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Monday, December 19
Non-partisan 'Families' Focuses on Middle-Class Economic Issues
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 19 Dec 2005 04:00 AM CST
 Non-partisan 'Families' Focuses on Middle-Class Economic Issues
The Dyersville Commercial
The following is an excerpt from a story in the December 14, 2005
issue of The Dyersville Commercial, a small town paper that still provides excellent
reporting on local topics of importance to citizens. The Commercial is available in print only.
by Josh Jorgenson
A new grassroots organization is doing its part to shift the
national political focus back to middle-class economic issues. Working Families Win held one of its first Iowa town hall meetings in Dubuque Wednesday night. Some of the issues the group hopes to address
are support for increasing the minimum wage, opposition to trade deals like
NAFTA and CAFTA, stronger union rights and the protection of health care and
pension benefits.
David Osterberg, the executive director of the Iowa Policy
Project, recited statistics that
indicated a declining number of Americans have health insurance. The former Iowa state legislator noted 25 percent of all positions
in the U.S.
are non-standard positions, which he defined as being part-time or temporary
jobs. Of those with non-standard positions, Osterberg said 79 percent are left
without health insurance.
The outsourcing of positions has also hurt American workers,
said Merle Duehr, the business representative for United Steel Workers Local
1861. Duehr noted the shrinking
workforce at one Dubuque
based company alone in the last four years. Currently, Flexsteel Industries has
285 employees, compared with around 600 in 2001. “We’ve got a problem in this country,” Duehr
said. “We need to elect officials, and I don’t care what party they are from,
that are going to support fair trade policy.”
Despite an abundance of regional Democratic Party elected
officials and candidates, along with a number of union members, at the event,
[David] Leshtz, the meeting facilitator,
said the program is intended to be a non-partisan. He noted Republican
gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Congressman Jim Nussle, along with other GOP
First Congressional District candidates, were invited to the event.
The Working Families Win initiative is coming to seven
states. The Dubuque meeting was the second of
such held in Iowa.
Iowans for Better Local TV -
IBLTV.Org
There is still time to
sign our petition to the
FCC
Thursday, December 15
SLAUGHTERHOUSE BLUES
by
Molly Regan
on Thu 15 Dec 2005 01:13 PM CST
SLAUGHTERHOUSE BLUES
ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH, I READ THE FOLLOWING TO THE EAST MOLINE,
IL, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND NEARLY 400 OTHERS IN A CROWDED HIGH
SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. WE HAD GATHERED TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS ON A PROPOSED HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE IN THE EAST MOLINE CITY LIMITS:
LOCATING A HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE ON A FLOOD PLAIN IS UNCONSCIONABLE. THE
REASONS WHY SHOULD BE OBVIOUS… A FIFTH-GRADER COULD FIGURE IT OUT.
A SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS ONE OF THE WORST TYPES OF INDUSTRIES TO COME TO A
COMMUNITY. THE AIR AROUND A HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND AROUND THE HOG
CONFINEMENTS THAT WILL BE BUILT TO SUPPLY THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS
TOXIFIED WITH DEADLY HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND AMMONIA. ACCORDING TO
DR. KAY KILBURN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN HIS BOOK
“CHEMICAL BRAIN INJURY,” HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM HOG WASTE KILLS.
PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO IT CAN CAUSE CONVULSIONS, SEIZURES, AND
DEATH. DR. KILBURN IS “THE NATION’S FOREMOST AUTHORITY ON
HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY.” THIS PER A
SEGMENT ON IOWA PUBLIC TV’S ‘MARKET TO MARKET’ WHICH AIRED IN JANUARY,
2003.
HOG CONFINEMENTS WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY IN WESTERN ILLINOIS AND
EASTERN IOWA TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEMAND FOR NEARLY 16,000 PIGS A
DAY. THE NEED FOR PIGS TO BE DELIVERED ALIVE IS CRUCIAL TO A
SLAUGHTERHOUSE’S SURVIVAL.
TRUCKING PIGS FROM ONLY ABOUT 50-80 MILES AWAY MEANS MORE WILL LIKELY
LIVE DURING TRANSPORT. SO THE HOG CONFINEMENTS NEED TO BE CLOSE
BY. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION OF HOG CONFINEMENTS IS A BAD IDEA.
ASTHMA RATES FOR CHILDREN ARE WORSE FOR THOSE LIVING CLOSE TO THESE
SITES BECAUSE ANTIBIOTICS ARE USED ON MANY HOGS IN CONFINEMENTS.
A REPORT BY DR. JAMES MERCHANT OF THE COLLEGE OF RURAL HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA SUBSTANTIATES THIS.
THE STRESS THE HOGS ENDURE, AND THE SMELL OF THEIR OWN STENCH FROM
LIVING IN CLOSE QUARTERS, CAUSE THEM TO BECOME ILL. THIS IS ONE OF THE
REASONS ANTIBIOTICS ARE NEEDED.
IT IS MY SUGGESTION THAT THIS ISSUE BE TABLED UNTIL SUCH TIME THE
COUNCIL VISITS A MIDWEST HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE. HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN
TO ONE OR EVEN TO A HOG CONFINEMENT? IF ALL OF YOU HAVE NOT DONE
THIS, HOW CAN YOU VOTE ON THIS?
TAKE TIME TO DETERMINE FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT ON A COMMUNITY THAT HAS
EXPERIENCED ONE OF THESE. THE SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD ALSO BE OF
GRAVE CONCERN. THIS TYPE OF FACTORY INDUSTRY HAS AN ATROCIOUS
RECORD OF PERMANENT INJURY AND DEATH.
SOME LOCAL WORKERS MAY WANT TO INITIALLY BE EMPLOYED AT A HOG
SLAUGHTERHOUSE, BUT USUALLY ONLY STAY A YEAR OR SO. THIS
INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY THE GLOBAL RESEARCH ACTION CENTER FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT OR G.R.A.C.E
OFTEN IMMIGRANT AND OR MIGRANT WORKERS ARE DRIVEN TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
TO WORK, AND ARE NOT AWARE THAT THEY CAN SPEAK OUT IF SAFETY IS A
CONCERN. MANY OF THESE WORKERS LIVE IN HOUSES OWNED BY “THE
COMPANY”. OUT OF THEIR WAGES COMES MONEY TO PAY FOR THEIR ‘RENT’
AND FOR THEM BEING DRIVEN TO WORK. ALSO PAYMENT FOR THEIR MEALS AT THE
SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS AUTOMATICALLY DEDUCTED.
IN ONE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, WHEN A FIRE BROKE, 25 PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE THEY
HAD ALL BEEN LOCKED IN DURING WORKING HOURS. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE
A SAFE INDUSTRY?
SO PLEASE VOTE NOT TO BRING THIS DANGEROUS FACTORY TO THE AREA. BRING
INSTEAD A MORE BENEVOLENT BUSINESS: TRY TO ATTRACT A FLAG MAKING
COMPANY, OR A WIND GENERATOR MANUFACTURER, OR A COMPOSTING COMPANY THAT
MAKES INSULATION BRICKS. HUNDREDS OF OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESSES
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
THE WASTE ALONE FROM THE HOG CONFINEMENTS THAT MUST SUPPORT THIS
SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS MUCH MORE THAN OUR LAND CAN SUPPORT. THE WATER
IN THE AREA WILL NOT BE FIT FOR USE, AND TOURISM WILL SUFFER AS A
RESULT.
THOSE ATTENDING THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC WILL SMELL HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND
AMMONIA INSTEAD OF NEWLY MOWED GRASS. THESE SMELLS CARRY. THE DAY
BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHEN THE 40MPH WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH, THE SMELL
OF MANURE WAS PICKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MOLINE.
THE BIX WILL BE MORE SMELLY THAN SWEATY. EVEN THE FAIRS AND
OUTDOOR MUSICAL EVENTS WILL BE EFFECTED. A FEW DAYS OF STAGNANT
AIR IN WHICH THERE IS NO AIR MOVEMENT SUCH AS HAPPENED FOR 3 DAYS LAST
FEBRUARY WILL KEEP THE SMELLS FROM MOVING OUT OF THE AREA. THE
AIR QUALITY INDEX WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGH FOR THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY
PROBLEMS.
THE COST TO THE COMMUNITY IN INCREASED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS 5, 20, 50 YEARS FROM NOW WILL NOT BE WORTH IT.
THERE IS A BULLY IN THE ROOM. IT IS CALLED TRIUMPH. IT IS TIME TO STAND UP TO IT.
VOTE NOT TO APPROVE THIS REQUEST. THANK YOU
.....THEN AFTER MOST OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME, TRIUMPH FOODS
CAME INTO THE ROOM. ITS GOLDEN BOY CHOSEN TO SPEAK WAS CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RICK HOFFMAN. NOT ONLY WAS IT ODD THAT THE
COMPANY OFFICIALS WEREN'T IN THE ROOM FOR MANY OPINIONS ON THEM COMING
TO TOWN, BUT THEY CAME FROM BEHIND A CURTAIN!
MR. HOFFMAN SPENT TIME TELLING US HOW MANY WONDERFUL JOBS THEY WOULD
BRING. BUT THIS COMPANY HAS NO TRACK RECORD. IT WAS CREATED
IN 2003 BY A CONSORTIUM OF PORK PRODUCERS WHICH INCLUDES CHRISTIANSEN
COMPANY. THE ONLY OTHER PLANT THEY'VE BUILT IN ST. JOSEPH, MO.,.
HAS HAD THEIR OPENING DELAYED BECAUSE THERE WAS A FIRE. ONE WORKER
DIED AND 14 WERE INJURED.
SO MANY QUESTIONS ARE LEFT UNANSWERED. THE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
DISCUSSIONS HAVE GONE ON FOR MONTHS. ONLY THE WEEK AFTER
THANKSGIVING DID THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS RECEIVE THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED THE TWO SPEAKERS FROM GRACE (GLOBAL RESEARCH ACTION
CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT) HAD BEEN SLATED FOR OVER 6 WEEKS TO COME TO
THE AREA DECEMBER 3RD.
SO, NOW ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OF SILVIS (NEXT TO EAST MOLINE) WANTS
TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS THIS COMING WEEK. THE EAST MOLINE COUNCIL
WILL VOTE AGAIN MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH WHETHER OR NOT TO RECOMMEND TO
PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT.
SO, TIME WILL TELL. THERE ARE ALSO PERMITS WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE SCRUTINIZED.
ONCE AGAIN, CORPORATE AMERICA TRIES TO PUT A STRANGLEHOLD ON A COMMUNITY. IT AIN'T OVER, TILL IT'S OVER.
TO CHECK ON THE GRACE FACTORY FARM PROJECT, GO TO WWW.FACTORYFARM.ORG
ALSO, VIEW IOWA FARMERS UNION WWW.IAFU.ORG BECAUSE THEY HAVE
ASKED FOR A MORATORIUM ON CAFO'S (CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING
OPERATIONS)
AND DON'T FORGET...CPR...CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE
Saturday, December 10
Destitute But Still A Believer In Intelligent Design
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 10 Dec 2005 11:00 AM CST
 Destitute But Still A Believer In 'Intelligent Design'
MinutemanMedia.Org – op-ed voices of reason
by Donald Kaul
Donald Kaul recently retired as Washington columnist for the Des Moines Register.
I’ve been retired five
years now (I only write this column as a hobby and to make the world a
better place) and I couldn’t be happier. When my former colleagues ask
me the secret of my success I always tell them: Preparation.
A
few years before your intended date of retirement, begin to slack off
on the job. You will be amazed how few people notice. All those years
you thought you were under-appreciated? You really were. You’re bosses
never noticed what you were doing so when you stop doing it they still
won’t notice.
And if they do, they’ll attribute it to you slowing down with age.
The
thing you have to remember when contemplating retirement is that you
are going to need about twice as much money as you think you will.
There are several ways to secure retirement funds.
• Be
born rich. Most people with a lot of money were born with a lot of
money. It may not buy happiness but it gets further up the road than
poverty does.
• Marry
someone with a lot of money. This could range from a spouse who is heir
to a chain of department stores to a person whose father owns a liquor
store. Happiness comes in all sizes.
• Win
the lottery. I know, you keep hearing stories of people whose lives are
ruined by winning great riches in the lottery. Don’t believe it.
And
last of the keys to a successful retirement is, of course, health.
Fortunately, our Republican friends in Congress have presented us with
a new health care program that includes a prescription drug benefit.
Simply
stated, it says that if you are currently over 65 and have an income of
more than $37,942 a year, adjusted for inflation, and are enrolled in
both Part A and Part B of Medicare but do not have a previously
diagnosed drug benefit you will be able to get a federal subsidy to
your insurance premiums if there are two or more drivers in the family
and you haven’t had an accident in two years.
If
you make less than $12,473 a year, however, you would be well advised
to find yourself a busy corner and sit there with a tin cup and a sign
that says “Destitute but still a believer in Intelligent Design.”
And that’s pretty much my approach to retirement. It works for me; it should work for you.
(click here to read the entire column)
Don Kaul is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-losing Washington correspondent who, by his own account, is right more than he's wrong. Email: donald.kaul2@verizon.net
Monday, December 5
Greenspan Predicts Deficits Built by Nussle Could Lead to a Reduction in Benefits for Baby Boomers
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 05 Dec 2005 04:00 AM CST
 Greenspan Predicts Deficits Built by
Nussle Could Lead to a Reduction in Benefits for Baby Boomers
Iowa Democrats.Org
DES MOINES – Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan
said the budget deficits, which have exploded under House Budget Chair Jim
Nussle, could lead to reduced Social Security and Medicare payments for baby
boomer retirees.
“In that taped speech to a conference in Philadelphia,
Greenspan said that Congress would likely have to make ‘significant adjustments’
in reducing benefits for future retirees. He said it appears the country has
promised more than it can afford to deliver in Social Security and especially
Medicare payments, given that health care costs have been exploding.”
[Associated Press, 12/2/05]
“Under Nussle’s watch, the U.S.
budget went from record surpluses to historic deficits. Now, retiring baby
boomers will have to suffer the consequences of Nussle’s reckless budgeting,”
says Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sally Pederson.
Next week, the U.S. House is expected to vote on $70 billion
in tax cuts that would add an estimated $20 billion to the $412 billion federal
deficit. Nussle has expressed his support for this plan.
(click here to read the entire article)
Iowans for Better Local TV
The Time To Act Is Now!
Sign our petition to the FCC
Thanks to everyone from towns all across Iowa who have helped double our number of signatures in the last 2 weeks!
Saturday, December 3
Working Families Win - A Town Meeting in Dubuque
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 03 Dec 2005 11:00 AM CST
Working Families Win - A Town Meeting in Dubuque
Working Families Win
Higher Expectations for Iowa’s
Working Families!
A Town Hall Meeting for people concerned about good
jobs,fair taxes, and a healthy future for our community
Wednesday, Dec. 7
7:00-8:30 PM
Midway Best Western
3100 Dodge
Dubuque
We know that too few of us connect the dots between public
policies and our pocketbooks, and too few of us believe that things can be
different. Health care can be
affordable. Jobs can pay good wages. Our communities can provide a safe
environment for our children who want to stay and work here as adults.
Join us to learn more and to take action!
Panelists
David Osterberg, Executive Director, Iowa
Policy Project
Amalia Anderson, Project Coordinator, League of Rural Voters
Merle Duehr, Business Representative, United Steel Workers
Local 1861
Welcome: Roy Buol, Mayor-elect, City of Dubuque
Sponsors
Dubuque
Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Iowa Farmers Union
Iowans for Sensible Priorities
Iowa for
Health Care
Immigrant Voices Project
Iowa Federation
of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement
Iowa Postal
Workers Union
Iowa Citizen Action Network
AFSCME Council 61
League of Rural Voters
Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association
Women, Food and Agriculture Network
Service Employees International Union Local 199
Intro to American Government class, Northeast
Iowa Community College
Working Families Win/Americans for Democratic Action
Education Fund
For more information, contact: Dave Leshtz, Working Families Win,
319-621-4205
Iowans for Better Local TV - IBLTV.Org
Sign our petition to the FCC
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