The Minnesota Problem

Trevor Loudon must be stopped

2010-10-11T20:09:00.003-05:00

I have not been posting to my blog for a while because rightwing idiots have been making my life a living hell.

A rightwing nut job from New Zealand, Trevor Loudon, who works for the CIA and FBI is instigating hate campaigns against anyone who publicly identifies themselves as a socialist.

As a result my telephone is ringing off the hook at all hours of the night with these people harassing me. I haven't had a good night's sleep for months.

Loudon seems to be attacking and smearing anyone associated with Alan Maki.

I have repeatedly reported this harassment to the police who refuse to do anything.

Trevor Loudon is orchestrating this hate campaign from someplace in New Zealand.

Loudon is a convicted felon who has molested small boys. Loudon is one of the founders of NAMBLA.

Loudon created his own Wikipedia page which reads like something out of one of Hitler's degenerate hate-mongering accomplices:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Loudon

Hey, Small Spender... says Paul Krugman; Alan Maki responds

2010-10-11T20:08:00.001-05:00

Monday, October 11, 2010
Hey, Small Spender

From: Alan Maki
Subject: [Out_Of_The_Frying_Pan] Re: [progressivesforobama] The Spending that Wasn't: Still Another Reason for a Popular Front vs. Finance Capital
To: progressivesforobama@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Out_Of_The_Frying_Pan@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Bloice" , "Carl Davidson"
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 12:57 AM

It is not that the "size" of the stimulus spending was inadequate; Krugman shows his true colors on this one... its the fact that all this money was turned over to the private sector.
Those of you in the Progressives for Obama have been afraid to criticize Obama at the time he is making decision every single time.

Anyone can understand that it will take government becoming the employer of first choice in order to get the most "bang for the buck;" more jobs.

You berated alternatives like spending for a national public health care system and a national childcare system because you knew that it would embarrass Obama. Between the two programs some 15,000,000 jobs would be created and still at this late date you refuse to advocate for specific solutions to specific problems.

All of this and more can be paid for by ending these dirty wars and "taxing the hell out of the rich." A federal bank should be created to borrow at substantially lower interest rates so tax-payers reap the profits in interest rates and not Wall Street bankers.

Mark Dayton is calling for "tax the rich" in his campaign for Governor of Minnesota and Virg Bernero running for Governor in Michigan is calling for Michigan to create a state bank like The State Bank of North Dakota.
The Progressives for Obama run away from these concrete suggestions as Barack Obama and the leadership of the Democratic Party is mounting pressure on both Bernero and Dayton--- in fact, their campaigns are being sabotaged by the state and national Democratic Party.

Are you waiting for Paul Krugman to endorse these two ideas? If so, I hope you are holding your breath.

In fact Barack Obama is a HUGE spender; the problem is, not as Krugman claims the spending is too small; the money is not being spent in the correct way with the federal government becoming the employer of first choice investing our tax dollars solving the problems of working people--- solving the problems of working people is what creates jobs. We need to work our way out of this capitalist economic depression not spend our way out... in fact, Barack Obama and Wall Street are afraid to create the kind of massive universal social programs required because they see that once these programs work, they will be defended by the people--- Social Security and public education being perfect examples.

Wall Street apologists and Sooth-sayers are definitely afraid of people realizing that socialism works.

Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Check out my blog:
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
--- On Mon, 10/11/10, Carl Davidson wrote:

From: Carl Davidson
Subject: [progressivesforobama] The Spending that Wasn't: Still Another Reason for a Popular Front vs. Finance Capital
To: "progressivesforobama" , "moderator" , the-rag-blog-group@googlegroups.com
Date: Monday, October 11, 2010, 12:36 PM

October 10, 2010

Hey, Small Spender
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Here’s the narrative you hear everywhere: President Obama has presided over a huge expansion of government, but unemployment has remained high. And this proves that government spending can’t create jobs.
Here’s what you need to know: The whole story is a myth. There never was a big expansion of government spending. In fact, that has been the key problem with economic policy in the Obama years: we never had the kind of fiscal expansion that might have created the millions of jobs we need.
Ask yourself: What major new federal programs have started up since Mr. Obama took office? Health care reform, for the most part, hasn’t kicked in yet, so that can’t be it. So are there giant infrastructure projects under way? No. Are there huge new benefits for low-income workers or the poor? No. Where’s all that spending we keep hearing about? It never happened.
To be fair, spending on safety-net programs, mainly unemployment insurance and Medicaid, has risen — because, in case you haven’t noticed, there has been a surge in the number of Americans without jobs and badly in need of help. And there were also substantial outlays to rescue troubled financial institutions, although it appears that the government will get most of its money back. But when people denounce big government, they usually have in mind the creation of big bureaucracies and major new programs. And that just hasn’t taken place.
Consider, in particular, one fact that might surprise you: The total number of government workers in America has been falling, not rising, under Mr. Obama. A small increase in federal employment was swamped by sharp declines at the state and local level — most notably, by layoffs of schoolteachers. Total government payrolls have fallen by more than 350,000 since January 2009.
Now, direct employment isn’t a perfect measure of the government’s size, since the government also employs workers indirectly when it buys goods and services from the private sector. And government purchases of goods and services have gone up. But adjusted for inflation, they rose only 3 percent over the last two years — a pace slower than that of the previous two years, and slower than the economy’s normal rate of growth.
So as I said, the big government expansion everyone talks about never happened. This fact, however, raises two questions. First, we know that Congress enacted a stimulus bill in early 2009; why didn’t that translate into a big rise in government spending? Second, if the expansion never happened, why does everyone think it did?
Part of the answer to the first question is that the stimulus wasn’t actually all that big compared with the size of the economy. Furthermore, it wasn’t mainly focused on increasing government spending. Of the roughly $600 billion cost of the Recovery Act in 2009 and 2010, more than 40 percent came from tax cuts, while another large chunk consisted of aid to state and local governments. Only the remainder involved direct federal spending.
And federal aid to state and local governments wasn’t enough to make up for plunging tax receipts in the face of the economic slump. So states and cities, which can’t run large deficits, were forced into drastic spending cuts, more than offsetting the modest increase at the federal level.
The answer to the second question — why there’s a widespread perception that government spending has surged, when it hasn’t — is that there has been a disinformation campaign from the right, based on the usual combination of fact-free assertions and cooked numbers. And this campaign has been effective in part because the Obama administration hasn’t offered an effective reply.
Actually, the administration has had a messaging problem on economic policy ever since its first months in office, when it went for a stimulus plan that many of us warned from the beginning was inadequate given the size of the economy’s troubles. You can argue that Mr. Obama got all he could — that a larger plan wouldn’t have made it through Congress (which is questionable), and that an inadequate stimulus was much better than none at all (which it was). But that’s not an argument the administration ever made. Instead, it has insisted throughout that its original plan was just right, a position that has become increasingly awkward as the recovery stalls.
And a side consequence of this awkward positioning is that officials can’t easily offer the obvious rebuttal to claims that big spending failed to fix the economy — namely, that thanks to the inadequate scale of the Recovery Act, big spending never happened in the first place.
But if they won’t say it, I will: if job-creating government spending has failed to bring down unemployment in the Obama era, it’s not because it doesn’t work; it’s because it wasn’t tried.
Posted by Alan L. Maki at Monday, October 11, 2010

Support FARC-EP

2010-09-25T14:38:00.004-05:00

I received this from Alan Maki. People need to understand more about the liberation movements solidarity activists are supporting. The FBI has no right telling the American people that we are not allowed to support people struggling for their freedom while Obama, Democrats and Republicans use our taxes to oppress people in other countries.

Some background info on FARC-EP:

The United States and the Colombian ruling oligarchy have, since the 1960s, repeatedly implemented socioeconomic and military campaigns to defeat the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del P...ueblo, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC–EP). However, this offensive, whose main purpose is to maintain capitalist accumulation and expansion, has resulted in an embarrassing setback for U.S. imperialism and the Colombian ruling class. In a time of growing and deepening U.S. imperialism, it is important to examine this failure. Over the past four decades, despite U.S. efforts, support has risen for what has been the most important continuous military and political force in South America opposing imperialism. I examine how the FARC–EP has not only maintained a substantial presence within the majority of the country but has responded aggressively to the continuing counterinsurgency campaign. I also show as false the propaganda campaign of the U.S. and Colombian governments claiming that the FARC–EP is being defeated. This analysis provides an example of how a contemporary organic, class-based sociopolitical movement can effectively contend with imperial power in a time of global counterrevolution....

read on:

http://www.monthlyreview.org/0905brittain.htm

ANY SYSTEM

2010-08-19T11:30:00.001-05:00

I just received this poem from Alan Maki. Fantastic!

Rita

ANY SYSTEM
by Leonard Cohen

Any system you contrive without us
will be brought down
We warned you before
and nothing that you built has stood
Hear it as you lean over you blueprint
Hear it as you roll up your sleeve
Hear it once again
Any system you contrive without us
will be brought down

You have your drugs
You have your guns
You have your Pyramids your Pentagons
With all your grass and bullets
you cannot hunt us any more
All that we disclose of ourselves forever
is this warning
Nothing that you built has stood
Any system you contrive without us
will be brought down.

Obama supporter and apologist for Israel Tom Hayden leaves something out

2010-07-29T15:13:00.002-05:00

Sherrod, Obama, and the strength of roots

by: Tom Hayden

July 24 2010

How would members of the Obama administration have reacted to racist pressure from the Deep South in the early '60s? Would they have fired Justice Department civil rights monitors who antagonized hard-line segregationists?

For those of us with long memories, this is one of the key questions posed by the firing of Shirley Sherrod in a fit of official over-reaction to the shameful right-wing blogger Andrew Breitbart. It is true that the administration reversed course quickly after the true story was revealed, but that the Obama administration can be spooked so easily by Glenn Beck and FOX News raises a serious question: if they are so tough on national defense, drugs and crime, where is their resolve against the deceitful attack dogs of the right?

My introduction to virulent southern racism came in 1961 when I ventured to Albany, Georgia, first to write an article about the Deep South organizing done by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee [SNCC] and, second, to become a freedom rider on a train to Albany that December.

It was then I met, and came to admire, a brave young civil rights worker named Charles Sherrod, whom everyone in the movement simply called "Sherrod." Albany was a segregated town near Plains, Georgia, and the home of Hamilton Jordan who went on to become Jimmy Carter's chief of staff. Sherrod was the kind of front-line young militant who eventually brought about the New South of Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore, among others. Sherrod had to face violence, and the possibility of death, every day in his effort to mobilize young people and their parents against the suffocation of fear.

Sherrod, and his equally committed wife Shirley, made a conscious decision to stay in rural Georgia long after the voting rights laws were passed and the national media departed. I left Albany after my two brief and harrowing experiences in 1961, and never returned until I spoke at commemoration of the Albany civil rights movement a few years ago. The Sherrods were still there. She was engaged in programs supporting rural farmers, while he had served on the city council and was a minister in a nearby state prison. There were 500 people at the event, the stalwarts of the past.

So Shirley Sherrod's life cannot be reduced by a dishonest and amoral right-wing blogger into a few seconds of videotape 25 years old. She is one of many thousands who had the force of character to face racist abuse, and seemingly immovable state power, when they were demonized and disenfranchised. They were the trees standing by the water, and they would not be moved. They tried to bring their morality to politics, not accept the politics of Machiavelli.

Our leaders today could learn from this strength of long ago. In fairness, government officials and leaders of large organizations, who are beneficiaries of the Southern civil rights legacy, have institutional reputations to protect. They should avoid needlessly provoking the right, and have every right to pick their fights intelligently. But years of battering from the right have bred a defensive anxiety in the ranks of too many Democratic liberals. They flinch before they fight. It's almost as if they internalize the right-wing refrain that they are weak, tea-sipping elitists. They give far greater consideration to conservatives, militarists and bankers who rarely vote for them than to the millions of activists in social movements who actually made their power possible.

This is a moment when roots should be remembered, recovered from oblivion and venerated, not airbrushed out of history and polished resumes.

What did Tom Hayden leave out? Obama refuses to enforce affirmative action.

Censored: Greetings from Greece

2010-05-22T09:11:00.002-05:00

Note: This is the link to PAME, the All Workers’ Militant Front, as mentioned below.:

http://www.pamehellas.gr/main.php?lang=2

Communist Party of Greece - [13.05.2010] Message to the National Committee of CP, USA
Communist Party USA,
National Committee,
New York
Athens, Thursday, 13 May 2010

Dear comrades

We would like to thank you for the information regarding your 29th party convention and to extend our greetings to the delegates. Our parties have met in the past in common struggles for workers’ rights, in the struggle against anti-communism, for the defense of socialism and the Soviet Union, for the unity of the communist movement on the basis of our revolutionary principles and traditions.

We are following as closely as we can the developments in the USA, the escalation of the aggression of US imperialism which lately has become quite obvious. The US is striving to respond to the trend of losing ground within the framework of the imperialist system by inciting regional tensions and conflicts, so that it can take advantage of its political and military supremacy in order to safeguard its interests and maintain its spheres of influence.

In Greece, the working class and the popular strata are facing a barbaric attack, on the pretext of the economic crisis; an attack which has been jointly unleashed by the social democratic PASOK government, the EU and the IMF, with the assistance of the conservative ND party and the open support of the nationalist LAOS party.

The remarkable resistance presented by the labor and popular movement is spearheaded by KKE which continually strives to reveal the real cause of the crisis, the sharpening of the basic contradictions of capitalism. Without the consistent exposure of the compromised and discredited in the eyes of the workers trade union leaderships of GSEE and ADEDY (the national confederations of the private and public sector respectively), without the decisive contribution of PAME (All Workers’ Militant Front), the national trade union front comprised of class oriented Federations, trade unions, labor centers and trade unionists, the labor movement in our country would have been disarmed, unprepared, and unable to fight back.

KKE calls upon the working class, the self-employed, the poor farmers, and the youth to engage in even stronger, more massive and organized actions in order to stave off the onslaught and pave the way for a different path of development. There can be no way other than the nationalization of the monopolies. The working class must take possession of the concentrated means of production and mobilize them with central planning and popular participation. This presupposes a struggle aiming for people’s power, for socialism-communism.

The fightback against anti-communism, the adamant defense of the historical contribution of the Soviet Union and socialist construction in the 20th century, of the identity and revolutionary traditions of the communist movement, take on particular importance today.

As long as the crisis of the international communist movement persists, as long as the situation does not improve and retreats from ideological and theoretical principles are not resolutely confronted, as long as the front against opportunist views that hinder the formation of a single revolutionary strategy against imperialism does not become strengthened, the situation will harbor the danger of an even greater backslide.

The existence of strong Communist Parties steadfast to the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, with a revolutionary program for the overthrow of the rule of monopolies, for building socialism - communism, is the foremost demand of our times.

We look forward to learning the conclusions and the resolutions of your convention.

With comradely greetings

The Central Committee of KKE

e-mail: cpg@int.kke.gr

Minnesota Health Act... it's "single-collector" not "single-payer"--- John Marty is a scam just like his legislation

2010-03-31T12:02:00.002-05:00

From: Alan L. Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 11:50 AM
To: David Swanson; James Mayer; info@pnhp.org; info@pdamerica.org; brian.melendez@usa.net; ollamhfaery@earthlink.net; sen.john.marty@senate.com; Working_Class_Study_and_Action@yahoogroups.com; roseaucountydfl@gmail.com; info@actionforjustice.org; info@pnhp.org; info@peoplestribune.org; info@jamesmayer.org; info@iowapeacenetwork.org; info@markdayton.org; info@wnpj.org; info@rnc8.org; bswenson@bemidjipioneer.com; amistad.nai@rcn.com; rep.bill.hilty@house.mn; rep.tony.sertich@house.mn; rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn; rep.patti.fritz@house.mn; rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn; rep.al.juhnke@house.mn; rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn; rep.dave.olin@house.mn;'bob bergland'; judy_turenne@warroad.k12.mn.us

Subject: Re: Minnesota Health Act... it's "single-collector" not "single-payer"--- John Marty is a scam just like his legislation

Mr. David Swanson,

You continue to spread the lie that the proposed Minnesota Health Act legislation created by John Marty who is about as progressive as Barack Obama is “single-payer universal healthcare.”

Maybe you don’t understand the difference between “single-payer universal healthcare” and “single-collector.”

You are one of the few people still calling the Minnesota Health Act, “single-payer.” It is in fact “single-collector;” the state collects the premiums for the insurance companies who will underwrite this plan.

For you and others to continue portraying the Minnesota Health Act as “single-payer” does a grave disservice to the single-payer movement.

Please note that on the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition’s (MUHCC) web site--- they, along with Senator John Marty, being the major backer of this legislation--- two things are lacking:

1. We are not told what the premiums will cost us.
2. There is no claim the insurance companies have been eliminated from healthcare with this legislation.

I would note that previously, MUHCC called for the elimination of the insurance industry from healthcare; if this legislation accomplishes this, why is no such claim being made?

I seriously doubt you have taken the time to read the entire legislation and YOU have a responsibility to do this before you go around the country promoting this legislation.

At the present time, the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has the best single-payer universal healthcare resolution as part of its “Action Agenda;” I should know how good it is--- I wrote it, and it was approved and passed by 72% of the delegates to the MNDFL State Convention in 2006. You can read this resolution on the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s website under “Action Agenda.”

Your promotion of the Minnesota Health Act is contributing to a campaign in support of a resolution that will undermine the present single-payer resolution because you are contributing to a very powerful misinformation campaign for this new resolution being brought before the state convention--- I have suggested to people that we no longer bother to refute the lies about this legislation; that, instead we point our fingers at the perpetrators of these lies AFTERWARDS.

It is because of having to work with completely dishonest people to achieve a very simple and mild reform to a thoroughly corrupt and rotten healthcare system like we have at present and made worse by the recent passage of Obama’s and the Democrats’ legislation, that I will suggest to everyone I know that we not settle for anything short of the socialized healthcare systems which have been proven to work the best when properly funded--- like VA, the Indian Health Service and the National Public Health Service… the finest healthcare delivery services in the world all free of charge--- socialized healthcare for everyone.

For your information: The majority of Minnesota legislators who are supposedly “sponsors” of this legislation have told me in person they would never vote for this legislation… for, as Minnesota State Senator Rod Skoe, a sponsor told me when I asked him why he was a sponsor if he has made up his mind he will not vote for it if it ever gets to the Senate floor, exclaimed to me, “To get people like you off my back.”

I have placed a box with three great articles on my blog in the upper right-hand corner about the federal legislation that just passed; your opinion has not been included because you are not credible on healthcare issues because of your continued deceptive promotion of the Minnesota Health Act, which is not single-payer; but, rather, single-collector bolstering the profits of the insurance industry. You do, however, join with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and Wayne Newton and his quacking white duck hawking AFLACK in supporting this legislation--- quack, quack!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhWrABF4Yyo

Yours in struggle and solidarity,

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell Phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Please check out my blog:

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Let’s talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for real change.

Pretenders

2010-03-13T10:16:00.005-06:00

This pre-convention article demonstrates everything that is wrong with the leadership of the CPUSA.

Two words: Thought Control

This anti-Marxist-Leninist preconvention article is the embodiment of everything anti Marxist-Leninist imaginable. It relegates the CPUSA to a cult not a revolutionary working class Party capable of leading the working class movements for reforms and revolution.

This moron states:

Our Party's outstanding web page should make it clear that our elected leadership, and only our elected leadership, is the voice of the Party. There is no way to stop the pretenders, but it should be made completely clear that we are the genuine Communists. We need clear guidelines on communications. Every genuine Party information source should be hosted and overseen by our entire Party.

Each and every member, each and every club, each and every district and each and every leader of the Party is the voice of the Communist Party U.S.A.

What this pathetic "contribution" to pre-convention discussion demonstrates is the intent of the present national Party leadership to want to control what people think so they can be easily manipulated.

Jim Lane is a racist to begin with who shouldn't even be in the CPUSA.

Anyone can see from the delegate allotment in the State of New York that these "leaders" cannot be trusted when it comes to anything. They are lying about membership numbers and concealing the real numbers so as to control and manipulate this upcoming convention.

The sincerity of Jim Lane, Webb and this entire bunch of traitors becomes apparent in their double-talk about "Party building." We need only look at the on-line District contact information to see that these leaders are not sincere because they don't even bother noticing what contact information they are posting.

For the Minnesota/Dakotas District which was the Southern Minnesota District of the CPUSA, the phony District with all of five members headed up by Erwin Marquit who is joined by his wife Doris, Peter Molenaar, the control freak Janet Quaife and her live-in lover Harry McAllister who is the District Organizer for this 5 member District that can't even convene a club meeting. They list their address as the former chair of the defunct St. Paul club as Dean Gunderson's:

300 East 4th St, #611, St. Paul, MN 55101 is Dean Gunderson's address.

The thing is, Dean Gunderson has joined a Trotskyite grouplet so people contacting this address are contacting the Trotskyites.

Jim Lane talks about "pretenders." He and the Webb leadership have been the "pretenders" for over ten years as they do the dirty work for big business, Obama and the Democrats.

Rita.

29th Convention » Convention Discussion: Experiences with the newer technology
.Convention Discussion: Experiences with the newer technology
by: Jim Lane
February 16 2010
29th National Convention, Internet

This article is part of the discussion leading up to the Communist Party USA's 29th National Convention May 21-23, 2010. CPUSA.org takes no responsibility for the opinions expressed in this article or other articles in the pre-convention discussion. All contributions must meet the guidelines for discussion. To read other contributions to this discussion, visit the site of the Pre-Convention Discussion period.

All contributions to the discussion should be sent to discussion2010@cpusa.org for selection not to the individual venues.For more information on the convention or the pre-convention discussion period, you can email convention2010@cpusa.org.

"New Opportunities to Grow the Communist Party" is an excellent and energizing document. As we throw ourselves into carrying out its ambitious suggestions, we are likely to encounter challenges that we have not previously experienced.

The question raised in the middle of the document has a typo that might actually impart more truth that correct spelling would have. It says, "If what we say is true and we are in the mist of a new wave of political activism not seen in 40 years, of a new interest in socialist ideas..."

Probably, the author meant to say "midst" instead of "mist." My experience, though, indicates that we really are "in a mist" technologically. People and groups are getting active to a higher degree and manifesting their activism in new ways that we have not experienced, no matter how seasoned and prepared we may think we are.

The first casualty of communications technology is geography
Our party is organized in geographic sections that, for many of today's purposes, are almost meaningless. A dozen volunteers in one state may wait for months for a response, while a District Organizer in another state is eagerly responding to every opportunity.

Another casualty of communications technology is democratic centralism
How can our Party speak with one voice when every member can broadcast to the world with a few keystrokes? The most innocent e-mail between comrades can be repeated thousands of times! The most carefully worded comments can set off angry flame wars! Individual members can exchange political views, for better or worse, with communists and anti-communists around the world. Discussions within our highest leadership body have been published on the world wide web along with anti-leadership diatribes!

Another casualty of communications technology, in some cases, is responsible membership
It has always been possible for defective people, anti-communists, and police agents to join the Communist Party. The internet can make it easier. New members have generally been responsible people who agree with the party, but internet applications can come from anybody. Whether or not they are accepted into membership might depend on whom they ask!

Internet problems are not insurmountable
Weighed against the tremendous advantages that new technology offers, the attendant problems are almost insignificant. It is entirely possible that our Party membership may increase geometrically in one or two days. It is entirely possible that our carefully described stages of revolutionary activity could be jumped over like lightning! It is entirely possible that millions of dollars and thousands of volunteers could come to us in a twinkling. But to position ourselves for those possibilities will take some thinking and some experimentation.

Technology overcomes vast spaces and diverse people
Here in Texas, the 2nd largest state, we have been experimenting with technology for some years. We were among the first to put up a District Web Page, among the first to download information from national, among the first to file news articles through modems, the first to try programmed learning on the internet, and the first to carry out webinars for educationals and district meetings. I recently took on the assignment of maintaining contact with "internet applicants."

We began putting tiny educational modules on the internet some years ago. They can be viewed at http://tx.cpusa.org/school. Generally, they consist of a short essay on a single point and a handful of easy questions in multiple-choice form. The answer one clicks on results in a commentary and, sometimes, a link to other information. If the choice was correct, of course, they are waved forward to the next question.

We also use links to the school as "footnotes" in our posted news articles. If, for example, a news article refers to "imperialism," the reader may click on the word to find a definition or a short explanation of Lenin's great book by that name. The Marxist glossary may be thought of as the center of the school. I also began holding regular webinars on educational topics.

After I took on the new assignment with internet contacts, I started holding weekly webinars for them. Currently, we are discussing the CPUSA convention documents. In November, I received about 45 names of people who had applied to the Party since the previous March. About 10-12 new names have come in each month. There are 23 people who filled out the enrollment form for the school, and I have e-mail for another 40 or so people who live within CPUSA districts, mostly Texans. Out of a total of 125 people on my list, only about 30 have joined me in a webinar, but some of them have done several.

Here are a few suggestions
As someone who has already made hundreds of errors in internet contact work, I feel justified in offering my suggestions. The first and most important is that the work should be centralized. Our party center should be dealing with all internet contacts, whether in districts or not in districts, and stay in contact with them until they are members of physical clubs. Geography is a distraction, nothing more.

We should accept the idea that a "path to full membership" is not necessarily the only priority for this work, and not necessarily first among goals. Internet members make terrific worker correspondents, and they can write a check as well as anybody. Internet members can study Marxism, follow political developments, and influence people in their own areas as well as physical club members can. Internet members can and probably will travel to faraway Party activities from time to time. Internet members can recruit other members, both physically and, even more, on the internet.

Internet members should have regular meetings, perhaps by webinar, with other people as physically close to them as possible. Eventually, the psychological and political advantages of a physical club will probably be possible everywhere. In the meantime, webinar attendance can be an excellent guide for planning physical tours of Party leaders.

More on-line educational opportunities should be developed. I cannot say if the interactive model on the Texas web page is worth following, but it should be considered, and, perhaps, developed much further.

The Party should continue the fine work we are doing in developing our interactive web efforts. More telephone conferences, more webinars, more streamed presentations should be developed. Party leaders and experts should make themselves available to lead educational and other web presentations. All of us need to try to learn whatever is necessary.

Our Party's outstanding web page should make it clear that our elected leadership, and only our elected leadership, is the voice of the Party. There is no way to stop the pretenders, but it should be made completely clear that we are the genuine Communists. We need clear guidelines on communications. Every genuine Party information source should be hosted and overseen by our entire Party.

The World Wide Web will someday be an integral part of a socialist world. Even now, it is a vital road toward it.

Racist fired Bemidji City Planner, Rita Albrecht, cries foul

2010-01-13T09:34:00.003-06:00

Early this morning, I was tipped off by a Bemidji City Council member that the fired racist Bemidji City Planner, Rita Albrecht, has carried her campaign of racist hate to "e-democracy" forum--- the Blandin Foundation operated front for the MNDFL.

Rita Albrecht has filed a complaint claiming accusations made against her in a posting are untrue.

Strange thing about the complaint is that Albrecht did not cite one single specific accusation she considers to be untrue.

The construction firm hired to oversee the building of the Bemidji Regional Event Center has filed as its response to a lawsuit accusing them of failing to enforce affirmative action policies and guidelines, that it was Rita Albrecht who told them they could just go ahead and overlook the City of Bemidji's affirmative action policies.

Rather than dealing with righting the racist injustices perpetrated by Rita Albrecht, the City of Bemidji simply tried to escape responsibility by eliminating the Department Rita Albrecht headed up.

The one and only person coming to the defense of the racist actions of Rita Albrecht is John McCarthy who is the head of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. After writing a letter to the editor of the Bemidji Pioneer Press, McCarthy has gone mysteriously silent and has tried to escape having to answer a very simple question:

Why did you come to the defense of Rita Albrecht?

Rumors are swirling through the Bemidji community because John McCarthy has a reputation as a "ladies man" and Rita Albrecht has now admitted a "close personal friendship" with John McCarthy.

Now people want to know just "how close" this friendship is and if Rita Albrecht and John McCarthy's "special" friendship doesn't go beyond what the rumors allude to since people are finding it strange that John McCarthy was instrumental in getting Albrecht's daughter a job with the corrupt, racist Democrat now running for Minnesota governor, Senator Tom Bakk.

As they say, racism and corruption make for strange bedfellows.

Rita

Affirmative action

2010-01-10T20:07:00.001-06:00

Women and minorities can't even count on the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party for help in enforcing affirmative action because the MNDFL doesn't even have as part of its Action Agenda a plank supporting affirmative action. This needs to be corrected in the upcoming caucuses in February.

Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan leaves a bad taste across Europe

2009-12-02T16:51:00.003-06:00

Obama has to be stopped and it will take a mighty powerful movement to stop him and his wars.

Rita

SPIEGEL ONLINE

12/02/2009 12:58 PM

Opinion

Searching in Vain for the Obama Magic
By Gabor Steingart

Never before has a speech by President Barack Obama felt as false as his Tuesday address announcing America's new strategy for Afghanistan. It seemed like a campaign speech combined with Bush rhetoric -- and left both dreamers and realists feeling distraught.

One can hardly blame the West Point leadership. The academy commanders did their best to ensure that Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama's speech would be well-received.

Just minutes before the president took the stage inside Eisenhower Hall, the gathered cadets were asked to respond "enthusiastically" to the speech. But it didn't help: The soldiers' reception was cool.

One didn't have to be a cadet on Tuesday to feel a bit of nausea upon hearing Obama's speech. It was the least truthful address that he has ever held. He spoke of responsibility, but almost every sentence smelled of party tactics. He demanded sacrifice, but he was unable to say what it was for exactly.

An additional 30,000 US soldiers are to march into Afghanistan -- and then they will march right back out again. America is going to war -- and from there it will continue ahead to peace. It was the speech of a Nobel War Prize laureate.

Just in Time for the Campaign

For each troop movement, Obama had a number to match. US strength in Afghanistan will be tripled relative to the Bush years, a fact that is sure to impress hawks in America. But just 18 months later, just in time for Obama's re-election campaign, the horror of war is to end and the draw down will begin. The doves of peace will be let free.

The speech continued in that vein. It was as though Obama had taken one of his old campaign speeches and merged it with a text from the library of ex-President George W. Bush. Extremists kill in the name of Islam, he said, before adding that it is one of the "world's great religions." He promised that responsibility for the country's security would soon be transferred to the government of President Hamid Karzai -- a government which he said was "corrupt." The Taliban is dangerous and growing stronger. But "America will have to show our strength in the way that we end wars," he added.

It was a dizzying combination of surge and withdrawal, of marching to and fro. The fast pace was reminiscent of plays about the French revolution: Troops enter from the right to loud cannon fire and then they exit to the left. And at the end, the dead are left on stage.

Obama's Magic No Longer Works

But in this case, the public was more disturbed than entertained. Indeed, one could see the phenomenon in a number of places in recent weeks: Obama's magic no longer works. The allure of his words has grown weaker.

It is not he himself who has changed, but rather the benchmark used to evaluate him. For a president, the unit of measurement is real life. A leader is seen by citizens through the prism of their lives -- their job, their household budget, where they live and suffer. And, in the case of the war on terror, where they sometimes die.

Political dreams and yearnings for the future belong elsewhere. That was where the political charmer Obama was able to successfully capture the imaginations of millions of voters. It is a place where campaigners -- particularly those with a talent for oration -- are fond of taking refuge. It is also where Obama set up his campaign headquarters, in an enormous tent called "Hope."

In his speech on America's new Afghanistan strategy, Obama tried to speak to both places. It was two speeches in one. That is why it felt so false. Both dreamers and realists were left feeling distraught.

The American president doesn't need any opponents at the moment. He's already got himself.

URL:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,664753,00.html

Petition for Nuclear Disarmament

2009-11-21T10:28:00.002-06:00

I encourage everyone to sign this important petition and circulate it among family, neighbors and people you work with.

TO: Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, United Nations

We wish to add our voices to the global campaign for an end to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. We believe that the world needs to take urgent action to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and to make the world free of nuclear weapons, as part of the overall drive for worldwide peace and the transfer of military spending to socially-useful ends. The international treaties concerning nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear weapons test-ban and fissile material cut-off are essential to achieving this goal.

In May 2010 the United Nations will meet to review the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Trade unionists from around the world are urging that meeting to make a clear path towards abolition of nuclear weapons in the shortest possible time. We ask that:

those countries which have not joined the NPT do so, and for all countries to comply with it in full;

the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty enter into force as soon as possible;
there be an immediate start to and rapid progress on the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty; and

we ask for international agreements to support nuclear-weapon-free zones.

We support the actions of the “Mayors for Peace”, headed by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in calling for abolition of all nuclear weapons by 2020.

Production and maintenance of nuclear weapons, and military expenditure overall, cost more than one trillion dollars each year. We call for major reductions in military expenditure, to allow this money to be spent on social and economic development and fighting poverty. We further ask that this transformation from military to peaceful expenditure be done in a way which protects the livelihoods of those who would be affected by it.

We support the actions of the “Mayors for Peace”, headed by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in calling for abolition of all nuclear weapons by 2020.

Production and maintenance of nuclear weapons, and military expenditure overall, cost more than one trillion dollars each year. We call for major reductions in military expenditure, to allow this money to be spent on social and economic development and fighting poverty. We further ask that this transformation from military to peaceful expenditure be done in a way which protects the livelihoods of those who would be affected by it.

Go here to sign the petition---

http://www.breakingthroughforpeace.org/

Or do like I have done. Print off the Petition and circulate it yourself among people you meet during the course of the day. In the few days I have been circulating this Petition lots of people asked me for a copy to circulate so I just went to the library and photocopied 50 copies; I included my name and contact info on the Petition then I check off who signed the Petition I gave a copy to so I can gather them all up.

Just copy and paste this Petition and print it.

Take a few minutes a day to work for peace.

Rita

CALL TO ACTION!!

2009-11-09T14:47:00.001-06:00

Money for jobs; not for war... unemployed workers shouldn't have to pay any taxes.

Make the minimum wage a real living wage based upon all the cost-of-living factors as scientifically calculated by the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics and then legislatively tie the minimum wage to cost-of-living increases.

A National Conference to Create Living-Wage Jobs,
Meet Human Needs and Sustain the Environment

November 13-14, 2009

New York, NY

The Problem: Even before the onset of our current, deep recession, we faced chronic unemployment, low and stagnant wages, myriad unmet needs and unprecedented environmental degradation.

Today’s rapidly escalating unemployment has put job creation back on the public agenda for the first time in recent history. Nearly 15 million workers were officially unemployed in June 2009, and hidden unemployment brings total joblessness up to almost 30 million with nearly 12 seekers for every available job. If it is possible to ignore the chronic unemployment that besets millions of people in normal times, it is much harder to ignore this current, mass unemployment and its staggering social and economic costs.

 What should progressive activists concerned about economic justice, labor, the religious community and other concerned people do about mass unemployment?
 What long-term goals should we have for the economy?
 How can we build a strong, effective unified movement to achieve full employment and living wage jobs for all?

A strong economic stimulus is imperative to meet the current emergency. Yet, even if the current stimulus package that achieves its intended goal of creating 4 million jobs, it would only reduce official unemployment by a third!

Nor is it good enough to return to official unemployment of 5 million women and men and millions more working poor even in the “best” of recent times, or to be satisfied with the host of unmet needs with which this recession began. In the words of FDR, “We cannot be content, no matter how high the general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people … is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.”

The Challenge: Crises present opportunities for progressive change. This is the time for Progressives people of good will to mobilize and to develop goals and strategies for an economy that provides living wage jobs for all, sustains the environment, and repairs our social and physical infrastructure and begins the transition to a more stable, productive economy that provides for shared prosperity.

Conference Goals and Intended Outcomes:

1. Expand public debate and action on the future of the U.S. economy
2. Increase public awareness of chronic unemployment and underemployment and its human and economic toll, even in better times
3. Build on Increase public awareness of current mass unemployment, its dire consequences for human beings and its waste of potential economic output;
4. Raise public awareness of our current economic dead-end—high personal and foreign debt, inequality, wage lag, environmental degradation, military overreach….
5. Steer public debate and action toward:
• Government promotion and creation of living-wage jobs, strengthening of the safety net and supportive fiscal, monetary and trade policies;
• Government promotion and creation of jobs that improve the physical and social infrastructure (repair of bridges, upgrading public transportation, building affordable housing, improving and expanding public education and child, health and elder care).
• Government promotion and creation of jobs that further the goal of a sustainable economy and begin to restructure it.
6. Develop plans to pay for this program of reconstruction through more progressive taxes and confinement of military spending to genuine defense needs

7. Initiate a movement for living-wage jobs for all and develop strategies for achieving this permanent economic reform-- including similar conferences in cities across the country and a mass mobilization in Washington on behalf of economic reconstruction.

You Are Invited to Be a Conference Convenor/Co-Sponsor: We seek broad participation and sponsorship for this National Conference, especially organizations with a primary focus on the quality and quantity of jobs, economic justice, social security, the safety net and poverty prevention. Other critical participants will be organizations not primarily concerned with employment, but whose goals for union rights, health care, education, child care, elder care, disability rights, housing, economic restructuring, public transportation, environmental sustainability, and the arts would be furthered by job creation in their areas of interest. The hope is to gain their ongoing commitment to conquering unemployment and low wages-- even after the crisis subsides. This would build on a plans of the National Jobs for All Coalition and the Chicago Political Economy Group to simultaneously create living wage jobs for all and, through a renewed public sector, to repair our deeply deficient social and physical infrastructure.

Middle class would pay thousands for health care

2009-11-05T01:25:00.000-06:00

Middle class would pay thousands for health care
(AP) –

WASHINGTON — Government experts say some middle-class families would still face a big budget hit for health care, even with the new help that Democrats want to provide.

A family of four making $66,000 could face a total health care bill of $10,000 — counting premiums, copayments and deductible — under the House Democratic health care bill, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday. And that's after counting $10,500 in government assistance.

The estimates apply to people purchasing their own coverage, not those in employer plans.

Remember Medicare for All in the healthcare reform debate

2009-11-03T22:52:00.001-06:00

I would encourage we post this call to action widely.

We are getting nothing from this jerk Obama and these Democrats. I am so glad I voted for Cynthia McKinney.

Rita

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/66053-remember-medicare-for-all-in-the-healthcare-reform-debate

Remember Medicare for All in the healthcare reform debate

By Kay Tillow, Coordinator, All Unions Committee For Single Payer Health Care--HR 676, Nurses Professional Organization - 11/03/09

We are in danger of losing the opportunity to bring Improved Medicare for All, a single payer plan, before the Congress. Last July Congressman Anthony Weiner and six of his colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee attempted to substitute the real public option—HR 676, a single payer plan—for the healthcare reform in the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi assured them that if they withdrew the amendment in committee they would have an opportunity to bring it to the House floor for a debate and vote. Now Pelosi is threatening to keep the Weiner Single Payer Amendment from seeing the light of day.

If we were able to get this plan really on the table and before the nation in a meaningful way, we could win this hands down. Even Blue Dog Mike Ross, in an unguarded moment, asked why not just have Medicare for All. HR 676, the national single payer legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers, would cover everyone for all medically necessary care through an Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. The bill and its advocates have been blocked, excluded, and beaten back in the current national healthcare reform debate.

Yet Medicare for All continues to raise its head. When single payer advocates were excluded from the White House kick off meeting for health care reform, doctors’ opened the door to two single payer advocates with a plan to protest at the White House gate. When Senate Finance Chair Baucus ruled single payer off the table, thirteen doctors, nurses, and others rose to protest. Baucus had them arrested. Those gutsy advocates pried open another door and won a round of publicity for single payer. But still not a place at the table.

Yet support for single payer continues to grow. Its simplicity, humanity, and economic efficiency win more supporters each day. The Kentucky House of Representatives, four other state legislative bodies, scores of cities and counties, a half dozen giant religious denominations, NOW, the NAACP, and the National Conference of Mayors have called for passage of HR 676. For unions, it’s the plan of choice. At each contract deadline the double digit rise in health care costs gobbles up the lion’s share of bargaining power. For that reason, 578 unions including 39 state AFL-CIO’s and 134 central labor councils have endorsed HR 676. In September the national AFL-CIO Convention declared unanimous support for single payer as the social insurance plan necessary to achieve social justice.

When Physicians for a National Health Program founder Quentin Young, testified before a House committee last June, Representative Weiner listened and was impressed. Weiner turned HR 676 into an amendment that would transform the House bill into a single payer plan. He popularized it as Medicare for All and catapulted the discussion into the national media with his feisty good humor and popular style.

Now Pelosi wants to renege on her promise to Weiner. We have sent an action alert to over 19,000 unionists asking them to contact Pelosi, and Waxman (who relayed Pelosi’s commitment publicly) and Slaughter (who heads the rules committee) to assure that they allow the Weiner amendment to come to the floor.

The “public option” that remains in both the Senate and the House bills is pitiful and powerless--totally incapable of providing cost control. Those bills, with their forced mandates and fines, their massive transfer of public funds to the insurance industry, and their ban on bulk buying power to rein in the pharmaceutical companies, will fail woefully to cover our people and to make that care affordable.

Pelosi should stick to her promise. We’ll keep up the effort to make her do so. Either now or later Medicare for All will have to come to the table. We’ll keep building the movement to make that happen.

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/66053-remember-medicare-for-all-in-the-healthcare-reform-debate
The contents of this site are © 2009 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsisiary of News Communications, Inc.

An Attack on Democracy; one more small victory by the people for democracy

2009-10-23T08:37:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, Blogger.com and its attorneys, Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck tried to shut down hundreds of progressive bloggers across the United States and Canada.

{My blog was one of those attacked.}

We quickly notified a group of activist attorneys who served notice on Blogger.com and its attorneys, Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck, that if our blogs were not immediately restored we intended to not only sue them. That we would take to the Internet as one and establish blogs aimed at exposing their dirty deeds.

Barack Obama and the Wall Street whores talk about "net neutrality."

When it comes to democracy Barack Obama has no more respect for democracy than for the little kids being slaughtered in his wars.

We believe the Israeli Zionists were largely behind this attack on our blogs.

We note that Norman Brownstein has been one of the leaders of AIPAC for years and the one thing all of our blogs had in common is that we have relentlessly attacked the Israeli fascist butchers.

For those of us in the peace, labor, environmental, anti-racist movements we have viewed blogging as no different from Benjamin Franklin and his printing presses.

We have the right to express our views and people have the right to read our views.

More importantly people have the democratic right to act in order to bring a halt to wars and injustices with imperialist wars being the worst of all injustices.

Each and everyone of us expressing our views encouraging people to act are one link in the growing chain that has become part of the network of people before profits.

We emphatically note that Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Schreck has been among Barack Obama's largest supporters.

What was done to our blogs yesterday is very good reason to believe that Barack Obama is a clone of Richard Nixon. The tricks just don't get much dirtier than the wide scale shut down of hundreds of progressive blogs at one time across North America.

We have every reason to believe the closing down of our blogs was just one more step aimed at destroying democracy.

That we were able to bring together 246 progressive bloggers in short order serves as an example of how effective the people united can be when they choose to act for some clear purpose with an objective in mind.

246 Activist Bloggers Using Democracy.

From the bitch from Duluth

2009-10-21T08:21:00.006-05:00

My post today is going to be kind of a "bitch" column.

Sam Webb has called me "that bitch from Duluth" so I might as well live up to this name.

You have probably noticed I haven't been doing my blog for awhile.

I have both reasons and excuses. Some legitimate some probably not.

The reason I haven't been blogging is I just haven't had time. Between work, taking care of the kids, the activities of our Duluth-Superior Club of the CPUSA and trying to have a little personal time just to enjoy life a little I just haven't had time to blog and do a lot of other things I would like to get done.

On top of a hectic life just like the rest of you have as the District Organizer for the Minnesota/Dakotas District of the CPUSA sometimes I feel like just sitting in a rocking chair and crying because I want to do more and I can't.

Problems people are living through are nothing short of nightmares. It is hard to believe any system can be so mean and cruel to people.

We are getting a lot of calls and e-mails from people looking for help with this problem or that problem.

I am sorry, we just aren't in a position to offer help to people for individual problems. I wish we had the members and resources to help everyone that comes to us asking for our help or to get involved with their causes all of which are truly very legitimate and things that need to be done.

What Democrats and Obama have done to make life a living hell for working people by cutting people off of unemployment compensation, refusing to provide welfare and other forms of assistance, to stop evictions, to help working class families survive this "down" period or whatever you want to call this recession, depression, economic slump. It is just terrible that the Democrats and the labor unions refuse to shoulder their burden of the problems in assisting people. It is like Obama and these Democrats think our main role in life is to help them no matter how much helping them hurts us.

Let me tell you. The Democrats and the unions have far greater resources than our little Communist Party can ever dream of having.

Some people seem to think because we have a title for a position involving our activities in the Communist Party we must get paid for our work. We don't. None of us in the Minnesota/Dakotas District of the Communist Party USA get paid for anything. When we go to meetings we pay for our own gas. When we send letters we pay for our own stamps. Some people think we have a lot of money because they see news reports of the Communist Party USA spending over a million bucks to fix up the national office. I can't say where this money came from even though I think this money came from some kind of payoff to take us out of the fights. We here in the Minnesota/Dakotas District get no funding from the national office. They don't even answer the phone when we call them. This is a problem for us. It is a problem for all of you. We need your help to help us solve our problems so we can all work more effectively together to solve all our problems.

If these people in New York are sitting on a nest egg they received as a bribe to undermine the struggles of working people we don't want any of that money even if it was offered to us. It isn't offered to us because we refuse to betray working people and cheerlead for Barack Obama and the Democrats when they are hammering us.

The problems we are having in the Communist Party USA are not secret problems. Anyone can read about the problems all over the internet including a few postings I have made in the past.

We aren't keeping our problems a secret because we aren't a secret little cult. We are a working class organization. What we think is public. What we do is public. Our finances are public. Our problems are public.

We are all working people with the same problems just like the rest of you. Some of our members are losing their homes. Others have lost their homes. We have struggled with some people to help them save their homes. We have helped people fight for their unemployment benefits when millionaire lawyers like those who treat politics as a game refuse to help. Many of us have lost our jobs. Many of us have huge health care bills. Most of us like most of you have problems just trying to hold our families together under a roof with regular meals and clothes and pay the bills from pay check to pay check.

There are hundreds of union offices all across Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan filled with high paid staff who could be doing much more than they are. But they do nothing except talk a good talk and go back to hide in their back offices sitting in their easy chairs all paid for with our dues. We don't like this any better than you do.

On top of all of this as if this were not enough we are fighting in our own Communist Party against a bunch of good for nothings who are no better than the leaders of the AFL-CIO or the Democratic Party or any of these organizations that spend their time soliciting volunteers to stuff envelopes asking people for money under the false pretenses claiming they are doing things when they do nothing.

What we can do right now is help people organize Communist Party clubs where they live, work and go to school.

These clubs then do what they can to work on solving problems.

I feel bad to see people being thrown out of their jobs on the Iron Range and across Minnesota and the Dakotas. We are getting calls and e-mails from people in Wisconsin and Michigan besides in our own District that includes Minnesota, North and South Dakota. We even have been getting requests for help from people in Chicago and Iowa and just this morning I opened my e-mail and I received a long letter from a young worker in Arkansas asking for help. His family is in the most tragic circumstances through no fault of their own. Unemployed after working for the Caterpillar Company for many years.

Our District Committee is set up for work doing two main things. Help coordinate the activities of our clubs and to help build new clubs in our district. We can't do any more. The resources are not available for us to do more.

All of our members and our clubs are immersed in struggles of one kind or another. Most all work in two primary areas as agreed. Peace and for health care reform. Clubs have their own local issues they work on together in addition to these.

Some of our members work inside the Democratic Party and some outside of it when it comes to political activities. We are very up front about this. We do not hold to some of the ridiculous views of most of the phony left Trotskyite and anarchist groupings. To us we work with and among working people where ever we can where they are active and this means working in the Democratic Party to push forward our solutions to problems and raising issues and concerns. We take this approach to our work in unions and all other organizations. We always have worked in this way and we always will no matter what kind of ruckus these other outfits make from the sidelines of the class struggle.

It is the clubs and the members of these clubs who then work according to the tasks they set for themselves to determine how they can best work with people and other organizations. Our District Committee helps clubs with their educational work and we try to make sure our clubs have or are able to attain the resources they need to fulfill the tasks they establish.

Our clubs are mostly very small groups of people from 3 to 6 members. We have a few with more members but still not like 20 or 30 people. We wish we had 150 clubs of just ten people each spread out across our District but the simple fact is that we do not.

This is why quite some time ago our District Committee took the position of advising our clubs to begin closing memberships in their clubs except to the people they have been working with over a long period of time who want to join and we told the clubs to encourage other people to work with our District Committee in helping to build new clubs of the Communist Party USA.

I think most people understand that for us to accomplish the kind of growth we need to have the influence we need in order to build up the kind of movements to take on the corporations and their political parties like the Democrats and Republicans and to toss out these worthless union leaders who take our dues and do nothing in return or even those in our own party who spend lavishly remodeling their offices but find the urgent and pressing problems of working people some how beyond and outside of their world and realm of thinking that it is going to take a heck of a lot of our own efforts to overcome all of this.

I think we are getting all these requests for help from people because they understand we are working people just like them facing and experiencing the same problems of everyday life they are having difficulties with.

I can only say to people that I will pass on your requests for help and assistance to the people in our local clubs; where we don't have clubs then our District leadership including myself and several others are willing to help you build such clubs.

The Communist Party is intended to be a network of clubs made up of working people and others who share our thinking that are think tanks and centers of working class activity who go out and educate others as to the reasons problems exist and to help draw people together around their common problems in quest of working together seeking solutions to those problems.

Our main problem as we see it is that capitalism needs to be eliminated with the solution being socialism.

On this road to socialism we all experience problems that need to be resolved. In tough economic times like these working people have more problems and bigger problems. Our view is that working people need to come together in large and powerful mass organizations not just around these individual problems. We then need to band these organizations together with larger organizations seeking solutions to problems that affect many more people.

There are people who don't share our thinking our methods and our goals. This is there problem not ours.

For years we have been taunted from the sidelines by every little Trotskyite group and anarchist sect and the high paid union leaders who hide out in their offices only to appear to make a speech about how much they are going to do and we are going to fight to the very bitter end. All a bunch of hot air. They and their methods have gotten working people no place. On one end are the Obama supporters. On the other end are those who think running down a street breaking bank windows is the solution.

We are convinced that our methods and the way we work get results.

Because our methods and the way we are organized get results we have no reason to change how we do things. People who do not agree with our methods and our approach towards how we organize are free to proceed on their own.

All of our members are very involved to the extent circumstances allow them to participate in the activities of their clubs and each of these clubs carries out its functions in a way that we have agreed to work together as a district.

As I have stated previously our organization is hampered because of the problems at the national level so our district committee has the extra and additional burden of doing many of those things that should be done by our national organization and this national organization at this time does not respond to the needs of the clubs or the district in plugging us into things regionally or nationally and internationally because of the sorry state of affairs among the national leadership our party is out of the loop which creates additional problems in areas of our work like in the peace movement.

Am I bitching? You bet.

These leaders in New York like Sam Webb have even taken our newspaper away from us. We are working with others to get out a leaflet about this healthcare fiasco very quickly. Perhaps today yet or by Friday for sure. Just getting out 25,000 leaflets takes some doing and costs some money. We make do as we can. We ask others to pitch in and help and in this way we get things done. I'll be posting the leaflet on my blog here and I am sure our other bloggers will be doing the same. Feel free to copy and send it around. Better yet print it off on your printer and photocopy what you can pass out to your friends. This is the way we need to work together. If you don't like something about the leaflet then write your own or edit ours to your liking.

We do move forward no matter what the problems we just ask people to understand that we are not in a position to drop those things we are doing to start working on another problem.

What we will do is help you organize a club of the Communist Party so you can become part of our growing network of resistance while working on your problem in response to whoever is creating problems for you and other working people be it the banks, the mine owners, the auto companies, insurance companies, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the local welfare office, hospital or nursing home administrators, people elected to public office or those they appoint, or in many cases your own union leaders.

We must be honest. Most of the problems we are experiencing as working people have no quick fix. The struggles will be long and drawn out.

Sometimes a problem can be solved by making a phone call. Writing a letter. Just knowing the proper form to fill out. Knowing the right person in the proper government agency to talk to.

Most problems will not be solved to easy.

Most problems will not be solved by submitting a petition with lots of names.

Most problems will not be solved with one picket line or even a vigil that goes on week after week.

Most problems will not be solved with one big demonstration.

Most problems will be solved to one extent or another when we learn how to properly combine all of these kinds of activities into well organized and coordinated campaigns that keep joining together getting bigger and bigger.

People in power rely on people giving up. This is one thing about us Communists. We will never give up.

Working people create every bit of the wealth and we are entitled to the right to justice and everything that word stands for.

We will attain that justice we are entitled to if we learn to work together.

If you think the Communist Party is the kind of organization you would be interested in joining and helping us to build with other working people we want to work with you.

I don't want to bitch about things. I do want to be up front about the way things are. When all is said and done we have only ourselves to rely on to build the kind of movements we need to stand up and fight for our rights.

Let's see what can be done to build a Communist Party club in your neighborhood or where you work or go to school. Our District Committee will help you do this.

Rita

Socialized health care now

2009-08-31T18:16:00.002-05:00

The Barack Obama Administration is trying to deny working people health care.

We, the people, must speak out for socialized health care, the only solution.

Rita

A brief history of climate change and conflict

2009-08-28T19:51:00.001-05:00

This is a very important and timely article from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.

I would encourage people to read and study this article carefully.

Rita

A brief history of climate change and conflict

http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/brief-history-of-climate-change-and-conflict

By James R. Lee | 14 August 2009 Article Highlights

■The interaction between climate change and conflict started as early as 35,000 years ago.
■The Neanderthals, Vikings, and Mayans all benefited and suffered from a changing climate that affected resources such as water, game, and agriculture.
■By analyzing historical case studies of climate and societal collapse, we can identify a set of discernible lessons for today.
In recent years, many foreign affairs experts have attempted to demonstrate the linkages between climate change and the social tensions that can lead to conflict. While critics may believe this is simply a fad in international affairs, history suggests otherwise. Over the last few millennia, climate change has been a factor in conflict and social collapse around the world. The changing climate has influenced how and where people migrate, affected group power relations, and provided new resources to societies while taking away others. Such circumstances cause large-scale alterations in lifestyles and illustrate pathways from climate change to conflict.

Because climate change can be a contentious subject, it's worth taking a moment to answer some basic questions and put forth a series of assumptions. First, what is climate change? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the most authoritative source on the subject, assesses climate change by measuring changing temperatures and precipitation. Since trends in temperature often (but don't always) drive trends in precipitation, scientists consider temperature a more robust and stable measure of climate change. But in simplest terms, climate change is the long-term change in the patterns of these two meteorological characteristics. Second, does climate change affect the world the same everywhere? In fact, climate change is a heterogeneous phenomenon and produces different outcomes in different places. The subsequent case studies demonstrate that a changing climate can have acute regional effects such as near the equator or North Pole, the "hot" and "cold" zones, respectively. In both cases, "hot" and "cold" conflicts demonstrate how rising and falling temperatures have had different impacts on human survival and prosperity.

Finally, a fact: The relationship between climate and conflict isn't as simple as cause and effect. Instead, climate change events--such as temperature shifts of a few degrees or a precipitation change of a few inches--contribute to conflict gradually over the long term. Because the climate has been changing for millennia, it's possible to look at the past for examples. Do we see cases of climate-conflict interaction when rates of climate change have diverged? In fact, it's possible to assess historical events and records in order to construct pictures of how climate affects conflict. Historical case studies, therefore, allow us to identify three paths from climate change to conflict: sustained trends, intervening variables, and the need for conflict triggers.

Consider each of the paths. The first is that conflict has the potential to emerge after a sustained period of divergent climate patterns. While people can survive aberrant, short-term climate change by exploiting existing or stored resources, this strategy has temporal limits. On this particular path the issue isn't one of surviving an especially fierce rain or harsh winter, but the cumulative effects of many fierce rains and many harsh winters. Next, climate change alone won't cause conflict but, along with other factors, will contribute to and shape it. It's one variable among many others, such as cultural, economic, or demographic factors. Last, unless a society learns to adapt to sustained climate change, its wealth will decline and its social fabric will weaken with each passing year. But even if a society faces these environmental challenges, a trigger--such as an assassination, extreme natural event, or random act of group violence--is usually required to ignite violent conflict.

We can, nevertheless, draw lessons from natural (climate) and human (conflict) interaction that may be transferable to today's global climate challenge by considering three periods in human history: the Holocene warming period, the medieval climate optimum, and the "little ice age."

About 35,000 years ago the Holocene warming period, during which the North American and Eurasian glaciers shrunk, was responsible for ending the last ice age that coincided with the flowering of human culture. This period and its aftermath shaped the climate we live in today. The glaciers receded, and humans migrated north to Eurasia in search of hunting grounds. Probably around today's Middle East region, the humans found plentiful game and encountered the Neanderthals. Over time, humans pushed into Europe and forced the Neanderthals further north into the less hospitable parts of the continent, where game wasn't as abundant and temperatures were much colder. Although the Neanderthals had survived several ice ages over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, they couldn't survive both an ice age and the humans, who enjoyed advanced weaponry and social organization. Of course, theories about the end of the Neanderthals are controversial and unresolved. However, there is no question that climate change provoked the interaction of human societies and the Neanderthals and subsequently led to conflict.

The medieval climate optimum lasted from 500 to 1000. It brought about a period of sustained progress in Europe as warmer conditions allowed for longer growing seasons in the largely agricultural societies. However, conditions elsewhere were quite different. Between 700 and 900, rainfall in China was scarce due to weak summer monsoons that failed to develop over the Pacific Ocean. Gerald Haug and other researchers have concluded PDF that famines caused by the failed monsoons resulted in peasant revolts and fueled the intrastate conflict that drastically weakened, and then led to the complete collapse of, the Tang Dynasty.

Across the globe in North America, the Mayans had settled in the lowlands around 8000 BC and began practicing large-scale farming as early as 2000 BC. By the beginning of the medieval climate optimum in AD 500, the population was nearly 14 million, making it one of the largest centers of civilization anywhere. But the thriving Mayan cities began to experience diminished long-term rainfall patterns. Dry conditions began in 760 and, after a 50-year wet period, drought again set in about 860. Another drought followed in 910. The boom-and-bust cycles of rainy and dry periods contributed to eras of both growth and decline. Technology, population sizes, and agricultural intensity overwhelmed the land. Yields declined with the dry conditions and these structural incongruities led to ongoing wars between Mayan city-states that eventually contributed to their collapse.

The warming in Central America that was disastrous for the Mayans was, on the other hand, fortunate for the Vikings. Warmer temperatures in the north meant their land was more hospitable to live on. Complex push-and-pull factors allowed the Vikings to expand their settlements from Scandinavia to Iceland, Greenland, and later Newfoundland. It was in Newfoundland that they encountered Native Americans. The Native Americans, too, perceived the warmer climate as a new opportunity and fought to control the increasingly abundant land. The Vikings and Native Americans would alternately trade and fight with each other throughout the Vikings' time in Newfoundland.

Enter the "little ice age"--a period marked by abnormally cooler temperatures. Scholars differ on the exact duration of this period; some researchers believe it started as early as 1000 in certain northern regions, whereas other historians, such as noted scholar Brian Fagan, believe it lasted from 1300 to 1850. Regardless, when the climate turned cold, the Viking colonies that had flourished in the warmth of the medieval climate optimum collapsed in Newfoundland (which they had abandoned because of ongoing conflict with the Native Americans). The western Greenland colony was the next to collapse, and around 1350, coinciding with the time of the Black Death, the eastern colony also began to decline. It survived only into the early 1500s.

During the same period, the Anasazi, a hunter-gatherer people who over centuries settled into a sedentary lifestyle, lived along the rivers of what is today the Southwest United States. With gradual improvements in technology and a beneficial climate, their population grew. But the little ice age brought a period of long-term drought, and Anasazi population growth exceeded its resource base. Timber, game, and other resources had to be imported from neighboring areas. The Anasazi had survived a long-term drought and many smaller ones in their long history. So why were they unable to cope with the little ice age drought? Like the Mayans, Anasazi city-states came into conflict as resources dwindled.

Because of its recency, scholars are able to theorize more completely about the little ice age. There were sharp extremes in temperature during the period. In fact, it had two temperature low points, one during the late 1400s and early 1500s, and another during the late 1700s and early 1800s. During the latter extreme cold period, a catastrophic geologic event occurred. In April 1815, Mount Tambora, on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, threw a massive amount of volcanic dust into the atmosphere in one of the largest volcanic explosions in modern times. The volcanic dust travelled worldwide and blocked the sun's rays, lowering temperatures, especially in the northern hemisphere. The period of extreme cold, coupled with this sudden volcanic eruption, produced the "year without summer."

The year without summer illustrates two different stories--one in Europe and another in North America. In Europe, the cold forced people to migrate. But land across the continent was relatively densely settled, so conflict often came with population movement. On top of this structural problem, the Napoleonic wars culminated shortly before, sapping the vitality and stability of the economy. People were already suffering through instability, but the cold compounded social strife. There were no "pressure valves," such as open land, for populations under temperature-induced duress. The result was social upheaval, riots, and disease.

The cold was just as bad in eastern North America and Canada, where most summer crops were lost. But unlike Europe, there was ample land for climate migrants west of the United States. The building of the Erie Canal in 1817 gradually opened up a westward route for easy migration. Thus, where in Europe people lacked the pressure valve necessary to cope with difficult times, in North America the valve not only existed but its exploitation was encouraged.

These are just a few accounts that allow us to synthesize history into a set of discernible, often regionally specific, lessons on conflict manifestations for today. The impact of climate change is obviously differential in the "hot" and "cold" wars, where trends may reward one part of the world while punishing another--for example, in terms of economic subsistence. In particular, four lessons of conflict emerge from the aforementioned cases that may have application for today's challenges:

■The decline or growth in general resources, such as arable land and fresh water, can cause significant societal impacts. During extremely warm periods in the equatorial zone, marginal lands gradually lose resource assets. This is evident in the drift of the Sahara Desert southward into sub-Saharan Africa, which has occurred over many millennia and continues today. At the same time, in the polar zone, lands and their resources can become more abundant. It was because of this that the Vikings were able to survive for 500 years in Greenland before the little ice age.
■Conflict can exist between societies or within them. By nature, the "hot" and "cold" war zones show divergent paths. In the polar areas, "cold" conflict emerges between states seeking to exploit the new resources that warming makes available. In the equatorial area, which includes many deserts, conflict erupts over declining resources, especially in warmer periods. Such livelihood conflicts often transcend borders and lead to migration. This is particularly evident for historic peoples such as the Mayans and the Anasazi, but also in today's conflicts in the North African Sahel and Sudan's Darfur region.
■There is a full menu of climatic causes of conflict, depending on where the conflict is ("hot" and "cold" war areas), the type of climate change (temperature or precipitation), and the trends in the patterns (increasing or decreasing). In the polar zone, the change in temperature indirectly drives conflict behavior and the impact on inhabitable land is most important. In the equatorial zone, change in precipitation patterns is clearly a major driver, but temperature changes also can influence evaporation rates. Here, water is most important.
■The resiliency of conflict is different in the "hot" and "cold" zones. In the polar zone, conflict is episodic; wars come and go with changes in temperature. In the equatorial zone, conflict is more gradual and continuous. "Hot" wars often stretch on as human population growth and changes in habitat tend to exacerbate changing climate conditions. Simply put, they are "cold" wars of opportunity versus "hot" wars of desperation.
Today, we see the manifestations of climate change slowly emerging in melting glaciers and drying fields. We need to imagine how changes in climate will create possibilities for conflict, using these historical lessons as guides. It's important to note that reacting to the challenges of "hot" and "cold" wars will require different strategies. The past is a good guide, but new types and modes of conflict emerging from climate change are to be expected. In that respect, finding historical examples is easier than contemplating how climate change and conflict will create new models of interaction and present new challenges in the future. After all, the idea that climate change causes conflict is not revolutionary, but evolutionary.

Poem: Undeclaration

2009-07-25T00:05:00.002-05:00

My friend Alan Maki sent me this poem written by a friend of his.

I like this poem a lot so I thought I would share it with everyone.

It looks to me like a lot of thought went into writing this poem. It takes a lot of thought to read. I like the poem because it makes me think about the history of our country and why things are as they are today.

Rita

Undeclaration

It was a good idea once
inalienable rights and the abolition
of tyranny but
we've mucked it up, this great
American Experiment
our own inbred aristocracy madder
that noon-baked Englishmen with
crimes and usurpations running amok,
torn bodies and new hatreds in every
casbah tentacles
in every pocket and a
knife at every throat
and we wage slave
descendants of the free
sinking in the refuse of yesterday's bargains
punch clocked and jackbooting our way
to the fossil record at the speed of credit
with no payments 'till January --
a toxic spoor of ruined
places, broken lives and gulags.

We had a bad run but it's time
to come clean,
to admit our failure to
examine the bloody Manifest
of our imagined Destiny.

Time to Repent
for mass graves and wars of false premise,
for all those dictators, our murky turkeys lurking
in every hot satrapy with trained goons keeping
bloody order and a quota of disappeared.

Time to admit
it was all a mistake
made in the bravado of our youth and
rejoin the Commonwealth
Stop seeing stars and turn in our
bloody stripes
be British again
take tea and healthcare claim
our place lordless
in the house of commons where
Empire is only a memory
best forgotten.

-- Al Markowitz

Politics in Minnesota just heated up a couple notches

2009-07-21T19:10:00.003-05:00

It seems racism in Minnesota has surfaced once more.

I guess we shouldn't find it surprising that Alan Maki has jumped into the fray.

I think we need to call for Brian Melendez to resign his position as Chair of the Minnesota DFL. Melendez is part of the institutionalized racism that is beginning to permeate and saturate politics at every level. From the nominating process to the problems legislators do and more importantly don't address which has caused the present problems.

Minnesotans understand there is a serious problem that no Native Americans are in the State Legislature.

No one has offered a real solution until now with this letter from Gregory Paquin to Brian Melendez.

Melendez didn't even have the courtesy to respond directly to Gregory Paquin. He had his cronies respond for him. The problem is these cronies are a bunch of racist bigots. Melendez had to have known this.

Anyways here is what is being said.

Gregory Paquin has responded very graciously considering what he is being subjected to just because he wants to see people have better lives.

All Minnesotans should hang our heads in shame that Minnesota politics has come down to this level. We all knew that the problem of racism in the Minnesota DFL was extreme but latent. I don't think any of us knew that it was this serious.

I join Gregory Paquin in thanking the woman who had the courage to bring this issue into public view.

I wonder how much longer the news media will try to conceal this?

It was only in the last election where we saw Rhoda Gilman of the Green Party make the most shocking racist attack on an African-American DFL'er. Now we find the racist attacks reaching a new level in Minnesota politics. This time directed by the Chair of the Minnesota DFL.

Rita

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan L. Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 6:38 PM
To: hotpasstheketchup@yahoo.com; Chuckrepke@aol.com
Cc: mn-politics@forums.e-democracy.org
Subject: Re: [Minnesota] Fwd: Steven Nelson sent you a message on Facebook...

Mr. Repke;

I am glad to see this response--- in writing--- from you; because,
along with the e-mail and other communications here, especially the one
from Mr. Nelson, we see a pattern developing that here-to-for has been
kept hidden from public view in Minnesota.

Very few candidates, including those presently sitting in the Minnesota
State Legislature "understand the process" as well as you do.

I have had more than a few politicians and sitting public officials
tell me the process is so complicated they leave everything concerning
their filings with the government up to their attorneys and what needs
to be done as far as "nominating conventions" up to party hacks.

You castigate Greg Paquin for what you claim is his lack of
understanding of election laws and the nominating process as if such
understanding is a requirement for holding public office--- if this is
the case, you might consider asking Al Franken to relinquish his seat
in the U.S. Senate because he sure had the attorneys up the wazoo; but,
how many attorneys and how much was spent by the Minnesota DFL because
so many people do not know how to properly fill out an absentee
ballot... not to mention how many county clerks and their staff's don't
know how to count them?

I wonder if you hold all politicians up to the same criteria you have
established for Greg Paquin?

When was the last time you questioned any politician concerning how
well they understand election laws and the nominating process before
you supported them or cast your vote for them? Or, did you ask who
organized the turnout for the nominating process.

I would note, that like Mr. Nelson's thinking about Greg Paquin, there
were a whole lot of people who thought Barack Obama did not have a
chance of getting the Democratic Party endorsement. And, if we listen
to the reason people thought that, according to Richard Trumka, it is
actually very sad; the soon-to-be President of the National AFL-CIO...
stated in no uncertain terms the reason for this thinking was because
of the racism in the ranks of the Democratic Party and among labor
leaders.

How often have you heard people say something like: "All these
Democrats talk a lot, but none of them say anything; it makes me not
want to vote because I don't know where they stand on the issues."

Well, according to Mr. Nelson, Greg Paquin is a good speaker but the
problem is, he doesn't like what Greg Paquin has to say and he
apparently thinks all white people think as he does... because then he
goes even further to suggest that Greg Paquin will only find a receptive
audience for his message among Indians.

And then Mr. Nelson goes on to say that Greg Paquin is opposed to
gaming. Well, how does Mr. Nelson arrive at this conclusion when what
Greg Paquin is saying is that he wants Native Americans to benefit from
the gaming industry instead of politicians... read what Greg Paquin has
written... he says he knows a lot of Indian people who need a meal
before more money is handed out electing politicians who don't even
care about the problems of Native Americans.

As far as "labor leaders;" well let me tel you a little something about
the quality of labor leaders the DFL is associated with and how these
"labor leaders" are participating in the political process you hold so
dear.

Perhaps you do not know this, but Collin Peterson was nominated to run
for the United States Congress from Congressional District 7 at one of
your much ballyhooed "nominating conventions" by one of the most
important and prominent leaders of the AFL-CIO--- Mr. Mark Froemke---
who, I might note, has never stepped forward to question why there are
no Native Americans sitting in the Minnesota State Legislature or in
our Congressional delegation--- were there no qualified Native
Americans that Mark Froemke could have nominated instead of Collin
Peterson?

The problem is, Mr. Froemke was registered to vote in Grand Forks,
North Dakota at the time he crossed the border into Minnesota to
participate in a nominating convention that you say requires being a
registered voter to participate!

How well do you understand Minnesota Election Laws, Mr. Repke? Does
being registered to vote in North Dakota qualify one to participate in
a nominating convention in Minnesota?

Furthermore, you belittle Greg Paquin for not understanding Minnesota
Election Laws as if understanding election laws and the political
process is a qualification to run for public office; but, if you were
concerned that more people should become involved in the political
process, I would think that you would offer to help teach what you know
about the political process to others before suggesting that what they
don't know about election laws disqualifies them from seeking public
office.

Between your post here and Steve Nelson's e-mail, I think most of us
have a pretty good idea why there are no Native Americans sitting in
the Minnesota State Legislature. Who the heck wants to be subjected to
this.

I can't believe what I am reading... this sounds more like the "good
ol' boys club" down in Mississippi trying to keep African-Americans out
of public office before the Voting Rights Act was passed.

Let me tell you a little something about your theory about who wins and
who loses.

Up hear in Roseau County, the County Chair Ley Soltis, announced--- at
the precinct caucus--- the date, time and place where the Roseau County
Democratic Farmer-Labor Party Convention was going to be held.
Apparently the head honchos of the DFL thought my organizing abilities
were a little too much for them to overcome as I was seeking to be
re-elected to the State Central Committee over the wishes of some
people. So, Mr. Soltis and his little clique of highly skilled
organizers decided to be real cute and change the time and place of the
Roseau County Convention, telling only their friends--- leaving the
rest of us sitting outside of the Rural Electric Co-op for two hours
after which he pulled up and said, "Oh, I am so sorry; I forgot to put
a notice up here that we changed the time and place of the County
Convention... oh, well, nothing we can do about this now."

The one and only reason the MN DFL can get any candidates elected is
because so many people detest the Republicans... and, to my way of
thinking that is nothing you want to write home about.

Once these letters and communications see the light of day... the
present DFL Senate and House legislators for Senate District 4 and 4-A
might want to bend over... put their heads between their legs and kiss
their offices good-bye.

I will tell you this as one who would never vote Republican unless Abe
Lincoln was to rise from the grave... if I was a voter in Senate
District 4 or House District 4-A, I would vote Republican before I ever
voted for either of the two DFL candidates now holding these positions
knowing what kind of friends they turned out to support them.

Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell Phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my Blog:
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Quoting Chuckrepke@aol.com:
> After reading the entire thread of the emails, it sounds like Mr. Nelson
> didn't think you had much of a chance of getting the party endorsement at the
> next DFL convention in SD 4 because he didn't think you understood the
> process nor did you have anyone on board your campaign that had
> experience in
> the endorsement process. So, he appears to dismissed you as a candidate
> for endorsement because of that.
>
> The tone of your emails would tend to agree with Nelson's opinion. You
> seem to think that the chair of the state party or even the current officers
> of the local party have the ability to hand you the endorsement. The tone
> of you note to the DFL state chair would suggest that he has some ability to
> act independently to assist in your quest for election. You suggest that
> if there isn't the outpouring of support within seven days you will run as
> an independent. Well, threats like that tend to get people to not
> seriously consider a candidate for endorsement.
>
> That isn't the way the process works.
>
> The endorsement belongs to whoever gets more of their neighbors to show up
> at the DFL precinct caucuses and agree to be delegates to the senate
> district 4 convention. Anyone that can vote can show up at the caucuses and
> run
> for delegate. You just need to out organize them. If you do that you
> win. If you don't you lose. I have been to rural Minnesota DFL
> conventions... if you have 150 people elected delegate the
> endorsement is yours. The
> task is doing that, not hoping that the party chair or the local party
> officers will anoint you.
>
> JMONTOMEPPOF
>
> Chuck Repke
>
>
> In a message dated 7/21/2009 4:00:31 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> hotpasstheketchup@yahoo.com writes:
>
> It is with a Sad Heart i write this letter to you, i feel like i been run
> over by a truck filled with the sickness of Racism.
>
> I am thankful to Antonia Vargas who alerted me to these representations of
> the inner workings ( Mechanization's) of institutional racism.
>
> I am devastated that in my letter to you on July 10th 2009 ,i had asked
> you to respond to being handed over to those who after years of
> participation
> in this political process have done exactly to the letter what i had asked
> you to prevent.
>
> With your active directives i feel you have violated my civil right to be
> able to enter a political race for public office that i was very afraid
> would face any Native Anishinabe Candidate like myself . And these
> correspondences are testament to that.
>
> I would ask you step down from your position that you are supposed to
> protect these rights of alienation of anyone especially a Anishinabe
> American.
>
> Secondly any political office holder in these capacities also make the
> same statement and put an end to those that benefit from or enhance this
> institutional Racist practice.
>
> Gregory W. Paquin
>
>
>
> Candidate for Minnesota Senate
>
> District: 4
>
>
>
> 1511 Roosevelt Road SE.
>
> Bemidji, Minnesota , 56601
>
> 218-209-3157 h
>
> 651-503-9493 c
>
> check out my blog:http://nativeamericanindianlaborunion12.blogspot.com/
>
> --- On Tue, 7/21/09, azvargas tds.net wrote:
>
> From: azvargas tds.net
> Subject: Fwd: Steven Nelson sent you a message on Facebook...
> To: Hotpasstheketchup@yahoo.com
> Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 10:15 AM
>
> Hello Mr. Paquin,
> I am forwarding this information to you in a spirit of understanding,
> and welcoming your input too. I would like you to know that there are
> members of the board in Cass County ( Senate 5?) that would support
> you if you are willing to run. Please contact Eli Hunt;
> eohunt@arvig.net; 218-760-2116 and ask to be put on our next meeting's
> guest list to speak to our group about your intentions to run. Thanks,
> and I hope to hear back from you if you so choose to email back.
> ---Antonia 218-251-3954
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "azvargas tds.net"
> Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:28:50 -0700
> Subject: Fwd: Steven Nelson sent you a message on Facebook...
> To: Eli Hunt , Bob Whipple
> <, >, Molly MacGregor ,
> Roger Grussing , Mary Olson ,
> Martha Johnson , Kathryn Wagner
> , Shirley Frederick , Cheryl
> Jones , Darrell Johnson
> , David & Alison Edgerton ,
> Allen Larson , Carrie Musselman
> , Eva Wilson , Hope Bank
> , Jerry Chizek , Joan Quam
> , Kent Reeve , Mark Schmidtke
> , Robert Fields
>
> HELLO ALL:
> THIS IS BEING FORWARDED TO YOU FROM ANTONIA; I RECEIVED THIS FROM
> DAVID BUTCHER; I WANT TO INCLUDE EVERYONE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
> EVERYONES INPUT REGARDING THIS SITUATION. As the Affirmative Action
> officer for Congressional District 8, I feel the responsibility and
> duty to make known the following perceptions regarding Mr. Paquin's
> letter and Steven Nelson's response to David Butcher in Facebook :
>
> I am pleased to know that Mr. Paquin "...did show up at our meeting."
> I am pleased that Steven gave him "...a few minutes to address the
> group." I am not surprised that " he was polite and spoke well." What
> I am concerned about and perceive, as an Affirmative Action Officer
> regardless of which DC I represented, is the pretentiousness of what
> Steven Nelson then goes on to say. Please review and reflect on the
> rest of the message and especially this part: "he does not fully
> understand the endorsement process, or campaign finance rules. I don't
> think he is a real threat to Senator Mary." I am not necessarily
> concerned about Mr. Paquin being "...a real threat..." what I am
> greatly disturbed about is the REAL THREAT of not being INCLUSIVE and
> INVITING to those who would dare to challenge our SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE.
> I am asking you Steven Nelson ( and I hope to personally meet you some
> day); What can you do to guide this CONSTITUENT to the KNOWLEDGE he is
> intitled to? We should not shy away from uncomfortable sititutions,
> as Obama has said on many occasions, we should reflect on them and
> help to make them into a positive change. This then for me would be
> INCLUSIVENESS AND WELCOMING DIVERSITY and thereby EFFECTIVENESS.
> I welcome everyone's input and reflection regarding my perceptions.
> THANKS---ANTONIA HERE.
>
> - ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "davidb uslink.net"
> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:56:47 -0500
> Subject: Fwd: Steven Nelson sent you a message on Facebook...
> To: azvargas@tds.net
>
> Hi Antonia,
>
> Below is a response I received from Steve Nelson re the Paquin letter
> as well as the thread among DFL'ers re the situation. Of particular
> interest is Paquin's letter to Brian Melendez. I think he has a
> legitimate concern re the issue of casino profits, but I believe that
> is better taken up with the tribe (which I believe has control over
> the operations). DB
>
> - ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Facebook
> Date: Jul 20, 2009 1:43 PM
> Subject: Steven Nelson sent you a message on Facebook...
> To: Dave Butcher
>
>
> Steven sent you a message.
>
> - --------------------
> Re: Question
>
> Here is the entire exchange about Mr. Paquin. He did show up at our
> meeting. I did give him a few minutes to address the group, he was
> polite and spoke very well. I don't think he has any support with
> main stream DFLer's. But he could stir up some interest among Indians
> who oppose the gaming industry. He is a union member and thinks he
> will be getting support from labor, but I don't think he has any
> support from labor leadership. He does not fully understand the
> endorsement process, or campaign finance rules. I don't think he is a
> real threat to Senator Mary. I must confess I was out of town this
> weekend and missed the letter.
> I think its best to just be polite to him.
>
> That's my $.02
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>
> Steve, he will probably come to Monday’s meeting, I don’t know if he
> asked to be on the agenda, but good luck controlling him to 5 minutes
> or less
>
> From: Brian Melendez [mailto:brian.melendez@usa.net]
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 11:40 AM
> To: 'Pamela McCrory'
> Cc: 'Paul Wright'; 'Roger Grusssing'; dcassut@dfl.org; srego@dfl.org
> Subject: RE: Minnesota Senate District 4 (seat)
>
> Great. Thanks, Pam.
>
> BRM
>
>
> From: Pamela McCrory [mailto:skeeters@paulbunyan.net]
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 11:30 AM
> To: 'Brian Melendez'
> Cc: 'Paul Wright'; 'Roger Grusssing'; dcassut@dfl.org; srego@dfl.org
> Subject: RE: Minnesota Senate District 4 (seat)
>
> Thanks Brian. I was just going through email and saw his letter to
> you that he posted on a local open forum site. I’ll send him a reply
> right now, and try give him a phone call. I’ll cc you on the email.
>
> Pam McCrory
> SD4 Chair
> From: Brian Melendez [mailto:brian.melendez@usa.net]
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 10:27 AM
> To: skeeters@paulbunyan.net
> Cc: chair@dfl.org; dcassutt@dfl.org; srego@dfl.org; rcgruss@q.com;
> Paul Wright; Allison Myhre
> Subject: RE: Minnesota Senate District 4 (seat)
>
> Pam, I enclose a message from a candidate for the Minnesota
> Senate. Would you prefer that I direct him to you, or would you rather
> just respond to him directly?
>
> BRM
>
>
> From: greg paquin [mailto:hotpasstheketchup@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 7:16 PM
> To: brian.melendez@usa.net
> Cc: chair@dfl.org; dcassutt@dfl.org; srego@dfl.org
> Subject: Minnesota Senate District 4 (seat)
>
> Wednesday, July 8, 2009
>
> Brian Melendez, Chair, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party
>
> Dear Mr. Melendez,
>
> I am writing to inform you that I will be running for the Minnesota
> State Senate for the District 4 seat.
>
> I would like to run with the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic
> Farmer-Labor Party in the Primary Election.
>
> As you are aware, there isn’t one single Native(Anishinabe) American
> sitting in the Minnesota State Legislature; not in the Senate, not in
> the House.
>
> This needs to change.
>
> And the change needs to take place now.
>
> Barack Obama promised change. I intend to fight on behalf of
> Indian(Anishinabe) people to see to it that we get the change that we
> assumed was coming. Real jobs at real living wages. Our children going
> to school, not tossed behind bars and forgotten. We lack adequate
> health care. Native(Anishinabe) American women suffer sexual abuse at
> rates far higher than the general population.
>
> Our land and our resources, the wealth of our Nations, were stolen out
> from under us in the most brutal manner and nothing has been done to
> make things right.
>
> Native (Anishinabe)Americans are the largest single minority
> population in the State of Minnesota and we have no representation in
> the State Legislature; anyone can see that this is unfair.
>
> I intend to try to change this with or without the support of the
> Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party; I would like to do this with
> support from the DFL if at all possible, if not, I will use other
> means.
>
> As a long-time union member of the United Association of Journeymen
> and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the
> United States and Canada (UA), I have always been a loyal supporter of
> the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.
>
> Should I not hear from you in seven days, I will decide after
> consulting with my campaign committee and my many friends--- Native
> and non-Native--- whether to seek the DFL endorsement during the
> Primary process and Election or run as an independent candidate in the
> General Election.
>
> Minnesota Native(Anishinabe) Americans, including myself, have
> repeatedly sought assistance from the local DFL elected public
> officials who we helped in every way to elect. WE now need their help
> on a variety of issues of importance to us from jobs to education,
> housing and health care and environmental concerns, we find ourselves
> shut out of the political and decision-making process by these same
> politicians who could not have been elected without the votes of
> Anishinabe people who are now ignoring our problems and concerns when
> it comes to doing things by way of finding solutions. Solutions which
> are often as simple as doing what is right to make sure Anishinabe
> people get jobs. Often we don’t even hear about jobs until the work is
> completed. How do others hear about jobs, even in our own communities,
> before we do? This is not right.
>
> I organized the “We Shall Remain” conference in Bemidji.
>
> Many Native Anishinabe and non-tribal people, from all walks of life
> showed up at this conference fully expecting to be able to explain and
> tell elected officials what our problems and concerns are. The only
> public official who showed up was the Beltrami County Sheriff who
> informed us that he didn’t know how many Native Americans worked on
> his staff but he knew the population in the Beltrami County Jail was
> more than 50% Native American. This was a figure not lost on those in
> attendance since the current unemployment on most Minnesota
> Reservations is 50% or more. There is something terribly wrong with
> this picture and the present DFL State Senator from District 4, Mary
> Olson, refuses to talk about resolving the injustices creating these
> problems.
>
> I want to most vigorously point out to you that the MN DFL claims to
> have a policy that decries discrimination; yet, for all these years
> the MN DFL has done not one thing to assure Native( Anishinabe)
> Americans are elected to state and federal offices. There is something
> wrong with this picture here; you want our money and our votes but you
> don’t want us sitting as equals with all other Minnesotans in the
> State Legislature or the halls of Congress.
>
> Certain measures have to be taken in order to ensure that Minnesota
> Indigenous,Anishinabe people get the seats they are entitled to in the
> Minnesota State Legislature; those measures have not even been
> considered, let alone taken.
>
> We are entitled to at least two seats per tribe. I am quite sure most
> Minnesotans will find this very reasonable. Democracy requires this.
> Anishinabe Native Americans are entitled to District 4, 4a, 4b, 2,
> 2a, 2b seats in the Minnesota State Legislature as a beginning to
> right this wrong of no representation.
>
> I intend to do everything I can do to make sure that Senate seat 4 is
> held by an Native Tribal Member citizen, because this is what justice
> requires.
>
> It is my hope that other Native(Anishinabe) Americans will join my
> efforts to secure the other five seats.
>
> Most Anishinabe, Native Americans are working people, yet you treat us
> as if only the cash you get from the casino managements counts for
> anything. This, too, will change once I am elected to the Senate
> District 4 seat because the people of Minnesota will be hearing the
> truth about gaming revenues. If these revenues can be used to elect
> non-Tribal Natives to political office who then turn around and ignore
> our problems we can find a way to make sure these gaming revenues
> remain in our communities being used for meeting the needs of our own
> people now living in dire straights as the economy declines. I know
> many families who need food more than politicians need campaign
> contributions.
>
> It is my hope you will also broach my concerns, distributing this
> letter, with the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s State
> Central Committee.
>
> I await your response,
>
> Gregory, W. Paquin
> Hotpasstheketchup@yahoo.com
> 651-503-9493 cell 218-209-3157 home
> 1511 Roosevelt Rd Se Bemidji, MN 56601
>
> Checked by AVG - http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database:
> http://www.facebook.com/l/;270.13.6/2221 - Release Date: 07/06/09
> 17:54:00
>
> Checked by AVG - http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.avg.com
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> 17:54:00
> - --------------------
>
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> message, follow this link:
> http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=129373602951&mid=ceb7f8G2
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>
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>
>
> gregory paquin
> minnesota, bemidji
> Info about gregory paquin:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/4m33bClcAW00DGZhBYPvMF
>
> View all messages on this topic at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/Iu8d4vxOyt17Ig4oJHilk
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> West 7th, Saint Paul
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Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell Phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my Blog:
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Alan Maki
Warroad
Info about Alan Maki: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/alanmaki

View all messages on this topic at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/5IvUuUposhE0MsoKrL1BSx
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Building and re-building CPUSA Party Clubs through the struggle to defeat Obama's "public option" with a proposal for socialized health care

2009-07-20T14:19:00.003-05:00

As the District Organizer of the Minnesota/Dakotas District of the Communist Party USA, I would like to point out that in our recent meeting based upon deep discussion with our Club chairs, we decided to make plans to do just what Alan Maki is suggesting here because the Clubs that are engaged in doing this already are growing in influence among working people.

We view these kinds of initiatives in building a stronger movement for real health care reforms as perfect opportunity for the growth of the CPUSA.

There are no obstacles we have found in bringing forward socialized health care as the solution.

We welcome anyone interested in joining the CPUSA and building new Party Clubs to contact us.

Rita Polewski

From an e-mail distributed by Alan Maki and shared with his permission.

The time has come to rebuild the CPUSA around support for a socialized health care plan.

As Barack Obama’s popularity continues to go down, now is the time for Communists to act by giving Obama and his faltering Wall Street schemes some good kicks aimed at killing this “public option” just like Obama and the Democrats killed single-payer universal health care.

Communist Party Clubs of the Marxist-Leninist type can be built around the popular support that exists among working people for socialized health care.

Now is the time to get into the action full throttle around an issue--- socialized health care--- that is made to order for Communists. We should stop being so timid when it is easier to advocate expanding the two socialized health care programs that work just fine when properly funded: VA and Indian Health Service instead of advocating something new to the American people like single-payer was.

Obama’s own words: The American people want something they are familiar with that has a proven track record.

This is welcome news that the American people, unlike Sam Webb and his revisionist colleagues, are not buying into Obama’s Wall Street schemes once the facts come out.

It is pathetic that just as the American people get the opportunity to discuss real health care reform, Obama and his revisionist friends at the helm in the CPUSA want to end dialog, discussion and debate about such a fundamental issue because a continuation of this discussion could mess up the plans of the Democrats for 2010 and Obama’s chances for re-election in 2012… the truth is finally coming out--- Democrats opportunistically place winning their political game above the health care--- and many other--- needs of working people, and the revisionists think this is just fine as they play right into the hands of Wall Street profiteers while lecturing us about what “marginalizes the left.”

We all know Barack Obama’s popularity is going to continue to slip simply because his Wall Street agenda keeps coming into conflict with the requirements of working people seeking a better life… who in their right minds would continue to cling to an opportunist, bourgeois politician like Barack Obama going down?

Sam Webb thinks the left should use the “public option” to come out of its marginalized state… I agree; but, we should do so by bringing forward socialized health care… after all, we are for socialism, right?

Alan L. Maki

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090720/pl_nm/us_usa_healthcare_poll

Support for Obama on healthcare slips: poll

From Reuters News Service

Mon Jul 20, 6:46 am ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Public support for President Barack Obama's handling of healthcare reform, the pillar of his legislative agenda, has fallen below 50 percent for the first time, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Monday said.

Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress have run into stiff opposition this month as they try to pass legislation to restructure the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry through the creation of a government-run health insurance program.

Republicans and some fiscally conservative Democrats argue the plan, with an estimated cost of more than $1 trillion, could hurt small businesses, add to budget deficits and reduce the quality of medical care for many Americans.

Those concerns may be having an impact on the public, according to the poll, which showed 49 percent of respondents approving of Obama's stand on the issue compared to 57 percent in April.

Those saying they disapproved rose to 44 percent from 29 percent during the same period.

Obama and the White House have gone on the offensive to drum up support for the plan, which would compete with private insurers, provide cover to many of the 46 million uninsured and try to stem runaway medical costs.

With time running out to pass a bill in Congress this year, the battle is shaping up as a major test of Obama's presidency.

Delaying legislation until 2010, a congressional election year, could give Republicans and critics in the healthcare sector more time to galvanize opposition to the plan.

But Obama remains more trusted than Republicans in Congress to do a better job on healthcare reform, the poll showed, with 54 percent of respondents putting their faith in the U.S. leader versus 34 percent in favor of Republican lawmakers.

His overall approval rating also remains high at 59 percent despite some slippage in approval ratings for his handling of the economy, the federal budget deficit and other leading domestic issues, according to the poll.

It surveyed 1,001 adults randomly by telephone between July 15-18, 2009. The results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus/minus three percentage points.

(Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Communist Party growth

2009-07-18T18:45:00.003-05:00

The Minnesota/Dakotas District of the Communist Party USA just concluded a meeting involving all Club Chairs and the District leadership.

We made a decision that new members would be helped in building new clubs instead of bringing these new members into existing clubs.

Small clubs of three to fifteen people are serving us well and we concluded that our mass influence would be better served by building more clubs rather than bringing new members into existing clubs.

We have found that clubs of three to five people can easily be built around new member's friends in the communities where they live.

It was pointed out that we need to begin organizing clubs in places where people work and towards these ends we are focusing on two mines on the Iron Range, the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant, Mystic Lake Casino and several smaller manufacturing plants in St. Cloud and Sappi in Cloquet. We now have two members employed at American Crystal Sugar in North Dakota. We now have a club in the Boise plant in International Falls which is the first Communist Party industrial club in many years in our District.

We look forward to working with anyone interested in joining the Communist Party U.S.A. and helping in our rebuilding efforts.

Please contact us if you would like to help us rebuild the Communist Party USA into a fighting working class revolutionary organization struggling for reforms as we fight to get rid of capitalism replacing it with socialism.

Rita Polewski, District Organizer, Minnesota/Dakotas CPUSA

Why are no Native Americans in the Minnesota State Legislature?

2009-07-12T19:54:00.001-05:00

This letter to Brian Melendez tells the truth about how limited democracy is in Minnesota and we finally hear the truth about racism in the Minnesota DFL. It's about time.

I got this letter on its 6th forwarding. I hope it keeps making the rounds.

Rita

--- On Wed, 7/8/09, greg paquin wrote:

From: greg paquin
Subject: Minnesota Senate District 4 (seat)
To: brian.melendez@usa.net
Cc: chair@dfl.org, dcassutt@dfl.org, srego@dfl.org
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 7:15 PM

Wednesday, July 8,
2009

Brian Melendez, Chair, Minnesota Democratic
Farmer-Labor Party

Dear Mr. Melendez,

I am writing to inform you that I will be running for the Minnesota State Senate for the District 4 seat.

I would like to run with the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party in the Primary Election.

As you are aware, there isn’t one single Native(Anishinabe) American sitting in the Minnesota State Legislature; not in the Senate, not in the House.

This needs to change.

And the change needs to take place now.

Barack Obama promised change. I intend to fight on behalf of
Indian(Anishinabe) people to see to it that we get the change that we assumed was coming. Real jobs at real living wages. Our children going to school, not tossed behind bars and forgotten. We lack adequate health care. Native(Anishinabe) American women suffer sexual abuse at rates far higher than the general population.

Our land and our resources, the wealth of our Nations, were stolen out from under us in the most brutal manner and nothing has been done to make things right.

Native (Anishinabe)Americans are the largest single minority population in the State of Minnesota and we have no representation in the State Legislature; anyone can see that this is unfair.

I intend to try to change this with or without the support
of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party; I would like to do this with support from the DFL if at all possible, if not, I will use other means.

As a long-time union member of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United
States and Canada (UA), I have always been a loyal supporter of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

Should I not hear from you in seven days, I will decide after consulting with my campaign committee and my many friends--- Native and
non-Native--- whether to seek the DFL endorsement during the Primary process and Election or run as an independent candidate in the General Election.

Minnesota Native(Anishinabe) Americans, including myself, have repeatedly sought assistance from the local DFL elected public officials who we helped in every way to elect. WE now need their help on a variety of issues of importance to us from jobs to education, housing and health care and environmental concerns, we find ourselves shut out of the political and decision-making process by these same politicians who could not have been elected without the votes of Anishinabe people who are now ignoring our problems and concerns when it comes to doing things by way of finding solutions. Solutions which are often as simple as doing what is right to make sure Anishinabe people get jobs. Often we don’t even hear about jobs until the work is completed. How do others hear about jobs, even in our own communities, before we do? This is not right.

I organized the “We Shall Remain” conference in Bemidji.

Many Native Anishinabe and non-tribal people, from all walks of life showed up at this conference fully expecting to be able to explain and tell elected officials what our problems and concerns are. The only public official who showed up was the Beltrami County Sheriff who informed us that he didn’t know how many Native Americans worked on his staff but he knew the population in the Beltrami County Jail was more than 50% Native American. This was a figure not lost on those in attendance since the current unemployment on most Minnesota Reservations is 50% or more. There is something terribly wrong with this picture and the present DFL State Senator from District 4, Mary Olson, refuses to talk about resolving the injustices creating these problems.

I want to most vigorously point out to you that the MN DFL claims to have a policy that decries discrimination; yet, for all these years the MN DFL has done not one thing to assure Native( Anishinabe) Americans are elected to state and federal offices. There is something wrong with this picture here; you want our money and our votes but you don’t want us sitting as equals with all other Minnesotans in the State Legislature or the halls of Congress.

Certain measures have to be taken in order to ensure that Minnesota Indigenous,Anishinabe people get the seats they are entitled to in the Minnesota State Legislature; those measures have not even been considered, let alone taken.

We are entitled to at least two seats per tribe. I am quite sure most Minnesotans will find this very reasonable. Democracy requires this.

Anishinabe Native Americans are entitled to District 4, 4a, 4b, 2, 2a, 2b seats in the Minnesota State Legislature as a beginning to right this wrong of no representation.

I intend to do everything I can do to make sure that Senate seat 4 is held by an Native Tribal Member citizen, because this is what justice requires.

It is my hope that other Native(Anishinabe) Americans will join my efforts to secure the other five seats.

Most Anishinabe, Native Americans are working people, yet you treat us as if only the cash you get from the casino managements counts for anything. This, too, will change once I am elected to the Senate District 4 seat because the people of Minnesota will be hearing the truth about gaming revenues. If these revenues can be used to elect non-Tribal Natives to political office who then turn around and ignore our problems we can find a way to make sure these gaming revenues remain in our communities being used for meeting the needs of our own people now living in dire straights as the economy declines. I know many families who need food more than politicians need campaign contributions.

It is my hope you will also broach my concerns, distributing this letter, with the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s State Central Committee.

I await your response,

Gregory, W. Paquin Hotpasstheketchup@yahoo.com651-503-9493 cell 218-209-3157 home1511 Roosevelt Rd Se Bemidji, MN 56601

gregory paquin
minnesota, bemidji
Info about gregory paquin: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/4m33bClcAW00DGZhBYPvMF

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11 Places With a Worse Economy Than Ours

2009-07-11T11:41:00.003-05:00

11 Places With a Worse Economy Than Ours

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20090710/ts_usnews/11placeswithaworseeconomythanours/print

By Rick Newman Rick Newman
Fri Jul 10, 11:50 am ET

When times are tough, one thing that tends to raise the spirits is knowing that somebody else has it worse. And as wretched as the U.S. economy seems, it's not as bad as in other regions.

The International Monetary Fund's latest tally of world economic conditions forecasts a 2.6 decline in U.S. economic output for all of 2009, and anemic growth of 0.8 percent in 2010. That's more optimistic than the IMF's prediction from three months ago, but those are still lousy numbers. A weak economy throughout 2010 would mean a bleak employment picture, an agonizingly slow housing recovery, and another year or two likely to feel like a recession, whether it's technically labeled that or not.

We should count ourselves lucky, though. The IMF expects at least 11 major parts of the world to have more severe economic contractions than the United State this year, including most of western Europe, Japan, Russia, and Mexico. Europe will still be stumbling along behind the United States next year, as well. Here are the IMF's projections for economic growth in various parts of the world:

2009 2010

China 7.5 8.5
India 5.4 6.5
Middle East 2.0 3.7
Africa 1.8 4.7
Brazil -1.3 2.5
World total -1.4 2.5
Canada -2.3 1.6
U.S. -2.6 0.8
France -3.0 0.4
Spain -4.0 -0.8
U.K. -4.2 0.2
European Union -4.7 -0.1
Central/Eastern Europe -5.0 1.0
Italy -5.1 -0.1
Japan -6.0 1.7
Germany -6.2 -0.6
Russia -6.5 1.5
Mexico -7.3 3.0

If these projections come true, it means the United States, despite its overspent consumers, wrecked banks, and insolvent automakers, will be leading the world economy out of recession. Somehow. The developing world will help, but those high growth projections in China and India can be deceiving. China in particular has government policies that practically mandate high growth, and 8.5 percent in 2010 would be just about the bare minimum to keep employment at tolerable levels. And neither China nor India is a major buyer of American-made goods and services; for the most part, it's the other way around. With much of the developed world trailing the United States, it will take American consumers to ratchet up demand for the world's products. Scary thought.

The IMF does offer a bit of more heartening news: The global wipeout finally seems to be receding. "The world economy is stabilizing," the IMF reports. Its global economic growth projection of 2.5 percent in 2010 is 0.6 points higher than predicted in April. But the global economy isn't expected to gain its footing in earnest until the second half of 2010. Maybe by then American spenders will have come out of hiding.

No end to racism in Minnesota

2009-06-22T15:52:00.002-05:00

It has come to light that the huge construction firm Krause-Anderson has allowed their affirmative action certificate to expire.

We have to ask why the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party is refusing to monitor affirmative action in Minnesota.

There has been a noticeable drop in minority hiring in Minnesota.

Racism is responsible for the high unemployment rate in minority communities as unemployment runs rampant on Indian Reservations with unemployment levels as much as ten times the Minnesota average.

This is disgraceful and needs to be corrected through tough enforcement of affirmative action programs and vigorous promotion of apprenticeship programs among Native Americans.

Perhaps if Native Americans had some representation in the Minnesota State Legislature and on Minnesota's Congressional delegation some attention would be paid to minority unemployment rates.

What is the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union's "Racial Justice Task Force" doing to put an end to racist discrimination in hiring practices besides paying Audrey Thayer a big fat salary for doing nothing except writing racism off as a "perception" by Native Americans languishing in poverty?

We need some answers. Even more we need to see action and solutions.

Rita

Racism kills when health care is denied as mobsters and corrupt politicians profit

2009-06-16T10:59:00.002-05:00

I am posting today's blog by Alan Maki because I think it is the finest article I have ever read.

The blog sure is titled right:

Racism kills when health care is denied as mobsters and corrupt politicians profit.

This blog should be required reading in every school and talked about in every single union hall in North America.

Rita

The Washington Post and other media published a story about the pathetic state of health care on Indian Reservations.

The story is entitled:

Promises, Promises Indian health care needs go unmet

I publish the complete story below or you can click on this link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/14/AR2009061400903.html?hpid=sec-health?hpid=sec-health

The Indian Health Service is in fact a model health care program based upon socialized health care; but, the Indian Health Service, like most public programs in this country is being sabotaged by those politicians who want to privatize everything from health care to education to maintaining our streets and sewers and hydro dams.

These politicians sabotage these public programs first by appointing people to administer these programs who are opposed to the very programs they are administering.

That the United States Congress allowed and enabled a crooked and corrupt racist bigot like Gale Norton out of the law firm to the mafia and lobbyists to politicians--- Brownstein/Hyatt/Farber/Shreck--- to become the Secretary of the Interior overseeing the Indian Health Service is in itself a racist crime of immense magnitude which tells us a great deal about why there are these serious short-comings in the Indian Health Service. No doubt Jack Abramoff carried enough money around in brown paper shopping bags that he distributed to politicians so that the Indian Health Services could have been funded three times over.

The Indian Health Service is one classic example; here in Minnesota the Department of Health and Human Services is an even better example with Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty appointing one of the most racist, bigoted and viciously anti-working class, anti-people, pro-corporate, pro-free enterprise Neanderthals--- Cal Ludeman--- to head up the Minnesota Department of Health and Human Services.

When politicians appoint those opposed to public programs to oversee these very programs they are opposed to, this is a recipe for disaster.

One has to ask, since the health care needs of Native Americans has been going unmet for so many years, why then, has it taken so long for the media to bring this matter to the attention of the public and politicians? The answer is very simple: The mainstream media is as viciously racist, biased and bigoted as the very politicians who make the decisions and those they appoint to administer social and public programs which are supposed to be about taking care of the needs of the people but are turned into nothing but big government boondoggles where all the friends of these politicians and administrators end up getting rich as people suffer because instead of, in the case of Indian Health Services, you have all these people scamming the system doing everything except providing the government mandated services.

Anyone can look at the budget of the Indian Health Service and see that the problem is a bunch of racist "entrepreneurs" with their dirty, corrupt fingers constantly in "the cookie jar" enabled by a bunch of uncaring administrators.

Barack Obama could pump billions upon billions--- even trillions--- of dollars into the Indian Health Service and it wouldn't improve the health care Native Americans receive because this excellent system of health care is being intentionally sabotaged by a bunch of greedy, profit gouging swindlers who are stealing the funds before these funds can provide the health services people require.

It is ironic that the same tribal governments who operate the casinos send their emissaries out to plead for more funding for the Indian Health Service when the casinos they operate--- and how they operate these casinos--- are responsible for a good share of the health care problems Native Americans are experiencing which is putting a drain on the Indian Health Service which is plagued with corruption--- on and off the reservations.

Here is an example.

This past spring I responded, on behalf of the Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council as its Director of Organizing, to the Red Lake Tribal Council's presentation to federal government officials who made a presentation at a hearing on the terrible situation regarding Indian health care... I submitted my response to U.S. Senators Amy Kolbuchar (Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party), U.S. Senator Carl Levin (Michigan Democratic Party), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (Michigan Democratic Party, U.S. Congresspersons Colin Peterson (DFL-Minnesota), James Oberstar (DFL-Minnesota). I would note that these politicians over the combined life of their political careers has solicited, received and accepted MILLIONS of dollars in campaign contributions from the lobbyists of Indian Gaming Industry.

This was my letter to them which received no response:

U.S. Senators Amy Kolbuchar (Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party)
U.S. Senator Carl Levin (Michigan Democratic Party)
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (Michigan Democratic Party
U.S. Rep. Colin Peterson (DFL-Minnesota)
U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (DFL-Minnesota)

April 6, 2009

Senators and Congresspersons,

The Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council was not informed of the March hearings on Indian health care even though each and everyone of you has been repeatedly asked to keep us apprised of hearings which relate to these kinds of issues.

It is with this in mind that I request my comments here be included in the hearing testimony.

You, elected officials, claiming to be public servants with the good of the public at heart in your actions, have gone out of your way to deny us casino workers the right to participate in any hearings relating to labor, health care and environmental issues; and, then, you have the unmitigated gall to preach that we live in the world's greatest bastion of democracy.

As you are fully aware, our Organizing Council consists of Organizing Committees in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa assisting casino workers in their attempts to organize unions in an industry--- the Indian Gaming Industry--- which all of you have had a hand in creating through your support of the most anti-labor, most racist vile "Compacts" which have forced over two-million casino workers (and given the huge employee turnover in this industry, millions more) to work under the most disgraceful and Draconian conditions in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state, federal or tribal labor laws in this industry now comprising over 350 casino operations many of which include hotels/motel, restaurants, a variety of small shops and boutiques ranging from hair-dressers to artists and even water parks and various theme parks.

And here you are sitting and listening to those like the spokespersons for the Red Lake Nation Tribal government--- a supposedly sovereign nation, but a government that has to ask the federal and state governments for approval before doing anything and begging for tax-dollars as casino revenues in the billions and trillions of dollars go completely without any accountability to anyone except for a bunch of mobsters who own the slot machines and table games leaving the Indian Nations stuck with nothing but a pile of debt and poverty--- talking about how the Indian Health Service is underfunded.

We agree that the Indian Health Service is underfunded. But, the funds are being stolen in many cases before they ever reach the stage of their intended purpose of keeping Indian people healthy and getting them well when sick.

The Indian Health Service is a model program which should be serving as a guide for the kind of socialized health care system we all need in the United States. Instead, you are allowing it to be sabotaged by greedy profit gougers at every level as your colleagues in Congress then point out "socialized health care doesn't work."

A program is intentionally underfunded and then greed takes over with "administrative supervision, oversight and approval" and here we are with one big mess of sick people who can't get the health care they are entitled to.

And, to make maters worse, the very people who provided this testimony from the Red Lake Nation did not tell you that the primary reason for the very substantial need to increase the funding for the Indian Health Services is the direct result of the Indian Gaming Industry.

Common sense tells us that if you put people to work--- force people to work--- in smoke-filled casinos day in and day out seven days a week 365 days of the year, these employees are going to suffer serious health problems because we all know the scientific and health consequences people suffer working under these conditions.

The cancers, the heart and lung diseases, the ill affect on pregnant women and the damage to their unborn children; and, in talking about health problems and risks, perhaps among no other population in America, is diabetes such a killer than on the Indian Reservations. And the medical and scientific community has long ago shown the severe adverse impact that second-hand smoke has on those with diabetes.

So, while the Red Lake Nation Tribal Council has sent their representative to plead the case for an underfunded Indian Health Service, these representatives have failed to state that it is the very policies of this very Tribal Council who control Red Lake Gaming Enterprises who by allowing smoking in their casinos are contributing to the ill-health of the people of the Red Lake Nation, many, who because of the racist hiring practices of employers in northern Minnesota cannot find employment elsewhere, are forced to work in these smoke-filled casinos making them sick--- or sicker than they already are--- which in turn requires an expanded Indian Health Service, which in turn requires greater funding.

Our Organizing Council and our Organizing Committees take the position that Congress should appropriate every single penny required to provide adequate health care to Indian people through the Indian Health Service.

We also insist that there be accountability in gaming revenues and these revenues should be confiscated by the federal government to cover the health care problems being created by an unhealthy working environment.

To add insult to injury to this racism, the Indian Health Service is not even monitoring the health of those people employed in these smoke-filled casinos.

Therefore, it is our contention, that these casino enterprises like Red Lake Gaming Enterprises should be billed for the health care received through Indian Health Services for whatever treatment casino workers require for anything.

Quite frankly, we consider the testimony offered on behalf of the Red Lake Nation Tribal Council to be deceitful and dishonest in not bringing forward the role the tribal government plays in making people sick. Needless to say, these representatives did not make any mention of the way present funding is abused and misappropriated by crooks and thieves.

We point out that dishonesty has been a hallmark of the Indian Gaming Industry from its very inception which began with all of you taking bribes to create this industry which has now resulted in two-million workers going to work in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages in an industry where the workers have no rights under state, federal or tribal labor laws--- truth is not one of the virtues of such thieves and those like yourselves who pander to these thieving mobsters for campaign contributions.

It is rather ironic that the Red Lake Tribal Council which is wholly and fully complicit in stealing from, and abusing, their own people and everyone else in quest of greater profits... would, under these circumstances, have the unmitigated gall to come before any Congressional Committee demanding funding to solve problems they have helped to create.

Might we be so bold as to suggest that you and your colleagues in the United States Congress contribute the bribes you take from the National Indian Gaming Association and the various state Indian Gaming Associations like the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and contribute this money to the Indian Health Service?

And then maybe if you would stop wasting our money on wars and maintaining military bases all over the world you could provide an expanded version of the Indian Health Service to include everyone residing in the United States including the thousands of undocumented workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry.

In closing, let me just say that we know you will take issue with the tone of this letter; but, it is your continued lack of response to our concerns over problems you created in the first place in the way you intentionally created these "Compacts" creating the Indian Gaming Industry that any thinking person would know was going to result in these problems; problem you now want to pretend you had nothing to do with their creation--- including the health care problems being experienced by Indian people.

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

I then had the following communication with Dr. Nathaniel Cobb of the Indian Health Service:

From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]

Sent:Wednesday,April 22, 20099:47 PM

To: Kimi De Leon; Joan Kim

Cc:'Jim Hart';'John Kolstad';'Kip Sullivan';'Carl Levin';'Sen.Jim Carlson'; rep.bill.hilty@house.mn; rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn; rep.tom.Rukavina@house.mn; rep.tony.sertich@house.mn; ddepass@startribune.com; mmiron@bemidjipioneer.com; bswenson@bemidjipioneer.com;'Chris Spotted Eagle'; jgoldstein@americanrightsatwork.org; teresa_detrempe@klobuchar.senate.gov;

peter.erlinder@wmitchell.edu; peter.makowski@mail.house.gov; esquincle@verizon.net;'Walter Tillow'; nursenpo@gmail.com; 'Steve Early'; 'Joshua Frank'; 'Ta, Minh'; 'Rhoda Gilman';'David Shove'; 'ken nash'; 'Ken Pentel';WCS-A@yahoogroups.com; MARKOWIT@history.rutgers.edu; tdennis@gfherald.com; 'Myers, John'; loneagle@paulbunyan.net; 'Thomas Kurhajetz'; mhoney@u.washington.edu;moderator@portside.org; debssoc@sbcglobal.net; 'Tom Meersman'; peterb3121@hotmail.com; laurel1@dailyjournal-ifalls.com; jscannel@aflcio.org; rgettel@uaw.net; gdubovich@usw.org; info@jamesmayer.org; mzweig@notes.cc.sunysb.edu; rachleff@macalester.edu; advocate@stpaulunions.org; elizabeth_reed@levin.senate.gov; 'Alan Uhl';'Charles Underwood'

Subject: Re: Question on Indian Health Summit

To whom it may concern;

Could you tell me if there will be a discussion at the Indian Health

Summit---July 7-9, 2009 in Denver,Colorado---concerning the issue of casino workers in the Indian Gaming Industry and the impact to their health of second hand smoke in their workplaces?

Could you advise me if there have been any discussions about this with the American Cancer Society and/or the Heart and Lung Foundation?

I am very concerned since I find nothing on this important topic among any of the materials you are distributing for the Indian Health Summit.

With health care costs become an important topic for discussion it would seem that this issue would at least merit some kind of mention at an Indian Health Summit considering the large number of Native Americans employed in the Indian Gaming Industry.

Perhaps you would be interested in having me address one of the plenary sessions since this topic has not been considered previously.

I would point out that I have contacted my of the local offices and administrators of the Indian Health Services concerning this issue and no one will speak to me.

With the Indian Health Services being part of the Department of Interior and associated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, it would only seem logical that no further casino "Compacts" would be approved unless they contain provisions banning and prohibiting smoking.

I would also suggest that the Indian Health Services insist that all existing "Compacts" be re-opened so a ban and prohibition on smoking can be inserted into them.

"Compacts" are nothing more than contracts and the Obama Administration has seen fit to insist that previously negotiated contracts with labor unions be re-negotiated so there is definitely a precedent that has been established for doing this and I am sure you will agree with me that there could not be a better argument made for renegotiating these "Compacts" than to protect the health of hundreds of thousands of workers employed in these casinos who, in addition to working in these smoke-filled working environments are not protected under any state or federal labor laws, which makes this problem of being employed in a work environment detrimental to human health even a more serious concern.

Perhaps the Indian Health Services could make a recommendation to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Secretary of the Department of Interior that the Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, becomes involved so that the protection of casino worker's rights under all state and federal labor laws protecting all other workers in the United States be included at the time the Compacts are re-opened to protect the health of casino workers.

If you have any doubts second-hand smoke contributes to an unhealthy work environment and that second-hand smoke is recognized as a leading contributor to a variety of cancers and heart and lung diseases please do not hesitate to request additional information. I will be more than happy to attend your Indian Health Care Summit with the necessary resource materials.

With some two-million workers now employed in the Indian Gaming Industry we want to make sure everything possible is being done to protect the health and well-being of these workers.

If I have addressed this letter to the wrong persons, would you please provide me with the name of the proper person/s and department/s this letter should be sent to.

If you think this issue concerning the impact of second-hand smoke on the health of casino workers is not significant enough to be discussed at the Indian Health Summit would you be so kind as to advise me of your decision and how it was reached?

Thanking you in advance for your timely consideration;

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road13

Warroad,Minnesota56763

Phone:218-386-2432

Cell phone:651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Cc: Maggie Bird

President,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

Dr. Nathaniel Cobb’s response to me:

Dear Mr. Maki:

Your email (below) was forwarded to me for response, as the Agency lead for tobacco control. Thank you for your suggestions - I completely agree that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in Casinos is a serious health issue for both the employees and the patrons. Labor law is outside my expertise and purview, but I will try to address a few of the many questions you raise:

1. Can we have a session on casino workers and ETS exposure at the Indian Health Summit?

- reasonable suggestion, but the practical answer is that we did invite the public to submit abstracts, that deadline has passed, and we have already finalized the agenda and cannot add another session. We do have a tobacco session scheduled, but nothing was submitted that focused specifically on casinos.

2. Have we discussed this issue with ACS, AHA, or ALA?

- yes. In discussions with ACS, we have agreed that local advocacy may be the most effective way to approach this issue.

3. Can IHS work with BIA to ban smoking in Casinos?

- IHS is an agency of Health and Human Services, not Interior. We have no regulatory role with regard to Gaming compacts, so no direct influence. In our advisory role with regard to health issues, we may make recommendations to another agency. Your suggestion has merit, and I will discuss it with senior leadership within IHS. I note that you have cc'd your email to your congressional delegation. The Congress has much more power to dictate terms of Indian Compacts than we do, so you should continue to work closely with them. A formal letter to a Member of Congress or to an Agency Head, with a clearly worded request, will always get a response.

4. What else can we do?

- It is true that ETS exposure is a health issue, but the solutions are political. We have great respect for Tribal Sovereignty, and unless and until Tribal Leaders support a smoking ban in casinos, it is not likely to happen. So my suggestion is that you contact the National Indian Health Board and ask for a time slot to present the issue at their next Consumer Conference. That meeting is a great opportunity to influence the thinking of Indian Country leadership.

Thank you for your concern, and I look forward to attending your session at the NIHB conference! If you have any educational materials or scientific studies of ETS and casino workers, I would appreciate your sending me copies.

--

Nathaniel Cobb MD

Chief, Chronic Disease Branch

Division of Epidemiology

Indian Health Service

5300 Homestead Rd NE

AlbuquerqueNM87110

(505)248-4132

My response back to Dr. Cobb:

Dr. Nathaniel Cobb, MD

Division of Epidemiology

Indian Health Service

5300 Homestead Rd NE

AlbuquerqueNM87110

(505)248-4132

Dr. Nathaniel Cobb,

Thank you for the quick response.

As I am sure you must have been thinking as you wrote this response to me, I would not find it satisfactory.

I have contacted all the heads of Indian Health at each of the tribes that operate casinos over the last three years on this issue--- NOT ONE SINGLE ONE has responded to my e-mail or been willing to talk to me on the phone.

Quite frankly, I seriously doubt there are circumstances where the impact of second-hand smoke can be dealt with in one fell swoop.

Yet, we both know this is more about casino PROFITS and the way casino PROFITS influence POLITICS.

What are you suggesting, that it will take some kind of revolution in this country before an agency like yours who has a mandate to educate on this serious issue will act?

I find this coming from a medical doctor such as you very strange; that on this one single issue involving human health where so many lives can be saved and health maintained you suggest that it is up to a union to take the action rather than you.

What are you suggesting is that tribal leaderships motivated solely by profits are to be given into on a health care issue so adversely affecting human health as the issue of being forced to work in an environment composed of second-hand smoke because you do not want to rock the boat--- using as your excuse: "sovereignty."

Is human health not an issue for a “sovereign” nation to be concerned about when it comes to the health of its own people?

There seems to be a clear admission here on your part that these tribal governments involved in gaming have been so corrupted by money they don't even care about the health of their own people; let alone the health of anyone else.

As you are fully aware, most of these casinos are run by outside management firms only using sovereignty to bolster their profits in escaping protecting the rights of casino workers to be free from second-hand smoke in their employment.

You come up with this flimsy excuse that the issue of smoke-free casinos cannot be addressed because the details of the conference are already set and established. However, what is preventing those who will be doing the presentations on the serious consequences of tobacco from raising the issue concerning the need for these casinos to go smoke-free because it is a matter of fundamental human rights for workers not to be forced to work in these conditions that we all know are seriously detrimental to human health.

You, as a medical doctor, are requesting that I should send you further information regarding the consequences of working in these smoke-filled casinos?

It is almost unbelievable that you, being a medical doctor, have even written these words.

That you acknowledge you have known about this problem and not insisted the politicians correct this, is a disgrace. You are the expert witness here.

I find it very difficult to understand how the scientific and medical community has managed to turn out the most respected from these professions to testify:

- Against the tobacco companies in law suits;

- At Congressional and State Legislative hearings;

- In support of smoke-free workplaces for everyone else except casino workers.

But, for some reason there is complete, total, overwhelming and absolute silence when it comes to the issue coercing these casinos in the Indian Gaming Industry to go smoke-free to protect the health of two-million casino workers.

At this point, since you agree this is a very serious problem; I would request that you convey my concerns---AND WHAT YOU CLAIM ARE YOUR SHARED CONCERNS--- to each and everyone of those people who will be participating in the tobacco workshops, forums or making any presentations on tobacco and request that they specifically address the problem of second-hand smoke in casinos and make suggestions and recommendations how this issue will be resolved by coercing these casino managements to go smoke-free.

The Manitoba, Canada provincial government has taken the stand that they will not approve any further casino Compacts or upgrades or new licenses for any casino unless it will be smoke-free.

Something is very wrong with the scenario you bring forward here. I find it kind of strange that a public official such as yourself, who has a legislated mandate to provide the leadership in protecting human health, would tell a citizen writing to you to go and do your job for you.

I expect you to communicate your concerns regarding second-hand smoke (environmental tobacco smoke) to each member of the United States Congress, every single state legislator in each and every state; and, I expect that you will convey your concerns as a medical doctor and in your capacity as a public official with the specific mandate to raise this concern with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Secretary of the Department of Interior; and further, that you instruct all of those employed at the local and state levels working for Indian Health Services to immediately undertake discussions about this with their tribal governments.

Sovereignty has nothing to do with this issue.

Can you provide me one single instance where the human health and welfare of a nation’s people is compromised under the guise of “sovereignty” as you are blatantly doing here? No; you cannot provide any such example. How could “sovereignty” possibly be compromised by protecting the health and well-being of any people from any nation? Do you realize how utterly stupid this sounds coming from an educated man like yourself and a doctor on top of that?

Your department and agency is involved in this conference. As a result, you have a mandate to bring this issue forward.

I assume you do not request permission from tribal governments to raise any other issues related to human health; so, why would you conceded your mandate on this vital health issue to tribal governments with no demonstrated concern on this issue or for the human health of their own people?

To suggest that this issue can wait until another conference, where both you and I know that I will never receive permission to speak on this issue, is about as insensitive and uncaring a response that anyone could ever expect to receive from a public official who has the scientific and medical background to know and understand that thousands of casino workers will lose their health while others will die from second-hand smoke they are forced to breath as forced and coerced terms and conditions of their employment.

I am requesting that you carry out the mandate you have from the United States Congress and act to make sure this issue is addressed at your upcoming conference with the aim of resolving this issue once and for all.

I expect to receive written confirmation that you have taken such action.

I assume that President Barack Obama would not appreciate you dragging your feet on this issue since he is so concerned about health care costs; I don't think I have to lecture you, a medical doctor, about the costs involved in trying to cure cancers and heart & lung problems associated with second-hand smoke in the workplace.

With all the attention now focused on accusations of frivolous government spending, I would think you would be more sensitive to the need to bring this issue forward at your upcoming conference.

Respectfully,

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

Cc: Maggie Bird

President,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

With all that has take place, along comes the Washington Post and the rest of the mainstream media acting as if no one has known about the health care problems of Indian people.

I would also note that not one single newspaper, radio or television station has documented what is going on in the Indian Gaming Industry when it comes to the health and welfare of casino workers.

Why didn't the mainstream media examine how the Indian Health Service was doing while Gale Norton was in charge at the Interior Department for so many of the Bush years?

But, the larger question is why has hasn't the mainstream media seen fit to explore the conditions under which two-million people are employed in the Indian Gaming Industry in this country of which Indian Country is a part... if it wasn't, the Red Lake Tribal Council wouldn't have sent its representatives to the United States Congress begging for more health care funding.

The United States government shoved Indian people onto reservations after stealing their land and the natural resources; proclaimed these Indian Reservations to be "sovereign nations," intentionally leaving these "sovereign" nations without adequate resources to create real nations... and then, through the development of these anti-labor, racist "Compacts" designed with intent to allow a group of vicious mobsters to control the political, economic, social and cultural life of these "sovereign" Indian Nations; the politicians of this country stand back and say, "We can't do anything. We don't want to intervene in the affairs of sovereign Indian nations. We don't want to be in the position of creating problems among Indian people."

How racist and arrogant. The politicians set up a system of native "self-government" in a way designed to get people fighting amongst themselves and then these politicians stand back holding their bribes and pay-offs in the form of campaign contributions claiming their hands are tied.

I hope this blog posting has given people something to think about;

Alan L. Maki

PROMISES, PROMISES: Indian health care needs unmet

Note: The slideshow is available at the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/14/AR2009061400903.html?hpid=sec-health?hpid=sec-health

SLIDESHOW Previous Next
People sit in the waiting room of the Indian Health Service clinic in Crow Agency, Mont., Oct. 16, 2008. The Indian Health Service system serves almost 2 million American Indians in 35 states. An oftt-quoted refrain on some reservations is "don't get sick after June," when the federal dollars run out. (AP Photo/Mary Clare Jalonick) (Mary Clare Jalonick - AP)

This July 2005 photo provided by the Little Light Family shows Ta'shon Rain Little Light in Crow Agency, Mont. Five-year-old Ta'shon had stopped eating and walking, and complained constantly to her mother that her stomach hurt. On her first and subsequent visits to the Indian Health Service clinic on the Crow Agency, Mont., Ta'shon's mother was told her daughter was depressed, when in fact she had cancer, and died some months later. (AP Photo/Little Light Family) (AP)

Ta' Shon Little Light, 5, right, who died of cancer following a misdiagnosis by the local Indian Health Service, is seen with her sisters Thea Little Light, 13, left, and Tia Little Light, 10, at their home in Crow Agency, Mont. in this undated photo. Ta'shon died of cancer some months after a repeated diagnosis of depression by the Indian Health Service clinic. (AP Photo/Little Light Family) (AP)

Ada White talks about her great niece Ta'shon Rain Little Light, seen in the photo, during an interview with the Associated Press in Crow Agency, Mont., Oct. 16, 2008. Ta'shon died of cancer in a matter of months subsequent to a misdiagnosis of depression by the local Indian Health Service. (AP Photo/Mary Clare Jalonick) (Mary Clare Jalonick - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, pedestrians walk past the Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Headquarters in Fort Yates. N .D. The reservation's Indian Health Service staff say they are trying to improve conditions. They point out recent improvements to their clinic, including a new ambulance bay. But in interviews on the reservation, residents were eager to share stories about substandard care. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, a small child walks toward the front door of the Public Health Service Indian Hospital on the Standing Rock Reservation in Fort Yates. N.D. The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, people sit in the Indian Health Services waiting room on Standing Rock Reservation in Fort Yates. N.D. Statistics for health and disease in Indian country are staggering: American Indians have an infant death rate that is 40 percent higher than the rate for whites, are twice as likely to die from diabetes, are 60 percent more likely to have a stroke, 30 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, and 20 percent more likely to have heart disease. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, Rhonda Sandland weeps as she talks about almost losing her fingers to frostbite at Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Headquarters, in Fort Yates. N .D. Sandland says the reservation's clinic decided to remove five of her fingers because of the pain, but a visiting doctor from Bismarck, N.D., intervened, giving her drugs instead. She says she eventually lost the tops of her fingers, and the top layer of skin. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, Ron His Horse is Thunder, chairman of the Standing Rock tribe, talks about the Indian Health Service at Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Headquarters, Fort Yates. N.D. His Horse is Thunder says his remote reservation on the border between North Dakota and South Dakota can't attract or maintain doctors who know what they are doing. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, Dr. Vincent Barnes points out the great distance he and his staff must travel to treat people on the Standing Rock Reservation at Fort Yates, N.D. Barnes is a psychologist with the U.S. Public Health Service. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, sisters Marcella Buckley, left, and Tracy Castaway pose at Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Headquarters, Fort Yates. N .D. Castaway says her sister is in $40,000 of debt because of treatment for Stage 4 stomach cancer after being misdiagnosed for years by the local health clinic, including for the possibility of a tapeworm and stress-related stomachaches. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, Marcella Buckley talks about her medical condition at Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Headquarters in Fort Yates. N .D. Buckley says she visited the local clinic for four years with stomach pains and was given a variety of diagnoses, including the possibility of a tapeworm and stress-related stomachaches. She was eventually told she had Stage 4 cancer that had spread throughout her body. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

In this photo taken Oct. 14, 2008, Victor Brave Thunder talks about his medical condition at Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Headquarters, in Fort Yates. N .D. The reservation's clinic failed to diagnose Victor Brave Thunder with congestive heart failure, giving him Tylenol and cough syrup, when he told a doctor he was uncomfortable and had not slept for several days. He eventually went to a hospital in Bismarck, which immediately admitted him. Brave Thunder, 54, died in April while waiting for a heart transplant. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid) (Will Kincaid - AP)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK
The Associated Press
Sunday, June 14, 2009

CROW AGENCY, Mont. -- Ta'Shon Rain Little Light, a happy little girl who loved to dance and dress up in traditional American Indian clothes, had stopped eating and walking. She complained constantly to her mother that her stomach hurt.

When Stephanie Little Light took her daughter to the Indian Health Service clinic in this wind-swept and remote corner of Montana, they told her the 5-year-old was depressed.

Ta'Shon's pain rapidly worsened and she visited the clinic about 10 more times over several months before her lung collapsed and she was airlifted to a children's hospital in Denver. There she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, confirming the suspicions of family members.

A few weeks later, a charity sent the whole family to Disney World so Ta'Shon could see Cinderella's Castle, her biggest dream. She never got to see the castle, though. She died in her hotel bed soon after the family arrived in Florida.

"Maybe it would have been treatable," says her great-aunt, Ada White, as she stoically recounts the last few months of Ta'Shon's short life. Stephanie Little Light cries as she recalls how she once forced her daughter to walk when she was in pain because the doctors told her it was all in the little girl's head.

Ta'Shon's story is not unique in the Indian Health Service system, which serves almost 2 million American Indians in 35 states.

On some reservations, the oft-quoted refrain is "don't get sick after June," when the federal dollars run out. It's a sick joke, and a sad one, because it's sometimes true, especially on the poorest reservations where residents cannot afford health insurance. Officials say they have about half of what they need to operate, and patients know they must be dying or about to lose a limb to get serious care.

Wealthier tribes can supplement the federal health service budget with their own money. But poorer tribes, often those on the most remote reservations, far away from city hospitals, are stuck with grossly substandard care. The agency itself describes a "rationed health care system."

The sad fact is an old fact, too.

The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. But that promise has not been kept. About one-third more is spent per capita on health care for felons in federal prison, according to 2005 data from the health service.

In Washington, a few lawmakers have tried to bring attention to the broken system as Congress attempts to improve health care for millions of other Americans. But tightening budgets and the relatively small size of the American Indian population have worked against them.

"It is heartbreaking to imagine that our leaders in Washington do not care, so I must believe that they do not know," Joe Garcia, president of the National Congress of American Indians, said in his annual state of Indian nations' address in February.

When it comes to health and disease in Indian country, the statistics are staggering.

American Indians have an infant death rate that is 40 percent higher than the rate for whites. They are twice as likely to die from diabetes, 60 percent more likely to have a stroke, 30 percent more likely to have high blood pressure and 20 percent more likely to have heart disease.

American Indians have disproportionately high death rates from unintentional injuries and suicide, and a high prevalence of risk factors for obesity, substance abuse, sudden infant death syndrome, teenage pregnancy, liver disease and hepatitis.

While campaigning on Indian reservations, presidential candidate Barack Obama cited this statistic: After Haiti, men on the impoverished Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota have the lowest life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere.

Those on reservations qualify for Medicare and Medicaid coverage. But a report by the Government Accountability Office last year found that many American Indians have not applied for those programs because of lack of access to the sign-up process; they often live far away or lack computers. The report said that some do not sign up because they believe the government already has a duty to provide them with health care.

The office of minority health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Indian Health Service, notes on its Web site that American Indians "frequently contend with issues that prevent them from receiving quality medical care. These issues include cultural barriers, geographic isolation, inadequate sewage disposal and low income."

Indeed, Indian health clinics often are ill-equipped to deal with such high rates of disease, and poor clinics do not have enough money to focus on preventive care. The main problem is a lack of federal money. American Indian programs are not a priority for Congress, which provided the health service with $3.6 billion this budget year.

Officials at the health service say they can't legally comment on specific cases such as Ta'Shon's. But they say they are doing the best they can with the money they have - about 54 cents on the dollar they need.

One of the main problems is that many clinics must "buy" health care from larger medical facilities outside the health service because the clinics are not equipped to handle more serious medical conditions. The money that Congress provides for those contract health care services is rarely sufficient, forcing many clinics to make "life or limb" decisions that leave lower-priority patients out in the cold.

"The picture is much bigger than what the Indian Health Service can do," says Doni Wilder, an official at the agency's headquarters in Rockville, Md., and the former director of the agency's Northwestern region. "Doctors every day in our organization are making decisions about people not getting cataracts removed, gall bladders fixed."

On the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, Indian Health Service staff say they are trying to improve conditions. They point out recent improvements to their clinic, including a new ambulance bay. But in interviews on the reservation, residents were eager to share stories about substandard care.

Rhonda Sandland says she couldn't get help for her advanced frostbite until she threatened to kill herself because of the pain - several months after her first appointment. She says she was exposed to temperatures at more than 50 below, and her hands turned purple. She eventually couldn't dress herself, she says, and she visited the clinic over and over again, sometimes in tears.

"They still wouldn't help with the pain so I just told them that I had a plan," she said. "I was going to sleep in my car in the garage."

She says the clinic then decided to remove five of her fingers, but a visiting doctor from Bismarck, N.D., intervened, giving her drugs instead. She says she eventually lost the tops of her fingers and the top layer of skin.

The same clinic failed to diagnose Victor Brave Thunder with congestive heart failure, giving him Tylenol and cough syrup when he told a doctor he was uncomfortable and had not slept for several days. He eventually went to a hospital in Bismarck, which immediately admitted him. But he had permanent damage to his heart, which he attributed to delays in treatment. Brave Thunder, 54, died in April while waiting for a heart transplant.

"You can talk to anyone on the reservation and they all have a story," says Tracey Castaway, whose sister, Marcella Buckley, said she was in $40,000 of debt because of treatment for stomach cancer.

Buckley says she visited the clinic for four years with stomach pains and was given a variety of diagnoses, including the possibility of a tapeworm and stress-related stomachaches. She was eventually told she had Stage 4 cancer that had spread throughout her body.

Ron His Horse is Thunder, chairman of the Standing Rock tribe, says his remote reservation on the border between North Dakota and South Dakota can't attract or maintain doctors who know what they are doing. Instead, he says, "We get old doctors that no one else wants or new doctors who need to be trained."

His Horse is Thunder often travels to Washington to lobby for more money and attention, but he acknowledges that improvements are tough to come by.

"We are not one congruent voting bloc in any one state or area," he said. "So we don't have the political clout."

On another reservation 200 miles north of Standing Rock, Ardel Baker, a member of North Dakota's Three Affiliated Tribes, knows all too well the truth behind the joke about money running out.

Baker went to her local clinic with severe chest pains and was sent by ambulance to a hospital more than an hour away. It wasn't until she got there that she noticed she had a note attached to her, written on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services letterhead.

"Understand that Priority 1 care cannot be paid for at this time due to funding issues," the letter read. "A formal denial letter has been issued."

She lived, but she says she later received a bill for more than $5,000.

"That really epitomizes the conflict that we have," says Robert McSwain, deputy director of the Indian Health Service. "We have to move the patient out, it's an emergency. We need to get them care."

It was too late for Harriet Archambault, according to the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, who has told her story more than once in the Senate.

Dorgan says Archambault died in 2007 after her medicine for hypertension ran out and she couldn't get an appointment to refill it at the nearest clinic, 18 miles away. She drove to the clinic five times and failed to get an appointment before she died.

Dorgan's swath of the country is the hardest hit in terms of Indian health care. Many reservations there are poor, isolated, devoid of economic development opportunities and subject to long, harsh winters - making it harder for the health service to recruit doctors to practice there.

While the agency overall has an 18 percent vacancy rate for doctors, that rate jumps to 38 percent for the region that includes the Dakotas. That region also has a 29 percent vacancy rate for dentists, and officials and patients report there is almost no preventive dental care. Routine procedures such as root canals are rarely seen here. If there's a problem with a tooth, it is simply pulled.

Dorgan has led efforts in Congress to bring attention to the issue. After many years of talking to frustrated patients at home in North Dakota, he says he believes the problems are systemic within the embattled agency: incompetent staffers are transferred instead of fired; there are few staff to handle complaints; and, in some cases, he says, there is a culture of intimidation within field offices charged with overseeing individual clinics.

The senator has also probed waste at the agency.

A 2008 GAO report, along with a follow-up report this year, accused the Indian Health Service of losing almost $20 million in equipment, including vehicles, X-ray and ultrasound equipment and numerous laptops. The agency says some of the items were later found.

Dorgan persuaded Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to consider an American Indian health improvement bill last year, and the bill passed in the Senate. It would have directed Congress to provide about $35 billion for health programs over the next 10 years, including better access to health care services, screening and mental health programs. A similar bill died in the House, though, after it became entangled in an abortion dispute.

The growing political clout of some remote reservations may bring some attention to health care woes. Last year's Democratic presidential primary played out in part in the Dakotas and Montana, where both Obama and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first presidential candidates to aggressively campaign on American Indian reservations there. Both politicians promised better health care.

Obama's budget for 2010 includes an increase of $454 million, or about 13 percent, over this year. Also, the stimulus bill he signed this year provided for construction and improvements to clinics.

Back in Montana, Ta'Shon's parents are doing what they can to bring awareness to the issue. They have prepared a slideshow with pictures of her brief life; she is seen dressed up in traditional regalia she wore for dance competitions with a bright smile on her face. Family members approached Dorgan at a Senate field hearing on American Indian health care after her death in 2006, hoping to get the little girl's story out.

"She was a gift, so bright and comforting," says Ada White of her niece, whom she calls her granddaughter according to Crow tradition. "I figure she was brought here for a reason."

Nearby, the clinic on the Crow reservation seems mostly empty, aside from the crowded waiting room. The hospital is down several doctors, a shortage that management attributes recruitment difficulties and the remote location.

Diane Wetsit, a clinical coordinator, said she finds it difficult to think about the congressional bailout for Wall Street.

"I have a hard time with that when I walk down the hallway and see what happens here," she says.

A fellow blogger's opinion of Obama

2009-06-07T22:13:00.000-05:00

An opinion I share.

Rita

Saturday, May 16, 2009

What Change?

As the video below shows, we do not now have a government any more responsive or representative of us than we had under the Bush/Cheney administration. Don't expect health care from these contemptuous, corporate-beholden pigs. In other areas, Obama is continuing the Bush era policies of bailing out banks at home and of destabilization and outright murder of civilians around the world and especially in Pakistan. While it felt good to hear Obama assert that the US doesn't torture (just as Bush once did), it's still a lie as brutal torture in Guantanamo, Bagram, and elsewhere continues. As does censorship of abuse and so-called "military tribunals." So, where is the vaunted "change" we were sold? As the economy continues to slide into deeper depression many of us are desperately asking for change and as our desperation turns to anger, I expect the Obama administration will enforce order and strengthen the National Security State. Change inevitably will come from below but as the real nature of the new leadership unfolds, it is increasingly apparent that they are not the change we were hoping for and are, in fact, a continuation of the same rotten corporatocracy.

posted by Jaded Prole @ 6:33 AM

Call 800-517-5696 today to protest more war funding!

2009-05-12T10:16:00.001-05:00

This important vote could come up this week; possibly next week… Act today.

Insist on a response in writing.

Call 800-517-5696 today to protest more war funding!

Do you want the United States government to spend tens of billions of dollars more to fund the war in Iraq and expand the war in Afghanistan?

Next week, your representative will be asked to vote on a war supplemental bill that would do just that.

Call toll-free on May 12
800-517-5696

Say no to more spending on two wars. Urge your representative to use our tax dollars to

bring the troops home

take care of them upon their return

rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan

take care of health, education, and energy here at home

Oppose more war funding.

The U.S. government already spends $1.9 million every minute on the military — and that doesn't include funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the position of our Organizing Council:

All of this money could be going towards the creation of a public health care system. Any country that can spend this kind of money on wars and militarism that includes funding over 800 U.S. foreign military bases dotting the globe; subsidizing the Israeli killing machine; and fighting wars in three countries at the same time certainly can afford to provide its own people a first-rate, world-class public health care system that is comprehensive, all-inclusive and universal which is publicly funded, publicly administered and publicly delivered. Everyone in. All the profiteers out. Health care for people not for profit.

As a working class mother I did not raise my children to go fight wars and kill other people so oil companies can profit.

I voted for Barack Obama very reluctantly and this war funding is not the change I voted for.

Please call today.

Call 800-517-5696 today to protest more war funding!

Maggie Bird

President,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

Two-million casino workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry go to jobs in smoke-filled casinos getting poverty wages without any rights under state, federal or tribal labor laws.

The same government funding these wars created this injustice in the Indian Gaming Industry and refuses to right this wrong.

Distributed by:

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Employee Free Choice Act & Single-payer universal health care

2009-04-27T19:20:00.002-05:00

I will keep this post short and to the point.

The Employee Free Choice Act & Single-payer universal health care are both dead.

Killed by the Democrats just like legislation to save the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant and the Minnesota People's Bailout.

Rita

Reflections of Fidel: The Summit and the lie

2009-04-24T09:09:00.001-05:00

C U B A

Havana. April 23, 2009

Reflections of Fidel

The Summit and the lie

SOME of the things that Daniel [Ortega, President of Nicaragua]told me would be hard to believe if it was not him who told me them and it was not at a Summit of the Americas where they occurred.

The unusual thing is that there was no such consensus on the final document. The ALBA group did not sign it; that was confirmed in the last exchange with Obama in the presence of Manning and the other leaders in the morning of April 19.

At that meeting, [Hugo] Chávez [President of Venezuela], Evo [Morales, President of Bolivia] and Daniel spoke on the issue with total clarity.

It had seemed to me that Daniel had expressed a bitter complaint when, on the day of the Summit’s opening, he said in his speech: "I think that the time I am taking is far less than that I had to spend – three hours – waiting at the airport inside a plane."

I asked him about that and he told me that six high-level leaders had to wait on the runway: Lula of Brazil, Harper of Canada, Bachelet of Chile, Evo of Bolivia, Calderón of Mexico and himself, the sixth. The reason? In an act of adulation, the organizers decided it that way in order to receive the president of the United States. Daniel remained inside the hot LACSA aircraft for three hours under the radiant sun of the Tropics.

He explained to me the conduct of the principal leaders in the Summit, the fundamental and specific problems of each one of the Latin American and Caribbean countries. He did not seem in any way resentful. He was direct, calm and comprehensive. I recalled the times of Reagan’s dirty war, the thousands of weapons launched against Nicaragua in that context, the tens of thousands of dead, the mining of the ports, the utilization of drugs by the U.S. government in order to get around Congress decisions banning funds to finance that cynical war.

We did not overlook the criminal invasion of Panama ordered by Bush Senior, the horrific El Chorrillo massacre, the thousands of dead Panamanians, the invasion of little Grenada with the complicity of other governors in the region, relatively recent events in the tragic history of our hemisphere.

In each one of those crimes was the hand of the OAS, the principal accomplice of the brutal actions of the great military and economic power against our impoverished peoples.

He informed me of the damage that drug trafficking and organized crime is inflicting on the Central American countries, the trafficking of U.S. weapons, the vast market that impels that activity, so harmful for the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean.

He told me of the geothermic potential of Central America as a natural resource of great value. He is of the opinion that, in that way, Nicaragua could reach a generation capacity equivalent to two million kilowatt/hours. At present its total electricity generation, including various energy sources, barely amounts to 700,000 kilowatt/hours and power cuts are frequent.

He spoke of Nicaragua’s capacity for producing food, of the price of milk, distributed at one third of what it costs in the United States, although wages in the latter country are dozens of times higher.

Out conversation gravitated around this and other practical issues. At no point did he seem resentful, and far less suggest extremist measures on economic issues. He is well informed and analyzes what can and should be done with great realism.

I explained that many people in our country had not been able to hear his speech given issues of time and the lack of opportune information on the Summit, and for that reason, I was asking him to agree to explain, in a television program, the issues of most interest related to the Summit of the Americas, to a panel made up of three young journalists, which would certainly be of interest to many Latin Americans, Caribbean people, U.S. Americans and Canadians.

Daniel knows of many concrete possibilities for improving the living conditions of the people of Nicaragua, one of the five poorest nations in the hemisphere as a consequence of U.S. interventions and plunder. Obama’s victory pleased him and he observed him closely in the Summit. He did not like his behavior during the meeting. "He was moving everywhere," he told me, "seeking out people who he could influence, putting ideas into their heads with his power and his praises."

Naturally, for an observer at a distance, as was my case, one could observe a concerted strategy to exalt positions closest to U.S. interests and most opposed to policies favoring social change, unity and the sovereignty of our peoples. In my view, the worst thing was to present a declaration supposedly supported by everybody.

The blockade of Cuba was not even mentioned in the Final Declaration and the president of the United States utilized that to justify his actions and cover up his administration’s alleged concessions to Cuba. We could better understand the new president of the United States’ real limitations in terms of introducing changes in his country’s policy toward our homeland, than the use of a lie to justify his actions.

Should we perchance applaud the aggression of our television and radio space, the use of sophisticated technologies to invade that space from great heights and implement the same Bush policy against Cuba? Should we accept the right of the United States to maintain the blockade during a geological period until bringing capitalist democracy to Cuba?

Obama has admitted that the leaders of the Latin America and Caribbean countries are speaking to him all over the place about the services of Cuban doctors but, nevertheless, stated: "…this is a reminder for us in the United States that if our only interaction with many of these countries is drug interdiction, if our only interaction is military, then we may not be developing the connections that can, over time, increase our influence and have -- have a beneficial effect when we need to try to move policies that are of concern to us forward in the region."

In his subconscious mind, Obama understands that Cuba enjoys prestige on account of its doctors in the region, attaching more importance to it than we do ourselves.

Perhaps he hasn’t even been informed that Cuba has sent its doctors, not only to Latin America and the Caribbean, but to countless African countries, Asian countries; in situations of disaster to little islands of Oceania such as Timor Leste and Kiribati, threatened with being left under water if the climate changes; and even offered to send – in a matter of hours – a complete medical brigade to rescue the Katrina victims when a large part of New Orleans was left defenseless under water and many lives could have been saved. Thousands of young people selected from other countries have been trained as doctors in Cuba, tens of thousands more are currently being trained.

But we have not only cooperated in the field of health, also in those of education, sport, science, culture, energy savings, reforestation, environmental protection and others. A number of UN agencies can testify to that.

Something more: the blood of Cuban patriots was spilled in the struggle against the last bastions of colonialism in Africa and the defeat of apartheid, an ally of the United States.

The most important thing of all, Daniel already said it at the Summit, is the total absence of any conditions in the contribution of Cuba, the little island that the United States is blockading.

We did not do what we did seeking influence and support. They were the principles that sustain our struggle and our resistance. The infant mortality rate in Cuba is lower than that of the United States; there has been no illiteracy for a long time; white, black or mixed race children attend school every day, and have equal possibilities of studying, including those who require special education. We have achieved not only justice, but the maximum of justice possible. All the members of the National Assembly are nominated and elected by the people, more than 90% of the population with the right to vote, use their vote.

We have not asked for the capitalist democracy in which you were educated and in which you sincerely and with every right believe.

We do not aspire to export our political system to the United States.

Fidel Castro Ruz
April 22, 2009
12:53 p.m.

Fidel Castro: Obama 'misinterpreted' Raul's words

2009-04-22T07:26:00.003-05:00

Everyone knew that President Obama lied and intentionally misinterpreted Raul Castro's words.

The question Obama needs to be asked is "why" he lied.

The world deserves an answer from Barack Obama. Not an answer from Obama's public relations people We are entitled to the answer to this question directly from the mouth of Barack Obama. We don't need to have Obama reading from his teleprompter either.

We just got rid of one president who could never tell the truth about anything and now we have another president who can't tell the truth about anything.

Until Obama tells the truth about why he misinterpreted and lied about what Cuban President Raul Castro said no other leader in the world will feel comfortable and confident that they can trust Barack Obama to convey the truth about what they say to the American people.

From Obama's silence while playing on the beaches of Hawaii as thousands of Palestinians were killed and murdered in cold blood by the racist Israeli government to all the lies about the economy to the Obama led U.S. boycott of Durban II we have had nothing but lie after lie after lie from Barack Obama who promised an open and truthful government.

Obama promised change.

Even the lies have not changed.

Where is the change?

We have had one hundred days of lies.

We have had one hundred days of foreclosures and evictions.

We have had another one hundred days without access to health care.

We have had one hundred days of soaring unemployment.

We have had another one hundred days of wars.

During Obama's first one hundred days in office the killing in Gaza has continued.

During these one hundred first days of Barack Obama's presidency the bankers and Wall Street have been bailed out while the people of main street have gotten the shaft.

During these one hundred days global warming has continued without viable solutions even worked on.

I voted for Cynthia McKinney for president because I never believed any of Barack Obama's hype about change.

When will this grassroots constituency that supported Obama demand the change they voted for?

Obama is no friend of working people. Obama works for the wealthy and filthy rich of Wall Street just like George Bush did. Barack Obama lies just like George Bush did too.

Rita

Fidel Castro: Obama 'misinterpreted' Raul's words

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20090422/D97NFV900.html

Apr 22, 7:29 AM (ET)

By WILL WEISSERT

HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro says President Barack Obama "misinterpreted" his brother Raul's remarks regarding the United States and bristled at the suggestion that Cuba should free political prisoners or cut taxes on remittances from abroad as a goodwill gesture to the U.S.

Raul Castro touched off a whirlwind of speculation last week that the U.S. and Cuba could be headed toward a thaw in nearly a half-century of chilly relations. The speculation began when the Cuban president said leaders would be willing to sit down with their U.S. counterparts and discuss "everything," including human rights, freedom of the press and expression, and political prisoners on the island.

Obama responded at the Summit of the Americas by saying Washington seeks a new beginning with Cuba, but he also said Sunday that Cuba should release some political prisoners and reduce official taxes on remittances sent to the island from the U.S.

That appeared to enrage Fidel Castro, 82, who wrote in an essay posted on a government Web site that Obama "without a doubt misinterpreted Raul's declarations."

The former president appeared to be throwing a dose of cold water on growing expectations for improved bilateral relations - suggesting Obama had no right to dare suggest that Cuba make even small concessions. He also seemed to suggest too much was being made of Raul's comments about discussing "everything" with U.S. authorities.

"Affirming that the president of Cuba is ready to discuss any topic with the president of the United States expresses that he's not afraid to broach any subject," Fidel Castro wrote of his 77-year-old brother, who succeeded him as president 14 months ago.

"It's a sign of bravery and confidence in the principles of the revolution," he said, referring to the rebel uprising that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista and brought the Castros to power on New Year's Day 1959.

"Nobody should assume that he was talking about pardoning those sentenced in March 2003 and sending all of them to the United States, if the country were willing to liberate the five Cuban anti-terrorist heroes," Castro wrote.

He was referring to 75 leading political opposition leaders who were rounded up and imprisoned six years ago. Some 54 of them remain behind bars, though Raul Castro suggested last year that Cuba would be willing to liberate some political prisoners if U.S. authorities would free five Cuban spies.

Castro compared the prisoners arrested in 2003 to exiles who attacked the island's southern coast during the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and said they were "at the service of a foreign power that threatens and blockades our country," referring to charges they conspired with Washington to destabilize the communist system.

The ex-president had previously expressed his admiration for Obama, but this time Castro blasted the new U.S. president for showing signs of "superficiality."

He also defended Cuba's right to levy a 10 percent fee on every U.S. dollar sent to relatives on the island by Cuban-Americans, saying if the money arriving from abroad "is in dollars, all the more reason we should do it because it is the currency of the country that blockades us."

All top Cuban leaders routinely call the 47-year-old trade embargo against this country a blockade.

"Not all Cubans have family members overseas that send remittances," Castro said, adding that Cuba uses the revenue from fees on exchanging dollars to provide free health care, education and subsidized food to all of its population.

Chicken Shit Patriots

2009-04-21T09:42:00.003-05:00

This posting from Alan Maki tells us everything we need to know about the Chicken Shit Patriots and half-baked fascists organizing the "Tea Party" movement across this country and right here in Minnesota.

I don't participate in E-Democracy. This is just a bunch of Democrats trying to manipulate and control the public's thinking.

Chicken Shit Patriots.

I love it!

Rita

This post by right-wing bigot Nancy L. LaRoche to the "e-democracy forum" pretty much tells us the truth behind all the statements coming from the two-bit, half-assed fascist right-wing talk radio big-mouths who host these programs that somehow these teabaggers are putting on some kind of "non-partisan" events open to all who decry wasteful government spending.

Check out this response to me very closely because the truth is in what Nancy L. LaRoche posted in opposition to what I posted.

Here is what I posted which she is responding to:

Alan wrote: "Yes, you want people to attend your "Tea Party" rallies but you exclude those with a left view from speaking... wow! Real democratic.

Invite me to speak; I'll be there."

Now, notice what she says:

Alan: Do you leftist protesters pass their bullhorns and allow the other side to speak at their rallies?

This is a very frank admission that only those from the right side of the political spectrum are welcome at these "Tea Parties."

This statement here makes Mitch Berg, Chris Baker, Shawn Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the chicken shit patriot crowd so eager to send others off to kill and die in these dirty imperialist wars being waged for control of the oil fields and gas pipeline routes along with regional domination and control of the poppy and heroin trade nothing but outright liars afraid to defend their fascist, racist, warmongering, pro-capitalist, pro-imperialist ideas. They lie when they say these "Tea Parties" were organized by "concerned citizens" from grassroots, when, in fact, these right-wing bigots and blowhards of talk radio have organized these "Tea Parties" for two reasons: 1.) As promotional publicity stunts to promote the now largely discredited right-wing talk radio; and, 2.) To try to move the country firther to the right THAN WHAT BARACK OBAMA, THE DEMOCRATS AND THE WALL STREET CROWD are already trying to take us. Make no mistake, Barack Obama is not liberal, progressive or left in any sense of the meaning of these words... Obama is definitely not a "socialist" as these racist, bigots of right-wing talk radio of are charging.

In other words, the teabaggers are not going to allow me (or any known "leftist" to address their Tax Day Rallies with the message that military spending is wasteful government spending.

The organizers of these "Tea Parties" do not want people hearing the truth that the most excessive, wasteful government spending is for wars and militarism.

These right-wing blow-hards like Mitch Berg are afraid to have me addressing their crowds saying things like:

The United States government, dominated by Wall Street bankers and coupon clippers, is wasting trillions upon trillions of dollars of tax-payer monies borrowed from Wall Street bankers to finance a vast and far-flung network of over 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil dotting all parts of the globe instead of building 800 public health care centers right here in the United States providing free health care from cradle to grave for everyone.

Now, this self-avowed, Bircher--- this two-bit, half-assed fascist--- Nancy L. LaRoche declares that I have denied people with differing viewpoints from my own the right to speak at anti-war rallies.

This is another outright and brazen two-faced lie and she is well aware she is a liar in making this statement.

I have never in my life prevented anyone--- from any political perspective or persuasion--- with an anti-war view to speak at any anti-war rally.

To the extent it has been within my power (as one vote on a committee), I have never allowed anyone with a pro-war view to speak at an anti-war rally.

Why would I give consideration to anyone with a pro-war view to speak at an "anti-war rally?" Only a complete idiot and fool like this Birchite, Nancy L. LaRoche, would make such a statement... it is up to her and her warmongering friends who support these wars but never go off to fight them to organize their own "pro-war rallies."

However, I have organized (and participated as a debater in debates I had no part in organizing) dozens of debates all over Minnesota--- some ninety debates, in fact--- prior to the start of the war in Iraq, around the question and issue:

Should the United States Government Go To War in Iraq?

Participants in these debates, generally consisted of two or three pro and con views. As the main organizer of these debates across Minnesota I did not seek out and select participants according to my personal left-wing views. In fact, these debates included retired military people--- both pro and con--- on the question and the issue. In fact, there were even some right-wing talk show hosts who participated in these debates--- several times as the moderators. Not once was I ever accused of stacking these debates. And not once was the discourse anything but cordial. I would note, the bigots and the Birchites did condemn these debates because they included the anti-war view! You see, these two-bit, half-assed fascists do not believe in democracy or any concept of democracy. To them, democracy is only them getting out their views. These is an obviously perverted view of democracy; the same perverted view of democracy that almost thoroughly permeates right-wing talk radio--- with a very few notable exceptions of those who hold genuinely conservative views but welcome all other views into the "battle of ideas in our modern world."

Nancy L. LaRoche intentionally tries to blend "debate" with demonstrations and rallies. She does this intentionally as do all of her bigoted friends because they know that people get their ideas together when they hear the many sides to these complex and complicated questions in the process of public and democratic debate--- and, then, after formulating opinions based upon what they believe to be the best information they can gather; from this informed position they go out a try to convince others to rally and demonstrate with them to try to move government, corporations or whatever in the direction they think society should be moving.

But, where has the debate been on the Obama/Wall Street agenda?

In fact, there has been no debate.

In fact, the "left" which our bigoted, Birchite friend Nancy L. LaRoche so bemoans, has had no voice what-so-ever in a debate, which I would remind the reader, has largely been an attack on socialism.

Denying a voice to the adherents of the socialist viewpoint and perspective under these circumstances can hardly pass for democracy.

By Nancy L. LaRoche's own words here, these "Tea Party" and tax-protests are nothing more than right-wing rallies; her own words give lie to the words of those like Mitch Berg, Chris Baker, Shawn Hannity and Rush Limbaugh along with the "fair and unbiased" FOX news crew that these rallies are anything but anti-communist, pro-war and pro-corporate bash the working class and attack the rest of the world rallies.

That two-bit, half-assed fascists from both the Republican and Democratic Parties participate in these rallies does not mean these rallies are open to all who oppose wasteful government spending; it means that those on the right from both political parties support and sponsor--- and exclude--- anyone not right-wing from participation.

After all, when you openly state as Nancy L. LaRoche has done that "leftists for peace" are excluded; here in the state of Minnesota you are excluding a good 40% of the population.

And, if you are "not going to pass the bullhorn" to leftists to speak about their concerns about inappropriate government spending no one, not Mitch Berg or Chris Baker or Shawn Hannity or Rush Limbaugh, can make the claim they are speaking for all Americans... they are speaking for a very, very narrow slice of America... perhaps 3% to 4% of the population... no more than this.

But, here we are supposedly talking about bringing people of "all political persuasions together" in these Tea Parties who are opposed to "government waste."

Are these "Tea Parties" also "pro-war parties and rallies?" If we listen to Nancy L. LaRoche they really are.

Not only do the American people have to ask:

Where is the change?

We also have to ask:

Where are the debates on these issues?

Nancy L. LaRoche knew better than to demand the microphone at an anti-war rally because she was pro-war.

In her small little demented and perverted mind, patriotism is equated with being pro-war. Waving a flag is equated with being pro-war. That she convinced someone to put down a peace sign and hold the American flag tells us absolutely nothing... did she convince that person to become pro-war? No. And she knows it. That person waved the American flag to demonstrate that peace is patriotic, and war is unpatriotic.

I'm not a "flag-waver" but I will stand my patriotism for this country up against the chicken shit patriotism of these right-wing bigots hosting these Fox radio programs any day... and it they who run from the challenge of debating these issues.

That they can convince a few stupid fools like Nancy L. LaRoche to join them tells us everything we need to know about this perverted crowd of "teabaggers."

Nancy L. LaRoche tells us that she and her friends "don't bite." However, they sure want to give the working class a good "teabagging."

Teabaggers have more in common with the "steal the land from the Indians," pro-slavery, pro-Hitler crowd than with the sons and daughters of the American Revolution and Tom Paine and Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson.

Again, I reiterate my suggestion for real--- face-to-face--- debates in every city where the teabaggers are planning their events... come on Nancy L. LaRoche, your idols Mitch Berg and Chris Baker refuse to debate me... let's me and you tour these sixteen cities debating the issues involved... let's me and you debate what constitutes wasteful government spending...

bak, bak, bak, baaakkk, bak, bak, baakk, baaakkkkk, bak, bak.

No doubt Hitler was a "teabagger," just like Mitch Berg and Chris Baker in every sense of the word.

Something to think about around the dinner table--- if you can keep from gagging.

Yours in the struggle,

Alan L. Maki

From a posting to "e-democracy" to which the "moderator," Rick Mons, would not allow me the above response.

The posting was from: Nancy L LaRoche Date: 07:23 CDT Short link

Alan Maki wrote:

"Yes, you want people to attend your "Tea Party" rallies but you
exclude those with a left view from speaking... wow! Real democratic.

Invite me to speak; I'll be there."

Alan: Do you leftist protesters pass their bullhorns and allow the other side
to speak at their rallies? I've attended some anti-war protests and had great
conversations with those opposed to my views. I didn't demand the microphone.
In fact, at one three years ago I made friends with a homeless Native American
who was given an anti-war sign to carry. After we talked for a while, he put
his sign down and picked up a flag. That's what democracy is - the right to
have differing opinions and discuss openly with others. You seem to want to
dismiss and shut up those who disagree.

Come out and talk with us May 2. Try to understand our side face to face.
Again, we don't bite.

Poor babies

2009-04-20T08:46:00.000-05:00

Wealth-Less Effect: Earning Well, Feeling Otherwise
by Gary Fields
Monday, April 20, 2009
provided by

Proposed Tax Increases on Six-Figure Earners Highlight Mounting Costs of Living -- and the Relativity of Prosperity

Ellen Parnell and her husband, Donald Parnell Jr., seem like the kind of well-off couple President Barack Obama has in mind when he suggests raising taxes on families earning more than $250,000 a year. A surgeon at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn., he drives an Infiniti. They vacation at a beach resort every year.

Yet, right now he is working seven days a week. The car is more than a decade old, the vacation home in Sandestin, Fla., comes at a moderate weekly rate because members of Ms. Parnell's extended family own it. Her family of five would like more room than they have in their 2,500-square-foot home, yet they can't afford anything larger. The downturn has them skittish about paying for renovations.

"I'm not complaining, but the reality is Obama may call me wealthy, but I thought we were just good old middle class," says Ms. Parnell. "Our needs are being met, but we don't have a load of cash to cover wants."

It is a tricky situation in which some Americans find themselves after a long boom: They are by no means struggling, compared with the 98% of Americans who make far less, but depending on where they live and the lifestyle choices they have made, they don't necessarily feel rich, either. Worse, in their view, they are facing the same tax rates as those making millions. Some of the expenses are self-inflicted -- like private-school costs and conspicuous consumption. Others, though, are unavoidable, like child-care costs, larger health-care deductibles and education expenses, especially college.

Under Mr. Obama's budget proposal, two of the highest tax brackets would see rates rise, and deductions would be reduced for households earning more than $250,000 annually. President Obama said Wednesday, "We've made a clear promise that families that earn less than $250,000 will not see their taxes increase by a single dime."

By any statistical measure, that income level is at the top of the bracket. But for those closest to the line, the money might be less a sign of affluence than it is of the industry of dual-income couples. It is possible, say observers, that veteran civil servants could fall into the higher tax bracket.

The political calculation is dicey. The White House needs the additional revenue to cover some of its ambitious policy agenda, especially a health-care revamp. But some polling data suggest households that earn above $200,000 went heavily for Mr. Obama in November.

Until more details of the tax changes are disclosed, it is unclear whether people making big six-figure sums will be affected at all. They may, for example, be able to avoid tax increases if any number of deductions pull them below the threshold. But that isn't stopping those who earn near the threshold from worrying about it.

Already, many members of Congress are seeking to scale back some of the proposed tax increases, which call for raising the top federal tax rates to 36% from 33% on households earning $250,000 or above.

Wealth and comfort "depends on where you're coming from," said Lois Avitt, a sociologist and founding director of the Institute for Socio-Financial Studies in Charlottesville, Va. To a family earning $50,000, $250,000 is well off, but for the family earning $250,000, rising college and medical costs and dropping home values make the perception debatable.

The reasons for the insecurity are that net worth is declining at the same time that expenses like education and health care, two of the biggest concerns cited by members of that income group, are going up faster than wages and income, says Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington. "Those are the biggies. They are huge parts of the set of middle-class aspirations, and the prices of those have increased way faster than income." The bursting of the housing bubble makes that more stark.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, says data show that over the last 10 years, education costs have risen 5.91% annually, and health- care expenses have gone up 4.16% annually, while wages and income have risen only 3.7% over the same time span. That means many families are seeing a greater percentage of their income going toward those two areas.

Education costs, which are far outstripping wages and income, are especially worrisome for this income bracket because upper-income earners are much less likely to receive the kind of financial aid that lower income levels can expect.

The drop in net worth has been staggering. The Federal Reserve, in a recent report, found that U.S. households' net worth dropped by $11 trillion, a decline of nearly 18%, during 2008. That wealth includes everything from home values to mutual funds and life insurance, college and pension funds. The decline equaled the combined output of Germany, Japan and the U.K.

Changes to the tax code don't generally make adjustments for high costs of living in particular areas of the country.

San Jose, Calif., Mayor Chuck Reed calls a family living in Silicon Valley earning $250,000 "upper working class." That is about what two engineers working at a technology firm can expect to make, but "a family earning $250,000 a year can't buy a home in Silicon Valley," he said.

James Duran owns a human-resources company in Silicon Valley and is president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in California. He supported Mr. Obama, but is worried about the tax proposals. He has laid off some employees in recent months and has been wondering how he can fund an extension of those workers' health-care benefits.

Mr. Duran said he and his wife earn about $400,000 annually, but "I'm barely getting by." They have high property and state taxes, as well as college tuition and savings to cover. "I'm an Obama man, but this side of him is a difficult pill for me," he said.

Van Moore, an optometrist in Sevierville, makes just enough in his practice that he worries he might qualify for the tax increase. Mr. Moore said he was contemplating adding two staff workers and another doctor to his practice, but then the economy went soft. In the years after he finished optometry school, his first job brought in less than $20,000 a year. Then he made $50,000 for several years, all the while dealing with his $150,000 student-loan debt, which he still has. Now he is making just above $250,000.

"I'm not in a mobile home with no utilities or running water and holes in the floor," he said. "I'm not poor, but I'm not rich."

For the Parnells, their perception of themselves is based on the math. The value of their house is down $60,000. Ms. Parnell says the couple's gross income last year was about $260,000. Taxes, premiums for medical care and deductions for Social Security and their 401(k) contributions cut the gross to about $12,000 per month. The family tithes $1,300 a month at their church. Their mortgage, second mortgage and payment on land they bought is nearly $4,000 a month. Other expenses, including their family car payment, insurance and college funds, as well as basics like food, utilities and donations to charities, leave them with about $1,200 left over each month.

"I'm not after sympathy. We are blessed. What I want is a reality check on what rich means," Ms. Parnell says. "I can pay my mortgage and I can buy some clothes. I'm not going without, but I'm not living a life of luxury."

Write to Gary Fields at gary.fields@wsj.com

Copyrighted, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

I don't know how Alan Maki does it...

2009-04-15T11:39:00.002-05:00

But somehow he has a way of putting into writing what many people are thinking.

I wish I would have said this myself.

Marc Asch is a Democratic Party booster. Alan Maki has responded to him brilliantly.

I can't wait to see if Marc Asch responds because I am certain Maki will fire right back.

Rita

Note: I decided to add a few things since my post yesterday apparently didn’t go through.

Marc Asch wrote:

This is a very imprecise and confusing discussion of IRV.

The party process of endorsement, not nomination, is one that requires a

super majority of 60% to win. The nomination process is through the

primary which requires a plurality of votes cast.

Using IRV in the party process, I think would make an already Byzantine

process only more so.

Using IRV in the general election process as way to fix perceived

problems with the party process is inviting unintended consequences.

I have listened to IRV for decades now and I think it is primarily

attractive to people who want third party candidates to have a chance

win or influence electoral outcomes.

I do not think that we have seen in this race makes any argument for

IRV. Can you just image how longer the process would be taking if the

election officials at every level were trying to determine voter intent

on multiple levels?

--

Marc Asch marc@asch.org

34 North Oaks Road 651-484-9037

North Oaks, MN 55127

"Democracy is not a spectator sport."

Craig S. Wilson

Marc Asch

If too many political parties/candidates complicate matters too much, I would suggest that the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party just withdraw from the political scene since it does nothing for working people anyways.

We see from history that when there is a political party like the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party bringing forward real solutions to the problems of working people that the Democratic and Republican parties become minor players in the political process.

I find it intriguing that so many other countries around the world much less technologically advanced cope very well with dozens of political parties and I don't hear people in these countries clamoring to become "two-party" systems; nor do I see chaos of any kind.

Yes, there is the fear that 90% of those who have been drawn into voting for the Democratic Party claiming "one big tent" will abandon the Democratic Party en masse should we break free from the two-party trap which stifles democracy and robs people of the opportunity to vote their consciences.

During times of great crises, like we are in now, people begin to insist on real alternatives as they seek out solutions to this mess that only the wealthy had a part in creating.

In 1932 there were five candidates running for governor: Communist, Democratic, Farmer-Labor, Industrial and Republican... socialist Floyd B. Olson won--- capturing more votes than all the other parties combined!

In 1936 the Democrats didn’t even dare challenge socialist Elmer Benson for Governor because his support was so overwhelming.

Communist John Bernard, running on the Farmer-Labor ticket for Congress from the Iron Range in 1936, trounced all his opposition.

I can see why some people might be fearful of another socialist party like the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party coming on the scene during a period of severe economic depression, not unlike the 1930's--- maybe even worse since the bottom is still out of sight.

But, fearing the results a third party may have on the future of the Democratic Party is no reason to stifle democracy and strap the people into a straightjacket where the political process is concerned by limiting their choices of participation and at the polls--- the more the merrier; everyone should have the opportunity to vote their conscience and views.

There isn't any difference between Norm Coleman the Republican, from Norm Coleman the Democrat--- he just switched parties but not his thinking or views; and there is no real difference between Coleman and Franken as far as working people are concerned.

Franken has pledged to support Obama.

Ok.

Where's the change?

What we need in this country is a good solid labor-based political party built by the rank-and-file from the grassroots up to begin resolving the real problems working people face.

With Obama we are getting:

* Saddled with three costly wars with so many needless deaths and the horrendous destruction of it all; no one wants any of these wars... all being fought with no moral justification.

* No single-payer universal health care which DFL State convention delegates supported by a very wide margin as do most Americans.

* Obama bailing out the bankers instead of Main Street.

* Obama bailing out the auto industry when we could have bought up the entire auto industry for less than the cost of the bailout and tax-payers would own something with which tremendous wealth could have been created while producing for the common good instead of corporate profits for the few.

Obviously, the steel industry is impatiently waiting in line for a bailout, too.

Obama has supported the largest military budget in human history which includes funding for over 800 U.S. foreign military bases dotting the globe; when, instead, we should be building 800 public health care centers strategically scattered across the United States to universally serve the health care needs of all the people from cradle to grave.

Any government that can spend this kind of money to fight wars and prop up two-bit dictators all over the world certainly can provide free health care for its citizens; yet all we are hearing from Obama and the Democrats (including Al Franken) is about "affordable health care;" like people unemployed by the millions and being foreclosed and evicted from homes they can't afford to heat can "afford" another bill for health care.

Obama and the Democrats are ignoring this country's problems, and in failing to address these problems from unemployment to poverty wages and home foreclosures/evictions, this is giving rise to a very scary and powerful extremely racist, right-wing backlash which now threatens to regain a majority in Congress in the next election because Obama and the Democrats have left people stranded without any hope; there has been no change.

By his own words, and those words of leading Democrats, Franken would be one more gung-ho vote for Obama and his policies which are clearly in league with Wall Street bankers and coupon clippers and the merchants of death and destruction.

When we asked Al Franken at the Labor Day event in Duluth if he had a solution for saving the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant... he ignored our question as a rolled around on the ground with my dog Fred.

I can understand why you are so afraid of third parties; they might actually present Minnesotans with some real alternatives... obviously, Obama has been no alternative to Bush; and, Franken, since he states unequivocally that he will be one more slobbering Obama booster, offers no alternative to the Republicans, either.

Again, I ask the question millions of Americans are now asking: Where's the change?

Right now, few people have hope.

People had high expectations after hearing "change you can believe in," "yes we can" and grandiose speeches all about the politics of "hope" for over two years.

Now people are asking:

Where's the change?

In the final analysis voting in Minnesota is a very corrupt political process no matter how one views the process.

Just about every single problem now in front of us could have been avoided if the Secretary of State had done his job and trained all the county election officials properly in how to educate voters as they cast their ballots. It is the epitome of arrogance born of the very corrupt and undemocratic process of the two-party system which has created this mess and not any excesses of democracy implied by Mr. Asch.

Why shouldn’t those who want a real choice by way of third, fourth, fifth, sixth or more parties be upset with the current state of affairs strangling democracy. It is unfortunate that Mr. Asch views expanding democracy by giving more parties and candidates equal access to the ballot as “Byzantine;” I would think he would welcome the challenge of other parties which would force all parties to actually say something about things for a change rather than simply producing cute sound bites for television, radio and newspaper advertisements.

Had both Franken and Coleman had a real challenge from the left we would probably have seen a much different outcome in this race. It is unfortunate that Priscilla Lord-Farris did not run as an independent because then we would have all gotten a chance to see and hear a politician who really cares about people and helping to solve their problems.

Anyone can see the game being played by both the Democrats and the Republicans--- they throw a bunch of ringers into the primary races who all “pledge” to support the victor at the convention and the one with the most money to spend wins while both parties get the luxury of having the “ringers” say to their followers, “we tried, it didn’t work; we need to now get in line behind our party’s candidate.” We had a good example of this with Jack Nelson Palmer… his only job was to try to keep the left-wing from bolting the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party. We haven’t seen Jack Nelson-Palmeyer at a single hearing on the legislation to save the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant, the “Minnesota People’s Bailout,” and he has never spoken a single word in defense of the 40,000 casino workers employed in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws even though he boasted to the world that he had received the support “of the real Norma Rae.”

Very clever; a great system that plays us all for suckers and fools while our problems go unresolved because Democrats and Republicans are controlled lock, stock and barrel by the corporate lobbyists… and Mr. Asch has the nerve to say that those of us seeking alternatives to this two-party trap will only make “Byzantine” political process more so? I don’t know how having any other parties involved could create a more complex, complicated, dirty underhanded system then what exists at present.

I am glad that Mr. Asch recognizes that the present system is “complex, complicated and underhanded;” certainly nothing to suggest that it is worth protecting and saving. And these are Mr. Asch’s own words since he chose to use the word “Byzantine.”

Mr. Asch has seen fit to assess what motivates those who are pushing IRV… no doubt Mr. Asch has a vested interest in keeping other parties out of the political process because he is trying to protect and defend Democrats from being challenged.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Global steel industry awaits auto turnaround as layoffs on the Iron Range mount and MN DFL twiddles thumbs

2009-04-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

Statement of the Iron Range Club of the Communist Party, USA

Barack Obama in an Easter Sunday holiday message had the nerve to lie to the American people about the nature of the economic depression we are in. Obama said he sees "glimmers of hope."

We ask: Where are the "glimmers of hope?"

Obama has not been to the Iron Range.

We ask: Where's the change?

Here on the Iron Range there are no "glimmers of hope;" only the despair that accompanies growing growing joblessness and dire poverty making the Iron Range, what Alan Maki has referred to "the Appalachia of the North with the same pits, pollution and poverty."

The economic situation and social conditions are worsening by the day on the Iron Range as working class families are now experiencing dire economic straits our grand parents tell us they have not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930's.

We and our grand parents were assured such conditions would never come about again.

We were told that Karl Marx was wrong. We were told that the capitalist system could be managed by flaky, weirdos like John Maynard Keynes and Alan Greenspan.

This generation was assured by the best paid economists Wall Street could buy that this generation would never live through an economic depression where the capitalist system collapses.

Yet, today, all economic indicators--- contrary to Barack Obama seeing "glimmers of hope," are pointing to the worst depression ever along with all the misery for working people such a catastrophe will most certainly entail as this "ball continues to drop" if we don't push back against Wall Street, and push back hard.

Larry Summers, Director of the National Economic Council--- Barack Obama's chief economic adviser--- describes the economy like a "ball dropping from the table that has not stopped falling."

Something is terribly wrong with this entire scenario. We are being played for suckers and fools as if we do not have the brains or capacity to reason and think.

Vice-president Joe Biden stated months ago that he and Obama are trying to "dropkick the ball." Here we are, months later, with Larry Summers telling us "the ball is still dropping" and hasn't even touched the ground yet.

Key to Obama's lies is that he continues to state economic troubles were caused by the "crisis in the housing market." This is an outright lie. The housing market, sabotaged by a bunch of greedy crooks not of which one has been prosecuted to date as millions of people lose their homes, is part of the problem; part of the problem contributing to the main problem. But not the primary source of the problem that Barack Obama and his over-paid economic advisers are well aware of but refuse to acknowledge because to do so would expose the capitalist system for what it has become: rotten to the core.

The present crises the capitalist economic system is experiencing is the direct result of the corporate assault on the standard-of-living of the working class that has been well underway in this country for over thirty years, and Wall Street has intensified this assault on the working class over the last eight years of Republican domination over our lives while Democrats sat back like cowards and did nothing.

The problem is one from which the capitalist economic system cannot escape:

Workers not being paid enough to purchase back what they have produced. Most working people in the United States have been receiving poverty wages; unable to purchase even the minimal basic necessities required to live decent lives.

Capitalist exploitation is THE PROBLEM. Capitalists stealing the wealth created by the working class is the source of this economic mess.

Common sense tells us that if the wealth created by the many is being constantly stolen by the rich few there is going to be severe economic problems down the road; we are now at the end of that road.

High-paid corrupt union leaders like Leo Gerard, Ron Gettelfinger and John Sweeney have worked in cahoots with big-business in forcing concession after concession from the very workers whose dues are paying their big fat salaries when they should have been putting the unions' resources into organizing the unorganized. Instead, they plowed union dues into supporting Barack Obama and the Democrats who are now kicking workers in the head while down on the ground.

How else can one explain taking away the homes of working people who are jobless and going hungry?

A moratorium on all foreclosures and evictions should have been and still is the NUMBER ONE requirement needed by hard-hit workers. This is so basic to common human decency we Communists should not even have to be stating this.

Minnesota Senator David Tomassoni could not even get the vote of one single Democrat in support of "the Minnesota People's Bailout." And the United Steel Workers and United Auto Workers unions are pumping money into getting these servants of the Chamber of Commerce, the mining, auto, banking and power industries elected!

If Senator Tomassoni and any other DFL'ers who consider themselves "progressive" don't see the need to leave the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party after this (first it was betrayal and sell-out on saving the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant) now these same rotten Democrats have defeated "the Minnesota People's Bailout" which would have halted foreclosures and evictions so widespread across the Iron Range and the rest of the state and the entire country.

Now these same Democrats are kicking the living daylights out of the working class at every opportunity; not missing an opportunity to kick workers in the head. Case in point: the auto workers; and miners right here on the Iron Range.

No two unions did more to help elect Barack Obama and the Democrats than the United Steel Workers union (USW) and the United Auto Workers union (UAW).

Steel workers and auto workers are now getting kicked in the head by Barack Obama and the Democrats without any help from the Republicans.

What does this tell us about the two-party system?

It should tell us what Communist Party leaders William Z. Foster and Gus Hall said over and over again:

Labor needs its own political party.

The time has come for working people to get up off the ground and fight back.

Since the labor "leadership" is not willing to fight back; the rank-and-file is going to have to stand up and slug it out with these corrupt and wholly incompetent labor leaders, the Democratic Party and Wall Street.

Military recruiters are not shy about walking into our public schools trying convince our children to go fight Barack Obama's dirty imperialist wars.

A third of the ore that has been taken from the ground on the Range has gone into wars and militarism as our children die in these senseless wars that Barack Obama said were "stupid" when he wanted our votes.

Barack Obama and the Democrats are not as eager to solve our problems as they are to ship our kids off to war.

In fact, to a large extent the social and economic problems we are experiencing are directly related to these dirty imperialist wars.

As Alan Maki has pointed out, we need "800 public health care centers spread out across the United States instead of over 800 U.S. military bases dotting the globe."

On this Easter Sunday, we on the Iron Range don't see Barack Obama's "glimmers of hope."

The steel and auto industries need to be nationalized and brought under public ownership and the democratic control of the people.

We will not get a "people's bailout" until we organize some kind of "people's lobby" as part of a "massive people's front" in the struggle for an end to foreclosures and evictions and a legislated minimum wage that is a real living wage directly based upon and tied to all cost-of-living factors.

Polls now show the American people have completely lost confidence in capitalism.

The same polls demonstrate that the time is now to place socialism on the table; socialism is the only way working people are ever going to get out of this economic mess.

The time has come for working people to create a people's political party to challenge the monopolies for power, and put us on the high road to peace and jobs through socialism.

We ask Barack Obama and the lying, warmongering Democrats: Where's the change?

As the article below points out, the steel and auto industries are the key to any healthy economy.

We ask: Does anyone see any indication of these two industries ever recovering again under capitalism?

China bailed is out and saved thousands of jobs for us here on the Iron Range.

Now that Chinese "leaders" have betrayed their people like union "leaders" here and jumped in bed with Wall Street after having been sold a bill of goods by Alan Greenspan, the CATO Institute and the Heritage Foundation that capitalist markets could provide a "quick fix" to their problems there is no place else for us to look other than to our own strength which comes through our own working class unity in getting out from under this mess.

Make no mistake, this economic mess was made by Wall Street capitalists in their never-ending drive for profits; there is no reason for the working class to have to shoulder the burden by way of being driven into poverty to get these vultures and parasites out of this mess that they created.

The corporate CEO's and bankers who created this mess are walking away with multi-million dollar "unemployment checks"--- our tax-dollars; and Barack Obama and the Democrats who expect our votes can't even come up with unemployment checks for workers from time of unemployment until time of re-employment as part of a "people's bailout." This is a disgrace.

We ask: Where's the change?

Since working people are called upon to solve the problems we had no part in creating, we need to resolve these problems in a way that benefits the working class by improving the lives of working class families and not Wall Street pigs gorging themselves at the public trough provided courtesy of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party at our expense.

Again, we ask Barack Obama and the Democrats: Where's the change?

In response to those still saying: "Give Obama a chance;" we say:

Join the Communist Party.

Join the fight for peace and jobs through socialism.

Iron Range Club, CPUSA

Global steel industry awaits auto turnaround

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090412/bs_wl_afp/commoditiesmetalssteelsector

PARIS (AFP) – Steel is on edge and the global industry is cutting back hard, hanging on for either a budget blast from China, new credit for vast Middle Eastern building schemes or resurrection of the US auto industry.

Demand has dwindled and steelmakers, notably the giant of them all, ArcelorMittal, are damping down surplus furnace capacity while waiting for credit to flow, construction cranes to turn and factories to roll.

A decision by ArcelorMittal last week to pursue temporary production cutbacks, slashing European output by more than half from the end of April according to a union source, dramatises the extraordinary ride and role of steel in the last few years.

In just months the global industry has gone from a boom driven largely by China, emerging markets and a property extravaganza in the Middle East to a narrow line between excess capacity and the costs of waiting for recovery.

"Over the past six months, demand for steel has dropped dramatically and, as a result, producers have been cutting production," analysts at Barclays Capital said in a study last week.

In another report, Morgan Stanley predicted "the current demand shock to lead to excess steel capacity."

Consequently, the bank said, steel plants should operate at rates below 75 percent of capacity until 2012.

"The steel market is not very different from base metals as a whole, but steel has reacted more rapidly and dramatically since September," said commodities analyst Perrine Faye of London-based FastMarkets.

She said the future of the steel industry depended on three factors -- the impact of Chinese economic stimulus efforts, a pick-up in the Middle East construction sector and a revival of the once mighty US auto industry.

"Chinese imports and exports are at a standstill. Everyone is waiting for the Chinese stimulus package to see if it will revive demand."

The Chinese government last month announced a four-trillion-yuan (580-billion-dollar) package of measures that it said could contribute 1.5 to 1.9 percent to the country's economic growth.

Industry experts have meanwhile spoken optimistically of China's prospects.

Thomas Albanese, chief executive at steel maker Rio Tinto, said earlier this year that the company foresaw "a short, sharp slowdown in China, with demand rebounding over the course of 2009, as the fundamentals of Chinese economic growth remain sound."

Analysts have said steel inventories are falling in China in anticipation of projects expected to emerge from the country's huge stimulus package.

"It is encouraging that the inventory of steel products, especially long products, which are mostly used in construction projects, have started to fall (since the end of March), likely suggesting that end-demand is gathering momentum," Frank Gong, a Hong Kong-based economist for JPMorgan, wrote in a research note.

On-the-ground evidence suggested that the Chinese industry had been re-stocking in the first two months of the year, followed by a pause in March before major infrastructure projects were expected to start in the second quarter, Gong wrote.

In the Middle East, according to Faye, the big problem is a shortage of credit, notably for real estate developers and builders.

Construction planners had "counted on a higher price for oil and on credit to finance their huge projects."

In addition, demand for such facilities, especially in the Gulf, has died.

"They were hoping that Americans and Europeans would buy apartments. But property prices have collapsed in the Middle East as well."

In the United Arab Emirates more than half the building projects, worth 582 billion dollars or 45 per cent of the total value of the construction sector, have been put on hold, a study by Dubai-based market research group Proleads found in February.

In Dubai, one of the states of the UAE, prices in the real estate sector have slumped by an average of 25 percent from their peak in September after rallying 79 percent in the 18 months to July 2008, according to Morgan Stanley.

Faye said the fate of the steel sector was in addition tied to that of the struggling US auto industry, once a thriving steel market but one in which two of its giant players, General Motors and Chrysler, are staring at bankruptcy.

The two companies are currently limping along thanks to billions of dollars in government aid.

"We are waiting to see if the auto sector in the US will get out of the crisis intact," she said.

The United States has 800 military bases on foreign soil...

2009-03-23T11:41:00.001-05:00

What we need--- instead--- is 800 public health care centers spread out across the United States where people can universally access, for free, all their health care needs from pre-natal care, to general health care to eye, dental and mental care right through to burial.

Instead of moving in this progressive direction, President Barack Obama and the United States Congress are moving in a most reactionary direction towards establishing military bases in outer space as they seek to insure the profits of both the merchants of death and destruction and the profit-driven health care industries... talk about skewed priorities and your wacky ideas devoid of common sense.

In addition to these 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil, Barack Obama and the United States Congress continue funding--- with our tax-dollars--- the Israeli killing machine to the tune of tens of billions of dollars.

A network of 800 public health care centers spread out across the United States would create over four-million good-paying, decent jobs--- talk about your "economic stimulus" package!

We would be planting the seeds of socialism while helping to eradicate poverty as we keep people healthy and get them well when sick.

Think about this kind of solution in relation to what Barack Obama, the U.S. Congress and the Wall Street bankers and coupon clippers are offering the American people, and the peoples of the world... just what is the reason for bailing out the banks and AIG and maintaining more than 800 expensive U.S. military bases of foreign soil?

The Mt. Carmel Clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada offers us a glimpse at what militarization and wars continue to rob us of.

The problems created by Wall Street will not be solved as long as the military-financial-industrial complex is allowed to squander human and natural resources on militarism and wars... we might just as well be dumping these resources out into the ocean... at least no one would die in wars.

These merchants of death and destruction must be stopped if humanity is to survive in a livable world.

The time has come to talk about the working class Marxist politics and economics of livelihood... capitalism has failed humanity miserably and left us a real mess.

Something for working people to think about and discuss around the dinner table... the capitalist sooth-Sayers certainly are not going to broach such solutions to the problems of working people as they hide behind the skirt of Rosy Scenario as this global capitalist economic depression intensifies.

Alan Maki

The big lie about AIG

2009-03-18T09:03:00.001-05:00

The big lie about AIG:

From---

U.S.News & World Report (see complete article following my comments)

What's Good, What's Bad About the AIG Bailout

“It's keeping AIG's insurance businesses stable. Here's something that's really startling: The entire problem at AIG was caused by one unit, the Financial Products division, whose employees constituted less than one percent of AIG's overall workforce. AIG's insurance units - the core of its business - essentially had nothing to do with the fiasco. But if AIG had been forced to liquidate, it could have affected the insurance units and millions of policyholders. With a more orderly process underway, the policyholders are now completely protected.”

This is the truth:

The entire problem at AIG was caused by one unit, the Financial Products division

But if AIG had been forced to liquidate, it could have affected the insurance units and millions of policyholders. With a more orderly process underway, the policyholders are now completely protected.

Question:

Who are these AIG “policyholders?”

Answer:

These AIG “policyholders” are the largest multi-national corporations in the world… and include corporations from every industry, from media to banking/mortgage to auto and steel to toys.

Question:

What kind of insurance policies have the multi-national corporations purchased from AIG?

Answer:

These “policyholders” have purchased insurance from AIG to protect their profits.

Question:

What kind of “claims” are they filing?

Answer:

These multi-national policyholders are making claims based upon their loss of profits due to the recession/depression.

Comment:

Our tax-dollars are paying on “claims” being filed by these multi-national corporations for losses in profits as the economy goes south.

Comment:

While the disgraceful tens of millions of dollars in executive “bonuses” paid by AIG are now the justified topic of wide-spread discussion; these “bonuses” are being used a “Trojan Horse” of sorts by the media and politicians who don’t want to disclose to the American people where the hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars are going.

Comment:

Make no mistake, the $170,000,000,000.00 (one-hundred seventy billion dollars) paid out to AIG is just the beginning… as the depression deepens these multi-national corporations will continue filing claims and AIG will have to honor the policies these corporations purchased to protect their profitability… our tax-dollars are going directly into the pockets of the Wall Street coupon clippers and the very mortgage company crooks who ripped off the American people.

Comment:

For the American tax-payer, there is nothing “good” about the bailout of AIG… except to the stock and bondholders and bankers and mortgage companies and the big industrialists and investors who will continue to pocket profits at tax-payer expense, everything about the AIG “bailout” is bad.

Conclusion:

The “bailout” of AIG with our tax-dollars is doing nothing but stabilizing Wall Street “profits.”

AIG’s insurance business is the business of protecting multi-national corporations against a loss in profits.

Once the tax-dollars stop flowing into the coffers of AIG and flooding out to the multi-national corporations, the world stock markets will collapse and we will be in the midst of the worst capitalist economic depression humanity has ever known--- complete with all the accompanying human misery and social strife one would expect--- now being widely predicted by many diverse voices.

On top of all of this, the American dollar will become worthless and we will be forced to purchase oil with Euros and Rubles… then what?

And if the Chinese aren’t dumb enough to buy into the American capitalist economic mess… then what?

In spite of what the highest-paid capitalist sooth-Sayers are telling us, capitalism as an economic system is finished… it is time to explore a socialist solution where production takes place to solve human needs rather than for profit… there is no other solution.

The multi-national corporations purchased insurance policies to protect their profits against recession/depression incurred losses from AIG, a private--- for profit--- insurance company, which assumed the risk in underwriting such policies.

The multi-national corporations did not purchase insurance policies from the United States government; so why should tax-payers be the ones paying out on these claims?

This is the biggest corporate swindle in history… in comparison, Bernie Madoff is a piker… we are being played for suckers.

We need a national “people’s bailout” based on the “Minnesota People’s bailout.”

The time has come to take a “left turn” to get us off this road to perdition as the capitalist system collapses.

Big-business created this economic mess as they reaped the profits while leaving working people with ALL the problems.

Alan L. Maki

U.S.News & World Report
What's Good, What's Bad About the AIG Bailout

http://biz.yahoo.com/usnews/090317/17_whats_good_whats_bad_about_the_aig_bailout.html?.&.pf=insurance

Tuesday March 17, 1:52 pm ET
By Rick Newman

"There are times when one would like to hang the whole human race, and finish the farce."

The latest surreal twists in the AIG bailout bring to mind Mark Twain, who could spot folly as if he were hunting for it with a spyglass. Had Twain had AIG to work with as raw material, we'd probably have another couple dozen enduring epigrams skewering the greedy and the foolish.

Many Americans would like to finish the farce and simply cut AIG off, especially now that the company has paid $165 million in bonuses to executives at the very unit that nearly caused the firm's downfall and triggered an unprecedented taxpayer bailout that now totals $170 billion. To almost everybody, it seems self-evident that traders shouldn't be rewarded for wrecking their company and then burning through vast amounts of public funds. Yet AIG insists it is legally obligated to pay the bonuses, because of contracts signed before the damage occurred and taxpayers got involved. There have also been suggestions that the rascals who devised these complex derivatives deals may be the only ones who know how to unwind them, so AIG has no choice but to keep them around - and pay for the privilege of their company. In other words, the bonuses amount to extortion.

Okay. Breathe deep. Think calming thoughts. Find your center. Amidst this outrage, it's worth keeping in mind that the AIG bailout is actually doing some good. It's also a kind of learn-as-you-go experiment that's never really been done before. Here's a rough scorecard of what's working and what's not:

What's working

The AIG bailout has helped stabilize the financial markets. Take a moment to revisit September 2008. That's when Lehman Brothers failed, Merrill Lynch almost did, and AIG would have been forced into a chaotic bankruptcy if the feds didn't arrange an emergency $85 billion loan. With a bit of hindsight, it's starting to seem that AIG, which brokered more than $2.5 trillion worth of derivatives known as credit-default swaps held by many of the world's biggest banks, was the death star of that troubled troika.

We've survived the Lehman bankruptcy, after all, and Merrill found a buyer. "The real surprise wasn't Lehman Brothers, it was AIG," Frederic Mishkin, a Columbia Business School professor and former member of the Federal Reserve Board, said in a recent speech. "Who would have thought that an insurance company would have been affected by all this? When that happened, all bets were off."

All that federal money has helped AIG redeem some of those derivatives contracts, getting them off its books and out of the system. The financial markets still aren't back to normal, but they're heading in that direction. Forestalling another industrial-strength financial failure, and the chain reaction it would have triggered if AIG had collapsed, has certainly helped.

It's also helping AIG unwind itself. AIG's problems snowballed in September when suddenly it had to produce billions of dollars worth of collateral to back up those credit-default swaps. The collateral call was triggered by an unexpected drop in AIG's credit rating, along with the plunge in value of mortage-backed securities around the world. AIG didn't have the cash, and to come up with it, the only option would have been to sell off illiquid assets like its highly profitable insurance divisions or its aircraft leasing company. Try doing that in a week.

Had AIG been forced to liquidate those assets, it would have had to accept fire-sale prices, which would have led to a sudden collapse in the prices of other similar assets and companies throughout the world. AIG would have gotten pennies on the dollar for valuable assets and many other businesses would suddenly have been devalued, too.

AIG is still in the process of selling off assets, to pay off the government loans that effectively served as its collateral. But it's doing that in a more orderly way, seeking the highest bidders and the best terms. That's generally good for everybody, and it's also the best way for taxpayers to get most or all of their money back.

It's keeping AIG's insurance businesses stable. Here's something that's really startling: The entire problem at AIG was caused by one unit, the Financial Products division, whose employees constituted less than one percent of AIG's overall workforce. AIG's insurance units - the core of its business - essentially had nothing to do with the fiasco. But if AIG had been forced to liquidate, it could have affected the insurance units and millions of policyholders. With a more orderly process underway, the policyholders are now completely protected.

What's not working

Revolting bonuses. It simply goes without saying that giving bonuses to the people who brought down AIG is a perversion of justice. Officials at the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Dept. should have put terms into the original bailout agreement that prevented this. They didn't. It was a chaotic time, and legitimate worries about a global financial collapse obviously clouded thoughts about rules to prevent rapacious traders from holding the government hostage. If it's any consolation, the $165 million bonus pool is relatively small. Still, it grates.

Counterparty payouts. AIG has used much of the $170 billion in government aid to basically refund money to big banks and other "counterparties," to cash out some of those credit-default swaps and reduce AIG's massive liabilities. That's sensible, and it's basically the original idea behind the "Troubled Assets Relief Program," which was intended to get the worst derivatives and other securities off the market.

The problem is that the government has apparently agreed to $105 billion worth of payouts - at the full face value of the securities. That means that banks like Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Societe General and Deutsche Bank - among the world's most sophisticated investors - are taking no loss at all on securities that had a market value of half their face value or less when AIG redeemed them in full. It's like house prices falling in your neighborhood by 50 percent, and somebody coming in and buying one house for what it was worth at the market peak a couple years ago. And using a government loan to finance it.

Regulators at the Fed, Treasury, and other departments still haven't explained why the counterparties got all their money back. They're certainly going to be asked at upcoming Congressional hearings. But in a situation where just about everybody is taking a loss - taxpayers and consumers especially - it will be tough to make a case that the world's richest banks deserve full redemption.

Secrecy. We keep learning the terms of the AIG bailout well after the fact. Obviously there are times when the feds need to move quickly and can't have a 60-day comment period. But it's not the same crisis atmosphere as last fall. In general, we should learn the details of the bailout as they occur.

AIG strongly resisted releasing the list of counterparties that have been paid back with bailout money, for instance. As recently as March 5, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn defended that secrecy, saying that firms might be reluctant to deal with AIG in the future if they knew their dealings could become public.

Then a week later, under mounting pressure, AIG released a list of counterparties. The world didn't end. AIG is also refusing to release the names of individuals in the Financial Products division who are getting bonuses. They may lose that battle too, since New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has asked for the names and started an investigation, much as he has with Merrill Lynch. Information is going to come out one way or the other, and AIG and its regulators should stop trying to protect the failing company any more than they already are. When AIG pays back that $170 billion in taxpayer money, they can keep all the secrets they want. In fact, once we've got our money back, the less we hear about AIG the better.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Maki: Just say no to imperialist wars

2009-03-04T17:05:00.003-06:00

I have a question of my own for Mr. Hayden:

How much longer can we expect that these wars will continue? Until the oil runs out?

What gives with your article? You talk like it is just fine and dandy the United States bombs its way into a country killing who knows how many people and when the occupation is complete and the resistance to the occupation has been defeated the peace movement can declare its support for Obama ending the war?

Rita

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Alan Maki responds to Tom Hayden

By Alan L. Maki

This article (see below)--- A Victory for the Peace Movement--- was written by Tom Hayden of the group Progressives for Obama.

Tom Hayden, until recently, was--- admittedly-- - a "poster boy" for Israel's killing machine.

Conveniently Tom Hayden emerged from his dark, dank cave about the same time Walter Mondale came out of his; just in time to give Obama a boost... two phony liberals trying to pose as progressives, joined by a few more rotten peas in the same moldy pod.

Hayden would like us to ignore the fact that American tax-payers have shelled out billions of dollars building permanent military bases in Iraq which Barack Obama has conveniently refused to discuss what is in store to be done with these bases in the future... perhaps they will be turned into shopping centers or industrial parks?

Of course, neither Hayden nor Obama mention the little issue of oil, either..

Nor do Tom Hayden or Obama mention the issue of U.S. regional domination in the Middle East --- apparently Hayden's new New Left philosophy omits any consideration that there is such a thing as U.S. imperialism.

Is there anyone except Tom Hayden and Barack Obama who actually believe oil and regional domination were not the primary reasons for the invasion of Iraq to begin with?

What will be the consequences should the U.S. peace movement buy into Hayden's and Obama's "peace" in Iraq?

The military-financial- industrial complex will think we are a bunch of chumps who have bought into Obama's new "politics of pragmatism;" nothing more than the same old ideology of U.S. imperialism packaged a little differently by Madison Avenue adding a Hollywood twist to keep the Wall Street bankers and coupon clippers rolling in the dough.

One prominent leader of the left with newly remodeled, million dollar glass offices towering over the city of New York who went all out to support Barack Obama has already said "we can disagree with President Obama without being disagreeable. "

Yes, and Tom Hayden shows how this is done... in the days of the "old" left when the people's movements had some real clout capable of winning the New Deal, neither the leaders of the "People's Front" nor the "People's Lobby" ever capitulated to the capitalist sooth-Sayers or their Wall Street masters... sell-out and capitulation seem to go hand-in-hand with the new New Left... does anyone really want any part of Obama's "new" New Deal?

Perhaps we are better off struggling to defend and protect, building on and expanding the real New Deal.

In fact, the builders of the "People's Front" who were the real architects of the New Deal reforms did a pretty good job of building the "People's Lobby" which was a key component, along with the Communist Party USA, of the "People's Front;" these pioneers built a very firm progressive foundation upon which we can build our struggles for peace, social & economic justice--- which includes the struggle against U.S. imperialism, and not the kind of capitulation to U.S. imperialism that Tom "poster boy for Israel" Hayden envisions as "a victory for the peace movement."

I have news for Tom Hayden: The war in Iraq is part and parcel of "the long wars ahead;" the Middle East today can only be described as sitting upon a keg of powder getting ready to blow... it doesn't take a blaster from the Iron Range to understand the consequences.

The day the Israeli killing machine launched its murderous pogrom on the Palestinian people forced to live like dogs in Gaza Strip the fuse was lit... this fuse is not as long as the short, bumpy, tortuous road to perdition we are already on.

Fortunately, there are very few people other than a bunch of muddle-headed middle class intellectuals who write books and articles from million dollar glass offices who join Tom Hayden in proclaiming Barack Obama to be "the first peace president;" a very weird moniker for an imperialist warmonger employed by the Wall Street merchants of death and destruction who would sit in silence and watch as the Israeli butchers did their dirty deeds in Gaza Strip, and then turn around and lie about calling removing part of the troops in Iraq to maintain U.S. military bases built for something other than housing for troops to rest and relax on playing a little golf and shooting pool, while taking a break from fighting wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan... Obama calls this making good on his campaign pledge of "ending the war in Iraq?"

How much was Tom Hayden paid to write this? Who paid him?

Sellout and betrayal don't even begin to describe this article: "A Victory for the Peace Movement."

Hayden concludes his article:

"This is a clear victory for those in the peace movement who supported Obama as the first anti-war candidate with a chance to become president."

Yes, this probably is a "clear victory for those in the peace movement who supported Obama as the first anti-war candidate with a chance to become president;" unfortunately, Obama was no peace candidate and Obama is no anti-war President... sadder still, for the thousands of people who will continue to suffer and die in the war in Iraq and the associated imperialist wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, this is no victory for peace.

This group Tom Hayden helped to found is definitely for Obama just as definitely, they are not Progressives. Like Obama, they are progressive impostors.

Obama's "peace in Iraq" is as phony as his "stimulus package" these imperialist wars for oil and regional domination torpedoed before ever approved by Congress... both designed to line the pockets of the Wall Street crowd.

That the group "Progressives for Obama" has refused to support the "Minnesota People's Bailout" as a model for the Nation for the way out of this economic mess and as the way out of these imperialist wars by transferring money from military spending to meeting human needs says it all.

Yours in the struggle for peace and justice,

Alan L. Maki

Founder, Minnesotans for Peace and Social Justice

A Victory for the
Peace Movement

Now Prepare for
the Long Wars Ahead

By Tom Hayden
Progressives for Obama

After years of frustrating ambiguity, President Obama has clearly committed to a complete withdrawal of all US troops in less than three years.

Speaking to the Marines in North Carolina, Obama finally clarified that the proposed “residual force” of 50,000 or more will be a “transitional” one, departing one year after combat operations end on August 31, 2010. That position is consistent with the terms negotiated by the Iraqi government in the final days of the Bush Administration, in what the Iraqi side notably called the “withdrawal agreement.”

Even Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were left confused by the initial announcement, questioning whether leaving 50,000 residual troops was really a withdrawal. Obama cleared that up with Friday’s speech.

In perspective, the Iraq war was wrong and illegitimate every day it was fought, and should have ended sooner. Some wanted “out now”, some wanted twelve months, some eighteen. The generals in Iraq may still want to stay indefinitely.

But a phased withdrawal is tolerable – and there’s not much a movement can do about it - if combat casualties steadily decline and all troops are heading for the exit. By agreeing to the Iraqi pact with Bush, Obama found a basis for rapidly removing the transitional troops as well. Before Friday, he remained deliberately unclear on the subject, leaving the spectre of a long counterinsurgency war like those in Central America.

This is a clear victory for those in the peace movement who supported Obama as the first anti-war candidate with a chance to become president.

The media will not acknowledge the role of the peace movement, nor will some on the Left. It will have to be explained as part of the legacy of our times. It will have to be defended against the hawks, because things can go wrong in Iraq in a hurry.

And it’s a lesson that should fortify many as they take on the long wars ahead.

Fight-back!

2009-02-25T00:17:00.004-06:00

We need a peoples bailout in this country not this smooth talking Obama.

Obama talks about recovery. We are still headed down. There is no bottom in site.

People are going to need help.

The People's Bailout in Minnesota should be passed now.

What are the politicians waiting for?

Fight-back!
Fight-back!
Fight-back!

Rita

Alan Maki says: Pass "The People's Bailout" don't let the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party betray working people again

2009-02-13T21:24:00.002-06:00

I checked out Alan Maki's blog Thoughts From Podunk and Maki did a fantastic job in bringing forward the need for working people to get behind supporting legislation by Iron Range legislator Senator David Tomassoni.

I would encourage every worker to read Maki's blog posting.

This is the letter Maki sent to Senator Tomassoni. Pass it on to everyone you know.

I take this opportunity to say I whole heartedly support everything Alan Maki writes in this letter.

On Maki's blog you will find all the tools you will need to get involved in supporting "The People's Bailout."

Don't think for a moment that this legislation is going to get through the Minnesota legislature with smooth sailing. We can't expect support from Republicans. We shouldn't have to worry about support from Democrats but we do because most of these Democrats are nothing but Republicans in disguise. Sad but true.

Why hasn't Jim Oberstar whipped DFL legislators into line behind "The People's Bailout" like he did with Obama's "stimulus package?"

Amy Klobuchar sits like a bump on a log doing nothing to help working people. Disgusting.

Please, please do everything you can to create awareness and educate people that we are trying to get "The People's Bailout" through the Minnesota legislature.

Rita

Support S.F. 542 "The People's Bailout" by Minnesota DFL State Senator David Tomassoni

Support and follow this legislation:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF0542&ssn=0&y=2009

-----Original Message-----

From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]

Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 8:53 PM

To: sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn; rep.al.juhnke@house.mn; rep.bill.hilty@house.mn; rep.dave.olin@house.mn; rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn; rep.tom.Rukavina@house.mn; rep.tony.sertich@house.mn; peter.makowski@mail.house.gov; teresa_detrempe@klobuchar.senate.gov; amy_berglund@levin.senate.gov; elizabeth_reed@levin.senate.gov; 'Peter Rachleff'; mzweig@notes.cc.sunysb.edu; info@jamesmayer.org; rgettel@uaw.net; DLONG@uaw.net; debssoc@sbcglobal.net; 'Ley and Lea Soltis'; 'Joshua Frank'; carl.pope@sierraclub.org; carld717@aol.com

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Subject: Re: People's Bailout (SF 542)

Re: SF 542; The People’s Bailout

Senator David Tomassoni;

First, let me commend you for having the courage to bring this legislation forward; I am sure the opposition will be enormous even from your DFL colleagues, not to mention from Republicans and Governor Pawlenty.

I hope you intend to call for roll call votes at each step of the process on (SF 542) The People’s Bailout so there is more accountability than we had on S.F. 607 to save the Ford Plant; legislation you so courageously brought forward in the Senate Committee on Business, Industry and Labor where your fellow DFL'ers so shamefully let you, and more importantly, Ford Workers and Minnesotans, down. We need to keep in mind in the struggle ahead over The People's Bailout--- S.F. 542, that it was in this same Senate Committee where you failed to get help from your DFL colleagues in moving S.F. 607 forward--- out of Committee and through the Minnesota State Legislature and onto the Governor's desk.

We need to keep in mind that Senator Jim Metzen, while being a DFL'er, is also a banker--- an officer with Key Community Bank known for its very dirty deeds against working people. It is up to you and the rest of us to push Senator Metzen to do his job as Chair of the all-important, heavily DFL dominated Committee on Business, Industry and Labor and twist the arms needing twisting to get The People's Bailout through the Committee... again, I stress the need for a roll call vote to assure Minnesotans have complete accountability--- unlike with S.F. 607 where you received no support from your DFL colleagues yet none of the other Democrats or Republicans would acknowledge their very dirty and shameful role in sending S.F. 607 down to defeat.

Why haven’t you included something along the lines of SF 607 to automatically apply to any business closing which has received any kind of local, state or federal subsidies, tax abatement or public assistance of any kind in your People’s Bailout? This would be particularly important in trying, again, to save the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant.

I am very leery that this is one more gimmick the DFL is using to make it appear the DFL is trying to do something when the intent is all show since the DFL did nothing to push SF 607 through the legislature; hopefully I am wrong about this since many, many Minnesotans will need such assistance.

Might I also suggest that you include rescinding “at-will hiring, at-will firing” legislation as part of The People’s Bailout since this would place Minnesota workers in line to benefit from the Employee Free Choice Act.

Also, might I suggest that you include a provision in this legislation that would establish the minimum wage in Minnesota to be in accordance with the calculations of the United States Department of Labor and its Bureau of Labor Statistics based upon the scientific facts pertaining to real cost of living factors and the minimum wage should be recalculated every time these cost of living factors are recalculated.

I agree with you that we can not spend our way out of this economic crisis and instead we need to work our way out of this mess which obviously requires all working people to be paid real living wages as a way to completely and thoroughly redistribute wealth in this country.

At the heart of this economic mess is the fact that wealth created by the working class has in fact been stolen in the form of huge profits by corporations not paying workers real living wages in accordance with cost of living factors; common sense tells us that depressions occur when working people cannot purchase back the goods they have produced which are required for human survival.

Common sense also dictates that we cannot allow the Ford Motor Company to start bringing Ford Rangers produced in Thailand into the United States instead of continuing production at the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant.

Hopefully you will include something in this legislation protecting the rights of Minnesota’s 30,000 workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry who are forced and compelled to work in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws… I am sure you understand with so many workers employed under these deplorable conditions these workers serve to drive down the standard of living of all workers in Minnesota. I am sure you are aware that casino workers, such as the thousands of workers employed at casinos like Mystic Lake Casino are forced to sign their names to statements that they know they will be terminated should they engage in union organizing. I think you should include something in this People’s Bailout directing the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development that casino workers fired for union organizing cannot be denied unemployment benefits as they presently are.

In order to protect the rights of all workers in Minnesota to unemployment compensation which you want to extend (and your proposal for such extension is not long enough in my opinion given the fact that this economic mess is going to be with us for many years--- perhaps you should include unemployment coverage from time of layoff/firing to time of re-employment); but, getting back to the rights of workers to receive unemployment benefits in the first place, you need to eliminate the right of employers to challenge a worker’s right to unemployment benefits without having to provide a reason for the challenge.

Combined with “at-will hiring, at-will firing” this places workers in a real bind… fired without reason and then subjecting workers to the further injustice of being denied unemployment compensation due to an employer’s challenge without that employer having to provide a reason… this process can drag on for many months leaving workers without any income or public assistance--- meager as public assistance is in Minnesota… not to mention leaving workers and their families without health care. But, it does little good to extend unemployment compensation if employers are allowed to challenge a worker’s right to compensation without reason or just cause.

Without massive mobilization of members from the unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO and Change To Win this legislation has no chance of passing as you fully know and understand.

Have you heard from labor’s registered lobbyists concerning this legislation?

What have you heard from the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations representing employers and the business community regarding this legislation?

When will the first reading of this People’s Bailout take place? I can’t find anything on the legislature’s on-line calendar.

Please keep me informed of any hearings on this legislation as I would like to testify in support of this legislation.

Don’t forget; request there be recorded roll call vote at each step in the process so Minnesotans have full accountability; this not only assures accountability, but will cause those business oriented DFL’ers in the Summit Hill Club to think twice should they decide they want to join with their Republican colleagues in opposing this legislation.

Might I suggest you develop a newsletter--- printed in hard copy and e-mail format--- pertaining solely to SF 542 (The People’s Bailout) to keep its supporters in and out of the legislature fully and completely informed; a newsletter which requests supporters to do specific tasks in bringing the full weight of Minnesota’s working class--- organized and unorganized--- into support for this important piece of legislation… we certainly don’t want a repeat of only a handful of proponents showing up like what happened with SF 607. We should do everything possible to make sure that Minnesota’s working class “owns” this legislation and that we work together to mobilizes huge turn outs of working people supporting this legislation at each and every stage in the legislative process.

In my opinion, we should be looking at organizing Minnesota’s workers to mobilize fully in support of this important piece of legislation, S.F. 542 The People's Bailout, you are bringing forward.

You are most certainly aware that your legislation can serve as a model in winning new needed reforms comprising an extension of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal; just as the struggles for Roosevelt’s New Deal received powerful, decisive support from Minnesota’s socialist Governors Floyd Olson, Elmer Benson and John Bernard and other Farmer-Labor Party elected officials along with Minnesota’s working class--- especially the “red” Finns of the Iron Range. Let “The People’s Bailout” become a rallying point for the working class movement, and become a model for Barack Obama and the United States Congress along with other states to emulate and follow through on.

I assume you have spoken with Congressman Jim Oberstar and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar about developing similar legislation in Congress.

Might I suggest you request an appearance on Amy Goodman’s television program--- “Democracy Now!” to promote national working class unity in support of The People's Bailout.

I hope you will suggest to the Minnesota AFL-CIO and Change To Win they bring all their affiliated unions into support for this legislation and these unions in turn fully mobilize their memberships to every extent possible.

Your final item regarding state employees is very weak given the intent of leading Republicans to push for things like using the powers of state government to abrogate union contracts. As you know, Barack Obama and Congress are already doing the same thing with autoworkers; whereas, in France the government is prohibiting the abrogation of union contracts and requiring those businesses receiving government bailouts not to cut employment. You might want to take a look at what the French government is doing to protect the rights and jobs of working people.

I would encourage you to look at what action can be taken to make the Minnesota government the employer of choice for road building, bridge repair and maintenance so more jobs are created rather than contractors and engineering firms reaping huge profits, keeping in mind the reason for New Deal make work projects being so successful was that the government was the employer--- not private industry and corporations… again, common sense dictates that when you cut out profits more can be paid out in wages for more workers thus, as you say, and I agree, we work our way out of this mess rather than trying to spend our way out of this most severe crisis.

In conclusion, I would encourage you to consider some type of resolution calling on President Obama to discontinue his wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as cutting all funding for Israel since it makes little sense to pump three-quarters of a trillion dollars into economic “stimulus” while continuing to squander the exact same amount on wars and militarization, which is like taking our human and natural resources and tossing them into one of those polluted, water-filled, abandoned mining pits on the Iron Range or into U.S. Steel’s “Clear Water Reservoir” in Mountain Iron.

Also, as much as I am for road-building and repair to create jobs… I can’t see spending millions of dollars building a road from Minnesota Highway 71 out into the Big Bog for a Canadian peat mining operation to truck away the profits… you might want to mention to Congressman Oberstar that Franklin Roosevelt spent hundreds of thousands of dollars putting the Civilian Conservation Corps to work trying to protect this very sensitive ecosystem; it just destroys our credibility advocating for public works programs when Oberstar has spent millions destroying the good work the CCC did in trying to protect and save the Big Bog. I find it rather ironic this peat mining boon-doggle is taking place right at the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp site in the Pine Island State Forest in the Big Bog.

S.F. No. 542, as introduced - 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) Posted on Feb 06, 2009

1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to economic development; extending MFIP assistance; modifying
1.3unemployment compensation; augmenting foreclosure provisions; establishing a
1.4jobs creation program; limiting certain layoffs; appropriating money;amending
1.5Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 256J.42, by adding a subdivision; 268.035,
1.6subdivisions 4, 21a; 268.07, subdivision 1; 268.085, subdivision 15; 504B.151;
1.7proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 582.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256J.42, is amended by adding a
1.10subdivision to read:
1.11 Subd. 1a. Temporary 60-month time limit extension. For assistance units that
1.12have reached the 60-month time limit under subdivision 1 or assistance units that will
1.13reach the 60-month time limit under subdivision 1 before the sunset of this subdivision,
1.14MFIP benefits are extended to eligible assistance units until the sunset of this subdivision.
1.15This subdivision sunsets July 1, 2011.

1.16 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 268.035, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.17 Subd. 4. Base period. (a) "Base period," unless otherwise provided in this
1.18subdivision, means the last four completed calendar quarters before the effective date of
1.19an applicant's application for unemployment benefits if the application has an effective
1.20date occurring after the month following the last completed calendar quarter. The base
1.21period under this paragraph is as follows:
1.22
1.23
1.24 If the application for unemployment
benefits is effective on or between these
dates: The base period is the prior:
1.25 February 1 - March 31 January 1 - December 31
2.1 May 1 - June 30 April 1 - March 31
2.2 August 1 - September 30 July 1 - June 30
2.3 November 1 - December 31 October 1 - September 30
2.4 (1) (b) If an application for unemployment benefits has an effective date that is
2.5during the month following the last completed calendar quarter, then the base period is
2.6the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the effective date of an
2.7applicant's application for unemployment benefits. The base period under this paragraph
2.8is as set forth below follows:
2.9
2.10
2.11 If the application for unemployment
benefits is effective on or between these
dates: The base period is the prior:
2.12 January 1 - March January 31 October 1 - September 30
2.13 April 1 - June April 30 January 1 - December 31
2.14 July 1 - September 30 July 31 April 1 - March 31
2.15 October 1 - December October 31 July 1 - June 30
2.16 (2) (c) If the applicant has insufficient wage credits to establish a benefit account
2.17under clauses (1) and (3), and paragraph (a) or (b), but during the base period under
2.18clause (1) paragraph (a) or (b) an applicant received workers' compensation for temporary
2.19disability under chapter 176 or a similar federal law or similar law of another state, or
2.20if an applicant whose own serious illness caused a loss of work for which the applicant
2.21received compensation for loss of wages from some other source, the applicant may
2.22request an extended base period as follows:
2.23 (i) (1) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of seven to 13 weeks, the
2.24base period is the first four of the last six completed calendar quarters before the effective
2.25date of the application for unemployment benefits;
2.26 (ii) (2) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 14 to 26 weeks, the
2.27base period is the first four of the last seven completed calendar quarters before the
2.28effective date of the application for unemployment benefits;
2.29 (iii) (3) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 27 to 39 weeks,
2.30the base period is the first four of the last eight completed calendar quarters before the
2.31effective date of the application for unemployment benefits; and
2.32 (iv) (4) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 40 to 52 weeks, the
2.33base period is the first four of the last nine completed calendar quarters before the effective
2.34date of the application for unemployment benefits;.
2.35 (3) if the applicant has insufficient wage credits to establish a benefit account under
2.36clause (1), an alternate base period of the last four completed calendar quarters before the
2.37date the applicant's application for unemployment benefits is effective will be used. This
3.1base period can be used only 30 calendar days or more after the end of the last completed
3.2quarter, when a wage detail report has been, or should have been, filed for that quarter
3.3under section 268.044; and
3.4 (4) (d) No base period under clause (1), (2), or (3) paragraph (a), (b), or (c) may
3.5include wage credits upon which a prior benefit account was established.
3.6(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the base period calculated under paragraph (b)
3.7using the first four of the last five complete calendar quarters before the effective date of
3.8the applicant's application for unemployment benefits must be used for an applicant if the
3.9applicant has more wage credits under that base period than under the base period in
3.10paragraph (a).
3.11EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for applications for unemployment
3.12benefits filed effective on or after July 1, 2009.

3.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 268.035, subdivision 21a, is amended to read:
3.14 Subd. 21a. Reemployment assistance training. (a) An applicant is in
3.15"reemployment assistance training" when:
3.16 (1) a reasonable and opportunity for suitable employment for the applicant does not
3.17exist in the labor market area and it is necessary that the applicant receive additional
3.18training in order to obtain will assist the applicant in obtaining suitable employment;
3.19 (2) the curriculum, facilities, staff, and other essentials are adequate to achieve the
3.20training objective;
3.21 (3) the training is vocational in nature or short term academic training vocationally
3.22directed to an occupation or skill for which there are reasonable that will substantially
3.23enhance the employment opportunities available to the applicant in the applicant's labor
3.24market area;
3.25 (4) the training course is considered full time by the training provider; and
3.26 (5) the applicant is making satisfactory progress in the training.
3.27 (b) Full-time training provided through the dislocated worker program, the Trade
3.28Act of 1974, as amended, or the North American Free Trade Agreement is considered
3.29"reemployment assistance training," if that training course is in accordance with the
3.30requirements of that program.
3.31 (c) Apprenticeship training provided in order to meet the requirements of an
3.32apprenticeship program under chapter 178 is considered "reemployment assistance
3.33training."
3.34(d) An applicant is considered in reemployment assistance training only if the
3.35training course has actually started or is scheduled to start within 30 calendar days.
4.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for determinations and appeal
4.2decisions issued on or after the day following final enactment.

4.3 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 268.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.4 Subdivision 1. Application for unemployment benefits; determination of benefit
4.5account. (a) An application for unemployment benefits may be filed in person, by mail,
4.6or by electronic transmission as the commissioner may require. The applicant must be
4.7unemployed at the time the application is filed and must provide all requested information
4.8in the manner required. The commissioner shall accept a valid individual taxpayer
4.9identification number from an applicant who is applying for benefits. If the applicant is
4.10not unemployed at the time of the application or fails to provide all requested information,
4.11the communication is not considered an application for unemployment benefits.
4.12 (b) The commissioner shall examine each application for unemployment benefits to
4.13determine the base period and the benefit year, and based upon all the covered employment
4.14in the base period the commissioner shall determine the weekly unemployment benefit
4.15amount available, if any, and the maximum amount of unemployment benefits available, if
4.16any. The determination is known as the determination of benefit account. A determination
4.17of benefit account must be sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or
4.18electronic transmission.
4.19 (c) If a base period employer did not provide wage information for the applicant as
4.20provided for in section 268.044, or provided erroneous information, the commissioner
4.21may accept an applicant certification as to wage credits, based upon the applicant's records,
4.22and issue a determination of benefit account.
4.23 (d) The commissioner may, at any time within 24 months from the establishment of
4.24a benefit account, reconsider any determination of benefit account and make an amended
4.25determination if the commissioner finds that the determination was incorrect for any
4.26reason. An amended determination must be promptly sent to the applicant and all base
4.27period employers, by mail or electronic transmission.
4.28 (e) If an amended determination of benefit account reduces the weekly
4.29unemployment benefit amount or maximum amount of unemployment benefits available,
4.30any unemployment benefits that have been paid greater than the applicant was entitled
4.31is considered an overpayment of unemployment benefits. A determination or amended
4.32determination issued under this section that results in an overpayment of unemployment
4.33benefits must set out the amount of the overpayment and the requirement under section
4.34268.18, subdivision 1 , that the overpaid unemployment benefits must be repaid.

5.1 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 268.085, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
5.2 Subd. 15. Available for suitable employment defined. (a) "Available for suitable
5.3employment" means an applicant is ready and willing to accept suitable employment in
5.4the labor market area. The attachment to the work force must be genuine. An applicant
5.5may restrict availability to suitable employment, but there must be no other restrictions,
5.6either self-imposed or created by circumstances, temporary or permanent, that prevent
5.7accepting suitable employment.
5.8(b) Unless the applicant is in reemployment assistance training, to be considered
5.9"available for suitable employment," a student who has regularly scheduled classes must
5.10be willing to quit school discontinue classes to accept suitable employment when:
5.11(1) class attendance restricts the applicant from accepting suitable employment; and
5.12(2) the applicant is unable to change the scheduled class or make other arrangements
5.13that excuse the applicant from attending class.
5.14(c) An applicant who is absent from the labor market area for personal reasons, other
5.15than to search for work, is not "available for suitable employment."
5.16(d) An applicant who has restrictions on the hours of the day or days of the week
5.17that the applicant can or will work, that are not normal for the applicant's usual occupation
5.18or other suitable employment, is not "available for suitable employment." An applicant
5.19must be available for daytime employment, if suitable employment is performed during
5.20the daytime, even though the applicant previously worked the night shift.
5.21(e) An applicant must have transportation throughout the labor market area to be
5.22considered "available for suitable employment."
5.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for determinations and appeal
5.24decisions issued on or after the day following final enactment.

5.25 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 504B.151, is amended to read:
5.26504B.151 RESTRICTION ON RESIDENTIAL LEASE TERMS FOR
5.27BUILDINGS IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS; REQUIRED NOTICE OF PENDING
5.28FORECLOSURE; RIGHTS OF TENANTS OF FORECLOSED PROPERTY.
5.29 Subdivision 1. Limitation on lease and notice to tenant. (a) Once a landlord
5.30has received notice of a contract for deed cancellation under section 559.21 or notice of
5.31a mortgage foreclosure sale under chapter 580 or 582, the landlord may only enter into
5.32(i) a periodic residential lease agreement with a term of not more than two months or
5.33the time remaining in the contract cancellation period or the mortgagor's redemption
6.1period, whichever is less or (ii) a fixed term residential tenancy not extending beyond the
6.2cancellation period or the landlord's period of redemption until:
6.3(1) the contract for deed has been reinstated or paid in full;
6.4(2) the mortgage default has been cured and the mortgage reinstated;
6.5(3) the mortgage has been satisfied;
6.6(4) the property has been redeemed from a foreclosure sale; or
6.7(5) a receiver has been appointed.
6.8(b) Before entering into a lease under this section and accepting any rent or security
6.9deposit from a tenant, the landlord must notify the prospective tenant in writing that the
6.10landlord has received notice of a contract for deed cancellation or notice of a mortgage
6.11foreclosure sale as appropriate, and the date on which the contract cancellation period or
6.12the mortgagor's redemption period ends. The landlord must also inform the prospective
6.13tenant of the tenant's right to continued utility services if the landlord defaults on utility
6.14payments during the foreclosure process.
6.15(c) This section does not apply to a manufactured home park as defined in section
6.16327C.01, subdivision 5 .
6.17 Subd. 2. Exception allowing a longer term lease. This section Subdivision 1
6.18does not apply if:
6.19(1) the holder or the mortgagee agrees not to terminate the tenant's lease other than
6.20for lease violations for at least one year from the commencement of the tenancy; and
6.21(2) the lease does not require the tenant to prepay rent for any month commencing
6.22after the end of the cancellation or redemption period, so that the rent payment would be
6.23due prior to the end of the cancellation or redemption period.
6.24For the purposes of this section, a holder means a contract for deed vendor or a
6.25holder of the sheriff's certificate of sale or any assignee of the contract for deed vendor or
6.26of the holder of the sheriff's certificate of sale.
6.27 Subd. 3. Transfer of tenancy by operation of law. (a) A tenant who enters into a
6.28lease under subdivision 2 is:
6.29(1) deemed by operation of law to become the tenant of the holder immediately upon
6.30the holder succeeding to the interest of the landlord under the lease; and
6.31(2) bound to the holder under all the provisions of the lease for either the balance of
6.32the lease term or for one year after the start of the tenancy, whichever occurs first.
6.33(b) A tenant who becomes the tenant of the holder under this subdivision is not
6.34obligated to pay rent to the holder until the holder mails, by first class mail to the tenant at
6.35the property address, written notice that the holder has succeeded to the interest of the
7.1landlord. A letter from the holder to the tenant to that effect is prima facie evidence that
7.2the holder has succeeded to the interest of the landlord.
7.3 Subd. 4. Holder not bound by certain acts. A holder succeeding to an interest in
7.4a lease lawfully entered into under subdivision 2 is not:
7.5(1) liable for any act or omission of any prior landlord;
7.6(2) subject to any offset or defense which the tenant had against any prior landlord; or
7.7(3) bound by any modification of the lease entered into under subdivision 2, unless
7.8the modification is made with the holder's consent.
7.9 Subd. 5. Rights of tenant of foreclosed property. (a) When a holder takes over a
7.10rental property as the result of a foreclosure:
7.11(1) a tenant is deemed by operation of law to become the tenant of the holder; and
7.12(2) all leases, verbal or written, and all terms and conditions of those agreements
7.13shall be transferred to the holder.
7.14(b) A holder shall:
7.15(1) maintain as rental property, property that was used as rental property by the
7.16landlord;
7.17(2) offer renewal leases to tenants of the foreclosed property; and
7.18(3) keep affordable rent levels in place.
7.19 Subd. 6. Eviction. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a holder must not
7.20begin an eviction action against a tenant without cause.
7.21 Subd. 7. Termination of tenancy. Except for lease violations, a holder must not
7.22terminate the tenancy of a tenant of foreclosed property without cause.
7.23 Subd. 8. Periodic leases. A holder must offer a fixed-term lease option to a tenant
7.24with a periodic lease in place at the time the tenant becomes a tenant of the holder.
7.25 Subd. 9. Applicability. The provisions of subdivisions 5 to 8 apply to all tenants
7.26regardless of when a tenant entered into a rental agreement with the property owner or at
7.27what stage the foreclosure process was in when the rental agreement was entered.

7.28 Sec. 7. [582.33] FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM.
7.29 Subdivision 1. Emergency declared to exist. The legislature of the state of
7.30Minnesota declares that a public economic emergency exists in the state of Minnesota
7.31due to the increase in foreclosure rates. The legislature declares that these conditions
7.32have created a housing emergency that justifies legislation creating a moratorium on
7.33mortgage foreclosures.
7.34 Subd. 2. Court stay. In an action to foreclose a mortgage upon residential property
7.35under chapter 580 or 581, in which a judgment of foreclosure has not been entered by the
8.1effective date of this section, the district court having jurisdiction over the matter, upon
8.2motion of a defendant, shall order the action stayed for two years after the entry of the
8.3stay. The court may order that certain conditions relating to the property are met during
8.4the stay, including, but not limited to, possession of the property, payments by the person
8.5in possession, and preservation of the property.
8.6 Subd. 3. Application. This section applies only to mortgages executed before
8.7the effective date of this section.
8.8EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

8.9 Sec. 8. SPECIAL STATE EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
8.10PROGRAM.
8.11 Subdivision 1. Purpose. Federal law currently provides for a federally funded
8.12extension of unemployment insurance benefits for applicants who have exhausted
8.13entitlement to regular Minnesota unemployment insurance benefits. But, because federal
8.14law contains a special requirement that an applicant has earned a certain amount of base
8.15period insured wages, a significant group of applicants who exhausted their regular
8.16Minnesota unemployment insurance benefits do not qualify for the federally funded
8.17extension. The purpose of this section is to provide a state-funded extension to that group.
8.18 Subd. 2. Eligibility. (a) Special state emergency unemployment insurance benefits
8.19are payable to an applicant who does not qualify for a federally funded extension
8.20of unemployment insurance benefits solely because the applicant does not meet the
8.21requirement under section 4001(d)(2)(a) of the federal Supplemental Appropriations
8.22Act of 2008 that an applicant have wage credits of not less than 40 times the applicant's
8.23weekly benefit amount.
8.24(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), all requirements for federally funded
8.25extended unemployment benefits and all requirements of Minnesota Statutes, chapter
8.26268, must be met in order for the applicant to be eligible for special state emergency
8.27unemployment insurance benefits.
8.28(c) Special state emergency unemployment insurance benefits are payable in the
8.29same amounts, the same duration, and for the same time period as provided for under the
8.30federal Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, and any later amendments, but shall
8.31be no less than 13 times the applicant's weekly special state emergency unemployment
8.32insurance benefit amount.
8.33 Subd. 3. Payment from trust fund. Special state emergency unemployment
8.34insurance benefits are payable from the Minnesota unemployment insurance trust fund.
8.35Special state emergency unemployment insurance benefits will not be used in computing
9.1the future unemployment insurance tax rate of a taxpaying employer nor will they be
9.2charged to the reimbursing account of government or nonprofit employers.
9.3 Subd. 4. Expiration. This section expires on June 30, 2010, and no benefits shall be
9.4paid under this section for a week beginning after that date.
9.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the Sunday following final enactment
9.6and applies only to weeks of unemployment after that date.

9.7 Sec. 9. JOBS CREATION GRANT PROGRAM.
9.8 Subdivision 1. Establishment. The commissioner of employment and economic
9.9development shall develop and implement a jobs creation grant program to make grants
9.10available to cities and towns for public and private projects that will generate new jobs
9.11and produce a stronger state economy.
9.12 Subd. 2. Fund distribution. In distributing funds, the commissioner shall give
9.13priority consideration to projects that are available to begin immediately and to projects
9.14that promote environmental sustainability and a green economy.
9.15 Subd. 3. Funding. To the extent that the commissioner receives funds for this
9.16purpose in fiscal year 2009, funding for the jobs creation grant program shall be done
9.17through federal stimulus dollars. If federal stimulus dollars are not available, funds shall
9.18come from state sources.
9.19 Subd. 4. Appropriation. $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the
9.20commissioner of employment and economic development to develop and implement
9.21a jobs creation grant program. This appropriation is only available if federal stimulus
9.22dollars are not available. This appropriation is available until expended.
9.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

9.24 Sec. 10. STATE EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS.
9.25For the 2010 and 2011 biennium, in order to prevent increased unemployment and to
9.26protect jobs, the legislature shall not mandate layoffs of state employees, including, but
9.27not limited to, employees of the University of Minnesota.
9.28EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Please direct all comments concerning issues or legislation
to your House Member or State Senator.
For Legislative Staff or for directions to the Capitol, visit the Contact Us page.
General questions or comments.
last updated: 01/30/2009

Again, thanking you for having the moral and political courage in standing up and fighting for the rights and livelihoods of Minnesota's working class, and for having the common sense and intelligence to know that we cannot spend our way out of this economic crisis; rather, understanding and explaining that for working people and the working class the way out of this crisis, and the way to a better future, will be found in working our way out of this crisis.

In full support of your leadership in bringing forward The People's Bailout--- Senate File 542...

For a living wage job, justice and equality along with a voice at work for each and every worker in Minnesota...

On behalf of Minnesota's 30,000 workers in the Indian Gaming Industry organizing and struggling to survive while employed in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages, without any rights under state or federal labor laws...

Sincerely,

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

Posted by Alan L. Maki at 9:09 PM

Working people are being robbed in this country

2009-02-01T14:52:00.002-06:00

As a single mom I think I notice some things more than a lot of people do about how crooked the entire system has become.

I went grocery shopping last night.

First I went to Cub's.

I bought a package of pork chops. The two chops on top looked really nice. I get them home thinking I will make the kids a nice dinner.

I open the package and the four chops under the top two were nothing but fat and bone.

I bought a 10 lb bag of spuds figuring I would make mashed potatoes. I started peeling the spuds and they had nothing but rotten spots. I figure I will be lucky to get 5 lbs of spuds that are usable from the 10 lb bag.

After dinner I looked at my receipt. I had about three dollars worth of coupons. 25 cents for this. 50 cents for that. I am looking at my receipt and wonder what went on on. Come to find out the check out guy added the amount of coupons to my total instead of subtracting the coupons.

I figure I lost around $14.00 just between the worthless pork chops, rotten spuds and being cheated on my coupons.

I figure I spent another $4.00 for gas driving back and forth to the store again.

Now I have $18.00 I lost.

I took the receipt back to the store along with all the rotten spots I cut out of the spuds and told them about the pork chops.

The woman at customer service treated me like I was some kind of crook for asking for my $6.00 back from the coupons. She only wanted to give me $3.00 back. I had to insist on talking to the manager to explain that $3.00 was added to my bill when $3.00 should have been taken off. After wasting almost half an hour trying to explain why I was entitled to $6.00 back instead of just $3.00 the manager finally understood.

When I showed him all the rotten spots I had to cut out of a few spuds he said, "Look here we don't grow the things we sell them. I'm not refunding you any money for the potatoes."

I then explained about the pork chops. I told him I thought they must set all the bad stuff aside and stick a couple in each package when they wrap it. He assured me Cub's would never do such a thing.

By this time over an hour went by.

The manager said if I wasn't happy with the pork chops I should have returned them for replacement or refund.

At this point I told him I wanted to purchase three more packages of pork chops and I wanted him to pick out the packages. He went and got me three packages of pork chops. They were supposed to be center cut loin chops.

I thanked him for bringing the packages. I started unwrapping the packages.

He asked me what I was doing.

I asked him if all the chops were supposed to look like the top two. He assured me they were all the same and told me there was no need for me to unwrap them.

I unwrapped them anyways.

Each package of chops was the same as the first. Two good chops on top. Four bad ones underneath.

I told him I wanted to talk to the manager of the meat department.

He called the meat department manager.

I asked him if the bad chops were what he considered center cut loin chops. He said they were more like pork steak. I asked him why there were pork steaks mixed in with pork chops that are more than $2.00 a lb more than pork steak. He said he is told to package the meat this way. I asked him who told him to package meat this way. He wouldn't answer me.

I didn't believe what happened next.

I told the manager just to give me my six dollars back from the coupons.

He asked me what I was going to do with the three packs of chops.

I told him to take them home for his family.

He said that I couldn't come into the store and just tear open three packages of pork chops and leave them. I told him they weren't pork chops they were pork steaks.

Go figure. If every Cub's store does this with pork chops this is plain old robbery.

If I got cheated out of my coupons, bought rotten spuds and purchased pork chops but got pork steaks how many other people does this happen to?

After I got done shopping at Cub's I went to Super Valu. I had 9 coupons to use there. 3 of the coupons were never deducted.

Then when I looked at the receipt better I saw that 6 of the 8 sale items I purchased I got charged the regular price. I asked the manager to get these items off the shelf and run them through the scanner again. Same thing. Regular price. This was on the 5th day of the sale. Every single one of these items they sold people paid more than they thought they were paying because the manager told me that no one else complained or the proper sale prices would have been in the system.

I have talked to some of my friends and they all tell me they have had similar problems.

Shoplifters get arrested. What happens to these stores that cheat the customers? Apparently nothing.

This isn't a big issue when compared to people getting killed in Gaza. It is an issue to me. I work long hours and make $12.35 an hour. Not even a living wage. I can barely cover the bills. On top of that I get cheated buying groceries. We are all being cheated.

Rita

Remembering the Red Finns and Utah Phillips

2009-01-31T23:39:00.001-06:00

Alan Maki has done it again. This time he has taken on the Zionists.

2009-01-31T09:41:00.004-06:00

No wonder so many people have started attacking Alan Maki. He has stated a truth so many people want to hide.

I copied this comment Alan Maki made in a posting on a social networking site called Palestinian Mothers:

http://palestinian.ning.com/

Alan posted this comment in response to a discussion he started in support of what Jimmy Carter said in an interview on National Public Radio. You can read or listen to Carter's interview here before reading Alan's comment:

Jimmy Carter: 'Start Early' For Peace In Mideast

I hope by posting this to my blog this will receive more discussion.

Rita

I don't think Obama or George Mitchell are going to take Carter's position seriously. In order to take Cater's position seriously it would mean that Obama and Mitchell will have to confront the bigotry that Zionism is... I wrote something in a post to a small e-mail list discussing Carter's appearance on Public Television and his statement concerning the use of the phrase "Disaster for Israel," and I am going to post it here, too... something for discussion:

In my opinion Israel is going to end up with a Palestinian/Arab majority no matter if there is a two-state solution or not. As Jimmy Carter says, ethnic cleansing is the only other “solution.”

I think Jimmy Carter is talking to the Zionists in saying that a one-state solution would be a “disaster” for Israel… he is giving them due warning. Notice Carter doesn’t say who this would be a disaster for. Perhaps he does in his book, I haven’t had the chance to read it. I think the assumption is that this “disaster” statement is aimed directly at the Zionists and I am sure these Zionists know this.

There is no way to get the Palestinians and Arabs out of Israel… this is their home… this is the bottom line.

Plus, what no one seems to want to acknowledge is that there are now thousands upon thousands of Palestinian/Jewish and Arab/Jewish families living in Israel.

If Jews and Palestinians and Jews and Arabs can sleep together they certainly can live in peace no matter if there is one state or two states or some kind of United States of the Middle East.

The only obstacle to peace is the Zionists who are filled with hate.

So, no matter single-state, two-state or some kind of multi-state solution, the Zionists are going to have to learn to live in peace without their superior attitudes towards everyone else… or, they might want to think about establishing their Zionist State in Miami Beach because sooner or later they are going to be driven out of Israel.

I think we all need to be clear on what the Zionists are talking about here… it is like the Ku Klux Klan demanding a “White State” here in the United States.

The Zionists, like all other bigots, won’t own up to their bigotry so they complicate this problem by making everyone think that what they want Israel to be is some kind of sovereign Jewish State, while refusing to tell people what they are really after is a Zionist State where they want to push the Palestinians and Arabs out… they don’t want to say this either because it exposes them for the bigots they are.

Any person of partial Jewish heritage who comes from a “mixed marriage” understands the bigotry and sheer meanness of the Zionists.

For political reasons, and maybe for his own personal safety, Jimmy Carter is very careful how he places this question… having to “finesse” in the kind of discussion we have about this issue doesn’t help matters either… In my opinion, we should stop trying to evade the real issue here… if we were talking about the racism of the KKK in attacking a black family moving into a “white neighborhood” we wouldn’t be concerned about offending these people running around with white sheets over their heads… we would be concerned for the black family needing protection. Well, the situation is the same in Israel… talk to any Palestinian/Jewish family and you will soon learn of the hateful way they are treated by these Zionist bigots.

I once asked a Rabbi friend of mine why he didn’t speak out against the evils of Zionism since he knew Zionism was a form of bigotry… and just the thought of him even considering taking this step got him upset… so upset you could see the fear in his face and hear the fright in his voice.

I have seen the same kind of fear in people around me while living in Virginia when I was at a party in a little community called Tappahannock, Virginia and I asked the people hosting the party, “Why the heck do you have a big picture of that racist, bigot Robert E. Lee hanging on your wall?” I could tell lots of people there were thinking the same thing but it was like: wow, how did he dare say that… what’s going to happen to him now?

Bigots are bigots, and once you allow them to go unchallenged you are in for big, big trouble… they then run the entire show… and we saw what kind of show they can put on with their three week long pogrom in Gaza.

These Zionist bigots have gone unchallenged for sixty years now in Israel… Jews like Albert Einstein insisted that Israel should be a place for Jews to live in peace with their Palestinian and Arab neighbors and he didn’t mean neighbors in another country (even though he supported a two-state solution); he was talking about the neighbors living in the house next door, and Jewish/Palestinian husbands and wives sleeping in the same beds… to this day Einstein is hated by the Zionists who want to claim him for his mastery of physics while wiping out any memory of his militant stance against Zionism and all forms of racist bigotry… try to find any school kid in any school in America who knows that Albert Einstein was in his day known as much for his very public stands against bigotry in any form or that he intentionally chose to help integrate his own neighborhood as well as for E=MCsquared and I would bet you would have to travel for months to find even a college student who would know this about Einstein… all because the Zionist bigots have bullied and coerced Einstein to be portrayed as they would have hoped him to have been rather than as he was. This demonstrates not only the power of hate… but what happens when this hate goes unchallenged… everything gets perverted and sets the stage for just what we saw happen with the Zionist killing spree of Palestinians in Gaza.

It is too bad we don’t have a courageous, well known public figure of the stature of Einstein to take these Zionists on… perhaps the moment and the injustice will push such a public figure forward.

Maybe if Jimmy Carter hooks up with Tony Benn in England concerning the problems of the Middle East we might get two such public figures.

I hear the argument that “not all Zionists are bigots.”

This simply isn’t true… its like saying there is a difference between someone running around with a white sheet over their head and someone else who drives down the road and has a bumper sticker with a Confederate flag saying “If we knew what was going to happen we would have picked our own cotton.” Neither one will admit to bigotry… the one with the bumper sticker will tell you I’m no KKK’er.

Zionism is the ideology of hate and as long as these people are calling the shots in Israel there will be never be a solution to this mess. Hang a couple of them for crimes against humanity for what they did in Gaza and you might shut the rest of these bigots up long enough to get a solution with reasonable people involved in the decision-making process.

We have seen in our own country how a few bigots can drag entire communities into campaigns of hate over housing integration and the desegregation of the schools… just think what it would be like if a George Wallace was the president of the United States egging these bigots on… that is what they have in Israel where intentionally mis-educated people and uneducated people are being mis-led by very clever and intentionally deceitful leaders.

If you had it drummed into you day in and day out that your nationality, religion, ethnicity or race made you better than other people you would likely be the same way… and there are now three generations of Israelis who have intentionally been taught that they are better than everyone else… especially better than Palestinians and Arabs… these people think they are normal… they think they are killing Palestinians because they are doing good. To have these bigoted Zionists tell the story they are saving the entire world by killing Palestinian children and their mothers… all the men are naturally “terrorists.”

I think Jimmy Carter has analyzed the situation pretty well but he is looking for a way to say what is really on his mind.

As long as he continues to challenge the effects of Zionism he is doing more than most people and he should be encouraged to continue speaking out very vigorously as he is doing; the main thing with Carter is that he doesn’t allow himself to go backwards… he should get lots of encouragement and suggestions from people so he mulls this entire situation over real good in a way where he feels comfortable moving forward… Carter going forward slow is better than going backwards… plus, unlike most politicians in this country Carter appears to be genuinely honest and sincere; hopefully lots of people will pick up on this.

I post this for discussion and would like to get your thoughts.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Alan Maki responds to an e-mail from Brian Melendez MNDFL head

2009-01-25T17:17:00.003-06:00

I guess it just goes to show you that our elected officials and those supporting them don't care about anything. Just being elected, enjoying their high title, and doing nothing, except being rich, lazy bastards. It makes me sick!!

These people running the Democratic Party make me have to puke.

I have received similar letters and phone calls from Democratic Party officials.

I got an e-mail from several of these DFL honchos demanding I remove their names and e-mail addresses from my blog telling me they have had too many people writing them. Who do these people think they are?

All the problems we have in Minnesota and these Democrats have't made an attempt to solve a single problem us poor people are experiencing.

I am glad Alan Maki made this letter public. Maybe if more people would do this we could hold these Democrats to something for a change.

Rita

Thursday, January 22, 2009

An e-mail from Brian Melendez the head of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

Mr. Melendez who is the head of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party sent me this e-mail:

Mr. Maki,

Enough already.

Give Gaza a rest. Just let us enjoy our victory in electing Barack Obama.

You take up a cause and you try to push that cause down our throats. What don't you understand? We don't care about your diatribes about Gaza.

You started out demanding justice for casino workers claiming a little smoke is harmful to their health. Let them get another job if they don't like the opportunity we have given them. With you it is always demanding. Your list of demands is never ending.

You started with your casino workers. From there you went to demanding single-payer health care and this has turned into your demand for socialized health care because we didn't give you and your casino workers single-payer as soon as you demanded it.

You harp endlessly about Iraq.

Now you have taken up the cause of Palestinians and you are bashing our best friend and ally, Israel.

No, you aren't satisfied with taking up one of your issues at a time. Now you put them all together like they are related in some way and shove then all down our throats.

We are getting fed up with you. We have a big tent. Apparently our tent is not big enough for you and all your causes. Please pack up your tent and move elsewhere. Might I suggest you take your tent to Gaza.

Just leave us alone and give President Obama a chance.

Brian Melendez, Chair, MNDFL

My response:

Mr. Melendez,

Too many "causes” for you, eh?

Well, how many different promises does the Democratic Party make to voters to get elected, which you conveniently ignore once elected.

For your information, all the "causes" I am involved in are related. These problems, you call them "causes," all stem from this rotten capitalist system.

Might I suggest that you move on... perhaps find yourself a job working in one of your beloved smoke-filled casinos.

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Gaza: Crimes against humanity

2009-01-20T21:59:00.002-06:00

Israel has commit crimes against humanity. Its leaders should be brought to trial. Anyone can see the crimes against humanity carried out in Gaza against the Palestinian people. The members of the U.S. House and Senate enabled Israel to carry out these crimes against humanity.

Rita

A Glowing Dream: A Memoir

2009-01-12T17:34:00.002-06:00

This is one book I intend to read. I got in a bit of hotwater the last time I commented on a book Alan Maki suggested reading. That book was by writer Frank Marshall Davis.

This review and comments by Alan Maki led me to call my local library to see if they could get me A Glowing Dream: A Memoir.

I can't afford to purchase many books these days but if I have to buy this one I will.

Rita

Monday, January 12, 2009

North Winnipeg’s Seal of Identity

http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2009/01/07/2292/

North Winnipeg’s Seal of Identity

Leo Panitch

Canadian Dimension magazine, January/February 2009

A Glowing Dream: A Memoir

by Roland Penner

J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing, 2007

“The place of childhood provides the seal of identity.” This epigram opens the first chapter of Roland Penner’s memoir, “Growing Up ‘Red’ in Winnipeg’s North End.” It holds true even for those of us who grew up only “pink” — i.e. whose parents were CCFers rather than Communists, and who as a result never set foot in the Ukrainian Labour Temple at Pritchard and McGregor. Just how much Winnipeg’s working-class political culture sealed our identities was brought home to me last year when I sent my brother an article that touched on the strike at the Hurtig Fur Company in the early 1930s — during the course of which my father, while on the picket line, had his head split open by a scab. My brother, who was born in 1934, responded: “You know, when I was a little boy I used to get confused about whether the really bad guy’s name was Hurtig or Hitler.”

To be sure, the industrial side of Winnipeg’s history of class conflict makes very little appearance in this memoir — apart from a few sentences that recall Roland standing as a teenager “on the bald prairie with the temperature at about wind chill -50°F, handing out union leaflets” as part of an organizing drive at a plant on the outskirts of Transcona. This is hardly surprising, since the Penner family was preeminent for its involvement on the political side of the labour movement — so much so that on one memorable May Day, after some five thousand paraded along Portage Avenue and Main Street to end up at Market Square in front of the old City Hall, the three speakers who addressed them were Penner’s politically passionate and fiery mother, Rose; his eleven-year-old “child orator” brother, Norman; and, of course, his venerable father, Jacob, the famous Communist alderman for Ward Three. (Jacob Penner was “almost always dressed in a conservatively cut three-piece wool suit, a shirt with a stiff celluloid collar, a firmly knotted woolen tie, a carefully blocked and immaculately clean fedora, and sometimes, over his shoes, spats.”)

The story told here of the Penner family is a fascinating one, from its origins among downwardly mobile Mennonite ancestors who once owned an estate on the west bank of the Dniepr River to Jacob’s “form of marriage without clergy” to a Jewish orphan from Odessa, Rose Shapak. One of the most revealing aspects of north Winnipeg’s ethnic culture is uncovered here, as Jacob the Red, before his election as alderman in 1934 at the age of 54, moves from job to job for some two decades, including as a candy salesman with the help of Rose’s connection to the well-off Galpern family. Just as class conflict tore the Jewish community apart in a strike like the one at Hurtig’s, so did family ties often transcend the sharpest of differences in the class politics of Winnipeg’s North End.

The family anecdotes in this book are so profuse that many of the best are found in the footnotes. One of Rose’s nephews goes to the U.S.S.R. in 1933 and gets swept away five years later in Stalin’s murder machine. One of Jake’s brothers-in-law returns home after a visit to Germany in 1936, and becomes a supporter of the Winnipeg Nazi Party. Shortly after Jake is sent off to an internment camp as a Communist in 1940, sixteen-year-old Roland and his twin sister Ruthie are home alone listening to “Saturday Afternoon at the Met” (while Rose is in Ottawa heading up a delegation of wives petitioning for improvements in the camp’s conditions), and the RCMP come barging in waving a search warrant. As one Mountie moves to turn off the radio, Ruthie screams at him: “In this house no one turns off the opera!”

Indeed, so plentiful are Penner’s family anecdotes that one terrific example, which he told when Norman was honoured at a banquet at the University of Manitoba some two decades ago, is left out of this book. As I recall it (and have often retold it), when Norman marched into the principal’s office of his grade school to complain that the phys-ed instructor was picking on him because he was a Communist, the principal sternly and accusingly said (so everyone in the outer office could hear): “You’re a Communist?!” And then, after closing the door, he whispered, “So am I.”

Penner’s admiration for his parents’ Communist politics is palpable, and he explicitly contrasts this with the way other “red diaper babies” like Jim Laxer and Stan Gray have written disparagingly of their parents’ politics. Quoting Laxer to the effect that truth was “a very slippery commodity” in his home, Roland proudly writes: “That was not our experience…. We asked many questions and Dad and our mother told us what they sincerely believed to be true.” His father remains his “primary inspiration” — a man who “fought for the rights of others at great cost to himself” — and this is why his parents commitment to the “Glowing Dream” forms the title of his memoir. Yet, one might have wished that Roland had offered a more sober reflection on his father’s generation of Canadian Communists, not only with regard to what they knew or didn’t know about Stalin’s crimes in the U.S.S.R. or to the limitations of “democratic centralist” life inside the party, but also to the reformist strategy it pursued in the public arena.

Thus, we learn that Jacob Penner left the Socialist Party of Canada in 1911 because he felt it was too oriented toward raising class consciousness through Marxist education alone. He devoted himself to a life of “unceasing struggle for [the] daily needs and pressing problems” of working people in the belief that this practical activity would raise their consciousness as “the essential feature in the development of a socialist revolution.” Yet, when he died in 1965, aged 85 (having only retired as alderman three years earlier), the Winnipeg Free Press made a point of saying that he was a “political curiosity” who drew much of his support from people “who cared nothing for politics but who admired his efficiency and ability and who believed that he worked for the underdog.” Penner quotes this approvingly, without raising the question of how far this achievement nevertheless stood from the development of the class consciousness needed for supporting socialist revolution, which had been Jake’s original purpose. Would more attention to creative Marxist education have produced a better result? This memoir doesn’t go there, perhaps because Roland, from the time of his own engagement in student politics at the University of Manitoba in the late 1940s, adopted a stance “quite in keeping with my father’s approach to political activity on an issue-by-issue basis.” This approach did not mean that he often lost his bearings on the Left of the political spectrum — far from it. But as the main part of the memoir turns to cover Roland’s own adult political life, this “issue-by-issue” approach is visible all along the way: from his slow drift away from the CP (rather than exiting in flames as his brother did in 1957); to his joining Joe Zuken’s law firm; to his foundational role in the establishment of legal aid in Manitoba; to his almost happenstance decision to join the NDP; to what he calls his “life in government” as attorney general of Manitoba.

The limits of this approach came to a head with his role in the Meech Lake Accord, which he still sees as “a reasonable compromise” on the grounds that, while he agrees with those critics who said that “the separatists would always ask for more,” if the Accord had passed it would have ensured that “their call to break up the country [would have] fallen on less fertile ground.” This is pretty conventional stuff. He reserves his real ire, moreover, for the left critics of the Accord, especially those “many women … influenced by flamboyant statements … by Judy Rebick and the National Action Committee,” who saw the deal as concocted by “men in suits” with the aim of using Quebec’s recognition as a distinct society to override the Charter’s equality provisions (“This is, in my view, nonsense.”) and undermine federal social programs (the likelihood of which he sees as “essentially nil”).

Penner’s decision to side with the pragmatic men in suits against the socialist feminists during the Meech Lake controversy in 1987 was presaged by the controversy over the stand he took in 1983 over the newly opened Morgentaler abortion clinic in Winnipeg. In justifying why as attorney general he could not “authorize a blanket stay of proceedings” with respect to criminal charges against Morgentaler, Penner clearly sees himself as properly following the advice Justice Samuel Freedman gave him when he invited Penner to lunch after his appointment: the Attorney General “must not be political.” But if Penner now admits that his Morgentaler moment “still comes back to haunt me from time to time,” this may be because he knows very well (as he puts it in the memoir in relation to his discussion of the task force on legal aid in the 1970s) that “the legal system itself is so much the product of the establishment it serves that it cannot be turned into the front line for law reform and even more obviously for social transformation.” It most certainly can’t if attorneys general act as if their roles are non-political.

It is impossible to do full justice to Penner’s memoir without going even further over the word limit CD’s editors have allotted me. Suffice to say that this review touches upon only a few aspects of the rich and varied life recounted in this book. I especially enjoyed making the connection between Penner’s many entrepreneurial activities during his Communist boyhood in the 1930s with his “life as an impressario,” when he ran the Co-op Bookstore in the late 1950s and was responsible for bringing Pete Seeger and Odetta, among many others, to sing before Winnipeg audiences.

For me, at least, this enjoyable read was enhanced by being able to catch Penner out on such errors as telling us that Lenin “famously said that communism equals socialism plus electric power” (he actually said “soviets and electric power”). Or the misnumbering of the Chapter Two endnotes, so that the citation for the homage Penner pays to the great Fritz Hansen, the American running back who led the Blue Bombers to their first Grey Cup in 1935, amusingly offers sources to the On to Ottawa Trek of that year. The only unfortunate result of this misnumbering is that we never learn who actually coined that wise phrase: “The place of childhood provides the seal of identity.”

This article was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 and is filed under Canadian Dimension Magazine, Reviews.

Responses to “North Winnipeg’s Seal of Identity”

Comment by Alan L. Maki, writing from United States on January 12th, 2009 at 9:46 am:

Leo Panitch’s review of “A Glowing Dream: A Memoir” itself is food for thought, dialogue, discussion and debate as much as is Roland Penner’s excellent book, which I would strongly recommend to every worker to read and study.

Panitch finds problems with Jacob Penner’s approach towards politics and assumes that Marxist education was not simultaneously taking place with the excellent work Jacob Penner did in serving working people on the Winnipeg City Council.

Having personally known many of those in Jacob Penner’s Communist Party circle, I know that this contention simply is not accurate.

And I believe that where Panitch is inaccurate here is the very crux of what is missing in working class struggles in Canada and the United States today, which is holding back the struggle of the working class for real power: social, political and economic; the struggle for socialism— the only alternative to this failed capitalist system.

What Panitch fails to understand is the way the Communist Party works in a collective way… while Panitch’s contention that Jacob Penner paid too little attention to Marxist education of the working class— a very dubious contention at best seeing as how Jacob Penner was the longest serving Communist elected public official in Canada, and perhaps the world— it is hard to believe that Panitch’s assessment is accurate that there was a lack of socialist/Marxist education taking place. How a Communist repeatedly gets elected and re-elected when there is a powerful corrupt web of capitalism spun all around him creating such a hostile environment would then have to be explained… an explanation Leo Panitch never broaches… not everything he hasn’t broached can be explained away as not being provided more space by Canadian Dimension since Panitch has had ample opportunity to do this elsewhere; and he has not.

Panitch forgets, or intentionally omits, the role of the Communist Party Club. Jacob Penner always “had his back covered” by a very powerful Communist movement consisting of very important Communist Party clubs in Manitoba which were more than a little responsible for his repeated re-election campaigns because of the “collective” way these Communist Party clubs operate as the “think-tanks” and “action centers” of the working class and people’s movements constantly stressing that all the various movements for democracy, peace, social and economic justice and for socialism need to work together in unity.

I have noticed that failure to understand the all-important role of Communist parties by Panitch in many of his other writings, too; which boils down to not understanding the very important and significant role these Communist Party Clubs play in winning the day to day struggles working people are constantly embroiled in as a matter to survive the obstacles and problems created by a capitalist social, economic and political system.

Like in this current book review, Panitch even writes about the Communist Manifest but fails to understand that Marx and Engels in writing this brief pamphlet did so with the intent of encouraging workers to build Communist Parties to advance their demands for reforms AND winning social, economic and political power.

There is all kinds of ample evidence that Jacob Penner and his comrades and friends understood very well “What needs to be done?” And they did what needed to be done— on all fronts, from education to activism.

The real questions Leo Panitch might want to ponder is why Jacob Penner and the Communist Party in Winnipeg did so well while in most other places in North America the working class movement did not fare as well?

A big part of the answer to this question lies in attacks on the Communist Party by the government (which Jacob Penner and the Winnipeg Communists and their friends and allies so successfully fought back) and the attacks on the Communist Party from the right and ultra-left in the working class movement (again, attacks which Jacob Penner and the Winnipeg communists struggled against so successfully).

And Joe Zuken’s campaigns successfully built on all of this.

How and why this powerful Communist movement in Winnipeg lost momentum and suffered losses should be the topic of a forum with the proceedings published in another book… it would be very interesting to see if Leo Panitch’s ideas as to his “critique” (or not so thinly veiled attack on the role and objectives of Communist Parties) hold any water when placed side-by-side with the Communist perspective in all of this.

I really think we need to be asking what has held back the working class movements from achieving what Jacob Penner and his comrades and friends achieved not finding excuses to write them off because in these troubled times, there is not only a Canadian dimension to what these working class Communist Party activists achieved, there is something for all working class activists from throughout North America and the rest of the world to learn from… I find it rather ironic that many people who adhere and cling to Leo Panitch’s perspective regarding the Soviet Union and other socialist countries who found their own way to power and to hold on to that power which they so despise, now like to take cheap pot shots at the very man and the Communist Party he was a member of which climbed towards working class power so successfully in the electoral arena.

Which, also, begs the question: If Canada and the U.S.A. were the bastions of democracy capitalist politicians claim them to be; why then has the policy towards allowing Communists to freely participate in the political lives of these two countries been so restricted— and, I think I am being very charitable in using the term “restricted” when political suppression and repression are more appropriate.

If Leo Panitch would like to participate in an organized dialogue on this question concerning the legacy of the role of the Communist Party clubs I would be happy to participate, too.

Jacob Penner and Winnipeg Communists are not the only example of the success of Communist Party Clubs and how they combined electoral work with other facets of class struggle work— merely the best; an example which many working class activists today have a right to know about… just as working class activists today have a right to know about how Communists like Lyle Dotzert led the struggle to organize Ford in Windsor and his comrades like Phil Raymond, Nadia Barkan, Bob Travis, Bud Simons and Wyndham Mortimer across the river— south of the border— led the struggles to organize the Big Three and then elected the legendary working class activist and leader Coleman Young to public office… in order to know and understand this aspect of the working class struggle and history might make the difference as to whether the working class wins or loses the looming class conflict ahead.

The working class made numerous advances with Communist Parties in the lead… an historic fact that no amount of twisting and misinformation can erase— obscure, yes— but not erase because history as what it is.

Communists have made plenty of mistakes just like anyone else; but, the so-called errors attributed to us here simply are not correct.

There is this “movement” on the part of a section of the North American left which seeks to want to put everything from 20th Century Communism and socialism behind us as if it was all misguided and bad when nothing could be further from the truth.

Roland Penner’s excellent book provides us with aspects of working class history some people would rather just forget… just like they would like to forget Jacob Penner, Lyle Dotzert, Phil Raymond, Nadia Barkan (in Nadia’s case, the “historians” even give her the wrong name!)… but, forgetting primary aspects of history is not the same as these struggles and their leaders— with the Communist Parties at the forefront— being forgotten… or intentionally maligned as Leo Panitch does, and continues doing.

Recently Howard Zinn engaged in similar distortion on Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” when he stated:

“No, I was really gratified when Obama called for “Let’s tax the rich more, and let’s tax the poor and middle class less.” And they said, “That’s socialism.” And I thought, “Whoa! I’m happy to hear that. Finally, socialism is getting a good name.” You know, socialism has been given bad names, you know, Stalin and all those socialists, so-called socialists. They weren’t really socialist, but, you know, they called themselves socialist. But they weren’t really, you see. And so, socialism got a bad name. It used to have a really good name. Here in the United States, the beginning of the twentieth century, before there was a Soviet Union to spoil it, you see, socialism had a good name. Millions of people in the United States read socialist newspapers. They elected socialist members of Congress and socialist members of state legislatures. You know, there were like fourteen socialist chapters in Oklahoma. Really. I mean, you know, socialism—who stood for socialism? Eugene Debs, Helen Keller, Emma Goldman, Clarence Darrow, Jack London, Upton Sinclair. Yeah, socialism had a good name. It needs to be restored.”

Well Zinn— the great historian— apparently never heard of Jacob Penner, Willian Z. Foster, Paul Robeson Lyle Dotzert, Wyndham Mortimer, Phil Raymond or Nadia Barkan.

And Sam Webb, the revisionist “leader” of the CPUSA goes even further than Panitch or Zinn in saying he wants nothing at all to do with 20th Century socialism.

I find it very strange that all these attacks of a similar nature come at a time when the working class needs stronger Communist Parties than ever before… and slanting history to suit one’s own biased perspectives will not aid in building a winning working class fight-back as this rotten capitalist system collapses by the day from the time the bell rings on Wall Street until another plant is shut down, both throwing workers out into the streets as if they are merely disposable items like baby diapers.

Alan L. Maki
Secretary/Treasurer
Minnesota/Dakotas District, CPUSA

Alan L. Maki

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Warroad, Minnesota 56763

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E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

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