Is the Dayton Administration another Obama Administration in the making? Liberal rhetoric; reactionary corporate agenda

Ok, I see who Dayton has selected to head up the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources--- a selection aided by Roger Moe.

Just about like all of his other appointments, so far; Dayton has appointed a guy who is a product of the "foundations."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/blogs/113004954.html


This guy is probably going to be more of a friend to the mining, forestry and power generating industry than to people concerned about the quality of our air, water, land, plants and animals; treaty rights and respect for our watersheds.



Think in terms of a John Persell but more intelligent and a whole lot shrewder.



Think in terms of the Roger Moe and Jim Oberstar.



This guy is associated with Ducks Unlimited who think that peat mining in the Big Bog is a good thing because we will end up with a massive 15 square mile "lake" for duck hunters, and he will most likely advocate hauling in the contaminated beach sand from Lake Superior to create a swimming beach for children along the "shores" of U.S. Steel's "Clearwater Reservoir."



Have you ever seen the big signs placed by the huge "clear cuts" proclaiming the area to be a site for deer and grouse habitat? Well, this is Tom Landwehr... ever heard the guy defend treaty rights? This guy is a big booster of the mining and forestry industries... let them ruin the land they steal from the public in the first place for a pittance and when they can no longer reap huge profits a private outfit like the Nature Conservancy buys it back at outrageously high prices financed by great "philanthropists" like the Pillsbury's "to protect our endangered natural resources."



Don't expect Landwehr to end racist hiring practices of the DNR staff and enforce affirmative action in hiring when it comes to DNR projects unless Dayton orders him to; and so far Dayton has refused to live up to his campaign promise of supporting Affirmative Action since he hasn't enforced it in hiring those appointments he has made to oversee State departments and agencies. Figure it out; when Dayton brings in someone like Roger Moe who has fought the implementation and enforcement of Affirmative Action during his long and useless political career to advise him to select a guy like Landwehr what else can we expect? Were any Native American Indians concerned about treaty rights even considered in the running to head up the DNR? What about environmentalists opposed to the racist placement of power lines and gas and oil pipelines?



Landwehr has made his base of support among the most racist section of the conservation crowd. I wouldn't be surprised to find that Dayton's foundation has funded a lot of Landwehr's involvement and activities. Someone should look into this.



I wouldn't expect this guy to be calling for an increase in the "taconite tax" or "stumpage fees" as he views all mining and logging activity as producing duck ponds, deer and grouse habitat; then raising taxes on Minnesotans to pay for reclamation of the detroyed lands that mining, forestry and the power generating industries have reaped huge profits from--- so much for "tax the rich."



To make a long comment short:



This appointment of Landwehr by Dayton to head up the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources should send shivers down the spines of anyone concerned about protecting our living environment and treaty rights, and cause everyone to become actively involved in pushing Dayton towards what he promised or we are going to end up with a version of Obama here in Minnesota real quick--- liberal words; corporate agenda.

Mark Dayton in begging for my support in return for enforcing Affirmative Acction pursuant to what President Lyndon B. Johnson determined Affirmative Action to be in signing Presidential Executive Order #11246 which is the real teeth of the Civil Rights Act has so far reneged on his campaign promise... I hope this blog posting answers all the questions I have been getting concerning how I think our new liberal Governor Mark Dayton is doing so far.

Mark Dayton was the ONLY candidate I voted for in the last election; it looks like I won't bother making a trip to the polls next time around if this is the best we can expect from Democrats... unless of course there are some alternatives to what Democrats and Republicans have to offer.

Liberals, progressives and the left should keep pressing for a "people before corporate profits" alternative agenda both inside and outside the Democratic Party; but, I don't foresee any real progress in the form of legislation or government action being made towards this until we learn that we need our own political party centered around a progressive agenda that challenges these corporate and foundaton financed politicians chosen by Wall Street--- prepared to back up in the ballot box what is fought for in the streets... so far we are far to weak to bring people into the streets and out to vote in a way that will produce the kind of change we need.

Let's reflect on where we are at and what is required as we gather around our kitchen tables.

Hope to discuss all of this further with people at the "Governor's Inaugural Ball" tonight at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

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

and

a founder,
Minnesotans for Peace and Social Justice

and

an activist,
Save Our Bog