Majority of Canadians support protests, demonstrations and movement building in order to achieve real change:
http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Canadians+support+grassroots+protests+like+Idle+More+poll/7750523/story.html
The "Idle No More" movement is picking up support and growing.
We should all learn the simple fact that politicians don't care about phone calls, letters or petitions UNLESS they are part of movement building initiatives.
It is growing movements politicians take note of.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Funding the Israeli killing machine is helping push us off the "fiscal cliff."
Barack Obama can continue funding the murderous and barbaric Israeli killing machine engaged in genocidal pogroms against the Palestinian people forced to live in what amounts to a concentration camp every bit as evil and pernicious as the Warsaw Ghetto was yet there isn't enough money to fund a national public health care program, quality public schools or adequate child care nor create the kind
"Let's understand what the precipitating event here that's causing the current crisis and that was an ever-escalating number of missiles that were landing not just in Israeli territory but in areas that are populated, and there's no country on Earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,” at the start of a three-nation tour in Asia.
With Obama just weeks after the election we got:
* A sleazy sex scandal involving the head of the CIA and a four-star general.
* Notice we are about to fall off the "fiscal cliff."
of huge job creating programs required like WPA and CCC.
While squandering our tax dollars on this barbarity in Gaza Strip these same politicians hypocritically talk about preventing our Nation from taking a dive off this "fiscal cliff" when their immoral policies are shoving our Nation crashing onto the sharp, jagged rocks below the "cliff."
How much more of this senseless, cruel, insanity paid for with our tax-dollars are the American people going to take from these Wall Street bribed politicians like Obama and their puppets in Israel before saying "ENOUGH!"
Does anyone really believe Obama and the Democrats were not aware Israel was going to go on this rampage and murderous killing spree in Gaza Strip? How goddamn stupid do these barbaric and demonic monsters in power think we are?
Militarism and wars are what is shoving our Nation off the "fiscal cliff."
While squandering our tax dollars on this barbarity in Gaza Strip these same politicians hypocritically talk about preventing our Nation from taking a dive off this "fiscal cliff" when their immoral policies are shoving our Nation crashing onto the sharp, jagged rocks below the "cliff."
How much more of this senseless, cruel, insanity paid for with our tax-dollars are the American people going to take from these Wall Street bribed politicians like Obama and their puppets in Israel before saying "ENOUGH!"
Does anyone really believe Obama and the Democrats were not aware Israel was going to go on this rampage and murderous killing spree in Gaza Strip? How goddamn stupid do these barbaric and demonic monsters in power think we are?
Militarism and wars are what is shoving our Nation off the "fiscal cliff."
And then we get this from Obama--- at press conference in Thailand; this from the man who is engaged in killing sprees and drone attacks across the globe:
"Let's understand what the precipitating event here that's causing the current crisis and that was an ever-escalating number of missiles that were landing not just in Israeli territory but in areas that are populated, and there's no country on Earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,” at the start of a three-nation tour in Asia.
With Obama just weeks after the election we got:
* A sleazy sex scandal involving the head of the CIA and a four-star general.
* Notice we are about to fall off the "fiscal cliff."
* And now this genocidal carnage in Gaza.
We are off to a fine post-election beginning; one can only surmise and wonder what the next four years of Obama holds in store--- another scandal and war every week as foreclosures and unemployment continue with more working class families being shoved off the "fiscal cliff" crashing onto the rocks of poverty?
Alan L. Maki
We are off to a fine post-election beginning; one can only surmise and wonder what the next four years of Obama holds in store--- another scandal and war every week as foreclosures and unemployment continue with more working class families being shoved off the "fiscal cliff" crashing onto the rocks of poverty?
Alan L. Maki
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Election 2012; the six-billion dollar presidential election… a perversion of democracy: Where do we go from here? By: Alan L. Maki
I'm not as disheartened by the election results as many
people are.
Jill Stein- Green Party, Rocky Anderson- Justice Party and Stewart Alexander- Socialist Party didn't get as many votes as we hoped they would but they have set something in motion--- political independence from the two Wall Street parties--- for which all liberals, progressives and leftists should be appreciative.
Never before, since 1948 and the onslaught of McCarthyism, have progressive alternatives had their voices heard as in this election. This has been an important victory we can build on--- if we seize the initiative in a united way. We have a base to work from.
Jill Stein- Green Party, Rocky Anderson- Justice Party and Stewart Alexander- Socialist Party didn't get as many votes as we hoped they would but they have set something in motion--- political independence from the two Wall Street parties--- for which all liberals, progressives and leftists should be appreciative.
Never before, since 1948 and the onslaught of McCarthyism, have progressive alternatives had their voices heard as in this election. This has been an important victory we can build on--- if we seize the initiative in a united way. We have a base to work from.
The American people were faced with two
"choices," Obama and Romney, both with the same Wall Street agenda
wrapped in different words by Madison Avenue.
I think these alternative campaigns will have
impact far beyond the votes these candidates (Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein and
Stewart Alexander) received.
What would be disheartening is if Stein,
Anderson and Alexander were to withdraw from their next responsibility---
helping to build movements to fight Obama and the Democrats and Republicans
explaining that Wall Street is our enemy. I don't think Stein, Anderson and
Alexander intend to shirk their responsibility; others appear ready to join
with us.
New Progressive Alliance (NPA) should ask Stein, Anderson and Alexander to announce they are coming together to put people to work through pressuring Obama to re-establish the WPA and CCC to assist the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
This could have the potential of forging the kind of people's unity capable of bringing together a grassroots response and alternative to Wall Street's agenda. Finance it all through a special temporary emergency "tax on the rich."
As part of this letter supporting this initiative we could ask the backers of these three parties to sign on to the letter, too. The candidates and their backers working together supporting and organizing around a short concise statement which should conclude the appeal explaining why this special temporary tax on the rich is needed because the Democrats and Republicans continue to squander the wealth of our Nation on wars in the same destructive way to our country as Hurricane Sandy.
New Progressive Alliance (NPA) should ask Stein, Anderson and Alexander to announce they are coming together to put people to work through pressuring Obama to re-establish the WPA and CCC to assist the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
This could have the potential of forging the kind of people's unity capable of bringing together a grassroots response and alternative to Wall Street's agenda. Finance it all through a special temporary emergency "tax on the rich."
As part of this letter supporting this initiative we could ask the backers of these three parties to sign on to the letter, too. The candidates and their backers working together supporting and organizing around a short concise statement which should conclude the appeal explaining why this special temporary tax on the rich is needed because the Democrats and Republicans continue to squander the wealth of our Nation on wars in the same destructive way to our country as Hurricane Sandy.
Poor people are the hardest hit victims of
Hurricane Sandy; people without jobs are going to be poor. Doesn't it make
sense to employ the poorest victims of Hurricane Sandy in the rebuilding of
their lives and their working class communities?
I still think we can't afford the luxury of
multiple progressive/left parties until we break free from the two-party trap.
Would the vote have been much better for these alternative parties had they
joined efforts and put forward one progressive alternative? Yes.
If we built committees in every congressional
district to back an initiative to bring back the WPA and CCC we would have a
good base to work from in future elections, too.
Press conferences, petitions, letters, demonstrations... kick it off with a letter jointly signed by Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein, Stewart Alexander and their running mates.
Press conferences, petitions, letters, demonstrations... kick it off with a letter jointly signed by Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein, Stewart Alexander and their running mates.
A big part of the problem we face is all the
confusion being spun through the mainstream media by the over-paid political
hacks and Obama apologists.
Keep it simple: re-establish WPA/CCC to help
the victims of Hurricane Sandy financed with a special temporary tax on the
rich.
Ask everyone who signs the letter to host
meetings of a few people in their homes using a conference call with Rocky,
Jill and Stewart as the catalyst to discuss how we move forward.
All this crap about how liberals, progressives
and the left are weak and feeble is not true. It is just as bad to put forward
the view that we are weak and feeble as those who used their liberal,
progressive and left views to promote Obama.
(
Over )
Barack Obama should be pushed to use his
Executive Order privilege to re-establish the WPA and CCC--- then daring
Congress to refuse the funding.
Now is no time to withdraw from struggle...
now is the time to kick our struggles up a notch.
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
A progressive program for real change...
* Peace--- end the wars and
occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan & Libya;
shutdown the 800 U.S.
military bases on foreign soil. No new Wall Street imperialist wars. End drone
attacks.
* A National Public Health Care System - ten million new jobs.
* A National Public Child Care System - three to five million new jobs.
* Re-establish the Works Progress Administration (WPA) - three million new jobs.
* Re-establish the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - two million new jobs.
* Tax the hell out of the rich and cut the military budget by ending the wars to pay for it all which will create full employment.
* Enforce Affirmative Action; end discrimination.
* Raise the minimum wage to a real living wage based on all cost of living factors & indexed to inflation.
* What tax-payers subsidize in the way of businesses, tax-payers should own and reap the profits from.
* Moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions.
* Defend democracy by defending workers' rights including the right to collective bargaining for improving the lives and livelihoods of working people. Rescind “At-will” employment the main impediment to union organizing.
* Roll-back and freeze the price of food, electricity, gas and heating fuels; not wages, benefits or pensions; no more concessions.
*Defend and expand Social Security,
Medicaid and Medicare; repeal Obamacare which is nothing more than the “Health
Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of
2010.”
Wall Street is our common enemy.
How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?
Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for a real change.
Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for a real change.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Newaygo County, Michigan: Burial ground for democracy
I appreciate all the responses from people concerning my
recent arrest on warrants that are over 21 years old.
In Michigan,
the statute of limitations--- according to the law is:
The statute of limitations for a misdemeanor, as expressed
in the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure section 767.24, is six years.
But, this didn't deter the Grand Rapids Police Department
from arresting me on twenty-one year old bogus misdemeanor warrants carrying a
maximum fine of $500.00/6 months in jail and turning me over to Newaygo County
authorities who then established an outrageous TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR bond who
then went so far as to place restrictions on this bond that I couldn't enter
anyplace serving alcoholic beverages--- meaning I can't meet with casino
workers in their places of employment--- and prohibits me from participating in
demonstrations.
This is obviously unconstitutional and criminal harassment
on the part of the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Newaygo County Sheriff,
Newaygo County Prosecutor and Newaygo County District Court Judge.
It is assumed that any police officer should have the basic
knowledge of the laws when it comes to such warrants and the common sense and
human decency to question the validity of a twenty-one year old warrant for
which he was so well informed he advised me of what the charges consisted of.
The arresting Grand Rapids Police officer "joked"
that "we finally got our man after over twenty years."
He directed his "jokes" to me and those he was
communicating with via his radio.
We have now learned that no less than 17 people, including
the judge and prosecutor and the Chief of Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan were
all aware of my arrest, the charges involved, and when the warrant was issued
over twenty-one years ago while I was still sitting handcuffed in the back of
the Grand Rapids police cruiser on the corner of Alpine and Leonard Streets---
they all made the “complex” and “complicated” decision to carry out this
arrest.
This is an outright abuse by public officials and police who
engaged in harassment for political persecution in carrying out this dirty deed
under "color of law."
The irony in all of this is that these very same public officials and police who knowingly arrested me knowing the warrants were bogus from the time they were issued and then executed these warrants knowing full well they well past the statute of limitations will now go marching into federal court with expensive, high-powered attorneys who will be charging tax-payers an arm-and-a-leg claiming their positions make provide them with immunity from civil actions.
The irony in all of this is that these very same public officials and police who knowingly arrested me knowing the warrants were bogus from the time they were issued and then executed these warrants knowing full well they well past the statute of limitations will now go marching into federal court with expensive, high-powered attorneys who will be charging tax-payers an arm-and-a-leg claiming their positions make provide them with immunity from civil actions.
And then they pass this entire repressive, rotten and
corrupt system off to the rest of the world as the United States being “the world’s
greatest bastion of democracy.”
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell is even aware of these dirty deeds and has remained shamefully silent.
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell is even aware of these dirty deeds and has remained shamefully silent.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
About my arrest on Thuirsday evening November 1
By now many of you have heard about my arrest on Thursday
evening November 1 and the outrageous, unconstitutional $10,000.00 bond that
was placed on me by corrupt Newaygo County officials in Michigan who executed a
TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD warrant to
arrest me for “using the telephone to threaten” a right-wing, racist bigot who
punched and shoved my ten-year old son Jeremy because Jeremy was “fishing from
his dock.” This vicious attack by an
adult on my son, a child at the time, left his lip bleeding and swollen with a
black eye and scraped bleeding knees and a badly bruised chest--- all of which
was photographed by the police I called.
The Newaygo County Sheriff and Michigan State Police refused to arrest Scott Plants for this vicious and brutal attack on my ten year old son which he carried out against my son in retaliation for my political views. As Scott Plants viciously attacked my ten-year old son as he kicked our beagle dog who had tagged along on Jeremy’s fishing adventure, Scott Plants shouted for all neighbors within hearing distance--- “go fish in Russia.”
The Newaygo County Sheriff and Michigan State Police refused to arrest Scott Plants for this vicious and brutal attack on my ten year old son which he carried out against my son in retaliation for my political views. As Scott Plants viciously attacked my ten-year old son as he kicked our beagle dog who had tagged along on Jeremy’s fishing adventure, Scott Plants shouted for all neighbors within hearing distance--- “go fish in Russia.”
This was one of several vicious attacks on my children in
which right-wing bigots attacked my children in retaliation for my political
views expressed through speeches and writings with my two children having been
targeted by shot-gun toting members of the right-wing hate group Michigan
Militia whose members shot at them as they waited for their school bus--- with
the Michigan State Police capturing these vile culprits only to let them go
with the explanation that “they were only dick hunting.” Duck hunting in the
off-season hunting of spring.
The State Police of the Newaygo Post who laughed this vile
attack on my children off as “right-wing versus left-wing violence” even
thought there was no violence at all from the “left.” A few years later one of
the Michigan State co[ps who thought it was so funny my kids were shot at ended
up getting killed in a shoot-out with one of the very same men they apprehended
for shooting at my kids… this wasn’t so funny anymore as these bigoted cops
mourned the death of one of their own ilk.
Grand Rapids, Michigan police arrested me on this bogus twenty-one year old warrant and I was immediately transferred to the hands and jail of the Newaygo County Sheriff in White Cloud, Michigan.
Newaygo County is home to some of the worst poverty in the United States while being a “wilderness” playground for the extremely wealthy many of whom own poverty wage-paying sweatshops in Newaygo County and around the Midwest.
Grand Rapids, Michigan police arrested me on this bogus twenty-one year old warrant and I was immediately transferred to the hands and jail of the Newaygo County Sheriff in White Cloud, Michigan.
Newaygo County is home to some of the worst poverty in the United States while being a “wilderness” playground for the extremely wealthy many of whom own poverty wage-paying sweatshops in Newaygo County and around the Midwest.
At the present time a national defense committee is being
established to try to prevent my imprisonment on these bogus charges.
This kind of political repression is on the increase all across the United States and is sure to intensify no matter if Obama is re-elected or Romney is elected.
We have no national committee against political repression which is directed against those of us fighting for peace, social and economic injustice.
This kind of political repression is on the increase all across the United States and is sure to intensify no matter if Obama is re-elected or Romney is elected.
We have no national committee against political repression which is directed against those of us fighting for peace, social and economic injustice.
We have agreed to establish a “National Committee to defend
Alan Maki and All Victims of Political Repression.”
We will mount not only a legal but educational campaign intended to expose how political repression is carried out by the police, the courts, the political establishment and employers seeking to maintain poverty wages while driving down the standard of living of all working people.
For many years, every since its creation, the FBI has been used to spin a web of political repression--- attacking those who dare to struggle against racist and for the rights of working people.
Politicians created the legislation and “special committees” to enable the FBI working through its “Red Squads”--- special units led by FBI “Special Agents” consisting of city, county and state police and now including private “detective agencies” like Altegrity/USIS and all kinds of union-busting outfits--- to carry out this political repression.
I, along with tens of thousands of other activists have been targeted by the FBI and their “Red Squads,” so called because the FBI continues to use the Communist Control Act to carry out these dirty deeds.
As my 50,000 plus page FBI dossier clearly shows, the perverted Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover personally assigned the FBI to attack me--- an attack that has been dutifully carried out by the police and the courts with the permission of both the Democrats and Republicans with the malicious attack from Minnesota State Representative Tony Cornish--- who admits to amassing his own personal file on me--- being the latest and most recent where he designated me in an e-mail he sent to thousands of politicians across the Midwest, including each and every state legislator in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan which obviously emboldened the FBI, Grand Rapids Police Department, Newaygo County Sheriff, a corrupt prosecutor and judge to execute this twenty-one year old warrant which was bogus from its very creation with no other intent than to use the “color of law” to carry out this political repression which is the government’s response to my outspoken views and activities for peace, against racism and for social and economic justice.
The terms of this outrageous ten-thousand dollar bond being used to enforce these fabricated bogus charges against me, restrict me to having to remain in the State of Michigan--- an obvious attempt to thwart our union organizing campaign in the Indian Gaming Industry--- which seeks to empower workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry at poverty wages forced to work in unhealthy smoke-filled casinos--- and very conveniently under the terms of the racist “Compacts”--- intended to use racism to maintain the poverty on Indian Reservations creating huge pools of cheap labor.
The Indian Gaming Industry created by these “Compacts” arranged by corrupt tribal politicians, local, state and federal politicians and the mobsters who own the slot machines and table games and every other profitable venture associated with the Indian Gaming Industry, is every bosses dream come true: legislatively created poverty wages imposed on workers who have NO RIGHTS under state or federal labor laws.
These racist and anti-labor “Compacts” created by the Democrats with Republicans looking on smiling with bi-partisan approval are now being enforced by the private and quasi-governmental detective agency which hires a bunch of thugs which include former FBI and CIA agents as well as state, county and local police with the FBI and other police agencies sharing their “information and files” with Altegrity/USIS.
We will mount not only a legal but educational campaign intended to expose how political repression is carried out by the police, the courts, the political establishment and employers seeking to maintain poverty wages while driving down the standard of living of all working people.
For many years, every since its creation, the FBI has been used to spin a web of political repression--- attacking those who dare to struggle against racist and for the rights of working people.
Politicians created the legislation and “special committees” to enable the FBI working through its “Red Squads”--- special units led by FBI “Special Agents” consisting of city, county and state police and now including private “detective agencies” like Altegrity/USIS and all kinds of union-busting outfits--- to carry out this political repression.
I, along with tens of thousands of other activists have been targeted by the FBI and their “Red Squads,” so called because the FBI continues to use the Communist Control Act to carry out these dirty deeds.
As my 50,000 plus page FBI dossier clearly shows, the perverted Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover personally assigned the FBI to attack me--- an attack that has been dutifully carried out by the police and the courts with the permission of both the Democrats and Republicans with the malicious attack from Minnesota State Representative Tony Cornish--- who admits to amassing his own personal file on me--- being the latest and most recent where he designated me in an e-mail he sent to thousands of politicians across the Midwest, including each and every state legislator in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan which obviously emboldened the FBI, Grand Rapids Police Department, Newaygo County Sheriff, a corrupt prosecutor and judge to execute this twenty-one year old warrant which was bogus from its very creation with no other intent than to use the “color of law” to carry out this political repression which is the government’s response to my outspoken views and activities for peace, against racism and for social and economic justice.
The terms of this outrageous ten-thousand dollar bond being used to enforce these fabricated bogus charges against me, restrict me to having to remain in the State of Michigan--- an obvious attempt to thwart our union organizing campaign in the Indian Gaming Industry--- which seeks to empower workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry at poverty wages forced to work in unhealthy smoke-filled casinos--- and very conveniently under the terms of the racist “Compacts”--- intended to use racism to maintain the poverty on Indian Reservations creating huge pools of cheap labor.
The Indian Gaming Industry created by these “Compacts” arranged by corrupt tribal politicians, local, state and federal politicians and the mobsters who own the slot machines and table games and every other profitable venture associated with the Indian Gaming Industry, is every bosses dream come true: legislatively created poverty wages imposed on workers who have NO RIGHTS under state or federal labor laws.
These racist and anti-labor “Compacts” created by the Democrats with Republicans looking on smiling with bi-partisan approval are now being enforced by the private and quasi-governmental detective agency which hires a bunch of thugs which include former FBI and CIA agents as well as state, county and local police with the FBI and other police agencies sharing their “information and files” with Altegrity/USIS.
Why did these corrupt Newaygo County
officials acting in collusion with the FBI and Grand Rapids Police Department
decide to execute this twenty-one year old fabricated bogus warrant based on
outright lies after twenty-one years?
Because the complainant whose story two Newaygo County Sheriff Deputies and the Newaygo County Prosecutor prompted by the FBI testimony could not have been held up in court. Only weeks after the death of the complainant are these law-enforcement officials fully backed by the prosecutor and judge now executing these warrant claiming I used the telephone to intimidate these violent bigots.
How convenient, the police will now have free reign to further fabricate more lies without there being a complainant or “witness” to these bogus charges--- another dream come true; this time for the FBI led “Red Squads”, and quite conveniently for the managements of the Indian Gaming Industry.
The terms and conditions of this outrageous ten-thousand dollar bond include prohibiting me from participating in demonstrations or entering any establishment serving alcoholic beverages which means I am prohibited from entering any casino.
I hope all of you will consider participating in getting involved in our efforts defending me from these fabricated bogus charges based on lies in twenty-one year old warrants.
Think about this:
Why would any Judge establish a ten-thousand dollar bond for charges which carry a maximum penalty of six-months in prison and a $500.00 fine?
Why would any Judge even consider enforcing such twenty-one year old warrants which could have been served at any time on me?
Something to think about:
Newaygo County Judge Drake was the very the very prosecutor who authorized these bogus warrants faced on charges he helped to fabricate twenty-one years.
Does anyone think the execution of these warrants with a ten-thousand dollar bond being imposed with the undemocratic restrictions imposed by the terms of the bond has anything to do with “justice?”
Plain and simple: This is harassment and political repression taken to the extreme. But this is what political repression in this country has spun. Like a snowball rolling down a steep long hill on a warm spring day the campaign of hate and harassment just keeps getting bigger and bigger--- the intent being to destroy the lives of living, breathing human beings as was demonstrated by the violent death of my good friend and fellow activist, Native American trade unionist and human rights activist, Greg Paquin, last spring. Greg’s death was the direct result of where these campaigns of hate generated by the FBI’s “Red Squads” ultimately lead. The FBI and local law enforcement working together with the judiciary and reactionary politicians collaborated to make Greg Paquin’s life a living hell as they fabricated charges based on outright lies against him, too.
There is no legitimate reason why human beings should be subjected to these kinds of vicious hate campaigns instigated by the FBI and we are going to see what we can do to put an end to these kinds of politically motivated campaigns of hate.
I would also note that right-wing bigot Richard Mellon-Scaife has put his billions of dollars to work in creating several public front groups--- including KeyWiki staffed by a known pedophile working out of a cave in New Zealand and Accuracy In Media staffed by a pervert in an expensive suit--- being used to “expose” “Communists” and it is not coincidental that I have been singled out along with Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie whose “crime” is participating in meetings with Communists--- for outrageous and vicious attacks by both of these right-wing outfits funded by the nefarious right-wing bigot Richard Mellon-Scaife. Attacks that just happen to coincide with these recent attacks by politicians like Minnesota State Representative Tony Cornish who (retired from law enforcement), instead of apologizing to me for calling me “a very dangerous person” because I use my constitutionally protected rights to speak out, write and act in defense of worker’s rights which are human rights; Cornish has now proceeded to calling me “one of the most dangerous men in the world.”
Please consider joining with us to put an end to this officially promoted bigotry where corrupt politicians working in league with law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary are trying to stifle and smother our struggles for peace, social and economic justice.
Today, Newaygo County is a burial ground for democracy but as we have seen, this could be, and is, anyplace U.S.A.--- a country these reactionary sleaze-balls hiding their wicked reactionary agenda under the “color of law” proclaim to people everywhere to be “the world’s greatest bastion of democracy.”
Because the complainant whose story two Newaygo County Sheriff Deputies and the Newaygo County Prosecutor prompted by the FBI testimony could not have been held up in court. Only weeks after the death of the complainant are these law-enforcement officials fully backed by the prosecutor and judge now executing these warrant claiming I used the telephone to intimidate these violent bigots.
How convenient, the police will now have free reign to further fabricate more lies without there being a complainant or “witness” to these bogus charges--- another dream come true; this time for the FBI led “Red Squads”, and quite conveniently for the managements of the Indian Gaming Industry.
The terms and conditions of this outrageous ten-thousand dollar bond include prohibiting me from participating in demonstrations or entering any establishment serving alcoholic beverages which means I am prohibited from entering any casino.
I hope all of you will consider participating in getting involved in our efforts defending me from these fabricated bogus charges based on lies in twenty-one year old warrants.
Think about this:
Why would any Judge establish a ten-thousand dollar bond for charges which carry a maximum penalty of six-months in prison and a $500.00 fine?
Why would any Judge even consider enforcing such twenty-one year old warrants which could have been served at any time on me?
Something to think about:
Newaygo County Judge Drake was the very the very prosecutor who authorized these bogus warrants faced on charges he helped to fabricate twenty-one years.
Does anyone think the execution of these warrants with a ten-thousand dollar bond being imposed with the undemocratic restrictions imposed by the terms of the bond has anything to do with “justice?”
Plain and simple: This is harassment and political repression taken to the extreme. But this is what political repression in this country has spun. Like a snowball rolling down a steep long hill on a warm spring day the campaign of hate and harassment just keeps getting bigger and bigger--- the intent being to destroy the lives of living, breathing human beings as was demonstrated by the violent death of my good friend and fellow activist, Native American trade unionist and human rights activist, Greg Paquin, last spring. Greg’s death was the direct result of where these campaigns of hate generated by the FBI’s “Red Squads” ultimately lead. The FBI and local law enforcement working together with the judiciary and reactionary politicians collaborated to make Greg Paquin’s life a living hell as they fabricated charges based on outright lies against him, too.
There is no legitimate reason why human beings should be subjected to these kinds of vicious hate campaigns instigated by the FBI and we are going to see what we can do to put an end to these kinds of politically motivated campaigns of hate.
I would also note that right-wing bigot Richard Mellon-Scaife has put his billions of dollars to work in creating several public front groups--- including KeyWiki staffed by a known pedophile working out of a cave in New Zealand and Accuracy In Media staffed by a pervert in an expensive suit--- being used to “expose” “Communists” and it is not coincidental that I have been singled out along with Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie whose “crime” is participating in meetings with Communists--- for outrageous and vicious attacks by both of these right-wing outfits funded by the nefarious right-wing bigot Richard Mellon-Scaife. Attacks that just happen to coincide with these recent attacks by politicians like Minnesota State Representative Tony Cornish who (retired from law enforcement), instead of apologizing to me for calling me “a very dangerous person” because I use my constitutionally protected rights to speak out, write and act in defense of worker’s rights which are human rights; Cornish has now proceeded to calling me “one of the most dangerous men in the world.”
Please consider joining with us to put an end to this officially promoted bigotry where corrupt politicians working in league with law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary are trying to stifle and smother our struggles for peace, social and economic justice.
Today, Newaygo County is a burial ground for democracy but as we have seen, this could be, and is, anyplace U.S.A.--- a country these reactionary sleaze-balls hiding their wicked reactionary agenda under the “color of law” proclaim to people everywhere to be “the world’s greatest bastion of democracy.”
A law suit against, and to halt, these ghastly charges and
undemocratic, unconstitutional behavior is being prepared for the federal
courts.
My next court appearance has been scheduled for November 12, 2012 at 8:30 A.M. in Newaygo County District Court with Judge Drake presiding.
At the arraignment on November 12 I will be asking these charges be dropped based on the facts:
1.) The complaining witness is now dead;
My next court appearance has been scheduled for November 12, 2012 at 8:30 A.M. in Newaygo County District Court with Judge Drake presiding.
At the arraignment on November 12 I will be asking these charges be dropped based on the facts:
1.) The complaining witness is now dead;
2.) These warrants should have been dismissed long ago under
statute of limitations;
3.) These warrants were knowingly bogus at the time based on
lies fabricated by Drake, the police and Karen Plants, Scott Plants husband at
the time, from the very time they were issued twenty-one years ago;
4.) The bond is reduced to personal recognizance with no
draconian stipulations;
5.) Judge Drake removes himself from this case for obvious
conflict of interest;
6.) All charges are dropped;
7.) I am fully and completely compensated for this injustice
I am being subjected to.
The Michigan Supreme Court will be asked to intervene by investigating the judicial misconduct, malfeasance and misfeasance in this case of Judge Drake with the request that Judge Drake be permanently removed from “the bench” for participating in this wholly egregious, outrageous judicial misconduct intentionally carried out to deprive me of my most fundamental and basic constitutionally protected democratic and human rights.
Anyone who has ever read the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights along with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and then considering these bogus warrants can recognize the injustice in progress in this case.
My Defense Committee will make this case a focus of the upcoming December 10 Anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The foundation-funded outfits whose finances are derived from the donations of the very “philanthropists” who profit from the injustices of working people refuse to take on these cases so grassroots efforts like ours are required.
Many people have called to ask me what they can do. As a first step, please circulate and distribute this as widely as possible since education and informing a wide circle of friends is the first step.
Your suggestions are encouraged and welcome.
The Michigan Supreme Court will be asked to intervene by investigating the judicial misconduct, malfeasance and misfeasance in this case of Judge Drake with the request that Judge Drake be permanently removed from “the bench” for participating in this wholly egregious, outrageous judicial misconduct intentionally carried out to deprive me of my most fundamental and basic constitutionally protected democratic and human rights.
Anyone who has ever read the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights along with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and then considering these bogus warrants can recognize the injustice in progress in this case.
My Defense Committee will make this case a focus of the upcoming December 10 Anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The foundation-funded outfits whose finances are derived from the donations of the very “philanthropists” who profit from the injustices of working people refuse to take on these cases so grassroots efforts like ours are required.
Many people have called to ask me what they can do. As a first step, please circulate and distribute this as widely as possible since education and informing a wide circle of friends is the first step.
Your suggestions are encouraged and welcome.
We realize everyone is very busy on a variety of issues but
we request you find a way to fit this into your busy schedule.
Thanking you in advance for you involvement and participation.
I appreciate the concern from everyone--- the calls, visits and e-mails.
Yours in the struggle,
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Thanking you in advance for you involvement and participation.
I appreciate the concern from everyone--- the calls, visits and e-mails.
Yours in the struggle,
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Thomas Paine, "What a huge debt this country owes its trouble makers".
While I think it is very important we
participate in the electoral process by supporting and voting for real
progressive candidates like Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party, Jill
Stein of the Green Party or Stewart Alexander of the Socialist Party for
president who courageously stand up and vigorously speak out for the
kind of country we want as alternatives to the rapacious, greedy Wall
Street warmongers who profit from racism,
exploitation and wars--- and we need to come together to support and
vote for our fellow activists like Michael Cavlan running for the United
States Senate here in Minnesota against Amy "Republican Lite" Klobuchar....
Let's cut through the crap and be honest with ourselves:
We are going to have to combine our electoral activism with nothing short of educating, agitating and organizing a massive grassroots uprising and upheaval if we are ever going to turn this country around enabling us, WE THE PEOPLE, to take power from these Wall Street coupon clippers who have grown fat and rich from our labor and wars.
As Obama or Romney prepare to take us into more of these " dirty imperialist wars" as Mark Twain called them, we need to become more vigorous in our activities remembering the words of Thomas
Paine:
" What a huge debt this country owes its trouble makers".
There is only one way we are going to end these dirty wars and stop this criminal cabal of Democrats and Republicans from carrying out Wall Street's agenda taking us into war after war paid for through austerity measures they shove down our throats... we need to raise a whole lot of hell.
Make no mistake, Wall Street is our enemy.
Let's cut through the crap and be honest with ourselves:
We are going to have to combine our electoral activism with nothing short of educating, agitating and organizing a massive grassroots uprising and upheaval if we are ever going to turn this country around enabling us, WE THE PEOPLE, to take power from these Wall Street coupon clippers who have grown fat and rich from our labor and wars.
As Obama or Romney prepare to take us into more of these " dirty imperialist wars" as Mark Twain called them, we need to become more vigorous in our activities remembering the words of Thomas
Paine:
" What a huge debt this country owes its trouble makers".
There is only one way we are going to end these dirty wars and stop this criminal cabal of Democrats and Republicans from carrying out Wall Street's agenda taking us into war after war paid for through austerity measures they shove down our throats... we need to raise a whole lot of hell.
Make no mistake, Wall Street is our enemy.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Will you cast or burn your ballot?
Many people are so repulsed--- and justifiably repulsed--- by the
domination of Wall Street over the political process that they are
calling for boycotts and burning presidential ballots.
Most people in this country are repulsed by Obama who can't defend his record and Romney's arrogance and lies with both being nothing but mouthpieces for Wall Street's dirty imperialist wars and austerity measures here at home to pay for these barbaric wars.
This is my response to those who would withdraw from electoral participation which is an important part of the struggles for peace, social and economic justice:
While I join you in your disgust over Obama who deserves to be defeated and Romney who should not be elected, in my opinion burning your ballots or boycotting the election instead of casting your ballots for one of our fellow activists for peace, social and economic justice--- Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein or Stewart Alexander--- is counter-productive.
There is time to re-think your decision and I hope you do.
How would you feel if Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein or Stewart Alexander were to shit on a struggle you initiated?
Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander are trying their hardest to raise our concerns and we should support them, not abandon them; because their voices bring unity to our causes.
I would be interested in hearing a response to my concerns.
I offer my opposition and opinion to "burning ballots" and "boycott" on the friendliest of terms.
I would note that because some liberals, progressives and leftists have betrayed us (examples: Progressives for Obama/Progressive America Rising, Campaign for America's Future, Progressive Democrats of America, etc.) in supporting Obama there is no reason we should jump without thinking to the opposite extreme; thereby adding more confusion to the mix when we--- as liberals, progressives and leftists--- should be contributing leadership and clear thinking to the issues, problems, movements and struggles for peace, social and economic justice; constructive participation in the electoral process in defense of democracy as part of our struggles is part of our responsibility.
Between Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander, certainly there is an alternative any liberal, progressive or leftist can support.
My preference, voiced a number of times, would have been that these three candidates should have united with one voice in a single united ticket but this did not come to be. BUT, these three candidates have agreed to sign on to the "Unified Platform" < http://newprogs.org/unified-progressive-platform-ratified > which all of us should be able to unite around.
Again, I welcome discussion.
I don't voice my concerns as an attack but rather to stimulate discussion, dialog and debate with the understanding that in the short and long terms we are going to have to find a way to work together if we are going to defeat our common Wall Street enemy in achieving peace and justice.
When all is said and done, we are going to have to wrest political and economic power from Wall Street if we are going to get real change so let's seek ways to struggle which bring us closer together.
Most people in this country are repulsed by Obama who can't defend his record and Romney's arrogance and lies with both being nothing but mouthpieces for Wall Street's dirty imperialist wars and austerity measures here at home to pay for these barbaric wars.
This is my response to those who would withdraw from electoral participation which is an important part of the struggles for peace, social and economic justice:
While I join you in your disgust over Obama who deserves to be defeated and Romney who should not be elected, in my opinion burning your ballots or boycotting the election instead of casting your ballots for one of our fellow activists for peace, social and economic justice--- Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein or Stewart Alexander--- is counter-productive.
There is time to re-think your decision and I hope you do.
How would you feel if Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein or Stewart Alexander were to shit on a struggle you initiated?
Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander are trying their hardest to raise our concerns and we should support them, not abandon them; because their voices bring unity to our causes.
I would be interested in hearing a response to my concerns.
I offer my opposition and opinion to "burning ballots" and "boycott" on the friendliest of terms.
I would note that because some liberals, progressives and leftists have betrayed us (examples: Progressives for Obama/Progressive America Rising, Campaign for America's Future, Progressive Democrats of America, etc.) in supporting Obama there is no reason we should jump without thinking to the opposite extreme; thereby adding more confusion to the mix when we--- as liberals, progressives and leftists--- should be contributing leadership and clear thinking to the issues, problems, movements and struggles for peace, social and economic justice; constructive participation in the electoral process in defense of democracy as part of our struggles is part of our responsibility.
Between Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander, certainly there is an alternative any liberal, progressive or leftist can support.
My preference, voiced a number of times, would have been that these three candidates should have united with one voice in a single united ticket but this did not come to be. BUT, these three candidates have agreed to sign on to the "Unified Platform" < http://newprogs.org/unified-progressive-platform-ratified > which all of us should be able to unite around.
Again, I welcome discussion.
I don't voice my concerns as an attack but rather to stimulate discussion, dialog and debate with the understanding that in the short and long terms we are going to have to find a way to work together if we are going to defeat our common Wall Street enemy in achieving peace and justice.
When all is said and done, we are going to have to wrest political and economic power from Wall Street if we are going to get real change so let's seek ways to struggle which bring us closer together.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Here we go again into another war--- this time with Iran.
U. S. Senate Joint Resolution 41, while its authors, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman (whose worthless political butt Obama saved to do this dirty work when a real voice for peace could have been elected) claim this resolution is "not authorization for war" but it sure as heck is part of the ever-expanding and deafening drum-beat for war with Iran.
All these phony liberals, progressives and leftists telling us we must get Obama and these Democrats elected then after the election we should act when these warmongers don't stop their dirty deeds make me sick.
Now is when all who believe in peace should be declaring loud and clear---
No peace, no votes.
Why would anyone with a conscience cast a vote for any of the 90 U.S. Senators who are engaged in a campaign to drum up a war with Iran?
This vote, like all past votes in defense of the Israeli killing machine, should cause people to see how useless this so-called "Progressive Caucus" is in Congress.
Ironically, this resolution, U.S. Senate Joint Resolution 41,
( http://legiscan.com/gaits/view/429912 ) was passed along with the bill to approve government spending--- spending for more militarization and wars.
Here is how they voted--- which was a foregone conclusion because the resolution had 83 co-sponsors:
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Ayotte (R-NH), Yea
Barrasso (R-WY), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Begich (D-AK), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Blumenthal (D-CT), Yea
Blunt (R-MO), Yea
Boozman (R-AR), Not Voting
Boxer (D-CA), Not Voting
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Brown (R-MA), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Not Voting
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Coats (R-IN), Yea
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Coons (D-DE), Yea
Corker (R-TN), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
DeMint (R-SC), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Franken (D-MN), Yea
Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Hagan (D-NC), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Heller (R-NV), Not Voting
Hoeven (R-ND), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Not Voting
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Johanns (R-NE), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Johnson (R-WI), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Kirk (R-IL), Not Voting
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Lee (R-UT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Manchin (D-WV), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Merkley (D-OR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Moran (R-KS), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Not Voting
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Paul (R-KY), Nay
Portman (R-OH), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Risch (R-ID), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Rubio (R-FL), Not Voting
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shaheen (D-NH), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Toomey (R-PA), Yea
Udall (D-CO), Yea
Udall (D-NM), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Not Voting
Warner (D-VA), Yea
Webb (D-VA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
Wicker (R-MS), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
NAYs ---1
Paul (R-KY)
Not Voting - 9
Boozman (R-AR)
Boxer (D-CA)
Burr (R-NC)
Heller (R-NV)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kirk (R-IL)
Murray (D-WA)
Rubio (R-FL)
Vitter (R-LA)
What does this tell us?
That we have a U.S. Senate full of Wall Street bribed warmongers... and we are supposed to be silent "until after the election?"
Through "Letters to the Editor," demonstrations and picket-lines--- let these warmongers know right now that they are not going to get your vote; and why not.
Here in Minnesota we have the opportunity to vote for Michael Cavlan for United States Senate and Rocky Anderson for President.
Tell the warmongering Democrats and Republicans working for Wall Street's masters of war to go to hell.
Pearl Jam... "Masters of War:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9HDljNlWYk
How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?
Monday, August 6, 2012
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 t
Every vote the progressive alternatives get does t
wo 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 unity 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 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 there 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 and Michael Cavlan 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 an evil 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.
****************************************
A dialog with Obama supporter Barbara Ehrenreich who is considering an offer to write about the presidential "contest:"
• •
Barbara Ehrenreich
How about I just write a short story about a dystopian future in which a robot competes for the presidency with an android?
•
Alan L. Maki
One named Mitt and one named Barack? You would be writing about two villains. What about those struggling for justice in the "dystopian future?" Don't they exist any longer? Or would everyone just have been chained to their jobs surviving on a diet of flower mixed with pulverized wood chips from the forest floor?
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 unity 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 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 there 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 and Michael Cavlan 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 an evil 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.
****************************************
A dialog with Obama supporter Barbara Ehrenreich who is considering an offer to write about the presidential "contest:"
• •
Barbara Ehrenreich
How about I just write a short story about a dystopian future in which a robot competes for the presidency with an android?
•
Alan L. Maki
One named Mitt and one named Barack? You would be writing about two villains. What about those struggling for justice in the "dystopian future?" Don't they exist any longer? Or would everyone just have been chained to their jobs surviving on a diet of flower mixed with pulverized wood chips from the forest floor?
Sunday, August 5, 2012
What we need to do...
What we need to do
Just
start leafleting where you work and where you live. I guarantee you
will find some like minds very quickly if you are producing materials
people can relate to. In your community, start with repetitive
leafleting in a two or three square block area. A double-sided 8 1/2 by
11 leaflet is pretty cheap to photocopy. People in your area must read
some newspaper?
I often get invited into peoples homes to meet and discuss things with their families, friends, neighbors and fellow workers after having a discussion about the "robbery at the gas pumps" while pumping gas or "how much longer are we going to be able to afford to eat" while standing in front of the meat counter in the super-market.
People are going to have to begin putting their thoughts in writing if we want people to take us seriously as we seek real change. Only the written word means anything as far as getting people's attention.
All of my business cards now ask the question:
How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?
This question gets to the heart of anti-imperialist education.
Just two or three people thinking along the same lines can get a neighborhood to act. Same at work or in school at a community center in your union or at church. One little raindrop doesn't amount to much but let it pour.
We need working class "think tanks and action clubs." Get a few people together who share common problems and this is where social change begins.
If you distribute things along these lines modified as required, you should be able to find people with open minds:
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
I often get invited into peoples homes to meet and discuss things with their families, friends, neighbors and fellow workers after having a discussion about the "robbery at the gas pumps" while pumping gas or "how much longer are we going to be able to afford to eat" while standing in front of the meat counter in the super-market.
People are going to have to begin putting their thoughts in writing if we want people to take us seriously as we seek real change. Only the written word means anything as far as getting people's attention.
All of my business cards now ask the question:
How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?
This question gets to the heart of anti-imperialist education.
Just two or three people thinking along the same lines can get a neighborhood to act. Same at work or in school at a community center in your union or at church. One little raindrop doesn't amount to much but let it pour.
We need working class "think tanks and action clubs." Get a few people together who share common problems and this is where social change begins.
If you distribute things along these lines modified as required, you should be able to find people with open minds:
This is a very good article: http://
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://
And more recently--- 2012--- aptly titled, "We told you so:"
http://www.truthdig.com/
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
Thursday, June 28, 2012
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 UnionMedea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINKChris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and senior fellow at the Nation InstituteLeah Bolger, retired naval commander and current president of Veterans for PeaceGeorge Martin, three term national co-chair of United for Peace & JusticeBruce 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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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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New Progressive Alliance | 109 Tanglewood Drive | Greenville | NC | 27858
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Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
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