Enough! Tell the Democrats and Republicans to go to hell.

The Obama sock-puppets think we are afraid to tell the truth about why we are voting for alternative progressive tickets. I'm not one bit afraid nor ashamed to be speaking my mind on this.

Every vote the progressive alternatives get does two things:

1. Each vote denies Obama votes--- he should have faced a primary challenge and didn't.

2. Each vote strengthens a united movement for real change; a movement that will be required whether Obama or Romney wins. A movement the Obama sock-puppets promised to build but didn't in order to protect this warmonger Obama.

Plus, here in Minnesota, each vote progressive alternatives receive for president should transfer to a vote for Michael Cavlan since he is the only progressive alternative running for United States Senate against Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar. The Republicans aren't even putting up a credible challenge to Klobuchar because they are completely satisfied that Klobuchar is representing the interests of big-business.

It would have been best had all the progressive candidates worked out a joint ticket acceptable to all but this did not come to pass. So now we need to take every vote we can away from Barack Obama--- especially in the "swing states."

There is power in being able to punish a candidate like Obama who didn't deserve a free pass during the primary season.

Seeing as how the Democrats have been a major obstacle to fair access to the ballot by alternative parties no one should shy away from admitting we will seek whatever ways possible to defeat Obama.

Besides, it is an outright lie that Mitt Romney is worse than Obama--- nothing could be further from the truth. They are so much alike in reflecting Wall Street's reactionary agenda they could be two peas in the same pod.

Never has there been an election in American history where it is more true that "there isn't a dime's bit of difference between the Democrats and the Republicans."

So, vote for one of the four progressive alternatives to Wall Street's agenda of wars abroad paid for by shoving austerity measures down our throats here at home.

Have you noticed the Democrats don't even dare mention the word "poverty?" Why not? Because the Democrats have increased unemployment and worked hand-in-hand with the large corporations to impose poverty wages on working people.

We see a glaring example of this here on the Iron Range in Minnesota where politics is completely dominated by Democrats who made it possible for Menard's to build one of their largest stores in Virginia, Minnesota--- the center of the Iron Range--- with almost two-hundred workers being paid poverty wages--- from $7.49 and hour to $8.50 cents an hour with the majority of these workers employed for less than twenty hours a week.

What good does it do to create poverty wage jobs--- all that is being done is more poverty is being created. any school child understands that when you pay workers a poverty wage they and their families are going to be poor. Of course, there are always a few who profit as a direct result of paying workers poverty wages. John Menard will add to his billions while workers at the Menard's in Virginia, Minnesota are pushed further into poverty.

Of course, the politicians, in this case the Democrats, will be handsomely rewarded for their betrayal of working people.

The Democrats on the Iron Range are upset at my views on this issue. They say, "These jobs are needed; we can organize unions later." Well, when one looks at the Iron Range today what is seen is a carbon-copy of Appalachia.

We heard the same pathetic excuse from the Democrats and their AFL-CIO partners when Wal-mart moved into Hibbing, Minnesota. The unions put on a little "picket" and then retreated into oblivion--- with the opening of Menard's in Virginia, Minnesota their wasn't even the feeble "picketing" of this scab employer.

It was Democrats like Hubert "Skip" Humphrey, Jr. and Walter Mondale who sentenced over 44,000 Minnesotans to work in the loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos of the Indian Gaming Industry without any rights under state or federal labor laws with the approval and consent from the Minnesota AFL-CIO.

If all of this isn't enough to encourage working people to seek justice through alternative political parties I don't know what it is going to take--- perhaps all workers in the same boat as casino workers?

With Labor Day approaching rank-and-file workers and grassroots activists should be insisting that Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson, Stewart Alexander, Roseanne Barr and U.S. Senate candidate Michael Cavlan be given time to present their views at Labor Day events around Minnesota... after all, the Operating Engineers union on the Iron Range here in Minnesota endorsed the most despicable, dirty, crooked, corrupt, racist, anti-woman, anti-labor Republican for United States Congress on the Iron Range; and Richard Trumka and Shar Knudson--- the head of the Minnesota Fed--- remain silent.

Of course, how do we begin to struggle for alternative voices on Labor Day if the candidates themselves don't insist on being heard?

And make no mistake: Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson, Stewart Alexander and Roseanne Barr have earned the right to speak from the same podiums on Labor Day as Barack Obama or the Republican endorsed by the Operating Engineers on the Iron Range.

Come on, really; if the Operating Engineers are supporting a creep like Republican Chip Cravaak for Congress how can any Obama supporter complain about how "evil" Mitt Romney is?

The corruption and the hypocrisy has just gone way too far to the point where democracy is threatened if we don't challenge Wall Street and its two parties for power.

Tell the Democrats and Republicans to go to hell!

Vote for progressive alternatives to war, racism, unemployment and poverty.

Support those candidates who are standing up for your rights and defending your livelihoods.

We told you so

This is a very good article: http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/08/03/say-goodbye-to-social-security/

However one important point is missing and there are several glaring weaknesses.

Social Security would be secure and could be vastly expanded with real living benefits paid IF we had a full-employment economy.

Never mind economics--- common sense tells us that we can't have millions of unemployed, under-employed and poverty-wage paid workers not paying into the Social Security Trust Fund or paying so little because of partial employment and poverty wages and still expect the Social Security Trust Fund to remain solvent forever with anything other than very limited programs and meager, miserly payouts.

I would also note that while this writer acknowledges the good work done by economist John Kenneth Galbraith, he fails to observe what Galbraith believed to be primary: ending militarism and wars so society could reap the benefits of "peace dividends" in order to create huge government programs like National Public Health Care and National Public Child Care which would create tens of millions of new jobs providing services that are really needed--- unlike militarism and war which we need like we need holes in our heads.

I think this article is good but needs to be strengthened.

John Kenneth Galbraith was an honest liberal and among the present crop of intellectuals honesty--- liberal or otherwise--- is difficult to come by as most seemed to be influenced in their "thinking" more by the size of their pay-checks than the common good as is readily apparent from all these phony liberals, progressives and leftist intellectuals supporting a warmonger like Obama determined to make the working class pay for Wall Street's imperialist wars through austerity measures such as cutting and slashing needed social programs--- everything from public education to Social Security and even Medicaid and Medicare when the state goal of the Affordable Care Act was supposed to be to strengthen Medicaid and Medicare... more lies.

I would also point out that John Kenneth Galbraith's son, James Kenneth Galbraith, is more on the progressive side than his father was.

Here is an excellent article written by James Kenneth Galbraith (written in 2009):

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2009/0903.galbraith.html

And more recently--- 2012--- aptly titled, "We told you so:"

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/we_told_you_so_20120518//

I would also note that John Kenneth Galbraith never hesitated to bring Marxists into discussions with him on economic matters which provided greater insight to problems and served to strengthen democracy while educating the public.

John Kenneth Galbraith even wrote a book together with a noted Soviet Marxist-Leninist economist.

John Kenneth Galbraith constantly pointed out that it was wrong to think modern societies can have both "guns and butter." This from a man who had experience managing a war-time economy at the beginning of World War II.

Obama has rejected even the most liberal/progressive economic advice in favor of the reactionary advice he receives from those most loyal to Wall Street's greedy, parasitical, money-grubbing interests which always lead to conflict and wars.

Alan L. Maki

Racism and corruption always seem to go hand-in-hand.

Racism and corruption always seem to go hand-in-hand.

This is a MUST read.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/x1225364910/My-Take-Can-we-please-use-the-correct-term?zc_p=1

I blogged about this guy a few years ago when he first ran. Roy Schmidt is a despicable human being. During the integration of Union High School, where both he and I were students, he and a gang of racists wearing football helmets beat up black students with baseball bats.

Yet, the NAACP and the UAW together with many "good liberal" Democrats like Steve Pestka supported this pathetic excuse for a human being for political expediency. I predicted he would switch parties when I originally wrote about him several years ago.

Here is some background information--- but, notice, none of the media picked up on Roy Schmidt's racist history:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/07/roy_schmidt_admits_lying_about.html

I find it interesting that Huffington Post now publishes about this after they banned me from posting over this very issue several years ago when they claimed what I wrote about Roy Schmidt being a corrupt racist was "libelous."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/roy-schmidt-jase-bolger-michigan-gop-house-_n_1684026.html

And there is more...

http://www.freep.com/article/20120718/NEWS06/120718032/Legislative-probe-shady-maneuvers-by-state-Rep-Roy-Schmidt-sought

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/08/bolger_fox.html

http://whtc.com/news/articles/2012/jul/18/prosecutor-says-roy-schmidt-and-jace-bolger-schemed-to-undermine-election/

Quite frankly, what I find more disgusting and appalling than Roy Schmidt himself is that Democrats intentionally covered up this scumbag's racist past as it sought a "winner;" and now they cry "fowl" because their "winner" returned to his roots.

By the way; Roy Schmidt even backed the racist George Wallace for president!

And along with all these "liberals," the John Birch Society backed him for State Representative; if this shouldn't have been a "tip-off" of where he continues to stand, I don't know what would have been. but his public relations buddy Ed Kettle painted a picture of all of this as the liberals and the right-wing coming to their senses to all work together. How sweet.

And this isn't an isolated incident; this is what passes for politics in this country.

Think about this:

The Democrats recruited Roy Schmidt initially when he announced he was contemplating running for Michigan State Representative because they were afraid he would run as a Republican and win even though they were fully aware of his most vile racism.

One more very good reason not to support Democrats or Republicans; but, rather, vote for alternative progressive candidates like:

Mike Cavlan for U.S. Senate here in Minnesota

Or any of the progressives running for president like Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson, Stewart Alexander or Roseanne Barr.

People like Steve Pestka and Grand Rapids City Commissioner Elias Lumpkins should have known better than to support this racist S.O.B. in the first place but this just goes to show what we get from both the Democrats and Republicans.

The real question is:

Why hasn't Roy Schmidt been forced out of this race by a massive public outcry against such dirty deeds, and why isn't the media insisting he withdraw?

I would also note that Roy Schmidt's "right-hand man," Ed Kettle, is the son of the former director of Social Services in Kent County who was known for his bigotry and racism. And Ed Kettle parades around making people think he is an "enlightened voice" for the business community capable of healing the rift between business and labor.

And here we have the AIPAC Steve Pestka, a "Democrat" who heavily supported and helped fund Roy Schmidt's campaign running for United States Congress pretending to be a liberal Democrat:

http://www.votepestka.com/

How much longer is this crap going to be tolerated?

Why isn't the media holding Steve Pestka accountable for having been a primary backer of the racist Roy Schmidt?

The very same labor unions that shamefully supported Roy Schmidt are now backing Steve Pestka. And they are all backing this warmonger Obama... but, then again--- surprise, surprise--- Roy Schmidt backed Barack Obama!

And Barack Obama even praised Roy Schmidt.

What a bunch of worthless charlatans; they all make Elmer Gantry appear a viable candidate for Sainthood.

For political expediency Steve Pestka stood by in silence as the Israeli killing machine was butchering Palestinians. Oh, I forgot, Barack Obama did the same thing as Roy Schmidt cheered the killing on.

And now Roy Schmidt has endorsed Romney instead of endorsing Obama's re-election.

Come on, really, is there any difference between the Democrats and the Republicans?

Is there any difference between Roy Schmidt the racist and corrupt Democrat and Roy Schmidt the racist and corrupt Republican?

Roy Schmidt continues to be racist to the core; he is opposed to the enforcement of Affirmative Action even though it is the law of the land. How could the NAACP support such a racist bigot?

Oh, and Steve Pestka is boasting that Roy Schmidt's right-hand man (pun intended) has now endorsed his bid for United States Congress.

Does it get any more explicit than this?

Just tell the Democrats and Republicans to go to hell.

--
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/

We appeal to you to Join an International Action Week For No Naval Base

I would like to suggest peace activists consider endorsing these efforts and create an action in solidarity--- perhaps an informational picket outside the offices of a member of Congress like Keith Ellison who Co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus which should come out in opposition to this Naval Base in South Korea which in reality would just be adding another U.S. military base to the more than 800 that exist now while human needs go unmet... I hope everyone will check out the links at the bottom and consider initiating a solidarity action.

My suggestion for a date of the action would be:
Labor Day, Monday, September 3, 2012

We appeal to you to Join an International Action Week For No Naval Base

2-9 September 2012



We appeal to the people of the world who oppose war and want the world to be a peaceful and sustainable community.

Please take part in an International Solidarity Action (2-9 September 2012) during the World Conservation Congress 2012 which will be held in Jeju Island.

The 2012 World Conservation Congress, which is an environmental conference held every 4 years by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is to take place from 6-15 September in Seogwipo city, Jeju Island. Jeju Island is located in the southern part of South Korea, adjacent to China, Taiwan, and Japan.

However, in Gangjeong village, which is only 7 km far from the congress site, construction to build a massive naval base has begun despite the opposition of a great number of villagers. The total size of the naval base is 490,000 square meters and it will not only harm the environment but also ignite military tensions

Gangjeong village in Jeju blessed with a natural environment should be preserved for the future of mankind.

Gangjeong village is a coastal town with a sacred environment and high value preservation not only in Jeju Island, but also in the world.

The Sea of Gangjeong village is designated as a national cultural treasure (natural memorial No. 442) by the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea and is adjacent to Beom Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Gangjeong village is God’s blessing natural heritage. The sea of Gangjeong is one of the major habitats of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, one of the species listed by the IUCN. It is estimated that there are only 114 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Korea.

Gangjeong village is located between the two biggest creeks in Jeju Island and has the biggest freshwater fish habitat on the island. It provides 70–80% of drinking water to southern residents in the island. As Jeju Island lacks water due to its porous basaltic land, this uncommon village is nicknamed as ‘Il-Gangjeong’ which means the best Gangjeong village. Due to this character, it has been the ‘heartland of agriculture’ from ancient times. Artifacts from prehistoric times showing the transformation of housing culture have been also discovered in Gangjeong. For such reasons, Gangjeong was appointed as a limited development district until the Jeju naval base construction plan was drafted.

Gureombi rock, located at the Jeju naval base construction site, is a broad flat rock with 1.2 km in length and 250m in width and it forms a greatly peculiar bedrock wetland where spring water comes upward. As Gureombi rock is a part of absolute preservation area by Jeju local government, it is home to the Government designated endangered species such as sesarma intermedium, small round frogs, Jeju saebaengi (native freshwater shrimp of Jeju Island), and clithon retropietus v. martens.

However, the Government is unilaterally enforcing the construction of the naval base without appropriate evaluation and even by easing regulations expediently or ignoring them illegally. It is clear that the naval base will not only destroy the environment of the sea of Gangjeong village, but also cause the serious destruction of the environment of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located just 2 km away from the construction site.

There is no doubt that this construction is entirely contrary to the principals of the World Conservation Congress. The efforts of the South Korean government and Jeju local government to promote Jeju island as a world environmental city, while unilaterally enforcing the construction of the naval base, is deceiving global citizens.

Actions Suggested

1. Please choose at least one day during the International Action Week (2-9 September 2012) and organize any individual or collective actions to oppose the Jeju naval base.

2. Please inform the world that the construction of the naval base in Jeju is fully contrary to the principal of 2012 World Conservation Congress. Please make calls to the World Conservation Congress member organizations and member states to express concerns about the Jeju naval base construction.

3. Please ask the South Korean government and Jeju local government to stop building the military base, revoke the naval base project, and make Jeju Island develop intact as an island of world peace.

4. It is hypocritical for Samsung, the main contractor of the naval base project, to support financially the largest environmental event in the world. Please urge Samsung C&T and Daerim, two main contractors, to stop constructing naval base in Jeju.

5. To spread this amazing event widely, please send your endorsement (with your organization’s name) and your action plans to the Gangjeong international team (gangjeongintl@gmail.com ) in advance. After your actions, please kindly send your photos and videos with a simple explanation to the team as well.

6. There are many events being planned in Jeju Gangjeong village during the international action week (2-9 September 2012). If possible, please come to the village and be part of our nonviolent struggle which has continued over the last 6 years.

We greatly appreciate for your solidarity.



The following groups endorse the action:

National Groups

Gangjeong Village Association
Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 organizations)
Korea Environment NGO Network (36 Korean environmental NGOs)
National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 Korean civil society organizations)
International Groups

Please send your endorsement (organization’s name) and send it to gangjeongintl@gmail.com . We will collect all international groups’ endorsement and list your names here.



Background

Jeju Island should remain an Island of World Peace, not an outpost of war

In 2005, the South Korean Government declared Jeju Island an Island of World Peace. At that time, the Government explained that the purpose was to succeed the spirit of historical summits for diplomacy during the post-Cold war era – the previous chief secretary of the Soviet union, Gorbachev’s visit in Jeju island (1991), the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Russia (1991), the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China (1992) and afterward the first visit of Jiang Zemin, the previous chief secretary of the People’s Republic of China, to Jeju island (1995), and cabinet-level talks between North and South Korea--and to contribute to world peace. Furthermore, in the Declaration for the Island of World Peace, two proposals were included. The first was to inherit the three traditions of Jeju Island (no beggar, no thief, and no gate) and the second was to recognize the tragic historical 4.3 massacre, which more than one-eighth of Jeju islanders were massacred in the name of red-hunting.

However, the current naval base construction enforced by the South Korean Government to militarize Jeju and the East China Sea in the name of naval security plays a part to threaten peace and prosperity in the areas. Over the last few years the South Korean government and its Navy have called themselves sub-partners of the Northeast Naval Strategy led by the US administration and strengthened the military cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan. The naval base in Jeju will function as an outpost of this plan. In this naval base, US nuclear-powered submarine, nuclear aircraft carrier as well as Aegis missile-carrying warships may berth.

The reason to name Jeju Island as an Island of World Peace is to make the island a hub of exchange and cooperation in Northeast Asia and convert the East China Sea into sea of peace and co-existence. The construction of the naval base is fundamentally contrary to these visions. Thus, it is crucial to protect the island from becoming an outpost of warfare. Jeju Island should be developed as a world peace island.

For more information, please visit:

http://savejejunow.org/

http://www.savejeju.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonavalbase/

https://www.facebook.com/SaveJeju

http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj (Korean/ English/ Chinese/ Japanese)



Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
globalnet@mindspring.com
www.space4peace.org
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)

--
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/

U.S. imperialism's legacy

And how long will the effects of Obama's present dirty imperialist wars continue into the future?

Ask your friends and neighbors the question the New York Times is afraid to ask:

How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?

"The young man, Phongsavath Sonilya, gesticulated with his arm stumps as he explained to Mrs. Clinton that more than three decades after the end of the war, not enough had been done to stop the use of cluster bombs and to support those who may be injured in the future by bombs still lying unexploded in the countryside. The United States has not signed the Convention on Cluster Bombs. "

Question: Why didn't Clinton offer the resources of the United States to clean up the un-exploded cluster bombs since the United States dropped them there?

Question: Why didn't Clinton apologize to the Laotian people for this carnage and destruction which was a blatant act of U.S. imperialist aggression?

Hillary Clinton arrogantly declared without bringing forward anything of substance:

“The international community will join us in our efforts to bring this legacy of the Vietnam War to a safe end, ...” 

Comment: What was not noted by Hillary Clinton nor the New York Times is that "the international community" was united in its opposition to the Vietnam War and condemned the bombing of Laos as a "campaign of genocide."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/world/asia/on-visit-to-laos-clinton-is-reminded-of-vietnam-war.html 

Tell the Democrats and Republicans to go to hell

Casino workers support the demonstration at Congressman John Kline's office at 101 West Burnsville Parkway, Burnsville, Minnesota from Noon to 1pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 demanding an increase in the Minimum Wage.


http://www.facebook.com/events/393144834075481/

The minimum wage should be a real living--- non-poverty--- wage legislatively tied to calculations of the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics based on all cost of living factors.

Any employer who can't pay the workers required to do the job for which they have been hired a real living wage should just do the work themselves or let their spouse and children do the work.

Casino workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry working in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights because the Democrats approved the "Compacts" creating this horrendous industry where a bunch of rich, white mobsters own the slot machines leaving Native American communities saddled with huge debt-creating poverty breeding misery are thoroughly fed up with the Democrats.

We are asking all workers to consider this question before casting their votes in November:

How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?

Working class voters have three good alternative choices when they enter the voting booth in November--- all three of whom support substantial increases in the minimum wage:

Jill Stein--- Green Party, Rocky Anderson--- Justice Party, Stewart Alexander--- Socialist Party.

The path to real living wage jobs for every American worker is by creating jobs through solving the problems of the people--- paid for by peace dividends derived from ending these dirty imperialist wars and taxing the hell out of the filthy rich much of whose wealth has been derived from paying poverty wages.

For example: A National Public Health Care System would create more than ten-million new good-paying union jobs.

For example: A National Public Child Care System would create over three-million new good-paying union jobs.

We need to re-establish the historic liberal-progressive-left coalition which can bring about the change and kind of reforms required to protect, defend and raise the quality of life and standard of living for all working people while protecting and advancing the rights of all working people.

Affirmative Action must be enforced so people of color, women and the handicapped get access to the jobs as required by Federal Executive Order #11246. Enforcing Affirmative Action is one way to increase everyone's standard of living because it places pressure on wages to go up as these huge pools of unemployed people which drive wages down are eliminated. An end to discrimination benefits us all.

Of course a good union contract is better than any government anti-poverty program but still we must insist that the United States government wages a war on poverty instead of funding these dirty imperialist wars killing us all.

The wealthy don't need any government help because with their wealth they can fend for themselves; it is working people who need government action on their side not government working against them.

The only way we are going to push wages up and solve the problem of unemployment at the same time is through a combination of union organizing, fighting for the minimum wage to be a real living--- non-poverty--- wage, massive public works jobs programs as described above combined with bringing back depression-busting programs like WPA, CCC and C.E.T.A. and recognizing that an injustice to workers anywhere is an injustice to workers everywhere threatening our rights to a standard of living in line with what the United Nations' universal Declaration of Human Rights requires.

If workers are going to begin winning struggles there must be the realization that workers without any rights or a voice at work have no rights in the communities where they live.

"At-will hiring; At-will firing" legislation must be terminated because it is the primary obstacle to workers organizing and asserting their rights yet the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party repeatedly refuses to bring forward the need to rescind "At-will hiring; At-will firing" legislation; why is this?

Wall Street is our common enemy. Whether it be U.S. Congressman John Kline opposing an increase in the minimum wage or MNDFL Governor Mark Dayton refusing to negotiate a new contract in good faith with State workers or President Barack Obama refusing to take a stand in solidarity with the embattled workers in Wisconsin or the MNDFL which has refused to bring its full weight to bear in ending the lock-out of more than 1,300 workers employed by American Crystal Sugar in the Red River Valley--- none of these politicians deserve the votes of working people.

In struggle and solidarity,

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

People’s Voice meeting tackles social issues

(Please note: A follow-up meeting to this meeting will be taking place in Cass Lake, Minnesota on July 10, 2012, tentatively scheduled for 5pm)

Published June 24, 2012, 12:00 AM

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100041283/publisher_ID/3/

People’s Voice meeting tackles social issues

BEMIDJI – Poverty, health and corruption were the most common concerns spoken about at the People’s Voice meeting held Saturday at the People’s Choice Church.

By: Brian Matthews, Bemidji Pioneer

BEMIDJI – Poverty, health and corruption were the most common concerns spoken about at the People’s Voice meeting held Saturday at the People’s Choice Church.

“I think half of this board is filled with solutions and half of it is filled with problems,” said Curtis Buckanaga, an organizer of the event.

“I think we need to focus on the solutions and not pay too much attention to the problems. The problems are there, what are we going to do about them? That’s what we need to do, we can’t let them discourage us.

The purpose of the event was for people to have the opportunity to share their concerns of the reservations and the surrounding community life.

In doing so, a bulletin board was created, filled with areas of concern. Some of the issues addressed included poverty, racism, sovereignty, health care, affirmative action and many more.

“In my opinion I see these concerns being symptoms of very large aspects of our society,” Buckanaga said. “One major one would be poverty. I see poverty playing into the hands of a lot of people and giving these symptoms to them.

The group in attendance, which was made up of priests, pastors, native and non-native people and other leaders in the community attempted to narrow the list into three areas of focus.

The debate went in circles, with many various opinions on the wording of these focus areas, but the group settled on poverty, health and corruption as the areas that the local community needs to focus on improving.

Buckanaga said he would have liked to see more representation from members of the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth reservations as well as more participation from political leaders who were unable to attend, but said this meeting is the first of many to be held to begin addressing the issues mentioned.

“I am not discouraged that this is not a well attended,” Buckanaga said. “This is the first of many events that we are going to have to bring people together. I understand how people want to see some action now but it’s going to take a little bit. You have to be dedicated to this.”

Is Obamacare good because the right-wing opposes it?

Is Obamacare good because the right-wing opposes it?

By: Alan Maki Saturday June 30, 2012 6:18 am

Posted on FireDogLake

We are now hearing Obama’s apologists saying because right-wing politicians like Rand Paul and Mitt Romney oppose Obamacare that Obamacare and the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding it must be good.

Opposition from Rand Paul, Romney and the Republicans aside, this legislation is patently unconstitutional because it forces and coerces people to purchase insurance from PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT insurance companies.

It would be constitutional only if people were being forced to purchase health insurance from a government owned co-op or public enterprise.

This is the bottom line. We should be defending the Constitution not backing out of this fight simply because these right-wingers are opposed for other reasons.

Just because a bunch of right-wing politicians are opposed to something doesn’t make it right— ethically, morally or Constitutionally; nor does their opposition mean that this Obamacare will work, because it won’t.

For starters, does anyone really think that the few good parts of this legislation will be adequately financed? If so, dream on— because right now Barack Obama, the Democrats and the Republicans refuse to adequately fund VA, the Indian Health Service, Medicaid, Medicare and the National Public Health Service as city, county and state health care services and agencies have had their budgets slashed while Planned Parenthood goes severely underfunded.

Obama and these Wall Street politicians aren’t going to adequately fund any health care programs when they have these costly imperialist wars to finance which are so profitable to Wall Street coupon clippers just like what they expect to make with people being forced to buy insurance from them.

War and health care are two rackets managed by the same Wall Street crowd and we pay the bill for both as they profit.

When all is said and done we are getting screwed again.

Plus this most undemocratic, unconstitutional and obscene ruling from the United States Supreme Court intended by Roberts to provide Mitt Romney with never ending ammunition now until election day has opened the door wide to allow the government to force people to purchase many other “social programs” from private for-profit corporations and it places Social Security in jeopardy. If you can be forced to purchase health insurance from private for-profit insurance companies will the next step be forcing people to purchase retirement accounts from these same insurance companies as the Social Security fund is turned over to a consortium of private insurance companies to “manage”— for a nice hefty fee of course?

The “Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2012″ is just plain wrong and bad.

The moment calls for a massive movement to demand a National Public Health Care System which would also produce over ten-million new jobs by providing the American people with no-fee/no-premium, comprehensive, all-inclusive, universal health care— publicly financed, publicly administered and managed and publicly delivered.

In fact, Obamacare is a piece of extremely reactionary right-wing legislation that is anti-people at its very core while intended to bolster Wall Street profits.

Just watch insurance premiums now shoot sky-high— after all, there must be some reason Obamacare is being compared to auto insurance. Since the government forced the American people to purchase auto insurance from private for-profit insurance companies rates have been rising without letup and have you heard or seen one single Democrat or Republic stand up and insist on controlling the costs?

In Manitoba the provincial government led by Howard Pawley forced people to purchase auto insurance but this socialist oriented government did what was right and responsible by the people as they established a government owned, managed and administered non-profit public enterprise to replace the private for-profit insurance companies.

And Canada forces its people to pay a payroll tax to finance its single-payer health care system under the Canada Health Act but you don’t see any private for-profit insurance companies in the picture, do you?

There is no reason a National Public Health Care System can’t provide the American people with the same high-quality standards in health care we get from public education, Social Security and all the other government programs like water and sewer and roads.

Dear friends in the peace movement...

URGENT! PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!

Dear Friends in the Peace Movement,

We can’t afford to let this opportunity slip by. By taking action over the next five days the peace community has a chance to inject a compelling and courageous peace advocate into the 2012 presidential campaign, to have a voice in the national debate over war, militarism, and military spending.

You know what is going to happen if we leave this election up to the two major party candidates. President Obama will defend his troop surges, his excessive Pentagon budgets, his preparations for war with Iran, his escalation of the drone wars, his crackdowns on whistleblowers, his indefinite detention policy, and his new role as manager of the White House assassination list. Mitt Romney will not question these policies, but will promise to pursue them with even more enthusiasm. In debates and interviews, the American people will have the Big Lie drilled into their consciousness: that our nation must accept escalating military engagement and must visit worldwide violence against all who defy the U.S. government.

Jill Stein stands ready to challenge the Big Lie. Jill Stein, a physician from Massachusetts, who has been a national board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, has just won 29 state primaries to secure the presidential nomination of the Green Party. She is putting some badly needed fundamentals for peace on the table: Cut the Pentagon budget by 50%. Halt the drone wars. Pardon the whistleblowers. Restore our civil liberties. Make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone. She is driving home the point that the Obama/Romney fascination with war and violence is dangerous for our nation and the world. We need to make sure she is heard.

Jill Stein is closing in on federal matching funds that would double the value of donations to her campaign. Because she doesn’t receive big checks from Pentagon contractors and their lobbyists, public funding is essential to her campaign. She needs to raise about $24,000 by midnight on June 30th so that she can apply for matching funds.

That’s not much money to ask of a national peace movement. We can do it. And the payoff for peace will be tremendous.

So we urge you do two things. First, go to Jill Stein’s website: http://www.jillstein.org/donate, and make a generous donation to her campaign.

Second, please forward this email to your friends and networks. Forwarding this message is critically important.

Thank you for helping us open up a dialogue for peace.

Sincerely,

David Swanson, author of War is a Lie and also of Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial President and Forming a More Perfect Union

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK

Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and senior fellow at the Nation Institute

Leah Bolger, retired naval commander and current president of Veterans for Peace

George Martin, three term national co-chair of United for Peace & Justice

Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space.

Kevin Zeese, executive director of Voters for Peace

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: New Progressive Alliance <tonyn@newprogs.org>
Date: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 7:25 PM
Subject: NC! FL! VA! Just a few dollars more!!
To: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

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You've received this newsletter because you or someone you know has suggested that you support realistic, Progressive notions about the planet, its people and our responsibility to both. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us.

 

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Six Donors Will Do the Trick! Two days ago we asked for your help, and you responded. Jill Stein's push toward matching funds has made great strides! Donors in each of 17 stateshave now given more than $5,000 - that means just THREE MORE STATESare needed!  NORTH CAROLINA: Just two donors needed at $150 each! FLORIDA: Two $250 donors get it done! VIRGINIA: Four donations of $250 are all that's needed! But WHY STOP THERE?? Forward this to everyone you know in those three states - and the ones listed below - and there's a great chance ALL will clear the $5,000 mark! CONNECTICUT ARIZONA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MISSOURI TENNESSEE MAINE Forward by using the link at the bottom of the page! And don't forget the social sharing buttons at the top! WHY WE ARE ASKING The NPA was founded to foster conditions where alternatives to the sold-out corporate parties could take root. Jill Stein's candidacy will help that happen!  Your vote for candidates who have endorsed the Unified Platform is a straw that will break the duopoly's back. Stein has endorsed it, so we're asking you to help Jill trade her megaphone for a bullhorn!    Donate to the Stein campaign by clicking here.

Forward This to a Friend! This email was sent to alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com by tonyn@newprogs.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. New Progressive Alliance | 109 Tanglewood Drive | Greenville | NC | 27858

-- 

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/

Meeting in Bemidji, Minnesota to take on racism and poverty

Meeting in Bemidji, Minnesota to take on racism and poverty
By: Alan Maki Friday June 22, 2012 8:12 am	Tweet

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 23—

Invitation to THE PEOPLE’S VOICE

ALL members of the Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth Reservations, including tribal leaders, and ALL concerned people of the surrounding communities, are invited to THE PEOPLE’S VOICE.

DATE: Saturday, June 23
TIME: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
REGISTRATION: 9:30 A.M.
LOCATION: People’s Church
824 American Avenue NW
Bemidji
Lunch will be provided

The purpose is to give ALL people the opportunity to speak and listen to issues and concerns of reservation and surrounding community life. ALL ISSUES AND CONCERNS are on the table: poverty, high suicide rate, racist language, crime, education, casino and gaming issues, health and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, sovereignty, tribal government, Constitutional rights, Federal Indian policy, human and civil rights.

Also invited are: Governor Dayton, Rep. John Persell, Senator John Carlson (cannot attend due to a prior commitment), Senators Klobuchar and Franken. We are awaiting responses.

THE PEOPLE’S VOICE is a follow-up gathering of Native American and concerned citizens to the Council of Conversation held in Minneapolis on April 21 at the Division of Indian Works.

THE PEOPLE’S VOICE is sponsored by the Native American Justice Task Force, consisting of Native Americans, concerned citizens, and the Joint Peace with Justice Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Questions and Registration: contact Curtis Buckanaga, 218-407-2801. Hope to see you.

The People’s Voice Process

9:30 Registration (Name tags, sign-in with name, phone number, address, reservation designation, and email)

10:00 Welcome and Introductions (name, where from) – Ron
10:10 Opening Comments
10:20 The PURPOSE for the gathering: First, to give VOICE to the Native American and all concerned to the truth of life issues
within the NA and surrounding communities. Second, to form
ACTION CIRCLES to address the issues. Third, to seek the
COMMON GOOD. We all do better when we all to better.
10:25 Common Covenant: 1) Everyone has VOICE, something to say; 2)Each circle will do a Talking Circle (TC) which means: one person talks at a time with NO INTERRUPTIONS and all
others LISTEN. Then onto the next person until all in the circle
have spoken; 3) After all have spoken, the table is open to
everyone to speak, one at a time, no interruptions, all listen.
THERE WILL BE A NOTE TAKER WHO WILL REPORT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.
10:30 TC-1: Considering where I am living, what are the ISSUES or SORROWS that concern you? (Each person-2 minutes, then open sharing TC style) Work in reservation groups, Native American and community people together. All issues are connected. We are all part of the circle. Groups of 7.
10:50 Report in – Common sharing
11:15 PERSONAL VOICES: Curtis Buckanaga, Howard Hanson,
Pastor Bob Kelly
11:35 Open sharing and formation of ACTION CIRCLES with each reservation and interest group working independently. One
circle-one issue. Max of TWO issues. Consider separate AC on sovereignty, tribal government, Constitution issues.
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 PEOPLE form into ACTION CIRCLES
1:05 ACs design ACTION PLANS that are DEFINABLE, MANAGEABLE and ACHIEVABLE. Use the IPOPO design:
I: DEFINE the ISSUE/sorrow? List the characteristics that
define and clarify the IS and what needs to be done.
Define the overall goal in addressing the issue. What are the barriers and challenges? Why this issue? P: What PEOPLE are important to talk to who can provide knowledge and expertise about the IS? Local state, and federal leaders? People to address the specifics.
O: What ORGANIZATIONS are important to contact who can help address the IS? What place can the local media play? What is the place of the Tribal Council? Address the specifics.
P: Establish a plan: Who will contact the people and organizations? When will you meet again? Get names, addresses, phone numbers, emails. Must meet often. Choose a leader.
IS IT FAIR TO ASSUME THAT EVERYONE HERE
WILL BE PART OF THE ACTION COUNCIL ON
YOUR RESERVATION? IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
1:30 Report from each ACTION CIRCLE. Cross in-put.
2:00 Are there CRITICAL ISSUES that we need to address apart from what we are have already agreed? Tribal Council? Casino profits? Sovereignty? Civil rights? IF SO, WHO?
2:15 Next Steps: Each reservation AC select three people to serve on a UNIFIED ACTION COUNCIL. Is this necessary? Is there a willingness to work together?
2:20 Clarifications? Evaluation of TPV? Did we do what you hoped? Did you feel had the opportunity to give VOICE to your
concerns? Do you feel you were LISTENED to? Do you feel that ACTION COUNCILS were formed to address your concerns? Do you feel what happened today addressed the COMMON GOOD?
2:30 Talking Circle
4:00 Home