"The Body" Politic

Minnesota gov. Jesse Ventura slams Republicans, Democrats, and big government.

Jonathan Rauch from the April 1999 issue

(Page 5 of 5)

Reason: I assume they're afraid it will get spent in the meantime.

Ventura: Not if they don't spend it. The legislature must have a control problem. The last time they were in session they had that problem. I can control the spending. They're telling me they can't. They're telling me, "You better get it out of our hands because we have no self-control." It reminds me of children. They don't have the self-control.

Reason: Now that you've been elected, do you find you have to tone down your style? Or do you still show your biceps when someone asks how you're going to handle the legislature?

Ventura: No, I haven't toned down. But I don't show my biceps now because I wasn't able to work out for months because of the campaigning. Someone wanted me to take my shirt off today for a photo shoot and I said, "Absolutely not." I have my personal body pride. Wait till I get back in shape, and I'll be happy to. I've already said, "Wait till summer time, when I take the lawn chair out there [on the deck off the capitol building] to get some rays."

Reason: Would there be security concerns if you did that?

Ventura: Security? I already go out there to have a stogie now and then, 'cause you can't smoke inside any of Minnesota's public buildings.

Reason: I was going to ask you what you thought of the tobacco settlement.

Ventura: The tobacco settlement was handled the exact opposite way that it should have been. It should have been the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that went to the tobacco companies and said, "You're falling under our jurisdiction, nicotine's a drug. We're going to control how you operate." That would have been better, because then you know what would have happened? The tobacco companies would have sued the government instead of the other way around.

The dangerous precedent that was set by the tobacco settlement is that the government has now found a way to raise taxes using the court system rather than the legislature. I don't like that. I mean, I'm glad the money's here. It gives me more to work with, but...

Reason: ...but you would oppose that sort of policy?

Ventura: What's next--suing Bill Gates?

Reason: Gun makers are already getting sued by cities.

Ventura: There you go. Government has now found a way to go out there and impose their will and their taxes upon legal, private businesses. Government has now found a way to go out and get money where they don't have to do it in the legislative forum.