A Discussion Saloon

Platte County Democrats,

I want to start a discussion saloon here in Wheatland. Sponsored and moderated by the democratic party here it would be a sorta of weekly open forum. There is much to be discussed and the weekly forum seems like a good idea. Not formal meetings, those would be separate but a more informal discussion on topics and issues. Health care for instance, or current legislative bills, or some need in one of our towns or farm or ranch. It would be moderated to keep it ordered and work in the time alloted. Creating open dialog is important and keeps our democracy going. This web site helps to do that, and indeed I would hope to see follow ups on the discussion on this site.

What I need is input. A sorta of show of hands ( or comments in this case) on this idea. Help me to shape this forum and where we could hold it, what time is best. I will send this out via the e-mail list as well as on the web site. Lets start an understanding of the issues and topics that will shape Wyoming's elections in 2010.

~ Charles McDonald, Platte County Democrats Chairperson

News round up for the week ending 5-23-09

Here is a round up of this weeks news. Tacked on to a credit card bill, we can now enjoy concealed weapons in our national parks. Enzi, Barrasso and Lummis sound off on cap and trade. Chrysler is closing down five franchises in Wyoming. Dick Cheney can't stay out of the news, headlining the list of 13 people who made torture possible. We are so proud of him. Enzi is in disagreement with panel members on how to deter youth from smoking. Gov. Dave took some heat for nominating his wife Nancy to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in Wyoming.

Of special note, Sen. Barrasso made a special Memorial Day weekend address promoting coal and gas jobs in Wyoming. In his remarks, he states "and solar only account for about 1 percent of U.S. electricity, far below what is needed to meet the nation's energy needs." He goes on to say "There's enough oil shale in the Rocky Mountain West alone to power America for the next hundred years".

This is a complete lack of forward thinking. O.K., we can power America for the next 100 years. Then what?! Guess how long the wind is going to blow in Wyoming? Forever. Guess how long the sun is going to shine down on our state? Another billion years. Of course wind only counts for 1% of U.S. electricity...it's just starting to be used! Wyoming can and should be a vital player in alternative energy production. The change is in the wind...literally. Just ask EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, who toured coal production and wind farms with Gov. Dave this week.

Gov. Dave in 2010... are ya in or out?

Here is another article, this time from CQpolitics.com, speculating on what may come in the gubernatorial race in 2010. Some interesting points are made, including the idea that if Freudenthal doesn't intend to run, perhaps he should say so now so that another Democratic Party candidate can start getting a game plan together. It also name drops a couple of possible Republican contenders.

Letter to Editor in the Star re: Barrasso supporting torture

This was a well written letter sent to the editor of the Casper Star Tribune. I thought it was worth repeating here:

Editor:

A familiar pit formed in my stomach on Friday morning as our family caught the morning news. I listened as Sen. John Barrasso described his support for "appropriate interrogation techniques" -- torture. I was filled with a mixture of disgust, frustration, anger, and despair. My representative to the Senate, a trained physician, was describing an evidence-free argument supporting the torture of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.

Barrasso's position was fundamentally disturbing on several levels. Growing up in a family with a long history of medical service, I witnessed the compassion and
understanding of pain felt by most caregivers. As a trained physician, Barrasso
understands the psychological and physical consequences of pain, and the
longterm results of the fear associated with longterm, predictable pain.
Fifty-nine years ago this understanding motivated the Geneva Conventions, the
codified global disgust for such actions.

As a Christian, I seek to live by the principle that respect for human dignity must trump my personal desires. Fear of the unknown or a desire for absolute security must not lead to behavior that sacrifices the clear message taught by Christ on Good Friday -- all humans have dignity and that dignity must be honored by the way I treat their body and their spirit.

Lastly, it disturbs me to the core that Barrasso is willing to dishonor our brave service persons and strip them of the moral high ground that is so important in a time of war. If captured and subjected to torture, I want my son to benefit from the energy and moral strength that comes from the certain knowledge that his country, his fellow warriors, his government, would never behave this way to a prisoner. He will need that strength to withstand the terrible experience. During his education at West Point, my son Philip's training will include strong ethics education completely antithetical to the position being promoted by his own senator. Is Barrasso telling me that he prefers to continue eroding the high moral ground that Philip, the young
soldiers he will lead, and all American service people need as a foundation as they enter into the horrific, challenging theater of war?

GREG HAYWARD,
Laramie

Well said, Mr. Hayward. The fact that Bush and his entourage were willing to stoop to these levels leaves me feeling quite disgusted as well.

Introductions: Charles McDonald, Platte County Democratic Party Chairperson

Welcome to the great debate. Here is practiced the democratic principle that moves our country. Dialog about the issues of our lives, creating a consensus for how politics and policies can aid us where we need them. Part soapbox, part reporting, part editorial, here is where you can come to see the Democratic Party movement in Platte County and the state of Wyoming. Here we can cast the stones that will ripple out and affect our lives.

As the new chairperson for the Democratic party of Platte County allow me to introduce myself. My history with the party is inherited ( as I believe most of us do ) from my parent. A single mom during the late sixties and into the seventies, she instilled in me a liberal view of the world. My formative years are marked by the Civil Rights movement, Feminism, retaining the rights of individual liberty and our responsibility to community. I am a liberal and an activist. I work at the Safeway in Wheatland and am the chief steward of the Union here. The steward position brings with it the skills of leadership I will use as chairperson.

In the coming weeks and months I and others will open up debate and dialog here. Michael is our monitor and administrator for the site and I thank him for all of his efforts and work. He is our Technology/Communications officer. This site gives us voice to the Platte county community and the who, what, when and where of our political party here. Politics is said to be an art, so consider this to be our public gallery as the art of politics is practiced. I am excited and proud to be a part of this community and wish to serve it well.

Factcheck.org covers "Conservatives for Patients' Rights" Ad

There's a million dollar ad campaign from a group called Conservatives for Patients' Rights trying to play to people's fears that the government is going to take over health care. Good 'ol factcheck.org scrutinizes these spots to separate the fact from fiction. The ad is below, followed by the link for factcheck.org's rebuttal.



Oooh, scary huh? Now please take the time to read the factcheck.org review of the piece. I think you will find that the ad is filled with holes and misleading information. Don't let yourselves get swiftboated on this one folks.

Gov. Dave proclaims today Equal Pay Day

From the office of the Governor:

EQUAL PAY DAY
WHEREAS, forty-five years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, women continue to suffer the consequences of inequitable pay differentials; and

WHEREAS, according to statistics released in 2008 by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006 year-round, full-time working women in our nation earned only 78% of the earnings of year-round, full-time working men, indicating little change or progress in pay equity; and

WHEREAS, year-round, full-time working women in Wyoming in 2007 earned only 63% of the earnings of year-round, full-time working men; and

WHEREAS, women earn less than men in every occupation for which enough data is available, including occupations dominated by women (e.g., cashiers, retail sales, registered nurses and teachers); and

WHEREAS, educational attainment is not free from wage discrimination with women holding a graduate or professional degree earning 66% of the earnings of their male counterparts; and

WHEREAS, over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family $700,000 to $2 million in lost wages, impacting Social Security benefits and pensions; and

WHEREAS, fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs, while enhancing the American economy; and

WHEREAS, Tuesday, April 28 symbolizes the time in the new year in which the wages paid to American women catch up to the wages paid to men from the previous year,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVE FREUDENTHAL, Governor of Wyoming do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 28, 2009 to be

EQUAL PAY DAY

in Wyoming and urge the citizens to recognize the full value of women's skills and significant contributions to the labor force, and further encourages businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to ensure women are being paid fairly.

Hey, we're the EQUALITY STATE, aren't we? Paying less money to women is B.S. I don't quite understand a business owners motivation for doing this. Can it be that employers don't even realize this is happening? If it is being done on purpose, all I can say is "Knock it off!"

Source: http://governor.wy.gov/proclamations/equal-pay-day.html