Orange County FL Democrats for Obama

A Question of Agency and Accountability

FreeDem — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:22:39 EDT

When Obama was elected I had high hopes. I knew that if he advocated the progressive agenda outright that there would be a barrage of calls that he was implementing the kind of leftist agenda that indeed most folks who voted for him hoped he would and that there would need to be sustained activity to back that agenda.

When he put together his team in December I was dismayed that of all the names that would spring to mind from Krugman to Dean as having been at the forefront of the fight to get where we were, were either not brought in or tossed under the bus. We were told that this was a stealth move by Obama, that Bush needed to actually leave office, and we could trust that Obama would be setting the rules and pushing all those folk who were against the Left agenda to move further left than their prior actions would indicate.

Then we were told there was a secret framing agenda, that measures that looked like the normal Bush policies actually were different in the details that fully reversed what Bush was up to. But there was no prosecutions of crimes that are now prima facia, or even investigations of them. We are still in Iraq and it looks like for a long time, and Afghanistan is getting worse with mostly the same tactics that did not work before.

Elect President; Pass Budget & Win Grants

Jim Callahan — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:21:22 EDT

MAKING CHANGE: BRING HOME THE BACON

Making CHANGE happen. We elected President Obama in Nov. We rallied for the economic stimulus and then for the budget resolutions. Now to finally bring home the bacon for our region we need to help our local governments and groups apply for grants. For example, this is how we get a summer jobs program.

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D, FL, 2nd) is hosting a grant writing workshop this Wednesday, April 8, 2009 as a follow-on the the economic stimulus workshop held last week.

The Structure of Education is Crazy

FreeDem — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:04:36 EST

Education generally and higher education in particular is deeply suffering from structural binding that is making it much less effective and far more labor intensive for both student and teacher than it needs to be and what is worse has no real path to understand the quality of the result, or even the satisfaction of the need either for the student or Society itself.

A. Graduation/certification is hazing not a measure of knowledge.
Because certification provides entry into a class system that does not neasure actual ability, immense extraneous expenses in time and money are added far beyond the actual information or skills imparted, and to justify this and compete in self perpetuation most of a schools actions and decisions have little or nothing to do with education. This is especially true the more the emphasis is anything other than educating the students.

Post Election; What Next?

Jim Callahan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:59:27 EST

Congratulations one and all! Victory is sweet.

Next steps:

1. US Senate - road to 60

a. Georgia - runoff election - make phone calls for Jim Martin

b. Minnesota - Al Franken is in recount, so far less than 200 votes out of more than 2 million separate the two candidates.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMpTmr96V5hKIfyHT4Av4jsVQgrQD94M80203

2. Orange County Democratic Party - 2008-2012 organizational meeting Saturday, December 6

FLORIDA -- officially Orange County Democratic Executive Committee (OCDEC)

http://www.orangedemocrats.com/

http://www.orangedemocrats.com/page.asp?PageId=396

3. Change is Coming House Meeting - weekend of December 13-14.

Jim Callahan

Orlando, FL

Lots of Interest in D.C. Room Shares!

Inauguration Trip Countdown — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:54:24 EST

Didn't add this information before, however, since there is great interest in the Room Shares, each individual will be responsible for $180. per night. With this is free transportation via shuttle to all the events and your own access.

Thanks for the calls.

Antron

Share A Room in D.C.?

Inauguration Trip Countdown — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:56:38 EST

Keep your costs low and share a room! Interested in Going to the Inauguration? We have some supporters who are traveling to D.C. who are interested in sharing their room with you with efforts of keeping all costs low.

Our suggestion here is to keep a maximum of 5 persons to a room for comfort! Great location, if you are interested, please contact me. Currently several supporters are interested. We will assist in the booking as a middle party (no cost ) just want to make sure we can help. Transportation will be provided by our group since we have motorcoaches going already! So your price will include your transportation!

Grace and Mercy!

Antron Johnson

YesWeBelieve

404-343-8259

D.C. RESORT!! WE JUST GOT ADDITIONAL ROOMS!

Inauguration Trip Countdown — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:06:19 EST

IF YOU HAVE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE INAUGURATION AND COULD NOT LOCATE A LOCAL HOTEL...WELL, WE JUST GOT ADDITIONAL SPACE AT A LOCAL RESORT IN THE D.C. AREA.

THE COST FOR YOUR ACCOMMODATION AS WELL AS YOUR TRANSPORTATION IS $590. THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN OUR OTHER OVERNIGHT TRIP THAT IS NOW SOLD OUT HOWEVER, THIS IS THE CLOSEST PROPERTY TO ALL THE ACTION AND THE LOCATION OF ONE OF THE INAUGURAL BALLS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 20TH OF JANUARY.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING THIS ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BOOK! THIS IS AN AWESOME LOCATION AS WELL AS A HISTORICAL TRIP. AS ALWAYS, WE LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE ARE NOT A TRAVEL COMPANY, MERELY OBAMA SUPPORTERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO ENSURE AS MANY SUPPORTERS GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.

OUR ROUTINELY SCHEDULED MEETINGS AND UPDATES EVERY OTHER DAY KEEP OUR SUPPORTERS UP TO DATE AND FULLY INVOLVED IN THE HAPPENING OF THIS INAUGURATION!

GIVE ME A CALL, 404-343-8259.

GRACE AND MERCY!

ANTRON JOHNSON

YESWEBELIEVE

Local Supporter Will Pay Portion of Your Trip!

Inauguration Trip Countdown — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:34:16 EST

As we have found since this blog was created and the Inaugural Trip we have come to know as our Victory Lap has evolved into something that no one could have ever imagined. We have received so much local and national attention for what we are doing right here in Atlanta, GA that it serves to our level of committment and service to the Campaign for Change as well as our efforts to retake our room, our neighborhood, our county, our state and our nation.

A national network is currently looking into historic piece surrounding our journey and now a local supporter is throwing in her financial support as well to ensure that nothing stands in the way of our efforts of getting people to Washington, D.C.

She has followed our local interviews, write ups, blogs and etc and has decided to assist supporters who are considering Day Trips with us to take the leap. Currently our Day Trips are $175.00, however with her assistance that will come down to just $150.00. She had heard that we had to increase our costs sometime ago, due to the influx of higher inaugural costs and felt compelled to help out in a way that is very difficult at this time in our economy for most.

So, although she wishes to not be mentioned, This retired, beautiful Atlantan is making this historic trip more possible that it could be. I thank you!

What is it that you have to do? Simply sign up for our Day Trip and your cost is $150.00. The additional $25 will be paid for you by our wonderful donor. 4 recipients have already been on the receiving end of her generosity and again, I thank you!

We will be departing on January 19th, 9pm and arriving on Tuesday morning, 6am. That entire day is yours to participate in the Inaugural Swearing In Ceremony at the Mall on Washington. Following that, observe the Inaugural Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and participate in many of the post Inaugural festivities until we are to depart that evening at 9pm heading back to Atlanta. We will arrive back nearly 4am on Wednesday morning, January 21.

If interested, contact me at 404-343-8259 or kantronj@yahoo.com

We send out updates regarding our trip every other day to keep you posted and in the know. Don't miss out on this! Go with us, be apart of history.

Antron Johnson

Coordinator

YesWeBelieve

404-343-8259

A few modest suggestions

FreeDem — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:25:37 EST

I apologise for the messed up way this looks because of how this did indents I will try and fix it later

The whole world awaits, holding its collective breath, not in horror like 9-11, but in Hope, wonderment, amazement, and the expectation that America will amaze everyone and do the best things possible after eight years of doing the worst imaginable and much that was worse yet. The entire world is United as never since 9-11 and the time is now to unite it more by doing the right thing and not disappoint and wreck all that has been gained. Here is a starter list of things that can put us on that track.

#1 Justice

    A. Do no harm, or perhaps better put, stop doing harm. There must be a layers committee to seek out all activities that the Bush Administration is doing that violate ethics, the Constitution, the law, human decency, and the Geneva Conventions and call a halt to all of it by proclamation in the body of the Swearing in Speech, backed up by whatever documents are needed. Since most will need to be sorted out, a plan to do that in each case will be needed before day one.

    Before that moment they are Bush war crimes at the least. After that moment they instantly become Obama war crimes. Beyond that all shredding of the Constitution and the Magna Carta must be reversed.

B.Persue Justice As Obama has put there is a lot out there that looks like crimes and are crimes, but proving that a specific person is the criminal responsible is a much tougher thing. However to allow all that has happened in the past eight years to pass uninvestigated much less prosecuted is to ensure that it will happen again and soon and very much worse, just as Bill Clinton not persuing the facts of Iran Contra and the S&L bomb gave us Enron, Bush2, and the current economic meltdown.

Fortunately there are people who have been looking at most of the details for several years now. It would not be a problem to sort them out and organize a program that will find wrong doers and have a Special Prosecuter sort out where there is prosecutable crimes, and to sort out where and how all those crimes, and even stupidity that looks like crimes can be locked away that they can never threaten us again. We have drifted very close to a level of proto fascism that I will be satisfied has been shoved back into its box when Obama and the new Congress actually take office. That box really needs to be nailed shut!

#2 Honor

Video Tribute (simply fantastic)

V. H. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:07:43 EST

Great tribute to Obama found on YouTube (click on link below):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QigRkg9G8

All Americans should be proud for making your vote count during this historical election!

PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

V. H. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:01:48 EST

I went to Plant City to watch the election returns with my dear friend, Joe, and invited guests. We had a wonderful time celebrating! Words can not express the emotions and pride that all Americans share at this moment in time.

This election represents a change in politics that has been dominated by partisan bickering. Americans overwhelingly have told the world that we want to unite and work together, and that is what an Obama presidency represents.

1st Results Are In!

V. H. — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:36:59 EST

I can hardly sleep. I am watching CNN and MSNBC to keep up with the election. About 12:15 am Larry King announced that Barack Obama wins Dixville Notch, N.H.- the first place in the nation to vote. A county that has voted Republican since 1960, went Democrat this morning. 15 votes for Obama; 6 for McCain. I am so proud of the fine people in this town. This is history in the making!!!

ELECTION NIGHT VIEWING/PARTY AT PROMINENT VENUE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

Yolanda — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:51:14 EST

JOIN US AT "THE SOCIAL" WWW.THESOCIAL.ORG
THIS VENUE ACCOMIDATES UP TO 300 PEOPLE.

JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE ELECTION NIGHT
THIS IS ONLY FOR OBAMA SUPPORTERS..
IF YOU LIKE FUNK/SOUL/FUSION/JAZZ AND LIVE MUSIC THEN COME JOIN US. HEADLINING THE SHOW IS "THE GERRY WILLIAMS BAND" A 10 PIECE SOUL/FUNK BAND. THE BAND WILL BE PERFORMING TO A RENDITION OF STEVIE WONDER'S "SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED" THERE WILL BE A LIVE ART SHOW AND A BIG SCREEN VIEWING COMING LIVE FROM CNN'S ELECTION HEADQUARTERS.

CHECK THE HEADLINERS OF THIS EVENT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqtJtKOn-Yg

http://www.myspace.com/gerrywilliamsmusic

WE HOPE TO SEE OUR ENTHUSIASTIC OBAMA SUPPORTERS THERE... 18 and up

HOW OBAMA INSPIRED MY HUSBAND

Yolanda — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:05:19 EDT

Here is the story behind the video. This Obama video _"CHANGE IS ON THE WAY"_ carries a compelling story behind the lyrics. This song is about my husband's brother_SGT. EUGENE WILLIAMS_ who died in this war. He died 10 days after the war began, he was the first soldier to die from the first suicide taxi driver at a check point in Iraq. After his death they enforced tighter restrictions in check points. His death impacted many andrecieved local and major media coverage. You can imaging how devestating that was for the family. He was only 24 a husband with a pregnant wife and a 2 year old. Their younger brother was 20 also in Iraq at the time but was forced to leave to bring their deceased brother back home. He is currently a junior in Wespoint Military School. The song is also inspired by Hurricane Katrina that also hit my husband hard as he watched the devestation of many good southern families losing everything and how little was done from our leaders in the most crucial days. I think those were the times when my husband was the saddest because as a southern black man he could see his family in these people. Like many of us, He couldn't undestand how this could happen in the USA. Later we all found out it was due to a lack of leadership, one that a President Obama would have handled much better. The song also speaks about many of the trials we are facing during these hard economic times. The video had to be done to support Obama because we believe that he can bring the change we need. My husband's musical inspiration is Stevie Wonder so it comes to no surprise that he had to include the Funk and Soul into this song. Their might be some sad lyrics behind it but the music will lift you up. My biggest dream.. To watch my husband perform this song in front of Obama, judging by Obama's taste in music I think he would really enjoy _The Gerry Williams Band_.

watch the video here

http://www.myspace.com/gerrywilliamsmusic

http://www.youtube.com/gerrywilliamsband

NEW OBAMA VIDEO 'CHANGE IS ON THE WAY' CHECK IT OUT

Yolanda — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:11:25 EDT

NEW VIDEO FOR OBAMA CHECK IT OUT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O405J2-AS8A

Who's been volunteering for Obama in Florida?

Destiny's Child — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:33:38 EDT

I have a writing assignment and I need to interview someone who has been volunteering in Florida for this election.

CHANGE IS ON THE WAY VIDEO

Yolanda — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:20:43 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5HbenO-Cpw

CHANGE IS ON THE WAY VIDEO

ORLANDO FLORIDA CONCERT FOR OBAMA TONIGHT!

Yolanda — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:20:21 EDT

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/music/orl-abbott1708oct17,0,1529465.column

READ ABOUT IT IN THIS ARTICLE BY THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THE EVENT IS CALLED "OBAMARAMA" A GREAT SELECTION OF ORLANDO'S FINEST LOCAL BANDS AND NATIONALS ORGANIZING A FUNDRAISER FOR OBAMA.

CHECK OUT THE ARTIST HEADLINING THE SHOW WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY HUSBAND.

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/GERRYWILLIAMSMUSIC

VISIT HIS MYSPACE TO LISTEN TO "CHANGE IS ON THE WAY" THE VIDEO WILL BE RELEASED THIS WEEKEND.

SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT!!

Yolanda — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:28:59 EDT

Seriously.. Yesterday in the news there was a story about a man from Cali who shot himself and his family because of this Economic crisis. He had an MBA, clearly eligible to work but for several months e could not find work. Not to mention the 90 year old lady who shot herself because she was losing her house. SOOO. How many more will have to do this before McCain starts to talk to the people about the Economy? You think people will fall over bridges and shoot themselves because of Obama's connections to Ayer and rev Wright? A wide margin of people do not care about the smears. That is precisely why Obama is leading on the polls.

Here we go again....

Steven "Snakeman" Larson — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:47:05 EDT

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/09/more-voting-foi.html posted by Aaron Deslatte on Sep 29, 2008 12:17:29 PM Voting-rights organizations are pointing at Florida’s latest election foibles and cautioning voters to defend themselves from themselves this November. The New York-based Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, and a group called Verified Voting are asking election officials around the country to use “smart, transparent ballot accounting” practices following several instances were voting machines and human recounts of paper ballots have erred. The Florida case included in the groups’ call is the Palm Beach County judicial race where votes disappeared then reappeared. Elections officials have delayed certifying the Aug. 26 race until today while recounts were undertaken to determine why some 3,500 ballots initially went missing. The statement also cites two other elections in Washington D.C. and Ohio over the last two months where re-counts produced differing vote tallies. “Many states and counties have already instituted the right procedures,” said Pam Smith, President of Verified Voting in the groups' statement. “But the recent meltdowns in these three primaries suggest that not every jurisdiction is using the built-in redundancies on Election Day to avoid problems that could undermine confidence in electoral outcomes.” The group makes 24 recommendations for elections officials. Among them: - Compare the total number of votes cast to the total number of voters who signed in at the polling place. - For both regular and emergency paper ballots, compare the number of voted, spoiled, and unused paper ballots with the number of ballots sent to the polling place. - Compare digital vote tallies from voting machines to vote total tapes. - Compare electronic tally server totals to vote total tapes generated from each voting machine. - Publish results of ballot, machine total, and memory card reconciliations.

US churches attempt to control US government

Destiny's Child — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:10:48 EDT

Always making sure to include his middle name, Hussein, many Christian churches across the country preached against voting for Obama yesterday.

www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/27/20080927Montini0928.html

American Terrorists inside the United States

Destiny's Child — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:01:30 EDT

Muslim children and babies were victims of a chemical attack in Ohio just days after the Clarion fund distributed the dvd "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" in newspapers throughout the 'swing states', including Ohio.

http://www. dailykos. com/storyonly/2008/9/28/203016/697/536/613742

Bailout Bill is DOA; What is needed

Jim Callahan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:46:17 EDT

The bailout bill should accomplish 3 purposes:
1. Facilitate resumption of credit transactions
2. Allow US citizens to occupy houses as owners
3. Remove impediments to worldwide economic recovery

PROBLEM: The global economy is in peril because financial transactions are stalled because the value of US mortgage backed securities held by banks and other credit granting financial institutions around the world are reduced by the inability of US homeowners to make their mortgage payments. Mortgage repayments are impaired by usurious loan terms, falling home prices, job loss and bankruptcies (half of all US bankruptcies are caused by medical bills).

The problem is that the bailout bill, "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008"

http://financialservices.house.gov/

http://financialservices.house.gov/essa/ayo08c04_xml.pdf

does not address the reasons for the impairment of the underlying mortgages. Remodeling the upper stories of a building does not fix structural problems in the foundation.

To address usurious loan terms, the balance of any mortgage against a US owner occupied housing issued between January 1, 2002 and March 30, 2008 should be convertible to a baseline mortgage, where a baseline mortgage is defined as a 30 year fixed 6% mortgage. The conversion to baseline process should be available voluntarily as mortgage modification or mandatory through a bankruptcy judge.

To address falling home prices, the principal underwater mortgages should be written down to reflect lower market prices with 50% gain sharing provided through a due on sale note good for up to five years after the mortgage modification. Any "gain" by the lender resulting from the markdown should be treated as recovery of capital and not taxed as income. Again, the markdown of principal of underwater mortgages should be available voluntarily as mortgage modification or mandatory through a bankruptcy judge.

To address US personal bankruptcies, there should be established an Temporary Emergency Medical Debt Repayment Fund, Federal bankruptcy judges should be allowed to tap the fund, in addition to modifications of debt with hospitals in return for agreements to make mortgage payments. The Temporary Emergency Medical Debt Repayment Fund should last for two years or until the US can enact a universal catastrophic health insurance plan to prevent medical bankruptcies.

Job losses have to be addressed through the macroeconomic policies, but the recovery of consumers is one element of the macro policies.

The government should look at consumer income, the way it looked at farm income during the great depression. External economic pressures are preventing US consumers from making their mortgage payments and any real solution has to address those external economic pressures.

Other problems with the bill include a lack of transparency. To see our way through the current problem and to write regulations to prevent future problems there needs to be full disclosure of troubled assets. These are not military secrets, reports do not have to be limited to Congressional Committee chairs. The mortgage backed derivatives are based on mortgages that are public documents at courthouses across the US -- the derivatives, particularly the impaired derivatives should public record on the public Internet. The disclosure should happen BEFORE the assets are purchased and NOT two days afterward.

Two be eligible for purchase, all impaired assets should be fully disclosed on the public Internet by a fixed deadline. This will serve several purposes. First, the sum of the impaired assets gives a measure of the problem, instead of a scary unknown and thus allows evaluation of the likely effectiveness of public policies and improves public confidence. Secondly, the public record of impaired assets provides data for researchers to understand the problem and write regulations to limit the most problematic types of transactions. Third, disclosing impaired assets will create a "vulture market" for immediate purchase of impaired assets ahead of potential governmental intervention.

This type of transparency is essential for economic recovery. Sweeping the problems under the rug will extend the "Japanese disease" to the US. Denial is NOT an option. Problematic denial polices include:
1. Blaming "mark to market (MTM)" accounting
2. Not disclosing problematic assets PRIOR to government purchase
3. Restricting short sales

Not disclosing impaired assets, not marking to market and restricting short sales is burying our heads in the sand will prolong hard times.

Jim Callahan
MBA and former Research Assistant at Chase Econometrics
Orlando, FL

The Mad Black Man verses The Grumpy Old Man

Yolanda — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:34:07 EDT

I think Obama really held his own ground. He did well and didn't lose control. Although I think he could have tackled the economy a bit more. Otherwise, I was impressed. After all, this debate was about Foreign Policy. I think there will be enough time to discuss the economy during the next debate. John McCain was who he is and I don't think that played too well. As a voter, one of my #1 critiques is character. The ability to look into ones eyes and communicate respectfully. The ability to give credit when it's due and be deligent. If this debate was soley based on those principles then Obama would be ahead in high numbers. McCain almost seemed to be grumpy and condescending by hyperventilating through parts of the debate. It was a little scary. Frankly, for me, that kind of attitude and body language muted the words coming out of his mouth. If Obama was to be acting that way he would be called a Mad Black Man. Although it's evident that Obama is black and McCain is old.. Which are the two things that both candidates want people to overlook . Well, tonight Obama was NOT the Mad Black Man but McCain was the Grumpy Old Man.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO.. RED MEAT FOR THE OBAMA CAMP

Yolanda — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:08:42 EDT

OBAMA CAMP SHOULD CREATE AN AD FROM THIS CLIP/ IT PROVES THAT SHE FLIP FLOPS EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO POPULAR OPINION OF OBAMA. SO MUCH FOR THE WOMAN WHO CALLS HIM THE MEHSIAH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO6dmBm1SFw

The economics of Democrat vs Republican

Destiny's Child — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:43:44 EDT

I've received, multiple times, a list of poorest cities and the fact that they have Mayors who are Democrats, leading us to think that Democrats can't run a city. The causality is hardly proven by it. The minute I saw it I wondered why those cities were so poor and it only took a few seconds to make the 'rust belt' association. All of the cities on the list are 'rust belt' cities that have been hit by huge losses in manufacturing jobs over the last decade, except for two. Those two are Miami and El Paso, both of which have a population that is over 60% hispanic immigrants (most of whom arrive here in poverty). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_Belt quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48141.html quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12086.html That being said....

Why I don't have a problem with increasing taxes on the wealthy

Destiny's Child — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:27:42 EDT

IHMO Taxes should be increased on the wealthiest Amercians, unless and/or until we pass legislation to establish a maximum ratio between the pay of the CEO and that of the lowest paid worker in the company........

"Opposition to out-of-control executive pay now comes from investors as well as traditional opponents on the other end of the wage gap. According to Business Week's report on executive pay at major companies, released today, CEOs now earn an astounding 419 times the pay of average blue-collar workers.

According to Business Week, the ratio of CEO pay to factory worker pay at the biggest 365 U.S. companies was 326 to 1 in 1997, up from 44 to 1 in 1965. In Japan in 1995, the equivalent ratio was 16 to 1, and in Germany, 21 to 1. Some of the biggest CEO pay raises have been awarded right after huge layoffs, leading to criticism that top executives are being rewarded for eliminating American jobs."

We are constantly hearing the argument that no new jobs will be created if the wealthy and corporations are taxed, but the truth is that jobs are being eliminated because of a few greedy individuals, not taxes.

Sources - Business Week, Responsible Wealth and Shifting Fortunes

Depak Ch

Ms. B — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:20:09 EDT

So far, this is one of the best things I've read on the upcoming election.

Deepak Goes Deep: "Obama and the Palin Effect"

Sometimes politics has the uncanny effect of mirroring the national psyche even when nobody intended to do that. This is perfectly illustrated by the rousing effect that Gov. Sarah Palin had on the Republican convention in Minneapolis this week. On the surface, she outdoes former Vice President Dan Quayle as an unlikely choice, given her negligible parochial expertise in the complex affairs of governing. Her state of Alaska has less than 700,000 residents, which reduces the job of governor to the scale of running one-tenth of New York City. By comparison, Rudy Giuliani is a towering international figure. Palin's pluck has been admired, and her forthrightness, but her real appeal goes deeper.

She is the reverse of Barack Obama, in essence his shadow, deriding his idealism and exhorting people to obey their worst impulses. In psychological terms the shadow is that part of the psyche that hides out of sight, countering our aspirations, virtue, and vision with qualities we are ashamed to face: anger, fear, revenge, violence, selfishness, and suspicion of "the other." For millions of Americans, Obama triggers those feelings, but they don't want to express them. He is calling for us to reach for our higher selves, and frankly, that stirs up hidden reactions of an unsavory kind. (Just to be perfectly clear, I am not making a verbal play out of the fact that Sen. Obama is black. The shadow is a metaphor widely in use before his arrival on the scene.) I recognize that psychological analysis of politics is usually not welcome by the public, but I believe such a perspective can be helpful here to understand Palin's message. In her acceptance speech Gov. Palin sent a rousing call to those who want to celebrate their resistance to change and a higher vision.

Look at what she stands for: Small town values -- a denial of America's global role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism. Ignorance of world affairs -- a repudiation of the need to repair America's image abroad. Family values -- a code for walling out anybody who makes a claim for social justice. Such strangers, being outside the family, don't need to be heeded. Rigid stands on guns and abortion -- a scornful repudiation that these issues can be negotiated with those who disagree. Patriotism -- the usual fallback in a failed war. "Reform" -- an italicized term, since in addition to cleaning out corruption and excessive spending, one also throws out anyone who doesn't fit your ideology.

Palin reinforces the overall message of the reactionary right, which has been in play since 1980, that social justice is liberal-radical, that minorities and immigrants, being different from "us" pure American types, can be ignored, that progressivism takes too much effort and globalism is a foreign threat. The radical right marches under the banners of "I'm all right, Jack," and "Why change? Everything's OK as it is." The irony, of course, is that Gov. Palin is a woman and a reactionary at the same time. She can add mom to apple pie on her resume, while blithely reversing forty years of feminist progress. The irony is superficial; there are millions of women who stand on the side of conservatism, however obviously they are voting against their own good. The Republicans have won multiple national elections by raising shadow issues based on fear, rejection, hostility to change, and narrow-mindedness.

Obama's call for higher ideals in politics can't be seen in a vacuum. The shadow is real; it was bound to respond. Not just conservatives possess a shadow -- we all do. So what comes next is a contest between the two forces of progress and inertia. Will the shadow win again, or has its furtive appeal become exhausted? No one can predict. The best thing about Gov. Palin is that she brought this conflict to light, which makes the upcoming debate honest. It would be a shame to elect another Reagan, whose smiling persona was a stalking horse for the reactionary forces that have brought us to the demoralized state we are in. We deserve to see what we are getting, without disguise.

Evolution Or Devolution? As Deepak so articulately suggests, this election is far more than a contest between two political parties, but a referendum on two diametrically- opposed world views. One world view essentially believes that the nature of human nature is "evil" so consequently we humans must be controlled, if necessary via manipulation, force and the threat of death. In this world view, we are "sinners", hopeless and helpless without divine intervention. And if we're very, very lucky, the Divine presence will return ... to destroy the world.

The other world view suggests that we may be "sinners" only in the sense that to "sin" in archery means "to miss the mark." In this alternative world view, we aren't hopeless sinners, but hopeful "learners." Life moves forward -- progresses -- with our accumulated awareness, provided we learn. Here too we may call upon divine intervention, but that intervention is to purify our own heart and intentions. In short, this election is about evolution vs. devolution. Do we evolve to achieve our human potential (our full potential to be human)? Or, do we devolve into machine-controlled slaves who mistake reality TV for reality?

In short, this election is bigger than Democrat vs. Republican, even though the two world views are wearing these labels this time around. It's not so much whether a candidate believes in the theory of evolution, but whether they believe in the "practice" of evolution. And that practice may be akin to the "community organizing" the Republicans so snidely dismissed. (Someone sent me a slogan that would make a great bumper sticker, "Jesus Was a Community Organizer.")

Why community organizing? According to cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, the nature of practical evolution is ... community, cooperation and shared awareness. Ever since the first single cell organisms got tired of the single life and combined forces with other single cells some 700 million years ago, every evolutionary step has involved groups of cells combining to increase efficiency, awareness, and survivability. You and I, for example, are communities of 50 trillion cells that cooperate for the purpose of bringing "us" to the world every day.

The thriving cellular society beneath our skins boast universal health care, full employment, and truly no cell left behind. Our organs -- which can be seen as huge "businesses" employing millions and sometimes trillions of cells -- do not "compete" against other organs, but work with them to create health and vitality for the whole body.

As Bruce and I explain in our new CD set Spontaneous Evolution (see below), we as a species are on the threshold of a new evolution. Only this evolution doesn't involve growing another limb, or even a bigger brain. Rather it involves learning what our cells learned millions of years ago -- the universal successful operating principle for life is "we're all in it together."

Just as our cells have learned to thrive through the common purpose of "thrival" for the entire organism, the next phase in human evolution involves recognizing ourselves each and all as cells in the body of humanity. In the universal "fractal" reiterating pattern of nature, we find the cell, the individual, the community, and even the planet all have the same requirements: fresh air, clean water, healthy and abundant food.

While that may seem like a high-minded ideal, in fact it is the down-to-earth "real deal" that will determine whether we humans realize our true human potential, or whether our species gets an "F" in third dimension. To get a much fuller idea of the science behind this "new" theory of evolution (which ironically, our spiritual teachers have been trying to tell us about for millennia), here is the link to order the Spontaneous Evolution 5 CD set. Not only will it give you a new understanding of evolutionary science, but it will explain how the "invisible" field of ideas impacts our biology and our reality -- and how we can change these beliefs from dysfunctional to functional. This understanding is particularly important if we are to see this election -- or any other one -- in proper perspective.

So ... back to the election. What are we voting for? Or against? In essence, our choice boils down to two distinct ways of seeing the world and experiencing reality. "We're all in this together" vs. "Every man for himself." One world view represents the core views of Jesus, and every other spiritual teacher in history (and now confirmed by science). The other is a distortion based on millennia of rule by "the lowest common dominator."

When Sarah Palin -- or anyone else -- "appeals to the base," they have the weight of history and unconscious programming on their side. So pervasive is this belief in original sin and the venal nature of human nature, that even those who call themselves progressive often subconsciously don't really believe change is possible. (That's another thing Spontaneous Evolution addresses.)

So the important thing now is for us to keep our eye on the prize, the thrival of humanity by working together rather than fighting one another. Interestingly, this is the "prize" the founders of America fought for, and is expressed in our motto E Pluribus Unum, out of many one. Jefferson, Madison and company did not in any way intend a topdown imposition of this common purpose, but rather a bottom-up realization of it. That is exactly what is manifesting now, and as Deepak points out, why the opposition is so strong and powerful.

In any shadow work, we must first confront our own individual issues -- our fears and other shadow manifestations that keep these "dominator" patterns in place. Remember, we cannot successfully confront in another what we are unwilling to face in ourselves. So let's lose no energy to despair or hand-wringing about how awful it is. It is exactly as it must be. We cannot muster the internal and external resolve to make this next evolutionary leap without the resistance that strengthens us. May the best paradigm win.

www.thepeacealliance.org

www.peacepartintl.org

www.nationalpeaceacademy-us

www.mfp-dop.org

TODAY HE HIT THEM HARD WITH THE OLD STAFF COMMENT.

Yolanda — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:57:45 EDT

We need this everyday up to election day. There is no more time to waste. I think Obama and Biden should continue to hit hard yet stick with the issues. ESPECIALLY THE ECONOMY. In the past Obama has had the tendency of veering off track. The focus should stay on the Economy, light on the personal attacks and strong on delivery. Get off the telepromtor and get close to the people, Walk the communities and sit with the middle class. I would sit down with a family that is on the verge of foreclosure, a student who is a single parent, get into the heart of the American people. It's the middle class and the lower class that will drive this campaign to the top. Those are the people really hurting and they are the ones that will fight to get Obama elected. I truly hope this momentum continues. We don't need more Gaffes and we certainly don't need to get comfortable. "I think I might be qualified to become a Obama advisor, Don't you think" Smiling.

We're back on the Offense people!

Yolanda — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:56:20 EDT

Today was a great day for us! Now lets keep driving this staright talk express to where it belongs.. To the gutter. The republicans are not gonna get off this easy and I'm so glad the media and most editorial newspapers are beginning to speak out about McCain and the negative campaign he's been running. This will come back to bite them hard. When you conduct yourself with disgrace you become far from graceful. The people of this country need a graceful leader..A smart leader with a smart group of people surrounding him.. That man is OBAMA! :) I'm happy today.. lets hope and pray to keep this momentum.

I have the courage to believe.

Dr. Cannarella — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:51:20 EDT

I recently read a National Geographic article covering soil conservation issues and was inspired by the tale of a man whose story was included in the article. I was feeling depressed after watching much of the RNC and the political party that has a good chance of retaining control of our destiny run a campaign that so much resembles Nazism in the continuous hatefulness and fear-mongering. The narrowing of the national polls further disheartened me and I was beginning to come to the conclusion that my dreams would continue to be ignored. The article described how a farmer had worked so hard for so long trying to restore the fertility of the land that he farmed on even though he did not own the land. According to the article, the land-owner had informed the farmer that he was planning on selling off the land as the farmers tireless efforts had worked so well that the improved fertility had increased the value of the land many times over. The farmer still continued in his efforts to renew the soils fertility despite that fact that he would no longer be guaranteed the right to farm the land. When asked why he continued, he replied that he had “the courage to hope.” This lesson made me realize that I too have the courage to hope and that is precisely why I support Obama. Too many people recently have been fooled into believing that the willingness to go to war is the only way to be heroic. They have forgotten that it takes guts to be gentle and kind. The will to look forward and embrace people rather that divide them into groups pitted against one another means risking being shunned by all. It takes courage to hope. This realization has renewed my determination and I hope that it will also for everyone else who feels as though their dreams are vanishing.

Freedom High Event Pictures

Steven "Snakeman" Larson — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:51:48 EDT

The pictures can be viewed by clicking on this link:

http://flickr.com/photos/29298850@N04/

I hope you enjoy and are able and willing to share yours with me.

Peace,

-Snakeman-

Obama Sighting

Ms. B — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:12:43 EDT

This blog is about my encounter with Senator Barack Obama.

MS Access bug/fix - importing large CSV text files

Jim Callahan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:09:33 EDT

URGENT for users who import large data files into MS ACCESS 2007 data base.

Microsoft admits a problem, "Access 2007 takes more time to import large [30 megabyte] .csv files than Access 2003 does," but claims slow import is fixed in MS Office 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1).