On Saturday, Representative Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg) had objected to Governor Dayton's proposal to enforce and extend Minnesota's buffer strip law.
Two days later, Bluestem posted In Facebook comment, Rep. Tim Miller compares enforcing buffer strip laws to a police state.
Via a mutual friend's Facebook post, G'ette Jones, a local English teacher, visited Representative Miller's page later that evening to deliver a little education about moderation in political speech.
On his own post, Miller had commented the day before:
Tim Miller Minnesota House 17A I have spoken with landowners who agree with these buffers and others who say it won't make a difference. The important thing for me here is the government a.) grabbing more land; and b.) Dayton is making enforcement sound like a police state. . . .
On Monday afternoon, Jones objected to the inflamatory rhetoric, then she and Miller engaged each other in a discussion of civility in political speech:
G'ette Jones Police state? Seriously? It's difficult enough to come to compromise without hyperbole.
Tim Miller Minnesota House 17A How then should I respond to this: " “It will be enforced — and I mean enforced — by the DNR through aerial and other inspections,” the governor said.
G'ette Jones You could state that the governor intends to enforce it strictly by those means. Then you could explain how you disagree with the need for such measures based on some of the other statements you have made here. Resorting to inflammatory language doesn't move us any closer to actually solving problems, and it contributes to the sense of public disgust with and mistrust of government on the state and national level. Maybe if legislators start speaking rationally, the constituents will sit up and take notice because we haven't heard it in so long.
Tim Miller Minnesota House 17A Fair enough. I apologize. Please continue to be comfortable in commenting here. God bless.
G'ette Jones Thanks. I don't think you're the only person to do that, but it was an effective example of overstating a concern. If you feel it's too restrictive, that's your point to argue, but doing so in realistic terms makes it far easier to hold a productive discussion. Now, let's get everyone else on the hill to play along.
Hat's off to Mrs. Jones for her instruction on the art of rhetoric--and thumbs up to Representative Miller for having the sense to consider her advice. Let's hope the freshman lawmaker can "get everyone else on the hill to play along."
Photo: Representative Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg).
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