Global capitalist depression hits Iron Range hard... and this is only the start

The signs are everywhere. The politicians are telling their lies. We are in a global capitalist depression and there is no end in sight.

Politicians are trying to give this the best and most optimistic face they can because to say otherwise would require them to spend a little money helping people instead of fighting wars.

Maybe Leo Gerard should get his butt up to the Iron Range and explain what he is going to do to mobilize the union to fight for real change.

The only solution is nationalization of the mining and steel industry. We should have been pushing this for years instead of waiting for another capitalist economic depression to hit.

Now we are in the midst of the first stage of what is going to be a massive economic depression and once again we are at the mercy of greedy mining bosses who rape the land, exploit the workers and run off with the profits leaving us with new polluted lakes and ore dumps.

Where are those "jobs, jobs, jobs" Oberstar and the Democrats always talk about?

We have had enough of the capitalist system's "ups and downs." The time has come for the working class to bury this capitalist blood-sucking beast.

It is not mining that has inevitable "ups and downs" it is capitalism that has its "ups and downs." These "ups and downs" are part of the normal "boom and bust" capitalist economic cycle. For working people on the Iron Range life never improves for most people even during the "booms."

When something doesn't work, especially when it fails as capitalism has, most people change to something that does work.

Socialism does work.

Iron Range Club, CPUSA


U.S. Steel laying off 400 at Keewatin plant


http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/12/02/us_steel_laying_off_400_at_keewatin_plant/

by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio
December 3, 2008


Hundreds of workers at the taconite plant in Keewatin are wondering how long the layoff will last this time. U.S. Steel has announced it will idle the Keewatin plant, laying off close to 400 workers.

St. Paul, Minn. — KeeTac is one of a handful of U.S. Steel's American operations hit by yesterday's announcement of pending cutbacks. It's the first Minnesota taconite operation to shut down altogether since the recession cut deeply into the demand for Minnesota's taconite pellets.

Company officials have provided few details of the pending shutdown at KeeTac, saying the mine and plant at Keewatin will be idled within the coming weeks.

Spokesman John Armstrong declined to be recorded for broadcast, but said the company will keep enough maintenance staff on hand to bring the taconite mine and production plant back on line when market conditions improve, but couldn't guess when that might happen. Armstrong blames market conditions for steel, which have cut into the sales of autos, appliances and steel used in building construction.

Despite the industry's troubles, a full shutdown was shocking to Keewatin residents. Keewatin Mayor Tom Sampson said maybe half the plant's workers live in the small Itasca County town. He's been uneasily watching U.S. Steel's customers struggle for business.

"Well I kind of watch the steel market, and it just went from great guns to nothing in two weeks," Sampson said. "Then the rest of the mines started working shorter shifts, and all that stuff, but I didn't think they'd shut this one down."


Mining company, Cliffs Natural Resources, announced weeks ago it would cut production at three of its Minnesota mining operations, based in Hibbing, Eveleth, and Silver Bay. But a complete closure of a taconite mining operation like this is the first in years.

It brings back bad memories for State Representative Tom Anzelc of Balsam Township.

"This was the mine that my dad worked at," Anzelc said.

Anzelc said it's hard on the families, especially on young families that maybe haven't prepared for the inevitable ups and downs of mining.

"I feel very bad for the families, and the kids, and the workers, and the spouses and all of that, but we're a pretty resilient group up here in northern Minnesota, as you know," Anzelc said. "I'm hoping that people will hang in there and that toward the end of '09 things will start to look up again. But 2009 is not going to be a good year in Minnesota."

What's surprising is how quickly the fortunes of Minnesota's mining industry have changed. KeeTac is supposed to be getting a $300 million investment to add new equipment for another taconite production line. All that was expected to add 75 new permanent jobs. Anzelc said he's been told permitting and engineering will continue for the expansion, although it's hard to see how U.S. Steel could invest in the plant in the current economic climate.

The temporary closing isn't a surprise to Duluth College of St. Scholastica economist Tony Barrett.

"It's a little worse than I expected when I hear that they're shutting down the whole mine for a while," Barrett said. "But it's not a surprise. And if anyone thought we might be able to dodge this recession like we did the last two national recessions, this is proof that we're not. This is going to be the start of a rough 2009."

U.S. Steel owns another of Minnesota's six taconite operations. Yesterday's annoucement did not mention production or employment cuts at U.S. Steel's MinnTac mining facility in Mountain Iron. MinnTac is Minnesota's largest taconite operation, employing about 1,200 people. But, U.S. Steel is shutting down two other facilities, one in Michigan and one in Missouri.
Broadcast Dates

* Morning Edition, 12/03/2008, 7:25 a.m.

Minnesotans get a political snow job

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Angela Walker, Global Exchange, Alternetorg collude with corrupt Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party (MN DFL)

Every progressive in this country and around the world should be outraged with the lies being invented in order to try to disrupt the struggles of Minnesotans to save jobs.

We all know the Ford Motor Company is conspiring with some of the most crooked and corrupt real-estate speculators in demolishing the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant.

Since the 1948 expulsion of Communists from the leadership of UAW Local 879 this UAW Local has been nothing but a pit of corruption and sell-outs undermining the living standards of auto workers.

We should all remember the real history of UAW Local 879 and the members of the Communist Party USA who blazed the trail in securing the first contract at the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant. These Communists were the only union organizers UAW Local 879 ever had.

Maoist Lynne Hinkle worked with his Trotskyist friends to undermine the struggles of rank and file workers at the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant. They have worked together with this creep Roger TerVeen who now presides over the Local as President never consulting the rank and file on anything much less asking them if they want to fight to save their jobs.

Democratic State Senator James Metzen who employs a creepy conniving secretary Lisa Sarne who never returns phone calls for the purpose of taking minutes of his Senate Committee meetings that no one can understand helped undermine and defeat SF 607. So why does this Alternet published story circulate these lies?

Why didn't the author include an interview with Minnesota State Senator James Metzen?

Lynne Hinkle, a Maoist, has colluded with the anti-worker, anti-communists and the company for years leading the attack on the eight-hour day under the pretense of pushing "green." Hinkle's "green" has transformed into more money in the pockets of Ford management. In return, Hinkle has been rewarded with positions on state citizen committees while Ford workers suffer and lose their jobs.

Today speedup in the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Plant is unbearable. 900 workers are now producing more than 2,000 workers did just a couple years ago. This speedup is not even mentioned in this Alter.net article that Carl Davidson published on the "Progressives for Obama" blog knowing that the entire story was a pack of lies just like the lies the "Progressives for Obama" published about Barack Obama. Minnesotans don't need a snow-job from Global Exchange, Carl Davidson or Alter.net. We have politicians quite capable of deceit and disinformation on their own.

This "green" plan Hinkle has now come up with is only a diversion to enable the Ford Motor Company to demolish the plant.

If Hinkle was truly concerned with anything "green" he would have led the fight for public ownership of the hydro dam powering the Ford Plant for free all of these years.

Lynne Hinkle is scam artist just like Barack Obama which the corrupt, sell-out scoundrels in UAW Local 879 supported with a sign hidden in their Local's window.

Like the Republic Window and Doors plant in Chicago and the Maytag Plant before that Barack Obama has sold out workers at every opportunity never saying or doing anything aimed at saving plants and jobs.

How do you save jobs without saving the plants and the industries where people work.

Capitalism is one big cesspool of corruption and the time has come to get rid of the whole darn mess.

Add to this mess these two pimps for Zionism, Tom Hayden and Carl Davidson with their "Progressives for Obama."

A big thank you to Cassandra James and Alan Maki for exposing this fraud.

Rita




Saturday, December 13, 2008

All Alternet cares about is money; the facts mean nothing
This is the response received concerning the story that Alternet passed off about the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant:


Dear AlterNet Reader,

Thanks for your feedback.

We appreciate your input and applaud you for speaking up. Our
editorial staff reads every piece of feedback submitted -- every
single one. We do this because we sincerely appreciate your
contributions. Our readers are the reason we exist; over the
years, we have incorporated valuable reader suggestions and
comments into improving our organization.

However, as a non-profit organization operating on a tight
budget, we simply don't have the staffing capacity to respond to
every inquiry we receive. If you would like to support AlterNet
and help keep quality independent media available to the masses,
please consider visiting https://www.alternet.org/donate/ and
making a donation right now.

Thanks again for your feedback, and especially for your
commitment to being part of the independent media dialogue.

Sincerely,

The Editors
AlterNet.org

Posted by Alan L. Maki


Democratic Party front groups... the Party hacks heap lie upon lie

-----Original Message-----

From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]

Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 11:59 PM

To: 'cassandra.james@ymail.com'; 'kirsten@globalexchange.org'; 'angela@globalexchange.org'

Cc: 'sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn'; 'Bill Hilty'; Dee DePass 'ddepass@startribune.com'; Benjamin Gross 'bgross8608@aol.com'; Carl Davidson 'CarlD717@aol.com'; Leo Gerard 'lgerard@usw.org'; Ron Gettelfinger 'rgettel@uaw.net'; Dick Long 'DLONG@uaw.net'; 'David Shove'; 'WCS-A@yahoogroups.com'; 'Lynn Hinkle'

Subject: re: lies and more lies about the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant

Cassandra,

Why Angela Walker and Global Exchange knowingly published all of these lies needs to be explained. Any legitimate reporter would have authenticated such an article and sought comments from Minnesota State Legislators.

It is interesting that Alternet allowed Global Exchange to peddle these lies without confirming anything in this wholly fabricated story; and then they used Progressives for Obama to do the rest of their dirty work and give these lies credibility… par for the course with Carl Davidson and Tom Hayden.

We obviously need to do some research to find out the extent to which Global Exchange and Alternet regularly publish these kinds of lies; who they get their money from etc.

I have posted this in the “contact us” at Alternet.

Thank you for bringing this article to my attention.

This is nothing but lies.

You can look for yourself on the Minnesota Legislature’s web site and you can see that there is no such activity as stated here around S.F. 607:


https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getbill.php?session=ls84&number=SF607&version=list

I have also Cc’ed this article to Dee DePass a reporter who has previously written articles about the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant.

This is the same kind of crap and rumors floated in order to thwart opposition to demolishing the Oldsmobile Plant in Lansing, Michigan… again, in the same way Michigan Legislators remained silent as these kinds of rumors were floated. The politicians and big-business have honed and fine-tuned their lies using their front groups.

I have not been able to find one single presently employed member of this Local who knows anything about the Ford Local being in any kind of “coalition” as referred to.

If such a coalition has been formed it has been organized behind the backs of the membership.

No doubt you will be seeing this kind of thing in Detroit, too.

Hinkle and this group are promoting a “people’s ‘green’ capitalism.”
They know this will never fly but their intent is to do what these phony progressives are doing with all issues from ending the war to single-payer universal health care--- trying to thwart and derail any movements aimed at saving jobs and plants.

As far as the hydro dam everyone says it has been sold but neither Ford nor any government officials will provide the details of the sale.

These same politicians enabled Ford to get away without paying one single penny in property taxes for one of the parcels of land ever since Ford owned the property.

They run up phony schemes that sound good but they have no intent in fighting for making people think something good is in the works while the people in power are scamming behind everyone’s backs to do their dirty work.

Lynne Hinckle and UAW leaders have never organized workers anywhere… the present UAW local leadership dropped the ball on SF 607 as a means to save this plant and two-thousand jobs… they couldn’t even muster the support to push SF 607 through one lousy Senate committee that was dominated by Democrats.

The members of this local have never been consulted about this scheme.

The Democrats who make up this Senate Committee chaired by a banker, Jim Metzen, even colluded to make sure the minutes of the meeting were not kept properly.

As you can see, I have Cc’ed this to Minnesota State Senator David Tomassoni who is on this Senate Committee from which there has been no action on SF 607.

In fact, this property upon which is presently situated the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant is going to be turned into a money pit for money grubbing real-estate speculators with poverty wage jobs for workers.

St. Paul needs to protect the housing it already has which is being foreclosed on with families being evicted daily and the Minnesota Legislature is too cowardly to act to defend homeowners. Vacant foreclosed on homes are all over the city right now.
State legislators allowed United States Steel to close down an iron ore mine which is part of their taconite operation.

The only viable alternative to save auto and steel in this country is nationalization of the auto and steel industries and the Democrats are too cowardly to consider this option.

The only “green solution” being sought here is money green… it’s the only green that capitalists and their bought and paid for politicians know.

These people can “envision” all they want to but the only thing they are going to see in the days ahead is these Ford workers getting the shaft.

Now, it is up to David Tomassoni to either confirm the details in this article or to set the record straight.

Both Leo Gerard and Carl Pope are part of this corrupt fiasco, too.
Let us here from Senator David Tomassoni and State Representative Bill Hilty just what the Minnesota Legislature is considering, if anything, concerning the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant… they have an obligation and responsibility to set the record straight.

We see the exact same thing taking place with the anti-war movement and the movement for single-payer universal health care; the same method of operation took place around the impeachment issue, too. We run into the exact same thing with efforts to defend the Big Bog from peat mining.

I would also note that it is the responsibility of any union to struggle to save the jobs of its members not to push the demolition of the plant where they work.

To date, where ever these “green” schemes have been pushed workers end up with one-half to one-third of their former pay… just ask any steelworker who lost their job in the steel mills now building wind generating equipment.
Alan Maki


Option for Obama: Transforming Manufacturing Plants into Community-Saving Business Ventures

Photo: One of Ford’s Largest Plants

Our Future
Is With A New
Energy Economy

By Angela Walker

AlterNet.org

Nov. 12, 2008 - Hit hard by the slowdown in the marketplace and higher fuel prices, Ford Motor Company recently experienced its largest quarterly loss in its 105-year history. With people evacuating their fuel-inefficient vehicles, Ford is experiencing its delayed rude awakening about the unsustainability of an auto industry geared towards producing pickups and sport utility vehicles. Despite plans to introduce six small cars made in Europe to the U.S. market, Ford today announced another 10 percent reduction in salaried payroll costs and will cut as many as 2,200 salaried jobs by January.

Workers and Students Seeking Green Solutions

The oldest Ford plant still in operation — the Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota — will be the epitome of the changes to come. With plans to shut down in 2011, an additional 900 jobs will be lost in a plant that used to employ 2,000 workers. Communities throughout the state have already experienced the brunt of the country’s economic downturn, Minnesota having lost 50,000 manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2006 alone, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

“We’re just hemorrhaging,” states former United Auto Worker (UAW) official, Lynn Hinkle, who retired over a year ago from a 30-year career at the Twin Cities Ford plant.

Yet something unusual is in the works that could change the future of this 140-acre manufacturing site and convert it into a model for green manufacturing.

A coalition of the local UAW 879, McAllister University students, and affordable housing and environmental groups have formed the Alliance to Reindustrialize for a Sustainable Economy (ARISE) to design a green manufacturing site. The ARISE project is currently being considered by the Minnesota Legislature under Senate File 607 as a way to transition workers into a mixed-use facility for green manufacturing.

ARISE is re-envisioning how people look at industry, which historically has collided with the environmental movement. Their reindustrialization plans serve as an opportunity for industry to play a key role in the green economy.

“It is becoming increasingly clear to people in the union movement that our job security is dependent upon the new energy economy,” states Hinkle. “If you’re about family sustaining jobs, you have to connect global warming solutions and jobs otherwise you’re going to have neither.”

Ford’s current training center would be converted into a green jobs training program for onsite wind turbine manufacturing and installation, and light rail car production. A plan to expand the light rail system is in the works to reach out to surrounding, traditionally low-income communities, which have been working with ARISE on the reindustrialization plans.

The Ford plant, located on the Mississippi River, is already connected to a hydroelectric system, which produces 18 megawatts of hydropower, and has powered the plant for over 80 years. Additionally, there exists a maze of tunnels onsite that were originally dug out for silica, used in making glass for windshields. These tunnels may be used for ground-source heating.

“We believe there’s enough green energy sources on site to go totally noncarbon,” says Hinkle.

With 140 acres, the coalition has the space to get creative with its envisioning and holistic approach. Businesses would be brought in to develop retail shops on the lower levels of buildings with affordable, residential units above. Walkways up and over the buildings would connect rooftop restaurants and bars to urban gardens with beautiful views of the Mississippi River. To connect the shops to the light rail, small electric vehicles would be produced onsite.

Throughout the last century, manufacturing jobs and industry have played a significant role in the growth of cities and development of communities by providing families with low entry-level jobs. Communities cannot afford to continue experiencing the off-shoring of their manufacturing jobs, especially during the current economic downturn. ARISE’s plan is to develop this site as a prototype for turning brown fields, or old industrial grounds, into green manufacturing sites to support green jobs and sustainable community development.

Student group Summer of Solutions — in partnership with economic justice organization, Global Exchange — sees the future of their generation invested in this project.

“If we’re going to build the green economy, we have to start here,” says McAllister graduate Joseph Adamji. “The green jobs movement and the whole idea of shifting and expanding economic opportunity are to make social changes happen. As much as this project is about the Ford site, we need to use it as a model for how we develop communities, intentionally and sustainably.”

City planners hope to see this space used as a central hub for sustainability projects for St. Paul and beyond.

“We could redevelop old manufacturing cities like Detroit and bring economic opportunities and prosperity,” states Adamji. “We’re trying to say that industry can play a role in the green economy.”

Decarbonize, reindustrialize, equalize, is what ARISE is saying. The new energy economy can be used to battle lagging economic opportunities and social inequity. ARISE hopes to inspire communities — from Flint, Michigan to Richmond, California — to decide how they want to develop a new sense of community. Reindustrialization can be part of this process by formulating ways to generate green energy, mass transit, higher density and energy efficient buildings, and affordable housing.

“This is an opportunity to change the landscape literally and figuratively,” says Hinkle. “What a great basis to rebuild the union movement. It’s an opportunity for the green union movement to emerge, where unions can stand center stage and create aspirations for our entire society.”

Angela Walker is the media director for Global Exchange.

© 2008 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.

View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/106425/

Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Human Rights and Racism in Minnesota

One day of the year is Human Rights Day in Minnesota... the rest of the year is human rights abuse day for Native Americans by state and federal officials.



-----Original Message-----

From: Bill Hilty [mailto:Rep.Bill.Hilty@house.mn]

Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 4:34 PM

To: Alan Maki

Subject: Your msg: Big Bog State Rec Question


Alan,

The Big Bog State Recreation Area received $1,600,000 in the bonding bill this year (CH 179, Sec. 7, subdivision 23). The amount was for "improvements at the Big Bog State Recreation Area, including betterments to the contact station and forest restoration."

Let me know if you need anything else.

Rebekah Smith
Legislative Assistant



Request for further information and action---


Rebekah Smith and Representative Hilty;

Thank you for this information you have provided.

I write you today on the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights because the issue at hand is of great relevance to our celebrating this document as we work to assure its full and complete implementation.

I need not lecture you because you know and understand all to well the severe abuses of human rights First Nation Peoples have been subjected to... the issue of peat mining in the Big Bog is just one more in a long line of these human rights abuses which seems to be unending when it comes to the plight of First Nation peoples.

In fact, the human rights abuses faced by the peoples of the Red Lake Nation for centuries are well documented and if there is a text-book case to be made for the violation of the sovereign and human rights of a people it is the history of the shameful and despicable treatment of the people of the Red Lake Nation by the state and federal governments and a myriad of state agencies and bureaucracies not to mention the daily racist indignities the people of the Red Lake Nation are so often subjected to as they seek a better life and an improved standard of living.

Nor do I have to explain to you the complexities of a people striving to survive cooperatively as dog-eat-dog system of "free enterprise" thwarts and stymies all initiatives taken by the people of the Red Lake Nation to survive--- over the years, the people of the Red Lake Nation have endured insults from right-wing conservative politicians who view their sovereign nation derogatorily and derisively as "a welfare state," "a small socialist island in the north woods of Minnesota," and "America's little Cuba," etcetera--- depending on the mood of these racist bigots and to what self-serving political ends they can twist their bigoted musings and stupid racist mutterings.

The examples of Mr. Tony Cornish and Mr. Jim Abeler in the current period are only a few such examples of such backwards and racist thinking reaching into the Minnesota legislature. Of course, Mr. Abeler apologized; and Mr. Cornish never even has had the common human decency to apologize. Perhaps if the Indian Nations were represented in the Minnesota State Legislature and on Minnesota's Congressional delegation this racism and indifference to racism would be corrected. Shameful as it is that there is not one single Native American in the Minnesota State Legislature or among our Congressional delegation in spite of the large Native American population whose needs go unmet and unrepresented in spite of the existence of such atrocious problems and important documents like the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human calling for full representation and participation of all members of society.

I think you will agree with me that if Minnesota had just one single Native American sitting in the Minnesota State Legislature the permit to mine peat in the Big Bog which threatens the very existence and survival of the Red Lake Nation and its people would never have been issued; now would this racist boondoggle have ever seen the light of day.

More information is required; and I would like to advise you of a new dimension and concern regarding this project of peat mining in the Big Bog. As you are fully aware, the fate and the very existence of the Red Lake Nation and its people are intricately, inseparably connected, woven and tied together. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough. The United Nations has for a long time recognized the plight of peoples as connected to the ecosystems that support their continued existence as sovereign nations.

Today is the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even a school child reading this Declaration and then learning of the "permitting process" authorizing this peat mining in the Big Bog can understand the flagrant and intentional violations of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights taking place here in North Minnesota.

We had a meeting in Red Lake last night, initiated by the people of Red Lake who are growing increasingly concerned that their tribal officials and state officials along with the Upper Red Lake "Friends of the Big Bog" and federal public officials and governmental agencies have excluded them from the decision-making process as to the future of the Big Bog which has been scientifically established in the most definitive scientific work on the Big Bog in the "Patterned Peat Lands of Minnesota" edited by Wright, et. al. and used in every college and university course on natural resource management contains an entire chapter on the relationship of the Big Bog to the very survival of the Red Lake Nation and its peoples.

To make matters worse, the letter you have seen allegedly authored by then Chairman Gerald "Butch" Brun, which I obtained from Pegg Julson--- then head of the MN DNR Littlefork Forestry Division (she was demoted for providing me a copy of this letter from Gerald "Butch" Brun; a letter I then publicly distributed--- a letter immediately and publicly repudiated by the Red Lake Nation Tribal Council after I gave the Council the letter which made the position of the Red Lake Nation very clear as stated through resolution and letter as being the exact same position as was articulated in the "Patterned Peat Lands of Minnesota" which used a statement from then Chairman of the Red Lake Nation, Roger Jourdain, who clearly and forcefully articulated this position on behalf of the Red Lake Nation for over fifty years which remains the guiding position to this very day.

A now retired Red Lake Tribal administrative bureaucrat who was part of the Administration of Gerald "Butch" Brun was at the meeting last night and speculated based on the fact he would have seen this letter had it gone through the proper channels as required by the Rules and Laws and Procedures of the Red Lake Nation and is very familiar with Gerald "Butch" Brun's handwriting, could not say for certain if the signature was the handwriting of Gerald "Butch" Brun. As you are aware, Chairman Gerald "Butch" Brun suffered a severe stroke during his brief tenure which could account for the handwriting ambiguity; however, as I have long thought based upon the reaction when I first confronted Chairman Brun in his Red Lake office concerning this "letter" and given his enraged denial in writing the letter... it is now speculated that another individual, namely Roger Head, may have written this letter and forged Chairman Brun's signature to it.

At this point, this is speculation as to what happened; however, given that ALL SCIENTIFIC DATA then, and presently available--- including ALL data from the Red Lake Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (which hid very important data that the Black River was already contaminated with mercury before the permit to authorize this peat mining was authorized; including concealing this fact during the EIS process)... but, most importantly, the people of the sovereign Red Lake Nation and their Tribal Government who have a long-standing opposition to peat mining in the Big Bog which is well documented and well known to every single politician in the State of Minnesota, they were not consulted with as required by state and federal laws or the intent of those laws; I am therefore, again, requesting that you broach this issue with the entire MN DFL Legislative caucus at the federal and state level--- both representatives and senators, and in light of the new concerns raised over the "letter" from Red Lake Nation Chairman Gerald "Butch" Brun which "dropped" Red Lake's historic opposition to peat mining in the Big Bog" which we ALL know was the ONLY reason this racist and environmentally destructive project was ever permitted in the first place.

Without this "letter" from Red Lake Nation Chairman Gerald "Butch" Brun this permit to mine peat in the Big Bog never would have been authorized; you know this; I know this; every single politician in this state knows this.

Someone in government, upon receiving this "letter" from Chairman Brun had a responsibility to go before the Red Lake Nation Tribal Council, the sovereign government of the sovereign Red Lake Nation; and knowing of this historic opposition should have asked what was going on.

In fact, everyone in government, instead of demonstrating a proper degree of concern and a questioning attitude, tried to hide and conceal this very important "letter."

Had it not been for the diligence of one single person employed in the bureaucracy of Minnesota government, namely, Pegg Julson--- who lost her job because she took her job and the responsibilities of her job seriously--- still today, we would never have known about the existence of this "letter" even though I requested this letter from United States Congressman James Oberstar, United States Congressman Colin Peterson, Gene Merriam who at the time was Commissioner of Natural Resources, the Koochiching County Commission and from Paul Nevanen, Director of KEDA, who we now know removed this "letter" , now allegedly, from Red Lake Nation Chairman Gerald "Butch" Brun from the file before providing me access to the casino and peat mining venture files... an illegal act on the part of KEDA Director Paul Nevanen which leads me to think he was probably mired in the scheme to embezzle public funds, too.

I am firmly convinced that the sloppy and shoddy record keeping systems of both the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners and the Koochiching Economic Development Authority are intended, not only to keep important records out of the hands of citizens so they can be an educated part of the decision-making process as called for by the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights; but, such shoddy record keeping is done in order to cover up embezzlement and other criminal wrong-doing.

It is frequently the case where attacks on democracy go hand-in-hand with governmental corruption... so frequent in fact that it is safe to say that corruption and anti-democratic measures are integrally fused and connected with the result ending up as a racist attack on people of color--- as is the case here.

To add to all of this, former Commissioner of the MN DNR--- Gene Merriam (a former state senator), to this very day--- denies ever authorizing this peat mining permit. Worse yet, he claims no knowledge of peat mining in the Big Bog even though the permit to mine this peat claims that he authorized it.

So, we have here on the one hand, a very suspect "letter" from a very important Tribal government official is now dead who, while living, became enraged when asked why he signed this "letter;" and, we have a still living former Commissioner of Natural Resources, Gene Merriam, who, according to this permit authorized it but steadfastly claiming any and all knowledge of anything to do with this peat mining and adamantly states he did not authorize the permit!

And, in face of these two very important facts, and entire state legislature and the governor are allowing peat mining in the Big Bog to proceed as if they are completely oblivious to the consequences.

This permit to mine peat in the Big Bog in the Pine Island State Forest to the huge Canadian multi-national corporation--- Berger, Ltd.--- should be immediately revoked; the sheer corruption this project is mired in requires no less; respect for the human rights of the people of the Red Lake Nation requires this revocation of the permit.

The terms of the permit are such, and specifically stated that the Minnesota Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources has the discretionary authority to revoke this permit up until the time the first building foundation has been poured.

I am requesting that you gather together legislators without haste to determine what needs to be done to right this grave injustice now rising to the level of violating the human rights of the people of the Red Lake Nation.

I am sure Minnesota legislators, federal and state, will now be hearing from the grassroots peoples of the Red Lake Nation in support of their Tribal Governments resolution to state and federal public officials and government agencies and bureaucracies.

The head of the MN DNR Little Fork Forestry office tells me that full-scale land clearing is to commence right now. This must be halted; the government officials at all levels responsible for the corrupt manner in orchestrating this dirty racist deed must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law with full restitution of all tax-payer expenditures and those funds from the taconite tax be fully repaid.

As you are aware, this peat mining was first conceived as a "deal" concocted behind closed doors as an "exchange" for the Red Lake Nation receiving favorable consideration for building and operating a casino in International Falls and Koochiching County being able to promote economic growth and jobs. No matter how this peat mining is viewed, from the perspective of those wanting to mine the peat to those who initially pushed the idea of a casino... both projects are now exposed as the fiasco they were right from the start... the casino deal has fallen through (for whatever reason--- ostensibly the overwhelming majority of the people of International Falls and Koochiching County are opposed to the casino while Red Lake the majority of the people of the Red Lake Nation and most all Minnesotans are opposed to this peat mining boondoggle proceeding in the Big Bog in the Pine Island State Forest.

Further, I remind you that tax-payers and the taconite tax fund have been swindled out of hundreds of thousands of dollars--- many of those dollars attached to this peat mining project--- in the now fully exposed theft of public funds through the Koochiching Economic Development Authority by one Brenda Long. I would point out the Director of the KEDA systematically fought all of my requests to examine KEDA documents pertaining to this peat mining for casino venture.

Had I been allowed to examine these documents as requested, including requests made through the Data Practices Act and FOIA, hundreds of thousands of tax-payer dollars and taconite tax funds could have been saved and used for real socially needed and necessary programs and projects including alleviating the deplorable poverty of people living on the Red Lake Nation Reservation.

To think that what is perhaps a continuing multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme was going on, undetected, almost from the very beginning of this peat mining for casino project when I first sought access to these files until the permit to mine peat was authorized is nothing short of deplorable and shameful.

In denying citizens access to important information required to oppose the permitting process--- including access to the letter allegedly submitted by Red Lake Nation Chairman Gerald Butch Brun and the finances of this project. I would further note, that even after I won the right to access to KEDA files, Director Nevanen withdrew the Brun "letter" and financial information from KEDA files and the Secretary of the Koochiching County Board in complete complicity with all members of the County Board with-held this information from me and added further to the complexities of this case as they brought in the office of the Koochiching County Sheriff to threaten me with arrest as I attempted to deliver a written request for these records under the Data Practices Act and the FOIA.

(And it was not just I be denied this important public information, because, as you are fully aware, I shared all information on this dirty racist deal with everyone in a way that has empowered them to fully participate in the decision-making process--- something state legislators should have been doing in accordance with the fiduciary responsibility that comes along with being elected to serve the people. Just as I shared this information you provided with people already at Red Lake and beyond.)

I don't think you will find anyone who really believes that the Koochiching Economic Development Authority's Brenda Long acted alone in swindling tax-payers and the taconite-tax fund in this embezzlement scheme. It was only she and Director Paul Nevanen working in the small two-person operation in a very small two-room office where anyone with the least little bit of business acumen and basic understanding of accounting practices with a third grader's knowledge of addition and subtraction concerning a mere handful of transactions would have, and should have, been able to stop this criminal embezzlement scheme for which tax-payers and the taconite-tax fund have not, and probably never will be, reimbursed.

In addition, I call to your attention the fact that at one point, in the records of KEDA (from the minutes as recorded by none other than swindler and embezzler extraordinaire Brenda Long), these perpetrators of this very racist peat mining for casino scheme lament the fact that "only" $350,000.00 dollars was spent on one of the infra-structure projects on initial upgrading on the road to the peat mining site and that they had another $150,000.00 to spend out of the $500,000.00 allocation for straightening out a few curves in a gravel road and even after the straightening of the curves took place and the "improvements were completed per the requirements of the Koochiching County Engineer, further work was supposedly done on these curves to spend the rest of the allocation!

And we wonder why Minnesota is in debt up to its eye-balls to the tune of billions of dollars! With swindlers and embezzlers like Brenda Long having access to public funds it is no wonder no one can come up with a full accounting of our State's real debt.

Again, I implore you to step in and put an end to what can only be described as a racist boondoggle and a fiasco financed unwittingly by Minnesota and federal tax-payers.

I would also call to your attention the United States Congressman James Oberstar is denying his involvement in this racist peat mining boondoggle even though the head of the United States Army Corps of Engineers in St. Paul, Mr. Robert Whiting, will tell you he authorized this permit to mine peat only as a result of "congressional arm twisting." Robert Whiting identifies Congressman James Oberstar as the "congressional arm twister."

I need not remind you of the pernicious and racist role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vis-à-vis their activities regarding Red Lake and the Red Lake Nation and the associated ecosystems over many decades; the environmental damage the done by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to this important ecosystem is well documented on their own web site and tax-payers are now footing the bill to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to remedy the destruction to an ecosystem which was being protected well by the people of the Red Lake Nation until U.S Army Corps of Engineer intervention... this, coupled with the depletion of walleye and other fish stocks and now the massive timber harvests laying vast areas of the Red Lake Nation to waste as corporations plunder in quest of greater profits while Red Lake's schools deteriorate, the housing question persists, people cannot afford to heat their homes and joblessness on this reservation is a complete disgrace as drug pushing and casinos create problems... it is with this entire scenario in mind that it is on this day in which we exhorted to foster the goals of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that I implore you, once again, to do something to get this permit to mine peat revoked by discussing this issue with your colleagues, who, on this issue the MN DFL should be in complete control as far as getting the permit to mine peat revoked, if not permanently, than at least on a temporary basis until all of this can be examined fully with proper input from the people of the Red Lake Nation... respect for human rights, and the dignity of the people of the Red Lake Nation and their future existence requires no less.

Again, if you could provide me with the complete expenditure allocated by the State of Minnesota for the establishment of the Big Bog State Park, the Big Bog Beach and the Big Bog Interpretive Center including the Boardwalk, this would be appreciated; including all pertinent legislative actions by name and statute number.

We really need to know the complete expenditures made by the tax-payers of Minnesota for the complete project because this project has been carried out with the stated intended purpose of educating the public on the need to protect the Big Bog and, supposedly, to educate Minnesotans and visitors to our state on the importance of the people of the Red Lake Nation in protecting the Big Bog for centuries and the importance of the Big Bog to the continued existence of the Red Lake Nation and its people. An interconnection established and confirmed by the people of the Red Lake Nation and confirmed by scientists at every level of governmental bureaucracy then rejected for political expediency serving corporate interests.

Once again we see the threats to democracy when the Minnesota Legislature sits in silence and turns a blind eye to this kind of racist injustice embodied in this peat mining for casino venture. Everyone loses except the Canadian corporation which will truck away the profits compliments of Minnesota and federal tax-payers.

Please confirm that you have received this e-mail.

Again, thanking you for your assistance in this matter;

Sincerely,

Alan L. Maki
Writing on behalf of "Save Our Bog"

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541

Workers Occupy Factory in struggle for their rights

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Workers Occupy Factory in struggle for their rights

"Republic Windows and Doors workers require the support of all working people. They fight for our rights as they fight for their own rights."

Maggie Bird
President,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council






Workers Occupy Factory

Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008

Incidences similar to this may soon be taking place across the United States. Seize the day, seize the hour, seize the means of production.

The workers of Republic Windows and Doors are right this minute occupying their factory, which was due to close at 10:00 AM this morning. The workers are fighting for pay for their lost vacation days and for the 75 days notice that they are guaranteed under Illinois law. This is the first time in many years workers have taken the bold, militant strategy of occupying their place of work to demand justice. The plan to occupy the plant until the hear the results of the next round of negotiations Monday afternoon. THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY HAVE OUR SUPPORT!!!

A rally has been planned for 12:00 Noon tomorrow.

Please attend.

BUT WE SHOULD ORGANIZE A CONSTANT PRESENCE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS PICKETING OUTSIDE THE FACTORY! BRING FOOD AND COFFEE FOR THE WORKERS. It is our presence and the press that is the workers best defense against the police raiding the factory.

These workers are fighting for all of us!!! As the economic crisis deepens we need to launch a working class fight back.

These workers are the starting point and deserve our full support.

Go to…

Republic Windows & Doors
1333 N. Hickory
On Goose Island, near the intersection of Division & Clyborn



Chicago factory occupied



December 6, 2008

WORKERS OCCUPYING the Republic Windows & Doors factory slated for closure are vowing to remain in the Chicago plant until they win the $1.5 million in severance and vacation pay owed them by management.

In a tactic rarely used in the U.S. since the labor struggles of the 1930s, the workers, members of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1110, refused to leave the plant on December 5, its last scheduled day of operation.

"We decided to do it because this is money that belongs to us," said Maria Roman, who's worked at the plant for eight years. "These are our rights."

Word of the occupation spread quickly both among labor and immigrant rights activists--the overwhelming majority of the workers are Latinos. Seven local TV news stations showed up to do interviews and live reports, and a steady stream of activists arrived to bring donations of food and money and to plan solidarity actions.

Management claims that it can't continue operations because its main creditor, Bank of America (BoA), refuses to make any more loans to the company. After workers picketed BoA headquarters December 3, bank officials agreed to sit down with Republic management and UE to discuss the matter at a December 5 meeting arranged by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill), said UE organizer Leah Fried.

BoA had said that it couldn't discuss the matter with the union directly without written approval from Republic's management. But Republic representatives failed to show up at the meeting, and plant managers prepared to close the doors for good--violating the federal WARN Act that requires 60 days notice of a plant closure.

The workers decided this couldn't go unchallenged. "The company and Bank of America are throwing the ball to one another, and we're in the middle," said Vicente Rangel, a shop steward and former vice president of Local 1110.

Many workers had suspected the company was planning to go out of business--and perhaps restart operations elsewhere. Several said managers had removed both production and office equipment in recent days.

Furthermore, while inventory records indicated there were plenty of parts in the plant, workers on the production line found shortages. And the order books, while certainly down from the peak years of the housing boom, didn't square with management's claims of a total collapse. "Where did all those windows go?" one worker asked.

Workers were especially outraged that Bank of America, which recently received a bailout in taxpayer money, won't provide credit to Republic. "They get $25 billion from the government, and won't loan a few million to this company so workers can keep their jobs?" said Ricardo Caceres, who has worked at the plant for six years.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE MEMBERS of Local 1110 have a history of struggle. In 2004, they decertified the Central States Joint Board--a union notorious for corruption and sweetheart contracts with management--and brought in UE, a far more democratic organization.

In May of this year, Local 1110 mobilized for a contract by organizing a "practice" picket, and 70 workers used their lunch break to confront the boss with a petition listing their demands. The workers were able to turn back company's effort to win major concessions and won solid pay increases.Now, management is trying to get revenge by pocketing money that belongs to the workers.

UE officials and workers acknowledge that it will be difficult to stop the plant from closing. But they're determined to get the money owed to them--and they believe that by fighting, they can set an example for other workers facing layoffs and plant closures as the recession deepens.

Negotiations are set for Monday, December 8. Whatever happens, however, the workers have already sent a message to employers that if they violate workers rights and the law, they can expect a fight.

"This is a message to the workers of America," said Vicente Rangel, the shop steward. "If we stand together, we will prevail until justice is done, and we get what we're due."

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

What you can do

If you live in the Chicago area, come to a rally on Saturday, December 6, at 12 Noon at Republic Windows, 1333 N. Hickory in Chicago, on Goose Island.

If negotiations with Bank of America fail to resolve the issue, there will be a picket of BoA's Chicago headquarters at 231 S. LaSalle on Tuesday, December 9 at 12 noon.



Members of Local 1110 need your support.

Make checks payable to the UE Local 1110 Solidarity Fund, and mail to:
37 S. Ashland, Chicago, IL 60607.

Messages of support can be sent to leahfried@gmail.com.

For more information, call UE at 312-829-8300.

At the Jobs with Justice Web site, you can send a message of protest to Bank of America (http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bankofamerica/).

Maki says, "DEBT IS POVERTY!" and we agree

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2008114616/prepare-great-battle-2009#comment-9452

Before I go any further, I want to say something to my progressive friends on the left, and those more liberal than left, who were so adamant that we should all fall in line and give our uncritical support to Obama; and then go on to say in the face of Obama lining up what is obviously a pro-war, anti-democratic, anti-labor cabinet completely complicit in the repressive measures we have seen ranging from taking away signs from those attending Obama campaign rallies saying, “End the wars now!” to “We want health care not war fare; single-payer universal health care now” to remaining silent as black-suited police riot squads attacked people peacefully demonstrating their concerns during both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions:

Where are you now when things like this are being published? What has happened to your voices now that you know the economic facts were intentionally skewed and hidden from the American people and we were lied to about the economy by Obama and the Democrats the same way Bush lied about the wars? You must take us all for complete fools when you sing “Give Obama a chance.” What has happened to the great progressive sea-change of epic historical proportions? Where is that fight-back you promised? What has happened to the struggle for peace and social and economic justice you promised to participate in “after Obama gets elected?”

Where are your voices in response to these kinds of things being dished out not by the day, but by the minute from those who will do and say anything to save the Democratic Party from a real working class led challenge.

In not responding to these pieces you obviously have given up any hope for real progressive reforms like single-payer universal health care.

You wrote so eloquently and passionately condemning those of us who wanted no part of your Obama campaign; now you remain silent as these capitalist sooth-Sayers ply their trade, again, under the guise of “liberalism,” “progressivism” and even “socialism.”

Where are the Tom Hayden’s, the Carl Davidson’s the Eric Mann’s now that their voices are really needed in defense of working class interests. Where is that big-mouth labor leader Leo Gerard who boasted that he got ten-thousand steel workers out for Obama.

We know where Ron Gettelfinger is, holding up the dumb donkey’s tail begging for the sparrows to leave something behind for auto workers.

Just like these people always do, talk big and run for cover when their voices are needed.

Just a few days ago Leo Gerard wrote to Obama, “We are with you.” What did Leo Gerard mean, that he was with Obama in driving down the standard of living for the entire working class because if Obama gets away with these trillion dollar schemes, working people in the United States will be no better off than any poverty wracked country in Asia, Africa or Latin America.

DEBT IS POVERTY!

After I posted the response to this guy (see very bottom), I started thinking and I couldn’t help but add this:

I can't help but add this...

By Alan Maki | November 17th, 2008 - 1:25pm GMT



You know, you people who boosted Obama act like you didn't know how bad the economy was or where it was headed.



If you really didn't know, why should anyone take your advice now?



The capitalists have become rich by creating all these problems as a result of stealing the wealth created by the working class… leaving working people with nothing but poverty and a mess to clean up.



And now you have the unmitigated gall to suggest that we should give up our future, the future's of our children and probably our great grand children to save this rotten capitalist system.



Barack Obama should have considered being more honest with the American people with where this economy was at while campaigning.



On numerous occasions he was asked how he was going to pay for that pitiful little social programs he advocated with the economy going belly-up.



At no time did Obama nor any of you who so enthusiastically supported him bother to inform the American people how bad the economy was... instead, you chose to plug along talking about what a great progressive "sea-change" was at hand.



And now we find that the only thing Obama is going to do is try to save this rotten capitalist system.



It looks to me like you and Obama have used up whatever goodwill and trust you gained by deceiving the American people as you have.



If Obama did not know the seriousness of the problems he should resign right now because he obviously isn't going to know what to do as far as solving the problems in the interest of working people he claimed to represent.


The Great Battle of 2009


Campaign for America’s Future STAFF

By Bernie Horn

November 16th, 2008 - 11:13pm ET



What will be the top priority for the Obama administration at the beginning of 2009? Enacting health care for all? Pursuing energy independence? Rewriting NAFTA?

None of those (I’m sorry to report).



The great opening battle—the one we absolutely have to win—is enactment of an economic recovery program of unprecedented size and scope. Without this, our economy will fall into a deep recession, putting all of our progressive goals in serious jeopardy.



This week's lame-duck Congress will do little or nothing to address the problem. January will find us facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Unemployment, foreclosures and bank failures are already going through the roof. The stock market, home values and consumer confidence are already going through the floor. And things will get worse.



Here’s the politically painful truth: The only way to save our economy is to commence a massive increase in federal spending—requiring as much as $1 trillion in deficit spending over the next two years.



Leading economists like Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, Dean Baker—and even the great majority of economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal—know that economic recovery will be expensive. But Americans don’t even know this issue is coming because it went unmentioned during the election campaign. That’s a political problem because deficit spending is widely unpopular.



Americans assume that deficits are bad and balanced budgets are good. One post-election poll found that 61 percent say “reducing the federal budget deficit” should be a “top priority” for the new president, and another 31 percent say it should be “important.” But in a severe recession, that’s bad economic policy. In fact, trying to balance the budget during a recession is the recipe for depression—it was Herbert Hoover’s recipe, to be precise.



Put in the context of economic recovery, Americans remain sharply divided about federal spending. A post-election poll sponsored by Campaign for America’s Future asked voters if they were “more worried that we will fail to make the investments we need to create jobs and strengthen the economy” or “more worried that we will go too far in increasing government spending and will end up raising taxes to pay for it.” The first statement won agreement from 49 percent; 48 percent agreed with the second. So progressives have work to do.



How do we begin to prepare Americans to support us in the coming battle?



First, keep up a steady drumbeat for an Obama “economic recovery program.” The same CAF poll found that most voters support the general idea.



Second, explain that the recovery program will help “make health insurance affordable and accessible to all Americans,” “end dependence on foreign oil,” and “make job-creating investments in America’s aging roads and transportation systems”—specific goals that are widely popular.



Third, don’t accept the argument that our economic recovery plan is too costly. Even if we spend $500 billion per year, it will still be far less than the cost of letting the U.S. economy plummet into a years-long, severe recession.



Finally, explain to people worried about the politics that while “deficit spending” is unpopular, it’s not a make-or-break voting issue. Voters didn’t punish Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush for their massive deficit spending, and voters didn’t reward Al Gore for the Clinton-Gore Administration’s success in balancing the federal budget.



Bottom line: Barack Obama needs your help. If progressives spend the next nine weeks building support for a robust economic recovery plan, the next president will have a much easier time enacting his top priority legislation.



Tomorrow, the Campaign for America's Future will kick off the conversation with a conference on "Real Investment in America" at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. For more about economic recovery and public investments, see our new Institute for America's Future economy webpage.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The writer is a Senior Fellow at Campaign for America’s Future and author of the recent book, Framing the Future: How Progressive Values Can Win Elections and Influence People.





Get real...

By Alan Maki | November 17th, 2008 - 12:46pm GMT



You write:



"Here’s the politically painful truth: The only way to save our economy is to commence a massive increase in federal spending—requiring as much as $1 trillion in deficit spending over the next two years."



First of all federal spending on "bailouts" to Wall Street bankers, coupon clippers and the Big Three is only going to make matters worse.



Who do you propose giving this government dole to?



Do you read the newspapers?



Today the headlines blare out at us:



"This is not your 'garden variety' downturn."



We are in the throes of a classic capitalist depression and "overproduction" is the culprit. This means economic depression has struck because workers cannot purchase back what they have produced because they have no purchasing power.



If you deny this is the case, then prove it.



Where are your proposed trillions of dollars going to come from?



Where are those trillions of dollars going to go?



You are assuming, like Barack Obama, that an economic philosophy has failed when it is the capitalist economic system that has failed.



Getting a trillion dollars (your figure) into the hands of working people to spend will require tax-payers putting up well over 6 trillion dollars because Wall Street coupon clippers skim the cream right off the top everytime this is tried.



Spending in this senseless way pushed the U.S. economy to the verge of a never-ending depression just before World War Two began. If not for the buildup to war we would still be mired in an economic depression and poverty just like most of the rest of the world.



And now you are proposing the exact same failed policy, eighty years later.



We need massive redistribution of wealth in this country and we need it fast. This is the only thing that is going to prevent massive human misery.



Rather than spending enormous sums as you propose... Obama should be looking at doing just the opposite of your "maximum deficit spending."



The first thing should be a drastic increase in the minimum wage to a real living wage. Raise the minimum wage so high it makes these Wall Street pigs squeal.



Raise Social Security three-fold to where it should be... we can pay this fund back as we reclaim our stolen wealth that has found its way into bank accounts in the Cayman Islands.



Implement socialized health care; forget about all other health care reforms... this puts trillions of dollars into the hands of working people almost overnite... real purchasing power.



Tax the hell out of business and let them cry.



In combination, begin the most massive infrastructure maintainance and rebuilding in world history... do it through the federal government public works program by-passing the private contractors who have been feeding at the public trough just like the Wall Street bankers and the greedy military-financial-industrial complex.

This is where the remaining "bailout" funds should be invested, in your proposed public works projects.



An emergency measure: Forgive all student debt... again, this frees up billions without having to go to the tax-payers.



We need to do everything possible to undermine the capitalist economy including letting the banks fail and pave the way for socialism so that we never again end up with this kind of mess.



Two massive capitalist depressions in the 1800's; one big one in the 1900's; now the grand-daddy of them all and you want to shore up a system that has been breeding this kind of massive human misery? And we haven't even considered the long-term, never-ending poverty of most of the rest of the world!



Stop these senseless wars for oil and dope and invest those funds in the kinds of social programs required to provide working people with the kind of decent life they are entitled to for having created such tremendous wealth now being squandered by a bunch of dumb clucks and being turned over to another bunch of dumb donkeys.



Forget about capitalist economics, forget about "free enterprise;" just do what is required for working people to live decent lives free from poverty for a change.



Give socialism the chance to see what it can do; capitalism has failed.







Alan L. Maki

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell phone: 651-587-5541

E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net



Check out my blog:



Thoughts From Podunk



http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

U.S. Chamber of Commerce vows to work with Obama

No doubt profits are the one and only concern:


Chamber vows to work with Obama
Published: Nov. 4, 2008 at 11:53


WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced quickly Tuesday night it would work with President-elect Barack Obama on the economy.

The chamber also pledged to work with the new Congress, where Democrats scored big majorities in the House and Senate.

The pledges of cooperation were a quick turnaround from the chamber's activities during the campaign. The chamber raised money to oppose Democratic candidates and reported deploying nearly 600 staffers to key states, spending millions of dollars on ads, sending 15 million e-mails and 6.5 million pieces of mail, and making more than 6 million phone calls.

"Restoring the nation's economic health must be our top priority," U.S. Chamber President Thomas J. Donohue said in a statement. "Any successful and sustainable recovery will involve the business sector, which creates the jobs, the growth and the revenues on which all Americans and our government depend. The U.S. Chamber stands ready to work with the new administration and Congress on measures to spur growth and jobs by restoring credit and confidence throughout the economy, producing more American energy, rebuilding our infrastructure, and reforming our schools."

Donohue said the chamber wants to play a helpful role in the transition process.

"We will offer our policy ideas, access to our many domestic and international experts, and views on key appointees," he said.

Middle-Class Muddle

My response to this is at the bottom.

You know, there is so much gushing going on over Obama it makes me sick. I can understand people not wanting to see John McCain get elected. But, for those proclaiming themselves to be liberal and progressive to so thoroughly distort--- and convincingly, continuingly, and intentionally distort--- where Obama stands on the issues is nothing short of dishonest. To me it is just as deceitful as the reasons George Bush provided in going to war in Iraq.

This anything goes just to get Obama elected is the absolute bottom of the garbage can down among the maggots as far as I am concerned especially when it comes from outfits like the Campaign for America’s Future and the AFL-CIO who, together with about thirty of their “coalition partners” put forward a “program” in opposition to the bailout but then kept on spending and spending on Obama’s campaign to the tune of some 160 million dollars while not providing one single penny for implementing a grassroots and rank and file fight-back around their program which now just sits there hidden away in some archives on the Internet except for when one of these groups or their “coalition partners” drag it out to say, “Look we have a response to Bush.” Well, why haven’t they asked Obama to respond since he, not Bush, is going to be the next President?

In fact, the reason for this complete dishonesty is that the Democratic Party hacks have seen up close what is taking place in this country--- millions of working people no longer are buying what Obama and the Democrats are selling in their infomercials.

I also hope you will check out another discussion taking place on the Campaign for America’s Future web site… the one on health care I have highlighted; just click on the topic: How Universal Health Care Changes Everything
Alan Maki


Joel Kotkin's Middle-Class Muddle


By Amy Traub

October 29th, 2008 - 11:48am ET



October 28, 2008



by OurFuture.org Staff

October 30, 2008

When Alan Greenspan admits free market ideology is flawed, you know conservative thought is up a creek.

But never fear: if conservative economic ideas have been discredited, the Right can still distort progressive ones.

Joel Kotkin’s recent article in Politico is a prime example of such misinformation. Kotkin recognizes that economic polarization has put the future of the nation’s middle class at risk. He doesn’t appear impressed by McCain’s warmed-over tax-cuts-cure-all dogma. But he isn’t willing to honestly assess Obama’s plans. Instead, Kotkin chooses to focus exclusively on Obama’s agenda for short-term economic rescue, which he discovers doesn’t adequately address the long-term problems of inequality and a faltering middle class. This disingenuous look at “recent proposals” conveniently overlooks the candidate’s larger agenda – including policies with real potential to strengthen and expand America’s middle class over time. But since Obama didn’t discover the middle-class squeeze just last week, his plans to address it aren’t part of Kotkin’s roundup of what’s been happening lately.

Kotkin’s instance on manufacturing political fault lines in absurd places (Al Gore is against infrastructure?) and implying cynical political payoffs behind every policy initiative suggest that he is not genuinely interested in Obama’s long-term plans to bolster the middle class. But the rest of us should be. And there’s plenty there.

Kotkin’s refusal to look at the big picture blinds him to Obama’s health care plan, for example, which would extend coverage to 34 million Americans while lowering costs for millions more. While the Obama health care plan is far from perfect, his proposed reforms would nevertheless reduce a major cause of strain and instability for middle-class families struggling to afford sky-high premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, or even purchase coverage at all. In short, they’d be a major step toward strengthening the middle class.

Creating middle-class is jobs is critical, Kotkin agrees. But he proceeds to overlook both Obama’s short-term Jobs and Growth Fund that would put Americans to work immediately building needed infrastructure projects and the candidate’s longer term plan to invest in green jobs that would help to foster an entirely new sector of the U.S. economy.

Kotkin complains that Obama’s tax cuts don’t create upward mobility, and when it comes to many of the tax plans, he’s right. But Kotkin must have missed the memo about the overwhelming bipartisan, cross-ideological consensus that the Earned Income Tax Credit lifts millions of working Americans out of poverty. And it leaves us with the question: what does create upward mobility? After all, Kotkin denounces Obama’s support for education as nothing more than a sop to the liberal professoriate. And Kotkin neglects to even mention the Employee Free Choice Act which would make it easier for working people to join unions – another proven route to earning middle-class wages and benefits. While our critic would no doubt find it easy to uncover a political payoff in Obama’s support for this measure, the truth is it has tremendous potential to grow the middle class by enabling working Americans to improve their own jobs.

Obama has endorsed policies to help middle-class families cope with income and job loss when they take time off to care for a new baby or a sick relative. He has crafted plans to help middle-class families hold on to their single greatest asset – their homes. And he has thought out proposals to improve middle-class retirement security. Kotkin’s cheap shots do justice to none of this and prevent us from evaluating policies that could genuinely address the future of the American middle class.




The middle class squeeze...

By Alan Maki | October 30th, 2008 - 9:50am GMT

I can appreciate that the middle class is being squeezed; but, what about the working class being squished?

Obama talks, "middle class, middle class, middle class" as if there is no working class.

This is an important distinction because when Obama talks about "tax-cuts for the middle class," this leaves out millions of working class people who are so poor they don't even have to pay taxes. I hope you will give this some thought because in just the one industry where I represent workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry, most of these workers are so poor because they receive such miserly wages they don't pay any taxes as it is and no matter how big of a "tax cut" Obama provides for education or health care or anything else it is not going to do these working class people any good.

This is why our Organizing Committees working through the Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council are supporting "universal" reforms which provide social programs for EVERYONE.

Health care: we are for single-payer universal health care as a step towards socialized health care.

The minimum wage: we are for a universal minimum wage legislatively established to correspond to cost of living factors--- ALL COST OF LIVING FACTORS--- including the cost of higher education.

It is the epitome of arrogance to continue talking about "middle class tax-cuts here and protecting middle class incomes there" when everyone knows that a huge segment of the working class is living in poverty with all the personal and social ills that accompany this poverty.

We all know why Barack Obama has chosen to harp on the "middle class;" he is already being attacked by McCain and Palin for being a socialist and an advocate of income distribution. Others on the right are attacking Obama as a Marxist and a Communist.

Obama has turned these attacks into a joke when it is not the viciousness of the attacks that need to be responded to but a defense of working people to live in dignity free from poverty.

And I couldn't care less what the right-wing has to say or what the right-wing calls what needs to be done.

We need to implement those social programs that will enable all working people to live lives free from poverty. Now if this means a real living minimum wage, so be it... the employers are going to have to shell out or do the work themselves. If this means funding social programs to compensate for a lack of an adequate minimum wage, so be it.

The wealth of this country has been created by working people and in the wealthiest country in the world, workers should at least be able to live free of poverty with access to everything from adequate housing to food to health care and a higher education.

The middle class is already doing fairly well I would say--- as far as having achieved more than adequate incomes; not that I begrudge them the right to do even better so they can own a million dollar home rather than a 650-thousand dollar home, take two trips to the Caribbean Islands every year--- one to deposit their money in off-shore bank accounts and one to soak up the sun, go to Las Vegas three times a year instead of twice and spend three days at the golf course instead of two. No doubt Obama's program offers the middle class a great deal.

However, in offering the middle class something in return for their votes, Obama is ignoring the plight of the working class, and most shamefully, is ignoring the plight of the poorest of the poor whose poverty will increase with every middle class tax break.

I say first things first and the middle class has a responsibility to join with the working class in raising the standard of living of working people first.

Yes, it is true that some "middle income" working class people might find some benefit in Obama's programs; but, given the closings of mines, mills and factories in this country coupled with the cuts in public services "middle income" wage earners are fast disappearing in our country and Obama has not put forward one single solution for the problem of mines, mills and plant closings.

His "green economy" will offer many workers previously employed in "middle income" paying jobs... poverty jobs. The proof is in the pudding as they say.

We see previously employed workers from the steel mills who were making upwards of fifty-thousand dollars a year now working in the wind generating industry for eleven, twelve, thirteen dollars an hour while those previously employed on the Iron Range in the taconite industry going to work in casinos for seven and eight dollars an hour... you do the math... millions of workers have gone from "middle income" wage earners to living in poverty.

The intent to create poverty wage jobs is nothing to be boasting about.

Barack Obama jokes about McCain calling him a socialist and ridicules those calling him a communist as he clings to defending the "middle class" while failing to advocate for the kind of universal solutions to the problems being experienced by the working class.

And let me tell you a little something that you obviously do not know about this "Employee Free Choice Act," which Democrats are touting. John Edwards was the great protagonist of the "Employee Free Choice Act" until he was caught with his pants down and his heroic defense of working America came to an abrupt end. But, this "Employee Free Choice Act" isn't what it is cracked up to be simply because in the twenty-eight states have "at-will hiring; at-will firing" legislation, for working people trying to organize, the "Employee Free Choice Act" will mean absolutely nothing. But then again, this is something those making appeals to the "middle class" do not understand. But, understand this: As long as "at-will hiring; at-will firing" legislation remains on the books in twenty-eight states--- including states like Minnesota and Michigan--- your argument that the "Employee Free Choice Act" will in any way contribute towards eliminating poverty among the working class is shot right to hell.

My conclusion is this, which is--- obviously--- at odds with yours, is that too many middle class people are sticking their noses into this campaign who know nothing about working class problems and the shame of it is, you have turned even politics into no more than a middle class game where the only object is to win... when the power to do what is right is conceded to big business and the Wall Street bankers and coupon clippers and in the process of ignoring the plight of the working class, the middle class will suffer, too--- just look at your 401k's.

I had $289.00 in my 401k; now I have $202.00... how is your middle class 401k doing?

One final comment about Alan Greenspan's "free market ideology" being flawed. This is also a nice middle class perspective that if we just change the thinking, provide a regulation here and some oversight there the system--- capitalism--- will work just fine--- maybe capitalism will work just fine for the middle class with a little tweak here and a little tweak there. But, most working class people think the entire system is rotten to the core. If you don't believe me just ask any of the millions out of work, the millions "living" on poverty wages or the millions being foreclosed on and evicted from their homes or the millions more without health care whose children will have about as much opportunity to get a college education as they will have to get heart surgery when their arteries clog up from working in smoke-filled casinos without any rights.

I know all of this is too much for you and Barack Obama to understand; this is why I voted early for Cynthia McKinney... at least when she visited the Twin Cities here in Minnesota, one of the first stops she made was to talk with workers at the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant slated to close and put another two-thousand workers out on the streets. Obama has come to Minnesota and never had the decency to mention the Ford Plant closing out of fear someone might have asked him what he would do to keep the plant open. Cynthia McKinney came with an idea--- bring the plant under public ownership with worker and community control.

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

Detroit labor legend reflects on possibly electing first Black president

Author: Pepe Lozano

People's Weekly World Newspaper, 10/24/08 16:51


Dave Moore DETROIT, Mich. — These days, as millions nationwide work to elect the first African American president, 96-year-old Dave Moore, longtime labor and community leader, wonders if it’s all just a dream.

“I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I’ve been Black all my life, and sometimes I don’t know if I’m dreaming,” Moore told the World. He said he was “blown away” at how many white votes Barack Obama won during the primaries and the impressive display of thousands of white voters at Obama rallies across the country.

“When I wake up the next day after the election and Obama wins, then I will know that this country has begun to take a turn for the better,” said Moore.

Born April 6, 1912, as a teenager Moore left what he calls the “slave state of South Carolina” with his family and moved to Detroit. New to the big city, he says he had never seen so many people before hustling and bustling about.

Moore recalls joining a community water polo team as a youth on the city’s East Side, at a time when “colored” and “white” signs were common. His team made it to the finals and traveled across town to a park in a predominantly white area to face an all-white team. Although the park required segregated seating, Moore said the players ignored the rule and sat where they wanted because the mayor of Detroit had declared the city’s public areas open to all. “And we won the city championship,” Moore said proudly.

Moore remembers the Great Depression of the 1930s when people had little food and ate rotten vegetables and fruits to get by. “And we didn’t have heat in the winter so we would use wood from the porch out front to stay warm,” he said. People at that time lived through “hardships, suffering, pain and agony while the fat cats gobbled up all the money.” His parents lost $500 when banks closed. That was a lot of money back then, said Moore. “All of us were suffering like hell.”

Moore became active with the Unemployed Councils, which mobilized people to fight against mass hunger and home evictions. Those experiences taught Moore the importance of unity among Black, white and Latino workers. People came together and rallied for their basic rights against rich employers who left millions out in the cold.

Moore’s most memorable and proudest moment came in 1941 when he was instrumental in organizing workers into the United Auto Workers union at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Mich. At the time Ford was the third largest industrial giant in the world and 75 percent of the workforce there had been laid off with no public relief. People were dying from cold and hunger.

In 1932 Moore helped lead a hunger march where five union members fell victim to machine guns fired by thugs hired by anti-union Henry Ford. It was the multiracial unity among the workers that overcame the divisions that Ford tried to provoke. That struggle eventually opened the door to the organization of the nation’s auto industry and the founding of the UAW.

Moore was eventually elected to leadership positions at UAW Local 600, the powerful Ford local. Like many others, however, Moore fell victim to McCarthyism and was dismissed from his elected position in 1951. But as McCarthyism waned, he was reinstated in 1963 and was assigned as a national UAW representative. Moore was a founding member of the National Negro Labor Council and served as a legislative assistant to legendary Rep. George Crockett. Later Detroit Mayor Coleman Young appointed Moore the city’s senior citizens director.

Reflecting on the history he has lived and battled through, Moore said the Black community has been hit the hardest with the current economic crisis. “We got a lot of people unemployed today,” he said, adding that many of his neighbors have been laid off from the once booming auto industry. Moore believes the economic meltdown is going to propel Obama to become the first Black president, but “it’s not going to be easy for him.”

During the Depression of the 1930s, President Roosevelt had the people behind him, said Moore. “And that is what Obama needs to do — have the people behind him. I believe the key to Obama’s campaign lies with the working people.”

“I think Obama has the best program, but no matter what happens the fat cats of Wall Street and tycoons of big industry are the ones who control the finances of this country,” he said. “They don’t want to see a movement for unity of all people coming together.”

“It’s a long, long road that working and poor people have to travel but we have to remember this is a capitalist country and the fat cats on Wall Street will do whatever they can to keep it that way. Take a look at this country’s history — big business has always called the shots. I hope Obama goes all the way when he says he’s for change.”

When it comes to fighting for unions, multiracial unity, civil rights and peace, Moore has seen it all, he said — he knows what it means to struggle for a working people’s agenda in victory and defeat. Today, he sees great hope for the future.

“I’d like to see unity of all people one day where racism in this country is behind us,” he said. “I’d like to see a world where people don’t have to worry about starvation or unemployment. Where youngsters can get an education and become contributors to the betterment of society. Where our country’s government truly plays a role to help educate our children in a world based on peace, understanding and brotherhood regardless of race, creed, religion or color.”

Moore is looking forward to seeing a step in that direction with the election of Obama on Nov. 4

plozano@pww.org

General strike brings Greece to halt in protest over government policies

Anyone see anything about this in our local newspapers on the Range?


http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ibtUiBczDhWBa5O9OtszQkLmAZmA



General strike brings Greece to halt in protest over government policies
2 days ago

ATHENS, Greece — Air, rail and ferry traffic have ground to a halt across Greece and many offices have shut down in a general strike.

The country's largest labour union has called the strike to protest the conservative government's economic policies. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse a small group of rock-throwing hooded youths as thousands of demonstrators marched through central Athens.

Many shops along the demonstration route rolled down their shutters, and only minor damage was reported.

Across the country, state hospitals functioned with emergency staff while state schools, universities, post offices and tax offices were closed, as were many banks.

Some 200 domestic and international flights were cancelled while all ferries were confined to port. The state railway company cancelled most train services. Lawyers, journalists and civil engineers were also on strike.





http://www.gmanews.tv/story/128467/General-strike-brings-Greece-to-standstill


General strike brings Greece to standstill
10/21/2008 | 09:07 PM


ATHENS, Greece - Air, rail and ferry traffic ground to a halt across Greece on Tuesday and public offices shut down as workers walked off the job in a general strike to protest the conservative government's economic policies.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse a small group of rock-throwing hooded youths as thousands of demonstrators marched through central Athens. Many shops along the demonstration route rolled down their shutters, and only minor damage was reported.

Across the country, state hospitals functioned with emergency staff while state schools, universities, post offices and tax offices were closed, as were many banks. Some 200 domestic and international flights were canceled while all ferries were confined to port and the state railway company canceled most train services. Lawyers, journalists and civil engineers were also on strike.

Greece's largest umbrella union, GSEE, claimed hundreds of thousands of workers participated in the 24-hour strike.

"The country has effectively come to a halt," said union spokesman Efstathios Anestis. "Participation is very high, in many sectors it exceeds 90 percent of the work force."

Demonstrators held banners calling for the minimum salary to be raised to €1,400 (about US$1,880) from its current level of €701 (about US$940) and for the government to cancel unpopular reforms to the country's pension system.

Some also protested a recent rescue package under which the government pledged up to €28 billion (US$38.5 billion) to help Greece's banking sector weather the international financial crisis.

"Not one euro to support the capitalists," read one banner.

GSEE, which covers the private sector, and civil service umbrella union ADEDY called the strike to protest recent legislation reforming the country's fragmented pension system. The new law, passed in March, cuts back early retirement rights and merges lucrative pension funds with financially troubled ones.

"We're expressing anger, despair and rage about the policies which give to the few," said GSEE leader Yiannis Panagopoulos.

The two umbrella unions represent some 2.5 million workers between them, or about half of Greece's total work force.

Unions also demand more state social spending, as well as salary and pension increases, and oppose the government's privatization plans, including for state carrier Olympic Airlines.

"Workers face many accumulated problems, mainly financial," Anestis said.

Air traffic controllers walked off the job for four hours from noon, leading Olympic to cancel 150 flights — mostly domestic but including routes to London, Brussels, Rome, Frankfurt and Paris, and private Aegean Airlines to cancel 46 domestic flights.

Athens public bus and metro networks were disrupted by work stoppages, while the capital's tram service was suspended for the whole day.

Commercial stores were to follow suit with their own strike on Wednesday to protest tax laws, vowing to shut down stores across the country for the day. - AP









http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/World/2008/10/21/7153466.html





From the Winnipeg Sun:



Tue, October 21, 2008

General strike brings Greece to halt
Protest over government policies


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS



ATHENS, Greece — Air, rail and ferry traffic have ground to a halt across Greece and many offices have shut down in a general strike.

The country’s largest labour union has called the strike to protest the conservative government’s economic policies.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse a small group of rock-throwing hooded youths as thousands of demonstrators marched through central Athens.

Many shops along the demonstration route rolled down their shutters, and only minor damage was reported.

Across the country, state hospitals functioned with emergency staff while state schools, universities, post offices and tax offices were closed, as were many banks.

Some 200 domestic and international flights were cancelled while all ferries were confined to port. The state railway company cancelled most train services. Lawyers, journalists and civil engineers were also on strike.







http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_293189.html



Oct 21, 2008

Greece sees general strike



ATHENS (Greece) - AIR, rail and ferry traffic ground to a halt across Greece on Tuesday and public offices shut down as workers walked off the job in a general strike to protest the conservative government's economic policies.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse a small group of rock-throwing hooded youths as thousands of demonstrators marched through central Athens. Many shops along the demonstration route rolled down their shutters, and only minor damage was reported.

Across the country, state hospitals functioned with emergency staff while state schools, universities, post offices and tax offices were closed, as were many banks. Some 200 domestic and international flights were canceled while all ferries were confined to port and the state railway company canceled most train services.

Lawyers, journalists and civil engineers were also on strike.

Greece's largest umbrella union, GSEE, claimed hundreds of thousands of workers participated in the 24-hour strike.

'The country has effectively come to a halt,' said union spokesman Efstathios Anestis. 'Participation is very high, in many sectors it exceeds 90 per cent of the work force.'

Demonstrators held banners calling for the minimum salary to be raised to euro1,400 (about S$2,784) from its current level of euro701 and for the government to cancel unpopular reforms to the country's pension system.

Some also protested a recent rescue package under which the government pledged up to euro28 billion to help Greece's banking sector weather the international financial crisis.

'Not one euro to support the capitalists,' read one banner.

GSEE, which covers the private sector, and civil service umbrella union ADEDY called the strike to protest recent legislation reforming the country's fragmented pension system.

The new law, passed in March, cuts back early retirement rights and merges lucrative pension funds with financially troubled ones.

'We're expressing anger, despair and rage about the policies which give to the few,' said GSEE leader Yiannis Panagopoulos.

The two umbrella unions represent some 2.5 million workers between them, or about half of Greece's total work force.

Unions also demand more state social spending, as well as salary and pension increases, and oppose the government's privatisation plans, including for state carrier Olympic Airlines.

'Workers face many accumulated problems, mainly financial,' Mr Anestis said.

Air traffic controllers walked off the job for four hours from noon, leading Olympic to cancel 150 flights - mostly domestic but including routes to London, Brussels, Rome, Frankfurt and Paris, and private Aegean Airlines to cancel 46 domestic flights.

Athens public bus and metro networks were disrupted by work stoppages, while the capital's tram service was suspended for the whole day.

Commercial stores were to follow suit with their own strike on Wednesday to protest tax laws, vowing to shut down stores across the country for the day. -- AP