Here Comes "Austerity Economics"

Social Security used to be called "the third rail" of American politics.  Anyone who touched it was in serious trouble.  But now, in pursuit of some sort of "grand bargain," the President and Congressional Democrats are offering to monkey with it to gain concessions from Republicans.  Call your Congressperson (202-224-3121) and tell him or her to leave the social safety net alone.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/04-3

Where's The Money In America?

This six-minute video is called "Wealth Inequality In America."  You'll probably be amazed not only by the inequality, but also by the average American's total lack of understanding of the reality of wealth distribution in this country.

Help Prevent An Iran War

The run-up to war doesn’t happen overnight. It’s made up of small steps to slowly build acceptance for the idea of military action.

A group of senators have introduced just such a bill that urges US military and other support if Israel attacks Iran. Tell your senators to oppose this backdoor to war with Iran.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful lobbying group with hawkish positions on Iran, is marching on the Hill this week, bringing thousands of supporters to DC to lobby in favor of this bill.

It is very difficult for senators to say no to pressure to support this bill if they aren’t hearing from the other side. Your senators need to hear from you right now.

While the resolution is nonbinding, it sends a very dangerous message. When powerful senators from both parties officially announce that the US should back Israel in the event of an ill-conceived attack on Iran, it undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts and normalizes the idea of bombing Iran.

We know an attack on Iran would be shortsighted and tragic. Let your senators know you’re not going to sit back quietly while they take us on a path toward war. Take action now.

Thank you.

Rebecca Griffin
Political Director

Peace Action West

Selma Again

It was forty-eight years ago today that John Lewis and others set out to walk from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.  The police had other ideas.  From that struggle came the modern civil rights movement.  Now we have members of the Supreme Court who question the need for a Voting Rights Act.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/opinion/sunday/bloody-sunday-revisited.html

This Virginia Class Submarine…

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/02/27/1644781/sequester-infographic/

Stand Up Against These Deadly Priorities, Tuesday, March 5, Noon, in front of the Delaware County Courthouse, Media, PA 19063

Members of Congress left the Capitol yesterday for their home districts, and today the long awaited and threatened "sequester" goes into effect, mandating cuts in Federal spending across the board.

That's wrong, deadly wrong! Its unjust that our communities and people should have to pay for priorities that got us into this mess -- priorities that give and give to the Pentagon, its wars, and the greed of its military contractors, in the hundreds of billions year after year.

The demand for real cuts to the Pentagon must be kept on the table during any budget negotiations that happen this year and human needs spending must be protected.

This Coming Tuesday, March 5, from Noon - 1p.m.
Plan to stand up against these deadly priorities, Stand for justice, and for peace, in front of the Delaware County Courthouse, Front Street and Veterans Square, in (Everybody's Hometown) Media, Delaware County.

Hold the banner above which illustrates the reality we face.
Military spending is killing us and we must save ourselves and our communities.

Join with members of Chester Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and its Peace Center of Delaware County. Other banners and signs will be available from the Peace Center of Delaware County, the Brandywine Peace Community, Main Line Peace Action, and other groups.

The Capitol Hill Revolving Door

Nobody got very rich being a congressional aide or even being a congressman.  The real money is in taking your Rolodex and moving into a lobbying firm.  This is the sort of legalized robbery that the American Anti-corruption Act is meant to stop.  Get more information at http://anticorruptionact.org or http://represent.us. 

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/285437-boehners-right-hand-man-heads-to-k-street-in-blockbuster-hire#ixzz2MDf0DOLZ