Tag Archives: fiscal cliff

Fiscal Cliff: Crisis Delayed

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So, most of us were relieved that there was news of a compromise reached in Washington, that a bandage was slapped on to the mess our nation’s finances are in.

For most of the United States, 2012 has been a difficult and challenging year, replete with extreme weather phenomena, tragic losses of life, and one of the most polarizing elections of modern times, so I understand why the average American just wants to move on.  We are weary.  We’ve all had enough uncertainty, we need to be able to spend without worrying as much for awhile.  Our economy depends on it.

The new legislation keeps the Bush era tax cuts for persons making less than $400,000 and couples making less that $450,000.  It also makes permanent the fixes for the Alternative Minimum Tax and delays government spending cuts for two months.  Continue reading →

AmeriCorps Facing Elimination in the House of Representatives

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Apparently, AmeriCorps is on the chopping block amidst all the ‘fiscal cliff’ mess.  Another program whose success can’t be measured in dollars and cents.

Delightful. Saving money by cutting away service to the weakest among us, at a time when public service should be encouraged.

Perhaps this can be avoided if enough people make a fuss, maybe make a donation.  Who knows, these days?  I do know that America needs citizens that feel the call to volunteer to help their fellow Americans now more than ever.  That is why I pass this email on to you, from my inbox, with love.

Service Nation

Dear Cecelia,

I wanted to make sure you saw this email from Nicole, one of our field organizers.  She has such a powerful personal account of turning early struggle into lifelong success.  Nicole’s experience proves that national service can have a deep and lasting impact – on children, on families, and on entire communities – and can help solve some of our country’s most pressing social challenges.  I hope her story inspires you as much as it inspires me.At ServiceNation we are building an army of advocates with the goal of protecting and expanding national service programs like AmeriCorps. Continue reading →

Fix the Debt, Medicare and Social Security

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So, have you Kids read up on Fix The Debt?  The group wasn’t really on my radar, but I decided to poke around after receiving an email from Joe Dinkin.  It doesn’t seem quite kosher to me, to denounce or endorse the group’s approach just yet.  But, after a quick review, I haven’t seen anything that makes me think Medicare and Social Security are in grave danger, so I don’t feel the need to get behind this particular petition.  I’ll get back to you with any updates on my opinion.  Feel free to be informative with your comments.

Below is an email from Joe Dinkin of the organization Working Families, who created a petition on SignOn.org, the nonprofit site that allows anyone to start their own online petition. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.

Dear Rego Park MoveOn member,

“Fix the Debt” is financed by corporate and private equity billionaires and millionaires who have advocated making big cuts to the social safety net and slashing corporate taxes for years. They’re not concerned about working families; they only care about their profit margins. And Mayor Michael Bloomberg is their new co-chair. Continue reading →

Light a Candle

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I received this email recently from the AFL-CIO, and I decided to share it with you, Kids in light of all our fiscal cliff insecurities and fears. 

Get click happy if you think it will help get your wishes across, before any Grand Compromises are set in stone.

Cecelia Morgan,

Today, we’re not asking you to make phone calls or knock on doors or even sign a petition.

We’re asking you to light a candle. Hundreds of working families around the country are gathering together outside their legislator’s offices to remind them that peace and dignity are everyone’s right.

Join the virtual vigil and light a candle for everyone’s right to healthcare and the right to retire with dignity. Continue reading →

Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the Block

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What’s up with this loony idea that the deficit cure is to cut programs that help our elders, yet lower corporate tax rates at the same time?  This email is of particular interest to those of us living in New York State, and even more so when you have so many friends who rely on Medicare to help them remain independent and healthy.

Dear New York MoveOn member, President Obama and Democrats in the Senate are standing firm on their commitment to end the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2%. But they’re all over the place when it comes to protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—and that’s unacceptable. 

It’s unacceptable to MoveOn members like Catherine W. in North Carolina who wrote in with this personal story:

“I had taught elementary school for 25 years when the brain tumor was discovered. My craniotomy left me disabled. I shudder to think what would have become of me and my family had it not been for Social Security Disability and Medicare. Please do not cut the programs that have given me back life.”

Some Senators, like Bernie Sanders and Tom Harkin, are on the record as standing strong.1 But others, like Senator Charles Schumer, have yet to publicly commit to do right by Catherine and the majority of Americans who voted last month to protect our social safety net. So we’re joining with progressive allies to get every single Senate Democrat on the record, and we’ll make that information accessible to MoveOn members, the media, bloggers, and the public so that we can hold each Senator accountable. Continue reading →

Let The Bush Tax Cuts For The Top 2% Expire

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I don’t know how much of the fear of losing their next election the outcry of the public will put into our do nothing politicians, but we can put in the calls, yes?  Heck, they even included the phone numbers I need!

Dear MoveOn member, It’s almost hard to believe after such a lopsided defeat in the election, but Republicans in Congress are pushing for a “fiscal deal” that would extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich and slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits before the end of the year—and they might win.

They’ve fabricated a story that, somehow, our economy will fall apart if they don’t get what they want. It’s not true, but negotiations are underway and a “deal” could come together at any time.

This is a crucial moment—before a deal emerges—when we need our leaders to stand strong. Can you call your members of Congress and tell them:

“Don’t back any fiscal deal unless it lets the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% expire, as scheduled, on December 31 and doesn’t cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.” Continue reading →

The “fiscal cliff” Boogeyman.

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Kids, I know you are too smart to fall for the hype and media fear mongering.  Sign the petition, please share the information, it might help to spread this around to the anxious among us.

Dear MoveOn member,

Republicans, led by House Majority Leader John Boehner, want to scare Americans into accepting yet another extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% and deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. So they’ve created a “fiscal cliff” boogeyman.

Unfortunately, if you’re following the media story, you may believe Republican claims that the world’s about to end. But the only thing going off a cliff on December 31 is the ability of Republicans to hold our economy hostage for the sake of the rich (read below to find out why!). Continue reading →