Yesterday, in Madison I armed 10,000 people...

[Scuba]

...with information.

I had a chance yesterday to take a turn at the "citizens mic", provided by a volunteer who has no affiliation with Unions or any political party. He went to the expense and trouble of providing a portable generator and sound system so that he could offer a voice to the people. My thanks to this concerned citizen.

I gratefully accepted his invitation to speak, and took the opportunity to provide the people gathered on the NE side of the Capitol building with information that will hopefully help them convince their friends, neighbors and relatives of what is going on in our country today. Fortunately, I spoke immediatly after Democratic Assemblyman Peter Barca so there was still a large crowd gathered to hear this nobody.


The crowd reaction gave me a good indication of what the audience might find most useful. Some highlights:

..One in four children in American are growing up in poverty today.

..Today, just today, we will spend $450,000,000 on the two wars. Plenty of money for war, no money for the poor.

..There is no budget crisis. There is plenty of money. The problem is that it is concentrated in the constipated.

...Poll after poll shows that a startling number of top wage earniers believe they should be taxed at a higher rate. It is a tiny handful of the wealthiest of the wealthy who are too greedy and miserly to pay another penny in taxes.

..I don't care if Paris Hilton inherits enough money to snort all the cocaine in Peru and ride around showing her doowah to everyone in southern California. I resent that she would inherit all her family's money while the maids who cleaned all those hotel rooms are living in poverty and dying without healthcare.

Thanks to DU members for arming me with info and inspiring me to stand up and be heard.

[malaise]

1. Bravo Scuba

You're a great DUer :yourock:

[KittyWampus]

2. We are all so proud of you.

[Hannah Bell]

kr!

[demodonkey]

3. K&R

:yourock:

[madmax]

4. What you did - 'WE are the ones

we've been waiting for'.

Like you who go out on your time, your expense and energy to inform. Those who can't physically do that LTTE, email, whatever internet options at ones disposal, and of course donate $ no matter how small, every dime helps,it adds up.

We need do the best we can to make our voices heard and to spread facts and information contradicting the lies of the right wing. Americans aren't stupid, just a tad lazy. Spoon feed them.

:hug: Scuba

Solidarity

[Scuba]

5. Thanks for the love.

[barbtries]

6. thank you

for being there and for speaking the truth.

[xchrom]

7. ...

:applause:

[Maine-ah]

8. I like this :)

"There is plenty of money. The problem is that it is concentrated in the constipated."

[Scuba]

9. Came directly from another DU member. I'm not nearly this...

...clever.

BTW, there was a Main-ah who drove to MadTown in support and spoke shortly after I did. He was great.

I worked in your state for 2 1/2 years and found it a great place. Maine-iacs are Supah!!!

[Enthusiast]

10. Excellent job, Scuba!

We need to promote exactly what you said.

[Scuba]

11. Thanks for the love.

[stevedeshazer]

12. +1

[upi402]

13. Grats

You made a difference. A big difference. Thanks.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Truth to power my friend, truth to power.........

We're late to the party, so we're still in the education/agitation stage while the opposition is trying to implement policy. But luckily we're in the "Information Age" and education/agitation cam be dissiminated QUICKLY. Which is what you did.

Bravo and it's something we ALL need to be doing.

[Blue Owl]

15. K & R

:kick:

[bobbolink]

16. Thank you for speaking of poverty! With the huge budget cuts coming up, it is tragic that this is

not receiving more attention.

I thank you!