Opening day of MN legislator (speech)

Speech for the opening day of legislator at the Capitol, Jan 24th 2012
Anti-War Committee, as a part of the People’s Bailout Coalition

To the politicians: Politicians. I came here today with a message from the people. Now, you may not know who we are, hell, I don’t know who most of you are. I don’t honestly have much use for that information, because as long as I have been alive it has been true that politicians follow the money, they listen to their lobbyists, and they do what their friends in business want them to do.
And that they do not represent us.

It has been true, but I’m here today to tell you that things have changed.

I was here last year, actually. I stood right here on the opening day of legislator and I gave a speech on the interrelatedness of injustice and war and poverty- a year ago. So I can tell you that we are in a totally different political climate, just one year later. Because Occupy Wall Street is a wake-up call to all who choose to listen. And we, as a people, as a nation, are waking up. The 99% are coming to attention, they’re coming to actions. Its amazing.

For those of us who were singing this tune all along it comes as no surprise. If anything, it has been a long time coming. Until finally, we realized that the power of the people is greater than the dollar. We are stronger, our voices carry louder than the corporate controlled media can ignore. Which is why it is so important for us to be here today, to stand up and speak out and tell these politicians how we feel.

Now, I just want to back up and say that I am here today representing the anti war committee. The AWC has been a part of The People’s Bailout Coalition since it’s inception because we understand that there is a direct link between the War on Terror and the war that’s being waged right here at home on the poor people of this country, and of this state. And when we stand up for the quality of life of Minnesotans, struggling to heat their homes, struggling just to keep their homes,
we are also acutely aware of the quality of life for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan (or anywhere, really, that has something that our government wants) who
–just like us- want to live free of fear, and go to work and school and live in peace.

When we say End the War we mean cut the funding! Cause we know that for ten years and counting, this war has been costing us in so many more ways than money. But the war profiteers are still not satisfied. And while billions of our tax dollars are being spent on bombs that keep the peace, drone planes that supposedly miss civilians, and FBI investigations that destroy our civil liberties, the whatever's left is being parceled out to inadequate health care, overwhelmed public schools and all but derailed social services.

And we’ve had enough! Minnesotans want to see their tax dollars go to Minnesotans in need, not to kill people in other countries -just to line the pockets of the 1%!


Politicians, take heed. We are awake. And we are watching you too, now. Watching what you do, and where your values lie. We are here to tell you that we want an end to militarization. We want an end to poverty. If you’re looking for some money in the budget somewhere, I say TAX THE RICH! They got us into this mess. They have profited off of us for long enough, and we have had enough of it.

Mark my words. If we can come this far in one year, think of where we will be a year from now. And the year after that. The time has come, and we the people will change this world, with or without you politicians, things are never ganna be the same. My best advice to you is to get on board!