General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI Met Rep. Dennis Kucinich Last Night In Seattle
My Occupy group is involved with several other social change groups in our area and we are very active in our local politics. In fact when our group members are out shopping and one of the community leaders are in the store generally there will be an exchange of respect. We are an Occupy group that has channeled our energy in to engaging our local political leaders and are working on solutions to our community's challenges. We have not spent one night in a tent or have put our self in potential legal jeopardy, we believe that will not help anyone.
Anyhow we were asked to assist with a Scrap The Cap Social Security Forum last night where Rep. Dennis Kucinich was the key note speaker. At the end our group was able to engage Kucinich into the goals and ethics in which he said THANK YOU for understanding that you will get more done and keep the conversation going with responsible behavior. It was a night that will be remembered for a long time.
Anyhow here are some images I was able to take. Hope you enjoy them.
Aristus
(66,091 posts)Where are they?...
chervilant
(8,267 posts)Hasn't anyone told you that women just aren't impressed by such slavish and salacious comments?
Aristus
(66,091 posts)I just use other slavish and salacious comments...
Well, I hope that works for you...
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)diaries supporting each other?
I think I'm seeing a pattern here.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)There was a considerable amount of high-fiving going on when he lost recently..
krawhitham
(4,634 posts)2ndAmForComputers
(3,527 posts)(Insert title of movie in which there was a famous plot twist involving a certain Kaiser Soze)
FarPoint
(12,208 posts)Don't start flame-baiting the board please.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)I don't tell you what to post, perhaps you could return the courtesy.
FarPoint
(12,208 posts)What are you? A Bouncer?
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)At least freaky from the standpoint of a Democratic board.
It's like watching children at a newly integrated upper class all white school. There are a bunch of bullies that go around punching the new kids while the teachers look the other way.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)As evidence here's a post I put up on Jan 21, 2009, the day after Obama was inaugurated..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x49419
Read the thread and you'll see I was very hopeful..
Today, not so much..
jsmirman
(4,507 posts)we're out here.
Muted comment on the other stuff. It's for meta - look to the left for the help & meta link - but for me, I'm just tired of (at least that part of) the fighting.
Yes, though, there's some dishonesty in debate, unnecessary rudeness, and game playing around here. Most of us are, at least occasionally, guilty of the second, but some hit all three and regularly.
FarPoint
(12,208 posts)thus only see a fraction of the quality of posting here at DU. Becoming a Star member can open up discussion opportunities, many variety of forums. I'll just suggest exploring in more detail.
TroubleMan
(4,859 posts)Most of DU likes him a lot. There's just a few dissenters who happen to post in volumes.
inna
(8,809 posts)they are a very small but a very vocal AND obnoxious group of posters, who are also preferentially treated.
(but hey, not as if DU is a democracy... neither is the US, technically)
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)oh.... and their investor class who benefit from all the corruption.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)midnight
(26,624 posts)possibly sound like a Paul Ryan endeavor.
rsmith6621
(6,942 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)Democratic Presidential Primary. I hope he will be able to continue his political career. We need leaders like Dennis.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)Lucky you.
Great pictures.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)and were desperate to get rid of him because he is the most genuine, honest, accurate, and outspoken Democrat in Congress.
Many free trade Blue Dog Third Way conservative Democrats despised him for his progressive ideas, and are just as thrilled as the republicans are, (maybe even more so) to get his progressive voice out of their hair.
That's pretty impressive, and gives Dennis ultimate honors and cred as a genuine Democrat.
Seriously - The 1% and their Republican flying monkeys feared and hated him so much they rearranged his district in order to get him out of office.
That's, like, the highest compliment they could ever pay to a Democrat.
Dennis rocks.
Thanks for the info, and the photos!
2ndAmForComputers
(3,527 posts)april
(1,148 posts)I lived in a suburb of Cleveland when he was mayor . I think that he was the youngest mayor on record.. he is a great man and has come so far
joanbarnes
(1,715 posts)emilyg
(22,742 posts)much I love him.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Granted, the GD crowd probably mostly doesn't have a clue that there is such a place as Des Moines, WA. You might have met me also--I was the one selling the Scrap the Cap buttons. Dennis was scheduled for 12 minutes, but went on a lot longer. The audience didn't mind in the least! I did see Occupy folks there--mainly Occupy Federal Way, presumably?
Here are a couple of articles, one with video clips.
http://waliberals.org/dennis-kucinich-in-des-moines-on-social-security-taxation-war-trade-and-justice/2012/04/12/
Dennis Kucinich appeared in Des Moines, WA on April 14, 2012 at a forum on The Threat to Social Security: An Issue for All Generations. Video excerpts are below.
The main call to action was to contact our federal lawmakers and ask them to pledge to Scrap the Cap eliminate the $110,100 limit on income subject to the Social Security tax. This action alone would greatly extent and strengthen Social Security. In fact, the Social Security Trust Fund will be able to pay 100% of benefits through 2036 even with no changes. There is no need at all to weaken benefits or postpone retirement age.
Millions of Americans, especially women, depend on Social Security for a substantial part of the retirement and disability income.
Its not broke. Its so good we can make it better by (1) scrapping the cap, (2) raising benefits for low income earners, (3) recognizing same sex couples, and (4) reinstating college benefits.
http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/147341085.html
Social Security Works Washington, a new statewide coalition of labor and retiree groups, is hammering home the idea of "scrapping the cap."
That cap is the Social Security collection limit on incomes above $106,800 per year (that number becomes $110,100 in 2012). All citizens earning incomes at that level and below are taxed 6.2 percent.
An April 12 forum at Highline Community College promoted the lifting or outright removal of this cap. Doing so, proponents say, will increase benefits and strengthen Social Security by trillions of dollars.
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a fiery pitch for Social Security reform at Thursday's forum.
Kucinich, a Democrat, opposes the privatization Social Security. He also opposes a later retirement age or any cuts to benefits. He says lifting the cap is a simple solution that will make Social Security solvent.
rsmith6621
(6,942 posts)...and I gave a buck for my Scrap The Cap button which now resides next to my 99% button.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Your photos are really good.
wow, i got such a kick out of your post!
thank you for continuing making DU worthwhile; there are very few people who still do it (at least, for me)
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Can't we finally get on board with what has been going on through Congress with the SS trust fund, which was illegal, IMO? Can they not understand how that money was sent it to Wall Street, who privatized it, and further created more money out of nothing, for which their debt was socialized? What of the irony with THAT one?
Kucinich was one of the clearest presenters of this information!
And to anyone who ever gloated over Kucinich's loss, which was crafted by those who were most threatened, they can stick it up their entire mis-informed R-sez.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Main points:
We have to vote for the whole liberal package not just Social Security. Healthcare as a human right, tax equity, cut the military, campaign finance reform, limit the Supreme Court, invest in green energy/infrastructure, eco-consciousness, regulate financers/wall st, affordable education ????
Americans deserve full employment-government sponsored jobs programs
Americans deserve tax equity
Scrap the cap-high earners dont pay taxes after a cap of $110,100. Thus lower earners pay a higher percentage
Support groups and communities that support the right to organize
Threats to Social Security are just the tip of the iceberg
High healthcare costs are caused by for profit health insurance companies90 billion in yearly profit!
Non-profit health insurance (single payer) will preserve not only Medicare but Social Security too
Without pensions the tax payer will pick up the slack
Stand up for the post office, oppose privatization
this nation or any nation of the corporations, by corporations, for the corporations shall not perish from the earth?
Stop money to the pentagon for unnecessary wars
Privatizing Social Security will result in trillions for Wall St profit, CEOs salaries and bonuses
Call to action-communicate with state and federal legislators and legislation for a commitment to scrap the cap.
Other presenters talked about how crucial Social Security is to Latinos and women
Sponsors include:
Social Security WorksWashington at www.ssworkswa.org
Why Social Security is important?
1.1 in 4 todays 20 year old will be disabled before reaching 67 (retirement age)
2.50% of the workforce has no private pension: 31% have no retirement savings
3.Without Social Security, half of American women 65 and older would live in poverty
4.Scrapping the Cap would protect and preserve Social Security for future generations
Health Care For All-Washington www.healthcareforallwa.org
Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans www.psara.org
Summary
It pleased me greatly to see a lot young people there as well as many organizers for other groups . I was, as usual, inspired by Kucinich and found that after the forum was an excellent time to network. I was late arriving and missed the time before the forum to smooze. In future forums I plan to arrive early and leave late. The main point I got was how important it is to discuss these issues with everybody in my life to organize and communicate with legislators and support legislation that commits to Scrap the Cap. Also it is important to participate in and support financially activist groups that promote removing the cap on social security and preserving it for future generations. It seems to me that all these different activist groups and liberals need to wake up to the danger ahead and organize a voting block to push these powermongers out of the government or we will lose in November. Ron Ragan Jr hit it on the head when he said at ast years 1090am Progressive talk forum, If we lose this go around-we will never get it back
Power to the people --Robert M.
Meiko
(1,076 posts)Good for you and congrat's
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)After the repukes gerrymandered him into Kaptur's district?
Ved-dy in-ta-restink...
countryjake
(8,554 posts)but eventually decided to stick it out in Ohio.
Many of us would welcome him with open arms, here in wa!