Thursday, July 31, 2008

Weekly 7/3108 - 5


Salon Weekly

~ In 4  Color-Coded Sections:

          • Table Notes
          • Events & Opportunities
          • Articles, Letters (“opinions expressed are not necessarily mine”...ellen)
          • Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
          • Tri-State Treasures: events compiled by Jim Kesner (who is on vacation this week.)


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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.)
At the table Wednesday 7/9/08
David Rosenberg, Randy Wilson, Anna Rosenberg, Courtney Monger, Kyle Ferguson, Judy Cirillo, Alan Jozwiak, Linda Gruber, Mira Rodwan, Ginger Lee Frank, Brooke Audreyal, Bob Witanowski, Mary Biehn, Daisy Quarm, Lauren Groh-Wargo , Ed Buyneski, Bill Limbacher
Welcome Lauren and Randy from America Votes.

Anna read preamble.

AMERICA VOTES.  Tonight we have two young women who work for this organization.  

Lauren:
We were formed 2003.  
To coordinate election work of many groups:  Labor groups, unions,  Women’s choice groups,  environmental groups like Sierra Club, NAACP,  Human Rights Campaign, GLBT groups.  

We are not the same as ACT, America Coming Together. The Soros-funded groups.
We continue to work with Acorn, Amos Project, ...  Anybody doing political work independent of the political parties.
We are for progressive issues.  

Randy:
Very broad coalition.  http://americavotes.org to get list of partners.
We help our partners do the political work.  Help them coordinate their efforts.  Not to duplicate efforts.  
We often target people who are not frequent voters, for instance.

Right now: for instance, the paid sick days campaign.  We have collected hundreds of sigs. to get this on ballot in Nov.  Proposed legislation mandates 7 paid sick days per year if it is a company with over 25 employees.  More info http://paidsickdaysohio.org
Also, there is the minimum wage issues.  Also there is a
program to educate women on McCain’s extreme right wing positions on reproductive choice.  

We are funded at national level.  We work with our partners for free.  Geo. Soros did fund us in 2004.  Also big nat’l partners like unions, Planned Parenthood national.  

Last Sat. we had a day of action, collected sigs. to get sick leave on the ballot; we also knocked on doors and talked to women about McCain’s reproductive rights position.

David  7 sick days costs about 2% of the annual salary.  I don’t know why business groups like Chamber of Commerce are so against this.  You could easily fund this... What is really behind the scenes in their motivation?  
Lauren  they say “it will be a barrier for employers to come to Ohio”.  But really, our wage scale is lower than most states.  In reality, the small businesses are coming out in favor of this.  It is the Wal-Mart's and McDonalds who are against it.  They don’t want to spend the money.  They don’t want the gov’t telling them what to do.  

David  Part of what I thought about sick leave... People face going to work or risk losing their job.  
Ed it is not easy to deal with sick days... They are unscheduled.  

(Ellen's question to R & L:  I want to know about yourselves, how y ou came to be doing this work, what inspires you, etc.)

Randy:  before this I was in D.C. doing student peace organizing.  I wanted to come to Ohio and organize for this election.  Remember all these people came to Ohio in ‘04 and then left and  there was subsequently nothing ongoing.  I wanted to have sustained programs... Educate people about issues.  Then I found out about America Votes, and it was perfect.  I am from Butler Co.  

Lauren:  I grew up Cleveland, American U. in D.C.  Organizer in NYC Acorn.  Wanted to come back to Ohio. SEIU union worker back here all over Ohio.  Wanted to go into political work, really respect leadership of America Votes.

Daisy  What is Aug 23 Day of Action?
Randy  When we go out to talk to voters face to face.  That’s better than emails and robo calls on phone.  Or direct mailing.  So we go door to door or go to festivals.  There will be various partner organizations e.g. Planned Parenthood,  NARAL, some paid sick days people,  union...  People can volunteer.  http://progressohio.org  under events, type in your zip code.  


Chris I noticed in the late 80’s, we started considering employees an expense rather than an asset.  At business schools.  To improve the bottom line, get rid of workers.  Move to China, have a robot do it...  So the momentum in this country has become, How to get rid of the workers.  So you are fighting an uphill battle.  So we need to think “employees are valuable”.  

Judy Why is bottom line the priority?
Ed:  a company that does not make money will go out of business.  That’s not always easy.  
Bob:  ... CEOs that have obscene salaries.  “McMafia” a book, internationalization of crime.  
Bill  I myself am not an investor... Milken...
Ginger Bob, there has always been greed...?
Bob as a stock holder, .. There are obscene salaries.  There are groups of stock holders trying to band together to stop that.  
...
Ed
 in my world 75% of people are honest and upstanding.  But 20% mostly law abiding, 5% are scum and they will steal, and some are CEOs, some are employees....  

Alan  with the widening gap between richest and poorest people, there comes to be a social expectation... Shift in the 80’s to raise the salaries of the management elite.  Not just because of greed.  
Daisy there has been a dramatic increase in salaries of top management with respect to salaries of workers.  More here than in Japan or Europe.  300 times the salary of the lowest worker in the same company.  ... People are waking up now, and we can help them wake up.  

Chris I have a huge problem with corporate America, but... Over 4,000 on the Nasdac and more mutual funds than there are stocks!  Every fund has fund managers.  Arthur Levitt, Take on the Street, pointed out the 2002 average fund manager made $400,000/year.  Even though funds are not making money.  They are taking people’s money.  None of that money is going into good old fashioned American capitalism... This guy has a good idea to make a widget, let’s invest...  Rather, it is the “gaming table” of trying to make a winning.  

Ellen Mea Culpa!  I got excited in the ‘80’s with making money on mutual funds...

David  I believe 1/3 of the world are not participants in the global economy.  For the
 past 50 years there has been a global economy and a regional economy.  Recently Wall St. has been able to take local economic activity and integrate it into the global economy.  E.g. The subsistence farmers in 3rd world countries are told, “You can now use that land to make export crops.”

Bob  Best example is Columbia and cocaine.  ... Money buys arms from US.

David  so to what extent the growth of the global economy is just because the local economies have been sucked up and exploited?
Bill  Even failing companies paying huge salaries to their CEOs... When I look for work, the salary level is arbitrary, not connected with the type of job.  E.g. Chicago Library shelvers with B.A. Earned 6.50/hour.  It is laughable.  Little connection between the degree demanded, the job, the salary.  
    Also, re. the global economy, is this not like during the British empire?
David it is the same.

Bob a lot of  our manufacturing is no longer done here.  
Ed: David’s question.  The global economy is not  homogeneous.  Some parts are upstanding, well managed, like Brazil, are participating in the global economy.  Others are managed poorly.  

David So Indonesia is better off turning their forests into palm oil plantations?
Ginger  They are cutting down their own trees in order to survive... Is that better?

Daisy  you want to look at the top 200 companies who are really exercising power and influence the most.  The giants.  In the mid 70’s about 13% of profits were from overseas, and now its is 30%.  Increasing amounts from international commerce.  So it matters to them ...
    ... Singapore is a well run country,.. They have a port, which really helps.  ... I wish justice and democracy correlated with economic prosperity, but that is not the truth.  
    ... There are countries who are doing better.  But the poorest countries are not doing better the past 40 years, and many are worse off than 40 years ago.  And there is a lot of corruption.  Africa is doing really bad.  Big companies promote the corruption
Because it serves their needs
.  

Linda  since the 80’s more an attitude in US of hopelessness to make change at local and national and international levels.
.
Mira  I saw on PBS “Wide Angle” a man from Australia , “Chung”, going around the world talking to world leaders, brokering “green” ideas.  ... Big conference in Bali, Merrill Lynch getting on board... The US were against it!  At the last moment, the US came around.  ... Paradigm shift: we are all involved; it is not just votes, not just money.  

Bob 5 million going to be spent in TX for a wind farm...
Ginger  This guy from Australia is an environmentalist but also an entrepreneur.  His whole pitch is to make his company the exclusive provider of these carbon credits.  He is very bright, and he is doing something valuable to the planet.  It is potentially good.  

Lauren  I have been thinking a lot recently: on the anecdotal level... Our generation has been sold down the rive, dismantled social safety net, retirement, de-unionized work force, lower wages...  It was a different world in my grandparents’ generation.  What happened?  That was a fundamental paradigm shift, within 2 generations.  

Brooke  thanks to Mira.  Holistic approach.  How am I going to get beyond the consciousness that has created our problems?  Like Einstein said, Can’t solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it.  Open our minds to things that seem impossible or crazy.  Need to transcend the level of our functioning...

Ed Re. Lauren’s question.  The paradigm shift: it started late 40’s.  Expanding economy.  People could pay into retirement funds because of expanding economy.  Now More retirees than workers paying into the fund...

David Lauren’s question... More of the same since agriculture started, 10k years.  The paradigm until now is that we can thrive with an extractive economy, .. Surplus is generated by finding new resources.  Bringing more indigenous populations in.  but what happens is that the extractive economies run out of grist for its mill.  The resources are increasingly expensive, businesses increasingly tempted to exploit workers.  
The shift is to a regenerative economy.  Stop extracting.  Sustainability.  Resources cycled through the earth in a way that continues to stay into recirculation rather than being turned into poisons.  Cradle to cradle manufacturing.  

Daisy  everything looked so promising, civil rights, women’s movement, and then...!  I think the main thing is that the Right got organized.  Developed think tanks.  Organizing into groups...  And labor, basically were trading their power in the 40-60’s for short term benefits for their members.  Various unions were not ideal.  “Regulation is bad”, “Push government out”.  Now we are reaping the result of all this deregulation.  The market is not good at everything; cannot provide health care for poor.  So now people are saying, “Wait a minute!”  ... Even CATO institute people are saying, Wait a minute.  Socialize the risk but keep the profits privatized!  No regulation has been a disaster.

Ginger:  paradigm shift, from country power to corporate power.  

~ End of Table Notes~
    Hugs to everyone,
    Ellen




    Section Two: Events & Opportunities

    That jumpin’ salonista Judy Cirillo sends us this:  Free Salsa dancing lessons every Thurs nite at Fountain Square!


Hi Ellen,
... for those who like to dance(or watch) they really should be at Fountain Square  Thursdays at 7:00.

From AmericaVotes:

We are building our election efforts and really need your help to spread the word about upcoming volunteer opportunities to reach voters during this crucial year. Join us at our office on one or more of the following dates listed below. To RSVP please click one of the links below:

 
Phone Banking

(calls to local activists and inviting them to join us in our efforts)

 Thurs. July 31, 6pm-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%207/31/08PB>
Mon. Aug. 4, 5:30-8pm <
mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/04/08PB>
Thurs. Aug. 7, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/07/08PB>

Sun. Aug. 10, 5-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/10/08%20PB>     Mon. Aug. 11, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/11/08%20PB>

Thurs. Aug. 14, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/14/08%20PB>

Mon. Aug. 18, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/18/08%20PB> Thurs. Aug. 21, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/21/08%20PB>

Thurs. Aug. 28, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/28/08%20PB>

Day Of Action
(face to face contact with registered voters)



August 23, 2008 10:00am until 2:00pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/23/08%20DoA>

 
For more information or to RSVP, CLICK HERE <mailto:mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=I%20want%20to%20volunteer%20with%20America%20Votes%21> !

If these opportunities don’t work for you, let us know when you can join us!
 
Contact:
Randy mwilson@americavotes.org <mailto:mwilson@americavotes.org> (513) 481-7108
Gina gtyus@americavotes.org <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org> (513) 481-7110
There is a lot of work to be done this year and we can't do it without your help!   

 Sincerely,
The America Votes Cincinnati Team

www.americavotes.org <http://www.americavotes.org/oh>


From IJPC

As rhetoric against Iran continues to intensify in the US and Israel, find extensive resources in the bottom half of the email to help educate yourself on Iran and the possibilities for a diplomatic solution. Over two-thirds of Americans want diplomacy, not war with Iran. Can you make a phone call this week to your Congressperson, write a letter to the editor, or take some visible action to help prevent war with Iran?

TAKE ACTION TO HELP PREVENT WAR WITH IRAN:

1)CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON  Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121
Pressure on Congress is critical right now as it considers H.Con.Res. 362. 102 House Democrats and 117 Republicans have cosponsored a resolution against Iran that demands President Bush "initiate an international effort" to impose a land, sea, and air blockade on Iran to prevent it from importing gasoline and to inspect all cargo entering or leaving Iran. Imposing such a blockade without UN authority could be widely construed as an act of war.

2) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Write letters to the editor of your local papers and to call into local radio talk shows. Here's a sample letter to the editor:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3916   Of course, people should feel free to modify this as needed.

3) BE VISIBLE: You can organize a visible presence in a busy location in your town: a vigil, an afternoon of leafleting or tabling, a human billboard, etc. Be sure to pick a time and location that has a lot of pedestrian or vehicle traffic! To find out what might be happening in your area, click here.


****************************

RESOURCES:

CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW AMERICAN POLICY ON IRAN (CNAPI)
http://www.newiranpolicy.org/


US-IRAN CRISIS: A PRIMER
Phyllis Bennis and the Institute for Policy Studies have produced a booklet called Understanding the US-Iran Crisis: A Primer.  
This book addresses the new and renewed interest in Iran, answers basic questions, and proposes some ideas to prevent another looming disaster of a U.S. military attack against Iran. To find out how you can order the booklet, call IPS and 202-234-9382, or send an email to
info@ips-dc.org


WORDS, NOT WAR WITH IRAN
A Study and Action Guide for People of Faith
http://www.faithfulsecurity.org/pdf/wnw_toolkit.pdf


NONVIOLENCE AND DIALOGUE WITH IRAN
by Dave Robinson of Pax Christi
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/Peaceweavings-Iran.pdf

IRAN DAILY OPINION SERVICE
Another important Iran resource is the Iran Daily Opinion Service, a blog by Michael Veiluva, author of the forthcoming book, Burdens of Proof: Iran, the U.S. and Nuclear Weapons. The blog address is:
http://sputnik99.wordpress.com/


PBS’s NOW: TALKING TO IRAN program
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/312/index.html


DESTROYING SECURITY: THE FOLLY OF BOMBING IRAN  
by Fourth Freedom Forum
http://www.destroyingsecurity.org/


Hi Ellen:
Your name was given to me by Judy Leever, as a person who might be interested in pariticiapting in a
voter registration projcet on behalf of the Obama Campaign.
We are  only too aware that Ohio will be a critical battleground state in the upcoming Presidential election. One of the top priorities for the Obama campaign  in Ohio  is voter registration,  especially  for the groups who are the most likely to support Barack have not historically registered or voted in the higher proportions.

I have agreed to try to organize voter registration events in Cincinnati on behalf of the campaign. Our first effort will take place on Sat. Aug. 1 at the  Blues  Festival  at Sawyer Point (either inside of the festival if we can or outside as folks are coming in). We would like to start at around 3 or  4   in the afternoon and go for two hours  or so,   which leave lots of time to enjoy some outstanding blues acts that evening or otherwise have your evening free.  

I will call you in the next  few  days  to see if you can join us in this effort and not only help elect a man who has incredible potential, talent, and insight, but also make meaningful and positive history!!

If you are aware of anyone else who might be interested in taking part in this activity, that would be very much appreciated.

Sincerely

Bill Jacobs
"Jacobs, William R." <wrjacobs@strausstroy.com>



Relating Compassionately - A Weekend Workshop in NVC (non violent communication): focused on relationships
August 1-3
Cincinnati, Ohio (Mt. Lookout)
Facilitator: Jacob Gotwals, PhD., certified NVC trainer
To view flyer:
http://humanpotentialarts.com/relationships-flyer.pdf



Everyone needs a psychologist sometime in their life.
Ellen Bierhorst Ph.D. is a good one.  In practice over 30 years.  513 221 1289
  • Get a fresh perspective.  Sort out tangles in interpersonal relationships.  Clear away the messes of the past.  Become empowered to launch your new life.  Heal trauma, change, loss.  Escape from the bondage of addictive behavior(alcohol, drugs, food, tobacco, gambling, etc.)
  • Central location (Clifton Ave. at Lafayette)
  •    Beautiful setting (The historic Lloyd House)
  •    Many health insurance plans will pay a percentage. (Standard fee $125/hour.  Some pro bono work available.)
  •    Compassion and good humor.
  •    Rapid results.
Areas of particular interest: 12 Step Program support; Family and Relationship issues; Young Adult Issues; Chronic Illness and Senior Adult Issues; Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Issues, Holistic Wellness (body/mind/spirit approach), Clinical Hypnosis, EMDR.

YOGA at Lloyd House.  Wednesdays 9:15 – 10:30 am.  Open, free practice group led by Nina Tolley.

FREE MEDITATION & YOGA AT BURNET WOODS
This year we are bringing you something special at Burnet Woods:  WORLD PEACE YOGA!
10:30 am -11:00 am:  Seated Meditation»
11:15 am - 12:15 pm:  World Peace Yoga»
Gratitude in Motion


Articles
Contents:
  • Bev Harris, Black Box Voting heroine, sends this.
  • Link to policy battlefronts, Pres. Campaign
  • Bring back PR voting in Cinti.
  • Gore’s speech 7/17 on Climate Change: A challenge

Permission to reprint, excerpt, and distribute granted. Complete, Concise Tool Kit booklet: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/toolkit.pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top 5 things you can do

1. Get involved………pg 5-8
2. Hook up with experienced groups………pg 9
Freedom of Information Tips………pg 10-11
3. Protect & defend – deceptive practices………pg 12-24
4. Protect & defend – voter lists………pg 25-37
5. VOTING MACHINES:
Protect & defend – vote counts………pg 38-71

HERE ARE SOME EXCERPTS:
(much more here: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/toolkit.pdf )
(comment section here: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/76548.html )

#1 GET INVOLVED

In the end, this isn't about getting your favorite presidential candidate elected. This is about more permanent solutions: getting durable, ongoing citizen-based controls to oversee all elections. Elections ultimately control your daily life: your property rights, roads, the public safety, the justice system, and ultimately, the economy, your freedom, and your health...

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION TIPS

All states have open records laws. You have the right to see any document (with a limited number of exceptions). Part of every public official's job is providing public records. They know it, they're used to it, there's nothing confrontational about asking to see a record, people do it all the time. Here is a wonderful compendium of summarized public records laws for each state:

http://www.rcfp.org/ogg/index.php

Here is a useful site to generate professional-looking records requests:

http://www.splc.org/foiletter.asp

It helps to see examples. You can find hundreds of actual public records requests, including the documents provided in response to them and the occasional back-and-forth between requestor and public officials, by going to http://www.blackboxvoting.org. Use the search box at the top of the home page. Enter "records request" and it will find pages with examples for you.

...

#3 PROTECT AND DEFEND AGAINST DECEPTIVE PRACTICES

WATCH FOR: Last minute changes, polling place consolidation, confusing ballot design, shorting voting machines, malfunctioning machines, electronic poll book problems, supplies missing, not enough election workers, provisional ballot roadblocks, deceptive phone calls / fliers, deceptive ballot configurations, race left off some ballots, deceptive translations, snoop-friendly ballots, improper absentee ballot / envelope design, incorrect mail ballot insertions / delivery problems, cheat peeks

Part of election protection is knowing what to watch for. These things happen. The first time you see it, you can't quite believe it. That disbelief prevents citizens from taking crucial, immediate action. Elections are time sensitive. Keep your eyes wide open, vow to respond quickly and effectively.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL LAST MINUTE TO CHECK YOUR POLLING PLACE.

A Santa Clara County, California man was told by his online polling place finder that his address was in Gibbon, Iowa. If he had checked just as he was running out the door to vote, he would have experienced a delay.

During the 2008 primary, Black Box Voting tested the Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Web site "polling place-finder" using the addresses on our own donor list. Dozens of valid addresses showed a polling place not found message.

Local newspapers often print polling place locations, and you can call your local elections division. Don't wait till the last minute, and before heading out the door, double-check the location of your polling place and help others find theirs.

DECEPTIVE TRANSLATIONS

Areas with substantial non-English speaking populations are required to provide voter information in appropriate languages. In one California location, the Spanish language voter information provided the wrong date for an election. In a New Mexico election, the Spanish description of a ballot item was so misleading that new ballots had to be mailed, leading to confusion over which ballot to use. In a Connecticut election, instructions which in English said "Vote for any two" said, in Spanish: "Vote for any OF the two", a translation which will literally cut votes in half for Spanish language voters.

It's important for language minority advocacy groups to review the non-English ballots, voter pamphlets and other election materials as far in advance of the election as possible. If you find a deceptive translation, find out who is responsible for checking translations to make sure they are accurate and what firm did the translation. Demand correction and report to all stakeholders and advocacy groups, including the appropriate ethnic advocacy groups.

CHEAT PEEKS

Early and absentee voting provide opportunities for "Cheat peeks" – illegal peeks at results before Election Day.

In Pima County, Arizona audit logs show that early results were run in a controversial election. Candidates spend heavily on pre-election polling. Political polls sample a few hundred registered voters, who hopefully provide truthful answers to questions designed to elicit how they really will vote. Imagine now that one candidate (but not the other) gets access to something much more valuable: not hundreds, but tens of thousands of voters; not answers that are probably truthful, but the actual vote data.

No one – insider or outsider – should scan a single ballot before the end of Election Day. Some state laws specify that the ballots can be run through the tabulator if no one looks at the results (Hah!) and in Oregon, apparently, "insiders" can look if they don't tell. (Hah!)

• GET AUDIT LOGS: Tabulator audit logs will show the cheat peeks, although insiders can alter the audit logs. You can request copies of the audit logs daily. If the logs themselves have not been tampered with, you will find an evidence trail showing when results reports were run.

#4: PROTECT AND DEFEND VOTER LISTS

HELP WITH: Register people to vote, confirm registration, save evidence, get photo ID;
WATCH FOR: Slowdowns or crashes in statewide voter registration databases, racial profiling, failure to enter new or updated registrations into the database timely, names left off list (no explanation), category switching, incorrect online feedback, problems with hyphenated names & typos, impossible numbers;
ADVANCED TOOLS: Statistics, voter list tracking

Register people to vote. Help people confirm that they are registered as an "active voter" (see distinctions between active, inactive, pending and cancelled). Get voters on "inactive" status reactivated. Save communications from the elections office as evidence. Help people get photo ID. Urge everyone to bring it to the polling place, whether or not the state requires it.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO REGISTER VOTERS AND HELP THEM VOTE. We already know that systematic voter disenfranchisement has been part of the game plan in the past. This year let's get off the defense and play some offense, and don't expect the old playbook to be repeated tit for tat.

You may have heard about voter list purging. Figures vary, but estimates of the number of voters wrongfully purged from 2000 Florida voter rolls range from 50,000 to over 90,000. Wrongfully purged voters were disproportionately Black. These eligible voters were not allowed to vote at all.

In 2008 for the first time, all 50 states will be using new statewide computerized voter registration databases. Most of what we're going to see in 2008 will not be called "purging." This year, we're going to find voter disenfranchisement in the statewide voter lists, especially in the "PENDING" area (new voter registrations not entered into the system, and registrations stuck in "pending" status); "CHANGE CATEGORIES," as voters are switched from one voter registration status to another, registrations are updated, and in TYPOS AND DATABASE QUIRKS that make database searches fail...

This year instead of 50-90,000 voters purged, we are looking at the potential to see FIVE TO 10 MILLION voter registrations stalled, changed, hit with typos or miscategorized.

These are exceptionally unwieldy problems and it is difficult to come up with meaningful citizen oversight actions, but with over 100 million voters on these new computerized lists, we need to try.

Black Box Voting received eye witness reports from three large counties in 2004 indicating that thousands of registrations were not entered before the election (even though election officials claimed they were). Insiders told us this was due to staffing shortages and/or the refusal of county officials to pay for overtime or temporary help. Here are excerpts from an e-mail received by Black Box Voting from one of the temporary employees hired to do this:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
"This year I answered the call to help the elections division enter all of the new registrations. It is my understanding that there was an entire warehouse of them somewhere and they were planning to hire a hundred people to enter them. Here is what happened:

The training began. The person in charge of that was on pain medication and my training turned out to be, well, totally wrong. I was taught to enter a specific code for certain kinds of registrations but sure enough, within a day we were having an "emergency" meeting about that particular code. She apologized for teaching the code incorrectly and we all moved on. We received no training materials, after the apology for teaching the code wrong we were given a very shoddy word document explaining a few things. There is no written manual.

The registration updates were about 3 months behind. We basically lied about when they were entered. If the form was submitted on say, the 1st of November, we were supposed to put that date in - even though I was doing it on the 4th of February ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This above report illustrates something very important: NOT ALL VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS WERE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM AT ALL, UNTIL MONTHS LATER! Voters who were not entered in the database may be stripped of even their provisional ballot. We have seen boxes and boxes of "to be entered" cards after deadlines for getting them entered into the database. It is inconceivable that all these were sorted through to determine whether their provisional ballot should count.

- Will updates and input to the voter registration database be done by in-house staff, overtime, or temporary employees?
- What formula was used to project voter registration update & input needs?
- Has the budget been approved for this?
- What tracking and reporting system is available for internal controls and public oversight?

You can make an appointment and ask for a tour. Ask them to walk you through (literally) the process for entering and updating voter registrations.Ask about internal controls. Ask what tracking reports will be. Don't believe everything you hear.

The best way to get the real story is to develop a relationship with a clerk or temporary employee tasked with entering the information. Ask how it's really going.

#5 VOTING MACHINES:
PROTECT AND DEFEND THE VOTE COUNTS

PROCEDURAL IMPROVEMENTS: Transparency Project, Input to Output;
IDENTIFY PROBLEM LOCATIONS: History of indictments, missing internal control forms, public records obstruction, weak management, observation obstruction; past election problems; ELECTION PHASES: Pre-election; Early voting & absentee periods; Election Day; Election Night; Canvassing period; Post-election:
ADVANCED TOOLS: Voting machine examinations, Web snapshot tools, poll tape/central tabulation comparison, citizen ballot inspection audit, voting machine audit items

All computerized voting machines, as currently implemented, count votes in secret, and all election computers are under the control of administrators and programmers. All computers do what they are told to do by their administrators and programmers.

This is the core problem with voting machines.
Using these new systems, the citizenry has inadvertently ceded ultimate control over to government insiders and the vendors they select.

DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS MUST:
(a) Give the public full access to Freedom of Information on every aspect of the election.
(b) Count all votes in public (while maintaining individual political privacy)
(c) Allow the public to see for themselves that the votes being counted are the original votes, not counterfeit or substitute votes. "Chain of custody" must always be public.

IN THE NOVEMBER 2008 ELECTION:
- Your right to sovereignty over your government will not be honored.
- 99 percent of the votes will be counted in secret on computers controlled by government insiders and vendors.
- Your right to Freedom of Information will not be honored.
- You will be unable to ascertain that chain of custody is intact.
- It's too late to resolve these problems for 2008.
- It's not too late for partial solutions.
- It's not too late to collect important circumstantial evidence to assess the accuracy of the election.

Not a good situation. Despite passionate and always underfunded efforts by citizens for several years to get these issues addressed, we're up against it again in 2008. It's too late for new legislation or major changes. Let's work with what we have:

More on Procedural improvements, see pg 41-42 in Tool Kit 2008:
- Precinct-based public hand counts
- Transparency Projects
- Input to Output

IDENTIFY PROBLEM LOCATIONS FOR EXTRA SCRUTINY:
- History of indictments
- Missing internal control forms
- Public records obstruction
- Weak management or poor quality controls
- Observation obstruction
- Past election problems

In the weeks leading up to the election, help gather information to predict problem locations. Let's treat these problem locations to extra scrutiny.

You can get an idea for past vote-counting problems by doing a news search, looking for incident reports filed by citizens, and by reading the text of any election contest lawsuits in the location you want to monitor. You can find incident reports by vendor and also by state and county (and/or municipality) at blackboxvoting.org and VotersUnite.org. If you Google "election incident reports" you can locate databases of reported incidents from 2004 and 2006.

PRE-ELECTION PHASE

Indictments, guilty pleas, convictions: Because computerized vote-counting is controlled by insiders, any locations with a history of corruption in key local government positions are particularly at risk for computerized vote-counting fraud. Key positions include county supervisors and commissioners (who often appoint elections officials); sheriffs, judges, county auditors and county clerks.

"Facts. Facts. Facts. Brick by brick we will build American democracy better than the Founders ever imagined possible."
– Nancy Tobi, Election Defense Alliance

PUBLIC RECORDS: You can request to inspect or get copies of election-related records, including: voter complaints, poll worker incident reports, telephone Election Day support logs, and "rover" or technician logs. You can find many examples of these requests and responses in the state and county/municipality section of blackboxvoting.org.

BOOKKEEPING & RECONCILIATIONS: Vote counting is a form of bookkeeping. Properly run elections are accompanied by report forms showing how many voters signed in, how many ballots were provided, how many were cast, spoiled, and uncast. You will be surprised how often the numbers don't add up! Sometimes poll workers explain the discrepancies, but sometimes the numbers are off by hundreds with no explanation.

INTERNAL CONTROL FORMS: Some locations will report that they have had no problems, when in fact they don't provide any forms to poll workers to log the problems. If you ask to look at a blank copy of each form for poll workers, and also forms for tracking voting machines, seals, peripheral equipment, telephone reports, and technician visits you'll get a good idea as to whether adequate control systems are even being used. Filled-out copies will show how well they manage quality. This will help predict which locations are most likely to experience problems or fraud in November.

TAMPERING SYMPTOMS:
- Voting machines could not "close" properly
- Cartridge would not read
- Tabulators failed to read some memory cards so technicians had to "extract the data"
- Some cartridges or memory cards were temporarily misplaced
- "We're not sure why votes were incorrect"
- "The vendor is looking into it for us"
- Voting machines had to be replaced during the election due to malfunctions
- Broken or mismatched seals
- Calibration problem
- Counter didn't increment
- Machine would not produce a "zero report" before votes cast
- Electronic poll book said voter had already voted absentee, voter says no

OBSTRUCTIVE VS. COOPERATIVE: You can get a good idea how responsive each location is to public oversight by submitting a very simple one-item public records request and observing response. Are they prompt, complete, reasonably priced? Or do they inflate response timelines, price gouge, and obstruct?

Find out if the public (not just "politically appointed observers") is allowed to view the vote counting after the polls close. Find out if videotaping is allowed.

In most cases you'll find that local and state officials are more than willing to work on implementing solutions. If you spot significant problems or run into obstructive public officials, you may want to enlist the help of the voting rights committees for your political party, report to election protection groups, and build public awareness through the media. Focus on prevention. Try to spot problems ahead of time so improvements can be achieved before November elections.

FOR PERSONALIZED ADVICE, MENTORING AND INPUT

Contact citizen empowerment and volunteer helpers at Black Box Voting, Election Defense Alliance, or a local election protection group. You can ask questions by e-mail: crew@blackboxvoting.org - You may also get support and direction from your preferred political party, and you can help connect your favorite candidates and party with election integrity organizations.

...

Get involved. Your election protection actions this year will be part of returning control over election processes to the people who own the government.

"You are not required to complete the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it." – Rabbi Tarfon

More: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/toolkit.pdf

If you would like to receive a printed copy of TOOL KIT 2008 send a request by e-mail with your name and mailing address. Printed pocket Tool Kit 2008 booklets will be mailed in August.

* * * * *

Black Box Voting is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit elections watchdog group working to improve public controls in our elections.
More:  http://www.BlackBoxVoting.org
TO DONATE: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/donate.html

to mail:
Black Box Voting
330 SW 43rd St Suite K
PMB 547
Renton WA 98057






Bob Witanowski sends Policy Battlefronts link

Site with the most important policy battlefronts in the 2008 campaign  
and  easy to understand

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-STAKES08.html

LOCAL ACTIVISTS WORKING TO BRING BACK PR VOTING IN CINTI.

From: Dan Zavon <
mailto:DZavon@cinci.rr.com>  
 
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 1:21 PM
 
I'm working on a petition campaign to bring   Proportional Representation back to Cincinnati.  That's the way   Cincinnati elected its City Council for 30 years (1920s to 1950s),  and it  brought consistent minority representation to the council  even when African  Americans were a much smaller percentage of the  population than they are  today.  It gives us majority rule AND  minority representation.  You  rank your choices from 1 up to as  many as 9, and your vote counts for your  first choice, unless that  candidate can't use it (either because s/he already  has enough votes  to be elected, or because s/he has so few votes s/he can't  possibly  be elected), in which case your vote counts for your second choice   (or your highest choice who can still use your  vote).
 
 
To show what is wrong with our  current voting  system (9x), I use the example of an election in  which 44,000 Democrats vote,  along with 33,000 Republicans and  22,000 Charterites.  If all three  parties put up a full slate  of 9 candidates, and all voters vote a straight  party ticket for  their party, the result under the current 9x system of voting  would  be 9 Democrats elected to City Council, even though a majority of voters   (five ninths) wanted no Democrats.  This is not majority rule  OR minority  representation.  Under Proportional Representation,  the result (with the  same voters voting the same way) would be a  council with 4 Democrats, 3  Republicans, and 2 Charterites.    PR gives fair representation to  all substantial groups  in the voting population, whether they be racial,  issue, gender,  neighborhood, or whatever is important to the voters in the   election.
 
 
 
To put this issue on the  ballot, we need 6100  valid signatures of registered voters who live  in the city limits of  Cincinnati.  We really need some more  people to pass petitions.   Even if you can get only 10 or 20  signatures, that would be very much  appreciated.  If you are  interested, or need more information, please  call Josh Krekeler at  513-368-4062,  or email him at
betterballotleague@fuse.net.
 
 
 
Please  pass the word.  Thanks.
 
 
 
Dan Zavon  

From Ellen:
Dan,
Give me some petitions.  I will work for  this.  Will email josh.
ellen

From Dan:
Thanks!  One thing I forgot to say in my email is that the deadline for the petitions is mid-August, so we have to work fast.  I appreciate your help.
 
Dan


WE CAN SOLVE IT: CLIMATE CHANGE

Dear We Campaign Member,

Every so often, a leader says something so simply and clearly that it's almost impossible to ignore. That happened last week with Al Gore's challenge.

More than a quarter of a mill ion people have watched the speec
h, and major papers across the country continue to write about it. Watch the highlights here. http://www.wecansolveit.org/

He challenged America to generate 100% of our electricity from sources that do not lead to global warming -- and to do it within 10 years. Meeting this ambitious goal would create millions of new jobs, lead to permanently lower energy costs for families and help America lead the fight against global warming. Watch his powerful speech here.

John McCai
n couldn't ignore it, saying "if the Vice President says it's doable, I believe it's doable."

And Barack Obama said, "I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels."

Please take a quick look. If you've already seen it, please forward it to at least ten friends. The technology to make this shift is ready. What is missing is political will -- and that's why we need more people to see this speech and join the We Campaign.

Sincerely,

Matt, Lauren, Melissa and rest of the online team

www.wecansolveit.or
g


Books,Movies, Reviews It’s up to you folks to send me blurbs.  I know you are reading.  What?  Is it good?  Ellen

Nina Tolley and Howard went to see “Roman de Gare”, a French film at the Esquire.  Heard it was great.  I haven’t been to a movie in ages and ages.  You?
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.  
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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, 7or 8.  This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can  
> delete it.  Thanks!   ellen bierhorst     

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Weekly 7/24/08 - 5

FASCINATING presentation by Jackie and Jeff from the local Obama campaign.  I was proud of the erudition and thoughtfulness of salonistas.  Read notes below.  Ellen

Salon Weekly

~ In 4  Color-Coded Sections:

          • Table Notes
          • Events & Opportunities
          • Articles, Letters (“opinions expressed are not necessarily mine”...ellen)
          • Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
          • Tri-State Treasures: events compiled by Jim Kesner (who is on vacation this week.)


A W
eekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House: Circulation:  650.  Growing out
of the Wednesday Night Salon .  
For info about the Salon, see the bottom of
this email. Join us a
t the Lloyd House every week of the year at 5:45 for pot
luck and discussion. 3901 Clifton Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio.   To Submit
events
for the Weekly, send (not attachment) me email, subject line
"Weekly-Events:(description)", in Times New Roman font, Maroon color.  FOR ARTICLES, send me,
in Times New Roman, Navy color.   to ELLENBIERHORST@LLOYDHOUSE.COM,. Saves me a
lot of work that way. Send submissions by Wednesday evening.

To: Friends on our Pot Luck Salon list (c. 600)... Now in our
seventh year),

(to unsubscribe see below, bottom of page).
...................................................
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.)
At the table Wednesday 7/9/08
Chessie Vigran, Nancy Dawley, Linda Gruber, Bill Limbacher, Gene Somoza, Peggy Somoza, Mary Biehn, Bob Witanowski, Jeff Winkler, Jackie Lewis, Mira Rodwan, Elaine Bradford, Janet Kalven, Daisy Quarm, David Rosenberg, Jonathan Rosenberg, James Kinsman, Heather Pez-Kinsman, Ellen Bierhorst, Alan Weiner, Chris Metzger, Brooke Audreyal, Greg Kaufman,  Ginger Lee Frank.jeffw4obama@gmail.com
(Welcome Chessie, Jeff, Jackie!)

OBAMA CAMPAIGN REPS. JEFF WINKLER AND JACKIE LEWIS

Jackie Lewis, field organizer for Clifton, Clifton Hgts, Corryville, Queensgate.  I am from Cols.  Working to identify the Obama supporters so we can win the city.  Supporters not hard to find in Clifton.    House meetings like this are a good way...  Share our strategy for winning.  
    Why I was in Cols.  I worked for state legislator Richard Cordray... He is a consumer advocate.  Also worked in Ohio senate, house.  I was dismayed at the bargaining for support of bills etc.  Got excited by Obama as change.  Single mom... Grandparents...  Important message.  So I left my job, came here to work 80_+ hours / week...  I was devastated when Bush won a second term.  
    Any contributions to the campaign makes a difference.  If you come into the office and make phone calls for just one hour, it makes a difference.  ... Persuasion phone calls.  Voter registration.  
    So on Nov 4 when we are watching the numbers, “I helped!”  We don’t want to be there and feel, “I should have done more.”  
(What is the standing right now)
I think it is very close now.  People are complacent... We can’t have that mentality.  
    Whenever you have time, call us, 513 253 7604 (my phone no) ( Northiside Office Renita Jones Street, the boos regional director for the ...Ohio 1 cong dist.-- 405 6945.  ) there 9 – 9 Mon – Sat, Noon – 9 Sun.  voter registration in the community.  Every Sat. we start 10 am voter regis drive.  Bring  your group and do phone banking together.  Do you know about events, or a good place for voter registration.  
    Region 2 office is at deSales Corner.  861 6446.  
    4016 Hamilton Ave, Northside office, just N of viaduct, Knowlton’s corner.  Party 5 – 9 this Fri July 25, cook out, food provided.  It is good to bring food also.  
    Donate online www.barackobama.com.
    But if  you want your donations to count, give us cell phones, bring meal, donate car, look at our wish list.  We need everything, all supplies.  
    What we really want is to sign up a nd join us as a volunteer.  This is how we are going to win ohio, and that will be by out-organizing John McCain.  So far we are way ahead of them...they only have three desks.  
    Ohio is ground zero for the presidential race; Hamilton Co. is g round zero for Ohio.  
    (Why Ohio?)  a big state; always a toss-up state.  We have a lot of reasons to think Ohio can go Dem. This year.  Went for Clinton in ‘96.  Ham. Co. hasn’t gone for a Dem. Since LBJ.  Tim Burke, chair of Ham Co Dem., says “We are going to win Ham co.”  
    We have until Oct 3 to register all the voters we need.  We are already at 43% towards goal.  
    (Mira: voting machines?)  Jeff: Jennifer Bruner, the great new sec’y state Ohio mandates that every polling place must have paper back up.  They are whinning, but she insists.  Also she is going to do everything in her power to see that there are enough voting machines at each poll.
    Jackie: also you can vote early.  We encourage that.  
    Jeff: we are going to have minivans and cars in teams of two going out on election day.  Will knock on doors...  
If everybody who is for Obama actually votes, we will win.  
Jackie:  JLewis@ohioforchange.com   feel free to email me.  
Jeff:  if y ou sign up and are in Northside, you’ll hear from Liz Hersey,  ... Others.  But we will make sure to get your info.  To where it needs to go.  
    the housemeeting concept started in S. Carolina during the primary.  He won there.  

(VIDEO: about the houseparty strategy.
 Obama:  ordinary citizens are not organized; if they get organized, they can out power the corporations.  O: people need to understand that their self interest is wrapped up in what happens in Washington.  
... People being activated in ways they haven’t in a generation.  People are weary of the same old ways of doing business.  We have a chance now to re engage the average citizen.  
... People from different backgrounds are coming together in this campaign.  ... Excitement in this campaign.  ... Giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas.  People need to understand how these things effect their lives.  

...This campaign is big on grass roots organizing, more than prevous pres. Campaigns.  The organizing we do outlasts this particular campaign.  

    Jeff:  I am one of 3600 fellows nation wide, 180 in Ohio, 28 here in Cinti, all gave up 6 weeks of time to work for Barack.  We went thru a lengthy application process.  Over half tend to be 22-25 yrs old.  I am one of the old guys.  51 yr old.  But we are here to get a jump start in on the ground organizing.  Special effort in Ohio and in Florida.  I am Native of N. California.  Involved in 5 presidential campaigns.  Former school district business manager.  Moved to Arizona.  Also school board member.  That’s what brought me to the campaign.  
    We can discuss policy, thought many dems. Have different opinions on various issues.  But people unite around Obama because he wants to change the way we do politics.  I believe he is sincere in this.  That’s rare in politics.  Put the power in the hands of the people.  The Ohio campaign  has persuaded me... The community organizing base, the grass roots.  The ocnsciousness is, It’s not about us organizers coming to town...it is about you, the neighbors, the grass roots.  
    For our campaign, Obama is the oranizer in chief.  Is very involved in the organization.  
    Need for casseroles, cell phones, ... People involved.  
    to Hillary supporters:  we want you to feel the love.  We want every Hillary voter down to our office working, helping.  Both stand for many of the same things.  We look forward to the Clintons helping in Ohio.
    This campaign is already more organized in July than the Kerry campaign was at the end.  

Elaine:  I live NE Ham. Co.  Should I call these numbers and they will give me number.  861 6446.  
Alan:  Are we on our own to do a house party?  Or will you help us do it?
Jeff:  Yes, an organizer will help ... Sit down and help you invite 50 people to get 20 to come.  Your gathering can be anything... Brunch?  Pot luck dinner?  Beer party?  Anything. We bring the video and an organizer.

Chessie  If I gave a party it would have to be a policy discussion rather thanjust organizing.  
Jeff  Yes, just tell the person you call that you want a policy oriented house party.  
Bill  I am a renter... How can I find out if there is going to be a prty in my neighborhood.  God to http://www.barackobama.com and to mybarackobama from there, and see all houseparties, and you can even do an online RSVP.  

Mira  Where on line can you go to help respond to the negative advertising.  Talking points.  Like I heard on the radio that Obama said it is ok to kill a foetus still alive after an abortion.  Is there a sight that tells how to respond?
Jeff  You can write the campaign and someone from the campaign will respond.
Campaigns are hard ball.  I encourage people to pay attention to actual utterances by the candidates.  All the speeches are on the website also.  Www.barackobama.com
And there is along list of issues, and gives a synoppsys of Obama’s stand on each.  A ton of information for policy issue advocacy.  ...  We don’t have any media at the office.  But the website posts speeches quickly.

Now we are transitioning to paid field organizers starting in the next weeks.  Fewer than the paid organizers in number.  But this is ground zero; this will be fully staffed!  

Policy concerns?
Chris I am very hopeful for Obama.  Terrific candidate.  But very concerned about his and our posture with afghanistan.  I fer he is getting sucked in...  More troops there. I don’t know why.  Looks like Vietnam at best.
Jef  I will put you in contact with someone on the policy staff.  (Chris gave phone no.)
Bill  I am very concerned about wire tapping.  Expecially since court of appeals recent ruling...  Obama voted for immunity for the phone companies.  
Jeff:  they got civil immunity, but still subject to criminal prosecution.  But your concerns are well voiced.  Many dems. Share that concern.  
David  I have heard that his energy policy lacks substance.
Jeff  not my view.  150 billion over ten years for alternative energy R & D.  that’s his proposal.  
(Nuclear)  He is not as pro nuclear as sen. McCain.  
Alan This is impt. In Ohio because of the proposed uranium enrichment plant upriver here.   

David  How many billions of dollars have oil companies earned this year?  I am not impressed with 150 billion over ten years.  We are allowing the energy companies to control ...  We don’t look at one source of the energy problem and it is concentrated power in the energy industry.  
Jeff  Look online at the policy.  ... Concrete proposals. ... Germany gives tax benefits to solar power installations, and as a result, Germany is the biggest consumer of solar power stuff, much of it produced here in USA.  
... McCain thinks we can drill our way out of the oil problem.  That’s not realistic. You can’t get a drill rig... Undersupply.  Besides, the oil companies are multi national, and any oil we find here goes into the international pool of oil.  Very complex.

David:  ...these bail outs for Baer and Sterns, etc. etc.  
Bill Gay marriage.
Jeff  he is for civil union.  
Bill not the same thing.  
Jeff  the  fed gov’t already owns plenty  of oil leases, only 30% are being actually used for drilling, so the cry for new leases is just a grab for land.  

Daisy your organizing here.  Policy.  We in Cinti are divided racially.  The campaign has the potential to bring black and white together. But often campaigns are run by neighborhoods.  Is there any explicit strategy to bring black and white voters together?  
Jeff  so far we have a good mix of race on the team so far.  Have had a lot of white organizers out in African Amer. Neighborhoods.  I thought I’d get resistance from Afr Amer as a white man.  Hasn’t happened.  I’ve done a lot of orgnizing in Afr Amer neighborhoods.  

Brooke  Maybe the national campaign could pay attention to Daisy’s point... Organize not by neighborhoods but rather by neighborhood borders... Cincinnati isn’t the only place with racial neighborhood divisions.  
Daisy  More people will work on the campaign if they know that it will be a chance to help heal the racial divide; opportunity to work with other race.
Greg do you notice difference between Cinti and Phoenix in racism.
Jeff  in Phoenix it is Hispanics and white.  More blended communities.  But seems not so much different here.  I’ve been impressed with Cincinnati.  Don’t feel much tension.  ... In ‘02 when I was here, the neighborhoods in OTR looked bad, deserted.  Now looks better.  

Brooke  It could be a concept of having sister neighborhoods or partner neighborhoods.  Grouped together repeatedly for events or efforts.  
Nancy are they working to get cong. And sen. Candidates elected to support his programs.
Jeff  yes he is working for that.  If he has a strong mandate this will help him get his programs through congress.  Strong approval ratings.  Congress  respects the will of the voters.  
Vic Wulsin and Steve Driehaus both have a good chance.  That would be great news.  
Chris  I think Obama will be elected.  I think he is competent; well intentioned.  Cncerned that on day one he will be told “there is an economic crisis” and he will be chasing that one issue for four years... He may be blamed for the economy.  Terrible situation.  
Jeff  I hope not...
Greg  I think he is going to try to quash lobbyists...
Jeff  Obama is all about grass roots involvement, and this can help everything, economy.  

Elaine the health club I belong to is very Republican.  I am unusual.  They say, “So you get new voters, canyou keep them involved?”  
Jeff  We hope that the organization we are building will stay alive, help other, local candidates...  We want leaders to emmerge here to continue to organize.   ... Great thing is having Howard Dean with his 50 state strategy.  

Brooke  I have thought of bolting form the Dem. Party, and have stayed largely because of Howard Dean.  ...Would like to se ehim as a VP candidate, or Jim Webb.  I am very concerned about the grip of the corporations.

David  what impressed me so much about Obama... When he voted against the war in Iraq.  Courage to make bold statements.  I twould impress me for him to start making bold statements again now, about legislation in congress now.  .. I am waiting for him to inspire us by sponsoring bold legislative initiatives now, before November.  It always disappoints me when brave politicians crumble around election time.  

Jeff  Best thing we can do to give our reps. Courage is to elect Obama in November.  They would come along ...
Ginger Lee  Why has Obama let McCain hog the environmentalist chair.  
Jeff  Obama has not yet made his environmental speech yet.  I will tell the policy people of this.  


~ End of Table Notes~
    Hugs to everyone,
    Ellen




    Section Two: Events & Opportunities

    That jumpin’ salonista Judy Cirillo sends us this:  Free Salsa dancing lessons every Thurs nite at Fountain Square!


Hi Ellen,
... for those who like to dance(or watch) they really should be at Fountain Square  Thursdays at 7:00.

From AmericaVotes:

We are building our election efforts and really need your help to spread the word about upcoming volunteer opportunities to reach voters during this crucial year. Join us at our office on one or more of the following dates listed below. To RSVP please click one of the links below:

 
Phone Banking

(calls to local activists and inviting them to join us in our efforts)

Thurs. July 24, 6pm-8pm
Tues. July 29, 6pm-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%207/29/08PB>
Thurs. July 31, 6pm-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%207/31/08PB>
Mon. Aug. 4, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/04/08PB>
Thurs. Aug. 7, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/07/08PB>

Sun. Aug. 10, 5-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/10/08%20PB>     Mon. Aug. 11, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/11/08%20PB>

Thurs. Aug. 14, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/14/08%20PB>

Mon. Aug. 18, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/18/08%20PB> Thurs. Aug. 21, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/21/08%20PB>

Thurs. Aug. 28, 5:30-8pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/28/08%20PB>

Day Of Action
(face to face contact with registered voters)


July 26, 2008 10:00am until 2:00pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%207/26/08%20DoA>

August 23, 2008 10:00am until 2:00pm <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org;mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=Yes%21%208/23/08%20DoA>

 
For more information or to RSVP, CLICK HERE <mailto:mwilson@americavotes.org?subject=I%20want%20to%20volunteer%20with%20America%20Votes%21> !

If these opportunities don’t work for you, let us know when you can join us!
 
Contact:
Randy mwilson@americavotes.org <mailto:mwilson@americavotes.org> (513) 481-7108
Gina gtyus@americavotes.org <mailto:gtyus@americavotes.org> (513) 481-7110
There is a lot of work to be done this year and we can't do it without your help!   

 Sincerely,
The America Votes Cincinnati Team

www.americavotes.org <http://www.americavotes.org/oh>


From IJPC

As rhetoric against Iran continues to intensify in the US and Israel, find extensive resources in the bottom half of the email to help educate yourself on Iran and the possibilities for a diplomatic solution. Over two-thirds of Americans want diplomacy, not war with Iran. Can you make a phone call this week to your Congressperson, write a letter to the editor, or take some visible action to help prevent war with Iran?

TAKE ACTION TO HELP PREVENT WAR WITH IRAN:

1)CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON  Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121
Pressure on Congress is critical right now as it considers H.Con.Res. 362. 102 House Democrats and 117 Republicans have cosponsored a resolution against Iran that demands President Bush "initiate an international effort" to impose a land, sea, and air blockade on Iran to prevent it from importing gasoline and to inspect all cargo entering or leaving Iran. Imposing such a blockade without UN authority could be widely construed as an act of war.

2) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Write letters to the editor of your local papers and to call into local radio talk shows. Here's a sample letter to the editor: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3916   Of course, people should feel free to modify this as needed.

3) BE VISIBLE: You can organize a visible presence in a busy location in your town: a vigil, an afternoon of leafleting or tabling, a human billboard, etc. Be sure to pick a time and location that has a lot of pedestrian or vehicle traffic! To find out what might be happening in your area, click here.


****************************

RESOURCES:

CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW AMERICAN POLICY ON IRAN (CNAPI)
http://www.newiranpolicy.org/


US-IRAN CRISIS: A PRIMER
Phyllis Bennis and the Institute for Policy Studies have produced a booklet called Understanding the US-Iran Crisis: A Primer.  
This book addresses the new and renewed interest in Iran, answers basic questions, and proposes some ideas to prevent another looming disaster of a U.S. military attack against Iran. To find out how you can order the booklet, call IPS and 202-234-9382, or send an email to info@ips-dc.org


WORDS, NOT WAR WITH IRAN
A Study and Action Guide for People of Faith
http://www.faithfulsecurity.org/pdf/wnw_toolkit.pdf


NONVIOLENCE AND DIALOGUE WITH IRAN
by Dave Robinson of Pax Christi
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/Peaceweavings-Iran.pdf

IRAN DAILY OPINION SERVICE
Another important Iran resource is the Iran Daily Opinion Service, a blog by Michael Veiluva, author of the forthcoming book, Burdens of Proof: Iran, the U.S. and Nuclear Weapons. The blog address is: http://sputnik99.wordpress.com/


PBS’s NOW: TALKING TO IRAN program
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/312/index.html


DESTROYING SECURITY: THE FOLLY OF BOMBING IRAN  
by Fourth Freedom Forum
http://www.destroyingsecurity.org/



LLOYD HOUSE DRUMMING CIRCLE this Tuesday

“Drumming with the community helps healing, connects people to the heartbeat of Mother Earth, helps people focus and become grounded.” Tony Showa

Hope to see you on the
final Tuesday of  July, the  29th  from 6:45 to 8:45.

Where: The Lloyd House
3901 Clifton Ave.
(park on Lafayette Ave.)
Time: 6:45 to 8:45

Bring drums, rattles, your wonderful self to enjoy raising the collective vibrations for healing intent.

For more info, please call Jackie Millay at 541-4900 or Ellen Bierhorst at 221-1289.

The Obama Ohio Campaign for Change and
The Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus announce:

Women for Change Running in SW Ohio:

Victoria Wulsin: 2nd Congressional District Candidate
Connie Pillich: State Representative Candidate, 28th District
Denise Driehaus: State Representative Candidate, 31st District
Norma Holt Davis: Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge
Jody Luebbers: Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge
Martha Good: Hamilton County Clerk of Court

Hi Ellen:
Your name was given to me by Judy Leever, as a person who might be interested in pariticiapting in a
voter registration projcet on behalf of the Obama Campaign.
We are  only too aware that Ohio will be a critical battleground state in the upcoming Presidential election. One of the top priorities for the Obama campaign  in Ohio  is voter registration,  especially  for the groups who are the most likely to support Barack have not historically registered or voted in the higher proportions.

I have agreed to try to organize voter registration events in Cincinnati on behalf of the campaign. Our first effort will take place on Sat. Aug. 1 at the  Blues  Festival  at Sawyer Point (either inside of the festival if we can or outside as folks are coming in). We would like to start at around 3 or  4   in the afternoon and go for two hours  or so,   which leave lots of time to enjoy some outstanding blues acts that evening or otherwise have your evening free.  

I will call you in the next  few  days  to see if you can join us in this effort and not only help elect a man who has incredible potential, talent, and insight, but also make meaningful and positive history!!

If you are aware of anyone else who might be interested in taking part in this activity, that would be very much appreciated.

Sincerely

Bill Jacobs
"Jacobs, William R." <wrjacobs@strausstroy.com>



Relating Compassionately - A Weekend Workshop in NVC (non violent communication): focused on relationships
August 1-3
Cincinnati, Ohio (Mt. Lookout)
Facilitator: Jacob Gotwals, PhD., certified NVC trainer
To view flyer:
http://humanpotentialarts.com/relationships-flyer.pdf



Everyone needs a psychologist sometime in their life.
Ellen Bierhorst Ph.D. is a good one.  In practice over 30 years.  513 221 1289
  • Get a fresh perspective.  Sort out tangles in interpersonal relationships.  Clear away the messes of the past.  Become empowered to launch your new life.  Heal trauma, change, loss.  Escape from the bondage of addictive behavior(alcohol, drugs, food, tobacco, gambling, etc.)
  • Central location (Clifton Ave. at Lafayette)
  •    Beautiful setting (The historic Lloyd House)
  •    Many health insurance plans will pay a percentage. (Standard fee $125/hour.  Some pro bono work available.)
  •    Compassion and good humor.
  •    Rapid results.
Areas of particular interest: 12 Step Program support; Family and Relationship issues; Young Adult Issues; Chronic Illness and Senior Adult Issues; Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Issues, Holistic Wellness (body/mind/spirit approach), Clinical Hypnosis, EMDR.

YOGA at Lloyd House.  Wednesdays 9:15 – 10:30 am.  Open, free practice group led by Nina Tolley.

FREE MEDITATION & YOGA AT BURNET WOODS
This year we are bringing you something special at Burnet Woods:  WORLD PEACE YOGA!
10:30 am -11:00 am:  Seated Meditation»
11:15 am - 12:15 pm:  World Peace Yoga»
Gratitude in Motion


Articles
Contents:
  • IJPC Day of Dialog:  “Immigration and Our Jobs”
  • Holly, “Can’t support Obama”
  • Link to policy battlefronts, Pres. Campaign
  • Bring back PR voting in Cinti.
  • New England Weekly reader supporting Obama


IJPC Day of Dialog:  “Immigration and Our Jobs”
      Saturday, July 19, 2008, First Unitarian Church, Reading Road
      (this is the fourth such voter education forum sponsored by the IJPC-cincinnati.  I am delighted to be there.  Following, my notes taken during the event.  Ellen)

      Kristen Barker  of IJPC, Welcome.  
      Bill Dudley, Union
      Marilyn Zayas-Davis, Immigration Attorney
      Immigrant workers

      Panel presentation, and then small group break out sessions.  

      Prompt: “you represent some people whose jobs have been impacted by immigration.”

  • Peruvian man, immigrant, “Flecker”
  • - Jackie Gonzales, from Los Angeles, a student.  Works with immigrant workers.

Peruvian man.  
50% are under poverty line.  If you have a job, work 14 hrs./day.  Make $6 – 10 / day.  Families live together.  Pressure to come to the US.  
Lots of prejudice, e.g. Bank tellers.  Police harrassment.  Most immigrants are convinced they have no rights.  Story about a man robbed on the street, told a cop, cop more interested in whether he was legal.
Jackie
I have been active since ‘81.  Totally different in LA.  At XU there were offices for minority groups.  I couldn’t find the Latino students.  ... Annectdote about prejudice.  Pressure to elliminate your accent.  The latino workers here are intimidted.  I feel I can’t have a “voice”.  

Mary Jo, facilitator, paraphraseing that back:
I heard some common things.  People from Peru come to US expecting one thing, find something else. Jackie talks about coming to Cinti. To go to XU, found out Cinti is not LA.  
    Barriers you have run into here.  Some being: a sense of lack of power, and lace of support from the police, or other systems that should support you.  ... What it feels like that  you look different, speak differently.  ... A sense of not having a voice.  

Bill Dudley: United food and Commercial Workers, formerly pres. Of national electrical union.  

Proud of our local union and of our international union.  1.4 million members nationally.  We are inclusive to all people.  Food processing workers e.g. At Pierre, are mainly Latino, some african amer. Workers.  But our Union is largely White.  I am out there organizing Latinos, but some of our members object.  To me, workers are workers.  
Last Aug, Cook foods raid, in Fairfield arrested over 100 workers.  I had been trying to organize there.  People being led out of their homes in handcufs.  Families separated.  We helped to deliver food.  
A year ago raids at Swift Food.  People detained for hours just because they looked different.  

We organized Cincinnati Processing a few years ago.  They didn’t count the ballots for 4 years.  By then the workers all Latino.  $8/hour.  Wage rates and benefits have gone down since immigrants coming in about 2000.  

If we bring the African Amer and Latino communities together we can change conditions.  

There is a lot of public hatred against these Latino families.  “Send them back to Mexico.”

Connie: facilitator, paraphrasing.
Proud of his union, and their international union, determined to include all workers.
Food processing workers are mostly Latino and some African Amer, but union members are mostly White.  
Raid at Cook, arrested 180 workers.  “ICE raids”. (I believe this refers to the Immigration authority.  Ellen)
Hardships of immigrant workers,
Workers scared to come forward.  There would be more power if coalition kAfrican Amer and Latinos.
Many of our US policies are what cause people to leave home to come to US to try to make a living.

Bill, correcting:
We are making progress with our own members.  They are being supportive now, though there is a ways to go.  

Kristen:  we were going to get a prespective from the African Amer community.  Couldn’t get that person.
Marilyn Z-Davis: immigration law.  Represents companies seeking workers, families of workers, ...
2001 won a landmark decision at court of appeals enlarging rights of immigrants.

Marilyn
(short poll of audience... Most people feel immigration should be open.)  Shucks!  The opposition is my target audience.
Def. “Illegal”: someone came here without immigration paperwork or over stayed their legal entry.  
What countries?  W/o papers come from impoverished nations who would not be given visas.  Africa, Latin America.  People who come in but overstay are mostly from Europe, Australia.  The biggest of these are Irish, a very large group of illegals.  People are unaware.

Motivaton?: 1-economics.  2-Refuge—people fleeing in danger of death.  3-People with relatives here who are legal, and who are waiting for their legal papers to arrive.  Have to wait a long time.  So they choose to come.  The media usually only portray group #1.  

This is not new.  E.g. Jews after WWII.  Some sneaked by.  
Up to ‘97 there was a way to pass from illegal to legal status.  But in ‘97, the Congress pulled the rug out.  No more path to legalization.  
Of the detainees from the Cox food raid, how many had relatives here who were legal?  As many as 25%.  I’ve met at least 10 people personally.  I would guess that would be the proportion.  
Same as the Fisher raid... Out of 30 people arrested, 3 had US citizen children and were deported.  
These are people who have spouse, children, or parents who are citizens here.  Yet they were deported.  This was never brought out in the media stories.  

Congress pulled the rug out from under us.  Revoked at least 80% of the ways people used to have to become legal.  

For someone who comes here w/o papers, if they marry a US citizen, still there is no way for them to become legal.  
So at Koch Food and at Fisher there were people married to US citizens who were deported.  There was NO WAY for them to become legal here.  
The media is not giving you, the public, a true picture.

Our economy has grown, the path for illegalization reduced, more and more boomers retiring, and too few workers to take their jobs.  Things will become worse and worse unless Congress acts to change.  Most reps. In Cong. don’t have the spine to make the change, despite the fact that they know the truth.  

Carol King, facilitator, to reflect Marilyn’s words:
Definition of “illegal”: people who come w/o papers; papers but stay too long.  Second group Europe, Australia,  First, Africa and Latin Amer.

Illegal Jewish immigrants after WW II.
In ‘97, Congress changed law.  80% of the pathways for becoming legal were closed.
Why are there so many illegal immigrants?  We need to understand.
The situation will get worse and worse.  

Kristen: for the small group sessions.
Questions of inquiry:  for Jackie and Flecker:  “ I’d like to hear more about how you deal with harrassment?  What tell another Latino who is thinking cof coming here?”
Flecker:
This is a great country.  ... In peru you see a lot of kids who just live on the streets; much crime... Water shortage.  So I cannot tell them not to come here.  
Jackie:  
Harrassment?  I am learning about Cinti., how it works.  That’s my goal.  I’ve done this 3 years.  The Latino community comes to know who are the leaders, and our phones ring off the hook.  These people are seen as heros.  ... Iwork to educate people.  People need to share their experiences...this is the main way to combat harassment.
    When asked in Mexico how are my compadres doing in the US?   I tell them that people do die walking in the desert to cross the border.  People get frustrated here.  However, resources and $$ are better here.

Kristen:  question for Bill.  “Declining wage is because the oner is exploiting the worker...?”
Bill
So often immigrant workers don’t understand organization or are too scared.  Often owners will threaten; “ICE will come to this plant if you try to organize.”  
John Morel plant in Tri County; they make 13 - $15 / hour.  Union.
Cinti Processing: 8-9$ / hr, after 10 years.  No union.  It is fear.  
People say, “I don’t want to risk it, my life is better than in the past.”

Kristen: question for Marilyn.  “Explain diff. before and after ‘97 law.  Also, what changes in last 7 years “
Marilyn:  
    Before ‘97, if comebody came in w/o visa, or overstayed, they could be petitioned by relatives, employers, or if they were millionaires.
After ‘97, if somebody comes in w/o vis, no category for petition.  None.
If they came w/ visa but overstay, can be petitioned by spouse, children.  Not by employer or if they are millionaires.  
    Also people who petition for temporary visa e.g. Ag. Workers.  If they over stay, cannot be petitioned.  ... If they petitioned before the law changed, they can get in.
Also in 2000 there was a small window of reprieve for petitions.  
    Changes in last 7 years:  there has been pos. change under Bush admin.  Little media coverage.  There has been change for victims of abuse, domestic violence.  Clinton had inroduced the concept.  
Another “age out” change.  (I didn’t understnd.)

Kristen: groups 1 – 6, 7, 8

Mary Anne Bressler, facilitator for group 7.  (participants, 6)
3 rounds.  Advocacy, Inquiry, Reflection

My reflections:  I am disapointed in not finding the opposition view presented here.  I has been my murky understanding that the capitalist system, which is inherently exploitative of people, requires a steady stream of cheap labor, and so these interests want a porous border.  So although I am clear that we want to be humane towards workers already here, I am curious about whether we ought to close the borders in the interests of humane values.  I fail in my understanding of these issues.  The social justice people seem to be “on the same side of the street” the big capitalists on this issue.  We need enlightened policy on this.  

Matthew, economics major XU.  Our policies create the pressure for people to come here.  We have exploited those countries.  If we were n’t doing that, maybe there wouldn’t be such pressure.  Nafta, Cafta open borders to goods.  There should be an open border for labor as well.  We shouldn’t have a fat standard of living here, “on the backs of” poor people who are in these latin american countries.  

Mary Evelyn Jegen, sisters of Notre Dame
I was moved by Bill Dudly.  “We are for ALL workers.” it is terrible violation of justice to exploit these workers.  I want to continue to work for the dignity of laboring people.  
    Jackie told story about her XU student “friend” who wants her to work on her accent.  I was startled.  
    Flecker’s words brought home the human dimension.  “It’s not easy over here for us.”
“But it is even worse back home.”  It is not easy to be face to face with this suffering, but it is a great gift.  

Michele, sister of Mercy
(paraphrased Mary Ev.)  I agree we do need to change our lifestyle.  ...having grown up in this culture, I want to know how to do something to help.  Influence a broader spectrum of people.  E.g. To see each person as having dignity, not to be exploited.  I see that as an attitude of our corporations, to exploit.  What can I do?

Angie Denov:
(Paraphrased Michele).  Dialog is a great way to make change.  I learned the stuff about the laws changing in ‘97.  ... Jackie talking about the phone numbers getting out to the immigrant community, and them being deluged by calls.  I work as social worker in Cinti. Public Schools.  I get calls now, having helped one family.  

Michele:
Why did congress close the laws in ‘97?
Ellen:
I think it was voter pressure.

Mary Evelyn:
H-2A and H-2B visas, for seasonal workers, e.g. Tomatoe pickers.  Sometimes they overstay because the crop is delayed, or because they go to another state for another crop.  “We used to buy our slaves; now we rent them.”
People in meat packing in Iowa, for instance, will go to Mexico to recruit workers.  “If you can get yourself to Iowa we can guarantee a job.”  Then they undermine the US workers who have worked for years to get a good wage.  
This contributes voter pressure.

Mary Anne: now Inquiry round.  

Michele: to Ellen.  You were talking of the group here, who are all a part of the capitalist system.  Co-oted.  I think that’s true.  True in religious congregations sometiems, in a lot of sectors.  Maybe we don’t question what we are doing.  
Ellen:

Mary Ev:
Ellen sees that the capitalist system is the problem.  The values of it are maximization of profit, and growth.  A sick system.  
My question:  Michele, I share your experience of doing the little things, e.g. Cloth bag not plastic.  But don’t you see the possibilities in our society for working for structural change in this system?  Not waiting for the revolution, but do you see any mechanisms for bonding with others for clarificationa nd thought development, but also brinigning about plitical structures.

Michele:  
I think on the structural level there are lots of things happening.  Blessed Unrest by paul ...  Was talking about the thousands of groups all over world working towards change.  There is little interconnectedness.  But all these different groups are creating awareness that will bring change.  Extremely hoepful.  “Corporat Responsibility” is anorg. Doing things along that line.
.. I want it to happen “tomorrow”.  I know that’ snot real.  We need a new consciousness.  Einstein:  you don’t solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it.  I see all these developments as a part of the new consciousness.  There are structural changes.  

Mary Ev:
(Paraphrased Michele).  Question for Matthew:  In the past 72 hours the Bush administration has had to do a 90 degree turn... Sent somebody off to talk to Iran.  Also negotiating troop withdrawal timetables with Iraq.  Do you see these developments as meaningful, ... Transformation of this neo liberal capitalist system.  ?  

Matthew:
Yes I see interconnection.  Re. Military involvement:  “military industrial complex” that Ike. Warned about.  Capitalism is ruling the world to a large extent.  To me, neo liberalism is a de-regulation of everything, capitalism rules.  Re. the seismic shift in policy.  Is connected with the immigration issue?  Maliki demanding a timetable for withdrawal.  
I read IrAQ is not Arabic for Nicaragua,... Our nations bullying, exploiting Latin America, esp in Central America.  Common thread of the Middle East news and the immigration issue is economic interests.

Mary Anne:
Reflect .  Evaluate.  

ellen:  people coming together to share information, thoughts, questions, makes all of us smarter.  Very important to have smart electorate.  Awake electorate.  Viz. “Gilded Age” comparison with now... Then there was much more popular opposition to the huge wealthy minority.  Today the public is largely anesthetized.  Today was great; like the weekly Salon at the Lloyd House.  I like the format... Reflection of previous speaker before next person speaks.  
Process Name:  “Reflective Listening” by Leonard Swindler.  The Dialogue Decalogue

Michele:
Good proess.
Matthew:
Listening to Jackie talk...I have known her several years.  I have a lot of respect for her.  I hope to do something like Marilyn when I get a law degree.  Also inspiring ... Sr. Mary Ev. Civil disobedience.  

Sr. Mary Ev.
I’d like to see more university students recruited for this process.  Like Jackie, Matthew.  Rather than the pressures to climb the corporate ladder.
Another topic: the military industrial complex.  Violence is self destructive.  There is almost a tipping pont now... Great Brittain now moving towards getting rid of their nuclear arsenol.  

Angie:
I learned some facts, figures, feelings.  From the speakers.  Also from here.  It ‘s a great process.  
  


Holly Robinson can’t support Obama:

IMHO, Obama is simply not qualified at this time. I believe that he will be defeated in November. If elected, he will be a disaster. I am really disgusted with the Democratic Party's lurch to the left. It has not nominated such a rotten candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1980. I may need to cast my first vote ever for a GOP presidential candidate in November.

Bob Witanowski sends Policy Battlefronts link

Site with the most important policy battlefronts in the 2008 campaign  
and  easy to understand

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-STAKES08.html

LOCAL ACTIVISTS WORKING TO BRING BACK PR VOTING IN CINTI.

From: Dan Zavon <mailto:DZavon@cinci.rr.com>  
 
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 1:21 PM
 
I'm working on a petition campaign to bring   Proportional Representation back to Cincinnati.  That's the way   Cincinnati elected its City Council for 30 years (1920s to 1950s),  and it  brought consistent minority representation to the council  even when African  Americans were a much smaller percentage of the  population than they are  today.  It gives us majority rule AND  minority representation.  You  rank your choices from 1 up to as  many as 9, and your vote counts for your  first choice, unless that  candidate can't use it (either because s/he already  has enough votes  to be elected, or because s/he has so few votes s/he can't  possibly  be elected), in which case your vote counts for your second choice   (or your highest choice who can still use your  vote).
 
 
To show what is wrong with our  current voting  system (9x), I use the example of an election in  which 44,000 Democrats vote,  along with 33,000 Republicans and  22,000 Charterites.  If all three  parties put up a full slate  of 9 candidates, and all voters vote a straight  party ticket for  their party, the result under the current 9x system of voting  would  be 9 Democrats elected to City Council, even though a majority of voters   (five ninths) wanted no Democrats.  This is not majority rule  OR minority  representation.  Under Proportional Representation,  the result (with the  same voters voting the same way) would be a  council with 4 Democrats, 3  Republicans, and 2 Charterites.    PR gives fair representation to  all substantial groups  in the voting population, whether they be racial,  issue, gender,  neighborhood, or whatever is important to the voters in the   election.
 
 
 
To put this issue on the  ballot, we need 6100  valid signatures of registered voters who live  in the city limits of  Cincinnati.  We really need some more  people to pass petitions.   Even if you can get only 10 or 20  signatures, that would be very much  appreciated.  If you are  interested, or need more information, please  call Josh Krekeler at  513-368-4062,  or email him at betterballotleague@fuse.net.
 
 
 
Please  pass the word.  Thanks.
 
 
 
Dan Zavon  

From Ellen:
Dan,
Give me some petitions.  I will work for  this.  Will email josh.
ellen

From Dan:
Thanks!  One thing I forgot to say in my email is that the deadline for the petitions is mid-August, so we have to work fast.  I appreciate your help.
 
Dan

New England Resident Jim Helms Supporting Obama

Ellen
 
We fully agree! (re. Obama houseparty email).Our good friends were very early supporters of Barack based on his anti Iraq war stance. We support and will vote for him here in New Hampshire where he should beat McCain; although he has a huge following here from veterans, etc. We also support Jeanne Shaheen our former Governor who narrowly lost to John Sununu six years ago due to some Republican "dirty tricks, via phone jamming, etc. GOP campaign principals were prosecuted, several went to jail and the party had to pay a $3 million fine. Should be a very interesting election season for sure.
 
Thanks,
 
Jim








Books,Movies, Reviews It’s up to you folks to send me blurbs.  I know you are reading.  What?  Is it good?  Ellen

Nina Tolley and Howard went to see “Roman de Gare”, a French film at the Esquire.  Heard it was great.  I haven’t been to a movie in ages and ages.  You?
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, 7or 8.  This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can  
> delete it.  Thanks!   ellen bierhorst