Chair’s message

I want to thank Jonathan Cohn, Senior Editor, The New Republic, and author of Sick: The Untold Story of America’s Health Care Crisis --- and the People Who Pay the Price, for kindly preparing our feature article this month. I heartedly recommend you pick up a copy of his book (and, remember, if you use the Amazon.com link at our website, we receive a portion of the sales). It’s well written and, although the stories are sad, it makes a compelling case for universal health care – privately delivered but publicly managed.

Here we are, the richest, most powerful nation on earth, yet over 15% of our population has no health care coverage whatsoever and the United States has the unique distinction of being the only modern nation refusing to provide health care coverage to all its citizens!

Not only is this morally and ethically wrong, but we’re realizing it’s increasingly economically unsound. Business and industry is suffering with unaffordable health care benefit costs and difficulty competing in our global economy. General Motors, for example, claims it must add $1,500 to the sticker price of each auto it sells to pay workers’ health care benefits.

Back in 1949, United Auto Workers (UAW) chief Walter Reuther recognized the chickens would eventually come home to roost when GM offered to fund health care and pension benefits during contract negotiations with the union. Reuther felt strongly that the risk of the future liabilities needed to be spread across “the biggest and most diverse group possible,” not a single company in a single industry. Unfortunately, his wisdom did not prevail and we are now suffering widespread health care benefit and pension funding crises throughout many industries.

Declining corporate profits or share values do strange bedfellows make! On February 7th, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Wal-Mart, and other major corporations announced “Better Health Care Together,” a collaborative union – business effort to achieve universal health care by 2012.

I’m not sure what this collaborative group has accomplished since last winter’s press conference, but the call for universal health care seems to have grown – not only among business and industry but also among presidential candidates compared to four years ago. All Democratic presidential contenders are talking about some form of universal health care. (Republicans, somewhat surprisingly, haven’t yet seemed to acknowledge the problem).

I commend Governor Gregoire and Democratic legislative leaders for adopting Senate Bill 5093 ensuring all children in our state have health insurance coverage by 2010. And I applaud Congressman Adam Smith for making lower health care costs a legislative priority (see Smith’s column elsewhere in this newsletter). But we, as a nation, must do much more to avert this health care and economic crisis. Ensuring we elect a President who supports and will implement universal health care coverage for all Americans in 2008 is not too soon to begin.

As we ramp up for next year’s elections, please be sure to let the candidate of your choice know we need universal health care coverage for all citizens!

Sick: The Untold Story of America’s Health Care Crisis ---and the People Who Pay the Price

By Jonathan Cohn

(Editor’s Note: Jonathan Cohn is senior editor at The New Republic where he has written about national politics and its impact on American communities for the past decade. He is also senior fellow at the think tank Demos. Cohn, who has been a media fellow with the Kaiser Family Foundation, has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, Rolling Stone, Slate, and The Washington Monthly. His latest book, Sick: The Untold Story of America’s Health Care Crisis – and the People Who Pay the Price may be purchased via our website at: www.thurstondemocrats.org)

Twelve years after Bill Clinton's failed attempt to create universal health care, a new generation of reformers -- led, again, by the Democrats -- are trying again. But will this effort turn out any differently? That depends, in part, on whether the reformers can expose some of the popular myths about universal health care—starting with the idea that universal health care systems abroad aren't as good as the system we have here. A closer look shows why that argument just isn't true.

No other country in the world comes even close to spending 16 percent of its wealth on medical care, as the United States does. Yet there is precious little evidence that our extra spending makes us healthier. On relatively crude measures, such as infant mortality and life expectancy, the United States is about average for a highly industrialized nation. On more sophisticated measures such as “potential years of life lost” or “quality adjusted life years,” which experts have devised in order to measure specifically the way the health care system works, the United States is actually a little worse than average.

Of course, if you try to engage a critic of universal health care, you probably won’t hear about these statistics. You’ll hear instead about rationing and waiting lines, followed by a horror story from Britain or Canada. These arguments against universal health care are more potent than most others, because they are at the heart of the public’s ambivalence: the fear among more affluent Americans that with universal health care, they will lose the access to medical care they already have.

But the facts tell a different story. The stories about Canada are wildly exaggerated. And the pinched access to services in Britain, at least, isn’t a product of universal health care. It’s a product of universal health care on the cheap. The British spend just 7 percent of their national wealth on health care, less than half of what Americans spend. It’s possible to spend more than that—and get more—while still spending less than the United States does. A perfect example is Japan. Relative to the United States, Japan spends about 60 percent as much of its wealth on health care. But the Japanese don’t wait for medical ser vices. And they have more “stuff.” In fact, Japan leads the world in the availability of technology such as CT scanners and MRI machines.

Still, the best showcase for what universal health care can achieve may be France. France provides insurance to its residents through quasi-independent sickness funds, which are overseen by the government. And the insurance covers most health services, including visits to doctors, hospitalization, and prescription drugs. The French finance this insurance through taxes and general government revenue, rather than premiums, and impose substantial cost-sharing. But in order to prevent that cost-sharing from penalizing people with serious medical problems—the way catastrophic-only policies in the United States threaten to do—the French government limits every individual’s out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, the government has identified thirty chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, for which there is usually no cost sharing at all, in order to make sure people don’t skimp on preventive care that might head off future complications. Private insurance has a place, too: The French can purchase supplementary coverage to pay for what the national health insurance plans don’t. (People too poor to buy it on their own can get such supplemental coverage directly from the government.)

Like every country with universal health care, France exerts more control over the diffusion of medical technology than the United States does, scrutinizing new treatments and procedures in order to test whether they add clinical value and are reasonably cost-effective. This is precisely the kind of control that spooks many Americans, who fear that creating a universal health insurance program here will mean destroying access to cutting-edge medical technology. But at a time when the cost of just one medical episode dwarfs what many average citizens earn in a year, all health care systems—even ours!— must make choices between how much they are willing to spend for medical care and what they expect to get in return. The difference is that in France, those decisions are made openly and explicitly, by officials who are ultimately accountable to voters, rather than secretly and implicitly by companies accountable to shareholders. They are still difficult decisions, to be sure. But in universal health care systems, they tend to be fairer, more equitable, and simply less painful.

The proof is in the results. The French have easy access to medical care—easier, in fact, than their American counterparts. A Frenchman can see whatever doctor he wants whenever he wants, a privilege even most affluent Americans surrendered long ago, thanks to managed care. Waiting lists and lines, the supposed drawbacks of universal health care, appear to be nonexistent. And how good is the medical care itself? Although they have slightly less technology than we do, statistically the French seem to do slightly better than Americans on most measures of health outcomes. (This is yet another reminder that in health care, more is not always better.) One recent study comparing care in Manhattan and Paris found the care in Paris to be better, largely because the Parisians have better access to routine and effective primary care—which is typical in universal health insurance systems. It also turns out that in the international survey of public approval, the one in which the United States finished fourteenth out of seventeen, the French finished first.

The French health care system isn’t perfect. No system is. If you talk to the French, they’ll cite some of the same concerns we have here—particularly the uneven quality of medicine and the fact that the demand for technologically advanced care always seems to outpace the desire to pay for it. Yet the French universal health care system seems no less capable of addressing these problems; indeed, the centralization of authority and bargaining power suggests, if anything, that it ought to have an advantage. And while it’s possible that more intensive research—the kind that’s already been done in Britain, Canada, and Germany (where English is more widely spoken)—will reveal hitherto unreported flaws in France’s scheme, it’s hard to imagine they would seriously outweigh the system’s virtues. That’s particularly true when you consider its most unambiguous advantage over the American system: financial barriers to care are virtually nonexistent.

Indeed, the critics who carp about rationing abroad, whether real or imagined, never acknowledge the fact that rationing is a reality in our system, too. The difference is that we ration by income and by medical condition. And given the way our health care system is now evolving--with employer coverage declining, putting even more strain on the country's weak safety net--rationing seems likely to get worse with time.

Senators Murray and Cantwell to Participate in Healthcare Forum in Olympia

When: Monday, July 2
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Where: The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. N.W., Olympia

Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell will participate in this important healthcare forum. A panel will highlight many local healthcare concerns, giving the two Senators an opportunity to listen as well as ask questions and respond to the issues. There will be time for questions, answers and discussions following the panel presentations.

You may submit questions in advance by going to “The Olympian” website at: http://www.theolympian.com/html/services/forms/healthcare.shtml.

You can read about the work Senator Murray is doing in the area of healthcare by going to: http://www.murray.senate.gov/healthcare/hc-work.cfm.

You can read about the work Senator Cantwell is doing in the area of healthcare by going to: http://cantwell.senate.gov/issues/health_care.cfm

News from the 3rd Congressional District

By Rep. Brian Baird

One of the most exciting things about being in the majority at last in Congress is that we can work on pro-active, positive initiatives on a host of important topics. As a former Community College and University Professor, and in my role as Chair of the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, I am deeply concerned about a growing gap between the performance of U.S. high school students versus international peers in science, math and related fields of study. To help remedy this, I am the lead author oflegislation to reauthorize the National Science Foundation, including its programs to improve math and science education. This bill, along with other legislation from our full committee, will provide much needed resources for advanced scientific research and for science and math education. I am especially proud that we have placed a strong emphasis on Community College education and on teacher training and support in these bills.

I also have a long-standing interest in career and technical education, what we used to refer to as vocational education. Although more than 17 million people attend career and technical education programs, and in spite of the fact that a majority of major industries and employers report difficulty finding trained and skilled workers, this topic is virtually ignored in Congressional debates and key funding was slated for complete elimination by the Bush administration. To correct these oversights, I have created the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus, the mission of which is to substantially increase Congressional and local attention to this vital element of our educational system. Our ultimate goal is that all candidates for office, and the policies of both the legislative and executive branches, give equal respect and attention to career and technical education and to the students, employers and families who benefit from such programs.

Finally, I believe there are some exciting opportunities to use technology to help improve the English language facilities of immigrants and the foreign language capabilities of our English speaking citizens. Legislation I have introduced would help create two, 24 hour TV channels dedicated specifically to English language and foreign language instruction. Accessible round the clock and free of charge to all viewers, these programs could potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars annually in translation costs while simultaneously improving the competitiveness of our own workforce in the global economy.

I will continue to work on creative, constructive solutions to our educational challenges and would welcome any suggestions for other initiatives.

News from the 9th Congressional District

By Rep. Adam Smith

2007 brought big changes in Congress. I am enjoying life in the Majority and am proud of the important legislation that we have passed this year, including raising the federal minimum wage, cutting student loan rates, rolling back subsidies for big oil, passing ethics reforms to clean up Washington, and committing to a pay-as-you-go strategy for responsible budgeting.

I am committed to challenging President Bush’s failed strategy in Iraq. Our occupation is a rallying point for extremists around the world. Our troops are being asked to referee a civil war at great cost in lives and readiness, and we simply cannot give the President a blank check for more of the same. I voted against the recent supplemental funding bill because I did not feel that it went far enough in pushing the President to begin the redeployment of our troops in the region.

My other legislative priorities for this year include fighting global poverty and lowering health care costs through the use of Health Information Technology. I continue to work hard to combat global poverty; earlier this year I reintroduced the Global Poverty Act (H.R. 1302) with a corresponding Senate bill that was introduced by Senator Cantwell.

In January, I accepted the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities (better known as the Terrorism Subcommittee) in the House Armed Services Committee. This new role allows me to ensure that our Special Forces troops are adequately equipped with the tools they need. My work on the Subcommittee to help craft a smarter, more effective strategy to fight the spread of terrorist networks took me overseas on a 10-day fact-finding trip to Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom, where I spoke with troops on the ground about the challenges we face from al-Qaeda and their violent totalitarian ideology. I look forward to the challenges ahead as Chairman of the Terrorism Subcommittee. My committee work now also includes a position on the Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, which will enhance my ability to support the critical work of our soldiers and airmen at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.

As you may know, I have endorsed the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama for President. At a time when our country faces deep internal divisions, I strongly feel that Barack’s ability to bring people together is much needed.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you this summer.

Precinct Committee Officer Preparedness for 2008

By Elizabeth Shepard, TCD 1st Vice Chair

With the upcoming unprecedented Presidential elections in 2008 do yourself a favor now, first be sure to have a proxy for your precinct, this will help you with the duties you have to perform and will allow a representative from your precinct to be at meetings that you are not able to attend.

Second, what I would really like is for every Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) to form a precinct committee. I am sure there are other like-minded people in your precinct that could help you cover more area and more of the work so that you don't have to do it all. This would also help all of Thurston County Democrats because you would be involving more people in our fundraising and “friend”-raising activities. With a committee you will no longer have to doorbell alone and you will have a group of people to help you with phoning and other duties.

Finally, with a committee you meet people who know other people and they will bring in even more people to help out!

As always please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your precinct and your position as a PCO. Phone: 943-9448, cell: 791-9179 Email: elizabethshepard@thurstondemocrats.org

Leadership through Service

By Jim Cooper, Chair, 22nd Legislative District Democrats

Bill Clinton put it best when he was explaining his desire to redefine the meaning of citizenship in America and said, “…If you're asked in school 'What does it mean to be a good citizen?' I want the answer to be, 'Well, to be a good citizen, you have to obey the law, you've got to go to work or be in school, you've got to pay your taxes and --- oh, yes, you have to serve....”.

From the time I was a small boy, the picture of citizenship that was painted for me by my community was one of leadership and responsibility. At home, church, school and various civic activities, I was taught that we are all a part of the same community and within that community there are many different types of people and perspectives. What unites us all is the responsibility to participate in our local, national and world communities.

If we as Democrats and citizens want to influence our community, we must understand that our everyday actions influence the world and accept the responsibility of citizenship. Modeling leadership through simple acts of service will strengthen our communities, making them better for all. Let’s join the millions of Americans who lead by example showing commitment to their communities through volunteer service.

In light of our position as leaders in our community, it is time for us to step up and serve. I challenge you to evaluate your individual contributions and ask yourself “Am I carrying my weight in the community?” and “What are the attributes I bring to the table?”. Armed with the results of this self-exploration, whether you are planning to volunteer at the food bank, run for office, be a mentor, join the Thurston County Democrats, support a candidate, or any of the million other ways to serve, please join me in being a proud citizen and community leader!

The next Leg. District 22 meeting will be July 23 from 6:00-7:00pm at the Thurston County Courthouse Building 2, Room 152. Contact Jim Cooper at LD22Dems@comcast.net

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and Auction – A great success!

This year, the event was held at the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) and the scrumptious dinner, prepared by the SPSCC Culinary School students, was a gourmet delight.

Our theme “Democratic Women Rock!” gave our special guest speaker, Gov. Christine Gregoire an opportunity to congratulate all the women elected to offices locally and statewide and urged us to continue building on recent electoral successes.

Jeff Kingsbury, at the top of his form as auctioneer for the evening, adeptly motivated the audience to bid generously and the results were outstanding! We raised over $10,000 from the auction alone and over $5500 for the Evalyn Poff Scholarship. Ten percent of the net proceeds from the auction will be donated to Community Youth Services, a local non-profit social service agency serving nearly 4000 children, teens and families each year.

Also, the Thurston County Democrats' Democrat of the Year award was given to Jerry Broadbent who is the Precinct Committee Officer from Bucoda. Jerry has worked tirelessly in his precinct and Legislative District to educate, share information and organize. His work is truly grassroots activism at it's best!

You can see photos of the event (courtesy of Mike Pelela) here

Thank you for helping make this year's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and Auction a resounding success!

2007 Evalyn Poff Scholarship Recipients

We are pleased to announce the Thurston County Democrats have selected four Thurston County high school seniors to receive the first annual Evalyn Poff Scholarship.

Evalyn was well known in local Democrat circles as a former chairwoman of the Thurston County Democrats, state Democrat of the Year in 2000 and campaign finance director for several candidates, state elected officials and political action committees, including Thurston County Democrats.

She served on the county Human Services Review Council, an eight-member group of citizens and local elected officials who make recommendations on how finite public funds in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County should be spent on an infinite number of worthy social service causes.

Sadly, Evalyn passed away last year after a brief illness and left us with some awfully big shoes to fill.

We hope these recipients will carry on her tradition of service to their community and will use this scholarship to better themselves and the world around them. The 2007 Evalyn Poff Scholarship recipients are:

Courtney Hills (River Ridge High School – GPA 3.95) – Courtney will be attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. She will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and then will continue on to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Forrest Rice (Capital High School – GPA 3.95) – Forrest will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He is interested in many subjects and plans to narrow his focus during his early months at college. His interests include Math, science, history and social science.

Samantha Mack (Olympia High School GPA – 4.0) – Samantha will be attending Linfield College in McMinnville, OR where she will pursue a career in English or Communications.

Sarah Colton (Olympia HS – GPA 3.976) – Sarah will be attending Whitman College, in Walla Walla, WA where she will major in Anthropology and minor in Spanish or Latin American Studies.

Dynamic Democrat: Dorothy O’Loughlin

By Barbara Abegg

In her home study, tiny Dorothy O’Loughlin seems dwarfed by all the plaques and awards given to her over the years. But this perpetual motion machine shows no signs of slowing down—mentally or physically—given all of her 96 years. You would never guess that she is 96, as she appears to be about 60.

She boasts about how she’s been a faithful Democrat all of her life, having been born in Massachusetts and still bearing that broad Boston accent. Don’t make the mistake of asking her if she’s from New York because she takes that as a put-down. Attending almost all Democratic events and supporting most local candidates, she has dedicated herself to helping the party. Living in Lacey, she, of course, supports and knows council members well. She even wears a watch with the word “Lacey” on the front, given to her by a council member. However, she also has worked for Olympia council members. She loves being a Democrat, working for the party, and broadcasting her allegiance.

One award that she is most proud of is a special Resolution from the State House of Representatives, given her two years ago, honoring her for 25 years of volunteer work on behalf of the Timberline Library System and the House. In addition to recognizing her many hours of service, it even mentions the chocolate-chip cookies that she bakes and gives to everyone, earning her the name of the “cookie lady” to many. Rep. Sam Hunt was the main impetus behind the resolution and surprised her one day on the floor of the House.

Although her professional work history is that of working with the federal government in the Army Engineers for 27 years, as well as with the Navy for eight, her “vocation” now is serving the Lacey Library and the Thurston Service for the Home Bound and Physically Handicapped where she is the Outreach Coordinator. Although she no longer drives a car, the library has hired a driver; and she still travels the area, bringing books to those in need who cannot get to the library. She gets to know the people she serves so well that she knows what kind of books they would like to read. When she provides books or audio book equipment, Mayor Virgil Clarkson says, “It’s always done with a smile and a great deal of sincerity. She is an amazing person.” Opening the Lacey Library every workday by 7:15 a.m. is in itself amazing. However, being a “hyperactive person,” she says that her work keeps her going, both mentally and physically.

Dorothy doesn’t spend all of her time with the Democrats and the library; she still keeps up her home in Vista Village by planting bulbs and interesting plants, and collecting décor from her various trips. In the past few years, she has traveled to China, San Diego, and Yosemite National Park. Her daughter, “also a Democrat naturally,” often travels with her and lives nearby. Her patio is delightful with birdcalls and falling water sounds, but squirrels beware—she is tired of their hijinks.

No more room exists on her wall for recognition of her accomplishments, but that is not the reason for the fate of the latest award. When she received a recent recognition from President George W. Bush for her volunteerism, she tore it up. Why? Well, she doesn’t approve of what he has been doing. People have told her to tape it back together, but she smiled as she showed the pieces. What a faithful Democrat!

A humble person, Dorothy says she hasn’t done much, but she’s certainly an example of how all of us can use our time to volunteer and serve others. This service must be the secret of her staying so nimble and young—the secret to longevity. “I don’t know when I will quit,” she said, then laughed and added: “When I collapse.” We hope she never does.

“All Men Are Created Equal” – So What About the Rest of Us?

Reflections of a Japanese-American Lithuanian Jewish Lawyer on Democracy and Diversity.

By Reiko Callner

(Editor's Note: Reiko is a longtime community activist, a former prosecutor, and immediate past chair of the Human Rights Commission.)

America’s democratic freedoms are established by our laws, and, hopefully, protected by our legal institutions. Many people believe, myself included, that we live in the greatest nation ever devised. Civic participation - voting, serving on juries, serving the community as activists, appointees, elected officials—is essential to preserving our democracy. Full participation as a citizen in this country – being a “real American,” is full existence as a human being. In a truly representative democracy, full participation as citizens should be as diverse as our population, yet currently, minority participation in virtually all areas of leadership in our country lags far behind that ideal. With a population projected to be comprised of a majority of people of color within 30 to 50 years, the complexion of our democracy -- and the symbols of our American heritage -- are in for some major change.

The central premise of an organized democracy is that people are different. If all thought alike, or worshipped alike, then establishment of freedom of speech and religion would not be necessary. Our historical practice has not kept pace with these ideals. “Real Americans,” from our founding fathers on, have traditionally been men, been white, been Christian, had wealth. Under our Constitution, government leaders gain power by legal, peaceful means; all citizens enjoy basic rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Individuals as well as groups are protected by law from unfair government actions or unequal treatment that may take away their lives, property, or freedom. Yet women, people of color, and the poor, and those young enough to be drafted, but too young to vote, were without these basic democratic rights for decades after the establishment of the Constitution. Much blood was spilled, and battles fought, for full recognition. And, we’re not there yet.

What do I mean by a “real American?” An actual human being, to be taken seriously, whose rights are to be protected and whose dignity is cherished. Slavery, Jim Crow, the internment of Japanese Americans, the disenfranchisement of drafted youth embody some of the more egregious limits of our practical democratic vision. But indulge me, I mean to get personal, here (see title). You are a real person to me, viscerally, emotionally, if you’re like me. It’s much easier for me to identify with your experience: your joy, your suffering, if it’s like mine. If I’ve experienced foods and celebrations from my family’s country of origin and know to love that tradition deeply, if I was punched in the face because I’m not white or seen someone get up from a seat on the subway to move away from me or was spoken to slowly and loudly because my English might be bad (and I might therefore be stupid), I can relate to someone else’s life experiences on those scores much more fully. Conversely, if I’ve not had those experiences, they’re harder to empathize with, or even to contemplate as real. Not impossible, just harder.

The current campaign season, over-exposed as it is, is actually pretty thrilling. Just barely within my lifetime, the first Catholic was elected president. True, he was shot, but the election of a Catholic was previously unthinkable. And now, from the Democratic Party, we really could have a woman! An African American! An Hispanic! (Well, maybe not him, he’s overly qualified and under-telegenic.) But for pity’s sake, can we please, please have a Democrat, this time?

In My View

In My View Guidelines:

1. Must be a topic related to civic or political issues;
2. Must be 100 or fewer words;
3. Must be submitted to TCD newsletter editor (info@thurstondemocrats.org) no later than the 15th of the December, March, June or September;
4. TCD reserves the right to choose which letters are published, and, if chosen, letters to the editor may be edited due to space limitations only;
5. Contributor must include full name including middle initial, city/town of residence, and contact telephone number (for editorial verification if needed; telephone number will not be published);
6. The Thurston County Blue blog is available for anyone interested in writing more about a topic than the "Letter to the Editor" section can accommodate. Please visit www.thurstondemocrats.org/blue begin the discussion today!

***

I found Teresa Syloras Lovvaad’s article in the April 2007 newsletter, “Listen Up: People of Color Uncensored”, deeply offensive. She makes unsupportable generalizations about white women, due to her disappointing experience as a leader in National Organization of Women, an organization, which does not speak of all women or all white women. How does she know that white women look at issues in black and white, and that this is an advantage? There is persuasive data to the contrary (“In a Different Voice” by Carol Gilligan). Ms. Lovvaad engages in the same narrow-minded conduct that she criticizes. Her advice, “don’t change for anyone” and “stop [a] desire to help and understand us”, is the foundation of violence in the world today. She has the right to be “uncensored”, but I was disappointed to see such a hateful article in our newsletter. Why not send her to another publication or the nearest street corner? By publishing her diatribe, the TCDCC is contributing to the arrogance of everyone who believes their “absolute truth” is the only one.

Clydia J. Cuykendall, Olympia

This is just a quick note to thank and congratulate you and all the Thurston Dems for such a successful JJ Dinner!!

You have all truly transformed the organization into one of the most effective and vibrant in the state and I applaud & admire what you’ve done.

Keep up the great work!

Congressman Brian Baird

Why Al Gore? I’m about half way through The Assault on Reason and it has already brought me to tears. It breaks my heart that this man is not our President. We’ve gone through six years of waste – wasted lives, both American and Iraqi – wasted treasure – and wasted respect and standing, both within and without this great Nation. Where is our Constitution? Where is our due process? When did the Geneva Convention get quaint? Why is it impossible to make good on our promise to each other in terms of social security when we can spend billions for war profiteers and contractors? Why was it a crime for Nixon to eavesdrop on a Democratic political office but Bush can eavesdrop on everyone of us with impunity? How can we stand idly by and allow New Orleans to still be in the condition it is today? Karl Rove has inhabited the persona of Winston Smith and his Ministry of Truth has begat “Clear Skies Initiative”, “Healthy Forests”, “Leave No Child Behind.”

Are we going to allow big media and big business to buy our next President? Are we going to be fooled by political and poll-driven image consultants who create a false package for us to vote for? We can take back our democracy and Constitution. We can demand we get the President we want – not the one we’re being sold.

Read Al Gore’s book. Watch An Inconvenient Truth. Read his speeches like the one he made in 2002 on Iraq and the War, in 2003 on Freedom and Security, 2004 on Fear and its Political Uses and Abuses, also in 2004 on Democracy in Grave Danger where he comments on institutionalized dishonesty in this current administration, 2005 on Breaking the Rules to Destroy Our Courts and later that same year The Treat to American Democracy: The Media and Political Discourse, and 2006 on the Limits of Executive Power: Restoring the Rule of Law. None of these speeches got wide media coverage but they are all available on the Internet.

Don’t we deserve a smart, principled leader? Don’t we desperately need a leader who respects the law, our Constitution, our future? Someone who loves our Country, not power? Someone who understands and has experience making our Government work efficiently and effective for all of us?

Would Al Gore allow FEMA to jerk off New Orleans and allow it to be forgotten? Allow the FDA to be neutered in the name of “free trade” profits and let China poison food supply without adequate inspections or quarantines? Would he authorize torture in our names? Would he support an Attorney General that either has the most extensive case of amnesia I’ve even seen or is a liar? Would we be wasting our troops and treasure in a endless pantomime?

Please join me in asking, begging if necessary, Al Gore to run for President. I fear our future if we settle for less again.

The Olympia Chapter of Draft Al Gore for President meets the first Tuesday each month at Plenty! Restaurant at 7 PM. Additional information is available at http://draftalgore.meetup.com/41/?gj=sj6. There is also a Belfair chapter at draftalgore.meetup.com/104/?gj=sj6 and another starting soon in Centralia. There are 165 groups formed nationwide and over 3000 volunteers actively working to encourage Gore to run. Come join our movement!

Jane Johnson, Olympia

The new schedule for the primaries and the caucusus suggest a possible more focused beginning for us. We need to agree on a simple priority focus.

I suggest the following:

1. Get out of Iraq.
2. Stop trying to control the past and future for the Middle East. Those folks have been squabbling for years. They don't need our money, help, or intervention to settle their problems.
3. Learn from history. We have been muddling around as "the leader of the free world" for most of the last forty years. Our military adventures have been flops. Since Viet Nam to now we have been beaten by every dinky country we have fought. Certainly this tells us something about our military leadership as well as our attitudes. We have two years to study this and educate ourselves through a serious regime of oversight hearings.
4. Address the major domestic issues we have let languish for the last ten or more years.;
1. Universal health care. Must we be the only modern country, which has no basic health care program for its residents?
2. A balanced budget based on pay as you go? Yes, this will evolve tax increases as well as more focused national support programs. But we must begin to pay for the foolishness we have allowed these last six plus years and begin to pay off our debts and save our children and grandchildren.
3. Remember our heritage of freedom of choice in personal matters. These are the responsibilities of individuals not the government or special interests.
4. Remember our heritage of tolerance and the rejection of bigotry.
5. Where to start. As a caucus state we have the opportunity to present a complete ticket. I propose the following:

John Edwards for president. He has national exposure, is a progressive and he has been learning what people want.

Bill Richardson for vice president. He has a solid background in government and considerable experience in international affairs, particularly with the emerging nations. He also is a progressive.

What about the other fine candidates?

Hillary Clinton is an experienced leader and politician. However I feel she can best serve the party and the country as the leader of the Senate. She has the capacity to equal LBJ as a Senate leader and with the new House leadership restore this tattered branch of government.

Barack Obama is an impressive politician and leader. However he needs more seasoning which I'm sure he will get in the new Democratic government.

Al Gore has been there and done that. However he will be able to do more outside government office.

The other candidates are worthy people but not now.

Justus Freimund, Olympia