SHRED
SHRED's JournalIn defense of Public Services
Streets, Stormwater/Flood Control, Water Utilities, Wastewater Utilities, etc...
These all provide non-profit driven and Democratically accountable services to the public at the local level.
Furthermore, Public Services provide a vital and necessary protective "buffer" for the public good against the ravages of a Capitalist system which is eager to see the privatization of the public sector in order to fatten corporate profit margins, increase the wealth of CEO's and upper management, and enrich the shareholders.
This buffer is dwindling yet at the same time is absolutely essential for the overall public good and well being of "we the people".
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Newt the Liar
Gingrich complains gays rights questions are anti-Christian bigotry[url]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/07/gingrich-complains-gays-rights-questions-are-anti-christian-bigotry/[/url]
From the comments section of the article.
I could not have said it better:
"Should the Catholic Church be forced to close its adoption services in Massachusetts because it wont accept gay couples"
What a goddamn liar. The state is saying they won't pay for them to discriminate - they didn't force the church out of the adoption business (and it is a business, make no mistake about it, otherwise the church wouldn't do it).
The media is at fault because they are too stupid or lazy or incompetent to stop Newt and call him out on this statement. Or maybe they are complicit, but a person with even the most basic rhetorical skills could shut down Newt in 2 seconds.
-Jimcima
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Hemp and the Rule of Law
Great DVD.
[url]http://www.tinroofvideo.com/page/page/5566214.htm[/url]
Here is a segment:
Also:
REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE WINE
A California Voter Initiative - 2012
In Short - This California Voter Initiative for 2012 intends to:
Repeal prohibition of marijuana for adults
Strictly regulates marijuana, just like the wine industry
Allows hemp agriculture and products
Does not change laws regarding:
medical marijuana
impairment
workplace
vehicle operation
use by minors under 21 years old
Provides specific personal possession exemptions
Requires dismissal of pending court cases
Defense against all related litigation
Prevents California from supporting federal enforcements that conflict with this law and requires the State to petition the Feds to remove marijuana from Schedule One
Prohibits commercial advertising of non-medical marijuana
Generates new revenue from sales taxes, while creating no new taxes
[url]http://regulatemarijuanalikewine.com/regulate-marijuana-like-wine-act-2012/[/url]
When any good economic news happens...
...notice in the "comments" section (of any article) how the RWnuts, CONs, Repubs, (whatever you want to call them)...notice how they all rush to denounce the news.
What's good for the country is bad for them.
Says a lot.
Here's an example...scroll down for comments:
Unemployment near three-year low
http://news.yahoo.com/unemployment-near-three-low-125927252.html
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One Toke Over The Line - Lawrence Welk
Prescription Drugs and Medicare Part D
Remember in 2003 when the Republican Congress and GWB stripped Medicare's ability to get prescription drug pricing at group/bulk rates? Yet, Medicaid, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Public Health Service, the Bureau of Prisons, and other federal agencies all buy drugs at negotiated prices.
Here's a reminder of the chief author of the drug plan and where he went:
House's Author of Drug Benefit Joins Lobbyists
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: December 16, 2004
ASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - Representative Billy Tauzin, a principal author of the new Medicare drug law, will become president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the chief lobby for brand-name drug companies, the trade group announced Wednesday.
~snip~
Drug makers said that the job was not a reward for Mr. Tauzin's work on the Medicare bill, which followed the industry's specifications in many respects. The law was signed by President Bush on Dec. 8, 2003, a few weeks before a lawyer for Mr. Tauzin began talks with the drug trade group.
~snip~
Mr. Tauzin (pronounced TOE-zan) and Mr. White refused to discuss Mr. Tauzin's new salary, except to say it was comparable to the pay at other large trade associations. People at other trade groups said they believed that Mr. Tauzin would receive $2 million a year or more.
Representative Pete Stark of California, the senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, said: "As a member of Congress, Billy negotiated a large payout to the pharmaceutical industry by the federal government. He's now about to receive one of the largest salaries ever paid to any advocate by an industry."
FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/politics/16drug.html?_r=1
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It is difficult and maddening at times to see how corporate Democrats operate but how anyone could vote for a Republican is simply mind-boggling.
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The Start of a Newt Era of Policy Battles
In a conversation with California Healthline, Taylor pointed to the 1992-1994 collapse of President Clinton's health plan as the moment when the ground shifted.
The concerted resistance to Clinton's reforms -- as well as the White House's own missteps -- is well-chronicled in "The System," a 1996 book by Washington Post reporters David Broder and Haynes Johnson.
In an excerpt from the book:
Newt Gingrich was determined there would be no Republican support for the only kind of reform Clinton would offer. ... Politically, he had no interest in compromise. ... As early as 1991, Gingrich had concluded that thwarting Democrats on health care was the key to halting and then rolling back decades of Democratic efforts to build an encompassing social safety net.
Led by then-House Minority Whip Gingrich and his "coagulation" strategy of building clots of resistance, Republicans deflected Democrats' reforms. Even Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole -- who initially assured Clinton that they'd "work something out" -- backed away from dealmaking with the White House.
Gingrich's opposition plan ultimately helped the GOP retake the House in 1994.
And "that was the beginning" of the current era of partisan health care battles, according to Taylor.
Read more: http://www.californiahealthline.org/road-to-reform/2011/politics-have-always-been-part-of-policy-but-have-we-hit-a-new-low.aspx#ixzz1gcTl7h6h
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The seeds this man has sown are terrible.
The furious karma he will reap won't be stopped or lessened by his phony conversion...he is still this way.
He is evil personified.
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Do you know what a Redevelopment Agency is California?
You should.
Californias Secret Government
Redevelopment agencies blight the Golden State.
Governor Jerry Brown wants to eliminate redevelopment agencies and save the state about $1.7 billion annually, with greater savings possible down the road, when debts are retired.
In Sacramento, Governor Jerry Brown is planning to close Californias $26.6 billion structural deficit through spending cuts and tax extensions. Opposition has been spirited but less contentious than expected, probably because of the size of the budget hole. But one item of Browns plansomething that would save about $1.7 billion annuallyhas generated heated debates between local officials and the new administration. The governor has proposed eliminating Californias approximately 400 redevelopment agencies (RDAs).
In theory, RDAs spearhead blight removal. In fact, they divert billions of dollars from traditional services, such as schools, parks, and firefighting; use eminent domain to seize property for favored developers; and run up Californias debt to pay those developers to construct projects of dubious public value, such as stadiums and big-box stores. Most Californians have long been unaware that these agencies exist. As the activist group Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform puts it, RDAs constitute an unknown government that consumes 12 percent of all property taxes statewide, is supported by a powerful Sacramento lobby, and is backed by an army of lawyers, consultants, bond brokers and land developers.
http://www.city-journal.org/2011/21_2_california-redevelopment-agencies.html
http://www.stopthemoneypit.com/
I offer this as an alternative to the constant drumbeat against public worker retirement systems.
Going after people is what Republicans do.
Going after fat cat corporate cronyism is what Democrats do.
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Something for the "strict Constitutionalists"
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 7:
To establish Post Offices and post Roads
http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Constitution.html
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Gender: Do not displayCurrent location: Encinitas, CA
Member since: Sat Nov 22, 2003, 01:17 AM
Number of posts: 28,136