Finance and Commerce

Dialogue might boost chances for financial reform

Posted: 12:04 pm Mon, September 20, 2010
By  DAVID SKILBRED

Association: Community Bankers of Minnesota

Star Tribune business columnist Neil St. Anthony recently sat in on an informal meeting where U.S. Reps. Keith Ellison and Erik Paulsen, plus a dozen or so business representatives, engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue about financial reform and economic issues.

St. Anthony’s takeaway? “Despite their party’s sharp political rhetoric, two Minnesota congressmen from opposite sides of the aisle are talking sensibly about financial reforms.” He added, “In fact, the two members of the House Financial Services Committee demonstrated civility and even found some common ground around issues that continue to plague small-business expansion, employment and reforms on Wall Street that have tightened up credit on Main Street.”

Imagine that. “News” has now been defined as two members of opposing caucuses working together in a civil manner. What a commentary on the modern state of politics in this country.

Politics comes from the Greek ‘politicos,’ defined in part as a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. Collective decisions can mean majority rules, and we have plenty of that, but it can also mean people make decisions after having talked with each other, not at each other. Today’s politics could use more dialogue and less talking at each other.

The meetings with Ellison and Paulsen have been taking place every few months for about two years. The gatherings were initiated by former Governor Arne Carlson. Ellison and Paulsen have become regular attendees, giving the group a bipartisan perspective.

These meetings offer members opportunities to provide input to the congressmen, and they give the congressmen opportunities to ask detailed questions about the issues coming to them from their constituents or through the committee process. The congressmen can also provide timely insights on the politics and process of legislative proposals. The result is a gain in understanding, knowledge and wisdom for all participants on at least a few of the major issues of the day.

Over time, these meetings have become less agenda-based and more conversational. I believe that’s because the level of trust among members of the group has risen as relationships have strengthened. Participants are forthright, and willing to listen to different points of view.

After participating in these meetings from the start, my takeaway is the wish to see more political dialogue like the model established by Governor Carlson and Congressman Ellison. St. Anthony’s “news” confirms this approach is unusual, and that’s because politics has come to be defined more as a “competition between competing interest groups” than the process of making collective decisions. Could it be that a start towards real reform - financial and political - could begin with old-fashioned dialogue? Or is that too much to ask?

David Skilbred serves as vice president of government relations for the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota.

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