On the other hand; it can't hurt to let 200 members of Congress know the American people are fed up, but to feed the illusion that these members of Congress are doing the wrong thing because of lack of knowledge and education on the issues--- well, maybe, it is Tim Carpenter and PDA who need a dose of education as to who is running this country and their goals and objectives?
The only thing besides bribes that will "educate" these members of Congress is when they begin to face stiff opposition--- at the ballot box, in the streets, on the campuses, in working class communities and at work--- from a united effort on the part of the historic coalition of liberals, progressives and leftists struggling to turn this country around.
The Democratic Party will never be reformed or taken over by "progressives;" this is an illusion and a trap Tim Carpenter and PDA keep leading liberals, progressives and leftists into.
In fact, it was Tim Carpenters hand-picked crony--- Joel Clemmer--- here in Minnesota who undermined the efforts to push single-payer by weakening the resolution for single-payer based on the Canadian model that was passed by over 72% of the delegates at the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Convention by turning around and blind-siding us at the next convention by inserting "affordable" to make the resolution not be in conflict with Obama's "Affordable Care Act--- Obama Care."
In fact, it was none other than Tim Carpenter who personally pushed the phony "single-payer" legislation proposed by the opportunist Minnesota State Senator John Marty--- legislation that would have cost a family of four with an income of $30,000.00 a year over $800.00 a month for health care!
The only way to advance the struggle for real health care reform is by pushing for single-payer based on the Canadian model as the first step towards our real goal and objective: a National Public Health Care System--- no-fees/no premiums, comprehensive (pre-natal through burial) all-inclusive (general health, eyes, ears, mental), universal (everyone in nobody out); publicly financed, publicly administered and publicly delivered.
HR 676 is dead and Tim Carpenter and all these other outfits know it. We need a new strategy to fight for health care reform which includes our main objective--- and the only way to do this is to build on the support for single-payer in combination with the goal of a National Public Health Care System which most people support when they are given this alternative.
The single-payer advocates are going to have to come to terms with the fact that they were used by John Conyers and his friends in Congress for many years but as we saw, when push came to shove the ENTIRE bunch of these wimps buckled under to a charlatan like Obama instead of standing and fighting on the side of the people resulting in Obama Care--- or, as it should be known as the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act."
We need a new strategy if we are going to mobilize and unite the American people for real health care reform.
In fact, there is no universal social program that is cheaper than providing the American people with primary health care which should become the first step towards any health care reform--- primary health care is cheaper to provide people with than a public education so we should push for all other types of health care to be on the basis of single-payer with primary health care being the foundation from which the entire health care system is brought into a National Public Health Care System... want to talk about "pragmatic politics?" This is the epitome of a pragmatic politics even John Dewey should have been able to support.
Where will the money come from for all of this?
1. End these dirty wars and use the resulting "peace dividends" to finance health care.
2. Tax the rich, tax corporate profits and tax Wall Street transactions.
In lieu of either of these "radical" funding proposals--- do like the Canadians do and institute an additional payroll tax; a good hefty tax on employers and a minimal tax on workers. This is what Frances Perkins as Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor advocated to pay for both a National Public Health Care Program and a National Public Child Care Program.
The idea that the American people will not support this kind of initiative is false and an insult to the intelligence of the American people... when put to people along with all other alternatives for health care reform the majority of the American people, like people everywhere, will support a National Public Health Care System--- just like the majority of the American people continue to support Social Security and public education... and an additional payroll tax to finance making primary health care part of a plan to create a National Public Health Care System will be supported... just like the users of the VA and the Indian Health Services support these socialized health care systems.
In fact, it was none other than Tim Carpenter who personally pushed the phony "single-payer" legislation proposed by the opportunist Minnesota State Senator John Marty--- legislation that would have cost a family of four with an income of $30,000.00 a year over $800.00 a month for health care!
The only way to advance the struggle for real health care reform is by pushing for single-payer based on the Canadian model as the first step towards our real goal and objective: a National Public Health Care System--- no-fees/no premiums, comprehensive (pre-natal through burial) all-inclusive (general health, eyes, ears, mental), universal (everyone in nobody out); publicly financed, publicly administered and publicly delivered.
HR 676 is dead and Tim Carpenter and all these other outfits know it. We need a new strategy to fight for health care reform which includes our main objective--- and the only way to do this is to build on the support for single-payer in combination with the goal of a National Public Health Care System which most people support when they are given this alternative.
The single-payer advocates are going to have to come to terms with the fact that they were used by John Conyers and his friends in Congress for many years but as we saw, when push came to shove the ENTIRE bunch of these wimps buckled under to a charlatan like Obama instead of standing and fighting on the side of the people resulting in Obama Care--- or, as it should be known as the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act."
We need a new strategy if we are going to mobilize and unite the American people for real health care reform.
In fact, there is no universal social program that is cheaper than providing the American people with primary health care which should become the first step towards any health care reform--- primary health care is cheaper to provide people with than a public education so we should push for all other types of health care to be on the basis of single-payer with primary health care being the foundation from which the entire health care system is brought into a National Public Health Care System... want to talk about "pragmatic politics?" This is the epitome of a pragmatic politics even John Dewey should have been able to support.
Where will the money come from for all of this?
1. End these dirty wars and use the resulting "peace dividends" to finance health care.
2. Tax the rich, tax corporate profits and tax Wall Street transactions.
In lieu of either of these "radical" funding proposals--- do like the Canadians do and institute an additional payroll tax; a good hefty tax on employers and a minimal tax on workers. This is what Frances Perkins as Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor advocated to pay for both a National Public Health Care Program and a National Public Child Care Program.
The idea that the American people will not support this kind of initiative is false and an insult to the intelligence of the American people... when put to people along with all other alternatives for health care reform the majority of the American people, like people everywhere, will support a National Public Health Care System--- just like the majority of the American people continue to support Social Security and public education... and an additional payroll tax to finance making primary health care part of a plan to create a National Public Health Care System will be supported... just like the users of the VA and the Indian Health Services support these socialized health care systems.
The United States is the wealthiest country in the world and there is no reason we shouldn't have a world-class National Public Health Care System.
If these worthless Wall Street bribed politicians can spend trillions upon trillions of dollars on dirty imperialist war after imperialist war which now includes this murderous and barbaric drone warfare, they sure as hell can spend at least as much money of health care for the American people.
Something to think about: We are paying a very high price for these imperialist wars which are depriving us of real health care reform, quality public educations free through university, decent housing, low-cost mass transit and a solution to global warming and climate change.
If these worthless Wall Street bribed politicians can spend trillions upon trillions of dollars on dirty imperialist war after imperialist war which now includes this murderous and barbaric drone warfare, they sure as hell can spend at least as much money of health care for the American people.
Something to think about: We are paying a very high price for these imperialist wars which are depriving us of real health care reform, quality public educations free through university, decent housing, low-cost mass transit and a solution to global warming and climate change.
A question: Did you know we are still paying for Wall Street's first imperialist war--- the Spanish American War, a "conflict" in 1898? And the war goes on in the Philippines with the Puerto Rican people still struggling to free themselves from U.S. domination that was the result of the Spanish-American War... imperialism is costly for the American people while the Wall Street merchants of death and destruction profit from these dirty imperialist wars.
The heavy price we pay for imperialism so Wall Street can profit:
There’s money to be made in manufacturing drones. The U.S. military spent about $3 billion on drone programs last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Think we can't afford a National Public Health Care System?
Here are just twelve of the companies cashing in on drone warfare:
The heavy price we pay for imperialism so Wall Street can profit:
There’s money to be made in manufacturing drones. The U.S. military spent about $3 billion on drone programs last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Think we can't afford a National Public Health Care System?
Here are just twelve of the companies cashing in on drone warfare:
Boeing
Boeing has its hands in a lot of drone technology. In June, the company successfully completed a test flight of one of its drones that is meant to stay airborne for days, according to CBS News.
Boeing, headed by CEO Jim McNerney, Jr., estimated that it took home $80.5 billion in revenue last year, according Reuters.
Boeing, headed by CEO Jim McNerney, Jr., estimated that it took home $80.5 billion in revenue last year, according Reuters.
General Atomics
General Atomics, a defense contractor based in Southern California, is set to sell $197 million worth of drones to the United Arab Emirates, according to the Los Angeles Times. If the deal goes through, it would be the first such sale to a non-NATO country.
General Atomics, run by CEO J. Neal Blue, took home $652,129,000 in 2012, according to Washington Technology.
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin completed tests in July of a "Stalker" drone that stays airborne for 48 hours, according to Endgadget. The company came under fire after sponsoring a documentary on PBS about drones.
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman is helping to expand the drone business to the Asia-Pacific region. Late last year, the company sold $1.2 billion worth of drones to South Korea, according to Bloomberg.
Northrop Grumman's profits rose 80 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. The company is headed by CEO Wes Bush.
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AeroVironment
Israeli Aerospace Industries
Always enough money for militarism and wars but no money for health care and other human needs.
Are you fed up?
A six point unity platform:
AeroVironment
AeroVironment is developing the "Hummingbird drone" for the Pentagon, according to Aol News. But don't let its cute name fool you; the device can hover and perch to watch your every move and aims to someday bolster surveillance capabilities in urban areas.
Despite the scary yet innovative technology, AeroVironment, which is run by CEO Timothy Conver, is projecting its revenue to drop to $230 million in the upcoming fiscal year, according to Forbes.
Despite the scary yet innovative technology, AeroVironment, which is run by CEO Timothy Conver, is projecting its revenue to drop to $230 million in the upcoming fiscal year, according to Forbes.
Prox Dynamics AS
This Norway-based company, founded by Petter Muran in December 2007, developed the Black Hornet Nano, a mini-handheld helicopter that helps soldiers survey an area swiftly by flying at top speeds for up to 30 minutes, according to Gizmag. The UK gave some soldiers the Black Hornet Nanos to use in Afghanistan earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. The Hornet was part of a $31 million contract.
Denel Dynamics
Denel Dynamics, which is part of South Africa's biggest maker of defense equipment, has seen its sales boom 20 percent in the last four years, according to Money News. Sello Ntsihlele, the company's executive manager for drone technology, called the current climate "the best time" for drones, because demand is increasing in the Middle East, East Asia and Africa. Denel Dyanmics Missiles took home $68,228,037 in 2012, which was down from 2011. Executives argued that Denel has historically posted losses because of onerous contracts.
SAIC
This company is helping the Pentagon develop underwater drones to defend against ultra-quiet submarines, according to Money Morning.
SAIC, who is run by Chairman John Jumper, took home $2.87 billion in revenue during the third quarter of last year, up 3 percent from the year before.
Israeli Aerospace Industries
Israeli Aerospace Industries pioneered the technology used for drones in the 1970s, according to Agence France Presse. Tommy Silberring, the head of the company's drone division, said increased demand around the world is boosting the drone market, as more countries want to go to war without putting their soldiers at risk. The drone sector is poised to become an $11.3 billion industry over the next decade, according to the Teal Group.
Textron
The military's appetite for drones helped Textron's defense business score a year-over-year revenue jump of $61 million, according to Mass High Tech, even as the rest of its business struggled. The drones have been so successful that the company, run by CEO Ellen Lord, is developing technology for unmanned underwater vehicles.
General Dynamics
General Dynamics is one of the major donors to the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus (unofficially known as the drone caucus). Yes, that really does exist.
DJI
Hong Kong-based DJI's Phantom, is one of the most complete drones on the market, according to Quartz. DJI's North America CEO Colin Guinn, as well as others in the drone industry, are putting resources into products like the Phantom.
Always enough money for militarism and wars but no money for health care and other human needs.
Are you fed up?
A six point unity platform:
1. End these dirty wars and use the “peace dividends” to fund human needs.
2. Full employment; make the president and Congress legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment.
2. Full employment; make the president and Congress legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment.
3. Real health care reform--- single-payer universal health care as a first step towards a National Public Health Care System.
4. A National Public Child Care System--- nothing is more important than properly caring for our children and grandchildren.
5. Defend and expand Social Security.
6. Protect Mother Nature--- take concrete steps to protect our ecosystems and end global warming.
4. A National Public Child Care System--- nothing is more important than properly caring for our children and grandchildren.
5. Defend and expand Social Security.
6. Protect Mother Nature--- take concrete steps to protect our ecosystems and end global warming.
Educate your family, friends, neighbors and fellow workers to take action at the ballot box and in the streets. We need to replace these Wall Street bribed politicians with people's politicians from a working class based progressive people's party.
Wall Street with bribes handed out by the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus has already "educated" Democratic and Republican members of Congress.
Wall Street with bribes handed out by the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus has already "educated" Democratic and Republican members of Congress.
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com