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Minnesota Millennial, Power Politics Part 3

Hello! Part 1 of interview here:  https://4tpack.blogspot.com/2018/01/minnesota-millennial-power-politics_3.html Part 2 of interview here:  https://4tpack.blogspot.com/2018/01/minnesota-millennial-power-politics_5.html -Bringing the spotlight back to Minny, what is your take on our state right now, as far as politics/social issues? We need a strong progressive base. Minnesota is a blue state, but as we saw in the last election, much of the rural community voted red. We need progressives to go out in these rural communities and talk to blue-collar workers. We need to employ part of Trumps strategy against him. Progressives and Liberals need to campaign and appeal to manufacturers and blue collar workers who are hurting because of anti-union laws and automation. We need to unite the entire state around a platform that will benefit everyone—a platform that raises the minimum wage, rebuilds unions, and ensures health care to all. We cannot afford to divide into camps along
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Minnesota Millennial, Power Politics Part 2

Mathieu Landretti photo from Facebook. Mathieu delves into the 2016 election in the second installment of our interview. PART 1 OF INTERVIEW HERE:   https://4tpack.blogspot.com/2018/01/minnesota-millennial-power-politics_3.html                   In Part 2 of our three-part interview, we learn more about Mathieu Landretti's thoughts and activities during the 2016 election, and where he thinks we as a country can go from there. -What was your take on the 2016 election? Things/issues/people you enjoyed witnessing, things you didn't, etc.  "I n my opinion, the 2016 election was a rude awakening.  This election exposed the anger and discontent of the American people who have felt betrayed by their leaders. This bitterness towards the political establishment manifested itself in two key figures: Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.  Bernie Sanders represented progressive left-wing populism, and Donald Trump represented regressive right-wing populism. The
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Minnesota Millennial, Power Politics

         I had a great opportunity at a Healthcare For All MN meeting last year to meet Mathieu Landretti. Mathieu is a soon-to-be high school graduate already keyed into the world of politics. In addition, he's filling an important role for Healthcare For All, but more on that later.           As a young millennial and politically engaged Minnesotan, we get to hear from the next generation about what is happening now, what should happen, and how we may get there. If I understood correctly, you're very busy currently with high school and college-level courses. Considering all you have ahead of you, how did you become interested in politics? "P olitics first captivated my interest in ninth-grade Civics class. There we learned the basics of the United States government and political system. That the Founders were able to develop such a simple yet effective frame for society inspired me to consider a career in U.S politics.  I spent the following years cre
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Harvested organs, China, and Minnesota continued

https://dafoh.org/interview-minnesota-state-senator-jim-abeler/                 MINNEAPOLIS- In previous reporting, I had a chance to share with readers the situation of Falun Dafa persecution by the national government in China. Here, global activists and human rights monitors have accused the government of harvesting organs from prisoners.             A large number of prisoners in China in recent years have been those practicing the discipline of Falun Dafa, a peaceful spiritual exercise, in public. It’s been reported since the 2000s in international media outlets that it appears the Chinese government worries about the prospect of large gatherings and subversion, and feels the need to limit the popularity of the exercise.             For added context, in this second piece I’ve included an interview state senator Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) gave last summer about his concerns on organ harvesting by the Chinese government. The link for the full interview is above.        
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China, Minnesota and Human Rights: Falun Dafa

Visit this website for background on the persecution of Falun Dafa/Gong: DAFOH.org Some names have been altered for political safety             MINNEAPOLIS- Not too long ago, a colleague of mine at work told me about a connection Minnesota and China shares: Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong.             “We have a small group here in Minnesota while probably a lot more Chinese people are Dafa practitioners,” she explained. “This is a long term challenge, and we will continue our efforts based on our teaching principles of truth, compassion and tolerance.”             What Falun Dafa means for Chinese citizens, and the connection it has to Minnesota, is eye-opening. Spirituality, organs, and relations             Falun Dafa is a “self-cultivation practice of the Buddha School”, explains an informational website . In China, growing numbers of citizens began to publicly follow and exercise these teachings in amounts that made the Chinese government nervous.  
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