Does DU even care about working students, the poor and elderly?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

I mean, how many of you actually called or wrote your Reps or Senators about this matter? As usual this news will be buried by US media but the BBC reports:

US Congress approves budget cuts
President Bush welcomed the passage of the bill.
The US Congress has narrowly passed a budget bill that will cut spending by $39bn (£22bn) over the next five years.

It will mainly affect welfare programmes, including medical coverage for the poor and elderly and student loans.

The bill, passed by just two votes in the House of Representatives, was welcomed by George W Bush, who promised more measures to curb federal spending.

The Senate passed the bill in December only after Vice-President Dick Cheney cast a tie-breaking vote.

Democrats described the bill as an assault on college students and the poor.

"The sad truth is all of this is to pay for tax cuts to for the wealthiest people in our country," House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said, referring to $70bn in tax cuts proposed by Republicans.

The cuts - amounting to some $8bn a year - account for about 2% of the budget deficit, which this year is likely to top $400bn.

I called my Repuke rep. yesterday and asked his telephone girl why my daughter won't have the same opportunity as my son, who now works 2 jobs to supplement his college loan. I told her my kids make good grades in spite of these extra-curricular demands and all they want is a slight chance to succeed. I didn't say this when I called but maybe they could drop a few less multi-million dollar smart-bombs this week. I didn't see anything proposing that budget cut though.

more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4673252.stm

[Epiphany4z]

1. did a few calls

wrote , dropped e mails and wrote letters to editors. It just didn't go anywhere ...I think there is just so much going on right now. Abramhoff, SOTU, cindy, Fitzgerald, Alito, human animal hybrids????? <--just had to toss in a little humor.

Anyway I have one in college and another 2 yrs away I care I care...we are lower income and my kid still had to go out and find 10 grand in loans on his own before the cuts...that is for one year.

So I wright call and do what I can but it is on to the next battle.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. yeah

There was a REALLY cute board in the DU Lounge yesterday on the "animal hybrids." I'm sick of chimp hybrids myself... they are far to vicious to be useful.

[Jon8503]

3. Ya, know what you mean, I posted this also, it is horrendous. I did

email mine but I am in a state where that does not matter. However, I did contact others that I knew would vote against it but made my comments.

To me it is totally unbelievable how these people can get away with this. It is not just DU caring, what does this say for our government and nation as a whole if this is allowed.

Remember the K-State student that asked Bush how he could talk about advancing education and at the same time cut over 12 billion from the student loan program.

Hopefully this will not stand. Thanks for posting as well. Ya, some of us care.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. i can relate jon

I bet my repuke rep laughed and said, "The idiot needs to be in the top 3% of wage earners, like me, if he wants his kids educated"... This cut is also discriminatory of hard-working minorities who want an equal opportunity to get an education.

[howmad1]

71. Yea, and if these working minorities can't afford an education........

there's a good chance they join the army and become cannon fodder for the rethuglicans, hoping against hope they survive an IED because of shitty armour supplied by rethuglican manufacturers. Absolutely brillant move on the part of rethuglicans. How come our idiot democrats haven't figured this out? Morons!

[mrcheerful]

4. The sad thing is that theres alot more out there that are for welfare cuts

going even deeper. This issue isn't about poor or needy, its race driven. When anyone mentions poor welfare people, the majority thinks lazy inner city black welfare queens. Your dealing with the old Reagan lie and even though its been proven to be a lie based on racist idealism, the majority believes all their tax woes come from supporting black welfare mothers with 14 kids.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. don't they claim to be Christian?

KJV Mathew "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. you're right

We can think this issue is over, if we like but there's plenty more cuts like this coming up very soon according to what I've heard... I wonder how many millions we spent on an illegal invasion in the last 5 minutes... If they were REALLY worried about the budget, which Clinton had balanced, they might cut that BIG expense... Like Alito, all they are "concerned" about is too many hard-working women and minorities getting into influential positions. I wonder why?

[electropop]

45. I assume by "majority" you mean "the majority in Congress."

because 60-65% of the population are opposed to everything they stand for.

[kurth]

5. This will be a winning issue in November

Put this bill around the neck of every Republican running for reelection. Compare it against the obscene tax cuts for the rich and tax breaks for the oil companies.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. do you mean the "oil companies" that are currently breaking all records

Major oil concerns in the US are setting a new high-water mark for profits that will cause Guinness Book to be reworked... When small filling stations price gouged during Katrina they were prosecuted. Several of them made the news here in Alabama but somehow this gigantic cooperations are overlooked. I'm wondering where my local Time/Warner owned rag will burry this story... I bet page one will give me some more much-needed info on the missing ultra-rich girl Natalie Hollaway. Like her "mom is still mad."

[ramapodem]

7. As a college student myself

I made a whole lotta calls and so did my friends. The national college democrats actually were one of the leading fighters against the bill.

[MADem]

9. I am going to quote Tip O'Neill yet again

All politics is local!!!!

I hope this IS hung around the necks of the GOP, and I also hope this will motivate more college students to actually register to vote, and GET OUT THERE on Election Day. I have to say, of the college kids I have spoken to since the 04 theft (quite a few, too), perhaps half said that they registered, and of those registered, perhaps half of those actually made it to the polls or requested an absentee ballot. They admitted this rather shamefacedly, and I wonder if the numbers of non-participants is actually higher than that. By contrast, I don't know a single geezer who didn't vote--even my 94 year old stroked-out auntie filled out her absentee ballot with her one good hand.

If we abandon education, we abandon everything. No child left behind? My ass!!!! More like No WEALTHY Child Left Behind....the putzes....

[RandomKoolzip]

10. I always wonder how rank-and-file conservatives defend decisions like this

And then I read their defenses on FR or other places and realize that these are people who have either been blessed with extraordinary luck (lucked out on finding a school, lucked out on having rich parents, lucked out getting financed, etc.) or that they're evil fucks who don't give a flying shit about anyone but themselves.

I just don't understand how any sentient American can be okay with something like "massive budget cuts to the elderly and student loans."

Why don't they cut some fucking defense programs they don't even use instead?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

15. so only six people at DU care?

Well, at least it's a start... You freepers at DU won't have to work so hard this morning to bury my thread... I only wanted to know how many here actually cared about students, the poor and elderly and I have my answer... I feel like giving up today.

I read this at DU last week and it made me very sad to see another true blue leave us:

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert
was about to begin, the mother returned to
her seat and discovered that her child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights
focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her little
boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out
"Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made
his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and
whispered in the boy's ear,

"Don't quit." "Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached
down with his left hand and began filling
in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached
around to the other side of the child,
and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice
transformed what could have been a frightening
situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they
couldn't recall what else the great master played.
Only the classic,
" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God.
What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.
We try our best, but the results aren't always
graceful flowing music. However, with the
hand of the Master, our life's
work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,
listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the
Master, whispering in your ear,
"Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you and
know that His hands are there, helping you
turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to
call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'
Life is more accurately measured by the lives
you touch than by the things you acquire.
So touch someone by passing this little message along.

May God bless you and be with you always!

and remember,



"Don't quit."

"Keep playing."

[Sapphire Blue]

18. Give up? No way, no how, never!

If you give up, it's because that's what you want to do... so don't make excuses for your lack of determination or commitment, don't lay it at my feet or anyone else's. Pick yourself up, and keep going. Otherwise, you might as well head for the damn gas chambers.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

22. FIRST

Sapphire Blue... I want to thank you for that thread... If it had not been for YOU I would not have even known the problem existed... I found your tread in another forum I think... After your last message on the thread you will find the name Jeffersons Ghost... I'm very sad there were no others posting after me but I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU INSPIRED ME TO CALL EVERYONE I KNOW WITH MY FREE LONG DISTANCE AND GAVE THEM THE TOLL FREE NUMBER YOU FURNISHED... It's damn hard getting news here in the Babble-belt of Alabama and DU is often useful in these matters... I like PBS but it misses a lot of important issues.

[Sapphire Blue]

23. Posting continued here...

*** DESPERATE *** last-minute appeal: STOP budget cuts being debated NOW: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x297440

Yesterday was hectic; I apologize for not posting the link to the above thread in my previous thread.

For news... Do you have C-SPAN? Do you listen to Air America? Have you checked out these links: http://upload.democraticunderground.com/links/pages/News_and_Commentary/

Jeffersons Ghost, I'm truly glad you're here!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

24. btw FREEPERS

I said I "feel" like giving up! I didn't say I WAS giving up. It makes me sad to lose one of the faithful here at DU, like the one who wrote the letter I posted earlier... I promised him/her I'd pass it along... It takes a lot more than libel and other feeble attempts at attacking Jeffersons Ghost to silence this spook! In fact, it takes all kinds of mediums, exorcisms and seances to get rid of an obnoxious GHOST! Don't worry about me Sapphire, I was just getting a few freepers to rejoice and go get drunker in the middle of the day before they try praying tonight. We need time to read important stuff like your previous thread that now honors my humble board, Sapphire, so I tricked them away! LOL, if it were only true...

[Sapphire Blue]

13. I care very much & tried for months to drum up opposition to these cuts.

To see how the cuts affect your state, click here: http://www.chn.org/issues/opportunityforall/statefactsheets.html

Lots more info here...

One day left. NO excuses. Please, DUers. Do it. JUST DO IT!!! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2422907

[Jeffersons Ghost]

34. and you wanna know something MORE important Sapphire?

If there wasn't so much superfluous bull quickly posted each time your important message hit the top at DU, I'd have read your efforts much earlier and made lots more calls and emails... I'll be watching for your stuff closer in the future but please make sure it goes into ALL forums, okay? For some reason, when all this crap hit the fan, DU had created different boards, likely because of too much traffic on Alito.

[Sapphire Blue]

35. I damn near spammed the boards w/these threads/posts.

Here's one I snuck into GD when it was GD: Alito (it was remotely related to Alito :)...

Pssssst... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x280057

Posted for months on this. I just don't have the DU name or following to get anything going. (posted another thread on that, too - A little insight... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x299919 )

I tried emailing Skinner asking to make this a DU Activist assignment... also asked that one of the threads (the 'One day left' one) be pinned to the top for the final day... didn't happen. *sigh*

[Jeffersons Ghost]

73. it's sad sapphire

I never considered Alito a winnable battle but with just a little more effort we might have stopped this legislation... That's how it will be from now on... they'll try making us focus on un winnable fights or NON-issues while they ram crap like this down our throats.

[Sapphire Blue]

74. Winnable or not, the Alito battle was also extremely important!

No one can make another choose what to focus on... and we can focus on more than one thing... if we want to.

[RogueTrooper]

14. Out of interest

Did you do anything to drum up interest in a lobbying campaign at DU?

[bananas]

16. Maybe you missed this and previous threads

There were 143 replies on this thread, and there were many other threads.
No Democrats voted for it, and many Republicans voted against it - it passed by only two votes.
So yes, they must've gotten a lot of call from DUers and others.
If we ever get a Dem congress back, maybe it can be reversed.
Another reason to get out the vote in November.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2422907&mesg_id=2422907
Sapphire Blue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Tue Jan-31-06 07:14 AM
One day left. NO excuses. Please, DUers. Do it. JUST DO IT!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

39. To be fair, the majority of replies were nofurylike's & mine.

[Wordie]

46. Sapphire Blue's efforts on this were tireless...

but I think the problem was the issue became eclipsed by the hubbub over the Alito confirmation and the SOTU. I myself, although I followed links earlier and signed a few petitions, didn't really give this issue sufficient attention early enough. The lack of attention here at DU was a result of the timing, imho, more than any other thing. So I don't think it's because DU doesn't care, it's more that there are so many things that DU cares about that important campaigns like this one can get overlooked because of more high-profile ones.

And it's also meaningful that Pelosi was able to get every single Democrat to vote together on this one. Who knows how many people like me, in the middle of all the urgency of the Alito campaign, followed one of the links in Sapphire Blue's threads (or some others), signed one of petitions, and didn't take the time to even say so in the thread. Maybe there was more DU support, and we had more of an effect, than was immediately apparent.

[onenote]

17. we care. And every Democrat in Congress voted no

And I called my repub congressman's office and urged him to vote no. But...surprise...he voted yes.

[Doctor_J]

19. Unfortunately, my rep is a firmly entrenched RW loser who will

keep her job forever, even if she votes to make * King.

[wiley]

20. This must not stand

Everyone who voted for it must be reminded that they DID receive huundreds of thousands of phone calls, letters and faxes. Those who voted for it showed their true evil. Many national coalitions fiercely opposed this legislation and met with reps. over and over again. We must remind the American public of this every day - even as many suffer or die because of it.


Does DU care? If they think somehow this will save them money, they are seriously mistaken.

[rman]

21. Many on DU do support causes that would help those groups

ie nationalized healthcare.

[Hidden Stillness]

25. This is the Central Issue of Society, Marginalized

With all due respect, this issue goes far beyond whether people on DU will post at a thread with this topic, or if they will call their Representatives on a proposed bill; it is a larger, general attitude about the poor and now-sinking middle class (all the corporate world's "losers"), and about older people, that hurts us all as a society. Democrats have been ignoring these issues ever since they were taken over by "D"LC, Inc., and began to gear themselves only to corporate-donor interests, or they have had such lame, phony, "framed" responses to these concerns, that no possible action could have resulted. As poverty and indebtedness spreads, we will return to the days of the Great Depression, when Democrats did not stereotype the poor and unemployed, because it was everyone and their neighbor. This is how this will have to be addressed too, I think.

We do not need consultants telling us how to "talk to these people," all the while cringing at the thought of us "sheeple," wondering if they can use big words, and barely concealing their hate, as they claim that WE voted for Bush, when we all know that you rich white males did it. This campaign of Democrats re-addressing ourselves to these economic issues, and how badly hurt people have been by unregulated capitalism, etc., should be made by middle class and poor people, who know exactly what it is they are describing. They will not suddenly launch into a self-satisfied attack on Christians, as if that were somehow related, or, as you did with your original post, refer to calling a Representative's office and getting, as you put it, "his telephone girl." If you referred to me that way and I were, as she obviously was, a staffer, I would tell you to shove it up your prick ass.

Over and over on DU, threads positing the poor as an abstract political issue drop with few posts, but threads of people telling how they are barely hanging on in this economy and are getting further in debt and no one is helping, get hundreds of replies. This is the answer right there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Called in, and your point

I am about ready to give up on the whole thing, as it is a sham

[Jeffersons Ghost]

29. I know how you feel nadin

First we get alito, then no more Greenspan, followed by cuts in spending on poor and middle class programs. It can get any of us down but will we go down without a whimper? Will we quit even before the big battle in Nov? If we miss perhaps our last chance to vigorously protest and petition our government, as in the 1st Amendment; how long will we remain silent?

When they came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
Pastor Martin Niemöller


Cindy, are you still out there making a REAL fashion statement or have they somehow hushed even you?

[kerrygoddess]

27. It ain's sexy enough for the blogosphere to talk about it

You Don’t Really Need Those Entitlements… Do You?
February 2nd, 2006 @ 12:01 am

We heard Bush talking about cutting back the “entitlements” last night in the SOTU address, but funny thing is (or not so funny), he wasn’t talking tax cuts for the wealthy or tax breaks for the corporate whores. No, he was talking about Welfare, Medicaid, federal child-support enforcement funds, student loan interest and a host of other things that all affect the poor.

The House yesterday narrowly approved a contentious budget-cutting package that would save nearly $40 billion over five years by imposing substantial changes on programs including Medicaid, welfare, child support and student lending.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1832

[NMMNG]

64. I was ranting at the tv when I heard that

He garbled something about paring down "programs that don't work" after the initial blather about "entitlements". I yelled, "yeah, they don't work for the rich, that's why you and your cronies don't like them!". I truly despise those bastards. :rant:

[kerrygoddess]

72. I truly despise them too!

I posted a piece on my blog earlier today about Bono speaking at the National Prayer breakfast yesterday about ending World Poverty. Kind of ironic in a sad way, but he said yesterday resonates for us here as well affected by the budget cuts.

Bono Speaks the Truth to Power
February 3rd, 2006 @ 12:44 pm

Yesterday I posted about Bono speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. The purpose of his speech was to ask the U.S. to increase their aid to the poor.

Last night I thought to myself, that there was some sad irony in the timing of Bono’s speech, it occured the day after the House approved the Budget Bill which imposes “substantial changes on programs including Medicaid, welfare, child support and student lending.”

The Bush administration calls these programs “entitlements.” The single mother with 3 children who can’t find a job or can’t afford to pay for child care, if she does have a minimum wage job, calls these programs — sustenance. The high school graduate from a low income family, who has worked hard to maintain a high GPA, perhaps while working after school, calls student lending — opportunity for a better life. The elderly widow on disability, calls these programs — life’s blood.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1845

[pitohui]

28. er, how is this DUs fault?

as others point out, the democrats were on yr side in this one

yr problem is that college students and the poor vote democratic, therefore of course a republican majority congress is going to vote against their interests, always have, always will

everyone on DU is here to see a democratic majority but until we get it i would suggest that yelling at your allies is a complete and total waste of time

subject lines like the title of the original poster's post put blame on those who are trying to help instead of blame on the guilty

the circular firing squad deal gets v. very old

[mattclearing]

30. Seconded. The title of this post is flamebait. n/t

[Jeffersons Ghost]

32. what took you so long???

Out of all my topics you've criticized, tasteblind, which one of my headlines WAS"NT flame bait? Let me know so I can improve! LOL

[AtomicKitten]

31. Of course DU cares.

I realize you are passionate about this issue, JG, but ratchet down the rhetoric a bit. The problem is that we have a smorgasbord of outrages and that in itself dilutes the response.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

33. I appreciate your comments kitten

I hope I see more of those "outrages" you not only mention but also post, very often on DU... I'm sure many here, read and value your opinions. I try to cover some of the current outrages in subsequent postings on this board. Out of respect for you, instead of saying "read back" I'll repost this culminating piece I wrote earlier on the thread:


First we get alito, then no more Greenspan, followed by cuts in spending on poor and middle class programs. It can get any of us down but will we go down without a whimper? Will we quit even before the big battle in Nov? If we miss perhaps our last chance to vigorously protest and petition our government, as in the 1st Amendment; how long will we remain silent?

When they came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
Pastor Martin Niemöller


Cindy, are you still out there making a REAL fashion statement or have they somehow hushed even you?

Are you still at DU Neil? I'm about to quote Plato again.

[Odin2005]

36. It's not a convenient campaign issue.

Enough people have been brainwashed by the "lazy welfare queen" meme that bringing up helping the poor is opening yourself to be distroyed by the RW propaganda machine. Another reason is that poor inner city areas are solidly democratic, it makes pragmatic campaigning sense to concentrate on issues that intrest suburban swing voters.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

41. EXCELLENT POST ODIN

Thanks for your comments... I'm sure your enlightening message will influence many DU readers. Posts like yours are why I risk being bashed as a result of my flame-bait headlines. I hope they all see what you wrote.

[Odin2005]

52. Thanks.

Ignoring the issues of the poor and lower middle classes is why the Repukes have been so successful with the "Family Values" BS. The Party has lost touch with the average working person so much that the term "Liberal" has gotten elitist conotations of upper middle class people drinking lattes at Starbucks.

[Cocoa]

55. the cuts are actually unpopular

a few republicans even switched their votes since December due to pressure and due to the fear of being perceived as mean.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

70. if we work really hard, starting now

It will be just as others have wisely posted on this board. We can shackle the tyranical party with tax cuts to ONLY the top 3%, while the rest of us get cut off at the knees. Those few very rich people really need more money and students, the poor and elderly don't need so much: Just ask them. I will... I'M ASKING EVERY STUDENT AT THE UofA PERSONALLY!

I'll also teach them this great new grass roots idea I heard about. It's called the POWER OF ONE! In this strategy the individual becomes empowered to spread the truth about the current ecconomic issue to TEN other voters. Each of these ten voters spreads the word to TEN OTHER VOTERS! etc.

[FlaGranny]

37. Actually, since

there are many students, poor folks, and elderly members of this site (the last two apply to me), yes, we care about issues that affect us and do what we can to bring these issues to our reps.

[politicat]

38. Called and wrote (faxed)

Mine voted against it - the reps in my state who listen to their constituents did vote against it. The rest are drinking koolaid and while I wrote to them all, they don't give a damn about anyone who doesn't also give them a $10K check from Conoco or International Beef.

[PA Democrat]

40. I called and wrote.

[jfern]

42. "Subsidized" Stafford loan rates fixed at 6.8%

That's insane. They were 2.8% when Bush was running for re-selection.

[samhsarah]

43. I called, emailed, faxed,

just like I did with Alito. And just like with Alito, it went nowhere.

[0007]

44. There are many here who cares and do all they can to help!

Stick around for a while and find out. You've been here what for less than 60 days now?

[Mythsaje]

47. Of course we care

but, damn, there's always another ruttin' thing coming down the pike at us. I've been screaming that cutting college funding is class warfare for years. The war against the poor is just getting ramped up. It's going to get a hell of a lot worse before it gets better.

[driver8]

48. Nope -- none of us care. You are the only one.

You are the best DUer in the world.

Of course we care -- WTF?? How is the weather up there on that high horse of yours??

[leftstreet]

49. No one cares what DU "thinks" - Do my DEM REPS care about the poor?

Bush is so hated right now, the Democratic Party could have slammed a few strategic ads on tv with an elderly person talking about what these new BUSH CUTS would do to them, and most the people in my red district would have gone ballistic.

These bullshit "welfare queen" memes are so retro.

[jfern]

51. To be fair to the Democratic party

Not 1 Democrat voted for this bill in either the House or Senate.

[Cocoa]

54. the dems voted unanimously against the bill

DU hardly noticed.

[leftstreet]

62. As they should. What did they do to get red-staters to call THEIR reps?

[LittleClarkie]

50. Were any of them wearing tshirts?

Probably not, then.

[kineneb]

53. Of course JG, I care. I am one of the "poor."

Because Hubby is on dialysis and gets SS disability payments, and I care for him, we live on his payments (grand f'ing total of $14K/yr). So, indeed I care.

But I am a bit overwhelmed right now: we are filing for bankruptcy, I need to do our taxes, and just getting through all the doctors' appointments, etc. I am trying to keep my mental health together and not slip back into clinical depression, which renders me useless. I am totally appalled at the lack of concern for the "least among us" by the imperial government. But not at all surprised.

Hubby and I came to the conclusion that the Rs and their minions would just as soon see people like him die and "decrease the surplus population" (Dickens, A Chrismas Carol).

[redwitch]

56. wow. tough times indeed.

:hug: We are struggling too. I will NOT let the bastards get me down, don't you either! Do you have any family to assist a bit? Someone to help with the appointments and taxes and such?

[kineneb]

59. We get by

Thanks for the encouragement. It has been a long, strange trip.

My family lives about 2 hours away (which is fine with me), but we have friends here that can run Hubby to the clinic if I need a break. My mom has been helping us out financially and will be paying the attorney's fees for our bankruptcy. The taxes should be simple, when I get the nerve to sit down to do battle with the forms. All the medical management just seems to be so time and energy consuming. I am glad I quit my job, so I can have time to decompress.

[redwitch]

60. Glad you have a support network

And I hope your hubby's health improves!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

58. Yep

While I AM a disabled Vietnam Vet, my disability didn't result from service related injuries, so I'm on social security too... I'm not declaring bankruptcy but I'm trying to figure out how to get by on less and less as prices go through the roof... At least I have my VA Hospital but the tyrant won't fund it accordingly with all these new war injuries hitting them now... More to follow on how Dur Fuhrer REALLY takes care of the troops after he uses them up!

My prayers go out to you and yours kineneb.

[kineneb]

61. we understand, and thanks

Hubby developed Type 2 diabetes about 20 years ago, and was diagnosed with kidney disease about 6 years ago. He had to have one kidney removed in Oct. because it had a large cancerous tumor in it (thank goodness, only in the kidney). But that kicked him immediately into dialysis. Now we do battle with various social services for his medical coverage.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we ran up a lot of charges on the credit cards and now need to declare bankruptcy. We find it vastly amusing that we will have to have "credit counseling" when we know what our problem was and is- Hubby worked for WorldCom and got laid off in 2002...we had to sell our house in the SF Bay Area and move to the country...he lost all insurance coverage and had to go on CMSP/MediCal...

Thanks for your service, even though it was in that unfortunate "police action."

[MODemocrat]

57. Dick Cheney called it a WIN for their side

That old hypocrondiac told his audience that he had just flown back from Iraq to vote; and he said
"everytime I have to vote, our side wins." He's a disgrace to our country as well as himself. I wish
he just had a taste of how it feels for those poor people to be sick and without health care. He goes to the hospital every time he gets a fart crosswise, and we taxpayers are burdened with his care. So he winds up with more money in his Oily pockets by making the less fortunate suffer.

:evilfrown: :puke: :thumbsdown:

[katinmn]

63. Uh, yes. I was out in the street protesting at Thanksgiving

and have been calling and writing letters ever since.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

65. I wonder why

I never hear about ANY protests... It's true I live in the Babbel belt but if there was any REAL protesting going on I'd hear about it, even if it was only through DU.

Let's recap, shall we... First they shove Alito down our throats while Dems on the Hill for the most part sit silent. Some of our leaders even voted for the Nazi. Then, within days, we see big cuts in programs for the poor and middle class. It's tough luck to women who needed help hunting down dead-beat dads and oh-so-sorry to students needing loans for college, not to mention our rapidly growing teeming masses of poor people in America... Let's send the Statue of Liberty back to France because it has a big lie for a slogan.

It almost goes without saying but let's keep in mind we have a genuine tyrant, as defined by Plato in The Republic, running the show and he continues to steal your freedom, while giving tax cuts to only the top 3% of wage earners in America. I know, I'm forgetting lots of reasons to protest but there are just so damn many, it's hard to keep track.

Cindy did a one-woman protest and we find it okay for a Nazi pig to rough her up over wearing a tee-shirt, which was pretty mild in my opinion... I mean, can't the mother of a dead soldier wear a shirt telling how many have died in the illegal invasion and occupation?

Still no big protests are planned. Will we slip quietly into the great darkness of tyranny?

Oh yeah, DIEBOLD... let's all just vote again, instead of protesting, shall we?

[katinmn]

66. A lot of organizations organized protests, petition signings, etc.

in November. MoveOn was one such group:
http://political.moveon.org/budgetaction/

We were out in the frikkin freezing weather - again. Delivered petitions to four reps in their Minnesota offices. People were out doing the same all over the country.
Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moveon/63964447/in/set-1382151/

There are other groups, unions trying to get people motivated to protest quite frequently. But we are so marginalized it hardly makes a ripple. Sigh.

[Sapphire Blue]

67. Civil Disobedience for a Moral Budget (protest on steps of the Canon Bldg)

Civil Disobedience for a Moral Budget: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display_c&item=051214_arrests

Testimony of those arrested: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display_c&item=051214_arrests_testimony

Video: rtsp://real.faithandvalues.com/streaming/sojourners/051214_moralbudget.rm

[Jeffersons Ghost]

68. thanks again sapphire... that's good stuff as usual

Do you know of any UPCOMING protests I can attend? What's happening in the near future?

Thank you Kat... your stuff is great too... Have you ever heard o the "Ripple Effect?"

[Sapphire Blue]

69. Not at this time.

A few resources for info updates...

Sojourners (http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.subscribe)

Call to Renewal (http://ga4.org/calltorenewal/join.tcl?is_preview=1)

the Coalition for Human Needs (http://www.democracyinaction.org/chn/signUp.jsp)

AFSC (http://www.afsc.org/default.htm - upper right side of page).

Edited to add: Check into ACORN, too: http://www.acorn.org/. There's an office in Alabama (click on 'Join ACORN' at the top).

[jfern]

75. Bump

Bumpity

[Vinca]

76. Sheesh - I'm sure we all care, but they've got the numbers. Didn't

we just go through that with Alito? The Republicans will continue to bulldoze us over until we get a majority. We call and call and call and sometimes I wonder why bother.

[Catchawave]

77. Get behind Democrats willing to fight for "We" :)

From the One America Committe (www.oneamericacommittee.com):

"Restoring the American Dream -- Combating Poverty and Building One America"

Fact Sheet
September 19, 2005

"Working Society"

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has shown each of us the harsh realities of the Two Americas - one for the privileged and wealthy and one for the families living paycheck to paycheck - that exist in our country today.

President Bush says he wants America to be an "Ownership Society." Under his Administration's policies, this means the more you own, the more you get. For Americans struggling to make ends meet, it means the more you work, the more you pay.

It is time for a new social compact. The "Working Society" means people who are willing to work hard and take responsibility for themselves, should finally have the rewards to show for it. It is based on the principle that in America no one succeeds on their own, and no American should be out there on their own. It strengthens our national community by making the pact that if you are willing to hold up your end of the bargain, the Working Society will make sure you are able to get ahead, not just get by.

Today, Edwards called on his fellow citizens to recommit themselves to a Working Society - where if you work full time, you will have something to show for it - savings, your own home, the chance to live in a good neighborhood in good schools, and the ability to afford college.

"Work Bonds" to Help Families Save. Edwards described a new proposal to help all Americans save, invest, and get ahead. His "work bonds" would expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to help low-income, working Americans save for the future. They would receive an extra tax credit that matched their wages, up to $500 per year. The credit would be directly deposited into a savings account or safe investment fund of stocks and bonds, available for retirement, small business, education, and personal emergencies. Families could add their own savings to the account. Edwards' proposal would also expand the Savers Credit to match the savings of low-income families.

"A New Savings Plan" to Help Families Buy and Keep a Home. Homeownership promotes economic security and, for most families, is the top generator of wealth. However, predatory lenders use deceptive terms and abusive interest rates and fees to strip away families' equity, reducing the amount of wealth they have saved in their homes and sometimes depriving them of their homes entirely. Just last week, the Federal Reserve released data indicating that blacks are about three times more likely than whites to borrow through more expensive "subprime," regardless of income levels. Edwards called for a crackdown on predatory lenders and proposed a new deal to poor families entering the workforce: for the first five years they work, his plan would set aside up to $1,000 for future home payments. After five years, American workers will have up to $5,000 for toward their first home.

Home-to-School Vouchers for the Working Poor. Edwards outlined a major effort to give poor working parents housing vouchers so they have a chance to move into neighborhoods with better schools, expanding opportunity and building healthier communities. This initiative would utilize the existing section 8 housing voucher program as a base, include housing market and school counseling, and build on lessons from successful initiatives like Moving to Opportunity and HOPE VI.

Make Work Pay. America was built on the idea that anyone can work hard and build a better future for themselves and their children. The minimum wage is currently 33 percent of the average hourly wage of American workers, the lowest share since 1949. Edwards proposed raising it to at least $7.50 an hour. He also called for strengthening labor laws to give workers a real opportunity to organize and ensuring Americans can enter the workforce and change jobs without losing their health insurance.

College for Everyone. Today, 200,000 young people don't go to college each year because they can't afford it. Others don't even apply because they think they find the process overwhelming. As in the past, Edwards proposed a College for Everyone initiative that would offer a new deal to young people: finish high school and stay out of trouble, agree to work or do community service in your first year of college, and you will pay no tuition and fees for your first year at a public university or community college. Edwards would pay for much of this initiative by eliminating subsidies to banks for student loans and making those loans directly to students instead.

Strengthen Families and Finish Welfare Reform. Edwards proposed a series of measures to strengthen families. First, he would expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to address the up to $3,000 marriage penalty that hits poor families. Second, to bring more men into the workforce, he would offer supports to such poor single workers through the Earned Income Tax Credit or another mechanism. He would also finish the work of welfare reform. Welfare reform required mothers to work and helps them find jobs, but it left poor fathers right where they were. Edwards would use the full force of the law to ensure that fathers to work and pay child support, give them help finding work, and make sure child support goes to help children and is not pocketed by the government. Edwards also emphasized the need to fight teen pregnancy, noting that young people should not have children they are not ready to care for, and calling for more support for struggling young people and investments in proven initiatives that lower teen pregnancy rates by engaging young people in community service, offering them greater educational opportunity, and pointing the way to a strong economic future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The "New America Initiative" to Renew the Gulf

Rebuilding the Gulf will be the first test of whether we as a nation will rise to the challenge of fighting poverty as the whole world watches. The New America Initiative is based on the principle that renewing the lives of the people of the Gulf requires more than food and shelter; it requires the dignity that comes from a job at a decent wage.

Make High-Skill, High Wage Jobs a Priority. Rebuilding the Gulf has the potential to bring many good jobs to the region. Federal policies should make job creation a top priority. It should require payment of a decent wage: The Administration's suspension of the prevailing wage law to ensure workers are paid a fair's day wages for a fair day's work should be reversed. Building new skills must also be part of the effort. Tax breaks for businesses alone will never attract high-wage, high-skill jobs. We need a different approach that unites businesses, community colleges, nonprofits, and unions in new cooperation. Cooperation among all these sectors has successfully generated jobs from Wisconsin to Nevada, and should be fostered to create jobs in the Gulf.

Help People Build Assets. As many economists note, "Income helps you get along. Assets help get you ahead." In the 21st century economy, it isn't enough to earn a decent wage, you need to build assets. Katrina did not discriminate based on economic standing, but families living paycheck to paycheck were hit the hardest. There was no breathing room in their budget that allowed them to save for a house, college, or just sock away so savings for a very rainy day. We need to give Gulf residents a chance to save by helping them open a bank account, putting relief into those accounts, and cracking down on the predatory lenders who can take advantage of them.

Create a "Built to Last" Infrastructure for the 21st Century. We need a Gulf Coast that is "built to last," with infrastructure to compete in the 21st century. For our new economy, it means modern mass transit, like light-rail, that will help connect people to jobs; energy-efficient businesses and homes that can reduce demand for foreign oil and build a market for efficiency here at home; bringing broadband to the region so it can connect to the web as well as New Delhi. Urban homesteading is a start idea, but we should bring together the great private engines of development - banks, homebuilders, government-sponsored enterprises, and others - challenge them to build integrated communities, and leverage federal dollars to do it, including tax credits proposed but never enacted. It will be impossible to rebuild the Gulf without a common effort by these engines of growth.

Build Housing that Will Bring New Opportunities, not Pockets of Poverty. The Administration's main vehicle for housing the displaced is building trailer parks townships that threaten to become new pockets of poverty that undermine economic opportunity . We should give the displaced more choice and more opportunity by providing them with Section 8 housing vouchers that would allow them to move into existing housing, often in middle-income neighborhoods near good jobs. Our rebuilding efforts should focus on building communities with more opportunity built on economic integration. Offering section 8 vouchers proved successful in quickly providing housing in diverse neighborhoods after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; it should be a key strategy now.

[newyawker99]

78. Jeffersons Ghost

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thanks you.

NYer99
DU Moderator