What are we getting from the Democratic super majority here in Minnesota?

Except for higher taxes what are working people getting from the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's new super majority?

Perhaps if we put them on the Minimum Wage, locked them out of the State Capitol, and brought in replacements from the ranks of the unemployed and made them work as servers in a smoke-filled casino without any rights under terms of at-will employment for a couple years they might come back and do what is right and just by working people by:

•   Passing a Minimum Wage that is a real living wage based on all cost of living factors indexed to inflation.
•   Passing anti-scab legislation.
•   Passing anti-lockout legislation.
•   By legislating an end smoking in casinos like all other workplaces.
•   By Rescinding and repealing "At-will Employment" legislation.

And, what about Affirmative Action? Why does this MNDFL super majority refuse to enforce Affirmative Action? Does this MNDFL super majority not have a responsibility to people of color, women and the handicapped?

And, guess what?

None of these reforms would require a tax increase because none of these very modest reforms would cost tax-payers one single penny.

So; why would a party with "labor" and "democratic" in its name, if it were for democracy and working people, not use its newly handed super majority status to make these reforms for the majority--- the working class?

Plus, the simple act of raising the Minimum Wage to a real living wage based on all cost of living factors would solve ALL budget problems the state is experiencing while enabling tax decreases because tens of thousands of working people would be paying taxes based on their improved standard of living rather than being liabilities costing tax payers money.

Interesting; Democrats are CHOOSING to squeeze the working class just like the Republicans do--- kind of makes you wonder if they aren't both working for the same class which profits from the exploitation of labor?

I could ask why these same Democrats with their new super majority have not chosen to substantially increase the taconite tax and stumpage fees on the mining and forestry industries like former governor Rudy Perpich proposed when these Democrats decided to start calling him "Red Rudy" and helped the Republicans drive their own Democrat from office.

The bronze monument on the Minnesota State Capitol grounds honoring Minnesota's first socialist governor, Floyd B. Olson, stands as an example of the kind of socialist politicians we need if we are going to win real meaningful reforms to improve the livelihoods and rights of working people as we gear up to get rid of this rotten capitalist system.

• This MNDFL super majority could also lead the Nation by passing a resolution calling on Obama and Congress to put an end to militarism and these dirty imperialist Wall Street wars squandering the wealth of our Nation.
  
  See: http://www.mnasap.org/
  
• This MNDFL super majority could also pass a resolution calling for Congress to pass a real "Full Employment Act" to make it mandatory the president and Congress attain and maintain full employment consistent with all these campaign promises of "jobs, jobs, jobs."
  
  See: http://fullemploymentnow.blogspot.com/

Again, none of this requires one single penny from Minnesota tax-payers so what is preventing the MNDFL with its super majority from acting?

If we can't expect and count on these very basic and simple initiatives from the Democrats what can we expect from them?

(Above) Monument on the Minnesota State Capitol grounds dedicated to socialist Minnesota Governor Floyd B. Olson's legacy of dedication to improving the lives of workers and farmers.

In memory of Hugo Chavez.

Hugo Chavez' death is very sad; but Chavez did everything he could to make sure the socialist revolution in Venezuela will continue... an all too short life but a life fully and courageously lived.

Alan L. Maki

Statement of condolences about the passing away of the President of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías

The World Peace Council expresses its profound grief and sorrow about the physical disappearance of the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution and President of Venezuela Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías.

The entire membership of the WPC and its leadership wish to convey the condolences of the peace loving people and their organisations to the people and government of Venezuela, to our member Organisation, the “Comité de Solidaridad Internacional- COSI” and the family of the late President.


Hugo Chavez served and led the Venezuelan people firmly, improving the life of the workers, peasants, women and  youth, using the natural resources of the country for the benefit of the people and proving genuine internationalist solidarity with the peoples of Latin America and the world against the aggressiveness and domination of Imperialism.

With the massive support of the Venezuelan people he resisted the subversive actions and manoeuvres of the local oligarchy and of imperialism, got 4 times elected President of State.

During all his terms the WPC stood by in solidarity with Hugo Chavez, supported the achievements and advances of the peoples’ movement, denouncing the plans and actions like the Coup d’ état of 2002 organized by local and foreign reactionary forces.

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela stood on the side of the International Anti-imperialist Movement all these years, hosting dozens of international congresses and events, amongst them the Assembly of the WPC where we proclaimed with Hugo Chavez Caracas as the “Capital of Peace and anti-imperialist
struggle” in 2008.

Hugo Chavez will be remembered always by the peoples of world as a genuine and dynamic leader by the future generations.

We express our feelings of sympathy and condolences to his family, the government and people of Venezuela.

Secretariat of World Peace Council
Athens 6th March 2013