‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Fly the Friendly Skies
By Peter Molenaar Monday, May 18”¦ The Metropolitan Airports Commission was to convene its monthly meeting with a lengthy agenda. Star employees were to receive awards! Smile. However, the deeper concern was this: Should the low-wage classifications be bumped up $1.00 from the minimum wage? So rendezvous at the Lake Street Station for a light rail hop to Terminal I. Traverse the dark recesses”¦enter the light of day among red shirt activists. The gathering was lead by “15 Now” (Socialist Alternative) and SEIU Local 26. “Fight for $15/hour at MSP Airport” was the slogan. We were able to pass the security gauntlet (to mixed reviews) and entered momentarily the bourgeois market place. We did not dwell there, but ascended one flight to find the MAC meeting space. After much to-do, the time for public testimony did arrive. I had filled out a card requesting to speak on behalf of the Communist Party USA. To my [...]
Levels of Consciousness
By Peter Molenaar Let us recall that the realm of philosophy is divided into two camps. ”˜Philosophical Materialism”' asserts that the universe existed prior to consciousness, whereas “idealists” believe the universe was created from consciousness. Curiously, the Buddhists among us avoid the mind-body question, choosing instead to seek liberation via introspective meditation. (Note: some degree of ascetic detachment is recommended.) “Complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings” is the noble goal of the Mahayana. However, more than two thousand years of this practice hasn”'t achieved very much. So, we must agree with the Marxists that there is a material basis for human liberation”¦which is not to say that the “subjective factor” does not matter. When acted upon, ideas do become a material force. On the subject of “levels of consciousness,” Lenin had much to say. In [...]
One Day”¦
By Peter Molenaar March17, about 3:10 p.m”¦. Picked up Camila for a 3:30 rendevous with CTUL. Camila is a “red-diaper baby” of Chilean descent, recently returned from a tour of Cuba. Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL) is a worker”'s center which rallies the community in support of vulnerable low-wage workers.  We drove down Lake Street to the Uptown McDonald”'s. It was protest, not burgers which moved us to follow our bold leaders. At long last the chanting brought forth a manager. We then politely requested decent wages and respect for all workers”¦ Hey”¦ There are some 13,000 McDonald”'s in the U.S. There is “a family of 2,400 owner/operators.”  To join the “family,” a minimum of $300,000.00 of non-borrowed personal resources is required, with a minimum 25% down. So, with 36,000 McDonald”'s on the planet (enough already!), I suggest we place our [...]
