the New PA 16th

Quote of the Week

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital and deserves much the higher consideration."

Abraham Lincoln

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Friday, Aug 31, 2007

DiCaprio's "The 11th Hour" Playing Theaters Now

The 11th Hours is a new film playing in select theaters currently. The film is produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio and how we live, how we impact the earth's ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course. It features a field of experts from around the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau in addition to over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders who discuss the most important issues that face our planet and people.

The closest locations for this film currently are in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007

DFL to Host Commissioner Candidates Forum

The five candidates for Lancaster County Commissioner will present their respective cases and answer questions at a public forum on Thursday, October 4, 6:30 – 9 pm at Bethel AME Church, 450 East Strawberry Street, in the Churchtowne section of Lancaster. Read more...

Monday, Aug 27, 2007

Lancaster’s Recycling Program

Democracy for Lancaster (DFL) hosts a presentation on Lancaster City’s recycling program on Wednesday, September 5, 6:30 – 9 pm in the Lancaster Public Library’s

Windolph Room. Mike Devaney, Head of Solid Waste & Recycling for the city of Lancaster will explain what, how and why the city recycles. Read more... View Flyer...

Sunday, Aug 26, 2008

New Labor Website: MidAtlanticLabor.com

A new labor union website MidAtlanticLabor.com has just launched to serve unions and union activists in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia (Washington).

It was founded by Stephen Crockett. Crockett is co-host of Democratic Talk Radio, National Writers Union -UAW Local 1981 activist, associate member of the USW and OPEIU 277 union activist serving on many Central Labor Councils in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

There are extensive links to national, regional, state and local unions along with many other union-related resources. Mid-Atlantic Labor.com has an active Blog featuring editorials, news and union events.

There is a calendar of upcoming labor union events. The site can be reached by email at demlabor@aol.com.

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007

Pitt's Optimism Is Out of Touch with Reality
by Bruce Slater

I left the newsstand the other day scratching my head. A headline in the Inquirer said the death toll in the Iraq bombing could reach 500. Right next to it, the Daily Local News headline said Congressman Joe Pitts expressed "optimism" about efforts in Iraq. Its just another example of how far Congressman Pitts is out of touch with the real costs of this war.

According to icasualties.org's latest statistics, we can see just how well the the U.S. policy in Iraq is working.”

U.S. dead in Iraq year-to-date: 718 (up 65% versus same date in 2006)
Confirmed Iraqi Security Forces and Civilian deaths January thru July 2007: 14,629 (+ 109% versus same period in 2006).
U.S. wounded Jan – July 2007: 4,430 (+48% versus same period in 2006)
U.S. wounded first 2 weeks of August 2007: 305 (+ 46% versus same period in 2006).
Coalition casualties are down by 38% year-to-date in Anbar Province, projecting to 222 dead by year’s end versus 356 killed there in 2006. 142 dead so far this year. Those numbers may be down, but one could hardly call it a “pacified” zone. The rest of Iraq is not faring quite so well…
324 dead coalition soldiers year-to-date in Baghdad where the “surge” is centered. That compares to 260 dead in Baghdad in all of 2006. Coalition casualties are pacing 95% ahead of 2006 in Baghdad. This will be the first year when we suffer more casualties in Baghdad than in Anbar.
Coalition dead are pacing ahead of last year in 8 of the remaining 13 Iraqi provinces (Salahad Din, Babil, Diyalah, Basrah, Karbala, Qadisiyah, Maysan, and Arbil) with 554 projected deaths in 2007 in those provinces versus 178 in 2006 (+211%). We have already suffered 245 dead in those provinces in 2007 versus 178 in all of 2006. Diyalah Province stands out with 95 coalition dead so far in 2007 versus only 20 in all of 2006.
Finally, if we pull Anbar fatalities out of the mix we have suffered 522 coalition fatalities in Iraq so far in 2007 versus 515 in all of 2006. Those numbers project to a 108% increase in coalition dead in Iraq minus Anbar Province in 2007 versus 2006.

To blame Karl Rove for many of the ills of the failing war efforts of the Bush Administration, as Pitts also did, is ludicrous. Mr. Pitts, you voted for every one of the failed policies that the Bush administration put in front of you. If you need someone to blame, a session at the mirror is in order.

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Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007

C.L.E.A.N: Community, Labor, Environmental Action Network
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of Democratic Talk Radio

The best ideas emerge unexpectedly from the grassroots in seemingly unlikely places. One of those ideas is an organization called C.L.E.A.N. which stands Community, Labor, Environmental Action Network. The story behind the creation of this group is both enlightening and interesting. The concept is very sound. I hope C.L.E.A.N. chapters will eventually be in every state. Read more...

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Saturday, Aug 18, 2007

Herr Endorses Bruce Slater for the Congress

At the Lancaster County Democrats' Corn Roast, Lois Herr took the opportunity to show her support for Bruce Slater, Narvon Committeeman and announced candidate for Congress. "The next best thing to being the candidate," Lois said, "is finding one you can wholeheartedly support. She added, "We made great progress in 2006; now let's make 2008 the year we actually send a Democrat - Bruce Slater - to Washington." [Herr ran against Joe Pitts for the 16th Congressional District seat in both 2004 and 2006.]

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

But Mr. Pitts, How Would You Pay for It?
by Howard A. Jones

Rep. Joe Pitts is once again playing a politician’s favorite game of supporting legislation without discussing how he would finance it.

In his column appearing in the DLN of Aug. 7, Rep. Pitts extols land conservation with support for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Although CREP is not the main thrust of this letter, a perhaps more enlightening discussion should involve the actual applicable experience of the program to date with specific reference to whom has benefited most. Might that not be large agribusiness corporations? Read more...

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Monday, Aug 13, 2007

Karl Rove: Democratic Secret Weapon
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of Democratic Talk Radio

Karl Rove gave the Republican Party the political equivalent of the credit card teaser rate! It sure seemed good in the short term but reality sets in over the long run. Yes, “political genius” Karl Rove is the Democratic secret weapon that spells many, many Democratic victories over the next generation. Read more...

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Thursday, Aug 9, 2007

Speak Out Now for the Separation of Church and State

August is the month when members of Congress leave Washington to spend time with their constituents at home. This is an excellent time to talk with your representative and senators about church-state separation issues. Set up a lobby visit with one or more of your members of Congress. Attend their town hall meetings and raise your hand or go to the microphone. Whatever you do, don’t miss this opportunity to speak up for church-state separation.

Here is an overview of three church-state issues that Congress will be facing this fall

Faith-Based Initiative and Civil Rights

Congress is likely to vote on reauthorizing a number of social service programs like the Workforce Investment Act. It is crucial that discrimination based on religion not be allowed in these programs. Though attempts to insert religious discrimination into Head Start failed this spring, vigilance is needed to ensure the same outcome in other federally funded social service programs.

Private School Vouchers

Congress will be considering reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB is the major federal education program that allocates federal money for public education. It is likely that vouchers will be considered as part of the reauthorization as the Bush administration has already proposed that private school vouchers be added to it. Members of Congress need to be told that vouchers are a bad idea.

Public School Science Standards

Part of the No Child Left Behind debate in 2001 concerned science education. It is imperative that NCLB mandates requires that only real science be taught in science classes. Members of Congress should reject any efforts to undermine the teaching of science in our public schools.