August 18, 2017

"We Just Feel Like We Don't Belong Here Anymore

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/08/we-just-feel-like-we-dont-belong-here-anymore/

Since Trump’s election, there has been ample coverage of white people—the rise of white nationalism, the white working class that makes up Trump’s core constituency, the 53 percent of white women who voted him into office. Much less has been written about the people of color who live and work amid the rising tide of white nationalism in rural red states.

It can be a lovely place to live, but in counties like Crockett, it’s hard to be anything other than white. So I decided to go back home and talk to the people I should have been talking to all along—people of color who live and work and go to school with white Trump supporters. They told me how it feels to live among neighbors who voted against their best interests and—worst case—their basic existence.

This is the piece Pierce wrote about today.

August 14, 2017

The House Budget Resolution for 2018 includes Premium Support (PS), which will destroy Medicare.

From the National Retirees Legislative Network

http://nrln.org/congress.html#/59


5,400 NRLN advocates have signed the NRLN petition to President Trump. This is your last reminder, the deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 16. Click here to sign the petition to protect Medicare and Social Security.

The House Budget Resolution for 2018 includes “Premium Support (PS)”, if the Budget becomes law PS will:

Cut $487 billion from Medicare by shifting the cost to current and future beneficiaries - likely increase the costs for Medigap supplemental policies – eliminate Medicare Advantage Plans in 5 years - raise the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67 - expand income means testing until 25% of beneficiaries pay higher premiums for Medicare Part B and D – privatize Medicare and leave Medicare A & B to die quickly – be more costly than Medicare and would create more chaos than the ACA, only HMO’s would survive, and - expose the big secret that “Premium Support” will only work if billions in federal subsidies are paid to insurance companies.

In order to get the “Premium Support” pending disaster off the table (before the Budget vote) and in order to protect Social Security we proposed the President negotiate a Grand Bargain that takes “Premium Support”, Medicare and Social Security off the table by asking both political parties, unions and employees to help:

That a portion (2%) of company tax reform gains be used to increase company payroll tax.

That a portion (0.5%) of individual tax reform gains be used to increase individual payroll tax.

That Maximum Taxable Payroll Tax Earnings be increased from $127,000 to a Minimum of $300,000.

That the President and Congress Declare war on health care costs.

The Medicare and Social Security Trust Fund Trustees say that a 3.47% Payroll Tax funding increase beginning in 2017 would actuarially preserve Medicare and Social Security for the next 75 years (2092). The NRLN realizes “Grand Bargain” negotiating may result in a shift of the % increases among the two categories or lower or higher earnings being taxed. As long as everybody has some skin in the game and the resulting net effect gains 3.47%, our country wins.

COLA, eligibility age, new benefits and other disputed subjects are out, bargain a deal those affected will see as fair. NRLN members write us about extending the eligibility age, saying… a company won’t keep me on roll 2-3 more years, my boss won’t pay me until I’m eligible, people over age 65 have up to 50% more chronic diseases and can’t work, savings will be gone if I have a 3-4 year earnings gap, who will hire me?…

Please use the opportunity of the NRLN’s petition to have your voice presented to President Trump. Either click on the link in the first paragraph or go to http://nrln.org/congress.html#/59 to sign the NRLN’s petition to President Trump. Thank you if you are one of the 5,400 who has signed the petition.

Bill Kadereit, President
National Retirees Legislative Network

August 12, 2017

Trump Administration pulled grant from group combating Neo-Nazis

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/the-trump-administration-is-pulling-a-grant-from-a-group-that-combats-neo-nazis/

The Trump Administration Is Pulling a Grant From a Group That Combats Neo-Nazis
An Obama-era program will shift its focus and dollars to groups combating Al Qaeda and ISIS.

August 8, 2017

Unlearning the Myth of American Innocence by Suzy Hansen.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/08/unlearning-the-myth-of-american-innocence

April 19, 2017

My sister committed suicide today. I'm the one who.found her and

called 911. She has been depressed since her husband died 3 years ago today. I now have only my son and granddaughter as my family.

I've never had to deal directly with a death before. Right now I'm angry that she couldn't move forward with living.

I had thought we'd travel together and enjoy our senior years. She was 70 and I'm 68.

March 7, 2017

If you truly want to help people in your community avoid deportation, you

can join United We Dream. If you text 'HereToStay' at 877877, you will then receive notifications of activities in your area, including providing sanctuary for people needing it.
Read about this youth led group at unitedwedream.org.

March 2, 2017

G.W. Bush is on Ellen. He's making me smile. I feel like

I'm betraying myself, but he's taken a couple of subtle shots at 45*

February 21, 2017

Attended Womack's Townhall in West Fork this morning. I was

able to ask one of the last questions. About 100 people got into the council room and there were around 150 more in the parking lot. Rep. Womack wouldn't move the discussion outside. I would estimate 75 to 80% of the attendees don't approve the Republican agenda. He talked about the new 'unified' government's top 2 goals for this year. Repeal the ACA, with vague reference to replacement, and tax reform
He explained his vote to repeal all of Obama's regulations like the protection of streams from coal mines as economic killers and EPA overreach. Says we can't afford Medicare and other services. So, I asked him why the human cost of repealing things wasn't more important than the economic and stated that the solution should be to raise taxes. I got applause from audience and set him off. He yelled, "I wasn't elected by NW Arkansas to go to Washington and raise taxes!" People yelled back, "How do you know?" I would guess that the only ones who expressed that view to him was the Walton family (Walmart).

February 13, 2017

How White House adviser Stephen Miller went from pestering Hispanic students to designing Trump's

http://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/how-white-house-advisor-stephen-miller-went-from-pestering-hispanic-students-to-designing-trumps-immigration-policy

Can't post paragraphs because I'm really bad posting from my phone. Read the background on this man of hate.

February 1, 2017

Cotton office cancels meeting with citizen group, sparking protest

https://www.google.com/amp/www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2017/02/01/cotton-office-cancels-meeting-with-citizen-group-sparking-protest%3Fmedia%3DAMP%2BHTML

Arkansas Times
Menu
Cotton office cancels meeting with citizen group, sparking protest

David Ramsey Feb 1, 2017 9:12 AM


The citizen group Ozark Indivisible has a protest scheduled for 10 a.m. this morning outside of Sen. Tom Cotton's field office in Springdale. The group has been hoping to raise concerns about the future of the Affordable Care Act, the president's recent executive order enacting a travel ban, and other issues — but they say that Cotton and his team won't meet with them.

Caitlynn Moses, one of the founding members of the group, contacted Cotton's office on January 17. She originally asked for a townhall but Cotton's team declined. However, staffer Morgan Farmer, a field representative, said that she would be happy to arrange a meeting and she would pass on concerns to Cotton. Farmer asked about the size of Moses's group; Moses said that she had about 20 people that wanted to come. Farmer replied that the maximum size of a group allowed would be five people because of the size of the office.

That meeting was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. Yesterday, it was abruptly cancelled without explanation. No mention was made of potentially rescheduling the meeting.

With their meeting cancelled, Ozark Indivisible is now planning a protest. They will be demonstrating just outside of Cotton's office. "We feel the need to talk to our congressman but we can’t reach him," she said. "If they won’t hear us face to face, maybe they’ll hear us outside." Hundreds of people have indicated interest in attending on the group's Facebook page.

I asked Farmer and Cotton's spokesperson Caroline Rabbitt for comment yesterday and have received no response.

Republican lawmakers have been reluctant to hold town halls because of the potential for bad optics. I expect we'll be seeing more of this.

Ozark Indivisible also held a demonstration at Sen. John Boozman's Sringdale office yesterday, protesting Trump's cabinet nominees. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. yesterday, dozens of protesters were arrested outside of Sen. Orrin Hatch's office. They were peacefully gathered in the hallway, hoping to raise concerns about the future of the ACA.

UPDATE: According to the Little Rock field office, Cotton is not allowing any constituents in to his offices because of "recent threats."

© 2017 Arkansas Times