Hutchinson give Pawlenty advice

I thought that this was interesting. It is independent candidate for Governor, Peter Hutchinson, giving advice to Governor Tim Pawlenty about the upcoming State of the State speech. Like what is in it or not I think it is an interesting read.

Don't make it too political. You have made a big deal out of the technicality that you have not "officially" started campaigning...

Don't give us a list of all the ways Minnesota is No. 1. You have been doing this a lot. Granted, it is good news. But it makes people think that you are trying to gloss over our challenges and that you don't understand why so many Minnesotans are anxious about the future...

Don't explain the difference between a tax and a fee. People have heard it -- they don't believe it. They know the price of government has been rising since you took office...

Don't make any pledges -- the last one did not work out so well.

The article was not just a list of "don't" items.

Do show people that you know the facts of life -- as they do. Show that you know that:

• Only 23 percent of our ninth-graders become college graduates. That might be better than most states, but makes us the tallest Pygmy compared with the world-class competitive giants we face...

• Highway congestion is growing at the third-fastest rate in the country -- leaving us alone, stuck in our cars, frustrated.

Sadly Peter's analysis is great but the solutions are a little questionable.

Do tell us about Minnesota's possibilities. President John Kennedy wanted to go to the moon. What do you believe about Minnesota's future? After three years, we are still wondering. Consider the following as a start. (I know these are big, hairy, audacious goals -- but if leaders don't show us the way, who will?) How about:

• Doubling the odds that our ninth-graders will become college grads -- that, more than anything else, will fire up our economic engine. + 2

• World-class health at the lowest cost in the nation; better health, better care for every Minnesotan -- that will get this job-killer off our backs. - 2 [I think this is a hidden request for universal health care, hence the point loss, but it could simply be a call for a reform in health care regulations. For that I need to see the reform proposals to add points back.]

• Reliable investment in reliable transportation/transit -- so that being stuck is not our only choice. - 3 [how about roads, roads and roads...which the Governor ran on]

• Reducing Minnesota's dependence on oil (+1), repairing damage to the environment (-2), reinforcing economic competitiveness (+2), and reversing the pollution of our lakes and streams (-1 [reversal, OK, but I fear this is a tree hugging code for more environmental regualtions].

All in all it was a good letter. Maybe this will help push Pawlenty back to the right.