Watching big insurance and the ole school Republicans battle to do away with reforms, and democrats, and just about everything and everyone against them brought me to research a little past history. Populist movements aren't new, but their ability to last and to be effective is. Never before have everyday people had the ability to align themselves, communicate, and act as one, as is evident today. Even wiith vast amounts of corporate money being spent on PAC'S, lobbiest's, cable news networks, politicians, and judges; Today, don't be seen attending some elitist style lobbying party these days, not with the internet frely flowing (especially Facebook, myspace, and twitter)youwill be on it. For "It" has changed the world of power brokering, meaning all that money and power that was being spent in purchasing government has gone to waste. It'sneeverbeen more evident than an evening with cable news tv. The populist movement that removed the GOP and their tin-eared breatheren. An historical example of populist movements would be Sid Hatfield, yes of the Hatfield-McCoy fame, and father of the mine workers union, ( Sid Hatfield (1893–1921) was Police Chief of Matewan, West Virginia during the Battle of Matewan, a shootout that followed a series of evictions carried out by detectives from the Baldwin-Felts agency. " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Hatfield ").
Chief Hatfield who came to the aid of the poorblue collar city folk and tried to prevent the mine corporation's privately hired detectives from evicting homeowners,(for things like union activity, political adversion, and self determination) was murdered on the courthouse steps along with friend Ed Chambers, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9980 .and became a Martyr. No charges have ever been brought for this public murder.
Sid seemed to have the ability to bring people together in a common goal, and the will to stand firm for what was right. The mega corporations of that time, in control of the town, county, state and federal government wouldn't have this, after all, they were bought and paid for. Of course, there was no internet at that time and certainly a huge corporation's spent money, was money you could count on forever. Today, big Corporation's and their recipients (i.e. GOP Today) appear to be showing the signs of disillusionment over this fact, that is the lasting effect of a financial power base being in demise and no longer in control. "Just can't seem to buy them anymore I suppose".
Anyhow, Sid Hatfield turned a populist movement into reality back then, especially as a Martyr; The West Virginia Mine War ("southern operators, closely linked financially with the big steel and railroad empires, had the statehouse at Charleston and most of the law on their side" (Bush/Cheney years?) http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1974/5/1974_5_58.shtml.
The union effort, atempts to forbid private detectives killing, arresting and beating locals all came to a climax after the murder of Police Chief Hatfield,(Blair Mountain) and comments by Frank Keeney speaksof such; "You’ve got Uncle Sam on your side now, and he won’t let you down. You can fight the government of West Virginia, but by God you can’t fight the government of the United States.”
Makes you wonder if FOX news and Glen Beck ever read this story.., or maybe they have? After all, democrats coming together have made insignificant, the republican machine and left them in dis-array, CEO's fired, Big Insurance now being leveled, politicians like the magnificent Grayson speaking up & out. Jobs and money coming back to our country.
THANKS INTERNET & SID HATFIELD
Today I was reading the excerpts (Dallas Morning News, Airline Biz Blog) concerning all those computer hacks that took place in connection to Kate Hanni's flyer rights activities. It certainly isn't a surprise that an air carrier might engage in computer hacking or acquire others to pursue such inteligience gathering activities. What is troubling was the behavior of the consulting firm (Metron Aviation) hired by the FAA (with our Federal dollars) to investigate the root causes of runway delays, and to seek out a valid outside analysis of the occurences. I would expect that having open discussions to be a vital and necessary tool perform that function. However, that does not seem to be the case, Flyer's rights and those assigned to perform the collection duties have been grossly attacked in an old school fashion. As stated here;
"In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Houston, Hanni is seeking at least $1 million in actual damages and $10 million in exemplary damages from Delta and Metron Aviation, a company hired by the Federal Aviation Administration to look at ground delays for airline flights."
How could something so simple,go so wrong, for the consulting firm (Metron Aviation) to posses, or even want to posses transcripts from such an activity, however it took place, is blatantly criminal on their part, and represents gross misconduct. The consulting company hired by the FAA seems to have ignored all basic conflict of interest concerns, and decidedly misrepresented and mis-used the public money that was paid to them by the government (FAA), blatantly working side by side in a corrupt manner with a carrier's senior management, in a manner not related to the purpose they were contracted. There actions suggest collusion, and in this manner suggests they were more interested in future contracts with the carriers they were studying and working with rather than supplying the FAA, the Administration,and the American people a credible result and analisys, suggesting it to be impossible to trust or rely on any end product that might be submitted.
Flyer's rights should be a simple issue, and one that any air carrier would want to be aligned with, to turn into a positive public relations moment,and give us, the travelers, something to feel good about. Unfortunately, whether it's maintenance;
(The FAA is coming down hard on airlines for safety violations. The government agency has proposed a $5.4 million fine against US Airways (LCC) and a $3.8 million fine against United Airlines (UAUA). The fines are for violations ranging from allowing aircraft to fly too many cycles between proper inspections to not following agency safety directives to discovering shop towels in engines that resulted in the engine having to be shut down mid flight.),
the passengers flying comfort, flight delays, lost baggage, etc.. or any other issue the normal, the plan is attack, just want to say No, and make it go away. Sounds sort of familiar, like an old Republican song from Bush/Cheney days gone by. These issues form a pattern and relate back previously mentioned cost-cutting methods of outsourcing maintenance to countries like El Salvador, or simply not performing maintenance checks altogether, pilot training and experience(as tackled by Congress yesterday), lay-offs at the terminals, and many other such areas. It's a good area for our democratic legislatorsand administrators to tackle, and put back upright. I for one, certainly have absolute confidence the new Obama Administraion, with Ray Lahood and Randy Babbit will "make it happen", It's the new way of hope.
good luck Kate, and thanks.
The Charleston County Democratic Party will present the Democratic Peacemakers Tent at Charleston Peace one Day at Brittlebank Park in Charleston, this Sunday from 1 to 6 pm. Come and enjoy a salon/living room type discussion with these three accomplished peacemakers, each from South Carolina. The tentative Schedule is set out at the bottom of this post. Also we’ll have Candidates and Elected Democratic Officials serving as greeters. Mike Ruckes, opposing Demint is Scheduled for 2 and 4 pm. Others to be added later. You’re also invited to sign a petition supporting Mayor Riley’s stand against Illegal Guns and Health Care Reform.
Here are our Peacemakers.
Neal Petersen twice circumnavigated the Earth in the BOC Challenge (Now the Around Alone Race), using a sailboat he built himself. After growing up under apartheid in South Africa, he became one of his nation’s most famous sailors, and one of it’s few black sailors. In his travels, he came to realize that all people need food, clean water, healthcare, housing and most of all freedom. Today Neal works as a world recognized corporate coach and motivational speaker. While working globally, Neal builds understanding through his No-Barriers Foundation. He recently completed a civilian observer’s trip to the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center and a people to people upriver trip through the Orinoco River Delta in Venezuela. Learn more at http://www.no-barriers.com/
Wescoat Sandlin is an attorney who works on political asylum cases, helping people remain here who have fled oppression to the United States when their return to their country of origin might result in their being tortured or killed. US policy towards international refugees of this type varies based on our relationship with their home country. Often, if a repressive regime is friendly to the US, it’s difficult for those seeking political asylum to remain here. Wescoat has helped people from Iraq, Columbia, Sudan, Cuba, Haiti, Ethiopia, Guatemala, El Salvador, China, and Algeria. Sandlin is also a Roman Catholic Deacon.
Julia Dawson, a native of Charleston, has worked in the peace and justice community since graduating from College. She recently spent two years in Pakistan working as a female journalist. She has worked for the Corporation for Community Development organizing improved halfway houses for former convicts, neighborhood rehabilitation in Greenville and individual empowerment.
Peacemaker Schedule (Tentative)
1:15 pm- Julia Dawson
2:00 pm- Wescoat Sandlin
2:45 pm- Julia Dawson
3:30 pm- Neal Petersen
4:15 pm- Wescoat Sandlin
5:00 pm- Neal Petersen
Candidates & Public Officials, Host/Greeters
1:00 pm TBA
2:00 pm Mike Ruckes, Candidate for US Senate
3:00 pm TBA
4:00 pm Mike Ruckes, Candidate for US Senate
5:00 pm TBA
Celebrate the great history, heritage and culture of the Sea Island community with us on Saturday, September 12th. The festival will feature food, fellowship, music (R & B, Jazz, Hip Hop, Rap and Gospel), health screening, voter registration information, Gullah storytelling and local artisans' handcrafted items. Sponsored by the Sea Island Revitalization Committee.
www.seaislandculturalartsfestival.com
info@seaislandculturalartsfestival.com
Last week the President asked bloggers across the US to use our capacity to discuss complex issues at legnth to address the haelth care issue. I suspect Obama was thinking about the Huffington post. Howver, I fired up word and went at it too.
Unfortunately I didn't get interviewed by the Rachael Maddow show.
Here is my effort on SC's own Indigo Journal
http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/1036/a-voice-from-south-carolina-for-the-president
I'm doing most of my blogging on Indigo Journal these days. I'm on Facebook and Twitter as well. We've made huge progress towards creating an electronic communication network for progressive elecments in SC, but we need more people online.
You can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/wjhamilton29464
I would like to thank all the hard working volunteers who came together in Phillips Community in Mt. Pleasant, SC to transform a weedy corner into an attractive bus stop location for school children and CARTA Riders and who took an overgrown field and turned it into a community activity field and picnic area Saturday. It was hard, hot work. Information about your efforts has been transmitted to Organizing for America’s growing national network as well as the East Cooper Democrats and Charleston Democratic Party. The wonderful cookout presented by the people of Phillips was a great end to the morning’s work.
A Youtube video on the project has been put together and is now online. It’s far from perfect, but you’re all there putting your sweat where most people only put talk. Please share it with friends and take a look yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFuNJqXMrDk
The Porches to Sidewalks Column in this week’s Moultrie News is also about the Phillips Project. The original version was somewhat longer, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to write about this wonderful event. http://www.moultrienews.com/porches/The-field-at-Phillips--making-community-in-the-heat-and-dirt
We have still pictures on Facebook as well
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=125397&id=538763237
Thank you for being there and working so hard Saturday. We’ve all be invited back in August to celebrate the end of summer with the people of Phillips. I look forward to seeing how the grass is doing by then. The rain which falls on the growing grass and the continuing willingness of other to work for a better world like yourselves both encourage me.
Lowcountry residents interested in progressive and Democratic films can vote online to help select the films to be shown at a progressive Dinner and a Movie night planned for early August in N. Charleston. Voting began June 22nd. The films focus on the national issue of health care. The ballot includes King Corn, a documentary on the impact of the government subsidized corn industry; Damaged Care, a satirical musical on health care issues; Donka: X-Ray of an African Hospital and I am Somebody, a recently digitally premastered documentary about the historic Charleston Hospital Strike during the Civil Rights movement. 16 films are on the ballot. Voting is open to any interested person and will continue until July 8 at http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/915/progressive-film-goers-survey online.
END END END
We've finished planning for our June 27th. service project here. We'll be helping build a bus stop for school children and improving the future site of a proposed civic center in the Phillip's Community.
I've put all the details in an illustrated blog entry on Indigo Journal
http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/886/operating-with-a-swing-blade
This event will end with a picnic presented by the Phillips Community
Saturday's health care kickoff effort by Organizing for America and local Democrats produced two videos, a broadcast news story on WCIV TV 4 images and blog posts.
The video by Ed Faircloth is very polished and effective..Ed Faircloth's video, Charleston Health Care Stories weaves together video of the President with local stories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LADJQInz3JY
My video features one of our local ministers with some observations of the role of the Church in helping people with healthcare and the limits of what a church can do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoSl5hVUcmk
I've pulled together information on activity across the Lowcountry in a blog post which includes some images as well. http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/860/ofa-and-healthcare-reform-on-d-day. The post also includes a link to the wonderful coverage by WCIV TV Channel 4.
Over 100 people were involved in yesterday's effort in Charleston and several Health Care service events are already announced for June 27.
We started the local Health care reform effort with a coffee shop drop in this morning. Details and images can be found on my primary blog on Indigo Journal, SC's progressive blog site.
We'll blog the effort throughout the next 10 days, putting up as much as we can about the Charleston area effort
http://www.indigojournal.com/userDiary.do?personId=150
We're getting ready for the Healthcare effort here in Charleston, South Carolina. It's also the time of our world famous Spoleto Arts Festival. Fortunately these two things are related, as any art organization executive director sweating a budget can tell you when they're not begging for a grant.
We've just posted a blog entry on Indigo Journal about reaching out to local artists regarding the Health Care issues. Many independent artists don't have access to healthcare and rising costs burden and somtimes kill, larger artistic organizations. We've got some figures to share.
It this seems a bit cute, it does make a valiid point and with Charleston awash in parties, we're trying to swim with the current a bit. We'll be handing out copies of the release as a flyer during this week.
http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/837/spoleto-artists-and-hospitality-workers-who-lack-healthcare-focus-of-local-obama-effort
You can read and reply to my blog post on Indigo Journal about yessterday's phone call with the President on Healthcare, made from Air Force One.
Phoning with POTUS - Indigo Journal, South Carolina Progressive Blogsite
I also referenced the Health Care Campaign with OFA in my weekly Newspaper column.
http://www.moultrienews.com/porches/Starting-South-Carolina-summer-with-a-short-list
For Immediate Release
Mt. Pleasant, SC- The East Cooper Democrats and Organizing for America (OFA) will hold a Saturday, June 6 breakfast to help begin the national campaign for healthcare from 9-11 a.m. at Gullah Cuisine 1717 US 17N, Mount Pleasant, (843) 881-9076. The cost is $7/person for scrambled eggs, grits, ham, coffee/tea and juice. To RSVP for the meeting and learn more about the Healthcare effort, register for the event online at www.barackobama.com by searching for events in the 29464 zipcode. Local efforts will be updated with code “#ofa” on Twitter and South Carolina OFA’s and the East Cooper Democrats pages on Facebook.
At the breakfast the group will collect donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash for use at local free dental clinics.
The lack of affordable, accessible healthcare is having drastic impacts on Mt. Pleasant families.
A Mt. Pleasant homemaker lost her health insurance coverage last year when her husband was laid off. The family purchased COBRA coverage for a year at a cost of $350 per month just to cover her while her husband relied on VA benefits, but the family was forced to stop purchasing COBRA because they could not pay their other bills. Unfortunately her husband was laid off before the Federal COBRA Stimulus subsidy program implemented by the Obama administration began.
A Father lost his job in early this year. While he was able to enroll his children in the SCHIP program expanded by the Obama administration which provided healthcare coverage to four million more children, unemployment benefits couldn’t cover the cost of COBRA coverage for the whole family, food and housing costs.
A disabled educator waited two years after qualifying for disability to obtain Medicare coverage.
Organizing for America in South Carolina and the East Cooper Democrats are committed to organizing a local effort to help achieve health care reform around President Obama’s three principles that any comprehensive health care reform must achieve: (1) reduce costs, (2) guarantee choice, and (3) ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care. Their goal is to achieve this by the end of this year.
The June 6 East Cooper kickoff Breakfast is one of over 10 events being planned for South Carolina’s 1st. Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Congressman Henry Brown, who enjoys lifetime coverage under the congressional plan of the quality President Obama believes, should be available to all Americans. The group will work with other health care advocates in the First District to persuade Congressman Brown to help his constituents receive healthcare benefits as good as the Congressman enjoys. Healthcare advocates hope to hold their Congressman to his recent statement that, “There is clearly a health care crisis in this country, and I want you to know that I am doing everything I can to find a remedy.”
The group hopes their Congressman will work with them and President Obama to find that remedy.
Relevant Links
White House Health Care Reform Page
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Health-Reform-Urgency-and-Determination/
June 6 East Cooper Breakfast Event Registration, search for 29464 events and find other events in your area.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcareorganizingkickoff/gpcs2k
Organizing for America – Healthcare Page
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/organizingforhealthcare
East Cooper Democrats – Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=61199296690
Organizing for America – SC, Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=47873441228
Twitterfeed – OFA
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=ofa
The campaign for universal access to healthcare will kick off nationally and in South Carolina on June 6, 2009 under the leadership of President Barack Obama and an expanding Organizing for America (OFA) effort.
In a regional conference call on Thursday, May 21, Obama campaign veterans from around the state coordinated strategy with other community organizers throughout the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.
The time to organize and build coalitions is at hand in the Palmetto State.
I've written a detailed blogpost on Indigo Journal with the relevant links:
http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/816/campaign-for-healthcare-kickoff-june-6
