Buy American -- By Choosing What You Eat

Know what you're eating

As Americans, we are often assaulted by messages of all kinds about our dietary choices.  Whether it is some corporation trying to sell us food on the television or a local food activist distributing pamphlets at the farmer's market, these messages can often be frustrating and annoying.  If you're trying to support the economy of the United States by purchasing "Made in America" merchandise, you might assume that food sold or made in America is entirely "American."  If you're talking about locally-grown food, you'd be correct.  However, foods sold in discount supermarkets and processed foods made domestically may be or may contain ingredients manufactured outside the United States of America.

In this day and age, it is crucial consumers educate themselves and read the labels on the foods they purchase.  By doing so, they'd easily learn that stores like Wal-mart and discount groceries like Save-A-Lot sell foods grown or manufactured outside the United States.  I'm not talking about bananas or citrus fruit either.  For example, a recent trip to a Save-A-Lot revealed a startling number of canned fruits and vegetables from China!  There is no reason we should be importing food from China that can and is grown in America.  One specific example which comes to mind are canned peaches.  While American canned peaches were stocked, Save-A-Lot had surrounded them with discount "gourmet" peaches and "snack packs" from China.  Other Chinese imported foods observed were holiday cookies and candies.  Corporations like Save-A-Lot are trying to adapt the Wal-mart model of selling cheap merchandise made in China to retail food.  Isn't it bad enough we've handed over our manufacturing to Chinese wage-slave factories?  By buying these food products, you are endorsing the destruction of our agriculture by an economy predicated upon captive and forced labor -- not to mention their questionable safety record.  Remember all those babies who died after they were poisoned by contaminated baby formula?

Read the label!

While seeing "Made in China" on your can of peaches or maraschino cherries is easy enough -- if you take the time to look -- many processed foods made in America contain ingredients sourced outside the United States.  Even such "all American" snacks like Twinkies and Little Debbie cakes use these foreign ingredients and, if you're serious about buying American, you may want to keep what follows in mind.  Sorbic acid is a very common ingredient.  Flip over your snack and see if it's listed.  Sorbic acid is imported from Germany, Japan, and China.  Vanillin is an artificial vanilla flavoring.  It's made in one of two plants -- one in China and one in Baton Rouge, LA.  Neither of the plants is American owned.  At least one of them is in the States.  Palm oil is used a lot because of its excellent shelf life.  The palm oil tree can not grow in the United States and the vast majority is produced in Malaysia.  Stearic acid and sodium steryl lactylate are made from palm oil so, you guessed it, they're from Malaysia too.  Glycerin is added to foods to keep them moist or creamy.  Most of it comes from Mexico or Malaysia.  Same goes for mono and diglycerides.  Sodium and calcium casinate are common ingredients in many convenience foods.  Almost all of both of these ingredients originate in Ireland or New Zealand.

Flip over the package of your favorite snack cake or junk food and there is a very good chance you'll encounter more than one of these pro-globalization anti-American labor ingredients.  I'm of the opinion that processed foods made in the United States with ingredients from halfway around the world by a multinational corporation are not only of questionable nutritional value for your body but also that of the country as a whole.  Be informed when you make your purchases.  Junk food isn't necessarily bad -- if you don't eat too much of it -- but why are we clogging our national arteries or developing "all American" obesity and diabetes with foreign ingredients?  Just for the record, the following "food" ingredients are made from crude oil or national gas:  sorbic acid (a two-fer), polysorbate 60, 80, & 20, many artificial sweeteners, red #40 and yellow $5.  OPEC, Russia, China, and Norway profit when you dig into those.  Enjoy.

What's the solution?  The easiest I think is self apparent.  Buy locally produced foods -- preferably non-processed foods -- and cook for yourself.  Unfortunately, not everyone can do that.  What is most important is to educate yourself and learn where your food is coming from and then make informed pro-American labor choices.  Not only can you improve your health but also that of the country.  Buy American food made from American ingredients by American workers!

Michigan's Governor and Republicans in the Legislature are Contemptable Greedy Bastards

The branch of the Republican party typified by the Koch brother and the high rollers who funded the oligarch, Mitt Romney's, failed run for President of the United States of America see the writing on the wall.  They are on their way out and their true-believer free market religion is sick and may die as it's recognized for what it truly is -- a plan for serfdom of the common citizen wrapped in the framed myth of "individual liberties" and "freedom" (without having much to do with either.  Why do I think this?  Because the Republicans in Michigan are behaving like angry feral cats that are trapped and about to be neutered.  They are striking out and clawing as hard as possible at the source, as they see it, of resistance -- the Unions.

The paradigm is changing.  We've heard about it since the re-election of President Barack Obama.  The make up of the population is changing.  Unfortunately for conservatives and other plutocrats, the shift in the population is favoring Progressive issues such as marriage equality, abortion rights, pot legalization, the election of non-white Presidents, and Labor rights.  In the case of the Michigan Republicans, the last election didn't work out all that well for them and Democrats, who are generally more pro-Union, picked up seats while Republicans lost.  While the Republicans currently have a super-majority in the Michigan State Legislature, they will loose that single party dictatorship in January.  Their back is against the wall and they have chosen to do as much damage as possible to their largest progressive opponents.  Not only have Unions stood for the Middle Class (having had a significant hand in creating it) and all workers, they are willing to put their money where their mouth is by funding politicians who support Labor.  As many Republicans have been bankrolled by corporations or have bought the party line meant to benefit management, most Union money goes to Democrats who do support workers' issues.  So, in Michigan, they moved to eliminate one of the greatest accomplishments of American Society and that of the world as a whole.  The so called "right to work" law is not about economics.  It is not about giving workers choice.  It's about politics and nothing more.  The Republicans see their position is eroding and they are trying to do as much damage as possible before they loose control by starving or bankrupting the Unions.

What about Rick Snyder, Michigan's Governor?  Either he's a coward or he's been lying to the citizens of Michigan.  His past statements are more than adequate to demonstrate his hypocrisy on this issue -- having both said he wanted nothing to do with it and that his signing of the "right to work" law would be too divisive for Michigan.  Within the last week, he has entirely reversed the positions he supposedly previously held and signed the anti-Union bill the moment it was rammed through the legislature without public comment and under extremely questionable circumstances.  He is nothing but an enemy of the Middle Class.  He has chosen to side with his plutocrat and oligarch masters.  No matter how hard he tries, he can't polish this turd and must be held accountable.  Perhaps a recall is in his future.  I hope one is.

Expect more of this kind of behavior in the future.  We've already seen how disruptive the do-nothing House of Representatives has been in Washington, DC.  Likewise, the abuse of the filibuster and anonymous member holds in the Senate has further illustrated the plutocrats unwillingness to accept reality and work to help ove this country forward and towards the benefit of all citizens.  As the old boys club Republicans and their oligarch masters start realizeing their backs are against the wall, they will start doing more and more actions like those in Michigan.  They want to keep their power over the rest of us.  Money will flow.  Politicians will be bought and more and more anti-Labor, anti-Choice, anti-Marriage Equality laws will be past in legislatures controlled by conservatives while they still have power.

If these conservative plutocrats are allowed their agendas, we will be further on the path towards corporate and oligarch domination of the common person.  We will continue to work more for less while our corporate overlords continue to try and distract us with phrases like "freedom" and materialistic bangles like iPads and designer jeans.  The United States has been a leader in the fight for Workers' Rights and we must fight to continue our progress toward equal rights for all people.  We must stand in Solidarity!  By allowing Republican plutocrats to behave like they are in Michigan, we will harm the Middle Class and we will further prevent those living in poverty from improving their lives.  Michigan is a call to action!  The game is changing and the push towards laws meant to protect the 1% and their obscene profits off of the backs of workers will increase and we can not afford to sit on the sidelines.  It is up to all of us to write our representatives and let them know behavior like this is unacceptable.  We must boycott.  We need to be ready to prtest.  If forced into the situation by management, we need to be ready to strike.  Remember these insults upon the working poulace of Michigan and the
Country when you go to the voting booth.  Vote these greedy bastards out of office!  We must elect people who are willing to represent all of us regardless of our financial situation.

Get Your Money Out of Banks!

In the past, I've written about the importance of budgeting and being frugal.  Not only does it help you and your family, it works towards depriving the oligarchs their lifeblood -- money.  Today,  Occupy Wallstreet and other activists are promoting another wise way to protect your money and work toward an equitable future for everyone.  Today is Move Your Money Day!

Partially spurred on by the, now dead, move by Bank of America and other banks to charge their customers a monthly fee to use their debit cards (in addition to all the other ridiculous fees they charge), Move Your Money Day was thought up as a way to have people register their disgust with the banks and keep their money local.  As many people know, banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo took bailout money from the Government after they helped create the financial crisis from which we are currently suffering.  These "too big to fail" banks then proceeded to generate outrageous profits and give enormous bonuses to their 1% officers -- all on the backs of the 99%.

Now, there is nothing wrong, on the face of it, in making profits or giving bonuses.  However, these banks were only able to do so because they took the people's money.  Had they not taken the cash, they would have, if not failed outright, crumbled partially functional bankettes as they would have had to possibly divest to survive.  Sure, they paid the money back BUT they have yet to be held accountable for the damage they have wrought upon the economy of the United States, Europe, and the World!  Seeing how the Government is proving to be spineless when it come to making Wallstreet pay for its crimes and more than happy to give these banks a free pass, it is now up to the people.

How do we get at them?  Through their religion -- the free market.  That's right!  You have a choice and you can take your money out of these "too big to fail" felons and put it into a local banking establishment.  First, you'll be registering your discontent with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, and their ilk.  Second, you will be helping support your local economy because local banks and credit unions use local money to make local loans.  Third, you will be helping support a much more equitable banking industry over that of the industrial, heartless TARP-fueled banks of the world.

The Union Legion strongly endorses the use of local credit unions.  Your narrator has exclusively used one for many years.  Often, there are requirements which have to be met before you can join but those requirements may only be that you live in a certain area.  In a credit union, you are not a "customer" per se.  You are an owner.  When you join, you deposit a share.  This share is then kept with the bank and you can not withdraw it unless you are leaving the credit union.  Worried about accessing your share?  Don't be.  The share is a low sum -- around $20 or $25.  Once you are a member, you can enjoy many, if not all, of the products commercial banks offer -- but they will be called something different.  For example, CDs are not called CDs -- they are called share certificates at my credit union.  My "checking" account is called a share draft account.  Regardless of their names, these accounts function exactly the same as traditional accounts.  Plus, I have free checking, a free debit card, and I earn interest on both my draft and savings accounts.  Many credit unions also share an ATM network and, wouldn't you know it, they don't charge ATM access fees!

Even if you feel a credit union isn't the right answer for you, there are still local, traditional banks.  Again, these banks keep your money local but, most importantly, they aren't responsible for the economic mess everyone is slogging through.  As technology has improved these small banks have proven they too can provide the services of the big monster banks.

Don't get worried about moving your money.  It is a fairly simple process.  Take this point of advise though -- do your research first and know the features of your prospective new bank.  Then, open your new, local account first and link up your bill payments and direct deposits before you move your money.  Otherwise, you may run into some automated headaches later in the month when your rent isn't automatically paid.  Once your new account is set up, close out your account with the "too big to fail" bank.  I would even go so far as to encourage you to politely tell them why.  When finished, you will be saving more of your hard earned cash, keeping your money local to do local work, taking control over your money away from the "too big to fail" banks, and doing your part to let the wealthiest 1% know there will be an accounting for their actions.

Vampire. Serial Murderer. 1%

For your Halloween delectation:

STRIKE! CWA 1118 is on Strike Against Verizon

Verizon has refused to negotiate with the members of CWA 1118 and CWA's membership has been forced to strike.

Come out and support your fellow Workers and stand against big business choosing profits over people!

My Comments About the Newly Announced JCOPE Deal

by Clayton Bradt

Today's post is from our newest contributor.  He's a bit “free range” in that his writing is not necessarily written specifically for the Union Legion.  However, he gave us permission to edit and post his writings and this is, currently, the only place you'll be able to read them unless you are fortunate enough to share a mailing list with him or he sends you something directly.  --EvV

All of the Commission members will be politically connected hacks. Splitting the membership between the "two major parties" accomplishes nothing. Leaving aside the fact that this completely marginalizes the many other political parties, we need to recognize that the New York State kleptocracy is run by a syndicate of political “crime families” who have divvied up the spoils of government (patronage jobs and vendor contracts) so that each family gets its agreed-upon share of the loot.  Minor power shifts within and between the families (Democrats and Republicans) make no real difference in the total "take" from the public treasury, just a difference in the cut each family gets.

When for example, when there is a Democrat in the Governor's Mansion, a few more patronage slots go to Democrat hacks, but the Republican Senate stills gets its somewhat smaller cut, and the Democrat Assembly gets theirs. Nothing changes but the names [or the letter after their name – EvV] of the people stealing our money.

If we are ever to make an effectual change in the way New York State government operates, oversight must be taken out of the hands that are already in the cookie jar! A Public Employee Free Speech Act would be a major step toward true ethics reform. Political crimes (waste, fraud and abuse) are designed to be hidden. Only by keeping their dealings secret can our political rulers get away with their crimes. As brazen as the abuses may be, the perpetrators are confident they can get away with them because they are legally able to intimidate the witnesses to these crimes: public employees. Retaliation against public employees who report or merely witness wrong-doing in government, is routine and is an accepted business practice in every branch and agency of government. If public employees were no longer afraid to say what they know, the kleptocrats would no longer be assured of keeping their wrong-doing hidden. Not only would current crimes be uncovered, but future crimes would be inhibited by the knowledge of certain discovery by the would-be perpetrators.

Charter School Group Caught Lying

Congratulations Albany!

The citizens of Albany, NY have pushed back against a blatantly dishonest, last minute campaign by a corporate charter school group.  While the fight went to the final round, the honest people of Albany chose to support the education of children over the profits of the charter chattel school system.

Yesterday the Times Union published a story which revealed a Big Business campaign against the Albany School District's budget -- using fliers with out-right false information -- wait, I'll say it LIES about taxes.  Then there was a push poll.  In the event you aren't familiar with them, push polls are an inherently dishonest means to propagate lies.  Well, maybe not always lies but the methodology is a deliberate way to try to obfuscate a direct message through suggestion.  Someone receives a call, agrees to take a quick survey, and then is fed a series of leading questions to the ultimate conclusion the push poller wants.  An example might be something like "Do you approve of Candidate X's refusal to address questions about marital infidelities?"  It doesn't matter if Candidate X even has a history of cheating or even has ever been accused of cheating.  The impression has been left in the voter's mind that X is of questionable morality.  Push polling is nothing but emotional and psychological manipulation.

Further proof, I suppose, that, if Corporations were people, they'd be psychopaths.

Albany is a city which has seen considerable scandal and failure in the realm of education.  Simply put, Albany is failing its children.  However, blame can not be placed solely on the education system.  Sure, it plays a major role but poverty, I believe, is the prime-mover of Albany's  education problem.  Chattel schools, at least in Albany, don't seem interested in the solving the problem.  Instead of supporting the community with committed, Unionized teachers, these corporations seek to make a profit first.  Their teachers are, I'd guess, no less committed than the Public School teachers but they aren't Unionized and that has real drawbacks.  They have no job security; have no real say over their work conditions or retirement, and are paid less.  Their stress must be greater in some ways than the Public School teacher's.  They are expected to perform with less support and less stability.

The obvious campaign of lies and deceit by the chattel school industry was geared to destabilize the Albany Public School system.  I presume this would have then been used as a lobbying wedge-issue as well as a means to try to get more chattel schools built in Albany.  Despite having the Mayor in their back pocket, chattel schools recently lost in an attempt to get a new school built.  Chattel school accountants must be looking at their balance sheets.  No new schools = no new profits.

Wait a minute!  Isn't the point of education our children?  By lying about the Albany School District budget, the chattel school industry has illustrated just how much they value children.  Chattel schools are supposed to be a compliment to Public Schools -- not a for-profit replacement.  By trying to get Albany's Citizens to vote down the District's budget, the chattel schools were, in effect, saying "defund your schools, don't support education and teachers, harm your children, and hand them over to us."

Chattel schools do not view themselves as partners in education with Public Schools.  They see themselves as competitors.  The free market belief system holds that the better school will get more students.  What does "better" mean anyway?  Unfortunately for kids, it does not necessarily mean "education".  The corporation better at misleading parents, better at cutting enriching services, or better at scaring honest citizens could also be a top performer -- without benefiting a single child.  It's a despicable shame, on a National level, we value under-served children so little that we'd wash our hands of the problem and hand them over to corporations with the mentality of Ayn Rand and compassion of a cactus.

I'm certain charter schools have a place in the education landscape and I am no fan of the Albany school system.  I moved out of Albany, partially, because I have a child and I do not want her in Albany's schools.  While I could afford to leave, there are many people who can't.  They are stuck in a cycle of poverty and, in the developing economy of the future, education may be the only way out.  If we are to "win the future", people have to stop handing it over to corporations who are willing to lie in order to profit off our kids.  Through grass-roots action like a Facebook page, citizens of Albany chose the future over corporate profits.  They won a fight for kids who really can't speak for themselves.  Way to go!  While the margin was not great, I feel the Albany School District should use this affirmative vote (despite the lies and lobbying) as a mandate.  In a troubled, inner-city school district, the budget passed and did so in a time of Cuomo education starvation as well as other financial hardships.  This opportunity can not be wasted adn teachers, staff, and administrators must rededicate themselves to improving the education and future of the District's children.