Teachers Need Our Help

Unions United for a

Better and Fairer Tomorrow

First they destroyed our jobs in manufacturing and the mills. Then the big LaSalle St. banks and the rich financial operators ran our economy in the ditch. Now they want to blame the crisis on teachers and other public workers. Hard working teachers and their unions are not to blame for the ills of education.

Join Us!  

We need to rally our unions and our community to fight for education and a better future for our children. This is not a deficit crisis; it’s a jobs crisis. We need the rich and the corporations to pay their fair share so we can invest in our schools and neighborhoods for a better tomorrow. We need to rally around the Chicago Teachers Union and allied unions in education.

Speakers: Karen Lewis, President CTU, Ed Sadlowski, AFSCME Council 40, Jeff Zupan, IBEW,  WTDY MADISON WISC, SLY IN THE MORNING

For more information or questions:

Susan & Raul Garza – 773-322-2679 or 773-415-4315

10654 ave G Chicago Il 60617

3:30 AUGUST 31^st 2011

SOAR Newsletter

Brothers and Sisters,

Each month, SOAR publishes a newsletter which is mailed to each chapter president and coordinator, the SOAR executive board and the USW executive board.
You can find a link for viewing or downloading this months edition at the following web page:

http://web.mac.com/soar3/SOAR/newsletter.html

Links to past issues are placed on the Steelworkers web site and can be seen here:

http://www.usw.org/resources/soar/news?id=0003

Now is the Time

It's time that Republicans get off of their duffs and quit lollygagging about the debt ceiling. They are refusing to allow the country's debt ceiling be raised so that the country can continue to pay its bills. They insist that cuts to programs which benefit the least of us be made but at the same time refuse to insist that companies that pay no taxes whatsoever pay their fair share.
Republicans continue to walk out of negotiations when they can't have it their way. If your congress person is a Republican, please give that person a piece of your mind.

Republicans, Quit Acting Like NIPSCO

Where do the Republicans get off on wanting everything their way when it comes to raising the debt limit and walking out of negotiating with the other side. Are they getting their directions from NIPSCO?

Check on Your Neighbor

Weather in Northern Indiana is heading for 97 degress today and humid.
The elderly, homebound or disabled are certainly in jeopardy.
Please phone them or look in on them to make sure they are ok.
Thanks.

Bird Bath Trick

We love to care for and watch the birds at Bass Lake. We have a bird bath for them which we take care to keep full of fresh water throughout the year.

It used to be a pain to keep the thing clear with wire brushing it ever so often but a couple years ago I tried this trick. I put about a one foot length of copper tubing on the bottom which somehow seems to keep it really clean.

Give it a try. I haven't had to wire brush it since placing that tubing in our bird bath.

National Call Congress Days

Your Social Security benefits are under attack by politicians in Washington. They want to:

• Cut Social Security’s Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) to reduce the deficit. But Social Security doesn’t contribute a penny to the deficit.

• Raid Social Security by using your contributions to give a tax break to Wall Street banks, Big Oil and other corporations.

They shouldn’t get another taxpayer handout. Social Security belongs to you. You pay for it in every paycheck. Don’t let them cut it or raid it!

Call your Senators on Thursday and Friday, July 14-15, at 1-866-251-4044.

Tell them:

NO cuts to Social Security!
NO cuts to Social Security’s COLA!
NO Social Security payroll tax holiday!

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans

Try Taking the Train

Slow and Easy:

After a lifetime of work, retirement is the time to enjoy your family and really live out your dreams. Whether by enjoying hobbies, volunteer work, traveling or whatever else interests you.

Those who travel can take a cruise, travel by air, bus or car. The method Elaine and I prefer ....whenever possible..... is by train.......Our travel is usually from Northern Indiana to Pittsburgh or Washington D.C. and we’re able to catch the train in South Bend, Indiana at about 8:30 in the evening......and after a good nights sleep, we arrive in Pittsburgh at about 4:30 the following morning........ fortunately, the hotels allow for early check in.

When traveling to Washington, we depart South ‘bend at 8:30 in the evening and arrive in Washington the following day a little after lunch. We could fly it, but we’d rather not have to go through the hassle. We could drive it but we think it’s really dangerous on the turnpikes and toll roads and we never know what the road conditions or traffic is going to be like.

No.....we’ll stick to the train. Elaine brings those blow up neck pillows for each of us along with eye masks and ear plugs. The best part of our train trip is the food. Elaine always brings a little wine.....some crackers, cheese and cookies. She also brings some cereal for the following morning. We could eat our meals in the dining car, but for such a short journey, we think it’s more fun to bring our own.  
    
Another part of train travel we enjoy is the people. We take cards and it’s easy on the train to find someone to play with and if not, the people are just great. So nice and friendly.......When we first started traveling by train, we wondered why more people didn’t choose that form of travel. Today though, the trains are pretty full. I don’t know if it’s the downturn in the economy or just that more people are realizing how really nice it is. That’s why we reserve our seats as soon as we know the dates we want to travel.

The towns you pass are so interesting on the train and we have gone back to visit some of them. Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia is one such town. Each time the train stopped there, we would agree that some day we wanted to visit. So the next time we went to Washington, we drove and stayed in Harper’s Ferry for a couple days.

That’s what I like most about retirement. When the opportunity presents itself to see or do something interesting or exciting........you can do it.

We retired at the age of 55 and have never regretted that decision. Thank God we had the Steelworkers union to negotiated such a good benefit.

The next time to travel..........consider the train for a fun journey.

Friday Alert

July 8, 2011 edition

Debt Ceiling Talks Focus on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Cuts
President Obama is pressing congressional leaders “to consider a far-reaching debt-reduction plan that would force Democrats to accept major changes to Social Security and Medicare in exchange for Republican support for fresh tax revenue,” The Washington Post reported on Thursday. Unless Congress acts before August 2 to raise the $14.3 trillion ceiling on the amount the government can borrow, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said the U.S. will begin to default on its obligations for the first time in history.

According to ABC News (http://abcn.ws/rigJK7), President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) have been discussing a grand bargain to cut some $4 trillion in projected budget deficits over the next 10 to 12 years. There is no deal yet, but the ideas under consideration include reductions in spending on Social Security and Medicare, as well as Medicaid.  Among the spending reductions the president and the speaker have discussed is reducing the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security, as well as increasing the level of income subject to the Social Security FICA tax (the tax currently applies to an individual’s first $106,800 of income). Senate Democrats reacted angrily after reading about Obama’s offer in the press. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) emphasized that House members from her party do not support cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

“It would be terribly hurtful – as well as contradictory to prior White House statements – to try to balance the budget on the backs of current and future retirees.  Lowering the COLA would be devastating for millions of retirees,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. “According to Social Security’s Chief Actuary, a 75-year-old retiree’s benefits would be cut by $560 per year, while an 85-year-old would have an annual cut of $984,” he continued.  To see Mr. Coyle’s full statement, go to http://bit.ly/pycyZO. Richard Fiesta, Director of the Department of Government and Political Affairs for the Alliance, made similar points on a Friday tele-conference call with reporters, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the Strengthen Social Security coalition, which includes other senior advocacy groups.

What You Can Do: Contact the White House
The Social Security COLA helps your benefits keep pace with inflation. The current COLA is already too low because it does not account for rising health care costs, which hurt seniors and people with disabilities the most.  Now they want to make it even lower. Under the proposal, after 10 years the average benefit will be cut by about $600 a year. After 20 years the cut will be about $1,000 a year. The typical Social Security benefit is only $13,000 a year. Tell the President all of this by sending an e-mail directly to the White House: http://bit.ly/r30M0I. “The time to act is now,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “We need all seniors and their friends to contact the White House right away.”

‘Chained’ CPI Targets Middle and Lower-Income Workers
A senior White House official said on Thursday that while Social Security is not a driver of the deficit, “it does need to be strengthened.” A Huffington Post article (http://huff.to/pVo5xm) noted that the idea of “strengthening” is vague. Last week, numerous consumer advocacy groups expressed concern over news that lawmakers were considering changes to the way the government calculates the rate of growth for benefits people receive. Four senior congressional aides said lawmakers are discussing using an alternative yardstick, known as the “chained consumer price index,” to gauge inflation, determining COLAs for millions of Americans. The “chained” CPI is an alternative Bureau of Labor Statistics index that shows a lower inflation rate than the standard calculation. According to a Joint Committee on Taxation report (http://bit.ly/oIt81w), a “Chained” CPI would disproportionately affect middle and lower-income Americans. The Chief Actuary estimates that the reduced COLA would result in a decrease of about $130 a year (0.9 percent) in annual benefits for a typical 65-year-old.  Because the cut grows every year relative to scheduled benefits, by the time that senior is 95, the annual benefit cut will be almost $1,400 (9.2 percent). Social Security’s oldest beneficiaries, mostly women who have outlived their non-Social Security sources of income, are significantly poorer than younger beneficiaries and rely on Social Security more. To see the Alliance’s one-pager on the Chained CPI, go to http://bit.ly/nuxKjG.

New York Times Elaborates on Proposed Medicare, Medicaid Cuts
In addition to Social Security cuts, the Obama administration has offered to cut tens of billions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid. The extent of the cuts will depend on the Republicans’ willingness to create more revenue via tax increases. Some proposals being seriously considered would reduce Medicare payments to training hospitals and reduce the federal share of payments to Medicaid, according to The New York Times. Nothing is official, as negotiations are still underway.

Ohio Alliance Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Health Care
Last Thursday, the Ohio Alliance hosted a roundtable discussion on Medicare benefits in the Affordable Care Act with Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in Cincinnati. The event was well-received, gathering approximately 65 attendees of all ages. Much of the discussion focused on the increased coverage of preventive services that attendees felt would drastically improve their health and the program’s fiscal situation. “These educational programs go a long way towards enlightening and empowering consumers of their rights and responsibilities,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. Former Cincinnati mayor Dwight Tillery was also in attendance to offer his support for, and insights into, the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Randi Weingarten to Speak at Alliance Convention
Help us mark our 10-year Anniversary at our upcoming Legislative Conference, Celebrating Our Past, Fighting for Your Future, on September 6 - 9, 2011 in Washington, D.C.! Information and registration forms were mailed in May. You may also register online at http://bit.ly/hQro1V. Sen. Sanders and Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, are scheduled to speak. Any questions, please contact Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202-637-5377 or jjones@retiredamericans.org, or else visit http://bit.ly/pjVbXy.

Download a printable version of this document at http://bit.ly/rpzGqa.

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans

Retiree Leader Reacts to Possible Social Security Cuts

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                 Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275
July 7, 2011                                                                                                                                                    dblank@retiredamericans.org   

 

Retiree Leader Reacts to Possible Social Security Cuts

Would be Devastating for Millions of Seniors, Coyle Says

The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans:

“Retirees are deeply concerned by media accounts that the White House is considering cuts in Social Security as part of the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations with Congress.  The Alliance for Retired Americans would strongly oppose such a move.

“More specifically, we are troubled by an idea being floated in Washington to change a federal statistical formula to lower Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security.  As the administration and Republican leaders have previously said, Social Security does not contribute to the budget deficit.  It would be terribly hurtful – as well as contradictory to prior White House statements – to try to balance the budget on the backs of current and future retirees.  Lowering the COLA would be devastating for millions of retirees.  According to the program’s Chief Actuary, a 75-year-old retiree’s benefits would be cut by $560 per year, while an 85-year-old would have an annual cut of $984.

“Today’s seniors want to lower the budget deficit.  They do not want a large debt to be the legacy they leave behind to their children and grandchildren.  But the fact is that Social Security has not added one penny to our deficit and has no place in any debt ceiling negotiations.

“We are deeply grateful for the clear, unequivocal stances of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.  They recognize that Social Security is one of America’s greatest success stories and must remain strong for generations to come.”

Casey Was Not Found Innocent

The jury didn't proclaim Casey Anthony innocent of murder. They proclaimed that the evidence submitted did not prove it. That's the job of a jury.

My experience serving on murder trials as a juror is that there is more to any case than meets the eye of what the public is privy to. I think our legal system, although not perfect, is the best possible under our laws.

The only suggestion I could make to possibly make it even better would be to have "professional jurors."

On one case I was on, one of the jurors said the person was guilty. She just knew it and when asked of what evidence convinced her, she said it was "womens intuition."

On another case, one of the jurors said he would vote either way as he wanted to simply go home to his girl friend.

No More Love Letters In Indiana?

After high school, I went into the U.S. Navy for four years. While in the South Pacific, my high school sweet heart and now wife of 46 years and I wrote back and forth making our hearts grow fonder.

I've often said that the most valuable course I ever took in high school was typing but what in the world will happen in the next twenty years to the love letter with Indiana teachers no longer required to  teach cursive hand writing?

Gosh, you can't put perfume on a text message or email message. What a shame.

A year ago I made a resolution to write a letter each week. At first, I tried a ball point pen, but didn't like the feel of it. Then I bought a fountain pen, but the nib left a line too fat for my liking. I finally bought a scratch or dip pen like we used in school.

Although I haven't kept my resolution, I do love to scratch out a letter now and then. Now, do you think someone who is home bound or in a nursing home would rather receive an email message or would he rather receive an envelope that he can open, remove a folded piece of paper, and read a hand written letter?

There is something about a hand written letter that allows a person to put more feeling into the communication then with type written letters.

Oh well, time marches on, I guess. But thanks to my State Senator, Ed Charbonneau who is responsible for taking bargaining rights away from our Indiana teachers when it comes to anything other than wages and wage related benefits, teachers won't be able to make any improvements in our children's education, not contractually anyway.

We Need Your Help

We all know the important role that SOAR plays in protecting and enhancing the quality of life for our retirees. With the political climate in our two countries today, the SOAR Executive Board believes nothing is more important to our retired members than having a strong voice to represent their interests.

Right-wing extremists and radical special-interest groups have been leading a cruel and brutal campaign to erode or eliminate the social programs that our retired members depend on and deserve. Essential programs like Social Security and Medicare have been under constant assault in the United States. In Canada our members are fighting to protect their National Health Care and are vigorously pursuing changes in their bankruptcy laws to protect the benefits that our union has fought for and won.

These malicious and heartless assaults on working families must be stopped. The attempts to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits coupled with the attempt to “gamble” with Social Security benefits by investing the trust fund in the stock market is, in a word, unconscionable. What would be more unconscionable is if we stood by and did nothing to stop it.

We must renew our efforts to build SOAR into the premier advocacy group for preserving and advancing the rights and benefits of retired workers. The true strength of SOAR is still based on the number of Chapter members, the activists and leaders essential to our ability to act collectively on issues that affect our union’s retired and active members alike.

To that end, we are asking for your help. It is imperative that we continue to organize SOAR Chapters throughout both countries. We must provide support and strengthen the Chapters we have already established. And, we must renew our efforts to build SOAR into the organization that it has the potential to be.

In order to do all this, we must continue to grow. We are asking all of you to reach out to your fellow retirees who are not members and ask them to join. If you have retirees from other USW locals or facilities in your area, ask them to join your chapter or establish their own. Build ties with the active USW locals in your area and ask for their support. They could be a source of new members for your group or you can assist them in establishing their own chapter.

Rebuilding and strengthening SOAR is essential for winning the fight to improve and protect programs like Medicare and Social Security. Our well-being in retirement depends upon our activism and unity. A revitalized SOAR will go a long way towards protecting our rights.

We are confident that by working together, we can build SOAR into the strongest and most successful retiree organization in the labor movement but, we need your help!



Jim Centner, SOAR Director

For Emerging Retirees from UNION PLUS

              UNION PLUS NEWS

New Low-Cost Income Annuity Helps Union Members
Protect Their Spending Power in Retirement

If your pension or Social Security benefit falls short of covering your monthly living expenses, the peaceful retirement you’d anticipated can become a worrisome financial juggling act. Now, thanks to your newest union benefit, you have the opportunity to convert some of your savings into guaranteed income that can continue for the rest of your life (1).  In exchange for higher payments, an income annuity permanently converts principal to a guaranteed income stream.

The new Union Plus Annuity Program allows you to convert a sum of money from your savings (the premium) into a lifelong series of steady, guaranteed income payments, depending upon option chosen. Union members pay no agent fees or commissions, maximizing the annuity income they will receive. In fact, you may benefit from higher monthly income than your savings would generate outside an annuity.

Fixed-income annuities are a reliable and affordable way to help ensure enough income to cover living expenses in retirement. You have the option to schedule payments for the rest of your life, your and a loved one’s life, or a specified number of years. Income will vary depending on which option you choose. Payments can begin immediately or within a short period of time.

The income guarantees are made by issuers belonging to American General Life Companies (“American General”), one of the nation’s oldest and largest providers of income annuities, which distributes more than 100,000 monthly income payments each quarter and has been in business for more than 150 years.

Four reasons to consider the Union Plus Annuity Program:
1. Consistency. The payment is guaranteed, and you can count on being paid every month.
2. Stability. Your income won’t depend on the stock market and its ups and downs.
3. Simplicity. You don't have to study financial reports, monitor a portfolio, or buy and sell investments. Look for your monthly deposit into your checking/savings account each month.
4. Control. An American General income annuity purchased through the Union Plus Annuity Program isn’t exposed to market risk, since it is a fixed annuity product purchased by you.(2) It’s like having a retirement paycheck.

To find out how much income an annuity purchased through the Union Plus Annuity Program might provide, visit UnionPlus.org/Annuities or call an experienced, non-commissioned annuity specialist at 1-877-244-1539.

1 Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the life insurance company.

2 American General Life Companies, www.americangeneral.com, (“American General”) is the marketing name for a group of affiliated domestic life insurers.

American General Life Companies insurers offer a full line of life insurance, annuities, accident & health products and worksite benefits to serve the financial and estate planning needs of its customers throughout the United States. 

This contract is not insured by the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board or any similar agency. The contract is not a deposit or other obligation of, nor is it guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or depository institution. 

Deer buck in June

This white tail buck showed up yesterday. He was with his brother who also had a nice rack. I wish I could have photographed both of them in the same shot but they wouldn't get close enough to each other.

Free Guide to Medicare Changes

The Affordable Care Act is changing the health-insurance marketplace in big ways. The first changes took effect Sept. 23, 2010. Many more will roll out over the next several years. Medicare and Medicaid are affected, too. But what does the new law mean for you and your family? Download our guides for answers from the Consumers Guide website.

Medicare: 6 thing you need to know now is a great publication.

AARP is not the ARA

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that AARP is willing to consider benefit cuts to Social Security.

The Alliance for Retired Americans and our Strengthen Social Security allies are totally opposed to this position.

Ed Coyle, the Executive Director of the Alliance responded, “The story in the Wall Street Journal – which states that AARP supports cutting Social Security benefits - makes it apparent to me that AARP is not representing their members on this issue. AARP does not speak for all seniors.  There is no ambiguity on where the Alliance for Retired Americans stands on Social Security - never has been, never will be. We are against Social Security benefit cuts. The current economic recession is all the proof we need to know that Social Security frequently is the only safety net that keeps millions of seniors in their homes with food on their tables.”

This change in position by AARP could give political cover to those members of Congress who are wavering on this issue and may choose to support draconian cuts.

***Please call and email your Member of Congress and your Senators to tell them NO CUTS!!! ***

Send an email letter to your Representatives easily by going to the ARA web site.

Dial the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

SAMPLE PHONE STATEMENT
My name is _________ and I am a constituent.  I am appalled that AARP is open to cutting Social Security benefits.  AARP does not speak for me. I urge you to stand strong against any cuts or changes to Social Security – period. There are many alternatives to strengthen Social Security besides cutting benefits. Raising the payroll cap, for instance.  Hands-Off Social Security!

Thank you for your participation!

Retiree Leader Reacts to AARP Position on Social Security Cuts

 Stresses Alliance Remains Opposed to Cuts, and Always Will Be

“My name is Ed Coyle, and I am the Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a 4 million-member advocacy organization for older Americans.

“The story in the Wall Street Journal today – which states that AARP supports cutting Social Security benefits - makes it apparent to me that AARP is not representing their members on this issue.

“I will leave it to AARP’s members to decide how they feel about this.

“AARP does not speak for all seniors.  And on this topic probably not for many of their own members.

“There is no ambiguity on where the Alliance for Retired Americans stands on Social Security - never has been, never will be.

“We are against Social Security benefit cuts for seniors.

“The current economic recession is all the proof we need that Social Security frequently is the only safety net that keeps millions of seniors in their homes with food on their tables.

“We have heard the argument that when the Baby Boomers retire, they will break the bank.  Of course their retirement will put a demand on the Trust Fund, but there are many alternatives to strengthen Social Security besides cutting benefits. Raising the payroll cap, for instance.

“The voices of doom are wrong.  The Social Security Trust Fund has a $2.6 trillion surplus, and it is projected to grow to $4.3 trillion by 2023. We do not need to cut benefits.

“The Alliance for Retired Americans will always stand up for seniors and the middle class. We are for strengthening Social Security for today’s seniors and for generations to come.

“Our members hope that AARP will directly answer some basic questions.

-    Do you support any cuts in benefits?
-    Do you support raising the retirement age?
-    Do you support means testing?

“These are questions that any seniors organization ought to be prepared to answer directly.

“The Alliance for Retired Americans has fought side-by-side with AARP on many issues in the past.

“But if the story in today’s Wall Street Journal is accurate, we will be parting company on this issue because we just can’t let seniors down.”
Source: Alliance for Retired Americans

Republicans Want to Do Away With Medicare

What's Wrong With The Economy

Are There Empty Chairs Where You Work?

Here We Go Again- GOP Offers Social Security Privatization Legislation

Republican members in the House have introduced legislation which would take your Social Security contributions and give them to Wall Street. For those in Congress who routinely target safety net programs, like Social Security and Medicare, this Social Security plan is the perfect companion legislation for the GOP/Ryan Budget.  Ryan’s CouponCare plan would put insurance companies in charge of seniors’ healthcare while the so-called “SAFE” act would put Wall Street in charge of your retirement savings.

Do you feel safe?

“This Social Security proposal is political opportunism at its worst.  Supporters use the current fiscal crisis–which Social Security has not contributed to in any way– as an opportunity to defund a program many of these members do not support in the first place. The privatization of Social Security does not have support among any age-group or political affiliation once you step outside the Beltway but it remains goal #1 for those who want Wall Street in charge of billions of hard-earned American tax dollars. Max Richtman, NCPSSM Executive Vice President/Acting CEO

These privatization  proposals aren’t about fiscal responsibility because neither will save the federal government money.  The transition costs for converting Social Security into a privatized system would cost trillions of dollars while the GOP/Ryan plan for Medicare adds $13 in waste for every dollar saved. Meanwhile, millions of Americans lose their guaranteed benefits in exchange for a ride on the Wall Street roller coaster and coupons for their healthcare. Let’s not confuse what this debate is really all about because privatization is a political goal not fiscal responsibility.

For so many House Republicans who worked hard last fall (before Election Day of course) to convince American voters they haven’t and weren’t proposing Social Security privatization, this legislation certainly now destroys that claim.  It’s only been six months since the GOP regained control of the House and they’ve wasted no time pushing to privatize both Medicare and Social Security, at a time when millions of Americans are still suffering in an economic crisis these programs did not create.

Source: Entitled to Know - National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM)

Name this flower

Click on photo to enlarge.

Oh Now!

Humming House :: Gypsy Django from Yeah Yeah Creative on Vimeo.

Here's what you already knew

This shows you just how much some of our lawmakers think of our senior citizens. I encourage all of you to go to the Alliance for Retired Americans to see the full report.

The blue check marks indicate favorable votes. The red X's indicate that the guy voted against the best interest of seniors.

Don't Do a Job Unsafely

One of the reasons I retired early is because I wanted to retire in one piece. Too many bosses at NIPSCO were more interested in getting the job done quickly without seeming to care much about doing the job safely.

No worker has to do a job in an unsafe manner. That's why I never refused to do a particular job. I have however, refused to do a job in the manner that the boss wanted me to do it.

I remember one time down at Royal Center Underground Gas Storage, the boss wanted me to reattach a guy wire on a chimney. The way he wanted me to do it would require me to get into a 55 gallon drum which had been reinforced with steel rods and then be lifted up by the use of a crane.

I had seen crane cables slip before, and told this boss that I would be happy to attach the guy wire by use of a bucket truck but I wasn't going to be lifted up with a crane.

So what did the boss do? He found another worker who was willing to break this safety rule to do the job. That happens a lot.

Sometimes taking the time to do the job safely is a pain in the butt, especially when it's noisey, dirty and hot, but what the heck, it's the right thing to do and the smart thing to do in the long run.

Always remember that you are replaceable and the boss knows it and companies know that to disregard safety doesn't cost them anything if the worker knew the safe way to do the job.

Support HR 639 Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act

I call upon all our SOAR members who live in their respective congressional districts to call their congressional representatives to support and co-sponsor HR 639 which is now pending in Congress. If your representative has already co-sponsored this bill, thank them for their support.

As you well know, the Chinese have been manipulating their currency (at times up to 40%) to make U.S.  imports more costly and chinese exports less costly in the international marketplace. HR 639 will corect this unjust trade issue and put America on a more level playing field with the government of China.

Passage of this bill also has the potential of creating 500,000 to one million jobs in America. The bill would also have a tremendous effect in reducing our present deficit. Please take the time to call and get your congress person on board to help save and create jobs in America.

Jim Bickhart USW District 4

Hot Hot Hot

It's on days like today with temperatures nearing 100 degrees that I recall my days working in NIPSCO generating stations. All too often workers were overcome by the heat when working for some nitwit inexperienced supervisor.

Remember this.....when it comes to your own safety, you're the boss. Take a break when you need to and drink plenty of water. Don't let some stinking boss who is trying to impress his own boss keep you from maintaining your health.

Too many times workers are murdered by bosses like that. They don't give a rip about you. They only care about themselves.

Elvis Has Left The Building

For the past ten days we've had an unwelcomed visitor ....... a bat. Since he took up residence in our home, we named him Elvis.

We've been trying to catch the darned thing ever since. We had all the necessary equipment in place. Bad mitton rackets, fishing net, plastic curtains covering the doorway to keep him from goint into other parts of the house and a string fastened to the door knob so we could close it quickly when he entered the room.

Every evening at 9:30, Elvis made his appearance by flying up from the cellar and circling around the room but we kept missing him.

Tonight, when Elvis made his appearance, I pulled the string. The door slammed shut. Elaine messed up his flight pattern with the fish net. I put the net over Elvis. Elaine opened the back door. Elvis began crawling through the hole in the net. Somehow we managed to persuade him to exit.

We're both exhausted and are sure glad this ordeal is over.

Friday Alert

June 3, 2011 edition

2010 Alliance Voting Record, Compiling Key Congressional Votes, is Now Available
On Tuesday, the Alliance released its 2010 Congressional Voting Record, detailing the votes of every U.S. Senator and Representative on key issues affecting current and future retirees. The document is available at http://bit.ly/kpet7N. “At a time when Congress has been debating the future of Social Security and Medicare, it is more important than ever that people of all ages know the issues and how their elected officials voted,” said Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling. The voting record examines ten key Senate votes and ten key House votes from 2010, giving the roll calls on issues such as strengthening Medicare, help for Social Security recipients, and protecting older Americans from consumer and lending fraud. According to the Voting Record, 183 U.S. House Members achieved perfect scores of 100% in 2010, while 83 members of the House received scores of zero. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the architect of the GOP’s plan to privatize Medicare and cut Social Security, was one of the House members receiving a grade of zero. Twenty-two members of the U.S. Senate received perfect scores of 100%, while 16 Senators received scores of zero.

Alliance Teams with Social Security Works to Release State Social Security Polls
In a new poll released on Wednesday, 76% of likely voters in Florida’s 2012 election said that they oppose cutting Social Security benefits in order to reduce the federal deficit. Those opposed include 90% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans, 71% of Independents, and 56 % of Tea Party supporters. The poll was paid for by Social Security Works, a national organization that convenes the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, which is comprised of more than 300 national and state organizations from many of the nation’s leading aging, labor, disability, women’s, consumer, civil rights and equality organizations. It was released as leaders in Washington debate how to reduce the federal deficit, and many members of Congress call for including deep cuts to Social Security. The poll found that Social Security could be a real wedge issue in the 2012 U.S. Senate race in Florida.  Nearly seven in ten (69%) of Florida voters say they would be less likely to vote for a Senate candidate who supports cutting benefits to reduce the deficit. Social Security could also influence swing voters: by a margin of 57% to 9% of independents and a margin of 65% to 5% of those who are undecided in the generic 2012 Florida Senate ballot, voters indicated they would be much less likely to vote for a candidate who supports cutting Social Security benefits to reduce the deficit.

Ms. Easterling participated in a similar event releasing a poll in Virginia on Tuesday.  That poll showed that 75% of likely voters in Virginia’s 2012 election oppose cutting Social Security benefits in order to reduce the federal deficit. A poll being released today reveals that 78% of likely voters in Missouri’s 2012 election oppose cutting Social Security benefits in order to reduce the federal deficit. For more on these and other polls, go to http://bit.ly/l0RH5V.

Playing Politics with the Debt Ceiling
On Tuesday, Congress voted down a “clean” debt ceiling increase, in favor of tying the measure to politically motivated goals such as cutting Social Security and Medicare.  The defeated bill had no strings attached, and merely raised the debt ceiling from $14.3 trillion to $16.7 trillion. Republicans wish to only raise the debt ceiling if they can attach provisions from the unpopular Ryan Budget.  However, by voting down this bill, Republicans have rendered the prospect of government default a very real possibility. If the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2nd, the U.S. will not be able to meet its financial obligations, a situation that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has described as “Catastrophic”.  “As this debate heats up, we will have to focus more than ever on protecting Social Security and Medicare from cuts,” said Ruben Burks, Alliance Secretary-Treasurer.

Voter ID Laws Target Those More Likely to Vote Democratic
Since the 2010 midterm elections, Republican state legislators and governors have been working tirelessly to enact tougher voter identification laws. While many politicians veil the push for the laws as a way to cut down on fraud, evidence of such widespread voter fraud has yet to materialize. In reality, the push for voter ID requirements disenfranchises young people, seniors, and minorities, all of whom lack state issued photo ID’s at a greater rate than the rest of the general population. Minorities and young people are overwhelmingly Democratic voters, while seniors are overwhelmingly swing voters.   In Wisconsin, for example, 23% of seniors; 59% of Latina women; and 78% of African-American men 18 to 24-years-old lack a state-issued photo ID. Currently, 12 states require a photo ID to vote. Some states are also shortening early voting periods and restricting the ability of third parties - such as the League of Women Voters - to hold voter registration drives.

New Alliance State Presidents for North Carolina, New York
Jim Moore was elected State President at the North Carolina Alliance's convention in Raleigh on Wednesday. North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Secretary-Treasurer of the North Carolina AFL-CIO MaryBe McMillan delivered remarks.  Attendees thanked John Newman for his seven years as president, and Richard Fiesta, Director of the Department of Government and Political Affairs for the Alliance, spoke about current Social Security and Medicare developments. In New York, Dennis Tracey takes over as state president, following Jim Wood’s four years of dedicated service.

Nevada Alliance Commemorates Memorial Day
On Sunday, the Nevada Alliance (NARA) sponsored a Memorial Day BBQ to honor veterans and to defend the Social Security benefits upon which so many depend when they return to civilian life. Teachers, local labor leaders and other supporters joined in the celebration, featuring Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), purple heart recipient and veteran Rodney Smith and AFT member and veteran Dick Collins. Scott Watts, President of NARA, presided over the tribute.  Richard Fiesta also lent support. To see photos, go to http://bit.ly/lCOdYA.

Presidents of NAACP, NEA to Speak at Alliance Convention in September
Help us mark our 10-year Anniversary at our upcoming Legislative Conference, Celebrating Our Past, Fighting for Your Future, on September 6 - 9, 2011 in Washington, D.C.! Information and registration forms were mailed last month. You may also register online at http://bit.ly/hQro1V. Benjamin Jealous, President of the NAACP, and Dennis Van Roekel, President of the National Education Association, are scheduled to speak. Any questions, please contact Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202-637-5377 or jjones@retiredamericans.org.


Download a printable version of this document at http://bit.ly/mTnVJP.

---
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Our Growing Inequality

Since the 1970s, the CEO class and their political allies have used policy to reshape our economy to their benefit.  They’ve gotten excessive tax breaks for corporations and the very richest, trade policies that rob our communities of good jobs, deregulation that left average Americans unprotected from financial fallout and laws that encourage union-busting.  Last year they even got a court case – Citizens United – that allows unlimited corporate dollars to influence our elections.

These policies matter a great deal.  They are creating a massive wealth and income gap in our country.  Take a look at the numbers:

• The richest one percent of Americans owns over 35 percent – more than one-third – of our nation's wealth.

• The four hundred wealthiest Americans now have more cash, stock and property than the combined total of half of America’s households.

• Median CEO pay jumped 27 percent in 2010. Workers’ pay grew just 2.1 percent in 2010.

• The average hourly wage in 1972, adjusted for inflation was $20.06.  By 2008, the average hourly wage dropped to $18.52.  In other words, income for the middle class has stagnated over the last 30 years.

• In the early 1960s, the top fifth of wealth holders had 81 percent of all wealth, and the bottom four-fifths held 19 percent. But it has only gotten worse since then – as of 2009, the top fifth wealthiest Americans hold over 87 percent of the nation’s wealth. The bottom four-fifths hold just under 13 percent.

Let’s Fight Back – The next time someone tells you that our country is “broke” remind that person that there is plenty of wealth – it’s just not in the hands of the middle class.  This isn’t good for us.  It isn’t good for our democracy.  And, it will get worse if we lose the state-level fights over collective bargaining rights – our tool to fight for fair wages and benefits.  Please stay involved in state and national fights and watch for ways to get involved through Rapid Response.

The Rat Race explained

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.  An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican. "But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife.  In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs...I have a full life."

 

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!  You should start by fishing longer every day.  You can then sell the extra fish you catch.  With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant.  You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City!  From there you can direct your huge enterprise." 

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican. "Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American. "And after that?" "Afterwards?  That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing.  "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!" "Millions?  Really?  And after that?" "After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta, and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.

Source: Can't remember, sorry. 

Social Security - Serving Those Who Serve Our Nation

Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend to celebrate the unofficial start of summer with a BBQ.  It’s a day when we remember the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in our nation’s military.

Military men and women contribute to Social Security just like other working Americans, from their first paycheck at boot camp, to their last paycheck at the end of their career. As for any other working American who contributes, Social Security needs to be there for veterans and their families. For example:

● Most of the more than 4,000 children who lost a parent since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars now receive Social Security survivors benefits.
● More than 771,000 veterans receive Social Security disability benefits.
● Social Security currently pays benefits to over 9 million veterans—about 4 in 10 veterans today—and the vast majority of veterans will become Social Security beneficiaries in the future.

Veterans and military families gave their all for our country.  It is our obligation to fight to ensure that they receive every benefit they deserve.  This means reminding Congress that those who serve our nation, should never have to worry about any benefit cuts. After all, Social Security belongs to them – and to all of us.

Source: StrengthenSocialSecurity

Philip Murray

Philip Murray was president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) during its most tumultuous decade and helped transform the volatile movement of industrial unions begun by John L. Lewis into a stable and powerful organization. Vice president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW) from 1920 until 1942, Murray also served as the first president of the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) from 1942 until his death in 1952. As president of the CIO, Murray cemented the alliance between the industrial unions and the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. He also created a more amicable relationship with the larger and older American Federation of Labor (AFL), laying the foundation for the merger of the CIO and the AFL in 1955.

Phillip Murray

Murray was born in Blantyre, Scotland, on May 25, 1886, of Irish Catholic parents. His father, William Murray, was a coal miner and local union official. His mother, Rose Layden, was a weaver in a local cotton mill who died when her son was only two years old. Murray's father remarried and had eight more children. Philip, the oldest boy, entered the mines at 10 to help support the family. At 16, he and his father traveled to southwestern Pennsylvania, where they both found jobs as miners. Within a year, they had saved enough money to bring the entire family to America.

In 1904, the young Murray assaulted a company weigh boss he thought was cheating him and was fired. When his fellow workers struck in support of his reinstatement, his father, stepmother and seven of his siblings were thrown from their home into the street. The experience made an indelible impression on Murray. Concluding that unions were the best defense workers had against unfair treatment, he devoted himself to the cause. In 1905, Murray was elected president of the UMW local in Horning, Pa. Murray completed an 18-month correspondence course in math and science in six months. He also met and courted his wife, Elizabeth Lavery, the daughter of a miner killed in a pit accident. They married in 1910 and eventually adopted a son.


Murray soon came to the attention of UMW leaders at the state and national level. Murray favored industrial cooperation and gradual improvements over industrial warfare and revolutionary upheaval. In 1912, John White, UMW president, appointed Murray to the UMW's national Executive Board; three years later, White backed his election as president of UMW District 5 in western Pennsylvania. In 1917, Murray mobilized support on the Executive Board to confirm another rising star in the organization, John L. Lewis, as vice president of the UMW. Then, when Lewis was elevated to the presidency of the miners' union, he supported promoting the 33 year-old Murray (1886-1952) to the vice presidency.


For the next 20 years, Murray was Lewis's right-hand man. Lewis handled relations with management, financiers, politicians and the press, while Murray handled relationships with the members. The two men worked closely together for many years, but Murray was capable of acting not only independently of Lewis but also in complete opposition to him.

In 1936, following the formation of the original Committee for Industrial Organization within the AFL, Lewis put Murray in charge of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC). Murray's organizers cultivated leaders of the industry's many company unions, while his staff filed unfair labor practice charges against the companies with the new National Labor Relations Board and fed congressional investigators information about the steel industry's use of anti-union spies and hired thugs. In March 1937, one week after the Flint sit-down strikers forced General Motors to recognize the United Auto Workers, U.S. Steel, the nation's largest steel producer signed an agreement with the SWOC. Other steel producers soon followed. Although the so-called "Little Steel" companies would thwart unionization until 1941, by the end of 1937 SWOC had chartered more than 1,000 local unions and was administering hundreds of collective bargaining agreements. 


When the CIO held its first official convention in 1938, Murray was elected its second vice president. Two years later, Murray assumed the CIO presidency when John L. Lewis resigned in protest over President Franklin D. Roosevelt's re-election and his interventionist foreign policy. Murray, in contrast, supported the president's effort to aid the Allies in their war against Nazi Germany. And he agreed to serve, as did his CIO colleague, Sidney Hillman, in the agencies established by the Roosevelt administration to coordinate war-related production and to expedite the settlement of labor disputes in war-related industries. 

Shoring up support for the nation's war effort and securing gains for union workers despite a no-strike pledge absorbed much of Murray's energies in his first years as head of the CIO. In 1942, Lewis, who opposed the no-strike policy, disaffiliated the UMW from the organization he had founded. He also supported Murray's expulsion from the miners' union. While the break caused Murray great sorrow, he never wavered from the course he had chosen. He continued as CIO president, and he agreed to assume the presidency of the newly formed United Steel Workers of America. By the war's end, Murray could point to real achievements. The war had been won, union membership had continued to grow and wage gaps between the highest- and lowest-paid workers had narrowed.


After the Republicans won control of Congress in 1942, Murray established a permanent Political Action Committee within the CIO and called for a guaranteed annual wage, union pensions, joint labor-management industry councils and government policies to ensure full employment. A long-time member of the executive committee of the NAACP, in 1943 Murray sought to make the Fair Employment Practice Commission (established by executive order two years earlier) a permanent legislated agency to protect the employment rights of minorities. Under his leadership, the CIO condemned racial discrimination and established a Committee to Abolish Racial Discrimination inside the CIO. 


After the war, Murray opposed the Taft-Hartley Act (1947) and successfully challenged an interpretation of the act that would have forbidden a labor publication from endorsing a political candidate. He also refused on principle to sign the anti-Communist affidavit that Taft-Hartley required of all union officers because he considered it demeaning and discriminatory. In keeping with this opposition, Murray refused to sanction raids by CIO affiliates on unions whose leaders refused to sign the affidavit. However, when several left-leaning unions disregarded the official CIO endorsement of Harry Truman in 1948 and instead supported the third-party candidacy of Henry Wallace, Murray acted decisively to expel the dissidents, convinced they put the interests of the Communist Party before those of the union and its members. 

In the 1950s, Murray continued to press for the political, social and economic advance of working people, leading his last major strike against the steel industry in 1952. Shortly thereafter, he died of a heart attack in San Francisco, honored by millions as a truly humane and visionary leader of the labor movement.

Source: AFL-CIO and USW web sites

You Can Huff & You Can Puff

Don't Threaten Workers and Retirees

NY House Race Shows Fallout of House Medicare Vote

Threats to Medicare Play Key Role in Tuesday’s Special Election

The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans.

“The outcome of the special election in New York’s 26th congressional district was greatly shaped by concern over a recent U.S. House vote to privatize Medicare and create an inadequate voucher program for retirees that would be run by health insurance companies.

"The April 15 Medicare vote troubled both seniors and workers.  For retirees already struggling to get by, these proposed changes would be devastating.  Many workers today are worrying that they will never be able to retire.

“Voters saw that Kathy Hochul will be a strong voice in Congress to protect the health care and retirement security of Americans of all ages.  She made it crystal clear that she opposes turning Medicare over to private insurance companies, reducing Social Security benefits, and allowing state governors to cut Medicaid support for seniors who cannot afford nursing home care.

“These results show that health care and retirement security will be on the minds of many voters in the 2012 elections.  The Alliance for Retired Americans will continue to educate voters on both the issues and where the candidates stand.”

Michael Buckley
Communications Director
Alliance for Retired Americans
202/637-5190
Mbuckley@retiredamericans.org

Don't Miss This Great "Tell it Like it is" Speech

Take Medicare Cuts Off The Table

The Race To The Bottom

by Bill Gibbons
PACE Representative, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR)

Most of us have been around long enough to look back at how our country progressed and the working
class and middle class dream was achieved - most of it through the strength of unions and the collective bargaining process. Remember when one income based on a good job would support the entire family? Remember when health insurance and pensions where being established and improved through negotiations?

Remember when Social Security was looked upon as a great social program to be protected and Medicare was established? Remember when we talked about reducing the work week and a livable wage? If we didn’t have Medicare today, do you think we could get it passed in congress?

What is happening to the American dream? Well, if we pay attention, we can see it being attacked and torn apart by the conservative, right-wing, tea party movement, bank rolled by special interests and corporate money funded through various organizations with friendly patriotic sounding names.

Think about it. The attempts to privatize and eliminate Medicare. The same people don’t believe in Social Security and would like to eliminate workers’ rights and destroy unions and eliminate regulations that protect the general good.

These attacks on workers and the middle class have been going on for years. The difference now is that it has become so obvious. Private sector workers have been fighting to protect their standard of living for the last 30 years. Now, the public sector workers; police, firefighters, teachers and others areunder attack.

It’s a race to the bottom under the premise of budget shortfalls, protecting jobs, etc. while the entries such as the investment banks and misdeeds of Wall Street, that cause the recent economic problems, are unaffected and actually benefiting.

Medicare at Risk

By Jim Centner,
Director, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR)

The new Republican budget reflects upside-down priorities – it protects special interest subsidies and tax breaks for those at the top, and cuts deep into the heart of the programs that are essential to the health of our seniors.  The Republican budget ends Medicare as we know it – converting it into a voucher-type program. While providing a windfall for the health insurance industry, it would force seniors to pay much more for healthcare. If Republicans get their way, premiums for more than 20 million seniors will skyrocket and they will all lose their guaranteed health benefits.

Starting in 2022, Medicare will be eliminated for new beneficiaries and converted instead into a voucher program.  There are more than 20 million near-elderly Americans who are now ages 50-54 who would not get Medicare when they retire but instead only get a coupon to purchase private health insurance.  This approach would transfer control of Medicare to insurers and there would be no guaranteed benefits, essentially ending Medicare. 

The voucher will fail to keep pace with increases in the cost of healthcare.  As a result, seniors will be forced to pay higher premiums in order to access the same benefits they would receive under the current system.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, a typical senior will spend more than twice as much of his or her own income on health services under the Ryan proposal, as compared to the current Medicare system.

Under current law, all seniors have guaranteed access to life-saving health benefits, including screenings for colon cancer, diabetes, and prostate cancer, as well as flu shots. If the Republican plan becomes law, there is a real possibility that seniors that were eligible for guaranteed health benefits last year could lose them.

The proposal would “reopen” the prescription drug donut hole, requiring that seniors pay full price for prescription drugs.  As a result, on average, seniors would pay $3,500 more for their medications over the next ten years.  Seniors and people with disabilities who have high prescription drug costs could pay an additional $12,300 over the next 10 years.

In their initial analysis of the Ryan Medicare plan, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office determined, "Under the proposal, most elderly people would pay more for their healthcare than they would pay under the current Medicare system…" Under the proposal, the gradually increasing number of Medicare beneficiaries participating in the new premium support program would bear a much larger share of their healthcare costs than they would under the traditional program…That greater burden would require them to reduce their use of healthcare services, spend less on other goods and services, or save more in advance of retirement than they would under current law.

We Can Make a Difference

by Connie Entrekin,

President, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR)

Recent events have demonstrated that an informed electorate can make a difference. Retirees all across the country attended town hall meetings held by their legislators to let them know exactly what they thought of the Ryan budget plan. Educated and armed with the facts, activists showed up to demonstrate their displeasure with the Republican - led budget that recently passed in the House of Representatives and changed the course of the debate.

This grassroots activism once again established that working class Americans will not stand pat and allow the corporate elite and their elected lackey’s to run roughshod over what is good for all Americans. You made your voices heard! The leaders of the far right and minions of the rich backed-out from their draconian approach to destroy Medicare in a half-baked scheme to balance the budget.  

SOAR members joined with the Alliance for Retired Americans in over 20 “Don’t Make Us Work until We Die” events. These grassroot actions stressed that cutting entitlement benefits would require people to keep working far past when they should be able to retiree with dignity. These events also demonstrated to our elected officials that we are paying very close attention to their activities.

We must keep the pressure on!  We must continue to express our concerns about the budget process.  We must get a commitment from our legislators to oppose any attempt to weaken or dismantle Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

The question we all must ask ourselves is one that many activists have asked themselves throughout the ages - "If not us, who; If not now, when?"

Too much Rain, but the garden keeps Growing

Stuck inside the last two days because of rain but the garden is looking great. We'll be eating lettuce any day now. Raspberries, goose berries, peaches, grapes, peas, onions, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers all look good. Waiting for beans and cukes and squash to appear.
Gardening is good for the soul and what ails a person. No doubt about that.
Indiana politics is making me ill. It's possible that Mitch Daniels could end up being the decline of America. He's sure made a mess of Indiana. And Mike Pence threatens to finish the job.

Typical Week End Weather

Typical Spring week end weather here in Northern Indiana. The sun shines bright and the temperature is great from Monday to Friday, then on the week ends it turns miserably cool and rains.

Tanglefoot did the trick

We enjoy feeding the Hummingbirds and Baltimore Orioles. They both use the same feeder but when the Orioles visit it, the feeder tips slightly allowing the water to drip away. So, I put a post in the ground about a foot deep and nailed a one foot square piece of particle board on top. I then put a small chick waterer on top which holds a one quart jar full of water (upside down).
The next problem was the darned ants coming up the post and invading the the thing.
I tried smearing a three inch wide band of grease around the post but it didn't faze the ants. I tried a little vasoline but that didn't work either.
I then went to the hardware store and got a small container of "Tanglefoot" and smeared a two inch band around the post a few inches below the board. That did the trick. Great stuff and well worth it.

RetirementTalk - A Wonderful Podcast

 About a week ago, I came across a podcast called “Retirement Talk-What to do with the rest of your life?”
It's one of the best podcasts I’ve heard by a retiree who puts in plain English, what retirement is all about.
It’s done by, Del Lowery. A man with a golden voice. Smooth......

These podcasts are about five minutes in length and and are filled with interesting stories and suggestions as to how to have a happy retirement.

The podcasts can also be downloaded from the iTunes store by a search on iTunes for “Retirement Talk for Boomers, Seniors, and Retirees.”

Take a listen. I think you’ll enjoy these short essays.


Here is Del's web address: http://retirementtalk.org/

Charlie

Not a thing on my mind

I'm speechless. Just too tired to comment this evening. It's not a good idea to wait till the end of the day to write something on a blog. I've learned my lesson.

Happy Mother's Day and good picking to you all

Bless all Mother's on this special day.

The Morel's are in full bloom in northern Indiana, so good picking mushroomers.

The Same Republican Pig

Don't Make Our Kids Work 'Til They Die

Indiana's One Party Rule A Complete Disaster

Statehouse Update
from
State Rep. Pat Bauer

May 2, 2011


INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana House Democratic Leader B. Patrick Bauer from South Bend recently issued the following statement on the 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly, which ended this past Friday evening:

     "The damage done by single-party rule this session will be severe and lasting.

     "It will be felt in the pocketbooks of Hoosiers, in the classrooms where our children are taught, and in the courtrooms of this state, where many will go in the months ahead to try to overturn some of the most onerous policies that are being signed into law.

     "Here are two 'accomplishments' from this session that describe these past four months perfectly:

     "We cut taxes on corporations by 25 percent.

     "We cut benefits for out-of-work Hoosiers by 25 percent.

     "Those two contrasts provide all the proof you need to see the true agenda advanced by Republicans when they have complete control of government. They might describe it as a mandate, but only on behalf of the rich and powerful special interests.

     "It has been an agenda that describes job creation as right-to-work proposals that prove only to drive down wages, health care and other benefits for workers. What else could you expect from those who think that having 270,000 Hoosiers unemployed is a positive sign -- and do nothing these past four months to try to find good-paying jobs for them?

     "But perhaps the greatest tragedy of this session will be the price paid by those children who will not be among the privileged few to be able to attend charter schools or use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools.

     "The children who are left out of these programs will see larger class sizes, fewer programs that will enable them to expand and enrich their individual talents, and fewer people to help them find those talents.

     "You will be told that the new state budget contains $150 million in additional funding for schools. This is a lie.

     "This governor has cut state support for schools by $600 million the past two years. That means our schools are being asked to make do with funding levels that are lower than they were two years ago. The additional funding in the new state budget will only make up a portion of what schools have lost.

     "In the weeks and months ahead, the dirty reality of what has been accomplished through single-party control of this Legislature will begin to dawn on the people of Indiana. They will realize that parents of children who are home schooled or go to private schools will have tax breaks that can even give them relief from the textbook tax that has plagued so many families for so long.

     "Those who propose such policies also will claim these breaks are small. They are the same people who claim that we should do nothing to give families a break from high gas prices this summer. As we have mentioned before, those in charge right now only turn fiscally conservative when it comes time to help those who earn less than them.

     "These leaders are the same people who will gush that this session was a resounding success.

     "They could not be more wrong. The 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly was a complete disaster."