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	<title>Comments for lincolndemocrat.com</title>
	<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com</link>
	<description>Candidate for Minnesota Senate District 7</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:09:18 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Comment on Plan B revives by Eric</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1134#comment-6547</link>
		<author>Eric</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:45:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1134#comment-6547</guid>
					<description>Harry,

Hope I am not bothering you but I was interested in your opinion on this subject.
The subject is school boundaries being set to create a certain demographics within a school/school district.
My opinion is that school districts should set boundaries and place schools where the kids are and of course makes the most economical sense.  To do otherwise is, in my opinion, social engineering. 
You made this quote in 2001 - "I also am perturbed, especially after hearing so many east enders complain about "their children" having to go to school with "those children," that under the Administration's plan East high school would remain an all-white high school for the foreseeable future. I think that is particularly unhealthy."
I would like your opinion as to why your quote is not social engineering, or is it?  If we have a school where the kids are, e.g. East, the most logical boundary for economics makes this a predominately all white school, why would this be bad?  We still have open enrollment should students and parents want to attend a different school.  The difference is that the family then bares the expense of transportation.
I am against social engineering and the Supreme court appears to agree somewhat:

-	June 28, 2007 • The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down two public school plans that used race as a factor in deciding where students attend classes. The 5-4 ruling on plans from two major public school districts — in Seattle and Louisville, Ky. — is likely to prompt revisions of similar plans in schools across the country.

I ask this question not to create a “fight” but as I mentioned earlier, I value your opinion and I also believe that it is healthy to see others points of view.
Thanks in advance for your reply.

Eric</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Harry,</p>
<p>Hope I am not bothering you but I was interested in your opinion on this subject.<br />
The subject is school boundaries being set to create a certain demographics within a school/school district.<br />
My opinion is that school districts should set boundaries and place schools where the kids are and of course makes the most economical sense.  To do otherwise is, in my opinion, social engineering.<br />
You made this quote in 2001 - &#8220;I also am perturbed, especially after hearing so many east enders complain about &#8220;their children&#8221; having to go to school with &#8220;those children,&#8221; that under the Administration&#8217;s plan East high school would remain an all-white high school for the foreseeable future. I think that is particularly unhealthy.&#8221;<br />
I would like your opinion as to why your quote is not social engineering, or is it?  If we have a school where the kids are, e.g. East, the most logical boundary for economics makes this a predominately all white school, why would this be bad?  We still have open enrollment should students and parents want to attend a different school.  The difference is that the family then bares the expense of transportation.<br />
I am against social engineering and the Supreme court appears to agree somewhat:</p>
<p>-	June 28, 2007 • The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down two public school plans that used race as a factor in deciding where students attend classes. The 5-4 ruling on plans from two major public school districts — in Seattle and Louisville, Ky. — is likely to prompt revisions of similar plans in schools across the country.</p>
<p>I ask this question not to create a “fight” but as I mentioned earlier, I value your opinion and I also believe that it is healthy to see others points of view.<br />
Thanks in advance for your reply.</p>
<p>Eric</p>
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		<title>Comment on Three days and counting by John</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1132#comment-6518</link>
		<author>John</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:38:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1132#comment-6518</guid>
					<description>Harry's voice was not misleading Eric.  In fact the misleading voices are those that support the red plan.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Harry&#8217;s voice was not misleading Eric.  In fact the misleading voices are those that support the red plan.</p>
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		<title>Comment on seventeen minutes and counting by harrywelty</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1133#comment-6510</link>
		<author>harrywelty</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:14:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1133#comment-6510</guid>
					<description>Thanks Eric, 

I agree that the issue of confusion did not help me but it was the News Tribune sowing the confusion not me. The headline writer, who I presume was Robin Washington, took the issue of confusion out of context and the headline made it sound as though we were attempting to confuse the public. That was not fair or accurate. The reporter, Sarah Horner, had the story right. We wanted to offer a plan B petition because it would have, and still could, force a referendum of a more manageable size. The two approved building plans, the Red Plan approved by the state, and the Plan B plan approved by Duluth's votere in a referendum, would have forced the School Board to reconsider its options had a new majority taken control.

(We learned from our visit to the State that no petition would be necessary if both Gary and I won. The new majority could have changed the terms of the Red Plan at will)

The new majority will not take control but it is still possible to circulate a Plan B petition. It might be worthwhile to do this if the public has second thoughts about proceeding with the Red Plan. Gary Glass beat Bevan Schraw almost two to one throughout the entire school district. His election was as close to a referendum as there could be. The public has great misgivings about the Red Plan.

One more thing will happen this year which might make a difference. The Red Plan's costs are already figured into next year's tax estimates that will be sent out this November prior to December's Truth in Taxation hearings. They will show a 56% increase in our School District's taxes from this year to next year. If no one goes to the School Board meeting to protest that will auger well for the Red Plan. If there is serious protest a new school board might be advised to ratchet back the Red Plan and a plan B might be just the ticket.

I suspect I would have done almost as well as Gary in my District had the News Tribune not panned me in its endorsements and had not Ralph Doty smeared me so viciously three days before the election. I'm afraid we didn't get the idea across that both Gary and I had to win to stop the Red Plan. With my credibility in tatters the "breath of fresh air" that the Trib said Judy offered was enough to blow me off course.

She'll have a heck of a time in 2009 making 5 million in annual budget cuts if, as I've predicted, the public refuses to pass an operational levy in November of 2008.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks Eric, </p>
<p>I agree that the issue of confusion did not help me but it was the News Tribune sowing the confusion not me. The headline writer, who I presume was Robin Washington, took the issue of confusion out of context and the headline made it sound as though we were attempting to confuse the public. That was not fair or accurate. The reporter, Sarah Horner, had the story right. We wanted to offer a plan B petition because it would have, and still could, force a referendum of a more manageable size. The two approved building plans, the Red Plan approved by the state, and the Plan B plan approved by Duluth&#8217;s votere in a referendum, would have forced the School Board to reconsider its options had a new majority taken control.</p>
<p>(We learned from our visit to the State that no petition would be necessary if both Gary and I won. The new majority could have changed the terms of the Red Plan at will)</p>
<p>The new majority will not take control but it is still possible to circulate a Plan B petition. It might be worthwhile to do this if the public has second thoughts about proceeding with the Red Plan. Gary Glass beat Bevan Schraw almost two to one throughout the entire school district. His election was as close to a referendum as there could be. The public has great misgivings about the Red Plan.</p>
<p>One more thing will happen this year which might make a difference. The Red Plan&#8217;s costs are already figured into next year&#8217;s tax estimates that will be sent out this November prior to December&#8217;s Truth in Taxation hearings. They will show a 56% increase in our School District&#8217;s taxes from this year to next year. If no one goes to the School Board meeting to protest that will auger well for the Red Plan. If there is serious protest a new school board might be advised to ratchet back the Red Plan and a plan B might be just the ticket.</p>
<p>I suspect I would have done almost as well as Gary in my District had the News Tribune not panned me in its endorsements and had not Ralph Doty smeared me so viciously three days before the election. I&#8217;m afraid we didn&#8217;t get the idea across that both Gary and I had to win to stop the Red Plan. With my credibility in tatters the &#8220;breath of fresh air&#8221; that the Trib said Judy offered was enough to blow me off course.</p>
<p>She&#8217;ll have a heck of a time in 2009 making 5 million in annual budget cuts if, as I&#8217;ve predicted, the public refuses to pass an operational levy in November of 2008.</p>
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		<title>Comment on seventeen minutes and counting by Eric</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1133#comment-6506</link>
		<author>Eric</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:59:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1133#comment-6506</guid>
					<description>Harry,  As you know from my previous post that I opposed your election.  I do however think you might have won if you had not made comments earlier that your goal was to confuse the voters.  I think that really turned off voters.
Now that being said, I was one of the few (at least that I am aware of) that supported your belief that we needed to close one high school.  So as much as I hoped you did not win, I do think you have good ideas and good intentions.  To that end I hope you will continue to offer ideas and suggestions for bettering the Duluth school district.
Sometimes it is not that the message is bad or wrong it is how it is delivered.
Best of luck and please continue to help us do whats best.  I firmly believe that opposing opinions, while not always good, they always cause us to relook at our direction.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Harry,  As you know from my previous post that I opposed your election.  I do however think you might have won if you had not made comments earlier that your goal was to confuse the voters.  I think that really turned off voters.<br />
Now that being said, I was one of the few (at least that I am aware of) that supported your belief that we needed to close one high school.  So as much as I hoped you did not win, I do think you have good ideas and good intentions.  To that end I hope you will continue to offer ideas and suggestions for bettering the Duluth school district.<br />
Sometimes it is not that the message is bad or wrong it is how it is delivered.<br />
Best of luck and please continue to help us do whats best.  I firmly believe that opposing opinions, while not always good, they always cause us to relook at our direction.</p>
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		<title>Comment on Tom&#8217;s Green Plan by Kent Worley</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1131#comment-6498</link>
		<author>Kent Worley</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:58:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1131#comment-6498</guid>
					<description>Tom's notes and points are 'right on target"!

It is unfortunate these well-educated and well thought-out kinds of reviews of the 'ill-conceived "Red Plan" were not printed earlier in the process.  Way to little complete and analytical thought and community opinions were provided by the DNT.

The problem from the very beginning was that too few alternatives were presented by the 'select committee' and school administration.  When given so few choices, it is like selecting between 'fair' and 'bad".  
Duluth, its citizens, its children and its future deserve better.

Kent G. Worley, Landscape Architect</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Tom&#8217;s notes and points are &#8216;right on target&#8221;!</p>
<p>It is unfortunate these well-educated and well thought-out kinds of reviews of the &#8216;ill-conceived &#8220;Red Plan&#8221; were not printed earlier in the process.  Way to little complete and analytical thought and community opinions were provided by the DNT.</p>
<p>The problem from the very beginning was that too few alternatives were presented by the &#8217;select committee&#8217; and school administration.  When given so few choices, it is like selecting between &#8216;fair&#8217; and &#8216;bad&#8221;.<br />
Duluth, its citizens, its children and its future deserve better.</p>
<p>Kent G. Worley, Landscape Architect</p>
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		<title>Comment on Three days and counting by harrywelty</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1132#comment-6483</link>
		<author>harrywelty</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:31:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1132#comment-6483</guid>
					<description>Hello Eric,

I thought it was ironic that Ralph would accuse other people of dirty tricks  in his column when he submitted it so late that no one could attempt to rebut him. He's prone to this. He did the same thing to Bergson before the primary.

I invited Ralph for a cup of coffee to talk six or seven weeks ago and he declined to meet with me. Its much easier to assassinate someone's character if you don't know them. I'm sure he's been planning to do this for some time.

As for my being wrong with my figures. I've heard several people say this but the figures I've been using didn't come out three days before the election. I've used the same ones for well over a month now. 

I'm not a great mathemetician. I've been waiting for one of JCI's finance people or someone from the School District's business office to explain how I've got my caculations wrong. It certainly would be worth their while to discredit me but in the last month nada. Nothing. Zip. Why? Could it be that I've got them figured out and they've decided that its just best to say vague things like "Welty's figures are wrong." They'd have a lot more credibility if they just explained how I've got my figures wrong.

Harry</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Eric,</p>
<p>I thought it was ironic that Ralph would accuse other people of dirty tricks  in his column when he submitted it so late that no one could attempt to rebut him. He&#8217;s prone to this. He did the same thing to Bergson before the primary.</p>
<p>I invited Ralph for a cup of coffee to talk six or seven weeks ago and he declined to meet with me. Its much easier to assassinate someone&#8217;s character if you don&#8217;t know them. I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;s been planning to do this for some time.</p>
<p>As for my being wrong with my figures. I&#8217;ve heard several people say this but the figures I&#8217;ve been using didn&#8217;t come out three days before the election. I&#8217;ve used the same ones for well over a month now. </p>
<p>I&#8217;m not a great mathemetician. I&#8217;ve been waiting for one of JCI&#8217;s finance people or someone from the School District&#8217;s business office to explain how I&#8217;ve got my caculations wrong. It certainly would be worth their while to discredit me but in the last month nada. Nothing. Zip. Why? Could it be that I&#8217;ve got them figured out and they&#8217;ve decided that its just best to say vague things like &#8220;Welty&#8217;s figures are wrong.&#8221; They&#8217;d have a lot more credibility if they just explained how I&#8217;ve got my figures wrong.</p>
<p>Harry</p>
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		<title>Comment on Three days and counting by Eric</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1132#comment-6474</link>
		<author>Eric</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:54:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1132#comment-6474</guid>
					<description>Hopefully you read Ralph Doty's column in this weeks Budgeteer News as he has properly framed your campaign, "Beware of dirty tricks during campaign season".  My only problem is that it is probably too late to let the voting public know how misleading your voice is.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hopefully you read Ralph Doty&#8217;s column in this weeks Budgeteer News as he has properly framed your campaign, &#8220;Beware of dirty tricks during campaign season&#8221;.  My only problem is that it is probably too late to let the voting public know how misleading your voice is.</p>
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		<title>Comment on The Definition of Dotycide by John</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1129#comment-6423</link>
		<author>John</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:20:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1129#comment-6423</guid>
					<description>Hey Harry hang in there.  If it means anything you got my endorsement lol.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hey Harry hang in there.  If it means anything you got my endorsement lol.</p>
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		<title>Comment on How to stop the Red Plan by John</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1120#comment-6248</link>
		<author>John</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:59:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1120#comment-6248</guid>
					<description>Harry: 

I agree with your statments on the segment for the DNT.  I hope that that live in the district vote for you and not Judy.  I know I will encourge my friends thtat live in the district to vote for you.  A big change by me from your last run at an office huh? lol.  Best of luck to you.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Harry: </p>
<p>I agree with your statments on the segment for the DNT.  I hope that that live in the district vote for you and not Judy.  I know I will encourge my friends thtat live in the district to vote for you.  A big change by me from your last run at an office huh? lol.  Best of luck to you.</p>
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		<title>Comment on Saving by laying off teachers by lincolndemocrat.com &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Hey Dave&#8230;better late than never</title>
		<link>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1106#comment-6213</link>
		<author>lincolndemocrat.com &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Hey Dave&#8230;better late than never</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Oct 2007 04:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://lincolndemocrat.com/?p=1106#comment-6213</guid>
					<description>[...] I just discovered a response to an earlier post. Dave wrote with a couple good questions. If you&#8217;d like to read his comments and my very, very long reply, you&#8217;ll find them here. [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[&#8230;] I just discovered a response to an earlier post. Dave wrote with a couple good questions. If you&#8217;d like to read his comments and my very, very long reply, you&#8217;ll find them here. [&#8230;]</p>
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