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, May 1, 2020

My response to David Millstone and the former leaders of SDS who are now backing Wall Street's neo-liberal racist warmonger and rapist Joe Biden,

This is my response to one of the people who signed on to the letter endorsing Biden after he circulated an article critical of Cuomo who he supported for Governor of New York in the same way...


I feel this is fitting for public discussion; he does not, but I don’t understand why not? He accuses me of “sneering;” whatever that means?


Anyways, this is my response to Daniel Millstone...


Daniel Millstone


There is no sneering intended. Why is this a question for a private conversation? It seems to me we need to publicly address movement building since this is the only way we might hold these neo-liberal politicians accountable.


You are the one suggesting we elect these people knowing exactly how they are going to attack the working class. You talk about pressuring these people to do what is right after they are elected, right?


I’m assuming that if Cuomo replaces Biden to lead the Democratic Party ticket as many people in New York and around the country are calling for, you will then be supporting Cuomo for president knowing exactly how he has attacked the working class in New York.


You did very publicly sign your name to a statement supporting Biden so you make yourself a public figure and as such you, too, should be held accountable as to whether or not you are providing the proper advice on these matters to people.


There is no sneering intended nor any kind of animosity...


I just think we have a right to know how those of you who sign on to these statements as leaders intend to lead us out of the messes you help get us into.


As you are aware, I sent an email to the group of you who signed on to supporting Biden... I made a very specific and straight forward suggestion (you are always asking me what I suggest) that we all join together in supporting the legislation introduced by a dozen or so Democrats to provide everyone making less than $155,000.00 a year with $2,000.00 a month until the economy returns to pre coronavirus levels.


There has been no answer to this suggestion; why not?


I’m sure you understand the influence and power of mass movements since I assume when you talk about holding these politicians’ feet to the fire you are talking about mass movements to attain certain specific objectives.


These Democrats have introduced this legislation now because they say, and they are correct- I assume you agree- that the American people need this relief now, not after Biden or Cuomo are elected and assume office a long way off from now.


Let’s have a roundtable discussion about how to proceed... I would be happy to come to New York to discuss publicly building such a movement to win passage of this legislation.


This is an emergency and we should respond as such; don’t you think?