Let's go change the world...
It's time for Health Insurance Reform!
YES WE DID! YES WE MUST:
Þ Protect him from harm both verbal & phyiscal
Þ Stay "FIRED UP" by staying active
Þ Work Bi-Partisan to bring "Change" together
Þ Don't just bitch, get active and stay engaged
Þ Start and join a local "Change" group
Þ Be philanthropic, serve your community, state and nation
Þ Stick by Obama, STOP smears on the Right & the Left!!!! Hold yourself responsible as you hold Barack!
Join the future of this movement!!
http://change.gov/joinus
http://www.communityorganize.com
http://www.ourpresidency.com
http://www.usaservice.org
http://www.whitehouse.gov
Barack's DNC 2004 Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWynt87PaJ0&feature=PlayList&p=B1939005B8A4D4ED&index=188
Barack's DNC 2008 Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ato7BtisXzE&feature=channel
Barack’s Election Acceptance Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wJ-2Zu_Iic&feature=channel
Barack’s Inauguration Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
'What I Want for You — and Every Child in America'
By President-elect Barack Obama
Publication Date: 01/18/2009 Photo By Kwaku Alston/Corbis Barack and Michelle Obama with daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10.
Inauguration Specials Headline-Making First Kids Spotlight-stealing moments from the White House's younger set Who Said It? Match the president to his memorable quote Wise Words Watch the most famous inaugural addresses More on Parade.com • Hope and new beginnings Great inaugural moments » On Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them. Dear Malia and Sasha, I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me—about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation. I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential—schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity. I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other. Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country—but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free—that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility. Sasha (l) and Malia Obama at play in New Hampshire in 2007. Bumper cars at the Iowa State Fair in August 2007. That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something. She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better—and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be. I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much—although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential. These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure. I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House. Love, Dad Inauguration Day is a time of hope and new beginnings. Read about the greatest inaugural moments »
President Barack Obama is inaugurated as President of the United States of America!
Hope fills the hearts of everyone watching.
Peace remains foremost in the minds and hearts of Americans and People around the world.
Change is coming to our U.S. Government, banks, corporations, businesses, and People.
Amazing grace has uplifted the spirits of People everywhere.
Responsibility is awakened again for our Nation to be an example of Goodness in the World.
We all have a part in determining our personal happiness and a responsibility to others.
We, as a nation, are blessed and united with this new First Family, the Obama Family.
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Malia and Sasha are the greatest example of a happy, responsible family that we could ever hope for.
We, all together with the Obamas, make History, each of us and all of us Together!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 05:05pm
BY Amy Hamblin
Whistle Stop Tour Event Details Announced
We just released more details about the events along President-elect Obama’s Whistle Stop Tour from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. on January 17th. Tickets already have been distributed for the first event in Philadelphia, while the other events in Wilmington and Baltimore will be open to the public.
The train tour marks the final leg of the President-elect’s incredible journey that began on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Illinois and will end on the steps of the United States Capitol. The President-elect and the Vice President-elect – who will be joining him in Wilmington – will travel alongside a group of everyday Americans with extraordinary stories. Read about Rosa Mendoza and Mark Dowell, whom we’ve profiled on the blog.
Here’s all the event details…
Philadelphia, PA Event Begins: 10:05 AM Tickets: Tickets are required and have been distributed to the public.
Wilmington, DE Where: Back of Wilmington Train Station, 100 South French Street, Wilmington, DE Doors Open: 9:30 AM Event Begins: 1:00 PM Tickets: Event is open to the public
Baltimore, MD Where: War Memorial Plaza, 101 N. Gay St., Baltimore, MD Doors Open: 1:00 PM Event Begins: 4:15 PM Tickets: Event is open to the public
A friend of mine at Skyhorse Publishing is putting together a book called Letters To President Obama.
If you are interested in more information or submitting a letter for possible inclusion in the book, go to www.letterstopresidentobama.com.
The story of the campaign and this historic moment has been your story. Share your story and your ideas, and be part of bringing positive lasting change to this country.
YES WE DID!
'Nuff said!
So many worked so hard and gave so much...
Thank you to everyone. I will always be thankful that I could play a small part in this effort to move this nation forward and bring us together as a people...Patrick from SC
HEY EVERYONE!!
HOW EXCITING TO BE A PART OF ALL THIS !! I TOOK MY CHILDREN AND CAST MY VOTE.THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE PUT IN ON THIS CAMPAIGN!AS A MOTHER OF 3 AND A MED STUDENT WE NEED BARACK FOR THE FUTURE!THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HOPE THAT WE CAN CHANGE !!
This is our moment. This is our time. We are on the verge of making history. We can look back with pride to the time when we stood up for a good man, Barack Obama, and took action, for the sake of our children, and our childrens' children...for our country, America, and the world.
Patrick from South Carolina
It's not rocket science, folks. It's very easy to fix social security.
First, underestand that it is NOT, and NEVER has been, an "insurance" program. There is little relationship between what you put in and what you take out, little relationship between what you know when you begin and what you get at the end.
Social security is what is called a "dedicated tax system." A good example of a dedicated tax system is a toll road. The tolls are taxes that are generally "dedicated" to being used to build and repair the roads. Another example is the Pennsylvania lottery, which they always tell us is dedicated to help out old people in Pennsylvania. That means they're not supposed to take the proceeds of the toll roads and spend them on decorating the capitol building in Dover, and they're not supposed to take the proceeds of the Pennsylvania lottery and spend them on fisheries (no matter how noble an endeavor that might be.).
In the election of 2000, they talked about social security as a "locked box" - another way of describing the dedicated tax it is supposed to be. But President Bush has not used it as a locked box.
At any rate, it's a tax. But what KIND of a tax? It's a VERY REGRESSIVE tax.
A "progressive" tax is one where people who make a lot of money pay a greater percentage of their income on the tax. A "flat" tax is one where everybody pays the same percentage of their income. And a "regressive" tax is one where those with the lowest incomes actual pay the HIGHEST percentage of their incomes into the tax.
The social security tax - FICA - is grossly "regressive." That is because every worker who makes less than $100,000 pays exactly 7 1/2 percent off the top of their income into it. AND their EMPLOYERS cough up ANOTHER 7 1/2 percent! That adds up to 15 percent off the top of ALL labor income in this country - under $100,000 per year per person - goes straight to Uncle Sam.
It is supposed to go straight to the FICA purposes: unemployment insurance, disability insurance, old age insurance, Medicare, and what used to be called aid to families with dependent children and now is called "TANF" (Temporary Aid to Needy Families). But think of it as payments to people down on their luck and recently out of a job, aid to people too sick or disabled to work, aid to people too old to have to work, and aid to CHILDREN who live in conditions of severe poverty.
Every single one of the states had such provisions in their laws during the Revolution. And the word "welfare" in the preamble of the Constitution DOES include thinking about people for whom the lifecycle has brought sadness or tragedy.
Who would ROB this fund???? The Bush administration. They are using this tax - this highly regressive tax - to fund the government. While they scare everybody with the fear that the baby boom will be too big for social security.
Well, WILL the baby boom be too big for social security? POPPYCOCK!!
The key to understanding social security is the limit on who pays into it. We'll set Medicare aside for the moment. If you make $100,000, you and your employer together pay 15 percent into it. (Economists understand that unskilled workers are actually paying more of that 15 percent; I can't show you that without drawing a picture so just take my word for it - but for the moment we'll just say the total is 15 percent off the cost of labor in this country.
If somebody was to stand up and suggest a tax on 15% of all labor costs, would they get away with it? NO! But the country was sold a bill of goods in the 1930s (admittedly, it wasn't that bad - it was 1% each, or 2% in total, back then). The "insurance" lie was because people back then were ashamed to be "on the dole." They did not understand - we made this country. We taught these schools, cared for the kids, answered the phones, cleaned the buildings, cared for the sick, built cars and performed open heart surgery. We all contributed to this nation.
Okay. If YOU make $100,000, then the whole 15% goes out of your income. But if you make anything OVER $100,000, then none of that gets taxed. So if you make $200,000, you end up paying only 7 1/2 percent to Uncle Sam. keep the game going. $400,000? Only 3 3/4 percent goes into FICA. $1,000,000? 0.75 percent to Uncle Sam. Cindy McCain reported an income of 4.2 million last year. Of that, she paid ... the same amount into FICA as the guy who makes $100,000, which is 15,000 (counting the employer's contribution). Which means she pays at the MOST 0.36% of her income into FICA. Got that?
Cindy McCain pays AT MOST 0.36% of her income into what we call welfare and social security - whereas "Joe the Plumber" (if he makes $100,000 or less) has to pay $7.5 percent (about 20 tmes as much) plus his employer contributes 7.5 percent - to make the total FORTY TIMES AS MUCH AS CINDY MCCAIN, in terms of percentage of your income.
But hey, to somebody who pays $350,000 for a dress to wear while raising money for flood victims, who's counting?
Now, she probably makes at least $100,000 in taxable income because she is probably on a lot of boards of directors and they do get salaries. But much of her income is "unearned income" (I love that phrase) - it comes from stocks and bonds and other investments, including buying and selling homes. She doesn't pay ONE SINGLE PENNY into FICA from THOSE activities. Nobody does.
MONEY EARNED FROM SO-CALLED CAPITAL GAINS DOES NOT GET TAXED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.
Now, for years libertarians trumpeted the concept of a "flat tax". But to me it was always a hollow call - because it left out gains on so-called "capital." Second homes. Office buildings. Buying and selling stocks back and forth.
So - HOW DO WE FIX SOCIAL SECURITY?
1. Make it a REAL FLAT TAX. EVERYBODY, no matter WHAT their income or HOW they earned it, is part of this country. EVERYBODY is responsible for that teacher you had who is now retired, the nurse who took care of you in the hospital who is now disabled. EVERYBODY. So everybody should pay the same. EVERYBODY IN THE NATION SHOULD GIVE 7 1/2 PERCENT OF THEIR GROSS INCOME TO FICA, NO MATTER HOW THEY EARNED THAT INCOME. EVERYBODY.
2. Get rid of the matching part - at least for small businesses.
Social security fixed. Baby boom funded. Gen X no longer on the hook.
And it's fair.
Mary M. Schweitzer, Ph.D.
Tampering with voters' rights is a violation of your 24th amendment rights. Reseach on the web, travel in packs, know your rights....
The enegry level here is fantastic. I am very optimistic. i am proud of obama for consistently taking the high road in this campaign. i believe he will bring reconciliation and healing to this nation, and that is one of the chief reasons why i have been 100% in his corner since january.
We must consign the extreme right-wing in this country to the dustbin of history. This campaign is a good place to start.
Patrick, from SC
Campaigning in NC
Obama ~ Leadership for the 21st Century, written by best-selling author Victoria C. DePaul, is now available for a limited time as an Ebook download at no charge. This book will be available as a pdf download or readers can view it online via Scribd. The book is available at www.ebookobama.com .
Note: The book will be available in hard copy in 2009. The author is still looking for quotes from citizens for inclusion in this project. If you have a statement that you would like to be added to this work please enter your thoughts in the Comments section found on the Contact Us Page at www.ebookobama.com.
Write your own letter to your local or regional paper or USA Today...
Dear Editor:
Published: October 19, 2008
I admire Obama because he has refused to engage in character assassination.
Not so, the McCain-Palin campaign. They have started to employ incredibly dirty tactics, adopting the end-justifies-the-means philosophy of running the campaign.
Sarah Palin said that Obama “pals around” with terrorists. This is a lie.
Ayres, decades ago, was a member of the Weather Underground, a “terrorist organization.”
Today he is an educational reformer and responsible member of society. Sarah Palin lied when she said Obama “pals” around with terrorists.
And I do not believe that Obama is in any sense a “pal” of Ayres.
I know that you do not fall for these tactics.
Listen to Obama’s rebuttal of ridiculous charges that may arise.
By the way, Obama did answer these charges satisfactorily in the primary. I assume you are aware of that?
Americans are tired of the old politics of “anything goes” on the campaign trail.
Patrick Frank Kingstree
P.S. I had a response to one of my letters to the effect that I should be spending my time canvassing or phone banking rather than writing letters and opeds. Well, that person assumed that I only write for this campaign. Not so. I have worked for no pay since January, on the ground--because of the importance of Obama's election--for America.
People can write and work on the ground. If you have the writing bent, use it...
This past weekend I canvassed in Fayetteville, NC for Obama. The most imspiring moment--kids from a poor neighborhood volunteered to pass out leaflets...They had incredible knowledge of Obama's biography, like the names of his girls, his birthplace.
Patrick from SC
