WE ARE THE WORLD
LOVE & LIGHT TO EVERYONE: The gathering at Wells
Fargo has considerably increased with expectations of RV. The Prosperity Programs and St. Germain come out simultaneously. Don’t know how it can be any closer except to
HAPPEN. Monday sounds good but the night
is still young. Let’s complete this
journey together in sacred purpose. UNTIL TOMORROW
WE ARE THE WORLD 25 HAITI
California became the sixth state in the nation to take an
official stand against Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a 2010
Supreme Court ruling.
California joins Hawaii, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maryland and New Mexico in calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court ruling.
State assembly members Bob Wieckowski (D-Calif.) and Michael Allen (D-Calif.) introduced the campaign finance reform bill in January, calling for the federal government to send a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United to all the states for ratification. The measure also would serve as an official symbol of California's disagreement with the ruling.
In an email to The Huffington Post, Wieckowski emphasized California's status as a trendsetter in the fight for campaign finance reform. "A lot of national movements and trends start in California," wrote Wieckowski. "We have the largest population, the most congressional representatives and the largest economy in the country. It was critical for California to take a stand."
The last constitutional amendment was ratified in 1992. When asked about the quixotic nature of his resolution, Wieckowski agreed that the fight for campaign finance reform was a challenge.
"No one is underestimating how difficult it is, and justifiably so, to amend the Constitution," said Wieckowski. "But being silent is worse. Failing to speak out, to organize, to hold rallies and to take action would be much worse."
"That’s how you bring about change in this country. By going to city hall, the state Capitol and making your voice heard and shining a light on the issue."
The moment Citizens United was first decided in 2010, Mary Zhu, a retired physician from Davis, Calif., joined other local activists to make phone calls, write letters and sign petitions against the ruling under the organizing umbrella of the non-profit Public Citizen.
Together with Occupy Davis, Zhu and her friends were able to push the Davis City Council to endorse Wieckowski's bill in February. Now that she's part of a successful statewide effort, to condemn Citizens United, Zhu has no doubt that grassroots activism nationwide will eventually overturn the ruling.
"California is big and powerful, and this resolution will give tremendous encouragement to other groups, Zhu said to The Huffington Post. "It's like a stone that gets thrown in the pond; the water ripples far and wide."
When asked about bipartisan acceptance of large donations in the post-Citizens era, Zhu was realistic about how both Republican and Democratic candidates benefited. "It's the game, and they're stuck in it. I can understand why Obama has to go along with it -- 'You don't bring a knife to a gunfight'," Zhu said.
But to Zhu, the politicians' conundrum also underscored the importance of her work as a private citizen. "We citizens, who have nothing to gain and everything to lose -- it's our job to start screaming loud and clear. This resolution is just the beginning."
Organizations such as Public Citizen, Common Cause, CREDO Mobile, Free Speech for People and the California League of Conservation Voters all advocated for passage of the resolution in the California legislature. Public Citizen circulated a petition signed by more than 50,000 from California, and it has advocated for similar resolutions in states such as Vermont and Maryland.
May you
Rest In Peace!
VanT. Barfoot
died at the age of 92 on 2 March 2012.
Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag down?
You might remember a news story several months ago
about a crotchety old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down the flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it.
Now you can find out who, exactly, that old man was.
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg
-- probably didn't make much news back then.
Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the US Army in 1940,
set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers.
He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions
Rest In Peace!
VanT. Barfoot
died at the age of 92 on 2 March 2012.
Remember the guy who wouldn't take the flag down?
You might remember a news story several months ago
about a crotchety old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down the flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it.
Now you can find out who, exactly, that old man was.
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg
-- probably didn't make much news back then.
Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the US Army in 1940,
set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers.
He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions
and returned with 17 prisoners of war.
If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didn't make much news either,
given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot,
who retired as a Colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam , Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news..
was a neighborhood association's quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home.
That probably didn't make much news either,
given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot,
who retired as a Colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam , Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news..
was a neighborhood association's quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home.
He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn't take it down.Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.
"In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press. As well he should.
And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation.
It indicates he's not real good at backing down.
Van T. Barfoot's Medal of Honor citation:
This 1944 Medal of Honor citation,
listed with the National Medal of Honor Society,
is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot,
157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:
WE ONLY LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE�
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
AND,
BECAUSE OF OLD MEN LIKE
VAN BARFOOT!
Obviously he is not related to anybody in congress!
 |
| BAD TO THE BONE |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.