Letter no. 1:
Concerning the new budget that Congress is trying to pass, I ask, "Should we not take time to get it right?"
When it is customary to take time to analyze and debate issues concerning budgets, why would the President and many Republicans in Congress attempt to push a budget through with record speed? Some may spin it as "efficient government," but that's just what it is - spin. The truth is that they want to pass the budget without giving our "independent" media or critics a chance to evaluate what is just more tax breaks for the rich, a bigger deficit, and the widening of the rich-poor gap in this country; but I guess some of our "leaders" see more poor people as more recruits to fight their never-ending wars.
more info about the budget:
Bush's Budget Lies - The Nation
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Letter no. 2:
Your online poll says that tri-county taxpayers are "failing" when it comes to supporting schools?
So far, the majority of the respondents to the poll say they would not favor a tax increase.
We pay a regressive 10% sales tax in Montgomery, and our governor recently tried to increase taxes by two billion dollars. All this, and we hover around #49 in national ratings. Maybe throwing money at the problem is not the solution.
more info:
Montgomery Advertiser
3.13.2005
So Bush Came to Montgomery.....
Here is a synopsis of the Bush "town hall meeting" that took place in Montgomery on Thursday, March 10, 2005 on the AUM campus. Synopsis written by Valerie Downes and is printed here with permission of the Montgomery Peace Project:
"MPP [Montgomery Peace Project] gathered at the back entrance of AUM University and protested the Bush Administration's proposed privatization of social security as well
as their policies of war, threat to civil liberties, and the destruction of social programs.
"A group of roughly 45 individuals participated with approx. 30 members protesting for the full 4 hours of the permit. We were joined by several students from Auburn University and a couple from New Orleans, LA.
"The group received a relatively warm reception from 1pm to 4pm with the number of honks, thumbs up, waves, or simply no reaction from cars outweighing the yells of disapproval and thumbs down.
"At 4pm the group divided in two in order to cover both entrances of AUM. A group of 25 individuals rallied at the Taylor Road exit in hopes of catching the president as he exited. They were side by side with many Bush supporters, and did in fact, see the Bush parade exit.
"Back at the Brown Springs Road entrance, the group of 8 remaining MPP protesters received a not-so-warm farewell from people exiting the 'town hall script-o-meeting.' Gestures learned in adolescence were on display by the Bush fan club. But we did receive the occasional smile and wave.
"MPP member, Robert Delk, attended the event. The audience stood to applaud President Bush at the end of the meeting, and Robert refused to stand. Once outside, he said he would have 'much rather been out here with you all.'
"An excellent protest experience overall with some good media coverage. Wayne Sabel was interviewed for WSFA news last night. Birmingham News, the Anniston Star, and student journalists did several on the spot interviews. Clear Channel radio did an interview with MPP which aired this morning on 97.1fm. Amy Carr was part of a roundtable on WSFA yesterday afternoon discussing the social security plan.
"The wednesday night poster party at the Sabel's home was covered in Thursday's Montgomery Advertiser as well."
more info:
Montgomery Peace Project
"MPP [Montgomery Peace Project] gathered at the back entrance of AUM University and protested the Bush Administration's proposed privatization of social security as well
as their policies of war, threat to civil liberties, and the destruction of social programs.
"A group of roughly 45 individuals participated with approx. 30 members protesting for the full 4 hours of the permit. We were joined by several students from Auburn University and a couple from New Orleans, LA.
"The group received a relatively warm reception from 1pm to 4pm with the number of honks, thumbs up, waves, or simply no reaction from cars outweighing the yells of disapproval and thumbs down.
"At 4pm the group divided in two in order to cover both entrances of AUM. A group of 25 individuals rallied at the Taylor Road exit in hopes of catching the president as he exited. They were side by side with many Bush supporters, and did in fact, see the Bush parade exit.
"Back at the Brown Springs Road entrance, the group of 8 remaining MPP protesters received a not-so-warm farewell from people exiting the 'town hall script-o-meeting.' Gestures learned in adolescence were on display by the Bush fan club. But we did receive the occasional smile and wave.
"MPP member, Robert Delk, attended the event. The audience stood to applaud President Bush at the end of the meeting, and Robert refused to stand. Once outside, he said he would have 'much rather been out here with you all.'
"An excellent protest experience overall with some good media coverage. Wayne Sabel was interviewed for WSFA news last night. Birmingham News, the Anniston Star, and student journalists did several on the spot interviews. Clear Channel radio did an interview with MPP which aired this morning on 97.1fm. Amy Carr was part of a roundtable on WSFA yesterday afternoon discussing the social security plan.
"The wednesday night poster party at the Sabel's home was covered in Thursday's Montgomery Advertiser as well."
more info:
Montgomery Peace Project
3.11.2005
How Low Can You Go?
How low can you go? That's the question Americans should be asking the organization USA Next, whom Newsweek describes as a "well-funded conservative group."
The group posted two pictures on its web page - one picture of an American soldier in camouflage and the other picture was of two men wearing tuxedos and kissing. The American soldier had an "X" over his picture, the tuxedo-clad kissing men had a checkmark. The caption read, "The REAL AARP Agenda."
Now, the fight between AARP and USA Next has absolutely nothing to do with the Afghanistan or Iraq War or the "War on Terror," and it has nothing to do with the issue of gay marriage. Their fight is over Social Security.
What does Social Security have to do with war or gays? I don't know either, but this kind of “advertising” is pretty low.
What is so appalling is that it seems we cannot have a real debate on Social Security because some "well-funded" groups are too busy bringing up divisive issues, rather than actually find out what's best for people. And USA Next has endorsed the private accounts that Bush (the "uniter, not divider," remember?) has been having all those scripted-but-we-will-still-use-the-word-"town hall meetings" about. We've got people worried about their retirement, and all USA Next can think about is two guys kissing.
USA Next's CEO, Charlie Jarvis, admitted that the ad was a "test." He wanted to see if "left wing bloggers" would just focus on one of the pictures and "explode." He said, "My guess was right."
Well, I think we, not "left wing bloggers," but Americans, should "explode" about that kind of ad. It is misleading, and it diverts the attention from the real issue of Social Security. Let's talk about facts and numbers and real people. Let's talk about solutions. Let us not be distracted by organizations like USA Next who try to divert the issue and divide this country. When I am a senior, I would much rather be a part of AARP and talk about real issues, than be part of an organization that just misses the point.
more info:
AARP
USA Next
Information in this article is from a Newsweek article titled, "Seniors Draw Fire," which is in the March 7, 2005 issue.
The group posted two pictures on its web page - one picture of an American soldier in camouflage and the other picture was of two men wearing tuxedos and kissing. The American soldier had an "X" over his picture, the tuxedo-clad kissing men had a checkmark. The caption read, "The REAL AARP Agenda."
Now, the fight between AARP and USA Next has absolutely nothing to do with the Afghanistan or Iraq War or the "War on Terror," and it has nothing to do with the issue of gay marriage. Their fight is over Social Security.
What does Social Security have to do with war or gays? I don't know either, but this kind of “advertising” is pretty low.
What is so appalling is that it seems we cannot have a real debate on Social Security because some "well-funded" groups are too busy bringing up divisive issues, rather than actually find out what's best for people. And USA Next has endorsed the private accounts that Bush (the "uniter, not divider," remember?) has been having all those scripted-but-we-will-still-use-the-word-"town hall meetings" about. We've got people worried about their retirement, and all USA Next can think about is two guys kissing.
USA Next's CEO, Charlie Jarvis, admitted that the ad was a "test." He wanted to see if "left wing bloggers" would just focus on one of the pictures and "explode." He said, "My guess was right."
Well, I think we, not "left wing bloggers," but Americans, should "explode" about that kind of ad. It is misleading, and it diverts the attention from the real issue of Social Security. Let's talk about facts and numbers and real people. Let's talk about solutions. Let us not be distracted by organizations like USA Next who try to divert the issue and divide this country. When I am a senior, I would much rather be a part of AARP and talk about real issues, than be part of an organization that just misses the point.
more info:
AARP
USA Next
Information in this article is from a Newsweek article titled, "Seniors Draw Fire," which is in the March 7, 2005 issue.
The USA is catching up to Saudi Arabia
Recently, the US Supreme Court brought the United States out of the Middle Ages by making a decision that even Saudi Arabia made long before us - the Court has banned the execution of minors.
Of course, this caused some outrage by some conservatives still trying to tell the rest of us about morality.
So why is it that the same morality that fights gay marriage is the same morality that says it's OK to execute children?
Of course, this caused some outrage by some conservatives still trying to tell the rest of us about morality.
So why is it that the same morality that fights gay marriage is the same morality that says it's OK to execute children?
3.04.2005
Freedom at War with Fear at CapCityFreePress.com
"Freedom at War with Fear: Parallels in the War on Terror" is online at the Capital City Free Press
"So what do we do to feel safer? We surrender some of our freedoms to the USA PATRIOT Act. We surrender some of our free speech. We attack those who disagree. We don’t ask questions. We wage war for fictitious reasons. We embrace paranoia..."
Read the entire article here.
"So what do we do to feel safer? We surrender some of our freedoms to the USA PATRIOT Act. We surrender some of our free speech. We attack those who disagree. We don’t ask questions. We wage war for fictitious reasons. We embrace paranoia..."
Read the entire article here.
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