November 2011 Volume XXIX, No. 9 20 Pages Published by the Peace & Justice Network pjnsjc.org Priceless & Free We are the 99 percent Motecuzomatzin and demonstrations have Wall Street. Increasingly the Sanchez been organized across majority of Americans have the United States and the felt the pain and dealt with the From Democracy Now.org world to call for financial, ills of the reality that, while Inspired by the political and social change. 1% of our nation controls massive public protests in A global day of action on the majority of the wealth, Cairo’s Tahrir Square and Oct. 15 drew protests in 99% live off the ‘left-overs’. Madrid’s Puerta del Sol 1,500 cities world-wide, With no promised change Square, hundreds have including more than 100 in being seen from Washington, camped out in Zuccotti the United States. everyday people across Park near Wall Street since ethnic, social, religious, and Sept. 17, 2011, as part of a On September 17, 2011 political lines have taken campaign dubbed “Occupy a movement began in New their plight to streets for the Wall Street.” Developing York City. New Yorkers began world to see. This movement, a common slogan “We occupying the epicenter of which was resisted violently are the 99 percent,” the most unbridled greed in solidarity encampments perhaps our planet’s history: Continued ON Page 2 PAID Postage Postage Stockton, CA Stockton, Permit No. 488 Permit No. Nonprofit Org. U.S. U.S. Org. Nonprofit
SAVE THE DATES CONTENTS OCT 22 WALL STREET PROTEST P3-7 HEALTH CLASS WARFARE P9 TROLLEY DANCE P18 REPEAL DEATH PENALTY P14 FDR P17 NOV 20 ENVIROMENT WINS P13 EMERGENCY FOOD BANK P20 TRANSGENDER REMEMBRANCE P18 Peace & Justice Network & Justice Peace County of San Joaquin 4123 Box P.O. CA 95204 Stockton, 209/467—4455 2 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011
Protests CONNECTIONS We are the Editor: Bruce Giudici, 786—3109; bgiudici@caltel. —it’s com 99 percent Layout: Luis Gonzalez Proofreader: Debbie Cousyn about jobs, planned pregnancies Continued From Page 1 the call—including young nation and its democracy Ad Rep: Vacant and any other choice. Again, students from Manteca and is dependent on its people Distribution Coordinators: the Occupiers prescribe by police and mocked by Modesto—at De Carli Square defending the needs of all. Dean and Marcia Savage, time an equally Biblical version what little media coverage it in downtown Stockton. Over We are all the 99%. Events 209—339—1599 of ethics and morals—thou has received, sparked actions the course of two days in are planned for leafleting at Distribution Site: Green’s shalt not steal while doing of solidarity across our nation Stockton, including a march banks, a showing of Inside Nutrition, 1906 Pacific Ave, unto others as you would from New York and Boston on October 15th the Global Jobs and an educational Stockton Bruce Giudici have them do unto you. If to Chicago, Los Angeles, Day of Occupy Actions, forum. General Assembly Distributors: Suzy Arnett, Rosemary Atkinson, Antoinette San Francisco, Portland, and we treat our neighbors— over 160 people young and meetings, where decisions Celle, Jerry Croskrey, The protests have come and customers—like family, other cities. old participated in Occupy are made, plans are formed Clarence Edwards, Daniel none too soon; it proves perhaps we can get to a On Wednesday October Stockton actions. and ideas are shared take Fong, Catherine Mathis, John that, for Americans to act, more humane place in our 12, 2011, Stockton took its These gatherings were place regularly. For more Morearty, Heather Ryan, Dean the crisis must become economy—rather than kicking place in this historic event also an opportunity to help information of time and place and Marcia Savage, Julie unbearable. When we look them with the admonition and stood in solidarity with the least fortunate of us. go to occupystocktonca@ Vaughn, Susan von Sosten, at the progress corporations “get a job.” a movement that has become Participants brought canned gmail.com or email Stan Thomas, Patrick Wall, Jim Walsh, Bill Witz have made through the past That’s the naivete —and known as Occupy Wall foods, blankets, and jackets to [email protected] Deadline: 7th of each month 3 decades, however, we can Street. It is a movement that the charm—of this movement. help the growing population (except Aug & Dec) only hope that we are not transcends leaders and social More people feel affinity to of homeless and poor in our Circulation: 9,000 too late. With American this group now than they do barriers. community. Many homeless, economic dominance on the the Tea Party (50%—30%) Stockton has much to as well as a poor family of Progress CONNECTIONS is a wane, actions we take now for just this reason. There fight for. In 2007 we were at eight, were supported by this monthly publication of the Peace must be decisive, focused and is a feeling that the general the center of the foreclosure action. Participants included & Justice Network of San Joaquin broad-based. public (in this case, the 99%) crisis that has weakened labor, college students, County. The views expressed is made, in Connections are those of the This is the thrust of the have been cheated and that our nation, a direct result homeless, and educators, authors and are not necessarily New York uprising. While the cheating continues. The of Wall Street deregulation those who have lost their endorsed by the Network. News, media have complained of majority of elected officials and irresponsibility. In 2011, homes, the unemployed, laid not found. articles, letters and calendar items the lack of a focused demand Stockton finds itself with an should be sent to the Peace & increasingly represent the off, and others affected by the Justice Network, P.O. Box 4123, from the protest, they have 1%—evidence is in what 18% unemployment rate. greed of 1% of our nation. Stockton, CA 95204. The editor missed the many demands is (or isn’t) happening in Tewnty five percent of our Further actions are reserves the right of final decision scrawled on cardboard Washington. A little more city lives below the poverty planned as the future of our on copy. Call (209) 467—4455 for more information. PJN is on the and poster paper: stop the street action, discussion and line. Our city is the 2nd most internet: http://www.pjnsjc.org foreclosures, rein in bank changing of minds can move violent in California and excesses, tax the well-off, a nation. As the weather 7th most dangerous in the employ the rest of us to do turns chilly, it might seem country. City Hall is out of meaningful work—teaching tempting to connect a lack touch with its citizens. There and building; lists you will of bodies on the street with appears to be no change in find in these pages and on a diminishment of resolve. sight. Contact Your Reps signs held by protesters. Not this time. So long as our In light of this, I invite ^Peace & Justice These may not as simple as leaders keep our economic you to join me in standing Pres. Barack H. Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, a Tea Party bumper sticker car in the ditch, you can bet up and demanding change Network NW, Washington DC 20500. 202—456—1414; www.whitehouse.gov to cut taxes...but Occupier the American people will as well as showing solidarity Board of Directors demands are what’s needed if come up with answers. Let’s with those fighting for us all Sen. Barbara Boxer, 1700 Montgomery St, Ste 240, San Francisco, Co—Chairs: Christie Kelley this country is to turn around expand the circle. in New York and worldwide. CA 94111. 415—403—0100; 112 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510. Vice—Chairperson: John economically. The concerns of the people 202—224—3553, [email protected] Morearty On the moral and ethical will dictate the dialogue of Treasurer: Bruce Giudici end, the Tea Party would our local movement, tailored Sen. Dianne Feinstein, One Post Street, Ste 2450, San Francisco, CA Secretary: Paula LeVeck Members—at—large: like us to pray more—and to to local needs and concerns. 94104. 415—249—0707; 331 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510. Luis Gonzalez, Gary Barrington keep our women safe from Fellow Stocktonians answered 202—224—3841, [email protected] Organizational members: Rep. Jerry McNerney (D—11th District) 2222 Grand Canal Blvd #7, 89.5 Stone Soup Radio (Tony Stockton, CA 95207. 209—476—8552. Fax 209—476—8587. 312 Cannon Kiser), Fathers & Families (Jim Profit system endangers House Office Bldg., Washington DC 20515; [email protected], Walsh), Hispanics for Political Action (Daniel Fong), MoveOn 925—833—0643, http://www.JerryMcNerney.org (Mario D’Angeli), National Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D—District 18) 137 E. Weber Ave, Stockton, CA Youth Rights Association health care in China (Alyssa Palomares), Puentes 95203. 209—946—0361, 503 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, (John Morearty), Single Payer Editor, yuan (US$125) for the same System. Single Payer San DC 20515, 202—225—6131. San Joaquin (Paula LeVeck), procedure at a different Joaquin meets the second United Nations (Larry Pippin) Rep. Dan Lungren (R—District 3), 2262 Rayburn House Office Building, As reported in the News hospital. The incident has Thursday of each month at Washington DC 20515. 202—225—5716. Local office: 2334 Gold Meadow “The Peace and Justice China (October 2011 issue), caused anger online at the San Joaquin Peace and Network is a nonprofit Way, Ste 220, Gold River, CA 95670. 916—859—9906. Xiao Zeng, a 20 year old China’s profit-oriented health Justice Center at 231 Bedford educational organization busboy from Hubei Province, care system. Rd. Stockton. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 2201 C St, NW Washington, DC committed to the vision had eight stitches removed The profit—driven of a world in which the 20520 from a sutured hand wound health insurance companies Harold Bell equality of all persons is without anesthetic when, have been driving down Gov. Jerry Brown, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. 916—445—2841 achieved, basic needs are after completing the stitching, “health care system” in the met, conflict is resolved his surgeon discovered he United States for many years. State Sen. Lois Wolk (District 5), 31 E Channel St, Room 440, Stockton, nonviolently, and the earth’s resources are couldn’t afford to pay his We in the Single Payer San CA 95202. 209—948—7930; State Capitol, Rm 4032, Sacramento, CA shared responsibly for 1,830 yuan (US$ 286) bill. Joaquin say that for better 95814. 916—651—4005 the well—being of all her The young man was health care we need to rid inhabitants and all future Assemblyperson Kathleen Galgiani (District 17), 31 E. Channel St., Rm. forced to trawl the streets ourselves of the profit-driven generations.” for a better deal, finally health insurance companies 306, Stockton CA 95202, 209—948—7479 negotiating a bill of 800 and institute a Single-Payer CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 3 Don’t sleep through the revolution
Mainstream Media = Truth? Check out the Alternatives and Find out for yourself!
If you tap in to some of the alternative media, you will get a very different perspective on events. Especially now, when the mainstream media often acts as a cheerleader for whatever the administration does, it’s necessary to go a little further to get your news. An internet connection is helpful.
Firedoglake http://firedoglake.com Rev. Jesse Jackson They declare corporations are persons, with the same right to free speech as American citizens. Since they think money Emptywheel Occupy Wall Street protests have now spread to some is speech, they open the floodgates to corporate purchase of http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/ 800 cities. It’s spreading like a fire on a strong wind over a our elections. Calitics http://www.calitics.com/ dry field. The heat is likely to keep on building.Conservatives Movements grow not because of the specifics of their Eschaton http://www.eschatonblog.com/ have fallen over themselves rushing to side with the top one agenda, but because of the truth of their protest. Occupy Wall percent against the rest. Eric Cantor, House majority leader, Street protests outrages that all of us see. Their protest is too Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com denounces “mobs” and “the pitting of Americans against valid to be ignored; too pressing to be suppressed. Hullabaloo http://digbysblog.blogspot.com Americans.” Herman Cain dismisses the demonstrators as The Rainbow PUSH Coalition has been on this case Daily Kos http://www.dailykos.com “anti-American.” Mitt Romney accuses them of waging “class for years now: we protested the attempt of the banks to warfare.” privatize social security and to abolish the Glass-Steagall Act. Talking Points Memo But class warfare is the reason Occupy Wall Street has We challenged the corruption of the “overseers” responsible http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com sounded such a chord. Sure there’s class warfare, one of for regulating the financial services industry, many of whom TPM Muckraker America’s richest men, Warren Buffett, concluded, “and my were raising money from Wall Street for their campaigns, or http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/ class is winning.” working for Wall Street upon leaving Congress. FiveThirtyEight.com Last week, I joined the Chicago “wing” of the Occupy Rainbow PUSH joined with Attorney General Lisa http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ Wall Street movement. I spoke to students who dropped out Madigan to expose the targeting and steering of Blacks of school because they couldn’t afford tuition; now they are and people of color into sub-prime loans, and to demand Congress Matters left with guaranteed student loan debt. appropriate remedies from Countrywide and other banks http://www.congressmatters.com Students graduate with average student loan debts of that engaged in discriminatory lending practices. We’ve Think Progress http://thinkprogress.com over $20,000, and the bankers’ lobby passes a law that forces marched and protested with homeowners facing foreclosure, payment of those debts, even after bankruptcy. Now students and rallied with a broad coalition of conscience at the annual Down With Tyranny are graduating from college laden with debts and without a shareholder meetings of Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/ job. Any wonder they are protesting? Bank of America and others—decrying their policies and Crooks and Liars I spoke with professors and teachers who have lost their practices that led to the global economic crisis. http://www.crooksandliars.com jobs as states face declining revenues—driven in part by the Most recently, Rainbow PUSH testified to oppose the Media Matters http://mediamatters.org/ foreclosure/housing crisis and resulting loss of property-tax Capitol One merger. The protests will spread; others are revenues. already joining because there is a need for economic security. Common Dreams: These protests pose a clear indictment to an economy Too few own and control too much, while too many are left http://www.commondreams.org/ that has been working for the few and not the many. The out of the economic equation. This week, the AFL-CIO, the Truth Out: http://www.truthout.org/ international labor federation, will spark protests demanding richest one percent of Americans now makes as much income Raw Story http://www.rawstory.com as the bottom 60 percent. They control as much wealth as the “jobs, not cuts,” across the country. On November 17th, a bottom 90 percent. With that wealth comes political power, range of groups under the banner of the American Dream Open Left http://www.openleft.com/ as they can afford the campaign contributions and the high- Movement is planning the largest mobilizations since the AlterNet http://www.alternet.org/ priced lobbyists needed to rig the rules in Washington. They mass movement that opposed the War in Iraq. Independent Media Center have had their way. This citizen protest will face increasing opposition. Local http://www.indymedia.org The results are unconscionable. Hedge fund billionaires officials will try to shut demonstrations down. Fox News and carve out a “carried interest” tax dodge that enables them to conservative talk radio will slander and decry. Politicians will The Nation http://www.thenation.com/ pay a lower tax rate on their earnings than teachers pay. deplore. Hightower News Wall Street bankers pocket millions in bonuses inflating We celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s memorial http://www.webactive.com/hightower/ a housing bubble, marked, as the FBI warned, by “an recently in Washington. But when the Civil Rights Movement epidemic of fraud.” Then when the bubble explodes, they was building, Dr. King was reviled as an outside agitator, Mother Jones http://www.motherjones.com/ get bailed out—and go back to paying themselves million- slandered as a “communist.” The FBI wiretapped him and In These Times http://inthesetimes.com/ dollar bonuses—and hiking charges on credit cards and bank tried to drive him to suicide. Non-violent demonstrators The Guardian accounts. And while the banks are saved, 25 million people were arrested, beaten, and murdered. Nixon developed a http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/ remain in need of fulltime work. Southern strategy based on race-baiting politics to consolidate Similarly, homeowners get no relief. When workers Republican strength in the South. Corporate Watch are laid off and can’t sustain their mortgage payments, they Entrenched privilege does not surrender its privilege http://www.corpwatch.org/home/PHH.jsp lose their homes. When their homes are underwater, worth easily. Occupy Wall Street is taking on the most powerful KPFA (94.1 FM) provides excellent coverage on less than the mortgage, they can’t get banks to return their interests. But nothing, as Victor Hugo wrote, is more powerful many issues. You can listen on the internet at phone calls, can’t refinance to get some relief from lower than an idea whose time has come. As Dr. King urged, “Don’t http://www.kpfa.org sleep through the revolution.” It is time to take a stand. interest rates. Instead, the bankers’ lobby passes a law that Democracy Now! on KPFA, 94.1 FM and So 99’ers, maintain your disciplined focus, your peaceful allows the rich to readjust the mortgages of vacation homes KVMR, 89.5 FM or on the web at: nonviolent approach to protest, and demand change. In the in bankruptcy courts, but prohibits homeowners from doing http://www.democracynow.org the same. end we will win. The obscene decision of the Supreme Court’s ______conservative gang of five in Citizens United adds insult. Source: Reader Supported News 10/12/11 http://readersupportednews.org 4 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 When people should occupy Wall Street
Dean Baker are able to charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars for If people had more money in their pockets, then they prescriptions because they have patent protection. As a result would buy more goods and services. Companies would then The Very Serious People in Washington are busy trying we spend close to $300 billion (at $,1000 per person) a year hire more people to produce these goods and services and we to find creative ways to cut Social Security and Medicare and for drugs that would cost around $30 billion a year in a free would then have more jobs. The unemployment and poverty take other benefits from middle-class and moderate-income market. that the country is experiencing today is overwhelmingly the families. The refrain here is that we just can’t afford this level The government rigs the deck for the rich and powerful result of a failure of political will. of generosity any more. in other ways as well. Under the current enforcement pattern If the federal government increased spending There are two parts of this story that should drive the rest in labor law, the government comes down like a ton of bricks on infrastructure, gave teens jobs cleaning up their of us crazy. And it is difficult to determine which one is the on any union that breaks the rules—for example by having an neighborhoods, gave state and local governments the funds more infuriating. The first is that we know that many people unlawful strike. By contrast, companies get away with a slap to keep teachers and firefighters employed and encouraged in this country are fabulously rich. And as Elizabeth Warren of the risk for even the most flagrant violations of labor law. employers to shorten work hours rather than lay off workers, beautifully reminded us, none of them did it on their own. But Our trade policy was designed to put downward we could quickly get the economy back to full employment. Professor Warren is actually far too generous in her account. pressure on wages for the bulk of the country’s workforce Economists have known this story for more than 70 years, but While some number of the wealthy may have succeeded by putting them in direct competition with low-paid workers somehow creating jobs doesn’t rank as high on the priority list by working hard and being smart or creative, many of the in the developing world. This effect is exacerbated by the in Washington as cutting Social Security and Medicare. very wealthy got their money directly or indirectly through over-valued dollar. Meanwhile, those in relatively privileged In short, we have an economic system that, even when the big hand of the government tilting the playing field in professions, like doctors and lawyers, remain largely protected it is working, has been rigged to redistribute income to rich. their direction. Their hard work involved rigging the rules to from international competition. And we have a political system that at a time of immense ensure that they ended up on top. The list of ways in which the wealthy have structured the economic distress is more focused on undercutting the means Nowhere is this better seen than on Wall Street, which rules to ensure that they stay rich and get richer is lengthy. But of support for working families than fixing the economy. It is chock full of multimillionaires and billionaires who got the fact that the Very Serious People are looking to cut Social is hard to understand why everyone is not occupying Wall to the top by taking advantage of items like “too big to fail Security for the elderly and Medicaid for the unemployed at Street. insurance” for their banks, gambling with government a time when Countrywide’s Angelo Mozilo and Citigroup’s insured deposits, ripping off state and local governments on Robert Rubin are still immensely rich is only the first reason Dean Baker
stretch their paychecks for recklessness and power basic needs. Usury is already of Wall Street. Now is the Wall Street protests: a regarded as a sin in the eyes time for the president and of every major religion. It Congress to follow that light— should be a crime. The Fed and act. The future of our has the authority to limit economy is at stake. interest rates and fees. It good place to start should do so. Bernie Sanders is a US senator from Ver- The Occupy Wall Street mont. demonstrators are shining ______a light on one of the most Source: The Boston Globe serious problems facing the 10/7/11 http://www.boston.com/ United States: the greed, bostonglobe/editorial_opinion Bank Transfer Day causes credit union buzz Bank Transfer Day causes credit union buzz Jim Rubenstein
Even with most credit unions closed for Columbus Day there was plenty of online buzz, and uncertainty, about what the credit union industry role might be on “Bank Transfer Day,” the latest event surfacing from the “Occupy Wall Street” protests. Industry sources, speaking off the record, suggested any wholesale switch from large banks to CUs on Nov. 5, the day designated by one Californian and carried atwitter Monday, could conceivably put net worth ratios out of whack. The balance sheet problem was raised by several Sen. Bernie Sanders the extraordinary economic Where do we go from the central bank provided industry officials as a potential hazard as online articles and political clout of the big here? How do we convert the $16 trillion in revolving, focused on what “Occupy” supporters are calling now for The protest movement banks. Believe it or not, the protesters’ enthusiasm into low-interest loans to every a specific action to underscore their complaints against called Occupy Wall Street country’s six largest financial concrete results? major financial institution in big banks and corporate “greed.” has struck a nerve. The institutions (Bank of America, For starters, we should this country, multi-national For the record, Mark Wolff, CUNA senior vice demonstrators’ goals may be CitiGroup, JP Morgan Chase, break up the giant financial corporations, and some of president-communications, said only that the trade group vague, but their grievances Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley institutions. Left to their own the wealthiest people in the welcomes the idea of “a viral ‘Bank Transfer Day’” since are very real. If our country and Goldman Sachs) now selfish devices, Wall Street world. The Fed even helped it shows “just how angry consumers are becoming with is to break out of this have amassed assets equal to bankers will continue to bail out other central banks their treatment by big banks” and will now look at CUs. horrendous recession and more than 60 percent of our gamble with other people’s around the world. When CUNA said its Facebook posts have already create the millions of jobs we gross domestic product. The money. Sooner or later, when Wall Street was on the verge witnessed big jumps in traffic on www.asmarterhoice.org. desperately need, if we are four largest banks issue two- their bets go wrong, they of collapse, the Fed acted There also have been big gains on www.findacreditunion. going to create a financially- thirds of all credit cards, half will come back to Congress boldly. Today, with the org. stable future, we must take of all mortgages, and hold asking to be bailed out again. middle class collapsing, the Many consumers, said CUNA, are already a hard look at Wall Street nearly 40 percent of all bank Why not nip that in the Fed must act with equal vigor. “discovering” credit unions online and “many more no and demand fundamental deposits. Incredibly, after bud? There also is a sound Real unemployment doubt will as a result of this Bank Transfer Day initiative.” reforms. I hope the protesters we bailed out the behemoth economic argument against is more than 16 percent. Wire service reports Monday identified the provide the spark that ignites banks that were “too big to too few owning far too Median family income has ringleader of “Bank Transfer Day” as Kristen Christian, that process. fail,” three out of the four are much. The idea that six giant declined by $3,600 over a 27-year-old Los Angeles art gallery owner who said she The truth is that millions now even bigger than before financial institutions can the last decade. A record 46 is not affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street protest, but of Americans lost their jobs, the financial crisis. exert such enormous control million Americans live in that demonstration organizers had reached out to her to their homes and their life Not only do these over the economy should poverty. The gap between express support. savings because of the greed, financial institutions have frighten anyone who believes the very rich and everyone Christian reportedly chose Nov. 5 because of its recklessness and illegal enormous economic clout, in a competitive free-market else, the widest of any major association with 17th century British folk hero Guy behavior of Wall Street. Even their wealth makes them an system. Good Republican country, is growing wider. Fawkes, who tried to blow up the British House of Lords Federal Reserve Chairman extremely potent political presidents like William Under emergency but was captured on that day. Ben Bernanke agreed when I force. From 1998 through Howard Taft and Teddy provisions already in law, A *Facebook page for the event states that “together questioned him this week at 2008, in order to achieve Roosevelt broke up Standard the Fed has the authority to we can ensure that these banking institutions will a Joint Economic Committee their goal of repealing Glass- Oil, the railroad trusts and provide low-interest loans ALWAYS remember the 5th of November!! If the 99% hearing that that there was Steagall and other financial other huge monopolies a to small businesses that are removes our funds from the major banking institutions “excessive risk taking” by regulations, they spent more century ago. Now is the time starving for capital so that on or by this date, we will send a clear message and give Wall Street. Bernanke also than $5 billion on lobbying for us to end the financial they can create the millions the 1% a taste of the fear that we experience every day said the protesters “with and campaign contributions. oligarchy that has been so of jobs our economy needs. It when we aren’t able to pay for our rent, food, medication, some justification” hold the They also spent hundreds of destructive to our economy. should do so. utilities, student loans, etc.” financial sector responsible millions to water down last If a bank is too big to fail, it is The Fed also has The protests began in New York and have popped up for “getting us into this mess” year’s Dodd-Frank reform too big to exist. authority to make credit around the country. A few hundred protesters gathered and added, “I can’t blame bill. After the law was Wall Street reform also card issuers stop bilking in Las Vegas, for instance, on Thursday night and were them.” passed, hundreds of millions must address the powerful consumers with sky-high escorted by police for a march down the Strip. Among The demonstrators more were spent to repeal and secretive Federal fees and interest rates of 30 the calls for action on the flyers being distributed was to and millions of sympathetic provisions and weaken Reserve. A Government percent or more. Especially move banking accounts to credit unions. Americans understand that regulations. They never give Accountability Office audit in a recession, working ______odds are stacked in Wall up. that I requested found that people use credit cards to Source: Credit Union Times 10/10/11 http://www.cutimes.com/ Street’s favor because of 6 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 Declaration of the occupation of New York City NYC General Assembly dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right. They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts. As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling They have consistently outsourced labor and used that (These grievances are not all-inclusive). of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay. together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by To the people of the world, the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights We, the New York City General Assembly occupying allies. as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility. Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power. As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public that the future of the human race requires the cooperation They have spent millions of dollars on legal space; create a process to address the problems we face, and of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and teams that look for ways to get them out of generate solutions accessible to everyone. upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to contracts in regards to health insurance. To all communities that take action and form groups in the protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, a democratic government derives its just power from the They have sold our privacy as a commodity. and all of the resources at our disposal. Join us and make your people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth voices heard! from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy They have used the military and police force to prevent is attainable when the process is determined by economic freedom of the press. They have deliberately declined to This document was accepted by the NYC General power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit. Assembly
Richard D. Wolff Poverty is one result of this capitalist type of enterprise the workers themselves could collectively and democratically organization. For example, corporate decisions generally aim make them. Let’s call this Democracy at Work (DAW), since The US Census Bureau recently reported what most to lower the number of workers or their wages or both. They it entails the majority making the key enterprise decisions Americans already knew. Poverty is deepening. The gap automate, export (outsource) jobs, and replace higher-paid about what, how, and where to produce and what to do with between rich and poor is growing. Slippage soon into the workers by recruiting domestic and foreign substitutes willing the profits. ranks of the poor now confronts tens of millions of Americans to work for less. These normal corporate actions generate If the workers made those decisions, here are some likely who long thought of themselves as securely “middle class.” rising poverty as the other side of rising profits. When poverty results. Primary goals would no longer be to reduce their own The reality is worse than the Census Bureau reports. and its miseries “remain always with us,” workers tend to numbers or their wages. If technological changes or reduced Consider that the Bureau’s poverty line in 2010 for a family accept what employers dish out to avoid losing jobs and demand for their outputs required fewer workers, they would of four was $22,314. falling into poverty. likely maintain the wages of workers and retrain them for Families of four making more than that were not Another major corporate goal is to control politics. other jobs meeting growing demands. Workers would not be counted as poor. That poverty line works out to $15 per day Wherever all citizens can vote, workers’ interests might fired and thereby pushed into poverty. per person for everything: food, clothing, housing, medical prevail over those of directors and shareholders in elections. Second, workers making democratic decisions would not care, transportation, education, and so on. If you have more To prevent that, corporations devote portions of their revenues likely allow today’s huge differences between average wages than $15 per day per person in your household to pay for to finance politicians, parties, mass media, and “think tanks.” and top managers’ salaries, bonuses, etc. By eliminating everything each person needs, the Bureau does not count you Their goal is to “shape public opinion” and control what concentrated income and accumulated wealth at the top, as part of this country’s poverty problem. government does. They do not want Washington’s crisis- resources would be freed finally to end poverty at the bottom. So the real number of US citizens living in poverty — driven budget deficits and national debts to be overcome by A DAW system could produce and secure the vast “middle more reasonably defined — is much larger today than the big tax increases on corporations and the rich. Instead public class” that this country pretended but never yet really had. 46.2 million reported by the Census Bureau. It is thus much discussion and politicians’ actions are kept focused chiefly on Workers disposing of their enterprises’ profits would no longer higher than the 15.1 per cent of our people the Bureau sees as cutting social programs for the majority. distribute a portion to politicians and parties to protect a rich poor. Conservatively estimated, about one in four Americans Corporate goals include providing high and rising minority against the envy and resentments of the majority. already lives in real poverty. salaries, stock options, and bonuses to top executives and By establishing a far more egalitarian income distribution, Another one in four is or should be worried about joining rising dividends and share prices to shareholders. The less a DAW system could also transform a political system now them soon. Long-lasting and high unemployment now drains paid to the workers who actually produce what corporations corrupted by the money of corporations and the rich. away income from families and friends of the unemployed sell, the more corporate revenue goes to satisfy directors, top Third, a DAW system would be less likely to raise prices who have used up savings as well as unemployment managers, and major shareholders. or reduce output quality. When workers are both decision- insurance. As city, state, and local governments cut services Corporations also raise profits regularly by increasing makers at work as well as consumers of their enterprises’ and supports, people will have to divert money to offset part prices and or cutting production costs (often by compromising outputs, they would more likely pass and sustain laws to of those cuts. When Medicare and if Social Security benefits output quality). Higher priced and poorer-quality goods are outlaw the price gouging and quality deterioration common are cut, millions will be spending more to help elderly parents. sold mostly to working people. This too pushes them toward in capitalism. Finally, poverty looms for those with jobs as (1) wages are poverty just like lower wages and benefits and government A serious commitment to end poverty and its costly cut or fail to keep up with rising prices, and (2) benefits — service cuts. social effects requires us to face that capitalism has always especially pensions and medical insurance — are reduced. Over the years, government interventions like Social reproduced widespread poverty as the other side of profits Deepening poverty has multiple causes, but the capitalist Security, Medicare, minimum wage laws, regulations, etc. for a relative few. No wonder such a system has provoked economic system is major among them. First, capitalism’s never sufficed to eradicate poverty. They often helped the Occupy Wall Street and so many of its signature slogans and periodic crises always increase poverty, and the current crisis poor, but they never ended poverty. The same applies to demands. is no exception. More precisely, how capitalist corporations charities aiding the poor. Poverty always remained. Now operate, in or out of crisis, regularly reproduces poverty. capitalism’s crisis worsens it again. Something more than Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Am- At the top of every corporation, its major shareholders (15- government interventions or charity is required to end herst where he taught economics from 1973 to 20 or fewer) own controlling blocs of shares. They select poverty. 2008. a board of directors — usually 15-20 individuals — who run Another way ______the corporation. These two tiny groups make all the key One solution: production would have to be organized Source: MRZine News Analysis 10/12/11 http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/ decisions: what, how, and where to produce and what to do differently, in a non-capitalist way. Instead of enterprise with the profits. decisions being made by directors and major shareholders, 8 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 The seven biggest economic lies Robert Reich
The president’s jobs bill doesn’t have a chance in Congress—and the occupiers on Wall Street and elsewhere can’t become a national movement for a more equitable society—unless more Americans know the truth about the economy. Here’s a short effort to rebut the seven biggest whoppers now being told by those who want to take America backwards. The major points: 1. Tax cuts for the rich trickle down to everyone else. Baloney. Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both sliced taxes on the rich and what happened? Most Americans’ wages (measured by the real median wage) began flattening under Reagan and has dropped since George W. Bush. Trickle-down economics is a cruel joke. 2. Higher taxes on the rich would hurt the econo- my and slow job growth. False. From the end of World War II until 1981, the richest Americans faced a top marginal tax rate of 70 percent or above. Under Dwight Eisenhower it was 91 percent. Even after all deductions and credits, the top taxes on the very rich were far higher than they’ve been since. Yet the economy grew faster during those years than it has since. (Don’t believe small businesses would be hurt by a higher marginal tax; fewer than 2 percent of small business owners are in the highest tax bracket.) 3. Shrinking government generates more jobs. Wrong again. It means fewer government workers—everyone from teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and social workers at the state and local levels to safety inspectors and military personnel at the federal. And fewer government contractors, who would employ fewer private-sector workers. According to Moody’s economist Mark Zandi (a campaign advisor to John McCain), the $61 billion in spending cuts proposed by the House GOP will cost the economy 700,000 jobs this year and next. 4. Cutting the budget deficit now is more impor- tant than boosting the economy. Untrue. With so many Americans out of work, budget cuts now will shrink the economy. They’ll increase unemployment and Health care debate shown reduce tax revenues. That will worsen the ratio of the debt to the total economy. The first priority must be getting jobs and growth back by boosting the economy. Only then, when through a GOP lens jobs and growth are returning vigorously, should we turn to cutting the deficit. 5. Medicare and Medicaid are the major drivers of Mark Karlin Washington Post wrote though it was his to win, Without a vision, budget deficits. Wrong. a column entitled, “How because he all too often is without resetting the terms of Medicare and Medicaid spending is rising quickly, to That’s a narrative that Health Costs Wiped Out afraid of speaking in terms the debate, without bringing be sure. But that’s because the nation’s health-care costs are President Obama should a Full Decade of Income that reflect the contextual the truth to bear down upon rising so fast. One of the best ways of slowing these costs is have used when battling Increases.” Klein notes, “All reality of public policy the important public policy to use Medicare and Medicaid’s bargaining power over drug for health care reform. evidence points to American options in plain, homespun issues of the day, Obama is a companies and hospitals to reduce costs, and to move from His absence of doing so is voters not really caring about terms. Instead, he accepts the trapped man trying to punch a fee-for-service system to a fee-for-healthy outcomes system. indicative of his inability — rising health care costs. But debate “frame” of the likes his way out of an alternative And since Medicare has far lower administrative costs than even while giving stirring here’s one pretty compelling of right—wing think tanks universe narrative created by private health insurers, we should make Medicare available speeches, as he did on jobs reason they should: The funded by the heavy—hitting three decades of right—wing to everyone. — to instill a larger vision and escalating cost of health Koch brothers’ crowd. propaganda and bullying. 6. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Don’t believe narrative into his presidency. care has wiped out nearly all The choice was never What about that it. The reality is that the income gains made by the between “Obamacare” average $1,500 in payroll tax Social Security is solvent for the next 26 years. It could current health care system for average American family in and a system that works. It deduction that the president be solvent for the next century if we raised the ceiling on those with insurance — many the past decade....” was between a health care proposed in his new jobs bill? income subject to the Social Security payroll tax. That ceiling of whom opposed the White So, instead of delivery system that is eating Most of us will be spending it is now $106,800. House’s health care reform emphasizing the larger away at the wages of all but on increased health insurance 7. It’s unfair that lower-income Americans don’t package — increasingly narrative of rising personal the wealthiest Americans and premiums, deductibles and pay income tax. Wrong. means that they are paying medical insurance costs that a paradigm shift in providing paying for non—covered There’s nothing unfair about it. Lower-income Americans more and getting less in threatens most Americans, medical care in the US. services. President Obama pay out a larger share of their paychecks in payroll taxes, sales coverage. This is resulting Obama emphasized the Obama avoided the needs to spell out the real taxes, user fees, and tolls than everyone else. from escalating deductibles, uninsured. The Republicans paradigm shift and created narrative of America, not Demagogues through history have known that big lies, co—payments, out—of—pocket turned this to their advantage a system that will enrich to de facto accept the one repeated often enough, start being believed—unless they’re limits and higher premium through code words and fear insurance companies that forced down our gullets by rebutted. These seven economic whoppers are just plain co—pays. Ask any American, — but mostly through the are themselves a key cause Fox News. wrong. Make sure you know the truth—and spread it on. except for the wealthiest, and usual wink and nod that this of rising health care costs, ______this is most likely a growing Source: Buzzflash 9/9/11 http:// Robert Reich is Chancellor’s Professor of Pub- was some scheme to benefit while managing to provide lic Policy at the University of California at www.buzzflash.com financial challenge that they minorities and dead beats. the Republicans a cudgel Berkeley. are experiencing. Obama lost the battle with which to hit him over ______Ezra Klein of The over this narrative, even the head. Source: Robert Reich’s blog 10/12/11 http://robertreich.org/ CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 9
Health care: a casualty of class warfare Roger K.Lang, D.D.S., Inc. John Geyman MD PNHP • The consumer confidence level is now only 45 percent. 3031 W. March Lane, Suite 318E (WSJ 9/28/11). Despite all this pain and suffering, the political (Go north on I—5, exit March Lane, go As the Great Recession rolls on after three years, without process continues to ignore this national catastrophe in the west to “The Fountain” and turn right) signs of relief on the horizon, a growing army of many name of austerity as the debate continues over the budget (209) 956—0601 millions of Americans is finding it impossible to gain access deficit, targeting federal spending for education, health care Fax: (209) 952—8845 to necessary health care that is affordable. Meanwhile, class and other important public programs (but avoiding bigger Email: [email protected] warfare is gaining intensity with a widening gulf between the issues, such as major defense cutbacks, real financial reform, Web: www.drlangdds.com left and right over the major issues of the day, including the campaign finance reform, and tax increases for the wealthy). future of U.S. health care. As political gridlock continues, the The extreme right-wing of the Republican Party, activated battlefield is littered with many preventable deaths, many and hobbled by the Tea Party, continues to hold Congress and lives wounded by the ravages of untreated or under-treated the Obama Administration hostage as it pursues its nihilistic disease, and growing stress in affected families. agenda, focused on winning further power in 2012 despite its Publications The public discourse is reaching new levels of ugliness, lack of a plan to address these kinds of problems. Technical Writing & Editing / Graphic Design / Web Sites as illustrated by an audience at a GOP campaign event cheering the idea that that those without health insurance The present situation in health care boils down to should just be left to die. GOP presidential hopefuls have a human and moral crisis that seems beyond the reach or InfoWright no solutions to offer except the “freedom to choose” (your concern of our current political leaders, conflicted as they are PO Box 162644 own fate!) and the private marketplace (which increasingly by enormous amounts of corporate cash that perpetuates our Sacramento 95816 excludes those who cannot pay its rapidly increasing costs). present, increasingly cruel market-based system. 916.444—5118 In fact, they exacerbate the problem, under the guise of fiscal [email protected] responsibility and austerity, by cutting government safety net John Geyman, M.D. is Professor emeritus of programs while at the same time trying to exploit Medicare Family Medicine, University of Washington School and Medicaid by further privatization. of Medicine and author of Hijacked! The Road to These are some markers that show some of the impacts Single Payer in the Aftermath of Stolen Health of this war: Care Reform (Common Courage Press, 2010) ______Emulating Jesus Christ’s • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010 49.9 Source: California Nurses Association post 10/1/11 National Radical Acceptance of All People million Americans were uninsured (which understates the Nurses Organizing Committee, 2000 Franklin St. Oakland, CA 94612 510-273-2200 http://calnurses.org problem since anyone with insurance for even a small part Come Celebrate with the of the year was considered insured), the median household Episcopal Church of St. Anne income was $49,445 (a drop of 2.3 percent from 2009), and 1020 W. Lincoln Road 46.2 million people (including 22 percent of the nation’s Sunday Mass, 8 & 10am Stockton, CA 95207 children) were in poverty (the highest number in the 52 (childcare provided at 10am) 209-473-2313 years for which estimates have been tracked). (U.S. Census Michael Moore Tuesday 6:30am Mass Bureau. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in Wednesday 7:00pm Youth Group the United States, 2010) Thursday 6pm Healing Mass • In his recent editorial in The Progressive, Matthew Rothschild notes that, over the last 40years, the income of Movie “Sicko” the top 0.1 percent of the population (152,000 people making more than $5.6 million a year) skyrocketed by 385 percent while the income of the bottom 90 percent (about 137 million Screened people) dropped by 1 percent.(Washington Post) In the last ten years, the median income of working-age households has Cathy Mathis dropped by more than 10 percent (Economic Policy Institute). • According to a Gallup poll, 18.2 percent of Americans More than twenty viewers gathered to watch a private state they did not have money to buy food at all times in 2010. screening of Sicko at the Peace and Justice Center on Saturday, (Gallup, Washington, D.C.) October 8, followed by a discussion about implementing a • The median household wealth of white families has single-payer health care system in the United States. fallen by 16 percent since 2005; Hispanic families dropped Many were moved to tears by the stories of hard-working by 66 percent. (Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Americans whose lives were cut short and ruined financially Trends project. Washington, D.C.) by a for-profit health insurance system. Equally moving were * Three-quarters of the increase in U.S. corporate profit the profiles of citizens who enjoy free health care in Canada, margins over the last ten years have come from depressed the United Kingdom and France. The profile of the French wages. (J. P. Morgan, New York City) system included a ride along with the 1-hour house call 2222 • U.S. corporations pay only 10.5 percent of their profits doctor, a visit to a French child care center and a chat with in taxes today (vs. 40 percent in 1961) with some paying no the worker sent to do laundry for a new mother, provided by taxes. (Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, D.C.) the government. • Based on a definition of the middle class of those between A scene in which the movieís writer and director, the 30th and 70th percentiles of the income distribution, one- Michael Moore, meets with a group of US expatriates living third of Americans dropped out of the middle class over the in France drew applause when one woman reflected that the last 30 years. (Economic Mobility Project. Pew Charitable reason she thought the social policies were so generous in Trusts, September, 2011). France is that the government is afraid of its citizens. She cited • The average annual premium for health insurance for a the French proclivity for street demonstrations and strikes as family of four reached $15,073 in 2011, 9 percent higher than examples of how the French citizenry keeps its government 2010 (an unaffordable level, about 30 percent of the median aware of its concerns. family income, or twice the proportion of income that seniors After the movie, Rose Roach spoke of a current campaign The Holisticzone paid for health care when Medicare was enacted in 1965). to adopt a single-payer system in California, as Vermont is in • In the most recent study of mortality amenable to health the process of doing. Single Payer San Joaquin will participate Rev. Gay Lynn Saunders, D.C. care in 16 high-income nations, the U.S. led the field with in a caravan of cars to Sacramento on October 23 to hear the most preventable deaths, and with the least improvement James Haslam from the Vermont Workers Center and Donna by appointment only (209) 607—2669 over a ten-year period; the authors concluded this poor Smith, who was featured in Sicko, speak about this issue. showing is likely due to “the lack of universal coverage and Pain control, Self—discovery & Emotional Balancing incor- the high costs of care.”
Continued From Previous Page passed a law to cap campaign expenditures for state offices. capital gains taxed at half the rate as income from work. The Court struck it down. (I think it altogether fitting that economists use the term the Supreme Court steadily expanded the number of Congress tried to close a loophole in the campaign “unearned income” to describe this kind of income.) Constitutional rights accorded to this new type of person. finance law that allowed billionaire candidates to spend In 2007 the 400 Americans with the highest income- The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom an unlimited amount of their own money on their own nearly $345 million-were taxed at less than 17 percent, less (WILPF) offers a partial list: in 1893 the Court accorded campaigns. The Court struck down the law. Speaking for a than half the ordinary income tax rate of 35 percent because corporations the right of due process under the 5th 5-4 majority, Justice Samuel Alito told Congress that trying most of their income was derived from investments. If we Amendment. In 1906 it extended to them the protection to “level electoral opportunities for candidates of different were to require that all their income be taxed at the 1999 tax against search and seizure in the 4th Amendment. In 1908 it personal wealth” is not “a legitimate government objective.” rate of 39.6% this alone would generate an additional $300 extended to corporations the 6th Amendment right to a trial The Supreme Court rulings declaring money is speech billion in revenue over the next 10 years. by jury. and corporations are persons make for a lethal cocktail. 5. Declare a moratorium on foreclosures By the 1940s Justice Felix Frankfurter could accurately Jamie Raskin, a Maryland state senator and law professor at Foreclosures hurt individuals, neighborhoods and declare, “Artificial or not, corporations have won more rights American university points out that Fortune l00 corporations the economy. Dumping millions of homes on the market under law than people have — rights which government has had profits in 2008 totaling about $600 billion. If they spent depresses the overall value of all real estate, increases protected with armed force.” In early 2010 the Supreme Court only l percent of their profits on elections, a trivial sum to unemployment and disrupts lives and neighborhoods. gave corporations the right, as persons, to spend unlimited protect and foster their interests, the total comes to $6 billion. The most effective way to stop the tidal wave of amounts of money to influence elections. That is more money than was spent for and on behalf of all foreclosures is through permanent, sustainable loan Does it need to be said that unlike a real person, a congressional and presidential candidates in 2008. modifications that reduce homeowners’ mortgage principal corporation lacks a conscience? It is guided neither by ethics We need a Constitutional Amendment consisting of four and interest rates to market value. In a 2010 report, National nor morality but rather by laws that required its Boards to words: “Money is not speech.” Peoples Action proposed one strategy. “Across the country, elevate the maximization of profits above all other concerns. 3. Tax Financial Transactions some 11 million homeowners are $766 billion under water Does it need to be said that if a person makes a decision that In 1936, John Maynard Keynes first proposed a with their mortgages. Paid off over 30 years this means $73 kills or maims people he will go to jail? If a CEO makes such financial transactions tax. “The introduction of a substantial billion a year needed to reset all underwater homeowners’ a decision he, at worst, receives a golden parachute. Government transfer tax on all transactions might prove the principals and interest rates would be about half of the $143 A wonderful sign at the Occupy Wall Street protest reads, most serviceable reform available, with a view to mitigating billion the top six banks alone are getting ready to pay in “I won’t believe corporations are people until Texas executes the predominance of speculation over enterprise in the 2010 in bonuses and compensation. Even if the top six banks one.” We need a constitutional amendment consisting of four United States.” were to absorb the full cost of modifying all underwater words: “Corporations are not persons.” Economist Dean Baker suggests that a modest tax (0.25 mortgages in the country, they would still have $70 billion 2. Money is not speech percent) could easily raise more than $100 billion a year. “A left for bonuses and compensation.” In 1976 the Supreme Court ruled that money is speech small increase in trading costs would be a very manageable The Wall Street occupiers have taken a stand against and therefore protected by the First Amendment. Today burden for those who are using financial markets to support monied democracy and corporate power. We would do well members of Congress now spend 25-40 percent of their productive economic activity. However, it would impose to join them. Make your voices heard. And demand new rules time begging for money. Political scientist Thomas Ferguson serious costs on those who see the financial markets as a casino that will honor the 99% and restore democracy to the nation. observes, “Public opinion has only a weak and inconstant in which they place their bets by the day, hour or minute.” David Morris is Vice President and director of 4. Tax all income as ordinary income influence on policy. The political system is largely investor- the New Rules Project
Congressman Jerry McNerney just voted for the Pentagon budget. Grotesque, immoral and profoundly $649,000,000,000. anti-democratic: repeal the death Tell him what you think of that. 209-476-8552 penalty Kade Crockford the assassination “right and lawful,” the Globe writes that AD PAID BY JOHN MOREARTY assassination of American citizens away from the battlefield “The death penalty is grotesque and immoral and should “is an act that must—and will—remain exceptionally rare.” be repealed.” So says a New York Times editorial opposing But how does The Boston Globe know that this act will capital punishment in the wake of Troy Davis’ execution in remain exceptionally rare? How can the paper, or anyone, Henry Paine Camera Repair Georgia late last month. Those are strong words from the Grey justify this most extreme form of government lawlessness Lady, and I couldn’t agree more. Many have demonstrated and executive power overreach? The Globe itself denounced An owner-operated shop. You are welcome convincingly that Troy Davis’ trial and prosecution were far lesser crimes—warrantless wiretapping, torture, indefinite to come in and ask questions about our work riddled with racism, error and possibly even prosecutorial detention sans due process. misconduct. The American justice system failed Mr. Davis A Democratic president has opened a Pandora’s box that 147 E. Alpine, Stockton, 95204 with tragic, irreparable results—and the Supreme Court no future executive will likely close. It is a sign of the declining (209) 942–2821 — open M–F, 1:00–6:00 wouldn’t step in to remedy the injustice, in part because value of democratic ideals in our society that a historically he had been granted full due process under the law. In the liberal newspaper like the Globe would defend the ultimate Efficient and reliable repair of your camera. eyes of at least two justices, that’s all he or anyone else is assertion of executive power, simply because they trust the guaranteed—not necessarily justice, just due process. executive presently holding it. FREE ESTIMATE The US government recently executed another Much more than warrantless spying or torture, murder American, however, without any due process whatsoever. without due process is the government act that fundamentally Photographs for viewing at the Both the Bush and Obama administrations accused him of separates free societies from authoritarian regimes. Like Henry Paine Gallery, 147 E. Alpine Ave. terrorism, but no evidence to support those claims has ever capital punishment, it has no place in a free society. Mon–Fri., 1–6pm. Stockton been produced for the public. He was not tried; in fact, he was Thankfully, the editorial board at The Los Angeles Times denied a trial. He was not offered an opportunity to present knows that the “war on terror is not a free-for-all in which the a defense. A defense would be hard to muster, indeed, for, United States may behave as it wishes without accountability unlike Davis, he wasn’t ever formally charged with a crime. or adherence to principle.” We can only hope that the other So far, more than five days later, the Times has not major bearers of public information and shapers of public written an editorial condemning the killing of this other opinion like the Times, the Post and the Globe come around American, Anwar al-Awlaki. The last time the Times editorial to this realization before it is too late. board addressed the issue was a full year ago, in October 2010, when it wrote: “Assassination should in every case be Kade Crockford is the ACLU Massachusetts pri- a last resort.” Not exactly the stirring rhetoric invoked to vacy rights coordinator ______oppose the Davis execution and capital punishment. Source: Truthout and ACLU Massachusetts Op-Ed 10/12/11 http://truth-out.org The Times’ silence, however, may be better than what The Boston Globe’s editors offered readers in the wake of the extrajudicial killing. The Globe parroted the evidence- less “proof” offered by the Obama administration, and, in true stenographic form, the paper asserts as fact a number of accusations Bush and then Obama made about al-Awlaki’s role in planning attacks on Americans. Has the Globe seen some evidence it is hiding from the public? After declaring Pacific Complementary Medicine Center serving Stockton since 1984 Yi—Po Anthony Wu, M.D., M.P.H. Teresa M. Chen, Ph.D. Medical Director, Internal Medicine Program Coordinator
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Indeed, Baucus’ Senate office seems to you lose When the 435 House members and 100 senators have been a training ground for influence-peddlers — 26 of his Dave Johnson failed in July to agree on a long-term deficit reduction plan, former aides are now lobbying him and the other 11 deficit congressional leaders did what they often do when they don’t whackers to protect the subsidies that oil, insurance and other Why are “capital gains” taxes so much lower than taxes know what to do: They appointed a committee. But don’t corporations receive from us taxpayers. on other income? The reason capital gains taxes are lower is sneer, for this is — cue the trumpets — a supercommittee! As one congressional watchdog dryly notes, “It’s not because most of the income of the rich is from capital gains. Made up of only a dozen lawmakers and perfectly like (the 12 members) are in an idealized, platonic debating And the reason most of the income of the rich is from capital balanced between Repubs and Dems, this panel is to find society.” gains is because capital gains taxes are lower. about $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and new revenues to Indeed not. Once again, the game is rigged for those shrink the federal deficit. They are to come to an agreement with the money and connections to play inside. Of course, Our system by Thanksgiving — how’s that for a symbolic deadline? The the hired guns deny any insider advantage. The former chief “Capital gains” are the gains, or profits, made from the theory is that the group will be small enough to work together of staff to supercommittee member Dave Camp, R-Mich., for investment of capital — the big pools of money that a few of across partisan lines for the good of the country, independent example, is hustling Big Pharma’s agenda, but he says flatly, us have the great responsibility and burden of being stuck of the competing budgetary needs of various groups and the “I make my case just like anyone else.” with. The theory is that the few among us who have bundles demands of special interests. Oh, sure — anyone else who has a top staffer-turned- of money (capital) use that money to start businesses or buy The problem with theories, however, is that reality has a lobbyist working the system for them, which leaves out stocks or property (or race horses) and thereby “create jobs.” way of intruding on their perfection. In this case, the intrusion roughly 99 percent of us! And they wonder why Congress If the value of the business or property (or race horses) is literal. The 12 solons will not be sitting at the table alone, and corporate lobbyists rank below E. coli bacteria in public goes up those wealthy few make even more money (gains). for such names as AT&T, BlueCross/BlueShield, Citigroup approval ratings. This ability to obtain these huge gains is a benefit offered to and GE have been escorted inside by the members. They’ll those who have lots of money in the first place. Thus the term not go in physically — but monetarily. For they are among National radio commentator, writer, public “capital gains.” These gains are differentiated from the gains the top donors of campaign cash to the 12 budgeteers, giving speaker, and author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The the rest of us make from ... working ... because the rest of us them an advantage over us plain citizens. Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades do not have the intelligence and wisdom of having those huge For example, Wall Streeters have invested $17 million battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the pools of money to invest. in the campaigns of the supercommittee’s six Republicans Powers That Ought To Be—consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and $15 million in the six Democrats. That pile of political and just-plain-folks. Incentives money will be a screaming presence in the negotiating room, ______In our system the income gained from these investments Source: Truthout Op-Ed 10/12/11 www.truthout.org for members will be thinking about their need to get more by these wealthy few is therefore taxed at a special very, very of it for the next election and will not want to offend donors. low rate, because they have the wisdom and intelligence to By the way, one of the first decisions reached by the have large sums of money available to invest, and the rest committee members was that they would allow themselves of us do not. This low rate is considered an “incentive” to to continue collecting campaign donations while they decide those who have these large accumulations of money, to try to whose programs and subsidies get cut — and whose don’t. persuade them to make these huge profits. They require these How do you think that’ll work out? Turkeys are not the only “incentives” to make huge profits, because otherwise they endangered species this Thanksgiving! might not be interested in making the huge profits that can This is one congressional committee that’s likely to affect result from owning most of the property and stock and race your life, for it’s going to decide such things as whether to horses (and yachts and private jets and multiple homes and whack your Social Security benefits or cut back on Big Oil’s million-dollar cars.) $4-billion-a-year taxpayer subsidy. You might have an opinion So that is why they must be given the incentive of about which choice the supercommittee members should these very special low tax rates—to persuade them to make make, but can you reach any of the members personally get a investments that reap huge profits that they otherwise would chance to bend their ear? No? Too bad, because Big Oil can. not want to make. And it is. So are insurance giants, Wall Street bankers, military Government interference contractors and other corporate powers — not only because Of course, the wealthy usually complain when of their big-dollar campaign donations, but also because they government gets involved in creating “incentives” and have some very special lobbyists who’re on a first-name basis “picking winners and losers” in ways that help We, the People, with the members. You see, these lobbyists used to work for saying government interference distorts decision-making. the 12 lawmakers on the supercommittee. In all, 109 former But when the “incentive” is special low tax rates to persuade congressional staffers have now been hired by various the wealthy to invest and make huge profits, that’s different. corporate interests to lobby their old bosses. Because it is, that’s why. Shut up. Hey, look over there! General Electric, for example, has eight lobbyists on board who previously were on the staffs of super committee Continued ON Page 17 Public comment Contact the joint deficit reduction committee
as the “super committee”) has Co-Chairs Jeb Hensarling Budget Control Act (P.L. 112- reduction before Jan. 15, although Medicare would not begun hearings focused on (R-TX) and Patty Murray (D- 25). Under the law, House 2012 an automatic “trigger” be totally exempt. its mandated task to reduce WA), as well as Sens. Max and Senate committees must will enforce across-the-board the federal deficit by at least Baucus (D-MT), John Kerry submit recommendations spending cuts, 50 percent Updates on the committee’s $1.5 trillion over the next ten (D-MA), John Kyl (R-AZ) to the committee by Oct. from defense spending and activities can be viewed by years. The committee has Rob Portman (R-OH), Pat 14. The committee itself is 50 percent from non-defense visiting their main website: installed its own contact link Toomey (R-PA) and Reps. directed to vote on a plan discretionary spending http://deficitreduction. to allow citizens across the Xavier Becerra (D-CA), by Nov. 23. The House and and mandatory spending senate.gov/public/ country to send comments on Dave Camp (R-MI), James Senate must vote on a plan programs that would go into index.cfm/ what can be done to address Clyburn (D-SC), Fred Upton by Dec. 23. effect in fiscal year 2013. ______the nation’s debt. (R-MI) and Chris Van Hollen If the respective bodies Social Security, Medicaid Source: ESA Policy News The Joint Select 10/7/11, www.esa.org Committee on Deficit The committee (D-MD). The joint committee cannot agree on a minimum and veterans’ benefits would Reduction (commonly known membership is made up of was established under the of $1.2 trillion in deficit be exempt from such cuts, 16 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 The T is not silent Letters from home
Elena Kelly as any other individuals, but are often denied care because four centers in northern California that provide transgender they have body parts that are not congruent with their gender services on a sliding scale. The nearest one that provides On March 23, 2010 the Affordable Health Care Act identity. these services is in Sacramento. became law. Since its inception it has been shrouded in I am beginning the process of identifying community controversy. The National Center for Transgender Equality • Transgender people need mental health counseling clinics in Stockton and the surrounding areas that would be has been following the progress of the legislation, and working simply because the social stigma associated with gender open to providing these services affordably. The cost to the behind the scenes on behalf of transgender people. creates a difficult situation for those with transgender feelings. clinics is very low compared to the kinds of care they give When President Obama signed the bill into law, the others routinely. But I am hoping my efforts will be thwarted NCTE released a statement praising the Act, pointing out that • Some transgender people choose to take hormone because it just might be President Obama’s gift to transgender there was nothing in it that mentioned transgender people at therapy so that their bodies more closely match their gender Americans when he omitted the Transgender Exclusion all. Most wouldnt think that was a good thing. But for decades, identities. This process needs to be monitored by a physician Clause from the Affordable Care Act. transgender folk have dealt with insurance company policies or an endocrinologist. that had “transgender exclusions.” Simply put, insurance Rev. Sr. Elena Kelly, OSH is a minister to the peo- ple of Stockton and the Central Valley, and is companies have excluded transgender care from coverage. • Some transgender people opt for surgery so that their the Director of the Stockton Transgender Al- This article will shed some much needed light on what it bodies more fully match their identities, while others do not liance. She can be reached at elena.kelly@com- means to be excluded from health insurance as it relates to desire, or cannot afford surgery. cast.net. transgender people. In 2008, the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco As the Director of the Stockton Transgender Alliance I surveyed transgender Californians, including me, asking get calls, texts and emails almost every day from transgender questions about employment, housing and health care people living in the Stockton/San Joaquin area. The vast status. The resulting report revealed that 30% of respondents majority of the questions I am asked have to do with where postponed health care due to disrespect or discrimination they can get transgender health care. I have to tell them that from health care clinicians. 42% postponed because they unless they have Kaiser insurance there really is no place could not afford the medical care they needed. 26% reported in Stockton they can safely go. If they have Kaiser, there that their condition worsened as a result. are a number of well trained medical and psychological So what do transgender people need in the way of health professionals available here in our clinic on West Lane. But care? As with any other definable group, transgender people even then there can be issues. have particular health disparities as compared to the overall I have Kaiser through my workplace. When I started to population. Here are a few that can impact the kinds of health transition three years ago, I called my Primary Care doctor care we need: here in Stockton. Her response was curt, and she said, “No, we don’t do any transgender stuff here!” Luckily my daughter- • Transgender people are more likely to be the victims in-law was a Kaiser Member Services employee and through of violence than others. Murders of transgender people have that department I found a wonderful new Primary Care been reported in 20 states and 89 cities in the United States. doctor, an endocrinologist, two fabulous psychologists, and an OB/GYN doctor that is second to none. They have taken • Transgender people are at much higher risk of suicide first class care of me even though the Kaiser plan at my work than others. In a recent study, 64% stated they have attempted HAS transgender exclusions! suicide at least once. So what happens to transgender Stocktonians who aren’t fortunate enough to have Kaiser? Some get hormones • Transgender people have more than double the rate of through the black market. Most do not know the correct unemployment and are therefore much less likely to be able dosage because they have never had the necessary blood to afford health care, despite being four times more likely to tests to determine what is right for their metabolism. Some have a college degree than the general population. go to the Bay Area or Sacramento to get care. Some are able to get limited care under Medi-Cal if they are eligible for it. • Transgender people need much the same health care Thanks to a new program at Planned Parenthood, there are House amendment to reverse Citizens United ruling moves along
Britney Schultz which called for a reversal corporations surged more “free speech rights.” Rep. bill legitimizes corporations’ of the Citizens United than four-fold to reach nearly Edwards said that Congress status as “persons” within In the wake of the case by limiting corporate $300 million in the 2010 has other routes of “policing” the Constitution, it would landmark Supreme Court contributions in elections. election cycle.” corporate marketing. actually make it harder for case Citizens United The bill is cosponsored by 18 According to a poll While HJ Res. 78 is groups against corporate v. Federal Election US representatives. conducted last year by Hart praised by some activist personhood to get their Commission, which upheld Representative Edwards Research, an overwhelming groups, such as Free Speech agenda through. that corporations were expressed initial hesitation to majority of American voters for People, others regard Rep. Edwards told YES! “persons” and that their deep- amending the Constitution, agree that corporate spending the bill as it is written with Magazine she has faith in pocket political expenditures but said that the Supreme has more to do with buying skepticism, pointing out that passing the amendment: were a constitutionally Court left her with no other influence in Washington than it is not a comprehensive “We’ve amended the protected expression of their choice after its ruling in with exercising free speech; solution for groups actively constitution 27 times, and free speech rights, much Citizens United. 95 percent of those polled working against the this 28th amendment is no resistance to the decision “Justice John Paul agreed that, “Corporations larger issue of corporate different. Some constitutional has sprung up, from the Stevens warned that the spend money on politics to personhood. amendments have gone grassroots to the halls of Supreme Court’s ruling in buy influence/elect people According to Move to rapid-fire through the power in Washington. Citizens United threatened favorable to their financial Amend organizer David Congress, and I think that Last month, Rep. Donna ‘to undermine the integrity interests.” Cobb, “It is a mistake to we have the potential for that Edwards (D-Maryland) and of elected institutions around The proposed oppose Citizens United only kind of momentum here.” Judiciary Committee ranking the nation,’ and how right amendment targets on the basis of campaign Britney Schultz is a Truthout electronic member John Conyers he was,” said Edwards. corporations’ First finance reform.” Kaitlin publishing intern. (D-Michigan) reintroduced “Since that flawed ruling was Amendment “political speech Sopoci-Belknap, also from ______an amendment to the US issued, campaign spending rights,” but does not include Move to Amend, told Source: Truthout Report Constitution, HJ Res. 78, by outside groups including corporations’ commercial Truthout that, because the 10/12/11 www.truthout.org CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 17 Navigating Ten years of capital gains In Irish, “muirchearaigh” means ”navigator”—one who searches out the way
Continued from page 15 FDR speaks to us Job creation This reaping of huge profits from “efficiencies” like downsizing, laying people off and making the remaining workers do 2 jobs each in the same amount of time, outsourcing, buying companies and firing everyone and then selling off the pieces, offshoring, force reductions, firing people and then bringing them back as “contractors” at half the pay, relocating factories out of the country where people don’t have the protections of democracy, replacing workers with machines, etc. is called “creating jobs.”
Effect Of cutting capital gains taxes In 2001 these special low tax rates for the very rich “job creators” were made even lower. This was done in order to provide even more incentive for them to make even more profits from their large accumulations of property, houses, cars, yachts, private jets and race horses, so that these “producers”—the “job creators”—would produce even more and create even more jobs. The result of these 2001 tax cuts was spectacular: eight years of the lowest economic growth and lowest job-creation rate since WWII, followed by the collapse of the entire financial system and mass layoffs of millions of us. So the 2000s brought upon us an even greater need to provide incentives for the producers to create jobs! In fact, each time these incentives are increased and jobs do not result there is even greater pressure to provide even more incentives to the “job creators.” A great system, this, if you’re already rich, no? The worse things get, the more you get, because you had the wisdom and intelligence to be sitting on a huge pile of cash. Brilliant! So with all this in mind, today the Washington Post looks at these super-low tax rates for those who have large accumulations of money, in Capital gains tax rates benefiting wealthy feed growing gap between rich and poor, for the very richest Americans, low tax rates on capital gains are better than any Christmas gift. As a result of a pair of rate John Morearty reached people with “fireside the lands and waters. (The a principal author of the cuts, first under President Bill Clinton and then under Bush, chats,” and one sculpture CCC is the model for the Universal Declaration of most of the richest Americans pay lower overall tax rates than Many years ago in shows a solitary workman, contemporary California Human Rights. Her words, middle-class Americans do. And this is one reason the gap Washington D.C., through huddled over his radio. Conservation Corps, now too, are chiseled in stone: between the wealthy and the rest of the country is widening green trees across water, Two old guys touring the meagerly funded.) More “Unless the peace that follows dramatically. I glimpsed the Jefferson monument told me, “Oh yes, words in stone: recognizes that the whole [. . .] Over the past 20 years, more than 80 percent Memorial: a circle of white we heard his fireside chats “I propose to create a world is one neighborhood of the capital gains income realized in the United States has columns, shining. It’s when we were kids!” civilian conservation corps to and does justice to the whole gone to 5 percent of the people; about half of all the capital shimmered in my mind ever “What was his voice be used in simple work. More human race, the germs gains have gone to the wealthiest 0.1 percent. since. Finally this summer, like?” important, however, than the of another world war will Repeat, “about half of all the capital gains have gone to my wife and I stood at the “He was like a Yale material gains will be the remain as a constant threat to the wealthiest 0.1 percent.” bronze feet of the great professor, talking right to us.” moral and spiritual value of mankind.” The Washington Post story explains the strongest reason Virginia aristocrat and Another sculpture is a such work. Men and nature The first bronze why it is so important for legislators to pass these lower tax Democrat. High on marble weary old couple, sitting by must work hand in hand. sculpture one meets, entering rates to “incentivize” the wealthiest to invest and make huge we read, “All men ... certain their shack. Cut in the stone: The throwing out of balance the memorial, sits on a dark profits: inalienable rights ... life, “The test of our progress is of the resources of nature stone plaza. We look down on Some lawmakers who have backed low tax rates on liberty and the pursuit of not whether we add to the throws out of balance also the an image he never allowed to capital gains have later been hired by the financial industry. happiness....” I exulted to abundance of those who lives of men.” be shown: So you see, it is very clear why it is very, very important my friend, journalist Dave have much, it is whether we FDR required American The man sits alone, in his for members of Congress to make sure that there is a special Kaplan, about what we’d provide enough for those industry to convert its wheelchair. He was a survivor very, very low rate of taxation for the wealthiest few. And the seen. who have too little.” resources from consumerism of polio. Like Jefferson, result? The 400 richest taxpayers in 2008 counted 60 percent “Yes, John. But have you Five men stand, staring, to defeating the fascist Franklin Roosevelt was a rich of their income in the form of capital gains and 8 percent seen the FDR Memorial? in a breadline. (Children armies of Germany, Italy Democrat. “I never forget from salary and wages. The rest of the country reported 5 Go!” could not resist joining the and Japan, but he was no that I live in a house owned percent in capital gains and 72 percent in salary. We went, and found line.) In the stone: “No warmonger: “I have seen by all the American people, Yes, that is the very same 400 wealthiest who have more another rich president with country, however rich, can war on land and sea. I have and that I have been given wealth than 60% of all Americans combined. So here is how a conscience. Along the afford the waste of its human seen blood running from the their trust.” The “economic it is: the rich are rich because they are smarter than the rest of waterside, a park among resources. Demoralization wounded. I have seen the royalists” called him a traitor us. And what is the proof that they’re smarter than the rest of trees. Fountains, bronze caused by vast unemployment dead in the mud. I have seen to his class. us? That’s easy: Because they’re rich! sculptures weathered green, is our greatest extravagance. cities destroyed. I have seen The two old guys who freestanding walls. Dark Morally, it is the greatest children starving. I have seen remembered his voice told Dave Johnson is a Fellow at Campaign for Amer- ica’s Future, writing about American manufac- granite blocks, chiseled menace to our social order.” the agony of mothers and me, “We really need him in turing, trade and economic/industrial policy. deep with words of Franklin Roosevelt persuaded wives. I hate war.” this country, now.” He is also a Senior Fellow with Renew Califor- Delano Roosevelt, president Congress to create the Eleanor Roosevelt, I think the occupiers of nia. of the United States, 1933- Civilian Conservation Corps FDR’s magnificent life Freedom Plaza, Wall Street ______1945. (CCC), which put millions to partner, was a founder of and our Main Streets feel Source: Campaign for America’s Future 9/13/11 http://www.ourfuture.org/ These words were work restoring and protecting the United Nations, and that, in their bones. spoken, not just written; FDR 18 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011
October 22 Come celebrate the Trolley Dance- New Dance Company Downtown City Centre Janet Leigh Plaza, starts only draw the attention of ticket holders, but also countless “accidental” viewers, to original modern dance creations. We Children’s Museum @10:00 am tours on the hour through 2:00pm Where: Children’s Museum of Stockton plan to start the first performance at 10:00 AM downtown at $15.00 general, $10.00 seniors the Janet Leigh Plaza in front of Centre City Cinema, with 402 W. Weber Ave., Stockton, CA 95203 Info: 983-8548. subsequent stops and performances that include Miracle When: October 24, 2011 11:30am – 1:30pm Mile, University of the Pacific and Delta College. Each “tour” will begin hourly from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (the last tour). Luncheon: $20.00 This year New Dance Company is the proud recipient We are partnering with San Joaquin Regional Transit District of dual grants to present “Trolley Dance” on October 22. We (RTD) to provide the transportation to each site along the The Children’s Museum of Stockton’s Board of Directors are using our Stockton Arts Commission grant to partner with tour, with a complete tour lasting just under three hours. Tour is inviting community members to a luncheon celebrating a San Diego Dance Theater, themselves recipients of a large prices are reasonable: $15 for adults and $10 for students and successful year first year as a non-profit solely run by its board grant from The James Irwin Foundation. The intent of the seniors. members. Irwin grant is to take San Diego’s signature event to two other Professional choreographer Jean Isaacs and her company New exhibits will be unveiled during the “Discover a cities in California, and we are so pleased that Stockton was have had a successful record of thirteen years producing this New Adventure, Part 2” luncheon. The Pet Clinic where selected! event in San Diego, and with their guidance we will also offer children can explore a Veterinary clinic, the extravagantly This season NDC plans to incorporate the Trolley Dance this remarkable event here in Stockton. In addition, Jean and creative Art studio and the Galaxy room which houses former model, created by Jean Isaacs of San Diego Dance Theater, to her dancers will provide in-school lecture demonstrations and astronaut Jose Hernandez’s flight suit will all be open to the expose underprivileged areas of a community to the art of site- master classes for local dancers throughout the week they are public for the first time. specific modern dance. Trolley Dance is a unique performance in Stockton producing Trolley Dance. “It’s been an exciting time for us as we keep the doors series wherein tickets are sold to avid arts consumers who New Dance Company, its Co-Directors, Ana Frenes and open for the children of this community. They are our future ride a “trolley” through town to five designated locations Lisa Rie, as well as Jean Isaacs and her company, are very and deserve our support,” said board president, Diane Batres. for professionally choreographed and performed works. excited to present this inaugural Trolley Dance event. Should Last year the City of Stockton planned to close the Some of the locations for these site-specific performances you have any questions regarding Trolley Dance, please museum due to city budget cuts but passionate board are intentionally chosen in unusual and/or underutilized contact Ana Frenes at (209) 938-8548, or Lisa Rie at (209) members stepped up to keep the “little city” open. parts of town, and range from parking lots to bus stations, 464-0855. Additional information and ticket purchases can be “We just could not allow this place to close. It’s been a or perhaps to the site of an abandoned dilapidated building. accessed at www.newdancecompany.org. lot of work but it has been so worthwhile,” said Pat Buscher, Choreographers use the unique history and architecture board vice president. of the site to create their works, and performances will not Under the guidance of the Board, the Children’s Museum hours of operations have been extended and the number of visitors to the Museum has increased. “The luncheon gives us a chance to show the community this awesome facility and all the fun and educational activities we have for kids,” said Mary Elizabeth Eberhardt-Sandstrom, long time board member. “And we’ll have a wonderful assortment of holiday auction items that can be purchased, with all proceeds going into the construction of future exhibits!” The Children’s Museum of Stockton is a non-profit organization providing a safe, fun and educational place for children to learn and grow. At the Children’s Museum of Stockton, every touch is a “know-know!”
Nov 4—6 Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival Hutchins St. Square, 125 S. Hutchins St. Sandhill Cranes from as far away as Siberia and Alaska have been returning to California’s Delta in the Central Valley to over winter. Hatched out earlier this summer, the young Sandhill Cranes chicks, or colts, have made their maiden voyage alongside their parents, returning to the Delta wetlands that their ancestors have known for over two million years. Inspired by the birds’ return, the family-friendly Sandhill Crane Festival, celebrating its 15th year, will take place in Lodi at Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins St, Friday through Sunday, November, 4-6, 2011. Free activities include the Friday evening reception, wine tasting and Art Show. Admission to the Festival is free. Richard Beilfuss will be the Featured Speaker on Saturday, November 5, at 12:30 PM. Admission to his presentation, “The Global Status and Conservation of Cranes and the Landscapes on Which They Depend”, is free. Hank Lentfer will be the Featured Speaker on Sunday, November 6, at 12:30 PM. Admission to his presentation “Faith of Cranes: Finding Hope and Family in Alaska” is also free. Other Saturday and Sunday events include programs such as Wild Things, who return with their very special live animals; a bat presentation; an Owl Pellet Exploration workshop; a Decoy Carving Seminar for Beginners; a Crane Dance Workshop for ages 5 to adult, among many others. The Exhibit Hall, which features 30 vendors, a food court, and the hands-on Crane-ium for kids, is also free. Visit www.cranefestival.com for more information regarding complete festival program, directions, and general information. CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011 19
Hall, 3601 Pacific Ave, Stock- 663-3717 ton. $10—$25. Free w/valid student ID card. 946-0540. Last Fridays NOvember CALENDAR San Joaquin Bicycle Coalition sion to the Festival is free. Wed-Sun Critical Mass. 7 PM, School for Editor’s note: if your event isn’t listed, let us know. Send all copy to: Visit www.cranefestival.com Nov 18—Dec 11 Adults, 1525 Pacific Avenue, [email protected] by the 7th of every month. for more info regarding festival Hairspray. Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat Stockton. sjbike.weebly.com progrAM, directions, and gen- 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. Thur Oct 6—Nov 3 professionally choreographed 954-5110. eral information. Dec 1 & 8. 7:30 PM. Stockton Mondays 2D-3D Figurative Works—all and performed works. (see p Civic Theatre, 2312 Rosemarie Jazz at the Blackwater 8:30—11 media. A national exhibition 18) Starts 10AM at Janet Leith Stockton Critical Masquerade! Nov 4—12 Lane, Stockton $15—$25. 473- PM. Mike Rocha, Rick Russell, of 30 artists & 41 works. Tu Plaza, Stockton. $15 adult, $10 Wear your costume! 7 PM, Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the 2424. www.sctlivetheatre.com Giulio Cetto, Michael Klooster 11AM—4PM, W-Th 11AM- student. 938-8548. in the parking lot of Stockton Park, presented by the Ben and more. Acacia & Yosemite, 6:30PM, F 11AM—1PM. SJ School for Adult, 1525 Pacific Holt College Prep Academy, First Mondays Stockton. Delta College, LH Horton Jr Sun, Oct 23 Avenue, Stockton. sjbike.wee- 3201 E Morada Ln. Fri/Sat 7:30 CAMpaign for Common Gallery, 5151 Pacific Ave, Stock- Seaport Woodwind Quintet bly.com PM. $7 student, $10 general. Ground meeting, 7 PM, Towers Wednesdays ton. Free. 954-5507. with dancer Valerie Gnassou- 955-1477. Building, 509 W Weber Ave, San Joaquin Bicycle Coalition nou-Bynoe. Quintet members Oct 28-31 Stockton. ccgmemb@gmail. Night Ride, 7 PM, leaving from Oct 14—23 include Barbara Maters (flute), Haunted House, sponsored by Tue, Nov 8 com parking lot behind Empresso Antigone by Sophocles, pre- Becky Secor (oboe), Beth Sand- SJ AIDS Foundation and Haven 89.5 Valley Community Radio Coffeehouse, 1825 Pacific Av- sented by UOP Department of ers (clarinet), Ruth Brittin of Peace. Hacienda Plaza, 4330 meeting, 7—9 PM, Peace & Fourth Mondays enue, Stockton. sjbike.weebly. Theatre Arts, directed by Gary (horn), and Marie Mielbrecht N Pershing Ave, 5:30—8 PM. Justice Center, 231 Bedford Delta Sierra Club meeting, 7 com Armagnac. Fri-Sat 8 PM. Sat- (bassoon). The quintet is Kids under 7 free, age 7-13 Rd, Stockton. All welcome. PM. Central United Methodist Sun 2 PM. Long Theatre, south joined by percussionist Bob $5, over 13 $7. 271-9154 or 467-4455 Church Fireside Room, 3700 Thursdays cAMpus of UOP. $10-15 Info: Stover. 3-4 PM. Haggin Mu- 476-8533. Pacific Ave, Stockton. 7 PM Peace demonstration, 5-6 946-2UOP. seum, 1201 N Pershing Ave, Thu, Nov 10 progrAM with social time fol- PM, edge of Delta cAMpus Stockton. More than 100 new Sat, Oct 29 Stockton Symphony #3 featur- lowing. All welcome. across from Elephant Bar. Park Oct 15—Jan 22 paintings from across the coun- Eighth Annual Tarde de Flor ing Peter Soave, accordion. at Sherwood Mall. Signs pro- The Allure of Water: On Loca- try. Wed-Sun 1:30—5 PM. $5 y Canto 2:30—4 PM. Hosted $10—55. 8 PM. Atherton Second Tuesdays vided, or bring your own! Info: tion with the Plein-Air Painters adult 18—64, student/senior/ by Richard Rios, Tarde de Auditorium, 5151 Pacific Ave, 89.5 Valley Community Radio Patrick Wall, 954-5438. of AMerica. Haggin Museum, youth age 10-17 $2.50. Under Flor y Canto (an afternoon of Stockton. 954-5110. meeting, 7—9 PM, Peace & Dinner and a show, 6:30—9:30. 1201 N Pershing Ave, Stockton. 10 free. 940-6315 education@ flower and song) celebrates the Justice Center, 231 Bedford Blackwater Cafe, Acacia & More than 100 new paint- hagginmuseum.org beauty and richness of Mexican Sat, Nov 12 Rd, Stockton. 467-4455. Yosemite, Stockton. ings from across the country. and indigenous culture through Stockton Symphony #3 featur- Wed-Sun 1:30—5 PM. $5 adult Imani Wind Quintet—Friends poetry, music and dance. Hag- ing Peter Soave, 6 PM. Ather- Second Thursdays Saturdays 18—64, student/senior/youth of ChAMber music. Innovative gin Museum, 1201 N Pershing ton Auditorium, 5151 Pacific Single Payer San Joaquin Crosstown Freeway Farmers age 10-17 $2.50. Under 10 GrAMmy-nominated chAMber Ave, Stockton. More than 100 Ave, Stockton. 954-5110. meeting, 6:30 PM, Peace & Market, under the freeway free. 940-6300 info@hagginmu- music. 2:30 PM. UOP Conser- new paintings from across Third anual shred & e-waste Justice Center, 231 Bedford between El Dorado & San Joa- seum.org vatory of Music, Faye Spanos the country. Wed-Sun 1:30—5 day 10 AM—2 PM. Shred your Rd, Stockton. bailey_hcasj@ quin, Stockton. 7—11, or when Concert Hall, 3601 Pacific Ave, PM. $5 adult 18—64, student/ documents, binders, CDs, sbcglobal.net sold out. 943-1830 Oct 21—30 Stockton. $10—$25. Free w/ senior/youth age 10-17 $2.50. VCR Tapes, hard drives and Return to the Forbidden Planet, valid student ID card. 946-0540. Under 10 free. 940-6315. more! Recycle your unwanted Third Thursdays Sundays Fri/Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. Studio computers, monitors, televi- Central Valley Wellstone San Joaquin Bicycle Coalition, Theatre, SJ Delta College, $14. Bike-In Movie, hosted by the Saturday Partners in Educa- sions, laptops, printers, copi- Progressive Democratic Club, Night Ride. 7 PM, The Abbey 954-5110. San Joaquin Bicycle Coaltion. tion (P.I.E.) designed to bring ers, scanners, faxes, and other 6 PM, Perko’s Cafe, 1703 E. Trappist Pub, 2353 Pacific Av- Showing “RAD.” 7 PM, Black- children (ages 6-12) to the Uni- equiPMent. 3255 W Ben Holt, Yosemite Ave., Manteca, enue, Stockton. sjbike.weebly. Fri, Oct 21 water Cafe, Acacia & Yosemite, versity of the Pacific and give Stockton. 954-4317. Info: Rose Roach, 209-474-8496 com All Hallows’ Eve at Oak Grove Stockton. sjbike.weebly.com them a glimpse into college Nature Center, 7—9 PM. A free life. 10 AM—3 PM. UOP, 3601 Sun, Nov 13 Fourth Saturdays Volunteers needed and fun educational Hallow- Mon, Oct 24 Pacific Ave. $10. 946-2444. Morgenstern Piano Trio— Greater Lodi Area Democrats to distribute Connec- tions to well-estab- een event for all ages—stroll Delta Sierra Club meeting, 7 Friends of ChAMber music. (GLAD) breakfast meeting, 8:30 through the garden, make a PM. Central United Methodist Thu, Nov 3 lished routes. About 2:30 PM. UOP Conservatory AM, Dee Dee’s FAMily Dining, two hours per month. mask or puppet. Costumes en- Church Fireside Room, 3700 Peace & Justice Network board of Music, Faye Spanos Concert 1170 S. Cherokee Ln, Lodi. 209- Easy and fun! Call couraged Oak Grove Regional Pacific Ave, Stockton. 7 PM meeting, Peace & Justice Dean or Marcia Sav- Park, 4520 W Eight Mile Rd, progrAM with social time fol- Center, 231 Bedford Rd, Stock- age, 209-339-1599. Stockton. $5 parking. 953-8814. lowing. All welcome. ton. 6:30 PM. All welcome. Oct 23 467-4455 Imani Wind Quintet—Friends of Chamber Music Sat, Oct 22 Fri, Oct 28 Trolley Dance presented by the Stockton Symphony Patron Nov 4—6 UOP Conservatory of traditional wind quintet repertoire, bringing new New Dance Company. Trolley Choice Pops: Behind the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival, Music, Faye Spanos repertoire while meaningfully sounds and textures to the Dance is a unique performance Mask—Broadway tunes from all day (see p 18). Hutchins Concert Hall bridging European, traditional instrumentation. series wherein tickets are sold Phantom, Cats, Wicked, A Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins 2:30 p.m., $25, $20, $10 to avid arts consumers who Chorus Line and more. 8 PM. St, Free activities include the American, African and Latin Through commissions or Free w/valid Student American traditions. and performance the quintet ride a “trolley” through town Atherton Auditorium, 5151 Friday evening reception, wine ID card. 946-0540. to five designated locations for Pacific Ave, Stockton. $10—55. tasting and Art Show. Admis- The wide range of regularly collaborates with programs offered by Imani artists ranging from Yo- More than North Winds demonstrates their Yo Ma to Wayne Shorter. America’s premier wind mission to expand the Shorter’s Terra Incognita— quintet, Imani Winds has repertoire and diversify his first-ever composition established itself as one of new music sources. for another ensemble—was the most successful chamber From Mendelssohn, Jean premiered by Imani Winds. music ensembles in the FranÁaix, Gyˆrgy Ligeti, The ensemble has also United States. Since 1997, and Luciano Berio, to Astor worked with luminaries the Grammy nominated Piazzolla, Elliott Carter and such as bandoneonist Daniel quintet has taken a unique John Harbison; and to the Binelli, the Brubeck brothers, path, carving out a distinct unexpected ranks of Paquito clarinetist David Shifrin, and presence in the classical D’Rivera and Wayne Shorter, pianists Gilbert Kalish and music world with its dynamic Imani Winds actively seek Shai Wosner. Their ambitious playing, culturally poignant to engage new music and project, “Josephine Baker: A programming, genre- new voices into the modern Life of Le Jazz Hot!” brought blurring collaborations, classical idiom. Imani chanteuse RenÈ Marie with and inspirational outreach members Valerie Coleman them to New York, San programs. With two and Jeff Scott both regularly Francisco, Los Angeles and member composers and contribute compositions St. Louis, receiving wide a deep commitment to and arrangements to the acclaim and glowing reviews. commissioning new work, ensemble’s expanding the group is enriching the 20 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2011
Emergency Food Bank: A call 25th Annual Peaceful for help for the holidays Holiday Faire promotes socially responsible gift Volunteer! birds. If you or anyone you know would like to donate Saturday morning volunteer options—all the following turkeys or chickens please contact us! To donate items, call giving Saturdays offer the chance to volunteer, from 7:30 AM 209-224-8391 or drop them off at 7 W Scotts Ave, 95204, to 10:30 AM: Saturdays, October 15; November 5, 12 here in Stockton. Remember CASH helps too! and 19; December 3, 10 and 17. Please contact tviall@ Times: Friday, December 2 4—9 pm stocktonfoodbank.org to volunteer for those Saturdays (work Run & Walk Against Hunger Saturday, December 3 10 am—2 pm is generally food sorting, good for families and kids, too). Join 4,000 friends for this Thanksgiving tradition, starting and finishing at the Stockton Ports Ballpark. Raise Location: Central United Methodist Church, November 18, 19 and 20 pledges to end hunger and food-insecurity; go to web site and 3700 Pacific Avenue, Stockton CA 95204 Stuff the Bus event, at Food 4 Less stores (Yvonne, need its Pledge page for helpful tips! Volunteers needed—3 hour Admission: FREE details). Please contact [email protected] to shifts between 6 AM and noon; contact Tim Viall, tviall@ volunteer for this event. stocktonfoodbank.org or call 464-7369. Fun, work on the The Peace & Justice Network of San Joaquin County course, snacks/drinks and a very cool volunteer shirt! SATURDAY, November 19 will present its 25th annual Peaceful Holiday Faire on Friday Safeway food drive at local Safeway stores (volunteer shifts The EFB wish list and Saturday, December 2 and December 3. This is a warm and friendly holiday event designed to encourage thoughtful run throughout the day, involving greeting Safeway shoppers Food Items: at the door). Please contact [email protected] to Canned meats holiday gift giving that reflects positive values and that volunteer for this event. Canned fish benefits people rather than corporations. Canned Vegetables This alternative gift fair will have unique, nonviolent items Monday, November 21 Canned Soup for sale by local small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Our huge “Thanksgiving Turkey delivery day” to over Canned Fruit Vendors include local artists and craftspeople, artisans, local 1,800 client families, volunteers needed from 7 AM to Noon. Packaged Rice or Beans organizations, and international service organizations such as Please contact [email protected] to volunteer. Peanut Butter Concern. We’ll be offering a variety of hand woven goods, Flour artistic gems and jewelry, items for children/infants, and Thursday, November 24 Sugar (Regular and Brown) Celtic imports. Run and Walk Against Hunger at the Stockton Ports Cereal The Peaceful Holiday Faire is a joyous event—an Ballpark, volunteer shifts starting at 6 AM and 8 AM, opportunity to meet friends, partake of refreshments, listen each running about 3-4 hours. Please contact tviall@ Vehicles: to live music performances, and purchase gifts that are stocktonfoodbank.org to volunteer. Used cars of any type/condition, nonviolent and environmentally friendly. Please come and 95 or newer 1 ton Cargo Va join us at Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Monday, December 19 95 or newer 10-12 foot Box Van Avenue, Stockton. You may contact 462—3489 for more Our huge “Christmas Turkey delivery day” to over 1,800 Used fork-lifts, propane or electric information or if you want to volunteer to help at the faire, client families, volunteers needed from 7 AM to Noon. Please ______call 943—0539. contact [email protected] to volunteer. Source: Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin, 7 W. Scotts Ave, Stockton, CA 95203 Events and Food Drives “Are you looking for a way to get involved this holiday season? How about holding a food drive. I have everything you need to get started. Contact me and I can give you the forms and barrels to get started. All that’s needed is the desire to help, and let me help you do the rest.” -Yvonne.
Contact Yvonne Derby at (209) 464-7364 or see our website for more information.
Turkey Drive The Holidays are fast approaching and that means our Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey distributions are right around the corner. We need your help in rounding up some CONNECTIONS Would you like Connections delivered to your home? It’s FREE!
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Mail to: Peace & Justice Network, Box 4123, Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 467—4455
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