| | from Ellen
3/7/13
HI Fanchon
- Arrrgh! Regine Ransohoff just told me about the hate crime gestures (the "n" word, swastikas, KKK garbed person in late nite appearance) on the Oberlin campus. (Read NYTimes story HERE.)
- Don't miss the International Women's Day celebration/rally tomorrow, Friday at noon, Broadway and fourth st. downtown. I plan to be there! Look below under the "Democracy and Community" section, the second one down.
- Thanks to everyone concerned re. my CT scan last week. All normal! Today I went to chiropractor Jack Armstrong for the mystery pain. Perhaps his excellent treatment has knocked it. Hope so.
- Love to everyone,
- Warm Hug,
Ellen
| ~ ACTIVITIES AND
OPPORTUNITIES ~
~ ARTS AND CULTURE ~
- ...
| ~ DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY ~ ********* ********
You simply must read the "Sequester 101" by Bentley Davis. Brilliant, clear explanation of what this crisis is all about. In fact, I am just going to print the whole thing right here, BEFORE the "Read More" link to the rest of the articles. But... do click on that, because there are some great things you'd miss if you didn't. -like the parking meter controversy for the city. ellen
From Bentley Davis: "Sequester 101"
I asked Bentley this: On Sat, Mar 2, 2013 at 10:29 AM, Ellen Bierhorst <ellenbierhorst@lloydhouse.com> wrote: Hi Bentley, I would love to print in the Virtual Salon something from you explaining the "sequester" in simple terms. What is "dumb" about it? Is there any defense of the Republican position that makes sense, i.e. the "No tax hikes for the rich"? ... Ellen
Her response: Sequester 101 by Bentley Davis  Back in the summer of 2011, we were hitting the debt ceiling (May 16, 2011; we technically went into default). The Tea Party Republicans didn’t want to raise it. They were concerned about the federal debt. Now, they weren’t so concerned about this debt when they voted to enter unfunded wars. Nor were they very concerned about debt when they cut revenues during the aforementioned wars. But it was time to raise the debt ceiling, Obama was president, and they were very concerned now. So, while we were in default, the GOP controlled house voted down raising the debt ceiling on May 31, 2011 – every single one of them. In order to get the debt ceiling raised, they would only do it with a rider. That is when they passed the “Budget Control Act of 2011”. Every House Republican voted for the manufactured crisis; every House Democrat voted against it. But it became law. In order to raise the debt ceiling, a “Super-Committee” had to be formed to come up with ways to reduce the debt. If they were unsuccessful, automatic cuts would ensue. It was written so half of the cuts had to come from defense, and half from discretionary domestic spending so that both parties would be forced to come to an agreement. The Super-Committee didn’t come up with anything that both parties could agree upon and we hit an impasse. Boehner walked out of negotiations with the White House. After a couple continuations, we neared the Fiscal Cliff on December 31, 2012. Without Boehner’s help, an agreement was reached which rolled back the Bush tax cuts, but only on those earning $400,000 or more a year instead of the $250,000 which we had all worked toward. This provided some revenues toward the required deficit reduction, but not enough. It also pushed the sequester process to March 1. On March 1, sequestration went into effect. $1.2 trillion dollars in cuts are to be spread out over the next nine years. This year, $42.5 billion is being cut from the defense budget and $42.5 billion from discretionary spending. The budget cuts are immediate as they have to be for the rest of the year, but the effects are not. For the most part, the effects won’t be felt until next month because furloughs require a 30 day notice. Nearly every sector of federal employment is going to be hit (and most of the “savings” will be had by cutting these jobs). Waits for passports will take longer. Waits for Social Security and disability determinations will take longer. Air traffic controllers are being furloughed, which will mean airport delays and cancelled flights. Airport security personnel are being furloughed, so there will be longer lines at the airport. Meat inspectors are being furloughed, so you can look for the cost of meat to increase. Other food safety people are also being furloughed, which might lead to less safe food in general. But all of these things are minor inconveniences to those of us who aren’t the ones with our jobs being cut. That is one of the devious things about the sequestration – most middle class folks won’t connect the inconveniences to sequestration because they won’t be felt for another month or even more. But the worst part of the sequestration is the human impact it will have on those who need our help the most. 4 million fewer meals will be delivered by Meals on Wheels. 2 million rides for seniors who need transportation will be cut. Heating assistance for low income folks will be cut. More than 30,000 jobs for teachers and school staff for special needs and at risk students are threatened. There will be fewer work-study jobs for college students. Head Start services will be cut, in Ohio about 2,500 children will no longer be able to attend Head Start. Funding for everything from the EPA to children’s vaccines are cut. Rental assistance, WIC, homelessness prevention, mental health services are all having their budgets reduced. It is important to note that not only is the sequestration the result of Boehner refusing to negotiate with the President; it doesn’t need to happen. The President has asked for a “balanced approach” which includes more revenue and targeted savings (allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices would result in billions of dollars saved without any benefit cuts). But even that is agreeing that the cuts are necessary in the first place. Congress could vote to end the sequestration altogether. Please contact your member of Congress and your Senators and urge them to end this craziness. When doing so, please urge them not to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits. by Bentley Davis OK, now click on this "read more" link below. Rally tomorrow to save the Anna Louise Inn supported by Women's City Club, League of Women Voters, ICJP, etc. plus other cool stuff. Read More ... | 
| ~ ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH ~ Hot tip for health...sheep's skin ... see under "read more" link. And...Do check our Brewster Rhodes' "Green Umbrella" weekly newsletter, below. Women's Health Policy Top Ten stories. Important Fracking news... ellen
Read More | ~ LLOYD HOUSE
(AND ALEXANDER!) ADS ~ Below, info about spaces available for resident housemates or office - we have one vacancy --spread the word!
AND VERY HELPFUL links to videos about the Alexander Technique including tips about how to sit at the computer w/o getting aching shoulders or back, PLUS notice of the best bargain there is, a FREE Alexander practice session for anyone. Also, some of Ellen's YouTube links. fun.
Read More
| ~ ARTICLES ~
 (This 90 minute feature documentary about the financial situation, Occupy Wall Street, etc. is really terrific. I bought a copy and will lend it to y ou, or show it to you here at the Lloyd House any time on my 46" tv. Consider holding a houseparty to view it together. ellen) Give Heist a boost today. Beginning today and over the next months, Heist producer/directors Don Goldmacher and Frances Causey will contribute to some of the major community blogs. We need YOU to amplify their voices: to read, recommend, comment and share, especially in the critical first hours. Starting now: Obama, Jobs and the Demise of America Some of the community blogs require registration. If you have an account at DailyKos you're set for today. If not, set one up today at these DailyKos ... and Firedoglake links. When the HeistDoc team posts, we'll alert you though @HeistDoc Facebook and email so you can read, recommend, comment and share, especially in the critical first hours. Note: if your registrations are new, there is a waiting period to do more than read. That's ok; you'll be set for next time and meanwhile you can share in other ways. Where else should we post? Use facebook and twitter to let us know, or reply to: infoheistmovie@gmail.com -- "Heist: Who Stole the American Dream?" www.Heist-TheMovie.com www.Facebook.com/Heist.the.Movie To unsubscribe to these e-mails, reply to this message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.
| ~ REVIEWS ~
Send me, please, your impressions, however rough and short, of movies, books, restaurants, events, etc. I want to print them here. We want to know what you like!
That Muse concert! Last Saturday, at St Monica's church in Clifton/Fairview. Can you imagine the excitement? Every single seat was taken in the whole, big church. The singers who came all the way from Grand Rapids were excellent, the women's chorus from Walnut Hills High School were excellent... but nothing can compare to our own Muse with Cathy Roma! Also musically excellent, of course, but what makes the difference? It's the connection to the larger social issues: feminism, dignity for minorities, peace, freedom, the human spirit. It was a lift-off! You'll be missing something really special if you don't go to the last Muse concert under Cathy Roma, the Spring Concert,
Saturday, June 8, 2013 - 7:30pm Sunday, June 9, 2013 - 3:00pm | ~ LETTERS ~ On Monday I sent out an "Extra" bulletin from the Virtual Salon, on the Democracy Emergency in the state of Ohio (see story above in "Democracy and Community" section). Got a number of responses.
Morris Williams cc'd me on his letter to Columbus:
Senator Eric Kearney; Representative Alicia Reece District 33 (my district); and Representative Dale Mallory: I opened the email about this late. Please excuse this group email, but as we all know each other, I write to you all at once because I believe that you would be collaborating on this matter. I'm told that Senate Bill 47 will be voted on in the Ohio Senate. I do not know if there is a similar bill in the House, but if so I hope you voted against this bill and any other like it. Here is what was sent to me. “It (Senate Bill 47) entails serious, even critical weakening of the Ohio citizens' right to Referendum and to Voter Initiative. SB 47 revises the rules under which petitions signatures can be collected. I believe that under the present scheme the petitions can be circulated for 90 days and then submitted for examination by the Secretary of State of Ohio. All invalid signatures are then thrown out and the remaining 'good' ones counted to see if there are enough to get the measure onto the ballot in November. Meanwhile, the petitioners can continue collecting more and more signatures. Under the provisions of SB 47, however, after the 90 days, and while the Sec'y of State is examining the signatures, all collection of signatures must stop. Then if the sec'y of state finds that there are not enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot, there are 10 additional days during which the petitions may again be circulated in hopes of 'curing' the insufficiency of the signatures. “ I believe that the Senate Bill 47 revision is anti – public led referendums and initiatives. When you stop a volunteer operation such as a petition drive, it is almost impossible to get the volunteers back to start working again. It is better to keep going and have too many signatures than too few. Morris Williams, Convener
From Linda Robbins
thanks Ellen-didn't know about this-unbelievable-will forward and respond
Linda
From Martha Bonvillian
TY I spent hours on many days collecitng signatures first for SB 5 and then for more hours to vote. It was exhausting and worth it. This is a real threat and a bold attempt to put limitations on the process. I iwll forward this to others. Martha
From Jennifer Roig-Francoli
Done. Thanks, Ellen.
Jennifer
Hamilton County Community Reinvestment Group | 
Tri-State Treasures is a chronological 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 forwarding your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner at nuvox.net. Tri-State Treasures will be away next week, but return on Wednesday 27 February. (?? didn't get last night.ellen) Information about Tri-State Treasures and how to submit them, and an explanation of my convention for expressing email addresses and websites is at the bottom of this email. Please help me by providing all basic information, and formatting your submissions as described below. Thank you. Sincerely, Jim ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read More | | | | | | |
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