So, let me just get this straight: the Green party is advocating an ordinance, a LAW, that mandates what a "living wage" is, and will force employers to pay this to employees? How exactly is that going to help workers? I mean..... will workers be better off after the inevitable layoffs caused by another mandated minimum wage? The minimum wage is a fancy term for a tax that employers have to pay on employees who lack any skills that would make them more marketable and attractive to employers, who would and could pay them more elsewhere. I may be wrong, but it sounds like the Greens aren't merely satisfied with the a "minimum wage" and want to go a step further.
As for the Greens and "predatory lending": what exactly is "predatory lending?" Seems to me if one doesn't want to pay 10% or 24% or 48% on a loan, the answer is quite simple: don't get the loan. Must we have yet ANOTHER law that protects people from themselves? "Living wage" and "predatory lending" are advertising buzz words that sound really neat when preaching to the great unwashed, but practical application of these concepts in the real world is unwieldy, impractical and borderline socialistic. Mike Thompson Windom LRT: 2 MPPA: 0 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kyle Makarios" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <mpls@mnforum.org> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 1:56 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Neumann/Labor/Green politics (was: Labor endorsesMcLaughlin for Mayor) > I'm glad that Aaron Neumann is supportive of the Living Wage ordinance > that's being advocated for by a strong coalition of labor, faith, and > community groups. We welcome the support of all elected officials and > candidates for office. > > For the record, Diane Hofstede is a very strong advocate of this ordinance, > and the delegates of the Central Labor Union Council felt that her track > record and commitment to workers rights and economic justice warranted their > endorsement. In fact, they voted unanimously to endorse her. > > Mr. Neumann did not seek or request labor's endorsement. Diane Hofstede > did, has a strong track record, and will be a great, pro-worker, > pro-economic justice, progressive councilmember. > > Kyle Makarios > Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council > 312 Central Ave, #542 > Minneapolis, MN 55414 > (612) 379-4206 > www.minneapolisunions.org > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Aaron Neumann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 5:28 PM > To: Kyle Makarios > Cc: mpls@mnforum.org > Subject: Re: [Mpls] Labor endorses McLaughlin for Mayor > > It's nice to know that Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council is a > leading advocate for Livable Wage ordinance - an ordinance that creates > a policy that at least covers many of the development projects using > city funding, and, is a formal, enforced law. That's exactly what Green > Party candidates like myself have been advocating for. > > However, I question why they endorse candidates, particularly for City > Council, who aren't specifically advocating for this important effort. > As far as I know, I am the only candidate in the Ward 3 elections who is > specifically advocating for this ordinance as a key item to help achieve > economic justice for the workers and tax-payers of Minneapolis. But the > AFL-CIO is much like the Sierra Club, where I used work, insofar that > they tend to endorse those who they think will "most likely" win. In my > opinion, that's shortsighted. Those who passionately advocate for > workers rights and protecting the environment now, will passionately > advocate for that in the future. Those who don't, won't. Being an > advocate for labor, the environment, grassroots democracy, social > justice, safe communities, etc. is more than casting a "yea" or "nay" > vote. It is standing in solidarity courageously with those who deeply > share your values, regardless of party affiliation or electoral chances. > > Aaron Neumann > Sheridan Neighborhood, NE > Candidate for Minneapolis City Council Ward 3 (Green) > > Neighbors for Neumann > 1828 Marshall St. NE #18 > Minneapolis, MN 55418-4211 > 612.788.1284 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://VoteNeumann.org > > "Bridging Diverse Communities" > > Effective Government * Healthy Environment * Safe Communities * Arts > Advocacy > > "Politics isn't about big money or power games; it's about the > improvement of people's lives." - Paul Wellstone > > > REMINDERS: > 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
