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Quote of the Week
"For most
consumers, the fact that there is no connection between
quality and cost is one of the dirty secrets of medicine."
Peter Lee, the
president of a California health insurance consortium.
View
previous Quotes of the Week...
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Thursday, May 31, 2007
Reflections on
the “Density Summit” – Coalition for Smart Growth...by
Lois K. Herr, Editor
 Intense talk
about density, from a variety of perspectives, proved worthy of our
hours of seat time at the Coalition for Smart Growth’s Density
Summit. This summit comes on the heels of much public discussion of
the impact of higher density developments in the county. First of
all, density should be seen as a primary tool for implementing the
urban growth strategy of “Balance,” the County’s Growth Management Plan,
and the success of the overall strategy is dependent on it. However,
the other part of our equation requires equal attention. We must
dedicate comparable effort to developing tools to implement our rural
strategy, a far more difficult task requiring will and creativity.
Only with effort in both urban and rural areas can our goal of Balance
be achieved.
As was discussed in the
Density Forum, the word “density” sometimes creates denso-phobia, when
misunderstood or misused. Density should be seen in context and
illustrated with stories of design success. This is not a numbers
game, though zoning ordinances in place
can make or break our opportunities. Surely we must review and
develop ordinances that aid smart planning; creative design needs
flexibility in such restrictions as height. (We need to grow up!)
Once denser developments are possible, then the pressure must be put
on design. We need to design great places to live.
Importantly, our ability
to design our future depends on our infrastructures as well as on our
understanding of good design and our implementation of effective land
use. A key element of our infrastructure is transportation. Our
dependence on the car and on an extensive, growing highway system is
now counterproductive. Federal, State, and local funding practices
still direct our resources to highways when what we really need are
creative mass transit options.
I pose a possible topic
for the next summit – Rural Strategy and Smart Transportation.
More
resources...
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Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Sophia Lafontant to
Speak on Farm Bill...
by Linda S.
Aleci, Local Economy Center, Franklin and Marshall College
 The
2007 Farm Bill is coming up before the Congress for a vote in early
fall. For those of us concerned about the viability of small family
farms, sustainable land use, and preserving local food systems--here
in the U.S. and across the world--this will be a critical moment. The
farm policies being designed now will certainly help determine what
kind of food system we have in the 21st century. Unfortunately, in its
current form, U.S. farm policy does not strengthen rural America, does
not contribute to making us a healthier nation, and hurts poor farmers
in developing countries. And for the most part, the Farm Bill is
negotiated with barely any public scrutiny, much less input--even
though it has an impact on all of us.
On Tuesday May 29th at 1
PM, Sophia Lafontant from Oxfam
America will be at Franklin and Marshall to discuss the 2007 Farm
Bill, Oxfam's work to reform that bill, and Pennsylvania's critical
position in the Congressional debate.
Read more...
Saturday, May 20, 2007
“Hell NO!” To More Unfair Free Trade Deals...
Written
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
It looks like the House
Democratic leadership simply did not get the message in the last
election. Working Americans want no part of more falsely named “free
trade” deals. This is absolutely not an issue where grassroots
Democrats want our elected representatives compromising with the
Republicans. We want an immediate change in direction concerning trade
policy. Read more...
comment on this news item...
National Women's
Conference Revisited...
Thirty years ago the
National Women's Conference in Houston made history. From November 18
to 21, 1977, over 20,000 people gathered in Houston, Texas to
celebrate International Women's Year and identify goals for women for
the next decade. This was the first and only national women's
conference to be sponsored by the federal government.
 The
impetus came from the United Nations, which proclaimed 1975 to be
International Women's Year -- later extended to a decade. On January
9, 1974, President Ford issued Executive Order 11832 creating a
National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year
"to promote equality between men and women." Numerous events were held
over the next two years. In 1977 President Jimmy Carter chose a new
Commission and appointed
Bella Abzug to
head it.
Read more...
Bella Abzug's daughter Liz
is part of a team organizing an event to celebrate the 30th
Anniversary of the Houston Conference. The goal is "to bring our
agenda forward." The date is November 10-11, 2007 and the place
Hunter College in New York City. More information to come when the
new website for BAI is up and running.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Pitts Votes Against Aid to Farmers...
Agriculture leads the
economic engine of Lancaster County, but this past week, Rep. Joseph
Pitts voted against the
Agricultural Disaster Assistance Appropriations Act
which passed the U.S.
House of Representatives by a vote of 302 - 120.
The House bill provides $3.5 billion to farmers who lost crops or
livestock due to weather-related events during fiscal years 2005
through 2007.
comment on this news item...
View Rep.
Pitts voting record...
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Why Did Rep.
Pitts Vote Against the Hate Crimes Bill?
by Alison L.
Needles, Oxford, PA,
Rep. Pitts’ understanding
of the powerful impact of hate crimes occurring in our nation seems to
be that hate crimes are fiction. He voted “NO”on H.R.1592 ( bill
which recently passed to provide Federal assistance to States, local
jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes),
and that was that. No reasons are provided for us on his
website currently. Does he think this horrific hate crime reality is
fiction?
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Sewer Expansion
Proposal in Southern Chester County May Feed Sprawl & Lead to
Accelerated Loss of Farm Land & Open Space...
The quality of life in the 16th Congressional District depends on wise
decisions in Washington and at home. Our future depends upon our
vigilance, and S.A.V.E.
is a very alert and aware Chester County organization striving to
protect our environment. If you live in southern Chester County or
southern Lancaster County, this notice will be of interest to you. No
matter where you live in the 16th, the issues of growth and sprawl
demand attention. (Lois K. Herr, Senior Editor)
S.A.V.E. was founded in
1997 arising from concern regarding infrastructure expansion which
catalyzes sprawl - at that time roadway "improvements" proposed for
Route 41. That same concern is now extrapolated to another type of
infrastructure build out that may accelerate the loss of open space
and agriculture - in this case, an Act 537 proposal for sewer
expansion in southern Chester County. Particularly if you live in
Oxford Borough, East Nottingham Township, Lower Oxford Township, West
Nottingham Township, or the Octorara or Elk Creek watersheds, S.A.V.E.
encourages you to learn more and submit comments prior to the 5/18/07
deadline as described below. An informational meeting will be held
Wednesday, May 9th at 7 p.m. at the West Nottingham Township Building,
100 Park Road.
Read more...
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Pitts Votes Against Hate
Crimes Bill
Rep. Joseph Pitts voted
against the
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 which
was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week by a vote of
237 to 180. The Act provides Federal assistance to States, local
jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.
The Matthew Shepard
Foundation applauded the passage of inclusive hate crimes legislation.
The Foundation believes the Act is an appropriate and measured
response to the unrelenting and under-addressed problem of hates
crimes against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender
identity and disability.
 “Although
this is the first major step to passing inclusive hate crimes
legislation, we have a long way to go to ensure this legislation
becomes law. I am personally grateful to the United States House for
recognizing the grave reality of hate crimes in America,” said Judy
Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Saturday, May 5, 2007
U.S. House Approves Funding for Head Start
The U.S. House of
Representatives approved more money for the popular Head Start program
Wednesday after rejecting a GOP-led attempt to allow religious groups
participating in the program to hire and fire staffers based on
religious grounds.
The bill, which
passed 365-48, approves $7.4 billion in spending in fiscal year 2008
for the 42-year-old program that helps low-income children prepare for
school, an increase of $500 million over fiscal year 2007.
The bill
increases enrollment for children aged 3 to 5, boosts teacher and
staff salaries and expands services for homeless, migrant and
non-English-speaking children.
Before the final
vote, Democrats voted down the Republican proposal to change a 1972
Head Start law in order to allow religious groups to take religion
into account in hiring. Instead, House Democrats passed an amendment,
offered by Rep. Heath Shuler, D - N.C., that confirms the rights
of religious groups to participate in Head Start programs on the same
basis of other organizations.
If the Senate, now
considering a similar bill, and the House come to agreement, it would
be the first congressional action on the education, nutrition and
health program since the last reauthorization bill expired in 2003.
Since then, Congress has voted on money for the program but has been
unable to make substantive changes in it.
Read more...
Rep. Joseph Pitts voted
AGAINST this bill.
U.S. House Approves
National Science
Foundation Authorization Act
The House of
Representatives passed this last week The National Science
Foundation Authorization Act. The House bill passed by a lopsided
vote of 399 for and only 17 against. It provides critical support for
researchers, educators, and students in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM). NSF supports American innovation
and competitiveness in many capacities, providing funding for high
risk research, while also improving education in the STEM fields.
Science and
Technology Committee member and cosponsor of H.R. 1867, Congressman
Brian Bilbray (R-CA), also spoke of the importance of the
legislation, saying, "I commend my colleagues for having the vision to
keep America competitive by providing the much-needed funding for
the National Science Foundation for science and technology
programs that will benefit future generations."
Read more...
Rep. Joseph Pitts voted
AGAINST this bill.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Pitts Made It a Two-day
Trifecta...
 First,
on Wednesday, Representative Joseph Pitts voted against funding Project
Head Start. He followed on Thursday by being one of only 17 members of
Congress to vote against progress with his no vote on “The National
Science Foundation Authorization Act”.
Finally, later
Thursday, he cast his vote against HR 1592 which would expand federal
hate crime categories to include violent attacks against gays and
people targeted because of gender. The bill had 171 co-sponsors in
Congress and passed with 237 votes for (including 25 Republicans); 180
against. The White House is threatening a veto this legislation.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The Iraq War is a Tragic
Play of World Dimensions.
Written
by Eugene Clemens, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies,
Elizabethtown College.
George W. Bush is a tragic
figure of epic proportions. And, tragically, the play goes inexorably
on, the protagonist becoming the antagonist. Deluded beyond
description, the "Decider" morphs into the "Divider," at home and
abroad.
Forty years ago I
protested the Vietnam War on these very pages of the Etownian. The
wheel of folly leading to disaster has again revolved and I return to
register my lament. Yes, there is a profound parallel between the two
wars. Read more...
comment on this news item...
Comment:
I am ashamed at this professor’s ability
to see the world as it really is. Maybe he should expand his horizons
a bit.
No matter what the U.S. does in the
future, we will continually be despised and hated around the world. So
the question then becomes; what we can do to protect our interests and
our people.
Does the good professor think for one
moment that the terrorists in the world, who are combating us in Iraq
and elsewhere, would instead be utilizing their tactics here in
America?
Scott Cvek
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Harvest of Houses
Lois
Duling responds to an article by George Will that appeared in the
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA) on Monday, April 30th entitled
Harvest of Dust.
Dear George,
In southeastern
Lancaster County PA, we have a citizens group that is fighting to KEEP
our soils from becoming housing developments. We have the richest
soil in the world, so we have been told by folks as far away as Akaba,
Jordan and the Amish Farmers are being driven out.
Your article
"Harvest of Dust" was carried in our Lancaster newspaper Intelligencer
Journal, Monday April 30th. The Amish farmers here produce the food
for 150 miles around--produce markets supplied and run by them and in
our area, they are not even given the option to put their farms into
Agricultural Preserve. Why? The larger political group want to
macadam over an area that cuts these farms in two going from nowhere
to nowhere.
When you compare
land zoned for development with land for farming it prices these
farmers out of the area - thus consuming the soils that they tell us
is the best anywhere. We understand that in Indiana, it takes 6 times
the area of ground to produce the same amount here on the same
acreage.
Any help is
gratefully received.
Lois L. Duling
Conestoga Valley Coalition
Lancaster, PA
comment on this news item...
Pitts Votes for Jackasses But Not Our Troops...
Congressman
Joseph Pitts voted against a House bill in the U.S. Congress that
appropriates $124 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan but sets a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
On the same day, he voted for
the
Wild Horse Protection Bill that prohibits the Bureau of Land
Management from selling wild horses or burros to be slaughtered for
commercial use.
The Pennsylvania Congressional
Delegation split on party lines on the
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq
Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 which passed the House of
Representatives by a 218 to 208 margin. The bill passed in the Senate by a
margin of 51 to 46 with Bob Casey voting for the timetable and Specter
voting against.
The President vetoed the
Democrats' bill that would end the war and bring our troops home on the
fourth anniversary of his infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech that
declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq.
Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker,
said, "I had hoped that President Bush would accept my offer to work
together on a new direction in Iraq and sign crucial legislation holding
the Iraqi government accountable. Instead, the President chose to continue
to isolate himself from Congress, the international community, and the
American people by vetoing the Democratic plan for change in Iraq."
View Rep. Pitts'
voting record...
comment on this news item...
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
 Where
Have All the Leaders Gone?
Book by Lee Iacocca with Catherine Whitney
Ex-Chrysler chief Lee
Iacocca, now 82, has written a new book - Where Have All the
Leaders Gone? Iacocca attacks President George W. Bush and the
nation's schools to the health-care system, obesity, and America's
pill-popping culture. The criticism is sharp and Iacocca joins a
growing chorus of business conservatives who are distancing themselves
from the current Administration.
"Am I the only guy in this
country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our
outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of
clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've
got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up
after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting
mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians
say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've
got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I'll give
you a sound bite: Throw the bums out! "
Read more...
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