Leading figure in Democratic Party brings to light the abuse of casino workers in the Indian Gaming Industry

-----Original Message-----

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

Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:06 AM

To: 'marc@asch.org'

Cc: 'Jim Hart'; 'shove001@tc.umn.edu'; 'Gordon, Cam A.'; 'farheen@farheenhakeem.org'; 'info@jamesmayer.org'; 'rep.al.juhnke@house.mn'; 'rep.bill.hilty@house.mn'; 'rep.brita.sailer@house.mn'; 'rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn'; 'rep.dave.olin@house.mn'; 'rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn'; 'rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn'; 'rep.tom.Rukavina@house.mn'; 'rep.tony.sertich@house.mn'; 'Carl Levin'; 'Sen.Jim Carlson'; 'sen.mary.olson@senate.mn'; 'sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn'; 'john mccarthy'; 'brian.melendez@usa.net'; 'charleyunderwood@hotmail.com'; 'Alan Uhl'; 'ddepass@startribune.com'; 'Randy Furst'; 'bswenson@bemidjipioneer.com'; 'mmiron@bemidjipioneer.com'; 'laurel1@dailyjournal-ifalls.com'; 'Working_Class_Study_and_Action@yahoogroups.com'; 'mzweig@notes.cc.sunysb.edu'; 'joel@joelclemmer.org'; 'amistad.nai@rcn.com'

Subject: For once you, a Democrat, have mentioned workers rights denied in the Indian Gaming Industry...

Mr. Asch,

Thank you!!!!!!!!

Now the question is:

What steps will the Democratic Party take to resolve this problem of worker’s rights… or, are you bringing in the issue of worker’s rights only as leverage for Democrats to re-open these disgraceful, unjust “Compacts” in an attempt by Democrats to raise much needed revenue?

I would note that in Michigan Democrats have successfully gotten a very small chunk of change by re-negotiating some of the “Compacts” but they have all but forgotten the rights of casino workers forced to work in these smoke-filled casinos for poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws.

Mr. Asch, I hope it is not your and the Democrats intent to use worker’s rights as a bargaining chip to simply extract some funds from these casinos to pay down Minnesota’s enormous debts to the bankers and then conveniently ignore the plight of casino workers as you and the Democrats have done for so many years. Of course, when it comes to worker’s rights there is no need to speak of the Republicans; because, with the exception of honest Abe Lincoln and the Republican Vito Marcantonio, they have never been concerned about the plight of working people.

Again, thank you Mr. Asch for helping to raise awareness concerning the plight of casino workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry in Minnesota.

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


From: Marc Asch
Subject: Re: [Minnesota] Viking stadium-10 am press conference from legislator
To: mn-politics@forums.e-democracy.org
Date: Monday, October 5, 2009, 2:21 PM


Lee wrote:
> Bcause the Indian Gaming Lobby and the Democrat party
> have reached nirvana and have become one in the same. If
> we taxed Indian Gaming like other states do,
Lee continues his practice of creating alternate realities.

Indian Gaming is controlled by a compact negotiated and signed by two
Minnesota Governors. The original compact was negotiated and signed by
Gov. Perpich (DFL). It was replaced by a later compact expanding the
type of gambling permitted negotiated and signed by Gov. Carlson (R.)

Governors of both parties are responsible for where we now are in our
ability to extract revenue from Indian Gaming. Certainly both signed
bad deals for the people, citizens and workers of MN. They not only
failed to extract reasonable payments in exchange for permitting Indian
gaming but they left workers without adequate workplace protections and
injured customers without access to fair and unbiased legal protection.

The how and why of two MN Governors getting it so wrong is a fascinating
story that I have never any solid reporting on the the press or in book
form.

Our failures in this area have been curiously bipartisan.


--
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



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/

The key to health care reform

Barack Obama's misfortune in the polls has turned into our possible good fortune... we now have something to bargain with Barack Obama and the Democrats in exchange for health care reform: our votes.

Our country is embroiled in controversy and debate over health care reform. Focus on the purpose of health care has been lost. Health care has two purposes:

1. Keep people healthy.

2. Get people well when sick.

Barack Obama and the Democrats have killed single-payer universal health care which was by far the most popular alternative. Now they are confusing the issue with talk about a "public option" when the only real "public option" is something like VA or the Indian Health Service; both of which could be combined and expanded to include everyone under a Public Health Service.

Obama and the Democrats have confused the issue even further by now veering from discussing legislation for health care reform by derailing this discussion and diverting the discussion to "health insurance reform."

Our public officials squander our limited and scarce resources--- during a period of a crumbling capitalist economy--- financing wars in three countries; subsidizing the Israeli military machine; and spending trillions of dollars financing 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil dotting the globe; and then they tell us there is no money for health care. Instead, we should be building 800 public health care centers stretching out across the United States providing a public health care system which includes:

• No-fees/No premiums

• Comprehensive (cradle to grave)

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• Universal (everybody in; nobody out)

• Publicly funded

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The United States is the wealthiest country in the world.

We can afford to provide a first-rate, world-class, free public health care system for our own people--- if we get our priorities straight.

We need health care reform based upon: Everybody in; all the profiteers out.Health care is supposed to be about people, a human right; not about profits.

We must not let Barack Obama and the Democrats do with health care reform what Bill Clinton did with welfare reform.

There are those that confuse what needs to be done by suggesting that some kind of massive grassroots coalition brought Barack Obama to power when the fact is that what brought Barack Obama to power was no organized coalition seeking anything; just plain old resentment and disgust with a thoroughly corrupt, warmongering Republican Party--- and the Democratic Party has proven to be no better.

There are those who want to turn the need for real progressive health care reform into nothing but a struggle to save Barack Obama's worthless political butt.

We need to begin discussions about creating a real all people's united front to win real progressive health care reform before Barack Obama gives us the shaft and sticks us with mandatory health insurance that is no better than the high-priced automobile or home-owners insurance which are good until needed.

Some people pawned Barack Obama off on us as a progressive when all we got was an insurance salesman.

Our initiatives for real progressive health care reform as articulated above require that we inform Barack Obama and the Democrats that they will not be receiving our votes in 2010 or 2012 unless real progressive health care reform legislation is enacted.

No health care reform; no votes... it really is as simple as that.


Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432


Check out my blog:


http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/