In This Issue: Politics 101...... 1&3 Congress Watch ...... 11 Politics 101 by Steven Steiner & Education Reform ...... 2 The Real Dope ...... 12 13 It was an ideal day in Buffalo Grove, perfect Hightower Event ...... 3 Drink Starbuckst....14 & 15 Republican Fantasies...4 Not Running for Congress fall weather, not too hot, not too cold. A slight Event Photo Album...5-10 ...... 16-18 breeze made for a comfortable Labor Day For information or to volunteer: Parade. Hundreds of families and friends Email us at [email protected] from the Buffalo Grove community came Or visit our website at www.tenthdems.org Or call us at 847.266.VOTE (8683) together to enjoy the yearly celebration. I Or write to Hon. Lauren Beth Gash, Chair, have always found politics interesting, and Tenth Dems, P.O. Box 523, Deerfield, IL 60015 my family has encouraged the interest. Two Editors: Barbara Altman, Susan Friedman, Democratic candidates for Congress running Allan Sperling in the 10th Congressional District participated Editorial Staff: Jack Altschuler, Joan in this parade. Will Rivlin, a friend of mine, Attenberg, Eleonora di Liscia, Hon. Lauren Beth Gash, Adrienne Kirshbaum, Ron volunteered his support to Brad Schneider, a Levitsky, Leslie Lipschultz, Karim Pakravan, businessman from Deerfield, and I volunteered Sharon Sanders, Steve Sheffey, Laurie to help Ilya Sheyman of Waukegan, formerly Kaplan Singh, Steven Steiner, Ellie Sylvan of Buffalo Grove. Even though we were Design: Tom Peltier supporting different candidates, we were, Photo Gallery: Ravi Ganapathy overall, on the same team. Although I am 15 Distribution: Glenn Stier, Dave DuBordieu, Cosette Winter years old and, therefore, ineligible to vote, The opinions expressed are those of the I am old enough to be involved in some way writers, and not necessarily endorsed by in the political system. Passing out candy, Tenth Dems continued on page 3 www.tenthdems.org

OCTOBERTenth 2011 Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats News Newsletter Volume 9, Edition 10

LARGE CROWD CELEBRATES TENTH DEMS AWARDS There were so many highlight moments during were Adrienne Kirshbaum (Founders Award), the Tenth Congressional District Democrats by Adrienne Kirshbaum Terry Blaurock (Volunteer of the Year Award), Annual Awards Dinner it would be hard to and Hon. Susan Garrett (Ab Mikva Political pick out just one. Maybe it was the reading Courage Award). Hon. Abner Mikva, the last by the young authors of three touching and “It was great!” Democrat to represent the 10th District in evocative pieces that were winners of our Congress and himself an example of political May Poetry Slam. Or maybe it was the display courage, was proud to present the award that of genuine affection by friends and colleagues was named for him. of retiring State Senator Susan Garrett. Perhaps it could have been Illinois Senator Many Democratic office holders and Dick Durbin’s top ten list of things we should candidates were introduced, and the three know about Amy Klobuchar. Or the delightful men vying for the 10th Congressional District Minnesota Senator Klobuchar, herself, whose nomination spoke. Vivek Bavda, Brad entertaining keynote speech had us laughing Schneider, and Ilya Sheyman each took his and applauding to the very end. This eighth turn on the podium to express his views to the edition of our annual celebration was an crowd of over 200 attendees. evening to remember. Ravi Ganapathy, Tenth Dems photographer, Held on Sunday, September 18th, at the took the wonderful pictures displayed Highland Park Country Club, the event on these pages. The wide smiles of the featured a silent auction that included an participants are evidence of the good time array of exciting items, the raffle of an iPad, a had by all at this outstanding event! delicious pasta buffet, and the presentation of Event Photo Gallery Pages 5 - 10 three annual Tenth Dems awards. Honorees )5(( Event Oct. 9th Jim Hightower in Northbrook See Page 3 FNEE     YES, WE DID! RACE TO THE TOP and EDUCATION REFORM by Eleonora di Liscia

To the inner city kids at Wilmington, ’s Howard High School of Technology, President Obama’s Race to the Top has meant renewed pride in their school and their performance. Capone says he supports Race to the Top “After testing this year, kids were excited because it focuses on what’s important: about their scores. They were excited about ensuring students are performing at a higher their performance. They wanted to represent rate and providing the resources to do it. their school in a positive manner,” said Principal Timothy C. Capone. “This is a high needs school. About 70 percent In March 2010, President Obama signed of our students live at the poverty rate. The landmark legislation overhauling the student Delaware was one of the first two states to importance of education is it allows students loan program. The new law eliminated fees win a Race to the Top award in 2010 with its to change their socioeconomic status,” said paid to private banks as intermediaries. This Vision 2015 Plan. Race to the Top allows states Capone. savings will then be used to expand Pell grants to compete for dollars to improve their schools. and to make it easier for students to repay Under Delaware’s Plan, low-performing Race to the Top is not perfect. The application loans. Beginning July 2014, students can schools, such as Howard, were designated takes a long time, and there have been cap student loan repayments to 10 percent of Partnership Zones (PZ). The Plan requires concerns about its focus on charter schools their basic living allowance instead of 15. If that the principal of a PZ school be replaced, and its ability to help rural communities. The payments are maintained, loan balances can which enabled Capone to take the helm last administration last February tweaked the be forgiven after 20 years instead of 25, and January. While many of the Plan’s other program to include a rural focus and to apply after 10 years if a student goes into public reforms are only now being implemented, the to school districts rather than states. Still, service, such as teaching, nursing, or the army. school’s designation as a PZ has already fired Randi Weingarten, President of the American The new law also invested in community up students, leading test scores to increase by Federation of Teachers, initially stated that colleges to help retrain workers who have lost a third. if done right, Race to the Top could promote their jobs due to industry closures. innovation and promising ideas (www. “We talk to students about the importance education.com/print/pros-cons-race-to-the- As of June 2011, President Obama issued new of the year before when the test scores were top). rules that require career colleges or certificate in the 40s. We tell them we think you can do programs to better prepare students for better than that. You’re smarter than that. President Obama’s education agenda does not gainful employment or risk losing access to You’re going to have this national recognition. end with high school. Last fall, he called for federal student aid. The new rules address You can be the first in the nation to be a an extension of the $2,500 college tuition tax the problem of for-profit programs that Partnership Zone School that comes out of credit, which the Lame Duck Congress passed promise careers but leave students jobless school improvement,” said Capone. in December. and mired in debt. At least 25 percent of these programs receive 80 percent of their funds from federally-financed student aid. Under the new law, a school must show that its program leads to gainful employment by using certain student loan repayment criteria. 2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 2 TDU Brings Jim Hightower to Northbrook by Sharon Sanders

the Willowfest Shopping Mall. Do not miss this newsletter, giving rousing speeches coast special occasion, which is brought to you by to coast, and otherwise speaking out for the Tenth Dems and Tenth Dems U. in conjunction American majority that’s being locked out with the MoveOn Councils of Greater Chicago economically and politically by the elites. and Chicago Progressive Talk Radio, WCPT. As the late great political columnist Molly Ivins said, “If Will Rogers and Mother Jones In case you’re unfamiliar with Mr. Hightower, had a baby, Jim Hightower would be that he has written seven books, including Swim rambunctious child—mad as hell, with a Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can sense of humor.” Go With The Flow, which will be available for purchase on October 9. Jim has spent three For those of you who would like to have dinner decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf with Mr. Hightower in the main dining room of of the Powers That Ought To Be—consumers, Pinstripes following his speaking engagement, working families, environmentalists, there will be a cost of $130.00. The food small businesses, and just-plain-folks. He is excellent, and the conversation will be broadcasts daily radio commentaries that enlightening and funny. Reservations are Tenth Dems University is fortunate to have a are carried on more than 150 commercial and required, and seating will be limited. Checks very special guest on October 9, 2011—and it’s public stations, on the web, and on Radio for for the dinner portion of the evening can be free! Jim Hightower of Texas, national radio Peace International, and has been a frequent made out to Tenth Dems and either mailed to commentator, writer, public speaker, and New guest on the Bill Moyers show. Currently, he the organization c/o PO Box 523, Deerfield, IL York Times best-selling author, has agreed to is seen on MSNBC. Each month, he publishes 60015, or brought to the event (we will have come to the Chicago area and talk to us about The Hightower Lowdown, which is the “fastest no credit card capability). To sign up for the the real powers that be, the money behind the growing political publication in America” speaking engagement and/or for the dinner right-wing agenda, and what life would be like afterwards, call 847-266-VOTE (8683), sign up at under a President Perry or Romney, now the As a public speaker, Jim Hightower is fiery www.tenthdems.org, or for more information, Republican frontrunners. This event will occur and funny. During the 90s, he developed his email us at [email protected]. on Sunday, October 9, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at radio commentaries and hosted two radio talk Pinstripes, 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, in shows, all while writing books, launching his

Politics 101 (continued from page 1) stickers, and flyers is a way to ease into concerns about jobs, the environment, and it. People came from all around the Tenth the foreclosure problem, to name a few of District to support the current issues. Ilya. Supporters from In addition, I listened Deerfield, Glenview, and to the pros and cons Waukegan were “fired up of what others had and ready to go!” Only a to say about politics few of the volunteers for in Illinois and in the Sheyman and Schneider . It was were too young to vote but a good opportunity still wanted to be involved to hear other people in their campaigns. share similar opinions Because I am not from Buffalo Grove, I only to those discussed, and sometimes debated, knew one person walking with Ilya but still around my family’s dinner table. Whether saw familiar faces in the crowd. While smiling either Brad Schneider or Ilya Sheyman and waving, I realized this is how candidates ultimately becomes the Democratic nominee stump for votes—by reaching out to everyone in the 10th Congressional District, it is clear they can. This is a grassroots campaign. As I and known that left is right. walked, I also did a lot of listening to people’s 2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 3 Republican Fantasies and Other Fallacies by Karim Pakravan

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual the better. Not that there is anything expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen wrong with that. We live in a capitalist and six, result happiness. Annual income economic system, which has proven to twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty be the greatest engine of wealth creation pounds ought and six, result misery.” and prosperity. Financial management (Mr. Micawber in Charles Dickens’ of a business is based on two main David Copperfield) considerations. In the short term, a business wants to make sure it does “Government should be run as a household not run out of cash. In the longer term, or a business” is an oft-repeated mantra of businesses want to fund their long-term Republican leaders as well as candidates strategic plan, which requires investments running for the presidency. Both of these in research and development, job training, ideas are superficially attractive—who physical plants, etc. Once again, spending would argue that the government should and borrowing decisions are made over not live within its means and spend only a long cycle. At the same time, both what it earns—such statements make great households and businesses need to be political sound bites. But, they are based able to meet contingencies and crisis on a misunderstanding of the way private situations (think Hurricane Irene). That is economic actors make financial decisions. why we have lines of credit.

Let’s start with households. Milton Government is no different. Living within Friedman, one of my professors at its means does not mean running a the University of Chicago and the balanced budget (no end to fudging on that acknowledged prophet of free-market concept!) year in and year out. It means economics, stated the “permanent managing the country’s fiscal affairs consumption hypothesis.” Friedman’s (revenues and spending) over a longer idea simply stated that individuals and cycle. It means investing in infrastructure, households’ consumption patterns are not education, healthcare, science, and driven by their current income, but by their technology. It means funding the social safety net. It means an efficient and income expectations over a longer equitable tax system, and it also life cycle. Therefore, there are means, just like households and periods when the typical household businesses, to keep the national accumulates debt to support debt within prudent limits. consumption or investments (housing, education, etc.). So, Of course, the GOP is a recent even for a household, living within convert to prudent fiscal its means does not mean a strict management (circa January 2009!). adherence to keeping spending Prior to that, two Republican within the limits of current income presidents (Reagan and George but managing spending, borrowing, W) were responsible for the and saving over the life cycle. biggest increases in our deficits and national debt in decades. So Similarly, businesses don’t either the Republicans live in a limit their expenditures to their parallel reality, or the real objective revenues—otherwise, there would is to “starve the beast” and make not be any corporate debt. The government “inconsequential,” to purpose of business is profits—the more, quote Texas Governor Rick Perry.

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 4 FNEE     2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 6 2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 7 2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 8 FNEE     2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 10 Robert Dold Votes with Republican Majority to Undermine Consumer Protection

On July 21, the House of Representatives, The amendments would seriously delay the practices. H.R. 1315 was also opposed by with the support of 10th District Congress- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Americans for Financial Reform, AARP, man Robert J. Dold, passed H.R. 1315—also ability to protect consumers; weaken its Consumer Federation of America, Consum- known as the Consumer Financial Protec- decision-making power; and return author- ers Union, Center for Responsible Lending, tion Safety and Soundness Improvement ity for consumer financial protection to the AFL-CIO, Leadership Conference on Civil Act of 2011. The Orwellian-named bill same regulators who spectacularly failed to and Human Rights, National Council of La passed the House largely along party lines, protect the American public from the unfair, Raza, NAACP, Public Citizen, US PIRG, and with 230 Republicans voting for it and 172 deceptive, and abusive practices SEIU.“[House] members who supported HR Democrats voting against it. While 10 that led to the 2008 financial crisis. 1315...voted to protect Wall Street banks Democrats also voted for the bill, only a from oversight at the expense of their own single Republican—Walter Jones of North The Obama administration strongly op- constituents,” said Illinois Public Interest Carolina—voted against it. posed the bill’s passage precisely on Research Group director Brian Imus. Bob this ground, saying that “H.R. 1315 would Dold is one of the House members Imus H.R. 1315 was touted by its five Republi- needlessly delay the transfer of Federal was referring to. By his party-line vote, can sponsors as an effort to strengthen consumer financial protection responsibili- Dold has demonstrated his willingness to consumer financial protections. But, in ties from seven other agencies to the CFPB, expose American consumers to the same truth, this partisan bill is one of numerous thus continuing the fragmented approach to risks that led to the 2008 financial crisis— Republican proposals aimed at weakening consumer financial protection that existed all for the sake of protecting big bank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bu- prior to the enactment of Dodd-Frank.” financial industry profits. reau—the federal agency created in 2010 to regulate consumer financial products, In addition, by making the head of the such as credit cards, mortgages, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau a student loans, and to ensure that consumer five-person commission rather than a single financial transactions are clear, director, the bill would seriously weaken transparent, and fair. the Bureau’s decision-making power, hampering its ability to respond to rapid Specifically, H.R. 1315 would amend the changes in the dynamic consumer financial 2010 consumer protection legislation to: products and services market.

• Replace the Consumer Financial Protec- Finally, H.R. 1315 would compromise the in- tion Bureau’s director with a five-member dependence of the Consumer Financial Pro- commission and tection Bureau, which is already the only • Make it easier for other banking regula- banking regulator tors, who failed to protect consumers for whose rules can be years, to undermine the Bureau’s rules by set aside by a council allowing the Financial Stability Oversight made up of other fed- Council to overturn the Bureau’s regula- eral agencies. H.R. tions with a simple majority vote, instead of 1315 would go beyond this already stringent the two-thirds majority required by current limitation by making it easier to set aside law, while expanding the list of conditions the Bureau’s rules and regulations. This that would allow such consumer protection would significantly impede the Bureau’s regulations to be overruled. ability to protect American consumers from unfair, deceptive, and abusive financial

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 11 The Real Dope by Ron Levitsky

One of my favorite poems is Robert Frost’s Since Richard Nixon, every American Moreover, as reported by CBS (July 28, “Mending Wall,” in which the narrator president has led a “War on Drugs.” Our 2011), 70 percent of all Cook County Jail marvels at his neighbor’s inability to presidents have proclaimed that, since inmates are incarcerated for non-violent question the purpose of maintaining a stone drugs like marijuana, heroin, and cocaine offenses. Does it really help our society to wall between the two properties—one are bad for individuals and society-at- give individuals who happen to be holding growing pine and the other cherry trees. large, we need a war with punitive, often a small amount of marijuana instead of a draconian laws to prevent their being beer a criminal record and expose them to “He moves in darkness as it seems to me, used. Americans are familiar with these prison? Not of woods only and the shade of trees, amorphous wars, like the War on Poverty He will not go behind his father’s saying… and the War on Terror. Slogans are easy to There are other concerns as well. CBS also 'Good fences make good neighbors.'" mouth, just like the saying of Robert Frost’s reported that a disproportionate number of neighbor. those convicted of nonviolent offenses are This inability to go behind the beliefs of minorities—78 percent African-American, earlier generations can turn tradition into Preckwinkle looked behind the saying. On 17 percent Hispanic, and only five percent dogma. My generation—at least those of average, for someone arrested who can’t white. Could these arrests be racially us who were white— grew up believing make bail, it takes from five to 21 days for motivated? that U.S. foreign policy was always fair, a preliminary hearing. The vast majority benefiting those struggling for democracy, of charges are dropped, usually because Tracy Siska of the Chicago Justice Project and that ours was a society based on the arresting officer doesn’t show up. It believes that these low-level pot arrests equality. The Vietnam War and Civil Rights costs $142 per day for incarceration, are part of Police Chief McCarthy’s “quality Movement shook us awake and made us money, Preckwinkle argues, that would of life policing” policy, which he brought question long-held assumptions. Then and be far better spent on education and drug with him from his experiences in the New now, these awakenings rarely come from treatment programs. York area. Such a policy’s focus is to get political leaders, too timid to challenge the “bad guys” off the street for a short what their constituents have grown used to The Chicago Reader quotes defense time, even if the vast majority of arrests believing. attorney Chelsea Robinson agreeing on the don’t lead to convictions. futility of such arrests. “It’s not deterring Cook County Board President Toni anybody, and it’s wasting the court’s time In these difficult economic times, don’t the Preckwinkle is the exception. As a Chicago and resources.” The Reader notes that savings in time, money, and manpower alderman, Preckwinkle was known for in 2009-2010, Chicago police made 47,400 justify Preckwinkle’s request? her progressive views on such issues as busts for low-level marijuana possession— affordable housing and a living wage. She one-seventh of all arrests made during Other political figures have been recently asked Chicago Police Chief Garry that time period. Not only do the Chicago sympathetic to Preckwinkle’s view. In McCarthy to end arrests for possession of police waste valuable resources on these 2004, Mayor Daley supported the idea of small amounts of marijuana. She stated in arrests, but also so do Cook County Jail, the issuing tickets for minor pot violations. a recent Sun Times article, “It’s pretty well State’s Attorney’s office, the Circuit Court, In 2010, Governor Arnold known within the criminal justice system and—if the accused is convicted— the Schwarzenegger signed into law the that the judges will dismiss those charges Department of Corrections. reduction of minor marijuana possession [involving] very modest amounts of from a misdemeanor to an infraction, illicit drugs.” continued on page 13

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 12 The Real Dope (continued from page 12)

which carries a $100 fine, but does not difference in Americans’ use of drugs. Law duty of conservatives to declaim against require a court appearance nor permit Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), lost causes when the ancillary results of an arrest record. That same year Jocelyn an organization of past and current police pursuing them are tens of thousands of Elders, President Clinton’s first Surgeon- and prosecutors who oppose our nation’s innocent victims and a gradual corruption General, came out in favor of legalizing current drug laws, notes that in the United of the machinery of the state.” John marijuana, stating, “I think we consume States there is one drug arrest every 19 Kass, the conservative Chicago Tribune far more dangerous drugs that are legal: seconds. In 2009, this totaled 1.6 million columnist, condemned the media’s cigarette smoking, nicotine, and alcohol." arrests; 82 percent were for possession attempts to ignore the beliefs of Republican This doesn’t mean that supporters of alone. While the United States accounts Congressman and presidential candidate decriminalization necessarily believe that for five percent of the world’s population, Ron Paul, “…such as the view…that we pot is good, although a number of states, it incarcerates 25 percent of the world’s should legalize drugs rather than fight the such as California, permit the use of prisoners. Enforcement strategies have drug wars….” marijuana for medical reasons. In fact, a grown 70 percent over the past nine years; friend, who is a psychologist and teaches in contrast, treatment and prevention In 2001, Paul wrote, “For the first 140 a course on addiction, believes that the programs have increased only 14 percent. years of our history, we had essentially marijuana available today is far stronger Yet, only 10 percent of those drug users no Federal war on drugs, and far fewer and more potentially damaging to the needing substance abuse treatment are problems with drug addiction and related individual than what many baby boomers receiving assistance. crimes was a consequence. In the past 30 smoked decades ago. However, he also years, even with the hundreds of millions condemns criminalizing this behavior In an era of increasing deficits, the of dollars spent on the drug war, little good instead of treating drug abuse as a libertarian CATO Institute argues that has come of it.” health issue. the legalization and regulation of drugs would actually boost the U.S. economy by In fact, Ron Paul recently joined Then there is the hypocrisy of regulating $80 billion yearly, through increased tax Representatives Barney Frank and Barbara cigarettes and alcohol, both of which revenue and savings on law enforcement. Lee in supporting legislation that would end cause death and suffering on a massive LEAP also argues that U.S. street gangs, federal prohibition of marijuana, allowing scale. And we have the failed policy of Latin American drug cartels, Al Qa’ida, and states to fashion their own laws and Prohibition, in which normally law-abiding the Taliban—all of which use drug money enforcement policies. citizens flaunted the law and criminals like to help finance their activities—would Al Capone became little Caesars. be weakened. While legalization (and Ron Paul and Barney Frank! If these two regulation) of drugs is a divisive issue, Representatives—neighbors on either There are much larger issues involving it is also one of the few issues that find side of the Congressional aisle—can look America’s 40-year-old War on Drugs. supporters across the political spectrum. beyond “their father’s saying” about the Not only is there no end in sight, but Seeming to agree with Jocelyn Elders, the efficacy of a failed 40-year drug war and, also the war hasn’t made a significant late William F. Buckley, Jr., stated, “It is the instead, work together on the issue of marijuana decriminalization, maybe there’s hope yet for our dysfunctional Congress. Or am I smoking something?

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 13 Drink Starbucks with a Grain of Salt by Steve Sheffey

“Republican irresponsibility and refusal to compromise threaten the American and global economies.”

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is shocked, partisanship. A policy is not good because The debt-ceiling debate proved the SHOCKED that members of Congress are it is bipartisan (the Iraq War started with silliness of “voting the person, not the partisan. Schultz sent an email decrying overwhelming bipartisan support as did the party,” as supporters of Rep. Robert Dold partisanship in Washington and asking Vietnam War). A policy is good if it makes (R-Kenilworth) urged us to do in the last business leaders to "withhold political sense, even if it passes on a party-line vote. election. The party a candidate chooses campaign contributions until a transparent, to affiliate with speaks volumes about comprehensive, bipartisan debt-and-deficit Both parties bear some blame for our his or her beliefs and principles or the package is reached that honestly, and economic straits, but the Republican Party lack thereof. Jonathan Chait, of New fairly, sets America on a path to long-term bears far more blame. To pretend that both York magazine explains that "it’s not ‘the financial health and security.” parties are equally responsible makes as politicians in Washington’ who don’t little sense as pretending that the Arabs understand the risks of failing to raise the Warren Buffett called upon the rich to and Israel are equally responsible for their debt ceiling. It’s the Republican Party. It pay their fair share of taxes. Schultz is conflict. was the Republican Party’s idea to turn calling on the rich to keep even more the debt-ceiling vote from a symbolic for themselves by not participating in The debt-ceiling crisis had an obvious opportunity for the opposition party to the political process. The only way to solution: raise the debt ceiling. Congress posture against deficits into a high-stakes change Washington is to change who previously raised the debt represents us in Washington. That ceiling in Republican takes money. Incumbents generally and Democratic have better name recognition than their administrations without opponents. Incumbents have more making headlines. This opportunities to garner free media. time, the Republicans Incumbents receive more institutional manufactured a crisis contributions. Challengers rely more on to push their less individual contributions to overcome spending, less taxes for those advantages. Schultz’s proposal is an the rich agenda. Michael incumbent protection plan. If Schultz really Grunwald of TIME wants change, he should call on people of magazine reminds us of means to give more money, not less money, the key facts: to political candidates. But that would "President Obama inherited a $1.2 trillion negotiation over budget policy. It’s the deprive CEOs of a high-minded excuse to budget deficit. And: Republican leaders Republican Party, and only the Republican disengage from the political process. supported the tax cuts and wars that Party, which has numerous elected (along with the recession, another pre- officials dismissing the dangers of failing The obvious problem with Schultz’s Obama phenomenon) created that deficit. to lift the debt-ceiling, and it’s only the proposal is that as important as the Also: Republicans engineered this crisis Republican Party, whose elected officials economy is, there are other important by attaching unprecedented ideological do understand the dangers, that is cowed issues, too. Should we stop giving financial demands to a routine measure allowing the by an angry default-denialist base. The support to candidates who agree with us U.S. to pay its bills. Finally, Obama and the Democrats are willing, and have been on foreign policy, choice, the environment, Democrats keep meeting those demands— willing from day one, to pass a clean debt and gun control because Howard Schultz for spending cuts, then for more spending ceiling increase. That’s a partisan account, thinks there is not enough bipartisanship in cuts, and even for nothing but spending but it’s completely true." Congress? But the problems with Schultz’s cuts—but Republicans keep holding out for proposal are deeper. Schultz illogically more." Dold, by the way, votes the party line blames Washington’s problems on over 80 percent of the time, according

continued on page 15

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 14 Drink Starbucks with a Grain of Salt (continued from page 14)

“The kind of partisanship I’m advocating means standing up not only for your beliefs

but also for those who share your beliefs.”

Their fiscal supports his positions. anarchism has now led to There are major differences between the their threat to parties. Israel is not one of them, but if destabilize and you care about the economy, stem cell possibly upend research, reproductive choice, separation the American of church and state, or the environment, it and global does not make sense to support candidates economy because whose election will empower the they refuse to Republican Party. compromise an inch. They control I am not advocating mindlessly supporting only one part of one party’s positions over the other or the government, condoning behavior from one party that and yet they hold you would not excuse in the other party. all of it hostage. Neither party is correct on every issue. There are some people who would vote to As critic and have the garbage picked up on Tuesday to The Washington Post. In nearly all educator Stanley solely because they knew the Republicans cases, the person is the party. There is no Fish points out, “Voting the person rather supported Monday pick-up and would single indicator that better predicts how a than the party is about the dumbest thing switch positions if the parties switched member of Congress will vote than party you can do. Voting the person, however positions. That kind of stupidity gives affiliation. attractive or impressive he or she may genuine partisanship a bad name. be, could very well get you four years The kind of partisanship I’m advocating Republican irresponsibility and refusal to of policies you detest. In other words, means standing up not only for your beliefs compromise threatens the American and policy differences are party differences, but also for those who share your beliefs. global economies. Andrew Sullivan of the and it is hard to see how you could be a Rather than apologizing for supporting The Daily Beast writes that the Republican responsible voter if you held your nose at one party over another, we should point refusal to countenance any way to raise a whiff of party politics.” Calling oneself an out that “independence” too often means revenues to tackle the massive debt independent is a nice feel-good affirmation, independence from rational thought and an incurred largely on their watch and from but we live in a two-party system where understanding of one’s own interests. There a recession which started under Obama’s partisan politics are the only politics that are major differences between the parties. predecessor makes one thing clear. They matters. Party labels matter and should matter; are not a political party in government; otherwise, we wouldn’t have parties. they are a radical faction that refuses to There is nothing wrong with uniting behind A candidate’s party affiliation is itself a participate meaningfully in the give and the one party that supports your beliefs. If position that intelligent voters should take the Founders firmly believed should Schultz wanted to take a more effective and consider. Voters should hold their elected be at the center of American government. intellectually honest approach, he would representatives accountable for the party They are not conservatives in this sense. stake out an actual position instead of those representatives have chosen to They are anarchists. calling for “bipartisanship,” and he would affiliate with, and if that’s what Schultz support candidates who join the party that means by partisanship, I’m all for it.

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 15 Why I’m Not Running for Congress—And More By Jack Altschuler

“Did you know that America is the only G-20 nation where new workers have less education than retiring workers?”

September 25, 1979 was quite a while ago. We’ve been incensed together over the It’s time to rededicate ourselves to creating It was the last day that the Illinois 10th bailout of Wall Street banks, because it a better America. Businesspeople Congressional District was represented was done without any regulation to ensure understand the need to continuously by a Democrat, Abner Mikva. Since then, that they don’t crash our economy yet reinvest in their businesses if they are to and especially most recently, the people of again. There are no safeguards, because succeed in the coming years, and it’s that the 10th have been poorly represented by Republicans hate all regulations. We’ve way for countries, too. We’re either green Republicans who seem to be disconnected yelled at the idiotic lies of some of the and growing, or we’re ripe and rotting. —out of touch with us. The last two want to Republicans as they’ve told us that rich take down the very things we hold dear and people create jobs, so we can’t increase Did you know that America is the only take away the things we’ve already paid their taxes. It isn’t rich people that create G-20 nation where new workers have less for. They want to break their word to you jobs; it’s demand that creates jobs. We all education than retiring workers? The only and have voted to hand over America to the know that, and so do the Republicans. They one. Recently, it was announced by the rich and leave the rest of us to fight over the tell us an absurd fairy tale? College Board that this year’s high school scraps that are left. That isn’t okay with you graduates have the lowest SAT reading and it most certainly isn’t okay with me. More than anything, though, we are scores since they began testing. How in sickened by the absolute paralysis in the world can we compete, much less be I’ve contributed to the pages of the Tenth Washington created by a small minority the world leader, when our people aren’t News nearly every month for a long time, who don’t care if this nation goes down. prepared to compete and lead? so you may already be aware of some Let me say that again: They don’t care. And of my views. They’re pretty much like nearly the entire Republican Party lacks the We have to invest in the education of our yours, mainstream progressive and sick spine to stand up to those bullies, so they children for both them and for America. We at heart over the theft of the American behave as if they don’t care either, including have to invest in our schools and our entire Dream. There is so much to push back the current Congressman from the Illinois education system. And we have to leave against, like the attempts to end social 10th. They want to take this country back to behind that perversely named No Child Left security and Medicare, and the complete Robber Baron days and steal the American Behind Act that has left so many thousands abdication by this Republican Congress of Dream from you, your children, and your of our children behind. And there’s so much the responsibilities of government. Be clear grandchildren. more we have to do. that “government” means all of us banding together to create the systems that ensure, It’s time to restore our bridges and our roads, for example, that Americans have jobs and our energy systems and our factories—the the dignity that comes of that because core of what makes America work—and we are able to take care of our families at last deal with our self-defeating trade and ourselves. The Republicans talk jobs, agreements—and create the America we jobs, jobs and they talk about reviving our want to leave to future generations. It’s time national economy. But these very same to reaffirm the rights of our citizens—your Republicans have done absolutely nothing rights—the very same rights that are under to make things better. They have focused attack by Republicans now in at least 34 instead on trying to make President Obama states. fail, and in their cynical obsession they have abandoned America. We are at a turning point and this is a battle for the very soul of America, every bit as critical as the darkest days of our Revolutionary War. It’s no time to be a spectator and, to quote Thomas Paine,

Part of America’s Dumbing Down Process continued on page 17

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 16 Why I’m Not Running for Congress—And More (continued from page 16)

“Have you noticed that when you see people speaking from the floor of the House or Senate that the chairs behind them are always empty?”

“These are the times that try men’s souls. you noticed that when you see people from the hard-right, multimillionaire The summer soldier and the sunshine speaking from the floor of the House or Koch brothers and others like them. The patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the Senate that the chairs behind them are pharmaceutical industry alone has spent, service of his country; but he that stands always empty? Perhaps you thought that on average, over $287,000 per member of by it now, deserves the love and thanks of the people who belong in those chairs were Congress per year since 1998 “lobbying” man and woman.” The “he that stands by back in their offices doing important work our senators and congressmen. The it now” means you and me. That is why I for their constituents. Maybe you thought number for the insurance industry over that have explored running for the Illinois 10th they were in committee meetings dealing same period is over $205,000 per member of Congressional District seat—our seat – to with the nation’s business, but you likely Congress per year. represent the true values of the people of would have been wrong. this district. The result of that enormous influx of At the Democratic Congressional Campaign campaign cash is that we wind up with a For the 2010 campaign, each candidate Committee office, located just a block from Congress populated by the best fundraisers, in the general election for the 10th raised the Capitol Building, half of the office space rather than the best legislators, and the $3 million. It was that expensive. For the has an array of booths—workstations – and elected are seen as being beholden to the 2012 campaign it’s estimated that it will each has a telephone. You can visit there rich. That has to stop if we are to make any day and see dozens of senators and things better for all Americans. congressmen sitting there for hours, making calls to solicit contributions. You can see The fire in my belly is to make a difference, exactly the same thing at the counterpart to redirect America back toward its True Republican offices. The service provided North, and serving in Congress looks to be a by these agencies is necessary because good way to make that difference. Over the it’s illegal for our legislators to solicit past nine months, I’ve met with campaign contributions from their offices in the Capitol experts. I’ve attended training sessions, Building. So, our legislators hike a block to listened to those who have run, both those sit at those desks and use those phones to who have won and those who fared less dial for dollars in order to raise the money well. The learning has been both rich and they need for their next campaign. That deep, and I am so very grateful to all who is to say, our legislators spend half their have contributed their expertise and their time focused on keeping their jobs instead caring. of actually doing their jobs. That’s a big problem. There are costs to everything, and one of the most significant I’ve foreseen of serving It is hideously expensive to run a political in Congress is the personal cost. It takes campaign. And that is the mother of all the a special person to be able to handle that likely require as much as $5 million—per dysfunction in Washington. well. For me, the decision about running for candidate. That is for one congressional office came down to a very personal choice seat to be held for just two years. And the The McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign and also whether I’m willing to continuously day after the election next November, the Reform Act of 2002 was thoroughly gutted ask for money for the next three years. money mining will start anew. by two earlier lawsuits and, most recently, Sadly, I’m not. Yet there remains a need for Here’s a little known fact about what goes by the Citizens United case. Since then, it action. on in and around the Capitol Building. Have has been raining greenbacks in Washington continued on page 18

2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 17 Why I’m Not Running for Congress—And More (continued from page 17)

“Be a part of something so much greater than any one of us."

It’s not enough to rail against the big money we get a Democrat to represent us and put both in victory and in tragedy. He said, thieves, and we simply cannot stand America back on track. “For all those whose cares have been by while the Republicans and their rich our concern, the work goes on, the cause sponsors plunder us and all of America. Recently, I listened to Ted Kennedy’s endures, the hope still lives, and the dream We cannot have someone in Congress who concession speech at the Democratic shall never die.” is disconnected—out of touch with us— National Convention in New York in 1980. That fire in my belly to make a difference so we must put a progressive Democrat in He had just lost the nomination to Jimmy burns bright. The only question is where Congress to represent us. Carter and he knew that would spell the end I can best make that difference, and I’ve of his chances to become president. He decided that it’s with you. This is a call to It’s time to pull harder on that rope to move began by saying, action. We have just 14 months to do what the American wagon in the right direction. must be done. That is to say, we have to do more than “My fellow Democrats and my fellow write a check and attend a fundraiser. Americans, I have come here tonight not to Pay attention to the fire in your belly to argue as a candidate but to affirm a cause. make this the America we want it to be for There are scores of Tenth Dems volunteers our children, for our grandchildren, and – kudos to all. Keep it up and insist upon “I’m asking you—I am asking you to renew for us. Step up. Take action. Be a part of making your contribution. Yet, what is the commitment of the Democratic Party to something so much greater than any one needed so acutely now–what is always economic justice. of us. Together we’ll put America back on needed–is leadership, people who are track. willing to be responsible for making things “I am asking you to renew our commitment happen. People with organizational to a fair and lasting prosperity that can put skills. People who will be a part of making America back to work.” permanent this wonderful accumulation of Democratic bedrock. There is so much to His words that night are eerily applicable to do and you have skills that will help you and this moment in America. help all of us. Step up. Step into leadership. He closed his comments that night with words he had spoken so many times before, Just get this: The majority of Democrats sat on their Barcaloungers on voting day of 2010 and we got Bob Dold and the rest of the Republican road blockers in Congress. The way to change that is to get out the vote. That takes you and me knocking on doors, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls and, most important, it takes your leadership to get these things done. That is how democracy works and that is how

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