Left Turn Only

Hope you can join us this Sunday afternoon at the Avid Reader (formerly Tower Books). Brad Parker and Ahjamu Makalani have a new book and a new plan to revitalize the Democratic Party and advance the progressive agenda. It promises to be a fascinating and timely presentation and discussion.

 

In Peace & Solidarity,

Paul B

 

 Sacramento Progressive Alliance

& Capital Area Progressives

Proudly Presents

The Progressive Speaker Series

Left Turn Only

Dispatches from the Progressive Underground

Brad Parker

with Ahjamu Makalani

Brad & Ahjamu are leaders of the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party

                                             

Sunday, February 28, 2:00pm

The Avid Reader (at Tower)

1600 Broadway, Sacramento

Info: 916-248-3970

 

 

 

Join the majority rule campaign!

You Can Help  End the Crisis in California!

Year after year our state continues its downward spiral:

financial crisis, gridlock, and the deterioration of our

public services: schools, parks, health care, public safety,

assistance for the poor, elderly, and disabled.

There’s one main reason:

Under California law, a two-thirds vote is required to pass

a budget or raise revenue. That means a minority of

legislators -- one-third plus one, in either the state Senate

or Assembly –– controls the legislature by saying no until

they get what they want. This is minority rule, not democracy.

The solution: bring democracy to California.

The Progressive Alliance has joined the California Majority Rule campaign; and we encourage you to join and work with us.

Sign up now at http://www.ca4democracy.com/

Who is this man? Bayard Rustin

Mr. Rustin was an unsung hero of the March On Washington and a man I'd only slightly heard of.

Listen here:

http://stateofthereunion.com/home/season-2/bayard-rustin

Jobs Now Rally

Over 400 workers, many of  them now unemployed,  marched  on the California State Capitol  for a a Jobs Now rally in Sacramento California today, Feb. 11.   The major chant was Jobs ! Jobs! Jobs!

Darrell Stienberg, Senate Pro temp California State Senate and numerous other speakers  called for the ending of the 2/3 vote rule in the California legislature as a means of building a progressive budget.

Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO was to have been there, but the snow storm in the east kept him from attending.  

Bill  Camp; Executive  Secretary of the Sacramento Central labor Council focused the issue,  “The Banks have received millions /billions in bailouts.  When  in the hell are they going to give a bailout to the working class?”

 U.S. Representative John Garamendi  said,  “Wall street took the entire economy into the tank. And, they got a bail out.  We want the money back. “

 Garamendi said that the House has passed a $120 Billion for Jobs for Main Street bill but it is being held in the U.S. Senate by the consistent use of the filibuster by the Republicans Senators with the support of 4-6 Democratic Senators.  Congressman Garamendi called for pressure on the Senate to pass the bill – with 51 votes. 

For more see the California Labor Federation.  Here; http://www.calaborfed.org/

California Jobs Rally : Trumka

Join Richard Trumka


President AFL-CIO 

Thursday, February 11^th @ 12 PM
State Capitol – North Steps

President Richard Trumka recently argued: "It's not time to leave it to any political party to take care of us once we put them in office. It's time to organize and mobilize as never before to make every elected or aspiring leader PROVE he or she will create the jobs we need in an economy we need with the healthcare we need.  I know we are the people who can mobilize a massive army to force elected leaders to deliver."

Protest state budget cuts - March 4

March 4, 2010.

March and Rally  for Education

IT IS UP TO US !
11AM. North Steps. State Capitol.

                          

 JOIN THE SACRAMENTO RALLY FOR CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE!

Students  and  Faculty, will march to demand a decent  budget for California’s schools and universities. Protests will occur around the state, at universities and work sites at the Capitol in Sacramento.  Please join us.

In the last two years California’s  k-12 schools have received over a  $16 Billion  cut back.  California presently ranks  45th  of the states in per pupil spending and last among the states in class size.  Now, the Governor proposes to reduce  k-12 spending by another  $2.4 Billion. The U.C’s and the CSU campuses have suffered over a  $2 billion cut while tuition and fees were increased over 30%.  Classes have been cut, graduation delayed, and faculty dismissed.  They must not be cut more.  We must work together to save public education.

For 2010, the Governor proposes truly draconian cuts in Cal Works, IHSS, Medi Cal and Children’s nutrition  among others-  each of which hurts to poor in our state.  The legislature must hear from us.

What caused this crisis?

“The reality is that we got into this mess because of an overwhelming excess of greed and stupidity on the part of the Wall Street bankers and the people deciding economic policy. “ Dean Baker.  Economist.  The bankers and finance capital caused this crisis- let them pay for it!

The   California Faculty Association (CFA), the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and California Teachers Association (CTA) have endorsed the Day of Action.

 Flyer by Sacramento Progressive Alliance.  www.sacramentopa.blogspot.com

The current  economic crisis has forced the cutting of higher education, of k-12 education, and of social welfare systems. What caused this crisis ? It was caused by the greed and avarice of the financial class and aided by the politicians of both major political parties.

Major banks and corporations looted the economy creating an international meltdown.  Now, they have been rewarded with bail out money.  The crisis was not caused by students, teachers, public employees  nor recipients of social security.   Now we have cuts in parks,  in universities, in nurses, libraries.  School children did not create this crisis.  Foster care children did not create this crisis.

The major bankers, finance capitalists in the U.S. robbed the bank last year  – and the federal treasury.  They took hundreds of billions of dollars – and you and I will have to pay for it.    Goldman Sachs alone took $10 Billion.  For example,  Ken Lewis of Bank of America received an 81 million dollar pension.  They have not even been punished.  One thing we should do is arrest the top 100 executives and CEO’s of these companies, give them a fair trial, and throw them in jail.  Until we arrest some people – there will be no real changes.” 

Details of the march and rally will follow. Please mark the date. 

Tea Party - Socialism

A Feb.4, 2010 poll by CNN says,

33% of the U.S. supports the Tea Party.

A Feb. 4, 2010  poll by Gallop say,

36% in the U.S.  have a positive view of socialism.

Now, which one of these- Tea Party or Socialism gets access to mainstream media.?

Firemen debate majority rule !

Majority rule campaign

Dueling initiatives.

            The organization Repair California is circulating an initiative 09-0067, for the fall 2010 ballot calling for a  California constitutional convention.  They have paid staff and signature gatherers.

            The volunteer  organization Californians for Democracy is circulating an initiative 09-0037, calling for a change in the  current constitution The California Democracy Act which simply says, “All legislative actions on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote.”