Making a better world …
May 28, 2006 News
Earlier this spring I had the pleasure to witness and participate in the work of several groups in our community working in small ways locally to make the world a better place sand dollar by sand dollar if you remember that popular little anecdote of a few years ago.
Next two houses to be built east of Nerstrand.
At the Habitat for Humanity dinner held at the American Legion Club they announced the recipient of this year’s home projects. Two homes to be built near Nerstrand. It was very touching to be a witness to the joy of these young families joining Rice County communities as future homeowners. I sat with Rep. Patti Fritz who was greeted enthusiastically through out the evening by her many supporters.
Hope Center held a luminary event on bridge square. CC Lindstroth thanked attendees
and those who have contributed to the Hope Center over the past year. A singer performed while listeners contemplated the poignant 
messages on the many t-shirts decorating the perimeter of the square on this beautiful spring day. Jan Sinna, posed here with a display explaining the Center’s work.
Healthfinders “A Night on the Town” Dinner celebrated this local organization and its efforts to offer health care to uninsured residents of Rice County. Housed at Little Prairie United Methodist Church south of Dundas The Mission of HealthFinders is to provide quality, accessible and culturally appropriate healthcare services, at no cost, to low-income and uninsured residents of greater Rice County. Their website includes a link to 2006 poverty Guidelines. 
The staff’s work is supplemented by St. Olaf students who volunteer in a variety of ways Breanna Peterson who just happen to be this years Senior Class Commencement speaker. The HealthFinders Clinic operates on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., located on County Road 88/130th Street in rural Dundas, MN.To find it here’s a map
Another beautiful Spring day shined on Northfield’s ‘Relay for Life’ held at St. Olaf Manitou Field and organized mostly by St. Olaf students – though many Northfielders contributed. The afternoon began with a recognition and walk around by cancer survivors, Northfield High School staff Charlie Black and Marilyn Neuville were among that group. Then others, family members and supporters joined in the following laps. As the sun sets luminaries are lit around the track and another set on the bleachers spell out the word ‘HOPE’ – the word we all hold to for those loved ones we cherish and don’t want to lose. Last year I recognized my uncle
Chauncey Bly who spent the early years of his career researching a cure for cancer. Cancer took him in the early 90s. I thought of him again as I made my way around the track it is a simple but moving experience to share in the life struggle of others and in a small way you feel for moments the emotions I am sure they struggle with.
NAG Annual Meeting
May 28, 2006 News
In the meeting, Rebecca Bazan, Executive Director reviewed the annual progress and plans for the future of the Northfield Arts Guild and outgoing President, Steve Meyer, announced the changing of the guard as Jill Ewald takes over as the new Board President. A limerick farewell was offered by Chris Brunelle to Bruce Santerre who leaves the Board this year. But the highlight of the evening was the crowning of Paul Niemisto Arts Volunteer of the Year with a music man type straw hat (sorry no picture you’ll have to take my word for it).
“You’ll have to give it back,” quipped Patsy Dew, Program Director. “It belongs to the NAG costume department.”
Paul, ever the showman couldn’t resist the opportunity to announce his “Vintage Band Music Festival" July 27- 30, which will host 15 bands presenting over 40 FREE outdoor concerts for the whole family all around Northfield. "Let’s see if we really are an Arts Community,” he added.
Wal-Mart World discussed at St. Olaf
May 28, 2006 News
Professor Fure-Slocum and panel
"Wal-Mart America: Changing the Face of our World" a symposium held May 4th in the Lion's Pause of Buntrock Commons was sponsored by Assistant Professor of History Eric Fure-Slocum's History 297 class. (I apologize for being late with this blog it's been in the hopper for awhile.)
It featured a panel discussion, which included speakers Jenny Shegos from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789, Ross Currier of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, and St. Olaf Economics Professor Rebecca Judge. Panelists will discuss both sides of the controversy surrounding Wal-Mart's role in American culture and politics, particularly regarding labor issues. Panel, moderators were St. Olaf students Anna Gieselman '06 and Max Wojtanowicz '06.
Several student research projects and presentations were on display and examined the challenges of "big box" retail and a range of other recent changes in American society. 
Tom Daymont, of Northfield was one of the students who had this display comparing the retail footprint of downtown Northfield and the local Target store an interesting visual study.
"This is an opportunity for students to engage in conversation on this topic with the public," Fure-Slocum said (quoted from an article on the St.Olaf website by Tom Vogel). "Some projects deal specifically with Wal-Mart, although others look at broader changes in American society, culture and consumption, especially within the last four or five decades."
It was his intent to have the class examine how the United States has developed from an industrial to a post-industrial society. Students looked at 19th-century steel manufacturers and mid-20th-century automobile makers, learning to ask questions about how these industries have shaped the American landscape and what effects they've had on workers' everyday lives. (Vogel)
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
May 15, 2006 News
Mark Ritchie has been on a remarkable journey, from activist and author hoping to save the family farm to President of an important international trade institute to his present pursuit as Minnesota Secretary of State. In 1979, he wrote, Loss of Family Farms, a
powerful indictment of U.S. farm policy, which intentionally cut the number of farmers in the country. Later he hosted the 'Old Timers Conference,' bringing together the surviving leadership of the progressive farm movements from the 1920s to the present.
Farm leaders from Europe, Asia and the Americas held an emergency meeting at Canada's parliament in Ottawa to address the worsening agricultural trade situation, which led to The First International Farm Crisis Summit organized by Mark Ritchie.
Shortly after that Mark founded IATP headquartered in the basement of his house at 3838 Blaisdell Av., Minneapolis. He served as the Executive Director and then President since 1986. Previously he served as Executive Director of the Center for Rural Studies and policy analyst at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
I had the pleasure of celebrating the twentieth anniversary of IATP a couple of weeks ago
and was very impressed to learn about all the things that the Institute has done. Winona LaDuke, former Green Party candidate for Vice President, was the master of ceremonies and Jim Hightower, former Texas commissioner of Agriculture was the keynote speaker. Mark presented the Institute's annual award for Commitment to Community to Lucia Watson of Lucia's Restaurant and Dr. Edgard Pisani. Dr. Pisani, formerly France's Minister of Agriculture, has been active for more than 60 years on behalf of farmer friendly agriculture and democracy.
Mark Ritchie is the author of numerous books, articles, and studies on a wide range of agriculture, food, environment, forestry, human rights and trade issues. A graduate of Iowa State Univeristy, he has a master's degree in international public law from the University of Amsterdam.
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy. Ritche leaves the Institute in good hands as new president Jim Harkness takes over. I am confident Mark will make a great Secretary of State.
Coleen Rowley in Northfield
May 14, 2006 News
Those of you looking for an opportunity to support Coleen Rowley, DFL endorsed candidate for U.S. Representative from the 2nd Congressional District may wish to join her for Syttende Mai (17th of May) at the Ole Store. She is having a reception there on Wednesday, May 17th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm for more information contact Jeane Delaney at delaney@stolaf.edu 
Check out Coleen’s website
Curing the Health Care System
May 10, 2006 Health Care, News
Here’s a presentation you might find interesting. Steve Miles was student body president my Freshman year at St. Olaf and in 2000 was seeking the DFL endorsement for US Senate, the seat Mark Dayton currently holds. I remember him as an impressive leader in 1970 and great speaker as well.
Curing the Health Care System Good Health Care, Adequate Health Insurance
Friday May 12, 7:00 pm
Come hear DR. STEVEN MILES Professor, Center of Bioethics University of Minnesota Medical School
Dr. Miles was featured as Minnesotan of the Year in the January, 2005 issue of MN Monthly.He has served as president of the American Association of Bioethics. Dr. Miles has published numerous books and articles. His latest book is “Oath Betrayed: Military Medicine and the War on Terror. “
Normandale Community College, France Avenue South and 98th Street, Bloomington Main (South) Entrance, Room C-1095
Sponsors:Normandale Community College DemocratsSenate District 41DFL Education Committee.
For more information contact:Dwaine Lindberg 952 835 3344 or dlindberg76mn
Corporate America Is Taxing Us to Death
May 9, 2006 Agriculture, News
My friend Richard Levins sent me a book he is publishing called, “Middle Class*Union Made.” It is an excellent analysis of our current economic situation. Dick used to be my neighbor on Lincoln Street but now lives in St. Paul. He is an Ag Economist at the University of Minnesota and wrote an excellent short biography of Willard Cochrane, renowned U of M Ag. Economist. I ran into Dick at the recent IATP (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy) 20 year anniversary dinner celebrating Mark Ritchie, IATP’s founder and a current candidate for the Secretary of State. (More about that and Mark in another blog) Dick explains that, “While price-gouging taxes us by over –charging for essential services, wage cuts caused by globalization act as a private income tax by reducing our take home pay.” Observations like this made clear for me some thoughts I have been struggling to articulate. A couple of years ago I was teaching history and economics to my alternative school students and curious to know what they thought I asked them what was wrong with our economy and with our country. Several would answer it’s taxes, the governments to blame. Everything costs so much.” Most of them work and they know what it means to try to get your pay check to stretch, and it seemed odd to me that they would equate their financial struggle with over taxation. I think they just didn’t really know how the system works. They associate power with the government. They were right if they thought the problem was taxes the powerful put on us. But they were wrong to assume that power was the government. From the rising cost of health insurance to the high cost to fossil fuels it is the rich and powerful who are benefiting and burdening us with their own kind of tax. If it was the government we might see some benefit in roads or service improvements but it is not a government tax. This is a tax that strictly makes millionaires into billionaires. From the Walton Family to the CEOs of Exxon to the head of health insurance companies our hard earned dollars goes to pay for their elaborate shower curtains or other showy trinkets of conspicuous consumption. But some how we are led to pull the wool over our eyes and think that some how they have earned or deserve this great wealth. In reality it is only because they have the power and influence to set policies that allow them to continue to tax us for what ever it is we might want or need.
Dick recently submitted the following OpEd piece to a metro paper but it was rejected, it gives you a sense of his message:
Unions are the solution, not the problem
By Richard A. Levins
The process of devolving from a middle class society into a banana republic is well under way. The signs are everywhere. Wages, even for college graduates, are falling behind inflation. The number of families in poverty is growing. The middle class debt load is off the charts and the personal savings rate is below zero. The costs of a college education, of health insurance, of energy for heating and driving, and of pharmaceuticals grow out of reach for ever more Americans with each passing day.
What economists call the “income distribution” is, from a middle class perspective, as bad as it has been since the Great Depression. During the Roaring 20’s, the split between rich and poor grew exceptionally large, leaving relatively few in the middle class. In the decades following the Depression, things began to change for the better as income and wealth became more evenly distributed. But now we are back to where we were as the nation stood on the brink of its greatest economic catastrophe ever. The very rich are richer than ever, but the rest of us are falling behind at an increasingly rapid pace.
What caused these changes in the balance between a middle class society and neo-Feudalism? The history of labor unions in America gives an important clue. Private-sector unionization was legislated during the Depression. Union membership grew into the mid-twentieth century, then began a slow decline that continues today. Remember the income distribution numbers: a weak middle class in the Depression, a strong middle class in the decades following, and a weakening middle class now. The way these income distribution numbers generally track those for union activity is no coincidence.
Unions equalize power in the market place between those who work for a living and those who own something for a living. Those who work for a living are the stuff of which the middle class is made. Those who own something for a living fill the ranks of the very wealthy. When the balance of power is with labor unions, the gains from production stay with the middle class. When the balance shifts as it has today, the very wealthy take an ever-larger share from economic activity.
As the very wealthy become even more so, they do not spend money in the way middle class people do. After all, how many houses and cars, no matter how fine, can one have? Once people have more money than they can possibly spend on goods and services, they no longer use it in ways that stimulate the economy. Instead, they use the power their money brings to get more tax breaks, less regulation, more support for globalization, and policies that favor capital over labor. The middle class continues to weaken.
In spite of all this, we are told not to worry, because the United States is becoming what some politicians call an “ownership society.” Instead of supporting unions that bring decent wages to working people, we are advised to buy shares in the corporations that profit when wages are falling. Meanwhile, we ignore the most important part of our economy—we are a great market for goods and services.
The trouble with all strategies that trade good jobs for cheap toasters is that they eventually erode the market for the goods and services being provided. A handful of hyper-wealthy individuals along with millions of people living on the economic edge are not the sound, stable market needed for growth. Only the middle class, with buying power widely distributed, can provide that. And that is what we are losing.
Rebalancing power in the economy is essential if the middle class is to thrive. Doing this, however, will require more than our government alone can reasonably be expected to deliver. We must act together in the market place as well. The way to do that is the way we have always done it—to join and support the unions that built the middle class in the first place.
Richard A. Levins is Professor Emeritus of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. His most recent book Middle Class * Union Made (June 2006) is available from Itasca Books at www.itascabooks.com or 1-800-901-3480.
2nd Congressional District DFL Convention
May 6, 2006 News
Coleen Rowley was endorsed by delegates at the 2nd congressional District DFL convention May 6th at Faribault High school. She will represent the DFL against John Klein in the Novemeber 7th election.
Galbraith Dies At 97
May 2, 2006 News
Sunday I got word that economist John Kenneth Galbraith had passed away. Galbraith was one of the great liberal economists of the last century. He served as advisor to Democratic presidents from FDR to Bill Clinton and was John F. Kennedy’s ambassador to India.
His books are still important contributions to our current political debate from The Affluent Society to The New Industrial State and Economics and the Public Purpose. Even his most recent work, The Economics of Innocent Fraud has a relevant and important perspective. As he points out in his introduction one
could not be more fortunate than to have ones arguments verified in the press by scandals like Enron. He points out the difference between commonly held belief and reality and in so doing points to the problem of confidence in the so called 'truths' everyone claims to be believe, when in fact they are only commonly held beliefs.
Galbraith goes on to explain that this is the predominant reason we are in the economic mess we are in where the rich get richer, the poor fall further behind and the middle class is struggling. It is not that we are the victims of criminals but that we are the victims of convenient beliefs. Corporate leaders and their servants believe whatever serves their purposes is right and never stop to consider beyond their own interests, unaware they are doing anything wrong. As he says, “No clear legal question is involved. Response comes not from violation of law but from personal social belief. There is no serious sense of guilt; more likely, there is a sense of self-approval.” Is it that old social Darwinist view, the belief that the rich are rich because they are better? The book concludes with a powerful statement about or current political situation:
A Final Word. We cherish the progress in civilization since biblical times and long before. But there is a needed and indeed, accepted qualification. as I write the united sates and Britain are in the bitter aftermath of a war in Iraq We are accepting programmed death for the young and random slaughter for men and women of all ages. So, overwhelmingly , it was in World war I and II . So more selectively, since and still at this writing in Iraq. Civilized life, as it is called is a great white tower celebrating human achievements , but at the top there permanently a large back cloud. Human progress dominated by unimaginable cruelty and death.
I leave the reader with the sadly relevant fact: Civilization has made great strides over the centuries in science, health care, the arts and most, if not all economic well being. But also it has given a privileged position to the development of weapons and the threat and reality of war. Mass slaughter has become the ultimate civilized achievement.
The facts of war are inescapable – death and random cruelty, suspension of civilized values, a disordered aftermath. Thus the human condition and prospect as now described, as also mass poverty and starvation, can, with thought and action, be addressed. So they have already been. War remains the decisive human failure.
The New York Times concluded with its tribute with this:
He remained optimistic about the ability of government to improve the lot of the less fortunate. "Let there be a coalition of the concerned," he urged. "The affluent would still be affluent, the comfortable still comfortable, but the poor would be part of the political system."
Here’s what the press is saying:
John Kenneth Galbraith Dies At 97
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 30, 2006(AP) John Kenneth Galbraith, the Harvard professor who won worldwide renown as a liberal economist, backstage politician and witty chronicler of affluent society, died Saturday night, his son said. He was 97.
Galbraith died of natural causes at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, where he was admitted nearly two weeks ago, Alan Galbraith said. "He had a wonderful and full life."
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith dies
Sun Apr 30, 2006 4:07 PM ET
By Jason Szep
BOSTON (Reuters) – John Kenneth Galbraith, an influential liberal economist, best-selling author and former presidential advisor, died on Saturday. He was 97.
New York Times:John Kenneth Galbraith, 97, Dies; Economist Held a Mirror to Society
Financial Times: Galbraith Obituary
NPR : John Galbraiths Lasting Economic Impact
NPR : John Kenneth Galbraith, In His Own Words
Markets, Politics and the Public Interest
John Kenneth Galbraith, a Great American
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
A great American has passed away–John Kenneth Galbraith. He was 97 years old and still involved with the issues of our time.
Galbraith's most famous book is The Affluent Society (1958). In this book Galbraith argued that Americans were good at making money, but neglectful of the wider public interest.
Alas, the same is true today. The environment always suffers from the greed of developers and a number of other well organized interest groups that pull political strings. I have seen enough in my life to know that Galbraith was right that the "free market" is not always the answer. All too often, the "free market" is merely organized interests pulling political strings behind ideological cover.
Today the greed of CEOs and short-term shareholders is destroying the American middle class. Why pay an American to do a job that can be outsourced to a foreigner for far less cost or performed by a foreigner brought in on a H-1B or L-l visa. American organizations and their public relations operatives spread disinformation that there are shortages of engineers, nurses, schoolteachers, and so on in America, and that the need has to be met by bringing in foreigners at less pay. Read more.
Here's a conversation with Galbraith
Quotes: "Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable."
"It is a far, far better thing to have a firm anchor in nonsense than to put out on the troubled sea of thought."
"Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory."
"Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists"
"One of the greatest pieces of economic wisdom is to know what you do not know."
