Yesterday, the Duluth News Tribune ran a story about Duluth’s Sister Cities. The paper questioned the city’s ability to sustain the Sister City program in light of a tight city budget. Good question, but far from the mark when it comes to our city budget.

Perhaps the city and the paper should take a lesson from one of many companies in our area that have had to adjust their budgets. St. Luke’s Hospital recently had to adjust its budget to make its year balance. SMDC, now known as the Benedictine System, has undergone a makeover in its staff compliment in order to better align itself for the future. There are numerous other examples. Reducing its commitment to the Sister Cities program might help the City’s budget situation. However, it is only a drop in the old proverbial city budget bucket.

Our city has rightfully inherited its budget mess. Politicians from years past have simply passed along the same old “different day” thinking to the next generation of elected officials who have done the same old thing. Einstein was correct: you cannot solve a problem with the same old thinking that got you there in the first place. To solve the problem we must think and act differently.

The Economist Magazine recently reported on the state of the world auto industry (see September 4, 2004: Ripe for Revolution). The American auto industry seems to be in a similar situation to the City of Duluth. However, the Economist points out that the American auto industry must change or risk being minimized in the face of world competition.

Perhaps we should take a lesson. Maybe it is time to look at a regional government, or at competitive bidding for public works within our city itself. Perhaps it is time to overhaul the retiree health care debacle.

Whatever the political debate brings at city hall, we can only be sure of one thing: change is inevitable.