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Helping the Tsunami Victims
By Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
This is one in a series of weekly syndicated columns written by Governor Howard Dean.
One week ago, a devastating tsunami changed the lives of millions of people in a matter of minutes. With no warning, waves as high as 50 feet suddenly swooped in on small fishing villages, populated islands and resort towns throughout Southeast Asia. Within minutes, over 150,000 people died, millions lost their homes and many more are still missing. The pictures and videos we have seen over the past week look like something out of a movie, like The Day After Tomorrow -- entire homes, cars, and even big buses flowing down fast moving rivers and scared children clinging onto stationary objects, so they would not be swept away with the strong currents of water.
The scope of the loss of loved ones, precious belongings and shelter is something that is unimaginable. The estimates of damage are initially in the billions of dollars and it will take years, if not decades, for people in these developing nations to recover from this disaster -- both mentally and physically.
But now the survivors that are still in shock must focus on rescue and relief efforts over the next few weeks. They need very specific supplies like clean water, medicine, blankets and temporary shelter. Without proper medical supplies and clean water, disease like cholera and typhoid will spread and the death toll from this disaster will continue to rise.
After the initial phase of the relief effort is complete, the reconstruction phase will begin -- entire roads, buildings, markets and homes have been destroyed and will be rebuilt. This is not a process that happens overnight or even a few months, it takes years and it also takes a lot of money. Fortunately, relief supplies from governments around the world have already started to pour in, but it is going to take more than just governmental assistance to help.
Although we live tens of thousands of miles away, there is something each of us can do to make a difference immediately. There are many organizations that accept and need cash donations to provide relief items to people that are injured, have lost their homes and jobs, and are left with nothing because of this disaster. These organizations, like CARE and UNICEF know exactly what is needed to recover after disasters like this. For a list of organizations you can donate money to that are involved in the relief and reconstruction efforts, please visit www.InterAction.org. This organization, InterAction, is a coalition of more than 160 U.S.-based private relief, international development and refugee assistance organizations.
Although your first reaction might be to donate your own items, like clothes and canned goods, this is not as helpful as you might think for several reasons: the people working on the ground know exactly what is needed and can buy it immediately in the region; it takes a lot of money, staff and time to ship the items; and if the goods are bought in country, it will help revitalize the economy in these devastated communities. Every little bit helps, but money is what is going to make the most difference right now.
Although we are many, many miles away -- our support can make a tremendous difference to people and families on the other side of the globe. A disaster like this transcends politics and reminds us of how we are connected to all people, cultures and governments around the world.
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The Emerging European Influence
By Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
This is one in a series of weekly syndicated columns written by Governor Howard Dean.
Amid the wreckage of President Bush's foreign policy, the United States is at its lowest popularity in decades in every corner of the globe. America's dominance on the foreign stage was prominent four years ago, but now Europe is beginning to emerge as the champion of Western values, as it becomes less politically dependent on America.
Since President Bush alienated most of our traditional European allies over the Iraq War, there are signs that the European community is finally getting serious about its future and its responsibility.
The European Union has rewritten its Constitution to make decision making easier, never an easy task with twenty-five member states. France, Britain and Germany recently negotiated a deal with Iran to halt their nuclear program. We are right to be skeptical about whether such an agreement will be honored by the Iranians, but the attempt at least postpones the siren songs of the Neoconservatives who want to do in Iran what President Bush did in Iraq.
The Euro is at an all time high against the dollar, since the members of the European Union are actually trying to keep their budgets in balance. They are not always successful, but making the effort promotes investment. Claiming that deficits are irrelevant, as the American Republicans do, is not only delusional, but it harms the value of the dollar, and ultimately our strength as a nation.
Europeans are also taking a bold lead in an effort to forgive massive amounts of third world debt. Should they be successful, they will significantly reduce the drag on economic development in places like Latin America and Africa—therefore opening the door for trade and investment from European countries.
Perhaps the most courageous development that the emerging European Union has undertaken is the new willingness to consider Turkey as a member. This is unpopular in most European countries among voters, yet the European Union leadership gets high marks for realizing that the long term future of Western values may well depend on true economic integration with Muslim nations that are still attracted to Western democratic ideals.
I know these steps are small and somewhat shaky, but they are incredibly important. Europe is beginning to assert its leadership and independence, filling the vacuum left by America's unrealistic and occasionally petulant foreign policy. In the long run, a strong, independent Europe can pick up the leadership role abandoned by President Bush. And, a strong, independent Europe can continue to promote values such as democracy, tolerance and a more benign form of capitalism in developing countries.
Many people in developing nations are beginning to give up on both democracy and capitalism. And, it's not a wonder why—multinational corporations, undeterred by labor protections that exist in the developed world have made life harder for many of the world's citizens—not easier. The developing world needs a more respected salesperson than George Bush to show them that a democratic society and capitalism works. In the absence of American leadership, it seems that Europe is emerging as that salesperson.
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DFA Donates 200,000 Calling Card Minutes to Hospitalized Veterans
Due to the generosity of Democracy for America (DFA) supporters this holiday season, patients at veterans' hospitals across the country will be able to connect with their family and friends for free. Over 200,000 minutes of free long distance minutes will be given to patients in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington (complete list below).
This project is part of Democracy for America's community service program, DFACorps. DFACorps participants were informed of this project through DFA's official Web page (www.DemocracyForAmerica.com) and Blog (www.BlogForAmerica.com) and at many Meetups throughout the country. Since November 23, over 100,000 minutes in phone cards were donated and sent to DFA headquarters in Burlington, Vt. DFA matched each minute, therefore doubling the amount to 200,000.
"There is more to Democracy for America than just politics and campaigning. Our supporters want to personally make a difference in people's lives," said Gov. Howard Dean, founder and honorary chair of Democracy for America. "These phone cards are just one small way to tell our troops thank you for keeping our country safe and secure."
Democracy for America is a political action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network to support socially progressive and fiscally responsible candidates at all levels of government.
Hospitals Receiving Phone Cards
Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908
Northampton VA Medical Center
421 North Main Street
Leeds, MA 01053
Boston VA Healthcare System - W. Roxbury
1400 VFW Parkway
West Roxbury, MA 02132
Togus VA Medical Center
Voluntary Services 135
1 VA Center
Augusta, ME 04330
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
1660 S. Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108-1597
White River Junction VAM & ROC
215 North Main Street
White River Junction, VT 05009
San Francisco VA Medical Center
Voluntary Service 135
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121-1598
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
Waco VA Medical Center
4800 Memorial Drive
Waco, TX 76711
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
200 Springs Rd.
Bedford, MA 01730
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Democratic Moral Values
By Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
This is one in a series of weekly syndicated columns written by Governor Howard Dean.
Four years ago, the President won 49 percent of the vote. The Republican Party treated it like it was a mandate, and we let them get away with it. 51 percent is not a mandate either. And this time we're not going to let them get away with it.
Our challenge today is not to re-hash what has happened, but to look forward, to make the Democratic Party a 50-state party again, and most importantly, to win.
The pundits have said that this election was decided on the issue of moral values. I don't believe that. It is a moral value to provide health care. It is a moral value to educate our young people. The sense of community that comes from full participation in our Democracy is a moral value. It is a moral value to make sure that we do not leave our own debts to be paid by the next generation. Honesty is a moral value.
If this election had been decided on moral values, Democrats would have won.
It is time for the Democratic Party to start framing the debate about values.
We have to learn to punch our way off the ropes.
We have to set the agenda.
We should not hesitate to call for reform—reform in elections, reform in health care and education, reforms that promote ethical business practices. And, yes, we need to talk about some internal reform in the Democratic Party as well.
Reform is the hallmark of a strong Democratic Party.
Those who stand in the way of reform cannot be the focus of our attention for only four months out of every four years.
Reform is a daily battle.
And we must pursue those reforms with conviction—every day, at all levels, in 50 states.
A little while back, at a fundraiser, a woman came up to me. She identified herself as an evangelical Christian from Texas. I asked her what you are all wondering—why was she supporting me. She said there were two reasons. The first was that she had a child who had poly-cystic kidney disease, and that the illness made it impossible for their family to get health care.
The second thing she said was, "The other reason we're with you is because evangelical Christians are people of deep conviction, and you're a person of deep conviction. I may not agree with you on everything, but what we want more than anything else from our government is that when something happens to our family or something happens to our country—it's that the people in our government act out of deep conviction."
We are what we believe. And the American people know it.
And I believe that over the next two... four... ten years...
Election by election...State by state...Precinct by precinct...Door by door...Vote by vote. . .we're going to take this country back for the people who built it.
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Governor Dean's GWU Speech Transcript
Remarks made by Governor Howard Dean on the Future of the Democratic Party. Given at The George Washington University on December 8, 2004.
Thank you for that introduction. It's a pleasure to be here.
Let me tell you what my plan for this Party is:
We're going to win in Mississippi
...and Alabama
...and Idaho
...and South Carolina.
Four years ago, the President won 49 percent of the vote. The Republican Party treated it like it was a mandate, and we let them get away with it.
Fifty one percent is not a mandate either. And this time we're not going to let them get away with it.
Our challenge today is not to re-hash what has happened, but to look forward, to make the Democratic Party a 50-state party again, and, most importantly, to win.
To win the White House and a majority in Congress, yes. But also to do the real work that will make these victories possible -- to put Democratic ideas and Democratic candidates in every office -- whether it be Secretary of State, supervisor of elections, county commissioner or school board member.
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The Future of the Democratic Party
By Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
This is one in a series of weekly syndicated columns written by Governor Howard Dean.
Since Election Day, there has been a lot of predictable moaning and groaning about the future of the Democratic Party. Particularly predictable are the suggestions that we need to be more like Republicans in order to win. Democrats need to learn by our previous mistakes—we have tried being "Republican-lite" and it does not work. It is a mistake to run away from the things we believe and I think we can win in the so-called Republican states by being real Democrats.
We have to realize that there are no red states and no blue states, just American states. I believe the country is still more in sync with Democratic values than Republican values. Our task is to remind ourselves and the American people of the hallmark issues that distinguish Democrats from Republicans.
For example, Democrats historically tackle economic issues with bold, common sense policies. Our last Democratic president created 22 million new jobs in this country. In the last four years, George W. Bush oversaw the loss of over 1.5 million. Democrats balance budgets, Republicans do not. Democrats consistently try to pass legislation that would provide some kind of affordable health care, Republicans do not. Democrats believe we ought to raise the minimum wage to help the average worker keep up with the cost of living, Republicans do not. Democrats believe corporations have too much power over our daily lives; Republicans do not—and to prove it, they have given away billions of dollars of our tax money to the biggest corporations in the world over the last four years.
On each of these issues, the majority of the American people are with Democrats not Republicans. Democrats have the right beliefs to win; we just execute a poor public relations plan. And, despite the enormous improvement in our ground game, the Republicans executed a more effective strategy. Republicans are far more successful because they work in a more unified, disciplined way with local supporters, especially with their base. They also avoid the Democrats chronic pitfall of listening to pundits from inside the Beltway.
I truly believe that Democrats can return to national dominance. But, we must not be afraid to compete in every race, in every district and in every state. We can start rebuilding the Democratic Party from the bottom up. Through my organization, Democracy for America, we have already started that process. This past election cycle, we endorsed over 100 candidates, at all levels of government—from school board to U.S. Senate and we contributed to almost 750 candidates around the country.
These candidates helped return Democrats to the majority in the Vermont, North Carolina, Oregon and Colorado State Houses; as well as the Senate in Oregon, Washington and Colorado. These candidates included more women than men, 25% were African American and there were members of nearly every other minority group, including American Indians. Nearly ten percent of the victors were from the gay and lesbian community, which included wins in places like Idaho and Missouri. And, 15 of the candidates we endorsed that won never ran for office before.
Democrats can win by simply being Democrats. Reinventing ourselves as Republicans is the death knell of our party. We need to get back to basics and start listening to people from outside Washington. Only then can we save the greatest nation on the face of the earth from the twin Republican perils of enormous deficits and constant misadventures abroad.
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Major Speech Wednesday
Democracy for America Executive Director, Tom McMahon, sent this email to DFA supporters this morning.
Governor Dean will lay out a vision for the future of the Democratic Party this Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern in Washington, D.C.
He will outline not just a direction for our party, but a concrete destination: a party built from the ground up.
That means a party powered by millions of small donors, not millionaires. It means a party that speaks plainly and commits to concrete outcomes that affect real people. And it means a party that
competes in every single race, for every single vote, in all fifty states.
You can watch live video of the speech on Wednesday morning at the Democracy for America web site:
Be sure to join us for the live webcast on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern. Thank you.
Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democracy for America
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