The DFL vs. the DSA, cage match edition

This morning, the DFL will attempt to prevent the DSA, aka the Democrat Socialists of America, from getting the DSA candidate endorsed for the mayor's position. Will Omar Fateh, the DSA candidate, get endorsed? Or will Jacob Frey, the DFL candidate, get endorsed to run for a third term? This might be a battle for the ages, the political equivalent of a cage match in wrestling.

Ultimately, though, it won't matter that much because Fateh and Frey are both radicals. There are some differences but they're more nuanced than major distinctions -- with one exception.

Frey fought to keep the police, though he's hardly a law-and-order guy. Fateh is anti-police. That's part of why Fateh has been nicknamed 'the Minneapolis Mamdani.' That's why Fateh will likely be Minneapolis's next mayor.

Fateh and Frey, though, are both socialists through-and-through. They both believe in rent control, which will raise rental prices and lead to more displacement of people from their neighborhoods. They're both big spenders, which is why they'll both hurt the Minneapolis economy.

Fateh's Vision:

Since Mayor Frey was elected, Minneapolis has become less safe and less vibrant. He has failed to house our unsheltered neighbors, failed to implement meaningful reforms to police, and he has vetoed one good solution after another. The Mayor has failed to meet the needs of our changing society. It doesn’t have to be this way. We need a Mayor with a plan to unlock the city’s unmet potential.

That's a little vague but let's investigate a little:

On protecting our communities from a hosatile federal government

With Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, the progress towards equity and justice that our communities have worked so hard to create is in jeopardy. Mayor Frey has said that our approach to fighting Trump is extreme — he’s wrong. The only way to stand up to Trump and his posse of unelected billionaires is to create a city that is radically inclusive and stands up for those who are the most at risk. I am running for mayor so we can do that work together.

On reforming public safety:

Minneapolis residents want a Mayor whose bold and transformative approaches to public safety will end the cycle of the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) violence and brutality that has held our city captive for so many years — I am that Mayor. Once elected, I will implement the numerous existing reforms that our current Mayor has refused to attempt, including the actions outlined in both consent decrees as well as funding for public safety solutions that supplement traditional policing.

TRANSLATION: Fateh isn't pro-police officer. Minneapolis will become Murderapolis again.

On flourishing commercial corridors through local entrepreneurship

So much of our city’s joy, character, and economic opportunities are created by our beloved small businesses. To restore the promise of self-employment, rejuvenate our local economy, and increase upward mobility, Minneapolis needs to become a leader in cultivating and supporting homegrown businesses. Unfortunately, too many politicians believe the only way to support business owners is to reward those that have already succeeded. I will work tirelessly to extend stability and new opportunities to all. My plan for flourishing commercial corridors seeks to make the City an active partner in building a vibrant local economy.

High crime cities chase people away from their cities. It's like a hidden tax increase. If you want a vibrant economy, you need safe streets. To have safe streets, you need a police force that enforces laws. Further, you need politicians that won't stab officers in the back. That isn't Fateh or Frey! Minneapolis's Mamdani:

Let's be straightforward about this. You'll have income inequality if you have socialism. The oligarchic system thrives in socialist settings. Without the incentive to keep the money you've earned, you're taking the first steps don the road to serfdom. Irrespective of what snake charmers like Fateh and Mamdani will try to sell you, socialism lets people down each time it's tried. Matthew Broderick and Dabney Coleman got it right:

COMPUTER: Strange game. Only way to win is not to play. Care for a nice game of chess?

The only way to win with socialism in to not play. Instead, it's best to pick capitalism and law-and-order. Anything else is a loser.