Archive for September 1, 2012
Prime the Pump
This is another guest post from Larry Hodgden.
Larry is a retired Viet Nam era veteran of the USAF. He and his wife of 40 years, Sharon, have three children and seven grandchildren who keep him very busy. Family, education, church and politics have been a lifelong passion.
In the late 90’s under Democratic President Bill Clinton we actually ran budget surpluses for three years in a row. When Clinton left office we were on a trajectory to dramatically reduce the national debt in the future. Some of you may prefer not to remember this but it really happened, you can look it up.
Then in 2000 this country, with a little help from the Supreme Court and the Electoral College, elected George W. Bush. In 8 years G.W. cut taxes for the already wealthy, started two wars (one totally unnecessary), passed a Medicare drug benefit and an education program without paying for any of it. This Republican administration ran up 5 trillion dollars of debt in record time and if that wasn’t bad enough failed to regulate Wall Street and the big banks causing a financial and economic collapse, the likes of which we hadn’t seen since the 1930’s. No wonder they don’t want G.W. to speak at their convention.
Since June I’ve mentioned Romney/Ryan in my letters and now it’s official. This Paul Ryan claims to be a debt and deficit reduction proponent now but where was he when he had a chance to control the debt under G.W.? He voted for the tax cuts for millionaires, voted for the wars, voted for the Medicare Drug bill, voted for “No Child Left Behind”, voted for TARP, even voted to bail out GM without any hint of concern for the ballooning deficits and debt. When he and the Republican Party really had the opportunity, handed to them by Bill Clinton, to control our debt, Paul Ryan was A.W.O.L.
Now that our country has been nearly destroyed by Republican incompetence he has “Found Religion”. Too bad his cure for our current economic mess is the same prescription which caused it. Doctors know if one medicine doesn’t work you should try another. They also know that the more serious the illness, the longer the recovery period.
We cut taxes for the “Job Creators” in 2001 under Bush, then in 2008 the economy lost 2.6 million jobs and crashed. It didn’t work then and won’t work now. The Romney/Ryan tax cut gives anyone making 3 million dollars per year a $250,000 tax cut but increases taxes on middle income taxpayers by $2,000. How many people do you know in Cedar County making 3 million? How much in taxes did you pay on capital gains, interest and dividends last year? Romney/Ryan would eliminate all of those taxes so Mitt Romney would pay virtually no tax on 20 million dollars of income. Is that what you want? Does that sound fair?
There’s a reason this country always turns to the Democrats when there is an economic crisis caused by business failure and it is because Democrats know it requires government action to revive an economy. To understand this principle just ask any old timer to explain what it means to “Prime the Pump”.
Tags: Paul Ryan, Romney, supply-side economics | 
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2012 Iowa Labor Day Activities
Black Hawk—Waterloo
From noon to 3 pm, on Monday September 3, there will be a picnic in Cedar Falls at the Cedar Falls Gateway Park (100—199) Lincoln St.
There will be food, drinks, kids activities, bingo and speakers.
Clinton Labor Congress – Clinton
Free Picnic for the Community. Adult Beverages, pop and water will complement the hotdogs and chips.
This event will be Sunday September 2nd at Eagle Point Park Lodge, starting at Noon and will run to 4 pm.
There will be speakers.
All paid for by Labor and Friends of labor.
Des Moines/Henry County—Burlington
Monday the 3rd there will be a picnic from 4 pm to 7 pm at 40 & 8 Park, 2712 Mt. Pleasant St (Behind Community Field) in Burlington. $5 for a single and $10 for a whole family.
Food and drinks provided. There will be door prizes and guest speakers.
Dubuque Fed—Dubuque
There will be a parade starting at 9:30 am. This will be on Monday, September 3.
The parade will begin at Jackson Park (17th and Main) and go to Washington Park.
The theme for the parade this year is “Salute to the Working Class”.
Hawkeye Labor Council—Cedar Rapids
Monday, the 3rd of September.,11 am to 4 pm at Hawkeye Downs ,4400 6th St SW.
Food served from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Entertainment for kids, live music by The River Bottom Ramblers. Door Prizes.
For more information call Rick Moyle 319-396-8461.
North Iowa Nine—Mason City
On Monday, September 3rd, they will be hosting a picnic at Georgia Handford Park in Mason City, located at 22nd Street SE.
There will be free food, drinks, music and speakers.
This event will start at noon and run until 3pm.
Iowa City Federation of Labor—Iowa City
Starting at noon, the Labor Day Picnic will be at Lower Iowa City Park.
They will be grilling burgers and brats and serving refreshments. Everyone is encouraged to bring a covered dish to share. Settings will be provided.
There will be music and activities for the children.
Lee County – Keokuk
Parade, starting at 11 am, will go down Main street.
The Labor Temple Lounge (301 Blondeau St., Keokuk) will open at 11 am. At Noon the USW Retiree Club Raffle and Bake sale will begin and food will be served by Ogo’s Restaurant.
There will be Free Kids Activities, Dunk Tank, Horseshoe Tournament, and bands.
Northwest Iowa
There will be a picnic at Riverside Park in Sioux City starting at noon, on Monday September 3rd.
Hamburgers, Hotdogs, beans, chips and beverages will be provided.
Guest speakers throughout the day.
South Central—Des Moines
Saturday September 1, in Lucas Iowa, there will be a parade and festival.
Breakfast at 6am, parade at 11 am, tractor pulls, calk walks, raffles and much more.
For more on this event call 641-766-6421 or 641-766-6544.
Monday, September 3rd. Parade: Line up at Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Parade starts at 11 am.
Will march from Capitol to Fairgrounds.
Picnic at Labor Park (Morningstar drive) after the parade. Local need to provide their own food and beverages, grills will be available to use.
Southern Iowa Labor Council—Ottumwa
Friday, August 31—Monday September 3 in Ottumwa at Jimmy Jones Shelter.
Carnival rides and petting zoo all four days.
Friday Concert : Arch Allies an tribute to Journey, Styx and Reo Speedwagon.
Saturday: Young and Wild Rodeo and Jason Brown Concert.
Sunday: Local Entertainment Concerts.
Monday: Still Surfing Concert—Beach Boys Tribute Band.
You get this whole weekend for only $25.
(see flyer for more information).
Southwestern Iowa—Council Bluffs
There will be a Labor Day Parade in Omaha with a picnic following.
The Pottawattamie County Democrats will also host a picnic.
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Quad Cities Federation of Labor.
A parade will be held on Monday, September 3rd. The parade will begin at 11am.
The parade will start in Downtown East Moline, west down 15th Ave between 3rd and 13th.
For more information, call John White 563-349-0199 or Quad City Fed at 309-738-3196 quadcityfed@netexpress.net.
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