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This is an interview with San Diego Assistant District Attorney, Steve Walter from the local Public Broadcasting Service's local station.
(A link to the original source, which includes an audio version can be found after the full text.)
MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): Now what constitutes the difference between a drug dealer and a legitimate provider of medical marijuana?
WALTER: It’s a very difficult question. The law itself, when I say the law I’m talking about Prop 215, SB-420, and the AG’s guidelines, as well as the case law. In essence, you have to be either a user or a qualified patient or a caregiver for such a patient.
Wow. So according to the San Diego District Attorney's Office, "a user" is "a legitimate provider of medical marijuana." That's really disturbing as I have obtained/do obtain all of my medical cannabis from Medical Cannabis Caregivers/ Legal Patients. These are the ones that Walter himself oversaw the aggressive arrests of. I guess going on the above quote, he believes that any one ELSE, just so long as they 'use marijuana' is a responsible, law abiding, trustworthy source for the medication I use for my healthcare. Great.
Organizing for America,
While the President was expressing the need for our nation to reform its' inhumane Health Care system, some of San Diego, California's most vulnerable, suffering citizens were subjected to organized terrororism inflicted upon them by their own City and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.
I am referring to San Diego District Attorney, Bonnie Dumanis' continued persecution (not a mis-spelling) of those who benefit from legal medical cannabis. Lies are being told about the Collectives operating for profit and not being caregivers to its' members.
Please Mr. Stewart and OFA, we're already victims of our ailments, diseases, handicaps and inflictions. Members of these particular Collectives, at least one that I know, is an amputee U.S. Soldier. Isn't the pain he brought back from the war enough punishment and sacrifice for his country? Does he really need to suffer through prescription opiates that are highly addictive and less effective than medical cannabis? These voices need to be heard. Please look into the facts of this. People's lives are at stake.
I read the Sunday New York Times today. I was sorry to see that Maureen Dowd, brilliant as she can be, wrote near unprintable drivel. That didn't bother me. Most of the columnist's spend so much time doing everything else but writing that I expect to see their 'staff work' much of the time. What bothered me was the article in the middle of the front page, just under the photo from Afghanistan, which poignantly illustrated it. We just had our worst month over there, with a ton of kids having lost it all in our names. The article was well written. It was all about the problems that the 'living' returning veterans have in coming home. How difficult, or near impossible, that return can be, depending upon the horror of what the particular veteran whet through to get home. There was no fakery in any of that. PTSD is a killer, and when it is not killing directly, it is a destroyer of marriages, family relationships, friendships, sleep and all appetites. It causes drug addiction and acoholism. The worst part is that it is damned difficult to diagnose, very hard to treat, and embarrassing difficult for a combat 'hardened' veteran to admit. No fakery.
But read on in the same issue. Half way through the first section is a long article about this 'problem' that we have with people making up war stories, the places they did or did not serve, decorations or even units served with. We have a federal law that now attacks anyone who is caught even lying verbally about those things, or, and this is a grand bit of fakery, of not being able to prove what he or she said is true! Yes, said! Like in the first amendment freedom of speech 'said.' Wild times. That this article would be in the same section with the PTSD article from the front page is deeply droll. Gallows kind of humor. You see, most civilians do not make up any of that veteran junk! They usually don't even know enough to make credible stuff up. No, the preponderance of fibbers are veterans themselves, embellishing stories and maybe just demonstrating mental damage. Many many of them are veterans returning with PTSD, just like the kids pictured in that photo on page one! Do you know that there are even volunteer groups of other veterans who pursue these fibbers to catch them, label them on the internet and then turn them over to the feds for prosecution? The law is called the 'Stolen Valor' law, and it is one of the most deceptively damaging laws against veterans ever passed in this country.
Let's take a group of these woeful, and deeply hurt, returning veterans, and lets hold them to a standard which no civilian (except a complete idiot civilian, probably on drugs or alcohol) would be held. Where does stuff like this come from? Has the lead content in our water supply increased substantially? Or let's take a geriatric veteran who has PTSD stuff come out late in his life, and gets it all wrong. Are our Congressmen and Congresswomen completely out to lunch? And the veterans who go along and investigate, mostly their fellow veterans, who are these people? I was a Marine Officer in Vietnam, shot three times and brought home on a gurney, barely alive. I won't even tell anyone, ever, what decorations I received. "Let's have that fact-checked," somebody might say. Then I can allow beads of sweat to form as the report comes in. Is the report missing something I said I had? Did I give the proper unit and place? Yes, I know all that stuff by heart and I've got the medals in my closet. But, you know what, I don't want to go through the 'vetting' process. You know, in many ways, it is better for me to say that I did not serve at all. This 'Stolen Valor' law is all about that. I am not ashamed of my service on your behalf. I am just ashamed to admit it to you, or around you. PTSD has caused me to be 'hyper-vigilant,' and I am. I am hyper-vigilant of you. You can, and may, hurt me.
What fakery is up next? The new G.I. Bill! The one that gives vastly huge benefits to the guys and gals who served following 9/11? But not the veterans before? Yeah, that sure seems fair! Thanks again. And how about preferential treatment at V.A. medical facilities for returning Iraqi and Afghani veterans? A bit more thanks is due there, from those of us who bled our asses off in prior wars (and I was at Yokosuka Naval Hospital in Japan first, then Oaknoll over in Oakland, CA, and then the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, CA....go 'fact-check" it!)
But this new fakery is not just directed towards veterans. It is all around us. It is in the press portrayal of that black professor named Gates, and that police officer named Crowley. The media, with the governments support, changed the whole thing all around, into complete fakery. The black guy lipped off and the cop broke the law, numerous times. That the black guy gets to lip off to the police in his own home (except about any decorations or units he might have or served with!), nobody is much arguing about his right to do that. But nobody is talking about the simple fact that our police, across this entire land, and definitely including Officer Crowley, may not arrest people for that. Fakery. Crowley got to stand up to the President of the United States and thumb his beer foamed nose. I do so hope that Obama has a long long memory.
And the H.R. 3200 fakery. I wouldn't want to pass on that. We started out with everyone talking about health care for all Americans at affordable cost. The insurance companies, and the medical providers (yes, that is the hospital in your neighborhood, and your doctors and dentists in town) do not want this. And they have a ton of influence on those Congress people I was writing about earlier. So much so that the watered-down version of this bill we are hearing about now has just about one thing left, as a solid feature of it. 47 million uninsured Americans will be paying premiums to these rotten insurance companies, except those companies will have Federal Punishment built into the collection system. And the insurance companies will still decide on who gets real coverage, what coverage and when. This is the fakery that is descending upon us in health care. If you think those Federal Punishments for not paying your new medical premium are in any way humorous, then think again. How about no air travel if you are not up to date? How about no driver's license renewal? How about garnishment? Through fakery, lies and just pure bullshit we are being led along like the bovine, press-driven, creatures we are all beginning to resemble, physically and mentally!
A lot of the things I have discussed here are not going away. The bills have been passed. The procedures are in place. Even H.R. 3200 is just about a done (and rotten) deal, thanks to the Blue Dog Democrats and the usual assortment of Southern Fried Republicans, and the big health money people. But can we recognize what we have done? And what we are doing? Can we sit and think about the reality of these things, without just being sold on all of it by that melodious voice coming from the television? If we do not pay attention to the past we are not doomed to repeat it. We are doomed to having everything become a whole lot worse! Over the course of the last ten years have things really been getting any better, anywhere? Think about it.
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Good Afternoon Mr. President,
My name is Duane Thomas from Suffolk, VA. I am 30 years old and a United States Army Veteran where I served for 7 years. I am writing this letter to you to express my deep concern with health care of not only myself but other Veterans that have proudly served their country in the Armed Forces.
In my own personal issue, I feel that the VA is not taking care of me. I am only receiving 20% disability and I have received two knee operations and a shoulder operation. Just those alone, I should be receiving at least 50% to 70% disability. Even in the fact of education. I have had nothing but lasting problems with my knees, my shoulder and it is adding to other problems with my hips and back.
It is hard to sleep, work and go to school. Every so often, I have to take days from work just to go to the VA Hospital since I have to Heath Insurance and cannot afford to go to a Regular Doctor. I have filed claims after claims and I hardly ever hear back from anyone. The claims representatives and people at the VA hospital do nothing but look at me as a number and if you are 30 and under, they really do not bother to take time and treat you the right way. They figure, since I am 30, I am young and will recover. Well, the truth is I have not fully recovered.
I work a full time job and have no Health Insurance or Dental Insurance only because I am a Contractor and am not entitled to benefits. Another thing that is unfair about the VA is that veterans are not entitled to Dental Care unless they are 100% disabled. That does not make any sense. Why do I have to be completely broke down just to get my teeth looked at? So, not only does the Health Care System need complete revamping. The Health Care system at the Veteran Affairs Level need to be completely revamped as well. I am asking you Mr. President; please make this happen for myself and other Veterans.
Distinguished Veteran, Frank Kucinich, Brother of Congressman, Passes Away
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
The distinguished veteran, Frank Kucinich, beloved brother of Congressman Dennis Kucinich, died suddenly yesterday, June 30, at the Ohio Veterans Home, where had been a resident for many years. He was 60 years old.
Frank Kucinich, Jr. was a United States Marine Corps combat veteran of The Vietnam War, completing his service as a lance corporal. After his military service, he began a lifelong commitment to fellow veterans, assisting many local veterans organizations in their activities.
Through his military service, he made many friends and inspired those with whom he served. He was recently nominated to the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
This past week he accompanied his brother, Dennis, to a reception at the White House where he met President Obama and Vice President Biden.
"Thank you for serving," the President said to Frank, "I'm proud of you."
"Frank told me that was one of the proudest moments of his life," Dennis Kucinich said. "He had a great love of country, which informed every moment of his life. His patriotism was an inspiration to everyone in our family and to everyone he met."
That was the second time that Frank saw President Obama up close. Frank also attended the President’s Inauguration in January as a guest of his brother Dennis.
Frank was the beloved brother of Dennis, Gary, Theresa, Larry, the late Perry and the late Beth Ann who passed away in December of 2007 and November of 2008, respectively.
The Kucinich family will receive friends at the Golubski Funeral Home, East 65th and Fullerton Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, on Sunday July 5th between 4 PM and 9 PM. Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 AM on Monday, July 6th at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, E. 65th and Forman Avenue. Military honors and interment at Calvary Cemetery will proceed the Mass.
From... http://www.kucinich.us
As many of you know we have yet another election coming up next year. What you may not know is that the race for the 6th Congressional District in Colorado is probably the single most important campaign for the entire state. Why? It's simple the person currently holding that seat is Mike Coffman. Now for anyone that was involved with the campaign last year you know exactly how bad of an individual Coffman truly is for the State of Colorado. After the pruging of the voter lists, and running for higher office while being the guardian of fair elections for the entire state, Mr. Coffman has since gone on to attack our Governor and the President on many key issues, from the Pinon Canyon issue for the Gov. and Afghanistan for the Pres.
That introduction being finished I would like to introduce you to a candidate in CD6. His name is John Flerlage and he is a 22 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. I don't think I can do anymore justice to John then do use his own words so I have inlcuded them below:
John Flerlage is currently an airline captain who served 22 years in the Marine Corps before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Marine Reserve in 2000. Over his eleven active-duty years and eleven years in the Reserves, John flew the F/A-18 Hornet and A-4 Skyhawk. He also served in various Squadron and Group level leadership and staff positions and taught classes in world affairs, strategic commitments and the operation of fighters and other tactical aircraft at the Marine aviation advanced tactics school. During his reserve years, John also volunteered and flew missions in support of NATO operations in Bosnia, and in 1996, he was chosen to fly the Hornet aboard the USS George Washington in the first Marine Reserve carrier qualifications to be held in over fifteen years. In January, 1995, in anticipation of retiring from the Marine Reserve, John and his family settled in Littleton, CO, and since then, John has been readying himself to serve again, this time as the Representative from Colorado's 6th Congressional District. To prepare for his candidacy, John has been active in local (Jefferson County) politics, serving at the precinct (PCP) and house district level (Treasurer HD 28). He has also volunteered countless hours on local, congressional, and presidential campaigns. John is currently a member of the leadership team of a start-up group called South JeffCo Democrats, and cites his election as an Obama delegate, first at his precinct caucus, followed by the Jefferson County, CD 6 and the Colorado State Conventions and Assemblies, as confirmation of his desire to pursue a political career. While a freshman at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, John joined the Marine Corps officer training program in 1977. He earned a BA in mathematics from Colby College in 1980, and furthered his education by graduating from the Air Force Air War College in 2001. John was born in Boston on January 29, 1958, and lived in Massachusetts, Maine, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Arizona and California during his school and Marine Corps years. He and his wife, Helena, moved from old Littleton in Arapahoe County to their home in south Jefferson County in 1997. He has volunteered regularly at the schools of his three children: David (21), who graduated from Columbine High School and now attends Columbia University; Lisa (16), currently a sophomore at Columbine; and Karl (11). John played varsity hockey throughout high school and college and continues to play on a local adult team. He particularly enjoys coaching hockey, at all age levels, including a stint as the high school coach at Columbine. John is also on the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and believes strongly in proper fitness and nutrition for children especially in our schools. As an airline pilot, John is a member of the Air Line Pilots Association and flies long haul international flights for the largest airline in the world, Delta Air Lines. He has had the great fortune to visit many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, affording him unique insight as a candidate for Congress.
John needs your help and support. I am asking every person that reads this posting visit John's Campaign website at www.flerlagforcongress.com and see how you can help the campaign whether it's through volunteering or donating any and all help would be appreciated. I know we have all come off of a hard fought and hard won election but John is the person we want representing CD6 and to also support the President so many of us dedicated so much time and effort into getting elected. If you're on facebook look for John there as well!
The Recession Survival Fair will take place on 6/6 at the Brooklyn Brownstone School in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Volunteers are needed now. Details here:
http://signsanssignified.blogspot.com/2009/05/recession-survival-fairvolunteers.html
The Voices At Arlington Cemetery
Today I shed quiet tears
Had a sadness like previous years
Emotions still overwhelm me
Veterans pass by but its like they can’t see
Old friends congregate and one of them says
I lost my friends in enemy bays
Couldn’t find them when we converged
Enemy fire destroyed our vessel as it emerged
Sometimes the stories are dismal and confuse
All the details twisted, the veterans are bemuse
They try to remember but it’s all blank
All they talk about is the approaching enemy tank
Rocket fire was rampant and whistled by
Lieutenant as brave as he was, he wanted to cry
I saw puffs of smoke that swallowed my friends
None survived the blast and now fate sends
Good men to unmarked graves and no one knows
The identity of the men who lay in Arlington’s rows
On Memorial Day many come to honor their lives
No one even knows their children , their wives
Can’t speak with familiarity by the graveside
Eyes are teary though they don’t know who had died
Makes me teary too cause I clearly see
Every friend who returns here religiously
They march slowly and sometimes whistle the Taps
Empathetically they often remove their caps
Remy, gravitates to my strange grave with our kid, not alone
Youth tore me up, he placed items on my unmarked headstone
Every good past President has looked to the future, while every failed administration has suffered with the past, in part by their own misunderstandings of the failure(s) and to fully concentrate on moving their own agenda’s forward! Consequently, we the American public are as much to blame, for their failures as they are.
Today in office we have elected a forward looking Chief Executive, tasked with the mission of tackling the previous administrations failures and deceptions; while moving onwards his own vision of how America should be.
To me, this means let the president delegate responsible, for corrective action on the issues concerning Gitmo, torture, Rove, FOIA and FISA to his appropriate cabinet members and select committees within congress.
We as diligent citizens and supposed caretakers of our country should and must be focused on issues such as health care, getting out of Iraq, the economy and perhaps an over looked issued by many, an improved, affordable plan to enhance our current educational system of higher learning.
We have seen hundreds of thousands of jobs disappear over the past several months, will these jobs ever come back? The answer is “No”!
Soon we will have thousands of veterans returning from overseas, will they remain in the military service? Again, the answer is possibly “No”!
So what are the solutions to the aforementioned issues within the Obama Administration? I feel the president has chosen the most correct choice by relying on what made our nation what it was in the “past” – “Education”.
But, as we all know, including the president, both the cost and quality are the downsides for most of us, even the slightly “upper middle class”.
As quoted by President Obama (President Obama on Higher Education and Reforming Student Loans):
Over the past few decades, the cost of tuition at private colleges has more than doubled, while costs at public institutions have nearly tripled. Tuition has grown ten times faster than a typical family’s income, while inefficiencies in the student loan system provide lenders billions of dollars in wasteful subsidies instead of making college more affordable for all Americans.
When we review the 60’s, the days of placing a man on the moon and the golden times of NASA; education was at our country’s forefront, even while the Vietnam War was in progress, education was considered a must for survival in the Cold War overall and personal success in life as an individual(s).
We must not accept taking a backseat within the international community, as we have and again noted by the President in his Remarks by the President at the National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting:
Our schools continue to trail other developed countries and, in some cases, developing countries. Our students are outperformed in math and science by their peers in Singapore, Japan, England, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Korea, among others. Another assessment shows American 15-year-olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science when compared to nations around the world. And we have watched as scientific integrity has been undermined and scientific research politicized in an effort to advance predetermined ideological agendas.Complementing while confirming the aforementioned is the following from Gallup Polls with an article entitled: “Public Discontent With Quality of U.S. Education, where we can see the American public over the past eight years have been frustrated with the Bush Administration’s progress on education:A three-year aggregate of Gallup data (2002-2004)* on attitudes toward the public schools indicates that 44% of Americans are very (11%) or somewhat (33%) satisfied with public education, but a slight majority, 55%, are either very (25%) or somewhat (30%) dissatisfied. Despite these negative perceptions about the quality of the U.S. education system, past surveys have demonstrated that most Americans are happy with their own educations and the educations their children receive.
Our schools continue to trail other developed countries and, in some cases, developing countries. Our students are outperformed in math and science by their peers in Singapore, Japan, England, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Korea, among others. Another assessment shows American 15-year-olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science when compared to nations around the world. And we have watched as scientific integrity has been undermined and scientific research politicized in an effort to advance predetermined ideological agendas.
Complementing while confirming the aforementioned is the following from Gallup Polls with an article entitled: “Public Discontent With Quality of U.S. Education, where we can see the American public over the past eight years have been frustrated with the Bush Administration’s progress on education:
A three-year aggregate of Gallup data (2002-2004)* on attitudes toward the public schools indicates that 44% of Americans are very (11%) or somewhat (33%) satisfied with public education, but a slight majority, 55%, are either very (25%) or somewhat (30%) dissatisfied. Despite these negative perceptions about the quality of the U.S. education system, past surveys have demonstrated that most Americans are happy with their own educations and the educations their children receive.
So, should you subscribe to the fact our nation’s higher learning institutions are to expensive and our primary education system(s) of public schools are not performing as they should; how is the president and perhaps more selfishly “us the American public” going to resolve the educational systems and turn their services into “jobs” and an increased standard of living for all of us?
The President has prepared congress for needed changes, staring with his Fiscal Budget for 2010 with major investments in broadband networks, clean energy technologies, and health information technology, as I’ve quoted him here (Fact Sheet A Historic Commitment To Research And Education):
President Obama has already made science and technology a top priority: The Recovery Act includes $21.5 billion for research and development, the largest increase in our Nation’s history, and well as major investments in broadband networks, clean energy technologies, and health information technology. The President’s FY10 budget includes sustained increases in basic research, $75 billion to make the research and experimentation tax credit permanent, and funding to triple the number of the National Science Foundation’s graduate research fellowships. The President is committed to restoring integrity to science policy, and making decisions on the basis of evidence, rather than ideology.
Also, the President has enacted steps within his own Executive Branch (President Obama Meets with Family Struggling with College Costs, Underscores Need to Eliminate Wasteful Spending in Federal Student Loan Program, Reinvest Savings in Making College More Affordable):
Today, President Barack Obama met with a family struggling to afford the cost of college and underscored his commitment to cutting wasteful spending on federal student loans by ending taxpayer subsidies to banks. President Obama discussed the strain that rising tuition costs are placing on middle class families and his proposal to end the private Federal Family Education Loans program that lines the pockets of the banks who serve as middlemen while costing the American people $5 billion a year.
As I elated to earlier, since this is a failure of past administrations to attend address the president has wisely delegated this national concern to Vice President Joe Biden, who in my own opinion as been doing an outstanding job for the president in seeing all measurers are brought to the forefront on getting legislation authored and past in a bipartisan manner.
Vice President Biden has implemented “Middle Class Task Force” to find solutions and assist him in seeing colleges become more affordable through a series of town hall meetings. Here in an excerpt from such a meeting in St. Louis, the excerpt is entitled: “Middle Class Task Force Report: College Affordability”
Middle Class Task Force Report: College Affordability
An obstacle to federal student aid is the unnecessarily complicated application process that is often intimidating to families and students seeking loans. In order to qualify for aid, students or their parents must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which contains well over 100 questions on income, assets, family characteristics, personal characteristics, and other items. Completing the FAFSA requires families to sift through paperwork and transfer numbers from tax forms that they may or may not have readily available.
The following is a downloadable pdf report, which bears reading, regarding steps being taken by the Obama administration to lower college cost to the middle class desiring to enter college and making the application procedure more simplified and friendly:
Middle Class Task Force Staff Report (pdf)
So, what’s the Point:
Much “to do” recently has been made in the media over the release of torture memos and the president’s first 100 days in office, which are all constructive concerns and self-servicing pats on our own backs for electing the “right person for the right job”, but lets not get hung-up on the issues of witch hunts and arrogance that got us into the trouble we’re in today.
Lets keep pressing forward in correcting mistakes and apathy of the past with “new ideas” and approaches that will insure we’re never in the fix we are in today.
After all wasn’t it President Bush who said “Fool me once and you’re a fool, fool me twice and I’m a fool”.
The following selections of videos cement President Obama’s commitment to the middle class and his devotion to insuring every American is entitled to higher learning:
Opening the Doors of Higher Education
Taking a defiant stance towards those banks defending the status quo, the President proposes cutting out the middle man in student loans for a savings of almost $50 billion over ten years.
Additional Videos:
Real Tax Cuts Making a Real Difference
Flanked by Americans who have benefited from his Making Work Pay tax credit, President Obama speaks about his tax policy and how it is helping people across the nation.
Taking on Education
The President explains the urgency of changing the way we educate our children, and offers four pillars of reform.
Meet Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan talks about the source of his passion for education reform — and why he thinks it’s about more than education, it’s about social justice.
Additional postings regarding this topic and others may be found here:
President Barack Obama says all Americans have a “sacred trust" with the military personnel who have served this Nation, a responsibility to reward courage and self-sacrifice with all the benefits an open democratic society can provide.
MyVetwork (myvetwork.com) provides the solid foundation for a vibrant network of support in the spirit of that sacred trust to improve the lives of not only our active duty personnel and the 600,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, but all our nation's estimated 23 million living military veterans - and their families, too.
MyVetwork is already operational, with the capability to service the Veterans Community—for the first time—in three intersecting strings, known as a Trident Connection, add up to One Trusted Source for Veterans that anyone connected to the government understands is crucially needed:
Veterans community in one location. All for free.
Founded by decorated veteran John R. Campbell, MyVetwork draws on the “secret sauce” of the military, the “I’ve-walked-in-your-shoes” strength military personnel willingly share with one another, which will be a driving force behind MyVetwork.
Learn more about MyVetwork by visiting myvetwork.com or join the Veterans Community by visiting community.myvetwork.com.
Online Veterans Community: veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxcKgDocument posted by David Apperson
Call Centers - India
During the Presidential campaign we heard numerous politicians expounding on their concepts on ways to retrain our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and fellow Americans workers who saw their jobs outsourced overseas.
Finally we have one brave Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania with a workable plan to introduce a new law that aims to pay community colleges nationwide $1,000 per student to retrain laid-off workers, which Casey says would come from existing funds already allocated to job retraining in the department’s budget.
In an article authored by Anne Fisher of TIME, entitled: “Tuition Help for the Unemployed Gains Traction” the following excerpts regarding Senator Casey’s pending bill:
His inspiration for the bill: Pennsylvania’s community colleges, 10 of which have enrolled 1,062 unemployed workers in free training programs this semester, at a total cost to the schools of $741,788. “They shouldn’t have to foot the bill alone,” Casey says. “My bill will encourage other community colleges across the U.S. to do the same thing.” Senate Democrats are working to build bipartisan support for the bill and expect to move it forward in the coming months. (See TIME’s special report on paying for college.)A few states already have a head start. California, whose 11.2% March unemployment rate is the state’s highest since 1941, is rushing to funnel $415 million in federal stimulus money to 49 job-retraining centers. Most of the training will be designed to qualify people for jobs in infrastructure construction, health care and green industries like waste recycling and wind-farm technology. In Texas, legislators will vote next month on a final version of a 2010-11 budget, already passed by the state senate, that boosts spending on higher education by $1.5 billion. That figure includes $500 million in federal stimulus funding for workforce retraining and a $134 million state-funded increase in financial aid for students.Michigan, whose 12.6% jobless rate is the highest in the U.S., with still more auto-plant closings coming soon, launched its “No Worker Left Behind” program in August 2007. So far the state has footed the bill — up to $10,000 per displaced worker — for 61,434 unemployed Michiganders to learn the math, technology and science skills they need to embark on new careers at companies like Hemlock Semiconductor, Dow Chemical and Dow Corning, which are investing and hiring there. Also in demand: the program’s newly trained nursing assistants, physical therapists and health-care technicians.
His inspiration for the bill: Pennsylvania’s community colleges, 10 of which have enrolled 1,062 unemployed workers in free training programs this semester, at a total cost to the schools of $741,788. “They shouldn’t have to foot the bill alone,” Casey says. “My bill will encourage other community colleges across the U.S. to do the same thing.” Senate Democrats are working to build bipartisan support for the bill and expect to move it forward in the coming months. (See TIME’s special report on paying for college.)
A few states already have a head start. California, whose 11.2% March unemployment rate is the state’s highest since 1941, is rushing to funnel $415 million in federal stimulus money to 49 job-retraining centers. Most of the training will be designed to qualify people for jobs in infrastructure construction, health care and green industries like waste recycling and wind-farm technology. In Texas, legislators will vote next month on a final version of a 2010-11 budget, already passed by the state senate, that boosts spending on higher education by $1.5 billion. That figure includes $500 million in federal stimulus funding for workforce retraining and a $134 million state-funded increase in financial aid for students.
Michigan, whose 12.6% jobless rate is the highest in the U.S., with still more auto-plant closings coming soon, launched its “No Worker Left Behind” program in August 2007. So far the state has footed the bill — up to $10,000 per displaced worker — for 61,434 unemployed Michiganders to learn the math, technology and science skills they need to embark on new careers at companies like Hemlock Semiconductor, Dow Chemical and Dow Corning, which are investing and hiring there. Also in demand: the program’s newly trained nursing assistants, physical therapists and health-care technicians.
Hopefully Senator Casey’s proposed legislation will quickly be approved, in congress, since it won’t be long before our long awaited veterans will finally be returning home and will be in direr need of employment.
The following video concerning outsourcing is a revolutionary twist on outsourcing. American workers have themselves gotten into the act of sending their jobs overseas. For example; there are tasks, such as proof reading that could be accomplished overseas as well as it could be done in the office back in the states, thus allowing more time, useful energy and increased productivity to be devoted to other, more important tasks. Give the video a watch it’s interesting.
More American Workers Outsourcing Own Jobs Overseas
Oenajasm acmake
March 26, 2009 We saw the president answer a few questions that were posted by Americans in a forum like manner. These same Americans could then vote on various other Questions posted by others. Now like most forum like polls. The most popular would be most likely voted into the position by those who are able to and are most affected by the Question. I was saddened to see that in the Veteran's Polls that the top question was about just the currewnt war veterans.
"The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is higher than the national unemployment rate. Our veterans are a national treasure. How can you, the VA and I ensure our veterans are successfully transitioning into civilian life?"
1,797 votes
The next Question would have been the better Question to ask. For it covered all Veterans, both past and present.
"Pro-military or not, our veterans deserve at least the basics: food, shelter, health care. How can we work together to ensure the basics for our veterans?"
1,406 votes
I thank JillF in Chicago, IL for thinking of all Veterans instead of just the current ones coming home. But, if this Question is not answered soon. Many of the past and present Veterans will still be wondering when will it be their turn to be helped. Many will feel that this administration is still working the same angles. That the Veterans have "served their purpose" Now they will be thrown away with the rest of the "trash". People are not toys, nor are they machines to be recycled or placed in a dump. Which is exactly what has been done for years. These Veterans, whether they saw Combat time or not, volunteered for duty. Ever since the legislature was passed that abolished the draft, every Military Veteran has made the descision to join the Military and put their lives on the line to keep America the place that they have been led to believe it is and should be. Yet looking around many Basic freedoms are denied to these brave people who tried to make a difference for the many.
The veterans need the answers to these Questions that involve many of them. Especially the Homelessness. Disability can be partially relieved if the stress of not having a home is relieved. Many of the Mentally handicapped Veterans (PTSD, Brain Trauma, Night Terrors, Flash backs, etc.) Can be relieved if the Veterans has a secure place for them. Where they feel safe and secure in familiar surroundings that don't change unless they want it to change. Instead they have to move from place to place in many places no one have the ability or training to help these Veterans. I have seen Veterans who have been banned from facilities for the Homeless because of their mental problems which are then exacerbated by the stresses of being out on the streets. Many cases end in tragedy.
An Article placed by Common Dreams Org: Traumatised Veterans 'Have Killed 120 in US'Which was posted in January 2008. Why was this not Noticed nor at least acknowledged? Because too many people were more worried about How much money they were not getting in the top 5% of the population who have more money then they know what to do with.
Another Article: 1 in 9 Veterans UnemployedThis one deals with Current War Veterans and their fears of coming home to no job after service. Which means no job and no home.
Now I see lots of "Veterans Homes" , but they are mainly for the elderly (both disabled and non-disabled). Not for the younger Veterans and their Families that need homes to get off the streets.
This article points out how Veterans who have been Mentally Traumatisedare being treated like they should be able to just go back to a normal life after being subjected to stresses that no civilian will ever have to face. (unless this country goes through another Civil War which is unlikely since not many would take up arms to try to fix the problems themselves instead of complaining about the problems then going back to doing the same old same old "Not my problem" attitudes.)
Tomorrow there will be a Senate hearing on a number of bills before this year's legislative session that effect veterans. Below please find the bills being discussed. The hearings start at 1330hrs in the Betty King Committee Room, 2E.20. (See the specific bills and links below the main post.)
If you have time please come to the hearings to support these bills. If not please contact your state legislators and ask them to support these bills. SB1538 in particular is designed to actively recruit veterans to attend our state educational institutions. It is appalling how few of our veterans actually use their educational benefits and it is a shame that we are not educating our returning vets. Not only are we losing the economic asset that an educated veteran becomes but the Federal VA dollars that could be going into our state educational institutions.
Chris Frandsen
Co-Chairman, Texas Veterans for Obama
An Open Letter to Veterans | From Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki
"My name is Ric Shinseki, and I am a Veteran. For me, serving as Secretary of Veterans Affairs is a noble calling. It provides me the opportunity to give back to those who served with and for me during my 38 years in uniform and those on whose shoulders we all stood as we grew up in the profession of arms.
"The Department of Veterans Affairs has a solemn responsibility to all of you, today and in the future, as more Veterans join our ranks and enroll to secure the benefits and services they have earned. I am fully committed to fulfilling President Obama's vision for transforming our department so that it will be well-positioned to perform this duty even better during the 21st Century. We welcome the assistance and advice of our Veterans Service Organizations, other government departments and agencies, Congress, and all VA stakeholders as we move forward, ethically and transparently, so that Veterans and citizens can understand our efforts.
"Creating that vision for transforming the VA into a 21st Century organization requires a comprehensive review of our department. We approach that review understanding that Veterans are central to everything VA does. We know that results count, that the department will be measured by what we do, not what we promise, and that our best days as an organization supporting Veterans are ahead of us. We will fulfill President Lincoln's charge to care for ". . . him, who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan . . ." by redesigning and reengineering ourselves for the future.
"Transforming any institution is supremely challenging; I know this from my own experience in leading large, proud, complex, and high-performing organizations through change. But the best organizations must be prepared to meet the challenging times, evolving technology and, most importantly, evolving needs of clients. Historically, organizations that are unwilling or unable to change soon find themselves irrelevant.
You and your needs are not irrelevant.
"Veterans are our clients, and delivering the highest quality care and services in a timely, consistent and fair manner is a VA responsibility
I take that responsibility seriously and have charged all of the department's employees for their best efforts and support every day to meet our obligations to you. Our path forward is challenging, but the President and Congress support us. They have asked us to do this well-for you. Veterans are our sole reason for existence and our number one priority-bar none. I look forward to working together with all VA employees to transform our department into an organization that reflects the change and commitment our country expects and our Veterans deserve.
"Thank you, and God bless our military, our Veterans, and our Nation."
Signed: Eric K. Shinseki
Many U.S. troops coming home to America's troubled economy have fallen on hard times. Some veterans find themselves looking for jobs to fight off foreclosure and other financial problems.
Sunday, a group of Chicago area community, business and government agencies came together to help them.
Fifteen months ago, Brian Jacobson put his fast food job on hold and headed to Iraq for an Army tour of duty, only to return home and become one of the thousands of jobless veterans.
"Now that I'm out, I find it hard because I don't have a set plan day-to-day," Jacobson
That's the reason why hundreds of veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families attended the second annual Welcome Home celebration. That employment and information fair is the brainchild of Chicago area Veterans Affairs officials and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
"As a returning Iraqi veteran, there was nothing here on campus. It's an opportunity," said Robert Malnik of the UIC Veterans Student Association.
"It's harder for them now. When they return home, there are not as many people hiring," Jesse brown VA Medical Center's Valerie Creedon said.
Fewer businesses looking to hire veterans showed up at the fair this year, but those that did hoped to fill their ranks with former soldiers.
