Hello to All blog-lets and readers of womp
this is me today…
after posing shirtless on a rooftop with 4 BB gun rifles and a bike helmet for a cellphone photo shoot, i had the fortune to live vicariously by looking downward into the neighbor’s green lawn. I spent a few moments overlooking 3 mexican kids on an easter egg hunt, listening to their gorgeous voices and nostalgically feeling the mystique and excitement of my own lost childhood.
Later, after eating plantains, i went to the flea market and stopped to take a picture with this random woman, who was trying to sell cheap kitchen cutlery.
i nicknamed her several things, most accurately Esmerelda Javier Fernandez.
Viva E.J.F.
Hey!!!
Full bassnectar update coming soon i promise! so much cookin in this oven, but i wanna take some time to put into the next update, and for now, this is a small note about WHAT TO DO NOW?
in terms of ….obama is elected, bush is “gone” and the economy is TANKING.
I can’t imagine anything easier after such a push over the past few years to just relax now that “our guy” is in the Whitehouse.
In fact, a politically-themed email seems almost exhausting to read, doesn’t it?
Well anyhow, when i got this latest MoveOn.org email i found myself feeling disinterested…just kind of like “ug! havent i thought about this stuff enough already???!” but sure enough, the answer is no.
NOW MORE THAN EVER is our time to buck-the-fuck-up and get our hands dirty… i think it is finally a time when our voices will be louder, and more necessary than ever. The financial crisis is extremely serious…and in large part is due to policies (and people) of the past, whose residue is still thick.
have a gander at this, i think it is UBER crucial to insist on sme transparency and ACCOUNTABILITY for ANYONE in a place of power/money/media.
this is important in my opinion:
“Congress must place enforceable, common-sense limits on salaries at all the banks that have taken taxpayer dollars.”
Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,
Last Friday, Sen. Claire McCaskill took to the Senate floor and said what I imagine a lot of us have been thinking about Wall Street lately:
“They don’t get it. These people are idiots. You can’t use taxpayer money to pay out $18 billion in bonuses…What planet are these people on?”1
Sen. McCaskill was reacting to the $18.4 billion in bonuses that Wall Street bankers took home in 2008. $18.4 billion going to the people who crippled our economy with their recklessness and greed and then took $700 billion of our money.2
Yesterday, President Obama took an important first step, limiting pay at companies taking bailouts going forward.3 But Congress is considering going even further, applying the limits retroactively and even taking back some of the most extravagant bonuses at firms that took taxpayer money.4
A huge public outcry will give them momentum and push them to real action. Can you sign this petition to Congress, urging them to act now to rein in Wall Street greed? Clicking here will add your name.
The petition says: “Congress must place enforceable, common-sense limits on salaries at all the banks that have taken taxpayer dollars.”
Wall Street’s defenders make all kinds of excuses about why the bonuses were justified. They say that bonuses are an accepted part of compensation packages on Wall Street, that those receiving bonuses weren’t the ones who lost their firms billions of dollars, and that they need to pay bonuses to retain top talent.5
Those arguments are outrageous.
If automatic bonuses are a part of Wall Street culture, that culture has to change—a firm that’s still afloat only because of huge taxpayer bailouts shouldn’t be paying bonuses. And while tens of thousands of Wall Street employees are losing their jobs, it’s hard to believe that those still employed will go looking for new positions because they didn’t get a bonus.
Sen. McCaskill showed courage standing up to the status quo. We’ve got to show the rest of Congress that this is the kind of leadership we need to get us out of this crisis and make the economy work for all Americans. Limiting pay at companies taking bailouts won’t fix our financial system—that will take a lot more hard work—but it’s an important first step.
Can you tell Congress to rein in Wall Street’s excesses now and then pass this petition on to your friends? Clicking here will add your name.
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Peter, Justin, Marika and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. “McCaskill Proposes Compensation Cap For Private Companies Getting Federal Dollars,” Senate Newsroom, January 30, 2009
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/newsroom/vid_013009.cfm
2. “What Red Ink? Wall St. Paid Fat Bonuses,” The New York Times, January 28, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/29bonus.html
3. “Obama Outlines Limits on Executive Pay,” The Washington Post, February 5, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51145&id=15503-6839695-.fzcGrx&t=5
4. “Despite Treasury’s New Rule, Senators Aren’t Giving Up Their Push to Cap CEO Pay,” TPMDC, February 4, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51146&id=15503-6839695-.fzcGrx&t=6
5. “‘Meet the Press’ transcript for Feb. 1, 2009,” MSNBC.com, February 1, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28964188/page/5/
Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way.
whats up everybody!!!
the tour has been incredibly off the hook, i am so grateful for all the support and high energy and nonstop enthusiasm. THANK YOU!!!
So the election is THIS TEUSDAY!
i do not need to preach to the converted, or yap your ear off. it’s simple:
1. We MUST maximize our democracy and we MUST vote the Republicans out of office. we MUST make Obama the next president.
But beyond that, are TONS of local issues that affect you and your family. MAXIMIZE the democracy by getting involved…EDUCATE yourself.
2. You can make an enormous difference by taking a few hours over the next few days and make sure everyone you know is going to vote or already has. Help your friends and your friend’s friends, and your friend’s parents, and your enemies parents and your parole officer and your girlfriend’s neighbor FIND THEIR VOTING PLACE and make sure they go and vote. (whoever thinks they are too cool to vote or talk politics in this country is a fool and does not deserve the constitutional rights that they have)
3. There are a LOT of issues besides the obvious presidential issue. Loads of propositions, and congressional/senate votes too! Lots of LOCAL issues too! Lots of BAD IDEAS with good names, seeking your (our) money, and vice versa. SO YOU MUST EDUCATE YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. (a great example of this is the california initiative: Alternative Fuels And Renewable Energy. GREAT NAME RIGHT?? except this is a FUCKED initiative wit a nice name…be careful of the names of these things… you gotta RESEARCH)
***In california, BOTH INITIATIVES with nice eco-friendly names are BAD for the cause, they are tricking you. great example of how important it is to RESEARCH and EDUCATE YOURSELF before voting.
4. Below is a voting guide. I used it. i trust it, but YOU SHOULD READ IT and decide for yourself. i vote in accordance with The League of Women VOters about 90% of the time…they are ON POINT. my friends at False Profit also have some really good insight. Read, and then decide for yourself. GET OUT THERE AND CRUSH IT, MY FRIENDS!!!!!
(i happen to know more about the California issues than other places, but if you research trustworthy sources like LWV and Green Party you are on the right track.)
NATION WIDE:
You can find your ballot & polling place for ANY state by visiting:
http://www.smartvoter.org/
the “official website” of the California secretary of state w/info on voting in California:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/
league of women voter’s California proposition recommendations
http://ca.lwv.org/action/prop0811/flyer.html
Also, here are the green party recommendations on California ballot propositions: http://www.cagreens.org/elections/2008/Propositions.081104.shtml
ANNDD…..
Here is the False Profit guide to the propositions. I voted with an absentee ballot, but if i was home i would vote early and i would follow this:
California Propositions
• Prop 1A: High-speed rail from SF to LA – YES
This proposition would authorize about $10 billion in bonds, which would be used in conjunction with federal and private funding, to aid in constructing a planned high-speed rail system in california. This chunk of funding would be directed to the SF-to-LA corridor in particular. SF to LA in 2.5 hours for $55?? Hellz yeah–let’s get building! Maybe not the best use of funds right now, but damn it’d be sweet.
• Prop 2: Fair treatment of farm animals – YES
This requires by law that farm animals have enough room in their cages to move. This is more humane than not giving them the room to move. http://yesonprop2.com/
(and even if you are not an animal rights activist: healthier farms = healthier food)
• Prop 3: Children’s Hospital Bond Act – YES
Authorizes $980 million in general obligation bonds for remodeling and equipping children’s hospitals in CA. Currently the California health care system is crippled by a staggering number of uninsured patients and underfunding for the struggling MediCal system. These financial woes are compounded by the Seismic Safety Law that went into effect in Jan of this year requiring that all CA hospitals renovate or rebuild in accordance with strict earthquake standards. Hospitals unable to comply face closure by 2013. I think the SF Chronicle put it best: “Our reservations about obtaining bond money through the initiative process are trumped by the need to assure that these facilities – known for their specialized care and groundbreaking research – remain open.”
• Prop 4: Waiting Period and Parental Notification for Abortion – NO NO NO
This would require that all women under the age of 18 get parental consent before they can be legally given an abortion. This poses a significant challenge to the right of women in this age group to have abortions. This is the third attempt to chip away at abortion rights for minors in the past few years. We think that is a shame. I want to stress people vote NOOOOO on this dangerous legislation that would require young women who find themselves in difficult situations to tell their parents before receiving an abortion. Don’t get me wrong, I am a mother and would want my daughter to tell me if she were pregnant, but I DO NOT WANT the state FORCING her to do so. http://www.noonprop4.org/
• Prop 5: Nonviolent Offenders: Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation – YES
According to the ACLU, An ambitious criminal justice reform measure, Proposition 5 offers common sense solutions to prison overcrowding by providing drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration for non-violent offenders, saving California taxpayers billions of dollars.?I just want to second the “yes” on this one – I’ve been hearing about it from the Drug Policy Alliance for months, and the consortium of groups including the ACLU and DPA that have been working really hard on this prop is excited about its potential to let CA become a model that influences criminal justice policy nationally in a more humane (and economically practical) direction. Big yes…Obama has been distracting me from making as much noise about this one as I should be. B/c as befits any common sense crime-related bill, it’s the subject of baseless “criminals are scary and are coming for your children, if Barack Obama and his cadre of terrorists doesn’t get them first” type campaigning.
• Prop 6: Criminal Penalties and Laws and Public Safety Funding – NO
This will allow more people under the age of 18 to be tried as adults. It is costly to the state and to society as it will mean more people are in jail.
• Prop 7: Renewable Energy – NO NO!
This prop is will force small renewable energy companies out of the market, disrupt that market, and is opposed by everyone with a pulse. Too fast, too simple, unconsidered (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/05/ED7D137S5T.DTL)
• Prop 8: Limit on Marriage – NONONONONONO?This prop would write discrimination into an amendment to the state constitution. Prop 8 eliminates the rights of same sex couples to marry and states that the only legal marriages are ones between a woman and a man. It would significantly reverse America’s progress on equality by denying an already recognized right to a community that includes many individuals we know and admire. Furthermore, San Francisco has a strong tradition of honoring and celebrating diversity. We welcome people of all creeds, colors, beliefs and sexual orientations. As a result, this city stands as a beacon to those who seek to live their lives free from discrimination. It is also the reason San Francisco has been at the forefront of movements for civil rights and equality for more than a century. We can’t backpedal on this one. http://www.noonprop8.com/home
• Prop 9: Criminal Justice System: Parole and Victims’ Rights – NO?According to the ACLU, Prop 9 is a well intentioned but poorly written and truly dangerous initiative. It will negatively impact California’s most vulnerable residents — our children — by diverting hundreds of millions from schools and education to spending on prisons and jails. It puts huge burdens on local law enforcement and creates more red tape but does not provide new services to victims.
• Prop 10: Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy – NO
Using less oil is good. So is developing renewable energy sources. However, the devil is in the details. The way “alternative fuel vehicle” is defined in this measure, the vast majority of the public funds set aside will go to unnecessary natural gas car and truck subsidies. This is a developed technology that private investors are already funding, and the vehicles are already selling well. More importantly there will be little or no reduction in the environmental impact, mainly because natural gas vehicles are only slightly cleaner than regular cars. Prop 10 is backed and funded by T. Boone Pickens, a Texas oilman who has recently made large investments in natural gas. It’s a bad return on taxpayer investment, basically designed to enrich a small set of businessmen.
• Prop 11: Redistricting Amendment – NO
This prop changes the authority over the geographic boundaries for state and federal congressional districts from elected representatives to an unelected commission of fourteen. Even if the process for selecting these fourteen people was not as absurdly convoluted as it is proposed, it would still be a bad idea to give fourteen people control over a power that is so contentious its abuse has earned its own moniker: gerrymandering.
• Prop 12: Veteran’s Bond Act – YES
This proposition would authorize the state to issue $900 million in bonds to the existing Cal-Vet Loan Program, to help veterans buy farms and homes. Con: The Cal-Vet Loan Program applies to all veterans, rich or poor, from combat or non-combat service scenarios. Pro: Veterans don’t get adequate support from the federal government, so a program like this is warranted.
THANK YOU!
VIVA LA VIDA
RESISTANCE IS FERTILE
You know Amy Goodman, one of the most TRUSTED names in the circulation of news and information, was wrongfully arrested while trying to cover the RNC.
this is wrong on its own, but more dangerous for the precedence it sets.
Stand up for the people who stand up for you
Sign a petition to have all charges dropped against Amy Goodman (Independent Journalist from Democracy Now). The first link is straight from Democracy Now’s site. They both are petitions to local and state gov’t officials offices in St. Paul MN to have all charges dropped against Amy Goodman and her associates.
TAKE ACTION HERE
The next link is from the freepress advocacy website. again, copy the whole bit of text, even if it wraps around to the second line:
https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?id=281
you can make a difference right now.
L
