July 2006 |
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Table of Contents
President's Column
The San Francisco Young Democrats Officer Elections will be held at the July 12th General Meeting for the following positions: You can read the questionnaires submitted by the candidates at the SFYD.org. SFYD and Pride Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
On the Mark in Sacramento
It was only 225 years ago that an optimistic new country was born out of a group of immigrants’ quest for independence and freedom. We celebrate the birth of our country every July Fourth as the day that our forefathers and mothers claimed America’s independence from Great Britain. The United States has become synonymous with words like “freedom” and “liberty” possibly because those who immigrated here knew what it meant to be without them. As we pay tribute to this year’s Independence Day with our family and friends, we celebrate our own freedom, and honor the men and women who have struggled to preserve our rights throughout our country’s history. Just as we reflect upon our history, we must also look to our future and remain ever vigilant in protecting some of our most basic, fundamental rights which have come under attack recently by both external and internal forces. The steady stream of news stories uncovering the Bush administration’s egregious assaults on the freedoms, privacy rights and liberties of its citizens is an outrage. Citing the “War on Terror” as cause, the administration has used fear to elevate itself above the U.S. Constitution and trample on the rights of us all. Recently, it was reported that this administration has secretly collected the phone records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by some of our largest telephone companies. The administration has censored and distorted scientific projects, articles and data for their own political purposes. In an effort to control and manipulate the information its citizens receive, the administration has waged an assault on a free and independent media. Among many tactics, it has been reported that the administration paid TV commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 in taxpayer money to praise Bush’s education policies. They have also manipulated the media’s message by manufacturing “fake news,” otherwise known as “Video News Releases” broadcast to millions of Americans who believe it is actual reporting. While our own constitutional rights are of immediate concern to us, it’s also important to consider how the Bush administration has violated international law with respect to the Geneva Conventions. Citizens of the world were shocked at the photos and the numerous accounts of abuse and torture of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq. Additionally, the Administration has a policy to detain individuals at Guantanamo Bay suspected to be involved in terrorism, denying their right to a fair trial for years. I have continued to be an outspoken critic of many of these outrageous and unlawful policies. I have collaborated with ‘Peace Mom’ Cindy Sheehan and the National A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition to help end the war in Iraq, bring home the California National Guard, and fight any further encroachment by this Administration on our civil liberties. It is through our vocal and unified demonstrations that our voices will be heard and the world will take notice. As your Assemblyman, I continue to seek out ways to shelter our individual freedoms and liberties. I am a principal co-author of Senate Bill 202, which would prohibit telephone companies in California from turning over personal information and telephone records without getting their customer’s consent first. In today’s modern world, your personal information can too easily be sold to anyone willing to pay a fee—including the government, internet stalkers, and thieves. We should be protected from these threats. There are some simple steps that we can take to help protect our privacy and guard against identity theft. Your credit report is used by banks, employers, loan and credit card companies, landlords, and others to determine your credit worthiness. By checking it annually, you can ensure the information on your report is accurate and up to date. To receive one copy of your credit report for free each year, please contact (877) 322-8228 or visit www.annualcreditreport.com. Additionally, to better control your information, you can request that the major credit card bureaus stop sending you pre-approved credit card and loan offers that are easily intercepted by identity thieves. To stop receiving these offers, call (888) 567-8688 or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. Our founders’ vision for America is proudly spelled out in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. It includes our right to freedom of speech, religion, due process, privacy and equal protection under the law. These are extraordinary treasures that we must defend when anyone, including our own government, attempts to block them. We must also work to extend these rights to individuals who have traditionally been denied them, such as people of color, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people, the poor, women and the disabled. I hope you and yours have a safe and joyful Fourth of July as we celebrate our country’s independence and our own rights and liberties. Happy Birthday, America. If you would like to assist me in my work to safeguard our privacy rights, please contact our office in San Francisco at (415) 557-3013, via the web at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Leno, or email me directly at Assemblymember.Leno@asm.ca.gov. Yours, Mark Leno Assemblyman, 13th District House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Last month, House and Senate Democrats announced our New Direction for America that addresses the priorities of all Americans, not just the few. President Bush and his Rubber Stamp Republican Congress continue to focus on an agenda that is out of touch with the concerns of the American people, placing divisive partisan politics ahead of real solutions. The American people are paying the price for their misplaced priorities that ignore the realities facing middle-class families and are taking America in the wrong direction. I hear from San Franciscans all the time who are struggling with the skyrocketing price of fuel and energy, the increasing cost of health care and college tuition, and a budget that heaps ever-greater debt on our children.
The America people are insisting on a New Direction at home and for the war in Iraq. With the cost of the war continuing to rise with more lives lost, more dollars spent, and our reputation weakened, we must change course. 2006 must be a year of significant transition. At the earliest practicable time, the United States must begin the responsible redeployment of our troops, and the Iraqis must assume the burden of defending their own country. It is time for a new direction in Iraq. While Republicans play partisan politics, focusing on issues that discriminate and are mean-spirited, Democrats are committed to solving the tough issues facing all Americans. Our New Direction will advance a common agenda, seek common ground, and apply common sense in the service of the common good. The Quest for Universal Healthcare
SFYD Needs You: Recruitment for Committee Assistance
Important Year Ahead 2006 is an important year for California and an important year for SFYD. Help us prepare for the year ahead by volunteering for SFYD's fundraising committee. Stellar events and initiatives are planned - your talents are needed. Contact Julia Thornton at jl_thornton@hotmail.com Editor's Note: The SFYD Newsletter runs a regular Classified Section in the newsletter for political, campaign, or other related jobs/advertisements. If you'd like to advertise in the SFYD newsletter, email the editor, for inclusion possibilities. If you would like to contact the advertisers, do so directly as per the advertisement, not through SFYD. The Homeless Prenatal Program 2006 Americorps Vista Grant The Homeless Prenatal Program provides wraparound social services to more than 2000 low income, San Francisco families every year. Technology and volunteer staffing have become vital components of our ability to serve. We are expanding and publicizing the website that we developed for homeless families and case managers in San Francisco (http://helping-sf.org/). To finance the purchase of our new building we will be adding features to our organizational website to attract new donors and enable us transact donations online. In addition to these special projects, our 2006 AmeriCorps Vista will manage and integrate volunteers into our service programs and provide technology training and support to staff and clients. VISTA, Volunteers in Service to America, receive a monthly stipend, basic healthcare, childcare, and leave time. In addition the Homeless Prenatal Program provides a monthly bus pass. Volunteers are also eligible for food stamps. Members completing one year of service may choose to earn a $4725 education award or a $1200 end of service stipend. Please see www.americorps.org for more information regarding Americorps*VISTA program benefits and stipend. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact: Mary Coyne, Technology Center Coordinator, Homeless Prenatal Program, (415) 516-6336 K-12 EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFICER: Designed as a full-time, two-year limited term position, the Education and Youth Development Program Officer specifically leads the grant making activities of the Clorox Company Foundation housed at EBCF and the two-year EBCF community engagement and education program related to redesign of the Oakland Unified School District known as Expect Success! Send letter of interest and résumé to: Attn: Education and Youth Development Program Officer Search East Bay Community Foundation, 200 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612, or via e-mail to jobs@eastbaycf.org |
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There are two types of advocates, one who thinks something should happen because it feels right in their gut, and the other who knows it should happen because they understand the logic behind the movement. It's hard to win an argument based on gut, it's easier to do it based on logic. So what is the logic behind government sponsored insurance?
