Iowans Rally For Labor, Peace And Populism This Weekend
robber baron: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales); a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics. First known use of “robber baron” 1878.
Across Iowa, over the next few days, Iowans will gather in our local communities to take back our state and country from the modern day robber barons.
Quad City
Support for Labor rally!Saturday, March 19 · 11:00am – 2:00pm
VanderVeer Park, Brady and Lombard St., Davenport, IA
We will fill the park with folks who support the labor movement and the right for workers to collectively bargain. Wisconsin was just the first of many states to strip bargaining rights and place the burden of deficit spending on hard working public employees. It is an attempt to use the corporate money allowed to finance elections to bust the unions.
If you are a union member, show up with your local and signs!
If you support the American worker, show up with your friends and signs!
If you are under the people tent, come support your labor brothers and sisters!
It is now the time for everyone under this tent to stand in solidarity with everyone else in this big beautiful tent. We MUST stand for all: labor, gays, blacks, hispanics, women, students, teachers, social workers, firefighters, electicians, the elderly, etc.
We need to show the other side what they are up against when we all unite against them! Come hear the speakers! Walk the park! Lets rock this town like Madison!
And remember, no nasty signs! We are not the tea party!z
Solidarity Rally – OTTUMWA
Sunday, March 20, at 2:00pm
Central Park, 3rd & Court St. BRINGING WISCONSIN TO KEOKUK RALLY
The rally will be held on March 26th at The Keokuk Labor Temple (3rd and Blondeau St) at 1:00 p.m. Todd Miller, who spoke at Saturday’s rally, is helping put this together. Todd is with BCTGM Local 48G and has been locked out since September. Please spread the word all you can, and if anyone wants to carpool, reply to this and I’ll try to get that organized. If you need more info, email Todd at millman11@hotmail.com or call him at 319-795-0451
PEACE RALLIES
State-wide peace rally, Nollen Plaza Des Moines @ 11:30 AM March 19 provides the opportunity to say “Enough, we must end the two longest wars in American history.”
Iowa City March @ 11 AM at Johnson County Courthouse. March proceeds to IC Public Library. Agenda: War, Its Costs and What We Can DO To Stop It. Revolutionary Music, and presentation by Dreamwell Theatre. End time – noon. Sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Johnson Co. Green Party, PEACE Iowa, International Socialist Organization, Workers International League – Eastern Iowa, & Campaign for a Mass Party of Labor.
NON-PARTISAN POPULIST/PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT STARTING IN IOWA
Join other populist/progressive leadership from around Iowa on Saturday, March 19, 10 AM – 2:30 PM
to determine what should be done, what can be done to ignite a popular
movement for real change, particularly going into caucus year 2012 when
voter participation usually peaks. At the birthplace farmstead of US
Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Adair County, 2773 – 290th Street RR, Orient, Iowa: HAW Country Life Center. Five miles East of Greenfield on Hwy 92, then five miles south on Henry A. Wallace Rd (Hwy P33). Information contact person for convenors: Jay Howe, Greenfield jehowe3@iowatelecom.net. If possible advise contact person if you plan to participate so accommodations, free lunch may be properly planned.
More….
Calling Populist Democrats and Fellow Travelers
You are invited to consider formation of a people’s action league to, among other things, leverage the Democratic party back to its more noble legacy, that of robust advocate for working people in the halls of government – for family-scale farm producers, workforce labor, small business. The party has moved to center-right; and with the US Supreme Court’s ruling in “Citizens United” it will be ever more difficult to wean Democratic politicians off corporate and special interest sponsorship. Oh, yes, we’ll hear declarations that Democratic politicians are returning to their base, but until they know they are really accountable to it, material change won’t take place.
One model being discussed is the popular Non-Partisan League that arose in the upper midwest in early years of the last century, 1915-50. Very strident, very populist but standing parallel outside of the partisan election system, the NPL formulated populist programs (for economic emancipation) and then actively endorsed and supported candidate-allies in primary and general elections. It changed the way things “got done” in the Dakotas and Minnesota for generations and over time impacted both Republican and Democratic party institutions. View the classic film/documentary “Northern Lights” sometime. . . and/or check wikipedia history.
Be thinking about identification/name, mission statement, operations system/bylaws, membership strategy, political impact strategy, applied website technology to aid start-up.
Presumed core mission objectives: 1) reforms to bar “citizenship” for corporations to fund (buy) and lobby public officials limitlessly; 2) a family-farm/local foods USDA farm policy orientation; 3) anti-trust/anti-concentration/pro-small business regulation/tax policy; 4) workplace democracy/union shop-cardcheck reform; 5) renegotiate free trade pacts to embrace labor standards/environmental protection.
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