The final tallies are in and it was a record-setting year for the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Nearly 1.8 million people walked through the turnstiles in 2009. That makes the Minnesota event the #1 State Fair in the country, based upon average daily attendance. (The Texas State Fair draws more people, but runs 24 days instead of 12.)
The Independence Party also drew record crowds to its booth, as evidenced by the number of people that voted in our issue poll (more on that later). Many Minnesotans expressed interest in finding an alternative to both the Democrat-Farmer-Labor and Republican parties. "The Independence Party is the only major party that shows true fiscal responsibility," said party member Bill Wilcox while speaking with fairgoers. "We believe in actually paying down the national debt instead of passing it on to our kids and grandkids. And we combine that with an inclusive policy on social issues that mirrors mainstream Minnesota."
Sen. Dean Barkley also appeared in the IP booth and greeted some of his many supporters. "I met many Republicans that have lost their desire to be called a Republican," said the former senator and one of the party's co-founders. Barkley then echoed the mood of the electorate following the long drawn-out Senate recount. "Some people are not very engaged in politics at this time, or have lost hope that our current political system can ever function well again. But others were looking for something different and said that they would consider our party as a potential new home."
The issue on everyone's mind was clearly health care and our unofficial "Bean Poll" included a question on that topic. Over 46% of respondents thought that providing universal coverage should be the most important feature of any reform. Nearly 25% said that cost control was most important. Just under 20%, primarily younger fairgoers, favored insurance portability. Only a small minority or respondents, less than 9%, favored leaving the current system intact. A total of 1953 fair visitors voted in the IP poll.
Since this year's legislative session was so controversial, ending with Governor Pawlenty's decision to "unallot" or withhold funding from key programs, we decided to ask a question to determine whom people blamed most for the budget debacle. Some 21% blamed the DFL-controlled legislature. 14% blamed the Republicans or Gov. Pawlenty in particular. But over 64%, nearly two-thirds of all respondents, blamed either both parties equally, or themselves for not holding their elected officials accountable (by voting to replace them with others more capable of reaching compromise).
A more elaborate version of the Bean Poll was conducted at the Dakota County Fair in early August. Results of that poll can be found on the CD2 Events Page.
To all who shared their opinions, we say "Thank you." The Independence Party also invites like-minded Minnesotans to get involved, and to join our cause to return control of government to the people. To learn more, please contact the party leaders in your area. Each congressional district of the IP has a page on this website. Find those pages here, or click on "About the IP" at the top of this page, then click "Local Parties".
