Why Minnesota Keeps Erupting in Anti-Government Chaos

Why Minnesota Keeps Erupting in Anti-Government Chaos

In a recent video interview, Dennis Prager discusses why Minnesota keeps hitting the news as a center of anarchy with tragic consequences. The problem, of course, is not in people’s right to express peaceful disagreement with federal policies. It is the anarchy, violence, and overt instigation to disobey federal law. Prager examines the collapse of the “Minnesota nice” concept and explains that being “nice” differs from being “good,” as genuine goodness stems from wisdom.

Jack Fowler and Tyler O’Neil further examine this subject in an episode of the Daily Signal’s podcast titled “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words”:

Traditionally, Minnesotans, by virtue of their Scandinavian heritage, are known for being well-mannered and having good governance. However, over the past few months, the idyllic poster boy for “Midwest nice” has been completely upended following a string of high-profile taxpayer-dollar fraud controversies, raids against peaceful church services, and violent altercations between leftist protesters and federal immigration officials.

It is indeed seemingly striking that Minnesota, a state emblematic of midwestern decency and charming small-town customs like the ones depicted in Joanne Fluke’s “Hannah Swensen” cozy mystery series, has turned into a hotbed of radical anti-government activism.

It is critical to make several observations in evaluating this apparent paradox. There is a significant difference between events in big cities such as Minneapolis and St. Paul and the culture of small towns and scenic lake communities. Megalopolises do not represent a state’s traditional values. Chicago and Detroit are not indicative of Midwestern culture. The export, globalization, and decimation of key American industries, which used to provide jobs and dignity to millions, have facilitated the radicalization of major U.S. cities.

The Twin Cities have more in common with New York, Los Angeles, or Seattle than the rest of Minnesota. The large influx of immigrants whose worldview is hostile to American ideals is another major factor in the current radicalization of big cities. The long-term Democrat governance on a state and local level has further enabled crime, illegal immigration, and related problems.

It is especially noteworthy that the anti-government protests are well-organized and funded, which suggests the involvement of groups with substantial networks and well-rehearsed playbooks rather than a spontaneous grassroots movement.

James O’Keefe recalls his recent experience as a journalist amid the Minnesota protesters, who interrogated, threatened, and attacked anybody perceived as an outsider. He examines the affiliations of protest leaders as a mix of activist organizations, such as the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Service Employees International Union, Independent Socialist Group, Make the Road New York, among many others.

Ron Chapman discusses the domestic and international sponsors that fund anti-ICE, as well as pro-Hamas, protests, and notes the presence of professional rioters who communicate via sophisticated encrypted messaging. This is not an organic movement, even if random individuals happen to join the protests.

Even though the Minneapolis situation is not indicative of the entire state of Minnesota, the long tradition of electing Democratic officials has played a pivotal role in exacerbating the recent and current crises. This begs the question of why Minnesota seems more susceptible to radical leftist ideology than other midwestern states.

The reason, I believe, is historically connected with the predominance of socialist ideology. Minnesota is referred to as “the most Scandinavian state” in the United States. Scandinavian settlers brought in a culture of hard work and cooperation, essential for survival in severe winter conditions. These are positive traits that socialist ideologues and progressive politicians in Minnesota have used to their advantage in blurring the distinction between voluntary cooperation and state-imposed redistribution of wealth and welfare. This also partially explains the popularity of socialism in Nordic countries.

Big cities across the United States are easy targets for anti-government and socialist propaganda. There may be local specifics that intensify the impact of such propaganda, as in Minnesota. But the solution is equally valid nationwide: to keep enforcing the rule of law and discourage sedition. Lawsuits against those who sponsor and organize anti-government activities are effective in preventing anarchy, in addition to investigating the money trail and any involvement of provocateurs and bad actors. We need to expose the hidden interests that the protests serve. On a deeper level, we need to counter and disarm the ideology that normalizes anarchy and anti-Americanism.

Numerous times, U.S. presidents have not hesitated to protect the Union and the rule of law, regardless of political affiliation. Abraham Lincoln famously remarked: “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you…. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to ‘preserve, protect and defend’ it.”

Nora D. Clinton is a Research Scholar at the Legal Insurrection Foundation. She was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a PhD in Classics and has published extensively on ancient documents on stone. In 2020, she authored the popular memoir Quarantine Reflections Across Two Worlds. Nora is a co-founder of two partner charities dedicated to academic cooperation and American values. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son.

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