Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Lets End the War on Drugs !


March 31, 2010 08:38 AM






Whether it's music, activism or daily life, the one ideal to which I have always aspired is constant challenge -- taking risks, stepping out of my comfort zone, exploring new ideas. I am writing because I believe the United States must do precisely that -- and so, therefore, must all of us -- in the case of what has been the most unsuccessful, unjust yet untouchable issue in politics: the War on Drugs.
The War on Drugs has failed -- but it's worse than that. It is actively harming our society. Violent crime is thriving in the shadows to which the drug trade has been consigned. People who genuinely need help can't get it. Neither can people who need medical marijuana to treat terrible diseases. We are spending billions, filling up our prisons with non-violent offenders and sacrificing our liberties.
For too long, the War on Drugs has been a sacrosanct undertaking that was virtually immune from criticism in the public realm. Politicians dared not disagree for fear of being stigmatized as "soft on crime." Any activist who spoke up was dismissed as a fringe element. But recently, I discovered just how much that's changing--and that's how I came to speak out on behalf of an extraordinary organization called the
Drug Policy Alliance. I learned of DPA, as they're known, while reading what once might have been the unlikeliest of places for a thoughtful discussion of the Drug War -- the op-ed page of the Wall Street Journal.
It featured an
op-ed that dared to say in print -- in a thoughtful, meticulous argument -- what everyone who has seriously looked at the issue has known for years: the War on Drugs is an absolute failure whose cost to society is increasingly unbearable and absolutely unjustifiable.
The author of that piece is a former Princeton professor turned activist named Ethan Nadelmann, who runs DPA. I was so impressed by his argument that I began reading up on the group. Their work spoke directly to my heart as an activist for social justice -- because ending the War on Drugs is about exactly that.
For years, the Drug War has been used as a pretext to lock people in prison for exorbitant lengths of time -- people whose "crimes" never hurt another human being, people who already lived at the margins of society, whose voices were the faintest and whose power was the least. Civil liberties have been trampled. Law enforcement has been militarized. Literally hundreds of billions of dollars -- dollars denied to urgent problems ranging from poverty to pollution -- have been spent. People who do need help with drugs have been treated as criminals instead. Meanwhile, resources to fight genuine crime -- violent crime -- have been significantly diminished. And in exchange for all this, the War on Drugs has not stopped people from using drugs or kept drugs from crossing the borders or being sold on the streets. To me, it all adds up to a clear message of exactly the sort I've always tried to heed in my life: It's time to step out of our comfort zone and try something new. That's where DPA comes in. Their focus is on reducing the harm drugs cause rather than obsessively and pointlessly attempting to ban them. I'm partnering with DPA because they champion treatment, advocate effective curricula for educating young people about drugs -- and from local courtrooms to the Supreme Court, they are utterly relentless defenders of the liberties that have been sacrificed to the Drug War. Now, political conditions in Washington seem finally to be aligning in favor of profound change in drug policy. President Obama has openly said the Drug War is a failure. Legislation to decriminalize marijuana is pending on Capitol Hill. But success is far from guaranteed. Indeed, the echoes of the old politics of intimidation and demagoguery that have long surrounded the War on Drugs can still be heard. We must all work to ensure this issue becomes a priority and is acted upon in a meaningful and sensible way. That's why I hope you'll join me in becoming a member of the Drug Policy Alliance today. We need a movement that will put the team at DPA in a position to take maximum advantage of the political changes in Washington while continuing to fight for sanity in drug policy across the nation.
Everyone knows the War on Drugs has failed. It's time to step out of our comfort zones, acknowledge the truth -- and challenge our leaders ... and ourselves ... to change.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Stop The Bleeding of Our Jobs to China !

Save Jobs
Write the President and Congress
How Much More Can We Take

· Our trade imbalance with China has cost America 2.4 MILLION JOBS since 2001!

·
A big reason is that the Chinese Government deliberately sets its money value up to 40% lower than the dollar. This manipulation means they can sell their products up to 40% cheaper in the U.S.

· The stunning damage to jobs can be seen on a special map that shows each state and Congressional District losses. Take a look at:



We Have a Chance to Act NOW Insist that the President formally label China a “Currency Manipulator”
Urge Congress to Pass Strong Legislation with Penalties

We Have a New Quick and Easy Website Letter Writer :

Go to: http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/
Click on: TAKE ACTION: Write to Congress and the President
Fill in: Your Name and Address Information in the Form
Click: “Send Message” an you’ve sent the message

If You Don’t Have Access to a Computer you can fill out the Letter on the Back of this Flyer and AAM will see that the President and Your Congress people get it.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Health Care and YOU !

Better Than NO Health Care Bill ~ YOU bet`cha !

Yesterday, the House of Representatives made history. Even with the bill's flaws, health care reform is the most important piece of progressive legislation in decades. Below is a list of ten of the most important things health care reform will accomplish for everyday Americans—none of which would've been possible without the dogged efforts of grassroots progressives and the support of Representative Alan Grayson. But Republicans are already unleashing their spin machine to target Democrats who voted for reform, so we've got to show that we've got their backs. We've set a goal of making 3 thank-you calls from Mount Dora to Rep. Grayson's office today—can you join in? Here's where to call:
Representative Alan Grayson Phone: 202-225-2176
And after you call, take a moment to check out the list and share it with all your friends. Big Insurance and right-wing extremists are already ratcheting up their campaign to spread misinformation about the bill, so it's critical that we get the truth out as widely as possible.
_____________________________________________________________
10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM


(1.) Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.


(2.) Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

(3.) Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

(4.) Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

(5.) Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

(6.) Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

(7.) By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

(8.) Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

(9.) Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26

(10.) Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

Editorial : Thanks to Mike Stanley for this. God Bless America !

Saturday, March 20, 2010

National & State Organ Waiting List...as of 3/05/10


National & State Organ Waiting List as of
> 3/05/2010... <

As most of you know, I`m a Heart-Transplant 8/17/94...I also direct the Organ/Donor Awareness program, for the Masonic Grand Lodge of Tennessee, (The FreeMasons) Nashville Tennessee. Listed below are some stats, you might find interesting ? Click on link below or the title of this artice for more information. > http://www.gmwp.org/vision2013/oda <

National Waiting List :

Kidney---83,904

Liver---15,865

Pancreas---1,474

Kidney/Pancreas---2,210

Heart---3,147

Lung---1,856

Heart/Lung---71

Intestine---239

Total > 106,400

State of Tennessee Waiting List :

Kidney---1,915

Liver---208

Pancreas---14

Kidney/Pancreas---19

Heart---120

Lung---31

Heart/Lung---0

Intestine ---- 0

Total > 2,288


Vanderbilt :

Kidney---727

Liver---124

Pancreas---7

Kidney/Pancreas---7

Heart---26

Lung---18

Heart/Lung---0

Intestine---0

Total > 909

"Give The Gift of Life, Be an Organ/Tissue Donor, It`s the Masonic/Eastern Star thing to Do " !

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Allomap Testing for Heart Transplants



AlloMap testing is a noninvasive method for determining the risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in heart transplant recipients. The test translates the complex signals of the immune system’s multiple genes and pathways, specifically those associated with heart transplant ACR, into an objective, actionable score. 

AlloMap testing is a safe, convenient and proven new method to significantly improve heart transplant recipients’ satisfaction. Rather than having an invasive procedure in a heart catheterization lab, only a simple and quick blood draw is necessary. The blood sample is sent to the XDx clinical laboratory, a state-of-the-art clinical lab in Brisbane, where complex gene information is extracted and analyzed. Using the XDx proprietary algorithm, the information is translated into a single score that distinguishes rejection from quiescence, or a stable state. Read more. Allomap Protocol

Editorial : How Sweet it Is ! Biopsy`s are not very much fun. Allomap is the way ! Hoo-Ray ! This from a Heart-Transplant patient almost 16 years post ! Hey That`s ME !



Monday, March 15, 2010

Wal-Mart & The China Connection !



First Wal-Mart Union Begins in China Thanks to Gov't
By Andrew McLemore
Published: Sunday August 3, 2008
The first Wal-Mart trade union in China was formed after the company bowed to government demands for organized labor in its stores, The New York Times reported Friday. Wal-Mart's reluctance to allow unions, particularly in the United States where they remain banned from stores, has been a point of controversy for many years. But the government-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions fought for the right to create branches in the company's 60 outlets. Beth Keck, director of international corporate affairs for Wal-Mart, said she was aware of the reports of Chinese unions forming and said the company hopes to have a "cordial and productive relationship" with the federation.
"We know they have been interested in having a relationship with our company for some time," Keck said. "We will, of course, be looking forward to how this will evolve." Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has operations in 15 countries, many of which have at least some employees that are union members.
The United States, Keck said, is the "clear exception." The change comes at a time when Wal-Mart is already battling the proposed Employee Free Choice Act -- which might allow unionization of Wal-Marts on this side of the ocean -- by
attempting to sway its employees from voting Democratic. While the company insists it is not telling employees how to vote, some who attended meetings with Wal-Mart human resources managers that delivered the company's anti-union line scoff at the notion. "The meeting leader said, 'I am not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill will pass and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union,'" a Wal-Mart customer-service supervisor from Missouri told the paper. "I am not a stupid person. They were telling me how to vote," she said. Wal-Mart has fought against unions for years and has many systems in place to prevent them from forming. As soon as Wal-Mart managers see a potential union, they are supposed to call a hotline, prompting a visit from a special team from Wal-Mart headquarters, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Former Wal-Mart manager Jon Lehman told
Frontline what he would tell employees regarding unions. "I used to stand up in front of my workers and lie to them," he said. "I used to say the talking points, that the union's a cult: 'You don't want to join a union. It's a cult. Why pay someone to speak for you? You can speak for yourself.'

Editorial : The reason for this article is > I have received notes informing me that Wal-Mart has Union stores in China. Thought I better check it out and see for myself. Ok, let me see, The Chinese Government is sponsoring these so called labor unions and Wal-Mart is ok with that ! SORRY ! These are Communist State Unions run by and for Wal-Mart and the Chinese Communist Government ! NOT UNIONS, as we know and operate in the good ole USA ! Wal-Mart does not have Unions in China !

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Health Care ~ Now or Never !

Health Care ~ Now or Never !
By Don Jones...3/14/10



Health Care, Health Care, Health Care. We have been discussing this all important item since before time almost ! We now seem so close, yet the Republicans are fighting it tooth and toenail ! Why ? Big insurance company`s, yes ! Our entire economy is and will be affected by any kind of national health care. Our manufacturer`s are leaving for foreign Country`s to avoid paying for health care for employee`s, and paying livable wages ! Yet, are politicians are not only allowing this, they are through incentive programs paid for by YOU the tax-payer. Have we all gone NUTS ? No, not really. It seems that greed is the main driver for all of these difficult and strange things happening to our middle class ! We tend to want to blame Unions. NOT SO ! It is pure unadulterated corporate greed ! The Republican party has made our free democratic trade unions a thing to be feared and loathed. How ridiculous. Who is to be blamed ? It is us. That`s correct, us ! WE vote for individuals who do not reflect our values as the middle class. The American dream may be lost soon ! We are swayed by hear say, innuendo, and just plain lie`s ! Even some of our church`s have mislead us. Our news media is no longer a news media. They talk 24 hours a day, and talk, talk, talk, is not a good idea. They speculate, they interview each other. Some cable news stations should be prosecuted for calling themselves a news station ! They are kinda like wrestling (rasslin) sometimes entertaining, but never "THE NEWS"! Our economy is in the pits ! Our manufacturing is moving to China for cheap labor and no health care ! I have heard that Big Unions are the fault. Not So ! It is Corporate greed. First of all, there are no longer Big Unions ! It seems that our politicians have sold us down the river ! Our fat cat politicians get fatter, we get poorer. If you vote for Republicans because they stand for your values, better check again. They mislead you with gun control, abortion, free trade and health care ! They say that their party is opposed to all of these things. They do this by convincing you that the Democrats want to take your guns, have abortion on demand, cripple trade and end our health care system. NOT SO ! Those of us who are the most vulnerable are listening to these lies ! Big money is buying our politicians. America`s race to the bottom continues, with the guidance and assistance of those we elect to represent us. BIG UNIONS, what a bad joke ! There are now 400 family's who are more wealthy than 155 million Americans combined. During this time of economic recession, when most middle class Americans are hurting, our very rich are getting richer ! Without a National Health Care Bill there is no recovery or America as we have known it !. Republicans = For The Very Wealthy ! Democrats = For the Working Class !

Better Wake up America ! It is almost gone. One Man`s opinion.



Saturday, March 06, 2010

Alan Simpson (R) No Friend of Seniors !



Alan Simpson Strikes at Seniors, Social Security, and Medicare

Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson(R) sat down with the CNBC television network last week to discuss his post as co-chair of the President’s Fiscal Commission on the national debt. Throughout the conversation, he leveled several attacks against seniors and senior advocacy organizations, accusing them of not caring “a whit about their grandchildren…not a whit.” When asked about cuts he would recommend to the President and Congress, he replied, “We are going to stick to the big three,” meaning, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. To see the interview, click on http://bit.ly/9Hwg6U. “Alan Simpson’s prior record in the Senate has proven his determination to cut Medicare and Social Security. His appointment has caused widespread alarm among seniors, veterans, and disabled Americans, who increasingly rely on these programs during the economic downturn !

Health Care Must be Fixed !



Obama Calls for Reconciliation in Order to Pass Health Care Reform Quickly...

In a health care speech by Barack Obama on Wednesday, the President called for an “up or down vote” that would leave Republicans unable to kill the bill through a filibuster. The current Democratic plan is to have the House vote to approve the already-passed Senate bill, plus fixes, then have the Senate pass these fixes through reconciliation. Under this scenario, only a simple majority in the Senate, rather than a super-majority of 60 votes, would be needed to pass health reform. The President stated that he wants action within a few weeks, echoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) call for an informal deadline of March 18. Despite Republican criticism that a decision to bar the filibuster would be “met with outrage” by the public, Democrats shot back with claims that the same rules had been used five times during George W. Bush’s administration. The Obama White House is still working to include bipartisan measures, and announced that they were exploring GOP proposals that include additional crackdowns on fraudulent medical charges and new rules for medical malpractice suits. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to fix a health care system that is not benefiting millions of Americans, including many seniors.”!