The GOP Safety-net Reform Plan

Years ago the gifted children I worked with taught me the acronym MOTS. It was in reference to their regular classroom teacher's attempts to enrich their education. It stands for More Of The Same. Teachers would give them MOTS if they got done earlier than the others. Well, friends, this GOP manifesto's plans to reform the social safety net are MOTS. Instead of acknowledging the gains our society has made, the writer disparages the Great Society's work to enrich the lives of Americans from birth to old age. In case you've forgotten what LBJ did, here is a link to a PBS article about it:

 http://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/4c.html

Recent US Census Bureau data on poverty is here: https://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/

And what is the GOP plan you wonder? Remember, decentralize, deregulate, and privatize? Yes, that is what you will find if you bother to read the chapter. It's a load of GOP rhetoric that boils down to MOTS.
Here it is: http://ygnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Chapter-7-The-Agenda-Safety-net.pdf

I really hope this inspires you to GOTV and to vote for Democrats this November. We just can't let them ruin what LBJ began in 1964 and what our President is trying to accomplish today.

The GOP's Plans for Higher Education

The GOP's plan for higher education really freaks me out. They want to get rid of Federal rules that are designed to create and expand opportunities and protect consumers! So they want to reinvent the student loan program. See the quote.

"By creating space for market-based financing instruments like Income Share Agreements, policymakers can help provide students with valuable market signals about which schools and which majors are most likely to pay off."

Now here's an explanation of what Income Share Agreements means: 

http://chronicle.com/article/Bill-Seeks-to-Expand-Use-of/145851/

That sounds like indentured servitude to me!

The GOP also want to make it easier for new institutions to compete for students by offering "new paths to accreditation". 

Now we all know what that means, don't we? Some group's "business" can start up a new "higher education" school and GOP can get it accredited right away without them ever having to prove the quality of the education they are providing, meanwhile the business is raking in tons of money from young students hoping to get a job when they get out of this "newly accredited" school.

This my friends is profitizing at its worst! That is why we can't sit back and allow the GOP to get into control. Please plan to vote for Democrats this November 4. The future of America depends on our efforts to get out the vote. GOTV!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/21/1232714/-Profitized-not-privatized#

GOP PLAN FOR PUBLIK EDUCACHUN

In reading the introductory piece of the GOP Manifesto regarding their plan for reforming K-12 education, I am appalled at the ideas they are presenting. As a retired educator, I can tell you first hand that public education is busy doing more with less than ever before. The only reason America's test scores lag behind other developed countries is simply that we test all students. We don't weed out the special education students or the ones destined for vocational programs and only test the college bound students like many other countries do. The GOP reform plan wants to get rid of Federal requirements and give state more freedoms. So, instead of a National plan for education, we would end up with 50 different plans. Does that make sense? 

 "A more expansive choice agenda would allow states to use a larger share of federal funds to take steps like expanding online options, funding innovative programs like education savings accounts and Louisiana-style “course choice” programs, and accommodating home-schooled students." That's right = use Federal funds to pay for home-school programs!  

They also want to shift monies away for professional development. But they say that they are NOT anti-teacher. Yet many conservatives admit they are against teacher unions. 

This K-12 plan is more of the same. Deregulate, decentralize, privatize and turn education over to corporations.

If you don't believe me read what one GOP lawmaker has to say about public education: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/14/andrew-brenner-education-socialism_n_4961201.html

If you are interested, you can read the GOP reform plan here: http://ygnetwork.org/k-12-education-reform-give-next-generation-chance-thrive/

But whatever you do, remember to VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS on November 4.

WHAT? DO WHAT WITH TAXES????

My husband and I have pensions we earned. He worked for Caterpillar and I worked in the public school system. We both earned enough credits to receive Social Security and we both are on Medicare. Now this Republican Manifesto has some interesting things to say about taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. In the summary article called, "Tax reform to strengthen the middle class" Robert Stein acknowledges the GOP's historic fascination with cutting the marginal tax rates. Yet he argues for a different focus and states this crazy statement, "Because Social Security and Medicare disincentivize raising children, conservatives should offer tax cuts to reduce the cost of raising children, making it easier for parents (and potential parents) to pursue the family size they would desire in the absence of federal interference." 

I don't know about you, but, I was NOT aware that Social Security and Medicare disincentivize the raising of children, were you? (We have seven.)

Regarding marginal tax cuts, Stein also asserts, "Such a cut would do relatively little to improve work incentives, not least because two-thirds of the tax relief would go to households who earn only some of their income in the 15 percent bracket on their way to higher brackets." Again, I don't know about you, but, I would not object to a middle-class tax cut, would you?

Stein thinks the Federal government punishes middle-income families. Well, yes maybe if they raised the rates the wealthy paid, there would be some relief available for the middle-income folks. 

So you see folks, here is another significant way the GOP differ from the Democrats. Please plan to vote on November 4, 2014 and vote for Democrats. Thank you. To read more of their tax fantasy go here: http://ygnetwork.org/tax-reform-strengthen-economy-lighten-burdens-families-bear/

Now the Democrats have a tax plan too: 

Middle Class Tax Cuts. President Obama and Democrats in Congress cut taxes for every working family, putting more money in the pockets of Americans who need it most. A typical family has saved $3,600 during his first term. Now he's fighting to stop middle class families and those aspiring to join the middle class from seeing their taxes go up and to extend key tax relief for working families and those paying for college, while asking the wealthiest and corporations to pay their fair share. That is why we will always vigorously oppose the type of tax reform supported by Mitt Romney, which independent experts have found would require raising taxes on typical families with children by at least $2,000 if it were paid for. At the same time, Mitt Romney's plan would cut taxes for those making over $3 million by an average of $250,000 and would create incentives that will lead to hundreds of thousands of jobs going overseas at the expense of American workers.

If you are interested in learning more about what the Democrats want for America go here:  http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=101962

Holy Crap! GOP want to decentralize healthcare!

Yes, you read that right. According to the Republican Manifesto, the GOP plan to fix healthcare is this:

 "a decentralized, market-oriented approach to the health-care system; offer tax credits for people outside the employer system achieved with minimal disruption of employer coverage; guarantee continuous coverage protection for all Americans; and grant states significant flexibility to meet the needs of their most vulnerable citizens." http://ygnetwork.org/health-care-reform-lower-costs-improve-access-quality/

That means let states do it and every state will be different. What good are tax credits to people living paycheck to paycheck?Does that make sense to you? Then, get out and vote on November 4 and be sure to vote for DEMOCRATS! 

Meet Gabby

There is hope for the future as long as we have young people willing to serve like Gabby Manock. Gabby grew up in a family that stressed the importance of voting and being involved in one's community. One of her challenges is trying to get other young people interested in voting. She finds it hard to imagine that they don't bother to vote. Gabby told me her parents always took her with them when they voted. It just seems like the right thing to do. Her maternal grandfather was a mayor and her father serves on our country board.  They also taught her independence. Just 18, Gabby works for a local bank and is buying her own car. This summer, she is interning in the Peoria office for our Congresswoman, Cheri Bustos. Gabby plans to study finance at our community college before transferring to a state university nearby. Last week, Gabby was appointed to fill a vacancy on our county board, making her the youngest person to ever serve on that body. I asked her what challenges she thought she'd face as a new board member. Gabby said she just wants to do a good job and make believers out of those board members who voted against her appointment. When I asked her how she planned to do that, Gabby said her parents always taught her the value of treating others the way she wants to be treated. I think that's a pretty good way to start out in politics, don't you?

Now, as you can see from Gabby's profile, parents and grandparents have quite an impact on a young person's views. We can influence young people to get involved. We can talk and talk and do our best to convince young people to vote and teach them what we know about the political process. Don't you see, our future depends on getting them engaged. Here's an article to give you some ideas: http://rare.us/story/an-idiots-guide-to-getting-americas-youth-engaged-in-politics/

Reasons GPO/WEP are WRONG!

I paid into the Teacher Retirement System here in Illinois. I also paid into Social Security and Medicare. When I retired my public pension was cut because of a provision in Social Security regulations that impact those of us in public service. It is called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). From http://www.ssfairness.com/repeal-the-gpo-wep/  "If you have had two jobs: one in which you paid Social Security taxes and therefore earned your own Social Security credits and a public sector job in which you did not pay Social Security taxes (referred to as “non-covered” public employment), you are penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), and may lose up to 60% of your earned Social Security retirement
benefits.)."

The website also explains the GPO:

"Spousal benefits (must be spouse for a minimum of 10 years) are penalized by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) when you begin to collect your pension from a “non-covered” public position. Because of the GPO:

• Dependent spouses will probably lose all the benefits due them — a non-working spouse normally receives an SS payment equal to half that of the SS earner.
• Widows/widowers will lose at least part of or, more often, all of the Social Security retirement."  

So even though I paid thousands of dollars into both systems, these provisions limit my pension payouts. 

If this seems unfair to you, you can do something about it. First, you can go here:

http://www.ssfairness.com/handouts-local-action/ and download the tool kit.

 Then you can be sure to vote on November 4th and you will want to vote for Democrats because Republicans want to give people a voucher for Social Security and plan to eliminate all public pensions as quickly as possible. 

Getting my mail

I love getting my mail each day. Usually, there is an assortment of junk items that go directly into the garbage. But, sometimes I need to get something delivered right away and I can count on my USPS to do the job correctly. Now, some are seeking to privatize the USPS. I don't know about you, but, I really don't want a European system of mail delivery. While we have been busy with other concerns, others have been actively working to turn our public mail system, established by our Constitution, into a corporate run system. And they've done it without citizens ever having a vote on the issue. So the question for Americans is this: Do you want to turn our public mail delivery system over to corporations to run for profit so that shareholders can make money while our access and services are reduced? Republicans are working hard to make this happen. That is why your vote this midterm election is so crucial. November 4 is only 5 months away. Be sure you are registered and have the needed ID's. Then, find out where your polling place is located. If you can vote early, then do that and save yourself the hassle on November 4th. Finally, encourage everyone you know to vote for Democrats this year. You don't want to have to pay to get your mail do you?
Check out this article to see what the Republicans are up to now: http://www.apwu.org/news/web-news-article/committee-passes-controversial-issa-bill.

Add on:  Election is over and 2/3 voters sat it out. Now postal services will be cut. Hope they are happy. If you are NOT, then you need to contact your representatives in Congress. Senate.gov. House.gov