Working people without jobs are going to be poor.

Editor Ellen Paquin;

Permission to edit as seen fit is granted. The letter is 212 words.

I would appreciate you considering publishing this Letter to the Editor in The St. Ignace News.

Alan L. Maki

While traveling through Michigan's Upper Peninsula in October, I met with many people.

One of the main concerns I heard from people was about the deplorable poverty; yet, when was the last time you heard a politician talk about ending poverty?

But, more to the point; why don't we have a massive movement in this country determined to put an end to poverty?

Working people without jobs are going to be poor.

Working people paid poverty wages are going to be poor.

Seems to me a real living Minimum Wage tied to real cost of living factors is a basic and minimal requirement towards ending poverty with government assuming full responsibility for attaining and maintaining full employment which is so basic to ending poverty that it would seem that any politician talking about "jobs, jobs, jobs" when campaigning for election would be the very first, upon being elected, to introduce legislation requiring that the President and members of Congress mandate the responsibility for full employment to themselves lest they be viewed as hypocrites.

Instead of voting to fund militarism and wars which kill jobs the same way they kill people, we need to elect people to public office who will enact a "21st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity."

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

e-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Postal Union Calls For a ‘Grand Alliance’ to Save the Public Post Office

This is a good initiative; but will they also conclude there is a need to break free from the two-party trap:

Postal Union Calls For a ‘Grand Alliance’
to Save the Public Post Office
APWU News Bulletin 21-2013, Nov. 7, 2013
http://www.apwu.org/news/nsb/2013/nsb21-dimonstein-grand_alliance.htm

In an impassioned speech before more than 1,000 union members, the newly-elected national president of the American Postal Workers Union, Mark Dimondstein, issued a call for a “grand alliance” to save the USPS as a public postal service and to protect postal jobs. 

“Writing to Congress is important,” he declared, “but it is not enough. Lobbying for legislation is important, but it is not enough.” To succeed, postal workers must build a movement, he said.



“When the Flint sit-down strikers occupied a General Motors plant in the 1930s, labor law reform was won. When women took to the streets to demand the right to vote, they won. When courageous civil rights workers fought segregation with sit-ins and boycotts, the 1964 Civil Rights Act followed,” Dimondstein said.



“History shows that movements move Congress. Movements create legislative victories, not the other way around,” he said.

“We must build a grand alliance between the people of this country and postal workers,” he proclaimed. “We must mobilize our allies and their organizations, including seniors, retirees, civil rights organizations, veterans groups, the labor movement, community and faith-based organizations, the Occupy movement, and business groups in defense of America’s right to vibrant public postal services,” he said.



The labor movement is in dire straits, Dimondstein acknowledged. “Anything that stands for the public good — public libraries, public education, public utilities, public transportation and public postal services — is under severe attack, as are public workers and our unions.”



“A revitalized labor movement is indeed possible,” he declared, as he urged union members to join together to defend a public Postal Service and good union jobs.



Eighty APWU national officers were sworn in on Nov. 7. Their three-year terms begin Nov. 12.

At Swearing-In Ceremony: Dimondstein Issues Call For a ‘Grand Alliance’

www.apwu.org

In an impassioned speech before more than 1,000 union members, the newly-elected president of the American Postal Workers Union, Mark Dimondstein, issued a call for a “grand alliance” to save the

Guest blog: Philippine Loss From Typhoon Haiyan Colossal

Brian McAfee
2838 Mason Blvd.
Muskegon Hts.,  MI 49444
USA
(231) 737-8726
brimac6@hotmail.com 




                                            Philippine  Loss From Typhoon  Haiyan Colossal

                                                                           by Brian McAfee

   On Friday, November 8, Typhoon Haiyan smashed into the island of Samar, on the eastern central part of the archipelago, completely destroying many towns and villages on the sea shore. so far reports estimate over 1,200 deaths but that number is expected to rise.  Many were evacuated to higher ground prior to Haiyan's arrival as meteorologists had been tracking it and put out warnings. The Philippines is along the Ring of Fire and is prone to earth quakes and typhoons. 

Many of the Philippines poorest live on the sea shore. I believe The Philippines,with a population of 98 million, consisting of 7,107 islands,of which only 2,000 are inhabited, should have a public works program to assist the newly homeless poor with housing and with aid organization and/or other funding rebuilding homes  etc. on higher ground poor to higher ground, particularly after this. 

The Philippines had not yet fully recovered from typhoons and earthquakes that had occurred earlier in the year.  This tragedy is more evidence of a changing earth, the frequency and intensity of typhoons such as this and perhaps a bit harder to nail down,  with any certainty, earthquakes.


The need is great for the people of the Philippines. Large numbers of people are in very desperate situations. I encourage people to help, here are a few aid organizations that are now helping people in the areas (in the Philippines ) where help is most needed.  Please specify that it is for Philippine typhoon relief.

                              UNICEF  secure@unicef.org

                              OXFAM   info@oxfam.com

                                Red Cross 


Note: There are now over 10,000 people dead.