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*UC Berkeley professor George Lakoff tells how conservatives use language to dominate politics
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*Values Inventory, Message Identification and Development, Engagement & Rapport Strategies, Framing and Reframing Language, Strategic Development and Deployment of Frames, Mediaspace Injection Choreography, and Framing/Media Crossfire training of Capitol Hill Legislators, new TV spokespersons for progressives, Talk Radio callers, and Progressive Leaders
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Sam Garchik - Mon 02 Jun 2008 10:10 AM CDT
atomburke - Fri 23 May 2008 03:49 PM CDT
salman - Fri 23 May 2008 06:28 AM CDT
megelso - Sun 11 May 2008 09:10 AM CDT
no4gman - Tue 29 Apr 2008 01:07 AM CDT
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Friday, January 26
ICCI Voter Owned Lobby Day
by
Caroline Vernon
on Fri 26 Jan 2007 06:06 PM CST
 ICCI Voter Owned Lobby Day in Des Moines
By Caroline Vernon
Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG)
has reserved a passenger van to transport Quad City activists to Des Moines next Monday, January
29th. We will be joining other progressive activists across Iowa in order to lobby our
state legislators on the importance of clean elections and public
financing of campaigns. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (ICCI)
is the main organizer of this event and has already laid a lot of
groundwork around this issue. This is a price-less (pun intended)
opportunity to make a difference in the fight to reclaim our democracy.
Monday's Agenda:We will leave from the NE corner of the Northpark Mall parking lot
(near Sears) at 8:00am. This van seats 12. We have 6 open seats available and will be stopping at the Perkins restaturant in Iowa City to pick up a couple more folks so if you live in the QC area or in Iowa City and would like to join us, please contact Caroline ASAP to reserve a
seat: 563-676-7580,
carolina1961@gmail.com. Others from the QC area will also be carpooling to Des Moines.
Please wear a green shirt (representing money) and if possible, bring a
dozen or more home-made cookies along. Currently, lobbyists are allowed
to spend a maximum of $2.99 on each legislator so we would like to
bring home-made cookies to share, to represent home-made elections. If
you are willing to contribute goodies for the cause please let me know.
If you are unable to attend, but would be willing to bake some cookies,
that would be terrific! Finally, to help defray some of the cost of
renting the bus, we are asking for a $10 donation from each
participant.
Once
we get to the Capitol, we will debrief at 11am to go over our talking
points and the day's activities. At noon, we will participate in a
rally and press conference. Former Congressman Berkley Bedell, Ed
Fallon, Pam Yoakum, and Mike Connelly will all speak to the importance
of voter-owned clean elections. From 12:30 to 3pm, we will all have an
opportunity to lobby each of our state reps on this issue. We will then
plan to leave Des Moines promptly by 3:15pm so we can return home in time for
dinner, around 6pm.
CCI is expecting an estimated turnout of
close to 150 activists from around the state. I am hopeful that we can fill the remaining seats in the van. We
expect to have a bill number to lobby around by next week.
Thanks for all you do - hope to see you in Des Moines!
Caroline Vernon
563-676-7580
carolina1961@gmail.com
For more information on why this issue is so important, please read the following:
Are Political Action Committees trying to use money to influence OUR legislature?
Iowans shouldn't have to wonder.
Tell your legislators to support Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections!
The
Clean Elections Act will help restore fairness to our elections by
allowing everyday Iowans the opportunity to run for office, regardless
of how much money they can access. Voters won't have to wonder if
large contributors are gaining unbalanced access to OUR
representatives.
The Clean Elections Act would provide a limited amount of public financing for candidates
who:
Pledge to not raise any private money for their campaigns.
Pledge to not use any of their own money for their campaigns.
Collect a set number of signatures and $5 contributions from within their own district to prove they are viable.
It Can Work!
Maine and Arizona have been effectively using the system for four election cycles and the results have been good for democracy.
More people are running for office.
More people are turning out to vote.
Candidates report spending more time talking to voters.
9
of 11 statewide officeholders in Arizona, including the Governor and
Attorney General, have been elected without taking money from PACs and
big money contributors, spending only a fraction of what is used in
conventional races like Iowa's.
We Need it Now!
Voter-Owned Elections help ensure a healthy democracy by:
Freeing candidates from the money chase and allowing them to spend all their campaign time talking with voters.
Creating a fair playing field by reducing the need to raise large amounts of money to win.
Giving
more Iowans the chance to run for office – regardless of their access
to big money or their willingness to accept PAC contributions.
Creating
a system where Iowans won't have to wonder if big contributions are
influencing votes at the capitol with their campaign contributions.
The Clean Elections Act = Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections
Background:
A
Clean Elections Act would create voluntary public financing for state
elections. Candidates would qualify for public funding if they vowed
to raise no private money, vowed to not use any of their own money, and
collected a set number of signatures and $5 contributions from within
their district.
In a contested general election, eligible candidates who chose to use the system would receive:
$3 million for a team running for governor and lieutenant governor.
$200,000 for a candidate for attorney general.
$125,000 for a candidate for a statewide office other than governor, lieutenant governor, or attorney general.
$40,000 for a candidate for the Iowa senate.
$30,000 for a candidate for the Iowa house or representatives.
Summary:
Voter
Owned Iowa Clean Elections is a system that would free candidates from
the money chase and allow them to spend more time with voters and
constituents. The same system has been used in Maine and Arizona for
four full election cycles and has proven to be an effective way of
reducing the influence of big money on elections. 6 of 8 statewide
office holders in Arizona were elected without using any special
interest money. Voter turnout has increased by over 20%. The number
of people running for office has increased. And in the Nov 2006
Election, Governor Janet Napolitano won re-election, combining with her
challenger to spend only $2 million, compared to the combined $18
million spent by candidates in the Iowa gubernatorial race.
A
Clean Elections Act will allow every day Iowans to run for office
without having to worry about raising large amounts of money. Phase I
of CCI's "Money and Elections in Iowa" study shows that the majority of
money given to candidates is coming from PACs. Challengers are at a
huge disadvantage, needing to raise $65,000 to be competitive in a race
for the house and $100,000 to be competitive for the senate. And as
campaign spending has gotten out of control, campaigns have gone south.
The Clean Elections Act would limit unnecessary spending by placing
contribution limits on donors. The Clean Elections Act would also
require Media outlets to file reports outlining who is paying for
political advertisements, curbing the explosion of negative
advertising.
For the cost of $5 per voter, Iowans could know for certain
that their elected officials are working to address the needs of all
Iowans, and not have to wonder about where all the money comes from.
For around $10 million a year, our state elected officials would have
the chance to focus on ideas and meeting their constituents, not
chasing down the combined $32 million spent in the Nov. 2006 elections.
Tell your legislator today: "Iowans want Voter Owned Clean Elections!"
Friday, December 8
IPP Report on Fixing Healthcare in Iowa
by
Caroline Vernon
on Fri 08 Dec 2006 06:54 PM CST
IPP Report on Fixing Healthcare in Iowa
Iowa Policy Project senior research consultant Colin
Gordon has issued a new report for the IPP, “Prescriptions and Placebos: Fixing
Health Care in Iowa.”
To view the report,
see:
<http://www.iowafiscal.org/2006docs/061127-health-full-format.pdf>
To
view the executive summary,
see:
<http://www.iowafiscal.org/2006docs/061127-ifp-HC-XS.pdf>
To view the news release,
see:
<http://www.iowafiscal.org/2006docs/061127-hc-release.pdf>
Below are links to a couple of the many media reports published or aired
about Colin’s report:
WHO Radio: Health Care Rx
<http://www.whoradio.com/pages/news/local/index.html?feed=121648&article=1533529>
Quad-City
Times: Expanded access to health care urged <http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/11/28/news/state/doc456bc72f883e8374742544.txt>
In the Cedar Rapids Gazette, James Lynch reported that Gordon
“recommended ... that Iowa lawmakers scrap the ‘piecemeal’ approach they’ve used
in recent years if their goal is health care coverage that is affordable,
accessible and maintains a high level of quality.” From his
story:
‘‘Our health
care financing system does not work, and it’s understandable that state
legislators see a need to step in,’’ said Gordon, a senior research consultant
for the Iowa Policy Project and co-author of the report — Prescriptions and
Placebos: Fixing Health Care in Iowa — for the non-partisan Iowa Fiscal
Partnership. ‘‘They must be careful, however, to take a long-term view and not
miss the underlying problem of spiraling health care
costs.’’
Previous efforts have encouraged
employer-based coverage through tax credits, small-employer purchasing pools,
mandates for large employers and other ideas, said Gordon, a historian who
wrote ‘‘Dead on Arrival: The Politics of Health Care in Twentieth-Century
America.’’
On their own, these proposals
represent a fragmented approach to the problem that would do little to expand
coverage or increase affordability, and could actually make things worse, he
said.
‘‘I really think that trying to patch
up employer-based insurance is like moving furniture into a burning house.
It guarantees double-digit inflation and rising uninsurance into the future,’’
Gordon said.
We
encourage your review of this new report as the Iowa General Assembly prepares
to return to the Statehouse in January.
Best regards,
Mike Owen
Assistant Director
The Iowa Policy Project
(319)
338-0773 Iowa City
(319) 643-3628 West
Branch
ipp@Lcom.net
Sunday, December 3
Board and Commission application form
by
Sam Garchik
on Sun 03 Dec 2006 01:26 PM CST
Board and Commission Application Form
From The Culver Folks in Des Moines
I got this in en ameil from Dave Leshtz. Anyone out there interested in working in DM?
Please find the electronic version of the Board and Commission application. Feel free to distribute this widely to friends and associates. We will need to appoint 178 individuals to Boards and Commissions by March 15. If persons are interested in completing job applications, please direct them to our website: www.govelect.iowa.gov . We are asking that applicants place their resumes onto the website. Thank you for your assistance!
You can find an applicaiton for Boards and Commissions here!
Miriam Tyson
Senior Advisor, Transition Team
Office of Governor-Elect Chet Culver and Lt. Governor-Elect Patty Judge
515-725-2000 or 515-281-8367
Wednesday, November 8
Loebsack's Going to DC, and Other Dem Victories
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 08 Nov 2006 10:38 AM CST
Loebsack's Going to DC
(and other dem victories)
By Sam Garchik
Dave
Loebsack ran a great, dignified campaign against a tough opponent, and did what
no other challenger could do in 30 years. He beat Jim Leach. Way to go Dave.
Enjoy DC.
Bruce Braley beat a tough opponent also, as did Leonard Boswell. Iowa now has
three Democratic Congressmen. Times are good. Thanks also to Selden Spencer and
Joyce Schulte, who ran good campaigns in tough areas.
We also have a new Democratic governor, a new Democratic Secretary of State,
and a good candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 4 years. O'Brien ran
a good campaign about important issues, and should continue to work for the
people in the state of Iowa. We need her.
On to the Iowa House. Andrew Wenthe, McKinley Bailey, and Eric Palmer beat two
tough GOP incumbents. As did Elesha Gayman, who, at 28, is, I think,
Iowa's youngest ever female elected to the State House. She will work there
with Tyler Olson, who graduated high school in 1994. The future of our party is
in good hands. Meanwhile, Social Studies Teacher Art Staed takes over a former
GOP seat, as did Doris Kelley. Mark Nolte and Sally Vitamvas both ran good
campaigns, but came up short.
The State Senate also went well for Democrats. Rob Hogg, Bill Heckroth, and
Stacci Appel all won seats previously held by Republicans, Becky Schmitz beat
an incumbent in Southern Iowa.
More results are here, and more commentary will be forthcoming.
Thursday, October 26
Culver Needs Your Help in Poll, IA Press Puts Dems on Air, and John Kerry Decides to Pony Up (After Much Name Calling)
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 26 Oct 2006 09:54 AM CDT
 Culver Needs Your Help in Poll, IA Press Puts Dems on Air, and John Kerry Decides to Pony Up (After Much Name Calling).
By Sam Garchik
First off, the Muscatine Journal is sponsoring a gubernatorial poll. Go to their home page, scroll to the bottom, and vote for Culver.
Next, Rapid Response won another round. According to the folks at IPTV:
Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa City) and Dave Loebsack (D-Mount Vernon) will be on Iowa Press on Friday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 29 at 11:30 a.m. In addition, Dave Loebsack is set to appear on the program Campaign 2006 with Mike Glover on Friday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m. Joyce Schulte, a Democrat in the 5th U.S. District and Dr. Seldon Spencer, a Democrat in the 4th U.S. District will also be featured.
So that’s good too.
Finally, John Kerry has been in the center of a nasty storm. As you know, this blog has recently pressured him to give more money to Democrats in tough races. This push was run out of HeyJohn.org, and the blogosphere has been abuzz with news about this.
Earlier in the week, Wonkette engaged in some serious name calling, and claimed to know who pulled the plug on HeyJohn(It’s not up anymore).
DailyKos also covered the issue. Both Kos and Wonkette detailed on who could be giving money to the DCCC or other candidates, but isn’t.
And all this had a big effect. Apparently, Kerry is giving $500,000 (He actually decided to do it after he decided against it!).
And once again, the story continues at http://www.mydd.com/tag/Use%20It
Thursday, September 21
Change is in the Air - 29th Annual Harkin Steak Fry
by
Caroline Vernon
on Thu 21 Sep 2006 12:39 PM CDT
 Change is in the Air - 29th Annual Harkin Steak Fry
By Caroline Vernon
I can’t tell you how excited I was to finally be able to attend a Harkin Steak Fry. For the past two years, since I became politically active, I was never able to make the trip. Traditionally, the Scott County Democrats always fill an entire bus with eager democratic activists, hungry to hear the voice of strong leadership (as well as a sizzling steak or two). This year was no exception. Since there was no room on the bus, an extra dozen of us pooled our resources and rented a passenger van to make the trip. It rained the entire time we were on the road -- we just knew we would end up getting drenched From what I gathered from some of our Steak Fry veterans, rain has also been a part of the annual tradition so we expected it, but as soon as we were about 20 miles outside Indianola, the sky opened up, the clouds dispersed, and the sun smiled down upon us the rest of the day. This was a very good omen
Many of us were there to represent the Wake-Up Walmart campaign, so we met up with the national team, donned our new t-shirts and headed for the food. It was very good, although, at first, I was wondering how I was going to cut my steak with a plastic butter knife but it was surprisingly tender and succulent There were so many folks at the tables, we had to split up to find a seat. No sooner I sat down, Tom Harkin, Barack Obama, and Chet Culver walked up and sat down at the reserved table nearby. What I witnessed from that point on is hard to describe. Folks were squeezing in all around them. They hardly had any elbow room to eat. Everyone was eager to get up close and personal. The Press Corps had at least 2 dozen microphones hanging over their food -- I guess they wanted to listen to them chew or something. I was dumbfounded by the fact that folks would not just let them eat their food in peace since there was plenty of opportunity to speak to them afterward. The day had just begun.
Sure enough, after they had their fill of that USDA Iowa corn-fed beef (and all the fixins’), the three of them started working the crowd. The energy all around was electric! I knew it was going to be an incredible challenge withstanding the crowd in order to get a word with any of them, but as soon as I saw an opening I squeezed into it and found myself 2nd in line behind a reporter from CNN who was asking Senator Harkin what he thought about Obama being there, that sort of thing. Once it was my turn, I first thanked Senator Harkin for all of the good work he has done through the Americans with Disabilities Act. I then shared with him my personal experience of transitioning from disability while re-entering the workforce after a decade long bout with rheumatoid arthritis. I told him that after 10 years of being flat on my back, I finally found a drug treatment that gave me a whole new lease on life. Unfortunately, the cost of the drug is about $3,600 a month, but I was able to qualify for enrollment into the Patient Assistance Program which made it possible for me to get the drug directly from the pharmaceutical company at very little cost. Since then, I have improved steadily and as of last November, have re-entered the workforce. Here’s the catch, now that I am working, I run the risk of no longer qualifying to receive my medication. Without it, I will surely end up right back where I was 2 years ago - flat on my back. Senator Harkin was very compassionate and told me he thought the only way to address this issue is by changing the law in order to realistically assist those individuals who are transitioning. Given the make-up of our current legislature, there is obviously no hope of that happening, unless, of course, the Democrats manage to take back Congress (I hope you are all out there working hard to make this happen).
I next spoke with gubernatorial candidate, Chet Culver, asking him about the state of our environment, citing EPA emission reports which indicate that many counties in Iowa are in the top ten of the most polluted in the nation. Chet promised that once elected, he would do everything necessary to clean up our water and address corporate polluters by implementing stiffer fines and penalties. He said, “If they are going to pollute, they are going to pay.”
Unfortunately, I did not have the stamina necessary to withstand the pressure of the crowd while trying to get an audience with Obama. After being stepped on several times, I finally gave up on that idea. What a trip! It was about that time that all of the Congressional candidates took to the stage followed by Governor Vilsack who spoke on behalf of all them, before introducing Chet Culver.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day and everyone seemed to be in top form. Chet told us he wants to be the “people’s governor,” providing the people of Iowa with a positive vision for the future. He said he has a plan to make Iowa the renewable energy capitol of the world. Chet cited three keys to victory that he calls on all of us to do between now and November 7th; volunteer your time, post yard signs and bumper stickers, and get out the vote!
Chet then introduced Senator Harkin who took to the stage, welcoming everyone to the 29th Annual Harkin Steak Fry. I tell ya, it was like a crescendo from there on. Tom Harkin is the salt of the earth. I really enjoyed listening to him. I know Obama is a rock star, but as far as I’m concerned, Tom Harkin is “the rock.” He was warm, witty, enthusiastic, and yet serious – all at the same time. According to the Library of Congress, Senator Harkin holds the record for defeating more Republican incumbents than anyone else in the history of this country. That speaks volumes!
The Senator talked about moving Iowa forward and cited the single most important thing we can do as Iowans to promote progress is by electing more Democrats to the Iowa House and Senate. He thanked all of the candidates and sitting legislators for their commitment and dedication. Tom said he’s known Chet Culver since he was a little boy, joking that yes, Chet was once little. Tom mentioned he was proud to have also served with Chet’s dad and has been a close friend of the family for many years. Senator Harkin said he believes Chet has been the best Secretary of State in Iowa’s history.
The senator then directed his attention to the current administration and said, “The president just doesn’t get it, there is no virtue in staying the course if the course you are on is headed over a cliff. There is no virtue in being strong and wrong.” He spoke about how George Bush has squandered all of the good will from around the world that came as a result of 9/11. He said, “Bush has given the Iraqi government a blank check, payable with the lives of our American soldiers and marines.” He said Republicans are not only wrong about Iraq, but they’re wrong here at home. Tom said, “It’s wrong for the President to veto stem cell research that has so much promise to heal people, it’s wrong to block any increase in minimum wage for 9 years, it’s wrong to privatize social security and that’s why we need a Democratic Congress to stop them from doing it!”
The senator then talked about the Bush-Nussle budget that will drop millions of kids from the Head Start program, and includes the largest cuts to education in 28 years. Tom shared a recent incident when he was talking with a gentleman about the Republican’s trickle-down economics to which the man replied, “Trickle down? Heck, I haven’t had a drop - at this point I’d settle for a heavy dew!” The senator said the budget also provides less funding for our veterans. He became solemn for a moment before saying, “I’ll tell you what folks, if you want to get your guts torn out sometime, just go out to Walter Reed hospital like Barack and I have done and visit with some of those injured service men and women out there.” He said many of them have brain injuries which are now the signature injury of the war because of the IEDs and the way they explode. Senator Harkin called the administration cold-hearted for cutting funds allocated to the Brain Injury Traumatic Center at Walter Reed Hospital. Tom said it was funded at $14 million dollars last year, the Democrats wanted to increase it this year but the Bush-Nussle budget cut it to $7 million - they cut it in half! Senator Harkin said, “We may have different ideas on the when and what about Iraq but there is one thing that we better stand four-square on, when those veterans come home they’re going to get every ounce of healthcare and support they need to fulfill their lives!” The crowd really went crazy after that comment. Right on Senator Harkin!
Our good Senator then welcomed keynote speaker and rising Rock Star of the Democratic party, Barack Obama. Barack expressed his gratitude and admiration for Senator Harkin, thanking him for his steadfast commitment to his state, his country and to the values that propelled into public office in the first place. He also thanked Governor Vilsack for his leadership - he said that folks in Illinois are watching and are proud to see what Iowa has been doing.
Barack expressed his belief that some people go to Washington with the best of intentions, but after a while they find themselves representing Washington to their constituents instead of representing their Constituents in Washington. He said it’s a hard thing to resist because it’s easy to get comfortable and become institutionalized - it’s easy to forget why you went there in the first place. He said we have a lot of work to do all across the country, citing everywhere he goes he gets a sense that people are wanting change. He said there is a certain anxiety about the future and although he found that folks still dream big dreams, they have a sense that their leaders have forgotten how. Speaking of change, during most of the speeches, I happened to notice 4 large, beautiful, Monarch butterflies that kept panning above the crowd - flying back and forth. The stage was set in front of a big red barn that had a huge American flag serving as a backdrop. Almost all of the speakers were talking about change - One of the Monarchs fluttered up on stage and became part of the scenic backdrop. I thought of this as another good omen since butterflies often represent change and total transformation. Won’t that be great!?
Previously a community organizer, a civil rights lawyer and a law professor, Obama shared an account of the first time someone asked him to run for office when a seat in the Illinois state house had opened up and he said he did what every wise man does when confronted with such a decision, “I prayed on it.... and I asked my wife. And after consulting those higher two powers I decided to get into the race!” That comment was certain to score points with all the women in the crowd!
On the night before the general election in his race for the US Senate, he was at a rally getting ready to speak when staff came up to him and asked if he would come back stage to speak with a woman who had traveled far to see him. He agreed to do so and when he went back stage the woman said she had already voted for him via absentee ballot. She told him to keep up the good work and they had a nice little chat. What was remarkable about the woman was that she was born in Louisiana in 1899 – her name was Marguerite Lewis. She was 105 years old. Barack said he thought about everything she had said to him. He thought about all the changes she has seen in her life -- how she had seen women win the right to vote, how she had seen the first world war, the great depression and then a second world war. She had seen her brothers, uncles, and cousins returning from yet another war and still sitting in the back of the bus. She had seen how FDR lifted America out of it’s fear, lifted millions out of poverty and provided millions with opportunities written through the GI bill. She saw how he made sure that seniors had security in their retirement, and that veterans were fully cared for. She saw how unions helped an entire middle class build itself throughout the heartland and saw immigrants travel from distant shores in search of the idea called America. He thought about how Marguerite Lewis, despite the circumstances of her birth, believed in the same idea - how she believed it with all of her heart and all of her soul. She had seen all this progress taking place -- Obama reflected on how she had decided at some point it’s going to be her turn; that America will one day also bring her into the blanket of it’s protection. And then she saw a glimmering light of hope on the horizon, the civil rights movement. Marguerite understands that in America, we don’t settle for quality for some, or opportunity for a few -- we don’t settle in America. Everyone has an obligation not just to ourselves but to each other -- she understood that. Barack said whenever he’s feeling cynical he thinks of Marguerite Lewis. He said if Marguerite isn’t cynical given everything she has seen, then he has no right to be cynical. He then addressed the crowd and said if any of us start feeling cynical we’ve got to remind ourselves that our parents, our grandparents, and great grandparents have overcome much greater challenges than the ones we face today, although he made it clear that we face real challenges in America today - we are truly at a crossroads in this nation.
Barack shared that all across America, people are struggling because they sense that in a new globalized world we have given away our power, our communications, and changes in technology, not only to our competitors, but to those who seek to destroy our way of life. He said people are feeling anxious because they see the possibility that maybe their children won’t do as well as they did, recognizing that our children are going to have to compete with folks not only in our own communities, but with communities all over the world. He said, if we don’t make sure we’re preparing our children, we may be the first generation in a very long time in which our children inherit an America that is a little bit meaner and a little bit poorer than the one we inherited from our parents. And that’s not acceptable.
I don’t think there was an issue that he didn’t address. He said it all comes down to strong and honest leadership. Barack quoted Newt Gingrich - someone he doesn’t normally quote, but he shared an instance where folks were asking Newt, given all the problems the Republicans have had managing the country, the economy, the war in Iraq, what do you think is going to happen in this election? Newt responded, “If I was advising the Democrats in this election, I gotta admit I would just use two words to campaign; those two words are “had enough.” Barack then told the crowd, “I don’t know about you, but I think ol’ Newt is on to something, because I’ve had enough!” He then went through the litany of misplaced priorities and bad policies brought about by this administration and the Republican Congress. The crowd was on their feet the entire time!
Barack also talked about the importance of having hope. He said the challenge we have in this election raises the question, what are we going to do to be involved and be engaged in order to make sure that we have a brighter future for our kids? He asked, what are each of us going to do, not just here in Iowa, but all across the country to capture that sense of hope that has been lost over the last 6 years – and what are we going to say yes to? He said it’s not enough just to say no to Bush and this Republican Congress. He said the Democrats have to be the party of opportunity. We need to create an education system of life-long learning for every single child in America so they can compete all across the world. He said we have to say yes to the idea that we must invest in science and technology. He also said we need to stop giving tax breaks to companies that send jobs overseas and to invest in those companies that stay right here at home. I know that's right! If companies aren't going to invest in America, America shouldn't be investing in them.
In closing, Senator Obama told the crowd, "It’s time for everyone to kick off their bedroom slippers and put on their marching shoes!" After listening to all of the wonderful speeches, I felt like running out to get a trumpet and a baton to match my shoes!
Tuesday, September 12
Factory Farms are NOT above the Law! Take Action Now!
by
Caroline Vernon
on Tue 12 Sep 2006 05:46 PM CDT
 Factory Farms are NOT above the Law! - Take Action Now!
By Caroline Vernon
Friends,
As many of you know, Scott county in Iowa and Rock Island county in Illinois are both within the top ten of the most polluted counties in the entire nation! In Rock Island county, as an example, the worst polluter was IDP, a slaughterhouse (according to the most recent reporting of emissions data; EPA 2003 - www.scorecard.org).
To think that our city and state leaders want to put ANOTHER slaughterhouse in Rock Island county is alarming! How can anyone ignore the current state of our environment? Why is it OK that we are so polluted? At the very least, we owe our children a clean and healthy environment. At this point, we are failing them miserably!
Instead, we see our hospital systems growing exponentially along with our rate of diseases. Are we just to accept that we are to become a community of "managed illnesses?" Why are we not focusing on what is causing the steady increase in cancer rates, growing incidents of auto-immune disorders and record cases of asthma in our children? Personally, I can't even imagine what it is like to be unable to breathe - we cannot continue to allow this to happen to our children!
Granted, there are many factors that contribute to what ails us but we are all creatures of our environment and cannot escape the inherent cause and effect associated with our relationship to the earth. As occums razor states, all things considered equal, the simplest explanation tends to be correct. I know a simple truth: "You only get out of it what you put into it" -- If we are dumping our waste (of all kinds, including industry emissions) and spewing it out into the countryside (land, air and water), what do we really expect to get out of that? If we truly reap what we sow, what do we really expect to reap from this?
It's a terrible thing what we are doing to oursleves in the name of the almighty dollar-- in the name of "jobs" for our communities. There are some who say, hey, we should be lucky these companies come to our town to offer us jobs. I say, how ridiculous it is that we have to sell out our physical, mental, and emotional well-being (not to mention our soul) on behalf of our financial livelihood - or so we say... the irony is, workers and others, particularly our children, will continue to get sick and pretty soon won't even be able to work which will result in no livelihood at all! So much for reaping the fruits of our labor!
I am asking all of you to continue to raise this dialogue. Write letters to the editors, contact our elected leaders (county, city, state) and ask them, "why is it OK to continue doing "business as usual" regardless of the harm it causes our environment and ourselves?" If enough pressure is brought to bear, we can simply decide to do things differently-- indeed, far better. We are truly capable of inventing our way out of this mess if we have the collective will to do so! Where there is a will, there is a way. It's our choice. In the mean time, I call on our elected leaders to reconsider how we are now choosing to invest, in order to establish a sorely needed balance between good stewardship of our environment and good economic development for our communities. Our children's future depends on it!
From Food & Water Watch
www.fwwatch.org
Fields of manure that burn for months. Contaminated drinking wells and rivers. Manure “lagoons” that overflow and kill millions of fish .
These are just some of the problems caused by the huge amounts of manure found on factory farms. Environmental and health problems are the inevitable results at these operations, which create enormous amounts of waste that cannot be absorbed by available land. And yet, some members of Congress are trying to pass a terrible bill that would exempt factory farms from prosecution under the Superfund law (CERCLA). Superfund is designed to protect the public from hazardous waste, and to hold companies accountable for pollution violations.
Act now to write to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is considering exempting manure from Superfund in a bill called HR 4341, and tell them to vote no on sweetheart deal for polluting factory farms.
Thank you,
Audrey Hill
food(at)fwwatch.org
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