Oil Crisis: Oil Industry's method of raising prices and cutting their own taxes

Written by: James Dunn on Jul 8, 2008 11:15 AM EDT

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Regarding opening environmentally protected areas for mining and pumping oil:

There is over 200 years of oil in the 48 contiguous States that are capped up by oil companies to monopolize world energy. There is no need to violate our environmentally protected areas, just to allow oil companies to further monopolize their strangle hold over our lives.

They are creating a media frenzy just to increase the price of oil; very successfully I might add. However, there is no immediate threat for an oil shortage !!! The oil companies have ONLY created the perception that there is a shortage !!!!

I personally believe that ALL mineral rights belong to the American People, NOT souless corporations!!!

I applaud Venezuela for nationalizing the oil assets in their country!!!!

We should be doing the same thing here in the United States !!!!

Ethically Eliminate ALL Political Corruption

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/jamesbdunn?p=57

World's Most Important Poll

Written by: John Barta on Dec 1, 2007 2:04 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

We call this the World's Most Important Poll because it shows that one popular Democratic candidate also has many Democratic voters that find them to be their least favored candidate, thus raising questions about their ability to succeed in the general election if they get the nomination. It costs only a few dollars to create this poll and you'll end up registering lots of voters in the process. This has energized our voter contact activity!

The poll does many other things as well:

• It forces voters to think about all of the candidates, even those with whom they are unfamiliar. As wonks we are shocked to learn that some folks have no idea about some of the candidates. This gets folks thinking about all of the candidates.
  
• It forces voters to think about electability in the general election.
• It lets voters share their opinion about who they DON'T LIKE in addition to who they DO like. And, it demonstrates that these two things are very different. (The lowest "like most" candidate is NOT the same as the highest "like least" candidate. Some candidates ARE polarizing!)
• It engages voters in the election RIGHT NOW in a tangible way - boy, do they LOVE polking those pins in the chart!

How it works: Voters are given TWO pins, one for the candidate they like the most, and the other for the one they like the least. They cannot vote until we have confirmed their registration status as Democrats. We do the verification of status on the spot with a laptop computer loaded with current voter data. This thing draws crowds and gets results!

(Note: Photo was taken before end of evening poll. Results vary, but trends are discernable. Try your own!)

Here's a link to more information: http://www.victoryalliance.org/poll/poll.htm

Background, we run this poll every Thursday night at the San Luis Obispo, California, Farmer's Market. Patterns have emerged and have changed over time. One pattern which is consistent is that the same candidate always has the highest number of "Like Least" votes - and these are Democrats who are voting.

Read more

the DFA post-it notes!

Written by: Rodney Wallwork on Nov 14, 2006 3:34 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

I requested my free packet of post-it notes and I got them, but unfortunately I put them in a big pile of letters and mail that I didn't have time to open and it was only on the day before elections that I actually opened up the envelope to discover them.  At the time I had forgotten that I had ordered them.  But I did not let them go to waste!  I woke up early on Election Day and I went through my neighbourhood posting the notes on the windshields of people's cars until I had no more left!  I would like to get more of them next year and change to thing, do more and do it earlier!  I think it was a very good idea!  That's my story, sweet and simple!

 

 

Morro Bay DFAer Initiatives Succeed!

Written by: John Barta on Nov 11, 2006 4:46 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

The two local "Voters In Charge" initiatives created by local DFAers John & Nancy Barta were successfully adopted by Morro Bay voters on November 7th despite opposition by all incumbent candidates. The proponents put out a short newspaper (4 pages, tabloid size) about a week and a half before the voting on November 7th. The "Ballot Box Press" was well received by the community. It contained numerous topics of possible interest to voters such as information about how important a single vote can be, what kind of last minute dirty tricks are played on voters and how to react to them, what voter's rights are at the polls in California, some humor, and some information about the ballot measures themselves. The measures garnered approximately 59% of the votes cast.  The "Voters In Charge" initiatives were a 100 percent grassroots project.

Morro Bay DFAer Initiatives Certified by SLO County

Written by: John Barta on Jul 2, 2006 5:04 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

The initiatives circulated in Morro Bay were certified as having achieved a sufficient number of signatures to be placed on the ballot. It was a lot of work to get the signatures, but it was also an important experience to gather them.
Here's what was learned:

First, many folks place a very low priority on their political engagement - they simply are too busy or too jaundiced to take the time to find out what is happening.

Second, those folks who were willing to give us a minute of their time overwhelmingly supported both initiatives. We estimate that over 95 percent of those who listened signed both petitions.

Third, many voters do not know their registration information. We re-registered many folks when we showed them that they were either not registered or registered at an old address. Possibly as many as 10 percent of the voters fall into this category - that's a huge number!

Forth, while it is fun to think of all the neat arguments you can use to convert a voter to a different point of view, it would be MUCH more efficient, in the final analysis, to spend one's energy making sure that those who are registered actually turn out to vote on election day. The Republicans know this very well - that's why they put (conservative) red-meat initiatives on state ballots at election time (abortion, stem cells, gay marriage, etc). They use these initiatives to make sure that folks who are wedded to those issues show up at the polls on election day.

Fifth, the initiatives give voters more power and the support cut across all partisan lines.

These initiatives will make a fundamental and much needed change in Morro Bay politics. They are also largely applicable to most of the other cities on the Central Coast! Remember the saying - "Think globally, act locally". Well, this is for real and it is something where DFA support can make a difference. The initiatives need DFA member support as we approach election day. Please help. The rationale that you don't live in Morro Bay is not an excuse. There is a ton of stuff that will need to be done between now and November. Contact John or Nancy at 772-0250.

John Garamendi for California Lieutenant Governor 2006!

Written by: John Garamendi on Apr 1, 2006 10:40 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

Morro Bay DFA'er Circulates 2 Voter Initiatives

Written by: John Barta on Feb 26, 2006 3:13 AM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

John & Nancy Barta, local DFA folks, have qualified to circulate two local voter initiatives for better elections in Morro Bay. The process began with drafting the initiatives and then getting the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis. Once that was completed the intent to circulate the initiatives was published in the Tribune. At that point they were authorized to begin circulating the initiatives for signatures to place it on the ballot.
The City Council could have put the initiatives on the ballot without the need to collect the signatures but they refused to cooperate - which is not surprising since the initiatives would make it more difficult for the incumbents to "game the system" as they have in the past. The Bartas will now have to collect about 800 signatures to put the measures on the November ballot.

The first initiative would require council vacancies to be filled by the voters and not by council appointment. Since council terms are four years and the mayor's term only two years it has become common practice for council members to run for the mayor's seat after serving only two years of their term - they can't lose because their council seat is still there if they lose in the mayor's race. However, if they win in the mayor's race their council seat becomes vacant with two years remaining. This vacancy is then filled by appointment of the four council members instead of letting the voters decide who shall serve for the remaining two years. Under the terms of the initiative a council member would have to resign their midterm seat in order to run for mayor - their council seat vacancy would then be filled by the voters in the same election as the race for mayor.

The second initiative deals with the problem common to many local city elections - council seats are filled in a single "free for all" election which almost always ends with winners failing to receive a majority vote. Plurality victories result from votes being split among a large field of candidates in a single election. The problem is solved by having a general election in June which requires a majority win for election. If the seat or seats are not filled by majority votes in June there is a runoff election between the best June candidates in November with the field being reduced to two candidates per seat. This leads to a majority winner in November. In addition to having majority vote winners the improved system will allow many more candidates to run for office. Under the current system many good candidates are reluctant to run because they fear that they may cause a "split vote" that will lead to election of less desireable candidates who might win by plurality. So, the primary vote system has two important advantages - a better field of candidates and winners who have majority support in the community.

The Bartas would welcome help when they go out to collect signatures on the initiatives. They say that having a second person with them really helps improve their rate of signature gathering. Please call, if you can put in a little time with them as they collect signatures. Their number is 772-0250.

Welcome to your Group Blog

Written by: Chris Warshaw on Oct 26, 2005 5:40 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Central Coast

Welcome to DFA-Link! You can use your group blog to share ideas and initiatives with other DFA-Link members in your community. This is also a great way to discuss local candidates and other political news in your area.

Click here to invite your friends to join your group at DFA-Link so they can join the discussion!