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As a parent, business owner and lifelong Minnesotan, I have been the beneficiary of an unsurpassed quality of life. I grew up in a safe neighborhood with good schools and economic opportunities to go as far as my dreams would take me. Sadly, my children and yours aren't as lucky.

In the spirit of no new taxes, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature have consistently reduced investments in the future. As a result, we have begun to see an erosion in our standard of living and ability to compete. Our schools are suffering, the health care system is overburdened, the elderly are being financially squeezed, our neighborhoods are less safe and our roads are clogged. In other words, the quality of life in Minnesota is beginning to crumble, and our children will bear the brunt. The governor's new spending proposals are a step in the right direction but do not go far enough. After years of cost-cutting and no new investments, a one-time spending increase will not get us back to a leadership position.

If Minnesota were run like a competitive business, we would insist on a clear vision, achievable objectives and measurable results. One of the most common practices in business is for CEOs to come into a company and immediately start cutting costs. They know this is the fastest way to increase shareholder value and make themselves look effective -- but it rarely lasts. Cost-cutting is not a sustainable business strategy. That's one reason the average tenure for a CEO today is three to five years.

The governor and Legislature should also be held accountable for delivering a sustainable vision for Minnesota. Consistent investment in good times and bad is the hallmark of strong, competitive companies.

How did the whole argument get boiled down to no new taxes? While I don't like paying taxes, I understand that we have an obligation to support our way of life. What makes Minnesota competitive is that we have consistently invested in increasing our standard of living and quality of life.

In the new global economy, companies such as 3M and Medtronic understand that they must offer world-class products and services to compete. They also understand that they need a highly trained and educated workforce to create those products and services. Without a world-class education, transportation and health care system to support our business community, these employers will be forced to look elsewhere. Why not tap into the talents of our business, health care and education leaders to take on these challenges with innovative and fresh ideas? "Good enough" cannot be the standard in a global economy.

Minnesota has a long history of nurturing homegrown businesses, including 3M, Medtronic, Best Buy, Target, Mayo Clinic, General Mills, Andersen Windows and many more. These companies have thrived in Minnesota because we have offered educational, economic and quality-of-life opportunities to attract and retain the best and brightest. It's not by accident that we've been blessed with an abundance of entrepreneurs and visionaries. Minnesota has always prided itself on producing responsible philanthropic leaders and a close-knit business community.

The political debate must turn away from portraying taxes as government waste. Instead we must ask ourselves and our leaders: Do we have a sustainable vision for our future? Will our children enjoy the same economic and quality-of-life opportunities we had?

Today, the answer to these questions is uncertain. It's time to stop acting out of short-term self-interest and start building a better tomorrow.

John Foley is the author of "Balanced Brand" and CEO of Level, a brand and reputation firm in Minneapolis.

http://www.startribune.com/562/story/977774.html