[Mpls] Following the money when advocating for change

[ArthurTHimmelman at aol.com]

When "following the money" in order to understand why funding is provided  
for particular programs or services, it is important to keep in mind  that more 
humane services and logical plans for cost savings could and  often should 
take money and power from people and organizations that benefit  from existing 
policies and practices.  It can be painfully obvious that  defenders of 
"business as usual" strongly or cleverly resist solutions that  threaten their status, 
power, and livelihood. Given this reality, it is  vital for change proposals 
to carefully address these possible consequences of  transforming inhumane, 
ineffective, and needlessly costly programs and  services. Of course, those 
defending the status quo prefer keeping change  proposals focused on the problems 
of those "targeted" by their policies and  practices and not on how their 
self-interest depends on the existence of  such problems.
 
Arthur T.  Himmelman
Loring Park