Once
again, the pernicious, malicious, lying, defamatory and libelous attack
that I must be working for the Republicans because I insist that the
Democrats like Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
actually follow through on their campaign promise to raise the Minimum
Wage to a real living wage is leveled against me by one Jeff Smith.
This was my response to Jeff and another fellow who suggested that "going slow" was "better than nothing:"
Jeff; you obviously know you are baiting me with this most malicious
accusation insinuating I am expecting Republicans to solve the problems.
In my opinion, we need to create an alternative to both the Democrats
and Republicans, a working class based progressive people's party---
short of the creation of such a party similar to the old socialist
Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party or something like Canadians have with their
New Democratic Party, we need to be running independent candidates,
candidates running on the tickets of left-wing parties, the Green
Party---- even real liberals, progressives and leftists in the
Democratic Party primaries (although this isn't my preference)---etc.
The place to "start," Ken, is with what social and economic justice
requires a real living wage to be. You don't start out advocating for a
poverty wage and negotiating down from there.
Wisconsin Democrats like Representative Milroy had the unmitigated gall to call for a miserly increase of 30 cents an hour in the Minimum Wage--- well under $8.00 an hour.
At least when people challenged this pathetic suggestion Wisconsin Democrats were forced to increase their challenge to Walker.
But, the fact remains, these Democrats in both Wisconsin and Minnesota
declared they were for a living--- non-poverty--- Minimum Wage to get
elected and they have reneged on this when it comes to proposed
legislation.
They did not campaign on a promise to "increase" the Minimum Wage "slowly."
Nor did they campaign on a promise to leave the Minimum Wage at a poverty wage but improving it somewhat.
This question of the Minimum Wage is the most basic and fundamental "kitchen table" issue.
Why is it working people can't count on you "go slow in incremental
steps" people to take the same approach to Wall Street and business?
Mark Dayton organized a full press blitz to shove a tax-payer financed
new professional football stadium for the Minnesota Vikings down our
throats but he refuses to organize a similar full press blitz to
eradicate poverty through legislating a real living wage; why is this?
Where are the priorities of these Democrats?
What is more urgent, the eradication of poverty or a new stadium for the Vikings who already had a beautiful stadium?
Why wasn't there a similar full press blitz to save the St. Paul Ford
Twin Cities Assembly Plant and two-thousand good union jobs?
Instead of baiting me with the accusation of being pro-Republican, why
is it so difficult for you, Jeff, to own up to the fact that it is you
who is "Republican lite" as your excuses enable the Democrats to carry
out pro-corporate policies as enthusiastically as any Republican?
Quite frankly, I am wondering if Jeff Smith might not be a Republican mole who has wormed his way into the Democratic Party to assure the Democrats deliver on the campaign promises made by the Republicans.
Stranger things have happened... like corporations sending moles into the union movement to make sure that when profits are at an all time high, concession contracts are forced down workers' throats.
And now these same labor "leaders" who are not capable of "negotiating" anything except concessions for their own members are working with Democrats to push for the Minimum Wage remaining a poverty wage.
What more could Republicans ask for?