Category: Newsletter

by Al Miller

In honor of the political ridiculousness happening at the federal level as of press time (i.e. government shut down), here’s a fun article, http://www.addictinginfo.org, outlining fifteen ideological differences between us donkeys and elephants. You know, in case you forgot.

1. Republicans fear that the government has too much control over corporations. Democrats fear that corporations have too much control over our government.
2. Democrats believe it benefits all of us to help the weakest and the poorest among us. Republicans believe it benefits all of us to help the wealthiest and most powerful among us.
3. Republicans believe large corporations will always do what is best for the American people if the government stays out of the way. Democrats believe large corporations would disembowel you and sell your organs to the highest bidder if the government didn’t stop them.
4. Democrats believe everyone is entitled to health care regardless of their ability to pay. Republicans believe everyone is entitled to jack squat if they can’t pay for health care.
5. Democrats believe too much of our money goes to crooked corporate executives who take government subsidies and pay themselves $80 million salaries. Republicans believe too much of our money goes to teachers who make $30,000 a year.
6. Democrats believe anything that helps the American people during a recession or a time of crisis is the true essence of patriotism. Republicans believe anything that helps the American people during a recession or a time of crisis is the true essence of communism.
7. Democrats believe that we need to set high standards for clean air and drinking water .Republicans believe that standards for clean air and water are burdensome over‐regulation.
8. Democrats believe the President and Congress need to work together to create jobs during a weak economy. Republicans believe that Congress should do nothing to create jobs and then blame the President.
9. Democrats believe that corporate polluters should be made to pay for the cleanup of their pollution. Republicans believe that making corporations clean up their pollution is burdensome over‐regulation.
10. Democrats believe our health care system exists solely for the purpose of making people healthy. Republicans believe our health care system exists solely for the purpose of making a healthy profit.
11. Democrats believe Congress should be of the people, by the people and for the people. Republicans believe corporations are the people.
12. Democrats believe that corporations have too much influence over Congress due to their lobbyists and huge campaign contributions. Republicans believe the middle class has too much influence over Congress due to their voting and paying taxes.
13. Democrats believe we need to protect victims of corporate negligence by allowing Americans to file lawsuits against corporations. Republicans believe we need to protect large corporations from lawsuits by Americans who’ve been victimized by them.
14. Democrats believe that the rich should be taxed more than the poor and middle class. Republicans believe that the rich should be allowed to keep all their wealth, except for the millions in campaign contributions they give to politicians.
15. Democrats believe that too much money in politics produces corruption and destroys the American way of life. Republicans believe that money and corruption in politics are the American way of life.

 

 

• ECDC Annual Dinner –Saturday, Oct. 12, 6:00 p.m. Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave, Kensington
• Kensington Fire Protection District Board Meeting Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave
• East Bay Early Bird Reception for Ready for Hilary PAC with Special Guest Jennifer Granholm‐ Thursday, Oct.10, 6:30‐8:30 p.m. For more information https://www.readyforhillary.com/events/eastbay
• Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District Board Meeting‐Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave
• El Cerrito Arts and Culture Commission presents the documentary, Coast Modern‐Monday, Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m. Rialto Cinemas, 10070 San Pablo Ave
• El Cerrito City Council Meeting‐ Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:00 p.m. City Council Chambers, 10940 San Pablo Ave
• El Cerrito Planning Commission‐Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. El Cerrito Council Chambers, 10940 San Pablo Ave
• Community Open House‐San Pablo Ave Specific Plan‐Saturday, Oct. 19, 9:00 a.m.‐2:00 p.m. El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane
• Common Agenda Regional Network Meeting‐Saturday, Oct 19, 10:30 a.m. Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute, 1715 Francisco Street, Berkeley
• Get Covered California‐Understanding the Affordable Care Act, Tuesday, Oct 22, 7:00‐9:00 p.m. El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave
• El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee presents: Arlington Park Ivy/Broom Pull‐Saturday, Oct. 26, 10:00 a.m.‐12:00 p.m. Arlington Park, El Cerrito

A Michael Langenmayr, Daily Kos email of 29 July 2013 provided information for this article.

The Federal Reserve will celebrate its Centennial year in 2014. In those 100 years, only 14 people, all white males, have held the position of Chair. Current Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s term expires in early 2014, and President Obama has indicated that he will not renominate him to another term.

“About a third of the Senate’s Democrats have signed a letter urging President Obama to appoint the eminently qualified Janet Yellen (http://tinyurl.com/mulkgqy) as chair of the Federal Reserve. [She has been the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve since October 2010.] The letter reportedly does not mention arry Summers [another candidate being considered], but it’s clear that he is the unpalatable alternative spurring the senators to campaign for Yellen:

There’s a lot of concern among a lot of Democrats about an appointment of Larry Summers to that long-term position as Fed chairman,’ said Sen. Tom Harkin (D, IA), who signed the letter. ‘He was one of the architects of getting rid of Glass-Steagall, of getting rid of other regulations.’ 

“Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D, CA.) said she had signed the letter, as did Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, who described Ms. Yellen as an ‘excellent candidate’ with ‘a strong track record.’ 

“Sen. Dick Durbin (D, IL), the assistant majority leader, also confirmed the existence of the letter and said he also had signed it. He said the letter was being circulated by Sen. Sherrod Brown, a liberal Democrat from Ohio.” 

You can get more information and join in asking President Obama to name Janet Yellen as the next Federal Reserve Chair at  http://tinyurl.com/kewopc9. You can read more about Janet Yellen and why she is a better choice than Larry Summers at http://tinyurl.com/janyel.