Puget Sound Liberals Weekly Newsletter # 63 – March 30^th, 2007

Enhancing Freedom, Opportunity and Cooperation in Puget Sound and Beyond

Through informing and networking Liberals and Liberal Organizations

Our vision is 100,000’s well-informed Puget Sound Liberals working together.

Weekly letter distributed by email each Friday to 1020 members. Please invite your liberal friends to receive our newsletter, by sending us their name, email address, and residence (address, neighborhood, city, zip code). We are seeking reporter-reviewer-editors with knowledge of particular political groups and issues.

.Submit your news to editor Dave Thomas (davthom@att.net). See our website www.lakehillsliberals.org, with archive of all past newsletters and more. To get our free services, including newsletter, our ‘Proud Liberal, Time for a Change’ yard signs or ‘Proud Liberal’ bumper stickers, volunteer or make a donation, contact Dave Thomas.

See Center for Progressive Action for archive of well researched daily news. See Alternet for liberal commentaries. Read Liberal Opinion. We also recommend the Pacific NW Portal for displaying many blogs which allow Puget Sound Liberals to exchange their knowledge and opinions. Learn about our State Democratic Party. Quickly and easily contact your national and state officials.

Preview

Americans Want Universal Health Care Coverage

Democratic Presidential Candidates Health Care Forum

Inadequate School Funding

Iraq War Costs Would Pay for Fully Funding Our Education

Comparing Values: Liberals, Democrats, Unitarians

Lake Hills Liberals Salon Discussion of Labor Unions

Puget Sound Liberals Find Experts

Quick Topics

King County Resolution for Clean Elections

Obama & McCain Agree to Public Campaign Financing.

White House Secedes from Union

Bush’s Ownership Society Founders

Faulty Framing – Stopping a War Isn’t Micro-Managing

The Weapon No One Can Stop

American Democracy or Empire?

Lake Hills Newsletter – Vigiling to Bring Our Troops Home Alive

Upcoming Events

Chair of the King County Democrats Susan Sheary is handing out flyers "Decline to Sign" to alert Democrats and Independents to be wary about supporting initiative 25. It is a Republican based effort to try and confuse the voters about "The proposed change to an elected position of King County Elections Director responsible for all elections functions in King County and creation of a separate department is wrong." "Initiative 25 is a very bad idea and would not be good for the people of King County. It is simply a protest by the small band of people continuing efforts to change the results of the 2004 election. Just say NO if you are asked to sign a petition to get Initiative 25 on the November 2007 ballot.”

Saturday, March 31 at 10 AM at Crossroads Bible Church (158 SE 37^th Street, Bellevue) – Veterans Fair sponsored by Congressman Dave Reichert to provide information about available services and inform Reichert of shortcomings.

Sunday, April 1 at 6 PM at the Labor Temple (2800 1rst Ave, Seattle) – Dennis Kucinich Rally. For more information, call 253-471-1123

Tuesday, April 3 at 7 PM at Starbucks (10214 NE 8^th Street, Bellevue) – Eastside Rail Now meeting.

Sound Transit East Link Project Public Workshops – RSVP by clicking here

Wednesday, April 4 at 5-7 PM at Community Center at Mercer View (8236 SE 24^th Street, Mercer Island)

Thursday, April 5 at 4-7 PM at Highland Park Community Center (14224 NE Bel-Red Road, Bellevue)

Tuesday, April 10 at 4-7 PM at Redmond City Hall (15670 NE 85^th Street, Redmond)

Saturday April 28 at 10 AM at Chinook Middle School (2001 98^th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue) – Town Meeting with 48^th LD legislators Ross Hunter, Deb Eddy and Sen. Rodney Tom.

Tuesday, May 1 at 5:30 PM at Seattle Sheraton Hotel ( ) – Reception with John Edwards. Reception donation - $500, Silver Sponsor - $1000, Gold Sponsor - $2000. Dinner only – $150. For more information and donor instructions, call Suone Cotner at 206-464-1011 or email scotner@wstla.org

Major Topics

Americans want universal health care coverage.

For more.

Clinton, Obama See Health Care as Key to White House by Aliza Marcus

March 22 (Bloomberg) -- John Edwards was the first presidential candidate to get one. Mitt Romney signed a Massachusetts law creating one that he now distances himself from. Barack Obama promises one. Hillary Clinton had one in 1993 and won't talk about it now.

``It'' is a plan to revamp U.S. health care, the world's most expensive system and, compared with those of other industrialized countries, not necessarily the best. While candidates for president are reluctant to take on a $2.1 trillion industry that makes up 16 percent of the U.S. economy, surveys show that a majority of Americans want the government to overhaul the system.

The political environment may be right for the first time since former President Bill Clinton took on health care 14 years ago. The puzzle of how to hold down costs while providing health care to 47 million Americans who don't have it has only grown more intractable. The leading Democratic candidates will discuss solutions at a forum this weekend in Las Vegas. To read the whole article. View another pre-forum summary of candidates’ proposals.

Democratic Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Forum

Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Mike Gravel,

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Barack Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson

All seven candidates who appeared at the March 24^th Forum advocate universal health care coverage. The front runners were less specific about getting there than less prominent candidates.

Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich stated that private insurers and employer paid health care must be eliminated, replaced by public coverage. Gravel believes that special interests influence legislators to the extent that the latter will never pass universal public coverage. He advocates a national initiative to adopt public coverage through vouchers, managed by regional commissions to control costs. He would pay for it by eliminating Bush’s tax cuts, the Iraq war and expenditures benefiting primarily the military-industrial complex. For more.

Kucinich and others have introduced a bill HR 676 to establish single payer health care coverage. Kucinich would eliminate private insurance coverage as an alternative, because adverse selection would occur with healthy people transferring from public to private coverage, causing increased costs of public coverage and a spiral to expensive private coverage. For more.

Hillary Clinton also attacked private insurers, but did not specify an alternative. She proposed barring insurers from excluding clients with pre-existing conditions and requiring more coverage of preventive care. She has proposed expanding coverage for children. For more.

John Edwards noted that many people want single payer coverage, and many want to protect their present coverage (which is often employer paid private insurance). He advocates a compromise: universal coverage with public and private coverage alternatives with protection against adverse selection, with the result that over time people may increasingly choose public alternatives. For more about Edwards’ detailed proposal presented in early February. For a review of Edwards’ plan by Jacob Hacker.

Bill Richardson’s health care plan guarantees that all Americans will have choices of high quality, affordable care by giving every American the choice to keep their current coverage or obtain coverage through an existing, well-established program.

· Working families and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through the same plan that members of Congress enjoy.

· Americans 55 and older will be able to purchase coverage through Medicare.

· Richardson will consider a “trade” with the states. Medicare funds care for seniors and persons with disabilities in exchange for states expanding their Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) to cover children and families.

· Veterans will get access to the high-quality care they deserve, when they need it, without bureaucratic hassles. Richardson’s plan will give every veteran returning from active duty a Heroes Health Card that provides them with a choice of providers wherever they live.

Richardson also stressed prevention such as no junk food in schools and stop smoking programs. For more.

Christopher Dodd offered no specific proposal for covering all Americans, but more than the others focused upon finding the means to pay for it, including canceling Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and ending the Iraq War. For more about his proposals to increase quality and reduce costs.

Barack Obama offered no proposal for obtaining universal, but promised one soon. For more about his other specific health care proposals. Unique is his emphasis upon the effects of community land use on obesity.

For another summary of the forum. All the candidates sensibly worry about the power of the private health insurers, with their campaign contributions, behind-the-scenes lobbying and misleading public media campaigns. Many of the proposals include expanding private health insurance coverage in the short run. The major question is how will they get to affordable cost-controlled public health insurance for all and how soon. Dave Thomas

Straight Talk 2006 Recommendations from Campaign for America’s Future

Universal, affordable and comprehensive health care is America’s great, unfinished agenda. The Medicare program, which already covers41 million older Americans, could serve as a model for extending affordable health insurance to everyone. Under Medicare, the federal government pays for health insurance for Americans 65 and older. Senior citizens choose their own doctors and make their own decisions without worrying about preexisting conditions or losing their insurance.

Expanding a program such as Medicare to all Americans would do away with the massive administrative waste of private HMOs and insurance companies. The savings from lower administrative costs would make it possible to insure everyone. And by using the buying power of a program such as Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, we could get greater control over health care costs.

Making the move to a single-payer system would allow health care providers to spend less time on paperwork and more time treating patients. People would be more likely to get preventive care and to seek early treatment for illnesses, which would lower overall costs. Universal coverage would have positive effects throughout the economy. It would end the competitive disadvantage businesses face in paying for increasingly expensive health care for their employees. No one would be denied coverage for preexisting health conditions, and workers would be free to change jobs without losing their insurance coverage. The only losers under an expanded Medicare would be the drug companies and private insurance providers. That’s why they shell out millions for campaign contributions, front groups, and battalions of lobbyists to prevent such a system from being adopted.

Lastly, a universal system reflects the true meaning of the common good—a collective risk pool that everyone pays into and that everyone takes out of when they need it. It doesn’t divide Americans into tiny puddles of public or private plans, with the associated bickering over what payment comes out of which plan.

See an important Blog

National Health Report Ranks Washington State 15^th

Washington State ranks 15^th in the annual national report America’s Health Rankings, released today by the United Health Foundation. Overall, the report finds that America’s health has continued to remain stagnant since 2000. Though Washington’s rank dropped from number 14 last year, there was little change in the individual health measures. Highlighted problem areas for Washington remain low public health funding (ranked 44^th) and low childhood immunization rates (42^nd). For More

Inadequate School Funding

Washington’s student-teacher ratio ranks 47^th. We rank 31^st in teacher salaries. We rank 42^nd in per-pupil funding. Washington school districts face numerous unfunded state and federal government mandates. Extra money is needed for bus transportation; special-education; English as a second language; kindergarten; and a sixth period for to teach elective art, music, foreign language, computer programming, vocational and remedial studies. Our Washington Learns Commission predicts an annual $1.2 billion minimum shortfall in educational funding.

Bellevue is better funded than many other districts, but our teacher turnover rate is 50% during the first five years. 30% of tenth graders are failing the WASL math test. 10% of high school students are not graduating. To see the complete commentary by Bellevue School Board President.Judy Bushnell.

Iraq War Costs

Total Costs from 2003 through 2006 equal $282 billion, not including many already incurred costs such as equipment replacement and health care for returning veterans. Washington State’s share (2%) is 5.64 billion, which would have brought our education funding up to par for the years 2003-2006. For more.

Comparing Values: Liberals, Democrats, Unitarians

Read the following expressions of values. Ask, what are the similarities among the four? What are the differences? What would you cross out, modify or add? How would you express your values? We will be glad to publish your expression of values and comments.

As (Puget Sound) Liberals, we believe and seek to realize these values:

· All Americans should have the same freedoms and opportunities.

· We are each responsible for protecting the freedoms and opportunities of all Americans.

· We and our government should be competent and compassionate,

using our freedoms and opportunities wisely and

helping those with fewer freedoms and opportunities than the rest of us.

· Our United States should be a cooperative member of our world’s community of nations.

As (Washington) Democrats we respect the rights guaranteed by our Constitution that support:

· Economic Opportunity;

· Social and Civil Justice;

· Personal Freedom, Security and Privacy.

We are dedicated to achieving peace, prosperity, opportunity and a government based on responsible optimism.

We are the (King County) Democrats, the party of the people, the party of good government.

· We cherish our American heritage of opportunity and inclusion.

· We pledge ourselves to justice and equality for all as guaranteed by our Constitution and its Bill of Rights.

· We commit ourselves to restoring good government that serves and protects all its people.

Unitarian Univeralists covenant to affirm and promote

· The inherent worth and dignity of every person

· Justice, equality, and compassion in human relations

· Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations

· A free and responsible search for truth and meaning

· The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large

· The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all

· Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

Based upon our values and present circumstances, we define objectives and priorities. The following list was based upon a list distributed by Howard Dean, chair of the National Democratic Party Committee modified with input from legislative candidates. It was distributed last fall to 1700 likely Democratic voters in Lake Hills, with Democratic candidates’ brochures.

Vote Democratic for:

· Fair Elections and Open Government

· Fair Taxes and Competent Spending

· Investment for Productivity

· Quality Health, Education, Jobs and Retirement

· Environmental Protection and Energy Independence

· Personal Security and Equal Rights

· International Leadership and Cooperation

What would you cross out, modify or add? Let us know, so we can improve. Notice that Conservative Republicans oppose most of these objectives.

Lake Hills Liberals Salon Discussion of Labor Unions

Nancy Rising led our discussion of labor unions, which concerned the following topics.

· History of American Labor Unions

· Dave Beck - cooperation with business.

· King County Central Labor Council.

· Employee Free Choice Act

· More about the Employee Free Choice Act

· Corporate Personhood.

Lake Hills Liberals Finds Experts

I have found experts to review my commentaries and submit ones of their own:

State Legislation – Tina Shamseldin

Hispanics – Joanne Cisneros

Women’s Issues – Catherine Minch

Gays and Lesbians – Celeste Keaton

Health Care – Barbara Plymate and Bob Fifthian

Education – Dennis Gerlitz

Labor Unions – Nancy Rising

Blogs – Rick Hegdahl

We welcome commentaries and review by others of you with expertise.

Quick Topics

King County Resolution for Clean Elections

See King County Resolution. Why did our legislators ignore this resolution?

Obama & McCain Agree to Public Campaign Financing.

By Kristin Jensen, Bloomberg. March 1, 2007

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain said they'll accept public funds -- and spending limits -- for the 2008 presidential election if they win their party nominations and their opponents agree to do the same. The two U.S. senators reacted today to a ruling by the U.S. Federal Election Commission allowing Obama to raise money for a general campaign and return it later if he decides to accept federal funds. Obama said he'll keep money for the general election in a separate account and not spend it. To read the whole article.

Executive Branch Secedes from the Union

by Devilstower on Daily Kos Blog

When Tony Snow made the rounds of talk shows this week, some might have been surprised at his message.

Snow to CNN:  "There's another principle, which is Congress doesn't have the legislative -- I mean oversight authority over the White House."

Snow to NBC: "Congress doesn't have any legitimate oversight and responsibilities to the White House."

Snow to NBC: "First, the White House is under no compulsion to do anything. The legislative branch doesn't have oversight."

Snow to ABC: "The executive branch is under no compulsion to testify to Congress, because Congress in fact doesn't have oversight ability."

Just in case you missed it the first time, Snow repeated himself to make sure the public gets the message: the White House has declared itself, a law unto itself, beholden to no other authority.  This goes quite a bit beyond the already massive expansions of "executive privilege" previously claimed by this administration.  For more and other Devilstower commentary.

Bush's `Ownership Society' Founders as U.S. Economy Weakens

by Brendan Murray

March 21 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush spent years promoting an ``ownership society,'' the idea that Americans should own everything from homes to the assets needed to pay for their own health care and retirement. Now the weakening U.S. economy is exposing the dark side of that dream.

The president's sales pitch for the ownership concept is being dialed back as housing prices fall, foreclosures reach record levels and U.S. stock markets shed more than $700 billion in market value over the past month. Bush, who mentioned the term three dozen times in 2004, has mentioned it only once this year. To read the whole article.

The ownership society only offered ownership to those of us who are wealthy and powerful at the expense of many of the rest of us. Dave Thomas

Faulty Framing

When Democrats try to stop the Iraq War, the Republicans call it ‘micro-managing’. I thought micro-managing was when Lyndon Johnson selected bomb targets in Vietnam. It is too bad someone didn’t micro-manage the Iraq and Katrina reconstruction efforts.

The Weapon No One Can Stop

Despite heroic reassurances from both the White House and the Pentagon that the six-week-old U.S. escalation in Baghdad and al-Anbar Province is proceeding on course, suicide car-bombers continue to devastate Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods, often under the noses of reinforced American patrols and checkpoints. Indeed, February was a record month for car bombings, with at least 44 deadly explosions in Baghdad alone, and March promises to duplicate the carnage. For more.

American Democracy or Empire?

Could we collapse the same way the Soviet Union did in 1989? For a discussion.

Recommended Books

Jill Quadgno, One Nation Uninsured, Why the U.S. Has No Health Insurance

Lake Hills Liberals Newsletter

Lake Hills in Bellevue, Our City Where Neighbors Care for Each Other

Enhancing Freedom, Opportunity and Cooperation in Lake Hills and Beyond

Bring Our Troops Home

During this past 5 weeks, some of us have been vigiling for peace, including members of Lake Hills Liberals, MoveOn, Eastside Reconciliation for Peace and Eastside Liberals for John Edwards. Several times a week, 2 to 4 of us hold signs at a 4-way stoplight one mile south of the main Microsoft campus. On a stake, each 12" x 17" sign says `Bring Our Troops Home Alive'. Below signs carried by his supporters is a 4" x 12" sign which says `John Edwards'.

We stand there from 4:30 to 5:30 PM.  About 500 cars pass by slowly as they wait their turn at the intersection. About one out of five indicate their approval by waving, thumbs up, flashing their lights or honking, About the same proportion are talking on cell phones. Contact Dave Thomas (davthom@att.net) or 425-746-4572) to make arrangements to join us.

Events Calendar

Every Thursday 7-8:30 PM in Crossroads Mall near the large chess board at table with red checkerboard patterned tablecloth – Conversation Café –. Participants (mostly Lake Hills Liberals) use a discussion format with each participant addressing an issue in turn with listeners respecting what they say. A great way to learn different understandings and opinions, while presenting and modifying your own.

Every Thursday at 7:00pm, Valhalla Bar & Grill (8544 122nd Avenue NE, Kirkland) - Eastside Drinking Liberally http://drinkingliberally.org/locations.html#seattle

Every first Wednesday at 7 PM at Redmond Community Center (16600 NE 80th Street, Redmond) – 45^th District Democrats monthly meeting

Every third Tuesday at 7:00 at Lake Hills Clubhouse next to Lake Hills Library – Lake Hills Neighborhood Association

Every third Wednesday at 7 PM at Stevenson Elementary School (14220 NE 8th Street in Bellevue) – 48^th District Democrats monthly meeting

Every third Wednesday at 7 PM at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (4228 Factoria Boulevard SE, Bellevue) - 41^st District Democrats monthly meeting

Every fourth Friday at 6:30 PM at Ann Rolio’s home (16109 SE 5^th Street) – Lake Hills Liberals Salon, including gourmet buffet and political presentation and discussion. RSVP to davthom@att.net

Activities and Services

Our Neighborhood Enhancement Interests and Activities include: block parties; welcoming new neighbors; cooperation among home owners and apartment tenants; environmental enhancement (recycling exchange), crime prevention, disaster response, school and youth services, military concerns, family financial security, and elder support task groups; and free advertisements for members.

Our Political Actions include: displaying yard signs and bumper stickers, letters-to-editors and government officials, campaign support for liberal candidates, canvassing to identify liberal voters and stimulate them to vote, and encouraging formation of liberal groups in other neighborhoods. Our newsletter stimulates networking of liberals throughout our Puget Sound and provides free advertisements for liberal events.

Our Personal Enhancement Efforts include: educating liberals (our newsletter, commentaries and discussions; website; and reading list), healthy living (walking groups), and arts and crafts fair.

· Our Lake Hills Liberals Walks – M & F 5:15 PM and Sat at 7:30 AM at Lake Hills Library parking lot by dumpster. Slow Pokes Walk. – W 5:15 PM Bring your cane or walker to walk a short distance to Larson Lake.

· .In keeping with our principle of not competing with existing services, we won’t add a blog capability to our website. See www.nwprogressive.org/portal to examine many northwest liberal blogs.

Our liberal spirit commentaries (which sometimes accompany our newsletter) address mutual respect and cooperation of religious and secular liberals. They also address changing our mindsets (such as not bringing our experiences to consciousness, insensitivities, resentments and cynicism) which restrict our ability to take advantage of our freedoms and activities. The major restrictions on our freedom and opportunity may be in our head. These can be changed.

Hire Our Neighbors

· Private Piano Lessons (students must have a piano), afternoons - Anna Khosrowian (378-7938), price negotiable

· Housekeeper, price negotiable – Laura Montano (641-5038 ambar_lau@hotmail.com)

· Psychotherapist, accepts insurance - Sandy Mathews (462-7889, www.sandramathews.com)

· Babysitting for infants (occasional evenings and weekends) - $5 per hour- Christy Pacheco- johnpacheco01@yahoo.com 425-653-3565

· Data Entry- $10 per 12 font, double spaced page- Christy Pacheco (425-653-3565 johnpacheco01@yahoo.com)

· Home Repair- prices vary, depending on job- John Pacheco 425-653-3565 johnpacheco01@yahoo.com)

· Auto Repair, price varies depending on job (but always fair), Jaime Speicher (AAS Auto Repair Technician) (425-746-2353)

· Home Repair and Remodeling, Rick Hegdahl (425-256-2427 magical_beginnings@msn.com)

· Life Support Therapies, Astara Burlingame RN. (MD) holistic care, acupuncture hypno therapy, biological medicines (206-370-0356)

Volunteers and Donations Wanted

· Healthy Start needs women volunteers to mentor young mothers –