The most pressing issue facing Minnesotans in the coming elections is the Iraq war.

As war spending grows, deficits skyrocket and human needs are ignored. The United States accounts for nearly half the world's military spending. We spend seven times that of China, 22 times that of Russia, and 50 times that of North Korea and Iran combined. With the funds wasted in Iraq to date we could have ended hunger and poverty in America.

Minnesota taxpayers in 2006 will pay $2 billion for the Iraq war. Meanwhile, federal cuts will cost Minnesota $2.5 million in WIC funds, $13.4 million in Community Development Block Grants, $4.1 million in spending for the clean water state revolving fund, 217 Head Start slots, $6.8 million in funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, $18.6 million from vocational education and all federal funds for community policing. This is the ugly tip of a big iceberg.

The good news is that Minnesotans can use the upcoming elections to reverse these trends.

When someone says, "One person can't do anything," I reply, "Our neighborhood is better because of you." The wonder of democracy is this: When one person who "can't do anything" meets another who "can't do anything," you have two people who feel they can't do anything. But when you multiply two by 1,000 and mix in good values, practical policies and hope, pretty soon a war we "can't do anything about" will end.

Politics is where we come together to meet our neighbors, build community and learn about and from each other. Politics is where we share fears and hopes, define the common good and work for practical solutions to pressing problems. Politics is serious, interesting and fun. Politics can help end the war. Here's how:

Over the next several months Minnesotans will gather to determine their parties' platforms and to endorse candidates. Our strategy is simple. We attend -- and get our neighbors to attend -- our precinct caucuses on March 7. There, we volunteer or get elected as delegates to subsequent conventions where candidates will be endorsed. Although we care about other issues, we make clear that the war issue determines which candidates we'll endorse. Because the war affects everyone, we ask every person running for office to take a public stand, and we make clear that our support hinges on their position.

At early stages in the process we can either support a specific peace candidate or be part of a "peace first" block of voters. "Peace first" voters will endorse only candidates who back a specific agenda that includes ending the occupation, reconstructing Iraq and supporting returning veterans.

If we do our work well, peace candidates will emerge from this process and win in November. This will change the political landscape in Minnesota and throughout the country. Imagine the possibilities for change when Minnesotans elect local, state and national leaders committed to ending the war and to promoting peaceful priorities.

Minnesotans want politics to be positive and their political leaders to be bold, passionate and honest. We are tired of lies, war, careless theft from future generations and big money's influence on politicians. Politics can be noble or jaded. We decide. In a democracy it's really up to us.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is running for the U.S. House seat in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District. His website is www.backjack2006.org.

© 2006 Star Tribune

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