Jackson County Democrats

The public is welcome at both of the following appearances:

A Conversation with Cindy Sheehan.   Where is the energy for world peace among young people? Envisioning the future of the peace movement in 2010 and beyond.

Thursday, May 21, 6 to 7 pm, Peace House, 543 S. Mountain Av., Ashland.

Local peace workers are cordially invited to join Cindy Sheehan for an informal gathering to explore, "Where is the energy for world peace among young people? Envisioning the future of the peace movement in 2010 and beyond."  The discussion is free and open to the public. Young people (under 40) are particularly encouraged to attend.  We will pass the hat to help with Cindy's travel expenses. Thanks in advance for your generosity.  For more info: 482-9625.

Cindy Sheehan - Myth America - 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution!

7:30 pm, Thursday, May 21, Bloomsbury Books, 290 East Main St., Ashland.  Cindy will give a talk and book-signing.  Cindy is a founding member of

Gold Star Families for Peace which was formed in response to the death of her son while serving in Iraq.  She became active in the anti-war movement and led a high-profile protest outside President Bush's Texas ranch in the summer of 2005. In the past election she ran against Nancy Pelosi, for Pelosi's seat in Congress.

Thursday, May 21rst 2009

Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan, who became an internationally acclaimed voice against the war in Iraq after her son Casey was killed there, will make two appearances in Ashland

on

Thursday, May 21st. 

See Details on Left Side

For Full Information including a

biography about Ms. Sheehan

"Action" - Stand For Children Reminds you to VOTE!!! Return your ballots by Tuesday, May 19th

In these trying times, it's also critical that we elect the right people to lead our schools.  Stand for Children has endorsed Paulie Brading, Sally Killen, Tricia Prendergast,   and Jeff Thomas for Medford School Board. 

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"Action" - send a pre made postcard to your legislators Today!
www.stand.org/or/postcard

There will be terrible cuts to our schools!

That's why we're asking you, and thousands of Oregonians, to sign postcards this month. 

On Friday May 15th the final State Revenue Forecast for this year will be released. This is the forecast that the Legislature and the Governor will use as the basis for budgeting for State services for the next 2 years. Unfortunately, we can be absolutely certain that the forecast will show that unless the Legislature and the Governor raise significant additional revenue, there will be terrible cuts to schools - as well as other vital public services like health care and senior services. Legislators and the Governor have been told to expect that school funding will be cut by about one-sixth in addition to the already inadequate level the Governor first proposed a few months ago. That means dozens of school days, thousands of teachers, entire programs would be cut.

This May we'll present the postcards to our local legislative leaders to make sure they know that schools can't absorb more cuts, and that they must pursue a more balanced approach; one that combines lesser cuts with reasonable revenue increases.

If we don't act now, Oregon's public schools could be forced to make cuts that could reverse the gains we've worked for over the past few years - or set us back even further. It's time to speak up and let our leaders know that even in tough times, more cuts to education are simply not acceptable. 

If you've already signed your postcards, forward this message to your friends and family and ask them to take action now. 

Words Designed to Kill Health Care Reform

by Senator Jeff Merkley

Over and over again, I hear from Oregonians that we need real health care reform that provides every American with access to quality, affordable care.  That is why Congress and President Obama are so focused on this issue.

Of course there are folks in the insurance and hospital industries, from the medical profession, and both political parties who will have different ideas about how to achieve our goal.  But I was shocked when I read a memo from Republican strategist Dr. Frank Luntz laying out plans to dismantle any effort to give all Americans access to quality health care. 

Read full article

Senator Jeff Merkley's diary

Social Security and Medicare -- Is the Sky Really Falling?

From Allen Hallmark, Vice Chair JCDP

The following blog was written by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. While the mainstream media is making it seem like the sky is falling and that Social Security and Medicare are on the verge of bankruptcy, Reich brings some clarity and some hope about the situation into view.

Article on JCDP web site

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009
The Truth Behind the Social Security and Medicare Alarm Bells

What are we to make of yesterday's report from the trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds that Social Security will run out of assets in 2037, four years sooner than previously forecast, and Medicare's hospital fund will be exhausted by 2017, two years earlier than predicted a year ago?

Original article at http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/05/truth-behind-social-security-and...

"Action" - Let Senator Bates know your views on this election reform effort to ensure the electoral college result mirrors the popular vote.  sen.alanbates@state.or.us

National Popular Vote for President - Now it's Oregon's Turn! By Nan Trout

NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE - MOVING FORWARD!     Washington State joined the national compact to guarantee that the national popular vote will determine who is elected President. NOW IT'S OREGON'S TURN! The measure has passed the House with Representative Peter Buckley a sponsor, and is awaiting Senate approval.     According to data just released by FairVote (the electoral research group), 98% of the campaign events between the 2008 Republican National Convention and election day involving a presidential or vice-presidential candidate occurred in just 15 closely divided "battleground" states.   Read Full Article

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia).

Under the National Popular Vote bill, all the electoral votes from all the states that have enacted the bill would be awarded, as a bloc, to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes-that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). The bill would thus guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The shortcomings of the current system are caused by the winner-take-all rule (i.e., awarding all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in each separate state).

Under the current system of electing the President, two thirds of the states are ignored by the presidential campaign; a second-place candidate can win the Presidency; turnout is depressed in the spectator states; and every vote is not equal.

Because of the winner-take-all rule, presidential candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, or pay attention to voter concerns in states where they are comfortably ahead or hopelessly behind. Instead, candidates concentrate their attention on a small handful of closely divided "battleground" states.  

 Earlier this week, the Senate Majority Office launched a new version of their website, www.oregonsenatedemocrats.com

Of Continuing Importance

Health Care Action on Two Fronts - JOIN ONE OF THE ACTION RESPONSE TEAMS

to write letters to editor, call your Senator

 "Let there be no doubt: Health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year." 

    ... President Barack Obama

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VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED & APPRECIATED FOR OUR STANDING COMMITTEES

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