Observations

I noticed the news last night was all abuzz with NFL/Viking Stadium bills. I'm realizing even more why nothing is being accomplished. Three different stadium bills are in three different stages. Each of these bills are different enough from each other so that none will get the support they need.

Our government at work.

I decided to continue watching the news last night just to see what else was going on in the world of government in Minnesota.

Did you know the State Capital Building is LITERALLY falling apart and that it needs a major remodeling. Estimated cost? $226 million.

By the time it's all said and done we are looking at a quarter billion dollars. It got me thinking. Why would we WANT to remodel/renovate/fix this old building when we could just as easily be progressive and build a NEW one for a fraction of that cost. And why weren't ANY of our current legislators suggesting this. We ARE NOT TIED to our history that way. Let's nor saddle ourselves with this old building forever just because everybody else has always done that. Let's set the example and build something leaner, better, and smarter.

Do we need a huge concrete dome? Thousands of stone/marble steps and huge columns that represent a bye-gone era that's an inefficient monster to heat and cool?

We decide we aren't going to build a Vikings Stadium that will literally pay for itself while at the same time we are figuring out HOW to spend countless hundreds of millions of dollars fixing up an old building that is worse than worthless. It's a money pit that will keep demanding more from us every time it needs renovation.

My proposal? Build the Minnesota State Capital Building/Stadium Complex. Set the standard for the WORLD. And build it for the same cost as the current Viking Stadiums plan. EVEN if you end up spending $200 million MORE, it will still be cheaper than renovating a building that would best be demolished.

Win-Win.

You say that the state capital is in St. Paul? WHO CARES? If they have a great modern place to meet that will last for decades and decades who cares if you have a place that's 25 minutes away from the current capital building.

This is about economics and doing the right thing. Let's SET THE STANDARD.