Letter to the Editor submitted for publication to the Brainerd Dispatch

(Note: Please see links at very bottom.)


Letter to the Editor submitted for publication to the Brainerd Dispatch

mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com

The title of your article, "Protest Leads to Abbreviated Little Falls Council Meeting" June 6, 2013) is highly misleading on several counts.

First of all; it was, according to your story, members of the audience who started the disruption and trouble, not Robin Hensel.

I have been to city council meetings all over Minnesota and in many other states where people frequently display signs setting forth their views and grievances--- people living in a democracy kind of expect to have these kinds of rights, eh?

Second; in addition to the very clear constitutional issue of the right to freedom of speech, there are the issues involved with this government spending trillions of dollars for wars killing people--- as the signs depicted, and no one is claiming the pictures are not what Robin Hensel claims them to be: the barbaric result of what happens in wars; children suffer and die.

Third; national priorities are linked to state and local priorities in that the more our government spends on wars the less is available for state and local governments.

Have we not all heard local officials complain their funding for this or that project has been cut? 

We pay for wars with the result being our public schools are severely under-funded. 

We fund barbaric drone warfare so there is no money for a fully funded Food Stamp program. Both of Minnesota's two U.S. Senators shamefully voted not to restore cuts for Food Stamps. I heard no complaints about this injustice of punishing the poor to pay for wars from the Brainerd Mayor, City Council members or these "concerned citizens" whose only "concern" extends to trying to silence Robin Hensel.

That any public body would exert so much time, resources and tax-payer dollars towards trying to silence a citizen who is hurting no one as she expresses her opinions is a disgrace and makes a mockery of democracy.

It is not Robin Hensel with the mental problems as some are slandering her; it is a government that wastes money trying to prevent a citizen from participating in the decision-making process and squanders our tax dollars on these barbaric drone wars and kills thousands of innocent children in these dirty wars while labeling their deaths as "collateral damage" which reflects the epitome of insanity.

I am thankful we have people like Robin Hensel who refuse to be bullied into silence. Anyone who doesn't like what she has to say, what she writes or what she places on her signs just like Ben Franklin and Tom Paine did have the right to ignore her pleas for peace, social and economic justice.

In a democratic and civilized society people who disagree engage one another in discussion, dialog and debate they don't try to intimidate and bully others with views differing from their own into silence--- Joe McCarthy tried such tactics--- our society still suffers the consequences as the actions of these bullies badgering Robin Hensel attest to.

Robin Hensel shares her views and opinions using her own name; more than can be said of those who are engaged in a smear campaign against her who cowardly hide behind monikers and anonymity.

-- 

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

 

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

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

Link to Brainerd Dispatch article: http://m.brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-06-05/protest-leads-abbreviated-little-falls-council-meeting

Link to comments: http://m.brainerddispatch.com/node/49239/comments

Does openness have anything to do with democracy?

Re: Peat Mining northern Minnesota in the Big Bog's Pine Island State Forest.

Attention Minnesota State Legislators and Governor Dayton and the Commissioner of Natural Resources;

I think the people of Minnesota have the right to know from our public elected and duly appointed public officials what the status of this peat mining project is. Please provide such an update because we shouldn't have to expect someone who doesn't know anything about anything who has walked a few feet into this area obviously being developed for peat mining to proclaim the state of this project as was done in this e-mail I am forwarding on to you.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has approved the permit along with other government agencies for this project.

Millions of tax-payers dollars--- local, state and federal--- have already been spent on this project including developing, upgrading and maintaining roads to, in and out of this peat mining site in addition to very substantial ditching and land clearing.

The head of the Little Fork DNR Office has told me the peat mining is still proceeding.

Former Congressman James Oberstar reported to his constituents through numerous media that this hideous project was underway which create so many new jobs.

At this time, I am insisting that details and an update of this peat mining project for which Berger Peat from Quebec, Canada was issued a very long-term permit be forthcoming.

I have taken the liberty of BCC'ing a number of other people concerned about protecting and defending Mother Nature, global warming and climate change.

I am sure that I speak for all of these people, including the three individuals who issued their unfounded proclamation after only walking a few feet into this more than one-square mile site and the hundreds of square miles being drained as a stage of this project to make way for for the actual peat mining.

If this hideous project wasn't proceeding according to the permit, I have two other questions requiring an answer:

1. Why hasn't the permit been withdrawn?

2. Why is this draining of the Big Bog taking place since the drainage waters are carrying dangerous mercury contamination into our streams, rivers and lakes including the international Lake of the Woods which we share with our Canadian neighbors to the north?

I have also sent this e-mail to Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson since it is my opinion she has a clear responsibility to see to it that an open and transparent process is taking place which includes keeping all Minnesotans properly informed of this project.

I assume Laurel Beager, the Editor of the International Falls Daily Journal shares my concern that we receive an update on this project from the appropriate public official/s--- appointed and elected.

I would further note, that previously, my own State Representative Dan Fabian promised I would be provided a full accounting and update on this peat mining project and that was NEVER forthcoming. So much for constituent concerns from this Republican who pretends to be concerned about how tax dollars are spent and used.

I expect a full accounting from the party/s responsible for providing this information to Minnesotans in a forthright, open and honest manner. We should not have to have this information come from uninformed people who have no governmental responsibility for this peat mining project which ALL science opposes--- please see the scientific publication edited by Wright, "The Patterned Peatlands of Minnesota" which includes the thoughts of Roger Jourdain, the former long-time Chair of the Red Lake Nation who during his lifetime fought to protect this pristine bog as, "... the lifeblood of my people and my Nation (the Red Lake Indian Nation)." 

From the beginning this hideous peat mining project has been shrouded in misinformation, lies, rumors and withholding information from the public. Even former Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Gene Merriam, stated to me, in public, that he never approved of this permit to mine peat in the Big Bog even though the head of Mines and Minerals claimed he signed the permit with Merriam's consent.

This peat mining project--- a boondoggle from the beginning--- has been one of the most hideous, racist and destructive projects ever undertaken in the State of Minnesota. We need facts from public officials; not rumors and misinformation.

Where does this peat mining project really stand? The answer to this question shouldn't have to come to us "blowing in the wind."

Alan L. Maki

For Save Our Bog 

Have you noticed?

Has anyone noticed the plethora of multi-media presentations--- especially on YouTube--- that are slickly produced under all kinds of names of "organizations" we have never heard of before but mislead people into thinking the "enemy" is always someone or some institution other than Wall Street?

Apparently there is a group of very well-heeled people who have the financial where-with-all to hire Madison Avenue advertising firms using Hollywood theatrics who think they need to re-direct the hit Wall Street has taken from Occupy Wall Street.

No matter what the future of Occupy Wall Street and no matter its problems, this movement did succeed in pointing the finger directly at our enemy--- Wall Street.

And, apparently, now, Wall Street feels the time is right to try to shift the focus and the spotlight from itself to everyone and anyone and anything other than itself to blame our problems on.

You can pay your ten dollars to join any movement that will lead you to take up the fight and the struggle against anyone or any institution other than Wall Street.

Slick as shit! With a good strong whiff of fascism.

More people arrested in North Carolina... will this struggle grow or be suffocated by the Democrats?

Will Democratic Party support lead to the same results as in Wisconsin, or will activists continue to expand these demonstrations until their demands are met as should have been done in Wisconsin?

Obama and the Democrats by increasing spending on militarism and wars have forced the states to cut funding for human needs but the Republicans in North Carolina were only too happy to "go the extra mile."

We have a problem in this country as working people with both the Democrats and Republicans.

And our main problem is with this insanity of militarism and imperialist war after imperialist war that is like taking the wealth of the Nation and dumping it into the deepest depths of the ocean for all the good it does.

Democrats in North Carolina very cleverly worded their "support" for these demonstrations by saying they would "try" to reverse what the Republicans are doing because they know full well without federal dollars they can't reverse what the Republicans have done.

In fact, their Democratic colleagues in the United States Senate just joined the Republicans to vote down restoring the cuts to the Food Stamp program because they need this money to fight Wall Street's dirty wars.

So, with the Democratic Party from one county in North Carolina "backing" these demonstrations are people going to go from protest mode to working to elect a bunch of mostly worthless Democrats in North Carolina the majority of whom are no better than Republicans?

Working people were tricked and deceived with similar bait set out to keep them trapped in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Perhaps the South Carolina AFL-CIO should get involved in North Carolina and bring along their suggestion that we need a labor party--- not the Democrats or Republicans--- in this country?

By the way, when will the entire contingent of the Democrats in the North Carolina State Legislature turn out to get arrested? After all, they expect people to turn out to the polls to deliver the votes--- shouldn't they be thinking of campaigning for those votes among the people going to jail?

Democrats asking people to vote for Democrats is not what I would call supporting these Moral Monday demonstrations.

And where is the National NAACP in all of this? Why aren't we seeing every single chapter of the NAACP organizing busloads of people to head to North Carolina with more protests being organized all over this country where racist Republicans and racist Democrats are sticking it to working people?

Here in Minnesota over two-billion dollars in public works jobs is being allocated--- including federal funds--- in two projects and we have a Democratic super majority where the Republicans have no say about anything and Affirmative Action is not being enforced--- thus assuring the continuing rapid growth of poverty in communities of people of color. This is criminal. The law of the land--- Affirmative Action--- is not being enforced and to add insult to injury it is intentionally being evaded by these Democrats who refused to raise the minimum wage, which is a dollar an hour higher in North Carolina!

It is through protests like these being expanded all over the country that people can put an end to all these cuts that are hurting the poorest people the most as this rotten government of both Democrats and Republicans squanders the wealth created by workers on militarism and these dirty wars.

Instead of funding community health care centers our taxes go to fund over 800 U.S. military bases dotting the globe protecting Wall Street's access to cheap resources and cheap labor.

The dots needs to be connected; the struggles intensified--- from coast to coast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcXxEvpxOO0

NAACP protest against North Carolina GOP policies draws 1000

www.youtube.com

More than 100 people were arrested in the largest demonstrations yet in the state chapter of the

The Raleigh, North Carolina "News and Observer" gets a piece of my mind...

I just sent this Letter to the Editor of the News and Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina:

The way the North Carolina State Legislature has been slashing funding for social programs is disgraceful.

With trillions of dollars being squandered on militarism and wars we have reached the point where we can no longer fund human needs.

Government budgets reflect our true priorities and if our national budget priorities are out of whack state and local budget priorities are sure to follow.

I want to add my voice in support of the protests being waged by the North Carolina NAACP against government cuts to social programs.

We should be funding human needs not militarism and wars.

Just the other day 28 Democratic United States Senators disgracefully joined with every single Republican in the U.S. Senate in voting against restoring billions of dollars cut from the Food Stamp program yet these same politicians have no qualms when it comes to spending on war after war. I was disgusted to learn our two Democratic U.S. Senators from Minnesota joined North Carolina's Republican Senators in this vote.

What we need is a new working class based progressive people's party to challenge these Wall Street merchants of death and destruction--- who control both the Democrats and Republicans--- for political and economic power.

Alan L. Maki; Warroad, Minnesota


See link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EjvQmwMN3_I

The controversy around Affirmative Action continues... why when we all gain from its enforcement?

The controversy surrounding Affirmative Action results from a lack of class consciousness among working people.

Most people don't understand that when we raise the standard of living and defend the rights of the people who have been victims of racist discrimination we are raising the standard of living and protecting the rights of everyone.

Why don't people understand the link between enforcing Affirmative Action and protecting their own standard of living and defending their own rights?

Link:  http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/americans-oppose-affirmative-action-for-race-if-you-only-ask-white-americans/276426/

Americans Oppose Affirmative Action for Race, If You Only Ask White Americans

What do polls show about racial preferences in college admissions? Don't take the overall number at face value.

David A. Graham May 31 2013, 12:53 PM ET

1
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Abigail Fisher, who was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin, is challenging race-based affirmative action at the Supreme Court. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)

Updated
With the Supreme Court set to hand down a decision on a controversial affirmative action case in Texas in college admissions -- and expected to deal a blow to traditional race-based measures -- The New York Times has a thoughtful look at socioeconomic affirmative action, which is often presented as a preferable alternative in the 21st century. The argument, proponents say, is that while race is still an issue, race quotas often end up perpetuating class privilege, and that colleges and universities should focus on poor students instead. The upshot? "But many educators see real limits to how eager colleges are to enroll more poor students, no matter how qualified -- and the reason is money."
The story also drops this seemingly innocuous fact: "Polls show that while most Americans oppose racial or ethnic preferences in college admissions, they also think colleges should give extra help to the poor."
That's a deceptively complex statement. When you actually take a look at the polls, the truth is more like this: A majority of Americans oppose racial or ethnic preferences, but only because a majority of Americans are also white.
For example, look at this Pew study from 2009. The toplines are clear: Many more respondents oppose affirmative action for race than support it.
But when you look at the breakdown by race, it's a radically different picture. Note that against 1100 white respondents, there are barely 250 black and Hispanic ones -- and that their support for race-based remedies is 30 to 35 points higher.
This isn't hard to suss out: There are more white people in these polls, and in the U.S. white Americans, who don't benefit from these programs directly (setting aside arguments about the essential value of diversity and social inclusion), see less reason for them -- it's not necessarily racial malice; they just don't see the need. The minorities, of course, who stand to benefit directly, see things rather differently.
The pattern is reasonably consistent. For example, another 2009 poll, from Quinnipiac, found that 55 percent of voters favored ending affirmative action for minority racial groups in hiring, promotion, and college admissions. But drill down: Just a quarter of whites supported continuing the programs, a whopping 78 percent of blacks did. Hispanics were evenly split. (The poll doesn't appear to show how many respondents were black, white, and Hispanic.) The breakdown is consistent over time, too. Here's a Gallup poll from 2005; the poll's topline found Americans support racial preferences 50-42.
A couple of caveats. The conservative pollster Rasmussen has also found support for ending race-based affirmative action, but doesn't make their crosstabs publicly available, so it's unclear what the race breakdown is like. Furthermore, few of these surveys include Asian-Americans as a separate category, usually because there aren't enough respondents for statistical significance. However, Asians and Asian-Americans are an important part of the higher-education debate, as those groups' enrollment has skyrocketed. As Inside Higher Ed reported, there's some disagreement in the demographic, with some arguing that Asians and Asian-Americans now constitute such a large part of college populations that race-based preferences aiding blacks and Hispanics actually disadvantage Asians and Asian-Americans.
But the overall point is clear: When someone says that most Americans oppose race-based affirmative action, what they really mean is most white Americans oppose it.
Update: In a poll this week, the Public Religion Research Institute found stronger support for affirmative action than others: Almost two thirds of respondents "favor programs which, in order to make up for past discrimination, make special efforts to help blacks and other minorities get ahead." But the disparity in answers between respondents of different races is present here, too:

David A. Graham

David Graham is an associate editor at The Atlantic, where he oversees the Politics Channel. He previously reported for Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and The National.

Breaking free from the two-party trap... tune in, tomorrow (Monday) evening, June 3

From Stewart Alexander, host of Socialist Insight

June 3, 2013, Alan L. Maki will be my guest on The Socialist Insight. Alan Maki will discuss how working people need to break free from this two-party trap by establishing a working class based progressive people's party for peace, social and economic justice in this country if we want any significant change. This will be a very interesting program!! Tune in Monday to Blog Talk Radio, The Socialist Insight, 7:00 PM Eastern and 4:00 PM Pacific. Call in to chat: 718-664-6436

Roundtable Discussion on Peace... tonight, 7pm Eastern Time

Tune in...

Roundtable Discussion on Peace---

Sunday, June 2.

tonight; 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
http://www.newmercurymedia.com/pnn.html

Sandy Davies            07:20:00 PM
  
Jay Jansen                07:28:00 PM
  
Gwen Holden Barry    07:36:00 PM
  
Hillary Keyes              07:43:00 PM
  
Emine Dilek                08:01:00 PM
  
Suki Dejong               08:09:00 PM 
  
Anita Stewart            08:17:00 PM
  
Alan Maki                  08:25:00 PM
  
Roundtable               08:33PM - 8:55PM

Four Obama-loving organizations on the left having lost members in droves because of their leaders support for Obama now to talk merger.

I wonder how far the Civil Rights Movement would have gotten had Martin Luther King, Jr. urged people to stay out of the streets to give the Democrat Lyndon Johnson a chance?

And, it was the Peace Movement in the streets that forced Johnson not to seek re-election; I never heard anyone talking about fearing Richard Nixon as a reason for not forcing Johnson, the warmonger, from office.

As I recall, if one looks at these "Progressives for Obama" most of them were out in the streets protesting against both Democrats and Republicans who supported the Vietnam War.

Of course now they have found a new kind of "activism" funded by Wall Street "philanthropists" who keep them on a tight leashes and don't permit them in the streets lest they lose their funding--- examples: Tom Hayden, Bill Fletcher, Jr., Barbara Ehrenreich, Tim Carpenter.

And during the Depression of the Dirty Thirties the leaders of The People's Front never cow-towed to Roosevelt; they said: When Roosevelt does what is right we will support him; when Roosevelt does nothing or does wrong we will oppose him. Using this thinking The People's Front kept people in the streets and organizing militantly in their places of employment.

We now see four left/socialist organizations which have cow-towed to Obama calling for a merger and a united left--- to accomplish what? A progressive take-over of the Democratic Party.

Even if such a feat could be accomplished--- and it can't--- these four organizations that have become cheerleaders for Obama and apologists for Obama's Wall Street imperialist agenda wouldn't be the ones to do it... these four organizations uniting around a professor's essay have, at most, three hundred members between them...

Their members listed here:

http://www.progressivesforobama.net/

And they beg the warmonger Obama:

"During each of President Obama’s campaigns progressives worked hard on his behalf.   We now ask that the President remember and respect our efforts in 2013 and beyond."

The four organizations are:

• Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism
• Communist Party USA
• Democratic Socialists of America
• Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Minnesota's Democratic super majority refused to end the growing impoveritization of the working class; why?

It would seem by now people would be catching on to the game being played by the Democrats where certain members of Congress are assigned the role of pretending to advocate for some reforms when the rest of the Democrats know their responsibility is to see these reforms defeated.

Here in Minnesota Democrats played this game out to the hilt with the Democratic Governor saying he wanted to see the minimum wage raised to one figure; the leader of the state House saying he wanted to see the minimum wage raised to another amount and the leader of the state Senate (a guy, Tom Bakk, who clings to fame claiming himself to have been a labor leader when the only thing he led was the racist struggle in opposition to the enforcement of Affirmative Action in the building trades) supported another amount that was lower than the Governor or the House agreed to--- so, in the end all the Democrats--- forming a super majority--- pretend to wring their hands saying they couldn't come to an agreement on how much the Minimum Wage should be raised so there will be no raise in the Minimum Wage in Minnesota which is now at a pathetic $6.25 an hour--- a dollar lower than Mississippi's miserly Minimum Wage.

Why didn't these same morons have any trouble and dissension raising their own pay?

And, why didn't the billionaire Governor stump the state advocating for a real living Minimum Wage that was based on all cost of living factors including the soaring costs of gas, home heating fuels, electricity, food and clothing?

The Minnesota AFL-CIO, with the Obama-loving Communist, Mark Froemke among its state leadership and fellow traveler Shar Knutson at the helm, made all kinds of excuses for the Democrats refusing to increase the Minimum Wage--- disgraceful given the fact Obama claims he is for an increase in the Minimum Wage (which was part of his 2008 campaign promise) but which he has never sought.

Talk about your three ring circus---

A Democratic Governor, billionaire Mark Dayton who received most of his campaign contributions from the Rockefellers.

A shit-ass, Democratic leader of the State House who is nothing but a worthless wimp who graduated with a Law degree from Harvard, Paul Thiessen.

A leader of the State Senate, Tom Bakk.

Leading a Democratic super-majority who refused to raise the Minimum Wage a nickle.

And then these Obama-loving clowns like Mark Froemke and Shar Knutson who can't "negotiate" anything other than concessions for their own members claiming to be "advocates" for increasing the Minimum Wage for workers who never asked for their "representation" distracting workers from the need for struggle.

There really needs to be a discussion about what it is going to take the working class to move forward in advancing the struggle to improve lives and living conditions because what happened here in Minnesota with something so fundamental and basic as the Minimum Wage clearly demonstrates labor's "leaders" led around by these worthless Democrats can't get the job done... really, none of them care two-shits about working people

Do we need a "People's Lobby" as a first step towards creating a new political party?

A thought from Podunk:

We need to break free from this two-party trap by establishing a working class based progressive people's party for peace, social and economic justice in this country if we want any significant change.

Perhaps a good first step towards political independence would be if we united liberals, progressives and the left in some kind of "people's lobby" for peace, social and economic justice behind a program and platform for ending these dirty imperialist wars and using the resulting peace dividends to finance real health care reform where we would see single-payer as a first step towards a national public health care system which would create some three-million new jobs right off the bat with another ten-million jobs down the road, making full employment a legislative mandate, create a national child care system, defend and expand Social Security, protect and defend Mother Nature.

What do you think?

Do we need a Democratic Party version of Michele Bachmann or a clone of Congressman Collin Peterson?

Michele Bachmann has announced she will not be seeking re-election to Congress--- a bit of good news; but, the Democrat running is no better than Bachmann. The Democrat, Jim Graves, has made millions from exploiting workers forced to work in poverty wage jobs. Jim Graves talks about "middle class" and "living wage jobs" yet pays thousands of hotel/motel workers poverty wages.

Why would unions support a poverty wage paying employer who denies workers their rights like Jim Graves for public office?

Yet, here are the unions backing Jim Graves who is every bit as conservative as Michele Bachmann on most issues:
    AFSCME Council 5
    Education Minnesota
    Minnesota AFL-CIO
    National Education Association
    SEIU Minnesota State Council
    United Steelworkers

This makes about as much sense as the Michigan unions who backed the racist, corrupt and anti-labor supporter of right-to-work--- Roy Schmidt who won election as a Democrat but switched to being a Republican which he really was all along.

What good does it do working people to elect Jim Graves another Democrat like ultra-conservative Collin Peterson?

But, then, again; look at Education Minnesota which backed a worthless, ultra-right wing reactionary like Republican Tony Cornish for the Minnesota State House.

Working people are caught in this two-party trap with one jaw labeled Democrat and the other jaw labeled Republican and we need to be figuring out how to free ourselves from this dangerous two-party trap set for us by these Wall Street parasites.

Michele Bachmann was for maintaining a poverty minimum wage; Jim Graves pays thousands of his employees poverty wages.

A living wage is a wage based on all cost of living factors.

If Jim Graves supported a living wage as he claims he does he would be paying his employees a real living wage based on all cost of living factors but Jim Graves supports, and only for political expediency, the same pathetic and miserly minimum wage "championed" by the AFL-CIO and Democrats which, if workers are "lucky," would see the minimum wage increased by two-bits in the here and now... but, Jim Graves won't voluntarily increase the pay of his own poverty waged workers--- not even by two-bits.

Plus, Jim Graves supports the hideous Indian Gaming Industry which employs some 44,000 workers in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos all of whom are receiving poverty wages enforced by no rights under state or federal labor laws in an industry in which a bunch of white mobsters own everything from the slot machines and table games to the hotels, motels, bars, restaurants, convention and entertainment centers and theme parks and resorts leaving Native Americans owning nothing but a great big pile of poverty-creating debt... and Jim Graves hypocritically talks about how he is for "human rights."

When 1,300 American Crystal Sugar Company workers were locked out of their jobs here in the Red River Valley where was Jim Graves? Did anyone see or hear of this Democrat Jim Graves advocating for anti-scab and anti-lockout legislation? No.

Masters of War by Bob Dylan 50 years ago today.

How pathetic that some people who used to march and demonstrate for peace while this song played now have ended up supporting a warmonger like Barack Obama.

On This Day 50 Years Ago, the record album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," with the song "Masters Of War," was released.
May 27, 1963: One For Our Side

Masters of War
By Bob Dylan

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
Till I'm sure that you're dead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj8hY8zR9eA

Those "liberals," "progressives" and "leftists" supporting Obama and the Democrats may want to reflect on their decisions while reading the words listening to this song.

The Little Blue Book

2. 
   

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The two-party trap.
   
   Notice: the jaws of the trap are never designated Democrat or Republican but one jaw of the trap is the Democrat and the other jaw of the trap is Republican.
   
   If Wall Street labeled these jaws the way they should be labeled we wouldn't get caught in this dangerous "two-party trap."
   
   Because so many people refuse to read what these Democrats are trying to suck us into people will keep getting caught in this two-party trap. One jaw of the trap is "Democrat" though never labelled as such and the other jaw of the trap is "Republican" even though it is never labelled as such. It is up to the unwary prey to understand how this two-party trap works. 
   
   By continuing down this rode playing this game that there is a "lesser evil" between the Democrats and Republicans we are still caught in the same two-party trap which is going to hurt us.
   
   Make no mistake this is a dangerous and strong trap hard to break free from once caught.
   
   If you want to know the strategy for keeping you from breaking free from this two-party trap I suggest you read for yourself what these despicable and dishonest Democrats posing as "progressives" have in mind for you.
   
   George Lakoff, Democratic Party hack, spells it all out in his recent book: "The Little Blue Book." It is fairly cheap and well worth reading if you want to know how these Democratic Party hacks like George Lakoff intend to keep you trapped:
   
   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-blue-book-george-lakoff/1111364898?ean=9781476700014
   
   Anyone who believes that "thinking and talking Democratic" is the same as thinking and talking progressive is in for a rude awakening after reading this bit of "red bait."

   
   

   

   The Little Blue Book: The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic

   www.barnesandnoble.com

   Available in: NOOK Book (eBook), Paperback. The essential handbook for thinking and talking Democratic—must reading not only for every Democrat but for every responsible citizen (Robert B. Reich, former Secretary of Labor and author of Be

   
   

Making political hay or telling the truth?

You know, some people have accused me of using tragedy to make political hay.

This is my response:

If a space capsule can be built to withstand what it does surely there are solutions to storm shelters for tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes.

Manufacturing such shelters would be relatively cheap if undertaken by a government owned manufacturing program using the best known scientific methods and technology.

The government financed a lot of nuclear war shelters now serving well as tornado and hurricane shelters.

It really is a question of governmental priorities. Will we have a government where the needs and requirements come before war and corporate greed.


Any government that can fund war after war for more than a hundred years without complaint certainly can find the funds to protect people from natural disasters.

Then the other problem is; there are some areas that never communities of people never should be allowed to live in... farms are one thing but converting that expansive farmland into residential communities when we know there will be hurricanes, floods and tornadoes is another thing... but, here again real estate developers and construction companies profit and politicians and their appointed public officials get campaign contributions and kick-backs to allow all of this to go on.

The idea though is to take the precautions necessary to minimize the threat and harm to human life. We have a political and economic system which values profits more than human life and that is where our problems begin.

I live in a "tornado alley" and a flood plain. When purchasing the property, because it is near a large lake and rivers and streams fairly close by, I sent written letters to both the realtor and the county asking if the property was in an area that ever flooded; both responded: NO. Well, it wasn't long before I found out the area flooded. But would any government agency do anything to this crooked and corrupt realtor, Scott Pahlen, that lied or the county official who no doubt received some kind of kick-back from the realtor--- and then there was the bank, Citizen's State Bank, which approved the mortgage which required all kinds of surveys, inspections, etc. but told me they didn't require anything about floods because the property was not in a "designated flood plain."

So, people can't even get straight and honest answers from anyone when there are profits to be made.

We all take the "risk" of being confronted with natural disasters of one kind or another... and many people have expensive insurance to to "protect" them... but, how often have you heard the heartbreaking story from the family who had to fight one of these insurance companies tooth and nail just to get the coverage they paid for?

During flooding up this way in the Red River Valley a few years back I happened into a restaurant where a bunch of insurance claims adjusters were gathered. They were laughing and joking about how they screwed people out of what they were entitled to because many people didn't know how to talk the legalese of their policies.

And then there are people who have experienced all kinds of hardship and death in mining country simply because the mining companies were allowed to get away with breaking the law by not properly caring for dams that have broke.

And just recently we saw the huge explosion in Texas--- more connivance between private corporations and government agencies who claim they weren't funded well enough to do their jobs--- but did you hear the heads of any of these government agencies warning people of the potential consequences of their inaction? No.

Makes me sick; the entire rotten system stinks. Why should we make up excuses for this governmental neglect be it "benign" or malevolent?

Oh, yes; and then these government officials and politicians always hide behind their favorite scam: "immunity."

Those making this accusation can kiss my ass and go to hell.

Take action to halt this injustice...

I just talked with Senator Amy Klobuchar's Administrative Director, Michael Hill, in her Washington D.C. Senate office. He said he had no knowledge one of Amy Klobuchar's constituents is sitting in a federal prison.

I sent him this e-mail at: michael_hill@klobuchar.senate.gov

I would encourage all of you to contact Mr. Hill so he doesn't forget this injustice. Out of sight is out of mind. Let's show that we have not forgotten how to get people involved and active. Make a call yourself to Mr. Hill and then pass this on to your FaceBook friends and your e-mail lists asking people to do the same.

Please post this to your blog.

We can't let these three fellow peace activists sit in prison because they acted on their beliefs and hurt no one or anything. They made a statement for peace and nuclear disarmament for us all.

Please pick up your phone right now and make the call to Mr. Hill.

Mr. Hill,

Here is the information you requested:

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/15-7

I will call you back at your direct number in 15 minutes at: 202-224-6763

As you can see, Mr. Obed is one of Senator Klobuchar's constituents... as am I.

Amy Klobuchar is a former prosecutor and I trust she can understand the injustice taking place here which must be halted in the interest of defending and protecting our Constitutional rights.

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

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

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

Minnesotans woke up today to find gas prices have risen from $3.89 a gallon to $4.19 a gallon! Thank you Democrats!

A thirty cent a gallon increase overnight... sheer robbery at the pumps.

Back in 1934, Minnesota's socialist governor, Floyd B. Olson, said that we would be sorry if we didn't nationalize the oil industry and place it under public ownership... we are now paying the price, quite literally, for not taking his advice.

Tim Carpenter and Progressive Democrats of America announced they are going to "educate" 200 members of Congress? Get real!

Tim Carpenter needs to seek more than $5 and $10 donations if he intends to "educate" 200 members of Congress on health care reform who have already been "educated" with Wall Street's bribes.

On the other hand; it can't hurt to let 200 members of Congress know the American people are fed up, but to feed the illusion that these members of Congress are doing the wrong thing because of lack of knowledge and education on the issues--- well, maybe, it is Tim Carpenter and PDA who need a dose of education as to who is running this country and their goals and objectives?

The only thing besides bribes that will "educate" these members of Congress is when they begin to face stiff opposition--- at the ballot box, in the streets, on the campuses, in working class communities and at work--- from a united effort on the part of the historic coalition of liberals, progressives and leftists struggling to turn this country around.

The Democratic Party will never be reformed or taken over by "progressives;" this is an illusion and a trap Tim Carpenter and PDA keep leading liberals, progressives and leftists into.

In fact, it was Tim Carpenters hand-picked crony--- Joel Clemmer--- here in Minnesota who undermined the efforts to push single-payer by weakening the resolution for single-payer based on the Canadian model that was passed by over 72% of the delegates at the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party's State Convention by turning around and blind-siding us at the next convention by inserting "affordable" to make the resolution not be in conflict with Obama's "Affordable Care Act--- Obama Care."

In fact, it was none other than Tim Carpenter who personally pushed the phony "single-payer" legislation proposed by the opportunist Minnesota State Senator John Marty--- legislation that would have cost a family of four with an income of $30,000.00 a year over $800.00 a month for health care!

The only way to advance the struggle for real health care reform is by pushing for single-payer based on the Canadian model as the first step towards our real goal and objective: a National Public Health Care System--- no-fees/no premiums, comprehensive (pre-natal through burial)  all-inclusive (general health, eyes, ears, mental), universal (everyone in nobody out); publicly financed, publicly administered and publicly delivered.

HR 676 is dead and Tim Carpenter and all these other outfits know it. We need a new strategy to fight for health care reform which includes our main objective--- and the only way to do this is to build on the support for single-payer in combination with the goal of a National Public Health Care System which most people support when they are given this alternative.

The single-payer advocates are going to have to come to terms with the fact that they were used by John Conyers and his friends in Congress for many years but as we saw, when push came to shove the ENTIRE bunch of these wimps buckled under to a charlatan like Obama instead of standing and fighting on the side of the people resulting in Obama Care--- or, as it should be known as the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act."

We need a new strategy if we are going to mobilize and unite the American people for real health care reform.

In fact, there is no universal social program that is cheaper than providing the American people with primary health care which should become the first step towards any health care reform--- primary health care is cheaper to provide people with than a public education so we should push for all other types of health care to be on the basis of single-payer with primary health care being the foundation from which the entire health care system is brought into a National Public Health Care System... want to talk about "pragmatic politics?" This is the epitome of a pragmatic politics even John Dewey should have been able to support.

Where will the money come from for all of this?

1. End these dirty wars and use the resulting "peace dividends" to finance health care.

2. Tax the rich, tax corporate profits and tax Wall Street transactions.

In lieu of either of these "radical" funding proposals--- do like the Canadians do and institute an additional payroll tax; a good hefty tax on employers and a minimal tax on workers. This is what Frances Perkins as Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor advocated to pay for both a National Public Health Care Program and a National Public Child Care Program.

The idea that the American people will not support this kind of initiative is false and an insult to the intelligence of the American people... when put to people along with all other alternatives for health care reform the majority of the American people, like people everywhere, will support a National Public Health Care System--- just like the majority of the American people continue to support Social Security and public education... and an additional payroll tax to finance making primary health care part of a plan to create a National Public Health Care System will be supported... just like the users of the VA and the Indian Health Services support these socialized health care systems.

The United States is the wealthiest country in the world and there is no reason we shouldn't have a world-class National Public Health Care System.

If these worthless Wall Street bribed politicians can spend trillions upon trillions of dollars on dirty imperialist war after imperialist war which now includes this murderous and barbaric drone warfare, they sure as hell can spend at least as much money of health care for the American people.

Something to think about: We are paying a very high price for these imperialist wars which are depriving us of real health care reform, quality public educations free through university, decent housing, low-cost mass transit and a solution to global warming and climate change.

A question: Did you know we are still paying for Wall Street's first imperialist war--- the Spanish American War, a "conflict" in 1898? And the war goes on in the Philippines with the Puerto Rican people still struggling to free themselves from U.S. domination that was the result of the Spanish-American War... imperialism is costly for the American people while the Wall Street merchants of death and destruction profit from these dirty imperialist wars.

The heavy price we pay for imperialism so Wall Street can profit:

There’s money to be made in manufacturing drones. The U.S. military spent about $3 billion on drone programs last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Think we can't afford a National Public Health Care System?

Here are just twelve of the companies cashing in on drone warfare:

Boeing

Boeing has its hands in a lot of drone technology. In June, the company successfully completed a test flight of one of its drones that is meant to stay airborne for days, according to CBS News. 

Boeing, headed by CEO Jim McNerney, Jr., estimated that it took home $80.5 billion in revenue last year, according Reuters.

General Atomics

General Atomics, a defense contractor based in Southern California, is set to sell $197 million worth of drones to the United Arab Emirates, according to the Los Angeles Times. If the deal goes through, it would be the first such sale to a non-NATO country. 

General Atomics, run by CEO J. Neal Blue, took home $652,129,000 in 2012, according to Washington Technology.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin completed tests in July of a "Stalker" drone that stays airborne for 48 hours, according to Endgadget. The company came under fire after sponsoring a documentary on PBS about drones. 

Lockheed Martin, headed by CEO Marillyn Hewson, took home $47.2 billion in 2012.

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is helping to expand the drone business to the Asia-Pacific region. Late last year, the company sold $1.2 billion worth of drones to South Korea, according to Bloomberg. 

Northrop Grumman's profits rose 80 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. The company is headed by CEO Wes Bush. 

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AeroVironment

AeroVironment is developing the "Hummingbird drone" for the Pentagon, according to Aol News. But don't let its cute name fool you; the device can hover and perch to watch your every move and aims to someday bolster surveillance capabilities in urban areas.

Despite the scary yet innovative technology, AeroVironment, which is run by CEO Timothy Conver, is projecting its revenue to drop to $230 million in the upcoming fiscal year, according to Forbes.

Prox Dynamics AS

This Norway-based company, founded by Petter Muran in December 2007, developed the Black Hornet Nano, a mini-handheld helicopter that helps soldiers survey an area swiftly by flying at top speeds for up to 30 minutes, according to Gizmag. The UK gave some soldiers the Black Hornet Nanos to use in Afghanistan earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. The Hornet was part of a $31 million contract.

Denel Dynamics

Denel Dynamics, which is part of South Africa's biggest maker of defense equipment, has seen its sales boom 20 percent in the last four years, according to Money News. Sello Ntsihlele, the company's executive manager for drone technology, called the current climate "the best time" for drones, because demand is increasing in the Middle East, East Asia and Africa. Denel Dyanmics Missiles took home $68,228,037 in 2012, which was down from 2011. Executives argued that Denel has historically posted losses because of onerous contracts.

SAIC

This company is helping the Pentagon develop underwater drones to defend against ultra-quiet submarines, according to Money Morning.

SAIC, who is run by Chairman John Jumper, took home $2.87 billion in revenue during the third quarter of last year, up 3 percent from the year before.

Israeli Aerospace Industries

Israeli Aerospace Industries pioneered the technology used for drones in the 1970s, according to Agence France Presse. Tommy Silberring, the head of the company's drone division, said increased demand around the world is boosting the drone market, as more countries want to go to war without putting their soldiers at risk. The drone sector is poised to become an $11.3 billion industry over the next decade, according to the Teal Group.

Textron

The military's appetite for drones helped Textron's defense business score a year-over-year revenue jump of $61 million, according to Mass High Tech, even as the rest of its business struggled. The drones have been so successful that the company, run by CEO Ellen Lord, is developing technology for unmanned underwater vehicles.

General Dynamics

General Dynamics is one of the major donors to the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus (unofficially known as the drone caucus). Yes, that really does exist. 

DJI

Hong Kong-based DJI's Phantom, is one of the most complete drones on the market, according to Quartz. DJI's North America CEO Colin Guinn, as well as others in the drone industry, are putting resources into products like the Phantom.

Always enough money for militarism and wars but no money for health care and other human needs.

Are you fed up?

A six point unity platform:

1. End these dirty wars and use the “peace dividends” to fund human needs.

2. Full employment; make the president and Congress legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment.

3. Real health care reform--- single-payer universal health care as a first step towards a National Public Health Care System.

4. A National Public Child Care System--- nothing is more important than properly caring for our children and grandchildren.

5. Defend and expand Social Security.

6. Protect Mother Nature--- take concrete steps to protect our ecosystems and end global warming.

Educate your family, friends, neighbors and fellow workers to take action at the ballot box and in the streets. We need to replace these Wall Street bribed politicians with people's politicians from a working class based progressive people's party.

Wall Street with bribes handed out by the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus has already "educated" Democratic and Republican members of Congress.

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

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