-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Bletzer
Sent: October 08, 2011 10:42 AM
Subject: Support the Occupy Wall Street Protesters
Dear Friends and Family,
Not a single banker has gone to jail for crimes that led to the financial meltdown. But now over 1,000 protesters have been arrested in the inspiring Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City.
The occupation of Wall Street has inspired a nationwide movement in the spirit of Wisconsin.
But there has been a powerful backlash against peaceful protesters who are using both their right to public assembly and tactics of nonviolent civil disobedience to call attention to the fact that our government has bailed out the wealthiest Americans but has done little to help middle and working class Americans who have lost their jobs and had their homes foreclosed on.
The protest is building momentum with solidarity marches that CREDO members, progressive organizations and labor have joined. However the very existence of Occupy Wall Street could be endangered by strong-arm NYPD tactics aimed at intimidating protesters and ending their three week stand against the big Wall Street banks.
I told Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to respect the Occupy Wall Street protesters' constitutional right to peaceful assembly. You can, too, at the link below.
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/occupy_ws/?r_by=28382-2641578-bqUEEbx&rc=paste1
Jon B.
"Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism" - Thomas Jefferson
US Flag
United We Stand!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
York PC 112: Occupy Chicago Enters 11th Day...
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/03/occupy-chicago-enters-eleventh-day-of-protest/
See the story and video at the link above. Please find ways to support our brothers and sisters trying to promote our future.
All the best, if you work and vote for it.
Dan
See the story and video at the link above. Please find ways to support our brothers and sisters trying to promote our future.
All the best, if you work and vote for it.
Dan
Monday, October 3, 2011
FW: American Autumn?
The national campaign to Abolish Corporate Personhood and Defend Democracy.
Sign the Petition: http://MoveToAmend.org/motion-to-amend
* * *
In Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street...
Dear friend,
Move to Amend heartily supports Occupy Wall Street, the best thing to happen since the Wisconsin protest wave began! It warms our hearts to see the occupation growing steadily, and sparking occupations and protests in cities across the nation.
We've known for quite a while that most Americans are with us in our fight against corporate personhood.
The problem has been reaching them and getting them to act. The young people who started Occupy Wall Street
have touched a nerve that has ignited others and we say, "Way to go!"
Pundits have complained there are no formal demands. These savvy folks formed a general assembly to make
decisions through consensus. In just two weeks, the occupation's general assembly released this draft declaration.
Who knows what October will bring, but it looks pretty good for our side!
Occupy Wall Street is growing an and spreading, and this Thursday, and the long-planned October 2011 occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC begins.You can bet the corporate powers in league with broken government and the mainstream media will do everything in their power to quash the revolt. We can't let that happen.
If you live anywhere near any of these protests and occupations, please get down there and spread the word about Move to Amend. Take our petitions and materials with you and connect our efforts. The democracy movement is in the streets. We need to bring that movement into the Constitution, too.
2011 started with the Arab Spring and the uprisings in Madison, WI, and other state capitals, and the revolt will continue through the Autumn in DC, NY, and other sites of occupation!
Move to Amend will be there.
In solidarity,
Ben Manski, Lisa Graves, Laura Bonham, George Friday,
David Cobb, and Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap
Move to Amend Executive Team
Move to Amend
P.O. Box 260217
Madison, WI 53726-0217
United States
End Corporate Rule. Legalize Democracy. Move to Amend.
Sign the Petition: http://MoveToAmend.org/motion-to-amend
* * *
In Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street...
Dear friend,
Move to Amend heartily supports Occupy Wall Street, the best thing to happen since the Wisconsin protest wave began! It warms our hearts to see the occupation growing steadily, and sparking occupations and protests in cities across the nation.
We've known for quite a while that most Americans are with us in our fight against corporate personhood.
The problem has been reaching them and getting them to act. The young people who started Occupy Wall Street
have touched a nerve that has ignited others and we say, "Way to go!"
Pundits have complained there are no formal demands. These savvy folks formed a general assembly to make
decisions through consensus. In just two weeks, the occupation's general assembly released this draft declaration.
Who knows what October will bring, but it looks pretty good for our side!
Occupy Wall Street is growing an and spreading, and this Thursday, and the long-planned October 2011 occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC begins.You can bet the corporate powers in league with broken government and the mainstream media will do everything in their power to quash the revolt. We can't let that happen.
If you live anywhere near any of these protests and occupations, please get down there and spread the word about Move to Amend. Take our petitions and materials with you and connect our efforts. The democracy movement is in the streets. We need to bring that movement into the Constitution, too.
2011 started with the Arab Spring and the uprisings in Madison, WI, and other state capitals, and the revolt will continue through the Autumn in DC, NY, and other sites of occupation!
Move to Amend will be there.
In solidarity,
Ben Manski, Lisa Graves, Laura Bonham, George Friday,
David Cobb, and Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap
Move to Amend Executive Team
Move to Amend
P.O. Box 260217
Madison, WI 53726-0217
United States
End Corporate Rule. Legalize Democracy. Move to Amend.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
York PC 112: The "Occupy Wall Street" Movement Goes Nation-Wide, Lands In Chicago...
The movement has been perceived as "loose, dis-jointed, un-organized." I have to wonder if that's because the attack on the Middle Class has been waged on so many fronts for so long, that it can't be summed up in a quick slogan, or in three or four bullet-points.
Starting out in New York City's Wall Street district, this loose confederation of fed-up Progressive organizations, trade unions, and financially-distraught individuals seeing little hope for their futures has caught a common meme and started gaining big legs.
NYPD helped it along, in a major way by way of a flashy bit of police brutality, when an NYPD commander with an angry, sneering face decided to walk up and mace several young women who were already penned-up in police mesh and just trying be heard verbally. In this age of video-everywhere, numerous takes on the scene captured it from multiple angles, and also instances of cops bashing protesters heads into parked cars, kneeing their necks on the hard pavement, and punching them in the face. A simple search of "Occupy Wall Street" on YouTube, and you'll be treated to a continuous stream of videos that make a total mockery of civil rights and freedom of speech in modern America.
In all, I think what this protest is most about summed up best as "we demand a fair, equal, and sustainable future." The protesters are looking to remove corporate influence on the nation's politicians, and to get the government working for the people. They will talk about numerous issues Washington has failed to address, but the root of it all is great wealth buying the political process off at the expense of the vast majority.
The protest is now taking place in cities around the country 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including a protest in Chicago at the Federal Reserve bank branch. You can find information at http://occupychi.org/ and in more detail on Twitter under the hash tags (read "search terms") #occupychi and #occupychicago.
The protesters are facing chilly weather, rain, and more, and are in need of jackets, clothing, moral support, and more protesters. Here is a list of what the Chicago protesters are in need of currently: http://occupychi.org/supplies-needed/
A list of cities around the country and across the globe with occupation protests follows, sourced from the movement's hub page:
Starting out in New York City's Wall Street district, this loose confederation of fed-up Progressive organizations, trade unions, and financially-distraught individuals seeing little hope for their futures has caught a common meme and started gaining big legs.
NYPD helped it along, in a major way by way of a flashy bit of police brutality, when an NYPD commander with an angry, sneering face decided to walk up and mace several young women who were already penned-up in police mesh and just trying be heard verbally. In this age of video-everywhere, numerous takes on the scene captured it from multiple angles, and also instances of cops bashing protesters heads into parked cars, kneeing their necks on the hard pavement, and punching them in the face. A simple search of "Occupy Wall Street" on YouTube, and you'll be treated to a continuous stream of videos that make a total mockery of civil rights and freedom of speech in modern America.
In all, I think what this protest is most about summed up best as "we demand a fair, equal, and sustainable future." The protesters are looking to remove corporate influence on the nation's politicians, and to get the government working for the people. They will talk about numerous issues Washington has failed to address, but the root of it all is great wealth buying the political process off at the expense of the vast majority.
The protest is now taking place in cities around the country 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including a protest in Chicago at the Federal Reserve bank branch. You can find information at http://occupychi.org/ and in more detail on Twitter under the hash tags (read "search terms") #occupychi and #occupychicago.
The protesters are facing chilly weather, rain, and more, and are in need of jackets, clothing, moral support, and more protesters. Here is a list of what the Chicago protesters are in need of currently: http://occupychi.org/supplies-needed/
A list of cities around the country and across the globe with occupation protests follows, sourced from the movement's hub page:
INTERNATIONAL
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Is There A 'Noise Ordinance' That Prohibits Musical Instrument Practice On DuPage County Forest Preserve Property?
I asked because I was practicing at Hidden Lake at 10am this morning, and the Forest Preserve Police ordered me to stop, saying he thought he would be called with a complaint.
I've been practicing there in the mornings because I live in a condo building. I'm trying to be considerate of my neighbors, and there's nowhere else I know of to go.
Since I'm probably not the only person with this issue, I'm going to ask the county Forest Preserve board for policy clarification on this. I may also ask if they can specify a preserve location for this purpose.
I would love to hear from anyone with knowledge on this subject.
Regards,
Dan Stafford
York 112 Precinct Committeeman
York Township,
DuPage County, Illinois
I've been practicing there in the mornings because I live in a condo building. I'm trying to be considerate of my neighbors, and there's nowhere else I know of to go.
Since I'm probably not the only person with this issue, I'm going to ask the county Forest Preserve board for policy clarification on this. I may also ask if they can specify a preserve location for this purpose.
I would love to hear from anyone with knowledge on this subject.
Regards,
Dan Stafford
York 112 Precinct Committeeman
York Township,
DuPage County, Illinois
Saturday, August 27, 2011
York PC 112: Truthout - The Three Things That Need To Happen To Defeat The Corporatocracy...
http://www.truth-out.org/3-things-must-happen-us-rise-and-defeat-corporatocracy/1314378373
We're doing a pretty good job at exposing the monster. The invisibility cloak is tattered, torn, and fluttering in the breeze. Now what?
All the best, if you work and vote for it,
Dan
We're doing a pretty good job at exposing the monster. The invisibility cloak is tattered, torn, and fluttering in the breeze. Now what?
All the best, if you work and vote for it,
Dan
Friday, August 26, 2011
York PC 112: What Wisconsin Means: On a 96-year-old labor journalist and burning down the forest.
http://inthesetimes.com/article/11844/what_wisconsin_means
All the best, if you vote and work for it,
Dan
All the best, if you vote and work for it,
Dan
Thursday, August 25, 2011
York pC 112: Network World On The Coming TSA Tracking Of Your Every Move From front Door To Work, Parties, Or Grocery Store...
The amazing police-state being birthed makes the old Nazi & Soviet models of "Papers, Please" look like Keystone Cops in comparison. They USED to tell us that the biggest difference between the USA and the Soviet Union was freedom of movement, rule of law, equal protection under the law,and rights of privacy. Is the US becoming WORSE than the old Soviet Union? You tell me:
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/future-tsa-track-all-daily-travels-work-groce?source=NWWNLE_nlt_daily_am_2011-08-24
All the best, if you work and vote for it,
Dan
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/future-tsa-track-all-daily-travels-work-groce?source=NWWNLE_nlt_daily_am_2011-08-24
All the best, if you work and vote for it,
Dan
Thursday, August 18, 2011
SEC Accused Of Willfully Destroying Investigative Documents Related To Melt-down Bank Fraud & Madoff In Possible High-level Cover Up...
Are the top bank cops crooked?
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/17/sen-grassley-sec-may-have-covered-up-bank-wrongdoings/
Reminds me of all the Enron-era docs that were lost when WTC-7, the un-struck 3rd building that housed SEC offices, went down on 9/11/1.
All the best, if you work for it and vote for it,
Dan
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/17/sen-grassley-sec-may-have-covered-up-bank-wrongdoings/
Reminds me of all the Enron-era docs that were lost when WTC-7, the un-struck 3rd building that housed SEC offices, went down on 9/11/1.
All the best, if you work for it and vote for it,
Dan
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
LA Times: US Workers Are Victims Of A "Speed Up"
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-jeffery-bauerlein-speedup-20110814,0,5795904.story
Wonder why you still have a job, but no life? Wonder why unemployment is so high? Here you go.
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
Wonder why you still have a job, but no life? Wonder why unemployment is so high? Here you go.
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
Monday, August 15, 2011
York PC 112: The Help, And A String Of Recent Union Victories
Unions have made some poorly-reported but important victories, ones that Progressives can learn from:
http://www.alternet.org/story/151974/8_union_victories_progressives_should_be_watching--and_learning_from/?page=entire#.TkhwIY-paik.facebook
On a similar note, my wife and I saw the movie "The Help" on Saturday night. The bravery of all the women involved was heart-warming. But when I step back and look at the big picture of life today, it strikes me that to Billionaires and Corporations, the rest of us ARE the help. It's obvious that they are trying to get away with treating those of less means world-wide far worse than what was depicted in the movie. Color isn't of much consequence in this larger battle in terms of who the Rich care about, that is only themselves in most cases. Color is simply a tool to stratify and divide Labor and keep it as cheap as possible. The same is true of many other things artificially dreamed-up, such as regional identities.
The Rich will do anything to pit Labor against itself in un-witting opposition to its own large-scale interests. That is you and I, folks. It's not about color, it's about money.
All the best, if you work and vote for it,
Dan
http://www.alternet.org/story/151974/8_union_victories_progressives_should_be_watching--and_learning_from/?page=entire#.TkhwIY-paik.facebook
On a similar note, my wife and I saw the movie "The Help" on Saturday night. The bravery of all the women involved was heart-warming. But when I step back and look at the big picture of life today, it strikes me that to Billionaires and Corporations, the rest of us ARE the help. It's obvious that they are trying to get away with treating those of less means world-wide far worse than what was depicted in the movie. Color isn't of much consequence in this larger battle in terms of who the Rich care about, that is only themselves in most cases. Color is simply a tool to stratify and divide Labor and keep it as cheap as possible. The same is true of many other things artificially dreamed-up, such as regional identities.
The Rich will do anything to pit Labor against itself in un-witting opposition to its own large-scale interests. That is you and I, folks. It's not about color, it's about money.
All the best, if you work and vote for it,
Dan
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
York PC 112: "Katrina For Incumbents?" Or, Why Primary Elections Are The "Killer App" For Pissed-Off Voters
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/10/poll-79-percent-of-americans-dissatisfied-with-u-s-political-system/
The place where you have a choice about which person will run for your party is the Primary. What we've been handed by DC is the perfect reason to do your homework and get to the Primary elections.
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
The place where you have a choice about which person will run for your party is the Primary. What we've been handed by DC is the perfect reason to do your homework and get to the Primary elections.
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
York PC 112: Protesters Shout Down Governor Walker In Wisconsin
Speaking of being out-louded...
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
Monday, August 8, 2011
York PC 112: Truthout On How The Koch-Funded Right Is Using New Media And Old Money To Game Elections And Public Opinion...
http://www.truth-out.org/koch-spider-web/1312231636
People think that New Media are not that critical, but increasingly they are becoming critical territory in the war of information and disinformation being spread. Take a good hard look at the story above, and then tell me we don't need to be all over the internet and the old ways of communicating too. We need every tool we can get to work against the money that is being thrown at us on and off-line.
Online information distribution is one area where we can fight well if we have enough people-power. Money is still an advantage there, but not as much by a long way.
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
People think that New Media are not that critical, but increasingly they are becoming critical territory in the war of information and disinformation being spread. Take a good hard look at the story above, and then tell me we don't need to be all over the internet and the old ways of communicating too. We need every tool we can get to work against the money that is being thrown at us on and off-line.
Online information distribution is one area where we can fight well if we have enough people-power. Money is still an advantage there, but not as much by a long way.
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
Sunday, August 7, 2011
York PC 112: Thom Hartmann And The Tea Party Takeover You Didn't Know About
See, THIS is exactly what I'm talking about! Check Thom out:
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
York PC 112: We've Had The Debtbacle, And Everything Nasty Before it, So Now What Do We Do?
The first thing that we need to do as a people is stop abdicating the most basic office of our government - the Precinct Representative - and take back control of the local party organizations.
People think "I just can't do any more, I'm too tired and stressed-out." Or they think that all politics is a dirty game full of slimy people. That's because good people have abdicated their responsibility in our democracy by letting the most basic party office go mostly unfilled.
Simply-put, if only bad people go into politics, only bad people will be in politics.
What I find on the ground, being involved in the local party organization, is that you have a few dedicated individuals who are trying to fill the boots of what should be three or four times their number, at least on the Democratic side. That's the case here in DuPage County, at least. I can't speak to what's going on in other regions, but my guess is that you'll find a mix of people who support the status quo corporate agenda in opposition to a few dedicated people trying to do good for their fellow citizens.
We need to take these basic offices back. We need people to get back in and work at the local level for change - because one guy in the White House is going to get his behind handed to him if he has no allies behind him.
Precinct-level Representatives in aggregate can pull on the Party platform, filter information to the officers above them, elect the officers above them, and control the boots-on-the-ground efforts of the local parties. The more Precinct Reps there are working for good campaigns in our elections, the less those campaigns will be forced to depend on corporate campaign donations to hire out what currently non-existent Precinct Reps should be doing. That's right, you can have a direct effect on how dependent political candidates are on donations to get their message out. How?
You, and sometimes volunteers with you, go out walking door-to-door talking to the people in your precinct, letting them know who the candidates are. You hear their concerns and take them back to the campaigns. Believe me, people will value a person they see face-to-face who will listen to their concerns over someone in an ad on the TV that they can't talk to.
If you can't stand what's going on in Washington, contact your local Democratic Organization, and do some volunteering with them. Attend a few of their meetings and get a sense of who they are. If there isn't an appointed or elected representative in your precinct, consider taking on that position. If there is, offer to help the current Precinct Representative in your precinct.
Most precincts are maybe 100 to 200 households in size. Large ones could have up to a couple of thousand people, but they're not too large for one person to walk. The other Precinct Reps who've been at this for awhile will usually help you and explain how things work. Often, you can walk precincts together with another Rep. It is doable, and it is very valuable to the benefit of our society.
In order for the Grass Roots to be truly effective and put an end to this long slide we've been going down, we need a fully-grown root system. We need our fellow citizens to get in there and pitch with us.
Just going out and voting isn't enough. You can't just give Democracy a kiss and send it out the door and expect it to come home for you. You have to give it time, attention, and kindness if you want to feel the warmth of a solid and gracious society standing with you. Like anything else in life, you get out of your government what you put into it.
We can do this. The results of failing to do this are clear all around us, in empty houses and empty storefronts and restaurants, and in tired faces and pink slips skittering down Main Street when the cold winds blow. It's right there in the scent of cigar smoke and clinking champagne glasses coming out of the bright neon windows of those 1% mansions on sprawling grounds hidden from the rest of us by tall trees and heavy security.
We've all done wonders at the jobs the Capitalist Captains of Industry want us to do, but so much so that we've ignored the duties a functioning democracy requires of us, which is to be involved and informed.
The only way the Ship of State is going to sail Main Street's way, is if Main Street gets their hands on the ropes and tiller.
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
People think "I just can't do any more, I'm too tired and stressed-out." Or they think that all politics is a dirty game full of slimy people. That's because good people have abdicated their responsibility in our democracy by letting the most basic party office go mostly unfilled.
Simply-put, if only bad people go into politics, only bad people will be in politics.
What I find on the ground, being involved in the local party organization, is that you have a few dedicated individuals who are trying to fill the boots of what should be three or four times their number, at least on the Democratic side. That's the case here in DuPage County, at least. I can't speak to what's going on in other regions, but my guess is that you'll find a mix of people who support the status quo corporate agenda in opposition to a few dedicated people trying to do good for their fellow citizens.
We need to take these basic offices back. We need people to get back in and work at the local level for change - because one guy in the White House is going to get his behind handed to him if he has no allies behind him.
Precinct-level Representatives in aggregate can pull on the Party platform, filter information to the officers above them, elect the officers above them, and control the boots-on-the-ground efforts of the local parties. The more Precinct Reps there are working for good campaigns in our elections, the less those campaigns will be forced to depend on corporate campaign donations to hire out what currently non-existent Precinct Reps should be doing. That's right, you can have a direct effect on how dependent political candidates are on donations to get their message out. How?
You, and sometimes volunteers with you, go out walking door-to-door talking to the people in your precinct, letting them know who the candidates are. You hear their concerns and take them back to the campaigns. Believe me, people will value a person they see face-to-face who will listen to their concerns over someone in an ad on the TV that they can't talk to.
If you can't stand what's going on in Washington, contact your local Democratic Organization, and do some volunteering with them. Attend a few of their meetings and get a sense of who they are. If there isn't an appointed or elected representative in your precinct, consider taking on that position. If there is, offer to help the current Precinct Representative in your precinct.
Most precincts are maybe 100 to 200 households in size. Large ones could have up to a couple of thousand people, but they're not too large for one person to walk. The other Precinct Reps who've been at this for awhile will usually help you and explain how things work. Often, you can walk precincts together with another Rep. It is doable, and it is very valuable to the benefit of our society.
In order for the Grass Roots to be truly effective and put an end to this long slide we've been going down, we need a fully-grown root system. We need our fellow citizens to get in there and pitch with us.
Just going out and voting isn't enough. You can't just give Democracy a kiss and send it out the door and expect it to come home for you. You have to give it time, attention, and kindness if you want to feel the warmth of a solid and gracious society standing with you. Like anything else in life, you get out of your government what you put into it.
We can do this. The results of failing to do this are clear all around us, in empty houses and empty storefronts and restaurants, and in tired faces and pink slips skittering down Main Street when the cold winds blow. It's right there in the scent of cigar smoke and clinking champagne glasses coming out of the bright neon windows of those 1% mansions on sprawling grounds hidden from the rest of us by tall trees and heavy security.
We've all done wonders at the jobs the Capitalist Captains of Industry want us to do, but so much so that we've ignored the duties a functioning democracy requires of us, which is to be involved and informed.
The only way the Ship of State is going to sail Main Street's way, is if Main Street gets their hands on the ropes and tiller.
All the best, if you work for it,
Dan
Saturday, August 6, 2011
York PC 112: Tea Partying Like It's 1954...
The Tea Party has an earlier analogue:
http://www.truth-out.org/tea-partying-its-1954/1312298621
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/tea-partying-its-1954/1312298621
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
York PC 112: ACLU seeks to uncover cell phone tracking by law enforcement
Look who's guarding your right to privacy now!
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/03/aclu-seeks-to-uncover-cell-phone-tracking-by-law-enforcement/
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/03/aclu-seeks-to-uncover-cell-phone-tracking-by-law-enforcement/
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
Friday, August 5, 2011
York PC 112: The Ed Show & Bill Maher On The Debtbacle...
See the video:
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
York PC 112: "They Then Loaned To The Government What They No Longer Had To Pay In Taxes," or, "The Tale Of Two Lootings"...
Ever wonder why your parents or grandparents could have one person at home and one working, but you can't? Ever wonder why you're always tired and too stressed-out to do much but plop in front of the tube after work?
Ever wonder why you can't seem to get ahead, or are always falling further and further behind?
Yes, it's that blessed miracle of the new smaller government, brought to you by your Corporate Overlords, and boy, have they got a deal for YOU!
http://www.truth-out.org/tale-two-lootings/1312292014
All the best, if you see through the propaganda machine,
Dan
Ever wonder why you can't seem to get ahead, or are always falling further and further behind?
Yes, it's that blessed miracle of the new smaller government, brought to you by your Corporate Overlords, and boy, have they got a deal for YOU!
http://www.truth-out.org/tale-two-lootings/1312292014
All the best, if you see through the propaganda machine,
Dan
Thursday, August 4, 2011
York PC 112: GOP Shuts Down The FAA So They Can Go Union-Busting...
Read it and weep, but be really careful flying this month:
http://www.truth-out.org/gop-holds-faa-hostage-over-anti-union-demands/1312398896
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/gop-holds-faa-hostage-over-anti-union-demands/1312398896
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
York PC 112: Protesters Invade Wall Street Over Debtbacle...
Check it out:
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
All the best, if you vote for it,
Dan
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
York PC 112: Seniors Hold "Knit-Ins" At New York Banks...
Seniors are knitting "security blankets" that say "Save Medicare" to give to Congress Members on recess.
Check it out: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/03/seniors-hold-knit-ins-protests-at-new-york-banks/
All the best,
Dan
Check it out: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/03/seniors-hold-knit-ins-protests-at-new-york-banks/
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: From Truthout - "Ransom Paid," Or As I Call It, How A Faux-News Construct Hijacked The Middle Class...
There is no Excuse for this. There's not even an un-capitalized excuse for this.
First, read on here: http://www.truth-out.org/ransom-paid/1312207122
Clearly the economics on this turkey are going to be smelling like skunk down the road. Mark my words, it is going to stink to high Heaven.
I have to agree with Jon Stewart on this one, "you're not going to pin this excrement on us," meaning the American public. Watch this clip:
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/jon-stewart-debt-deal-the-democrats-got-hosed/
The Washington Democrats were warned of exactly the scenario that just got played out LAST DECEMBER.
Worse yet, the debt ceiling itself, the so-called source of the "crisis," is considered unconstitutional by most legal scholars:
http://www.truth-out.org/forget-compromise-debt-ceiling-unconstitutional/1312205856
Before Faux News hyped the Tea Party, they were a small group of billionaire-funded right-wing extremists most people hadn't ever heard of. Their recent "convention" was canceled for lack of attendance. Their darling "Momma Grizzly" Sarah Palin had her movie debut to an empty theater in the most Republican county in California: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/sarah-palin-movie-debuts-to-empty-theater-in-orange-county/241983/ , and very quickly left the big screen for Pay-Per-View: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/palin-undefeated-tanks-heads-pay-per-view-193115807.html .
I am thoroughly disgusted with the whole mess.
Here's Thom Hartmann taking a look at the great Presidents and World Leaders and how they stack up with "compromising:"
There are a lot of people who think that President Obama is somehow pulling a "chess-wizard" move here. Personally, I think that's putting lipstick in the toilet before flushing. To me, this is not a good deal for the working-class majority in this country.
We're going to have to live with it for now, but as it unfolds, it's going to shake up a lot of folk's worlds.
Maybe it will in time drive people to understand that we should be investing in the future with education, infrastructure, and innovation, instead of investing in carnage overseas because the people making money off that carnage put a turban on the Boogey Man.
The bottom line is, if working-class Americans don't have good-paying jobs, the big corporations are going to have to compete for a lower-rent market, and even worse, so are all the small businesses.
This is the wrong direction, America. It's not going to make things better in the long-term. It will at best drag out the nasty "jobless recovery" that is really not a recovery, and at not-so-best, cause another full-blown recession.
We could be doing better. We could be doing a LOT better.
I hope we decide to before we're left behind by the rest of the world.
Dan
First, read on here: http://www.truth-out.org/ransom-paid/1312207122
Clearly the economics on this turkey are going to be smelling like skunk down the road. Mark my words, it is going to stink to high Heaven.
I have to agree with Jon Stewart on this one, "you're not going to pin this excrement on us," meaning the American public. Watch this clip:
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/jon-stewart-debt-deal-the-democrats-got-hosed/
The Washington Democrats were warned of exactly the scenario that just got played out LAST DECEMBER.
Worse yet, the debt ceiling itself, the so-called source of the "crisis," is considered unconstitutional by most legal scholars:
http://www.truth-out.org/forget-compromise-debt-ceiling-unconstitutional/1312205856
Before Faux News hyped the Tea Party, they were a small group of billionaire-funded right-wing extremists most people hadn't ever heard of. Their recent "convention" was canceled for lack of attendance. Their darling "Momma Grizzly" Sarah Palin had her movie debut to an empty theater in the most Republican county in California: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/sarah-palin-movie-debuts-to-empty-theater-in-orange-county/241983/ , and very quickly left the big screen for Pay-Per-View: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/palin-undefeated-tanks-heads-pay-per-view-193115807.html .
I am thoroughly disgusted with the whole mess.
Here's Thom Hartmann taking a look at the great Presidents and World Leaders and how they stack up with "compromising:"
There are a lot of people who think that President Obama is somehow pulling a "chess-wizard" move here. Personally, I think that's putting lipstick in the toilet before flushing. To me, this is not a good deal for the working-class majority in this country.
We're going to have to live with it for now, but as it unfolds, it's going to shake up a lot of folk's worlds.
Maybe it will in time drive people to understand that we should be investing in the future with education, infrastructure, and innovation, instead of investing in carnage overseas because the people making money off that carnage put a turban on the Boogey Man.
The bottom line is, if working-class Americans don't have good-paying jobs, the big corporations are going to have to compete for a lower-rent market, and even worse, so are all the small businesses.
This is the wrong direction, America. It's not going to make things better in the long-term. It will at best drag out the nasty "jobless recovery" that is really not a recovery, and at not-so-best, cause another full-blown recession.
We could be doing better. We could be doing a LOT better.
I hope we decide to before we're left behind by the rest of the world.
Dan
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Truthout: Forget Compromise: The Debt Ceiling Is Unconstitutional
http://www.truth-out.org/forget-compromise-debt-ceiling-unconstitutional/1312205856
Once again, the artficial "debt ceiling" crisis is being used as a tool to defraud people who have paid into Sociual Security and Medicare for years out of benefits they have already paid for.
All the best,
Dan
Once again, the artficial "debt ceiling" crisis is being used as a tool to defraud people who have paid into Sociual Security and Medicare for years out of benefits they have already paid for.
All the best,
Dan
Monday, August 1, 2011
From Truthout.org: Hope for the Hell of It
This is one of the best lists of activist accomplishments and reasons not to surrender that I've seen in a decade:
http://www.truth-out.org/hope-care-and-feeding/1312210173
Read on, and take heart.
All the best,
Dan Stafford
York 112 PC
http://www.truth-out.org/hope-care-and-feeding/1312210173
Read on, and take heart.
All the best,
Dan Stafford
York 112 PC
Thursday, July 28, 2011
York PC 112: Page One: Inside The New York Times - A Documentary Film...
...that goes in-depth into the day-to-day operations of the New York Times.
Sourced from Google:
Notes from Dan:
My wife and I just saw this film at the Glenn Art Theater in downtown Glenn Ellyn. The film is excellent, and kept me interested all the way through. It raises several questions, most of which have yet to be answered. I strongly recommend seeing this film.
The largest question that the movie raises is whether or not large ol-media organizations such as the New York Times will be able to survive, and also whether it matters if they survive or not. There are several arguments on both sides, with very good points.
Personally, I think the answer on whether it matters if these institutions survive lies somewhere between the extremes of letting them die and keeping them in print. I think the print edition is accessible to those who can't afford technology, or are unable to adapt to modern web technology. I also think that a billion bloggers still can't match the focused investigative depth that a full-blown newsroom of the Times' caliber is capable of. There are very few in online media who can come close to the access and full-time devotion to a story such institutions are capable of.
Of course, those arguments only hold true if such institutions decide to follow a given story, and if they verify that their sources are in-fact accurate and that trusted insiders aren't abusing the institution. Judith Miller and the run-up to the Iraq war come to mind. The cost of that particular debacle to U.S., Iraqi, and international society has been immense and horrific.
Old media also can't effectively cover the full breadth of global news or match the flash-speed of an online story gone viral. It's like comparing a battery of brilliant spotlights to the flashes of lightning in a massive thunderstorm system. They just aren't the same thing. One is tightly-controlled and narrowly focused, the other is wide-ranging and intensely-fast, but also erratic and un-controlled, without duration and depth.
Trust is an issue with both forms of media, explicitly in the case of internet stories, and implicitly in the case of corporate-owned (and likely corporate-controlled) monolithic old-media. After all, it is just as easy to twist truth in reporting by omission as it is by saying outright falsehoods, and both are dangerous things in an open society that is truly citizen-governed.
My personal leaning is to have as wide as possible scope of headline information so that I can choose what to follow in-depth myself. I think this "big-picture" view is indispensable, and that the past ten years have exposed many things that are deep internal threats to our democracy and way of life, and even more importantly, to our future survivability as a species.
If we were still operating in an era entirely dominated by large-scale monolithic one-way media, there are many things that the large corporations and extremely-wealthy would have kept hidden from the masses. Without the resources of those institutions, we would lose the deep investigative power of a fully-developed newsroom. In the end, I think it will be necessary to strip the old-media from corporate hands and merge it with the new-media flash-mob zeitgeist of global information.
The interesting thing is, it seems to me that varying forms of exactly that are starting to come into being. The old-media and the top-of-class new-media are coming up with their own versions of just such organizations. It's the financial structures that have yet to be figured out in the most obsessive-compulsive capitalist society ever to exist on Earth. Even the Ferenghi on Star Trek would have a hard time competing with modern American and trans-national corporations.
Today, however, and in the next few years to come, the story remains to be fully-written. There are multiple plots involved, and it boils down to the very large few and the very small many, and how they interact. I believe that if either fails to value and support the other sufficiently, the whole system will break down.
Given the stories I'm seeing in all forms of media over the last few years, I think that most people in either paradigm are in for some seriously-hard-knock schooling on this point. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, and that things will find a way to mesh that everyone can live with.
All the best,
Dan
Sourced from Google:
Page One: Inside the New York Times
1hr 28min - Rated R - Documentary
Director: Andrew Rossi - Cast: David Carr -: 
"Page One" unfolds over the course of 2010, one of the most tumultuous years for print journalism since the invention of the printing press, with online media continuing to reinvent the rules and some of the oldest print newspaper institutions in the country forced to close or drastically reduce their operations. Along the course of the year, director Rossi was given unprecedented access to the editorial process at "The New York Times."Director: Andrew Rossi - Cast: David Carr -
Notes from Dan:
My wife and I just saw this film at the Glenn Art Theater in downtown Glenn Ellyn. The film is excellent, and kept me interested all the way through. It raises several questions, most of which have yet to be answered. I strongly recommend seeing this film.
The largest question that the movie raises is whether or not large ol-media organizations such as the New York Times will be able to survive, and also whether it matters if they survive or not. There are several arguments on both sides, with very good points.
Personally, I think the answer on whether it matters if these institutions survive lies somewhere between the extremes of letting them die and keeping them in print. I think the print edition is accessible to those who can't afford technology, or are unable to adapt to modern web technology. I also think that a billion bloggers still can't match the focused investigative depth that a full-blown newsroom of the Times' caliber is capable of. There are very few in online media who can come close to the access and full-time devotion to a story such institutions are capable of.
Of course, those arguments only hold true if such institutions decide to follow a given story, and if they verify that their sources are in-fact accurate and that trusted insiders aren't abusing the institution. Judith Miller and the run-up to the Iraq war come to mind. The cost of that particular debacle to U.S., Iraqi, and international society has been immense and horrific.
Old media also can't effectively cover the full breadth of global news or match the flash-speed of an online story gone viral. It's like comparing a battery of brilliant spotlights to the flashes of lightning in a massive thunderstorm system. They just aren't the same thing. One is tightly-controlled and narrowly focused, the other is wide-ranging and intensely-fast, but also erratic and un-controlled, without duration and depth.
Trust is an issue with both forms of media, explicitly in the case of internet stories, and implicitly in the case of corporate-owned (and likely corporate-controlled) monolithic old-media. After all, it is just as easy to twist truth in reporting by omission as it is by saying outright falsehoods, and both are dangerous things in an open society that is truly citizen-governed.
My personal leaning is to have as wide as possible scope of headline information so that I can choose what to follow in-depth myself. I think this "big-picture" view is indispensable, and that the past ten years have exposed many things that are deep internal threats to our democracy and way of life, and even more importantly, to our future survivability as a species.
If we were still operating in an era entirely dominated by large-scale monolithic one-way media, there are many things that the large corporations and extremely-wealthy would have kept hidden from the masses. Without the resources of those institutions, we would lose the deep investigative power of a fully-developed newsroom. In the end, I think it will be necessary to strip the old-media from corporate hands and merge it with the new-media flash-mob zeitgeist of global information.
The interesting thing is, it seems to me that varying forms of exactly that are starting to come into being. The old-media and the top-of-class new-media are coming up with their own versions of just such organizations. It's the financial structures that have yet to be figured out in the most obsessive-compulsive capitalist society ever to exist on Earth. Even the Ferenghi on Star Trek would have a hard time competing with modern American and trans-national corporations.
Today, however, and in the next few years to come, the story remains to be fully-written. There are multiple plots involved, and it boils down to the very large few and the very small many, and how they interact. I believe that if either fails to value and support the other sufficiently, the whole system will break down.
Given the stories I'm seeing in all forms of media over the last few years, I think that most people in either paradigm are in for some seriously-hard-knock schooling on this point. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, and that things will find a way to mesh that everyone can live with.
All the best,
Dan
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Detroit: The Long And Winding Road...To Recovery?
A fascinating look at the number 1 city in the nation for urban agriculture, and a story for the rest of us to watch.
http://www.truth-out.org/detroit-new-american-frontier/1311694023
All the best,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/detroit-new-american-frontier/1311694023
All the best,
Dan
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Exactly How The 2004 Ohio Presidential Election Was Stolen Revealed In Court
Read it for yourself:
http://www.truth-out.org/new-court-filing-reveals-how-2004-ohio-presidential-election-was-hacked/1311603015
All the best, if you vote for it...
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/new-court-filing-reveals-how-2004-ohio-presidential-election-was-hacked/1311603015
All the best, if you vote for it...
Dan
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Record Heat Engulfs Half The USA; Climate-Deniers Half-Baked And Headed For Toast...
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/23/record-breaking-heatwave-smothers-eastern-us/
When our mothers asked us if we were trying to heat the whole neighborhood leaving doors open in Winter, they weren't kidding.
Since the Climate-Deniers tend to be the same flat-Earth brain-wizzards that are holding up the debt ceiling, maybe the Earth will finally get a break in 2012.
Sweet breezes,
Dan
When our mothers asked us if we were trying to heat the whole neighborhood leaving doors open in Winter, they weren't kidding.
Since the Climate-Deniers tend to be the same flat-Earth brain-wizzards that are holding up the debt ceiling, maybe the Earth will finally get a break in 2012.
Sweet breezes,
Dan
Saturday, July 23, 2011
York PC 112: Ardmore Bridge In Villa Park Construction To Start This Autumn...
...according to the Daily Herald. That's good news in my book.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110721/news/707219943/
All the best,
Dan
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110721/news/707219943/
All the best,
Dan
Friday, July 22, 2011
York PC 112: Chicago Tribune Calls Empty Forecloures "Eyesores & Crime-Magnets"; I Call Them Opportunities To House The Homeless...
Here's the Trib article link:
http://link.chicagotribune.com/r/UX0Z1O/N419Z/4J6BL6/XO8JV/XBAGRS/LE/h?a=7&b=22&c=11
Doesn't it strike you as criminally insane that we have millions of vacant homes at the same time that millions of people are in "tent cities" or street curbs? What is wrong with this picture? Have we become so callous and heartless?
Why are we not seizing these empty homes via eminent domain and helping Habitat For Humanity and other such charities stretch their strapped budgets?
There are empty houses. There are homeless people. There are construction workers short on jobs.
It's a simple solution. The banks should be donating these homes to States and Charities to pay back their bail-outs and get their property tax payments off the balance sheets, but I guess they're just too greedy.
All the best,
Dan
http://link.chicagotribune.com/r/UX0Z1O/N419Z/4J6BL6/XO8JV/XBAGRS/LE/h?a=7&b=22&c=11
Doesn't it strike you as criminally insane that we have millions of vacant homes at the same time that millions of people are in "tent cities" or street curbs? What is wrong with this picture? Have we become so callous and heartless?
Why are we not seizing these empty homes via eminent domain and helping Habitat For Humanity and other such charities stretch their strapped budgets?
There are empty houses. There are homeless people. There are construction workers short on jobs.
It's a simple solution. The banks should be donating these homes to States and Charities to pay back their bail-outs and get their property tax payments off the balance sheets, but I guess they're just too greedy.
All the best,
Dan
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Superman 2050 Adventure...
...and an adventure it is.
The performance I attended was in Link's Hall at the corner of Sheffield and Clark in Wrigleyville. Have you ever tried parking in Wrigleyville?
Link's Hall is a classic old brick building in the middle of everything. It's was a sultry 95 degrees out, and people are walking, biking, driving, riding scooters and motorcycles, dining on sidewalk patios under party lights. It was lovely chaos in the streets, and I was extremely lucky to find side-lot parking for $5.00 per hour just two blocks away and ten minutes before show time.
Did I say Link's Hall was old? As in so old it was 85 degrees plus inside? I have to hand it to the performers, because this show is all pantomime dance!
That's right, eight people on a four-by-ten foot platform three feet up transport you right into a better world using only tights-clad bodies in motion and voice. The only prop was a single pair of glasses.
I was flatly and joyfully amazed. The energy and cleverness was superb. The contrast between stark stage setting and brilliant imagination was surreal.
The show is being done in partnership with the Midwest High-Speed Railroad Association. (http://www.midwesthsr.org) MHSR Spokesperson Madelein opened and closed the performance, to great applause on both ends.
This was the production taping of the show tonight. It will be available on DVD through Theater Unspeakable soon. Superman 2050 is touring the Midwest exclusively via passenger rail, and has dates all over the region scheduled. There will also be a performance upcoming at Second City.
Hats off to Superman 2050 for promoting a better world through superior dance!
All the best,
Dan
Midwest High Speed Rail Association: http://www.midwesthsr.org
Link's Hall: http://www.linkshall.org/index.shtml
Theater Unspeakable: http://un-speak-able.com/wp/
(Theater Unspeakable on Twitter: http://twitter.com/2050Superman )
Second City: http://www.secondcity.com/
The performance I attended was in Link's Hall at the corner of Sheffield and Clark in Wrigleyville. Have you ever tried parking in Wrigleyville?
Link's Hall is a classic old brick building in the middle of everything. It's was a sultry 95 degrees out, and people are walking, biking, driving, riding scooters and motorcycles, dining on sidewalk patios under party lights. It was lovely chaos in the streets, and I was extremely lucky to find side-lot parking for $5.00 per hour just two blocks away and ten minutes before show time.
Did I say Link's Hall was old? As in so old it was 85 degrees plus inside? I have to hand it to the performers, because this show is all pantomime dance!
That's right, eight people on a four-by-ten foot platform three feet up transport you right into a better world using only tights-clad bodies in motion and voice. The only prop was a single pair of glasses.
I was flatly and joyfully amazed. The energy and cleverness was superb. The contrast between stark stage setting and brilliant imagination was surreal.
The show is being done in partnership with the Midwest High-Speed Railroad Association. (http://www.midwesthsr.org) MHSR Spokesperson Madelein opened and closed the performance, to great applause on both ends.
This was the production taping of the show tonight. It will be available on DVD through Theater Unspeakable soon. Superman 2050 is touring the Midwest exclusively via passenger rail, and has dates all over the region scheduled. There will also be a performance upcoming at Second City.
Hats off to Superman 2050 for promoting a better world through superior dance!
All the best,
Dan
Midwest High Speed Rail Association: http://www.midwesthsr.org
Link's Hall: http://www.linkshall.org/index.shtml
Theater Unspeakable: http://un-speak-able.com/wp/
(Theater Unspeakable on Twitter: http://twitter.com/2050Superman )
Second City: http://www.secondcity.com/
 |  | Superman: 2050 | ||
York PC 112. Now, This Is Nuts, States Talking Immunity For Illegal Bank Foreclosure Practices, And Illinois Is In On It...
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/21/states-negotiating-immunity-for-banks-over-foreclosures/
If it were my say-so, I would be talking siezing forclosures unsold after a year via eminent domain, to be donated to homeless families.
All the best,
Dan
If it were my say-so, I would be talking siezing forclosures unsold after a year via eminent domain, to be donated to homeless families.
All the best,
Dan
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
York PC 112: Quaking In Their Boots So Hard Their Belly Hurts; Chicago Tribune Reports On The Seriousness Of Getting Bumped By Stephen Colbert...
...not to mention the Daly Show.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-0720-colbert-as-political-forc20110720,0,3389417.story
All the best,
Dan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-0720-colbert-as-political-forc20110720,0,3389417.story
All the best,
Dan
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
York PC 112: DuPage Democrats On Turning Your Neighborhood Blue...
A great note from First Vice Chair Cathy Sewell:
http://dupagedems.blogspot.com/2011/07/help-turn-neighborhood-near-you-blue.html
All the best,
Dan
http://dupagedems.blogspot.com/2011/07/help-turn-neighborhood-near-you-blue.html
All the best,
Dan
Monday, July 18, 2011
York PC 112: Former Fox News Producer Claimed His Phone Records Hacked In 2008, Everyone Brushed Off "Book-Promoting Conspiracy Theory"...
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/18/former-fox-news-producer-claimed-networks-brain-room-led-to-phone-hacking/
Did you know that conspiracy theories exist BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CONSPIRACIES IN HISTORY?!
The next time you're tempted to just ignore something as a "conspiracy theory," as Faux News would say so snidely, just think of phone hacking by the Sneerers-In-Chief, Faux News.
They've spent twenty years brainwashing people that what's great for corporate profits on Wall Street is Heaven for Middle Class America. Look around you at the empty strip mall shops and even empty strip malls. How about the one-in-seven houses that are foreclosed and empty? The tent cities in the warm states? The college kids who are lucky if they can find tables to bus? How's all that working out for ya?
Now they want to get rid of teachers, police, firefighters, garbage men, forest preserves, anything and everything that serves the public will be owned and operated by some huge corporate conglomerate. Do you really think any of it will be cheaper and safer? Do you really want at least a third of American kids to be illiterate and ignorant because we no longer have public primary education and their parents can't afford it?
Sure, if you're a billionaire who wants cheap labor that doesn't know when it's getting cheated. How many of you really think you'll be billionaires in ten years? Honestly?
Faux News propagandized the Tea Party from a small minority of extremists into a national brand in a year. Why would they so promote something that didn't serve the interests of their billionaire head honcho Murdo...?
That's why this story could finally be good news for America:
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/07/journo-if-911-victims-were-hacked-fox-news-is-finished/
Wise up and rise up to the challenge, America. We still have a chance to save our country and our planet.
All the best,
Dan
Did you know that conspiracy theories exist BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CONSPIRACIES IN HISTORY?!
The next time you're tempted to just ignore something as a "conspiracy theory," as Faux News would say so snidely, just think of phone hacking by the Sneerers-In-Chief, Faux News.
They've spent twenty years brainwashing people that what's great for corporate profits on Wall Street is Heaven for Middle Class America. Look around you at the empty strip mall shops and even empty strip malls. How about the one-in-seven houses that are foreclosed and empty? The tent cities in the warm states? The college kids who are lucky if they can find tables to bus? How's all that working out for ya?
Now they want to get rid of teachers, police, firefighters, garbage men, forest preserves, anything and everything that serves the public will be owned and operated by some huge corporate conglomerate. Do you really think any of it will be cheaper and safer? Do you really want at least a third of American kids to be illiterate and ignorant because we no longer have public primary education and their parents can't afford it?
Sure, if you're a billionaire who wants cheap labor that doesn't know when it's getting cheated. How many of you really think you'll be billionaires in ten years? Honestly?
Faux News propagandized the Tea Party from a small minority of extremists into a national brand in a year. Why would they so promote something that didn't serve the interests of their billionaire head honcho Murdo...?
That's why this story could finally be good news for America:
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/07/journo-if-911-victims-were-hacked-fox-news-is-finished/
Wise up and rise up to the challenge, America. We still have a chance to save our country and our planet.
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: Of President Obama And X-Chess...
Ya know, he always did remind me of that Vulcan, Tuvok, on Star Trek Voyager...
http://www.truth-out.org/chessmaster-cometh/1310578994
Let us pray...
All the best,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/chessmaster-cometh/1310578994
Let us pray...
All the best,
Dan
Sunday, July 17, 2011
York PC 112: Why We Here In DuPage County Can Learn One Hell Of A Lot From Iowa...
Breaking Down The Silos: Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement:
http://www.truth-out.org/breaking-down-silos-iowa-citizens-community-improvement/1310661779
All the best,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/breaking-down-silos-iowa-citizens-community-improvement/1310661779
All the best,
Dan
Saturday, July 16, 2011
York PC 112: Shadowy Group Writing "Corporate Wish List" Bills For Right-Wing State Legislators...
...which is a text-book-example of fascism.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/16/discreet-nonprofit-american-legislative-exchange-council-writes-bills-for-conservative-lawmakers/
Aren't you glad we have Dems in Illinois?
All the best,
Dan
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/16/discreet-nonprofit-american-legislative-exchange-council-writes-bills-for-conservative-lawmakers/
Aren't you glad we have Dems in Illinois?
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: Have You Had Enough Of Being Trickled Down On Yet?
Trickle-Down Cruelty And The politics Of Austerity:
http://www.truth-out.org/trickle-down-cruelty-and-politics-austerity/1310134880
All the best,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/trickle-down-cruelty-and-politics-austerity/1310134880
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: A Little Thom Hartmann In The Morning...
Thom Hartmann: Secrets the Rich don't Want You to Know:
All the best,
Dan
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: Playing With The Wake Up DuPage Logo A Bit...
 | |||
| http://www.wakeupdupage.com/ |
Click on the logo above to view it full-sized.
Rise and shine, DuPage County! Your Country needs you!
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: How The Fed Is Dogging The Economy And May Not Even Know It...
The Fed has a policy that is causing capital lending for small-to-medium-sized businesses - the major source of job growth when exiting a recession or depression - to dry up on a long-term basis. And YES, there is something we can do about it, and it's already under consideration in Illinois and several other States.
Read on: http://www.truth-out.org/silent-liquidity-squeeze/1310652572
All the best,
Dan
Read on: http://www.truth-out.org/silent-liquidity-squeeze/1310652572
All the best,
Dan
Friday, July 15, 2011
York PC 112: Activists Pave The Way For Low-Power Community FM Radio Stations
Very soon, inexpensive FM radio stations at the local community level may be broadcasting near you:
http://www.truth-out.org/activists-pave-way-thousands-new-community-radio-stations/1310667931
All the best,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/activists-pave-way-thousands-new-community-radio-stations/1310667931
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: DuPage County Central Committee Meeting Last Night...
...was overall a great success, I think.
We took care of on-going county business in pretty good order. Then we moved on to out-reach training.
I did feel a little slighted by not being recognized along with a few others for my work to improve DPDC online efforts, which I started on last year. I don't think it was intentional, however.
There was a lot of great information presented. I think it will make the whole organization much more effective soon.
All the best,
Dan
We took care of on-going county business in pretty good order. Then we moved on to out-reach training.
I did feel a little slighted by not being recognized along with a few others for my work to improve DPDC online efforts, which I started on last year. I don't think it was intentional, however.
There was a lot of great information presented. I think it will make the whole organization much more effective soon.
All the best,
Dan
Thursday, July 14, 2011
York PC 112: Have I Underestimated The President's Chess Game?
After reading that President Obama left talks with the Republican corporate molls, I'm wondering if his plan all along wasn't to expose for all to see just how far the Republicans will bend over for their corporate elite masters.
Clearly, the current crop of House fool-tools are utterly owned. They couldn't find the good of the country if it bit them in the nards.
Even better is Rawstory.com reporting this morning that an overwhelming number of the public places the blame for our economic woes clearly on Bushwack's shoulders, where it belongs.
All the best,
Dan
Clearly, the current crop of House fool-tools are utterly owned. They couldn't find the good of the country if it bit them in the nards.
Even better is Rawstory.com reporting this morning that an overwhelming number of the public places the blame for our economic woes clearly on Bushwack's shoulders, where it belongs.
All the best,
Dan
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
York PC 112: Tea Party Group Admits They Want To End Public Schools
So finally they say it like it is, if you're not rich, they want your children to remain ignorant and illiterate, so that they can be made into more tractable and gullible serfs:
http://www.truth-out.org/tea-party-group-admits-it-wants-shut-down-public-schools/1310493891
Are we going to let them? Not if I have anything to say about it.
All the best,
Dan
http://www.truth-out.org/tea-party-group-admits-it-wants-shut-down-public-schools/1310493891
Are we going to let them? Not if I have anything to say about it.
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: They Don't Call It "Depression" For Nothing...
Definition of DEPRESSION:
"
A fascinating documentary and review article on the current economic crisis over two years and forty States. There are stories of the people impacted in the first half of the film, and great coverage of grass-roots activist groups that are directly working to help solve the problems with outside-the-box solutions from all over America.
http://www.truth-out.org/grassroots-solutions-american-crises-collapse-action/1310484726
All the best,
Dan
"
Definition of DEPRESSION
1
a : the angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon b : the size of an angle of depression
2
: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as a : a pressing down : lowering b (1) : a state of feeling sad : dejection (2) : a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies c (1) : a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force (2) : a lowering of vitality or functional activity
3
: a depressed place or part : hollow
4
: low 1b
5
: a period of low general economic activity marked especially by rising levels of unemployment"
A fascinating documentary and review article on the current economic crisis over two years and forty States. There are stories of the people impacted in the first half of the film, and great coverage of grass-roots activist groups that are directly working to help solve the problems with outside-the-box solutions from all over America.
http://www.truth-out.org/grassroots-solutions-american-crises-collapse-action/1310484726
All the best,
Dan
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
York PC 112: I Will Never Support More Attacks On Middle-Class Americans...
The rumors are flying on Capitol Hill in DC that President Obama is considering supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
Far too many of our Seniors and physically disabled folk are already one step from sleeping on curbs and eating pet chow. With the dismal job being done on the economy thanks to Republicans who see any progress on a green economy as a threat to their oil patrons and Democrats who don't know where to put the money they're borrowing to actually get long-term growth, I have had it with national-level politicians.
Our local people are far better than that.
If this President agrees to cuts in these programs, I will be voting for another candidate in the Primary, and if he is the Nominee, I'll be voting Green in the General election.
If these people are looking for cuts, they need to be looking at Iraq, Afghanistan, and a grossly-wasteful and bloated military budget that equals the spending of the rest of the world combined.
If you want to reduce healthcare costs, institute medicare for everyone, with working people buying coverage, and eliminate the horrible practice of making a profit off of people's misery so you can spend it on billionaires' yachts and massive advertising.
From \William Rivers Pitt, an article that says it best:
http://www.truth-out.org/looming-betrayal/1310137478
At some point, we have to draw a line in the sand. That point is now.
All the best,
Dan
Far too many of our Seniors and physically disabled folk are already one step from sleeping on curbs and eating pet chow. With the dismal job being done on the economy thanks to Republicans who see any progress on a green economy as a threat to their oil patrons and Democrats who don't know where to put the money they're borrowing to actually get long-term growth, I have had it with national-level politicians.
Our local people are far better than that.
If this President agrees to cuts in these programs, I will be voting for another candidate in the Primary, and if he is the Nominee, I'll be voting Green in the General election.
If these people are looking for cuts, they need to be looking at Iraq, Afghanistan, and a grossly-wasteful and bloated military budget that equals the spending of the rest of the world combined.
If you want to reduce healthcare costs, institute medicare for everyone, with working people buying coverage, and eliminate the horrible practice of making a profit off of people's misery so you can spend it on billionaires' yachts and massive advertising.
From \William Rivers Pitt, an article that says it best:
http://www.truth-out.org/looming-betrayal/1310137478
At some point, we have to draw a line in the sand. That point is now.
All the best,
Dan
York PC 112: Huge Win For Media Diversity And Competition...
 |
| Dear Dan, We won! Today, in a sweeping victory for communities across the country, a federal appeals court overturned the Federal Communications Commission’s attempt to weaken media ownership rules. Had these rules gone into effect, it would have unleashed a new wave of media consolidation across the country. In 2007, the FCC ignored letters and calls from millions of Americans and tried to rewrite its media ownership rules to let companies own both newspapers and TV or radio stations in the same town. This change would have opened the floodgates to new media mergers, leading to even more layoffs in newsrooms while thinning out diverse perspectives from local news. We sued the FCC for ignoring the public outcry. Today, we won. The court tossed out the FCC's flawed rules, but also upheld all other media consolidation restrictions and told the FCC it needed to do better to support and foster diverse voices in the media – all crucial decisions for our fight to build better media. This isn’t just our victory – it’s your victory, too. The court pointed to public comments from people like you as deciding factor in overturning the FCC’s attempt to change its rules. Today it’s clear: Your voice and actions make a huge difference. This court decision should send a wake-up call to the FCC: It must listen to the public and stand up against media consolidation in all its forms. But the fight doesn’t end here. Right now around the country, local stations are using loopholes and backroom deals to get around media ownership rules and consolidate their coverage of local news. This court case makes clear that the FCC needs to strengthen their rules and address this growing epidemic as well. Click here to tell the FCC to stop this covert media consolidation. Today’s victory is a big moment for the movement to build better media. We couldn’t have done it without you. Onward, Craig Aaron President & CEO Free Press P.S. – We need your help sustaining our efforts. In court, at the FCC and in Congress we’re up against huge companies with lots of money and lawyers. We don't take money from government, political parties or businesses – so we depend on you. Help us fight the next media ownership fight. Please donate today. P.P.S. – Read more about the details and background of today’s big decision.  |
| Free Press Action Fund is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Learn more at www.freepress.net |
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
75 Schwinn Continental: Thank You, Bicycle Times Editor...
...for being kind enough to publish my letter in Spoke N' Word in issue number 11. (Currently on news stands)
I just purchased it and read it cover-to-cover.
I found your articles on the burgeoning bi-partisan bicycle lobby and caucus in Washington, DC and 'How To Speak Bicycle To A Conservative" especially fascinating. They may help me with local advocacy for cycling infrastructure and regulations in the future.
Ride On,
Dan Stafford
Democratic Precinct Committeeman
York Township precinct 112
DuPage County, IL
I just purchased it and read it cover-to-cover.
I found your articles on the burgeoning bi-partisan bicycle lobby and caucus in Washington, DC and 'How To Speak Bicycle To A Conservative" especially fascinating. They may help me with local advocacy for cycling infrastructure and regulations in the future.
Ride On,
Dan Stafford
Democratic Precinct Committeeman
York Township precinct 112
DuPage County, IL
Friday, June 17, 2011
Why Do I Call The Wisconsin Senate (And US House) "Red?"
Because they are stirring up a bloodbath for the Poor and Working classes.
Go ahead, vote Republican. Take your wallet and shred it immediately thereafter while you're at it, because you'll lose government services and all the tax breaks will go to the extremely wealthy, corporations, dictators, and war contractors.
All the best (if you vote for it),
Dan
Go ahead, vote Republican. Take your wallet and shred it immediately thereafter while you're at it, because you'll lose government services and all the tax breaks will go to the extremely wealthy, corporations, dictators, and war contractors.
All the best (if you vote for it),
Dan
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Eating Olive Oil May Lower Risk Of Strokes For 65+ Year-Olds
Eating Olive Oil May Lower Risk Of Strokes For 65+ Year-Olds
Not exactly politics-related, but something good.
Full disclosure: I grew up with Italian grandparents and prefer vinegar & oil dressing and olive oil on my bread rather than butter. (Except raisin toast or English muffins.) I generally eat olive oil several days per week.
All the best,
Dan
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
York PC 112: Major DuPage Social Media Push Gets Under Way
We're working hard to bring a County-level Social Media outreach to the Voters in DuPage County. It's long-overdue, but we're assembling an excellent team to work on this going forward.
Efforts are on-going to bring blogging, micro-blogging, RSS feeds, video and audio pod-casting, and more to the online community in DuPage County. It's time to take our side of the debate online in a big way.
Meanwhile, I need to do another "Outreach Ride" in my precinct soon. Not enough of my voters are aware of this blog yet, to begin with, and soon we'll be under the new district map, which will change the local representation and candidate choices with the next election.
I would love to have a small outreach committee within my precinct to help keep the Voters informed, and facilitate two-way communication.
Additionally, we're still doing phone outreach a couple of days a month in orphaned precincts in DuPage County as well. (Orphaned precincts have no Precinct Committeeman)
All the best,
Dan
Efforts are on-going to bring blogging, micro-blogging, RSS feeds, video and audio pod-casting, and more to the online community in DuPage County. It's time to take our side of the debate online in a big way.
Meanwhile, I need to do another "Outreach Ride" in my precinct soon. Not enough of my voters are aware of this blog yet, to begin with, and soon we'll be under the new district map, which will change the local representation and candidate choices with the next election.
I would love to have a small outreach committee within my precinct to help keep the Voters informed, and facilitate two-way communication.
Additionally, we're still doing phone outreach a couple of days a month in orphaned precincts in DuPage County as well. (Orphaned precincts have no Precinct Committeeman)
All the best,
Dan
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
York PC 112: York Township Dems Meet Tonight...
...and the topic will be re-districting results. This should be interesting.
I'm also going to bring up blogging training for Precinct Reps...maybe around the end of July, given my schedule.
Who knows, some of them may have more time for it than I do!
All the best,
Dan
I'm also going to bring up blogging training for Precinct Reps...maybe around the end of July, given my schedule.
Who knows, some of them may have more time for it than I do!
All the best,
Dan
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