Also speaking in the debate, moderated by Gov. Jesse Ventura, were Republican incumbent Rod Grams, Democrat Mark Dayton, David Swan of the Constitution Party, James Gibson of the Independence Party, Erik Pakieser of the Libertarian Party, and David Daniels of the Grassroots Party.

One question asked was whether to change U.S. immigration policy, given the new immigrants from Latin America, East Africa, and East Asia who now live in Minnesota. Sen. Grams stated, "We should defend the laws. I refer to illegal immigration. Too many times the illegal immigrants wind up on welfare." Dayton, a liberal Democrat and millionaire businessman, echoed this view, saying, "There needs to be legal immigration. The INS [Immigration and Naturalization Service] has a backlog of 4 million applications for legal immigration to the United States. However, there are 5 million undocumented immigrants here. This is not fair. There should be enforcement of the laws against illegal immigration."

David Swan, a prison guard and candidate of the Constitution Party, said, "People who come here need to accept responsibility, not public dole. They have to learn English." David Daniels of the Grassroots Party said he supported open immigration and cited the problem of lower wages for immigrants. But he argued his position by condemning the World Trade Organization as the cause of both exploitation in and immigration from third world countries.

Socialist Workers candidate Rebecca Ellis said, "No human being should be called illegal, or an alien., Immigrant workers have contributed to the struggles of working people here. Look at the role of immigrant workers in the hotel workers strike here--that was a big blow for justice." She also pointed to the fight by workers at Dakota Premium Foods--in their majority immigrants from Mexico--who waged a sit-down strike in June against a brutal increase in line speed and have been organizing a union. "These are the kind of people I want to be associated with," she said to huge applause.  
 
Energy crisis
Regarding energy policy, one questioner asked, "How should the policy be changed so that we can keep our high standard of living and protect our air and water at the same time?" Dayton answered, "I support the development of alternative energy sources--the problem is that people consume too much. I call for the conservation of our energy."

Dayton, like Grams, had not a word of criticism of the U.S. energy monopolies. Blaming nations in the Middle East and elsewhere for huge fuel price increases, he argued, "The United States is now 60 percent dependent on foreign oil. I support legislation to boost oil exploration here in the United States. I support research and development of solar, wind, and biomass energy."

In contrast, Ellis said, "The U.S. energy corporations function simply to maximize their profits at the expense of working people. The skyrocketing gas prices are an example of this." She called for an expansion of coal production--done by union coal miners under safe working conditions--to generate electricity through environmentally sound methods. "Scrubbers can be installed in the coal generating plants to burn coal cleanly," she said. "However, this is not done because it would be a subtraction from the profits of the energy companies.

"We need to have a revolution to change society so that decisions can be made for human beings. We need a workers and farmers government."

This was a theme that Ellis emphasized at the start of the debate. In response to the question, "How should the funding of public education be changed to make it easier for students to attend college?" both Grams and Dayton advocated small tax reforms for students. Ellis argued for the right of working people to lifetime education.

"There are two types of education in this country today," the socialist candidate pointed out. "The wealthy have schools for their sons and daughters. Education for the vast majority of people is a sham, it is training for obedience to work for the bosses and make them profits. The bosses don't want educated workers who take an interest in unions and politics. We need a different kind of society in this country, a society where education for working people is not training to act as part of a machine. The struggles by workers and farmers today point in the direction of the need for a workers and farmers government in the United States, to replace this government that is responsible to the capitalists."

At the conclusion of the program many students wanted to talk with Ellis, especially a number of young women. Several said they agreed with everything she said.

Five students signed up to learn more about, or to help promote, the Socialist Workers campaign. One person subscribed to the Militant, the campaign paper.  
 
Example of Cuban revolution
The debate was covered in short excerpts on the local television news and in long articles in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the University of Minnesota Daily.

The Star Tribune ran an interview with Ellis and two other "minor-party" senatorial nominees, Libertarian Pakieser and Grassroots candidate Daniels, in its October 22 issue. Reporter Erin Ghere wrote, "The Cuban people's revolution in 1959 resulted in a government run for the people, by the people, [Ellis] said." She pointed to the revolutionary road taken by working people in Cuba "as the future she hopes for in this country," the reporter wrote.