For decades, there has been a long-running trend in election years of empty promises and disappointed voters. On both sides of the spectrum, voters have often seen their candidates come short of many of their campaign pledges. This dispiriting trend has continued to leave voters on both sides feeling unrepresented and angry with their local, state, and federal government authorities. However, there occasionally comes a time when opportunity and ambition align, giving us a government that is indeed for the people who voted them in.

It is rare that ambitious politicians are given the chance to imbue their goals into law, but it has happened several times in history. Most notably, many actions taken during the presidencies of the Roosevelts’ are seen as some of the best representations of progressive action. The Minnesota state government can now be considered for this list along with several other periods on larger and smaller scales. 

After gaining a narrow one-seat majority in the state senate, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has utilized its trifecta majority to go on a full stampede of political activism. The policies that have been introduced have become a huge sigh of relief for left-leaning voters, especially after the continual news across the nation of loss of rights and freedoms under conservative states. Minnesota has now become a safe haven for many, as a vast majority of the acts passed throughout the past couple of months have guaranteed otherwise threatened rights and improved the lives of many. 

Since the beginning of this year, the Minnesota Gov. has codified Roe V. Wade, Introduced Red Flag gun laws, funded the replacement of hazardous lead piping, increased spending on healthcare by up to $3.5 billion dollars, granted protection for gender-affirming care, supplied free school breakfast and lunches for all participating public schools, instituted a ‘last dollar’ scholarship program for eligible Minnesotans seeking higher education, increased child tax credit, and so much more. 

While it may seem many of these moves are over-ambitious and sure to lead to disaster, it’s important to consider exactly why these are beneficial to both the state and the people. For starters, Roe V. Wade: This codification means that under state law, women are allowed access to abortion rights under acceptable circumstances. The moral debate on whether or not this is right can be argued for a century without a decisive end. Still, it has to be considered that when women don’t have this necessary access, it is ultimately putting more and more infants and young children into the foster care system, which is already overloaded on a national level. These kids are more susceptible to physical and sexual abuse as well as increased risk of crime and delinquency at later ages. Knowingly putting kids into this system, or with a parent that is unable to adequately provide for them is clearly unjust, showing why this type of care for women is necessary. 

Arguably the second most controversial act was the introduction of red flag gun laws, a harshly misconstrued law that is wildly misunderstood. What this does is that it prevents individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others from buying firearms. The way that this is determined is through the filing of a court order application, which is reviewed on the day of submission. This is reviewed by a judge who determines whether the order is necessary. The defendant is then issued a date to argue their case to remove said order. When the order is granted, police are able to remove current firearms from the person immediately. While there are issues and complications with every type of gun law, red flag laws are among some of the best to our government’s ability. 

As for infrastructure, the Minnesota government has allocated large sums of money to replace the aforementioned lead piping that can cause a variety of health issues throughout extended use. In addition, the healthcare boost is significant for those who can’t afford the ridiculous amount of money that American hospitals and service centers charge. For both of these acts, it’s best to look at them from the perspective that healthy citizens are able to contribute more to the economy and society around them, as being healthy and debt-free gives them far more leeway as to what they choose to spend their money on. 

Finally, education spending has come to be a huge push forward for Minnesotans. Providing free school breakfast and lunches for hundreds of thousands of kids puts guaranteed meals on the table for many struggling kids. Furthermore, handing out grants through the North Star Promise Program gives many more kids a debt-free form of higher education. Giving students this opportunity makes it so that there are more opportunities for skilled labor, introducing more potential applicants for fields of work that are often left in high demand. 

These changes have come as a clear path for progress for the northern state, drawing a clear line as to what is expected of those who hold power. These accomplishments show that the democratic party on a national level can no longer dangle human rights above our heads as a means to be elected. Instead, genuine action must become a necessary piece to keep these politicians in power.