NOT a Well-Behaved Woman

Representative Peter Buckley-Oregonian Workers Are Not to Blame

2011-03-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

Representative Peter Buckley is exactly the kind of legislator and public servant that inspires us to keep believing in the political processes that we have been so shaken in over the past few (or longer) years.

Maine Librarian Speaks Our Deep Fears Outloud

2011-03-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

I believe we are afraid in this country. I am not talking about the fear that we have of hard economic times, mounting personal debt, losing our homes, or not being able to put food on our tables (assuming we have a table to begin with). No, I am talking about a deeper fear, as Americans. I think we are afraid to face the falseness of our identities as Americans...of what that means about who we are, and who we are not. We already figured out that the country that champions human rights is not above the periodic torture episode. That the "greatest democracy on the planet" has no problem supporting various dictatorships or turning a blind eye to repressive regimes, should it fit our interests. That, in this country, women and communities of color have been losing progress for years instead of gaining ground toward equality-not to mention the LGBTQ community. But more than that-more than any of those things, the thing that we fear the most, as a society is the realization that NO, we don't actually have a representative democracy-that our voices do not count.

While there are plenty of people who have believed and recognized that potentiality for a long time, our collective identity has held strong, labeling those people "conspiracy nuts and radicals"...the exceptions to the rule of belief in America. Kelley McDaniel, is not among those (most labeled that way aren't either, for that matter) "outliers." What she is, however, is someone whose strong faith in this country has been shaken, and with good reason. She absolutely voices that deep fear that most citizens don't. They don't let themselves go there; afterall, what then?

Here is what she had to say, to her elected representatives-the people elected to represent her (and her community's) best interests:

She told the committee that she recently won a national "I Love My Librarian" Award from the Carnegie Corp. and The New York Times -- an honor that included a check, made out to McDaniel, for $5,000.

"I plan to report that money on my income tax and I expect to pay taxes on it," she told the lawmakers. "Even though I donated the money in its entirety to the public middle school where I work."

You heard that right.

She gave the whole five grand, after taxes, to her school. If you live in Portland, that's your school, too.

It was only the beginning.

McDaniel said she's "happy to pay those taxes" because the way she sees it, taxes are "like membership dues" for being a citizen of this great state.

She said that while she gets lots of things (education, health and safety, arts and recreation) in exchange for those "dues," she realizes "I may not personally benefit from everything that tax money is used for."

She has no problem with that. As McDaniel put it, "I try to trust that elected officials will spend money to the best benefit of society and not just to a handful of individuals."

Then, without missing a beat, she turned her attention to the budget.

She talked about how, over there, the budget contains $200 million in tax cuts -- including an expansion of the estate-tax exemption from $1 million to $2 million -- that largely would benefit Mainers who aren't exactly scraping to get by.

And how, over here, that loss of state revenue is more than offset by $413 million in various curtailments on benefits earned by retired state workers -- many of whom, like McDaniel has at King Middle for the past 11 years, served long and nobly in Maine's public schools.

Observed McDaniel, "I don't understand the rationale for this proposal."

She said she doesn't buy the idea that the tax cuts, putting significantly more money back into the pockets (or portfolios) of Maine's wealthy, will stimulate the economy.

Citing reports from the Congressional Budget Office, McDaniel said "the best way to stimulate the economy is to give modest increases to the poor. Wealthy people tend to hold on to their money, while poor people tend to spend it as they get it."

Then McDaniel, as those experts might say, "re-framed the issue."

"I don't think it's a moral decision, because taking money from people who don't have much money and giving it to people who have more money than the people you took it from seems, well, greedy," she said. "Greed is frowned upon in every major world religion -- and I don't think agnostics and atheists look too kindly upon it, either."

She wondered aloud, "Is this about a quid pro quo? A gift from elected officials to wealthy people who have donated, or will donate, to election and re-election campaigns?"

Finally, as the clock wound down, McDaniel dropped the hammer.

"It's not economically sound. It's not morally sound. And I think you know that," she said. "I would be embarrassed to support something so ludicrous -- taking from the poor to give to the rich.

"Maybe you're testing us, checking to see if we, your constituents, are really paying attention, really listening," she continued. "I hope that's what's going on, because the alternative involves me losing faith in representative government, in democracy and in you, the elected officials."

And here is the rest of it.

Campaign for Stronger Democracy

2011-02-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

"The Campaign for Stronger Democracy is a new coalition that emerged from a series of convenings to encourage greater collaboration among democracy reformers, called Strengthening Our Nation’s Democracy. The meetings were convened by AmericaSpeaks , Demos, Everyday Democracy and faculty from Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Innovation and Governance."

We don't even have to wait for them to go after everyone else. They are ALREADY coming after us. You know the main reason why all those times in the past when "our very democracy are under attack" end up seeming like overblown hysteria? Because during those times, someone somewhere made a stand and said "hands off my democracy!" And those who would deny us and take away the democracy under which we live (republic form or otherwise) knew they had better back down or else face a full-on revolution. Now is no different. WE are the ones who must back them down now.

And here is the rest of it.

Multnomah County Budget Hearings-Reminder

2011-02-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE INVITED!!-2011 MultCo Community Budget Forums in Portland & Gresham

For the 11th time in as many years Multnomah County again faces funding reductions to programs and services. With significant reductions in state funding looming next year, understanding and giving input into the County’s budget is more critical than ever!

Learn about state funding to the County and then tell decisionmakers which programs and services are the most important to you!

The forums are:
• Gresham--Thursday, Feb. 24, 6-8:15pm at the Multnomah County East Building, 600 NE 8th St. Accessible: by MAX Blue Line and buses: #1, 4, 9, 25, 26, 80. Parking is available.

• Portland--Thursday, March 3, 6-8:15pm at the Multnomah Building Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Accessible: by buses #4, 6, 10, 14. Parking is available. Child activities will be provided.

Russian and Spanish language interpreters will be provided.

Please see the attached flyer for more information. For additional questions or to request a sign language interpreter contact: Office of Citizen Involvement at 503-988-3450 or www.citizenweb.org

Robb Wolfson, Citizen Involvement Coordinator
Multnomah County Office of Citizen Involvement
503-988-3450 | robb.wolfson@multco.us
Multnomah County Building | 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Room 192 | Portland, OR 97214 And here is the rest of it.

2011 Multnomah County Community Budget Forums

2011-02-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

I read recently, in one of my texts, that Portland's spirit of public engagement may be waning, in comparison to its peak in the late 80's and 90's. I have some of the same concerns, based on my own experiences. To that end, I received this email from Multnomah County.

"With significant reductions in state funding looming, understanding and giving input into Multnomah County’s budget is more important than ever. Do you prefer Multnomah County move funds from another program to make up the difference? Which programs should the county prioritize? Come to one of MultCo's budget forums sponsored by County Chair Jeff Cogen and the Multnomah County Citizen Involvement Committee to understand how the funding system works and tell the Board of County Commissioners what you think! The forums are:

* Gresham--Thursday, Feb. 24, 6-8:15pm at the Multnomah County East Building, 600 NE 8th St.
* Portland--Thursday, March 3, 6-8:15pm at the Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

For more information contact: Office of Citizen Involvement at 503-988-3450 or www.citizenweb.org"

The budget process, never easy, is underway under some severe circumstances. What caught my attention about these particular forums, is the focus on understanding how the budget process works. More public policy processes should include that educational piece, so that we, as citizens can provide educated feedback on what our priorities are and be a part of the process for making it work, as opposed to being the recipients of policies that we neither understand nor have a say in. More than any other place I have lived (and research supports the reality of my experience), municipalities in this area-Portland, Multnomah County, Metro, for example-provides for citizen engagement. That is not to say that, there are not times when powerful people wish to move without our input, but the system is designed for us to be involved. If we are to ensure that the high level of engagement that this region is known for continues, then we must be engaged.

And here is the rest of it.

National Transgender Discrimination Survey

2011-02-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

These are some highlights from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey:

1. Respondents were nearly four times more likely to live in extreme poverty, with household income of less than $10,000.
2. Respondents were twice as likely to be unemployed compared to the population as a whole. Half of those surveyed reported experiencing harassment or other mistreatment in the workplace, and one in four were fired because of their gender identity or expression.
3. While discrimination was pervasive for the entire sample, it was particularly pronounced for people of color. African-American transgender respondents fared far worse than all others in many areas studied.
4. Housing discrimination was also common. 19% reported being refused a home or apartment and 11% reported being evicted because of their gender identity or expression. One in five respondents experienced homelessness because of their gender identity or expression.
5. An astonishing 41% of respondents reported attempting suicide, compared to only 1.6% of the general population.
6. Discrimination in health care and poor health outcomes were frequently experienced by respondents. 19% reported being refused care due to bias against transgender or gender-nonconforming people, with this figure even higher for respondents of color. Respondents also had over four times the national average of HIV infection.
7. Harassment by law enforcement was reported by 22% of respondents and nearly half were uncomfortable seeking police assistance.
8. Despite the hardships they often face, transgender and gender non-conforming persons persevere. Over 78% reported feeling more comfortable at work and their performance improving after transitioning, despite the same levels of harassment in the workplace.

The full report can be found at the National Center for Transgender Equality.
And here is the rest of it.

Queer-bashing in Portland and the police

2010-06-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last night, I attended the Queer Community Town Hall at the Q Center, that was organized in response to the recent spate of queer-bashings in Portland. The mayor was there, along with the new police chief, other high level folks from the department, someone from the district attorney's office (the only law enforcement to say "we need to take ownership of our mistakes and get better"), as well as the attorney general's office and BOLI. There were also something in the range of 140 community members (we really need to get the Q Center a new air conditioner!). There are lots of things to write about last night but I want to just put a couple of things out there. Having been a part of Ed's campaign, I have been front and center for the recent upheavals and reactions involving the Portland Police Department. I am very aware of the fact that they are undergoing some serious changes, in policy as well as personnel. However, I want to point some concerns out that many folks last night expressed last night in the after-event mingling.

To those law enforcement officials present last night: First and foremost, it really doesn't do any good to tell us that you take reports of bias and hate seriously when, as evidenced by stories shared last night, experience tells us differently. Yes we know many of you are new to your current positions, but you have been, by your own accounts, in Portland law enforcement for a long time. Unfortunately, you don't get (and the feeling was that you want this) a clean slate. It would be nice if that were possible for you, as well as people who have run ins with the law, but the simple truth is that life doesn't work that way.

Second, we heard numerous times about what the policies are-new and old. However, we also heard from community members dealt with by law enforcement in a manner which violates those policies. What was asked, and not answered well, was what is the department doing to ensure adherence to its own policies? I saw this same issue over and over regarding the African American community and their relationship with police. It doesn't MATTER what the book says or what the policy is, if there are not effective and systemic mechanisms for ensuring compliance to them. Yes, we know that, in order to expect action, we need to report incidents. However, there was nothing said last night to engender the feeling of safety necessary for promoting filing reports. By the end of last night, the onus of responsibility was put upon the community to report incidents because without that, law enforcement can't do anything. One community member commented to me that "So, obviously it is our fault that they don't protect us, right?" No it isn't. Yes we need to report incidents, but you need to do your part and actually follow though, not only with reports filed, but with proactively reaching out to our community and respecting us in interactions. As was said many times by African American community members, why should I trust you enough to file a report when you don't respect me enough to give me the time of day? That's the feeling. I can report, but will that actually protect me? Will you? There is a lot of doubt about that, and with good reason. Telling us what the policy is and how much you care, isn't going to fix that.

Now, I have (as does Pride) a positive, working relationship with the police. However, I don't take that for granted and I don't assume that this will always be the case. There is too much evidence pointing to the fact that problems may occur, and too many accounts from my friends, fellow students, and other community members for me to ignore the fact that there is a systemic issue here and I have likely just lucked out so far. Fortunately, last night's town hall is only the first of many because this issue (not to mention bringing our own community together as a whole) is going to take concerted effort and some really honest deliberations.

And here is the rest of it.

An Open Letter to the LGBTQ community from the President of Pride Northwest

2010-05-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Questions continue to be raised about the intentions, responsiveness and decision-making process of the Board of Pride Northwest. Since we are responsible to the entire community for our actions, we feel a need to answer these questions in a public forum, directly and, we hope, definitively.

One of the greatest misperceptions about Pride Northwest is that we make closed-door decisions that ignore the community will. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your feedback is key to our development as a community-based organization. We have listened for four years to a community that has felt abandoned by Pride, to other community organizations who felt no connection to Pride; to the marginalized communities within the larger LGBTQ community who have been searching for a voice with which to make their presence and needs known; all while still respecting and celebrating our diversity. Yes, we have been listening, and we are proud of the decisions we have made as a result.

Two years ago, for example, a few members of the community complained about our decision to restrict smoking on the festival grounds at the waterfront. In making that decision, we were responding to the serious concerns of our youth and non-smokers, including families, who objected to the health risks of exposure to second-hand smoke. That risk has been well documented and we believe it was the right thing to do for our community even in an outdoor venue.

One recent decision that has garnered some publicity concerns the changing parade route. We understand the confusion the community experienced when first one new route was announced, and then a modified version was announced a short time later. As we stated to the media there were both internal and external reasons for this change.

Externally, the city has established certain policies regarding the permitting process that we are required to follow. Much to our surprise, these policies did not favor the new route that, based upon a preliminary approval by the City, we announced in March. We were not made aware of these policies at the time, nor did the City inform us of them until after the announcement had been made. As a result we were required to shift the route again slightly, from Stark Street to Burnside. We do not think that change to be all that significant, especially as the Parade will now travel down the major East/West artery of the city and the businesses on Stark Street can continue to have their block party, which generates revenue for struggling businesses during this touch economy.

Internally, we had good reasons to change the route back to Stark Street, which we have shared publicly and will restate here. First, however, some history. The traditional parade route went down Stark Street for many years, through the heart of the LGBTQ community. The previous route was changed in 2005 by the will of the acting board at that time to create the shortest most visible route possible. Some folks with disabilities voiced concerns that the route for the parade was too long, making it difficult for them to participate. Also, a community partnership was formed with the businesses on Stark Street in order to allow them a block party while shortening the parade route. As much thought and consideration went into changing the route in 2005 as has taken place in 2010.

Some people in our community have stated that marching past Pioneer Courthouse Square provides an opportunity to challenge the notions of those outside our community about who we are, as a community; that moving back to our historical roots is akin to going back into the closet. It makes us wonder for whose benefit these critics think we operate the parade and festival. Yes, it is partly to educate our straight neighbors, but it is first and foremost a community celebration for us by us to which we invite the rest of the city. Pride is not about what “they” think of us, it’s about what we think of ourselves. In the opinion of the current board, having the parade on one street or another should not determine our opinion of who we are as a community.

When we thought about the implications of this year’s theme, “Pride to the People,” we knew we wanted the parade route to reflect where the community actually lives, works and plays. The new route expresses a commitment to bring the parade past our businesses and recreational venues. The new route invites the city to come see how we live right now. We would rather showcase the neighborhoods downtown where the community resides, drawing attention to the reality of our lives, than commit scarce resources to maintaining a “show” of visibility. Visibility is about more than parade floats once a year; it is about being present in neighborhoods, businesses, the arts and community organizations every day of the year.

We have also stated that one of our motivations for moving away from Pioneer Square was a desire to maintain or lower our costs, and with good reason. We are committed to adroit financial management of the funds entrusted us by the community. In these tight fiscal times, when many non-profits are struggling, Pride Northwest is one of the few non-profit, volunteer-run Pride organizations to remain financially sound. The money that we saved by moving away from Pioneer Square has already been reinvested to help other LGBTQ organizations working to better our community.

Some of the organizations and efforts that we have financially supported in recent years include Portland Latino Gay Pride (La Lucha!), Black Pride, the Trans March and Dyke March, the Q Center, The Gender Free for All, Our House of Portland, Basic Rights Oregon, the Elder Resource Alliance, Deaf and Hearing Outreach, the HIV Day Center, and the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (not a complete list). This year we have chosen to also assist the “Bridges to Independence” organizers as they struggle to provide unique services to LGBTQ people with developmental disabilities, and to honor the contribution of Native American “Two-Spirit” people. We were also major sponsors of the first ever Oregon Queer Youth Summit, a statewide queer youth empowerment partnership between SMYRC and the Safe Schools and Community Coalition. Though our Pride 365 initiative, we will continue to seek out opportunities to recognize, support, and celebrate the broad diversity of our community, in keeping with our mission.

We would like to end with a statement of the values that guide all of our decision-making, and let the community judge whether or not these are the correct priorities for Pride Northwest. We welcome your feedback at our open Board Meetings and your active participation in the organization.

As an organization, we are committed to:

•Social justice and making organizational, fiscal, and social choices that enhance the lives of those in the LGBTQ and Allied communities of Portland, of diverse backgrounds.

•A free and accessible, donation-based festival

•Diversity in the selection of speakers, entertainers, and award recipients

•Diversity in our sponsorships, partnerships, volunteers and hiring process.

•Deficit-free budgeting to ensure our financial stability and integrity

•All-volunteer and diverse Board of Directors

•An open meeting structure to which all community members are invited to participate and to voice their concerns and suggestions.

•Avoidance of taking stands on issues that may divide our community in any meaningful way. The organization and celebration of Pride is unique in that we are expected to represent and speak to the full spectrum of our community.

•Working to advance the status of traditionally disenfranchised or underrepresented groups within the LGBTQ community.

•Support for local LGBTQ and Allied vendors and businesses.

•Outreach to and partnership with community organizations committed to the equality and betterment of the LGBTQ and Allied communities.

•A unified queer community that is free of bias or discrimination in which all people are valued and respected.

Thank you for listening.
And here is the rest of it.

Oregon heatwave-could be worse

2009-07-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of my mom, who still lives in Texas...lol.

*Note-This is NOT her actual diary!:)

Dear Diary

Just moved to Texas! Now this is a state that knows how to live!! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a place! It is beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here.

June 14th:

Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun worshiper.

June 30th:

Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing the lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.

July 10th:

The temperature hasn't been below 100 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least, it's kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer than I expected.

July 15th:

Fell asleep by the community pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body). Missed 3 days of work.. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.

July 20th:

I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag, then popped like a water balloon. The car now smells like Kibbles and Sh*ts. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat. Good ol' Mr. Sun strikes again.

July 25th:

The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer!! And it's hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and the AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.

July 30th:

Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now, $225,000 house and I can't even go inside. Lomita is the lucky one. Why did I ever come here?

Aug. 4th:

It's 115 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 85. I hate this stupid state.

Aug. 8th:

If another wise a*s cracks, 'Hot enough for you today?' I'm going to strangle him. Damn heat. By the time I get to work, the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!

Aug. 9th:

Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when sat on the seats in the car, I thought my ass was on fire. My skin melted to the seat. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and a*s . . . Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried a*s, and baked cat.

Aug 10th:

The weather report might as well be a damn recording. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It's been too hot to do Sh*t for 2 damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn state? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can't live in this damn heat.

Aug. 14th:

Welcome to H*LL! Temperature got to 115 today. Cactus are dead. Forgot to crack the window and blew the damn windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and guess what he asked me??? "Hot enough for you today?" My sister had to spend $1,500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking Texas. What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here?? Will write later to let you know how the trial goes.

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Ballpark in Lents

2009-06-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

I just received this email update:

ROSE CDC Executive Director, Nick Sauvie shares the story and says it best:

"At 12:30 pm today [June 19th], prior to entering a meeting with Mayor Adams, I learned that Mr. Paulson had withdrawn his proposal to use urban renewal funds to build a minor league baseball stadium in Lents Park. The reason cited was non-support from the neighborhood. According to OPB, Commissioner [Randy] Leonard has withdrawn his support for MLS soccer in Portland and [Merritt] Paulson is not interested in alternative sites in Lents, [or] less reliance on Lents urban renewal funds. Thanks to everyone who worked so diligently on this campaign including allies at the Oregon Opportunity Network, Community Alliance of Tenants, Coalition for a Livable Future, League of Women Voters and the awesome Friends of Lents Park.

"I know that the many people who supported the stadium in Lents Park sincerely believed that the proposal would have been good for the neighborhood and are disappointed by this result. Hopefully everyone can move ahead from here toward our shared goals of building an even stronger community." And here is the rest of it.

Legislation explained

2009-06-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I haven't posted in over a month. I've been busy getting ready to graduate and with planning for the Pride festival (June 13-14!) but this was worth sharing.

I absolutely love it when law-makers actually take the time to explain in detail (but not mired in legalese) the impact of legislation that gets passed. Michael Dembrow is outstanding at this.

From his most recent newsletter:

HB 2578, the predatory towing bill that I sponsored with Rep. Chuck Riley, unanimously passed the Senate today. The bill requires a tower to contact a property owner or tenant before towing and allows the vehicle owner to move their vehicle without fees beyond the initial hookup. The bill also requires that parking rules be clearly posted by a landlord.

Patrol towing generally involves an agreement between a property owner and tower to allow any unauthorized vehicle on the property to be towed without notice. HB 2578 prohibits this practice except for in cases where public safety or access is compromised. The bill would also require a tower to take photographic evidence of a parking infraction before towing a vehicle. There was a minor amendment on the Senate side, so the bill will come back to us in the House for a concurrence vote, and then on to the Governor.

Hearing Revenue Bills

Last week I reported on the Co-Chairs’ proposed budget, involves $2 billion in very difficult cuts. It’s a very daunting prospect, very tough work. But it will be even worse if we cannot find ways to add new revenue to the budget; the budget assumes that we will be able to raise $800 million through increases in individual and corporate taxes. Our office has received emails and letters opposing any increases in the upper tax brackets, but many more in support of asking wealthier Oregonians to help us get through these difficult times.

I want to clarify one thing about the individual income tax. We are currently looking at an increase of just under 2% (above the current 9%) for those with household incomes above $250,000. Some have been misinforming the public and saying that all their taxable income will be taxed at this higher rate. That’s not true. The additional 2% is ONLY on the income above $250,000. So, for a family with a $260,000 income, they would only see their taxes increased on the additional $10,000 in income. And here is the rest of it.

Connecting Schools to Family and the Community

2009-05-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

Message from PCC Cascade's campus president:

Cascade Campus and Portland Public Schools will hold a joint event, Connecting Schools to Family and the Community—A Discussion with Karen Mapp, on May 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., MAHB 104 (lunch will be provided). The first 50 registrants for this event will receive a free copy of one of Dr. Mapp’s books, Beyond the Bake Sale. Dr. Mapp is a lecturer with Harvard School of Graduate Education.

The official flier and RSVP information is linked below.

http://www.pcc.edu/about/locations/cascade/documents/Karen-Mapp-PCC-Flyer.pdf
http://www.pcc.edu/about/locations/cascade/documents/Karen-Mapp-All-Informational.pdf

This is a free event!

Hope you can join us.

Thanks,

Algie… And here is the rest of it.

Pride NW Letter to Community

2009-05-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. With that in mind, Pride NW wants to give tribute to the past and present accomplishments of our global community in relation to civil rights. Additionally, the past year has been one of highs and lows for the LGBTQ community. Both locally (with the division amongst our community about mayor Sam Adams), and on a National level (with anti-same sex marriage Proposition 8 in California and similar measures in other states) we have seen visible division. These facts, in combination with Pride Northwest's continued efforts to reach out to the many facets of our diverse community by building community partnerships over the last few years with, including but not limited to; Portland Latino Gay Pride, Black Pride (put on by The Unity Project), Basic Rights Oregon, the Portland Area Business Association, the Q Center, SHARE, the Sexual Minorities Youth Resource Center, Our House of Portland, and many others, has led us to choose this year's theme, "United We Stand."

The process for choosing this theme was extensive. Pride Northwest Inc. asked for community input via our website, word-of-mouth, advertising in Just Out magazine, a press release, and lengthy discussion amongst our board members. In addition to this process, Pride Northwest Inc. board members checked in with other west coast Pride celebrations to see what their themes were this year. It seemed that everyone was trying to create a comprehensive message of unity. Pride Northwest Inc. is not exempt from this effort. Especially considering that, in the past, we fully acknowledge that this nonprofit organization has not always been proactively inclusive or successfully built bridges within all areas of our community as is our responsibility. This sad fact has left deep wounds in some facets of our lives and Pride Northwest Inc. is dedicated to doing as good a job as possible in repairing past shortcomings and in new ways to be the best we can be. We serve this community and that is our only function.

We cannot do this alone. We are not perfect. We need community input, direction, guidance, and checks and balances to help us all do our best. We always invite positive new energy on our board and within our organization and constructive criticism from the community whose diversity is our soul. We thank you for caring about the Portland Pride celebration and ask you all to stand united with us to make our world a better place.

For us, Pride Northwest is a work in progress and we are completely committed to working toward that vision of inclusion and representation that the community looks for and expects from us.

This year's festival is the weekend of June 13-14, with the parade on Sunday the 14th. More details at pridenw.org

And here is the rest of it.

Tuition Equity in Oregon

2009-04-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

This is one of those issues that drives me nuts because of the misinformation and outright untruths that gets spewed from the woodwork.

Very specifically, Tuition Equity (HB 2939) does the following:

Tuition Equity is a policy that would allow students to pay in-state tuition at Oregon University System institutions as long as they fulfill the following requirements:

1.They have attended an Oregon high school for three years prior to graduation
2.They have graduated from an Oregon high school
3.They have been admitted to an Oregon University institution
4.They are working towards residency
*How hard is it for people to understand this? One of the most common arguments I hear against this bill has to do with "they broke the law, (keeping in mind we are talking about children here) make them go the legal route like the rest of us." Well guess what? They ARE going the legal route (see #4 above) which, by the way, can take years (up to 10).

All of this, regardless of documentation status.

What it won’t do:

1. Change eligibility for state-based financial aid

Another argument that I hear that is completely without truth or logic, is that we are giving folks a "discount" and should make them pay the higher price. Well guess what? They aren't paying anything to BEGIN WITH, because they can't AFFORD it. We aren't losing tuition here, we are GAINING it. Any attempt to say otherwise is an untruth, period.

I realize that this is a passionate issue and that I am likely to see an increase in comment traffic. I would ask folks to refer to the few policies I adhere to for comments. If you plan to rant about brown people and the "damage" they allegedly cause, don't bother. Aside from the fact that I won't tolerate it, it just makes you look sad.
And here is the rest of it.

Paid Family Leave in Oregon, SB 966

2009-04-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

This seems like a no-brainer to me. We consistently complain about lack of family structure and investment in our children and yet we don't take steps to provide even the most basic and crucial time for care of those families. You can't have it both ways. How many reports need to be done and how many personal stories need to be heard and how many scenes of desperation do we need to witness before we actually GET that Paid Family Leave is in all of our best interests as a society? Now I know that people think this is "coddling" workers who should be glad to have the scraps thrown at them as it is. But you know what? Every single one of us is going to face the need for time off at some point in our lives, whether through having children or to give back some time to that parent that gave so much to us to begin with. And for anyone to label that coddling or over the top or unnecessary? Those who do that have forgotten or are ignoring the sacrifices and effort that has gone before them, getting them to where they are. They have forgotten or are ignoring the fact that we don't live in, nor do we want (unless you have decided to denounce that you are human to begin with), an "everyone for themselves" society. They have forgotten the United We Stand implicit in the E Pluribus Unum part of this country's creed and motto. And here is the rest of it.

Food "Safety" Legislation

2009-04-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

H.R.875
Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)

From Stephen Lendman:

Some Likely Truths about HR 875

Several recent articles and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) offered their analyses. They believe this and companion bills are vehicles to let agribusiness control the entire US food supply, destroy independent local farming, and end the production of healthy organic food. They may be right.

Linn Cohen-Cole calls HR 875 "monstrous on level after level - the power it would give to Monsanto (and other Ag giants), the criminalization of seed banking, the prison terms and confiscatory fines for farmers, the 24 hour GPS tracking of animals, the easement on their property to allow for warrantless government entry, the stripping away of their property rights, the imposition (of) "industrial" standards, (and) planned elimination of (independent) farmers through all (the above) means."

It's no secret that Ag giants want all foods to be GMOs so they have total control. It's an agenda going back decades that Engdahl explained in his book. The science came out of US research labs in the 1970s when no one noticed or paid attention. It became apparent when the Reagan administration decided to make America dominant in a friendly unregulated environment, unmindful of safety and public health concerns, that's persisted ever since under Republican and Democrat administrations.

Monsanto is the dominant producer, a company with a long record of fraud, cover-up, bribery, deceit, and disdain for the public interest, yet it has enormous clout in Washington. In the 1980s, and especially under GHW Bush, it got unregulated free reign for its operations. A Bush Executive Order assured it. It ruled GMO plants and food to be "substantially equivalent" to ordinary ones of the same varieties, such as corn, wheat or rice. "Substantial equivalence" became the standard for the GMO revolution by sweeping away all regulatory restraints in spite of early concerns about safety that were confirmed overwhelmingly later on.

PASA says don't be fooled by the bill's deceptive language that hides its true intentions. Code words like "traceability, source verification, and best farming practices with proven scientific results" will force farmers to tag every animal (the requirement for industrial farms is one per 800,000) and use drugs, pesticides and GM seeds.

Already an Ohio state agricultural department swat team raided an organic food coop. The same thing happened to Pennsylvania Mennonite farmers and Wisconsin Amish ones. Other independents have been terrorized by home break-ins, burglaries, and treetop helicopter over-flights scaring animals to death. Conventional seed farmers like North Dakota's Rodney Nelson have been sued by Monsanto for infringing on its patent rights because wind currents landed GM seeds on his land. In Poland, pro-agribusiness laws eliminated 60% of small farmers. Ones in the UK led to 60 suicides and in India to over 180,000.

From 1996 - 2004, worldwide GMO plantings expanded to 167 million acres, a 40-fold increase on 25% of global arable land. Over two-thirds of US farmland grows GMOs, more than 106 million acres. Argentina has 34 million acres, and production is expanding in Brazil, China, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Spain, Eastern Europe, and wherever else Ag giants have clout. They want it all, everywhere, and have complicit government allies to help them, here and abroad.

In Iraq, Paul Bremer's Order 81 covers patents, their duration, and stated: "Farmers shall be prohibited from re-using seeds of protected varieties or any (designated) variety." It gave Ag giants absolute control over farmers' seed usage for 20 years. They're now GMO, owned by the transnationals, and Iraqi farmers had to sign an agreement to pay a "technology fee" as well as an annual license fee. Plant Variety Protection (PVP) made seed saving and reuse illegal, and even "similar" seed plantings can result in severe fines and imprisonment. Agribusiness wants the same rights everywhere, including in America. If they get it, the future of organic and independent farming will be threatened.

PASA says HR 875 doesn't regulate, prohibit or penalize private gardens or farmers markets directly. It focuses solely on ensuring supermarket food safety. But it regulates seeds, harvesting, transporting, seed storage facilities, and seed cleaning equipment under "food safety" provisions to prevent contamination - from agricultural water and manure, not pesticides, fertilizers, or unsafe GM seeds.

Seed cleaning equipment is crucial as it's how organic seed is saved. It's used after plants "go to seed" to separate them from plant material so farmers can harvest and store them for future plantings. HR 875 doesn't mention seeds but PASA believes its intent is to criminalize their banking through code language and bill provisions. Already, some areas of the country ban seed cleaning. Monsanto is likely involved, and the scheme is to claim the equipment produces contamination.

To prevent it, Ag giants want provisions that require expensive storage facilities, per line of seed. Organic farmers can't afford them, and this has nothing to do with food safety. But HR 875 claims it does.

PASA says FDA and USDA targeted organic and other independent farmers for years, at least since the early 1980s when high interest rates drove many out of business. Today, pro-industry laws have the same effect because Ag giants like Monsanto demand them. If they succeed, biodiversity and organic farming are at risk along with public health and safety to a greater degree than already given the amount of tainted and dangerous foods allowed, not addressed in HR 875.

While bill language doesn't prohibit organic or independent farming, that's the likely aim. Its provisions are Ag business-friendly, but destructive to small competitors by establishing heavy fines, imprisonment, onerous rules, and letting regulators interpret them as they wish.

Bill language also doesn't mandate a national animal ID system (NAIS) but does it by claiming it's in current law. It's so deceptive that Congress and consumer and food safety groups support it. But some are industry funded so look the other way when they should know better.

HR 875 and its companion bills are under consideration in committees, not yet voted into law. Activists feel now is the time to stop them before it's too late. Agribusiness wants total control over every step in the production, processing, distribution, storage, and marketing of foods to consumers.

Using the ruse of food safety and security, they aim to eliminate competition to have it all and replace wholesome foods with unsafe GMOs. Congress is willing to go along. And why not. Representatives like DeLauro get large Ag business contributions. In return, they assure bills like HR 875 are passed. It's for concerned people to stop them.
And here is the rest of it.

"Canard" is my new favorite word

2009-04-02T19:18:00.001-07:00

And here is the rest of it.

Office of Public Liason

2009-03-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

I know that the cynics out there will assume this to be a waste of time and even I realize that I am unlikely to get a personal phone call from President Obama in response to a message from me. However, it is my understanding that SOMEONE reads the mail submitted through the Office of Public Liason, which was established as part of Whitehouse.gov in January. I haven't had a chance to check everything out, but there does appear to be a wealth of information and of course the email page.

At the least, it appears to be a more direct way to get your voice heard.

And here is the rest of it.

SB 328-Illegal debt collection prevention

2009-03-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

From Attorney General Kroger:

JOHN R. KROGER

Attorney General

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

March 24, 2009

Dear friends,

We have a great opportunity to protect Oregon’s consumers. The House will vote on SB 328 on Thursday. If approved, this bill will protect Oregonians from abusive debt collection tactics.

We need your help to make this happen.

Complaints about debt collection agencies have been on the Oregon Department of Justice’s Top 10 Consumer Complaint List since 2001, and complaints are on the rise. In Oregon, unfortunately, there is currently no state agency able to enforce illegal debt collection practices. Senate Bill 328 would close this loophole by giving the Attorney General the authority to hold debt collection agencies accountable when they violate the law, just like any other industry.

Earlier this month SB 328 was passed with strong bipartisan support in the Senate. Last week the House Consumer Protection Committee sent a strong pro-consumer message by sending it to the House Floor with a unanimous recommendation in favor of passage. Now the bill is headed for a vote.

Similar legislation has been defeated twice before by powerful lobbying interests. This year may be different but your legislators need to hear from you. The lobby is mobilized and is intent on defeating SB 328.

Please contact your legislator and urge them to support SB 328. You can locate contact information for your representative, or email them directly using this link.

Thank you so much for helping the Department of Justice do more to protect the citizens of our state.

Sincerely,

John R. Kroger

Attorney General of Oregon

One note: Even though this is a senate bill, it has already passed there and is coming up for a vote in the House and so it is our representatives that need to hear from us.
And here is the rest of it.

Safe Schools passes Education Committee

2009-03-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

In a year that is going to to be almost nothing but suck-ass for students, of any age, it is nice to get some good news. K-12, community members, and college students from all over Oregon have been working on this for a long time. Now we need to make sure it passes the House vote.

From BRO:

After a hugely successful Day of Action on Friday, it's official: The House Education Committee has passed the Oregon Safe Schools Act! In a 9 to 1 vote, committee members approved the bill for a full vote from the House.

That means that in as little as a few days, the House of Representatives could vote on House Bill 2599. Now, more than ever, your legislator needs to hear from YOU!

Contact your Representative today!

Email your Representative TODAY and tell them to vote YES on House Bill 2599! Tell them that ALL youth deserve to grow up free from intimidation and harassment in school.

Even if you've previously sent a message. Even if you were one of the over 300 fair-minded Oregonians to stand up for Oregon youth at the Capitol on Friday. Your Representative needs to hear from you TODAY!

Click on the BRO link above to send a message to your reps in Salem.

And here is the rest of it.

International Women's Day

2009-03-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

Somehow I don't know why I am surprised at the overall lack of coverage for the fact that, not only is this Women's History Month, today is International Women's day, now in its 99th year (although it took the UN 67 years to recognize it). Yesterday, a meeting took place in Monrovia of many of the top women leaders in the world. Here is some of what they had to say:

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state, saluted the distinguished gathering of political and business leaders, saying: "You motivate us, you inspire us, you encourage us to continue."

Sirleaf took power in the west African nation ravaged by 14 years of back-to-back civil wars, and her Finnish counterpart Tarja Holonen was quick to point out that women played a leading role in healing war wounds.

She said experience showed that the role women play "in conflict resolution and reconciliation in post war is very vital. This country Liberia is a good example of that."

Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean, originally a Haitian refugee, echoed the theme that women were the best guarantors of peace.

"I'm telling you: give women the means to react and you will see less violence, you will see the end of sickness and illiteracy because women never forget that life is the most precious thing.

"Exclude women and you will fail," Jean added at the Monrovia gathering, which will debate the future of women.

And from UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon:

"Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstances, by any political leader or by any government," said Ban.

He revealed that around the world, one woman in five has been a victim of rape or attempted rape, and that in some countries one woman in three has been beaten or subjected to some kind of violent act.

"Violence against women is an abomination. I'd like to call it a crime against humanity," he said.

Damn skippy.

And here is the rest of it.

Appropriating Our Language

2009-02-27T01:50:00.000-08:00

Spread far and wide. We have to retain the control of this conversation or the falsehoods spread by ultra-conservatives will be repeated enough to become truth (see Rove playbook).

And here is the rest of it.

Memo from County Chair

2009-02-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

Ouch. County Commissioner Cogen posted this on his website:

Chair Wheeler's budget memo to county employees:

The weakening of the economy continues to bring disheartening news for Multnomah County. Today’s state revenue forecast predicts further erosion of the state economy which will result in a significant decline in state funding to Multnomah County. The state reports a $855.3 million budget shortfall for the current year and a $3 billion deficit for the 09-11 biennium. Multnomah County faces a $36.5 million General Fund shortfall in FY 2010, which grows to $45.9 million in FY 2011. These numbers are unprecedented, continue to change, and will result in deep reductions to county services.

The federal economic stimulus plan may present some relief, but the details of how and if federal dollars will affect local government are yet to be determined.

Since I took office, I have worked toward preparing us for the lean times by paying down debt and taking a conservative approach to budgeting. I have asked department directors, the District Attorney and Sheriff to bring forward plans for reductions, including options for savings of four percent from the current budget year. For fiscal year 2010, I have asked for general fund budget reductions of 12 percent across the board.

Painful cuts are necessary, and we will do everything we can to minimize the impact on the vulnerable people who depend on us. The county is the safety net for many members of our community. The numbers of people seeking our assistance continues to grow, as home foreclosures, unemployment and the cost of basic needs, such as food, housing, fuel and utilities increase.

What is clear is that future demands for our services will be greater than the resources we have available. We will focus on investing in programs that can demonstrate successful outcomes and have proven track records. Some layoffs are necessary and could be reduced if we can find creative ways to save money. I am proud of the relationships we have built with union leadership that have enabled us to look at ways to save as many jobs as possible while reducing the budget. I am hopeful that these productive conversations will continue.

The Board of County Commissioners will ultimately make decisions in June about which services will be continued and which services will be cut in fiscal year 2010.

The timeline for budget deliberations is as follows:
February 13 Program offers submitted
March 2 and 16 Budget community forums
April 23 Chair releases Executive Budget
May Public budget hearings
June 4 Board adopts FY 2010 Budget

I understand that Multnomah County employees, like people everywhere, are anxious about their economic and job security and I know that we have tough times ahead. If we can support each other, I know we can weather the rough spots and find the best ways to keep moving forward. These are challenging times, but I firmly believe that we are up to the challenge.

Really painful to read but I appreciate knowing this. Damn-12%?...blehhhhh....

And here is the rest of it.

Human Trafficking in Portland

2009-02-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

From The Not For Sale Campaign:

Did you know that Portland Police identify at least 3-5 cases of human trafficking per week right here in Portland? Come find out how you can help in spreading awareness and fight this epidemic in our state.

“The Not For Sale Campaign” is pleased to announce that the Backyard College Abolitionist Tour is Coming to Portland on Saturday, February 21st from 7-9pm (doors open @ 6pm) @ The Red Sea Church 7535 N. Chicago St.

This gripping multimedia event brings together lecture, film and music to expose the truth about the 27 million individuals currently held in slavery today. Not For Sale founder, Dr. Dave Batstone and award-winning singer/songwriter, Brant Christopher Menswar will be together in Portland weaving songs into stories while being supported by riveting video; all in an effort to emotionally connect the audience with the global slave trade. It is a gripping night of heart breaking truth and inspirational victories.
And here is the rest of it.

The HRC-Not inclusive-Let me count the ways

2009-02-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

I've posted here before about the HRC, and my ambivalence regarding their policies and tactics. I understand enough of politics to know that no one, anywhere gets everything all at once, particularly when it involves changing social "acceptability." However, that is not to say that people, groups and organizations are doing themselves or anyone any good by backing off their end goals-which is what theHRC did with ENDA (I am giving the benefit of the doubt and assuming that full inclusion is their actual end goal.) I'm not so ambivalent anymore and this is a major reason why:

This week, the Human Rights Campaign released its 2009 State of the Workplace report and Corporate Equality Index (CEI) ratings of large US employers for GLBT inclusive policies and practices.[1] Perfect 100% ratings were awarded to a record 260 major companies, up from 195 in 2008. In a press release from Workplace Project Manager Samir Luther, the HRC boasted that 175 of the Fortune-500 businesses and 60 of the Fortune-100 firms now have gender identity protection in their employment policies.

Sounds pretty good...but then there is this:

Despite years of objection by health advocates for the trans-community, the HRC continues to omit medically necessary transition care as a requirement for a perfect 100% CEI score. Employees who suffer distress with their physical sex characteristics or ascribed gender role (often termed gender dysphoria) are singled out by many employers for exclusion from coverage for corrective procedures that are not excluded for other employees. By rewarding these employers with 100% scores, the HRC perpetuates this discrimination.

I am a pragmatist and to me being pragmatic is not the same thing as throwing someone else under the bus in order to get the crumbs that most serve you on a personal level. Even if we don't get it right out of the gate...we still have to demand it.
And here is the rest of it.

Obstructionism is a tired old tactic

2009-02-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hilda Solis needs to be confirmed. Why the GOP seems to think that times have not changed is beyond me.

And here is the rest of it.

Lilly Ledbetter-All we need now is President Obama's autograph

2009-01-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

Yep yep.

Hoyer Statement on Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today in support of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which passed the House and is now headed to President Obama for his signature. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“I am proud that one of the very first bills passed by this House in the 111th Congress was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. In passing that bill, we recognized that sexism and discrimination can still cheat women out of equal pay and equal worth—a theft of livelihood and dignity that is especially damaging as families across our country struggle to pay their bills. Within my lifetime, sexism in the workplace could be blatant and unashamed; but today, it does some of its worst work in secret. We can take a stand against it by voting for final passage today.

“It was secret sexism that cheated Lilly Ledbetter out of thousands of dollars, for years. And we repeat her story not because it is unique and shocking, but because it is typical of the experiences of so many American women.

“Ms. Ledbetter was a supervisor at a tire plant, and for years she was paid less than her male coworkers. For years, though, she was left in the dark, and by the time she finally saw the proof, it was too late. The Supreme Court ruled that even though Ms. Ledbetter had suffered clear discrimination, she had missed a technicality—she had failed to file suit 180 days after her first unfair paycheck. Of course, Ms. Ledbetter didn’t even know her paychecks were unfair until years after the fact. But the justices decided that women like her were out of luck for a lifetime.

“The Court’s flawed ruling left many victims of pay discrimination without legal recourse. With this bill, we aim to restore that right to redress by allowing employees to file suit 180 days after each unfair paycheck—because pay discrimination is an ongoing practice that is renewed every time an employer signs an unfair paycheck.

“Opponents of this bill might argue that it will lead to more lawsuits. I’d respond that employers who discriminate could end those lawsuits tomorrow, if they paid their female employees fairly. But until that happens, women who face sexism have every right to get the pay, and the respect, they deserve.

“So I urge my colleagues to support final passage of this bill and send it to President Obama’s desk. It would be fitting if this were one of the first bills he signed—a reminder that, even in hard times, we can always make time for justice.” And here is the rest of it.

RIP Gag Rule-Don't let the door hit ya in the ass

2009-01-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

From the Feminist Majority:

President Barack Obama issued an executive order today that repealed the Global Gag Rule.

This executive order will have a monumental impact by saving the life, health, and suffering of literally millions of women worldwide yearly. In part because of restricted access to reproductive health services caused by the Global Gag Rule, more than 70,000 women annually die from unsafe abortions worldwide and the incidence of HIV/AIDS is skyrocketing.

The Global Gag Rule prohibited family planning programs in other nations that receive US aid from using non-US monies for abortion counseling, advocacy, and referrals. The rule was instituted by President Reagan in 1984, was repealed by President Clinton, and was reinstituted by President George W. Bush.

The Global Gag Rule inhibited women worldwide from access to gynecological exams, AIDS prevention and treatment, and contraceptive options. It also halted shipment of condoms and contraceptives to more than 20 countries.

And here is the rest of it.

Bishop Gene Robinson's Untelevised Invocation

2009-01-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

BISHOP EUGENE ROBINSON:

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will bless us with tears, tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless this nation with anger, anger at discrimination at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort, at the easy, simplistic answers we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth about ourselves and our world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be fixed any time soon and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility, open to understanding that our own needs as a nation must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance, replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.

And bless us with compassion and generosity, remembering that every religion’s god judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States. Give him wisdom beyond his years. Inspire him with President Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for all people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady, calm captain.

Give him stirring words. We will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him colorblind, reminding him of his own words, that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him strength to find family time and privacy. And help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we are asking far too much of this one. We implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand, that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace. And here is the rest of it.

Goodwill happens

2008-12-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

In Baltimore:

Running out of money to buy food, David P. Anderson was among the first to file into the dining room yesterday at Our Daily Bread. Behind him, dozens waited in line on Christmas morning as Anderson sat down to a turkey dinner and reached first for the cranberry relish.

But it wasn't until he was walking out of the downtown Baltimore soup kitchen that Anderson learned who had prepared the meal and served it to him.

For the 15th year, members of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation stepped in so the usual volunteers, several of them Christians, could celebrate Christmas Day at home with their families.

"That's beautiful," said Anderson, 54, a disabled shipyard worker who lives in Cherry Hill. [...]

Yesterday, 48 members of the Pikesville synagogue served a turkey dinner to the needy in a room featuring a carving titled " The Christ of the Bread Lines," pictures of Pope John Paul II and a poster with quotes from Mother Teresa.

"It's the true meaning of the holidays," said Joann Levy. "When Christmas and Hanukkah overlap, it's very special. For me, we are separated by very little. We are more the same than different."

Well...there you go.

And here is the rest of it.

Bush's parting shot at Women

2008-12-18T16:49:00.000-08:00

I'm telling you, it's not just the big news-maker stories that we are up against, with the outgoing administration (I dedided to be nice and not call him a doof).

Take action.

And here is the rest of it.

In Other Words Open Letter

2008-12-17T15:57:00.001-08:00

This is an open letter from In Other Words' staff and Board, including an update on where they are at now:

Dear friends,

In Other Words, like so many of our fellow independent bookstores, has fallen upon incredibly hard financial times. If we are unable to raise $11,000 by the end of December, In Other Words will have to close its doors in early March. Many of you may have already heard about this financial crisis and in an effort to be as transparent as possible, we want to let you all know about the specifics of the situation and to update you on our progress.

The $11,000 is needed to pay back a short-term loan that is expiring in January. We have been unable to come up with the funds on our own due to significantly decreased store and textbook sales, likely the result of the economy's recession. Unfortunately, our financial troubles will not be over once we pay back this loan. Like many others, we're affected by the recent decrease in availability of bank loans and we're going to need to raise an additional $10,000 by March to pay off our expiring line of credit.

We know it sounds crazy that a small bookstore in Portland could raise this much money in such a short time, however our community of locals, out of town family and friends, as well as feminists nationwide have responded in full force to our plea. They are making online donations, swarming through our doors to support the store by doing their shopping and attending events, and by getting the word out to their own communities that we need help. And its working– we've made over $7,000 in the 5 days since we announced our financial crisis! Clearly, In Other Words is an institution that our community will not let go under.

As promising as this looks, we still have a long way to go to reach our goal. In addition to urging people to make tax-deductible donations online through our secure website (https://www.chi-cash-advance.com/sforms/appeal804/contribute.asp), in person, or by mailing a check to us at 8 B NE Killingsworth, Portland, OR 97211, there are a number of other ways we're asking people to support us.

1. Come to the Dance Party Fundraiser for In Other Words, this Sunday, December 21st from 7-11pm at Zaytoon, 2236 NE Alberta. $5 and up donation, 21+. Special thanks to Aysha Ghazoul (Zaytoon), Sossity Chiricuzio (Dirty Queer), Stacy (DykeTees), and Tamara (Poster Child) for making it happen.
2. Do your holiday shopping at In Other Words and receive 10% off feminist gift packages
3. Mark your calendars for our After Solstice Book Sale which will run the month of January – 50% off selected titles
4. Get involved in our community by attending one of our many in-store events and discussion groups or sign up to volunteer (more info at www.inotherwords.org)

Here are some things we're doing on our end to promote In Other Words' long-term sustainability:

1. Restructuring and rebuilding our board of directors to promote increased functionality and fundraising ability
2. Applying for external funding in the form of 2 grants
3. Expanding volunteer-driven grassroots fundraising efforts to include multiple fundraising events throughout the year – the first of which is scheduled for Saturday, February 7th at 7pm
4. Appealing to major donors and promoting our revamped monthly sustainer giving program, Every Woman Strong
5. Restructuring our store's inventory to reflect current buying trends

We are optimistic that with our community's continued support we can achieve our goals and continue to be a vital resource for this community that sustains us. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or if you'd like to follow up.

Our community cannot afford to lose In Other Words, please help us save her!

Sincerely,
The Staff and Board of In Other Words

503.232.6003
info@inotherwords.org
www.inotherwords.org

--
Program Director, In Other Words
katie@inotherwords.org
503.232.6003
And here is the rest of it.

In Other Words Book Store in trouble

2008-12-11T13:24:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I didn't see this coming. Considering the fact that many of the local Women's Studies departments depend on the bookstore (not to mention the community itself), this is not welcome news.

In Other Words, like so many of our fellow bookstores, has fallen upon incredibly hard financial times. With the decline in our current economy, we have experienced severely decreased revenue. If we are unable to raise $11,000 by the end of December, In Other Words will have to close its doors.

We desperately need your help. We are confident that if everyone who cares about In Other Words makes a contribution, large or small, we will meet our goal. Please give as generously as you can to save the last remaining non-profit, feminist bookstore in the country: the place where so many Portland artists, activists, organizers, readers, writers, political thinkers, musicians and poets find their voice, their power, their community, and their political home.

Our community cannot afford to lose In Other Words, please help us save her!

You can make your tax-deductible donations on the In Other Words secure website, or by stopping into the store (8 NE Killingsworth).

Please forward this widely to your community, we need all the help we can get!

Sincerely,
The Board, Staff and Volunteers of In Other Words

--
Program Director, In Other Words
katie@inotherwords.org
503.232.6003

And here is the rest of it.

Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act

2008-12-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

From House Majority Leader Hoyer:

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor tonight in support of the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“This bill is designed to give the automakers the time and space they need to become a competitive, job-creating industry once again. And it is designed to do so while protecting taxpayer dollars. Reconciling those two goals has taken long negotiations and compromises on both sides—but I am convinced that we have come to a sound solution.

“These rescue loans are necessary—not to reward bad decision-making in Detroit, but to protect three million American jobs. Three million livelihoods, three million families depend on the automakers—not only their direct employees, but the workers at their suppliers, the small businesses that serve those workers, and entire communities. Are we really willing to put those workers at risk in this deep recession, after a month in which our country just lost 533,000 more jobs?

“In any economy, and especially in this one, the failure of the automakers would be catastrophic. As John Judis put it recently in the New Republic, without public loans, ‘the industry will disappear the way the American television-manufacturing industry disappeared. American workers and engineers will lose their ability to compete in a major durable goods industry.’ That is the motive behind the $15 billion in emergency bridge loans for the car companies.

“But it is equally important to ensure that those loans lead to real reform—to ensure that we do not find ourselves right back in this same emergency in just a few months’ time. Congress has insisted that the automakers develop detailed plans for long-term viability—that they show us how they intend to build cost-effective, fuel-efficient cars for a 21st-century economy. Those viability plans were presented to Congress on December 2nd, and we have examined them in detail.

“Now, this bill will hold the automakers to their promises. They will be accountable to Congress and the Administration, as well as an Administration-appointed ‘car czar,’ who will oversee the efforts of the industry and its stakeholders to cut costs, restructure debt, and renegotiate labor contracts. Just like any other lender, the federal government is insisting that the recipient of its loans be on a plausible path to profitability. If the automakers stick to their plans for viability, more assistance is possible. But if the Administration-appointed official finds that they have not made adequate progress on restructuring by March 31st, the loans will be called, and the automakers will be a step closer to bankruptcy.

“This bill also includes safeguards for the taxpayers: It lets the American people profit if and when the value of the car companies recovers, and it guarantees that taxpayer money will not fund lavish executive bonuses or golden parachutes.

“Mr. Speaker, if we act today, we can seize the chance for an American auto industry that is leaner, greener, and once more competitive. But if we do nothing, we face the risk that, sometime soon, there will be no American auto industry to speak of. So I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It has the power to protect innumerable American jobs, and its strong safeguards will ensure that we are authorizing anything but a bridge loan to nowhere.”

I take anything from Hoyer with a grain of salt (hard to do on a low-salt diet btw!) and I don't even get in the mood to pretend to be an economist, so I really don't know. On its face, IF the safeguards are as strong as they appear to be, it looks like a needed step. On the other hand, I detest fear-mongering. I just don't know how much fear is warranted here. What do you think?

And here is the rest of it.

Light Up the Night for Equality

2008-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 20th, at 5:00 PM, silent candlelight vigils will be held at commercial centers in cities across the United States, in remembrance of the rights recently lost around the country, and in honor of the rights that one day will BE, here in Oregon, and for EVERYONE.

In Portland, we will be gathering for our silent candlelight vigil at Pioneer Square downtown.

These are the guidelines from Join the Impact, which we are going to stick to, as much as possible:

This will be a peaceful gathering in the spirit of the holidays (This one is a MUST).
We'll dress alike: make or buy a "Second Class Citizen" t-shirt.
We will stay silent unless asked a question, we will not yell, instigate, or bare signs. Instead, we will let our shirts do the talking and our candles pay our respects.
Bring candles (battery powered if need be).

Two weeks ago, we were noisy all across the United States. On December 20th, we will let our silence bring home the reality of our status as second-class citizens. And here is the rest of it.

Informed Growth Act-Oregon style?

2008-11-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

I received this email from Onward Oregon. I don't really like the sliding scale entry fee (the fact that there is a fee at all), although I assume it is to cover the cost of food. Just makes it difficult for financially-strapped folks to feel comfortable. Something they may want to think about in the future. Other than that, I am intrigued by the idea.

BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY WITHOUT BIG-BOXES

Stacy Mitchell, author of Big-Box Swindle and The Hometown Advantage, will discuss the growing movement around the country to rebuild and strengthen local economies. Mitchell was instrumental in the passage of the Maine Informed Growth Act, which gives communities the ability to assess the economic impact of big-box development.

Onward Oregon is working to pass a similar bill in the 2009 Oregon legislative session. Big-box disputes have arisen everywhere from Portland to Medford and Lincoln City to Bend. Unfortunately, under Oregon law communities can only oppose big-boxes on the grounds of increased traffic. The Oregon Informed Growth Act would enable our communities to understand the economic and environmental impact of big-box stores. We encourage you to come learn and discuss how best to build our local economy.

Thursday, November 20
6 PM refreshments, 7 PM presentation
First Unitarian Church 1011 SW 12th Ave.
$10-$20 sliding scale (no one turned away)
Call Robin at (503) 232-2943 for tickets and info.
Co-sponsored by the Sustainable Business Network of Portland and the
Economic Justice Action Group of the First Unitarian Church of Portland.

Be sure to come early at 6 PM for a celebration of our local economy with information, refreshments, and representatives from local community businesses and organizations.

Stacy Mitchell is a renowned speaker and advisor to communities on retail development and independent business. She is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and author of Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses, which Bill McKibben described as "the ultimate account of the single most important economic trend in our country" and Booklist named one of the top ten business books of 2007. Mitchell lives in Portland, Maine.

See you there,
The Team at Onward Oregon
www.OnwardOregon.org

Mailing Address:
Onward Oregon
P.O. Box 15132
Portland, OR 97293
US

Contact Name: Lenny Dee
Telephone Number: (503) 233-3018 And here is the rest of it.

Employee Free Choice Act

2008-11-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

Anyone who tries to scare you with the "big union bosses control your lives" B.S. are full of just that...B.S.

And here is the rest of it.

What am I up to?

2008-11-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

For those of you fascinated with what I might be up to, or completely at a loss due to my lack of posts (he he), go here:

pdxjointheimpact

And here is the rest of it.

Letter from Share Our Strength

2008-11-08T19:03:00.000-08:00

An email from Share Our Strength:

Although the election results were widely predicted by polls and pundits, it was nonetheless striking to watch and absorb America’s new reality at the moment the television networks made it official at 11:00 p.m. last night.

The election not only made history, it set the stage for you and me to make history too.

A community organizer has become President-elect. For the first time a President of the United States, whose mom relied on food stamps, will personally understand the critical value of the work you’ve done through Share Our Strength and other nonprofit organizations.

Regardless of one’s personal politics it will be hard not to feel a sense of new beginnings, or get caught up in the excitement of a new president, new priorities, and new appointments from cabinet and ambassadors to judges and generals. But what about the rest of us? What about what Harry Truman called the highest office in the land: that of citizen?

The idealism that inspires us to believe anything is possible will be short lived if translating it into reality is left to the new president alone. Our ability to solve some of the most challenging issues we face does not depend only on a new occupant of the White House. It depends on a new kind of citizenship too.

Hunger in America is a good example. The President-elect recently announced that a top priority will be the ending of childhood hunger in America by 2015, the very goal established by Share Our Strength over the last 2 years. Federal policy matters enormously. But so does its implementation at the local level. That often depends on active citizens and robust, effective, well led civic organizations.

Many kids in America who are hungry today are hungry not because of the lack of food or even the lack of food assistance programs, but rather because they lack access to food assistance programs that already exist. Sometimes logistical or bureaucratic barriers prevent their participation.

For a hungry family wondering how to qualify for food stamps or summer feeding, the most powerful person in the world may not be the Commander in Chief but the local community organizer who helps them navigate the bureaucracy. Achieving the right blend of public support and private efforts is also essential to progress on other issues like nutrition education, mentoring, after school enrichment, drug and alcohol addiction, energy conservation, and environmental protection, just to name a few.

With the United States engaged in two protracted wars, constrained by massive budget deficits, and possibly facing a long recession, it will require more than our elected officials to right our course. It will take all of us. The hardest work of a great nation has always fallen to its citizens, not just its leaders.

In the days ahead the TV, internet, and newspapers will be awash with analysis and commentary about the strategies that led to electoral victory, what worked and why, the role of money and media and political organization. But there is also a deeply personal set of questions that we can only ask of ourselves: at such a precarious moment in the life of our nation, what can I be doing to make a difference? In what way might I sacrifice and serve? What strength can I share to make my country and community better?

The most powerful moments in history are those that invite us to make history too.

Billy

And here is the rest of it.

Food Prices-Up, Up, and Away

2008-11-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

Let's see. Unemployment is at its highest rate in years. Bad news, in and of itself. Now we get this gem:

U.S. food prices will rise by at least 7 percent in 2009 because of higher feed costs for chickens, hogs and cattle, said a group of food-industry economists on Thursday.

It would be the third year in a row that food prices rose faster than the overall U.S. inflation rate. Food inflation is the highest since 1990.

"The sizable increase in the cost of producing food has not been fully passed on to the consumer," said private consultant Bill Lapp. He foresaw food inflation of 7 percent-9 percent in 2009.

and...

"We've been losing money for more than a year," said Bill Roenigk, economist for the Chicken Council, who said producers intend to cut production by as much as 12 percent. "We need to recover these feed costs."

Thomas Elam, head of Farm Econ, said poultry, hog and cattle producers would cut production in coming months because of feed costs, meaning less meat on the retail market but at higher prices.

Now that stright-up politics will be moving to the back seat, something tells me I will be once again doing more posts on how much low-income and no-income folks are continuing to hurt, along with the food banks that exist to help them. And here is the rest of it.

Living through History

2008-10-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

Just not anything I can add to this.

Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has lived a life long enough to touch three centuries. And after voting consistently as a Democrat for 70 years, she has voted early for the country's first black presidential nominee.

The middle child of 13, Jones, who is African American, is part of a family that has lived in Bastrop County for five generations. The family has remained a fixture in Cedar Creek and other parts of the county, even when its members had to eat at segregated barbecue dives and walk through the back door while white customers walked through the front, said Amanda Jones' 68-year-old daughter, Joyce Jones.

and...
Jones' father herded sheep as a slave until he was 12, according to the family, and once he was freed, he was a farmer who raised cows, hogs and turkeys on land he owned. Her mother was born right after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Joyce Jones said. The family owned more than 100 acres of land in Cedar Creek at one point, she said.

Amanda Jones' father urged her to exercise her right to vote, despite discriminatory practices at the polls and poll taxes meant to keep black and poor people from voting. Those practices were outlawed for federal elections with the 24th Amendment in 1964, but not for state and local races in Texas until 1966.
Amanda Jones says she cast her first presidential vote for Franklin Roosevelt, but she doesn't recall which of his four terms that was. When she did vote, she paid a poll tax, her daughters said. That she is able, for the first time, to vote for a black presidential nominee for free fills her with joy, Jones said.

And here is the rest of it.

Why does Smith assume we won't know?

2008-10-30T16:05:00.001-07:00

I received this from BRO. It quite nicely sums up the insult to my intelligence that Gordon Smith has been attempting to accomplish. It isn't working, by the way.

From Jeana Frazzini:

I'm truly stunned. Last night I watched one of the most offensive political ads I've ever seen.

None of us can escape the barrage of political ads in this intense election season. I find some of the ads to be dull, others slightly troubling, but none as offensive as what I have seen from Senator Gordon Smith.

This week alone he is running an advertisement that panders to gay voters in Portland and a different ad bashing us in rural Oregon.

One minute he's bragging about his support for gay rights. And the next he's attacking a minor party candidate for believing that same-sex couples should be treated equally under the law.

I've had enough. It's time for Gordon Smith to stop playing politics with our families.

Email Senator Smith today and tell him that our families are not political pawns.

Tell Gordon Smith that he can't play politics with gay rights any longer.

In solidarity,

Jeana Frazzini
Basic Rights Oregon
And here is the rest of it.

"I started going liberal when..."

2008-10-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

This is a comment made on DailyKos that really hit home for me. I don't ever really remember being very conservative, but I love how straight to the point this is, and will remember it the next time my mother calls me a "died in the wool" Democrat...as if that is a bad thing.

a former colleague left this on my fb page

"When did you get so left wing? Is it a college prof thing?"

This was my response...

If you must know, I got so "left wing" well before becoming a college prof.

I started going left wing when the right questioned my patriotism because I didn't support a war w/ a country that did not attack us.

I started going left wing when the "small government" right decided women don't have a right ... to choose...and wouldn't let a Florida woman die with dignity.

I started going left when "small" Government right wingers bloated the federal government.

I started going left when folks at the Republican National Convention in 2004 mocked a Vietnam Veteran with a Purple Heart while supporting candidates that used family influence to avoid service.

I started going left when the right gleefully chants "Drill, baby, drill" instead of addressing the problem.

I started going left when the "right wing" decided to call a "Christian" an "Arab" as if Arabs are evil.

I am a proud liberal, but I don't judge friends that have a different view

I think the list could go on and on.

And here is the rest of it.

Biden and "Pro-American parts of the country"

2008-10-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Dissappointing is right.

And here is the rest of it.

ColorOfChange.org calls out McCain/Palin

2008-10-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

ColorOfChange.org is sending an open letter/petition to McCain and Palin, calling them out on the incredibly insulting racist pandering they are doing, and allowing to happen in their campaign.

John McCain and Sarah Palin have stopped talking about the issues, and have instead launched a strategy relying on fear-mongering, racial divisions, and hate. The result is McCain/Palin supporters saying "kill him!" "terrorist!" "traitor," and more, at rallies, with the McCain campaign playing dumb in response.It's outrageous and it must stop.

Together, we can show that Americans of all races won't stand for this.

I've signed onto ColorofChange's open-letter calling out McCain and Palin. ColorOfChange.org will publish it this week, and as they've shown in the past, when enough of us stand together, we can force the mainstream media to amplify our message. Will you join us?

http://www.colorofchange.org/united/?id=2110-108809

McCain-Palin rallies have started to look more like mob scenes than political events. The candidates keep asking "who is the real Barack Obama?" (a question that also kicks off almost every McCain television ad).In response, supporters have yelled "terrorist!" and "traitor!" And the venom goes beyond Obama--one McCain/Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at a Black member of a news crew, saying "sit down, boy."

McCain and Palin are going down a dangerous path. Watching some of their supporters being interviewed shows the kind of fear their campaign is stoking and exploiting.McCain and Palin are clearly in the driver's seat. They've personally made it a point to use "terrorist" and "Obama" in the same sentence; they have surrogates repeatedly refer to him by his middle-name;and they keep pushing the discredited guilt-by-association smears that have long been debunked.

All of it plays on the much more sinister rumors in anonymous smear emails which claim Obama is Muslim, anti-American, and is somehow connected with terrorists. This strategy is powerful because Obama is Black, and it's designed to make Obama's race a disadvantage without appearing overtly racist.

As Americans of all stripes, we've seen how Barack Obama's historic candidacy has moved our friends and family to have a more honest conversation about race in this country. It's inspired a lot of people to step out of their comfort zone and confront racism in their own communities, with their friends, neighbors and families.

In the final days of this campaign, we can't let a desperate John McCain and Sarah Palin drag us down. If enough of us act, we can create a powerful story in the media about Black people and our allies of all races standing together against race-baiting and fear-mongering coming from the McCain/Palin campaign. But it will take a lot of us speaking in unison.

Will you sign an open letter to McCain and Palin, telling them who you are and why you won't let them move our country backward? ColorofChange.org will publish the letter and make sure John McCain is forced to respond.

http://colorofchange.org/united/?id=2110-108809

Thanks.
And here is the rest of it.

ACORN Response to Senator McCain's Smear Ad

2008-10-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

The fact that McCain would even be dumb enough to try and blame the current crisis on a nonprofit community organization tells me how completely out of touch and desparate the man has become:

ACORN President Maude Hurd released the following statement today in response to the McCain campaign's new ad claiming that, among other things, ACORN is responsible for the mortgage crisis:

"For almost a decade, ACORN, a community organization of 400,000 families in neighborhoods across the country, has been fighting against the predatory lending practices that have robbed our members of their homes, destabilized neighborhoods, and roiled the global economy."

"In his newest ad, John McCain's campaign bizarrely claims, "ACORN forced banks to issue risky home loans, the same types of loans that caused the financial crisis we're in today." Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, ACORN has worked successfully to help working class families get good home loans on fair terms from legitimate banks and has fought vigorously against predatory lenders who have ripped off families in our communities. These predatory loans caused the crisis."

"For more than a decade, ACORN members have held protests, released reports, and advocated for regulations to protect homeowners from predatory lenders. ACORN organizers and volunteers have been working day and night to help victims of the GOP economic meltdown to save their homes from foreclosure. In fact, ACORN has brought class action lawsuits against several predatory lenders, and has lobbied the Federal Reserve and Congress in support of regulations against predatory lending. ACORN has even been successful in convincing many lenders to treat homeowners more fairly and help families be able to make their mortgage payments and save their homes."

"Unfortunately, the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans like John McCain have blocked the sensible regulations that ACORN and others proposed that would have averted the mortgage meltdown. If John McCain thinks that community organizers caused the foreclosure crisis, he knows even less about the economy than previously thought."

"John McCain and the Republicans are desperately trying to shift the blame for the economic crisis they caused with a philosophy of deregulation and indifference to homeowners. All the grainy footage and creepy music in the world can't cancel out some simple, basic facts, and the facts about the economy are not on John McCain's side."
And here is the rest of it.

Place in Hell for Women who Misquote Other Women

2008-10-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ok I know this isn't earth-shattering, but I got a kick out of it.

Does this LOOK like a woman you want to get on the bad side of?

"Though I am flattered that Governor Palin has chosen to cite me as a source of wisdom, what I said had nothing to do with politics. This is yet another example of McCain and Palin distorting the truth, and all the more reason to remember that this campaign is not about gender, it is about which candidate has an agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans, including women. The truth is, if you care about the status of women in our society and in our troubled economy, the best choice by far is Obama-Biden."
And here is the rest of it.

Loren Parks-MIA

2008-09-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

LMAO. Ok, I know this isn't a laughing matter. Parks and Sizemore have made a mockery of Oregon's initiative system. Even so, I had to laugh.

From Our Oregon:

Loren Parks: Wanted For Questioning
Nevada millionaire apparently evading questions about role in Sizemore contempt case

Oregon—On Thursday, October 2, a Multnomah County Court will once more hear evidence against initiative racketeer Bill Sizemore, who is facing contempt of court charges for violating a court injunction against him.

Sizemore is believed to have set up a sham charity in Nevada to collect money for political purposes, hiding the source of his funders and getting around a 2002 court injunction against engaging in such activity.

At the center of those charges is Loren Parks, the Nevada multi-millionaire who has bankrolled ballot initiative efforts from Sizemore and Kevin Mannix. Parks is believed to be involved in the funding for the American Tax Research Foundation, which appears to be sending money to Sizemore.

For weeks, attorneys have been attempting to depose Parks to determine his relationship to the case, but he's apparently gone missing. Process servers have been unable to find him at his Nevada home, and newspapers have been piling up on his porch.

Curiously, even though he's been unable to answer his front door, Parks has still been able to send large checks to ballot measure efforts, including a $500,000 check to Mannix's ballot measure committee on September 15. Parks bankrolled the efforts to qualify six of this year's ballot measures from Sizemore and Mannix.

Despite Parks' evasion of questioning in the Sizemore contempt case, the hearing will go on as scheduled—October 2-3 in the courtroom of Judge Janice Wilson.
And here is the rest of it.

Trans Citizens putting their money where their Obama support is

2008-09-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Oregon Stonewall Democrats is one of several organizations, and major blogging sites, galvanizing financial support for Obama, from the trans community.

According to Laura Calvo:

Trans Bloggers and the trans community can see a whole lot of folks who believe in the hope of a better future for ALL Americans. We can see whole lot of folks who believe in the change we need to have in the way ALL Americans are treated equally and with respect, regardless of who they are.

We can see a whole lot of people coming together to bring the hope and change to put America back on track as a world leader and who believe we can do it!

With the partnership of National Stonewall Democrats, Transgender Americans and their allies have launched a fundraising drive to help elect Barack Obama. People all across America are encouraged to go to the secure contribuiton page to help elect Obama. Contributions made on the secure Act Blue page go directly to the Obama campaign. But just as important your contribution helps to bring attention to the voice of trans Americans in fighting for the equal and basic rights for all Americans.

Make no mistake, there is a hell of alot riding on this election. We cannot AFFORD a McCain presidency. Obama has shown his commitment to equality and to working for everyone. The choice is simple.

And here is the rest of it.

McCain and Blankies

2008-09-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

Nice.

And here is the rest of it.

"You are about to be brought under firm control"

2008-09-24T20:51:00.001-07:00

Fucking A. Sorry, this one deserved a good cuss word (and I've been hanging out with REALLY jazzed college students lately).

And why do they need to be controlled?

In fact, some of the most basic details, including the $700 billion figure Treasury would use to buy up bad debt, are fuzzy.

"It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "We just wanted to choose a really large number."

And here is the rest of it.

FY'09 Budget

2008-09-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

This is a press release of the statements that Hoyer made on the floor of the House today.

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) today spoke on the House Floor in support of the FY09 Continuing Resolution. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“The continuing resolution before us funds the federal government at its current levels through the month of March.

“Obviously, passing a CR is never an ideal step. But sometimes it’s a necessary one. A vote of 'no' today is a vote to shut down the federal government.

“The CR does contain a number of important funding provisions. An increase in the home energy assistance program to help families heat their houses during a winter of high fuel costs. Funding for Pell Grants, to ensure that college aid is not cut in the middle of the school year. And nutrition funding for women and children struggling with the economic downturn and food prices.

“Nevertheless, we are debating a CR today because we did not complete the appropriations process. Believe me, it was not for lack of effort—the hardworking members and staff of the appropriations committee could tell you that.

“Rather, today’s outcome was a direct result of White House intransigence and political grandstanding. President Bush and his budget negotiators refused to compromise, refused to negotiate, refused to rethink their budget requests. President Bush would have us eliminate 50 education programs, including student financial aid. He would have us eliminate 20 programs to improve healthcare access. He would slash funds for our crumbling infrastructure, for law enforcement, and for energy research. That, and more, is the price President Bush asks us to pay to get appropriations bills passed. Mr. Speaker: that price is far too high.

“But now, a President who has grown government enormously and created record deficits, is paying lip service to fiscal conservatism. With his veto threat hovering over the entire appropriations process, stifling debate and compromise, that process simply could not continue while he remains in office. So we carry over funding levels into a new term.

“I know how many of my colleagues agree that we can and should devote more to education, to repairing our worn-down roads and bridges, to investing in energy technologies that can break our dependence on foreign oil. Those changes now await a new term and a new president.

“Today, though, I urge my colleagues to pass this continuing resolution and keep the government open for business.”
And here is the rest of it.

Tim Wise and White Priviledge

2008-09-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

The subject of White Privilege is one of those things that completely scares the crap out of people to talk about. Time Wise, thankfully, has never been scared to talk about it and confront alot of people's refusals to do so.

*T**HIS IS** **Y**OUR** **N**ATION ON** **W**HITE** **P**RIVILEGE*
By Tim Wise

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are
constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this
list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin
and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a
personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents,
because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families
with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible,
pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like
Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with
you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot
shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a
great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years
like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then
returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no
one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a
person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and
probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative
action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller
than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the
same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes
you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on
themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state
Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."?

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God"
in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding
fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from
holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s
and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that
reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the
Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires
it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.?

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people
immediately scared of you.?

White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an
extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union,
and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or
that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to
come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of
school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.?

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the
work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to
vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child
labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely
question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no
foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow
being mean, or even sexist.?

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree
with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate
anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired
confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a
"second look."?

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your
political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a
typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely
knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you
must be corrupt.?

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose
pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George
W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian
nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological
principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict
in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and
everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if
you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin
Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often
the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism
and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates
America.?

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a
reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a
"trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word
answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question,
or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.?

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything
at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and
experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.?

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow
someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent
of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their
homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world
opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change"
thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more
years of the same, which is very concrete and certain?

White privilege is, in short, the problem.
And here is the rest of it.

Journalist' Charges Dropped

2008-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

About time.

From FreePress:

St. Paul City Hall announced today that they are dropping all charges against journalists arrested while covering the protests outside the Republican National Convention -- including Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!

Your action made all the difference.

You and more than 62,000 other people signed our open letter demanding that the charges be dropped. The day after the convention, we delivered your signatures in person to the mayor of St. Paul.

Today’s great news happened because together, we responded quickly and spoke out strongly. This is your victory.

There were alot of people and organizations protesting those arrests. Speaking up works, especially if it puts people in the spotlight who don't want to be there.

And here is the rest of it.

The press, Merkley, and the truth

2008-09-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

One of the questions that a reporter asked Governor Roberts yesterday at the Jeff Merkley press conference was how could we reach those people who didn't know the truth. Her answer? The press itself holds the key to that. The facts are out there and easy to find. Don't spin them, report them. One of the stations last night ran a piece on the press conference and they ended it by saying that Merkley voted against the bill that the Governor signed, without any mention of the fact that the current statute of limitations, signed into law, is the one that Merkley voted for, not against. I wrote about that yesterday, so I won't repeat myself.

It just really irks the crud out of me when the press sits there and asks how we can get the truth out there, and then refuses to do it, instead spinning for drama. Why ask the question if you don't really care? I know they don't think we are stupid enough to believe that they are doing their job by asking that question, and then nothing more.

Anyhow, Kristi Gustafson, an Oregon police officer, is speaking out against the untruths fostered by Smith's campaign, and by default, Smith himself.

She says:

Smith's lies are despicable, and the truth is the exact opposite: Jeff Merkley supports mandatory life imprisonment for serial sex offenders and he voted to double the statute of limitations for sex crimes.

Jeff Merkley is a devoted husband and the father of two young children. Protecting them and keeping Oregon's families safe has always been his first priority. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong.

And here is the rest of it.

The Elephant has selective memory

2008-09-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

You are entitled to your own opinions – but
you’re not entitled to your own facts.”
- Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY)

And here is the rest of it.

Gov. Roberts tells it like it is

2008-09-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't written much about the Merkley campaign, partly because I wasn't writing on many campaigns, in general, and partly because so many others are doing a better job than I can. However, I feel the need to post for the same reasons I feel the need to post the truth about McCain: When presented with crap, that crap needs to be named and acknowledged. In this case, that name is Smith

Jeff Merkley's campaign held a press conference about an hour ago to address the bullsh** that is the commercial most recently released by the Smith camp. I won't even honor Smith by describing the commercial here. He doesn't deserve it. Suffice to say, it is the one about the statute of limitations.

There were numerous officials there, including Governor Roberts.

Here is a sampling of what she had to say:

"I have never never in Oregon seen anything like Gordon Smith's attacks against Jeff Merkley"

"They are simply not true."

And straight and to the point:

"These ads are simply lies."

She went on to explain that the bill that the Smith camp is harping on (and using to infer that Merkley favors rapists' rights over that of victims) was a bill written by four people, behind closed doors, without public input of any kind. Merkley was among several Democrats and Republicans who voted against that bill. Smith obviously leaves out those types of facts. The fact that Merkley voted in favor of the extension on the statute of limitations (and other like-legislation) that is now IN PLACE, also escapes Smith. We won't discuss Smith's own lack of support for making sure that law enforcement and first responders have what they need, in order to do what we demand of them.

Fortunately, as Governor Roberts mentions, Oregonians are not that stupid or easily fooled. The support that has flooded Merkley's office, in response to these ads, is amazing. If Smith wants to keep giving Oregonians incentive to get behind Merkley, I'm all for it. Keep it up. Somehow I doubt Smith is all of a sudden going to grow a pair and actually begin discussing actual issues.

And here is the rest of it.

Truth is truth is truth

2008-09-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

A statement by the Obama campign:

"We will take no lectures from John McCain who is cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern Presidential campaign history. His discredited ads with disgusting lies are running all over the country today. He runs a campaign not worthy of the office he is seeking."

Damn skippy.And here is the rest of it.

McCain: Smokescreens and anti-choice

2008-09-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

From NARAL:

From phony attacks about gender politics to being for the 'bridge to nowhere' before being against it, the McCain-Palin campaign and its operatives have used one smokescreen after the other since securing their party’s nomination. Why? What are they hiding? Could it be their dangerously anti-choice records? Maybe they know what we know…that when pro-choice Republican and Independent women find out the truth, they will not support John McCain and Sarah Palin.

The extreme anti-choice base is energized. From James Dobson to anti-choice groups like “Feminists for Life,” since McCain picked the extreme anti-choice Palin as his running mate, the radical right has poured $10 million into their campaign.

And here is the rest of it.

McCain the Reality

2008-09-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

I love Brave New Films.

There are more on their website. Evidently the fun never ends with McSame.

And here is the rest of it.

“Not all chronic diseases are equal"

2008-09-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

Society can tend to be really fickle about most any subject you can name. Society, particularly Western (and in the United States to the nth degree!) society, also puts a tremendous amount of stock in how "productive" someone is, how hard they work. Put those two things together and you come up with varying degrees of what is considered a "legitimate" enough disease or condition, to warrant acceptance, empathy, or understanding (or heaven forbid, a loss of productivity). Patricia A. Fennell, MSW, LCSW-R, the CEO of Albany Health Management Associates, Inc has this to say about how illnesses are socially categorized, greatly impacting the level of care and resources available to those who suffer from invisible illnesses:

“Not all chronic diseases are equal. Some are more accepted than others,”

There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases, and many can be considered invisible, she says. But there are substantial differences in how individuals are viewed culturally and socially, depending on their diagnoses. Diabetes, lupus, heart disease, and cancer may all be considered invisible illnesses, but “no one would ever consider questioning the limitations of an individual who says [he or she has] one of these diseases,” notes Fennell. Yet, this happens frequently for those diagnosed with FM (Fibromyalgia) and CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), she says. According to The CFIDS Association of America, the condition’s name trivializes the illness as little more than tiredness, even though the illness is associated with a “constellation of debilitating symptoms.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, "CFS can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and congestive heart failure," and recognizes these conditions as legitimate medical diagnoses.

While invisible illnesses (and conditions) are gaining more acceptance and respect in the medical field (although not as much as it should), social acceptance has been much slower in recognizing them. This is particularly impacting when it may take years to get a diagnosis, while the person suffering is viewed as lazy, a complainer, or just a bad "worker" because they call in sick or can't move as fast as others. I remember constantly having to battle my employer over sick time, or changing my duties, etc. because the assumption was that I was making up excuses not to work. Having always been a highly productive worker in my life to that point, I even believed about myself, that I sucked as an employee (and person). I bought into the socially constructed norms that tell us there is something wrong with US when we cannot perform to its expectations.

From the 19th century on, sociological and economic models really attempted to define and recreate people as machines. The medical model of treatment relies heavily on this. "Fix" the machine and get it productive again. If it can't be fixed, ridicule or discard it. However, there is one really important thing that these models don't take into account: We are NOT machines. We are more than the sum of our parts, and a hell of alot more than what we "produce".

And here is the rest of it.

Education and social priorities

2008-09-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

I expect to see this kind of thing in rural school districts (doesn't make it right, just more commonly seen) but in a high school in the biggest city in Oregon?

And while we’re on the topic of Madison, middle grades and libraries, 88 eighth graders start at Madison High tomorrow, and the school has no library staff. They’re holding a fundraiser to get the position back. Also, word is that the Madison eighth grade academy has a severe shortage of clerical staff to register new eighth grade students who start school tomorrow, many without schedules.

How can you have a HIGH SCHOOL with no staff (librarian?)? Hello! And we wonder why Oregon keeps falling further and further behind in all of the educational success indicators? Why our prison population booms while our graduate numbers are nothing to brag about?

I've been meeting with legislators lately around funding for post-secondary education (always pitted against k-12...sneaky) and everyone I speak to "understands" what education means to the future well-being of our state, but no one seems able or willing to find a way to prioritize education the way it should be.

Yes I know that Oregon's revenue system sucks and will always be vulnerable to economic fluctuations without change. Well, why aren't we changing it? Last year, even the business community got behind (on paper anyway) revising the corporate minimum income tax to bolster our education budget. They understand what the difference between a well-educated and not-so-well-educated workforce means for their economic futures. So, where are the roadblocks? Where is our public will for a strong state and future? I don't have the answer to that. I do know, however, that we better damn well find it before that future gets here.

And here is the rest of it.

Public Service and the GOP

2008-09-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

There is a really interesting article in the Nation that completely exposes the GOP's ridicule of public service for the hypocrasy that it was.

For the first time in American history, a major political party devoted a substantial portion of its national convention to attacking grassroots organizing. Speaking Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, former New York Governor George Pataki sneered, "[Barack Obama] was a community organizer. What in God's name is a community organizer? I don't even know if that's a job."

Then former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani delivered his own snickering hit job. "He worked as a community organizer. What? Maybe this is the first problem on the résumé," mocked Giuliani." Then he said, "This is not a personal attack. It's a statement of fact. Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada."

A few minutes later, in her acceptance speech for the GOP vice presidential nomination, Sarah Palin declared, "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities."

The party of Ronald Reagan was touting government experience over civic engagement.

At a convention whose theme was "service," GOP leaders ridiculed organizing, a vital kind of public service that involves leadership, tough decisions, and taking responsibility for the well-being of people often ignored by government.

Palin, Giuliani and Pataki denigrated not only the tens of thousands of community organizers who help everyday citizens to participate in shaping their society and the millions of Americans who volunteer as community activists but also a long American tradition of collective self-help that goes back to the Boston Tea Party.

Visiting the United States in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville observed in his Democracy in America, how impressed he was by the outpouring of local voluntary organizations that brought Americans together to solve problems, provide a sense of community and public purpose and tame the hyper-individualism that Tocqueville considered a threat to democracy. In the same speech in which Palin ridiculed Obama's organizing work, she touted her own experiences as a PTA volunteer and "hockey mom"--the very kinds of activities that Tocqueville praised and that community organizers support.

The party of "government sucks, let the private sector do it" evidently doesn't have much use for the private sector actually doing the work that the GOP says it SHOULD be doing. So, community organizers and those doing public service suck...government sucks. Well, which way is it? Can't have it both ways.

And here is the rest of it.

Invisible Awareness Week

2008-09-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

From Invisible Illness.org

Have you heard about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week? September 8-14, 2008 will feature 20 seminars via Blog Talk Radio, (4 per day, M-F) plus tons of people are helping spread the word by blogging about invisible illness issues. Do you get tired of hearing, “But you look so good?” or weary of the stares when you park in a handicapped spot? This is our chance to educate the public as well as remember we are not alone. Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA live with an illness and 96% of it is invisible.

Schedules and links can be found at the Invisible Illness Conference homepage.And here is the rest of it.

Boxer on McCain

2008-09-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

In response to McCain's "fighting" acceptance speech, Barbara Boxer replies:

Last night at the Republican National Convention, John McCain used the word "fight" more than 40 times in his speech.

In the 16 years that we have served together in the Senate, I have seen John McCain fight.

I have seen him fight against raising the federal minimum wage 14 times.

I have seen him fight against making sure that women earn equal pay for equal work.

I have seen him fight against a women's right to choose so consistently that he received a zero percent vote rating from pro-choice organizations.

I have seen him fight against helping families gain access to birth control.

I have seen him fight against Social Security, even going so far as to call its current funding system "an absolute disgrace."

And I saw him fight against the new GI Bill of Rights until it became politically untenable for him to do so.

John McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time in 2007 and 100 percent of the time in 2008 -- that's no maverick.

We do have two real fighters for change in this election -- their names are Barack Obama and Joe Biden
And here is the rest of it.

Journalist arrests holding

2008-09-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

From Democracy Now!

UPDATE Action Alert: DN! Journalists Facing Charges for Reporting on the
Republican National Convention

- Charges against Amy Goodman still hold; Nicole Salazar and Sharif
Abdel Kouddous could still be charged with FELONY RIOT
- Please take immediate action to have the charges dropped

CONTACT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE - DEMAND THAT ALL CHARGES OR POTENTIAL CHARGES BE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED:

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
janet.hafner@co.ramsey.mn.us and
susan.gaertner@co.ramsey.mn.us
(cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
651-266-3079

Susan Gaertner for Governor
info at susangaertner.com (cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
(612) 978-8625
(612)804-6156

St. Paul Mayor Christopher B. Coleman
chris.coleman@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Bob.Hume@ci.stpaul.mn.us
sara.grewing@ci.stpaul.mn.us
(cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)

Make your voice heard in the Ramsey County Attorney and St. Paul Mayor’s
offices. Demand that they drop all pending and current charges against
journalists arrested while reporting on protests outside the Republican
National Conventions.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s office is in the process of deciding
whether or not to press felony P.C. (probable cause) riot charges
against Democracy Now! Producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole
Salazar. Please contact Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner by all
means possible to demand that her office not press charges against
Kouddous and Salazar.

The St. Paul City Attorney’s office has already charged Amy Goodman with
misdemeanor obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace
officer. Contact St. Paul Mayor Christopher Coleman by all means
possible to demand that the charges against Goodman be dropped immediately.

Goodman was arrested while questioning police about the unlawful
detention of Kouddous and Salazar who were arrested while they carried
out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the
Republican National Convention.

During the demonstration in which the Democracy Now! team was arrested,
law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion
grenades and excessive force against protesters and journalists. Several
dozen demonstrators were also arrested during this action, as was a
photographer for the Associated Press.

IMPORTANT
Be sure to cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org on all emails so that our
team can deliver print outs of your messages to the St. Paul City
Attorney, the Mayor and Ramsey County Attorney offices.

* Read Amy Goodman's latest column *

"Why We Were Falsely Arrested"

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080903_why_we_were_falsely_arrested/

And here is the rest of it.

Freedom of the Press, Take 2 and Take Action

2008-09-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

FreePress has a petition targeting officials in St. Paul, demanding the release of journalists arrested this week, and the cessation of them being targeted.

Reports of journalists, bloggers and videomakers being arrested keep rolling in. The St. Paul police department's targeting of journalists, including Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and the I-Witness videomakers, is having a chilling effect on free speech as the city hosts the Republican National Convention.

Many in the mainstream media are ignoring these attacks on journalism -- and some independent media makers are still in jail. But in less than 24 hours, more than 35,000 people have signed our letter demanding that press intimidation cease immediately and that all charges against journalists be dropped.

This is an incredible response. Help deliver the message that a free press will not be intimidated!

Help Us Reach 50,000 Letters: Take Action Now

And here is the rest of it.

Arianna on Cindy McCain's comments

2008-09-01T18:02:00.001-07:00

The McCains' comments also beg the question...Does wearing your GOP hat mean you are NOT already wearing your American hat?

RNC-So much for freedom of the press

2008-09-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

You have GOT to be kidding me. If the GOP and RNC wants to continue to fool us into believing that we are not fast approaching a police state, this is not the way to do it.

ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen here:

Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfully detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman's crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.

Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman's office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists.

During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.

Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism's top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation's leading independent news outlet.

Democracy Now! is a nationally syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.

And here is the rest of it.

Who is this Sarah character anyhow?

2008-08-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

Let's see.

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.

Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.

She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000.

Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.

She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.

How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.

She hasn't paid "much attention" to Iraq.

She has ethics and wrong-doing baggage following her from Alaska.

LGBTQ rights? What rights?

I don't plan to give this woman much unearned media by writing about her very often, but a few details seemed to be in order. McCain picked her because she isn't a threat to him and because he is assuming that the women of this country will put gender for gender's sake ahead of their actual interests. Maybe some will...I don't know any of them, that's for sure.
And here is the rest of it.

The Right to Vote

2008-08-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

And WHY will I be receiving a ballot in the mail in October, filling it out (the WHOLE thing people!) and mailing it back in?

Well, that would be because:

On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect. And here is the rest of it.

Greenland melting, melting, melting

2008-08-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well heck...

WASHINGTON — In northern Greenland, a part of the Arctic that had seemed immune from global warming, new satellite images show a growing giant crack and an 11-square-mile chunk of ice hemorrhaging off a major glacier, scientists said Thursday.

And that's led the university professor who spotted the wounds in the massive Petermann glacier to predict disintegration of a major portion of the Northern Hemisphere's largest floating glacier within the year.

If it does worsen and other northern Greenland glaciers melt faster, then it could speed up sea level rise, already increasing because of melt in sourthern Greenland.

The crack is 7 miles long and about half a mile wide. It is about half the width of the 500 square mile floating part of the glacier. Other smaller fractures can be seen in images of the ice tongue, a long narrow sliver of the glacier.

And here is the rest of it.

The Coquille and same-sex marriage

2008-08-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

Just Out caught this piece from the Oregonian.

The Coquille Nation, in southern Oregon, has sanctioned same-sex marriage. I don't think the Oregonian's short piece does justice to the possible legal rumblings likely to be born of this, but I love the fact that there is anything IN the Oregonian about it! And here is the rest of it.

Rebuilding the Gulf Coast

2008-08-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

I received this from the Color of Change. They call it bold, but as the message points out, boldness is not a new concept.

Three years after Hurricane Katrina, there's finally a bill in Congress that will give all Katrina survivors a fair chance to rebuild their lives. But it won't become law if your representative doesn't stand up to support it.

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act would hire 100,000 Gulf Coast residents and evacuees, providing them with training and jobs to rebuild their homes and communities. It started as nothing more than a good idea, but after thousands of ColorOfChange.org members called on Congress to support the plan, and after years of persistent activism from students and Gulf Coast organizations, it now has a real chance of bringing some justice to the Gulf.

Even though it's come this far, it will take massive public pressure on each member of Congress to get the bill passed. If we want justice for Katrina survivors, we need to make our voices heard now as the media focuses its attention on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Please join us and call on your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act, then ask your friends and family to do the same:

http://www.colorofchange.org/gulfcoast/

It's the right thing to do

The Gulf Coast is still struggling, suffering from a lack of jobs, affordable housing, and basic infrastructure.1

For the last three years, we've seen public officials accept--whether out of hopelessness or carefully concealed joy--that post-Katrina New Orleans will be a smaller, whiter and wealthier city. We've seen politicians support plans that will push Black and poor people out of the Gulf, amplifying race and class inequalities and permanently gentrifying the area.

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act represents a powerful shift from that path. The plan calls for hiring 100,000 Gulf Coast residents to rebuild New Orleans and the surrounding region. They'll be provided with temporary housing and job-training and will build and repair houses, schools, parks, and other civic buildings.2

It's been done before

The idea behind the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project is not new. During the Great Depression, the federal government believed it had a responsibility to ensure that those hit hardest did not fall through the cracks.3 It also knew that those Americans wanted a hand up, not a handout. So, in 1935, Congress created a program to hire out-of-work Americans to get things done to benefit their communities. Within 2 weeks of launching this unprecedented project, over 800,000 people were hired; within 2 months, 4.2 million were working to build bridges, roads, libraries, schools and other public facilities. If we could put 4 million people to work in just 8 weeks in 1935, why can't we immediately put 100,000 people to work rebuilding the Gulf Coast?

It's a plan that makes sense--for displaced survivors, for the communities of the Gulf Coast, for the nation as a whole. It provides an opportunity to invest in Americans while reversing the most glaring problems that plague current rebuilding plans: gentrification, government waste, and massive corporate profiteering. It would revitalize the Gulf Coast's economy while rebuilding its infrastructure, and it's a model that could be applied to solve similar problems across the country.

ColorOfChange.org members should be proud that we've supported this plan since long before it was a bill in Congress. Getting it introduced as a bill was a great victory and a huge step forward, but it's going to take even more public pressure to get it voted on and passed.

Please join us and call on your representative to co-sponsor the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act. It only takes a minute:

http://www.colorofchange.org/gulfcoast/

And here is the rest of it.

Promoting Inequality has a hefty price tag

2008-08-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

CAUSA reports that:

Yesterday, it was reported that the State Financial Estimate Committee, comprised of four state officials and one local representative, put a price tag of $250 Million to Oregonians on Measure 58. The measure, placed on the November Ballot by anti-tax activist Bill Sizemore, would limit English language instruction to Oregon students to 2 years.

According to the numbers, Measure 58 would have a drastic impact on Oregon’s General Fund, slashing available funding for colleges and universities, health care, human services, public schools and public safety. In the tough economic times that Oregonians find themselves, Measure 58 would only add to hardship many already face.

So why will Measure 58 cost so much? According to the Financial Estimate Committee, $250 million will be spent in each of the first two years for training new “English immersion” teachers and aides for local school districts.

Well, with all of his sham anti-tax measures (because you know, he wants to save us our hard earned dollars), who exactly does he think will be paying for this crap? And here is the rest of it.

McCain-Not pro-much a 'nothin

2008-08-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

Doesn't seem so different to me.

NEW YORK -- John McCain has pitched himself as a different kind of Republican but not, apparently, when it comes to gay rights.

In a interview with the Conservative magazine Weekly Standard , McCain was asked if he was considering a pro-choice vice presidential pick like former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. In his answer he volunteered Mike Bloomberg as an unworthy candidate:

"I think it's a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice. We just have a -- albeit strong -- but just it's a disagreement. And I think Ridge is a great example of that. Far more so than Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, pro, you know, a number of other issues.

Anyone who thinks this man is a maverick or whatever, is plain kidding themselves. If it's up to him, I have neither rights as a woman nor as a lesbian. Tell me again how he will claim to lead my country (not to mention collect my taxes)?And here is the rest of it.

No stagflation...Yippee?

2008-08-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

From CNN Money:

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- With the price of practically everything jumping, you probably wouldn't mind getting a bigger paycheck.

But your employer isn't the only one who's unenthusiastic about that idea. Fed chief Ben Bernanke is counting on a weak labor market to keep employees from demanding wage hikes, which could in turn boost inflation. With unemployment rising and jobs moving overseas, you're probably not in the mood to push it anyway.

So the good news is that the Fed's probably right when it says that we're not headed for a replay of the stagflation of the 1970s, replete with its so-called wage-price spiral. Unfortunately, that means Americans are going to be feeling poorer - with no end in sight.

Ok, we should be happy to be avoiding stagflation, but which one of these is the lesser evil? Damn we need better choices. And here is the rest of it.

Domestic Partnerships Solid

2008-08-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

This just arrived from Basic Rights Oregon:

In a unanimous decision issued this morning, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s decision dismissing our opponent’s claims in the Lemons v. Bradbury case. Thanks to your courage and unwavering support, Oregon's domestic partnership law is secure. There will be no referendum on the ballot this November.

More details at their website. For now, I need to go call my girlfriend.:) And here is the rest of it.

Veterans-So much for honoring them

2008-08-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

Ugh...I can't stand it when people do insanely stupid things that only result in citizens being disenfranchised, and then pretend that isn't the goal. One of the greatest things that veterans sign up to protect, is easily denied them.

Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of State for Connecticut, has a pointed op/ed piece in the New York Times, shedding some light on the repercussions of a recent decision by the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs:

WHAT is the secretary of Veterans Affairs thinking? On May 5, the department led by James B. Peake issued a directive that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives at federally financed nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and shelters for homeless veterans. As a result, too many of our most patriotic American citizens — our injured and ill military veterans — may not be able to vote this November.

I have witnessed the enforcement of this policy. On June 30, I visited the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Haven, Conn., to distribute information on the state’s new voting machines and to register veterans to vote. I was not allowed inside the hospital.

Outside on the sidewalk, I met Martin O’Nieal, a 92-year-old man who lost a leg while fighting the Nazis in the mountains of Northern Italy during the harsh winter of 1944. Mr. O’Nieal has been a resident of the hospital since 2007. He wanted to vote last year, but he told me that there was no information about how to register to vote at the hospital and the nurses could not answer his questions about how or where to cast a ballot.

There are thousands of veterans of wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and the current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan who are isolated behind the walls of V.A. hospitals and nursing homes across the country. We have an obligation to make sure that every veteran has the opportunity to make his or her voice heard at the ballot box.

She goes on to explain the illigetimacy of the arguments used by the Secretary in making the decision:

The department offers two reasons to justify its decision. First, it claims that voter registration drives are disruptive to the care of its patients. This is nonsense. Veterans can fill out a voter registration card in about 90 seconds.

Second, the department claims that its employees cannot help patients register to vote because the Hatch Act forbids federal workers from engaging in partisan political activities. But this interpretation of the Hatch Act is erroneous. Registering people to vote is not partisan activity.

If the department does not want to burden its staff, there are several national organizations with a long history of nonpartisan advocacy for veterans and their right to vote that are eager to help, as are elected officials like me.

The department has placed an illegitimate obstacle in the way of election officials across the country and, more important, in the way of veterans who want to vote. A group of 21 secretaries of state — Republicans and Democrats throughout the country, led by me and my counterpart in Washington State, Sam Reed — has asked Secretary Peake to lift his department’s ridiculous ban on voter registration drives.

How many ways do they plan to disenfranchise before November? I think we better get on the horn to our own SOS.

And here is the rest of it.

Make the Switch

2008-08-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

We Can Solve It is putting out an ad, to air during the Olympics to counter the big push to open up protected areas to drilling.

And here is the rest of it.

Q Center's Buy-Us-a-Garage Sale

2008-08-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, this just plain sounds like fun. I'd add more but...I need to go clean out my closet now!

Sept 6th & 7th: “Buy-Us-a-Garage” Sale
It’s time to clean out your closets and help Q Center raise funds for the Building Challenge!

Our good friends at JustOut have graciously offered their office building to help us host a Community Garage Sale, or as we’re calling it: a “Buy-Us-A-Garage” Sale.

We will take your clean and fabulous items and sell them at a gloriously GAY sale. We will have several “departments” and are looking for furniture, cds and DVDs, electronics, cool bric-a-brac, books, etc.

We are especially looking for items for our “Specialty Boutique”, the spot for the super good stuff. So if you have an antique, a beautiful piece of art or another “high end” item that you are willing to donate for our sale, we will gratefully take it off of your hands.

Spread the word that shopping at the “Buy-Us-A-Garage”-Sale is another great way to support our search for a new home!

**Items should be dropped of at JustOut’s offices**
Mon-Fri
9:00am-6:00pm
6234 N Greeley Ave, Portland

“Buy-Us-a-Garage” Sale
Sunday, September 7th, 2008
10:00am-4:00pm
Just Out’s Offices
6234 N Greeley Ave, Portland

Collection on the 6th is from 10am-2pm and the sale on the 7th is from 10am-4pm. All proceeds will go towards the Challenge Fund.

And here is the rest of it.

Community College Challenge

2008-08-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

When I made the decision to return to college, at the age of 36, I chose to go to community college for a couple of reasons. The thought of going to a university scared the crap out of me. Financially, I didn't think there was a way. Emotionally, after being out of school for almost twenty years, I didn't have a clue as to how I would do as a student, and knew I would likely need support, more easily found at a community college. Physically, I knew that I wouldn't be able to navigate a really large campus because my injuries at the time were too much. I went back to school because I couldn't do my old work (restaurant management) anymore and needed new skills. What I found at community college was the beginning of a whole new life. It sounds really corny, but my whole world opened up and I don't really think I would be succeeding at the level I am if I had not gone to community college before going to a university. It affected me enough for me to know that, no matter what else I do between here and there, working in student development at a community college is what I want to do when I grow up.

All of this is a lead up to this post that I found about a grant challenge to all 17 of Oregon's community colleges.

Supporters of students at Oregon’s 17 community colleges have been challenged to increase their giving to scholarship funds next year, thanks to a challenge grant from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.

The Miller Foundation – an independent, private organization established to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians through support of the arts and education – has offered to donate a total of $1.5 million in scholarship funds to the 17 community college, in varying amounts depending on enrollments. The challenges range from $50,000 for the 10 smallest community colleges, including Clatsop Community College, up to $320,000 for Portland Community College, the state’s largest community college

To qualify for the grant, each college’s foundation will have to raise an equal amount in new scholarship funds – atop the amounts they raised between April 2007 and March 2008 for scholarships.

“A challenge grant like this is really terrific,” says Nadine Faith, Executive Director of Clatsop Community College Foundation. “It means that for every new scholarship dollar an individual or business in our community contributes to help our students, Miller Foundation will match it with a scholarship donation of its own . . . effectively doubling a local donor’s impact on student opportunity.”

Each community college has its own Foundation, so you can pick whichever one you want.

The fact that we are in economically hard times, does not make it easy to raise money. However, considering that community colleges are the absolute backbone for a skilled workforce, any dollars raised are an investment in improving our future economy. The state is projecting that by 2010-2012, 80% of liveable-wage jobs in this state will require at least an Associate's degree.

Think of any cornball life-changing story you can about people turning their lives around, and you will find an example of it in a community college student somewhere.

And here is the rest of it.

SAFE Hearing

2008-08-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

This is about the Sit/Lie ordinance in Portland (an insulting law)

SAFE Oversight Committee Public Hearing

Monday August 11, 2008 from 3 - 5pm
At the Community Room, First Unitarian Church. Enter at: 1226 SW Salmon, Portland 97205.

From Sisters of the Road

Come protest the Sit-Lie Law with us and/or give testimony during
the hearing about why you think this law should be repealed!

Sisters' Civic Action Group members will be wearing their black
CAG tee-shirts so try to wear a black t-shirt in solidarity!

As with anything Sisters is involved with, this is a nonviolent
protest. Come speak your truth about the law and lets do it in a
respectful and non-humiliating way!

For more info, please contact Patrick at 503-222-5694 ext. 13 or
email Patrick @ sistersoftheroad.org.

And here is the rest of it.

I wasn't very stimulated...were you?

2008-08-04T21:40:00.001-07:00

Yeah..I think most people I know, and myself, coulda told you this.

From the The New York Times:

Consumers spent more in June, but only because the things they bought cost more.

Driven primarily by energy and food prices, inflation grew 0.8 percent over May, the biggest monthly increase since September 2005, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Monday. Spending, by comparison, grew just 0.6 percent in June.

“Inflation is intensifying, and that is the main source of weakness in consumer spending,” said Dean Maki, chief United States economist at Barclays.

High food and energy prices continue to drive overall prices. Without food and energy, core inflation grew at a more modest 0.3 percent over May. The prices of nondurable goods — the most current measure of food and energy prices kept by the bureau, adding in items like clothing — recorded the biggest year-over-year increase since July 1981.

And here is the rest of it.

Now Hiring: Able-bodied and minded-only please

2008-07-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

Damn skippy!

Disability rights advocates in wheelchairs held a protest Tuesday in front of the downtown Berkeley McDonald’s at University and Shattuck avenues, against what they said was unlawful discrimination against three of its disabled employees.

The protest came a week after the Legal Aid Society Employ-ment Law Center of San Francisco filed charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor-tunity Commission alleging that their client Lisa Craib, 43, was unfairly dismissed from the restaurant along with her two co-workers because of their developmental disabilities.

Craib, diagnosed with Asper-ger’s Syndrome—a form of autism—worked the 7:30-10 a.m. morning crew, cleaning tables, preparing salads and bussing for almost 21 years

Craib said that shortly after the franchise was sold to a new owner in March, she and two other workers with disabilities—Susan Hanks and Alice McGill—were abruptly fired.

McDonald’s released a statement on behalf of Nick Verghis, the new owner of the McDonald’s franchise, Tuesday, which was similar to the one issued in response to the charges filed last week. “I have a strict policy prohibiting any form of discrimination in hiring, termination, or any other aspect of employment,” the statement said. “I comply with all applicable laws—including the American Disabilities Act—and continually strive to maintain an environment in which everyone feels valued and accepted. Beyond that, it would be inappropriate to further comment or speculate.”

Inappropriate..uh huh...

Susan Hanks, one of the disabled workers fired along with Lisa on March 18, stood outside the restaurant talking to family and friends. Hanks, who has cerebral palsy, was the first disabled worker to be hired by the downtown McDonald’s. “I have been here since 1982,” Hanks, 65, said. “I don’t want my job back, but I want them to know that they fired me and they shouldn’t have done that.” Hanks said she was considering joining in the federal charges filed by the Legal Aid Society.

Lisa Gordon, one of the executive directors of Easy Does it, which provides emergency services to the disability community, watched the action from her wheelchair. Gordon expressed her thoughts through her assistant Alejandra Ortiz. “This is just wrong,” Ortiz said, translating for Gordon. “Lisa worked here for 21 years because she was able to. She knew how to do a good job. It is not fair that they fired them because they have disabilities.” “We are appalled by this,” said Gina Sasso, who co-directs the organization with Gordon, adding that more than 70 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed. “We are going to continue the struggle.”

3 employees...LONG time-employees...all disabled...fired.

Coincidence? Yeah...right...uh huh....And here is the rest of it.

Hiroshima Day

2008-07-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

From Sisters of the Road (see link on sidebar)

Sisters is proud to co-sponsor Hiroshima Day, marking the anniversary of the August, 1945 nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Please join us Wednesday August 6th, 2008, from 6:00-7:00pm at the Japanese American Historical Plaza, Waterfront Park (NW Naito & Couch).

Each year this event, held by Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) recalls this history with reflections, music, and a call to action. In doing so, they hope to prevent such a grave mistake from happening again. Please click here and follow the Peace and Security link to learn more about the event and/or the bombings - the Children of the Atomic Bomb website also has important information.

The event features music from Portland Taiko and the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Featured speakers are Tom Carpenter, executive director of Hanford Challenge; award-winning poet and Friends of William Stafford board member Paulann Petersen; Dr. Charles Grossman, founding board member or Oregon PSR; Mikio Ohgushi from Dharma Rain Zen Center; Mayor Tom Potter; and Pamela Vergun, contributor/ editor of A Dimly Burning Wick: Memoir from the Ruins of Hiroshima. SGI-USA Buddhists will host a ceremonial shrine to invite attendees to honor victims’ memories throughout the evening.
And here is the rest of it.

Gordon Smith-Choice?

2008-07-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

Where is our supposedly "moderate" GOP senator on choice? Who knows?

And here is the rest of it.

McCain and LGBTQ Parents

2008-07-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

From the Stonewall Democrats:

Yesterday, on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, John McCain had this to say about adoption by same-sex couples:

"I want to help with family values."

In an interview with The New York Times last week, John McCain this is what he said on the same subject:

Question: President Bush believes that gay couples should not be permitted to adopt children. Do you agree with that?

Mr. McCain: I think that we've proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no I don't believe in gay adoption.

Q: Even if the alternative is the kid staying in an orphanage, or not having parents.

Mr. McCain: I encourage adoption and I encourage the opportunities for people to adopt children I encourage the process being less complicated so they can adopt as quickly as possible. And Cindy and I are proud of being adoptive parents.

Q: But your concern would be that the couple should a traditional couple

Mr. McCain: Yes.

I'm still trying to figure out where the Log Cabin Republicans have made progress. Hmm.... And here is the rest of it.

Half in Ten

2008-07-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

The Center for American Progress, one of the major partners of the Half in Ten campaign, released a report that guides the campaign, which is led by John Edwards (damn I'd still vote for him in a heartbeat!)

Our nation has seen periods of dramatic poverty reduction at times when near-full employment was combined with sound federal and state policies, motivated individual initiative, supportive civic involvement, and sustained national commitment. In the last six years, however, our nation has moved in the opposite direction. The number of poor Americans has grown by five million, while inequality has reached historic high levels.

Consider the following facts:

One in eight Americans now lives in poverty. A family of four is considered poor if the family’s income is below $19,971—a bar far below what most people believe a family needs to get by. Still, using this measure, 12.6 percent of all Americans were poor in 2005, and more than 90 million people (31 percent of all Americans) had incomes below 200 percent of federal poverty thresholds.

Millions of Americans will spend at least one year in poverty at some point in their lives. One third of all Americans will experience poverty within a 13-year period. In that period, one in 10 Americans are poor for most of the time, and one in 20 are poor for 10 or more years.

Poverty in the United States is far higher than in many other developed nations. At the turn of the 21st century, the United States ranked 24th among 25 countries when measuring the share of the population below 50 percent of median income.

Inequality has reached record highs. The richest 1 percent of Americans in 2005 held the largest share of the nation’s income (19 percent) since 1929. At the same time, the poorest 20 percent of Americans held only 3.4 percent of the nation’s income.

It does not have to be this way. Our nation need not tolerate persistent poverty alongside great wealth.

The United States should set a national goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 10 years. A strategy to cut poverty in half should be guided by four principles:

Promote Decent Work. People should work and work should pay enough to ensure that workers and their families can avoid poverty, meet basic needs, and save for the future.

Provide Opportunity for All. Children should grow up in conditions that maximize their opportunities for success; adults should have opportunities throughout their lives to connect to work, get more education, live in a good neighborhood, and move up in the workforce.

Ensure Economic Security. Americans should not fall into poverty when they cannot work or work is unavailable, unstable, or pays so little that they cannot make ends meet.

Help People Build Wealth. All Americans should have the opportunity to build assets that allow them to weather periods of flux and volatility, and to have the resources that may be essential to advancement and upward mobility.

They have made twelve recommendations.

1. Raise and index the minimum wage to half the average hourly wage. At $5.15, the federal minimum wage is at its lowest level in real terms since 1956. The federal minimum wage was once 50 percent of the average wage but is now 30 percent of that wage. Congress should restore the minimum wage to 50 percent of the average wage, about $8.40 an hour in 2006. Doing so would help nearly 5 million poor workers and nearly 10 million other low-income workers.

2. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. As an earnings supplement for low-income working families, the EITC raises incomes and helps families build assets. The Child Tax Credit provides a tax credit of up to $1,000 per child, but provides no help to the poorest families. We recommend tripling the EITC for childless workers and expanding help to larger working families. We recommend making the Child Tax Credit available to all low- and moderate-income families. Doing so would move as many as 5 million people out of poverty.

3. Promote unionization by enacting the Employee Free Choice Act. The Employee Free Choice Act would require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers signs cards authorizing union representation and establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights. The increased union representation made possible by the Act would lead to better jobs and less poverty for American workers.

4. Guarantee child care assistance to low-income families and promote early education for all. We propose that the federal and state governments guarantee child care help to families with incomes below about $40,000 a year, with expanded tax help to higher-earning families. At the same time, states should be encouraged to improve the quality of early education and broaden access for all children. Our child care expansion would raise employment among low-income parents and help nearly 3 million parents and children escape poverty.

5. Create 2 million new “opportunity” housing vouchers, and promote equitable development in and around central cities. Nearly 8 million Americans live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty where at least 40 percent of residents are poor. Our nation should seek to end concentrated poverty and economic segregation, and promote regional equity and inner-city revitalization. We propose that over the next 10 years the federal government fund 2 million new “opportunity vouchers” designed to help people live in opportunity-rich areas. Any new affordable housing should be in communities with employment opportunities and high-quality public services, or in gentrifying communities. These housing policies should be part of a broader effort to pursue equitable development strategies in regional and local planning efforts, including efforts to improve schools, create affordable housing, assure physical security, and enhance neighborhood amenities.

6. Connect disadvantaged and disconnected youth with school and work. About 1.7 million poor youth ages 16 to 24 were out of school and out of work in 2005. We recommend that the federal government restore Youth Opportunity Grants to help the most disadvantaged communities and expand funding for effective and promising youth programs—with the goal of reaching 600,000 poor disadvantaged youth through these efforts. We propose a new Upward Pathway program to offer low-income youth opportunities to participate in service and training in fields that are in high-demand and provide needed public services.

7. Simplify and expand Pell Grants and make higher education accessible to residents of each state. Low-income youth are much less likely to attend college than their higher income peers, even among those of comparable abilities. Pell Grants play a crucial role for lower-income students. We propose to simplify the Pell grant application process, gradually raise Pell Grants to reach 70 percent of the average costs of attending a four-year public institution, and encourage institutions to do more to raise student completion rates. As the federal government does its part, states should develop strategies to make postsecondary education affordable for all residents, following promising models already underway in a number of states.

8. Help former prisoners find stable employment and reintegrate into their communities. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. We urge all states to develop comprehensive reentry services aimed at reintegrating former prisoners into their communities with full-time, consistent employment.

9. Ensure equity for low-wage workers in the Unemployment Insurance system. Only about 35 percent of the unemployed, and a smaller share of unemployed low-wage workers, receive unemployment insurance benefits. We recommend that states (with federal help) reform “monetary eligibility” rules that screen out low-wage workers, broaden eligibility for part-time workers and workers who have lost employment as a result of compelling family circumstances, and allow unemployed workers to use periods of unemployment as a time to upgrade their skills and qualifications.

10. Modernize means-tested benefits programs to develop a coordinated system that helps workers and families. A well-functioning safety net should help people get into or return to work and ensure a decent level of living for those who cannot work or are temporarily between jobs. Our current system fails to do so. We recommend that governments at all levels simplify and improve benefits access for working families and improve services to individuals with disabilities. The Food Stamp Program should be strengthened to improve benefits, eligibility, and access. And the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program should be reformed to shift its focus from cutting caseloads to helping needy families find sustainable employment.

11. Reduce the high costs of being poor and increase access to financial services. Despite having less income, lower-income families often pay more than middle and high-income families for the same consumer products. We recommend that the federal and state governments should address the foreclosure crisis through expanded mortgage assistance programs and by new federal legislation to curb unscrupulous practices. And we propose that the federal government establish a $50 million Financial Fairness Innovation Fund to support state efforts to broaden access to mainstream goods and financial services in predominantly low-income communities.

12. Expand and simplify the Saver’s Credit to encourage saving for education, homeownership, and retirement. For many families, saving for purposes such as education, a home, or a small business is key to making economic progress. We propose that the federal “Saver’s Credit” be reformed to make it fully refundable. This Credit should also be broadened to apply to other appropriate savings vehicles intended to foster asset accumulation, with consideration given to including individual development accounts, children’s saving accounts, and college savings plans.
There is alot more detail on their website.

Edwards said tonight on PBS' NOW program, that the one indicator that would tell us that whoever the new president is, will be taking poverty seriously (and evidently he has discussed it with both sides) will be the creation of a cabinet-level position aimed at addressing poverty; a position with the authority and the funding to back it up. It's well-known that he extracted some fairly serious commitments from Clinton and Obama. McCain? Who knows...

Death with Dignity in Washington

2008-07-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

I remember when I moved to Oregon in 1997, the Death with Dignity law was on its way to being implemented in Oregon. I remember thinking "Wow, I've evidently come to a really caring state." It just seemed so humanely advanced. That opinion has never changed. Now Washington is embarking on their own battle on this issue.

And here is the rest of it.

CBS...bad editing...uh huh

2008-07-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm tellin ya...it's been all downhill after Walter and Dan.

From Media Matters:

Earlier this week, CBS Evening News was criticized for splicing video of an interview with Sen. John McCain that resulted in the removal of a statement in which McCain falsely asserted that the 2007 U.S. troop surge "began the Anbar Awakening." CBS replaced the false statement with an answer McCain gave to a completely different question.

Since the story came to light, CBS News has offered different excuses for its egregious disregard for journalistic ethics and professional standards. First, Politico reported on July 23 that CBS spokeswoman Jennifer Farley stated: "As all news organizations do with extended interviews, last night's Obama and McCain interviews were edited to fit the available time and to give viewers a fair expression of the candidates' major differences."

After outrage continued to build and calls poured in to CBS News, The Washington Post reported on July 24 that CBS News senior vice president Paul Friedman stated, "The report was edited under extreme time constraints and one piece of tape was put in the wrong order. Fortunately, this did not in any way distort what Senator McCain was saying."
This blatant misrepresentation of what McCain said left viewers with a distorted view of what the apparent Republican nominee for president believes about one of the most important issues facing the country. CBS' actions are especially troubling given yesterday's revelation that CBS also did not air another false statement McCain made during the interview, in which he said that Iraq is "the first major conflict since 9-11" -- apparently disregarding the war in Afghanistan and the price paid by thousands of servicemen and women (PDF) from the U.S. and other coalition countries who have been of killed or wounded.

The press is the only profession granted special protection in the Bill of Rights. But with these rights comes the responsibility to provide accurate information to the American people so we can make informed decisions. While it is understood that editing is a valid part of the process of broadcasting an interview, CBS News has a responsibility to edit its interviews in a way that fully, fairly, and accurately reflects the speaker's words and meaning.

And here is the rest of it.

Bush-One last swipe at the Right to Choose

2008-07-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, this REALLY needs to make the radar folks. There is so much to write on, I almost forgot. Thankfully, others didn't.

If your medical clinic receives federal funds, they can hire a doctor who can refuse to give you birth control in any form. Guess what kind of clinics get federal funds? Yup, the ones where the non-insured go. The ones where poor people go. You know what they define abortion as?

Then from the New York Times (there isn't a link in the above article):

The proposal defines abortion as follows: “any of the various procedures — including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.”

Merkley has also weighed in on this, launching a petition and an Op/Ed with more detail.

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new rule that would force hospitals and clinics to hire people who refuse to provide the full range of reproductive options to women, denying women important health care information and access to basic forms of contraception.

Bush's new rule would deny federal funding to health care institutions that refuse to follow the new rule, limiting health care access when more Americans are struggling with rising health care costs. Further, this rule could allow health care providers, driven by their own personal ideology, to deny emergency contraception to sexual assault victims.

Read all of this twice. Basically, they are attempting to define abortion as almost anything that prevents the possibility of birth. They have no way of defining when, exactly, a woman gets pregnant. There fore it will be an arbitrary decision on the part of healthcare providers, no doubt influenced by their own beliefs. You can't get any closer to overturning Roe v Wade, without actually doing so.
And here is the rest of it.

Global AIDS Bill passes the House

2008-07-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

My pal Steny's statements about the Global AIDS Bill that the House passed today, evidently with some strong support (I haven't looked at the numbers to see what he defines as "strong" yet)from both sides of the aisle.

“Five years ago, the United States made an unprecedented commitment to the people of the world who suffer from HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. We pledged $15 billion—and with that funding, we have:

• Provided life-saving drugs to almost 1.5 million people;
• Funded care for over 2 million orphans and vulnerable children; and
• Provided mother-to-child transmission prevention services during more than 6 million pregnancies.

“For millions, HIV/AIDS has been transformed from a death sentence to a manageable condition—and Congress has played a very real role in making that happen. On this issue, our moral obligation and our self-interest speak with one voice. Not only do we have the opportunity to save millions of lives—failing to do so will help proliferate disease and instability, spreading bloodshed across borders.

“Today, with the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act, we raise our commitment to eradicating those diseases to a total of $48 billion. In addition to expanding our prior efforts, this carefully-negotiated legislation will:

• Strengthen HIV-related health care delivery systems and increase health workforce capacities;
• Foster stronger relationships between HIV/AIDS initiatives and other support programs, including those that promote better nutrition and education;
• Allow HIV/AIDS testing and counseling to be provided as part of the U.S. bilateral family planning program; and
• Enhance prevention and treatment programs targeting women and girls.

“This bill also eliminates a requirement that 1/3 of prevention funds be spent on abstinence—a requirement that has proven ineffective. Instead, we have directed the Administration to create a 'balanced' approach, requiring behavioral change programs to receive 50% of the funds devoted to the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV. In the face of the aids pandemic, this bill will show the world, unambiguously, that America accepts its obligation to act.

“Last year alone, 2.5 million people contracted HIV—roughly 6,800 every single day. And last year alone, 2.1 million AIDS victims were added to the rolls of the dead. We are confronting a scourge far too pressing, far too powerful, to be made the object of political inaction. We have rarely faced a greater global challenge. We have rarely needed a greater global solution.

“I want to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her hard work to shape that solution. But most of all, I want to honor Tom Lantos. This bill, in many ways, was the culmination of his career, his lifetime of service. I wish he could be here to see it. But how perfect that Tom’s work, which began in the fight against tyrranny in his homeland, expanded to encompass the whole world, and the world’s struggle against the tyrannies of disease and poverty.

“Chastened by the vast challenge of AIDS—but inspired by Tom’s example, and Henry Hyde’s, as well—we came together across the aisle and joined the struggle with all the force America can muster by passing this bill tonight.”

I am glad to see the abstinence-only crud eliminated. Sometimes I wonder if the religious right throws that demand out there as a way to ensure that those pesky "savages" can be population-controlled afterall.And here is the rest of it.

Iran-Naval Blockade in the House

2008-07-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hmm...I missed this one (dang classes!) and it sure as heck needs to be defeated.

Just last week, Congress was on the verge of supporting a provocative and dangerous naval blockade of Iran. Quick approval had been expected, but thankfully, some of our friends in Congress put on the brakes.

The House leadership now has the real power to stop Congress from supporting what some have viewed as a resolution calling for war. Now's the moment for us to speak up:

Click here to sign our letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House leaders.

Now, there's a real chance to make a difference: Congress is having second thoughts about "Resolution 362" and its call for a naval blockade 1 — a classic act of war.

After initially supporting it, Reps. Wexler (D-FL) and Frank (D-MA) and have stated serious concerns with the resolution and will not support it in its current form. In addition, Rep. Cohen (D-TN), Allen (D-ME), and Clay (D-MO) have removed their names as cosponsors of Resolution 362. 2, 3, 4

Thanks to their leadership, Congress is now taking a second look at the Resolution. Our letter supports the work of these leaders to amend Resolution 362 in two ways:

1. Remove the language that calls for a naval blockade.
2. Add language that calls for direct American involvement in the negotiations with Iran, with the goal of stopping Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons and its sponsorship of terror.

If the Resolution is not changed in these two ways, Congress must oppose it.

Let's be clear: we recognize the threat Iran poses to regional stability and to U.S. interests. But Resolution 362 in its current form undermines diplomatic efforts to address that threat. What better way to convince Iranian hardliners to pursue a nuclear weapon than to provoke them with a blockade?

Instead, we need tough, smart U.S. diplomacy — using carrots as well as sticks — to address Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Reps. Wexler, Frank, and Cohen have given us a crucial opening. Now's our moment to put a clear stop to this failed Iran policy of saber rattling and military threats.

Click Here to Sign Our Petition

We will deliver your message to Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and Minority Leader Boehner.
And here is the rest of it.

Snickers defines a "real" man

2008-07-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

Good fricken ass lord. Ya'll remember that Snickers commercial from the Superbowl with the two men who kissed and then beat the crap out of each other? Well, evidently Snickers wasn't done with their mysogenistic queer-baiting.

I realize that nothing announces "Hey I am a gay man!" in the commercial, but give me a break. The stereotyping is as plain as the nose on my face (not to be missed by the way). Not to mention the glorification of masculinity being defined by violence against, and the demeaning of, another human being. I won't even get into how much of a textbook example this commercial is of that. Ugh....

Update: It's been pulled.And here is the rest of it.

FBI Racial Profiling

2008-07-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Ya'll do know they are trying to institutionalize it, right?

From The Center for Constitutional Rights:

Recent news reports have revealed that the FBI is planning to release new Department of Justice guidelines, slated for implementation later in the year. These proposed guidelines apparently make racial profiling not only an unwritten practice, but an avowed policy of the FBI. The proposed guidelines would give the domestic intelligence agency authority to investigate American citizens and residents without any evidence of criminal acts, relying instead on a "terrorist profile" that would include race, ethnicity and "travel to regions of the world known for terrorist activity" to spark an initial "national security investigation."

These proposed guidelines would also allow, according to the reports, for FBI agents to ask "open-ended questions" about the activities of Muslim or Arab Americans, or investigate them if their jobs and backgrounds match other criteria considered to be "suspect." Once this initial investigation stage was completed, a full investigation could be opened - allowing for wiretapping of phone calls or deep investigation of personal data - all guided merely by a "terrorist profile" that openly relies on race, ethnicity, religion and community connections.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is deeply concerned about these proposed guidelines, or any such guidelines that seek to institutionalize racial profiling. There is a long history of the use of racial profiling not only by the FBI, but by police departments and security agencies throughout the United States. From the mass detention of Japanese Americans during World War II in internment camps, to the creation of COINTELPRO, a domestic intelligence, surveillance and infiltration program that targeted, particularly, Black, Latino, Native American and other oppressed communities and communities of color for spying and disruption, to the mass roundups of Arab, Muslim and South Asian men following September 11, 2001, the FBI's use of racial profiling has devastated communities and damaged lives. On a daily basis, the use of racial profiling by police agencies has taken numerous lives and wreaked havoc on communities of color.

It is critical that no such policies officially permitting racial profiling - a violation of Constitutional rights - be implemented. Furthermore, full investigations into the use of racial profiling at the national, state and local levels should be opened, and those who practice racial profiling, or encourage or order the use of such practices, should be fired and prosecuted.

These latest reports of proposed guidelines fall directly in line with the ongoing behavior of the Bush Administration's attempted destruction of the Constitution and attacks on civil and individual rights and liberties. It is critical that the next President immediately repudiate the policy and the practice of racial profiling in his first 100 days in office, and ensure that there is no tolerance for racial profiling within the new administration's Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.

Write to Attorney General Michael Mukasey and let him know today that racial profiling - in practice and in policy - is unacceptable.
And here is the rest of it.

Gramm wasn't speaking in a vacuum

2008-07-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

McCain wants us to think it's all in our heads too.

And here is the rest of it.

Oregon HEAT Introduces Innovative Statewide Oil Program

2008-07-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Well this looks pretty cool, particularly with the expected increases in natural gas prices this winter.

Revolutionary New Program Helps Needy Families and the Environment through Recycling.

Partnering with the environmental award-winning oil recycler, Oil Re-Refining Company, Oregon HEAT is ramping up a new and different kind of statewide oil donation program. This endeavor will help ease the burden on low-income Oregonians who face volatile heating oil prices, all while reducing petroleum waste products in Oregon. The oil program also helps Oregon HEAT and its partners reach more at-risk families and expand service to new areas of Oregon.

Here's how the program works:

- Homeowners decommissioning their oil tanks can donate their remaining home-heating oil to help people in their community with their emergency energy needs. Just call Oregon HEAT at 503-612-3790. Oregon HEAT will contact ORRCO and ORRCO will make arrangements with the donor for oil pickup.

- Businesses and industries that generate contaminated petroleum products, like dirty fuels and crankcase oil, can donate to Oregon HEAT by having these products recycled. Again, they need only call Oregon HEAT who will then pass on the data to ORRCO. ORRCO will set up regular scheduled pickups. The products are recycled, the businesses help their neighbors in need, and all of Oregon wins.

The cornerstones of these dual programs are neighbor helping neighbor and neighbors helping preserve Oregon's natural environment. Donations go to assist local families facing a home-heating crisis - all fuels donated are used to help households in the community from which the donation came. Energy assistance to eligible households is then distributed by Oregon HEAT's community action and social service agency partners around the state.

In just its first 50 days, the program has received pledges of nearly 5,000 gallons worth upwards of some $10,000. Rees says that's just the tip of the iceberg, noting that heat's already been contacted by leaders from other states who want to model Oregon HEAT's new program in their own communities.

It's easy to donate. Just call or email Oregon HEAT and staff will contact ORRCO to arrange for pick up: 503-612-3790 or info@oregonheat.org

About Oregon HEAT

Oregon HEAT is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to help low-income Oregonians become more energy self-reliant. In partnership with community agencies throughout the state, Oregon HEAT provides energy assistance and advocates access to energy resources for low-income Oregonians. Oregon HEAT's primary program objective is to prevent disconnection of utility service by providing bill payment assistance to low-income households in emergency situations.

To donate to, or learn more about, Oregon HEAT: visit http://www.oregonheat.org/; call: 503-612-3790; or write to Oregon HEAT, PO Box 127, Tualatin, Ore. 97062.

About ORRCO

Bill Briggs, founder and President of Oil Re-Refining Company established this Oregon-based company over 20 years ago. A family owned company with internationally recognized petroleum recycling expertise, Oil Re-Refining Company is leading the industry with new technology and award winning environmental processes.
And here is the rest of it.

Drilling for oil

2008-07-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Press Release from Hoyer:

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer spoke on the House Floor this afternoon in support of the DRILL Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands: With Americans being pummeled by $4 a gallon gas, it is high time America did just that. With the passage of the DRILL Act, America will move decisively to increase its domestic oil production—exactly what our friends on the other side of the aisle say we should be doing.

“Today, we call their bluff. Do they seek to score political points? Or will they join us and vote for this common-sense legislation?

“Mr. Speaker, 68 million acres of American oil-producing land are sitting leased, available—and idle. There is even more land available for drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, or NPRA. Combined, we are talking about an area the size of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and most of Maryland. Let’s help the oil companies get that oil out of the ground, and get it flowing to the Americans who need it.

“The DRILL Act speeds up the leasing process in NPRA. It ensures that Alaskan oil will fill American gas tanks. It calls on the president to speed up the completion of Alaskan oil and gas pipelines, so the products will get to market sooner. And it tells the oil companies: “Drill on the leases you have, or let somebody else do it - but don’t just sit on them while Americans are paying $4 a gallon. Use it or lose it.”

“Why is our plan better than the Republicans’? One, it means more oil: The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which is already approved for drilling, has an estimated 10.6 billion barrels of oil. ANWR has 10.4 billion.

“Two, our plan means more oil, faster: Unlike ANWR and protected coastal areas, NPRA plus the 68 million leased acres elsewhere are approved for production right now. And get this: Right now – today - available pipelines reach to within five miles of NPRA! And if the pipelines are completed soon, we’ll speed production up even more.

“Third, I see no reason to give even more handouts of public land to companies enjoying record profits and billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies. Let them start on the land they already have. Let them eat their vegetables before they even think about having dessert (my favorite quote in the making!).

“Mr. Speaker, we have lived through seven and a half years of failed Republican energy policies that have culminated in record gas prices. We can’t erase those seven and a half years with one vote.

“But with this responsible domestic production bill, we can start - today. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: Let’s use the resources that are available, right now. Let’s keep America’s oil in America. I urge my colleagues to vote for the DRILL Act.”And here is the rest of it.

Hunger in America

2008-07-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

From America's Second Harvest:

The worst food inflation in nearly two decades... gas prices at an all-time high... record home foreclosures. It’s not hard to see why the lines at our soup kitchens and food pantries are longer than ever.

Food banks across the country recently reported that demand for emergency food is up by at least 15-20%, and in some regions, as much as 40%.

99% (98.89%) of food bank respondents stated that they have experienced an increase in the number of clients served within the past year. Food banks cite as contributing factors:
92.78% the rising cost of fuel
91.67% the rising cost of food
46.11% mortgage or rent issues
43.33% rising unemployment
42.22% rising underemployment
31.11% the inadequacy of food stamps

The increase in the number of clients is estimated at 15% to 20%.
81.11% of surveyed food banks have indicated that they are currently unable to adequately meet the demand without having to reduce the amount of food or their operations.
54.79% stated that their agencies already have or are considering reducing the amount of food offered to clients.
48.63% of these food banks already have or are considering reducing the variety of food offered to agencies.

45.21% of these food banks responded that they already have or are considering diverting budgeted funds from other areas to purchase food.
43.84% of these food banks stated that they already have or are considering reducing the amount of food offered to agencies in order to meet demand.
27.4% of these food banks responded that some of their agencies already have or are considering reducing the number of new households they will serve.
13.7% of these food banks responded that they already have or are considering reducing or suspending programs and services offered.

And I'm assuming ya'll heard about the likely 15-40% increase in natural gas costs coming up for the Pacific Northwest, right? And here is the rest of it.