Texas Longhorns with newborn calf in Bluebonnets

Texas Longhorns with newborn calf in Bluebonnets

Please note I have a new phone number...

512-517-2708

Alan Maki

Alan Maki
Doing research at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas

It's time to claim our Peace Dividend

It's time to claim our Peace Dividend

We need to beat swords into plowshares.

We need to beat swords into plowshares.

A program for real change...

http://peaceandsocialjustice.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-progressive-program-for-real-change.html


What we need is a "21st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity" which would make it a mandatory requirement that the president and Congress attain and maintain full employment.


"Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens"

- Ben Franklin

Let's talk...

Let's talk...

Friday, July 12, 2013

Alan Maki and Coleen Rowley talk about defending our Constitutional Rights... see YouTube video



















Link to YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NcTlua3reVA#at=11




  • 4200 Cedar Ave S. Minneapolis, MN

  • Occupy the FBI Files!

    Are you an organizer, an activist? Do you ever question the government or corporate power? Do you do or say subversive things? Do you make attempts to exercise your Constitutional rights? If so, do you ever wonder if you have an FBI file? Why would the FBI create a file on you? If the FBI has a file on you, how easily can you find out? What about our “privacy?” Can a person challenge authority without being spied on by voyeuristic government agencies? Occupy MN is bringing in a couple of knowledgeable speakers to answer these and other important questions.


    What: Occupy MN presents Occupy the FBI Files! Radical organizer-activist (Alan Maki) shows us his FBI file, gives a brief talk and offers a Q & A. Next, former FBI agent, whistle-blower, 2002 Time Magazine person of the year Coleen Rowley expands on FBI-related issues, discusses Edward Snowden, and offers a Q & A.


    Where: The “American-Nordic Center”: 4200 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55407.

    When: Wednesday, July 10th, 6:30 pm Occupy updates, 7:00 – 8:00 pm = Occupy the FBI Files, 8:-9:30 pm regular Occupy meeting.

    Cost: Free! Of course it’s free! It is always free to participate in non-commercialized, authentic Occupy movement!


    Speaker Biographies:

    Alan Maki is a northern Minnesota activist who has been involved in the peace, labor, civil rights, and environmental movements for over 30 years. He is a socialist, an agitator, and a dog-lover. Maki's radical activism earned him so much attention from the FBI, they decided to create an FBI file in his (dis)honor.

    Coleen Rowley is a former FBI agent and whistleblower. As a result of her whistle-blowing around the events of 9/11, she was named a 2002 Time Magazine Person of the Year. Since retiring from the FBI, Rowley has been heavily involved with the anti-war movement, particularly with Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) in the Twin Cities. She also gives regular educational talks and appears on local and national news, i.e. recent appearances in reaction to the Edward Snowden case. Rowley's talk and Q & A will also last 30 minutes. (You can follow Rowley's news feeds on Facebook).



Why the Revival of US Labor Might Start with Nonunion Workers

Why is it the number one reform, the repeal of "At-will Employment," that could bring organized and unorganized workers together is never mentioned in articles like this:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/revival-of-united-states-labor-movement-karen-nussbaum?utm_source=ABD+Main+Contacts&utm_campaign=a294c14d9b-Working_America6_14_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8f8392d3f1-a294c14d9b-266616133

I believe the reason is because The Century Foundation is doing the thinking for the AFL-CIO.

The Century Foundation is funded by a bunch of billionaire "philanthropists" whose fortunes are made by exploiting workers, and the "fellows" are more interested in big salaries for themselves than the plight of working people.

How else can one explain why the need to repeal "At-Will Employment" never comes up? Not from the unions; not from the Democratic Party; and not from the liberals, progressives and leftists who continue to support Obama and the Democrats instead of breaking free from this two-party trap.

Working America is an organization born in the thoughts of Century Foundation "fellows." Should we expect this organization to push a working class struggle point of view and agenda? No; class collaboration serves Wall Street's interests: maximum profits.

Working America never brings forward the job killing aspect of these imperialist wars.

Working America doesn't push Full Employment as being a governmental responsibility.

Working America doesn't support the enforcement of Affirmative Action.

Working America pushes to keep the Minimum Wage a poverty wage instead of linking the Minimum Wage to all cost of living factors--- the only fair way to establish a Minimum Wage.

I find it noteworthy the head of Working America walks very effectively between government and organized labor and is now pushing to keep workers trapped in the Democratic Party--- just like Amy Dean who wrote this article in the foundation-funded YES! magazine.

I would also note that workers employed in the Working America call-centers employed to raise funds instead of mobilizing people are treated like shit... what does this tell us about what kind of unions Working America wants to organize the unorganized into?

Workers seeking to organize would be further ahead organizing independently of the AFL-CIO and Change To Win affiliated unions... and they would be more successful.

Jobs, jobs, jobs my ass!