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December 29, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Wednesday's Links
Activism
Unite to Win. With the constant attacks on the working class, one of the most effective ways to fight back is through unions. Organized labor makes it possible for working people to have their voices heard. The problem is that over the past few years, union membership has been down, and so the people who work for a living are slowly being ignored and taken advantage of. If you work in a job that has a union, you need to take a more active role. If not, it still behooves you to learn about unions and make sure that those around you that can join unions do so. Go to the link above, and learn more about "Unite to Win", and then join the discussion about how to strengthen unions and take the country back.
News
Public Favors Keeping Filibuster Rule in U.S. Senate. (If you can't access that, try an older report, here.) The latest Gallup poll shows that 52% of Americans support the use of the filibuster (and oppose its elimination), while 40% do not support it. That's a good start. It may seem like we're pulling a Chicken Little here, though, constantly saying that the "nuclear option" is pending, but nothing really comes of it. Why is that? Well, we really just report the news, but we gotta start thinking that one of the reasons Frist hasn't pull the trigger is because he simply doesn't have the votes. This wouldn't be all that surprising, since Republicans may want to win, but the more sensible ones realize that this may do permanent damage to their careers. Fortunately, Harry Reid is in charge, and is willing to call Frist's bluff. Keep fighting, Harry!
Who Needs Nature? We're the Military! The Defense Department is, once again, attempting to get a waiver of environmental laws that protect us from problems such as air pollution and hazardous waste. The Pentagon feels that, in the interests of national security, it should be exempt from these regulations. We were initially outraged, but we really shouldn't be surprised. After all, this is the same group of people who, in the interest of national security, felt that the Geneva Convention didn't apply to us either. Incidently, the government ranks the military as the nation's biggest polluter. So maybe it isn't so much an issue of national security as it is an issue of money. As always, the Pentagon's solution (much like Republicans in government everywhere) is not to fix the problem, but change the rules. And with all of Donny Rumsfeld's plans to adjust the military, it's no wonder that they don't want to spend the money. That doesn't make it right, though. You would think that with all the bad press surrounding the military, particularily in regards to Guantanamo Bay, Rumsfeld's military would try to avoid more controversy, but that's clearly not the case. Now, he's publically stated that he wants to close several Army and Air National Guard bases, and that he doesn't need the state governors' approval to do so. Take it from us, folks. Rumsfeld's military is in a bad, bad way right now. Of course, Runsfeld won't be held accountable should anything go drastically wrong. Abu Ghraib taught us that. Why shouldn't we demand more accountability?
Knock Knock. Who's There? Not Medicaid! Facing the prospect of seeing their federal funding slashed, states are now having to come up with ways of making Medicaid work. New proposals by states would raise premiums and limit services. Some states are simply cutting people off, like Tennessee, where 300,000 were dropped from Medicaid. Remember, Medicaid was initially designed as health care for low-income families. Now, some states allow higher-income families to use the program, and perhaps that's part of the problem as well. It's noted that there has been a rapid increase in enrollment into Medicaid. Neither of us are health or economics experts, but it seems like if they economy were doing better, or more jobs were being created, or health care costs were reasonable, less people would need to enroll in Medicaid. Are we wrong?
Editorials
The Real Scandal of Tom DeLay. Even when conservatives try to do something worthwhile, they are stopped by conservatives! Consider Frank Murkowski, who was a Republican Senator in Alaska from 1980-2002, before he became the governor of Alaska. In 2000, Murkowski convinced the Senate to pass the Murkowski worker reform bill, designed to "extend the protection of U.S. labor and minimum-wage laws to the workers in the U.S. territory of the Northern Marianas." You see, Murkowski had seen what was going on in Saipan, and the horrendous working conditions that existed, and pushed his bill through the Senate, who passed it unanimously. Unanimously! The bill then made its way to the House, where it hit one unyielding brick wall, in the name of Tom DeLay. You see, DeLay's connections vacationed in the Marianas, and even took DeLay's family and staff there. DeLay approved of the low wage, 84-hour work-weeks. He called the Marianas "a perfect petri dish of capitalism. It's like my Galapagos Island." He shot down Murkowski's bill, where it died in the house. Admirable ethics, Mr. Tom "Moral Values" DeLay.
HB1212: Compulsory Childbearing for Children. You know a piece of Republican legislation is bad when the Texas newspapers think you've gone over the line. Yesterday, the House listened to arguments on HB 1212, which would require any female under the age of 18 to receive consent from their parents before having an abortion. Circumstances wouldn't matter - she would be forced to carry the child if the parents refuse. And if she disobeys? Jail time! As the Dallas Morning News writes, it's ridiculous to assume that teenagers who don't receive "approval" won't get it done somewhere less healthy and more dangerous. Teenagers who want a judicial "bypass" around their parents will be appointed a guardian who cannot be the minor’s own attorney, but may be a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a member of the clergy, or an "appropriate employee of the Department of Family and Protective Services." Then, if the teenager gets to court, she actually has to show a burden of proof (clear and present evidence) that she must have this abortion. We sincerely hope this bill does not pass, but with the "Theocracy Now!" gang, you can never be too sure. Contact your Representative today, especially if you live in Texas.
The Silent Scream of Numbers. It's not that we're on the "Kerry should have won" horse. If nothing else, that train left the station the minute Kerry decided to take a stand against gay marriage. No, Bob Koehler writes about the 2004 election, and how it was stolen. The media's inexplicable silence over the imperfections, broken machines, faulty systems, long lines and exit poll irregularities of the 2004 election have us wondering how we're going to fix them, since it's obvious that the MSM has no desire to educate the public on what went wrong. We can't let this issue die - the fact that the 2000 election was stolen, and that the 2004 election might have been stolen as well is a grotesque miscarriage of justice. We're pissed off. Are you?
|
December 29, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Wednesday's Links
Activism
Unite to Win. With the constant attacks on the working class, one of the most effective ways to fight back is through unions. Organized labor makes it possible for working people to have their voices heard. The problem is that over the past few years, union membership has been down, and so the people who work for a living are slowly being ignored and taken advantage of. If you work in a job that has a union, you need to take a more active role. If not, it still behooves you to learn about unions and make sure that those around you that can join unions do so. Go to the link above, and learn more about "Unite to Win", and then join the discussion about how to strengthen unions and take the country back.
News
Public Favors Keeping Filibuster Rule in U.S. Senate. (If you can't access that, try an older report, here.) The latest Gallup poll shows that 52% of Americans support the use of the filibuster (and oppose its elimination), while 40% do not support it. That's a good start. It may seem like we're pulling a Chicken Little here, though, constantly saying that the "nuclear option" is pending, but nothing really comes of it. Why is that? Well, we really just report the news, but we gotta start thinking that one of the reasons Frist hasn't pull the trigger is because he simply doesn't have the votes. This wouldn't be all that surprising, since Republicans may want to win, but the more sensible ones realize that this may do permanent damage to their careers. Fortunately, Harry Reid is in charge, and is willing to call Frist's bluff. Keep fighting, Harry!
Who Needs Nature? We're the Military! The Defense Department is, once again, attempting to get a waiver of environmental laws that protect us from problems such as air pollution and hazardous waste. The Pentagon feels that, in the interests of national security, it should be exempt from these regulations. We were initially outraged, but we really shouldn't be surprised. After all, this is the same group of people who, in the interest of national security, felt that the Geneva Convention didn't apply to us either. Incidently, the government ranks the military as the nation's biggest polluter. So maybe it isn't so much an issue of national security as it is an issue of money. As always, the Pentagon's solution (much like Republicans in government everywhere) is not to fix the problem, but change the rules. And with all of Donny Rumsfeld's plans to adjust the military, it's no wonder that they don't want to spend the money. That doesn't make it right, though. You would think that with all the bad press surrounding the military, particularily in regards to Guantanamo Bay, Rumsfeld's military would try to avoid more controversy, but that's clearly not the case. Now, he's publically stated that he wants to close several Army and Air National Guard bases, and that he doesn't need the state governors' approval to do so. Take it from us, folks. Rumsfeld's military is in a bad, bad way right now. Of course, Runsfeld won't be held accountable should anything go drastically wrong. Abu Ghraib taught us that. Why shouldn't we demand more accountability?
Knock Knock. Who's There? Not Medicaid! Facing the prospect of seeing their federal funding slashed, states are now having to come up with ways of making Medicaid work. New proposals by states would raise premiums and limit services. Some states are simply cutting people off, like Tennessee, where 300,000 were dropped from Medicaid. Remember, Medicaid was initially designed as health care for low-income families. Now, some states allow higher-income families to use the program, and perhaps that's part of the problem as well. It's noted that there has been a rapid increase in enrollment into Medicaid. Neither of us are health or economics experts, but it seems like if they economy were doing better, or more jobs were being created, or health care costs were reasonable, less people would need to enroll in Medicaid. Are we wrong?
Editorials
The Real Scandal of Tom DeLay. Even when conservatives try to do something worthwhile, they are stopped by conservatives! Consider Frank Murkowski, who was a Republican Senator in Alaska from 1980-2002, before he became the governor of Alaska. In 2000, Murkowski convinced the Senate to pass the Murkowski worker reform bill, designed to "extend the protection of U.S. labor and minimum-wage laws to the workers in the U.S. territory of the Northern Marianas." You see, Murkowski had seen what was going on in Saipan, and the horrendous working conditions that existed, and pushed his bill through the Senate, who passed it unanimously. Unanimously! The bill then made its way to the House, where it hit one unyielding brick wall, in the name of Tom DeLay. You see, DeLay's connections vacationed in the Marianas, and even took DeLay's family and staff there. DeLay approved of the low wage, 84-hour work-weeks. He called the Marianas "a perfect petri dish of capitalism. It's like my Galapagos Island." He shot down Murkowski's bill, where it died in the house. Admirable ethics, Mr. Tom "Moral Values" DeLay.
HB1212: Compulsory Childbearing for Children. You know a piece of Republican legislation is bad when the Texas newspapers think you've gone over the line. Yesterday, the House listened to arguments on HB 1212, which would require any female under the age of 18 to receive consent from their parents before having an abortion. Circumstances wouldn't matter - she would be forced to carry the child if the parents refuse. And if she disobeys? Jail time! As the Dallas Morning News writes, it's ridiculous to assume that teenagers who don't receive "approval" won't get it done somewhere less healthy and more dangerous. Teenagers who want a judicial "bypass" around their parents will be appointed a guardian who cannot be the minor’s own attorney, but may be a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a member of the clergy, or an "appropriate employee of the Department of Family and Protective Services." Then, if the teenager gets to court, she actually has to show a burden of proof (clear and present evidence) that she must have this abortion. We sincerely hope this bill does not pass, but with the "Theocracy Now!" gang, you can never be too sure. Contact your Representative today, especially if you live in Texas.
The Silent Scream of Numbers. It's not that we're on the "Kerry should have won" horse. If nothing else, that train left the station the minute Kerry decided to take a stand against gay marriage. No, Bob Koehler writes about the 2004 election, and how it was stolen. The media's inexplicable silence over the imperfections, broken machines, faulty systems, long lines and exit poll irregularities of the 2004 election have us wondering how we're going to fix them, since it's obvious that the MSM has no desire to educate the public on what went wrong. We can't let this issue die - the fact that the 2000 election was stolen, and that the 2004 election might have been stolen as well is a grotesque miscarriage of justice. We're pissed off. Are you?
|
December 29, 2005
Unite to Win. With the constant attacks on the working class, one of the most effective ways to fight back is through unions. Organized labor makes it possible for working people to have their voices heard. The problem is that over the past few years, union membership has been down, and so the people who work for a living are slowly being ignored and taken advantage of. If you work in a job that has a union, you need to take a more active role. If not, it still behooves you to learn about unions and make sure that those around you that can join unions do so. Go to the link above, and learn more about "Unite to Win", and then join the discussion about how to strengthen unions and take the country back.
News
Public Favors Keeping Filibuster Rule in U.S. Senate. (If you can't access that, try an older report, here.) The latest Gallup poll shows that 52% of Americans support the use of the filibuster (and oppose its elimination), while 40% do not support it. That's a good start. It may seem like we're pulling a Chicken Little here, though, constantly saying that the "nuclear option" is pending, but nothing really comes of it. Why is that? Well, we really just report the news, but we gotta start thinking that one of the reasons Frist hasn't pull the trigger is because he simply doesn't have the votes. This wouldn't be all that surprising, since Republicans may want to win, but the more sensible ones realize that this may do permanent damage to their careers. Fortunately, Harry Reid is in charge, and is willing to call Frist's bluff. Keep fighting, Harry!
Who Needs Nature? We're the Military! The Defense Department is, once again, attempting to get a waiver of environmental laws that protect us from problems such as air pollution and hazardous waste. The Pentagon feels that, in the interests of national security, it should be exempt from these regulations. We were initially outraged, but we really shouldn't be surprised. After all, this is the same group of people who, in the interest of national security, felt that the Geneva Convention didn't apply to us either. Incidently, the government ranks the military as the nation's biggest polluter. So maybe it isn't so much an issue of national security as it is an issue of money. As always, the Pentagon's solution (much like Republicans in government everywhere) is not to fix the problem, but change the rules. And with all of Donny Rumsfeld's plans to adjust the military, it's no wonder that they don't want to spend the money. That doesn't make it right, though. You would think that with all the bad press surrounding the military, particularily in regards to Guantanamo Bay, Rumsfeld's military would try to avoid more controversy, but that's clearly not the case. Now, he's publically stated that he wants to close several Army and Air National Guard bases, and that he doesn't need the state governors' approval to do so. Take it from us, folks. Rumsfeld's military is in a bad, bad way right now. Of course, Runsfeld won't be held accountable should anything go drastically wrong. Abu Ghraib taught us that. Why shouldn't we demand more accountability?
Knock Knock. Who's There? Not Medicaid! Facing the prospect of seeing their federal funding slashed, states are now having to come up with ways of making Medicaid work. New proposals by states would raise premiums and limit services. Some states are simply cutting people off, like Tennessee, where 300,000 were dropped from Medicaid. Remember, Medicaid was initially designed as health care for low-income families. Now, some states allow higher-income families to use the program, and perhaps that's part of the problem as well. It's noted that there has been a rapid increase in enrollment into Medicaid. Neither of us are health or economics experts, but it seems like if they economy were doing better, or more jobs were being created, or health care costs were reasonable, less people would need to enroll in Medicaid. Are we wrong?
Editorials
The Real Scandal of Tom DeLay. Even when conservatives try to do something worthwhile, they are stopped by conservatives! Consider Frank Murkowski, who was a Republican Senator in Alaska from 1980-2002, before he became the governor of Alaska. In 2000, Murkowski convinced the Senate to pass the Murkowski worker reform bill, designed to "extend the protection of U.S. labor and minimum-wage laws to the workers in the U.S. territory of the Northern Marianas." You see, Murkowski had seen what was going on in Saipan, and the horrendous working conditions that existed, and pushed his bill through the Senate, who passed it unanimously. Unanimously! The bill then made its way to the House, where it hit one unyielding brick wall, in the name of Tom DeLay. You see, DeLay's connections vacationed in the Marianas, and even took DeLay's family and staff there. DeLay approved of the low wage, 84-hour work-weeks. He called the Marianas "a perfect petri dish of capitalism. It's like my Galapagos Island." He shot down Murkowski's bill, where it died in the house. Admirable ethics, Mr. Tom "Moral Values" DeLay.
HB1212: Compulsory Childbearing for Children. You know a piece of Republican legislation is bad when the Texas newspapers think you've gone over the line. Yesterday, the House listened to arguments on HB 1212, which would require any female under the age of 18 to receive consent from their parents before having an abortion. Circumstances wouldn't matter - she would be forced to carry the child if the parents refuse. And if she disobeys? Jail time! As the Dallas Morning News writes, it's ridiculous to assume that teenagers who don't receive "approval" won't get it done somewhere less healthy and more dangerous. Teenagers who want a judicial "bypass" around their parents will be appointed a guardian who cannot be the minor’s own attorney, but may be a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a member of the clergy, or an "appropriate employee of the Department of Family and Protective Services." Then, if the teenager gets to court, she actually has to show a burden of proof (clear and present evidence) that she must have this abortion. We sincerely hope this bill does not pass, but with the "Theocracy Now!" gang, you can never be too sure. Contact your Representative today, especially if you live in Texas.
The Silent Scream of Numbers. It's not that we're on the "Kerry should have won" horse. If nothing else, that train left the station the minute Kerry decided to take a stand against gay marriage. No, Bob Koehler writes about the 2004 election, and how it was stolen. The media's inexplicable silence over the imperfections, broken machines, faulty systems, long lines and exit poll irregularities of the 2004 election have us wondering how we're going to fix them, since it's obvious that the MSM has no desire to educate the public on what went wrong. We can't let this issue die - the fact that the 2000 election was stolen, and that the 2004 election might have been stolen as well is a grotesque miscarriage of justice. We're pissed off. Are you?
