Ed Fallon news letter

[rurallib]

Got an Ed Fallon news letter. Thought I'd share it here on DU. Informational infromation:
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Update – July 14, 2005

An Irish Reflection
I’ve Got the Blues
Progressive Editor Endorses Blouin??

AN IRISH REFLECTION


Well, I did it! I squeezed in a much-needed vacation to Ireland with Kristin and my parents. Ireland is my ancestral home in a very real way. Escaping poverty and political turmoil, my father’s parents came to New York in the late 1920s to a land of opportunity and hope. As my grandfather sought work, he was greeted by signs saying “Irish Need Not Apply.” Apparently, opportunity and hope were available only under certain ethnic conditions.

Like most immigrant families, my grandparents struggled to overcome obstacle after obstacle, eventually succeeding in their new homeland. They also retained strong ties to “the ole sod.” My father now owns the farmhouse and land where my grandmother was born and raised, a home built by my great-grandfather in 1890. Our close relatives in Ireland number as many as those in the U.S.

As is the case for the children of many immigrant families, the land of my grandparents has been and always will be my second home – but I emphasize the word “second.” Despite my grandmother’s powerful ties to her Irish kin – and her thick Irish brogue – she stated with pride that she was, first and foremost, an American. She and my grandfather succeeded in large part because of their own hard work and determination, but they couldn’t have done it without the countless people who helped them along the way.

I’VE GOT THE BLUES

I’ve been invited to perform at the Bowlful of Blues Festival in Newton on Saturday, July 16, in Maytag Park. It’s always a pleasure to be able to combine my passion for music with my passion for justice. I’ll be jamming from 4-4:30 p.m. with two of my Irish music buddies – Dean Wipperman and Leon Johnson. We’ll attempt a fusion of Irish, Blues and Zydeco. It’ll be a blast, and a good opportunity for community outreach – but don’t be looking for a cd from us any time soon. For those who can make it, I’d love to see you there.

PROGRESSIVE EDITOR ENDORSES BLOUIN??

On June 11, Art Cullen, editor of the Storm Lake Times and the nationally-circulated Progressive Populist, came out in support of Michael Blouin (likely gubernatorial candidate and recently-resigned director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development). This is shocking, since Blouin’s pro-big-business, anti-rural policies are the antithesis of Cullen’s standard editorial viewpoint.

Blouin is one of the primary architects of the Iowa Values Fund, which rewards a handful of businesses with generous taxpayer subsidies. (Note: Over the past ten years, 99.35% of all Iowa businesses HAVE NOT received a handout from state government.) This isn’t economic development. It’s corporate welfare and trickle-down economics. It didn’t work under Ronald Reagan, and it won’t work under Blouin or anyone else.

Years ago, when Blouin directed the Greater Des Moines Partnership (the equivalent of a chamber of commerce for central Iowa), he coordinated a promotional campaign called “Change Your View.” The campaign targeted both local and national audiences with slogans such as: “look beyond agrarian stereotypes of Iowa, acknowledge stereotypes with humor, and vigorously refute them.” It’s hard to imagine how Cullen – or any rural Iowan – could find that attitude desirable in a gubernatorial candidate.

Weigh in with your own opinion by contacting The Storm Lake Times, PO Box 487, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588 – [phone] or [e-mail].


Fallon for Governor
www.fallonforgovernor.org

[pstans]

1. Fallon is a very interesting candidate

I like a lot of his ideas, but am concerned about his electable. I think I will support him, with the goal of getting his name out there around the state in hopes that he could run for US House when Boswell finally decides to retire.

Fallon definitly believes that to solve the hard problems that governments seem to always have to fix, you need to think of new ways to solve them. You can't do the the same type of things and expect something different to happen. He has new and creative and progressive ideas.

[DU9598]

2. I agree

Rep. Fallon is an interesting candidate, but I also fear he is not electable. He has a voting record that the media and the repubs would devour. I have not decided who to support yet, but although I like Rep. Fallon I will probably vote for whoever become the front runner between Judge, Blouin, and Culver. I want to avoid a convention where the convention picks the nominee.

[IA_Seth]

3. Convention's Choice

Yeah, the possibility of a convention choosing the nominee is somewhat troublesome to me.

I think that those that typically would show up for the convention wouldn't necessarily reflect "mainstream" Iowa voters and although I would be happy with someone progressive like Fallon being chosen, I think he has a snowball's chance in hell of being elected by regular Iowans.

Just my opinion.

[Debi]

4. Good message, Seth, and I agree with you.

Not too many people like a smaller group deciding for them (and most people who are delegates are serious democratic party activists).

But, that is the very reason why we need more people active in the party, on central committees and that are delegates to conventions. That way we do have more diversity in the decision-making when the convention ends up convening to make a choice.

[Debi]

5. I enjoy reading what Fallon writes about economic development

I too wish he had more fund raising finesse and more name recognition.

[IA_Seth]

6. I agree on all counts

I think the "average" person cares about their country and the direction it is headed, they care about their taxes, they care about their healthcare.

Sadly, and unfortunately, I think the "average" person also sees political conventions in about the same light as they see Star Trek conventions. I know a lot of people that show up to the polls every time but don't know a thing about party politics and the processes we use.

What disappoints me is that even though our country is in the worst shape I can recall it being in (admittedly I am only 27), there are still people out there that complain all day and never lift a finger to make a difference.

I think this should be our parties main focus right now. Activate the silent majority. Get people involved.