I was added to this glorious FaceBook page, "Baby Boomers 4 Obama," without my permission.
Now on this page I am told anyone who has the audacity to cast their vote for the kind of country they want is now considered a "spoiler."
This is an interesting point of view in a country boasting to the world that it is the greatest bastion of democracy where each and every vote is "dear" and "precious."
But, Democrats not happy with Obama could just as easily cast their votes for Jill Stein, thereby unifying the liberal, progressive and left vote bringing Jill Stein to the White House instead of Obama or Romney whose major distinguishing difference is that Romney is a vulture capitalist and Obama represents the venture Capitalists from the Wall Street crowd as we can see from his "bundlers." Oh, wait! A venture capitalist is a vulture capitalist! No difference at all there.
More to the point. Obama could just do those things he built his campaign around and then there would be no reason for voters to be in this quandary as to who they should vote for. Isn't this a new and novel concept?
In the meantime as Obama carries out his Wall Street agenda of wars, murder and mayhem abroad while sticking it to U.S. tax-payers to pick up the tab, as we get austerity measures shoved down our throats with food prices, electricity and home heating fuels soaring as the robbery at the gas pumps continues unabated; home foreclosures mounting with no end in sight and no prosecutions nor jailing of these Wall Street perpetrators of their crimes that victimize millions of families; college and university tuitions rising in an unending upwards spiral; with police violence and repression shown every night on the news as Obama has eroded our most basic and fundamental Constitutional Rights protected by what is left of the Bill of Rights--- have I left out any reason why people might be thinking of voting for a real progressive like Jill Stein?
Oh, yes; I forgot the bailouts of the bankers and auto industry and the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010" that we got from Obama instead of the single-payer universal health care system Obama said he was for in order to win the 2008 Primary Election.
Did I leave anything else out?
By golly I did. Obama has refused to enforce Affirmative Action in the billions of dollars of from his "stimulus funding" with unemployment among people of color, women and the handicapped soaring out of sight more rapidly than food prices in the super-market.
Now, do any of you Obama sock-puppets worried about a
"split vote" from "spoilers" want to provide me with your list of 244 reasons to re-elect this Wall Street charlatan who makes Elmer Gantry look like a Tibetan monk?
Do I have the right. in this democracy--- or what purports to be a democracy--- to cast my one precious vote for peace, jobs, social and economic justice without being called names?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Native Mob--- arrests too late, and no solutions to the problems giving rise to this violence
Why have the Minnesota government, FBI and other police agencies waited so long to start cleaning out these degenerates in the Native Mob after allowing them to terrorize entire communities for so long?
And why haven't the corrupt tribal politicians who have been using the Native Mob to enforce their rule been arrested, too?
These police agencies and the FBI are as corrupt and rotten as the Native Mob; more so because they tolerated this for so long.
Had these police agencies taken action when they should have ten and fifteen years ago, all these young people now being arrested would not have become involved in these violent, criminal activities.
And had there been the proper programs to give young people the kind of direction and opportunities in life--- like decent educations, the kind of recreation and sports programs all youth require as part of growing up and jobs with real living wages--- none of these gangs would even exist in the first place.
Where are the leaders of this Native Mob? Why aren't they being jailed?
Look at the Red Lake Indian Reservation--- the Tribal Chair, Floyd "Buck" Jourdain has surrounded himself with these creeps.
Then you have Archie La Rose at Leech Lake, the Tribal Chair. Prison authorities have been allowing him to campaign for office using the votes of imprisoned Native Mob members--- one has to wonder who is running the prisons, the wardens or the prisoners.
And then we have this Native Mob walking right into the Beltrami County Jail distributing drugs to everyone from guards to prisoners.
Had governments at all levels been doing their jobs creating a decent and caring society with the kinds of programs kids require, none of these young people would have turned to this violent and criminal behavior.
We need an explanation why this Native Mob has been allowed to freely operate on and off the Indian Reservations.
It's enough to make any concerned and caring person sick. What a dirty shame these young people are now being sent off to prison for dastardly, violent anti-social crimes when society and this rotten government let them down at a time in their lives when they were entitled to much better.
And what are politicians doing to correct the problems? Nothing.
And why haven't the corrupt tribal politicians who have been using the Native Mob to enforce their rule been arrested, too?
These police agencies and the FBI are as corrupt and rotten as the Native Mob; more so because they tolerated this for so long.
Had these police agencies taken action when they should have ten and fifteen years ago, all these young people now being arrested would not have become involved in these violent, criminal activities.
And had there been the proper programs to give young people the kind of direction and opportunities in life--- like decent educations, the kind of recreation and sports programs all youth require as part of growing up and jobs with real living wages--- none of these gangs would even exist in the first place.
Where are the leaders of this Native Mob? Why aren't they being jailed?
Look at the Red Lake Indian Reservation--- the Tribal Chair, Floyd "Buck" Jourdain has surrounded himself with these creeps.
Then you have Archie La Rose at Leech Lake, the Tribal Chair. Prison authorities have been allowing him to campaign for office using the votes of imprisoned Native Mob members--- one has to wonder who is running the prisons, the wardens or the prisoners.
And then we have this Native Mob walking right into the Beltrami County Jail distributing drugs to everyone from guards to prisoners.
Had governments at all levels been doing their jobs creating a decent and caring society with the kinds of programs kids require, none of these young people would have turned to this violent and criminal behavior.
We need an explanation why this Native Mob has been allowed to freely operate on and off the Indian Reservations.
It's enough to make any concerned and caring person sick. What a dirty shame these young people are now being sent off to prison for dastardly, violent anti-social crimes when society and this rotten government let them down at a time in their lives when they were entitled to much better.
And what are politicians doing to correct the problems? Nothing.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Do you believe Obama?
Everything Obama talked about could have been done already--- he can't blame Congress because we all saw how both Democrats and Republicans repeatedly stood and applauded--- right on cue.
Of course, everything, for some strange reason, can only be done after the election.
At best what Obama spoke about was minimal and would be of little consequence in ending the crisis of everyday living for most working people; at worst, Obama is Obama--- one big liar who will turn everything he makes sound good into one more boondoggle enabling Wall Street to feed at the public trough as he drags us closer and closer to one, two, three and more wars while sticking working people with the tab from which his campaign contributors--- Wall Street vultures--- will profit from... and, it is the worst we are in for.
Remember, it was Obama who built his base of support on two issues:
1. Peace--- in 2008 he was the candidate for peace; he got the Peace Prize and ever since we have been a nation at war;
2. Obama promised single-payer universal health care; once elected we got the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010."
Obama hired a gaggle of phoney leftists like Tom Hayden, Bill Fletcher, Jr., Barbara Ehrenreich, and Carl Davidson to help him sell himself as a progressive which we now know for sure he is not.
Will people fall for Obama's crap another time around?
Obama or Romney--- the exact same reactionary Wall Street agenda of wars abroad and austerity measures here at home to pay for the wars is going to continue.
Liberals, progressives and the left--- have you had enough?
We have five alternatives before us as we enter an intense stage of electoral politics:
1. We can drop out and abstain from participating in the electoral arena--- abstain from participating in the class struggle. Don't vote and leave the fate of our democracy solidly without opposition in our enemy's--- Wall Street's--- hands;
2. We can vote for one of the "lesser evils," who appears to be Romney;
3. We can vote for Jill Stein/Green Party
< http://www.jillstein.org/ >;
4. We can vote for Rocky Anderson/Justice Party
< https://www.voterocky.org/home.html >;
5. We can push for Rocky Anderson/Justice Party and Jill /Green Party to join forces and work like hell to break free from this two-party trap talking to our friends, neighbors and fellow workers as we struggle to take power from these Wall Street parasites who will be putting on a multi-billion dollar show arguing with one another over whether they are "vulture" capitalists or "venture" capitalists--- when they are really nothing but the same greedy bastards coming back in 2012 to pick our bones clean.
Check out the New Progressive Alliance--- working towards the historic united liberal/progressive/left political alternative that has, in the past, brought us real change:
< http://newprogs.org/ >
Please add your thoughts; circulate and share.
Of course, everything, for some strange reason, can only be done after the election.
At best what Obama spoke about was minimal and would be of little consequence in ending the crisis of everyday living for most working people; at worst, Obama is Obama--- one big liar who will turn everything he makes sound good into one more boondoggle enabling Wall Street to feed at the public trough as he drags us closer and closer to one, two, three and more wars while sticking working people with the tab from which his campaign contributors--- Wall Street vultures--- will profit from... and, it is the worst we are in for.
Remember, it was Obama who built his base of support on two issues:
1. Peace--- in 2008 he was the candidate for peace; he got the Peace Prize and ever since we have been a nation at war;
2. Obama promised single-payer universal health care; once elected we got the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010."
Obama hired a gaggle of phoney leftists like Tom Hayden, Bill Fletcher, Jr., Barbara Ehrenreich, and Carl Davidson to help him sell himself as a progressive which we now know for sure he is not.
Will people fall for Obama's crap another time around?
Obama or Romney--- the exact same reactionary Wall Street agenda of wars abroad and austerity measures here at home to pay for the wars is going to continue.
Liberals, progressives and the left--- have you had enough?
We have five alternatives before us as we enter an intense stage of electoral politics:
1. We can drop out and abstain from participating in the electoral arena--- abstain from participating in the class struggle. Don't vote and leave the fate of our democracy solidly without opposition in our enemy's--- Wall Street's--- hands;
2. We can vote for one of the "lesser evils," who appears to be Romney;
3. We can vote for Jill Stein/Green Party
< http://www.jillstein.org/ >;
4. We can vote for Rocky Anderson/Justice Party
< https://www.voterocky.org/home.html >;
5. We can push for Rocky Anderson/Justice Party and Jill /Green Party to join forces and work like hell to break free from this two-party trap talking to our friends, neighbors and fellow workers as we struggle to take power from these Wall Street parasites who will be putting on a multi-billion dollar show arguing with one another over whether they are "vulture" capitalists or "venture" capitalists--- when they are really nothing but the same greedy bastards coming back in 2012 to pick our bones clean.
Check out the New Progressive Alliance--- working towards the historic united liberal/progressive/left political alternative that has, in the past, brought us real change:
< http://newprogs.org/ >
Please add your thoughts; circulate and share.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Carter: Gingrich's 'subtle words' have racist appeal
I like Jimmy Carter; he was a worthless president but in later years has substantially redeemed himself. But, now, in Carter, the Democrats have found a voice to call racists the racists they really are while remaining silent about the fact that Obama has substantially strengthened institutionalized racism because he has refused to enforce Affirmative Action. Since Carter the president only very meekly and weakly enforced Affirmative Action, I guess we should just be happy he has spoken out against the vile racism of Newt Gingrich--- but wait! Stop! Carter has referred to Newt Gingrich's vile racism saying it should be considered "subtle."
What is with these recent descriptions of racism as being "soft" and "subtle?"
And what is with people being unable to clearly explain Obama's refusing to enforce Affirmative Action as contributing to the strengthening of institutionalized racism?
It's kind of like we are being desensitized for the further use of racist language while simultaneously being prepared to accept politicians who do nothing to end racism.
Kind of sad, but these radical and incendiary words seem to be words we need to be hearing, now---
"A good job is as basic and important a civil right as a good education . . . which would require such [affirmative] action by law, was both necessary and right... would require federal contractors to show affirmative action' to meet the goals of increasing minority employment."
and---
"Neither the President nor the Congress nor the conscience of the nation can permit money which comes from all the people to be used in a way which discriminates against some of the people."
We really can't expect Obama and the Democrats like Jimmy Carter to go around talking like this; could we?
Radical, inflammatory and incendiary remarks like above stirring controversy and inciting social disruption.
Words uttered by an angry Malcolm X? No.
What about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? Nah.
President Richard M. Nixon.
Kind of a sad commentary on politics in our country when we can't even expect former President Jimmy Carter and current President Barack Obama to speak and act on a level with the likes of Richard Nixon.
Gingrich's "subtle words have racist appeal."
What signal do you suppose the President of the United States refusing to enforce Affirmative Action sends to the white sheeted crowd? Maybe something like: "We won; we won."
· · Share
The time has come to free ourselves from this two-party trap
The time is here to free ourselves from this two-party trap
by Alan Maki on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:25am
We should be willing to volunteer and pitch in to help fill the gaps.
It doesn't take that much for each and everyone of us to use our e-mail lists to send out information about Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson and Darcy Richardson.
Make a post here and there to sites we visit or normally post to.
Write letters to the editor and op-ed pieces articulating the anger of the majority of the people with the two-parties.
With almost 20,000 people participating on FireDogLake, hundreds of thousands more on FaceBook, if we all did our little part we would be able to become quite a formidable electoral force for real progressive change.
Look at it this way: We are each like one little snowflake, we don't amount to much--- but, together we are like a blizzard.
I also think we need to push very hard to get Jill Stein and Rocky Anderson to reach a "meeting of the minds" in coming together to create a "unity" ticket. We try to unite our various movements in spite of very large differences at times in order to achieve specific goals and objectives, and our activities in the electoral field should receive the same kind of attention.
I am for a Stein-Anderson or Anderson-Stein ticket with them announcing very quickly a cabinet that would consist of an even broad range of thinking from liberal to progressive and left from all regions of the country.
Many people fed up with this two-party trap would appreciate us forging a new political party bringing together the historic coalition which has won so much over the years--- and in this situation, finally breaking free from the Democrats and Republicans in challenging Wall Street for power would be an important accomplishment. Plus it would leave us with a strong movement to push forward for real change.
People should not write-off that it is not possible to win. There will likely be a few more parties capable of getting significant numbers of votes in the mix of things. In a four or five way race everything changes and with a focus on reflecting at the polls the historic coalition of liberals, progressives and the left we would form the largest POTENTIAL voting block--- hence we see the desperation and meanness of these Obama sock-puppets and their friends from outfits like the "Progressives for Obama" whose intent it is to bully us into silence. Let's not get demoralized and feel beat down before we begin to fight.
The die-hard Obama boosters want us to think the world will end if Obama isn't re-elected. This is why they don't want to go up against Romney. Because Romney, where he stands now, is no different at all from Obama. Should Romney get smart and move towards the domestic policies of Richard Nixon, Obama is in big, big trouble. Kind of strange and sad, but if one studies Nixon's record on labor, civil rights (especially Native American issues), the environment--- Nixon comes out light-years ahead of Obama; and, if one looks at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under Nixon, while George Romney was at the helm, George Romney makes Obama entire cabinet look like a bunch of fascist morons.
Richard Nixon said: "A good job is as basic and important a civil right as a good education . . . which would require such [affirmative] action by law, was both necessary and right... would require federal contractors to show affirmative action' to meet the goals of increasing minority employment."
Tricky Dick Nixon, speaking of ending discrimination in employment declared: "Neither the President nor the Congress nor the conscience of the nation can permit money which comes from all the people to be used in a way which discriminates against some of the people."
Obama is sunk if Mitt Romney starts speaking in this way.
People still clinging to two-party politics will likely turn to Romney as "the lesser evil."
Most people will be turned off as Obama and Romney argue over who is the best candidate to carry on the "virtues" of this rotten capitalist system as they argue over whether or not Romney is a vulture capitalist or a venture capitalist.
Not to mention rising food, clothing, gas and home heating oil prices to together with continuing massive unemployment, rising student debt and tuition costs, unending wars and occupations with austerity measures being shoved down our throats with Social Security and all of our public institutions from schools to libraries and roads taking hits.
Under these circumstances we have the perfect opportunity to break free from this two-party trap. And if we don't seize this opportunity to at least build a lasting base for our third party alternative we will have lost a great opportunity.
Such a political development would have the possibility of electing candidates at other levels--- local, state and congressional if some activists with an inclination to run for public office begin making plans now.
One such activist who has seen the opportunity here in Minnesota is Michael Cavlan who has come out swinging against the Democrats and Republicans. He has hitched his cart to the Rocky Anderson wagon--- good thinking in my opinion. Consider what impact a couple dozen campaigns like this across the country would have.
For those who live in areas of the country where it is hard to imagine a snowstorm; think of a little raindrop. One little raindrop doesn't amount to much--- but let it pour!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
When will liberals, progressives and leftists become seriously and fully engaged in the electoral process?
When will liberals, progressives and leftists actually become fully engaged in the electoral process?
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2012/01/14/when-will-liberals-progressives-and-leftists-actually-become-fully-engaged-in-the-electoral-process/
By: Alan Maki Saturday January 14, 2012 12:39 pm
Rocky Anderson and Jill Stein have just as much of a chance of being elected as Ron Paul. And so does Darcy Richardson.
You know, losing is losing; it really doesn't matter how much you lose by if you leave behind an organized movement ready to meet the next electoral challenge.
Ron Paul is a fascist but he and his John Birch Society are not exactly a bunch of dummies--- after all, they have hoodwinked what looks to be thousands of progressives across this country into building a fascist base for them. People who were first hoodwinked into supporting Obama and now, disappointed with Obama, hoodwinked again to support this rotten racist Bircher Ron Paul.
The important difference between supporting Ron Paul and supporting Rocky Anderson, and most notably Jill Stein and Darcy Richardson, is that you are participating in building a progressive movement that will bode us well beyond 2012.
If you really want Ron Paul to have a chance at winning why don't all of you Ron Paul supporters just order publications from the racist and anti-Semitic John Birch Society to pass out since Ron Paul's victory would require a mass fascist base?
Obviously the likes of PDA, Progressives for Obama, Campaign for America's Future are really NOT for building a progressive base in the Democratic Party as they claim or else they would get behind the campaign of a real progressive Democrat like Darcy Richardson who is challenging Obama in the primaries; plus Darcy is not only a true progressive, he is a proven vote-getter.
While those of you who are spending your time (actually wasting your time organizing a fascist movement that stands in opposition to everything you say you are for by supporting Ron Paul), Darcy Richardson needs 8,000 signatures by January 31 to get on the ballot in Wisconsin.
We are talking Wisconsin here. I'm sure everyone knows what has been happening in Wisconsin.
This would require only 80 people collecting signatures for one weekend.
In terms of dollars this would only cost about $7,000.00 to $9,000.00. This would cover gas, leaflets, food and lodging for 80 people for one weekend of petitioning.
For less than $10,000.00 we can put someone like Darcy Richardson on the ballot in Wisconsin.
For less than another $50,000.00 we can then develop real progressive opposition to Obama in the Democratic Primary in Wisconsin.
Think about this: 600 people contributing $100.00 each could punish Obama in Wisconsin and simultaneously be building the progressive movement; not only in Wisconsin but serve as an example of what progressives can accomplish across the country.
If the Wisconsin Democratic Party really believed in just the concept of democracy they could have placed Darcy Richardson's name on the Wisconsin primary ballot at no cost to them or anyone. But, the Democratic Party doesn't believe in democracy. What a dangerous thought; that voters casting their ballots at a primary election should actually have more than one person to vote for. Wouldn't that be just the pits to have more than one candidate in a Primary Election?
When the Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Mike Tate, was asked to place another name on the ballot his response was, "Only Obama's name will be on the Primary ballot... if you don't like it, sue me." I suppose someone is going to ask me to prove this by providing a link?
Does anyone except Obama supporters who believe Obama has delivered us into a "Wonderful New World" have any reason to believe Darcy Richardson's name should not be placed on the Wisconsin Primary ballot? If anyone has a reason I would like to hear it.
If there are no reasons not to put Darcy's Name on the ballot then what are we waiting for?
All it would take is 900 people contributing $10.00 each to put Darcy Richardson's name on the ballot by January 31.
Are any of you Ron Paul supporters willing to put up the money?
How about it? Are you willing to pull $10.00 out of your pocket?
I am guessing that if FireDogLake made a special appeal as was done for OWS and the New Progressive Alliance were to join in and we all made pitches on our blogs, facebook pages and put our e-mail lists into action along with make some quick visits to a few friends we could do this.
No one would be paid; all we would be doing is covering the expenses for 80 people for one weekend.
Wisconsin law stipulates that a minimum of 1,000 signatures (and no more than 1,500) MUST come from each one of the 8 Congressional Districts in Wisconsin.
If someone will volunteer to take on the responsibility of raising the money, I will volunteer to recruit 80 people to go to Wisconsin to place Darcy Richardson's name on the Primary ballot.
Of course, we could just forget about the fundraising and 80 to 120 people could come together in Wisconsin to help put Darcy Richardson's name on the Wisconsin Democratic Party Primary Election Ballot.
Come on; are we willing to give real progressive politics a chance?
Interested? Give me a call---
--
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2012/01/14/when-will-liberals-progressives-and-leftists-actually-become-fully-engaged-in-the-electoral-process/
By: Alan Maki Saturday January 14, 2012 12:39 pm
Rocky Anderson and Jill Stein have just as much of a chance of being elected as Ron Paul. And so does Darcy Richardson.
You know, losing is losing; it really doesn't matter how much you lose by if you leave behind an organized movement ready to meet the next electoral challenge.
Ron Paul is a fascist but he and his John Birch Society are not exactly a bunch of dummies--- after all, they have hoodwinked what looks to be thousands of progressives across this country into building a fascist base for them. People who were first hoodwinked into supporting Obama and now, disappointed with Obama, hoodwinked again to support this rotten racist Bircher Ron Paul.
The important difference between supporting Ron Paul and supporting Rocky Anderson, and most notably Jill Stein and Darcy Richardson, is that you are participating in building a progressive movement that will bode us well beyond 2012.
If you really want Ron Paul to have a chance at winning why don't all of you Ron Paul supporters just order publications from the racist and anti-Semitic John Birch Society to pass out since Ron Paul's victory would require a mass fascist base?
Obviously the likes of PDA, Progressives for Obama, Campaign for America's Future are really NOT for building a progressive base in the Democratic Party as they claim or else they would get behind the campaign of a real progressive Democrat like Darcy Richardson who is challenging Obama in the primaries; plus Darcy is not only a true progressive, he is a proven vote-getter.
While those of you who are spending your time (actually wasting your time organizing a fascist movement that stands in opposition to everything you say you are for by supporting Ron Paul), Darcy Richardson needs 8,000 signatures by January 31 to get on the ballot in Wisconsin.
We are talking Wisconsin here. I'm sure everyone knows what has been happening in Wisconsin.
This would require only 80 people collecting signatures for one weekend.
In terms of dollars this would only cost about $7,000.00 to $9,000.00. This would cover gas, leaflets, food and lodging for 80 people for one weekend of petitioning.
For less than $10,000.00 we can put someone like Darcy Richardson on the ballot in Wisconsin.
For less than another $50,000.00 we can then develop real progressive opposition to Obama in the Democratic Primary in Wisconsin.
Think about this: 600 people contributing $100.00 each could punish Obama in Wisconsin and simultaneously be building the progressive movement; not only in Wisconsin but serve as an example of what progressives can accomplish across the country.
If the Wisconsin Democratic Party really believed in just the concept of democracy they could have placed Darcy Richardson's name on the Wisconsin primary ballot at no cost to them or anyone. But, the Democratic Party doesn't believe in democracy. What a dangerous thought; that voters casting their ballots at a primary election should actually have more than one person to vote for. Wouldn't that be just the pits to have more than one candidate in a Primary Election?
When the Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Mike Tate, was asked to place another name on the ballot his response was, "Only Obama's name will be on the Primary ballot... if you don't like it, sue me." I suppose someone is going to ask me to prove this by providing a link?
Does anyone except Obama supporters who believe Obama has delivered us into a "Wonderful New World" have any reason to believe Darcy Richardson's name should not be placed on the Wisconsin Primary ballot? If anyone has a reason I would like to hear it.
If there are no reasons not to put Darcy's Name on the ballot then what are we waiting for?
All it would take is 900 people contributing $10.00 each to put Darcy Richardson's name on the ballot by January 31.
Are any of you Ron Paul supporters willing to put up the money?
How about it? Are you willing to pull $10.00 out of your pocket?
I am guessing that if FireDogLake made a special appeal as was done for OWS and the New Progressive Alliance were to join in and we all made pitches on our blogs, facebook pages and put our e-mail lists into action along with make some quick visits to a few friends we could do this.
No one would be paid; all we would be doing is covering the expenses for 80 people for one weekend.
Wisconsin law stipulates that a minimum of 1,000 signatures (and no more than 1,500) MUST come from each one of the 8 Congressional Districts in Wisconsin.
If someone will volunteer to take on the responsibility of raising the money, I will volunteer to recruit 80 people to go to Wisconsin to place Darcy Richardson's name on the Primary ballot.
Of course, we could just forget about the fundraising and 80 to 120 people could come together in Wisconsin to help put Darcy Richardson's name on the Wisconsin Democratic Party Primary Election Ballot.
Come on; are we willing to give real progressive politics a chance?
Interested? Give me a call---
--
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The differences between the 2008 and 2012 Elections
 The differences between the 2008 and 2012 Elections | |
| By: Alan Maki Thursday January 12, 2012 5:19 pm | |
Tweet
The 2008 Election was about the “peace” candidate Obama versus the dangerous warmonger McCain.
The 2012 Election seems to be shaping up as the voice of the “venture” capitalists’ Obama versus the the “vulture” capitalist Mitt Romney.
Are you getting the picture here of what is taking place, or should I draw a picture?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Who started the Korean War
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150583769955086
Korea has become a focus of attention. Along with the focus of attention, and the "twists" the MainStreamMedia is giving this focus of attention, come lies about who started the Korean War.
I invite anyone to challenge what I wrote in another group:
Who started the Korean War?
The U.S. massacres in southern Korea were taking place long before the Korean War began. U.S. President Harry Truman ordered General Douglas MacArthur to carry campaigns of massacres against Korean anti-imperialists who had been our allies in fighting the Japanese imperialists as World War Two was coming to a close in the Pacific because Wall Street was worried these patriotic anti-imperialist Koreans were going to establish a "people's democratic government"--- socialism--- which they were going to do; which was their right to do without being murdered by U.S. armed forces which had begun propping up right-wing bullies and thugs who had collaborated with the Japanese imperialist fascists.
The Wall Street controlled media here in the United States would like us to believe that the massacres were limited to the time during the Korean War because these warmongers think they have the American people convinced "that shit happens" which is beyond anyone's control during wars.
I have been following the work of the South Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission since it was first established and the crimes of genocide carried out by the Korean collaborators with the Japanese imperialists at the initiation and prodding and complete backing with full complicity of the United States government under the supervision of the U.S. military has been well documented. The crimes against the Korean people were of a most vicious, barbaric, cannibalistic and savage nature... crimes against humanity which have been repeated over and over again by the United States government and military in protecting Wall Street's greedy agenda of securing cheap natural resources and cheap labor resulting in maximum profits enforced by racist imperialist wars.
The twilight years of world capitalism with U.S. imperialism at the helm began with the crimes against the peoples of the pacific region--- Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. In all these countries our allies--- the anti-imperialists--- became the victims of U.S. imperialism which has grown into a barbaric, cannibalistic monster which is now the enemy of people everywhere--- including our own people right here in the United States as lie upon lie is concocted and fed in a never-ending stream and pumped into the minds of the American people.
One has to wonder how it is that these most horrendous crimes against the Korean people don't even rate second-fiddle to the sexual escapades of Herman Caine when it comes to what passes for "news" in this country.
Korea has become a focus of attention. Along with the focus of attention, and the "twists" the MainStreamMedia is giving this focus of attention, come lies about who started the Korean War.
I invite anyone to challenge what I wrote in another group:
Who started the Korean War?
The U.S. massacres in southern Korea were taking place long before the Korean War began. U.S. President Harry Truman ordered General Douglas MacArthur to carry campaigns of massacres against Korean anti-imperialists who had been our allies in fighting the Japanese imperialists as World War Two was coming to a close in the Pacific because Wall Street was worried these patriotic anti-imperialist Koreans were going to establish a "people's democratic government"--- socialism--- which they were going to do; which was their right to do without being murdered by U.S. armed forces which had begun propping up right-wing bullies and thugs who had collaborated with the Japanese imperialist fascists.
The Wall Street controlled media here in the United States would like us to believe that the massacres were limited to the time during the Korean War because these warmongers think they have the American people convinced "that shit happens" which is beyond anyone's control during wars.
I have been following the work of the South Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission since it was first established and the crimes of genocide carried out by the Korean collaborators with the Japanese imperialists at the initiation and prodding and complete backing with full complicity of the United States government under the supervision of the U.S. military has been well documented. The crimes against the Korean people were of a most vicious, barbaric, cannibalistic and savage nature... crimes against humanity which have been repeated over and over again by the United States government and military in protecting Wall Street's greedy agenda of securing cheap natural resources and cheap labor resulting in maximum profits enforced by racist imperialist wars.
The twilight years of world capitalism with U.S. imperialism at the helm began with the crimes against the peoples of the pacific region--- Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. In all these countries our allies--- the anti-imperialists--- became the victims of U.S. imperialism which has grown into a barbaric, cannibalistic monster which is now the enemy of people everywhere--- including our own people right here in the United States as lie upon lie is concocted and fed in a never-ending stream and pumped into the minds of the American people.
One has to wonder how it is that these most horrendous crimes against the Korean people don't even rate second-fiddle to the sexual escapades of Herman Caine when it comes to what passes for "news" in this country.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
It has "occurred" to many of us that something is drastically out of kilter in this country... What are we going to do about it?
Cindy Sheehan posted this on her FaceBook wall today:
"It occurs to me after another "end" to the "war" in Iraq; my son and hundreds of thousands of other people are dead for absolutely nothing good. Dead for lies for profit."
I think this is "occurring" now to many people especially as we see the Iraqi people celebrating U.S. troops leaving their country by burning U.S. flags as the same corporate owned U.S. MainStreamMedia that force-fed us all the lies about why this dirty imperialist war was needed is trying to feed us another lie that "the U.S. flag is being brought home."
Now tax-payer funded mercenaries provided the name of "contractors" have been charged with the effort to "maintain law-and-order" as the Iraqi people complete their civil war over whether multi-national corporations will rob them of their oil using them as sources of cheap labor.
As the great anti-imperialist Mark Twain explained, "I wasn't an anti-imperialist until our government got involved in the Spanish-American War."
Now that it is "occurring" to many people here at home and around the world that this war (an imperialist war) has been fought for the exact same reasons as the Spanish American War--- to secure cheap natural resources and regional domination for "policing" these areas of the world to maintain Wall Street's ability to reap maximum profits, the American people are now getting the bill to pay for it all via the most draconian austerity measures being imposed by Obama, we will no doubt find many people saying, "I wasn't an anti-imperialist until the war in Iraq."
Something to think about: After over one-hundred years we are still paying for this country's very first imperialist war--- the Spanish American War--- and we still have the U.S. military "policing" both the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
The United States government honors Mark Twain with a "Forever" postage stamp without so much as a mention that he was a great anti-imperialist who tried to warn the American people about the need to resist imperialist wars while encouraging us to join the struggles in solidarity with the victims of these imperialist wars lest we become the victims of these dirty imperialist wars ourselves.
We have had many great anti-imperialists amongst us--- from Mark Twain to General Smedley Butler to W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson and Albert Einstein who the despicable pervert J. Edgar Hoover viciously smeared and attacked for his anti-imperialist activities as "having more Communist friends than Joseph Stalin."
A dirty, corrupt, profit-driven Wall Street government can only continue to get us involved in imperialist war after imperialist war. Wall Street is our enemy and the enemy of peoples everywhere.
The time has come for the 99% to challenge Wall Street for power.
A good, solid, united anti-imperialist movement in this country would go a long way towards driving these Wall Street shills like Obama from power.
Anti-imperialist education, organization, struggle and solidarity... Forever.
Mark Twain should be honored with more than his picture on a postage stamp if we are ever going to live in peace and cooperation with the rest of the world.
"It occurs to me after another "end" to the "war" in Iraq; my son and hundreds of thousands of other people are dead for absolutely nothing good. Dead for lies for profit."
I think this is "occurring" now to many people especially as we see the Iraqi people celebrating U.S. troops leaving their country by burning U.S. flags as the same corporate owned U.S. MainStreamMedia that force-fed us all the lies about why this dirty imperialist war was needed is trying to feed us another lie that "the U.S. flag is being brought home."
Now tax-payer funded mercenaries provided the name of "contractors" have been charged with the effort to "maintain law-and-order" as the Iraqi people complete their civil war over whether multi-national corporations will rob them of their oil using them as sources of cheap labor.
As the great anti-imperialist Mark Twain explained, "I wasn't an anti-imperialist until our government got involved in the Spanish-American War."
Now that it is "occurring" to many people here at home and around the world that this war (an imperialist war) has been fought for the exact same reasons as the Spanish American War--- to secure cheap natural resources and regional domination for "policing" these areas of the world to maintain Wall Street's ability to reap maximum profits, the American people are now getting the bill to pay for it all via the most draconian austerity measures being imposed by Obama, we will no doubt find many people saying, "I wasn't an anti-imperialist until the war in Iraq."
Something to think about: After over one-hundred years we are still paying for this country's very first imperialist war--- the Spanish American War--- and we still have the U.S. military "policing" both the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
The United States government honors Mark Twain with a "Forever" postage stamp without so much as a mention that he was a great anti-imperialist who tried to warn the American people about the need to resist imperialist wars while encouraging us to join the struggles in solidarity with the victims of these imperialist wars lest we become the victims of these dirty imperialist wars ourselves.
We have had many great anti-imperialists amongst us--- from Mark Twain to General Smedley Butler to W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson and Albert Einstein who the despicable pervert J. Edgar Hoover viciously smeared and attacked for his anti-imperialist activities as "having more Communist friends than Joseph Stalin."
A dirty, corrupt, profit-driven Wall Street government can only continue to get us involved in imperialist war after imperialist war. Wall Street is our enemy and the enemy of peoples everywhere.
The time has come for the 99% to challenge Wall Street for power.
A good, solid, united anti-imperialist movement in this country would go a long way towards driving these Wall Street shills like Obama from power.
Anti-imperialist education, organization, struggle and solidarity... Forever.
Mark Twain should be honored with more than his picture on a postage stamp if we are ever going to live in peace and cooperation with the rest of the world.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
What is this country coming to?
We sure have a bunch of lazy bastards in this country.
I just read about this guy named Herne who has college degrees up the wazoo who is complaining he can't find a job.
I'm telling you; the guy doesn't want to work. He wants to begin his working career as an Administrative Assistant to the governor or something.
I asked Herne: Have you tried applying for a poverty wage paying job at Wal-mart or looked into working at one of the smoke-filled casinos dotting Minnesota?
Probably not; you are just another lazy bastard looking for a real living wage job in a healthy working environment. If you can't find a job with all your degrees in the private sector, I suggest you check out the jobs available in the public sector--- Uncle Sam would love to have you.
If all this fails, come on up and apply for one of these "middle class" jobs offered so kindly by the Marvin Family working in their big yellow building adorned with pretty roses.
What a bunch of lazy bastards we have in this country. They can't find a job for what they spent on a college education and then they start complaining.
Where's the cops when you need them to shut these people up?
I just read about this guy named Herne who has college degrees up the wazoo who is complaining he can't find a job.
I'm telling you; the guy doesn't want to work. He wants to begin his working career as an Administrative Assistant to the governor or something.
I asked Herne: Have you tried applying for a poverty wage paying job at Wal-mart or looked into working at one of the smoke-filled casinos dotting Minnesota?
Probably not; you are just another lazy bastard looking for a real living wage job in a healthy working environment. If you can't find a job with all your degrees in the private sector, I suggest you check out the jobs available in the public sector--- Uncle Sam would love to have you.
If all this fails, come on up and apply for one of these "middle class" jobs offered so kindly by the Marvin Family working in their big yellow building adorned with pretty roses.
What a bunch of lazy bastards we have in this country. They can't find a job for what they spent on a college education and then they start complaining.
Where's the cops when you need them to shut these people up?
Friday, December 9, 2011
Let's strive to make 2012 the year we come together in anti-imperialist solidarity
International anti-imperialist solidarity--- Forever!
... in our communities, where we work and go to school; in the streets and at the ballot box.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Why OWS needs specific concrete demands and leadership
Why OWS needs specific concrete demands and leadership
by Alan L. Maki on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 9:12am
Why OWS needs specific concrete demands and leadership
By: Alan Maki Saturday November 5, 2011 7:03 am
Originally published in two posts on Firedoglake and then on FaceBook as this Note...
Links:
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2011/11/05/why-ows-needs-specific-concrete-demands-and-leadership/
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2011/11/04/we-need-to-talk-about-the-politics-of-economics-of-livelihood/
It is not logical to think people will continue to occupy anything indefinitely— not a park or a factory or a school or a Wall Street office or a politician’s office.
Movements for social and economic justice need clear demands aimed at solving specific problems intended to improve the lives and living conditions of people.
This is what unites and brings people into struggle.
All successful movements for social change have used this simple formula; it is the only one that achieves results:
Education + Organization + Unity in action = Victory for the people
In other words, you start out helping people to connect all the dots relating to their problems.
We have many people saying the strength of the OWS movement is that it is “leaderless” and “without specific demands.”
This creates confusion which is good for who? Obama, the Black Box?
So far what we are getting out of the OWS movement is that people are “fed up.” This is good that people vent their anger.
But, are people “fed up” with government, Wall Street or capitalism— or all three?
People are “fed up” because they are experiencing problems— very specific problems.
Unless people clearly articulate what they are “fed up” with anyone and everyone can claim they speak for OWS without having to solve the very specific problems of everyday living people are experiencing.
It is not like it is difficult to find out why people are “fed up.” Anyone can walk through a grocery store talking to people. Start up a conversation at the gas station. Engage people where they work or go to school.
In talking to people one quickly finds what the specific problems are.
It is only logical that people who are “fed up” should articulate their specific problems if they want these problems solved.
The problems can be articulated in a way that leads to people arriving at the conclusion there are specific solutions to their problems.
The specific problems and their specific solutions must be clearly articulated or people who are “fed up” are going to become more frustrated. Eventually they will come to the conclusion there is nothing they can do about their problems if struggles do not lead towards solutions to their problems.
If people become disillusioned in thinking it does no good to organize and come together, the result, if this happens, is that Wall Street remains in power and the problems just get worse.
Isn’t it our goal and objective to solve the problems people are experiencing in a way that the people have a chance to successfully challenge Wall Street for power?
That specific, concrete demands providing solutions to problems aren’t being adequately articulated by the OWS movement is not the movement’s strength it is a severe weakness. All movements need leadership. The more collective the leadership the better; but leadership none-the-less. After all, someone eventually has to sign a union contract or in some collective way agree that problems have been solved.
I question just how “leaderless” the OWS movement really is.
George Lakoff and his Rockwood Institute advising these do-nothing "progressive" Democrats have for a very long time articulated the position that only “progressive policy directives” are required and specific solutions to problems should be avoided at all costs. (See “Don’t Think of an Elephant!: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives” by George Lakoff)
It appears to me that OWS has a leader— the wrong one; either by chance or by intent, it doesn’t matter how this has happened. We need to turn this situation around.
Amy Dean, the darling of the Obama loving Democrats who seeks to turn every concern of the people into her own personal profit by "advising" people on what to do, “let the cat out of the bag” in her recent essay which tries to guide people towards the “leadership” of the Rockwood Institute. See: http://my.firedoglake.com/amybdean/2011/11/04/unity-is-strength-for-progressives/
Republicans have their “fed ups” with the Tea Party— another movement that is “leaderless” and without specific demands by design.
The Democrats now want their “fed ups” as long as people don’t come articulating specific problems they want solved.
Additional Note # 1. Please note: I added this comment after reading the discussions to my initial post on Firedoglake and several phone conversations:
If you look at the Occupy Oakland protests thousands of people turned out bringing with them their problems stated on the signs they were carrying.
People aren’t interested in shaping some new kind of democracy in isolation to their problems.
People want a say in the decision-making process so their problems get solved. People are fed up with politicians who won’t respond to their problems in a way that solves their problems.
If OWS continues to ignore the specific problems people are having people will get fed up with OWS, too.
We are beginning to see some discussions about occupying homes being foreclosed on and some discussions about occupying plants slated to close in order to try to save jobs. This is the general direction OWS will have to move in order to keep the movement growing.
We also saw how OWS made a list of demands an on that list was the demand to solve the health care mess— but, what did this demand for health care reform consist of? It called for a “financial means test” to determine eligibility for access to health care.
To suggest that it may take years for OWS to articulate demands relating to solving the problems people are experiencing smacks of the same kind of thing we hear from Obama and the Democrats so why not give Obama a chance to see what he can do with another 4 years?
If the main thing people were interested in is making friends and helping people one person at a time while a new kind of democracy is being talked about then the signs people were carrying in Oakland would have reflected this.
Lots of signs said people want jobs; many others conveyed the idea that people want real health care reform.
Other signs took note of rising gas and food prices while other signs called for a moratorium on home foreclosures. Lots of signs called for defending public education from cuts. All kinds of signs called for peace, not wars.
What people are saying when they turn out in the thousands everyplace is that the majority wants peace and social justice and in a democracy this is what people should get.
I can guarantee that most of the 99% are not going to participate in long-winded discussions about “democracy” when they are without jobs, hungry and homeless.
Eradicating poverty is the most democratic demand of all.
It is the struggles of the people trying to solve their problems in the process of creating a better world to live in with improved living standards and a healthy and safe environment at work and in their communities that defends and expands democracy not the other way around.
Additional Note #2. Please note: This is the second edit including another comment to responses I have received on FireDogLake:
Leadership involves much more than some specific person. Leadership implies having an ideology that understands that bringing forward specific demands aimed at solving the specific problems of the people through universal social programs is the way to go.
In fact, “leadership” is being provided to the OWS movement or we wouldn’t be hearing this talk about how the movement should remain “leaderless” without specific demands. This is leadership through ideological saturation; a “leadership” I believe is wrong-headed intended to serve the goals and objectives of Barack Obama and the Democrats.
The criticism of Obama is that he hasn’t acted to solve the problems of the people in a timely manner. Obama and the Democrats demagogically claim they need more time.
Now we are hearing the exact same thing from the “leaderless?” OWS movement that it will take, perhaps years!, to develop specific goals and objectives which include bringing forward solutions to our common problems as we (the 99%) are all pushed into poverty.
It isn’t rocket science to determine what our common problems are and their solutions. Go into any supermarket in a working class community and most anyone can itemize the problems and provide a shopping list of the solutions.
Here it is. This isn’t something I thought up in a dream. This comes from years of discussing with people what kind of problems they have and what they think the solutions are. Anyone can print off this program and take it to church, to work, to school, shopping to ask people what they think about it. Here is an idea… maybe listen to the people for the “leadership” the OWS movement requires… what a novel idea when it comes to considering how democracy is supposed to work!
A program for real change…
* Peace— end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and shutdown the 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil.
* A National Public Health Care System – ten million new jobs.
* A National Public Child Care System – three to five million new jobs.
* Works Progress Administration – three million new jobs.
* Civilian Conservation Corps – 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
* 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.
* Roll-back and freeze the price of food, electricity, gas and heating fuels; not wages, benefits or pensions.
* Defend and expand Social Security.
* Wall Street is our 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.
By: Alan Maki Saturday November 5, 2011 7:03 am
Originally published in two posts on Firedoglake and then on FaceBook as this Note...
Links:
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2011/11/05/why-ows-needs-specific-concrete-demands-and-leadership/
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2011/11/04/we-need-to-talk-about-the-politics-of-economics-of-livelihood/
It is not logical to think people will continue to occupy anything indefinitely— not a park or a factory or a school or a Wall Street office or a politician’s office.
Movements for social and economic justice need clear demands aimed at solving specific problems intended to improve the lives and living conditions of people.
This is what unites and brings people into struggle.
All successful movements for social change have used this simple formula; it is the only one that achieves results:
Education + Organization + Unity in action = Victory for the people
In other words, you start out helping people to connect all the dots relating to their problems.
We have many people saying the strength of the OWS movement is that it is “leaderless” and “without specific demands.”
This creates confusion which is good for who? Obama, the Black Box?
So far what we are getting out of the OWS movement is that people are “fed up.” This is good that people vent their anger.
But, are people “fed up” with government, Wall Street or capitalism— or all three?
People are “fed up” because they are experiencing problems— very specific problems.
Unless people clearly articulate what they are “fed up” with anyone and everyone can claim they speak for OWS without having to solve the very specific problems of everyday living people are experiencing.
It is not like it is difficult to find out why people are “fed up.” Anyone can walk through a grocery store talking to people. Start up a conversation at the gas station. Engage people where they work or go to school.
In talking to people one quickly finds what the specific problems are.
It is only logical that people who are “fed up” should articulate their specific problems if they want these problems solved.
The problems can be articulated in a way that leads to people arriving at the conclusion there are specific solutions to their problems.
The specific problems and their specific solutions must be clearly articulated or people who are “fed up” are going to become more frustrated. Eventually they will come to the conclusion there is nothing they can do about their problems if struggles do not lead towards solutions to their problems.
If people become disillusioned in thinking it does no good to organize and come together, the result, if this happens, is that Wall Street remains in power and the problems just get worse.
Isn’t it our goal and objective to solve the problems people are experiencing in a way that the people have a chance to successfully challenge Wall Street for power?
That specific, concrete demands providing solutions to problems aren’t being adequately articulated by the OWS movement is not the movement’s strength it is a severe weakness. All movements need leadership. The more collective the leadership the better; but leadership none-the-less. After all, someone eventually has to sign a union contract or in some collective way agree that problems have been solved.
I question just how “leaderless” the OWS movement really is.
George Lakoff and his Rockwood Institute advising these do-nothing "progressive" Democrats have for a very long time articulated the position that only “progressive policy directives” are required and specific solutions to problems should be avoided at all costs. (See “Don’t Think of an Elephant!: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives” by George Lakoff)
It appears to me that OWS has a leader— the wrong one; either by chance or by intent, it doesn’t matter how this has happened. We need to turn this situation around.
Amy Dean, the darling of the Obama loving Democrats who seeks to turn every concern of the people into her own personal profit by "advising" people on what to do, “let the cat out of the bag” in her recent essay which tries to guide people towards the “leadership” of the Rockwood Institute. See: http://my.firedoglake.com/amybdean/2011/11/04/unity-is-strength-for-progressives/
Republicans have their “fed ups” with the Tea Party— another movement that is “leaderless” and without specific demands by design.
The Democrats now want their “fed ups” as long as people don’t come articulating specific problems they want solved.
Additional Note # 1. Please note: I added this comment after reading the discussions to my initial post on Firedoglake and several phone conversations:
If you look at the Occupy Oakland protests thousands of people turned out bringing with them their problems stated on the signs they were carrying.
People aren’t interested in shaping some new kind of democracy in isolation to their problems.
People want a say in the decision-making process so their problems get solved. People are fed up with politicians who won’t respond to their problems in a way that solves their problems.
If OWS continues to ignore the specific problems people are having people will get fed up with OWS, too.
We are beginning to see some discussions about occupying homes being foreclosed on and some discussions about occupying plants slated to close in order to try to save jobs. This is the general direction OWS will have to move in order to keep the movement growing.
We also saw how OWS made a list of demands an on that list was the demand to solve the health care mess— but, what did this demand for health care reform consist of? It called for a “financial means test” to determine eligibility for access to health care.
To suggest that it may take years for OWS to articulate demands relating to solving the problems people are experiencing smacks of the same kind of thing we hear from Obama and the Democrats so why not give Obama a chance to see what he can do with another 4 years?
If the main thing people were interested in is making friends and helping people one person at a time while a new kind of democracy is being talked about then the signs people were carrying in Oakland would have reflected this.
Lots of signs said people want jobs; many others conveyed the idea that people want real health care reform.
Other signs took note of rising gas and food prices while other signs called for a moratorium on home foreclosures. Lots of signs called for defending public education from cuts. All kinds of signs called for peace, not wars.
What people are saying when they turn out in the thousands everyplace is that the majority wants peace and social justice and in a democracy this is what people should get.
I can guarantee that most of the 99% are not going to participate in long-winded discussions about “democracy” when they are without jobs, hungry and homeless.
Eradicating poverty is the most democratic demand of all.
It is the struggles of the people trying to solve their problems in the process of creating a better world to live in with improved living standards and a healthy and safe environment at work and in their communities that defends and expands democracy not the other way around.
Additional Note #2. Please note: This is the second edit including another comment to responses I have received on FireDogLake:
Leadership involves much more than some specific person. Leadership implies having an ideology that understands that bringing forward specific demands aimed at solving the specific problems of the people through universal social programs is the way to go.
In fact, “leadership” is being provided to the OWS movement or we wouldn’t be hearing this talk about how the movement should remain “leaderless” without specific demands. This is leadership through ideological saturation; a “leadership” I believe is wrong-headed intended to serve the goals and objectives of Barack Obama and the Democrats.
The criticism of Obama is that he hasn’t acted to solve the problems of the people in a timely manner. Obama and the Democrats demagogically claim they need more time.
Now we are hearing the exact same thing from the “leaderless?” OWS movement that it will take, perhaps years!, to develop specific goals and objectives which include bringing forward solutions to our common problems as we (the 99%) are all pushed into poverty.
It isn’t rocket science to determine what our common problems are and their solutions. Go into any supermarket in a working class community and most anyone can itemize the problems and provide a shopping list of the solutions.
Here it is. This isn’t something I thought up in a dream. This comes from years of discussing with people what kind of problems they have and what they think the solutions are. Anyone can print off this program and take it to church, to work, to school, shopping to ask people what they think about it. Here is an idea… maybe listen to the people for the “leadership” the OWS movement requires… what a novel idea when it comes to considering how democracy is supposed to work!
A program for real change…
* Peace— end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and shutdown the 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil.
* A National Public Health Care System – ten million new jobs.
* A National Public Child Care System – three to five million new jobs.
* Works Progress Administration – three million new jobs.
* Civilian Conservation Corps – 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
* 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.
* Roll-back and freeze the price of food, electricity, gas and heating fuels; not wages, benefits or pensions.
* Defend and expand Social Security.
* Wall Street is our 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.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tell Richard Trumka, Leo Gerard, Amy Dean, Joe Hansen and Jimmy Hoffa to get up off their asses and strike while the iron is hot
by Alan L. Maki on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 9:01am
Now is the time for working people to move into action against Wal-mart with a massive organizing campaign. In my opinion, any campaign to boycott Wal-mart at this time should be in conjunction with a full-scale international union organizing campaign with Wal-mart being taken on by workers across the globe. With Occupy Wall Street spreading across the globe like a prairie fire on a windy day, this would be a perfect time to launch an international campaign to organize Wal-mart workers. Wal-mart is now the largest employer in the world--- what better target for Occupy Wall Street than one of the largest and most profitable of Wall Street's multi-national companies? All the ingredients are now here for a victory--- Wal-mart workers want a union and there is massive anti-Wall Street sentiment sweeping the globe which would make a consumer boycott very effective. I think people like Richard Trumka, Leo Gerard and Amy Dean need to be explaining why they are not thinking along these lines and throwing all their resources into this kind of working class struggle instead of pissing away the money of union members supporting Barack Obama who is obviously Wall Street's president. Wal-mart brings its products into this country by ship in containers from the low-wage areas of the world where these commodities are being produced and the longshore union is in a mode to fight. A consumer boycott and Wal-mart not being able to get its goods off the ships would make for a huge working class organizing victory. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Have you had enough? New Party on the horizon
Rocky Anderson
418 Douglas Street
Salt Lake City, UTAH 84102
E-mail: rockyandersonrocky@yahoo.com
Press Release - October 21, 2011
Have you had enough?
New Party on the horizon
The former Mayor of Salt Lake City and Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights, Rocky Anderson, calls for the formation of a new political party and a sustained movement committed to the public interest.
Two months ago, Anderson “divorced himself” from what he referred to as “the spineless, gutless Democratic Party.” Responding to an email from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which showed as the subject, “Standing strong,” Anderson wrote: “How dare you send an email with the subject line ‘Standing strong.’ You didn’t do it on Iraq, you didn’t do it on torture, you didn’t do it on signing statements, you haven’t done it onAfghanistan, you haven’t done it on defense spending, you haven’t done it on real health care reform, you haven’t done it on the debt ceiling fiasco.”
(Rolly: Rocky Anderson says adieu to the Democratic Party,” The Salt Lake Tribune, August 12, 2011.)
Anderson continued: “I’m done with the Democratic Party… I think the answer is a new political party that actually will advocate for and promote the interests of the public rather than the narrow interests of the wealthy who bought and paid for not only Congress but the White House… The Constitution has been eviscerated while Democrats have stood by with nary a whimper. It is a gutless, unprincipled party, bought and paid for by the same interests that buy and pay for the Republican Party.”
(Romboy, “Former S.L. mayor Rocky Anderson divorces himself from ‘gutless’ Democratic Party,” Deseret News, August 13, 2011.)
This country needs a new, powerful party that can win elections, according to Anderson. “The pensions and other savings accounts of the middle class in this country have been decimated. The only way out is another party. I would call it, frankly, a second party that actually represents the interests of the American people. There isn’t a real opposition force in Washington, D.C., any more, and we the people have the capacity to change that -- and we must if our republic is going to survive. I consider myself an Independent, but I would be very pleased to work with others to form not just a political party to run another campaign, but to launch a sustained movement for major change in this country.”
(“Rocky: Not a Democrat,” (Interview with Rocky Anderson by Lexie Levitt), City Weekly,September 26, 2011.)
Anderson said that people are fed up with the Democratic and Republican parties, Congress, and the Obama administration to the point of being ready to support a new party that rejects the corporatism and militarism of the two “Wall Street lap-dog” major parties.
The polls support Anderson’s view that the people of the United States are desirous of a new party, and bold, new leadership, like never before. Patrick Caddell and Douglas Shoen have written:
“The United States is in the midst of what we would both call a pre-Revolutionary moment, and there is widespread support for fundamental change in the system. An increasing number of Americans are now searching beyond the two parties for bold and effective leadership.”
(Caddell and Schoen, “Expect a Third-Party Candidate in 2012,” The Wall Street Journal, August 25, 2011.)
"Have you had enough?" asks Anderson. “Would you support the formation of a new party that will commit to:
- affordable universal health care;
- an end to the wars;
- a significant reduction in the military budget and an end to the military-industrial-
congressional complex; - investigation of illegal conduct, including war crimes, by executive officials during the current and prior administrations;
- investigation of the events on 9/11 to answer significant questions that have been raised;
- prosecution for illegal conduct leading to the economic melt-down;
- disincentives for U.S. companies to send jobs overseas;
- employee and environmental safeguards in trade agreements;
- implementation of major domestic jobs and infrastructure programs;
- an end to the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy;
- campaign finance reform to end the corrupting influence of money in politics;
- treat substance abuse within a public health framework rather than as a criminal matter;
- repeal the PATRIOT Act;
- compassionate and rational immigration reform;
- marriage equality;
- an end to subsidies for oil and gas companies;
- a ban on a Canada-to-Mexico tar sands pipeline;
- air quality protection, including stricter ozone limits; and
- aggressive action and leadership on the climate crisis and the environment?”
Rocky Anderson has been in the process of contacting some of America’s leading social, environmental and political activists with the goal of creating a powerful, broad-based political alternative to the increasingly unpopular Republican and Democratic Parties. He intends that the new party will have candidates in local, state, and federal races throughout the nation.
Anderson plans on hosting a meeting soon between leaders in various sectors of the country in order to draft a new platform and a long-term strategy capable of attracting a majority of voters, including millions of dissatisfied Democrats and Republicans who, until now, had nowhere else to go.
Anderson has stated his intention to do what is possible to get on the ballots in all 50 states and to campaign for candidates aggressively in all states. "The Democratic and Republican Parties have acted as if voters have no other real options. The people of this country will demonstrate that we, indeed, have another option - a party that will work in the public interest, rather than for the defense contractors, the health insurance companies, and the rapacious financial institutions that have caused such economic havoc in our nation and the world."
Anderson anticipates a broad-based coalition, similar to the one built by the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP), which won impressive political gains in the Canadian federal elections last May. The NDP is the political party that brought universal health care to the Canadian people.
Press info: Mackenzie Scott - Tel. 801-520-0491
Rocky Anderson - Tel. 801-557-9007
E-mail: rockyandersonrocky@yahoo.com
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