DU activists, please help us win the BUDGET CUTS BATTLE! Call or email today!

[GreenPartyVoter]

Our goal is to flood Amy Goodman and Rachel Maddow with letters. If you feel inspired to contact others, we have provided a media contacts list as well as one for Congressional representatives. Feel free to tweak the text below as necessary. You can tailor for media or political representatives, and there are more facts listed at the end of this post which you can use to change up your letter. Also, check the replies to this post for more sample letters as written by your fellow DUers.

To the media: Why are you not talking about the way the budget cuts will traumatize millions of poor Americans? Where is the coverage about this outrageous turn of events?

To our Reps: The budget cuts stand to cause further anguish for millions of poor Americans who are already on the edge. What are you doing to stand up and fight for them? Can we count on you to be their voice?

Budget Cut Facts

Cuts $1.1 billion from Head Start depriving services for 218,000 children. <1>

Cuts $1.3 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans <1>

Slashes $1.3 billion from community health centers taking primary health care from 11 million patients. <1>

Reduces or eliminates Pell Grants for 9.4 million low-income college students. <1>

Cuts $405 million from Community Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled. <1>

Ends job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans. <1>

Poison control centers would lose 93% of their operations funds. <2>

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration would reduce their number of workplace-hazard safety inspections by 8000. <2>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration will both face cuts, meaning fewer inspectors ensuring the safety of our food supply. <2>

$3.5 billion in Housing subsidies would be lost. <3>

The $60 billion package of spending cuts proposed by Republicans could hinder economic growth, says a Goldman Sachs economist. <4>

$450 million would be cut from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. <5>

Contacts
Amy Goodman and “Democracy Now!”
http://www.democracynow.org/about/contact

Rachel Maddow
[e-mail]

More media:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111

Congressional representatives:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

[Lifelong Protester]

1. I'm on board and have one letter ready to go.

My one letter can go to multiple sources, and will be mailed to all of my elected representitives and that includes those in the WH. I have used your facts too.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. This project only works if people participate, so thank you for doing so!

[GreenPartyVoter]

218. kick

[Lifelong Protester]

25. Here is my letter...

“…with liberty and JUSTICE for all.”

I recite those words with my students, but I have to wonder at the hollowness of them in light of the recently revealed budget proposal for the federal government. How can this be JUSTICE?

The latest budget proposal shows once again this country’s priorities are backwards. Maybe members of congress and the White House would rather do the bidding of Wall Street and large corporations instead of working for the PEOPLE?

I’m fed up with the empty promises and the charade of this government giving any attention to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged. I’m a public school teacher, and have been dedicated to my profession for 28 years. Now I see that I am somehow to blame for the poor economy?

Well guess what? A lot of us middle class, and soon to be ‘formerly middle class’ folks are throwing our weight in with the poor. And there are a LOT more of us than you might be comfortable thinking about.

Here are just a few of the areas I find troubling in this budget proposal:

· Cut $1.1 billion from Head Start depriving services for 218,000 children.
· Cut $1.3 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans.
· Slash $1.3 billion from community health centers taking primary health care from 11 million patients.
· Reduce or eliminate Pell Grants for 9.4 million low-income college students.
· Cut $405 million from Community Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled.
· End job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans.
· The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, would see funding drop by about $3 billion from an authorized 2009 total of $5.1 billion.
· Zero funding for NPR and PBS.

So, let’s see, you’d like us ignorant, freezing to death, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get the trifecta and we’ll not live long enough to get Social Security or Medicare. I’m nearly 56; I’ve paid taxes and FICA since I was 15. I am not a ‘freeloader’ as some pundits and sadly, congressman and commission members might characterize me. I am part of the backbone of this country.

So who do you all work for anyway, the people or the corporations, banks, and Wall Street executives who seem to have their hands in everything, rigging the system so it benefits the FEW at the expense of the MANY?

When we quit sending PALLETS of money to war profiteers (or as they are known by the more acceptable euphemism “contractors”) THEN you can talk to us about having to enact ‘austerity’ measures. And by the way, I do not see these as ‘austerity’ measures. I see this budget as a part of a larger scheme to separate the ‘haves’ from the ‘have -nots’. I see it as a stealth ‘death warrant’ for those who have no voice.


I speak for those who have no voice.

I am educated. I am not fooled.

Justice for all?



Sincerely,

[bobbolink]

28. This is a great letter! Thanks!

Gives me some ideas! :hug:

[CTyankee]

80. As promised, here is the letter I sent to Rachel (another will follow to Amy)

Dear Rachel,

I write to make a sincere plea that you will add your powerful voice on behalf the the poor in our country who will be traumatized by budget cuts proposed by Congress. These cuts affect America's most vulnerable populations.

They include:

$1.1 billion from Head Start depriving services for 218,000 children

$1.2 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans

Reduction or elimination of Pell Grants for 9.4 million low-income college students

$405 million from Community Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled

Ending job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans

$3.5 billion in Housing subsidies

In addition, cuts that would affect every American include those programs that ensure the safety of our food supply, money to fight AIDS, Malaria and TB, poison control, and OSHA safety inspections.

Please join the fight against these cuts, Rachel. You reach thousands of Americans on your show. And they respond by becoming your most loyal audience members.

You have made a difference and given progressives new hope. Please help those who now need you the most!

Sincerely,

[bobbolink]

83. "Please help those who now need you the most!" I love it, thanks!

It makes me feel like I and milllions more have someone in our corner.

I really appreciate your working! :yourock:

[CTyankee]

93. You're welcome. It's the least I can do. Will write Amy, too.

This is one of my missions, to get the middle class to understand what they have in common with the poor and to work for social and economic justice in this country.

The fact sheet was extremely helpful in preparing this letter. All I had to do was "plead" and point out that Rachel is influential and her voice will be extremely important. You and I cannot reach the audience she does but we can ask for her help...personally, I think Rachel will do this...esp. if enough people write to her and reinforce not only the data on the cuts but on the fact that she can play an important role here.

Keep the letters comin' folks. Just do it...

[bobbolink]

98. "Keep the letters comin' folks. Just do it..." AMEN!

Please help us figure out how to get more people activated on this!

"personally, I think Rachel will do this...esp. if enough people write to her "

I was sooo frustrated during the time that 300,000 people wrote on behalf of Keith. If that many people can get mobilized, then surely that many people can write on behalf of people who are ignored and have no voice! So, your words on this hit me ..... thanks for confirming what I was feeling at that time!

You are striking some important chords with me with these words! :yourock:

[CTyankee]

106. We MUST, MUST, MUST get out the message that what hurts the poor hurts the middle class!

We have to connect the dots of the cuts to poor people with cuts to middle class people. Otherwise, they won't get it. People will take a step up but not a step down. They don't want to be downgraded. They want the best they can get.

If that's the case, then we must tell them how their ratifying policies of the ruling class have basically denigrated their own class. Show them how they suffered, not benefited, by the policies of the ruling class. THAT's what has impoverished them (in terms of social benefits). If they cannot connect the dots, they exist in a kind of limbo, without a context to connect them to political action). Isn't political action the whole point?

[GreenPartyVoter]

243. Yes, we must!

[GreenPartyVoter]

250. kick

[XanaDUer]

54. Wow. May I use this as a template for my letter?

Everytime I think about cuts for average and poor Americans, my blood begins to boil! :mad:

[bobbolink]

56. Sure! Please do! That's why we are posting our letters here.

It would help if you make some little changes, so it doesn't look like astroturf.

Please post what you sent, and to whom.... we need to encourage others!

Thanks so much.... this is a necessary action! :yourock:

[CTyankee]

107. Well, please vary some of the phrases. Use you own words in pleading your case

with Rachel or Amy. Tell them, from your heart, how you feel and how you think it would be wonderful if they could do a program on this!

We don't need a bunch of letters saying the same thing...we need activists who just put their heart and soul and let 'er rip!

[bobbolink]

161. "From the heart"... and that is the key, isn't it?

I just watched The Great Debaters again, and that is the lesson that comes through. Yes, you must know the facts, and learn all you can about the subject, but in the end...

It. Must. Come. From. The. Heart.

Thank you for your wisdom!

[roguevalley]

236. You and me both. We are all just one disaster from the streets

and now our inadequate safety net is shrinking. Count me in.

RV with a shout out to Bobbolink.

[Overseas]

183. Excellent! Well Said !! //nt

[Starry Messenger]

3. k&r!!

[bobbolink]

7. Where's your letter?

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[Starry Messenger]

9. Massive sinus headache today

but I swear I'm on this tomorrow. I will post! Good to see you sweetie, and great project. :hug:

[bobbolink]

11. You have mucus on the brain, too?

Hope you feel better really soon.

Don't stress on the letter... short and sweet... or, not sweet, but kick in the pants. ^_^

You probably have it on the top of your head.

And thanks for all you do..... especially for the woman vet!!!

:hug:

[Starry Messenger]

96. I'm still a little spacy today, but here's what I came up with:

"I am a teacher at one of America's public schools and got the most heart-breaking email last winter a teacher can get--a list of students at our school who were homeless and in poverty. This is a wealthy country, there should be no children worrying where they are going to be sleeping tonight or where their next meal is coming from while they are sitting in class trying to learn. I hope that recent coverage of this issue by 60 minutes will spur on greater efforts by progressive and liberal media who have the ear of the grassroots. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/06/60minutes/main20038927.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody The situation could not be more dire for our nation's poor citizens and there is no relief in sight. Please support the country's most vulnerable and make these facts widely known:


Budget Cut Facts

Cuts $1.1 billion from Head Start depriving services for 218,000 children. <1>

Cuts $1.3 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans <1>

Slashes $1.3 billion from community health centers taking primary health care from 11 million patients. <1>

Reduces or eliminates Pell Grants for 9.4 million low-income college students. <1>

Cuts $405 million from Community Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled. <1>

Ends job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans. <1>

Poison control centers would lose 93% of their operations funds. <2>

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration would reduce their number of workplace-hazard safety inspections by 8000. <2>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration will both face cuts, meaning fewer inspectors ensuring the safety of our food supply. <2>

$3.5 billion in Housing subsidies would be lost. <3>

The $60 billion package of spending cuts proposed by Republicans could hinder economic growth, says a Goldman Sachs economist. <4>

$450 million would be cut from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. <5>

<1> http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=4cb8e7bb-ff... |
<2> http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/04/five-federal-budget-c... /
<3> http://preservingamericangreatness.blogspot.com /
<4> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-schechter/the-10-re...
<5> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shane-claiborne/what-woul...


Thank you in advance for your consideration."


I sent it to Rachel, Amy, David Sirota, Ed Shultz and Jim Lehrer's News Hour. Anybody else it should go to? I'll probably rework it for my rep, although Jackie Speier is usually pretty on top of stuff.

[bobbolink]

116. That is a great letter... especially appreciate that it is from the perspective of a teacher!

Afterall, they are concentrating on teachers right now, and this gives them a different perspective to consider!

And thank for writing to the others... let me know if you hear anything back. I think Schultz is tone deaf on this, and Sirota pisses me off hugely on poverty, but he just nmay hear it.

I was also thinking of Russ Feingold's new organization.... progressivesunited.org. He doesn't include poverty at all (!!!!!) and since it is new, maybe some mail onthis might affect him.

Thanks... this is great, and I really hope you feel better!

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

135. Great letter! (And utterly heartbreaking. Thanks for giving those kids a voice, and for

being a teacher! :hug:)

[GreenPartyVoter]

219. kick

[bobbolink]

4. Here's my letter.... Please, everyone, its not hard,,,,,just write!

Sent to Rachel and Amy:

While the progressive media is busy covering the Wisconsin protests, there is another attack on the wellbeing of the people of the US that is NOT getting the attention or the protests that it deserves.

That attack is the proposed cuts to the already tattered safety net. While the protesters in Michigan are fighting for the right to bargain collectively, these cuts threaten the very survival of millions of people, yet there is hardly a peep from progressives.

Most people follow what they hear about the most, so until the progressive media makes it clear that this attack is very real and very life-threatening, most people won't think about it, let alone join in taking action to prevent the cuts.

We poor people have no voice in this society, and we depend on your sense of fairness to make this an issue. It is no exaggeration to say that without your attention to this, the cuts WILL go through, and many of us will not survive that.

There are at least 3 million homeless people in the US because there is such a bad shortage of low-income housing. YET, there is now a proposal to cut low-income housing by 8.9 BILLION, and cut another 2 BILLION to homeless assistance grants. YET, it has been shown that subsidized housing brings in MILLIONS to the local economy, and creates hundreds of jobs, according to a report from Denver.

Do your listeners and viewers know this? If not, why not?

Stop leaving us invisible!

Thank you, and looking forward to seeing reports on this very important issue!

[OneGrassRoot]

5. EXCELLENT! K&R to this post and the OP. Thanks to both! n/t

[bobbolink]

8. Please post your letter, too, so we can all get inspired!

:yourock:

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. I can't get Amy's email to work!

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. +1

[GreenPartyVoter]

222. kick

[annabanana]

6. kicking and kicking. . . . . . n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. kick

[defendandprotect]

14. kr -- tomorrow --

[bobbolink]

15. We will search our mailbag tomorrow!

:rofl:

Thanks!

[defendandprotect]

16. Will try ...

to follow tomorrow -- looks like it needs a LOT of attention!!

:)

[bobbolink]

17. Yes, these cuts literally mean death, and we have such a short time.

The vote comes back soon.... we CAN'T afford to lose this one!

Thanks! Your letter will inspire others, and that's what we need now...ACTION, not discussion!

[defendandprotect]

67. OK -- just sent a bunch of e-mails and will continue to work on this --

PS -- Don't forget Obama cause unfortunately I don't see him speaking out against

these cuts!!

[GreenPartyVoter]

68. Thank you so much. Yes, we need leadership on this, so let's tell him what

kind of leadership we are looking for!

[GreenPartyVoter]

227. kick

[bobbolink]

71. Wonderful! Could you please post what you have written? It inspires others.

You are most welcome to email Obama and some have.

Our emphasis is on the "progressive' media, because this is not an issue with them, and until they make it an issue there are just a few of us who give a damn.

If they make it an issue, there could be THOUSANDS who get active, and that is what we need!

So, by all means.. after emailing Amy and Rachel, write to everyone else you can thiink of, and urge everyone you know to do the same.

Facebook it if you facebook!

Tweet if you twitter...

Shout it from the rooftops, organize a protest where you live... Carry. It. On!

[defendandprotect]

77. Well, I've written different things -- this is one of them ...

Pentagon's Permanent Wars vs Social Security -- Homeless -- Disabled --

One of the most obvious things about America is that Superpowers don't much
care about our 3 million HOMELESS or the 25% of our children living in poverty.
About child care or educating citizens.

Superpowers -- like other dictators -- don't care much about our loss of jobs to
trade agreements nor the unemployed.

What they do care about is protecting capitalism's need to "harvest slave labor
all over the world."

Anyone who looks at the budget cuts can see that they are an attack on the poor
and elderly, children, the disabled - basically, the most helpless among us.
And that they are intended to create the illusion of "savings" while stealing from
Seniors on Social Security.

Those who profit from Superpowerdom and Permanent Wars are suicidal -- just as
capitalism in its exploitation of nature is suicidal. And they will take us all with them.
These are inane systems built on violence; destructive of NATURE and HUMANITY.
These systems have corrupted our governments with their wealth, pre-bribing and
pre-owning our elected officials.

Rather, American hearts and common sense speak out for ending these wars and for
compassion for our brothers and sisters; for renewing a commitment to building
healthy socities -- and reversing the pollution of our planet.

Let's end these suicidal policies and survive - all of us, together --

Thank you,

--------------- I'm pretty much about half way thru the list of representatives --

and if I have time later, will try to make some phone calls -------------------




PS: I'd also include C-span on your list if it's not already there ---

"[e-mail]" --

[bobbolink]

78. WOW...that packs a punch! Great way to vent, isn't it?

So, this is going to Reps? I hope it startles their aides! :evilgrin:

Please don't forget Amy and Rachel... we need THEM to wake up thousands of more writers!

Thanks so much! :yourock:

[1776Forever]

18. Here's my letter:

I take very seriously Jesus’ words about caring for “the least of these". It has come to the surface quickly in the last couple of years that the least of these in our country have not been included in any recovery up to this point. We need to report on this and do more then we have to shine a light on their situation. With the 60 Minutes Report on March 6, 2011, it was reported that 25% of children in the United States will soon be living in poverty.

While the middle-class in WI have been out in large numbers, those in poverty do not have that same support and we need to let them know they are not being forgotten! We must go back to the very roots of our country that shared the hope and dreams of our founders in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal and that they have the right to pursue happiness no matter what their current situation is.

I would encourage more reporting on the plight of those in need. I would hope that you would do a personal and up close account as to what will happen if and when the cuts that the GOP are proposing happen. Show the percentages of those in poverty which are climbing substantially even with the so called recovery.

Thank you for your time.

[bobbolink]

19. That is wonderful! I hope Amy and Rachel pay attention!

Thanks so much! :yourock:

[1776Forever]

33. You are very welcome. I will be waching for Amy & Rachel's reports! n/t

[bobbolink]

36. If not, we may have to get after them MORE!

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Terrific letter!

[1776Forever]

34. Thank you. Let's hope this is taken seriously! n/t

[alfredo]

21. I've already written my representatives and Senators. It

was painful, got me angry, but I kept my bile in check. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are my Senators.

[bobbolink]

22. thank you, and you have my sympathy!

Could you please share your letters here?

And, could you also please write to Amy and Rachel, as thhis is something that doesn't get attention from the "progressive" media.

Thanks so much for your efforts! :yourock:

[alfredo]

23. Thanks. I don't have copies.

[GreenPartyVoter]

32. Thank you for trying! Who knows, maybe they will see the light if enough folks contact them?

[alfredo]

35. I write them all the time.

[H2O Man]

24. Recommended.

Fight the Good Fight!

[GreenPartyVoter]

233. Thanks! :^D

[Lifelong Protester]

26. Kicking again for the night crew

also, I added my letter, which will go to elected officials. Will modify for the media you are targeting.

Thanks for all the hard work being done here.

[amborin]

27. K&R

will write tomorrow

[bobbolink]

29. Thanks! We look forward to seeing your letter!

:yourock:

[Hannah Bell]

30. I sent this to maddow but got an error message when trying to send to goodman.

The American people need to have the facts about how proposed budget cuts will affect millions of people. Your reporting can help.


Budget Cut Facts

Cuts $1.1 billion from Head Start depriving services for 218,000 children. <1>

Cuts $1.3 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans <1>

Slashes $1.3 billion from community health centers taking primary health care from 11 million patients. <1>

Reduces or eliminates Pell Grants for 9.4 million low-income college students. <1>

Cuts $405 million from Community Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled. <1>

Ends job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans. <1>

Poison control centers would lose 93% of their operations funds. <2>

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration would reduce their number of workplace-hazard safety inspections by 8000. <2>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration will both face cuts, meaning fewer inspectors ensuring the safety of our food supply. <2>

$3.5 billion in Housing subsidies would be lost. <3>

The $60 billion package of spending cuts proposed by Republicans could hinder economic growth, says a Goldman Sachs economist. <4>

$450 million would be cut from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. <5>


Thank you for your reportage on this issue.

[bobbolink]

31. Good letter -- Thanks! Amy's sometimes goes through, and sometimes seems to get hung up.

Please try it again tomorrow...and thanks!

[Luminous Animal]

37. K&R. We need more of this on DU. I will post my letter here tomorrow.

[Desertrose]

38. My letter...FWIW

The recent proposed cuts hurt this group more than any other...the group that has NO voice and is increasing in numbers with all safety nets being cut and removed. This group is the POOR and it is growing daily. Where are those who would speak out & give these human beings a voice?

What does it say about a country that ignores the plight of so many of it's citizens in the rush to satisfy the needs of the few that already have so much? What does it say about a media that never mentions these people?

With a homeless rate of at least 3 million in this country,why would we be cutting low income housing?
Why are we cutting $1.1 billion from Head Start that deprives services for 218,000 children?
Why would we cut $1.3 billion from community health centers taking away primary health care from 11 million patients?
Why would we cut $1.3 billion from Social Security that delays benefits for 500,000 Americans?
Why cut $405 million from Community Services Block Grants that affects 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled?
Why has LIHEAP funding been cut by $3 billion having millions lose heating assistance?

It's clear that the $60 billion package of spending cuts proposed by Republicans will hinder economic growth and yet no one is speaking up & making the point how these cuts hurt the most vulnerable. It is becoming more clear that either Americans don't know these facts- in which case, shame on the Media or they just don't care.

The media MUST begin to speak up and do their part to make EVERYONE aware of this group of people who need help. We are all Americans ...how can we be silent while out brothers & sisters are suffering and dying right here in our own country?

When a patient comes into the ER, the MDs don't care how or why they are hurt...the point is to give immediate aid and assistance. We need to do the same for the homeless and the poor. There is no excuse for ANYONE to be homeless in this country when SO many have SO much. Why do our "elected representatives" keep giving Wall Street more and Main Street nothing?.

Please please speak up for those who have no voice! Your help is needed!
Thank you
DR

[GreenPartyVoter]

49. Thank you so much for your letter. Every single one counts! *hugs*

[bobbolink]

66. EXELLENTLY written! I especially like your last paragraph.... "immediate aid and assistance".

Thanks so much! :yourock:

[eridani]

39. "Cuts $1.3 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans"

That is not even part of the general budget! SSA operating costs are pais from the Social Security Trust Fund!!

[Hannah Bell]

40. i'd like to know where this cut is being made & how it's possible to "cut"

it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

46. That fact came from Bernie Sanders. You might try contacting his office to see if you can get

an explanation for that.

[Joe Bacon]

114. I work for Social Security and I DON'T want to be furloughed for 20 days.

The House budget would force all Social Security employees to be furloughed for 20 days without pay from enactment to September 30th. That means that offices will be effectively closed for a whole calendar month. Our workloads will be severely backlogged.

I've repeatedly written my Senators about this. So grateful that I have Feinstein and Boxer fighting these asinine cuts. Please! EVERY LETTER COUNTS!

[bobbolink]

131. As if SS isn't already backlogged enough! Don't you wish you could take these clowns

by the nose, and lead them through all the stacks of files and ask them what the hell they think they are doing... they have *RELATIVES* in those files!

As much as I don't want to see you furloughed, I want even more not to see more deaths from people who couldn't wait anymore!

"Letters... we need letters!"

[Tsiyu]

41. Dear Amy, Dear Rachel:

There are many ways we can categorize various Americans. But right now I'd like you to focus on two very disparate groups.

One group is made up of the very wealthy, people who have every single one of their needs met. People who have plenty of extra resources to handle any emergency which might arise in their lives for the next hundred years. In this group, we can add the corporations like Exxon and Bank of America who are reaping in billions of profits while paying no taxes.

We're told these people cannot sacrifice any more, but this is a blatant lie. They are doing very, very well in a bad economy. They are sacrificing NOTHING. They are living large with no worries.

The other group is in much sadder shape. This group is made up of the homeless, the disabled, tiny infants, the elderly, elementary school students and young and old veterans, single mothers and high school seniors.

Unlike the first group, this group lacks adequate housing, health care, food, transportation, education and employment opportunities. This group is suffering and sacrificing and barely making it in this bad economy. They die every day - maybe because they have no health insurance, or due to the lack of a warm home in winter, or because their mothers had no access to prenatal care.

They can't give anymore.

But some politicians have it in their heads that the poorest of our poor can sacrifice more. That the hungry aren't quite hungry enough or cold enough or dying fast enough. These politicians propose taking away what little the latter group has - so that the first group doesn't have to think about feeling even a twinge of financial pain.

A recent poll showed 81% of Americans think the wealthy should have their Bush tax cuts revoked. So why are politicians ignoring our common sense answer and trying to further break the already broken?

Are they stoned or stupid?

Please focus on this issue. The poor need your voice.

Sincerely,

Tsiyu

[GreenPartyVoter]

50. Thank you so much!

[bobbolink]

61. Wow... excellent focus! What vision... I wish I had written that!

If they don't respond, it isn't for lack of sincere effort on our part!

:hug:

[WVRICK13]

42. Letter Here

When I look at the proposed budgets of both the President and Congress, I see some differences in cuts. However, there is a common thread that makes the weight of the deficit fall onto the shoulders of those who can least afford to pay the bill. The cuts to programs like Community Service Block Grants, LIEAP, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Workforce Investment Act, Head Start and other social programs will decimate the safety net that many people in our country depend on to not starve, not freeze, receive training for new employment receive a boost in education so they can compete in a capitalist society. These proposed cuts will have far reaching consequences; the resulting layoffs from the agencies delivering the services will put undue strain on Social Security; the desperation created by pulling the net out from under the vulnerable will cause a resulting increase in crime as people struggle to survive; the base population will become more unstable and unable to secure even minimum wage jobs because of desperate living conditions; more people will become uninsured as they lose their jobs and benefits; the housing market will tank again because of the lack of access to affordable financing and a lack of potential homebuyers; the children from head Start will not receive the educational boost that levels the playing field. It is clear to me that the costs associated with these cuts will increase the deficit because of the equal but opposite social reactions they will put into motion.

[GreenPartyVoter]

51. Thank you for sending that and sharing it here. :^)

[bobbolink]

92. You covered some very important points! I wish I could see faces as this is read.

"the desperation created by pulling the net out from under the vulnerable will cause a resulting increase in crime as people struggle to survive;"

I think this is the part that MOST are not seeing... thank you for including this!

[maryf]

43. K&R letter coming

I have a snow day today! I'll be posting a letter later on which will also be another kick...

[GreenPartyVoter]

45. We've had so many snow days I expect the kids will get out of school in July! LOL Looking forward to

reading your letter. :hi:

[babylonsister]

44. This is a great idea; rec'd! nt

[bobbolink]

76. thanks.... hope you will write, and report your letter here!

Thanks for your help... this is desperately important, and time is of the essence!

[Better Believe It]

47. K & R

[GreenPartyVoter]

232. Thanks!

[dembotoz]

48. k & r

[bullwinkle428]

52. K&R, and e-mails sent!

[GreenPartyVoter]

53. Thank you so much! :^)

[BlueIris]

55. Done.

Can't claim I think it will help, but I did it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

58. Thanks! I understand what you are feeling there, but better to try than not to try. :^)

[CrispyQ]

57. My letter to my Senators & Rep,

which I will modify somewhat & send to the media. And to the White House.

Fiscal responsibility is a moral responsibility

Dear (Senator Udall, Senator Bennet, Representative Polis),

I am not a person of faith but I am a person of morals & how we treat the least fortunate among us reflects who we are as a society.

Jared Bernstein said, "In a just society, there is no limit to how high one can climb, but there is a limit to how far one can fall." I guess our society isn't so just after all, is it?

We bail out the shyster bankers, but we cut programs that help the most needy in our society. We continue with tax cuts to the rich, we won't discuss closing the loopholes for the corporations, but we cut aid to women with small children & babies. We spend $1 million a year to keep one soldier in Afghanistan, but we let citizens at home freeze in their homes.

And the homeless? They aren't even on our radar.

Many claim that the US is a Christian nation. My recollection of the teachings of Jesus is that he commanded us to love & serve the poor and the needy. What does it say when an atheist believes & supports these teachings & policies more than a number of self professed Christians?

We must keep our humanity intact during critical times.

Sincerely,

CrispyQ

========
There are many fine letters in this thread, but here's the thing: WE MUST ALL SPEAK OUT! Even those not comfortable with words need to fashion some type of statement on these heinous budget cuts. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't have to be eloquent. Let it flow from the heart & your letter will be perfect.


k&r

[GreenPartyVoter]

59. Great letter! *hugs*

[GreenPartyVoter]

223. kick

[DirkGently]

64. Truly eloquent.

[DirkGently]

60. Done and done. Excellent initiative, GPV.

Edit:

My letter (modified appropriately for different recipients. I went with my Congressional and Senate reps and Rachel):

Dear Senator:

I am strongly opposed to the proposal that America "tighten its belt" by severely cutting important programs securing the health, safety, and well-being of millions of Americans. Our current economic woes were caused by the Wallstreet-fed market crash, not by social spending.

As to the move to reduce the deficit, harsh proposed cuts to domestic discretionary spending will be ineffective to reduce the budget, and only hurt Americans. We should instead focus on 1) Raising taxes on the wealthy and closing loopholes for corporate taxpayers, and 2) Drastically reducing spending for the military, the pointless war in Afghanistan, and the out-of-control Office of Homeland Security and the related domestic intelligence apparatus.

Among the most disturbing and damaging cuts, to which I and many others in Florida and elsewhere are vehemently opposed, are the following:

(CUTS)

I am an active voter, and will NOT support any political leader who encourages these disingenuously motivated and extremely harmful proposed budget cuts, and WILL actively support leaders who oppose them.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

(DirkGently)

[GreenPartyVoter]

62. Lovely, thank you! Bobbolink and several others worked together to get this post going. Hopefully it

will have the desired effect on the media and our Reps! *crosses fingers*

[Canuckistanian]

63. K&R

For visibility

[xchrom]

65. writing letters today. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

69. Super! :^D

[maryf]

70. My letter

Dear _________,

As an art teacher I suffer from the current, increasingly common, fear of waiting to hear if my job will be cut by the Board of Education of my school district. I have friends who have been cut, who will have to find another job, an extremely hard task in today's job market (especially for folks well into middle age, and please, I'm sure you know that agism most certainly exists).

However, in this country there are many, many people whose luck ran out years ago; who have had to struggle to survive, whether due to loss of job, housing, disability, health-care costs, or military service even. I am writing to you about the long time poor, those who have had to learn to get by with what little they can, many very dependent on government programs to keep matters from getting far worse, to the point of death in some cases.

Take a look at this graph from the article from the Center for American Progress:



Article here:

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/02/tax_breaks_infographic.html

How can we possibly be considering the proposed budget cuts, when looking at the savings to the uber rich in taxes? How can we possibly be considering cuts which will cost human lives due to freezing, starving, and/or lack of health care, along with other causes I may have missed? When are we going to insist that human lives are worth far more than the savings the wealthy make from writing off the cost of their vacation home, for instance?

In NYS the tax department rebated sixteen billion dollars of stock transfer tax. The amount of this tax is far below a penny on the dollar; the amount that the stock brokers pay on an individual basis, is a pittance, less than the cost of a cup of coffee on each thousand dollars. The sixteen billion that was rebated could have placed my state far into the black, vs. nine billion in the red. Would any of those who had their money rebated suffered horribly if this money had not been rebated? Very doubtful. Would this money possibly save thousands of people from unnecessary suffering as my state has to craft a budget which depends on cut federal funds? Most definitely yes.

If I am laid off, you can be sure I'll be spending time at legislators offices, at rallies, and at my computer and post office to be communicating with those who could save lives with the flick of a pen, but choose instead to save the rich enough money to have their yacht refurbished.

Please consider discussing these issues via your program, and remember three hundred million people trump any amount of money. Please also ask yourself, which side are you on? Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely, me.

[bobbolink]

72. Mary, this is FAB! VEry well done, and it is great you included that graph!

Thanks sooo much... it is clearly from the heart, and only heartless people can ignore it.

Please spread this far and wide.. it is EXCELLENT!

:hug:

[maryf]

86. I rewrote it as a LTTE too

had to edit a bit, and found too many errors after I sent it, but, keep em crossed! :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

87. Great idea, and isn't that always the way? I never fail to find the errors until after I hit send.

[bobbolink]

101. Terrific, mary! I hope others take that tack, too!

[EnlightenedOne]

95. EXCELLENT CHART!

Thanks for posting Mary. Composing my letter now to Rachel & Ed, and newspaper!!

K&R.

[GreenPartyVoter]

99. It is a terrific chart. I actually have a lot of conservatives on my FB account so

I think that graphic will be showing up there shortly. :evilgrin:

[OneGrassRoot]

152. Exactly. I've been seeing it on FB a lot as well. :) n/t

[cliffordu]

73. K&R !!!

[GreenPartyVoter]

234. Thanks!

[dajoki]

74. K&R; I will come up with something, thanks for the thread n/t

[bobbolink]

81. thanks, dajoki!

We wait with "worm on tongue" (what Robin Williams calls "baited breath") ^_^

Don't stress over it... short and sweet does it.

thanks! :yourock:

[G_j]

75. doing it right now

thanks

[Tsiyu]

79. kick n/t

[burrowowl]

82. K&R

[cate94]

84. K & R

I haven't been sleeping well and my writing skills suck on a good day. I'm writing, but please don't be offended that I am not sharing my letter.

Thanks.

[bobbolink]

85. The point is not professionalism.. the point is SPEAKING OUT. Your voice is important, and

very much appreciated!

Thank you sooooo much!

[GreenPartyVoter]

88. kick

[felix_numinous]

89. What a slap after trillions allocated to the MIC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x573141

Well the whole country is watching and waking up, it should be an interesting summer!

[GreenPartyVoter]

90. Have you seen this one yet? A whole nother series of slaps, kicks, and bites!

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/02/tax_breaks_infographic.html

[flpoljunkie]

91. MoveOn: Top 10 Worst Things About the Republicans' Immoral Budget

The Republican budget would:

1. Destroy 700,000 jobs, according to an independent economic analysis.

2. Zero out federal funding for National Public Radio and public television.

3. Cut $1.3 billion from community health centers--which will deprive more than three million low-income people of health care over the next few months.

4. Cut nearly a billion dollars in food and health care assistance to pregnant women, new moms, and children.

5. Kick more than 200,000 children out of pre-school by cutting funds for Head Start.

6. Force states to fire 65,000 teachers and aides, dramatically increasing class sizes, thanks to education cuts.

7. Cut some or all financial aid for 9.4 million low- and middle-income college students.

8. Slash $1.6 billion from the National Institutes of Health, a cut that experts say would "send shockwaves" through cancer research, likely result in cuts to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research, and cause job losses.

9. End the only federal family planning program, including cutting all federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood to support cancer screenings and other women's health care.

10. Send 10,000 low-income veterans into homelessness by cutting in half the number of veterans who get housing vouchers this year.

Click link to post to Facebook, Twitter: http://pol.moveon.org/soundthealarm/

[GreenPartyVoter]

235. Thanks for sharing that!

[hlthe2b]

94. Ok.... I'll work on at lest one letter tonight (f or multiple recipients).

'Gotta heavy work deadline, but should be able to do at least that.

[bobbolink]

103. Thanks so much! It means a lot that you will carve out the time.

Please share it with us!

[DeadEyeDyck]

97. pony express at work here

[bobbolink]

142. However it gets there, is appreciated!

:yourock:

[humbled_opinion]

100. Not enough people care

The misinformation teams are out in full force repeating that America is broke, taxpayers do not want to continue to fund programs to help the down trodden and the less fortunate. Let charities do their job and if thats not enough then those unfortuantes must rise on their own or die in the streets....

Government is the problem, chants heard at Teabaggers gatherings.... Cut the EPA, DOE, reduce the scope of all govt depts, govt is oppressive, fire civil service employees and cut all social programs...

Elections have consequences, this is what you get when you vote in a bunch of coporate owned selfish, greedy, conservatives.

[GreenPartyVoter]

102. Oh, I know. It's going to be hard to work around them, but I'm still going to try. Too many

people are going to be hurt by this.

Do wish the folks voting for conservatives or pols with no backbone to stand up for the right thing would "get it" already, though. x(

[bobbolink]

104. But when even our "progressive" media won't focus on poverty issues, it is time to take action!

I hope you will give it a try anyway. Rachel needs to hear from you on this!

[GreenPartyVoter]

105. kick

[I hate liars]

108. To be effective, argue that low-income subsidies generate economic growth...

This is a long thread, so apologies if someone else has raised this point, but I think there are 2 main arguments to make, here.

One is that cuts to assistance for low-income families and individuals are morally reprehensible, especially in view of the many tax cuts that wealthy corporations and individuals have received, in the same time period. Absolutely agree.

But the other argument is that subsidies to low-income families and individuals pay back far more than they cost, in the form of economic stimulus, since practically every dollar ends up being spent multiple times as the retailers, landlords, and other creditors, pass on government dollars into the larger economy.

This is an argument I hear too infrequently. By cutting assistance to the poor, those of us who are not poor are hurting ourselves (as well as the poor).

For the average, selfish taxpayer (especially the average selfish corporate taxpayer), the second argument is more effective.

[bobbolink]

110. I agree completely!

Could you please post some of those figures here? It would help...

Thanks!

[libmom74]

109. my letter

Dear. ______________
Recently the Reverend Jim Wallis of Sojourners asked an interesting question when he saw the new Republican Congress’s budget cut proposal, “What would Jesus Cut?” Whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Atheist or an Agnostic Humanist (like myself) most people believe that it is our moral responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in our society. The Republican party (and Tea Party in particular) insist that the United States is a “Christian nation”, but looking at their budget priorities which would decimate an already weak safety net and leave low income elderly, women, infants, children and veterans among others to freeze and starve in the streets you have to wonder what Jesus would think of his so-called ardent followers in our government who sanction such an imbalance of priorities which greatly favor the extremely wealthy.
Every year the US loses $100 billion in revenue due to over
80% of the largest corporations using offshore tax havens and
loopholes and other tricks to pay little to no taxes and in
some cases even receiving income tax returns without paying a
dime. Below are some of the worst examples and how the money
would be better spent:

Hewlett Packard's pre-tax income was $9.4B but using lower-tax
foreign subsidiaries they managed pay the same tax rate as
someone making $33,950/yr. If HP paid what they truly owed
perhaps we would not now be facing 45 % cuts to the Senior
Community Service Employment Program that help those 65 and
older 8.9% of which live in poverty.

Verizon's pre-tax income was $11.8B yet they only pay 10.5%
tax rate by diverting much of their income through foreign
wireless partner Vodaphone, far below the average 36% of the
average working person. With the lost revenue from Verizon
perhaps we would not be looking at $1B in cuts to community
health centers which provide care for nearly 10 million people
(many impoverished women and children).

Chevron's pre-tax income was $18.5B yet they only paid $200
million in US taxes (they paid $8B total the rest was paid to
countries abroad with lower tax rates). But if Chevron had
paid what they truly should (instead of stashing their cash in
offshore tax havens) perhaps we would not be facing $1.75B in
cuts to job training programs.

Exxon Mobil's pre-tax income was $37.3B but they paid $0. in
US taxes, they did pay 17.6B in offshore taxes but for a
company that makes a lot of money and takes a lot of US
government subsidies you would think that they would owe some
US taxes. The tax revenue being lost from Exxon Mobil could go
a long way to help save the free school meals programs being
cut in many states which a lot of children depend on.

Bank of America earned $4.4B yet paid $0 in taxes and even got
a tax rebate of $1.1B. How?? They scoured the tax code for
deductions like $860 million in tax-exempt income, $670
million in low-income housing credits, and a $600 million loss
on shares of foreign subsidiaries. Making matters worse for the
US Treasury, Bank of America has a provision for credit losses
of $49 billion. At the same time that BofA is gaming the
system some of our lawmakers on Capitol Hill are talking about
cutting $4.5B from the VA when we are currently engaged in two
wars and have over 200,000 homeless veterans.

General Electric earned $10.3B yet paid $0 in taxes and
managed to get a rebate of $1.1B and their effective tax rate
is a measly 5.3%. At the same the GOP controlled House wants
to cut %758 million from the WIC program.
http://wallstcheatsheet.com/breaking-news/economy/the-top-7-corporate-tax-evaders.html
In his last speech Senator Hubert Humphrey said “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " Our current leaders are failing the test.


*letters are good but I would also urge you if possible to join US Uncut on Facebook or Twitter and join the protest that are happening on a weekly basis at banks and other businesses that are tax evaders usuncut.org

[bobbolink]

115. Great letter, and thanks for the reminder for those who Facebook and Tweet!

I'm glad to see someone mentioned Wallis... I was just thinking about his powerful influence in this, and that may ring a bell with Rachel and Amy.

Thanks! :yourock:

[JNelson6563]

111. Thanks for the informative PM!

And a link to this thread. I'll be passing it on!

Julie

[GreenPartyVoter]

123. Thanks so much for helping out!

[GreenPartyVoter]

224. kick

[Starry Messenger]

112. kick!

[jaxx]

113. Thanks for the info, I will pass it along.

[GreenPartyVoter]

124. Super!

[Lifelong Protester]

117. Ok, I've sent my letter to: Rachel, Amy, the NewsHour, my two

senators, my congressman. Gotta run to a school function (you know, with all the other 'freeloaders'; sorry, the snark is high in my throat tonight...).

Will contact more media when I get home.

LLP

[GreenPartyVoter]

119. Awesome! :^D

[bobbolink]

120. Cool! Someone else sent to NewsHour! Do you think that should be on future projects?

I hear ya on the snark!

Thanks for all of this! YOu did a lot! :hug:

[Lifelong Protester]

145. I think the NewsHour is a good one, so I will keep them included

[bobbolink]

158. Good idea! Do you think there are any others that would be good to include?

[BrklynLiberal]

118. K and R!!

[FirstLight]

121. Reposting for my peeps as well

Thanks for the heads up...

It galls me that we the people keep getting told we all have to sacrifice, and the bastards sitting on all the cash are laughing all the way to the bank... literally.

[GreenPartyVoter]

125. It's unreal, isn't it?

[bobbolink]

130. I wanna know... how does one "sacrifice" who is already bound and gagged and on the altar with the

knife at their throat????

[JitterbugPerfume]

122. thanks

I will respond

[GreenPartyVoter]

126. Terrific! Thanks so much!

[Capn Sunshine]

127. K&R

This is DU at its best, which is rarely seen these days...

[GreenPartyVoter]

128. Yes, it's so nice to all be pulling in the same direction. :^) Such a desperate

situation always makes for a good clarion call.

[madmax]

129. K&R nt

[Mimosa]

132. Fantastic post.

There is always enough money for the War Machine, never enough for the American citizens.

[bobbolink]

133. that would make a good letter.. go for it!

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

136. And how pathetic that it is still true in this day and age? :^(

[Lorien]

134. Done. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

137. Awesome, thanks!

[Dappleganger]

138. Thank you, will work on this tomorrow.

:kick:

[GreenPartyVoter]

139. Supah!!

[Dappleganger]

166. Done!

[GreenPartyVoter]

168. Thanks so much!

[burrowowl]

140. Long Live Liberation Theology!

Sending letters!

[GreenPartyVoter]

141. Thanks so much!

[Divine Discontent]

143. Done - I said, how righteous it'd be if you hammered them about their total blindness towards the

words of Jesus Christ, who many in the GOP claim to follow, yet so strongly go against in every action they pursue.

:kick:

[GreenPartyVoter]

144. Awesome! Oooh.. Methinks the 700 club is in need of a few letters, too. LOL

[democracy1st]

146. thanks for posting I'll work on this!

[GreenPartyVoter]

147. Thanks so much!

[myrna minx]

148. I'll work on this tomorrow. T hanks for letting me know about your great project. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

154. Thank you for helping out! :^)

[malaise]

149. Kick

Excellent idea

[siligut]

150. At least people are paying attention

This is a good plan, a show of hands that we are rightly concerned.

[GreenPartyVoter]

155. A show of hands and a joining of hands. :^)

[cutlassmama]

151. K&R

[MoonRiver]

153. Thanks GPV!

I'll get right on it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

156. And thank you! :^)

[loudsue]

157. What are the WEALTHIEST people being asked to give up???

Where do they have to sacrifice???

NOWHERE.

[GreenPartyVoter]

162. And we have proof of that right here! Gotta get this spread around to all the conservatives we know

and see if we can open a few eyes.

[Kurovski]

159. Kick. (nt)

[GreenPartyVoter]

167. Thanks for the kick! :^)

[Uncle Joe]

160. Kicked but too late to recommend.

Thanks for the thread, GreenPartyVoter.

[GreenPartyVoter]

164. And thanks for the kick! :^)

[Broderick]

163. K and R

firing off.

[GreenPartyVoter]

165. Thank you!

[opihimoimoi]

169. kick :o)

:kick:

[GreenPartyVoter]

170. Thanks so much! :^D

[Solly Mack]

171. Thanks!

[GreenPartyVoter]

172. And thanks to you. :^)

[nc4bo]

173. The cuts read like a damn real life nightmare....

Will do what I can.

[GreenPartyVoter]

174. They sure do. Thanks for helping!

[rurallib]

175. Talked to one of my senator's office after the LIHEAP crap

Will be seeing my representative (Dave Loebsack) in person Saturday. Will make sure he hears this message as that was what I wanted him to talk about anyway.

Damned happy to help AND
Thank you so very much for organizing this!

[GreenPartyVoter]

177. I am so excited that a DUer will be talking to someone from the Hill. That is just huge! If you

get a chance to waylay a Senator or two as well, I say go for it. LOL

:yourock:

[bobbolink]

187. Thanks so much for taking it to the source! Whoo Hoooo! Please let us know how that goes...wish I

could be fly on the wall!

:yourock:

[GreenPartyVoter]

248. How did your meeting go? :^)

[Poboy]

176. Recommend

[GreenPartyVoter]

178. Thanks!

[Forkboy]

179. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours

Maybe so, but I can kick it back up!!! :kick:

[GreenPartyVoter]

180. Thanks for the kick! *hugs*

[proud2BlibKansan]

181. Thanks!

Will do.

[GreenPartyVoter]

182. Thanks so much! :^)

[GreenPartyVoter]

184. kick

[Ignis]

185. K&R

:kick:

Where are the proposals to "fix" budgetary problems by reducing overseas troop deployments?

[readmoreoften]

186. K&R

[NYC_SKP]

188. I'm Kicking this and Writing Letters RIGHT NOW!

I recommend all in this community do likewise.

And I recommend this OP.

:patriot:

[GreenPartyVoter]

189. Thanks so much! :^D

[bobbolink]

208. Thanks so much, and please "recommend" it to others!

We need all the letters we can get!

:yourock:

[GreenPartyVoter]

215. Yes, we need to go viral on this! :^)

[bobbolink]

216. I'd sure like to know people who know how to get that going!! Callng all Viral DUers!

err....maybe that didnt sound so gooooood....

[louslobbs]

190. My friends, coworkers and staff have all generated correspondence

to our congressional representatives asking them to stop the cuts that will harm and kill so many of the poor and suffering. Instead, tax the rich, thats what the majority in this country really want and stop giving the rich tax cuts that they don't need and some don't want like myself. I don't want or need a tax cut especially if the money I get back in taxes, is money cut from some other program that helps the suffering poor. I'd be a sick warped pathetic human being if I would do that........just like the Republicon budget slashers of things needed by mostly the poor and suffering, those who can least afford cuts to services that keep some of them alive. Lets keep up the letter writing and phone calling and constant push till they hear our voices. Tax the richest 400 10% and all the budget problems created by Republicons, would be addressed quite well I think.
Lou

[GreenPartyVoter]

191. Wow! Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to do that. :^) Was it a coordinated

effort or did everyone do it on their own? (Either way, you are clearly surrounded by some terrific people. :thumbsup:)

[louslobbs]

210. Bobbolink moved me to action on my end and I love her for it.

Lou

[GreenPartyVoter]

211. :^)

[bobbolink]

217. Wonderful! Tell them all I'm blowing them a kiss! ^_^

Would it be possible to get them to write to Rachel and Amy, also?

And toss in Lehrer's Newshour and progressivesunited.org for good measure.....?

YEah, when it comes to poverty, I get greedy... wait, does that make sense?

You mean what I know.... ^_^

[Bozita]

192. done

[GreenPartyVoter]

193. Thanks so much! :^D

[nadinbrzezinski]

194. Here

Rachel,

Thank you for covering the Shock Doctrine. It it time to fully expose how these policies, which have nothing to do with deficits, are about taking the country back to the Gilded Age. In their ideal world cheap labor will come back to the country, and perhaps even some good old fashioned slavery. Whether we call it slavery or not is besides the point. It could take the form of indentures, or just other forms. But the reality is that they want to destroy any remains of a middle class, and create a society of the haves and the have nots.


There has been a huge redistribution of wealth, and not precisely between the Unions and the middle class, but rather from the middle class to the extremely wealthy. It is time that higher tax marginal rates come back, as in 70% rates, and we rebuild a mixed economy. It is also time for Americans to realize that free trade is not free, and in fact it is part of this massive redistribution of wealth and the destruction of the middle class.

Sincerely,

XXXX
XXXX
Currently working on a history of labor book

[GreenPartyVoter]

195. Thank you so much for writing! Sadly the have-nots were here even when we had a middle class but the

TPTB would clearly like to see their numbers swell. :(

[GreenPartyVoter]

231. kick

[upi402]

196. done. thanks for doing this GPV!

:kick:

[GreenPartyVoter]

198. And thanks for the kick! :^)

[Rex]

197. Thanks for those quick links!

Now to get busy.

[GreenPartyVoter]

199. Thank you, and you're welcome. :^)

[Uncle Joe]

200. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, GreenPartyVoter.

[GreenPartyVoter]

207. And thank you for joining us. :^)

[somone]

201. Recommended

[GreenPartyVoter]

230. Thanks! :^)

[Wind Dancer]

202. Thanks for the PM.

I'll definitely write a letter and send out this afternoon. This just makes my blood boil.

[GreenPartyVoter]

205. Thanks for joining us, and for getting this thread moved back up to where people can see it. :^)

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

244. kick

[GreenPartyVoter]

247. kick

[Tippy]

203. DONE....

[GreenPartyVoter]

213. Thank you!

[dajoki]

204. My letter...

Dear________,

I am writing you to ask, no BEG, you to start some serious reporting on what is happening in Congress to our safety net. The budget cuts that the Republicans are proposing will have disasterous effects on many millions of Americans, yet it does not seem to be the major story that it should be. You are our voice, poor people like us are neither seen nor heard by our politicians, we are counting on you and your colleagues to tell our story.

Budget Cut Facts

$8.9 billion in Housing subsidies would be lost.

Cuts $1.1 billion from Head Start depriving services for 218,000 children.

Cuts $1.3 billion from Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans.

Slashes $1.3 billion from community health centers taking primary health care from 11 million patients.

Reduces or eliminates Pell Grants for 9.4 million low-income college students.

Cuts $405 million from Community Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families with children and the disabled.

Ends job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans.

Poison control centers would lose 93% of their operations funds.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration would reduce their number of workplace-hazard safety inspections by 8000.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration will both face cuts, meaning fewer inspectors ensuring the safety of our food supply.

The $60 billion package of spending cuts proposed by Republicans could hinder economic growth, says a Goldman Sachs economist.
$450 million would be cut from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.

Our tattered safety net can not handle these proposed cuts, way too many people are falling through the cracks the way it is. If some of these cuts are allowed to get through there will be one big hole where the safety net used to be, and that hole would litterally represent death for many Americans. So again, I beg you to do what you can to get this story in front of the American people's eyes. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[GreenPartyVoter]

206. Terrific letter, thank you! :^D

[TheKentuckian]

209. Glad to assist

[GreenPartyVoter]

212. Thanks so much!

[GreenPartyVoter]

214. kick

[deacon]

220. Kick.

[GreenPartyVoter]

221. Thank you! :^)

[Wisconsin_2_Nation]

225. Thanks!

:applause:

[GreenPartyVoter]

226. And thank you! :^)

[Honeycombe8]

228. I suggest terminology be changed to stop SOME or EXTREMELY HARMFUL budget cuts only.

Not ALL budget cuts are bad. Or should I say if it's presented that way, people tend to block the message out.

Would be better if it were re-worded to target the most egregious budget cuts. I and most others are in fact in favor of SOME budget cuts, and SOME tax increases.

[GreenPartyVoter]

229. Thank your for that suggestion. How did you word your own letters/phone calls? For myself I am

targeting the cuts to WIC, Liheap, and Head Start with my state Senators, who are repubs, because I think those are issues that will resonate with them since people in my state rely on those three things pretty heavily, and because I can honestly say that my own family relied on them and that they were lifesavers.

[bobbolink]

237. once more, with feeling!

:kick:

[Biker13]

238. Working On Mine!

I'm a mathematician, and can't write to save my life, but for this I'll muddle through!

I'm in Idaho though, and my senators are heartless bastards. But screw 'em, they're hearing from me!

Biker's Old Lady

[bobbolink]

239. That's great! We appreciate the effort even more when it is a something the person struggles with

Please also send to Amy and Rachel... their influence could result in thousands or even millions more fighting against these cuts!

Just remember... being "eloquent" is not a necessity... these are read by people who quickly scan.. what is important is that it come from the heart, and be brief. There are a lot of examples in this thread for you to pattern after, so have at it... and post 'em here when you are done!

Very much appreciated! :yourock:

[Biker13]

240. I Will!

But more than that, I want to keep this thread on the front page of GD! It is in danger of being lost with the other breaking news, but this is close to home, and should be our first fight!

Biker's Old Lady

[GreenPartyVoter]

241. Thank you! :^D

[GreenPartyVoter]

242. kick

[bobbolink]

245. Sunday bump the vote is coming...

[GreenPartyVoter]

246. Thanks! :^D

[GreenPartyVoter]

249. Kick