I had hoped to attend the State Democratic Party Convention, and work the California for Democracy (DFA) table, but I'm mired by a business deal and can't break away. So apologies, my fellow progressive Dems, and brothers and sisters in arms at
California for Democracy. If you live in Cali, and you haven't already, join up with your local group of progressives (listed by zip code) via
DFAlink. But I digress. The main point of the Democratic Party Covention is to get everyone on the same page in this vital election year. And I heard something today that had god-damn well better be on the party agenda, on page
ONE.
Debbie Wasserman Shultz, (D) Fl. Gave a speech today , seen on CSAPN< recounted by Randi Rhodes, which just encapsulates the entire '04 race.
Median family income has dropped every year of the Bush administration. Median wages have dropped 6% from 2000 to 2004 according to the Federal Reserve Board. The typical middle class family is working longer than in 2001 just to pay the bills.
Health care costs have skyrocketed with the typical family paying $3,602 more for health insurance compared with 2000. *
The number of *Americans without health insurance has increased by six million while the number living in poverty has increased by 4.5 million since 2000.
Gas prices are 62% higher than in 2001.
Housing is the least affordable it has been in fourteen years.
College tuition has gone up about 40%--even if you take inflation into account, according to the College Board in 2005.
The number of employees in an employer sponsored retirement plan dropped by more than 2.7 million from 2000 to 2004; that's our objective Congressional Research Service that cited that statistic.
About 3.7 million employees have lost employer provided health insurance since 2000.
The median household debt has climbed 34% to $55,300 from 2000 to 2004.
The typical student graduates from college with about $17,500 in debt.
While wages and salaries are at a record low as a share of national income corporate profits are at a 60 year high.
And finally, the last statistic that I was able to pull together, just to outline what the average working family is struggling through Mr. Delahunt, is that the number of U.S. billionaires reached a record of 793 which is up 15% from last year.
It is no wonder that the American people are fed-up with us and fed-up with the lack of outrage, with the lack of leadership, and that the polling numbers--when you rate the Congress--are just hitting rock bottom."
There it is. Page one. Are you better off now than you were in 2000? Ice this page with Iraq quagmire, and by October, possibly Iran and a nuclear weapon being used inviolation of accepted worldwide standards.
What the hell, add some more stats:
Way higher injury stats due to lack of body armor
More injuries per capita among the workforce
Higher asthma rates
The freaking polar icecaps are melting
You can't eat fresh fish because of the mercury.
WHAT THE HELL ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Now get out there and help, CA Dems!
Mantra:
*WAR IS BAD, WE'RE AGAINST TORTURE, AND IT'S THE MIDDLE CLASS, STUPID! *
Once again guys, sorry I can't make it. Have a Patron at the Crowbar without me.
* at thanks to orleans over at DU for reminding me.