( I am a big fan of paintings by Norman Rockwell. In this painting make sure to analyze the everyman who is to be given respect in our system of government. He is a blue collar worker showing up to a public meeting. I like the social messages in Norman Rockwell's paintings so much that the bland selection of prints in the Home Town Buffet in Simi Valley irritates me.)
Rep. Lois Capps held a town hall forum in Oxnard focuses on healthcare reform. I didn't go but here are some links to the coverage:
From The Ventura County Star
From Red County Blogger Eric Ingemunson
( No where in the post does it mention that Rep. Gallegly does not hold scheduled and public town hall forums. )
From Daily Kos ( Did I miss the background story of an Oxnard Church been burnt by an arsonist? Can someone fill me in or leave a link?)
The coverage and photos from the event show it was a peaceful event with strong arguments from many people. Sometimes we allow the obnoxious people to define our democracy with rude behavior, conspiracy theories, and demagoguing of issues until differing sides cannot even agree on what is being discussed.
That's a mistake.
The overwhelming majority of people attending town hall forums are decent, passionate, and patriotic citizens that want to be heard. The coverage should focus on them.
That's why I have next to nothing to add to a story to the story of brawls at rallies. It is an insult to everyone else there to minimize their concerns and issues and to focus on the drama. Sure the drama draws our attention and is newsworthy. But I just have the enthusiasm for it now.
We need government reform...not health care reform.....
That is one of the greatest paintings in world history.
When a blue collar worker stands up at a public meeting it usually costs a fiscal conservative money. For that reason alone I think it’s a great painting.
Real fiscal conservatives don't seat cheats! Unfortunately, too many corrupt and greedy politicos are being seated in government and although many of them profess to be liberals, libertarians or conservatives as they cheat, borrow and steal from the taxpayers pockets...real fiscal conservatives are prepared to invest in their community, especially when blue collars workers stand up to speak. Real conservatives understand that there are some things that they have to contribute to and invest in if the future's to pay off for everyone.
Today's STAR called out the phoniest of fiscal conservatives, Team Strickland, for mugging battered women. Seems Tony's gang of anti-tax crusaders aren't above boosting the bottom line for their clients at our expense. Tony received $1M from Intuit, via a third party, to help keep the State from offering free tax software to its filers to make filing easier and cheaper. Perhaps Tony couldn't make good on a quid pro quo understanding because when bi=partisan legislation came up to extend financial support for shelters that house abused women and their children, these anti-tax creeps blocked it...demanding that the cost of keeping those shelter doors open would be to drop the state's plans to offer the free tax software. Instead, taxpayers would have to pay a private company $40 to do their taxes.
The anti-tax creeps don't think of that $40 as yours or mine. they believe it rightfully belongs to Intuit and while they hold the line against any new taxes on oil companies, yacht builders and the other Top 5% of the wealthiest, they're not above forcing you and I to subsidize a software company that just happens to have been very generous to the anti-tax arseholes.
Call him out on it! Contact Strickland's office and tell him what you think of him screwing California's workers and their families.
When a liberal community activist stands up at a public meeting it usually costs the blue collar worker money.
Jimmy......! After all that's happened over the past 40 years of credit card conservatism, GOP-sponsored deficits and debts, Republican-led fiscal failures and, in fact, abject failure in every conservative venture, initiative and policy...you have the nerve to blame liberals. Get real! Fact is, the only time in American history we've seen real growth, middle class affluence and an expansion of jobs and income is when liberals and progressive are in charge. American conservatives always talk the fiscal talk but always fall flat on their faces at the first step.
When a conservative community activist stands up at a public meeting it's usually to be handcuffed and arrested by federal agents. Boo hoo Greg Totten.