Minneapolis Issues Folks,
This will sound like a plug for my own work, and it shouldn't, it should sound
like a plug for a shift in voters values that was happening regardless of
myself or any other person. Voters put much more value in non-profits
endorsements like the Sierra Club or other membership driven organizations than
endorsements from the Police Federation Union or other
large-old-guard-boys-club network organizations.
Everyone knows that the only members of the Police Federation are police
officers and they have to be members. Membership comes with the job, and just
because they are members does not mean they agree with union leaders decisions.
Voters realize they don't represent a large segment of society but rather their
own narrow interests.
The same could be stated about non-profits but the individual has the
opportunity to stop their membership if they disapprove of endorsements or
policies. Organizations like the Sierra Club have extremely transparent
endorsements process that is very inclusive to membership. I believe that
voters trust the Sierra Club endorsements more than the Police Federations, and
they should. As former Chair of both the state chapter and political committee,
I did not agree with all of the Sierra Club endoresments and that to me proves
the process was democratic. I was actually happy that I did not agree with all
the decisions because it proves that many people have a voice in the process,
not just a few insiders.
An example of this shifting of values can be seen with the United Steelworkers
of America Associate Membership Program
http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/content/overview_sub.php?modules2_ID=186&modules_ID=297
Dave Foster has been a driving force behind this change. The USWA are working
side by side with environmental organizations, and pushing for policies that
will help to improve the environment, while still stand up for their workers
rights. They understand to help improve their ability to change the political
process they needed to change, and they need to reflect the values of society
as a whole to properly represent their own members.
I have worked with them organizing people in the suburbs and in greater
Minnesota and they are the real-deal. They understand times have changed, and
they are changing to become an organization more responsive to the public
needs, while still fighting for traditional unions rights.
The Police Federation and some of the other unions have not made these changes
and they are losing their political clout because they are perceived as bullies
not partners like the USWA.
Ken Bradley
Kenny Neighborhood
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