Forum Post: Get active be proactive. Unite in common cause. Direct action opportunities.
Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 11, 2012, 10:55 a.m. EST by DKAtoday
(33802)
from Coon Rapids, MN
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
To abstain from voting does nothing. Protest at voting sites the non-representation of the people, forward thought and consideration. Vote for the least objectionable, the least obvious corrupt/greedy choice. Continue to protest for change and the end of corruption. But to pull out of our legal process is to hand it over to those who are systematically plowing us under.
We may not have a real candidate in this election. But to abstain from the process does not help our cause. We need to get more people involved in the process of government not less. Get the major portion of the population active. Lead them to proactive involvement. Develop unity in addressing change and confronting corruption and manipulation. This is how we win. Not by walking away and saying unfair.
Now and between elections is when we should be most active in pushing for things that will return government to us.
1) Campaign Finance reform - get money out of politics.
http://www.change.org/petitions#search/campaign%20finance%20reform/2 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/zero-contributions-campaign-finance-amendment/
2) Corporate person hood - fallacy and invitation to manipulate : END IT.
3) Conflict of interest in government - Ownership of stocks and property being affected by proposed legislation.
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cfa5/1b4d698b/3d79258e/4e0ce7b4/1230172882/VEsH/
4) Ear marking funds for projects that affect - Ownership of stocks and property by members of government.
5) No line item veto to use to clean Bills that are passed - Not having veto power on singular items attached as riders on a bill allows corruption of a bill and an end run on the legal process to pass items that would not pass on their own merit and on things which the American voter would not support.
https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/one-subject/
These are some of the Dogs in our fight.
Abstaining or opting out of the process does not help us.
Uniting in common cause does help us.
Get active be proactive. Recruit the general population to partake in the process in positive fashion.
Green Tech.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
You have got to watch this vid: The liquid Metal Battery - another piece to the puzzle.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/donald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_energy.html
Additional Liquid Metal Battery links.
http://lmbcorporation.com/files/flyerFinal.pdf
There was this story a few weeks ago about (what I will call) Russia's OWS and some of them are getting elected to city counsel positions because the Russian people want change. There was this one teen college girl and she's saying, "I still have my tent ready. Just because I got elected doesn't mean i won't be protesting." It was great. My point here is that OWS needs to enter the political system, not just vote for candidates. If we leave politics to the unsavory opportunists that is who will end up running the show.
Right on the mark - we cannot let the movement be marginalized by those who say we shouldn't do this, and we shoudn't do that. I don't go for the self-limitation thing. I think that's exactly what the opposition wants us to do.
Right on. Have faith in people, educate people, don't accept the status quo.
Connect, only connect. Connect with all those who see the evil before us, and together we will grind it into dust and plant green fields.
Apologies in advance for the overly long post ...
This continues to be a major point of contention (I guess) among ourselves. If we want to look to anarchism for advice (speaking of the intellectual tradition), then I think we might want to look at what anarchists from past generations had to say. Many Spanish anarchists (active during the Spanish Civil War) regretted their decision to not cooperate with and join the government. It's hard to say how this would have improved their chances against Franco, and his fascist alliance (which included Hitler and Mussolini), but it's at least plausible to think that by making Franco's job harder, and delaying his victory, eventually some of the larger democracies would have aligned against Franco.
Okay, obviously we face a totally different set of circumstances, but the underlying point is, we should be willing to scrutinize our own mantra. People gravitate to OWS because for the most part they agree with the message, but approach and process are more nuanced aspects of this movement that may not be as interesting as say fighting against a corrupt financial and political system, but it's really no less important (since failure in one area makes success in the other less likely).
There's the idea that the way we fight for change is itself the change we wind up with. This is certainly a noble idea, but is it a correct idea in "all" circumstances? Certainly, it's easy to say this when it comes to something like rejecting violence, but it's a much more nuanced question when it comes to the degree to which we should align or associate ourselves with some aspects of the political system.
I won't pretend to offer an answer to this difficult question. No one has a crystal ball, but I will say this. Rigid dogma is almost always a bad idea. It rarely admits itself to nuance (and life is full of nuance). There are some moral questions that have an easy answer, but there's plenty that do not.
We might say we don't want to wind up like the tea party, but I would contend ... that's almost inconceivable under any set of circumstances. First, the tea party was an "astroturf" movement (not even a movement really) from the beginning. Secondly, the demographics are much different. Lastly, the tea party supports candidates, they don't necessarily become the candidates themselves. So I really don't think we should use the tea party as a barometer for anything. Nevertheless, I certainly understand the reluctance to want to engage with the political system in this way (since I myself have plenty of doubts when it comes to this idea); but there's many ways to do this, which do not require direct OWS participation (and to some extent this is happening).
Put it this way (I'll imagine a scenario to try and paint a picture). Imagine if a mayoral candidate who runs next year (in NYC) announces that he (or "she"--have we ever had a female mayor in NYC) believes sleeping in tents is a perfectly valid mode of expression, and should warrant protection under our First Amendment. Also imagine that same mayoral candidate proclaiming his support for participatory democracy, expansion of CUNY, and various other ideas that OWS have been supporting? It's hard to imagine many (if not most) OWS supporters not supporting this candidate. We don't want OWS to become a political organization. First, it means we would have to comply with various laws that would limit the things we could do. But secondly, it's hard to go back on that sort of thing. But this doesn't mean that OWS won't influence the political process (given its mission, it's pretty much impossible to avoid). The one thing I would say is we don't want to look like we're avoiding the political process so we have plausible deniability (which I think people could perceive as underhanded). This is why we need to stay on top of public relations (so people understand the reasoning underlying our approach). Nevertheless, I can see the changing dynamic that OWS has created in this country ... so for the most part, we should keep on keeping on :)
I could not agree anymore hit girl - We need to promote someone from our own generation who is focused on these things which so greatly effect us - jobs and outsourcing, affordable housing, social security, the retirement age being pushed off until 74! - most importantly rights of the individual over rights of monopolies - I urge in every people from every state to put forth young candidates people from this protest to represent us on the things which matter most - we can use this forum to promote them get their name out there - get people to rally behind them - time to step up occupy - OCCUPY THE ELECTIONS!!! People under forty literally have no representation at all. We are generation screwed.
So Bernie Sanders has "no representation," do YOU even know what that means? Try thunking before plunking.
I do agree. Part of owning the process is supporting all good legislation being proposed such as OSTA, citizens united to remove corporate personhood EPA air and water standards etc.
This is the largely unused tool of public lobby. Besides running or backing proper candidates we need to guide our government with our input supporting and introducing good things and shouting down the bad things/legislation.
We as The People need to take charge of the direction that our country is moving in. This is what has been wrong for forever. We put someone in office and turn them loose. We need to direct them and keep them in line. Keep their eyes on the prize - health and prosperity " For ALL ".
I agree
an open voting system to veto objectionable legislation would help
Absolutely. The People should be sounding off on proposed legislation. All the more reason for OSTA and for stopping the practice of thousand page documents. Too much room to sneak in loop holes and other crap. Ten page max and to the point.
Good morning everybody!!!!!!!!!
In case you missed them in all of the BS last night.
Here is some good stuff to unite in common cause.
PETITION: Congress must put Wall Street reform back on the agenda: http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/sign_glasssteagall/?source=bp
Also,
PETITION: Jail the Bankers: http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/sign_wallstreet_bankerjail/?source=bp
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mae'r haul yn gwenu heddi.
Get active, be provocative http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-music-forum-topic/#comment-663570
Cool spread the word.
Interested in taking direct action too? 3/04/2012 - Protect us from fracking petition. Support HR 1084.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=7674
no. im not ready for that yet. i dont know who is in control or who is conductor of this orchestra. i believe in technology. i dont think that Hydraulic fracturing can cause earthquakes LOL! or water pollution. http://www.propublica.org/special/hydraulic-fracturing-national -----> http://www.energycouncil.org/waterfacts/groundwater.htm ---> i dont know what you guys been learn at the schools or what you got from TV. But Some power moving it. And Some Force in America dont want to waste resources. But in fact implement New World Order and taking wealth of the Earth from others for "cheap" , - we dont discuss about human casualties here
i understand your concern. But what exactly underground water is? this is not a river as you can see on the picture. this is rocks and sand mixtures with water. And Mother Earth mechanism of filtering is the same as kitchen filter http://www.purwater.com/
Thanks for the post, DKA.
It should also be remembered that the far right reactionaries will NOT abstain from voting. They will do so in lock step. If the progressive vote is split by throwing it away on an unelectable third party candidate, or is simply unused, those reactionaries will get to decide the makeup of the Supreme court for an entire generation. Although presidents serve for 4 years, or if re elected, 8, Supreme Court judges are appointed for LIFE.
Those judges have the power to curtail basic freedoms, including the right to assembly. They have the final word on the Constitution and the law. And if the right wing gets its way and packs the court, Occupy's days could easily be numbered. Not voting makes that possibility more likely.
It is in Occupy's interest to elect someone who will not pack the court with those who would absolutely surely curtail everyone's rights. And taking a few minutes to vote does nothing to hinder activism. The converse, however, does.
Your welcome. And that is another unaddressed Dog in this fight - the Supreme court. How do the people keep "them" working for the people and not supporting corruption.
There is much to address. We won't get there without uniting in common cause.
How'd you get a 4 month old post with the latest reply a month old at the top of the list??
threads are ordered by how many points a post gets
recentness has no bearing?
no. it should
my new posts come out on top
are you telling stories
that's in the java script write
refresh the page to check the position
write or right
is that why or instructions or stories
instructions
Thank you. I appreciate your knowledge in the computer world area. I consider computers appliances with unnecessarily arcane operating software/procedures.
refresh brings up 4 month old posts with no new comments, amazing
It is called having patience and scrolling down the list on the forum page. You can also save a link to your user profile page.
Hey look, now there are three replies from this month.
Scroll through the whole list you will find old and new all through here.
I did, the newest I could find was a month old. But I'm not very IMpatient tonight.
You already told me you reposted it from your "archive."
perhaps thread should be ordered with the latest replies on the top
I saw no recent ones on bottom and I always check bottoms
why are you doing this
because the bottoms ones are voted down
this is not my system
replies not posts
it isn't
All these reforms are very good, but they need a new constitution to get passed, as follows:
We the peoples, in order to secure Freedom and Justice for All, do enact this Constitution for Strategic International Systems LLC (or SIS LLC) as summarized in the following Business Operations Forecast:
The customer value mission of SIS LLC is (1) to organize all customer-investors into 3,000 investment squad sites of 16 friends (or virtual specialties), and related internet investment legislatures of 50,000 friends (or virtual towns), requiring (2) a $20 weekly capital contribution for 1 year (or $1,000) to (3) create your investment club bank of 50,000 friends (or physical town) -- that is, having $50 million in initial assets -- which (4) due to the operation of today’s fractional banking system becomes (5) $500 million in new annual business loans (or $10,000 in new annual individual loans) from yourself as a new bank officer to yourself as a new business officer who (6) takes 75% employee business control as business officer-investors and 25% customer business control as bank officer-investors of (7) your specific 12 businesses (or investments) in your new bank investment account wherein (8) your investor voting power equals (9) your 1 of 12 levels of experience in (10) your 1 of 12 sectors in 1 of 50 industries in 1 of 200 occupations in 1 of 3,000 specialities which (11) votes-upon your purchasing (or investment) orders as (12) proposed by your employee-elected chain of command.
This means you will have 75% employee business control over your workplace as business officers and, as bank officers, 25% customer business control over all 12 investments (or businesses) in your new bank investment account. In turn, with this 100% town-level business control of your 3,000 workplaces, you can decrease your 12 customer consumption expenses by 75% for services, vehicles, education, retail, food, construction, technology, manufacturing, wholesale, health, justice, and banking expenses; that is, over your first 12 years of SIS LLC membership using a 75% more effective and efficient town design, and related 3,000 workplace designs (herein). Furthermore, while creating your new town & workplace design as described by this constitution, you will replace today’s communist big businesses, and related big governments, with your new small investment club banks, and related small businesses (or investments), as proposed, financed, and patronized by your 3,000 investment squad sites of 16 friends (or virtual specialties) in your internet investment legislature of 50,000 friends (or virtual town).
Why? First, because today’s executive business income (mostly from bank or financial asset income) is 33% of all income which is a huge amount of upper 1% income to split among yourselves as new bank officers having 25% customer business control, right? Second, because today’s executive business wealth is 42% of all wealth which is a huge amount of upper 1% wealth to split among yourselves as new business officers having 75% employee business control; that is, only after becoming new bank officers (above) first, right?
For example, this means if you earn $12/hour today, then you will earn $36/hour tomorrow after adding (1) your old wage income, plus (2) your 33% (more and new) interest income as a new bank officer, plus (3) your 42% (more and new) dividend & gain income as a new business officer. Together, these 4 sources of wealth & income from your specific 12 businesses (or investments) will double your net worth every 6-12 years (until retirement); that is, from the compound interest decline of today's upper 1% executives whom you will replace as the new bank & business investor-officers. So, with this power, let’s end today’s communist big businesses, and related big governments, okay? How? By helping to operate your own Business Operations Forecast (above) at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/StrategicInternationalSystems/ ; so help us help you, today!
For 1) Campaign Finance reform and 3) Conflict of interest in government, I think http://GOOOH.com is a good model, although it probably needs a bit of modifying.
I vote against all judges for the death penalty
As long as those who are guilty of a currently punishable by death or life sentence never walk the streets again.
Such good stuff for direct action. Great thread DKAtoday wrote
"But to pull out of our legal process is to hand it over to those who are systematically plowing us under."
I do agree with that, but when first participating in this forum, I was overwhelmed with the many issues. Quickly I realized that most issues were due to unlawful government. Then it was a matter of deciding the most effective action that used legal process. I picked up on a few posters here working to get OWS focused on some form of legal process to create change.
Well, OWS may not have paid any attention, but I did and it really opened my eyes to what easily could be easily misleadership, or at the least, simple deception, distraction and intervention into social activism.
Accordingly I followed some links from this forum and found real strategy using what must be the ultimate legal process, article 5 posted at another forum.
http://articlevconvention.org/showthread.php?33-Amendment-By-Layers-Of-Priority-Amendment-Package-Making-CONST.-Intent
Thank you for commenting and for being positive about being involved.
"We the Government "
Exactly
OWS has opened up the flood gates of discussion. It's really only a matter of time now. We the people will regain what is rightfully ours, " we the government " !
Yep - keep spreading the word.
Thank you for bringing these petitions to OWS.
Write a few more :-)
I will do what I can to keep the petitions coming. Please feel free to share the existing ones out to other places.
I use Proactive everyday and now I have clear beautiful skin.
Haha I read the title and it reminded me of those Proactive acne commercials.
Good post!
Thanks. In a funny way it is similar. You want to clean-up that unsightly mess? Well then get active - proactive.
I'm glad this post has come up again. It hit's the nail right on the head. Thanks!
Thank you. We need to review a lot of these threads/posts because they have good content and not everyone has seen them and many do not know to look.
True! There has been a lot of good communication on this forum, and it's really good to revive that at times!
And so we shall for the benefit of all and the displeasure of the corrupt.
So we shall! Onward Christian Soldiers! (Whether Christian or not!) We fight for the good!
I like the attitude.
I swear when I saw this I thought it was a Proactiv spam bot...
No.
Just my own attempt to promote communications.
Meaningful communications.
Lobby through letters and petitions.
yup, i know. it was a joke. OWS probably isn't a good audience for corporate spambots...
I don't think most OWS'ers are planning to abstain from voting. Some are, but I don't think this speaks for most. I admit, I've been frustrated to the level of considering abstaining for voting, but I've come to my senses :)
It is easy to get frustrated and opt out, that is what the greedy corrupt have always counted on before. Now we need to go way beyond just voting at elections we need to vote with petitions/Lobby. We need to let our officials know that they too can be recalled like Walker in Wisconsin for failing to work for the people.
Right, and OWS is not a "drop out" movement, this isn't the 1960's :)
OWS understands that retreat and withdrawal is not an option.
We who are here in support of the movements against greed and corruption have recognized that the last straw was placed on the camels back when the economic meltdown happened. This happened due to WallStreet and Banking crimes but another factor rarely included is the contribution to failure by Fossil Fuel UN-regulated speculation for pure profit that was already strangling the economy. This led up to the perfect storm that almost led to a full blown depression.
No we can't walk away. There is nowhere to run. This is a fight that must be fought.
thanks for getting the clip boards in order
5 Bills need to be passed in smaller packages
We have just begun, thank you and solidarity for today with OWS everywhere. Thanks all of you.
Thanks for the shout out.
Hey!... Why are we not showing THE Petition to Stop Corruption on Wall Street on this Thread!?
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
It has been 6 years that i have been Trying to stop the GRAFT and Collusion.. PLEASE Sign this one. It goes out in April.
..Thanks.
Hey Marlow thanks for stopping in and attaching that petition link. That's what I call good teamwork.
I signed it and I urge everyone to do the same.
Sign it.
Forward it.
Participate in direct action, and the pursuit to guide and regain "OUR" Government.
Hey Doo DK.. need to jump the Sigs up.. i have to send the Petition in next month.. so far, tho i have tried, i just dont know how to reach enough people!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
The audit is a really good idea, best way to get to the truth and the numbers, when you start talking uptick rules you may lose a few people, but it is an investor petition. You know what would be radical is if we could rewrite incorporation law so that they were one stockholder = one vote, that would change things up, of course that’s not going to happen.
Ty for understanding the Petition, 'Facts' . Audits have NOT been Done independently of the Banks and GS, since the Tarp.
... we know why. But, the Petition is also Demanding Jail Time for the Likes of Goldman Sachs and the 'Boys'.. so in that Light.. the Petition is for ALL 99%'ers
It would seem like audits would be at the top of the list on figuring out what happen, but these guys got their hands so deep into everything they can jam it up..
jail time would be a good deterrent we seem to do the opposite letting the crooks make off with their take
the higher you are the more people you hurt and the less chance you have of getting punished, we have got to change this pattern
Agree. Mary Schapiro is one of the 'Cogs' in the Wheels of justice. The Chair of the SEC is a past designer of FINRA . One of GS's designs to use the Exhange for personal Profits.. Obama placed her in Cox's old position. ... And THAT is how the Corporate Collusion Continues!
Thanks for posting this. We need a lot of signatures here.
Tweeted for you and us "ALL". I hope it will help.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/get-active-be-proactive-unite-in-common-cause/#comment-656881 Can you save the world? Start with stopping corruption. Here is direct action. Take it & forward it.
Wow Guys!! Bless your hearts!
I have found that submitting an idea or action item in as many lights or perspectives has been very helpful. What does not chime with one may with another. Including emotional need for support is also good and helpful. I will try to do what I can to help.
Done, done, and done. More please!
Thank you, please share them with your friends and family. I will do my best to keep them coming. Many of my posts will include a petition and many of my comments on other posts may contain a petition as well. My advocacy is to join together in common cause.
Honestly, the vote is in the hands of those that buy it. They get that money when we buy the corporations products. Vote with your dollars. Starve the beast that feeds political corruption.
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Same useless tactic and will glean the same results as your petition to restore the Broken Glass.
Eat fish heads, peasants!
Heyseuse you dirty old bastard - Hey thanks for stopping by.
Keep the faith, our scam needs many more of you bi-party lemmings to remain blind to what's really going on, right in front of your idoitic noses, to keep this train a rollin!
Thank you.
No thank you.
So nice to see you advertizing for the movements against corruption.
It is so helpful to have a regularly visiting bottom feeding troll to display to the viewing audience.
Thank you, please come again.
Believe me, I'm on it, breauseph!
Well your doin a damn fine job of being a living example of what is wrong with the world. Proud a ya Heyseuse.
Keep on trollin.
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While I would absolutely agree that for a democracy to work it needs an active citizenry. It needs a good deal more than that. Mediating institution, voluntary associations of all kinds--among which the most common are independent religious communities, labor unions and other working class organizations, political parties, interest groups, civil rights and civil liberties associations and NGOs of all types--are probably more essential components to a democratic culture than are the legislative bodies of the state. That said, it seems to me that one of the most salient characteristics of any genuine democracy is the right specifically NOT to participate, or more accurately to chose how to participate and what to participate in. I certainly do not believe that choosing not to vote out of mere apathy in any way strengthens democracy. On the other had, while it may look behaviorally like exactly the same kind of behavior, and while I personally do not agree with them, some people consciously choose not to vote a matter of principle for a variety of reasons. They may be anarchists who believe that the state itself is such a reactionary institution that any level of participation in it is tacitly participating in its oppressiveness and corrpuption. I do not agree with such an evaluation but I respect those who have come to that conclusion and do not write off their behavior as irresponsible or divisive. They are acting out of principle and whenever that is the case it can only strengthen democracy. Also, there are people who choose not to vote for particular rather than general reasons. They may, for example, believe that there are no meaningful choices to be made in a particular election, though not in an absolute or permanent sense, or they may feel that they simply do not know enough about the individuals or issues involved to make an intelligent choice. At meetings, for example, I have frequently chosen to abstain from voting on a variety of issues, usually because I either did not understand the issues involved or because I thought the matter was of so little consequence that I had no opinion on the question. It was of course, everyone else's democratic right to disagree with me about that, but it does seem to me that there very often are legitimate reasons for people not to vote and the right not to vote is a central characteristic of a functioning democracy.
There-sa good troll Start out all reasonable and then slide in the denunciation and thought poison.
Part of your comment: ( below ) how sly are you?
"That said, it seems to me that one of the most salient characteristics of any genuine democracy is the right specifically NOT to participate, or more accurately to chose how to participate and what to participate in. I certainly do not believe that choosing not to vote out of mere apathy in any way strengthens democracy. On the other had, while it may look behaviorally like exactly the same kind of behavior, and while I personally do not agree with them, some people consciously choose not to vote a matter of principle for a variety of reasons. They may be anarchists who believe that the state itself is such a reactionary institution that any level of participation"
Kudos - you are a credit to the shit eating parasite.
Exactly what is it that I am denouncing? I happen to be active in OWS. That doesn't mean that I agree 100% with everything that OWS has done or is doing. I don't think there is any expectation of everyone agreeing on everything 100%. After all that would be a very regimented society, the polar opposite of democracy.
I also recognize that OWS is part of a larger democratic culture, most of which has not even heard of OWS, much less formed either a positive or negative opinion about it, but that to is built into the nature of democracy. Not everyone can know everything and one of the assumptions about the strengths of democracy is that there is no assumption that any one individual or group of individuals can get everything right for society as a whole. Our views have to be conditional and contingent, with always the expectation that someone or some other group may come up with a better idea for the betterment of society as a whole.
I vote. I personally think voting is a good idea. I freely discuss with others what I vote for and why I vote that way, but I have no expectation or make no demand that other people necessarily join me or agree with my point of view.
I think it is unlikely, though theoretically possible, for OWS to adopt an electoral perspective for this election cycle. If it did happen, whatever OWS decided to do in the electoral arena at this point in time I personally think would be premature, but it is also the case that I am in no position to stop such a development should it gain any traction.
I am frankly not sure where my loyalties would lie should OWS adopt an electoral strategy in this election cycle, whatever that electoral strategy might be. For the most part I see it as an extremely unlikely scenario over which I have very little control or even influence one way or another and I'd have to wait and see how it unfolded to decide exactly how I would respond to it personally. Meanwhile, I'm not sure what I have done to poison the discussion. If it can be pointed out to me specifically and I agree even partially with the evaluation I will be more than happy to retract anything that I might have written that in any way people might feel undermines the integrity of OWS as a social movement. I also do not at all understand what appears to me to be a kind of conspiratorial innuendo, but that may just be my own paranoia.
Sly bastard. ( not )
Whether you will admit it or not you are a user of double speak. This is apparent to any who really look at what you are saying and how you say it.
Let us assume for the sake of argument that your evaluation of me as secretly hostile to OWS is correct. Do you believe that people can change? If not, how can we expect to change the world unless we can win people over to our point of view? If that is the case, what would it take to demonstrate to you that my activity in OWS is (or at least has become) genuine, authentic and sincere? Would it require agreement with you personally in all of your opinions? If that is the case how is it that you became the arbiter of OWS and what evidence do we have that you are at the very least the first among equals?
Why should it matter to you what I think?
I'LL give you some free advice.
Drop the verbiage. Stop confusing your own issue and your readers, unless that is your intention.
Stay on point.
Be positive.
Now, I myself do not trust you as far as I can throw my house. Just so were clear.
I can't figure out if your disagreements with me are just because you like to argue or they are substantive. If they are substantive then I would like to know what that substance is so I can either correct my view point where it is faulty or find better arguments for my point of view.
I realize that I have a strong tendency to be discursive and while that might not endear me to people, the same is true of many people who contribute to this forum and, style (as opposed to substance) does not generally engender hostility.
I agree that there is no such thing as "trying" to do something. One either does something or they don't, and while I acknowledge being discursive I truly don't understand exactly where I have not been "on point" and I would very much appreciate having it pointed out to me specifically whee that is the case, if, for no other reason, for me to improve my writing skills. That said I do think that some writers are rather glib in their view point and spend only 1500 words on a subject that deserves 6000 (I don't think I've ever come anywhere near either of those figures in any of my postings to this forum.
I am extremely positive about OWS. I think it is not simply the hope of America, but the hope of the world. That said, I don't think it is "negative" to acknowledge the percieved weaknesses of the movement. It seems to me that you yourself do it when you perceive a lack of unity (a lack which quite frankly I do not see at all--in that instance who is being negative?)
Trust is important. What made the encampments work was trust and love and I can't say for sure which was more important, so what would it take for you to trust me?
There you go again. Listen-up jizz. It has all been said, review it if you want. Just know that I don't trust you and it is unlikely that I ever will. So spin on spin meister user of much verbiage which says mostly nothing. Practitioner of double speak.
I have read several postings that say that "it has all been said before," but for me it is like peeling an onion. When I get down to it there is nothing there that I can find. It is a repeated discourse where I ask "what is the problem with what I have written?" and aside from some stylistic criticisms all I have been able to find is essentially "I already told you," but for the life of me I cannot find the original substantive critque of my point of view and anything that would lead anyone to conclude that I am anything but a sincere OWS activist. It may well be there, but so far no one has shoved my face in it in a way that I can understand.
As far as trust goes, I find your assertion truly astonishing. What you are saying is that you can't change. If that is your view of yourself, how can we expect to change others, and do we not have to win others to our point of view?
The sly jizz speaks again. Really like your use of bewildered mystification. That is also a well used troll tactic. Proclaim innocence while planting poison.
From your comment above :
"As far as trust goes, I find your assertion truly astonishing. What you are saying is that you can't change. If that is your view of yourself, how can we expect to change others, and do we not have to win others to our point of view?"
It's the same story with all of you trolls. You are shown where you have erred than you try to say what does it mean I don't understand someone please explain it to me. While slipping in an accusation along the way.
Sorry that old song is just that an old song. But you go ahead and keep singing it you may even come to believe it yourself.
Hah.
It has been suggested to me repeatedly in many messages that I have been shown where I have erred, but I've gone back through the messages on this and other threads and all I see is that assertion repeated. I'll cop to being hopelessly dense, but I've really been unable to find any substantive criticism of what I've written or why that makes me a "troll." Rather than repeating that it's all been said before I'd really like just one concrete example of exactly what it is that has been said before, why it is that anyone could come to any other conclusion than that I am a loyal OWS activist.
Well then. If you have been told by many that you have a tail. You should stop wagging it.
Be severe with your self, try to keep your comments to a line or two. Work on clarity by being brief.
Perhaps then you won't need a surgeon to remove your tail.
So your issues with me on this forum are essentially matters of style and not of substance? Is that correct?
Tell you what let me say - NO. I have other things to do.
Maybe you should create a post and look for volunteers to educate you.
] 1 points by RedJazz43 (2138) 7 minutes ago
O.K. Fair enough. And I'll even agree that perhaps I'm being a thick headed moron about all this, but so far all I've been able to see are stylistic criticisms of my approach and not substantive criticism. I realize that you may find this a boring imposition, and that you may feel that you are repeating yourself, but as I have not been able to find any sustantive critique of my view point from you, I would very much appreciate it if you could briefly review the substantive differences you have with my point of view. ↥like ↧dislike permalink
I can't see how it could be all that difficult unless our differences are really quite subtle, in which case it would seem we really have more in common than not.
For example, it is very simple for me to point out to a 1% that regardless of how personally friendly we might be we have fundamental differences in material interests which are quite probably unresolvable. There are anarchists and black blockers and socialists and liberals in OWS all of whom I disagree with on matters of movement policy from time to time, but we are all part of a very broad movement. For the record I'm not all that strongly attached to the consensus decision making process pushed by the anarchists or the tendency of the liberals to want to transform OWS into an electoral movement, especially one attached to the Democratic Party. And I'm especially distressed that black bloc tactics might provoke gratuitous violence. But that doesn't mean that we aren't all part of the movement and it didn't take all that much copy or thought for me to point out those substantive differences.
And for anyone else reading this post DKAtoday says that he has substantive differences with my point of view. He has frequently suggested that I am a troll. While I am not quite sure what that is, I have been a part time occupier since September 17 and consider myself a loyal OWS activist. The only criticisms I have been able to find of my contributions have been regarding their length and my writing style. Though DKAtoday does contend that he has real substantive differences with me I cannot find them. He has suggested above that I look to other people to educate me, though I am not sure how that is possible since how can anyone else know what DKAtoday's substantive critique of me is? That said, here it is. This may be an inappropriate place to begin such a discussion, but if it looks productive we can always move it.
No.
O.K. Fair enough. And I'll even agree that perhaps I'm being a thick headed moron about all this, but so far all I've been able to see are stylistic criticisms of my approach and not substantive criticism. I realize that you may find this a boring imposition, and that you may feel that you are repeating yourself, but as I have not been able to find any sustantive critique of my view point from you, I would very much appreciate it if you could briefly review the substantive differences you have with my point of view.
There is little I disagree with in terms of what you advocate from the point of view of individuals, though in a number of instances I would take exception to OWS as a movement adopting such positions for a variety of reasons. First of all, OWS is a democratic movement in which really the only decision making bodies of which I am aware are local GAs. Any proposal that anyone or any group within OWS makes needs to be discussed and decided upon by some local GA or GAs. I am unaware of any other decision making bodies within the movement.
Any idea or ideas that any of us has needs to be presented by the body as a whole through local GAs and discussed and decided upon on that basis and at that level.
There is tremendous unity within OWS on a number of issues. In particular support for the movement to shut down the corporations scheduled for tommorrow and the call for a general strike on May 1 are extremely widespread. There is much less unity on the question of eletoral action, though it is at least theoretically possible the OWS could take a position on that question. I personally don't think that would be a good idea for OWS at this juncture, but that is only my personal opinion and in no way reflects any hostility or opposition to the movement in any way. I consider myself not just a supporter of the movement but an activist within it and if it could be demonstrated to me that I am harming the movement by my participation in any way any more than any other individual I would withdraw for the good of the movement.
People as individuals can take all kinds of positions and engage in all kinds of activities which may or may not extend democracy, but that is not at all the same thing as a movement taking positions as a movement. Among other things, in order for that to happen what is necessary is a strategy to get the movement as a whole to adopt a particular point of view and I see almost no discussion on this forum as to how the movement as a movement might be influenced to do this or that.
These kind of broad innuendos seem (to me) inconsistent with the approach OWS typically takes. For example, there has been considerable criticism of OWS from both supporters and opponents complaining that it raises no demands. While that is true, the grievances it puts forward in the Declaration of the Occupation are quite specific. If I am being accused of somehow secretly opposing OWS, exactly how is it that I am doing that? If specific charges are put forward I can either repudiate and apologize for them or try to justify how a particular position fits within the framework of OWS. I do not simply support OWS. I am an OWS activist. If anyone believes on the basis of my participation in this forum that I am doing anything to undermine OWS please be specific about exactly how you think I am doing that. I will certainly consider any position that I have in that light and be happy to repudiate any position which seems reasonably to undermine OWS or at the very least try to demonstrate how a particular position falls within the framework of OWS.
Voting for a republicrat is voting for the status quo.
Well then. Obviously not the ticket to vote then.
203,248 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 8:54pm 02/12/2012.
Why it's so complicated to Unite All to One demand is the Fact that So Much has been Broken in the System.. EVERY issue these days is Credible.. and the needs of the Many.. become TOO Many!
....
I would suggest that we deal with a type of 'Pigeon Holing' of our issues.. Example.. the Need for Education And Funds.. in the Arts, salaries., Keeping Schools open.. etc Falls under the Need to GET Our MONEY Back to do So! .. So.............. Fight Corporate Greed.
... The Need to Regulate the System and the Market, Laws to Protect Victims of Hate Crimes, etc....... ... So........Fight Capitol Hill!
When we narrow down the Demands to who and what is Responsible, Attack that, we begin to Resolve a HUGE amount of Problems.
... Just Saying. It's United in our Cause,.... .. So be United in HOW to Fix it as well. .. ..My Best to All who are making such Heroic Efforts .. on the Front lines, on Web Sites, in this Forum..
Videoing Live Feeds.. I respect and honor you all!
Marlow
I've signed this. I wish I could sign it again. Everybody here should sign this. How hard is it to sign a petition? It isn't even painful.
It took me 30 seconds to sign it. Anyone reading this can surely spend 1 minute at most and sign it as well!
Imagine if everyone who saw this signed this. Then imagine that those who signed it got one other to sign it.
Thanks for taking part.
How sweet it is. Let's make it sweeter. Solidarity!
You bet.
There is a listing of dogs in the fight in the main body of the post above with links to related petitions.
[Removed]
DKAtoday deserves praise for a well-crafted post, and especially for the brief explanations of the five issues, but the post did not provide insight into the political complexities that contribute to these issues.
1) “get money out of politics” Politics in a representative democracy is analogous to a civil case in the judiciary in which two or more adversarial sides are contending for advantage. To limit the amount of money in politics is like attempting to limit the amount of money either litigant could spend in prosecuting its case in court. The difference of course is that the court has an unpaid jury to give the final verdict, whereas in politics the advantages go to the side that is most vigilant of its advocate’s performance. It is not money that is the corruption of politics, it is rather the lethargy of the electorate.
2) “[end] corporate personhood” We tend to attribute our economic and political woes to “corporate greed”. Yet, a few here have pointed out that even OWS is a corporation, and that a corporation is just a legal construction to permit many diverse people to act together. A corporation thus cannot be greedy, nor philanthropic, nor speak. Rather it is the people who own and run the corporation who have these abilities, characteristics, and rights. The Supreme Court in the 2010 Citizens United decision was simply determining that the people who run corporations have the same rights as people who are not incorporated. A consequence of this Constitutional fact, that many of us are unhappy about, is that people with access to large amounts of money can make their voices widely heard. However, to use the argument that corporations are not people as a rational for removing the Constitutional basis for the Citizens United decision is illogical and specious, for we already know that corporations are not people and thus the questions of corporate rights and responsibilities are fallacious. We must be aware that attempting to restrict the rights of some real people, those people who own and run corporations, with a Constitutional amendment may have real and unexpected undesirable consequences. You can see evidence of this concern in several of the amendment proposals currently in Congress. For example, HJR 78 in Section 2 states that “Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.” And SJR 33 in article 2 states that “... so long as such regulations are consistent with the powers of Congress and the States and do not limit the freedom of the press.” Clearly, some members of Congress are aware that their amendment proposals are designed to take rights away from some people, and in so doing may broadly infringe on other Constitutional rights. If we recall that the purpose of the Constitution was to define and limit the powers of government, then we should be very careful when using the Constitution to define and limit the powers of the people, and probably should avoid doing so completely.
Political complexities exist because of the lethargy of the electorate. The influence of money is indeed contending for advantage and our creed is for equality. Any complexity must past the equality test first. to prevent contending for advantage.
Corporations are very common and would be fine except large corporations contend for advantage, a natural capitalistic event. Officers of large corporations justify inequality by creating their duty to do whatever is helpful to their company. I experience this inequality as a store owner buying from large companies. They certainly should not be allowed to use money to influence our elections or laws.
Even a citizen's "right" to vote, the one right that is equal among us, must be taken and exercised. There are no other equalities guaranteed in the Constitution to my knowledge.
The Declaration of Independence created the greatest government idea in history, because all could agree with, "All Men are Created Equal".
Lincoln's final words of the "Gettysburg Address" were "that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Most people agree that inequality cannot be defended, and rely on everyone to play by the same rules.
Agree that inequality cannot be defended, if by defense we mean the support of institutions and laws that promote inequality. Where we discover such laws and institutions we should work to remove them. Also agree that we should expect everyone to play by the same rules. Our Congress is in the habit of enacting unequal rules. The U.S. tax code is the archetypical example of this. There are likely yet flaws in our Constitution that permit such misconduct in Congress. Looking back up to DKAtoday's post and comments, the general objectives are admirable and in my opinion incontrovertible, yet the methods to achieve these objectives, found in the other OWS posts and elsewhere, will require much greater care and consideration than has so far been applied.
The methods to achieve these objectives requires changes asap. We need to establish rule of law with no exemptions and as few complexities as possible. The process of discovering inequalities and working to remove them has become obsolete because of the pace of life in the world! That will need to be replaced with transparency and accountability.
My small business must purchase products from Shell Oil, Coca Cola, and Philip Morris, among others. I can't be objective but my experience is that the relationship is not fair. They have created advantages for themselves beyond buying power and other reasonable advantages of being a large company. Many small businesses must be experiencing the same things because they, like me, struggle to survive, instead of planning for expansion.
Busta Rhymes - Fire (2000) just another wacky video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3JUV8SdjSOQ#!
4/03/2012 - Stop Wall Street Oil Speculation
Millions of American consumers are hurting as a result of excessive speculation on the oil futures market.
Wall Street speculators are at it again. Four years ago the Wall Street gambling casino drove this country into the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Now, with over 80 percent of the oil futures market controlled by Wall Street speculators, they are driving up oil and gas prices – hurting consumers and the entire economy. Bernie wants federal regulators to crack down, like they were supposed to do 14 months ago under the Wall Street reform law. He introduced a new bill with 14 cosponsors setting a 14-day deadline for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to invoke emergency powers and rein in the speculators responsible for rapidly-rising gasoline prices.
Read Bernie’s statement »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100086255.557671.433&gen=1&mailing_linkid=49234
Watch a press conference video »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100086255.557671.433&gen=1&mailing_linkid=49235
Big Oil Wins Again Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked legislation that would have repealed tax breaks for the five biggest oil companies and extended expiring renewable energy tax incentives. With major oil companies having made more than $1 trillion in profits over the last 10 years, Bernie wants to end subsides for Exxon Mobil and other huge oil companies.
Transportation Roadblock A Senate-passed, bipartisan bill to provide funds for road and bridge construction projects hit a dead end in the House. The Senate bill authorized $109-billion over two years. It would create 1 million new construction jobs at a time when unemployment remains unacceptably high because of the recession. Bernie helped draft the bill as a member of the Senate transportation committee. The best Congress could muster for now, however, was a 90-day extension of a construction program that would have expired on Saturday.
Freaky weather?Reverse Global Warming While many in Congress are backing off efforts on global warming, Bernie is keeping the issue in the forefront. In an unusual alliance, insurance industry officials joined him and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse at a news conference to describe how insurance costs are soaring as a result of extreme weather disturbances and why Congress must act to address this enormously important issue.
And the Green Jobs Subcommittee Bernie heads heard last Tuesday how the armed forces are working to move toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy and, in the process, protect combat troops. A new solar installation at the Vermont National Guard is an example of how the military is in the forefront of an energy transformation that also is creating good-paying green jobs.
Read about the hearing on military energy initiatives »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100086255.557671.433&gen=1&mailing_linkid=49238
Protecting our seniorsProtecting Senior Citizens As a strong defender of senior citizens and founder of the Saving Social Security Caucus, Bernie heads a subcommittee that is working to update the Older Americans Act. The act supports Meals on Wheels and other programs that keep seniors healthy and independent. It also saves taxpayer dollars by preventing costly hospital and nursing home care.
Watch Bernie at a forum for more than 300 advocates for seniors »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100086255.557671.433&gen=1&mailing_linkid=49233
Good night everybody. Pray for Wisconsin tonight if you feel so inclined. Pray for all of the movements. Good Night.
NDAA update from DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
Can you handle another victory? We've had a bunch this year. Now here's one more . . .
We just won a big verdict in the Chris Hedges case against the legalized kidnapping provisions of the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Remember, Hedges meets with and writes stories about terrorists. He's afraid that this could lead the U.S. military to arrest him and hold him without trial. So Chris filed suit seeking to deny the military this power. But that raised a legal question. Does Chris have "legal standing" to challenge this law, or must he be arrested first?
The Judge asked for briefs to argue this question. We were invited to submit one of those briefs. You helped fund it, and our legal team wrote it. In fact . . .
We filed the ONLY amicus brief in the case.
And we got what we wanted!
PLUS MORE!
And get this . . .
The Judge agreed with two of our main arguments. We said the new law is . . .
Illegally vague. The Judge said there has to be a precise definition of who is subject to the law, and this law fails. Unfair, because it subjects people to detention even when they had no intent to cause harm or knowledge that they were risking such detention.
Now here's the PLUS part . . .
The Judge not only gave Hedges standing to challenge the law, she also issued an injunction to halt the legalized kidnappings!
That's right. Barack Obama and Company are now prohibited from using these powers on American soil, or with Americans, until either Congress fixes the bill or this trial ends!
Moreover, the Judge's approach vindicates our position: these NDAA provisions really do apply to American citizens, no matter what your Congressional reps have been telling you. So you see . . .
We get everything we wanted and MORE!
Mr. Hedges and his fellow plaintiffs have standing. NDAA kidnapping will go on trial.
And we got the injunction and vindication as a bonus!
This is just one more example of how we've become masters at doing a lot with a little.
An American Oligarchy?
This is not what democracy looks like. This is what oligarchy and plutocracy look like.
At a time when the middle class is collapsing and poverty is increasing and the wealthiest people are doing phenomenally well, many Americans are wondering whether this country is moving toward an oligarchic form of government where a handful of very wealthy people control the economic and political life of the nation. At a time when the richest 400 Americans own more wealth than the bottom 150 million people, it was not surprising to learn from a recent study that between 2009 and 2010, 93 percent of all new income went to the top 1 percent of U.S. taxpayers. Additionally, it is extremely disturbing that because of the absurd Citizens United Supreme Court decision, many of these billionaires are now using their money to strengthen their political hold on the country. "This is not what democracy looks like. This is what oligarchy and plutocracy look like," Bernie said.
Watch MSNBC'S Thomas Roberts interview Bernie »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52167
Watch Bernie in a Senate speech »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52168
We need to reverse the disastrous Citizens United decision as soon as possibleUndo Citizens United A Washington summit brought together people in the growing nationwide grassroots movement to undo a Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates for corporate campaign spending. Bernie's Saving American Democracy Amendment would overturn the ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. "It is important that regular voters get engaged," he said. "We need to reverse the disastrous Citizens United decision as soon as possible and it is going to take a constitutional amendment to do it."
Watch a video from the summit »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52169
Read more »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52170
Special deliverySpecial Delivery The Senate set the stage for votes next Tuesday on legislation to modernize the U.S. Postal Service and avert service slowdowns and massive job losses. More safeguards for overnight mail delivery and rural post offices were added to the bill by "a group of senators led by Sanders," Congressional Quarterly reported.
Listen to Bernie and Ed Schultz talk about the Postal Service (mp3) »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52171
Here's an industry we'd like to get off the backs of the taxpayersStop Nuclear Welfare At a time when the nation is facing a $15.6 trillion national debt and we need to invest heavily in energy efficiency and sustainable energy, the nuclear power industry is propped up with billions of dollars in government subsidies. "Many in Congress talk of getting 'big government off the back of private industry.' Here's an industry we'd like to get off the backs of the taxpayers," Bernie said in a column written with Ryan Alexander of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Read the column first published by The Guardian »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52166
What do you think?
TAKE THE POLL How would you have voted on the bill to tax millionaires the same rate as middle-class families?
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52176
In Other News
ENERGY FUTURE Vermont is helping to lead the nation in transforming our energy system »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52177
FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES Environmentalist Bill McKibben said in a Los Angeles Times column that Bernie will introduce a tough bill that tackles subsidies and tax loopholes for all fossil fuels »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52178
DENTAL CRISIS Bernie told the PBS Newshour why he is pushing for better dental care »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52180
WORKERS LEFT OUT "Until we address the imbalance of power in the U.S. economy … the difference between our recoveries and our recessions will grow harder to discern," Harold Meyerson wrote in The Washington Post »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52181
INCOME GAP The gap between America's highest- and lowest-paid workers is widening according to a new Labor Department report released Wednesday »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52174
Upcoming Events
THOM HARTMANN PROGRAM Listen to "Brunch with Bernie" Fridays at 3 p.m. ET »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087155.556951.21&gen=1&mailing_linkid=52175
212,755 signatures to remove corporate person-hood. 3/31/2012 Have you signed yet?
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
213,327 signatures to remove corporate person-hood. 4/10/2012 Have you signed yet?
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
1 points by DKAtoday (5259) from Coon Rapids, MN 16 minutes ago
Thanks Nevada1, I signed twittered and FaceBooked.
Support what is right. Support what is good.
Support will move us forward.
Unite in common cause.
http://standupformedicare.com/ ↥like ↧dislike reply edit delete permalink
Communications - Lobbying - Petitions; present issues and remedies. This is how we effect change in government and our world. It is not a matter of who is in office - it is a matter of whether or not we direct our government properly and whether or not we hold them accountable. You can put anyone you want into office and it means not one damned thing if they are not provided with direction and feedback.
You want to make a positive change in government and our world RIGHT NOW? TODAY? Then you will search out or author petitions that join our voices together to communicate what we the people want and support.
Yes taking to the streets shows that we are angry upset have had enough bullshit but it does not effectively communicate what we want done or how we want it to be done.
This is where communications is needed. To spell out exactly what is wrong and how to go about fixing the problems that we are faced with.
So gather in practice and daily protest but do not leave out the communications at these events or you might just as well stay home. We need to educate the public and we need to show our government the way to move forward. Do not leave it up to them to tell you what needs to be done and how to do it. That is exactly what brought us here to this point in time.
Speak-up Speak-out. or just don't bother.
3/28/2012 - Environmental Defense Fund.
Dear Dan,
Polar Bear Handshake
Thank you for joining the EDF Action Network!
Like us on Facebook!
Thank you for taking the Stop the Anti-Environment Extremists! action on Care2. Welcome to the EDF Action Network.
You're now part of a powerful and involved community of more than 700,000 members and activists - who work together to protect wildlife, safeguard human health, and combat climate change to make the world a better place.
We're proud to count you among them!
What We Do
With the help of activists like you, EDF leads the fight to protect our land, air, wildlife, oceans and health. We develop practical and lasting solutions, based on sound science, to address the pressing challenges facing our environment today.
At EDF, we have more scientists and economists engaged in our advocacy than any other similar organization. That means both businesses AND the planet win with our innovative solutions. We work across the political aisle too, with Democrats and Republicans alike, to gain bipartisan, environmental victories.
Cutting global warming emissions is at the forefront of our efforts. We're also going head-to-head against the worst environmental polluters to preserve the Clean Air Act, eliminating toxic chemicals and the health-threats they pose, and saving wildlife and their habitats. You and the EDF Action Network are a critical part of this work.
More Ways To Get Involved
When you joined the EDF Action Network, you took an important step in making the Earth a better place for all of us. Here's what you can do next to get involved:
Like us on Facebook to connect with other EDF supporters and help shape legislation that will affect all Americans.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=ThKLxPGG6qedu91arzd-qw
Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on environmental issues that directly effect you.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=08xMP7kJt04kW2gUJozn2g
Read our blogs to gain a better appreciation for the issues that concern you most.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=LHifL31rCmwPZpKXYMalXA
Tell a friend about EDF and have them join you in changing the world.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=6b51g0VMGH3ehIZf8kJmDQ
Thanks again! I look forward to having you with us ... because we can't protect the planet without you. Fred Krupp Sincerely, Fred Krupp Fred Krupp President
P.S. If you want to make an even greater impact in our fight, you can make a gift to EDF today to support our leading environmental initiatives.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=EKxeNU6x0zPhnx82-1Tlrw
3/28/2012 - Downsizer Dispatch
https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/rtba/
Quote of the Day: "The issue of vagueness is at the heart of the NDAA scandal... While the NDAA poses a threat to your 4th, 5th and 6th Amendment rights, the newest attack of vague language is aimed at your 1st Amendment rights of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly and Freedom to Petition." - Gene Howington
DownsizeDC.org's Read the Bills Act (RTBA) is a powerful lever that would slow the growth and power of government. Congress would be restrained from passing gargantuan bills that bust the federal budget and strangle the economy.
But it does more than that. It will help prevent the passage of confusing, vaguely-worded laws that endanger your rights. Indeed, recently Congress passed a seemingly mundane, 2-page bill that threatens your right to freedom of assembly.
That's why I wrote the following letter telling my representatives to introduce the Read the Bills Act.
Please send a letter as well. You may borrow from or copy these personal comments...
Understanding bills is important. That's why the RTBA requires that a bill which amends a current law must include the text of the relevant section of that law. That way, you KNOW exactly what is being amended.
Also, the RTBA's requirements give the public and members of Congress time to seek clarification or revision of confusing legislative language.
This is crucial. Consider sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act passed last December. When it was passed, many in Congress apparently did not believe it authorized the President to kidnap American citizens. This proves they did not understand the bill.
Another example is HR 347, the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act which recently became law.
Members of Congress were told that it was a common-sense bill that would make, for example, trespassing on the White House lawn a federal offense rather than a violation of a city ordinance.
But HR 347 does much more than what you were told. Rep. Justin Amash notes that through a subtle change in language, HR 347 "expands current law to make it a crime to enter or remain in an area where an official is visiting even if the person does not know it's illegal to be in that area and has no reason to suspect it's illegal." (http://bit.ly/yHEhxI) http://bit.ly/yHEhxI
This means peaceful protestors at a party convention or ANY OTHER PLACE (such as a sporting event) might be rounded up and prosecuted if someone with Secret Service protection is nearby.
Did you intend for this assault on the First Amendment?
Or did you not UNDERSTAND what HR 347 really does?
If the Read the Bills Act was in force, might not you have heard of concerns about HR 347 BEFORE it was passed, instead of after?
You must amend HR 347 to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is preserved.
And you must pass the Read the Bills Act to prevent Congress from repeating such rights-threatening mistakes.
If you don't, I will have to conclude that violating our rights was your intention all along.
END LETTER
You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.
As a service, DownsizeDC.org is compiling a list of bills that passed this year, as well as reporting on their length. You can see the bills passed...
http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/bills-passed-in-congress-january-2012
http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/bills-passed-in-congress-february-2012
James Wilson Policy Research Director DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
P.S. Remember, Downsize DC President, Jim Babka, will be guest hosting a radio show today, with guest Karen Kwiatkowski. Details were provided in yesterday's Dispatch, available at our blog.
http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/how-dick-durbin-can-impress-arnold-rothstein
ALSO, Jim Babka will be a speaker, this Saturday afternoon, March 31, at the Libertarian Party of Ohio convention. Some tickets are still available, but they're nearly gone. Other speakers at this event in Worthington, Ohio include former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch of Reason. Details can be found at www.LPO.org.
https://www.lpo.org/2012-lpo-convention-occupy-liberty.html
I added the following to my letter:
Support OSTA. One subject at a time Legislation.
3/28/2012 - CREDO action
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543043&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=5
Tell the EPA to strengthen the new carbon pollution rule Regulating greenhouse gas pollution is one of the most urgent matters before the EPA — but the EPA's new carbon standard does not go far enough. Submit a comment to tell the EPA we need stronger rules to protect us from climate change. Take action now! CREDO Action | more than a network, a movement.
The EPA's new carbon pollution standard must be stronger.
Dear Dan,
Our country has literally no limits on the carbon pollution that is causing catastrophic climate change and that is freely spewed by power plants.
Yesterday, The Environmental Protection Agency finally proposed a rule to change that. Unfortunately, not by very much.1
The EPA's first ever rule limiting carbon pollution — known as the Carbon Pollution Standard — applies only to unlikely-to-be-built, new coal-fired power plants. It is riddled with loopholes allowing new sources of pollution including some new coal plants. It does nothing to reduce carbon pollution from much more significant existing sources.
It's sad that our political climate has been made so toxic by climate change denying Republicans — who literally voted to deny the science of climate change2 — that the very acknowledgement of the need to regulate carbon pollution by EPA is a victory and a positive step forward.
But in today's actual climate — where much of our country just experienced record-shattering March heat waves after a disturbing lack of winter — it is not nearly enough. It is not only disappointing but profoundly dangerous that this rule does little if anything to effectively reduce unregulated climate pollution.
The EPA will now accept public comments on the rule — and as it weighs the public's reaction, we need to show that we expect much, much more from EPA to regulate carbon pollution.
Tell the EPA: We need stronger rules to protect us from existing and future sources of carbon pollution.
Having proposed a rule for new power plants, the EPA is now legally required to develop a rule to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants, a much more significant source.
But even in yesterday's announcement, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson — who has been one of the few people in the Obama administration willing to fight to address climate change and defend the Clean Air Act — appeared to have her hands tied when it came to moving forward on rules that would address existing power plants, literally saying in a press conference, "we have no plans to regulate existing sources."3
If EPA fails to take action on existing power plants, then the measured progress represented by yesterday's rule will go down in history as a symbolic though essentially empty gesture.
Tell the EPA: We need stronger rules to protect us from existing and future sources of carbon pollution.
EPA Administrator Jackson is to be commended for her leadership on this rule, despite a begrudging White House whose hand was forced by a court mandate, and a Tea Party Republican majority in Congress so openly hostile and obstructionist to climate change policies that their continued tenure is a literal threat to our future survival.
That this rule was all the EPA could muster in the face of the clear and present danger of climate change and extreme weather shows the fierce urgency of changing our political climate in order to achieve the stable climate we need to survive.
That's why CREDO is fighting back on two fronts. We're already working through the CREDO SuperPAC to change the political climate by defeating anti-science, climate change denying Republicans in the House who have so effectively blocked Congress and EPA from taking the bold action necessary to fight climate change.4 And we're pushing back on today's announcement with public comments to the EPA asking for a stronger greenhouse gas rule that does what's necessary to dramatically reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.
Tell the EPA: We need stronger rules to protect us from existing and future sources of carbon pollution.
We encourage you to take a hard look at yesterday's announced rule, which while symbolically important, is clearly weak in a number of important respects.
The carbon pollution limit for new power plants — 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt hour of energy produced — is low enough to limit new coal fired power plants, but high enough not to affect natural gas plants.5
But because of the rising cost of coal, the low price of natural gas, and the tireless work of activists across the country raising concerns about the health and climate impacts of coal, we've already been able to block all new coal power plants. This rule does serve as an additional roadblock against building new coal plants if the economics of coal become favorable again, but otherwise, the rule essentially codifies the status quo — making into regulation the facts on the ground already established by the hard work of community and environmental activists.
Also, the rule exempts carbon pollution that is created by burning biomass — which can have higher greenhouse gas emissions than coal — and even allows new coal plants to continue polluting freely for ten years, if they install carbon capture and storage (CCS) system, which remains an unproven technology.6
Tell the EPA: We need stronger rules to protect us from existing and future sources of carbon pollution. Click below to submit a comment to the EPA: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543043&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=8
It's important to acknowledge progress. And to be upfront about the massive barriers that block even the most modest measures to address climate change. But it's also essential that we recognize that fighting climate change is one of the most urgent challenges facing us as a nation and a planet. Nothing less than bold action is required, and we must not be satisfied with symbolic but essentially empty gestures no matter how hard won.
At CREDO we will continue to fight climate change on every front. We'll take direct action to stop the northern and southern legs of Keystone XL. We'll work with community activists to shut down dirty coal plants. We'll have President Obama's back when his administration stands up to Republican obstructionists on climate. And we'll hold his administration accountable when they fall short. We'll defeat climate change denying Tea Party Republicans who are running for reelection. And we'll push hard for a Greenhouse Gas Rule that does what scientists say we must do if we are going to start to slow the planet's disastrous warming.
We hope you will continue to stand with us.
Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543044&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=10
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543045&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=11
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543046&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=12
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543047&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=13
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543048&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=14
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5543049&id=37444-4904244-_sEEPux&t=15
This is what I said ( what will you say? )
Regulating greenhouse gas pollution from power plants to mitigate the disastrous impacts of climate change is one of the most urgent matters before the EPA.
But the proposed new source rule for greenhouse gas pollution, while symbolically important, falls far short of what is needed. It is clearly weak in many respects including the following:
1) It doesn't change the facts on the ground but merely codifies them -- construction of new coal plants has already been halted by the hard work of community and environmental activists along with the rising cost of coal and low natural gas prices.
2) It contains massive loopholes including the exemption for biomass, the one year grace period for new plants that will be exempt from the rules, and allowing new coal plants to pollute for ten years if they plan to install CCS.
3) The carbon pollution limit for new power plants - 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt hour of energy produced -- is low enough to limit new coal fired power plants, but high enough not to affect natural gas plants.
Don't bow to pressure from climate denying extremists or fossil fuel propagandists who are a literal threat to our future survival. I urge you to strengthen the new source carbon pollution standard and immediately implement a strong rule to limit carbon pollution from existing sources.
No matter how extreme and anti-science the political climate, nothing less than bold action is required to fight climate change, one of the most urgent challenges facing us as a nation and a planet.
Green Tech.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://ecat.com/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
3/27/2012 - For Your Consideration:
People for the American way.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=W9Bp8Dp9n1sDLkONGZ0umg
Dear Dan, Don't Retreat, Recall!
Will you be today’s member?
Only 11,997 to go to hit our 2012 membership goal of 18,250!
Renew Today!
With the recall election of Governor Walker and four Republican state senators now under way in Wisconsin, the time to stand together and hold the Radical Right accountable for their war on the middle class is now.
That’s why we urgently need the renewed support of 11,997 members by October 2012. PFAW will fight to recall Walker and flip the now-divided Senate to Democratic control. Our progressive values are at risk this election year, but a victory in Wisconsin will lay the groundwork for victories in November -- in Wisconsin and nationwide.
In Wisconsin, the governor’s skewed priorities are obvious. He’s spent his time in office crisscrossing the country raising support from out-of-state millionaires and billionaires, like the Koch brothers and their right-wing front group Americans for Prosperity, and pursuing their radical agenda back home.
Gov. Walker and his Senate cronies have waged an all-out assault on workers’ rights, women’s health, the right to vote, public education and more -- just like the Tea Party Republicans in other states and in Congress. Winning in Wisconsin is just the first step, but it will be a major one, and will help us beat back the barrage of right-wing attacks Americans are now facing.
Please, become one of the 11,997 renewed members we need on our side. Show your support for People For the American Way to fight the hypocrisy, intolerance and misinformation campaigns waged by the Radical Right in Wisconsin AND across the nation.
PFAW is working harder than ever to force the shift we so desperately need ... but we have to overcome the Right’s dirty tricks and unlimited corporate cash to do it.
The polls are showing that Governor Walker's recall election in June will be a very tight race, but if we win, it will send an unprecedented message to the Radical Right: we won't back down. Clearly, they will stop at nothing. We have a plan in place, but we can’t do it without your renewed support.
That's why your renewal gift today is so important. The outcome of this year's elections will steer our nation onto one of two very different paths. If the extremists take control of our federal government, they will have virtually unrestrained power to dismantle Medicare and Social Security ... pack the courts with right-wing judges ... restrict voting rights ... expand legalized discrimination ... undermine women’s rights ... repeal health care and Wall Street reform ... and stomp on workers' rights.
I hope that we can count on you to renew your support of PFAW today with the most generous contribution that you can afford to send.
Sincerely, Michael B. Keegan signature Michael Keegan, President
212,295 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 10:57am central 03/23/2012.
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
Lest we should forget. There are plenty of direct action items that you can participate in, while planning for Demonstrations and talking strategy and pulling issues into the light for discussion.
Below is one such and it is doing fairly well.
210,157 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 1:03pm 02/14/2012.
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
New petition 2/22/2012
Petition the President.
This is part of what I told Him: ( what would you say ? )
We should not be exporting period. The complaint that we are always given about the high price of gas and natural gas and oil is that our supplies are so low. Is this not why new regions were opened to access more oil and natural gas deposits? Stop lying to us. Shut down fracking shutdown new drilling. Regulate the industry and put a cap on the prices. Tax the industry properly and put the money to work creating and implementing true green energy not bio-fuel.
From the Sierra club ( please take part ):
We need to tell President Obama that exporting dirty LNG is dangerous, environmentally destructive, and unacceptable. Sign our petition urging the president to put the brakes on LNG exports.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=4RTsJjuLoMPhCGtObg3BwA
OSTA : First we had one, then two sponsors for the "One Subject at a Time Act." NOW WE HAVE SIX!
We've just gained 4 new co-sponsors.
This means that you now have multiple new chances to become more powerful! Here's how to . . .
Do two simple things that will make it more likely that some of these new "One Subject" sponsors will . .
STEP ONE: Go to the Facebook pages for each new co-sponsor and thank them for supporting the "One Subject at a Time Act."
Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congressman-Mo-Brooks/155220881193244?sk=wall Representative Ann Marie Buerkle of New York: http://www.facebook.com/RepBuerkle?sk=wall Representative Robert T. Shilling of Illinois: http://www.facebook.com/congressmanbobbyschilling?sk=wall Representative Allen B. West of Florida: http://www.facebook.com/AllenWestFL?sk=wall
Use your "thank you" to suggest that they send a "Dear colleague" letter to their friends in Congress, asking them to become co-sponsors too.
Also ask them to consider introducing the "Read the Bills Act" and the "Write the Laws Act." Share the links for those bills with them . . .
https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/rtba/ https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/write-the-laws/
Many of you have done this already with Reps. Marino and Posey. It's had an effect. In fact, we know it's been a positive motivator for Rep. Marino to seek additional publicity for OSTA and to recruit his colleagues.
STEP TWO: Call and say thank you for sponsoring the "One Subject at a Time Act", and suggest that they send a "Dear Colleague" letter asking other members of Congress to also co-sponsor "One Subject."
Rep. Mo Brooks: Phone: (202) 225-4801 Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle: (202) 225-3701 Rep. Bobby Schilling: (202) 225-5905 Rep. Allen B. West: (202) 225-3026
And finally, if you think we're doing a worthy job, consider making a financial contribution here.
Jim Babka President DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
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Dan --
Thanks to your continued support of our efforts to hold Republicans’ feet to the fire, we had an incredible week:
After House Republicans convened a panel on birth control coverage with NO WOMEN, over 250,000 of you demanded that women must be allowed at the table when women's health care is at stake. Add your name >>
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cf82/1b4d698b/32264ba5/4e0ce757/3936311709/VEsH/
204,808 signatures so far for Bernie Sanders petition as of 8:46am central time 02/19/2012
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
204,016 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 12:55pm 02/15/2012.
Thanks GF for the two for one link - clean-up legislation and ban insider trading.
[-] -9 points by GirlFriday (2472) 1 week ago
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3806
Here is a real possible game changer:
[-] 4 points by MonetizingDiscontent (1252) 6 days ago
Yes this is a great Idea that has been gaining momentum for several years.
~ Excellent Post Nevada1! ~
One Subject at a Time Act: (OSTA)
https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/one-subject/
Congress routinely passes unpopular laws. How? They combine them with unrelated bills that are sure to pass. The "One Subject at a Time Act" (OSTA) would prevent this.
The REAL ID Act is a perfect example of how Congressional leaders pass laws that lack majority support. This bill created a scheme Americans have always opposed — a national ID card. This idea had so little support that it couldn't even be brought to a vote in the Senate. Yet . . .
Congressional leaders got it passed anyway, by attaching it to a bill Senators were afraid to oppose — the "Emergency, Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief." (May, 2005)
Senators were scared to reject funding for the troops in Iraq and Tsunami relief, so the REAL ID Act became the law of the land.
Here's another example...
The Senate majority leader wanted to be a moral busy body. However, he lacked the votes to prohibit online poker. He simply attached his unwanted legislation to a Port Security bill that most in Congress favored. The result . . .
Online gambling was outlawed, and a whole industry was destroyed!
OSTA would prevent such outrages by requiring that . . .
Plus...
Politicians will no longer be able to hide the true subjects of their bills behind propagandistic titles such as the "PATRIOT Act," the "Protect America Act," or the "No Child Left Behind Act." No one wants to be accused of voting against patriotism, or protecting America, or of wanting to leave children behind. But none of those titles actually describes the subjects of those bills. Therefore...
OSTA requires that all titles describe what a bill will actually do, so that Congress and the public can know what the "one subject" is. Good examples of proper titles are the "Read the Bills Act," or the "Write the Laws Act," and the "One Subject at a Time Act."
In conclusion, OSTA will...
(((You can read the full 5-page OSTA text here))): http://www.downsizedc.org/osta-legislation
Use the form at right to send your elected representatives a letter about this issue. -It's Easy-
(((Send Your Letter Here))): https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/one-subject/
These are some of the Dogs in our fight.
From Greenpeace
Dan-
Polar bear habitat is about to be officially opened for oil drilling.
Help us create a global sanctuary in the high Arctic where polar bears will be protected.
Take Action
Polar bear habitat is about to be officially opened for oil drilling.
The White House is expected to give the final go ahead any day now for Shell to begin drilling for oil in the Arctic this summer. Melting sea ice from global warming has made Shell’s plans possible. And if the company does find oil, the Arctic oil rush will be on and things will only get worse.
That’s why we’ve launched one of our biggest campaigns ever to create a global sanctuary in the high Arctic — making it off limits to oil drilling and other industrial activities.
Folks like Paul McCartney, Jack White and almost 400,000 others have already added their names to our “Arctic Scroll” petition as a symbol of their determination to save the Arctic. But we need you to join them by adding your name today if it is going to become a reality.
Sign up now to help us create a global sanctuary in the high Arctic where polar bears and the other living creatures that call it home will be protected.
Once we reach 1,000,000 total signatures worldwide, we’re going to take your name, put it on a flag with all the others and plant it at the bottom of the sea 4 km beneath the North Pole. It's big and it's ambitious, but you can make it happen.
During the Arctic summer, polar bears hunt on the sea ice. But as the effects of global warming increase and the ice disappears, starving polar bears are forced to swim huge distances in search of food. If this continues, they could become extinct. Their home is melting.
Creating a global sanctuary in the high Arctic is critical if we hope to protect polar bears and the other living creatures that call it home.
Scientists predict that the North Pole could be completely free of ice during summer within the next few years. Melting sea ice is a warning to humanity, not an invitation for big oil to drill. We have to act now.
I don’t just believe that the creation of a global sanctuary in the high Arctic is possible. I know it. Greenpeace achieved the very same thing twenty years ago when Antarctica was declared a World Park, off-limits to industrialization. Now it’s our turn to make history and to do the same thing at the other end of the planet.
Sign up today and demand a global sanctuary in the high Arctic Sanctuary for all life on Earth.
Save the Arctic,
Dan Howells
Greenpeace Deputy Campaigns Director
2.1 million.
That's how many of us stood together in support of the EPA's proposed carbon pollution protections. How many is 2.1 million exactly? It's more people than could fit into every baseball stadium in America! Together, with a coalition of organizations and allies around the country, we've made history with an unprecedented show of support for clean air and healthy communities.
We never gave Big Coal an inch: from the record number of comments sent to the EPA, to the over 600 people packing hearings in D.C. and Chicago, our message in support of historic carbon pollution protections was heard loud and clear. It is an awesome thing when we unite!1
But corporate polluters never rest – so neither will we. The EPA has just proposed a new clean air safeguard -- for fine particulate matter, also called soot -- that will help millions of Americans breathe easier every year.2 And our opponents are already striking back.
Tell the EPA to stand firm and support a strong soot standard that saves lives!
Soot is a hidden danger: a microscopic mixture of smoke, liquid droplets and solid metal particles released by sources such as fossil fuel-burning power plants, petroleum refineries and vehicle exhaust. Because of its miniscule size, this pollutant can penetrate deep into our lungs and even bloodstreams causing premature death, heart attacks, and a wide range of other serious health problems.
Instead of cleaning up their act to protect our health, corporate polluters are yet again mobilizing their armies of well-paid lobbyists and preparing to quash this important protection. Before the soot standard was even proposed, the American Petroleum Institute was already trying to shut it down.3 The polluters have a head start, but with your help, we can catch up.
Will you make history again? Flood the EPA with support for these life-saving protections against soot.
While the big polluters attack, we have won victory after victory for clean air thanks to your amazing grassroots support.
The EPA is taking comments right now on their proposed soot standard. Your public support will make a difference, so take action today and tell polluters it's time to clear our skies and protect public health.
Stand up for life-saving soot protections. Send a message supporting the Clean Air Act now!
Thanks for everything you do to protect the environment,
Mary Anne Hitt
Beyond Coal Campaign Director
Sierra Club
P.S. After you take action, be sure to forward this alert to your friends and colleagues!
Share this page on FacebookShare this page on TwitterShare this page with other services
REFERENCES
More Than Two Million Comments Delivered In Support of EPA's Carbon Pollution Standards, Sierra Club Compass, June 26, 2012
Sick of Soot: How the EPA Can Save Lives by Cleaning Up Fine Particle Air Pollution, Clean Air Task Force, Nov. 2011.
Air Pollution: Lobbying starts on soot standards, sets stage for summertime brawl, E&E News, June 12, 2012
End "Too Big To Fail"
Dan,
The six biggest financial institutions in the country control such a large part of our economy that they've been deemed "too big to fail" -- because when they do, the rest of us get stuck with the bill to bail them out.
But what if we didn't allow banks and other financial companies to get that big in the first place? We'd have a more competitive marketplace for consumers and a more reliable economy for businesses and average working families.
The time to rein in these mammoth institutions that put the rest of us at risk is long past due.
That's why Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, members of Progressives United, and supporters from across the country are stepping up to create pressure on this issue.
Join with us today. Sign Progressives United and Senator Brown's petition to end "Too Big To Fail," and speak out against being held hostage by the mega-banks.
Assets held by the six largest banks increased from less than 20% of the nation's GDP in 1995 to a staggering 63% percent of GDP in 2011.
They grew by leaps and bounds when they acquired their failing competitors in 2008 and 2009, and their massive growth since has only added to the risk of repeating the financial collapse that triggered the worst recession we've experienced since the Great Depression.
That's why I held fast during banking reform negotiations when I was in the Senate and voted against financial regulation that ignored fixing "Too Big To Fail."
This fight is still critical. We need to make sure these mega-banks never hold our economy hostage again. And a chorus of progressive voices, united, can start to bring down "Too Big To Fail" and protect us from another crisis where average families are devastated while the 1% come out ahead.
Sign Progressives United and Senator Sherrod Brown's petition to end "Too Big To Fail" today, and stop big banks from endangering our economy and our middle class.
We can't let what happened in 2008 happen again -- especially when we know how to prevent it. Ending "Too Big To Fail" is an essential part of that. I hope you join with us.
Thank you for uniting as a progressive,
Russ Feingold
Founder
Progressives United
Hi Dan,
Shell has a murky history in Nigeria, where it has a practical monopoly on the country’s oil. The multinational's environmental infractions in Nigeria are well documented, with spill after spill ruining ecosystems and people's lives. So why is the UK government defending them in court?
Click to automatically tell the UK government to stop enabling Shell's rights violations. »
There have been over 2,000 oil spills in the Niger delta, many extremely serious. Cleanup of and compensation for the spills has been scanty.
In the current US court case, the corporation is also accused of "aiding and abetting" gross human rights violations. The UK government has decided to intervene in the case on Shell's behalf, based on a very narrow interpretation of international law.
This interpretation of international law is a deeply suspect act on the part of the UK government. Tell the UK government that it should not be trying to help multinationals get away with human rights violations and to withdraw its support immediately. »
Kathleen ThePetitionSite
Ask UK's Government: Why Are You Enabling Shell's Rights Violations? Take action now. Take Action!
Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AGsOM/zMBR/B18Bb
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Yes you are trashy ( a troll ). Activism happens anywhere. Petitions can be helpful in many ways. Petitions educate. Petitions unite in common cause. Petitions spread awareness of issues. Petitions point out failure of government. Petitions point out failure of society. Petitions can be forwarded in the streets. It is activism being creative and resourceful in reaching out to the common individual.
So of course in your being a shill/troll you would be against them.
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You use them for research, they use you to get out talking points. I'm sure you are all smart enough to get both tasks accomplished without continuing to trash the place for everyone. If not, you should give up because your field requires at least this level of problem solving skills. There are other areas of the human condition to be observed and other ways to provoke the desired result.
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Always interesting
RustyButtBrucieshilltroll it is so easy to confuse you with trashyshilltroll. Are you brothers? No? just the same corpoRat shill operations manual?
If it were not for the text yelling ( still funny BTW ) I would swear you were the same dead horse beater.
Wow guess you are not too original - but then I guess what troll/shill is?
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SteelHorseman me, TROLL. looking for a response from me, "TROLL"
aAHhahahahah...taking speaking lessons from Tarzan?
You don't need to identify your self - everyone knows you are a shill a troll. Oh - well I suppose it is a nice thing to do for those who are new and just looking in.
Anyway I desire no response from you shillytroll - silence from you would be golden as I believe all here would agree. All that are not shills anyway.
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Share your thoughts?
Dear Dan,
As a member of EDF's online community, your thoughts and opinions are tremendously valuable to us. Today I'm inviting you to take a short survey that will help us learn a bit more about your opinions, interests and ideas related to EDF's work.
Please take our brief survey by clicking here.
The survey should take no more than 7 to 10 minutes to complete.
Please be assured that your email address will never be sold, shared, or traded with any other organization. No solicitations will result from your participation in this survey.
This survey will only be open for a short period of time. Click here to begin.
It is because of friends like you that EDF is able to carry out its mission to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends as we work to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.
Thank you!
Sam Parry
Director of Membership
Help end fossil fuel subsidies/welfare
http://other98.com/join-bernie-sanders-kill-big-oils-welfare-check/
Move to Amend - update.
From People for the American Way.
Dear Dan,
In January of 2010, the United States Supreme Court upended our political system with its decision in Citizens United v. FEC. The decision undermined more than a century of laws regulating the influence of corporations in elections, and was an unprecedented attack on the core democratic values of the Constitution.
Immediately thereafter, People For the American Way realized that mitigation efforts like the DISCLOSE Act, although important, would not be enough; we knew then, as we know now, that amending the Constitution would be the only way to restore democracy to the people. So we began to organize.
Working with allied organizations, we’ve launched efforts that have had striking results.
And it is because of your hard work that we can now say:
More than 200 cities and towns have passed resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment Over 1,500 public officials support constitutional remedies Over 100 members of Congress now back a constitutional amendment President Barack Obama has voiced his support for a constitutional amendment 5 state legislatures support a constitutional amendment 23 State attorneys general took a position in support of Montana regulating corporate money in elections as its case develops in the U.S. Supreme Court
But there still is much more work that must be done.
To join organizing efforts that are currently underway -- like those surrounding the Resolutions Week initiative -- please check out this map, and reach out to the lead organizers in your area.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=Rm8njSDixnAHu9ZAQ2P94w
If your town is not yet listed, and you would like to start a local amendment campaign, please contact amendment@pfaw.org.
Money has overwhelmed the political system. We must do everything in our power to stop this process from continuing.
If we work together, we can create a more just and democratic country.
Thank you for all you do,
Calvin Sloan, Field Organizer
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! Move to Amend
https://blu116.mail.live.com/Handlers/ImageProxy.mvc?bicild=&canary=D9LPN%2f5vj0SmgP9lEKPyX8T45Fb8p44tbNZTGL2ls50%3d0&url=http%3a%2f%2fsalsa3.salsalabs.com%2fo%2f50137%2fimages%2femailHeader.jpg
Move to Amend Midwest! August 24-26 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - REGISTER TODAY!
Since it’s now fair to say that Move to Amend has caught on like wildfire on the local level, it’s time to kick it up a notch!
Let’s amplify and multiply the power of all that great local organizing by building deeper organizational connections on the regional scale.
This will be the third of seven regional Move to Amend Convergences to be held coast to coast this year.
This event will bring you together with Move to Amend activists and supporters from throughout the Midwest, and will be a valuable opportunity to:
Receive training in the skills you’ll need to organize more effectively in your community and beyond; Strategize how best to build this movement on the local, state, regional, and national levels; and Network, brainstorm, and cross-pollinate with other Move to Amend groups and supporters in the Southwest region.
REGISTER TODAY!
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=I1BcfzgZlSGBQ853E%2BPwaYtR/FYeWv6w
Move to Amend Midwest!
Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26, 2012
Exact Location TBA
Click here for more information and the convergence schedule.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=yS6M6WhNbduhhXxTEMKiwItR/FYeWv6w
If you cannot join us in Milwaukee, please make a donation
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rzVhz87ex14XLr/T2UnuUYtR/FYeWv6w
to help cover the costs for others to attend or check out one of our other convergences.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GA1Wecp5KN5Blop3/yuoRotR/FYeWv6w
PS - If you signed up using our pre-registration form in the last month or so, we'll need you to officially register now. Thanks!
MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
There is no such thing as "clean" coal.
Images for coal ash spill Tennessee
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=fpQqgmTwryElDB-lATsbNg
Inside the Tennessee Coal Ash Spill - The Daily Beast www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/07/17/toxic-tsunami.html Jul 17, 2009 – Inside the largest industrial spill in American history. How coal ash ruined one Tennessee town—and why it could happen again.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=coal%20ash%20spill%20tennessee&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CH8QFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailybeast.com%2Fnewsweek%2F2009%2F07%2F17%2Ftoxic-tsunami.html&ei=31DOT4LmFaec2AXUgJ3NDA&usg=AFQjCNGcmOoJvtF81B833De-0yUWqAtvjg&cad=rja
Images for coal ash spill lake Michigan
http://www.google.com/search?q=coal+ash+spill+lake+michigan&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=XXK&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsu&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sFLOT_OrOOGJ2AWW0JHPDA&ved=0CHMQsAQ&biw=1120&bih=552
U.S. EPA Sued over Toxic Coal Ash Disposal
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=coal%20ash%20disposal&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CIUBEBYwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecology.com%2F2012%2F04%2F06%2Fepa-toxic-coal-ash-disposal%2F&ei=ZlPOT8LMCuXs2QXh-ITSDA&usg=AFQjCNFBocwNfqbAJ8OgOTcCPMAQ_bXdEw&cad=rja
Environmental Groups Target Coal Ash Disposal
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=coal%20ash%20disposal&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CIgBEBYwBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.martenlaw.com%2Fnewsletter%2F20120502-groups-target-coal-ash-disposal&ei=ZlPOT8LMCuXs2QXh-ITSDA&usg=AFQjCNG9u8v_Tsr-yPpPfURKmPdToX_cKA&cad=rja
Coal Ash Sites Across the Country - Sierra Club
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=coal%20ash%20disposal&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CIkBEBYwBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Faction.sierraclub.org%2Fsite%2FPageNavigator%2Fadv_bigpicture_coalash_map&ei=ZlPOT8LMCuXs2QXh-ITSDA&usg=AFQjCNE5cCCZmgGjyoIhILJA0dblS-Ow4Q&cad=rja
Spread the word.
Green Tech. New and improved - now with Liquid Metal Battery for efficient power storage and distribution.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://ecat.com/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
You have got to watch this vid: The liquid Metal Battery - another piece to the puzzle.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/donald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_energy.html
Additional Liquid Metal Battery links.
http://lmbcorporation.com/
http://lmbcorporation.com/files/flyerFinal.pdf
Support green energy technology - industry - jobs. Save our world save our economy.
Rework free trade agreements as they are currently detrimental to the Business, Employment, Economic and Environmental health of the USA and in extension the world.
Put an end to outsourcing for Profit over People and the environment.
Stop world wide corporate abuses of people and environments.
Ask the AMA to support the labeling of genetically engineered foods.
Dear Dan,
We have less than 7 hours to convince a powerful and respected organization to support labeling of GE foods.
The American Medical Association (AMA) is about to weigh in on the debate to label genetically engineered foods – and we need to make sure that doctors support our right to know how the food we feed our families is produced. We know the FDA takes their views seriously.
Just last night, we found out that in an unusual move, the AMA is seeking feedback from non-AMA members…that means they want to hear from people like you and me. This is a huge, and rare, opportunity, so we need your help right now.
We only have until 6pm Eastern today to show the AMA committee charged with this issue that there is overwhelming public support for labeling.
DEADLINE TODAY: Ask the AMA to support the labeling of genetically engineered foods.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=6KIgkJPbSj%2BWcKOrNm%2B9Qnlfc7lfArLA
Background: the Indiana state delegation submitted a resolution to the American Medical Association Reference Committee for Science and Technology that asks the AMA to study the impact of mandated GMO labeling and then to take action based on the results of the analysis.
Why do doctors care about GMOs? Many AMA members recognize that the lack of labeling denies health professionals the ability to trace potentially toxic or allergic reactions to genetically engineered foods. They also know that without labels, we won't be able to understand any adverse health effects from consuming GE foods. It's no wonder that over 300 hospitals and medical centers in the United States have signed a pledge to encourage their vendors to supply food that is produced without genetic modification.
Healthcare providers hold incredible sway with decision-makers in DC and throughout the country. That's why we want them on our side if we want to convince the FDA to label genetically engineered foods. We only have hours to submit public comments. Please use our simple tool to send a message to the AMA right now.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=At90TLiXR/kC5Q0EydTCpnlfc7lfArLA
Together, we submitted over 1.1 million comments to the FDA. It took you only five days to generate 25,000 signatures on the White House "We The People" petition in favor of labeling. And our partners in California succeeded in securing the nearly one million signatures needed to put GMO labeling on the statewide ballot this fall. Even though we've got less than 7 hours, I know we can win this next victory.
The American Medical Association is a well-respected institution with a long and influential history dating back over 160 years. The position they take on labeling will have a powerful impact on all of our efforts to secure the right to know how our food is produced. Please speak out now.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=3gqU9pISHWMSJ8oyVtYBdXlfc7lfArLA
Thank you for contacting the AMA today. Thank you!
– David Bancroft on behalf of the entire Just Label It team
We're building a movement of concerned citizens – parents, health care workers, small business owners, farmers, and more – who care about what's in the food we eat.
In October 2011, the Just Label It campaign was formed when the Center for Food Safety filed a petition with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to require the labeling of all foods produced using genetic engineering. Days later, we asked citizens from around the country to join us and tell the FDA to "Just Label It." More than 1.1 million Americans have contacted to the FDA urging them to label genetically engineered foods. Ask others to sign on at www.JustLabelIt.org/takeaction.
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Learn more at www.JustLabelIt.org
Mendel's Genetics 1822-1884
Letter sent to Downsizer Dispatch in response to their current support request:
I believe you are somewhat off base in your current request. Yes fossil fuel subsidies need to end - subsidies to all currently profitable profit making businesses must end. Yes end bio-fuel subsidies as they are just another form of pollution producing fuel tech.
But I do believe we need to continue to invest in "alternative" power generation and fuel. End subsidies to power companies that are making profits - but offer incentives to upgrade their technology to green power.
Wind and solar power investments implementation I believe has put us in a position where this country now has a glut in Oil, LNG, Gasoline. We should be pushing for regulation on fossil fuel speculation. Only industry immune to laws of supply and demand.
Short supply = High price at the pumps.
Glut = High prices at the pump.
I do agree that wind and solar will not be our answer - they are a help.
We need to invest in real REAL green tech.
Green Tech.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://ecat.com/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
I would suggest lobbying in this direction. Invest in our future create new industry that is healthy profitable creates new jobs ends fossil fuel dependance ends the pollution of fossil fuel. Can be exported in aid around the world to impoverished countries to make them more self sufficient - instead of throwing billions of dollars yearly to the regimes of these countries to use in their personal retirement programs.
Thank you and please consider, Dan
Read it and see what you think:
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
Quote of the Day: "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always count on the support of Paul." -- George Bernard Shaw
I sent this letter to Congress using DownsizeDC.org's End Subsidies campaign:
Politicians moan about the "hard choices" needed to cut the budget, but there are plenty of easy cuts you could make. For instance . . .
Congress looted taxpayers for $37 BILLION that went to energy companies in 2010: http://thedc.com/xYYgG8 Billions even went to the Big 6 Oil firms that had profits of $148.7 billion: http://bit.ly/JULIKn
I want you to cut all energy subsidies: oil, natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind, bio-fuels, all of it!
For-profit companies don't need my money. Stop picking my pocket. And stop picking my neighbors' pockets too.
Here are three more reasons...
If you can't even make easy budget cuts like this, then financial disaster is certain. We won't know alternative energy is really viable until it can succeed without stealing my money. Subsidies inspire lobbying, which inspires corrupt mal-investments like Solyndra.
Please learn from Germany's mistakes (http://thedc.com/xYYgG8)...
Germany made massive investments in wind and solar, leading to... Electricity prices three times higher than what we pay, and yet... Wind and solar still can't compete, even with all the help.
Restore natural free market prices. Permit more drilling. Stop stealing!
I deny you my consent for these subsidies. They are illegitimate. They are criminal. End them!
END LETTER
We encourage you to send a letter of your own. You may borrow from or copy the above.
And, we encourage you to share this Dispatch on your social networks.
Budget Update: We need another $14,994.74 to reach our May goal. If you can help, here's our secure contribution form.
James Wilson Policy Research Director DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
PETITION: Congress must put Wall Street reform back on the agenda: http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/sign_glasssteagall/?source=bp
Also,
PETITION: Jail the Bankers: http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/sign_wallstreet_bankerjail/?source=bp
Fighting hard for the recall of Scott Walker and his cronies.
From People for the American Way.
Dear Dan,
This Friday, June 1, We Are Wisconsin and our alliance of organizations fighting hard for the recall of Scott Walker and his cronies are hosting an exciting, and hopefully massive, rally in Madison to gather the troops and get out the vote!
Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, is bringing several exciting special musical guests for a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) kickoff concert and rally at Madison’s Labor Temple -- doors open at 5:30pm with the main acts going on at 6:45pm.
Here’s the rub: it’s not just a concert, it’s a gathering of the volunteers who are going to make the difference in this fight and get us past the finish line to victory. The rally is FREE to attend for anyone who shows up and signs up for a shift to help get out the vote between the event and Election Day on Tuesday, June 5.
So no matter where you live in or around Wisconsin, if you can make it to Madison on Friday night, we’d love to rock out with you, while we get each other fired up and ready to win this thing!
Even if you can’t make Friday’s event, we still need you to volunteer to make calls, knock on doors and do whatever else is needed to get out the vote and Recall the Right!
Please sign up for a volunteer shift (or more than one) with We Are Wisconsin here.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=HX3mevgn_wWHwCyKZBa1iQ
There should be GOTV opportunities in all corners of the state, convenient for out-of-state volunteers who are able to make a short trip over the border.
THE RALLY:
FRIDAY, JUNE 1 Labor Temple of Madison 1602 South Park Street (map) http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=2BnYGwWo9Ecm6GSkdD9rag Madison, WI 53715 Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the great artists performing at the rally and to help promote the event, download the flyer here.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=8ihge2I0r9boFM-cs30-mw
I really hope to see you on Friday. Let’s Recall the Right and take back Wisconsin!
-- Scott Foval, Wisconsin Coordinator sfoval@pfaw.org
P.S. We also need help AT the event! We’ll need Volunteer Marshalls to help manage the physical space of the event and a small army of volunteers to sign up attendees for their GOTV shifts. If you can volunteer to show up by 4:30 on Friday and help out with the rally, please email erin@wearewisconsin.org or call 608-206-9460.
From Democracy for America.
We're one week out from Election Day in Wisconsin. We're tied in the polls. We can win this thing -- but we can't do it without your help.
Join DFA Chair Jim Dean and We Are Wisconsin Executive Director Kristen Crowell for an Emergency Strategy Session this Thursday, May 31, at 7 p.m. Eastern to learn how you can put us over the top.
http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/1764?t=1&akid=1993.2041858.vRdKPk
Right-wing Gov. Scott Walker and Republican Super PACs are outspending us on TV thanks to an unlimited supply of huge corporate contributions.
But after blowing tens of millions of dollars on sleazy attack ads trying to tear us down, we're still tied in the polls.
They have big corporate money, but we have people power. Please join us this Thursday, May 31, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time to hear how our people-powered campaign is going to win in Wisconsin.
http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/1764?t=2&akid=1993.2041858.vRdKPk
Thank you for all that you do.
-Michael
Michael Langenmayr, Political Director Democracy for America
Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=c/VfJTcmuuxOV4Y2xV56AJf/dAFQIc%2B4
Dan,
Move to Amend will be holding seven regional gatherings across the United States in 2012 and you're invited.
These events will bring you together with Move to Amend activists and supporters from throughout your region of the country to amplify and multiply the power of all the great local organizing and to build deeper connections.
Please join us as we kick it up a notch! Locations
July 27-29: Move to Amend Nor-Cal (Oakland, California)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=YkKSy/omWjfuIhk1EhH1T5f/dAFQIc%2B4
August 24-26: Move to Amend Midwest (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=bhivIHGujNwjkV0XI2bmP5f/dAFQIc%2B4
September 28-30: Move to Amend New England (Western Massachusetts)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=aggBppDpqSufxT36FB/nnZf/dAFQIc%2B4
October 19-21: Move to Amend So-Cal (Los Angeles, California)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=v31Fy0arvIK2FSGO82p93pf/dAFQIc%2B4
November 9-11: Move to Amend Southwest (Denver, Colorado)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=IfbrXFkmuWavd5Cs6kart5f/dAFQIc%2B4
December 14-16: Move to Amend South (Gainesville, Florida)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=fk833guRz9Bjp1g7RR9VN5f/dAFQIc%2B4
Click the links above to register or to view the convergence agendas.
Move to Amend Regional Convergence Goals
Receive training in the skills you’ll need to organize more effectively in your community and beyond;
Strategize how best to build this movement on the local, state, regional, and national levels; and
Network, brainstorm, and cross-pollinate with other Move to Amend groups and supporters in your region.
MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=05xmBo9VscaSRxoLrS1Z35f/dAFQIc%2B4
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
Challenging the authority of Citizens United:
Dan, please sign the petition thanking the attorneys general from 23 states and D.C. who are taking part in a lawsuit challenging the authority of Citizens United to override laws that limit corporate spending in state elections. Click here to sign the petition from Daily Kos and Democracy for America.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=UoOAtkFXo6zzXIocdy5cDwoVEo37MQ0W
Late last year, the Montana Supreme Court made the first crack in Citizens United by upholding a century-old state law banning direct corporate spending for or against candidates in state elections. Not long afterward, a right-wing group asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule that decision. Now, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers the case, the attorneys general from 22 states and D.C. have filed an amicus brief supporting Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock's bid to maintain limits on corporate spending in state elections.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=EaiM9JEaTcjllEIO5LuetwoVEo37MQ0W
With nearly half of all states on board, this is the largest coordinated legal effort against Citizens United yet. Winning this lawsuit would immediately curtail the corrosive effect that unlimited corporate dollars are having on our democracy at the state level, and also be a major step toward overturning Citizens United nationwide.
Please join with Daily Kos and Democracy for America by signing our petition thanking all of the attorneys general who are fighting against Citizens United. We will send them the signatures.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=eH56xakMaPfvY2B7WUXXqQoVEo37MQ0W
Keep fighting, Chris Bowers Campaign Director, Daily Kos
Dear Dan,
What are pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies trying to buy with $700,000,000? Massive influence with our government.
Don't allow science to take a back seat to the financial interests of corporations! Urge the FDA to protect the American people from unsafe food, drugs, and medical devices by protecting science from corporate interference.
click here to take action
http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=8b8ALI5UYW-GZaUbw2S22g
That’s the amount of money these companies spent over the last three years lobbying Congress and the Executive Branch, which includes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
And now, with negotiations underway on legislation that will govern how the FDA approves and monitors prescription drugs and medical products, it’s clear that all that money has bought the industry a lot of influence with our legislators.
We can’t allow science to take a back seat to the financial interests of corporations—especially when our lives are on the line.
We have seen many concerted efforts from industry lobbyists to roll back key safeguards at the FDA that protect science from corporate interference. The FDA’s foremost priority is to protect the American people from unsafe food, drugs, and medical devices. That requires the agency use the best available science when determining whether products are safe or not.
It's time we remind the FDA to put safety first.
Take Action Today!
http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=2mBqnMVjesCgLZXBtywTKw
Sincerely, Michael Halpern Michael Halpern Program Manager UCS Scientific Integrity Program
Bernie: ‘People are Furious at Wall Street’
The $2 billion-plus trading fiasco at JPMorgan Chase raised new questions about whether bank regulations are strong enough or whether Wall Street gambling will once again lead us to financial collapse. Bernie told Wolf Blitzer on CNN that too-big-to-fail banks should be broken up. He said stronger bank regulations are needed. He said it is a blatant conflict of interest for bank officers, like JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, to sit on the board of the Federal Reserve, which regulates banks. Watch Bernie on The Situation Room on CNN »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100088805.557424.149&gen=1&mailing_linkid=57634
Listen to a radio interview with Ed Schultz »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100088805.557424.149&gen=1&mailing_linkid=57635
Big oil companies don't need a tax break End Fossil Fuel Subsidies Add up all the tax breaks, loopholes, financial assistance and royalty relief for the fossil fuel industry and the tab will come to more than $113 billion in the coming decade. Bernie and Rep. Keith Ellison introduced legislation to end all of those giveaways to highly profitable oil, coal and gas industries. They believe that Congress should invest in sustainable energy, not greenhouse-gas emitting companies. Watch the news conference »
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100088805.557424.149&gen=1&mailing_linkid=57636
Become a citizen co-sponsor of Bernie’s bill »
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/end-polluter-welfare/%20
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100088805.557424.149&gen=1&mailing_linkid=57651
Stop Wall Street banks from gambling with our money.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6891602&id=40379-4904244-YuWeKux&t=7
Dear Dan,
The recent news that JP Morgan Chase lost at least $2 billion in a matter of weeks on hugely risky bets shows once again that we need to rein in Wall Street and stop the banks from gambling with our money.
For over half a century, the Depression-era law known as the Glass-Steagall Act kept commercial banks (where we have our checking accounts, saving accounts and the like) separate from high-risk investment banks.
The government agreed to insure the deposits we make in commercial banks through the FDIC, but banks weren't allowed to turn around and use these deposits as stakes in the Wall Street casino.
That all changed in 1999 with the repeal of Glass-Steagall, which paved the way for the financial crisis and the massive Wall Street bailouts.
Tell Congress it's time to bring back Glass-Steagall. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6891603&id=40379-4904244-YuWeKux&t=8
If private investors want to use their own money to make risky bets on Wall Street, that should be up to them. Ultimately, they're risking their own money.
But when these giant banks take on more risk than they should, they do so knowing that they can keep any profits they make if things go well, but that ultimately U.S. taxpayers are on the hook if things go terribly wrong. That creates a perverse incentive for them to be massively irresponsible.
When Congress passes Wall Street reform in 2010, it was supposed to end precisely this type of "heads they win, tails we lose" scenario. But the Volcker Rule that was supposed to address this, still hasn't been finalized and looks like it will be riddled with loopholes.
Tell Congress that we need a new Glass-Steagall Act that reinstates the firewall between the banks we use to keep our money safe and the Wall Street banks that make risky investments. Click below to automatically sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6891603&id=40379-4904244-YuWeKux&t=9
Thank you for speaking out.
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=11&id=40379-4904244-YuWeKux&t=10
DKAtoday, you Democratic Party pimp: Did you forget to mention that Democratic president Bill Clinton removed the protections of Glass-Steagall when he signed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999 - or that Democratic president Barack Obama turned Wall Street into a casino where the house wins and small investors lose when he signed HR 3606 - the bill that former Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission Lynn Turner called the "Bucket-Shop and Penny-Stock Fraud Reauthorization Act of 2012"?
I don't think you forgot at all, you Demopublican piece of shit...
On his way out the door. Was probably glad to get out of office with his skin. Then we got 8 yrs. of Jr. and he sent us straight to hell.
Thanks for helping to clarify things Trashy.
A pot smoking womanizer opened the door and then a former pot smoking National Guards Man ( hiding out from the war ) recovering Alcoholic to boot ushered the corrupt right up to the trough and said dig in.
DKAtoday, you Democratic Party pimp: Did you forget to mention that Democratic president Bill Clinton removed the protections of Glass-Steagall when he signed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999 - or that Democratic president Barack Obama turned Wall Street into a casino where the house wins and small investors lose when he signed HR 3606 - the bill that former Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission Lynn Turner called the "Bucket-Shop and Penny-Stock Fraud Reauthorization Act of 2012"?
I don't think you forgot at all, you Demopublican piece of shit...
Walker update from People For The American Way.
On Tuesday, I dropped off a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on behalf of PFAW members, along with a note signed by more than 40,000 of you telling the governor to pay special attention to Article 23, which states:
“Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.” And, “Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.”
Scott Walker is infamous for his attacks on the right of workers to unionize and bargain collectively, and has even said, “It's not a rights issue, it’s an expensive entitlement.” And last month, Walker also signed the repeal of Wisconsin’s equal pay law.
He clearly needs to be educated about our fundamental rights and their importance to ordinary Americans. But something tells me, his priorities are elsewhere...
Perhaps it was the recently uncovered video of Walker telling one of his billionaire supporters about his union busting plan to “divide and conquer” on his way to getting rid of all collective bargaining in Wisconsin (check it out here).
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=EuD1lIrXHVkfYWe65EWYcQ
Even with the real motivation behind his destructive agenda now public, Walker still has the audacity to publicly blame the division in his state on protesters, Democrats and the Wisconsinites who have stood up for their rights against attacks from his administration and his party. We have just over two weeks to win this recall fight and show him and his allies across the country that Americans won’t take these attacks sitting down -- in Wisconsin or anywhere.
Thank you, not just to those of you who signed the note to Walker with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but to all of you who continue to stand with me, my state and the 99% against the radical right-wing assault on the American Way.
Sincerely,
Scott Foval, Wisconsin Coordinator
Bankers on Wall Street wrecked our economy by taking reckless risks in pursuit of massive paydays. And, as JP Morgan has made clear, Wall Street learned nothing and is still gambling.
There's nothing wrong with high-risk trading, but if the bets go bad, only the people who made the bets should have to pay. That's why this gambling should happen in hedge funds, not in the federally-insured banks that families and small businesses depend on.
And that’s why I successfully fought, with your help, for a ban on high-risk trading by big Wall Street banks. This rule, called the Volcker rule firewall, is meant to ensure that when Wall Street’s bad bets blow up, you and I don’t get burned again.
But for the last two years, Wall Street's legion of lobbyists has been trying to blow holes in that firewall. Now they want the Fed to write the “JP Morgan loophole” into law.
We can’t let that happen. Join me in urging Ben Bernanke and the Fed to close down the JP Morgan loophole.
http://e2ma.net/go/11820142178/4308976/115368970/13974/b64/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qZWZmbWVya2xleS5jb20vdm9sY2tlci1ydWxlLw==
We can’t match Wall Street’s lobbying budget, but we can make sure that Ben Bernanke hears from people all over America. By signing this petition, you can help make sure Wall Street’s lobbyists don’t have the last word.
We need an economy that puts working families and small businesses first. A 99% economy, not a 1% economy.
Tell Ben Bernanke that the economy needs to work for all of us, not just for JP Morgan.
http://e2ma.net/go/11820142178/4308976/115368971/13974/b64/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qZWZmbWVya2xleS5jb20vdm9sY2tlci1ydWxlLw==
Together, we can win this fight! Senator Jeff Merkley
P.S. You know the Fed is hearing from those high-paid Wall Street lobbyists. Sign on to this petition, and make sure they hear from you too.
http://e2ma.net/go/11820142178/4308976/115368972/13974/b64/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qZWZmbWVya2xleS5jb20vdm9sY2tlci1ydWxlLw==
Support and signed.
Thanks - we need to own our system and in my opinion these things are a start in the right direction. Thank you again.
And I don't hear many politicians talkin about it. Certainly B Sanders. I support the Dems Volker rule but I know it hasn't been implemented and doesn't go far enough. Constant pressure and voting out anti volcker rule politicians is our only hope.
No what really needs to happen is the reinstatement of Glass-Stegal.
Many are coming to support that too.
At the moment the current rule has never been put into play - so protest that.
At the same time keep pushing for a return fpr Glass-Stegal.
Pressure - Constant - Pressure.
By the people.
We are beginning to wake.
Tell Minnesota Power: Set a retirement schedule for your dirty coal plants.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6887372&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=7
Dear Dan,
Minnesota Power's dirty coal plants have been dumping pollution into the air and making local residents sick for more than 50 years. But now, momentum is finally building to shut down many of these plants.
Last week, the Minnesota Department of Commerce called on Minnesota Power to retire several of its deadly coal plants over the next few years.1
This is a huge development and as Minnesota Power decides how to proceed, we need to make sure the utility hears from local residents who are sick and tired of its dirty coal plants.
Tell Minnesota Power: It is time to shut down your dirty and deadly coal plants. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6887373&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=8
Specifically, the Department of Commerce called on Minnesota Power to retire two of the coal-fired units at the Laskin plant and one of the units at the Taconite Harbor plant by 2016, and to retire two of the units at the Clay Boswell plant by 2020.2
Based on cost analyses conducted by Minnesota Power itself, the Department of Commerce found that retiring the dirty coal plants and switching to cleaner sources would benefit Minnesota ratepayers.
One of the plants in question, Clay Boswell, is among Minnesota's greatest threats to public health — causing an estimated 55 deaths, 87 heart attacks and 910 asthma attacks each year.3
Minnesota Power's dirty coal plants are also major sources of global warming pollution, dumping millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere each year.
It's long past time for Minnesota Power to shut down its dirty and deadly coal plants. Click the link below to automatically sign the petition: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6887373&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=9
Thank you for fighting for public health and the environment in Minnesota.
Josh Nelson, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=11&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=10
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6887374&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=11
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6887378&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=12
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6887375&id=40191-4904244-_sVh8Hx&t=13
UCS Launches Center for Science and Democracy
UCS is embarking on an ambitious new initiative to challenge attacks on science and restore the great American relationship between science and democracy.
Tell us why you think science is important for our democracy.
http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=uV8Kn6D0zE1QClHB9ziW9w
Dear Dan,
In today's hyper-partisan political environment, the public and decision makers often ignore independent science and technical analysis in favor of assertions from ideologues and thinly veiled spokespeople for powerful vested interests.
This trend toward deliberate misinformation and neglect of science not only threatens the principles of transparency and accountability on which our democracy is based, but it often puts the health and safety of Americans at risk.
To help meet this grave challenge, the Union of Concerned Scientists is launching the Center for Science and Democracy to strengthen the American democracy by restoring the essential role of science, evidence-based decision making, and constructive debate as a means to improve the health, security, and prosperity of all Americans.
http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=SyZzYfBpCx8u-Pu6zv4hIA
UCS will launch the new Center for Science and Democracy at two events that will feature interactive panel discussions with leading thinkers on the role science plays in a functioning democracy. RSVP to watch the East Coast http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=LEwVLpnRl9ICwpG3aWOGdA
or West Coast launch events. http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=sxo4s6F1Iw0mKw70dRQyAw
A cornerstone of the Center for Science and Democracy will be the Lewis M. Branscomb Science and Democracy Forum. The forum series will bring experts, decision makers, and the public together to tackle key issues at the intersection of science and democracy, including special interests’ influence on science used in government decision making.
http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=NRDX3lgnDMRhUeSpQgTtmA
We look forward to sharing more information with you about this exciting new initiative in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Kevin Knobloch
President
Nice link.
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/17/journalist_chris_hedges_sues_obama_admin
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy!
Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=xYBNs16hFOnds%2BVmNatgsERNpOakhMZU
Democracy Activism or Judicial Activism — Our Choice
Dan,
Joshua Holland knocked it out of the park with his recent column, “How the Corporate Elite Hijacked America's Courts to Enrich the Top 1 Percent,” a must read for any democracy advocate.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=PVd8HwpnZJQ9oXuAdwdLgS/ecdt54p8Z
It’s clear Move To Amend is on the right track.
Holland describes a decades long assault on our judicial system by right leaning organizations to appoint judges that side with the wealthy and their corporations at a much higher rate than it finds for the middle class and unions.
We move to amend. (And we need your friends and colleagues to join us! Please share our petition and forward this email.)
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=O8qkB0Ob5HFa21%2BV4Z1WLURNpOakhMZU
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=jQPOJg0vATgv6E6Oeq1vBERNpOakhMZU
Holland cites several studies, among them one that shows that members of Congress are more likely to respond to the wealthy constituents than they are to middle class constituents. The poor are barely on their radar.
He concludes that if these activists continue to get their way, we can kiss the remaining shreds of the social safety net good-bye.
To address this miscarriage of justice, we’re building support for the Move To Amend amendment, which states that a corporation is not a person and money is not speech.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=pjfXs82LAFe30zmphElCzERNpOakhMZU
Passing our amendment to the Constitution must be done if we are to have a real democracy — regardless of the powerful forces aligned against us. To us, like our revolutionary forebears, it is do or die — there is no place for tyranny among a free and democratic people.
Thomas Paine said, “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” The truth is we have greater power now than when those words were first uttered — we just need to exercise it!
The time has come for each of us to ramp up our efforts to perfect our democracy. Please use your networks to distribute this message far and wide. Our goal is 500,000 signatures on the Motion to Amend by year’s end.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JM54Q0MFkLN7TaE8YyC3N0RNpOakhMZU
Thank you,
Ashley Sanders, Ben Manski, Daniel Lee, David Cobb, Egberto Willies, Jerome Scott, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Laura Bonham, Leesa "George" Friday, Nancy Price, Stephen Justino
Move to Amend Executive Committee
MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
Daily Kos: President Obama urges Congress to act now on an economic 'to-do' list
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/12/1090934/-President-Obama-urges-Congress-to-act-now-on-an-economic-to-do-list
Daily Kos: JPMorgan losses show further financial reform is needed, says AFL-CIO Pres. Richard Trumk www.dailykos.com
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/11/1090836/-JPMorgan-losses-show-further-financial-reform-is-needed-says-AFL-CIO-Pres-Richard-Trumka
Since the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, a shadowy organization co-founded by Karl Rove called Crossroads GPS has raised tens of millions of dollars from big-money donors.
Rove's group has spent the lion's share of its money on vicious attack ads targeting candidates for federal office like Elizabeth Warren.1
But now the group is trying to illegally exploit a loophole in federal election law to hide the identity of its donors.2 It's up to the IRS to stop them.
Tell the IRS: Crack down on Karl Rove's shady political organization. Don't let it hide the identity of its big-money donors. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6884869&id=40008-4904244-PoUDqdx&t=8
According to election law, certain tax-exempt organizations (those organized under Internal Revenue Code section 501c4) may spend money supporting or opposing candidates for federal office without disclosing their donors.
But to qualify for the 501c4 status, an organization "must be operated exclusively to promote social welfare" and one of its primary purposes cannot be "direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office."3
The idea that Crossroads GPS qualifies for this status is laughable.
But the group has applied to the IRS for that designation, hoping that doing so will allow it to keep the identity of its donors (which may include both corporations and wealthy individuals) secret.
The IRS has every reason to deny that designation and penalize Rove's organization for failing to disclose its donors in the interim, but the IRS has bowed to political pressure before.4
We need to speak up to make sure the IRS does not bow to pressure again.
Tell the IRS: Crack down on Karl Rove's shady political organization. Don't let it hide the identity of its big-money donors. Click the link below to automatically sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6884869&id=40008-4904244-PoUDqdx&t=9
Thank you for speaking out.
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=11&id=40008-4904244-PoUDqdx&t=10
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6885554&id=40008-4904244-PoUDqdx&t=11
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6885555&id=40008-4904244-PoUDqdx&t=12
4."IRS Buckled To GOP Pressure On Secret Donations, Lawyer Says," Dan Froomkin, Huffington Post, 08-08-11.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6885556&id=40008-4904244-PoUDqdx&t=13
Tell Congress To Support Limits On Carbon Pollution.
Take action today!
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=wMhPZXFzIFpzq6m__0Ykbw
Industrial polluters want to stop the EPA from moving forward with limits on carbon pollution through Congressional action. Let’s raise our voices in support of a strong rule and against interference from Congress. Take Action Today!
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=ZaY6ElGGzwcFU8TDjGjc1g
Dear Dan,
Thanks again for weighing in on the EPA’s proposed industrial carbon pollution safeguards for new power plants. These standards, when finalized, will protect the health and welfare of Americans and move our nation forward against global warming.
But, in the face of an aggressive attack by polluters and their allies in Congress, we must do more.
While your comments to the EPA are significant, we must let our elected officials in Congress know how important these safeguards are—or they will only be hearing from the polluters. Write to your Representative and Senators to let them know you support the EPA moving forward with these safeguards.
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=UNhiqQ7KYpkjG1G1cdgPeQ
Sincerely,
Sarah Saylor
Sarah Saylor Senior Legislative Representative
A Health Care Success Story
Open to everyone, the centers care for patients covered by Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance, as well as those who have no insurance.
At a time when 50 million Americans lack health insurance and when Americans spend almost twice as much per capita on health care as people in any other nation, there is some good news regarding health care in America. We are making significant progress in expanding primary health care.A dramatic expansion of community health centers got a big boost on Wednesday with the release of $728 million to build or refurbish 398 centers across the United States. It was Bernie’s provision in the 2010 Affordable Care Act that authorized $11 billion for health centers. The goal is to provide primary health care for 40 million Americans, twice as many as today, regardless of their ability to pay. Vermont has been a leader with health centers providing primary care, dental care, low-cost prescription drugs and mental health counseling for 110,000 people, more per capita than any other state.
Read more » http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100087910.557627.126&gen=1&mailing_linkid=54720
We have corrupt politicians stealing our money. They give themselves pay raises EVERY year! Help me in sending a message to our politicians:
http://letters2congress.rallycongress.com/1377/tell-congress-to-take-a-pay-cut/
Let's unite TOGETHER to send a message to our politicians. May God bless America! God bless our freedom!
I signed the petition and added some of my own thoughts to the letter.
Perhaps if they had to live closer to the conditions that the major portion of the population ( middle and lower class ) do - they would pay more attention to the benefit of all society.
From : Earthjustice
TAKE ACTION! You Can Help Pass The Safe Chemicals Act Take action today!
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=mNYXnTvuHv2nRTF3YZcKDQ
Americans shouldn't have to worry about chemicals in their own home (shutterstock.com)
Today, we’re gathering petition signatures from thousands of Americans to send a message that we’re tired of being exposed to toxic chemicals.
Take Action Today!
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=mQ8p1PqbHV0pvHvCpb7R2A
Dear Dan,
We’re in a battle to protect America’s health and we need your help more than ever. The chemical industry is spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress to block meaningful progress in Washington. We just learned that in the last few months they have spent more than $2.7 million dollars on ads in places like Pennsylvania, Texas and Alaska. Last year, they spent $52 million dollars lobbying Congress to block protections for your family.
In response, we’re working with people like you in states across the country to show support for the Safe Chemicals Act. Today, we’re gathering petition signatures from thousands of Americans to send a message that we’re tired of being exposed to toxic chemicals.
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=qfefq_WOsVVbBSqacMOBnQ
We will hand deliver the signatures to your senators this spring, urging them to co-sponsor and pass the Safe Chemicals Act. We have partnered with many of our coalition members and have a goal of collecting more than 100,000 signatures.
Will you help us reach this big goal?
Please sign this important petition today. Your senators must understand that thousands of Americans want common sense limits on toxic chemicals.
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=keiAdGl0rMEroU1azTxuTg
Sincerely,
Marty Hayden
Marty Hayden Vice President, Policy and Legislation
Environmental Defense Fund Update:
Dear Dan,
On a sparkling, sunny day in downtown Washington last week, I proudly marched with fellow EDFers — Kusai Merchant and Sam Parry — and dozens of other organizers from our coalition partners to hand deliver 735,509 comments from citizen activists like you to the EPA in support of their landmark rule to limit climate pollution from America’s power plants.
This is what advocacy looks like:
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=TqNWcVan8mUgBMS3ArtThw
March to EPA
Check out other photos from the event!
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=iA8bNaLiH1RKdnqgSwR3pQ
Together, we are making our voices heard and countering the hundreds of millions of dollars the Dirty Air Lobby is spending to block this rule and other clean air and climate protections. There's still much work to be done, but together we changing history and standing up for a safer climate future.
Please check out the photos from last week's event and then ask your friends to take action as well.
EPA was overwhelmed by the support. We couldn’t have made it this far without your help. Every action you take, every dollar you donate makes a huge difference in this fight.
Heather ShelbyThanks for your advocacy and support, Heather Shelby Signature Heather Shelby Action Network Coordinator
Update from WFP:
Dan --
Click 'show pictures' to see a photo of me with the boxes of petitions. Yesterday, with old friends and new allies, I helped deliver your petition signature and more than 200,000 others calling on Governor Cuomo to ban fracking in New York.
We couldn't have done it without you. More than 65,000 of those 200,000 signatures came from WFP supporters like you. Your signatures helped us send a powerful message to Governor Cuomo: fracking is not safe and should be banned from New York.
We've delivered your signatures, but there's still a lot of work to do. Can you contribute $15 today to help keep fracking out of New York?
This stack of boxes is not the first public outcry against fracking. The DEC collected more than 66,000 public comments on its latest environmental impact statement -- five times as many as it received for the first draft -- and reports say most of them called for a ban.
Despite the grassroots pressure to end fracking, we still face big challenges. The oil and gas barons who are pushing for this dangerous process to go forward have nearly limitless money. And they're not above using it to subvert the will of the people.
Help us fight back against the corporate push for fracking. Contribute $15 to support our work:
https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1306/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=7712
Thanks,
-Karen Scharff, WFP Executive Committee
Daily KOS Update:
Dan, two Blue Dog Democrats—aka, corporate Democrats—were defeated for re-election in Democratic primaries last week.
This is huge: if Democrats who frequently side with Republicans and Wall Street keep losing primaries, then all Democrats in Congress will be motivated to more effectively stand up against Republicans and Wall Street.
On June 5 in New Mexico, we have a chance to hand the Blue Dogs another loss.
In the Democratic primary for Congress in New Mexico's first congressional district, two of the three major candidates are outspoken progressive Eric Griego and conservative, anti-labor Marty Chavez. Making sure that Griego wins and Chavez loses will keep the anti-Blue Dog momentum going, and be an important step toward building a better Democratic Party.
Care2 from Civil Rights:
Progressive Media Outlets Pledge Coverage Of May Day Protests
http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AGLTe/zmvm/B18Bb
May Day, otherwise known as International and Immigrant Workers’ Day, marks the first major resurgence of the Occupy Wall Street movement since massive arrests and police brutality drove most occupations indoors over the winter.
http://www.care2.com/causes/may-day-occupy-wall-street-gears-up-for-nationwide-strike.html
Although OWS has been in full effect since September, 2011, mainstream media outlets have consistently refused to cover its actions, or intentionally distorted coverage by focusing only on participants who thwart the movement’s mandate against violence and vandalism. That’s why more than 25 independent media outlets belonging to The Media Consortium are collaborating to provide coordinated, national coverage of the nationwide May Day strike and other related events.
http://www.care2.com/causes/media-blackout-during-ows-eviction.html
http://www.themediaconsortium.org/
To assist the movement in spreading its message of social and economic equality on this historic day, Media for the 99 Percent will leverage their existing platforms and reporters to provide coordinated national multimedia coverage, featuring:
http://www.mediaforthe99percent.com/
An interactive Map: Find out where actions are happening across the country and follow the independent media’s by-the-minute coverage with links to video, audio, photos, and blog reports.
Television and Live Stream Broadcast: Free Speech TV will broadcast live (and live streamed) news coverage throughout the day, featuring reports from around the U.S., as well as in-studio commentary.
http://www.fstv.org/
Curated Social Media Coverage: Using the Storify platform, Media for the 99 Percent will offer a curated narrative of breaking news via blog updates, along with photos and social media posts from reporters on the ground.
All three content tools are available for embedding by other news outlets and the public.
As a member of The Media Consortium, Care2 Causes is proud to support the efforts of Media for the 99 Percent by continuing to bring you accurate, passionate accounts of occupations across the U.S. and around the world.
Do you trust corporate media tell the story of the May Day actions? Do you trust corporate media to explain the messages of income inequality, workers’ rights, immigrant rights, and more behind these actions? If not, we encourage you to do whatever you can to support the efforts of Media For The 99 Percent.
Read, watch, and share the stories published by members of Media for the 99 Percent on your social media profiles. You can also help by making a financial donation so the coalition can pay its freelancers for their hard work during this event.
http://supportyourmedia.razoo.com/story/Media-For-The-99-Percent
Related Reading:
OWS Sustainability To Host May Day Teach-Ins
http://www.care2.com/causes/ows-sustainability-to-host-may-day-teach-ins.html
Occupy The Courts Protesters Seek To End Citizens United
http://www.care2.com/causes/occupy-the-courts-protesters-seek-to-end-citizens-united.html
May Day Belongs To The Workers And Their Songs
http://www.care2.com/causes/may-day-belongs-to-the-workers-and-their-songs-come-sing-along.html
Read more:
general strike http://www.care2.com/causes/tag/general-strike ,
may day http://www.care2.com/causes/tag/may-day ,
occupy wall street http://www.care2.com/causes/tag/occupy-wall-street ,
ows http://www.care2.com/causes/tag/ows ,
progressive media http://www.care2.com/causes/tag/progressive-media ,
the media consortium http://www.care2.com/causes/tag/the-media-consortium
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/progressive-media-outlets-pledge-coverage-of-may-day-protests.html#ixzz1tRBxEZAg
Info from the SEC:
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We appreciate your taking the time to communicate your thoughts on our proposed rules.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Murphy Secretary U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Tell the SEC: Don't let corporations hide their political spending.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6883064&id=39232-4904244-_jzkwwx&t=5
Dear Dan,
The U.S. Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United v. FEC ruling has allowed corporate CEOs to unleash a torrent of secret corporate spending into our political system.
Indefensibly, CEOs are able to keep both the public and their own shareholders in the dark about the use of company funds for political ends.
This give CEOs free rein to make political expenditures that they would never be able to justify publicly — including campaigns so toxic they would inevitably tarnish the company's brand were the funding source made public.
And the results have been absolutely corrosive to our democracy.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is a federal agency, can require publicly traded companies to disclose the money they spend on politics. And they are accepting public comments on the merits of doing so.
Click here to submit a public comment and tell the SEC: Don't let corporations hide their political spending.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6883064&id=39232-4904244-_jzkwwx&t=6
To be clear, what we really need is to get all corporate money out of politics, to roll back Citizens United, end corporate personhood and institute public financing of elections. And we are working hard toward those long term goals.
But in the short term, given how corrupt the system is, disclosure of corporate political spending would be a meaningful, though small, step forward. And it's one we can achieve.
While the likes of the Wall Street Journal's Editorial Board are opposed to this idea, it's actually a commonsense idea that is not especially ideological.
In fact, nearly 60% of the S&P 100 companies already voluntarily disclose their political spending to investors. And of the remaining S&P 100 corporations, 50 had shareholder votes about political issues in 2011.1
Already one SEC Commissioner has come out in favor of the idea. We just need two more to agree.
Tell the SEC: Don't let corporations hide their political spending. Click the link below to submit a public comment: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6883064&id=39232-4904244-_jzkwwx&t=7
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=11&id=39232-4904244-_jzkwwx&t=8
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6883067&id=39232-4904244-_jzkwwx&t=9
Talk to those in charge:
@iSupremeCourt Get to work for the constitution and THE PEOPLE. Sheesh.
Had a twitter moment.
Communications are essential.
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=4puDV6QrzCx6UaXAhrsDGo5sOc3%2BGRjC
Wanted: Enthusiastic Interns, Ready to Aid the Movement 2011 Fall Intern Team Dan,
If you are a bright and energetic person seeking to develop your organizing skills, we invite you to apply for an internship with the Move To Amend Coalition.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7cTPVM6w0EBWh2/jBL1uKY5sOc3%2BGRjC
Each year, Move To Amend offers folks the opportunity to work with us in our communications and field teams. The deadline for applications for the fall term (which runs from July 16 through December 14) is this Friday, April 27.
Besides being part of one of the fastest-growing organizations in the country working on the most important issues of our time — corporate personhood and money as free speech — interns will learn important organizing skills in a team atmosphere. Compensation includes room and board in Humboldt County, California.
Click here to learn more about the requirements and responsibilities and download the application.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=P%2BL0d81b20fSwo7TEpMoqo5sOc3%2BGRjC
If you know someone who might be interested in being an intern, please forward this message along.
We recognize the importance of exposing folks to rewarding work doing grassroots organizing, and we hope you do too. If you can't apply to become an intern, please make a donation to help support the program — you'll be supporting Move to Amend and investing in the growing the movement's capacity for the long term.
There’s no time to lose; apply today!
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=di4m/%2B%2BwJdF%2BRbzGE1OIbI5sOc3%2BGRjC
MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
From the EDF:
Dear Dan,
You are an EDF Hero.
Thank you for your support and activism.
Heroes can be hard to come by.
But you are a hero to all of us here at EDF. And I just want to say how grateful we are.
You are one of our most committed Action Network members. Your actions and your influence provide the grassroots power needed to make transformative changes to protect our planet.
Are you looking for other ways to stay updated and take your activism to the next level? Then add one more voice to the EDF Action Network. Encourage a family member or friend to take action on climate change today.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=z_fcTgDlDFY1QH_ALd39Yw
Each supporter who takes action through the EDF Action Network strengthens our critical grassroots work on behalf of the environment. Together, one voice and action at a time, we can make an impact.
You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter to keep updated with breaking news and to help spread the word through our social networks. It's the best way to keep up with breaking news and other opportunities to have your voice heard – as well as spread the word about issues that concern you most.
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=ih7xtaYEeGHWgOGAJKZl-g
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=AnsrEWAcMYLuD9ae7pzYQA
Dan, you make our efforts to fight global warming, protect endangered species, safeguard the air we breathe and the water we drink, and protect our oceans possible.
Thank you again for being an EDF Hero. I hope you will continue to stand with us. You are truly the backbone of what we do.
Heather_Headshot_jpeegThank you for all you do, Heather_Signature_jpeg Heather Shelby Online Activism Coordinator
Donated for common cause by Odin:
OCCUPY WALL STREET
We Urge You To Tune In To PBS Frontline’s Documentary
Airing on PBS - Tues. Aril 24th and WED. the 25th
Check local listings If You Still Don't Understand, or You Want To See More Of The Malfeasance and Recklessness That Caused So Many Americans To Suffer Needlessly, and a Corrupt System That Continues To Threaten Every American’s Financial Well-Being
Then View These: .
Inside Job – (the best so far) - available at the library
The Warning – also available at the library
Meltdown - available at “top documentary films” web site
There Are Many More Good Sources at The Library and Different Web Sites, But You Will Not Find The Whole Truth in The Corporate-Owned Media. That I Can Guarantee.
Choose The World That Your Kids Will Grow up in
THE CORRUPT STATUS QUO WILL CONTINUE BY DEFAULT
Dan --
First off, I wanted to make sure you saw this:
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf9fe/1288074736/VEsH/
"CONGRESSMAN RYAN Protecting Millionaires Instead of Medicare"
Thanks to over 10,000 contributions from supporters like you, we’re calling out Republicans back in their districts for protecting multi-millionaire tax breaks instead of seniors’ Medicare benefits.
That billboard in Republican Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s district is just a small part of our "Millionaires over Medicare" Accountability Campaign that you made possible. We can’t thank you enough for your continued support.
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf9fe/1288074736/VEsE/
We can’t thank you enough for your continued support.
For more opportunities to get involved in our campaign to elect a Democratic Majority in 2012, check out this edition of @Stake. Take Action to Fight Republicans
Support the Buffett Rule
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf845/1288074736/VEsF/
President Obama is calling on Congress to pass the Buffett Rule, which would finally put an end to special tax breaks for millionaires. Help us reach 100,000 strong for tax fairness: Add your name >>
Stop The Republican War on Women
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf846/1288074736/VEsC/
Thanks to you, we’ve reached over 1 million Americans standing strong against the Republican War on Women. Haven’t signed? Add your name >>
Already signed? Share this petition with your friends by forwarding this e-mail or posting on Facebook or Twitter. What's on your bumper?
Show your support for moving America forward by getting a bumper sticker or car magnet from MyDemocraticStore.com. Your contribution will help us defeat Republicans in Congress.
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf849/1288074736/VEsB/
Get your bumper stickers or car magnets by clicking here >>
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf849/1288074736/VEsP/
Onward to victory in 2012,
Steve
Rep. Steve Israel DCCC Chairman
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf846/1288074736/VEsHBQ/
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf9fe/1288074736/VEsHBA/
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63ced7/1b4d698b/34e8dd19/4e0cf84a/1288074736/VEsHBw/
Great links! Thanks DKA!
Your welcome - just trying to share common cause from wherever it may come.
Thanks, "Unite in Common Cause." I love that expression you always use. Nothing could be more to the point. The only answer, so far as I can see is this: we are confronted with a situation that is dire and we cannot afford to fail, so we on the left must put aside all grievances to the greatest degree possible and each work in our own ways towards our common cause. You have been one of the staunchest advocates of this approach, and I thank you for it. We have our work cut out for us, even if we go forward united. Divided we simply don't stand a chance. I'm sorry if that sounds negative, but look what we're up against. "United we stand, divided we fall."
I agree completely. I also thank you for your kind words and recognition.
I do believe we are making headway on all fronts - uniting in common cause is beginning to be examined and understood for what it is.
It is just not the norm so it takes some adjustment to understand and accept.
"WE" go forward.
You're welcome. It's been great to have your level, pragmatic and radical voice on this forum. This is about the 99%. This is about coming together. This is about a recognition of the dignity and the rights of human beings. To as small a degree as is possible must this be about "us vs. them."
We must know who are enimies are are even more importantly who they aren't.
You have always seen this and I commend you for it.
Thank you - You give me much honor and a joy of accomplishment. Especially in being the strong and impassioned contributor that you are.
Our enemy's in my opinion are easy to see and understand - they simply are out for their own profit and damn what happens to society.
Look for concern and support for the common man and you will have a true ally.
Daily Kos: Obama pushes Buffett Rule passage, cites its spur to growth in weekly address
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/14/1083304/-Obama-pushes-Buffett-Rule-passage-cites-its-spur-to-growth-in-weekly-address
Where are the investigators?
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5536950&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=7
Dear Dan,
Back in January, President Obama announced during the State of the Union speech the creation of a new financial crimes task force to investigate the crimes and misdeeds that led to the economic collapse and "hold accountable those who broke the law."
Yet, despite the enormity of the issue, its direct impact on millions of Americans and the widespread nature of crimes and wrongdoing, the new financial crime unit has been allocated a paltry 55 staff members to undertake this enormous task.1
And now we're hearing from insiders in Washington DC, that the full complement of 55 promised investigators — which is already not nearly enough — haven't even been deployed to the task force.
Election year promises aren't nearly enough. President Obama needs to prove his commitment to the financial crimes task force is real and provide the task force with the resources it needs to investigate Wall Street criminals.
Tell President Obama: 55 investigators are not enough. We need 20 times more staffing to launch a real investigation into Wall Street's crimes. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5536951&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=8
After the much smaller savings and loan scandal of the '80s approximately 1,000 FBI agents and dozens of federal prosecutors were assigned to prosecute related cases2. And 100 FBI agents were tasked with investigating the Enron scandal3, which involved just one company and caused none of the economy-wide damage we've seen since the collapse of the housing bubble.
The 55 investigators promised to the financial crimes task force is not nearly enough. And to find out that President Obama hasn't delivered on those investigators, let alone resourced the effort at the levels appropriate to the biggest financial fraud in U.S. history, is shocking.
President Obama's record on Wall Street accountability is abysmal. But because of enormous grassroots pressure from activists like you and polling that suggests he needs to take on Wall Street as a part of his election campaign, we have a real opportunity to move President Obama to meaningful action on Wall Street accountability. Time, however, is running out.
President Obama's first task force at the Department of Justice did little if anything to prosecute Wall Street for crimes that led to the financial crisis. But because of your activism, he announced a new task force and named progressive champion and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman one of its five co-chairs.
Now we need to pressure the White House to give that task force the resources it needs to pursue justice. Without sufficient staff to conduct thorough investigations, it's hard to see how this task force could bring indictments quickly or even beforesStatutes of limitations run out.
Tell President Obama: 55 investigators are not enough. We need 20 times more staffing to launch a real investigation into Wall Street's crimes. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
The economic crisis we're in demands a response commensurate with the damage done by Wall Street crooks. But the 55 promised investigators don't even come close to being adequate. If the White House hasn't even followed through on its promise of a paltry 55 investigators, it's clear that massive pushback is needed to get the level of staffing we truly need to bring Wall Street criminals to justice.
Aside from the appointment of Attorney General Schneiderman, none of the other co-chairs of the new task force has done literally anything that achieves our goal of holding banks accountable or prosecuting bankers for criminal activity.
In fact, three of his co-chairs served on the earlier failed Department of Justice task force that the new investigation was created to supersede.
In an election year when we know the Obama reelection campaign wants to frame his race as opposing the candidate of the one percent, President Obama will be particularly sensitive to public perception of whether his efforts to hold Wall Street accountable are meaningful and represent the full force of his office.
Tell President Obama: 55 investigators are not enough. We need 20 times more staffing to launch a real investigation into Wall Street's crimes. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
We want, and our country needs, indictments. The collapse of the housing bubble led directly to the economic crisis we're in. But not one of the Wall Street crooks who drove our economy off a cliff has gone to jail. And without aggressive investigations and prosecution for misconduct, none of them will.
President Obama needs to give the Department of Justice task force the resources required to launch a serious investigation that will bring about real accountability before the statutes of limitations run out for Wall Street's crimes.
It's been months already. We can't waste any more time. We must act now before we lose our opportunity to do anything significant at all.
Tell President Obama: 55 investigators are not enough. We need 20 times more staffing to launch a real investigation into Wall Street's crimes. Click the link below to automatically sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5536951&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=11
Thank you for standing up for Wall Street accountability.
Becky Bond, Political Director CREDO Action from Working Assets
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=11&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=12
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5536954&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=13
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5536955&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=14
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5536956&id=38378-4904244-kBv2_1x&t=15
IRS Protectionism: New Licensing Scheme Challenged in Major Federal Lawsuit
https://blu116.mail.live.com/mail/#
Quote of the Day: "My customers, not the IRS, should decide who prepares their taxes." - Elmer Kilian, in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-1IEqYy4lc
The IRS is making business more costly for 350,000 small, often part-time tax-preparation businesses. But large firms like H & R Block and Jackson Hewitt get a pass.
DownsizeDC.org's "Write the Laws Act" was written to prohibit this kind of cronyism. It would prevent unelected bureaucrats from making up and imposing regulations. It would instead require that ALL such regulations be passed by Congress. After all, that's what the Constitution requires.
That's why I wrote this letter telling Congress to stop the IRS, and to introduce and pass the Write the Laws Act.
Please do the same. You may borrow from or copy this letter . . .
Unelected bureaucrats in "alphabet agencies" such as the FDA and EPA make up and enforce rules on their own. They impose many times more "regulations" than the number of laws passed by Congress each year.
This . . .
Consider this blatant and recent IRS attempt to regulate small businesses . . .
Fewer than 500 tax preparers receive IRS sanctions per year. Far fewer are prosecuted. Yet the IRS is determined to make business more expensive for 350,000 small, independent tax preparers. They would have to pay additional fees and also pay for "continuing education."
But wait. Here's where it gets REAL interesting . . .
. . . are exempt from the regulations!
Isn't it curious that . . . (http://reason.com/archives/2012/03/20/just-what-america-needs-more-red-tape)
Do you REALLY think these IRS regulations protect the consumer? Isn't it clear that they're designed to ruin small business and protect the big and powerful from competition?
Isn't MOST regulation like this?
The Institute for Justice is fighting the IRS's crony regulations in the courts. But did this situation need to reach that stage?
I insist that you . . .
END LETTER
You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.
And we encourage you to "like" us on Facebook and share our page with your friends: http://www.facebook.com/downsizedc
Have a great weekend!
James Wilson Policy Research Director DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
Send a fax to Paul Ryan.
From the Daily Kos:
Dan,
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is perfectly willing to follow the dictates of the Catholic bishops on limiting women's access to reproductive health care. Funny how he ignores his church when it advises caring for the poor, ending war—and supporting President Obama's proposed federal budget instead of Ryan's own "starve the poor, help the wealthy" plan.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1CvxAtRW1I06RR51k6/Oi4CaRkyWo6UT
Perhaps the architect of the make-poor-people-pay plan hasn't read the recent guidance from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that "a just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons; it requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly."
Let's remind Paul Ryan of his church's advice.
Call out Paul Ryan by faxing him a copy of the statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops denouncing his budget proposal.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mXjJC76bw/Q3aeAnERr094CaRkyWo6UT
Thousands of faxes will let Ryan and his fellow conservatives know that you can't hide behind church teachings when it's in line with conservative thinking and ignore it when it's not. Voters are keeping track of the hypocrisy.
Please, click here to send a fax to Paul Ryan.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=jWGIMlfBw0%2BtXBsCtDqZH4CaRkyWo6UT
Keep fighting, Kaili Joy Gray, Daily Kos
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=B%2BmfFt%2BB/NZSZzpk077JCtAHOoS9xXFU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vermont Senate Votes to Amend
Vermont Poised to Become First State in the Union to Call for Amendment to End Corporate Personhood
Share this image on Facebook to spread the word!MONTPELIER – The Vermont State Senate voted yesterday calling for an amendment to the Constitution that would make clear that corporations are not people. The vote was 26-3. State Senator Virginia Lyons (D) spearheaded the effort, working with Move to Amend in 2011 to introduce a resolution that came back this year.
Vermont is poised to become the first state to call for an amendment to abolish the doctrine known as “Corporate Personhood” which gives corporations constitutional rights meant to protect people.
Hawaii and New Mexico have passed resolutions against the Citizens United v. FEC ruling by the Supreme Court, but the Vermont resolution goes beyond simply overturning that case and aims to remove corporations from the constitution altogether and make clear that money is not speech and that campaign spending and political contributions can be regulated by the government.
“Citizens across the country are putting Congress and the Supreme Court on notice that an amendment is coming. Legislatures can either join the Movement to Amend or get out of the way," stated Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap of Move to Amend. "Americans of all political persuasions are on board with an amendment to put We the People in charge of our government, not corporations. It is great to have the Vermont Senate step up to join the cause."
Move to Amend's partners in the Vermont effort include Vermonters Say Corporations Are Not People; Public Citizen; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Vermont Peace & Justice Center; VPIRG; Common Cause Vermont; Occupy Burlington; Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc.; Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility; Rural Vermont; Vermont Workers Center; and Vermont Action for Peace.
For a list of cities that have passed resolutions or that have campaigns in progress see: http://movetoamend.org/resolutions-map.
#
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Help spread the word by posting the graphic in this email to your Facebook page (or find the graphic on our Facebook page and share it from there). Join our Resolutions Week effort and get a resolution campaign started in your community. Donate to Move to Amend to keep the grassroots momentum going!
Conflict of interest in government - Ownership of stocks and property being affected by proposed legislation.
http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cfa5/1b4d698b/3d79258e/4e0ce7b4/1230172882/VEsH/
http://www.change.org/petitions#search/campaign%20finance%20reform/2
DKA, you are getting right into it !!
Thanks - gotta keep direct action opportunity circulating.
certainly, certainly .. :-]
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/zero-contributions-campaign-finance-amendment/
4/10/2012 - amend update
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=caeymUPNpWuZiuTK36HTvYtFzm35azvh
Our electoral system was badly broken before “Citizens United”
Dan,
Recently the Supreme Court gave themselves an opportunity to undo the infamous Citizens United v. FEC ruling.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=AJfjnBlVf50obF95/9S36otFzm35azvh
But our electoral system was in trouble long before Citizens United further complicated matters:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=kwUt/cIJQqrkcufccXdBowrw3xNJbOey
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=65PYAwtIJTMxXWJ9cXlg2ItFzm35azvh
The electorate was experiencing political malaise (pdf), due in large part to government gridlock, which revealed itself in ever-diminishing numbers of voters at the polls; the trend continues today.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Z6mqPCiPaE7vtfcU8ewuHwrw3xNJbOey
When it comes down to brass tacks, the Move to Amend coalition believes it really doesn’t matter that much what the Supreme Court decides when it comes to Montana and campaign finance laws, because our democracy was already broken -- long before Citizens United.
While Citizens United certainly helped shine a spotlight on the problem, undoing the ruling would not be enough to fix our broken system.
Move to Amend believes that “corporations are not people” and “money is not speech,” and that the Constitution must be amended to say so.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=irSj4U21itj9YUhjVnR2n4tFzm35azvh
Join the campaign that will not settle for anything less than real democracy that puts "We the People" in charge of our government:
Start and action to Declare Your Independence from Corporate Rule on July 4
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=bIqPytGeaXxba4sBXqJqpYtFzm35azvh
Get your friends involved with Resolutions Week
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1jrdZBzFVva44/0bNO8N4otFzm35azvh
“Like us” on Facebook
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=KjiuAJ974XCwTZ6W3/RqQotFzm35azvh
Invite your friends to Sign our Petition and get involved with Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GAOw6NVYN0NLxVmOEPV6aYtFzm35azvh
Yours in saving our democracy,
Ben Manski, Daniel Lee, David Cobb, Egberto Willies, Jerome Scott, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Laura Bonham, Leesa "George" Friday, Lisa Graves, Nancy Price, Stephen Justino
Move to Amend National Executive Committee
MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
Don't like ALEC ? - Good!!!
Check this out from - People for the American Way:
Dear Dan,
Our efforts are really working! Just last night, Kraft Foods announced it will be joining Coca Cola and Pepsi and will be LEAVING the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Please join the 45,000 activists who have already signed PFAW’s petition since yesterday urging companies to cut ties with ALEC.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=dJXIqopBgg8-PLuzeu_aJQ
Every corporate sponsor of ALEC, whether they have a stake in ALEC’s overtly right-wing agenda or not, is complicit in the passage of ALEC-promoted voter suppression laws and the NRA-drafted “stand your ground laws” that ALEC pushes across the country.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=odTAth_y7WQ1nHBkE1TzZg
Let the companies know that if they continue to support ALEC, they’ll be held accountable.
-- Ben
P.S. Our friends at Color of Change have done a great service in kicking off this effort. Many of ALEC’s member companies market their products specifically to the African American community, for which Color of Change advocates, and then support an organization -- ALEC -- that promotes laws to disenfranchise African Americans, taking their money during the day and then working to attack their rights by night.
This dynamic is also evident with ALEC member companies that market their products to Latinos and to young people, while ALEC works to suppress those communities’ votes as well. We have more companies we’ll be targeting -- giving them a chance to sever their ties with ALEC or be held accountable. Please join this important effort now.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=bLhGmP2cAZVewu_8ml-sxw
Original Message (4/5/12):
Help us turn support of ALEC into a liability for companies.
Please join our petition now and help us defund ALEC's right-wing agenda.
sign the petition
Dear Dan,
You know about ALEC -- the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council; the group behind some of the country’s most notorious right-wing state legislation like Florida’s “shoot first/stand your ground” law, Arizona’s infamous “show me your papers” immigration bill and Voter ID laws aimed at disenfranchising minority and young voters in many states.
PFAW has been tracking and exposing ALEC’s influence for many years. Now, we’re working to pressure the companies that are part of ALEC to sever their ties with the group. And it’s already working, with Coca Cola announcing it will disassociate with ALEC yesterday and Pepsi Co. following suit this morning.
Help us drain ALEC of more of its corporate backing. Sign our petition to ALEC’s member companies urging them to cut ties with the recklessly right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=OlOSA6wZmwVI6XNgUZ1hiw
The Koch brothers and other overtly ideological funders of ALEC have a stake in ALEC’s political agenda. Likewise, certain industries are behind ALEC’s specific legislative efforts. For example, gun manufacturers and the NRA push for “stand your ground” type laws, Arizona’s immigration bill had the support of the private prison industry and, obviously, Big Oil and other corporate polluters have a stake in weakening environmental protections. But every company that’s part of ALEC should be held directly accountable for the destructive laws ALEC pushes, even if those laws are not connected to a company’s own corporate agenda.
Coca Cola’s statement said:
All companies who have supported ALEC should now take this approach. We need to build pressure on companies and let them know that good corporate citizenship means not helping to fund the organization that has helped spread the passage of laws like the Florida “shoot first” law implicated in the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin, or the Jim Crow-style voter suppression laws that deny blacks, Latinos, students and low-income people their right to vote.
Help us turn support of ALEC into a liability for companies. Please join our petition now and help us defund ALEC’s right-wing agenda.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=r3uvR-ggcsRIuK_DYfasqQ
Thank you for being part of this new and important consumer grassroots movement. After you take action, please help build the movement by sharing the petition and asking others to sign.
Sincerely,
Ben Betz, Online Strategy Manager
P.S. By getting companies to remove their support for and participation in ALEC, you’ll be helping to get corporate money out of politics and policy making. Please take this urgent action and sign the petition now.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=4LPUpQ4QJm1qfqckeo-2IQ
4/04/2012 Let them eat shit?
Dan, in an attempt to keep the American people from eating shit (literally), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently inspects all chicken and turkey carcasses for things like bruises, bile and feces before they are sent to further processing.
However, the UDSA is now considering a pilot program that would eliminate that inspection and allow private poultry processing plants to do whatever they want. The USDA is holding a public commenting period on this proposed change through April 26.
Please, click here to sign our petition opposing the privatization of poultry inspection. We will submit your signatures and comments to the USDA before the April 26 deadline.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ZEZytX1YZHq4o9ezZzHZeCv2UJe7DImd
Why is the USDA considering this change? To cut government jobs and allow private companies to make millions: http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=NhGVdloXAZqb0noV%2BrNp1Cv2UJe7DImd
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=d4G50CnBt1Rcvw7DO1N1PSv2UJe7DImd
And the result of this will be Americans eating shit, literally. When a privatization program like this was tried out in the 1990s, the crap that ended up in the food was gag-worthy:
Please, click here to tell the USDA not to allow poultry plants to regulate themselves.
http://kos.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=RggBVluDtaCLoDwVtm1xHSv2UJe7DImd
Keep fighting, Chris Bowers, Daily Kos
4/04/2012 - Pollination pesticide peril.
http://www.change.org/petitions/epa-save-our-bees-and-the-food-we-eat-ban-bayer-s-chemicals-now?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=aZQlDgyMtF&alert_id=aZQlDgyMtF_yrIYrmBwnP
Dan -
Here's the buzz: American honey bees are disappearing at an alarming rate and the government knows why.
Scientists say a pesticide called clothianidin, made by chemical giant Bayer, is strongly linked to the rapid decline in bee populations. When exposed to the chemical, bees get lost: they are literally unable to find their way home back to the hive and drop dead from exhaustion.
Susan Mariner uses her backyard garden to grow extra fruits and veggies for her family and teach her children where their food comes from -- and in the past few years, she's seen the decline in bees firsthand.
When Susan heard about the recent studies linking this specific chemical to the widespread death of the bees who pollinate our food, she started a petition on Change.org to get the chemical banned. Click here to sign Susan’s petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency to ban these bee-killing pesticides ASAP.
One-third of the U.S. food supply relies on honey bees. Without bees to pollinate crops, many essential (and favorite) foods are at risk, including apples, squash, tomatoes, strawberries, almonds, and even chocolate.
Several countries, including Germany and France, have already banned clothianidin. And after the bans, bee populations began to rise again.
But in the U.S., clothianidin is used on millions of acres of crops and American beekeepers report losses of up to 90% of their bees. Many worry that their hives won't survive another season. Sign Susan's petition urging the EPA to save the bees and immediately end the harmful pesticide's use.
Thanks for being a change-maker,
The sad part is that this is what the EPA was created to prevent and solve.
They have been so crippled by (R)epelican't budget cuts and legal wranglings, that they have become almost vestigial.
This crap should be banned already.
Speaking of the EPA - See Also: ( education & action opportunity )
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=sEsBWglEO-1jYyzsjaPHFA
3/31/2012 - End corporate personhood.
Dan,
Suzanne Merkelson exposes the corporate connection in this article. It seems the Florida law that created legal murder is a brainchild of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, an outfit of corporations and Republican state legislators who concoct these crazy laws and then pass them onto an unwitting public.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=knQDeL9fwKeNoo3r4gg0B9mlRWQpvvYA
Couple that with the rampant racism and hate-mongering of corporate media like Fox "News" and we have a recipe for tragedy.
That ALEC exists at all is a sad comment on the state of our government, and that they get away with interfering in the legislative process is a crime in and of itself.
It is a good thing that Move To Amend exists because we have the solution to this dilemma — end corporate personhood and declare that money is not speech.
All over the country, Americans are coming together in efforts to pass resolutions and ballot initiatives, which say exactly that. Our goal by the end of the year is to pass 50 initiatives in cities, towns and states in order to create a grassroots groundswell to amend the Constitution.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7C76re3IGmBlwbnRFv9dNNmlRWQpvvYA
Will you help us put ALEC in their place?
It’s not as hard as you think. Local volunteers are organizing and have already passed dozens of resolutions; find the tools and resources you need to be successful in the Get Involved section of our website.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=enLLOqiSuwWflmewflOwitmlRWQpvvYA
We cannot sit idly by while corporate America is gunning to bring down our democracy, to silence our voices, and while they are now responsible for murdering citizens in the streets.
In solidarity,
Ben Manski, Daniel Lee, David Cobb, Egberto Willies, Jerome Scott, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Laura Bonham, Leesa "George" Friday, Lisa Graves, Nancy Price, Stephen Justino
Move to Amend National Executive Committee
MOVE TO AMEND PO Box 610, Eureka CA 95502 | (707) 269-0984 | www.MoveToAmend.org http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2esIOepmiMECGasKYA%2BpodmlRWQpvvYA
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
3/31/2012 - from the Environmental Defense Fund
Dear Dan,
In America, babies enter the world with the love of their parents and dozens of dangerous toxic chemicals -- including fire retardants, lead and pesticides -- in their blood.
I'm Richard Denison, Senior Scientist with Environmental Defense Fund's Health program, and I've spent most of the last 25 years working to protect children and families from dangerous chemicals in our environment -- chemicals that are polluting even our newborns.
Please take a moment to watch our video to learn about these threats and what you can do to protect you and your family.
[Click here to watch our video] http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=sEsBWglEO-1jYyzsjaPHFA
Unfortunately, U.S. laws regulating toxic chemicals are woefully inadequate. But you can help EDF's team fix these broken laws. We've developed an advocacy campaign called Not A Guinea Pig, with the single goal of pressuring Congress to create effective chemical safety laws.
I hope you'll take a minute to check out our site, watch the video and then tell Congress to take a stronger stand on regulating these chemicals.
Fighting for protection from toxic chemicals is just one example of EDF's commitment to working with governments, business and communities to find strong, practical solutions to environmental health problems.
I'm pleased to welcome you to the Environmental Defense Fund Action Network and hope you'll join us in this battle to protect our most basic health rights.
No American is safe until we win reform. Richard Denison Sincerely, Richard Denison Dr. Richard Denison, Ph.D. Senior Scientist
P.S. Watch your inbox for an opportunity to take the EDF Eco-Brainiac quiz!
This is what I added to their letter;
Also: Look at incidence of illnesses in this country. Cancer diabetes Autism etc etc. The incidences are rising what does our environment have to do with this? What do chemicals in our environment have to do with this? What do chemicals in our food chain have to do with this? It is all related. Chemicals as well as pollution. We need to get a handle on this. Now.
3/03/2012 - The natural gas industry wants to give you the old one-two punch: devastate our communities from natural gas drilling and send the liquefied natural gas (LNG) to other countries while profiting from their destruction. http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=32J3gahYCTidej7heCLfWQ
Building up reserves for use here at home is one thing. ( perhaps even lowering our cost ). But to do this for pure profit is sick to say the least.
212,537 signatures to remove corporate person-hood. 3/28/2012 Have you signed yet?
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
3/28/2012 - Sierra Club - update:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=CcuJe2lVhabDj85bEEShzg
Dear Dan,
Tell the EPA: Americans Support Industrial Climate Pollution Protections!
Take Action!
Take Action
Yesterday, President Obama's EPA made history on climate by proposing federal limits on carbon pollution for power plants -- pollution that is linked to climate disruption.
We've already collected 32,000 messages in support of a powerful new carbon pollution safeguard -- help us reach 100,000!
Tell the EPA that we support strong industrial carbon pollution safeguards to fight climate disruption!
We all know the devastation of 2011's record breaking extreme weather events -- from Texas' worst wildfire season in history to a terrible string of deadly tornadoes in the Midwest.1 As the Earth warms, severe weather events are becoming our new normal.2
Yet even as the EPA moves forward, corporate polluters like the infamous Koch Brothers align against us.
Let's push back against the polluter agenda by sending hundreds of thousands of messages to the EPA in support of strong industrial carbon pollution protections!
We can't take this climate victory for granted. The Koch Brothers have been quietly using their billions for years to undermine efforts to address carbon pollution and climate disruption -- all so they can continue raking in record profits and spew unchecked pollution into our air.
Just recently, we learned that one Koch funded organization, the Heartland Institute, is even going so far as to push a curriculum based on climate denial nonsense in our schools.3
Koch can't buy the truth. When we're united, we're a more powerful force than all the corporate polluters and their money. We beat them last year on major life-saving mercury protections -- and we'll do it again and again until we get climate pollution under control. We'll challenge them at every level -- in the media, in our communities, and in the halls of government. Together, we can create a future that is cleaner and healthier for everyone.
Join me in ensuring the EPA fights climate disruption and protects our families from industrial carbon pollution from coal and other power plants.
The stakes are high -- whether you are concerned about rising sea levels in Brooklyn, water supplies in California, or more severe storms in the Midwest, there is no doubt that our way of life is at risk.
But there is hope. Together, we can take on Big Coal. With strong carbon pollution protections, we can move off of outdated and dirty coal-fired power plants. Our country has 21st century clean energy technologies. It's time to use them.
It's time for a change: let the EPA know Americans stand behind strong industrial climate pollution protections!
Thanks for all you do to protect our environment!
Sarah Hodgdon Signature
Sarah Hodgdon Sierra Club Conservation Director
P.S. After you take action, forward this message, or spread the word on Facebook and Twitter by clicking our handy share buttons below:
Share this page on FacebookShare this page on TwitterShare this page with other services
[1] "Extreme Weather 2011" National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. January 19, 2012.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=y2JOfXPW9LPlDSCrMlEffg
[2] "Is Global Warming Linked to Severe Weather?" Union of Concerned Scientists. June 17, 2011.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=i5b7bVmGFJGYUZCfb3EF6A
[3] Leslie Kaufman "Behind the Controversy, an Effort to Rewrite Curriculum on Climate Change" New York Times. February 23, 2012.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=JKN_KwITJTVf__zt03KpIA
This is what I sent in my message ( what will you add to yours? ):
By setting carbon pollution protections, the EPA is moving forward to clean up and modernize the way we power our country -- ensuring healthier kids, families and workers, while creating much-needed jobs and fighting climate disruption.
Thank you for protecting our families by proposing new standards to clean up dangerous carbon pollution from new power plants!
Green Tech.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://ecat.com/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
3/27/2012 - http://links.mkt3255.com/ctt?kn=4&ms=NDQ2NTEzOQS2&r=MjMzODk5NDg2NTES1&b=0&j=MjY3MDcwNDQwS0&mt=1&rt=0
Tell the I.R.S. to enforce the law to stop Rove-style groups.
Do you know how groups like Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and the Koch Brothers’ Americans for Prosperity escape disclosing their donors?
They disguise their democracy-damaging groups as so-called "social welfare" organizations. Under regulations governing such associations, they can keep their donors completely secret as long as they are not focused "primarily" on politics.
But it's outrageous for anyone to think these groups are not primarily political -- and their tactics give progressives a huge opportunity to call them out.
The I.R.S. has the power to put the brakes on this anonymous big-money influence by revoking their tax-exempt status.
A group of Democratic senators just asked the I.R.S. to step up enforcement on these groups, and the Tea Party and extreme right wing are not happy. We all need to take a stand with our fellow progressives to build public support now.
Sign our petition today supporting rigorous I.R.S. enforcement of political groups masquerading as “social welfare” organizations.
Predictably, right-wingers are livid at the prospect of having to disclose their corporate contributions, as their organizations increasingly engage in anonymous spending while their big-money donors remain entirely hidden from view.
This is about clamping down on unlimited, anonymous corporate political spending to restore the voices of Americans who want to be heard in elections.
And with the Federal Election Commission becoming more dysfunctional and useless by the day, this I.R.S. action may be one of our few opportunities to fill the enforcement void.
We need to unite.
Unite today, and ask the I.R.S. to immediately step up enforcement and bar blatantly political organizations from exploiting the law. Take action at EnforceNow.com.
Thank you for uniting with progressives, Russ Feingold Former U.S. Senator Founder Progressives United
Sheldon Whitehouse U.S. Senator
Jeff Merkley U.S. Senator
3/27/2012 Coal Guy:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=avPaoUeF7jG_FejHf7eTLA
That's so coal
Dear Dan, Bob Ross painting mountaintop removal coal mining? Really, Mr. Coal Guy?
Bob Ross MTR
You won't believe the lengths these coal executives will go to cover up the dirty truth. Watch the videos and create your own coal story!
We've all seen the misleading ads the dirty coal industry runs -- promoting non-existent, "clean coal" technology...glossing over the facts about pollution of coal...they're preposterous.
Check out our new online campaign MrCoalGuy.com - a behind-the-scenes look at how coal executives create ridiculous T.V. ads to spin their way out of the dirty truth about coal.
From using Bob Ross's timeless landscape painting to cover up mountaintop removal coal mining, to a coal executive 'beach party' scene, these videos feature Mr. Coal Guy using iconic TV shows from the 1980's as a funny send up of just how desperate dirty fossil fuel execs are to keep our country chained to the dirty, outdated 19th-century energy source.
We know better. We know that coal-fired power plants have destroyed over 500 mountains in Appalachia, that they cause 200,000 asthma attacks each year and that the pollution from these plants is the number one source of toxic mercury pollution which makes its way into our bodies through the fish we eat. We know moving beyond coal to clean energy is key to a prosperous future.
Check out our Mr. Coal Guy and his unbelievable videos and then make your own coal story.
Once you watch the videos, we'll put you in the director's chair - mix and match pictures of Mr. Coal Guy to share your own coal story. Together we can use a little humor to push back and show just how ridiculous the coal industry's multi-million dollar advertising campaigns are to hide the dirty truth about coal.
Thanks for all you do to protect the environment,
Mary Anne Hitt Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Director
P.S. Be sure to forward this email to your friends and colleagues! Share this page on FacebookShare this page on TwitterShare this page with other services
3/24/2012 - from the Sierra Club
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=8-V12HQMt8HR1qBziGa1Ag
Dear Dan,
Thousands of years in the making, Giant Sequoia National Monument is now home to one-half of all the giant sequoia trees left in the world.
Now these ancient giants are facing destruction from reckless and misguided logging.
The U.S. Forest Service continues to endorse logging in this national treasure. This is an ineffective tactic that only destroys these historic trees.
We are fighting to change this, we have built tremendous support, and Secretary Vilsak and the Forest Service are listening.
That’s why we need your help. Tell Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsak, to adopt strong protections that will halt all industrial logging in Giant Sequoia National Monument – Sign our petition today!
Ending logging will ensure that spectacular sites like the Boole Tree, one of the largest trees in the world, will be preserved for generations to come. It will also guarantee healthy wildlife habitat for unique species such as the spotted owl and pacific fisher.
The battle to protect these sequoias began over one hundred years ago when Sierra Club founder, John Muir, first won protections for many of the most spectacular giant sequoias. Then in 2000, President Clinton carried on this legacy by establishing the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
Now it is your turn to finish the job. Sign our petition today and help provide permanent protections for these ancient trees – before it is too late.
Thank you for all you do to help us protect the environment.
Sincerely, Sarah Hodgdon Signature Sarah Hodgdon Conservation Director
P.S. Now is the time we finish what we began over 100 years ago. Send a message that we need to protect this national treasure from reckless logging.
You received this email because you have previously supported the Sierra Club's efforts and/or expressed interest in future communications from us. We appreciate that you have chosen to receive email from us. If, however, you received this email in error or do not wish to receive future emails like this, use this link to be removed from this type of email contact.
Sierra Club 85 Second Street, 2nd Fl. San Francisco, CA 94105 membership.services@sierraclub.org (415) 977-5653 http://www.sierraclub.org/
Unbelievable - RP supports OSTA?
Don't abandon ship people OSTA is still a damned fine goal.
Ron Paul has sponsored the "One Subject at a Time Act" (OSTA). It now has 8 sponsors. Let's exploit this progress by taking the four simple actions described below.
First . . .
Go to Ron Paul's Facebook page and thank him for co-sponsoring OSTA.
Second . . .
Post this on your Facebook page: Tell your representatives to sponsor the "One Subject at a Time Act," like Ron Paul has. https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/one-subject/
Third . . .
Copy and paste this Twitter link and retweet it: https://twitter.com/#!/DDCDispatch/status/183160982040875008
Fourth . . .
Write your friends an email. Ask them to ask their representatives to sponsor OSTA. You can copy and paste the following sample letter to send to your friends . . .
Congressman Ron Paul has joined with seven other members of Congress to sponsor DownsizeDC.org's "One Subject at a Time Act" (OSTA). I hope you'll ask your elected representatives to do the same. It's easy . . .
Most legislation aims to control you. But OSTA will control Congress. It will . . .
Do you want Congressional leaders to stop combining unrelated bills? If so, please ask your representatives to sponsor OSTA. You can do so here: https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/one-subject/
END LETTER
Let's make the most of Ron Paul's support. Please do all four of the above actions. Thank you!
Jim Babka President DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
Official email newsletter of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation.
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Address campaign financing:
http://links.mkt3255.com/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDQ1ODUzOQS2&r=MjA2NzU0ODE2OTES1&b=0&j=MjY2Njc0ODk0S0&mt=1&rt=0
Dan, Tell the I.R.S. to enforce the law to stop Rove-style groups.
Do you know how groups like Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and the Koch Brothers’ Americans for Prosperity escape disclosing their donors?
They disguise their democracy-damaging groups as so-called "social welfare" organizations. Under regulations governing such associations, they can keep their donors completely secret as long as they are not focused "primarily" on politics.
But it's outrageous for anyone to think these groups are not primarily political -- and their tactics give progressives a huge opportunity to call them out.
The I.R.S. has the power to put the brakes on this anonymous big-money influence by revoking their tax-exempt status.
A group of Democratic senators just asked the I.R.S. to step up enforcement on these groups, and the Tea Party and extreme right wing are not happy. We all need to take a stand with our fellow progressives to build public support now.
Sign our petition today supporting rigorous I.R.S. enforcement of political groups masquerading as “social welfare” organizations.
Predictably, right-wingers are livid at the prospect of having to disclose their corporate contributions, as their organizations increasingly engage in anonymous spending while their big-money donors remain entirely hidden from view.
This is about clamping down on unlimited, anonymous corporate political spending to restore the voices of Americans who want to be heard in elections.
And with the Federal Election Commission becoming more dysfunctional and useless by the day, this I.R.S. action may be one of our few opportunities to fill the enforcement void.
We need to unite.
Unite today and ask the I.R.S. to immediately step up enforcement and bar blatantly political organizations from exploiting the law. Take action at EnforceNow.com.
Thank you for uniting with progressives, Russ Feingold Former U.S. Senator Founder Progressives United
Sheldon Whitehouse U
3/23/2012 - President is on the wrong track - Tell Him. Communication is essential. http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542118&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=9
President Obama's speech in Cushing, OK is a slap in the face to those of us have fought Keystone XL. President Obama is touting his efforts to drill more, and expedite the southern portion of Keystone XL — although they will do nothing to reduce high gas prices. Send an email directly to the Obama Campaign demanding real leadership for our climate, not cheerleading for Keystone XL or dirty oil. Take action now! CREDO Action | more than a network, a movement.
President Obama: Stop cheerleading for Keystone XL and dirty oil.
Dear Dan,
Yesterday, President Obama took his "all of the above" energy tour to Cushing, Oklahoma — the "pipeline crossroads of the world." Standing in front of piles of TransCanada's pipeline waiting to be put in the ground,1 he issued a specific memorandum to federal agencies, not just to build, but to "expedite" the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma, to the refineries and shipping ports in the Gulf Coast.
He also bragged that "we are drilling all over the place, right now" and that "we've added enough new oil and gas pipeline to encircle the Earth and then some."2
Send a message to President Obama: Be a leader on climate, not a cheerleader for the disastrous Keystone XL Pipeline.
The President has unfortunately always pushed for the southern portion to be completed, even as he rejected the full Keystone XL pipeline saying he had insufficient time to evaluate it. But in issuing a memorandum to speed up that process, he's signaling a willingness to backtrack on his initial (and minimal) condition of a full review for Keystone XL.
Such a public announcement in Cushing to promote Keystone XL is a slap in the face to those of us who worked so hard to convince President Obama to reject Keystone XL in January. And it gives fuel to the cynics who said that that rejection was just an attempt to temporarily placate the environmentalists and young people who believed his campaign rhetoric about the need for real action on climate and our fossil fuel dependence.
Watching the President stand in front of the piles of pipeline, it's hard to believe this was the same President who said after the Gulf oil spill "we cannot afford not to change how we produce and use energy," or who said as a Presidential candidate, "the age of oil must end in our time."
If there was ever a clear moment to register our disappointment, this is it.
Send a message to President Obama: Be a leader on climate, not a cheerleader for the disastrous Keystone XL Pipeline.
President Obama's oil-rich, "all of the above" message is clearly a response to political pressure. His advisors think that he'll suffer at the polls if he's perceived as failing to take tough action about gas prices. And so they're working to showcase his support for Big Oil. But the "all of the above" strategy just digs us in deeper. We all know the only way to get out of the hole we're in is a dramatic shift away from more drilling and bigger pipelines and to a massive investment in renewable energy like wind and solar.
The fact is, President Obama's trip to Cushing shows that he is failing on gas prices. Oil prices are up because of speculation, irresponsible talk of war with Iran, and rising demand for gasoline in countries like China and India — not because of a lack of dirty tar sands oil. And any policy that deepens our dependence on oil puts us at the continued mercy of oil prices that we can do little to control, and oil companies who have every incentive to keep prices high, not just now, but forever.
This is the problem with the southern portion — or any portion — of Keystone XL, and the problem with "all of the above" in general. As the ever-wise Bill McKibben wrote this week:
And if you think about it, "all of the above" is not a particularly coherent energy policy, not if one worries about climate change. Burning all the oil you can and then putting up a solar panel is like drinking six martinis at lunch and then downing a VitaminWater. You're still a drunk — just one with your daily requirement of C and D. If a presidential candidate said they had an "all of the above" foreign policy, where every other nation was an equal ally, they'd be thought lightweight or even dangerous. But with energy, it apparently seems politic to insist we need never make a choice. Or at least to tailor your talking points to your audience.3
Tell President Obama: Be a leader on climate, not a cheerleader for the disastrous Keystone XL Pipeline. Send an email message to his campaign now.
While the southern portion of Keystone XL does not turn up the spigot of tar sands bitumen that can be transported out of Alberta, Canada, and it does not threaten Nebraska's crucial Ogallala Aquifer, it does ultimately accomplish the biggest goal of Keystone XL — to connect with the existing tar sands pipeline from Canada, and finally bring the landlocked tar sands to shipping ports and the global market so it can be burned across the globe, leading to disastrous climate impacts.
Ironically, building the pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma — where there is currently an excess of stored oil due to expanded domestic and tar sands production — will reduce supply in the Midwest and actually raise gas prices by an estimated 20 cents!4
But President Obama is so determined to use the southern portion of Keystone XL to show that he's taking aggressive action to promote fossil fuels, he's issuing an executive order to federal agencies to expedite approval.
Once the southern portion is built to the Gulf, it is only a matter of time before oil companies like TransCanada figure out a way to get more oil out of the tar sands and to the Gulf for export. And then we'll be one step closer to "essentially game over" for the climate.5
As President Obama returns to Washington from Cushing, and as his Headquarters in Chicago endures a record-shattering heat wave, let's urge the President to find the courage to bring real leadership on climate, and let his campaign know our bitter disappointment over this significant misstep: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542118&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=9
Thank you for fighting Keystone XL.
Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets "Keystone XL Pipeline: Big Oil Leans On Obama To Approve Entire Project," Huffington Post, March 21, 2012 http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542123&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=11
"Obama: 'We've Added Enough New Oil And Gas Pipeline To Encircle The Earth'," Think Progress, March 22, 2012 http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542634&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=12
"Mr. Obama Goes to Cushing, OK," Bill McKibben, March 21, 2012 http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542114&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=13
"Keystone Oil Pipeline Seen Raising Gas Prices in Midwest: Energy," Bloomberg, February 29, 2012 http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542115&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=14
"Key Facts on Keystone XL," Tarsands Action http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5537622&id=37167-4904244-U2q%3DKmx&t=15
Obama has nothing to do with this project going forward but he is taking all the credit for it. It does not require his signature. More people are starting to realize what a phony person he is also. As of right now we cannot turn off the oil, coal, etc supply because there is no current alternative. The replacement for fossil fuels will not come for another hundred or more years from now
Wrong we have the alternatives to fossil fuel right now. We just need to implement them.
what are they???? You just cannot pull the plug on fossil fuels and that would be similar to banning candles before electricity was invented.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://ecat.com/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
Even with these new technology's it is going to take a lot of years before they will replace fossil fuels. So many years in fact that we will not see it
There are like 160 coal fired power plants being decommissioned right now.
That is a very good start for replacing with this green tech.
We are already seeing benefits from solar and wind power. We just need to keep moving in the same direction. The tech that is already in place has reduced our need for oil - Hence it is now being exported along with gasoline.
Guess what also? - Prices here at home have not dropped with the rise of a surplus.
High fuel prices are saving the planet. ;-)
LOL
That's one of the things being touted.
Can you believe it?
MG there are those who actually promote that thought.
At nearly five bucks a gallon it keeps a few people off the road. And we save on building bigger hwys! lol
Just think of all the effort being placed into job's creation that can be saved. I mean with gasoline and oil prices so high we can't feed a job market unless it is the unemployment line. ( Laughing hysterically, eyes rolling temples throbbing )
Benefits galore ..
You can thank Obama for the high gas prices and it has risen over 110% since he took office. It was his failed policies that caused the increase
SFB - the price of gas and oil is due to the unregulated speculations market. There is no valid reason for the prices we see today when the industry ( fossil fuel ) is making massive profits per quarter ( multibillions/quarter ) what is driving prices up is pure profit greed ( stock market - remember them? ).
Fuel prices are rising mainly due to Obama's failed policies and him for not letting very much drilling to take place in the US. He wants to send us back into the stone age
The only policy failure involved is the one that still allows unregulated speculation. The same could happen to almost any commodity.
Stone age?? It's a little late, Bush already tried and his (R)epelican't cohorts are still blocking any attempt at progress..
Pull your head out of your (x) we would not be exporting if there were a shortage.
Don't any of you trolls have an awareness of reality?
Currently there is no huge manufacturing plant that will run on green energy without the aid of fossil fuels. A battery will not take the place of jet fuel either. Obama is trying to send us all back to the stone age
Bullshit - he just opened a shit load of area for drilling and fracking. If he is guilty of anything it is bowing down to fossil fuel.
WTF are you talking about a battery for?
Cold fusion is not a battery. The hydrogen power plant just opened in Orange county can run on sewage gas ( methane ) plenty of sources for that right now. Don't even need to use natural gas though it could to start off with. As these systems are put in place and the tech grows, they can start running off of the hydrogen they produce, they can right now get some of their operating power from solar and/or wind power sources. This plant in Orange county produces = Electricity, Hydrogen, heat. While burning sewage gas.
We have plenty of oil in the ground and enough to last over two hundred years. Drill baby drill. Some people say there is a thing called Global warming, I say prove it and that is all about redistribution of wealth. I know poor Al Gore hates to hear this
Corrupt and greedy troll. Continue to pollute the world. You have to live here too.
Not every plant in America is going to converge around a sewer tank
There are some that could converge around water treatment plants. There are those that could feed off of landfill gases. There are those that could operate off of manure produced methane or decomposing plant matter both of which ( manure and plant matter compost ) could still be used for fertilizer.
Hhmmmmmm........... just a little creative usage of already available resources and walla!
I like the idea of thermo energy from the earths core !
There is that. Think of all the volcanically active sites around the world.
There is also:
Geo-thermal products available for stand alone structures like homes and buildings. Geo-thermal that can be used right now for heating and cooling, reducing the strain on the power grid as well as reducing fossil fuel dependence. These Geo-thermal systems can be added to existing structures. One good thing to come out of the oil industry is the ability to drill in curves for placing of the Geo-thermal lines.
Yes , but why is everything so expensive. Those geo thermal water lines takes twenty five years to break even. Solar panels same thing. It's retail robbery.
It's also like still fairly new tech as far as implementation goes. Remember the cost of flat screens when they 1st came out? Same thing here. Competition and more use will bring down the costs.
We are still going to be dependent on coal and oil for a very long time.
We can shorten that time period. We have already reduced our dependence.
This guy seems to know what he is talking about.
Lets Get'er Done!!!!!!
3/06/2012 PROTECT Shell Oil Is Suing Us? Shell Oil Is Suing Us?
Shell Oil is suing the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations over its plans to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas -- the Polar Bear Seas -- of America's Arctic this summer.
The Polar Bear Seas are home to 20 percent of the earth's polar bears. Even worse, an oil spill there would be a disaster: it's dark two months out of the year, and the closest Coast Guard station is a thousand miles away, making cleanup a nightmare.
Stand up to Shell and sign our petition today. http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=IKupUhqx2KjjGutszOpQHw
3/04/2012 - Protect us from fracking petition.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=7674
Get on it BOY! Same method, same results.
NO WAR
demand elections be national and state holidays state elections June 5, Tuesday
Stop exports of LNG - End corporate personhood - End Coruption. Take part take action.
3/03/2012 - The natural gas industry wants to give you the old one-two punch: devastate our communities from natural gas drilling and send the liquefied natural gas (LNG) to other countries while profiting from their destruction. http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=32J3gahYCTidej7heCLfWQ
Building up reserves for use here at home is one thing. ( perhaps even lowering our cost ). But to do this for pure profit is sick to say the least. ↥like ↧dislike reply edit delete permalink [-] 1 points by DKAtoday (4021) from Coon Rapids, MN 1 day ago
208,876 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 10:42am 03/04/2012.
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
Why should you fight corruption? How can you fight Corruption? 264 signatures as of 9:28am 3/03/2012 We need 1000 minimum, please participate. Take direct action and forward it to others to do the same: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
208,814 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 9:28am 03/03/2012.
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
Why should you fight corruption? How can you fight Corruption? 264 signatures as of 9:28am 3/03/2012 We need 1000 minimum, please participate. Take direct action and forward it to others to do the same: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
California population now being set to eat a high speed rail boondoggle.
Will the California Government wisely put it under glass for when the coastline goes under water?
Don't They have better and more urgent infra-structure issues they could/should deal with?
AndroGel : Have you seen a commercial?
WTF, where the hell is the FDA on shit like this?
208,615 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 10:41am 03/01/2012.
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
Why should you fight corruption? How can you fight Corruption? 261 signatures as of 10:41am 3/01/2012 We need 1000 minimum, please participate. Take direct action and forward it to others to do the same: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
Corporation should not have the same rights as people
political financing should be transparent
Absolutely. Corporations are not people!
208,521 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 9:13am 02/29/2012.
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100081904.557411.411&gen=1&mailing_linkid=34578
Why should you fight corruption? How can you fight Corruption? 260 signatures as of 9:18am 2/29/2012 We need 1000 minimum, please participate. Take direct action and forward it to others to do the same: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
Why should you fight corruption? How can you fight Corruption?
Take direct action and forward it to others to do the same: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
What more reason do you need to unite.
The attack on women's rights.
The attack on the public of Wisconsin.
The attack on the Public of Michigan.
The attack on the population of the USA.
ALEC writing legislation for the corruption of Federal and State Government.
Massive rip off of Public funds ( Federal Government by another name ) in the form of Health care providers overcharging Medicare Medicaid Blue Shield Blue Cross.
Keystone Pipeline buy local governments to use eminent domain to seize a right of way for their pipeline that has not been approved. Trying to force the issue in through the back door.
Fossil Fuel industry running wild with mega billions in profits raising prices again to further stifle the public and the economy.
Illegal Loans ( trillions of dollars ) made to Banks Domestic and foreign to bail them out of failure for their own criminal practices.
What more could anyone need to see or know to understand this is our fight. This is our need to regain control of the Government. State and Federal.
I saw your PM. I definitely support this cause and have signed that petition. Keep fighting the good fight!
You too. Thank you for taking action taking part. Please copy and share anything you see that you like. This needs to go out to everyone. Saturate social media.
Why should you fight corruption? How can you fight Corruption?
Take direct action and forward it to others to do the same: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/stop-the-corruption-on-wall-street/
What more reason do you need to unite.
The attack on women's rights.
The attack on the public of Wisconsin.
The attack on the Public of Michigan.
The attack on the population of the USA.
ALEC writing legislation for the corruption of Federal and State Government.
Massive rip off of Public funds ( Federal Government by another name ) in the form of Health care providers overcharging Medicare Medicaid Blue Shield Blue Cross.
Keystone Pipeline buy local governments to use eminent domain to seize a right of way for their pipeline that has not been approved. Trying to force the issue in through the back door.
Fossil Fuel industry running wild with mega billions in profits raising prices again to further stifle the public and the economy.
Illegal Loans ( trillions of dollars ) made to Banks Domestic and foreign to bail them out of failure for their own criminal practices.
What more could anyone need to see or know to understand this is our fight. This is our need to regain control of the Government. State and Federal.
A new Day? A fresh start?
World changers unite!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/ People send this link viral!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the letter that I sent using https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/obey-the-constitution/ :
End Earmarks. Clean-up legislation and remove the temptation to be corrupt or to be corrupted. If legislation is good it should pass on it's own merits. Good legislation should not be used to attach bad legislation to it. Clean-up Government, the people have had enough with abuse and lip service, hence the Occupy and 99% movements among other voices beginning to speak-up. Return government to the people where it belongs.
I sent this letter to my Representative and Senators, telling them to end earmarks by following the Constitution...
From: Jim Babka President DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/obey-the-constitution/
The Washington Post recently published a report on how members of Congress used earmarks to apparently benefit themselves. According to the story... (http://wapo.st/AuMfyZ)
But that's just a smidgeon. In 2010 there were 11,320 total earmarks worth $32 billion.
That's the equivalent of mugging my family for $300!
Is using earmarks for personal financial gain corrupt? Of course.
Is using earmarks to "bring jobs to the District" and buy votes corrupt? Definitely.
But these outcomes are to be expected, because the REAL corruption is your refusal to follow the Constitution. After all, EVERY bill with earmarks must be passed by a majority in both the House and the Senate.
If you just upheld your oath of office, we would be taxed lightly and the budget could be easily balanced. The limited, enumerated powers of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution are there for a reason. It lists what Congress CAN do. The Tenth Amendment is also there for a reason. It says Congress CAN'T do anything except what the Constitution authorizes it to do.
I've looked in the Constitution, and I see NO delegation of power to Congress or the Executive Branch to give some communities...
Are these things useful to the communities that receive them? Maybe. But if states or local communities wouldn't have built them without federal dollars, then they weren't a high priority. Where does the Constitution allow Congress to meddle in local decision-making? Why am I being required to pay for them?
Perhaps $32 billion for earmarks doesn't sound like much in an era of $4 trillion budget and $1.5 trillion deficits. But they are indicative of the larger problem. Building bike lanes for preferred constituents demonstrates that Congress that knows no restraint -- including the limitations of the Constitution.
That's why it's not surprising that Congress has...
None of these things were authorized by the Constitution. NDAA clearly violates it.
If Congress can't follow the Constitution on the little things like earmarks, I'm not surprised that you don't follow it on the big things.
Uphold your oath of office. Follow the Constitution. That means, don't authorize earmarks and other pork-barrel spending. Just stop the petty meddling and vote buying you're doing with my money.
END LETTER
You can send your own letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System. https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/obey-the-constitution/
Feel free to borrow from or copy-and-paste the letter above.
And we encourage you to follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DDCDispatch
Jim Babka President DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
NOTE: Lots of things compete for your support. How do you manage them all?
Here are two simple ideas, taken from the world of investment. First, diversify. Second, think long-term.
1) You can invest your activist dollars in several different aspects of the market: Think tank research. Public education. Political candidates. Direct action.
2) Weight your budget based on effectiveness and long-term value. Political campaigns draw a lot of energy, but they won't be here next year. And even if your guy wins, he'll need an activist army at his back.
Now, can you see why diversifying is so important?
DownsizeDC.org offers a simple idea. Give $1, each month. That would definitely fit in your portfolio! If every subscriber gave DownsizeDC.org $1 per month, on average, then DownsizeDC.org's budget would increase by more than 40%. That would fund a whole bunch of new outreach and speed the growth of your Downsize DC Army!
Obviously, not everyone is going to give, and one-time contributions are needed each month too. So, please invest farsightedly in our national future: https://secure.downsizedc.org/contribute/
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Dear Dan,
You did it: 781,000 emails against Keystone XL!
The Senate felt your pressure -- let's do the same thing to an even more disastrous bill in the House.
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=WXm9HlhX0e10X_mY4jkTBg
Stop the Pipeline Drilling in the Arctic, Keystone XL, and cuts to public transportation, all in the same bill. Call your Representative today. Take Action
You did it -- chalk another one up to the grassroots!
In less than 24 hours, dozens of environmental and progressive groups came together to send 500,000 emails to the Senate against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It worked -- Congress heard from nearly 800,000 Americans, from all 50 states.
This is huge. After feeling that grassroots pressure, the Senate has postponed the Keystone XL vote for the second time this month. But there's an even worse bill in the House of Representatives up for a vote this month -- and it's up to you to make sure the House feels the same pressure the Senate did.
H.R. 7 could be the worst environmental bill we see all year. Call your Representative today and let them know: Valentine's Day is over. No more sweetheart deals for Big Oil.
House Republicans are using crucial transportation legislation to push through not just Keystone XL but also drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, deep cuts to public transportation and safe biking and walking programs, and attacks on bedrock environmental protections.
Instead, this legislation should be about giving Americans clean transportation choices that move us beyond oil -- a dirty fuel that spills out of pipelines and wells, threatens our national security, and contributes more to climate change and smog than any other fossil fuel.
It's true that Big Oil has millions of dollars to spend lobbying the Hill. But we have 1.4 million supporters and members -- and as we've seen time and time again, when we stand together, voices can speak louder than money.
Call your Representative today and tell them: Vote no on every title in the House transportation bill.
Calling your Representative is easy. We'll give you their phone number and some basic talking points you can use at the link above. The whole process takes less than three minutes, and you can make a huge difference.
Thanks for all you do to protect our environment,
Sarah Hodgdon Sierra Club Conservation Director
P.S. After you take action, be sure to forward this alert to your friends and colleagues! Share this page on FacebookShare this page on TwitterShare this page with other services
204,100 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 3:19pm 02/15/2012.
Tar sand mining. Take action.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5532374&id=35139-4904244-wFRefhx&t=7
Tell Prime Minister Harper: Stop Canada's planned wolf killings Dear Dan,
It just gets worse and worse.
To make up for the fact that rapid tar sands oil mining is threatening caribou herds by destroying vast swaths of forest habitat in Alberta, the Canadian government has called for killing thousands of wolves.1
Tell Prime Minister Harper: Stop Canada's planned tar sands wolf killings! Click here to automatically sign the petition.
If Alberta Canada's tar sands oil fields are fully developed, an area of boreal rainforest the size of Florida will be eviscerated, leaving in its wake giant ponds of toxic wastewater.2
It's obvious why this would pose a massive threat to all wildlife species who reside there, including birds, wolves, woodland caribou and the iconic spirit bear.
But instead of preserving the habitat caribou need for their survival, the Canadian government's answer is to blaze ahead with tar sands oil extraction, and kill thousands of wolves who would naturally prey on the caribou. A paper released this week by the National Wildlife Federation reports that The Ministry of the Environment's plan calls for aerial shooting, and poisoning with bait laced with strychnine — a particularly painful type of poison.
Tell Prime Minister Harper: Stop Canada's planned wolf killings! Preserve caribou habitat, and stop the irresponsible tar sands mining which threatens all of us. Click here to automatically sign the petition.
This plan to kill wolves is a misguided, cruel response that does nothing to alleviate the greater problem: tar sands oil extraction is a huge threat to wildlife, local communities, and all of our futures.
But despite the clear negative consequences, the Canadian government continues working to rapidly expand tar sands production and sales, including promoting the Keystone XL Pipeline to export tar sands oil all over the world.
Understandably, this has begun to earn Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and many in the country's government, a negative reputation to which they are becoming increasingly sensitive.3
The Ministry of the Environment has not yet begun this planned wolf kill. With enough public pressure, we can get them to abandon the plan, and build the case for Canada to stop their devastating race to expand tar sands oil development.
Click below to automatically sign the petition: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5532375&id=35139-4904244-wFRefhx&t=10
Thank you for fighting tar sands and all their devastation.
Elijah zarlin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets
Dear Dan,
Thank you for taking action to demand action on an important issue by contacting your representative.
Do you want to do more to help the Sierra Club's efforts to protect the environment?
Please forward the message below to five of your friends and ask them to take action.
Hey there,
I just took action to protect our environment. You should too!
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=8023
Thanks,
Thanks again,
Margaret Levin, Chapter Director Sierra Club North Star Chapter 2327 E. Franklin Avenue, #1 Minneapolis, MN 55406
Are we "ALL" in this together or are the ones in charge already in the lifeboats?
In the spirit of promoting awareness and proper functioning to government.
Some interesting Food for Thought considerations ….
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves .
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
Contact your individual representative and senator …
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time .
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete
Mondays are almost never this exciting. But yesterday was a phenomenal day for four huge campaigns on Change.org that you should know about:
After hearing from more than 82,000 people, Chase Bank called off foreclosing on 78-year-old grandmother and civil rights activist Helen Bailey. "I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," says Ms. Bailey. "I am so thankful for the support of my neighbors and the nation." Last week Apple customers visited stores on four continents to deliver 250,000 petition signatures demanding better working conditions at factories making iPads and iPhones. (The delivery made news on CNN, the BBC, Al Jazeera, and NPR). Yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced immediate factory inspections, showing that the pressure is working! But experts doubt how reliable the monitoring group’s findings will be and there are still no worker-protection plans for new product releases (when workers are forced to work so hard to meet deadlines that some die of exhaustion -- and others commit suicide). Click here to keep up the pressure on Apple by sharing Mark's petition on Facebook. McDonald's finally responded to the 100,000 people (and groups like the Humane Society of the United States) who told the fast food giant to stop sourcing pork from factory farms using inhumane "gestation crates," (cages so small that pigs can’t move or turn around). McDonald's told all of its suppliers yesterday to start phasing out the cages -- an earthquake for the food industry. And some big news from last week! More than 141,000 banded together to save the life of Jesus Navarro, a father who was reportedly denied a life-saving kidney transplant, despite having insurance to pay for surgery, a volunteer donor, and a benefactor to help pay for his follow-up care. But an ABC News headline gives the good news: "Dying Dad, Jesus Navarro, to Get Kidney Transplant." McDonald's finally responded to the 100,000 people (and groups like the Humane Society of the United States) who told the fast food giant to stop sourcing pork from factory farms using inhumane "gestation crates," (cages so small that pigs can’t move or turn around). McDonald's told all of its suppliers yesterday to start phasing out the cages -- an earthquake for the food industry. And some big news from last week! More than 141,000 banded together to save the life of Jesus Navarro, a father who was reportedly denied a life-saving kidney transplant, despite having insurance to pay for surgery, a volunteer donor, and a benefactor to help pay for his follow-up care. But an ABC News headline gives the good news: "Dying Dad, Jesus Navarro, to Get Kidney Transplant."
With hundreds of people winning campaigns on Change.org, the pace of change is growing unbelievably quickly.
Have something you want to change? Click here to start your own petition -- and we bet you’ll find that you’re more powerful than you ever imagined.
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Campaign Finance and end conflict of interest stock ownership?
Scroll up on this listing for those.
Alert ; Keystone XL
Take action: Hurry we have 24 hours on this.
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5532632&id=34968-4904244-gP9qsdx&t=7
Agree to Disagree. Unite in common cause to end corruption and it's manipulations. Lets all move forward together.
Republican, Democrat, Left, Right or middle. It does not matter.
There is corruption throughout government State and Federal..
There are good people of all of these persuasions ( listed above ) still in government also.
Let us stop arguing about differences, and start discussing common cause.
Let us all get past the distractions, and start working together to move forward in healing government, stopping corruption and making a better world for "ALL".
203,323 signatures for Bernie Sanders petition to end corporate person-hood. As of 7:53am 02/13/2012.
Daily Kos: President Obama calls on Congress to move forward on Wall Street reform
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/19/1092905/-President-Obama-calls-on-Congress-to-move-forward-on-Wall-Street-reform
The president concludes with a request that you call or write your representatives in Congress and urge them to stop screwing around and do their job. So get busy.
DKAtoday, you Democratic Party pimp: Did you forget to mention that Democratic president Bill Clinton removed the protections of Glass-Steagall when he signed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999 - or that Democratic president Barack Obama turned Wall Street into a casino where the house wins and small investors lose when he signed HR 3606 - the bill that former Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission Lynn Turner called the "Bucket-Shop and Penny-Stock Fraud Reauthorization Act of 2012"?
I don't think you forgot at all, you Demopublican piece of shit...
The National Campaign to End Corporate Personhood and Demand Real Democracy! Move to Amend
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=lfD9KiSH7XXJ9RVrh0Kcwj9xeqf9q0OE
To those who accuse that OWS Occupy or any of it's supporters do not forward issues to be resolved.
You have not looked very hard.
Well then of course sometimes you can't see due to collapsed threads.
But anyway here is one small post that has offered some issues to be supported/resolved.
Have fun looking through as this post is not a favorite of the blind marching supporters of greed corruption and crime.
Hey sock puppet blind marching supporters of the greedy corrupt criminals.
So you think I whine about myself and my condition. Do You?
Take a good look through this post and all of the threads which you have collapsed in your attacks.
Show me where I am self involved.
Show me where I support the status-quo.
Show me!
This is one of the posts ( of mine ) that I have spent the most time on.
Go ahead and dig through the collapsed threads and you show me and the rest of the forum my evil.
Go ahead assholes - go ahead.
Dear Earthjustice Supporter,
A proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is threatening the long-term health of national parks and wilderness areas across the eastern half of the United States. This proposal would exempt hundreds of highly polluting, antiquated coal-fired power plants from longstanding air pollution clean-up requirements.
Take action now to help protect parks from this dangerous proposal.
http://action.earthjustice.org/site/R?i=ux0N39kcCWLbRTAG2iAkWw
Thirty-five years ago, Congress mandated in the Clean Air Act that these outdated coal plants must install the best available pollution control technology to protect places like Great Smoky Mountains, Voyageurs, Everglades, and Acadia National Parks from haze. EPA ignored this mandate for decades, until public pressure and litigation finally forced the agency to enforce the law.
Now, on the eve of a cleanup EPA wants to give many of these dirty coal plants a reprieve. EPA thinks that existing air pollution control regulations are good enough to protect our national parks, but exempting these antiquated power plants from the best available technology would mean hundreds of thousands of additional tons of pollution annually in the air over our national parks.
Take Action: The White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) can prevent EPA from finalizing this rulemaking. Tell the White House to stop EPA from exempting park polluters from state-of-the-art air pollution controls. Let OIRA Administrator Cass Sunstein know that you value places like Great Smoky Mountains, Voyageurs, Everglades, and Acadia National Parks and want them protected for future generations.
Your action today means cleaner air for tomorrow's national park visitors. As always, we appreciate your support of our national parks. Together we are making a difference!
Sincerely,
mark_speakers_100.jpg Mark Wenzler Vice-President, Climate and Air
npca@npca.org