SINGLE PAYER NOW NOW NOW!

from the inbox:

Dear [hipparchia],

This week, Congress will make crucial decisions on two issues: single-payer health care and the widening war in Afghanistan/Pakistan.

1. Single Payer Health Care

On Monday, the for-profit health industry promised President Obama to cut costs by 1.5%, but we can only laugh.

For-profit insurers will always put profits first - ahead of Obama's cost-saving goals and ahead of our health care needs, even our lives.

The only serious way to reduce health care costs is to move from for-profit health insurance to a single-payer system like Medicare.

Thankfully, Rep. John Conyers has a serious single-player plan, H.R. 676, which has 75 co-sponsors. But we need 218 votes in the House to pass H.R. 676, so we must pressure every other Representative .

First, sign our petition and forward it to everyone you know who is sick of - or sick from - for-profit health insurance:
http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-petition

Then, if your Representative not a co-sponsor, call him/her at 202-224-3121 and demand to know why not.

Then tell the Senate Finance Committee to stop laughing at (and arresting!) single payer advocates like us, and put a single-payer plan "on the table":
http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum982.php

And if you're near Washington DC on Wednesday May 13, join Progressive Democrats of America in a Day of Action for Single-Payer Health Care:
http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2009-05-11-12-29-05-news.php

2. The Widening War in Afghanistan/Pakistan (Af-Pak)

This week, Congress will vote on another $85 billion for Af-Pak and Iraq. But our careless bombing in Af-Pak is only making things worse. And there are horrifying new reports we used white phosphorus against civilians.

This week, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) will propose an amendment for an Afghanistan Exit Strategy. Please sign our new petition to your Representatives and Senators:
http://www.democrats.com/afghan-exit-petition

Thanks for all you do!

Bob Fertik

p.s. Thanks to Ed Schultz for asking fans of The Ed Show to sign our single-payer petition. Many of us love Ed's radio show, and now we can see him fight for working families every weekday at 6 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Visit:
http://WeGotEd.com

While you're at wegoted.com, vote no.

Lemon Pledge

Brother, Sister, can you spare a dime?

ntodd will bike for money.

IVAW Winter Soldier

MARCH 13-16, 2008 (Thursday-Sunday): Winter Soldier

Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will testify in Silver Spring, Maryland to crimes witnessed and committed in Iraq. Audio and video of panels will be available live online, on satelite TV, and on Pacifica radio.

http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier

Local events supporting Winter Soldier, and other events for peace, justice, and impeachment:

http://www.5yearstoomany.org

I've also posted some videos on my war protest blog:

The original Winter Soldier hearings, Vietnam

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Previews for this year's IVAW Winter Soldier event

For want of a nail...

...or $22 billion.

From the front page of the House Appropriations Committee website:

How 2 Months Spending in Iraq Could Be Put to Better Use
10/16/07
The President is trying to masquerade as fiscally responsible by manufacturing a fight over $22 billion (roughly 2 months in Iraq) in investments that will make this a stronger and better country. Every day we’re going to bring you one specific example of how Congress and the President differ on appropriations.

Example 1: Healthcare Access

Example 2: Education

Example 3: Transportation Infrastructure and Job Creation

Example 4: Medical Research

Example 5: Law Enforcement
-Law Enforcement Fact Sheet

Example 6: Block Grants - Helping States and Communities Alleviate Poverty and Promote Economic Development

Example 7: Energy Independence & Global Warming

Example 8: Homeland Security Grants

Example 9: Job Training and Vocational Education

Impeach the Cheerleader, Save the World!

That's Dan, starting his kids off on the right foot in life, at the antiwar march at Kent State yesterday. Fortunately Neil Young won't have to write a song about any of the protesters this time, but if you're in need of some inspiration here are Ohio, The Restless Consumer, and Living With War.

If you're in Ohio tomorrow

There's an anti-war march planned at Kent State, Thursday, September 27, 4:30pm.

[danps is dan, from pruning shears]

SODaPOP

Seasons of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project

Beginning in October and culminating in an intensive push during the final two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, Voices for Creative Nonviolence wants volunteers to “occupy” the Iowa campaign headquarters of presidential candidates who do not pledge to concrete plans for complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.

SODaPOP Demands:

While the demands of the campaign are still being finalized, the initial concept is to occupy the campaign headquarters and offices of Presidential candidates who do not commit to:

• Complete withdrawal of the U.S. military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan within 100 days of assuming the office of President of the United States.
• Complete halt to any and all military actions—including ground, air and naval—against Iraq and Iran.
• Full funding for the reconstruction of Iraq to repair the damage caused over these past 17 years of economic and military warfare that the U.S. and its allies waged against Iraq.
• Full funding for the Common Good in the U.S.—to rebuild our education and health care systems; to create jobs training programs for jobs that pay a living wage; to provide universal health care for all; to rebuild our country’s inner cities and rural communities; and to initiate a campaign on the scale of a new Tennessee Valley Authority and Rural Electrification Project of the Great Depression era to create affordable, safe and sustainable alternative forms of energy and energy consumption; and for other vital social programs.
• Full funding for the highest quality health care, education and jobs training benefits for veterans of our country’s Armed Services.

For those Presidential candidates who currently hold a seat in the House or Senate, we set forth the following additional demands:

• Vote against any additional funding for the Iraq war other than those funds that are essential to fund the complete and immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
• Publicly commit to oppose the use of U.S. military forces against Iran, Pakistan or any other opening front in the “war on terror.”

DELUDED MISGUIDED PEACE PROTESTERS!

peace bitch
fuck this war
march







live blogging and a wrap-up


Thanks, all y'all [although I''m a bit miffed that I didn't get to bake that cake with the file in it].

Lt. Watada update: Mistrial.

I was just a kid, but back in the bad old days [if I remember rightly], Conscientious Objectors refused to go to war. Period. Lt. Watada has said [again, if I remember rightly] that he's willing to go to war, just not this war, the one in Iraq, the one the Army wants to send him to. So, I don't know if this qualifies him to be called a CO, but it's close enough to suit me.

Meanwhile, his court-martial has been declared a mistrial, the judge has set a tentative date for retrial, and his attorney is planning to appeal that on the grounds of double jeopardy. [details]


from Objective - Justice

It's beginning to look a lot like ... Vietnam!

[you thought i was going to say christmas, didn't you?]

Demonstrations! Conscientious objectors!

Thanks to roxtar for pointing it out.