Well, better late than never. Every day I am thankful, and ever more thankful for this turn of events.
I found out what day this was here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/09/politics/100days/main4787370.shtml
More later.
Unemployment: Regardless of the tax breaks, housing issues and all other ideas in any proposal. If you don’t stop the unemployment and put people back to work so they actually have money to benefit from the tax breaks and housing benefits proposed and so they can start purchasing items, getting loans for homes and vehicles, investing in stock and or otherwise spending money, then regardless of the amount of the package, you will not have stimulated spending or our economy. JOBS are the foundation of stimulation.
JOBS: It is vitally important that the jobs created are created throughout the country with various skills. I assure you that those that have lost their jobs and will lose their jobs are from various locations and with various skills. So specific projects, proposed in any bill, will not suffice since they are limited in both location and skill.
How do you create Jobs?: I continuously hear everyone say, including the President, that our small businesses are the backbone of job creation and our economy. Why is that? It’s because they are all across the country and provide a variety of jobs and they borrow and spend?How do you stimulate small business?: Normally small businesses which are existing or that which wish to start up seek private funding through investement, loans and federal assistance. However due to the current economic EMERGENCY, the private sector options are no longer available. This leaves only Federal funding for small businesses. Our Federal agencies hold many applications from small businesses.: Various agencies have applications from small businesses that want to do work, some of which the government is requesting to be done. Some of which they have come up with on their own, which are called “unsolicited proposals” but which could still be of value. Some of this work is manual labor, some of this work is research and a lot of it is a variety of other opportunities.Some funds could already be available!: Many of these Federal agencies most likely already have some funds set aside for Grant funding or other funding. These agencies could pull all small business applications and Grand Total the amounts needed to fund all of them and the stimulus package could authorize additional funds, which may or may not be needed. The stimulus package and/or a Directive by the President should order these agencies to "clear their coffers". This may seem like an extreme measure, but these are extreme times.Some may argue that this will diminish private investment opportunities.: Contrarily by providing these small businesses with funding to start up or perform work, they can begin to invest and seek investors with the capital which is provided to them and/or with their success as they grow .Perhaps some of the funds being directed to the TARP packages could be redirected here.: Since the issue for our financial institutions is not neccesarily having the money available, but rather a way to move the money, our small businesses can provide for two means of helping with this issue. First they can provide the monies through creating bank accounts and/or making deposits into existing accounts. They will conduct daily business that will begin to rotate these funds and stimulate the economy.The definition of small business has already been defined.: The Government has already defined the term "small business", so there is no need to redefine it or figure out what articulates into a small business.These small businesses have already gone through the Grants.gov verification processes!: Before applying for Grants, SBIR’s and/or STTR’s each business must go through a verification process.There are already established monitoring systems set up.: Government auditing, reports and etc..are already established by each agency.Grants.gov already has bank routing numbers for each business.: As a requirement during the verification process, Grants.gov requires that a bank account already be established. The funds could be dispersed quickly and put to use quickly. Unfortunately the amounts they offer, $100,000 to $150,00 in most case are not sufficient to actually start a business. A business beginning with nothing has to have the funds needed to buy supplies, lease property, purchase equipment etc… and cover salaries for at least a year to allow the business to grow and build a customer base which can sustain them. Another source for small business interest is the Small Business Administration.It is important to provide enough funding: to allow for these businesses to start and to have enough to sustain them for at least a year, two years would be best, so that they can build a customer base to sustain themselves. Not all will succeed and it could be required that unused funds be returned if they fail. But I believe there will be many more that will succeed and some may even provide us all with some unexpected benefits.So have theses agencies, a list of Granting Agencies is on Grants.gov, pull all small business applications and provide funding. Open up more opportunities for small businesses. These small businesses are ready, willing and able to begin work and put others to work, so let them. What is the real benefit of small business?They employ, they buy, they bank, they borrow, they invest, they provide investment opportunities and they spend all across the country.: This stabilizes current businesses and allows them to hire more employees, to buy, to borrow and to spend. They all pay taxes to their states, they pay for permits from municipalities, counties and/or other forms of government, creating State and local revenue. They are perpetual, in that they continue, whereas a stimulus check to Americans may help, it does not provide a continuing of spending and rotation of capital as small businesses would while conducting daily business. They do not require any trade agreement specifications or a “Buy American” provision.Their employees buy, bank, invest, borrow and spend all across the country.: They pay State and local taxes which creates revenue for them.
How do you create Jobs?: I continuously hear everyone say, including the President, that our small businesses are the backbone of job creation and our economy. Why is that? It’s because they are all across the country and provide a variety of jobs and they borrow and spend?
How do you stimulate small business?: Normally small businesses which are existing or that which wish to start up seek private funding through investement, loans and federal assistance. However due to the current economic EMERGENCY, the private sector options are no longer available. This leaves only Federal funding for small businesses.
Our Federal agencies hold many applications from small businesses.: Various agencies have applications from small businesses that want to do work, some of which the government is requesting to be done. Some of which they have come up with on their own, which are called “unsolicited proposals” but which could still be of value. Some of this work is manual labor, some of this work is research and a lot of it is a variety of other opportunities.
Some funds could already be available!: Many of these Federal agencies most likely already have some funds set aside for Grant funding or other funding. These agencies could pull all small business applications and Grand Total the amounts needed to fund all of them and the stimulus package could authorize additional funds, which may or may not be needed. The stimulus package and/or a Directive by the President should order these agencies to "clear their coffers". This may seem like an extreme measure, but these are extreme times.
Some may argue that this will diminish private investment opportunities.: Contrarily by providing these small businesses with funding to start up or perform work, they can begin to invest and seek investors with the capital which is provided to them and/or with their success as they grow .
Perhaps some of the funds being directed to the TARP packages could be redirected here.: Since the issue for our financial institutions is not neccesarily having the money available, but rather a way to move the money, our small businesses can provide for two means of helping with this issue. First they can provide the monies through creating bank accounts and/or making deposits into existing accounts. They will conduct daily business that will begin to rotate these funds and stimulate the economy.
The definition of small business has already been defined.: The Government has already defined the term "small business", so there is no need to redefine it or figure out what articulates into a small business.
These small businesses have already gone through the Grants.gov verification processes!: Before applying for Grants, SBIR’s and/or STTR’s each business must go through a verification process.
There are already established monitoring systems set up.: Government auditing, reports and etc..are already established by each agency.
Grants.gov already has bank routing numbers for each business.: As a requirement during the verification process, Grants.gov requires that a bank account already be established. The funds could be dispersed quickly and put to use quickly.
Unfortunately the amounts they offer, $100,000 to $150,00 in most case are not sufficient to actually start a business. A business beginning with nothing has to have the funds needed to buy supplies, lease property, purchase equipment etc… and cover salaries for at least a year to allow the business to grow and build a customer base which can sustain them. Another source for small business interest is the Small Business Administration.
It is important to provide enough funding: to allow for these businesses to start and to have enough to sustain them for at least a year, two years would be best, so that they can build a customer base to sustain themselves. Not all will succeed and it could be required that unused funds be returned if they fail. But I believe there will be many more that will succeed and some may even provide us all with some unexpected benefits.
So have theses agencies, a list of Granting Agencies is on Grants.gov, pull all small business applications and provide funding. Open up more opportunities for small businesses. These small businesses are ready, willing and able to begin work and put others to work, so let them.
What is the real benefit of small business?
They employ, they buy, they bank, they borrow, they invest, they provide investment opportunities and they spend all across the country.: This stabilizes current businesses and allows them to hire more employees, to buy, to borrow and to spend. They all pay taxes to their states, they pay for permits from municipalities, counties and/or other forms of government, creating State and local revenue. They are perpetual, in that they continue, whereas a stimulus check to Americans may help, it does not provide a continuing of spending and rotation of capital as small businesses would while conducting daily business. They do not require any trade agreement specifications or a “Buy American” provision.Their employees buy, bank, invest, borrow and spend all across the country.: They pay State and local taxes which creates revenue for them.
They employ, they buy, they bank, they borrow, they invest, they provide investment opportunities and they spend all across the country.: This stabilizes current businesses and allows them to hire more employees, to buy, to borrow and to spend. They all pay taxes to their states, they pay for permits from municipalities, counties and/or other forms of government, creating State and local revenue. They are perpetual, in that they continue, whereas a stimulus check to Americans may help, it does not provide a continuing of spending and rotation of capital as small businesses would while conducting daily business. They do not require any trade agreement specifications or a “Buy American” provision.
Their employees buy, bank, invest, borrow and spend all across the country.: They pay State and local taxes which creates revenue for them.
In the end, the only real stimulation you could provide which can do what needs done, is through creating jobs all across the country with a variety of work skills. To meet that objective effectively you have to build up your small business base.
That way when all the other bills such as TARP and others can actually do some good.
Americans have a way of pulling themselves up. Give us a chance to show you how well we can do that and help us, help you, help us all.
Small Businesses, existing and new, could play a big part of stimulating our economy and progression to recovery. It should be included in conjunction with other ideas which are currently a part of the plan.
Katrinas struggle is being realized today. The shame and fear brought by old leaders transformed today, into realized hope for a new and better way. It is here people, finally it January 20, 2009 we are here.
Today is here finally my kids are here watching the innauguration of our great new leader, they helped with millions of others become our President.
The sin of our parents is the opportunity and challenge of our today, the hope of our children's children, and the legacy of our generation to stand in the gap and fight for the land for a better tomorrow. We have already been admonished to “first go, and be reconciled, one to another...”
I'd like to see a TV or radio program scheduled regularly during prime time
Entertaining enough to attract segments of population who ordinarily wouldn't keep up with political news and factual and informative enough for the segment of population who defininitely do. A show for all people.......
One that outlines each of Obama's Teams, their purposes, plans, processes, progress, and successes. One that inspired and lets the American public know what they need to do to be involved and do their part. One that creates enthusiasm for Americans and other nations as well.
and One that creates unity of humanity, peace, and hope.
God bless America! and God bless all the peoples of this beautiful country. Today we are thankful for what has taken place, but let us all remember that it still all depends on us the people to see this journey through for a better and brighter future.
I thank God for the President elect - Senator Barack Obama - God bless his wife Michelle and their young daughters and all of their extended families. To the Vice-President elect and his family I say God bless.
I thank God for Senator John McCain, for the soldier that he is, for the strength and courage that he showed to the American people, his speech was delivered with grace of character. God bless his family also.
Finally what I have to say to the American people, is to be at peace with oneself. WE ALL DID IT! White, Black, Latino, Hispanic, and all the other ethnic groups, change is inevitable and we progress from here onward.......We The People One Nation under God created equal to love and serve each other.
The United States of America!!! God Bless!
THE DAWNING OF A NEW ERA!
OK, we worked hard, rode the rollar coaster of this election through to success for Barack and ourselves. Now what? Here's what I'm doing. I'm reaching out to McCain supporters with the hand of friendship. Today I am taking a pink rose from the mixed boquet I bought myself yesterday after voting and giving it to the mother with the McCain/Palin bumper sticker whose son is in the same pre-k class as my son (who hugged both Barack and Joe in the 48 hours before polls opened! Kid gets at least one benefit from having a disabled mother - close-up seats at political rallies by sitting on my lap while I'm in a wheelchair and praying that none of us have to go to the bathroom before the rally ends and the crowd thins out). Open the walls of this tent and invite the rest of the country into to help with this work, by extending some personal kindness to someone you were trying hard not to sneer at for their lawn signs the last month or so. Live the kind of world you want to reside in.
(please feel free to forward this on - this out-reach message is "open source")
DragonMama in Cleveland, mama of the kid with the monkey backpack (which is a harness/leash) and his little brother D.
I believe, with all my heart, that America will be on the road to change if Barack Obama is elected President of the United States of America. We, as Americans, will then have the perfect chance to contribute to this cause. The reason I believe this is because Barack said it. He said, as he spoke in Henderson, Nevada yesterday (October 31st), that 5 million jobs will be created after he becomes President. Jobs, in my opinion, are one of the things that makes our Nation great. We absolutely need to be the Nation that invents things and values education.
I have come to see that Barack is a man of his word. He's honest and helps communities become better. From the stories I've seen of him, he has committed his life to helping people have better lives. I started out being a supporter of Hillary Clinton. She's a very smart woman. She, and her husband, think that people come first in our country. They certainly do! Without people, we wouldn't have the wonderful towns and businesses that make this country great. The corporations wouldn't have advocates of their own businesses without American employees. Inventions wouldn't happen so quickly without American creativity. The military wouldn't be so quick to respond without American patriotism. Barack knows, from what I've heard, that people are very important when it comes to making this country great.
But soon, I realized that Barack had the attention of the younger generation by huge amounts! And that is when I paid more attention. A lightbulb went on over my head! I realized I was still thinking and remembering the 1990's! I then realized we needed to be in the 21st century, and our younger generation seemed to know that better than me! Senator Obama showed me the way as he organized his way to the top of the Democratic Campaign! He called me personally one day to tell me so, but at the time I didn't know who he was! I said I was a Hillary supporter and that was how it was! He said, at the end of our conversation, "Well, Mrs. Morrison, remember, you'll have to think of who the RIGHT candidate is before you vote"! That sentence was in my mind for months later! I didn't quite understand what he meant by "the RIGHT candidate". I always prided myself on thinking I knew who the right person for President could be.
Senator Obama's vision paves a path forward that will be transitional. We need to improve our country with more jobs, improve infrastructure, and improve education, to become more competitive. I was told recently by my son, who is taking classes at a community college to get a Cisco Certification in Silicon Valley, that Cisco is slowing down on hiring because they are waiting to see who is going to be elected for President! Now I would say that maybe that is smart of them to do that. But, on the other hand, my husband, http://www.chuckmorrison.com, has noticed a significant slowing down in the hiring process this September and October. He's a Sr. Project Manager that normally can be hired within a months time, but now he is seeing this slowdown in Silicon Valley. It appears that our America is so concerned about what is happening within this current administration, the corporations don't want to move forward until after the election. This is obvious if you are watching the stock market and the financial crisis that has gripped the country! Senator Obama wants to change the deceptive eight year behaviour of this administration by making more jobs open to the public. What good does it do for a country that can't move forward because they are in a stale-mate!
I have made two pictures for the art community I contribute too. One picture shows that we need a new path to progress in America. This is where you can see it: http://www.artistrising.com/products/344468/path-to-progress.htm We need a new path where everyone is involved in order to move our country forward. The other picture was made as a digital painting from two pictures I photographed from my own televison set! http://www.artistrising.com/products/344371/we-the-people.htm This picture is about working together to promote change and progress in America and shows the last scenes at the Democratic Convention at the stadium, as a digital painting. I hope you enjoy looking at them. So far, they seem to be staying on the front page of the "People" section at http://www.artistrising.com. It appears people are looking at them. I know people want hope and change for our country.
I would like to stress the importance of the idea of creating new jobs in America. The Nation has moved in a downward curve for eight years. We can't stand much more. We need a President with inspiration and hope to move our country forward. We the People can do it with this kind of inspired leadership. We can move down a New Path to Progress if Barack Obama is elected!
Now that my husband showed me how to post images on this blog, I thought I'd post a couple of graphics I made to print on our own personal tee-shirts. It is easy to print them on iron-on transfer sheets, iron them on and wear! They are simple, but they actually look great on the shirts! Obama is such a positive force that artist of all genre have been creating works for, of and about him and his vision.
How awesome is that?! A political leader who inspires people to be creative and to be polite and respectful.
My step-daughter and I wear the tee-shirts while cavassing. I like that they convey powerful singular words that describe Barack Obama.
This next one I didn't design, it was designed by Shepard Fairey, but I printed a copy of it on a teeshirt because it is my favorite graphic of Obama so far.
1. Beliefs create behaviors. In order to change behaviors, you must change beliefs. For a list of 9 provocative fundamental beliefs that pervade contemporary humanity but which could be detrimental to our further progress as a human race read "The new revelations" by Neale D. Walsch.
2. There is such a thing as collective consciousness. It is the sum total of all the mental impulses of all the people of a group/country. That collective consciousness is what runs the thinking and actions of a government. When Obama sits to administer society, it will be the mind of the nation that will guide his thoughts and his hands. Therefore, it is imperative that collective consciousness be wisely handled for optimal national progress. See "Maharishi Effect" research on the theory, research and technology of handling collective consciousness.
supports implementation of an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade system to reduce carbon emissions
by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. This market
mechanism has worked before and will give all American consumers and businesses the
incentives to use their ingenuity to develop economically effective solutions to climate change.
Obama's cap‐and‐trade policy will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent
auction ensures that all industries pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving
these valuable emission rights away to companies on the basis of their past pollution. A small
portion of the receipts generated by auctioning allowances ($15 billion per year) will be used to
support the development of clean energy, invest in energy efficiency improvements, and help
develop the next generation of biofuels and clean energy vehicles – measures that will help the
economy and help meet the emissions reduction targets. It will also be used to provide new
funding to state and federal land and wildlife managers to restore habitat, create wildlife
migration corridors, and assist fish and wildlife to adapt to the effects of a warming climate. All
remaining receipts will be used for rebates and other transition relief to ensure that families and
communities are not adversely impacted by the transition to a new energy, low carbon economy.
2.Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders. America boasts the
highest‐skilled manufacturing workforce in the world and advanced manufacturing facilities that
have powered economic growth in America for decades. Barack Obama believes that America
companies and workers should build the high‐demand technologies of the future, and he will help
nurture America’s success in clean technology manufacturing by establishing a federal investment
program to help manufacturing centers modernize and help Americans learn new skills to produce green
products. This federal grant program will allocate money to the states to identify
and support local manufacturers with the most compelling plans for modernizing existing or
closed manufacturing facilities to produce new advanced clean technologies. This investment will
help provide the critical up‐front capital needed by small and mid‐size manufacturers to produce
these innovative new technologies. Along with an increased federal investment in the research,
development and deployment of advanced technologies, this $1 billion per year investment will
help spur sustainable economic growth in communities across the country.
I believe in sustainability. I believe we have a significant amount of waste in our society and lifestyle that could make up a considerable amount of the difference between what we have and what we import in the way of energy (NOT oil). The remainder of the difference is doable by existing alternative energy sources and by the incredible amount of innovation our people have if they put their mind to a specific problem. There are countless unconfirmed stories about people inventing devices that could save millions of gallons of gasoline but one way or the other were not allowed to come to 'market'. We can DO what is in front of our faces if we only decide to DO IT! Lets see what ideas any of you can come up with that are practical and implementable solutions so that a President like Barack Obama would use the Office of The President and all the resources available to help develop your dream for our country. The only limit I know of is our imagination.
From the climactic end of the Democratic Convention through the shocking selection of Sarah Palin, I have sensed a GOP attack machine in high gear, using all their devious arts to try and damage our candidate. They put some of their ugly message into our convention coverage (thanks to the MSM), and they’re recycling the old character attacks, plus submitting new ones. But their attacks are getting shriller and shriller, even taking on an edge (in my opinion) of desperation. That desperation is born of the realization that Barack Obama is beating their game, slowly but surely.Obama’s acceptance speech subverted the GOP message, canned in advance, which anticipated fluff and empty rhetoric. Instead, he presented substantive proposals, and millions of the doubtful were watching. Those millions must have wondered at the GOP message, asking themselves if the critics were talking about the same speech they saw. Doubts.When rumors about Gov. Palin’s 5th child achieved MSM status, Sen. Obama nobly and forcefully denounced the rumor mongers and seriously threatened any staff members who participated. Millions heard it. When the GOP accuses the Democrats of unfairly attacking Palin’s family, those millions must wonder if they’re talking about Obama’s Democrats. Doubts.When Hurricane Gustav threatened New Orleans, McCain’s “presidential” response was to travel personally to a few hundred miles from the coast. Obama offered his millions of supporters for volunteer relief and no one, to my knowledge, claimed it was an empty gesture. The undecided millions must have wondered who was being truly presidential and who chose the standard photo-op. Doubts.Stay tuned.The attack ads and e-mails and VP appointments that worry us so much are aimed at the true believers, the 25% who believe G.W. Bush is doing a “heck of a job,” and the millions just beyond them who still have doubts about this new guy. But the doubts are slowly being turned around. Obama and his team are skillfully turning the tables on the methods that have always worked before. The watchers who have always been ready to accept GOP claims are beginning to wonder if they’re being lied to. Skepticism, slowly but surely, is on the rise.I’m starting to liken this campaign to a wagon train of settlers moving toward a new frontier, the far horizon. We are debating the choice of wagon master. Our candidate insists that the high road is the best way to reach the Promised Land. We believe him. In our hearts we’re sure it’s true. But sometimes, when the going gets rough, we can’t believe how difficult it is. It’s stony and steep and full of hazards. The road has been neglected and untraveled, so we have to chop at the narrow places, rebuilding bridges and culverts, removing debris and obstacles caused by erosion. Sometimes we have to put our backs to the wheels to get them over the boulders and fallen trees, many put there by rivals to impede our progress.The opposing candidate is leading a section of the wagon train to the low road, knowing it’s easier and better traveled, and he claims it leads to the same place. You and I don’t think so. We’re sure it only goes deeper into the valley and ends at a swamp of cutthroat competition, leaving the less able to sink out of site in the mud.The writing of the American Constitution and the creation of a unique form of government of the people, by the people and for the people was a high point of human progress achieved on this continent more then 200 years ago. America has since surmounted other high points on the road to its destiny of leading mankind toward freedom and self determination. There will be others to climb, followed by gullies and canyons to be crossed on the journey to a high, fertile plateau. Maybe we can’t see it yet, but we know it’s there, on the far horizon, where people from all the tribes can prosper in peaceful commerce.We should consider ourselves the scouts and engineers of the high road. As we use and improve the neglected track way, making it smoother and easier to travel, more wagons will follow. As more follow, the wider and smoother it becomes. But it will always tend uphill, and require steady effort.
The slope that we're on now rises to what I call a Rennaisance of Reason. After years of political destruction based on division and rancor, Americans are now hungry for leadership based on rational debate, rather than mutual recriminations. Barack Obama can provide it. He and we are the new pioneers, following the dreams of our nation's founders, the extraordinary leaders who have come after them, and the great thinkers who have gone before. The destination is a society in which no one is denied the opportunity to do their best for themselves and for each other, with liberty and justice for all.
Slowly but surely. Wagons Ho.
I've always been somewhat of a "campaigner" but usually for local organizations (I'm a Band Mom!) and personal issues. It's no surprise to anyone who knows me that I'm the first to raise my hand and volunteer when something important needs to get done. I don't know anything other than to stand up for what I believe in and what matters. It's also the example I want to set for my children, to pay attention to the world around us and when you can, step in and help make it a better place. But until now, the presidential elections I've participated in never excited me, or made me feel like the results really mattered one way or the other.
Barack Obama's optimism is what I was waiting for. Finally, someone who spoke a true vision of possibilities and hope, rather than fear and aggression. Someone who recognized that 'we the people' hadn't been heard from in far too long. In short, he inspired me to be one of the people who would be heard. And if my involvement with this campaign only inspires others in turn, I've done what I set out to do.
So, I decided to get involved. At first, it was just buying car magnets (for the front AND the back!) and attending meetings. Then I started registering voters ~ some by knocking on doors, some by just asking my family and friends. And then the convention started! What inspiration! Tonight alone I signed up to attend a watch party, printed out a list of neighbors that I can talk to (and I will!) and started this blog. The cherry on top? I started my own fundraising page with a goal of $1000 ~ and I sent an invitation to donate to my e-mail contacts. Phew!
I'll keep posting on my progress...but most importantly, I'll keep pushing for it!
“If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.”Obama
We all have to keep walking every day to make progress, but many of us are walking down the wrong path in life. Make a change for yourself and by taking those first steps eventually progress will find you!
If choosing Obama is that change - congratulations you have made a choice for us all to see and experience progress and in that choice we can all find self perspective if we put our hearts in it!
Everyone is excited about events, plugging along campaigning, but let's not forget to look around: JOHN MCCAIN IS CATCHING UP. The Obama campaign must now be PROACTIVE, and not REACTIVE. And Senator Obama must link the BUSH POLICIES with the FAILING ECONOMY. He must link JOHN MCCAIN WITH BUSH - irrefutably, so that the public can see what Senator Obama means by change. And he needs to do this simply, in a slogan fashion, so that people can get behind it. We must move from YES WE CAN to NOW WE WILL. And then spell out what the plan is - simply and soon! Let's not lose! Let's win. Let's campaign smarter, and leave the Republicans in the Dust, giving their voters an alternative to McCain.
As a concerned citizen of the United States I feel the need to speak out on this issue. We have one last chance to prevent the FISA bill from becoming law. It lies in the hands of the senate. Please act now and stop the senate from making a terrible decision which takes away one of the most fundamental and progressive values, the right to privacy.
Do not let the Senate give the phone companies and the Bush administration a free ride for past and future violations of our basic civil liberties. Ask your senators to stop this bill by supporting a filibuster and voting NO against a bill that gives the phone companies amnesty. Protect your privacy rights.
As a Barack Obama supporter I also feel the need to speak out to other Obama supporters who are pissed off about his support of the so-called FISA compromise. I too share your concerns. I am an independent who has financially supported the Barack Obama campaign from the very beginning. I am a volunteer for his campaign. I've phone banked, canvassed, was precinct captain, served as precinct secretary at the primaries, attended the county convention as a delegate, and continue to be involved in his campaign.
I want to remind you that we make up this movement and we need to make our voices heard. I didn't come into this campaign delusional (as some have called us) expecting or seeing Barack as this perfect candidate who will never do wrong or make mistakes. He is human and is under extreme pressures and his every move is being monitored and critiqued.
Barack Obama is not the perfect candidate who will make every one of his supporters happy. This movement is made up of independents, republicans, and democrats. It is impossible to make us all happy. We must continue to use our voice and act intelligently.
So again, to all of you, who are as pissed off as I am, please think about the full consequences of your actions. There are some who want to bail out of supporting the Obama campaign and are considering voting McCain, Nader, or not voting at all. Please reconsider. I am an activist and believe in the power of your voice.
Let's continue to voice our opposition to issues we disagree on, but let's not lose sight of the ultimate goal. Barack Obama is the best candidate and needs to be in the White House. Would you, in good conscience, vote for McCain? Do you want McCain as president of the United States of America? Are you at peace with getting McCain in the White House? If you aren't (because I know for sure that I DO NOT want that), then let's continue to use our voice and speak out on issues, but lets be careful about bailing out of this campaign and throwing in the towel. Barack said it himself; we are the ones we've been waiting for. We have to continue this fight for a better America and for a better world. It's not going to be easy. There will be many challenges ahead of us...this is just the beginning.
I'm not going to give up. I can't give up. I hope you won't either.
Let's make some real intelligent noise. Below is a list of things you can do to make a real difference (you must do this Monday).
The Senate switchboard is (202) 224-312. Tell them your state and ask them to connect you to your senator. Be sure to speak with both senators from your state. When you complete your calls, let American Progress know what happened using this report form.
Sign the petition.
Deliver a handout to your senators stating your opposition to the FISA bill. Please download the handout, sign it, and deliver. Download your handout here.
If you are a supporter of the Barack Obama campaign, join the group created on his organizing website which is trying to impact his decision from within the campaign. You can join the group here.
Make some intelligent noise.
Don't lose faith.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
Think progress. Act progressively.
Peace. Don't sleep. - g
Just wond'rin’ - Should Scarlet Johansson's e-mails to Obama be called "Scarlet Letters"?
"I face this challenge...with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment - this was time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves and our highest ideals.”[Senator Barack Obama]"[Dr. King’s] appeal was rooted in the larger context of nonviolence. His stated purpose was always to redeem the soul of America… To see Dr. King and his colleagues as anything less than modern founders of democracy - even as racial healers and reconcilers - is to diminish them under the spell of myth. Dr. King said the movement would liberate not only segregated black people but also the white South. Surely this is true." [Taylor Branch, “The Last Wish of Martin Luther King”]
http://www.revart.blogs.com/
The greatest battle the world faces is that between fear (which breeds selfishness) and progress. It is fear which holds back modernity. It is fear that breeds division. And it is fear which allows people to justify callousness.
Fear causes the stem cell research ban. Fear allows global warming to continue its course. Fear holds back the technologies of the future (you know, the ones we were supposed to have already). Let go your fear and face the world that is much bigger than you.
Fear is the cause of LGBT persecution. Fear warms the fires of racism and sexism. Fear causes the "liberal/conservative" divide. Let go your fear and accept the people which God created.
Fear is what allows us to debate the merits of torture. Fear will not extend Habeaus Corpus to all peoples. Fear allows one to believe his persecutions are just. Let go your fear and realize your conscious self.
Fear can only be conquered through the realization that your self is not that important. It is the power of you have been given to bring about change that is important. And it is up to you wether you will allow fear to control that destiny, or progress.
