Obama supporter Carl Davidson who supports Pol Pot says he doesn't think I am "playing with a full deck."

Obama supporter Carl Davidson who supports Pol Pot says he doesn't think I am "playing with a full deck."

• 15 hours ago · 
• 

  Sally Robbins 

  Why not provide examples for each of your accusations? Can you explain the controversy over having Obama speak at that particular peace demonstration? I can't find one single other peace demonstration he spoke at leading me to believe he was posing, and being posed. Posed by who? Posed for what? Were you in any way involved in getting Obama to speak at that peace demonstration? If not who was? I am trying to find his speech at that particular peace demonstration on the web and can't locate it. Do you have a link or a copy?
  
  Does anyone else besides you consider Alan Maki an "ultraleft Browderite?" If so who? What water does he carry for the Tea Party?
  
  A lot of people in Minnesota are getting a good chuckle out of you calling Alan Maki an ultraleftist because all the Trotskyist and ultraleft organizations attack him all the time. His views are often published in union newspapers and newsletters. He backed Gore, Kerry and Clinton but admits he voted for Cynthia McKinney. After being accused of being a communist he was elected to the Democratic Party state central committee. Mark Dayton begged for his support for governor and it was all on television. Alan Maki spoke at several forums advising people to support Hillary Clinton. I now wish I had taken his advice to vote for Hillary instead of your advice to vote for Obama.
  
  I'm not sure that being called a Browderite is as demeaning as you make it out to be. You have made a name for yourself advocating for a new New Left when the old New Left failed without accomplishing anything near what Browder led Communists did. Have you forgotten the New Deal?

  5 hours ago · 
• 

  Carl Davidson 

  There was no controversy over Obama speaking Oct 2, 2002. He was largely unknown then, and we were looking for a backup speaker in case Jesse Jackson didn't show. I knew him, as I had worked on his first campaign when the New Party endorsed him. I knew he opposed going into Iraq, and that's what he did that day. Next year after the war began, we had him speak again at another rally, and he still opposed the war. His stand changed after he was elected to the US Senate and then visited Iraq. My position then was to drop him and back Kucinich, then Richardson, until they dropped out. Then Obama came out to the left of Hilary on Iraq, and clearly to the left of McCain, even though he was still not for 'out now'. We said to vote for him over McCain-Palin as a lesser evil, which was the proper thing to do.
  
  I have zero interest in wasting time with Maki, although I do discuss and debate extensively with others. Maki is what we call a troll and a crank, and not to be taken seriously. No rational person will debate him. He may sucker someone now and then, but I doubt he gets anyone to debate him a second time. Frankly, I don't think he's playing with a full deck.

Why does Ken Martin refuse to answer these questions if he wants to be the next MNDFL Chair:

      Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:42:07 -0500
      From: "Alan L. Maki"
      Reply-To: "Alan L. Maki"
      Subject: Questions about your positions
      To: ken@kenmartin.org

Mr. Ken Martin, candidate for MNDFL State Chair;

1. Do you support divestment from Israel?

2. What is your position regarding the 41,000 Minnesotans being forced to work in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws?

3. Do you support Mark Dayton's call for a state owned and operated casino to compete with the Indian Gaming Industry?

4. What do you intend to do to make sure Affirmative Action (as distinct from non-discrimination) is enforced in Minnesota?

5. Do you support socialized health care?

6. Are you for the repeal of "at-will hiring; at-will firing" legislation?

7. What specific steps would you take as the State Chair of the MNDFL to make sure Native American Indians are elected to the state legislature and become part of Minnesota's congressional delegation?

8. Could you provide me a copy of the redistricting plan you support for Minnesota?

Thanks,


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:
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Guest blog: Millions Of Flood Victims In Pakistan Now Face Harsh Winter

Brian McAfee

2838 Mason Blvd.

Muskegon Heights, Michigan 49444

USA

(231)737-8726

brimac6@hotmail.com


Millions Of Flood Victims In Pakistan Now Face Harsh Winter

 by Brian McAfee

As the monsoon floods receded the impact on the people of Pakistan, reports indicate, have been exacerbated by the onslaught of winter. The floods affected 20 million of Pakistan's population of just over 180 million people. As the temperature dips hundreds of thousands of displaced children are susceptible to pneumonia and other cold related diseases. According to Director of the National Institute of Child Health
(Pakistan) Professor Jamal Raza states that in winter the flood victims becoming ill from the cold, particularly children, could almost double. Many are living in non-winterized tents and there are shortages of dry firewood. Many of the flood ravaged areas from this years monsoon remain flooded and millions are still displaced. Many being farmers whose fields are still flooded and have no source of livelihood.  Of the children Professor Raza says it will be an uphill battle to save many of th children as they are malnourished, and have had a great deal of weight loss due to poor diet. Their immunity is very low and are susceptible to respiratory disease such as pneumonia as their immunity level is very low.  There is an urgent need for blankets, quilts and better shelter to fight the cold as well as the obvious nutritional and medical needs.

Reports out of Pakistan indicate another danger caused by the floods, the release of stored toxic chemicals into the flood waters. An article in www.newscientist.com reports that the floods releases  released an estimated 3000 tonnes of toxic chemicals into the environment. The chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) include several insect repellants such as DDT do not biodegrade in nature and are said to be linked to hormonal, developmental and reproductive disorders according to an article in New Scientist. Pakistan's floods have awakened some nations and scientists to this ongoing threat as changes in weather patters become more evident.

Reputable  Relief organizations currently active in the relief effort in Pakistan include OXFAM www.oxfamamerica.org, AmeriCares www.americares.org, Save the Children www.savethechildren.org and
www.unrefugees.org,.

Please specify the donation is for Pakistan flood relief.

I welcome any comments or suggestions. I can be reached at brimac6@hotmail.com-Brian McAfee

For the record...

Richard Trumka, the President of the AFL-CIO puts out statement after statement making up excuses for the pathetic Democrats he has pumped the money from working people to support.

Trumka arrogantly refuses to enter into any kind of dialog, discussion or debate--- his little public relations people try to call anyone who disagrees with him a "Republican."

Well here is something I have presented to Trumka and his little lackeys who challenged me to bring solutions to the table:

From:


Alan L. Maki 


To: 


Richard Trumka;

Union pension funds have helped to create 2,000,000 jobs in this country. Two-million jobs in the Indian Gaming Industry where casino workers are forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights under state or federal labor laws all compliments of the Democratic Party which crafted the terms of the "Compacts" creating this industry managed and run by a bunch of mobsters who own all the slot machines and table games leaving already impoverished Native Americans even more poor on reservations only to be used as a pool of cheap labor employed under the most abominable and unhealthy working conditions.

The AFL-CIO leadership has supported every single Democratic Party politician--- and even many Republicans--- who have turned around just like Barack Obama and Congressman Collin Peterson--- and stabbed working people right through the heart and then when workers fall they take their knife and stab them in the back. Without a job, the only thing any working person has is a life of poverty; with a poverty wage job, the only thing a working person has is a life of poverty.

The working class is being bludgeoned to death in every way by Wall Street coupon clippers and it is going to take a lot more than a one day demonstration on Wall Street to turn this country around.

We now have over 3,700 mines, mills and factories sitting idle as these Wall Street coupon clippers find it more profitable to seek out cheap labor markets and cheap natural resources.

The United Electrical workers union (UE) has raised "eminent domain" as a solution.

Why shouldn't the AFL-CIO join UE and demand the use of eminent domain to re-open all of these mines, mills and factories--- the majority of which were heavily subsidized by tax-payers to begin with. What tax-payers finance and subsidize, tax-payers should own.

Right now these 3,700 mines, mills and factories are not operating at all and providing people with employment--- come on, really, can public ownership of these mines, mills and factories under worker management do any worse?

And for those who continue to try to bully and badger anyone with a left-wing viewpoint into silence by insinuating they must be a Republican, I say shame, shame shame... why do you find it necessary to try to prevent dialog, discussion and debate on these issues?

This thread started out as a result of Richard Trumka posting this article about how the insurance companies are ripping us off--- well, consider this: The AFL-CIO supported a Wall Street health insurance salesman to look after the concerns of working people, and what did we get?

We got the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010," a Wall Street bailout that has plunged our Nation into debt and anyone knows that a Nation's debt is a Wall Street banker's profit; we have two wars raging in three countries and Richard Trumka refuses to ask working people the most important question of all: How is Barack Obama's war economy working for you? I think if Trumka would have the courage to ask this simple and fundamental question he would find that union members will tell him they have no use for these dirty wars that are killing our jobs just like they are killing people. In fact, these wars are making us all poor--- except for the Wall Street merchants of death and destruction who get rich from wars just like these greedy, money-grubbing Wall Street parasites are getting even richer off the national debt.

Azar, you ask me to place solutions on the table; I have filled your plate. For dessert, how about a National Public Health Care System that would provide good new jobs for 10,000,000 Americans providing free health care for everyone through 30,000 community health care centers? The price tag? Slightly less than what these dirty wars are costing us with enough left over to put another 5,000,000 unemployed people back to work staffing a national network of Public Child Care Centers.

Working people should shut this country down until these wars are stopped and that money being wasted is re-directed towards meeting the needs of the people.

A resolution/petition for peace...

Dear Peace-Wanting People,

Residents of Edgartown and Tisbury are introducing a peace-resolution at their spring town meetings. This is an invitation for you to do the same in West Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Chilmark, and Aquinnah.

Just substitute your town's name for "Tisbury", print the resolution, and ask your selectmen to sponsor it. (Their signatures are likely all that are needed.)

Any questions? Call your selectmen, town moderator, 


(Start of petition)

Town of Tisbury, Massachusetts

Proposed Resolution:

This is a resolution by citizens of the Town of Tisbury to end the expenditure of our tax dollars presently being spent for excessive and unaffordable warfare.

Whereas,

1.the financial resources available for use by governments at the local, county, state, and federal levels in the United States are and must be limited, and

2.each man, women, and child in Massachusetts is currently paying, or becoming indebted for approximately $3,200 per year towards the U.S. defense budget (totaling $9,600/yr for a family of three), and

3.a substantial portion of this money funds warfare that creates great and unnecessary harm to the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and to U.S. Military personnel and their families, and

4.education services, infrastructure repairs, other essential public services, and family and private-sector financing in Tisbury have been substantially reduced as a result of excessive military spending.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Town of Tisbury Massachusetts directs their Congressional Representative and Senators to oppose all future legislation brought before them that provides additional funding of U.S. warfare and occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and directs these Congressmen to take productive actions to terminate existing occupation and military operations, and to approve only those funds necessary for the safe and rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops.

(End)

(This resolution is based upon information from:

www.bringourwardollarshome.org/language.html
 
It's estimated that MA has 6.6 million people, and they are paying $21 billion in taxes towards the annual defense budget.)
12/13/10

Do we get the government we vote for?

How often do you hear:

We are getting the government we vote for?

People didn't vote for this kind of "representation" by choice. 

Big money has purchased these politicians their seats. 

Plus, when people do try to free themselves from the big money influence within the Democratic Party they are subjected to all kinds of the most vile verbal abuse and ridicule, and often worse; and when they then go outside of the Democratic Party searching and organizing for solutions it becomes even worse. 

I am not a Ralph Nader fan... however, what Ralph Nader was and is subjected to for having the courage to begin searching for a way out of this two-party trap is a prime example. 

Another example of the disgusting and shameful behavior of these Democratic Party bigots and bullies is the way they set out to malign, slander and defame Cindy Sheehan--- as long as her attack was against George Bush her activities were approved by Democrats; when she took on those powerful Democrats that repeatedly join with the Republicans in their war-making she was targeted in the most vile and vicious manner. 

Then you have Cynthia McKinney who was a very loyal Democrat for decades; but, because she was just as loyal to trying to make peace and solving the problems of racism, unemployment and poverty she was drummed out of the Democratic Party in a most disgusting display of racism using the most sickening kind of racist patronization. 

The most disgusting bulling and badgering I have ever seen and personally experienced in my life has come from the Progressive Democrats of America and the "Progressives for Obama;" just nasty and vicious. 

Not to mention the unrelenting red-baiting campaign I was subjected to by the Chair and leadership of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party who took the most unusual and undemocratic steps to remove me from my elected position on the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Central Committee because I spoke out so vigorously in opposition to the Israeli killing machine and for a national public health care system funded by ending these dirty wars and taxing the hell out of the rich. These people announced at our precinct caucus meetings the place, time and the date of our Roseau County DFL Convention. Come the day of the convention where members of the State Central Committee are elected--- over 90 people are waiting in the cold for two hours for someone to open the door of the hall and for the 9 a.m. Convention to begin. At 11 a.m. the County Chair, Lee Soltis, pulls up and rolls down his window and says, "Oh, I am so sorry; I forgot to place a notice on the door that we changed the location. Oh well, nothing we can do about this now; about 15 of us held the County Convention. By; see you in two years." He rolled up his window and sped away.

Now, these are just a few examples of what people have to put up with.

But, here is an even better one---

At the Minnesota DFL State Convention where the nomination for Democratic candidate for governor took place, the State Chair, Brian Melendez, after weeks of calling Mark Dayton "crazy" for advocating "tax the rich to pay for public schools;" Melendez ordered the Sargent of Arms to throw Mark Dayton out of the Convention Hall! And if that wasn't bad enough, when Native American Indian and rank-and-file trade union activist, Greg Paquin, rose on the floor of the State Convention to place Mark Dayton's name in nomination before the convention delegates with over two-hundred delegates enthusiastically rising to second Dayton's nomination, Melendez ruled Dayton's nomination "out of order."

Well, Dayton went on to win the Primary Election over ten other candidates and he is now the new Governor of Minnesota. How many people would have subjected themselves to such an ordeal to get elected to public office? Not many.

We have a very corrupt and undemocratic political system in this country; in spite of all the boasts from some of the most corrupt and undemocratic politicians that we are the most democratic country in the world where anyone can grow up to become president... Oh, did I mention anything about how Barack Obama got elected by turning himself into the complete opposite of what he really is to get elected?

I would strongly disagree with the premise that we voted for what we are getting. If we got what we voted for we would have peace not these dirty wars in three countries with 15 million people unemployed; 90 million people living in poverty and millions without access to health care.

Something to think about this evening around the dinner table,

Alan L. Maki

No Labels

"No Labels" a new threat to democracy

A dangerous new fascist development: "No Labels" holding a founding conference today:

"No Labels" is having a live "launch" conference right now:

http://nolabels.org/get-involved/no-labels-launch-live-webcast/

This is an emerging fascist movement for sure.

Danger ahead !!!!!!!!!

George Lakoff and "Don't Think of an Elephant!"

It is always difficult to say what someone else's motivation is. I don't think George Lakoff has ever been motivated by a desire for progressive change. He makes a lot of money working to keep people trapped in the Democratic Party. Now, this doesn't mean he doesn't have some really good ideas that people can't use as they struggle for real progressive change based on real progressive values... but, it does mean we have to use his advice to INCLUDE specific progressive solutions to our problems. It also means that we have to understand that for real change to take place we have to develop organizations capable of bringing about progressive change--- to Lakoff's credit he only claims to be a linguist interested in framing discussion, dialog and debate. Can we use his ideas to turn the tables on Obama and the Democrats who are evading real solutions to our problems? I think so. I use Lakoff's book all the time when teaching people to write letters to the editor, leaflets and newsletters. I do find it extremely interesting that George Soros claims to have learned a lot from Lakoff and I got this article off of Tom Hayden's website; Hayden is the primary leader of the "Progressives for Obama" the group that has brought the art of evading specific solutions and movement building to new levels--- and, for what purpose? To hoodwink us all into supporting Obama.

Several years ago I was in a rather large discussion group that included some state legislators and labor leaders who gathered for the sole purpose of discussing "Don't Think of an Elephant!" I provided my thinking on this and almost everyone in the room challenged me. So, I opened the book to page 92 and read. After I was done there must have been 15 people trying to talk and "explain" what Lakoff meant by this statement.

I responded by simply saying, "George Lakoff is a most highly regarded linguist. He is an expert in his field. I assume this is why we have all come together for six sessions to discuss this important book and its ideas. Now, understanding that Lakoff is a brilliant communicator do you really expect me to believe that Lakoff has written something here that he didn't mean?" At which point the Democratic Party hack who had brought us all together went ballistic (some present accused me of making him go "postal"). Obviously the intent was to bring people together to "teach" them not to talk about solutions to problems because according to Lakoff this is when you lose elections.

This is the main conclusion for this book and the PRIMARY lesson Lakoff wants us to "learn."

It is right there... the opening paragraph under "Policy Directions" on page 92 in the final chapter (Chapter 8-What Unites Progressives).

And Lakoff cautions against getting "militant."

Well; when do people get militant? When they get fed up because very specific problems they are having are not being solved. And here we have the great "progressive linguist" advising not to bring forward specific solutions to problems. Why? Because you probably won't get elected. Translated: You won't get the big bucks from Wall Street.

As a worker I find Lakoff to be the epitome of middle class arrogance. His book was intended just for use in the kind of discussion groups I was a part of. It offends me to no end that someone who is well-heeled as a result of advising the Democratic Party and creeps like Obama how to win would expect me and working people to forgo solving our problems so that some worthless opportunist can get elected to do what Obama has done and we are supposed to accept this as "progressive." The very word "progressive" implies that people-friendly solutions will be found to problems. I hardly call anything we have been subjected to by Obama and the Democrats over the past two years as having been "people friendly."

So. how could Lakoff ever have meant for these tactics to be used "in the service of progress?"

I gave Lakoff the benefit of the doubt so I wrote him with the very concerns I am expressing here. He actually called me. He called me to tell me that he couldn't answer my question because I wasn't one of his clients--- in other words, I wasn't paying him to answer me.

I would like to have George Lakoff answer my concerns right here on FaceBook for everyone to see. Let him explain why he helps Democrats get elected by evading explaining what they are going to do to solve our problems. In fact, Lakoff doesn't doesn't want our problems solved because he makes money taking advantage of our problems.

With this said, I encourage everyone to pay close attention to what George Lakoff writes for two reasons:

1. To learn how to frame the debate/s.

2. To learn how you are going to get screwed by the very politicians--- like Obama--- who are going to have you thinking they are on your side when nothing could be further from the truth because the problems of working people are just like our national debt: The Nation's debt is the Wall Street Bankers' profits. Just like Wall Street coupon clippers reap their biggest windfalls in profits off the backs of working people whose problems are Wall Street's profits... if you don't believe me at least think about it. Who profits from paying workers poverty wages instead of real living wages? Who profits from a huge pool of unemployed? Who profits from wars that kill jobs just like they kill people?

Isn't it nice to know that the Democrats have been so well trained to make us think they are going to solve our problems when George Lakoff has trained them not to even think about solving our problems?

Anti-communist bigot Rick Mons asked me questions... when I responded he had me banned from e-democracy because he didn't approve of my answers!

Rick Mons is a racist, anti-communist bigot and member of the Shoreview, Minnesota "Planning Commission;" he works for e-democracy an outfit that is a front for the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's "Business Caucus" and the "Summit Hill Club." E-democracy is funded by foundation grants, state and federal tax-payers... Rick Mons, after a non-stop campaign of red-baiting, libel and slander directed at me personally over many months, asked me questions on e-democracy and didn't like my answers so he had me banned from e-democracy. 
I will let everyone judge for themselves if there is anything in my response to Rick Mons for which anyone should be denied the right to publish their views on e-democracy.
Rick Mons claims he never read anything in the United States Constitution or Bill of Rights that would support my right to state my opinions.
Mr. Mons claims to be one of the biggest advocates in Minnesota for Obama's "net neutrality."
Mr. Mons was happy as long as Communist Party activity was at a standstill in Minnesota; now with a Shoreview Club of the Communist Party looking over the nefarious deals of the Shoreview Planning Commission and looking into payoffs to members of the Shoreview Planning Commission by realators and business people, Mr. Mons is upset the Communist movement has taken root in his own back-yard.
Alan L. Maki




From: Rick Mons 
On Saturday Alan Maki < amaki000@centurytel.net > wrote:

> let me assure everyone on this list serve that Communists in
> Minnesota are alive and doing very well as this capitalist system
> crumbles--- our membership is growing and our clubs are popping up
> everywhere like dandelions after a warm spring rain.
>

Any hard data to back up this contention?   Less than two years ago, you (or
someone claiming to be "Alan Maki") wrote:

> "For far too long Party organizing has been ground to a halt in the
> Minnesota/Dakotas region ...

Rick Mons, as Forum Participant
>
>
>
>
>

The ideas banned by e-democracy---
>
>

My response to Rick Mons:

>
>
>

First of all, let me assure everyone on this list serve that Communists in
Minnesota are alive and doing very well as this capitalist system
crumbles--- our membership is growing and our clubs are popping up
everywhere like dandelions after a warm spring rain.

I can understand why many people on this list serve might view communists as
a powerful influence in Minnesota politics and the working class movement
from the 1930's without any relevance to the struggles today which are
intensifying as Barack Obama carries out Wall Street's directives and agenda
by trying to put the burden of this economic crisis on the backs of the
working class even though not one single-worker in Minnesota or anyplace
else in this country was part of the decision-making process which got us
into this economic mess. Mr. Mons, you probably haven't met any Communists because you
don't go to peace demonstrations or vigils and you aren't involved in the
struggle to save the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant or you haven't
been involved in the struggles to halt home foreclosures and evictions and
you probably aren't involved in rank and file union organizations or the
fight to protect our natural resources and ecosystems. You might not have
even taken the time to meet your next door neighbor who just might be a
Communist... or some kind of socialist. Or, you probably aren't involved in
trying to push working class issues forward in the Minnesota Democratic
Farmer-Labor Party--- that's where a lot of people have met a Communist like
me.

In fact, any of you who don't want to listen to right-wing radio station
KTLK can go to the Main Minneapolis Library and read a book by Minnesota
writer and revolutionary Marxist-Leninist working class activist Gus Hall
while sitting in a chair marked in the honor of this former head of the
Communist Party USA and a member of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee
who was in Minneapolis organizing teamsters before Jimmy Hoffa ever knew
there were such workers.

Or, you can watch the movie: "A Common Man's Courage" about the life of
Minnesota U.S. Congressman and Communist Party U.S.A. member and Iron
Ranger, John Bernard... or take a stroll through your state capitol building
and view the portraits of former socialist governors Floyd Olson and Elmer
Benson... next to Elmer Benson's portrait is a bronze plaque detailing his
close association with Communists--- in fact, I talked with Elmer Benson
often at Mesaba Co-op Park near Hibbing and our talking under a birch tree
was duly noted by the FBI... of course, these politicians were from the days
of good and honest government and government that cared about creating a
better life for working people as compared to the present crop of Minnesota
public officials who stuff their campaign coffers with bribes from
corporations which they so originally refer to as campaign contributions.

It really does seem like it still takes communists to organize unions in
Minnesota since less than ten percent of the workers in Minnesota are
organized and if it hadn't been for my grandpa and grandma and the red Finns
on the Iron Range I doubt the number of organized workers in this state
would be 5%; although considering all the members of the American Federation
of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the number of organized
workers in Minnesota today probably is around 10%... judging by the
direction our state government is heading it looks like AFSCME is about to
be losing quite a few members.

Anyways; here you go; let me give all you anti-communists who have expressed
your views so eloquently on this "e-democracy" list serve in the Minnesota
Politics Forum... let me provide you with a Minnesota Communist's viewpoint
to respond to---

Let's talk about poverty... the remarkable creation of this great free
enterprise capitalist system... perhaps another day we can talk about peace
and war; capitalism seems to do a pretty good job of breeding wars in
addition to poverty :)

Several weeks ago I received a call from a lady in Redby on the Red Lake
Indian Reservation.

She told me she had asked MNDFL State Representative Brita Sailer when the
state legislature was going to do something about poverty on Indian
Reservations. This lady and some of her friends were quite upset with
Representative Sailer's answer.

It seems that Representative Sailer's response was that "poverty is a very
complex and complicated issue that would take too much time to talk about."

I can understand people would be upset by this kind of response.

As we talked, this lady asked me if I would be willing to come down to Redby
and talk to her and a few friends about "poverty." I agreed.

When I arrived at her home it was quite apparent that she and her children
were living in poverty as were most of her neighbors... at least they didn't
have homes like the two-million dollar spread of John McCarthy who heads up
the work of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and people in Redby
weren't living the life of Riley like Rick Rothausen, Red Lake Gaming
Enterprises' retired Chief Financial Officer.

This is what I said about "poverty" which contrary to DFL'er Representative
Brita Sailer is quite simple to talk about when you are on the Red Lake
Indian Reservation because you are constantly surrounded by poverty.

What causes this poverty?

Poverty is caused by two things:

1. Unemployment causes poverty--- if you don't have a job you are going to
be poor.

2. Low wages cause poverty--- any school child can figure this out.



There are two solutions to ending poverty:

1. Put people to work.

2. Pay people real living wages.



Talking about poverty is really very simple... politicians like Brita Sailer
want to turn a discussion of poverty into a big complicated issue.

The reason Representative Brita Sailer and most of her colleagues in the
Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party have been told to tell poor people
that poverty is too complex for them to understand is because the two
solutions to ending poverty do not sit well with those like John McCarthy of
the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association from whom these Democrats are
reaping huge campaign contributions.

The casino operations are amongst the largest employers in northern
Minnesota and today these casino operations employ more people than the iron
ore mining and taconite industry.

Why is it so difficult for Representative Brita Sailer to talk about poverty
to the very people whose votes she is asking for? The reason is, because
Brita Sailer and her DFL colleagues would have to explain how it is that
they reap huge campaign contributions distributed by a man like John
McCarthy, the Executive Director of MIGA, who has a lavish two-million
dollar spread with a mansion on a hill like some old Finnish feudal lord who
lives a life of luxury because he has helped create a cheap labor pool for
the casino industry. Poverty wages create poverty... why is this so
difficult to understand. Casino managements pay all casino workers in
Minnesota poverty wages... are we supposed to expect anything other than
people living in poverty will be the result of paying people poverty wages?

For many people living on the Red Lake Indian Reservation the only jobs they
can get are working in the casinos getting paid poverty wages; but, for even
more people, unemployment is what they get as Tribal leaders allow
non-tribal members to do most of the work on the reservation. In fact, Floyd
"Buck" Jourdain has fired people from his own staff for insisting that more
Native Americans be employed to do work on--- and off--- the Reservation.

One has to wonder why there are so many non-tribal members teaching in the
schools in Red Lake and working at good-paying jobs in the Red Lake
Department of Natural Resources or working on the new casino or installing
cable equipment or working on the roads or installing sewers when Red Lake
has an unemployment rate exceeding 50%. Why weren't tribal members given
first chance at all casino jobs and paid real living wages?

I find it sadly ironic that Minnesota legislators will sit and listen to Red
Lake Nation Chair belly-ache and complain about unemployment and poverty
without one single one of these public officials asking him how it is so few
Native Americans are employed among the 1,300 people working in Red Lake
Gaming Enterprises smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights
under state, federal or tribal labor laws or international labor standards.

Why are multi-million dollar government contracts going without the
enforcement of affirmative action guidelines strictly enforced?

Poverty is very easy to talk about; the real reason why DFL'ers like Brita
Sailer refuse to talk about poverty when asked questions is because they are
not doing a darn thing about ending poverty because those like the Minnesota
Indian Gaming Association are paying these Democrats to ignore the issue of
poverty.

It becomes an embarrassment that one single Native American family, on or
off any Indian Reservation is living in poverty when you walk into any
casino and see the money these outfits are taking in.

You end poverty by putting people to work paying them real living wages
supplemented with adequate governmental programs like socialized health
care, government subsidized housing, quality educations and you enforce
affirmative action in hiring.

Any employer saying that can not pay people a real living wage for a job
that needs to be done should just do the job themselves or put their own
children to work in a smoke-filled casino.

First it was big agri-business that made excuses why it was impossible to
pay people real living wages; then it was the forestry industry that always
had an excuse why they treated their horses better than the workers; then it
was the iron ore mining industry with Carnegie and Rockefeller pleading
poverty whenever living wages and health and safety working were the topic
of discussion... now it is the casino industry who claims that they are just
good people providing people with a little cash to tide them over until
people "can get real jobs." Listening to these casino managements one would
think the casino patrons were gambling with play money from their Monopoly
games and they were walking away with pockets stuffed full with real cash.

Big money has been made by these profiteers in the casino industry living
high on the hog as a result of paying their employees poverty wages... what
do workers get in return for creating their wealth?

From big agri-business we got food with no nutritional value, high-priced
foods and contaminated ground water; from the forestry industry we got
clear-cuts and tree plantations; from the mining industry we got huge pits
and pollution; now, from the casino industry we get diddly-squat as the
one-armed bandits rake in the loot faster than any other industry ever has
and these mobsters still cry poverty when it comes to paying workers real
living wages.

We live in a society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Those like Representative Brita Sailer would rather not explain any of this
when asked about poverty because they are getting a part of the spoils in
the form of campaign contributions for allowing--- and enabling--- all of
this to go on.



Alan L. Maki, a very proud "red" Finn

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council



58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: 



Check out my blog:



Thoughts From Podunk



http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
    

▶  

About Paul Krugman

First; Krugman has always been fronting for Hillary Clinton, he is an ardent Hillary supporter, so I'm not surprised his analysis never goes much towards liberalism than what Hillary would... to me it looks pretty obvious Krugman is fronting for Hillary knowing that Obama is likely a one-term President. Krugman is not going to prepare the political soil for someone the stature of a George McGovern--- an honest progressive nor for a true liberal. It's not only Krugman, but he is kind of the leader of this grouping that wants to assure the election of Roosevelt without a Frances Perkins, Henry Wallace and Harry Hopkins... most importantly without a huge, angry people's movement that is militant and organized for real change... the Krugman crowd is carefull not to help create another governor someplace like a Floyd B. Olson who might rise to challenge Hillary after a first term.

On the Social Security tax and Medicare taxes being regressive. I kind of consider any tax that isn't an income tax as regressive; but, it really is too much to expect that working people would have thee universal programs in this kind of system without "self-financing" them, isn't it?

We could have a National Public Health Care System without any fees or charges for less than what the Social Security tax is; paid for just like Social Security... wouldn't this be a lot better for most people who cannot afford high premiums and out of pocket payments for health care? an't we look upon these insurance premiums as a more regressive tax?

Here is the way I look at it, maybe I am wrong, but we live in the wealthiest country in the world (or at least a country where a very few people at the top have complete control over the life of our country by virtue of owning the means of production where working people produce this wealth); the richest country any way you look at it so we should bring forward demands for universal social programs like with health care, child care, good public transportation--- all pretty much for free and advocate that these things be paid for by ending the wars and slashing military spending and taxing the rich--- the real filthy rich--- and corporate profits, after all the most progressive tax is placed closest to wealth creation... but, we should always leave the option of people self-financing these things so in the course of struggles for these things people themselves can decide how they want to go forward once it is clear the concepts and ideas for such programs gain widespread public support.

We most likely wouldn't have Social Security today if Frances Perkins would have continued to insist on a progressive system of financing it as she originally had. And people seemed willing to settle for this "regressive" payroll tax. People also "settle" for the most regressive tax of all for funding public schools--- the property tax which hits working people the hardest and continues hitting them even harder as this recession/depression deepens.

Let's have a broad discussion about all of this; a discussion Paul Krugman and his middle class intellectuals will never initiate since it looks like we will more than likely see some kind of challenge to Obama in the upcoming Primary.

If someone would buy me a Greyhound ticket I would ride the dog from city to city the next two years challenging Obama's ideas myself; maybe I should consider walking :)

Alan

About Wiki-leaks and Assange

The release of this kind of information is important.
But it is coming from Assange, a fascist creep.
The American people should be demanding the release of these files and a whole lot more. We need to see the complete joint FBI-CIA report they call "The Family Jewels" so we know how the American people have been played for fools and suckers.
We shouldn't have to rely on a sleazy fascist bastard like Assange for information.
The time has come to open up all the FBI and CIA files none of which involves the security of this country... what it is in these files is a national embarrassment with politicians and corporations working hand-in-hand to undermine democracy established by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Assange now claims to have such scandalous documents in his possession that governments will fall if the information is released. He says the documents and files will be released if he is killed or arrested. What he really means is that he will sell this information to the highest bidder. Any progressive would release the information not indulge in these kinds of blackmail schemes for which fascists are known.

A challenge to debate...

Joel Albers,

I would be willing to debate you on point #2 and concerning your support for the Marty legislation.
You are wrong on both points.

We could hold debates across Minnesota so people would have a better idea of what is involved in health care reform.

We could have a debate on these two issues once a month in a different city in Minnesota until the 2012 elections.

I extend this challenge to you or anyone selse upporting Obama's "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010;" nothing in this legislation is a "good first step."

As you are fully aware, but refuse to acknowledge, we had a very good Co-op health care program for workers in this country; it was operated by the International Workers Order which was designated by Attorney General Robert Kennedy as a "Communist Party front organization;" all of its assets were seized and distributed to for-profit insurance companies which the Kennedy family had major financial holdings in, and many of its officers and members were jailed and blacklisted.

Since David Shove has brought forward similar FBI/United States Department of (In)Injustice witch-hunts in point 1 of his Progressive Calendar, this aspect of the issue becomes even more important to discuss.

I have repeatedly challenged you anarchists along with Minnesota State Senator John Marty and the Green Party shills for the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party and the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition of which you are a part--- an organization whose leaders have stooped to the most disgusting red-baiting in the past--- to state exactly how much this scheme (and scam) brought forward by Senator John Marty as a gimmick for his unsussessful gubenatorial campaign is going to cost us in premiums--- come on, Mr. Albers, have the courage to debate me across Minnesota and tell audiences exactly what they can expect to pay for premiums EVERY MONTH under this Minnesota Health Plan of John Marty's that you support.

At a time of massive unemployment that entails widespread poverty with people being foreclosed on and evicted from their homes not even being able to afford to pay the heating bills from last year yet let alone the mortgage payments ,and wondering from day-to-day how they are going to feed their familiers as your great  Obama  cuts the food stamp program as he expands two very costly, immoral, unjust, illegal and unconstitutional wars to occupy Iraq and Afghanistan while maintaining over 800 U.S. military bases across the globe protecting Wall Street's interests but can't find the funds to finance a National Public Health Care System providing the American people with world-class health care through 30,000 community health care centers with 800 more advanced health care bases providing support all for free at a substantially reduced cost than what everyone is now paying to private insurance companies in monthly premiums. In fact, if need be, a special tax could be imposed upon the rich and corporate profits; or, we could just forego arguing with the rich and finance the entire system the way we finance Social Security and the share workers would pay would be much less than what they presently pay into Social Security--- not the exobitant price tag the premiums of your phony schemes (and scams) would impose on working class families. The last thing working class families need--- or can afford--- is one more bill for health care premiums. Come on Mr. Albers, tell us what this scheme is going to cost each Minnesotan.

We all know you won't publicly tell us what this is going to cost each of us because the public would immediately reject Senator Marty''s proposed legislation.

I find it quite interesting that you anarchists will go out and toss bricks through bank windows and consider this a "fight" but you don't have the courage to stand up for the kind of health care reforms that are really needed in this country nor do you have the moral or political courage to defend your views in a public debate sitting side-by-side someone who is willing to respond to your lies.

Your co-op scheme for health care is nothing but the dream fairy-tales come from and your support for this Minnesota Health Care scam brought forward by Minnesota State Senator John Marty as a mere campaign gimmick without even providing the true costs to Minnesotans is nothing short of political fraud.

John Marty canceled his events unveiling his Minnesota Health Act after I announced I would be present to ask "How much will the monthly premiums be."

You, too, run scared from this csame hallenge. Just like your anarchist friends toss urine-filled condoms at cops for no reason using people marching for peace and real health care reform as your "sheilds." 

Also, let us not forget that H.R. 676 is now dead... dead just like the jobs killed by Obama's wars and its human victims in Iraq and Afghanistan after John Conyers sold us out on H.R. 676 and the impeachment and prosecutions of Bush and Cheney to save his own hide after Karl Rove threatened to send him to prison for the rest of his life for his involvement in taking corporate bribes... charges to which his wife plead guilty in a plea bargain that allowed Conyers not to face prosecution.

Alan L. Maki

2.our critique of the 2010 federal legislation, messaging, and why
> the Co-op Health Care section of Obamacare and its generous funding
> is a good first step for MN.
>
> 3.state health care reform discussion.

Quoting David Shove <shove001@tc.umn.edu>:
>              P R O G R E S S I V E   C A L E N D A R   12.06.10
> 4. uhcan-mn          12.06 7:30pm
> --------4 of 4--------
>
> From: Joel Albers <joel@uhcan-mn.org>
> Subject: uhcan-mn 12.06 7:30pm
>
> Next UHCAN-MN mtg is monday Dec 6, 7:30pm, Walker Church, 3104
> 16th ave S., mpls (near Bloomingtom ave and lake Street), lower level.
>
> 1.Reportbacks: Artists Health Fair Tabling Nov 6; Trinity Health
> Fair Nov 14
>     cholesterol tests/presentation.
>
> 2.our critique of the 2010 federal legislation, messaging, and why
> the Co-op Health Care section of Obamacare and its generous funding
> is a good first step for MN.
>
> 3.state health care reform discussion.
>
> additional items for the agenda ?
> come for the coffee/tea, snacks, stay for the conversation,
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>    - David Shove             shove001@tc.umn.edu
>    rhymes with clove         Progressive Calendar
>                      over 2225 subscribers as of 12.19.02
>               please send all messages in plain text no attachments
>
>                           vote third party
>                            for president
>                            for congress
>                            for governor
>                           now and forever
>
>
>                            Socialism YES
>                            Capitalism NO

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:
http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/