-Policy Summit at Cobo on the May 16th. 9-5
-OFA related Meeting at Macomb Library on May 17th
- MCC school board meeting on Tuesday May 19th
- The First Official Meeting of The Democratic Club of Macomb Community College May 21st
- The Relay For Life of St. Clair Shores benefiting the American Cancer Society May 29th & May 30th 12noon-12noon at blossom heath park.
- The next S.C.S. City Council meeting will take place on June 1st
- Also on June 1st there will be a discussion held on recycling programs in Michigan and how jobs may be created. This event will be held at St. John of Arc. at shady lane st. and mack ave.
- The National Summit is being held at the Marriott at the Ren Cen and tickets cost roughly $300 I believe it is too late for students to apply for sponsored tickets but I don't know for sure. This event is taking place to solve some of the problems the auto industry faces. More info at nationalsummit.org
After spending a year studying guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency strategy, it's hard not to cringe when watching Israel's handling of the situation in Gaza. So, as a Jewish American with family in Israel, my two cents on the issue: think "hydra." For those who are unfamiliar with what a hydra is, please watch this video I have posted after a quick YouTube search. It is from the Disney movie, Hercules (and skip ahead to 1:20 into the clip to save time, and stop after 3:20): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=079Z1CRXDmM And if you're not going to watch the video, I'll put it in writing: when bombing Hamas missile sites and UN schools alike in the Gaza strip, Israel needs to keep in mind the Herculean foe that grew two heads every time one of its heads was chopped off. Yes, we all (should) support Israel's right to exist. And Hamas provoked Israel by firing hundreds of missiles into Israeli territory during what was, at least ostensibly, a cease fire. But the collateral damage from targeted bombs against Hamas is not going to make the majority of Gaza residents (who voted for Hamas in the first place, remember) turn against Hamas because of group's provocation of Israel (as Israel seems to be hoping for). One Israeli died during the missile attacks on Israel, four have died since the invasion. Wouldn't it have been a better PR move (and less deadly for Israelis) to create a big fuss about the missiles and demand foreign intervention? The inability for the latter to happen (foreign intervention) would show that Israel has to do something to defend itself because no one else is going to step in, and if four Israelis die on Israeli territory instead of dozens more Israeli and Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas would suffer from a drop in public support (infinitely more damaging than missile attacks), not Israel. To quote General Petraeus, "an operation that kills five insurgents is counterproductive if the collateral damage or the creation of blood feuds leads to the recruitment of fifty more." Stay tuned for my solution to the conflict (psyche), or just beg me to send you my senior thesis.
-Nate
"The decision to pick the controversial Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration has angered many gay and lesbian groups."
I believe President-elect Obama could have served this nation better, had he invited Pastor Melissa Scott instead.His Religious choice should not have had the taint of Politics attached. http://www.pastormelissascott.com/
The Rationale for allowing the US Auto Industry to fail ~ Can it be applied the US Federal Government?
Republicans Kill $14B Rescue Plan in effort to dismantle UAW Union
Within the above article is a discussion and a point of view I find interesting and wish to explore how people feel about it and it's implications.
Stu P., "The only way the Big 3 can compete with Toyota, etc. would be to get out from under the massive pension and related obligations to retired and soon-to-be-retired UAW workers."
Richard, Given the plight of the economy and the Debt incurred by the American Taxpayer, should the US Government rescind the benefits of US Service men and women? Revoke the health benefits and retirement of the millions of individuals in order to make the Federal Government a more financially viable entity ?
Let's start with those costly Survivor benefitshttp://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/family_resources/online_hbml06_payandbenefits_otherbenefits1/
Then we can move on to money for housing and Education benefits.http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/
Imagine a leaner Federal Government without Military Veteran OBLIGATIONS to burden them.http://www.militarytimes.com/benefits/health/
~@~
Given the tremendous debt out government is carrying and which the American citizen is libel to repay w/interest, I'm wondering if these Senate Republicans would be prepared to rescind the benefits to each and every Military veteran in an effort to trim the wasteful spending by our Government?
If it works for GM, Ford and Chrysler, wouldn't it also translate into a cost-savings effort by the Federal Government?
I really think these Senate Republicans are on to something, throw out any promises of care for services rendered and allow the former employees to fend for themselves.
After all those 300,000+ Auto Retirees are most likely service members from WWII, Korea, Veitnam who are drawing these Federal Benefits as well as Pensions from working their entire lives in the factories. If America is willing to toss them under the bus, why not go the whole way and assist the Federal Government in relieving itself of this burden?
The People of the State of Michigan enact: the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.With the recent passage of Michigan's LEGISLATION, the relative state department must Promulgate Rules by which to function effectively. While there is now hope where there was none, these rules will either assist or be a hindrance to the patient.While this Law allows the patient or a "primary caregiver" to grow and provide the Marijuana for the patient, this dictates the patient or caregiver have the necessary skills, equipment, space, finances and time to dedicate to this task full time.Under Michigan Law, a designated caregiver can assist up to 5 patients. This would serve to pool the resources together more efficiently, providing one space, shared equipment cost and presumably a designated "primary caregiver" who is a professional grower.Today in California, of which the Michigan legislation was designed has had a set back handed down by their State Supreme Court which may affect the Promulgation of our Rules moving forward.California Supreme Court Ruling Limits Medical Marijuana DistributionNovember 24th, 2008 In an important legal case decided today that cannabis reform advocates have been waiting on for nearly two years, the California Supreme Court ruled that criminal defendants are not entitled to a defense as Proposition 215 (Prop 215) caregivers if their primary role is only to supply marijuana to patients.
"The Mentch decision highlights the inadequacy of California's current medical marijuana supply system," California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer told the Indy Bay News . "The law needs to allow for professional licensed growers, as with other medicinal herbs."Full text of the People vs. Mentch is found here~@~The problem with this decision as well as the system set up to provide a "primary caregiver" status is that now the California Supreme Court is mandating these caregivers be relatives, personal friends and attendants, nurses. There are two problems with this finding, first those designated are not qualified to grow Marijuana and the second issue is that of the allowance for a "primary caregiver" to assist up to 5 patients. How many of your relatives and personal friends know 5 people who are legally allowed by state law to use marijuana for medical purposes ? Now expand that criteria throughout the entire state and apply it to the individual families of patients.Wanted: Full Time professional licensed growersWhile I am confident that I shall be approved under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, as it is currently being developed I am afraid it will be of no use to me.My individual circumstance is such that I live alone, in a one bedroom apartment on a fixed income which is under the level of poverty. Therefore I am unable to afford the cost of the equipment needed to grow marijuana indoors. I am unable to afford the cost of the energy needed to run a lighting system 24/7 for 90 days straight.I have one friend who has served as a primary caregiver for me when I needed assistance yet, he knows absolutely nothing about growing marijuana. Plus, he barely has time due to his working two jobs just to support himself.As this law stands today, passed by the people of Michigan, while I qualify for coverage under the law I am unable to take advantage of this program due to the stringent requirements related to growing the plants.The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act rules have not been written as yet.I wish to ask everyone to assist me by writing The Bureau of Health Professions (BHP) within the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and lend your voice on this issue with my concerns in mind.http://www.michigan.gov/mdchI believe the best way forward, under the conditions spelled out in this legislation is for patients to organize under cooperatives and collectives with Full Time professional licensed growers.My preference would be to grow my marijuana in the soil, under the sun. That option is not allowed under this law because it calls for the marijuana to be grown in a locked, enclosed room.Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.
I keep telling myself each night as I prepare for bed, that I hope I am not going to awaken
in the morning, and have someone tell me, that I was only dreaming....that Barack Obama did not win this election. It's a nightmare that I hope I will stop having very soon. Now I don't know if I want to keep on having that nightmare, or to wake up reading more stories like the one posted below.
Read On.
Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting "Assassinate Obama." Black figures hung from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.
Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.
From California to Maine, police have documented a range of alleged crimes, from vandalism and vague threats to at least one physical attack. Insults and taunts have been delivered by adults, college students and second-graders.
There have been "hundreds" of incidents since the election, many more than usual, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate crimes.
One was in Snellville, Ga., where Denene Millner said a boy on the school bus told her 9-year-old daughter the day after the election: "I hope Obama gets assassinated." That night, someone trashed her sister-in-law's front lawn, mangled the Obama lawn signs, and left two pizza boxes filled with human feces outside the front door, Millner said.
She described her emotions as a combination of anger and fear.
"I can't say that every white person in Snellville is evil and anti-Obama and willing to desecrate my property because one or two idiots did it," said Millner, who is black. "But it definitely makes you look a little different at the people who you live with, and makes you wonder what they're capable of and what they're really thinking."
Potok, who is white, said he believes there is "a large subset of white people in this country who feel that they are losing everything they know, that the country their forefathers built has somehow been stolen from them."
Grant Griffin, a 46-year-old white Georgia native, expressed similar sentiments: "I believe our nation is ruined and has been for several decades and the election of Obama is merely the culmination of the change.
"If you had real change it would involve all the members of (Obama's) church being deported," he said.
Change in whatever form does not come easy, and a black president is "the most profound change in the field of race this country has experienced since the Civil War," said William Ferris, senior associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina. "It's shaking the foundations on which the country has existed for centuries."
"Someone once said racism is like cancer," Ferris said. "It's never totally wiped out, it's in remission."
If so, America's remission lasted until the morning of Nov. 5.
The day after the vote hailed as a sign of a nation changed, black high school student Barbara Tyler of Marietta, Ga., said she heard hateful Obama comments from white students, and that teachers cut off discussion about Obama's victory.
Tyler spoke at a press conference by the Georgia chapter of the NAACP calling for a town hall meeting to address complaints from across the state about hostility and resentment. Another student, from a Covington middle school, said he was suspended for wearing an Obama shirt to school Nov. 5 after the principal told students not to wear political paraphernalia.
The student's mother, Eshe Riviears, said the principal told her: "Whether you like it or not, we're in the South, and there are a lot of people who are not happy with this decision."
Other incidents include:
_Four North Carolina State University students admitted writing anti-Obama comments in a tunnel designated for free speech expression, including one that said: "Let's shoot that (N-word) in the head." Obama has received more threats than any other president-elect, authorities say.
_At Standish, Maine, a sign inside the Oak Hill General Store read: "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." Customers could sign up to bet $1 on a date when Obama would be killed. "Stabbing, shooting, roadside bombs, they all count," the sign said. At the bottom of the marker board was written "Let's hope someone wins."
_Racist graffiti was found in places including New York's Long Island, where two dozen cars were spray-painted; Kilgore, Texas, where the local high school and skate park were defaced; and the Los Angeles area, where swastikas, racial slurs and "Go Back To Africa" were spray painted on sidewalks, houses and cars.
_Second- and third-grade students on a school bus in Rexburg, Idaho, chanted "assassinate Obama," a district official said.
_University of Alabama professor Marsha L. Houston said a poster of the Obama family was ripped off her office door. A replacement poster was defaced with a death threat and a racial slur. "It seems the election brought the racist rats out of the woodwork," Houston said.
_Black figures were hanged by nooses from trees on Mount Desert Island, Maine, the Bangor Daily News reported. The president of Baylor University in Waco, Texas said a rope found hanging from a campus tree was apparently an abandoned swing and not a noose.
_Crosses were burned in yards of Obama supporters in Hardwick, N.J., and Apolacan Township, Pa.
_A black teenager in New York City said he was attacked with a bat on election night by four white men who shouted 'Obama.'
_In the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills, a black man said he found a note with a racial slur on his car windshield, saying "now that you voted for Obama, just watch out for your house."
Emotions are often raw after a hard-fought political campaign, but now those on the losing side have an easy target for their anger.
"The principle is very simple," said BJ Gallagher, a sociologist and co-author of the diversity book "A Peacock in the Land of Penguins." "If I can't hurt the person I'm angry at, then I'll vent my anger on a substitute, i.e., someone of the same race."
"We saw the same thing happen after the 9-11 attacks, as a wave of anti-Muslim violence swept the country. We saw it happen after the Rodney King verdict, when Los Angeles blacks erupted in rage at the injustice perpetrated by 'the white man.'"
"It's as stupid and ineffectual as kicking your dog when you've had a bad day at the office," Gallagher said. "But it happens a lot."
___
Associated Press writers Errin Haines, Jerry Harkavy, Jay Reeves, Johnny Clark and researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
I would like to begin a conversation among all my fellow Citizens in looking forward to this new day in America. Many of us may have asked ourselves, What can I do to help my community, my Country, my President ?
I will attempt to provide ideas and websites to assist in answering this question but, I'm going to need your help too. Please comment on how you might help your community, your Country, your President in making America's future bright, prosperous and united.
Now, there are many areas that each citizen participates on an individual scale which, when combined with the population as a whole can make a difference.
The largest impact the individual can have is in their purchases, both long term as well as the pack of gum or services we purchase each day. I believe if each citizen would take a more active role in deciding to purchase American, even locally produced good, this would contribute to our economy in a dramatic fashion.
Remember the argument that was used regarding the purchasing of Fur coats?
That for each piece of fur, strung together in making a coat, an animal not only died but, another animal is moved forward on the death row in anticipation of replacing the fur coat that was purchased. The same can be said of the tomato for your salad, the wood furniture for your bedroom, that 12 oz steak, sizzling on your grill.
Every item purchased with that hard-earned dollar in your hand will be replaced with a new one in hopes of further, expanded sales. If that tomato comes from your local farmer, that neighbor will have a dollar in his hand with which to purchase the widget your company manufactures. Or it will be replaced with a Chinese farmers tomato, a Brazilian Lumber company or a New Zealand cattle rancher.
Take the time, expend the effort to purchase products which will lead to a fellow American having a job. That will do more in "all boats rise together" than any other action you as an individual could contribute to society.
An idea I have, which I had hoped the government might consider is designating purchases made between manufacturers tax-free if the product is 100% 'made in america' and being assembled with other 'made in america' produced components.
Say that I make a 3 ft square wooden box. If I use 100% american forest products or an alternative and purchase screws with which to hold the sides together. The purchase of the screws would be tax-free if those screws were 'made in america'.
This could be feasible if 'made in america' products carry a bar code designating it official. In this way we could have a paper trail with which to enforce misuse of the tax code.
You could even expand this concept to the cans of soup and heads of lettuce for the consumer at the grocery store. Therefore the consumer could make the choice of purchasing an imported product and pay tax on that purchase or buy 'made in america' products and save the revenue from the tax-free purchase to pay their employees more per hour, invest in expansion efforts, etc.
Whether in our homes, our communities or our places of business, all of us can help influence the future of our region through simple choices.
I was planning on providing a plethora of links which you could use to answer the question: What can I do to help my community, my Country, my President ? but because the question is so wide ranging, search:"what can i do to help", I'll kindly ask each of you to conduct your own search and provide for the community a link we can follow.
Naturally, everyone knows how to use http://www.google.com/
I prefer a website called: http://www.webferret.com/
If you’re reading this now, chances are you’ve already heard dozens of pitches trying to get you to volunteer for the Obama campaign. If you’ve already volunteered - we thank you. This is a grassroots, “bottom-up” campaign, and your help is why we’ve been able to come this far. But, it’s not over yet.
Even if you’ve volunteered before - or if you’ve always wanted to help out but never had the time - today is the day! Since Barack announced his candidacy for president on May 2, 2007, everything we’ve done has been in preparation for today - which is why it’s so important to not give up now. We need your help! Sign up to help out today at a Campaign for Change Get out the vote location near you, the most important day of the election here.
Michigan! This is our moment; this is our time! Get out and vote - and then volunteer - and tonight, we’ll celebrate victory. Don’t delay, volunteer today!
John McCain's campaign has as recently as yesterday said that they believe that students won't turn out to vote. Today is our day to prove them wrong and show America that young voters do matter. Our opponent and the media believe that young voters won’t show up - that we don’t care about the election, and are too lazy, too unwilling, or too unmotivated to actually get out and vote.But today, we’ll prove them wrong.
Today is the day to turn the page on eight years of failed Bush policies that have seen our middle class shrink, economy worsen, and college move out of reach for more and more people. Today is the day to make your voice heard! What happens today will determine the direction we want our country to move in. Decades from now, your children will ask you what you did today. Do you want to be part of the moment that changed America - or do you want to stay home, and just hope for the best?
Our moment is now. Get out and vote - bring your roommate, your friends, anyone you can think of. After you vote, help us get out the vote on this critical day - sign up to help get out the vote on your campus today!
YOU'RE INVITED to theMichigan Democratic Party'sELECTION NIGHT EVENTat theDetroit Renaissance Center
Finish up canvass and phone bank shifts as the polls close and then join the Michigan Democratic Party to watch the election returns and celebrate the work we have done together to get out the vote for change.
Guests will include Governor Jennifer Granholm, Lt. Governor John Cherry, Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Judge Diane Marie Hathaway, Speaker Andy Dillon, MDP Chair Mark Brewer.
REMINDER: if you are eligible, today (at 4 p.m.) is the last day to vote absentee in-person at your clerk's office. If you've requested your absentee ballot previously, it must be returned by mail or by hand to your local clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information, call 1-877-767-6424, or visit the State of Michigan's voter information page.
I know everyone is busy, has other things to do, has work, and is tired. But - there will be thousands of other days to work, thousands of other days to sleep, thousands of other days to run errands. This is our only day to make sure Barack Obama becomes president and if we win this election I truly believe each of those thousands of other days will be better. That is why I am asking you to take off Election Day and help ensure that we elect Barack Obama our next president. In twenty years you will not be thinking I sure am glad I slept those extra few hours or I am glad I saved my vacation or sick day. But I guarantee you that you will be proud for the rest of your life to have been part of the Obama Campaign on Election Day 2008. Let's win this thing.Josh
Tomorrow's the last day before Election Day, and our offices will be humming with activity. We hope you can join us at some of these events:
At 11:30 pm, on the eve of election day, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, and Denise Ilitch, Candidate for University of Michigan Board of Regents will join students and supporters for a “Midnight Madness,” Get Out the Vote Rally for Barack Obama in Ann Arbor. The rally will also feature a musical performance by Ann Arbor’s own “My Dear Disco.” Join Governor Granholm, Senator Levin, and Denise Ilitch at 11:30 in the Michigan Union Ballroom for the event!
Also, Lt. Governor John Cherry will appear at several events tomorrow:
12:15 pm Meet and Greet with Lieutenant Governor John D. CherryCapitol Coney Island4021 Van Slyke RdFlint, MI 2:30 pm Plant Gate Meet and Greet with Lieutenant Governor John D. CherryTRW Automotive2328 E Genesee AveSaginaw, MI 3:30 pm Canvass Kick-Off with Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry UAW Local 4672104 Farmer StSaginaw, MI
Stop in one of our sixty-plus offices tomorrow!
If you are elligible tomorrow is the deadline to vote absentee in-person at your local clerk's office.
If you've requested your absentee ballot previously, it must be returned by mail or by hand to your local clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
For more information, call 1-877-767-6424, or visit the State of Michigan's voter information page.
As of the time of this post, there are 54 hours left until the Michigan polls close in the most important election of our lifetime.
Can you spare a few hours to help us out in these last fifty-four hours? There's so much to do, and your work will make such an impact. Check out some of the ways you can help us out:
