Democrats, labor and the class struggle.
With friends like Democrats labor doesn't need any more enemies.
Let's
talk about why labor needs to dump the Democrats and build its own
progressive working class based people's political party.
The
Minneapolis Star Tribune on January 29, 2013 claims the American Crystal
Sugar Company lockout of 1,300 workers here in the Red River Valley is a
“work stoppage.”
Does anyone see any workers who stopped working?
This is NOT a work stoppage as claimed by the union bashing Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper.
Workers did not stop working; nor did workers go on strike.
The
company locked workers out of the plants and their jobs; and the work
in these plants goes on with the American Crystal Sugar Company using
scab labor.
The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Miller's
(BCTGM) International Union’s leaders even insisted workers had to
train these scabs who workers knew would be used to replace them over
many months should workers turn down American Crystal Sugar Company's
“final offer.” So much for collective bargaining for a contract.
Why
hasn't the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party with its controlling
super-majority in the Minnesota State House and Senate along with a
self-proclaimed big-time liberal Democratic Governor brought forward
both anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation?
What good is having this Democratic Party super majority if it isn’t going to be used in the interests of workers?
Why
isn't the call for this kind of legislation being brought forward by
any DFL legislators, members of the DFL state central committee or DFL
county committees? Or outfits like Progressive Democrats of America with
a Minnesota chapter or the Campaign for America's Future with lots of
associates in Minnesota.
Why haven't the union representing the
workers and the Minnesota AFL-CIO insisted their MNDFL partners bring
forward anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation?
Why haven't rank and file union members insisted on getting this legislation out of the MNDFL in return for their votes?
Hey; why hasn't the big liberal intellectual community here in Minnesota called for such legislation?
What
about the Working Class Studies Association? Isn't there a role here
for professors like Peter Rachleff to advocate for anti-lockout and
anti-scab legislation?
This is one more very typical case where
labor leaders refuse to act responsibly in defense of the workers rights
and interests they are supposed to represent, and to try to make sure
this never happens again to any other workers in Minnesota.
For
Minnesota's new Democratic super-majority this would provide some
justification for workers to vote for Democrats. It would also send a
signal to Republicans pushing all this anti-labor legislation and
right-to-work-for-less that workers can retaliate and fight back.
The
first cowardly mistake these BCTGM labor leaders made was telling
workers they had to train the scabs and then telling workers the had to
leave these plants as ordered by American Crystal Sugar Management
instead of occupying these plants from the very beginning.
These
labor leaders should have had the decency to place plant occupations
before American Crystal Sugar workers to let them make a democratic
decision as to what they wanted to do in order to defend their rights
and their livelihoods.
The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and
Grain Miller's (BCTGM) International Union is a union that has been
engaged in working class betrayal for years both in the United States
and Canada and it has operated to the detriment of not only its own
members, but the entire working class as a whole when it comes to
refusing to insist on a real living wage for the minimum wage and real
health care reform. In plant after plant and workplace after workplace
the national leadership of the BCTGM International Union has pursued the
very worst kinds of class collaborationist policies, and often very
racist policies, of stabbing militant rank-and-file activists in the
back over even very obviously legitimate workplace grievances in which
the International repeatedly takes the side of management and insists
local labor leaders tow this non-struggle line.
Complicating
this particular situation where a boycott of American Crystal Sugar has
been called for is that the union backed government price supports and
subsidies intended to push corporate profits and consumer prices up.
This makes it difficult to win consumer support for the American Crystal
boycott.
As for this so-called "boycott" Richard Trumka and
the "leaders" of the AFL-CIO have initiated; workers employed in union
plants all across the country are still handling and using American
Crystal Sugar in the production of everything and anything requiring
sugar. From the shipping to processing to retail sales. What kind of a
boycott do you call this where the public is being asked to boycott a
product union members are still handling?
And why is a petition
campaign underway "asking" a Democratic Governor and Democratic State
Legislators here in Minnesota to stop purchasing and using American
Crystal Sugar? Shouldn't these Democrats who know to come to workers for
their money and their votes not to mention insisting the unions do
their "heavy lifting" know enough on their own not to be purchasing and
using a scab product? Apparently not.
If this lockout by the
American Crystal Sugar Company's management and the failure of the
Democrats to properly respond isn't a good enough reason to start a
progressive working class based people's party on top of the firm
foundation of what remains of the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor
Party, I don't know what it is going to take.
Reactionary
shit-ass Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters like Jane Friedmann take it
upon themselves to attack me, as she did with this article, time and
time again but this dirty anti-working class rag can’t even get it
straight that there has been no work stoppage as it declares:
“...It has grown into one of the longest work stoppages in Minnesota history. Unemployment benefits for workers have expired…”
Lie after lie when it comes to this anti-labor rag.
But
what about union leaders trying to salvage something out of this
lockout like anti-lockout and anti-scab legislation workers in the
future will also benefit from since this struggle is really about the
class struggle?
This reminds me of all these Democrats talking
about "jobs, jobs, jobs" when they want working class votes and no jobs
ever materialize after the election; these politicians who talk about
jobs to get our votes then refuse to assume responsibility for full
employment.
Now we have the same hypocrisy from these Democratic
politicians who made us believe we needed to fear the Republicans yet
the inaction of these Democrats has the same anti-worker impact as the
regressive, reactionary policies of the Republicans.
Is not doing nothing as this lockout lingers on a form of union-busting by these Democrats?
Here
we have a struggle in progress which gives us a perfect opportunity to
take action when it counts and where liberal and progressive academics
could provide a little spark and everyone seems content to watch;
apparently prepared to provide "scholarly analysis" after the American
Crystal Sugar workers have been crushed like the sugar beets scabs no
process.
There are a lot of problems surrounding this lockout;
but, there are also two very clear and very specific pieces of
legislation--- anti-lock-out and anti-scab--- which could salvage an
important victory.
There are lessons to be learned from this
struggle--- will students learn about a working class defeat or a
working class victory?
Anyone want to discuss this?
Friday, February 1, 2013
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Greetings from Walkerville
Greetings from Walkerville
Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIOpresident, < http://www.wisaflcio.org/ > sends an update on the actions around Wisconsin’s Walkerville.
Day six of the Walkerville tent city protest has seen overwhelming support from Wisconsin workers, students and community members. Over the course of the week, thousands of Wisconsinites have gathered on the cement blocks lining the Capitol Square in order to call attention to Gov. Walker and his legislative allies’ destructive budget proposals—proposals which will cripple Wisconsin’s schools, health care system and communities.
Many have said that they are surrounding the Capitol to bear witness to their elected officials’ decisions and to let their Representatives know that the people of Wisconsin are preparing to take back their government back this summer.
“Walkerville is a way to focus the spotlight on Gov. Walker and Sen. Alberta Darling’s budget that will devastate higher education, public education and Wisconsin as we know it,” explained Michael Rosen, President of AFT Local 212, and professor at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. Rosen traveled to Walkerville on Wednesday to spend the night.
About 150 tents have sprung up around the Capitol since Saturday June 4, when the Walkerville tent city was erected.
Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, brought her son, Nicholas to Walkerville. “We are here to tell Scott Walker that his attack on Wisconsin’s unions, middle class, and communities will not stand.
The people are coming together here in Walkerville to fight for a just budget and for an economy that works for all.”
Each day in Walkerville has had a theme, complete with educational programs to inform citizens on the budget and how it will impact their everyday life. Public services, health care, education and higher education have all been a theme of the day. Many local musicians have taken to the stage on State Street to show their support for the protestors and entertain the family-friendly crowd.
“As Wisconsinites, we cannot standby in silence while our friends, family and neighbors suffer at the hand of Governor Walker’s bad choices for our state,” explained Dian Palmer, President of SEIU Health Care Wisconsin and a public health nurse from Milwaukee who has been spending multiple nights in Walkerville. “I am here because what I have heard from Governor Walker does not represent the Wisconsin that I believe in or that my fellow Wisconsinites believe in. And I am here to bear witness and ensure that our leaders do right by education, healthcare and programs for senior citizens.”
Walkerville Events
On Health Care Day, nurses and home care patients took on a mock Scott Walker in the fight for quality health care in a play boxing match. Candice Owley, President of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, took to the ring in order to ensure quality care for all of Wisconsin.
On Public Services day, state and county employees held a mock town-hall listening session
< http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/wisconsin-state-afl-cio-blog/2011/06/walkerville-mock-listening-session-.htmlwith > characters of Gov. Walker, David Koch, Sen. Glen Grothman and Sarah Palin. On Sunday, Wisconsin teachers held a citizen speak-out:
< http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/wisconsin-state-afl-cio-blog/2011/06/teachers-rally-walkerville.html >
Last Monday, fire fighters, farmers and cops lead a march of thousands to call for a fair and just budget. Read more about it here:
< http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/wisconsin-state-afl-cio-blog/2011/06/fair-budget-march-walkerville.html >
As the winds blew in last night Walkerville residence took refuge by patronizing local businesses as they waited out the storm. After the storm, Walkerville citizens returned to their tents, tucked-in for the night and continued to raise awareness of Gov. Walker’s bad budget choices.
More information on Walkerville
For pictures of Walkerville click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/
For Walkerville stories click here: http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/
To donate to help the Walkerville, tent city run click here:
For live updates from Walkerville visit the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisaflcio
Twitterpages: http://twitter.com/#!/wisaflcio
Press Clips From Walkerville
Wisconsin Protesters Erect ‘Walkerville’ Tent City To Protest Scott Walker’s Budget Cuts, Hufftington Post.
In Wisconsin, Legislative Urgency as Recall Threat Looms, New York Times:
Friendly Spirit Prevails in Walkerville, Wisconsin State Journal:
CNN in Walkerville:
Check out my blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Minnesota Public Radio... all the democracy corporate money can buy...
I Am Attacked on Minnesota Public Radio by Kerri Miller and John McCarthy without the right of response
I called into a morning program on Minnesota Public Radio that featured as one of its guests John McCarthy, the rich white man who heads up the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association.
After making two points I was cut-off while making the third point at which time the host of the program opened the microphone up to John McCarthy to attack me until he was done with his lies.
If Minnesota Public Radio was the least bit interested in democracy and fairness I would have been provided the opportunity to respond to McCarthy and the viciously anti-labor and racist remark made by the program host that, "no one is forced to work in the casinos."
In fact, two circumstances by themselves and combined do force people to work in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without a voice at work and without any rights under state or federal labor laws.
Circumstance #1:
The faltering economy. Tens of thousands of people are out of work. Economic necessity forces people to work in these casinos. Offer casino workers a job elsewhere at real living wages with good working conditions and their rights protected by state and federal labor laws and these casinos will be left without anyone to staff them.
Circumstance #2:
Racism. Racist hiring practices make it practically impossible for most Native American Indians to get jobs outside of the casino industry. The statistics and facts bear this out. In all the counties and their townships and cities in, near and around where the Indian Reservations of White Earth, Red Lake and Leech Lake are located, there are fewer than 20 Native American Indians employed in these public sectors out of thousands of workers. Because Affirmative Action is not being enforced in accordance with state and federal law, and the townships, cities and counties aren't even required to have Affirmative Action policies and programs in place, these racists don't have any Affirmative Action programs in any of these townships, cities or counties. Racism forces Native Americans to seek employment in these unhealthy smoke-filled casinos where they have no rights, receive poverty wages with no or little benefits and no voice in the workplace.
In fact, when it comes to Native American Indians they are forced to work in these casinos because Circumstance #1--- unemployment and Circumstance #2--- racism are both dominant and determining factors since unemployment rates on these three Indian Reservations range from a low of 60% to a high of 85%.
How can anyone be so arrogant and callous to argue with complete disregard for economic and racist factors that "no one is forced to work in these casinos?" Yet, this is just what Minnesota Public Radio's Mid-Morning host, Kerri Miller, argued. And then she proceeded to arrogantly and undemocratically not allow me to respond while turning the microphone over to John McCarthy to viciously attack me; again, without allowing me to respond.
Now, the facts are such that Minnesota Public Radio has intentionally ignored the plight of casino workers because the casino managements are now underwriting MPR programming to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
And, where do these underwriting funds originate from? Indian Gaming revenues. Racist Indian Gaming which is controlled by a bunch of racist white mobsters who own the slot machines and table games and those like John McCarthy who dole out campaign contributions to the politicians who in return assure them of cheap labor.
John McCarthy and Kerri Miller refused to address the issues I raised:
1. Why don't these casino operations pay taxes as it just happens that if they were taxed like any other business Minnesota would not have any budget problems plus the Indian Nations would receive more than they are presently receiving from gaming revenues?
2. Why didn't John McCarthy or Kerri Miller respond to the fact that 41,000 casino workers are forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws and without any voice at work. Why no explanation as to why this situation exists in the first place?
3. Why didn't John McCarthy or Kerri Miller address the fact that the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association spends tens of millions of dollars contributing to the campaigns of everyone except Native American Indians and there isn't one single Native American Indian sitting amongst Minnesota's more than two-hundred state legislators?
Of course, Kerri Miller, the host of Minnesota Public Radio's Mid-Morning Program did not ask John McCarthy about the ethics of him owning Tony Doom Enterprises, a big-business making millions in profits as a result of selling campaign advertising materials to the very politicians he funnels the campaign contributions to through the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. If this isn't a racket I don't know what is.
I leave it to people to draw their own conclusion as to whether I should have been allowed to respond to the anti-labor and racist response of Kerri Miller and the following vicious attack on me personally by John McCarthy who is such a coward he doesn't dare debate me on these issues but then goes on to attack me for "posting malicious, vicious and nasty things on my blog here" without substantiating one single one of his accusations.
Furthermore, John McCarthy told Kerri Miller that he "knows" me; another outright lie.
People should take a drive by John McCarthy's home and ask why he is living high on the hog as a direct result of his racist role in the impoverishment and ill-health of the Indian people. John McCarthy lives just outside of Bemidji, Minnesota in a two-million dollar estate at 8925Cove Drive NE, Bemidji, Minnesota. Take a drive out to see John McCarthy's estate and then drive through the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth Indian Reservations to see how casino workers getting paid poverty wages have to live or check out the dirty, filthy, rat infested apartment complex in Warroad, Minnesota that Floyd Jourdain and the Red Lake Tribal Council reserve for the members of the Red Lake Nation who work in the Seven Clans Casino Red Lake who have to pay over half of their poverty wages to live there.
Why doesn't Minnesota Public Radio report on any of this? The reason is obvious; John McCarthy and the casino managements and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association are bribing MPR into silence just like the politicians have been bribed to enable this horrendous and most disgraceful situation to come into existence and continue where poverty is the only thing that flourishes so a few mobsters owning the slot machines and table games can profit.
For those who don't care about the plight of casino workers and enjoy gambling and the cheap meals served, keep this in mind:
* The Minnesota Department of Public Safety who is supposed to be monitoring slot machine compliance checks fewer than 150 slot machines a year in all of Minnesota.
* Food served in the casinos is not inspected by federal or state inspectors nor is the condition of the places where the food is prepared.
* And for those staying in the casino hotels/motels there has been no building inspections by local or state building inspectors.
As for John McCarthy's claim made on Mid-Morning that all the casinos have been built and constructed by union workers this is an outright big fat lie. I challenge John McCarthy to produce the union contracts. In fact, union business agents and stewards are not even allowed on these construction sites.
And casino workers, like the 5,000 employed by Stanley Crooks at his Mystic Lake Casino empire are forced to sign statements stating that they agree, as terms of their employment, that they will not engage in union organizing knowing they will be fired.
In fact, Stanley Crooks has fired over 200 casino workers from his Mystic Lake Casino empire in the last three years simply for "blogging about working conditions." And not a peep of any of this from Minnesota Public Radio. How come Kerri Miller is allowed to voice her anti-labor and racist views from a radio network funded by tax-payers in addition to casino managements without any restrictions or retribution?
One would think that an industry created by politicians at tax-payer expense while generating tens of billions of dollars annually in profits would require a bit of scrutiny from Minnesota Public Radio but all this industry gets from MPR, its management, program hosts and reporters is unconditional praise.
Kerri Miller doesn't even ask one of Minnesota's leading politicians or John McCarthy who speaks for this dirty, corrupt and disgusting casino industry why it is that these casinos have been allowed to circumvent the ban on smoking applicable to all other places of employment in Minnesota.
How much is it costing Minnesota tax-payers to have 41,000 Minnesotans working in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos where casino workers are fired without compensation of any kind if they develop coughs and begin to lose their hearing?
Perhaps Kerri Miller should invite someone from the Indian Health Service, the Minnesota Heart and Lung Foundation or the American Cancer Society to explain the impact of second-hand smoke on casino workers' health and lives and the impact to their families.
John McCarthy is concerned about all the "nasty things" I have to say about him, the casino managements and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association along with the politicians he bribes and then profits from, again, here on my blog... well, let's talk about the real nasty things John McCarthy brings to Minnesota--- smoke-filled workplaces, poverty and racism.
And if these nasty things and the nasty people like John McCarthy don't get talked talked about here on my popular blog, where do they get talked about? On Minnesota Public Radio? Ha!
After making two points I was cut-off while making the third point at which time the host of the program opened the microphone up to John McCarthy to attack me until he was done with his lies.
If Minnesota Public Radio was the least bit interested in democracy and fairness I would have been provided the opportunity to respond to McCarthy and the viciously anti-labor and racist remark made by the program host that, "no one is forced to work in the casinos."
In fact, two circumstances by themselves and combined do force people to work in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without a voice at work and without any rights under state or federal labor laws.
Circumstance #1:
The faltering economy. Tens of thousands of people are out of work. Economic necessity forces people to work in these casinos. Offer casino workers a job elsewhere at real living wages with good working conditions and their rights protected by state and federal labor laws and these casinos will be left without anyone to staff them.
Circumstance #2:
Racism. Racist hiring practices make it practically impossible for most Native American Indians to get jobs outside of the casino industry. The statistics and facts bear this out. In all the counties and their townships and cities in, near and around where the Indian Reservations of White Earth, Red Lake and Leech Lake are located, there are fewer than 20 Native American Indians employed in these public sectors out of thousands of workers. Because Affirmative Action is not being enforced in accordance with state and federal law, and the townships, cities and counties aren't even required to have Affirmative Action policies and programs in place, these racists don't have any Affirmative Action programs in any of these townships, cities or counties. Racism forces Native Americans to seek employment in these unhealthy smoke-filled casinos where they have no rights, receive poverty wages with no or little benefits and no voice in the workplace.
In fact, when it comes to Native American Indians they are forced to work in these casinos because Circumstance #1--- unemployment and Circumstance #2--- racism are both dominant and determining factors since unemployment rates on these three Indian Reservations range from a low of 60% to a high of 85%.
How can anyone be so arrogant and callous to argue with complete disregard for economic and racist factors that "no one is forced to work in these casinos?" Yet, this is just what Minnesota Public Radio's Mid-Morning host, Kerri Miller, argued. And then she proceeded to arrogantly and undemocratically not allow me to respond while turning the microphone over to John McCarthy to viciously attack me; again, without allowing me to respond.
Now, the facts are such that Minnesota Public Radio has intentionally ignored the plight of casino workers because the casino managements are now underwriting MPR programming to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
And, where do these underwriting funds originate from? Indian Gaming revenues. Racist Indian Gaming which is controlled by a bunch of racist white mobsters who own the slot machines and table games and those like John McCarthy who dole out campaign contributions to the politicians who in return assure them of cheap labor.
John McCarthy and Kerri Miller refused to address the issues I raised:
1. Why don't these casino operations pay taxes as it just happens that if they were taxed like any other business Minnesota would not have any budget problems plus the Indian Nations would receive more than they are presently receiving from gaming revenues?
2. Why didn't John McCarthy or Kerri Miller respond to the fact that 41,000 casino workers are forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws and without any voice at work. Why no explanation as to why this situation exists in the first place?
3. Why didn't John McCarthy or Kerri Miller address the fact that the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association spends tens of millions of dollars contributing to the campaigns of everyone except Native American Indians and there isn't one single Native American Indian sitting amongst Minnesota's more than two-hundred state legislators?
Of course, Kerri Miller, the host of Minnesota Public Radio's Mid-Morning Program did not ask John McCarthy about the ethics of him owning Tony Doom Enterprises, a big-business making millions in profits as a result of selling campaign advertising materials to the very politicians he funnels the campaign contributions to through the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. If this isn't a racket I don't know what is.
I leave it to people to draw their own conclusion as to whether I should have been allowed to respond to the anti-labor and racist response of Kerri Miller and the following vicious attack on me personally by John McCarthy who is such a coward he doesn't dare debate me on these issues but then goes on to attack me for "posting malicious, vicious and nasty things on my blog here" without substantiating one single one of his accusations.
Furthermore, John McCarthy told Kerri Miller that he "knows" me; another outright lie.
People should take a drive by John McCarthy's home and ask why he is living high on the hog as a direct result of his racist role in the impoverishment and ill-health of the Indian people. John McCarthy lives just outside of Bemidji, Minnesota in a two-million dollar estate at 8925Cove Drive NE, Bemidji, Minnesota. Take a drive out to see John McCarthy's estate and then drive through the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth Indian Reservations to see how casino workers getting paid poverty wages have to live or check out the dirty, filthy, rat infested apartment complex in Warroad, Minnesota that Floyd Jourdain and the Red Lake Tribal Council reserve for the members of the Red Lake Nation who work in the Seven Clans Casino Red Lake who have to pay over half of their poverty wages to live there.
Why doesn't Minnesota Public Radio report on any of this? The reason is obvious; John McCarthy and the casino managements and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association are bribing MPR into silence just like the politicians have been bribed to enable this horrendous and most disgraceful situation to come into existence and continue where poverty is the only thing that flourishes so a few mobsters owning the slot machines and table games can profit.
For those who don't care about the plight of casino workers and enjoy gambling and the cheap meals served, keep this in mind:
* The Minnesota Department of Public Safety who is supposed to be monitoring slot machine compliance checks fewer than 150 slot machines a year in all of Minnesota.
* Food served in the casinos is not inspected by federal or state inspectors nor is the condition of the places where the food is prepared.
* And for those staying in the casino hotels/motels there has been no building inspections by local or state building inspectors.
As for John McCarthy's claim made on Mid-Morning that all the casinos have been built and constructed by union workers this is an outright big fat lie. I challenge John McCarthy to produce the union contracts. In fact, union business agents and stewards are not even allowed on these construction sites.
And casino workers, like the 5,000 employed by Stanley Crooks at his Mystic Lake Casino empire are forced to sign statements stating that they agree, as terms of their employment, that they will not engage in union organizing knowing they will be fired.
In fact, Stanley Crooks has fired over 200 casino workers from his Mystic Lake Casino empire in the last three years simply for "blogging about working conditions." And not a peep of any of this from Minnesota Public Radio. How come Kerri Miller is allowed to voice her anti-labor and racist views from a radio network funded by tax-payers in addition to casino managements without any restrictions or retribution?
One would think that an industry created by politicians at tax-payer expense while generating tens of billions of dollars annually in profits would require a bit of scrutiny from Minnesota Public Radio but all this industry gets from MPR, its management, program hosts and reporters is unconditional praise.
Kerri Miller doesn't even ask one of Minnesota's leading politicians or John McCarthy who speaks for this dirty, corrupt and disgusting casino industry why it is that these casinos have been allowed to circumvent the ban on smoking applicable to all other places of employment in Minnesota.
How much is it costing Minnesota tax-payers to have 41,000 Minnesotans working in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos where casino workers are fired without compensation of any kind if they develop coughs and begin to lose their hearing?
Perhaps Kerri Miller should invite someone from the Indian Health Service, the Minnesota Heart and Lung Foundation or the American Cancer Society to explain the impact of second-hand smoke on casino workers' health and lives and the impact to their families.
John McCarthy is concerned about all the "nasty things" I have to say about him, the casino managements and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association along with the politicians he bribes and then profits from, again, here on my blog... well, let's talk about the real nasty things John McCarthy brings to Minnesota--- smoke-filled workplaces, poverty and racism.
And if these nasty things and the nasty people like John McCarthy don't get talked talked about here on my popular blog, where do they get talked about? On Minnesota Public Radio? Ha!
Monday, January 31, 2011
A program for real change...
* Peace--- end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and shutdown the 800 military bases.
* A National Public Health Care System - ten million new jobs.
* A National Public Child Care System - three to five million new jobs.
* WPA - three million new jobs.
* CCC - two million new jobs.
* Tax the hell out of the rich and cut the military budget by ending the wars to pay for it all which will create full employment.
* Enforce Affirmative Action; end discrimination.
* Raise the minimum wage to a real living wage
* What tax-payers subsidize in the way of businesses, tax-payers should own and reap the profits from.
* Moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions.
* Wall Street is our enemy.
* A National Public Health Care System - ten million new jobs.
* A National Public Child Care System - three to five million new jobs.
* WPA - three million new jobs.
* CCC - two million new jobs.
* Tax the hell out of the rich and cut the military budget by ending the wars to pay for it all which will create full employment.
* Enforce Affirmative Action; end discrimination.
* Raise the minimum wage to a real living wage
* What tax-payers subsidize in the way of businesses, tax-payers should own and reap the profits from.
* Moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions.
* Wall Street is our enemy.
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