Special next-next Wednesday 11/29: Eric Russo will come and talk and show video on the alarming oppression that we are under by the IRS and the Federal Reserve Bank. Remember when he presented on Catherine Austin Fitts and her solari.org? That was super. See announcement below in Maroon section.
Come to the WEDNESDAY night salon. Now permanently on Wednesdays. ellen
Salon Weekly
~ In 4 Color-Coded Sections:
- Table Notes
- Announcements
- Articles
- Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
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................................................... Section One: Table Notes ............................................................................ (Note: these notes were taken at
the table and have NOT been approved or corrected by the speakers. Reader
Beware of inevitable misunderstandings and misrepresentations. E.B.)
Table notes 11.15.06.
At the table: Himavat Ishaya, Janet Kalven, Mary Biehn, Roy Euvrard, Q Benedikt, Mira Rodwan, Shari Able, Spencer Konicov, Ellen Bierhorst
Roy: coroner’s website showed 380 accidental deaths, 108 homicides, 111 suicides. Black people don’t commit suicide, that’s the suburbanites. More suicides than homicides.
Q on County Parks’ land management (Q edited my notes of his presentation...as follows:)
It was tough for Q to get started because he couldn't stop talking about how wonderful the rye bread and tossed salad were. But eventually Q started with a brief personal history: I moved to Cincinnati in ’93 but my mom’s family had lived here 100 years earlier near Clifton. She went to college here in the 50’s. After working at Fernald for almost a decade I left and started working for the Park District. I was very impressed with them when I first moved here, and after working for them am even more impressed. I started on the Trails crew. The Park District owns around 30,000 acres. There are around 18 nature trails in the Park District, and though lots of park employees work on golf and on food services, only 3 people maintained all the trails(now 2). It was a great job. Then I switched to the Landscape crew which is around 10 people who maintain the landscape beds in all the County Parks. That was also a great job, but now I work for Land Management and it is the best!
The Park District's charter requires it to maintain at least 80% of Park lands wild. Land Management is 5 people who maintain that 80%, or around 24,000 acres in harmony with nature. To discuss this I brought handouts and a video. The handouts are the Park Visitors guide with accompanying map, and two invasive species pamphlets. Land management spends most of its time killing invasive plants and animals, however we also replant restored areas after the invasives are removed.
I work in the seed nursery the most. Goal: to preserve maximum biodiversity. The Park District is constantly trying to acquire lands which are good habitats, and then restore them. To date we have restored around 400 acres of prairie and 100 acres of wetlands. to put that in perspective, Ohio used to be around 40% prairie but due to farming and development by 1989 there were only 34 acres of prairie left in Ohio! We got permission to collect seeds from the plants at this railroad right-of-way which was the only remaining prairie, and from planting those seeds, harvesting the seeds from those seeds, we have done tremendous restoration. It is a very labor intensive process that would not be possible without a wonderful, dedicated group of volunteers.
The Park District is very frugal with taxpayer funds, which is why most employees are Seasonals with almost no benefits, a few more Part timers with some benefits, and very few Full Timers with full benefits. It truly is mostly done by the public. Here is an example of the difference between invasives and foreign species. Earthworms are foreign but not invasive, because they do not reduce diversity. Our most invasive animal is the whitetailed deer, which after it was introduced has thrived due to no predators. When we started deer management 6 years ago there was nothing green below the browse line, and the deer were starving, as well as all the other animals that depended on plants for food. The number of deer was determined by infrared aerial surveys, and often was over 10 times the maximum sustainable. Now the wildflowers and small trees are coming back and the remaining deer are much healthier. Also, the meat from the killed deer is used to feed needy people at food shelters. We open some of the parks to bow hunting for deer. That’s because we cannot get to the whole acreage in vehicles. This program has been very successful in the two years we have had it, and the hunters also have really bought into the antihoneysuckle attitude (among other things, it interferes with their bow shots) and have been a tremendous help to the Park District volunteering their time for that.
Maintenance of natural areas includes controlled burns of the prairies every 3 years or so. Plus, we spray herbicide on invasive plants such as honeysuckle. Honeysuckle gets a competitive advantage by greening up early and staying green later, and it crowds out everything else. But its competitive advantage also lets us spray it when all the other plants are dormant and won't be hurt.
There is more bushy honeysuckle in Hamilton County than anywhere in world. In the 60’s the Government promoted to control erosion. Nobody knew it would be such a problem. The honeysuckle crowds out everything else. In the park district we have eradicated the honeysuckle from some sections, and are continuing on from the best habitat areas down to promote diversity. It is working. By far largest species count for birds and for butterflies in the area are always in the Hamilton county park district.
When we design the new wetlands that we are installing we want spring only wetlands so that predators don't dominate and wipe out other species. One of the more successful examples is the popular Shaker trace bike trail. Most of the year there are wildflowers blooming, but this is all restored prairie by the Park District.
Finally, the Park District is helping the State of Ohio establish green corridors along the rivers. We get State funding for this so we don't have to use only Hamilton County taxpayer funds, and they are very good for migrating species. These greenbelts are established along the rivers. Animals, especially birds, like access to water.
Ellen: What can we do to encourage out neighbors to deal with their honeysuckle if we have dealt with ours? I just went out and sprayed my honeysuckle, which was the only thing green, but won't it come from my neighbors?
Q: We want to encourage property owners to buy into the philosophy. You can show the benefits by the positive example of the results in your yard, and show them some of the literature here. But it is a real problem.
Spencer: if I go to the seed nursery can I get species to replace the honeysuckle?
Q: yes indeed! Contact any naturalist at the park district, or me: QBenedikt@greatparks.org and I can get you some seeds.
SITTING WITH A DYING LOVED ONE:
Mira: great value in sitting with a person who is dying. A week, with my mother. The last two days were the most clear minded. Light massage. Singing. Heartwarming. Reviewing things of her life. Precious, funny, sad memories. She was joyful at times. Some calling out and moaning, but when asked what’s hurting, said, “Nothing.” I asked her what I could do for her, she said, “Be here.”
She rallied and failed at least five times during the 10 days. Mainly congestive heart failure.
Main thing I learned… she was not aware of how sick she was. She was e xpecting to get well and go home and live on her own again. Was 95. … she agreed to DNR (do not resuscitate). At times she was ready to go, at other times not.
(Mary: in hospice?) I had asked for that, but didn’t qualify. I was with her in a hospital room. I had a cot in her room.
I would want there to always be someone caring present with a dying person. That is hard to arrange.
Spencer: 95% of your life medical care will be in the last 6 months.
Roy the death of my father. In hospital in Boston. found him dead, cold. But his heart was still beating. I held his hand, talked to him. Then left… ten feet down the hall, his heart stopped.
Himavat similar experience ..mother, in hospital, she was sedated with morphine. Couldn’t speak. I whispered in her ear, “I know it’s hard for you; I wish I could understand what you are saying, but I want you to know it is ok for you to just rest.” A day and a half later she died.
Spencer I think the dying person picks their time. My mother, congestive heart failure. Couldn’t even cough. You wonder if you are doing the right thing prolonging life with all these drugs.
Mira a speech therapist explained the muscles in the throat of people with trouble swallowing, can’t perform the function. They could have cleared my mother’s throat, but it would have been painful. The muscles were so weak. Some people are not in their right minds as they die, but you can still communicate “We love you” and “It’s ok to let go.”
… make peace with your parents and relatives; it can be done whether they are alive or dead.
…
Spencer My ex mother in law. Known her 46 years. An avid exerciser. Jumps rope daily..is 93. Exercises 2 hours daily. Hearing is gone.
Roy: a warm water pool at Mt. Auburn rec. center, off Auburn Ave just immediately N of Taft house. No sign. The street dead ends at the rec center.
Janet: Tai chi for arthritis at McKee Rec. Center in Northside.
Roy the survival value of menopause. Insures that we have older people to carry the wisdom.
Mira more men coming into elder years now. Those in elder years had better conditions for health than many in generations to come: better food, less processed; more outdoors living; less pollution of water and air.
Spencer Cinti water system has today 1/3 the chlorine than 20 years ago. Because of charcoal filtering.
Roy one of the things the charcoal is supposed to strip out the amines. But then you recharge that charcoal with a gas fired oven… the gas amines go into the charcoal. Has anyone studied the resultant amines in the water?
~ End of Table Notes~
Hugs to everyone, Ellen
Section Two: Announcements
Earthsave thanksgiving Salon and Potluck
4:30 Sun Nov 19 Clifton U. Meth. Ch.
3416 Clifton
Please bring a vegan dish to share, plates, cups & utensils. No animal products including NO dairy, eggs or casein, honey or unknown ingredients.
Non-member donation: $3.
Everyone welcome
(This is Mike Murphy’s third annual thanksgiving gathering. Two years ago, M.R. Met D.Q. At t his event. And next month they will be married! So m agic lurks... Make the scene at Mike and birdie’s. I’ll be there this year. Ellen)
You are invited to a
Thursday, November 23 (thanksgiving day)
Vegetarian
Thanks-Giving & Future-Thinking
Dinner Gathering and Conversation
We Welcome Your Thoughts
About Creating a Sustainable Village
We Will Take Our Cues From Peak Oil and Global Warming Plus Our Desire to Create a Small Example of What a Harmonious, Earth-Friendly, People-Friendly Human Society Can Look Like.
At this time, we think we can begin by purchasing a small farm, then welcoming others to live and work on this farm with us, raising organic vegetables for the local market. A place where younger couples with children will want to live and work and raise children. A place for older people to find peace and appropriate work and a friendly community. A place where we can build energy-efficient straw-bale houses and a meeting hall. Where all will want to live and work and put up our feet at the end of a day and talk about our dreams, our plans, our projects.
Please come, share our food, and share your thoughts with us.
Please try to arrive by 2pm for greetings and introductions
Meal served at 3pm.
Conversation to follow until….maybe 7pm.
Menu we will provide:
Roasted Vegetarian Tofurkey w/ Stuffing, plus Delicious Meat-like Seitan w/ Gravy
Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, and Sweet Potatoes w/ Butter
Green Beans and Lima Beans and Steamed Greens and Steamed Carrots
Biscuits and Apple Sauce and Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie
Cider and Wine
Please feel free to bring additional mouth-watering delights!
Come to 2941 Spring Grove Ave, Hopple Street area, Cincinnati, OH
Second Floor of Gastrich Rebar Bldg.
Parking on either side of building.
Please RSVP So We Can Cook Enough. Or Come Early & Help Cook!
513-542-7097 mmurphy10@fuse.net <mailto:mmurphy10@fuse.net>
Friday November 24 and Sat Nov. 25: ANNUAL BUY NOTHING .
Consumer’s revolt. Just spend no $$ on Friday or Saturday. For details see:
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/
Nov. 29, Wednesday, at the Salon
Eric Russo to show movie on Fed. Reserve and IRS:
Hi Ellen,
so nice to talk to you yesterday. Per our discussion, here is a blurb on the movie that I would like to share with your group. It is called, "From Freedom to Facism," produced by Aaron Russo, no relation. Aaron directed such movies as "The Rose" and " Trading Places." Since no distributor would touch this film, Russo initially relied on independent movie houses and organizations to premier the film, which has happened throughout the country since last March. Now, he has made the film avaliable on DVD, which I recently purchased.
The basic theme of the movie is this. The true power of this country is not with our executive, legislative or judicial branches of government, much as we would like to believe. Rather it is the coporate banks and their leaders that call the shots through an institution called the Federal Reserve, and it is the IRS that is their enforcer.
Both of these groups have systematically stripped the wealth of this nation for the last 93 years. They have also stripped us of our power, because it is they who are above the laws of this land. They are accountable to absolutely no one. They are above all of our nationally elected leaders and they are above the Constitution itrself. They are the ones that Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Lincoln warned us about. It is what cost Kennedy his life after he signed an executive order in June, 1963 abolishing the Federal Reserve.
The movie inspires us to become aware, and instructs us how to take action.
The movie is 1 hour and 47 minutes. I would like to share it with you on November 29th.
Regards,
Eric
Tri-State Treasures
Tri-State Treasures is a compilation of unique local people, places, and events that may enrich your lives. These treasures have been submitted by you and others who value supporting quality community offerings. Please consider supporting these treasures, and distributing the information for others to enjoy. And please continue to forward your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net.
Information about Tri-State Treasures and how to submit Tri-State Treasures is at the bottom of this email. Please help me by providing all basic information and formatting your submissions as described below.
Sincerely, Jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click for Free Soup: Keep clicking www.chunky.com/clickforcans.aspx to get thousands of can of Chunky soup donated to the Cincinnati freestore foodbank. Bookmark the site & vote everyday. Tell your friends, even if they're not Bengals fans.
Samarkand Cafe: "Named after the 3rd-largest city in Uzbekistan & perhaps the oldest inhabited city in the world, Samarkand has a cozy dining with tables & chairs covered in matching maroon linens with velvet drapes, woven rugs and pictures of ancient Samarkand decorating the walls. Samarkand offers Russo-Uzbek entrees including kebabs, lots of lamb & meats wrapped in fried, boiled or baked dough. Samarkand is constantly filled with the scent of grilled kebabs, which should make it no surprise that they only serve one vegetarian entree: the ravioli-pelmeni, a thin pierogie filled with potatoes & cheese." ~ cincinnatiusa.com. We enjoyed delicious food, Uzbek music, & belly dancing on weekends. Meals under $10; casual attire; 11AM - 11PM daily. At 8697 Fields-Ertel Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249. More info @ 513.489.9333.
Sing, Heal, Celebrate - MUSE Fall Concert & Health Fair Event [Friday-Sunday 17-19 November @ 8PM (Fri-Sat) & 3PM (Sun)]: MUSE Cincinnati Women's Choir presents the regional premiere of "Where I Live," a breast cancer oratorio written by Diane Benjamin for women's chorus, strings, percussion, piano, & narration. Also, inspirational music, interjecting humor & love to create a concert experience full of gratitude & joy. MUSE will collaborate with local health care providers & orgs to host a health fair as part of the concert experience to educate audiences about prevention, detection, services, & support. Actress Dale Hodges will narrate the performance on Friday & Saturday; actress & singer Claire Slemmer will narrate on Sunday. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door; sliding $10-50 scale. At St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church, 320 Resor Avenue, Clifton, Cincinnati, OH 45220. More info & tix @ 513.221.1118, muse@musechoir.org, & www.musechoir.org.
Victory of Light Psychic Festival [Saturday-Sunday 18-19 November @ 10 AM - 7 PM]: Cincinnati's premier body-mind-spirit event. Psychic & tarot readers, workshops, live music & dance, holistic healers, & fantastic shopping. Aura photography, astrology, dream interpretation, palmistry, past lives, soul retrieval, healing, karma, Tibetan monks, reiki, meditation, massage, wicca, aromatherapy, spirit messages, soulmates, tarot, runes, jewelry, crystals, books, candles, angels, fairies, gods & goddesses. Admission: $10 per day; $15 per weekend; kids under 14 are free; seniors & students $1 discount; free parking; readings are $20-$30. At the Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Cincinnati, OH 45246. More info @ tess@midnight-muse.com & www.victoryoflight.com.
Pastels by Nina [Reception: Saturday 25 November @ 4-6 PM]: Original works including pastel & pencil drawings by Nina Tolley, with live music by pianist Rachel Kramer. Exhibit runs thru 30 November & will be on display during Muse Concerts 17-19 Nov. At St. John’s Unitarian Universalist Church, 320 Resor Avenue, Clifton, Cincinnati, OH 45220. More info & appointments to view exhibit @ ninatolley@yahoo.com.
CWS Classes - Morning Garden Music & Parents & Tots [Enrollment begins Monday 27 November]: Enroll for 2 exciting winter term programs brought to families by the Cincinnati Waldorf School. Morning Garden Music is ideal for parents with babies 3-18 months of age & meets in 2 locations: CWS main campus (745 Derby Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45232) & their new Indian Hill location (Turner Farm 7550 Given Road, Indian Hill, OH 45243). P&T is an enriching class filled with art, music, & movement for parents & their toddlers 16-36 months old; held at the main campus. More info @ 513.541.0220, marketing@cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org, & www.cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org.
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers [November 28 - December 8; see website for evening show times]: Almost daily screenings of this powerful, important documentary about the profiteering that permeates the Iraq war. If you haven't seen it, you should. This is important stuff for an informed public to understand. In the final speech of his presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower warned "we must guard against the... militaryindustrial complex" through an "alert and knowledgeable citizenry." This documentary describes what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war. Director Robert Greenwald takes the viewer inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows, & children who have been changed forever by profiteering during the reconstruction of Iraq. "Iraq for Sale" describes the connections between the huge profits made by private corporations in Iraq and the decision-makers who allow this to happen. $2 for UC Community with ID; $4 for general public. Not rated; 75 minutes. At Tangeman Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220. More info @ 513.556.0943, butlerjc@ucmail.uc.edu, & http://www.uc.edu/mainstreet/tuc/tuc_theater_3.html.
Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Display [Wednesday-Friday 29 November - 1 December]: Remembering those who have passed on. Free & open to the public. Atrium Tangeman University Center, University of Cincinnati. More info @ 513.556.6115 & ahoo.tabatabai@uc.edu.
Ushering for the Holidays: Work as an usher for “The Christmas Carol” @ Playhouse in the Park (2-30 December) or for “The Nutcracker” @ Music Hall (15-26 December) & see the shows for free. More info from Steve @ 513.345.2242 for “The Christmas Carol” & from Sue Sommer @ 513.353.1581 for “The Nutcracker.” Mention that John Donato asked you to call. Open to friends, relatives, & responsible teenagers. Bring a small flashlight; a Santa hat is optional. Ask about required attire.
Continuing Treasures:
Celebrating 20 Years of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program [thru Thursday 30 November]: Named for Robert S. Duncanson (1821–1872), the internationally renown painter of the 8 landscape murals at the Taft Museum of Art, the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence program recognizes outstanding African American artists. This year's celebration brings 17 of 19 past artists for 20 days of programs, school outreach, events, workshops, performances, & an exhibition. Programs are free & take place at Taft Museum of Art (TMA, 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202) unless otherwise indicated. RSVP indicates reservations are required. More info & RSVP @ 513.241.0343 ext 39, ythomas@taftmuseum.org & www.taftmuseum.org/duncanson_society.htm.
— Opening: 20 Years & Evolving [Friday 3 Nov @ 6-8 PM, thru 30 Nov]: Exhibit features works by visual artists Tyrone Geter, Tarleton Blackwell, Melvin Grier, & Thom Shaw. Free to TMA members; $10 general public. Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011.
— Adult Studio-Digital Photography [Saturday 18 Nov @ 10 AM - Noon]: Photographer Melvin Grier explores the difference between a picture & a photograph as participants take photographs around Lytle Park. Bring a digital camera. RSVP. At TMA.
— Taft Thursdays for Teachers: Printmaking with Thom Shaw [Thursday 30 Nov @ 5-8 PM]: Back by demand, Thom Shaw invites educators to join him in his studio to see & participate in his woodblock printing process. $8-10. RSVP. At TMA.
ViewPoint 2006 National Juried Art Exhibition [Saturdays & Sundays @ 2-5 PM thru 19 November]: The 38th annual juried art competition of the Cincinnati Art Club, includes more than 70 selected works from many nationally known artists. The Cincinnati Art Club is one of the oldest & most active nonprofit art organizations in the US, founded in 1890. Cincinnati artists, Richard Luschek, is among those selected to present at the exhibition with his painting "Garden in the Park." At the Cincinnati Art Club, 1021 Parkside Place, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.821.0459 & ieffler1@cinci.rr.com, & www.cincinnatiartclub.com.
The Perfect Anomaly [thru 30 November]: This exhibit featuring Cincinnati artist & musician Cynthia Matyi will emphasize the artist's versatility in a retrospective of over 40 original oil paintings. The art includes loose, colorful landscapes & unique works with intricate patterns & intertwining elements that creatively depict spirituality, fantasy, humor & reverence for our natural world. Refreshments & live Irish music at the opening. Free. At Christ Church Cathedral, 318 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.621.1817, matyi@fuse.net, & www.christchurchcincinnati.org.
Section Three: Articles
Contents:
- David Rosenberg...What about campaign financing reform? Some reasons...
David rosenberg
A Project of the Institute for America's Future
11 | 12 | 06
Polluters Get A 'Thumping'
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/11/09/polluters_get_a_thumping.php
"President Bush wasn't the only one who took a 'thumping' on Election Day," says Clean Air Watch president and TomPaine.com contributor Frank O'Donnell. "Some of the biggest-spending big polluters also took a drubbing. In many cases, their political action committees backed candidates who were tossed out. In fact, many of them backed the same losing candidates." Here's what O'Donnell's analysis of campaign finance reports has uncovered. (All this information comes from Federal Election Commission records tabulated by the Center for Responsive Politics.)
o ExxonMobil, which by mid-October had reported spending $562,000 on federal candidates (92 percent of it to Republicans) supported a string of losing Republican Senate candidates: George Allen, Conrad Burns, Lincoln Chafee, Mike DeWine, Thomas Kean Jr., Mark Kennedy, Michael McGavick, John Raese, Rick Santorum, Michael Steele and Jim Talent. Among the losing House recipients of $10,000 from ExxonMobil: Richard Pombo, the anti-envoronment chairman of the House Resources Committee, Rick O'Donnell and Michael Sodrel.
o Duke Energy, which recently was before the Supreme Court in a big air pollution case, spent through its political action committee $283,000 (79 percent to Republicans). Bad bets included Allen, Burns, Chafee, DeWine, Kean, Kennedy, Santorum, Steele and Talent. Like ExxonMobil, Duke also poured big money into Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., whose race is still too close to call.
o The Southern Company, considered by many as the most politically wired power company in America, spent $162,000 (77 percent to Republicans). Its PAC's slate of losers also included Allen, Burns, DeWine, Kean, Kennedy, McGavick, Santorum, Steele and Talent as well as Harold Ford. Maybe its worst bet was its early contribution to Tom DeLay.
"Now if these companies were Borat (the fictitious journalist from Kazakhstan, now of movie fame), they would probably turn to the Democrats next and say 'I like-a you. You like-a my check?'," O'Donnell remarks in his daily e-mail update. "And then they would have the ceremonial running of the elephants."
--Isaiah J. Poole | Thursday, November 9, 2006 5:54 PM
© 2006 TomPaine.com
Michael Moore: Liberal Manifesto
(I thought this was pretty good. I read the whole thing. Ellen.)
A Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives
November 14th, 2006
To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters,
I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week's election. You're worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place you don't want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.
Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of others who are now in charge with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power -- and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.
Thus, here is our Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:
Dear Conservatives and Republicans,
I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:
1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.
2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be "different" or "immoral." Who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love -- it's a wonderful gift.
3. We will not spend your grandchildren's money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It's your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.
4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.
5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we'll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.
6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.
7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.
8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.
9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren't much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.
10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you -- and your employees -- that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that wage, too.
11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don't put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs ("Blessed are the poor," "Blessed are the peacemakers," "Love your enemies," "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn't just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism -- starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.
12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.
I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans -- and for the rest of the world.
Signed,
Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
(Click here to sign the pledge <http://www.petitiononline.com/mmflint/petition.html> )
www.michaelmoore.com <http://www.michaelmoore.com/>
P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.
Section Four: Books/Magazines/Reviews
...................................
Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis by Jimmy Carter
Reviewed by Ellen.
I love this book. Jimmy’s an engineer, not really a literary type, but that’s ok. How about t his quote:
“Our government should be known, without question, as opposed to war, dedicated to the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, and, whenever possible, eager to exert our tremendous capability and influence to accomplish this goal. We should be seen as the unswerving champion of freedom and human rights, both among our own citizens and within the global community. America should be the focal point around which other nations of all kinds could marshal to cmbat threats to security and to enhance the uality of our common environment. We should be in the forefront of providing humane assistance to people in need, willing to lead o ther industrialized nations in sharing some of our great wealth with those who are destitute.Some things I found notable:
In achieving all these goals, our great country should strive in every practical way to cooperate with other nations....”
- we used to have a law making semi-automatic assualt weapons (only useful in killing people) illegal. G.W. Bush allowed this law to expire.
- Seven out of every 1,000 Americans are incarcerated. This is higher than any country in the world, exceeding even the horrific rate of the Soviet Union in the bad old days (which was 6/1,000). Horrifying!
- Thre are fewer capital crimes in states who do not have the death penalty.
- 90% of the world’s executions take place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.A.!
- “Under the tax cuts pushed through congress since 2000, for every dollar in reductions for a middle-class family, the top 1 percent of households will receive $54, and those with $1 million or more in income will benefit by $191!”
The minimum wage: $5.15 for last 8 years, not even indexed to accommodate inflation. By contrast, using parallel values, the minimum wage in Austrailia: $8.66; France $8.88; Italy $9.18; England $9.20, and Germany $12.74!
“...American citizens at all levels of income now have a lower percentage of equity in their homes than at any time in history.”
thanks, Jim Edgy for lending this. Ellen
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At our weekly study group today David rosenberg said, “But wouldn’t we be bored if the messiah had come and all our problems were solved?” Got me to thinking. Right, it wouldn’t be a wonderful world if it were all bland and never challenging. This is much better than that would be. With all the awfulness. Then I got the idea, What if we took the idea that the messiah HAD come, has come, and this amazing, troubled world is the perfect place in which to rise to our highest selves? What a gas! A really nice head trip, I thought. Rather changes my view from the dismal habitual one of deploring the state of things all the time. what do you think? Ellen.
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So, Nu? What are you reading? Watching? Seeing? Send it to me. ellen.
The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 12 people) Meets on WEDNESDAYS at 5:45,
EVERY Wednesday, 52 WEEKS/YEAR come hell or high water, as my mother used to say.
We of the Lloyd House Salon gather in a spirit of
respect, sympathy and compassion for one another
in order to exchange ideas for our mutual pleasure and enlightenment.
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Our Salon blog is a promising interactive site: http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com
Also, we have an Interactive Yahoo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon
For Pot Luck procedures including food suggestions, mission and history visit
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html .
You are invited also to visit the Lloyd House website: http://www.lloydhouse.com
> To unsubscribe from the Lloyd House Potluck Salon list, send a REPLY message
> to me and in the SUBJECT line type in "unsub potluck #". In the place of #
> type in the numeral that follows the subject line of my Weekly email. It
> will be 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can
> delete it. Thanks! ellen bierhorst
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