We have seen some amazing days in Egypt, and it's provided a better lesson than anyone could have ever wanted for how taking action, against long odds, can really get something done.
A secret police mechanism has been pushed aside, an Army has chosen not to attack The People, and a President who was backed by the "full faith and credit" of the US Government on Friday was being told by that same US Government on Tuesday that it's time to go.
The People, in fact, spoke so loudly that Mr. Mubarak has informed Egyptians that he's going to "pursue corruption", which, if taken literally, could eventually look like a puppy chasing its own tail.
The People, however, are unhappy with his answer, and they're speaking even louder yet...even to the point of being willing to take beatings, gunfire, and, believe it or not...camel charges...to make their voices heard.
And that got me to thinking about Social Security.
You know, we are facing the potential for a great big Social Security fight for pretty much the entire term of the 112th Congress-and it seems to me that a series of great big "Cairo-style" marches might be the way to make our voices heard, so that this Congress understands that great big benefit cuts are something that we will not tolerate.
Alright, so you can't be everywhere at once. But through the magic of modern technology, you can still be in one place and see Van Jones at the Michigan Summit, too.
Today at 12:30 p.m., green jobs pioneer Van Jones will address the Michigan Summit, bringing to Michigan his message about lifting everyone up with a strong clean energy economy. Now you can watch his speech, whether you're able to attend or not!
Maybe you're not able to be with us in East Lansing as Van shares his vision for a Michigan re-invented by the continued growth of the clean energy economy.
But through the magic of the internet and some special wizardry (read: Live stream), you will be able to watch live via your computer as Van shares the importance of making sure everyone can participate in the clean energy economy, not just a privileged few.
We know the right policies are what will bring Michigan back to the leading edge once again, but we need you to weigh in on just which ones we should make a priority.
Make sure to tweet about the Michigan Summit using the hashtag #misummit, we will!
A conversation about real reforms that will bring real, lasting change to Michigan wouldn’t be complete without a serious appraisal of our economy and how we can rebuild and recover.
The list of challenges are long: unemployment, poverty, rising utility costs, years of pollution and negative impacts on our natural treasures. But Van Jones looks at that list and sees a way to address the problems with one great solution: green jobs.
Jones, the former White House advisor, has been a pioneer in exploring the place where human rights, disadvantaged communities and clean energy jobs meet. Having access to his knowledge and innovative thinking are vital to the progressive community as we set our agenda for change in 2010 to address the extraordinary challenges and opportunities we face. Jones is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, a leading Washington, DC-based think tank.
In case you haven’t read my other posts on the Summit (here and here), the 4th annual Michigan Summit is taking place from 9 am to 5 pm on June 12 in lovely East Lansing, Michigan. You can register now online to secure your place at the Summit!
Among the 43 speakers and panelists joining Jones at the Summit are economist Dr. Robert Johnson, a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, who took on “Too Big To Fail” banks in his testimony before Congress and helped shape the landscape for real Wall Street reform before Congress. He’ll lead discussion on a 2010 reform agenda for Michigan that creates good-paying jobs, strengthens communities, improves education, protects families, enhances the environment and expands freedoms.
The Roosevelt group, with upwards of 500 Michigan college scholars, will present at the Summit key proposals emerging from its Midwest 2.0 project identifying innovative revitalization jobs and economic policies for cities.
Leading lawmakers, innovative thinkers, successful doers. They’ll be at The 2010 Michigan Summit. Will you? Register today and join us as we set the agenda for progress in 2010 and gain the skills we need to make it happen! Register today!
Attention members of the Progressive Community. America Votes and it's Partners are traveling across the state this summer to get progressive leaders together in one room.
It is a project that we inherited from the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID) back in 2007 when GRIID moved to Mediamouse.org. In the years since the Directory was initially created in 2003, it had become quite out of date, with many of the groups that are listed becoming inactive or contact information changing.
However, we are pleased to announce that the Directory has been completely updated and revised. We now list over 100 groups in the West Michigan area that are working broadly on progressive/left social change efforts. It is obviously quite difficult to determine what is "progressive" or "left", but we believe that the groups listed are doing generally solid work that will be of interest to people looking to get involved in social change work.
We also have written a new mission statement that is more consistent with what we are doing here at Mediamouse.org: "The Progressive Directory of Western Michigan connects people with groups that are working towards a more egalitarian world/community with the goal of encouraging folks to get involved." We are hoping that the Directory will be one vehicle through which people will get involved in local activism.
Moreover, we have changed the way the Directory is maintained. Rather than being an "opt-in" Directory in which groups are required to join a listserv and participate in networking that previously (although not for several years) included monthly meetings, we now just list mission statements and general contact information in order to keep the information more current.
Join State Representative Andy Meisner's fight to protect our property values and prevent foreclosures at the official launch of Andy’s 2008 campaign to become our next Oakland County Treasurer.
Official Launch of the Andy Meisner for Oakland County Treasurer Campaign Date: Sunday, April 27, 2008 Time: The event begins at 2:00 PM Fees: None; free and open to the public Location: Troy Community Center, Room 303 3179 Livernois, Troy, MI 48083
Following the launch, interested volunteers may join Andy and his team in going door to door in Troy to bring his plan for restoring Oakland County's prosperity directly to the voters.
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself."
- Thomas Paine
I believe that all humans are created equal.
I believe that all humans have inalienable rights regardless of their race, gender, religion, age or sexual orientation.
I believe in effective government.
Smaller government for the sake of smaller government is ineffective government.
I believe that man is essentially good and that government is created to help man achieve his fullest potential.
I believe that I am my brother's keeper and that we are all in this together.
I believe in Democracy.
I believe in the ability of educated people to govern themselves using reason and conscience.
I know that an educated citizenry is necessary to a functioning Democracy.
I know that only an unbiased media can serve as a fourth estate in the checks and balances of our government.
I believe that one purpose of government is to do for the people what they cannot do for themselves. That means building the things necessary for civilized society, such as infrastructure, schools, roads, power lines, courts and the institutions to maintain them. That means protecting the people from military attack, crime and from exploitation by their fellow man. It means helping the people after natural disasters. It means enforcing laws and setting standards for our society. It means maintaining a floor below which we do not allow our fellow citizens to fall. It means inspecting our food and it means maintaining the quality of our air and our water.
I believe in regulated capitalism. I believe that a free market can only exist with the regulation and oversight of government. A market without government regulation is a black market.
I believe that taxes are the dues we pay to live in a civilized society.
I think that cutting taxes without cutting spending is reckless and foolish.
I believe that conservative "borrow and spend" economic policies are suicidal.
I believe that true freedom of religion means allowing people to worship any god they choose and no god if they so choose. I believe that if the government were to give any one religion favor over others it sets a precedent that is dangerous to all religious liberty.
I believe in the power of diplomacy.
I believe that war is a last resort.
I believe that the key to winning the fight against radical Islam is to liberalize their society. We need to give them jobs not guns. We need to put them to work rebuilding their countries. We need to win their hearts and minds and we will never do that with bombs and bullets.
I believe we are a nation of laws, not men.
I believe in the Constitution and what it represents as a contract between the governing and the governed and a written boundary which includes checks and balances.
I believe it is the duty, not the political convenience, of elected representatives to hold their fellow branches of government accountable when high crimes and misdemeanors and subversion of the Constitution are happening right in front of their eyes.
Lastly, I believe in the right of human beings to throw off oppressive government when it no longer represents their best interests.
Political strategist calls first-ever event cutting edge, creative and crucial
Organizers for the first-ever Michigan Policy Summit announced today that political strategist Donna Brazile, will deliver the keynote address for the event on Sept. 8 in Lansing. The event is being organized by Michigan’s progressive community and will be held at the Lansing Center from 9:00am time to 4:00pm. The press and the public are invited.
“Michigan’s progressive community is honored to have Donna Brazile at our inaugural summit,” said Lynn Jondahl, Executive Director of the Michigan Prospect and former gubernatorial candidate. “We look forward to gaining insight from this extremely talented strategist on ways to get our state and nation back on the right track and to make sure government is working for people and not just the powerful special interests.”
The Michigan Policy Summit is an unprecedented gathering of the state’s progressive community to examine ways labor, environment and social justice groups can come together to move Michigan forward. The summit will provide forums on key issues facing the state as well as opportunities for leaders to network and share ideas and best practices.
(This is excellent, I hope to see more like this from other members of our MichLib community! - promoted by LiberalLucy)
The following video blog was originally published as a viewpoint in the Kalamazoo Gazette on Tuesday July 10, 2007 under the title "End stinginess, see taxes as a patriotic duty." Anonymous hate-mail I received afterwards accused me of being a "socialist" and engaging in "class warfare" and told me to "ask John Edwards about $400 haircuts."
Hey Michigan, let's be patriotic about something other than tax cuts!
(If you're attending tomorrow, please stop by the blogger registration table and say hello! - promoted by lpackard)
A dynamic, first-of-its kind daylong policy forum initiated by Michigan's progressive community is taking place in Lansing on Saturday, and we want you to be a part of it.
Michigan Policy Summit 2007: Investing In Michigan's Future will galvanize participants behind an action agenda to move Michigan forward. Powerful forward looking speakers, breakout sessions, interactive forums, and action items will all contribute to shaping the policy landscape for Michigan's Future.
Health Care, Clean Energy, and Education will headline our agenda, as advocates, policy experts, decision makers, and community members ( and you!) discuss the state of Michigan's Future, and what it means to make an investment in our Great Lakes State.
Helping to plan this day are representatives from the women's rights, faith based, health care, student, education, labor, environmental, civil rights, and social services communities.
This is an historic event, and we want you to take part!
If you have questions about the Summit or would like to get involved, please contact Pete Woiwode by email or call 517.381.3433. There will be free wifi at the summit for liveblogging.
