Virginia Grassroots, 8/7 email/newsletter

[Catchawave]

Quote of the Week
"Power in America today is control of the means of communication. " -- Theodore White, journalist (1915-1986)


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Rant of the Day
Originally, there was destined to be no Rant this week because I've been too tired and busy to really think something through (even halfway). I've decide to take one idea to the halfway mark, at least.

Last week's quote from Dick Cheney, which dropped the F-bomb on unsuspecting readers, combined with coverage of the Virginia Gubernatorial race this week provided some food for thought. Campaign rhetoric and profanity have some of the same roots - they are used when the speaker wishes to terminate the discussion. My mother always said that those who swore did it because they had nothing else to say.

One can hardly call oneself a public servant without a willingness to explore complex issues with members of one's constituency. Yet, Cheney and Kilgore do just that. Dick Cheney and Jerry Kilgore have exposed themselves as political animals of the highest order but not public servants. Kilgore has, at his best, merely revives Karl Rove's flip-flop offense in accusing his competitors of changing their views. With a hammer in hand, everything's a nail, right? Politicians want citizens to believe everything is as simple as they tell you. You can have your cake and eat it too, right? Nope.

So, how does a smart Virginian get the conversation restarted when the politicians want to cut off discourse and your neighbors believe the issues are simple? http://www.vagrassroots.org/forums/

- - - - -

Voting rights. After 40 years, parts the Voting Rights Act are due to expire. The assault on voting right has not lessened in the least. As is the case with so many tools of discrimination, the practitioners have become more skilled and subtle. Our parents were there to see the Voting Rights Act got enacted. It's now our turn to assure Americans that barriers to voting are removed for all citizens permanently. It's the responsibility of each and every one of us to make a difference. It's the aggregate efforts of individuals that make up the character of a country. Our voices have been too quiet for too long. America's standing as a voice of freedom in the world has suffered for it.

http://www.movingideas.org/minblog/archives/05/08/index.html#007282

http://www.sentencingproject.org/rights-restoration.cfm

http://www.advancementproject.org/

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001650.htm

http://www.thinksouth.org/

http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=f66659c28f2f6f4d2d35e6f451692795


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Virginia Grassroots Coalition Events VGC events are FREE.
Tuesday, August 9th, 6:30-9:00pm, monthly meeting at Capitol City Brewing in Shirlington. The VGC Environment folks are screening Being Caribou, a 72 minutes piece about a George W Bush doll (stuffed, of course) touring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The premise is WILD and it promises to be a funny, and thought-provoking evening. We'll, as always, have the free bumper sticker table out. Bring bumper stickers and lit for your favorite cause(s). Take a few away with you too.



Tuesday, September 13th, 6:30-9:00pm, VGC Labor Night at Capitol City Brewing. The VGC labor folks will take the lead in a discussion of issues of economic justice in the workplace.



Saturday, September 17th, a public forum on National Health Insurance in Roanoke, VA. Public Policy Virginia & Virginia Grassroots Coalition sponsoring an event in Roanoke, VA, on September 17th at William Ruffner Middle School, (3601 Ferncliff Ave NW, Roanoke, VA) around the issue of National Health Insurance. The aim of this event is to help inform people of the scale of the problems inherent in our current health care system and about an alternative to this system. When people leave this event, we want them to be more comfortable with the idea of a single payer system and to be able to communicate the advantages of this system to others. We are trying to make citizens aware of the fact that there is a solution to the fact that 45 million Americans lack health insurance and millions more are underinsured. To volunteer to help with the event in Roanoke or for more information, contact Dan Barish at [e-mail] www.ppvir.org


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VGC Action Alerts Quick tools for effective action

Virginia Election primer http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/interactives/vaprimer/

Help Save Community Radio. http://www.freepress.net/fcc/comment.php?d=99-25

Demand background documents on John Roberts. http://petition.savethecourt.org/ft/?tr=y&auid=1024496

Exxpose Exxon. http://www.exxposeexxon.com/

Congressional Recess Action Guide http://www.movingideas.org/content/en/congressional_recess_action.htm

The Urban Fabric http://citiesforprogress.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=61

Support Access to Birth Control http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/house_alpha_072605/wnnb37nzv5e6b6j?

Take the "No Wal-Mart" Pledge. http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/school/pledge.html
Social Security Activist Guide. http://www.movingideas.org/content/en/ssaguide.htm
On War. http://www.onemillionreasons.org/article.php?list=type&type=69


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On Health Care

Malpractice. http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10058

Oregon. http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=288765

Health IT on The Hill. http://www.cmwf.org/healthpolicyweek/healthpolicyweek_show.htm?doc_id=288892

Watchdog wanted. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/opinion/07sun3.html


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On Civil Rights

The South, again. http://www.alternet.org/story/23812/

John Roberts. http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001662.htm

The Science of Racism. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/science/02race.html

Prejudice. http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~socpsy/dovidio_kawakami_et_al_jpsp2002.pdf


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VGC GLBTS [e-mail]

Wednesday, August 10, 5:30pm to 7:30pm, Virginia Partisans PAC Annual BBQ with Tim Kaine at Home of Mark Hindin, 625 S. 25th Street, Arlington, VA 22202. Contact Josh Israel at 703-302-5124, or [e-mail] http://www.vapartisans.org Suggested donation $25 and up


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VGC Labor [e-mail]
Slavery. http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/23857/

Virginia's Dems were no help. http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10057


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VGC Media [e-mail]

On Punditry. http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/23933/

Novak. http://www.consortiumnews.com/2005/080205.html



Alert from Free Press: The FCC may allow the three largest cable companies to control up to 90 percent of the cable TV and broadband market in the United States. If you're fed up with constant cable rate hikes, poor service and a lack of local and independent programming, the FCC needs to hear from you - right now. Cable costs are growing at more than five times the rate of inflation. In the future, video, telephone and Internet services will all be provided via the same "pipes." Giants like Comcast and Time Warner -- which are poised to get even bigger if the FCC approves their takeover of Adelphia -- are positioning themselves to be the ultimate gatekeepers of the media you're allowed to access and create. http://www.freepress.net/fcc/comment.php?d=92-264


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VGC Education [e-mail]


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VGC Reproductive Rights [e-mail]

A matter of life and health http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050725/a_matter_of_life_and_health.php



NARAL Pro-Choice America is organizing an intern brown bag lunch series. It is being co-sponsored by several progressive organizations. The goal of the series is to provide information about the work being done by local organizations and offer an opportunity for interns to network with each other. The kick off is Thursday, July 7th at 12 pm. The lunches will be held every Thursday at 12 pm thru August 18th.
Time: 12-1 pm every Thursday
Where: Each brown bag will be held at the office of the sponsoring organization.
Dates:
Thursday, August 11th: Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Thursday, August 18th: Wake Up Wal-Mart


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VGC Environmental [e-mail]

Small Change. http://www.oriononline.org/pages/om/05-4om/McKibben.html

ANWR, still. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Arctic-Refuge.html


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VGC Faith Outreach [e-mail]


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Outreach and Events Around The Region
These listings are designed to keep you aware of opportunities to work in the community, provide feedback to policy makers, meet future leaders, and get involved in the community. Most events are free and all are open to the public. To submit an event for consideration, email [e-mail]

Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30 PM. Voter Registration Training with Virginia Votes. Virginia Votes is working with selected progressive candidates to make the difference between victory and defeat. They will train the first group of volunteers in the 13th District. We will be offering a second registration training on August 17, 7:00-8:45pm. If you can help, please send an email to Jay Fadgen at [e-mail]



August 13th, Rally for Prison Reform in DC. http://www.journeyforjustice.org/



August 12th-14th Dismantling Racism Workshop Virginia Organizing Project will sponsor a weekend Dismantling Racism workshop August 12-14, 2005 at the Richmond Hill Retreat Center, 2209 East Grace Street, in Richmond. The session begins at 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 12 and ends at noon Sunday, August 14. Contact Laura Ramirez at 434.984.4655 or [e-mail]

Hello Everyone!



August 14, 5:45 PM - 8 PM - August meeting of Sunday Supper Club. 7180 Baldwin Ridge Road, Warrenton, VA. Our video will be "We Are All Smith Islanders" about the dangers and solutions associated with global warming inVA/MD/DC - from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Bring a dish to share at our pot luck supper if you can, but come anyway! Call 540-349-7862 for more information. http://www.sundaysupperclub.org/



Sunday, August 14, Political Action Book Club, starting with the Pot Luck at 6 and discussion at 7. All meetings are at 7326 Tower St Falls Church. The book will be THE PEDOGOGY OF THE OPPRESSED by Paolo Friere. This is a profound classic. Perhaps, we will be able to expand on these ideas in our current culture. Angie will facilitate the discussion. Contact - [e-mail]

Books and facilitators for Sept and Oct:

Sept 11--The Working Poor by David Shipler, facilitated by Lee Diamond

Oct 9--The Revolution will not be Televised by Joe Trippi, facilitated by Rosemary O'Neil



Tuesday, August 16th, 5:45pm, A Forum for Undecided Voters in the 2005 Virginia Governor's Election. Attend a Town Hall Meeting with Tim Kaine, with a question and answer session. This is your opportunity to make the progressive voices in Virginia heard. The meeting is at Jeb Stuart High School in "The Little Theater", 3100 Peace Valley Lane, Falls Church, VA, This event is free and open to the public. Info or RSVP to Hallie Schneir, 703-720-2600 x117



August 18th through August 21st, Help educate citizens about Verified Voting at the Arlington County Fair. They need people to hand out literature at the Arlington County Fair this August. The fair is at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 South Second Street . Arlington, VA 22204 Verified Voting Organization of Virginia is working to support legislation in the state legislature that will assure that everyone who casts a vote in a Virginia election will get a verifiable receipt.. There is legislation before both houses in Virginia that will assure that voters get receipts that can be accurately recounted and verified as needed when they vote. Now we need to get the bills passed and signed by Governor Warner. Contact Joan at [e-mail] to volunteer.



Monday, August 22, 2005, at 12:30 p.m. at Joint Subcommittee Studying Voting Equipment, General Assembly Building, Richmond in House Room C. Public Comment Period: 12:30-2:00 Demand Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails in Virginia, August 22. Virginia is holding hearings to consider requiring voter-verified paper audit trails for voting equipment. Many Virginia jurisdictions have purchased paperless electronic voting machines, and others are considering doing so. Digital voting machines that lack a voter-verified paper trail are subject to programming errors and possible fraud, with no ability for meaningful audits or recounts. Attend the hearings and show support for voter-verified audit trails by wearing orange shirts or ribbons. A large audience will show that Virginians care about the integrity of our elections, and that we demand transparent and reliable elections. http://www.vavv.org/SubCommSched.htm



Saturday, September 17th, A public forum on National Health Insurance in Roanoke, VA. Public Policy Virginia and Virginia Grassroots Coalition are sponsoring an event in Roanoke, VA, set for 17 September at William Ruffner Middle School, (3601 Ferncliff Ave NW, Roanoke, VA) around the issue of National Health Insurance. The aim of this event is to help inform people of the scale of the problems inherent in our current health care system and about an alternative to this system. When people leave this event, we want them to be more comfortable with the idea of a single payer system and to be able to communicate the advantages of this system to others. We are trying to make citizens aware of the fact that there is a solution to the fact that 45 million Americans lack health insurance and millions more are underinsured. Contact [e-mail] www.ppvir.org



Sept. 24th--26th End the War on Iraq. Massive Mobilization in Washington, D.C. http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2854



October 21-23, 2005 Virginia Forest Watch Seventh Annual Membership Meeting & National Forest Protection Alliance Seventh Annual National Convention in the forest near Harrisonburg, Va. To invigorate the statewide and national effort to protect and restore national forests, this year's convention will focus on how organizations can protect their forests through the marketplace and ecologically-based restoration. Contact [e-mail] 434-293-7401 or [e-mail] 276-479-2176


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Weekly Reader
Don't Register for Web Sites. http://www.bugmenot.com/
Liberal versus Progressive. http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/23706/

Ohio. http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10075

The Supremes. http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10074 AND http://hnn.us/articles/12816.html

Risking it All. http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=TN&pubid=1068

Putting Our Best Foot Forward? http://www.alternet.org/story/23844

On Judith Miller. http://www.alternet.org/story/23814

GWOT. http://www.alternet.org/story/23810

Liberal Think Tanks on the Horizon. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/06/AR2005080600848.html

Impeach!! http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=6dbb01e7ef2adc340ba0d2e9d22000e0


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Fun Stuff
Roberts. http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=cartoon+John+Roberts

The truth about Presidential vacations. http://hnn.us/articles/202.html

On Laughter. http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4246393


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