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The Democrats are in control of Iowa’s government, but it’s a golden moment for Republicans to unleash their best government-cutting, money-saving ideas. The electorate is in the mood to listen. The economy needs serious resuscitation.

So it’s curious that House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen only wants to hear small ideas, not big ones.

Paulsen was quoted last week: “I don’t think we necessarily need to look at grandiose ideas. We need some smaller savings.”

OK, maybe we don’t need “grandiose,” but we can do better than “small.” If this isn’t the time for big thinking – or ambitious thinking, or even courageous thinking – when will that time arrive?

Democrat Rep. Jo Oldson said: “Everything from large ideas to small ideas are important. At this point we haven’t ruled anything out.” That’s more like it.

The state has a budget problem, as does the nation, as does the world. We could use a fresh look at everything.

It’s good that our legislators are asking for input, but they’re going to have to do most of the heavy lifting themselves. Out here in the public, we have lots of pet peeves and minor schemes. We might wonder why the state spends so much time and money mowing along highways. We might complain about giving free transportation to the state’s first lady. But parking the mowers and freeing up a state trooper don’t represent the kind of vision that will turn our fortunes around.

For example, Paulsen’s quotation was juxtaposed with the possibility of merging school districts. This can no longer be considered a radical notion; the process started decades ago. Let’s make this a year for big, thrifty choices.

The Democrats always stand accused of being too eager to spend. Now they’re willing to listen to ideas for cutting back, and the Republicans should leap at the chance.

As for the public, every budget item has its defenders, but the bigger picture is having a sobering effect right now. When our savings accounts shrink, our minds open up.