Marilyn Cleland, 1928-2016

Marilyn Joyce Cleland (born Harper) died peacefully at Northridge Health and Rehab on January 13, 2016, in New Hope, Minnesota at the age of 87. Marilyn is survived by her children, Constance, Bruce (wife Sandy), Thomas, and Janet; grandchildren Emily, Elizabeth, Suzanne, Spencer, Kathryn, and Lydia; and brother James. She is preceded in death by husband Burton, son Scott, brother David, and son-in-law William Butler. Marilyn was born on October 1, 1928 in Waterloo, Iowa to Bernard Lloyd Harper and Evelyn Lolita Harper (born McDonald). She graduated from West High School, Waterloo, Iowa in 1947. She met Burton Cleland while working at a John Deere tractor factory, and they married April 22, 1950. After moving to Roseville, Minnesota, they had five children. Burton died suddenly on January 31, 1982, and a few years later, Marilyn moved to Golden Valley, Minnesota. She continued hosting family dinners nearly every week until checking into assisted living in October 2014. Marilyn stayed sharp by doing crossword puzzles, and in her final years played Words with Friends on her iPad. She also enjoyed posting her descendants’ childhood photos on Facebook. In her final days, she especially enjoyed jigsaw puzzles. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, June 10, 12:30 pm at Roselawn Cemetery Chapel, 803 West Larpenteur Avenue, Roseville, MN 55113, with a gathering to follow at the same location. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Marilyn’s life.

Marilyn Cleland, 1928-2016

Mom died peacefully in her wheelchair before dinner January 13. She was 87. The exact cause is undetermined, but we know she had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is degenerative. She was ready, and said so. She knew she lived a long and happy life, and was at peace with whatever comes next. She said she wanted to be with Burton. Now that we have notified next of kin, we will make an announcement in the coming days about memorial arrangements.

Hillary bad

Now that the “damn emails” are behind us, maybe the Sunday talk shows will turn to the real issues facing our country. I’m so glad I’m a Green, so I can speak the truth about Hillary Clinton...

Hillary is a tool for Wall Street, with ties to Walmart and Goldman Sachs. She has ties to the DLC, the same group that supported Bill Clinton. It was under Bill Clinton that banks were let into the stock market, which led to the 2008 financial collapse and all the problems we have today. Also under Clinton the disastrous North American Free Trade Agreement which shipped jobs overseas, inaction on climate change, continued devastation through mining, logging, and pollution, racial bias through welfare “reform”, and the advent of the for-profit prison industrial complex.

In the debate, Hillary Clinton confused capitalism with small business. She said she wants to stop the capitalists by asking them nicely. And BTW Chelsea’s husband is a hedge fund co-founder.

Hillary has copied Bernie Sanders on Keystone, TPP, and Marriage Equality. On TPP she has used “Clinton-speak” to leave the door open to support it in the future.

Hillary as Secretary of State was hawkish on Libya with no plan post-Gaddafi. 

As Senator, she voted for the Iraq War, the Wall Street bailout, the 2001 Patriot Act, the border fence, and to make it harder to declare bankruptcy. She does not support clemency for Edward Snowden. She supported detaining citizens without trial.

She is an awful, awful candidate.

Trajectories for Survival

BLM as opposed to BLDM

It’s not Black Lives Matter as opposed to All Lives Matter. It’s Black Lives Matter as opposed to Black Lives Don’t Matter. #BlackLivesMatter

HRC on TRMS

HRC on TRMS admits that DOMA, DADT, and the crime bill were appeasements to Republicans.

She suggested that there are sensible Republicans in congress. On the Republican takeover of state legislatures, she did not mention the Koch brothers.

Sanders-Clinton debate Oct. 13

I hope this comes up in the Sanders-Clinton debate October 13. Banks do not belong in the stock market. http://billmoyers.com/2015/07/16/hillary-clintons-mistake-on-glass-steagall/

Hillary will copy Bernie, but make no mistake, Hillary is the imposter. Bernie is the real deal. He opposed Keystone based on principle, not polls.

We need Sanders’ lead to be as big as possible, as early as possible, so we can turn our attention to giving him a Congress he can work with.

Trump and McKinney agree!

Interesting. Donald Trump and Cynthia McKinney agree. Both would have kept Gaddafi.

Republican guns

Other countries have mental illness, but not the same gun insanity. We need background checks and to close private sale loopholes. Whenever a mass shooting occurs, the blame must be placed squarely on the Republicans. Blood drips from Republican hands.

Cheap shot in union ad

I don’t know about the specifics of this debate, but I think the line about Lincoln is uncalled for. Lincoln saved the Union and ended slavery, but he also signed off on the largest execution of Native Americans in U.S. history. Right or wrong, this is a sore spot with some American Indians, and to bring it up just strikes me as a cheap shot.

http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2015/09/04/union-attacks-mccollum-over-tribal-labor-bill/

Six Scenarios

I will vote for Sanders if Minnesota opinion polls are within the margin of error.

Political Landscape

This is an oversimplification. Trump is not a real outsider, and Clinton is not a real Democrat.

Economic and Political Systems

This is an oversimplification. For example, the U.S. has socialist programs like Social Security and Medicare.