools can use pull- Century Foundation. The foundation out sessions or flexible student believes that minority and low-income groups that attempt to offer both students can only learn effectively in “enrichment and support.” They “heterogeneous” classrooms balanced by can also use “embedded hon- race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, ors”—an arrangement in which and opposes grouping students by aca- “all students take a class together, demic readiness or ability (or “tracking”). but students who choose to may Edina’s approach to personalized Personalized learning is the central tool take the class for honors credit by com- learning minimizes “direct instruction” in the foundation’s “toolkit” for “reduc- pleting extra assignments.” with a teacher and gives students ing segregation among classrooms in a Since 2013, the Edina schools have autonomy that many are not ready or able to use productively. This photo school—whether those divides fall along devoted enormous resources to personal- is featured on EPS’s online “Flexible academic, racial or class lines—and ized learning. The district has promoted Learning Environments” page. exploring the needs of all students within heterogeneous classrooms, minimized integrated settings.” ability/readiness grouping, and in many mented personalized learning “through- Schools that take this approach, of cases attempted to differentiate instruc- out” the district, “at all learner levels,” course, must find a way to use the same tion by “embedding” or “deepening” according to the EPS website. curriculum to educate students of widely rather than accelerating instruction. Unfortunately, there is evidence that in differing abilities and readiness—some Overall, the district has embraced the Edina Public Schools, personalized learn- well above grade level and some well pedagogical vision laid out in a book ing has led in many cases to inefficient, below—without undermining individual entitled Detracking for Excellence and ineffective use of student learning time. students’ ability to reach their highest Equity, by Burris and Garrity. This book The approach gives students a degree academic potential. The solution the was distributed in 2012 to key EPS of autonomy that many are not ready or Century Foundation, like other “equity” personnel by then-Superintendent Ric able to use productively. Students can proponents, advocates is to combine Dressen to use as a guide in implement- choose, to a good extent, how they wish “classroom integration” with “differenti- ing EPS’s shift to an equity mission. “In to “access information,” “engage with” 10/29/2018 ated instruction,” according to a 2019 re- a detracked school,” the book explains, lessons, and “show mastery,” according

port entitled “Integrating Classrooms and10/29/2018 “instruction—not curriculum and not to EPS promotional materials. Traditional standards or outcomes—should be differ- “direct instruction” from a teacher is entiated for learners in heterogeneously often minimal, with students working on grouped classrooms.” their own or in small groups unmediated 10/29/2018 by an educational supervisor. Technol- The problem with this ogy, including substantial screen time,

(Private/Parochial) 12 To date, there is little evidence that person- plays a central role. Adding to students’ 58 10 45 10/29/2018 (Other Public) alized learning improves educational out- disincentive to apply themselves, in Describe2018 EdinaCurrent School District 9School 43 48 53

7 Most Important2018 Edina Factor School District in33 DecisionPercentage48 comes. No one has studied personalized many classrooms, those who fail a test— Better Teachers 6 Better Education Reason for Sending28 Child 5 (Private/Parochial) 48 learning more closely than the RAND or in some cases, even get a sub-par 5 Meeting Learning Needs Personalized Education 21 25 20185 Edina School District 18 Broad Curriculum 21 High AchievementPersonal Statistics Attention by Teachers 4 33 Corporation, Education Week reported grade—are allowed to take it again. Small School SettingReligious Education 19 12 SmallFocus Classon Character Sizes Development 3 Traditional Moral Values Smaller Class Sizes 19 Lower Class Sizes 3 10 in 2017. “And RAND is unambiguous One parent who has removed her Better Education 3 19 High Expectations 10 9 Positive Learning EnvironmentBasic Academic Skills 20 3 28 Variety of ProgramsNo Liberal Agenda 18 9 43 Traditional Curriculum 3 Well-Behaved Students 17 about what its research shows,” the children from the district explained how PersonalizedReputation Education of School 7 Religious Education 2 15 Small School Setting 16 ConservativeCommunityBetter Teaching Behaved Feel Students 2 6 SafeMore Diversity Percentage Better Behavior 2 14 magazine stated. her middle-school daughter spent a lot of Better Leadership Edina3 5 School District DiverseCurriculum 8 14 Gifted and Talented Programs 4 One-on-One2018 Learning “Outbound"8 Parents Survey “The evidence base is very weak at time with her computer in the hallways, Scattered 4 ConservativeTeach Morals/Values Learning Environment0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 High Expectations/StandardsStudents More Serious 3 Overall Past Two Years Teach Morals/Values 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 More Challenging Coursework 3 this point,” John F. Pane, the group’s “fooling around with her friends. She had Specific Program 3 Better Special Education 2 distinguished chair in education in- to check in with the teacher at the end, The Morris LeathermanBetter Teachers Company 5 Scattered The Morris Leatherman0 5 10 Company 15 20 25 novation told Education Week. “I would but as long as they had done part of the

The Morris Leatherman Company not advise schools to dump massive assignment, she was golden.”

70 resources into going fully into personal- EPS’s personalized learning model QualityThe Morris Leatherman of Education Company 67 2018 Edina School District 62 (Private/Parochial) 61 ized learning,” added Laura S. Ham- also risks under-use of teacher talent, a 58 Other55 Public Most Important2018 Edina Factor School District in Decision50 57 Private/Parochial ilton, the associate director of RAND school’s most valuable resource. Its most 70 In Edina’s first-ever “outbound” 37 53 36 Most Important(Other Factor Public) in Decision34 Personal Attention by Teachers Education. “Experiment with some fundamental shortcoming, however, may Meeting Learning Needs parent 60survey, the most important34 Traditional Moral Values 33 Focus on CharacterLower Development Class Sizes 45 2018 Edina School District 30 Basic Academic Skills 43 new approaches that might be a good fit be that it promotes a fragmented, rather factor cited50 byReputation parents of School open-enrolling26 Meeting Learning Needs 33 SurveyReligious MethodologyValues 24 Personal Attention by Teachers 28 Size of High School 20 8 Focus on Character DevelopmentConservative Learning Environment 21 in otherTraditional school Moral40 Values districts was13 that EPS for your particular school or district, but than an integrated, approach to education. 21 Lower Class Sizes2018Better Behaved Edina Students School18 District 19 12 Basic Academic SkillsMore ChallengingStudents MoreCoursework Serious 19 11 Traditional Curriculum 4 11 had failed to “meet”Traditional22 Curriculum their19 students’10 Reputation of30 School 574 random sampleWider Range of Classes Edina18 School District monitor it very closely.” Students learn best when they are taught 8 6 Better Behaved Students More Diversity 17 8 More DiversityGifted17 and Talented Programs “learning needs.” 16 6 householdsGifted and Talented Programs stratified by: 20 SpecialOpportunity Education Programin Sports14 6 Conservative Learning Environment 14 In contrast to this advice, EPS imple- new information in a way that allows  Students More Serious Pre-K Program 4 311 parentsLanguage of Immersionchildren Programs13 attending4 private and More Challenging Coursework Childcare in Schools Wider Range of Classes Less11 Diversity 3 10 11 parochialSize of High School schools. 2 Pre-school10Location Programs to Job Percentage Language Immersion Programs Special Education Program 8  263Opportunity parents in Sports of0 children8 attending0 10 20 30other 40 50 public 60 70 80 Go w/NeighborhoodExcellentLocation to ChildcareChildren Good Only Fair Poor Unsure 24 SPRINGLocation 2019 to Job THINKING7 MINNESOTA 4 Goschool w/Neighborhood districts. Children 5 Childcare in Schools 2 Less Diversity The2 Morris Leatherman Company Average Pre-Kinterview Program 2 time of 17 minutes Location to Childcare 2 Religious Values 1 Non-responsePre-school Programs level of 5.0% 0 10The 20 Morris 30 40 Leatherman 50 60 Company Results projectable within +/-5.0%Percentage in 95 out of 100 cases TelephoneThe Morris Leatherman interviews Company conducted between September 6th and 27th, 2018 The Morris Leatherman Company 3

1 them to incorporate it effectively into a manding courses without regard to their rate as their average and below-average larger, well-integrated body of knowledge, academic preparation, in order to achieve classmates. According to Education according to education research. Many demographic balance in the classroom. Week, the study “raises questions about critics have pointed out personalized The All for All plan set an “equity” goal whether” the “widespread dismantling of learning’s tendency to expose students to of “no more than a five percent differ- policies that group students by ability” new material in “bits and pieces”—one- ence” between minority and low-income has forced schools “to make a trade-off.” off projects—which can make understand- students and others in gifted programs In 2016, Randy Smasal, EPS director ing and retention much harder. and Advanced Placement classes. But of teaching and learning, stated that with In EPS’s outbound survey, the number encouraging academically unprepared EPS’s embrace of personalized learn- one factor parents cited in their decision students to take such courses can hamper ing, “outcomes will be consistently high to leave was that the schools were not their progress, undermine their self-confi- for all students—that is the system we meeting their student’s “learning needs.” dence and waste their time. are building.” Unfortunately, six years The district’s embrace of personalized It can also harm their high-achieving after the adoption of this transformative learning likely plays a major role here. classmates. In AP classes with a num- model, falling test scores confirm that Average students can easily fall ber of less-prepared students, teachers hope is not being realized. through the cracks in EPS’s new instruc- may be unable to cover as many topics, tional regime, as teachers struggle to and may find themselves compelled to Goal two: meet the needs of learners at both ends assign fewer or shorter papers than if all Shaping students’ beliefs of the educational spectrum. Special students were high performers. The second major change the All for All education students who need extra time Nationally, there is evidence that plan brought to the Edina schools was and attention can also lose out. RAND’s policies aimed at making schools more a commitment to give priority to a new research “has consistently found that accountable for improving low-perform- social mission: To “interrupt systems that even in the best-supported personalized- ing students’ achievement are hurting perpetuate inequities” and “eliminate bar- learning schools, teachers frequently say the brightest students. For example, a riers rooted in racial constructs” within there’s not enough time to truly tailor 2011 study by the Thomas B. Fordham EPS. What are the consequences? the learning experience to each child,” Foundation found that high-performing In practice, this shift in focus has according to Education Week. students are increasingly losing ground meant teaching that white racism is a Parents of high-achieving students in terms of growth from elementary to primary cause of the learning gap, and complain that their children, in particular, middle school, and from middle school to prompting white students to acknowl- seem to suffer in heterogeneous class- high school. Often, these students fail to edge their “white privilege” and repudi- rooms, where all students must study the improve their reading ability at the same ate “white supremacy.” To ensure this, same thing at essentially the same pace. Those who finish a unit early get extra work—called “going deeper”—or are expected to help classmates who struggle rather than move ahead themselves. EPS continues to push At the November 2018 school board meeting, one frustrated parent explained personalized learning, though how this is holding back her gifted chil- it has led in many cases to dren in elementary and middle school. “There is no acceleration, differentiated inefficient, ineffective use curriculum or direct instruction for stu- of student learning time. dents who have mastered the material,” she said. She called for more rigorous pathways in middle-school language arts, science and social studies, like the one available in math. Her concern, she emphasized, was that “PL is an attempt to make heterogeneous classrooms appear to work for all students.” As Edina’s statement on personalized learning makes clear, this is, in fact, the case. While the personalized learning model often holds back advanced students, it also encourages other students to take de-

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 25 the district committed in the All for All promoted “Re-examining Equity,” par- a neighbor and a citizen. We all care about plan to “recruit, hire and retain” “racially ents say. At the school board’s November our kids.” conscious teachers and administrators.” 2018 meeting, Donna Roper, EPS direc- “Sometimes it feels like the adminis- EPS has woven a “racial identity” tor of research and evaluation, seemed to tration against the rest of us,” the parent narrative throughout its curriculum. downplay the troubling implications of added. At the elementary level, for example, the drop in reading scores, describing it Parents have held community meetings, K-2 students at Highlands Elementary as “not a surprising thing.” She said the called for curricular reviews, challenged School have participated in the “Melanin new reading curriculum, implemented data put forward by the administration, Project,” which teaches them to view in 2016-17, might have played a role. and taken their concerns directly to school themselves and their classmates in terms “When you do a large-scale imple- board members. One important tool, they of skin color. Edina High School’s Pre- mentation with new resources and new say, is EPS Policy 606, which requires that AP English 10 course—required of all pedagogy, just a lot of complexities to students hear “all sides” on controversial sophomores—was designed to “guide that whole thing,” she said. issues and bars teachers from using their students through difficult discussions of In its report to MDE on its 2017-18 position to advance their personal politics. race, racism and Whiteness,” according progress on “World’s Best Workforce and “We tell parents to ‘Keep your eyes out to English teacher Jackie Roehl, a course Achievement and Integration” measures, for 606 violations, in assignments, hall architect. Students devote the bulk of EPS acknowledged that teachers did not displays, wherever,’” a parent explained. their class time to topics such as “Social receive the training necessary to imple- “When you see a violation, speak to the Constructions of Race, Class and Gen- ment the curriculum effectively. It also teacher, file a policy violation form, report der,” “Colonization” and “Immigration.” stated that teachers need time to review it to administrators and copy school board As a result, academic rigor now often relevant data with colleagues. But “trying members. It’s not just rumors when you takes a back seat to efforts to shape stu- to make time for these kinds of profes- can attach a document or photo.” dents’ beliefs on social issues, according to sional development sessions becomes But monitoring what goes on in the many Edina parents. They cite what they very difficult,” according to a statement classroom can be challenging. Parents of view as a telling example from Fall 2018. the administration sent to the Edina Sun middle-schoolers and high-schoolers often As the 2018-19 school year opened, Current. Why? The statement cited a don’t see assignments, tests, papers or parents were alarmed and surprised to “statewide shortage of substitute teach- teachers’ instructions because so much is learn of EPS’s dramatic drop in third- ers,” who may be required to fill in dur- now done electronically through students’ grade reading proficiency. They called ing such training. Many parents regarded password-protected school portal. A key, on the district administration for urgent the district’s response as complacent, parents say, is to “get your kids’ passwords action to address this looming academic irresponsible and unacceptable. and monitor on a daily basis.” crisis, including a plan to get teachers EPS officials cancelled the “Re-ex- Parents say they are sometimes ac- the training they need to teach a recently amining Equity” training shortly before cused of not supporting teachers when adopted reading curriculum effectively. it was to begin. Not enough teachers they report violations. “We support our Parents were frustrated by what they signed up, according to EPS communica- teachers,” a parent emphasized. “We have viewed as the district’s lackadaisical tions coordinator Mary Woitte. If so, this many wonderful teachers in Edina who response at school board work sessions suggests that many teachers, like parents, want to focus on academics. But when the and elsewhere, and its failure to mobilize believe that academically focused administration prioritizes a social mission quickly to produce an effective plan of professional development should be the over academics, I fear we may lose some action. They were disturbed to learn, district’s top priority. Parents believe of them.” around the same time, of the administra- pressure from a community letter-writing tion’s plan for an elaborate, seven-part campaign also played a role. The administration’s response training series “open to all employees” As a result of parents’ efforts, school called “Re-examining Equity”—sched- Parents have worked climate has improved in the 2018-19 uled to run from October 2018 to April for reform school year, parents say. “There is less 2019. Topics included “White Privilege The 2018 EPS Strategic Plan Assessment overt political correctness; the hallways and White Fragility,” “Implicit Bias and report, prepared by Tampa-based MGT are much better,” observes one parent. Microaggressions” and “Equity Traps.” Consulting Group, reached a clear-cut “I don’t see Black Lives Matter posters, Prominent EPS administrators and conclusion: As the district prepares to Valley View Middle School’s display of personnel from the Department of Teach- adopt a new, five-year strategic plan, biased political cartoons and caricatures ing and Learning were involved, and “Maintaining high academic standards is is gone, and there are American flags teachers were informed they would earn ‘Mission Critical.’” Today, parents who in the classrooms.” Several teachers Continuing Education credits. agree are coming together to demand who were involved in partisan political The administration’s response to the accountability and transparency. “I advocacy in 2016, including high school third-grade reading crisis stood in stark don’t care about people’s politics,” one English teachers Tim Klobuchar (who contrast to the enthusiasm with which it explained. “I care about them as a parent, is on leave) and Sally Larkins, are no lon-

26 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA ger teaching in the district. substantially since the new course was a candle”—to “represent the intention But the administration’s allegiance adopted in the 2012-13 school year, in of the circle,” according to the hand-out. to its social mission remains deeply en- conjunction with EPS’s equity focus. All Speakers who felt a need to be “ground- trenched. The EPS equity office’s online students are required to take the course, ed” were invited to pick up a rock, while list of recommended “equity resources which replaced two previous language those who wished to talk could pick up a for families,” for example, is a cornuco- arts options for sophomores: regular and “talking stick,” according to those famil- pia of political advocacy. The following enriched. Classrooms are homogeneous; iar with the process. To “rest in a space of are typical: all students use the same core curriculum silence,” the hand-out says, participants and texts. The curriculum includes little could request the “group guardian” to • A book entitled White Fragility: Why complex writing, grammar or emphasis ring chime-like bells. It’s So Hard for White People to Talk on vocabulary, and deals largely with Parents strongly objected to district about Racism, by Robin DiAngelo. contemporary political themes. officials and the school board about the According to Amazon’s description In 2017-18, a group of parents spent study group’s unprofessional nature and of the book, “White fragility” refers several months analyzing Pre-AP English lack of analytical rigor. In July 2018, the to “the defensive moves that white 10’s syllabus and curriculum. They board approved the district’s plan to rede- people make when challenged racial- reviewed Common Core and College sign certain elements of Pre-AP English ly,” and is “characterized by emotions Board standards, and AP and ACT 10, in reliance on the district’s assurance such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by requirements, as well as peer district that it would add an “embedded honors” behaviors including argumentation curricula, and even purchased a textbook component by January 2019. A pilot is and silence” that “prevent any mean- for EHS’s Department of Teaching and now underway; students who partici- ingful cross-racial dialogue.” Learning to consider. In the process, they pate will not receive honors designation determined that texts used in Pre-AP on their transcript. The Department of • An essay by Minneapolis middle- English 10 were, on average, at the fifth- Teaching and Learning is currently in school teacher Tom Rademacher, grade reading level, using data from Lex- the process of revising the course. While entitled “Everyone Keeps Talking ile.com, the website of the organization writing, grammar and vocabulary instruc- About Implicit Racial Bias But What that developed the Lexile Framework tion may be enhanced, it appears that Is It?” “Implicit bias” is “all the ways for Reading. District officials agreed to core texts will remain largely the same. that we are racist, even when we are review their concerns after a meeting super sure we’re not,” writes Radem- attended by more than 70 parents, and A return to excellence? acher. “We all have some racist-ass asked several of them to participate. EPS administrators are currently at- shit crawling around in our heads.… The “study group” to which the par- tempting to address some aspects That racism, the sneaky hidden shit… ents were invited included 10 parents and of the district’s declining academic is killing our kids of color.” 10 students, along with five or so EHS performance. For example, there are English teachers who never attended, plans to develop an accelerated middle- • An essay from the United Church of according to people familiar with the school class that would compact science Christ’s “New Sacred” site entitled, process. The district hired a lawyer/fa- standards into a two-year sequence, “So you say you’ve got white privi- cilitator, Paula Forbes, to run the group. and a compacted algebra course for 8th lege. Now what?” The piece lists “10 When asked why teachers did not attend, grade, according to a “Secondary Course ways you can actively reject your EPS communications coordinator Mary Design Framework” dated December 6, white privilege” and advises white Woitte responded, “We do not retain data 2018. The district is also taking steps to readers to “recognize that you’re still responsive to your reques[t].” enhance early reading instruction. Over- racist. No matter what.” The review Forbes facilitated did not all, however, the steps being considered focus on the objectives and standards ap- to address high-achieving EPS students’ • Two YouTube videos, both named propriate to a 10th-grade English course, needs include standard “equity”-inspired “Black Parents Explain/How to Deal or consider research data. Instead, it re- differentiated instruction, such as “tier- with the Police,” in which parents sembled a 1960s-style, feelings-focused ing” courses and embedding honors, and reduce two young girls to tears of “encounter group,” according to those fa- so may not bring the rigor that is sought. despair by assuring them they are in miliar with the process. Participants were In Summer 2019, the Edina School great danger from the police. told there was no need to prepare for or Board will adopt a new five-year stra- bring any materials to meetings. They sat tegic plan, and school board elections The challenges parents face in a circle—an “ancient form of meet- will take place in November 2019. The challenge parents face in making,” says a hand-out—and were told Both offer an opportunity to demand ing their voices heard is illustrated by comments should move to the left, since accountability and transparency from events in connection with EHS’s Pre-AP “that’s the flow of the heart.” Attendees the EPS administration, which appears English 10 course. EHS 10th-grade were invited to place an object in the cen- to be seriously out-of-sync with the MCA reading scores have dropped ter—such as “flowers, a bowl or basket, citizens of Edina.

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 27 A TAL E OF TWO TIMS It did not take long for Governor Walz to lurch left of the policies endorsed by Candidate Walz. By Isaac Orr

28 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA t was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the time Min- nesotans elected Tim Walz, who seemed like the likeable, flannel- Iwearing dad next door, whose “One Minnesota” campaign slogan conveyed a left-leaning, but moderate, message that although disagreements would be inevitable, the new governor would listen to all sides of the debate and look for ways to bridge the divide with a fair compromise. Minnesotans were justified in believ- ing this version of Tim Walz would be their future governor. As a congress- man, he consistently ranked among the most moderate members of House Democrats, according to the nonpartisan site GovTrack, and in 2008 he earned an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association.

It did not take long for Governor Walz to part ways with Candidate Walz. More importantly, the Governor has lurched left of the policies endorsed by Candidate Walz.

An article in MinnPost detailed how Democrats and Republicans alike spoke to his reputation for being sincere, straightforward, and, generally, pretty likeable: “Jeff Blodgett, a political operative who runs the Democratic organizing group Wellstone Action, says Walz is ‘pretty forthright about his positions, doesn’t play a lot of games— even people who don’t agree with him,

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 29 folks like that in their politicians,’ he increase would be “modest.” Most Min- project, Governor Walz instructed his said. ‘That authenticity really stands nesotans probably assumed a “modest” Commerce Department to file a peti- out for him.’” increase in the gas tax meant a few cents tion for the state Public Utilities Com- This is likely the version of Tim per gallon, something that was probably mission to reconsider its unanimous Walz many Minnesotans voted for. Un- worth it, even if they would grumble a decision to approve the pipeline project. fortunately, this is not the Tim Walz they little about it. In announcing his decision Walz said, now have in the Governor’s office. However, the increase in the gas tax “When it comes to any project that im- proposed by Governor Walz is anything pacts our environment and our economy, Walz lurches left but modest. The proposed 20-cent we must follow the process, the law, and It did not take long for Governor Walz increase would propel Minnesota from the science.” However, the Governor also to part ways with Candidate Walz. More having the 28th-highest gas tax to said projects like Line 3 “don’t only need importantly, the Governor has lurched fourth-highest, representing a 70 percent a building permit to go forward, they also left of the policies endorsed by Candi- increase in Minnesota’s gas tax. The need a social permit.” date Walz. proposed increase in the gas tax, along with increases in vehicle registration fees, would cost the average Minnesota household approximately $300 per year. Candidate Walz Time will tell if Minnesotans feel a 70 percent increase in the gas tax is “mod- campaigned on a pledge est,” but they should demand a number to raise the gas tax, but the next time a candidate for office he was careful never to pledges to raise taxes. disclose how much he The Enbridge Line 3 pipeline wanted to raise it. On the campaign trail, Candidate Walz said he supported the replacement of the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline, which was The gas tax built in 1968 and is operating at half ca- Delaying the replacement of a cor- “The majority of Minnesotans sup- pacity due to safety concerns. In late Oc- roded oil pipeline that has been under port a modest gas tax increase, because tober 2018, Candidate Walz told the Star review for four years based on subjective they know it is a way to repair our Tribune he was satisfied with the Public criteria of needing a “social permit” in crumbling infrastructure while protect- Utilities Commission’s (PUC) decision to addition to a building permit is the exact ing our state’s fiscal stability,” Walz’s allow the project to move forward. “The opposite of “following the science.” spokeswoman Kayla Castaneda told the PUC did rule. We need to follow the Governor Walz’s decision to move the Pioneer Press in December 2018. process in place,” said Candidate Walz. goalposts on a project that has complet- Candidate Walz campaigned on a Fast forward to February 2019, and ed an exhaustive environmental review pledge to raise the gas tax, but he was Governor Walz has changed his tune. is not the kind of common-sense or fair careful never to disclose how much he Instead of allowing Enbridge to begin compromise Walz’s “One Minnesota” wanted to raise it, stating only that the construction on the pipeline replacement theme conveyed.

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Energy policy couraging because the Department of drive further to get to the grocery store Candidate Walz campaigned on enacting Natural Resources had granted PolyMet or the doctor’s office. By appealing Line a 50 percent renewable energy mandate Mining Company a permit to mine, 3, Governor Walz is depriving northern in Minnesota, which would require stating the company had satisfied all of Minnesota schools of tax revenue. And at least 50 percent of the electricity the conditions designed to protect the his “social permit” is worrisome to those generated in the state to come from environment. who live on the Iron Range and support wind or solar by 2030. Enacting this Now, Governor Walz’s pledge to “fol- expanded mining. policy would be massively expensive low the science” is worrisome. In March Minnesota elected a Governor who and environmentally inconsequential 2019, the Army Corp of Engineers cared about the corn fields, the iron (see, “Doubling Down on Failure” on issued PolyMet Mining the final permits mines, and all Minnesotans—not page 38), but Governor Walz has again needed for the project, removing the last the Governor who takes selfies with lurched to the left of Candidate Walz, regulatory hurdle the company needed freshman Congresswoman Alexandria recently unveiling his plan for 100 per- to clear to start the first ever copper- Ocasio-Cortez and caters only to the cent “carbon free” by 2050. nickel mine in Minnesota. desires of the hipster North Loop. Here too, Governor Walz seeks to However, the Governor’s decision to Many Minnesotans wanted to give appear more moderate while not, in fact, flip-flop on En- Governor Walz a chance to show he was embracing moderate policy positions. bridge’s Line serious about his One Minnesota mes- For example, Governor Walz paid lip 3 pipeline and sage. That ship has now sailed. service to nuclear power in his press his decision to conference for his energy initiative, but appoint Sarah House File 1956, the bill associated with Strommen as Minne- his plan, does not count existing nuclear sota’s DNR commis- power as “carbon free,” and it does sioner—who previ- not lift the state’s ban on building new ously worked as a policy nuclear power plants that has been in director for Friends of the effect since 1994. Boundary Waters Wilder- Governor Walz’s hollow reference to ness, a group that has opposed nuclear power appears to be a bait-and- PolyMet and the proposed Twin switch: Nuclear is okay, just not existing Metals Minnesota mine—could mean nuclear or new nuclear. the nebulous “social permit” excuse might be used to obstruct PolyMet’s What does this path to mining. mean for PolyMet and other copper-nickel One Minnesota? mining projects? The about-face of Governor Walz on Candidate Walz said he would “follow the gas tax, Line 3, renewable energy, the science” regarding copper-nickel and mining disproportionately harms mining projects in Minnesota. Prior to residents of Greater Minnesota. the election, this statement was en- Residents of Greater Minnesota must

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 31 ANNUAL DINNER Why Nigel Farage DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION On May 18th, the Center welcomes Nigel Farage to Minnesota as the guest speaker for our Annual Dinner. Why should you come? Well, he’s actually behind something pretty big. Without him, Britain would not be leaving the European Union.

A brief history of Britain and the EU There had been schemes to unite the peoples and countries of Europe under a single federal government kicking around for decades. These schemes were given a new impetus by World War II. For the second time in 50 years, Europe had plunged into the biggest war then known and taken much of the rest of the world with it. In the aftermath, it was thought, one way to stop this from happening again would be to put vital war making industries under international control. So, in 1952, Bel- gium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany signed the Treaty of Paris, which established the European Coal and Steel Community. Supporters of federalism pushed on. They drew support from the United States and a shared fear of Soviet- dominated Eastern Europe. On top of this, European countries were losing their em- pires and worried about the impact of this on their economic and political standing. These fears drew the countries’ governments closer and, in 1957, the Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC). Britain wasn’t one of the six signato-

32 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA ries; it still saw itself as strong enough to bureaucrats in another country. surged. Cameron described these people stand on its own as a nation and different The main parties all supported this. as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, enough from its European neighbors to Margaret Thatcher’s successor as Prime mostly.” But voters responded. While be a bad fit. But by 1961, Britain was Minister, John Major, rammed Maas- UKIP continued to struggle in domestic feeling less sure of itself and applied tricht through the House of Commons elections, in the 2009 European elections, to join. Its application was vetoed by despite the bitter opposition of a large ironically, the party came second with French President Charles de Gaulle. De part of his own party. Conservative Party 16.5 percent of the vote and 13 MEPs. Gaulle similarly vetoed a second applica- membership cratered and has never Between 2005 and 2010, Cameron’s tion in 1967. A passionate anti-American, recovered. The Labour Party saw the strategy was that if he annoyed the he worried that British membership increasingly friendly attitude of the EU Conservative right enough, he would would be a means for the U.S. to control to regulation and increased taxation, and attract enough “center” ground votes the EEC. He died in 1970, and Britain ditched its old policy of withdrawal. The to more than compensate. This strategy became a member in 1973, at the third Liberal Democrats, eager for any issue to failed. At the 2010 general election, time of asking. be distinctive on, were the most federalist amid the worst economic crisis since Edward Heath, the Conservative Prime party of all. Bizarrely, Britain’s nation- the Great Depression and against one Minister who took Britain into the EEC, alist parties, the SNP in Scotland and of the worst Prime Ministers in Brit- said “there are some in this country who Plaid Cymru in Wales, also supported ish history, the Conservatives failed to DESERVES fear that in going into Europe we shall increased control of their countries by win. They only entered government in in some way sacrifice independence and European bureaucrats. coalition with the Liberal Democrats. sovereignty. These fears, I need hardly In the election, UKIP polled 3.1 percent say, are completely unjustified.” Then, The rise of UKIP of the vote (919,471 votes), an increase YOUR ATTENTION the Labour Party supported withdrawal and Nigel Farage of 0.9 percent on the 2005 general elec- from the EEC. Elected in 1974, they held There was a demand for a party dedi- tion. In the 2014 European Parliament a referendum on membership in 1975. cated to getting Britain out of the EU, elections, UKIP received the greatest Remain won with 67 percent of the vote. and the political market supplied it. The number of votes (27.49 percent) of any Over the years, Heath’s promise United Kingdom Independence Party British party and gained 11 extra MEPs proved to be hollow. The European (UKIP) was founded in 1993. It quickly for a total of 24. UKIP won seats in federalists pushed for still deeper integra- became a home for disaffected Conserva- every region of Great Britain, including tion. The Maastricht Treaty of 1993 tives but struggled to make much impact, its first in Scotland. It was the first time established the European Union—a very as Tony Blair’s Labour Party swept the in over a century that a party other than different organization from the trading Conservatives from office in 1997. Labour or Conservatives won the most bloc Britain joined. The EU began to British discontent with the EU contin- votes in a UK-wide election. take more power from national govern- ued to grow as more power shifted away Thanks to the rise in UKIP’s popu- ments. Fortunately, the UK escaped the from the British government. In the 2004 larity, in large part a result of Farage’s worst excess of this push for a United European Parliament elections, UKIP leadership, the Conservative Party came States of Europe—the disastrous came third with 12 members of the to wonder how it could ever win another single currency—but European Parliament (MEPs) elected. election. The idea developed that they still found itself ever In 2006, Nigel Farage became needed to “shoot UKIP’s fox” by holding less sovereign, with the UKIP’s leader. He sought to broaden a referendum on EU membership. In the power of the British the party’s appeal beyond the single general election of 2015, the Conserva- people residing issue of EU membership. The Conser- tives ran on a manifesto promising such a with unelected vatives had just elected David Cam- referendum. To the surprise of most, they eron as leader, and he called himself the won. Committed to a referendum, it was “Heir to Blair.” He copied Blair’s liberal, held in 2016. metropolitan world view and fatuous The rest is not yet history. Britain was style. He went to the North Pole to ride a due to leave the EU at the end of March. sled in front of TV cameras to make some This has been delayed. EU federalists in point about climate change. In response the UK continue to try to ignore or over- to rising crime, he urged the public to turn the result of the 2016 referendum. “Hug a hoodie.” Unsurprisingly, this They may yet succeed. had little appeal to most conservatives. But that result will not go away. It will Farage spotted a gap in the market for a remain a British declaration of indepen- small “c” conservative party which would dence. And the role of our Annual Dinner Nigel Farage reduce taxes and spending, be tougher speaker, Nigel Farage, in securing that, on law and order, and try to get control was vital. of immigration as Britain’s population —John Phelan

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 33 The THINKING MINNESOTA POLL

BUDGET

The DOA AGENDA? Walz’s policy agenda faces stiff opposition. By Rob Autry

34 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA FIGURE 1: MOST VOTERS OPPOSE INCREASING THE GAS TAX OR INCREASING THE STATE BUDGET.

MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 24 sleight of hand may have to outmaneuver popular “As you may know, this year, “Last year, Minnesota’s state policy as Governor Tim Walz tries to pull several Most voters oppose increasing the gas tax or increasing Governor Walz proposed a budget was increased by A 20-cent increase in Minnesota’s 9 percent. This year, Governor Walz legislative rabbits out of his hat. Minnesotans resoundingly gas tax, which amountsthe state budget. to a 70 has proposed increasing the state “As you may know, this year, Governor Walz proposed percent increase that would make “Last year, Minnesota's state budget was increased by 9 budget by another 10 percent. reject key components of the controversial legislative agenda a 20-cent increase in Minnesota's gas tax which Minnesota’s tax the 4th highest in percent. This year, Governor Walz has proposed Knowing this, do you favor amounts to a seventy percent increase that would of his first term in office, according to the most recentThinking increasing the state budget by another 10 percent. make Minnesota's tax the 4th highest in the nation. the nation. Knowing this, do you or oppose increasing the Knowing this, do you favor or oppose increasing the Knowing this, do you favor or oppose this proposal to Minnesota Poll, a quarterly statewide survey of Minnesotans favor or oppose this proposal to state spending by an additional 10 percent?”state spending by an increase the gas tax?” sponsored by Center of the American Experiment. increase the gas tax?” additional 10 percent?” 60% Walz’s budget, gas tax, and energy mandate all appear to be 54% under deep water in terms of public opinion. 45% 40% Meeting Street Research conducted phone interviews with 35% Strongly 40% 500 registered Minnesota voters (including 30 percent by cell Strongly phone) on March 11-13. There is a 4.38 percent margin of er- 17% 14% ror in the data. Strongly Strongly Most endangered seems to be Governor Walz’s attempt to -25 -14 impose a 20-cent per gallon gas tax on drivers, giving Minne- Gas Tax Increase State Budget Increase Favor Oppose

MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 25 Perhaps most alarming for Walz’s FIGURERepublicans and Independents disapprove of the 2: REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS legislative strategists is that DISAPPROVEGas Tax increase. OF THE GAS TAX INCREASE. Independents reject the gas tax by Gas TaxGas Tax Increase Favor/Oppose By Party Increase Favor/Oppose By Party 92% 59 percent to 34 percent. It is the rare 88%

policy initiative that can survive the 67% 59% intensity of such opposition. 51% 44% 34% 26% sotans the fourth highest gas tax in the country. Our data reveal 9% that voters statewide reject the tax by a margin of 60 percent to 6% 35 percent, with 45 percent expressing “strong” disapproval. +41 +7 -25 -79 -86 Minnesotans oppose the gas tax in every geographical part Base Soft Independents Soft Base of the state and in every population demographic. The core Democrats Democrats Republicans Republicans Twin Cities offer the closest margin, with opponents eclips- Favor Oppose MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 26 ing supporters by 47 percent to 45 percent; women aged 18 to 54 appear most sympathetic to the idea, while still rejecting it And, Republicans and Independents disapprove of the FIGURE 3: REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS by a margin of 52 percent to 43 percent. All other regions and DISAPPROVE OFstate budget increase. THE STATE BUDGET INCREASE. demographic groups reject the notion by large margins. State BudgetState Budge Increase Favor/Oppose By Party Increase Favor/Oppose By Party In partisan terms, Walz’s gas tax is popular only among so- 90% called “base Democrats.” Base Democrats (those who say they 82% are “strongly Democratic” in their partisan affiliation) support 74% the measure by 67 percent to 26 percent, but “soft Demo- 57% crats” give only lukewarm support (51 percent to 44 percent). 51% 41% Not surprisingly, Republicans reject the idea by stratospheric 35% 22% 14% 7% About the pollster Rob Autry, founder of Meeting Street Research, is one of the +52 +22 -10 -68 -83 nation’s leading pollsters and research strategists. Base Soft Independents Soft Base Democrats Democrats Republicans Republicans

Favor Oppose

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 35 MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 27

Minneapolis-St. Paul voters are mixed over the increases; margins. Base Republicans oppose the gas tax 92 percent to 6 voters throughout the rest of state are mostly opposed.FIGURE 4: MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL VOTERS ARE percent; soft Republicans 88 percent to 9 percent. MIXED OVER THE GAS TAX AND BUDGET INCREASES; State Budge Increase Favor/Oppose By Party Perhaps most alarming for Walz’s legislative strategists is that OTHER MN VOTERS ARE MOSTLY OPPOSED. Independents reject the gas tax by 59 percent to 34 percent. It Gas Tax State Budget is the rare policy initiative that can survive the intensity of such Increase Increase opposition. Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Minneapolis/St. Paul 45% 47% 51% 42% State Spending Suburbs 32% 63% 35% 60% Walz also faces steep and widespread opposition to his proposal Northeast 28% 65% 30% 68% to increase the state budget by 10 percent, which is in addition South 24% 70% 41% 47% to the nine percent increase in last year’s state spending. West/Northwest Twin 33% 67% 35% 62% Minnesotans oppose his spending proposal by a margin of Cities 40% 53% 45% 49% 54 percent to 40 percent. And even that number shows little Rest 29% 68% 34% 61% flexibility, as 40 percent “strongly” disapprove and only Men 18-54 40% 55% 44% 52% 14 percent “strongly” approve of his proposal. Again, base Men 55+ 33% 65% 29% 68% Women 18-54 43% 52% 55% 36% Democrats and soft Democrats provide his base, with support Women 55+ 24% 68% 31% 63% margins of 52 percent and 22 percent, respectively. Republicans reject his spending plan by wide margins. In terms of geography and demographics, Walz’s spending FIGURE 5: TWO IN FIVE VOTERS ARE NOT AT ALL plan is favored only in the core Twin Cities (51 percent to 42 per- MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 30 WILLING TO PAY THE COST OF THE PROPOSED cent) and by women aged 18 to 54 (55 percent to 36 percent). His Two in five voters are CLIMATE CHANGEnot at all LEGISLATION.willing to pay the cost of greatest opposition is in northeast Minnesota and among women “A recent the proposed climate change legislation.study revealed that Governor aged 55-plus, where he is opposed by two-to-one. Walz’s proposed climate change legislation “And, how much would “A recent study revealed that Governor Walz's proposed would cost each Minnesota family at least you be willing to pay climate change legislation would cost each Minnesota $1,200 per year in additional expenses. “And, how much would you be annually to combat Energy Mandates family at least $1200 per year in additional expenses. With that in mind, how willing would you willing to pay annually to combat climate change?” DFL lawmakers are pushing legislation that would compel With that in mind, how willing would you be to pay that be to pay that amount annually to combat climate change?” amount annually to combat climate change?”climate change?” 50 percent of Minnesota’s electricity to come from renewable resources by 2030. The Walz agenda includes his own version 55% Among Total Not Willing of the Green New Deal that has proposed mandating a 100 44% percent carbon-free electric grid by 2050. A study by Center of 40% $1,000 + 1% Not At All $500-$999 6% the American Experiment (see, “Doubling Down on Failure” $100-$499 11% on page 38) concluded that the 50 percent mandate will cost 17% each Minnesota family $1,200 per year through 2030 and Very < $100 9% 1% Nothing 61% would result in no measurable decrease in global warming. -11 In all, 55 percent of Minnesotans surveyed said they were Climate Change Legislation Cost not willing to pay that premium. Sixty one percent of those Total Willing Total Not Willing Don’t Know not willing said they would pay “nothing” annually to combat climate change. While Democrats were generally supportive

MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 1 of the effort, Republicans adamantly spurned it. Independents FIGURE 6: INDEPENDENTS AND REPUBLICANS also spurned the personal cost by 20 percentage points, 60 Independents and Republicans say they are not willing to SAY THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY THE COST percent to 40 percent. While voters in the Twin Cities endorsed OFpay the cost of the climate change legislation. THE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION. the concept 59 percent to 41 percent, voters elsewhere rejected Climate ChangeClimate Change Legislation Cost Willing/Not Willing By Party Legislation Cost Willing/Not Willing By Party the idea by wide margins. 93% Voters increased their dislike for the legislation when 80% 82% confronted with the Center’s conclusion that a 100 percent 72% energy mandate would only reduce climate change by 0.00073 60% degrees C by the year 2100. Armed with that information, 63

40% percent of Minnesotans said they would be less likely to sup- 27% port the mandate. Even more—71 percent—of respondents 19% 16% said they would reject the legislation when told that one local 6% school district would have to lay off 10 teachers to make up for

+61 +45 -20 -66 -87 the resulting higher electrical prices from the legislation. Base Soft Independents Soft Base Democrats Democrats Republicans Republicans

Willing Not Willing

36 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA Wind MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 32 While generally supportive of wind energy (92 percent), a Only voters in Minneapolis/St. Paul are willing to pay the FIGURE 7: ONLY MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL VOTERS ARE WILLING TO PAY THE COST OF THE CLIMATE whopping 63 percent changed their minds when told that a cost of the legislation. local utility had “required residents to set their thermostats CHANGE LEGISLATION. to 60 degrees and stop using hot water because the wind Climate ChangeClimate Change Legislation Cost By Region Legislation Cost Willing/Not Willing By Region 74% wasn’t blowing.” 62% 59% 57% “Right Direction/ 54% Wrong Track” 41% 43% 43% Minnesota voters are 36% diametrically opposed in 26% Minnesotans are their optimism about the more positive about country and their opinions about their state. +18 -11 -26 -14 -48 the direction of The country, they say, Minneapolis/ Suburbs Northeast South West/Northwest the state, although is on the wrong track, by St. Paul a margin of 59 percent to Willing Not Willing the “wrong track” 36 percent. The partisan sentiment has risen split is wide: Republicans FIGURE 8: BOTH OF THESE MESSAGES AGAINST are considerably more THE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATIONMINNESOTA TEST STATEWIDE WELL. SURVEY | 34 12 percentage points. bullish (79 percent “right “And if you knew that this “And, if you knew one metro school direction” to 13 percent Both of these messages against the climate change legislation would only reduce district projects it would have to lay climatelegislation test well with voters overall. change by 0.00073 off 10 teachers to make up for higher “wrong track”) than either degrees C by the year 2100, electricity prices as a result of this Independents (21 percent “And if you knew that this legislation would only would that make you more likely “And, if you knew one metro school district projects it legislation, would that make you reduce climate change by .00073 degrees by the year or less likely to support Governor would have to lay off 10 teachers to make up for higher more likely or less likely to support to 75 percent) or Democrats (7 percent to 89 percent). The Twin 2100, would that make you more likely or less likely to electricity prices as a result of this legislation, would that support Governor Walz proposed climate change Walz’s proposed climate make you more likely or less likely to support Governor Governor Walz’s proposed climate Cities (28 percent to 67 percent) and suburban women aged 18 changelegislation?” legislation?” Walz proposed climate change legislation?”change legislation?” to 54 lead the pessimists (24 percent to 71 percent). Residents of 71% southern Minnesota are most optimistic (59 percent to 37 percent). 63% Minnesotans are more positive about the direction of the state, 41% 44% by a margin of 57 percent to 38 percent, although the “wrong Much Less Much Less track” sentiment has risen 12 percentage points from March 2018. 23% Republican attitudes are far more negative (28 percent to 69 13% 11% 11% percent), while Democrats register dramatically more optimism 10% 6% Much More Much More about the state (85 percent to 12 percent). Independents come in at -40 -58 the middle (37 percent to 55 percent). Residents of the urban Twin Climate Change Reduction by .00073 Teacher Layoffs Due To Electricity Costs Cities and women aged 18 to 54 are the leading “right direction” degrees by 2100 exponents about Minnesota, at 71 percent to 23 percent and 71 More Likely Less Likely No Difference/Not Sure percent to 24 percent, respectively. FIGURE 9: AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE IMPACT MINNESOTA STATEWIDE SURVEY | 41 Tim Walz WIND ENERGY HAD ON CENTRAL MINNESOTA, First term Governor Tim Walz is generally well-known and After hearing about the impact wind energy had on VOTERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO SUPPORT IT. well-liked by voters, although many describe him as being less “And,central Minnesota, voters are less likely to support it. if you knew that in central Minnesota, local energy officials conservative than themselves. Fifty percent have a favorable required“And, if you knew that in central Minnesota, local energy officials required residents to set their residents to set their thermostats to 60 degrees and impression of Walz (22 percent “strongly”), while 28 percent thermostats to 60 degrees and stop using hot water because the wind wasn't blowing, would that make stop using hot water because the wind wasn’t blowing, would that make you moreyou more likely or less likely to support wind energy?” likely or less likely to support wind energy?” think of him unfavorably (15 percent “strongly”). His strongest base of support is in the urban core of the Twin Cities (78 63% More Likely Less Likely Democrats 25% 54% percent to 5 percent favorable/unfavorable); women aged 18 to Independents 21% 53% Republicans 11% 79% 54 give him the highest marks among demographic groups (55 Minneapolis/St. Paul 18% 64% percent to 18 percent). Collar 22% 61% 30% Northeast 16% 64% Much Less Most voters say Walz is less conservative or more liberal South 17% 70% than voters’ own ideology. Sixteen percent say he is “more 19% West/Northwest 19% 61% 11% Twin Cities 21% 62% conservative”; 22 percent say he is “the same”; while 46 percent 11% Rest 17% 65% Much More say he is “less conservative.” Men 18-54 22% 61% -44 Men 55+ 19% 63% Women 18-54 19% 62% Wind Energy Message Women 55+ 16% 67% More Likely Less Likely Initial Favor Wind Energy 23% 58% No Difference/Not Sure

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 37 SPECIAL REPORT

ON FAILURE

How a 50 percent renewable energy mandate would cost Minnesota $80.2 billion. BY ISAAC ORR

That’s $1,200 per year for every MN 38 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA family f you thought Governor Walz’s proposed gas tax was going to Nuclear scenario, which phases out coal by 2030 in favor of be expensive, buckle up, because you ain’t seen nothing yet. nuclear power, would cost $58.2 billion by 2050. The Long- DFL lawmakers in St. Paul have introduced legislation Term Nuclear scenario, which replaces coal-fired power plants that would require 50 percent of Minnesota’s electricity to with nuclear plants by 2050 (as the coal plants naturally reach Icome from renewable energy, primarily wind and solar, by 2030. their retirement ages) would cost an additional $27.7 billion Governor Walz, who called climate change an existential threat, through 2050, compared to current costs. is seeking to go even further, and has proposed mandating a 100 The ACE scenario is based upon the proposed Affordable percent carbon-dioxide-free electric grid by 2050. Clean Energy rule devised by the Trump administration as a But a new study released by American Experiment demon- replacement for President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. This strates that these energy mandates would be all pain and no gain. scenario would require existing coal plants to make upgrades to Many people believe that shifting away from fossil fuels to emit less carbon dioxide, while still allowing them to continue wind and solar power to generate electricity will be economically operation. This plan would reduce costs by $7.5 billion com- advantageous, relatively easy to achieve, and pared to current costs, through 2050. result in substantial environmental benefits. This belief could not be more wrong. Aren’t wind and In fact, even the 50 percent mandate would solar cheaper? force each Minnesota household to spend an Think again. Would you be willing to go with- additional $1,200 per year, every year through out electricity if the wind wasn’t blowing or 2050. Furthermore, this mandate would fail to the sun wasn’t shining? Probably not. So, it is make a measurable dent in global greenhouse important for people to understand that the grid gas emissions, or future temperatures, despite its $ is not a giant bathtub where electricity sloshes enormous cost. 2X around until it is needed. Electricity must be Such a misunderstanding will have far-reach- delivered at the exact moment it is needed, and ing, negative impacts on Minnesota families, it cannot be stored economically. schools, and our economy. Such a misguided Think of what happens to a fan when you mandate would harm industries that are crucial unplug it from the wall. The need for supply to our state, such as farming, manufacturing and to carefully meet demand at all times is why mining, the most. wind and solar cannot compete with nuclear, In essence, wind coal, or natural gas. Wind and solar can The study and solar force produce electricity only if the wind is blowing The Center’s study examines the cost and Minnesotans to pay or the sun is shining. Wind turbines produce energy mix of Minnesota’s energy grid under a electricity around 40 percent of the time. 50 percent renewable energy mandate, achiev- twice for electricity In contrast, humans control when, and how ing 100 percent of our electricity from wind, they can only much, electricity is generated by nuclear, coal, solar, and batteries would be exponentially more and natural gas plants. expensive, if possible at all. Our study also use once. These concepts may seem unrelated to cost, details three alternative scenarios—a Short-Term but they are the chief reason why wind and Nuclear, Long-Term Nulcear, and Affordable solar cannot currently reduce our electricity Clean Energy (ACE)—that provide an alternative vision for costs—and probably never will. None of us would be willing Minnesota’s energy future. to go without electricity at night (when it isn’t sunny), and we Essentially, we created the nuclear and ACE scenarios because wouldn’t roll the dice with wind during a polar vortex. We still we believe complaining without proposing a solution is called need to have coal, natural gas, or nuclear power plants available whining. Each of the nuclear scenarios would dramatically to generate electricity, no matter how many wind turbines or reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a much smaller cost than solar panels we build. No matter how cheap wind and solar may wind and solar. someday get, they will still be an additional cost on the electric The 50 percent Renewable scenario includes, in addition to grid, and therefore, will still increase your electric bill. wind and solar, 23 percent of electricity from nuclear power, 17 It’s true that electric companies may save some money by percent from natural gas, and the remainder from hydroelectric burning less coal or natural gas to generate electricity, but these and biomass. At a cost of $80.2 billion through 2050, this sce- “savings” are overstated. Power plants have many fixed costs— nario is by far the most expensive. such as the mortgage on the power plant, maintenance costs, The two nuclear scenarios could achieve the same reductions paying for staff, insurance, and taxes—and these costs must be in carbon dioxide emissions for far less cost. The Short-Term paid whether or not the power plants are generating electricity.

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 39 Wind and solar can only offset certain costs of a power plant that Impacts on education burns fuel to generate electricity. Energy costs are the second largest expense incurred by schools Think of it this way: Let’s say you decide to leave your car throughout the country after the salaries of teachers, admin- in the garage and ride your bike to work. You may be saving istrators, and support staff. As a result, high electricity prices the cost of gasoline for your commute, but you still have to pay represent a very real opportunity cost for school districts, forcing your car payment, interest on the loan, licensing, insurance, and them to spend money on electric bills that should be spent on maintenance. In this case, wind and solar still cost more per unit of students. electricity produced, and we still need enough dependable electric- For example, Edina Public Schools district uses 13.8 million ity sources to be available to generate 100 percent kWh of electricity every year, according to of our electricity. Edina’s Electricity Action Plan. Increasing In essence, wind and solar force Minnesotans to the price of electricity by 4.18 cents per kWh pay twice for electricity they can only use once. would result in increased electricity costs of Even under the approximately $576,400. Edina would have to What will it cost me? climate models lay off 10 teachers making $56,000 per year to To understand how Minnesota families would be pay these higher electric bills, or raise property impacted under each of these scenarios, it helps used by the Obama taxes to keep them on staff. In contrast, the to understand what $1 billion is, more generally. administration, ACE scenario would save Edina schools Minnesota has 2.1 million households, so if we which have been nearly $54,000, allowing them to hire one ad- assume the cost of the government spending $1 ditional teacher or offer other programs. billion is shared equally among these households, criticized for School districts in Greater Minnesota would each will have to pay an additional household “running too hot,” be hurt even more, as they are already facing burden of $476. The same concept applies to future global teacher shortages. Starting salaries for licensed electric bills. teachers in some rural areas are as low as At $80.2 billion, the Renewable scenario would temperatures will $31,000 per year, a key reason why rural dis- cost each household around $37,000 through only be reduced by tricts are unable to compete for teachers with 2050, or roughly $1,200 per year. Switching to 0.0006 degrees more affluent urban and suburban districts. nuclear power to reduce CO2 emissions would still One of the most effective means rural school be expensive, but it would be far less expensive C by 2100—an districts have to address teacher shortages is to than relying on wind and solar. The total cost of increase wages in an attempt to lure teachers, the Short-Term Nuclear scenario would cost each amount too but rising electricity prices will limit their abil- household nearly $27,000 through 2050, or $867 small to be ity to do so. per year. The Long-Term Nuclear scenario would There is a growing coalition of high school cost each household $12,700, or $410 per year. accurately students lobbying for 100 percent renewable Lastly, the ACE scenario would save each house- measured with energy in Minnesota. Do you think they would hold approximately $3,500, or $112 per year. still want this outcome if they were aware of The savings from the ACE scenario are not a even the most the costs involved with their position? world changer, but they are better than shelling out an extra $1,200 per year, every year, for 31 years. sophisticated But it will save the planet, right? Minnesota households will experience this increase scientific According to the U.S. Energy Information in the form of higher electric bills and higher prices Administration, Minnesota currently emits for goods, services, and taxes, as other entities raise equipment. 28.3 million metric tons (0.0283 gigatons) of their prices to make up for higher electricity bills carbon dioxide from power plants per year. due to renewable energy mandates. This amount sounds like a lot, but according to the Global Carbon Budget, global emissions Electric bills: Prepare to pay more were 37.1 gigatons in 2018, which means Minnesota represented Increasing Minnesota’s renewable energy mandate to 50 percent only 0.0007 of global carbon dioxide emissions. If we pursue will cause electricity prices to rise by about 4.18 cents per kilowatt the Renewable, Short-Term Nuclear, or Long-Term Nuclear hour (kWh), or 40 percent compared to today’s prices. As a result, scenarios, our share of global carbon dioxide emissions would the average Minnesota household can expect to pay $375 more fall by 0.0006. every year for electricity under the Renewable scenario. Bills The impact on future global temperatures would be equally would rise by $272.33 every year under the Short-Term Nuclear small. Even under the climate models used by the Obama scenario, and $129.61 under the Long-Term Nuclear scenario. administration, which have been criticized for “running too Each household would save $35.10 under the ACE scenario. hot,” future global temperatures will only be reduced by 0.0006 It’s not just families who will pay higher electricity prices due degrees C by 2100—an amount too small to be accurately to wind and solar mandates. Schools will, too. measured with even the most sophisticated scientific equipment.

40 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA High electricity prices represent a very real opportunity cost for school districts, forcing them to spend money on electric bills that should be spent on students.

Interestingly, Governor Walz and DFL lawmakers have been are approximately $42,000. mum on how much global warming their polices would avert. But because mining operations use enormous quantities of Given the massive costs for minuscule benefits, it’s not hard to electricity, high electricity prices put these jobs at risk. The cost imagine why. And because greenhouse gases mix evenly in the of electricity constitutes roughly 25 percent of the cost of iron atmosphere, Minnesota would still incur all the greenhouse gas ore produced in Minnesota. The cost of electricity for Min- emissions from China, India, and other states and countries that nesota’s iron mines has already increased more than 60 percent give this issue scant attention. Given the enormous $1,200 per on average since 2007, when Minnesota enacted its 25 percent year cost, and immeasurably small benefits to the environment, renewable energy mandate. most Minnesotans would probably prioritize that money for Iron ore mines and paper mills in northern Minnesota used other expenditures. 4.77 billion kWh of electricity in 2016, which was 8 percent of the electricity used in the entire state. This figure could reach 6.1 Isn’t renewable energy creating billion kWh if iron mines operate at a higher capacity. a jobs boom? By increasing electricity prices 4.18 cents per kWh, a 50 Renewable energy advocates often tout “green” energy as a percent renewable energy mandate would increase the cost of major engine of job creation, but using the economic modeling electricity for the mining and paper mill industries between software IMPLAN, we calculated that 20,950 Minnesota jobs $199.2 million and $254.8 million every year. This increase is would be lost due to higher electricity prices in the Renewable the equivalent of 2,490 to 3,185 high-paying mining jobs. Min- scenario. The Short-Term Nuclear and Long-Term Nuclear sce- nesota policymakers need to understand their actions are actively narios would reduce employment by approximately 13,900 and undermining industries crucial to our state’s economy and our 6,750 jobs, respectively, and lower electricity prices in the ACE nation’s security. scenario boosts employment, creating 1,500 jobs. Under the ACE scenario, iron mines and paper mills would Furthermore, 82 percent of the jobs created by the wind and save between $18.6 million and $23.8 million, on average, every solar industry were temporary construction jobs in 2017. Rather year through 2050 relative to 2016 prices. The gulf between the than building a broad base of employment for a sustainable jobs Renewable scenario and the ACE scenario is $217.9 million and future, renewable jobs disappear once the project is finished. $278.6 million, the equivalent of 2,723 to 3,482 mining jobs. Aside from the temporary construction jobs created, increas- Renewable energy advocates often cite increasing demand ing electricity prices will destroy more-permanent jobs in impor- for steel, copper, nickel, and cobalt as a reason why Minneso- tant Minnesota industries like mining. tans on the Iron Range should support more renewable energy mandates. There is no doubt that doubling the renewable energy Mining mandate will increase Minnesota’s demand for these metals, but Mining is an indispensable pillar of Minnesota’s economy. With we won’t be able to afford to mine them here. annual average wages exceeding $80,000 per year, mining jobs are some of the best jobs in the entire state. They are especially Conclusion critical for northeastern Minnesota, where average annual wages If DFL lawmakers are truly concerned about reducing CO2 emissions, they must lift Minnesota’s ban on new nuclear power plants, which has been in place since 1994. Otherwise, they are advocating for expensive and ineffective solutions to the issue With annual average they claim is an existential threat to “the children.” I’ve noted several times on AmericanExperiment.org that wages exceeding wind speeds were too low to generate electricity during the polar $80,000 per year, vortex, and some wind turbines were shut down because it was too cold. Not only would nuclear power plants be essentially mining jobs are some guaranteed to run in -24 degree weather, but our study also of the best jobs in the found that new nuclear power plants would achieve a lower emissions rate by 2030 and save Minnesota at least $22.3 billion entire state. through 2050. Minnesota can show true leadership and provide reliable, affordable, and safe electricity by legalizing new nuclear power, not by doubling Minnesota’s reliance on intermittent “green” power (and natural gas). Turns out, wind energy is not the answer.

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 41 FALSE FEMINISM The #MeToo movement has made one thing incontrovertibly clear: Contemporary America is confused and conflicted at the deepest level about sex, sexuality, and social norms that should guide men’s and women’s intimate relations.

By Katherine Kersten

42 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA s the #MeToo movement history,” according to Forbes. has spread from the upper No one would dispute the fact that echelons of Hollywood some men use positions of power and to the halls of Congress, influence to assert sexual dominion Awhat has most struck me is the startling over women, committing reprehensible disconnect between the movement’s acts and causing real misery. But the feverish sensitivity to sexual impropriety, #MeToo movement has made one thing on the one hand, and women’s eager incontrovertibly clear: Contemporary embrace of our nation’s sex-drenched America is confused and conflicted at the popular culture, on the other. deepest level about sex, sexuality, and For example, in 2017—the year social norms that should guide men’s and #MeToo came to public attention—hip- women’s intimate relations. Sometimes hop/rap surpassed rock for the first time these schizophrenic tendencies are on as the most widely consumed genre of vivid display in the same person. pop music. Americans are now avid con- Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, sumers of a form of music that demeans for example, made news when she was and hyper-sexualizes women. Yet far arrested at the U.S. Senate Building Emily Ratajkowski from protesting, Hillary Clinton agreed during an anti-Kavanaugh demonstra- to appear at the 2018 Grammy awards in tion. “Today I was arrested protesting a video mocking President Trump that the Supreme Court nomination of Brett benick, “but there wasn’t the sense that featured raunch-rappers Snoop Dogg and Kavanaugh, a man who has been accused it’s what you should be doing. It is now.” DJ Khaled. by multiple women of sexual assault,” Joanna Coles, former editor of Cos- Movies, television shows, and video she tweeted. “Men who hurt women mopolitan, reports in a new book on games routinely depict women as male can no longer be placed in positions of what has become a way of life for some playthings, and women willingly buy power.” Yet Ratajkowski launched her female students. A friend’s daughter, she into it. Indeed, the world’s best-selling career by dancing nude in an R&B music says, gave this description of a typical women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, video, arousing the male libido that fires weekend at her liberal arts college: “My coaches them in how to project sexual the “rape culture” she deplores. friends and I all go out on Friday nights, desirability and availability to men— Nowhere is the current confusion more get drunk and hook up. And on Saturday how to make themselves “hot.” In evident than on American college cam- morning, we go down to the health center 2012–13, E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of puses, where administrators tolerate the together to get Plan B.” Some feminist Grey—written for a female audience— hook-up culture—in which young people commentators regret how women’s own burst onto the publishing scene. Fifty engage in casual sex with no intention behavior is contributing to an apparent Shades glamorized sadomasochistic of emotional connection—as a matter epidemic of sexual harassment. “I’ve abuse of a vulnerable young woman of course. “Casual sex was happening noticed a weird pattern, in fiction and by a powerful man. James earned $95 before in college,” according to Indiana life, about sexual encounters,” New million by “selling more copies” of University psychologist Debby Her- York Times columnist Maureen Dowd her book “faster than any wrote recently. “Women decide they’re other author in not attracted to a guy they’re nestling with... But they go ahead and have sex anyhow.” Why? she asks. Movies, television Jessica Bennett, who was appointed the Times’s first “gender editor” in shows, and video October 2017, thinks she knows. Bennett games routinely openly admits that she and her friends often say “yes when we really mean no” depict women as to a sexual encounter. They wish to avoid male playthings, hurting men’s feelings, having to argue, or appearing inexperienced. and women Sex today, she explains, often falls into willingly buy a “gray zone.” By this, she means that

into it. murky gray area of consent; begrudg ingly consensual sex, because, you

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 43 know, you don’t really want to do it but it’s probably easier to just get it over with; lukewarm sex, because you’re kind of “meh” about it; and of course, bad sex, where the “bad” refers not to the perceived pleasure of it, but to the way you feel in the aftermath.

Many women now believe they are supposed to—expected to—have casual sex with men who don’t respect or care for them. This was not supposed to happen. The sexual revolution promised to lead to more natural and equal relations between men and women. By draining sex of moral content and stripping it of the context of a loving relationship, however, it made the very idea of consent problematic. After all, theologian Angela Franks asks, if an act has no

By draining sex of moral “decide what you want in advance,” content and stripping it including “the type of sex” or “whether One person types what he or she is of the context of a loving you want it to be casual or part of a con- requesting into the app...[and] the tinuing relationship.” Then, it suggests, other person...then types into his or relationship, however, it her phone what he or she will agree made the very idea of If you have a date but don’t want to to, and a bar code is generated. The have sex that night, tell the person two people then hold their phones consent problematic. beforehand. And give a reason. “I together and the app captures the bar am eager to go out with you tonight code and makes sure that what was but have to get home early.” This requested matches what was granted. will make sure everyone is on the content, how do you know if you want same page. The next frontier in 21st-century ro- it? “Without a sense of a true good in mance: trying to find the magic moment relationships,” she says, “we don’t know In other words, a woman who to pop the cell phone app question. to what we should consent. We are left doesn’t want to have sex must not only The #MeToo movement has revealed with an arbitrary act of the will.” As expect to apologize for but to defend the treacherous nature of a central tenet a result, women faced with potential her decision. She can’t even tell a man of the sexual revolution—that women sexual encounters today must contend the truth about why. can enjoy casual sex with men who with what Franks calls “the default Technology (of course) is coming to want their bodies but don’t care about of the yes.” While a woman may turn the rescue of men and women who want their welfare. The New York Times’s down any given opportunity for sex for to get their consent on record. The Wall Bennett points out, for example, that idiosyncratic reasons, she can no longer Street Journal reports that phone apps, men and women have “wildly differ- invoke socially supported ways to say no. such as the recently introduced uCon- ent understandings of consent.” In one A recent Wall Street Journal article sent, “allow potential sexual partners study, 61 percent of men said they rely likewise confirms that women face to tell each other what level of physical on nonverbal cues to indicate whether a pressure to engage in sex even in the intimacy they are comfortable with and partner consents, while only 10 percent most fleeting of encounters. The article— record their eventual agreement so there of women said they actually give con- titled “Saying OK to Sex? There’s an is no misunderstanding.” The process sent through body language. And since App for That”—advises women to works this way: persuasion is part of the sexual game,

44 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA The #MeToo move- a horrific crime is predictable. “If you see desire in the terms that have be- ment has revealed the come fashionable—as the pursuit of pleasurable sensations in the private treacherous nature of parts—then...the outrage and pollution a central tenet of the of rape...become impossible to explain,” philosopher Roger Scruton has observed. sexual revolution— In other words,

that women can enjoy Rape, on this view, is every bit casual sex with men as bad as being spat upon: but no worse. In fact, just about everything who want their bodies in human sexual behavior becomes but don’t care about unintelligible. their welfare. The recent case of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman illustrates the state of near-paralysis in which the “default of the yes” has left many woman may well become caught up in women. Schneiderman, who had cast the whim of a moment—which is hard himself as a champion of the #MeToo to explain to herself or the man involved, movement, resigned in May 2018 after and liable to change suddenly. four women accused him of sadomas- This inconsistency reflects the inevi- ochistic physical and sexual abuse. The table confusion surrounding what does women who accused him publicly were many men just take “no” as a reason to and does not qualify as consent. A De- influential and progressive feminists. Yet try harder, Bennett adds. A 2015 Wash- partment of Justice report, “The Sexual each returned to Schneiderman repeat- ington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation Victimization of College Women,” edly after he abused her. poll found that at least 40 percent of found that 49 percent of women who Schneiderman defended his actions current or recent college students believe were raped, according to researchers’ by appealing to our culture’s one- that undressing, getting a condom, or criteria, said that what happened to them dimensional standard of consent. “In nodding “yes” establishes consent for was not rape, while an additional 4.7 the privacy of intimate relationships, I sexual activity. Conversely, at least 40 percent said they didn’t know. According have engaged in role-playing and other percent said those same actions do not. to another study, 42 percent of supposed consensual sexual activity,” he said in Bennett also observes that a woman’s rape victims reported they had sex again a statement before announcing his res- decision to consent “isn’t always black with their rapists. ignation. “I have never engaged in non- and white.” Given the difficulty of This reduction to meaninglessness consensual sex, which is a line I would knowing what she is consenting to, a of what has always been regarded as not cross.” Apparently, he also viewed sexual abuse as normal and pleasing to women. According to the New Yorker, when one of his accusers told him she wanted to leave, he responded, “You’d really be surprised. A lot of women like Eric Schneiderman it. They don’t always think they like it, but then they do, and they ask for more.” State officials have declined to prosecute him. Why do so many women seem incapable of taking responsibility for their own welfare? As Maureen Dowd has pointed out, while today’s women “can Lean In” in the boardroom, they “can’t Walk Out” of the bedroom. The answer is related to the fact that

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 45 just as the sexual revolution was rear- influence of the sexual revolution. The ranging our social architecture, a parallel next morning, when he doesn’t call and and sometimes contradictory transfor- she feels violated, feminism kicks in. mation was underway. Allan Bloom Feminist ideology undermines described the dynamic this way. Change women’s ability to grapple with the in sexual relations “came over us in two consequences of sexual freedom. Its successive waves”—the sexual revolu- defects are threefold: It holds out a tion and feminism: utopian vision of equality; it promotes rights without responsibilities; and it The sexual revolution marched under predisposes women to view themselves the banner of freedom; feminism as victims incapable of ensuring their The sexual revolution under that of equality. Although they own interests. marched under the went arm in arm for a while, their Feminism’s utopian vision of equality differences eventually put them at springs from its ideological roots. The banner of freedom; odds with each other, as Tocqueville movement reduces male/female rela- feminism under that of said freedom and equality would tions to a power struggle, and it denies always be. the importance of the physical, sexual, equality. Although they and emotional differences between men went arm in arm for a and women, including the unique nature while, their differences of women’s vulnerability in the face of As Maureen Dowd has the aggressive male libido. Feminist ide- eventually put them at pointed out, while today’s ology denounces fundamental social in- odds with each other. stitutions as the products of a patriarchal women “can Lean In” culture and views them as intentionally in the boardroom, they designed to oppress women. From this “can’t Walk Out” perspective, the edifice of social norms that protected today’s college girls’ of the bedroom. great-grandmothers is cast as an instru- they ensure that women will always ment of domination—an intentional have cause for anger and grievance. denial of equality. Feminism also hobbles women’s The sexual revolution presented itself Susan Faludi captured feminism’s ability to navigate complex male-female as an embrace of nature, a liberation utopian vision in her 1992 best sell- relations by framing them in terms of from social convention, and a “bold er, Backlash: The Undeclared War “rights.” Such “rights talk”—a phrase affirmation” of doing what comes Against American Women. She spoke coined by Mary Ann Glendon—is naturally, Bloom wrote. Feminism’s of feminism as bringing salvation, as political and can never exhaust the rich- watchword, by contrast, was “biol- ushering in what she called “the prom- ness and nuance of the age-old dance ogy should not be destiny.” Feminism ised land of equality.” By this measure, between men and women. It refuses to presented itself as a “liberation from women cannot be truly equal unless acknowledge that rights bring respon- nature,” which required “not so much their outcomes on every front are identi- sibilities, and it precludes the notion the abolition of law but the institution of cal to men’s. That includes the ability of contributory negligence by women law and political activism.” to engage in sex of any kind without in any social conflict, including sexual Put simply, you might say that when a heartache or regret. Such expectations encounters gone wrong. woman goes upstairs with a young man are unrealistic, given the limitations of Finally, feminism undermines wom- after a frat party, she’s acting under the the human condition. On the other hand, en’s ability to cope with the challenges of today’s sexual free-for-all by condi- tioning them to think of themselves as victims—weak, bewildered, and lacking About the Author: Katherine Kersten, a writer and attorney, in moral agency. By portraying women is a senior policy fellow at Center of the American Experiment. as pawns of patriarchal forces beyond She served as a Metro columnist for the Star Tribune from 2005 their control, feminism suggests they to 2008, and as an opinion columnist for the paper for 15 years cannot advance, or even grasp, their between 1996 and 2013. She was a founding director of the own interests. Center and served as its chair from 1996 to 1998. Notions of this kind seem out-of- date in a world where women make up

46 SPRING 2019 THINKING MINNESOTA 56 percent of college students and a including prudence, wisdom, courage, diation of due process. They hesitate majority of medical and law students, and self-reliance. to enter relationships, worrying that a and serve as CEOs of Fortune 500 Feminist ideology facilitates the ir- woman may interpret an overture as companies, such as General Motors and responsible behavior of Margot and her harassment, and that her disappoint- IBM. But the idea of women as victims like-minded sisters. It maintains that ment after an encounter may lead to is a pervasive theme in the works of when sexual tension or conflict occurs, charges of non-consensual sex that can second-wave feminism’s founding women—as victims of patriarchal op- ruin their lives. mothers. In The Feminine Mystique, pression and false consciousness—bear Pornography makes it easier for men Betty Friedan’s 1963 best seller, women no responsibility. In such situations, it to distance themselves from women. of the 1950s are portrayed as “empty” insists, an evidence-based search for the It drenches men in graphic images of and “infantile” creatures, “anonymous truth amounts to “blaming the victim.” sexual exploitation that grow more biological robot[s] in a docile mass” This is the source of the #MeToo move- lurid every year. A laptop never says who marched glassy-eyed into their ment’s simple-minded mantra, “We no, won’t get a man fired, and makes comfortable suburban “concentra- believe survivors.” Or as a sign I once no emotional demands. tion camps.” In 1983, Gloria Steinem saw in a university women’s bathroom For their part, women are increas- described women as “psychic colonies... said: “Sexual assault, dating/domestic ingly giving up on men. Many say it half-people who labor confusedly under violence or stalking are never the vic- is becoming harder and harder to find a derived identity.” By 1992, despite tim’s fault.” a man who is respectful, kind, and the remarkable gains of preceding Instead of liberating men and women, considerate. That’s no surprise, says so- decades, Susan Faludi still maintained the sexual revolution and feminism—in ciologist Mark Regnerus. For American that women—no matter how prominent lethal combination—have bred anger men, sex has become “cheap.” and successful—remain “blind to their In the past, sex was expensive, notes own interests and abilities,” groping “in Regnerus—women demanded a lot in the dark for purpose and direction,” and return for it. Generally, the price was making the most important decisions of Feminism also marriage, with its promise of love and their lives on the basis of the “whispers” fidelity. Today, women give sex away and “cajolings” of the patriarchy. hobbles women’s without expecting much in terms of Today, the narrative of woman as ability to navigate time, attention, respect, or faithfulness, hapless victim remains central to the complex male-female and “men, in turn, do not feel com- #MeToo movement. It is the theme of pelled to supply these goods as they “Cat Person,” a 2017 New Yorker story relations by framing them once did.” In other words, Regnerus that went viral as the movement was in terms of “rights.” concludes, women “are hoping to gathering steam. The main character, a find good men without supporting the twenty-year-old college student named sexual norms that would actually make Margot, meets a man and initiates sex, men better.” but is then revolted by his body after and distrust that are driving them apart. When women make themselves he undresses. Nevertheless, she takes a The resulting cultural upheaval has more available and less “expensive,” swig of whisky and hops into bed with changed men as well as women. Today, they lose one of the fundamental social him, submitting without protest to his our society lectures men about “toxic processes that made men grow up and porn-inspired moves. At one point, she masculinity” instead of encouraging act responsibly. By decoupling sex “almost floats above her body—watch- virtues long associated with manliness, from the institutions of marriage and ing herself perform the sex act almost such as self-mastery, delay of gratifica- family—with their guardrails of mutual as if she’s a third party,” as the Times’s tion, and protection of the vulnerable. care and fidelity—the sexual revolution Bennett put it. Two lines of the story, Gone are the days when Jimmy Stewart, eliminated men’s incentive to redirect which describe a text Margot sends the in the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story, their powerful sexual impulses to pro- man afterward, capture the tenor of the chastely put a tipsy Katharine Hepburn social ends. entire tale: “Why did I do that? And she to bed and then explained to her later #MeToo is the wrong response to a truly didn’t know.” why their “affair” hadn’t gone further: serious problem. It blames sexual in- Margot and women like her—includ- “You also were a little the worse—or dignities on toxic masculinity and rape ing Schneiderman’s four lovers—are the better—for wine, and there are rules culture, when it ought to look at the the spiritual granddaughters of Friedan, about that.” very premises of sexual liberation. Steinem, and Faludi. They lack both a Men of good will increasingly fear A version of this article first ap- sense of their own dignity and the quali- women, thanks to the #MeToo move- peared in the February 2019 edition of ties of character necessary to preserve it, ment’s lynch-mob mentality and repu- First Things magazine.

THINKING MINNESOTA SPRING 2019 47 ON SALE NOW! FINAL WORD

CAPITOL WATCH The Center’s new newsletter calls out politicians who waste the Legislature’s time and taxpayers’ money.

In February, the Center launched a new project the costs of homelessness, underemployment, called Capitol Watch. This project is our effort to crime, commuting, and vehicle accidents.” The keep an eye on what our elected representatives University of Minnesota would be paid $200,000 are doing in St. Paul and to hold them account- annually to puzzle over how to come up with able. It includes a website, MNCapitolWatch.com, those numbers. and a weekly email. (If you are not already getting The public generally believes that state govern- Capitol Watch emails, you can subscribe by ment involves a considerable amount of foolish- emailing [email protected].) ness, and the public is right. At Capitol Watch, we The website and email have three sections. The name names and call out politicians who waste first is “just the facts.” It includes headline legisla- the legislature’s time and taxpayers’ money. tive news and information about important bills Capitol Watch concludes with A Little Birdie that are working their way through committees. Told Me. Here we include stories that Capitol in- John Hinderaker A few examples of what we have reported on siders are talking about that have not (yet) attained include Governor Walz’s proposed budget and the status of news. “Little Birdie” items have its “war on cars,” featuring a 70 percent increase included, for example, evidence of a distressing in the gas tax; the Office of Legislative Auditor’s lack of civility in legislative committee hearings; a The public explosive report on fraud in the Child Care As- change in committee structure under the new DFL generally sistance Program; the extraordinary costs and inef- House leadership that confers vast power on the believes fectiveness (from a climate change perspective) House Ways and Means Committee; an apparent of proposed “green” legislation; Governor Walz’s rift between Governor Tim Walz and the DFL’s that state effort to block the environmentally friendly En- biggest supporter, Education Minnesota; and a government bridge pipeline project; and much more. change in the legislative calendar to include week- involves a The second section is called Capitol Follies. It end sessions in response to the fact that almost documents, and mocks, foolish things that go on midway through this year’s session, only two bills considerable at the Capitol. These include pointless legisla- had actually reached the governor’s desk. amount of tion—one of my favorites was a resolution urging We have long been critical of the manner in President Trump not to start a nuclear war— which Minnesota’s legislature operates. Legisla- foolishness, and wasteful spending, and so on. tors generally begin each session without a mean- the public Capitol Follies have included bills for tax cred- ingful plan. Much time is wasted in the session’s is right. its for installing a sauna; government payments early months, leaving important decisions to be for damage done by beavers and wild turkeys; made—if at all—in the middle of the night during and a requirement that the annual budget forecast the session’s last days. include, along with the forecast of economic Voters and taxpayers need a gimlet-eyed third growth, a “genuine progress indicator.” Also to be party to follow what goes on in St. Paul, critically computed are “the value of services from social evaluate the work of both political parties, and capital, including the value of leisure time, unpaid expose inappropriate procedures and useless or labor, and internet services,” “the value of services damaging legislation to the light of day. This is from built capital, including the value of transpor- what the Center does through Capitol Watch. We tation, water, and household infrastructure,” and hope you will find our bulletins both informative “the social costs of economic activity, including and, occasionally, amusing.

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