I hope you will circulate this wide and far. People across this country have a right to know that progressive Minnesotans are rising to today’s challenges and we need all the allies we can get from across the country if we are going to be able to muster the movement in building for the kind of change people were hoping for.
Read full article below after my comments---
Note: In many precincts across Minnesota “watered-down” versions of the original resolution were passed in an attempt by MN DFL Chair Brian Melendez to head off a discussion as to why it has taken the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party to take a stand for the enforcement of affirmative action… but, so far, all reports coming in from across Minnesota indicate that the grassroots, in their majority, expect affirmative action to be enforced and they expect the MN DFL to advocate for the enforcement of affirmative action policies which are not at present being enforced by state agencies or department or other levels of government. The Minnesota DFL has been evading supporting affirmative action because it has become official MN DFL strategy to write-off the urban and working class vote as more and more people are sitting home on election day because they see no difference in the Democrats and Republicans so the MN DFL has decided to go after the votes in suburban and gated communities instead of responding to the concerns of working people. In fact, it was difficult to get people to turn out for these grassroots precinct caucus events because people were saying things like, “What’s the use; we put so much effort into electing Obama and these Democrats and they are hurting us instead of helping us with our problems.”
Note: It is interesting to note that the leaders of the MN DFL are lamenting the fact they have not been able to elect a Minnesota Governor since Rudy Perpich. Ironically, it is these same Democrats who launched a vicious red-baiting campaign against Rudy Perpich after he proposed tax-the-hell out of the rich and drastically increasing the “taconite tax” on the iron ore. These well-heeled Democrats often referred to as “The Summit Hill Club” because they live a life of tremendous wealth (Summit Hill is where all the old mining, lumber and railroad barons resided… and these reactionary Democrats dubbed Rudy Perpich who came from a family of communist union organizers on Minnesota’s Iron Range as “Red” Rudy which provoked Rudy Perpich to begin exploring the idea of creating a party independent of the Democratic Party… unfortunately, Rudy Perpich died of cancer before he could initiate the struggle against this bunch of well-heeled and middle class Democrats who had, and have, no connection to the working class.
Another former Minnesota Governor, Elmer Benson, an avowed socialist who worked tirelessly to give liberals, progressives and the left among the working class, farmers, small business people and professionals a voice in the decision-making process was subjected to a similar vicious racist, anti-Semitic, anti-communist and anti-labor campaign in 1938 as was Rudy Perpich years later.
Both Rudy Perpich and Elmer Benson valued their friendship with fellow Iron Ranger, Gus Hall who, who, as a member of the NAACP in Yonkers, New York, helped lead the fight for affirmative action. Both Elmer Benson and Rudy Perpich during their terms as governor strictly enforced affirmative action and would not tolerate any kind of racial discrimination or bigotry… there is a reason why the healthcare center on the Red Lake Indian Reservation is called the Roger Jourdain-Rudy Perpich healthcare center.
I should also point out that a move is quietly underway by this “Summit Hill Club” to try to end “precinct caucus night in Minnesota”… it is like famed playwright Bertolt Brecht was fond of saying, “The wealthy create the poor but cannot stand to look at them;” we could, and should, add to this, “the wealthy few who own the mines, mills, factories and the casinos cannot stand to have the poor participating as equals in the decision-making process during precinct night in Minnesota.” Many people opine that should these well-heeled Democrats be successful in ending this Minnesota tradition of “precinct caucus night in Minnesota” this will be, for liberals, progressives and the left, “the straw that breaks the camel’s back” and a new progressive party in Minnesota will be born out of the rich history of the real Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party.
Anyways, read the article from the Bemidji Pioneer Press republished below… it best captures “precinct caucus night in Minnesota” better than any other newspaper article I have read from the Main Stream Media (MSM).
It is good news that Iron Ranger and State Representative Tom Rukavina, dubbed “Tommy the Commie,” by the “Summit Hill Club” crowd is still running a strong campaign in northern Minnesota and other parts of the state. Rukavina, the most progressive member of the Minnesota State Legislature has pledged to Minnesotans, “My door, as Governor, will always be open to everyone.” And people know he is sincere because he is the only state legislator who has this open door policy right now--- and for years, Tom Rukavina has been their governor as he has helped not only his constituents, but any and all Minnesotans. Rukavina has stated he is the voice of the Farmer-Labor wing of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party and working people know this. Rukavina is the only candidate in the race for Governor who has openly stated he will take up where Rudy Perpich left off. As a worker who made his living in the iron ore mines, Rukavina doesn’t have the financial resources of the wealthy candidates leading the pack; but he is putting up one heck of a fight… at the Roseau County DFL Convention, Rukavina was tied for first place and as the article below points out he held his own in Beltrami County.
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
Alternate MN DFL State Convention Delegate, Roseau County; a delegate vote committed to Tom Rukavina for Governor
Link: http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100015521
This is an excerpt from the article (full and complete article below):
All the precincts elected permanent precinct chairmen and delegates to the county convention, but even there very few resolutions to change or add to the party platform were offered.
“Institutionalized racism is still firmly in place and entrenched in all aspects of life in Minnesota,’ ’said Ward 5 caucus attendee Greg Paquin, who is seeking DFL endorsement over Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji.
Saying institutionalized racism is more evident in American Indian communities, Paquin offered a resolution that affirmative action become part of the Minnesota DFL platform and that the DFL supports the strict enforcement of all affirmative action guidelines and policies and that affirmative action plans “must be drawn up and implemented to become part of all projects in Minnesota …”
Paquin was the only supporter of the resolution which wasn’t adopted, mostly because of a lack of understanding, as six people abstained while five voted no.
Precinct captain Michael Meuers said he thought affirmative action was already part of the DFL Party platform.
A measure by Joe Day on affirmative action, however, did pass. He asked ”all governances to recognize and uphold Affirmative Action in all agencies.”
“This is a watered-down version of what I want,” Paquin said.
“Federal law includes affirmative action, and tribes are covered by the Tribal Employment Rights Act,” Day said. “And the private sector has the Human Rights Commission. This would affect state and local governments.”
That measure passed with four abstentions and only Paquin opposed/
The institutionalized racism resolution, however, did pass unanimously in Frohn Township.
Comment: An interesting point to be made is that those who "watered down" the resolution have refused to stand up and call for enforcement of affirmative action on the largest public works project in Bemidji in years--- the Bemidji Regional Event Center.
Michael Muerers is the public relations man for the Red Lake Tribal Council's casino business, among other things. His wife has sat shamefully silent as a member of the Bemidji City Council knowing full well affirmative action is not being enforced on the BREC at any level... talk about the way the bribes from the casino industry corrupts the political process on and off the Indian Reservations.
Joe Day has not uttered a peep nor come out in support of affirmative action in hiring on the BREC project.
John McCarthy and his Minnesota Indian Gaming Association have contributed millions of dollars funding candidates opposed to affirmative action. In fact, John McCarthy urged support for the racist City Planner, Rita Albrecht who was the primary Bemidji City official responsible for working the way out from enforcing affirmative action on the BREC.
State Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji who put forward a resolution supporting the Indian Gaming Industry represents the area the BREC is being built on and he has not lifted a finger to insist that federal, state and city laws, statutes and policies on affirmative action be enforced... yet, he wants to protect the Indian Gaming Industry in a way that assures casino workers are employed in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights. In a conversation I had recently with Representative Persell he told me that I didn't understand economics because he maintains, "low wages don't create poverty. Any job is better than no job at all." When I pointed out to Persell that he works in two smoke-free offices and makes more than ten times the income from his two jobs on the public pay-roll--- as a wet lands specialist and as a state representative, he tapped his head indicating that if one is smart they would not be poor or working in a casino.. When I pointed out to Representative Persell that he is in office because us stupid casino workers create the wealth stolen from us by the casino industry and a big chunk of this wealth is used by the Minnesota Indian Gaming Industry to elect such smart people as he is to public office he gave me a shove and said, "Typical talk coming from a 'commie union man;' you see poverty and cancer, I see jobs, jobs, jobs."
The question has to be asked:
When will Michael Meuers, Joe Day, John McCarthy and Representative John Persell meet with Bemidji City officials and demand full implementation of the "watered-down" affirmative action resolution Joe Day brought forward in an attempt to spare the Minnesota DFL and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association embarrassment?
Alan L. Maki
Article from the Bemidji Pioneer Press...
Published February 03 2010
DFL: Rybak wins favor at Beltrami County precinct caucuses
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, meet Beltrami County Democrats.
By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer
Michael Meuers, left, Bemidji Ward 5 DFL precinct captain, explains procedure Tuesday night as Democratic precinct caucuses were held at Lincoln School, one of 12 Beltrami County sites. Behind him is Beltrami County DFL Chairman Steve Nelson while caucus attendee Jackie Ryder is at right. Pioneer Photo/Brad Swenson
More...
DFL: Rybak wins favor at Beltrami County precinct caucuses
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, meet Beltrami County Democrats.
By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, meet Beltrami County Democrats.
The urban mayor, who only in November won a second term, won the favor of Beltrami County precinct caucus attendees Tuesday night, scoring well in a non-binding preference poll for governor.
At least that was the verdict of several Democratic precinct caucuses which convened at Lincoln Elementary School, one of 12 sites DFLers met for precinct caucuses in Beltrami County.
In a low attended caucus night despite nine major candidates on the straw poll ballot – former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton didn’t want to partake in the poll and will go directly to the Sept. 14 primary — Rybak polled 12 votes, including seven of 11 in Frohn Township.
Iron Range Rep. Tom Rukavina also won favor, coming in second with six votes, all from Bemidji Ward 5. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher got four votes and no one else got more than two.
Full Beltrami County results followed suit. Rybak led with 36 votes, followed by Rukavina with 23, Marty 19 and Kelliher 16. Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook polled 13 votes while former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza got 10 and Rep. Paul Thissen nine votes. Former Sen. Steve Kelley got five votes and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner two.
“The quest for ‘change’ continues,” said Beltrami County DFL Chairman Steve Nelson. “It’s been 19 years since Gov. Perpich. Today we begin the campaign to put a DFL governor in office.”
In statewide results, with 73 percent of precincts reporting, Rybak with 21.5 percent led Kelliher with 20 percent. Rukavina was fourth with 7.5 percent, behind Sen. John Marty’s 9.8 percent.
Delegates cast their ballots when they arrived at 7 p.m.. but voting in the preference poll had to remain open until 8 p.m.
“Let the tellers count the ballots,” Frohn precinct captain John McCarthy said at the stroke of 8 p.m. “That’s what we’re all here for.”
Thirteen people caucused in Bemidji Ward 5 while 11 were in Frohn Township. Ten Lake Township had five people will Unorganized No. 3 had only two. A spot was laid out for Moose Lake Township, but no one showed, with that precinct needing to elect two delegates to the Beltrami DFL County Convention, which is noon Feb. 28 in Bemidji State’s Beaux Arts Ballroom.
All the precincts elected permanent precinct chairmen and delegates to the county convention, but even there very few resolutions to change or add to the party platform were offered.
“Institutionalized racism is still firmly in place and entrenched in all aspects of life in Minnesota,’ ’said Ward 5 caucus attendee Greg Paquin, who is seeking DFL endorsement over Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji.
Saying institutionalized racism is more evident in American Indian communities, Paquin offered a resolution that affirmative action become part of the Minnesota DFL platform and that the DFL supports the strict enforcement of all affirmative action guidelines and policies and that affirmative action plans “must be drawn up and implemented to become part of all projects in Minnesota …”
Paquin was the only supporter of the resolution which wasn’t adopted, mostly because of a lack of understanding, as six people abstained while five voted no.
Precinct captain Michael Meuers said he thought affirmative action was already part of the DFL Party platform.
A measure by Joe Day on affirmative action, however, did pass. He asked ”all governances to recognize and uphold Affirmative Action in all agencies.”
“This is a watered-down version of what I want,” Paquin said.
“Federal law includes affirmative action, and tribes are covered by the Tribal Employment Rights Act,” Day said. “And the private sector has the Human Rights Commission. This would affect state and local governments.”
That measure passed with four abstentions and only Paquin opposed.
The institutionalized racism resolution, however, did pass unanimously in Frohn Township.
Frohn Township also passed a resolution offered by Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji, to call upon the DFL to oppose the expansion of gambling in the state.
The state already allows several forms of gambling, such as horse racing, charitable gambling and the State Lottery, plus it has compacts with the tribes to allow on-reservation gaming, he said.
“The gambling already offered throughout the state provides economic benefit to many people as well as our local economy,” Persell said. “Our local economies are fragile enough and should not be put in further jeopardy.”
The resolution calls for the DFL “to oppose all further expansion of gambling, be it state-owned casinos, racinos or in any other form.”
Persell said lawmakers twice last session staved off video slots in bars. “If this ever happens, our region loses jobs, period. Both Indian and non-Indian, as 60 percent of the workers in casinos are non-Indian.”
The resolution would not affect American Indian gaming within reservations. “We can’t tell the tribes what to do,” Persell said.
Bemidji Ward 5 also passed a resolution calling on the use of instant runoff voting in state and local elections. The system allows voters to rank candidates, so if no majority winner is declared, a voter’s second choice is added to the mix until a majority winner is declared.
Alan L. Maki
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/
