Democracy, the MN DFL, and the Fourth of July

My Yahoo e-mail account was “deactivated” as a result of a vicious campaign being waged against me by the casino industry together with the leadership of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party--- Brian Melendez, Chair (see photo); Susan Rego, Secretary; and, Andrew O’Leary, Executive Director. Of course they had considerable help from the well-heeled members of the Summit Hill club, St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, and the MN DFL Business Caucus.

Melendez, O’Leary, and Rego have joined together with United States Information Services (USIS) the union busting outfit which is now into the “contractor business” in Iraq with its partner, the Blackwater Agency.

USIS was initially hired by Red Lake Gaming Enterprises and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association to thwart our efforts to unionize the casino industry in Minnesota.

USIS is also a major player in investigations for the health insurance rackets with offices located throughout Minnesota.

In short, USIS combines to do all the dirty deeds that the Pinkerton Agency, the FBI, and the CIA are not allowed to do… from carrying out assassination plots overseas to disrupting union organizing campaigns--- domestically and abroad.

USIS does dirty work for Cleveland Cliffs and United States Steel. USIS is also employed by General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford to root out rank and file union activists opposed to concessions and plant closings.

An agent of United States Information Services (USIS), George Armstrong, has been placed in charge of the operation being conducted against me and the Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees’ Union Organizing Committee. The FBI dossier maintained on me was even turned over to Red Lake Gaming Enterprises by USIS agent George Armstrong and staff from the United States Department of Justice.

USIS agent George Armstrong was successful in engaging the cooperation of Warroad Police Chief Lawrence Wright who ordered, in a written warning letter that our union organizing committee halt distribution of leaflets on sidewalks in Warroad lest we be “arrested and fined for illegal distribution of printed materials while trespassing,” claiming that “…sidewalks are private property. Owners of this private property choose to allow the public to use these sidewalks for the sole purpose of walking. Permission has not been granted by the private owners of these sidewalks in Warroad for any other purposes.”

As expected, the attorney representing the City of Warroad backed up this definition of what sidewalks are and what they can’t be used for. One expects this kind of convoluted logic to be used by the Chief of Police in a company town controlled by the Marvin Family while making millions manufacturing shoddy windows and doors for over one hundred years.

When threatened with a multi-million dollar law-suit in the form of a claim for damages, the Warroad Chief of Police “reconsidered” his interpretation of sidewalks and leaflet distributions.

Armstrong began his career with Naval Intelligence. He then got a job based upon his “expertise” with the Federal Bureau Investigation. After being fired from his job with the FBI for demonstrating his “expertise” when a U.S. Senate over site committee found him to have been engaged in illegal surveillance methods including tampering with and opening U.S. mail, placing false information in government data files, falsifying information including his own and colleagues’ reports, and placing illegal taps on telephone lines, Armstrong then gained employment with USIS--- specializing in union busting.

For complete information on USIS visit their web page:

http://www.usis.com/

United States Information Services is a huge operation serving casino managements, corporate, banking, military, insurance, and reactionary and corrupt political parties from its offices all over the world.

Brian Melendez, the Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, has never raised his voice in support of his 20,000 fellow Minnesotans who go to work in these smoke-filled casinos without any rights under state, federal, or tribal labor laws--- all employed under these Draconian conditions without a voice at work; and, all receiving poverty wages.

Melendez does continue to refer to these casino managements as, “Our Native American friends in the gaming industry.”

Some “friends” Melendez and the MN DFL have chosen.

Yahoo, Inc., and CenturyTel--- my current internet service provider, both admit that Armstrong has contacted them claiming to represent Brian Melendez and the DFL Executive Committee.

To date, Yahoo, Inc. has gone along with Armstrong, who was accompanied by FBI Special Agents in meetings with Yahoo, Inc. management. As a result, Yahoo, Inc. “deactivated” my e-mail account: red_finn_minnesota_progressive@yahoo.com without providing me with any verbal or written reason other than saying their Terms Of Service (TOS) allow them full power to arbitrarily “deactivate” anyone’s account without having to provide a reason; and, this they say, is what they have chosen to do with my account.

Yahoo, Inc.’s philosophy regarding democracy is perverted; but, quite fitting a philosophy for a dot com business which has made billions bilking the public in an industry wholly subsidized by the taxpayers where private industry is allowed to profit without any oversights or restraints.

CenturyTel management has a similar, but slightly different, story to tell. Their management claims they were approached by Armstrong and four FBI agents with a letter in hand, stating that I am a “designated security risk” to the United States government and that I am “indexed” as such in the files and records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that the “indexing” has been approved, in writing, by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III who has asserted in this letter that “subject is a known to the Bureau for dispensing views and engaged in activities inimical to the United States government, its domestic and foreign policies.” The letter goes on to state that I use “telephone and internet communication services including e-mail and blogging” to “achieve” these “goals and objectives.”

To date, CenturyTel, my Internet Service Provider (ISP) has refused to go along with the request to halt my internet services which I lawfully use (and pay for) under my First Amendment Rights of freedom of speech and association; no doubt they have granted the FBI the right to access my account as people are now reporting receiving e-mails from accounts claiming to have been created by me while using CenturyTel services.

In fact I sign my name to every single thing I write and distribute; I always have.

This is what scares these cowards like Melendez, Rego, and O’Leary along with the casino managements. After all, if I am writing anything that is untrue, all they have to do is respond… I have even offered Melendez, Rego, and O’Leary the opportunity to use my own blog for their responses to me; they have refused. Instead, they engage in these dirty tricks and dirty deeds like little Hitlers--- goose-stepping back-wards as they trample on our democratic rights. On numerous occasions I have offered my blog space to Floyd Jourdain to respond to charges I have made against casino managements.

Google, Inc. management is refusing all comment although it is quite apparent they are tolerating a counter intelligence type operation directed against me and my blogging as can be seen by the vicious nature of the anonymous blog postings and web sites they have allowed to be operated against me. Google has tolerated the misuse of my own blog name in order to confuse those using the Google search engine to locate my blogs.

This can readily be seen by clicking the link below and clicking on each listed “blog” link:

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&ui=blg&q=thepodunkblog&btnG=Search+Blogs

Four of the six blogs listed are phony blogs designed to skew and disorient the Google search engine. The intent of these blog listings is quite obvious as they have no other intended purpose.

Someone has taken the time to create such phony blogs for each of the headings for every topic I have blogged. Again, these cowards could have simply created their own blogs and provided a response.

Melendez has gone on and on about what a terrible person I am using the MN DFL State Central Committee list serve while barring me from the same list serve... this takes a brave individual to do this... sometimes I wonder how the human race produces such pathetic excuses for human beings.

Previously, a supporter of Mike Hatch employed in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office--- and a MN DFL Congressional District Chair--- was linked to creating such phony blogs rather than responding to what I have written; all with the intended purpose of skewing search engines. It is amazing that these political hacks have time for such games as real problems working people are experiencing go unresolved. Again, the police and prosecutors say there is nothing illegal about such activity… but, come on, even a school child can recognize this as sleazy and unethical behavior.

Taking that such activities on the part of the FBI, Minnesota DFL Executive Committee, United States Information Services and Homeland Security may not be illegal and within the guidelines of permitted Constitutional activity recognized by U.S. Attorney General Gonzalez, which I do not accede to, such activity is highly unethical and immoral--- the epitome of a corrupt political machine trying to save a rotten capitalist system which has spawned this political mess in the same manner as the health care mess and the dirty war in Iraq.

My blogging and e-mailing is carried out in the same spirit and intent as leaflets and pamphlets previously written, published, and distributed by our Founding Fathers and Mothers; including Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin and the washer-women and glass-blowers of Jamestown who organized the first strike in America; while the content of what I write is no more “inimical” to the United States than the words of Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, or Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.

It is ironic that during another time and another period, noted author and Communist--- Howard Fast--- was black-listed and hounded for writing a novel about Thomas Paine--- writer, citizen-activist and patriot.

These charlatans and political hacks who pass themselves off as “leaders” of the MN DFL pathetically call for more “studies” and “research” into the cancer cluster on the Iron Range while irresponsibly evading calling for immediate implementation of single-payer, universal health care in order to provide real assistance to those suffering the consequences of these cancers and their families who will continue to be plagued with a horrendous pile of medical bills for the rest of their lives.

Melendez, Rego, and O’Leary have more in common with Elmer Gantry and Pat Robertson than with democratic principles.

No wonder the rest of the world is laughing--- when not crying and anguishing in the pain and misery in the wake of this dirty war in Iraq and the untold suffering people are forced to endure by this rotten imperialist stage of capitalism which has turned cannibalistic.

Capitalism is “inimical” to the human race and democracy.

Brian Melendez, Susan Rego and Andrew O’Leary were hand-picked by “Cadillac Mike” to continue running the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party on behalf of the Mondale-Kaplan-Ceresi crowd.

What this Summit Hill club along with the DFL Business Caucus and their cronies in the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce really resent is when working people actually articulate positions in opposition to their own racist, pro-business, pro-war policies which have allowed working people to suffer and die as the corporate community profits through the exploitation of labor and real estate swindles; not to mention the tremendous wealth that has been accumulated through boot-legging and illegal gambling turned into an empire of state protected liquor stores and casino operations.

This corrupt little bunch of arrogant, well-heeled politicians and their well-paid political hacks now living, appropriately, in what used to be the servants’ quarters on Summit Hill, have twisted the concept of democracy into something so perverse that it has no association with what the founders of this Nation ever intended.

Yahoo, Inc. acknowledges that they turned over to the FBI the entire contents of my Yahoo e-mail including correspondence, and over 4,500 names and e-mail addresses along with phone numbers, addresses and in some cases employment information. Brian Melendez and the leadership of the Minnesota DFL has enabled the FBI and USIS to obtain a list of some 4,500 peace, labor, and social justice activists across the United States and Canada… talk about doing dirty work.

Oh, I forgot to mention something… Yahoo, Inc. has been a long time business partner with USIS in China aimed at subverting trade union activity in Wal-mart’s operations.

A concept and what it means, which you may want to ponder while sitting around the picnic table with family, relatives and friends this Fourth of July--- a concept which is increasingly becoming a distant, alien, strange and foreign concept perverted by the big-money crowd here in Minnesota: democracy.

An after-thought---

Had Brian Melendez and his wrecking crew of Susan Rego and Andrew O’Leary put as much effort into a campaign for single-payer, universal health care as what the delegates to the last state convention instructed him to do instead of trying to silence me, the Minnesota DFL Legislative Caucus would have passed single-payer, universal health care legislation. Buses filled with thirty thousand Minnesotans would be rolling towards the Cities insisting Pawlenty sign the legislation… as we are well aware, single-payer, universal health care is universally accepted and supported by Minnesotans regardless of party affiliation.

Cancer toll for Iron Range miners grows; so does need for single-payer, universal health care...

As the cancer toll for Iron Range miners grows; the need for single-payer, universal health care becomes a more urgent issue.

What I don't understand about this entire story on cancer on the Iron Range is why the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party was not on top of this situation long ago. Why would the DFL have needed Pawlenty to tell them about this problem?

Has there been no communication between the medical community and unions? No communication between research centers and unions? What gives here? Certainly, someone in labor was responsible for touching base with the medical and research communities. Are we to believe so many people have been asleep at the switch so to speak; or quite frankly just don’t care about doing their jobs in a conscientious manner? It has to be one or the other. There is no way a problem of this magnitude which has been so devastating to so many individuals and their families could not have been widely known.

The people who should have cared and been concerned didn’t care; this is the bottom line. This is what we get when politics becomes a mere game rather than a means to an end in making life better for working people.

James Oberstar has represented this area for over thirty years and is well known for his excellent constituency outreach services which he claims is the best in the nation; and, his constituency assistant Peter Makowski is a former miner and union official.

How could it be that Mr. Bratulich the International Rep. for United Steel Workers Union with his office right smack dab in the center of the Iron Range in downtown Eveleth, Minnesota where retirees meet could have been unaware of all of this... what about the United Steel Workers Health and Safety people... what kind of relationship do any of these people really have with the rank and file workers and the people living on the Iron Range that they were not on top of this situation already?

Mr. Bratulich sat in his Eveleth office playing computer games as a single-mom fought to save her home after the death of her father--- a life long miner and USWA member--- died from cancer and left the family with a horrendous medical bill and the greedy medical establishment took their family home in payment. Congressman Oberstar was asked to help and he did just what Mr. Bratulich asked him to do: nothing. Peter Makowski sat in his office in Chisholm… never budged.

We know what to expect from a viciously anti-labor Pawlenty administration.

But, these are people who are supposed to know what is going on with the families in their communities... one would think they would know to keep alert to health issues of this magnitude.

One of the big problems with Iron Range politics is James Oberstar. He lives in Washington D.C. toodling around town on his high-priced bicycle in an affluent neighborhood and comes back to his district to walk in Fourth of July Parades to wave to people and shake hands and throw a few pieces of candy to the kids… this is the extent of his connection to the 8th Congressional District. He sets the “example” for Iron Range politics. He is backed by union leaders who apparently don’t have much more enthusiasm to get out and find out what is going on any more than their trophy politician Oberstar does.

It is kind of far fetched for me to believe these people are as ignorant of the situation as they claim to be.

Has not one of these families with a loved one suffering from this painful and deadly cancer ever sought assistance from the union, their Congressman, or State Legislators... come on people, wake up; we relied on these people to be on top of all of this because we all know Pawlenty and his administration only have one concern... that concern is for the profits of the mining industry which has subsidized their campaign... but, union members also have paid dues and contributed very heavily to the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

The entire mess is just sickening.

Working people pay with their labor and their health; the mining companies profit, as the circus in the Cities continues and people still are buying tickets to see the same old show.

I seriously believe that the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party isn’t going to accomplish anything until they get some good stiff competition that isn’t afraid to stand up for what is right instead of playing these stupid and senseless political games which leave people dying in the pits and in Iraq with our tax dollars subsidizing this whole rotten mess when we should at least be getting single-payer, universal health care… until the competition arrives on the political scene and rank and file organization takes shape in the unions, we can expect to see a lot more game playing on the nightly news while working people pay the ultimate price with their lives.

The Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party now calls for funding more research into cancers on the Iron Range when the DFL should be calling for a fully funded, comprehensive, all-inclusive, single-payer, universal health care system.

It is completely irresponsible for the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s Legislative Caucus to continue holding off in calling for real single-payer, universal health care in response to this present horrendous health care mess.

The time has come for us to take thirty thousand Minnesotans to go talk to Legislators and the Governor.

Cancer on the Iron Range and in Minnesota Casinos

Many resolutions such as the one I have posted below have come from the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

There is a blatant hypocrisy to these resolutions in that Minnesota's more than 20,000 (and growing) casino workers were not mentioned in any of these resolutions; nor covered by the new "Freedom to Breathe" legislation.

This has not been by accident. Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez [pictured below], the handpicked Summit Hill club successor to "Cadillac Mike," has repeatedly referred to the casino industry as, "Our Native American friends in the casino business."

It is no coincidence that Melendez has demonstrated the same hypocrisy towards Iron Range miners who have been suffering work and environmental related cancers for many years as the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has been fully aware that the Iron Range was a very unique and significant "cancer cluster" in the United States. There was no need for Melendez and the Minnesota DFL to take note of this only as a means of "making political hay" at the expense of a well-known anti-labor, anti-people governor. Melendez, as are all Minnesota legislators including Iron Range legislators, have been fully aware of the problem with these cancers. James Oberstar has concealed, and kept his mouth shut about this issue for well over 30 years--- from the time he worked for that pathetic corrupt politician Blatnik.

The question is begging to be asked: Why did Melendez wait until now to utter a word about a problem he has known about? The answer is obvious; for Melendez politics is a mere game. For working people politics is about life, and in this case, death.

In the very same manner that Melendez has continued a more than fifty year Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party "tradition" of evading this "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range, he--- and the MN DFL--- continue to ignore the plight of casino workers when it comes to the effects of second hand-smoke.

In fact, in a personal conversation I had with unsuccessful Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party United States Senate candidate, Ford Bell, who asked me to endorse him for his U.S. Senate bid, Ford Bell acknowledged that casino workers were the largest group of workers being hurt by second-hand smoke. Ford Bell should know; he is the past President and Chief Executive Officer of one of the leading organizations in the world on the effects of second-hand smoke in the working environment--- his own biography states: From 1995 to 2005, he served as President and CEO of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, a prominent research organization and one of the largest providers of community heart health education in the United States. At least Ford Bell did have the political and moral courage to vigorously make single-payer, universal health care one of two primary platforms of his campaign; ending the dirty war in Iraq being the other.

Here again, Brian Melendez and this arrogant leadership at the helm of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, while making the pretense of remaining impartial, even manipulated and maneuvered to sink Ford Bell's campaign for United States Senate.

During the 7th Congressional District Convention, Melendez and his little clique went so far as to try to prevent Ford Bell's campaign workers from distributing Bell's campaign material... it was only after my very vigorous and vocal intervention that Bell's campaign workers were allowed to distribute his material as all other candidates were afforded the opportunity. Any one can pick up the phone and call Ford Bell to verify this... or the Seventh District Chair who refused to intervene on Bell's behalf.

WE are talking about very basic and elemental issues of democracy being attacked by Chair Melendez and his wrecking crew of Susan Rego and Andrew O'Leary.

Ford Bell and I had a very cordial discussion about why I would not endorse him; although I did continue to state throughout the campaign that he was obviously a better candidate for the MN DFL to put forward than Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar who has never taken anything but an opportunist stand on any issue... once in awhile she happens to take a correct position, but the action is one of political expediency rather than based upon any kind of moral or political courage.

Ford Bell refused to take up the issue of the right of casino workers to be free from second-hand smoke as a condition I placed upon him for my endorsement--- he lost the nomination for the United States Senate to Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar whose big campaign boast was that her grandfather was "a miner on the Iron Range."

In fact, Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar's grandfather was a straw boss for the mining company and from this position "fingered" many miners who were involved in the struggle to unionize the mines who upon being fingered lost their jobs along with their health in later life; but, this isn't the point, here; even though this gives us an idea of her moral and political integrity. The point is, Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar used her association as coming from a mining family, but refused to refer to the "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range in her campaign--- and once elected, in the very same manner she has refused, like the rest of the Minnesota DFL [with the exception of the Roseau County DFL]to respond to the health related problems of casino workers to second-hand smoke.

In fact, the DFL has very hypocritically refused to mention the "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range while simultaneously ignoring a similar health related plight of casino workers.

In fact, Minnestota Farmer-Labor Party organizer and Communist Party member--- United States Congressman John Bernard--- requested the United States Congress investigate this "cancer cluster" in 1936 immediately after his election to the United States House of Representatives. He was backed up in this request by his long-time friend and socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party Governor, Elmer Benson. As far back as 1928, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Communist Party organizer who helped to spearhead the union organizing efforts of the Red Finns which successfully organized the mines on the Iron Range was referring to "work related hazards... including deadly cancers" among "iron ore miners on Minnesota's Iron Range" as she criss crossed the United States making our nation's working class aware of the struggles of iron ore miners for justice and human dignity; Flynn made impassioned pleas for solidarity with iron ore miners on the Mesabi Iron Range.

We need to ask "why" every single thing affecting the lives of working people--- their employment, their communities, and now even their health--- is viewed by the DFL Legislative Caucus and the Brian Melendez leadership as part of a political game; worthy of mere press releases aimed at embarrassing an anti-labor Republican Governor who needs no help in this respect?

Mr. Melendez has led the fight AGAINST single-payer, universal health care and has actively "strategized" in developing "tactics" aimed at confusing Minnesotans as to what single-payer, universal health care really is all about; again, as part of his political games and cruel shenanigans.

We have all seen and heard the responses from DFL legislators concerning Pawlenty with-holding information on this "cancer cluster" which further documents a problem we have all known has existed for years. What did we see and hear? A justifiable attack on Pawlenty and this horrendously anti-labor Republican administration.

However, what was lacking was any mention of the need for single-payer, universal health care in helping these miners and their families suffering from these cancers which are work and environmentally related.

The Minnesota DFL has consistently ignored the warnings from former United States District Court Judge Miles Lord of the cancer related problems associated with iron ore mining and the taconite industry... just as the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has continued to ignore the plight of casino workers and second-hand smoke. Just as this "cancer cluster" signifies a pattern, so too does the silence of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

Perhaps if these political opportunists had family members suffering from the work-place and environmental related cancers in the mining communities and in the casinos we would be hearing a little different story on the nightly news.

This resolution below intentionally excludes casino workers. The writer of this resolution was fully aware that casino workers would not be included in the "Freedom to Breathe" legislation, yet, in the most arrogantly racist and anti-labor manner, without any regard to the health hazards particularly to young working women of child-bearing age, went right ahead and used the term: "all workers in Minnesota."

Again, no mention of "single-payer, universal health care" in this resolution even though the writer of this resolution was fully aware that Minnesota workers suffering the health consequences of second-hand smoke are having their homes taken away from them to cover health related expenses.

Again, the resolution refers to "all workplaces in Minnesota" need to be smoke-free, fully aware that this legislation would not apply to casino workers.

Here is the resolution:

Freedom To Breath - Smoke Free Minnesota Resolution
Submitted by mmcintee on Mon, 03/06/2006 - 6:40pm. Resolutions

WHEREAS, secondhand smoke kills 38,000 Americans every year from cardiovascular disease and lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, worksites and public places are locations where both members of the community and employees of those establishments are exposed to secondhand smoke; and

WHEREAS, most but not all workers in Minnesota are protected from secondhand smoke through smoke-free workplace policies; and

WHEREAS, restaurant and particularly bar workers are most exposed, most vulnerable and least protected from secondhand smoke in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, the DFL's Ongoing Platform supports reasonable regulations that ensure safety and the rights of all workers; and

WHEREAS, employees should not be forced to risk their health through exposure to dangerous and deadly toxins in their workplace; and

WHEREAS, the DFL's Ongoing Platform supports living and working conditions free from significant exposure to poisons; and

WHEREAS, the most effective way to protect employee and public health from the hazards of secondhand smoke is to prohibit the causes of secondhand smoke by creating smoke-free environments,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party supports a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law ensuring that all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, become smoke-free and include this support as an Action Agenda Item in the DFL's ongoing platform.

I wrote a response to this arrogant, anti-labor, racist hypocrisy of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party which was published in the TimberJay newspaper, an Iron Range newspaper. I publish it below:

Letter to the editor published in Timberjay Newspaper

Link: http://timberjay.com/current.php?article=3361

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Volume 18, Issue 22

Legislators should show concern for casino workers

Over twenty thousand Minnesotans go to work in smoke-filled casinos everyday. State legislators don’t care about casino workers or casino patrons who are the same people they say they are protecting from second-hand smoke everyplace else with the new “Freedom to Breath” legislation.

If state legislators would show some concern for these 20,000 casino workers employed in an industry making money hand over fist, which subjects casino workers not only to the health hazards of second-hand smoke, but leaves them completely at the mercy of managements that have no respect for working people and their right to be employed in a healthy and safe workplace to begin with, Reps. David Dill and Tom Rukavina would not have to be complaining of an “uneven playing field.”

People sit in bars by choice; people work in these casinos because they need a job. There is a big difference; both Dill and Rukavina should be able to understand this. Workers have a right to expect that state legislators will not throw them into situations where they have no rights under state or federal labor laws and now without the protection of “Freedom To Breath” legislation, something state legislators have done with casino workers.

Who has allowed such an “uneven playing field” to develop in the first place? These legislators should look in the mirror.

It is up to Dill and Rukavina to stop crying about this smoking ban and the “uneven playing field” they created in the first place and continue to tolerate... their concern should be for the health of all workers, including casino workers, and Dill and Rukavina should take the appropriate measures to “level the playing field” by making sure all workers, including casino workers, have the right to be employed in safe and healthy work environments protected by the same state and federal labor laws that protect all other workers.

I have a great deal of respect for Rep. Rukavina and support just about everything he does as a state Legislator, but on this issue he is all wrong. Rep. Rukavina is concerned about a few bar owners when he should be concerned about the people working in these bars for eight, ten, and twelve hours who breathe in this second-hand smoke.

I am quite sure I speak for all of organized labor on this; I know I speak for most working people who want to be employed in a healthy and safe working environment.

Mr. Maki is Director of Organizing- Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees’ Union Organizing Committee and serves on the DFL State Central Committee.

Whether we are speaking of the "cancer cluster" on the Iron Range or more than 20,000 Minnesotans working in casinos... time, and time again, we are seeing demonstrated the same uncaring and insensitive attitude towards working people by the DFL Legislative Caucus and the present opportunist leadership of the party hacks who have a strangle-hold on the DFL Party organization and apparatus.

Time, and time again, we see how these cowardly political hacks resort to the same vicious smear campaigns trying to silence their critics. I am not their first target, I will not be their last... unless those who respect working people and grassroots activists put an end to this sad, sad state of affairs in the MN DFL where the very lives of working people are being used to play political games rather than solving the problems at hand people will begin to look for other political alternatives in solving their problems; I for one, think it would be good if an alternative to the do-nothing politics of the MN DFL developed... the sooner the better; this would be healthier for democracy; this would be healthier for our state and Minnesota's working people... yes, there is a pun intended.

Democracy is just another word for nothing left to lose...

Dear Dan DuHamel, member MN DFL State Central Committee;

Ok, I will remove your name from the “list” as you have requested for the first time. Please understand the list you refer to is the list Susan Rego made available to each member of the DFL SCC. It is not a list I created. I obtained this list in the same way each and every other member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee has obtained it. Just as you have obtained it in fact.

Someone has even been so dishonest as to state to Yahoo Abuse and CenturyTel Abuse that I am no longer a member of the MN DFL SCC which is an outright lie and another method of harassment.

I am requesting that Audrey Thayer of the Bemidji, Minnesota Racial and Justice Task Force of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union pass this letter along to the executive board of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union.

I would suggest that you request of MN DFL Secretary Susan Rego that she remove your name from this list because every time she updates the list your e-mail address will reappear on it and then we have to go through this all over again.

I will not waste my time continuing to search for your e-mail address for removal each time.

YOU, Mr. Du Hamel, have a responsibility to make sure you don’t give out your e-mail address willy-nilly and then complain like this. You are an adult with the responsibility that goes along with it… one of those responsibilities is not giving out your e-mail address if you don’t want to receive e-mail. Anyone with an ounce of common sense understands that when they willingly provide their e-mail address to be included on an e-mail list of a political Party’s State Central Committee they are going to receive many e-mails from many different people who have a variety of political opinions and world views often different from your own.

The purpose of having a DFL SCC e-mail list is for each member of the SCC to convey and exchange ideas with other members.

I find it rather ironic that when I first started circulating my e-mails to the list Andrew O’Leary, Susan Rego, and Brian Melendez cried the loudest because I was not including them on the list. Then a secretary from Walter Mondale’s office called me and threatened to sue me if I did not include her on the list so old Fritz could read what I was saying about him.

Just so you know, I will be reporting future requests to have names removed from updated lists to the proper law enforcement agencies because I consider that when Brian Melendez and Susan Rego single out my e-mails in asking their chums to write me to remove them from an e-mail list they in fact created and distributed and disseminated for use by each member of the DFL SCC this is, in fact, a form of harassment that rises to the level of a hate crime.

I do don't have time to go searching for names on a list. Some of those who wrote requesting I take their names off actually wrote me from different e-mail addresses than what I was sending to causing me to waste untold hours of my time; this was not by accident, but through malicious intent; people treating politics as a game.

You are aware that the MN DFL, its various Party organizations, and political candidates send out numerous unsolicited e-mails. Walter Mondale sent me all kinds of e-mails I never requested as did many other candidates? Where did they get my e-mail address? From Brian Melendez and Susan Rego. Did I complain? No. What I didn't want to read I just hit the "Delete" button.

You know, when someone of the dwindling stature as Walter Mondale publicly advocates for a “pre-emptive” strike against North Korea in order to gain a higher profile, I think I have a right to voice my views in opposition to such a disgusting suggestion and that I have a responsibility to make my views known to EACH and EVERY member of the MN DFL SCC.

Likewise, when the MN DFL State Legislative Caucus which overwhelmingly controls--- by a numerical majority--- a Senate Committee which determines whether or not legislation to save the Ford Plant will get before the full Senate and House and without being able to account for how this legislation does not make it through this most important Senate Committee presided over by a member of the MN DFL Legislative Caucus who also happens to be the town drunk, who inadvertently forgets to ask the secretary of the committee to take proper minutes and then in his drunken stupor forgets to request a roll call vote leaving us without any accountability as to what went on in these proceedings while another DFL’er, Rod Skoe, was out to dinner paid for by his Republican colleagues; again, I think I have the right, and the obligation, to make my views known to each and every member of the MN DFL SCC.

In the case of your fellow Minnesotans, over 20,000 and growing, who are forced to go to work in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights under state, federal, or tribal labor laws under the most Draconian conditions without any voice in the workplace as the Chair Melendez welcomes “our Native American friends in the casino industry” to our state convention as he did in Duluth--- again, I think I have an obligation to raise this issue; to raise it repeatedly; and, to raise it vigorously since neither you nor any other member of the MN DFL State Central Committee has had the common decency and lacked the moral and political courage to do so as you turn around and try to coerce everyone else into silence.

As for the issue of that poor old grandmother who used the deployment to Iraq of her grandson as political fodder to drum up support for legislation to continue funding this dirty, senseless, illegal, and immoral war in Iraq because she didn’t want her grandson to be “without bullets and armor” and I responded by making another political point in suggesting she “not cry if her grandson returns in a body bag,” Susan Rego has arbitrarily cut me from the DFL list serve. I want this to be made very clear… this grandmother lacks complete love and respect for her own grandchild.

Any grandmother who would use her grandchild as a political prop to advocate for continuing funding for this dirty war in Iraq demonstrates neither “respect” nor “love” for her grandchild; nor the rest of humanity. I was demonstrating love and respect for her grandchild, and for all those dying in this senseless war when I made this observation which shook many people to their senses as to how pitiful it was that Brian Melendez and Susan Rego would stoop so low as to encourage and allow this uncaring and unthinking grandmother to support a war in which her own grandchild might come back in a body bag so that Bush and Cheney’s oil buddies might profit as United States imperialism gains a strategic foothold through the establishment of permanent bases in the Middle East as part of its policy to dominate this oil rich region of the world which Republican Party fund raiser and Enterprise Institute founder Richard DeVos once referred to as a “big kitty litter box,” meaning it is ok to shit on the people in the Middle East as long as the oil continues to flow.

As you are fully aware, there is nothing of an illegal or immoral nature to my e-mails, but rather, each and every one of my e-mails has related to very legitimate issues of what is taking place in Minnesota politics.

I have checked with other who have e-mailed you as part of mailing to the entire list and you have never objected to receiving e-mails from them. My only conclusion is that you are part of the campaign being whipped up by DFL Chair Brian Melendez and DFL Secretary Susan Rego who fear a challenge to their positions. And, as far as I know, in a democracy and a political Party that supposedly prides itself on democratic ideals, it is still proper and fitting that I am part of a campaign by the Democracy Caucus to challenge them for the position of Chair and Secretary.

I think it is very unfortunate that you would heed the call of Brian Melendez to insist I take your name off of the list Susan Rego created. I have to wonder if you are even capable of thinking for yourself when you allow someone else to tell you what you can and can not read as if you are a small child in a Sunday school class being taught by Pat Robertson.

I hope you do not turn around and complain like several other people have done that once I took them off of these mailings they now want back on because they want to know what is going on. I will tell you the same thing I have told these other people, including Rick Stafford, “You wanted your name off because Brian Melendez told you to harass me with the request to take your name off, now go ask Brian Melendez for copies of what I send out."

I will have you know that while Brian Melendez and Susan Rego have made such a big deal of insisting that no one should read my e-mails and insist I take them off the list they in fact created, I have never received a request from either Brian Melendez or Susan Rego for me to remove their own names from these mailings… now, if that doesn’t appear just a little strange to you and the people at CenturyTel abuse and Yahoo, Inc abuse… someone doesn’t have much common sense or understand the nature of democracy… I am sure you would have joined the British in trying to silence Tom Paine and Benjamin Franklin as they pamphleteered and leafleted.

By the way, this letter will be the feature of my blog today… and I will dedicate it to you and the others who have requested their e-mails be removed at the request of Brian Melendez so Minnesotans get an idea of the sheep at the helm of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party. I will be posting your names (all ELEVEN of you) and e-mail addresses on my blog.

I hope this e-mail will be distributed widely; and with the posting of your e-mail address on my blog I hope you begin to hear from many Minnesotans who are fed up with those who have been elected to public office then sticking their heads into the sand like you apparently intend to do so that they can say they do not hear the pleas of Minnesotans for peace and social justice… or, the demand for single-payer, universal health care.


Alan L. Maki

Elected Member, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee, Roseau County

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/


CC:
Ley Soltis, Chair, Roseau County DFL
58716 355th Street
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2293

So far, after a three week campaign, DFL Chair Brian Melendez and Secretary Susan Rego have convinced ELEVEN members out of hundreds to ask me to stop sending them my e-mails. Everyone knows how much time and energy Melendez and Rego have expended on their hate campaign against me in retaliation for my suggestion that what we really need is accountability from the DFL Legislative Caucus.

Had the equivalent energy and resources of the MN DFL been utilized to bring about accountability in assuring a democratic process on an issue like single-payer, universal health care Minnesotans would be very happy. But, Melendez and Rego have established their priorities and trying to silence me has been just another one of their unsuccessful campaigns, just like the loser they supported for Governor.

Dozens more have told me in phone calls, in person-to-person discussions, and through e-mails to keep my e-mails coming:

I am posting the e-mail addresses of those who have asked me to stop sending them e-mails about the war in Iraq, single-payer universal health care, the rights of casino workers, efforts to save the Ford Plant, and accountability & democracy... I am sure they would be just as thrilled to hear from you as they have been to hear from me... especially Betty Folliard who was the architect of the plan to get a Democrat elected governor by ignoring the plight of working people and reaching out to those in the affluent suburbs and gated communities. Of course, "uncle george" George Greene is everyone's favorite uncle and I am very unhappy he has chosen to ignore his "nephew" in consideration of his favorite cause... Israel's warmongering policies aimed at destroying the Palestinian people; as for Rick Stafford who begged, and begged, and begged for my vote at the State Convention promising to take up these issues... well, he is just another Party hack well on his way to being another politician without any accountability wallowing in contributions from the health care industry; poor Dan Du Hamel... there at the bottom of the list just because he went along to get along; then there is David Lee the "progressive" crusader who objects to roll-call votes and accountability and public ownership of the Ford Plant which is located in his own district... not a peep out of him as thousands of jobs and Minnesota's industrial base is sold down the River:


vsosp@scc.net

dweinand@gmail.com

newdlwig@mindspring.com

Travalfie@aol.com

David W. Lee [chair@cd5.dfl.org]

Betty Folliard [bfolliard@strategypartners.biz]

Amanda Tempel [atempel@visi.com]

Rick STAFFORD [rickatmpls@msn.com]

George Greene [unclegeo@bstock.com]

Sharon Rickert [sharon@holoweb.com]

Daniel DuHamel [djduhamel@comcast.net]

Minnesota DFL leadership demonstrates no respect or concern for working people...

Below is a letter I sent to David Lee who is Chair of Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District of the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party which is well known for sending out untold amounts of Spam soliciting financial contributions and everything else that goes along with being involved in politics...

Mr. Lee and a small group of Democrats heavily associated and influenced by business interests is among those, along with Brian Melendez and Susan Rego, who have initiated an unprecedented personal attack against me because I have insisted that several issues be placed on the table for solution.

Mr. Lee along with this small group has become enraged because I have insisted on accountability from the DFL Legislative Caucus. The Minnesota DFL controls both the House and Senate in the Minnesota Legislature, therefore, anything the DFL is for should have an easy ride through the Committee Process and on the Floor. This is not the case as we have sadly witnessed.

Things like single-payer, universal health care endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the grassroots delegates to the last State Convention should have been placed on the table early on during the last legislative session along with legislation aimed at bringing the Ford Plant under public ownership.

This was not the case. Single-payer, universal health care never saw the light of day and has only surfaced now in a form brought forward by Senator John Marty in a very good form with one little problem if left unresolved--- it will bankrupt the state; kind of hilarious in a sick sort of way.

We need to make it clear that we want this Bill to go forward in an altered form that removes the insurance companies and HMO's from the picture altogether. Only a complete fool would suggest that taxpayers should subsidize the profits of the insurance industry and HMO's while bankrupting the state in the process.

Senator John Marty is holding hearings around the state ostensibly to convince his fellow DFL'ers that there is a horrendous problem with the present state of health care in Minnesota.

Come on, really, are there any DFL legislators besides Rod Skoe--- the exemplary example of intellectual wisdom; Bernie Lieder--- the "I'm more conservative than my Republican opponent;" and, Dave Olin--- "I didn't know there was a problem with health care" who don't understand the health care system is in a complete mess? In fact, health care is a disaster because the insurance companies, doctors, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, and HMO's have profited from people's misery and illnesses. In fact, in many cases the rotten health care system makes greater misery for people than the illnesses they suffer from.

Obviously the leading body of the Minnesota DFL, the State Central Committee should have convened a special meeting as I suggested long ago on the issues of health care and the war in Iraq with accountability being the focus; yet, the only response to my insistence that two special meetings of the State Central committee be convened on the two most important and pressing issues--- health care and the war in Iraq--- for the purpose of hammering out a position that not only includes nicely framed policy statements, but real solutions has been to attack me; and, I don't think I can stress "solutions" enough. Minnesotans want to see an end to this dirty war in Iraq and Minnesotans have made it very clear they want this health care mess resolved through a system of single-payer, universal health care.

Basic to any solutions to these two problems is accountability. We get accountability by holding politicians accountable in two ways: 1.) insisting DFL elected officials support the DFL program and platform (now there is a real no brainer one would think) and by insisting that we have a way of keeping track of how these members of the DFL Caucus are voting... we do this by insisting that the Chairs of Legislative Committees instruct the committee secretaries to keep accurate minutes of Committee Meetings in a way that the public can tell who says what; more importantly, a record of how all committee members vote... dah, another no brainer, yet, a suggestion that has caused State Chair Melendez, Secretary Rego and others like 5th District Chair David Lee to go ballistic and postal in their attacks on me for suggesting this.

Why did State Chair Melendez go ballistic and into a fit of rage at my suggestion that all committee votes in the State Legislature be roll call votes and recorded by the committee secretaries?

One need only examine what has happened with the issues of single-payer, universal health care (it hasn't even been introduced except in a form if left as is will be defeated for sure); and, the proposed legislation that would have helped to save the Ford Plant which went down to defeat in a very heavily DFL dominated committee--- someone needs to explain this.

In fact, the ineffective DFL leadership of Melendez and Rego engineered the defeat of this legislation because of Susan Rego's clear financial conflict of interest; both Melendez and Rego are beholden to the Summit Hill club, the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, and the DFL Business Caucus which, according to Rego doesn't even exist, yet these ghosts meet monthly in various restaurants around the Cities.

We don't need a repeat of what Melendez and Rego engineered for the future of the Ford Plant with single-payer, universal health care where Minnesotans and members of the DFL don't know how legislators vote in committee or on the floors of the Senate and House. This is not democracy. This is corrupt and undemocratic government through manipulation and control by well-heeled, wealthy, and powerful financial interests.

Melendez, Rego, and David Lee must be held accountable for their roles in fostering this kind of corrupt and undemocratic government.

This trio should have to stand before the DFL State Central Committee and explain why legislating without accountability is taking place on the part of the DFL Legislative Caucus.

This issue of accountability is one that is so basic and fundamental to honest and democratic government that it boggles the mind that Melendez, Rego, and David Lee would retaliate in such a vicious manner against me for bringing this issue forward.

But, I had no choice except to raise this issue of accountability, no one else has raised this issue.

Not the media, not the bloggers, not the unions, not academia. Not one other member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has raised this issue that there has been a lack of accountability in the political process. Noting the reaction I have been subjected to I can kind of understand why. My real crime is that I put my thoughts about this in writing for all to read... and, lo and behold... everyone began saying, "Maki makes more sense than the entire bunch of those political hacks and those clowns passing themselves off for politicians."

Melendez, Rego, and David Lee have chosen to hide their attacks against me behind the skirts of a grandmother who used her grandson's pending deployment to Iraq as a political prop to silence those calling for an end to financing this dirty war in Iraq. I made the very simple observation that she should not cry if her grandson returns in a body bag--- a very realistic possibility given her mindless support for this senseless war.

This is the oldest trick in the book. Every high school debate student learns to try to shift to another issue when they can not explain and articulate their position.

Melendez, Rego, and David Lee have tried to shift the debate away from the issue of accountability using every dirty trick in the book and creating some new ones in the process centered around "Maki's lack of respect for a grandmother whose grandson is going off to Iraq." This all makes even Richard Nixon look like an angel in the way he attacked George McGovern... another progressive voice that Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and the Minnesota DFL helped to do in and we ended up getting stuck with Nixon.

Sure, Hubert Humphrey would be smiling at such shameful shenanigans being used by his contemporaries to replace progressive politics... and, you know, honest politics with accountability can not be separated from progressive politics because in the end when all is said and done--- after all the perfect framing of issues has taken place--- progressive politics is about accountability and honest government... accountability and honesty in government are the two primary hallmarks of progressive politics... yet Melendez, Rego, and David Lee indulge in the most atrocious and dishonest politics.

Mr. David Lee has sent me several very nasty e-mails, including suggesting that I don't have a right to even be in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party. He is irate that I have raised the issue of accountability and won't let it rest. I sent the following e-mail to Mr. Lee, I will publish his response if he has the moral and political courage to respond:

Mr. Lee,

Please enlighten me to what you see as some of the main problems facing Minnesotans and their solution.

By the way, I had removed you and the handful of other people who requested to be removed from my mailings to the DFL SCC… however, since you and others who are so concerned about my e-mailing have allowed Brian Melendez to take an action that disrupts my e-mailing to those who want to receive my e-mails and those with whom I communicate by getting Yahoo, Inc. to use its filtering system against all those with yahoo e-mail addresses I communicate with on a regular basis… I feel quite free to continue e-mailing all members, including you, of the DFL SCC.

Let me be perfectly frank… you did not step forward many months ago and support my suggestion that any of this (single-payer, universal health care, ending the war in Iraq, accountability from legislators) be placed on the SCC agenda; nor did you make any effort to put a halt to the campaign of hate that sprang up around the Chair’s and Secretary’s campaign to silence me; nor did you stand up and insist upon an explanation as to why the resolutions from the Roseau County DFL county convention went “missing.”

Nobody forced you to take the position of 5th District Chair which requires you to be attuned to these kinds of problems.

Do you really think that people are so stupid that when you say it is my methods that these very real problems people are experiencing are preventing the DFL from taking up, and putting forward, solutions? You must think everyone is a complete fool. I did not create any of these problems.

In fact, you, Brian Melendez and Susan Rego have taken my very legitimate concerns and turned this into a farce and fiasco.

You have shirked your responsibility when it comes to supporting dialogue and debate on how best to end the war in Iraq; you have not lifted your voice in protest against the continued contamination of our environment and freshwater aquifer up here in northern Minnesota by MinnTac and peat mining interests; you have never once brought forward the injustices 20,000 of your fellow Minnesotans are being subjected to as they go to work in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights in the workplace and without a voice at work. Not once have you raised your voice in support of single-payer, universal health care with accountability from the DFL Legislative Caucus on this issue.

Mr. Lee, had you raised your voice in what you consider to be a “proper” manner; there would be no reason for me to be addressing any of these problems in what you now consider an "improper manner."

In fact, what you consider "improper" is that I have raised these issues in the first place.

I have noted your continued silence concerning the barbaric behavior of the Israeli military in trying force the Palestinian people from their homes. I note you were silent as the Israeli military conducted its campaign of carnage in Lebanon... just as you sit in silence now as the Israeli perpetrated violence in Gaza spirals out of control.

You have not once lifted your voice in support of saving the Ford Plant and thousands of jobs through public ownership, the only way this plant will be saved in spite of the fact that you Chair the DFL organization where many Ford workers reside and where the Plant is located. You, Mr. Lee, despicably went along with Representative Paymar, the Summit Hill Club, DFL Business Caucus and the the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce. Why, Mr. Lee, did you not insist on complete openness and accountability during the legislative process involving the legislation aimed at saving the Ford Plant and thousands of jobs?

Mr. Lee, you describe my actions as "improper." In what light should your own inaction on these very important and vital issues be cast?

Perhaps the worst of what you say is that you do not appreciate my methods; when in fact, what you do not appreciate is that these issues are being brought forward at all.

As for my bulk e-mailing, what makes my bulk e-mailing more offensive to you then that used by Keith Ellison, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Walter Mondale, the MN DFL, or any number of “bulk e-mailers.” In fact, I have received copies from people in your own district that have received unsolicited e-mails, mail, and leaflets from you and the 5th District DFL organization... might I suggest what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Mr. Lee, following your logic I would suggest that you not allow your 5th District DFL organization to e-mail, mail, or leaflet anyone or any household in your district unless they request you do such. I wonder how many people would actually request anything from a worthless, two-faced, political hack like you?

Should you and Mr. Melendez and Susan Rego and the handful of others want to play this little game you are playing rather than addressing the issues, let me assure you I am up to playing your game while continuing to address the issues in the process.

I have one of the largest e-mailing lists in Minnesota and I intend to make sure this list grows as I inform people of how you and a small group of people are continuing to dominate the DFL Party as if it is your own private piece of real estate or personal property when in fact it was created through a merger with the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party for the purpose of empowering working people and giving a voice to working people trying to solve their problems just as I am doing. That you so detest what I am doing demonstrates your complete and utter contempt for working people trying to find solutions to their problems.

Now, Mr. Lee, if what I am doing is in violation of the rules and by-laws governing the Mn DFL Party, I would suggest that you and your cohorts take the appropriate actions provided within the DFL structure to have me removed rather than harassing me to no end for e-mailing people in the very same way that you do.

Let us not play games, Mr. Lee; you and I have absolutely nothing in common. I would suggest to you that you take your own advice and leave the MN DFL if you can not tolerate dialogue, discussion, and debate concerning the issues of importance to working people.

Should you really wish for me to leave the DFL, the only thing you have to do is take away the issues that have brought me here in the first place… several of which I have addressed here. You have only had many years to do this, and only now do you address these issues at all in opposing my “methods” of bringing these issues forward.

You are very right; I have no respect for political hacks like you who use such subterfuge and meanness to evade real issues.

Please feel free to contact the Chair of the Roseau County DFL with your concerns… please CC me a copy.

Mr. Ley Soltis is the Chair of the Roseau County DFL. Mr. Soltis can be reached at: 58716 355th Street, Warroad, Minnesota 56763. His phone number is: 218-386-2293.

Mr. Lee, I invite you, Chair Melendez and Susan Rego to work through the rules and by-laws of the Minnesota DFL and take the appropriate action in holding me accountable for what you have described as using "improper methods" and "improper conduct." I welcome you to initiate such proceedings rather than engaging in your campaign of intolerance and hate against me.

Quite frankly, Mr. Lee, your complaint of my "lack of respect" for a grandmother who would sit in silence and send her grandson off to fight in an immoral, illegal, unjust war in Iraq while using his deployment to drum up support for continuing to squander our tax dollars on this war is what I find both disgusting a shameful.

I have never in my life heard of a grandmother who would demonstrate such a lack of love, and lack of respect, for her own grandchild, that she would allow her grandchild to go off to war without a peep of protest and then turn around and use her grandchild to bully the rest of us into silence and into supporting the continued funding for this dirty war.

Mr. Lee, if this rotten government ever tried taking one of my grandchildren off to fight this dirty oilman's war I would be fighting like hell to prevent my grandchild from going in order to prevent harm to my grandchild and to prevent my grandchild from bringing harm to others; not using my grandchild as a pawn in a political game. Mr. Lee, you and her, are the epitome of everything dishonest and corrupt in politics in America today. I have no respect for the kind of politics you and she espouse.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Campaign To End Spam

Susan Rego and Brian Melendez;

regofam@earthlink.net
brian.melendez@usa.net

As the Fourth of July approaches, I would like all patriotic Americans to join our Campaign To End Spam. I would like you to join me and my colleagues on the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee in this Campaign To End Spam because you have indicated that this is high on your list of priorities.

I have asked Brian Melendez to serve as the Chair of this Campaign To End Spam and Susan Rego to serve as Secretary of the Campaign To End Spam; Both have graciously accepted the positions.

I am suggesting that the MN DFL take prompt action in bringing the problem of Spam to the attention of Minnesota legislators. A Special Legislative Session on Spam is in order.

Therefore, in order to document the Spam problem, I will be forwarding all the Spam I
receive to Brian Melendez our distinguished Chair, and Susan Rego our bright and brilliant Secretary so that they can make our devoted legislators aware of this problem. I urge all patriotic Americans to do like wise. Brian and Susan are eagerly standing by waiting for your Spam e-mails; they hope to hear from you soon and to hear from you often.

I think Brian and Susan were initially correct in taking up this crusade against Spam even if they did not understand a mass approach to this complex and important problem that is now affecting the lives of so many Americans in so many ways.

Just yesterday I received a phone call from an Internet drug company in Canada asking me if I would like to place a large order for anti-depressants to help me overcome mental anxiety and other problems created by Spam.

This problem of Spam e-mails far out weighs the carnage, killing, death, and destruction taking place in Iraq and the fact that thousands of Minnesotans have no access to health care along with the closing of the Ford Plant in St. Paul or the fact that over 20,000 casino workers in Minnesota continue to be employed in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights under state, federal, or tribal labor laws.

Spam is the number one issue in our country today. I feel very strongly that we need to stop SPAM rather than the robbery taking place at the pumps.

I call upon every patriotic American to be vigilant in the war against Spam, and to take an active part in eradicating Spam which as everyone knows was devised and developed by evil tyrants in all the dark corners of the globe intent on destroying our great bastion of democracy.

I am suggesting that everyone send all their spam e-mail to Brian Melendez and Susan Rego; it is very important they each receive copies of this Spam.

You know; all the porno crap and advertisements for Viagra and Cialis; all the advertising for motorized condoms and sexual lubricants and phone sex services; all the advertising promotions for real-estate in the swamps of Florida and get rich quick penny stock schemes; all the unsolicited e-mails from politicians and political parties begging for money; all the e-mails from Yahoo and Hotmail and Google asking us to buy their services; all the promoters, like Verio, for sales of web sites to promote all of this stuff. Oh, we must not leave out the advertising for "discount" cruises, car rentals, time-shares, and internet gambling… or the promotions for newspapers and magazines or American Flags. also, don't forget all the Spam sent out by the political hacks desperately trying to confuse the American people into believing that when Congress votes to continue funding for this dirty war in Iraq they are really voting to end the war.

Let me assure you that I take this struggle to end spamming very seriously. Hopefully others will, also; and,follow my initiative to forward all the Spam they receive, I stress the word ALL, to Brian Melendez and Susan Rego so they can forward all this Spam on to Minnesota legislators and: CorporateSecretary@yahoo-inc.com

I have asked Brian Meledez and Susan Rego who in the MN DFL Legislative Caucus is taking the lead on this issue so all this Spam can be documented for them through the use of the “Cc” line? I will notify everyone when we find out. I understand bi-partisan consideration is being given to making Mike Hatch and Merritt Clapp-Smith honorary co-chairs of the legislative committees working on this impressive undertaking.

I would also suggest that ALL spam be forwarded to: CorporateSecretary@yahoo-inc.com

You know, I just don’t understand why Yahoo, Inc. is so eager to help put an end to my e-mailing when 90% of the Spam I receive seems to originate from their own business services since it has a Yahoo address. Maybe this has something to do with my message? Or, perhaps the fact that I don’t pay for their services? Anyways, I view my e-mails kind of like leafleting in the New Age of cybering; kind of like Tom Paine viewed his pamphleteering.

If everyone receiving this e-mail will just take the time to hit the “Forward” button every time they receive the Spam I have referred to and send it to Brian and Susan at their e-mail addresses up there in the “To” line” and add the message: We want an end to this dirty war in Iraq and single-payer, universal health care AND SPAM I am sure we will put an end to all this darn dreaded Spam.

I have the utmost confidence that as the leaders of the Summit Hill Club, the DFL Business Caucus, and the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, Brian Melendez and Susan Rego will do an excellent job in our Campaign To End Spam.

Say, I have a great idea. What do you say we make Fritz Mondale the poster boy for our anti-SPAM CAMPAIGN? We could take all the SPAM, blow it up, and put Fritz in a Speedo sitting on a beach chair in front of his cave all decorated with the unsolicited Spam he sent out promoting the candidacy of Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar.

Thank you, thank you all for your hard work and your tenacity in the struggle to put an end to Spam.

I just hope Hormel does not object to our campaign.

Brian Melendez and Susan Rego will acknowledge in some manner when they have enough of the required documentation for presentation to the legislature. I assume with DFL control of both the Minnesota House and the Senate we will have no problem getting anti Spam legislation before Governor Pawlenty… provided the chair of the Senate committee shows up for hearing and is not out on the drunk.

Please join the CAMPAIGN TO END SPAM...

Send all SPAM by hitting the "Forward" button to the Chair and Secretary:


Chair, Brian Melendez:

brian.melendez@usa.net


Secretary, Susan Rego:

regofam@earthlink.net

Please copy, post, and forward widely.

Yours in the struggle to end Spam;

Alan L. Maki
Founder, Executive Director, & Treasurer
Campaign To End Spam

Please make all checks payable directly to: Alan L. Maki

Please note: Meyer Tele Services (aka Meyer Associates Inc.) has not been authorized to solicit contributions on behalf of the Campaign To End Spam

Send your contributions directly to:

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763


Contact:

Phone: 218-386-2432

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Democracy, Yahoo, the FBI and the Democratic Party

Problems with the democratic process within the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party have a very long history going back to when United States Senator Hubert H. Humphrey joined Joseph McCarthy's witch hunting. Humphrey was the primary author of the Communist Control Act... a thought control act. Tens of thousands of people across the United States lost their jobs and livelihoods because Hubert H. Humphrey used his "liberal" credentials in creating the Communist Control Act.

Today, Brian Melendez and Susan Rego, the Chair and the Secretary respectively, of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party are using these same cowardly tactics to try to silence myself and others who are speaking out against this dirty war and for the rights of working people.

Melendez and Rego are very wealthy individuals with backing from Walter Mondale and the Kaplan/Cerisi crowd. Rego is part of the DFL Business Caucus and is closely linked to the well-heeled Summit Hill bunch and the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce.

Melendez and Rego have gone crying for help to the FBI in trying to silence me.

Upon Rego providing a letter from Melendez to the FBI, the FBI contacted Yahoo, Inc. about using the filtering system developed by Yahoo, Inc. in China at the request of Wal-mart and other multi-national corporations wanting to crack down on the efforts of Chinese workers to organize against the brutal exploitation they are being subjected to by these multi-national corporations.

In an attempt to squelch this rank and file led labor movement, Yahoo, Inc. developed a filtering system to disrupt worker communications in China.

That same filtering system is now being used here in Minnesota against organizations like the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition and other groups urging people to contact their state legislators. Yahoo, Inc. and Microsoft first made the system available to the DFL State Legislative Caucus in an effort to thwart the movement for single-payer, universal health care.

I received the following e-mail from Susan Rego:

Rego Family wrote:

Hi Alan:

As you can probably guess, there has been a lot of on-list and off-list
discussion about some of your more controversial posts. In particular,
State Central Committee members have objected to allowing attacks on our endorsed candidates and on the government of Israel.

Some have advocated for banning individuals like you who offend.

Others want a process that encourages free thought, but they insist on
respect and civility.

In response to their concerns about your posts attacking Israel, Mike Hatch, Matt Entenza and Amy Klobuchar in referring to her as Amy “Republican Lite” Klobuchar, I have developed the following list-serve policy regarding your posts specifically and have run it by members of the Executive Committee who agree that it is time to restrict your postings on our SCC list. It might be fine-tuned some more, but it will basically look like this:

This discussion group is run by and for state central committee members of
the DFL Party. Its purpose is to foster communication that is beneficial to the goals of the party, as published in our Constitution and other party documents.

By subscribing to this group, you must agree to follow these rules:

1. Sign posts with name and Senate District or county unit

2. Limit posts to two a day

3. Do not republish messages from this list on other lists or sites without the author's permission

4. Do not use this list to attack or question DFL-endorsed candidates or any other member of the Minnesota DFL SCC or our DFL officers.

5. Use language that is respectful. Suggesting Israel is engaged in a “campaign of carnage” and “subjugation of the Palestinian people” will not be tolerated.

After one warning and the violation of any of these rules you will be suspended from the list for one month. Reinstatement will be contingent upon a statement
from you agreeing to follow the rules.

Continued or severe violations will result in permanent removal from the list.

I appreciate your willingness to limit your posts and not "cross-post"
and you have always signed your posts. But I think we can agree that #4
has been problematic. If you can share your ideas without bashing the
candidates and (Israel) that we as a party have chosen to represent us in the
election, you are welcome to continue as a valued member of the list serve.

Sincerely,
Susan Rego

As a result of Yahoo, Inc. filtering all of my e-mails to any Yahoo e-mail addresses I have sent the following letter.

Please note: Because of the way Yahoo is using this filter I can not send e-mails to anyone with a yahoo e-mail address without a great deal of difficulty.

The wealthy and well-heeled like Brian Melendez and Susan Rego have never been able to defend their undemocratic activities so they resort to these means and methods to control and manipulate the MN DFL as if this Party was just another piece of their personal property.

Walter Mondale can go on TV and Radio and talk about launching pre-emptive bombing attacks against North Korea and everyone is just supposed to sit in silence as this warmonger prattles on.

Melendez and Rego couldn't control the situation in the DFL any longer and they had to help Mondale crawl out of his cave to try and help them maintain control of the MN DFL in order for sleaze-balls like Hatch, Klobuchar and Cerisi to get nominated.

The time has come for real openness in the MN DFL... this requires all financial records of the MN DFL be disclosed along with the financial records of Meyer Tele Services so we can see how the political process has been controlled by big-money and how money has been improperly used.

This is my letter to Yahoo, Inc.:

To whom it may concern;

I am considering taking legal action against Yahoo, Inc. and any other individuals, corporations, and/or government agencies responsible for interfering in my right to freely communicate my ideas and opinions to those with Yahoo e-mail addresses.

Who is responsible and working in collusion with Yahoo, Inc. in this illegal and unconstitutional endeavor I do not know for sure all parties involved at this time. I do know of at least one individual who has written to Yahoo, Inc. asking that action be taken against me; this is Brian Melendez the Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party of which I am an elected member of the State Central Committee at whose discretion Mr. Melendez serves.

I am part of a caucus, the Democracy Caucus, which is working for the removal of Mr. Melendez as Chair as well as his slate of officers for a variety of reasons, among which is just this undemocratic behavior he is engaged in trying to silence his opposition; and, for financial wrong-doing; including, but not limited to his connections with Meyer Tele Services (also known as: Meyer Associates, Inc.) a firm which has engaged in the illegal practice of working out illegal union agreements known as “sweetheart contracts.”

Workers employed with Meyer Tele Services have engaged my services in representing them in an attempt to get a union contract at the Meyer Tele Services offices in Little Falls, Minnesota and St. Cloud, Minnesota. Let me point out that workers have the right to choose whom they desire to represent their economic and other interests in their place of employment. I have statements, in writing, from employees of Meyer Tele Services requesting my assistance in helping them to attain a union contract. You may have your legal team consult with the Minnesota or U.S. Departments of Labor and/or the NLRB to determine if these employees are within their rights in choosing to have me represent them. I would point out, these employees contacted me, I did not initiate contact with them.

Mr. Melendez, and those supporting this very corrupt political operative has falsely claimed to Yahoo, Inc. that I am involved in the practice known as “spamming.” I do not “spam.” I send e-mail to those who have been elected to positions, in this case the members of the DFL State Central Committee, who have a legal and fiduciary responsibility to see to it that the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party operates within legal boundaries established by state and federal laws. Negotiating “sweetheart” agreements is highly illegal.

Furthermore, I would point out that Chair Melendez approved MN DFL Secretary Susan Rego compiling the e-mail list from which I am working for the explicit purpose of members of the MN DFL State Central Committee to use as I am doing with it… putting forward my ideas, opinions, and suggestions.

If someone does not want to receive my e-mails in spite of the fiduciary responsibilities they knew their positions constituted at the time they opted to run for this position which in fact is a public office, these people on their own initiative may choose to block my e-mails, others who, without their choosing or knowledge, who have yahoo e-mail addresses should not be subjected to not receiving e-mails from me or having their e-mails delayed by yahoo.

I would suggest to Mr. Melendez and his equally undemocratic minded, scheming cohorts that if they can not stand the political heat they are responsible for bringing upon themselves, he--- and they--- should “get out of the kitchen.”

It is not Yahoo, Inc.’s responsibility to control political dialogue and debate by using the charge of “spam” to control the free market of ideas for Americans and people around the world.

Yahoo, Inc. provides its e-mail customers with a very efficient “Delete” button and a very high quality filtering system which can be easily set by any user. For Yahoo, Inc. to arbitrarily give support to a small group of individuals to thwart the democratic process in this manipulative and scheming manner is most likely illegal and unconstitutional… especially when your Corporation takes an action against those who have not requested you to do so.

I would point out that Mr. Melendez, in spite of urging others to complain about my e-mailing practices, he himself accepts my e-mails--- the proof being that he responds to them.

I am attaching several of the “delayed” messages I have received… I am sure if you check with the people who have had their e-mails from me delayed or intercepted you will find many who do not approve of your interference with the democratic process which has always been predicated upon the concept that people are entitled to put their ideas forward in the “great free marketplace of ideas.” I am sure Yahoo, Inc. has some concept of what “free markets” consist of… especially when it comes to the battle of ideas in our modern world.

I would also point out, that Mr. Melendez continues to attack me personally; to which I simply respond… a practice Mr. Melendez doesn’t seem to happy with.

Should you require, or need, more copies of the delayed messages you have caused to be generated, I will be more than happy to provide such.

I have also “Cc’ed” this e-mail to a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union; and “Bcc’ed” it to others with an interest in this matter.

I do expect that Mr. Andrew O’Leary, the Executive Director of the MN DFL Party will instruct its Secretary, Susan Rego, to make this communication available to each and every member of the MN DFL SCC.

Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net


Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Working Class Studies Association

An open letter: To the participants of “The 2007 Conference of the Working Class Studies Association.”

To find out more about the "Working Class Studies Association" click on the title or check out this link: http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/CAS/wcm.nsf/pages/wcsa

From: Alan L. Maki

Working people are under attack in this country perhaps like no other time before.

Working people need assistance from the intellectual community of professors and students from community colleges and state universities.

It is important that the distinction between organized labor, its present leadership, and the over all working class is made because very often the present leadership of many unions, and especially the leadership in the national labor federations— the AFL-CIO and Change To Win— do not represent their own members very effectively, let alone the entire working class.

This is evident in many struggles.

Two examples here in Minnesota make this point.

First is the struggle of the more than 20,000 casino workers who are employed in an industry making money hand over fist where these workers go to their jobs in smoke-filled casinos day after day, night after night receiving poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws. The leadership of the Minnesota AFL-CIO sits in deafening silence showing more concern for corrupt and incompetent politicians getting big campaign contributions from the casino managements while ignoring the terrible exploitation and abuse of the most basic and fundamental human rights of casino workers. The Minnesota AFL-CIO and the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party were partners in creating the “Compacts” that gave birth to the casino industry in the first place, which completely ignored the rights of casino workers... the indifference continues over fifteen years later.

The second example we have is the closing of the St. Paul Twin Cities Ford Plant and the issue of who will own the Ford Hydro Electric Dam. The UAW’s National President, Ron Gettelfinger, has not shown his face in the Twin Cities in spite of the fact that thousands of auto-workers over the years have paid dues to the UAW to protect, not only their own interests, but the interests of future generations of working people in this community and state and their right to future employment in this plant.

The local UAW leadership, in spite of having vigorously campaigned for Democratic party candidates over the last fifty years, while previously these auto-workers had been the base and the back-bone of the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, were not even able to convince the MN DFL to pass legislation aimed at saving the plant from demolition and keeping the hydro dam and plant as one... in fact, the local UAW leadership did not even insist on basic and fundamental accountability from the MN DFL by insisting that the DFL Caucus vote as one during the committee process in the state legislature... and, to make a bad situation even worse, the UAW leadership, which had no help from the MN AFL-CIO, refused to insist that a roll-call vote be taken in the legislative committees so there would have been complete accountability so all Minnesota workers, along with the UAW membership, would have been able to identify those politicians opposed to keeping the plant open. This legislation aimed at saving the plant and keeping the plant and hydro dam intact could not have been defeated were it not for DFL opposition, in spite of the MN DFL leadership’s trying to use this issue in their political games... they played a game with the lives of working people and generations of workers to come... and working people are closer to losing as a result.

Suffice it to say, the MN DFL Caucus has a majority in both the State Senate and the State House... and , a majority on the legislative committees in question where legislation to save the plant and hydro dam intact did not even pass the State Senate committee. Even the State legislator from the district where the Ford Plant and union hall are located, Rep. Michael Paymar, who received heavy support from the UAW did not back saving the plant and has campaigned for its demise; and, other MN DFL legislative members who have received financial and other support from the UAW never showed up for Committee meetings they were voting members of. In fact, only two state legislators can account for their votes in support of saving the Ford Plant: State Representative Tom Rukavina and State Senator David Tomassoni... apparently the rest of the DFL Caucus went to lunch at the invitation of their Republican colleagues, the Summit Hill Club, DFL Business Caucus, and the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce while the votes were being taken.

The issue of saving the Ford Plant is not one for UAW leaders like UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and the local UAW leadership to decide alone as they arrogantly think they have the right to do. Obviously, the membership of this UAW local is fully in support of keeping this plant and the hydro dam intact and operating. Why hasn’t the Local’s leadership broached the issue of Public Ownership of the Ford Plant and Hydro Dam with its own membership? This becomes a very serious and troubling question requiring some answers. Why didn’t the UAW Local’s leadership insist on accountability from the MN DFL Legislative Caucus? Again, a very troubling question requiring some answers.

This becomes a community and statewide issue for all working people, and the larger society, to participate in the decision making process as to what will be the future of the Ford Plant and Hydro Dam. Time is short, much research needs to be done; a legal challenge needs to be mounted to halt the sale of the Hydro Dam; a community and state-wide fight-back on every level needs to be mounted... the State Legislature needs to be convinced to revisit this issue without haste; the struggle needs to be taken into the communities and into the streets as 40,000 workers were recently mobilized in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in opposition to the effects of capitalist globalization on their community; an alternative political agenda needs to be developed outside the frame-work of the MN DFL since it is unwilling to respond to these needs of working people that go well beyond this issue of the plant closing and right to the heart of what democracy is really all about; are working people mere observers to a political process that determines their future for them in a way that drives down the standard of living of the working class— this is a multi-faceted “class” issue. In fact, a text book explaining for working people the true nature of capitalism and globalization could be written around this very issue.

Working people in Minnesota now have a long list of grievances which academia needs to consider, assess, and become involved in; including:

* The need to repeal at will hiring, at will firing which is the major obstacle to union organizing in Minnesota... an issue the MN AFL-CIO and Change to Win continue to refuse to address— card check can not even over-come this hurdle to union organizing;

* The need for a minimum wage that is a real living wage, where the minimum wage is tied directly to the calculations of the United States Department of Labor and Minnesota Department of Labor— why pay all these university educated statisticians and researchers employed by the Departments of Labor if their findings are ignored, a question that needs to be explored and answered by working people in conjunction with professors and students;

* Ending the right of employers to challenge unemployment claims without having to state a reason;

* Predatory lending... home foreclosures are rising rapidly, this is an outright rip-off of the wealth of working people who have paid for their homes with exorbitant interest rates many times over. The need to consider a State Bank financed with union pension funds is now in order as the mortgage banking industry is ripping off working people in the same manner the Wall Street coupon clippers have been ripping off the union pension funds for years as union “leaders” have bought into the capitalist system rather than opposing capitalism as most union leaders do around the world including in Canada;

* The robbery at the pumps... many workers now need second and third jobs just to pay for gas to get to their first job. Socialist governors Floyd B. Olson and Elmer Benson were right in saying that working people would pay a heavy price in the future for failing to bring the energy industries under public ownership and control. We need to consider this option now, especially in view of global warming;

* Winning single-payer, universal health care... so far the labor movement has only paid lip-service to this issue, having failed to fully mobilize the membership. As we have seen from how the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party played working people for fools on the issue of the Ford Plant, they are now prepared to betray working people on the issue of single-payer, universal health care. In fact, the leadership of organized labor is acquiescing to the MN DFL in much the same way the MN DFL has acquiesced to the Republicans on every issue impacting working people;

* Ending the war in Iraq... organized labor in Minnesota has failed to actively participate in the peace movement and has continued to support reactionary Democratic politicians like United States Congressperson Collin Peterson who makes the boast that he is more conservative than any Republican in Minnesota. A leader of the AFL-CIO actually nominated the ultra-conservative, ultra-reactionary Collin Peterson.

Working people, the few who remain union members, and the entire working class, face these and other very serious problems requiring urgent action. Liberals, progressives, radicals, socialists, communists, and anarchists in the intellectual community--- professors, instructors, adjuncts, and students--- need to understand the urgency, which at this time does not exist, of the present situation confronting working people as they are attacked from every direction and are being used to attack others as is the case with the Iraq war.

For a community that has so many colleges and universities as in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area we need to take a good hard look at why the intellectual community and all the resources at its disposal have not been brought into any of these struggles.

For a long time I have been suggesting that what is required is a network of Worker Resource Centers throughout Minnesota that would:

* teach workers organizing skills;

* teach labor history;

* serve as art and cultural centers for workers to show-case their talents;

* allow working people places to gather and discuss their problems;

* provide the tools to empower working people to become full participants in the political and decision making processes;

* most importantly, become centers for rank and file led and initiated organizing efforts that will once again involve entire communities in building the needed networks of solidarity which make union organizing campaigns successful... the issues surrounding undocumented workers and casino workers demonstrate just how desperate the need is.

* these Centers would be a place for working people to come together over problems in both their communities and at work.

* the creation of a network of Worker Resource Centers would be the obvious project for a “Working Class Studies Association” to undertake.

There is nothing new in this concept of Worker Resource Centers. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUP-W) has been experimenting with such centers... the organizers of the steel workers, the auto workers, the electrical workers and other basic industrial and public sector unions employed various versions of such centers in their successful organizing campaigns. That most union organizing drives are not turned into organizing campaigns launched from such Centers and end up without success is a call to re-try this approach.

The UAW members at the Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant are at a great disadvantage in not having a strong rank and file organization that could have effectively come to the forefront to fight-back to save this plant... the intellectual community should gather quickly in getting together with Ford Workers and community members to plan a fight-back to save this plant... whether or not the local and international UAW “approves” of, or participates in, such an approach; hopefully they would get the message they are welcome to join in.

A joint UAW-Ford-MnScu Training center is integrally connected to the Twin Cities Ford Plant... both physically and as a part of the industrial complex. It is absolutely mind-boggling that the issue of Public Ownership and rank and file activism have not been class-room topics, which calls into question just what kind of, or more properly, the lack of education workers are receiving.
If the national and local union leaderships want to continue to sit on their hands and accept the dictates of the Ford Motor Company and the refusal of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party to undertake the required fight-back to save this Plant, then the rest of us have a responsibility to work without them to make the effort and attempt to save over two-thousand good paying jobs; and, an important plant which has become an essential part of maintaining an industrial manufacturing base in Minnesota.

There are no excuses for not putting up a struggle... and working people and the intellectual community need to come together quickly— we each have essential skills important to a victory on these and the other issues I have cited— and beyond.

This national conference of working class educators has a responsibility to take a good hard look at the issue of the future of the Ford Plant closing and the plight of casino workers and figure out how its work can assist these struggles of working people. It is such struggles that require immediate attention and the issues can not be studied to death to decide if action is required... study must take place as an integral part of these day to day struggles of working people lest we end up studying why successful struggles were not mounted.

The concept of Public Ownership of essential industries and financial institutions needs to be actively discussed in the class-rooms and beyond... on the shop floors and in working class communities. It is both naive and far-fetched to believe that a rotten capitalist system that has bred so many problems will now somehow miraculously solve these problems. This conference has by and large challenged the capitalist system and its advanced state of globalization, or imperialism; however, the cooperative system of socialism was seldom talked about as a solution and alternative to capitalism.

In the workshop on Native Americans and class, the casino industry was not even mentioned by those on the panel even though the casino industry is by far the largest industry employing Native Americans today... again, this lack of discussion on this issue was probably due to a fear of broaching the subject.

Clearly, the entire topic of genocide against Native Americans needs to have a far wider discussion among professors and students as this five-hundred year campaign of genocide is not understood as a component of, and “special feature”of, capitalism as this continent was conquered with this campaign of genocide continuing today as hundreds of thousands of Native Americans are shoved into the casino industry because there are few other job opportunities; the casino industry is one of the filthiest industries in America, ruled over by organized crime, where workers are employed in smoke-filled casinos as Minnesota’s legislators have approved “Freedom to Breath” legislation to protect all other workers except for casino workers... women of child bearing age who make up a very large segment of the casino industry suffer the worst health consequences of this second-hand smoke. For the university community to continue to ignore the plight of casino workers is a reflection of everything that is wrong in academia today... from racism to a moribund capitalist system where working people are treated with complete contempt. The lack of attention to this problem by academia has led to political parties like the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party escaping its responsibilities to casino workers.

At this conference, red-baiting was not thoroughly discussed from a historical perspective, or from the perspective of how red-baiting is related to the serious problems in organized labor today... there were even some very erroneous ideas put forward that the Communist Party USA supported Harry Truman when nothing could be further from the truth. On the positive side there was some mention of red-baiting and the need to oppose it as well as its disastrous results we are living with today.

All in all, this was a most welcome conference and hopefully the organizers will find a way to correct some of the short-comings; most notably, when a conference like this is held there should be a focus on specific local, state, regional, national, and international issues with a sense of urgency in lending support to the struggles of working people.

Conference organizers and participants along with those who attended this conference on Working Class Studies missed out on what would have been a very good opportunity to bring forward the issues of the closing of the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant and the plight of casino workers; both issues would have provided a means to “measure” how quickly and effectively working class studies are being integrated into the class struggle.

I don’t think the university community of professors and students understands the urgency of such issues for working people... research is still being treated as a way of looking back at history, which is all fine and good in helping us draw conclusions to assist the struggles taking place in our times; but, this too is still lacking as current struggles don’t receive the required and needed assistance from academia.

We should all understand the fundamental need to bring labor and the academic community into a working relationship; this is as it should be.

With these criticisms in mind, it is very important for working people to understand the role, and need for, working class education at all levels in the educational system which all too often completely ignores the needs of working people for a working class based education. The organizers of this conference are to be highly commended for taking the time to organize these bi-annual conferences. It is a shame more unions in Minnesota did not take the time to involve their memberships and leaderships in this important conference that really reflected and highlighted how international the working class and its struggles for peace and social justice are.

Organized labor, specifically the Minnesota AFL-CIO and Change To Win affiliates, really missed an important opportunity here... but then again, this is a reflection of the over-all problems in organized labor and its continued resistance to rank and file initiatives. In fact, this “Working Class Studies Association” is a rank and file initiative in its own right... of educators who understand they are first, and foremost, working people; many who are from the ranks of the working class..

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Red Lake Casino, Hotel, and Restaurant Employees’ Union Organizing Committee

and

Member, Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432