Senate Passes Expansion of Federal Joblessness Benefits.

Photo: "Baby REBEL, "Bailout is BABBLE!"", N.Y., N.Y.: A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2006.

Friends, it's official! The Senate just passed the expansion of federal jobless benefits, and there's every indication the President will sign it into law right away (see press release below).

Thanks to NELP and members of the Unemployed Worker's organization who put tremendous time and energy into this effort. Hundreds contributed their stories (and souls) to testify in Congress, appear before major events in D.C., and talk to reporters for all the major papers, to help ensure that Our elected officials do the right thing.

Our voices have been heard in Congress, with large numbers of calls and emails to those responsible for making the right call. These are incredibly tough times, but our actions led directly to the passage of this important extension and it goes a long way to help more than two million families get back on their feet, with a little more hope and determination to get by. For that, NELP thanks you!

Best wishes to you all,
Chris, Maurice, Judy, Andy, Debbie & Rick

NELP Applauds Today's Senate Action Providing Necessary Relief to Two Million Jobless Workers & the Struggling Economy

Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation expanding jobless benefits for over two million workers who were scheduled to run out of their limited 13 weeks of federal assistance. The Senate adopted a measure passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives before the Congressional recess.

Christine Owens, the Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project said, "Today's significant action by Congress sends a message loud and clear to all the nation's families, not just those who now find themselves unemployed, that help is on the way." Ms. Owens continued, "We applaud Congress for taking this action, and we hope it's the first step of many necessary reforms that reflects the serious needs of everyday families and those communities hardest hit by the recession to help bring about an economic recovery. The President should sign the legislation right away to make sure the benefits are available without delay to all workers in need and the struggling economy."

According to state by state estimates prepared by NELP, today's action helps more than 1.16 million workers who have already run out of their limited 13 weeks of extended benefit or who were scheduled to do so before the end of the year during the holiday season. By March 2009, when the program expires, 2.11 million workers would have been left jobless without any additional federal assistance if Congress had not acted to expand the program of federal jobless benefits.

The measure passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 (H.R. 6867), includes the following key provisions:

1. 20 Weeks for All States: Increases the basic 13 weeks of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), which was enacted in June, by 7 more weeks (to 20 weeks) for workers in all states.

2. 33 Weeks for High Unemployment States: Increases the basic 13 weeks of EUC by 20 weeks (to 33 weeks total) in states with unemployment rates over 6 percent (averaged over the latest three months). Nineteen states, plus the District of Columbia, now qualify for these extra weeks of EUC (Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee). More states will qualify for extra weeks of EUC when their rates of unemployment exceed the required 6-percent threshold (the new state unemployment numbers are released on Friday, November 21).

3. Extra Benefits Not Paid Retroactively: Workers who ran out of their EUC benefits in October and November will qualify for the additional weeks of EUC going forward provided they are still unemployed and looking for work. They do not qualify for additional weeks of EUC retroactively, that is, for the period between when the new law was enacted and their benefits previously expired.

4. EUC Deadline Still March 2009: The EUC will be available to workers who exhaust their state benefits before the end of March 2009. However, anyone who qualified before the deadline will continue to receive their full weeks of EUC benefits under the new program (with all benefits ending in August). Thus, Congress and the President will have to take up another extension of benefits early in 2009 before the program expires.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Living Liberally Ball! NYC: January 18, 2009.

Consider yourselves to be the first invited to join the Inaugural moment!

Sunday, January 18

Get your tickets: The Living Liberally 2008 Inaugural Ball

All of you New York Liberals are officially invited to the Living Liberally Inaugural Ball - a night of dancing, drinking & celebrating democracy on Sunday, January 18th from 8pm, until midnight.

They'll be taking over the 3-floor dance club SIN (formerly, Rush) to bring a night of "party" politics to Manhattan, and to make sure DC doesn't have all the fun. Two days before We inaugurate President Obama and on the eve of Martin Luther King Day, make a hip happening holiday of this historic occasion, joining special guests from the world of NY politics and 500 of your energized, excited, activated friends who are fired up and ready to party.

Tickets are available now, beginning at $20, with a special offer for the Drinking Liberally community: a LIBERAL DRINKER price that lets you drink all night (offer only available through Thanksgiving).

photographer: a. golden, eyewash design, c. 2008.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Hey buddy, can you spare a dime? No Bankers Left Behind!

Photograph: "In Wankers We Trust", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

(AP) The governors of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey are asking the federal government for a $48 million emergency grant to help thousands of financial industry workers who are losing their jobs.

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Wednesday that she, New York Gov. David Paterson and New Jersey Gov. John Corzine have sent a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao urging her to approve the grant.

The governors say preliminary estimates show that 82,000 financial services jobs in the New York City metropolitan area will be lost by the end of next year because of the worldwide economic downturn.

The emergency grant would allow the states to give each laid-off worker $12,500 to help them find jobs and relocate and to provide them with other services.

A message left at the U.S. Labor Department was not immediately returned Wednesday. Over the past five months, the unemployment rate for the tri-state region has increased from 4.5% to 5.8%, the governors' letter says. They expect another 160,000 private sector jobs to be lost by the end of this year, and they are bracing for "a deep, prolonged recession."

"Given the bearish economic forecasts for the next two to three years, we anticipate the unemployment rate will continue to rise significantly," the governors wrote.

The majority of workers in the financial industry are in administrative and computer support occupations, according to the letter.

"It is imperative that we sustain the skilled work force most impacted by the financial crisis to help our economy recover," the governors wrote. "The federal government acted swiftly to implement strategies to stabilize financial institutions; now it is time to act together to support the workers dislocated from those institutions.""

Photograph: "Have a Heart.", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

Have these "representatives" gone completely insane? MORE welfare for Wall Street?!? As an unemployed New Yorker, I'm feeling more than a little cheated because the governor didn't rush to my aid. I mean, really! That $12,500 blank check they're proposing to give to laid off financial workers - IN ADDITION TO THEIR $410 WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS - would certainly have come in handy had it been gifted to me! At least I wouldn't have had to take out a $5K personal loan to help sustain me for a mere two months while waiting for Congress to extend unemployment, anyway. Come to think about it, our "fair" governor hasn't rushed to the aid of ANY of the 66,839 other unemployed New York City-ites either. I wonder what my fellow unemployed brethren think about this.

Q: Just how much MORE charity does Wall Street deserve?

A: NONE! Zero! Zip! They didn't deserve a bailout with absolutely ZERO regulation & they don't deserve this second $48 million bailout.

Sorry, kids. How else are children to learn from their mistakes if they don't suffer the consequences of their actions? Rewarding the wanton, reckless yahoo-ism of America's financial sector has already sent out so many wrong signals even Pavlov's dog is confused. So, what do our local government "leaders" suggest? Of course, another bailout! Makes perfect sense - if you're Alice through the Looking Glass, that is.

Wall Street has now gotten away with the greatest swindle of the American public in history -- all sugar for the villains, lasting pain and damage for the victims. This swindle cash - OURS - is going - amongst other things - to financial employee bonuses and is also helping those corporations bailed out to acquire - what else - but other failing corporations, enabling these blood-suckers to grow ever more bloated.

Photograph: "Buddy, Can you spare three TRILLION?", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

In case you weren't aware, bonuses are being handed out this year! Yes! You might recall last year's Wall Street bonuses totaled $33.2 billion, making it a historic all-time high record! If someone were to tell me these cats didn't know the sh*t was getting ready to hit the fan, then this record proves otherwise. The size of the bonus figures are supposed to reflect employee value to the company. Check out the handy-dandy Historic Wall Street CEO compensation chart from Forbes. I'm inclined to agree with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo when he said this week, "Given this economic situation, how do you justify any performance bonus at all, is my initial point."

What's NOT to like if you're a financial titan threatened with extinction? Today, the average CEO in the S&P 500 makes about $14 million per year, about 90% of it in the form of performance-based pay. Just what are these Streeters doing? Seriously, I'd really like to know so I too may garner such astronomically inflated financial worth in exchange for complete and utter ineptitude. Wouldn't you?! Personally speaking, Wall Street bonuses have never been justifiable. But now? I'm most obviously missing something. Oh yeah, the ability to suspend all manner of logic and reason. No worries, I'm certain I'll be able to locate it somewhere. In the meantime, it's business as usual in New York City: Competition for Main Street, Socialism for Wall Street!

Believe it or not, I could almost live for an entire year in NYC off $12,500! If you're having a hard time believing this, just go ahead and ask most any artist! WE really know how to make a penny s-t-r-e-t-c-h into a year! It seems Wall Street CEO's and their HR departments have gotten in wrong: they should've been hiring Artists all along, instead of employing boobs who spend their yearly bonuses on Art! Just think what Our lives would've been like if Wall Street had actually hired people who know the value of a buck! In the meantime, they're literally laughing all the way to...well, you know.

Let's take a brief look at those laughing hardest:

Richard Fuld, chief executive of Lehman Brothers, received about $34.4 million last year in a 5-Year Compensation Total of: $354.03 million. He may be disgraced, but something tells me he'll be able to sooth his big, fat ego with the $354 million he has in the bank. Too bad he didn't use good old William Fuld's Ouija board!

Lloyd Blankfein: Goldman Sachs's chief, received a package worth $68.5 million last year. This year, his company took $10 billion from the federal government's capital purchase plan. Oh the shameful fall so greatly cushioned by a cool $68 1/2 million! Compensation at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Inc. and the six other banks that received the first $125 billion of the federal funds is under scrutiny by lawmakers, including Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo also a Democrat. President-elect Barack Obama cited the program at his first news conference on Nov. 7th, saying it will be reviewed to make sure it's "not unduly rewarding the management of financial firms receiving government assistance."

Robert Nardelli: Former executive at General Electric, former CEO of Home Depot & present Chairman and Chief Executive of Chrysler. Nardelli was paid $210-million, was given an additional $20 million severance payment and retirement benefits of $32 million, before being ousted by Home Depot board members in January, 2007 and quickly became the poster child for excessive CEO compensation. Yesterday, Nardelli was among the chief executives of General Motors Corp. (GM) and Ford Motor Co. (F) who said they wouldn't accept a $1 salary in exchange for government aid to their imperiled companies, as the head of the former Chrysler Corp. did a generation ago. Mr. Nardelli's current pay is tied to Chrysler's performance and based on the equity value of the auto maker.

Alan Mulally: Current Ford CEO and former Boeing exec who, in 2007, was paid $28 million for four months on the job. He got an $18.5 million bonus, almost $9 million in stock and options and base salary at annual $2 million rate. The pay package for Mulally comes on top of the $7.4 million that aerospace company Boeing had previously reported paying him for his eight months running that company's commercial aircraft unit before he made the move to Ford at the beginning of September, 2007. His base salary was $666,667, which works out to annual pay of about $2 million. He also received restricted stock grants, which the company valued at $920,404, as well as 3 million stock options valued at $7.8 million. The stock options are not yet exercisable, and they have an exercise price of $8.28, or about 4% above 2007 prices.

Rick Wagoner: CEO of GM who, in 2008 earned a 33% increased salary from the following year to $2.2 million, restoring his base pay to the level it was before he took a 2006 pay cut As part of the company's turnaround plan, Wagoner's salary was brought back to the level it was from 2003 - 2005. Prior to this pay cut, his salary was $1.28 million. Wagoner's new deal made him eligible for up to $3.5 million in incentive payments and a grant of 165,563 shares of GM stock if he met the company's internal targets. He will also receive 500,000 stock options that will vest over three years and 75,000 restricted stock options that will vest in three - five years.

Photograph: "Swine?", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

If it has not become painfully obvious most of these Wanker-Bankers and inept CEO's have absolutely no idea what to do with (other people's) money, then even worse are those who knew better, but who sat quietly, content to collect hush money, err, I meant, salaries, for their silence. So, after bailing out their inept bosses, our government leaders are purporting more handouts to be trickled down to the rest of Wall Street's reckless and destructive workers.

So, why are these governors suddenly so willing to jump to the aid of the people, but ONLY the people already earning exorbitant salaries? Even by NYC standards, Wall Street salaries are insanely disproportionate. The average salary for Wall Street is: $289,664, while the average salary for ALL of New York City is: $56,634. I suppose one answer might be they have FIVE times the amount of "things" of which they must take care.

No, the latter is not a typo. Now, excuse me, but why should the very same people who helped to contribute to the WORLD'S WORST INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL DISASTER in HISTORY be further rewarded with an infused $12,500? This is an OUTRAGE! Most will be receiving severance pay, a one last shot-in-the-arm hefty bonus (the average bonus per person: $125,000), in addition to a handy weekly $410 in unemployment insurance benefits. Suck it up people!

Now, I hold a double-degree for which I paid myself only having taken out one $1,000 loan in four years. This includes study in: America, Australia AND in the United Kingdom, where I earned a 4.0 in English Literature & European History - an accomplishment for which I am immensely proud. In 2007 alone, I survived in NYC on a meager 22K and since most of my freelance work has dried up directly due to Wall Street robber - barons I've since subsisted off the $365 a week allotted me in unemployment insurance. And, yes, I 've run through all of my meager savings - mind you, I didn't have a hefty salary with which to start.

While I earned a coveted qualified Australian business visa and was an executive in Australia - at 24 - I've never earned a bonus in my life. I own NO property, have NO assets - other than six silkscreen prints and a couple rare books. I haven't had health insurance in three years and just bought groceries for the first time in as many. That's right.

What's my crime? Did I recklessly and irresponsibly cause a global financial crises? No. Do I live wildly and decadently? Decide for yourself: I reside in an old 1800's converted warehouse I can barely afford to keep warm with two other housemates and ALL my furniture is second-hand. I don't use plastic bags & recycle EVERYTHING. Do I ride on a high horse with an air of disdain befitting that of a royal monarch? No. In fact, my chariot's the humble NYC subway.

So, what exactly did I do to deserve this sub-par treatment purported by my governor? Apparently, my only crimes seem to be that I am a resourceful, intelligent, well educated / traveled, dedicated, hard-working creative individual who cares about the environment and future generations. The exact opposite traits of those in the financial industry sector. The exact characteristics that should be encouraged in society.

Thus, I ask governor Paterson: Where is my - and the 66,000+ already unemployed New Yorkers - $12,500 blank check? I really want to go back to earn a master's degree and haven't figured out how to make this happen, financially speaking. This extra money could be used for this purpose and perhaps give me a little hope for a slightly better tomorrow. So, please explain how further rewarding bad behavior whilst simultaneously punishing the rest of NY's unemployed is in any way justifiable? This is sickening and beyond greatly disturbing. While attempting to balance our budget, you slash-and-burn much needed state programs, are proposing to increase state tuition, and want to make it more difficult for people to get student loans, you've somehow managed to find time to request a $48 million emergency grant to help thousands of financial industry workers who are losing their jobs on Wall Street. Please, help me understand?

RESOURCES:

"Competition for Main Street, Socialism for Wall Street.", by: William Greider, reclaimdemocracy.org. Published 09.23.08

"Wall Street bonuses shrink, but are they justified?", by: Ben White, International Herald Tribune. Published: 11.6.08.

"The Big Banks - Goldman Sachs Braces For Impact": Lloyd Blankfein's firm dodged the blows suffered by rivals. Not anymore., by: Liz Moyer, Forbes - 11.11.08, 12:30 AM EST.

"Ten Most Wanted: Culprits of the Collapse", by: Anderson Cooper, CNN.com. Posted: 10.29.08, 11:41 AM EST

"CEO Compensation", Edited by: Scott DeCarlo, Forbes
Posted: 04.30.08, 6:00 PM EST

"America's Top-Paid Young CEOs" by: Matt Kirdahy, Forbes. Posted: 08.13.08, 6:30 PM EST

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

President-elect Barack Obama’s first weekly "Radio Address" to the Nation.

Say what you may about President-elect Obama. But, at least he's not wasting any time getting down to the nitty-gritty.

Only time will tell the world if the winds of CHANGE promised can be actualized. Remember, without US pushing - DEMANDING from the government what We deserve, we will continue to get what We give.

So, it's high time We all start by taking responsibility of Our collective future. You MUST do Your part. Whether it be joining a local action group, or by marching on Washington itself, the time for CHANGE is NOW.

More important to remember: We truly are the CHANGE We seek. Now, get out there and DO SOMETHING!

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Last Chance to Voice Support for Extended Unemployment Benefits.

ALERT- Last Chance to Voice Support for Extended Unemployment Benefits!

November 17, 2008

Dear Friends,

The Senate is back in session this week to complete unfinished business from before the election. Top among that unfinished business is unemployment benefits. On October 3, 2008, the House of Representatives passed, by an overwhelming margin, a bill (H.R. 6867, Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008) to extend unemployment benefits by an additional 7 weeks for workers in all states, and a further 13 weeks for workers in states with unemployment levels exceeding 6%. The Senate left town without doing the same. Now is your last chance to call your Senator and tell him/her you, your family member, your fellow Americans', need a further extension before the holidays. Too many have already been left in the cold already!

Please call 1-800-473-6711 and ask to speak with your Senators' offices. Tell them that unemployment is a national crisis and that you need them to pass the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 to help all the hard working men and women who simply cannot find jobs during this recession. Citi group just made history by laying off 52,000 workers today in addition to laying off 20% of their worldwide workforce.

Please take action and call! The outpouring of constituent calls led the House to pass H.R. 6867 before it went into recess, and the pressure that constituents have brought to bear during the recess has brought us very close to passing the bill in the Senate, but America's workers need your voices to help make sure we have the breadth of support needed to carry the effort to success. A call to your Senator can help make a further extension a reality. Tell every one you know to call tomorrow!

Don't wait ! The Senate may only be in session through Wednesday, and the agenda is being set as We speak. Please call right away and let them know that they cannot leave town AGAIN without helping unemployed workers.

Thanks to you all, and thank you to our friends at the Coalition for Human Needs for allowing us to use their 800 number to allow you all to take action on this important matter. That number is 1-800-473-6711, so please call tomorrow!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: National Employment Law Project

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Impeach Bush Before He Pardons Himself! 73 days to go!

Graphic Design: A. Golden, c. 2008.

IMPEACH Bush Before He Pardons Himself!

According to the venerable Seymour Hersh, there's a conga - line of Washington and Neo-Conservative insiders waiting until January 20th to spill the beans on the gross criminality of the Bush / Cheney administration.

Waiting . . . because if they did it now BUSH & CHENEY would be TARRED and FEATHERED on their way out the door. And, you know, these insiders want to save their skins, while still leaving the option to make money with their information by spilling the beans AFTER. How nice!

But "We the People!" do not have to wait. WE can and must demand the immediate impeachment of BOTH Bush and Cheney for what is already known. At the very least, their defiance of congressional subpoenas at the behest of the White House is an open and shut case for accountability now!

---> Impeach Now Action Page here <---

Because, as Bush's final constitutional insult...as his final spit in the face to the American People and to all rule of law, it has now become transparently obvious that Bush is planning the MOST WHOLESALE and WRONGFUL PARDON of THE WORST POLITICAL CRIMINALS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. He'll be PARDONING his whole criminal gang, INCLUDING himself.

And, don't think this is not the precise plan. What power has Bush NOT abused? What heinous, self-serving, shameless and dishonest act BUSH ever shied away from? Whether he was torturing or eavesdropping or lying us into wars of corporate aggression. If anyone doubts this is but one amongst his many plans in the next 73 days, remember, you heard it here FIRST.

By submitting to this action page, you will also have one last chance to get one of the "Impeach Both!!!" caps, that after January 20th will no longer be available, not for love or for money.

Impeach Now Action Page

Photographer: A. Golden, c. 2006.

Will Congress NOW act? That is not the yardstick of the worth of Our activism. We speak out because We MUST SPEAK OUT, whether heeded or not. Let history record that We spoke out until the last minute - to the eternal shame of those who did not. Because, when enough of us speak out at once, the worst thing that can possibly happen is that We are building the progressive base for REAL CHANGE in Our future.

BUSH IS MOST CERTAINLY PLANNING ON PARDONING HIMSELF!!!

And, all of the right wing lock - down ideologues in the corporate controlled media will call it "healing". Let's all make nice with war criminals, right? Shall We also make nice with those leading in the gang-rape of Our economy? Of to those responsible for the systematic decimation of Our environment? To the shredders of Our Constitution? I didn't think so. Just ask a Native about trust, about forgiveness and of broken treaties.

And, one more thing, I guarantee that come January 20th the right wing will start calling for the impeachment of Our new President. It will undoubtedly be over an endless litany of the most ridiculous of trivial trifles. Trust me when I wager that Murdoch and the sheeple at Faux news are planning their strategy NOW. You bet there's a bat-phone in the White House and it leads directly to the man himself. In fact, this has already begun - even though OBAMA has not yet taken office.

If the corporate media is so HOT on impeaching someone, let them speak out NOW, when it's truly called for. If not, cease and dissest with the divisive PROPAGANDA in the coming 73 days.

Please take action NOW, so We can win all victories that are supposed to be Ours and forward this blog link as liberally as is humanly possible.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

THE Historic ELECTION: A work in Progess...

--------------> THE Historic ELECTION <------------ "A work in PROGRESS." Nov. 4th, 2008.

A great American leader once said, "As individual fingers We can be easily broken. But TOGETHER We make a mighty fist." These words too were spoken by a minority leader. He was the venerable Chief Sitting Bull. No, Barack Obama's not the first American minority to speak eloquently and he most certainly won't be the last. Though, in the end, this election wasn't even close !!! The world watched as, "YES WE CAN!" turned into, "YES WE DID!" as it now ushers in, "YES WE MUST!" time is NOW!

What WE do with this moment shall define US, forthright. America has now elected a man with a background of partial African - American descent as President elect. A new leader with roots from Kenya to Kansas (with a step-father from Indonesia), will be working in conjunction with a vice-Presidential of Anglo-European roots. This is something in which citizens of ALL races - both here and the world 'round – have loudly REJOICED. Why talk about race? Is race important? You bet! Because - like it or not - race has dominated and governed Our daily lives for thousands of years. After all: "To know where We're going, We must first know where We've been".

Political Cartoonist: HERBLOCK, c. 1965.

What was once "acceptable" in 1965 is no longer in 2008.

This is a changing of the guard. Especially since forty-percent of America's population is considered to be a "minority". Only four generations removed, the repression of African slaves by Anglo Saxons caused hundreds of thousands of brothers to kill brothers in a viscous and bloody battle that changed the fundamental principals of this Constitutional Republic from rhetoric to reality. This too was a significant changing of the guard.

For the first time in the history of the country, the ancestors of these very same people who so passionately fought for slavery have now OVERWHELMINGLY voted for a minority leader. This too ushers in a new chapter in the history of America. This is a tremendous nod to those great American leaders before Us who risked everything so that We find ourselves at this precise moment in time. We must give thanks to these men and women who both tirelessly and unselfishly gave their lives to cross and to help shatter the racial, sexual and social boundaries imbued in the history of the United States of America.

It has now taken place. There's a palpable renewed sense of HOPE for a better tomorrow – a HOPE that these same crippling boundaries shall finally once and for all be erased. Yet it is wise to also remember the adage, "Actions speak louder than words" and Our rhetoric must now be turned into action. The ability to truly rise above differences and to not just speak of doing so, tells much of Our long and continuous journey. If We remember the old North American Indian saying, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

We might just have a fighting chance. The People have spoken! A record-setting 130 million Americans' turned out to vote in Tuesday's election, in which Barack Obama made history on a Democratic tidal wave of victory. Polling suggests voters came out in record numbers because of growing concerns over the economy, jobs, health care, energy, and the war in Iraq. Clearly, the Obama administration and the new Democratic majority in Washington have a chance to make profound changes in Our lives - stretching ­from Wall Street to Main Street. Yes, this moment shows decency about human possibility and let's face it, We could use just a little decency RIGHT NOW. Perhaps more importantly, this moment speaks volumes as it's an utter rejection of the right's politics of fear and greed? It will now be decades before there's another Republican majority in Congress. Never have the words, "Ask not what Your country can do for You, but what You can do for Your country," seemed more true for SO MANY. For, We-Are-Our-country. And We're at a MAJOR crossroads. Where, oh where to begin?

Photographer: A. Golden, c. 2008.

Here in New York, Working Families voters, members, affiliates, supporters and chapter leaders poured everything they had into critical campaigns that proved successful. Many are now understandably exhausted - though more than a little proud of what was accomplished. And, the results were terrific ~ if not downright Historic. For the first time since the mid-1930, the State Senate will NO LONGER be controlled by Republicans. It's now in the hands of a Democratic Working Families majority!

Just-take-one-moment-and-soak-this-in. MASSIVE Democratic majorities in BOTH the HOUSE and the SENATE! Together, the W.F.P built a solid partnership with Senate Democrats, knocking on more than half a million doors for progressive CHANGE. And, in the end, "We the People" overwhelmingly responded. This is a MILESTONE. There's now a renewed sense of real HOPE resonating from Washington, indeed, around the world. This is powerful. Because, without HOPE, there's simply nothing to gain.

However, We must be careful not to fall prey to disillusionment. If illusions tear People asunder, then disillusion outright kills the human spirit. In other words, divided THEY conquer, united, WE stand. That this historic moment was ushered in during Native American Indian month is apropos. Because, We must not forget the very real foundations of this idealistic country and pay homage to the 500 plus year struggle of Our First Peoples' for the basic rights afforded them in Our own Constitution. Obama's victory is indeed a victory representing the multitudes. It is precisely because his success mirrors the masses, rather than a few wealthy, power-elite that this is so electrifying.

It has now taken place. A VERY palpable, "Finally!" was the expression heard 'round the world. The world woke up WEDNESDAY with the real possibility of a very RARE OPPORTUNITY - the best in most Our lifetimes. This is a chance to truly transform America. But, We mustn't forget the VERY hard realities existing in this country.

Just ask any woman…any "person of color"…or, any First Peoples living in this "great" land. For, as long as Native American Indians in Our country still live in policies of containment on reservations without the very basics, such as running water, electricity, or heat… as long as more than 75% of the prison population includes African-Americans, First and Taino Peoples …as long as We continue to allow Our tax dollars spent to be three times more for each of these prisoners per head than on Our own school children's education…as long as American women continue to earn less than men for the SAME work…as long as We allow privately held corporations to exist without extreme MAJOR reform…as long as We continue to allow Our children to trample on foreign soil to kill and to be killed in "Our" names…as long as We sit idly by expecting or content to let others to "Do the right thing," for us… as long as We DON'T ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE TOGETHER in challenging and fighting for OUR OWN WELL-BEING for the betterment of future generations… as long as We choose to remain ignorant and in denial to Our faults…TRUE CHANGE can, and will NEVER HAPPEN.

Political Cartoonist: Florida Today's Jeff Parker – c. 2006.

Though, like anything rare and unique, We must first take proper time to Honor…to give thanks to those before us who, without their dedication and sacrifice, made this moment possible. We must come together. Immediate formulation and a real plan to guard and to protect this moment with fierce determination is required. New leaders are needed and will emerge so We ensure moments like this become the norm, rather than a mere token fluke. If We HOPE to transform Tuesday's results into a real break from the shipwreck of the most immediate last thirty years - We MUST start by realizing this election represents just that – a START. It's Round One of Our LONG and CONTINUOUS struggle.

And, Round Two will be just as tough, if not more so. Staying the course can easily be forgotten when People are dying from inadequate health care; when they've found themselves on the streets for lack of shelter and as they grow ever more desperate due to lack of job opportunities. Just ask people of Native or African American descent. Or, one of Our homeless veterans living on America's streets of plenty.

Political Cartoonist: c. MATSON.

Though, like anything rare and unique, We must first take proper time to Honor…to give thanks to those before us who, without their dedication and sacrifice, made this moment possible. We must come together. Immediate formulation and a real plan to guard and to protect this moment with fierce determination is required. New leaders are needed and will emerge so We ensure moments like this become the norm, rather than a mere token fluke.

If We HOPE to transform Tuesday's results into a real break from the shipwreck of the most immediate last thirty years - We MUST start by realizing this election represents just that – a START. It's Round One of Our LONG and CONTINUOUS struggle.

And, Round Two will be just as tough, if not more so. Staying the course can easily be forgotten when People are dying from inadequate health care; when they've found themselves on the streets for lack of shelter and as they grow ever more desperate due to lack of job opportunities. Just ask people of Native or African American descent. Or, one of Our homeless veterans living on America's streets of plenty.

Yes, the house of cards has fallen HARD and FAST. And, President / V.P. elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden have inherited many seemingly insurmountable challenges. REAL CHANGE - not rhetoric - is what's needed. And to get it, We MUST
demand it. We MUST march and be watchdogs for the sake of the coming generations. Communication with Our politicians is a MUST . MOST importantly, We MUST stand TOGETHER and be willing to fight to protect what is right and what is good for the MANY, NOT the FEW. UNITED We STAND, DIVIDED, We FALL.

Political Cartoonist: Daryl Cagle, msnbc.com

A President Obama will need to be simultaneously supported AND pushed. His training as a community organizer gives one confidence that he'll not only understand, but should also expect this dynamic. It's imperative for us to mind the trusty, "Follow the money" strategy. Don't forget, President elect Obama dually made history by raising the most unprecedented amount of campaign dollars in the HISTORY of U.S. Presidential elections. According to CNN, if annualized, the Obama campaign's ad spending on the post-primary Presidential campaign would come to US$750 million. This amount is only exceeded amongst large corporations such as Verizon and AT&T - both heavy sponsors of the Republican AND the Democratic national party conventions.

At the start of October, the Democratic National Committee announced it raised US$49.9 million with US$27.5 million sitting in the bank. The party raised money through joint fund-raising events with Obama and was able to use that money to assist his candidacy. These numbers were only possible because he opted out of the public financing system for the fall campaign. John McCain chose to participate in the system, which limited him to US$84 million for the September / October stretch prior to the election.

After initially promising to accept public financing if McCain did, Obama changed his mind after setting primary fund-raising records. In fact, by the time the primaries hit, Obama was raising as much as US$5 million each and every day. The Obama / Biden campaign raised more than US$150 million in September alone - a stunning and unprecedented eruption of political giving. This extraordinary fund-raising is bound to set a new standard in politics that could doom the current taxpayer-paid system set up in the 1970's.

The party presidential nominees – Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain
– together spent more than US$1 BILLION, also an unprecedented figure. According to White House for Sale, a nonpartisan group that tracks political giving, Obama had 605 bundlers, or donors who collect money from friends and associates and bundle them together. Four years ago, Democrat John F. Kerry had 588 bundlers and, in 2000, Al Gore had none. McCain had 851 bundlers working for his campaign, compared to 557 who raised money for the Bush-Cheney re-election committee in 2004. George W. Bush is largely credited with institutionalizing the role of bundlers in 2000, when he recruited a then unprecedented 555 surrogate fundraisers.

Ask Yourselves: Who really benefits most from having donated to the Obama / Biden campaign?

President - elect Barack Obama & John McCain's U.S. Presidential campaign funds details: Total: US$750,767,963 Total: US$372,525,058 Bundlers: 605 Bundlers: 851 Lobbyist Bundlers: 17 Lobbyist Bundlers: 77

See the Center for Responsive Politics Presidential campaign monies for a better perspective: 2008: Obama AND McCain - US$5.3 BILLION (Obama: US$750,767,963 million / McCain: US$372,525,058 million) 2004: Bush AND Kerry - US$4.2 BILLION 2000: Gore AND Bush - US$67.56 MILLION 1996: Dole AND Clinton - US$61.82 MILLION 1992: Clinton AND Bush - US$55.24 MILLION

* TO SEARCH FOR MEGA-DONERS, CLICK HERE.*

Democrats in Washington and will be under enormous pressure to "play it safe", even as everyone knows We need bold action and some kind of new, New Deal. And, if We allow the "play-it-safe" crowd to dominate, then Obama (and We) will not succeed. Make NO mistake: the corporate big-wigs and free-market fundamentalists see this for exactly what it is: THE FIGHT OF A LIFETIME. They want nothing more than for the Democrats to disappoint, because then the HOPEfulness that Obama represents can be stuffed back in the bottle and cynicism can once again regain its place in Our national political culture.

WE Can't Let This Happen!

Whether it's revamping our health care system…implementing a new fair-based trade policy…creating a sound, realistic and well thought-out immigration plan…jobs programs…organizing rights in Washington, or campaign election reform, family leave or fair taxes, this election has set the stage for an ENTIRELY NEW social contract between the government and the People. This election opens up a real possibility – small, but real - that We could make genuine progress as a society, in terms of equality and freedom and true sustainability. In other words, the democracy We preach, but don't teach. What comes next is up to US. And, We need to seriously ready OURSELVES.

In short, the real meaning of this election hasn't yet been decided.

Overall, there's a lot of work to do. It's imperative that EVERYONE do his share - whether this means attending a neighborhood or union meeting, signing a petition, organizing or riding a bus to a demonstration, going on a lobby visit, making a financial contribution, or just talking to a stranger about the need and desirability of the common good.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

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