Sunlight Seeker
Look up national or state donors or check where your Congresspeople are getting their money.
Media Campaign Tools
The Democratic Agenda
*Tips & Talking Points for Letters to Editors
Email The Media
*Email Iowa and national media, five at a time
Framing The Message
*UC Berkeley professor George Lakoff tells how conservatives use language to dominate politics
Simple Framing
*A step-by-step guide on how to frame progressive issues, by George Lakoff
DemSpeak
*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
| November 2005 |
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
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
|
Monday, November 28
Iowans for Better Local TV: The Time To Act Is Now
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 28 Nov 2005 04:00 AM CST
Iowans for Better Local TV:
The Time To Act Is Now
IBLTV.Org
Iowans for Better Local Television, Iowa's grassroots media reform group, is now leading an effort to ask the FCC to hold a hearing to review whether Iowans
are being well-served by our Sinclair-owned station KGAN. This
year, all of Iowa's TV stations are up for license renewal which
provides a rare opportunity for the public to have input. We must
act now, because the next license renewal is eight long years away.
IBLTV
has spent the past year getting organized and taking action.
After joining with the successful , nation-wide Sinclair advertiser
boycott last fall, IBLTV co-sponsored the successful FCC Town Meeting on the Future of Media in October which drew over 500 Iowans. IBLTV has also met with Congressman Leach,
published columns in newspapers, made appearances on radio and
TV, and has even drawn the attention of national media with a feature
story in the broadcast industry publication, Broadcasting and Cable magazine.
Here is what we are asking you to do:
(1) Sign our on-line signature petition asking the FCC for a meaningful license review. Just click here: "Sign the IBLTV Petition." If everyone takes this quick, simple action, it will help us enormously to demonstrate citizen support for this effort.
(2) Please let us know if you have a personal anecdote that illustrates
an example of how you feel our Sinclair-owned station has not served
the public interest.
P.S. Like all organizations we need members and financial
support. It is not a condition of your participation in this
project. But if you are able and willing please consider joining IBLTV.
Our group is focused on ACTION, not sitting around and
complaining. If you would like to get more involved in
media reform, there are many oopportunities available. Bring your
ideas! You can sign up to be on IBLTV's online discussion group
by contacting us at feedback@ibltv.org.
Even small contributions help. You can make checks payable to: IBLTV, PO BOX 578, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. (Donate $25 and receive a bonus gift, the DVD Outfoxed while supplies last)!
IBLTV would like to thank you for your concern about media issues and
we appreciate whatever you can do. Please feel free to contact us
at: feedback@ibltv.org.
Monday, November 21
Tax cuts adversely impact programs for the poor
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 21 Nov 2005 04:00 AM CST
 Tax cuts adversely impact programs for the poor
gazetteonline.com
The following Letter to the Editor was published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette
by Ellen Fisher
The Gazette's Nov. 11 editorial,
"Tightening government's belt", applauded congressional efforts to cut
spending but ignored the impact of tax cuts. House Republicans led by
Rep. Jim 'Nussle, R-Iowa, are trying to cut $54 billion over five years
primarily from programs that benefit the poor — food stamps, school
meals, Medicaid, student loans, foster care, child support enforcement,
etc.
The
budget deficit cited as rationale for the cuts has been greatly
enlarged by four successive years of tax cuts benefiting the very
wealthy, and Republicans hope to add $70 billion in additional tax cuts
this year. For the 2005 tax year the wealthiest 0.2 percent of
taxpayers will receive almost $35 billion from already enacted Bush tax
cuts, an amount that exceeds the annual cost of the food stamp program.
The
poverty rate last year rose for the fourth consecutive year, marking
the first time on record that household incomes failed to increase for
five straight years. During this time costs for housing, energy,
medical care and prescription drugs rose sharply, so it isn't
surprising that in October the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported
that hunger increased for the fifth straight year. Speaking of the
current economic recovery, Philip Swa-gel of the conservative American
Enterprise Institute said, "The gains have gone to owners of capital
and not to workers."
With
hunger and poverty both increasing steadily, the entire Iowa
congressional delegation should be urged not to cut programs that
protect the poor. No new tax cuts should be passed, and those already
enacted should be allowed to expire.
Ellen Fisher lives in Cedar Rapids.
Monday, November 14
A Town Hall Meeting on Wal-Mart: Low Prices at what cost?
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 14 Nov 2005 04:00 AM CST
A Town Hall Meeting on Wal-Mart: Low Prices at what cost?
A Town Hall discussion on ensuring Iowa’s workers have fair and equal access to affordable, quality health care.
Monday, November 14
7:00-8:00 PM
Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A
123 S. Linn St.
In a disturbing nationwide trend, more state studies are revealing that Wal-Mart employees are the top recipients of tax-payer paid health care. Come and learn about how this practice impacts you as an Iowa tax-payer and local efforts to hold large corporations accountable.
This event is part of Wal-Mart Watch Higher Expectations Week (Nov. 13-19) nationwide.
Guest Speakers
Sen. Joe Bolkcom
Sarah Swisher, Iowa for Health Care
Mark Ginsberg, owner, Ginsberg Jewelers
Andy Grossman, Executive Director, Wal-Mart Watch
Sponsors
Iowa For Health Care
Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart
Working Families Win
SEIU 199
Wal-Mart Watch
For questions contact Michael Edwards at (319) 621-0222
Joe Bolkcom at 319-337-6280www.joebolkcom.org
Click here to join
Iowans for Better Local TV (IBLTV)
Iowa's Media Reform Group
Wednesday, November 9
Higher Expectations for Iowa's Working Families - A Town Hall Meeting!
by
Trish Nelson
on Wed 09 Nov 2005 07:11 AM CST
 Higher Expectations for Iowa’s Working Families - A Town Hall Meeting!
A Town Hall Meeting for people concerned about good jobs, the environment, and a healthy future for their community
Tuesday, November 15
7:00-8:30 PM
Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial, Waterloo
We know that decisions made in Washington, DC, and Des Moines affect the pocketbooks of working families. We also know that not enough of us connect the dots between public policies and our checkbooks, or 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!
This event is part of Wal-Mart Watch Higher Expectations Week (Nov. 13-19) nationwide.
Guest Speakers
- David Osterberg, Executive Director, Iowa Policy Project
- Jonna Higgins, Executive Director, 1000 Friends of Iowa
- Jim Jontz, President Emeritus, Americans for Democratic
Action
Sponsors
- Wal-Mart Watch
- Iowa Farmers Union
- Iowans for Sensible Priorities
- Immigrant Voices Project
- Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
- League of Rural Voters
- Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
- Working Families Win
- Black Hawk Union Council, AFL-CIO
- Americans for Democratic Action Education Fund
- Iowa Citizen Action Network
- SEIU Local 199
- Iowa for Health Care
- Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association
For more information, contact: Dave Leshtz, Working Families Win, 319-621-4205
Monday, November 7
WHOM DO YOU TRUST?
by
Molly Regan
on Mon 07 Nov 2005 06:00 PM CST
 WHOM DO YOU TRUST?
In Dubuque, as well as 25 other communities around IOWA, there will be
a referendum on the election ballot this coming Tuesday, November
8th. One of these referenda in particular deals with whether or
not a city should create its own government-owned communications
utility to compete with private providers.
City support for the referendum is particularly curious in Dubuque,
where the City recently negotiated an unprecedented 15-year franchise
agreement with Mediacom. Some of the items include:
A $300,000 annual updating investment fund to guarantee ongoing
financial investment to keep Mediacom's fiber network at the leading
edge of broadband technology.
Expanding the network capability from 750 MHz to an 860 MHz system that
will support the needs of future business and residential services.
Connecting more than 75 sites with an upgraded I-Net which is a
private, city-managed network. This will provide all government
offices in Dubuque (police, fire, city hall, county offices, all
schools, and private institutions designated to assist in emergency
situations) with an integrated communication system.
Because of these and other insightful franchise items, Dubuque's
residents and businesses will benefit from this commitment and more
without RISKING ONE RED CENT OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
But all of this is in jeopardy unless the citizens of Dubuque VOTE NO on Tuesday, November 8th regarding the referendum.
First of all, it could take up to $80,000,000 (that's right, Million)
or more to build a fiber network to compete with the private
sector. This information is based on the city's own feasibility
study.
Secondly, do the citizens of Dubuque feel IT IS A RISK putting an
$80,000,000 decision in the hands of the 5 APPOINTED individuals on the
local utilities board?
Thirdly, why should the taxpaying voters of Dubuque support such a
RISKY VENTURE when there is already a well-working system in place that
includes competition?
And fourth, what does the City Council of Dubuque plan on doing with
the $7,000,000 (yes that's 7 Million) in franchise fees they have
already collected from Mediacom? I know at least one city
employee who thinks they should use some of it to pay for city workers'
benefits, not cut them like is proposed. And that is exactly the
type of place the money can be used.
Of utmost importance on the Dubuque ballot is the WORDING OF THE
REFERENDUM. It leaves no opportunity for a follow-up referendum that
would give the public a voice on how much tax they will be assessed.
The Opportunity Dubuque organization says that the election is about
"protecting our rights", but the ballot language is so poorly written
that some feel it actually takes rights away.
The Mediacom employees in Dubuque give not only their expertise on the
job, but also tremendous time and money to the surrounding communities
in which they live.
Even the Des Moines Register's editorial board in their November 4th
edition says "…the better vote is no…In general, government has no
business competing with business. It should only step in when
business fails to deliver goods or services. Private-sector
providers, led by Mediacom Communications, say they've invested
millions to upgrade broadband networks to better serve IOWANS and are
prepared to invest millions more…"
Other cities with the utility/telecommunications question on the ballot are:
Ackley, Altoona, Anamosa, Asbury, Carlisle, Charles City, Clarinda,
Cresco, Glenwood, Hampton, Hiawatha, Hudson, Iowa Falls, Lansing,
Manchester, Maquoketa, Marion, Mason City, Norwalk, Parkersburg,
Vinton, Waterloo, Waukon, West Union, and Windsor Heights.
So, let's keep things as they are. We employees of Mediacom do
not want to loose our jobs, but we also feel people should not be
unduly taxed.
Molly Regan is an employee of Mediacom.
Wednesday, November 2
Unexpected Change At Leopold Center?
by
Chad Thompson
on Wed 02 Nov 2005 08:47 AM CST
 Unexpected Change At Leopold Center?
Something
rather disturbing crossed my e-mail inbox this morning. I don't
have a supporting link - but will try to provide one if the story hits
one of the local papers. (Take that as a disclaimer - if anyone has
supporting or refuting stories, I welcome your posts in the comments
section.)
Last
week, Fred Kirschenmann was given 48 hours to resign as director of the
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and to accept a position as
the "Distinguished Fellow" of the center.
A
new director was appointed before Dr. Kirschenmann was given notice.
Over the past five years, Dr. Kirschenmann has worked tirelessly and
with great dedication to the vision and work of the center. He has been
highly respected by the Center's staff.
The
reason for Fred Kirschenmann's removal from the directorship of the
Center seems clear. Fred Kirschenmann had not placated agribusiness.
They've been ferociously lobbying the dean's office for the past year
and a half to get him to stop his work on Ag in the Middle and other
projects that benefit farmers and the land.
If
you see fit to protest Fred Kirschenmann's removal as Director of the
Leopold Center for Sustainble Agriculture, you might make the following
points:
1) This is a violation of academic freedom;
2)
Fred Kirschenmann's tenure brought hope and opportunity for Iowa's
farmers. Removing him caves in to the old paradigm of factory farms and
environmental degradation.
3)
Agribusiness should not be allowed to dominate the agenda. Its
time to establish a public interest agenda that honors the original
mission of the center and mandate of Aldo Leopold's philosophy.
4)
The next dean of agriculture at Iowa State should have the guts to
stand up for a healthy economy for farmers and a healthy land for all
of Iowans. This is what Fred stood for.
Dr.
Kirschenmann has worked tirelessly and with great dedication to the
mission of the Center. He has not only brought hope and opportunity to
farmers in the Midwest, but his vision and skills have also reached
into all corners of the country where people who deeply love the land
and their communities have seen new ways forward that promise to
reverse the environmental degradation and economic decline that they
face today.
By
removing Dr. Kirschenmann from this position, Iowa State University is
allowing outside business interests to effectively control the agenda
of a prominent American university, thereby further eroding the once
unique independent status of academic institutions in American life. It
is particularly troubling that this should occur at a Center
established to honor the insights and teachings of Aldo Leopold.
Letters can be sent to:
Benjamin J. Allen
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Iowa State University
Office of the Provost, 1550 Beardshear Hall,
Ames, Iowa 50011-2021
Phone 515-294-9591, provost@iastate.edu
Gregory L. Geoffroy
President, Iowa State University
1750 Beardshear Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011
(515) 294-2042
president@iastate.edu
For those interested, the offending "Agriculture of the Middle" program has it's own website:
It would
be grievously offensive to nearly everyone in the state of Iowa if Dr.
Kirschenmann was removed for researching and promoting economic models
that allow Iowa's family farms to stay solvent - isn't that one of the
supposed benefits of our land grant universities?
UPDATE: The Rural Populist blog has been collecting many aspects of this story. Of particular interest is this story from the Iowa State Daily:
Frederick
Kirschenmann, who has held the position since July 2000, was removed
from his position Tuesday concerning complaints from Iowa agriculture
groups accusing Kirschenmann of not communicating with them,
Wintersteen said.
"There was a significant number of folks who felt like they didn't have significant connection to the center," she said.
Among
those who complained of Kirschenmann's performance are corn and soybean
producers who wanted more research on issues the center had
historically dealt with, such as water quality and conservation
research, Wintersteen said. She said although the center had
some projects in that area, "It was probably just not enough and also
there probably could have been more communication on those topics."
These three paragraphs largely confirm the previous story, in particular the following two motivations:
1) The removal was politically motivated with pressure from outside groups.
2)
The pressure came from people who were bothered by the socio-economic
research being done by the Center - evidently the non-controversial
"soil and water conservation" research doesn't upset many apple carts.
Tuesday, November 1
The Iowa-New Orleans Recording Connection
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 01 Nov 2005 04:00 AM CST
 The Iowa-New Orleans Recording Connection
by Iowa's Tom Poe, Studio for Recording
The New
Orleans disaster wiped out most of the recording studios in the
region. This tragedy is not life-threatening. However, it
is compelling. Our country is founded on the principle of
stimulating creativity and innovation. Silence music and the
arts, which rely on recording studios, and our country suffers.
Of course, it doesn't take a hurricane to do that. In Iowa, we have the telecom and cable monopolies doing exactly the same thing.
Imagine
a child, sitting at a computer. She plays a tune on her
Kazoo. She clicks and can instantly play back that tune.
She clicks again, and her tune is played back, with the sound of a
piano. She clicks, and she can see her tune as a musical
score. She can edit the notes, and change her tune. She can
add instruments, and create an entire orchestra.
If the
computer is nothing more than a low-end PC, and the software is freely
available from Stanford University's Center for Computer Research in
Music and Acoustics, there is no good reason not to have a computer for
every child in Iowa, the New Orleans region, or anywhere for that
matter.
If every neighborhood had one, we could all be participating. And the cost? Free.
Shane
Pressley needs a computer donated, so they can start a community-based
recording studio in the New Orleans region. Can you help?
We need two computers, one for Shane, and one for Iowa. Each time
we work with a community outside Iowa, we also set up a community-based
recording studio for Iowa.
You can learn more about this exciting project by visiting
http://www.studioforrecording.org/ or email us at tompoe@studioforrecording.org
|
DFIA Events Calendar
Add Your Event Here
|
