People
have written me suggesting I stop using words like "imperialism," "Dumb
Donkey," "Democratic Party hack," "foundation funded outfit," "company
mole," "greedy bastards," "warmonger," "millionaire labor leader,"
"racist white mobsters," "goddamn," "the Israeli killing machine," and
so on and so forth.
I never really know how to respond to these "concerns."
My position, quite frankly, and what
I tell those complaining, is that they aren't being forced to read
anything I write and if they disagree with what I write to simply
respond instead of taking these cheap shots.
Usually, I think,
although I can't explain the motives of others, is that this is being
used as a way to try to try silence and censor me because there is
disagreement with my ideas--- and instead of expressing their
disagreement with me, it is just simpler for them to try to pressure me
not to state my views.
I bring this up because Ken Martin, the
Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, recently told a
group of people they should "monitor" my FaceBook posts and my blog
posts and file complaints with my Internet Service Provider, Blogger.com
and FaceBook anytime they found anything that might be considered
"offensive" and in violation of their established standards.
What a morally, ethically and intellectually bankrupt way to participate in the political process.
Why doesn't this piece of donkey dung just come out and post his own
responses to me? Goddamn chicken shit... Bakkk, Bak, Bak, Bak, Bak,
Baaakkkk.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wouldn't you know it; these Dumb Donkeys conducted an experiment using the wrong wage.
This Democratic Party front group set up by the AFL-CIO, Working America, sent out this letter (see below).
Please read it very closely.
In my opinion there is something very demented and perverse about this letter.
These Dumb Donkeys are living for a week on the current Federal Minimum wage of $7.25 instead of trying to live on the $9.50 an hour they are proposing.
This is very typical of the way these Democrats operate.
Why wouldn't they try living on their pathetic miserly proposed poverty wage of $9.50 an hour? Wouldn't this be the real test since EVERYONE already knows no one can live on $7.25?
Quite frankly, no one can even live on $15.00 an hour without maxing out a few credit cards until they have to declare bankruptcy.
We have gone from hearing these politicians and their front groups talking about "Elect us if you want the Minimum Wage to be a living wage" to "American needs a raise" to "$9.50 will help" to what the Democrats in the Minnesota State Senate propose instead of $9.50--- "$7.75 is better than $7.25."
These dishonest morons know full well their Democratic counterparts in the Minnesota State Senate are proposing to reach a "compromise" at $7.75--- and furthermore, they are well aware that Mark Dayton has met with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (more commonly referred to as the "Minnesota DFL Business Caucus because Democrats don't like people to know they work behind closed doors with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to give working people the shaft). Dayton and this "DFL Business Caucus" have agreed the Minimum Wage should not be raised over $8.00 an hour.
Of course this "liberal" billionaire Governor Dayton whose inherited wealth was, and is, being derived almost exclusively from the super-exploitation of Minimum Wage workers who are more often then not subjected to the double-whammy of not just poverty wages but wage theft.
Come on, really; did these Minnesota State legislators have "to spread the word about how hard it really is to live on $7.25 an hour?"
Don't they really have to "prove" that a human being can live on their proposed $9.50 an hour?
Slick as shit the way they pulled off this bait (a living wage) and switch (another poverty wage). Saying one thing to get votes; doing another thing to keep the corporate bribes coming.
Bait and switch is illegal in the retail world; not in the world of politics.
Anyways, read this letter for yourself...
Alan,
We've learned a lot this past week.
Because of our participants across the state, we've helped to spread the word about how hard it really is to live on $7.25 an hour.
We walked through some of the biggest hurdles minimum wage earners have to face, and had real conversations with workers across Minnesota about why a raise is important to them.
We've gotten close, and we need you to act now. Will you contact your state lawmakers now?
Alan, no one should have to skip a meal just to afford bus fare to work. Raising the wage to $9.50 is a start that will help thousands of Minnesota workers.
Can you do one final thing and make sure HR 92 passes the Senate?
It's been a great week, so thank you for participating. For taking action, following along online and engaging with the Challenge in all the ways that you did.
We can do this.
Thanks for all that you do,
Bree Halverson
State Director, Working Minnesota
P.S. Check out all of the photos and blog posts from the week.
Please read it very closely.
In my opinion there is something very demented and perverse about this letter.
These Dumb Donkeys are living for a week on the current Federal Minimum wage of $7.25 instead of trying to live on the $9.50 an hour they are proposing.
This is very typical of the way these Democrats operate.
Why wouldn't they try living on their pathetic miserly proposed poverty wage of $9.50 an hour? Wouldn't this be the real test since EVERYONE already knows no one can live on $7.25?
Quite frankly, no one can even live on $15.00 an hour without maxing out a few credit cards until they have to declare bankruptcy.
We have gone from hearing these politicians and their front groups talking about "Elect us if you want the Minimum Wage to be a living wage" to "American needs a raise" to "$9.50 will help" to what the Democrats in the Minnesota State Senate propose instead of $9.50--- "$7.75 is better than $7.25."
These dishonest morons know full well their Democratic counterparts in the Minnesota State Senate are proposing to reach a "compromise" at $7.75--- and furthermore, they are well aware that Mark Dayton has met with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (more commonly referred to as the "Minnesota DFL Business Caucus because Democrats don't like people to know they work behind closed doors with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to give working people the shaft). Dayton and this "DFL Business Caucus" have agreed the Minimum Wage should not be raised over $8.00 an hour.
Of course this "liberal" billionaire Governor Dayton whose inherited wealth was, and is, being derived almost exclusively from the super-exploitation of Minimum Wage workers who are more often then not subjected to the double-whammy of not just poverty wages but wage theft.
Come on, really; did these Minnesota State legislators have "to spread the word about how hard it really is to live on $7.25 an hour?"
Don't they really have to "prove" that a human being can live on their proposed $9.50 an hour?
Slick as shit the way they pulled off this bait (a living wage) and switch (another poverty wage). Saying one thing to get votes; doing another thing to keep the corporate bribes coming.
Bait and switch is illegal in the retail world; not in the world of politics.
Anyways, read this letter for yourself...
Alan,
We've learned a lot this past week.
Because of our participants across the state, we've helped to spread the word about how hard it really is to live on $7.25 an hour.
We walked through some of the biggest hurdles minimum wage earners have to face, and had real conversations with workers across Minnesota about why a raise is important to them.
We've gotten close, and we need you to act now. Will you contact your state lawmakers now?
Alan, no one should have to skip a meal just to afford bus fare to work. Raising the wage to $9.50 is a start that will help thousands of Minnesota workers.
Can you do one final thing and make sure HR 92 passes the Senate?
It's been a great week, so thank you for participating. For taking action, following along online and engaging with the Challenge in all the ways that you did.
We can do this.
Thanks for all that you do,
Bree Halverson
State Director, Working Minnesota
P.S. Check out all of the photos and blog posts from the week.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
AFSCME members in Minnesota are not happy campers.
Rank-and-file AFSCME workers in Minnesota say: We don't want Eliot Seide and his toothless, management-loving paper union
What is going on here? State employees are losing 20% of their pay--- their standard of living slashed--- and these union "leaders" sit in silence doing nothing?
No wonder this leaflet is being distributed by a rank-and-file organization made up of AFSCME members who are pissed off:
We don't want Eliot Seide and his toothless, management-loving paper union
Our Dues - Our Union.
OUR AFSCME
Our rights.
Our Livelihoods.
Building a rank and file caucus for a democratic, fighting, militant, united union.
Brothers and Sisters,
With every new contract we have had our rights and our livelihoods decimated. Only a paper union with leaders taking our dues while doing nothing to represent us would have allowed this to happen.
This isn't Eliot Seide's union. This is our union. Let Eliot Seide go into the business world to build his fortune instead of building his fortune on our backs, off our unresolved grievances and problems.
Eliot Seide negotiated a concession contract with a Democratic governor.
The wage increases are far off-set with the rising prices we pay for groceries, home mortgages and rents, home and car insurance, gas, electricity, home heating fuels, child care and college tuition for our children. Our co-pays for healthcare have increased. This is going backwards, not forwards.
Our pensions are at risk.
We get no support or help from union leaders as unfair and unpaid disciplinary suspensions mount. Grievances have become a hassle. Arbitration has become too costly. What do our dues pay for?
One by one we are being picked off and fired as we gain seniority with increased pay levels.
Our union has shamefully endorsed a Minimum Wage for other workers based on what the Chamber of Commerce wants instead of the living wage morality, human decency, justice and solidarity requires.
We have a union leadership covering its betrayals with glowing hypocritical statements of admiration to real leaders like Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela as a cover for refusing to stand and fight the injustices of the present.
We ask you to build a caucus of OUR AFSCME in your AFSCME local and in your workplace. Together we can get our AFSCME back on course. This is OUR union. OUR dues.
We need an active and involved membership. We need to understand self-serving power in our union and the power of management concede nothing without struggle. Our union was built in struggle. Our union will survive in struggle fighting for our rights, for safe workplaces and for our livelihoods.
Forward together. Together In Struggle. Together in Solidarity. OUR AFSCME the voice of the rank-and-file
All out for Earth Day and May Day!
From Earth Day to May Day--- everyone an activist doing something to advance a real progressive agenda.
There are plenty of jobs in this country--- these jobs just have to be turned into good jobs with real living wages and decent benefits; the work week reduced with 40 hour pay; longer paid vacations; earlier retirements with real living pensions. We need a Minimum Wage that is a real living wage. We need huge government jobs programs putting people to work doing socially useful things solving the problems of the people and our country. We need a Basic Income Guarantee based on cost-of-living. We need a full employment act requiring the president and Congress to work together to attain and maintain full employment instead of waging these dirty imperialist wars--- the money saved could easily fund everything here.
In short, we need to create a government that puts the standard of living and quality of life for everyone before Wall Street's profits.
Unless we can come together and successfully challenge Wall Street for political and economic power we are doomed.
Every worker needs a job paying real living wages.
These wars are making us all poor with the exception of the few people from the Wall Street crowd who profit as this Military-Industrial Complex leaves behind horrendous death and destruction with the largest carbon footprint contributing to global warming and climate change... and if these foundation-funded environmental organization's over-paid "leaders" who have the same backwards views as these millionaire labor "leaders" with their over-staffed organizations playing footsies with politicians and their corporate donors (the "philanthropists) instead of mobilizing people for real reforms as we struggle for power, we are doomed.
We should bring together everyone for peace, those concerned about climate change and everyone who believes America's workers are entitled to a raise in united actions commencing on Earth Day without let-up through May Day.
There are plenty of jobs in this country--- these jobs just have to be turned into good jobs with real living wages and decent benefits; the work week reduced with 40 hour pay; longer paid vacations; earlier retirements with real living pensions. We need a Minimum Wage that is a real living wage. We need huge government jobs programs putting people to work doing socially useful things solving the problems of the people and our country. We need a Basic Income Guarantee based on cost-of-living. We need a full employment act requiring the president and Congress to work together to attain and maintain full employment instead of waging these dirty imperialist wars--- the money saved could easily fund everything here.
In short, we need to create a government that puts the standard of living and quality of life for everyone before Wall Street's profits.
Unless we can come together and successfully challenge Wall Street for political and economic power we are doomed.
Every worker needs a job paying real living wages.
These wars are making us all poor with the exception of the few people from the Wall Street crowd who profit as this Military-Industrial Complex leaves behind horrendous death and destruction with the largest carbon footprint contributing to global warming and climate change... and if these foundation-funded environmental organization's over-paid "leaders" who have the same backwards views as these millionaire labor "leaders" with their over-staffed organizations playing footsies with politicians and their corporate donors (the "philanthropists) instead of mobilizing people for real reforms as we struggle for power, we are doomed.
We should bring together everyone for peace, those concerned about climate change and everyone who believes America's workers are entitled to a raise in united actions commencing on Earth Day without let-up through May Day.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Can we survive under capitalism?
I was
glad to see an instructor from Naugatuck Valley Community College,
Waterbury, Connecticut, Leonard Yannielli, publish this on the internet
as part of what he wrote on the environment:
The single greatest global problem and threat to the environment is war and war preparations. Agent Orange use in the U.S. War in Vietnam killed an area the size of Massachusetts. Genetic damage among ensuing generations has occurred among the Vietnamese.
The burning of the oil fields during Iraq War I is a more recent example. Both Iraqi and U.S. forces suffered the respiratory consequences. No one entity uses more nonrenewal resources than the U.S. Military. All these examples may pale in face of the dangers of spent radioactive material that spew radiation for 1,000s of years.
The explanation of war and its extreme environmental consequences are to be found in the bowels of capitalism. The tendency of rates of profits to fall send competing capitalist elements around the globe seeking to stop this trend. Going to places whose people are not in a position to defend nature is their "solution."
An unfortunate example now is the so-called "pivot to Asia." The U.S. Administration is deploying up to 60% of its military force there. Why? It is looking to exploit natural resources such as oil and gas.
War and war preparations along with peace and peace making construct one dialectical whole. The resolution of this contradiction in favor of peace is of major importance to the many who place nature before profits. Here lies the material basis for cooperation between the labor, peace and environmental movements. The blue-green alliance is one result that needs much more attention in our work both on state and local levels.
Socialism has the best chance to do it right vis a vis the environment. Its thrust for social solidarity and raising the cultural/educational level of all the people can only bode well for the environment. Of course, there are no guarantees. Immersion in environmental struggles would be the best determiner of a Left and peoples movement with a deep environmental consciousness.
The single greatest global problem and threat to the environment is war and war preparations. Agent Orange use in the U.S. War in Vietnam killed an area the size of Massachusetts. Genetic damage among ensuing generations has occurred among the Vietnamese.
The burning of the oil fields during Iraq War I is a more recent example. Both Iraqi and U.S. forces suffered the respiratory consequences. No one entity uses more nonrenewal resources than the U.S. Military. All these examples may pale in face of the dangers of spent radioactive material that spew radiation for 1,000s of years.
The explanation of war and its extreme environmental consequences are to be found in the bowels of capitalism. The tendency of rates of profits to fall send competing capitalist elements around the globe seeking to stop this trend. Going to places whose people are not in a position to defend nature is their "solution."
An unfortunate example now is the so-called "pivot to Asia." The U.S. Administration is deploying up to 60% of its military force there. Why? It is looking to exploit natural resources such as oil and gas.
War and war preparations along with peace and peace making construct one dialectical whole. The resolution of this contradiction in favor of peace is of major importance to the many who place nature before profits. Here lies the material basis for cooperation between the labor, peace and environmental movements. The blue-green alliance is one result that needs much more attention in our work both on state and local levels.
Socialism has the best chance to do it right vis a vis the environment. Its thrust for social solidarity and raising the cultural/educational level of all the people can only bode well for the environment. Of course, there are no guarantees. Immersion in environmental struggles would be the best determiner of a Left and peoples movement with a deep environmental consciousness.
"Lesser evil" politics creates some very troubling thought patterns.
I'm wondering what kind of country we have become where politics has reached
the point where we are willing to trade a Supreme Court appointment of
dubious value and worth for the lives of children killed in drone
attacks whose young lives are written off as "collateral damage?"
Monday, February 24, 2014
Is "social media" a movement or a tool for change?
My
experience with this "social media" has been that far too many people
aren't going beyond this "social media" to actually get out among people
to talk, meet face-to-face and engage in action of one kind or another.
We need to bring people out into the streets; we need to organize a new political movement and party that is anti-capitalist, anti-monopoly, anti-imperialist which has as its objective challenging Wall Street for political and economic power where people are brought together to create the kind of country at peace most people want to live in... where people come before profit.
In my opinion, we need to view "social media" as one of many tools we need to use, but not exclusively use, for social change.
Get out and share what you learn via social media with friends, neighbors, people you work with.
Organize little meetings with a few people around your kitchen table or in your living room. Organize bigger meetings, forums, debates and roundtables in church basements, community centers and union halls.
We need to bring people out into the streets; we need to organize a new political movement and party that is anti-capitalist, anti-monopoly, anti-imperialist which has as its objective challenging Wall Street for political and economic power where people are brought together to create the kind of country at peace most people want to live in... where people come before profit.
In my opinion, we need to view "social media" as one of many tools we need to use, but not exclusively use, for social change.
Get out and share what you learn via social media with friends, neighbors, people you work with.
Organize little meetings with a few people around your kitchen table or in your living room. Organize bigger meetings, forums, debates and roundtables in church basements, community centers and union halls.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Big blowhard Richard Trumka holds another press conference.
Big blowhard millionaire labor "leader" Richard Trumka holds another press conference. Every time Trumka talks, workers lose:
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Union-leaders-view-Texas-as-fertile-ground-5243221.php
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Union-leaders-view-Texas-as-fertile-ground-5243221.php
The TPP
Get ready for the same contingent of phony
"liberals," "progressives" and "leftists" who sold Obama as something
other than the neo-liberal Wall Street imperialist warmonger that he is
to get him elected--- all of whom went on to betray us on health care and the Minimum Wage becoming a real living wage--- now going against us on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
I would suggest that you take the time to read this article from The Hill:
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/trade/198665-froman-makes-the-case-for-white-house-trade-agenda
and then Froman's speech itself:
http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2014/February/A-Values-Driven-Trade-Policy_Remarks-by-USTR-Froman-at-Center-for-American-P
If you only read the news reports about this speech and not the speech itself you will be sorry.
Obama continues to wage Wall Street's war on the working class, not only in our our country, but across the globe, by advancing the TPP.
Those who fear discussing "imperialism" and the socialist alternative to capitalism in its most decadent and barbaric stage of imperialism because doing so is some kind of "infantile leftism" are doing working people a great disservice.
Now, more than ever, we need to be providing the American people with and anti-imperialist education in building an anti-imperialist movement to fight against the TPP.
Those who "liberals," "progressives" and "leftists" who promote this idea are dividing our movements which would be capable of winning peace, real reforms, real change and most importantly challenging Wall Street for political and economic power:
"The emergence of an extreme far-right accelerated sharply in reaction to the overturning of the eight-year rule of the right wing with the 2008 election of Barack Obama, an African American and a liberal with a grassroots base and generally progressive agenda."
Obama has a right-wing agenda because he is carrying out Wall Street's agenda of wars abroad paid for through austerity measures here at home.
To suggest that Obama, the drone President carrying out Wall Street's thoroughly reactionary right-wing neo-liberal agenda, is a "liberal" with a "progressive agenda" is adding to the confusion that already exists in this country.
Such "analysis" is inconsistent with anti-imperialist education and building an anti-imperialist movement.
No matter what "spin" Ambassador Froman attaches to the TPP it is part and parcel of Obama's reactionary Wall Street imperialist agenda and this can never be "liberal," "progressive" or "left" by any stretch of anyone's imagination nor using linguistics to creatively twists and bastardize language to make Obama appear as something that he is not.
The logical conclusion one would have to draw from calling Obama a "liberal" with a "progressive agenda" is that imperialism is liberal and progressive.
Is there anyone prepared to make this assumption?
Would anyone believe this?
What "values" drive U.S. trade policy?
Isn't U.S. trade policy driven by Wall Street's insatiable greed?
Isn't this what the TPP is all about? Wall Street greed?
I would suggest that you take the time to read this article from The Hill:
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/trade/198665-froman-makes-the-case-for-white-house-trade-agenda
and then Froman's speech itself:
http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2014/February/A-Values-Driven-Trade-Policy_Remarks-by-USTR-Froman-at-Center-for-American-P
If you only read the news reports about this speech and not the speech itself you will be sorry.
Obama continues to wage Wall Street's war on the working class, not only in our our country, but across the globe, by advancing the TPP.
Those who fear discussing "imperialism" and the socialist alternative to capitalism in its most decadent and barbaric stage of imperialism because doing so is some kind of "infantile leftism" are doing working people a great disservice.
Now, more than ever, we need to be providing the American people with and anti-imperialist education in building an anti-imperialist movement to fight against the TPP.
Those who "liberals," "progressives" and "leftists" who promote this idea are dividing our movements which would be capable of winning peace, real reforms, real change and most importantly challenging Wall Street for political and economic power:
"The emergence of an extreme far-right accelerated sharply in reaction to the overturning of the eight-year rule of the right wing with the 2008 election of Barack Obama, an African American and a liberal with a grassroots base and generally progressive agenda."
Obama has a right-wing agenda because he is carrying out Wall Street's agenda of wars abroad paid for through austerity measures here at home.
To suggest that Obama, the drone President carrying out Wall Street's thoroughly reactionary right-wing neo-liberal agenda, is a "liberal" with a "progressive agenda" is adding to the confusion that already exists in this country.
Such "analysis" is inconsistent with anti-imperialist education and building an anti-imperialist movement.
No matter what "spin" Ambassador Froman attaches to the TPP it is part and parcel of Obama's reactionary Wall Street imperialist agenda and this can never be "liberal," "progressive" or "left" by any stretch of anyone's imagination nor using linguistics to creatively twists and bastardize language to make Obama appear as something that he is not.
The logical conclusion one would have to draw from calling Obama a "liberal" with a "progressive agenda" is that imperialism is liberal and progressive.
Is there anyone prepared to make this assumption?
Would anyone believe this?
What "values" drive U.S. trade policy?
Isn't U.S. trade policy driven by Wall Street's insatiable greed?
Isn't this what the TPP is all about? Wall Street greed?
Minneapolis Uniting People for Progressive Power Forum
Really great videos of the Minneapolis Uniting People for Progressive Power Forum held on Saturday, February 15, 2014:
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/86897833
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/86897834
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87011603
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87011606
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87011605
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87026372
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/86897833
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/86897834
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87011603
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87011606
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87011605
http://vimeo.com/album/2739033/video/87026372
President Scott Walker?
Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama...
Now President Scott Walker?
Could it be?
How much worse could it possibly get?
There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We are on the road straight to hell.
Wall Street will keep on dishing out this crap as long as we are willing to take it.
Hillary Clinton versus Scott Walker.
Do you suppose we will be hearing: "You have to vote the lesser evil."
Oh, ya; I know... now is not the time to be talking about a working class based progressive people's party--- the consequences of a Walker presidency are just too much to bear... or is it bare.
We are told we can't get along without the Democrats.
The phony "liberals," "progressives" and "leftists" will be telling us Hillary Clinton is a liberal with a progressive agenda as they tell us how much they would like single-payer, real living wages, jobs for everyone and what a great idea Tom Paine had with his Basic Income Guarantee and how drone warfare is better than dying U.S. soldiers and how we should just overlook how all these Democrats back the Israeli killing machine.
If only we have patience real reforms and peace are sure to come.
Even real liberals, progressives and leftists appear ready to accept legalization of marijuana as the only achievable victory possible as it is easier and less controversial to advance the legalization of pot than a National Public Health Care System, National Public Child Care, real living wages based on cost-of-living, Basic Income Guarantee and a full employment act. Don't talk about and advance these social programs through a new party and then sit around smoking joints complaining we don't get any of this.
Hippies without politics, hippies without struggle is what passes for liberalism, progressivism and leftism.
I think it is pathetic more "activists" will turn out for a demonstration to legalize marijuana then will turn out to demonstrate for peace.
Minnesota's Democratic Governor with a Democratic super-majority says the main controversial issue in the upcoming legislative session will be the legalization of pot.
Needless to say, Governor Dayton doesn't want his campaign promise for a real living--- non-poverty--- Minimum Wage to become the point of controversy in this legislative session when the Minimum Wage comes up--- he wants another poverty wage passed and wants to see us jumping for joy that whatever passes is better than the present $6.15 an hour.
Like suckers, activists will take Dayton's bait on marijuana.
And the claim is: Marijuana doesn't affect the thought process.
Then again, we have a Democratic Governor who admits he is an alcoholic who can't shake the bottle and who acknowledges he suffers from severe depression while using heavy-duty psychiatric drugs but says he is opposed to the legalization of marijuana.
What a circus.
Wall Street just loves the show.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/us/wisconin-political-investigation.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20140220&_r=1
Now President Scott Walker?
Could it be?
How much worse could it possibly get?
There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We are on the road straight to hell.
Wall Street will keep on dishing out this crap as long as we are willing to take it.
Hillary Clinton versus Scott Walker.
Do you suppose we will be hearing: "You have to vote the lesser evil."
Oh, ya; I know... now is not the time to be talking about a working class based progressive people's party--- the consequences of a Walker presidency are just too much to bear... or is it bare.
We are told we can't get along without the Democrats.
The phony "liberals," "progressives" and "leftists" will be telling us Hillary Clinton is a liberal with a progressive agenda as they tell us how much they would like single-payer, real living wages, jobs for everyone and what a great idea Tom Paine had with his Basic Income Guarantee and how drone warfare is better than dying U.S. soldiers and how we should just overlook how all these Democrats back the Israeli killing machine.
If only we have patience real reforms and peace are sure to come.
Even real liberals, progressives and leftists appear ready to accept legalization of marijuana as the only achievable victory possible as it is easier and less controversial to advance the legalization of pot than a National Public Health Care System, National Public Child Care, real living wages based on cost-of-living, Basic Income Guarantee and a full employment act. Don't talk about and advance these social programs through a new party and then sit around smoking joints complaining we don't get any of this.
Hippies without politics, hippies without struggle is what passes for liberalism, progressivism and leftism.
I think it is pathetic more "activists" will turn out for a demonstration to legalize marijuana then will turn out to demonstrate for peace.
Minnesota's Democratic Governor with a Democratic super-majority says the main controversial issue in the upcoming legislative session will be the legalization of pot.
Needless to say, Governor Dayton doesn't want his campaign promise for a real living--- non-poverty--- Minimum Wage to become the point of controversy in this legislative session when the Minimum Wage comes up--- he wants another poverty wage passed and wants to see us jumping for joy that whatever passes is better than the present $6.15 an hour.
Like suckers, activists will take Dayton's bait on marijuana.
And the claim is: Marijuana doesn't affect the thought process.
Then again, we have a Democratic Governor who admits he is an alcoholic who can't shake the bottle and who acknowledges he suffers from severe depression while using heavy-duty psychiatric drugs but says he is opposed to the legalization of marijuana.
What a circus.
Wall Street just loves the show.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/us/wisconin-political-investigation.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20140220&_r=1
Stupid labor "leaders."
Talking about stupid labor leaders... the
AFL-CIO has been pumping cash into defeating this Republican Governor by
supporting her Democratic Party opponent...
Check out the stupidity of where this "lesser of two evils" has brought us:
And how is the Right-to-Work Democrat opposing her any better?
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140220/PC16/140229984
The "lesser of two evils" politics makes strange bedfellows... I wonder how much the AFL-CIO will contribute to these rotten Democrats in South Carolina?
In case you don't want to read the entire article:
"Haley's likely opponent in this year's election, Camden Sen. Vincent Sheheen, says South Carolina should remain a right-to-work state where employees decide whether to join a union."
And to look at this a little more in-depth placing all of this in perspective---
AFL-CIO unions, including the IAM, have pumped more money into Sheheen's campaign than what they have spent trying to organize Boeing in South Carolina.
Check out the stupidity of where this "lesser of two evils" has brought us:
And how is the Right-to-Work Democrat opposing her any better?
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140220/PC16/140229984
The "lesser of two evils" politics makes strange bedfellows... I wonder how much the AFL-CIO will contribute to these rotten Democrats in South Carolina?
In case you don't want to read the entire article:
"Haley's likely opponent in this year's election, Camden Sen. Vincent Sheheen, says South Carolina should remain a right-to-work state where employees decide whether to join a union."
And to look at this a little more in-depth placing all of this in perspective---
AFL-CIO unions, including the IAM, have pumped more money into Sheheen's campaign than what they have spent trying to organize Boeing in South Carolina.
Hypocrisy
Have you ever seen anything more hypocritical than this? Leech Lake tribal politicians erect these signs than continue to allow smoking in their three casinos--- The Palace, Northern Lights and White Oak--- employing hundreds of workers?
One has to wonder what kind of "sacred circle" the corrupt Leech Lake Tribal Chair, Carri Jones, believes in.
The Minimum Wage.
My
position is the Minimum Wage needs to be legislatively tied to all cost
of living factors, then indexed to inflation with periodic increases to
provide workers with improved living standards. If tied to the U.S.
Dept. of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index the
Minimum Wage would be between $22.00 to $26.00 an hour.
We need a non-sectarian left movement to become a catalyst for change.
Several people have been discussing the need for a Great Lakes Regional Roundtable to discuss building a movement that would:
1. Work towards making the Minimum Wage a real living wage;
2. Bring forward legislation for a Basic Income Guarantee;
3. Place real Full Employment legislation on the table.
We want to meet in time to have an impact during the 2016 Elections and would hope that organizing this kind of roundtable would have an impact on the 2014 Elections, too. We need unity around bringing forward specific solutions... this doesn't require ideological unity.
We would like to hear from those interested where and when this roundtable discussion should take place.
Place your thoughts here or send me a private message or call me: 218-386-2432
1. Work towards making the Minimum Wage a real living wage;
2. Bring forward legislation for a Basic Income Guarantee;
3. Place real Full Employment legislation on the table.
We want to meet in time to have an impact during the 2016 Elections and would hope that organizing this kind of roundtable would have an impact on the 2014 Elections, too. We need unity around bringing forward specific solutions... this doesn't require ideological unity.
We would like to hear from those interested where and when this roundtable discussion should take place.
Place your thoughts here or send me a private message or call me: 218-386-2432
Are we really supposed to believe Obama is the cat's meow when all of Hillary Clinton's suporters are trying to distance her from Obama? I would think if Obama was as great as they claimed Hillary would want to run on his shirt tail.
Hillary Clinton's supporters are on a massive
campaign to distance themselves from Obama; they have to in order to
win... although it is my personal opinion that we are probably looking
at the next president being a Republican like Scott Walker,
Rick Snyder or Pat McCrory--- all of whom have policies almost
identical to Barack Obama; after all, the Democrats and Republicans are
different teams but they both have the same owner: Wall Street.
It's like watching Don King promoting a boxing match where he is also the bookie who owns both fighters
If an Elmer Gantry like Barack Obama could be packaged and sold by Madison Avenue anyone else can be packaged and sold to the American people, too.
We who are fed up with this debacle and fiasco after fiasco and war upon war with expanding, instead of shrinking, poverty need to make ourselves understood that:
1. We aren't buying into this "lesser evil" crap any longer;
2. That running a candidate who has the ability to deprive the Democrats of votes they need to win is power, too.
We need to run candidates supporting real solutions to our problems no matter if they take votes away from the Democrats.
What gives these Democrats the right to expect our votes when we get absolutely nothing in return for our votes?
We should each and everyone of us be personally insulted when anyone tells us we need to join them in voting for the "lesser evil." This is an insult to our intelligence not to mention it makes a mockery of democracy.
Do you notice that not one of these people trying to convince us that everything will change if we just give the Democrats a super-majority at the national level that not one of these people will explain what is taking place here in Minnesota where Democrats are "known" to be the most "progressive" in the United States?
The only comfort they can give us about having a Democratic super-majority here in Minnesota is "that at least we don't have Republicans."
If this makes up for poverty wages, not having a job, having mining companies polluting the air, water and land along with having 44,000 Minnesotans forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights under state or federal labor laws all brought to us courtesy of the Democrats without any help from the Republicans; if this is acceptable to those still trying to shove these Democrats down our throats then they should stick with their dirty, corrupt Democratic Party--- but, they should at least have the political courage to defend what these Democrats are doing.
But; it is just like the way they have glamorized Hubert H. Humphrey--- they like to quote his illustrious words from speeches but they don't want to own his authorship of the most reactionary piece of legislation in U.S. history: the anti-democratic, fascist Communist Control Act.
Why don't these "progressives" and "liberals" want to own Hubert H. Humphrey's Communist Control Act?
Because they needed the Communist Control Act to eradicate and destroy the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party and its Farmer-Labor Association which had become, under the leadership of Socialists and Communists, the most powerful anti-monopoly coalition in this country.
By the way--- during the time when the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party was the most powerful political party in Minnesota, both the Republicans and Democrats were relegated to minor party status.
And what did these Democrats who don't want us to consider building a new political party do during this period? Why, they joined with the Republicans to try to thwart the reforms brought forward by the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party.
Yes; these Democrats who tell us how bad and rotten the Republicans are actually joined these Republicans in their dirty, filthy racist and anti-Semitic campaign to elect that two-bit half-assed fascist--- Republican--- Harold Stassen in order to defeat our socialist Governor Elmer Benson who was--- unarguably--- the most honest politician ever in Minnesota history.
These Democrats now lecturing us about how we need to vote for the "lesser evil" joined with the most evil of evil to defeat the best of the best.
And when they couldn't put an end to the left-wing voices of labor, for peace and against racism and anti-Semitism, these dirty bastards cheered on Hubert H. Humphrey bringing forward his fascist Communist Control Act.
It is almost funny, if not so sad; that in spite of over six decades of anti-Communism these shit asses couldn't prevent the most outspoken Communist in Minnesota from being elected to its State Central Committee--- they had to revert to engaging in the most dirty deeds to remove me from the State Central Committee. Dirty deeds that included announcing the time and place of the Roseau County Convention and then changing the time and location without telling anyone except for a small group of their friends about the change leaving less than 20 people to choose a new member of the State Central Committee while leaving over 90 of us shivering in a cold rain waiting for the doors to open at the designated place.
This is how these purveyors of the "lesser evil" work and operate; completely outside of the parameters any thinking person would conceive democracy to be.
But, we are just supposed to forget history--- past and most recent present--- and vote for the Dumb Donkeys these people bring forward.
Did I mention that our billionaire governor who was married to a Rockefeller who campaigned on the promise of enacting a living Minimum Wage and then once elected has pushed another poverty Minimum Wage of $9.50 an hour and has now met in secret with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Business Caucus of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party promising the Minimum Wage will be no more than $8.00 an hour?
Never mind "Goddamn Mississippi;" Goddamn Democrats. Just substitute Democrats for Mississippi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQjGGJVSXc
Oh!
Wait!
Goddamn!
It was Democrats Nina Simone was singing about!
It's like watching Don King promoting a boxing match where he is also the bookie who owns both fighters
If an Elmer Gantry like Barack Obama could be packaged and sold by Madison Avenue anyone else can be packaged and sold to the American people, too.
We who are fed up with this debacle and fiasco after fiasco and war upon war with expanding, instead of shrinking, poverty need to make ourselves understood that:
1. We aren't buying into this "lesser evil" crap any longer;
2. That running a candidate who has the ability to deprive the Democrats of votes they need to win is power, too.
We need to run candidates supporting real solutions to our problems no matter if they take votes away from the Democrats.
What gives these Democrats the right to expect our votes when we get absolutely nothing in return for our votes?
We should each and everyone of us be personally insulted when anyone tells us we need to join them in voting for the "lesser evil." This is an insult to our intelligence not to mention it makes a mockery of democracy.
Do you notice that not one of these people trying to convince us that everything will change if we just give the Democrats a super-majority at the national level that not one of these people will explain what is taking place here in Minnesota where Democrats are "known" to be the most "progressive" in the United States?
The only comfort they can give us about having a Democratic super-majority here in Minnesota is "that at least we don't have Republicans."
If this makes up for poverty wages, not having a job, having mining companies polluting the air, water and land along with having 44,000 Minnesotans forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights under state or federal labor laws all brought to us courtesy of the Democrats without any help from the Republicans; if this is acceptable to those still trying to shove these Democrats down our throats then they should stick with their dirty, corrupt Democratic Party--- but, they should at least have the political courage to defend what these Democrats are doing.
But; it is just like the way they have glamorized Hubert H. Humphrey--- they like to quote his illustrious words from speeches but they don't want to own his authorship of the most reactionary piece of legislation in U.S. history: the anti-democratic, fascist Communist Control Act.
Why don't these "progressives" and "liberals" want to own Hubert H. Humphrey's Communist Control Act?
Because they needed the Communist Control Act to eradicate and destroy the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party and its Farmer-Labor Association which had become, under the leadership of Socialists and Communists, the most powerful anti-monopoly coalition in this country.
By the way--- during the time when the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party was the most powerful political party in Minnesota, both the Republicans and Democrats were relegated to minor party status.
And what did these Democrats who don't want us to consider building a new political party do during this period? Why, they joined with the Republicans to try to thwart the reforms brought forward by the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party.
Yes; these Democrats who tell us how bad and rotten the Republicans are actually joined these Republicans in their dirty, filthy racist and anti-Semitic campaign to elect that two-bit half-assed fascist--- Republican--- Harold Stassen in order to defeat our socialist Governor Elmer Benson who was--- unarguably--- the most honest politician ever in Minnesota history.
These Democrats now lecturing us about how we need to vote for the "lesser evil" joined with the most evil of evil to defeat the best of the best.
And when they couldn't put an end to the left-wing voices of labor, for peace and against racism and anti-Semitism, these dirty bastards cheered on Hubert H. Humphrey bringing forward his fascist Communist Control Act.
It is almost funny, if not so sad; that in spite of over six decades of anti-Communism these shit asses couldn't prevent the most outspoken Communist in Minnesota from being elected to its State Central Committee--- they had to revert to engaging in the most dirty deeds to remove me from the State Central Committee. Dirty deeds that included announcing the time and place of the Roseau County Convention and then changing the time and location without telling anyone except for a small group of their friends about the change leaving less than 20 people to choose a new member of the State Central Committee while leaving over 90 of us shivering in a cold rain waiting for the doors to open at the designated place.
This is how these purveyors of the "lesser evil" work and operate; completely outside of the parameters any thinking person would conceive democracy to be.
But, we are just supposed to forget history--- past and most recent present--- and vote for the Dumb Donkeys these people bring forward.
Did I mention that our billionaire governor who was married to a Rockefeller who campaigned on the promise of enacting a living Minimum Wage and then once elected has pushed another poverty Minimum Wage of $9.50 an hour and has now met in secret with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Business Caucus of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party promising the Minimum Wage will be no more than $8.00 an hour?
Never mind "Goddamn Mississippi;" Goddamn Democrats. Just substitute Democrats for Mississippi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQjGGJVSXc
Oh!
Wait!
Goddamn!
It was Democrats Nina Simone was singing about!
Liars from MoveOn.org supporting Obama got us into this mess; let them figure out how to get out of it on their own.
Our friends at MoveOn.org are very worried the Republicans are poised to capture control of the U.S. Senate this fall--- they want your time, your money and your vote.
I wouldn't waste my time, my money or my vote on a bunch of Dumb Donkeys whose priorities lie with wasting the wealth of our Nation on wars and bailing out Wall Street banks and industries instead of providing for the needs of the people.
They have good reason to be worried since Obama and the Democrats refused to deliver on any of their promises.
They tell us the Affordable Care Act is in jeopardy--- like anyone should care if it's repealed; good riddance I say. It's time to advance the demand for a National Public Health Care System which would put millions of people to working providing us all with free health care--- just like public education: public funding, public administration and public delivery. Tell the insurance companies and the rest of the profiteers to go to hell.
MoveOn.org should have thought of the consequences when they started creating the lies that Obama is some kind of liberal with a progressive agenda.
I wouldn't waste my time, my money or my vote on a bunch of Dumb Donkeys whose priorities lie with wasting the wealth of our Nation on wars and bailing out Wall Street banks and industries instead of providing for the needs of the people.
They have good reason to be worried since Obama and the Democrats refused to deliver on any of their promises.
They tell us the Affordable Care Act is in jeopardy--- like anyone should care if it's repealed; good riddance I say. It's time to advance the demand for a National Public Health Care System which would put millions of people to working providing us all with free health care--- just like public education: public funding, public administration and public delivery. Tell the insurance companies and the rest of the profiteers to go to hell.
MoveOn.org should have thought of the consequences when they started creating the lies that Obama is some kind of liberal with a progressive agenda.
What would we get from Obama and the Democrats if voters purged each and every Republican from the House and Senate?
If
there wasn't one single Republican in the House or Senate Obama and the
Democrats wouldn't do any different then they are doing now.
Anyone who doesn't believe this needs only to look at what is going on in Minnesota where the Democrats have a super-majority with each and everyone of these Democrats claiming to be "progressive."
And what are we, as working people, getting out of the Democratic super-majority here in Minnesota?
Let me tell you what we are getting:
Shit.
Worse yet; we are getting shit on.
Anyone who doesn't believe this needs only to look at what is going on in Minnesota where the Democrats have a super-majority with each and everyone of these Democrats claiming to be "progressive."
And what are we, as working people, getting out of the Democratic super-majority here in Minnesota?
Let me tell you what we are getting:
Shit.
Worse yet; we are getting shit on.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Initiating movements
Working people can initiate movements and have greater say in existing movements.
Here is what we often do:
1. Write a Letter to the Editor;
2. Send the Letter to the Editor to politicians;
3. Turn the Letter to the Editor into Precinct Caucus resolutions, resolutions for different organizations;
4. Turn the Letter to the Editor into a petition or statement for others to sign;
5. Turn the Letter to the Editor (often two or three letters on the same topic but from slightly different perspectives) into leaflets;
6. Use all the above for tabling with banners;
7. Use the Letters to the Editor as a call to meetings, pickets and demonstrations.
8. Use the Letter to the Editor as an outline for talks, speeches, forums and debates.
9. Use the Letter to the Editor as a platform to run for public office.
10. Always conscious of trying to build a movement.
The thing is to be persistent and never give up until you get what you are after or unless you lose... if you lose, then try to merge your work with another ongoing struggle so all is not lost.
"Kitchen table" issues require working people coming together around the kitchen table creating organizations which become part of larger movements. Try to fill all four chairs around the kitchen table.
Obviously there are fairly well organized movements for peace, a living wage, health care reform we can all plug into.
Other issues are out there that movements need to be built around from the ground up.
I guess we have to think in terms of every person a "citizen lobbyist" but it sure would help if we had a massive "People's Lobby" we could all plug into that was serving notice on politicians that we intend to build a political party that would be part of our movements challenging Wall Street for political and economic power so we could finally get the kind of country we can all be proud to live in.
In my opinion, and what I have found, is that when you are willing to write down your views and sign your name for the public to consider, you immediately gain credibility.
Try writing a Letter to the Editor and experiment with the above suggestions.
Example of a Letter to the Editor that has helped to influence a movement and served as a catalyst to spark a movement:
Albert Lea Tribune
http://www.albertleatribune.com/2013/12/where-is-the-real-minimum-wage/
Holiday shoppers and voters should beware of the bait and switch.
Bait and switch is an illegal advertising gimmick in the retail world; but, in politics bait and switch has become the way of life, the new normal.
Here is what we often do:
1. Write a Letter to the Editor;
2. Send the Letter to the Editor to politicians;
3. Turn the Letter to the Editor into Precinct Caucus resolutions, resolutions for different organizations;
4. Turn the Letter to the Editor into a petition or statement for others to sign;
5. Turn the Letter to the Editor (often two or three letters on the same topic but from slightly different perspectives) into leaflets;
6. Use all the above for tabling with banners;
7. Use the Letters to the Editor as a call to meetings, pickets and demonstrations.
8. Use the Letter to the Editor as an outline for talks, speeches, forums and debates.
9. Use the Letter to the Editor as a platform to run for public office.
10. Always conscious of trying to build a movement.
The thing is to be persistent and never give up until you get what you are after or unless you lose... if you lose, then try to merge your work with another ongoing struggle so all is not lost.
"Kitchen table" issues require working people coming together around the kitchen table creating organizations which become part of larger movements. Try to fill all four chairs around the kitchen table.
Obviously there are fairly well organized movements for peace, a living wage, health care reform we can all plug into.
Other issues are out there that movements need to be built around from the ground up.
I guess we have to think in terms of every person a "citizen lobbyist" but it sure would help if we had a massive "People's Lobby" we could all plug into that was serving notice on politicians that we intend to build a political party that would be part of our movements challenging Wall Street for political and economic power so we could finally get the kind of country we can all be proud to live in.
In my opinion, and what I have found, is that when you are willing to write down your views and sign your name for the public to consider, you immediately gain credibility.
Try writing a Letter to the Editor and experiment with the above suggestions.
Example of a Letter to the Editor that has helped to influence a movement and served as a catalyst to spark a movement:
Where is the real minimum wage?
Published 9:00am Wednesday, December 25, 2013Albert Lea Tribune
http://www.albertleatribune.com/2013/12/where-is-the-real-minimum-wage/
Holiday shoppers and voters should beware of the bait and switch.
Bait and switch is an illegal advertising gimmick in the retail world; but, in politics bait and switch has become the way of life, the new normal.
For example: Obama campaigned for the Democratic Party’s
nomination telling everyone, everywhere he went, he was for a
single-payer universal health care system like they have in Canada; this
was the bait.
Once elected, Obama pulled a switch and delivered Obamacare/Romneycare or as it should be known, the Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010.
Once elected, Obama pulled a switch and delivered Obamacare/Romneycare or as it should be known, the Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010.
Another example: Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party
Gov. Mark Dayton campaigned for office saying he would raise the minimum
wage to a real living wage — this was the bait. Once elected, Dayton, a
multibillionaire, is now pushing a miserly increase in the minimum wage
which would keep the minimum wage a poverty wage — the switch.
Buyer (voter) beware of bait and switch.
The Minnesota DFL Party has a super-majority. Republicans have no say about anything; all they can do is cry.
We should at least be able to get a real living minimum wage
out of these Democrats corresponding to actual cost-of-living factors
as tracked and monitored by the United States Department of Labor’s
Bureau of Labor Statistics — the minimum wage should also be indexed to
inflation with periodic increases to improve the living standards of
working people.
Working people are entitled to this in return for their
votes, especially from a political party which makes the claim that it
is for labor.
If there are any obstacles the Democrats are encountering
that would prevent them from implementing a real living — non-poverty —
minimum wage, I would like to hear what the impediment is.
Alan L. Maki
director of organizing
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
Warroad
The above Letter to the Editor led to this Open Letter to the Governor of Minnesota being drafted with the participation and agreement by many people. It is now being circulated:
The above Letter to the Editor led to this Open Letter to the Governor of Minnesota being drafted with the participation and agreement by many people. It is now being circulated:
January 2014
An Open Letter . . .
TO: Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party Legislative Caucus.
FROM: Your Constituents
Enough! We are not waiting any longer!
As DFL candidates, you campaigned on a promise to enact legislation that provides low-wage workers a real, living wage — not just a “minimum” wage.
Your
campaign language explicitly called for “workers being entitled to
living wages!” It promised a Living Wage Act, but no progress was made
in your first super-majority session.
All
it would take, you said, was for Minnesotans to give the DFL a
super-majority. Well, we voters delivered it to you! You have it! But
now, instead of advancing Living Wage legislation, the DFL is floating
another “minimum wage” bill that will just perpetuate poverty wages for
many Minnesota workers!
For
years, the DFL leadership has claimed Republicans were the lone
obstacle to establishing a Living Wage in our state. That obstacle has
been removed. You are now in the driver’s seat!
We, the workers of Minnesota, gave you the legislative votes to enact the Living Wage legislation you promised us.
We expect you now to do so. You could call it “The Minnesota Living Wage Act of 2014.”
Most
importantly, we need to begin with a realistic dollar amount. Living
Wages need to be calculated based on realistic levels of cost-of-living.
U.S. Census data suggests at least $15 per hour; while, based on data
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), hourly wages of $22 and $26
at 40 hrs/week are needed to cover basic necessities. When making
decisions on determining basic needs for a dignified life, the testimony
from low-income Minnesotans should also be taken into consideration.
A
Living Wage must also be subject to regular cost-of-living adjustments.
The Consumer Price Index is our best indicator, and it should be used
to adjust a new Minnesota Living Wage level quarterly or at least
semi-annually.
If
you should fail to enact such legislation, we will assume that you were
just baiting us with nice-sounding campaign rhetoric, and that you are
pulling a switch on us by simply advancing more employer-friendly
“minimum wage” legislation, that does nothing to alleviate the hardships
of Minnesota’s working poor.
Perhaps you think any increase is better than nothing. We don’t!
Minnesota
has long been considered a progressive bellwether. Do something
significant now for her working men and women. It is what everybody
morally deserves — the prospect of a dignified life.
Be courageous. Lead our state — and our nation — in securing the right of every worker to earn a decent living.
It can begin with the Minnesota Living Wage Act of 2014.
You can make it happen!
Sincerely,
Your fellow Minnesotans
(as the undersigned, with our signatures attached herein)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Check out this blog talk radio program hosted
by Stewart Alexander as we discussed Obama's State of the Union Address
and what kind of program the left needs to bring forward:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/airamarteifio/2014/02/04/the-socialist-insight-dialectics
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/airamarteifio/2014/02/04/the-socialist-insight-dialectics
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