‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
They Can’t Kill Us All
Raise Your Voice By PETER MOLENAAR Peter Molenaar This Week in Action is the weekly news digest of Take Action Minnesota, a splendid social-democratic organization which presses our concerns within and around the DFL (i.e. for the time being they do not project a fundamental socialist transformation). Nonetheless, the October 15 issue of This Week contains an article with the caption: “Late-Stage Capitalism”. Actually, I arrived at the “late stage” conclusion 50 years ago. “The universal soldier, he really is to blame” were popular lyrics at the time. But then more than a year ago, I reported to the alley about an interaction with National Guard troops gathered at the corner grocery at 26th and Cedar Ave. Their assault weapons were not pointed at me. On the contrary, they earnestly listened. Moreover, in hand is a fundraising appeal, penned by Major General (Ret.) Paul Eaton on behalf of VoteVets. The general [...]
Raise Your Voice
By PETER MOLENAAR Patriot”™s Call: Tax the Rich “It is shameful that billionaires profit off the suffering of working families as the pandemic ravages the economy”¦”, so said our congressperson, Ilhan Omar. In fact, because of gaping loopholes in the tax code, the wealth of America”™s billionaires can go untaxed forever, and even when taxed, the rate is about half that of taxes on wages. Consider organized labor”™s Sept. 9 letter to lawmakers: “The wealth of our country”™s 708 billionaires alone rose by $1.8 trillion, or 62%, during the pandemic””enough to pay for half the ten-year cost of the $3.5 trillion package.” What package? President Biden”™s “Build Back Better” vision includes a vital infrastructure plan which will create millions of jobs. Universal childcare along with universal preschool is also in the mix. Hey, [...]
Manoomin Speaks
RAISE YOUR VOICE By PETER MOLENAAR Indigenous leaders at the State Capitol. Photo courtesy Camp Migizi social media. Manoomin is the “wild rice” which sustains the Anishinaabe. The word is especially familiar to the Ojibwa among us. Sadly, the manoomin has faded due to habitat loss, degraded water quality”¦ climate crisis. Like the canary in the mine shaft, manoomin speaks”¦ and speaks to us all. My place in the world”¦ Molten iron flows just north of Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, and just south of the Roof Depot on 28th Street. Smith Foundry is the place I labored for 35 years: repetitive motion, 500,000 molds of sand”¦ ankles worn down to bone on bone. Was once a “people”™s soldier”. Now with titanium and plastic surgically implanted, perhaps I will march again. July 14, 2021”¦ The old soldier sported a fancy ankle brace and wielded an [...]
