More on the 2008 Freeman Forum

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 9:17 AM
To: 'Larry Ely'; 'Denise Pfeifer'; 'peter.makowski@mail.house.gov'; 'amthayer'; 'Jody Beaulieu'; 'carl.pope@sierraclub.org'
Cc: 'rep.brita.sailer@house.mn'; 'mmiron@bemidjipioneer.com'; 'bswenson@bemidjipioneer.com'; 'editor@orionsociety.org'; 'editor@outdoornews.com'; 'Laurel'; 'William McAuliffe'; 'William Oldfather'; 'David Shove'; 'rgettel@uaw.net'; 'Robert Killeen'; 'gdubovich@usw.org'

Subject: RE: Freeman Forum Lecture Follow Up

Mr. Ely,

Thank you for responding. It is good to know that our message of hope is getting out far and wide.

You have provided some excellent ideas; unfortunately, many of these ideas will not fly in Minnesota at this time--- at least those requiring “political will” because there has been a return to the very corrupt politics where corporate control and banking interests are the dominating forces.

I found your advice about local power and local manufacturing to be sage and powerful advice.

I regret to inform you that one of the most hi-tech and scientifically advanced and as green friendly as a manufacturing operation gets--- completely powered for free with clean green hydro employing two-thousand workers--- is about to be demolished: the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant, which has a brand new thirty-million dollar state-of-the-art research and training center attached is about to be turned into a pile of rubble; only to be replaced with up-scale housing and cute little boutiques creating a racially segregated yuppie community of sorts. For over eighty years, tax-payers have subsidized the Plant and hydro dam which only recently had its turbines replaced compliments of state and federal tax-payers--- the politicians refuse to tell us the total bill for tax-payer subsidization taking place under the guise of creating and saving jobs for Minnesota workers; and, now, these corrupt politicians, working with bankers, entrepreneurial investors and Ford’s real-estate holding division are going to have tax-payers foot the bill for demolishing this plant and destroying this tremendous wealth which is embodied in this plant as these same politicians are allowing the Ford Motor Company to sell the hydro dam to a foreign corporation. Tax-payers have subsidized the entire operation and the profits of the Ford Motor Company for years; in the end, tax-payers own nothing while tax-payers and the workers have been excluded from participating in the decision-making process while all of this is what passes for democracy.

I regret to inform you, but the organization with which David Morris, who I agree has done excellent work, has become part of a blue-ribbon “coalition” rubber-stamping and backing the destruction of this tremendous wealth which could be used in line with many of your proposals.

None other than Carl Pope and Leo Gerard have “fallen into line” in supporting demolishing this plant after first having made a commitment to fight to save the plant and hydro dam as a manufacturing unit along the lines called for in legislation proposed by UAW Local 879 whose members are employed in the Plant… people across Minnesota passed resolutions in Democratic precinct causes in support of saving this Plant and hydro dam… a handful of progressive elected officials attempted to pass legislation known as SF 607 aimed at keeping the plant and hydro dam intact as an industrial unit… state senator Jim Metzen, a banker and Democrat, did this legislation in as Chair of the DFL dominated Committee on Business, Industry and Jobs while Iron Ranger Tom Rukavina was able to get the bill through his House Committee with bi-partisan support. Unfortunately, as you probably are aware, Ron Gettelfinger who now leads the UAW has thinking which does not allow for progressive solutions to these kinds of problems… he has his head stuck so far up the butts of the corporations he is supposed to be fighting he does not have the ability to think clearly anymore.

I have a deep appreciation for all the suggestions you have provided. I come from a family of “red” Finns who were very active in the co-operative movements of the Iron Range. My grandfather served on the board of the historic Gilbert, MN Co-op for many years until his death; this co-op store was one of the “flag-ship” co-ops established by the “red” Finns. My grandparents were part of the far-sighted group of “red” Finns from across the Iron Range which built Mesaba Co-op Park near Hibbing and fought the mining companies in bitter battles to establish the United Steel Workers union on the Iron Range which has seen a massive decline in employment on the Iron Range over the last 30 years… not coincidentally United States Congressman James Oberstar has been part of it all as he has found himself a niche in politics by pretending anger at the mining companies as some fifty-thousand jobs in the iron ore mines were lost, all the while receiving campaign contributions from the mining companies for not really intervening in their continued robbery of the communities of the Iron Range as they exploit workers to the hilt… Oberstar now comes full circle and has helped create thirty part-time, seasonal jobs destroying our primary freshwater aquifer up here in northern Minnesota. It is no coincidence that we now find Congressman James Oberstar conducting another one of his dog and pony shows as Northwest Airlines is taken over by Delta which will jeopardize over ten thousand jobs here in Minnesota… what will happen is that Congressman Oberstar will demonstrate his oratorical skills to lull working people and the unions into inactivity making them think he is a fighter for them when he and the airline companies have already agreed that he will rant and rave as the deal goes through. As these thousands of workers will join the ranks of the growing unemployed and impoverished working class here in Minnesota your ideas will be needed more than ever.

Against all of this, we can only “hope” that the influx of the many youths who have come out for a presidential candidate supported by James Oberstar who bases his campaign on “hope” will not wait until after Election Day to act on these issues.

Of course, we are not waiting based upon “hope” for any of these problems to be resolved… we know that in fighting these powerful financial interests it takes a strong, vibrant, active movement to fight-back if we expect to win.

We are saddened that people like Carl Pope and Leo Gerard have given in to this corporate power so easily without even putting up a fight… in the spirit of your suggestions we are struggling the best we can with what little resources available to us against these well-heeled politicians and the corporations and bankers backing them.

The Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party which has part of its roots in the historic cooperative and socialist movement known as the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party led by the “reds” provides us with a solid foundation we can build upon as we take on corporate power; unfortunately, the other half of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party comes out of the very racist and historically corrupt and viciously anti-communist, maliciously anti-union Minnesota Democratic Party--- the forces of which have come to dominate the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party of today.

Let me assure you that in addition to discussing many of the fine ideas you have enclosed here, we are also discussing the need to break free of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party so that the working class will once again have a voice to call its own… I think your ideas will flourish if we can elect a Governor and some legislators who will bring to the political arena the ideas of Minnesota’s two most popular ever governors--- socialists Floyd B. Olson and Elmer Benson; it was under their administrations--- and with governmental assistance--- that the cooperative and union movements grew and flourished.

Again, thanks for your suggestions… I am passing them on to a wider circle of friends who I know will appreciate these ideas.

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/




-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Ely [mailto:tetrahedrons@crocker.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 7:10 AM
To: Alan Maki; 'Denise Pfeifer'; peter.makowski@mail.house.gov; 'amthayer'; 'Jody Beaulieu'; carl.pope@sierraclub.org
Cc: rep.brita.sailer@house.mn; mmiron@bemidjipioneer.com; bswenson@bemidjipioneer.com; editor@orionsociety.org; editor@outdoornews.com; 'Laurel'; 'William McAuliffe'; 'William Oldfather'; 'David Shove'
Subject: RE: Freeman Forum Lecture Follow Up

FYI, a couple of nifty flyers loaded with life giving ideas for moving out of our artificial world built on non-sustainability - on oil. These are in Landscape mode on 8.5 by 11 paper, so tell your printer that. Note that we cite the important work of David Morris of Minnesota.


At 10:35 PM 4/22/08, Alan Maki wrote:

Ms. Pfeifer,

Thank you for inviting me to the Freeman Forum; it was a great learning experience in so many ways.

I am looking forward to next year’s Freeman Forum… what will the topic be?

Also, you might want to pass on the link to my blog about my experiences at the 2008 Freeman Forum:

http://freeman-forum.blogspot.com/

You might also be interested in circulating this blog:

http://pineislandstateforest.blogspot.com/


I am wondering how I can obtain the recording of the question period following Congressman Jim Oberstar’s lecture.

Also, I asked for a receipt for the twenty dollars I paid for the luncheon as I get reimbursed provided I have a receipt; I was told the receipt would be e-mailed to me; it was not. Would you please provide me with the receipt?

On a final note, do you think on behalf of the Freeman Forum, you could ask United States Congressman James Oberstar to make a written and public apology to me for calling me a “liar?” I am sure you understand the seriousness of this kind of slanderous remark. As you are aware, James Oberstar did in fact “orchestrate a racist, backroom deal” regarding peat mining in the Pine Island State Forest located at the center of the Big Bog, our most important freshwater aquifer now that Congressman Oberstar has allowed the mining companies to pollute Lake Superior. As you are aware, truth is the only defense against a lawsuit for libel and slander; I hope I will not have to proceed with a lawsuit to defend my good name from the untruthful, vicious and vile statements Congressman Oberstar made about me. Congressman Oberstar was well aware that his remarks were being brought to a much wider audience, and Congressman Oberstar was fully aware that he lied in denying any knowledge of the peat mining permit in the Big Bog. Further, Congressman Oberstar was fully aware the Red Lake Nation is in complete and full opposition to this peat mining. I think we need an explanation from Congressman Oberstar why he lied about his involvement in this dirty deal. Needless to say, an apology to me is in order.

I stand by my remarks that Congressman Oberstar’s lecture on “Water” was the “most self-serving and hypocritical speech I have ever heard from a politician.” As you are aware, I am entitled to my opinion; as Congressman Oberstar is entitled to his opinion. His response that he was “offended” by my characterization of his speech is very legitimate. On the other hand, calling me a “liar” as Congressman Oberstar did is an outright slander prohibited under state and federal statutes… you may consult with Mr. Freeman who is an attorney of sorts from what I hear.

Again, you may read the statement which was posted for many years on the Minnesota Environmental Partnership’s web site concerning Congressman Oberstar’s involvement in obtaining the permit for a Canadian multi-national corporation to mine peat in the Big Bog. I have posted this statement in its entirety on this blog: http://freeman-forum.blogspot.com/

Perhaps you and the facilitators of the Freeman Forum might want request an explanation of Congressman Oberstar about his role in all of this… I assume the Freeman Forum had a sincere desire to want to provide information enabling people to act to protect our freshwater aquifers as required; anything else would be seen as hypocrisy by the public.

One other concern I have. I noticed the extremely high level of involvement on the part of numerous public officials including the Secretary of State and a former State Governor as well as Mr. Gene Merriam and current members of the MN DNR along with numerous organizations and foundations very prominent in the public eye; on the other hand I noted that the audience and ALL panelists were white. I assume the facilitators of the Freeman Forum attempted to involve people of color? What went wrong? Is there some underlying institutionalized racism involved? I note this event took place at the Humphrey Center, which is part of the University of Minnesota. I am sure you must have noted that people of color were not represented at all as panelists or as audience. I find this very strange and something which should not be tolerated by those concerned with civil and human rights. Was there a fear that to include people of color might have resulted in accusations of racism regarding how the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party resolves issues involving “water?” Might not you have invited the head of the Red Lake Nation’s Department of Natural Resources to have been a panelist if you were truly interested in hearing from all concerned? I am suggesting that the American Civil Liberties Union’s Task Force On Race Relations look into this. Perhaps the Minnesota Department of Human Rights should be requested to look into this, also.

I think it is important to note, and you must be aware, that none other than the United Nations has pointed out that the destruction of ecosystems and the pollution and contamination of fresh water aquifers is often found to be related to racism and genocide. I would assume that organizations like the Sierra Club would be very concerned to find out that people of color were excluded from the Freeman Forum’s 2008 “Water, Water Everywhere?” In a situation like this perception really is everything.

I thank you in advance for your attention to these matters.

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/




-----Original Message-----
From: Denise Pfeifer [mailto:info@minnesotaruralpartners.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 7:59 PM
To: amaki000@centurytel.net
Subject: Freeman Forum Lecture Follow Up


Freeman Forum Attendees,

Thank you for attending the 2008 Freeman Forum.

As a follow up to the event I wanted to share with you Deb Swackhamer's summary along with a link to an audio of the Freeman Forum lectures from April 8th, 2008.

Attached is Deb Swackhamer's summary paper of the Water lecture program is a spectacular piece of work that underscores the stature of the lecture program series in a way that we've never been able to do before. It also illustrates the value of the work that all of us involved in putting together these programs can see in a tangible form. Freeman Forum Synthesis Swackhamer 041708.pdf

The audio from all the Freeman Forum lectures on April 8, 2008, is now available on the Humphrey Institute podcast. You can find this at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/hhhevent/news/. Please feel free to share with your colleagues.

Thanks for your attendance. We look forward to seeing you next year!

Best, Denise

Denise Pfeifer
Minnesota Rural Partners
dpfeifer@minnesotaruralpartners.org
507.828.5559