How the Zionists try to stifle democracy

This letter speaks for itself in the very biased and bigoted way these Zionists tried to pressure college officials in a most disgraceful way not to allow a leading Palestinian rights activists to speak at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This bigot, Mike Presant, speaking for the Jewish Federation lies about what Mazin Qumsiyeh spoke about at Calvin College. Hopefully there will be a rebuttal by those who invited Mazin to speak to this most disgraceful attack on democracy and the truth because the Israeli killing machine must be exposed and stopped.

Alan L. Maki

 

Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids

Interim Executive Director’s Letter
April 2011


I would like to talk with you this month about a recent speaker at Calvin College named Mazin Qumsiyeh. While this letter is about the circumstances surrounding this particular event, my hope is to engage you in a broader conversation about a familiar issue, though not necessarily in the Grand Rapids area: the rise of anti-Semitic rhetoric on college campuses in the guise of pro-Palestinian speech.

In late February our office was alerted by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit to Mr. Qumsiyeh’s planned visit to Grand Rapids as part of a lengthy book tour around the U.S. We were directed to an ADL ‘backgrounder’ on him (google “ADL” and “Qumsiyeh” to find it), and were immediately concerned not only by his extreme views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (e.g. he’s a proponent of the so-called “one-state solution” which if implemented would lead directly to the end of Israel as a Jewish state), but also his propensity to use anti-Semitic rhetoric in his speeches. Mr. Qumsiyeh also employs familiar anti-Semitic stereotypes such as Jewish or Zionist control of the media and the U.S.

We decided to reach out to the Calvin representative listed as the book tour contact to share the ADL information and discuss our concerns. After an initial polite exchange and an offer to look at the ADL website, we were turned away without explanation. The Calvin representative said the faculty bringing in this speaker had no interest in discussing this further (although she later offered to discuss it after the event), even though we highlighted Mr. Qumsiyeh’s track record of comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, anathema to Jews everywhere and in my view, anti-Semitic on its face. We had wanted to ask Calvin why it would give such a speaker a forum at all, and ask it to reconsider its invitation to him.

Now, you may wonder, why not let him talk and then ask Calvin to bring in a pro-Israeli speaker? After all, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is near and dear to our hearts, underpins the tradition of free speech on college campuses in America, and is close to sacrosanct. But respected institutions in civilized society need not offer all manners of speech a public hearing. Simply put, promoters of hate speech should be told they are not welcome. Imagine if a Calvin professor proposed a speaker on race relations in America who was known to use the ‘n-word’ and other racial epithets and stereotypes in describing African-Americans. How would Calvin react to that proposal? Another representative at Calvin admitted to me that such a person would never be invited to its campus. Then why not shun a person who has a documented track record of using anti-Semitic language as well?

It is noteworthy that, while our Jewish community has had a warm relationship with Calvin on various cultural programs including literature and music, we have had disagreements previously with college officials on similar matters to the current question. As I write this letter, we have requested a meeting in order to begin a dialogue with senior Calvin officials about anti-Semitic rhetoric. I have suggested that we discuss this issue in the context of the “Healing Racism” program designed for both leaders and interested members of our greater Grand Rapids community. The leaders at Calvin are quite familiar with it, as I am sure some of you are as well. As the title of the program infers, its focus is on black-white relations and considers racism a disease that requires extensive dialogue across racial lines to treat. When I attended the program over ten years ago, we watched a film about Henry Ford. It was not about cars. The anti-Semitic background of Mr. Ford was unknown to every other person in my Healing Racism group, all of whom were not Jewish. This taught me a lesson – we should not assume non-Jewish members of our greater community have an awareness of anti-Semitism as we do. My hope is that, in the spirit of Healing Racism, we will be able to connect with Calvin’s leaders about our concerns regarding anti-Semitic hate speech in a manner that we have been unable to accomplish in the past.

This is where we stand with Calvin, and I will keep you informed about its leadership’s response to our request for dialogue. Now, I would like to make a request of you, my fellow members of the West Michigan Jewish Community. While temporarily in my current leadership position in our community, I am only one voice, filtered by my own experiences and biases. To address this very serious issue in the right way, I need to be your representative and hear your collective voices on this question. What is your reaction to this situation? Join us on the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids facebook page where excerpts of this letter are posted or, if you would prefer, call or write to me directly at mike@jfgr.org. As you can tell, I feel passionately about this issue and, no matter whether you agree or disagree with me, your opinion matters.

In sum, my view is this issue boils down to a question of free speech versus hate speech on college campuses. As suggested earlier, I am proposing that anti-Semitic hate speech (and for that matter, anti-Muslim hate speech, too) be shunned voluntarily by colleges and universities. When the Detroit JCRC representative initially contacted us, he mentioned his concern that Mr. Qumsiyeh, as ADL documents, “crosses the line.” Admittedly, where the line lies between free speech and hate speech is a difficult judgment to make. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once famously stated, “I know it when I see it,” when discussing another free speech issue (pornography), and perhaps that’s how such judgments in the case of free versus hate speech must be made as well. Nonetheless, when Israel is equated to Nazi Germany, “I see it” quite clearly.

This month, as we recall our history from slavery to freedom, I bid you best wishes for a happy and healthy Passover! And I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Mike Presant

P.S. I attended Mr. Qumsiyeh’s speech, which proved to be a disappointment. In brief, it was a 130 year history lecture on Palestinian popular resistance presented using the classic propaganda technique of an Alice-in-Wonderland, upside down narrative (e.g. were you aware this resistance has always been nonviolent?). Of note, his anti-Semitic rhetoric was toned down, which was not surprising since he was aware we were watching him, though he did make some noticeable allusions to Jewish noses and one-sided Western media. He was neither inciteful nor insightful.

All out to Iowa Democratic Party Caucuses; punish Obama for his wars

Mark your calendars for February 6, 2012; begin to organize now--- All liberals, progressives and leftists for peace should consider making plans to travel to Iowa during the Democratic Party Iowa Caucuses to talk with people about these dirty wars and austerity measures used to finance them. Obama must be punished in Iowa. There are 99 counties in Iowa; we need a presence for peace and social justice in all 99 counties.

How is Obama's war economy working for you?

W- Wasted 

A- American

R- Resources

Obama's wars kill jobs just like they kill people. 

No peace; no votes.

I Am Attacked on Minnesota Public Radio by Kerri Miller and John McCarthy without the right of response

I called into a morning program on Minnesota Public Radio that featured as one of its guests John McCarthy, the rich white man who heads up the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association.

After making two points I was cut-off while making the third point at which time the host of the program opened the microphone up to John McCarthy to attack me until he was done with his lies.

If Minnesota Public Radio was the least bit interested in democracy and fairness I would have been provided the opportunity to respond to McCarthy and the viciously anti-labor and racist remark made by the program host that, "no one is forced to work in the casinos."

In fact, two circumstances by themselves and combined do force people to work in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without a voice at work and without any rights under state or federal labor laws.

Circumstance #1:

The faltering economy. Tens of thousands of people are out of work. Economic necessity forces people to work in these casinos. Offer casino workers a job elsewhere at real living wages with good working conditions and their rights protected by state and federal labor laws and these casinos will be left without anyone to staff them. 

Circumstance #2:

Racism. Racist hiring practices make it practically impossible for most Native American Indians to get jobs outside of the casino industry. The statistics and facts bear this out. In all the counties and their townships and cities in, near and around where the Indian Reservations of White Earth, Red Lake and Leech Lake are located, there are fewer than 20 Native American Indians employed in these public sectors out of thousands of workers. Because Affirmative Action is not being enforced in accordance with state and federal law, and the townships, cities and counties aren't even required to have Affirmative Action policies and programs in place, these racists don't have any Affirmative Action programs in any of these townships, cities or counties. Racism forces Native Americans to seek employment in these unhealthy smoke-filled casinos where they have no rights, receive poverty wages with no or little benefits and no voice in the workplace.

In fact, when it comes to Native American Indians they are forced to work in these casinos because Circumstance #1--- unemployment and Circumstance #2--- racism are both dominant and determining factors since unemployment rates on these three Indian Reservations range from a low of 60% to a high of 85%.

How can anyone be so arrogant and callous to argue with complete disregard for economic and racist factors that "no one is forced to work in these casinos?"  Yet, this is just what Minnesota Public Radio's Mid-Morning host, Kerri Miller, argued. And then she proceeded to arrogantly and undemocratically not allow me to respond while turning the microphone over to John McCarthy to viciously attack me; again, without allowing me to respond.

Now, the facts are such that Minnesota Public Radio has intentionally ignored the plight of casino workers because the casino managements are now underwriting MPR programming to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

And, where do these underwriting funds originate from?  Indian Gaming revenues. Racist Indian Gaming which is controlled by a bunch of racist white mobsters who own the slot machines and table games and those like John McCarthy who dole out campaign contributions to the politicians who in return assure them of cheap labor.

John McCarthy and Kerri Miller refused to address the issues I raised:

1. Why don't these casino operations pay taxes as it just happens that if they were taxed like any other business Minnesota would not have any budget problems plus the Indian Nations would receive more than they are presently receiving from gaming revenues?

2. Why didn't John McCarthy or Kerri Miller respond to the fact that 41,000 casino workers are forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws and without any voice at work. Why no explanation as to why this situation exists in the first place?

3. Why didn't John McCarthy or Kerri Miller address the fact that the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association spends tens of millions of dollars contributing to the campaigns of everyone except Native American Indians and there isn't one single Native American Indian sitting amongst Minnesota's more than two-hundred state legislators?

Of course, Kerri Miller, the host of Minnesota Public Radio's Mid-Morning Program did not ask John McCarthy about the ethics of him owning Tony Doom Enterprises, a big-business making millions in profits as a result of selling campaign advertising materials to the very politicians he funnels the campaign contributions to through the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. If this isn't a racket I don't know what is.

I leave it to people to draw their own conclusion as to whether I should have been allowed to respond to the anti-labor and racist response of Kerri Miller and the following vicious attack on me personally by John McCarthy who is such a coward he doesn't dare debate me on these issues but then goes on to attack me for "posting malicious, vicious and nasty things on my blog here" without substantiating one single one of his accusations.

Furthermore, John McCarthy told Kerri Miller that he "knows" me; another outright lie.

People should take a drive by John McCarthy's home and ask why he is living high on the hog as a direct result of his racist role in the impoverishment and ill-health of the Indian people. John McCarthy lives just outside of Bemidji, Minnesota in a two-million dollar estate at 8925Cove Drive NE, Bemidji, Minnesota. Take a drive out to see John McCarthy's estate and then drive through the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth Indian Reservations to see how casino workers getting paid poverty wages have to live or check out the dirty, filthy, rat infested apartment complex in Warroad, Minnesota that Floyd Jourdain and the Red Lake Tribal Council reserve for the members of the Red Lake Nation who work in the Seven Clans Casino Red Lake who have to pay over half of their poverty wages to live there.

Why doesn't Minnesota Public Radio report on any of this? The reason is obvious; John McCarthy and the casino managements and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association are bribing MPR into silence just like the politicians have been bribed to enable this horrendous and most disgraceful situation to come into existence and continue where poverty is the only thing that flourishes so a few mobsters owning the slot machines and table games can profit.

For those who don't care about the plight of casino workers and enjoy gambling and the cheap meals served, keep this in mind:

* The Minnesota Department of Public Safety who is supposed to be monitoring slot machine compliance checks fewer than 150 slot machines a year in all of Minnesota.

* Food served in the casinos is not inspected by federal or state inspectors nor is the condition of the places where the food is prepared.

* And for those staying in the casino hotels/motels there has been no building inspections by local or state building inspectors.

As for John McCarthy's claim made on Mid-Morning that all the casinos have been built and constructed by union workers this is an outright big fat lie. I challenge John McCarthy to produce the union contracts. In fact, union business agents and stewards are not even allowed on these construction sites.

And casino workers, like the 5,000 employed by Stanley Crooks at his Mystic Lake Casino empire are forced to sign statements stating that they agree, as terms of their employment, that they will not engage in union organizing knowing they will be fired.

In fact, Stanley Crooks has fired over 200 casino workers from his Mystic Lake Casino empire in the last three years simply for "blogging about working conditions." And not a peep of any of this from Minnesota Public Radio. How come Kerri Miller is allowed to voice her anti-labor and racist views from a radio network funded by tax-payers in addition to casino managements without any restrictions or retribution?

One would think that an industry created by politicians at tax-payer expense while generating tens of billions of  dollars annually in profits would require a bit of scrutiny from Minnesota Public Radio but all this industry gets from MPR, its management, program hosts and reporters is unconditional praise.

Kerri Miller doesn't even ask one of Minnesota's leading politicians or John McCarthy who speaks for this dirty, corrupt and disgusting casino industry why it is that these casinos have been allowed to circumvent  the ban on smoking applicable to all other places of employment in Minnesota.

How much is it costing Minnesota tax-payers to have 41,000 Minnesotans working in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos where casino workers are fired without compensation of any kind if they develop coughs and begin to lose their hearing?

Perhaps Kerri Miller should invite someone from the Indian Health Service, the Minnesota Heart and Lung Foundation or the American Cancer Society to explain the impact of second-hand smoke on casino workers' health and lives and the impact to their families.

John McCarthy is concerned about all the "nasty things" I have to say about him, the casino managements and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association along with the politicians he bribes and then profits from, again, here on my blog... well, let's talk about the real nasty things John McCarthy brings to Minnesota--- smoke-filled workplaces, poverty and racism.

And if these nasty things and the nasty people like John McCarthy don't get talked about here on my popular blog, where do they get talked about? On Minnesota Public Radio? Ha!

The labor movement has to take up the question of peace...

The only way to defend workers' rights and livelihoods is to bring our war dollars home.

Resolution Calling for Re-Ordering of Priorities

Resolution Calling for Re-ordering of Priorities:

Whereas Minnesota is faced with a $5.028 billion budget shortfall; and,

Whereas
past budget cuts have resulted in painful reductions in essential
services and future cuts would further erode the quality of life for
and, in fact, endanger the lives of many citizens; and,

Whereas
many cities and communities in Minnesota are laying off police,
firefighters, teachers and other essential employees; and,

Whereas
past budgets have been balanced by cutting social services, under
investment in essential infrastructure, and other measures that push the
crisis onto local governments and the poor; and,

Whereas
Minnesota taxpayers even during these times of economic crisis and
fiscal austerity are poised to pay the equivalent of the entire state
biennial budget, more than $35 billion over the next two years, for
their share of the Defense Budget of the Federal government; and,

Whereas
Minnesota taxpayers alone have already spent more than $27.5 billion,
and will spend $8.4 billion more over the next two years for the ongoing
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and,

Whereas 58 cents of every dollar of federal discretionary spending is devoted to military purposes; and,

Whereas
military spending priorities at the national level negatively impact
budgets and quality of life at all levels of government and society;
and,

Whereas our nation desperately needs to better
balance its approach to security to go beyond military defense and
include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our
communities, state, and nation;

Therefore be it resolved
that we, the Legislature of the State of Minnesota call on Senators
Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen,
McCollum, Ellison, Bachmann, Peterson and Cravaack as well as
Congressional leadership and President Barack Obama, to shift federal
funding priorities from war and the interests of the few, to meeting the
essential needs of us all.

Approved [date]

By Jack Nelson-Palmeyer and Bill Hilty

Show Me The Money

An Obama supporter has asked me a question...

The question...

"You think Obama is a loser, gee he is the President, what are you?"

Here is my answer...

In a DEMOCRACY people who respect DEMOCRACY never are so arrogant to suggest that the President is somehow better or more important than anyone else.

Who am I? I am one more American citizen fed up with Obama's wars and his dedicated support for Wall Street's attempt to reap greater profits by making us pay for these dirty imperialist wars abroad through austerity measures here at home which are making us all poor.

Had Obama been honest enough to run on an agenda of what he really intended to do he never would have been elected president in the first place--- he would have been a loser in the 2008 Primaries.

We now need a Primary Election where Obama's ideas and his agenda will be challenged by someone honest enough to state their real ideas for real CHANGE--- at least this is my HOPE.

I do agree with you that Obama is the President; and this is a big part of what is wrong which now needs to be corrected.

I would encourage everyone to photocopy this article and pass it it out at every demonstration across the country along with the unity program on the top of my blog. Post it on every union bulletin board and every break-room and lunch-room. Post it on every church bulletin board and in every school. This op-ed column should form the basis for discussion groups. It is unfortunate that this column is Bob Herbert's last column for the New York Times.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/opinion/26herbert.html?_r=1

Op-Ed Columnist New York Times

Losing Our Way

By BOB HERBERT

Published: March 25, 2011

So here we are pouring shiploads of cash into yet another war, this time in Libya, while simultaneously demolishing school budgets, closing libraries, laying off teachers and police officers, and generally letting the bottom fall out of the quality of life here at home.

Damon Winter/The New York Times

Bob Herbert

Welcome to America in the second decade of the 21st century. An army of long-term unemployed workers is spread across the land, the human fallout from the Great Recession and long years of misguided economic policies. Optimism is in short supply. The few jobs now being created too often pay a pittance, not nearly enough to pry open the doors to a middle-class standard of living.

Arthur Miller, echoing the poet Archibald MacLeish, liked to say that the essence of America was its promises. That was a long time ago. Limitless greed, unrestrained corporate power and a ferocious addiction to foreign oil have led us to an era of perpetual war and economic decline. Young people today are staring at a future in which they will be less well off than their elders, a reversal of fortune that should send a shudder through everyone.

The U.S. has not just misplaced its priorities. When the most powerful country ever to inhabit the earth finds it so easy to plunge into the horror of warfare but almost impossible to find adequate work for its people or to properly educate its young, it has lost its way entirely.

Nearly 14 million Americans are jobless and the outlook for many of them is grim. Since there is just one job available for every five individuals looking for work, four of the five are out of luck. Instead of a land of opportunity, the U.S. is increasingly becoming a place of limited expectations. A college professor in Washington told me this week that graduates from his program were finding jobs, but they were not making very much money, certainly not enough to think about raising a family.

There is plenty of economic activity in the U.S., and plenty of wealth. But like greedy children, the folks at the top are seizing virtually all the marbles. Income and wealth inequality in the U.S. have reached stages that would make the third world blush. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, the richest 10 percent of Americans received an unconscionable 100 percent of the average income growth in the years 2000 to 2007, the most recent extended period of economic expansion.

Americans behave as if this is somehow normal or acceptable. It shouldn’t be, and didn’t used to be. Through much of the post-World War II era, income distribution was far more equitable, with the top 10 percent of families accounting for just a third of average income growth, and the bottom 90 percent receiving two-thirds. That seems like ancient history now.

The current maldistribution of wealth is also scandalous. In 2009, the richest 5 percent claimed 63.5 percent of the nation’s wealth. The overwhelming majority, the bottom 80 percent, collectively held just 12.8 percent.
This inequality, in which an enormous segment of the population struggles while the fortunate few ride the gravy train, is a world-class recipe for social unrest. Downward mobility is an ever-shortening fuse leading to profound consequences.

A stark example of the fundamental unfairness that is now so widespread was in The New York Times on Friday under the headline: “G.E.’s Strategies Let It Avoid Taxes Altogether.” Despite profits of $14.2 billion — $5.1 billion from its operations in the United States — General Electric did not have to pay any U.S. taxes last year.

As The Times’s David Kocieniewski reported, “Its extraordinary success is based on an aggressive strategy that mixes fierce lobbying for tax breaks and innovative accounting that enables it to concentrate its profits offshore.”

G.E. is the nation’s largest corporation. Its chief executive, Jeffrey Immelt, is the leader of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. You can understand how ordinary workers might look at this cozy corporate-government arrangement and conclude that it is not fully committed to the best interests of working people.

Overwhelming imbalances in wealth and income inevitably result in enormous imbalances of political power. So the corporations and the very wealthy continue to do well. The employment crisis never gets addressed. The wars never end. And nation-building never gets a foothold here at home.

New ideas and new leadership have seldom been more urgently needed.

•

This is my last column for The New York Times after an exhilarating, nearly 18-year run. I’m off to write a book and expand my efforts on behalf of working people, the poor and others who are struggling in our society. My thanks to all the readers who have been so kind to me over the years. I can be reached going forward at bobherbert88@gmail.com

On the road...

On the road...

These past few days I have been on the road traveling through Minnesota, Wisconsin and now I'm in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan meeting with rank-and-file labor activists and progressive-minded labor leaders along with grassroots activists.

There is one thing everyone is talking about: working people are getting screwed and people are fed up with these Republicans--- the Republicans who now control the legislatures in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan and the two vicious thoroughly reactionary governors--- Walker in Wisconsin and Snyder in Michigan... two cowards who didn't have the courage to run on the anti-labor agenda they are now implementing.

The one bight spot is liberal Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton who is standing alone in trying to stand up for what is right and just for working people but is being pummeled by even most members of the Democratic Party who have more in common with Republicans and big-business interests than with working people.

The AFL-CIO leadership has refused to flex its muscle in Minnesota to back up Dayton--- of course these labor "leaders" were slow to endorse him, too; and after they endorsed him they did little to help elect him. Why? Because Dayton is too liberal for them? Labor leaders should be more liberal than anyone and they should be leading the fight against the Republicans.

Obviously Walker, Snyder and the Republican crowd had a "hidden agenda" as they piously and dishonestly campaigned on a platform of "fiscal responsibility." Their only agenda is about corporate profits.

Unions made a big mistake in backing Obama. Unions should have backed Hillary Clinton because with the massive upsurge from labor's rank-and-file now sweeping the midwest she would have "bent towards justice." Obama has proven to be nothing but a Wall Street stooge who is not going to "bend towards justice" in the way required to improve the lives of working people.

Obama has to go.

Labor needs to dump Obama in 2012.

Whether we Primary Obama with Hillary Clinton, Anthony Weiner, Russ Feingold makes no difference--- what we need is a president who when pushed by labor will "bend towards justice" the way President Franklin D. Roosevelt did with the New Deal reforms.

Wall Street has made a mess of things in this country and we need working people in the streets and voting for candidates that are going to stand up to the corporations; not buckle and give in. We need labor leaders that are going to fight to improve the conditions of working people not negotiate more concessions because corporate profits are soaring and Wall Street coupon clippers are making out like the bandits they are.

The problems we as working people are experiencing are not going to be solved without one hell of a fight.

Working people are fed up and ready to fight for what they are entitled to. It's time for labor's leaders to free up the resources for the battle.

We can beat back the attacks on labor coming from Walker and Snyder and give Mark Dayton the support he needs. But, simply waiting for election day isn't going to get the job done. We need to stop these Republicans in their tracks right now. This means more and more people in the streets leading up to an election day where workers are running their own candidates.

Dump Obama; Obama has to go

Even Bush gave congress the right to oppose his going to war against Iraq; the Democrats gave Bush their stamp of approval. 

Going to war in Iraq was debated for months even though Bush's war against Iraq was opposed by the majority of the American people. 

Apparently Obama learned something from Bush about the American public's disdain for imperialist wars and he knew that if going to war with Libya was discussed it would be the end of his political career; so, without any public discussion or debate he just evaded the War Powers Act and the United States Constitution and went to war without even pretending to respect the laws of the land or the American people and shoots off over 150 Tomahawk Cruise missiles at $1.8 million dollars a pop like a kid playing with firecrackers on the Fourth of July as he talks about "fiscal responsibility."

A message from Wisconsin...

March 19, 2011---- marching for peace

Guest Blog: Japan, some facts and how you can help

Brian McAfee

2838 Mason Blvd.

Muskegon Heights, MI 49444

USA

(231) 737-8726

brimac6@hotmail.com





                       Japan's Tragedy Provides Us All an Opportunity to Show We Have a Heart


                                                            by Brian McAfee


The severe blow from nature that the Japanese people were struck with on Friday, March 11 took the lives of over ten  thousand  people and forever altered the lives and emotional well being of hundreds of thousands more.  The need to address the multifaceted nature and ongoing complexity of Japan's disaster is evident with each day's news updates.

Within minutes after the 9.0 earthquake north east Japan was engulfed by a tsunami that has done more damage then the initial earthquake. This is then quickly followed by news of possible meltdowns from at least one damaged nuclear power plant.

Today's reports speak of over half a million now homeless, shortages (and need for) water, food and blankets in the still harsh winter conditions. Emotional needs will be an important issue for many as new discoveries of deceased are being made.

Along with the needs for food, shelter and emotional support another area of concern are the breakdown of the cooling systems in  three of Japan's  nuclear reactors.  Aside from aftershocks, the threat of more tsunamis the threat and effects of more meltdowns remain an ongoing threat.

The questionable placing of nuclear power plants over fault lines is reiterated in the U.S. with the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power plant located directly on a fault line on the shores of the Pacific in central California.

As the tragic discoveries of bodies along the beaches of Japan continue and ongoing searches by survivors for their loved ones continue the Japanese people will continue to need our love and support.

Several aid organizations are already there and active in the relief effort .  Here is a list of several of these organizations -

International Medical Corps www.imc-la.com, Red Cross redcross.org, Oxfam oxfam.org, Americares americares.org, Doctors Without Borders doctorswithoutbordrs.org

Japan has 127 million in contrast to the U.S.'s 310 million.

I strongly encourage you to assist the Japanese during this time. I welcome any comments or suggestions. I can be reached at Brimac6@hotmail.com -Brian McAfee

Dare to struggle! Dare to win!

They said it in the1930's and again in the 1960's--- Dare to struggle; dare to win!

 

by Alan L. Maki on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 9:01am

At the district, state, regional and national level most of the high-paid union leaders are completely worthless as this working class upsurge and struggle has proven them to be little more than loyal Democratic Party hacks willingly controlled by the AFL-CIO's national executive board interested in trying to make sure working people are pushed out of the streets demanding real change as they are defending their rights and livelihoods.

Shamefully, Richard Trumka has refused to clearly articulate how these dirty imperialist wars--- yes, Wall Street's dirty imperialist wars--- are robbing us of the means to fund our social programs: from public education to health care to fire protection and anti-poverty programs like the Community Action program. 

Why is it so goddamn hard for Richard Trumka to ask the working people he addresses: How is Obama's war economy working for you?

In fact, Obama's war economy is making us all poor.

Even the most simple minded amongst us understand that a nation cannot spend on wars and militarism to the tune of billions upon billions of dollars year after year all financed on money borrowed at exorbitant interest rates from Wall Street bankers and expect to have money left over to finance the social programs required by a civilized society where people are entitled to the human rights of jobs, housing, education, health care, child care, adequate food and access to transportation. 

We might just as well take the wealth of our Nation and toss it out into the ocean if we are going to use it to fight these dirty wars that no one wants and no one supports except for the Wall Street merchants of death and destruction who profit.

How can any nation fight war after war and maintain over 800 military bases on foreign soil with a huge naval fleet patrolling all the oceans of the world protecting Wall Street's interests abroad and expect to have resources to finance universal social programs at home? It can't be done. Every two-bit half-assed fascist dictator from Mussolini to Hitler, Franco and Tojo have tried it along with every single U.S. President since Franklin D. Roosevelt; it doesn't work. It can't work. And even if it did work it shouldn't be done.

The American people are fed up. We have had it with Wall Street and its wars abroad and its war on us here at home.

Now is no time to back out of this fight.

Richard Trumka and these worthless union leaders are trying tell people, "Okay, we have had our say. We don't want to rock the boat and upset our Democratic Party partners and allies we can work with them and negotiate concessions in wages and benefits. We don't need to get into all this left wing talk about taking money from the military budget to finance human needs. We can't be talking about "defense" spending, a national issue, when the issue is state budgets."

Why the hell can't we talk about military spending during discussions of state budgets? Whose pockets is all of this money coming out of? It sure the hell isn't coming from taxes on the rich and corporate profits.

Working people fight these goddamn wars. Working people die in these goddamn dirty wars. And it is working people who pay for these goddamn filthy imperialist wars. Wall Street profits; working people suffer all the way around.

And now along comes Richard Trumka telling us we can't have a say in whether or not our tax dollars go to finance public education and to create public health care and public child care systems instead of paying for wars.

Let Richard Trumka go with the generals and hold bake good sales and sell candy bars and flower seeds from door-to-door to finance this military madness while we take the billions of dollars now being wasted on these dirty rotten wars and use this money to build a socially just and decent society.

What kind of labor "leaders" who live in the wealthiest country in the world where every single bit of this wealth has been created by workers, far too few of whom are members of unions because Trumka and his kind are afraid of a fight, and agree to concession contract after concession contract and now these cowards are trying to tell working people to clear the streets and don't talk about turning our country on the path to peace as they try to trick people into voting for this worthless piece of crap, Barack Obama--- again, as if once wasn't more than enough?  

Stay in the streets; create a new political party that will reflect and fight for what is ethically, morally, socially and economically just--- dare to struggle; dare to win! 

Now is the time to finish what was begun in the 1960's.

Now is the time for the American people to build an anti-monopoly people's front to take on and defeat Wall Street.

Since 1948 Wall Street has dictated how we must live and work and go to war; it is time for this way of doing things to come to an end. If for no other reason than we cannot afford the heavy price we the people  pay.

Defend democracy.

Defend workers' rights to collective bargaining--- not to bargain away what has been won over the years; but, to improve the lives and livelihoods of ALL working people.

Roll-back and freeze prices, not wages.

Spend our money on human needs, don't finance Wall Street's wars and greed.

For a real change, let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood.

Has Obama "morphed" or "changed?"

I haven't read the book, but it seems to me the insinuation that Obama has "morphed" into something as if he is not the same person with the same politics and ideology he himself defines as "pragmatism" which is the ideology of imperialism that he was when he ran for president and what he is now is misleading and only confuses things more.

The fact is, Obama wrote an essay in Foreign Affairs Magazine which is the voice of U.S. imperialism if ever there was one (published by the Council on Foreign Relations) in which he elaborates a very clear neo-liberal agenda. You can read that essay, Renewing American Leadership, by Barack Obama - July 2007,  here (please note the July 2007 date long before the Primaries):

http://wallstreetsfriend.blogspot.com/

Obama was intentionally packaged and sold as something he never was: liberal, progressive, left. In fact, no Democrat can win the presidency (nor almost any other elected position in this country) without liberal, progressive and left support.

There are the little issues of: ethics, morality and honesty in government and politics at play here, also--- or, more appropriately when it comes to Obama: lack of ethics, immorality and complete and total dishonesty. How else can one describe "packaging" oneself as something one is not for the purpose of getting elected by tricking people into thinking they will get one thing when the intent is to deliver just the opposite?

At the core of those involved in packaging Obama to appear to be something he was not and never had been was The Century Foundation which handed out tens of millions of dollars to organizations like the Progressives for Obama, Campaign for America's Future, American Prospect and even the Communist Party USA along with all kinds of Democratic Party "front groups."

Obama and his entourage brought in none other than Tom "poster boy for the Israeli killing machine" Hayden, Carl "I support Pol Pot" Davidson and Barbara "anyway I can make a nickel or dime off the movement" Ehrenreich and Robert "support the AFL-CIA" Borosage to do the dirty work providing Obama with a left cover.

To use the word "morphed" suggests that Obama started out with good intentions and in one way or another has been either coerced by, or sold out to, Wall Street which is far from the truth that Obama is one and the same person with the same ideology he had back in 2007; and if one bothers to look he has not deviated from this imperialist ideology of "pragmatism" since he became an adult.

To suggest that Obama has "morphed" is to suggest that he has changed from good to bad which is important to note because it conveys the idea that quite possibly he can "morph" back or change to something better.

For those of us concerned about peace, social and economic justice issues this becomes very important because we need to know if there is any possibility based upon any facts where we might expect Obama to at least "bend towards justice."

After all, do we really expect that a liberal, progressive or leftist can be elected to the presidency of the United States on the Democratic Party ticket?

I don't want to insult anyone, but it is sheer stupidity to think this is possible. We saw what happened with George McGovern--- big money Wall Street neo-liberals just withdrew their support in the middle of the campaign--- completely unlike with Obama where they just kept pouring money in--- even the Republicans!

So, the one and only thing I look for in Democrats is who might be inclined or pushed to the point of "bending towards justice"--- not because they want to but because they have to if for no other reason they want to try to salvage what they can (their profits) and save their rotten-to-the core system.

Make no mistake; Obama was, is and will always be, Wall Streets loyal servant and he was chosen by these Wall Street coupon clippers because they know Obama is completely loyal and will never, ever "bend towards justice."

I could offer an example of a current ruling class politician who would very likely "bend towards justice" but naming her would confuse the issue of whether or not Obama has "morphed."

I think it is sufficient to point out two past examples of ruling class politicians who did "bend towards justice:" Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt--- but, only once tremendous pressure from the people was applied... movements in the schools, in places of employment, in the streets being backed up in the voting booth which in turn was backed up by ever larger and growing movements in the schools, in places of employment and in the streets and so on and so forth--- slavery was ended with Lincoln and we got The New Deal with Roosevelt. We could add to this Lyndon Johnson who delivered many other far reaching reforms complimenting what both Lincoln and Roosevelt delivered... however, he chickened out in delivering peace even though the movement against the Vietnam war was the most powerful movement in U.S. history which should give us some kind of idea what it is going to take to win peace and real change against this Wall Street crowd.

Some frank talk about why the struggles for workers' rights are fizzling out---

Right-to-work is definitely a big problem but the unions have refused to address the issue of "at-will hiring; at-will firing" in 28 states that is the main impediment and obstacle to union organizing.

Plus, since we are all talking about "workers' rights;" we have in this country over 350 casinos/hotels/resorts/restaurants comprising the Indian Gaming Industry employing over two-million workers in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any voice or rights under under state or federal labor laws which the AFL-CIO has enabled through its cooperation with the Democratic Party in creating the "Compacts" bringing this industry into existence in this way for the sole purpose of trading off workers' rights for campaign contributions to the Democratic Party.

Quite frankly, we casino workers warned that what exists in the Indian Gaming Industry, when it comes to workers' rights, would become the pattern for all workers in this country.

I don't feel good looking at Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio saying, "I told you so." But, while Obama gave the momentum to these attacks on labor with his dictatorial freeze on the pay of federal government employees which has been picked up by the Republicans in further attacking all public employees and workers which will for sure hit workers in the private sectors of the economy, now might be a good time to consider the plight of two-million casino workers because you have two-million workers for whom the jobs of other workers looks pretty darn good which means employers have a huge pool of cheap labor to hire from should there be widespread strikes--- and keep in mind that many of these casino workers are unemployed teachers, miners, workers from the pulp and paper mills and the auto industry... quite a talented pool of two-million workers who would just love to improve their lot in life from going from a minimum wage job to making $14.00, $20.00 and $30.00 an hour and they don't care if they have any union--- or rights--- because these are the conditions they have been forced to work under for over 25 years as the teacher and teamster pension funds bankrolled the creation of this hideous Indian Gaming Industry as people wearing union jackets and buttons pull the levers of the one-armed bandits completely oblivious to the conditions of work for casino workers and the hundreds of thousands living in the resulting poverty on Indian Reservations as the owners of the one-armed bandits abscond to Florida, Las Vegas and the Caribbean Islands with their tax-free loot.

All the while our Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council has been speaking out for:

1. An end to these dirty wars so we can finance human needs;
2. A National Public Health Care System;
3. A National Public Child Care System;
4. An end to "at-will hiring; at-will firing;"
5. A real living minimum wage based upon the actual cost-of-living factors;
6. The enforcement of Affirmative Action and an end to racism;
7. End the wars and tax-the-rich to pay for everything; after all, all this wealth was created by working people in the first place.

Where have the "leaders" of the AFL-CIO been as we have been raising our voices in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan? Not only shamefully silent; but, standing with the Democrats supporting a Wall Street charlatan like Barack Obama and reaping windfall profits for pension funds directly off the poverty of workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry and off the poverty of Native American Indians.

We call on working people to get rid of these phony labor "leaders" like Richard Trumka and Leo Gerard and those labor"leaders" who are now trying desperately to undermine the struggles of the very workers whose dues pay their big fat salaries and now want to lead workers into the dead-end alley of supporting a bunch of Democrats every bit as worthless as Barack Obama looking after Wall Street's interests as well as any Republican, and every bit as spineless as Minnesota's liberal Democratic Governor, Mark Dayton.

It is time to consider a general strike as a means to turn this country around but the well-being and welfare of all workers and all working people will have to be considered for a real change.

Don't expect workers who have been handed the dirty end of the stick to support selfish demands that will only benefit the few. And don't expect that as long as these dirty wars are being waged and financed with our tax-dollars that we will consider anything less than a demand to end these dirty wars to fund human needs coupled with taxing the hell out of the rich.

Also, among the reasons this struggle is fizzling out is the role of the Trotskyites who are trying to once again shove themselves into leadership positions by proclamation and the stupid leaflets they are passing out... anyone seen the crap from Socialist Alternatives--- their recent leaflet distributed in Wisconsin disgracefully doesn't even mention the need to end these dirty wars as a means to pay for the social programs--- what kind of socialists are they? These Trotskyites pulled the exact same kind of crap during the Minneapolis Teamsters' Strike of 1934. 

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

Why are the Democrats and some labor "leaders" trying to confuse what is at issue in Wisconsin and other states?

The real issue in Wisconsin along with defending the rights of teachers and public employees to collective bargaining is: How is Obama's war economy working for you? It's about survival, lives and livelihoods... End the wars; tax the rich; cut and freeze prices- not wages; defend workers' rights. Why are Obama, Democratic Party politicians and the labor leaders backing them, skirting these real issues which cannot be separated from defending workers' rights in this situation because this issue of workers' rights being denied would not even be on the table if the budget problems weren't providing the excuse for this attack on collective bargaining in the first place? Join the struggles in the streets and in the state capitols. Bring your own leaflets and signs to meetings and demonstrations.

What is with this crap that some Democrats and labor leaders have concocted that is some way this Attack on workers' rights has been initiated by Republicans in order to break the partnership between labor and the Democratic Party?

In fact, for these Democrats and the labor leaders pushing this line, if workers take up this line they can kiss any chance of victory good-bye because protecting this partnership between labor and the Democratic Party is not going to win many supporters simply because it was Obama and the Democrats who unleashed the attacks on the working class in the first place so why would anyone want to defend the continuation of such a "partnership?"

Workers' rights and livelihoods being protected require working people fight all those attacking labor, which includes Democrats and Republicans. When Obama froze the wages of federal public employees he gave the green light to further attacks on working people, their rights and livelihoods.

Does it make any difference if a Republican takes away your rights and livelihoods or a Democrat does this?

In fact, Democrats want a "compromise" to this fight that will leave workers with a reduced standard of living as prices for basic necessities are shooting upwards--- everything from food to gas and electricity.

If anything, workers should be demanding "roll-back and freeze prices; not wages and benefits; leave our rights alone."

There is no way to wage this fight other than taking on both Obama and the Republicans because they are all attacking workers rights as part of an attempt to force concessions from workers because we can't afford to pay for wars and  social programs and in its very essence, when public employees are being attacked it is our social programs under attack because it is the public employees without whom our social programs can't exist.


Obama is increasing funding for wars as he cuts the programs working people require to live through this economic crisis.


We can't address part of the problem and pretend the rest of the problem isn't connected and doesn't exist.

Why are the Democrats and some labor "leaders" trying to confuse what is at issue in Wisconsin and other states? Because they are more interested that Obama wins in 2012 than in defending the rights and livelihoods of working people. The rights and livelihoods of working people are in no way tied in with Obama winning in 2012 simply because Barack Obama is Wall Street's man in charge.

CCDS issues a good statement on the working class upsurge

We need more statements coming from the left similar to this: http://www.cc-ds.org/statements/2011/Events-in-Wisconsin.html

"Our answer is: cut wars, not people, revitalize the progressive income tax structure that has been gutted by 30 years of neo-liberalism, enact a financial transaction tax on Wall Street..." Too bad they don't call for dumping Obama and it would be complete.

Redistricting

Here in Minnesota, redistricting has become a major and important topic of discussion and concern. The Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party held a racist "Summit" for Congressional Districts 6, 7 and 8. The purpose of this "Summit" was to assure that a small group of anti-reform, anti-labor, racist white people maintain control of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party and these Congressional Districts along with the State House and Senate Districts in Congressional Districts 6, 7 and 8.

Previously, in a letter to the Editor of the Bemidji Pioneer Press, I suggested a northern Minnesota congressional district  created in order to provide Native American Indians--- the Ojibwe (Chippewa)--- a more equal opportunity to be elected to Congress and the Minnesota House and Senate Districts.

The Republican Bemidji Pioneer Press which represents the views of some the most powerful big-business interests in the State of Minnesota controlling valuable natural resources from big-agribusiness to forests and a huge freshwater aquifer not to mention mining--- in short, rich natural resources stolen from the Ojibwe (Chippewa) responded without haste to my proposal for ending racist redistricting.

Control and ownership of all this wealth was not really discussed when "Treaties" were "negotiated." Just as participation in state and federal government was not broached.

All working people should have the common sense to understand how these treaties were negotiated given how these same governments negotiate with workers--- the idea of "negotiation" by these governments has been clearly demonstrated by Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker.

I think most people would agree the idea of "negotiation" is more like dictatorially telling people what they will get: shit.  

Well, the United States and Minnesota governments "negotiated" Treaties with Indians in much the same dictatorial manner... of course these "negotiated" Treaties were always in favor of wealthy white people designed to take control everything from water to land and everything on top of, and under, the land's topsoil.

Of course, no one saw fit to negotiate anything related to the air we breathe--- nothing about restricting the movement of dangerous dioxins and mercury.

But, for some reason the more wealthy a few people became off the forests and iron ore, the more poverty stricken Indians became. Surprise, surprise; you don't suppose the Treaties were "negotiated" with this in mind; do you? No; such "honest" and "upright" citizens of the business community would never do something like this (hope everyone understands my sarcasm here although I am sure there will be those who will object and pretend to be offended by my sarcasm).

But, in these Treaties what was never "negotiated" was a voice for Indians in the political process; again, need we wonder why this is?

Why would someone use the process of "negotiating" Treaties---Treaties are not unlike collectively bargained agreements on rights for workers, eh?--- to provide those being stolen from a seat at the decision-making table because the obvious outcome would be the people would then use the political process to gain back what was stolen from them once they figured out they were "negotiated" out of their rights and wealth---natural resources--- and lost complete control over the land, water, air, plants and animals.

These big-business dominated governments fine-tuned and honed their "negotiating skills" on the Indians and today all workers are the victims of this same kind of "negotiating process."

I'm sorry; I have wondered away from the issue of redistricting, haven't I--- or have I?

In fact, the right to FULLY participate in the political process was NEVER negotiated as part of these "Treaties" enabling the stealing of tremendous wealth.

So, I am wondering how it is that the tribal governments have never attempted to reopen these Treaties based upon Indian people being intentionally excluded from a political process that has established tribal government for the sole purpose of controlling Indian people to make sure they stay on the reservations out of sight and out of mind in a way Indian peoples have no control over the poverty imposed through these "negotiated" Treaties? Come on, really; isn't this what we are talking about because if you steal the wealth of a Nation you KNOW you are imposing poverty on these Nations?

Some years later after "negotiating" these "Treaties" designed and intended to steal wealth, along came another form of "negotiations" intended to accomplish further theft from the Indian Nations... this time these white racist government officials were very careful not to say these "negotiated" agreements were called "Treaties" because someone might get the idea that swindled--- not only once--- through "Treaties" it might offer an opportunity to the victims to reopen these Treaties trying to obtain a fairer deal so they decided to call the new "negotiated" deals "Compacts;" call it "Treaty" or "Compact," it's really the same old SWINDLE.

And what a swindle the "Compacts" have provided.

Isn't it nice--- and a little more than coincidental--- that the profits from "Indian" gaming are going to racist white politicians TO THE COMPLETE AND TOTAL EXCLUSION of Native American Indians.

Wow!

Surprise, surprise--- another "negotiated" agreement designed to make a small group of rich white people even richer while leaving Indians in deeper poverty all the while designed--- just like the previous "Treaties" (SWINDLES)--- to leave Indians without a seat at any of the real decision-making tables.

And here Indian people are languishing in poverty amidst such fantastic wealth with inadequate education, poor housing and children going hungry to inadequate schools and coming home and going to bed hungry as tens of millions of dollars are doled back out to the SWINDLERS in the form of campaign contributions while John McCarthy and his sidekick Stanley Crooks go around handing out philanthropic contributions everywhere while "loaning" the Indian Nations money to build them more casinos.

Anyone can drive out to John McCarthy's house to observe how well this set-up has worked for the SWINDLERS and then take a drive through the Red Lake, Leech Lake, Net Lake or White Earth reservations to see how well these "negotiations" have worked out for Indian people.

Ok, I have wondered off topic again; or have I?

Anyways, back to "redistricting."

Wouldn't it be a novel idea to designate just one Minnesota Congressional District and at least six State House seats and 3 State Senate Districts to the Ojibwe (Chippewa)  Nation as part of the redistricting process?  I wonder if a federal court would agree?

Let's find out what the Republican Bemidji Pioneer Press and all those nice white DFL advocates of  Affirmative Action who snicker and get their noses all bent and twisted out of shape when my name is mentioned, feel about giving the people--- Ojibwe (Chippewa)--- who they have SWINDLED out of everything--- except for a life of poverty--- a full voice in the decision-making process.

Is Jeffersonian democracy something legitimate; or, is it still just as hypocritical as when slaves and women were denied the right to vote? Oh, yes--- Indians were denied the right to vote, too, weren't they?

Let's also hear what the tribal governments owned by John McCarthy and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association have to say about my idea, too.

Gees, John McCarthy and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association own the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, don't they; now, isn't this a strange coincidence?

Maybe, on second thought, Indians already own and control too much and they don't need to have any seats at the decision-making tables in Congress or the State Capitol? After all, isn't this the argument we are going to hear from the racist Republicans like the Carlson's and Lehmann's--- or as MNDFL activist, Mike Simkin, who assures us he isn't a racist bigot even though he doesn't support Affirmative Action in hiring on public works projects as he says he is for Affirmative Action inside the DFL if only some qualified Indians could be found, likes to say: "Let the Indians work and live on their own reservations where they have their own government."

I find it interesting that all the racist bigots from the Blandin Foundation to the Bemidji Pioneer press to the Democrats and Republicans to the crooked and corrupt thieves like Floyd Jourdain to Archie LaRose and Mike Bongo attack me and my ideas when it comes to making sure Native American Indians have seats in places of power where decisions are made have yet to offer any ideas as to how this "Indian problem" is going to be solved---

--- maybe they think poverty will solve the "Indian problem".. after all, this would be a much more "benign" solution than Custer or Hitler had in mind.

Where are the voices for equality and democracy in Minnesota when it comes to redistricting?

I receive a brief, terse e-mail from Eliot Seide, AFSCME's leader or "main man"

I wake up on this cold, blustery, windy, snowy Sunday morning in northern Minnesota. Get dressed. Take my dog Fred for a walk. Come in and put the coffee on and grab a few cookies my grandkids baked for me. Pour a cup of coffee and turn my computer on to see what e-mail has come in.

I have about three hundred e-mails that have come into my box over night, and I look through the list and my eyes focus on an e-mail from Eliot Seide.

Eliot Seide is a very important person--- a V.I.P. if ever there was one.

Eliot describes himself this way on his own website (well, the web site is supposed to belong to the union but everything on it has to be approved by him)---  

http://www.afscme.org/about/11092.cfm

Eliot Seide – St. Paul, Minnesota

Executive Director of AFSCME Council 5, which built power for its 43,000 members with the merger of three Minnesota councils. Seide has spent 28 years working for AFSCME members in Minnesota, New York and throughout nation as a Business Agent, Legislative Director and International Area Director. He serves on HealthPartners’ Board of Directors, the Minnesota AFL-CIO Executive Board, and was elected International Vice President in 2006. It isn't everyday I get an e-mail from such a V.I.P. so I immediately click on his e-mail and open it. I read the very short, brief, terse note with great disappointment and despair. The lead voice of labor for trend sending concessions who couches his betrayal of workers to satisfy HealthPartners' (a not-for profit insurance company) profit orgy in militant sounding rhetoric supporting Wisconsin workers doesn't appreciate my views. Eliot Seide, a most important person who slobbers and grovels before every Democratic politician looking for a handout and votes; who obediently begs for meatless bones from state, county and city governments in exchange for concessions, tells me in his e-mail sent from his most expensive and impressive BlackBerry that is the envy of many CEO's: Again take me off your list. I am not interested in your opinions. Do it now. Thank you. -------------------------- Sent using BlackBerry What has irked Eliot Seide to send me such a short response barking a command to me as if I was a grateful member of his staff? This note I sent to Minnesota's very liberal Democratic Governor has really ticked Eliot Seide off--- Governor Mark Dayton; You pledged not to attack public employees. You and I, and I am sure many public employees, must have a sightly different definition from you as to just what the word "attack" means. You being very wealthy and never having had to rely on a job for survival like most working people have to do in order to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads, the hundreds of working people you intend to lay-off could very well consider this an "attack" on them; don't you think? You are depriving hundreds of working people of their livelihoods; what greater "attack" on working people could there possibly be than depriving them of their jobs--- their livelihoods? Next time you are out campaigning I shall have to carry a Webster's Dictionary with me; I'll give you my dictionary--- but I doubt you get my vote. Alan L. Maki Director of Organizing, Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council 58891 County Road 13 Warroad, Minnesota 56763 Phone: 218-386-2432 Cell: 651-587-5541 E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/ Perhaps Eliot Seide is just a bit jealous I insisted on getting something in return for my endorsement and support after Mark Dayton came begging to me; unlike Eliot Seide who got his members hundreds of layoff's after begging on his knees from Mark Dayton for the opportunity to support him. It would appear that Eliot Seide's anger stems from this e-mail I received yesterday from one of his dues-paying members who sent her brief thoughts to both Eliot and to me: Eliot, Shouldn't Alan Maki's name be on your pay-check?  HealthPartners and the MNDFL should be paying your salary. You work for them not us. Alice Here is Eliot Seide's e-mail address if you would like to let him know what you think about him agreeing with our liberal Governor Mark Dayton attacking our state's public employees who are our front-line defenders of social programs we fought hard for: "Eliot Seide" <Eliot.Seide@afscmemn.org>  Actually, Eliot Seide's bark at me might better be turned into real growls from highly motivated union members--- all 43,000--- directed at our liberal Democratic Governor, a bunch of thoroughly reactionary Republicans, and a gaggle of "Republican Lite" Democrats whose toothless growls he helped to elect with money from AFSCME members--- the AFSCME's new chant would go like this echoing inside the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul: "Do it now! What do you want to do? Fight-back! No wage concessions, lay-offs or social program cut-backs! End these dirty wars to pay our wages, save our jobs and fund the social programs we deliver. Tax the Hell out of the rich. The people, united, will never be defeated. Power to the people--- Right On!"

What about ethics and morality in goverment? This is from a FaceBook posting I made...

Alan L. Maki

What about "ethics and morality" in government? 

Do these concepts mean anything anymore with Wall Street coupon clippers owning the politicians in this country? 

Wisconsin has an interesting state statute directly relating to "ethics" in government---

• 
  
• • 

    Alan L. Maki ‎"Has Governor Walker violated Wisconsin's strictest-in-the-nation ethics rules, which require elected officials to "maintain the faith and confidence of the people of the state" when it comes to their actions?"
    
    This question of "ethics" and even "morality" in government, I think, is very important because it goes right to the heart of what "Jeffersonian Democracy" is all about.
    
    Here we have politicians thwarting what is obviously a position taken by, if not the majority of the people, at least one heck of a good chunk of the population and Governor Walker is acting with the same kind of arrogance we got from Richard Nixon and that dirt-bag Spiro Agnew.
    
    Walker might just as well stand on the steps of the Wisconsin state Capitol and thumb his nose and give the finger to everyone. 
    
    We get the same kind of treatment from Barack Obama and the Democrats--- and even many union leaders--- who are opposed to having the funding for these dirty wars and Wall Street's militarism discussed as any part of the discussion of the budget crises facing the states when everyone with an ounce of common sense knows that we are talking about "slicing up the same pie," so-to-speak. If the wars are going to get a big slice of pie it only stands to reason our social programs are going to get smaller pieces of the pie. I could draw a picture but I don't think this is really required. 
    
    I think people overall have become so accustomed to just thinking that all politicians are a bunch of corrupt creeps bought off by corporate Wall Street interests that concepts of "ethics and morality" in government just don't get talked about anymore and this is a real shame.