tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29412001464060116792024-03-06T00:31:46.013-05:00The Policy GeekHome of Avid Collectors of Aggregated Ideals...Widecasting via Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, Tweetcasting, Pinteresting, Meddling, and generally Stumbling Upon and sharing all that's there to learn because an informed voter is a better voter.The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-10350734221873750152017-03-17T00:28:00.002-04:002017-03-17T00:41:15.254-04:00Leadership: How Does Trump Stack Up?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>We at The Policy Geek think it's high time we had a discussion about Leadership, what makes a good leader, and what we should be looking for in a POTUS moving forward. To that end, we share with you here a piece written by our good friend Dr. Bear as originally posted on <a href="http://madmikesamerica.com/2017/03/leadership-how-does-trump-stack-up/" target="_blank">Mad Mike's America.</a>..</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By Dr. Mark Bear</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my other line of work, I am an organizational consultant and trainer. Often, I am asked the million dollar question as to what constitutes “good leadership,” and I must confess it is not only a fair question, but an important one, too.</span><br />
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Sadly, leadership is often misconstrued as the art of persuading others to do one’s will. Looking at several disastrous examples throughout the course of history, it's rather clear that just because one can convince those around him to do his bidding with undying loyalty doesn't automatically designate that person as being a “good leader." Therefore, being able to motivate blind followers should not be the sole litmus test as to whether one is, or is not, good leader material.<br />
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Some examples of poor leadership include Richard Nixon, Jim Jones, Adolph Hitler, and a host of other characters littering the leadership literature, and yet it can very well be argued that these men did in fact, successfully and en masse persuade others to do their bidding.<br />
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So what does constitute good leadership, and more importantly, how would our current President, Donald Trump, fare if evaluated with the standard descriptors found in mainstream social psychological literature? More importantly, what are the attributes of good leadership?<br />
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Here's what we've found. Positive leadership role models include the following: modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the hearts of those around him or her.<br />
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Let’s do a brief review of these factors through the frame of Trump. Exemplary leaders stand for something, believe in something, and care about something. They pursue their vision with determination and elegance. They then can easily be held up as role models for all to follow. Well, we already know that in many ways, from imitating a handicapped person at a rally, to inciting violence, to being caught talking about attempting to assault married women, that this man is no role model.<br />
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Good leaders inspire a shared vision. They find their voice by clarifying their personal values, expressing those values in their own unique and authentic style, and drawing like minds close. We need to stop right here if we even care to provide an objective assessment of Trump, because at first glance one might be persuaded to believe that Trump does, in fact, “express his values in his own unique style.” Style he has in spades. However, the good leader – or the person one would want to follow – first finds his or her voice – and it is this voice which serves as the catalyst for the leader’s vision. The problem with Trump here is apparent. He has embraced nearly every single side of every single position politically. By having no firm footing in any particular ideology, other than nationalism, Trump makes it quite difficult for those around him, let alone members of his own party, to follow him.<br />
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Moreover, while articulating his stances on the issues, he has behaved in such an unprofessional manner at levels of contempt for civil process which are unprecedented. Despite his missteps, Trump daily accuses everyone around him of being questionable, while evidence consistently and clearly points to he himself as being the problem. Most of his staff has to play clean up throughout each day, continuously needing to explain his new positions and absurd statements, so progress toward any particular goal is often sidelined while his advisers are consumed instead with the business of putting out constant fires.<br />
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This is not what experts in my field – including myself – consider good leadership. Trump very well may be able to persuade people at a rally, however translating that speech into political governance is quite another thing, as we all are witnessing with the current GOP “Repeal and Replace ‘Obamacare'” effort.<br />
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Eloquent speeches about admirable beliefs – not being part of the “establishment” – aren’t nearly enough. Being an "outsider" does not a productive civil servant make. Words and deeds must be consistent for leaders to have integrity. Leaders wishing to be effective must set the example by aligning their personal actions with shared values. To date, Trump has told his base that he would “drain the swamp,” only to turn around and state at one of his celebration rallies how that statement was now "hokey to him.” And instead of following words with deeds he instead provides evidence to any casual observer that he's filling the swamp instead of draining it by surrounding himself exclusively with so many billionaires in his cabinet positions.<br />
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There is no freeway to the future, folks. No paved highway from here to tomorrow. There is only wilderness! Only uncertain terrain. There are no road maps, and no signposts. Pioneering leaders – those that are considered the greatest in our social psychological literature – rely on a compass and a dream. They dream of what “might” be, and they passionately believe they can make a positive difference. But here is where things go awry again with Trump and if we are not careful, we might find ourselves believing him to actually possess this attribute. But does he?<br />
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Visions seen only by the leader are insufficient to mobilize and energize. One may argue that Trump was quite able to mobilize, as evidenced by the turnout for the previous election cycle, but Russian interference notwithstanding, this standard still misses the mark. Leaders enlist others by appealing to their shared aspirations. Publicly he's promised jobs, to bring back coal, and that he'd make Mexico pay for a wall. In reality, Trump's aspirations mostly involve tearing families apart, removing health care coverage from millions and millions of people, gutting social safety nets, and destroying the established governmental departments that run our country.<br />
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Currently, Trump is reaching out only to those within his base, and is neglecting to appeal to the entire electorate - that is those within the ranks of the Democratic and Independent groups of our electorate. If he is to experience any level of success – long term – he will need to go beyond his mere rhetoric offered on the night of the election, and actually try to meet people in the middle. If he doesn’t, he will be a failed leader.<br />
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On the average, the work of leaders is to accomplish change. That's how their success is measured. To them the status quo is unacceptable. Leaders search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, not seek out ways to tear the entire system down. He's not trying to rebuild our system at all, but rather it seems to be his goal to simply destroy it. In fact, Steve Bannon, the very man who has Trump’s ear the most, <a href="http://www.gq.com/story/steve-bannon-shadow-president" target="_blank">is on record as stating how he wants to tear down the entire system</a>.<br />
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Good leaders seize the initiative to make things happen, realizing they have no monopoly on good ideas, and they constantly scan the environment seeking other people – regardless of party affiliation – to assist in creating ways to do new things. They research all the options. They listen, they learn, they grow. This takes time. It takes measured resolve to make educated choices. It takes input from every direction so every base is covered.<br />
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In other words, one cannot get from here to tomorrow in one giant leap. Extraordinary things get done one step at a time. The greatest leaders in our history have experimented and taken risks by constantly generating small wins and by learning from mistakes. And, despite persistent opposition – which is certain to come – and inevitable setbacks (which need to be admitted to versus denying they occur), leaders demonstrate the courage to continue the quest.<br />
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Let me be clear here folks: Trump very well may take risks, however those risks seem to be irresponsible and self-defeating. Sending your staff out to argue how the former President spied on you is nothing more than petty, and worse, when most folks realize it to be untrue, you as a leader risk losing all credibility. In fact, already, the world has decided his office holds no veritas, generates no truths that can be relied on. This is not something Trump should be surprised about because he began losing credibility when he entered the race, by seizing on the lie that our former President was not born in the United States, going so far as to tell an interviewer that, and I’m paraphrasing “I have people in Hawaii right now and they are finding things which are not all that good.” Of course, none of that every happened.<br />
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Finally, when a leader suffers a setback he or she doesn’t go out of his way to exact retribution upon the dissident. Threatening to “keep a list of those who wronged you,” or worse, calling those who did not support you the “opposition party” or "the enemy," are unproductive ways to bridge the gap. It's a funny way to govern when you actively seek out a constant enemy within, when you begin by fighting against more than half of your electorate, when you call our cherished fourth estate "the enemy of the people."<br />
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Leaders also know they cannot do the task alone. It takes partners to get extraordinary things accomplished in organizations and that challenge is even greater in government when having to deal with various factions with specific ideologies. In other words, it takes compromise. So, leaders foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust. They develop teams with spirit and cohesion, being careful not to select each person with the mentality it be essential they all agree with you, for doing so endangers one’s leadership terribly. Unfortunately, in Trump world, there are only yes men and sycophants. And where there is an independent voice to be heard, it is immediately asked to resign.<br />
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Trump has violated the public’s ability to trust him, and now he has violated any modicum of trust which may have existed between his most important ally; the current Speaker of the House.<br />
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Lest you missed the news, Breitbart – the very online publication where Trump's Bannon comes from – published a story yesterday trying to portray the Speaker in the worst terms because Ryan had told his caucus (the day after the Access Hollywood tape surfaced in our media) that he would "never support Trump.” Now, Trump is using that statement made several months ago against the Speaker, this at a time when Trump NEEDS the Speaker more than ever to get his health care bill passed. But this President has a pension for revenge, and that need overrules common sense or big picture vision.<br />
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Good leaders promote positive reciprocity between all players, something Trump is unable to do, as reports of infighting and backstabbing leak daily. As the sands shift under Trump, he really could care less. Despite the obvious fact that good leaders cannot do the task alone, Trump told the entire Nation he “alone was the person who could fix the nation.” Given his lack of research and his shooting from the hip style of command, we're in for a long bumpy ride. Not only does he seem to have trouble getting his team to work together, he actually seems to enjoy watching them fight each other - like this is all one big episode of The Apprentice to him. With the White House playing out Oval Office politics like a story line from The Survivor, who knows who will have his ear even this time next month.<br />
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On every winning team, members need to share in the rewards of their efforts. So good leaders celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community. That means expressing pride in the accomplishments of the leader’s team, but when governing in the position Trump holds, it means he acknowledges EVERY person, every citizen’s accomplishment, regardless of their political support or affiliation. It is this obstacle which persists in plaguing Trump as President and prevents him from being effective and good as a leader. If you aren't a Trump supporter, and don't sing his praises, you're out, and a target for his scorn.<br />
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So how does Trump stack up? You can make the decision for yourself. However, when doing so perhaps we all should compare Trump to our previous President. Ask yourselves a question: How many of these attributes did our former President possess? Did he serve as a role model? Did he walk the talk? Did he inspire us with a shared vision of HOPE? Did he challenge the process, promote transparency, and generate new ways of incorporating input like creating the petition page on the whitehouse.gov website? Did he enable others to act, provide roadmaps for change? Did he and our former first lady encourage the hearts of those around him or her?<br />
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As I have made clear throughout all of my writing, our former President was not perfect, but at least he had the character essential to bring the country together. At least his style and process was role model worthy. Just because there was a group of people in this nation who decided to believe lies and myths about the former President in no way mitigates his basic leadership style which very well can be argued met the above criteria, and in many cases far exceeded that criteria.<br />
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In closing, my personal and professional evaluation of Trump as a leader of the free world, utilizing the objective criteria outlined above, tells me he is more of a slick salesman – able to motivate large groups of people to HIS vision – versus being a “good leader” who embraces a shared vision of ALL citizens in this nation. Leading often requires supporting the populace in accomplishing their goals, not forcing the populace to assist in accomplishing your own goals.<br />
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Unless he alters his course radically, something I do not see occurring, I do not remain hopeful. Anyone, anyone at all, if trained to be successful can be a salesman, but it is quite another to be a “good leader.” Being a dictator is easy. Leadership skills take years of incubation coupled with layers of a complex and ever learning character; both criteria which he seems to lack. I hope for our Nation that Donald J. Trump will be the exception to the rule, that bumbling into the office will somehow prove to be a growth opportunity for Donald, but fifty days into his Administration is showing otherwise.<br />
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Follow Dr. Bear on Facebook here, and on Twitter.<br />
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Source: Kouzes J.M & Posner, (2004). The leadership challenge. Josey Bass, SF, CA.The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-79712274027897499402017-03-12T23:00:00.000-04:002017-03-12T23:02:32.786-04:00Republican Liars: ObamaCare Myths Debunked<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Hey, if you've been paying attention to the Health Care debate, you may have heard more than one Republican mention that the need for immediate repeal and replacement is imminent - that all insurance companies are in a death spiral from participating in our current system. Well, we at The Policy Geek think that's a bunch of bunk. In an effort to weed through the misinformation, we repost here a piece by our good friend and writer Dr. Bear originally posted on <a href="http://madmikesamerica.com/2017/03/republican-liars-obamacare-myths-debunked/" target="_blank">Mad Mike's America</a>. Enjoy!</i></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Occasional Repost</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Republicans are fond of discussing how Aetna Insurance Company’s withdrawal from exchanges is evidence that the Affordable Care Act of 2010 is “such a disaster,” or worse, how “</span><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/12/speaker-ryan-says-obamacare-collapsing-promises-quick-repeal-replace.html" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Obamacare is in a death spiral</a><span style="font-size: large;">.” This supposed “death spiral,” according to the current speaker, is the reason the Republican party is in the process of quickly repealing the law, and now trying to jam through the House and Senate their “replacement.”</span></div>
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Let’s not forget how it was Republicans who complained how the last bill was jammed through without giving the public a chance to review it, despite it taking over eighteen months to debate. However, what Republicans – like Speaker Ryan – tend to neglect telling the American people is precisely “why” Aetna withdrew from the exchanges, and understanding the why is just as tantamount to understanding the motivations behind the Republican party’s persistent failure to disclose the reason.</div>
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Interestingly, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-aetna-obamacare-20170123-story.html" target="_blank">Aetna Insurance’s CEO is repeating the exact same story</a>, that is, “ObamaCare is in a death spiral.” According to Bertolini who made his remarks back in February at the Wall Street Journal’s the Future of Health Care event, the insurance company’s Chief Executive believes the risk pool is deteriorating, the funding mechanism is awash, and the 'premium model' are all reasons for the supposed failure. However, according to PolitiFact, the Affordable Care Act is not in any “death spiral,” and they have rated both Ryan’s claim – and one can extrapolate also Bertolini’s statement - as<a href="http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2017/feb/01/paul-ryan/paul-ryans-damning-claim-affordable-care-act-obama/" target="_blank"> false</a>.</div>
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In fact, PolitiFact Wisconsin goes out of their way to explain precisely why this is not the case; more people have gained coverage under the law, fewer people in this nation are uninsured with a mere – but significant amount – 8.9% of Americans still not having insurance. The fact-checking organization proceeds to explain exactly how this has been accomplished. Key to those factors are the ability of children to remain on their parent’s insurance plan until they reach the age of twenty-six, and insurance companies are now mandated to no longer discriminate against those who have pre-existing conditions. It is noteworthy to point out that PolitiFact also admits that the law has not been popular and that several promises have not come to fruition. Instead of the elimination of deductibles, in some cases there has been an increase in deductibles, and so that part of the ACA missive was rated previously as a “broken promise.”</div>
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What the fact-checking organization did not provide however, is what reasons exist for those deductibles to be increasing versus decreasing as was the original plan. Was this problem really due to the individual mandate which just so happens to be the least popular part of the law? First of all, under ACA as it stands now the insurance companies are allowed to charge three times (the maximum amount allowed) of what they would originally charge as a means of mitigating for what they perceived as a pitfall - the losses incurred by insuring more sick people - despite the fact that before the ACA many healthy individuals were not signing up for coverage. Well, apparently, if you tell an insurance company that they are able to charge three times the amount of their original costs – and do so under the auspices of allowing them to do so after they get a better look at their risk pool – one can nearly be assured the insurance companies – out of greed – will take advantage of the established maximum allowed by law. And before one blames the former President for this aspect of the law, one need remember that prior to the implementation of the law, insurance companies had no cap whatsoever, that is, they could charge whatever it was they wished, all under the auspices of capitalism and free trade.</div>
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Yes, the ACA as it stands now is far from perfect, but at least it has several benefits to it while remaining a starting point which legislators can actually build upon. Did you know the currently proposed plan by the Republican Party would allow insurance companies to charge up to <b>five </b>times the amount they would have normally charged - all under the auspices of getting a glance at their risk pool - legally allowing them to sharply increase their rates, supposedly in accordance to the perceived changes in risk? However, how many of you believe the CEOs of these insurance companies are not taking advantage of consistently charging the maximum amount allowed by law?</div>
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In addition, the fact-checking organization Politifact doesn't seem to take into account how many people are simply against the word 'mandate' – originally a Republican idea promoted by the conservative think-tank “Heritage Foundation” – and so are refusing to purchase into the ACA, readily accepting the penalty for not doing so. Some corporations are doing so out of a supposed “religious conviction,” like <a href="http://madmikesamerica.com/2014/07/corporations-rushing-to-take-advantage-of-hobby-lobby-loophole/" target="_blank">Hobby Lobby</a>, due to the law's provision allowing women to purchase contraceptives with their insurance coverage, while others accept the penalty over getting insured due to their faulty notion that should they participate they would be violating their “moral conscience.” Never mind that these same folks have no issue whatsoever paying for taxes which support their public schools, or annually purchasing automotive coverage in accordance with their State, because in their minds this is socialism par excellence. Make no mistake that these same folks have no issue whatsoever with Medicare, Social Security, and other programs which benefit THEM, but this is just Obamacare mandate is a bridge too far.</div>
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Any person following politics closely realizes this has been the Republican strategy since the Tea Party took over in 2010, disassemble as many government programs as possible, and honestly one can make an argument that it has been a staple for many years now. After all, who can ever forget <a href="http://madmikesamerica.com/2013/12/st-ronnies-welfare-queen-was-a-homicidal-maniac/" target="_blank">Ronald Reagan’s blatant lie</a> about the “Welfare Queen?” It does seem that Republicans have become more fond of this strategy in recent years due to their stepping up their efforts, doubling down on their projects to defund one successful and popular safety net institution after another. Remember the allegation and accompanying sound bite played across conservative media purporting that the former President told business owners that “they didn’t build their business?” Or, how about the oft repeated charge that when former Secretary of State Clinton testified to the investigatory committee on Benghazi that she said, “What difference does it make?” In every one of these examples, the entire story was not shared with the viewing or listening audience, providing a mere sound bite that satisfied the ideological preference of conservatives. But democracy cannot function properly when the very people who send people to Washington do not have accurate information, can they? Which leads us right back to Aetna’s and Paul Ryan’s claim that “Obamacare is in a death spiral,” because this is not the rest of the story as <a href="https://archive.org/details/PaulHarveyTROTS/TROTS_A-Bomb+Musician.mp3" target="_blank">Paul Harvey</a> used to say.</div>
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So what is the rest of this story? To know that, you first have to know the part were <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-aetna-obamacare-20170123-story.html" target="_blank">Aetna's CEO shared how Humana Insurance Company and Aetna had a proposed merger</a>. The problem was the Justice Department back in 2016 was filing suit against Aetna because <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-humana-m-a-aetna-idUSKBN13U23N" target="_blank">according to Reuters</a>, the merger would have been a violation of our antitrust laws. Interestingly, Humana was not the only insurer that Aetna had its eyes on, as there was also an attempt by Aetna to merge with Cigna. According to the federal government – rightfully – these mergers would have restricted competition in the marketplace, so the proposed mergers necessarily were being reviewed. </div>
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So how did Aetna respond to the looming lawsuit? Simply put, they threatened the federal government by telling them they would pull out of the exchanges they were participating in - and those they had planned to expand into - if the federal government did not drop the lawsuit. And then when they proposed deals were shut down, they screamed "death spiral." However, this is not what the corporation has been telling Americans now, is it? No! They said the reason they were pulling out was due to the hardship and loss of business and cost issues, hardly true, and when one looks at the matter objectively, one readily sees that Aetna tried to “extort” the federal government. In fact, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjgnamiyMnSAhWBzIMKHRQCA-YQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fhiltzik%2Fla-fi-hiltzik-aetna-obamacare-20170123-story.html&usg=AFQjCNGZ_WmQN71pvO3GHS7tKB_cJswadw&sig2=oczDFHCWv50YEwLuwlrAgQ" target="_blank">according to the Los Angeles Times</a>, a United States District Judge ruled in open court that, “Aetna tried to leverage its participation in the exchanges for favorable treatment from the Department of Justice regarding the proposed merger.” So it is a matter of public record what Aetna's real motive for pulling out of the exchanges really was....revenge.</div>
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THIS is why Paul Ryan, Aetna’s CEO, conservative lawmakers, and the conservative media entertainment complex should NOT be telling Americans that Aetna is an example of how “Obamacare is in a death spiral.” It simply is not true, and it misleads the American people which - while it fits their ideological narrative - does NOT fit the facts. We thought you should you know The Rest of The Story.</div>
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Trump, while running for office, stated how he would be certain to provide insurance to everyone, how important it was that no one be left behind, that it was the least we could do, and now the Republican party has crafted legislation which already is predicted to leave the poorest and the oldest of us behind with no insurance, all the while providing CEOs and the wealthiest a mighty tax break. In fact, under Ryan's Trumpcare plan, if you let your insurance lapse for more than two months, you'll be subject to a 30% spike on your insurance premiums payable directly to your insurance company. Older people, the poor, and the sick alike will pay dearly should this bill become law, and again, the Affordable Care Act is far from being in a death spiral. But don’t tell that to the Republican Party! They're on a mission.</div>
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You can follow our pal Mark Bear on Facebook or Twitter @DrProgressive</div>
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The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-39023564968418068492016-12-11T18:11:00.002-05:002016-12-11T18:12:09.244-05:00Support The Bridge Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE2r5oUGLe7g9bpUVTmFuquBQVMAy8OnEsmoiAaBy7tPY-5k2aSkeXA66ww_x6BDojs4CAWJS9mrD3bsBsVsn9KuGuxRDbWacm1la4UWpVmZ-OsML4zSN5j2PqTriC3vSJoAN1mv1guU/s1600/DACA+Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE2r5oUGLe7g9bpUVTmFuquBQVMAy8OnEsmoiAaBy7tPY-5k2aSkeXA66ww_x6BDojs4CAWJS9mrD3bsBsVsn9KuGuxRDbWacm1la4UWpVmZ-OsML4zSN5j2PqTriC3vSJoAN1mv1guU/s400/DACA+Image.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"As we get closer to the day that Donald Trump actually becomes the President of the United States, the urgency of our movement grows exponentially. We will not be silent, we will not be silenced and we will unite to oppose any and all policies that hurt the American people. Our duty is to protect the heart of this nation, and be more prepared for the first day of his administration than he is." </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
~ Our friend Michael Skolnik</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Under Democratic President Barack Obama, many undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children were given protections under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
DACA provides a path to legal work and deferred action on deportation. It's intelligently done and worth supporting. Now, with a Trump presidency looming, DACA is in danger, as are the Dreamers who have benefited from it. </div>
<br />
In case you are not aware of who DACA protected, here's the basics,<br />
<br />
If you arrived in the United States before age 16<br />
and<br />
If you were born on or after June 15, 1981<br />
and<br />
If you have lived in the United States since 2007<br />
<br />
Then<br />
if you can prove you are either in school<br />
or<br />
have a high school diploma or GED<br />
or<br />
have served in the US Military<br />
<br />
Then you might be eligible to apply for a<br />
work permit<br />
student loans<br />
a driver's license<br />
a social security number<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That's it. It doesn't make you a citizen, it just makes you legal to be here, it makes you a "documented" resident for a limited amount of time, 2 years, during which time you may try to apply for citizenship. No promises.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Trump has said he'll deport all undocumented immigrants, and his intended Attorney General has stated opposition to even legal immigration. If you want to know more about that you can read more here:</div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.project1461.org/" target="_blank">Project 1461</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Friday, December 9th, another smart move was made. The BRIDGE Act was introduced in the United States Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), which provides a clean, legislative solution for 750,000 Dreamers who earned work permits and temporary relief from deportation.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whether you are emotionally effected by the outcome of the election, or just a patriotic citizen surprised by the moves already made by the presumptive President-Elect, it would be totally worth your time to call your Senator and voice your support of this work.</div>
<br />
So...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Please call your United States Senator. "Well, I don't even know who that is," you say. "And I don't know how to get a phone number of a person I don't even know," you say. Well, no worries, we got you:</div>
<br />
You can find out who your representative is and how to contact them here:<br />
<br />
http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com/<br />
<br />
and tell them that you support the BRIDGE Act.<br />
<br />
SHARE AND ACT! CALL TODAY, TOMORROW, AND THE NEXT!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Go ahead, you can do it now, we'll wait...(make sure you call your Senator's local office and their office in D.C.)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, now that that's done, it felt great, right? You weighed in, good for you. What's next? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You could also send a letter, a paper letter, showing your support. That's a bigger ask, but maybe you're so darn mad you'll be happy we even suggested it. </div>
<br />
Until next time, the struggle continues....<br />
<br />
The Policy GeekThe Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-33436965232326715952016-10-29T17:42:00.000-04:002016-10-29T17:42:33.506-04:00OPEN LETTER TO MR. COMEYWith all due respect, sir, where was the ticking clock? I mean I understand, on an episode of 24 or something - when the people need to friggin know or people will be killed, or shot, or something secret will be stolen - that you would have to weigh your options carefully and chose to act swiftly, sir.<br />
<br />
I guess what I’m saying is, I'd understand IF there had been some sort of imminent threat against anyone or anything at all that you were aware of that you might have some standing for your actions. If that were the case, you could possibly feel compelled to send a last-minute memo to members of Congress just like the feckless one you sent today. I suppose there are things we the people don’t know, and somehow with that knowledge yourself, with you having been briefed on the situation by your people, you would theoretically feel the urgency of the situation would override the fact that your wording – and the timing – would perfectly tilt the playing field at the last minute of a Presidential election – in your party’s favor. I could see if it meant saving us, saving the world, I get it, sir.<br />
<br />
However, we feel perhaps you may have missed some facts and figures in your observably partisan decision-making process, sir.<br />
<ul>
<li>There has been no detailed damage done from any email EVER either 'sent to' or 'received from' Sec. Clinton - let alone during any of the years she was in office. </li>
<li>Sec. Clinton hasn’t been in office in years, therefore, whatever this mythical damage was, if WE THE PEOPLE don’t know about it by now, it must be Classified, or nonexistent right?</li>
<li>You obviously chose to send your email to Congress with your little “update” without sending the information using any CLASSIFIED protocol. </li>
</ul>
So, sir, without that ticking clock, without that imminent threat, what’s up with your timing? I repeat, why the questionable logic and timing of this memo to Congress today? Many people are saying these were coup tactics and your actions are unprecedented. It would seem anything important enough to break the law by dumping this into the public sphere so close to election day will indeed make history. Because, in absence of any ticking clock, your memo was kind of against the law, I think. It was designed to make you a Partisan hero, a mythical figure. But it was not an act done for the common good. If you really thought you needed to keep Congress up to date, you could have sent the memo as Classified, right? With all due respect, it really is starting to seem, sir, that you have been dangerously reckless with either our elections or Classified material. At the very least, I have to question your competency and, at the very worst, I have to question your intentions.<br />
<br />
There are actual threats against our sacred domestic sovereignty. There is a very real threat of another country having committed several serious violations of cyber espionage against John Podesta and the DNC. Are you on that? Because I guarantee you, if they did a poll today, more people would want to see banner headlines telling us exactly what is going down with counter espionage in the cyber world. Tell us who the bad guys are. Tell us how you caught them. Did you catch them yet? I bet Putin would have taken care of anyone who hacked him like we’ve been hacked by now if it had happened to him, sir. Just sayin. Where are we on that? I bet if Hillary were in charge, they would be hunted down, like with Bin Laden. I can’t even imagine what hell would have been unleashed the minute it happened to Trump.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, we would all prefer that over hearing about you basically just combing over all of the Secretary’s correspondence repeatedly for no reason. Her Server still hasn’t been hacked. But Podesta’s emails were. Where’s your memo on that?<br />
<br />
Your former First Lady and Secretary of State has been threatened repeatedly by her opponent with suggestions that others do her bodily harm. Where is that investigation? Where are we on that? Where are your updates to the public in the rise of “hate crimes” since Trump mounted the pulpit? That would seem like a real bonified justifiable threat. A rise in “hate crimes.” But you have been silent on the issue. People actually have been attacked and burned nationwide, and quite often in the name of Trump. Are you aware of that? Has your staff made you aware of any of those stories? Or just that they are still on the Weiner’s dick pics case? And then you agreed you could six degrees of separation this bitch and got to it.<br />
<br />
Some people are saying that choosing to classify that memo as CLASSIFIED would have easily still soothed your conscience with Congress and preserved the integrity of our elections. Instead, you chose to sway the election, sir. There are those who have already said that isn’t worthy of your office and say you really should think about resigning, NOW. Perhaps you might want to start shredding now because once these investigations get going they have a way of spreading into everyone’s emails. <br />
<br />
Perhaps you would like to plead innocent of the long-standing statutes and history of outlawing public statements by an official such as yourself of the kind you made before an election. Surely you must know those actions are going to be questioned and looked into? Well, apparently, yes you do because while you were sending that now historically incompetent email to Republican members of Congress, the Friday before an election, at the same time you messaged your entire staff at the FBI to let them know that you expected it to be misinterpreted.<br />
<br />
You had the option of telling those members of Congress that you’d been briefed about something, sure, but you also had an obligation not to yell fire in a crowded theatre when there was no fire. That was more than reckless. That was dangerously reckless. Then your own staffed leaked your internal memo showing you were aware your Congressional memo would be fodder for one political Party, in essence, proving you were aware you were committing legal slander. Very clever legal slander.<br />
<br />
You, sir, should be encouraged to step down as the Director of the FBI. The American Public can never trust you now. This is textbook. There was no smoking gun and no lives at risk. There was every reason to know this would be used as kindling to light some torches of feverish hate - just like your loose lips sideshow at the hearing. We know you are not an idiot, or you wouldn’t be leader of the F.B.I. We know you are not a boob. We know you weigh every single word you say, and when and how you say it. You could have easily sent your “update” in a way that did not create a political bombshell, in the very top secret/classified way we-the-people would expect noninformation like this to go out, but you didn’t, did you, sir?<br />
<br />
Where was the ticking clock? Just askin’.The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-54419830055933195832016-10-23T02:28:00.004-04:002016-10-23T02:37:35.450-04:00Ocassional Repost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J1ary0s9NogQ7PzUCRrLzb9__1mOWbLJ3cKNYBeL9HR1hZ-q0rg0r1MjZ08QqfgdyzRkMZJ14svbXRtIk6b9krr1IW0IdKeuz66_VLaf01JkYgXHSprtbjsSfbhAO-iFcE5IrvgKd74/s1600/Vote+Blue+Eye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J1ary0s9NogQ7PzUCRrLzb9__1mOWbLJ3cKNYBeL9HR1hZ-q0rg0r1MjZ08QqfgdyzRkMZJ14svbXRtIk6b9krr1IW0IdKeuz66_VLaf01JkYgXHSprtbjsSfbhAO-iFcE5IrvgKd74/s320/Vote+Blue+Eye.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes we like to repost blogs of friends. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here's a post from a fellow American activist, our friend, Mike Page.<br />
----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The only way I, as one person, know how to voice my displeasure at what the GOP has been doing since election night 2008, is to VOTE AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY in every election until my dying breath.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am a former Republican and a military veteran. My voting record, since I could first vote, went to Bush Sr (’88 and ’92), Dole (’96), Bush Jr (’00 and ’04) and Obama (’08 and ’12). Yet, over the past eight years, my eyes have been opened to the obstructionist, RACIST, presidential disrespectfulness, big business-over-people-supporting, 1%-pandering, corporate welfare-giving, social security-cutting, climate change-denying, war mongering, foreign policy-sabotaging (think Iran <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/47traitors?hc_location=ufi">#47Traitors</a> letter), military veteran-patronizing, national infrastructure non-funding, xenophobia-inciting, SCOTUS Appointee-blocking, Planned Parenthood-defunding, immigrant maligning, ARROGANCE, environmental catastrophe-inviting (think Keystone XL pipeline and EPA shuddering), union-busting, rich-getting-richer-while-poor-get-poorer-ensuring, refugee-bashing, presidential patriotism-questioning, NRA-ingratiating, income inequality-encouraging, human rights-preventing, ELITIST, war on women-perpetuating, HYPOCRITICAL, Jesus’ word-changing, sensible gun law-blocking, middle class-erasing, sacred land-selling, public land-drilling, PRIVATIZING, student loan lower interest rate-rejecting, Medicaid expansion-refusing, Equal Rights-dismissing, minimum wage hike-fighting, GREED-filled, equal pay-denying, path to citizenship-opposing, SCOTUS ruling-ignoring, gerrymandering, HATE-filled, vote suppressing, environmental deregulating, "Citizens United" supporting (think GOP-controlled SCOTUS), Koch-indebted, WHINING-because-you-didn’t-get-your-way, BIGOTRY, poor-and-less-fortunate-bashing, birther and fake scandal-creating (think also BENGHAZI, Hillary’s E-mails), presidential daughter-attacking, 60+time Obamacare-repealing (and failing), LYING, executive appointment-blocking, Peace Deal-threatening, jobs bill-ignoring, FAUX News-supporting, presidential suing at taxpayer expense, TRUMP-creating, TRUMP-supporting, TRUMP-endorsing, TRUMP-excusing, TRUMP-shackled, propagandizing, government closing and do-nothing positive GOP party that has been wreaking havoc since Obama took office.....and all this cloaked as the one true “religious,” “patriotic,” and "conservative" party and yet, contrary to the will of the American voter in two presidential elections!<br />
<br />
While I don't agree with, nor support, all of Obama's policies, beliefs or actions, I give him credit for trying to do something to help everyday Americans struggling with day-to-day life issues which is more than I can say of the GOP party and leadership who made it their pledge, upon Obama's first election, to stop him from doing virtually anything during his presidency. Remember, it was Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who, instead of encouraging a bipartisan effort with the then-new president, is quoted as saying, "The single most important thing we [the GOP] want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." Additionally, a Time magazine article outlined: “If he [Obama] was for it,” former [Republican] Ohio Senator George Voinovich explained, “we had to be against it."<br />
<br />
<br />
McConnell and his henchmen failed in keeping Obama limited to one term but, even with this loss, he and his colleagues in the GOP have kept their second promise. They have done absolutely NOTHING to help the struggling American economy nor it's struggling people in well over seven and a half years and we pay them millions in salary and benefits for their inadequacy and lack of work product! The rest of us would have been fired long ago if we produced absolutely zero for those who pay our salaries! <br />
<br />
It is just remarkable what this president has accomplished, what with the obsessive obstacles purposefully thrown in his path. Imagine what could have been accomplished if those elected, on the Right, actually worked with this president and not become the Party of HATE!<br />
<br />
I'm no huge fan of Hillary, and yet, between these two candidates, she is light years ahead of what Trump offers in virtually every category. She will get my vote in November as voting for any other candidate is a vote for Trump. I could really care less is if you don't agree with me, so save your breath, and your hate. Trump is lying to everyone and he is going to do nothing but destroy America from within. ALL evidence, over three-plus decades of news reports, show that Trump is out for himself. He doesn't give a damn about the average citizen, despite anything he might say. <br />
<br />
It’s past time to change the game plan and start benching the Republican party. They should not be rewarded with any vote for the incessant, intentional, obstruction of the last eight years. Please vote BLUE down the entire ballot on November 8th. Progress depends upon this. I am so done with these haters!<br />
<br />
Don't just agree with me - Please VOTE every single time and encourage likeminded family and friends to do the same. NOTHING changes if we remain apathetic to voting!<br />
<br />
------------<br />
<br />
NOTE: Many on the Right, after seeing this essay have accused me of lying about my veteran status, or of ever having been a Republican in the first place. I welcome the challenge as to the first accusation. Please report me for "stolen valor." I am who I say I am. As for the second allegation, well, blind allegiances are just not my thing which is why, I believe, I was born with eyes, ears, and a brain. Plus, I'm not a white nationalist, so I likely wouldn't fit in with the Trump crowd. For those who quickly dismiss this essay with “TL;DR” (too long, didn’t read), maybe you should take some time to read this as it affects YOU also.</div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-70250583968242707462016-10-23T02:28:00.003-04:002016-10-23T02:33:46.764-04:00Ocassional Repost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J1ary0s9NogQ7PzUCRrLzb9__1mOWbLJ3cKNYBeL9HR1hZ-q0rg0r1MjZ08QqfgdyzRkMZJ14svbXRtIk6b9krr1IW0IdKeuz66_VLaf01JkYgXHSprtbjsSfbhAO-iFcE5IrvgKd74/s1600/Vote+Blue+Eye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J1ary0s9NogQ7PzUCRrLzb9__1mOWbLJ3cKNYBeL9HR1hZ-q0rg0r1MjZ08QqfgdyzRkMZJ14svbXRtIk6b9krr1IW0IdKeuz66_VLaf01JkYgXHSprtbjsSfbhAO-iFcE5IrvgKd74/s320/Vote+Blue+Eye.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes we like to repost blogs of friends. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here's a post from a fellow activist American, our friend, Mike Page.<br />
----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The only way I, as one person, know how to voice my displeasure at what the GOP has been doing since election night 2008, is to VOTE AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY in every election until my dying breath.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am a former Republican and a military veteran. My voting record, since I could first vote, went to Bush Sr (’88 and ’92), Dole (’96), Bush Jr (’00 and ’04) and Obama (’08 and ’12). Yet, over the past eight years, my eyes have been opened to the obstructionist, RACIST, presidential disrespectfulness, big business-over-people-supporting, 1%-pandering, corporate welfare-giving, social security-cutting, climate change-denying, war mongering, foreign policy-sabotaging (think Iran <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/47traitors?hc_location=ufi">#47Traitors</a> letter), military veteran-patronizing, national infrastructure non-funding, xenophobia-inciting, SCOTUS Appointee-blocking, Planned Parenthood-defunding, immigrant maligning, ARROGANCE, environmental catastrophe-inviting (think Keystone XL pipeline and EPA shuddering), union-busting, rich-getting-richer-while-poor-get-poorer-ensuring, refugee-bashing, presidential patriotism-questioning, NRA-ingratiating, income inequality-encouraging, human rights-preventing, ELITIST, war on women-perpetuating, HYPOCRITICAL, Jesus’ word-changing, sensible gun law-blocking, middle class-erasing, sacred land-selling, public land-drilling, PRIVATIZING, student loan lower interest rate-rejecting, Medicaid expansion-refusing, Equal Rights-dismissing, minimum wage hike-fighting, GREED-filled, equal pay-denying, path to citizenship-opposing, SCOTUS ruling-ignoring, gerrymandering, HATE-filled, vote suppressing, environmental deregulating, "Citizens United" supporting (think GOP-controlled SCOTUS), Koch-indebted, WHINING-because-you-didn’t-get-your-way, BIGOTRY, poor-and-less-fortunate-bashing, birther and fake scandal-creating (think also BENGHAZI, Hillary’s E-mails), presidential daughter-attacking, 60+time Obamacare-repealing (and failing), LYING, executive appointment-blocking, Peace Deal-threatening, jobs bill-ignoring, FAUX News-supporting, presidential suing at taxpayer expense, TRUMP-creating, TRUMP-supporting, TRUMP-endorsing, TRUMP-excusing, TRUMP-shackled, propagandizing, government closing and do-nothing positive GOP party that has been wreaking havoc since Obama took office.....and all this cloaked as the one true “religious,” “patriotic,” and "conservative" party and yet, contrary to the will of the American voter in two presidential elections!<br />
<br />
While I don't agree with, nor support, all of Obama's policies, beliefs or actions, I give him credit for trying to do something to help everyday Americans struggling with day-to-day life issues which is more than I can say of the GOP party and leadership who made it their pledge, upon Obama's first election, to stop him from doing virtually anything during his presidency. Remember, it was Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who, instead of encouraging a bipartisan effort with the then-new president, is quoted as saying, "The single most important thing we [the GOP] want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." Additionally, a Time magazine article outlined: “If he [Obama] was for it,” former [Republican] Ohio Senator George Voinovich explained, “we had to be against it."<br />
<br />
<br />
McConnell and his henchmen failed in keeping Obama limited to one term but, even with this loss, he and his colleagues in the GOP have kept their second promise. They have done absolutely NOTHING to help the struggling American economy nor it's struggling people in well over seven and a half years and we pay them millions in salary and benefits for their inadequacy and lack of work product! The rest of us would have been fired long ago if we produced absolutely zero for those who pay our salaries! <br />
<br />
It is just remarkable what this president has accomplished, what with the obsessive obstacles purposefully thrown in his path. Imagine what could have been accomplished if those elected, on the Right, actually worked with this president and not become the Party of HATE!<br />
<br />
I'm no huge fan of Hillary, and yet, between these two candidates, she is light years ahead of what Trump offers in virtually every category. She will get my vote in November as voting for any other candidate is a vote for Trump. I could really care less is if you don't agree with me, so save your breath, and your hate. Trump is lying to everyone and he is going to do nothing but destroy America from within. ALL evidence, over three-plus decades of news reports, show that Trump is out for himself. He doesn't give a damn about the average citizen, despite anything he might say. <br />
<br />
It’s past time to change the game plan and start benching the Republican party. They should not be rewarded with any vote for the incessant, intentional, obstruction of the last eight years. Please vote BLUE down the entire ballot on November 8th. Progress depends upon this. I am so done with these haters!<br />
<br />
Don't just agree with me - Please VOTE every single time and encourage likeminded family and friends to do the same. NOTHING changes if we remain apathetic to voting!<br />
<br />
------------<br />
<br />
NOTE: Many on the Right, after seeing this essay have accused me of lying about my veteran status, or of ever having been a Republican in the first place. I welcome the challenge as to the first accusation. Please report me for "stolen valor." I am who I say I am. As for the second allegation, well, blind allegiances are just not my thing which is why, I believe, I was born with eyes, ears, and a brain. Plus, I'm not a white nationalist, so I likely wouldn't fit in with the Trump crowd. For those who quickly dismiss this essay with “TL;DR” (too long, didn’t read), maybe you should take some time to read this as it affects YOU also.</div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-58749143980682352292016-10-23T02:28:00.002-04:002016-10-23T02:32:04.789-04:00The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-50110603555106579022016-10-23T02:28:00.000-04:002016-10-23T02:32:40.737-04:00Ocassional Repost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J1ary0s9NogQ7PzUCRrLzb9__1mOWbLJ3cKNYBeL9HR1hZ-q0rg0r1MjZ08QqfgdyzRkMZJ14svbXRtIk6b9krr1IW0IdKeuz66_VLaf01JkYgXHSprtbjsSfbhAO-iFcE5IrvgKd74/s1600/Vote+Blue+Eye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J1ary0s9NogQ7PzUCRrLzb9__1mOWbLJ3cKNYBeL9HR1hZ-q0rg0r1MjZ08QqfgdyzRkMZJ14svbXRtIk6b9krr1IW0IdKeuz66_VLaf01JkYgXHSprtbjsSfbhAO-iFcE5IrvgKd74/s320/Vote+Blue+Eye.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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Sometimes we like to repost blogs of friends. </div>
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So here's a post from a fellow activist American, our friend, Mike Page.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>The only way I, as one person, know how to voice my displeasure at what the GOP has been doing since election night 2008, is to VOTE AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY in every election until my dying breath.<br />
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I am a former Republican and a military veteran. My voting record, since I could first vote, went to Bush Sr (’88 and ’92), Dole (’96), Bush Jr (’00 and ’04) and Obama (’08 and ’12). Yet, over the past eight years, my eyes have been opened to the obstructionist, RACIST, presidential disrespectfulness, big business-over-people-supporting, 1%-pandering, corporate welfare-giving, social security-cutting, climate change-denying, war mongering, foreign policy-sabotaging (think Iran <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/47traitors?hc_location=ufi">#47Traitors</a> letter), military veteran-patronizing, national infrastructure non-funding, xenophobia-inciting, SCOTUS Appointee-blocking, Planned Parenthood-defunding, immigrant maligning, ARROGANCE, environmental catastrophe-inviting (think Keystone XL pipeline and EPA shuddering), union-busting, rich-getting-richer-while-poor-get-poorer-ensuring, refugee-bashing, presidential patriotism-questioning, NRA-ingratiating, income inequality-encouraging, human rights-preventing, ELITIST, war on women-perpetuating, HYPOCRITICAL, Jesus’ word-changing, sensible gun law-blocking, middle class-erasing, sacred land-selling, public land-drilling, PRIVATIZING, student loan lower interest rate-rejecting, Medicaid expansion-refusing, Equal Rights-dismissing, minimum wage hike-fighting, GREED-filled, equal pay-denying, path to citizenship-opposing, SCOTUS ruling-ignoring, gerrymandering, HATE-filled, vote suppressing, environmental deregulating, "Citizens United" supporting (think GOP-controlled SCOTUS), Koch-indebted, WHINING-because-you-didn’t-get-your-way, BIGOTRY, poor-and-less-fortunate-bashing, birther and fake scandal-creating (think also BENGHAZI, Hillary’s E-mails), presidential daughter-attacking, 60+time Obamacare-repealing (and failing), LYING, executive appointment-blocking, Peace Deal-threatening, jobs bill-ignoring, FAUX News-supporting, presidential suing at taxpayer expense, TRUMP-creating, TRUMP-supporting, TRUMP-endorsing, TRUMP-excusing, TRUMP-shackled, propagandizing, government closing and do-nothing positive GOP party that has been wreaking havoc since Obama took office.....and all this cloaked as the one true “religious,” “patriotic,” and "conservative" party and yet, contrary to the will of the American voter in two presidential elections!<br />
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While I don't agree with, nor support, all of Obama's policies, beliefs or actions, I give him credit for trying to do something to help everyday Americans struggling with day-to-day life issues which is more than I can say of the GOP party and leadership who made it their pledge, upon Obama's first election, to stop him from doing virtually anything during his presidency. Remember, it was Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who, instead of encouraging a bipartisan effort with the then-new president, is quoted as saying, "The single most important thing we [the GOP] want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." Additionally, a Time magazine article outlined: “If he [Obama] was for it,” former [Republican] Ohio Senator George Voinovich explained, “we had to be against it."<br />
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McConnell and his henchmen failed in keeping Obama limited to one term but, even with this loss, he and his colleagues in the GOP have kept their second promise. They have done absolutely NOTHING to help the struggling American economy nor it's struggling people in well over seven and a half years and we pay them millions in salary and benefits for their inadequacy and lack of work product! The rest of us would have been fired long ago if we produced absolutely zero for those who pay our salaries! <br />
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It is just remarkable what this president has accomplished, what with the obsessive obstacles purposefully thrown in his path. Imagine what could have been accomplished if those elected, on the Right, actually worked with this president and not become the Party of HATE!<br />
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I'm no huge fan of Hillary, and yet, between these two candidates, she is light years ahead of what Trump offers in virtually every category. She will get my vote in November as voting for any other candidate is a vote for Trump. I could really care less is if you don't agree with me, so save your breath, and your hate. Trump is lying to everyone and he is going to do nothing but destroy America from within. ALL evidence, over three-plus decades of news reports, show that Trump is out for himself. He doesn't give a damn about the average citizen, despite anything he might say. <br />
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It’s past time to change the game plan and start benching the Republican party. They should not be rewarded with any vote for the incessant, intentional, obstruction of the last eight years. Please vote BLUE down the entire ballot on November 8th. Progress depends upon this. I am so done with these haters!<br />
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Don't just agree with me - Please VOTE every single time and encourage likeminded family and friends to do the same. NOTHING changes if we remain apathetic to voting!<br />
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NOTE: Many on the Right, after seeing this essay have accused me of lying about my veteran status, or of ever having been a Republican in the first place. I welcome the challenge as to the first accusation. Please report me for "stolen valor." I am who I say I am. As for the second allegation, well, blind allegiances are just not my thing which is why, I believe, I was born with eyes, ears, and a brain. Plus, I'm not a white nationalist, so I likely wouldn't fit in with the Trump crowd. For those who quickly dismiss this essay with “TL;DR” (too long, didn’t read), maybe you should take some time to read this as it affects YOU also.</div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-89178568479758289302016-10-07T20:15:00.002-04:002016-10-07T20:16:34.942-04:00Can You Still Register To Vote?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkj6RJZcS2-bpP7K7JFMnfqOJXv1SSVvGCv8zZ6Z1Yv5TVDteXaP6huXtNvLlrTcsojFseAM1_wsalAelDz5tfXs8vdeq3PWWKfk1Br9fA5hM2URJGySJpJVaHTdinwixAtSTPgmvmcs/s1600/Registration.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkj6RJZcS2-bpP7K7JFMnfqOJXv1SSVvGCv8zZ6Z1Yv5TVDteXaP6huXtNvLlrTcsojFseAM1_wsalAelDz5tfXs8vdeq3PWWKfk1Br9fA5hM2URJGySJpJVaHTdinwixAtSTPgmvmcs/s1600/Registration.JPG" /></a></div>
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In case you think it is too late to register to vote this November, you might want to review the list below. And please tell your friends, share liberally, spread the word. There is no room for mistakes this time around. If you are not registered, get registered. If anyone you know is still not registered, get them registered. <br />
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In some states, these dates refer to the date your registration packet needs to be postmarked. You can get registration packets to vote at your local post office. In some states, these dates refer to the date your state needs to have received your registration packet. You'll have to check with your local post office for which is true in your area. The best news is that online registration is available in most states. Check the list below for the details of how they do it in your state. Whatever the option is, we have provided links for each state to make it easier.<br />
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<b>Alabama by October 24th <a href="https://www.alabamavotes.gov/olvr/default.aspx">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need an Alabama driver’s license or non-driver's ID card to register online. You could also pick up a voter registration form at your local <a href="https://www.alabamavotes.gov/vb/borjop1.aspx">county board of registrars</a>.<br />
<a href="https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/VoterView/RegistrantSearch.do" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Alabama</a><br />
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<b><br />Alaska by October 9th <a href="https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a valid Alaska driver’s license or state ID card to register online. You can also pick up the voter registration form at your <a href="https://www.elections.alaska.gov/csm_contact_reo.php">regional elections office</a>, an Alaska Division of Motor Vehicle office, and participating public libraries. If you chose to register in person you need return the form by Oct 9 to your <a href="https://www.elections.alaska.gov/csm_contact_reo.php">regional elections office</a> or other government office where you picked up the form.<br />
<a href="https://myvoterinformation.alaska.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Alaska</a></div>
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<b><br />Arizona by October 10th <a href="https://servicearizona.com/webapp/evoter/selectLanguage">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need an Arizona driver’s license or non-driver's ID card to register online. You can also pick up the voter registration form at your local <a href="http://www.azsos.gov/elections/voting-election/contact-information-county-election-officials">county recorder</a> and return it there as well.<br />
<a href="http://voter.azsos.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Arizona</a></div>
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<b>Arkansas by October 9th </b><a href="http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/ArkansasVoterRegistrationApplication.pdf" style="font-weight: bold;">click here to get the right form to print and send in</a><br />
Download and print the Arkansas voter registration form. You can also get a voter registration form in person at your local <a href="http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/Revised%20County%20Clerks%20List.pdf">county clerk</a> or at one of the following locations. Be sure to return your voter registration form by Oct 9th at your local <a href="http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/Revised%20County%20Clerks%20List.pdf">county clerk</a> or other government office where you picked up the voter registration form.<br />
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<li>State Revenue Office or Driver Services Office </li>
<li>Public library or Arkansas State Library </li>
<li>Public assistance agency </li>
<li>Disability agency </li>
<li>Military recruitment office </li>
<li>Arkansas National Guard </li>
</ul>
<a href="http://voterview.ar-nova.org/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Arkansas</a></div>
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<b>California by October 24th <a href="http://registertovote.ca.gov/">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your CA driver’s license or CA ID card number, or last 4 digits of your Social Security number to register online. You can also pck up the form in person at your <a href="http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/">county elections office</a>, any DMV, and many post offices, public libraries, and other government offices.<br />
<a href="http://sos.ca.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in California</a></div>
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<b>Colorado by October 31<a href="https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/olvr/verifyNewVoter.xhtml"> click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a Colorado state driver’s license or ID card issued by the Department of Revenue to register online. Voter registration forms are also available at your <a href="https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Resources/CountyElectionOffices.html">County Clerk and Recorder</a> or at other locations such as the DMV, offices that provide public assistance, and Armed Forces recruitment offices. According to google, in-person voter registration is also available at voter service and polling centers from Oct 28 through Election Day, Nov 8.<br />
<a href="http://sos.state.co.us/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Colorado</a></div>
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<b>Connecticut by November 1 <a href="https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a current driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo ID card issued by the DMV, and a signature on file with DMV. You can also get the form from your <a href="http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/lists/ROVOfficeAddresses.pdf">local registrar's office</a>, a public assistance office, public library, or any office that primarily provides services to persons with disabilities. If you chose to do this with paper, and not register online, your completed form must be postmarked or received by Nov 1 by your <a href="http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/lists/ROVOfficeAddresses.pdf">local registrar's office</a>, a public assistance office, public library, or any office that primarily provides services to persons with disabilities.<br />
<a href="http://dir.ct.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Connecticut</a></div>
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<b>Delaware by October 15th <a href="https://ivote.de.gov/default.aspx">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a Delaware driver’s license number or Delaware ID number. If you don't have one, you'll need your Social Security number to register online. You can also go in person and get the form at your local <a href="http://elections.delaware.gov/locations.shtml">Department of Elections</a>, DMV offices (when you apply for, renew, or update your Driver’s License or State ID), State Service Centers such as the Department of Health and Social Services, and many other government offices.<br />
<a href="http://ivote.de.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Delaware</a></div>
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<b>DC by October 11th <a href="https://www.vote4dc.com/RegisterApply/VoterBasicInfo">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your DMV issued ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number to register online. You can also get the form in person at your DC Board of Elections or at other city agencies, like the DMV and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. You the need to return that form to any of the above agencies by Oct 11, or at your <a href="https://www.vote4dc.com/SearchElection/SearchByAddress">early voting location</a> between Oct 29 and Nov 5. You can also return your registration form in person at the DC Board of Elections by Nov 7 or at your polling place on Nov 8. If you are doing this in person you'll have to provide one of the following documents with your name and address:<br />
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<li>Government-issued photo ID </li>
<li>Current utility bill </li>
<li>Bank statement </li>
<li>Government check </li>
<li>Paycheck </li>
</ul>
<a href="http://dcboee.org/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in DC</a></div>
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<b>Florida by October 11th <a href="http://dos.myflorida.com/media/693757/dsde39.pdf">click here to download and print registration form</a></b><br />
Florida doesn't have online registration. You need to download and print the voter registration form. Your completed application must be returned in person by Oct 11 to any <a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/supervisors/">County Supervisor of Elections</a>, any Florida driver’s license office or tax collector’s office that issues driver’s licenses and/or Florida ID cards, any “voter registration agency” where you get services, any office that primarily serves persons with disabilities, any military recruitment office, or any public library.<br />
<a href="http://registration.elections.myflorida.com/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Florida</a></div>
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<b>Georgia by October 11th <a href="https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/welcome.do#no-back-button">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a Georgia driver’s license or state-issued ID card, with a signature on file with the GA Department of Driver Services (DDS) to register online. You can also get the voter registration form in person by going to your local <a href="http://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/countyregistrarsindex.asp">county board of registrar's office</a> or election office, or any state or governmental office such as a public library, public school, county or municipal clerk’s office, and government revenue office.<br />
<a href="http://mvp.sos.ga.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Georgia</a></div>
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<b>Hawaii by October 10th <a href="https://olvr.hawaii.gov/">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a Hawaii Driver’s license (or State ID) and Social Security number to register online. You can also pick it up at the Hawaii Office of Elections, <a href="http://elections.hawaii.gov/resources/county-election-divisions/">County Clerk's Offices</a>, state libraries, US post offices, state agencies, or satellite city halls, but you must return it Your completed form must be returned in person by Oct 10 to your <a href="http://elections.hawaii.gov/resources/county-election-divisions/">County Clerk's Office</a>.<br />
Call <a href="tel:808-453-8683">(808) 453-VOTE (8683)</a> to see if you are already registered to vote in Hawaii</div>
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<b>Idaho by October 14th <a href="http://www.idahovotes.gov/VoterReg/voter_registration.pdf">click here to get downloadable form and print</a></b><br />
Idaho doesn't have online registration. You need to download and print the Idaho state voter registration form. If you need to or decide to do this in person, you can get the voter registration form at your <a href="http://www.idahovotes.gov/clerk.shtml">county clerk’s office</a>. You then will have to make sure you submit your completed form by Oct 14 to your <a href="http://www.idahovotes.gov/clerk.shtml">county clerk’s office</a>. You can also register at your early vote location between Oct 24 and Nov 4, or to your polling place on Election Day, Nov 8. For all of these in person actions, you’ll need to provide one of the following IDs: <br />
<ul>
<li>Idaho driver’s license </li>
<li>Idaho state ID card </li>
<li>Any document with your current address along with another ID that has your photo </li>
<li>Current, valid student photo ID card from a postsecondary school in Idaho and a current fee statement with your valid address </li>
</ul>
<a href="http://idahovotes.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Idaho</a></div>
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<b>Illinois by October 11th <a href="https://www.elections.il.gov/downloads/votinginformation/pdf/r-19.pdf">click here to get downloadable form and print</a></b><br />
You need to download and print the Illinois state voter registration form and mail it in. You can also pick up a voter registration form at your State Board of Elections’ office, <a href="http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionAuthorities/ElecAuthorityList.aspx">County Clerk’s office</a>, or <a href="http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionAuthorities/ElecAuthorityList.aspx">Board of Election Commissioner’s office</a>. Either way you must return the form by Oct 11 to the State Board of Elections, the <a href="http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionAuthorities/ElecAuthorityList.aspx">County Clerk’s office</a>, or the <a href="http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionAuthorities/ElecAuthorityList.aspx">Board of Election Commissioner’s office</a>. If you miss the deadline, contact your County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners to see where you can register in person through Nov 8.<br />
<a href="http://elections.il.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Illinois</a></div>
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<b>Indiana by October 11th <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjl2IHJwcnPAhWBQCYKHYQLBxEQvcMBCBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.in.gov%2FDownload.aspx%3Fid%3D9341&usg=AFQjCNGlG2EGOlhjA6As9v6xH1Gr8JNL3w&sig2=PxXQlSf7krpmpAyLdXbSsQ&bvm=bv.135258522,d.eWE">click to get downloadable form & print</a> - it downloads automatically</b><br />
You need to download and print the Indiana state voter registration form and mail it in. You can also pick up a voter registration form at the Indiana Election Division, your <a href="https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/Public/FT1/PublicContactLookup.aspx">County Voter Registration office</a>, Bureau of Motor Vehicle license branch, Public Assistance office, or local public library. Your completed form must be returned by Oct 11 to your <a href="https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/Public/FT1/PublicContactLookup.aspx">county voter registration office</a>.<br />
<a href="http://indianavoters.in.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Indiana</a></div>
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<b>Iowa by October 24th </b><a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/voteapp.pdf" style="font-weight: bold;">c</a><a href="https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fVoterRegistration" style="font-weight: bold;">lick here to register online</a><br />
You'll need your Iowa driver’s license or non-operator’s ID and birthday to register online. You can also do it in person: Before Oct 29 · Pick up the form at your <a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/preregister.html">county auditor</a>, a Motor Vehicle driver’s license station, or a County Treasurers’ office that issues driver’s licenses. From now through Nov 7 you can fill out the form the form at your early voting location. On election day you can fill out the form at your voting location. If you’re registering in person at your early vote location Sep 29–Nov 7, or at your voting location on Nov 8, you’ll need to bring one of the following: <br />
<ul>
<li>Iowa driver’s license </li>
<li>Iowa non-operator’s ID card </li>
<li>Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator’s ID card </li>
<li>US passport </li>
<li>US military ID card </li>
<li>ID card issued by an employer </li>
<li>Student ID card issued by an Iowa high school or an Iowa college </li>
</ul>
If the photo ID doesn’t have your current address in Iowa, you’ll also need another document that shows your name and current address:<br />
<ul>
<li>Residential lease </li>
<li>Property tax statement </li>
<li>Utility bill (including a cell phone bill) </li>
<li>Bank statement </li>
<li>Paycheck </li>
<li>Government check </li>
<li>Other government document </li>
</ul>
If you are not registering online, you will need to turn in your form by Oct 29 to your <a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/preregister.html">county auditor</a> or the other government office where you picked up the form. You can also fill out and return the form at your early voting location Sep 29–Nov 7, or at your Election Day voting location on Nov 8.<br />
<a href="http://sos.iowa.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Iowa</a></div>
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<b>Kansas by October 18th <a href="https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/VoterReg/Default.aspx">click here to register online</a></b></div>
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You'll need your Kansas driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card number to register online. If you're registering for the first time in Kansas, you'll also need to submit one of the following documents to prove your US citizenship (either by uploading a PDF of the document or submitting a copy by mail, fax, or emailing to the contact information on the website): </div>
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<ul>
<li>Birth certificate </li>
<li>US passport </li>
<li>US naturalization documents </li>
<li>Other proof of US citizenship issued by the federal government </li>
<li>Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number </li>
<li>Consular report of birth abroad of a US citizen </li>
<li>Certificate of citizenship from the US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services </li>
<li>Certification of report of birth from the US Department of State </li>
<li>American Indian card, with KIC classification, from the US Department of Homeland Security </li>
<li>Final adoption decree showing your name and US birthplace </li>
<li>Military record of service showing your place of birth in the US </li>
<li>Extract from a hospital record of birth created at the time of your birth that shows your place of birth in the US </li>
<li>A driver's license or non-driver's identification card only if the agency indicates on your driver's license or non-driver's ID card that you provided satisfactory proof of US citizenship </li>
</ul>
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If you don’t have proof of citizenship, you can still register to vote by using <a href="https://www.eac.gov/assets/1/Documents/Federal%20Voter%20Registration_6-25-14_ENG.pdf#page=4">this alternate form</a>.</div>
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You can also do this in person in Kansas. You'll need to get the voter registration form at your <a href="http://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/elections_registration_ceo.asp" target="_blank">county elections office</a> and your completed form must be returned to your <a href="http://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/elections_registration_ceo.asp" target="_blank">County Elections office</a> by Oct 18.</div>
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<a href="http://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Kansas</a></div>
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<b>Kentucky by October 11th 4 p.m. <a href="https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Kentucky driver’s license or personal ID card number, and your Social Security number to register online. You can also get the voter registration form in person at your <a href="http://elect.ky.gov/contactcountyclerks/Pages/default.aspx">county clerk’s office</a> but you must submit your completed form by Oct 11 to your <a href="http://elect.ky.gov/contactcountyclerks/Pages/default.aspx">county clerk’s office</a>.<br />
<a href="http://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Kentucky</a></div>
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<b>Louisiana by October 11th <a href="http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/OnlineVoterRegistration.aspx">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Louisiana driver's license or special ID card number, and a residential address in Louisiana to register online. You can also get the voter registration form in person at the following locations:<br />
<ul>
<li>Any <a href="https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Registrar" target="_blank">Registrar of Voters office</a></li>
<li>Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles</li>
<li>Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services</li>
<li>Any Louisiana public assistance agency that administers or provides services under the food stamp, Medicaid, WIC, FITAP programs</li>
<li>Offices serving persons with disabilities (e.g., Deaf Action Centers and Independent Living Offices)</li>
<li>Military recruitment offices</li>
</ul>
You need to return a completed registration form no later than October 11th.<br />
<a href="http://voterportal.sos.la.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered Louisiana</a></div>
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<b>Maine by October 18th <a href="http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/data/voterregcard2016.pdf">click here to get downloadable form and print</a></b><br />
You need to download and print the Maine state voter registration form and mail it in. You can also pick up and return a form in person, but you will need to show proof of identity and residency when registering in person. To <u>prove identity</u> you can provide a:<br />
<ul>
<li>Government-issued photo ID</li>
<li>Current US passport</li>
<li>Military ID</li>
<li>Driver’s license</li>
<li>State ID</li>
<li>Certified birth certificate</li>
<li>Signed Social Security card</li>
<li>Document confirming eligibility for public benefits</li>
<li>Utility bill</li>
<li>Bank statement</li>
<li>Government check</li>
<li>Paycheck</li>
<li>Other government document that shows name and address</li>
</ul>
To <u>prove residency</u>, provide a document providing proof of your residential address. Examples include but not limited to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Maine Driver’s license or state ID card showing your current residential address</li>
<li>A current income tax return showing your current residential address</li>
<li>A piece of mail showing your current residential address</li>
<li>A current resident hunting or fishing license showing your current residential address</li>
<li>Proof of the receipt of any public benefit conditioned upon residency</li>
<li>Other items that are up to the discretion of individual registrars, including a residency oath that you can take...seriously.</li>
</ul>
Call <a href="tel:207-624-7650">(207) 624-7650</a> or your <a href="http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/munic.html">registrar</a> to check if you are already registered in Maine</div>
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<b>Maryland by October 18th </b><a href="https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1" target="_blank"><b>click here to register online</b></a><br />
You'll need your valid Maryland-issued state ID or driver’s license number to register online. You could also <a href="http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/documents/English_Internet_VRA.pdf">download and print</a> the Maryland state voter registration form and mail it in, or call the State Board of Elections (410-269-2840) to get a form, or contact your <a href="http://www.elections.state.md.us/about/county_boards.html">local board of election</a> to request an application. We recommend registering online. If you decide to do it by mail or in person, you will need to return the form by Oct 18. You can also register in person at an early voting center in your county from Oct 27-Nov 3. You'll need your your Maryland state driver’s license or an ID card, change of address card, paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address.<br />
<a href="http://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Maryland</a></div>
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<b>Massachusetts by October 19th <a href="https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Massachusetts driver’s license or state ID card and a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you want to do it by mail, you need to download and print the Massachusetts state voter registration form and mail your completed form by Oct 19 to your <a href="https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm">local election official</a>. Here's the link to the <a href="https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf">downloadable and printable form</a>. You can also get the voter registration form in person at the following locations:<br />
<ul>
<li>Any city or town clerk’s office</li>
<li>Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Election Division office</li>
<li>Registry of Motor Vehicles</li>
<li>Military recruitment offices</li>
<li>All state agencies that provide public assistance</li>
</ul>
You must return that completed form to those locations by Oct 19th but since your state does have online registration, you might want to take that easier route.</div>
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<a href="http://sec.state.ma.us/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Massachusetts</a></div>
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<b>Michigan by October 11th <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf">click here to get downloadable form and print</a></b><br />
You need to download and print the Michigan state voter registration form and mail it in. You could also pick up and deliver a completed form in person at the following locations:<br />
<ul>
<li>Your local Secretary of State branch office</li>
<li>Your local county, city, or township clerk’s office</li>
<li>Offices of several state agencies like the Department of Human Services, Department of Community Health, and Department of Labor and Economic Growth</li>
<li>Military recruitment centers </li>
</ul>
If you pick it up in person you still need to return the completed form by Oct 11 to your <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf" target="_blank">city or township clerk</a>.<br />
<a href="http://vote.michigan.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Michigan</a></div>
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<b>Minnesota October 18th <a href="https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationMain.aspx">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You will need your Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota identification card number to register online. If you don't have one of these, you may use the last four numbers of your Social Security number. You can also pick up the registration form at your <a href="http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/find-county-election-office/">county election office</a>. If you pick up a form in person, bear in mind you need to return your completed form in person by Oct 18 to your <a href="http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/find-county-election-office/" target="_blank">county election office</a> or the following address:<br />
<br />
Secretary of State<br />
60 Empire Drive<br />
Suite 100<br />
St. Paul, MN 55103<br />
<br />
You can also return the form on Election Day, Nov 8 at your voting location. If you register at your voting location you need to prove your residence using one of these options:<br />
<br />
<u>Option 1: Bring one of the following that is not expired and has your current address:</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Minnesota driver’s license</li>
<li>Minnesota learner’s permit</li>
<li>Minnesota state ID card</li>
<li>Tribal ID with name, address, photo and signature</li>
</ul>
<u>Option 2: Bring a photo ID</u> (expired or unexpired) plus a second document that has your current address. Accepted photo IDs include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Driver’s license, or ID issued by any state</li>
<li>Passport</li>
<li>Military or veteran ID</li>
<li>Minnesota university, college, or high school ID</li>
</ul>
Accepted documents with your current address include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Utility bill</li>
<li>Banking or credit card bill</li>
<li>Rent or mortgage bill</li>
<li>Residential lease</li>
<li>Current student fee statement</li>
</ul>
Option 3:<u> If you're on your college’s housing list</u>, show the election official your <u>student ID</u><br />
<a href="http://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Minnesota</a></div>
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<b>Mississippi by October 8th <a href="http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Documents/Voter_Registration.pdf" target="_blank">click here for link to registration form</a></b><br />
You have to mail in or drop off a registration form in Mississippi. If you don't have access to a printer, you can get a form in person at your <a href="http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/County-Election-Info.aspx" target="_blank">county election offic</a><a href="http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/County-Election-Info.aspx">e</a>. Your completed form must be submitted in person by Oct 8 at 12 PM to your <a href="http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/County-Election-Info.aspx">county election office</a>.</div>
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Call your <a href="http://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/Pages/County-Election-Info.aspx" target="_blank">county election office</a> to check if you are already registered in Mississippi</div>
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<b>Missouri by October 12th <a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/votemissouri/request">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Missouri driver’s license number, Social Security number, and birthday to register online. To register online you'll also need to check the box that indicates you're registering from a tablet, mobile device, or touchscreen device. You can also visit your <a href="http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/pickupmail" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a> to pick up an application in person, but you must return the completed from to your <a href="http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/pickupmail" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a> by Oct 12th.</div>
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<a href="http://s1.sos.mo.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Missouri</a></div>
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<b>Montana by October 11th <a href="http://sos.mt.gov/elections/Officials/Forms/documents/Voter-Registration-Application.pdf" target="_blank">click here to get downloadable form and print it</a></b><br />
If you are going to mail it in send your completed form by Oct 11th so it's received by Oct 14th at your <a href="http://sos.mt.gov/elections/forms/elections/electionadministrators.pdf" target="_blank">county election office</a>. You mail in date is soon approaching, but if you miss it, you can drop off a completed form at your <a href="http://sos.mt.gov/elections/forms/elections/electionadministrators.pdf" target="_blank">county election office</a> by Nov 7 (before noon). In Montana, you can also register at your polling place before voting on Election Day, Nov 8th.<br />
<a href="http://app.mt.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Montana</a></div>
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<b>Nebraska by October 21 <a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Nebraska driver’s license or state ID card to register online. You can also pick up the form from your <a href="http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/clerks.html" target="_blank">county election office</a> but be sure to return it there in person by Oct 28th. If you want to do it by mail, you can <a href="http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/pdf/vr.pdf" target="_blank">download the form here</a>, and then you have to mail it in by Oct 21 to your <a href="http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/clerks.html" target="_blank">county election office</a>. Since you have the option of registering online, we recommend you do it now.</div>
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<a href="http://votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Nebraska</a></div>
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<b>Nevada by October 18th <a href="https://nvsos.gov/sosvoterservices/Registration/step1.aspx" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b></div>
You'll need a Nevada driver’s license or ID card to register online. You can also pick up the form from your <a href="http://nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/county-clerk-contact-information" target="_blank">county election office</a>, but you must return it completed by Oct 18th to your <a href="http://nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/county-clerk-contact-information" target="_blank">county election office</a>. If you were going to mail it in, you had to do it by October 8th.<br />
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<a href="http://nvsos.gov/" target="_blank">Click here to see if you are already registered to vote in Nevada</a></div>
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<b>New Hampshire by November 8th</b></div>
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In New Hampshire you have to register in person but you can do it up to and including election day. You may only register by mail if you'll be temporarily absent or have a physical disability that prevents you from registering in person. If you fit that category, voter registration forms are available at your <a href="http://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/ClerkDetails.aspx" target="_blank">city or town clerk</a>, at your local Supervisors of the Checklist during specified meeting times, and at the polls on Election Day, Nov 8.</div>
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<a href="https://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/AbsenteeBallot.aspx" target="_blank">Click Here To See If You Are Registered Already in New Hampshire</a><br />
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<b>New Jersey by October 18th <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information.html" target="_blank">Click here to find and print your voter registration form</a></b></div>
In New Jersey you can only register by mail or in person. You will need to fill out and print a voter registration application form for your county or contact your <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html" target="_blank">County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections</a> to request one by mail. You then need to mail the form to your <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html" target="_blank">County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections</a> no later than Oct 18th. You can also get a form IN PERSON at your <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html" target="_blank">County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections</a> but must deliver the form in person to your <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html" target="_blank">County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections</a> by Oct 18.<br />
<a href="https://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/servlet/com.saber.publicaccess.control.PublicAccessNavigationServlet?USERPROCESS=PublicSearch" target="_blank">Click Here To See If You Are Registered Already in New Jersey</a><br />
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<b>New Mexico by October 11th <a href="https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/OVR/WebPages/InstructionsStep1.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1">click here to register online</a> </b><br />
You'll need your New Mexico driver’s license or state ID card number, Social Security number, and birthday. To register online, the address where you’re registering to vote needs to match the address on file with the state Motor Vehicle Division. You could also pick up the registration form at your <a href="http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Voter_Information/County_Clerk_Information.aspx" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a> or local Motor Vehicle Division office, but your completed form must be filled out, signed, and dated by Oct 11 and returned in person by Oct 14 to your <a href="http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Voter_Information/County_Clerk_Information.aspx" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a>.<br />
<a href="https://voterview.state.nm.us/VoterView/RegistrantSearch.do" target="_blank">Click Here To See If You Are Registered Already in New Mexico</a></div>
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<b>North Carolina by October 14th <a href="http://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Information/VR-Form" target="_blank">click here to download and print voter registration form</a></b></div>
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You can not register online in North Carolina. You need to download, print, and either mail, fax or drop off in person. You can also pick up voter registration forms in person at your <a href="http://enr.ncsbe.gov/cbesearch/" target="_blank">county board of elections</a>, Department of Motor Vehicles, Departments of Social Services, Departments of Public Health, or other offices that offer public assistance. However you get your form, you need to mail your completed form to your <a href="http://enr.ncsbe.gov/cbesearch/" target="_blank">county board of elections</a> postmarked no later than Oct 14th. If you fax you need to do so by 5 PM on Oct 14th. If you deliver the original to your county board of elections in person you need to do so by Oct 19th.</div>
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<a href="http://enr.ncsbe.gov/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in North Carolina</a></div>
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<b>North Dakota has no deadline </b><br />
You don't need to register to vote in North Dakota. Instead, make sure you meet all the voting requirements, and provide ID to vote on Election Day, Nov 8. Voting requirements in North Dakota:<br />
<ul>
<li>Be a US citizen</li>
<li>Be at least 18 years old on Election Day, Nov 8</li>
<li>Live at a North Dakota address by Oct 9</li>
<li>Not be in jail or prison for a felony conviction</li>
<li>Not be currently judged mentally incompetent by a court</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b>Ohio by October 11th <a href="http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/elections/forms/4010_Bilingual.pdf" target="_blank">click here for downloadable form and print</a></b></div>
<div>
You can not register online in Ohio, so print the form we have provided the link to. You can also pick up a form in person at your <a href="http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electionsofficials/boeDirectory.aspx" target="_blank">county board of elections</a>, any BMV office, any county treasurer’s office, or any public library. Your completed form must be mailed and postmarked by Oct 11th and sent to this address:<br />
<br />
Secretary of State of Ohio<br />
Elections Division<br />
180 E. Broad Street – 15th Floor<br />
Columbus, OH 43215<br />
<br />
For faster processing, mail it to your <a href="http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electionsofficials/boeDirectory.aspx">county board of elections</a>. Click that link to get the address for you specific county.</div>
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<a href="http://voterlookup.sos.state.oh.us/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Ohio</a></div>
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<b>Oklahoma by October 14th <a href="https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/Oklahoma%20Voter%20Registration%20Application%20form%20v4-20%20SEB%20web.pdf" target="_blank">click here to get downloadable form and print</a></b></div>
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You can not register online in Oklahoma. Your completed form must be postmarked by Oct 14th and mailed to this address:</div>
<div>
<br />
Oklahoma State Election Board<br />
P.O. Box 528800<br />
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8800</div>
<br />
If you like, you could pick up the registration form at your county board of elections in person at your local DMV office, any public library, or any post office, but if you are not mailing it you still need to return it in person by Oct 14 to your <a href="https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/cebinfo.pdf" target="_blank">county board of elections</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://ok.gov/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Oklahoma</a></div>
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<b>Oregon by October 18th <a href="https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/register.do" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need an Oregon driver's license or ID card to register online. You could also download and print the Oregon state voter registration form or call <a href="tel:503-986-1518">(503) 986-1518</a> to have one mailed to you. Your completed form must be postmarked by Oct 18th and mailed to your county election office at the address listed on <a href="http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/SEL500.pdf" target="_blank">page 2 of the form</a>. You could also pick up the registration form at your <a href="http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/countyofficials.aspx" target="_blank">county elections official</a>, any public library, or any post office and if you want to turn it in in person you have to do so by Oct 18 to your <a href="http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/countyofficials.aspx" target="_blank">county elections official</a>.<br />
<a href="http://secure.sos.state.or.us/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Oregon</a></div>
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<b>Pennsylvania by October 11th <a href="https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><a href="https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx"></a><br />
If you have one, have your Pennsylvania’s driver’s license or PennDOT ID available to reference as you complete the application online. You could also<a href="https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/documents/VoterApplication_English.pdf"> d</a><a href="https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/documents/VoterApplication_English.pdf">ow</a><a href="https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/documents/VoterApplication_English.pdf">nload and print the Pennsylvania state voter registration form</a>. Your completed form must be postmarked by Oct 11th and mailed to your <a href="http://www.votespa.com/en-us/voting-and-elections/be-prepared/Pages/County-Contact-Information.aspx" target="_blank">county voter registration office</a> at the address listed on the form or delivered in person to that same address. You can also pick up the registration form in person at your <a href="http://www.votespa.com/en-us/voting-and-elections/be-prepared/Pages/County-Contact-Information.aspx" target="_blank">county elections office</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://pavoterservices.state.pa.us/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Pennsylvania</a></div>
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<b>Rhode Island by October 9th <a href="https://vote.sos.ri.gov/" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Rhode Island driver's license or state ID number to register online. You can also pick up the registration form at your <a href="http://www.elections.state.ri.us/canvassers/index.php" target="_blank">local board of canvassers</a> but must return the form to one of those offices by October 9th, so we recommend your online option.<br />
<a href="http://sos.ri.gov/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Rhode Island</a> </div>
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<b><br />South Carolina by October 8th <a href="https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/ovr/start.aspx" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You’ll need your South Carolina driver’s license number or state ID card number to register online. If you’ve moved, you’ll need to <a href="https://www.scdmvonline.com/dmvpublic/trans/AddrChange.aspx">update your address</a> with the DMV before you can register to vote online. You can also pick up the registration form at your <a href="http://www.scvotes.org/how_to_register_absentee_voting" target="_blank">county voter registration office</a> but must return it completed by October 8th.<br />
<a href="http://info.scvotes.sc.gov/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in South Carol</a><a href="http://info.scvotes.sc.gov/" target="_blank">ina </a></div>
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<b><br />South Dakota by October 24th <a href="https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/VoterRegistrationFormFillable.pdf" target="_blank">click here to download and print registration form</a></b></div>
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You can not register online in South Dakota. You can pick up the form at your <a href="https://sdsos.gov/contact-us/county-auditors.aspx" target="_blank">county auditor’s office</a> or <a href="https://sdsos.gov/contact-us/municipal-finance-officers.aspx" target="_blank">municipal finance office</a> and must drop off your completed form by Oct 24 at the county auditor or other government office where you picked up the form. If you chose to mail it in, your completed form must still be received at your <a href="https://sdsos.gov/contact-us/county-auditors.aspx" target="_blank">county auditor’s office</a> by Oct 24.</div>
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<a href="http://sos.sd.gov/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in South Dakota </a></div>
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<b>Tennessee by October 11th <a href="http://sos-tn-gov-files.s3.amazonaws.com/forms/ss-3010.pdf" target="_blank">click</a><a href="http://sos-tn-gov-files.s3.amazonaws.com/forms/ss-3010.pdf"> here to download and print registration from</a></b><br />
You can not register online in Tennessee. You need to mail your completed form by Oct 11th to your <a href="http://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php" target="_blank">county election office</a> or drop it off in person by the same date.</div>
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<a href="http://tnmap.tn.gov/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Tennessee </a></div>
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<b><br />Texas by October 11th <a href="https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp" target="_blank">click here to download and print registration from</a></b></div>
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Surprise! You can not register to vote online in Texas. If you can't print the one we provided a link to, voter registration forms are available at your <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml" target="_blank">county voter registrar’s office</a> or at other locations such as libraries, government offices, or high schools. You need to mail the form,or drop it off in person, by Oct 11th to your <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml" target="_blank">county voter registrar’s office</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Texas </a></div>
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<b>Utah by October 9th <a href="https://secure.utah.gov/voterreg/index.html" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need your Utah driver’s license number or state ID card number to register online. The street address you list on the voter registration form must be the same as the address on your driver’s license or ID to register online. You could also <a href="https://elections.utah.gov/Media/Default/Forms/Utah%20Voter%20Registration%20Form.pdf" target="_blank">download the form, print,</a> and mail it or drop it off in person. If you chose to mail it in, your completed form must be mailed by Oct 9th to your <a href="https://elections.utah.gov/election-resources/county-clerks" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a>. You can also pick up the registration form at your <a href="https://elections.utah.gov/election-resources/county-clerks" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a> in person. If you miss the mailing deadline, you can deliver your completed form in person by Nov 1 to your <a href="https://elections.utah.gov/election-resources/county-clerks" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a>.<br />
<a href="http://vote.utah.gov/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Utah </a></div>
<br />
<b>Vermont by November 2nd <a href="https://olvr.sec.state.vt.us/" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need either a Vermont driver’s license, permit or DMV-issued personal ID number; or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number to register online. The registration deadline is Nov 2nd at 5:00 PM. You could also <a href="https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/33935/VTVoterApp.pdf">download and print the form</a> if you would like to mail it in or drop it off in person. If mailing, your completed form must be postmarked by Nov 2nd and you must mail the form to your <a href="https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/686155/townclerkguide.pdf" target="_blank">Town or City Clerk’s Office</a>. If you would simply like to pick up your registration form in person, you can get the form at your <a href="https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/686155/townclerkguide.pdf" target="_blank">Town or City Clerk’s Office</a> but must also return the form to your <a href="https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/686155/townclerkguide.pdf" target="_blank">Town or City Clerk’s Office</a> by Nov 2nd.</div>
<div>
<a href="http://mvp.sec.state.vt.us/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Vermont </a></div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Virginia by October 17th <a href="https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/Registration/Eligibility" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a Virginia driver’s license or special ID card, and a Social Security number to register online. You could also <a href="http://elections.virginia.gov/Files/Forms/VoterForms/VoterRegistrationApplication.pdf" target="_blank">download and print your voter registration from here</a>. Your completed form must be postmarked by Oct 17th to this address:<br />
<br />
Department of Elections<br />
1100 Bank Street, First Floor <br />
Richmond, VA 23219<br />
<br />
For faster processing, mail your form to your local <a href="https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup" target="_blank">Voter Registration Office</a>. If you want to do this all in person, you can pick one up at your local <a href="https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup" target="_blank">Voter Registration Office</a> or at other locations such as the DMV and Armed Forces recruitment offices and turn in the form by the close of business on Oct 17th. Your local <a href="https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup" target="_blank">Voter Registration Office</a> can tell you the exact closing time in each county.<br />
<a href="http://vote.elections.virginia.gov/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Virginia</a>.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div>
<b>Washington by October 10th <a href="https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR" target="_blank">click here to register online</a></b><a href="https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR"></a><br />
You'll need a current Washington State driver’s license or current Washington State ID card to register online. You do have a little more time if you want to also do this in person and the online date has passed if you register by the close of business on Oct 31. You can find out the exact closing time for doing this in person from your <a href="http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/auditors.aspx" target="_blank">County Election Office</a>. To do so, you can either <a href="https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/Print-Voter-Registration-Forms.aspx" target="_blank">download the form first</a> or pick up the form in person at your County Election Office or locations such as the DMV and other state agencies. </div>
<div>
<a href="http://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/" target="_blank">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Washington</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<b><br />West Virginia by October 18th <a href="https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/Register/Landing#Qualifications">click here to register online</a></b><br />
You'll need a West Virginia driver’s license or ID card number, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number to register online. You could also <a a="" and="" card="" digits="" driver="" e2="" href="http://you/" id="" last="" license="" ll="" need="" number="" of="" online.="" or="" register="" s="" security="" social="" the="" to="" virginia="" west="" your="">download and print the form here</a>. If you do that, you will need to mail it in by Oct 18th to your <a href="http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/VoterRegistration/Pages/ClerkDirectory.aspx" target="_blank">County Clerk’s Office</a> or drop it off in person by the same date to that same address. You could also pick up your form in person at your <a href="http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/VoterRegistration/Pages/ClerkDirectory.aspx" target="_blank">County Clerk’s Office</a> or at other locations such as the Department of Motor Vehicles and Armed Services recruitment offices.<br />
<a href="http://services.sos.wv.gov/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in West Virginia</a><br />
<div>
<br />
<b>Wisconsin by October 19th <a href="http://www.gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/gab_forms/4/el_131_voter_registration_app_fillable_rev_2016__16117.pdf" target="_blank">click here to download and print voter registration form</a></b></div>
<div>
You can not register online in Wisconsin. You can download the one we provided a link for, and print that or pick one up in person from your <a href="https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk" target="_blank">municipal clerk’s office</a> or at other locations such as Armed Forces recruitment offices. Whether you mail in your voter registration form or do it in person, you must include or show a copy of ID that proves where you live. The following IDs are accepted:<br />
<ul>
<li>A Wisconsin driver’s license or ID card</li>
<li>Any other ID card or license issued by a Wisconsin government agency or unit</li>
<li>An employee ID card with a photograph (but not a business card)</li>
<li>A real property tax bill or receipt for 2015 or 2016</li>
<li>A residential lease (doesn’t count if you submit the form by mail)</li>
<li>A photo ID from a university, college or technical college with a fee receipt</li>
<li>A photo ID from a university, college or technical college with an on-campus housing listing provided by the university, college or technical college to the municipality</li>
<li>A utility bill dated within 90 days of when you register</li>
<li>(Homeless voters only) A letter from an organization that provides services to the homeless that identifies you and describes the location designated as your residence for voting purposes</li>
<li>A bank statement, a paycheck, a check or other government-issued document</li>
</ul>
</div>
By mail your completed form must be postmarked by Oct 19th and mailed to your <a href="https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk" target="_blank">municipal clerk’s office</a>. In person you need to return the form by Nov 4th to your <a href="https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk" target="_blank">municipal clerk’s office</a>.<br />
<a href="http://myvote.wi.gov/">Click Here to see if you are already registered in Wisconsin </a><br />
<div>
<br />
<b>Wyoming by October 24th <a href="http://soswy.state.wy.us/Forms/Elections/General/VoterRegistrationForm.pdf" target="_blank">click here to download and print voter registration form</a></b><br />
You can not register online in Wyoming. If you want to do the whole process in person, you can do so by downloading, printing, and submitting the completed form by Oct 25th to your <a href="http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/WYCountyClerks.pdf">county clerk’s office</a>. You can also pick up a form at those same offices. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Registering by mail is a complicated process in Wyoming. To register by mail, you must download and print the Wyoming Voter Registration Form or call <a href="tel:307-777-5860">(307) 777-5860</a> to have one sent to you by mail. Then you must fill out the form in front of a notary or a person authorized to administer oaths. At that time you will be asked to present ID to the notary or other person authorized to administer oaths. Acceptable forms of ID are:</div>
<div>
<br />
1 of the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Valid Wyoming driver’s license</li>
<li>Other state driver’s license</li>
<li>A local, state or federal ID</li>
<li>US passport</li>
<li>School ID</li>
<li>Military ID</li>
</ul>
Or, 2 of the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Certificate of US citizenship or naturalization</li>
<li>Draft record</li>
<li>Voter registration card from another state or county</li>
<li>Certified copy of birth certificate with an official seal</li>
<li>Certificate of birth abroad issued by US State Department</li>
<li>Other form of ID issued by an official agency</li>
</ul>
The notary or person authorized to administer oaths must also sign and date the form. Your completed form must be received by Oct 25th and sent along with a photocopy of the same ID or IDs you showed to the notary your <a href="http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/WYCountyClerks.pdf" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a> at the address listed on the form. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Interestingly enough, you can also register on Election Day, Nov 8 at your polling place, and between Oct 26 and Nov 7th when you request and vote by in-person absentee at your <a href="http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/WYCountyClerks.pdf" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a>.</div>
To see if you are already registered in Wyoming, Call your local <a href="http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/WYCountyClerks.pdf" target="_blank">county clerk’s office</a>.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that's it folks. Pass it on. Share the info. Time is of the essence. </div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-7069556981652039802016-09-29T19:44:00.000-04:002016-09-29T19:51:11.839-04:00Things Trump Said He Never Said<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQL8iBLOnDK4QP5yBX4Hedrm8DCAneBgMm7o3eLLPl5E8FcI1pme2aZJz5OemwgGtpcwWiy3UeWgIONePh6GSR9gV-jhpDbKiBY3uiAx8EzQHsI0Yfq9Go7TbpbY0cIheYDroel0ay50/s1600/14489788_10153899943648045_339100934_o.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQL8iBLOnDK4QP5yBX4Hedrm8DCAneBgMm7o3eLLPl5E8FcI1pme2aZJz5OemwgGtpcwWiy3UeWgIONePh6GSR9gV-jhpDbKiBY3uiAx8EzQHsI0Yfq9Go7TbpbY0cIheYDroel0ay50/s400/14489788_10153899943648045_339100934_o.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><b>Did You Watch the Debate?</b><br />On Monday, September 26, 2016 two American candidates met on stage to debate their worthiness to be President of the United States. It was the first of three head to head match ups scheduled for the contenders this election cycle. News outlets are reporting about 84 million people watched it on television and countless more watched online, so it was big deal. <br /><br />For those paying close attention to this particular season of all things POTUS, we can tell you blood pressures were raised on both sides of the aisle, stress levels went up nationally, and certainly - for many of those watching - an enormous amount of alcohol was consumed throughout the evening around debate watching campfires worldwide. <br /><br />Once the dust had settled, the <a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/09/26/495115346/fact-check-first-presidential-debate">fact-checkers</a> started reporting their findings. Trump had interrupted Hillary Clinton a total of 51 times - mostly interjecting with one word statements like, "wrong" and "not," but sometimes he splurged on extra words giving us a full sentence of interruption, like when he said, "I never said that."<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's a list of the things Trump said he never said:<br /><br /><b>1. Global Warming is a Hoax Invented by the Chinese</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: red;">During the debate Trump said, "I did not - I do not say that."</span></b><br />Actually, Trump first tweeted it in 2012, and since then has repeated it on se<br />veral occasions, including on <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jun/03/hillary-clinton/yes-donald-trump-did-call-climate-change-chinese-h/">Dec. 30, 2015 to a crowd at a rally</a> in Hilton Head, South Carolina.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6Q9LpF-YzWi8rWEesRw4ajSNwn23TgYWhGBY83EgKntd7etcGBtxJPcCWtw1_wdZfWs-Zs9mnqG9Bsr7X6_6KAFxZyFXrFwWjWNT_CkfU5lg4SRNkzoDjPd_FRLXq18E3bZmtQxscrs/s1600/Tweet+Global+Warming+Hoax.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6Q9LpF-YzWi8rWEesRw4ajSNwn23TgYWhGBY83EgKntd7etcGBtxJPcCWtw1_wdZfWs-Zs9mnqG9Bsr7X6_6KAFxZyFXrFwWjWNT_CkfU5lg4SRNkzoDjPd_FRLXq18E3bZmtQxscrs/s640/Tweet+Global+Warming+Hoax.JPG" /></a><br /><b><br />2. Trump Would Negotiate Down the National Debt of the United States</b><br /><span style="color: red;"><b><br />During the debate Donald blurted out, "Wrong."</b></span><br />In May of 2016, Trump <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/07/us/politics/donald-trumps-idea-to-cut-national-debt-get-creditors-to-accept-less.html?_r=0">suggested he would try to</a> persuade creditors to accept something less than full payment. Apparently, this is a special skill that Trump has mastered throughout his decades as a prominent businessman - paying less than he actually owes. For most people, that means a credit downgrade, which is probably why no U.S. bank is willing to loan him money anymore.<br /><br /><b>3. Donald Trump Supported the Invasion of Iraq</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: red;">While Hillary was speaking Donald bellowed, "Wrong."</span></b><br />On multiple occasions Donald J. Trump said he was for invading Iraq before the war began. Donald expressed support in an interview with Howard Stern. The transcript of the Stern interview shows Stern asking Trump if he favored invading Iraq. Trump replied, “Yeah, I guess so. You know, I wish the first time it was done correctly.” Two years after the war started Trump gave an interview saying he thought we should make sure we grab all the oil while we are there. <br /><br /><b>4. Donald Trump Would Start a War with Iran</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: red;">During the debate Donald interjected, "That would not start a war."</span></b><br />At a September campaign event in Florida just before the debate, Trump said, “When they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats and they make gestures at our people that they shouldn’t be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water, OK?” <br /><br /><b>5. Trump Said Pregnancy is an Inconvenience to Employers</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: red;">Trump once again interrupted Clinton to say, "I never said that."</span></b><br />In an <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-2004-pregnancy-inconvenience-employers-n580366">October 2004 interview with NBC's Dateline, Trump said</a> pregnancy is "a wonderful thing for the woman, it's a wonderful thing for the husband, it's certainly an inconvenience for a business. And whether people want to say that or not, the fact is it is an inconvenience for a person that is running a business." </div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-46548696266047940922016-09-25T20:15:00.002-04:002016-09-25T20:15:54.151-04:00Is Trump Really Wealthy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcm8tUOgPPPoWNg7diLQnZ5cSsXBK0iir9nx5OjwspomuBgvYrRnbJcjtYE-QDMQIiPyNjBvBdfGMkgmKAsrt_tze_UMgm1DJWc_d02il132Szu8xL3X1foBfCpJv4bmKvaqNVtNkBs8/s1600/Wow+Button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcm8tUOgPPPoWNg7diLQnZ5cSsXBK0iir9nx5OjwspomuBgvYrRnbJcjtYE-QDMQIiPyNjBvBdfGMkgmKAsrt_tze_UMgm1DJWc_d02il132Szu8xL3X1foBfCpJv4bmKvaqNVtNkBs8/s1600/Wow+Button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all know that Trump was born rich. But did you know when
his father died, he inherited so much money that he was superrich? Ok, so you
probably knew that too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Born Rich and Incompetent</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, in 1978 Trump was worth $100 million. So he should
have been able to bankroll any projects he was involved in all by himself, right? Of course that isn't the point, is it? Trump reminds his crowds regularly that using 'other people's money' is the way to go. So even though he had the money to start any kind of business he could ever dream of, or back up any loan he ever took to do just that, so far six of his hotels and casinos have filed for bankruptcy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump started a mortgage company once and that crashed 18 months later. It was called Trump Mortgage.
He started an airline called Trump Airlines that defaulted on a $245 million
loan forcing him to surrender ownership. Like ALL of Trump’s investment opportunities,
people walk away burnt, while he gets money for putting his name on it. No seriously, every time you investigate, or ask, you hear the same thing. He even
invented a board game called ‘Trump: The Game’ that is so stupid that it’s delivered
60% less sales than projected. He couldn’t even figure out how to market a kids’
game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His Trump Steaks so underperformed that Newsweek reports the steaks were pulled 2 months after being put up for sale in Sharper Image catalogues. Donald started Trump Vodka, but production
was stopped on Trump's vodka because they both lied about their kosher status and also failed to meet distribution requirements.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump Magazine was an actual
thing and it FAILED in its 2<sup>nd</sup> year. Trump even had a Travel Website
called gotrump.com and it was shut down in a year. How do you fail at a Travel
Website??? He tried to go up against 'The Tour de France' with a little something
he called 'The Tour de Trump' and he failed. After two years that event took his
name off of all marketing materials completely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Whatever He Touches Fails</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He tried to go up against the NFL with the USFL. He made so many blunders
in that area, overpaying players, and insisting the league move their games
from fall to spring, that he single-handedly destroyed that league and now they too
are nonexistent. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He created something called The Trump Network, it was a
multi-level marketing scheme that he so mismanaged the project closed down after two
years. He tried to go up against Pepsi and created Trump Ice (water in a
bottle). The only place you can find his water is on his properties but he brags about it like it is somehow a real brand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>$100 Million x 40 Years Equals</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what did he turn his $100 million into? I mean he started
with a bundle, where exactly is he now? Well, we don’t know that yet because he
is playing the dance of the seven veils with his tax returns. And depending on
how things play out, we may never know. What we do know is this. He isn’t worth
billions. We also know that if he had just left his money in mutual funds, and
not lifted a finger his whole life, he would be worth billions. So instead, he
seems to have spent a lifetime starting companies that have failed, offering
investment opportunities where investors lost money, and starting huge projects
that have repeatedly gone bankrupt…leaving the employees and subcontractors
screwed. There is nothing about this one
man’s credentials that bears merit. Not one thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>He is Comprised Financially</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And worse, much worse, he is indebted to so many foreign based individuals, and hundreds of foreign based businesses, at this point in his businessman career that there is literally not ONE decision he could make in the White House that would not directly affect the amount of money in his pocket or in the pockets of his children. He has been blackballed by United States banks because of his incompetence and so for some time now has had to depend on the kindness of foreign nationals to pay for his lifestyle. And despite that very obvious fact, Donald J. Trump the GOP candidate has made no effort to diversify himself from this predicament at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, wow, GOP. Great job. We count on you to come up with worthy adversaries. We count on you to elevate the conversation and help run the country. But once again you disappoint. And this time you have let this man - who is financially incapable of leading a scout troop - be in charge of our national conversations of leadership. You let a convicted bigot and hate monger get to the microphone. Shame on you. You can't even use the excuse he is really good at business to justify it either.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-59071829274793203712016-09-09T02:29:00.005-04:002016-09-09T02:58:35.260-04:00Trump The Builder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWMzxHHsWXAhohZ1MuI-5ZQiMqFLjd4Ehnydq1NiV7yn2JTTJTfg53u6-D6fKaLK-rDWmQYaWUAGFr-AhtzRk0CXHHMovWKhWLgqZmWTtXsKpG1H5hhyphenhyphenBMZdfq_xiVG7389mueZ2y8s8/s1600/Closet.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWMzxHHsWXAhohZ1MuI-5ZQiMqFLjd4Ehnydq1NiV7yn2JTTJTfg53u6-D6fKaLK-rDWmQYaWUAGFr-AhtzRk0CXHHMovWKhWLgqZmWTtXsKpG1H5hhyphenhyphenBMZdfq_xiVG7389mueZ2y8s8/s320/Closet.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, it's that time again. Talking heads talking about who is going to be President of the Free World 24/7. And it goes on for more than a year every four years. It's really unheard of and it's turned the business of running for office into a business in and of itself.<br />
<br />
The length must have something to do with the continued celebration of independenting Americans practice once a year on July 4th. It must be in a continued effort to separate Church from State, to separate us from our British past, that we take so damn long to pick a President because the UK process typically lasts no longer than four weeks. Can you imagine?<br />
<br />
In the United States, much the way Christmas has jellyfished over into neighboring months, the election of an American President siphons cash from the electorate through "campaign donations" more than 25% of their adult lives. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
This time around we have two frontrunners worth speaking of. Jill Stein thinks cell phones are killing our children, and Gary Johnson doesn't know what LPO is (Aleppo), so it's down to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Donald J. Trump. We don't have time to concentrate on fully vetting them both between now and November, and the world has had a microscope up Hillary's a** for over 25 years, so we figure that side's been well documented.<br />
<br />
In an effort to help any friends out within the reach of this keyboard, we have, however, started to "extremely vet" the GOP candidate. And we've started with his only claim to the thrown, his business practices.<br />
<br />
Bon appetite.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gettoknowdonaldtrump.com/a-builder" target="_blank">Donald Trump The Builder</a><br />
<br />
Patriotically yours,<br />
<br />
The Policy GeekThe Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-25690092277976766172016-09-09T02:29:00.004-04:002016-09-09T02:31:12.696-04:00What's Up With Hillary Clinton?What's Up With Hillary Clinton?<br />
<br />
I have been paying attention to Hillary Clinton my whole adult life. No politician I have ever watched has ever gone through what I see her going through and yet she is still standing.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FVox%2Fvideos%2F566561133531493%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-1405380123640511992015-06-24T23:50:00.003-04:002015-06-25T03:38:37.328-04:00Occasional Repost; We Can't Afford To Be Wrong<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Occasionally, we will repost pieces we appreciate. Here is a little something from our friend/writer Ruth Ann Satchfield. Although it is not everyone's number one concern this election season, Proper Gun Ownership Registration and Training oughta be one of the issues we address nationally...finally. We do it for cars, and cars aren't intended to kill. It should be a no-brainer to do it for weapons that are designed to kill.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">We Can't Afford To Be Wrong</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">By Ruth Ann Satchfield</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The issues of gun ownership registration are certainly on the table.</td></tr>
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Every time we choose a new president there are important things to consider. Occasionally we get the opportunity to choose between two very good people, and the choice should be made by their stances on the issues, their experiences and their chances of defeating whoever represents the GOP. There are going to be pluses and minuses for each candidate, and I am going to try to explore these issues as fairly as I can.<br />
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After the horrific murders in Charleston this last week, we have some differences arise between our leading Democratic candidates which I would like to explore. What do you think? Was there just one cause for the deaths in Charleston? For myself I believe it was a combination of things. Since President Obama was elected, racism has come out in the open, partly because of the talkers on <a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/08/01/conservative-talk-radio-contributes-to-more-hate-minorities-study-says/" target="_blank">conservative</a> media encouraging racist beliefs. There has never been less respect shown to an elected president in my "baby boomer" lifetime. From the killer’s own <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11688675/Dylann-Roof-The-Charleston-killers-racist-manifesto.html" target="_blank">words</a> we know racism was clearly the motive. We also know that his beliefs were encouraged by the radical right-wing on the internet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since he threw his hat in the ring, Bernie Sanders has been polling well.</td></tr>
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<b>Sanders</b><br />
From his words, we know that Senator Bernie Sanders <i>recognizes </i>this, but that was as far as he went. He doesn't want to address the gun issue. Sanders, saying his home <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/politics/bernie-sanders-guns-south-carolina-church-shooting/index.html" target="_blank">state</a> of Vermont has “zero gun control,” acknowledged that different parts of the country have different outlooks on guns.<br />
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<i>I think the people of Vermont understand that guns in Vermont are different than guns in Chicago or guns in Los Angeles,” Sanders said, telling the assembled journalists that he thinks “it is wrong” when people who are “in some cases suicidal and in some cases homicidal” are “still able to purchase guns.”</i></blockquote>
Senator Sanders is right we have a problem, and it is growing. Where are the calls for Sanders to take a stand on the problems we have with the availability of guns, and the proposed solutions out forth by other members of Congress? Will he be able to come up with a national solution, other than a zero gun control stance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecKr0GaNrdjLn22YKFtn9209iPvzsXgUy8reo7mBksDs0bBUZWrMZ0-nVyXA6ZwCQmwYswK4yqq_bgrHrPqwTiQZ1nGmLhFOB4I6GSh6UntQVJPy9C7UokTgA9Tzp2NhwKacCkqiKntg/s1600/Hillary.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecKr0GaNrdjLn22YKFtn9209iPvzsXgUy8reo7mBksDs0bBUZWrMZ0-nVyXA6ZwCQmwYswK4yqq_bgrHrPqwTiQZ1nGmLhFOB4I6GSh6UntQVJPy9C7UokTgA9Tzp2NhwKacCkqiKntg/s1600/Hillary.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this election outcome inevitable for Hillary?</td></tr>
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<b>Clinton</b>
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From her words, we know that Secretary/Senator Hillary Clinton also recognizes that our country has a problem with the availability of guns to the wrong people, but has another take on the problem.</div>
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<i>“<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/06/20/hillary-rodham-clinton-san-francisco-speech/28981453/" target="_blank">How</a> is it possible that we as a nation allow guns to fall into the hands of people whose hearts are filled with hate?” she said, voice rising. “We can have common-sense gun reforms that keep them out of the hands of criminals and the mentally unstable while not penalizing responsible gun owners,” Asked Secretary Clinton</i>.</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJzyJ17qgZqoQ3QLHtjCWBAByq2DjVuBwMv1vZgiKtczrvBEVNcTBeVBkdGZsDBn00k6JK2o8In_x7nwjtFkjDR1mBsS_6WtE7cSozhlwCfSk8sxGlcw13cXcCI0IRKYmuvQAmenEmwA/s1600/Gov-OMalley.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJzyJ17qgZqoQ3QLHtjCWBAByq2DjVuBwMv1vZgiKtczrvBEVNcTBeVBkdGZsDBn00k6JK2o8In_x7nwjtFkjDR1mBsS_6WtE7cSozhlwCfSk8sxGlcw13cXcCI0IRKYmuvQAmenEmwA/s320/Gov-OMalley.png" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O'Malley adds his voice to the race.</td></tr>
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<b>O'Malley</b><br />
If you’re concerned about keeping guns out of the hands of killers, you may be interested in this Democratic Candidate’s ideas. In 2013, the Washington Post reported on O'Malley's gun responsibility proposals.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
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"Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) will seek to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-gov-omalley-to-push-for-tougher-gun-control-rules/2013/01/13/d23861e0-5d9e-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_story.html">inst</a><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-gov-omalley-to-push-for-tougher-gun-control-rules/2013/01/13/d23861e0-5d9e-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_story.html" target="_blank">itute</a> some of the nation’s strictest gun-licensing requirements, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/data-point-to-drop-in-high-capacity-magazines-during-federal-gun-ban/2013/01/10/d56d3bb6-4b91-11e2-a6a6-aabac85e8036_story.html" target="_blank">ban assault weapons</a> and restrict visitor access to schools in one of the most expansive government responses sought to last month’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn. </blockquote>
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Perhaps most controversially, O’Malley is making plans to ask the General Assembly to force prospective gun owners to provide fingerprints to state police, complete a hands-on weapon-familiarization and gun-safety course, and undergo a background check to be licensed. And the governor is seeking new measures to keep guns out of the hands of those with mental illness who show violent tendencies."</blockquote>
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It is interesting to note that to be licensed for conceal carry in Texas today, you must do everything Gov. O’ Malley proposed then. <br />
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<b>The Gun Issue</b><br />
The weapon of choice by these people looking to become infamous through murder has been the gun. So what are we going to do about it?<br />
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These regularly occurring terroristic events are now part of our collective consciousness as a country, and argument for Proper Gun Legislation has been proven over and over with these mass murder events. Killers do not usually commit <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/14/nine-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">mass murders</a> with other weapons. It can be done, of course, such as in Oklahoma City. If someone wants to, sure, they can always figure out a way to do harm.<br />
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<b>Bringing the Fight To White Supremacists</b><br />
Why are <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/21/dylann-roof-manifesto-charlston-shootings-republicans" target="_blank">Republicans</a> protecting these criminals by making it more difficult to enforce gun laws?<br />
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There are hate groups all over the country. It seems these groups are associated with crime sprees. Years ago, members of a group of white supremacists were caught robbing <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/views/y/9804/pattillo.unholywar/" target="_blank">banks</a> in the Pacific-northwest to fund their activities, and they were taken down. When <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/11/14/37-suspects-in-north-texas-drug-ring/" target="_blank">Texas</a> realized they had the same thing going on there, Federal Agencies focused on, and broke up, a White Supremacy group that was selling drugs to get the money to finance their activities. The Feds <i>were </i>making headway in breaking up some of the criminal groups who follow the white supremacist beliefs, but the GOP representatives in congress cut their <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/19/sequester-guns-background-check-fbi/1930923/" target="_blank">funding</a>.<br />
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The<a href="http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/regional/248321-at-home-with-the-kkk-family-of-four-open-door-to-their-life-inside-the-hate-filled-ku-klux-klan-as-they-train-to-wage-a-race-war.html" target="_blank"> KKK</a> and white supremacists are teaching children to hate, encouraging their members to join our <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/31/us-army-racism-iraq-afghanistan" target="_blank">military</a> so that they will get weapons training and be prepared for the race war they are determined to start.<br />
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There are hate groups all over the country. Unfortunately their members do not have a problem getting guns or ammunition. The<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/18/us-usa-shooting-south-carolina-idUSKBN0OY06A20150618" target="_blank"> killer</a> in Charleston wanted to start a “race war.” The two killers in Las Vegas - who killed a couple of police officers who were having breakfast - did so with the purpose of starting a <a href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/shooters-metro-ambush-left-five-dead-spoke-white-supremacy-and-desire-kill-police" target="_blank">revolution</a>.<br />
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The NRA has made things worse with their insistence that guns be available to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/30/louisiana-amendment-gun-rights/2035561/" target="_blank">anyone</a> who wants them. In <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-06-05/nra-backed-law-spells-out-when-indianans-may-open-fire-on-police" target="_blank">Indiana</a>, the NRA pushed a law that made it legal to shoot police in your own home or vehicle. In <a href="http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/03/new_orleans_judge_rules_statut.html" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>, the NRA pushed an amendment permitting felons to own guns and the Republicans in that state passed it. As if that was not enough, the NRA is now pushing to make it possible for people charged with domestic violence to keep their guns.<br />
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When are we going to wake up? These incidents are multiplying, and the issues of hate and gun control are linked together. When will the insanity stop? Of course, we <i>must </i>keep criminals from having guns. Every person who buys a gun <i>must </i>be required to pass a background check. We <i>must </i>stop straw purchases, and the loop-holes that allow gun sales without back-ground checks. And lastly, something must be done to require lawful gun owners to store their guns safely.<br />
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Of course, if the Democrats back the wrong candidate, and we lose, the Republican we help elect will most likely not protect us from guns in the hands of the wrong people, nor will they do anything about the white supremacists, because the white supremacists are their supporters. Ya know, those people who are buying up all those confederate flags now that they are losing favor in the public marketplace. To continue to be considered a viable national candidate,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Py4dLj9LUjCiOlCOJFSOLlY1LGW3x8K56pz2ZZxnyTyw65TzorLSnmYWwsiY_Dze4dzL4T97RFmM702PMceBU9D0dV63wfkMeBZzYuxJ_iQC1-zXCKqTA0nbTQ7rCsv7JCmLzqctVo8/s1600/That+Guy.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Py4dLj9LUjCiOlCOJFSOLlY1LGW3x8K56pz2ZZxnyTyw65TzorLSnmYWwsiY_Dze4dzL4T97RFmM702PMceBU9D0dV63wfkMeBZzYuxJ_iQC1-zXCKqTA0nbTQ7rCsv7JCmLzqctVo8/s320/That+Guy.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruzing into a solid 7th place in the GOP candidate ratings.</td></tr>
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<b>Cruz</b><br />
Ted Cruz is having to refund donations to Citizen Council donors as we speak, but he is not the only Republican to take them. How many of these organizations do you think are donating to the Republicans?<br />
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I have no doubt what we have found out recently is only the tip of the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/21/dylann-roof-manifesto-charlston-shootings-republicans?CMP=share_btn_fb" target="_blank">iceberg</a>.<br />
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Originally Published in <a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/blog/domestic-issues/cant-afford-wrong/" target="_blank">The Blue Route</a> ~ June 22, 2015The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-66924516472097241752014-11-25T20:01:00.000-05:002014-11-25T20:07:08.365-05:00Bob McCulloch: 0 For 5 In Ferguson<div class="" style="clear: both;">
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Our beloved writer/friend David Phillips picks up a pen to call out </div>
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Bob McCulloch as the police protector he is, instead of </div>
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the prosecutor he has never been.</div>
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With his permission, we republish his blog here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudPR1ZG_lX8bG8zJuD6mVp66AR08EAG0mvYfg6eQqfHFryoZSYkRl2VLvFoGFqVZraad-B7-6bioBXl8uDSwTJvdqJtHeubX0G3522WwLIzU6jq-QOcECFh9yb4bCAhV-yov3iJxoCLA/s1600/bob.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudPR1ZG_lX8bG8zJuD6mVp66AR08EAG0mvYfg6eQqfHFryoZSYkRl2VLvFoGFqVZraad-B7-6bioBXl8uDSwTJvdqJtHeubX0G3522WwLIzU6jq-QOcECFh9yb4bCAhV-yov3iJxoCLA/s1600/bob.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/domestic-issues/bob-mcculloch-zero-for-ferguson/" target="_blank">Bob McCulloch is O For 5 In Ferguson</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">by</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">David E. Phillips</span></b></div>
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It is remarkably easy to get an indictment from a grand jury. Former New York state Chief Judge Sol Wachtler once said you could get a grand jury to “indict a ham sandwich.” There is no defense present. It is an opportunity to run up the score. What typically happens, when a prosecutor is seeking an indictment, is they present the evidence to the grand jury in an effort to achieve just that. Otherwise, why are they there? Normally, potentially exculpatory evidence is not shared with the jurors. Once again, the prosecutor is normally trying to gain an indictment. How easy is it to gain an indictment, you might ask? In <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/ferguson-michael-brown-indictment-darren-wilson/">2010</a>, the federal government brought 162,000 cases to a grand jury. They were denied all of eleven times.<br />
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Which is why what happened in Ferguson last night was so remarkable and deeply weird.<br />
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The prosecutor Bob McCulloch, in charge of Darren Wilson’s grand jury hearing, did none of those things. Watching his press conference last night, I couldn’t figure out what his job was. He sounded more like a defense attorney, not a member of any prosecution. What’s kind of fascinating to me is the idea of a prosecutor presenting the evidence in a way that clearly made it look like he was, at best, ambivalent on reaching an indictment. It is a rare thing for the prosecution to release all the evidence to a grand jury. His delivering of all the evidence to that body has been described as a “document dump.” Now, on one hand, you could argue this is how it should always be done. Maybe it’s the most honest way to do it, right? On the other though, you could point out this is almost never how it is done. In fact, it is beyond rare to find instances of it. Last night, on the various networks, a plethora of legal experts were completely flummoxed and unable to cite a single case in their experience.<br />
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McCulloch has a long <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/19/us/ferguson-prosecutor-mcculloch/index.html">history</a> of closeness with police in the county. His father was killed in the line of duty in 1964, by an African-American man. McCulloch was twelve years old. As well, his brother, an uncle, and a cousin served in the Saint Louis PD, and his mother worked there as a clerk. The community of Ferguson was so concerned with the prosecutor in this case that they circulated a petition, one that resulted in more than 26,000 signatures requesting his removal from the case, which was something Missouri Governor Jay Nixon could have done when McCulloch refused to recuse himself.<br />
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Nixon, who could make a deer in the headlights look positively spry, issued a statement on August 19 that said he would not ask McCulloch to recuse himself, and he would be leaving that decision up to the prosecutor himself. McCulloch took this soft statement of support with indignation, saying Nixon should “man up” and make a decision. He went further still, making his offensive personal, “It’s the typical Nixon doublespeak. He says nothing and he’s ducking.” Nixon offered no retort. This sort of back and forth between a prosecutor, and the top elected official in his state, is positively remarkable.<br />
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What’s even more remarkable though, is McCulloch’s inability to return an indictment. Here was a case of an unarmed teenager gunned down in the street by six bullets from an officer’s gun. While eyewitness accounts were–unremarkably–inconsistent, there was no argument that officer Wilson caused the death of Michael Brown under, at minimum, unusual circumstances. Many citizens have been indicted for far less.<br />
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Ferguson has a long history of distrust between its citizens, who are <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2014/08/19/chart-ferguson-white-flight/">2/3</a> African-American (66%), and its police force, which as of August of this year, only <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/ferguson-police-departments-race-relations-spotlight/story?id=24962153">three</a> of its fifty officers were (6%). A police force that does not reflect the community is a powder keg of unrest. The shooting of an unarmed black youth in the middle of the street, and leaving the body there for four and a half hours, did nothing less than blow the lid off.<br />
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Last night, cars were battered, businesses were looted and buildings were set on fire. Martin Luther King Jr. once <a href="http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/riot-is-the-language-of-the-unheard-what-mlk-would-have-said-about-the-london-riots/">said</a> “A riot is the language of the unheard.” You can argue that it’s counter productive, but to paraphrase what Ralph Wiley once <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Why-Black-People-Tend-Shout/dp/0140168532">said</a>, there is a reason why black tend to shout. In the dark of the Ferguson night, they were screaming in response to a prosecutor who does not reflect their community, and quite simply was derelict in his duty. He, and the state of Missouri’s feckless governor, caused this last night. This is a population that does not know what justice looks like. And after watching McCulloch’s defensive and derisive press conference last night, they still don’t.<br />
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It was pointed out last night on MSNBC that Bob McCulloch has now brought five cases to a grand jury targeting police officers. He has returned an indictment against none of them. That means Bob McCulloch has indicted as many police officers in his twenty-three year <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/ferguson-prosecutor-robert-p-mccullochs-long-history-siding-police-267357">career</a> as I have. Think on that as you watch the people of Ferguson take to the streets.</div>
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Whenever we see our friend/writer David Phillips post a new piece, </div>
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turkey with cranberry on Thanksgiving, delicious, and timely. Enjoy.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/op-ed-2/the-president-we-dont-deserve/" target="_blank">The President We Don't Deserve</a></span></b></div>
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<b>by David E. Phillips</b></div>
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I often look back on President Obama’s inauguration in 2009 and wonder what we wanted. What we expected from a man inheriting a free falling economy, two wars, and all the rest that Bush and Cheney left behind for him. The soaring rhetoric of his campaign raised expectations to sky high levels. Every president over promises. Perhaps not all intend to, but it is a part of the campaign game. Hope and Change sounded marvelous didn’t it? That wasn’t the problem though. I think the greater issue is, it sounded easy. We should know better. Real change comes not only at a cost, but quite often in painful, ruthless inches that tax both stamina and resolve. Two things this nation has proven itself to be in short supply of.<br />
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Oh sure, maybe Obama hasn’t been all we may have hoped he would be. Occasionally, I feel that way. Then I compare him to the alternative. When I do, the air I breathe fills with jasmine, and anything I take a drink of turns to mother’s milk. That is not the prevailing opinion of the average American. For many, change has come too slow during this presidency. It’s okay to hate incrementalism. I’m no fan either. However, in a strange way, it’s almost like science. It’s not going to change whether you like it or not. For better or worse, baby steps is generally how we roll.<br />
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The thing is, that’s not all on the President. FDR was once approached by a Democratic Senator with a new proposal. He made his argument for the legislation and, at the end of the discussion, FDR said “That’s great, now make me do it.” Every President needs to be pushed by both their party and the public. Do you really think LBJ wanted to deal with the<a href="http://dictionary.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrTWf1iMGRULGEAUmx5GVxH?ei=UTF-8&pvid=ZVl2KjIwNi5cKkUvVF1dxwL9MTA0LlRkMFT_qkL4&fr=sfp&p=sturm+und+drang" target="_blank"> sturm und drang</a> of the Civil Rights movement? Or FDR the great Depression? All things being equal, I would guess not. However, history met them in the form of pressure. That pressure did not come from above them–how could it?–it came from below, as a groundswell.<br />
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I mention FDR and LBJ most specifically because they probably passed more meaningful progressive legislation than any other President of the 20th century (with apologies to Teddy). We forget something though. For most of their tenure, they had very strong majorities in both houses of congress. A fact that allows for the greater passage of meaningful legislation. They also had a motivated populous pushing for change. Whether it was FDR’s New Deal, or LBJ’s Great Society, there was a hunger in the land for something more.<br />
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Barack Obama has had neither of those things. Oh, it’s true, he briefly had majorities in both the House and the Senate until he did that awful thing we elected him to do. You know, improve our health care. He did so with a flawed bill that not only wasn’t the “Medicare for all” the far left wanted, or even the more modest public option the left of center would have liked to have seen. That being said, not only was it the best he could do, but it’s also working. Even stout Obama critics from the far left like Paul Krugman <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/in-defense-of-obama-20141008" target="_blank">accept</a> that now.<br />
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He also passed a stimulus bill that many–including Krugman–feel was too small, but may well have staved off another Great Depression. He also moved to stabilize the auto industry. A ringing success that too few have spoken about. It appears that he has also kept us safe. There has been no second 9/11 and bin Laden sleeps with the fishes–literally. He embraced gay marriage. Begrudgingly at first and with an assist from Crazy Joe, but it’s no small thing to be the first leader of the free world to do so.<br />
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All of that doesn’t mean I believe he’s always been right. He doubled down in Afghanistan, wasn’t hard enough on Wall Street (although Dodd-Frank is not nothing), has been too slow on immigration, hasn’t solved the riddle of income inequality, and expanded both the drone program to kill, and the authority of the NSA to peep through our cyber windows. Depending on where you fall on the political spectrum of the left, those shortfalls probably fall somewhere in a range between disappointing and outright folly. He has not been a perfect President. If he were, he would be the first.<br />
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I will tell you this. His greatest political mistake was not necessarily any of the things listed above. As my good friend and fellow scribe, David Harada-Stone, once said to me, “Obama’s greatest mistake was overestimating the American public.” To this I say, and how.<br />
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We are terrible. The only group of people I can think of in this country that might be worse are those that presently serve in congress. Democrats who run from the President, and their own successes, and Republicans who run from sanity.<br />
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That truth does not let us off the hook. A few weeks ago, the center-right columnist, Jon Avlon, was on Real Time with Bill Maher, and he made the most simple and yet one of strongest defenses of the Obama presidency I have heard. He essentially said, if you compare the way things are now to the way they were when he entered the office, it is inarguable that things are appreciably better. He’s exactly right. And somehow, this is true despite zero assistance from that not so loyal opposition known as the GOP, and relatively feckless support from the party whose standard Barack Obama bears like a 60 pound stone.<br />
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For this, we–the American people–have paid this man almost no dividend. His approval ratings are underwater, and the oh so recent midterms were an unqualified disaster, due in no small part to the inability of those of us on the left to show up. We provided a vacuum for a sour, science denying, willfully ignorant, and yes, appreciably racist hard right to step right in, and wipe the floor with us. We made it so easy; it’s embarrassing.<br />
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And that’s mostly how I feel right now about this country, and those that are contained within. Embarrassed. Because if you would have told me at the ass end of the Bush Administration that in six short years, the stock market would be at record highs, millions more people would have health care, job growth would be constant and ever expanding, we would be relatively safe from terrorists and loose nukes, have many fewer troops in harm’s way, be nearing a full acceptance of gay rights, and generally just not walking around trying not to shit our pants as all that we hold dear seems to be crumbling around us, not only would I be ecstatic, I would have purchased a hammer and a chisel from the hardware store, hopped in my car, set my GPS for Mount Rushmore, and requested a photo of the man who would lead us out of that doleful wilderness so I could get to adding a fifth face to that monument. But that’s just me.<br />
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So what should President Obama do with his remaining two years surrounded by an obstructionist Republican majority, a reeling Democratic minority, and a public that can’t be bothered to know or appreciate anything he has done? He should tell us all to go straight to Hell, and do what he’s been doing for the last six years…what he by and large believes is right. Only now, he should do it harder. The irony of it all is that will probably end up being what is best for us as well.<br />
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There is no point in trying to cure the sickness of apathy, misplaced anger, and reckless stupidity that grips this country, the way many seem to foolishly fear Ebola one day will. In short, we can’t be pleased. Therefore, this president should set his sights higher–not that it will be hard to do. He should look to those who will either come after us, or are still too young to understand the complexities of the difficult times we live in. Those whom he might just be able to leave a better world. Maybe they will thank him for it. Certainly those that go on to become historians will.<br />
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And that seems to be just what he’s doing. It has barely been a week since his party and his supporters abandoned him. In that time he has pushed for–in the strongest of terms–the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/10/obama-net-neutrality_n_6132814.html" target="_blank">maintaining</a> of net neutrality. Late last night he reached a historic <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/11/politics/us-china-climate-change-agreement/index.html" target="_blank">accord</a> with China (China!) to greatly reduce carbon emissions, and next week he’s primed to take major executive <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/12/obama-immigration-executive-action_n_6148900.html" target="_blank">action</a> on immigration reform. If you are a progressive, these are exactly the things you should want. If you are anyone else, these are exactly the things you need–whether you want them or not.<br />
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I wish I could I say we were worthy of it. That we would recognize it. That we might deserve it. Lucky for us, as Clint Eastwood once said, “Deserve’s got nothing to do with it.” And we are damn lucky. Much luckier to have Obama than he is to have us.<br />
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Follow David Phillips on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/BrotherJulius83" target="_blank">@BrotherJulius83</a></div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-44490952406900748632014-11-20T19:30:00.000-05:002014-11-23T19:32:17.504-05:00Occasional Repost: The Face of PropagandaWhen one of our fellow writers hits the nail on the head, we like to share their knowledge in a column we like to call "Occasional Repost." Enjoy this one from our writer/friend Bruce Lindner.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/media-3/face-propaganda/" target="_blank">The Face of Propaganda</a></span></div>
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Back in the late '70s during the Iran Hostage Crisis, I got into shortwave radio (prior to that, was my wine, women & song period. Oh, and skiing). Shortwave radio opened a window on the world to me that I never knew existed. The Cold War was still raging, and many say it was at its apex around that time. Besides the Iranian Revolution mess, the Soviets had just invaded Afghanistan, President Carter announced our boycott of the 1980 Olympics and tensions were high from Belgrade to Petropavlovsk. And when Reagan came to power in 1981, his MX Missile program and the threat of the Neutron Bomb further exacerbated the mistrust. The true behemoth of the International airwaves at that time was Radio Moscow. Any time you'd turn on an HF radio, there would be Moscow, on at least three dozen frequencies in forty or fifty languages, saturating the planet with their message. And that message was surreal.<br />
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At that time here in the states, other than reading a newspaper, "news" meant Walter Cronkite or John Chancellor. They were true newsmen in every sense of the word. By contrast, Radio Moscow was like Bizarro World. NBC News would report a story of some skirmish somewhere, for example, the situation between the Turks and Greeks on Cypress, complete with video of the incident. Radio Moscow would put their own unique spin on the story, Cronkite's footage be damned. Whatever the West said, RM would fabricate a counter-story, alleging that the U.S. version of events was false. And again, the Soviet reports were broadcast worldwide, to strategically targeted regions in the native language of their intended audience. The US countered their propaganda with propaganda channels of their own; Radio Liberty and the Voice of America, though neither was so brazen in their disinformation as was Radio Moscow.<br />
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The Soviet disinformation methods closely mimicked Nazi absolute control of their media during World War II. The Nazis controlled the print media, as did the Soviets with Pravda. Herr Göebbels established his own film industry to promote his vision of a Third Reich utopia, and even produced a "Volksradio;" a reasonably priced tabletop radio for the German masses — that just happened to be restricted to Nazi propaganda only. To my knowledge, the Soviets never went that far, but they did establish "jammers" that conveniently blocked Western broadcasts. So in the end, you heard only what the Kremlin wanted you to hear. An onslaught of state-approved propaganda.<br />
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Ultimately, what digital cameras did to photography and CDs did to vinyl records, the Internet did to shortwave radio. Today, anytime you want to hear the news from Radio Bhutan or music from Radio Tahiti, you can just hit their website and stream it. Gone are the days when you had to wait for their broadcast (usually at some gawdawful hour), then hope that conditions were just right for it to come in. There are still numerous shortwave broadcasters, though they're mostly for local, or regional consumption, or in tropical regions where AM radio isn't as effective due to electrical storms. But more than any other broadcast empire, Radio Moscow was unique. It was an enormous state-run giant of 24/7 misinformation, the purpose of which wasn't to inform and enlighten, but to intentionally keep their listeners in the dark. There's never been anything quite like it.<br />
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Until 1996 that is, when Rupert Murdoch was granted a license to launch Fox News. When I hear Sean Hannity doing his thing, I'm immediately reminded of the then Radio Moscow announcer, Vladimir Posner. He was at that time, the unofficial English language voice of the Soviet Union, and his commentaries, while entertaining, were often hysterical in their inaccuracy. Whatever was being reported in Europe or North America, bad bad Vlad would put his own spin on it, which was often 180° opposed to what was actually happening. And from the perspective of the men in the Kremlin who controlled him, why not twist things? They'd already convinced their listeners that anything they heard from the bourgeoisie broadcasts of the West were lies, so they had little to lose in the way of credibility.<br />
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So it is today with the Murdoch Empire. Fox News viewers and listeners are told daily that the so-called mainstream media is biased, that only THEIR reporting is trustworthy (the term "mainstream media" being Fox contrived jargon itself, devised to separate them from the competition, or in their view, the lesser broadcasters). And it works. Fox listeners & viewers who dare to venture out and listen to any of the three broadcast networks, or perish the thought, MSNBC or CNN, and hear something other than what they WANT to hear, come away reinforced with the notion that Fox tells the truth while all the others lie. It's a self perpetuating system of deception.<br />
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What seems so ironic to me, is that the media empire that routinely wraps itself in Old Glory and touts itself as the "Fair & Balanced" voice of truth, has no more than a micron's width of difference between what they're doing today, and what their arch-enemies, the communists did 30 years ago. Or perhaps more aptly, what the Nazis did 70 years ago. Godwin's law aside, that's an inconvenient truth that neither Rupert Murdoch nor Roger Ailes can deny. When it comes to propaganda, Joseph Göebbels had nothing on what Murdoch's doing today.<br />
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Find Lindner on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/macbruce?fref=nf" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
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The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-50649473190455042512014-11-20T19:05:00.000-05:002014-11-23T19:32:42.783-05:00Occassional Repost: History Gets The Last Word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>As you know, occasionally, we will repost pieces we appreciate. Here is a little something from our friend/writer Bruce Lindner who is always right on.</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/op-ed-2/history-gets-the-last-word/" target="_blank">History Gets The Last Word</a></span></b></div>
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<i>by Bruce Lindner</i></div>
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I sometimes marvel at how short-sighted this president’s adversaries are. As everyone knows, when he was sworn in six years ago, Senator Mitch McConnell announced that his primary goal was to make President Obama a one-term president. And true to his word, he’s hindered this president’s efforts whenever possible. The economy was in the porcelain fixture and President Obama found himself as welcome by the Republicans as if he had a rattlesnake slithering out of his pocket. So whatever was to become of his presidency, he’d either get ALL the blame or ALL the credit; with the Republicans pushing hard for the former.<br />
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The Bush recession was so deep and the bleeding of jobs so bad, it had nowhere to go but up. Not that this president’s policies didn’t contribute to turning things around, but the point being, the efforts of the Republican opposition — by their own decree — would be to contribute nothing. Had they had any smarts at all, they’d have cooperated at least enough so that they could later claim part of the credit for whatever successes were inevitably to come. But they didn’t. They stuck to their goal of pushing this president towards failure. Sorry about your luck Mr. Turtle; he didn’t fail. You did.<br />
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In the coming decades (assuming Karl Rove doesn’t get to write it), historians will record that the greatest economic dip in almost a century happened under an incompetent Republican administration that rammed through Republican foreign and domestic policies, largely opposed by the Democrats but backed with enthusiastic Republican support. We all know how that turned out. And the man who succeeded him, a Democrat who was met with open, often racially tinged hostility, turned things around before his two terms were up. In less than six years, all the jobs lost during the Great Bush Recession had been restored, the deficit had been whittled down by two-thirds, the stock market had gone through the roof, women’s equality, gay and immigrant rights had been advanced, Public Enemy No. 1 had been vanquished, the taxpayers spared from absorbing the healthcare expenses of uninsured patients, all without so much as a pinky being lifted by a single Republican…except for the ones this president had the courage to seat in his cabinet.<br />
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Things may look like the food fight scene from Animal House right now, but when historians have finished documenting and assessing the events of the Obama era, he’s going to come out looking like a saint, whereas the rabid opposition is going to look like a mob of Tasmanian Devils. Because of their own documented words and misdeeds, there’ll be no denying who did what, which party oversaw the Great Recession, and which president reversed it. Not even by Turdblossom himself.If he/she were smart – and that’s a BIG if – the next Democrat who runs for president should run on this record and remind the electorate daily of why the Republican candidate deserves zero credit for where things stand in November 2016. Because they contributed ZERO to any of the achievements listed above. And the record backs it up.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/macbruce">Bruce Lindner</a><br />
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A compassionate Policy Geek knows another policy geek when she sees one. Here is an article by our writer/friend Brent Kincaid. Enjoy.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/elections/free-advice-democrats/" target="_blank">Free Advice To Democrats</a></span></b></div>
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<b>by</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Brent Kincaid</b></div>
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Until November the fifth of this year: 2014, I thought I had a handle on what was happening in the United States Congress. I felt the poor Democrats were being swamped by a bastion of slobbering, neckless inbred baboons from The Old South who, along with their wannabe supporters in the Republican Party, were outnumbered by one member which allowed them to commit treason.<br />
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True, it is not regarded as treason by way of the arcane and nearly rationale-free rules of the Congress as it stands today, but only a fool could assimilate a situation in which one party drove the Congress to lock itself up and then lock itself down so that every member was making a salary for literally doing nothing for their pay. That alone cost the taxpayers millions and created a hardship for government workers who were not paid on time. They granted themselves raises, refused to give a break to citizens who wanted something close to the same insurance benefits Congress granted itself, and who would love to have had even half the pension they granted themselves in perpetuity and then denied benefits to veterans that fought to defend our country. It stands to reason many would, and in my paltry opinion, could look upon this as villainous and treasonous malpractice. I felt so sorry for the poor Democrats, and any well-meaning Republican who disagreed with their Tea Party leaders.<br />
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I was sure the voters, having seen two years of the stupidest, most unhelpful, non-productive high level shenanigans, and an astounding list of times in which Congress not only did not move in favor of the people it was meant to represent, but instead it moved against them, would cast these bums out on their ears. We also watched Congress vote forty-one times, to reverse the Affordable Care Act, long after it was a law and not a bill before them. They consistently calling it Obamacare and thus confusing the less intellectual of their constituents who couldn’t quite cope with the idea that they were the same thing, thus voted ‘no’ on Obamacare and ‘yes’ for the Affordable Care Act. They were, again, wasting our tax payer money on what was essentially a tantrum on their part. With all that I was sure we were watching the death knell of the not-quite official Tea Party and the Republican control of Congress.<br />
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Also, all the numbers were up since Obama took office: unemployment was down, but the rest were up. Any economic indicator you could think of had improved by leaps and bounds. The recession was being reversed. It took eight years for George W. Bush to drive us to the dumper in his SUV with horns on it, and in four years of the Obama administration, that trend had been reversed and our lot was better.<br />
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Almost every seat in Congress was up for return or to be filled anew. We had a chance to fix things. We had a change to begin to help everyone in the country achieve The American Dream.<br />
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That was before.<br />
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Now, I really think I have stepped into some Bizarro World; some alternate universe where logic doesn’t quite exist, where a Saturday Night Live skit has been substituted for American life today.<br />
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A decent margin (more than just that one seat) in the House of Representatives, won the election and to my horror, the Senate Republicans won the election. Suddenly, we are threatened with an entire Congress that can act as if it has no requirement to pay the slightest attention to its constituents, but it also has a brand new license to go after the most accomplished president in recent times. The American voters either stayed away from the mid-term elections for reasons of some snit against Obama or because they were lazy, or stupid, or both, and let about one-quarter of the qualified voters decide for them what was going to be law from there on out.<br />
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They had heard the warnings that the Republicans were coming after Social Security, Medicare, the Post Office and the potential voters didn’t care. Or they didn’t believe it. Or they weren’t quite bright enough to tell the lies about the danger from the actual danger. They stayed home and, according to some polls, let the over-sixty set decide what to do.<br />
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So, now, starting in January, the worst Congress in history has a blank check to loot and maraud at will. They can enact more laws that will drive a bigger wedge between you and your money. They can gerrymander to their twisted heart’s desire. They can move election boundaries around so neighborhoods where they don’t like the people (especially non-white neighborhoods) don’t get to have their vote count as strongly as those of the white, notably Republican constituents.<br />
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Was there any focus on tax and resource inequality, reforming the political system, reforming candidate contribution limits, reforming our strange immigration laws, fixing the many, many, many outdated and outright silly traditions within Congress? Not a word of it.<br />
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And, now, nobody gets to talk about them because Congress believes it has a mandate from ALL the people (not just the paltry number that voted this time) to carry on raping this country and stuffing the power into the pockets of the very rich, and very wealthy.<br />
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Is it any wonder some say GOP stands for Guardians Of Privilege, Gas and Oil Party, Gang Of Patricians, Greedy Old Putzes? Small wonder that I call them Republithugs, Repelicans, Republicrooks and Republithieves, RepubliKKKans and Repugnatants to name a few. It is clear these people have no good ideas for their constituents. It is all about either them or about their financial backers. If they stand against a good idea, they ALWAYS resort to name calling or hiding behind some kind of moral stance derived from a religious book they say they read and understand. They seldom admit it, but they are deriving most of their steam from the Old South Crackers and Good Old Boys that are STILL pissed off that their guy lost the Presidential election…TWICE…and a black guy won.<br />
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So, now comes my question and next the advice.<br />
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Democrats, WHERE ARE YOU ALL? Why did you let the GOP wander through this election almost without challenge, and why did you say so little? Are you friends with these crooks? Are you afraid to hurt some feelings? They aren’t. They call you everything but human. They don’t respect you and behave as if you don’t exist. So do you.<br />
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Is it true what some people say that the Democrats won’t call names and point out the GOP bad behavior because they have an equal amount of their own acceptance of bribes, dark money, and campaign contributions to protect? Are you really what I call you? Dummocraps?<br />
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What the hell is going on?<br />
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It really is Bizzarro World. These are the most obvious, and proud bunch of carpetbaggers since the post Civil-War Reconstruction era, and you lie back and let them. And some of you make the excuse that you don’t want to be tainted by Obama’s ‘low’ numbers? His numbers are as high or higher than any other lame duck president at this point in his second term and since ALL the other numbers are high, one would think you would have been trotting him out as the number one item in any campaign speech. What wimps! What wussies! Instead of pointing out the numbers that were achieved IN SPITE of opposition from a Congress that was either totally gridlocked, or at least was sitting on its hands, you all fell damn near silent. Did you think your good looks would win you a seat in the next Congress? Well, let me assure you, there ain’t many of you that are all that pretty.<br />
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So, here comes my advice. DEMOCRATS: WAKE THE HELL UP!<br />
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Before it’s too late.<br />
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Brent Kincaid</div>
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The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-37895952183772417732014-11-13T08:34:00.003-05:002014-11-13T08:44:50.161-05:00Immigration And Our Looming Baby Boomer Problems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Immigrants can save our looming Baby Boomer problems. And there are baby boomer problems, believe you me. Our post-WWII wonders are getting to that age now, and for the next wave of retirees hoping to move to warmer climates, it's not looking good.<br />
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What do we know? The Boomer generation has been hit hard with misfortune on their way to retirement age. They will get to 64 or 65, and not have enough to sustain them for their projected life expectancy. Many of them may have to work through to their 80s. Their children had to move home, due to the massive international layoffs of 2008, so that makes even more mouths to feed. <br />
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Overall, the Boomers retirement funds were stolen by Enron, by the crash of investment banks, by the crash of pensions, oil and gas deals, or by lying insurance companies who could never make good on their debt. We're looking at you, AIG, Anderson Consulting, and your mystical twin Accenture. But those are stories for another day. Let's get back to the problem we have today.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, these baby boomers were made of some tough stuff, from hippies to yippies to preppies, they believe in YES WE CAN. So they tried, they picked themselves up, and dusted themselves off, but they just couldn't replace that nest egg. Not quick enough to retire comfortably. In a few years, the front of this wave will hit our economic markets, eventually affecting every aspect of life in the US. And things will stay that way for another 25 years, constantly coming like a wave. <br />
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Of course, there will be no more gold watches after 50 years; who has funding for that anymore? And without enough savings, you need to figure out how to live on Social Security, and how to navigate through Medicare.<br />
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And then, just when they are packing up their ferns, and enjoying their goodbye cakes, your average retiree is told their social security is gone, or cut, or no longer tied to inflation. Finding huge donut holes where insurance doesn't cover you appropriately for medication, these become daily realities. </div>
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It isn't going to be cheap to keep these people alive, bottom line. Social Security, and Medicare, are supposed to be tied to inflation, but in reality, they could be cut anytime; even this newly voted-in Congress could do it. {{Shivers}} Now don't be angry at the drama. We have some options. </div>
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What if I told you where to find $606.4 billions dollars. Would you be interested? That's $606.4 billion with "B." Well, you'd probably say we need to get our hands on that life-safety-net type money before it is too late, cause then we'd get behind the problem. And that would be bad. Well, we're hear to tell you, we could get that money back in taxes.<br />
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What are we saying? Yes taxes. From the 11 million immigrants currently in the United States, and we would most likely only integrate a portion of those applicants. Anyone with criminal records would have to reviewed, turned away and most likely deported. </div>
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We could get that $606.4 billion injection into Social Security alone, but the payments would have to happen over the next 36 years. If we can get the proposed legislation S. 7844 passed and signed, we make that projected $606.4 billion. If you think of any other way our country could suddenly find an extra $606.4 billion with a "B" to pour into our Social Security fund, please do tell. </div>
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The worst part is, these are only baby steps to solving those problems. Even if the undocumented population were able to gain legal status and citizenship under S. 744, the solvency of the <i>Medicare </i>trust fund could only be extended by four years, but that's enough of a reason for me. Or at least a starting point. Congress needs to make the big reform moves moving forward. Long term. And right now that bill is sitting on the steps of Capitol Hill, left swaddled by the Senate, waiting to be discussed and debated by The House.</div>
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At this time, there is another bill created by House Dems, and also ignored. We need to see this problem for what it is. What some members of Congress are not seeing is that this issue will exist for the next 25 years, the length of the Baby Boomer generation.<br />
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There are lots of humane reasons why we should process these immigrants completely and now. But, as you see, there are pragmatic financial reasons for doing it too. Citizenship would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to work on the books and contribute to Social Security. Over the next 25 years, these contributions to the <i>Social Security</i> system would support 2.4 million American retirees. </div>
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Everything about S. 744 makes sense. As mentioned, this legislation already passed in the Senate, but the house won't even vote to vote on it. They won't even vote to debate it.<br />
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If "some people" could get over their phobia of the 11 million people already surrounding them, perhaps we could move forward. </div>
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We think there's a whole bunch of deportation type stuff as well in S. 744. We know if we can make this happen immigrants, who are currently living in the United States off the grid, could make an additional net contribution of <i>$155 billion to Medicare </i>over the next 30 years. That's 3/4s of a trillion dollars this bill generates. At least that is the projection.<br />
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Hear me out on the real digits you need to know about immigration. As Baby Boomers retire en masse over the next 20 years, and yes they are coming, immigrants will be crucial to fill those then empty job posts. It is projected, by several stats gurus, that 58.6 million new workers will be needed to fill those Baby Boomer retirements. That's 58.6 million workers needed, and only 51.3 million native-born Americans are projected to enter the workforce, meaning that immigrants and their children will be crucial to filling the additional 7.3 million job openings while also furthering growth in the labor market. Woah, what did I just say?<br />
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Yes, immigrants would, in fact, promote growth in the labor market. We have 11 million immigrants to process. More than two-thirds could enter the labor market replacing retiring workers. The rest are probably already in our labor market, undocumented. What we propose here, is that we get these people legally documented without scaring them to death. If they are working, give them a work visa. No job, end of the line. Refugee, front of the line. Do you have a Sponsor, front of the line. Why? Because all those people could start to have bank accounts, and spend money, creating jobs, yes creating jobs. It is a win, win. Again, these human beings are already here. We have to do something. Our current laws aren't equipped to handle 11 million immigrants all at the same time.<br />
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The Policy Geek</div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-88644523530805776312014-11-12T02:18:00.000-05:002014-11-24T02:21:51.476-05:00Ebola Today 11/12<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ebola Virus</td></tr>
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<b>US is Ebola Free</b><br />
Today, the news is better than last week, or the week before, but the struggle continues.<br />
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We’ll start with some good news, in fact, the best news. The only patient with Ebola in the United States, for the last couple of weeks or so, has been the subway riding, bowling doctor, who traipsed around New York City after returning from working with Ebola patients in Guinea. Spencer, 33, was <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/last-u-s-ebola-patient-cured-dr-craig-spencer-be-n245586" target="_blank">infected with Ebola</a> while working for Doctors Without Borders.<br />
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Well today, after receiving excellent care at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City, Dr. Craig Spencer has been deemed free of the Ebola virus, and was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/11/craig-spencer-ebola-free-released_n_6139204.html%C2%A0" target="_blank">released from Bellevue</a> to much hugging and fanfare.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“It’s a very, very good day,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press conference Tuesday. “Dr. Spencer is Ebola-free, and New York City is Ebola-free.”</i></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayor Bill de Blasio hugging Dr. Craig Spencer <br />
Ebola Survivor.</td></tr>
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As a reminder, although Spencer wandered around the city that doesn’t sleep, he did so feeling and showing no symptoms. Only after feeling and then reporting symptoms of Ebola on Thursday, Oct. 23rd, was he transported to an isolation ward by ambulance, later testing positive for the virus.</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I’m elated,” said Ram Raju, M.D., president of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, “because we were able to treat and cure a hero.”</i></blockquote>
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That <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/the-quiet-end-to-the-us-ebola-panic-craig-spencer/382623/" target="_blank">news</a> out of New York brings the grand total of Ebola cases currently in the U.S. back down to zero. ZERO. In the United States, there are currently ZERO cases of Ebola. It bears repeating.<br />
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For now, the hysteria that began with the arrival, diagnosis, and subsequent death, of Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas is resembling so many other Fox “news” crises of the moment, in with a bang and out with a “squirrel!” While the U.S. response faltered at the outset, with the misdiagnosis of Duncan and sending him home, and then with existing federal and state public-health protocols being inconsistent, the nation’s superior medical care ultimately prevailed: All three Ebola patients, whose infections were quickly and properly diagnosed, have been cured, and no one they came into contact with has reported symptoms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Struggling with the losses.</td></tr>
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<b>Back In Africa</b><br />
<a href="http://time.com/3578870/ebola-measles-malaria/" target="_blank">What’s happening in the rest of the world</a>? So far, almost 5000 have died from Ebola during this outbreak. The death toll will go higher once they discover all the small villages and towns completely wiped out by the virus, ones that could not get to help that was 2 or more hours away. According to the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/history/chronology.html" target="_blank">CDC</a>, the disease itself has been around since 1976, killing 431 that year. What you need to understand, is that there is a reason that Doctors Without Borders exists. This Ebola virus is just one of many diseases that have taken hold in the western part of Africa over the decades. And to understand Ebola, you need to understand that.<br />
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For instance, let’s talk about measles for just a moment. Ya know, the disease no one gets anymore. It has a .2% fatality rate, and since the endemic spread of measles was eliminated in the United States (2000), rates of measles had been fairly low. However, before the routine use of the measles vaccine (1963) and the MMR vaccine (1971), <a href="http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childhoodinfections/a/0408_measles.htm" target="_blank">measles</a> cases — and complications from those cases — were really high. There used to be about 500,000 cases of measles and 500 measles deaths each year in the United States.<br />
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Today, with vaccinations, no one needs to die from the measles. Or even suffer from it. Nonetheless, this year, in the United States, we had 600 cases of the <a href="http://pediatrics.about.com/od/immunizations/a/0408_im_illness.htm" target="_blank">vaccine-preventable disease</a>, and no reports of deaths from measles. In comparison, in the poorest regions of Africa, 122,000 people died of the measles in 2012. DIED. 122,000 people died of a vaccine-preventable disease in one year. Let that soak in. Although that sounds like an incredibly grim death toll, health experts hail the figures as a sign of success of the U.N.’s mass vaccination programs, since the number has plummeted since the 1990s, when more than 500,000 people a year, or about 1,300 a day, died of measles.<br />
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What’s our point? We’ve lost 5000 total in this epidemic. Not 5000 a day. To put things in perspective, this isn’t our first rodeo, and it’s not as bad as many others we’ve fought before. And every one who has come to the United States, except for poor Thomas Eric Duncan, has been cured, so we are getting a hold on it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebola Robot Zaps Virus To Instantly Clean.</td></tr>
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<b>Technological Solutions</b><br />
What makes these patients so dangerous to treat is the big messes that are made. Liquids everywhere have to be cleaned up, and removed safely. We’ve found some help in that area from the technology sector.<br />
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The Xenex robot, from a company in San Antonio, was first introduced years ago, and it is capable of using ultraviolet light to mess with the virus’s DNA, thereby damaging it enough to essentially make it harmless. This is a clean up robot and, now that healthcare workers have a way to quickly kill off the virus in certain locations, entire parts of hospitals can be cleaned with it. This robot has been sent to 250 hospitals, and is actively being used at this time to keep medical workers out of harms way when cleaning up after one of these highly contagious patients.<br />
<br />
When most people hear the word Ebola, they envision hazmat suits and quarantined hospital rooms. But UC Berkeley engineering professor <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/how-robots-could-be-used-to-fight-ebola/" target="_blank">Ken Goldberg envisions robots also helping with specific tasks</a>. In fact, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy reached out for Goldberg’s expertise in robotics, encouraging him and three other researchers and research centers to hold brainstorming sessions on ways to enlist robots in the fight against this deadly disease.</div>
<div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“People have an expectation that the robots are going to go in and do something dramatic.” Goldberg explained. “The capabilities are limited right now. There’s a lot of research that needs to be done. These are some tools that we hope will be useful in both the near term and long term.”</i></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
Goldberg sees at least two ways robots may be redeployed in the next three to six months to help contain the spread of Ebola. First, telepresence robots, with cameras and screens that allow doctors to remotely communicate and get a visual read of patients, could be useful in the diagnosis phase.</div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“When you’re trying to diagnose a patient, there’s a lot of nuance,” Goldberg said. “You want to be able to look from different angles, look at different parts of the patient. You also want to be able to have some kind of intervention. You want to be able to zoom in or hopefully touch, palpate part of a patient. So, there’s a lot of interesting research. How can you do that from a distance?”</i></blockquote>
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Goldberg also sees robots being helpful in the near term with clean up and decontamination. But there’s one major obstacle to overcome: most robots have wheels that would immediately get contaminated. Goldberg explains,</div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“We don’t know, actually, how to sterilize them. There’s too many intricate, moving parts. So essentially, you’d have to throw the robot out afterward.”</i></blockquote>
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First, engineers need to improve robots’ abilities to perceive clear objects. All the glassware used in labs, like test tubes, beakers and slides, can currently confuse robots.<br />
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The second way Goldberg says robots can play a part in the Ebola fight in the long term is by inserting IVs either for drawing blood or providing intravenous hydration. Technology could help cut down on the occurrences of patients being poked multiple times to tap a good vein.</div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“We use new imaging techniques to be able to find the vein more accurately,” Goldberg said, “and a robotic device that would be able to position the needle more accurately.”</i></blockquote>
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According to Goldberg,</div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“It could be a couple of years before robots play an expanded role in the fight against Ebola. We’re looking beyond this current health crisis so we’re ready for the next one. Some of us feel this is the end of the world. But those on the forefront of technology know this stuff comes in waves, it has before, it will again, and this is not the biggest monster we’ve defeated.”</i></blockquote>
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<b>Ebola Affecting World Events</b><br />
In Africa, because of the drastic numbers, there are also drastic results. When talking about soccer (football) “drastic” might be a big word, but not if you live in Africa. Well, things have gotten so bad there that the <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/08/sport/football/football-cup-of-nations-ebola/" target="_blank">Moroccan government urged</a> African soccer’s governing body to delay its flagship bi-annual continental competition over Ebola fears. To be clear, Morocco is reported to be Ebola free at this time.<br />
<br />
Morocco was slated to host the African Cup of Nations, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), from Jan. 17th to Feb. 8th 2015. The 16 team competition has run since 1957, and the north African country has already spent millions of dollars upgrading its stadiums for this event and December’s FIFA Club World Cup. But the outbreak of Ebola in west Africa has raised fears in Morocco that traveling fans and players could help spread the disease further, so Morocco wanted the cup delayed until June 2015 or early 2016.<br />
<br />
As of today, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/sports/soccer/morocco-wont-host-africa-cup-of-nations-because-of-ebola-fears.html%C2%A0" target="_blank">Morocco has been removed as host of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations</a> and expelled from participating in the biennial championship. No replacement host has yet been named for the 3 week tournament. Any postponement could be financially crippling for the CAF. So, that happened.<br />
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<b>Back In Maine</b><br />
The boyfriend of Kaci Hickox, the nurse who defiantly refused to self-quarantine after she returned from West Africa, <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/09/362770821/maine-nurse-to-move-out-of-state-following-ebola-quarantine-row" target="_blank">says the couple will move out of Maine</a> this week after a state court order restricting their movement expires. Ted Wilbur, Kaci’s brave boyfriend, <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2014/11/07/kaci-hickox-boyfriend-leaving-maine-after-ebola-quarantine/" target="_blank">withdrew from his nursing program</a> at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, where the couple lives, and said Friday that he and Hickox were “going to try to get our lives back on track” by leaving the state. So, as of now, her saga is over. Although, we wouldn’t be too surprised if she ended up testifying before Congress one day.<br />
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<b>What Is Ebola Again?</b><br />
Don’t be ashamed to ask. If you haven’t had to time to really learn about this particular disease, this is your chance, as Scientific American has published some insights under <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/report/ebola-what-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank">What You Need To Know</a> that might be handy. If not, just skip down to the next section, if you please.<br />
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How does Ebola actually get a hold of your health? The Ebola virus gives itself a head start when it first slips into a human body by disabling parts of the immune system that should be leading the charge against the invader. It hijacks the functions of certain defense warriors known as dendritic cells—whose primary function is to alert the immune system of the incoming threat. Other targets include monocytes and macrophages, types of white blood cells whose job is to absorb and clear away foreign organisms. These are the first cells Ebola infects, and bends to the process of making more Ebola viruses. The maneuver is the viral version of invading a country by hypnotizing the army, and turning it against its own people. Then, having kicked the immune system’s feet out from under it, Ebola takes off in a run.<br />
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Although it only has seven genes, Ebola is an exquisitely effective killer of humans, once it enters a body. Unlike the spiky sea urchin that is influenza, or the golf-ball shaped poliovirus, Ebola resembles noosed ropes under the electron microscopes used to capture viral images. Classified as a filovirus, Ebola is one of two members of that family; the other is Marburg virus, named after the German city where it was first seen in researchers who caught it from imported non-human primates. Both pathogens are among the most lethal viruses that afflict people, but it is Ebola that has become the recognized and dreaded face of the filovirus family.<br />
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According to the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ebola-virus/basics/symptoms/con-20031241" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>, these are the symptoms, and they happen quickly once a high fever is detected.<br />
<ul>
<li>Nausea and vomiting.</li>
<li>Diarrhea (may be bloody)</li>
<li>Red eyes.</li>
<li>Raised rash.</li>
<li>Chest pain and cough.</li>
<li>Stomach pain.</li>
<li>Severe weight loss.</li>
<li>Bleeding, usually from the eyes, and bruising (people near death may bleed from other orifices, such as ears, nose and rectum)</li>
</ul>
One of the things that makes the spread in Africa travel so fast is their burial customs. Once someone with Ebola dies, they are still quite toxic. It is customary to hold the dead person, to embrace them, etc. before burial, and that behavior, unsafe burial practices, is one of the major things that our military, and the west African governments are working to educate the public on at this time.<br />
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<b>Can’t Africa Do Something On Their Own?</b><br />
Africa’s wealthiest companies and individuals have clubbed together to raise $28.5 million for a fund to fight Ebola. African Union officials and business executives gathered in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday, Nov. 8th to <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/african-businesses-raise-326-million-ebola-fighting-fund-20141108-11j82q.html" target="_blank">launch the emergency response fund</a>, which they said would be distributed immediately.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York's Keeping Track Of Those Possibly Exposed.</td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Really? No More Cases In The United States?</b><br />
Monitor operations are working round the clock to keep track of West African visitors who have returned to The States. The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/nyregion/with-phone-calls-and-persistence-tracking-travelers-at-risk-for-ebola.html?_r=0" target="_blank">New York Times reports</a> today, November 11th:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Hundreds of workers drawn from all corners of NY City’s Health Department are brought together on the 12th floor of the dept.’s headquarters to doggedly call one telephone number after another like telemarketers in an effort to find anyone who may have recently come to New York City from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. As you walk across the room, you can hear them speaking French, and at least five dialects of West African languages like Mandingo and Pulaar, to track these people down. This is a 24 hour a day operation now keeping track of almost 300 people, and is believed to be the largest monitoring effort in the country. Up to now, no one being monitored has registered any symptoms worrisome enough to prompt testing for Ebola.”</i></blockquote>
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And that’s just one city, and one team. There are monitoring operations like this happening all over the country, and again, at this time, we have no active cases of Ebola in the United States.<br />
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That’s something to celebrate. Even if it might just be a brief respite.<br />
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Stay with us daily as we report what we find, and vet what we can.</div>
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The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-37103832669589807662014-11-12T00:55:00.001-05:002014-11-13T08:44:36.286-05:00Discussing The Status Of Immigration Reform<div>
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Coming back to the discussion of Immigration Reform, let's policy geek out the issues on the table. In the last couple of days, pundits have suggested which way to go on the issue. Chuck Todd of Meet The Press <a href="http://www.today.com/news/chuck-todd-immigration-reform-obama-has-act-1D80274352">says</a>, Obama 'has to act.' The Wall Street Journal <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/obamas-immigration-temptation-1415750649">reports</a> that any executive order attempting to tackle the problem would make durable reform harder to pass. Let's get into this.<br />
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<b>What Can The President Do On His Own?</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
We begin with this, POTUS has broad legal authority to take executive action on immigration. While only Congress can act to permanently fix the nation’s broken immigration system, the president has wide legal latitude to begin the process. Through what is known as prosecutorial discretion, the president can focus resources and time to pursue serious criminal offenders, instead of low-priority immigrants. These low-priority immigrants could be granted deferred action, a process by which they could register, pass background checks, receive a work permit, and a reprieve from deportation.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Why Hasn't Obama Already Done Something?</b></div>
<div>
June 2012, the Obama administration announced that it would use its inherent executive authority to explicitly protect a group of DREAM Act-eligible undocumented youth from deportation. The program allows this population to apply for temporary protection from deportation and for work authorization. As of March 2014, more than 553,000 applicants were granted deferred action, and just more than 20,000 were denied protection.<br />
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December 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced it would limit its detainer policy. The agency will no longer issue a detainer request to local police directing them to hold someone identified as a potentially undocumented immigrant unless that person has been charged with a serious crime or has been convicted of multiple misdemeanors. This announcement aligns with the agency’s evolving effort to apply so-called prosecutorial discretion to immigration cases: prioritizing criminals—rather than long-settled and hardworking immigrants—for detention and deportation.<br />
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March 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services changed its policy to better observe its principle of family unification. Effective March 2013, the U.S. government reduced the amount of time that spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens are separated from their families when applying for legal permanent resident status. The new rule allows qualified applicants to apply for a hardship waiver while still in the United States. In the waiver, the applicant must establish that if the family were to be separated, the applicant’s spouse or parent with citizenship or legal permanent resident status would suffer extreme hardship.<br />
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August 2013, the Obama administration issued a directive that advised immigration authorities to exercise prosecutorial discretion when they detain undocumented immigrant parents. While the directive does not prevent the deportation of undocumented parents, it does allow detained parents to make some caregiving decisions that were formerly difficult to guarantee, such as ensuring their family members are aware of their detention and are able to care for their children.<br />
<br />
November 2013, the Obama administration acted to allow undocumented family members of individuals serving in the U.S. military to be paroled in place. Parole in place allows certain family members of U.S. military personnel who entered the country without inspection—but who are otherwise entitled to legal status based on their family relationships—to file for adjustment of status and remain in the United States during the process. Without parole, as we mentioned earlier, they would be required to leave the country and to endure a potentially lengthy separation from their family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tINvJd2vqmyFSrIahmH0qU82H1jdoOo-S4JOwve_t-04EfJT6TCrL-ZEdfz6YC8Rqbj-fPhL-kMDzR0wvi4EQtpKTVXSALiCQGKf12xSzgNuqaoa9fv3nHZ51quH3Jw30PMu46eP6rI/s1600/20120927_green-card_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tINvJd2vqmyFSrIahmH0qU82H1jdoOo-S4JOwve_t-04EfJT6TCrL-ZEdfz6YC8Rqbj-fPhL-kMDzR0wvi4EQtpKTVXSALiCQGKf12xSzgNuqaoa9fv3nHZ51quH3Jw30PMu46eP6rI/s320/20120927_green-card_33.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mystical, magical green card.</td></tr>
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<b></b><br />
<b>Did you know?</b><br />
In June 2013, the Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill with a vote of 68 to 32. The Senate bill remains viable for reconciliation with a House bill until the 113th Congress ends on December 31, 2014. It could be done. All that has to happen is for the lame duck House to take it up. Now what are the chances of that?<br />
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The Senate-passed immigration reform bill, S. 744, provides a tough but achievable pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The bill would put the majority of the 11 million undocumented immigrants on a 13-year pathway to citizenship. In the meantime, registered provisional immigrants—the first step on the pathway—who have met certain requirements, passed background checks, and paid fees and fines will be able to live in the United States, work, and travel abroad without fear of deportation. In response, House Republican leaders have not brought any immigration bills to the floor. What DID they do instead? House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced his party would not move forward on immigration until members of the House regained their trust that President Obama would enforce immigration laws. Has this been a problem?<br />
House Democrats have tried their best, introducing a version of the Senate-passed immigration reform bill, H.R. 15. The bill includes almost all parts of the Senate bill, substituting the border provisions with House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX)’s border security bill. In September 2014, the bill had 199 co-sponsors, but House Republican leadership refuses to even bring it to the floor for debate, let alone call for a vote on it.<br />
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S. 744 also significantly increases border security, so the nutcases on the border with their own guns, and their own rules, should be thrilled. The bill mandates significant increases in technology, personnel, fencing, and funding to ramp up border security to an unprecedented level. The bill mandates that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, complete 700 miles of pedestrian fencing, increase the number of full-time U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from today’s 21,391 to 38,405 by 2021, and deploy a litany of technology on the southern border.<br />
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S. 744 mandates that all employers in the country use E-Verify—the government’s Internet-based work-authorization system—within five years of the bill’s enactment as a means of ensuring that unauthorized immigrants are not granted employment.<br />
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S. 744 clears the long backlog of people who have been approved for a green card. The bill ensures that the 4.3 million people who have been approved for a green card but have been waiting for years, even decades, to come to the United States because of the long backlogs in the system can finally reunite with their family members. Even with this passed, S. 744 would take a decade to clear the backlog we currently have. Yes, it's that bad.<br />
<br />
S. 744 expands the number of green cards for highly skilled, advanced-degree professionals; significantly increases the annual cap for H-1B visas; creates a new lesser-skilled “W” visa category; and establishes a bureau tasked with analyzing economic, labor, and demographic data to help set annual limits on each type of visa.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first wave of baby boomer retirees are leaving the jobs market.</td></tr>
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<b></b>
<b>Baby Boomer Problems</b><br />
There are lots of humane reasons why we should process these immigrants completely and now. But there are pragmatic financial reasons for doing it too. Citizenship would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to work on the books and contribute to Social Security. If undocumented immigrants gained legal status and citizenship, they would provide a net <i>$606.4 billion contribution to Social Security</i> over the next 36 years—the same time period when retiring Baby Boomers will place the greatest strain on the system. These contributions to the Social Security system would support 2.4 million American retirees. Everything about S. 744, legislation passed by the Senate, yet kept off the table in The House, makes sense.<br />
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The solvency of the Medicare trust fund would be extended if the undocumented population were able to gain legal status and citizenship. Immigrants, who are currently living in the United States without proper paperwork, could start to pay in to Medicare, and over the next 30 years, make a net contribution of <i>$155 billion to Medicare</i>.<br />
<br />
As Baby Boomers retire en masse over the next 20 years, immigrants will be crucial to fill these job openings and promote growth in the labor market. More than two-thirds of new entrants into the labor market will replace retiring workers. However, while 58.6 million new workers will be needed to fill these retirements, only 51.3 million native-born people are projected to enter the workforce, meaning that immigrants and their children will be crucial to filling the additional 7.3 million job openings while also furthering growth in the labor market.<br />
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<b>But The Border...</b><br />
<u>Border agents</u>: 21,391 Border Patrol agents patrolled the borders in 2013—1,391 more than the goal set in 2007.<br />
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<u>Fencing</u>: 651 total miles of fencing have been built along the southwest border as of 2012, just one mile shy of what the Secure Fence Act of 2006 mandates. This includes 352 miles of pedestrian fencing and 299 miles of vehicle barriers.<br />
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<u>Surveillance</u>: 179 mobile and video surveillance systems and 168 radar and camera towers have been installed along the border—more than what the 2007 benchmarks required. The increase in unmanned aircraft systems and mobile surveillance systems surpassed the 2007 goals by 2 and 47, respectively.<br />
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<u>Increased consequences</u>: The Department of Homeland Security has the resources available to detain 1,300 more people per day than the 2007 goal set out to meet. The Border Patrol ended the process of catch and release, a practice where two out of every three border crossers apprehended from outside of Mexico were released into the United States pending removal hearings. The department instead expanded the consequence delivery system to the entire border. This system steps up criminal penalties for people caught illegally crossing the border and often returns immigrants to unfamiliar and far-away border cities in an effort to cut the migrant off from the smuggler who helped with his or her previous border-crossing attempt.<br />
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<u>“Operational control”</u>: In 2006, when only 23 percent of the U.S.-Mexico border was deemed to be under “operational control.” Today, 81 percent of the U.S.-Mexico border meets one of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s three highest standards of security: controlled, managed, and monitored. The remaining sections of the border are in its most inaccessible and inhospitable areas. Total control of the border is impossible, but Customs and Border Protection continues to make great strides toward gaining control of important sectors.<br />
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Border agents now patrol every mile of the U.S. border daily, and in many places, they can view nearly all attempts to cross the border in real time. Although elevated, today’s apprehension levels remain well below those seen since the 1970s. Even with the influx of child refugees at the southern border, net undocumented immigration is still at historic lows. Including the 66,127 unaccompanied minors and 66,142 families—mostly mothers with young children—who have arrived at the border in FY 2014, overall unauthorized immigration is still low. Tell that to your uncle on Thanksgiving.<br />
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Net undocumented migration from Mexico is now at or below zero. ZERO. <br />
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<b>Americans want immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship</b><br />
A majority of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. A June 2014 poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found that 62 percent of Americans support an immigration bill that provides a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens. An additional 17 percent said that they should be allowed to become legal residents.<br />
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A majority of Americans believe it is imperative that Congress passes immigration reform by the end of 2014. A July 2014 poll conducted by CBS News found that 59 percent of Americans believe passing legislation that addresses unauthorized immigration is important, while only 6 percent of Americans thought it was not important at all.<br />
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Tea Party Republicans support a pathway to citizenship or legal status. A May 2014 poll by the Partnership for a New American Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Tea Party Express revealed that 70 percent of Republican primary voters who identify with the Tea Party support a way for the undocumented to attain citizenship or legal status. <br />
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Voters in key Republican congressional districts support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. July 2013 Public Policy Polling surveys conducted in seven key congressional districts across California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, and New York unequivocally show that Republican and independent voters want Congress to fix the country’s broken immigration system. Americans support executive action on immigration. An ABC News poll conducted in August 2014 found that 52 percent of Americans support President Obama taking unilateral action on immigration reform if Congress does not act.<br />
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CBS News: The majority of Americans favor the pathway to citizenship and soundly reject legal-status-only approaches (January 2014)<br />
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In a CBS News poll, a <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-americans-split-on-obama-approval/" target="_blank">majority of Americans</a>—54 percent—felt that unauthorized immigrants should be allowed to become citizens. Importantly, while most Americans are in favor of the pathway to citizenship, they strongly reject approaches that would leave unauthorized immigrants with second-class status: Only 12 percent of respondents believed that unauthorized immigrants should receive legal status but not be able to become citizens. Two-thirds of Democrats supported the pathway to citizenship, while only 43 percent of Republicans did. However, a smaller percentage of Republicans—9 percent—than any other group supported a legal-status-only approach to immigration reform. This final result should give pause to congressional leadership as they propose, as Republicans did with their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/us/politics/text-of-republicans-principles-on-immigration.html?_r=0">immigration principles</a>, legalization without citizenship for unauthorized immigrants.<br />
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Fox News: More than two-thirds of Americans support the pathway to citizenship and reject mass deportation (January 2014)<br />
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When asked, “Which of the following comes closest to your view about what government policy should be toward undocumented immigrants currently in the United States?”, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2014/01/22/fox-news-poll-voters-say-us-still-in-recession-glad-know-snowden-secrets/" target="_blank">68 percent</a> of Americans favored a pathway to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants in the country if they meet requirements such as paying back taxes and passing background checks. Support for requiring all unauthorized immigrants to be sent back to their home countries stood at only 15 percent. Support for the pathway to citizenship has increased slightly, by 2 percent, since May 2013, while support for sending unauthorized immigrants home has dropped 5 percent.<br />
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As Greg Sargent of The Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/02/20/gop-stalling-on-immigration-is-not-about-distrust-of-obama/" target="_blank">points out</a>, “GOP stalling on immigration is not about ‘distrust of Obama.’” From the polling above, it is clear that it is not about public opinion either. Americans support immigration reform, including the pathway to citizenship, and will be disappointed if Congress fails to pass legislation this year. The window for acting on immigration reform is open through 2014, the public supports it, and now is the time for the House to step up and pass it.<br />
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Are you talking about this with your friends? It may come a time, and soon, where we all have to write, call, fax, and visit our representatives to help push this through. Where do you sit on these policy decisions? What do you think?<br />
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The Policy Geek</div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-74353625737731866072014-11-07T02:04:00.000-05:002014-11-07T02:05:31.651-05:00Occasional Repost: The GOP Invited Dems to a Red Wedding, the Dems Obliged<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We occasionally repost amazing articles from friends who hit the mark, perfectly. Here is David Phillips take on The Great Democalypse that was the 2014 midterms.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Wedding In The Capitol</td></tr>
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<br />
A Red Wedding.<br />
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In Game of Thrones speak, this refers to a scene in the HBO series where the King of the North, his wife, and his mother--along with everyone else in their camp--is led into a trap based around a wedding meant to draw the two warring sides together in peace. The king and his crew let their guard down. They relax and believe that everything will turn out just fine. What follows is a massive bloodletting orchestrated by Lord Walder Frey where no one is spared--not even the honorable king's unborn child. It is a gruesome bit of television that has already taken its place in tube lore. It couldn't compare to what happened Tuesday night in the 2014 Midterms. The Senate flipped, the House got housed, and the guvnas got guvna'd.<br />
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Still, to spring this trap on unsuspecting Democrats, Lords McConnell, Boehner, Priebus, and Christie needed the unwitting compliance of two groups of people. Democratic voters and pols. They could not have asked for more.<br />
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If showing up is 80% of life, as it has often been attributed to Woody Allen, the Democratic voter was well short of that. Somehow, this happens nearly every midterm election and yet the left seems to never learn that the progress often made in presidential election years must be consecrated two years later. It's a common refrain that Democratic voters are lazy. Nothing about last night will make that refrain less common anytime soon. As usual, the electorate in this off-year election was paler, maler, and staler than in presidential years and again, Democrats paid the cost of too many of their flock only being interested in the big show every four years.<br />
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As well, we Democrats are an easily dispirited bunch. Susceptible to disappointment and wanting to punish our party for not doing enough while not recognizing the alternative to our way of thinking is more reliable and therefore more than willing to fill the void during our off-year siestas. This lurching back and forth from election to election is made possible not just by the Right's efforts to disenfranchise minorities and young people--although that's certainly a factor--but by our own occasional lack of interest. And if you think voter ID laws are making it harder to get the base to the polls now, just consider the contests for Governor we lost last night. Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts Florida, Maine, Wisconsin and perhaps Colorado are either flipping and going R or are staying that way. All in states that should be either slam dunks (IL, MD, MA) or at least competitive (the rest). Does anyone think it's going to get any easier to access the ballot box in any of these states now?<br />
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<b>PAUSE</b>: If any Democratic leader ever lets Martha Coakley (two time loser in sky blue Massachusetts) or Charlie Crist (who has now lost as a Republican, an Independent, and a Democrat) run for office under their banner again, please push them into traffic. <b>RESUME</b>.<br />
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As well, many on the left are feeling less than inspired by our current President. We buy into the fears over ISIS and Ebola, even though not a single American has died from either on domestic soil. We are displeased with the rate of economic growth even though we are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/business/us-economy-is-doing-well-compared-with-other-nations.html?_r=0">outpacing</a> every other first world nation post Bush II's Crash of 2008. We don't think he's done enough on immigration, disentangling us from overseas conflicts, and too much on privacy invasion and national security in general. There are reasonable arguments to be made in each of these cases. They are not won by not voting. Even if you think Obama's merely the lesser of two evils, when presented with the two, what idiot would not take that which would harm you the least?<br />
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Not to mention, all the state and local issues we failed to represent for Tuesday night. Even if your congressional vote was hopeless (as mine was), would you not at least want to mitigate the damage by at minimum, keeping your own backyard short of insanity? Don't get me wrong, the average voter in even the red states on election night was pretty strange. By and large voting 'yea' on liberal issues such as the legalization of <a href="http://time.com/3557760/2014-midterm-elections-marijuana-pot/">marijuana</a> and raising the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/05/news/economy/higher-minimum-wage-2014-elections/index.html">minimum wage</a>, while also voting for candidates who oppose both, but we already know these types vote against their own interests. At least they can be bothered to turn out, no matter how much head scratching ensues by us thinking types afterwards.<br />
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As irresponsible as the left leaning non-voter was last night, it's quite possible our candidates were even worse. Nearly all of them ran away from any sort of accomplishment Democrats may have won over the last six years. An improving, if fitful economy. A health care law that is literally addressing the needs of millions of people while also bringing down costs, and a country that is embroiled in fewer major conflicts and has not had one terror attack take place in this country from anyone outside of the occasional lone wolf. That's a story one could tell...if one were willing to tell it. See, when you act embarrassed by that which you have achieved, not only does it show, but your avoidance of those successes allows your foe to define those achievements as anything but. Therefore, you had a lot of politicians with a (D) by their name running on...what the fuck I don't know.<br />
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A perfect example is Mark Warner of Virginia. A former very popular Governor of Virginia who won his Senate seat in 2008 with more than 60% of the popular vote. This year, he had to scrape by former Bushie, Ed Gillespie, whom the Republicans (thankfully) barely bothered to fund. Warner was once a short lister for VP and even, in some circles, discussed as a future top of the ticket possibility. Tell me this though, what the fuck does anyone know about Mark Warner? What significant piece of legislation has he ever been attached to? Did anyone in Virginia even know what Warner was running on? Much like Indiana's former nondescript Democratic Governor and Senator, Evan Bayh, the only thing I know about Warner is he wins elections--if this year, only just.<br />
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Too many Democratic candidates ran this sort of safe race about nothing last night. Some were even worse. Many of those up for a vote on election day pretended we didn't even have a two-time electoral landslide winning Democratic President of the United States until they were asked directly about him. Then they turned into "<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/buy/learning-toys/fisher-price-see-n-say-farmer-says-n1672-3384749">See and Says</a>." Only instead of pulling the string and having them--like the toy--say "the cow goes moo" or "the rooster goes cockadoodledoo," the candidate went "I disagree with the president" with every jerk of the chain.<br />
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Even worse, Senate candidate in Kentucky, Alison Lundergan Grimes, when asked whether she voted for the president she served as a state delegate for in 2012, fell only one denial short of a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A15-27&version=NKJV">Peter/Jesus</a> relationship with her party's standard-bearer. This was the norm for the Democratic candidate in 2014. Take credit for nothing, run on nothing, and when asked about your relationship with a guy who knows how to win elections, speak as if that guy was nothing too. The funny thing is, you know who that guy was more popular than? Both chambers of congress.<br />
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This sort of weak-kneed campaigning led to Republicans overachieving everywhere. Even in the few places Dems pulled out a win. Take New Hampshire, where the relatively popular former Governor and current Senator, Jeanne Shaheen, barely outpaced the carpetbagging former Senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown. A candidate so committed to his new state, he could hardly admit to any interest in staying in it should he lose. I don't know what all Mid-Atlantic states have Dems up for the Senate in 2016, but I do suggest they start their opposition research on Brownie now, just in case.<br />
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To these short sighted pols, I would like to ask, what did this "safe" strategy net you? Dems lost to a <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/turtlefeed/turtles-that-look-like-mitch-mcconnell-ruc">turtle</a> in Kentucky, a man afraid of a circular <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/rick-scott-debate-fan_n_5993412.html">fan</a> in Florida, and a proud <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/new-joni-ernst-tv-ad-goes-back-to-her-hog-castrating-roots-20141022">castrator</a> of hogs in Iowa. I'll now share with you my favorite gallows-humored tweet of the night from former Daily Show correspondent, Wyatt Cenac: "For all the Democratic candidates that campaigned by distancing themselves from the President... it worked. They will be nowhere near him."<br />
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I will say this for Democratic non-voters and candidates, you did accomplish something unexpected last night. You made a lame duck President more relevant than anyone could have anticipated. Now he's all that stands between you and the policies you despise. I'm sure that's what you had in mind while watching the electoral map run red like the floor of Walder Frey's banquet room.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/author/davidp/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/author/davidp/" target="_blank">David Phillips</a></div>
The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-44919001955277918332014-11-06T20:13:00.004-05:002014-11-06T20:37:23.394-05:00Talking About Immigration Reform<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBzh1Z31QtLVrvEum7ue-9Bub4n0qcf-w42lcsG7iOL2g5V1sK9a6xEiRbY6ChF5GBW-r0ApGc7ubQc4wjma1v3Oi4q6z04plGqydcUgHLbAtwdjIAiYaNFNQolnBWJAto2g2CbN0xS8/s1600/AP150768558000-620.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Administering the oath of citizenship at naturalization ceremonies.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Taking Action On Immigration</b><br />
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So what exactly is it we are going to do about Immigration? What is it the Republicans are going to propose? What will be included in Obama's Executive Order, should he be pushed to draft something from GOP inaction and obstruction?<br />
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Immigrants are taxpayers, entrepreneurs, job creators, and consumers. Hard to believe, we know, but immigrants are people too. They are income earning, often hard working, tax paying, and goods consuming small business owners. Still, there is no doubt the immigration system is broken and in need of serious reform. The U.S. border is not really the problem. People can just fly in for a visit, and stay. The idea that every person trying to get into the United States is crawling over the border, and then running to the nearest welfare office, is ridiculous. In fact, the border now is more secure than ever as a result of decades of steadily increasing border and interior enforcement. <br />
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At the same time, what we also have are rigid, out-of-date laws. And We The People know that. The idea that immigration reform is needed, one that includes a clear pathway to citizenship, or work visas, for undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States, is supported by Americans in large percentages. Americans of <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2014/03/04/85102/immigration-polling-roundup-americans-of-all-political-stripes-want-congress-to-pass-immigration-reform/" target="_blank">all political stripes</a> want Congress to pass some sort of safe and sane immigration reform, with just more than half of all Americans in a CNN/ORC International poll arguing that the <a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2014/images/02/06/rel3g..pdf" target="_blank">first priority on immigration</a> should be to provide a pathway to legal status for unauthorized immigrants living in the country. Most intelligent people who have seen a map of the United States realize that a pathway to legal status is key to solving the problem at hand, while building some sort of fence ~~ not so much.<br />
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Of course, in this article, it doesn't really matter how many people think we need reform. What matters is that you know we need a legal path for immigrants to follow in order to integrate into our society, pay taxes legally, and save us millions of dollars annually in round-them-up and ship-them-out money. What matters is that you write to your newly elected representatives, and tell them that. Call them, write-in, and sit-in. That's the way this will get done.</div>
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Common-sense reform would restore public faith in the system and level the playing field for all Americans, while supercharging the economic benefits from our immigrant population. Amongst all the white collar workers that come here for a better life, these immigrants also watch our children, mow our lawns, clean our toilets, and harvest our food. To ignore that with some sort of isolationist attitude is to doom these caregivers to "illegal" status for no good reason.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj59uQSEdPqf9WdLCm1H_Dmop6x4z73fbl4BoieJ3EqazmbtvKguuy87knM_CBl6cI1mAJOeqZIUEVMa3Hqh6Y2ObXmYJ5ktQ-QWnFCvMzRiUC2gTYn38kHtqVdkaXb4R8Zivbiz_rkI/s1600/immigration.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj59uQSEdPqf9WdLCm1H_Dmop6x4z73fbl4BoieJ3EqazmbtvKguuy87knM_CBl6cI1mAJOeqZIUEVMa3Hqh6Y2ObXmYJ5ktQ-QWnFCvMzRiUC2gTYn38kHtqVdkaXb4R8Zivbiz_rkI/s1600/immigration.gif" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(The Star Forum, 2006)</td></tr>
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Thanks to our friends at Center For American Progress, below are the latest and most essential facts about immigrants and immigration reform in our nation today. The facts are broken down into the following sections:<br />
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<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/#population" target="_blank">Today’s immigrant population</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/#latinos" target="_blank">Demographics and political power of new Americans</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/#economy" target="_blank">Immigrants and the economy</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/#policy" target="_blank">Federal immigration policy</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/#polling" target="_blank">Public opinion polling on immigration</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/#children" target="_blank">In the news: Unaccompanied children at the U.S. southern border</a><br />
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<b>Did you know...</b></div>
<div>
Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes or to be incarcerated than native-born Americans. A 2007 study by the Immigration Policy Center found that the incarceration rate for immigrant men ages 18 to 39 in 2000 was 0.7 percent, while the incarceration rate for native-born men of the same age group was 3.5 percent. In fact, crime rates have dropped as immigration rates have increased. While the foreign-born share of the U.S. population grew from 8 percent to 13 percent between 1990 and 2010, FBI data indicate that violent crime rates across the country fell by about 45 percent, while property crime rates fell by 42 percent.<br />
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How many people are we talking about? By the end of 2012, there were approximately 11.2 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, and that number remained constant into 2013 with 11.3 million undocumented immigrants. </div>
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Six states are home to the majority of the undocumented population. As of 2012, 22 percent of the nation’s undocumented population lived in California. Fifteen percent lived in Texas, 8 percent lived in Florida, 7 percent lived in New York, 4 percent lived in Illinois, and 4 percent lived in New Jersey.<br />
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Many undocumented immigrants could be sponsored for a green card, but cannot adjust their status because they are presently undocumented. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants could qualify for a green card by virtue of having a relative who is a U.S. citizen, but—because of bars to re-entering the United States that were put in place in 1996—most would have to leave the United States for a period of at least 10 years before becoming eligible to reunite with their families. </div>
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For those of you who think you can just marry into citizenship, think again. One in five undocumented immigrant adults has a U.S. citizen, or lawful permanent resident, spouse. Of the 10 million adult undocumented immigrants living in the United States in 2012, approximately 767,000 were married to a U.S. citizen, and 944,000 were married to a lawful permanent resident, yet remained undocumented due to insane backlogs of bureaucratic processing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQNHQtl29xzbua5Ai8r44nsrJGd4vx8JEqIH2qPtDeNfLieiQENJSz6vBzj9H0HremDjEk1YF5lEf2CqyKB9khYxqqKCgsCvZcNwHpArjsqKVcJhzYAfCSMsrCngv14-vJf5TJhOM33A/s1600/si-se-puede.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQNHQtl29xzbua5Ai8r44nsrJGd4vx8JEqIH2qPtDeNfLieiQENJSz6vBzj9H0HremDjEk1YF5lEf2CqyKB9khYxqqKCgsCvZcNwHpArjsqKVcJhzYAfCSMsrCngv14-vJf5TJhOM33A/s1600/si-se-puede.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Fly Paper Magazine, 2014)</td></tr>
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<div>
<b>Election Results</b></div>
<div>
President Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012 with the support of 71 percent of Latino voters and 73 percent of Asian American voters. These groups are a key part of our multiethnic, multiracial, and cross-class Progressive coalition, which also includes African Americans, women, young people, professionals, and economically populist blue-collar whites. These groups generally vote with the Democrats. Unfortunately, without this issue adequately being addressed, a majority of eligible Latino and Asian American voters stayed home on Election Day in 2012, pointing to significant room for improvement in voter participation. Just imagine the Congress we could have had, the leads we would have had, the control we could have kept, if they were motivated to vote.</div>
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Here are the sleeping giants we need to tap into in order to take back control of Congress in 2016. While a record 11.2 million Latinos cast votes in the 2012 presidential election, 12.1 million eligible Latino voters did not vote, giving Latinos a 48 percent voter participation rate. Similarly, although 3.9 million eligible Asian American voters cast ballots on Election Day in 2012, 4.4 million did not, giving Asian Americans a 47.3 percent voter participation rate.<br />
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What do those numbers mean? Well, 57.5% of <b>all </b>eligible voters voted in 2012, 62.3% of <b>all </b>eligible voters voted in 2008, 60.4% cast ballots in 2004, and in 2000 the turnout rate was 54.2%. Clearly, just in the Latino and Asian sector, their 47% and 48% show-up rates are much lower than the national average. Again, imagine what the outcome would have been, and what the status of control of Congress would have been, had intelligent reform been put into place. If you are angry about the outcome of the 2014 midterms, take a second, and think on those numbers. Then work to figure out how you can support, or even help shape, immigration reform moving forward.</div>
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We know that the fast-paced growth of the Latino electorate, and the slow or negative growth among non-Hispanic whites, will change the voter makeup in the United States by 2016. Over the next four years, the number of eligible Latino voters nationwide is projected to increase by more than 4 million people to 27.7 million, which lands us directly at the midterms for whoever will be President next. By 2016, we can expect Texas to have 905,500 new Latino voters, making up 58.1 percent of the net increase in all eligible voters in the state. Most of the races this year were close, very close, down to the wire. How foolish it is that we alienate (pun intended) these demographics by ignoring the realities of the situation. Kicking the can down the street won't get at the problem. Renewing our embargo on Cuba doesn't show our commitment to this growing portion of the electorate. </div>
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Much of the growth in the number of eligible Latino voters can be attributed to the relative youth of the Latino population. More than 90 percent of Latinos under age 18 are U.S. citizens, and about 800,000 Latinos turn 18 and become eligible to vote every year. Again, young voters in general tend to vote with Democrats. If we continue to dismiss the dreamers, how can we hope to continue to lead the electorate? Sure, the Republicans aren't doing any better with this segment of the population, but that is no excuse for us keeping the status quo. We lose when we don't move on this issue, and in our opinion, we just lost by not moving on this issue.<br />
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Let's just talk about those who have followed all the rules up til now. Millions of legal permanent residents are eligible to become U.S. citizens and vote. A total of 8.8 million legal permanent residents, or green card holders, were eligible for naturalization in 2012. In 2013, a total of 503,104 people were naturalized and became eligible to vote. Barriers to naturalization, including the $680 application fee, effectively deny many residents the chance to become U.S. citizens and exercise their right to vote. Is it possible that these voters could punch the holes for Democrats when they enter the voting booth?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjammymyMQWu4pqvviN_YCa9w9Nm3IIWOoXM4i65o4fnxxCDRIl7bJ3f3to3bgZBd8Q8-PaYwGdNKV44DZlVkDuAZdEjdxUeehdDEcnaNoqujBUBhoWtBY1CYM6NYl0svGm9ErmtbsC3uw/s1600/Immigrants_Behold_the_Statue_of_Liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjammymyMQWu4pqvviN_YCa9w9Nm3IIWOoXM4i65o4fnxxCDRIl7bJ3f3to3bgZBd8Q8-PaYwGdNKV44DZlVkDuAZdEjdxUeehdDEcnaNoqujBUBhoWtBY1CYM6NYl0svGm9ErmtbsC3uw/s1600/Immigrants_Behold_the_Statue_of_Liberty.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(FamilySearch.org)</td></tr>
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Radical Republican radio hosts and bloggers claimed that Democrats ran to register undocumented children at the border as Democrats. Well, of course, that's insane. Children don't vote. Non citizens don't vote. That was just garbage. But, what if we did help these immigrants, already living here, already working here, become U.S. citizens. Our grandparents, and great grandparents did it. Why can't they? Why can't they, in this day and age, be processed in a timely and intelligent manner. How can we do something simple like increasing the quality of customer service in this sector? What does it actually cost us to allow eligible residents to become citizens? Does it somehow make our citizenship less valuable? If you listen to Rush Limbaugh, that would be your takeaway.<br />
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Nonetheless, A February poll by both Democratic Global Strategy Group and Republican firm Basswood Research found that nearly <a href="http://www.fwd.us/poll_support_immigration_reform" target="_blank">79 percent</a> of all Americans want immigration reform, and nearly three out of four Americans will be disappointed if Congress fails to act. Despite members of Congress saying that <a href="http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/immigration-reform-can-wait-conservatives-say/article_948dc0c2-8f59-11e3-9f8b-10604b9f6eda.html" target="_blank">immigration reform can wait</a>, it is clear that voters disagree.<br />
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<b>A Rising Wage Lifts All Workers</b></div>
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One of the reasons big business doesn't want these people legalized is that legalization and naturalization of undocumented immigrants would bolster their wages.The annual income of unauthorized immigrants would be 15.1 percent higher if they were granted legal work status. In addition, if undocumented immigrants earned their citizenship, their wages would rise by an additional 10 percent. This wage increase would occur because legal status provides the undocumented legal protections, grants access to better jobs, promotes investments in education and training, and fosters small-business creation.<br />
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Trickling sideways, immigration reform would increase the earnings of all Americans. Immigration reform that includes a five year pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants would increase the earnings of all American workers by $618 billion over the next decade.With higher incomes, all of these people would also spend more, causing an instant boost to the overall economy of the United States. The wages might cut into the bottom line of major corporations, who have been showing ridiculously record profits over the last few decades, but it will also give the American public a new buying power that, in and of itself, could lift us out of the despair we've been left with since the crash of 2008. But then, Obama would be a hero, and the Republicans just can't have that. McConnell's plan, despite his new conciliatory tone, has been and remains STOPPING OBAMA.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">11/5/14 ~~ At the 'day after' GOP Press Conference, <br />Republican strategy remains oppose President Obama at every step.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">(MSNBC) </span></td></tr>
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To be abundantly clear, all studies agree that permitting undocumented immigrants to gain legal status and citizenship would expand economic growth. Naturalized workers earn higher wages, consume more goods and services, and pay more in taxes, which in turn creates economic growth. If the undocumented immigrants in our nation were granted legal status today, and citizenship in five years, the 10-year cumulative increase in U.S. gross domestic product, or GDP, would be $1.1 trillion. So what's the hold up?</div>
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We've established granting citizenship to undocumented immigrants would create jobs and increase tax revenues. In fact, if undocumented immigrants acquired legal status today, and citizenship in five years, the economy would add an average of 159,000 new jobs per year, and formerly unauthorized workers would pay an additional $144 billion in federal, state, and local taxes over a 10-year period. Immigration reform would translate into a significant additional decrease in the federal budget deficit. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, found that S. 744—the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, as passed by the Senate—would reduce the budget deficit by $135 billion in the first decade after the bill’s passage and by an additional $685 billion in the second decade, when most undocumented immigrants would become eligible for citizenship. Heck, with those numbers, big corporations and the wealthy, who mostly don't pay taxes anyway due to loopholes and deductions, could have their tax rates reduced like Republicans are always begging to do, leaving the draconian budget cuts we suffer today completely unnecessary.</div>
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<b>How else can we put this? </b><br />
Passing the DREAM Act (which is a <a href="http://www.schumer.senate.gov/forms/immigration.pdf" target="_blank">section of S. 744</a>) would provide a pathway to legal status for <b>eligible </b>young people who complete high school and some college or military service. If the DREAM Act became law, $329 billion and 1.4 million jobs would be added to the American economy over the next two decades. That's a jobs bill everyone should be getting behind.</div>
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Another section of S. 744 calls for an expansion of the Deferred Action program, which would <b>immediately </b>yield billions of dollars in tax revenues, while increasing wages and job security for all Americans. Allowing low-priority unauthorized immigrants who have been in the country for five years to apply for deferred action—a temporary work permit and deferral of deportation—would mean that they could earn higher average wages and benefit from protection from exploitation. This would have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, yielding $6.1 billion in payroll tax revenue in the first year and increasing gains of up to $45 billion over the next five years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v6beYj2BzhaQ25dwVdSs1n8nenAXkoaNc0NhPd1u7v-KSZH7JZnKqrNRSC_9qPOG0G75z2udsqXABQ71_t897CDBsDWfcjMZ-VZT7ybbWZEIzW2KxbHDQb70SewAp9vIx65ONICf8Gk/s1600/images+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v6beYj2BzhaQ25dwVdSs1n8nenAXkoaNc0NhPd1u7v-KSZH7JZnKqrNRSC_9qPOG0G75z2udsqXABQ71_t897CDBsDWfcjMZ-VZT7ybbWZEIzW2KxbHDQb70SewAp9vIx65ONICf8Gk/s1600/images+(4).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Decisive Magazine)</td></tr>
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We are NOT talking about freeloaders. We are NOT talking about those who "drain our public resources, and live off food stamps, or welfare." Undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes annually. Households headed by unauthorized immigrants paid $10.6 billion in state and local taxes in 2010. This includes $1.2 billion in personal income taxes, $1.2 billion in property taxes, and more than $8 billion in sales and excise taxes.<br />
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As it stands, despite protestations from the right, immigrants—even legal immigrants—are barred from most social services, meaning that they pay to support benefits they cannot even receive. Taxes paid by legalized immigrants more than offset any use of social programs. The CBO found that increases in costs to social programs are modest and will be more than paid for by the tax contributions of immigrants. The increase in spending in Social Security and Medicare from 2024 through 2033, for example, will be $65 billion—just 4.4 percent of the total increase in tax revenue. That's another 95.6% of their tax revenue for Congress to fight over. Where would they spend all that money? Just imagine.</div>
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<b>What happens if we just continue to do nothing?</b><br />
Inaction on immigration reform carries a heavy cost. Each day the House of Representatives fails to pass immigration reform costs the United States $37 million in missed tax revenue. As of October 2014, the House’s inaction has cost more than $17.7 billion. Maintaining the status quo is not revenue neutral. With only one-third of unauthorized immigrants working in the formal economy and contributing about $12 billion in payroll taxes each year, the United States loses around $20 billion in payroll tax revenue annually.</div>
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The United States spends more on immigration and border enforcement annually than the annual gross domestic product of 80 countries. In fact, the United States now spends $3.5 billion more on immigration and border enforcement—a total of nearly $18 billion per year—than it does on all other federal law enforcement combined.<br />
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<b>The Need For Action</b><br />
This issue requires a long discussion. It requires debate. It definitely requires more than stump speeches, or claims of Ebola children on our southern border, or tales of headless migrant farm workers left in the desert. It requires sober and thoughtful consideration by the people we elected to Congress. Can any of you remember when Congress debated fairly and squarely the issues of the day with an eye toward negotiation and high quality results? All we've seen over the last 6 years is a perfectly executed plan by the right to stop all forward movement entirely. Power seekers all, with no regard for the safety, sanctity, or quality of life of the average American citizen. We are in shambles. And if the Republicans really cared about what the rest of the world thought about us, the first item on their agenda, now that they are "in charge," oughta be getting to the business of governing, instead of playing capture the flag.</div>
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The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941200146406011679.post-68764227828310920042014-11-05T20:13:00.000-05:002014-11-23T20:16:03.690-05:00The Party Of Less Than Nothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of our favorite writing colleagues is David E. Phillips. </div>
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He is always on the mark, and does it with style, so </div>
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with his permission, we share his work with you. Enjoy.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blue-route.org/blog/politics/the-party-of-less-than-nothing/" target="_blank">The Party Of Less Than Nothing</a></span></b></div>
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<b>by</b></div>
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<b>David E. Phillips</b></div>
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Republicans may not be ready to admit it, but they probably lost the race for the White House in 2016 last night.<br />
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The bold executive action announced last night by President Obama on immigration has put the GOP in a terrible box. Oh sure, there is risk for the administrations here as well. While the policy the President unveiled last night that delays deportations, protects up to 5 million undocumented workers, and generally looks for a more humane way forward, may be popular, the process is not. Americans generally don’t like the idea of a President circumventing congress to establish policy, even when–like here–it’s legal.<br />
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The President made a nod in this direction last night when he pointed out that if the Republican Party did not like what he was doing, they could fix that. As he put it, “Pass a bill.” It was a deft move by the President and a clear challenge to the GOP. One that I suspect they will do their best to avoid and simply turn their focus back on the President and challenge his unilateral move by doing the usual clanging of pots and pans that produces noises like “emperor,” “king,” “illegal” and “unconstitutional.” There may be short-term benefits to this strategy, but long-term, the peril is more likely to be owned by the offended party.<br />
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The truth of the matter is, the President has much less to lose. His party needed to come through for their Hispanic constituency and make good on the promise of immigration reform. One could argue that, if anything, this is long overdue. Candidate Obama promised reform by the end of his first term. The closest he and the Democrats came was a failed effort at getting the Dream Act passed that would protect the undocumented who were brought here as children by their parents. The President showed patience–perhaps too much–in allowing the Senate to craft a bipartisan bill that passed over 18 months ago, but languishes in the House to this day.<br />
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Many–including myself–wanted the President to do this before the midterms. The President delayed this action in an effort to protect vulnerable Democrats up for election in red states. As anyone who watched the results of the most recent election knows, it made no difference. As is far too typical of the Democratic Party, they made the decision to attempt to mitigate the zeal of their opposition as opposed to inspiring their base. The cost of this backward thinking was a terrible turnout and the loss of the Senate.<br />
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However, now the President is behaving like a free man. The GOP may have taken congress, and his approval rating may be underwater, but he’s not running again. To put it another way, there is little left to lose, so why not do the right thing and see what happens? Which is exactly what the President did last night.<br />
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At this point, the greatest headache for the President going forward is that this maneuver will result in the GOP attempting to make life miserable for him over the next two years. Does anyone believe this wasn’t going to be the case anyway? Last night on MSNBC, former adviser to John McCain and network analyst, Steve Schmidt declared that the President’s executive action destroyed any chance of the new congress passing comprehensive immigration reform. I had to wonder if Schmidt–often a sane voice from the right–had taken leave of his faculties. Does he really believe there was any chance of that happening with a new congress that is likely to be more emboldened, obstinate, and republican-y? Like I said, I kind of like Steve and generally think he’s a pretty smart guy, but last night we saw the guy who thought Sarah Palin as Vice President was a pretty good idea.<br />
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One need only to look at the last six years to rebut Schmidt’s quaint notion of bipartisan potential.<br />
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During the first two years of the Obama administration, when the Democratic Party held both houses of congress, the GOP became the “Party of No,” using the filibuster to an unprecedented level in the Senate to block legislation. Once they took back the House in the 2010 midterms, they became the “Party of Nothing,” making the “<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/12/01/do-nothing-congress-was-way-more-productive-than-the-current-one" target="_blank">Do Nothing</a>” congress of Harry Truman’s time look positively robust in terms of legislative action. Come next year, the Republicans will hold both houses of congress. So far, what we have heard from them, is their desire to repeal Obamacare, block gay marriage, and fight the executive action by the President on immigration. The problem for Republicans is to do any of these things on a large level, they will need the presidency too. Which means in 2016, they will have to run against everything and for nothing.<br />
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The best thing for the Republican party, ironically, is also the best thing for the country. All the GOP would need to do is use legislation to improve Obamacare. On gay marriage, they could simply just get out of the way. The GOP loves to argue over state’s rights. Well, 34 states have decided that gay people have the same marital rights as straight people. It’s easy. Do nothing. Hell, they’re good at it. Finally, on immigration, they have a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/us/politics/immigration-bill-clears-final-hurdle-to-senate-approval.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">bill</a> that has been sitting in limbo in the House of Representatives for a year and a half that was co-authored by the GOP’s great Latino hope, Marco Rubio, passed the Senate with 68 votes, and everyone believes would clear the House if only John Boehner would let it be voted on. Something he is loath to do for fear of political blowback from the tightiest of righties within his party. They may not like any of these choices, but getting those three issues off the table would allow the party to get back to convincing us that “trickle down” economics still works. For them, that’s a better–if equally stale–bet.<br />
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If this is what the GOP wants to run on in 2016, taking rights and benefits away from those who will have, by then, been enjoying those rights and benefits for years, I say be my guest. Be the Party of Less Than Nothing. Go ahead and make up the bumper stickers and everything. Let’s see how that works out. I may be mixing metaphors here, but the ball is in their court and as of last night, their bluff has been called. It’s up to them to decide if the way forward is to go backward. If that’s their choice, and I have no reason to believe they will go in any other direction, then they’ve already lost and they simply don’t know it yet.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David E. Phillips</td></tr>
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The Policy Geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02406077313948550435noreply@blogger.com0