Before you put your hard-earned money into the "one-armed bandits" of the Indian Gaming Industry this holiday season, here are some facts you should know...

I have been suggesting--- for 8 years--- that the state of Minnesota and the Indian Nations should go into a joint venture manufacturing slot machines. This joint-venture would create around 2,000 good-paying high-tech jobs while getting organized crime out of the Indian gaming business.

Quite literally, over a twenty year period, trillions of dollars would be pumped into Native American communities as a result of all the proceeds derived from Indian gaming going back to Indians instead of wealthy white mobsters who now take anywhere from 35% to 65% right off the top from all the money that goes into each and every slot machine in the United States. 

I personally met with every single State Representative and State Senator, including your own--- Tom Rukavina and David Tomassoni--- with this proposal.

The Democratic Party and organized labor seek out and use the conference, convention and banquet/party facilities of the Indian Gaming Industry instead of using union organized hotels and other facilities.

I suggested that the start-up funds come from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) and a factory be built where it would employ members of the Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake bands; people suffering from the highest unemployment rates in the country. 

But, the obstacle to this very common sense proposal is that EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s legislative caucus receives huge campaign contributions from the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association whose Executive Director, John McCarthy, is a white man who represents the interests of the owners of the slot machines and table games not the Indian people.

Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA):
http://www.mnindiangamingassoc.com/contacts.html

The IRRRB would get back its investment for a change, too, instead of the money going to finance boon-doggles like the peat mining project now destroying the largest freshwater aquifer in the lower-forty-eight in the Big Bog which will create at most 30 jobs with people being paid $8.00 an hour by the Canadian multi-national corporation out of Quebec, Canada--- Berger Peat. Tax-payers have now invested over twenty-million dollars in this boon-doggle. 

What you suggest is something we should all get together and push for. It would cost a lot less to build a factory to manufacture slot machines than what it cost to build the new prison in Red Lake--- plus it’s much cheaper to create jobs like this than to put poor people in prison.

As a side note; John McCarthy now owns Tony Doom Supply Company, a company that produces campaign materials like yard signs for politicians. So, with one hand here we have John McCarthy doling out the proceeds derived from “Indian” gaming, and with the other hand he is raking in this money for himself. Indian Gaming has become quite the “racket” in the full sense of the word--- Al Capone, Bugsy Siegle and Meyer Lansky must be smiling.

McCarthy purchased Tony Doom Supply Company with money he has stolen from Native American Indians--- How many Native Americans are employed by Tony Doom Supply Company?

http://www.tonydoom.com/about.html

Oh, I forgot to mention, a little old man--- Alvin Malnik, in Boca Raton, Florida, actually owns, through a complex network of “franchises” issued to his “family,” every single slot machine in the Indian Gaming Industry--- the little old man inherited the “family business” from mobster Meyer Lansky whose big brain-fart gave creation to the Indian Gaming Industry because Lansky needed three things: 

1. A way to make money once his casinos were kicked out of Cuba; 

2. A place where he would not have to maintain financial records;

3. A place where his rackets would be virtually free from police and regulation by government agencies.

I also pitched this idea about a joint state-federal-tribal venture manufacturing slot machines for the Indian Gaming Industry, in person, to none other than Barack Obama in a three hour meeting with him--- but, guess what? Barack Obama receives millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the National Indian Gaming Association and its affiliated members.

Obama also receives campaign funds from the Fertitta Family which manages through their Colony Casino empire, many of the casinos in the Indian Gaming Industry. The Fertitta’s are known to the United States Department of Justice to be one of the “first families” of organized crime in the United States. The Fertitta's have been involved with the Kansas City Mob in their casino "skimming operations."

We hear a lot of hot-air from Obama and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton about the need for government to bolster the “entrepreneurial spirit” and to subsidize “small business.” But, when it comes to creating jobs for Indian people manufacturing the slot machines for what is supposed to be their industry, the Indian Gaming Industry, everything goes into the pockets of these white mobsters while the Native American people are plunged further into poverty resulting from the huge debts they underwrite--- because, as any economist knows, a nation in heavy debt is going to be poor.

Everyone, except for Indians, are walking off with the profits from Indian Gaming.    

As for labor issues:

Workers in the Indian Gaming Industry have NO rights. None. Not under state, federal or tribal laws.

Workers are forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos.

With very few exceptions all are paid poverty wages--- some less than the minimum wage because the U.S. Department of Labor refuses to enforce the minimum wage as well as things like hours and working conditions. Not even the Family Leave Act is enforced.

Rank-and-file casino workers began to organize in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan in about 2000. We had to create a self-financed organizing council because the AFL-CIO unions refused to support the effort. In fact, the few times we have had some of these casino managements just about ready to recognize us these unions stepped forward and told these casino managements they would "give them a better deal." I sent John Sweeney a tape recording I made of a four hour meeting I had with Minnesota AFL-CIO president Ray Waldron in which Waldron repeatedly made comments like, "I'm not going to let a bunch of reds take over this state  fed--- I don't care if they are Indians or Communists like you."

All of the attacks on us coming from organized labor result because the Democratic Party is so heavily funded by the National and State Indian Gaming Associations.

The Democratic Party created the "Compacts"--- the joint tribal/state/federal agreements--- giving birth to the Indian Gaming Industry.

Democrats, with organized labor looking over its shoulder, as a favor to Alvin Malnik, made sure  these "Compacts" would exclude workers rights.

In fact, the Teamster and Teacher Union pension funds are among the largest investors in Indian Gaming operations.

The Building and Construction Trades unions have a sweat-heart agreement with the Indian Gaming Associations to hire union labor except the workers do not work under the protection of a union contract or Project Management Agreement. State and federal building, health and safety inspectors are prohibited from coming on these job sites. Affirmative Action is not enforced.

The head of the Indian Health Service under George Bush described these casino operations forcing workers to work in smoke-filled casinos as, "The modern day equivalent to small pox laden blankets." The American Cancer Society and the Heart and Lung Foundation who have pushed smoke-free workplaces for years remain silent concerning the Indian Gaming Industry which provides the foundation-funded outfits with millions of dollars.

News media remain silent; never probing the labor aspect of the Indian Gaming Industry because Indian Gaming has become the number one purchaser of advertising in the United States. Look at any newspaper, listen to any radio station or watch any television station and you will see ad after ad for Indian Gaming.

Note: My blogs contain a lot more information including information on our struggle to organize casino workers at the Gun Lake Casino that has become notorious because it was at the center of sending Jack Abramoff to prison. Some of this, albeit very distorted and inaccurate, came out in the movie: Casino Jack. The Fertitta Family now manages the Gun Lake Casino south of Grand Rapids, Michigan in exchange for receiving 85% of the casino's profits.

Also, the movie "Casino" is based on the true story taken from Gary Hart's prosecution of Frank Fertitta and members of the Kansas City Mob.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm refused to insist that casino workers receive all the protections all other workers enjoy under state and federal labor laws before signing the "Compact" creating the Gun Lake Casino.

Workers in the Indian Gaming Industry are forced to sign statements as a condition of their employment starting that if they become involved in union organizing they we be terminated immediately.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has reneged on the three point agreement he made with us in return for supporting him. Neither Dayton nor ANY candidate receiving campaign contributions from the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association or any of the associations affiliated with the National Indian Gaming Association will receive our endorsement or support; instead, we will work to defeat these candidates regardless of party affiliation.

-- 

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/

It has "occurred" to many of us that something is drastically out of kilter in this country... What are we going to do about it?

Cindy Sheehan posted this on her FaceBook wall today:



 "It occurs to me after another "end" to the "war" in Iraq; my son and hundreds of thousands of other people are dead for absolutely nothing good. Dead for lies for profit."



I think this is "occurring" now to many people especially as we see the Iraqi people celebrating U.S. troops leaving their country by burning U.S. flags as the same corporate owned U.S. MainStreamMedia that force-fed us all the lies about why this dirty imperialist war was needed is trying to feed us another lie that "the U.S. flag is being brought home."



Now tax-payer funded mercenaries provided the name of "contractors" have been charged with the effort to "maintain law-and-order" as the Iraqi people complete their civil war over whether multi-national corporations will rob them of their oil using them as sources of cheap labor.



As the great anti-imperialist Mark Twain explained, "I wasn't an anti-imperialist until our government got involved in the Spanish-American War."



Now that it is "occurring" to many people here at home and around the world that this war (an imperialist war) has been fought for the exact same reasons as the Spanish American War--- to secure cheap natural resources and regional domination for "policing" these areas of the world to maintain Wall Street's ability to reap maximum profits, the American people are now getting the bill to pay for it all via the most draconian austerity measures being imposed by Obama, we will no doubt find many people saying, "I wasn't an anti-imperialist until the war in Iraq."



Something to think about: After over one-hundred years we are still paying for this country's very first imperialist war--- the Spanish American War--- and we still have the U.S. military "policing" both the Philippines and Puerto Rico.



The United States government honors Mark Twain with a "Forever" postage stamp without so much as a mention that he was a great anti-imperialist who tried to warn the American people about the need to resist imperialist wars while encouraging us to join the struggles in solidarity with the victims of these imperialist wars lest we become the victims of these dirty imperialist wars ourselves.



We have had many great anti-imperialists amongst us--- from Mark Twain to General Smedley Butler to W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson and Albert Einstein who the despicable pervert J. Edgar Hoover viciously smeared and attacked for his anti-imperialist activities as "having more Communist friends than Joseph Stalin."



A dirty, corrupt, profit-driven Wall Street government can only continue to get us involved in imperialist war after imperialist war. Wall Street is our enemy and the enemy of peoples everywhere.



The time has come for the 99% to challenge Wall Street for power.



A good, solid, united anti-imperialist movement in this country would go a long way towards driving these Wall Street shills like Obama from power.



Anti-imperialist education, organization, struggle and solidarity... Forever.



Mark Twain should be honored with more than his picture on a postage stamp if we are ever going to live in peace and cooperation with the rest of the world.

What is this country coming to?

We sure have a bunch of lazy bastards in this country.

I just read about this guy named Herne who has college degrees up the wazoo who is complaining he can't find a job.

I'm telling you; the guy doesn't want to work. He wants to begin his working career as an Administrative Assistant to the governor or something.

I asked Herne: Have you tried applying for a poverty wage paying job at Wal-mart or looked into working at one of the smoke-filled casinos dotting Minnesota?

Probably not; you are just another lazy bastard looking for a real living wage job in a healthy working environment. If you can't find a job with all your degrees in the private sector, I suggest you check out the jobs available in the public sector--- Uncle Sam would love to have you.

If all this fails, come on up and apply for one of these "middle class" jobs offered so kindly by the Marvin Family working in their big yellow building adorned with pretty roses.

What a bunch of lazy bastards we have in this country. They can't find a job for what they spent on a college education and then they start complaining.

Where's the cops when you need them to shut these people up?

Let's strive to make 2012 the year we come together in anti-imperialist solidarity

Let's strive to make 2012 the year we come together in anti-imperialist solidarity to carry forward the work begun by the great anti-imperialists like Mark Twain and Paul Robeson.

This is an "art technique" I learned in a class taught by cartoonist Gary Huck who told me I had no talent to draw--- lol! So he taught me to use the art of others. I just posted this on his FaceBook wall:

Gary; A technique I credit as learning from you. I used my camera and the art of others compliments of the U.S. Postal Service and an appointment book from my insurance company to create an anti-imperialist message of struggle and solidarity about the kind of movement we need in the coming year. 

International anti-imperialist solidarity--- Forever! 

... in our communities, where we work and go to school; in the streets and at the ballot box.

Some facts about Marvin Windows and Doors Barack which Obama conveniently left out of his speech while praising this union-buster

Barack Obama held up Marvin Windows and Doors headquartered in Warroad, Minnesota as his idea of a company that cares about its workers--- have Richard Trumka, Leo Gerard, Bob King and Jimmy Hoffa had enough of Obama's lies, now?


Marvin Windows and Doors is a company that engages in racist hiring practices; pays poverty wages of $7.50 to 10.00 an hour to most of its employees and has reduced the wages of these poverty paid workers by over $800.00 a year this year while pushing workers to produce more for less pay. Most of the workers employed at Marvin Windows and Doors are so poor they are on some form of government assistance and their children even "qualify" for free and reduced price school lunches as the government subsidizes the wages with Food Stamps.


Every worker Marvin hires is scrutinized by a union busting detective agency before they are hired.


The Marvin's big boast is that they have hired violent thugs to thwart and stymie three union organizing drives by the Carpenters Union, the Teamsters and most recently the International Association of Machinists.


The Marvin Family runs the City of Warroad as a company town. A Marvin is the Mayor. The Marvin Family and their relatives own just about every business in town including the one bank and the one super-market and even most of the gas stations.


The Marvin Family contributes to both the Republicans and the Democrats including making huge campaign contributions to Minnesota's two most reactionary Democrats who would feel right at home in Mississippi--- U.S. Congressman Colin Peterson and State Senator LeRoy Stumpf.


Maybe Richard Trumka should consider one more organizing drive at Marvin Windows and Doors to find out just what kind of candidate the AFL-CIO is backing in Barack Obama.


What Obama doesn't say is that he heeded the advice of the Marvin Family in chucking the Employee Free Choice Act.


Why would Marvin Windows and Doors want to lay-off employees during tough economic times when they can force workers to produce more for less pay while the government subsidizes the living standards of its employees so Marvin Windows and Doors can drive its competition out of business selling shoddy products touted in their advertising as the best in the industry while boosting its profits making billionaires out of the Marvin Family in an area that is the most impoverished region in the Nation, second only to Appalachia? Oh, yes; Marvin built a brand new plant in the right-to-work state of Virginia because it could reduce its labor and resource costs even further.


By the way, here in Warroad, Minnesota, this is the only place in the United States that I know of where the Mayor tells the Chief of Police to take battered women to jail and the psych ward because, "We don't have a women's shelter."


The local casino owned by Red Lake Gaming Enterprises works hand-in-hand with the Marvin Family to keep wages down.The Mayor of Warroad determined that it was against the law to distribute union leaflets on any public sidewalk in Warroad because sidewalks are really privately owned and the owners are just kind enough to permit people to walk on the sidewalks provided they don't pass out union leaflets while walking on the sidewalks.


Marvin Windows and Doors--- welcome to Barack Obama's wonderful new world of a new kind of labor relations intended to create and enforce poverty.

From the New York Times:

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/obamas-tribute-to-a-company-that-preserved-jobs/

December 7, 2011, 2:10 PM

Obama’s Tribute to a Company That Preserved Jobs

By ANDREW MARTIN

Ben Garvin for The New York TimesOn the factory floor at the Marvin Windows and Doors factory in Warroad, Minn.

In President Obama’s populist speech in Kansas on Tuesday on rebuilding the middle class, he urged business leaders to realize that their obligations extended beyond the desires of their shareholders.

In citing an example of the type of ethos he envisioned, Mr. Obama citedMarvin Windows and Doors, a midsize, privately held manufacturing company based in Warroad, Minn. Hard hit by the decline in the construction trade, Marvin executives vowed not to lay off any of their workers or cut their health insurance benefits, a credo detailed in a Sept. 25 article in The New York Times. Instead, they cut back hours and pay, including their own, and eliminated some perks.

Mr. Obama quoted Marvin’s president, Susan Marvin, who told The Times, “You can’t grow if you’re cutting your lifeblood — and that’s the skills and experience your work force delivers.”

“That’s how America was built,” Mr. Obama said. “That’s why we’re the greatest nation on Earth. That’s what our greatest companies understand. Our success has never been about survival of the fittest. It’s been about building a nation where we’re all better off.”

In Warroad, Marvin executives were thrilled with the shout-out from the president, even if they are reliable contributors to Republican campaigns, including John McCain, Mr. Obama’s Republican opponent in 2008.

“We’re honored that the president took notice of our longstanding efforts to strengthen our communities as we keep our work force intact,” said John Kirchner, a Marvin spokesman (and family member), in a prepared statement. “As a family-owned and operated company, our philosophy is simple: Do the right thing. If we stay focused on doing the right thing for our customers, our employees and our communities, then our business will be just fine. It’s been a tough few years, but by pulling together, we’ve survived — and we believe we’re poised to thrive.”

"The Hill" newspaper deletes my comment; so much for democracy... read my comment for yourself

I posted this comment to an article on Jill Stein's campaign (http://thehill.com/capital-living/cover-stories/195781-occupy-the-white-house) in The Hill:

I am presently supporting Jill Stein for President. Jill is a "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" kind of citizen/activist we need in this country right now. Jill Stein is walking in the footsteps of Frances Perkins in promoting real ideas aimed at solving the social and economic problems we are experiencing.

It is encouraging that we are seeing a lot of third party activity. Notably there is the rise of the Justice Party which will be running former Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson.

I think there are a lot of people like me who would like to see all of these entries into third party politics trying to break free from the two-party trap come to a "meeting of the minds" and figure out how they might work together for the kind of change that is really needed which only Jill Stein to date has had the courage to place in writing.

Plus, from the standpoint of the workers I represent trying to organize who are forced to work in the smoke-filled casinos of the Indian Gaming Industry at poverty wages without any rights it would be good to know we had a president who really is concerned with the health, rights and livelihoods of working people.

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

Occupy the White House

thehill.com

If Green Party political veteran Jill Stein were to visit Occupy Boston several times. If Green Party political veteran Jill Stein were to visit Occupy Boston several times, and if she were to describe the Occupy Wall Street movement’s grievances as “synergistic” with her own policy beliefs, and if ...

Rocky Anderson returns — this time shooting for nation’s top office

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53014248-90/anderson-ballot-former-hall.html.csp


Rocky Anderson returns — this time shooting for nation’s top office


BY ROBERT GEHRKE

The Salt Lake Tribune


Nov 29, 2011 06:50PM

Disgusted with what he calls the corrupting influence of corporate money and militarism in politics, former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is launching a new national political party and will likely be its presidential nominee.


“The end game is changing public policy in the interest of the people of this country. It’s changing our government,” Anderson said. “This is about taking on the two corporatist, militarist parties and in the process bringing the people of this country together so they can see that their interests, by and large, are really aligned.”

Anderson said he will likely be a candidate for the presidential nomination for the new party — which is yet-to-be-named. He said the formation of the party will be announced next week “and shortly thereafter I’ll be announcing my candidacy.” He has already started filling out paperwork for a presidential exploratory committee.

Once the announcement is made, he said a major effort to get on the ballot will start soon in all 50 states. The focus will first be on Mississippi and Vermont, which have a Jan. 1 deadline, but a relatively low bar to get on the ballot, Anderson said.

“This is being done with a long-term view so that we can grow and sustain a movement that will ensure that the public interest, rather than the corporate interests, are promoted by our elected officials,” said Anderson, who acknowledges he wishes he would have started the effort earlier.

Anderson said he is leaning toward calling the new organization The Justice Party or the Public Interest Party. He plans to host the party’s national platform and nominating convention in Salt Lake City over the Presidents Day weekend.

Anderson’s party won’t be alone in this election. The group Americans Elect has spent months qualifying its party for the ballot and plans to nominate a presidential candidate through a first-ever on-line primary. The group qualified for the Utah ballot earlier this month.

Anderson said the new party would converge nicely with the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations around the country, but his intention is not to co-opt that movement.

Thad Hall, a political science professor at the University of Utah, said Anderson is mounting a far-fetched, quixotic crusade.

Hall said states make it difficult to get on the ballot and it’s even more difficult to win.

“Basically what Rocky is saying is he wants a bunch of Republicans to get elected,” Hall said, “because what’s going to happen in theses situations … he’s going to peel votes away from Democrats and end up electing a bunch of ultra-pro-life, ultra-gun, don’t-tax-the-rich, cut-benefits-to-the-poor people.”
Hall said American political parties are also well-branded and people “are well-sorted” into the Democrat or Republican bin. Few are truly independent, and “competing against thief branding is going to be really frigging hard” and require an enormous amount of money.

Matt Lyon, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said he doesn’t consider Anderson’s latest action a repudiation of the Democratic Party — where Anderson ran for Congress in 1996.

“Rocky has always done what Rocky is going to do,” he said. “He hasn’t been involved with the Democrats for a very, very, very long time. ... He’s just Rocky.”

Anderson was in Washington last weekend meeting with supporters, formulating plans for the launch.
A leaked copy of the meeting agenda and minutes from a previous meeting noted that there was support for Anderson forming an exploratory committee as soon as possible. The document outlines a platform for the party focused on ending the corporate influence, stopping wars, promoting human and civil rights and ending for-profit prisons.

“The middle class in this country is being decimated and it’s without regard for political affiliation,” Anderson said in an interview. “All of us are being harmed while a very few are profiting enormously by the corruption, by bad public policy that they essentially purchase. These folks in Congress and the White House act as if they’re on retainer by Goldman Sachs, the insurance industry, with the coal and oil and gas industry, with the defense industry.”

Others involved in the discussions include Margaret Flowers, a doctor and leading proponent of a single-payer health plan; Kevin Zeese, an organizer of the Occupy D.C. movement; and former U.S. Rep. John Anderson, who ran for president as an independent in 1980.

Anderson said there is a “rich history” of third party candidates in the United States, from the Bull Moose Party of Teddy Roosevelt to the challenges mounted by Ross Perot and later Ralph Nader.

And he said it is unfair to blame Nader for costing former Vice President Al Gore the election in 2000 — although a relative handful of Nader voters could have swung the election in Gore’s favor. Anderson said the blame lies with voters who backed George W. Bush.

In August, Anderson sent a scathing letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, scolding her for failing to oppose torture, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and increased defense spending and refusing to address climate change, health policy and defense spending.

gehrke@sltrib.com
Twitter: @RobertGehrke
Paul Rolly contributed to this report.

--
Circulated by:

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/

Proposal for a Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Enforcement of Affirmative Action

Proposal for a Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Enforcement of Affirmative Action  

Goal and objective: A level playing field.

All the talk about a new Vikings’ Stadium, the need for infrastructure development and repair, talk of light rail and other large-scale public works and joint public-private initiatives and projects begs the question:

What will be done to end racism in employment here in Minnesota that has historical roots combined with present indifference?

Fact: People without jobs are destined to be poor.

Unemployment, under-employment and poverty-wage jobs are the root of poverty.

Poverty is more than statistics. For living, breathing human beings, poverty means going without adequate food, clothing, health care, education, housing, and transportation.

When unemployment rises well beyond the “normal” levels for people of color, women and the handicapped, Affirmative Action as articulated and defined by Federal Executive Order Number 11246 must kick in unless we end up with large pools of unemployed in communities--- and on Indian Reservations--- of people of color which hurt us all, but no where near as much as it harms the victims of racism in employment.

These large pools of the unemployed serve to push down wages and living standards for everyone.

The enforcement of Affirmative Action will help make sure Minnesotans get the jobs funded by Minnesota tax-payers rather than workers from other states.

The enforcement of Affirmative Action will lead to encouraging and strengthening small businesses and entrepreneurship among minorities as minority contractors help recruit people of color through the enforcement of Affirmative Action.

Politicians who pander to the voices of bigotry, racism and hate often claim that advocating for the enforcement of Affirmative Action is so controversial that its enforcement creates divisions in society which tears apart our social fabric. In fact, issues like a new Vikings’ Stadium, as we have seen, are themselves very controversial.

Politics embodies controversy.

The Governor of Minnesota has the responsibility to provide leadership in the just struggle for the enforcement of Affirmative Action in a way that guides Minnesotans to creating a level playing field for everyone.

Governor Mark Dayton should establish “The Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Enforcement of Affirmative Action” and this Committee shall consist of: one member representing the Governor, one member each from the AFL-CIO & Change To Win, one member each representing the following firms: public relations, architectural, engineering, general contractors and minority contractors, with two members representing each of the following communities: Black, Native American and Hispanic with at least one member from each of these communities being among the unemployed; three women and one handicapped representative--- 18 members in total.

All members of this Advisory Committee shall participate, together, in at least one training session explaining the history, goals and objectives of Affirmative Action and must be made aware of the present problems relating to how racism in employment has led to current social and economic problems in the specific communities of people of color, women and the handicapped.

This Advisory Committee shall present concrete goals and objectives in reviewing all public funding where there is any type of state involvement in funding and financing including proposals for bonding bills and any joint public-private ventures in which more than $20,000.00 in public funding is involved and/or more than 15 employees hired.

The loop-hole preventing enforcing Affirmative Action must be closed by the Governor and State Legislature refusing to participate in any township, city, county, state, park’s commission, school district, college or university where there is not an Affirmative Action Policy in place being enforced.

Affirmative Action must kick in when any project is first publicly proposed or there is significant public-private cooperation towards project development--- whichever occurs first; long before the first shovel is sunk into the ground.

It is up to the parties involved to implement Affirmative Action in a timely manner so as to prevent project delays which might lead to additional costs incurred by tax-payers. Where this is not done, any costs relating to project delays should result in fines levied at the direction of the Advisory Committee on the parties responsible.

Affirmative Action is the law of the land. For the victims of historic racist employment practices continuing today which results in the need for the enforcement of Affirmative Action, Affirmative Action is both a Human Right and a Constitutional Right.

The Governor of Minnesota has a Constitutional responsibility to see to it that Affirmative Action is enforced. This Advisory Committee provides the Governor with the tools to achieve the enforcement of Affirmative Action.

People should not have to resort to law suits, direct action and other means of protest in order to have their right to employment protected.

Everyone has the right to seek employment from a level playing field.

A means to enforce Affirmative Action on the Vikings’ Stadium (and all other projects stated above) in line with stated goals and objectives must be found before planning for this project proceeds any further.

I am submitting this “Proposal for a Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Enforcement of Affirmative Action” for consideration to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton upon request from Micah Hines, General Counsel to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, who requested I submit this proposal in writing to Governor Mark Dayton.

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

Contact information:

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

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

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

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

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/alan.l.maki

Copies provided to:
NAACP
Urban League
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
AFL-CIO
Change To Win
Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party
Republican Party
Green Party

Posted to:
FaceBook... http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150474417745086
Blog............ http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/proposal-for-minnesota-governors.html

A victory for peace, the people and the environment; proving the people can win through determined struggle.

Please watch this video to get up to speed on this important issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_aSJgZOkLlU&noredirect=1

NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE ISLAND JEJU SAVED - FOR NOW

Sunday, 20 November 2011 09:38

 

 http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3323%3Anew-7-wonders-of-nature-island-jeju-saved-for-now&catid=97%3Abreaking-news&Itemid=119

SUNDAY  20 November 2011. Thanks to ALL of you, who wrote to Jeju-do Governor Keun-Min Woo and UN SG Ban Ki-Moon in order to avert the planned dynamite blast of Gureombee (Gureombi), the world-famous volcanic cloud-rock and cultural site along Jeju's Southern coastline.

On November 18th, the government in Seoul - abusing the South Korean Navy under their orders - and SAMSUNG construction company (part of SAMSUNG Corp.) wanted to dynamite-blast Gureombee (Gureombi) belonging to Gangjeong village where the local people have been resisting day and night for now almost 5 years and demand to stop the building of a naval base, which also would see USAmerican naval vessels with nuclear weapons be stationed.

Thanks to YOUR efforts and due to the stand of Governor Keun-Min Woo that was averted.

In a global collective effort to stop this destructive blast, which also would have been a blast against national and international law as well as against world peace, would have crushed local needs and traditions under military boots and would also would have destroyed the pristine environment as well as the cultural heritage of the Jeju people forever, this rape of Jeju could be stopped - for the time being.

Apparently the police have turned down the companies' request for the blast of the Gureombi rocks now for the third time. It is told that the reasons were: 1. insufficiency of the documents; 2. concerns about possible incidences during the blast; 3. requirement for the agreement with the Island governor.
Several legal interventions against the naval base are also still pending while the powers-that-be, their military and their business cohorts like SAMSUNG wanted to just go ahead.

But, it is not over yet. (... and those, who didn't write yet have here another opportunity)

Jeju, an autonomous province, was recently selected among the New Seven Wonders of Nature, which with its UNESCO triple-crowned status lists the island among the world’s most precious cultural and national treasures. In addition, the marine ecosystem that lines Gureombee is an absolute preservation area designated by the South Korean government because of the many endangered species that inhabit this pristine ecosystem, including soft coral and the red-clawed crab. The spring water that bubbles up from the volcanic rock provides up to 80% of the drinking water for all residents of Seogwipo City, the southern half of Jeju Island. The destruction of Gureombee threatens the surrounding marine life and the clean water that farmers and villagers depend upon for their survival. As one villager expressed it, “Gureombee is Gangjeong, Gangjeong is Gureombee. We are One.”

Please take action now and send an email to Jeju Governor Woo urging him to stand strong and avert any blasting as well as the whole construction of the naval base. The Jeju Island governor must stand with his people to protect Jeju’s pristine nature from being destroyed. Governor Woo has the authority to order the Navy to halt the destruction of this pristine coastline.

Please send also an e-mail to the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon, who - himself a South-Korean - actually holds the supreme military command for South Korea in his hands.

All Gangjeong villagers are pleading for your help to prevent any destruction of Gureombee and to put a halt forever to the naval base plans -at whatever cost. Your contacting the Governor and the UN Secretary General now will not only encourage them to o the right thing and really help save the village and lives, but also help to free the innocent officials, villagers and peace activists from state persecution.

STOP the BLASTS ! STOP the BASE ! FREE INDIGENOUS DETAINEES !

Sample letters

Write to: Gov. Keun-Min Woo : lmw2828@jeju.go.kr
Governor of Cheju-do, the Self-Governing Jeju Province and Cheju Island

Honourable Keun-Min Woo,
Dear Governor Woo,

Thanks you very much for your strong stand so far to stop the blast of Gureombee, a government-designated absolute ecological preservation area.You hold the powers in your hand to make that decision permanent.

You also have the power to order the South-Korean Navy to stop the construction of the naval base,  to release innocent citizens from detention and to stop state persecution of officials, villagers and peace activists. Please do so.
We believe you don't want to leave behind a legacy of overseeing the destruction of a UNESCO preserved site and ancient Korean relics, and you want to be remembered as a protector of democracy and peace on Jeju Island.

South Korea’s Constitution guarantees all of its citizens’ human respect and the right to pursue happiness. Please be a pillar to restore and maintain peace in Gangjeong today.
Please uphold your promise to those who elected you and stop navy constructions and any planned destruction immediately. We don’t want the ‘New Seven Wonders of Nature’ to be brutally destroyed and be replaced with something which only can serve war.

Please speak out now in public to declare that you stopped that ill-conceived project once and for all and that all officials, villagers and peace activists will be set free and no further harassment of people, who just fulfil their democratic duties, will be allowed.

Sincerely,
----

Write to: Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA
+1-212-963-5012 fax: +1-212-963-7055
Email: ecu@un.org
CC to: Jamille Mc Cord, email: mccord@un.org and Anne Sophie Persson, email: persson3@un.org
as well as to: Mr. Kim Soo-Gwon < kimsoogwon@gmail.com>, because South Korea is violating Universally Guaranteed Rights. He is the chair of the human rights desk at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, located at 335 East 45th St New York, New York 10017. His telephone number is +1-212-439-4051and  his cell phone is +1-646-831-7188.


Your Excellency,
Dear Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon,

You said yourself: "World military spending has now risen to over $1.2 trillion. This incredible sum represents 2.5 per cent of GDP(global gross domestic product). Even if 1 per cent of it were redirected towards development, the world would be much closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.... I believe in a world of justice and human rights for all."

You have the historic opportunity to show to the world that you mean what you say, because until April 17, 2012, you as Secretary General of the United Nations are technically the top of the chain of command and head of the still functioning UN Command in charge of all forces in South Korea. Thereby you are also in command of the South-Korean Navy.

Please order them today to stand down in any plan of establishing a naval base on Jeju Island and to leave the Jeju Islanders in peace.

Please stop any military action on Jeju and prevent the destruction of Gureombee - the world famous "Cloud-Rock" with its many ecological, cultural and economic functions important for the well-being of the Jeju people and their natural marine and island ecosystems.

As it appears the chief of the naval base business committee will be changed on Nov. 23. The newly appointed person could be the vice-commander of the 2nd Fleet, Pyeongtaek base, where the large U.S. military base locates. Please support all the people in South-Korea, who do not want to be dragged in a new regional conflict between the U.S.A. and China and rather would like to work hard to see North and South Korea be reunited.

Please also help to free innocent detainees and to stop the persecution of innocent officials, villagers and peace activists.

Please instruct UNESCO and UNEP to stand up against the wanton destruction of the natural and cultural heritage of these indigenous people on Jeju Island and protect their rights as well as endangered species of the pristine marine and island ecosystems.

As famous visual artist Choi Sung-hee stated: Jeju Island is the pearl of Korea and Gangjeong village is the diamond of Jeju Island.

Nature protected you, dear Secretary General, when you fled with your family to the remote mountainside for the duration of the Korean War, so now please help the Jeju people and especially the Gangjeong-do villagers to protect their nature and maintain peace.

Thanks

----

The Jeju Islanders also ask you to write to the South Korean Ministry of Defense to revoke the naval base construction policy and not to blast the Gureombi (Gureonbee) on Jeju Island, South Korea so that the military or navy do not commit this crime on their own.
Please write to:
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-Jin < defenattache@yahoo.com> and ask him to stop the plan.

... and because it has transpired that actually the government of the United States of America is behind the whole naval base plan, we urge you to try and reach out to President Barack Hussein Obama http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments
Also tell the people at his re-election campaign http://www.barackobama.com/contact-us?source=footer-nav that they can forget about any donations and support unless the U.S. government and their present president would rescind from dragging the whole world into warfare, close the U.S.American military bases especially in South-Korea and let the people re-unite peacefully.

---
Please send copies of all your letters in CC to
President Lee Myung-bak < president@president.go.kr>, who himself voted for Jeju Island as one of the NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE, but is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, not only the chief executive of the government and the head of state of the Republic of Korea, but also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, who already created havoc on the island in the recent past, though it is a self-governed, autonomous province.

Please send your missives also in BCC to office[AT]ecoterra-international.org
---

* FREE THE JEJU THREE
See: http://www.fpcn-global.org/en/system/files/%252Fhome/fpcn/files/drupal/save_jeju_island_oct_2011.ppt
Free the three peace activists who have been in prison for the past 82 days. They pose no threat to the community, will not flee from their home and therefore, there is no need for them to be locked up in detention . They are:

• Mr. Kang Dong-gyun, The Mayor of Gangjeong village www.freemayorkang.org (He only did his mayoral duties.)
  
• Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan (Uncle Jong) - Age 57 | Peace Activist and cook for the peace-camp
• Mr. Kim Dong-Won - Age 25 | Photographer/videographer (Both KIMs only assisted the mayor during the brutal arrest.)
  

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STEP UP THE
BOYCOTT AGAINST SAMSUNG
See: http://www.savejejuisland.org/Save_Jeju_Island/Samsung.html
* SAMSUNG and HYUNDAI corporations are instrumental for the past, ongoing and planned destruction at Jeju Island and are behind most of the illegal detentions and harassments of peaceful protesters on ground of "disturbing business".
SAMSUNG has become an integral part of the military-industrial complex.
Please prepare for a global boycott of their products. We need to do all to stop them from destroying this particular place where an activist made this video-appeal to the world, to you:
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JaZhcrUvt4&feature=player_embedded
That SAMSUNG is perceived as a thief has been legally established just recently in democratic countries of Europe, where their products with apparently stolen patents were banned from being sold.
PROTECT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYeUB-JLPFU&feature=player_embedded
WRITE TO:
Jung, YeonJoo: President & CEO,(Engineering & Construction Group) and urge him to
STOP SAMSUNG from stealing pristine nature from the Gangjeong villagers and the world.
Also write to:
Jeong, Ki Cheol - Senior Executive Vice President
Kim, Hee Won - Executive Vice President
Kim, Deok Lim - Vice President
Kim, Sung Lae - Vice President
via e-mail Samsung < kd78.park@samsung.com>
and tell them that the results of their Overseas Business Division will seriously decline, if their destruction on Jeju doesn't stop immediately and they wouldn't opt out from this disastrous project on Jeju island and from being at the core of serious human rights violations. Gangjeong KR Naval Base Protest Chaos Video EN GKNBCV 1
Consumers the world over will judge with their own purchase decisions, whom to trust and whom to give their money.