One-time Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson emphasized the serious need for change in how the nation’s two political parties work together.
“I think our political system has become so fractured, and demonetization has become such a part of our world of politics,” Carlson said Oct. 7 to a large crowd of University of St. Thomas alumni gathered for the St. Paul school’s First Friday Speaker Series.
Tom Hauser of KSTP TV, and a UST alum, led the discussion at UST’s James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall with the former governor. Attendees also asked questions about the state of politics today and the upcoming presidential election. Topics for questions included Obamacare, celebrities in politics, redistricting and rank choice voting. In responding to the questions, Carlson often went back to the theme of a coalition in government.
“I think the day is over when we can have a two-party system as it used to operate 50 years ago,” the Republican said. “The United States is badly fractured, and political parties ultimately will exhibit the same fractures. And so, the result is if anybody is going to govern, I think you’ve got to do it on a coalition basis.”
Carlson served as governor of Minnesota from 1991 to 1999.
