Exhibit A
Exhibit "A" ' PonCommission$ [The Retiree ADVOCATE WM'L'LLrag-0.50 o -, a Publication of Port truckers PUGET SOUND ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS driven to poverty Vol XXVI, No 7 "$0 July 2010 -- page 4 States Will pay "if New coalition will work to Senate paralysis strengthen Social Security By Rap Lewis The failure of a dysfunctional US. Sen "Social Security Works / Washington." (Readers will nd background informa- ate to extend federal Medicaid funding That's the name adopted by a new tion on the commission on pages 5 and for six months threatens to create chaos statewide coalition determined to defend 10.) in the budgets of at least 30 states, in- and improve Social Security in the face The coalition will carry the cam- cluding Washington's. of the gravest threat to its integrity in the paign to every Congressional candidate, Our state's budget writers had 75 years since it was signed into law. incumbent or aspirant, across the state, counted on $480 million as Washing- Initiated by a nucleus of labor, asking each to sign a pledge to defend ton's share of the $24 billion earmarked women's and retiree groups, including the full range of Social Security benets, in the Senate bill for an extension of the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired to work to improve them, and to oppose emergency Medicaid funding. Barring Americans, the coalition is reaching out all efforts to raid its trust fund for decit an unexpected turn of events, that money to the many varied organizations that reduction. will not be forthcoming. Every Senate recognize the unique role of Social Secu- A broad national coalition, the Republican plus Independent Senator rity in preventing poverty and in uniting "Strengthen Social Security Campaign," Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut and our people across the generations. is also in formation. Its founding Steer- Democratic Senator Ben Nelson of Ne- The coalition was organized in ing Committee members represent the braska voted to block a procedural vote response to appointment of the National AFLCIO, the Alliance for Retired needed to allow the bill to proceed. Commission on Fiscal Responsibility Americans, the Campaign for America's The frustrating outcome is the result and Reform, a majority of whose 18 Future, the Economic Policy Insti- of the Senate's arbitrary rule requiring members have signaled that they're pre- tute, the National Council of Women's 60 votes to avoid a libuster. The Puget pared to bleed the Social Security trust Organizations and Voices for America's Sound Alliance for Retired Americans fund to reduce the federal budget decit. Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3 Join us for work and fun at the Membership Meeting timulating speakers. Informative reports on the good and Owen Linch, senior labor representative to the Workers' bad ballot measures. Gearing up our Alliance for the coming Compensation Advisory Committee, will explain why 1-1082, battle to defend Social Security on the eve of its 75th Anniver- privatizing workers' compensation, is a bad idea. sary. The agenda will also include updates on the ght for Com All that and a potluck lunch deliciousness guaranteed prehensive Immigration Reform and on our campaign for a will enliven the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans city ordinance requiring employers to provide sick leave to all Summer Membership Meeting Thursday, July 22. Lunch is workers employed in Seattle. served at 12:30 and the meeting will be held from 1 to 3 pm. at The Executive Board will make recommendations on the the Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Avenue S. in Seattle. measures that appear headed for the ballot. Jonathan Seib, the govemor's lead person on the new health Serious business, sure but membership meetings are care reform law, will discuss plans to implement the law in our state. fun as well. We practically guarantee a warm sunny day, with Representative Hans Dunshee (D, 44) will report on Refer- spectacular views of Lake .Washington, Mount Rainier and the endum 52, to extend the sales tax on bottled water and to permit Cascades, in the company of some of our community's very the sale of bonds, for funds to upgrade our public schools and best people. colleges, creating 30,000 to 40,000 jobs in the process. Please bring a dish for the potluck. For up-to-date City Council to honor lllill Pony information about By Robby Stern PSARA and e invite all PSARA members and supporters to the Seattle City issues important to all of us, Council Chambers at 2 pm. Monday, July 19. At that time, the go to the PSARA web site: Council will read and pass a resolution honoring our beloved Presi- www.psara.org dent Emeritus and Editor of the Retiree Advocate, Will Parry. Read the Advocate on line, This public recognition ofWill is richly deserved. Will has been an opti mistic and determined advocate for progressive change for more than six post your comments decades. His leadership has sustained PSARA as a vibrant and cutting edge on our blog, force in our community. engage in discussions We are pleased that the Seattle City Council is recognizing Will's continu- ous effort to make our community, our state, our country and our world a with other PSARA members kinder and morejust place. Join us in the Seattle City Council Chambers to support one of our own as he receives the public recognition he rightfully N80" [0 reach "8? deserves. Here's a directory of Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans email addresses: For all future generations PSARA or its President, Robby Stern: president@psara.org SARA's number one mission in the decit hawks who dominate the scal Administrative Vice President, ve months immediately ahead can reform commission will call on Congress Maureen Bo: adminvp@psara.org be summed up in six words: Defend the in December to raid the Social Security Community VP and Outreach Committee Chair, integrity ofSocial Security. To protect trust funds in the name of decit reduc- Bette Reed: outreachvp@psara.org this basic social program that binds all tion. We have to make sure Congress Treasurer, Edyth Koch: treasurer@psara.org generations together, we need to build says, "No way!" Legislative Committee Chair, our membership base. We know the decit was caused Chuck Richards: csrichards@msn.com The ominous probability is that the by tax cuts that funneled billions to the Retiree Advocate Editor, wealthy; by two ongoing wars "on the Will Parry: editor@psara.org credit card"; and by the current severe WCICMIIB, Fl'llli [1120]]! Our web page: www.psara.org economic crisis created by Wall Street. We need to get that message to every Web Master, Lorraine Pozzi: info@psara.org Irigon, a distinguished leader in Frank Or phone our ofce at (206) 448-9646. the Asian Pacic person we can reach. That's why we have to build our if necessary, leave a message and your Islander community membership base. Working with our phone number. We'll call you back. whose impressive allies, we intend to call on every mem- resume would ll this ber of our Congressional delegation page, has joined the The Retiree ADVOCATE to pledge to "do no harm" to Social PSARA Executive Published monthly by the Puget Sound Alliance for Board. Security in the name of decit reduction. Retired Americans, 2800 First Ave., #262, Seattle, We're building a Congressional rewall Frank brings to the Washington, 98121. Phone (206) 448-9646. against all such proposals. Email: pscsc@qwestoffice.net Website: www.psara.org board a rich back- PSARA is afliated with the Alliance for Retired ground of community service in Seattle's Today's retirees have a duty to ght Americans and the Senior Citizens' Lobby. for a future of economic justice for the International District and beyond. He President: Robby Stern oncoming generations, our children and was co-founder and rst editor of the AdministrativeVice-President: Maureen Bo grandchildren. That's why it's so urgent Community Vice President: Bette Reed Asian Family Affair, serving the North- to build our membership base. Treasurer. Edie Koch west API population; cofounder of the Secretary: James Weston And that's why we're asking you, International District Community Health Board Members: Joan Bethel, Houston Brown, Tim dear Member, to sign up that relative, Center; a former trustee on the Renton Burns, Steve Dzielak, Rick Erickson, Steve Kofahl, Frank Technical College Board and the list friend, neighbor or workmate today. lrigon, Rachael Levine, Gene Lux, Mac McIntosh, Will The people at your church, your senior Parry,Chuck Richards, FriedaTakamura, Michael Warren goes on. and Elizabeth Zubitis. We look forward to years of fruit- center, or your community meeting Editor, Retiree Advocate: Will Parry ful leadership from Frank Irigon on place. We need them; they need us. The lEditor Emeritus: Max Roffman | issues of social justice. Welcome, coupon is on page 11. Sign up that new Layout and Printing: Trade Printery Frank! member today! Page 2 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Slates Will pay tor A violent wound on the Earth itself SBIIHIB paralysis By Will Parry Continued from page 1 is now evident that BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster is like no other catastrophe Itin history. The word "spill" does nothing to convey the reality. The Canadian writer Naomi Klein comes closer, calling it "a violent wound inicted on the Earth has called for an end to the Senate's itself." 60-vote rule and a return to the small "d" The disaster's monstrous toll on creatures and communities is yet to be reckoned democratic majority rule that prevails in up. That toll mounts with each passing minute as seventy days after the initial the House.. explosion we continue to watch, as Klein says, "Earth's guts gush forth, in real time, The Medicaid funding was part of a 24 hours a day." $100 billion package that included an ex- "For the rst time in history," writes tension of unemployment compensation Michael T. Klare in the June 14 Nation, for an estimated 1.2 million jobless work- "oil is pouring into the deep currents of a ers who have exhausted their benets. semi-enclosed sea, poisoning the water and The entire package was shot down by an depriving it of oxygen so that entire classes intransigent Republican minority. of marine species are at risk of annihilation. Earlier, Governor Chris Gregoire had It is as if an underwater neutron bomb has written the state's congressional delegastruck the Gulf of Mexico, causing little ap- tion warning that without the emergency '5 parent damage on the surface, but destroying Medicaid funding, "across-theboard the living creatures below." cuts" would be likely, causing the loss of The nal reckoning is surely generations "thousands ofjobs." Health programs, human services and education are likely away. But with what we've already seen since the incendiary explosion of April 20, with its instantaneous death toll of eleven oil rig workers, can there be a person of to be hardest hit. There aren't many other conscience anywhere who is not outraged? places to cut. We've seen the photos of pitiable oil-soaked pelicans. We've read about the threat The state's Ofce of Financial to the viability of the sheries as the oil seeps into the nurturing wetlands. We've read Management predicted a $3 billion dollar about endangered sea turtles corralled into "burn elds" and burned alive. budget decit heading into the 2011-2013 There are costs of a different order that are no less tragic. Klein warns that "the budget cycle and that was with the as coast's legendary culture will contract and wither. The shing families up and down sumption that the federal Medicaid match would be coming. the coast do not just gather food, after all. They hold up an intricate network that in- In February, governors from 42 states cludes family tradition, cuisine, music, art and endangered languages much like the signed a letter to Congress pleading for roots of grass holding up the land in the marsh. Without shing, these unique cultures lose their root system, the very ground on which they stand." a sixmonth extension of the Medicaid BP is no different than other oil companies, raking in billions in prots from their support funding. Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont, a Republican and chairman single-minded focus on production, and the hell with safety and the environment. The of the National Governors Association, world needs tough regulation of this industry and a crash program to create renew- expressed concern for the level of federal able alternatives. As long as these pirates ride high, the planet is endangered and so is spending, but added, "States need this the human race. bridge to sustain the safety net of human services programs and education." The defeat in the Senate came despite New coalition will work to efforts by the Democratic leadership to win Republican support by watering strengthen Social Security down the legislation. Seeking the 60 votes needed to cut off debate, Democrats Continued from page 1 cut the size of the package in half. To re- duce the measure's impact on the decit, Children, among many other groups. The next meeting of the Social they even robbed $10 billion from food- As its name indicates, the national Security Works / Washington coalition stamp benets to pay for the Medicaid group intends to take the offensive to will be at 1:30 pm. Wednesday, July 14, support. make Social Security even better in the at the Seattle ofces of the Washington All to no avail. "Because we need protections it affords retirees, persons State Labor Council, 314 First Avenue 60 votes for everything, we have been with disabilities, and survivors. The West. For information, contact PSARA stopped cold in our tracks," Majority Washington State coalition has the same President Robby Stern at president@ Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said. approach. psara.org or by phone at (206)448-9646. Page 3 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Driven to poverty: The Seattle Port Truckers By Rev. Monica Corsaro and Erica Garrecht-Williams magine for a second being an of maintaining their trucks: independent contractor. You're free gas, insurance, tonnage fees to work for whom you choose, you and all repairs. Since they are negotiate your rates, you work as much technically classied as "in or as little as you want. Sounds pretty dependent contractors," they good, right? are not paid an hourly wage, Wrong. In the port trucking in- have no benets, and can't le dustry, you are called an independent gally organize a union. Their contractor, but your working reality pay amounts to about $400 a is far from independent. You wake up week after expenses. Many before dawn, work overtime and make drivers are barely scraping less than minimum wage. You can only by. One driver interviewed haul for one company and they can pay said, "Sometimes I have to rendous working conditions in front of you whatever they want. You have no choose whether to put gas in my truck attentive members of Congress. WA health insurance and you pay for all or food on the table." Representative Rick Larson listened to your expenses out of pocket. On top of After years of pressure from comseveral Seattle drivers tell their sto- that, you spend countless hours waiting munity and environmental groups, the ries of exploitation and intimidation. in trafc inhaling toxic diesel fumes. Port of Seattle passed a plan to ban the Shocked committee members pledged to Since the Port trucking system was oldest trucks from the Port. However, investigate Port labor abuses and change deregulated in the 1980's, it has become this plan doesn't attack the root causes the system. one of the most exploitative industries of truck pollution. The truth of the mat Now, we are inviting local faith in the nation. Port truck drivers, who ter is that drivers simply cannot afford leaders to get involved. Several clergy move goods from the Port to freight to buy and maintain clean new trucks. and imams went on a "Port Toxic Tour" trains bound for retail stores, used to Our solution is a comprehensive clean in March to see rst hand the working enjoy a middle class living, but the trucks plan that requires the trucking conditions drivers face every day. One age of globalization, cheap labor and companies to own and maintain a clean Lutheran pastor named it "modern-day corporate conglomerates has drastically truck eet and grant drivers employee slavery." In June, the Church Council ' lowered standards for these drivers, status, with a living wage, healthcare, held a Prayer Breakfast in honor of the most of whom are immigrants. Retail- and the right to organize a union. We drivers. Christians and Muslims, Black, ers like Wal-Mart are fueling a race to at Puget Sound Sage and the Church white and everyone in between came the bottom among trucking companies Council have been building partnerships together for one purpose: to be unied by seeking rates below the actual cost of allies who support the truck drivin our passion for change on behalf of of moving goods. Trucking companies ers and want to x this broken system. the truck drivers. We as people of faith compete by undercutting each other. Many port neighbors, organizations, and believe in the power of prayer to make Drivers compete to get loads. And what several elected ofcials are on board. change. We know too that prayer can our society gets is a system based on However, trucking rms are lob- happen in the streetsas such, we're cheap labor and the knowledge that bying hard to keep things the way they hosting a prayer vigil for the drivers there is always "someone" who will do are. The American Tmcking Association later this summer. To get involved, it for cheaper. Billiondollar corpora blocked a similar plan from passing in contact us. We need to work together to tions benet. Who loses? The drivers LA. We are ghting back. A national right this wrong. who actually move the goods. coalition of labor, faith, environmental, While Wal-Mart might pay the and community organizations came (Rev. Monica Corsaro is Director trucking company around $350 d01- together in Washington DC. in May to ofSocial Justice Ministries, Church Council of Greater Seattle (mcorsar0@ lars per delivery, the drivers only see lobby for the drivers at a Congressional about $40 of that money, a rate that subcommittee hearing on restoring the thechurchcouncil. org). Erica Garrecht- Williams is Outreach and Communica- hasn't changed in fteen years. Driv power to regulate. Truck drivers nally tions Coordinator, Puget Sound Sage. ers also have to pay all the expenses got a chance to talk about their hor- (erica @pugetsoundsage.org). Page 4 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Bobby on the issues............... Saving Social Security from the 'Hit Men' By Robby Stern Athebout a year ago, I heard about Perkins asserts that if the Economic incomes income tax on the ballot. This book, Confessions ofan Hit Men fail to persuade the leadership initiative is one of the ways to ght Economic Hit Man by John of these countries, the "jackals" are back against the growing gap in the Perkins on Amy called in. He used as examples Jaime distribution of wealth in our country. It Goodman's radio Roldos of Ecuador and Omar Torrijos will force the wealthy to provide . a little news show, "De- of Panama, both of whom met untimely fairer share of their income for educa g 7 _ mocracy Now". deaths under very suspicious circum- tion and health care when it gets on Perkins had stances. Perkins is convinced it was the written the book "jackals" at work. to express his This book was quite educational, remorse for the but it also got me thinking about what "Congress is refusing to provide role he played is going on in our country at this very extensions to unemployed in carrying out moment. The "Corporatocracy" and benefits and aid to state Medic- the economic their politician friends have made aid programs, both desperately policies of the policy decisions that have enormously United States Empire, or what he refers enriched the people at the top and the needed. It is Congress' version to as the "Corporatocracy." He also corporations they run through tax cuts, of applying to the U.S. the wanted to educate the public about what bail-outs and privatization. Now they policies that have been foisted is being done to countries around the are saying to the American people, our world in the name of the people of the decit is way too high. They are try- on poor and working people United States. I nally read the book ing to persuade us that they must cut throughout the world." last month and it is a simple but stun the programs that serve working class ning read with great relevance to the and poor people like Social Security, challenges we face in our country today. Medicaid, education, etc. As I write this the ballot and, with our help, passes in Briey, very well paid Economic column, Congress is refusing to provide November. Hit Men travel the world selling huge extensions to unemployment benets PSARA and the ARA are gearing development programs to the often and aid to state Medicaid programs, up for a huge battle to defend Social corrupt leadership of other countries. both desperately needed. It is Congress' Security. The Washington Post reported Often there are bribes or other personal version of applying to the U.S. the poli- that we are facing the biggest threat to trade-offs associated with these efforts. cies that have been foisted on poor and Social Security in the 75 years of its These countries then incur huge debts working people throughout the world. existence. PSARA will respond in coali- to the World Bank to build the major We must not be fooled and we Will tion with others to make sure our Con- construction projects, debts that they ght back. Social Security, Medicaid, gressional representatives do nothing to will never be able to repay. The con- etc. are NOT the problems. The tax cuts harm our Social Security system and the tracts for these projects are distributed for the rich and unnecessary wars are benets promised to American workers. to multinational corporations like Halli- the problem. (In Iraq, the goal was gain- Please join us at our general mem- burton, KBR, and others, allowing these ing control of the oil for the oil compa- bership meeting on Thursday, July 22. companies and their executives to amass nies and also controlling this strategi- (For details on the meeting, see page 2 very large prots from the coffers of cally located country. In Afghanistan, of this newsletter.) Your participation these deeply indebted countries. The tax the "newly discovered" mineral riches will make an enormous difference for revenues collected by countries like In- are going to be developed by the U.S. our small, (but growing!) feisty and donesia, Panama, Columbia, and others multinational mining companies.) We determined organization as we do battle are insufcient to pay the debt incurred must be organized and prepared to ght with those who would serve the rich in building these projects which leads on many fronts. and powerful at the expense of poor and to draconian cuts in social programs One example of our efforts is the working people. that assist the poor and working poor of success of PSARA volunteers in gather- these countries. ing signatures to place 11098, a high Page 5 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Building a bridge to justice By David West ably more diverse than the larger region. of Seattle committed $5 million to the n June 30, Seattle's South Park Bridge is being shut down Replacing this vital transportation link bridge. With the Port's commitment, without a replacement, leav- for communities of color, immigrant local and state governments have now ing an entire community cut off from families and other working families in pledged $70 million of the $130 million the most direct routes to the rest of the our neighborhood is not only a sound needed for a new bridge. King County city. Rerouting plans and the result investment in our regional transportation will now ask the federal government for ing congestion at key intersections will infrastructure, it is a matter of social, the remaining $60 million to start con- hurt workers, business and low-income economic and environmental justice. struction. residents from a much larger area than Although the decrepit condition of Too often under-valued low-income just South Park. The South Park Bridge the South Park Bridge has been well neighborhoods get pushed aside for serves tens of thousands of residents and known for years, securing funding for a funding. This year, elected leaders got business in the Duwamish Valley and new bridge has always been a low prior- the message: South Park and the Du- South King County every day. Buses ity. The federal TIGER funds have been wamish Valley deserve a transportation using the bridge bring union workers to awarded to rebuild the Mercer Street infrastructure comparable to that avail- downtown and take families to social corridor. State funds have been allocated able to the rest of the city. and health service providers in and out or promised for Link light rail, the down- of the area. Manufacturing workers and town tunnel, and various other infra- (David West is Executive Director of small businesses rely on the bridge as a structure projects. None of those projects Puget Sound Sage.) key connection between communities, is as critical to a single community as the workplaces and suppliers across the South Park Bridge is to South Park and Duwamish. the Duwamish Valley. Puget Sound Sage and members of This year may be the last opportu- 360,000 the New South Park Bridge Coalition nity for many years to secure Federal consider the failure to replace this valu- funding. Our local governments must able bridge a grave injustice to the South successfully apply for federal TIGER sign I-1098 Park community. The South Park com funds or a new bridge is likely never to munity, along with the unincorporated be built. Sage and its community allies nitiative 1098, raising a billion areas south of the bridge, is dispropor- recently met with Port Commissioner dollars for schools and healthcare tionately low-income and is consider- John Creighton, after which the Port while lowering taxes for homeown ers and small businesses, will nd a place on the November ballot. Supporters rolled up an impres- sive 360,000 signatures in an inten sive sixweek campaign. Campaign activists were preparing to deliver the signed petitions to the Secretary of State at our deadline. The Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans had set a goal of 1,000 signatures, but topped 4,000, an achievement recognized by cam- paign leaders as remarkable for an organization of our size. l1098 will face lavishly-funded opposition from the Business Round table, a collection of wealthy CEOs and venture capitalists who shudder at the thought of equity in our tax system. 'Ihe Retiree Advocate July 2010 Tea bags: ldiocy and armed militias By Alfredo Peppard auline and I have been in Seattle Garrison, Sumner, and ultimately John Pfor six weeks now and we have the politics of the modern world when Brown. No, their historical roots can be Charles Maurras, who founded the Paris been dumbfounded by what we traced through George Wallace, Orval newspaper Action Francaise during the see on television. The tea bag move- Faubas and Lester Maddox to that soci Dreyfus Affair, heaped pure vitriol and ment is all over ety of English- speaking slave owners abuse upon any and all supporters of the internet but that spread from the Southern Caribbean liberal thought in France. Anti-Semitism you have to to the MasonDixon Line. The bagger was his consistent core issue, and by see it on a big left wing wants to return to Jim Crow; 1930 Action Frangaise brought into screen TV to its right wing wants to return to the being a violent force of fascist street fully appreci- slavery-ridden political and social status brawlers. In the 19403 they supported ate the head-on of 1850. Petain. Both Mussolini and Hitler cop- idiocy of the Their prominent spokespersons, thing. Ihave candidates, and would-be candidates i. suspected for are typically young, good~looking, and Alfredo Peppard The leading Tea Party TV personal- some time that a utterly vacuousmade for television. ity is the inimitable Sarah Palin. good many of my The leading Tea Party TV personality Palin is a marvel. With gestures, countrymen were at least a half a bubble is the inimitable Sarah Palin. Palin is off, but this gang of baboons utterly head tosses, flashing smiles, a marvel. With gestures, head tosses, abbergasts me. One thing that this is ashing smiles, always with good eye always with good eye contact, all about is that they are all mad as hell contact, she can spout utter nonsense to she can spout utter nonsense to about something, whatever the hell it crowds of enthusiastic yahoos and have crowds of enthusiastic yahoos and is. Just what is the tea party, tea bag them loving it. PT Barnum was right. have them loving it. PT Barnum movement, tea baggers, whatever you But unlike the feather-headed Palin, the was right. call them? real heavy hitters have "News Shows" First, it is a television phenomenon on Fox, with Glen Beck, the present which originates on Rupert Murdoch's favorite of the Baggers, playing the part ied Maurras' methods. It is not likely Fox News. The news crew didn't go of a patriot of 1776. that many if any Tea Baggers ever heard out and cover this movement; they cre- All Murdoch's creatures are adept of Action Frangaise, much less Maurated it. Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck at manufacturing facts as they go along, ras. They are just reacting like reaction- called it into being. Then every time but what distinguishes Beck, Limbaugh, ary yahoos always do. ' more than ten tea baggers showed up in and Hannity is their ability carry out The whole thing would be hi- public, Fox News gave them lavish cov rants that begin with a Whopper and larious were it not for the fact they are erage, with reporters and anchor persons go from there to the utterly preposter- heavily nanced by some of the most expressing sympathy and understand- ous. These tribunes of the couch potato anti-democratic billionaires you will ing of these poor folk, burdened as they constituency spew forth on a daily basis nd anywhere. These billionaires, with are by a crushing government. And so accusations of a dark conspiracy to Rupert Murdoch in the lead, just want the cluster of slightly demented folks, enslave the American people a vile , to overturn the last election. That's all. some armed, become in the imagina conspiracy being carried out as they Failing that, they want to make it impos- tion of a denable group of Americans, speak by Nazis, Liberals, and Commies, sible for anyone else to govern. the vanguard of a social justice move- the sworn enemies of all Real Ameri- These are the same jackals whose ment. They want to take back America. cans; and at the head. of this cabal sits a multimedia noise machine described They want to return to a more just past. Black President who is not an American Clinton's escapades in the Oval Ofce But their idea of a "just past" is not one citizen and on and on from there. as being tantamount to blowing up the inuenced by Thoreau and Emerson, This style of irrational politics was Washington Monument. I would be fallcertainly not the New England intel- prominent in the secessionist press in ing off my chair laughing if they didn't lectual tradition that brought about the 18503. This style of rhetoric entered have armed militias in their movement. Page 7 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 "Messing aroqun Ch"'mges in these ntnes to reductions We have and socral disorder in hfe-sustalning seen the Violent In America Citizen reactions Will not provide benet programs. To activate an this kind ofpohtical Lawrence D. Greene, Vice Chair, South King County Chapter, Alliance for Retired Americans ' Page 8 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Krugman: Spend now, save later By Steve Dzielak aul Krugman, the column-writing, PNobel Prize winning college Krugman wonders aloud why the Market raise rates to head off possible ination. should be moved by policies with almost At that point we make a deal: The gov- professor, said it best back in May: no long-run scal impact, he is cut dead ernment starts cutting back, and the Fed We could use more scal stimulus but with an all-time classic: You just don"t holds off on rate hikes so that cutbacks Congress is balking even at extending aid understand our situation. don't tip the economy back into a slump. for the evergrowing ranks of the long Krugman sees hypocrisy in this But the time for such a deal is at least two term unemployed. Fiscal responsibility, obsession with the decit. Lawmakers years off. The responsible thing, then, you see hey, eager to slash benets for those in need is to spend now, while planning to save and let's make sure are equally quick to stump for tax breaks later. estate taxes stay for the wealthy. Senator Ben Nelson, As Krugman emphasizes, every year low! who sanctimoniously declared that we that goes by with extremely high unem- Krugman's big can't afford $77 billion for the unem- ployment forces many long-term unemworry ? That ployed, supported the rst Bush tax cut, ployed into a permanent underclass, even policy-makers which cost a cool $1.3 trillion. as many new graduates are denied a start would just sit there The Ben Nelsons of the world seem on their working lives. for years congratu- stumped by the truism, spend now, while Penny-pinching now isn't just cruel; lating themselves the economy remains depressed; save it endangers the nation's future while on the soundness Steve Dzielak later, once it has recovered. Here's how failing to lighten future debt burden. of their policies. Krugman sees it: Much of the decit is Krugman implores the hawks: Please get In June, Senate the result of the ongoing crisis, which your timing right. Yes, we need to x our Republicans just said Hell No! to every- depressed revenues and required extraor- long-run budget problems but not by thing in sight, including an extension of refusing to help our economy in its hour unemployment benets for said longterrn of need. unemployed. Never mind that America Lawmakers eager to slash is facing the highest rate of longterrn benefits for those in need are joblessness since the 1930s. Iraq and Afghanistan Krugman focused on what many equally quick to stump for leading economists see as a huge mis- 'are making you poor' tax breaks for the wealthy. take: a return to austerity. He cited 1937, when FDR's premature attempt to balance R 5353 is a bill that ought to be en- the budget helped plunge a recovering dinary expenditures to stabilize the nan- acted right now, but probably won't economy back into severe recession. cial system. As the crisis abates, things even get a hearing. Introduced by Florida Then, as now, creating jobs was suddenly will improvejust not fast enough. Rep. Alan Grayson, it's called "The War Is out, inicting pain was in. After bottoming out in 2014, he believes, Making You Poor Act." Its purpose, says In an imaginary conversation with a the decit will start rising again, largely Grayson, is "to show people in a real and German Decit Hawk, Krugman counters because of rising health care costs. concrete way the cost of these endless the Hawk's frenzy to cut decits immedi- wars"in Iraq and Afghanistan. The answer is clear: First bring health ately ("because Germany must deal with Grayson points out that next year's costs under control, then nd additional the scal burden of an aging population"). budget allocates $159 billion to per- revenues and/or spending cuts. Right petuate the occupations of those two Cutting doesn't make sense, Krugman now, our severely depressed economy is countries. Grayson's bill would eliminate says, because even if you manage to save inicting longrun damage. This is not the $159 billion for war and use those 80 billion euros which you won't, the time for austerity. The decit should billions instead to eliminate income taxes because the budget cuts will hurt your become a priority only when the Fed- for everybody's rst $35,000 of income economy and reduce revenues the in eral Reserve has regained some traction -- $70,000 for couples. And there'd be terest payments on that much debt would over the economy, so that it can offset $15 billion left over to help pay down the be less than a tenth of a percent of your the negative effects of tax increases and national debt. gross domestic product (GDP). spending cuts by reducing interest rates. "The costs of the war have been ren- When Krugman points out that Currently, the Fed can't do that, be- dered invisible,"Grayson says. "There's no austerity will threaten economic recovery cause the interest rates it can control are draft. Instead, we take the most vulner- while doing next to nothing to the long- near zero, and can't go any lower. Even- able elements of our population and give run budget position, the Hawk takes cover tually, as unemployment falls probably them a choice between unemployment behind fear of the Market reaction. When below 7 percent the Fed will want to and missile fodder...." Page 9 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Dino Rossi: Wrong, wrong, wrong on the issues xpect millions of corporate dol- and other workers; and voted against faculty, and U.W. academic student Elars to gush into the campaign providing benets to workers locked out employees; voted against allowing dues war chest of Dino Rossi, recruit- of their jobs. deduction for home-care workers who ed by the Republican National Commit- - Injured workers: Rossi voted unionize; and voted against prohibiting tee to take on Democratic U. S. Senator to cut benets for victims ofjob-related public employers from ring or misclas Patty Murray in this year's election. hearing loss; voted to repeal the work- sifying employees to avoid providing The corporate folks know what place ergonomic safety rule; voted benets. they're doing. During his six years in against empowering health care workers - Other telltale votes: Rossi voted the State Senate, Rossi managed only to prevent needle-stick injuries; voted to against allowing use of sick leave or ve positive votes in 77 issues, the lower state standards protecting work other paid leave to care for sick family Washington State Labor Council reports. ers from second-hand smoke; voted members; voted for the privatization of Delegates to the council's Committee on for partial privatization of the workers' certain ferry runs; voted against a "pay Political Education (COPE) conference comp system; and voted to grant legal gap" measure to grant bigger raises to unanimously endorsed Murray for re- immunity to job site contractors who state employees whose pay lags be- election. negligently injure workers who are not hind that of private sector counterparts; Here in brief is Rossi's record on their employees. voted against promoting apprenticeship issues of major concern to working - Low-income workers: Rossi on public workers projects; and voted people: voted to freeze the state minimum wage; against a bill to create a "buying pool" to - Unemployed workers: Rossi and voted against increasing home-care negotiate lower drug prices. voted for changes that cut benets for workers' wages to an average of $8.50 Voting right on labor issues only 6% workers who lose their jobs through no an hour. of the time, Rossi's record "ranks among fault of their own; voted against pro- . Collective bargaining and the worst and most partisan of any legis- viding benets to victims of domestic union rights: Rossi voted against lator during his 19972003 tenure in the violence who are forced to quit their jobs granting collective bargaining rights State Senate," the State Labor Council to ee their attackers; voted against a to state employees, four-year college said. retraining bill to assist laidoff Boeing Alliance 'up and running' in 39 lllll'S 0]] a ""8 [M Tacoma, Pierce County immigration l'Bll'lll By Bill Johnston Washington and Idaho residents Fifty rode a bus 39 hours on Memo rial Day weekend to join an estimated he Tacoma-Pierce County ARA slow summer months working out com- chapter is up and running. The mittee goals and planning to involve the 50,000 people in Phoenix in a protest membership in achieving them. against Senate Bill 1070, Arizona's infa group meets monthly at 11:30 am. mous anti-immigrant law. on the third Thursday at Joeseppi's in ARA National President Barbara Tacoma's West End Neighborhood by The 50 from the Northwest peace- Easterly is expected to visit in the fall. the Narrows Bridge, for those unfamiliar The chapter plans to organize a meet fully occupied Senator John McCain's with the City of Destiny. ing for her, possibly with a fundraising Phoenix ofce until a McCain staffer The chapter has elected ofcers for met with them and promised to try to aspect. the year, including Ron Richardson, the Tacoma and Pierce County retirees arrange a face-to-face meeing with the retired National Executive Vice President are invited to call Membership Chair Bill senator. of UNITEHERE, as chapter president. Johnston at (253) 627-6860 or simply The delegation joined a massive The group has organized along a show up at Joeseppi's, at North Pearl march to the capitol, rallying for com- very social agenda. Meetings start with and North let at 11:30 am. on the third prehensive immigration reform. The delegation included members a time to reconnect socially, followed by Thursday. Not only will new members a buffet lunch, a speaker and then a short meet interesting union, progressive and of OneAmerica, Casa Latina, Service business meeting. Committees have involved retirees, but they'll have a great Employees Local 775, Washington CAN been formed. The group will spend the time doing it! and Idaho CAN. Page 10 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 Bank of North Dakota unshaken by crisis By Rap Lewis uess which state has the na- began transferring part of that prot to control of marketing and credit agencies tion's only state-run bank. the state's General Fund. Since then, its was widely demanded. The legislature capital transfers have become the norm, responded by establishing Bank of North Now guess which state is not run- adding $500 million to state revenue. Dakota and the North Dakota Mill and ning a budget decit despite today's As a result, while other states (includ- Elevator Association. They continue to terrible economic climate. ing Washington) are oundering in debt, ourish today. If you guessed North Dakota North Dakota's state budget is balanced. Bingo! And the bank's wholesome lending Since 1919, the state-owned Bank practices have a good deal to do with the 23 arrested calling [0]" of North Dakota has faithfully lived up state's unemployment rate, among the to its mission: To promote the devel- lowest in the nation. immigration l'BlOl'lll opment of agriculture, commerce and The bank has bipartisan support, but industry in North Dakota. To carry out North Dakota is a strongly Republican wentythree peaceful demonstra- that mission, the bank works coopera- state. Bank of North Dakota is adminis- tors were arrested for blocking tively with other nancial institutions to tered by the governor, the attorney gentrafc in downtown Seattle June 23, to provide the necessary funds. eral, and the commissioner of agriculture compel attention to the broad national In the process, Bank of North all Republicans. demand for comprehensive immigra- Dakota makes a prot. In 1945, it The broad range of its nancing pro tion reform. The civil disobedience grams helps to explain its popularity: It was organized by the Washington Im- provides farm and ranch nancing, small North Dakota Bank: business loans, and loan funds for com- migration Reform Coalition (WIRC), with whom the Puget Sound Alliance A model for our state? munity, rural and regional development. for Retired Americans is afliated. In 1967, Bank of North Dakota made the nation's rst federally-insured The action followed a WIRC Street of the primary causes of the One student loan. It continues today to Fair, featuring local bands and artists, current deep recession was the held in front of Seattle's Federal Build- provide a variety of loans for students unregulated and unscrupulous ac- seeking post-secondary education. ing and attended by several hundred tivities of major nancial institutions. The bank was born to address the supporters. Given billions in bailout funds, the big crisis in North Dakota agriculture in The Seattle demonstration was one banks are denying the communities the early 1900s. At that time, grain of an escalating series of protests held the funding they need and are pour- prices were suppressed by outofstate in cities across the US, both to focus ing hundreds of millions into executive grain dealers. Prices of farm supplies attention on Arizona's racist prol- salaries and bonuses. ' soared. So did the interest rates on farm ing law and to press Congress to enact That's why Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D, loans. By 1919, state ownership and 11th District) has introduced HR 3162 comprehensive federal reform legisla- tron. to make Washington the second state, after North Dakota, to charter a state To Subscribe, Renew OI' Donate I owned bank. I I "A publicly-owned bank would Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans I 2800 lst Ave., Room 262, Seattle, WA 98121 I mean we'd have full control of our tax email: info@psara.org - website: www.psara.org I dollars to work for our own communi I Please check the appropriate box or boxes: I ties, not to line out-of-state bankers' I pockets," Hasegawa said. "It would $15 for 1-year subscription, LlNew I l IRenewing I mean public accountability and scal individual or couple I integrity. It would mean targeted Is $15 a hardship? Pay what you can! I I investments in state priorities, such as |_| (Optional) Here's a contribution of $ I supporting small business and local I (Contributions are not tax-deductible. Please make checks to PSARA. Thank You!) I projects." I He is working on the bill during (Print) Name Phone I I the interim and seeking bipartisan sup- I Address I port for the 2011 session. I I Page 11 The Retiree Advocate July 2010 W Overheard W Seventy-ve candles at "Wall Street owns the country. It is no longer Social Security gala! a government ofthe people, by the people, and for the people, but a government of Wall Street, Hun vii-q"; ' 5);, 11,141 7 by Wall Street andfor Wall Stree ." AC3;Social Security, with Senator Pattygala celebration of the 75th Birthday 'M "33'; urray as featured speaker, will be - 3 - Mary Ellen Lease, Kansas Populist, i" held at the Greenwood Senior Activity Center, in a speech in 1890. '5, 'x .1 525 N. 85th Street in Seattle on Monday, Au- \4 , _ ' . ; ,1? _ gust 16, starting at 1:30 pm. meeting: / Event: The event complete with ceremonial birthday cake is being co-sponsored by the senior center and the Puget Sound Alliance for Council honors Will Parry Retired Americans. The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin 1 pm. Monday, July 19 at Seattle City Hall. Delano Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. Throughout the 75 years of its Story on page 2. existence, it has been the nation's premier social insurance program, protecting millions of seniors, children and adults with disabilities Summer Membership Meeting from poverty. 12:30 pm. to 3 pm. Thursday, July 22, The anniversary event will be a high point in the broadly-based Central Area Senior Center. Story on page 1. campaign to expose and defeat efforts by the so-called "Fiscal Re- sponsibility" commission to rob the Social Security trust funds to 75th Anniversary of Social Security reduce the federal decit. 1:30 Monday, August 16, Greenwood Senior The event will celebrate Social Security as a program for all Center, 525 N 85th St., Seattle. 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