Final Countdown

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Miller for Senate" <campaign@donnamillerforsenate.com>

Subject: Final Countdown
Date: Tue, Feb 28, 2012 3:51 pm

If you are having trouble viewing this message, see it in your browser.   M Lounge - Tomorrow Night As we head into the final 3 weeks/21 days, of the campaign we hope you will join us for our fundraiser tomorrow night at M Lounge!  There will be fabulous people, great jazz and a good cause!   Wednesday, February 29 6:00 – 8:00 PM M Lounge 1520 S Wabash Ave Chicago, IL   Individual Suggested Contribution - $50 Sponsorship Level's Diamond: $5,000     Platinum: $2,500 Gold: $1,500     Silver: $1,000 Live Jazz beginning at 7:00 PM   You may contribute online toward the event by going to http://www.donationpages.com/directory/EventEcard/1475   We look forward to seeing you there – and if you aren't able to join us but can still make a contribution this week we are working on getting our final mailing's out the door and your contribution will help assure that we are able to do so! Thanks so much, Donna   campaign@donnamillerforsenate.com Miller for Senate 20340 Joy Lane Lynnwood, IL 60411

York Dem Upcoming Events

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Carol B Davis"

Subject: York Dem Upcoming Events
Date: Tue, Feb 28, 2012 8:47 am


Take Action with these York Democratic Events!

Monday, February 27th - First Day of Early Voting. Elmhurst City Hall is the only early voting site in York Township.

Wednesday, February 29th - Hear the Illinois Senate 23 Candidates (Kevin Allen, Greg Brownfield and Tom Cullerton) Debate the Issues - 7:30PM at the Glenside Public Library, 25 E. Fullerton in Glendale Hts.
Debate Sponsored by Bloomingdale, York, Addison, and Wayne Township Democratic Parties. No donation required

Wednesday,March 7th - York Township Democratic Organization Monthly Meeting - 7:15, the Log Cabin (16th and Main Sts) 4 Seasons Park, Lombard.

Thursday, March 8th - Congressional District 6th Debate -  League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn(LWV) with the LWV of Wheaton and the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce hosts the 6th District Candidate Forum at Glencrest Junior High School in Glen Ellyn. Doors open at 6:30pm

Saturday, March 10th - Elmhurst St Patrick's Day Parade - March with York & Addison Township Democratic Parties, County Board Member Rita Gonzalez and Democratic Candidates! 11AM line up, Willson and Spring Rds,Lombard.

Saturday, March 10th - Congressional District 8th Candidates,Tammy Duckworth and Raja Krishnamoorthi, Debate at 2:30, Jackson Middle School,301 W Jackson, Villa Park. Sponsored by York, Addison, Bloomingdale, and Wayne Township Democratic Parties.

Sunday, March 18th - Our 56th Annual St Patrick's Day Dinner with Keynote Speaker John Nichols of The Nation (yes, THE John Nichols you have seen on Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, and the other MSNBC shows). John is speaking as part of his Chicagoland book tour introducing his new book, "Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest, from Madison to Wall Street." Guest speakers include Tim Carpenter of PDA and Christine Cegelis of ADA.
Don't miss it!  Sunday, March 18th, 5PM to 8:30, Drury Lane Oakbrook. Includes 4 course dinner and live music! 

Re: Stealing State Parks

http://www.truth-out.org/stealing-state-parks/1330351798

----- Reply message -----
From: "Dan Stafford"

Subject: Stealing State Parks
Date: Mon, Feb 27, 2012 9:35 am





Stealing State Parks

Monday 27 February 2012

by: Jim Hightower, OtherWords | News Analysis

Top politicos in many states are closing many of their parks, slashing
hours and services at others, or simply handing over the public's asset to
profiteering corporations.

"Sorry, we're closed."

In one of the saddest signs of the times, this message is popping up all
across the country as

RV parked at Mitchell Caverns, a state park closed in 2011 that has
suffered from

governors and legislators

vandalism since being shut down. (Photo: Mollivan Jon)

are cutting off funds (and shutting off access) to one of the finest, most
popular assets owned by the people of our country: state parks.

More than 6,600 of these jewels draw some 700 million visitors a year to
their grand vistas, historic sites, wildlife, campgrounds, educational
centers, and lodges. Parks are a tangible expression of America's
democratic ideals: common ground for every man, woman, and child to enjoy
and experience. For the middle class and the poor —who can't jet off to
luxury resorts for a getaway —these spaces offer a form of real wealth,
something that each of us literally "owns," knitting us together as a
community and nation.

Yet too many spiritually shriveled, small-minded, and short-sighted state
officials are snuffing out this uniting social force, stupidly treating
parks as nothing but a budget number or —worse —a piece of the "nanny
state" to be axed in the name of ideological purity. Top politicos in many
states are closing many of their parks, slashing hours and services at
others, or simply handing over the public's asset to profiteering
corporations: Idaho's governor has proposed eliminating the entire parks
department; California shut the gates of a fourth of the state's parks last
year; officials in Arizona and Florida intend to privatize their parks;
Washington state has cut off most of its park funding; and Ohio has okayed
oil drilling in its parks to replace state financing.

As Woody Guthrie said of outlaws,"Some'll rob you with a six gun/Some with
a fountain pen." Shutting parks is theft by "in-laws." Political insiders
are stealing the people's property —stealing from America itself.

JIM HIGHTOWER

National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the book,
Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim
Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of
the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families,
environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.

Raja has a new TV commercial

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Kurt Gonska" <kurt@rajaforcongress.com>
Date: Feb 24, 2012 9:00 AM
Subject: Raja has a new TV commercial

	Dear Friends, I want you to be the first to know: Raja just released his TV commercial. Click the video below to view it and then share it with your friends: Donate $25, $50, $100 or more today to help Raja buy even more TV time. The commercial highlights Raja's "Renewing Prosperity" economic plan borne from his deep economic experience helping to create jobs for the middle class in both the public and private sectors. Raja's laser-like focus on putting people back to work has earned him the endorsements of nearly 100 local elected officials, community leaders, and organizations, chief among them Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (who enthusiastically appears with Raja in the TV commercial). Can you chip in $25, $50, $100 or more today to help Raja buy even more TV time? Thank you for all you do, Kurt Gonska Campaign Manager P.S. Please donate today before our February 29 fundraising report deadline. P.P.S. Check out Raja's interview on WTTW Chicago Tonight.

Paid for by Raja for Congress

PO Box 958033
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195

Powered by NGP VAN, Inc.

York PC 112: I Was Advised At The DPDC President's Day Gala That I Have Been Voted York Township Precinct Committeeman Of The Year...

...which is really nice and quite unexpected.

This award is from the York township Democratic Organization, and is strictly at the Township level. Nasr Jhangir was voted Precinct Committeeman of the year for all of DuPage County by the DPDC.

I think I'll be speaking a little at the York Township Saint Patrick's Day dinner on March 18th.

I'm not sure why I was nominated or voted to be awarded, but here are some of my guesses:

1. I've been doing extensive web and I.T. support for the County Party and several candidates.
2. I helped write a resolution on the Navistar deal that was adopted by several township organizations that helped bring better environmental provisions to the the final deal that was reached.
3. I've walked my precinct and done my best to support the Democratic Voters within my precinct.

Anything else, I guess they can tell me some day. :-)

Still, all that pertains to 2011. Given the importance of the coming year, this is no time to rest easy on our laurels. We need to be giving it our all-out best effort here in 2012.

We have a Primary Election here on March 20th that will allow us to chose which candidates we will have vying with Republicans next November. We had best all get out and vote, and we had best choose wisely.

I honestly don't think the country can stand another term obstructed by Republicans in the thrall of billionaires and giant corporations. We won't have a middle class or environment left if we do, and I doubt the national infrastructure can withstand another couple of years of deep neglect, nor can the economy.

Our only choice is to innovate and build our way out of this slump, and in part we need to free up the consumer demand of a strong, vibrant middle class in order to un-stick all the capital at the top and get it flowing through the general economy again.

Most people should know this down deep. If you ever played Monopoly, you know that the game stops when one person owns so much property and has so much money that there's nothing left for anyone else to trade. You can't have an economy if money isn't in motion, and if it's confined in the savings and investments of only a very few wealthy people, none of the rest of us can help drive demand for goods and services - so everything shrinks or fails except those few businesses those with money care to frequent.

There is SO much work to do! We had best get on it!

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

SPECIAL REPORT: Secret docs reveal DHS lied about tracking Americans on social media

Subject: SPECIAL REPORT: Secret docs reveal DHS lied about tracking Americans on social media
Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2012 4:51 pm


Secret documents reveal Department of Homeland Security lied about tracking Americans on social media

==============================================

One of the nation's leading electronic privacy groups claimed this week that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) misled members of Congress during a recent hearing on whether the Department is paying a defense contractor $11.4 million to keep tabs on protected free speech and dissent against government policies on the Internet.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), which triggered the hearing by publishing a trove of secret government documents in January, told Raw Story on Thursday that a second round of documents they've obtained directly contradicts testimony given on Feb. 16, showing that the DHS instructed their analysts to do exactly what the Department denied.

"There were several exchanges that they had with members of Congress in which they sort of distanced themselves from the idea — that they weren't engaging in this monitoring of public reaction to government proposals," McCall told Raw Story. "But that's… Well, it's not true, according to the documents we obtained."

Read the rest of the story here: http://rawstory.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80b42ecc21f29763320aceb90&id=4ed9b0e84e&e=ff76859754



All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

UPDATE: Recall Scott Walker

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Wisconsin Dem Chair Mike Tate" <info@boldprogressives.org>
Date: Feb 23, 2012 7:01 AM
Subject: UPDATE: Recall Scott Walker

---

Defeat Scott Walker & the Koch Brothers in Wisconsin. Donate $4 to recall Governor Scott Walker!

Daniel,
This is Mike Tate, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
First, I just want to thank the thousands of PCCC members who chipped in nearly $50,000 this past week toward our goal of recalling Gov. Scott Walker. This makes a huge difference.
I also wanted to make sure you saw this quote from one of the billionaire Koch brothers, which appeared this week in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"We're helping him, as we should," Koch says of Walker. "We've gotten pretty good at this over the years. We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more."

Will you help us defeat Scott Walker and the Koch brothers in Wisconsin by making a grassroots donation of $4 to our Recall Walker campaign today?
The Koch brothers have already flooded the state with TV ads in recent weeks.
And they are planning an avalanche of dirty tricks right out of Karl Rove's playbook. In last year's recall elections, they ran fake candidates in primaries, sent mail to progressive voters with the wrong election date, and spent millions on false TV ads to try and buy the election.
Just the other day, leaked documents revealed they plan to set up "shadow blogs" to attack teachers, public schools, and grassroots activists like you.
Republicans and their billionaire funders have declared war on working families. Working with groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, we are fighting back.
Please donate $4 so we can re-open all of our field offices across Wisconsin and organize over 35,000 grassroots volunteers to contact voters in their communities.
The PCCC's help in 2011 was pivotal to our efforts to successfully recall Republican senators from office. With your continued support, we'll be able to defeat Scott Walker and David Koch in Wisconsin in 2012.
Thank you,
Mike Tate
Chair, Democratic Party of Wisconsin

---

Want to support our work? PCCC's Draft Warren campaign was named The Nation's "Most Valuable Campaign of 2011"! And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in $3 here.
 

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

York PC 112: #1 Progressive Radio Host Thom Hartmann Gives Keynote Address At DuPage Democrats President's Day Gala

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan


Video courtesy of Richard Steelman:

York 112 PC: Technology Isn't The Problem...

...such as is suggested by this article on http://www.truthout.org : http://www.truth-out.org/works-and-days/1328637460 .

The problem is corporations adapting technology in ways that violate the basic ethics of our society and in ways that try to control nature rather than working with nature and augmenting it gently.

The system of controls we've adapted as a society have become warped. Until we recover an ethic of civil liberties with compassion and respect for people and our environment, we will continue to experience large-scale pain and suffering and strife.

If we consider all of these things in the way we organize society and industry, everyone will succeed together.

Regards,

Dan

Update on Sand Mine Next to Starved Rock

---

From: Tess Wendel, Sierra Club <tess.wendel@sierraclub.org>
Sent: February 14, 2012 5:29 PM

Subject: Update on Sand Mine Next to Starved Rock

View a web version of this email.

		Update on the Proposed Sand Mine Next to Starved Rock State Park: Challenging Permits and Looking for Systemic Reform to Protect our State Lands Illinois Canyon- Photo by Farley Andrews On January 12, the LaSalle County Board voted to approve an open pit sand mine next to Starved Rock State Park, despite strong opposition from local residents and thousands of comments against the mine from around Illinois (including more than 6000 comments from the Sierra Club's petition) and a request from the Lieutenant Governor to delay the vote. Now that the project has been given the go-ahead at the county level, Mississippi Sand LLC must have permits approved from the DNR and IEPA for mining, air pollution, and wastewater discharges. On February 6, the Illinois River Coordinating Council, composed of a diverse group of citizens, not-for-profit organizations, and state and federal agencies, chaired by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon heard pleas from the Sierra Club, Openlands, Prairie Rivers Network, SOARRING, and local residents to oppose the mine. In response, the council passed a resolution to monitor the local, state, and federal permitting process and seek public input at each level. Act now to protect Starved Rock and Illinois' State lands from harmful pollution! Mississippi Sand LLC has submited an application for an air permit to the IEPA and the Sierra Club has requested a public hearing in hopes that the public will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about air pollution. The Sierra Club is concerned about the silica dust produced from the blasting and processing of the sandstone, which has been classified as a human lung carcinogen, causing silicosis. The dust contains particles that are so small they can't be seen with the naked eye, and so light-weight they can stay in the air for a long time and travel long distances. This is a hazard not only for mine workers but could affect nearby homeowners and the millions of visitors who hike in the canyons at Starved Rock. Sign our petition to IDNR and IEPA to protect Starved Rock! Take Action Today! Mississippi Sand plans to apply for an aggregate mining permit from the DNR in the next couple weeks and will also have to apply for a wastewater discharge permit (NDPES permit) from the IEPA. Wastewater discharges will flow from a tributary on the mine site into Horseshoe Creek and through the park. If sediment-laden water comes from the mine site it can clog fish gills, smother eggs and larvae; sediments settling on the bottom of creeks disrupt the natural riffle-run-pool underwater geography that aquatic animals need. The proposed mine has also highlighted the need for systemic reform regarding protection of state-owned public lands, specifically the need to develop a process by which DNR can fulfill its role as a permiting agency for mining activities while at the same time being able to speak up as a property owner to protect state lands. Please sign this new petition we will share with IDNR and IEPA who will need to grant permits to Mississippi Sand for the sand mine to proceed. This petition also calls for regulatory reform so IDNR will stand up as the guardian of our state lands. You are receiving this message because you signed our earlier petition to the LaSalle County Board or the one we had at Bald Eagle Days.   Citizens of LaSalle County who oppose this mine should also contact their County Board members demanding that the County request DNR hold a public hearing on Mississippi Sand's permit application for aggregate mining. P.S. Share this link with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!:

Sierra Club Illinois Chapter | 70 East Lake Street, Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60601 | P: (312) 251-1680

Donate to the Illinois Chapter

York PC 112: Courtesy Of Truthout.org - "Occupy Rigged Elections: A Call for the Second American Revolution in 2012"

Why computers in elections are an extremely critical issue, despite the convenience factor, and the other top-nine issues for U.S. Elections:


http://www.truth-out.org/occupy-rigged-elections-call-second-american-revolution-2012/1323891807

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

RE: News from York Township Democratic Organization

---

From: York Township Democratic Organization <cdavis3183@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: December 14, 2011 10:25 PM
Subject: News from York Township Democratic Organization

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

 

York Township Democratic Organization www.yorkdemocrats.org Find new redistricted maps and our candidates at http://www.yorkdemocrats.org/elections.php  We are the 99% .... United we will win!       Keep informed of YTDO events on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/York-Township-Democratic-Organization/177445849159 New YTDO Acting Secretary New YTDO Acting 2nd Vice Chair YTDO By-Law Amendment?   SAVE THE DATE!  YTDO 56th Annual St Patrick's Dinner coming up! Sunday, March18th, 5PM, at Drury Lane Banquet Hall.  Sign up early at www.yorkdemocrats.org   New YTDO Acting Secretary Please welcome Brian LaVaque as Acting Secretary and Executive Committee Member of York Township Democratic Organization. Brian has served as an appointed Committeeman of York 27 for over 6 months. He is an active member of Young Democrats of DuPage County and is experienced in campaigning. His enthusiasm and diligence are an inspiration to us all! Former Secretary Nadine Stachon has resigned to have more time with her elderly mother and grandchildren. Nadine earned the YTDO Committeeman of the Year Award in 2010.Thank you Nadine for your hard work for so many years!     New YTDO Acting Second Vice Chair Welcome Cathy Sewell as Acting 2nd Vice Chair of York Township Democratic Organization. Cathy is an appointed Committeeman of Precinct 68 and currently serves as 1st Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of DuPage County. She is already working with the County setting up its structure for committeeman recruitment. Former 2nd Vice Chair Debra Briggs has resigned so she can continue her education and career! We thank her for her many years of service and will miss her!     YTDO Considering Amending By-Laws    Two appointed Committeemen have been appointed to fill vacated offices: Brian LaVaque (York 27) has been appointed Acting Secretary; Cathy Sewell (York 68) has been appointed Acting Second Vice Chair. YTDO By-Laws do not require an elected committeeman to fill the office of Secretary; however, they do require an elected committeeman to fill the office of Second Vice Chair. The position of 2nd Vice Chairwoman is responsible for recruiting committeemen. Cathy is organizing outreach for precinct committeemen at the County level. She has the experience to fill this position which needs to be filled immediately for our organization to function. It is true that Cathy is not an elected committeeman, which is a requirement for 2nd Vice Chair. However, as Acting 2nd Vice Chair, she is temporarily stepping in  to meet the immediate needs of YTDO by filling a position vacated near the end of an election term. It is not uncommon to fill vacated offices by appointment of an acting officer until a new officer can be found and voted into office.  In such cases, experience at the job takes precedence over "on paper" qualifications. This does not infringe on the By-Laws of YTDO. YTDO is considering amending our By-laws so the offices of 2nd and 3rd Vice Chairs can be open to appointed Committeemen so that we may more flexibility in filling our offices.  Another change under consideration is replacing the 3rd Vice Chair Office with the Office of Election Judge Coordinator and opening this office, currently reserved for elected committeemen, to an election judge, committeeman or member at large. Let us know how you feel about changing our By-Laws at www.yorkdemocrats.com or at the York Township Democratic Organization face book page.     Sincerely,   Carol B Davis Chairwoman York Township Democratic Organization Paid for by Carol B Davis, Chairwoman, York Township Democratic Organization, 601 S Summit Ave, Villa Park, IL

 

Forward email York Township Democratic Organization | 601 S Summit Ave | Villa Park | IL | 60181

York PC 112: From the Downer's Grove Patch - Local Food Pantries Feel The Strain

Eye-opening article: http://downersgrove.patch.com/articles/lcoal-families-struggle-to-put-food-on-the-table

Local Families Struggle to Put Food on the Table

downersgrove.patch.com

Food pantries feel the pinch as more people need their help.

York PC 112: The Long Walk

I spent the whole day walking my precinct asking voters for signatures on ballot petitions to get candidates on the ballot. I got about a third of it covered.

Some were more than happy to sign, some reluctant, some wouldn't at all. Nearly everyone is extremely disgusted with national-level politics. Thankfully almost all of the candidates I was walking for are running for local offices.

To think; I have to be ELECTED to do all this for free.

It's obvious to me that a lot of my voters are struggling, and what's worse are the vacant houses. Yeah, there are a few, even in Oak Brook/Lombard/Oak Brook Terrace.

I wish I could be certain I'm bringing back better times for my voters. How would it be if no one was trying, though?

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: We're "Free" In This Country? Really And Truly?

Freedom of speech is supposed to be guaranteed under the Constitution. Why are these cops even there? I didn't see anything but chanting students until the cops tarted batoning them just for speaking their minds.

All the best, if we work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: Jimmy Kimmel - A Charlie Brown GOP Debate

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: Occupy Wall Street Gets A "Bat Signal".

Source story:

Occupy ‘bat-signal’ creator explains how he brought it off

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: "Yeah! What Bernie Said!"

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: So, Why Exactly Ar We "Broke?"

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: An Unemployed Engineer Makes The Economic Problems Simple (Video)

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: The Video Rupert Murdoch Doesn't Want You To See...

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: While Occupy Boosts Unions, The President Boosts More Free Trade; Will Either Bring U.S. Job Recovery?

Here's the story about President Obama and the meeting. I think it's worth reading for a couple of points, which 'll get to later: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/14/obamas-pacific-trade-push-gathers-steam/

I have to wonder, after the last 30 years and watching U.S. manufacturing dry up and rust away, if this is such a great idea. When I was a little kid, almost everything we used in the U.S. was "Made In America." I remember it being a novelty and exotic to have something made in a "far-away land."

Most of the adults I knew that worked were employed in small factories scattered all over the country, in small towns, mid-sized cities, and the collar counties of big cities. This was the case when I was a teenager even.

Then, about when I was 30, Ross Perot was running for President. I wasn't really into politics back  then, I could've cared less. I was into things like dancing and trying to keep a job and being a new father and going to college. I just remember my Mom being all hip on this little guy from Texas with big, funny ears and colorful speech, so I watched him on our TV a couple of times, and I especially remember some guy interviewing him. Ross was asked about NAFTA, while it was still being debated. This was just before Bill Clinton was elected. 

Here's the thing I most remember Ross saying:




I also remember watching factory after factory dry up and blow away over the next decade, and it's only accelerated since then. We were already facing heavy competition from Japanese manufacturing, and a lot of unfair practices were used. Now we were about to open our domestic markets to countries that had no labor laws, environmental laws, or healthcare requirements?

We've seen the results of that. It's now a novelty and exotic to find things "Made In America." I've seen countless gutted, rusting, boarded-up factories. The factory where my Grandfather worked for 44 years is a shadow of what it once was. The factory where my Dad worked for almost 40 years is gone, razed. I drove through Metropolis, Illinois in 2004, and the whole town was boarded up or for-sale. How many examples have you personally seen?

Have we had enough of being trickled down on yet?

The President believes that labor standards, environmental standards, and healthcare standards for foreign laborers can be embedded in this new treaty. That's the thing I said I'd get back to. In that article I first referenced at the beginning of this post, that idea got a couple of sentences. It had better get a lot more than that in any treaty.

After all, for the last thirty years under previous such agreements, U.S. Labor and manufacturing has gotten a death sentence, and a deaf ear to any pleas or appeals. Which is exactly why we have the Occupy movement. Foreign labor has gotten the dangerous sweat shops and child labor we fought against a hundred years ago.

It's early-on for the Occupiers. I don't know if they be able to get sanity and support for the Middle Class out of Washington, or even local politicians. I hope they can. I also hope they can get sanity and relief for workers and  the environment across the globe. At-heart, I support what they're trying to achieve. Imagine a world where no one goes hungry or homeless, no wars are needed, and the environment is doing just fine. Isn't that just what people say needs to happen before we grow beyond this one little planet and colonize space? (Where we would actually have the resource basis for endless economic expansion without environmental ruin)

This isn't really about just U.S. workers. It is about regular, working people EVERYWHERE ON EARTH. Wrap your head around it, because if all labor is doing well, we will be. Maybe, just maybe, instead of being AGAINST these treaties, we should be FOR a global labor-and-environmental-standards treaty that ends the problem. Remember this: national borders are just artificial lines on a a map. Who created those lines? Who divided us up like that? Who created a bazillion little places for bureaucrats to grow? People who wanted to have power...

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: Stop The Corporate Tax Dodgers And Welfare Checks For Fat-Cats

Here it is in the Washington Times, The Top Ten Corporate Tax Dodgers Wall Of Shame.

One note in this article, not emphasized by the Times, but definitely emphasized by me, are the statistics: 80% of the largest U,S. corporations use offshore tax havens, and 57% of those companies paid no US income taxes.

Here additionally is a single, extremely revealing fact: according to the GAO, 18,857 U.S. corporations have "offices" in ONE BUILDING in the Cayman Islands. In actuality, these are just post office boxes.

Why? So they can get out of paying federal income taxes, and leaving workers to foot the bills alone.

Is there really any question why working people are demonstrating in the streets all over the planet?

This isn't a football game. This isn't a "competition" between workers in the U.S. and workers in other countries. This is a global strategy by the wealthy world-wide to pit workers against each other, by nationality, race, religion, or any other artificial sub-grouping they can get laborers to buy into. It is a case of global psyops to keep control and wealth in specific hands.

In their eyes, if the labor in one country starts doing too well, they might take control away, so they must be "kept down."

Unless you're a multi-billionaire you're not part of the club, and even if you are, if you're new money, and they can knock you back into the labor pool, they will.

It doesn't take a super-tight conspiracy. What it takes is a few very wealthy people intending to stay very wealthy, regardless of the cost to everyone else.

Convincing people it's a good idea to let huge, rich corporations dodge taxation is just a symptom of the sickness.

Make no mistake, there's an insanity in our global culture. A global mental illness. You don't let people die in squalor or start wars for the contracting money if you're sane, now do you?

How does all this relate to York Township? We have foreclosed or near-foreclosure homes in our township, bet me. We have a food pantry for seniors. We have families that have had to move apart for work, regardless of whether they really wanted to.

How many times has someone in this township been near homelessness, or gone hungry, or not been able to pay a non-luxury bill on-time, or been unable to send their kids to college, or lost their job and healthcare with it, or not been able to retire while reasonably healthy and still able to enjoy it?

All symptoms of the sickness. Isn't it time to heal the sickness, or at least treat the symptoms?

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: The Occupy Movement Is Boosting Unions Nation-Wide

For some glaring examples and in-depth analysis, check out this Truthout article: http://www.truth-out.org/sothebys-and-beyond-occupy-movement-boosts-unions/1320958796 .

Unions can be a prickly issue, but tell me, would we really be better off without weekends off, overtime pay if your employer doesn't care about your family life, paid vacations, health care benefits, safety requirements, etc?

If we had no trade unions, none of those things would exist. In fact, one of the few hopes we have for a better future is to establish GLOBAL trade unions, and stop the abuse of laborers in other countries. If minimum labor standards are in-place globally, the competition world-wide will be about performance and quality. No longer would employers be able to move to a place where labor is paid pennies per-hour and be forced to work in unsafe conditions for unlimited hours.

We should be working to improve the lot of other workers, before ours deteriorates further.

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: Occupy Oakland On General Strike Day - Crowd Count?

Simply amazing.

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: Occupy Movement Goes "Smallville" Just A Few Days After I Suggest It...

...which I am not suggesting has anything to do with my suggestion. (Pun definitely intended, bad as it is.)  It's just interesting that shortly after I post "A Suggestion For The Occupy Movement - Move...", I find "Occupy movement reaches tiny rural communities" posted on Raw Story.


Coincidence and synchronicity are amazing sometimes. I'd love to hear more on how this has turned out.


All the best, if you work and vote for it,


Dan

York PC 112: Support Local Food Pantries

Every time I hear something in conversation about food pantries, (and other charitable organizations) it's also said that they're facing incredible demand and are running through their supplies faster than they can be replaced.

This site will provide a listing for local food pantries by town or village: http://www.communityhungernetwork.org/AreaPantries/area.pantries.html

If everyone could consider donating $5-10.00 per month worth of canned goods or non-perishable boxed foods to these pantries, it would be a big help.

As kind as it is to give at the holidays, people go hungry in this economy year-round.
 
The closest pantry to York precinct 112 is:

York Township    1502 S. Meyers Road    Lombard, IL 60148

Diane Arturi    630-620-2400    Fax: 630-620-2422

Mon through Fri    9 am - 11 am Mon, Tue, Thu    1 pm - 3 pm

York Township

30 days between visits To receive a pantry card, need proof    of residency, family member's    Social Security cards & monthly    income for all in household Use USDA guidelines for monthly    gross income

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: A Busy Campaign Season Kicks Off And More...

I attended two Democratic organizational meeting this past week.

The first was the York Township organization meeting. We had several candidates speak, including the offices of County Clerk of the Circuit Court candidate Ralph Scalise, and County Board District 2 Representative Liz Chaplin.

I was very impressed with Ralph Scalise's employment history, which included a term or more as Assistant Clerk of the Circuit Court for DuPage County, among other impressive public administrative positions. He is also an intelligent and articulate speaker.

I was left with a lot of hope for Liz Chaplin, she has a special history in DuPage County. Liz was the whistle-blower who exposed the mess at the DuPage Water Commission. She is intelligent, articulate, sincere, and informed. I think she stands a very good chance of being elected.

Most of the campaigns are still working hard on ballot petitions; campaign literature is still in-progress, and websites aren't yet up. I'm looking forward to having all the materials to support these candidates, but in the meantime, I'm walking my precinct gathering petition signatures to get a slate of candidates on the Democratic ballot for us in the Primary election. Winners of the Primary will automatically be on the ballot in the general election.


The second meeting that I attended was the DuPage County organization Executive Committee. We voted on the 2012 organizational budget, heard officers reports, and heard Township Chairs' reports. It was an interesting meeting, and we got a lot accomplished. We also heard from the Assistant Speaker of the House for the Illinois Congress, and from several action committees. Things are really picking up in DuPage county, especially online. I'm glad to have been an integral part of the online efforts for the county party. I also found out that we've added more than 80 new Precinct Committeemen. We're a far cry from where we were five years ago.

Once I'm past the ballot petitions, I intend to dive in to online work for the York Township Democratic Organization, and other Precinct Committeemen in York.

I'm actively seeking support volunteers in York precinct 112. Please remember, I am a volunteer. Even though I am an elected officer of the party, I do not get paid in any way for this work. If you want to see York 112 and DuPage county turn Democratic, please offer to help. You can e-mail me simply by clicking on my my picture at the upper right of this blog.

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: A Plan For Local Government To Bypass DC And Support Main Street...

Obviously, we're not getting a fair shake in Washington on the whole foreclosure / housing bubble debacle.

I look at the closed storefronts, unemployment numbers, failed restaurant chains, boarded up or for-sale houses, cut-backs in police, fire fighter, and teacher staffing, closure of State parks or downgrading of services, public transit cuts and fare hikes, privatization of tollways, city parking, water supplies, and everything else, all while the existing infrastructure is crumbling all around us, rusting instead of being upgraded. I could probably run that sentence a lot further down the page. Veterans come home and they're left to fend for themselves. Is it any wonder the most popular topic on Twitter a month or so ago was " F#*k Washington?"

There's a way, I think, that States might be able to start putting things back on track locally if they so choose to do so. It sure isn't going to be by raising property taxes, which is only making the housing debacle a housing cataclysm. It's not going to be by raising individual income taxes, because that will only decrease consumer spending, and make it harder for working people to continue keep their monthly bills current. It won't be by increasing user fees, for the same reasons.

I think what the States need to do, and should do, has four basic parts to it:

Part 1: Use Eminent Domain powers to seize bank-owned properties with a broken chain of title or mortgage ownership, and block any foreclosures without 100% perfect documentation.

Clearly, the banks have operated fraudulently in an insane number of cases, failing to properly document and record title and mortgage ownership, and in some cases, foreclosing on homes and commercial properties that there isn't even a mortgage on. You read that right, foreclosure mills in this country are operating that far from sanity. This is the only way you're ever going to get a valid and clear title back on many of these properties. Many people won't buy them now because they can't be guaranteed that they'll have a clear title with no lien on it. There is also the deteriorating conditions of foreclosed homes, the problems with squatters, criminal or not, and what these issues are doing to the values of adjacent properties. In reality, we could see housing prices fall back to 1980 levels or below yet, if nothing is done.

As far as what to do with these houses once they're in State ownership, that's part of how to tackle unemployment and homelessness.

Part 2: Put the homeless in houses and the unemployed to work.

Instead of using cash to pay for all State-required labor, using housing credits and food credits. Put people to work repairing the seized homes and maintaining State properties, filling in administrative functions the State doesn't have cash to pay for, and other places where the State needs labor but doesn't have the budget to support those needs. In return, the laborers could be given residence in the houses seized in part one above, food stamps, training on relief gardening for food, and a documented position to put on their resume or work history.

This allows the State to do more and provide more services with less cash, creating a win for the state. It allows for the maintenance, up-keep, and habitation of homes that were foreclosed on, providing a win for homeowners in the neighborhoods where these houses are. (Or where the commercial-property foreclosures are)

The relief garden training allows for growing food and where possible, raising poultry, reducing the need for State outlay in food stamps. If neighborhood gardening groups are established, it can also help foster a sense of community, something often lacking in today's " move-for-a-job-at-the-drop-of-a-hat" society.

On this plan, people are still working for their food and housing, they're just not using cash to do it.

Part 3: Establish non-profit agencies to administer these programs for the State.

Rather than all-out socialism, the State could establish non-profit agencies on a regional basis to move these properties through the system, from building rehabilitation, to labor-occupied housing, to sale in the real estate market as the economy improves and recovers. This process would have to be initially defined and through experience refined, but it would prevent long-term State ownership of private property. The State would be the ultimate authority for oversight, and this would make some allowance for regional conditions and adaptability. These non-profits could be staffed by the same unemployed labor pool under the same terms as the rehab work, and this would provided local administrative work for the physically-disabled workers who need work that suits their physical abilities.

Part 4: Ban all State and municipal tax breaks for businesses that are not owned or incorporated withing the State, and ban taking public loans out from out-of-State banks or other entities other than private investors willing to buy bonds.

This would focus local-government taxation relief on smaller local businesses and industry. This would help bring business and jobs back locally without being dependent on national, federal policy structures. If larger businesses want to sell or operate within the State, they will have to pay their fair share of State and local taxes, but small start-ups and local entrepreneurs would be able to compete enough to survive. This would also help reduce monopolistic market tendencies that have been rampant in the past few decades.

This would also help strengthen local banks and credit unions instead of large trans-national banking conglomerates with no interest in the well-being of the local communities. If large out-of-region corporations don't want to service a particular market, tell them goodbye and replace them with local businesses.


On a side note, there are numerous attorneys who used to make a pretty fair amount of income from real estate transactions who would probably welcome the extra work, even at State-mandated rates, to help support this plan.

It's about time that eminent domain powers were actually put to use truly in the greater interests of the community, rather than in the greater interest of the trans-national conglomerates.

I also want to make it clear; I am NOT suggesting replacing current cash-paid State employees with public labor. This is about expanding State services without ADDITIONAL cash outlay, and bringing current State employees additional support staff, and primarily, tackling the real estate market problems created by wrong-headed federal and trans-national corporate policy.

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

York PC 112: A Suggestion For The Occupy Movement - Move...

Small cities and towns are losing population and failing all over the country. What if the Occupy movement actually...moved?

Move to the small towns out in the countryside and take over local government in those places. Create the society that they believe in, out in places where they ARE the government rather than combating existing city governments. If their vision of the world is better, people will want to move to their towns because life is better there.

It's a whole new approach to the same problem - and it would allow the Occupy movement to place representatives in State governments around the country.

Such an approach could actually change the status quo without the problems the Occupy movement is now dealing with. It would also allow for a lot more latitude in activities and economic structure.

Please note that I am NOT saying that the Occupy movement should abandon its places of protest around the country. Those places are necessary and draw the attention, hearts, and minds of the general American Public, and they must continue.

What I AM advocating is that the Occupy movement create a few living examples of what life would be like in a place that was governed in the ways they suggest, places that are outside of Wall Street and that eschew the big banks and their branches and tentacles. An illustration of the vision, if you will.

Personally, I think the results might be fascinating.

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan