Ax the Flat Tax-7p-November 3

Axe the Flat Tax Forum with Sen. Paula Aboud

Learn how the proposed flat tax will affect you. "It makes no sense. It just shifts the burden from high income earners to low and middle income earners," says Sen. Aboud. "It brings in no new money."
Thursday, November 3rd, 7:00 PM
 St. Mark's United Methodist Church on the southwest corner of La Canada and Magee.


From the Obama Campaign 10/25/2011
Today, we're launching an important ad in Arizona, attacking Mitt Romney's plan for struggling homeowners -- which is to let the housing market "hit the bottom" and allow investors to swoop in to make a profit buying and selling foreclosed homes.

In essence, Mitt Romney is telling the Arizona families hit hardest by this crisis, "You are on your own."

This ad campaign is a direct challenge to the false premise that Arizona will always support the failed policies of Republicans. We need to organize now to make sure these Republicans are held accountable for positions like this.

Watch our latest ad -- and sign up today to volunteer for OFA in the weeks and months to come, click here.

I would never have believed

{Absolutely personal opinion-maybe a dream!}

Tucson's Number One Republican contributor and front man for Mitt Romney in Arizona has finally been kicked where it has to hurt.

Catch this, those Southern Christian solid Republican voters don't like Romney's religion.  Add more to the fire, now leading the pack of Republican candidates for President, a former pizza peddler and a black man who is wowing the Republican rank and file with a national 9% sales tax.

The party that came up with the "Southern Strategy", kissed up to KKK folks like David Duke, cheer leads for anti union Republican governors and vote suppressing GOP state legislatures is dumping one of their own kind, the "confederate governor" of Texas,  (we can break away from the United States and form our own country) for a true non political type who once tried to become an United States Senator and lost, but is now moving up the ladder to the highest political office in the country.  (He's not a politician because he lost the election, just being a candidate for political office doesn't count.)

How does this play locally?  Tucson's Mr. Republican, part time TV personality and car salesman, how are you going to like a 18% plus sales tax on a automobile that sells for thirty thousand dollars?

The number one Republican for President in "the polls" MR. CAIN is a business wonder, just ask him.   The man who wants to lower the income tax for the rich to 9% and will make it fair by charging the same 9% rate for the poor pizza delivery person living on tips and below minimum wage.

Street demonstrations and peace marches may have run one United States President out of office, mark it down with almost nothing seeming to be going right, another U.S. President is about to receive the biggest election lift of all time, the Occupy Wall Street patriots!

 “Occupy” protests across the country, the veterans of the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam war protests and anti-nuclear proliferation demonstrations appear to be relishing being back in the struggle, supporting the “kids” and mobilizing other seniors to join in.  All across the country the streets are filling with a movement of discontent, but this time not aimed at the White House but in step and in concert with President Obama.

We can take to the streets in support, but just as important on the way make sure our family, friends and neighbors are registered to vote!  It will be cool to watch the money being thrown into the election and the people win anyway!  Harvey Akeson

Liar-Liar Pants on Fire

Recycled Spin at New Hampshire GOP Debate
or Circle of False Statements

October 11, 2011

FACTS REVEALED  click here
(only for those who care)

Republican presidential candidates repeated several claims they've made before. The candidates participated in a roundtable-style discussion at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where they reiterated false and misleading lines about the federal health care law, the debt ceiling debate, job creation and more.

Danger-The GOP's Two Best-No Joke?

According to the national polls these are the two leaders for the Republicans Presidential Nomination... Mitt Romney recently railed against raising corporate taxes asserting, “Corporations are people!” And he’s appointed Robert Bork who was famously rejected by the Senate for a Supreme Court seat because he was such a far-right radical — as his chief adviser on judicial nominations! If that’s not a clear signal to both the Radical Religious AND Corporate Right that Romney is willing to do their bidding on judicial nominations and a host of other issues, I don’t know what is. Texas Governor Rick Perry has written that Social Security is unconstitutional and called it an “outrageous lie” and a “Ponzi scheme.” This summer, Perry hosted an exclusionary prayer rally with some of the most bigoted leaders on the Religious Right and he’s such a shill for Big Oil that he said of the BP Oil Spill, “from time to time, there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented.” Join Democrats of Oro Valley Meetup List for Meeting Notices and Items of Interest

Click here

Why do Republicans hate Social Security?

Republicans hate Social Security because it has been an extraordinary success and has done exactly what it was designed to do. It is the most successful government program in our nation's history and is enormously popular.

When Social Security was developed, 50 percent of seniors lived in poverty. Today, that number is 10 percent -- still too high, but a testament to the success of Social Security.

Republicans have spent years demonizing Social Security and spreading lies about its sustainability. They want to scare Americans and build support for making drastic cuts to the program or privatizing it entirely. Their long-term goal is to end Social Security as we know it, and convert it into a private account system which will enable Wall Street to make hundreds of billions in profits.

The truth is that, today, according to the Social Security Administration, Social Security has a $2.7 trillion surplus and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 25 years.

Further, because it is funded by the payroll tax and not the U.S. Treasury, Social Security has not contributed one nickel to our deficit.

Now -- in a prolonged recession that has decimated the poor and middle class and pushed more Americans into poverty than at any point in modern history -- we need to strengthen Social Security. That's why I, along with nine co-sponsors, have introduced the "Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act." This legislation would lift the Social Security Payroll tax cap on all income over $250,000 a year, would require millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share into the Social Security Trust Fund, and would extend the program for the next 75 years.

Join me now as a citizen co-sponsor of the Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act.
For 76 years, through good times and bad, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible American. The most effective way to strengthen Social Security for the next 76 years is to scrap the payroll tax cap for those earning $250,000 a year or more.

Right now, someone who earns $106,800 pays the same amount of money into Social Security as billionaires like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. That is because today, all income above $106,800 is exempt from the Social Security tax. As a result, 94% of Americans pay Social Security tax on all of their income, but the wealthiest 6% do not.

That makes no sense.

The "Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act" will ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security without cutting benefits, raising the retirement age or raising taxes on the middle class.

Join me and Democracy for America in fighting to strengthen Social Security -- Sign on as a citizen co-sponsor of the Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act.

Social Security is keeping tens of millions of seniors out of poverty today. I can think of no more important issue facing our country today than making sure that Social Security remains strong for generations to come.

Thank you.

-Bernie

Senator Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator from Vermont

I need your help, reward dinner with President Obama

I have a goal to raise $2000 for the Obama Campaign.  Just a drop in the bucket for the overall 2012 Obama Campaign, but a heck of a lot of money to raise from just plain ordinary folks like us.

Make a small donation for a Dinner with Barack contest sign-up form for a chance to join the President and three other supporters for dinner.

Please help me reach my goal, and Thanks!

Click here

Another Voice Opposing Rosemont Mine

Democrats of Oro Valley Resolution in Opposition to granting mining permit to Rosemont Mines

WHEREAS, Local governments including Pima County, City of Tucson, and others have gone on record in opposition to approval of mining in Pima County under the name Rosemont Mine; and

WHEREAS, the long term interest and importance of highest and best use of limited water resources would be permanently damaged by such mining activities as to be undertaken by Rosemont Mine,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democrats of Oro Valley oppose any new mining permits to Rosemont Mine as having a negative impact on the biological and long-term economic viability of southern Arizona.

BE IT ALSO KNOWN, the Democrats of Oro Valley sharply disagree with the change of determination in opposition to the Rosemont Mine by the Town Council of Oro Valley.

PASSED BY THE MEMBERSHIP of the Democrats of Oro Valley, a state and county recognized organization, on September 12, 2011.

Sign up for Democrats of Oro Valley

Information & Meeting Notices

After 10 years of the Bush/Republican Tax Cuts

Beware who are  now leading the Republican Party.  This is the real world as President Obama attempts to bring the United States back from where eight years of a Republican Administration has dumped on us.  Deep in debt, wars on two different fronts, tax cuts for the few wealthy, a growing national deficit and our people without jobs. 

 By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY/9/13/2011

Household income drops to lowest point since '96

The median income of U.S. households fell 2.3% in 2010 to the lowest level since 1996 after adjusting for inflation, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday.

The annual report also said the number of families living in poverty rose 2.6 million to 46.2 million, the largest increase since Census began keeping track 52 years ago. Long-term unemployment has left millions of people out of work and struggling to find jobs.

"It's all about joblessness," said Timothy Smeeding, director of the Institute for the Research of Poverty at the University of Wisconsin. "Young guys don't have work, and poverty would be even higher if so many 25- to 34-year-olds weren't living at home with their parents."

• BLOG: U.S. poverty highest since 1983

The weak economy has driven household income down for three straight years, to $49,445 in 2010, a total 6.4% decline since the recession began in December 2007. The government says the recession ended in June 2009.

Poor people and minorities were hit hardest. Median income for black households fell 3.6% to $32,206 while white household income dropped 1.3% to $54,620.

Income fell least for the most affluent households — down 1.2% to $180,810 in 2010 for the top 5% of households. Income declines got increasingly large down the income ladder. The bottom fifth of households — those making $20,000 or less in 2010 — saw incomes decline 3.8% after inflation.

"There is a widening of the gap between the extreme top and bottom," said Edward Welniak, chief of income statistics at the Census.

The release of the data comes as President Obama pushes Congress to pass a $447 billion jobs creation proposal that he unveiled last week. Obama was in Ohio on Tuesday selling his jobs plan in the key battleground state.

The report showed that a record number of women live in poverty and extreme poverty. The poverty rate among women climbed to 14.5% in 2010 from 13.9% in 2009, the highest in 17 years, according to an analysis by the National Women's Law Center.

The extreme poverty rate for women jumped to an all-time high of 6.3% in 2010 from 5.9% in 2009.

"The record numbers of women and families living in extreme poverty and without health insurance should send an urgent wake-up call to Congress to tackle the immediate deficit facing this nation — the lack of jobs — by acting swiftly on President Obama's job creation proposals and passing a robust package that will put millions of American women and men back to work," said Joan Entmacher, NWLC vice president for Family Economic Security.

The report showed the share of people without health insurance rose from 16.1% to 16.3%, 49.9 million people. The number of people with private insurance fell while the number covered by government programs increased.

Congress passed a health care overhaul last year to deal with rising numbers of the uninsured. Though the main provisions do not take effect until 2014, one aspect taking effect in late 2010 allowed young adults until age 26 to be covered under their parents' health insurance.

Brett O'Hara, chief of the Health and Disability Statistics branch at the Census Bureau, noted that the uninsured rate for adults ages 18 to 24 declined last year, from 29.3% to 27.2%. It was the only age group that posted a decrease.  (OBAMA'S Health Care is working!)  "For the change in uninsured, the law change certainly could be a factor," he said.

Broken down by state, Mississippi had the highest share of poor people, at 22.7%. It was followed by Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona.  (Check who is in control of the state legislatures.)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Audience at tea party debate cheers leaving uninsured to die  (CNN Tea Party debate 9/12/2011 Tampa Florida).

If you're uninsured and on the brink of death, that's apparently a laughing matter to some audience members at the tea party Republican presidential debate.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a doctor, was asked a hypothetical question by CNN host Wolf Blitzer about how society should respond if a healthy 30-year-old man who decided against buying health insurance suddenly goes into a coma and requires intensive care for six months. Paul--a fierce limited-government advocate-- said it shouldn't be the government's responsibility. "That's what freedom is all about, taking your own risks," Paul said and was drowned out by audience applause as he added, "this whole idea that you have to prepare to take care of everybody …"

"Are you saying that society should just let him die?" Blitzer pressed Paul. And that's when the audience got involved.

Several loud cheers of "yeah!" followed by laughter could be heard in the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds in response to Blitzer's question.

(Why the tea party is called a right wing extremist group!  What tax cuts have caused is a cheering matter from what is now the base of the Republican Party.)

Special Post-Rep. Joe Wilson "Who's a Liar now?"

FactChecking the Reagan Debate by
FactCheck.org is sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

The Republican candidates stray from the facts at the Reagan Library.

The GOP candidates took some liberties when discussing jobs, Social Security, immigration, health care and other issues during the presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Library:
Perry exaggerated when he called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" that won't be there for "kids that are 25 or 30 years old today." Social Security's finances — while troubled — are an open book, not an investment scam, and the program could still support 74 percent of promised benefits in 2085.

• Romney misrepresented Perry's position on Social Security, suggesting the Texas governor advocated "abolishing" it in his book. Perry's book criticized Social Security without proposing any changes to it.
• Romney misleadingly claimed that the Massachusetts health care overhaul affected just 8 percent of the state's residents, while the federal law will affect "100 percent of the people." But both plans require nearly everyone to have insurance or pay a penalty.
• Perry claimed Obama was poorly informed or an "abject liar" on the subject of public safety along the U.S.-Mexico border. But Perry misrepresented what Obama actually said, which was accurate; overall, crime rates in border towns have in fact declined.
• Bachmann said gasoline was just $1.79 a gallon when Obama became president, suggesting he is to blame for the current high prices. But gasoline prices — which are set by world markets — were higher under Republican President George W. Bush just months before Obama took office.

The following is from PolitiFact a project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in politics.   Rick Perry exaggerated, Michele Bachmann, well she is way out in right field some place,   Mitt Romney doesn't mind not sticking to the facts.

During the formal announcement of his presidential candidacy on June 2, 2011, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney repeated a shot at President Barack Obama that he had taken in the title of his 2010 book, No Apology.

"A few months into office, (Obama) traveled around the globe to apologize for America," Romney said during his kickoff speech at a farm in Stratham, N.H.

On the substance of Romney’s charge, we believe that what we wrote in March 2010 still stands. While Obama's speeches contained some criticisms of past U.S. actions, those passages were typically leavened by praise for the United States and its ideals, and he frequently mentioned how other countries have erred as well. We found not a single, full-throated apology in the bunch. And on the new angle he added -- that the trips were intended to offer the president a forum to apologize to other countries -- we think it’s a ridiculous charge. There’s a clear difference between changing policies (Flip Flopping to current tastes of the right wing of the Republican party.)  and apologizing, and Obama didn’t do the latter.

So we rate Romney’s statement Pants on Fire/The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.

DOV now listed with "Meetup"

Who, What, Why

Democrats of Oro Valley is now on the list of Meetup groups in Tucson.  Ok, so who is Meetup?

From Scott Heiferman   Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
Fellow Meetuppers,

I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is
special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many
people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles
from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought
local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet
and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I
hoped they wouldn't bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors
in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to
neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally
ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each
other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being
neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring
people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and
grow local communities?

We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a
crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make
people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months
after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's
working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,
Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of
100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one
thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to
neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and
motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find
other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace
together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's
powerful stuff.

It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks
to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it
weren't for 9/11.

9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to
strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new
community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started
with these Meetups.

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
New York City
September 2011

Click here, sign up

What is simple:  A communications tool to notify Meetup members of meetings, location, subject matter for meetings.

Why?  Meetup allows Democrats of Oro Valley to not only communicate with our membership but also be listed Worldwide about our group and welcome others to our e-mailing list.

2012 and what Republicans wish they had never said.

Seniors now collecting benefits would not be cut off.  Workers over time would be shifted to private retirement accounts was proposed by former President George W. Bush six years ago only to see it flop.

Republican presidential front-runner. In his book published last year, "Fed Up," Texas Gov. Rick Perry explained that Social Security and Medicare were both unconstitutional, and that "by any measure, Social Security is a failure."   Perry labeled the two programs "Ponzi schemes," and warned that any idea that younger Americans would get their contributions back was a "monstrous lie."

Yet another Republican Senator said, "These programs actually weakened us as a people."  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, everybody's favorite choice for vice president on the 2012 Republican ticket is another voice opposed to Social Security and Medicare as we know them today.

If you are receiving Social Security and have Medicare today, just one question.  Where would you be without them.  Do you think private retirement accounts invested in Wall Street would be serving you better?

Consider this virtually all House Republicans voted in April to completely redesign Medicare, to change it from a federal insurance program to a voucher program, with the vouchers over time covering less and less of the cost of private insurance. But with an eye on the highest-turnout voting groups, the plan would not affect anyone now over 55.

If you are under 55 consider this; are you willing to turn your health care over to the insurance companies and their ever increasing insurance rates?  Do want to take the chance they won't knock you off health insurance coverage after you retire and need it the most? 

It is very simple, when was the last time you heard a Republican say, Social Security is a government program that has been successful for the last 75 years and we need to protect it from Wall Street speculators and for profit insurance companies?  Ask yourself this question, do you want these Republicans in charge of your future? 

Take a look at the Republican Party Platform on Social Security:   Workers will have choice to invest their payroll taxes.... workers should be free to direct a portion of their payroll taxes to personal investments for their retirement future.   Anyone currently receiving Social Security, or close to it, will not be impacted by any changes.    Not a lot of reassurance if the wall street investors fail again!

Should you make your decision on which party to trust with your vote in the next presidential election on Medicare and Social Security alone?  No one expects Michele Bachmann to be the next Republican nominee for President, but consider this, would a Cabinet position be given this lady with such extreme views?

On Friday, August 26, 2011 Michele Bachmann said at a campaign event, "President Barack Obama "has virtually no one in his cabinet with private-sector experience."

PolitiFact is a project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in politics and in reviewing Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachman's statement they rated her statement false.  They said,
"Even under the most restrictive definition, 27 percent of Obama’s Cabinet has what we consider pretty clear private-sector experience.  Bachmann still overstates her case by saying that "virtually no one" in Obama’s Cabinet has private-sector experience -- repeating a false claim that's been circulating for nearly two years. We rate her statement Pants on Fire."

But here is the top contender for the Republican Presidential nomination,  on Saturday, August 13th, 2011 in a speech at a house party in New Hampshire Rick Perry says Obama delivered $2 billion to Brazil to help offshore drilling.  What's the truth in that statement?

"This president goes to Brazil and delivers $2 billion to that country to help them with their offshore drilling projects," Perry said. "What are they thinking?"
PolitiFact of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner St. Petersburg Times states,  "But as we drilled down into this statement, we found an empty well. Obama didn't "deliver" any such thing during his visit to Brazil, and Obama had no connection to a much smaller loan guarantee that a Brazilian company ultimately got from the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Experts we interviewed said Perry was distorting the truth and wrongly characterizing what happened.

Perry’s claim is wrong in several ways. First, the number is wrong. Although there was an initial commitment for $2 billion, it ultimately became a $308 million loan guarantee. Second, Perry ignores that the Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency, and he is wrong to attribute its actions to Obama. The initial commitment came when it was controlled by Bush appointees. And although the Obama appointee voted for the $308 million loan guarantee, there is no evidence that it done at the behest of Obama."

PolitiFact:  "We rate this statement Pants on Fire – The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim."

Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is a sixth-term congressman representing the Seventh District of Virginia.  In speaking about disaster aid, he stated, the dollars spent on aid must come from offsets in the federal budget.  {A new measurement for emergency aid to severely hit areas of the country as a result of natural disasters.}

When Tropical Storm Gaston slammed into central Virginia in August 2004, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor went all out to get federal disaster aid for his constituents.  Cantor flops position on disaster aid offsets on May 22, a tornado devastated Joplin, Mo., leaving 142 dead. Cantor, the next day voiced confidence the government would provide ample relief. But he said any supplemental emergency money would have to be offset by cuts to other federal programs.

Don't just consider Social Security and Medicare when you vote to reelect President Obama consider the alternatives.  Do you really want a Republican elected?

We will not go back!

The social and economical gains we have made in the last seventy years are worth fighting to keep. Short changing our children and grandchildren, by turning over a bankrupt, environmentally spoiled world with a crumbling infrastructure in a nation intellectually unprepared for the future is not an option. We will not go back!

Florida Senator Marco Rubio has a picture of the past that makes the great depression of the 1930s look like social programs were instituted by the Democrats to drug the American people so that they would become addicts to government giveaway programs.

"These programs actually weakened us as a people," explained Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, everybody's favorite choice for vice president, at the Ronald Reagan Library earlier last month. "You see, almost forever, it was institutions in society that assumed the role of taking care of one another. If someone was sick in your family, you took care of them. If a neighbor met misfortune, you took care of them. You saved for your retirement and your future because you had to.


"We took these things upon ourselves in our communities, our families, and our homes, and our churches and our synagogues. But all that changed when the government began to assume those responsibilities."

Rubio is only 40, so he may actually think that was true, that America 50 years ago was a happy land of communal caring and secure multigenerational households. He may have missed the part about how, before 1965, half the elderly had no hospital insurance (and helpful surgery by a friendly neighbor really wasn't the answer), and the elderly were the poorest demographic group, with about a third living in poverty. 

Senator Rubio joins Nevada US Senate Candidate in the 2010 election Sharron Angle with her suggestion at one point in her campaign against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid paying your doctor with a chicken.

Both these Republicans are out of step with real life today and history, "poor houses" were not fiction,  care for the elderly poor, infirm, and mentally ill was responsibility of family. Of course there had to be a family that would be present, able, and willing to assume the care. When no home care was available, some counties used jails to house the mentally ill. Almshouses, poor houses, and county owned poor farms developed in the local communities. Most if not all counties had some version of a poor house or poor farm.  Usually in the early days, counties had insufficient revenue. County owned poor farms could produce salable crops which would offset costs of caring for the poor.

The extremists in the Republican party have completely taken over the agenda of the Republican political movement and replacing common-sense with nonsense and anti-President Obama rhetoric.

To this extreme group of people organized as the Tea Party will destroy every bit of progressive life protections and enhanced living conditions leaving every person for themselves, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, forget that you have no boots world.

Across the country with the financial aid of rich corporate conglomerates who have through tax loopholes, special tax favors and just plain tax dodges accumulated wealth at the expense and on the backs of less fortunate hard-working, taxpaying, middle-class Americans gained governmental power to put in effect radical laws that are now destroying an American way of life.

In the name of jobs, yelling government and taxes are the problem they have succeeded in slowing economy activity, halted our capacity to expand more employment by putting our government on the tab. By destroying our flow of tax revenue with tax cuts, starting unfunded military foreign ventures, making drug companies rich with needed unpaid for senior drug benefits and giving the rich needless escapes from citizen responsibility.

No where have the Republican dominated US House of Representatives asked for one ounce of fair and shared effort for their super rich patrons.  In order to perpetuate their mismanagement of governmental affairs they have placed roadblocks and limitations on even the basic rights of Americans to vote. Discourage, confuse, and frustrate voters until they give up and leave voting to a few influenced by wedge issue politics.

Republican politicans have squeezed our confidence, promoted a tumbling faith in our own country to gain election advantages for total control of our way of life and make a few even richer at the expense of the America we inherited. What kind of America are we passing on to our children? Greed, has provided a luxury existance to a few, with less and less for the rest.

Stop and think, what does "tax relief" really mean?
Less taxes for some, no jobs for many and more money in the pockets of a few.

What does "less government regulation" mean?
Dirty water, foul air, rotten food, bad drugs, no consumer protection all in the name of more money for a few corporate giants.

Voting rights road blocks!

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."  Franklin D Roosevelt

No name calling here.  Right-wing, tea party, kooks, extremist...No, voter infringements are coming from the Republican elected officials wanting to curtail participation in elections.  Several state legislatures are being held captive by The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). 

Corporate America's Secret Political Arm ALEC is a screen for hundreds of big corporations and trade associations to advance their legislative agendas in state capitals from coast to coast.   The American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC, counts among its members some 2,000 state legislators and corporate executives.   They sit side-by-side and collaborate to draft “model” bills that reach into areas of American life ranging from voting rights to environmental protection. 

State after state Republican legislatures are introducing and enacting the exact same laws.  That is because they are being hand fed "model legislation" that this heavily financed organization is working on for the direct benefit of their members.  It is common knowledge if you can control the ballot box by crooked computers or limiting voter participation you can win the election and extract special favors from those you elect.

They are busy building road blocks and leading efforts to place restrictive voter registration laws into effect.  They are active in disenfranchising voters.  Their goal is to place requirements such as photo IDs in front of the elderly, students, minorities and low income usually loyal Democrat voters to discourage and block excercising their voting rights.

ALEC is a key player in a national drive to toughen voter ID laws, successful so far in 18 states.  States controlled by Republican legislators and Republican governors have passed laws that they believe will be a path for the GOP to win elections.

In the wake of a series of Supreme Court decisions lowering barriers to corporate political spending, ALEC has encouraged states to reject bills that would require companies to get shareholder approval for their political contributions.  Political finance disclosure laws are beaten back or repealed, secret donations funding fancy named groups negative campaigns are distorting elections.

ALEC-aligned businesses, have financed campaigns for and against state ballot issues and helped elect thousands of state senators and representatives to be willing to champion ALEC bills at state capitols.  Special interest legislation, from tax breaks to destroying all manners of consumer and safety protection laws.

ALEC supports public subsidies for private for profit schools, the development of privately-owned  for profit prisons, restrictions on the voting rights of thousands of college students and senior citizens and unlimited secret corporate spending on behalf of political candidates and parties.

More ALEC's Anti-Working Family Legislation

Minimum Wage Repeal Act This legislation preempts local governments from enacting their own wage laws.

Resolution on Unilateral Trade Sanctions This resolution opposes the enactment of state and local laws to impose unilateral trade sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy.

Resolution Urging Congress to Modernize Social Security with Personal Retirement Accounts This legislation would take the security out of Social Security by gambling a worker's retirement on the risky stock market. Workers don't need to have what happened to Enron employees happen to them.

 

Efforts to limit democratic participation, facilitate big money in politics, and override the federal government is the agenda.  First build "Road Blocks" to even the simple act of voter registration and participation in elections then control elected officials.

Update September 1, 2011
 
The GOP War on Voting       
In a campaign supported by the Koch brothers, Republicans are working to prevent millions of Democrats from voting next year. 
Full Story  Rolling Stone Magazine

Dump the fear tactics, build on solutions

Social Security has operated for 75 years, it wasn't until the Congress bailed out corporate responsibility and insurance companies from workers disability, added unfunded drug benefits in medicare that the Social Security program started to collapse.  The solution is to separate the retirement system of Social Security from the disability and medicare welfare functions and create
a newly funded program.

The smears and hits on Social Security may provide for election time talk and get candidates political attention, but provoke nothing but fear in both our seniors and our young folks looking at their futures.

The United Nation General Assembly definition of terrorism ” CRIMINAL ACTS INTENDED OR CALCULATED TO PROVOKE A STATE OF TERROR IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC,
A GROUP OF PERSONS OR PARTICULAR PERSONS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.ARE IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE UNJUSTIFIABLE, WHATEVER THE CONSIDERATIONS OF A POLITICAL,PHILOSOPHICAL,IDEOLOGICAL,RACIAL,ETHNIC,RELIGIOUS OR ANY OTHER NATURE THAT MAY BE INVOKED TO JUSTIFY THEM ”

Are Lies, Scare Tactics used by the GOP {Repugnant Party} to put fear in our citizens a form of terrorism designed to panic and mold public opinion to accept right-wing ideology?

There is a concentrated attack on young people, putting jobs, the economy, declining earnings, stagnation of wages, threats of Social Security and Medicare bankruptcy at the same time cutting educational opportunities that leads to upward mobility for a whole generation, being used to put economic insecurity and fear as political weapons.

WHY?   Plain and simple, payback and voter suppression.
 
Get the young voters turned off and scared for their future and drive their votes away from President Obama in the next election.  There is no doubt that the massive 18 to 34 year old vote for Obama contributed to his election victory, destroy that vote and destroy his second term.

Unemployment for this age group this year has skyrocketed and most have never qualified for unemployment benefits.  (Unemployment is estimated at 25.4 percent for 19-to-23-year-old), Underemployment and lack of benefits on available low wage jobs contribute to insecurity and depressed attitudes on the direction the country is taking.  An important measure of electorial decision making.  "are you better off today, is the country on the right track?"

Educational opportunities are diminished and faced with the raising cost of education has created poor choices NOT MORE CHOICE as Republican legislators across the country are promising parents.  {Republicans are not ProChoice anything.) Proposed cuts in educational grants, higher interest rate student loans in the name of balanced budgets is as phony as the weapons of mass destruction  hidden away in Iraq.

It may be easy to point out public failures, but what about solutions.  Each and every day it seems a new or "reborn" Republican candidate for President pops up.  Each new flavor or favorite rips into President Obama without a solution except to "make Obama a one term President".  They have no new proposals and most don't even offer a clue to how to start our economy moving again. 

Wouldn't it be refreshing if just one of them would come up with a work incentive program?   Something directed to getting 19 to 26 year old jobs, training and even temporary paychecks while the adults in charge of this country start building and rebuilding rather than taking pickaxes at our crumbling economy as a result of too many unfunded, off budget ventures, wars and tax cuts for the few most rich.

Since states are not able or find themselves having fiscal problems the federal government, yes government, yes the one in Washington, D.C. needs to step in and sell savings bonds to provide the funds for Public Works Projects.  The name is already in the annuals of American history, PWA, Public Works Aministration, FDR, New Deal, 1933.  We started paying for our involvement in World War II with "War Savings Bonds" another successful government program.  Instead of calling on China or anyone else in the world to buy our bonds lets have Americans start their own savings plans.
   [My opinion not necessarily agreed upon by DOV...Harvey Akeson]

Your money is safe and in good hands.

PAUL BARBY is Treasurer of the Legislative District 26 precinct organization.  Today we received a short note from Paul that hit on several tender spots.  The Arizona Legislature is not the only one with a solid extremist right-wing agenda.  Check out this Texas Legislature agenda.

Down in Rick Perry's Red Texas, there are still a few Democrats willing to throw a punch and not take any crap from right wing Republicans.  Exhibit A: State Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston.  First you can take advantage of membership in our club, we need you!

Democrats of Oro Valley (DOV)   We support enthusiastic participation in the democratic process and encourage our fellow citizens to join us in preserving our unique and historic Arizona environment.  Democrats of Oro Valley club is ONLY $15 a year.  
Join and advance the progressive leadership for Oro Valley and Northwest Pima County,  print the membership form and mail to:       The Democrats of Oro Valley, PO Box 68186, Oro Valley, AZ 85737

                                   

When you mail your membership check send an e-mail to Paul so he can add your name to our membership immediately.  "Paul Barby" pmbarby@earthlink.net    You will be placed on our club
mailing list to receive group announcements, meeting reminders, and the DOV monthly newsletter.

Back to the note from Paul with regards to State Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston, Texas

The right wing corporate front group, Empower Texans, recently released its 2011 legislative scorecard, with the usual grades for anyone not on the side of Voldermort and the usual Republican campaign donors.   Senator Ellis apparently received an F from this uber-conservative group and decided to share his feelings on the matter.    (Here is his letter.)

August 24, 2011
Michael Quinn Sullivan
Empower Texans
PO Box 200248
Austin, TX 78720

Dear Mr. Sullivan:
Thank you for your letter regarding Empower Texans 2011 legislative scorecard. Upon reading it, my first thought was of George Bernard Shaw, who responded to one of his critics thusly: "I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. Your critique is in front of me. Shortly it will be behind me."

Then I realized this thought was perhaps too harsh and too confrontational for, in fact, I am proud to have earned an "F" from Empower Texans for my work in the 82nd legislature. I know I am doing things right in Austin, and would seriously question both my judgment and values were I to receive any higher grade.

I am proud to have opposed Voter ID, which does nothing to protect the sanctity of the ballot and is designed only to limit the participation of the disenfranchised.  (Road Block to voting!)

I am proud to have fought against those who held the Rainy Day Fund hostage and to use an additional $3 billion to alleviate devastating cuts to vital programs.  (Devastating cuts, sound familiar?)

I am proud to have voted for other bills that would have reduced the impact of those cuts, and to get rid of tax loopholes that provide billions in tax breaks to huge oil companies even as we cut funding for our children's schools and health care.  (Tax loopholes,  tax breaks,  cuts to schools and health care.  Hitting home?)

I am proud to have voted against hypocritical "look at me" votes calling on Congress to balance the federal budget while we failed to actually balance our own, and against the interests of the predatory payday loan industry. (Arizona voters took care of payday lenders.)

I will wear my "F" grade from Empower Texans as a badge of honor and look forward to further disappointing you in the future.  (Hey, Norquist, how about that pledge?)

To paraphrase the greatest President of the 20th Century, Franklin Delano Roosevelt: I welcome your hatred. After all, I'd much rather be a champion of the powerless than a lickspittle of the powerful.

Sincerely,
Rodney Ellis


We need more legislators like this fighting Texan.

The 2012 election is a neighborhood thing!

Our right to vote is one of our most fundamental and valuable rights as American citizens, but Republicans have outrageously passed restrictive voter identification laws aimed squarely at disenfranchising eligible voters.  Alarms are sounding across the country, but it is not just enough to warn people about this insidious plot to place road blocks in the way of voters we must retaliate.  Fighting to insure the right to vote for every eligible citizen.

For this next election let's put every effort we can into registering voters.  Every new 18 year old, everyone who may have moved and needs to re-register. Most of all let's put in every extra effort to find those people who have never registered or never voted.  It is time to build our ranks and leave no voter behind, the first order of citizenship is to register to vote.

A disproportionate number of low-income and minorities — registered to vote are under threat because they don't have government-issued photo IDs. This trap of government issued IDs must not stand.  This stumbling block also must be breached by making certain our voters are not only registered but prepared to cast their ballots.

Protect the American right to fair elections, volunteer to be a get out the vote warden in your neighborhood.  Check each an every person in your neighborhood that has the right to vote is registered, and knows when, where and what they need on election day at their polling place to cast that all important ballot.

Voter suppression is one of the most serious threats facing our election battle.   Do not let it stand, fight back!  

Republicans in at least 22 states are rushing to pass voter identification bills in a coordinated effort to disenfranchise eligible voters. These outrageous bills have already been passed in Alabama, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, and several more state legislatures are currently considering them.

Why is there such a widespread push by Republicans to pass laws that don't serve any purpose other than making it much harder for poor people and people of color to vote?

The answer couldn't be clearer: Republicans believe that erecting obstacles to voting will stop minorities and low income people from exercising their right to cast a ballot. Several of these laws passed in the name of preventing voter fraud are in truth just an effort to cut down all opposition voters.

After all, a federal law already exists making voter fraud punishable by $10,000 in fines and up to five years in prison. And despite the Republican hysteria about supposed scourge of "voter fraud," there's absolutely zero evidence that it is a widespread or frequent phenomenon.

The real answer to these blatant attempts at voter suppression is taking to the streets, door to door defending the right to vote.  

Don't Let the Extremist Kill the American Dream

Republicans are killing the American Dream

It’s up to us to stop them.

Watch this one minute TV Ad.  Click here

The 2012 Obama Re-election campaign needs volunteers.  click here get involved

There is work to be done! Precinct by Precinct

"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us.  The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country."  Franklin D Roosevelt

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A PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSON (PC) is the lead party worker for the smallest unit of government--it's a neighborhood thing--the grassroots contact representing the Democratic Party to the voters in a specific precinct:  where elections are won or lost.  Neighborhood captains assist the PC.  It is their job to make sure the voters in their assigned precincts are registered, informed and prepared to get their vote to the ballot box.

Things you can do as a PC:

>> Make the party and the candidates visible by providing: signs, bumper stickers, buttons. Encourage letters to the editors supporting Democratic programs and ballots issues.

>> Introduce yourself to registered Democrats and Independents as you collect signatures for candidates or for ballot issues before the election.  Find out the voters interests and issues

and relate them to the Party and to elected officials.

>> Register Democrats, both recent arrivals and as they become 18-year-olds in your

neighborhood.

>> Persuade more voters to vote Democratic: 

We are the MAINSTREAM Party that represents Middle Class interests. Frame our Democratic

Moral Values that have promoted public education, workers’ rights and preservation of our environment.  Distribute flyers and signs, invite people to DOV meetings. Give rides to the polls, but, better yet, encourage and help voters get on the Permanent Mail-in Ballots list. A much larger percentage of Democrats who are on this list actually cast their vote in any one election.

>>  IT’S ABOUT GETTING DEMOCRATS TO VOTE! ONE VOTE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> How Do I Become A Precinct Committee Person?
>> Usually Committee Persons are elected.  But when there is a need to fill vacancies,
they may be appointed. To ask questions or volunteer contact the elected Legislative District Chair.      
                                 We don't want to miss you, numbers you can call!

Brian Clymer, Chair of the Legislative District 26 Democratic Committee

Email: brianclymer @yahoo.com   for more details

Pima County Democratic  Headquarters 520.326.3716

State Democratic Office    602-298-4200

For information on how to become a Democratic Precinct Committeeperson or a member of an affiliated Democratic organization, please call us.

Arizona Democratic Party Headquarters  2910 North Central Avenue  Phoenix, AZ 85012GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION GETS THE VOTES INTO THE BALLOT BOX!

Are Food Stamps the next target of GOP efforts to cut programs?

Almost 46 million people in the United States are on food stamps.  That is about 15 percent of the population of the United States to the cost of $68 billion in 2010.  Some rather than say it is welfare for the poor, look at it as a corporation subsidy for low wage giants, so their workers can afford to eat.

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Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, in an exclusive interview with the Heritage Foundation, called union collective bargaining a “vicious cycle,… one I think people have realized we can’t afford anymore.”  [Note:  In this interview with the Heritage Foundation, Governor Walker quotes former President Reagan with regards to actions and remarks during his dealings with the air traffic controllers.  Governor Walker claims to have Reagan as a "political role model."]

...where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.

Ronald Reagan, Labor Day Speech at Liberty State Park, 1980

Collective Bargaining has brought much to the workers of the world, in fact, it is described by the U N Commission on Human Rights, a basic "Human Right".  Collective Bargaining leading to a worker-employer contracts involves more than just wages, working conditions, health and safety, but all manner of relationships between the two parties.  Time and time again the Democratic party has reaffirmed support for Unions and their collective bargaining rights.  Food Stamps and working conditions at Walmart in this article are not about collective bargaining, but the reality of many work places today.

Republican Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich last year called the Democrats as "the party of food stamps".  Republican leaders in the House of Representatives propose changing the program so control of benefits and operations would be through a "block grant" to the states.  Fifty plus different food stamp programs across the country.  A number of states and the District of Columbia had 20 percent of their population on food stamps  this past May.   This same May 2011, Alabama had one-third, 33%, of their people on food stamps.

Food stamps have become a low wage support program.  In past years unemployed food stamp recipients were the highest percentage of beneficiaries.  In 2009 that changed to a higher number receiving benefits who were employed, working low wage or part time jobs. Based on income, minimum wage single parents are almost always eligible for food stamps.  (Welfare Moms)

Walmart the nation's largest employer and a non-union shop with poverty wages can talk about the company's customers increasingly being shoppers on some government assistance for food.  Well, Walmart you don't have to look out your doors to find people on a government program to buy food.  If there is any justification for wage conditions at jobs like those at Walmart we can blame the financial crisis and deep recession in the United States.

Even going a step further, giving credit to these low wage employers,  to many workers it is the employment of last resort or for many a starting point of employment.  Not everyone will graduate from high school and be prepared as a skilled worker and certainly many of these low wage, no benefit, no health insurance jobs come with training and an adjustment to working responsibilities.

Hopefully options other than joining the military for education and training will always be available. Some day perhaps our citizens will get the message of the Republican attacks on education are harming not only our national security but chasing jobs overseas where more countries are increasing educational opportunities for their people.  Almost no one can ignore the advances Brazil, India and China have made with the expansion of their  enhancements in free public education.  Education is just another place where the wrong and misguided policies advanced by the Republicans are destroying jobs in this country.

Republicans don't have to come out and say they want to balance the budget on the backs of the young, the poor and the elderly, but certainly those are the results that we are seeing!  That is what Democrats have been fighting as the GOP corporate masters have been pouring unlimited political funds into fighting any kind of shared tax sacrifice or adjustments to increase revenues collected for the federal government. 

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