GOODYEAR TIRE RECALL ! BE SAFE, NOT SORRY !

GOODYEAR UNSAFE TIRE RECALL !

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is recalling about 41,000 Wrangler Silent Armor tires produced from March to May of 2009 over concerns the tires could tear, leading to crashes.It's not uncommon for companies to recall tires from time to time. This particular recall is just a precaution. Drivers need to know where to look on their tires to find out if theirs are part of the recall.Owner of Cross Tire, Lelon Cross, knows immediately when a company recalls tires and where to look to find out if he has those in stock. There's a 12 digit code stamped into the rubber with all the information. "The first numbers in the code are where the tire was built and what plant and what shift. The important numbers are the last four digits. The last 2 digits are the year made and the two numbers next to that is the week the tires were built." With that information, Cross says drivers you can call to find out if their tires are part of a recall. The dealer will replace the tires and the company picks up the cost.There have been huge tire recalls of hundreds of thousands of tires. This recent recall is small, with only 27,000 tires believed to still be in service. However, since two people died last year in a rollover accident involving a vehicle with the recalled tires, Goodyear is taking a necessary safety precaution, because even one crash is too many. Recalled tires are ground up and destroyed, so there's no chance they'll ever end up on the road again.

Editorial : Where there is no UNION, there is no SAFETY ! Ride your family on UNION made TIRES ! Thanks to J. Michael Stanley for this one.

Free Democratic Trade Unions Under Attack by Rep. Andy Holt (R) District#76-Tennessee

State Rep. Andy Holt(R)-Weakley & Carroll Counties-Sponsors Anti-American Bill (HB3815) !
Contact Rep. Holt here > rep.andy.holt@capitol.tn.gov <

Legislative Alert #1

CONTACT HOUSE GENERAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF JUDICIARY STRONGLY OPPOSE (HB3815) by Rep. Andy Holt (R) (upper left), District#76- BEFORE Wednesday Feb. 29th at 3:30pm.

What this bill does: Criminalizes the act of mass picketing in various cases including at any business, school, or private facility, but not a government building or facility. See the bill here or below snipurl.com/22ag9rh <

Why I/We oppose this bill : The First Amendment protects individuals' right to free expression. The First Amendment ensures that individuals have the right to speak, publish, assemble and protest, no matter the content of their speech. In fact, the First Amendment exists precisely to protect the most controversial, hateful or obnoxious speech from government suppression. The guarantees of the First Amendment demonstrate that the best way to counter problematic speech is always with more speech, not less speech.

Who to contact: snipurl.com/22ce1qm When you contact these Rep.`s - Just tell them you oppose HB 3815 ! I wrote each one an e-mail ! Please help.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislative Alert #2

CONTACT HOUSE GENERAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRONGLY OPPOSE (HB3386) by Rep. Glen Casada(R) BEFORE Wednesday Feb. 29th at 3:30pm.

What this bill does: Stops local governments from creating wage, benefit, and other regulations which go above what is required by state law.
See the bill here > bit.ly/aqvr1P <

Why I/We oppose this bill: The state should be setting a floor for employment regulations, not a ceiling. Local Governments should have the right to set their own minimum wages—higher if they choose ! By allowing cities to enact adequate prevailing wage or living wage laws takes away incentives to hire undocumented workers. Local governments should be allowed to determine if conditions require more employee protections or benefits rather than setting a “one size fits all standard” for the whole state. Who to contact: bit.ly/yfJj5o

Editorial : Rep. Holt does`nt like me very much. I can live with that. He does`nt represent me, I do live in District#76. I`m not sure who he`s listening too ? He seems like a nice young man, what little I`ve been around him. He evidently does`nt understand the constitution or does`nt want too ? Freedom to picket is freedom of assembly. Mr. Holt, I live in your District#76, I will be glad to talk and explain it to you. Try to get in touch with your constituency and stop listening to whoever you are ! This is no more than a Anti-Union Bill ! Mr. Holt, being anti-union is being anti-American ! I realize that you know, what`s good for me. Maybe, just maybe, I know what`s good for me !

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

Fiat Lux

TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE FISCAL NOTE SB 3439 - HB 3815

February 11, 2012

SUMMARY OF BILL: Creates a Class C misdemeanor offense for a person who, without legal privilege, engages in any form of mass picketing that constitutes an obstacle to or from a place of employment entrance; that prevents the pursuit of any lawful work or employment; that involves a person wearing a mask, hood, or otherwise to conceal the identity of the person; or that constitutes violence, threats of violence, or intimidation. Includes mass picketing of a private residence to the extent not protected by the federal or state constitutions but excludes from this section mass picketing of any government building or facility. Specifically states that the offense includes engaging in targeted picketing of a private residence with the intended effect of interfering with the resident’s right to quiet enjoyment or the intended effect of violence or intimidation, except for private residences that are also places of employment. Affords such a private person or business relief court action to enjoin the behavior. Defines “mass picketing” as the assembly of persons in the use of pickets or demonstrations at or near any business, school, or private facility.

Fiat Lux

UNDERDOG ~ PETITION ~ PLEASE HELP !

REAL SAVINGS for REAL PEOPLE/TENNESSEANS
2/26/12

By Underdog = Don Jones

Sign here > http://signon.org/sign/eliminate-food-sales?source=c.em.cp&r_by=2074612

Eliminate Food Sale$ Tax !

Dear Underdog Readers,

Most Tennesseans are hard pressed to buy groceries`s. At the cost they are today. Governor Haslam(R)Tennessee has proposed a food-tax lowering of 0.5% ! This 0.5% request is almost laughable. I propose a real food-tax lowering. Lets lower it completely. By eliminating sales tax`$ on all food ! This would indeed assist all Tennessee family`s in a time, needed ! That's why I created a petition to The Tennessee State House, The Tennessee State Senate, Governor Bill Haslam, the United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama, which says:
"Eliminate Sale$ Tax on Food ! "Will you sign this petition ? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/eliminate-food-sales?source=c.em.cp&r_by=2074612

Help others and yourself at a time, when it is needed !

Thanks for all you do,

Underdog = Don Jones

Fiat Lux

Tennesseans~Create Your Very Own Petition~ You Bet`Cha !

Tennesseans~Stand up for Your Rights !

Click here to create petition > http://www.signon.org/create_start.html?source=suggestive&id=36077-8490862-UkmT0nx

Contact your Tennessee State Representative here > http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/

Contact your Tennessee State Senator here > http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/

The Tennessee legislature is facing an agenda packed with urgent issues:

Attacks on workers' rights. A wave of gay-bashing bills. More budget cuts—and tax cuts for the rich.

Residents across Tennessee want to make their voices heard on these issues and many others being debated in Nashville. But first someone needs to take the lead. That's where you come in.To help, MoveOn has launched a website called SignOn.org, where you can create your very own petition to Governor Bill Haslam or the Tennessee legislature on whatever issues you're most concerned about. We'll help make sure all the signatures get delivered and even send the most popular petitions to other MoveOn members in the state. But don't wait—it is urgent that you act now before these issues are decided.

Click here to create your petition to Gov. Haslam or the Tennessee legislature.

Thanks for all you to do.

Don Jones = Underdog

Fiat Lux

UNION CITY TN. TITAN to BUILD CATERPILLAR TIRES

UNION CITY TN. TITAN TIRE to SUPPLY TIRES for CATERPILLAR
02/23/2012

UNION CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- Titan Tire Corp., a subsidiary of Titan International Inc., has announced a multi-year supply contract with Caterpillar for tires.

Titan has agreed to supply over-the-road tires to Caterpillar under a three-year agreement starting in 2012, according to a news release posted on the company's website. The Union City Daily Messenger reports the value of the contract is expected to exceed $100 million (http://bit.ly/wAY0eF). Titan Tire bought the former Goodyear plant in Union City last November. The $9 million acquisition formally ended the Goodyear era in Obion County and ushered in a new tire manufacturer -- Titan Tire. Titan Tire chairman Bill Campbell(upper right)told the paper this month that an estimated 300 jobs will be created at the plant by the end of the year.

Editorial : Good News for Union City TN. and the surrounding area ! "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

Fiat Lux

SUPPLY CHAIN
PLASTICS/RUBBER

VETERANS a NATIONAL TREASURE ! You Bet`Cha !

“Almost an Insult” to Veterans

Gov. Haslam`s bill > http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB2384

Yesterday, Governor Bill Haslam's(upper left) special interest power grab was dealt another blow when he was forced to defend the anti-veteran changes he wants to make to state hiring policy. In another bipartisan push back, the governor's plan to eliminate veterans' preference was criticized by Democrats and Republicans. A Republican said Haslam's interview promise was "almost an insult" to veterans. It's no wonder. Tennesseans take pride in supporting the 400,000 (plus) military veterans in our state, and the unemployment rate among young veterans is upwards of 30 percent. Why would the Governor want to make it harder for vets to get work ? Coincidentally, a story airing YESTERDAY on WBIR emphasized how important pro-veteran job policies are:
WBIR: Iraq vet Sgt. Chris Lindsay, 32, family of five, of East TN: "I came home to no job" Below are Newspaper article`s to substantiate ~ !

Haslam plan hit for not helping vets


Lawmakers say Tenn. governor's civil service bill would eliminate job preference to veterans


Legislators Protest Stripping Veterans of State Hiring Preference (as Haslam proposes)


Haslam Dodges Criticism on Veteran Hiring


Stepping Up on Vet Jobs

Editorial : This should not now or ever be a partisan issue. Our HERO Veterans should be given a high priority in the job market. I`m UNION and I`m proud to say this and do all I can to make it happen. I have an idea Gov. Haslam, why not issue each returning Veteran a free Gasoline card on Pilot ?
"GOD BLESS AMERICA" !

Fiat Lux

Corporations Are Not People !

Right Wing Supreme Court...Squelching Individual Rights !

The Citizens United vs. FEC Supreme Court decision overturned over a century of precedent and opened the floodgates for unlimited amounts of corporate money to flow into our political system. Shockingly, the court came to this decision based on the notion that a corporation is legally a "person" entitled to First Amendment rights, and by equating a corporation's right to spend unlimited amounts of money influencing an election with our right to free speech.Tell your senators and member of Congress to support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and end corporate personhood. http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/end_corp_personhood/?r_by=-5232443-miM_DQx&rc=mailto1

Thanks
All The Best
Steve & Lanie

Editorial : Thanks to my friend`s in Hersey Michigan, for this one !

Fiat Lux

OBAMA CARE = AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ! YOU BET`CHA !

Affordable Care Act Means Premium Rebates for Consumers
by Mike Hall, Feb 20, 2012

More info here > http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/getting_value_for_your_premium_dollar_04072011.pdf

One of the Affordable Care Act’s most important consumer protection provisions requires health insurers to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on actual medical care, not wasteful administration, marketing or executive pay and bonuses. The health care reform law requires insurers that do not meet the 80 percent threshold (also known as the medical loss ratio) to provide rebates to their customers.The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says consumers should receive those rebates later this year. HHS denied the requests by some insurance companies to be allowed to spend more on “overhead” rather than health care, a move that saved health care consumers more than $323 million in rebates. Says HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: Before the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies could spend your premium dollars on administrative red tape and marketing. With today’s notice, we’re taking a big step toward making insurers accountable to consumers. Some of these insurance companies have already changed their behavior by lowering premiums or spending more on medical care and quality improvement, while the remainder will need to refund this money to their customers this year. Overall, says Ethan Rome, executive director of Health for America Now (HCAN), insurance companies will refund more than $2 billion this year as the result of the law.
The 80/20 standard is one of the most effective consumer protections in the health care law and is already reducing premiums for individuals and small businesses. Step by step, this law is taking insurance companies out of the driver’s seat and giving consumers control over their health care. Insurers will be required to make the first round of rebates to consumers by August based on their 2011 medical loss ratio. For more information on the medical loss ratios, click here.

Editorial : If this is Obama Care ? I love it !

Fiat Lux

Tennessee Early Voting !

Tennesseans ~ Vote Early ~ Vote Often !
Early voting for the March 6th Presidential Primary is underway in Tennessee, and you have one week -- until February 28 -- to cast your vote early.

If you miss early voting, Tennessee is among 10 states holding its Presidential Primary on "Super Tuesday" March 6th.

But why wait ? Click here to contact your local Election Commission and find Early Voting locations and times in your county.

Click here to check your voter registration status.

Also, in order to vote at the polls, you will be required -- for the first time ever -- to show a government-issued photo ID.
Special interests rammed this measure through the legislature knowing full well that tens of thousands of law-abiding Tennesseans don't have government-issued photo IDs. Tennesseans with disabilities, seniors who don't drive, low-income earners and students all could be turned away and kept from voting.
Voters should be prepared. Click here to learn how to beat the photo ID law and make your vote count. And if you or someone you know has a problem at the polls because of the photo ID law, please call the TNDP Voter Protection line at (615) 327-9779. We want every Tennessean to own a piece of this democracy, and it starts with being a voter.

Democrats interested in running for Delegate to the Democratic National Convention next fall must vote in the March 6th Presidential Primary.
You can find more information about running for Delegate at TNDP.org. Learn More »»

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch/Dinner.

Liberty...is a well armed lamb contesting the vote"

Fiat Lux

The War on Workers ! Liberty in Peril !

New Battlegrounds In The War On Workers

By Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa

Published in The Detroit News on February 8, 2012

Contact GP Hoffa here > http://www.teamsters.org

Already this year, state lawmakers have opened brutal new fronts in the war on workers. And America's workers are fighting back as never before.

In Michigan, anti-worker bills aimed at weakening labor unions are gaining traction in the House. (HB 5025), for example, would require employees' annual written authorization to have their union dues deducted from their paychecks.
Working families in Indiana, Florida and Arizona are under especially fierce attack. State politicians loyal to their Wall Street paymasters are trying to lower workers' wages, benefits and safety. They're trying to turn taxpayer assets over to for-profit corporations, along with fat contracts and tax giveaways, at the expense of government employees. Gov. Mitch Daniels(R) supported a law to make Indiana a right-to-work-for-less state, breaking a campaign promise that earned him labor's endorsement(he lied). Last week, he signed the law in secret and held no press conference to announce the deed. That's not what I'd call bold leadership. Hoosiers will see falling wages, increased poverty and more dangerous workplaces — for now. They will also be engaged in one hell of a fight. Even during protests against the right-to-work-for-less bill, working people were registering voters inside the Capitol. The ballot box is where they'll punish lawmakers who voted against them. It's happened before. Indiana lawmakers who voted for a right-to-work law in 1957 faced a stiff backlash. Many lost re-election. Eight years later, it was repealed. More recently, Ohio voters overwhelmingly fought back another blatant attack on working families. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott and some lawmakers want to turn many of the state's correctional facilities over to a private corporation with a poor track record of safety and savings. The proposal would save less than one-half of 1 percent of Florida's corrections budget — and that's if those savings actually materialized, which is doubtful. For that tiny savings, prison privatization would put 4,000 correctional officers out of work. Nearly all of them live in poor, rural counties where good jobs just don't exist. Florida's working families are bringing the fight to Tallahassee(capitol). Correctional officers come almost daily to the Capitol to lobby against the bill, joined by hundreds of other workers, including nurses and teachers who fear they'll be next. Radical politicians in Arizona are trying to ban collective bargaining. What's being proposed is worse than what Gov. Scott Walker rammed through in Wisconsin last year. Lawmakers would make collective bargaining illegal for government bodies and employee groups. Automatic payroll deductions for union dues would be banned. Arizona could soon become the next Wisconsin. The state's working families are making plans for protests and Capitol sit-ins. Michigan politicians contemplating similar anti-union legislation should proceed at their own electoral peril. Michigan's working families are mobilizing right now and will certainly remember in November.
We may not win battles in every state this fall. It may take years, but in the end, I'm confident we'll win the war on workers.
To read archived articles from General President Hoffa, click here.

Editorial : Below,

PUT THE POLITICIANS ON MINIMUM WAGE......AND WATCH HOW FAST THINGS CHANGE ~!

The day after Labor Day, on 2 May 1933, Nazi groups occupied union halls and labor leaders were arrested. Trade Unions were outlawed by Adolf Hitler ! ( http://www.johndclare.net/Nazi_Germany1.htm http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERlabour.htm ),

while collective bargaining and the right to strike was abolished.

When the Middle Class lose`s, everyone lose`s ! Except the very rich.

Fiat Lux

Social Security takes Another HIT !

Sen. Tom Harkin(D) Rips Obama for '
Unraveling Social Security' with Tax Cut
By Josiah Ryan - 02/16/12

Contact Sen. Harkin here > http://harkin.senate.gov/

Contact President Obama here > http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) tore into President Obama on Thursday for "unraveling Social Security."

The liberal senator was unusually tough in criticizing Obama, who Harkin said would deprive the Social Security fund of roughly $100 billion by extending the two-percentage-point payroll tax cut through the end of 2012. That tax funds the Social Security trust fund. “I never thought I would have to see the day when a Democratic president of the United States and a Democratic vice president would agree to put Social Security in this kind of jeopardy," exclaimed a visibly agitated Harkin from the Senate floor. "Never did I ever imagine a Democratic president would be the beginning of the unraveling of Social Security.” Harkin predicted that Americans would become addicted to the payroll tax cut, which has been in place since the beginning of last year. The House and Senate are expected to approve the extension on Friday. He also noted that under the deal worked out by House Republicans and Senate Democrats, the tax cut will not be offset with other spending cuts or tax increases and will add to the deficit. "I warn my colleagues to consider the long terms ramifications of these actions," said Harkin. "This continues to open the door to further extending the [pay roll] tax cut because we don't have to pay for it." The tax cut would save the average American family up to $40 per month by relieving them of part of the tax that is designed to pay their part towards the Social Security fund. Obama is a strong advocate for extending the tax cut, which he says is necessary to prevent the economic recovery from stalling. Some economists have estimated the tax cut adds as much as a point to U.S. GDP growth this year.

Editorial : Will the hypocrisy never end ? Perhaps our political system is more corrupt than even we think ? Democrats and Republicans alike. Ya Think ? I can only inform you, as to how to contact your elected representatives. I cannot inform you, how to get them to to listen ! "God Save America"! Our Politicians won`t !

Fiat Lux

Deport the Poor...This`ll Kill`Ya ! Maybe Not So Funny ?

Fight Unemployment -- Deport the Poor!
Posted: 02/15/2012

Hello. My name is Roger Smith, and I am running for President.

You ever swallow the worm at the bottom of a bottle of Tequila? Recommend. Now I'll be honest, I can't quite remember the next four days, but I must've been watching a lot of Hannity, because when I finally came to I noticed I had acquired a keen dislike of both the New York Times and Rachel Maddow. But what I mostly recall from that beautifully disorienting mescaline haze was a bunch of clowns yammering about how they'd make the best president. And one of them -- I think it was the white guy -- said that we had too much poverty in America. And I'm all, what ? Here ? But I have an iPhone ! Then I remembered this less-than-pleasant-smelling fellow down by the Rite Aid who's always asking me for money. And it occurred to me. This guy probably has to pretend his banana is a phone. If he even has a banana. Which he doesn't. And if he does, he certainly shouldn't be asking me for money ! Anyway, these candidates droned on and on about their solutions to our sinking economy. Something about taxes giving AIDS to job creators or something. Not sure. At this point I was in the can peeing for five minutes. Straight. But as I was standing there, with Little Roger in my hand, I had a stroke... of brilliance. And the answer just exploded out of me! Okay, ready for my idea ? Here goes. So you know how the other candidates keep saying that the root of our economic woes is illegal immigration ? "It's the Mexicans!" they say at a volume that is not kind to my buzz. "Send them home and el problemo es solved-o!" Well, the real problem isn't any one disadvantaged group. It's all of them put together. Together, they make up America's poor. And there are just too many poor people in America. So let's deport them.
That's right. Deport the poor. Look how many problems it solves! Wanna fix unemployment? Deport the poor. Not enough to eat for everyone? Deport the poor. Wanna solve Medicaid? Deport the poor. You say our budget can't handle food stamps, home heating subsidies, or school lunches? Deport, deport, deport!
Now, you're probably concerned about where we're gonna send all these fine downtrodden folks. But don't worry. This is America, the land of the free. And they're free to self-deport to wherever they want. Look, this is the bold plan we need. I recently heard one of the candidates say that he doesn't care about the very poor. Well, anyone can not care about the very poor. But who's got the courage to put them on a raft? This. Can. Work. I'm. Pretty. Sure. But I'll need your help. To identify and appropriately tag anyone earning less than $22,350 per year. It's time we start protecting the REAL minority in this country: The one (1%) percent. Together we can make America rich again. ONLY rich.

Thank you for your time.
And Online: http://www.rogersmith2012.com/

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch,

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote".

Fiat Lux

KEEP it MADE in AMERICA~BETTER YET, BRING it HOME to AMERICA !

More here > http://capwiz.com/americanmanufacturing/home/

AMERICA A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY ?

Contact your Elected Rep. HERE > http://capwiz.com/americanmanufacturing/issues/alert/?alertid=60932291&MC_plugin=2801

A poll by Gallup last week confirmed that voters believe China’s economy is stronger than ours. Today, the man who may be China’s next president visits the White House. We should extend him the hand of friendship, but insist that his nation play by the rules or face consequences. Our future is simply too important to trade away. Two weeks ago, we announced the release of three reports that show China is stealing market share from American auto parts makers, and driving American workers out of their jobs. Last week, we learned that the U.S. racked up a whopping $295.5 billion annual goods deficit with China in 2011, shattering the record set in 2010. Now is the time to let Washington know that we won’t tolerate China’s cheating on trade rules, or our government’s refusal to do anything about it. With a level playing field, American manufacturers and our workers can rebuild our industry, revitalize communities, and create opportunities for the next generation of workers. We need Congress and the administration on our side, and we need your help to get them there.
Click HERE to contact your members of Congress and ask them to call for a full investigation of China’s cheating, which is costing our nation jobs every day. Unless immediate action is taken by Congress and the White House, vital industries such as auto parts manufacturing, which adds billions of dollars and millions of jobs to our economy, could be lost. Tell your legislators to act now and crack down on China’s predatory trade practices. American manufacturers and our workers simply can’t afford to wait any longer. Together We Can Keep It "Made In America". Maybe ! Ever heard the term, "SOLD DOWN the RIVER"?

Fiat Lux

TENNESSEE KID`S NEED OUR HELP !

Tennessee Teachers & Students Get The SHAFT

More than 2,000 people have signed our online petition opposing Governor Bill Haslam's plan to increase classroom sizes. Concerned parents, educators and citizens from across the state agree. It's common sense; increasing class sizes at our public schools is a bad idea. Yet late last week, a top politician said that Republicans would be "regrouping" and working up a new sales pitch with the hopes of winning over parents and teachers, who recognized a bad idea when they heard it. If we're trying to close the achievement gap and graduate more students ready to take on jobs in math and science, we need more individualized instruction in the classroom -- not less. If you agree and know that Tennessee kids deserve the best classroom environment to learn in, we need your help. Ciick here >Please add your name to our petition opposing the Governor's plan to crowd our classrooms. People who work in classrooms already know how important class size is to our kids' learning. Add your name and help us educate the politicians in Nashville. In January, Governor Bill Haslam(R) announced his plan to eliminate requirements for average classroom sizes at our public schools. It's a move that would quickly lead to increased class sizes, and it is a major threat to student achievement.Common sense tells you that more students in each classroom means less individualized instruction for each student. For decades, smaller class sizes have helped narrow the achievement gap and increase student learning. In fact, the best private schools in Tennessee show off their small class sizes and brag about the personalized education they can offer due to their low student-teacher ratios.Why isn't this philosophy good enough for public school kids ? Sign our petition calling on Governor Bill Haslam to immediately withdraw his plan to increase Tennessee classroom sizes. Bigger classroom sizes don't make any sense if our goal is to improve student achievement and prepare our kids for the 21st century. We can't afford to settle for anything but the best results in Tennessee's classrooms because the countries our kids will compete with for good-paying jobs -- China, Japan, India -- aren't settling either. Help us stop Governor Haslam and the special interests from short changing our children's future with one more bad idea. Sign the petition >> http://tndp.org/blog/take-action/tell-governor-haslam-class-size-matters/ <<

Fiat Lux

HELP YOURSELF by HELPING PRESIDENT OBAMA

President Obama on Right Track...You Bet`Cha !

Click here to sign petition > Help us reach 100,000 signatures in the next 24 hours supporting President Obama’s budget that would ensure millionaires pay their fair share

President Obama just sent his budget to Congress that would finally end special tax breaks for the top 1%. The President’s plan includes the “Buffett Rule,” which would put an end to the days of multi-millionaires paying a smaller share of their income in taxes than middle-class families. Republicans in Congress and right-wing pundits are already attacking President Obama’s plan, which would ensure the wealthy pay their fair share. Will you stand behind President Obama’s budget ? Help us reach 100,000 signatures in the next 24 hours supporting President Obama’s budget that would ensure millionaires pay their fair share >> We can move America forward and stop the Republicans’ assault on the middle class -- but only if we have the support of each and every one of you. Add your name today to show your support for the President’s budget plan: http://dccc.org/Budget-Plan. Remember these tax`s on the ultra rich are not new tax`s. President Bush removed them as a temporary tax adjustment. Now, the REPUBLICANS want these tax's for the rich permanent. In a time, when the rich have become richer, and you and I have become poorer, I say NO ! Put them back in place !

Fiat Lux

SENIORS & MEDICARE ! REPUBLICANS WANT TO CUT !

Medicare & The Senior Citizen, "Hey That`s Me"!
Underdog = Don Jones

According to New York Times > http://nyti.ms/y6rqcu

Doctors – and Seniors - Can’t Afford Medicare Payment Cuts. Policymakers in Washington are still polarized over the payroll tax cut debate, and this deadlock has trickled down into a heated debate over proposed Medicare cuts. If an agreement is not reached by the end of February, doctors will receive a 27% reduction in Medicare payments. There is not much time left to act. According to Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), several doctors have already begun to tell many Medicare recipients that they can no longer accept Medicare, leaving many seniors with fewer options for treatment and services. House Republicans want to avoid cuts in payments to doctors by reducing certain Medicare payments to hospitals, while House Democrats want to offset Medicare costs for doctors using funding from the declining wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The payroll tax legislation would also continue jobless benefits for many of the nation’s unemployed. Medicare Expected to be a Major Issue in Congressional Races In various congressional seat races across the country, the issue of Medicare has also become a key election issue. Many Democratic candidates are looking to oust current Republicans who support various cuts to the program, especially those who support House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) plan to privatize it. According to The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/y6rqcu), Medicare is expected to be a hot-button issue for the next decade. “There is a great deal of misinformation out there about Medicare, and it is important that You understand and help educate your neighbors on the facts.”

Fiat Lux

SOCIAL SECURITY ~ THIS SUMS IT UP !

SOCIAL SECURITY ~ JUST THE FACTS !
Underdog = Don Jones...2/10/12

Send This Blog > http://wwwsecondchance.blogspot.com/2012/02/social-security-this-sums-it-up.html

Alan Simpson (R), Retired Senator from Wyoming , Co-Chair of the deficit commission, calls Senior Citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security" to a Milk Cow with 310 million 'teats'. !

"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight !

1. As a career politician,you have been on the public dole for FIFTY YEAR$.

2. I have been paying Social Security taxes (since I was 12 years old.) I`m now over 70 !

3. My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political Career Boy`s decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero ambition losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would have made Bernie Madoff proud.

4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and your commision pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your shill commission is proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now you politicians propose to change the rules of the game. Why ? Because you politicians mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal money from Medicare to pay the bills.

6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why ? Because you incompetent politicians spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.To add insult to injury, you label us"greedy" for calling you, on your incompetence.

Well, Politicians I have a few questions for YOU.

1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayer$ during your pathetic political careers ?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefit$ from the American taxpayer$ ?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health in$urance ?

4. What cut$ in YOUR retirement and Healthcare benefit$ are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or, as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies ? It is you, Politician`s, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "Greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow Politicians who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers. And for what ? Votes.That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic political careers.You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it. And you can take that to the bank.

If you do not like the way things are in America ? Send this site/blog to all of your friends. PASS IT ON !

Fiat Lux