NOVEMBER 2012 Volume XXX, No. 9 20 Pages Published by the Peace & Justice Network pjnsjc.org Priceless & Free
Dec 7 — 8 DEMOCRACY STARTS Peaceful Holiday Faire It’s that time of year again. The Peace and Justice Network is putting on our Peaceful Holiday Faire on Friday December 7 and Saturday December 8 at the WITH YOUR VOTE Central United Methodist Church in Stockton. For those who plan to attend, mark your calendars for this warm gathering of friends, food and conflict-free gifts. And, for those who are interested in selling their wares, please contact the Faire Coordinator, Joy Richardson (462-3489). The Faire Coordinator will pick up the message and get the information out to you via email or postal mail. Make sure to leave your name and telephone number and how you’d like to receive the Vendor Application Form. We look forward to having a diverse group of crafters this year. There will be music at the venue this year on both days.
one gives up trying. If a society’s electoral process promotes learned helplessness, it is not a democratic society. While Mitt Romney is another Republican “senseless wars/corporate control” candidate, what is President Obama’s record here? Military spending under Obama, as a percentage of GDP, has been higher than it was during any year of the George W. Bush administration. And under Obama, there has not been a single prosecution of a high ranking Wall Street executive or any major financial firms for their criminal practices that helped produce a worldwide Bruce E Levine financial meltdown. There are differences between Romney and Obama, but not when it comes to democracy activists’ Many democracy activists argue that participating helplessness around stopping senseless wars and corporate in U.S. national elections only maintains the illusion of control. democracy, and so voting can become a wedge issue that To extricate from learned helplessness, does it make undermines solidarity among voting and nonvoting activists sense to vote for a third party that opposes senseless wars and on democracy battlefields beyond electoral politics. corporate control? Because of the power of money in the U.S. PAID Postage Postage The corporate media tries to persuade Americans electoral process, even worse now because of Citizens United, Stockton, CA Stockton,
Permit No. 488 Permit No. that the problem with the U.S. political process is a lack of
Nonprofit Org. U.S. U.S. Org. Nonprofit third parties have no chance of winning. And so voting for a bipartisanship between the Democrats and the Republicans, third party that opposes senseless wars and corporate control but on the key democracy issues of our era, senseless wars, means that either the Democrats or the Republicans still win, Wall Street bailouts, unprosecuted corporate criminals, and and Americans continue to get senseless wars and corporate the surveillance state, there has been Democratic-Republican control. And more learned helplessness. bipartisanship. However, not voting doesn’t change the fact that the The real problem for those of us who care about Democrats or Republicans still win, resulting in senseless democracy is the lack of bipartisanship between voter wars and corporate control. The bottom line is that regardless and nonvoter democracy activists who often flail out at of what we do or don’t do in the election booth, we continue one another, and then can’t come together on democracy to get senseless wars and corporate control. battlefields where they actually have a chance to gain power and create something closer to democracy. Dropping one’s arrogance about a voting or non- voting stance U.S. elections and learned helplessness While both the Democrats and the Republicans are the “If the Bush administration didn’t like somebody, they’d parties of senseless wars and corporate control, there are kidnap them and send them to torture chambers. differences between them. And these differences can mitigate If the Obama administration decides they don’t like real suffering in some people’s lives. And this makes it difficult somebody, they murder them.” Noam Chomsky to walk away from a political party that one essentially does not respect. When the Republicans win, Americans get senseless Obama’s capitulation to health insurance companies wars and corporate control. When the Democrats win, was an excruciating blow for single-payer (Medicare-for- Americans get senseless wars and corporate control. Learned all) activists. Even before the presidential campaign began, helplessness means a belief that no matter what one does or does not do, one cannot decrease one’s level of pain, and so Continued ON Page 8
Correction: In the last issue of Connections, our recommendation on Proposition 40 was wrong. We recommend a YES vote on Proposition 40. Sorry for the error.
SAVE THE DATES CONTENTS OCT 30: Bitter Seeds Film WOMEN-TIME TO RESPOND P9 NOV 6: ELECTION DAY SOCIAL SECURITY: OUR CHOICE P3 HOW PARTIES CAN AGREE P10-11 NOV 18: Transgender day of Rememberance CENSORED STORIES P6 FIVE REAL ISSUES P14 FLEET WEEK P7 IRAN-WHY & HOW P17
Peace & Justice Network & Justice Peace County of San Joaquin 4123 Box P.O. CA 95204 Stockton, 209/467—4455 DEC 7-8: PEACEFUL HOLIDAY FAIR 2 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012
CONNECTIONS Voting is your most valuable right Editor: Bruce Giudici, 786- Bruce Giudici party affiliation to generally process also has lots of But have we come to 3109; [email protected] define the rough edges money...er... speech thrown a point where, due to an Layout: Luis Gonzalez, In a world of short- of their beliefs. These so- at it: witness Proposition 37, imperfect voting system, we [email protected] term gratification, there is called moderates could be which simply asks to label are moving to disenfranchise Proofreader: Debbie Cousyn no market for patience. Yet persuaded to cross party lines what we eat, but which will ourselves? This free-of- Ad Rep: Vacant the issues we face will take based on their individual attract so many negative ads charge action — the right to Distribution Coordinators: decades to resolve. Dean and Marcia Savage, perspectives or that of their that it could easily lose in a vote — is the most valuable 209-242-2254 In the face of bumper home districts. close count. The sleaze of right any human has on this positions of local candidates Distribution Site: Green’s sticker and 30-second In today’s world, attack ads serves to dampen planet — the United States for: various boards and city Nutrition, 1906 Pacific Ave, messaging, there is no space however, such so-called voter enthusiasm — and still being the most powerful, councils, county boards, Stockton for the nuanced essay and moderates are extinct. In turnout. rich and influential country. state Assembly and Senate, Distributors: Suzy Arnett, shades of grey. Yet the their place have come party So, many citizens don’t And you and I still have a say US Congress and Senate Harold Bell, Antoinette Celle, understanding we need representatives who must toe vote at all. For these folks, the in its governance — if we can and the Presidency. Study Jerry Croskrey, Clarence of large issues requires a the party line or lose their excuses range from “they’re see through the haze of all them. And look at national Edwards, Daniel Fong, knowledge based on accurate primary contest to someone all the same” or “elections that money. So vote already. dailies as well (New York Catherine Mathis, John reporting and multiple Minnehan, Karen Pham, who will toe that line. This don’t impact me;” to “it’s too Election day is a time Times, Los Angeles Times, Heather Ryan, Dean and sources. is made possible through negative” and “the issues are for informed decision. As an SF Chronicle). Compare Marcia Savage, Julie Vaughn, In times of dishonest the magic of unlimited funds too complicated.” A lesser educational 501(c)3 not-for- candidates point by point Stan Thomas, Patrick Wall, Jim salesmanship, there is no showered on both parties — of two evils is always the profit organization, we cannot and make your own Walsh, Peter Vang time for the truth. Yet the the free speech only money choice, to be expected in endorse any candidate. Our decisions. And disregard any Deadline: 7th of each month decisions we democratically can buy. flawed processes controlled recommendation is to choose paid advertising — it only (except Aug & Dec) make must be based on California has been by money. And it certainly the candidate able to move encourages them. Voting is Circulation: 8,500 facts, not beliefs; reality, not spared the costly “free would be much easier if towards positions advocating important — please exercise fantasy. speech” of presidential we lived in China or North peace and justice. These days, your franchise. CONNECTIONS is a So, how will this coming ads spreading lies far and Korea, where pesky votes that choice should be simple. monthly publication of the Peace & Justice Network of San Joaquin election shake out? Is the wide — by virtue of being don’t get in the way of Local daily papers have gone County. The views expressed most voters make candidate a one-party state. We have decision-making process. to great lengths to list the in Connections are those of the choices based on party had our glimpse of this sad authors and are not necessarily affiliation — some based on endorsed by the Network. News, process, however, through articles, letters and calendar items the individual. the McNerney/Gill and Propositions recommendations / resources should be sent to the Peace & In the far past (30 Hernandez/Denham slime On November 6, disruption in communities information on what they eat. Justice Network, P.O. Box 4123, years ago), some individual Stockton, CA 95204. The editor wars — information worth voters will have the great while costing too much. Vote yes. reserves the right of final decision candidates made their muting (TV) or burning opportunity to directly effect Propositions 34, 35 & 36 And the League of on copy. Call (209) 467—4455 for own decisions — and used (mailers). The iniatiative fairness and justice through move us toward becoming a Women Voters have some more information. PJN is on the internet: http://www.pjnsjc.org voting on 11 wide-ranging more compassionate society. great resources for your propositions listed below. Vote yes. consideration. Check these All deserve your considered political control of out! John Morearty attention, so don’t be govenment: corporate Putting up billboards disuaded by media reports of money has a huge influence Smart voter for peace, talking it through the length and complexity of in California politics. http://www.smartvoter.org/ with anyone who will these issues. Propositions 31, & 32 would engage, writing monthly These propositions only intensify that influence. Ballot recommendations Peace & Justice essays as if they were break down into four general Vote no. http://ca.lwv.org/ballot- going to be read out loud, categories: And a correction from recommendations Network exhorting neighbors to money for government: last month...A yes vote on Board of Directors rally against war, giving a in general, the State of Proposition 40 affirms the Easy voter guide Chair: Christie Kelley thumbs up to any response California is underfunding its new process for drawing http://www. Vice—Chairperson: to a Honk for Peace sign. peaceful living. And he educational system big time. district lines. Vote yes! easyvoterguide.org/ Jim Walsh Playing a meandering made a huge difference Propositions 30, 38 & 39 will regulation of industry: Treasurer: Bruce Giudici flute, providing a strong in this community, in the help reverse this decline. regulation of industry enters California calls Secretary: Cathy Mathis Members—at—large: lead singing voice to any countless ways education Vote yes. the initiative process when http://www.cacalls.org/ Luis Gonzalez, Daniel works. peace song, supporting criminal justice for all: politicians fail. Proposition 33 home/we-are-californians/ Fong, Margie Brown, Joy demonstrations — even John was invaluable criminal punishment in is an insurance industry fund- Richardson, Tanya Ledeux when he was the only in producing Connections California is dysfunctional, raiser. Vote no. Proposition Mobilize the immigrant vote one holding a sign, — scaring up stories while creating long-term social 37 gives consumers more http://mivcalifornia.org/ Organizational members: sponsoring the big and writing his monthly 89.5 Stone Soup Radio (Cathy Mathis), Fathers & Families Sawsnhammers and later small rallies with the same (Jim Walsh), MoveOn (Mario boisterous enthusiasm, Navigator columns. He D’Angeli), Puentes (Richard enrolling in non-violent gave birth to the weekly Blackston), Single Payer San civil disobedience classes, Talking it Through cable tv Joaquin (Paula LeVeck), CARA getting arrested. show and produced it for (Jerry Bailey) John Morearty showed 15 years. Through weekly “The Peace and Justice a couple generations how to vigils, he protested the Network is a nonprofit get these things done and many wars in which we educational organization more. In his last 30 years, have been involved — and committed to the visiVon John led and collaborated gathered new volunteers of a world in which the with young and old alike in along the way. equality of all persons is a multi-faceted educational The Peace and Justice achieved, basic needs are project. Primarily working Network has honored John met, conflict is resolved through the Peace & by re-naming the Peace nonviolently, and the Justice Network, an Center the John Morearty earth’s resources are shared responsibly for educational 501(c)3 non- Peace & Justice Center. the well—being of all her We will continue the Great profit organization, John inhabitants and all future volunteered to organize Work, spreading like generations.” and teach the benefits of bermuda grass. Thanks John, we’ll miss you. CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 3 It’s up to all of us to protect Social Security made in the original law to pass conservative opposition which the sole source of retirement funds for millions of Americans resulted in exclusion of benefits for those most impoverished, and will continue to be for decades to come.” such as agricultural and domestic workers, predominantly Here’s the real story of Social Security today: women and minorities, (all since repaired), and the failure to 1) It is not an “entitlement” for people ripping off include a national health plan. taxpayers. Workers have earned their Social Security benefits Nurses, as CNA President Emeritus Kay McVay reminds through payroll deductions throughout their working years. us, were not eligible for Social Security until the 1950s, as 2) Social Security is especially critical for women who they were categorized as independent contractors, and only have historically earned less than men and spent more time through the effort of CNA and other nurse unions did nurses out of the workforce thus building less of an income base begin to win employer-paid pensions through collective that determines the amount of benefits. Women are also less bargaining. likely to have employer-paid pensions or other savings, and Today, as the National Committee to Preserve Social typically live longer than men. Security and Medicare explains, still barely half of all workers 3) It is fully funded through the Social Security Trust have access to retirement plans on the job, and many of those Fund; payments do not add a dime to the deficit. are substandard. Without Social Security, they note, “over 4) It is not going broke. The Trust Fund has a current half of all older Americans would fall into poverty. Social surplus of $2.6 trillion, an amount expected to reach $3.7 Security does exactly what it was designed to do — it gives trillion in 2022. people a secure, basic income for as long as they live.” 5) When the surplus erodes through the aging of Baby But, sadly, no matter who wins the November 6 election, Boomers, by 2033, incoming payroll tax revenues will still there is trouble afoot. enable recipients to be paid more than 75 percent of promised If Gov. Romney wins, he has already made trillions of benefits. The Trust Fund can be strengthened, but notby dollars in cuts in federal programs a top priority, and offered any of the punitive proposals floated by those who would broad hints of, at minimum, slashing Social Security benefits undermine or gut Social Security. The simplest step — raise and raising the retirement age. His running mate, Rep. the income ceiling on payroll taxes, meaning applying the Rose Ann DeMoro Paul Ryan, has gone farther, sponsoring a budget plan that payroll tax to earnings above the current limit of $110,000, a proposed privatizing Social Security. position then-Senator Obama endorsed. It would be further “One thing I know. Social Security is so firmly embedded The signals from President Obama are not reassuring, strengthened by putting people back to work, adding to the in the American psychology today that no politician, no especially after a widely noticed statement in the first debate system with more payroll taxes on people earning a living. political group could possibly destroy this Act and still that he and Romney had no real differences on Social Today, some 54 million Americans receive Social maintain our democratic system. It is safe forever, and Security. Subsequently, his campaign declared “President Security benefits, the majority of them retired workers and for the everlasting benefit of the people of the United Obama will never privatize Social Security or undermine their dependents, but also people on disability, and families States.” Frances Perkins, on the 25th anniversary of the retirement security for middle-class Americans.” of deceased workers for whom Social Security is an essential enactment of the Social Security Act (from the book, /The Yet, during the bitter legislative fights over the debt form of life insurance. Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, ceiling and federal deficit, the President told Republican After the election dust settles, the deficit hawks, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience) legislators that he was open to cuts. And a top aide, David Republicans and Democrats alike, are almost certain to Axelrod, has told reporters that discussion of the future of swoop in on Social Security — as proposed by the chairs Good thing Frances Perkins is not hearing the Social Security should wait until after the election. of the Simpson-Bowles National Commission on Fiscal disinformation from Washington and many in the media What’s really going on here is a concerted campaign by Responsibility and Reform praised by Romney and Obama today claiming Social Security is going broke and that there the same banksters on Wall Street who created the current alike this campaign season. is a “consensus” that cuts are needed in Social Security to economic crisis who want to get their hands on everyone’s Draconian proposals, such as slashing the amount of reduce the federal deficit. retirement savings. They are assisted by politicians in both benefits, raising the retirement age forcing people to work Or the disgraceful assertion that people who receive parties they heavily influence, and those in the media who more years, which those with physically demanding jobs Social Security, or other public assistance, are “takers” have helped them spin what /Columbia Journalism Review/ like nurses are often unable to do, or handing it over to Wall who, as Mitt Romney said in the now infamous tape of a blogger Trudy Lieberman calls “a skewed picture of the Street through privatization, would devastate tens of millions private meeting with donors last May, do not “take personal financial health of this hugely important program which is of current seniors and future retirees for whom Social Security responsibility or care for their lives.” remains a lifeline, often the only lifeline. Social Security may be the most enduring, successful, The stakes could not be higher. It will be up to all of us to and popular reform in U.S. history. But, in the 77 years since Draconian proposals, save this crown jewel of American democracy. its inception, it has never faced as grave a threat as it does today. such as…raising Rose Ann DeMoro is executive director of The stakes could not be higher. the 160,000-member National Nurses United, It would be hard to overstate the importance of Social the nation’s largest union and professional the retirement age association of nurses, and a national vice Security. president of the AFL-CIO. Follow Rose Ann Enacted at the height of the Great Depression, at a time DeMoro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ only 15 percent of those who still had jobs also had private forcing people to NationalNurses pension plans, Social Security literally meant survival for ______Source: Common Dreams 10/12/12 http://www.commondreams.org millions of retirees. That was the case even with concessions work more years… Fact sheet: health care Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP Supreme Court decision will take the lead in designing their own menu of options.... If Major federal health programs include Medicare, the The Supreme Court upheld most of the Affordable Care you’re sick, you’ll finally have the same chance to get quality, health insurance program for elderly and disabled Americans; Act — also known as “Obamacare” — but ruled that states can affordable health care as everyone else.” — Barack Obama, Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income choose not to expand Medicaid to all residents below 133 June 2012 Americans; and the State Children’s Health Insurance percent of the poverty line, as the president’s health care law Program (CHIP). Medicaid and CHIP are jointly funded by specifies. “If I’m president, I will repeal Obamacare for a lot of the federal government and the states. reasons. One, I don’t want to spend another trillion dollars.” Health reform and the deficit — Mitt Romney, February 2012 High cost According to recent analysis by the Congressional Spending for health programs will total 24 percent of Budget Office, the Affordable Care Act will reduce budget What to ask your Congressional candidates: the federal budget in fiscal 2013, or around $897 billion. deficits by $109 billion through 2022. How do you propose containing the ongoing rise in Health care is the fastest-growing kind of federal spending. health care costs? Controlling health care costs is a central challenge facing our What the candidates say: ______elected officials. There are many proposals for how to do so “If you’re one of the 30 million Americans who don’t yet Source: National Priorities Project http://nationalpriorities.org National Priorities Project, 243 King St, Ste 109, Northampton, MA 01060 - 413 584 9556 — ranging from downsizing Medicaid to pay-for-performance. have health insurance, starting in 2014 this law will offer you an array of health insurance plans to choose from. Each state 4 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 Food you can trust! Without Prop 30, the future of FRESH, LOCAL, health care may be on the line PESTICID-FREE Produce! From the BOGGS TRACT $ COMMUNITY FARM Delivered to your 60 doorstep once a PER MONTH week, year round. TO ORDER, EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL ERIC FIRPO AT 209-430-5300 David Gorn efforts the state is making.” That includes setting up the Health Benefit Exchange, launching the Community Based There is a hidden risk buried inside Proposition 30 Adult Services program and the duals demonstration project, that goes far beyond cuts to education, according to Hope among many other large-scale system transformations. HELP WANTED Richardson, policy analyst for the California Budget Project. And the successful implementation of all of that, Wu said, If the initiative doesn’t pass on Nov. 6, she said, it’s true that a depends on the combined effort of many state agencies and series of cuts go into effect that would take billions of dollars stakeholders working together. STATION out of education funding in California. “Most of the trigger “I think in a crisis there’s contracting all around. The cuts are to education,” Richardson said. However, she said, continued crisis and attention paid to the budget takes away that’s just the first year. from the work we need to do,” Wu said. “I mean, it’s been all MANAGER “The other problem, a big problem, is the state would budget, all the time for this administration,” she said. “You be left with a significant budget deficit over future years,” get done with one budget, and you have to move into the Richardson said. “We will have continued deficits going next year. How do you even think about providing services to OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME forward, and no way we’d be able to continue running the Californians? Really, it could make you schizophrenic.” social service programs we have now.” That means, she said, BUILDING A COMMUNITY health care and social service programs will once again be Back to Drawing Board? budget targets. “I think we’re going to see deeper cuts in The other unspoken possibility, Wu said, is what might RADIO STATION FROM THE health care if Prop. 30 is not passed, in addition to what we’ve happen after the November election, during the special GROUND UP. seen already,” she said. legislative session on health care that’s planned for December. If the November election ends and the state is suddenly looking $15 Billion in Cuts at a $6 billion deficit, it’s possible that state lawmakers could According to a report from the Health and Human redistribute those trigger cuts -- and put a little money back INTERESTED PARTIES SEND A Services Network of California, the state has cut $15 billion into education at the expense of health and social services. COVER LETTER AND RESUME from health and social service programs in just the past three “That’s what’s in the trigger cuts, the education cuts,” Wu said, years. That does not include the budget reductions made “but I don’t know if that means they won’t go back to drawing TO [email protected] this summer, including the planned conversion of Healthy board.” Herald said it would be somewhat of a relief to stop Families to a Medi-Cal managed care program and another thinking about the next cuts, and instead just concentrate on $2.5 billion in social service cuts, said Michael Herald, a improving the delivery of care. “It definitely makes it more public benefits advocate for the Western Center on Law and complicated” to have constant budget upheaval, Herald said. Poverty. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. “It creates a level of uncertainty of how it’s all going to roll “The real problem in California is the lack of general out,” he said, “for providers, for advocates, for consumers.” FEATURE fund money,” Herald said, “so the stabilization of the general What most people don’t understand about the initiative fund will mean the Affordable Care Act implementation and money is that it really just maintains the status quo, he said other health and welfare programs will not have to take the -- a status quo that already has been cut by multiple billions YOUR level of cuts they’ve taken in previous years.” Herald said the of dollars. “The state’s not going to be on free and easy street real benefit of the November initiative is not just the one-year in terms of money, if this passes,” Herald said. “One thing BUSINESS solution of rescuing education programs in California, but that has been very clear is, the governor is pretty tight with the stability that comes from planning how to run programs his money. I mean, we’re at 1970 levels of money per capita, rather than planning how to cut them. That’s necessary for so we’re certainly not overspending here. It’s important to HERE the next two or three years especially, because of the need maintain the core of the health, education and welfare that Advertise in Connections and get seen by your local to include as many provisions of the Affordable Care Act as we’ve built.” community and support alternative media. possible, he said. After the initial year, “if we don’t have that The programs at greatest risk, he said, are the ones [budget stability],” Herald said, “we just might not be able to without a constitutional mandate or protected by federal law, get into the optionals that ACA provides.” especially child care and CalWORKS. “I have absolutely no $46 2x2” doubt the governor would do whatever he had to do to bring (Business Card Size) ‘All the Budget, All the Time’ the budget into balance,” Herald said. “People should be fully After enduring a steady barrage of budget reductions aware of that. If Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, then we’ll have to go $58 2x4” every year, twice a year, the health care community is there.” getting a little weary, said Ellen Wu, executive director of the “I’m really worried,” Wu said. “For existing services and $70 2x6” California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. “You’re looking at a all of our work on the ACA. And specifically, I would say the $6 billion budget deficit every year. It’s a structural deficit extension of Medi-Cal, it’s the biggest thing for communities Contact us for more rate options. Discounts for longer terms for all future years,” Wu said. “We have so many things on of color since Medicaid. And we’re so close. We are so close.” and nonprofits available. Contact: [email protected] or PJN, the cusp of happening -- expanded [Medi-Cal] outreach and ______P.O. Box 4123, Stockton 95204 enrollment, the transition of LIHP (the Low Income Health Source: California Healthline 10/4/12, a publication of the Program) into Medi-Cal, and all the different programs and California HealthCare Foundation, http://www.chcf.org/ CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 5 Medicare open enrollment workshops If you have questions about Medicare, trained student assistance to help lower your out-of-pocket drug costs. pharmacists from University of the Pacific’s School of Calendar Pharmacy & Health Sciences are here to help you. Through Results Thurs, Oct 25, 1 — 7 pm, (209) 369-6921 free community health fairs that a UOP Medicare Part • Total out-of-pocket savings as a result of student Kirst Hall, Hutchins Street Square, D class puts on every year during the Medicare open pharmacist interventions: $865,927 (savings of about $636 125 South Hutchins St, Lodi enrollment period (Oct 15 — Dec 7) , students help Medicare per beneficiary). Part D beneficiaries select a Part D plan that best fits their • Severe medication-related issues were identified in Fri, Oct 26, 1 — 6 pm, (209) 529-4950 medications and that is the least expensive for them for the 181 people. Casa de Modesto, 1745 Eldena Way, Modesto coming year. Also available are screening services free of charge, including some immunizations, bone mineral density Services offered at every EVENT include: Thurs, Nov 1st, 1 — 5 pm, (209) 460-5051 screenings, blood cholesterol and glucose testing. This • Medicare Part D plan assistance Sierra Vista, 2436 Belleview St, Stockton year nursing students from Sac State and Speech Language • Comprehensive medication therapy review Pathology from University of the Pacific will offer services. • Vaccinations (flu and pneumococcal) Fri, Nov 2nd, 1 — 6 pm, (209) 468-3918 Appointments are highly encouraged and recommended for • Blood-pressure testing, diabetes screening, Northeast Community Center, 2885 those wanting help with their Medicare Part D plan and/or cholesterol testing, asthma screening, bone density E. Harding Way, Stockton review of their medications. Please call the contact number testing, memory-decline screening, falls risk assessment provided with each event to schedule an appointment. and much more! Sun, Nov 4, 10 am — 6 pm (209) 956-3400 O’Connor Woods, 3400 Wagner Heights Rd, Stockton Why is it important that I check my Medicare Part D plan each year? If you plan to attend, please bring the following: Thurs, Nov 15, 1 — 6 pm, (209) 369-1591 • Plans change their formularies and cost-sharing 1. Your red, white and blue Medicare Card LOEL Center and Gardens, 105 South Washington St, Lodi structure every year. 2. ALL of your prescription medications • As many as 9 out of every 10 beneficiaries have been 3. Your Pacific Healthcare Passport (provided to those For more information, visit: go.pacific.edu/ able to save money on their Part D drug costs with our help. who attended an event last year; don’t worry if you can’t medicare or call Joyce at (209) 946-7754 • We can identify if you may qualify for additional find it) Private insurers have cost Medicare $282.6 billion in excess payments group. Woolhandler and far less than the premiums, author of the study. “Nor Himmelstein are professors guaranteeing large profits. has anyone systematically at the City University of Private insurers Although private plans must examined the many ways that New York School of Public accept all seniors who choose private insurers have gamed Health, visiting professors at have exploited to enroll, they cherry-picked the system to maximize their Harvard Medical School and loopholes by selectively recruiting the bottom line at taxpayers’ co-founders of PNHP. The healthiest seniors through expense.” article appears at a time when to garner advertising, office location, “In 2012 alone, private some lawmakers, including etc., and induced sicker insurers are being overpaid vice presidential candidate overpayments ones to disenroll by making $34.1 billion, or $2,526 Paul Ryan, have proposed expensive care inconvenient. per Medicare Advantage a dramatic expansion of above and After Medicare enrollee,” Hellander said. private Medicare plans beyond what it began risk adjusting the Co-author Dr. Steffie and criticized the Obama premium payment for each Woolhandler said: “It’s administration for the modest costs them to patient’s diagnoses in 2004, clear that having Medicare cuts in the overpayments the plans began cherry- Advantage programs contained in the Affordable care for their picking in a new way. They compete with Medicare Care Act (ACA). However, recruited otherwise healthy doesn’t save us money. In the administration has also enrollees. seniors with very mild fact the opposite is the case. touted the fact that private (and inexpensive) cases of The private plans only add plans are on the upswing. care will be. sometimes serious conditions waste, and the aggregate Private Medicare plans The authors find – automatically triggering waste is staggering – enough – previously referred to as that private insurers have higher premiums from the to be a significant drag on the Medicare HMOs and now exploited loopholes to garner risk-adjustment scheme, economy. called Medicare Advantage overpayments above and but escaping payments for “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y , plans – have been in beyond what it costs them expensive care. For instance, recent legislative and fund or reducing the federal existence for about three to care for their enrollees. many seniors have very mild technical attempts to reduce In the first study of its deficit, the researchers say. decades. Such plans, most For instance, Medicare cases of arthritis, heart failure Medicare’s overpayments to kind, a group of health policy The findings appear in an of them for-profit, currently gives private insurers a full and bronchitis that require these insurance firms have experts has determined article by Drs. Ida Hellander, cover about 27 percent of premium for each enrollee, little or no treatment. had little or no impact,” she the amount of money that Steffie Woolhandler and Medicare enrollees and have even for those who get The full report includes said. Medicare has overpaid David Himmelstein titled been growing at a fast clip. most of their care for free further details on these and “It’s time we look to private insurance companies “Medicare overpayments UnitedHealth and Humana at the Veterans Health other schemes that private proven, cost-effective ways of under the Medicare to private plans, 1985- are among the largest players Administration. insurers have used to increase providing high-quality care Advantage program and its 2012.” The article was in this market, and together In addition, through their Medicare payments. to Medicare’s beneficiaries predecessors over the past released online today operate about one-third of heavy lobbying, the insurance “We’ve long known that and to the entire population,” 27 years and come up with a and is forthcoming in the such plans. industry induced Congress Medicare has been paying Woolhandler said. “That startling figure: $282.6 billion International Journal of Medicare pays these and the Bush administration private insurers more than means taking a fresh look in excess payments, most of Health Services. privately run plans a set to add bonus payments if their enrollees had stayed at the single-payer model of them over the past eight Hellander is policy “premium” per enrollee to Medicare Advantage in traditional free-for-service reform.” years. That’s wasted money director at Physicians for a ______for hospital and physician premiums beginning in 2003. Medicare, but no one has that should have been spent National Health Program Source: ENews Park Forest services (averaging $10,123 in Finally, private plans assessed the full extent of on improving patient care, (PNHP), a nonprofit 10/10/12 http://www.enewspf. 2012) based on a prediction cherry-pick by enrolling these overpayments,” said com/opinion/analysis/ shoring up Medicare’s trust research and advocacy of how costly the enrollee’s seniors whose care will cost Dr. Ida Hellander, lead 6 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 Project Censored’s top 10 stories fallout in Japan, according to a December 2011 report. billion people worldwide are co-op member-owners, and the co-op is expected to be the world’s fastest growing business 4. FBI agents responsible for majority of terrorist model by 2025. Worker-owned cooperatives provide for plots in the US equitable distribution of wealth and genuine connection to The Federal Bureau of Investigation has embarked the workplace. on an unusual approach to ensure that the United States is secure from future terrorist attacks. The agency has 8. NATO war crimes in Libya developed a network of nearly 15,000 spies to infiltrate Although the rationale of the North Atlantic Treaty various communities in an attempt to uncover terrorist plots. Organization (NATO) for entry into Libyan conflict invoked However, these moles are actually assisting and encouraging humanitarian principles, the results have proven far from people to commit crimes. humane. In July 2011, NATO aircraft bombed Libya’s main water supply facility, which provided water to approximately 5. First Federal Reserve audit reveals trillions 70 percent of the nation’s population. 1. Signs of an emerging police state loaned to major banks Since the passage of the 2001 PATRIOT Act, the United An audit of the First Federal Reserve reveals sixteen 9. Prison slavery in today’s USA States has become increasingly monitored and militarized at trillion dollars in secret bailouts to major American and The US comprises less than 5 percent of the world’s the expense of civil liberties. The 2012 passage of the National European banks during the height of the global financial population, yet US prisons hold more than 25 percent of all Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has allowed the military crisis, from 2007 to 2010. Morgan Stanley received up to people imprisoned globally. Many of these prisoners labor to detain indefinitely without trial any US citizen that the $107.3 billion, Citigroup took $99.5 billion, and Bank of at twenty-three cents per hour, or similar wages, in federal government labels a terrorist or an accessory. America $91.4 billion, according to data obtained through prisons contracted by the Bureau of Prisons’ UNICOR, a Freedom of Information Act. quasi-public, for-profit corporation. 2. Oceans in peril We thought the sea was infinite and inexhaustible. It 6. Small network of corporations run the global 10. HR 347 would make many forms of nonviolent is not. The overall rise in ocean temperature has led to the economy protest illegal largest movement of marine species in two to three million A University of Zurich study reported that a small group In March 2012, President Obama signed into law HR 347, years, according to scientists from the Climate Change and of companies (mainly banks) wields huge power over the the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement European Marine Ecosystems Research project. global economy. The study is the first to look at all 43,060 Act of 2011. The law specifies as criminal offenses the acts of transnational corporations and the web of ownership among entering or remaining in areas defined as “restricted.” 3. Fukushima nuclear disaster worse than antici- them. The researchers’ network analysis identified 147 pated companies that form a “super entity,” controlling 40 percent Action: Pre-order the new book at http:// Developing evidence from a number of independent of the global economy’s total wealth www.projectcensored.org/store/ sources suggests that the negative consequences of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster are far greater than first 7. 2012: The International Year of Cooperatives ______acknowledged or understood. An estimated 14,000 excess The United Nations named 2012 as the International Source: Project Censored release 10/1/2012 http://www. deaths in the United States are linked to the radioactive Year of Cooperatives. According to the UN, nearly one projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/ The 1 percent’s cry for justice wildest dreams. That’s how Forbes magazine measures not laughed, cheered and shouted encouragement. only “success,” but also a person’s value: You are what’s in Despite the timing, Mitt and company undoubtedly your Swiss bank account. And, just to rank last on this year’s appreciated the writer’s disdain for those who so insolently “Forbes 400” listing of America’s wealthiest people, you need dare to criticize and even demonize those worthy ones at the more than a billion dollars in financial wealth. To get into top who, as she explained, “gained their wealth through their the top 10 requires at least $25 billion. And to be numero own efforts.” uno means you’ve got $66 billion socked away. Who says Also, you can almost hear the privileged ones applauding America is broke? appreciatively as she scorns the divide between the 1 percent As Ray Charles sang, “Them that’s got is them that gets.” and the rest of us as a “flawed prism, marred by hyperbole, And sure enough, these richest of the riches got a lot richer half-truths and unnecessary pessimism about what it means to in 2011 — the magazine gloated that these 400 swells jacked succeed in America.” up their cumulative haul last year by $200 billion over the Passionately deploring “diatribes against the 1 percent,” previous year — an average of half-a-billion each! Now that’s Easton assails critics of America’s widening wealth inequality success, baby, especially when the typical American family’s as being people who want “to raid the gold pot.” On behalf income dropped by 4 percent. of the pampered rich, she issues her own emotional “grito,” These ultra-wealthy, goes the Forbes narrative, are the wailing that critics must “stop the name-calling.” “deserving rich,” for they are our economy’s makers and Does Easton propose any specific remedies for narrowing producers — as opposed to being takers and moochers, like the wealth gap? You betcha, and it just happens to be one those commoners who get Social Security, Medicare and that’s a favorite of Mitt and the multimillionaire’s club — one other government help. that they prescribe for any and all of our nation’s economic Before swallowing that, however, note that roughly woes: “corporate tax reform,” by which they mean lowering 40 percent of these “achievers” on the list “achieved” their the corporate tax rate. Yeah, three decades of that trickle- wealth by being well-born — they inherited the money from down idea has worked so well for the middle-class and the Dad and Mom. And all of them have indeed been takers, not poor, let’s give ‘em another jolt of it. only enjoying government programs, but also subsidiesand It’s unclear why Fortune felt the need to print this piece Jim Hightower tax advantages available only to the rich. of fluff or why Easton got the assignment, but her credit line The Forbes list really says that you got special treatment does mention that her husband “is senior strategist for the It’s out! This year’s list of American success stories has — not that you are special. Romney campaign.” Curious, huh? just been published, and according to its compiler, it “instills But if the rich need to feel special, they can always count confidence that the American dream is still very much alive.” on the editors of Fortune. We should not be surprised that a To find out more about Jim Hightower, and Maybe you are one of these success stories. You might read
Fleet Week 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 Emptywheel http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/ Calitics http://www.calitics.com/ Eschaton http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com Hullabaloo http://digbysblog.blogspot.com Daily Kos http://www.dailykos.com Talking Points Memo http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com
Lisa Ling the fallen during this event activists were hassled more the vast area covered by the TPM Muckraker was offered by members of than once and threatened names of our state’s dead was http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/ With all the pomp and Iraq Veterans against the with trespassing charges a powerful testament to the FiveThirtyEight.com circumstance of “Fleet Week” War, Veterans for Peace and — as ordered by Pier 39 real cost of war: I only wish http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ (the sexy Red Humvee; the Occupy from Stockton, who corporate — or so we were more people could have seen Congress Matters inflated 10-foot tall Marine; took the time to chalk every told. Despite this, as an act it. http://www.congressmatters.com the recruiters; the sale of Californian Killed in Action of civil disobedience, the Some of the participants souvenirs — hats, shirts, in the Afghan War. Every chalking continued from agreed and will continue Think Progress http://thinkprogress.com uniform items; items for man and woman, reservist, Friday evening until it was where we left off — chalking Down With Tyranny toddlers, children tweens and soldier, sailor, airman, time to go home Sunday the list of those killed in http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/ teens; photo opportunities marine — younger and older evening because, despite action in the Iraq war until the Crooks and Liars with military and cadets in — who was killed in action opinion to the contrary, last one has been honored. http://www.crooksandliars.com their shiny uniforms; loud during the Afghan War was most of the participants We will also be adding the music; an air show featuring lovingly placed beside traced have school, work and/ names of military suicides… Media Matters http://mediamatters.org/ the Blue Angels seen right boot prints in colored chalk. or family obligations. and will continue to chalk Common Dreams: above San Francisco; cool- This was done was to remind The list of those killed in until America’s longest war is http://www.commondreams.org/ looking airplanes and people of the real human action in the Afghanistan over. Participation is open to Truth Out: http://www.truthout.org/ chances to meet the pilots price of war as its 11th year war was completed early all who wish to help. Please etc), there was nothing to came to a close. When we Saturday morning on the contact chalknhonor@gmail. Raw Story http://www.rawstory.com remind us that we had just were asked why the sidewalk, 11th anniversary of the com for more details on these Open Left http://www.openleft.com/ moved to the 12th year of we sadly let them know it was war; regrettably, it was upcoming actions. America’s longest war. the only place available… intentionally removed prior ______AlterNet http://www.alternet.org/ The only observance sort of…. to the start of Saturday’s Fleet Lisa is a recently retired Air Force Veteran Independent Media Center working with IVAW SF Chapter of the men and women who All of the chalking Week activities. Looking at http://www.indymedia.org gave their lives on the 11th The Nation http://www.thenation.com/ anniversary of the Afghan war was in chalk, on the Hightower News pavement near Pier 39. The http://www.webactive.com/hightower/ name, hometown and age of Mother Jones http://www.motherjones.com/ each were written in chalk by In These Times http://inthesetimes.com/ military personnel passing by (still in uniform honoring The Guardian their brother(s)), passersby http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/ who lost friends, parents Corporate Watch or peers, individuals of http://www.corpwatch.org/home/PHH.jsp conscience who asked quietly to do their part — stopping to KPFA (94.1 FM) provides excellent coverage on write a name or two from our many issues. You can listen on the internet at list on their way to the Fleet http://www.kpfa.org Week “festivities.” Several Democracy Now! on KPFA, 94.1 FM and asked us to point out where KVMR, 89.5 FM or on the web at: we had chalked their loved http://www.democracynow.org one. The opportunity to acknowledge and honor 8 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 Current GOP neglects own voting rights history Mickey McGuire of the Republicans and 78 Pennsylvania have enjoyed journey would be especially This past year, 11,365 bragged to his Republican percent of the Democrats restrictive laws from taking daunting for the working new Democrats in Florida caucus: “We passed voter ID, Until recently, the supported the Voting Rights effect that conflict with poor.” Most of the people registered to vote, compared which is going to allow Gov. Republican Party was second Act. In the Senate, 94 percent the Voting Rights Act. A who do not possess a current with 159,000 in 2008. The (Mitt) Romney to win the to none in its support for of the Republicans voted for federal court in Texas driver’s license or passport effort of the Republicans to state of Pennsylvania!” There voting rights. The GOP had it, along with 73 percent of voided the Republican- are poor or elderly, and they eliminate Democratic voters are 757,000 Pennsylvanians a long history of encouraging the Democrats. Republicans designed redistricting map tend to be Democrats. was quite successful before who voted in 2008 who minorities to vote. My mother have a justifiably proud because it was drawn with Another federal court the courts intervened to do not possess a current was proud of this tradition. tradition of supporting voting “discriminatory purpose.” unanimously overruled a protect citizens’ right to vote. driver’s license or passport. She was born before women rights. In 2006, the renewal Texas’ population grew new Florida law that would In Ohio, the Republican- A judge in Pennsylvania had the vote. In the Senate, of the Voting Rights Act was by 4.3 million since the restrict periods for early dominated legislature observed that there had 82 percent of Republicans unanimous in the Senate, 98- previous census, adding four voting, a provision that passed rules that shortened been no prosecutions, or and 54 percent of Democrats 0! congressional seats. Almost is particularly useful for extended voting days in even investigations, of voter supported women’s suffrage. But things have changed. 90 percent of the increase blue-collar workers and Democrat-majority counties ID fraud in the state. There She volunteered to help Today, Republican in population is made up of minorities. Another Florida while keeping the extra days was no case of two people the League of Women officials across the country minorities. Yet there were action was the vote to rescind in Republican counties. A showing up at the polls Voters register new voters. are in court, accused of fewer, not more, minority- a state law allowing felons federal court has intervened, claiming to be the same voter. In a republic, voting is violating the Voting Rights controlled districts under to petition for restoration requiring Ohio to return Surely, there must be fundamental. Act. Republican-controlled the legislature’s redistricting. of their voting rights. Sixty to the previous rules that Republicans who recognize The Republicans’ proud state legislatures have A different court in Texas percent of Florida felons are allowed extended voting the contradictions between tradition of expanding introduced 60 bills, many unanimously threw out a minorities. A third Florida everywhere. In Wisconsin, their party’s traditional suffrage was still apparent 100 worded identically, that restrictive voter ID law. law designed to suppress the a photo ID law was passed support for voting rights and years after the Civil War. The are designed to depress the Many counties in Texas don’t vote of Democrat-registered that is designed to suppress the GOP’s current strategy of two great accomplishments vote of minorities and other have a Department of Public voters was a new law that minority and student voters. disenfranchising voters. resulting from the civil groups that tend to vote Safety office where one made voter registration by Two judges have enjoined rights movement were the Democratic. might apply for a photo ID. independent groups like the officials from carrying out the Civil Rights Act of 1964 In the past few weeks, Acquiring a proper ID might League of Women Voters voter ID law. and the Voting Rights Act courts in Texas, Florida, require as much as a 250-mile more difficult. A federal judge Speaker Mike Turzai of of 1965. In the House of Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin and trip. The court said, “Such a has blocked the restrictions. the Pennsylvania State House Representatives, 82 percent Democracy starts with your vote Continued FROM Page 1 lose some self respect; but to not vote for Obama feels like a that takes advantage of their strengths and minimizes their betrayal of loyalty to that young man and his family. And so weaknesses. So, in the class war, the elite, who are very small Obama abandoned his personal belief in single payer. And with respect to voting, I’m not sure yet what I will do, except in numbers but very large in cash, try to make the battlefield then after his election, Obama reneged on his presidential that I’m not going to get stuck in the voting versus novoting something they can purchase with their money. It turns out campaign promise to fight for a public option to insurance quicksand. that an American election is easy to buy. companies (despite the fact that single payer was favored by Keeping the struggle on a battlefield where money is a slight majority of Americans, and the public option was Extricating from the quicksand so influential is an important reason the corporatocracy favored by a large majority of Americans). First, voting versus nonvoting democracy activists need wants us to believe that national elections equal democracy. Ultimately, Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) could to be more respectful of one another. U.S. national election These elections keep many Americans thinking that they well provide insurance companies with more loot than it results may in fact make no difference in terms of senseless have a democracy when they don’t, and they are a relatively exacts from them. Specifically, ACA’s perverted use of the wars, corporate control, democracy and real power, but results inexpensive way for the elite to control that which appears mandate, originally meant to make single payer health care can increase or decrease real suffering for some people, which to be democracy. Perhaps most important, these elections work, is retained in ACA, guaranteeing insurance companies matters a great deal if you are one of those people or you care distract people from thinking about other democracy millions more customers and billions more dollars, making about them. When voting and nonvoting activists recognize battlefields. them even more powerful and difficult to contend with. If the the legitimacy of one another’s positions, they can unify on There are other democracy battlefields not as easily corporatocracy truly opposed ACA, then the corporatocracy- other democracy battlefields. controlled by big money as is the U.S. electoral process. controlled Supreme Court would not have okayed it. Extricating from this quicksand means recognizing Historically, on these battlefields, Americans have, with However, the reality is that very real suffering for some that electoral politics is a narrow part of democracy. The persistence, courage, and solidarity, gained power. And people has been mitigated by ACA. major strategic problem in focusing on electoral politics is having a fair share of power is what democracy is all about. I know one young man who, because of ACA, was not in the overfocus on a battlefield where the elite have such Real power in the workplace is being fought every day by forced to choose between destroying his college grades and an advantage. This results in a lack of focus on democracy worker cooperatives, labor unions, and the self-employed. career plans or financially devastating his family. In college, battlefields where we have a better chance of winning. Battles for power over housing are being fought by housing he got cancer and needed a lengthy leave for treatment. Prior While a case can be made for voting to alleviate certain activists such as City Life and the Neighborhood Assistance to ACA, in order to stay on his parent’s health insurance, he suffering, much bad can come from an exclusive focus on Corporation of America. Battles for power over who would have had to remain enrolled in college, which would electoral politics. The bad is that people: controls the food supply are being fought by family farmers have meant missed classes and F’s that would have killed (1) buy into the elite notion that democracy is all about and others. And other battles for power are being fought his grade point average and trashed his career plans; or he elections; in health care, education, and in nearly every other arena could have dropped out of college to save his GPA, lost his (2) give away their power when they focus only on getting where the corporatocracy reigns. These real battles for power health insurance, and amassed medical bills that would have leaders elected, becoming dependent on those leaders; and democracy are being fought, and sometimes won, and financially devastated his family. And with either choice, (3) forget that the power ordinary Americans have won unpublicized by the corporate media. prior to ACA, his “pre-existing condition” would have made has not been so much in the voting booth but on the streets, So, instead of voter and nonvoter democracy activists it unlikely that he could get affordable health insurance once on the picket lines, in boycotts, and by other withdrawals of arrogance over their position, and instead of them flailing out on his own. The good news is that not only has this young cooperation with the corporatocracy. at one another, let the ruling class tremble at unified voter and man survived cancer but, because of ACA, his health crisis (4) lose sight of the fact that genuine democracy means nonvoter democracy activists who, instead of overfocusing on has not destroyed his college record, his parent’s finances, or having influence over /all /aspects of their lives; electoral politics, join together on winnable battlefields. his future chances of getting his own health insurance. (5) forget that if they have no power in the workplace, in It’s easy for people who are unaffected by an issue that their education, in their buying and selling of goods, in their Bruce E. Levine is a clinical psychologist and an election can actually decide to urge others not to vote and author of”Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists, entertainment, or in all their institutions, then there will never Energizing the Defeated, and Battling argue that participating in national elections maintains the be democracy worthy of the name. the Corporate Elite” His web site is www. illusion of real democracy. brucelevine.net. Voting for Obama, a cheerleader for the military- Elections easy to buy ______industrial complex, expanded drone killing, nuclear power, In war, intelligent combatants attempt to force the fight Source: Counterpunch 10/20/12 http://www.counterpunch.org corporate hegemony, and the surveillance state means that I onto the battlefield of their choosing, seeking the battlefield CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 9 CA DISCLOSE Act: delayed We had a historic victory when AB 1648, the Many thanks are owed to AB 1648 author California DISCLOSE Act, got through the Assembly on Assemblymember Julia Brownley, who is now termed out and an overwhelming vote of 50-26 on August 20th, thanks to running for Congress. She is a true champion of disclosure. the leadership of Assembly Speaker John Pérez and the And many thanks are also owed to the 49 Assembly and signatures of over 100,000 Californians who demanded that Senate co-authors of the bill and to the over 350 organizations the legislature pass it. Speaker Pérez and Assembly Democrats and local leaders that endorsed it. The efforts of national took a strong stand and went on record saying that voters groups like CREDO Action, Signon.org, and Progressives should have the chance to decide whether California needs United also played a major role in getting the over 100,000 real disclosure in political ads. signatures for action, because they know that when the Unfortunately, due to tremendous opposition from some California DISCLOSE Act passes here it will be a beacon for of the largest corporate special interests in the state who disclosure and transparency for the whole country. And we’ll want to keep hiding when they pay for political ads, passage be back -- with a new, even stronger version of the California through the Assembly came too late for AB 1648 to get DISCLOSE Act next year to build on the momentum of AB through the Senate this year. .But your efforts led to a major 1648. Stay tuned! leap forward -- one legislative house of the largest state in the ______nation went on record for the strongest disclosure response to Source: California Clean Money Campaign release 10/1/12http://www. caclean.org/ is the website to check out for more information. Citizens United without a constitutional amendment. It’s time to ‘Draw the Line’ on attacks against reproductive freedom Nancy Northup tactics of those who seek to chip it away. It’s time for women and inspiring. A large cast of luminaries, including Kevin and men to send a strong message to lawmakers across the Bacon, Sandra Bernhard, Billy Crudup, Olympia Dukakis, As we approach the 40th anniversary of the historic U.S. country that we are drawing the line. This is why the Center Jenna Fischer, Caroline Kennedy, Lisa Kudrow, Tea Leoni, Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, it has never been clearer has launched an innovative new campaign called DRAW Audra McDonald, Oliver Platt, Martha Plimpton, Amy what is at stake for women’s constitutional reproductive rights THE LINE, calling on women and men across the country Poehler, Kyra Sedgwick, Sarah Silverman, Meryl Streep, and if the onslaught of anti-choice measures is allowed to continue. to fight back by signing our Bill of Reproductive Rights. Louis Zorich, have signed on to support the campaign and to These laws, including forced ultrasound laws, restrictions The Bill of Reproductive Rights provides an opportunity for speak out via a series of PSAs, the first of which I am proud on which health-care services are covered by insurance plans, Americans to join together and tell lawmakers that they stand to unveil today. and zealous efforts to drive women’s doctors out of practice, strongly behind a woman’s right to safe reproductive health Our goal with this campaign is to collect massive amounts place women at risk of grave harm. These laws demean and care. It states: of signatures, so that we may present them to the President, humiliate women and threaten their autonomy and ability Congress, and lawmakers around the country in order to to make their own decisions. They build significant barriers We the people of the United States hereby assert demonstrate that the majority of Americans believe that these between women and safe reproductive-health-care services, the following as fundamental human rights that no rights are fundamental, inalienable human rights that must be including contraception, pregnancy care, abortion care, and government may deny, and that our governments at guaranteed and defended. Please join us in taking a stand for fertility treatments. every level must guarantee and safeguard for all. women’s reproductive rights in America. Draw the line. Sign For the last 20 years, the Center for Reproductive Rights 1. The right to make our own decisions about our the bill. Share it with everyone you know. And participate in has been dedicated exclusively to advancing reproductive reproductive health and future, free from intrusion or the conversation online by using the hashtag #DrawTheLine. rights and defending them against these attacks. coercion by any government, group, or individual. Or visit http://drawtheline.org. Across the United States, the Center has brought the full 2. The right to a full range of safe, affordable, power of the U.S. Constitution and courts to bear in ensuring and readily accessible reproductive health care, Nancy Northup is the President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights
Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE principles, and formed the immovable leftmost rock of the 1. The 40 year war on drugs must continue, and even American polity. But in the 21st century, that rock has been to purchase private health insurance or be penalized. mention of the prison state is unthinkable. There are 2.3 dissolved by a tide of corporate money. With the rise of a million people in US prisons and jails today, a per capita cohort of black corporate Democrats and a right wing black 2. No minimum wage increases for you, no right to form total that beats the world. Politicians of both parties wag their Democrat in the White House there is no longer even any a union, no right to negotiate or strike if you already have a fingers in multiple directions. But as Michelle Alexander vaguely leftish influence on Democratic party politics. The union, and no enforcement or reform of existing labor laws. points out, if the US prison population were rolled back to House Progressive Caucus is the biggest in Congress, with Again, Republicans have always opposed minimum wage say, only 1 million, the level it was about 1980, this would over seventy members, but is powerless and irrelevant. laws. Obama promised to boost the minimum wage his first mean one million jobs, as contractors, sheriffs, cops, bailiffs, Except for stylistic flourishes, the music they listen to and two years in office, while he still had majorities in the House judges and functionaries of all kinds would have to go out and the color of some faces, the differences between Republicans and Senate. But he didn’t do this, or pass legislation beefing find real jobs. and Democrats seem to exist mostly in political marketing up the right to organize unions, which has been eroded under campaigns and inside our own heads. Democrat and Republican administrations alike. There was a time when black America had its own ______Source: Black Agenda Report 9/2/12 http://www.blackagendareport.com 12 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012
"Over the course of 14 billion years, hydrogen gas transformed ‘Bitter Seeds’ documentary itself into mountains, butterflies, the music of Bach, and you and me. And these energies, coursing reveals tragic toll of GMOs in through us, may indeed renew the face of the earth." FROM JOURNEY OF THE UNIVERSE VIDEO India and must be fertilized and nervousness. This appealing AD PAID BY JOHN MOREARTY watered according to precise heroine makes a story of timetables. And since these global manipulation more farmers lack irrigation personal, and thus more systems, and must instead devastating. Henry Paine Camera Repair depend on not-always- Piece by piece, Bitter predictable rainfall, it’s Seeds lays out the bleak An owner-operated shop. You are welcome incredibly difficult to control situation in India, using to come in and ask questions about our work the success or failure of any interviews with all players, year’s crops. As farmers from condescending seed 147 E. Alpine, Stockton, 95204 bought the Bt cotton in sales reps and callous (209) 942–2821 — open M–F, 1:00–6:00 droves, the conventional Monsanto execs, to activist seed they’d been using — Vandana Shiva, to farmers, Efficient and reliable repair of your camera. which needed only cow dung their families, and village as fertilizer — disappeared old-timers who remember FREE ESTIMATE Claire Thompson a living growing Monsanto’s in as little as one season. when life as an Indian cotton genetically engineered Bt Now, in communities like farmer was not so bitter. Photographs for viewing at the When home-front cotton. They always live close Manjusha’s, it’s virtually Proponents hail GMO Henry Paine Gallery, 147 E. Alpine Ave. battles over GMO labeling, to the edge, but one season’s impossible to buy anything crops as a triumph of science Mon–Fri., 1–6pm. Stockton beekeeping, and the Farm ruined crop can dash hopes but Monsanto’s seed. over nature that could Bill get heated, we can of ever paying back their To pay for seeds, provide a solution to world sometimes lose sight of the loans, much less enabling pesticides, and fertilizer, hunger. But this film reveals fact that Big Ag’s influence their families to get ahead. farmers must take out loans, a society of farmers whose extends far beyond our Manjusha’s father, like many but most banks refuse to deal way of life, and very lives, are 2222 own borders. Micha Peled’s other suicide victims, killed with them, so instead they threatened. If GMOs have documentary Bitter Seeds himself by drinking the turn to moneylenders, who any benefits, it would be hard is a stark reminder of that pesticide he spreads on his charge exorbitant interest to convince me that they fact. The final film in Peled’s crops. rates. Many farmers have outweigh the human costs “globalization trilogy,” Bitter Why is Monsanto seen nothing to offer as collateral portrayed in Bitter Seeds. Seeds exposes the havoc as responsible for these besides their land. If a crop Monsanto has wreaked on fails and they can’t pay Claire Thompson is an farmers’ desperation? The editorial assistant at rural farming communities in company began selling Bt back the loans, they lose Grist. India, and serves as a fierce cotton in India in 2004, after everything. rebuttal to the claim that a U.S. challenge at the WTO The film offers a glimmer Action: Come join us for genetically modified seeds forced India to adopt seed of hope in Manjusha, an a free showing of the can save the developing patenting, effectively allowing aspiring journalist in a world documentary film ‘Bitter world. Monsanto to monopolize the where farmers’ daughters Seeds’ ~ Tuesday, October The film follows a market. Bt cotton seeds were aren’t exactly encouraged 30th @ the Peace & Justice Pacific plucky 18-year-old girl — and still are — advertised to pursue independent Center [231 Bedford Rd., named Manjusha, whose heavily to illiterate Indian careers. Scenes of her first Stockton], 7 p.m. — 9 p.m. Complementary father was one of the quarter- farmers, who have bought earnest attempts at reporting Info: Andy Lane: adlane@ million farmers who have the company’s promises of are intimate and touching sbcglobal.net; Vinh Pham: committed suicide in India high yields and the material (“I had other questions to [email protected] Medicine Center in the last 16 years. The wealth they bring. What ask, but I forgot”), and her ______motivations for these suicides the farmers didn’t know commitment to telling the Source: Grist magazine http:// serving Stockton since 1984 follow a familiar pattern: until it was too late is those story of her family’s and grist.org/industrial-agriculture/ bitter-seeds-documentary-reveals- Yi—Po Anthony Wu, M.D., M.P.H. Teresa M. Chen, Ph.D. Farmers become trapped in a seeds require an expensive her community’s struggle Medical Director, Internal Medicine Program Coordinator tragic-toll-of-gmos-in-india/ cycle of debt trying to make regimen of pesticides, always shines through her Dorel Rotar, L.Ac., MTOM Brian Chee C. Loh, L.Ac., O.M.D. Shu—Chuan Susan Wang, L.Ac., Ph.D, O.M.D. Licensed Acupuncturists, Herbalists Road to Victory The Best of Eastern and Western Medicine Don’t let $35 Million Kill GMO right-to-know forces consumer demand for (especially the internet for Health and Healing GMO Labeling in Califor- enjoyed a similar lead in organic and non-GMO foods, and social media) and our nia! an Oregon Ballot Initiate, and dramatically decreasing grassroots forces on the • Internal Medicine • Acupuncture & Moxibustion • East & West Herbs • but were defeated by a market share for genetically ground, leafleting shoppers Chinese Health Exercises (Tai Chi & Qi Gong) With less than a month massive barrage of TV ads engineered foods and crops. at supermarkets and remaining until election day, by Monsanto and corporate But now is not the time for contacting likely voters over Nov. 6, the mass media are agribusiness. Could $35 overconfidence. Monsanto, the telephone. Interested? Shop at the Herb Store reporting that Prop 37, the million of ads, flooding the Big Ag, and Biotech are Contact http://www. Specializing in Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedies California ballot initiative to California airwaves, mean flooding the airwaves in carighttoknow.org/join wide variety of western herbs & nutritional supplements label genetically engineered the end of GMO labeling in California with $35 million ______imported teas vitamins & minerals health bars foods and ban the routine California, too? worth of misleading ads and Source: Organic Bytes #350: Road to Victory 10/11/12 a publication essential oils healthcare & educational books food industry practice of As a growing number outright lies, designed to over—the—counter medications marketing GMO-tainted of Organic Consumers Association, of commentators point out, confuse California voters. 6771 South Silver Hill Dr, Finland, Store Hours: Monday—Friday 9 a.m.— 5 p.m. foods as “natural,” is likely victory for the GMO right to MN 55603 218-226-4164 on the road to victory. But know forces in California will Action: Our two most 645 West Harding Way • 464—4800 could $35 million in ads have global consequences, powerful weapons are Visit our website @ http://www.wuway.com change that? Years ago, dramatically increasing the alternative media CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 13
Time to eliminate cattle grazing on BEST REMODELING SERVICES high elevation forest lands BY MASTER CRAFTSMAN DAVID BEST John Buckley, Central Sierra Environmental public health thresholds. Cows clearly pollute water and make Lic # 541562 resource center (CSERC), Executive Director it unsafe to drink or even to have recreational bodily contact. Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels. Patio’s built. Yet the Forest Service continues to allow cattle to graze at the Doors hung right...and every possible repair It is unusual for our Center to advocate strongly for a high elevation areas of the national forest where the growing around your home. Free Estimates. complete end to a long-time historical use of resources. But season is short, where soils are very shallow and vulnerable to Numerous satisfied costumers. enough is enough. erosion, and where small tributary streams have minimal flow The upper elevations of our mountainous region contain to dilute the cattle-induced pathogenic bacteria. WE SAVE, REUSE, RESTORE (209) 368-2378 literally thousands of small stringer meadows and hundreds CSERC believes it is time to remove all livestock from of more obvious open meadows. The majority of these areas the upper elevation areas of the Stanislaus National Forest have either seasonal streamlets draining down through them and from other national forests in California and the West. or they actually have tributary streams that flow downslope Livestock grazing loses hundreds of thousands of dollars for to form the major streams and rivers that provide water taxpayers on the Stanislaus National Forest each year (and Roger K.Lang, for millions of people. In these upper elevations, the snow many millions for taxpayers when considering costs across may not melt most years until July or August. Meadows are many national forests). The only people to benefit from the D.D.S., Inc. often wet and boggy for much of the season. They are easily livestock grazing are the 20+ families or businesses that 3031 W. March Lane, Suite 318E damaged by the sharp hooves of livestock. own the permits to graze cattle on the Stanislaus Forest. Yet (Go north on I—5, exit March Lane, go west to “The Fountain” and turn right) Each summer season, thousands of cows are released literally hundreds of thousands of forest visitors end up being (209) 956—0601 onto the national forest. In most cases the ranchers do not exposed to contaminated water, or stepping in cow patties herd the cows for the majority of the summer. Instead, Fax: (209) 952—8845 on trails in the high country, or finding meadows torn up by Email: [email protected] scattered groups of cows are turned loose to meander across cattle hooves. For wildlife, for water quality, for recreation, Web: www.drlangdds.com a grazing “allotment” (a 20,000 or 30,000 acre permit area). and for scenic values, cows should be removed from higher Many times cows find lush meadows with flowing streams elevations on public lands. and they congregate there for days or weeks. By the time they With this Director’s Report, CSERC now calls upon leave, meadows are often heavily grazed, stream banks are Region 5 and the Stanislaus National Forest to move toward often chiseled, crumbled, or pocked, and the streams may be balanced livestock management. We believe it is reasonable highly contaminated with fecal coliform. These impacts are to continue to allow livestock to graze in the middle and bad enough in lower and middle elevation meadows, but at lower elevation lands in those allotments where cows are not the higher elevations, cattle impacts are especially damaging Publications clearly causing significant damage to resources. But on all Technical Writing & Editing / Graphic Design / Web Sites to the forest ecosystem. lands 7,000’ elevation and higher, CSERC urges the Forest Throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall Service to begin a 5-year phase out of all livestock grazing in grazing season, CSERC staff monitor meadows and stream order to protect wildlife values, vegetation, scenic resources, areas. We take photographs, measure meadow grasses, and and recreation. InfoWright PO Box 162644 document harmful impacts from livestock. For years we It is time to eliminate cows from the high elevations Sacramento 95816 have submitted detailed photo reports to the Forest Service, where they cause the greatest ecological harm on top of losing documenting not only that season’s direct damage to 916.444—5118 money for taxpayers. This is the modern era. Managing [email protected] meadows and riparian areas, but also showing the cumulative public lands at an economic loss to allow historic livestock impacts of grazing impacts year after year. The Forest Service grazing that damages the forest ecosystem is simply no longer staff routinely thanks us for the report, but no management acceptable. Now is the time to move in the right direction and changes are made to halt the damage. to move past favoritism for a special interest. Remove cows Over the past three years CSERC staff utilized State from above 7,000’ elevation. Water Board water quality testing protocols to sample streams ______in the Stanislaus Forest. Before cows arrived, water quality Source: CSERC News Main Page July 2012 CSERC, PO Box 396, Twain was consistently high. Once cows showed up, fecal coliform Harte, CA 95383, (209) 586-7440 http://cserc.org/main/news/index.html levels rose rapidly until water was often contaminated beyond Emulating Jesus Christ’s Radical Acceptance of All People
Come Celebrate with the Immunity sealed: Supreme Court Episcopal Church of St. Anne 1020 W. Lincoln Road Sunday Mass, 8 & 10am Stockton, CA 95207 rejects challenge to telecom spying (childcare provided at 10am) 209-473-2313 Tuesday 6:30am Mass Wednesday 7:00pm Youth Group Telecommunications 2008 law brought by rights writes that the decision is wake of 9/11, Binney felt Thursday 6pm Healing Mass giants will continue to receive groups Electronic Frontier another example of the elite he had to leave the agency immunity for helping the Foundation and the ACLU who “must not be and are not “because it was a direct U.S. government engage who charged that the practice subject to the rule of law.” violation of the constitutional in widespread warrantless infringed upon the rights of That the domestic rights of everybody in the domestic spying, the U.S. U.S. citizens and that telecom spying was in violation of country. Plus it violated the Supreme Court decided on giants like AT&T, Spring and federal law was explained pen register law and Stored Tuesday. Verizon had violated federal by National Security Agency Communications Act, the “After 11 years and laws. whistleblower William Electronic Privacy Act, the multiple congressional Reuters reports that Binney, who spent nearly intelligence acts of 1947 and reports, public admissions Richard Wiebe, the lead four decades at the agency, to 1978. I mean, it was just and media coverage, the only lawyer for the customers /Democracy Now! earlier this this whole series of, plus all place that this program hasn’t whose communications had year. Binney says that “after the laws covering federal been seriously considered been accessed, said, “It’s one 9/11, all the wraps came off” communications governing is in the courts,” said Cindy more example of the court and that “between the White telecoms. I mean, all those Cohn, the legal director stepping back from taking House and NSA and CIA, laws were being violated, of the Electronic Frontier any role in enforcing the rule they decided to eliminate the including the Constitution.” Foundation. The Court of law in the war on terror.” protections on U.S. citizens” ______yesterday issued the blow to Former constitutional in gathering communications Source: Common Dreams 10/10/12, http://www.commondreams.org civil liberties when it rejected lawyer and /Guardian/ from U.S. citizens. As the to hear a challenge to a columnist Glenn Greenwald program changed in the 14 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012
Operating a Successful Five simple realities missing Business in a Down Economy! from the campaign Free and confidential business consulting actually) and gas formations cultural imperialism that Affordable training (no charge for many workshops) to frack, and mountain tops caused the problem was . well Call the SBDC to see how we can assist you to be blown to smithereens . stupid. And costly. Throw 56 S. Lincoln Street • Stockton, CA 95203 for dirty oil, gas and coal. in the “collateral damage” 209—954—5089 Not to mention campaign -- that is, civilians killed, that www.sbdc.deltacollege.org contributions to be had. is an inevitable part of any military intervention, and the 3. Regulations are good actions we’re taking to control for the economy terrorism are tantamount to J. F. DONALDSON Heresy? Well, consider setting up an assembly line to TIRES • BRAKES • ALIGNMENT this, right now, ten-year mass produce terrorists. All Russian government-issued Committed to excellence in customer for the bargain price of some service for nearly 100 years. bonds pay over 7%, and $4.4 trillion. Indian government bonds Bridgestone • Michelin pay nearly 9%, while ten- 5. Government is an year bonds issued by the essential partner in Auto Repair • Oil service US pay less than 2%. Yet creating jobs and Monday-Friday 7-5 folks are lining up to buy prosperity It’s conventional Phone: 466-4393 Fax: 209-466-2310 US bonds. Why? The rule of law. A complex set of wisdom these days that big 240 N. Hunter St. @ Miner, Stockton 95202 regulations meant to assure gubmint’ cain’t do nothin’ a level playing field makes right. Odd then, that the investing in the US desirable. two most successful large And it’s not just government economies in the world both Tiger’s Den Kid School issued bonds. Investment in feature governments who private US securities fetch a play a substantial role their • Strength Based Education premium, too. Regulation of country’s economy. China, • 1:6 Teacher/Child Ratio the financial sector assures a which has been growing • Home Enviroment relatively level playing field, faster for longer than anyone, Exceptional has a planned economy. And Child Diaper Service Available transparent markets, and Baby Care when the Great Recession Free meals provided—pesticide a responsible approach to struck in 2008, they instituted & trans fat free, locally grown managing risk when investing a huge stimulus program • K-8 Professional Tutoring other people’s money. 209-467-0171 John Atcheson politics and elections for the But for the last 30 years conceived and funded by • Infants & Toddlers [email protected] • Preschool • Extended Care last three years? Because we’ve been dismantling the government. Germany, The campaign lurches Republicans are using this wealth-generating through it’s Fraunhofer on, the ads stream endlessly the deficit as a pretext to infrastructure for the sake Society, uses government into our living rooms, the gut programs they don’t of ideological purity or seed money to direct vast robo-calls clamor incessantly like; Democrats are inept, sheer graft. Democrats investments in applied Membership includes a subscription to Audubon Magazine & for our dollars, candidates get complicit and/or stupid; and Republicans have research, research that has Hoot Owl. bought and sold, the press and the press is content to been actively pandering to enabled Germany to have Make checks payable to ... National Audubon Society. obediently acts as if there’s repeat mindlessly whatever plutocrats willing to pay for a high-wage manufacturing Send to: Audubon substantive stuff going on, absurdities politicians spout. the right to get short-term sector that competes with PO Box 7755, Stockton, CA 95207 and the real issues of our gains at the risk of destroying developing nations relying times go unaddressed. This 2. Tackling Climate on cheap labor. Odder still ____$35 Individual ____$38 Family ____$20 Student ____$21 Senior- long-term prospects. And is what passes for an election, Change would create hey, if you’re a plutocrat, that the three times the US jobs and stimulate the NAME______PH#______these days. Let’s look at some why care if you kill the goose tried the laissez-faire policies economy of the realities that are lost in who lays the golden egg? espoused by the big gubmint’ It turns out, investments ADDRESS______this money-fueled nonsense. You can always find another haters we got the three in energy efficiency and goose overseas. biggest economic collapses in CITY______STATE______ZIP______1. Cutting the deficit is renewable energy create our history. And even odder no big deal more jobs per dollar invested 4. Occupying foreign that this bit of conservative Questions about Audubon? Call Dave Wagner 943—6997. The deficit hysteria may and per unit of energy countries to prevent dogma survives its counter- www.sanjoaquinaudubon.org well be the biggest non-issue produced than fossil fuel terrorism causes factual history. ever to reach a headline. Yes, investments. If you think terrorism Join our it’s a big number, but as the about it, this means that You don’t see Switzerland John Atcheson is author LOCAL Congressional Progressive each dollar invested in fossil or Austria or Canada getting of the novel, A Being Darkly Audubon Caucus showed in their fuel supply or infrastructure targeted by foreign terrorists. Wise, an eco-thriller and Book Budget for All, we can cut instead of clean energy There’s a reason for that. One of a Trilogy centered on the deficit relatively easily, actually destroys jobs. Clean Nearly two decades ago in global warming. His writing using policies the majority energy also helps reduce his excellent book, /Jihad vs. has appeared in The New Law offices of of Americans support. No dangerous trade imbalances, McWorld/, Benjamin Barber York Times, the Washington Ann M. Cerney need to eviscerate Medicare, contributes to avoiding some correctly forecast the impact Shellie Lott Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Langley Kreuze Medicaid, Social Security, $1.3 trillion in health care of cultural imperialism San Jose Mercury News and costs annually, and protects Attorneys at Law Pell Grants, unemployment, fueled by globalization on other major newspapers. 42 N. Sutter Street, Suite 40, Stockton job retraining, economic ecosystems from acid rain, fundamentalist societies Atcheson’s book reviews are 104 N. School St. #205, Lodi stimulus, all the investments toxic pollution and visual rooted in tribal cultures. featured on Climateprogess. 948—9384 or 369—1333 that help the US economy impairment. Oh, and it also In a sense, 9/11 was a org. would help us mitigate the • Social Security • Probate recover from recessions, and predictable outcome of this ______helps create an equitable most cataclysmic disaster Source: Common Dreams 10/12/12 • Wills • Trusts collision. Doubling down on society in which everyone has ever to face humanity. But the collision by combining http://www.commondreams.org
a shot at prosperity. So, why hey, why talk about all that? military imperialism with Se Habla Espanol • Thai • Vietnamese has the deficit dominated There’s oil to drill (tar sands the ongoing economic and CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 15
The T is not silent Transgender remembrance for a better future secretary to a Stockton minister. One day as she was walking bullied by the other children because she had chosen to wear home from work, a car pulled up beside her and three men her Cinderella dress to school that day without her parents kidnapped and gang raped her in a house in Stockton. The knowing. Her teacher chided her and demanded that she go men told her when they were through with her they would home and change into boy’s clothes. Ultimately her mother “put her out of her misery.” She was able to escape only learned about what it means to be transgender. She reached because she crawled out of a broken bedroom window, cutting out to the Stockton Transgender Alliance and we were able her leg severely. A passing Stockton Police Officer saw her to help her draft a letter. That letter was sent to the parents of running down the street, naked and bleeding, and wrapped every child in the class, as well as to the teacher and Principal his coat around her and took her to San Joaquin County of the school. That six year old has been attending school Hospital where she received treatment for her wounds. The every day this year. She is happier than ever before and there next day she was taken to a shelter where she would be safe have been no more incidents of bullying. and comforted until she could resume a “normal” life. In September 2011, Brianna Cole went out on her north Remembrance Stockton porch to smoke a cigarette when a car pulled up These are just a few of the reasons why Stockton needs in front of her house and two men shot her to death. Her Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). The first TDOR mother, who was the only other family member that was was held in San Francisco in 1998 to memorialize Rita home at the time, found her body moments later. Her mother Hester, a transgender African American woman who was suffered a mental breakdown and was hospitalized for a murdered in Allston, MA on November 28, 1998. According month before she was released, no longer a threat to herself. to Wikipedia, in 2010, TDOR was held in 185 cities, an in But the nightmares continue to this day. more than 20 countries. In August, 2012, there was a knock on the door of Stockton will have its 4th annual Transgender Day of Brenda’s apartment. She opened the door, and a man she Remembrance November 18 at First Unitarian Universalist knew only in passing stabbed her in the abdomen, jumped Church at 2737 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204, at 7:00 on a bicycle, and rode off before anyone could stop him. The pm. The event is free and open to the public. Please come and manager of her complex happened to see the incident from invite your friends and neighbors. It is a time to remember afar, and came running to see what happened. The manager those who have died, just because they refused to live a lie. It called the police and waited with Brenda until the police and is a time to grieve our losses and consider how we all might Elena Kelley paramedics arrived. Brenda was bleeding heavily from the be able to stop the violence. wound. When the police arrived they asked Brenda for ID It is also a time to celebrate the gains we have made, the On May 19, 2007 at 7:50 am Ariana Dibble, was found and she produced her driver’s license which still had her birth progress nationally, statewide, and locally. It’s time to join beaten and unconscious in downtown Stockton in the bushes name. She told the officers that she lives fulltime as a woman together as people who celebrate diversity, not fear it. We at the corner of Miner Avenue and Sierra Street. She was and that her name is Brenda. come together as people who not only believe in equality for taken to San Joaquin County Hospital where she died without Instead of honoring her request, the officers and all, but who work to make equality a reality for all those who regaining consciousness on May 23. The Dibble family, paramedics made fun of her and refused to use feminine are excluded. joined by anti-violence organizations, asked that her murder pronouns (she, her) or her true name. Because the first Someday, all these stories will be in the history books, be treated as a hate crime. Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Dibble, responders were so disrespectful toward her, Brenda refused and children in that day will be shocked that such things ever 33, spent most of her life in Stockton, where she graduated to talk to them, and thus the police have no leads on the happened in their home town. But until that day comes, we from Franklin High School. At the time of her death, Dibble man who attempted to murder her. She was released from need to light our candles and mourn our dead. (Some names was working as a nurse at San Joaquin General Hospital and the hospital a week later and went into hiding, fearing that in this article have been changed to protect the victims of Kaiser Permanente. She worked at March’s Liquor Mart to the perpetrator might find her and finish what he tried to do violent crimes.) before. Brenda is in a safe house now and is getting better pay her way through college and become a registered nurse. Rev. Sr. Elena Kelly, OSH is a minister to the Dibble lived in San Francisco briefly after high school, where daily, but she still fears for her life, and she fears the Stockton people of Stockton and the Central Valley, and she was active in the Bay area LGBT community, before police who were supposed to be there to protect and serve is the Treasurer and Volunteer Coordinator at her, but instead made her ordeal even worse. San Joaquin Pride Center. She can be reached at returning to Stockton. [email protected]. In May 2011, Jenny Rose moved to Stockton from In October, 2011, a six year old child left home to walk to Oakland to get away from the violence. She found work as a elementary school. When she got there she was harassed and Corporate media gets behind Romney, big time Marc Ash replacements — in China. further? They are not. that there had been a major money. Ratings, readership “FiveThirtyEight blog,” does Bain took control of Sensata Romney’s tax returns, gaffe by Obama, like Gerald and advertising rates all soar, a good job of putting the polls Does Romney still have Technologies in 2006. or the lack thereof, were a Ford’s blasphemous dismissal particularly when the game in perspective. bushels of money stashed Romney still holds an interest big news item up until three of the most fundamental is close in the fourth quarter. Effectively promulgating away in offshore accounts in Sensata and still appears weeks ago. At that point Mr. precept of the cold war when But not if it’s a blowout. If one a faux voter stampede for Mr. in the Cayman Islands? He to share in the financial Romney did American voters he argued in his 1976 debate candidate has a comfortable Romney amounts to a very certainly appears to, with rewards, according to Think the grand favor of releasing with Jimmy Carter, “There lead, it is in the best interest of large campaign contribution. $30 million in Bain Capital Progress. TP points to a one year’s returns, 2011’s. is no Soviet domination of news reporting organizations, The US corporate media funds alone in the Cayman Washington Post report that That was good enough for Eastern Europe.” Or a gotcha driven by the bottom line, to should either report it as Islands, according to Vanity “under Romney’s leadership every major news outlet in moment by Romney like depict a tightening race. It’s a donation or stop it. Mitt Fair. How bizarre that no Bain invested in a series the US. They dropped the Lloyd Bentsen’s “Senator as easy picking cherries, or Romney is utterly transparent one in the corporate media of firms that specialized in story like a bad habit, never [Quayle], you’re no Jack convenient facts. There were in his greed — let’s get back to is talking about that. Perhaps relocating jobs.” That should to touch it again. But the story Kennedy” stunner. But two major polls released talking about that. they don’t have time with all matter; it should be central is there just the same, waiting beneath the bluster, nothing. Monday and Tuesday, a the attention they are paying to the US media’s reporting for the attention the nation So why then the media Pew Research poll showing Marc Ash was formerly the founder to the Obama Style Points of the 2012 presidential race. deserves that it be given. crucifixion of Obama? Romney ahead by 4 points and Executive Director Deficiency Scandal. It is not. It is worthy of note Part of the problem with and a Gallup tracking poll of Truthout, and is Heard the one about that Romney is as corporate- Close elections are the influence of money in showing Obama ahead by 4 now founder and the the factory in Freeport, good for business Editor of Reader friendly as any candidate elections is that all players in points. Which one did you Supported News. Illinois, that Bain Capital who has ever run for the Listening to the the game are affected by it, the hear about? For the sake ______is closing? The workers are US presidency. Why should media chatter after the first corporate media included. of accuracy Nate Silver, Source: Reader Supported News being forced to train their the corporate press look any presidential debate of 2012 Presidential elections are big in The New York Times’ 10/10/12 www.rsnorg.org you might well have thought 16 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 Remembering the big, long lie about Iraq was duped. They don’t want of Congress were not duped; the bombmakers and war us to ask questions, because they voted against going profiteers have gained from they don’t want to be held to war with Iraq. The Bush a decade of war. The elite accountable. Those repeating Administration lied to the chattering class of State the myth that America was Congress and the American Department sponsored duped are perpetuating people to sell its war. The spokespersons from so- one of the biggest lies in intelligence community called “independent” think American history. wasn’t duped, The American tanks have also benefitted. Iraq did not pose a people were duped and we This professional chattering threat to the United States. are still paying the price. class receives funding and Iraq had no Weapons of Why did they lie? After attention by hyping threats Mass Destruction. Iraq ten years, we have never and war. Who else benefited had absolutely nothing held anyone accountable from the war? to do with 9/11. We were for the lies. Perhaps it would America needs a period Dennis Kucinich a threat to the American before our intervention. not duped. We were not be useful to look at who of truth and reconciliation. people. Resentment against the fooled. It was obvious at the benefited from the war. The How can we avoid future wars Ten years ago, on The war in Iraq will United States has made time. The evidence was in Neoconservatives in the Bush if we don’t understand how October 10, 2002, the ultimately cost the United pursuing peace more difficult. publicly available reports Administration wanted to consent was manufactured United States House of States five trillion dollars. And we still have thousands for anyone who cared to show the world American for a war against Iraq? Representatives made one of Four thousand, four hundred, of armed contractors in Iraq look. I personally distributed power by destroying an the most calamitous mistakes eighty eight Americans were — paid for by U.S. taxpayers. this memo to Members of enemy. They thought Dennis Kucinich is US Congressman from of a generation. Congress, killed. Tens of thousands of Many are trying to Congress. In it I address the that American power and Ohio and a former with willful blindness, voted Americans were injured. At rewrite the history of the false justifications for war, American bombs could presidential candidate to attack, invade and occupy least one million innocent Iraq war. The people who point-by-point and establish redraw the maps and ensure in the United States. a sovereign, oil-rich nation in Iraqis were killed. Iraq has led us into a war based on the truth. I made the case in American hegemony and ______Source: Common Dreams 10/10/12 the Middle East that did not become a home to Al Qaida lies want us to believe that an hour-long presentation on American access to cheap oil http://www.commondreams.org attack us and did not pose which it certainly was not the intelligence community the House floor. 133 Members for a new century. Certainly Cutting Pentagon waste: big bucks 4,047 in stock when 90 more were to be ordered from Sikorski.
Losing track of leases The Department of Defense incurred $720 million in late fees for failing to return shipping containers when their leases were up. The hundreds of millions in late fees were in addition to the cost of the actual leases. Senator Tom Carper, as chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management recently wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, urging the Department to find ways to keep better track of leased property. (http://www.carper.senate. gov/public/index.cfm/2011/12/senatorsurge-pentagon-to- address-millions-in-late-fees-from-leased-shipping-containers)
Losing track of money The Commission on Wartime Contracting reported last fall that there was an estimated $31 to $60 billion in DOD waste and fraud related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Commission further described these losses as largely avoidable. The Inspector General issued a report specifically on payments made to contractors and others in Afghanistan, without information, controls, or reporting. (http://www. Cost overruns describing how the Army has overpaid millions of dollars for dodig.mil/Audit/reports/fy12/DODIG-2012-023.pdf) The Department of Defense (DoD) has 98 major weapons spare parts. For an $8.00 helicopter door part, for example, systems in its “portfolio.” According to the Government the Army paid $284.00. In another instance, the Army paid Shoddy bookkeeping Accountability Office (GAO), the cost of those weapons has five times too much for a $1,500 rotor part that was already The DoD Inspector General recently released a report grown by $135 billion beyond initial estimates, just in the last in stock in military warehouses. Sikorski, the manufacturer on the Department’s inability to recoup up to $200 million in two years. More than half of the jump in cost comes from of the helicopter, was allowed to purchase contract items delinquent debts due to poor, but basic, record keeping. As increased prices, rather than increased quantities. The Joint from the inventory held by the Defense Logistics Agency, of June 2009, contractors owed DoD $3.1 billion. About $200 Strike Fighter program, for example, which is intended as a and resell them to the Corpus Christi Army Depot to meet million of the uncollected debt was not in dispute and was replacement for all the jets used by the Air Force, Navy and contract requirements, at an 85% markup. Sikorski made considered collectible, but DoD offices only had complete Marines, was a $284 billion program – and is now expected an excessive profit of nearly $1 billion between 2008 and information on the contractors for about half of the accounts. to cost $34 billion more. The GAO reports that 80 percent 2010. (http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/fy12/RIB%20 (http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/fy11/11-084.pdf) of the weapons programs are paying higher unit prices than DODIG-2012-004.pdf) originally bid. Even when a program is being reduced or The DOD Inspector General and the GAO estimate that, The Pentagon has lost, wasted, and misspent more phased out, the costs stay high. Orders for copies of the F-22 at any given time, there is roughly a billion dollars’ worth of than the total budgets of 5 other federal departments: The Raptor were reduced by 70 percent, but total acquisition costs spare parts on order that the Department simply does not combined FY2011 budgets of the Departments of State, decreased by only 14 percent. Per unit costs nearly tripled, need, but the Pentagon inventory system hasn’t allow for Interior, Commerce, Justice and Energy equaled about $97 from $139 million to $412 million per airplane. (http://www. the order to be changed. This is in addition to about $ 5 billion. According to the above reports, a one-year loss for gao.gov/assets/320/317081.pdf.) billion worth of unneeded spare parts already in the military the Pentagon from these identified problems equaled about warehouses. (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10469.pdf) $102 billion. Losing track of inventory Guide Assembly for Blackhawk Helicopter, $1,449.41 each. ______The DoD Inspector General released two reports last year Source: Friends Committee on National Legislation February 2012 245 2nd Street NE Washington D.C. 20002 202-547-6000 www.fcnl.org/issues/budget CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 17 The real reason the US fears Iranian nukes way for the regime surviving, the primary objects of Department official Philip them at will, whether to in their mind, is having a deterrence and it is states like Zelikow said that if Iraq were change their regimes or nuclear weapon, because Iraq, Iran and North Korea permitted to keep its WMDs, achieve other objectives. In when you have a nuclear who most wish to develop “they now can deter us from other words, Iranian nuclear weapon, nobody attacks deterrent capabilities.” attacking them, because they weapons could be used to you.” He added: “The surest really can retaliate against prevent wars — ones started Graham added that deterrent to American us.” In 2008, Democratic by the US — and that, above the second regime goal is action is a functioning Senator Chuck Robb and all, is what we must fear. “influence”, that “people nuclear arsenal. To be sure, GOP Senator Dan Coates Whatever one thinks of listen to you” when you have the prospect of a nuclear wrote an incredibly hawkish Iran, the signal the US has sent a nuclear weapon. In other Iran is a nightmare. But it Washington Post op-ed all to the world is unmistakable: words, we cannot let Iran is less a nightmare because but demanding an attack any rational government acquire nuclear weapons of the high likelihood that on Iran, and wrote: “[A]n should acquire nuclear because if they get them, we Tehran would employ its Islamic Republic of Iran with weapons. The Iranians can no longer attack them weapons or pass them on to nuclear weapons capability undoubtedly watched the US when we want to and can terrorist groups — although would be strategically treatment of two dictators no longer bully them in their that is not beyond the realm untenable. It would threaten who gave up their quest for own region. of possibility — and more U.S. national security . While nuclear weapons — Iraq’s Graham’s answer is because of the constraining a nuclear attack is the worst- Saddam Hussein and Libya’s consistent with what various effect it threatens to impose case scenario, Iran would not Muammar Gaddafi — and American policy elites have upon US strategy for the need to employ a nuclear drew the only reasoned said over the years about greater Middle East. The arsenal to threaten US lesson: the only way a Glenn Greenwald in which sanctions were America’s enemies generally danger is that Iran will interests. Simply obtaining country can protect itself harming ordinary Iranians. and Iran specifically: the true ‘extend’ its deterrence, either the ability to quickly from US attack, other than What is the real reason Ayman Hossam Fadel threat of nuclear proliferation directly or de facto, to a assemble a nuclear weapon full-scale obeisance, is to that so many people in was present and recorded is that it can deter American variety of states and other would effectively give Iran a acquire nuclear weapons. both the US and Israeli the exchange. Answering aggression. Thomas actors throughout the region. nuclear deterrent.” That is precisely why the governments are so desperate that question, Graham Donnelly of the American This would be an ironic echo The No 1 concern of US and Israel are so eager to to stop Iranian proliferation? praised President Obama Enterprise Institute and the of the extended deterrence American national security ensure they do not. Every now and then, for threatening Iran with New American Century thought to apply to US allies planners appears to be that ______leaders reveal the real reason: war over nuclear weapons, Project has long been crystal during the cold war.” countries may be able to Source: Guardian UK 10/3/12 http://www.guardian.co.uk Iranian nuclear weapons decreed that “the Iranian clear that this is the real As Jonathan Schwarz has prevent the US from attacking would prevent the US from people should be willing to reason for opposing Iranian extensively documented, this attacking Iran at will, and that suffer now for a better future,” nuclear capability: is what US policy elites have is what is intolerable. The and then — invoking the trite “When their missiles said over and over. In 2001, latest person to unwittingly neocon script that is hauled are tipped with warheads Defense Secretary Donald reveal the real reason for out whenever new wars are carrying nuclear, biological, Rumsfeld warned: “Several viewing an Iranian nuclear being justified — analogized or chemical weapons, even of these [small enemy capacity as unacceptable Iranian nukes to Hitler in the weak regional powers nations] are intensely hostile was GOP Senator Lindsey 1930s. But in the middle of have a credible deterrent to the United States and Graham, one of the US’s most his answer, he explained the regardless of the balance of are arming to deter us from Contact Your Reps reliable and bloodthirsty real reason Iranian nuclear conventional forces. In the bringing our conventional or warmongers. weapons should be feared: post cold war era, America nuclear power to bear in a Pres. Barack H. Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Early October, Graham “They have two goals: one, and its allies, rather than the regional crisis.” NW, Washington DC 20500. 202—456—1414; www.whitehouse.gov was asked about the way regime survival. The best Soviet Union, have become In 2002, State Sen. Barbara Boxer, 1700 Montgomery St, Ste 240, San Francisco, CA 94111. 415—403—0100; 112 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510. US, Israel have plan 202—224—3553, [email protected] Like bermuda Sen. Dianne Feinstein, One Post Street, Ste 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104. 415—249—0707; 331 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510. for joint ‘surgical 202—224—3841, [email protected] grass... Rep. Jerry McNerney (D—11th District) 2222 Grand Canal Blvd #7, strike’ against Iran Stockton, CA 95207. 209—476—8552. Fax 209—476—8587. 312 Cannon Obama has a military the administration should House Office Bldg., Washington DC 20515; [email protected], option plan against Iran -- a communicate its planned Where ever there’s a church sing, 925—833—0643, http://www.JerryMcNerney.org a group of one protesting, “joint U.S.-Israeli surgical military option that would Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D—District 18) 137 E. Weber Ave, Stockton, CA strike,” and he should be carried out by either a waving a banner, writing a poem, 95203. 209—946—0361, 503 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, communicate it to diffuse joint operation or the U.S. reading a book, walking across town, DC 20515, 202—225—6131. comments from Romney alone. Quoting an unnamed there, or there, or there. that he has not been tough source, Rothkopf says that Rep. Dan Lungren (R—District 3), 2262 Rayburn House Office Building, enough on Iran and has not the “surgical strike” would Seeing, hearing, being Washington DC 20515. 202—225—5716. Local office: 2334 Gold Meadow issued a “red line,” according only take “a couple of hours” together through distance, Way, Ste 220, Gold River, CA 95670. 916—859—9906. to a report published and would be carried out by we walk alone with each other. Monday in /Foreign Policy/. an air campaign of bombers Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 2201 C St, NW Washington, DC David Rothkopf, CEO and and drones. Because this An epic in chapters, true through many lives, 20520 editor at large of /Foreign mission would be “more We can see what you see, Policy/ and former Clinton limited and doable,” it will We can want what you want, Gov. Jerry Brown, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. 916—445—2841 administration official, writes be more palatable to the We will do what we can, after you have gone. State Sen. Lois Wolk (District 5), 31 E Channel St, Room 440, Stockton, that in light of Republican American public, and its God, we’ll miss that hat. contender Mitt Romney’s threat should be used as a CA 95202. 209—948—7930; State Capitol, Rm 4032, Sacramento, CA comments as well as doubts “useful diplomatic tool,” Bruce Giudici 95814. 916—651—4005 from Obama supporters Rothkopf adds. Assemblyperson Kathleen Galgiani (District 17), 31 E. Channel St., Rm. about his willingness to take ______306, Stockton CA 95202, 209—948—7479 military action against Iran, Source: Common Dreams 10/9/12 http://www.commondreams.org 18 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012
Thanksgiving morning Susan B. Anthony Women of Achievement nominations 8th annual Run and Walk Against Hunger
It is now less than two Join in the fun; the Della Richardson nomination packets are now comcast.net or 209-463- months to the 8th annual Run Now — five ways to Challenge offers first through available for individuals, 6957. Please mail the 12-page and Walk Against Hunger participate... fourth place Corporate Cup The San Joaquin County organization, and businesses (max) nomination Packets on Thanksgiving morning, Awards to the organization Commission on the Status to place women’s names to SJCCSW, PO Box 4443, November 22. This huge 1. Runners or walkers or business that enters the of Women created the in nomination. Award Stockton, CA 95204. The event is your opportunity to For the 5K Run/Walk largest number of walkers, Susan B. Anthony Women candidates must be current nomination Packets will be join 4,000 friends and walk or 10K Run, pay the fee of runners and/or volunteers. of Achievement Awards to residents of San Joaquin picked up about noon Friday, or run 3.1 miles or run 6.2 $35 if postmarked no later This is a non-competitive honor women who have County or be employed January 4th. Late deliveries miles and help end hunger. than Oct. 31st ($40 between challenge based entirely excelled in their chosen in the county. There are will not be accepted. The The run raises funds for the Nov. 1st and race day). Kids on number of entrants and category, and have, through 18 categories in which a judging will take place over nutrition programs of the 1 / 4 mile run, pay fee of $10 volunteers. their dedication, talent and candidate may be nominated. the weekend. Award winners Emergency Food Bank, while ($15 between Nov. 15-20, $20 untiring efforts raised the For electronic file packets, will be notified by phone the the “Get Fit, Stockton” fitness Nov. 21 — race day. 5. School team status of humankind in San e-mail or phone Beverly following Monday. fair make the event a family challenge/grades K-8 Joaquin County. The 2013 Fitch McCarthy, linley17@ celebration. 2. Pledge walkers or A 5K Run, only $15 The Run and Walk runners per teammate (K-8 students Nov 15 & 17 Against Hunger starts at 8:00 Raise pledges from only), 8:30 a.m.; requires a Beethoven, Beethoven, and more Beethoven! AM with the Kid’s 1/4 Mile family, friends and minimum of five kids per Run; the 5K and 10K start coworkers! You must submit school to qualify; all Team A full program of marathon concert in 1808. More information at 8:30 AM at the Stockton the initial $35 entry fee with Entries must be submitted Beethoven is in store when Symphony No. 2 For further information Ports Ballpark on downtown the Registration Form (no together! No shirt with this the Stockton Symphony completes the evening’s about the Stockton Stockton’s waterfront.On a later than October 31st or special discounted rate; begins its Classics season program and begins with Symphony, including crisp November morning, $40 November 1st through school teams are encouraged on Thursday, November 15, the largest slow introduction future performances, the scenic waterfront course race day and are welcome to to do shirts for their own 2012. Classics II: Beethoven to date. Its broad scope guest artists, and how to is great for either runners or bring additional pledges to school and wear them to the Bash begins at 8:00 p.m. at rages from simple lyricism, volunteer, please visit www. walkers. the event, or send them in as event! Atherton Auditorium on the to dramatic outbursts. The stocktonsymphony.org. Be Action: 1) Registration late as December 15. For all the details, click San Joaquin Delta College second theme offers contrast sure to follow us on Facebook is now open (on-line or here to Visit the Run/Walk campus in Stockton, and of a martial rather than lyrical and Twitter! To purchase 3. Virtual walker by mail), so mark your website. repeats Saturday, November nature. The virtuosic writing tickets on performance If you are unable to calendars, form your own 17, at 6:00 p.m. continues to challenge Saturdays, please call or visit participate but want to team, and register early. 2) Emergency Food Bank modern orchestras.* the Atherton Auditorium box We need 120+ volunteers for support the event, simply & Family Services of Program office at 209-954-5110. fun, active 3-4 hour shifts. It’s register, submit your fee and Stockton/San Joaquin, Overture to The Meet the Maestro Purchase tickets online fun work, for a good cause we will send you a classy 7 W. Scotts Ave, Creatures of Prometheus Audience members at www.stocktonsymphony. and you get a cool t-shirt and t-shirt! Stockton, CA 95203 begins the Symphony’s are encouraged to attend org or call the Symphony snacks. For information: call program, from the ballet of a free pre-concert talk by office at (209) 951-0196. 4. Corporate cup chal- 209.464.7369, or visit www. the same name which opened the Music Director, Peter Tickets begin at $22; tickets lenge stocktonfoodbank.org in 1801 for 28 performances Jaffe, beginning 45 minutes for children and students (a modest success compared before the “Beethoven Bash” with an ID are half price. Sept 1 — Jan 21 to other ballets at the time)— concert begins. Tidewater Trio to exhibit the largest number of public performance of any of styles to create. Heidi also and Ron Pecchenino. He Beethoven’s works in his does paintings to suit office attended Stockton Unified lifetime. Only the Overture and home design needs. She School District schools and has survived in the concert is currently working on her graduated from Stagg High hall. BA in psychology. School in 1973. Guest pianist Andreas Klein performs Beethoven’s Henry Paine Save the Date Piano Concerto No. 4. A master of the vision Save the date for the Beethoven wrote most of his Henry Paine and techniques of black and Tidewater Gallery’s final piano concertos with himself The month of September white photography, Henry exhibition “Love and in mind as soloist, and gave the Tidewater Art Gallery Paine’s works combine Compassion” featuring the the first performance of this will launch a new exhibition the values of fine art and works of EVA AVIONE concerto at a private hearing featuring the works of three photographic science to from February 1 — March 29, 1807. He also gave the first member artists: Heidi J., support his perception of 2013 . public performance of the Henry Paine, and Richard the nuances of light, shape, work as a part of a four-hour McClure. Open to the texture and form through The Tidewater Art Center public from September 1, pictorial design. & Gallery, is an artists’ 2012 — January 31, 2013 the collaborative. For further show will be located at the Dick McClure information about the SJ County Administration A lifelong, third upcoming exhibits, artists, Building, 44 North San generation, native or special events, contact Joaquin Street. Join us for Stocktonian Dick tidewaterartgallery@yahoo. a special Artists’ reception McClure began his career com or call 209-986-0979. Friday October 12 from 5:00 photographing live rock Please visit our website at — 8:00 PM to honor all three bands in the 1970s. He has www.tidewaterart.com of these exceptional artists. continued to follow the same inspiration of fast paced, live Heidi Johnson action photography through Heidi is a local artist and the decades. He attended art teacher. Born into a family The University Of The Pacific of artists — Heidi’s parents where he took numerous and many family members classes in the Department are artists. Heidi works on of Art. Dick has also studied canvas with acrylic paints under prominent local using abstract and surrealistic artists such as Gil Dellinger HEIDI Johnson German Pianist Andreas Klein CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012 19
Ensemble presented by the pm. Central United Methodist 157 Adams St, Stockton. Free. Friends of Chamber Music, Church Fireside Room, 3700 NovEMBER Calendar 2:30 pm. Faye Spanos Concert Pacific Ave, Stockton. 7 pm Thursdays Hall, UOP, 3511 Pacific Ave, program with social time fol- Peace demonstration, 5-6 Editor’s note: if your event isn’t listed, let us know. Send all copy to: Stockton. General $25, Seniors lowing. All welcome. PM, edge of Delta campus on $10, Student with ID free. Pacific, across from Macy’s. [email protected] by the 10th of every month. 467-0224. Second Tuesdays Free parking at mall. Weekly 89.5 Valley Community Radio since 2003. We have signs, or Oct 4 — Nov 1 pm. Micke Grove Zoo, 11793 N for more info regarding festival Tues, Nov 13 meeting, 7 — 9 pm, Morearty bring your own. We get LOTS Visual Poetry. Tues 11am — Micke Grove Rd, Lodi. Games, program, directions, and gen- 89.5 Valley Community Radio Peace & Justice Center, 231 of honks! Info 464-3326. 4pm, W-Th 11am — 6:30pm, crafts, scavenger hunts, a eral information. meeting, 7 — 9 pm, Morearty Bedford Rd, Stockton. 467- Take Five Jazz club, 7 — 9 pm, F 11am — 1pm. SJ Delta haunted house, treats, and Peace & Justice Center, 231 4455. Valley Brew College, LH Horton Jr Gallery, creepy critter encounters — Wed, Thurs Bedford Rd, Stockton. All wel- 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton. with a costume parade $6 Nov 7 — 8 come. 467-4455 Second Thursdays Saturdays Free. 954-5507. parking. Adult $4; children $2; Holiday Art & Gift Fair, offered Single Payer San Joaquin meet- Crosstown Freeway Farmers under 2 free — or free for up to by SJ Delta College’s Fashion Thur — Sun ing, 6:30 pm, Morearty Peace Market, under the freeway Fri — Sun 3 costumed children per adult. Program. SJ Delta College Nov 14 — Dec 9 & Justice Center, 231 Bedford between El Dorado & San Oct 19 — 28 331-2010. [email protected] Danner Hall, 5151 Pacific Ave, White Christmas. Thu 7:30 pm, Rd, Stockton. bailey_hcasj@ Joaquin, Stockton. 7 — 11, or As You Like It, presented by Stockton. Apparel, soaps, lo- Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. sbcglobal.net when sold out. 943-1830 SJ Delta College.Fri, Sat 8 pm. Sun, Oct 28 tions, candles, jewelry, home Stockton Civic Theatre, 2312 Stockton Astronomical Society, Sun 2 pm. Studio Theatre, SJ Intersection Music Trio present- decor and more. 9 am — 2 pm. Rosemarie Lane, Stockton 7:30 pm. Olson Hall, Room Sundays Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave, ed by the Friends of Chamber Free admission. 954-5151. $15 — $25. 473-2424. www. 120, UOP, Stockton. Occupy Stockton meetings, Stockton. $10 — $12. Music, 2:30 pm. Faye Spanos sctlivetheatre.com 3 — 5 pm. Morearty Peace & Concert Hall, UOP, 3511 Pacific Fri — Sat Third Thursdays Justice Center, 231 Bedford Wed, Oct 24 Ave, Stockton. General $25, Nov 9 — 10, 15 — 17 Thur, Nov 15 Central Valley Wellstone Pro- Rd, Stockton. 467-4455. Pacific Jazz Ensemble concert, Seniors $10, Student with ID UOP presents Shakespeare’s Sat, Nov 17 gressive Democratic Club. 7:30 pm. Faye Spanos Concert free. 467-0224. Julius Caesar, directed by Gary Beethoven Bash, by the Info: Rose Roach, 209-474- Ongoing Hall, UOP, 3511 Pacific Ave, Armagnac. 8 pm. Long Theatre, Stockton Symphony, featur- 8496 California Native Plant Society Stockton. General $8, Seniors Tues, Oct 30 UOP, 1041 Dave Brubeck ing Andreas Klein piano: Stockton Sub-chapter. Come $5, Student with with ID free. Bitter Seeds free film showing, Way, Stockton. General $15, Prometheus Overture, Piano Mondays join us on lovely hikes; listen to 467-0224. 7 pm. Morearty Peace & Jus- students/faculty $12, seniors Concerto No. 4, Symphony No. Mindfulness Meditation Group educational lectures; volun- tice Center, 231 Bedford Rd, $10. 946-2116. 2. 8 pm. Atherton Auditorium, Practice meeting 6:30 – 8:30 teer to work in the interesting Thur, Oct 25 Stockton. 462-8015.(p 19) SJ Delta College, 5151 Pacific pm. Meditation is led by Lori habit garden; and other nature Tree Talk 2, a street tree Sat, Nov 10 Ave, Stockton. Wong and held at the Unity related events. Dates vary. symposium. 6 pm. Fellowship Thu, Nov 1 University Symphony Orches- Center. 2025 W. March Lane, E-mail Vinh Pham gardenlane@ Hall, Central United Method- Peace & Justice Network board tra, 8:00 pm. Faye Spanos Con- Sun, Nov 18 Suite #5, Stockton, CA 95207. netzero.net ist Church, 3700 Pacific Ave, meeting, Morearty Peace & cert Hall, UOP, 3511 Pacific Ave, 4th annual Transgender Day Lori Wong is associated with Stockton (p 18) Justice Center, 231 Bedford Stockton. General $8, Seniors of Remembrance, 7 pm. First the Spirit Rock Meditation Cen- Volunteers needed to Rd, Stockton. 6:30 pm social, $5, Student with ID free. Unitarian Universalist Church, ter, Sati Center for Buddhist distribute Connections to Fri, Oct 26 7:00 Board. All welcome. 467- Pacific Ave and Bristol, Stock- Studies, Buddhist Insight Net- well-established routes. All Hallows’ Eve celebration. 4455 Sat — Sun ton. (p 19) work and Buddhist Pathways About two hours per 6 — 8 pm. Oak Grove Regional Nov 10 — 11 Prison Project. 209-466-5569, month. Easy and fun! Park, 4520 W Eight Mile Rd, Nov 2 — 4 Celebrate Stockton Hmong Symphonic Wind Ensemble www.unityofstockton.com. Stockton. Live animal displays, Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival, New Year! SJ County Fair- and University Concert Band, And a big thanks to our crafts, scary stories...costumes all day (see p 20). Hutchins grounds, 1658 S Airport Way, Eric Hammer director. 2:30 pm. Tuesdays long-serving distributors!! encouraged. $5 parking. 953- Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins Stockton. Enjoy traditional food, Faye Spanos Concert Hall, UOP, Student jam sessions hosted Call Dean or Marcia 8814. oakgrovenaturecenter@ St, Free activities include the music, games and entertain- 3511 Pacific Ave, Stockton. by the Brubeck Institute Jazz Savage, 209-242-2254. gmail.com Friday evening reception, wine ment. $3. 466-0721. General $8, Seniors $5, Stu- Quintet 7-9 pm, Valley Brew, tasting and Art Show. Admis- dent with ID free. Sat, Oct 27 sion to the Festival is free. Sun, Nov 11 Brasil Guitar Duo Joao Luiz and Free film showing: Bitter Seeds Howl-O-Ween.. 11 am — 3 Visit www.cranefestival.com Musica Pacifica Baroque Douglas Lora, 2:30 pm, Scot- Oct 30 • 7 pm tish Rite Center, 33 W Alpine Morearty Peace & Justice Center Ave, Stockton. General $20, 231 Bedford Road, Stockton student $10. Often a symbol of birth, potentiality, and life, the seed Become a PEACE PAL! can stand as a metaphor for the world and its future. As Wed, Nov 21 industrial agriculture enters its next phase — with the advent Sierra Club Executive Com- of genetically modified organisms — the potentiality of life Please consider giving to PJN month by month. It will give us stable, predict- mittee meeting, REI Stockton able funding to continue providing our services. It’s easy for you and cost— Community Room, 5757 Pacific itself is being controlled and patented by corporations. ‘Bitter effective for us. Our website online donation is recommended for ease and Ave, Stockton. 6:30 — 8:30 Seeds’ follows the lives of two Indian families in the village convenience. Your monthly donation can be automatically withdrawn from pm. 957-9479. of Telung Takli, in the state of Maharashtra. Faced with your bank account. mounting debt and the false promise of Monsanto’s Bt cotton, Thur, Nov 22 one family is struggling from becoming another farmer suicide Monthly Giving Enrollment Form 8th annual Run and Walk statistic, while the father of the second family has already Against Hunger, Stockton Ports killed himself, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Come Ballpark, Fremont & Van Buren, join us for an insightful and poignant look into globalization, Name: Stockton. 8 am. 464-7369 (see the transgenic world, and the perseverance of the common p 18). people. For more info, contact either Andy Lane (adlane@ Address:Phone:______Fri-Sat sbcglobal.net, 462.8015) or Vinh Pham (stocktoncnps@ Dec 7 — 8 yahoo.com). Email: 26th annual Peaceful Holiday Gift Fair, featuring peace gifts Nov 18 Yes, I accept your invitation to become a charter member of Peace Pals. (see p 1). 4 — 9 pm. Enter- Transgender Day of Remembrance Here is my monthly pledge contribution of: tainment, refreshments and ❑ $10❑ $15❑ $20❑ $25 a good cause. Central United On Sunday, November 18 at the Stockton First Unitarian ❑ $(Other)______Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Universalist Church (Pacific Ave and Bristol) at 7:00 pm, we will Ave, Stockton. Free admission. be having our 4th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance I prefer to donate by one of the following methods: 462-3489. (TDOR). The TDOR service is a time to memorialize those ❑ U.S. mail; please send me envelopes who have been killed as a result of transphobia, or the hatred ❑ First Mondays Online donation through PJN website: www.pjnsjc.org (click on donation button) or fear of transgender and gender non-conforming people, ❑ Campaign for Common Ground Automatic Bank Transfer and acts to bring attention to the continued violence endured ❑ I’ve enclosed a check for my first contribution. Arrangements will be made by me with my bank for future meeting, 7 pm, Towers Build- pledges. ing, 509 W Weber Ave, Stock- by the transgender community. We always have a time to ton. [email protected] read the names of those who died, asking all in attendance to Mail checks to: Peace and Justice Network, P.O. Box 4123, Stockton CA 95204 read just one name and light a candle for that person. It is not The Peace and Justice Network is a 501(c)3 non—profit educational corporation. Contributions are tax—deductible to the Fourth Mondays just a morose service by any means. It is solemn, but it is also full extent allowed by law. Delta Sierra Club meeting, 7 celebratory as we honor those organizations and individuals who have worked to end the violence. 20 CONNECTIONS, NOVEMBER 2012
Nov 2-4 Lodi’s 16th Sandhill Crane Festival Occupy says: Make summer, the young Sandhill Tours Cranes chicks, or colts, have By foot, by kayak, by made their maiden voyage bus, car or canoe, join the Stockton magnificent alongside their parents, day trekkers who travel Diana Buettner organization, but rather but wonder: why would returning to the Delta out to find the cranes on were a group of community Occupy Stockton be denied wetlands that their ancestors any of the forty-five tours On September 29, activists working to change a booth on the basis of being have known for over two ranging from $3 to $35. Bus Occupy Stockton showed up things for the better in (incorrectly) perceived as a million years. transportation is usually to participate in the Stockton Stockton. political organization, when The Festival will take included with most tour is Magnificent Festival. A We stated then all these other groups were place in Lodi at Hutchins fees, leaving from Hutchins representative from our that we would be back in welcomed to present their Street Square, 125 South Street Square in Lodi. The group had been in contact spite of being discriminated message? Hutchins Street, Friday Festival attracts well over with the folks in charge of against. The mentioning of We will not be silent through Sunday, November, 1,500 visitors to Lodi from arranging a place for us to this apparently annoyed said in the face of tyranny. We 2-4, 2012. Free activities throughout California, and set up several weeks before organizer, who then said that will continue to spread the include the Friday evening beyond. Close to 90% of the event. What followed our message had better be message of love for all. We The Sandhill Crane, reception, wine tasting Sandhill Crane Festival was a phone conversation to positive. She was reassured wish to help this city; country a large water bird, winters and Art Show. Saturday attendees come from outside confirm the space the night by me that civic duty was and this world become the every year in the Lodi area, and Sunday events include San Joaquin County to see prior to the festival. When always positive in the face of energy of the planet which September through late programs such as Wild the cranes, enjoy Festival nothing was heard from tyranny. can be fueled by the power of February. Come celebrate Things- special live animals; activities and experience the organizers of the event, Our presence that love. Had we been allowed the “Season of the Crane” story time for young children; Lodi and the surrounding Occupy Stockton members day was seen by many as quite a booth at this festival, at the official opening of the a bat presentation; an Owl area. You can register for went early in the morning the positive. The “Tent Monster” Occupy Stockton would have Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival, Pellet Exploration workshop; tours in early September. day of the 29th to investigate along with other members themed it “MAKE Stockton Friday, November 2 through a Decoy Carving Seminar To learn more details, call the situation. of Occupy Stockton roamed Magnificent,” because it’s not Sunday, November 4, 2012. for Beginners; a Crane 800-581-6150 or go to www. We were told by around carrying signs with pretty right now, but if we Sandhill Cranes from as Dance +Workshop, among cranefestival.com Lisa Whirlow, the chief positive messages stating that pull together, we can BE the far away as Siberia and many others. The Exhibit ______organizer of the event, that there was a new revolution in change we want to see in this Alaska have been returning Hall features 30+ vendors, a Source: Delta Sierra Club release, http://www.motherlode. due to a mix up they didn’t town and it is a revolution of world. Join us as we attempt to California’s Delta in the food court, and the hands-on sierraclub.org/deltaSierra have the space for us to love. As we walked the length to join this community in the Central Valley to over-winter. Crane-ium for kids. Hatched out earlier this participate and that we were of Miracle Mile, we found seeking of solutions to what political anyway. We stated many “political” booths and truly ails this place. Nov 2 & 4 that we were not a political signs and we couldn’t help Stockton Chorale Concerts: “Saints, Queens and Mothers”
The Stockton Chorale and Mothers, singing Maia by Nira Chen, an Israeli song will bring a celebration of Aprahamian’s “Zechariah’s to be sung in Hebrew. music by and about women Prophesy” along side Leanne The concert will be who are Saints, Queens and Aharja Veitch’s “Black-eyed presented 7:30 PM on Mothers. This celebratory Susan”. They will also bring Friday, November 2, 2012 at concert will include the us works by Fanny Hensel, the Central United Methodist Chorale singing Purcell’s Karen Tarlow and Bela Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue, “Ode to St. Cecilia”, the Bartok. Stockton and at 3:00 PM on patron Saint of musicians, The November concert Sunday November 4, 2012 Haydn’s sublime and program will also include the at the Episcopal Church of ethereal “Salve Regina” and Stockton Youth Chorale to St. John the Baptist, 1055 S. Alice Parker’s “God is Seen”. showcase the talents of our Lower Sacramento Road, These are fabulous and community’s youth. Featured Lodi. uplifting works. works include “Many in Single concert tickets The Stockton Master One” by Alice Parker, are $20 in advance or $25 Chorale will join in “When Children Sing” by at the door for adults and celebrating Saints, Queens Mary Goetz, and “Dodi Li” $5 for students. Tickets are general admission and may be purchased at the
door, on our website, www. “NON-POLITICAL” CONNECTIONS stocktonchorale.org, through Would you like Connections delivered Chorale members or by calling the Chorale office. to your home? It’s FREE! For more information, call the Stockton Chorale office Name______at (209) 951-6494.
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