Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacker, paid a visit to St. George yesterday. He addressed a small audience at a local college and I attended. Dress was casual. Joe says exactly what he thinks and he asked for our support for politicians who do the same. I applaud his words.
It was interesting to hear his side of his encounter with Barack during the campaign. Barack was in Joe's neighborhood and Joe was curious to see what was happening. Joe had recently discussed with his boss the purchase of the small business where Joe worked. That was on his mind when he encountered Barack. Barack made the now famous statement that he wanted to spread the wealth around. I think that Barack wanted to say that he favored a more equitable distribution of the nation's income.
Joe talked at length about everyone taking responsibility for the results of our politics. I agree wholeheartedly with his ideas although I disagree with other positions he endorses. I believe that to make democracy work requires three steps: vote, express your opinions frequently, and donate/time money to a cause of your choice. Joe talked about the second item and I believe that he would support all three if questioned, which I did not do.
Joe also complained about the taxes a small business must pay. I might or might not agree with him if I knew more about how small businesses are classified, either as business or individual taxpayers. After WW2, individuals provided 65% of federal revenue while businesses paid 35%. Gradually over time with the advent of more and more loopholes, businesses now pay 10% of federal taxes while individuals pay 90%. Businesses should pay their fair share. If big businesses can pay their top officers millions or tens or hundreds of millions of dollars per year, they are not paying enough in taxes.
This past weekend, OFA Iowa hosted a training for our Community Organizers from across Iowa in Des Moines. Our Community Organizers are volunteer leaders that have been helping with health reform events, and other OFA events since April. Whether it was phone banks, attending public events, or hosting their own trai. You can always sign up online to attend OFA activities near you.
During our all day training, we had sections on volunteer recruitment, the basics of organizing, and work groups on how OFA will organize here in Iowa the rest of the year. These leaders were able to discuss experiences organizing their communities and hosting activities, and sit down with staff to plan what OFA should do next.
We are very lucky to have such a great group of committed leaders.Whether it is Laura, who came in all the way to Riceville, or Susan who made the drive from Council Bluffs, it is clear that health reform organizing in Iowa couldn't be in better hands.
In the first in our series of community organizer profiles, we are going to profile Gary Goldstein from Cedar Rapids, one of our newest Community Organizers. Organizing for America in Iowa is lucky to have some of the best volunteer leaders in the country. Community Organizers are popping up all over the state who are ready to take the lead organizing their local communities.Gary Goldstein has been actively volunteering with Democratic organizations for the last four years. Gary has always had an interest in politics, as a high school history teacher one of the things Gary would teach his students is about the political process. Gary has been volunteering for President Obama since 2007 after attending an event in Cedar Rapids. Shortly after that event Gary signed up to volunteer and was a precinct captain and team leader for the campaign during Caucus and General Election.
Gary believes that volunteering with OFA is a way to help make a difference, and can help create accountable government, just like he taught his students. “In order to achieve a better government we need to work for it” Gary says. By volunteering with OFA, Gary has found the opportunity to add his voice to the debate.
Gary recently became a Community Organizer on the east side of Cedar Rapids and looks forward to helping continue to build support for health insurance reform.
Last week OFA Iowa hosted a “Week of Action”. We had over 40 events across the state, all designed to let our Members of Congress know the support behind President Obama’s plan for real health insurance reform. We want to thank our Neighborhood Team Leaders and Community Organizers that held potlucks, phone banks, canvasses, coffees, discussions, phone booths, and other events.
With every event we host, we aim to learn about reform, plan next steps, and most importantly get supporters to commit to contacting their members of congress through a phone call, letter, or visiting their local office.
Our next series of events will be on October 20th. Sign up for your local event.
Young people are killing young people in Chicago. Would second amendment supporters suggest arming everyone for self defense? When the smoke cleared, the streets would be littered with the dead. As an alternative, should the police shoot to kill? That might reduce the violence temporarily, but is not the solution.
I grew up in Chicago but it is many years since I have been back. When I lived there, Chicago was one of the most segregated cities in the country. I doubt that much has changed. I am now in Utah and Chicago is still many miles away in Illinois, but from here I think I know what the problems are. I cannot offer specific solutions but I do know that a piecemeal approach will not work. The problems that face our youth must be approached simultaneously if there is to be any hope of success.
The problems are: drugs, gangs, broken families, poor schools, guns in the wrong hands, unemployment and lack of opportunity. Why spend the effort to educate yourself if you are denied a chance to advance? Good , rewarding lives as productive members of society require good, well-paying jobs. Political and social leaders must set moral examples. Jails are overcrowded and the courts are too. Justice delayed is justice denied.
OFA Iowa has had a great start to our Week of Action. Across the state we have seen volunteers host events at their homes, local libraries, on campus, or at local businesses all in an effort to contact members of Congress and let them know that the time for reform is now.
Thank you to those that have participated so far. There is still time to sign up for our remaining events this week!
This week OFA Iowa will be organizing a “Week of Action” all across Iowa to show support for health insurance reform. Each community in the state will have letter writing parties, reunion events, phone banks, and other events that will show Congress the support that President Obama has here in Iowa. Sign up for your local events
Last week in Iowa we had organizing workshops in Sioux City, Marion, Dubuque, Bettendorf, and Des Moines and our volunteers are organized and motivated to help finally pass real reform and to plan our “Week of Action”. The picture below is from our Des Moines Workshop last weekend:
All's fair in love and war and healthcare reform is NOT love. I cannot understand all the anger about healthcare reform. Don't people want to live longer and pay less to do so?
I reserve my anger for big insurers who won't pay their bills, big banks and other credit card issuers who send me daily letters telling me about higher fees and interest rates in my future because of the economic times. I also reserve my anger for Chinese made junk because it is all that I can afford when my income has stagnated for many years thanks to Republican economic policies.
This is worth a look.
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jul/19/ob10healthpulse19/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/09/climate-change-debate-human-activity
Those who haven't made the connection between climate change and human activites haven't read enough about it. Also, the oil companies propaganda has probably influened them. Propaganda is most effective when the originators have hiden where it is coming from. The Rush Limbaugh ditto heads have been given the words to say and the permission to say them. Informed people need to keep speaking up. The debate has not been won.
http://www.globalchange.gov/
13 United States Agencies agree: humans are causing global climate change.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoxic_event
We are probably headed for another anoxic event unless we intervene.
The Black Carbon Emission Act regulates soot. When soot lands at the poles it speeds up the melting of the ice caps. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1760 It also causes health problems. Please write your rep to suppot passage of it out of the energy committee.
Hello to all my fellow Obama-ites. We had a successful campaign and election! The work is not over. The County and State governments still need our help. Get involved in your local politics, join committees and boards, volunteer and work strongly with OFA.
For those in Iowa, in particular Linn County; the Linn County Democrats meet the 4th Wednesday of every month. Longbranch Hotel/Convention Center, 7pm.
The Linn County Democrats are hosting a Pancake breakfast fundraiser on May 2. 8 am to 1 pm at the Fairfax American Legion, 216 Main St Fairfax IA.
Further Info Needed, contact me; ebony.luensman@msn.com.
Remember, "We are the ones we have been waiting for!"
Here is a quote from the USA delegation!
"We are very glad to be back. We want to make up for lost time, and we are seized with the urgency of the task before us," Stern said to loud applause from the 2,600 delegates to the U.N. negotiations.
Proud of President Obama and proud to be an American! Go Obama!
http://www.alternet.org/water/133200/breaking%3A_epa_halts_mountaintop_removal_permits/
GO OBAMA!!!! And the EPA!
Don't doubt Obama!!!!
