Lack of agreement on transportation

THUNBS DOWN: One of the things keeping Minnesota from keeping up with its transportation and infrastrucutre maintenance is lack of agreement on how much we need. This week Gov. Mark Dayton said we need $6 billion more over the next ten years for our transportation programs. Republicans are pooh-poohing that, saying its much less, something we can handle through the state’s general fund. So which is it?

Minnesota needs a definitive study by an authoritative source on just how big the problem is. Only then can we get down to deciding on how to pay for it. Roads aren’t going to fix themselves, and the longer the state argues over it, the worse the problem will be, and the more money it will take to fix it.

Body camera privacy

THUMBS UP: A nation that has agonized over police actions like those in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y., is looking forward to body cameras on police to be a useful tool in seeing just what goes on in these situations. Body cameras should give us a better idea of what police see and how they react in situations, whether they are protecting themselves from assailants or acting negligently, even criminally.

Minnesota lawmakers are debating bills setting up control over the footage these cameras will record. The recordings will be public documents, and should be treated as such, but there will be many complicated situations involving the people the police will record, such as sex assault victims and accident scenes.

Steps should be taken to protect the privacy of citizens that police deal with, but the purpose of these cameras is to provide accurate, transparent records on how police do their jobs. Any regulations that are written up should be careful to provide quick, easy access to these recordings for public purposes.

Super Bowl hoopla

THUMBS UP: If you want a definition of excess, look no further than the week before the Super Bowl. This year is not much different than past years. Players are trotted out before thousands of reporters and forced to face inane questions that have little or nothing to do with football. Analysts delve into what Katy Perry is going to be singing – and wearing – at halftime. Even the ads have been previewed and rated on Youtube, long before they will be seen on TV.

Somewhere amid all this hoopla a football game will take place that, if past history is any indication, won’t live up to the hype.

Ah, well, happy Super Bowl Sunday.