Remember Marcelo: Calling All Bloggers

Written by: Steven L on Nov 4, 2009 3:11 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for New York

From the Long Island Wins Blog (read the orginial post at http://bit.ly/32nmGW),

This coming Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero, who was killed by a group of teens in Patchogue on Nov. 8, 2008. Lucero's attackers told police that they would routinely go "beaner jumping" -- which meant they would hunt down and assault Latinos. One of the defendants said, "I don't go out doing this very often, maybe once a week."

In addition to a series of video interviews to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Lucero's death, Long Island Wins is sponsoring a "Remember Marcelo" blogging event, where we're calling on bloggers from across the country to write a post about Marcelo on Thursday, November 5, or Friday, November 6.

The two days of blogging will precede a candlelight vigil in Patchogue on Saturday night, which will be organized by Joselo Lucero, Marcelo's younger brother. For more information about the vigil, click here.

The content of the blog entries is up to the individual bloggers, but we ask that each blogger paste the "Remember Marcelo" badge into the post or a sidebar.

Here's the code for the badge. You just have to copy it and paste it into your post:

<a href="http://www.longislandwins.com/blog/in_the_news/remember_marcelo_calling_all_b.php" target="_blank">
<div style="text-align:center;"> <img src="http://liwinsphotos.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/remember_marcelo.png"> </div></a>

Bloggers are encouraged to drop links to their pieces in the comments section on this post, or to email links to thesson@longislandwins.com. We'll be highlighting blog posts Thursday and Friday as we receive them. Please spread the word to anyone else who might be interested.

In conjunction with the "Remember Lucero" blogging event, Long Island Wins is also asking readers (and other bloggers) to show their support for comprehensive immigration reform. Just as in Patchogue, there are undeniable tensions around immigration across the country, and in the worst instances, those tensions turn violent or deadly.

But instead of inflammatory rhetoric, we need real solutions for our broken immigration system. Comprehensive immigration reform isn't the only answer to these harmful attacks, but it's an important step towards bringing immigrants out of the shadows and under the umbrella of the law.

Discuss

I'VE GOT MINE

Written by: Thomas Janowski on Sep 3, 2009 9:34 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Fair Share For Health Care Initiative, DFA Night School, dfaROCHESTER, Democracy for New York

When I attended my local Congressman's health care town hall meeting I was immediately struck by the hatred  and selfish attitudes that filled the 1000 seat auditorium.  I endured 4 hours of comments that proved  two simple points.  1.  The overwhelming majority were incredibly selfish and 2.  Misinformation ruled their thoughts and comments. 

While sitting there, sad and depressed thinking about how ashamed I was of my fellow Americans, I kept thinking of one of my favorite songs.  After that town hall meeting I came home and looked at the lyrics.  Sure enough, the song perfectly described the attitude of the majority of people attending.

Glenn Frey's I've Got Mine

I’VE GOT MINE

Someone’s sleeping on the sidewalk
As the winter sun goes down
Someone’s drinking cold champagne
In another part of town
And the only thing he thinks about
As he sips his glass of wine
“It sure feels good sittin’ here tonight
Now that I’ve got mine”

I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
This isn’t such a bitter world
‘Cause I’ve got mine

Someone’s wandering the streets tonight
No way to warm his hands
Someone’s turning up their fireplace
Making travel plans
His mind is on some sandy beach
Where the sun is gonna shine
He thinks, “I don’t have to hang around
Now that I’ve got mine”

You see them in their limousines
You see the way they stare
They don’t see us looking back
Because they don’t really care,

They say,
“I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
The world is as it’s meant to be
‘Cause I’ve got mine”

So I make a small donation
What more can I do?
You know I didn’t make this world
I’m in it just like you
I’ve worked all my life on this house of cards
To keep it all in line
I can’t take care of everyone
Now that I’ve got mine

There’s another kind of poverty
That only rich men know
A moral malnutrition
That starves their very souls
And they can’t be saved by money
They’re all running out of time
And all the while they’re thinking,
“It’s OK, ’cause I’ve got mine”

I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
I don’t want a thing to change
‘Cause I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine

The Ted Kennedy/dfaROCHESTER experience

Written by: Thomas Janowski on Aug 29, 2009 7:47 PM EDT

Linked to groups: dfaROCHESTER, Democracy for New York

It was late February 2004...just days before the New York primary.  Dean was no longer actively campaigning.   The local county Democratic committee had advertised a rally for all candidates to take place on Saturday morning.  Representatives from all local presidential campaigns were supposedly welcome.  As the weekend approached, the county Dems were changing their plans.  The location for the rally changed.  And then on the morning of the rally, we noticed that it was being called a Kerry rally featuring Ted Kennedy. 

While most of the magic had left the Dean campaign by then, there were still some diehard supporters.  Many who were no longer actively supporting Dean were supporting John Edwards.  Even with the change in venue and a change of the intended purpose of the rally, Dean and Edwards supporter went to the rally anyway.  Dean supporters in their Dean sweatshirts, pins and baseball caps...the same for the Edwards supporters.  But there was a problem...upon entering the union hall where the rally was to take place, we were asked to return Dean/Edwards buttons and baseball caps.  We were also asked to open our coats to expose our Dean sweatshirts.  We were refused entry to the rally because we refused to take off our Dean-wear. 

Outraged?  Of course!  These were members of our own party--the inclusive Democrats--barring us from entering.  Always ones to take lemons and make lemonade, we went back outside, went to our cars and got out Dean or Edwards signs.  We then took up a position across the street from the union hall.  We attracted reporters and others on their way to the event.

When the event was about to start, and car traffic on the street and parking lot died down, we noticed a minivan approaching.  The minivan slowed even more as it was about to turn into the parking lot...and that's when the window rolled down and a head popped out.  It was Ted Kennedy.  He saw us out in the cold, not knowing the circumstances, and shouted to us to join him inside.  We followed the minivan towards the parking lot...the van continued, but we were stopped by the goons on the side walk.  We explained that Senator Kennedy had just invited us to join him inside.  The men simply said "Ted Kennedy doesn't own the building".  Again we were turned away, yet we had just had a Ted Kennedy experience...and that made everything OK.

 DFA Progressive Values group name change to Empathy Cafe.

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Aug 10, 2009 11:19 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Washington, Democracy for NYC, Framing Committee, Oakland DFA Meetup, Democracy for Maryland

Greetings

The DFA What are  Progressive Values? group
has not had much activity for some time. I wanted to let you know I've just
changed the group name to Empathy Cafe. http://democracyforamerica.com/groups/2285-empathy-cafe

 From my work of interviewing people about progressive values I've come to see empathy as a core progressive value. It's also the value that Obama ran on. See this compilation video I made from Obama's speeches on empathy.
http://progressivespirit.com/Empathy/Obama/ObamaOnEmpathy.htm

So with that in mind I've been refocusing my work on supporting Obama's call for standing in each other's shoes.  Below is some of the work we've been doing.  More to come shortly.
---------------------

Read more

Robust Public Option?

Written by: John McBride on Aug 4, 2009 2:50 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for New York, Democracy For Westchester, Philipstown for Democracy

The way of Congress seems to be to engage in public battles, name calling and mud slinging over issues that are not well defined.  In health care reform, the battle has now shifted to whether or not there should be a public option and how robust it will be.  It's mostly about the politics and not about substantive health care reform.

Side Note Speaker Pelosi has committed to allowing a vote on H.R.676, the single-payer bill.  

There is near complete silence on just what the public option will be.  Similarly, those who will only support a "robust" public option have not defined what that means.  Meanwhile progressive organizations are pleading for activists to lobby our representatives to support the robust public option

Read more

Democracy For America needs to support Jonathan Tasini for US Senate in NY

Written by: Thomas Janowski on Jul 3, 2009 2:49 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Fair Share For Health Care Initiative, Democracy for New York, dfaROCHESTER

I really can't think of anyone who is more of a true, hard core progressive than Jonathan Tasini.  He has already run for Senate once, in the primary against Hillary Clinton.  In 2010, he will challenge Kirsten Gillibrand.  I will admit to not knowing too much about Kirsten Gillibrand, but I feel like I know Tasini as much as a supporter can know a candidate. 

dfaROCHESTER hosted a meeting with Tasini when he ran the first time and collectively, we were impressed.  I have continued to follow Tasini and I continued to be impressed. 

Check out his online announcement....he mentions the "great one"--Howard Dean.

http://www.jonathantasini.com/

Analysis of Private Health Insurance Industry $2 Trillion “Savings” Proposal

Written by: Scott R on May 13, 2009 8:44 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Campaign Academy Alumni, DFA Film Club, California for Democracy, Democracy for Texas, DFA Night School

The private health insurance industry proposes to reduce health care spend and slow rate increases over the next 10 years to provide $2 trillion in “savings”?

Let's analyze what that might mean.

Analysis of Private Health Insurance Industry $2 Trillion Savings Proposal

The purpose of this analysis is meant to provide grounding, and further the discussions and progress of US health care reform.

Please note that all statistics are rounded to make the calculations and comprehension of the concepts more straightforward.

Please provide feedback to make this information more correct and useful.

US Private Health Insurance Industry $2 Trillion Savings Proposal

The private health insurance industry proposes to reduce health care spend and slow premium increases over the next 10 years to provide $2 trillion in savings.

2009 US Health Care Spend

Total 2009 US health care annual spend is widely accepted to be US $2.5 trillion.

US Private Health Insurance Industry Market

Today, 1200 US private health insurance companies make up the US private health insurance industry that insures 60% of the US population, or 180 million Americans.

Approximately 180 million Americans are covered by private health insurance.   At an estimate of $10,000 per person per year, that amounts to roughly $1.8 trillion annually.  

At $1.8 trillion annually, the private health insurance industry administers 70% of the total $2.5 trillion US health care annual spend. 

Whether for profit or non profit, the private health insurance industry is lucrative. In fact, of the $1.8 trillion private health insurance industry, 31% goes directly to private health insurance industry administrative costs and income.  So, for every US health care dollar spent by privately insured Americans, an average of 31 cents goes to the US private health insurers' administration and income, or approximately $580 billion annually.

If the private health insurance industry continues to administer 70% of the US health care industry at $1.8 trillion annually over the next 10 years, the total 10 year private health insurance industry would be $18 trillion at current US health insurance industry premiums and health care costs (obviously assuming no growth or reduction in the private health insurance and health care industries). 

Also, if the private health industry continues a 31% administrative costs and income at $580 billion annually over the next 10 years, the health insurance industry would receive $5.8 trillion for administrative costs and income at current US health insurance industry premiums and health care costs (once again assuming no growth or reduction in the private health insurance and health care industries). 

However, the US health care industry is estimated to grow as much as 60% or to a total of $40 trillion over the next 10 years.  

If the private health insurance industry continues to administer 70% of the total US health care annual spend over the next 10 years, the total private health insurance industry would be $24 trillion.  

And if the private health insurance industry maintains a 31% overhead over the next 10 years, a total of over $7.7 trillion would go directly to private health insurance industry operational costs and income. 

Over the next 10 years, the private health insurance industry could potentially see a $24 trillion industry that includes $7.7 trillion operational costs and income.

Does it really cost $7.7 trillion to write policies and process health care bills?  

With a potential total industry of nearly $24 trillion over the next 10 years, I am not surprised that the private health insurance industry proposed $2 trillion in reduced spending and slower premium increases. That's less than 10% in an industry that is projected to grow 60%.

US Private Health Insurance Industry Overhead

How does the private health insurance industry realize a 31% overhead today?

The 180 million Americans with private health insurance are statistically healthier, wealthier, and have less costly medical conditions (e.g. not terminally ill like a larger segment of those on Medicare, etc.).   By taking advantage of advances in information technology, automating business processes, and setting policies to deny coverage and insure the young, healthy, and wealthy is where the private health insurance industry realizes 31% overhead for administrative costs and income.

US Medicare and Medicaid/SCHIP Markets

How does private health insurance overhead compare to Medicare and Medicaid/SCHIP?

Medicare covers 45 million seniors or 15 percent of the US population. At an estimate of $10,000 per person per year, that amounts to $450 billion annually (including unfortunately $60 billion in fraud annually), with an overhead of only 3% or $13.5 billion annually due to no income requirement or excessive administrative costs and salaries. 

Medicare has some excesses and inefficiencies.   Also, seniors are statistically an unhealthier segment of the US population, while many require more expensive long term health care, especially the terminally ill.  The fact that this segment of the US population is growing the fastest will make matters even more complicated in the very near future. 

Medicaid/SCHIP costs are $300 billion annually (also including unfortunately $40 billion in fraud annually) for 30 million children, families, and seniors who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and have limited income, or roughly 10 percent of the US population.  At an estimate of $10,000 per person per year, that amounts to roughly $300 billion annually, with an overhead of only 3% or $9 billion annually due to no income requirement or excessive administrative costs and salaries. 

Medicaid/SCHIP also has some excesses and inefficiencies.  Additionally, low income groups are statistically an unhealthier and less literate segment of any population, and administering health care coverage and treatment can be more challenging.   Regrettably, this segment of the US population is also growing.

Analysis of Private Health Insurance Industry $2 Trillion “Savings” Proposal

Written by: Scott R on May 13, 2009 7:53 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA New Jersey, DFA Campaign Academy Alumni, Michigan Democracy for America, Democracy for Washington, Democracy for Texas

The private health insurance industry proposes to reduce health care spend and slow rate increases over the next 10 years to provide $2 trillion in “savings”?

Let's analyze what that might mean.

Analysis of Private Health Insurance Industry $2 Trillion Savings Proposal

The purpose of this analysis is meant to provide grounding, and further the discussions and progress ofUS health care reform.

Please note that all statistics are rounded to make the calculations and comprehension of the concepts more straightforward.

Please provide feedback to make this information more correct and useful.

US Private Health Insurance Industry $2 Trillion Savings Proposal

The private health insurance industry proposes to reduce health care spend and slow premium increases over the next 10 years to provide $2 trillion in savings.

2009 US Health Care Spend

Total 2009 US health care annual spend is widely accepted to be US $2.5 trillion.

US Private Health Insurance Industry Market

Today, 1200 US private health insurance companies make up the US private health insurance industry that insures 60% of the US population, or 180 million Americans.

Approximately 180 million Americans are covered by private health insurance.   At an estimate of $10,000 per person per year, that amounts to roughly $1.8 trillion annually.  

At $1.8 trillion annually, the private health insurance industry administers 70% of the total $2.5 trillion US health care annual spend. 

Whether for profit or non profit, the private health insurance industry is lucrative. In fact, of the $1.8 trillion private health insurance industry, 31% goes directly to private health insurance industry administrative costs and income.  So, for every US health care dollar spent by privately insured Americans, an average of 31 cents goes to the US private health insurers' administration and income, or approximately $580 billion annually.

If the private health insurance industry continues to administer 70% of the US health care industry at $1.8 trillion annually over the next 10 years, the total 10 year private health insurance industry would be $18 trillion at current US health insurance industry premiums and health care costs (obviously assuming no growth or reduction in the private health insurance and health care industries). 

Also, if the private health industry continues a 31% administrative costs and income at $580 billion annually over the next 10 years, the health insurance industry would receive $5.8 trillion for administrative costs and income at current US health insurance industry premiums and health care costs (once again assuming no growth or reduction in the private health insurance and health care industries). 

However, the US health care industry is estimated to grow as much as 60% or to a total of $40 trillion over the next 10 years.  

If the private health insurance industry continues to administer 70% of the total US health care annual spend over the next 10 years, the total private health insurance industry would be $24 trillion.  

And if the private health insurance industry maintains a 31% overhead over the next 10 years, a total of over $7.7 trillion would go directly to private health insurance industry operational costs and income. 

Over the next 10 years, the private health insurance industry could potentially see a $24 trillion industry that includes $7.7 trillion operational costs and income.

Does it really cost $7.7 trillion to write policies and process health care bills?  

With a potential total industry of nearly $24 trillion over the next 10 years, I am not surprised that the private health insurance industry proposed $2 trillion in reduced spending and slower premium increases. That's less than 10% in an industry that is projected to grow 60%.

US Private Health Insurance Industry Overhead

How does the private health insurance industry realize a 31% overhead today?

The 180 million Americans with private health insurance are statistically healthier, wealthier, and have less costly medical conditions (e.g. not terminally ill like a larger segment of those on Medicare, etc.).   By taking advantage of advances in information technology, automating business processes, and setting policies to deny coverage and insure the young, healthy, and wealthy is where the private health insurance industry realizes 31% overhead for administrative costs and income.

US Medicare and Medicaid/SCHIP Markets

How does private health insurance overhead compare to Medicare and Medicaid/SCHIP?

Medicare covers 45 million seniors or 15 percent of the US population. At an estimate of $10,000 per person per year, that amounts to $450 billion annually (including unfortunately $60 billion in fraud annually), with an overhead of only 3% or $13.5 billion annually due to no income requirement or excessive administrative costs and salaries. 

Medicare has some excesses and inefficiencies.   Also, seniors are statistically an unhealthier segment of the US population, while many require more expensive long term health care, especially the terminally ill.  The fact that this segment of the US population is growing the fastest will make matters even more complicated in the very near future. 

Medicaid/SCHIP costs are $300 billion annually (also including unfortunately $40 billion in fraud annually) for 30 million children, families, and seniors who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and have limited income, or roughly 10 percent of the US population.  At an estimate of $10,000 per person per year, that amounts to roughly $300 billion annually, with an overhead of only 3% or $9 billion annually due to no income requirement or excessive administrative costs and salaries. 

Medicaid/SCHIP also has some excesses and inefficiencies.  Additionally, low income groups are statistically an unhealthier and less literate segment of any population, and administering health care coverage and treatment can be more challenging.   Regrettably, this segment of the US population is also growing.

Democracy Fest in Burlington

Written by: Mayme Trumble on May 6, 2009 9:39 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Watertown DFA, Rockingham/Strafford DFA, Democracy for New York, North Country Democracy for America, Democracy for Franklin County, NY

DemocracyFest is a political festival for liberal/progressive activists which features trainings, speakers and entertainment; teaching people how to make a difference and have fun doing it! Prior DemocracyFests have been held in Massachusetts, Texas, California, New Hampshire and Virginia. Over 4,000 activists have been trained to help on campaigns and make a difference in their communities.

The 6th Annual DemocracyFest will be held this summer, July 17th-19th, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT!  

http://www.DemocracyFest.net <http://www.democracyfest.net/> 
Tickets
Tickets are limited! Reserve yours today at http://www.DemocracyFest.net <http://www.democracyfest.net/>

Full weekend tickets are only $55 and include:

- All trainings, entertainment, and speakers on Saturday and Sunday.
- Dinner on Saturday.
- Breakfast on Sunday.
- Semi-Guided Tour of Burlington and Welcome Party on Friday.
- Children under 14 free with adult ticket purchase.
- Free parking, or transportation to and from Burlington Airport.
- Priceless interaction with activists from across the region and nation.

Single day tickets are also available.
Speakers, Trainers and Entertainers
Gov. Howard Dean will be the Keynote Speaker. Other presenters include SOS. Deb Markowitz, Rep. David Zuckerman, Dr. Deb Richter, Dan DeWalt, Alan Dechert, Sheryl Rapee-Adams, Charlie Grapski, Teri Mills, Subway Serenade, Rebecca Padula, Bobby Kendes, Axiomatic, and more!

Check our website regularly as our schedule is updated. http://www.DemocracyFest.net <http://www.democracyfest.net/> 

 

Lodging

On site lodging is available at the Sheraton Hotel for the reduced rate of only $99 per night, for rooms up to 3 days before or 3 days after the event (based on availability)! Reserve your lodging by calling 1-802-865-6600 to make your reservation. You must say you are with the DemocracyFest group to get the reduced rate. Lodging at the reduced rate is limited, so make your reservation today!
Sponsorships
Sponsors so far include the VT Democratic Party, VT Progressive Party, Democracy For Vermont, VPIRG, Latinos for America, National Women's Political Caucus, East Bay For Democracy, VT Freedom to Marry, Green Mountain Mailer, Montgomery County DFA, Liane Allen Web Development, Sheraton Hotel, Green Mountain Daily, and VT Gay Guide.

Participation in DemocracyFest gives organizations and businesses the opportunity to network with the most committed activists from around the country and the region. In addition to helping cover event costs, sponsorships help fund our scholarship program, as well as keep our regular ticket prices at about 1/4 the cost of attending similar political conventions. If you have a business or organization that would like to sponsor DemocracyFest, please visit our website at http://www.DemocracyFest.net <http://www.democracyfest.net/>

 

Questions Or Comments

Please email us at info@democracyfest.net <mailto:info@democracyfest.net> . Thanks!

North Country Blog

Written by: Mayme Trumble on May 2, 2009 12:12 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Franklin County, NY, North Country Democracy for America, Democracy for New York, Watertown DFA

Good morning New York DFA members,

 I thought that some of you might be interested to know about a new blog in Northern NY area. A group from Canton/Potsdam are working on a Northern NY Blog for our region, right now primarily St. Lawrence County. It is here:

http://nnyprogressives.blogspot.com/

Check it out! Join us!

Thanks,
Mayme Trumble

Canton

-- “Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand” : Bodie Thoene