Violence extracts a higher and higher cost in Minnesota. In both human and fiscal terms, the price is too high,

With adequate resources proven, cost effective programs, would make significant progress in preventing violence. Many of these initiatives have Minnesota roots.

For instance, “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon,” pioneered by Senator Mark Dayton, which gives guard troops post deployment support, is being replicated across the country.

The Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international organization headquartered in Minneapolis, uses tools like “inter positioning” to address grave problem in tough places. Their efforts reunited Sri Lankan mother’s with their kidnapped child soldiers.

Building on native traditions of restorative justice, a western Minnesota County adopted “Circle Sentencing” for juvenile offenders. None of the young people in the program re-offended. Communities were strengthened. A small town business decide not to close up shop.

In the 19th Century Minnesota took a lead in modern medicine. The Mayo Clinic is that legacy.
In the 20th Century we understood early that addicts could be helped. The phrase “going to treatment” is the legacy of Hazeldon.
In the 21st Century, Minnesota is poised to take the lead in violence prevention. R.T. Rybak’s holistic approach to treating violence as a public health issue led to at 20% decrease in juvenile crime in Minneapolis, resulting in national attention by police officers.

A bill (HR 808) to establish a U.S. Cabinet Level Department of Peace and Non-Violence was introduced in the 110th Congress, including among it’s co-sponsors are three members of our Congressional Delegation, Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum and Jim Oberstar.

The answer is that the site is a non-partisan one and that we post what we get from contributors. All resolutions are presented in a non-partisan format that users can copy and paste into the party resolution form of their choice. If the contributor of the resolution submits the text on the new DFL form then we will post that, too, as a convenience to users.

Joel Clemmer