| Progressive Calendar 06.27.07 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: David Shove (shove001 tc.umn.edu)
|
|
| Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:51:08 -0700 (PDT) | |
P R O G R E S S I V E C A L E N D A R 06.27.07 1. Impeach/council 6.29 8:30am 2. Palestine vigil 6.29 4:30pm 3. IWW/introduction 6.29 5:30pm 4. Wendell Berry 6.29 5. Project Earth 6.29-30 Geneva MN 6. IRV in StPaul 6.30 10am 7. Global bike days 6.30-7.01 11am 8. NWN4P Minnetonka 6.30 11am 9. Northtown vigil 6.30 2pm 10. Bowman/9-11 6.30 6pm 11. The'60s/stories 6.30 7pm 12. Coldwater walk 6.30 7pm 13. Vs Israel?/CTV 6.30 9pm 14. Copwatch 6.30 11pm 15. Stillwater vigil 7.01 1pm 16. War of the roses 7.01 5pm 17. Indian/new time 7.01 7pm 18. Ralph Nader - Sicko and the politics of health care 19. joel albers - Sicko premiere: Uptown AND Lagoon 20. Demi Miller - Sicko premiere: the impact of chanting 21. CorpCrimeRptr - Bosses, Dems & single payer: which side is Moore on? 22. M Mogulescu - Clinton Obama & Edwards oppose single payer 23. GreenParty US - Nader to attend Green meeting in Reading PA --------1 of 23-------- From: Minneapolis Impeach <lists [at] impeachforpeace.org> Subject: Impeach/council 6.29 8:30am Pressure the Minneapolis City Council to Impeach: Fri, June 29 Minneapolis citizens, it's our time. For some time, pressure and support have been building for our city to defend the constitution through impeachment. And today we're asking for your help to get us to the finish line. We need you to contact your City Council Member. Current U.S. House Representative Keith Ellison spoke out in favor of impeachment in Impeach for Peace's October rally prior to his election: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=17 He again reiterated his support after the election in April (but has so far failed to sign on to Kucinich's H Res. 333 calling for Cheney's impeachment): http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=1361 Then, Impeach for Peace diplomatically contacted each member of the Minneapolis City Council calling on them to pass such a resolution and subsequently received responses: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=1839 We attempted to solidify R.T. Ryback's support for impeachment: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=1841 Most recently we held a Town Hall Meeting attended by Minneapolis City Council Members Elizabeth Glidden and Cam Gordon, as well as being a presence at their recent City Council Meeting: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=2151 Now, it's time to seal the deal by flooding the City Council with requests for an impeachment resolution. Forward this email to all your friends, and let's finish what we've started. Below you'll find contact information for the City Council Members as well as talking points. Also, please consider joining us on June 29th at 8:30am when we will again be a presence at the Minneapolis City Council Meeting: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=2172 Here is the contact info for city council people: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/ WARD 1, Paul Ostrow, 612-673-2201, paul.ostrow [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 2, Cam Gordon, 612-6730-2202, cam.Gordon [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 3, Diane Hofstede, 612-673-2203, diane.hofstede [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 4, Barbara Johnson, 612-673-2204, barbara.johnson [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 5, Don Samuels, 612-673-2205, don.samuels [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 6, Robert Lilligren, 612-673-2206, robert.lilligren [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 7, Lisa Goodman, 612-673-2207, http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/contact/email-form-goodman.asp WARD 8, Elizabeth Glidden, 612-673-2208, http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/contact/email-form-glidden.asp WARD 9, Gary Shiff, 612-673-2209, http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/contact/email-form-schiff.asp WARD 10, Ralph Remington, 612-673-2210, ralph.remington [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 11, Scott Benson, 612-673-2211, scott.benson [at] ci.minneapolis.mn.us WARD 12, Sandy Colvin Ray, 612-673-2212, http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/contact/email-form-roy.asp WARD 13, Betsy Hodges, 612-673-2213, http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/contact/email-form-hodges.asp We also need organizations and businesses to sign a letter of support for the Impeachment resolution. They can be mailed to: City Hall ATTN: Minneapolis City Council 350 S. 5th St. Rm #307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Reasons for impeachment: http://impeachforpeace.org/evidence/ A copy of the impeachment resolution we're suggesting is here: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=2195 Is Bush/Cheney Impeachment a City Council's Job? - City Council members take an oath of office promising to "protect and defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. They don't take an oath to fix potholes. If the Constitution is in danger then their primary duty is to defend it. - Cities and towns routinely send petitions to Congress for all kinds of requests. This is allowed under Clause 3, Rule XII, Section 819, of the Rules of the House of Representatives. This clause is routinely used to accept petitions from cities, and memorials from states, all across America. Is Impeachment a Local Issue? - If a federal action has a significant negative impact on this city, then it is appropriate for this city to defend itself. - Citizens from this city may be sent, or have been sent, to Iraq to fight in an illegal and unjustified war. - Tax funds from this city that could have been spent locally have been spent in Iraq for war. Tax money from this city has been wasted in no-bid contracts with companies like Halliburton with deep ties to the Bush administration. Yet this city can barely afford the emergency services, libraries, and schools that we need. - The State National Guard should be available to protect this city from floods or other disasters. But instead, President Bush has sent them to Iraq. --------2 of 23-------- From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com> Subject: Palestine vigil 6.29 4:30pm Friday, 6/29, 4:30 to 5:30 pm, vigil to end the occupation of Palestine, Snelling & Summit Aves, St Paul. Karen, 651-283-3495. --------3 of 23-------- From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com> Subject: IWW/introduction 6.29 5:30pm FRIDAY JUNE 29, 5;30pm an introduction to the IWW/Industrial Workers of the WORLD also knwon for 100 years as the WOBBLIES. WOLVES DEN 1201 EAST FRANKLIN AVE. south Minneapolis, MN 55404 --------4 of 23-------- From: tom [at] organicconsumers.org Subject: Wendell Berry 6.29 The chance of a local food lovin' lifetime is coming up on June 29th, Wendell Barry will be at the College of St. Catherine speaking and reading in celebration of Land Stewardship Project's 25th anniversary. If you want to go get your tickets early. "On June 29, farmer/author Wendell Berry will be at the College of St. Catherine in Saint Paul to help launch a series of events celebrating LSP's 25th anniversary. Berry will be featured during an evening of readings and discussion that will also include Minnesota authors Mary Rose O'Reilley and Joe Paddock. Seating is limited. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased ahead of time by calling 651-653-0618 or e-mailing lspwbl [at] landstewardshipproject.org." http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/07/newsr_070502.htm --------5 of 23-------- From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com> Subject: Project Earth 6.29-30 Geneva MN 6/29 and 6/30, Project Earth (peace fair) in Geneva, MN. www.wookiefoot.com/ProjectEarth/home.cfm --------6 of 23------- From: PRO826 [at] aol.com Subject: IRV in StPaul 6.30 10am stpaul.betterballotcampaign.org Clever New Ways to Sign the Petition: Every Saturday morning at 10 am, the campaign will be at Cahoots Coffee Shop at Selby and Snelling to gather petition signatures and answer questions about Instant Runoff Voting. The campaign website now features a "Sign the Petition" button! <http://www.fairvotemn.org//stpaul/signpetition%3F_qf_Edit_next%3DSign%2Bthe%2BP etition> Summer Fun With IRV: We only have until August 1 to get the 3,000 more signatures that are needed for the Better Ballot Campaign to put Instant Runoff Voting on the ballot in November. --------7 of 23-------- From: Eric Gilbertson <aleric [at] tcq.net> Subject: Global bike days 6.30-7.01 11am I met someone promoting this at Juneteenth and thought it sounded like something that Greens would be interested in: Global Bike Days Saturday, June 30th - Sunday, July 1st 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Midtown Global Market "A weekend of bikes, music, language, culture, film, theater, children's activities and more at the first annual Global Bike Days." See www.globalbikedays.org for more information. --------8 of 23-------- From: Carole Rydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net> Subject: NWN4P Minnetonka 6.30 11am NWN4P-Minnetonka demonstration- Every Saturday, 11 AM to noon, at Hwy. 7 and 101. Park in the Target Greatland lot; meet near the fountain. We will walk along the public sidewalk. Bring your own signs. --------9 of 23-------- From: Lennie <major18 [at] comcast.net> Subject: Northtown vigil 6.30 2pm Mounds View peace vigil EVERY SATURDAY from 2-3pm at the at the southeast corner of the intersection of Co. Hwy 10 and University Ave NE in Blaine, which is the northwest most corner of the Northtown Mall area. This is a MUCH better location. We'll have extra signs. Communities situated near the Northtown Mall include: Blaine, Mounds View, New Brighton, Roseville, Shoreview, Arden Hills, Spring Lake Park, Fridley, and Coon Rapids. For further information, email major18 [at] comcast.net or call Lennie at 763-717-9168 --------10 of 23-------- From: Leslie Reindl <alteravista [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Bowman/9-11 6.30 6pm Free event sponsored by MN 9/11 Truth, minnesota_911 [at] yahoo.com Saturday, June 30, 6:15 pm Talk by Dr. Robert Bowman, Lt. Col USAF, ret., former director of the "Star Wars" program under Presidents Carter and Ford, Macalester College Chapel, Grand and Macalester Aves., St. Paul 55105. Dr. Bowman challenges us to "Take Back Americaâ" with a government that (1) follows the Constitution, (2) honors the truth, and (3) serves the people. He calls for a new independent 9/11 investigation. Doors open at 6 pm; talk followed by refreshments and socializing. Free; free will offering will be taken. FFI 651-633-4410, 612-722-1504 "The Best Public Speaker in the Country" (Los Angeles Times) Dr. Bob Bowman Lt Col, USAF, ret. (101 Combat Missions as Fighter Pilot in Vietnam) Is bringing his Patriot Tour to town! Saturday, June 30, 2007, 6-9 pm Macalester College Chapel, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul 55105 (on Grand west of Snelling Ave.) Free (free-will offering taken); refreshments and conversation follow talk Dr. Bowman challenges us to "Take Back America.," to have a government that: (1) Follows the Constitution (2) Honors the Truth, and (3) Serves the People. Think what a difference that would make! No more undeclared wars of aggression. No more spying on the American people. No more exporting of jobs. No more NAFTA No more government lies, false-flag attacks, and cover-ups. No more corporate welfare. No more health plans written by insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers. No more energy policies written by Exxon and Enron. No more trillions in debt. Most importantly, no more using our sons and daughters to kill Arabs for the oil companies. Let's "Take Back America!!" Sponsored by MN911Truth, Vets for Peace Ch. 27, Macalester College History Department, Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers FFI: 651-633-4410, 612-722-1504 --------11 of 23-------- From: Larry Johnson <elent7 [at] comcast.net> Subject: The '60s/stories 6.30 7pm June 30, 7 - 9 p.m. at Dunn Bros by Loring Park, 329 West 15th St. in Mpls THE 60s. DID THEY REALLY HAPPEN? Storytelling for Adults with Larry Johnson, Elaine Wynne, Vicki Joan Keck, and Tony Wentersdorf Call 612-747-3904 for more information --------12 of 23-------- From: "wamm [at] mtn.org" <wamm [at] mtn.org> Subject: Coldwater walk 6.30 7pm Coldwater Full Moon Tour: Greenman Plant Walk Saturday, June 30, 7:00 p.m. (Gather); 7:15 p.m. (Walk) Minnehaha Park, 54th Street South, Minneapolis (South End of the Pay Parking Lot). Walk up and down the Mississippi gorge with Henry Fieldseth, founder of the Friends School Plant Sale. It is the largest plant sale in Minnesota and specializes in native woodland and prairie plants. Henry even loves "weeds." June's moon is called the Rose, Strawberry and Strong Sun moon in various traditions. FFI: Visit <www.friendsofcoldwater.org>. --------13 of 23-------- From: Eric Angell <eric-angell [at] riseup.net> Subject: Vs Israel?/CTV 6.30 9pm Revered Minneapolis Television Network (MTN 17) viewers: "Our World In Depth" cablecasts weekly on MTN Channel 17. Households with basic cable can watch. "Our World In Depth" is on Saturday at 9 pm and the following Tuesday at 8 am (as well as other times). 6/30 and 7/3 "Is Criticism of Israel Anti-Semitic: An Evening with Norman Finkelstein". Part 2. --------14 of 23-------- From: Michelle Gross <mgresist [at] minn.net> Subject: Copwatch 6.30 11pm SUMMER COPWATCH KICKOFF Saturday, June 30 Training: 11:00 p.m., Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave S, Minneapolis CopWatch: 12:00 midnight Stepped-up police presence on the streets is leading to more incidents of police brutality and misconduct against people of color, homeless people and others. Just two weeks ago, we told you about a major cop riot at a club in downtown Minneapolis. Now's the time to kick off our 2007 season of CopWatch. CopWatch is a program of police accountability in which we observe police conduct and document any incidents using video cameras, still photography and paper and pen. Along the way, we distribute Know Your Rights flyers and educate the public. THIS ACTIVITY IS COMPLETELY LEGAL and we'll train you to do it safely. PLEASE NOTE: If you have not attended a previous CopWatch, you must attend the training before going out with us. Join us for our first summer session of CopWatch. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes--you'll be on your feet a while. If you have questions, call 612-874-7867. --------15 of 23-------- From: scot b <earthmannow [at] comcast.net> Subject: Stillwater vigil 7.01 1pm A weekly Vigil for Peace Every Sunday, at the Stillwater bridge from 1- 2 p.m. Come after Church or after brunch ! All are invited to join in song and witness to the human desire for peace in our world. Signs need to be positive. Sponsored by the St. Croix Valley Peacemakers. If you have a United Nations flag or a United States flag please bring it. Be sure to dress for the weather . For more information go to <http://www.stcroixvalleypeacemakers.com/>http://www.stcroixvalleypeacemakers.com/ For more information you could call 651 275 0247 or 651 999 - 9560 --------16 of 23-------- From: Write On Radio <writeonradio [at] yahoo.com> Subject: War of the roses 7.01 5pm Sunday July 1st 5:00 P.M. Author Arelia Scott discusses her book, Otherwise Normal People: Inside the Thorny World of Competitive Rose Gardening. Magers and Quinn Booksellers, Mpls; 612-822-4700. --------17 of 23-------- From: Chris Spotted Eagle <chris [at] spottedeagle.org> Subject: Indian/new time 7.01 7pm Hey, radio/internet audience Therešs a new broadcast schedule for KFAIšs radio program, Indian Uprising, starting July 1st, 2007. The program will be on from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Each Sunday. Indian Uprising, is a public and cultural affairs program, concerned with sober and meaningful issues by, for and about Native Indigenous people, produced and hosted by, yours truly, Chris Spotted Eagle, on KFAI Community Radio 90.3 FM Minneapolis & 106.7 St. Paul, Minnesota. You are invited to tune-in, listen-in! www.kfai.org --------18 of 23-------- Good Movie, Now Where's the Movement? Sicko and the Politics of Health Care By RALPH NADER CounterPunch June 26, 2007 He sat there dejected and indignant - twenty years ago - in our office. His position as editor of the monthly muckraking magazine, Mother Jones, had broken up. He was looking for a job that would allow him to bring his conscience to work. We gave him a place and support to start Moore's Weekly - a media critique. Michael Moore has gone a long way since that short-lived publication. He went on to do documentary films, starting with Roger and Me - meaning of course, Michael Moore. Rich, famous and Hollywood chic, Moore will open his latest film - 'Sicko' in theatres around the country on June 29, 2007. To many of those who have already seen this indictment and conviction of the corporations that sell health care under an array of tricky conditions, it is his best move yet. He was in Washington, D.C. last week, for a preview at the large Uptown Theatre and for testimony before a House Committee. The media followed him with a frenzy hitherto reserved for Paris Hilton. But Michael Moore is no Paris Hilton from any dimension you wish to choose. He is a heavyweight reformer, pitching his film toward full Medicare for everyone. This also means displacing the health insurance industry the way Medicare partially did in the mid-Sixties for the elderly. "I think one movie can make a difference;.I believe it will be a catalyst for the type of real change people want," Moore told the New York Times. Great movies and documentaries raise people's latent indignation levels - for a short time. Norma Rae, The China Syndrome and The Grapes of Wrath had this effect. But films do not usually move either people or legislators to action. Their effect does not reach enough people. Their urgent 2 hour impact tends to diminish quickly, as compared with the omnipresent and powerful corporate or commercial interests determined to preserve the status quo. Will 'Sicko' be any different? Certainly the giant HMOs, hospital chains and drug companies are firmly entrenched with all the sinews of power that have left this country, alone among western nations, without health care for all. They have endured easily many mainstream print and television exposes (see the New York Times, AP, 60 Minutes and the nightly evening news, for example) year after year. Authoritative reports documenting over $200 billion a year in computerized billing fraud and abuse or the loss of 18,000 American lives yearly due to the unaffordability of health care (The Institute of Medicine) bounce off this two trillion dollar industry like marshmallows. Having been a taught community organizer in Michigan, (see the new book, Citizen Moore by Roger Rapaport) Moore has prepared with all this in mind. He allied himself with the great California Nurses Association and their nationwide colleagues to demonstrate in favor of the film, contact legislators and other large unions. The anticipatory media for the movie have been generous; citing the U.S. government's move against Moore for what it claims was an unauthorized trip to Cuba. Right wing think tanks, funded by this hyper-profitable, subsidized industry, pour out inane rebuttals and offer quotes against Moore for reporters. Unlike for other social justice movies, there is even a bill in Congress, H.R. 676 with 74 cosponsoring legislators, led by Cong. John Conyers (Dem. Mich.), to establish full Medicare for all. That is a number of lawmakers considerably less that those who signed on to a similar bill in 1993. There are 17 million more Americans uninsured today than in that year, totaling nearly 48 million without coverage in 2006. So you see where that trend is heading. If Moore is serious about getting "real change," as he phrases his goal, he will have to make at least two more contributions. First, he will need to make a comprehensive effort to get many of the 6 million or more people, who will see the film, to sign up as they enter or leave the theatres so that they can be given a chance to connect with each other for a cohesive change constituency. Secondly, some of the millions he will make from this movie should be put into a full time lobbying organization in Washington and back in the Congressional districts to press for enactment of H.R. 676. With all his super-rich Hollywood contacts and admirers, Moore should be able to multiply this proposed group's budget several fold. Michael can even call it 'Moore's Miracle!' Ralph Nader is the author of The Seventeen Traditions --------19 of 23-------- From: joel michael albers <joel [at] uhcan-mn.org> Subject: Sicko Premiere: Uptown AND Lagoon Dear Activists, If there is ever a time to take action and get involved, this appears to be it !! I called the Uptown theater. They said, Sicko is opening at BOTH the Uptown and Lagoon theaters, Showtimes at Uptown 1:30PM, 4:15PM, 7:15PM and 10PM weekdays and weekends for 2 weeks at least. Could be longer. Showtimes at Lagoon are w/in 15 minutes of the Uptown showings. After the about 2 week run, it could be shown at other theaters. We should be at both theaters if possible. We can do whatever we want w/in reason, outside the theater. I suggest that in addition to flyering, and list serve sign-ups, that we do a lot of CREATIVE stuff because people will be waiting in line and creative stuff will make people smile, laugh and more open. People weren't super- friendly last week at the preview. So the SP cheerleading, the McGuire puppet and uninsured Annie street theater, holding up canes and crutches, practitioners wearing scrubs or white coats, etc. Guitar playing/singing HC songs. Let me know what you think ? Also,the beautiful t-shirts will be completed in time for this, thanks to Chris from Contempl8 T-shirts (725-3494), so i will bring them. "HMO You Ugly" contains many HC songs and chants. This should be a festival outside the theater. Bring a guitar. Express yourself in whatever way you know how. Film it, photo it. It's all valuable. Lets have ourselves some fun ! We need people there before, and after all showings. Keep painting the picture. The purpose of the revolutionary artist is to make change seem irresistable. Several HC reform groups will be there, so all groups can use this as a way to start networking and build this movement. See you at the party, joel --------20 of 23-------- Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:51:21 -0500 From: Demi Miller <peersupport [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Sicko Premiere: the impact of chanting I'm intending to open up a dialog here - as a veteran of over four decades of civil rights and peace activism. I think that chanting - while it has a short-term visceral appeal - has consistently negative medium and long-term consequences and should be avoided by any group wanting to run a demonstration where we wish to project a positive and inviting vision of a different world. If we want to win people over - then it's always better to emphasize singing songs with a positive theme over any chanting - every time. Chanting has the uncanny ability to divide people and push a rigid 'us-vs-them' energy - an energy that ultimately always goes negative. Anger may be an initial motivator - but (like another motivator - testosterone ) it is also a clear poison! After an initial "pick-up", anger energy has a prolongued "drag-down" period of bad vibes and bad karma. And chanting almost always draws on anger energy to motivate participation. Singing draws on the energies of idealism and harmony and tends to extend a welcome and inspires wider participation. Singing can inspire reverence, or engage in political story-telling, or be playful and creative - all of which are positive and inviting (and much more difficult for the corporate media to spin in negative, alienating ways.) Whereas the corporate media propagandists just love to capsulize the entire focus of demonstrations away from the content that brings us together or the issues we are attempting to raise, and the media will focus on anything that has clear image of negativity so that viewers will shut down and not hear or look for anything else. The just love to focus on chanting for that reason. A typical corporate news coverage scenario is one or two shots of angry demonstrators faces chanting a slogan - and then a two minute rebuttal from some pro-corporate (paid) counter demonstration spokes person saying why these negative people are all misguided and don't represent the sentiment of the American people. We can't afford to give them opportunities to set that up as 'fair and balanced' reporting - little things like that can completely undermine our effectiveness. Let's chose to be effective - and keep a positive discipline and avoid negative energy actions like chanting. Discipline is challenging for maverick activists - but it is a key aspect to winning - whether it is winning a prolonged labor dispute, a campaign marked with Karl Rove attacks (like Keith Ellison's), or a peaceful demonstration designed to bring about increased positive public awareness and support for an important issue like Universal Affordable HealthCare. Let's plan to come and have fun - and keep it upbeat and playful. In my 40+ years of doing demonstrations, chanting has inevitably been the easiest -lowest common denominator - action to pull off and it also (predictably) drags down the energy and negates the impact and goals of the demonstration every time (compared to more thoughtful and positive things like singing and street theater an playful roleplays.) --------21 of 23-------- Bosses, Democrats and Single Payer Health Care Which Side Are You On, Michael Moore? By CORPORATE CRIME REPORTER CounterPunch June 26, 2007 Michael Moore has made a great movie. Sicko. Everyone should see it. And take the kids. The movie's message in a nutshell - we need single payer. In the United States. Now. But Senate Democrats are trying to co-opt the message. On Capitol Hill today, SEIU held a rally for a couple of hundred health care workers. The group was addressed by six Senators. None support single payer. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) - does not support single payer. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - does not support single payer. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) - does not support single payer. Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) - does not support single payer. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) - does not support single payer. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) - does not support single payer. We asked Dawn Lee, a spokesperson for SEIU, whether SEIU supported HR 676 - the single payer bill in the House. She said SEIU takes no position on that bill. SEIU - does not support single payer. At the SEIU rally, all spoke in favor of "universal health care." That is code for - keep the insurance companies in the game. Single payer would take them out. Martese Chism was at a similar rally in Chicago last month. Chism is a registered nurse at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She also sits on the board of the California Nurses Association (CNA). CNA is pro-single payer. Chism was attending an SEIU rally in Chicago in support of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's "universal health care" bill that would keep the insurance companies in the game. Chism says that the SEIU members who gathered for the rally were being actively misled by SEIU. "SEIU members are being led to believe that universal health care means free health care for all - single payer," Chism told Corporate Crime Reporter. "But it doesn't mean that. It means keeping the insurance companies in the game. I had to leave because I couldn't take it anymore. The insurance companies and SEIU are misleading people." CNA president Rose Ann DeMoro is a touch less subtle. "Rather than being on the side of the workers, SEIU continues to be on the side of the bosses," DeMoro told Corporate Crime Reporter. "And it's a disgrace." "And the problem is that SEIU is giving cover to these Senators - it makes them look like they are accomplishing something when in fact they are accomplishing nothing. These legislators are gutless, and the SEIU is giving them cover." DeMoro is using the movie Sicko to generate public support for single payer around the country. Unfortunately, the powers that be in the Democratic Party are working - with SEIU and other unions - to undermine public support for single payer. And soon, Michael Moore too will have to choose. Between single payer - and the corporate Democratic Party's candidate for President. That candidate will be - if past is prologue - opposed to single payer. And the question will remain, as always - which side are you on? Corporate Crime Reporter is located in Washington, DC. They can be reached through their website. [Which side will Moore be on? My intuition: whatever lesser-evil (and anti-single payer) Dem our billionaire masters pick to trap us into another 4 years of anti-citizen illegitimate misgovernment. Moore moves left until a few months before the election, then moves Dem-right and says we all have to move with him, even if we get no single-payer or end of war or ... for it. Four more wasted years. -ed] --------22 of 23------- To Tavis Smiley: Ask Clinton, Obama and Edwards Why They Oppose Single Payer Health Insurance by Miles Mogulescu Published on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 by Huffington Post As moderator of Thursday's Democratic Presidential debate, here's a follow-up question: Do you think your plan is better than Medicare-For-All, or do you fear being attacked as an extremist by Republicans, big insurance, and big pharma and so propose a less effective plan as more politically pragmatic? The leading Democratic candidates - Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama - criticize America's broken health care system and call for fundamental change with great rhetorical flair. But when it comes to proposing the most effective plan for change - Medicare-For-All - they don't show an audacity of hope. They show a paucity of courage. Obama's rhetoric can soar: "The times has come for universal health care in America. Plans that tinker and halfway measures belong to yesterday. [It's] wrong when businesses have to layoff one employee because they can't afford the health care of another. Wrong when a parent cannot take a sick child to the doctor because they cannot afford the bill that comes with it. Wrong when 46 million Americans have no health care at all. In a country that spends more on health care than any other nation on Earth, it's just wrong". Or, as John Edwards proclaims, "We put more money into health care than any country in the industrialized world and we get one of the worst products out in the other end". Obama, Edwards and Clinton are great at denouncing the problem. But they are timid when suggesting the solution. As with Hillary Clinton's failed 1993 health care plan, out of fear of being accused by opponents of advocating socialized medicine, Obama's and Edward's plans try to piece together a patchwork of employer plans, private insurance, new government regulations, subsidies and tax credits which is over-complicated, only goes part way towards solving the problem, and in Obama's case does not even guarantee universal coverage. Of course as in 1993, such caution will not keep Republicans and their corporate lobbyist cronies from attacking these plans. The day after Obama announced his plan, Rudolph Guliani denounced it as "socialized medicine". Hillary's 1993 plan and Obama's and Edward's 2007 plans all try to build reform on top of the twin pillars of the current flawed American health care system - private insurance and employer-provided benefits - while attempting to fill in the cracks. The problem is that these twin pillars are rotting from their foundations and any reform built on them is likely to collapse. The first pillar of the system - private insurance - is an inherently flawed means of providing health care. First, the incentive of a private insurance company is to find ways to deny needed care - the less care provided for the same premiums, the higher the profits and the bigger the salaries and bonuses of their top executives. So private health insurance companies pay huge staffs to review claims and deny coverage. Michael Moore's "Sicko" shows horrifying examples of people who actually have health insurance coverage but suffer from lack of care because insurance companies wrongly denied their claim, and presents eloquent testimony from former insurance company employees about how they were promoted and award bonuses for finding ways to reject coverage. Second, private health insurance involves a colossal waste of money. Nearly 1/3 of private health insurance premiums go to administrative costs of underwriting (i.e. turning down insurance applications from consumers who might actually need to use their insurance), claims processing (i.e. denying as many claims as possible), marketing and advertising, plus shareholder profits and multi-million dollar executive salaries and bonuses. By contrast, Medicare's administrative run approximately 2-3% of costs. At the same time, to deal with numerous different insurance companies and their varying claims procedures, doctors and hospitals have to employ large staffs, not to provide care, but just to process insurance claims. Approximately 20% of doctor's income goes to the overhead of processing insurance. It has been estimated that approximately $350 billion a year of health care dollars goes to administrative costs. Saving most of these costs alone could pay to insure the tens of millions of uninsured Americans in a Medicare-For-All system. Moreover, the second pillar of the system - employer-provided health insurance - is collapsing. No less a businessman than the chairman of Ford Motor Company stated that employee health costs are "the biggest issue on our plate that we can't solve. Health care is out of control. It's a system that's broke". Every year, fewer and fewer employers offer health insurance. Increasingly, most labor/ management disputes are less about wages and working conditions than about health care coverage, as American companies struggle to remain competitive in the world market by reducing benefits, raising deductibles, and increasing employees' share of premiums. Average health care costs run 7-10% of wages, putting a tremendous burden on American companies who must complete with companies from almost all the other capitalist democracies where health care is provided by the government, not to mention emerging economies like Taiwan which instituted single payer health care a decade ago. The Big Three automakers issued an incredible statement recently that "The [Canadian] public health-care system reduces total labor costs for automobile manufacturing firms, compared to the cost of equivalent private insurance services purchased by U.S. based automakers; these health insurance savings can amount to several dollars per hour of labor worked. Publicly-funded health care thus accounts for a significant portion of Canada's overall labor cost advantage in auto assembly, versus the U.S., which in turn has been a significant factor in maintaining and attracting new auto investment to Canada. Recently, Toyota cited the savings in health care costs as the primary reason for deciding to open a new auto plant in Canada rather than the U.S. The societal costs of a health care system built on private insurance and employer-paid premiums is 49 million uninsured and an equal number of underinsured, rightful insurance claims going unpaid, $350 billion dollars a year in wasted costs, a reduction in America's economic competitiveness, and the loss of American jobs. Yet this is the rotten system on which Obama, Edwards and Clinton want to build their reforms. As one blog stated, Obama's plan "offers just enough federal bureaucracy for the GOP to caricature, just enough private insurance involvement to annoy liberals and just enough confusion to keep everyone else from knowing just what to think". In other words, in 2007, political timidity is no more a guarantee of success than it was in 1993. The type of hybrid private/public health care patchwork health reform proposed by Obama, Edwards, and Clinton is a vast, untried social experiment which has never been proven to work anywhere in the world. The type of health care program that works - a single payer government run service - has already proven itself in virtually every other capitalist democracy. The US spends twice as much per capita on health care as Britain, France or Canada, yet America ranks only 39th in the world in the health of our people. Life expectancy is shorter and infant mortality higher in the US than in most other wealthy countries. If the leading Democratic Presidential contenders think that by avoiding proposals for a single payer system they will somehow neutralize the opposition to reform and make their proposals more appealing, they are kidding themselves. It didn't work for Hillary in 1993 and it won't work now. It only makes their proposals more complicated and harder to explain to voters. Besides its inherent virtues, a single payer healthcare system is easy to explain. Just like social security (and Medicare of those over 65), every American is automatically enrolled and covered by insurance and every American can choose his or her own doctor. Short, simple and sweet. Moreover, polls show that Americans are ready to accept single payer health insurance. A recent poll by the Pubic Policy Institute of California found that "by a two-to-one margin, most prefer 'a universal health insurance program in which everyone is covered under a program like Medicare that is run by the government and financed by the taxpayers' nationally to 'the current health insurance system in the United States, in which most people get their health insurance from private employers, but some people have no insurance.' The preference here is a descriptor of what is known as 'single payer'". If the Democrats win the Presidency and increase their control of Congress in 2008, there will be one chance to reform health care in America. Whatever system is then put in place, there will likely not be another chance at fundamental reform for another thirty years. Obama's, Edward's and Clinton's timid half-way measures are as likely to be attacked by Republicans, big pharma and the insurance industry as a Medicare-For-All. Why not do it right the first time? Miles Mogulescu is an entertainment attorney and social justice advocate. 2007 Huffington Post --------23 of 23-------- From: Scott McLarty <scottmclarty [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Nader to attend Green meeting in Reading PA GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES http://www.gp.org For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 Green Party to introduce Green presidential candidates at 2007 national meeting in Reading, Pa., July 12-15 Ralph Nader is slated to appear at the meeting; Greens will make Reading an 'oasis of democracy' in Pennsylvania, a state with some of the most antidemocratic ballot access rules for third party candidates in the US Meeting site: The Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Hotel in downtown Reading Media credentialing site: http://www.gp.org/forms/media WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party will feature declared and potential Green candidates for President of the United States at 'Green for a Change' <http://www.gp.org/meeting2007>, the party's 2007 national meeting, to take place in Reading, Pennsylvania, July 12-15. Greens will meet at the Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Historic Hotel, 100 North Fifth Street in downtown Reading, 877-999-3223 <http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/RDGHT/main.wnt>. Reporters interested in covering the meeting may sign up at the Green Party's Media credentialing page <http://www.gp.org/forms/media>. A schedule of press conferences at the Reading meeting will be announced soon. Several candidates for the Green Party's presidential nomination have already announced their campaigns, and plan to attend the meeting in Reading. The Green Party has planned a Presidential Candidates' Forum for Friday, July 13, 5:30-7 pm, open to the public, at which the attending candidates will be introduced. Below is a current list of declared Green presidential candidates, including their states of residence. The Green Party also expects more candidates to announce soon. Alan Augustson (Illinois) http://augustson2008.us Elaine Brown (Georgia) http://www.elainebrown.org Michael Jingozian (Oregon) http://www.resetamerica.com Jesse Johnson (West Virginia) (web site TBA) Jerry Kann (New York) (web site TBA) Paul Kangas (California) (web site TBA) Kent Mesplay (California) http://www.mesplay.org Gail Parker (Virginia) http://www.gailparker.us Joe Schriner (Ohio) http://www.voteforjoe.com Kat Swift (Texas) http://www.prezkat.info One Green candidate has announced for the Vice Presidential nomination: KCM Curry (California). Ralph Nader, who ran for President in 2000 on the Green Party ticket, will also attend and will headline an event on the evening of Saturday, July 14, at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, 8th and Penn Streets, in Reading. Mr. Nader has not yet made his intentions known for 2008. The Green Party of Pennsylvania <http://www.gpofpa.org> will host the meeting, which is expected to draw delegates, party officials, candidates, and observers from state Green Parties all over the US. Mr. Nader will discuss ballot access during his appearance. In 2004, Mr. Nader, running for the White House as an independent, was forced off the Pennsylvania ballot after a challenge by Democratic Party lawyers. In 2006, Carl Romanelli, Green candidate for the US Senate, was denied a ballot line after Democratic lawyers persuaded a court to invalidate many of the 90,000 signatures he handed in to comply with a Pennsylvania law requiring more than 67,000 signatures for third party candidates. Democratic and Republican candidates are only required to collect 2,000 signatures in Pennsylvania. Democratic lawyers also convinced courts to fine both Mr. Nader nearly $89,0000 and Mr. Romanelli more than $80,000 for failing to qualify. Greens have sharply criticized Pennsylvania election law and the court-ordered fines, calling them a bipartisan ploy to intimidate and discourage third party and independent candidacies from running. Mr. Romanelli will also speak at the Saturday evening event. "One of the reasons Greens are eager to meet in Pennsylvania is that the state's laws typify the unfair ballot access rules, enacted by Democrats and Republicans, to keep other parties and independents off the ballot," said Jim Coplen, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "Pennsylvania, the so-called cradle of democracy, should be ashamed to have such laws on the books. But Pennsylvania isn't the only state with unfair ballot access laws. Greens throughout the US are challenging state legislatures and courts to abolish such obstructions. We plan to make Reading an oasis of democracy in July." MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers 'Green for a Change': 2007 Green Party National Meeting in Reading, Pennsylvania, July 12-15 http://www.gp.org/meeting2007/ Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media Contacts: Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty [at] greens.org Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene [at] gp.org Green Party of Pennsylvania: Hillary Aisenstein, 267-971-3559, hillarya [at] pobox.upenn.edu Dave Kurzweg, 610-823-5770 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - David Shove shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu rhymes with clove Progressive Calendar over 2225 subscribers as of 12.19.02 please send all messages in plain text no attachments To GO DIRECTLY to an item, eg --------8 of x-------- do a find on --8 impeach bush & cheney impeach bush & cheney impeach bush & cheney impeach bush & cheney
- (no other messages in thread)
Results generated by Tiger Technologies Web hosting using MHonArc.