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...

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Unity















W. E. B. Du Bois had the right idea about how to achieve unity in our progressive movements when he brought together the Socialist Party's Norman Thomas, Robert Baldwin, A. J. Muste, and the Communist Party's Eugene Dennis to discuss peace, labor and civil rights.

What prevents activists from our different organizations, parties and movements from coming together today concerning the problems we are experiencing?

Ryan Unsuited to Lead ‘Adult Conversation’ About Povert

Ryan Unsuited to Lead ‘Adult Conversation’ About Poverty



Note: Bill Moyers has so far NOT allowed my comment to be posted to this article:

Ryan Unsuited to Lead ‘Adult Conversation’ About Poverty


http://billmoyers.com/2014/03/29/ryan-unsuited-to-lead-‘adult-conversation’-about-poverty/

Are the Democrats any more suited than Ryan to talk about eliminating poverty?

Even when they have super-majorities like here in Minnesota they refuse to raise the Minimum Wage to a real living wage based on empirical data when it comes to actual cost-of-living factors.

Any school child knows that when you pay someone a poverty wage they are going to be poor and their family will live in poverty.

Given the fact that these Democrats campaigned on the pretext of being for a "living wage" they are just as big of liars as Ryan.

Or does it make a difference what the lie is that is being told?

A kid going to school on an empty belly probably doesn't care if Ryan is lying about poverty or Minnesota's "liberal" Democratic Governor Mark Dayton or the racist Minnesota State Senator Tom Bakk whose campaign is funded by the mobster-controlled Minnesota Indian Gaming Association which is the main business group lobbying to keep the Minimum Wage a poverty wage.

The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association has now spent over fourteen-million dollars lobbying to keep the Minimum Wage from becoming a real living wage. Where does that kind of money go?

Hint:

John McCarthy, a very wealthy racist white man heads up the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association with the offices maintained in his own home, a multi-million dollar estate at 8925 Cove Dr. NE Bemidji, MN 56601.

John McCarthy also owns Tony Doom Supply Company http://www.tonydoom.com/ which sells campaign paraphernalia like yard signs, bumper stickers, buttons and even office furniture to the very politicians he is doling out campaign contributions to.

So, with one hand John McCarthy as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association is doling out tens of millions of dollars to Minnesota while with his other hand he is taking this money back in by selling these very politicians their campaign materials and office furniture.

And, as anyone can see, the head of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, Ken Martin, is working in cahoots with both John McCarthy and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and McCarthy's personal business, Tony Doom Supply Company.

I would suggest Bill Moyers and Company investigate why working people can't get a real living wage out of the Democrats when the Minnesota DFL Platform specifically states:

      "LABOR And EMPLOYMENT

      We promote the American labor movement and the rights of all workers.

      We Support:

      A minimum wage that keeps pace with inflation and provides full time
      workers with an income above the poverty level
."

Now, watch this video, or listen to the audio recording, of the members of this Minnesota Legislative Committee discussing the Minimum Wage:

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_media_list.php?ls&cmte_id=3060


If this isn't a scandal for Bill Moyers and Company to investigate, I don't know what is.

Lori Swanson, Minnesota's Attorney General says that all of this is within the law; but, is it? Swanson is a Democrat taking campaign funds from the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association.

Why would the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association spend over fourteen-million dollars lobbying Minnesota state legislators on one issue like maintaining the Minimum Wage as a poverty wage when Native American people have more to gain than anyone from the Minimum Wage being raised?


There must be a hell of a lot of profits to be made from paying casino workers employed in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos without any rights poverty wages, eh?

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

Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/