By Dale Bowling
Now that the election is over and we've all caught our breath, it's time to start thinking about America's future.
By now, everyone has heard of the 'fiscal cliff" that America is headed for and there is talk about a deal between Democrats and Republicans that would avoid this self-engineered crisis.
First a trip down memory lane.
The fiscal cliff is basically short hand for a combination of spending cuts and tax increases that will
automatically kick in the first of next year if some agreement on longterm deficit reduction is not
reached. Together they represent around $800 billion dollars a year that will be taken out of the
economy and put into deficit reduction.
I think everyone wants deficit reduction, but the problem is that the one-two punch of higher taxes and spending cuts in this fragile recovery will likely throw America back into Recession and diminish or reverse the jobs gains that Democrats have won since the Bush Recession took hold.
Both parties should be keen to avoid this for love of Country, if for no other reason.
But any agreement must be reached through true bipartisanship. After the election in 2008,
Republicans refused to help shape any of the Democratic initiatives that might have helped the country (Stimulus, Affordable Care Act, etc.). The GOP drug their feet whenever possible, hinting that if a given proposal was just watered down a little more they might vote for it, causing a further revision of the bill in question, wasting time and ultimately only three Republicans in all of Congress voted for the much-needed Stimulus and a single Republican voted for the Affordable Care Act. Both passed only because of Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.
In essence, Republicans ran out the clock until the mid-term elections and then blamed Democrats for
so little having been accomplished.
This time around, House Republicans are talking in more measured tones, but are saying the same
thing they always have said. They're OK with increasing tax revenue- but they don't want rate hikes on rich people. They're OK with eliminating deductions and loopholes.
If this sounds familiar, it should. This was Mitt Romney's tax plan without the rate cut. That is the GOP idea of compromise for raising taxes - Mitt Romney's tax plan.
So we need to learn from history. In 2008, America entrusted Democrats with the government, but love of country and desire to do good made Democrats too willing to give Republicans what they asked for in order to get bills passed. Republicans didn't vote for them anyway.
This time around Dems need to drive a harder bargain for America's sake.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Great Days
By Dale Bowling
America has spoken and it's clear that the Democratic message of shared sacrifice and shared
benefits has won out over "you're on your own".
Thanks and congratulations to all who made this possible. Candidates, volunteers, campaign workers,
voters! I could start singling out people, but I fear I would never stop if I did. This is America's victory and we all deserve to share some of its credit and to bask in its glow.
As we move forward Democrats must and will continue the struggle to restore America to its full
potential, to bring the blessings of liberty and prosperity to all Americans and to make America a
better, stronger, fairer Nation.
Yesterday was a great day for America. Democrats, now we work to make sure they're all great days.
America has spoken and it's clear that the Democratic message of shared sacrifice and shared
benefits has won out over "you're on your own".
Thanks and congratulations to all who made this possible. Candidates, volunteers, campaign workers,
voters! I could start singling out people, but I fear I would never stop if I did. This is America's victory and we all deserve to share some of its credit and to bask in its glow.
As we move forward Democrats must and will continue the struggle to restore America to its full
potential, to bring the blessings of liberty and prosperity to all Americans and to make America a
better, stronger, fairer Nation.
Yesterday was a great day for America. Democrats, now we work to make sure they're all great days.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Reasons Why The Democrats Deserve Your Vote TOMORROW!
By Dale Bowling
Democrats are asking for your vote tomorrow and what's more they've worked hard to deserve it.
Here is a list of some of the reasons why Democrats have earned your vote:
Democrats, having inherited the Bush Recession which was in the process of shedding millions of
American jobs, stepped up to the plate and passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009. This helped America find the bottom of the crisis, created millions of jobs and prevented America from sliding into a Second Great Depression. Only three Republicans voted for this.
Democrats saved the auto industry in America, thereby keeping millions more Americans employed. Some Republicans thought Detroit should go bankrupt and take a lot of hard-working Americans with it. Democrats said No.
Democrats brought you the Affordable Care Act, the first meaningful health care reform in years. This will lower the cost of health care, increase access and actually lower the deficit. Before this, every American was an intersection or doctor's visit from being uninsurable for life. Only one Republican in Congress voted for this, but the Republicans in the House have voted to repeal it over 30 times.
Democrats got Bin Laden, ended the Iraq War and are winding down the war in Afghanistan.
Democrats reformed Wall Street with the Dodd-Frank Bill limiting the risk that Wall Street firms can take on in order to stop the financial industry from wrecking the economy. Again.
Democrats prevented Republicans from privatizing Social Security and will do it again if the need arises. The other guys want to put the same people who lost half your 401(k) in charge of your Social Security benefits. Democrats put their foot down and said No.
Democrats increased the number of Pell Grants, created tax credits for families with children in
college, kept student loan interest rates low and are working to improve education at all levels.
Democrats have a job plan that is ready to pass and can be implemented immediately. Economists
have argued that The American Jobs Act (which is fully-paid for) will create more than two million jobs through targeted tax cuts and badly-needed investment in infrastructure.
Democrats cut taxes for 95% of Americans.
Democrats learned the lessons of Katrina and rebuilt FEMA which saved lives and helped Americans
struggling with last week's storm.
Democrats have passed policies that have primed the economy to create 12 million jobs over the next
four years. Republicans are hoping they can claim credit for those jobs, if they're elected.
Democrats have restored American power and respect around the world.
Democrats have voted to protect the rights of all citizens in our democracy. From the right to marry
who you want to the right to decide what to do with your own body to the right to be paid the same for the same work, Democrats have championed your rights over and over again. Republicans like to talk about liberty, but primarily it's your freedom to be screwed over by Republicans they are most
interested in protecting.
Democrats have worked hard for America and will continue the struggle to create a better, stronger,
fairer America. This healthier America can only be created with the help of all of us.
VOTE DEMOCRAT tomorrow, Nov. 6!
Democrats are asking for your vote tomorrow and what's more they've worked hard to deserve it.
Here is a list of some of the reasons why Democrats have earned your vote:
Democrats, having inherited the Bush Recession which was in the process of shedding millions of
American jobs, stepped up to the plate and passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009. This helped America find the bottom of the crisis, created millions of jobs and prevented America from sliding into a Second Great Depression. Only three Republicans voted for this.
Democrats saved the auto industry in America, thereby keeping millions more Americans employed. Some Republicans thought Detroit should go bankrupt and take a lot of hard-working Americans with it. Democrats said No.
Democrats brought you the Affordable Care Act, the first meaningful health care reform in years. This will lower the cost of health care, increase access and actually lower the deficit. Before this, every American was an intersection or doctor's visit from being uninsurable for life. Only one Republican in Congress voted for this, but the Republicans in the House have voted to repeal it over 30 times.
Democrats got Bin Laden, ended the Iraq War and are winding down the war in Afghanistan.
Democrats reformed Wall Street with the Dodd-Frank Bill limiting the risk that Wall Street firms can take on in order to stop the financial industry from wrecking the economy. Again.
Democrats prevented Republicans from privatizing Social Security and will do it again if the need arises. The other guys want to put the same people who lost half your 401(k) in charge of your Social Security benefits. Democrats put their foot down and said No.
Democrats increased the number of Pell Grants, created tax credits for families with children in
college, kept student loan interest rates low and are working to improve education at all levels.
Democrats have a job plan that is ready to pass and can be implemented immediately. Economists
have argued that The American Jobs Act (which is fully-paid for) will create more than two million jobs through targeted tax cuts and badly-needed investment in infrastructure.
Democrats cut taxes for 95% of Americans.
Democrats learned the lessons of Katrina and rebuilt FEMA which saved lives and helped Americans
struggling with last week's storm.
Democrats have passed policies that have primed the economy to create 12 million jobs over the next
four years. Republicans are hoping they can claim credit for those jobs, if they're elected.
Democrats have restored American power and respect around the world.
Democrats have voted to protect the rights of all citizens in our democracy. From the right to marry
who you want to the right to decide what to do with your own body to the right to be paid the same for the same work, Democrats have championed your rights over and over again. Republicans like to talk about liberty, but primarily it's your freedom to be screwed over by Republicans they are most
interested in protecting.
Democrats have worked hard for America and will continue the struggle to create a better, stronger,
fairer America. This healthier America can only be created with the help of all of us.
VOTE DEMOCRAT tomorrow, Nov. 6!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Republicans Are Mathematically Impossible!
By Dale Bowling
Good news Democrats! We don't have to worry because Republicans are mathematically impossible!
They must be a hoax.
I'm been thinking about this and I've concluded that if math really exists and humans are rational
beings, then Republicans can't possibly really exist.
They might be a fraternity prank.
You see Republican ideas about economics are so laughably absurd that it's impossible that they really could exist. I'm waiting for the folks who engineered all this to jump out and say, "Just kidding!"
Let's take the Romney tax plan that says they can cut everyone's taxes by 20%, eliminate capital gains
tax and the estate tax altogether, and not add to the Deficit or touch middle-class deductions for
mortgage interest, medical expenses or the child tax credit.
They really had me going there because I totally thought they were serious for awhile.
They had me. But then I realized that no sane adult could believe that, so is it must be a joke.
Also, there's no way they could think that the ideas that got us into the financial crisis are preferable to ones that are getting America out of this mess. Because joke's on you- their ideas are the same now as they were then - low taxes for millionaires and billionaires and minimal regulation for businesses.
We've seen a steady climb out of the hole following the premise that if you want a different result from the Bush Recession, try something different. But "Republicans" (I've figured out the joke, you might as well stop) want us to believe that an unsupervised private sector will clear this whole thing up. HA! Like it did in 2008!
Stop, my spleen might burst!
OK- you Guys (and you are mostly guys) can stop now. We've figured it out. You don't have to continue.
Continuing this cruel joke will only hurt America further. If Americans take you seriously and vote for your candidates, we could go back to the same policies that brought us into this mess. We could
damage the social safety net so that if you're unlucky or old, you're in real danger of falling into
poverty. We could have a volatile economy that benefits the Wealthy and hurts everyone else. Lives
will be wrecked from such a ruthless set of policies based on phony math.
Please stop!
Since this isn't funny anymore, we need to vote Democrat this Tuesday.
Do your patriotic duty and find where your polling place is right now. http://www.dupageco.org/election/ Then plan your day on Tuesday and figure out a time where you can go and vote for the Democrats. You won't regret it.
We don't want the joke to be on America come Nov. 7.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Good news Democrats! We don't have to worry because Republicans are mathematically impossible!
They must be a hoax.
I'm been thinking about this and I've concluded that if math really exists and humans are rational
beings, then Republicans can't possibly really exist.
They might be a fraternity prank.
You see Republican ideas about economics are so laughably absurd that it's impossible that they really could exist. I'm waiting for the folks who engineered all this to jump out and say, "Just kidding!"
Let's take the Romney tax plan that says they can cut everyone's taxes by 20%, eliminate capital gains
tax and the estate tax altogether, and not add to the Deficit or touch middle-class deductions for
mortgage interest, medical expenses or the child tax credit.
They really had me going there because I totally thought they were serious for awhile.
They had me. But then I realized that no sane adult could believe that, so is it must be a joke.
Also, there's no way they could think that the ideas that got us into the financial crisis are preferable to ones that are getting America out of this mess. Because joke's on you- their ideas are the same now as they were then - low taxes for millionaires and billionaires and minimal regulation for businesses.
We've seen a steady climb out of the hole following the premise that if you want a different result from the Bush Recession, try something different. But "Republicans" (I've figured out the joke, you might as well stop) want us to believe that an unsupervised private sector will clear this whole thing up. HA! Like it did in 2008!
Stop, my spleen might burst!
OK- you Guys (and you are mostly guys) can stop now. We've figured it out. You don't have to continue.
Continuing this cruel joke will only hurt America further. If Americans take you seriously and vote for your candidates, we could go back to the same policies that brought us into this mess. We could
damage the social safety net so that if you're unlucky or old, you're in real danger of falling into
poverty. We could have a volatile economy that benefits the Wealthy and hurts everyone else. Lives
will be wrecked from such a ruthless set of policies based on phony math.
Please stop!
Since this isn't funny anymore, we need to vote Democrat this Tuesday.
Do your patriotic duty and find where your polling place is right now. http://www.dupageco.org/election/ Then plan your day on Tuesday and figure out a time where you can go and vote for the Democrats. You won't regret it.
We don't want the joke to be on America come Nov. 7.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
What Kind Of Change Can You Believe In?
By Dale Bowling
Lately Republicans have seized on the message of "Change".
They must have seen how well it has worked for Democrats and having no appealing ideas of their
own, Republicans figured that they might borrow it for a little while.
That sort of raises the question: What kind of "Change" do you get with the Republicans vs. the
Democrats? Since this was a Democratic slogan first, let's start with them.
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE:
Democrats wanted change from the Bush Era policies that led to the greatest economic crisis since
World War II.
The Great Depression and the Bush Recession bear a lot of similarities. Both began in a deregulated
financial environment where investment banks were free to take on more risk than was good for them
or the economy in the pursuit of as much profit as possible at the expense of everyday Americans.
When this situation blew up the economy began to hemorrhage jobs. In last few months of Bush's
presidency, the economy was shedding over 500,000 jobs/month.
Democrats wanted to "Change" this dreadful jobs picture.
Since the Private Sector was MIA on job creation, Democrats stepped up and brought us the Stimulus which helped America find the bottom of the crisis, created millions of jobs and prevented America from sliding into a second Great Depression. Only three Republicans in all of Congress voted for the Stimulus.
When Democrats tried again to get the economy moving with the American Jobs Act which through a series of tax breaks and badly-needed infrastructure spending would have created millions more jobs, Republicans voted it down. Using the powers of government to get America working wasn't change they believed in.
Democrats wanted "Change" that would reform Wall Street in order to protect Main Street.
Democrats reformed Wall Street with the Dodd-Frank Bill which puts new, more stringent limits on what the financial industry can do and how much risk it can take. Republicans didn't want this change, tried to water it down and voted against it anyway.
Democrats wanted "Change" that would address the rising cost of health care and make sure that all
Americans could have access to health care.
So Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act. Before that every American (you, me, your kids, your
neighbors) was only a doctor's visit or an intersection away from being uninsurable for life. Democrats changed that. Only one Republican voted for the Affordable Care Act. Republicans didn't care to make that change.
REPUBLICAN CHANGE:
Republicans want the "Change" that looks backwards. The return to Bush Era policies.
Republicans want to repeal Wall Street reforms that protect America's economy from predatory financial maneuvers.
They want to repeal the Affordable Care Act and make it so you have to live in fear of losing your existing insurance or make it so you might never get insurance again.
For Republicans, "Change" means to cut taxes by 20% across the board, eliminate taxes that mostly affect the wealthy and have no real plan to pay for that that's not going to cost the middle class one way or another.
They want to turn Medicare into a "defined benefits" aka voucher program that might save taxpayers money, but only by making the elderly pay more for their health care.
Ultimately they'll try to privatize Social Security (you know this one will come back) and let the same people who ruined your 401(k) under Bush, gamble with your Social Security benefits.
Republicans want to spend billions on military hardware the Pentagon hasn't asked for, doesn't want and can't use.
So the real question is: Do you want "Change" that will primarily benefit the wealthy and "hope" that
trickles down to you and me? If so, vote for the other guys.
But if you want change that truly benefits America across the board, then VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Lately Republicans have seized on the message of "Change".
They must have seen how well it has worked for Democrats and having no appealing ideas of their
own, Republicans figured that they might borrow it for a little while.
That sort of raises the question: What kind of "Change" do you get with the Republicans vs. the
Democrats? Since this was a Democratic slogan first, let's start with them.
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE:
Democrats wanted change from the Bush Era policies that led to the greatest economic crisis since
World War II.
The Great Depression and the Bush Recession bear a lot of similarities. Both began in a deregulated
financial environment where investment banks were free to take on more risk than was good for them
or the economy in the pursuit of as much profit as possible at the expense of everyday Americans.
When this situation blew up the economy began to hemorrhage jobs. In last few months of Bush's
presidency, the economy was shedding over 500,000 jobs/month.
Democrats wanted to "Change" this dreadful jobs picture.
Since the Private Sector was MIA on job creation, Democrats stepped up and brought us the Stimulus which helped America find the bottom of the crisis, created millions of jobs and prevented America from sliding into a second Great Depression. Only three Republicans in all of Congress voted for the Stimulus.
When Democrats tried again to get the economy moving with the American Jobs Act which through a series of tax breaks and badly-needed infrastructure spending would have created millions more jobs, Republicans voted it down. Using the powers of government to get America working wasn't change they believed in.
Democrats wanted "Change" that would reform Wall Street in order to protect Main Street.
Democrats reformed Wall Street with the Dodd-Frank Bill which puts new, more stringent limits on what the financial industry can do and how much risk it can take. Republicans didn't want this change, tried to water it down and voted against it anyway.
Democrats wanted "Change" that would address the rising cost of health care and make sure that all
Americans could have access to health care.
So Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act. Before that every American (you, me, your kids, your
neighbors) was only a doctor's visit or an intersection away from being uninsurable for life. Democrats changed that. Only one Republican voted for the Affordable Care Act. Republicans didn't care to make that change.
REPUBLICAN CHANGE:
Republicans want the "Change" that looks backwards. The return to Bush Era policies.
Republicans want to repeal Wall Street reforms that protect America's economy from predatory financial maneuvers.
They want to repeal the Affordable Care Act and make it so you have to live in fear of losing your existing insurance or make it so you might never get insurance again.
For Republicans, "Change" means to cut taxes by 20% across the board, eliminate taxes that mostly affect the wealthy and have no real plan to pay for that that's not going to cost the middle class one way or another.
They want to turn Medicare into a "defined benefits" aka voucher program that might save taxpayers money, but only by making the elderly pay more for their health care.
Ultimately they'll try to privatize Social Security (you know this one will come back) and let the same people who ruined your 401(k) under Bush, gamble with your Social Security benefits.
Republicans want to spend billions on military hardware the Pentagon hasn't asked for, doesn't want and can't use.
So the real question is: Do you want "Change" that will primarily benefit the wealthy and "hope" that
trickles down to you and me? If so, vote for the other guys.
But if you want change that truly benefits America across the board, then VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Can You Handle The Truth?
By Dale Bowling
The last job report before the general election is in and the numbers show more evidence that
economic growth is gathering steam. The economy added 171,000 jobs last month - the private sector creating 184,000 jobs with cuts in government spending leading to 13,000 lost public sector jobs.
Unemployment remains under 8%.
Along with last month's job report that showed increased hiring as well as signs in the housing sector that things are picking up, this signals good news for the economy.
Unless you listen to Republicans.
According Republicans this is terrible and if we just put them back in charge, the economy would be
back to what it was under George W. Bush in no time.
Just so you know this is not a good thing, but Republicans think it is.
Most of us, most of the time look at the results of something to decide whether or not it's a good thing.
Not Republicans. They look to whether the results help or hurt their case and decide on their truth that way.
This explains why Congressional Republicans successfully silenced a report by the non-partisan,
Congressional Research Service that showed that tax cuts for top earners fuel income inequality, but
not economic growth. Despite the fact, that these are professional number crunchers in a non-partisan
office, the results didn't match Republican Articles of Faith about tax cuts for the wealthy and it was
suppressed by Republicans.
Respect for the truth wherever it takes you is not the Republican way of doing things. The laundry list
of deceptions that they represent as true, even in the presence of ample evidence to the contrary, is
overwhelming.
I am reminded of the Romney staffer who said they were not going to be dominated by fact-checkers.
This is one position that Romney hasn't switched sides on.
The Romney campaign continues to insist that Obama weakened welfare to work requirements. That
was a lie. Some states had requested flexibility on some of the welfare requirements and this was
granted by the White House. Usually Republicans like it when federal regulations are flexible. Not this time.
They say that part of the Obama auto bailout shipped some Jeep jobs to China. Not true says the Auto
Industry. There were already Jeep plants in China and those have increased production to meet
demand in China. The Jeep plants near Toledo didn't lose any jobs as a result of that. This has been
proven over and over again and the Romney campaign just keeps repeating this lie as if no fact
checkers have spoken.
Truth about climate change? Do you even have to ask?
What about the truth about which loopholes and deductions are going to make the Romney budget and tax plan work? No matter how many times we ask for the math, we go home empty-handed.
Above all, what Americans deserve from public officials is to hear the entire story about what's
happening in their country and detailed plans to fix any problems so they can make informed choices.
Republicans say you can't handle the truth.
Truth is, America is clawing its way out of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression with very little help from Republican lawmakers. They're big on creating financial crises, but not so good at cleaning them up.
We need responsible Grown-ups in charge of Government. The ones who say that this is going to be
tough, sometimes expensive and never universally popular, but we can do it because when the
American people work together nothing is beyond its ability.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!
The last job report before the general election is in and the numbers show more evidence that
economic growth is gathering steam. The economy added 171,000 jobs last month - the private sector creating 184,000 jobs with cuts in government spending leading to 13,000 lost public sector jobs.
Unemployment remains under 8%.
Along with last month's job report that showed increased hiring as well as signs in the housing sector that things are picking up, this signals good news for the economy.
Unless you listen to Republicans.
According Republicans this is terrible and if we just put them back in charge, the economy would be
back to what it was under George W. Bush in no time.
Just so you know this is not a good thing, but Republicans think it is.
Most of us, most of the time look at the results of something to decide whether or not it's a good thing.
Not Republicans. They look to whether the results help or hurt their case and decide on their truth that way.
This explains why Congressional Republicans successfully silenced a report by the non-partisan,
Congressional Research Service that showed that tax cuts for top earners fuel income inequality, but
not economic growth. Despite the fact, that these are professional number crunchers in a non-partisan
office, the results didn't match Republican Articles of Faith about tax cuts for the wealthy and it was
suppressed by Republicans.
Respect for the truth wherever it takes you is not the Republican way of doing things. The laundry list
of deceptions that they represent as true, even in the presence of ample evidence to the contrary, is
overwhelming.
I am reminded of the Romney staffer who said they were not going to be dominated by fact-checkers.
This is one position that Romney hasn't switched sides on.
The Romney campaign continues to insist that Obama weakened welfare to work requirements. That
was a lie. Some states had requested flexibility on some of the welfare requirements and this was
granted by the White House. Usually Republicans like it when federal regulations are flexible. Not this time.
They say that part of the Obama auto bailout shipped some Jeep jobs to China. Not true says the Auto
Industry. There were already Jeep plants in China and those have increased production to meet
demand in China. The Jeep plants near Toledo didn't lose any jobs as a result of that. This has been
proven over and over again and the Romney campaign just keeps repeating this lie as if no fact
checkers have spoken.
Truth about climate change? Do you even have to ask?
What about the truth about which loopholes and deductions are going to make the Romney budget and tax plan work? No matter how many times we ask for the math, we go home empty-handed.
Above all, what Americans deserve from public officials is to hear the entire story about what's
happening in their country and detailed plans to fix any problems so they can make informed choices.
Republicans say you can't handle the truth.
Truth is, America is clawing its way out of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression with very little help from Republican lawmakers. They're big on creating financial crises, but not so good at cleaning them up.
We need responsible Grown-ups in charge of Government. The ones who say that this is going to be
tough, sometimes expensive and never universally popular, but we can do it because when the
American people work together nothing is beyond its ability.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Republican to English Translations
By Dale Bowling
With all the rhetoric these days, it strikes me that a translation of Republican into plain English would be useful. These are in no particular order.
Republican: "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. ... My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." -Mitt Romney, in leaked comments from a fundraiser in May 2012
Translation: "Poor people deserve what they got and I have no obligation to them."
Republican: "Corporations are people, my friend..." Mitt Romney
Translation: "Corporations have more rights than you do, my friend"
Republican: "We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers," - Romney pollster Neil Newhouse.
Translation: "We're going to lie a lot and there's nothing anyone can do about it."
Republican: "I hope he fails." - Rush Limbaugh when asked for his hope for the Obama Presidency just before Obama's inauguration.
Translation: "I would prefer to see the lives of innocent Americans ruined than have my political opponents succeed."
Republican: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" - Mitt Romney arguing against a government bailout of the Auto industry.
Translation: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"
Republican: "“Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch-A-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.” - Romney advisor Eric Fehrnstrom on his campaign.
Translation: "We don't actually stand for anything."
Republican: "I should tell my story. I'm also unemployed" - Mitt Romney
Translation: "I have no idea what you're going through."
Republican: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." - Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader.
Translation: "See above,"I hope he fails".
Republican: "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us." - Mitt Romney
Translation: "Superstorm Sandy, You're on!"
Republican: "The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." - Pat Robertson
Translation: "I'm not taking my medication."
And an oldie, but a goodie...
Republican: "I'm not worried about the Deficit. It's big enough to take care of itself"- Ronald Reagan who btw tripled the Deficit.
Translation: "I poke fun at the fact I'm leaving America with a terrible problem that will haunt your children's children."
Me: These people are mean-spirited lunatics who happily run our country off a cliff for short-term personal or political gain.
Translation: VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6
With all the rhetoric these days, it strikes me that a translation of Republican into plain English would be useful. These are in no particular order.
Republican: "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. ... My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." -Mitt Romney, in leaked comments from a fundraiser in May 2012
Translation: "Poor people deserve what they got and I have no obligation to them."
Republican: "Corporations are people, my friend..." Mitt Romney
Translation: "Corporations have more rights than you do, my friend"
Republican: "We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers," - Romney pollster Neil Newhouse.
Translation: "We're going to lie a lot and there's nothing anyone can do about it."
Republican: "I hope he fails." - Rush Limbaugh when asked for his hope for the Obama Presidency just before Obama's inauguration.
Translation: "I would prefer to see the lives of innocent Americans ruined than have my political opponents succeed."
Republican: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" - Mitt Romney arguing against a government bailout of the Auto industry.
Translation: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"
Republican: "“Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch-A-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.” - Romney advisor Eric Fehrnstrom on his campaign.
Translation: "We don't actually stand for anything."
Republican: "I should tell my story. I'm also unemployed" - Mitt Romney
Translation: "I have no idea what you're going through."
Republican: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." - Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader.
Translation: "See above,"I hope he fails".
Republican: "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us." - Mitt Romney
Translation: "Superstorm Sandy, You're on!"
Republican: "The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." - Pat Robertson
Translation: "I'm not taking my medication."
And an oldie, but a goodie...
Republican: "I'm not worried about the Deficit. It's big enough to take care of itself"- Ronald Reagan who btw tripled the Deficit.
Translation: "I poke fun at the fact I'm leaving America with a terrible problem that will haunt your children's children."
Me: These people are mean-spirited lunatics who happily run our country off a cliff for short-term personal or political gain.
Translation: VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Something Scary for Halloween...
By Dale Bowling
Now here's something really spooky for Halloween.... If Mitt Romney gets elected, his budget and tax plan will kill millions of jobs over the next two years.
The Economic Policy Institute ran the numbers (such as they are) http://www.epi.org/publication/ib343-obama-romney-job-growth/ and found that if Romney fulfills his promises on the budget and tax plan, millions of jobs are at stake.
The main reason is that the Romney plan would cap government spending at 20% of GDP. This would represent a massive cut in government spending at a time when it is most needed.
Republicans like to say that government is always the problem and never the solution, but we know from plenty of experience in actual reality that government can help solve problems.
If there is going to be economic growth, somebody has to spend money. If the private sector is busy paying down debts or waiting to see what the economy brings, the public sector (Government) has to step up and be the grown-up. Once the economy is back on track, the government can ease off and pay down the debt it incurred in tight times.
You know, like America has done countless times since WWII.
But somehow Republicans have totally forgotten all of American history in the last 75 years and have decided that Herbert Hoover was on to something.
Republicans think that Government should just let the Invisible Hand of the Market push folks into unemployment, loss of health care benefits, and abject poverty- eventually it will sort itself out! That's the GOP take on all this.
You know why? Because that is going to cost rich folks the least.
If you commit the time to read the EPI's analysis, you'll find that President Obama's plan will create millions of jobs over the next two years. Instead of two millions jobs lost, that's two million jobs gained. So that's a 4 million job swing.
Why? Mostly because President Obama wants to rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure. This would provide lots of Americans with jobs and fuel economic growth. Good roads, bridges and railways lower the cost of travel for both commuters and businesses.
Capping government spending at 20% of GDP can't build that.
It's worth noting that the American Jobs Act which encapsulates most of these job gains could have been implemented a year ago. The reason- Republicans in Congress wanted Obama to be a one-term President so they wouldn't vote for it.
Republicans choose Party over Country. Democrats choose America!
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6.!
Now here's something really spooky for Halloween.... If Mitt Romney gets elected, his budget and tax plan will kill millions of jobs over the next two years.
The Economic Policy Institute ran the numbers (such as they are) http://www.epi.org/publication/ib343-obama-romney-job-growth/ and found that if Romney fulfills his promises on the budget and tax plan, millions of jobs are at stake.
The main reason is that the Romney plan would cap government spending at 20% of GDP. This would represent a massive cut in government spending at a time when it is most needed.
Republicans like to say that government is always the problem and never the solution, but we know from plenty of experience in actual reality that government can help solve problems.
If there is going to be economic growth, somebody has to spend money. If the private sector is busy paying down debts or waiting to see what the economy brings, the public sector (Government) has to step up and be the grown-up. Once the economy is back on track, the government can ease off and pay down the debt it incurred in tight times.
You know, like America has done countless times since WWII.
But somehow Republicans have totally forgotten all of American history in the last 75 years and have decided that Herbert Hoover was on to something.
Republicans think that Government should just let the Invisible Hand of the Market push folks into unemployment, loss of health care benefits, and abject poverty- eventually it will sort itself out! That's the GOP take on all this.
You know why? Because that is going to cost rich folks the least.
If you commit the time to read the EPI's analysis, you'll find that President Obama's plan will create millions of jobs over the next two years. Instead of two millions jobs lost, that's two million jobs gained. So that's a 4 million job swing.
Why? Mostly because President Obama wants to rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure. This would provide lots of Americans with jobs and fuel economic growth. Good roads, bridges and railways lower the cost of travel for both commuters and businesses.
Capping government spending at 20% of GDP can't build that.
It's worth noting that the American Jobs Act which encapsulates most of these job gains could have been implemented a year ago. The reason- Republicans in Congress wanted Obama to be a one-term President so they wouldn't vote for it.
Republicans choose Party over Country. Democrats choose America!
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6.!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Learning from Sandy
By Dale Bowling
Remember that political ad during the last election where the call comes in at 3am stating America is under siege and the question is who has the policies and skills to lead us out of that crisis?
Hurricane Sandy is that call. So who has the policies and the skills to protect America?
Two separate issues loom: disaster prevention and disaster relief.
Environmental scientists have said for years that natural disasters, especially hurricanes, droughts and floods will increase in number and severity due to climate change. 2012 will stand as the poster child for the effects of climate change on America for years to come.
Fix climate change and we can reduce the frequency and intensity of these disasters.
Democrats for their part have championed comprehensive climate change legislation (remember Cap and Trade?), have passed into law greater fuel efficiency standards for cars, pushed for tighter emission standards on cars and power plants and have supported clean energy projects to keep greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Republicans have stuffed their fingers in their ears and sang the Star-Spangled Banner really loudly.
As far as disaster relief, Democrats have had to fight repeatedly just to keep the level of preparedness the Nation has now.
Republicans have argued that disaster relief should be turned over to the states as much as possible, or even better yet privatized. They have used the threat of cutting federal disaster relief funding to attempt to eliminate some green manufacturing programs and have actually cut some disaster relief in order to preserve military spending levels.
Federal funding for disaster relief is a lot like funding for embassy security (another victim of the Republican chopping block): you don't need it - until you need it.
When Republicans make disaster relief a pawn in its game to checkmate Big Government, America is the one who loses.
Democrats will protect federal funding for disaster relief and prmote environmental legislation to prevent these problems from getting that 3am call in the first place.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!
Remember that political ad during the last election where the call comes in at 3am stating America is under siege and the question is who has the policies and skills to lead us out of that crisis?
Hurricane Sandy is that call. So who has the policies and the skills to protect America?
Two separate issues loom: disaster prevention and disaster relief.
Environmental scientists have said for years that natural disasters, especially hurricanes, droughts and floods will increase in number and severity due to climate change. 2012 will stand as the poster child for the effects of climate change on America for years to come.
Fix climate change and we can reduce the frequency and intensity of these disasters.
Democrats for their part have championed comprehensive climate change legislation (remember Cap and Trade?), have passed into law greater fuel efficiency standards for cars, pushed for tighter emission standards on cars and power plants and have supported clean energy projects to keep greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Republicans have stuffed their fingers in their ears and sang the Star-Spangled Banner really loudly.
As far as disaster relief, Democrats have had to fight repeatedly just to keep the level of preparedness the Nation has now.
Republicans have argued that disaster relief should be turned over to the states as much as possible, or even better yet privatized. They have used the threat of cutting federal disaster relief funding to attempt to eliminate some green manufacturing programs and have actually cut some disaster relief in order to preserve military spending levels.
Federal funding for disaster relief is a lot like funding for embassy security (another victim of the Republican chopping block): you don't need it - until you need it.
When Republicans make disaster relief a pawn in its game to checkmate Big Government, America is the one who loses.
Democrats will protect federal funding for disaster relief and prmote environmental legislation to prevent these problems from getting that 3am call in the first place.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Bracing for the Storm
By Dale Bowling
No matter how little candidates want to talk about climate change, it always comes back with a vengeance into people's attention - especially when 50 million people are endangered.
That's a sixth of the country's population who are directed effected by Hurricane Sandy.
The potential loss of life is terrible to contemplate and even if there are no fatalities, the economic cost of Sandy will be devastating.
The economy will grind to a stop for a huge percentage of Americans. For days businesses all over the eastern United States will be closed. Public transportation will be shut down in a half dozen major metropolitan areas. All flights in the affected areas will be cancelled. Destruction of property will likely be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. There will be shortages of gasoline and food. A large number of people are likely to be left homeless.
Climatologists have been saying for years that the impact of climate change will increase the number and severity of environmental disasters, but their warnings have merely been cries in the wilderness.
Republicans have made quite a sport out of climate change denial. They argue that scientists aren't certain that climate change is happening (they are sure) and that if it is happening that human activity is to blame.
Scientists are sure of that too actually.
Climate Change Deniers also assert that regulation of carbon emissions will cost American business too much money now to head off something that may never happen anyway.
But think about the combined cost of Hurricane Sandy and last summer's record-breaking drought - both linked to climate change.
These are happening now and we have no reason to believe that the next few years will be better since we're not doing anything about the problem.
This past year was the hottest on record and all of the ten hottest years happened in the last fifteen years. In that time we've seen Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and now Sandy do enormous damage that cost hundreds of billions to clean up and are still being cleaned up. We've seen both devastating droughts and floods. Wildfires out west have increased in intensity. All of these have cost hundreds of billions of dollars in clean-up, rebuilding, lost productivity. They have and will drive up the price of food, price at the pump, the cost of living.
And this does not even mention the lives lost or ruined, not just here, but everywhere.
Frankly, the cost of not doing anything outweighs the cost of fixing the problem now.
When he waspandering campaigning recently, Mitt Romney said to a crowd that "President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise ... is to help you and your family."
Since Americans live on Earth, one suspects that it would help Americans not to have frankenstorms endanger and disrupt the lives of one-sixth of America.
America- on the issue of climate change your head, your heart and your pocketbook are all in agreement.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6th!
No matter how little candidates want to talk about climate change, it always comes back with a vengeance into people's attention - especially when 50 million people are endangered.
That's a sixth of the country's population who are directed effected by Hurricane Sandy.
The potential loss of life is terrible to contemplate and even if there are no fatalities, the economic cost of Sandy will be devastating.
The economy will grind to a stop for a huge percentage of Americans. For days businesses all over the eastern United States will be closed. Public transportation will be shut down in a half dozen major metropolitan areas. All flights in the affected areas will be cancelled. Destruction of property will likely be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. There will be shortages of gasoline and food. A large number of people are likely to be left homeless.
Climatologists have been saying for years that the impact of climate change will increase the number and severity of environmental disasters, but their warnings have merely been cries in the wilderness.
Republicans have made quite a sport out of climate change denial. They argue that scientists aren't certain that climate change is happening (they are sure) and that if it is happening that human activity is to blame.
Scientists are sure of that too actually.
Climate Change Deniers also assert that regulation of carbon emissions will cost American business too much money now to head off something that may never happen anyway.
But think about the combined cost of Hurricane Sandy and last summer's record-breaking drought - both linked to climate change.
These are happening now and we have no reason to believe that the next few years will be better since we're not doing anything about the problem.
This past year was the hottest on record and all of the ten hottest years happened in the last fifteen years. In that time we've seen Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and now Sandy do enormous damage that cost hundreds of billions to clean up and are still being cleaned up. We've seen both devastating droughts and floods. Wildfires out west have increased in intensity. All of these have cost hundreds of billions of dollars in clean-up, rebuilding, lost productivity. They have and will drive up the price of food, price at the pump, the cost of living.
And this does not even mention the lives lost or ruined, not just here, but everywhere.
Frankly, the cost of not doing anything outweighs the cost of fixing the problem now.
When he was
Since Americans live on Earth, one suspects that it would help Americans not to have frankenstorms endanger and disrupt the lives of one-sixth of America.
America- on the issue of climate change your head, your heart and your pocketbook are all in agreement.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6th!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Democrats Have The Plan, The Means And The Will
By Dale Bowling
The third quarter GDP numbers are out and they show the economic recovery is gathering steam. When added to the improving housing sector numbers and the lowest unemployment since Obama inherited the Bush Recession, this is good news for America.
America still has plenty of work ahead of it and Democrats have real plans for American growth that don't involve impossible math or magical intervention to make them work.
Democrats want to invest in America and Americans. We know that America's people is its greatest resource and that we are stronger as a nation when we have a better educated workforce. Democrats have already increased the number of Pell Grants available and established tax credits for families paying for college. Further, Democrats will build close relationships between community colleges and businesses to fuel an American resurgence.
Republicans think they might have money leftover to invest in America once they've cut taxes for millionaires and bought those fleets of ships the navy didn't want.
Now that the wars are ending, Democrats will to take some of the money that we've been spending abroad and use it to rebuild America. Construction of schools, highways, bridges, railways and runways will create a huge number of jobs in the short term and will continue to create jobs for years to come as businesses are able to take advantage of improvements to move goods and services more cheaply. This is good news for everybody. A straighter, better route to work means less time and less gas spent for commuters. There's no such thing as a Democrat highway or a Republican Bridge. Rebuilding infrastructure would help rebuild America.
Republicans on Infrastructure Plan? You can spend their tax cut on new tires.
Since our economy is so technologically driven, Democrats would invest in research and development of the new technologies that will establish American dominance in the 21st century. Republicans are famous for saying that government doesn't create jobs, but research and development does create private sector jobs. Has the internet created jobs? Government-funded R & D built that when the private sector lacked the motivation and ability to do so. Research and Development of new clean, renewable energy will help create jobs for Americans and energy independence for America.
Republicans on R & D? Not so much.
Ultimately it comes down to who do you really trust to rebuild America?
Republicans have proven over and over again, they'll run America over a cliff (think debt ceiling) it it gets them the White House again or tax cuts for wealthy campaign contributors. Their economic plan is mathematically impossible. They brought us to the brink of destruction, they'll do it again.
Democrats have produced steady growth for America and will continue to do so. Democrats have the plan, the will, the means. They just need the votes and that's where you come in.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
The third quarter GDP numbers are out and they show the economic recovery is gathering steam. When added to the improving housing sector numbers and the lowest unemployment since Obama inherited the Bush Recession, this is good news for America.
America still has plenty of work ahead of it and Democrats have real plans for American growth that don't involve impossible math or magical intervention to make them work.
Democrats want to invest in America and Americans. We know that America's people is its greatest resource and that we are stronger as a nation when we have a better educated workforce. Democrats have already increased the number of Pell Grants available and established tax credits for families paying for college. Further, Democrats will build close relationships between community colleges and businesses to fuel an American resurgence.
Republicans think they might have money leftover to invest in America once they've cut taxes for millionaires and bought those fleets of ships the navy didn't want.
Now that the wars are ending, Democrats will to take some of the money that we've been spending abroad and use it to rebuild America. Construction of schools, highways, bridges, railways and runways will create a huge number of jobs in the short term and will continue to create jobs for years to come as businesses are able to take advantage of improvements to move goods and services more cheaply. This is good news for everybody. A straighter, better route to work means less time and less gas spent for commuters. There's no such thing as a Democrat highway or a Republican Bridge. Rebuilding infrastructure would help rebuild America.
Republicans on Infrastructure Plan? You can spend their tax cut on new tires.
Since our economy is so technologically driven, Democrats would invest in research and development of the new technologies that will establish American dominance in the 21st century. Republicans are famous for saying that government doesn't create jobs, but research and development does create private sector jobs. Has the internet created jobs? Government-funded R & D built that when the private sector lacked the motivation and ability to do so. Research and Development of new clean, renewable energy will help create jobs for Americans and energy independence for America.
Republicans on R & D? Not so much.
Ultimately it comes down to who do you really trust to rebuild America?
Republicans have proven over and over again, they'll run America over a cliff (think debt ceiling) it it gets them the White House again or tax cuts for wealthy campaign contributors. Their economic plan is mathematically impossible. They brought us to the brink of destruction, they'll do it again.
Democrats have produced steady growth for America and will continue to do so. Democrats have the plan, the will, the means. They just need the votes and that's where you come in.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Legislating Women: Body and Soul
By Dale Bowling
Democrats have a well-deserved reputation for fighting for the civil rights of all Americans. It doesn't matter whether you're thinking of the fight for racial equality in the 50s and 60s or the Women's Rights movement in the 70s or Marriage Equality today, Democrats have been in the vanguard in the struggle for justice and equality before the law.
Republicans? They took more of a rearguard position on civil rights. Some might call it backwards even.
In the last few years especially, Republicans have taken a number of very distressing positions on what are commonly called "Women's Issues", but as Democrats like to say these are also family issues, rights issues, economic issues and above all American issues.
Governor Romney has said he would have vetoed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which forces businesses to pay their female employees the same as male employees if they're doing the same job. Romney says government shouldn't prevent businesses to make their own decisions. Lily Ledbetter was the first bill signed into law by President Obama.
Part of the Affordable Care Act is that women can't be charged more for their health care than men. Governor Romney has said he'd repeal that Act on his first day in office.
A few months ago a Republican candidate for Senate, Todd Akin said that women can't get pregnant if it's "legitimate rape" so abortion shouldn't be allowed even if the victim was raped. Not only is this mind-numbingly stupid, but demonstrates so little compassion that it's mind boggling. He's still running for Senate as a Republican in Missouri.
The other day the Republican Candidate for Senate in Indiana, Richard Mourdock said that if a woman gets pregnant during rape, it's God's Will, meaning that again abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, even if the woman is raped.
If that is his religious view, he's allowed to have that, but Republicans are not allowed to use the government to force their religious beliefs on the rest of us. If your daughter or granddaughter was raped and impregnated, would you want Senate Republicans deciding what your options are?
I didn't think so.
Also, Governor Romney as the standard bearer of the GOP has not taken back his endorsement of Mourdock and continues to allow him to use footage of him campaigning with Romney.
America deserves better than what Republicans have to offer women.
Democrats fight for women, not against them. Democrats empower women, not limit them. Democrats strengthen women's position in society by protecting their rights to make choices and to be treated fairly.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6
Democrats have a well-deserved reputation for fighting for the civil rights of all Americans. It doesn't matter whether you're thinking of the fight for racial equality in the 50s and 60s or the Women's Rights movement in the 70s or Marriage Equality today, Democrats have been in the vanguard in the struggle for justice and equality before the law.
Republicans? They took more of a rearguard position on civil rights. Some might call it backwards even.
In the last few years especially, Republicans have taken a number of very distressing positions on what are commonly called "Women's Issues", but as Democrats like to say these are also family issues, rights issues, economic issues and above all American issues.
Governor Romney has said he would have vetoed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which forces businesses to pay their female employees the same as male employees if they're doing the same job. Romney says government shouldn't prevent businesses to make their own decisions. Lily Ledbetter was the first bill signed into law by President Obama.
Part of the Affordable Care Act is that women can't be charged more for their health care than men. Governor Romney has said he'd repeal that Act on his first day in office.
A few months ago a Republican candidate for Senate, Todd Akin said that women can't get pregnant if it's "legitimate rape" so abortion shouldn't be allowed even if the victim was raped. Not only is this mind-numbingly stupid, but demonstrates so little compassion that it's mind boggling. He's still running for Senate as a Republican in Missouri.
The other day the Republican Candidate for Senate in Indiana, Richard Mourdock said that if a woman gets pregnant during rape, it's God's Will, meaning that again abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, even if the woman is raped.
If that is his religious view, he's allowed to have that, but Republicans are not allowed to use the government to force their religious beliefs on the rest of us. If your daughter or granddaughter was raped and impregnated, would you want Senate Republicans deciding what your options are?
I didn't think so.
Also, Governor Romney as the standard bearer of the GOP has not taken back his endorsement of Mourdock and continues to allow him to use footage of him campaigning with Romney.
America deserves better than what Republicans have to offer women.
Democrats fight for women, not against them. Democrats empower women, not limit them. Democrats strengthen women's position in society by protecting their rights to make choices and to be treated fairly.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
End One Party Rule in DuPage
By Dale Bowling
We all know what kind of shenanigans happen in places with one-party rule: Lack of Transparency, Lack of Accountability, Incompetence, Corruption and Fraud.
County government of DuPage County, Illinois has been Republican-dominated for six decades - in essence, we've experienced one-party rule.
This has created a series of problems for DuPage County over the years.
Most recently the Forest Preserve Board has been accused of a lack of transparency, lack of accountibility, incompetence, corruption and fraud.
Sound familiar? It should. These are the artifacts of one-party rule.
The Forest Preserve Commissioners have salaries of $56,000 per year and full benefits for a 10 hour/week job. Surrounding counties (Cook, Lake, Kane Will) have larger forest preserves to manage, but their commissioners make between $0-$3000 per year. Some get a $30/stipend per meeting.
Recently, two employees of the Forest Preserve were arrested for having defrauded DuPage County out of $150,000 over six years. Six years! They were approving invoices for goods and services that were not delivered and splitting the money with a private contractor.
The Forest Preserve has created a several hundred million dollar operating reserve with no apparent purpose when the budget for the Forest Preserve is something like $40 million/yr. The reserve, like the Forest Preserve Department is funded by DuPage County taxpayers.
This reminds one of the case a few years ago where the Water Commission built up a huge reserve and then lost track of it and ended up with a deficit that was passed on to DuPage taxpayers.
Institutions create clubbiness by their very nature. When one political party, which also protects its own, controls an institution members rubber stamp each other's actions to the detriment of us all. This results in a lack of accountability, promotes corruption and rewards incompetence.
DuPage County deserves better.
VOTE DEMOCRAT for DuPage County offices on Nov. 6!
We all know what kind of shenanigans happen in places with one-party rule: Lack of Transparency, Lack of Accountability, Incompetence, Corruption and Fraud.
County government of DuPage County, Illinois has been Republican-dominated for six decades - in essence, we've experienced one-party rule.
This has created a series of problems for DuPage County over the years.
Most recently the Forest Preserve Board has been accused of a lack of transparency, lack of accountibility, incompetence, corruption and fraud.
Sound familiar? It should. These are the artifacts of one-party rule.
The Forest Preserve Commissioners have salaries of $56,000 per year and full benefits for a 10 hour/week job. Surrounding counties (Cook, Lake, Kane Will) have larger forest preserves to manage, but their commissioners make between $0-$3000 per year. Some get a $30/stipend per meeting.
Recently, two employees of the Forest Preserve were arrested for having defrauded DuPage County out of $150,000 over six years. Six years! They were approving invoices for goods and services that were not delivered and splitting the money with a private contractor.
The Forest Preserve has created a several hundred million dollar operating reserve with no apparent purpose when the budget for the Forest Preserve is something like $40 million/yr. The reserve, like the Forest Preserve Department is funded by DuPage County taxpayers.
This reminds one of the case a few years ago where the Water Commission built up a huge reserve and then lost track of it and ended up with a deficit that was passed on to DuPage taxpayers.
Institutions create clubbiness by their very nature. When one political party, which also protects its own, controls an institution members rubber stamp each other's actions to the detriment of us all. This results in a lack of accountability, promotes corruption and rewards incompetence.
DuPage County deserves better.
VOTE DEMOCRAT for DuPage County offices on Nov. 6!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Mr. President, You Sank Mitt's Battleship.
By Dale Bowling
As everyone knows this morning, Governor Romney criticized the Obama administration's handling of the military by pointing out that there were fewer ships in the U.S. Navy now than in 1916. President Obama replied that there were fewer "horses and bayonets" now too.
A good one, right?
The point that the President made was that the military adapts to the wars they're likely to be called to fight. Large scale naval battles are so twentieth century. This is why the Pentagon hasn't asked for fleets of battleships and this is why the President hasn't asked Congress to pay for their construction.
None of this matters much to Romney. He'll build weapons the military doesn't want, doesn't need and can't use. This will show everyone in the world that he's the Real Deal.
And you'll pay for it. Literally.
At another point in the Debate, President Obama slammed Governor Romney for having said last March that Russia was our greatest geopolitical foe - the President saying that the 1980s called and wanted their foreign policy back.
Yes, it was another good one.
But more than that, it makes the point that Romney seems quite oblivious to the end of the Cold War and what that means to our position in the world and potential dangers to US interests.
Foreign policy needs to reflect the real situation in the world as we encounter it. Not decades old understandings of what the situation was. A Hot War with the Evil Empire is no longer a plausible outcome for the US military and pretending otherwise (either from ignorance or political expediency) just wastes US power, weakens US influence and diverts us from the real challenges that America faces.
The Navy has a tradition. When they have antiquated battleships the Navy torpedoes them and allow them to settle to the ocean floor. That's what President Obama did to Mitt Romney's geopolitical vision last night and Davy Jone's Locker is where it belongs.
As everyone knows this morning, Governor Romney criticized the Obama administration's handling of the military by pointing out that there were fewer ships in the U.S. Navy now than in 1916. President Obama replied that there were fewer "horses and bayonets" now too.
A good one, right?
The point that the President made was that the military adapts to the wars they're likely to be called to fight. Large scale naval battles are so twentieth century. This is why the Pentagon hasn't asked for fleets of battleships and this is why the President hasn't asked Congress to pay for their construction.
None of this matters much to Romney. He'll build weapons the military doesn't want, doesn't need and can't use. This will show everyone in the world that he's the Real Deal.
And you'll pay for it. Literally.
At another point in the Debate, President Obama slammed Governor Romney for having said last March that Russia was our greatest geopolitical foe - the President saying that the 1980s called and wanted their foreign policy back.
Yes, it was another good one.
But more than that, it makes the point that Romney seems quite oblivious to the end of the Cold War and what that means to our position in the world and potential dangers to US interests.
Foreign policy needs to reflect the real situation in the world as we encounter it. Not decades old understandings of what the situation was. A Hot War with the Evil Empire is no longer a plausible outcome for the US military and pretending otherwise (either from ignorance or political expediency) just wastes US power, weakens US influence and diverts us from the real challenges that America faces.
The Navy has a tradition. When they have antiquated battleships the Navy torpedoes them and allow them to settle to the ocean floor. That's what President Obama did to Mitt Romney's geopolitical vision last night and Davy Jone's Locker is where it belongs.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Who do you trust with YOUR America?
By Dale Bowling
Who do you trust with YOUR America?
It's a simple question. It deserves a honest answer.
Do you believe that the Folks who wrecked the financial system, gave enormous tax breaks to the wealthy, turned the Clinton surplus into George W. Bush's massive deficits and helped bring on the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression should get another shot at it because Democrats couldn't clean up their mess fast enough?
YOUR job could depend on that vote.
Do you think that the people who never really liked Social Security and Medicare should be the ones to fix it? Do you think the standard of living you'll enjoy in old age means as much to them as it does you?
YOUR retirement may depend on that vote.
Do you trust the people who had both houses of Congress and the White House for six years and never once mentioned health care reform to do a better job than the ones who worked hard to actually make health care reform for America? Especially since we're all an intersection or a doctor's visit away from being uninsurable for life under their system.
YOUR life and health might depend on that vote.
Do you think that personal decisions about who you can marry or what you do with your body should be decided by politicians in Washington?
YOUR rights might depend on your vote.
Do you trust the people who deny that climate change exists to prevent the worst from happening to our Nation and our Planet?
YOUR children's children could depend on your vote.
Or should you trust the people who brought you health care reform, saved the economy from collapse, have defended your rights at every turn, protected the elderly, the poor and the sick against all calamities and would prevent the worst abuses to America's environmental health?
It's YOUR America, and YOUR future.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Who do you trust with YOUR America?
It's a simple question. It deserves a honest answer.
Do you believe that the Folks who wrecked the financial system, gave enormous tax breaks to the wealthy, turned the Clinton surplus into George W. Bush's massive deficits and helped bring on the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression should get another shot at it because Democrats couldn't clean up their mess fast enough?
YOUR job could depend on that vote.
Do you think that the people who never really liked Social Security and Medicare should be the ones to fix it? Do you think the standard of living you'll enjoy in old age means as much to them as it does you?
YOUR retirement may depend on that vote.
Do you trust the people who had both houses of Congress and the White House for six years and never once mentioned health care reform to do a better job than the ones who worked hard to actually make health care reform for America? Especially since we're all an intersection or a doctor's visit away from being uninsurable for life under their system.
YOUR life and health might depend on that vote.
Do you think that personal decisions about who you can marry or what you do with your body should be decided by politicians in Washington?
YOUR rights might depend on your vote.
Do you trust the people who deny that climate change exists to prevent the worst from happening to our Nation and our Planet?
YOUR children's children could depend on your vote.
Or should you trust the people who brought you health care reform, saved the economy from collapse, have defended your rights at every turn, protected the elderly, the poor and the sick against all calamities and would prevent the worst abuses to America's environmental health?
It's YOUR America, and YOUR future.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Smoke and Mirrors on the Deficit
By Dale Bowling
Everyone will agree that the Deficit is an enduring problem. Republicans have pushed the story that Obama and the Democrats has raised the Deficit to epic proportions. According to them, entitlement spending, the stimulus, etc. have raised the Deficit $4 trillion over the last four years. They've repeated this so many times in so many places that people have almost begun to take it at face value.
This is malarkey.
As this blog has shown before, Social Security is not on the verge of bankruptcy. It's fully funded for the next twenty-five years and can't add to the deficit. Medicare needs some tweaking, but is not rushing to its impending doom by any stretch of the imagination. We has also shown that the Stimulus created millions of jobs and helped the economy avoid falling into a second Great Depression. It cost roughly $800 billion. Not a small amount of money, but not $4 trillion dollars either. And since 2010 when the Stimulus ran out, government spending has fallen to the lowest it's been in sixty years. Where do you suppose the Deficit came from?
If you guessed the same people who are blaming Democrats for this mess, you would be correct.
A few years ago, a Congressional Budget Office study identified four main causes of the deficit.
1) The Bush tax cuts which gave away and continue to give away trillions of dollars that could have gone to keeping things off the National Charge Card. And since Bush never met a spending bill he didn't like (remember that the Congress was Republican and kept churning out Bridges to Nowhere) costs were piled on the Deficit.
2) The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which were the first wars in American history not to accompany a raise in taxes to pay for them. Americans got a tax cut! Guess where the trillions of dollars for the wars went? The Deficit.
3) Bush's prescription drug plan under Medicare. This benefit for seniors cost way more than it should have. It was structured as a big giveaway of taxpayer dollars to pharmaceutical companies since none of the ways of lowering costs (Bulk discounts from drug companies, purchasing cheaper generic drugs, importing cheaper drugs from Canada) were allowed. Would it surprise you to know that Big Pharma had contributed a lot of money to the Republicans and the Bush campaign in particular? If it would, you haven't been paying attention.
4) Lastly, the Bush Recession has hurt revenue in a big way that would normally pay for things, because people don't pay as much taxes if they don't make as much money. How did we get to the Bush Recession? Tax Cuts and Deregulation of the Financial Industry, primarily.
Yes, these are the same ideas that Mitt Romney just advanced as the ones which would save the US economy from the slow, but steady economic recovery we've been struggling to maintain and extend.
Since Republicans are primarily responsible for running up the Deficit, does it make sense to allow them to be the ones to clean it up?
The Republican stance on the Deficit reminds me of a quote by then President Bush, "Fool me once, shame on.....you. Fool me twice, you don't get fooled again."
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!!!
Everyone will agree that the Deficit is an enduring problem. Republicans have pushed the story that Obama and the Democrats has raised the Deficit to epic proportions. According to them, entitlement spending, the stimulus, etc. have raised the Deficit $4 trillion over the last four years. They've repeated this so many times in so many places that people have almost begun to take it at face value.
This is malarkey.
As this blog has shown before, Social Security is not on the verge of bankruptcy. It's fully funded for the next twenty-five years and can't add to the deficit. Medicare needs some tweaking, but is not rushing to its impending doom by any stretch of the imagination. We has also shown that the Stimulus created millions of jobs and helped the economy avoid falling into a second Great Depression. It cost roughly $800 billion. Not a small amount of money, but not $4 trillion dollars either. And since 2010 when the Stimulus ran out, government spending has fallen to the lowest it's been in sixty years. Where do you suppose the Deficit came from?
If you guessed the same people who are blaming Democrats for this mess, you would be correct.
A few years ago, a Congressional Budget Office study identified four main causes of the deficit.
1) The Bush tax cuts which gave away and continue to give away trillions of dollars that could have gone to keeping things off the National Charge Card. And since Bush never met a spending bill he didn't like (remember that the Congress was Republican and kept churning out Bridges to Nowhere) costs were piled on the Deficit.
2) The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which were the first wars in American history not to accompany a raise in taxes to pay for them. Americans got a tax cut! Guess where the trillions of dollars for the wars went? The Deficit.
3) Bush's prescription drug plan under Medicare. This benefit for seniors cost way more than it should have. It was structured as a big giveaway of taxpayer dollars to pharmaceutical companies since none of the ways of lowering costs (Bulk discounts from drug companies, purchasing cheaper generic drugs, importing cheaper drugs from Canada) were allowed. Would it surprise you to know that Big Pharma had contributed a lot of money to the Republicans and the Bush campaign in particular? If it would, you haven't been paying attention.
4) Lastly, the Bush Recession has hurt revenue in a big way that would normally pay for things, because people don't pay as much taxes if they don't make as much money. How did we get to the Bush Recession? Tax Cuts and Deregulation of the Financial Industry, primarily.
Yes, these are the same ideas that Mitt Romney just advanced as the ones which would save the US economy from the slow, but steady economic recovery we've been struggling to maintain and extend.
Since Republicans are primarily responsible for running up the Deficit, does it make sense to allow them to be the ones to clean it up?
The Republican stance on the Deficit reminds me of a quote by then President Bush, "Fool me once, shame on.....you. Fool me twice, you don't get fooled again."
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!!!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Protect America!
By Dale Bowling
Governor Romney has said that he wants to have a system where regulators make it easier to do
business, not less.
Democrats want to help businesses flourish and protect the interests of the American people. Most of
the times those two things go together. When they don't, Regulators step in to restore the balance.
When American businesses are doing right by their employees, their communities and the environment government regulation doesn't hinder them much. However Regulation is a major hindrance to a business screwing the environment, its employees, its community and its country to shore up the bottom line.
Bank lobbyists used to argue that financial deregulation would create greater competition and this
would bring down prices and increase interest earned on deposits. What it did was encourage risk that
was passed on to the American people and ignited a crisis that nearly brought down our economy.
Energy companies, timber, mining, etc. often argue that they are so hampered by environmental
regulation that they can't do business. In spite of this, America is in the midst of an energy boom
largely fueled by natural gas drilled right here in the US. Regulation exists to make sure our
communities are not left to clean up the mess after the resources have dried up and the companies
move on.
The Republicans have a vision of what would lead to economic growth. In this vision, Government
doesn't tell you that you can't dump whatever you want wherever you want. Government doesn't tell
you how treat your employees- you can pay them as little as the market allows and strip their benefits. Government doesn't stop you from taking on too much risk.
It's a time honored tradition. Robber Barons made huge amounts of money that way. China is
experiencing tremendous growth right now playing by those rules.
America deserves better.
Democrats want to see America prosper, to see the dignity and health of Americans safeguarded, and
our environment protected. We can have all three. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6
Also:
WE NEED YOU TO PUSH OUR CANDIDATE
POSTCARDS OUT TO EVERYONE!!
Governor Romney has said that he wants to have a system where regulators make it easier to do
business, not less.
Democrats want to help businesses flourish and protect the interests of the American people. Most of
the times those two things go together. When they don't, Regulators step in to restore the balance.
When American businesses are doing right by their employees, their communities and the environment government regulation doesn't hinder them much. However Regulation is a major hindrance to a business screwing the environment, its employees, its community and its country to shore up the bottom line.
Bank lobbyists used to argue that financial deregulation would create greater competition and this
would bring down prices and increase interest earned on deposits. What it did was encourage risk that
was passed on to the American people and ignited a crisis that nearly brought down our economy.
Energy companies, timber, mining, etc. often argue that they are so hampered by environmental
regulation that they can't do business. In spite of this, America is in the midst of an energy boom
largely fueled by natural gas drilled right here in the US. Regulation exists to make sure our
communities are not left to clean up the mess after the resources have dried up and the companies
move on.
The Republicans have a vision of what would lead to economic growth. In this vision, Government
doesn't tell you that you can't dump whatever you want wherever you want. Government doesn't tell
you how treat your employees- you can pay them as little as the market allows and strip their benefits. Government doesn't stop you from taking on too much risk.
It's a time honored tradition. Robber Barons made huge amounts of money that way. China is
experiencing tremendous growth right now playing by those rules.
America deserves better.
Democrats want to see America prosper, to see the dignity and health of Americans safeguarded, and
our environment protected. We can have all three. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6
Also:
WE NEED YOU TO PUSH OUR CANDIDATE
POSTCARDS OUT TO EVERYONE!!
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District 6 www.videopostcard.us/dupagedems/dupage6
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Republicans Want You To Believe In Magic
By Dale Bowling
The Debate last night laid out the two candidates' and two parties' positions more clearly than ever
before. The difference between them lies in their respective beliefs about what will create a thriving
America.
Democrats believe in hard work, incremental progress and wise allocation and protection of our
country's resources - especially America's most precious resource, the ingenuity and sweat capital of
the American people. Democrats believe these things will build a better America.
Republicans believe in Magic.
Yes. Magic. This was obvious throughout the entire debate.
Science teaches us that if we do the same thing over and over, we'll get the same result each time.
Romney in particular and Republicans in general believe that they can do the exact same thing today
that they did under President Bush and create a properous America when last time it created an
economic disaster.
This is magical thinking.
And what is this witches' brew, this recipe for disaster? Same as before - low taxes for millionaires and removing regulation on businesses.
And this magical elixir will work its miracles and solve all of America's problems. Want equality in the work place? Strong employment (brought on by low taxes and low regulation) will fix that. Now we've had strong employment before, you might protest, and the free market has never solved that problem. Why would it now?
Magic!
And the math that doesn't add up on the Romney/Ryan budget? How can Republicans cut taxes $5
trillion, keep the Bush tax cuts and still have plenty of money left over to invest in education, the
military, etc. and not have it hurt the middle class or have it go on the National Credit Card?
Only a powerful spell could turn this hunk of garbage into electoral gold.
And if Republicans repeat the incantation that "Government cannot create jobs" enough times it might make people forget that Government creates huge numbers of jobs, either directly as in the case of the military, teachers, police officers, firefighters, librarians, etc. or indirectly through investments in infrastructure, research and development, etc.
Takes a mighty magician to pull that out of his ... hat.
If you believe that Republicans can turn the policies that brought on the Bush Recession into winning
policies today then you believe in magic. Vote Voldemort 2012!
If you think that America has a lot of hard work ahead of it to consolidate and extend the gains we've
made and we all need to be in that struggle because it benefits us all, then you should vote Democrat on Nov. 6!
The Debate last night laid out the two candidates' and two parties' positions more clearly than ever
before. The difference between them lies in their respective beliefs about what will create a thriving
America.
Democrats believe in hard work, incremental progress and wise allocation and protection of our
country's resources - especially America's most precious resource, the ingenuity and sweat capital of
the American people. Democrats believe these things will build a better America.
Republicans believe in Magic.
Yes. Magic. This was obvious throughout the entire debate.
Science teaches us that if we do the same thing over and over, we'll get the same result each time.
Romney in particular and Republicans in general believe that they can do the exact same thing today
that they did under President Bush and create a properous America when last time it created an
economic disaster.
This is magical thinking.
And what is this witches' brew, this recipe for disaster? Same as before - low taxes for millionaires and removing regulation on businesses.
And this magical elixir will work its miracles and solve all of America's problems. Want equality in the work place? Strong employment (brought on by low taxes and low regulation) will fix that. Now we've had strong employment before, you might protest, and the free market has never solved that problem. Why would it now?
Magic!
And the math that doesn't add up on the Romney/Ryan budget? How can Republicans cut taxes $5
trillion, keep the Bush tax cuts and still have plenty of money left over to invest in education, the
military, etc. and not have it hurt the middle class or have it go on the National Credit Card?
Only a powerful spell could turn this hunk of garbage into electoral gold.
And if Republicans repeat the incantation that "Government cannot create jobs" enough times it might make people forget that Government creates huge numbers of jobs, either directly as in the case of the military, teachers, police officers, firefighters, librarians, etc. or indirectly through investments in infrastructure, research and development, etc.
Takes a mighty magician to pull that out of his ... hat.
If you believe that Republicans can turn the policies that brought on the Bush Recession into winning
policies today then you believe in magic. Vote Voldemort 2012!
If you think that America has a lot of hard work ahead of it to consolidate and extend the gains we've
made and we all need to be in that struggle because it benefits us all, then you should vote Democrat on Nov. 6!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Interview with Mike Quigley, 5th Congressional District Candidate
By Dale Bowling
Mike Quigley is the incumbent Congressman and Democratic candidate in Illinois' 5th Congressional District which comprises parts of Cook and DuPage Counties. I had the privilege and interviewing him yesterday.
DD: Which DuPage communities are served by the 5th Congressional District?
MQ: Bits and pieces of Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Villa Park and Addison Township. I grew up in Carol Stream. I went to Glenbard North HS, my first job was at the Wheaton bowling alley, I attended the College of DuPage for a couple of years, so I've been a part of DuPage County from the beginning.
DD: You're the incumbent in the 5th District. How long have you served in Congress?
MQ: Almost 4 years. I was sworn in in April 2009 by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
DD: What motivated you to run for Congress originally?
MQ: All the things I was working on at the county level - Reform, Equality, Choice - as a member of Congress I have the opportunity to promote these on a much larger scale.
DD: If you had to come up with a one sentence ad for your campaign, what would that one sentence be?
MQ: "Representing the entire district."
To me, this means more than just geography. This means representing minority views, bipartisanship, fairness, accessibility. Everyone has the right to be represented fairly and equally.
DD: What issues do you think are the most important for Congress in this election?
MQ: Economy, Economy, Economy. It's so important that we continue this positive economic growth we've seen recently. Whatever we do, it's really important that we have transparency. I remember when I came in, it was on the heels of the Blagojevich scandal. The cost of corruption is the loss of the public's faith. If we bring back transparency and accountibility we can improve the public's view of what we're doing in Congress.
DD: As you know, DuPage Co. is a very middle-class county. What specifically would you do to help the struggling middle class?
MQ: The best thing to do for the middle class is to create jobs and one of the best ways to do this is to improve our nation's infrastructure. Only 7% of the Stimulus money went to infrastructure, but infrastructure improvements produced the majority of the jobs that the Stimulus created. So a big infrastructure bill would create jobs for the middle class and give the Country something it needs. There's no such thing as a Republican bridge or a Democratic highway. We need to pass a meaningful Bill that rebuilds our country, creates jobs and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
DD: How does one get involved in your campaign- either to donate to your reelection fund or to volunteer for the campaign?
MQ: The easiest way is to go to quigleyforcongress.com. All the instructions are there. We are encouraging everyone to get involved with the other Democratic races that affect them as well- Local, State and National.
Mike Quigley is the incumbent Congressman and Democratic candidate in Illinois' 5th Congressional District which comprises parts of Cook and DuPage Counties. I had the privilege and interviewing him yesterday.
DD: Which DuPage communities are served by the 5th Congressional District?
MQ: Bits and pieces of Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Villa Park and Addison Township. I grew up in Carol Stream. I went to Glenbard North HS, my first job was at the Wheaton bowling alley, I attended the College of DuPage for a couple of years, so I've been a part of DuPage County from the beginning.
DD: You're the incumbent in the 5th District. How long have you served in Congress?
MQ: Almost 4 years. I was sworn in in April 2009 by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
DD: What motivated you to run for Congress originally?
MQ: All the things I was working on at the county level - Reform, Equality, Choice - as a member of Congress I have the opportunity to promote these on a much larger scale.
DD: If you had to come up with a one sentence ad for your campaign, what would that one sentence be?
MQ: "Representing the entire district."
To me, this means more than just geography. This means representing minority views, bipartisanship, fairness, accessibility. Everyone has the right to be represented fairly and equally.
DD: What issues do you think are the most important for Congress in this election?
MQ: Economy, Economy, Economy. It's so important that we continue this positive economic growth we've seen recently. Whatever we do, it's really important that we have transparency. I remember when I came in, it was on the heels of the Blagojevich scandal. The cost of corruption is the loss of the public's faith. If we bring back transparency and accountibility we can improve the public's view of what we're doing in Congress.
DD: As you know, DuPage Co. is a very middle-class county. What specifically would you do to help the struggling middle class?
MQ: The best thing to do for the middle class is to create jobs and one of the best ways to do this is to improve our nation's infrastructure. Only 7% of the Stimulus money went to infrastructure, but infrastructure improvements produced the majority of the jobs that the Stimulus created. So a big infrastructure bill would create jobs for the middle class and give the Country something it needs. There's no such thing as a Republican bridge or a Democratic highway. We need to pass a meaningful Bill that rebuilds our country, creates jobs and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
DD: How does one get involved in your campaign- either to donate to your reelection fund or to volunteer for the campaign?
MQ: The easiest way is to go to quigleyforcongress.com. All the instructions are there. We are encouraging everyone to get involved with the other Democratic races that affect them as well- Local, State and National.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Dying for Insurance?
By Dale Bowling
A few days ago, Governor Mitt Romney said that people don't die in America because they don't have medical insurance.
Actually they do. Fifty thousand Americans every year. That's like eighteen 9/11s, year in and year out.
It's really not that hard to figure how that could happen. Here's how:
John and Bob both develop stomach pain and both of them react that way you'd expect. They buy antacids. The antacids help a little but a week or two later both men still have the same problem.
John (who has insurance) goes to his doctor, who runs a bunch of tests. It turns out John has Stage 1 stomach cancer. He goes on chemo. His chances are good since they caught it early.
Bob doesn't have insurance and can't afford to go see the doctor. So he buys another bottle of antacids. And another. And another. And so on. Meanwhile, his undiagnosed Stage 1 stomach cancer is approaching Stage 4. He's on his way to becoming a statistic which proves Governor Romney is full of malarkey.
What's the number one reason that people don't go the doctor? Cost.
There's a reason why Europeans live longer and spend less on health care. They go to the doctor regularly and routine care saves lives and money by heading off major health problems before they occur. The reason this works there and not here is that Europeans are insured. Cost is not a reason to skip doctor's visits in London or Paris or Berlin.
The Affordable Care Act is going to prevent a lot of folks like Bob from becoming statistics. By allowing Americans to get insurance if they don't have it and afford it if they don't have the money for it, Democrats have given those fifty thousand Americans a shot at life and health.
Oh- Governor Romney has vowed to repeal this shot at life and health on his first day in office, if he's elected President.
Democrats won't allow the Bobs of the world to remain free market collateral damage. America deserves better than that.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6.
A few days ago, Governor Mitt Romney said that people don't die in America because they don't have medical insurance.
Actually they do. Fifty thousand Americans every year. That's like eighteen 9/11s, year in and year out.
It's really not that hard to figure how that could happen. Here's how:
John and Bob both develop stomach pain and both of them react that way you'd expect. They buy antacids. The antacids help a little but a week or two later both men still have the same problem.
John (who has insurance) goes to his doctor, who runs a bunch of tests. It turns out John has Stage 1 stomach cancer. He goes on chemo. His chances are good since they caught it early.
Bob doesn't have insurance and can't afford to go see the doctor. So he buys another bottle of antacids. And another. And another. And so on. Meanwhile, his undiagnosed Stage 1 stomach cancer is approaching Stage 4. He's on his way to becoming a statistic which proves Governor Romney is full of malarkey.
What's the number one reason that people don't go the doctor? Cost.
There's a reason why Europeans live longer and spend less on health care. They go to the doctor regularly and routine care saves lives and money by heading off major health problems before they occur. The reason this works there and not here is that Europeans are insured. Cost is not a reason to skip doctor's visits in London or Paris or Berlin.
The Affordable Care Act is going to prevent a lot of folks like Bob from becoming statistics. By allowing Americans to get insurance if they don't have it and afford it if they don't have the money for it, Democrats have given those fifty thousand Americans a shot at life and health.
Oh- Governor Romney has vowed to repeal this shot at life and health on his first day in office, if he's elected President.
Democrats won't allow the Bobs of the world to remain free market collateral damage. America deserves better than that.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
The "Tell" on Social Security
By Dale Bowling
Poker players say there is such a thing as a "Tell", something a person does or says that unconsciously shows that he's lying. Everyone has a Tell according to poker players. You just have to pay close attention.
Something I have noticed from paying close attention is that Republicans will always say something is "indisputably true" when in fact, it is a lie.
Paul Ryan said in the Vice Presidential debate that it was an indisputable fact that Social Security was going bankrupt.
There's the Tell. Actually Social Security is in good shape. As is, Social Security is solvent for the next 25 years and after that only shows a slight shortfall. And that's if nothing happens at all in the next quarter century to fix that small drop in benefits.
So don't let Republicans "tell" you things about Social Security. It's not on the verge of imminent collapse. It will be there for you and your children. Unless we let Republicans privatize it.
You see, Paul Ryan supporting President Bush made a big effort to privatize Social Security a few years ago. Undoubtedly if Mitt Romney is elected President, we'll see this come up again as the solution to a problem we don't actually have.
Imagine if America's elderly had entrusted their Social Security to Wall Street over the last 5 years. Would you like to see Grandma lose half her benefits because Financial Deregulation allowed Wall Street firms to increase risk exposure above what was historically considered prudent?
I didn't think so.
Republicans have faith the Market can do things that Government can't. This actually is an indisputable fact. The Bush Recession proved the Market can lose half your money overnight.
The guaranteed benefit through this existing government program that has worked super well for seventy years is called Social Security for a reason. It's secure.
Democrats will absolutely protect Social Security from privatizers. But only if they get elected. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Poker players say there is such a thing as a "Tell", something a person does or says that unconsciously shows that he's lying. Everyone has a Tell according to poker players. You just have to pay close attention.
Something I have noticed from paying close attention is that Republicans will always say something is "indisputably true" when in fact, it is a lie.
Paul Ryan said in the Vice Presidential debate that it was an indisputable fact that Social Security was going bankrupt.
There's the Tell. Actually Social Security is in good shape. As is, Social Security is solvent for the next 25 years and after that only shows a slight shortfall. And that's if nothing happens at all in the next quarter century to fix that small drop in benefits.
So don't let Republicans "tell" you things about Social Security. It's not on the verge of imminent collapse. It will be there for you and your children. Unless we let Republicans privatize it.
You see, Paul Ryan supporting President Bush made a big effort to privatize Social Security a few years ago. Undoubtedly if Mitt Romney is elected President, we'll see this come up again as the solution to a problem we don't actually have.
Imagine if America's elderly had entrusted their Social Security to Wall Street over the last 5 years. Would you like to see Grandma lose half her benefits because Financial Deregulation allowed Wall Street firms to increase risk exposure above what was historically considered prudent?
I didn't think so.
Republicans have faith the Market can do things that Government can't. This actually is an indisputable fact. The Bush Recession proved the Market can lose half your money overnight.
The guaranteed benefit through this existing government program that has worked super well for seventy years is called Social Security for a reason. It's secure.
Democrats will absolutely protect Social Security from privatizers. But only if they get elected. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Romney/Ryan is Malarkey for the Middle Class
By Dale Bowling
The Biden/Ryan debate last night demonstrated once again, how full of malarkey the Romney/Ryan budget and tax plan are.
At least to the extent we know about them, which admittedly isn't much.
We know that Romney/Ryan have endorsed a 20% tax cut for everyone, and huge cut in the corporate tax rate (as well as eliminating the estate tax and capital gains taxes) which by 2015 would reduce revenue by $480 billion. Take that out a decade and we're talking $5 trillion dollars over ten years that the government won't have.
Makes the Bush Tax Cuts look tame, doesn't it?
Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that, "hey, everyone gets the tax cut so how is this an example of me being screwed over by Republicans, again."
Glad you thought that, because here's how they say they're going to finance that tax cut. They're going to eliminate most deductions or at least limit them to certain number (we don't know yet).
Economists have already weighed in that there aren't enough deductions to eliminate that would amount to $5 trillion over 10 years- even if Republicans got rid of all of them.
Now the highest earners would come out ahead on a deal that allowed them a 20% tax break in exchange for losing their ability to make deductions.
Mitt Romney would pay almost no taxes under this plan.
But imagine you're middle class and you own your home. A lot of you probably fit this description.
If you were deducting your home mortgage interest and your property taxes and now you're not able to do that because that was the price you had to pay to get your 20% tax cut, are you ahead? Especially once you eliminate the other deductions like child tax credits and medical expenses, etc.?
Not likely.
And ironically you probably bought your house in part because you could offset some of the cost on your taxes. You would be paying more for a house you already own. Does eliminating deductions help build a housing resurgence? What would that do to the asking price of your home when you go to sell it?
And what does the Romney/Ryan push to eliminate deductions do to private charity giving? Non-profits are going to lose a lot of revenue if people can't also deduct their charitable giving. I see a lot of bake sales in their future.
And once you combine this mess with the $5 Trillion cut in spending Romney/Ryan want - which means laying off millions of government employees and weakening businesses and the industries that get federal funding - are the job numbers going to be robust or just bust?
Is there enough taxpayer money left to invest in Education as Romney said he would in the last debate? Or build all those ships, plans and missiles the Pentagon didn't even want? Or continue to protect our Nation's elderly and poor? Where do you reckon they're going to find that money?
They can add it to the deficit. Or they can increase taxes on the middle class. Or they can simply not invest in America. No infrastructure improvement, no education investment, no social safety net.
Malarkey, indeed.
The Biden/Ryan debate last night demonstrated once again, how full of malarkey the Romney/Ryan budget and tax plan are.
At least to the extent we know about them, which admittedly isn't much.
We know that Romney/Ryan have endorsed a 20% tax cut for everyone, and huge cut in the corporate tax rate (as well as eliminating the estate tax and capital gains taxes) which by 2015 would reduce revenue by $480 billion. Take that out a decade and we're talking $5 trillion dollars over ten years that the government won't have.
Makes the Bush Tax Cuts look tame, doesn't it?
Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that, "hey, everyone gets the tax cut so how is this an example of me being screwed over by Republicans, again."
Glad you thought that, because here's how they say they're going to finance that tax cut. They're going to eliminate most deductions or at least limit them to certain number (we don't know yet).
Economists have already weighed in that there aren't enough deductions to eliminate that would amount to $5 trillion over 10 years- even if Republicans got rid of all of them.
Now the highest earners would come out ahead on a deal that allowed them a 20% tax break in exchange for losing their ability to make deductions.
Mitt Romney would pay almost no taxes under this plan.
But imagine you're middle class and you own your home. A lot of you probably fit this description.
If you were deducting your home mortgage interest and your property taxes and now you're not able to do that because that was the price you had to pay to get your 20% tax cut, are you ahead? Especially once you eliminate the other deductions like child tax credits and medical expenses, etc.?
Not likely.
And ironically you probably bought your house in part because you could offset some of the cost on your taxes. You would be paying more for a house you already own. Does eliminating deductions help build a housing resurgence? What would that do to the asking price of your home when you go to sell it?
And what does the Romney/Ryan push to eliminate deductions do to private charity giving? Non-profits are going to lose a lot of revenue if people can't also deduct their charitable giving. I see a lot of bake sales in their future.
And once you combine this mess with the $5 Trillion cut in spending Romney/Ryan want - which means laying off millions of government employees and weakening businesses and the industries that get federal funding - are the job numbers going to be robust or just bust?
Is there enough taxpayer money left to invest in Education as Romney said he would in the last debate? Or build all those ships, plans and missiles the Pentagon didn't even want? Or continue to protect our Nation's elderly and poor? Where do you reckon they're going to find that money?
They can add it to the deficit. Or they can increase taxes on the middle class. Or they can simply not invest in America. No infrastructure improvement, no education investment, no social safety net.
Malarkey, indeed.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Save the date! October 16 Debate Watch Party
from Bob Peickert
Join us at the October 16 Presidential Debate Party at the Ramada Inn in Glendale Heights. The Debate starts at 8:00 PM. Registration starts at 7:30. Tickets are only $20 for food, coffee and dessert. Cash bar is available.
Obama signs will be available for only $8. Surprise guests and more.
Let's cheer on President Obama and network with other DuPage Democrats. Go to our website - www.dupagedemocrats.com and reserve your seat now.
Bob
Join us at the October 16 Presidential Debate Party at the Ramada Inn in Glendale Heights. The Debate starts at 8:00 PM. Registration starts at 7:30. Tickets are only $20 for food, coffee and dessert. Cash bar is available.
Obama signs will be available for only $8. Surprise guests and more.
Let's cheer on President Obama and network with other DuPage Democrats. Go to our website - www.dupagedemocrats.com and reserve your seat now.
Bob
The Stakes, Part II
By Dale Bowling
Yesterday I wrote about what are the stakes in this election, but one post couldn't even give a short
summary of all that's at risk on Nov. 6. So this is Part II of that discussion.
Energy Independence:
By relying on "Drill Baby Drill" as an energy policy, Republicans surrender both America's chance for energy independence and the leadership in developing technologies for renewable, clean energies of the future.
In the short term, fossil fuels should and will remain part of American good energy policy, but fossil
fuels can't make America energy independent in the long run.
Firstly when fossil fuel companies lease land on which to drill, the companies own any oil, gas or coal they extract, not the US. Energy companies sell on the world market and if there's a disturbance in the Middle East for example, that still affects the price of oil drilled here because it reduces the world supply.
Fossil fuels are world commodities, subject to world economic pressures and therefore don't yield
energy independence for America.
Secondly even if the US did get the oil, there wouldn't be enough to power the US for very long. The US uses 20% of the world's oil, but only 2% of the world's reserves.
Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy. Once we use them, they're gone. And they're going fast.
Democrats support the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels in the short run, but know that the way to true energy independence is in renewable sources of energy.
For this reason, Democrats have invested in clean, renewable energy such as solar, wind, biofuels.
The pioneer of today will be the leader of tomorrow. America will dominate the field of renewable
energy, creating clean sources of power for our economy and the jobs of the future- but only if we
invest in those technologies on the ground floor.
Democrats are here to make that happen.
You can pick up the Republican vision for energy policy on reruns of "Dallas".
That's all the space we have for today, we'll pick this discussion up tomorrow.
Remember if we want a fairer, stronger America - it's up to all of us. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Yesterday I wrote about what are the stakes in this election, but one post couldn't even give a short
summary of all that's at risk on Nov. 6. So this is Part II of that discussion.
Energy Independence:
By relying on "Drill Baby Drill" as an energy policy, Republicans surrender both America's chance for energy independence and the leadership in developing technologies for renewable, clean energies of the future.
In the short term, fossil fuels should and will remain part of American good energy policy, but fossil
fuels can't make America energy independent in the long run.
Firstly when fossil fuel companies lease land on which to drill, the companies own any oil, gas or coal they extract, not the US. Energy companies sell on the world market and if there's a disturbance in the Middle East for example, that still affects the price of oil drilled here because it reduces the world supply.
Fossil fuels are world commodities, subject to world economic pressures and therefore don't yield
energy independence for America.
Secondly even if the US did get the oil, there wouldn't be enough to power the US for very long. The US uses 20% of the world's oil, but only 2% of the world's reserves.
Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy. Once we use them, they're gone. And they're going fast.
Democrats support the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels in the short run, but know that the way to true energy independence is in renewable sources of energy.
For this reason, Democrats have invested in clean, renewable energy such as solar, wind, biofuels.
The pioneer of today will be the leader of tomorrow. America will dominate the field of renewable
energy, creating clean sources of power for our economy and the jobs of the future- but only if we
invest in those technologies on the ground floor.
Democrats are here to make that happen.
You can pick up the Republican vision for energy policy on reruns of "Dallas".
That's all the space we have for today, we'll pick this discussion up tomorrow.
Remember if we want a fairer, stronger America - it's up to all of us. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
What are the Stakes of this Election? Part 1
By Dale Bowling
I've heard said that it doesn't matter who wins Congress or the White House because the end result is
always the same - gridlock and broken promises.
Democrats are not so cynical about Government. We feel that Government "of the People, by the
People, for the People" can achieve a lot of good for America and Americans. We're optimistic about
America's prospects because we know what Americans can do when Government and the American People work together.
So here are a few of the things that are at stake in this election.
A Fragile Economic Recovery:
After the Bush Recession destroyed literally millions of jobs, the White House and the Democrats in
Congress have picked up the pieces and built a slow, but steady recovery. Do we want to reverse
course back to the same policies that brought us to the brink to start with?
Democrats believe in investing directly in America.
Republicans would deregulate everything, cut taxes mostly for millionaires and then hope market
forces influence people to invest in America without upending the system for the benefit of a few.
You know, like the last time Republicans were in charge.
Weakened Safety Net:
Do we want to continue to protect seniors by providing them with affordable health care? That's the
Democrat's plan. Republicans want to give seniors private insurance vouchers and trust the market to
make sure the voucher keeps pace with medical costs.
And where would our Nation's seniors be if Democrats had not prevented Bush and Co. from privatizing Social Security? The stock market lost half its value at the end of Bush's term. Republicans trust the Invisible Hand of the Market, but that Hand would have shoved a lot of seniors into poverty without the Democrats there to stop it.
And of course, Democrats reformed health care so that no American need worry about whether he'll be covered if he gets sick. Since pracically every single American is a doctor's visit or an intersection
away from being uninsurable for life under the Republican plan, this is a big deal. Do Americans really want that worry back?
Tomorrow we'll pick up this discussion again. Just a reminder, we can make the change we want in
the world. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6.
I've heard said that it doesn't matter who wins Congress or the White House because the end result is
always the same - gridlock and broken promises.
Democrats are not so cynical about Government. We feel that Government "of the People, by the
People, for the People" can achieve a lot of good for America and Americans. We're optimistic about
America's prospects because we know what Americans can do when Government and the American People work together.
So here are a few of the things that are at stake in this election.
A Fragile Economic Recovery:
After the Bush Recession destroyed literally millions of jobs, the White House and the Democrats in
Congress have picked up the pieces and built a slow, but steady recovery. Do we want to reverse
course back to the same policies that brought us to the brink to start with?
Democrats believe in investing directly in America.
Republicans would deregulate everything, cut taxes mostly for millionaires and then hope market
forces influence people to invest in America without upending the system for the benefit of a few.
You know, like the last time Republicans were in charge.
Weakened Safety Net:
Do we want to continue to protect seniors by providing them with affordable health care? That's the
Democrat's plan. Republicans want to give seniors private insurance vouchers and trust the market to
make sure the voucher keeps pace with medical costs.
And where would our Nation's seniors be if Democrats had not prevented Bush and Co. from privatizing Social Security? The stock market lost half its value at the end of Bush's term. Republicans trust the Invisible Hand of the Market, but that Hand would have shoved a lot of seniors into poverty without the Democrats there to stop it.
And of course, Democrats reformed health care so that no American need worry about whether he'll be covered if he gets sick. Since pracically every single American is a doctor's visit or an intersection
away from being uninsurable for life under the Republican plan, this is a big deal. Do Americans really want that worry back?
Tomorrow we'll pick up this discussion again. Just a reminder, we can make the change we want in
the world. VOTE DEMOCRAT on Nov. 6.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Everything Republicans Learned About Foreign Policy, They Learned In Middle School
By Dale Bowling
Republicans believe that intimidation is all you need to have a successful foreign policy. They got their foreign policy credentials on the playground in Middle School. You just have to be the biggest and strongest geo-political bully and you'll get your way every time.
How could anyone forget when Team Bush believed that only military power (and the subsequent sacrifice of thousands of American lives and trillions of taxpayer dollars) could fix the problem of WMDs in Iraq?
This Bully Mentality was glaringly apparent in Governor Romney's speech yesterday where he
disparaged Obama's foreign policy as being too passive, naively equating strategy and subtlety with passivity.
In fact, Romney's entire speech showed he had no new ideas at all. He actually seemed to go along with Obama's policy except that he would throw the US's weight around a lot more.
You know, make friends.
Obama has been working to keep Iran from gaining nuclear capability while preventing yet another
Middle Eastern war. Romney says he would also do that - except he would also make a lot of random threats that might start another Middle Eastern War.
Democrats have encouraged the Libyans and the Egyptians to create a stable, representative
government. Republicans say that when they're in charge they will do exactly the same thing. Just that Team Mitt would issue a lot more ultimatums.
Republicans know that foreign leaders, like everybody, really love and respond to ultimatums.
Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration have worked to build a long term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Romney camp have already written off the Palestinians as not really wanting peace. So Republicans believe that Israel would have to dictate and implement peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Peace dictated by one side? What could go wrong there?
This is not to say that Democrats wouldn't or shouldn't resort to the stick, if necessary. Stronger
sanctions on Iran, limits on foreign aid if countries don't work toward democracy or peace, and even
military intervention represent the last resort in diplomacy.
Negotiation means trying to find a solution that both sides can stick to and not upend at the first
available moment. This is the most successful and cost-effective way for America to achieve its goals
and work as a force for good in the world. That approach involves hard work, give-and-take, and listening on both sides - not unilateral intimidation.
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Despite having a large tool box at their
disposal, Republicans really only respect the hammer.
Republicans believe that intimidation is all you need to have a successful foreign policy. They got their foreign policy credentials on the playground in Middle School. You just have to be the biggest and strongest geo-political bully and you'll get your way every time.
How could anyone forget when Team Bush believed that only military power (and the subsequent sacrifice of thousands of American lives and trillions of taxpayer dollars) could fix the problem of WMDs in Iraq?
This Bully Mentality was glaringly apparent in Governor Romney's speech yesterday where he
disparaged Obama's foreign policy as being too passive, naively equating strategy and subtlety with passivity.
In fact, Romney's entire speech showed he had no new ideas at all. He actually seemed to go along with Obama's policy except that he would throw the US's weight around a lot more.
You know, make friends.
Obama has been working to keep Iran from gaining nuclear capability while preventing yet another
Middle Eastern war. Romney says he would also do that - except he would also make a lot of random threats that might start another Middle Eastern War.
Democrats have encouraged the Libyans and the Egyptians to create a stable, representative
government. Republicans say that when they're in charge they will do exactly the same thing. Just that Team Mitt would issue a lot more ultimatums.
Republicans know that foreign leaders, like everybody, really love and respond to ultimatums.
Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration have worked to build a long term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Romney camp have already written off the Palestinians as not really wanting peace. So Republicans believe that Israel would have to dictate and implement peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Peace dictated by one side? What could go wrong there?
This is not to say that Democrats wouldn't or shouldn't resort to the stick, if necessary. Stronger
sanctions on Iran, limits on foreign aid if countries don't work toward democracy or peace, and even
military intervention represent the last resort in diplomacy.
Negotiation means trying to find a solution that both sides can stick to and not upend at the first
available moment. This is the most successful and cost-effective way for America to achieve its goals
and work as a force for good in the world. That approach involves hard work, give-and-take, and listening on both sides - not unilateral intimidation.
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Despite having a large tool box at their
disposal, Republicans really only respect the hammer.
Monday, October 8, 2012
A Reminder: When It Comes to Health Care Reform, Democrats Did Build That!
By Dale Bowling
Democrats believe fundamentally in the role of government to improve the lives of Americans.
The Private Sector does a lot of things really well, but not everything and that's where government
comes in.
In the 1930s Democrats created Social Security to protect our America's seniors from falling into
poverty.
In the 1960s Democrats developed Medicare so that our Nation's seniors could have
affordable health care.
You see, Democrats figured the Private Sector had had thousands of years to solve these problems and there was no use waiting any longer.
Most recently, Democrats created the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to make sure that all Americans would have access to health care.
It's worth noting perhaps that Republicans had the White House for 8 years and Congress for 12 years
and the words "health care reform" were not on their radar. Their priorities were tax cuts for the
wealthy, deregulating Wall Street and invading countries without WMDs, but not helping Americans get the health care they need.
Once Democrats had the White House and the votes to make real health care reform in America that's
what they did and these are some of its provisions.
The point of all this is that when the Private Sector fails to do what's best for people, the Democrats
have America's back. And it's a good thing someone does.
Democrats believe fundamentally in the role of government to improve the lives of Americans.
The Private Sector does a lot of things really well, but not everything and that's where government
comes in.
In the 1930s Democrats created Social Security to protect our America's seniors from falling into
poverty.
In the 1960s Democrats developed Medicare so that our Nation's seniors could have
affordable health care.
You see, Democrats figured the Private Sector had had thousands of years to solve these problems and there was no use waiting any longer.
Most recently, Democrats created the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to make sure that all Americans would have access to health care.
It's worth noting perhaps that Republicans had the White House for 8 years and Congress for 12 years
and the words "health care reform" were not on their radar. Their priorities were tax cuts for the
wealthy, deregulating Wall Street and invading countries without WMDs, but not helping Americans get the health care they need.
Once Democrats had the White House and the votes to make real health care reform in America that's
what they did and these are some of its provisions.
- If you have a pre-existing condition, no insurance company can ever turn you down. Since we are all doctor's visit or an intersection away from having a pre-existing condition, this is good news for everyone. Republicans want to kill that, of course.
- Children can stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26. Private Sector- you didn't build that!
- Lifetime coverage caps have been removed, so if you have an ongoing illness you need never worry about reaching the limits of your coverage. Republicans say this is too expensive.
- Insurance companies can't discriminate against women by making them pay more for their reproductive health care. I'm sure you can guess what Republicans say about this.
- The Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare because it eliminates waste and overpayment to insurance companies and hospitals, lengthening Medicare's solvency. Normally Republicans like cutting government waste, but surprisingly not so much this time.
- Oh- and by the end of the first ten years the Affordable Care Act will actually have reduced the deficit. Republicans have more experience running up huge deficits than reducing them, so this doesn't impress them much either.
The point of all this is that when the Private Sector fails to do what's best for people, the Democrats
have America's back. And it's a good thing someone does.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
America Deserves Better Than Etch-A-Sketch Politics
By Dale Bowling
Well, as prophesized by the Romney Campaign earlier this year, Mitt Romney has had his Etch-A-Sketch Moment.
You may remember that Romney spent much of the year trying to outconservative his rivals in order to get the Republican nomination. He had to be more pro-life than Santorum, more hawkish than Gingrich, more slash-and-burn than Ron Paul.
The brouhaha developed when a senior staffer said that after the primaries, Romney could change his views like you shake an etch-a-sketch.
The last week and especially Wednesday night's debate represent the Etch-A-Sketch moment we've been waiting for.
Massive tax cuts for the wealthy? Never heard of it!- Mr Romney would have us believe. Spending cuts across the board?, oh no no, My Good Man. Republicans are going to invest in education among many other noble government endeavors. 47% of Americans as irresponsible parasites?- who could say such a thing about hard-working Americans?
We've had eighteen months of Republicans calling for the same policies that got us into this mess to begin with. America deserves better.
To find this moderate Mitt Romney believeable, you must either have never encountered him before this week or willfully forget everything you knew about him leading up to the debate.
Or have been clunked it the head of an Etch-A-Sketch.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!
Well, as prophesized by the Romney Campaign earlier this year, Mitt Romney has had his Etch-A-Sketch Moment.
You may remember that Romney spent much of the year trying to outconservative his rivals in order to get the Republican nomination. He had to be more pro-life than Santorum, more hawkish than Gingrich, more slash-and-burn than Ron Paul.
The brouhaha developed when a senior staffer said that after the primaries, Romney could change his views like you shake an etch-a-sketch.
The last week and especially Wednesday night's debate represent the Etch-A-Sketch moment we've been waiting for.
Massive tax cuts for the wealthy? Never heard of it!- Mr Romney would have us believe. Spending cuts across the board?, oh no no, My Good Man. Republicans are going to invest in education among many other noble government endeavors. 47% of Americans as irresponsible parasites?- who could say such a thing about hard-working Americans?
We've had eighteen months of Republicans calling for the same policies that got us into this mess to begin with. America deserves better.
To find this moderate Mitt Romney believeable, you must either have never encountered him before this week or willfully forget everything you knew about him leading up to the debate.
Or have been clunked it the head of an Etch-A-Sketch.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on NOV. 6!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Republicans: These Jobs Numbers Are Too Good To Be True, Except That They're Lousy.
By Dale Bowling
An Election Season Miracle happened yesterday.
The famously professional and reliable Bureau of Labor Statistics put out the monthly jobs report for September and guess what?
Unemployment dipped below 8% for the first time in 44 months as 114,000 jobs were created in September. Good news, right?
Not so fast.
According to Republicans these numbers were so astonishingly good they must represent an attempt by the Democrats to steal the election while simultaneously being so lackluster that Obama should lose his job.
An Election Miracle Folks. The latest job numbers are too good to be true and they're not good enough. Simultaneously!
Can you guess the Republican antidote to these wonderful/horrible job numbers?
If you guessed the exact same policies that made a recovery necessary in the first place, you would be correct.
Your prize?: The realization that you must vote Democrat on Nov. 6. to preserve and extend our hard-fought economic recovery.
VOTE DEMOCRAT ON NOV. 6!
An Election Season Miracle happened yesterday.
The famously professional and reliable Bureau of Labor Statistics put out the monthly jobs report for September and guess what?
Unemployment dipped below 8% for the first time in 44 months as 114,000 jobs were created in September. Good news, right?
Not so fast.
According to Republicans these numbers were so astonishingly good they must represent an attempt by the Democrats to steal the election while simultaneously being so lackluster that Obama should lose his job.
An Election Miracle Folks. The latest job numbers are too good to be true and they're not good enough. Simultaneously!
Can you guess the Republican antidote to these wonderful/horrible job numbers?
If you guessed the exact same policies that made a recovery necessary in the first place, you would be correct.
Your prize?: The realization that you must vote Democrat on Nov. 6. to preserve and extend our hard-fought economic recovery.
VOTE DEMOCRAT ON NOV. 6!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Latest Jobs Report is Good News for America.
By Dale Bowling
The latest jobs report shows good news for America.
The Report showed that over 114,000 jobs were created in September and that 86,000 more jobs were
created in July and August than previously reported. This brings unemployment down to 7.8%.
This marks the first time in 44 months the unemployment rate is below 8%.
The job market has improved steadily ever since the Democratic Stimulus helped America find the
bottom of the economic crisis in 2009-10 and begin the recovery from the Bush Recession.
The US has seen 29 straight months of employment gains, but has especially picked up steam this year. These gains come from jobs created rather than people ceasing to look for work.
In four years President Obama has already exceeded the number of jobs created by George W. Bush in 8 years.
With a hard-won economic recovery for the American people still so fragile, is now the time to return to the same Republican policies of tax cuts for millionaires and deregulation of businesses that wrecked the economy in the first place? NO!
Vote Democrat on November 6 for a Stronger, Healthier America!
The latest jobs report shows good news for America.
The Report showed that over 114,000 jobs were created in September and that 86,000 more jobs were
created in July and August than previously reported. This brings unemployment down to 7.8%.
This marks the first time in 44 months the unemployment rate is below 8%.
The job market has improved steadily ever since the Democratic Stimulus helped America find the
bottom of the economic crisis in 2009-10 and begin the recovery from the Bush Recession.
The US has seen 29 straight months of employment gains, but has especially picked up steam this year. These gains come from jobs created rather than people ceasing to look for work.
In four years President Obama has already exceeded the number of jobs created by George W. Bush in 8 years.
With a hard-won economic recovery for the American people still so fragile, is now the time to return to the same Republican policies of tax cuts for millionaires and deregulation of businesses that wrecked the economy in the first place? NO!
Vote Democrat on November 6 for a Stronger, Healthier America!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
What Obama Should Have Said Last Night
By: Dale Bowling
Since the general consensus among pundits and instapolls is that President Obama did a bad job during last night's debate, it begs the question of what should the President have said.
Here are some suggestions:
1) He should have reminded the viewers that over a half million jobs were being lost every month when he became President and that we've had 29 months of consecutive job growth under his leadership.
2) Obama should have owned the Stimulus, like he owned Obamacare and told Americans the truth about it: the American Recovery and Investment Act created at least 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 when the US economy needed them most, is still producing jobs as its effects ripple through the economy and kept us from sliding into a second Great Depression.
3) The President should have reminded viewers that the American Jobs Act which economists have projected would produce around 2 million jobs has been languishing on Capitol Hill for a year because of Republican obstruction. The AJA is fully funded and could be immediately implemented.
4) He could have asked Governor Romney if he really does think that 47% of Americans will never take responsibility for their lives and if so, how would that affect Romney's role as President.
5) President Obama could have called out Romney more forcefully on what his plan entails. How are enormous tax cuts not going to add to the deficit? How can Romney close enough loopholes to offset a 20% tax cut across the board and a 10% reduction of the corporate tax rate? How can Republicans invest in all these things like education, the military, etc., with decreased revenue?
6) Lastly, Obama should have condemned Romney's plan (just cuting taxes and regulations on businesses) as exactly the same set of policies that got us into this mess in the first place.
Since the general consensus among pundits and instapolls is that President Obama did a bad job during last night's debate, it begs the question of what should the President have said.
Here are some suggestions:
1) He should have reminded the viewers that over a half million jobs were being lost every month when he became President and that we've had 29 months of consecutive job growth under his leadership.
2) Obama should have owned the Stimulus, like he owned Obamacare and told Americans the truth about it: the American Recovery and Investment Act created at least 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 when the US economy needed them most, is still producing jobs as its effects ripple through the economy and kept us from sliding into a second Great Depression.
3) The President should have reminded viewers that the American Jobs Act which economists have projected would produce around 2 million jobs has been languishing on Capitol Hill for a year because of Republican obstruction. The AJA is fully funded and could be immediately implemented.
4) He could have asked Governor Romney if he really does think that 47% of Americans will never take responsibility for their lives and if so, how would that affect Romney's role as President.
5) President Obama could have called out Romney more forcefully on what his plan entails. How are enormous tax cuts not going to add to the deficit? How can Romney close enough loopholes to offset a 20% tax cut across the board and a 10% reduction of the corporate tax rate? How can Republicans invest in all these things like education, the military, etc., with decreased revenue?
6) Lastly, Obama should have condemned Romney's plan (just cuting taxes and regulations on businesses) as exactly the same set of policies that got us into this mess in the first place.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A Second Gilded Age?
By: Dale Bowling
You may remember from US History something called the Gilded Age. It was a period of American history in the late nineteenth century when Robber Barons built huge fortunes at the expense of everyone else.
Railroads, Mining Interests, Steel, Oil flourished in great part because of Government largesse. Beneficial legislation and/or lack of regulation, land grants, low or no taxation, monopolies - politicians in the pay of Monied Interests one way or another, stacked the deck in favor of BIG BUSINESS against everyone else. At no point in American history had the Rich been richer and the Poor been poorer.
What changed? The Progressive Era. Government turned from helping the Robber Barons to protecting the working person.
The Progressives curbed abuses. They kept workers safe and healthy. They took the kids out the mines and the factories and put them in schools. And guess what? The Nation flourished as a result of having generations of educated, healthy workers.
It's been a hundred years since the Progressive Era and as we've failed to remember the worst abuses of the past, we're condemned to repeat them. There is an ancient saying, "Be careful or else you may end up where you're headed." Well, we're headed for a second Gilded Age unless we do something.
The last thirty years, we've seen an attempt to erase the America of the Progressives, but this has mostly been at the behest of the latest generation of Robber Barons.
The folks who say, "there are 47% of Americans who don't matter" are really saying that "These Americans represent a responsibility we just can't be bothered with. They interfere with us making as much money as humanly possible despite the fact we made it with their help. We've used them up and now they're on their own."
Democrats are the heirs of the Progressive movement. Democrats still recognize that America's greatness lies in Americans- whether or not they are momentarily useful to the Robber Barons of the coming Gilded Age.
Democrats don't punish the unlucky. Democrats help them make their own luck.
The new Robber Barons give unlucky Americans the back of their hands, Democrats give them the hand up.
That's who we are. We're DEMOCRATS. VOTE DEMOCRAT on November 6.
You may remember from US History something called the Gilded Age. It was a period of American history in the late nineteenth century when Robber Barons built huge fortunes at the expense of everyone else.
Railroads, Mining Interests, Steel, Oil flourished in great part because of Government largesse. Beneficial legislation and/or lack of regulation, land grants, low or no taxation, monopolies - politicians in the pay of Monied Interests one way or another, stacked the deck in favor of BIG BUSINESS against everyone else. At no point in American history had the Rich been richer and the Poor been poorer.
What changed? The Progressive Era. Government turned from helping the Robber Barons to protecting the working person.
The Progressives curbed abuses. They kept workers safe and healthy. They took the kids out the mines and the factories and put them in schools. And guess what? The Nation flourished as a result of having generations of educated, healthy workers.
It's been a hundred years since the Progressive Era and as we've failed to remember the worst abuses of the past, we're condemned to repeat them. There is an ancient saying, "Be careful or else you may end up where you're headed." Well, we're headed for a second Gilded Age unless we do something.
The last thirty years, we've seen an attempt to erase the America of the Progressives, but this has mostly been at the behest of the latest generation of Robber Barons.
The folks who say, "there are 47% of Americans who don't matter" are really saying that "These Americans represent a responsibility we just can't be bothered with. They interfere with us making as much money as humanly possible despite the fact we made it with their help. We've used them up and now they're on their own."
Democrats are the heirs of the Progressive movement. Democrats still recognize that America's greatness lies in Americans- whether or not they are momentarily useful to the Robber Barons of the coming Gilded Age.
Democrats don't punish the unlucky. Democrats help them make their own luck.
The new Robber Barons give unlucky Americans the back of their hands, Democrats give them the hand up.
That's who we are. We're DEMOCRATS. VOTE DEMOCRAT on November 6.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Math is Hard!
By: Dale Bowling
When asked to explain the math in the Romney/Ryan economic plan, Paul Ryan responded that there wasn’t time in the interview.
It sounds like an excuse and it is. The real reason why Republicans haven’t fleshed out their plan is that they know that if they explained the details, the American public would realize that the economic plan makes no sense.
Let's do the math.
Here are the parts to their equation:
1. Tax Cuts
It starts with a huge tax cut. A 20% tax cut for everyone and a reduction of the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. This will reduce tax revenue by about $5 trillion over ten years. Yes, trillion with a “t”.
2. Spending Cuts
It requires a huge spending cut- between $5.3 trillion and $7 trillion. Yes, with a “t” again. What would they be cutting? Everything you like (unless it’s the military).
3. Ending Tax Loopholes and Deductions
At first glance, this sounds good, but which loopholes and deductions? Is your mortgage deduction in peril? Child tax credits? They’ve already cut $10-12 trillion dollars from the federal budget (adding tax cuts and spending cuts.) Can they make up enough revenue to keep us from blowing up the deficit?
Your guess is as good as anyone’s. Republicans haven’t condescended to tell us which loopholes and deductions they’ll be cutting.
Republicans know how Americans love a good surprise come tax season!
4. Balanced Budget
Do the math. Huge Tax Cuts + Huge Spending Cuts - Some Tax Loopholes = A Lower Deficit and A Balanced Budget?? It just doesn't add up.
Democrats have a jobs plan before Congress called the American Jobs Act. It’s been there for a year, fully paid for and is already to go. What’s (or who’s) holding it up? You do the math.
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Monday, October 1, 2012
What Kind of America Do We Want?
By: Dale Bowling
As we listen to what candidates have to say and offer
this election season, it makes sense to ask ourselves: What kind of America do
we want?
Former President Bill Clinton said in his convention
speech that “If you want a winner-take- all,
you’re-on-your-own society, you should support the Republican ticket. But if
you want a country of shared opportunities and shared responsibility, a
we’re-all-in-this-together society, you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe
Biden.”
This is the difference between Republicans
and Democrats. Republicans believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary,
that they really did build that without the rest of us.
Democrats know we all contribute to the
common good and that’s the way it should be.
The fact is that in America today, you can be
a hard-working, thrifty person and still be at the mercy of interest rates, economic
bubbles, corporate greed, stock prices, inflation and off-shoring of American
jobs.
Do we want an America where if you’re the
unlucky fellow who has been punched in the face by the Invisible Hand of the
Market, you’re left to pick yourself up?
Republicans say that if you’re not making
enough to pay federal taxes, you’re not deserving of the same consideration as
other Americans. Mitt Romney said as much, and you know he speaks for
Republicans on this.
Democrats say “We’ve got your back, Brother and
Sister” because that’s the right thing to do and the American thing to do.
Hard-working folks built this Great Country
and hard-working folks are going to take it back, whether they fit the GOP’s
criteria for consideration or not.
Vote Democrat on Nov. 6!
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