Cascadia Liberals Weekly Newsletter #99

Our Political Priorities

· Fair Elections and Open Government

· Fair Taxes and Competent Spending

· Personal Security, Equal Rights, Family Support

· Quality Health, Education, Jobs, Income, Retirement

· Investment for Productivity

· Environmental Protection and Energy Independence

· International Cooperation and Leadership

Conservatives oppose all of these.

Recommendations

·         Darcy Burner for U.S. Congress, 8^th District

·         Alec Fisken for Seattle Port Commission

·         Dana Stober for Kent City Council, Position 3.

·         Keri Andrews for Bellevue City Council

·         Brian Conlin for Redmond City Council

·         Support Our Grocery Workers

Help Darcy Burner obtain DFA support

Liberals and Democrats

Support our 2008 Democratic Presidential Contenders

I am impressed by all of our Democratic candidates. My personal preferences are now John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Mike Gravel, but many of the contenders are nearly equal in my mind and my preferences may change as their campaigns reveal more.

Our newsletter will provide equal access to all our candidates. It will include information which submitted to us and information we find independently. I suspect that Thompson will be the Republican nominee if he enters the race, but he can’t please the Republican base and a majority of American voters. In any event, virtually any one of our Democratic candidates can beat any of the Republican candidates.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) lists six reasons to elect Democratic Senators: (1) Iraq War, (2) Global Warming, (3) Surging National Debt, (4) Energy Crisis, (5) The Poor Get Poorer and the Rich Get Richer, and (6) Crisis in Health and Education. The National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC) points out that Red States have increasing populations which Republicans will seek to gerrymander after the 2010 census. We need nationwide non-partisan redistricting. And we need to turn all red states blue. Support the National Democratic Committee’s 50-State Strategy.

How Many Democrats Are In Washington State?

It depends on the definition of Democrat. Imagine a series of concentric circles.

· The largest circle contains 2,000,000+ likely Democratic voters if they were all registered

· The next smaller circle contains 1,833,800 registered likely Democratic voters

· The next smaller circle contains 1,184,700 voters who voted in 2006 for Maria Cantwell

· The next smaller circle contains 781,900 Cantwell voters who consider themselves Democrats

· The next smaller circle contains 10,000? active Democrats beyond voting (PCO’s, legislative district members, caucus participants, campaign volunteers, etc.)

· The sixth circle contains 400 party insiders - officials who receive occasional Democratic Party newsletters

These numbers were derived from voter and voting statistics, generalizations concerning various ratios and personal communications.

This yields the following types of actual and potential Democrats:

· Outer ring – several hundred thousand likely Democratic voters who aren’t registered

· Next smaller ring – 650,000 likely Democratic voters who didn’t vote

· Next ring – 400,000 likely Democratic voters who don’t consider themselves to be Democrats

· Next ring – 770,000 self-identified Democratic voters who are inactive beyond voting

· Next ring – 9,600 active Democrats, but not insiders

· Smallest circle – 400 insiders

We Democrats would like to create a whirlpool in which people within each ring are drawn into the smaller rings. We want them to register, turn out to vote, consider themselves Democrats, become active and become insiders.

How do we do this? We reach out to as many as possible to recruit and train them to be politically informed and effective, likely increasing their motivation and activity. This is what our Puget Sound Liberals is attempting with the target audience of 877,267 voters in our 12 Puget Sound counties who voted for Maria Cantwell. More realistically, we would hope to reach 250,000 (which equal the 30% that we reach in our Lake Hills Neighborhood). If successful, we will reach out to the rest of our state. Wish us well and help us by introducing your friends and colleagues to us.

A Suggestion for Darcy Burner

You have demonstrated your interest and ability to analyze voter and election data for our 8^th congressional district. I suggest you perform an analysis for our 8^th congressional district similar to the analysis above for our Washington State. How many voters are registered? How many of these are likely Democratic voters (What proportion of voters voted for Maria Cantwell)? How many voters voted for Cantwell? Assuming that 60% of these consider themselves Democrats instead of Independents, how many were these? How many were active in your 2006 campaign, leaving how many who weren’t? Etc.

Initiate a regular (perhaps bi-weekly) newsletter to your active supporters, indicating your values, priority policies and political strategies and how they can become involved. Expand the number of recipients of your newsletter rapidly to other 8^th congressional Democratic activists who weren’t involved in your campaign. Since your newsletter is private, going only to your supporters and potential supporters (with perhaps a few overlooked exceptions), you can carefully provide information which your opponents can’t easily use to attack you.

It is very inefficient for each candidate to offer a separate newsletter. Encourage the Democratic Party to provide a newsletter with each candidate allowed a column to be published repeatedly until the candidate updates it. In the absence of a Democratic Party newsletter, submit a column to be published by this newsletter. While there is some risk that our opponents will obtain copies of our newsletter (although I have seen no evidence yet that they know we exist and we vigorously avoid publicity), a greater risk is that your supporters and potential supporters don’t receive regular information about your campaign and possibilities for their involvement. We welcome columns from all Democratic candidates and will provide a regular free advertisement to any who send us 100 names, email addresses and residences (at least city and neighborhood) of liberals to be added to our newsletter distribution list.

We will do all we can to support you and our other Democratic and candidates. Even allowing Republicans to be elected dog catchers, provides them a resume for going on to higher office. In baseball terms, let’s shut down their farm teams.

Organizing Precinct Clusters

Led by Chair Barbara Geller, a group of 41^st Legislative District Democrats has initiated an experimental demonstration project for identifying and motivating likely Democratic voters to become more active Democrats and to vote. During several meetings, they have:

· delineated 17 precinct clusters

· made a map showing these clusters, their precincts and PCO’s

· initiated a database of prospective cluster team members

· chosen 3 for initial experimentation with 2 others which may be added

· chosen leaders for the first three cluster teams

· decided a rough timeline for

· assembling and training the first teams,

· canvassing previously identified likely Democrats to recruit more team members,

· canvassing unidentified voters

· when the first experiments are succeeding, initiating the other 12 or 14 cluster teams

Instead of lonely PCO’s in only some precincts, they will have teams (consisting of PCO’s and other active Democrats, who may become PCO’s after they realize they are doing the same work) responsible for all the precincts. Team members can support and motivate each other to get the work done. If success is apparent within the next 4 months, other legislative districts may benefit by following the lead of the 41^st district.

A manual for organizing precinct clusters is available and will be posted on our website.

Some Apt Quotes

"Whenever the people are well-informed,

 They can be trusted with their own Government."

-Thomas Jefferson, 1789

 “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.”

-Daniel Patrick Moynihan

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"

-Voltaire

"We can have Democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few..... But we cannot have both."

-Louis D. Brandeis

"Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government, owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics, is the first task of the statesmanship of the day."

-Theodore Roosevelt, April 19, 1906

"We know how to transform this world to reduce our impact on nature by several fold, how to provide meaningful, dignified living-wage jobs for all who seek them, and how to feed, clothe, and house every person on earth.

 What we don't know is how to remove those in power, those whose ignorance of biology is matched only by their indifference to human suffering.

 This is a political issue. It is not an ecological problem."

-Paul Hawken, from a speech in Oct. 2002

How About Reborn Liberals?

Chris Hedges, Excerpt from Secrets of Christian Right's Recruiting Tactics. 4/24/07

“There is a false, but effective, fiction that one has to be born again to be a Christian. The Christian right refuses to acknowledge the worth of anyone's religious experience unless, in the words of its tired and opaque cliché, one has accepted "Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior."

The emotional meltdown that leads to the conversion experience -- one often induced in crowds skillfully manipulated and broken down by demagogues -- is one of the most pernicious tools of the movement. Through conversion one surrenders to a higher authority. And the higher authority, rather than God, is the preacher who steps in to take over one's life. Being born again, and the process it entails, has far more in common with recruitment into a cult than it does with genuine belief.

I attended a five-day seminar in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where I was taught the techniques of conversion, often by D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries. The callousness of these techniques -- targeting the vulnerable, building false friendships with the lonely or troubled, promising to relieve people of the most fundamental dreads of human existence, from the fear of mortality to the numbing pain of grief -- gave to the process an awful cruelty and dishonesty.

The seminar, which I attended as part of the work I did on my book "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America," gave me a window into the subtle and pernicious techniques this movement uses to manipulate and control its followers. Kennedy openly called converts "recruits" and spoke about them joining a new political force sweeping across the country to reshape and reform America into a Christian state….

…. The conversion, at first blush, is simply euphoric. It is about new friends, loving and accepting friends, about the final conquering of human anxieties, fears and addictions, about attainment through God of wealth, power, success and happiness. For those who have known personal and economic despair it feels like a new life, a new beginning.

The new church friends call the converts, invite them to dinner and have time to listen to their troubles and answer their questions. Kennedy tells us that we must keep in touch in the days after conversion. He encourages us to keep detailed files on those we proselytize. We must be sure new converts are never left standing alone at church. We must care when no one else seems to care. The new converts are assigned a "discipler" or prayer partner, a new friend, who is wiser than they are in the ways of the Lord and able to instruct them in their new life.

Intense interest by a group of three or four evangelists in a potential convert, an essential part of the conversion process, the flattery and feigned affection, the rapt attention to those being recruited and the flurry of "sincere" compliments are a form of "love bombing."

It is the same technique employed by most cults, such as the Unification Church, or "Moonies," to attract prospects. It was a well-developed tactic of the Russian and Chinese communist parties, which share many of the communal and repressive characteristics of the Christian right.

"Love bombing is a coordinated effort, usually under the direction of leadership, that involves long-term members flooding recruits and newer members with flattery, verbal seduction, affectionate but usually nonsexual touching, and lots of attention to their every remark," the psychiatrist Margaret Thaler Singer wrote. "Love bombing -- or the offer of instant companionship -- is a deceptive ploy accounting for many successful recruitment drives." ….

…. With this, the process of deconstructing an individual and building a submissive follower, one who no longer has any allegiance to the values of the open society and the democratic state, begins.” For more.

Should we liberals start love bombing our recruits? Would you like to be love bombed? I personally enjoy flattery, verbal seduction, affectionate touching, and lots of attention to my every remark; although I am too sure of myself to easily get deconstructed or adopt new values. Dave Thomas

National and World

Bush’s Denial

Senator Harry Reid says Bush is in a state of denial about our failure in Iraq. For more. Shouldn’t Bush begin a twelve step program by accepting that he is powerless over power and his administration is unmanageable? See Ruth Marcus columns, expecially Fox-in-the-Henhouse Government.

By trying to end the Iraq War, our Democratic Congress is not micro-managing. But our American people can hardly wait for the Democrats to begin in 2009 to both macro- and micro-manage our government. In the meantime, by vetoing the congressional passed Iraq funding bill, Bush will be obstructing the will of the American People. For more on withdrawal from Iraq.

Virginia and Other Killings

We Americans are shocked by the 33 Virginia killings. But notice that such killings typically occur each day in Iraq. And their population is only one twelfth the number of ours. How would we react if such killings occurred 12 times daily? Would we still be as shocked each day?

From 2002 through 2006, 729 Israeli and Palestinian children were killed in Israel and occupied Palestine. During the same period, 1,857 children were murdered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Imagine if our press reported murders proportionate to their rate of occurrence in various parts of the world.

Attitudes Toward Immigrants

A recent poll shows that 78% of Americans favor legislation to provide a way for undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status. Conservatives are losing their struggle to relegate immigrants to second class status, just as they are losing the struggle with regards to gays and lesbians. Our liberal successes just keep occurring as we extend equal freedoms and opportunities to more Americans. Another struggle that needs to expand concerns providing justice and rehabilitation to criminals.

Mandatory Drug Sentences Should Be Eliminated

Meanwhile, the majority of blacks that are sentenced under the law, and that's upward of 80 percent, are poor, ill educated. They fit the increasingly standard and disturbing profile of thousands of federal prisoners. Though studies confirm that black illicit drug use is no greater than that of whites, they are less likely to be offered a chance to plea bargain, black drug offenders are more likely to fall under federal or state minimum mandatory sentencing law, and will serve a sentence nearly double that of whites. The escalation in black incarceration is the single biggest cause of the massive bulge in the number of inmates in federal prisons. The number has jumped four fold since the late 1980s, and more than half of them are there for drug crimes, or other petty offenses.

The law has wreaked havoc on many black communities and families. A handful of states permanently ban ex-felons from voting. More than half of those disenfranchised are black men. The voting ban diminishes the political power of the black communities. Women convicted of felony drug offenses are also barred for life from receiving welfare benefits. This puts thousands of women and their children at dire social risk and increases the likelihood that they will commit more crimes. The high black imprisonment rate also drastically increases health risks and costs in black communities, since many prisoners are released with chronic medical afflictions, particularly HIV/AIDS.

The mandatory sentencing law has been a costly white elephant, and has done nothing to curb violent crime. More states realize that stuffing thousands in jail cells is no cure for crime and drug ills. For more. War on Drugs is a War on Minorities.

Iran and Syria as Role Models

Twenty seven years ago, 79 American diplomats were held hostage in Iraq for a year. Recently Iran held 7 British sailors for several weeks. In neither case were the hostages subjected to water boarding, attack dogs, electric shock, or naked pyramids.

Syria has accepted more than a million Iraq refugees from murderous chaos initiated by U.S. occupation. Our much larger United States has accepted 7000 Iranian refugees.

Our Biggest Threat

Higher gas prices and lower housing prices. Our economy is slowing. Our biggest threat is that foreign investors will quit loaning us money to cover our trade deficits. To service our debt, interest rates would have to increase, causing more slowing of our economy. If this occurs, it will probably occur rapidly. If it occurs in the next year, it will hurt the Republicans at the polls. If it occurs after 2008 with the Democrats in charge of our government, it will hurt the Democrats, just when we are posed to initiate sweeping improvements in social programs to provide financial security in the face of industrial change and globalization.

Industrial Change, Capitalism and Globalization

In his Future Favors the Bold, Lester Thurow explains that our job insecurity results from three factors:

· the change from a manufacturing to service based society,

· the change from public to private enterprise (especially the capitalist form of private enterprise) with resulting increases in the frequency of business cycles and

· globalization (which increases competition).

He shows that we generally accept and adapt to these changes more than do Europe and Japan. We accept job insecurity as the price of innovation, increased productivity and economic growth. Thurow then proposes ways to guide globalization to maintain its advantages while reducing its disadvantages. This book will be added to the many other books on globalization in our reading list.

Local and State

Legislative Accomplishments

Didn’t pass, many passed bills are compromises providing less than might be desired.

Fair Elections and Open Government

On-line voter registration

Public campaign Financing

Simple majority for school levy elections

Primary ballots can now be counted even if the voter fails to mark a party-affiliation box, but does vote for one party

Fair Taxes and Competent Spending

Rainy Day fund as a budget savings account

Pay raises for union employees, delayed raises for non-union employees,

Ended gain sharing in retirement plans

Balanced Budget, with $700 million reserves and rainy day fund an

Support for NASCAR Track and Sonics arena

Kent ice arena and events center

Lewis County rodeo and equestrian arena

Personal Security, Equal Rights and Family Support

Resolution to impeach Bush and Cheney

Background checks for gun purchasers at gun shows

Domestic partnership registry and equal rights

Protect veterans from discrimination

Quality Health Care

Hospital infections public reporting

Children’s Medicaid coverage for 39,000 more children

Medicaid for youth receiving foster care

Medicaid for immigrant children

Limited blue ribbon commission health reform package

Limited small business health care partnership

Mental health parity for the small employer health insurance market

Registration of counselors

Clarification of medically used marijuana criteria

Ban of PDBE flame retardant chemicals in consumer products

Medically accurate sex education

Cell phone driving ban

Construction crane regulation

Quality Education

$1.8 billion in new spending

Limited pay raises for teachers

All-day Kindergarten

New money for K-12 schools

Help teenagers stay in school

Provided alternatives to 10^th grade exams

Delayed math requirements for high school graduation

Funding for 9700 more college students

$7.5 million for increased pay for part time faculty

Money for increasing salaries of faculty

Free college tuition for children of wounded veterans

Treatment and education for convicts

Quality Jobs

Limited paid family Leave insurance as yet unfunded

Housing and Consumer Protection

Increase housing trust fund from $120 to 130 million, with matches yields a $50 million increase.

Homeowner’s bill of rights

Stop predatory lending

Investment for Productivity

$7.5 billion transportation funding

Seattle viaduct replacement funding

SR-520 bridge funding

Expanding Opportunity Grant Program

Environmental Protection and Energy Independence

Climate change bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions by power plants

Puget Sound Partnership to clean up Puget Sound

Maury Island Aquatic Reserve

Stop quarry expansion

Washington State has many pioneering state-of the-art businesses. We apparently don’t care about having a pioneering state-of-the-art state government. We may be leading many other states with our expansion of rights for gay and lesbian unions, for evidence-based sex education, for banning some flame retardants (sponsored by our 48^th legislative district representative Ross Hunter) and for the accident stimulated crane safety regulation (sponsored by our 48^th legislative district representative Deb Eddy). But in many other areas, particularly those which require funding (such as public health and education and transportation infrastructure), we are behind many other states.

Our legislature has failed to act to overcome the largest obstacles to improving our public services: private campaign financing and an unfair tax system which produces too little revenue, while taxing most people too much. Most bills that failed were opposed by powerful corporate interests. But the ban on flame retardants passed in spite of such opposition. And the NASCAR track and Sonics arena were supported by such interests, but failed. Popular support was demonstrated at public hearings for some of the bills that failed.

Education, health and transportation received increased funding to provide better services, especially to our children. But much more funding is necessary to improve these services to desirable levels. Some health, education and housing bills will help the poor, but this legislature did little that will lower the proportion of our people in poverty. Nor was much attention given to eliminating discrimination against ethnic minorities and immigrants.

Ruling Democrats have proceeded cautiously as they did to reach their present predominance. But now that they are in control, more might be expected. If future legislatures proceed as this one has, our public education will never be as good as it should be. Super caution may not be the best way for Democrats to maintain and increase their control. They need to have a solid track record that keeps our government and state moving forward. Another evaluation. Another evaluation. Another evaluation. Your comments about our legislative session will be appreciated and published. Especially comments by our various legislators who receive this newsletter.

Biased Seattle PI Framing

The Seattle PI frequently states that our lawmakers burned through almost two-thirds of a projected $2 billion surplus in tax revenue. How about stating that they spent it to only partially meet important educational and other needs.

Notice also that the Seattle Times and PI both favor our increased housing prices. Increased prices are beneficial to those who plan to sell their houses. But they produce higher property taxes for those who don’t sell. They frustrate the hopes of those who want to buy a house.

Private Campaign Financing Destroys Respect for Legislators

Former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey testified at a California legislative hearing: "We've reached the conclusion that power corrupts and that money corrupts. And it's destroyed the respect of you gentlemen and ladies in your profession, and what used to be my profession. Because they think we're bought". He continued, "I think respect for the profession of being a legislator requires public financing."

Jim Hightower reports on corporate corruption

Recommended Books – See our list of recommended books.

Lester Thurow, 2003, Fortune Favors the Bold, What We Must Do to Build a New and Lasting Global Prosperity

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 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 third Thusday at 7 PM at Angelos Restaurant (818230 – 130^th Avenue NE, Bellevue) – Drinking Liberally

· 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 canvassing last summer identified 1000 new likely Democratic voters and contributed to our Democratic candidates winning by 2 – 8% more than they did in the rest of our district.

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.

· 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.

· .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.

Hire Our Neighbors

· Debt Elimination Counseling, Seminars and Workshops – price negotiable – Sherry Brandt (206-356-8034, somerev2@comcast.net)

· 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 – Karen Wilson (karenw@chs-wa.org 425-895-9813). Especially Spanish speaking women – Maria Ines Berardo (mariab@chs-wa.org) 425-895-9576)

· Head Start at Lake Hills Elementary School needs an operational computer for parents of one of their students. If you have one a few years old that you no longer intend to use, call Valery Stoury at 456-5326 The low income families in the Lake Hills Head Start program also need furniture, food, clothing, bus passes or gas vouchers, etc. Safeway and Fred Meyer gift certificates to be used for family emergencies would be greatly appreciated

· Lake Hills Elementary School is looking for volunteers to spend one hour a week with individual students in the classroom or as a lunch buddy. To volunteer, call our VIBES on-site coordinator, Mary Giesen (425-456-5300) to arrange required VIBES training. For additional information, contact Principal Judy Buckmaster, (buckmasterj@bsd405.org)

· Phantom Lake Elementary School needs volunteers who are willing to be trained as Reading Mentors or who are able to spend one hour, one day a week in the school either in classrooms, helping in the office, or being “Lunch Buddies” during our school’s lunch time. To volunteer, call our VIBES on-site coordinator, Beth Drobny (425-456-5600) to arrange required VIBES training. For additional information, contact Principal Tracy Maury (mauryt@bsd405.org

About Puget Sound Liberals

We began Lake Hills Liberals as an experimental demonstration of creating neighborhoods where liberals thrive and multiply and maximizing our vote for Democratic candidates. We hope that replication will occur in other neighborhoods. Through our newsletter, we have now become Puget Sound Liberals to create well informed liberals who can communicate and cooperate to realize our liberal values. Our weekly newsletter is now distributed to 1080 members by email each Friday.

To get our free services, including our newsletter, our ‘Proud Liberal, Time for a Change’ yard signs or ‘Proud Liberal’ bumper stickers, volunteer or make a donation, contact Dave Thomas. Please help your liberal friends to become well informed, by inviting them to receive our newsletter. Just send us their name, email address, and residence.

Submit your news to Editor Dave Thomas. We are seeking reporter-reviewer-editors with knowledge of particular political groups and issues. We have asked the following experts to help us.

State Legislation – Tina Shamseldin and Sarajane Siegfriedt

Campaign Finance – Sarajane Siegfriedt

Hispanics – Joanne Cisneros

Women’s Issues – Catherine Minch

Gays and Lesbians – Celeste Keaton

Environment – Bill Austin

Health Care – Lisa Plymate, Bob Fifthian

Education – Dennis Gerlitz, John Stokes

Labor Unions – Nancy Rising

Blogs – Rick Hegdahl

Additional Resources

· See our website www.lakehillsliberals.org, with an archive of all past newsletters and more.

· See Center for Progressive Action for archive of well researched daily news.

· See Alternet for archived liberal commentaries. Subscribe to Liberal Opinion for many more liberal commentaries.

· We also recommend the Pacific NW Portal for displaying many blogs through which Northwest Liberals exchange their knowledge and opinions.

· Learn about our State Democratic Party.

· Quickly and easily contact your national and state officials.

· To learn about particular issues, visit websites of advocacy and caring organizations.