The debate about health care is getting ugly. In some cases, it is getting violent.
I can't even begin to list all the misinformation being spewed forth on this issue. The most egregious affront to liberty is the use of the tactic that involves demonstrators appearing at the town hall meetings of members of congress, and shouting down anyone else who wants to speak. That does not promote debate; it is an attempt to kill it.
Actually, the worst thing may be telling seniors that Obama's health care plan is going to kill them. Unbelievable.
Beware of the insurance industry, fighting for its profits by paying lobbyists and others to kill health care reform. This is BIG money. They will not give up without a fight, and that fight is ugly. It reminds me of the newsreel footage I've seen of union battles in the first half of the 20th century. Ugly. Dangerous. Deadly.
Here are some links, for those who are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07312009/watch.html
It doesn’t surprise me that Rush Limbaugh says he wants President Obama to fail, or, more precisely, “I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation.” Limbaugh is self-absorbed, and makes money by being provocative. Unlike our elected leaders, he does not need to think about the greater good of our country’s prosperity. He is interested in his own prosperity. And good enough for him. That is the capitalist way. The American Way.
It also doesn’t surprise me that members of the Republican Party feel stuck between not wanting to offend Limbaugh and his followers and not wanting to sound like they bear our new president ill will in seeing his efforts fail. Which do you support – a bully who can hurt you if you stand up to him, or the people who elected you?
What does surprise me is that no one is defining what failure means. Has anyone asked if “wanting Obama to fail” means 10% unemployment? 15%?
Does failure mean more foreclosures? How about a Dow at 5000?
I wonder if Obama failing means another trillion or so dollars paid to banks. Or is it buying auto companies, Or letting them go bankrupt and adding even more to the unemployed?
I wonder if those who listen to and agree with Rush Limbaugh think this kind of failure is ok, if it proves that conservative ideology is superior to other views.
Of course, I am one of the lucky ones who still has a job, so I can afford to think about these things.
Those who are not so lucky may also wonder: With all the crises we face as a country, why would you want any president to fail?
It has been some time now since I have written in my blog. Since I last wrote, canidate Obama has become President Obama. I eagerly watched as he took the oath of office, surrounded by his beautiful wife Michelle and their two adorable girls. I am also very glad that he chose Joe Biden to be his Vice President.
Our country is so lucky to have these to men of such integrity and intelligence running our country. We have suffered greatly the last eight years and it is so refreshing to see people who will not only honor the Constitution but listen, ask questions and try to work with the people across the aisle.
I do not envy President Obama for the huge task that he has just taken on. Our country has so many problems to fix or change. Yet, if there is any one man who is up to the task, I would put my money on President Obama.
He has the perfect temperment and personality to enter into this arena, which some days looks like the the olden days of the Gladiators! They need someone with a cool head to oversee and meet with the different groups.
I know our financial system and economy are in shambles but I do believe that a change in our Nation's health care system might help everyone and save billions of dollars in the long run. Our Congressmen and women along with our Senators enjoy having health care coverage that is paid for and ran but our Government. For any of them to question or say it does not work is sheer hypocrisy.
If the Government insurance is good enough and works well enough for them then there is absolutely no reason that it would not work for everyone. Yes, it may cost us at first but considering how many people are without insurance or fear loosing their job and their insurance I feel we have no choice but to fix health care now.
Like President Obama said the other day on his newscast, "If not now, then when?" He pointed out that each of the past administraitons had always faced some crisis or some reason as to why to wait. The other side will always find some excuse to stop us from moving towards a coverage that will work for everyone.
No longer can we wait and I believe that if there was ever a President to lead us to a health care solution, the time is now and President Obama is the man.
As someone who has Federal Helath Care, I consider myself one of the "lucky ones" Of course I pay a high premium as an X spouse, but never the less, I have it. Each year they have open season and during that time I get the opportunity to view numerous plans and pick the one that I can afford and that I feel will meet my health needs.
I can't see why the government could not offer such a plan to everyone, which would bring everyon's premium down. I also think that there is something to be said about having some kind of an insurance for everyone that is similar to Medicare. It only makes sense to me that the more people who particiapte in a plan the cheaper the rpremiums will be for everyone.
I am asking for each of you to please sontact your own State representatives and ask them to work with President Obama and get something done. We can no longer afford to set idley by and watch more and more people slip into the uninsured abyss which in the long run is costing all of the taxpayers.
Please tell your Congressmen that if Government insurance is good enough and works for them that it is our right as citizens of this country to be given the same opportunity. I believe as part of their retirement they can keep their insurance, payed for by "We the People". I am tired of hearing one after another Republican get on television or radio and talk about socialized medicine when they themselves have it.
CENTRAL OREGON FOR CHANGE ONLINE CALENDAR LAUNCHES
In an effort to find an easy way to let folks know about events, important actions, meetings and opportunities for making real change a reality, we are putting together an online calendar.
If you would like to list something in the calendar, please send a short description of your event (50 words or less is best), the time, location and any other important information, such as links to more detailed info, to kymberli4change@gmail.com. Check the calendar often -- as some actions need to happen very quickly, such as making immediate phone calls to legislators to express views and concerns on pending legislation. Now, you can stay on top of how you can be an ongoing part of making change happen!
You can view the ‘centraloregon4change’ calendar from any web browser using this link: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=centraloregon4change%40gmail.com&ct.
Fired Up and Ready To Go -
Kymberli Colburne
Kymberli4change@gmail.com
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN IN CENTRAL OREGON:
Become involved in your community, volunteer for a city or county committee. Committee openings are advertised in the newspaper or call the city or county and ask about what openings are coming up. Put your best foot forward, learn about what the committee does before you interview or apply. You will learn, meet new people and perhaps have fun.
Judy Clinton
317-8472
METOLIUS RIVER UPDATE
Leaders from across of the state are working diligently on proposals to protect and preserve the Metolius River. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (“LCDC”) recently issued a second draft proposal to designate the Basin and a buffer zone as an Area of Critical State Concern. Under this proposal, an agency management plan would prevent large scale developments, including both destination resorts that have been proposed. LCDC will make a final recommendation to the legislature some time in March. The legislature can accept, amend, or reject LCDC’s plan. Meanwhile legislation is forthcoming which will accept the LCDC’s recommendation to create an Area of Critical State Concern and ensure that no development in or near the Basin will adversely affect the Metolius, its tributaries, fish and wildlife. Jonathan, Central Oregon LandWatch, and a host of other conservation-oriented organizations are likely to urge strong support for this legislation. Once it is finalized and announced publicly, there will be lots of opportunities to contact key legislators to express your opinions.
Stay tuned! And contact Jonathan (541) 729-2923 (jmanton2008@gmail.com) any time with questions, concerns, or comments.
Deschutes County Voters Ballot Deadline Tue March 10th
As March 10 nears and the voters of Deschutes County decide whether or not to retain the Local Rule that seeks to reduce additional nitrate inputs into the groundwater and local rivers, we encourage voters to review the information provided by the U.S. Geological Service and Deschutes County prior to making their decision. Two good sources are: http://www.deschutes.org/cdd/gpp/ and http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3103/. A ‘Yes’ vote on March 10 would retain the Local Rule and help protect the Little Deschutes and Deschutes Rivers from nitrate pollution. A ‘No’ vote would repeal the Local Rule.
Notice of Organizational Meeting
of the Deschutes County Democratic Central Committee
The MARCH Organizational meeting of the Deschutes County Democratic Central Committee will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at Bend's Community Center, 1036 NE 5th Street, Bend, Oregon.
Social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is expected to run from 7 to 9 p.m.
Please feel free to contact Craig Wilhelm, Vice-Chair, Executive Steering Committee, at craig.wilhelm@gmail.com or 541.633.7878
if you have any questions regarding attendance.
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
PTAC (Public Transit Advisory Committee) public hearing on proposed elimination of all weekend BAT (Bend Area Transit) and DAR (Dial-a-Ride) service, fare hikes and route changes will be held at City Hall, 3:30 to 5:30 pm, Tuesday, March 17, 2009. More info at www.bendareatransit.com and 317-3039. This is a good opportunity for people to express their concerns about BAT service cuts.
RECOMMENDED READING
For a better understanding of where we are economically and why a BIG stimulus is necessary, H. Joe Cornett of Prineville recommends an excellent book by Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor of Economics at Princeton, and columnist for the NY Times. The Book, "Return of Depression Economics", is actually an update of his earlier 1999 book reviewing the 90s economic crisis in Asia. In the earlier book Krugman predicted the possibility of our current crisis. Check out his blog at http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/
Hello friends,
I dont know if anyone will reead this but i just needed a place to rant about how i feel and what better place than here?? Anyways, lately ive been frustated with the way things are going with our president.....not because of him but because of the people around him A.K.A The senate, congress, the different houses, etc.
Obama has been trying to pass a bill that will help the country jumo start the economy and at the same time start some programs that will help people around the country and his ideas just get trashes and discarded by all these political bodies that i feel are just there to prevent him from effectively working. EVEN DEMOCRATS ARE SLOWING THE PROCESS.....so the poor bill needs to get approved by all these people who are just there wasting time and doing nothing.
I belive we should have an special election that gives President Obama Special powers to pass bills and laws and make programs without the need to pass them by congress (and thus all those jealous republicans who are just here to ruin our lives.....no offence)
Its the only way to really help him move forward with his plans to save our nation.
Excellent piece in the NYT regarding the possibility of real change in the Department of Agriculture:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/opinion/11kristof.html?em
Or just go directly to:
www.fooddemocracynow.org
We need to make sure that we don't get more of the same industrialization of our food system.
I am including some info from Rick North, from OR Physician for Social Responsibility, who has done some GREAT work on safe food issues --he is concerned about one of the candidates Obama is considering.....
Action Alert
Please e-mail President-Elect Obama NOW
Those of you who have been on this list since October 2007 may remember this name: Dennis Wolff. He's the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, dairy farmer and rBGH user, and the author of the infamous PA rules that would have banned ANY kind of rBGH-free labeling. This was an outrageous attempt to censor the freedom of speech of dairy processors and snuff out the consumers' right to know what's in their dairy products. In response, Oregon PSR and our nationwide and PA colleagues organized a massive grass roots effort to protest to Governor Ed Rendell. After receiving thousands of messages of outrage, he told Wolff to rescind the ban.
Now Wolff's name has surfaced again, only at a much higher, more dangerous level – he's being considered by Barack Obama as the new Secretary of Agriculture. We must do everything possible to prevent this from happening and I urge you to send a quick e-mail to help. I've heard one unconfirmed report that Obama could make the decision as early as this Monday.
Here are suggested talking points. Please feel free to put them in your own words and add your own, but please do send the e-mail.
1. If you voted for Obama, or better yet, volunteered for him, please say so up front.
2. Say up front that you are opposed to Dennis Wolff as Secretary of the Agriculture Department.
3. Remind Obama that he promised to bring positive change, and one of those changes is a return to our democratic principles with respect for the Constitution.
4. Dennis Wolff would take us in the opposite direction:
a. He tried to ban all labeling of dairy products that didn't use the genetically engineered growth hormone rBGH or rBST. This was an outright violation of freedom of speech of the dairy processors and the farmers who supplied them.
b. This action would have prevented consumers from knowing which dairy products had the artificial hormone, suppressing our right to know what's in our food. It is contradictory that Obama would support country of origin labels that would help inform consumers where their food is coming from, yet appoint someone who tried to cut off our ability to make other choices about our food.
5. Dennis Wolff lacks credibility and can't be trusted:
a. He said that consumers were "concerned or confused" about the labeling and said his department received "many calls" about it. Yet when a New York Times reporter asked him about this, Wolff couldn't provide any surveys showing consumers were confused and could not come up with the name of ONE CONSUMER who had complained.
b. He held one meeting of the so-called Food Labeling Advisory Committee and said they recommended the labeling ban. Yet the committee never voted on anything and never made any recommendations specific to dairy. Moreover, the group most affected by the rules and most opposed to them, the PA Association of Milk Dealers, was never even invited to the meeting.
This doesn't have to be a long e-mail, but it's important to let the truth be known and to feel free to say exactly what you're thinking. If you would like further details, please feel free to contact me. And, as with all these updates, please feel free to forward this to anyone you like.
How can those bums sit there and say they should get $20+ million a year to distroy our country? Auto managers must be forced to go under.
Toyota mgt makes 1/20 what the GM fakers make, and you wonder why Detroit is rotting. Put a quick end to this follishness. The plan is simple ==> go under now, and not a dime for stock holders, management or the union! Every one of them will simply have to go back to work and make money the hard way, earn it!! Sorry, that includes the feather-beders too. Admit it, you failed, and hurt the rest of America.
And, Most of all, the Ford family should get ZERO for mismanaging the legacy...
If you live in MO-money-TOWN, my advice, "Go west old man, like China."
(As they say in the Navy, "Stronger Message To Follow!)
Maybe enough people figured out that the party whose president lied to us to get us into a war, spent us into record deficits, helped bring about a recession, embarrassed us in front of the world, ignored the Geneva Convention, sanctioned torture, and tried to rewrite the constitution so our republic looked more like a dictatorship wasn’t the party to reward with another four years in power.
Maybe enough people figured out that running a campaign that tried to paint your opponent as a terrorist, socialist, Muslim, un-American, unknown, radical-preacher lover, born in Kenya wasn’t the best way to promote your own agenda and make your issues known, especially when your rallies seemed to degenerate into hate-fests that were one step away from KKK gatherings.
Maybe enough people figured out that pandering to the religious right, selecting an ignorant incompetent as a running mate, making statements that the economy was sound when it wasn’t, and ignoring the facts that the war in Iraq will never be “won,” were enough to signal a total disconnect with reality, and drive voters away.
For whatever the reason, the Republicans lost this election, and they deserved to lose.
For all the right-wing hate speech spewed forth, for all the closeted racism, for all the disgraceful performances from Focus on the Family, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, and others, the Republican Party could not counteract the positive messages from Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.
Calls of “What has he ever done?” didn’t come close to “Yes, we can!” Claims of being unpatriotic didn’t counteract the power to inspire others. Smears, lies, slander, and slime could not, would not stick to someone whose message was positive, whose demeanor was presidential, and whose vision was clearly articulated.
And so, despite what must have been the dirtiest campaign in my lifetime, John McCain and the Republicans lost this election.
Perhaps, as the GOP works to rebuild itself, it might take a lesson from the Obama campaign. Look at the people who elected him. Look at the people who are now involved in politics. Figure out that the young, the non-white, the people of many faiths or none are a force that needs more than hate, negativism, and bigotry to motivate them in an election. They need a vision for the future that is positive. They need a leader they can trust with their future. They need to be heard.
And on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, they were.
This is a fantastic video of all of our journey to this glorious day. Enjoy.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7apfm_here-comes-the-sun-indivo_music
It has been a long 21 months and within 48 hours we will know if the energy, work and hope we have dedicated to this campaign will have paid off. Whether or not America which needs a change is ready for the change that Senator Obama is promising to bring to Washington and our nation. While the temptation is to let up now, it now the time to draw upon that reserve of energy and action to make the final push. Whether a final phone bank, a last canvassing or election day volunteering, now is the time for all of us who have been working so hard to give just a bit more. Whatever you can do, do it.
I joined this campaign and engaged because I did not want to wake up on November 5 greeted with a McCain/Palin administration and know that I could have done more.
So, let's get out there! Push, push, push all the way down the field to that touchdown!!!
As vandalism goes, it’s a very minor thing.
In respect to the US Constitution, however, it may be much bigger.
Someone stole my Obama sign last night.
I had purchased two signs last spring, and they were both taken during the summer. The latest sign lasted about a week.
I have to wonder if this is someone’s idea of political protest. Is Obama merely a candidate someone doesn’t like, or does it go deeper?
Are there racists in my neighborhood?
Of course, I’ll never know, because I doubt that whoever took my signs will come forward and admit to it, but I am sad that this would happen.
We need to be able to disagree, without trying to silence opinion that differs from our own. For myself, I am quite capable of letting my neighbor’s McCain sign stand proudly in his yard, without feeling the urge to pull it out of the ground.
Wish others had felt the same way.
Ron Howard is a serious filmmaker. Watch him with fellow actors in this humorous but serious video in support of Barack Obama.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc65ed650d
I will admit I do not catch every bit of news that comes across the wire on the presidential race but I am surprised that the lower 48 media has not picked and run with the Anchorage Daily News' endorsement of Obama on Oct. 25th! The headline reads, "Obama for President; Palin's rise captivates us but nation needs a steady hand." If you haven't read or shared the endorsement, just go to this link http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/567867.html
I guess she may be the most loved governor in the U.S. but even her constituency knows knows she's not ready...
It appears that the last hurrah for the McCain/Palin campaign strategy is to hammer distorted information on Obama's tax plan and especially, it fearful impact on small businesses. Well, I got a link to Local Voices for Obama and watched the videos which were uplifting, clear and hopeful. These are people, mostly small business owners, some veterans and the vast majority Republican voters from Ohio, Nevada, Missouri who are voting for Obama. Watch the videos and then, share the link with every Republican and/or small business owner you know. The clock is ticking...
http://blog.localvoicesforobama.com/
Passing along this thought provoking letter....
Dear Red States,
If you manage to steal this election too we've decided we're leaving. Weintend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States withus. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon,Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. Maybe Florida.We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially tothe people of the new country of New California.To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slavestates. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.
Okay, we've heard that Sarah Palin has significant executive experience having been mayor of Wasilla. So, the Daly Show sent one of their crack investigative reporters to interview the present mayor. After watching the video, I am even more amazed than ever that the McCain selected her as his running mate. Certainly, there were other competent Republican women who would have reputable.
Watch the video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP26nV3QFlA
Oren
Okay, let's make an assumption. Elections go off without many hitches and Obama wins. There will be excitement and hope in the U.S. and ...around the world.
How is Obama and Biden going to maintain the incredible enthusiastic participation of the Obama network of supporters around the country once in office? He has continually said that this campaign is not about him but about us. While not exactly true, it is an opportunity to get/keep Americans directly involved. Oh, perhaps not the numbers that are actively engaged in the campaign but a good number.
I want to know what are his plans to really make the next four years about us? Does anyone know what they are thinking on this issue?
