Brownbaggers not Teabaggers

[davidswanson]

Brownbaggers Not Teabaggers
VIGILS AGAINST WAR FUNDING SPREAD ACROSS NATION



Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) organized "brownbag" lunch vigils against war funding at noon on Wednesday, January 20th, at the district offices of 22 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

On February 17th, PDA will be joined by CODEPINK, AfterDowningStreet, Democrats.com, the California Nurses Assn./National Nurses United, and United for Peace and Justice in holding brownbag vigils outside (or inside) at least 36 congress members' offices.

Brownbaggers are demanding commitments to vote against more money for war. Slogans on their posters include: "Healthcare not Warfare," "Corporations out of Politics," "Bailout Main Street not Wall Street," and "Brownbaggers not Teabaggers".

Vigils have been planned in the following districts: AZ-5, CA-6, CA-9, CA-10, CA-18, CA-22, CA-23, CA-40, CA-42, CA-45, CA-46, CA-48, CA-50, CA-53, FL-9, FL-10, FL-17, ID-01, IN-9, MA-1, MA-2, MA-3, MA-10, MI-9, NY-18, NY-28, OH-13, OH-17, PA-02, PA-7, PA-15, WA-2, WA-3, WA-6, WI-3, WI-7. These are almost all at noon on Wednesday the 17th, but a few are at odd times, so check the details: http://tr.im/NsUa

Get involved here and start a vigil in a new district: http://tinyurl.com/brownbagvigil

What We Want:

Brownbaggers are asking members of the House to publicly commit to voting No on any bills that fund wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Yemen, and to publicly urge their colleagues and the House leadership to make the same commitment. As lesser steps in the same direction, PDA is encouraging congress members to cosponsor HR 2454, calling for an exit strategy from Afghanistan, and HR 3699, prohibiting any increase in the number of U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Congress members' commitments are tracked at http://defundwar.org

"We have to choose between jobs and wars," said PDA's national director Tim Carpenter. "The American people are on one side, but our so-called representatives in Congress are on the other. The Supreme Court is busy increasing corporate control of our elected officials. We need to be busy enforcing the people's control before it is too late."

"Without wasteful war and military spending," said PDA's deputy director Laura Bonham, "we could have healthcare, jobs, housing, education, retirement security, environmental sustainability, diplomacy and foreign aid. No longer will we take seriously anyone's claim to support these things while voting to fund more war."

Learn more about Brown Bag Lunch Vigils here: http://tinyurl.com/brownbagvigil

Print useful information:
http://defundwar.org

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. Doomed from the start. This is where progressives, as I see it,....

go wrong. They tie a bunch of good things that a lot of people can get behind such as "Slogans on their posters include: "Healthcare not Warfare," "Corporations out of Politics," "Bailout Main Street not Wall Street," . All great things and then wrap that in the war issue.
Yes. We need to stop the War.
Yes. We are imperialistic
No argument.
The problem is the average citizen is fearful and doesn't think about war in absolute terms and it allows the movement to be tainted with the same old "those liberals" brush. Then to call the whole thing defundthewar will automatically limit general participation. If I worked for the opposition I couldn't have come up with a better name if I wanted to marginalize the movement.
We need to be smarter.
Just saying.

[teknomanzer]

6. I call bullshit...

People are unaware of the connection between America's endless obsession with war and the total lack of care for it's own citizens. They suffer from a serious from of myopia.

I know the average citizen is fearful, but it is for that very reason they need to be informed by such demonstrations. To stifle the truth because of how you think it will be recieved is the concern of the cowardly and timid.

Chew on this if you will. The British got universal healthcare shortly after they gave up their empire. I think it was a good trade. I intend to inform everyone I can that you can have one or the other but you will never get both.

[peacetalksforall]

2. "Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Yemen" No Iran?

[davidswanson]

4. yes of course iran

but you got to help us with the "you have too many words" comments -- see above :-)

[peacetalksforall]

5. Yes, I see what you mean. Off the top of my head I only have one. I'll think some more.

The one I thought of -

War = Poor or War Equals Poor. If that is the kind of labeling you are referring to.

We always (or I do) rant about the wealth of war, war weapons, and war service for a few gained by assistance from Congress. But, the average person doesn't seem to be concerned. I think everyone seems to think that war profits trickle down.

What those people need to understand is that the fear and hate of the enemy and the created enemies keep others wealthy and in a sense it keeps us controlled, plus poor (the entire tourism industry - it's falling apart for many).

We serve the rich with our children or their body or organ parts or their minds or peace of mind. All for wealth.

Sorry, some people think that I 'word' my feelings too drastically and in an ugly way when I add 'our children' . But, their death or maiming is just one of our reasons for being poor - benefits, compensation, lifelong care, epidemic drug and mental health problems - and all the accompanying hurts, including divorce and incomes. War makes poor. The key is also fabrication. The wealthy of the corporations and service providers may fabricate a product, but the real fabrication is making us believe we have enemies. Negotiators for peace are out of work because these people have the power.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Brownbaggers - at lunch time - is good.