I grew up reading comic books wanting to be a superhero. Comics taught me that those who speak the truth are heroes, all the rest are liars.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Let's Focus People!

We can't grow the economy by destroying jobs and attacking the middle class...it just won't work. We need to focus on the ubber urgent crisis of our broken economy and creating jobs instead of being obsessed with imposing ideology and exploiting social issues. The number one goal for any elected official should be creating jobs while balancing the budget. Period, end of the story...

Corporate profits are up. Stock prices are up. So why isn't anyone hiring in America? The paradox of record-high corporate profits and extremely-high unemployment doesn't seem to be breaking anytime soon. Also the longer the unemployed go without work, the greater the damage to their future employment and earnings potential as well as to our economy. How much longer can the 15.1million unemployed wait?

Looking at the rash of bills introduced since January this year in Minnesota, Wisconsin and beyond, how many jobs have they created? Will voter ID laws create jobs and reduce the budget? Will the anti-union laws? Will cutting social services, education or infrastructure spending like transportation? How about more tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations? Higher fees for us?

For those needing a reminder ...Minnesota's Republican majorities have less than two months to make a budget deal with DFL Gov. Mark Dayton before the May 23 constitutional deadline for adjournment... so lets focus people and create some jobs...or we will be forever doomed to a reactionary ideology the fixes nothing and continues breaks the fabric of our society. As our Minnesota Governor Dayton said: “The time for this rhetorical game playing is over

BTW...nice set of charts at MotherJones...worth a look

Enjoy the weekend, stay out of the cold and snow... but reality is we live in the icy heartland of Minnesota...

Doctor or lawyer, I’ll never be.
Life of a drifter - only life for me,
You can have your riches, all the gold you saved.
Cause’ ain’t room for one thing in everybody’s grave.

Bang, bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos!
Bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos!



This and That Thursday

As Wisconsin Goes...so goes Minnesota
What his staffer learned under Walker's mentoring tutelage...'LA-LA-LA-I Can't Hear You'

You mean there is a worse Governor than Pawlenty? Wow, just wow. Naturally, T-Paw supports Walker unconditionally. (say isn't that man on man love?)

I hear that Scott “I take phone calls all the time” Walker is still taking calls...lol, call him at (608) 266-1212. Say hello from Prince Albert in a can! Ask if there's a Butz there? Seymour Butz? Better yet, suggest he let calls go to voicemail like I do...but then again the Koch Brothers aren't bankrolling me!

BTW, part of Wisconsin's deficit is $58.7 million debt it owes Minnesota for income tax collected from Wisconsin residents who worked in Minnesota.

Taking out the trash:
I don't care if Ms. Palin goes to India...I do care if she returns.

About Time
Obama administration dropping its legal defense of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act isn't so much as a win as a right!

GOP? Still Liars
Hello? Is anyone there? Where's the promised jobs as listed as #1 on your agenda ? Hello? echo, echo... cut a million jobs, echo echo...

Earlier in the day, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said that if the Republican budget resulted in a loss of federal jobs, then “so be it.”
Rep. Keith Ellison (D- MN) response:

"These cuts are Republican answers for a job crisis that they [GOP] created" view complete remarks here.






Wednesday, February 23, 2011

In Wisconsin, They Want The Whole Enchilada

One of Scott Walker's first action as the newly elected Wisconsin Governor was to post signs along the Wisconsin/Minnesota borders, saying Wisconsin was 'open for business'. Now two months later, residents are seeing first hand how very prophet-like that single action was to their futures. Governor Walker has put the state of Wisconsin up for sell to big business at the cost of it's independence and workers souls.


The question is why Walker would trade the State of Wisconsin away to thugs and thieves? My mama always said to 'connect the dots' and 'follow the money' to find the answers..easy enough to do in this instance.

  1. The Koch Brothers, an energy conglomerate involved with oil, coal, and gas contributed significant funds to Governor's Walkers election.

  2. Within 24hrs of Walker being elected, the Koch Brothers 'set up shop' in Madison, Wisconsin.
  3. Walker pushes for the Budget Repair Bill with a provision for selling off state owned utilities with NO BID contracts!

The dots lead to the Koch Brothers who have contribute billions to libertarian and tea party candidates like Wisconsin Governor Walker. They are dedicated to preserving their rights to make billions by exploiting and endangering workers while poisoning the air we breathe. In political circles their ideological network is even referred to as 'Kochtopus'. What's going on in Wisconsin is a power grab by the Brothers with their puppet Walker's assistance. If they get their way, the state of Wisconsin will become the next Koch Brother subsidiary.

Unfortunately 'what happens in Wisconsin won't stay in Wisconsin'. Being next door neighbors, events going on right now are effecting Minnesota. For example, Scott Walker's decision to cut funding to the high speed rail, brought to a halt funding plan's for Minnesota's high speed rail system connecting St. Paul to Chicago, with links to Duluth, Fargo, and other cities. In addition the brutal attack to break collective bargaining and union employees representing Wisconsin public employees is being cheered on by the leaders of America's far right political fringe groups dedicated to doing the bidding of the wealthy and big corporations. As Wisconsin goes...so will Minnesota...

Mama said a lot of things that were wise...she also taught me not to play along if it's wrong...and what's going on in Wisconsin is wrong...so here's the deal...

The Koch Brothers own Georgia Pacific products so I can stop using any GP products like Brawney paper towels...dixie cups, northern toilet paper, stainmaster carpets, mardis gras paper products, and any other related GP products.

While it won't have the same impact of paying billions to a lobbyist group to change legislation and get their puppets elected to office like the Koch Brothers have done in Wisconsin, but it's a start point...


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Oh, It's On, Bring It!

The GOP both locally and nationally continue to push bills against women, immigrants, GLBT, minorities, non-christians, the poor and unions. They've become emboldened by each others chest thumping and back slapping and see it as a mandate to pass hot-button bills against 'we the people'.

In lieu of creating jobs, balancing the budget, or reducing the deficit, they are passing a plethora of bills meant to restrict and repress 'we the people' and repeal all safeguards meant to protect 'we the people' against big corporations. They have empowered the wealthy while taking our pennies. The injustice and lost of liberty makes their actions unAmerican. They have failed America.
“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” -RFK
Each of us need to start creating ripples until a tsunami transforms our government back to 'we the people' and away from the special interests, the greedy and the corporations. Take a stand for what is right for our families and community. Give voice against the repression, support our values of justice and liberty...demand our elected representatives do the same. Oh its on, bring it...



I miss you Kent...goddammit...I've only got so much heart to lose...and you just took a chunk of it. The world will miss you, it just doesn't know yet -love ts

Thursday, February 10, 2011

StillbiggovernmentGOPtakeoverlosingourfreedomNOjobs

The local Minnesota legislature has taken on the tough issues like fair pay for women (they're against it), how to stop Minnesota's record voter turnout (they're against it), and dismantling social services like Minnesota's Children's Protective Agency (apparently abused children are okay as long as taxes get cut for Corporations)...all-in-all it's been thirty six days since Republicans have taken control of the Minnesota legislature, and the number of new jobs created:

00000
Perhaps the Republicans are better on the

federal side

...er..nevermind, move along nothing to see here!

Taking a day or two off...enjoy the weekend, let's dance and sing, and otherwise pray for warmer weather...at least a warm up to zero...


Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Snow Snakes, Bigfoots, Voter Fraud, and Other Things That Go Bump In MN's GOP Dreams

Minnesota has historically prided itself on a large voter turnout. Typically we have been among the top few states in the nation with a large voter turnout. In addition, voter fraud has been extremely rare (26 cases out of hundred of thousands of voters last election!). Naturally, the MN GOP feels a need to address this pressing and overwhelming 'non-existing state problem' of lots of voters and a statistically non-existing voter fraud of less than 100th of a percent!

The GOP propose to protect Minnesotans against this 'non-existing problem' by spending more of our tax dollars. They want to mandate voter IDs while adding ID machines to every vote location. Really?! What state are they living in? Has Minnesota become California? Where's the common sense in this kind of worthless legislation? What's not to love here...spending tax dollars on imaginary problems.

Our State budget is in need of balancing with a projected 6 billion dollar deficit, jobs need to be created and issues like the state's transportation, education and health care need have funding, but the Minnesota GOP want to mandate spending solutions for non-existing problems. Really?! What's next on their agenda?



Will the Minnesota GOP address the nonexisting Snow Snakes and Bigfoot? Perhaps we'll get lucky and they will talk about killer mosquitoes. Has the minus degree frigid Minnesota weather finally turned the Minnesota GOP officially into insane fluffy pink elephants unable to address the REAL problems facing our state?

Unfortunately, if they get their way, taxpayers get the bill for their insanity of fixing what isn't broke while women will continue to reap 24% less then men...ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS!!!

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

MN GOP: Shameful But Not Surprising

While cutting taxes for big corporations and trying to impose government ID's on Minnesota's voters (wonder who's paying for that?), the GOP has been too busy to answer question regarding their own offered up slash and burn budget for partially balancing Minnesota's state budget; Wonder why that is?

Senator Ted Daley ran on "I will bring greater understanding of how to properly balance our budget ..." It would be nice (some say even expected by his elected position) if he shared some of that 'understanding' with other Minnesotans...sigh... Here's an example of how that greater understanding, accountability and transparent government is working for the GOP:



They won't even answer questions about their own budget...shameful but not surprising.

Sen. Ted Daley (MN-R-38) facebook page said he" Toured the Delta Airlines facility yesterday to learn more about how we can attract, retain and grow jobs here in Minnesota "...wonder when he's going to tour the Lockheed Martin campus in his own district and discuss the 1000+ jobs going away!

Friday, February 04, 2011

Friday's Brouhaha

Remember the campaign promises from the newly elected Minnesotan Republican representatives? Apparently many of them have already forgotten those campaign pledges or an open and translucent government by the people including public debate.


What we have seen is the GOP making cuts at any expense including those of the Child Protection Agency without any public input. Again, the Minnesota Republicans are using the 'whack a mole' cutting edge decision process (sigh!) and thereby not asking for debate which would bring to light some of the effects of their outrageous decisions.
When elected officials have no values but money and no morals but power, Minnesotans can expect their quality of life to suffer, their families to pay, and their children to be at risk. This is the Minnesota GOP. Thier decision to cut the budget will impact the lives of Minnesota children that will last a lifetime. All children should to be protected and feel safe but not anymore in Minnesota.

All I want to do is dance...see ya at the State CC tomorrow!

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Women: Like Men Only Cheaper!

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce would have you believe that women being paid equally is both an 'outdated' and 'unnecessary' thing? Hmm...so it's okay to pay women 67 cents for every dollar paid to men doing the same job with the same experiences and background? ...Think again sexist jerks!

What is outdated is the belief that without laws women won't continue to be discriminated against in the wage earning market place. When the first federal law was enacted on wage equity, women earned just 59% of the wages men earned. That disparity has improved over the years (decades) to around 80% but there still a ways to go. Follow this link to see women's earnings over the years compared to men's earnings.

Census statistics from September 16, 2010 show that the women still earn 77 percent of what men earn, based on the median earnings of full-time, year-round workers in 2009. Both men's and women's earnings showed slight increases from 2008 to 2009, with men's at $47,127 and women's at $36,278, a difference of $10,849, a marked differences. So tell me again why we don't need the law?

Yes women have made progress in the workforce but that is because of the laws. The fact remains that decades later, the goal of equal pay has still not been realized. In the last year, women in 20 states have actually seen the wage gap widen! Factor in that 40 percent of women working are the primary earners for their families, and we see more and more women slipping into the working poor. The need is even greater today to ensure that women are protected by fair and equitable earnings.


The map below shows how each state fares when it comes to gender equality in wages. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce position on this issue shows a total disregard for the facts regarding pay inequity as well as the welfare of Minnesota families.