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Tithe Of The Week

ETS!,

Enclosed is a check for $208.06--a donation to ETS!. The donation consists of my 2nd Quarter Profit Sharing bonus.

I want the donation treated anonymously, but if you find the space in ETS! to print a small thank you, add something to the effect of the following:

"The donor wanted to comment that this was a quarterly profit-sharing bonus from his job at a major corporation. He feels that profit sharing is one of the few things that major corporations are doing that's right and wishes they would share their profits a whole lot more (like all of them, maybe). He felt he should share those profits a bit further, and encourages others to do the same."

It might stimulate some others to get the idea.

In Solidarity,

Anonymous

Follow That Money

Dear ETS!,

Thanks for your coverage of donations in Seattle election campaigns. Alas, however, there is even more than what you unearthed:

The infamous Stark of Gogerty & Stark also donated to Noland.

Drago not only received money from Darth Sidran, she returned the favor. And got a donation from mayoral candidate Paul Schell, who really does live in Seattle. Drago also donated to Norm Rice, before he decided not to run.

City Council member Margaret Pageler, hoping for More of the Same, gave to Drago, McIver, and Rice, and Conlin. State Rep. Dawn Mason gave to Nick Licata. County Councilman Larry Gossett gave to Nickels and McIver. City Council member Martha Choe also donated to McIver.

Among City Council hopefuls, Patrick Kylen gave to Brian Peyton. Peter Steinbrueck donated to Licata, and vice-versa. Richard Conlin donated to Nickels. None, however, donated to Rice. Although Bruce Bentley gave not only to Drago and McIver, as well as both Nickels and Noland, he didn't donate to Rice, either. What an ungrateful bunch!

The second place city council candidate from '96, Bob Rohan, donated to insiders Noland and Drago, and heirs apparent Ostrom, Goldstein, and Conlin, the emerging unofficial downtown slate for the open seats.

Former City Council members were also active in the donation scene. Tom Weeks gave to Rice, Nickels, and Drago.

The Mother of All Donors, however, and winner of the Ultra-Establishment Slate donor award, is former City Councilman Paul Kraabel. He donated to seven candidates: Rice, Chow, Schell, McIver, Drago, Ostrom, and Goldstein. Not one to hedge his bets--or bluff--this Mr. Kraabel.

On the bizarre side, the Pure Fish Food Market donated $400 to both Schell and Goldstein. Isn't that a bit...fishy?

Weirdest Donation Combination award goes to Rep. Frank Chopp, who donated to insiders Chow and McIver, outsider Licata, and unknown Jon Bartholomew. Go figure.

--Seybold Powers, Seattle

New Straight Democracy

ETS!,

Noted the "Wild and Wonderful Resources" list in the Aug. 5 issue plugs New Democracy flyers, which are good--but a close (or even quick) glance at their last two issues showed a strange homophobic view of how the "elite" is trying to attack working class families by "pushing" gay lifestyles. (We had a choice? News to me.) Loved the reminder about Pol Pot. Some folks (our State Dept.) have short memories.

--David McReynolds, New York NY

Solidarity For A Little While!

ETS!,

As usual, your comments on the striking UPS workers fill in the holes our dear PR hacks at the PI/Times dig deeper with every "yes commissariat" for the business-party line. There is a hole that left and radical publications still overlook: the real lack of labor consciousness on the left.

Many times I've seen "progressives" shun labor unions and cross picket lines. I knew a Chomsky enthusiast who was a scab, and of a union-busting lawyer with a "Free Tibet" sticker on his Range Rover. This lack of vision from political radicals helps the boss nickel and dime all of us, and helps business small and large keep us under the thumb.

What to do? Never cross a picket line. Never scab on a strike. Honor boycotts. Help folks picket. Always settle differences with your co-workers without the boss; remember that the boss is not your friend, even if s/he seems politically astute (mention "union" and watch them back-peddle like hell).

Control of our lives begins at home and in the workplace; don't let the ballot box fool you. The Teamsters are learning this, and we can, too.