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Bimonthly on election and health care reform. Unsubscribe instructions at the bottom.

 

Wisconsin Clean Elections Coalition

Promoting fair elections for all parties and candidates

eNewsletter #58

November 9, 2007

 www.ThrowTheRascalsOut.org

Newsletter Archives

 

There is virtually no way of getting the current legislature or congress to eliminate its corruption. Only a complete replacement will do, and it's now up to the voters.

"Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." -- Marilyn vos Savant

 .

In this issue:

1) Health Care

2) Campaign Reform

3) Politicians

4) Lohman Articles

5) Tidbits

6) Give me a Break!

7) Book Recommendations

8) Contact Information

9) Unsubscribe Instructions

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1

Health Care

 

2

Campaign Reform

Jim Hightower: Surely you don’t think that campaign donations from wealthy interests are intended to buy favors from our lawmakers – do you?

Se complete article HERE

 

Sorry, your job's been outsourced!

Thousands of manufacturing jobs have moved to countries that skimp on wages and regulations. Now the service sector is also at risk

Roger Bybee on Friday 11/02/2007

Greg Diederich, who worked at Rayovac's Madison packing and distribution center for 17 years, vividly recalls a party hosted there in 2002. Workers were served cake and ice cream, and given flashlights to thank them for improving productivity.

Then, "a couple weeks later," the company informed the 240 workers that the facility was closing, says Diederich, who served as president of United Auto Workers Local 1329 at Rayovac.

Rayovac, it seems, had secretly firmed up an agreement with Dixon, Ill., to relocate the packaging center there. Dixon offered a package of incentives, including adjoining rail and truck access to the new facility.

But Diederich identifies another reason for the shutdown: Rayovac's increasing reliance on production from overseas sources in China, Indonesia and Mexico.

See the complete article HERE

There is no way this phenomenon can be blamed on anything other than a corrupt political system. CEOs are given carte blanch on how they run their companies, and in some cases also receive taxpayer subsidies to locate offshore. Where are our heads?   
 

McConnell marks funds for contractor

FIRM UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BRIBERY

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is pushing $25 million in earmarked federal funds for a British defense contractor that is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and suspected by American diplomats of a “longstanding, widespread pattern of bribery allegations.”

McConnell tucked money for three weapons projects for BAE Systems into the defense appropriations bill, which the Senate approved Oct. 3. The Defense Department failed to include the money in its own budget request, which required McConnell to intercede, said BAE spokeswoman Susan Lenover.

See this blog entry at HERE

And the McConnell article HERE

My knee-jerk reaction is that term limits would eliminate this, but they wouldn’t. The $53,000 would still be given to McConnell and he would move it into an account that he could take with him, and the $25 million would still be spent by the taxpayers.

After all, with term limits he is no longer responsible to the voters because he can’t get re-elected.

But public funding of campaigns would fix it, and at a cost taxpayers just $10 per taxpayer per year at the federal level. If the taxpayers spent that $53,000 we wouldn’t have to pay the $25 million.

 

3

Politicians

Barrack Obama: The story about Obama not putting his hand on his heart while the national anthem is being played is TRUE according to Snopes.com, I can't help but wonder where his allegiances are. See all on Obama HERE.
 

On health care, Obama/Clinton/Edwards all support mandated health insurance, when in fact we should have no insurance at all. We should have health care and eliminate the middle-man bureaucracy.

I can only hope that, should one of them win the presidential vote, that they'll say "Thanks all, for your money, but you supported me to represent the people and it is the people I will represent. Though you may not send me money in 2012, but because I represented the voters I will get re-elected without your help."
 

My dream is a President McCain with a filibuster-proof Democratic senate, but I'd also be happy with Thompson, Biden or Dodd. The Dems seem a shoo-in in the House. I do not support Clinton or Obama. Gore would be an interesting addition. Nor do I support McCain's healthcare plans, but I believe he is compassionate and will do the right thing when the time comes.
 

See the final vote for United States-Peru Trade Agreement HERE (Yes, Sensenbrenner and Ryan voted for it.)

 

 

 

 

4

Lohman Articles

Healthcare costs and the politicians to blame

By Jack E. Lohman

Every aspect of healthcare is under scrutiny today, and well it should be. But those most to blame are the politicians who write the rules that permit or deny actions by insurers, hospitals, doctors and patients.

Politicians at both the state and federal level have turned what should be the best healthcare system in the world into a terrible mess, all to collect campaign funds for their re-elections.

It’s easy to blame patients for the overuse in the healthcare system, and indeed they must share blame. But physician overuse is greater as most patients generally dislike unnecessary doctor visits and hospital admissions. Other major forces are at play.

For example, the state legislature eliminated the Certificate of Need which restricted the excessive growth of hospital technology and bed expansion, and the consequences were not good. Health care economists have shown that new hospitals built near old hospitals do not create competition, but instead increase overall hospital charges in the area. Just the opposite of the claims by proponents.

<snip>

See complete posting here: http://moneyedpoliticians.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/healthcare-costs-and-the-politicians-to-blame/  
 

Perpetuating a corrupt political system

By Jack E. Lohman

Imagine this. You’ve worked hard for 25 years building your company. You have an excellent product, good corporate structure, hard-working employees, everything going for you except one thing. Your company’s going down the tubes. Debt is building and you must now downsize. You’re going bankrupt.

But wait. You’ve just learned that your purchasing manager has been taking money from your vendors on the side, and giving away company assets in return. Skimming profits. More assets are going out the door than money coming in. You can’t believe it. You hired this guy as a trusted leader to protect and help grow your company. At the very least you’re going to fire him, maybe even have him jailed for theft.

Well, this may not be happening to your company, but it is to your state and country. The politicians you elected to serve as your trusted management team, are on the take. Deficit spending replaced common sense, and taking money on the side is the norm.

In fact, it’s the way the political system is designed.

<snip>

See complete posting here: http://moneyedpoliticians.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/perpetuating-a-corrupt-political-system/

 

 

 

5

Tidbits

Credit card scam: If you receive a call from VISA or MasterCard and they ask for the three-digit security code on the back, DO NOT GIVE IT TO THEM! Even if they give you the numbers on the front, they need the three on the back to use the card.
 

Bush Moves Toward Martial Law

In a stealth maneuver, President Bush has signed into law a provision which, according to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), will actually encourage the President to declare federal martial law (1). It does so by revising the Insurrection Act, a set of laws that limits the President's ability to deploy troops within the United States. The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C.1385), helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush is seeking to undo those prohibitions.

See the complete article HERE

I think this is a pretty far-out scenario, but this president has done some pretty far-out things so far.

Want to see which candidate more closely represents you? Go HERE
 

Grassroots Northshore Upcoming Healthcare Events

Interfaith Health Care Forum in Wauwatosa

November 13, 2007
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Come to one of the three health care reform forums to hear about a near universal health care plan (Healthy Wisconsin) and a market-driven plan (Smart Medicine).  Presenters will also address how their respective plans address some basic principles that should be considered when choosing a health care reform plan.

Healthy Wisconsin Presenter: David Riemer, Wisconsin Health Project
Smart Medicine Presenter:  TBA
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church
12012 West North Ave., Wauwatosa

Canadian Health Care — Find out First Hand

November 28, 2007
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

There have been a lot of myth about Canadian health care. We have seen how the Great White North is getting better health care at less cost than our system, which has broken lives, ended lives and made us less competitive. Yet, we keep hearing the stories about long wait times and Canadians pouring over our border to take advantage of the “best health care system on earth.”

Why guess about the facts about Canadian health care?

We will give the opportunity to ask someone from Canada about their medical system. Grassroots Northshore will present James Clancy, president of Canada’s National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) for a discussion of how it works and what it means for Canada.

The event will take place at North Shore Presbyterian Church, 4840 N. Bartlett Ave. — north of Capitol Drive and west of Oakland Ave. Enter through the northeast door.

 

 

6

Give me a Break!

Newspaper ads

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old. Hateful little dog Bites.

FREE PUPPIES:
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.

FREE PUPPIES...
Mother, AKC German Shepherd.
Father, Super Dog...able to leap tall fences in a single bound.

FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG.
Looks like a rat .. been out a while.
Better be a reward.

COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.
Also 1 gay bull for sale.

NORDIC TRACK
$300 Hardly used, call Chubby.

GEORGIA PEACHES
California grown - 89 cents lb

JOINING NUDIST COLONY!
Must sell washer and dryer $300.

WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE .
WORN ONCE BY MISTAKE.
Call Stephanie.

AND THE BEST ONE :

FOR SALE BY OWNER:
Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes
Excellent condition
$1,000 or best offer
No longer needed, got married last month.
Wife knows everything  

 

See these Interesting pictures HERE
 

 

 

7

Book Recommendations

See other reviews on Amazon.com

Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit (Hardcover)
by Lou Dobbs (Author) (ISBN-10: 0670018368)

Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit

4.0 out of 5 stars "Let's get to work.", November 6, 2007


If you've watched "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on CNN, INDEPENDENTS DAY will reinforce and complement what you've seen. Advocacy journalist (his own label) Lou Dobbs always communicates his views unfalteringly on his nightly news and information program, and his new book does likewise. It is another opportunity to use a different medium to address the crucial issues he has tirelessly sought to present to the American people. The purpose of this polemic is to inform and provide history and facts and figures as well as persuade.

Acting as a guide through pressing issues that Americans must confront as our nation approaches the 2008 presidential elections, INDEPENDENTS DAY stops short of endorsing any specific candidate -- perhaps because Dobbs sees none fit to endorse -- or of detailing remedies for the chronic failures in our system. For example, Dobbs advocates border security first and methodical national dialogue concerning the further immigration and naturalization policy; he does not advance a plan of his own for how the U.S. might justly contend with the illegal aliens currently inside our nation. Instead, he concentrates on laying bare problems:

our creaking political system
our overreaching presidency
our status as a debtor nation
our shadow government
our superpower struggles
our declining education system
our crumbling infrastructure
our drug dependencies
our religion vs. state conflicts
our corporate one-world push
our media's focus on trite matters rather than substantive ones

Dobbs makes no bones about his own antipathy toward the politicians of both parties and with the power structure slowly choking the life out of America. He writes, "The quality of life for the vast majority of Americans is being assailed by a host of forces unleashed by the elite establishment in the pursuit of ruinous free-trade policies, costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and against global radical Islamists, and unchecked expansion of federal entitlement programs."

Elsewhere in INDEPENDENTS DAY he adds that we "can no longer... allow our elites to waste more time, money, energy, and precious American lives in thoughtless and careless pursuit of agendas and goals that neither honor our traditional values nor assure that the American way of life will prevail in this new century....Let's get to work."

INDEPENDENTS DAY provides a strong overview of America's critical condition and sounds the warning that we Americans must not hide our heads in the sand with regard to them. 2008 is our chance to vote into office politicians who can and will represent us, not the "elite establishment," and who can and will meet our nation's problems head on.

Dobbs is an unapologetic populist. Americans who read this book, whether they are already viewers of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" or not, may well find they are too.

It is my guess that Dobbs will soon become an independent candidate for President. He'll get my vote.

 
 

 

8
Contact information

Lohman is a retired business owner that volunteers’ time on the issues of Election reform and Universal health care -

Contact: Jack E. Lohman
jelohman@gmail.com or jelohman@charter.net
Phone 414-477-8686 (cell)

http://MoneyedPoliticians.net
www.ThrowTheRascalsOut.org
 www.WiCleanElections.org
www.BusinessCoalition.net

 

www.MoneyedPoliticians.com (my book: Politicians - Owned and Operated by Corporate America)

www.SmokeFreeDining.net (A searchable restaurant database)

Wisconsin State Assembly pages: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=assembly

Wisconsin State Senator pages: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=senate

 

9
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Disclosure: I am a center-right Republican that (regrettably) voted for Bush twice. But the Republicans look worse here because they (are/were) in power and the party blocking reform. Next year it may be the Democrats taking center stage. Were I to have a political choice it would be for a strong third-party reform candidate in all seats. I do not like our very costly and ineffective duopoly. Jack Lohman

See Lohman's complete disclosure HERE.