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My Point of View by Angie Hoffman

 

The first thing I’d like to say is a big thank you to our local law enforcement and their families. Those who support you may be generally quieter than those who do not, but we outnumber the haters greatly. We need you, and we appreciate you.

Freeborn County and Albert Lea are blessed to have some of the very best officers, many of whom my husband and I know well. We are close to multiple individuals who have been called up to serve in the Minneapolis riots. We’ve heard relief expressed from the families of local officers who didn’t have to go. We know a former Minneapolis police officer who has been watching the situation tensely, staying in touch with past co-workers who are still serving. A good friend is a local officer, and I’ve seen his family worry for his safety many times over the years. Another longtime buddy who served in Waseca was shot in the face this past January.

How quickly some have forgotten what law enforcement willingly expose themselves to so that you and I don’t have to.

Should we be vigilant against abuse of power? Yes, always and from all sources of power. An overlooked area is that we need to ensure our officers aren’t forced to choose between keeping their jobs or enforcing unconstitutional mandates.  Neither option is good. Our leaders matter.

For those who aren’t close to local law enforcement, please know these are good people. They protect our community and are part of it.  They are targets, and the current environment will continue to raise their risk levels for months to come. Their families are scared.  Many are deleting their social media accounts out of safety concerns. They need our support and they deserve it.

The second thing I’d like to say is that Minnesota cannot keep following its current trajectory or it will fall.  Our beautiful state has been hijacked by extreme progressive agendas, the consequences of which have never been more blatant.   

Although the left is eager to blame Trump for recent events in Minneapolis, Trump is not who has been setting policies there. The last time Minneapolis had a Republican mayor was for a single day in 1973. Astounding. Before that it was 1961.  The entire current Minneapolis City Council is Democrat, with the exception of one Green Party member.  Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is a Democrat. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo was appointed by a Democrat. The Minnesota state senators and representatives for Minneapolis are all Democrats. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is a Democrat. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith are Democrats. Attorney General Keith Ellison is a Democrat. Gov. Tim Walz is a Democrat.

That’s a lot of Democrats, and it has been that way for a long time. In addition, most of the current leaders have proven not to be your classic farmer/laborer Democrats, but radical progressives pushing extremist policies that were unheard of 20 years ago. Heck, even 10 years ago.

We’ve seen our governor shut down the state and then resist relinquishing his new powers after his initial projections proved to be massively incorrect. Small businesses have been strangled for “public safety” while COVID-19 patients were simultaneously placed into Minnesota nursing homes.  People on the brink of losing everything have been called selfish. Ilham Omar has demanded that rent be canceled. Those who accused shutdown protesters of “not caring if people die” are suddenly supportive of a movement that has nationally resulted in both officers and participants actually dying. You could be fined up to $1,000 in Minneapolis for not wearing a mask in public, unless, of course, you’re protesting, rioting or looting. While meeting in groups larger than 10 was not allowed, social distancing was apparently optional for huge memorial services. Is the virus dangerous or not? 

A month ago, a black barber in St. Paul faced fines up to $25,000 for daring to open his business in an attempt to survive. This month, leftist celebrities and politicians are fundraising to bail out those who destroyed small businesses and affordable housing in Minneapolis. (Yes, they’re bailing out “all folks that are jailed due to the uprising,” per the executive director of the Minnesota Freedom Fund.) Walz and Frey stood down and allowed Minneapolis to burn for days, and now the Minneapolis City Council is advocating to disband their police department.

This is insane.

If you are happy with how life in Minnesota has progressed in 2020, then keep voting blue. Your leaders are already in charge and you’re set. If you don’t want more of the same, please consider helping us bring Minnesota back into balance and vote Republican. The 2020 election is our best chance, and might be our last real chance, to save this state. 

Angie Hoffman is a member of the Freeborn County Republican Party.