the Farmer-Labor movement in Minnesota

[mellowtigger]

I just finished watching the premier of "The Farmer-Labor Movement: A Minnesota Story" on a local Public Broadcasting station. It was fascinating and uplifting history about "the most successful third party in U.S. political history".

I've written before about our state's DFL (not merely Democrat) party and its relation to the Wizard Of Oz story. This video finally explains in detail how and why this history came to be. It's such a wonderful story that gives me hope. Technically, Minnesota is a "purple" state (mixture of conservative "red" and liberal "blue" voters), but even so it has a long history of progressive politics. I didn't know until tonight that a Minnesota governor once deployed troops to protect the workers against the businesses!

I've written before that people should move away from the conservative states that have become so dangerous. Honestly, why wouldn't everyone move here, where the water is plentiful and the societal fabric is stronger than elsewhere?

Watch this film, if you get an opportunity. Please consider moving to Minnesota, where many people loudly proclaim the failures of monopolies, capitalism, and McCarthy-style fear-mongering, while simultaneously promoting farmer cooperatives, labor unions, and creative thinking for sustainable futures for all. As I've said more than once, Minnesota politics offers exactly my kind of crazy.

Comments

[bitterlawngnome]

Honestly, why wouldn't everyone move here ... ?

Could the social fabric you speak of handle the influx of hundreds of thousands or millions of refugees? Do you think it would remain purple?

[mellowtigger]

We talked about exactly that question at a community meeting last year (I think in 2022, not 2021?) for north Minneapolis. My community neighbors on the street now are smart enough to expect this influx, regardless of whatever plans our politicians admit. They know that drought will drive people here, knowing nothing about the cold winters or short summers, only that "the land of 10,000 lakes has water" when their own kitchen faucet is dry. I'd rather people move here for the liberal trans-friendly, abortion-friendly, marijuana-friendly statewide assurances, so get here while the getting is good. :) I also hope that incoming population is spread more evenly throughout the state. Not only the Twin Cities metro is a good urban place to live. There's Duluth, Rochester, and Moorhead (where I planned to move if I couldn't find a job before now) in the various corners of the state.

[bitterlawngnome]

get here while the getting is good ... oh I think I'll stay put in my communist death panel hellworld, thanks.

People always land in the big cities. Without some sort of plan to "strongly encourage" them to move elsewhere they will land in the largest urban centers and stay there. Think of the people in the tent camps ... why do they stay in the cities? It's not so easy to relocate to a farming town where there's no work and minimal infrastructure and a local population who don't want you.

[mellowtigger]

Yes, urban areas trend liberal for several reasons, probably, but I favor the one that says simply living in close proximity to so many people requires it of us. If so, then encouraging more urban centers throughout the state would tilt Minnesota toward the blue. If growth is concentrated only in the Twin Cities, then growth is problematic. We are trying to grow denser, but that's hard because it usually displaces somebody first.

I also favor Minnesota joining Canada when the USA falls apart, so don't pay my opinions any mind. ;)