tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476926965856800072024-03-12T19:11:10.843-07:00Tucson ProgressiveA Voice for Progressive Thought in ArizonaPamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-45765564518082081412013-08-16T11:15:00.000-07:002013-08-16T11:15:18.034-07:00Tucson Progressive Has MOVED to Word Press!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUeFDtFEXd4/S5AbQKCBhrI/AAAAAAAAAvI/fH41ADW9cfg/s1600/adventure495-sm72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUeFDtFEXd4/S5AbQKCBhrI/AAAAAAAAAvI/fH41ADW9cfg/s1600/adventure495-sm72.jpg" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://tucson-progressive.com/">Tucson Progressive</a> blog has moved from Blogger to Word Press!<br />
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The new blog is a repository of my political writing from 2008 - present. The Word Press format allows me to feature not only my writing but also my photography.<br />
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Check out my newest blog posts at:<br />
<a href="http://tucson-progressive.com/" target="_blank">Tucson-Progressive.com</a>,<br />
on <a href="http://tucson-progressive.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>,<br />
on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TucsonProgressive" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,<br />
on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/dancepartner30" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, or<br />
in Twitter @p2hannley.<br />
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Concerned about poverty in Tucson, here's a link to one of my recent posts on this topic:<br />
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<a href="http://tucson-progressive.com/2013/08/05/in-light-of-local-poverty-tucson-needs-creative-direction-progressive-economic-ideas/" target="_blank">In Light of Local Poverty, Tucson Needs Creative Direction & Progressive Economic Ideas</a><br />
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Muse Views-- my art blog-- will remain <a href="http://muse-views.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com1Tucson, AZ, USA32.2217429 -110.9264789999999731.791571400000002 -111.57192599999998 32.6519144 -110.28103199999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-64875904148085104072011-05-23T12:22:00.000-07:002011-05-23T12:26:22.320-07:00Tucson Progressive on TucsonCitizen.com, Examiner.com, and facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8O2_k1ptd0/Tdq0r1fDJrI/AAAAAAAAA84/DECOxlsLoOk/s1600/eyes0193-adj-sm72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8O2_k1ptd0/Tdq0r1fDJrI/AAAAAAAAA84/DECOxlsLoOk/s320/eyes0193-adj-sm72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last fall I moved my Tucson Progressive blog to the <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/"><i>Tucson Citizen</i></a>. One of the reasons for moving to the Citizen was the vastly larger audience. I had seen the hits to this blog coming from the Citizen steadily increase. As a result, I decided to take my relationship with the <i>Citizen</i> to the next level.<br />
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All old and new stories can now be found at <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/">Tucson Progressive</a> on the Citizen website.<br />
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I also have a Tucson Progressive facebook page. (Go, ahead, like me by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tucson-AZ/Tucson-Progressive/139305089473129">clicking here</a>.)<br />
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Last but not least, I have revived my <a href="http://www.examiner.com/progressive-in-tucson/pamela-powers">Tucson Progressive Examiner blog</a>.<br />
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You may see some stories in multiple places (mea culpa), but you also will see customized content for each of these blogs.<br />
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Here are some of my most recent stories...<br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2011/05/23/how-to-reform-education-the-answer-song/">How to reform education: The answer song</a><br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2011/05/20/az-elections-director-goofs-and-derails-pearce-recall-effort/">AZ Elections Director ‘goofs’ and derails Pearce recall effort</a><br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2011/05/17/interesting-reading-healthcare-reform-to-toll-roads-to-wing-nuts/">Interesting reading: Healthcare reform to toll roads to wing-nuts</a><br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2011/05/13/in-mexican-american-studies-debate-tucsonans-need-less-spin-and-more-truth-2/">In Mexican American Studies debate, Tucsonans need less spin and more truth</a>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-63087725889924449032010-10-19T09:00:00.006-07:002010-10-19T10:37:09.537-07:00More news on McClung's ties to extremist groupsOver on my <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/">Tucson Citizen blog</a>, I have posted several stories about CD7 Republican Congressional challenger Ruth McClung and her ties to extremist and often blatantly racist groups who are fundraising and endorsing her. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/14/will-the-real-ruth-mcclung-please-stand-up/">Will the real Ruth McClung please stand up?</a> first brought to light her endorsement by the right wing Republican Majority Campaign and the Grover Norquist TV ad on her behalf.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/18/the-sequel-will-the-real-ruth-mcclung-please-stand-up-part-2/">The sequel: Will the real Ruth McClung please stand up? (part 2</a>) continues the discussion of her ties to Norquist and Sarah Palin. Even though McClung signed the Norquist pledge and spouted his soundbites at the CD7 debate, she claims not to know who he is.<br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/18/desperately-seeking-republican-majority-campaign-signed-rm/">Desperately seeking ‘Republican Majority Campaign’, signed RM</a> further delves into the shadowy Republican Majority Campaign and its racist ties. The title is a take-off on the 1980s cult classic "Desperately Seeking Susan" where bored housewife (Rosanna Arquette) places a newspaper ad to find her wild-child friend, Susan, (played by Madonna). Like the bored housewife, McClung want to play on the wild side with the RMC.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-28570420605649503482010-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:002010-10-14T08:49:04.721-07:00CD7 debates: fiery ideology vs ideas and factsLast night's Congressional District 7 public debate revealed the stark contrast between the candidates and their followers.<br />
<br />
Here are 2 stories that I posted on my Tucson Citizen blog.<br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/14/cd7-debate-fiery-ideology-vs-ideas-and-facts/">CD7 debate: Fiery ideology vs ideas and facts</a><br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/13/ruth-mcclung-brought-to-you-by-the-republican-party-machine/">Ruth McClung: Brought to you by the Republican Party Machine</a><br />
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The main blog link is here: <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/">Tucson Progressive</a>.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-23503967286338229002010-10-11T07:40:00.001-07:002010-10-11T07:41:05.627-07:00More news on medical marijuana, Barbara LaWall, and prohibitionHere is a sequel to my <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/09/20/lawall-uses-scare-tactics-and-half-truths-to-campaign-against-medical-marijuana/">earlier story about Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall's crusade</a> against Prop 203 which would legalize medical marijuana. <br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/10/lawall-continues-campaign-against-medical-marijuana/">LaWall continues campaign against medical marijuana</a><br />
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That story and an anti-Prop 203 blog post also in yesterday's <i>Tucson Citizen</i> raised a number of comments about the origins of marijuana prohibition, so I posted this story today. It's amazing how many times in our history xenophobia has been used as a wedge issue to control the US population. <br />
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<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/2010/10/11/alcohol-and-marijuana-the-origins-of-prohibition/">Alcohol and marijuana: The origins of prohibition</a><br />
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My new blog link on the <i>Citizen</i> is here: <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucson-progressive/">Tucson Progressive</a>.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-76830392217643546462010-10-08T07:58:00.000-07:002010-10-08T07:58:56.460-07:00Goddard 'works it' in TucsonAttorney General <a href="http://www.terrygoddard.com/">Terry Goddard</a> knows that in order to beat <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/brewer-beheadings-and-those-pesky-facts.html">Jan "beheadings!" Brewer</a> in the race for governor of Arizona he has to win big in Pima County-- the one bright blue spot in a state dominated by that large red blob to the north.<br />
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Goddard has been everywhere in recent weeks. There was an <a href="http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13267529">impressive voter registration rally </a> on October 4 with fellow Democrats on the UA mall, and this weekend there are back to back events.<br />
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<b>Women for Goddard Rally and Movie at the Loft</b><br />
Come to the Loft Cinema, hear Goddard speak and view the film <i><a href="http://iron-jawed-angels.com/">Iron Jawed Angels</a></i>, an amazing movie on the battle for the women's right to vote. (This is labeled as a women's rally, but I'm sure men can come also.)<br />
What: Women Vote Rally<br />
When: Saturday, October 9th from 10-11:30 am.<br />
Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd.<br />
For more info, please contact Erika Burkhart at (303) 514-3452.<br />
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<b>Eastside Rally for Goddard</b><br />
What: Eastside Rally for Terry Goddard hosted by City Council members Shirley Scott and Paul Cunningham<br />
When: Saturday, October 9, 4-6 pm<br />
Where: The Children's Outdoor Performance Area, 8123 E Poinciana (next to PCC East, north of Irvington, east of Pantano).<br />
Come join us for food, music and show your support for Terry Goddard!<br />
Please contact Max Torres at (520) 250-0473 or Pat Weidhoff at (520) 850-6755 for more information.<br />
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<b>Goddard Got Art</b><br />
The <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/art/2010/10/06/goddard%E2%80%99s-got-art-political-committee-invites-public-to-its-downtown-artist-reception-saturday/comment-page-1/">Goddard Got Art artist reception</a> will be this Saturday. Goddard's campaign held a art competition. Come view the winners. This is the <a href="http://www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com/">Second Saturday</a>, so there will be loads of other things to do also. (If you're worried about parking, check out the Pennington Street Garage, by Cafe Poca Cosa. It's cheap or free for these events.)<br />
When: Saturday, October 9, 5-7pm <br />
Where: 1 E. Congress in downtown Tucson<br />
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<b>17th Annual Pima County Democratic Party Honor Roll Gala</b><br />
If you're into somewhat expensive political dinners, come this event and hear keynote speaker, <a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/005/000025927/">Henry Cisneros</a>, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development along with Goddard and State Senator <a href="http://www.paulaaboud.com/paula/index.php">Paula Aboud</a> who will be the master of ceremonies.<br />
What: Pima Democrats Honor Roll Gala, featuring Henry Cisneros and Terry Goddard<br />
When: Saturday, October 9th at 12 pm. Registration begins at 11:30.<br />
Where : University Marriot, 880 E 2nd St. Tickets are $75 ($65 for PCs and $50 for students). To purchase tickets, visit this <a href="http://www.actblue.com/page/cisneros">Act Blue web link</a> or call (520) 326-3716.<br />
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<b>Cycling for Goddard</b><br />
So, after that rubber chicken dinner at the Marriott on Sunday, join Goddard supporters Tuesday night for the community bike ride. We tried this <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/cycling-for-goddard-tomorrow.html">last Tuesday</a>, but that huge rain storm washed out our plans. We are calling on Goddard supporters to participate in the bike ride and show their support at the same time. We will be wearing lights and Goddard paraphernalia-- signs, t-shirts, bumper stickers-- to raise awareness. Barring bad weather (again), we plan do to this for each Tuesday night ride until the election on November 2.<br />
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Rumor has it that <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blondes-for-Brewer/116107195114196">Connie Sanchez of Blondes for Brewer</a> may even make an appearance at the art event and the cycling event. Is she switching sides? Come find out!<br />
What: Tucson Community Bike Ride<br />
When: Tuesdays, 7:30 pm<br />
Where: in front of the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=starbucks+university+tucson&fb=1&gl=us&hq=starbucks+university&hnear=Tucson,+AZ&cid=829424269156022511">Starbucks on University Blvd.</a><br />
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Goddard is workin' it in Tucson. Help him take back our state. Volunteer and vote!Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-81643369349729386532010-10-07T19:47:00.000-07:002010-10-07T19:47:37.517-07:00This is called not knowing what you are voting for<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TK6EN4jEu_I/AAAAAAAAA8U/EEwVW2UUe6g/s1600/yes401-sm72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TK6EN4jEu_I/AAAAAAAAA8U/EEwVW2UUe6g/s320/yes401-sm72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In case you can't read it, one of my messier neighbors has "Yes on 401, Fix City Government" sign in his front of his junk car. <br />
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This is a perfect example of not knowing what you are voting for.<br />
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You see... a few months ago the neighborhood association turned this particular neighbor-- among others-- into the city for violating the ordinances against tall weeds and grass and visible junk cars. <br />
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Should I tell him that even if Prop 401 passes, he'll still have to keep his yard cleaned up and cover-- or preferably ditch-- that junk car with the flat tires? (After all, even covered, it's an eyesore.)Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-88779880405395161212010-10-07T19:13:00.003-07:002010-10-07T19:48:14.165-07:00Tucsonans can join the Rally to Restore Sanity or the March to Keep Fear Alive-- without leaving the Old Pueblo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TK56kDehavI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/0vIC_PB8sMo/s1600/insight010-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TK56kDehavI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/0vIC_PB8sMo/s320/insight010-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have been seriously jonesing to go to Washington, DC for the progressive rallies being held in October. After all I have a hybrid car and at least one person + 2 cattle dogs who would love to go on a road trip. <br />
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Problem is I also have a fulltime job and can't take 2 weeks off for the round trip.<br />
<br />
Ever since I learned about these 3 rallies, I have been pining away to hear <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/10/04/ed-schultz-one-nation-rally-had-just-many-people-glenn-becks">Ed Schultz</a>, <a href="http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/">Jon Stewart</a>, and/or <a href="http://www.keepfearalive.com/">Stephen Colbert</a> address the teeming throngs of progressives on the mall in DC, but alas...<br />
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Now, thanks to the ingenuity and marketing savvy of the Hotel Congress, Tucson progressives can enjoy the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or the March to Keep Fear Alive without leaving town. The rallies begin at 9 a.m. on 10-30-10. <br />
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Personally, I think they should secure <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/brewer-beheadings-and-those-pesky-facts.html">Governor Jan Brewer</a> and <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/lawall-uses-scare-tactics-and-half.html">Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall</a> as keynote speakers for the Keep Fear Alive rally. <br />
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For Restoring Sanity...hmmm...definitely there are no Arizona Republican politicians who could address a rally with that title-- especially since Stewart called Arizona the "meth lab of democracy". Maybe <a href="http://www.daveforarizona.org/">Dave Ewoldt</a> or <a href="http://www.drweil.com/">Andrew Weil</a>?<br />
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Here is a link to the <a href="http://www.sanitytucson.com/">Tucson rally</a> and a link list of <a href="http://www.rallymao.com/">other states and cities</a> that are having rallies. And, of course, in case you're not already distracted enough, you can follow it all on facebook and Twitter.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-86969765200695691092010-10-07T08:23:00.002-07:002010-10-08T09:44:18.793-07:00Big money could bring the end of life as we know it<ul><li><a href="http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2010/08/25/cd-team-giffords-says-jesse-kelly-is-an-ideologue-with-no-interest-in-governing">Jesse "no-social-security" Kelly</a> (Arizona)</li>
<li>Rand "who-needs-civil-rights?" Paul (Kentucky)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/04/joe-miller-minimum-wage_n_748937.html">Joe "no-minimum-wage" Miller</a> (Alaska)</li>
<li>Sharon "pay-your-doctor-with-a-chicken" Angle (Nevada)</li>
<li><a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/christine-odonnells-1996-anti-masturbation-campaign-on-mtvs-sex-in-the-90s.php">Christine "don't-masturbate" O'Donnell</a> (Delaware)</li>
<li><a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/are-congressional-republicans-evil-or.html">John "repeal-healthcare-reform-but-save-welfare-for-the-rich" Boehner</a> (Ohio)</li>
<li><a href="http://muse-views.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-anti-feminist.html">Sarah "anti-feminist-pro-opportunist" Palin</a> (Alaska)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rodneyglassman.com/category/the-daily-flip-flop/">John "which-way-should-I-flip-flop-today?" McCain</a> (Arizona)</li>
<li><a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/brewer-beheadings-and-those-pesky-facts.html">Jan "beheadings!" Brewer</a> (Arizona)</li>
<li><a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/04/sb1070-becomes-law-in-3-months-maybe.html">Russel "yikes-brown-people" Pearce</a> (Arizona)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=3092&type=category&category=27&go.x=14&go.y=14">John "who-needs-public-education" Huppenthal</a> (Arizona)</li>
<li>Greg "privatize-this" Krino (Arizona)</li>
</ul><br />
Are you scared yet? Should I go on?<br />
<br />
These right-wing puppets (and-- <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/01/tucson-examiner-campaign-financing.html">thanks to the Roberts' court</a>-- the <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all">corporatists</a> and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html?_r=2&src=me&ref=homepage">secretly-funded big-money groups</a> behind them) want to end life as we know it in the United States of America. They don't want to take us back to the Bush era policies or the <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/are-congressional-republicans-evil-or.html">Contract for America</a>.<br />
<br />
With no Social Security, no healthcare safety net, no minimum wage, and, of course, no unions-- they want to take us back to the dawn of the <a href="http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/2/81.02.06.x.html">Industrial Revolution</a>, when people of all ages, including small children, slaved -- literally-- in factories and sweat shops for meager wages. If you were sick, old, or poor, it was your family's responsibility to take care of you. No family? Tough luck, you're on your own.<br />
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How could these ideas have gained so much popularity? Is it the sheer power of the moneyed forces behind the Tea Party-- like the John Birch Society <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all">Koch brothers</a> or secretly-finded groups like Karl Rove's American Crossroads, which <a href="http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/06/karl-rove-backed-group-spends-as-much-as-political-parties.html">spent $3.5 million</a> <b><i>last week</i></b>? All of this money + 24/7 yellow journalism courtesy of FOX News is trying to squash the progressive advances of the Obama Administration.<br />
<br />
Here's some background on the origins of these ideas from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html?_r=2&src=me&ref=homepage">The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party</a> by Frank Rich or the <i>New York Times.</i><br />
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<blockquote><i>When David Koch ran to the right of Reagan as vice president on the 1980 Libertarian ticket (it polled 1 percent), his campaign called for the abolition not just of Social Security, federal regulatory agencies and welfare but also of the F.B.I., the C.I.A., and public schools — in other words, any government enterprise that would either inhibit his business profits or increase his taxes. He hasn’t changed. As Mayer details, Koch-supported lobbyists, foundations and political operatives are at the center of climate-science denial — a cause that forestalls threats to Koch Industries’ vast fossil fuel business. While Koch foundations donate to cancer hospitals like Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, Koch Industries has been lobbying to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from classifying another product important to its bottom line, formaldehyde, as a “known carcinogen” in humans (which it is).<br />
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Tea Partiers may share the Kochs’ detestation of taxes, big government and Obama. But there’s a difference between mainstream conservatism and a fringe agenda that tilts completely toward big business, whether on Wall Street or in the Gulf of Mexico, while dismantling fundamental government safety nets designed to protect the unemployed, public health, workplace safety and the subsistence of the elderly.<br />
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Yet inexorably the Koch agenda is morphing into the G.O.P. agenda, as articulated by current Republican members of Congress, including the putative next speaker of the House, John Boehner, and Tea Party Senate candidates like Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, and the new kid on the block, Alaska’s anti-Medicaid, anti-unemployment insurance Palin protégé, Joe Miller. Their program opposes a federal deficit, but has no objection to running up trillions in red ink in tax cuts to corporations and the superrich; apologizes to corporate malefactors like BP and derides money put in escrow for oil spill victims as a “slush fund”; opposes the extension of unemployment benefits; and calls for a freeze on federal regulations in an era when abuses in the oil, financial, mining, pharmaceutical and even egg industries (among others) have been outrageous.<br />
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The Koch brothers must be laughing all the way to the bank knowing that working Americans are aiding and abetting their selfish interests.</i></blockquote>Has the country gone mad? Do the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/opinion/22krugman.html">small guv'ment</a> Tea Partiers think their Social Security and Medicare will be funded, while everyone under 65 will be thrown to the wolves? Fat chance. Tea Partiers, after they have used you, they'll go after your <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/210904?RS_show_page=0">Medicare-funded scooters</a> next.<br />
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For a look at our future, check out this book from the past-- <a href="http://www.google.com/images?q=how+the+other+half+lives&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=pOOtTLjdBYH2swO7n4SHDA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CD4QsAQwAw&biw=1024&bih=627">How the Other Half Lives</a>-- or watch <a href="http://www.walmartmovie.com/">Walmart: the High Cost of Low Prices</a>.<br />
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<b>UPDATE, October 8:</b> <a href="http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-10-08/news-roundup-hour-1">Diane Rehm's Friday News Roundup</a> covers this story. (Diane, honey, mention my blog next time, OK?)Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-47924098111452828742010-10-06T21:26:00.010-07:002010-10-07T08:26:14.356-07:00Where's the diversity?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TK1Nc2FbODI/AAAAAAAAA8I/pslGLJDA3K4/s1600/PP-GG078-sm-72.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525157475803412530" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TK1Nc2FbODI/AAAAAAAAA8I/pslGLJDA3K4/s400/PP-GG078-sm-72.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Is it coincidence, fate, or maybe poor planning on my part that I am spending 3 evenings in a row at the Pima County Democratic Headquarters this week? <br />
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The Pima Dems <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/re-eating-their-young-oh-well.html">Executive Committee</a> met last night; tonight Legislative District 28 (where my precinct is) met; and tomorrow I am making phone calls for Congresswoman <a href="http://giffords.house.gov/">Gabrielle Giffords</a> and MoveOn. (That's me and Gabby on election day 2008, when I was also making calls for her. Wasn't that a great day!)<br />
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What really struck me about last night's meeting-- besides the vote-- was the lack of diversity in the Pima County Democratic Party's upper echelon. When I made phone calls for Barack Obama in 2008, I was in the minority on most nights. Didn't the local Dems recruit any of those 2008 black and Hispanic phone bank volunteers or walkers to be precinct committee people? <br />
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I had planned to raise the lack-of-diversity issue at tonight's LD28 meeting, but with only 1 black campaign worker for Rodney Glassman (Hi, Zeke!) and 1 <a href="http://www.rumromanismrebellion.net/">Polish Mexican</a>, tonight's meeting was older and whiter than last night's meeting. (Not that there's anything inherently wrong with old white folks; these people are hard workers. And, besides, I plan to be an old white person someday.)<br />
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Yes, I know there is an <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pimaaadc">African American Democratic Caucus</a>. Great group of folks, but I don't see many of them in leadership positions. Actually, I only saw 1 last night.<br />
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This is a problem-- <span style="font-style: italic;">and a missed opportunity</span>. Nationwide and statewide, the Republicans are alienating many groups and particularly people of color. The "energized" Republican base-- primarily Tea Partiers-- ranges from <a href="http://www.washingtoninformer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4681:tea-party-just-rich-whites-exploiting-poor-ones&catid=57:oped&Itemid=154">old white folks to white supremacists on the diversity scale</a>. Obviously, that leaves a lot of people left out.<br />
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Come on, Democrats. Let's show everyone that we really do have a big tent that all of us can fit under. We need to bring these diverse populations into the fold-- not just for their vote but for their ideas, their energy, and their leadership.<br />
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I challenge the Arizona Democratic Party to make a concerted effort to recruit more diversity to the ranks of its precinct committee members between now and 2012. This will only make the progressive movement stronger. We can do this.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-35742206234964460742010-10-05T19:47:00.004-07:002010-10-05T20:15:39.996-07:00Re: 'eating their young'? Oh, well...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKvmSb9ogGI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/SXYiemb-u9E/s1600/2donkeys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 130px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKvmSb9ogGI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/SXYiemb-u9E/s400/2donkeys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524762572318343266" /></a>From the get-go, tonight's Pima County Democratic Party meeting had the feeling of a <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/will-democrats-eat-their-young-tonight.html">showdown on Prop 401</a>, and it was. <br /><br />The room was tense as each member of the Executive Committee spoke for the allotted 2 minutes, and there was no call to the audience. Most people passed or said just a few words. Tom Prezelski and Jim Hannley, both EC members and officers in the <a href="http://noon401.org/">Protect Local Control</a> No on Prop 401, spoke eloquently against the measure. <br /><br />Chairman and Prop 401 supported Jeff Rogers gave the history of the measure; first the Democrats were working with the City Council on a strong mayor charter change, but eventually he folded his efforts into those of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), who was proposing strong city manager charter changes.<br /><br />One young EC member read excerpts from a letter from the three City Council members who <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/council-sends-sales-tax-and-charter.html">stood with their constituents</a> and voted against the charter changes back in July. He asked that the EC "not throw them under the bus." <br /><br />In the end, the mostly white, mostly male, mostly over 60 Democratic EC voted 19 yes, 5 no, and 1 abstain to endorse Prop 401.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-77476676624382824022010-10-05T08:30:00.008-07:002010-10-05T20:24:36.356-07:00Will the Democrats 'eat their young' tonight?Jon Stewart often says that one of the biggest differences between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans (being more homogeneous) are able to keep their base marching forward in lock step, while the Democrats (who represent many diverse interests) often devolve into squabbling and <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/?term=eat+their+young&start=0">"eat their young"</a>. <br /><br />Tonight, I'm afraid the <a href="http://www.pimadems.org/">Pima Dems</a> will "eat their young"-- or at least a few City Council members. Earlier in the summer, the Pima County Democratic Party Executive Committee voted to officially remain neutral on Prop 401, the City of Tucson proposed charter changes.<br /><br />This was a wise decision, since the Democratic-controlled City Council vote was <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/council-sends-sales-tax-and-charter.html">split on this issue</a> back in July. Council Members Richard Fimbres, Karin Ulich, and Regina Romero <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/community-residents-want-more-time-more.html">listened to their constituents</a> at well-attended public forums and voted not to send the charter changes to the ballot. Blue Dog Democrats Paul Cunningham and Shirley Scott sided with Republicans Steve Kozachik and Mayor Bob Walkup and voted successfully to send the initiative (now Prop 401) to the ballot.<br /><br />Even though the Pima Dems officially remained neutral on the issue, Party Chair and local lawyer Jeff Rogers and Vice Chair and <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/wardtwo">Ward 2 City Council aide</a> Katie Bolger have been actively hawking Prop 401 for the <a href="http://www.salc.org/view.php?pg=8">corporatists</a> of Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC). In addition, according to <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/cfa_reports_2010/PoliticalCommittees/Yes%20on%20401%209-23-10%20filing.pdf">Prop 401's campaign finance reports</a>, Bolger has been paid $2000 for her pro-Prop 401 lobbying efforts. <br /><br />This is a free country, and I respect Rogers' and Bolger's right to have their own opinions and speak out for or against political initiatives-- as private citizens. <br /><br />But tonight's Executive Committee meeting is another matter. <br /><br />Through what appear to be parliamentary machinations, the Pima Dems Executive Committee will re-vote whether or not to endorse Prop 401 tonight at the Democratic Headquarters. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Rehashing and re-voting the Prop 401 endorsement is a waste of time.</span> This is like rearranging the deck chairs as the Titanic sinks.<br /><br /><a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/us-corporations-post-near-historic.html">Workers and the middle class are under siege</a> in Arizona and nationwide. It's time for the Democrats to march in lock step to elect as many Democrats as possible and save our country from extremists-- not devolve into cannibalism.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-57416173243834858572010-10-05T07:03:00.007-07:002010-10-06T17:47:30.019-07:00Prop 401: The most polite forum... ever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKsw55DzozI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/fPOP2vGSIyk/s1600/401card-58+copy-sm72.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKsw55DzozI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/fPOP2vGSIyk/s400/401card-58+copy-sm72.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524563139027510066" /></a>The Feldman Neighborhood, which has a reputation for fiery politics, hosted the most polite community forum ever last night. Was it the gentle ambiance of the historic but hard-to-find <a href="http://www.stlukeshometucson.org/about/about.php">St. Luke's Chapel</a>, built by <a href="http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/josiasjoesler/">Josias Joesler</a>. Or the lack of suits?<br /><br />About a dozen citizens gathered in the chapel to discuss the pros and cons of Prop 401, the proposed changes to the Tucson City Charter. Local lawyer, environmentalist, and Tucson Charter Change Coalition (TC3) executive committee member, Mitch Coker spoke in favor of Prop 401. Political gadfly and former blogger, Luke Knipe represented <a href="http://noon401.org/">Protect Local Control</a>, the No on 401 committee.<br /><br />The free-form, unstructured forum was dotted with controversy and consensus. There was major discussion of what the charter changes would fix, <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/salc-distributes-deceptive-pro-prop-401.html">deceptive advertising by Prop 401 supporters</a>, government accountability, the impact of shifting the election cycle, the pros and cons a stronger city manager, and the pay raises for politicians. <br /><br />When asked what city government problems the charter changes would fix, neither Coker nor Shirley Kiser (one of the architects of Prop 401, along with her husband <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/community-residents-want-more-time-more.html">Jim Kiser</a>) could answer the question. They waffled around what the charter changes would do but couldn't name any problems they would fix. I asked a follow-up question but still no specifics.<br /><br />My point to them was that the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC) has raised almost <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/cfa_reports_2010/PoliticalCommittees/Yes%20on%20401%209-23-10%20filing.pdf">$50,000</a>, talked with hundreds of people, and spent thousands of dollars on yard signs and a <span style="font-weight:bold;">giant</span> "Fix city government" billboard at the gateway to downtown. <span style="font-style:italic;">And they can't tell us what they want to "fix"?</span> <br /><br />Finally, since they couldn't come up with an answer, I said that I believe SALC is trying to "fix" the City Council. The proposed charter changes would dramatically weaken the City Council's power and influence over decision-making. Here's how: 1) electing the entire city government in one election (instead of stagger elections, as they are now) would allow moneyed forces (<a href="http://www.salc.org/view.php?pg=8">like SALC</a>) to a sweep the entire Mayor and Council out in the same year; 2) the charter changes would take the City Council out of many hiring and firing decisions and give all authority to the unelected city manager; and 3) giving more power to the Mayor weakens the City Council. <br /><br />Taking power away from the elected City Council reduces government accountability. Repeatedly Coker and Kiser gave examples of strong city manager cities that are "well run". The examples they gave were cities that had had <span style="font-style:italic;">the same unelected city manager for 10-20 years</span>. It dawned on my later that the corporatists want an iron-clad impervious leader for the city; they want the City of Tucson to be run by a despot-- <span style="font-style:italic;">a CEO!</span> <br /><br />Unfortunately for them, we live in a democracy, and democracy is messy.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-75428455243511311162010-10-04T18:00:00.007-07:002010-10-08T09:45:32.901-07:00US corporations post 'near-historic' profits, as poverty and joblessness increase: Now what?This week, the <span style="font-style:italic;">Huffington Post</span> reported that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/04/corporate-profits_n_748889.html">corporate profits are at "near-historic" levels</a>-- up 38% compared to the same time period a year ago.<br />
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It's a pretty disgusting article about how layoffs, outsourcing, and low interest rates have allowed corporatists to rake in the cash-- and hoard it-- rather than reinvest it, which would improve the nation's ecomomy.<br />
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<span style="font-style:italic;">"Since 2008, corporate profits increased 10 percent -- but revenue was down 6 percent, the WSJ [Wall Street Journal] says. To achieve the impressive quarterly results, companies have had, as the WSJ puts it, to "streamline" their operations. This means firing workers, outsourcing labor and shuttering unprofitable (or less profitable) divisions.<br />
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"The robust state of corporate profits presents a paradox: companies won't spend their money until the economy improves, but the economy won't improve until they spend their money. An increase in hiring, for example, would help drive a recovery. The New York Times reports this "chicken-and-egg" phenomenon, noting that near-zero interest rates have encouraged companies to borrow money and simply hoard it because, as the NYT puts it, 'they can.'" </span><br />
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This is a perfect example of how dysfunctional <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/business/12scene.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1285812075-Z0q/fzRW2fFKshISTJreBg">trickle down economic theory</a> is.<br />
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Juxtapose this story about historic corporate profits with the stories about the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130179640">widening wealth gap between rich and poor</a>, rising poverty in most states, <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/ramifications-of-wealth-disparity.html">disappearing middle class</a>, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/us/04rv.html?_r=1">people living in vehicles</a>, and <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/and-why-would-we-re-elect-these.html">states and cities going broke</a>.<br />
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Given this scenario, how can Congressional Republicans continue to support tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and balk any time they are asked to extend unemployment? <br />
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How can Tea Party/Republicans like Sharon Angle (Nevada), Joe Miller (Alaska), and Jesse Kelly (Arizona) call for privatization of Social Security, elimination of the health care safety net, <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> elimimation of the national minimum wage? Angle, Miller, and Kelly are puppets of the corporatists. I can't believe that they honestly think dissolution of these programs would help the majority of Americans.<br />
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Privatization of Social Security would just give Wall Street's corporate gamblers more money to play with and another way to boost their historic profits even higher. Elimination of the health care safety net and the minimum wage and continued outsourcing of jobs would through the US into third-world status. It would be end of life as we know it. The former US middle class would become economic refugees.<br />
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<span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE, October 6:</span> Blog for Arizona's AZ Blue Meanie posted <a href="http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/10/update-iii-the-new-corporate-business-model-increase-profits-not-jobs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BlogForArizona+(Blog+For+Arizona)">Update III: The New Corporate Business Model: Increase Profits, Not Jobs</a>.<br />
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<b>UPDATE, October 8:</b> <a href="http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-10-08/news-roundup-hour-1">Diane Rehm's Friday News Roundup</a> covers this story. (Diane, honey, mention my blog next time, OK?)Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-24605961176787607532010-10-04T17:42:00.007-07:002010-10-04T18:22:25.597-07:00Budget cuts: Arizona Legislature has it's meat cleavers and chainsaws ready<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKp7EurBsuI/AAAAAAAAA7I/TMAJ-iL0EGM/s1600/az+flag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKp7EurBsuI/AAAAAAAAA7I/TMAJ-iL0EGM/s400/az+flag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524363214101525218" /></a><a href="http://cpmazrandommusings.blogspot.com/2010/10/foreshadowing-even-more-massive-cuts-to.html">Random Musings</a> and <a href="http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/10/foreshadowing-even-more-massive-cuts-to-education-coming-next-year-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BlogForArizona+(Blog+For+Arizona)">Blog for Arizona</a> cross-posted a pretty disgusting story this afternoon about the Arizona Legislature's Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting last week. <br /><br />As we all know, after decades of trickle down economics and other short-sighted policies, the Republican majority in the Arizona Legislature has <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/and-why-would-we-re-elect-these.html">run this state into the ground</a> economically and socially.<br /><br />But wait... <span style="font-style:italic;">there's more!</span> <br /><br />According to an article in the <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2010/09/30/arizona-budget-deficit-estimated-to-have-grown-to-825-million/">Arizona Republic</a>, Arizona has a "$2.25 billion deficit that needs to be wiped out in the next 20 months." <br /><br />The purpose of last week's FAC meeting was to discuss the budget and the state's economic crisis. The briefing materials for the meeting are <a href="http://www.azleg.gov/jlbc/facag092910.pdf">here</a>, and the video is <a href="http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=7803&publish_id=&event_id=">here</a>.<br /><br />Pondering what these right-wing extremists will do to balance the budget without raising revenue keeps me awake at night. As the other bloggers pointed out, the state's abysmal financial situation underscores the need for us to elect Attorney General <a href="http://www.terrygoddard.com/">Terry Goddard</a> to the governorship. <br /><br />We saw how <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/04/arizona-is-becoming-less-and-less.html">crazy</a> Phoenix was last spring with Republican Governor Jan Brewer at the helm and Republicans controlling both houses in the Legislature. Boycotts and loss of business due to SB1070 aside, Arizona was the laughing stock of the country with regular stories on The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live. With SB1070, the birther bill, anchor babies, "Constitutional carry" gun laws, and <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/brewer-beheadings-and-those-pesky-facts.html">Brewer's babbling about beheadings</a>, we gave the satirists plenty of material.<br /><br />What happens in 2011 to our quality of life and our children's future may not be easily parodied if Goddard loses. Here is a little food for thought from Random Musings:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Republicans in the legislature are sharpening their meat cleavers and oiling their chain saws in <span style="font-weight:bold;">gleeful anticipation of inflicting mortal wounds upon public education</span> in Arizona during the next budget cycle.<br /><br />"However, the presence of Terry Goddard in the governor's office will serve to mitigate the carnage.<br /><br />"He and his veto pen will be there to force the anti-society extremists in the legislature to the negotiating table and force them to minimize the long-term damage.<br /><br />"Of course, electing Terry Goddard only sets up a strong, but not impenetrable, defense to the worst of the lege's machinations...<br /><br />"Electing more Democrats to the legislature, maybe even enough to tie or take control of one of the chambers, would go a LONG way toward stopping the R-led slaughter of Arizona's physical and societal infrastructures.</span><br /><br />Today is the last day to register to vote in Arizona. If you haven't done so already, go to the <a href="http://servicearizona.com/">Service Arizona</a> website before midnight October 4, register your sorry ass, and vote on November 2.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-76235336112977710642010-10-04T07:44:00.006-07:002010-10-12T11:06:55.558-07:00Cycling for Goddard-- tomorrow!Have you every been downtown on a Tuesday evening and seen a mass of lights moving toward you in the darkness? Giant lightening bugs? An alien hoard? Too many margaritas?<br />
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Nooooo, it's the Tucson community bike ride. Beginning tomorrow night, October 5, and continuing for the month of October, a few of us artistic/political types are planning to add a twist to the community bike ride. <br />
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We are calling on Terry Goddard for Governor supporters to participate in the bike ride and show their support at the same time. We will be wearing lights and Goddard paraphernalia-- signs, t-shirts, bumper stickers-- to raise awareness.<br />
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If you want to participate in the community bike ride and support Goddard, meet at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=starbucks+university+tucson&fb=1&gl=us&hq=starbucks+university&hnear=Tucson,+AZ&cid=829424269156022511">Starbucks at Geronimo Plaza</a> on University Blvd. at 7:30 p.m. (with your bike, bike light, helmet, Goddard t-shirt or other wearable promo + LEDs, glow necklaces, and other funs stuff.) Extra signs will be available. This is a great opportunity to show our support and get a little exercise at the same time.<br />
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<b>UPDATE, October 12:</b> The cycling event on October 5 got rained out. We are going to ride Tuesday, <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/10/goddard-works-it-in-tucson.html">October 12</a> and hopefully every Tuesday until the election.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-37468627738196808422010-10-03T18:39:00.006-07:002010-10-04T12:37:38.057-07:00And why would we re-elect these incompetents?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKkzMgXdmyI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bey8dDrRLiA/s1600/Gov.-Jan-Brewer-adj.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKkzMgXdmyI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bey8dDrRLiA/s400/Gov.-Jan-Brewer-adj.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524002707886414626" /></a>Arizona has been racing to the bottom on pretty much all nationwide statistics for years. Two notable exceptions are <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/john-mccain-and-jon-kyl-who-are-you.html">poverty</a> and <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/john-mccain-and-jon-kyl-who-are-you.html">unemployment</a>. For the #1 slot nationwide in poverty, we are officially #2, but in reality, we are in a statistical dead heat with Mississippi.<br /><br />With the latest statewide budget news, Arizona should be able to easily overcome Mississippi for the #1 slot in poverty next year-- especially if Governor Jan Brewer, her lobbyist advisors, and her cronies in the Republican-controlled Legislature are re-elected.<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2010/09/30/arizona-budget-deficit-estimated-to-have-grown-to-825-million/">Arizona Republic</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"The deficit for the current budget year has grown to $825 million, up from $700 million, and the projected hole for the next fiscal year has deepened by $400 million, to $1.4 billion.<br /><br />"It adds up to a $2.25 billion deficit that needs to be wiped out in the next 20 months."</span> <br /><br />The <span style="font-style:italic;">Republic</span> article says that Arizona Republicans are not willing to raise taxes (AKA raise revenue) to fill the budget gap. Arizona has relatively low business taxes. The Legislature has set up these corporate give-aways to lure business to the state. The problems with scenario are: 1) <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/business/12scene.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1285812075-Z0q/fzRW2fFKshISTJreBg">trickle-down economics doesn't work</a>; and 2) relocating businesses want more than lower taxes; they want an educated workfore, a viable infrastructure, good schools, good universities, etc.-- all of the amenities that Brewer and her cronies in the Legislature have worked to minimize or destroy. Add to this dismal list <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/brewer-beheadings-and-those-pesky-facts.html">Brewer's lies</a> about violence and beheadings in the desert, and it is easy to see why no major corporations or private citizens would want to re-locate here. <br /><br />So, what are Brewer and the Republican-controlled Legislature going to do? Education, health care, and children/family services are their favorite sacrificial lambs when it's time to cut budgets, but I doubt there is enough left in these funds to fill the budget gap-- even if they wiped them out. <br /><br />Remember Brewer's sales tax for education initiative that voters overwhelmingly approved last spring? Skeptics like LD28 Representative <a href="http://www.friendsofarley.com/">Steve Farley</a> warned not to vote for that tax because he believed that the Arizona Legislature would spend the funds for something other than education-- or worst of all would give it away in tax cuts for businesses and the rich. Will they take those funds? <span style="font-style:italic;">Probably</span>. They are already trying to trick voters into wiping out the land-conservation fund (Prop 301) and the First Things First voter-created child welfare program (Prop 301) which pays for itself. <span style="font-style:italic;">What kind of person votes repeatedly to hurt programs for children?</span><br /><br />So, with these seriously dire predictions, why would the <span style="font-style:italic;">Republic</span> endorse the <a href="http://cpmazrandommusings.blogspot.com/2010/10/arizona-republic-editorial-board-to-its.html">Republican status quo</a>? <br /><br />Seriously, folks, in a much-ballyhoo'd "throw-the-bums-out" election year, isn't it time for Arizona to "throw the bums (ie, Brewer, Brewer's lobbyist advisors, the Republicans in the Arizona Legislature and statewide offices, and John McCain) out"? <br /><br />No one but the corporatists and the rich (who receive regular give-aways from Arizona Republicans) are <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/have-arizonans-finally-realized-that.html">happy with these inept ideologues</a>. Isn't it time for a change in Arizona politics? Vote the bums out-- and vote NO on all of the ballot initiatives that the Arizona Legislature put on the ballot (the 100s and 300s).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE, October 4:</span> <a href="http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/10/foxpacs-dirty-money-comes-to-arizona.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BlogForArizona+(Blog+For+Arizona)">Blog for Arizona</a> reported today that the Republican Governors' Association, who received a $1 million donation from FOX News in recent months, is investing $200,000 in Arizona races-- probably including Brewer's. They also reported that the Arizona Republican Party funds had dwindled down to $5000 before this donation. For the year, Arizona Democrats have raised $2.1 million compared to the GOP's $490,000. Now, who's fired up and who's "sitting this one out"?Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-2386767792667183762010-10-01T08:30:00.008-07:002010-10-05T20:25:13.874-07:00SALC distributes deceptive pro-Prop 401 mailer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKYhX7BCcjI/AAAAAAAAA64/TvbZY5WoaR8/s1600/401card-58+copy-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKYhX7BCcjI/AAAAAAAAA64/TvbZY5WoaR8/s400/401card-58+copy-sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523138687879246386" /></a>As to be expected during election season, I am greeted with campaign ads in my mailbox nearly everyday.<br /><br />Yesterday, I received the above pro-Prop 401 card (without the circles and numbers, of course). This is one deceptive ad; in fact the statements circled in blue are blatant lies. (The items circled in yellow can be dismissed as unsubstantiated public relations claims.)<br /><br />Prop 401 does absolutely <span style="font-style:italic;">NOTHING</span> to (1) streamline city government or (2) cut bureaucracy. Prop 401 changes some hiring and firing procedures, but these changes actually <span style="font-weight:bold;">strengthen the city's bureaucracy by further consolidating power in the office of the unelected city manager</span>. No bureaucratic positions are eliminated, no budgets are cut, and no departments are eliminated by Prop 401. <br /><br />Regarding (3) hold bureaucrats accountable, I contend that only elected officials are accountable to the voters-- not bureaucrats. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Less government accountability is my biggest beef with Prop 401. </span>By taking power away from the Mayor and City Council (while at the same time more than doubling their salaries), <span style="font-weight:bold;">Prop 401 strengthens bureaucracy</span>. (Yes, with Prop 401, certain department heads will lose their civil service protection, but the bureaucrats in these positions never have been accountable to voters, so it's a bit of a red herring, in my opinion.)<br /><br />So, I'd like to see the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC) send out a mailer that tells what Prop 401 actually does:<br /><br />1- Prop 401 more than doubles the salaries of the Mayor and Council, while diminishing their power.<br /><br />2- Prop 401 changes hiring and firing processes to increase the power of the <span style="font-style:italic;">unelected</span> city manager.<br /><br />3- Prop 401 eliminates civil service protection for some department heads and allows the <span style="font-style:italic;">unelected</span> city manager to more easily eliminate staff, which also increases his power.<br /><br />4- Prop 401 eliminates the off-year elections, thus, enabling the election of the Mayor and all City Council members in the same year. (This saves money, but also potentially weakens our elected officials. <a href="http://www.salc.org/view.php?pg=8">SALC members have big bucks</a>; if the entire city government is up for election in the same year, they could <span style="font-style:italic;">easily flood</span> the election with money in an attempt to take over the Democratically-controlled City Council in one fell swoop.) <br /><br />The bottomline is that Prop 401 is an attempt by big business to weaken and, therefore, control Tucson city government (the way they control the Arizona Legislature). These corporatists are using money and lies to sway your vote. <br /><br />One look at the <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/cfa_reports_2010/PoliticalCommittees/Yes%20on%20401%209-23-10%20filing.pdf">Yes on Prop 401 campaign finance reports</a> tells us who the puppeteer is behind the curtain-- big business. Yes on Prop 401 has received a handful of $100 donations, but by far the donations in support of Prop 401 are $500- $10,000 donations from businesses. What are they doing with these funds? Yes on Prop 401 has paid thousands of dollars to a public relations firm, a marketing firm, and a paid lobbyist-- to sway your vote. <br /><br />In stark contract, the grassroots, all-volunteer Protect Local Control Vote No on Prop 401 group has <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/clerks/cfa_reports_2010/PoliticalCommittees/Protect%20Local%20Control%20-%20No%20on%20401%209-23-10.pdf">$70 in the bank</a>.<br /><br />Don't buy the lie. Vote <span style="font-style:italic;">NO</span> on Prop 401.<br /><br />P.S.-- As a snarky side note to the PR firm, you've got a run-on sentence in the blue section at the top. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE October 4:</span> The <span style="font-style:italic;">Arizona Daily Star</span> <a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_5ea56c77-7b60-5a58-b160-bde97e26b0fc.html">posted a story</a> about the groups for and against Prop 401. They reported that as of last week, Prop 401 supporters have raised $47.000, while the Protect Local Control committee has raised $320.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-88255917772903014002010-09-30T07:06:00.012-07:002010-10-05T20:25:32.820-07:00Neighborhood groups hold community forums on Props 400-401<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKSjG22_x7I/AAAAAAAAA6w/OjG9gFVhVBA/s1600/W6forum-87-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKSjG22_x7I/AAAAAAAAA6w/OjG9gFVhVBA/s400/W6forum-87-sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522718381263800242" /></a><br />Today, September 30, and Monday, October 4, two neighborhood groups will host community forums on Propositions 400 and 401, which will be on the November ballot.<br /><br />Prop 400 would increase the city's sales tax to pay for core services (police, fire, parks) (<a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/coretax">1</a>, <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/sites/default/files/budget/MC_Core_Tax_Cmte_090810.pdf">2</a>), and Prop 401 would change the city's charter (<a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/buzz-words-abound-at-prop-401-kick-off.html">1</a>,<a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucson-city-charter-its-old-so-lets-get.html">2</a>). <br /><br />The Tucson City Council <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/07/council-sends-sales-tax-and-charter.html">voted in July</a> to allow both initiatives to be put on the ballot. The sales tax increase would help the city balance its budget, but it has been a contentious issue on the City Council, with Councilman Steve Kozachik offering <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-to-be-or-not-to.html">alternative Plans C and D</a> to City Manager Mike Letcher's Plans A (Prop 400) or Plan B (15% across the board cuts). <br /><br />Prop 401, although more esoteric, also has been very contentious. Prop 401 is the baby of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC); <a href="http://www.salc.org/view.php?pg=8">this big business group</a> claims that the City Charter should be changed because city government doesn't run efficiently* and because <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucson-city-charter-its-old-so-lets-get.html">it's old</a>. The grassroots opposition to Prop 401 takes issue with the huge Mayor and Council pay increases that are included. (I am against Prop 401 because it <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/06/should-most-powerful-person-in-tucson.html">increases the power of the city's bureaucracy</a> [particularly the unelected city manager] and, therefore, makes government less accountable.) <br /><br />Want to learn more about these initiatives, ask questions, or voice your opinion? Check out one of these forums. The last Props 400-401 forum, hosted by Ward 6, was a standing-room-only event (above). (Kozachik called the event "lively;" other attendees described it as wild political theater.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Southside</span><br />Tonight, the Southside Neighborhood Association Presidential Partnership (SNAPP) will host a community forum on both Props 400 and 401 from 6-8 p.m. The event will be at the El Pueblo Activity Center Multi Purpose Room, 101 W. Irvington Road. The entrance to the parking lot is south of Irvington Road on Nogales Highway.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">University area</span><br />On October 4, the Feldman Neighborhood Association will host a community forum on only Prop 401, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event will be at the chapel of St. Luke's Home at Lee and N. First Ave.<br /><br />* Regarding the efficiency of city government: well, anyone who has been following the downtown hotel hell (<a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-to-be-or-not-to.html">1</a>, <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-whos-on-first.html">2</a>, <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-historical.html">3</a>, <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-city-council.html">4</a>) or the other Rio Nuevo real estate deals <span style="font-style:italic;">could</span> make a case for inefficiency. But, personally, I don't think bigger bureaucracy is going to fix it. I believe we need <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/06/tucson-lacks-vision-thing-but-proposed.html">strong leadership</a>. Prop 401 should have been broken up, which would have allowed people to vote for the parts they favor.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-46397810411333274512010-09-30T07:00:00.003-07:002010-09-30T13:36:01.061-07:00Are Congressional Republicans myopic? Or just really bad at math?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKPxtaNagnI/AAAAAAAAA6o/LD8HxiSMnxY/s1600/boehner_small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKPxtaNagnI/AAAAAAAAA6o/LD8HxiSMnxY/s400/boehner_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522523330518352498" /></a>Last week, the national Republican Party unveiled their Pledge to America. If you watched the <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge">brilliant Jon Stewart piece</a> on this, you know that the much-ballyhoo'd Pledge is the Same Old Sh-- from the Grand Old Party (AKA, the Party of No Ideas): tax cuts for the rich (AKA, trickle down economics); elimination of "Obamacare" (AKA, pay-your-own-way health savings accounts); traditional values (AKA, we hope everyone has forgotten those gay sex scandals); control spending (AKA, we hope everyone has forgotten our deficit-spending binge under Bush II); reduce government (AKA, we hope everyone has forgotten those earmarks and bail-outs we voted for); support the troupes; stand by our friends; tort reform; yada, yada, yada.<br /><br />There was much comparison in the media of the Pledge to America and the Contract with America, Newt Gingrich's document from the early 1990s when the Republicans took control of Congress. As Stewart so aptly pointed out, the Pledge to America is "not even a sequel [to the Contract with America], <span style="font-style:italic;">it's a shot-by-shot remake</span>." He proceed to show clips of <span style="font-style:italic;">long</span>-term Congressional Republicans like House Minority Leader John Boehner (above, courtesy of NPR) spouting the same ideas in 1994 - 2004 as they outlined last week in the Pledge. <br /><br />The grand finale was Boehner 2010 side-by-side with Boehner of the past saying <span style="font-style:italic;">exactly the same words with the same emphasis and pacing</span>. (How's that for living up to your stereotype of the Party of No Ideas?)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Fast forward one week...</span></span><br /><br />Pundits are now analyzing and commenting on the content of the Pledge to America, and more data are being released about the dismal state of the economy. (<span style="font-style:italic;">"Drat, we thought we could get by with soundbites!" Boehner is overheard saying in Southern Ohio tanning spa.</span>)<br /><br />- The <a href="http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/09/epi-gops-job-creation-plan-would-cost-america-11-million-jobs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BlogForArizona+(Blog+For+Arizona)">Economic Policy Institute</a> released a report that says the Republicans' job creation plan (AKA, give more money to the rich) would result in the loss of 1.1 million jobs. (I guess they are the only ones who have not heard that giving money to the rich is the <span style="font-style:italic;">least</span> effective way to stimulate the economy and jobs and that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/business/12scene.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1285812075-Z0q/fzRW2fFKshISTJreBg">trickle down economics doesn't work</a>.)<br /><br />- The <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130179640">2010 Census data revealed</a> that the gap between rich and poor is widening (duh), and that poverty has increased in most states. (So, why have Republicans vote against extension of unemployment repeatedly? Why are they holding extension of the middle class tax cuts hostage? Why did they try to block Obama's jobs bill? Why do they want to eliminate the public safety nets of healthcare reform and Social Security? Why? Because all of these things are unfriendly to the corportists. They represent the multinational corporations of America-- not the people.)<br /><br />- <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/ramifications-of-wealth-disparity.html">Robert Reich said on NPR</a> that the middle class can't go any deeper into debt and can't work longer hours. They're doing everything they can to survive.<br /><br />And besides all of this, their plan just doesn't add up. They want to repeal healthcare reform and make all of the Bush II's tax cuts (especially those for the ultra rich) permanent <span style="font-style:italic;">PLUS</span> cut government <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> cut the deficit. <br /><br />George Bush I called trickle down economics "voodoo economics" when he ran against Ronald Reagan for president. What the Republicans are proposing with the Pledge to America is "voodoo math". Healthcare reform and sunsetting Bush II's tax cuts on the richest Americans <span style="font-style:italic;">save us BILLIONS of dollars</span>. If Congressional Republicans are allowed to accomplish these two goals, the US economy will be hurt even more. Also, decreasing the size of government means eliminating government jobs. On the <a href="http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-09-29/republican-agenda">NPR's Diane Rehm Show</a>, one commentator said that even if the Republicans take government spending back to Reagan era levels + cut more, we would still be no where near a balanced budget.<br /><br />The bottom line is: the Pledge to American is a hoax. Don't buy the lie.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-76946225336925213602010-09-29T18:30:00.004-07:002010-09-30T13:36:26.646-07:00Giffords stands with the middle class and fiscal responsibilityThe <span style="font-style:italic;">Arizona Daily Star</span> reported today that CD8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords chose to stand with the middle class and fiscally responsible-- rather than caving in and going along with those who want to continue the budget-busting Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans. <br /><br />Forty-seven House Democrats <a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_1a70dee1-8031-5e2a-96a6-98ec26fd82f8.html">sent a letter</a> to President Obama saying that they would support extension of<span style="font-style:italic;">all</span> of the Bush era tax cuts.<br /><br />Obama has been promoting keeping the Bush tax cuts for people who make less than $250,000 but allowing the cuts to expire for the richest Americans.<br /><br />Although the Republicans have been pushing the <span style="font-style:italic;">IDEA</span> of fiscal responsibility (in order to win over the Tea Bagger vote), they also have been pushing hard to make all of the Bush tax cuts permanent, which add <span style="font-style:italic;">BILLIONS</span> to the deficit.<br /><br />This fall Republicans have been willing to let <span style="font-style:italic;">all of the tax cuts expire</span>-- even cuts for the middle class-- if they can't get continued give-aways for their rich cronies. When will they give up on trickle down economics?<br /><br />I am <span style="font-style:italic;">seriously</span> disappointed that these DINOs wrote a letter of support for this fiscally irresponsible Republican plan, but I am proud of Giffords for not caving. Go, Gabby.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-46877044220986797102010-09-29T18:00:00.006-07:002010-09-29T18:01:20.475-07:00The ramifications of wealth disparity: Robert Reich gets it<a href="http://robertreich.org/">Robert Reich</a> is one of my heroes. He gets it (unlike the delusional Tea Partiers who also were on National Public Radio [NPR] this morning, but more on those jokers later).<br /><br />Here is a quote from his <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130189031">interview today on NPR</a>. (Check out the link for the whole interview.)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"[The middle class] can't go deeper and deeper into debt. They can't work longer hours. They've exhausted all of their coping mechanisms," he says. "And people at the top are taking home so much that they are almost inevitably going to speculate in stocks or commodities or whatever the speculative vehicles are going to be. ... Unless we understand the relationship between the extraordinary concentration of income and wealth we have this in country and the failure of the economy to rebound, we are going to be destined for many, many years of high unemployment, anemic job recoveries and then periods of booms and busts that may even dwarf what we just had."</span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-34004031628836411502010-09-29T06:32:00.011-07:002010-09-30T13:39:36.061-07:00Tucson's downtown hotel: City Council tosses the hot potato back (Part 4)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKNA_1QMBRI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/NmYaJ88Ei48/s1600/potato.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 210px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DBMKVmAxAXw/TKNA_1QMBRI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/NmYaJ88Ei48/s400/potato.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522329033457272082" /></a>The debate about whether or not the City of Tucson should go hundreds of millions of dollars into debt to build a mega-hotel downtown crescendo'd yesterday during a 2-hour Executive Session of the Mayor and Council. <br /><br />You'll remember that at <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-to-be-or-not-to.html">last week's City Council meeting</a>, Councilman Steve Kozachik couldn't get a second on a motion that began with the question: "What is the City of Tucson’s legal obligation to the design, development and building of the Convention Center Hotel?" and ended with a formal motion that would tell the Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District Board (RN) that the city would "not backstop or issue any bonds to secure the completion of the Tucson Convention Center Hotel, Parking Garage and Convention Center Expansion" and the city would "not approve any additional expenditures for the Convention Center Projects until RN has negotiated an acceptable GMP [guaranteed maximum price] and funding plan for the project." <br /><br />Later in the week, the RN Board <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-whos-on-first.html">tossed that hot potato back</a> at the City Council. <br /><br />At yesterday's City Council meeting, the Council voted 7-0 on the following motion by Kozachik:<br /> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I move that we direct staff to proceed as discussed in Executive Session, and to negotiate the following:<br />a) an agreement with RN for financing the Project that satisfies the direction given by the Legislature.<br />b) a reduced GMP for the project, as well as reduced developer and design/build fees<br />c) resolution of issues relating to the use of local subcontractors; and<br />d) acquiring additional security from the hotel operator<br /><br />I move that staff not return to Mayor and Council for any further action unless these terms are accomplished.</span><br /> <br />"Direction given by the Legislature" refers to the RN Board's original charge by the Arizona Legislature to oversee expenditure of RN funds. According to Kozachik, that means that RN cannot "toss it into our lap"... again.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-73428736676248297582010-09-28T18:00:00.002-07:002010-09-30T13:39:12.415-07:00We want those 8 million jobs backDon't forget, Ed Schultz's <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/save-middle-class-big-ed-wants-you-to.html">One Nation Working Together March</a> is this Saturday, October 2, in Washington, DC. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Nation</span> recently posted a great background piece-- <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/155015/jobs-justice-and-education?rel=emailNation">For Jobs, Justice, and Education</a>. In a nutshell, the article talks about the plight of working families in America, tone-deaf Republican and Blue Dog Democrats who are fighting for the rich (instead of working for workers), and the rationale behind the march. <br /><br />Here is a small excerpt.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"...we should be investing in rebuilding America, thereby helping to close the jobs gap, which will then help close the budget gap.<br /><br />"Instead, as we careen toward a possible double-dip recession and a second round of devastating home foreclosures, the extreme right-wing media machine is desperately trying to discredit the idea that America's government can and should move aggressively to create more jobs... <br /><br />"Nothing they say should persuade our leaders to throw America's working families under the bus. We are in the middle of the biggest economic crisis in half a century. Through its negligence and recklessness, Wall Street has already forced a brutal austerity program on Main Street. The role of America's government is to mitigate its effects and reverse the damage, not to make things worse by heaping suffering on top of suffering. This is not the time to abandon schools, shut down clinics, ignore crumbling infrastructure and forego job creation. This is not the time to take more away from families and communities that are already losing so much. We don't need a public austerity program on top of the private sector–imposed austerity that we are already enduring.<br /><br />"But some members of Congress apparently think they should focus on closing the federal budget gap, even if it means letting millions more American families tumble. They are mistaken. America's workers find themselves in a deep hole. You don't cut your way out of a hole. You grow your way out of a hole. We can afford to invest more in America's long-term success. We are the wealthiest nation in the world. We should not be giving billions of dollars to companies like Halliburton abroad, while closing hospitals at home.<br /><br />"...<span style="font-weight:bold;">the American people finally will be able to choose between two movements: one that wants to demagogue problems and divide us, and another that wants to promote solutions and unite America.</span>"</span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-447692696585680007.post-32519106595754366692010-09-27T22:00:00.006-07:002010-09-30T13:40:09.368-07:00Tucson's downtown hotel: Historical context of a complicated project (Part 3)The saga of Tucson's <a href="http://dot.tucsonaz.gov/projects/project.cfm?cip=663A6BF7-A281-6C78-763F76A369AB144F">proposed downtown mega-hotel</a> has been a continuing drama for a few years. To offer an historic context to the current pending decisions, here is a series of news articles. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The original Request for Proposals</span><br /><a href="http://www.tucsonaz.gov/tcc/pdfs/RFP%20ADDENDUM1%20JULY24_07.pdf">Downtown Revitalization Development Opportunity, Convention Center Headquarters Hotel</a><br />July 2007-- three years ago! No wonder Tucsonans are frustrated!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Economic downturn in the west</span><br /><a href="http://www.lvrj.com/business/brookings-report-finds-lv-among-hardest-hit-79291737.html">Brookings report finds LV among hardest hit </a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Las Vegas Review-Journal</span>, December 2009.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">City Council starts to debate the wisdom of the hotel project</span><br /><a href="http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2010/02/25/news/doc4b7deff0d69cd761559377.txt">Dialogue is changing on downtown hotel project</a><br />Inside Tucson Business, February 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Local businesses are pro-development</span><br /><a href="http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2010/02/19/opinion/letters/doc4b7df3d142b97907640838.txt">Downtown vision, future is in new hotel, TCC</a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Inside Tucson Business</span>, February 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Are convention centers and hotels the great investment that developers say they are?</span> (AKA the $190 million question.)<br /><a href="http://www.brookings.edu/Metro/pubs/20050117_conventioncenters.pdf">Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy</a><br />by Heywood Sanders for the Brookings Institution, 2005.<br />This reports reveals not-so-rosy statistics about many cities that have built new convention hotels and convention centers to boost economic development. Sanders, an academic, was interviewed by local media in the spring of 2010, but the City Council gave him minimal time to explain his findings. It's important to note that the Brookings report was published in 2005; the economy has only gotten worse since then. In his interview on the <a href="http://www.tucsonsjolt.com/JohncScott.html">John C. Scott</a> show, Sanders said many US cities have traveled the convention center hotel road that the City of Tucson is now on. Some put up the funds and built the hotels; others decided to be more prudent and not build. It is scary to ponder what this huge debt could do to these heavily-leveraged cities if the US economy, in general, and unemployment, in particular, do not pick up soon. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hotel Industry Fights Back</span><br /><a href="http://www.iaee.com/pdf/BrookingsReportCritique.pdf">The Rhetoric vs the Facts: What the Brookings Report Fails to Reveal</a><br />The International Association of Exhibition Management pushed back after the Brookings Report was published in 2005.<br /><br /><a href="D.K. Shifflet & Associates Debunks The Brookings Institute's Report that the U. S. Convention Business Is In the Tank">Another "debunking"</a> of the Brookings' Report, 2005.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Local hotel owner/opportunist wants a piece of the action</span><br /><a href="http://azstarnet.com/business/local/article_18d74b58-6de8-5109-8d85-09c2048c0801.html">Chamber backs city lease after hotel upgrade</a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Arizona Daily Star</span>, June 2010.<br /><br /><a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_02255c77-ed83-5ab8-86a9-5906bc031663.html">OUR VIEW: 99-YEAR PROPOSAL FROM BUSINESSMAN LOPEZ NOT GOOD FOR TAXPAYERS<br />Using city bonds to upgrade hotel is a bad idea</a><br />Even the <span style="font-style:italic;">Arizona Daily Star</span> doesn't go for Lopez's idea for lining his own pockets with Rio Nuevo funds. June 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Desperate construction workers want jobs</span><br /><a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_37c4a7af-b780-5ba2-af25-b67010bfcee1.html">'WE NEED THE JOBS,' RIO NUEVO BOARD IS TOLD AT TOWN HALL<br />Workers flock to back TCC hotel construction</a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Arizona Daily Star</span>, June 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">More questions than answers</span><br /><a href="http://azbiz.com/articles/2010/06/26/opinion/columnists/guest_opinion/doc4c24d4cbc5a4d079351138.txt">These questions need to be answered before we OK a convention hotel</a><br />In <span style="font-style:italic;">Inside Tucson Business</span>, Councilman <a href="http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/ward6">Steve Kozachik</a> uses the media to push for answers from Garfield Traub (the hotel developer) and from the Mayor and Council, June 2010. This article is a thorough overview of the funding and the issues.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Phoenix convention hotel occupancy less than 50%</span><br /><a href="http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/downtown-hotel-hell/Content?oid=2179369">Downtown Hotel Hell</a><br />A dose of convention hotel reality from Phoenix, thanks to the <span style="font-style:italic;">Tucson Weekly</span>, September 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hotel hell devolves as bloggers offer options to City Council</span><br /><a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2010/09/04/give-downtown-hotel-site-to-the-apache-indians/">Give downtown hotel site to the Apache Indians </a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">A View from Baja Arizona</span> blog on the <span style="font-style:italic;">Tucson Citizen</span> website, September 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sensing the fear of local politicians, the hotel's developer offers another funding plan</span><br /><a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_1fb9bc7e-33fe-5425-a8ad-9bfacc3dbc1f.html">New hotel-finance plan unveiled</a><br />Sensing that local politicians lack the will to go hundreds of millions of dollars in debt to finance and build the hotel, Garfield Traub offers an alternative funding plan, according to <span style="font-style:italic;">Arizona Daily Star</span>, September 2010. GT suggests the creation of a real estate investment trust (REIT) which would finance the hotel. The problem with this idea is that the city would own all of the risk if the hotel sits empty, but the REIT would reap the profits if all goes well. (This is a really bad idea for the City of Tucson!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The City Council and the Rio Nuevo Board play hot potato with the project</span><br />To build or not to build-- <a href="http://tucsonprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/09/tucsons-downtown-hotel-whos-on-first.html">who's decision is it anyway?</a> Apparently, we don't know. When the Arizona Legislature created the Rio Nuevo Board to oversee expenditure of the RN funds, Kozachik and others (including me) thought that meant they would oversee and make decisions on projects like the downtown hotel, but the RN Board passed the buck back to the City Council last week. On Sunday, the Arizona Daily Star <a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_97730c00-747a-59ec-8c18-e8d696f06fc1.html">called for someone to make a decision</a>.<br /><br />Three years, many plans, and millions of dollars later, Tucson still doesn't have a downtown hotel. Now what? As I have said many times, I do believe that Tucson would benefit from a larger, updated downtown convention hotel, but after having heard multiple interviews with Sanders about his convention hotel research, I am convinced that now is not the time for Tucson to take on massive debt and that the GT proposal is not the right plan for Tucson in 2010.<br /><br />Stay tuned for future developments.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893395886835828431noreply@blogger.com0