Goodyear Union City ~ Assistance for Workers !

Thanks to State Senator Roy Herron(D) Dresden TN.

sen.roy.herron@legislature.state.tn.us/

Labor Dept. Responds to Goodyear U.C. Closure
Friday, July 29, 2011

Unemployment benefits, training grants available to affected workers. The announcement on Monday, July 11, that Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has ceased production at its tire manufacturing plant in Union City has prompted key sections of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to come together to develop plans for assisting dislocated workers. "We've already had joint meetings with company management and union officials, and those will be continuing," said Labor Commissioner Karla Davis. "The Goodyear shutdown project is a tremendous, collaborative effort." A special Career Center has been established to assist Goodyear employees and is currently holding orientation and workshop sessions. The office is located at 204 S. 2nd St., in Union City, across the street from the Tennessee Career Center serving Union City residents.
On Wednesday, Labor's Workforce Development Division began holding Rapid Response meetings with Goodyear employees at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The meetings, covering benefits and eligibility for services, will continue through Aug. 4. Meetings will take place from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m., 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday. Goodyear's unemployment insurance claims have been expedited by utilizing the Automated Partial System, a database which processes all employees' claims electronically, rather than having employees file individually. Employment Security staff worked diligently to input employee information necessary to build the database. Goodyear hourly employees can expect their initial benefit payments this week. Approximately $2 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance has been approved for 1,900 employees of Goodyear and some suppliers. TAA generally provides up to two years of training at a Board of Regents-approved school for employees affected by foreign trade. Training programs must be in a high-demand occupation such as Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Paramedic, Certified Production Technology, Truck Driving, Welding and Industrial Maintenance. State Trade Adjustment Assistance Coordinator Barbara Boyd will be available in Union City this week to assist workers with questions related to training. Once individuals have exhausted the initial 26 weeks of Tennessee Unemployment Compensation, Trade Readjustment Allowances provide income support to individuals while they are participating in full-time training. Certified workers may be eligible for 104 weeks of income support. More than 300 Goodyear employees are residents of the state of Kentucky. Tennessee Department of Labor staff are coordinating with labor officials in Kentucky to streamline training efforts, unemployment benefits and other job services so workers may receive the same service in the state in which they live. Contractors associated with Goodyear are also covered under the TAA petition, including the following: Hamilton-Ryker, Securitas Security Services, Take Care Corporation, Conestoga Rovers, Phillips Engineering, Rockwell Engineering, Excel Logistics and American Food and Vending. The Department of Labor's Workforce Development Division has applied for a $3.4 million National Emergency Grant to serve 850 workers in multiple counties that have requested training services, subsidized employment and on-the-job training. The application is currently being reviewed by the USDOL in Washington, and is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

Editorial : I would personally like to Thank State Senator Roy Herron(D) for his tenacity, diligence and loving kindness in this time of our dire need and uncertainty ! God Bless You Sir !


Thanks to Mike Stanley for this one !

Lux e tenebris

America`s Shameful Leadership...

America's Shameful Leadership
Monday, July 25, 2011 Posted by Jim Hightower

Congressman Stephen Fincher(R)Tennessee District#8~ Below !

> http://www.fincher.house.gov/office.washington-dc <

> http://www.jimhightower.com/sites/jimhightower.civicactions.net/files/27-19_mnc.mp3 <

Listen to the above Commentary:

As Bob Dylan famously wrote "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Especially when the wind is right in your face, howling at gale force.

While Washington fiddles with the knobs and levers of budget reduction, America's great working class is being blown down by harsh economic winds. Yet, our country's political and financial elites, sitting in the comfort of their power centers, don't seem to see, hear, or care. If the elites just looked around, here's some of what they find:

• In Central Texas, a surge in poverty is now severely straining the area food bank, which is struggling with more than a 50 percent increase in demand in the past three years.

• Arizona, which has added only 4,000 jobs in the past year, has 10 unemployed job seekers for every opening – and 45,000 Arizonans are set to lose their jobless benefits in the next few months.

• By the end of the Great Recession in 2009, the median white household in America had lost $36,000 in net worth. Worse, the median African-American household had lost 83 percent of its net worth, which is now down to the financially perilous level of less than $2,200.

• While CEOS of major corporations have jacked up their pay by a fourth since the recession technically ended in 2009, average wages for workers have stagnated. Meanwhile, the price of such basics as food and gasoline have risen relentlessly. Real wages today are 1.6 percent lower than a year ago.

So, who is Washington working to help ? Not the hard-hit workaday majority – but the $9 million-a-year CEOs and billionaire Wall Street barons who're demanding drastic budget cuts on programs that help working families, while also insisting that their own lavish fortunes be spared from even the slightest dings. What a shameful time in our history! Can't America do better than this?

"The GOP Plays with Fire, We All Get Burned," http://www.thinkprogress.org/, July 8, 201.

"Food bank's new building to double capacity," Austin American Statesman, July9, 2011.

"Economy Faces a Jolt as Benefit Checks Run Out," The New York Times, July 11, 2011.

"Recession knocks some blacks into poverty," Austin American Statesman, July 10, 2011.

"Recovery weak, lopsided toward wealthy," http://www.timeswv.com/, July 2, 2011.

Social Security ~ Not an Entitlement ! You Bet`Cha !

This should be Mailed/Forwarded to every Registered Voter in the USA

http://www.tennesseeanyttime.org/topics/Elected/+Officials

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

http://www.congress.org/news/2011/02/28/congress_qa_social_security

Remember, not only did you contribute to Social Security but your employer did too.. It totaled 15% of your income before taxes. If you averaged only 30K over your working life, thatís close to $220,500. If you calculate the future value of $4,500 per year (yours & your employerís contribution) at a simple 5% (less than what the Government. Pays on the money that it borrows), after 49 years of working (me) you'd have $892,919.98. If you took out only 3% per year, you receive $26,787.60 per year and it would last better than 30 years, and thatís with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit! If you bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, you'd have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month. The folks in Washington have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madhoff ever had.

I have tried to clean up the language in this message. I did !

Entitlement my *** , I paid cash for my Social Security insurance ! Just because the congress borrowed the money , doesn't make my benefits some kind of charity or handout ! Congressional benefits , aka. Free healthcare , outrageous retirement packages , 67 paid holidays , three weeks paid vacation , unlimited paid sick days , now that's welfare , and they have the nerve to call my retirement entitlements ! scroll down.

What the Heck is wrong ? WAKE UP AMERICA !

Tuesday's Daily Bulletin paper, ran two articles on the front page side by side :

1- Calif 's 20 Billion Dollar Budget Deficit

2. - Last year they ran an article on the yearly costs to Calif Taxpayers from Illegals using Hospital Emergency Rooms for their general health care -
At just one hospital the cost to tax payers totaled over 25 million a year-
Someone please tell me what the Heck is wrong with all the people that run this country!!!!!!

We're "broke" & can't help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless etc. ?

In the last months we have provided aid to Haiti , Chile , and Turkey. And now Pakistan ...home of bin Laden. Literally, BILLIONS of DOLLARS!!!

Our retired seniors living on a 'fixed income' receive no aid nor do they get any breaks while our government and religious organizations pour Hundreds of Billions of $$$$$$'s and Tons of Food to Foreign Countries!

They call Social Security and Medicare an entitlement even though most of us have been paying for it all our working lives and now when its time for us to collect, the government is running out of money. Why did the government borrow from it in the first place ? I have already blogged that question. go to search at top of blog page and write in " What you always wanted to know about Social Security

> Click here below > http://www.congress.org/news/2011/02/28/congress_qa_social_security < We have hundreds of adoptable children who are shoved aside to make room for the adoption of foreign orphans.

AMERICA: A country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed hungry, elderly going without 'needed' meds, and mentally ill without treatment ñetc. Etc.

YET...
They have a 'Benefit' for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations, ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents clothes, bedding, doctors and medical supplies.

Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave 'USA' the same support they give to other countries. Sad isn't it?

99% of people won't have the guts to forward/mail this.

I just put it on my blog. http://www.secondchance.blogspot.com/

OLD INDIAN SAID "GOV'MT SPEAK WITH FORKED TOUNGE", ONE SIDE SPIN, OTHER SIDE LIE

Editorial : Thanks to my friend and Brother, Terrill King for this one !

Spes mea in Deo est.

Cutting Social Security ~ Bad Idea ! You Bet`cha !

Tell Your Elected Officials, Cutting Social Security...BAD IDEA !

http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4055/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2575

This week Congress will vote on plans to reduce the national debt. As we know, Social Security has not contributed at all to the national debt. It is funded entirely by worker and employer contributions. The Social Security Trustees report that there is enough funding to pay full benefits through 2036. Yet, many in Congress want to cut Social Security benefits and the annual cost of living adjustments (COLA), without even considering an end to a decade of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. It’s hard to believe that a COLA cut is under consideration in spite of the fact there hasn’t been a COLA in two years! If that isn’t bad enough, there are reports that Medicare and Medicaid could be scheduled for cuts as well. Please act today ! Congress may be voting as soon as this Wednesday, July 27, on debt legislation. Tell your U.S. Representatives and Senators that cutting Social Security in the name of debt reduction is a bad idea.
Click here > http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4055/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2575 < to contact your Representatives and Senators ! or click on title !

Thank you for taking action !

Underdog = Don Jones

Social Security - No Cuts...Put the Millionare Tax Cuts Back in Place

Republicans to Get US out of Debt on Backs of

Those Who Can Least Afford It !

7/24/11

Dear Readers,

Republicans are negotiating with President Obama on a deal that would gut America's social safety net — and unless we act now, they may get their way.
Congress needs to raise the debt ceiling before August 2nd so that the government doesn’t default on its debts, wreaking havoc on the economy. But Republicans are refusing to vote for this unless they can also pass massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, student aid, and other important programs that create opportunity and protect the most vulnerable among us. Democrats in Congress are holding the line, saying that they won't accept any cuts to these programs without asking huge corporations, millionaires and billionaires to contribute their fair share. "The Bush Tax Cuts"! But as the deadline approaches, Congressional Democrats will be under immense pressure to compromise their principles, even if it means giveaways for the rich while most Americans suffer.
That's why I'm joining my friends at ColorOfChange.org in calling on the White House and Congress to say no to any deal that asks people who are already struggling in this economy to sacrifice even more, without asking corporations and the rich to pay their fair share. Will you join me?

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/debt? referring_akid=a10523635.1225919.93xXN5&source=copy_thanks_email

The moral line is clear: the budget must not be balanced on the backs of poor and working folks while millionaires and billionaires pay lower taxes than ever. Americans oppose cuts to Medicare and Social Security by a 2-to-1 margin, and a large majority thinks that keeping benefit levels the same is a bigger priority than short-term deficit reduction. And an amazing 72% of Americans are united behind the idea of asking the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes. By speaking out, we can help give the President and Congressional Democrats the political space they need to stand strong against the GOP's dangerous demands. And the more revenue that is raised through taxes, the fewer cuts to benefits. If they stand strong, we can avoid the worst of the cuts.

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/debt? referring_akid=a10523635.1225919.93xXN5&source=copy_thanks_email

Congress sets the maximum amount the federal government can borrow to pay its bills on time. If that limit isn't raised periodically, the government will begin to default on its debts. And when that happens, there will be far-reaching consequences for everyone, but especially poor and working folks.

If the government doesn't pay its bills, it's a lot like when you or I don't pay our bills -- it ruins our credit, and makes buying goods and services more expensive. Worse, it makes even having debt more expensive, which means that money the government will have to pay higher interest rates -- money that won't go to economic stimulus or preserving the social safety net. Most reputable economists say that government default would wreck the nation's economy, halting the already-weak recovery and possibly taking the world's economy down with it. That fact hardly matters to Republicans in Washington, who are treating the prospect of default like a high-stakes game of chicken. Many see an opportunity to gut programs that they never could otherwise, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. It's a disgusting, cynical strategy. If enough of us speak out, we can help save the social safety net, and force corporations and the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. Please join us now:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/debt? referring_akid=a10523635.1225919.93xXN5&source=copy_thanks_email

Thanks,
Underdog = Don Jones

1. http://people-press.org/files/legacy-pdf/7-7-11%20Entitlements%20Release.pdf

2. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53455.html

3. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/opinion/01krugman.html

I Get Letters ~ David Whorley, Friend, Christian, & Freemason

A Love Letter from A Fellow Worker/Christian at Goodyear Tire & Rubber ~ Union City Tennessee...7/23/11
published by permission of David whorley

By: David Whorley

Brother Don ;

I read your blog you sent and I am going to say this, you stand for more Republican ideals than Democratic ideals. You are the same on gun rights, I too have a Tennessee carry permit. You are for term limits on politicians, this needs to happen and I hope in time it will. Probably not in my time, but down the road. I have always loved and respected you and my communication to you was never meant to jeopardize our friendship. As I stated we will just have to agree to disagree. I am strictly anti-abortion. I believe life begins at conception and you are already in God’s book of life even before that. I don’t think the taking of the unborn should be allowed in any case. I am very vocal about it and do not think it ok to do what you want and, I will do what I want. This is one of the points where we will disagree. I will stand by God’s word and he said “I knew you in your mothers womb.” That tells me he cares about the unborn and we should do so also. I think “gays” have the same rights as we do already and they don’t need to be parading around pushing for a marriage law that is against God’s will. God states in Leviticus that if a man lays with another man as he lays with a woman this is an abomination and both shall surly be put to death. I think unions have past their cause. There are no more sweat shop conditions in the US “thanks to unions.” But these times will not come back if they are not around. There is a place for unions in the third world nations that still have such work conditions. The unions have become by far too political and are no longer run by working men and women but by lying politicians just like the government. I surly don’t feel they should be taking dues money and paying political campaign money to candidates they like. I may like the other guy and not want my money going to either of them. I think ALL states should be right to work states, that way you can join if you want and if not just let it go. I’ve walked several picket lines in my work days but NEVER crossed one. I too believe in the gift of life and I am thankful that you are living proof that it is truly the greatest gift anyone can give. I do not believe the government owes anyone a life long free from work living. I think everyone on welfare should be drug tested once a month randomly. I think our veterans deserve better than what they are getting in health care and acceptance into the VA system. I think, as many democrats, that the current Social Security and Medicare systems will go broke without some sort of reform. The Republicans want to reform it and not effect anyone 55 or older and insure that it is around for future generations. All the current administration wants to do is use it as a campaign threat to get re-elected. They don’t care that it is going broke, all they want is 4 more years of sucking a tax tit. I think “any law” passed by the congress and senate should apply equally to them also. If the new health care bill is so great why are they not on it. It will be one of the costliest things this nation has ever done. I hope all the states repel it. I think the government should govern the people not rule them. I don’t like being told what kind of light bulb I need to buy nor do I like being told milk, peanut butter, coke a cola, and other things are bad for me. I see no need for funding an agency with tax dollars to put warning labels on everything they think is bad, and to put a list of how many beans are in a can. I don’t think the EPA should stop progress because a 2 inch fish lives where progress needs to take place. Probably 90% of the people in the nation will never see the damn thing anyway. I think coal is a great source of energy even though it does create black smoke. We don’t need a federally funded EPA, the states should handle this on individual basis. We don’t need federally funded Amtrak, if it can’t run on it’s own merit then go broke. There is way to far many give away programs for people to get free money due to democratic liberalism. I think the Democrats and GOP should vote not to allow a debt celling increase to pass on to the next generation. We all have to live within our checkbook and the government should have to do the same, Federal, State, County, and City. Well this is enough for now. Didn’t mean to rant on and on like this but I could go on forever. And I KNOW Don Jones can talk forever about this stuff. Maybe someday we will happen to get together and talk about stuff. One good thing Don, just think where we would be if we only had ONE party to choose from. That’s why we have such a great system. On second thought don’t remove me from your list, I enjoy it most of the time and it keeps my blood running a little warm. When we meet again I will shake your hand, give you a big hug and let you know how much you have inspired me in both my Masonic life, and as a true friend who I would not be afraid to call on at any time, day or night.

Christian love to you Don,

And Take the Fork Out for You are NOT Done.

Editorial : Now this is the way to disagree. Perhaps our politicians could learn from this ? No, I do not agree with everything Bro. David say`s. But, This is America, he has the right to dissent from my views. Freemasonry > "Never Give up on our Democracy. Thank You, Bro. David

Fincher Caught Red Handed ~ Tennessee How Do You like Him Now ?

FACT SHEET—FEC DECISION ON COMPLAINT
AGAINST STEPHEN FINCHER(R) FOR CONGRESS

http://www.fincher.house.gov/office/washington-dc

The FEC General Counsel found that the Fincher Campaign “acknowledges that it failed to properly report the loan….With respect to the terms of the loan, the due date…is incorrectly listed…The Committee also failed to file a Schedule C-1,…disclosing that the loan was derived from a lending institution, and other required information…..Accordingly we recommend that the Commission find reason to believe that Steve Fincher for Congress….violated 2 U.S.C. §434(b)(3)(E),” one of the reporting provisions of the federal campaign finance law. (MUR 6386, First General Counsel’s Report, page 5).

In their Statement of Reasons explaining the FEC’s action, the Democratic Commissioners state that during the Commission’s deliberations:

“All six Commissioner’s voted to find reason to believe that the Fincher Committee violated 2 U.S.C. §434(b)(3)(E)…In this matter, the sole dispute with out colleagues is whether the Fincher Committee’s misreporting of campaign information to the Commission warrants a civil penalty. We and our colleagues agree that the Fincher Committee misreported the source of its campaign funds, resulting in inaccurate public disclosure reports. The Act envisions a penalty in such circumstances….Public disclosure of political spending is at the heart of the commission’s mission….”

MUR 6386, Statement of Reasons of Chair Bauerly and Commissioners Walther and Weintraub,

page 2.

The Commissioner’s statement goes on to explain that “we and our colleagues agree, … that the reporting violation occurred,…” (id, page 2), but that the Republican Commissioners refused to agree to vote for a finding of violation unless the Democratic Commissioners agreed to impose no penalty at all: “”[W]e supported OGC’s [Office of General Counsel] recommendation to seek a civil penalty for this misreporting,.. In an effort to gain consensus, we offered and supported a motion to approve OGC’s recommendations but with a significantly reduced penalty. Our colleagues rejected this motion, ….” (Statement of Reasons, page 3).

The Statement of Reasons thus makes clear that the Republican Commissioners refused to vote for any finding of violation because the Democratic Commissioners would not agree to refrain from imposing a penalty. Thus the final vote was 3-3.

HERRON STATEMENT ON FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
FEC COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUS THAT FINCHER BROKE FEDERAL LAW

Roy Herron, the 2010 Democratic nominee in the 8th Congressional District, issued the following statement in response to the Federal Election Commission’s unanimous finding that Stephen Fincher violated the law.

“The gospel singer did not tell the gospel truth during the campaign when he repeatedly said the Federal Election Commission had approved of what he’d done. Instead, all six commissioners, including the three Republicans, ruled that he broke federal law. The FEC has now ruled we have a law breaker for a lawmaker.”

**If anybody would like the full Commission’s rulings or the original complaint, please, just let me know and they will be provided to you.

Editorial : Hey Tennessee District#8 Voters. You Voted for him, Satisfied now ? A law Breaker for District#8 Congressional District. You Bet`Cha ! Please Pray for Mr. Fincher.

Those Great Workers at Union City Tennessee ,Goodyear

~To : Those of You Who Have Performed an Outstanding Job ~

"Thank You"!

By: Don Jones ~ Underdog

http://www.ronniedunn.com/videos

Given the time and circumstances, You are now among my American HERO`S ! I salute you, United Steelworkers of America Local 878-L Union City Tennessee.You performed well, when some would have folded and gave up. You have set a high standard for those of us, who doubted you. The next person, I hear bad mouth you and your union. I will point to Union City Goodyear-USWA, "That`s You"! Great Job. I urge you to view the video Below. I am only sorry that Goodyear Corporate did not hear, see or care. I will pray for you and your family`s. God`s speed ! You did all you could ! One more thing, Ricky Waggoner and Terry Tennyson also did all they could. Click on link below or title of this blog.

http://www.ronniedunn.com/videos

Thanks to my friend and co-worker and fellow union member, Ralph Stamper for this one. That sucking sound you hear is our jobs being sent other country`s. There are actually some workers from our plant in this video.

Made in America ?

Things Made in America...Rare, But You Can Still Find a Few

http://www.speedqueen.com

Please see the below information from Local Union 2173 President Ryan McCoy; great information !

I thought I would share this with you. My old UAW-built Amana washing machine has finally died after 16 years of service. Since Amana and Maytag were bought by Whirlpool a few years ago and the UAW plants closed (Whirlpool is notorious for this union-busting crap), I was determined to try to find a Union-Made in USA alternative...if one was still out there. Much to my delight after some on-line research, I have found that Speed Queen operates a manufacturing plant in Ripon, WI and their products are manufactured by 800 + members of the USW!
Product quality reviews are excellent...as they are an old company that manufactures commercial grade machines for the home. Prices are competitive with all of the Mexican-made (or non-Union USA) Whirlpools, Kenmores, etc. and best of all we are supporting our own fellow Steelworkers and keeping good-paying USW union jobs here in the USA. They sell mainly on-line and in smaller "Mom and Pop" appliance stores (which is another good reason to buy...as most of these are on the 'endangered species list').

Visit > http://www.speedqueen.com/

To locate a dealer. Click above. Or Click on Title of this blog.

In Solidarity,

Ryan

Jobs & Healthcare...A Reality Check !

Jobs and Healthcare...A Reality Check !

By Underdog=Don Jones

7/17/11

You can communicate with Rep. Fincher on link below! or click on title !

http://www.fincher.house.gov/office/washington-dc

Oh where to begin ? Our politicians talk about Hollywood and the liberal actors who abide there. In this writers opinion, those same politicians are some of the greatest thespians in the world. We as constituents, seem to believe them, why ?
The Republicans think, if the ultra rich have all the money, everything will be hunky-dory. The Democrats are almost as bad. They pander to the same money people that the Republicans do. At the moment they are diverting our attention from Jobs and Healthcare to the National debt. I believe it was President Ronald Reagan, who said, debt and deficit spending did not matter. Of course that was when we had jobs, thus we had tax-payers. Then Mr. Reagan, fired all of the traffic controllers.The attack on Free-Democratic trade unions began. Now we are told by the Republicans, unions are a bad thing. NOT SO ! But, somehow we believe them. The Democrats say they are pro union. MAYBE ! Those same politicians call Social Security and Medicare, Entitlements. They are indeed entitlements, I`m entitled to my money, because I paid in to it all of my working life, as well as my employer`s ! Remember your employer matches your contribution, each time you pay in. Now you know why Republicans want to destroy it. They represent your employer. Thus employer does not have to match your SS# payroll tax ! Our Trade laws totally suck ! Large corporations can now move their entire operation to other countries`s and we tax-payers subsidize the move. A loss in jobs, a loss in tax revenue. I firmly believe the politicians know this. Unfortunately, they are too busy building their own ne$t. They divert our attention with things, that are really kind of trivial. You take my Tennessee District#8~Congressman Stephen Fincher(R), Please somebody take him ! He campaigned on a new philosophy in Washington DC. Has it happened ? NO !
He campaigned on he would not accept Congressional medical benefits. What a sham. He has drawn over 3.2 million in farm subsidies. If I enjoyed that kind of money, I too would get Farm Bureau and pay my own premiums. I only hope that someone who cannot afford great healthcare insurance premiums, is getting it ! It was appropriated for that purpose. Mr. Fincher, you should be ashamed. He has voted against Obamacare. Now that is a political as you can get. Obamacare is Healthcare. Mr Fincher, not all of us draw such lucrative paychecks from the government, as you do ! Our politicians need to work on two things, JOBS And HEALTHCARE. Get out of Afghanistan and Iraq ! Concentrate on spending my money on Me/Americans ! What part of TRADE do you not understand ? Our Trade agreements SUCK ! I received a communication from my
friend and fellow Church member, Bobby Brown, it is blow, I encourage you to read it carefully. He sent it too Rep. Fincher.

Message Subject : Giving to the Rich and taking from the working class.

Message Text:

How can you think of cutting Social Security, and then you keep on getting
big farm $ubsidie$ ? Is any where close to right ? ? I paid in SS# all my working
life, you didn't give it to me. If you want to help, cut your salary,
government funded insurance and travel expense. I know as a Republican you
could care less for my family. The people in Union City need help now but
then they are just working people that happen to be union. That is an
organization that Republican are trying to break up anyway they can. I
still pray for you guys every night, I don't like what I see in the
Republican party these days but will always, like I said pray for both of
us.

Thank you for your time,

Bobby Brown, Working class and constituent

Sent to Mr. Fincher tonight doubt I'll hear back from him ?
http://www.fincher.house.gov/office/washington-dc

Hear The Sucking Sound ? That is American Jobs Going to Other Country`s !

Union to Address Plans to Close Fostoria Plant
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

FOSTORIA OHIO— The union representing workers at InterMetro Industries Corp. in Fostoria will meet with company officials Tuesday to discuss plans to close the plant and move 100 jobs to Mexico. InterMetro announced “tentative” plans this week to phase out manufacturing in Fostoria over the next two years. Jim Kerns, staff representative with United Steelworkers Local 1915-14, said the union expects to discuss severance packages for the 100 employees at the plant. InterMetro, which makes carts, shelving, and storage equipment for medical, food service, and other industries, plans to move the work to Mexico. Mr. Kerns said the union spoke of possible concessions at a meeting with the firm this week, but InterMetro said a potential deal likely would not provide sufficient savings.

Editorial : When does the Madness end ? When do our politicians make some trade law changes ? It is TRADE, TRADE and TRADE ! We almost manufacture nothing now ! What is Wrong with our Country ? Our Politicians have sold us out for a mess of pottage ! Thanks to Mike Stanley for this.

Economy Fixed ? Only When Trade is Fixed !

Free Trade ~ Not So !

http://capwiz.com/americanmanufacturing/issues/alert/?alertid=21669501&type=CO

Until Trade is Fixed and we can once more get a level playing field, no economy improvements can be obtained ! What part of this do our politicians not understand?

Do you want your elected officials in Washington to stand up to China for cheating on trade ? Click HERE http://capwiz.com/americanmanufacturing/issues/alert/?alertid=21669501&type=CO to Contact your Senators and Member of Congress!!!

Our trade deficit with China – fueled by currency manipulation and other unfair trade practices – reached a record $273 billion in 2010. Currency manipulation acts as a subsidy for China’s exports to the U.S. and as a tax on our exports to China. The result has been millions of lost jobs, reduced wages, and larger budget deficits. The U.S. is losing its place as a world economic leader with each day that passes without action. Tell your senators and member of Congress to cosponsor the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, which would impose reasonable penalties to level the playing field when our trading partners manipulate their currency. This bill involves no spending, would create up to 2.25 million jobs, and would reduce the budget deficit by up to $71.4 billion each year. We need your help! Contact your elected officials. Share this email/blog with your friends.
http://capwiz.com/americanmanufacturing/issues/alert/?alertid=21669501&type=CO

Thank you,

Underdog = Don Jones

America First ~ Take The Poll !

National Priorities

Take The Poll :

Want your input to our Elected Officials ? Click on link below or at bottom of page also title of this article. There you will find the poll. It will take you approximately 3 minutes.

http://sanders.senate.gov/polls/index.cfm?uid=7f1106fe-a383-4473-8f0d-3ed108a86140

SHARED SACRIFICE
TAXING THE WEALTHY

In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose raising taxes on those with incomes over $250,000 a year?

Support

Oppose

Unsure

In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose raising taxes on those with incomes over $1,000,000 a year ?

Support

Oppose

Unsure

CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID
In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Social Security, which is the retirement program for the elderly?

Support

Oppose

Unsure

In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Medicare, which is the government health insurance program for the elderly ?

Support

Oppose

Unsure

In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Medicaid, which is the government health insurance program for the poor, disabled, and children?

Support

Oppose

Unsure

NATIONAL PRIORITIES

What do you think should be a higher priority for Congress:

Creating jobs or reducing the deficit ? Take the poll below.

http://sanders.senate.gov/polls/index.cfm?uid=7f1106fe-a383-4473-8f0d-3ed108a86140

Republican War on Medicare !

THE GOP'S ASSAULT ON MEDICARE
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 Posted by Jim Hightower
http://www.jimhightower.com/

Remember the hoorahs from Republicans just 4 months ago, when House budget chairman Paul Ryan issued the GOP's "bold" plan to slash federal spending? Gosh, how quickly that cheering turned to silence.

That's because the budgetary jewel in Ryan's creation was the elimination of Medicare. He proposed replacing it with a privatized voucher program that would pay only a fraction of what Medicare covers. This turned out to be a spectacularly stupid idea, resulting in angry seniors showing up at one of Ryan's town hall meetings to whack him over the head with his own proposal. The "bold" plan suddenly had a stench worse than week-old road kill, and Republicans are now trying to disown it. But don't mistake the GOP's sudden squeamishness for meaning that Ryan's Let's-Kill-Medicare effort has gone away. The big stinker is still in the Republican budget and still a core tenet of right-wing orthodoxy. Indeed, all eight of the party's presidential contenders are on record in favor, but not publicizing it. Mitt Romney says he's "on the same page" with Ryan. Michele Bachmann voted for the Ryan plan and says we need to "wean everybody off" Medicare. Tim Pawlenty waffled, but, when cornered, said that "of course" he's for killing it. Jon Huntsman supposedly the moderate in the race says "I would've voted for it." Herman Cain, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum also are enthusiastically on board. However, in a rare moment of candor, Newt Gingrich called the plan "radical, right-wing social engineering." But he got a public spanking by party dogmatists and now says he would've voted for Ryan's scheme, too. The GOP intends to make an all-out assault on Medicare in the next Congress, but don't want to campaign on it. So, get in their face – the time to confront them is not after the elections, but now.

"Karl Rove's $20 Million Distraction," http://www.thinkprogress.org/ , June 28, 2011.

Rep. Bill Sanderson 77th.District ~ Tennessee

Rep. Bill Sanderson (R) 77th. District Tennessee ~ Oughta Be Ashamed !

e-mail > rep.bill.sanderson@capitol.tn.gov > Nashville Phone# (615) 741-0718

OUT OF TOUCH WITH CONSTITUENTS: Rep. Bill Sanderson is touring a country that has benefited most from jobs being shipped overseas on the same day Goodyear abruptly shutdown its Obion County manufacturing facility in his district.

OUT OF TOUCH WITH TENNESSEE VALUES: Sanderson praises China's government-run economy & communist-run government -- "Things run very smooth and efficient."

OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY: In a blog, Sanderson refers to his Chinese tour guide as "Jay-Jay," a "cute china-girl guide" -- says he sees no "repression or un-happiness"


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
http://seanbraisted.blogspot.com/2011/07/aint-china-grand.html

Ain't China Grand
Posted by Sean Braisted

As Union Citys uffers the loss of their biggest employer, Goodyear, resulting in the loss or dislocation of nearly 1900 jobs, you would think this would be the time for that city's representative to be at home, in the district, at least giving the appearance of caring and trying to help his constituents. If you thought that, you would not be Rep. Bill Sanderson. No, instead of being there yesterday when Goodyear closed early, Rep. Sanderson has been off on a legislative tour of China with his son and 14 other state reps. Luckily for us, Sanderson is blogging his way through his trip guided by "Jay-Jay or [sic] cute china-girl guide". While mesmerized by the size and scale of the city he's in [I think Shanghai], he was impressed by how "very, very clean" the city is and how the "Chineese people are very pretty. All skinny and health concious."On his next blog entry he notes the impressive scale of construction and marvels at how China, that communist country we've all been told to fear, has "the arts, convention centers, culture. I [don't?] see them being denied anything." Yeah, totally, Chinese people have everything, except for those minor wants of free expression of religious and political beliefs. Sanderson again gushes over what he has seen: There is something to say for this economy and this government. Things run very smooth and efficient. China is nothing like I expected. From standard American eating places and hotels to the "home-grown" Chinese business, they have taken what we do and are now doing it better. I see no repression or un-happiness. Shanghai is nothing like I could have imagined. I'm not re-posting this simply to point and laugh at what an idiot Sanderson sounds like (but, let's all pause for a moment to do just that). There are a couple underlying problems here.


1) Sanderson's view of China as the happy and prosperous mecca of cute Chinese girls is not reflective of the whole, and you would think a rural representative might understand this. Rural china, much like rural America and Sanderson's district, boasts high unemployment, a diminished quality of living, and lack of opportunities. I would hope that as Sanderson is going through the big cities of China he pauses and asks about how the other half lives, as that might be somewhat informative to his job representing rural Tennessee.

2) From a broader political standpoint, he should understand that China hasn't grown to be the powerhouse it is by adopting a rigorous and uncompromising adherence to laissez-faire capitalism. The Chinese government has invested in infrastructure, directed resources to growing industries, adopted environmental standards to maximize their energy usage...in other words, they live in a planned capitalist economy, not the chaotic and unregulated free for all that American conservatives seem to be advocating. Perhaps when he comes back to America and demagogues "big government interference" he'll think back to his trip to China and understand that they aren't hand-cuffing their industry and economy to rigid utopian ideology, and perhaps neither should we.


Editorial : While Rome Burned, Nero Fiddled ! 77th. District, you wanted Rep. Sanderson(R), you got him. Satisfied Now ?

Not Entitlements ~ Not Entitlements ~ Not Entitlements !

Big Mistake, Mr. President
7/10/11

Click here to add your name:
http://pol.moveon.org/bad_debt_deal/?id=28665-2928454-JpcpJCx&t=4

Reports say the president just offered to cut Social Security benefits, if Republicans will vote to pass debt ceiling.

It's his offering to the out-of-control Republicans, who are threatening to crash the economy in order to ram through savage cuts to crucial government programs. It's sickening to think that millions of seniors would have to sacrifice in order to appease Republican hostage-takers. Especially because every poll shows overwhelming majority of Americans support raising taxes on the rich and protecting Social Security and Medicare.

But there's still time to stop this "bargain" in its tracks. Whatever deal the president offers Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass Congress. So we need Democrats in Congress to stand strong and oppose any benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Can you sign our emergency petition to Democrats in Congress and tell them to stand up and tell the President they will not vote for Social Security and Medicare benefits cuts? Add your name here. > http://pol.moveon.org/bad_debt_deal/?id=28665-2928454-JpcpJCx&t=4 <

President Obama is making a huge mistake that will cost our Country dearly.

This is one of those moments where we either stand up and demand that the Democrats in Congress show a real spine. Or we sit back and watch the Republicans destroy decades' worth of progress.

Will you help send a message demanding that Democrats draw a clear line in the sand: no cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits?

Click here to add your name:
http://pol.moveon.org/bad_debt_deal/?id=28665-2928454-JpcpJCx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

Underdog = Don Jones

Social Security is not an "entitlement program." !

It is money working people loan to the government in advance of our own retirements, deaths, and/or disabilities. We expect it to be there regardless of swings and losses in the financial markets. No cuts. No more "creative accounting" like we got with Bush/Cheney. No more depleting our national wealth to fund greedy privatization scam artists. It is a model for many nations who value social stability and public health.

Social Security ~Keep Your Word~ No Cuts Mr. President !

Keep Your Word Mr. President !
7/08/11

Take Action : Call (202) 456-1111

Please view the link below 1:27 seconds or click on title of this article :

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6405/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=550

Call President Obama now and tell him to keep the promise - No cuts to Social Security benefits! http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6405/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=550

Dear Readers :

Social Security faces an immediate threat at the deficit-reduction talks in Washington. There is a proposal on the table to cut the annual Social Security COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).

President Obama told us when he was a candidate for President he would not cut Social Security benefits, including the COLA.

Here is President Obama in his own words. Call him right now and tell him to keep the promise – No cuts to Social Security benefits !

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6405/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=550

The Social Security Cost Of Living Allowance helps your benefits keep pace with inflation. The current COLA is already too low because it does not account for rising health care costs, which hurt seniors and people with disabilities the most.
Now they want to make it even lower. Under the proposal, after 10 years the average benefit will be cut by about $600 a year. After 20 years the cut will be about $1,000 a year. The typical Social Security benefit is only $13,000 a year.

President Obama is deciding what to do right now. Please call him today and say “no Social Security cuts.” call (202) 456-1111, here is what to say:
Hello, this is [your name] from [YOUR TOWN, STATE].

I’m calling to urge President Obama not to cut Social Security benefits. That includes no Social Security COLA cut.

Social Security has not contributed a penny to the deficit. Our earned benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit.

FREE TRADE ~ NOT SO ! Killing Our Economy for Working Class !

Tell Congress to Stop Colombia, Korea, Panama Trade Deals
by Mike Hall, Jul 6, 2011

http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2507

Congress and the White House are intent on ramming through three job-killing trade agreements. That’s why you need to tell your senators and representatives to stop the South Korea, Panama and Colombia free trade agreements and get to work promoting job growth in the United States, rather than offshoring American jobs.

Click here>; http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2507 < to send them a message now. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka(upper left) says that similar trade deals like NAFTA, which has cost nearly 700,000 jobs and created a $97 billion trade deficit with Mexico, have been “a miserable failure for working people” and these new deals follow in NAFTA’s footsteps. Working people need to make our voices heard—and we need to fight hard. We need to be creating jobs—not passing agreements that will offshore more jobs and leave more communities behind. Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists, with one such murder occurring nearly every week–but their killers are seldom brought to justice. Says Trumka: I doubt very much Congress and the White House would be passing a trade deal with a country where a CEO was murdered every week. The proposed Korea trade deal would cost an estimated 159,000 U.S. jobs and according to trade experts who have studied the deal, its loopholes could open the doors for goods made in China or even sweatshops and North Korea, but labeled in South Korea. The Panama agreement contains most of the problems of the other two says Trumka, including deregulating big banks and letting foreign investors bypass U.S. health, safety labor and environmental laws. In addition, Panama is also a tax haven: a place where tax-dodging, money-laundering millionaires and billionaires hide their money. Click here to send message to your lawmakers to vote no on all three trade deals and click here> http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2507 ; to join a Facebook Online Day of Action to Stop the FTAs.

You can also click on the title of this article !