New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786

These days people often say, “Politicians never do what they say”. Time to focus on a new way of thinking about politics in New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786.

Focus On Minnesota

First of all, let’s focus on Minnesota in New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786.

All States Are The Same. Right?

Seems like we think all states are the same. Every state has McDonald’s right? We eat the same foods. Watch the same shows.

Different Settlers

Especially relevant all the states were settled at different times. Different kinds of people settled them. Consequently the politics of all the states are different.

Minnesota Quirk

Furthermore political scientists say Minnesota is most noteworthy for its political quirks. Minnesota can produce a Walter Mondale and a Jesse Ventura. Therefore for history on Minnesota’s unique progressive history, go here.

Ranching Versus Farming – Oil versus Taconite

In addition one of the common refrains of Minnesota Republicans is, “Why can’t we be more like Texas?“. It’s as simple as when the states were settled and who settled them. The difference between ranching and farming. Or, between oil and mining.

Passive Aggressive Behavior or Minnesota Ice

Truth is when it comes to politics in the land of ten thousand lakes, passive aggressive behavior rules the roost.

Political Movements Going Nowhere

Moreover republican homegrown political movements are reactive and scattershot. So, they aren’t very effective.

Special Interests Are Choking All Minnesotans

Finally, special interests and money have a choke hold on Minnesota’s politics. Public private partnerships. Chambers of Commerce. Insurance Companies. Non-Profits. Seven rich guys in Minnetonka. One-Issue-Charlie religious contributors. Certainly a grassroots movement has to be strong enough to overpower these interests.

Above all nothing will change until the advent of a dynamic and powerful grassroots movement. Even more a movement that can deliver votes and money.

No More Self Serving Republican Reptiles

Great movements don’t start with self serving pols seeking glory and fame. In conclusion and by definition is starts with the people.

Sponsored by Water Butler Water Purification Systems and the Citizens Council For Health Freedom

New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786

 

World Survives Eclipse-Western Wisconsin Road Trip-Podcast 742

Sometimes an eclipse is just an eclipse. Friday’s ‘Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse‘ did not destroy the world as predicted. These days someone needs to keep track of the soothsayers! We’ll talk about it in World Survives Eclipse-Western Wisconsin Road Trip-Podcast 742.

Best Economic Growth Ever!

Friday also marked the release of first quarter Gross Domestic Product numbers. To hear the president tell it, 4.1 percent economic growth is historic. Hear my take on the first blush of reporting on the good economic news in World Survives Eclipse-Western Wisconsin Road Trip-Podcast 742.

Does It Matter?

On a desolate lake road in Western Wisconsin at midnight, in the full moonlight, one wonders whether any of that matters anyway! What’s more the silence here in the middle of nowhere is incredible.

No Rules No Prep

I took a short road trip to what we like to call “God’s Country” to talk about organic farming. I’ll take that up in the next podcast. Every now and then I have to do walk and talk podcasts. No rules. No Prep. I call these ‘consolidation podcasts’.

A Midnight Walk Is Good For Making Sense Of It All

Because things seem to happen so frequently, following the news can be a head spinner. I do these walk and talk podcasts, usually at midnight, to try to make sense of it all.

News Flash! World Doesn’t End!

Furthermore last week the boomers were predicting the end of the world after the big eclipse. On top of that we are whipsawed by reactive coverage of the news. Getting subscribers and listeners to the Bob Davis Podcasts on track at the beginning of the week is one of my missions.

Good News Is Good News

Most noteworthy for this podcast is the release of the new economic data. 4.1 percent GDP growth in a single quarter is not unprecedented or even historic. It is good news. The key here is what caused the growth? Moreover is the growth sustainable?

Finding Truth At Midnight

In conclusion this week you may hear a lot of chatter about the economic numbers. Due to partisanship equal amount of chatter passing for ‘analysis’ will be negative and positive. Above all listeners wonder what to look for to find information without partisanship.

Sometimes you find a little bit of truth on a quiet country road in the mist and moonlight!

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

World Survives Eclipse-Western Wisconsin Road Trip-Podcast 742

 

Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738

Some people turn off their air conditioning as some kind of statement. I just don’t like air conditioning and it doesn’t matter how hot it is. It’s perfectly still outside at midnight. Storms on the way. Time for a walk and talk podcast in Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738.

Back To Reading

These days in my world I feel the need to start reading in depth again. During my talk radio days it wasn’t uncommon to read two to three hundred pages of information a day. Most noteworthy here is podcasting doesn’t require that level of prep. Unfortunately you lose the detail on key issues.

So it’s back to scanning, printing and reading. I feel like I am in summer school!

Two Big Stories

In Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738 we’ll take a look at two big developing stories with an eye toward pointing out how story lines force us to anticipate outcomes rather than waiting until a story plays out.

Telling Us What’s Going To Happen Again

It has been a week since the president slapped tariffs on US trading partners. There has been no measurable economic effect to this date but that doesn’t stop commentators and reporters from telling us how Trump’s actions are already ‘having an economic effect’.

In addition the president’s comments on NATO are generating all kinds of talk. What’s going to happen? Why don’t we wait and see?

No Information Means Shouting Matches Not Conversations

Do you feel confident discussing trade and international defense agreements with strangers? Maybe it’s because you don’t have enough information.

Finally if we’re being fed a constant stream of speculation with no real information, is it any wonder our conversations about issues turn into shouting matches?

Join me on the walk and talk as the storms roll in and we’ll talk it out.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors

Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738