From nlnelson at mcn.org  Sun Dec  1 12:19:34 2013
From: nlnelson at mcn.org (Nancy Liela Wallace-Nelson)
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 12:19:34 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Federal form
In-Reply-To: <327F78EA-AC39-4886-AA39-81AA962BF9FF@att.net>
References: <327F78EA-AC39-4886-AA39-81AA962BF9FF@att.net>
Message-ID: <FEAAEB24FF284301A85FD645831FD311@NancyPC>

Is this REALLY happening???   more bail-out for the rich??

nancy n.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Safron" <marksafron at att.net>
To: <occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2013 11:44 PM
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Federal form


> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send an email to occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org put 
> "Un-Subscribe me" in the Subject line.
> For listserv problems please contact: listmanager at mcn.or 



From rkarch at mcn.org  Sun Dec  1 22:18:22 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 22:18:22 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino]
	Obama-approves-major-border-crossing-fracked-gas-pipeline
Message-ID: <6E36204F-913B-46BE-AEB9-4D240D5AFA72@mcn.org>

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/20344-obama-approves-major-border-crossing-fracked-gas-pipeline-used-to-dilute-tar-sands







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From nlnelson at mcn.org  Sun Dec  1 23:16:40 2013
From: nlnelson at mcn.org (Nancy Liela Wallace-Nelson)
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 23:16:40 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Fw: Flush the TPP Update - Global Day of Action
	Against Toxic Trade Agreements this Tuesday
Message-ID: <B97AF785575C455EBFD42F74CB1427A6@NancyPC>

Flush the TPP Update - Global Day of Action Against Toxic Trade Agreements this TuesdayI imagine you all know about this.......
anyone planning to stand at City Hall or the usual corner the 3rd??

Nancy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Flush the TPP campaign 
To: nlnelson at mcn.org 
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2013 9:25 AM
Subject: Flush the TPP Update - Global Day of Action Against Toxic Trade Agreements this Tuesday


                              The calendar is filling up with actions for December 3: the Global Day of Action Against Toxic Trade Agreements. Find one near you or plan your own. 
                              View this email in your browser  
                       
                 
           
                                
                       
                 
           
                              We are on the cusp of ending the era of toxic trade agreements. Now is the time to keep the pressure on!

                              The World Trade Organization begins its next meeting on December 3 and more than 90 organizations and social movements in Indonesia have called for a global day of action that day.

                              Flush the TPP joined the call to action and many of you have already stepped up to plan events in your communities. You can find them on the action map here.

                              Here is the current list:


                              Baltimore, MD - TPP Global Day of Action Baltimore Style! Penn Station at 5 pm, see for details: http://www.flushthetpp.org/tpp-global-day-of-action-baltimore-style/

                              Washington, DC - Rally and Petition Delivery at the Office of the US Trade Representative at noon, See details here: http://www.flushthetpp.org/globaldayofactiondc/

                              New York, NY - See details here: http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-nyc/

                              Long Island, NY - noon, Outside Newsday Headquarters 235 Pinelawn Drive Melville, NY, see http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-long-island-ny/

                              Albany, NY - Corner of State St and Pearl St at noon. See http://www.occupyalbany.org/flush-the-tpp/

                              New Haven, CT - Check here for details: http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-new-haven/

                              Brooksville, FL - St. Petersburg Times Office, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613 at 2 pm. See: http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-brooksville/

                              Belfast, ME - City Hall, Council Chambers, 131 Church St. Belfast, ME 04915 at 7 pm. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-belfast/

                              Decorah, IA - Flash mob. See details here: http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-decorah/

                              St. Louis, MO - Rep. Ann Wagner's Office, 301 Sovereign Court, Suite 201, Ballwin, MO 63011 at 11 am. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-st-louis/

                              Chicago, IL - Details to come, see here: http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-chicago/

                              Cheboygan, MI - Noon, 870 S. Main Street. Event Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straits-Area-Concerned-Citizens-for-Peace-Justice/330282423781340 and see http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-cheboygan-mi/

                              San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - March at the Jardin to the office of the US Consulate at 10 am, see http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-milwaukee-wi/

                              Honolulu, HI - TPP Awareness Campaign, Federal Building at 6 pm. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/tpp-awareness-campaign/

                              Olympia, WA - Tivoli Fountain at Washington State Capital Grounds at noon. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-olympia/

                              Portland, OR - At Reed College, more details to come. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-action-reed/

                              Orange, CA - At 5 pm, The Orange Circle, Glassell Street and Chapman Ave, Event website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1437322823153577 and see http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-orange-ca/

                              Grass Valley, CA - At Tomes Bookstore, 6:30 to 8 pm. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-grass-valley-ca/

                              Sacramento, CA - At the state capital building, raise your voices against the TPP, at 11 am. See http://www.flushthetpp.org/global-day-of-action-sacramento/


                              If there isn't an action near you, plan one and let us know. Contact Cassidy at StopFastTrack at FlushtheTPP.org. She can help you with ideas. It can be as simple as contacting some friends and holding signs up in a public place.

                              As the TPP negotiations come to an end, we've learned that the US, led by Assistant Trade Rep Stan McCoy, has upped its bullying tactics. 

                              This is wrong! This doesn't represent our values. We've started a petition calling for a respectful, democratic and transparent negotiating process. Sign and share the petition here.

                              We will deliver the petition by hand to the Office of the US Trade Representative on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at noon. If you are close to Washington, DC, please join us.

                              You can also write to Stan McCoy here: smccoy at ustr.eop.gov and include the USTR office at correspondence at ustr.eop.gov. And you can call McCoy here: 202-395-4510.

                              It only takes a few minutes and thousands of emails and calls will make a difference. Please contact Stan McCoy and tell him to stop being a bully and don't trade away our lives for corporate profits. Urge your friends to do the same. 

                              Thanks for all you do -- and can?t wait to continue our work together against the TPP!


                              Please share this email with others.


                              Yours for fair trade,
                              The Flush the TPP Team

                              TPP Occucards
                              Flush the TPP on the web
                              Flush the TPP on Facebook
                              Flush the TPP on Twitter, @FlushTheTPP 

                             
                       
                 
           
                              Copyright ? 2013 PopularResistance.org, All rights reserved.
                              You joined this list on FlushtheTPP.org

                              Our mailing address is:

                              PopularResistance.org
                              402 E Lake Ave, Baltimore, MD
                              Baltimore, MD 21212

                              Add us to your address book


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From vjessielee at gmail.com  Mon Dec  2 11:16:48 2013
From: vjessielee at gmail.com (vjessielee at gmail.com)
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2013 11:16:48 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Ellen Brown TONIGHT 7 pm. Women's Voices KZYX
Message-ID: <3EDB3067-5CC6-49B6-BB96-AAADD30636F4@gmail.com>

Ellen Brown, prolific author and Public Banking advocate will be on Val Muchowski's show Women's Voices tonight Monday, 2 Dec. 7 pm.  She'll be calling in by phone 'from the road' in her indefatigable campaign to help the US regain it's economic stability.  Please tune in; there will be opportunities for call in questions. She'll help us understand why a County Charter and County Public Bank is so good for Mendocino County.

Agnes Woolsey, Sheila Dawn Tracy and Jessie Lee VanSant, representing the Mendocino affiliate chapter of the Public Banking Coalition, (PBI) will be in studio with Val and available to answer questions about getting the County Charter initiative on the June 2014 ballot (via BoS) so we can vote for County Home Rule and create a County Public Bank which will protect the Mendocino County financial 'health' and future stability.

Ellen Brown has written many books on economic and financial realities in our nation and how to repair the damage done in the past 3 1/2 decades by the big banks going crazy.  Disastrous 2008 was a terrible bubble burst which hurt most of us in some way - big banks are building towards another bigger bubble right now cause the same crimes and shady dealings that caused 2008 are still happening.  Google 'Bail In' and see what you think....

So tune in to Val's show at 7 pm and hear Ellen Brown give us hope!


***Ellen Brown will be speaking in person 14 Dec in Ukiah and 15 Dec. in Mendocino at Crown Hall -- free asking donation; books for sale.  Volunteer to bake OCCUPY goodies that O Mendocino and O Ukiah can sell.  Call Agnes 707-937-2377 or Jessie Lee VanSant 707-964-5511 for more info.

"The Time is always right to do the right thing."  MLK Jr.

From marksafron at att.net  Mon Dec  2 23:49:06 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2013 23:49:06 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] 5 Ways Our Lives Are Being Violated by Corporate
	Greed
Message-ID: <BF05E970-0858-4456-9764-617EC8F898B9@att.net>

5 Ways Our Lives Are Being Violated by Corporate Greed

We already pay dearly for energy, medicine, banking, and telecommunications services. But a little research reveals that we're paying more -- much more -- in a variety of ways that our business-friendly mainstream media won't talk about. 

http://www.alternet.org/economy/5-ways-our-lives-are-being-violated-corporate-greed


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From agnes at mcn.org  Tue Dec  3 16:23:40 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 16:23:40 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: Please read and vote for the County
	Charter/Public Bank 6/14]
Message-ID: <56754dcdf83d0983490f4565fc1ccc25.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

-Dear Occupy,

This is the website to get a copy of the final Mendocino County Charter
#12, which we expect the Board of Supervisors will place on the ballot for
June 2014 election.
It's on the right under Ellen Brown's talk.

 http://www.publicbankinginstitute.org/county-banks.htm

from Agnes Woolsey





From agnes at mcn.org  Tue Dec  3 16:39:39 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 16:39:39 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: letter to the editor-11/24/13]
Message-ID: <51cf13c0f7a1f387f22c99780eac2c8d.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>


Letter to the  Editor-11/24/13;

      The press could do a better job of explaining some of the financial
games played in the Wall Street Casino. For instance: What is a
derivative?
Derivatives are financial contracts used for market speculation.
     If you understood you would urge congress to rein in speculation by
passing the tax on speculative transactions on Wall Street called-the
Robin Hood Tax, as did the National Nurses Association.
      The Commodities Futures Modernization Act of 2000 ensured the
deregulation of financial products. Over-the-counter (outside of
regulation) derivatives transactions between parties would not be
regulated as futures under the Commodities Futures Trading
Commission of 1936, or as securities under the federal securities
law.
     The derivatives bubble is due to collapse and (like the Cyprus
banks in June 2013 which instituted a bail-in)the $700 Trillion
exposure in derivatives in major big banks here in the U.S. will
cause the collapse of our economy.  To verify this see the Feb 2012
agreement between the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the
Bank of England. It's called the Super Priority of Derivatives which
gives banks under threat of bankcrupcy first place in seizing the
deposits of individuals and institutions to make those banks
solvent. The world's GDP is only $70 trillion. Our economy would be
collapsed worse than in 1929 or 2008.Urge your Representative and
Senators to pass a tax on derivatives now.

Sincerely,
Agnes Woolsey
707.937-2377
P.O. Box 163, Mendocino,CA 95460
p.s. Their addresses are posted in the newspaper.





From elained at mcn.org  Tue Dec  3 17:28:45 2013
From: elained at mcn.org (Elaine and Ed)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 17:28:45 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] 5 Ways Our Lives Are Being Violated by
	Corporate Greed
In-Reply-To: <BF05E970-0858-4456-9764-617EC8F898B9@att.net>
References: <BF05E970-0858-4456-9764-617EC8F898B9@att.net>
Message-ID: <32A1E741-5459-4F59-85EB-4997DB861E05@mcn.org>

Mark,

The term mainstream media is inaccurate. The proper term is the corporate media (see http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4923173). There are six mega corporations that own most of the TV stations, Cable TV networks, newspapers, magazines, textbook companies, movie studios, radio stations etc etc. The corporate version of reality is making US citizens some of the most ignorant in the industrialized. Please stop using that inaccurate label mainstream for what is corporate. Corporate does not = mainstream. Mainstream is most of the folks in the US.

Ed Oberweiser


On Dec 2, 2013, at 11:49 PM, Mark Safron wrote:

> 5 Ways Our Lives Are Being Violated by Corporate Greed
> 
> We already pay dearly for energy, medicine, banking, and telecommunications services. But a little research reveals that we're paying more -- much more -- in a variety of ways that our business-friendly mainstream media won't talk about. 
> 
> http://www.alternet.org/economy/5-ways-our-lives-are-being-violated-corporate-greed
> 
> 
> 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send an email to occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org put "Un-Subscribe me" in the Subject line.
> For listserv problems please contact: listmanager at mcn.or

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From marksafron at att.net  Tue Dec  3 18:10:08 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 18:10:08 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Robert Greenwald's newest full-length feature
	UNMANNED: AMERICA'S DRONE WARS streamed free.
Message-ID: <98D1AF11-3363-434E-97DE-BC04F268175D@att.net>

Robert Greenwald's newest full-length feature is being released on October 30th, 2013. The documentary will only be available to stream online for a limited time. Sign up today to get your link to see the film FOR FREE.http://unmanned.warcosts.com/
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From ellen.rosser at gmail.com  Tue Dec  3 20:57:36 2013
From: ellen.rosser at gmail.com (ELLEN ROSSER)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 20:57:36 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] TPP conference call
Message-ID: <CAFGqSt6pXi+wKpeZs6R4NC-YbEHSOgXQtdUmWzPRE_Q-8mQJsQ@mail.gmail.com>

o
Label GMO's / GMO Free
Mendocino Coast Newsletter
December 3, 2013


On Wednesday night, December 4th, you are invited to participate in a
National Phone Conference on Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership, also known as
the TPP.

The more people know about the TPP, the less they like it, which is why it
has been kept a secret, even from the members of congress.
As a member of congress, Senator Alan Grayson filed a Freedom of
Information Act to find out about the TPP to get the information about the
secret negotiations.
He was told when he got it, that he was not allowed to comment on it.

But some of the text of the TPP was leaked?. see link to a Washington Post
article below.


*********************************************
National Phone Conference on TPP - Wednesday, Dec 4,  at 6 PM

What:   National Phone Conference on TPP

When:   Wednesday, December 4

Time:  6 PM Pacific   -  Start Time    -   About 1 hour

Who:   You  -   If you are interested interested in finding out more about
the TPP and how you can help

How:   Call:    209-647-1000      Code is  914955           ??..? on Dec 4th,
at 6 PM, Pacific Standard Time.


Here is a note from Pamm Larry, / Label GMO's, with more about it.
There is also a link to  information about Alisa Simmons, who will  the
presenter during the national phone conference.





Are you confused? Overwhelmed? *Have great ideas and wonder what the
overall strategy is?*  Your help is
needed to make a difference on this issue, and this meeting will help us
all go forward and help in small or
 larger ways!

*Tomorrow evening is our National Phone Conference on TPP for ALL GMO
VOLUNTEERS on *
*Wednesdaynight, December 4, 6 pm Pacific*, 9 pm Eastern time for about 1
hour.

MoveOn Coordinator Liz Warren had other commitments this week, and we are
thrilled to announce *our new *
*presenter will be Alisa Simmons, National Field Director of Public
Citizen's Global Trade Watch*.  She is a
LEADING EXPERT ON FIGHTING TRADE AGREEMENTS.  Alisa's background is
here:http://www.exposethetpp.org/InvExpert.html<http://www.labelgmos.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.exposethetpp.org%2FInvExpert.html&utm_campaign=tpp_reminder&n=2&e=3a77e29bb7ce9773401de83940f9c4991a115bac&utm_source=labelgmos&utm_medium=email>


The call phone number for Wed., Dec. 4  is:  209 647 1000
 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 209 647 1000
FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting The code is: 914955 .

Please share with your lists.

I hope you will join us.

Pamm Larry, LabelGMOs
http://www.labelgmos.org/<http://www.labelgmos.org/?e=3a77e29bb7ce9773401de83940f9c4991a115bac&utm_source=labelgmos&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tpp_reminder&n=3>

LabelGMOs California's Grassroots ?
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From rkarch at mcn.org  Wed Dec  4 16:10:43 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 16:10:43 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Nobody should get rich off Obamacare
Message-ID: <2DEF717C-C42F-4E8B-AD0B-E74E344701B1@mcn.org>


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-03/nobody-should-get-rich-off-obamacare.html?alcmpid=view

The Ticker

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Nobody Should Get Rich Off Obamacare
By Evan Soltas Dec 3, 2013 8:39 AM PT
Facebook Share
Tweet
LinkedIn
Google +1
12 COMMENTS
Print
QUEUE
Q
For an industry that's supposed to be burdened by the launch of Obamacare, the health-care business is doing pretty well. Stocks of health-care companies are up almost 40 percent this year, the strongest performance of any sector in the S&P 500.
This is despite, for insurers, new regulations on the "medical loss ratio" which require them to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on health care -- in practice, capping their profits and administrative expenses such as advertising at 20 percent. How about the medical-technology manufacturers that were slapped with an excise tax? Doing just fine. The hospital chains that face lower reimbursement rates from Medicare patients? They're doing well, too.
Health care is a business, and businesses are supposed to make money. Still, it's a bit.... 

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Wed Dec  4 23:02:56 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 23:02:56 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Misleading Californians About Obamacare With a
	Fake Website
Message-ID: <3A531CFC-3111-42C6-885A-22C6F32C5520@mcn.org>

THIS IS REALLY SICK AND DISGUSTING!   PHONY WEBSITE TP MISLEAD CALIFORNIANS ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT! RK


.)
SIGN THE PETITION
Note: By signing, you agree to receive email messages from MoveOn.org Civic Action and MoveOn.org Political Action. You may unsubscribe at any time. [ Privacy policy ]

EMBED THIS PETITION
<iframe src="http://petitions.moveon.org/embed/widget.html?v=3&name=california-republicans" class="moveon-petition" id="petition-embed" width="300px" height="500px"></iframe>

\
California Republicans: Shut down your fake, misleading Obamacare website IMMEDIATELY
Petition by Eddie Kurtz, Courage Campaign

To be delivered to The California State House and The California State Senate

It is outrageous that Republican legislators in California are using taxpayer dollars to intentionally mislead their constituents, sow fear and confusion, and divert Californians away from CoveredCA.com -- California's health insurance exchange under Obamacare. They must take down the site 





PETITION BACKGROUND
In a last ditch attempt to undermine the Affordable Care Act -- a.k.a. Obamacare -- California Republicans have launched a fake website (CoveringHealthcareCA.com) designed to capture those interested in the state's real Obamacare site: CoveredCA.com. California Republicans have promoted the fake site with tens of thousands of taxpayer-funded mailers to constituents. It sows fear and confusion by promoting misleading or outright false information and avoiding basic facts and benefits of the law. It's a politically motivated, unconscionable attempt to prevent sick people from getting the care they need. Disagreeing on a matter of public policy is one thing, but actively working to mislead voters and prevent them from accessing healthcare is unacceptable.
CURRENT PETITION SIGNERS




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From marksafron at att.net  Thu Dec  5 09:23:32 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 09:23:32 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Outrageous!
Message-ID: <74C6F408-B213-4B60-A961-12C22284155B@att.net>

ALEC calls for penalties on 'freerider' homeowners in assault on clean energy
? Documents reveal conservative group's anti-green agenda
? Strategy to charge people who install their own solar panels
? Environmentalists accuse Alec of protecting utility firms? profits
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy
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From rkarch at mcn.org  Thu Dec  5 09:54:55 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 09:54:55 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Victory Garden Returns
Message-ID: <1532E281-04C1-4902-ABAF-B0E29FF945E7@mcn.org>

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_28834.cfm

Even schools got involved in the cause by planting gardens in schoolyards to provide supplemental food for school lunches. The number of canning supplies sold more than quadrupled from 1943 to 1944.  Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged her fellow citizens by planting a victory garden at the White House in 1943.
Sow for Victory: Bringing Back the Victory Garden

The plan was a wild success across the nation. As the National WWII Museum website indicates, "By 1944, Victory Gardens were responsible for producing 40 percent of all vegetables grown in the United States. More than one million tons of vegetables were grown in Victory Gardens during the war."

FORTY PERCENT of all vegetables? Holy moly! Can you imagine if we did that today??

>>> Read the Full Article 
By Meredith Skyer 
Mother Earth News, November 29, 2013 
Straight to the Source 

For related articles and more information, please visit OCA's Organic Transitions page.

Let's take a little field trip back to 1943. Go ahead and hop in those time machines! We?re going to explore the day and age when the world was at war and our food supply was in peril.

American Life in 1943

Think about this: The average family in 1943 was living on $29 a week. Food staples were rationed out to families in order to provide for the troops. As you can imagine, fresh fruits and vegetables were in short supply. In order to keep the nation from starvation, the U.S. Government encouraged folks to help out in any way that they could. Propaganda posters popped up in every town urging families to plant 'Victory Gardens' to provide their own produce.

Over 20 million American families took up the call for 'victory.' They collaborated with friends and neighbors and took control of their own food supply...






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From agnes at mcn.org  Thu Dec  5 10:06:10 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 10:06:10 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: RE: [Fwd: Re: Please read and vote for the
 County Charter/Public Bank 6/14]]
Message-ID: <3241cec521b3ee40db87b6ecc4e75465.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

Hi, I sent 16 charters to those who signed our petition to the B.O.S. re
the charter. Here's one great response.(I think he's the teacher at the
College of the Redwoods.)
Agnes

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: RE: [Fwd: Re: Please read and vote for the County Charter/Public
Bank 6/14]
From:    "Ries, Richard" <Richard-Ries at Redwoods.edu>
Date:    Tue, December 3, 2013 7:18 pm
To:      agnes at mcn.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much Agnes.
Thank you so much for making your stand.  Many good thoughts to you and
your loved ones over this holiday season.
Peace, Happiness, and Health,
Richard


-----Original Message-----
From: agnes at mcn.org [mailto:agnes at mcn.org]
Sent: Tue 12/3/2013 4:22 PM
To: agnes at mcn.org
Subject: [Fwd: Re: Please read and vote for the County Charter/Public Bank
6/14]

You signed a petition to get the Mendocino County Charter on the ballot.
> This is the website to get a copy of the final Mendocino County Charter
> #12, which we expect the Board of Supervisors will place on the ballot for
> June 2014 election.
> It's on the right under Ellen Brown's talk.
>
>  http://www.publicbankinginstitute.org/county-banks.htm
>
> from Agnes Woolsey
>
>





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From annxpress at live.com  Thu Dec  5 14:41:23 2013
From: annxpress at live.com (Ann Rennacker)
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 14:41:23 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] FW: [OPC] Please sign OPC's new petition
In-Reply-To: <CAFBwOQT4ObgLf2M5V6hguXobaUhT4M=_jJPeXncLCp-KWWtaiw@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAFBwOQT4ObgLf2M5V6hguXobaUhT4M=_jJPeXncLCp-KWWtaiw@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <SNT145-W10096BC827E897892664BDEDDD70@phx.gbl>



Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 17:49:36 -0800
From: edoberweiser at gmail.com
To: opc at lists.mcn.org; opcsteering at lists.mcn.org
Subject: [OPC] Please sign OPC's new petition

***************
********
***

Hi,

Fracking is a dangerous practice that our government has failed to protect
the public from.  Stop fracking in California.

That's why I created a petition to The California State House, The
California State Senate, and Governor Jerry Brown, which says:

"Fracking is bad for our Oceans, our farms and agriculture, our homes and
the water we use for all domestic purposes.  Science shows that more
methane is released into the atmosphere with  fracking for gas and oil than
 is released by burning coal.  President Obama promised us a future that
will address global warming, but Fracking is making that promise a
mockery and  helping  create  a dangerous rise in global warming.

Fracking has caused an increase in the occurrence of earthquakes in
Colorado and other states. We can't afford that here in California, with
two nuclear power plants sitting on faultlines.

 There is enough energy available with wind energy and other sustainable
sources to take care  of most of Americas energy needs."

Will you sign my petition? Click here to add your name:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/ocean-protection-coalition?source=c.fwd&r_by=4961170

Thanks!
Hi,



Fracking is a dangerous practice that our government has failed to protect

the public from. ?Stop fracking in California.



That's why I created a petition to The California State House, The California State Senate, and Governor Jerry Brown, which says:



"Fracking is bad for our Oceans, our farms and agriculture, our homes and the water we use for all domestic purposes. ?Science shows that more methane is released into the atmosphere with ?fracking for gas and oil than ?is released by burning coal. ?President Obama promised us a future that will address global warming, but Fracking is making that promise a


mockery and ?helping ?create ?a dangerous rise in global warming.

Fracking has caused an increase in the occurrence of earthquakes in Colorado and other states. We can't afford that here in California, with two nuclear power plants sitting on faultlines.


?There is enough energy available with wind energy and other sustainable sources to take care ?of most of Americas energy needs."



Will you sign my petition? Click here to add your name:



http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/ocean-protection-coalition?source=c.fwd&r_by=4961170



Thanks!




...........................

To unsubscribe from this list send an email to opc-leave at lists.mcn.org
To complete the process you must reply to the email you receive in response. 		 	   		  
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From agnes at mcn.org  Thu Dec  5 16:48:49 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 16:48:49 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] World Bank decides to not fund nuclear power
	plants!!!
Message-ID: <24232fe42be812edfc8968f1660692be.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

Good news from Beyond Nuclear.

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: World Bank won't fund nukes, nuke waste con comments, more
From:    "Cindy Folkers" <cindy at beyondnuclear.org>
Date:    Thu, December 5, 2013 2:42 pm
To:      agnes at mcn.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------



https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/7285/p/salsa/supporter/unsubscribe/public/?Email=agnes at mcn.org&email_blast_KEY=1273232
.
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From agnes at mcn.org  Thu Dec  5 16:58:15 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 16:58:15 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] FW: [OPC] Please sign OPC's new petition
In-Reply-To: <SNT145-W10096BC827E897892664BDEDDD70@phx.gbl>
References: <CAFBwOQT4ObgLf2M5V6hguXobaUhT4M=_jJPeXncLCp-KWWtaiw@mail.gmail.com>
	<SNT145-W10096BC827E897892664BDEDDD70@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <ceddce0dd52662bc83b7a532f965b651.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

This petition does not address the format of the Community Rights
Ordinance. I would prefer to sign one that is worded after folks take the
Paul Cienfuegos workshop in February.That one will have enforcement power,
this one does not.
Agnes
>
> Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 17:49:36 -0800
> From: edoberweiser at gmail.com
> To: opc at lists.mcn.org; opcsteering at lists.mcn.org
> Subject: [OPC] Please sign OPC's new petition
>
> ***************
> ********
> ***
>
> Hi,
>
> Fracking is a dangerous practice that our government has failed to protect
> the public from.  Stop fracking in California.
>
> That's why I created a petition to The California State House, The
> California State Senate, and Governor Jerry Brown, which says:
>
> "Fracking is bad for our Oceans, our farms and agriculture, our homes and
> the water we use for all domestic purposes.  Science shows that more
> methane is released into the atmosphere with  fracking for gas and oil
> than
>  is released by burning coal.  President Obama promised us a future that
> will address global warming, but Fracking is making that promise a
> mockery and  helping  create  a dangerous rise in global warming.
>
> Fracking has caused an increase in the occurrence of earthquakes in
> Colorado and other states. We can't afford that here in California, with
> two nuclear power plants sitting on faultlines.
>
>  There is enough energy available with wind energy and other sustainable
> sources to take care  of most of Americas energy needs."
>
> Will you sign my petition? Click here to add your name:
>
> http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/ocean-protection-coalition?source=c.fwd&r_by=4961170
>
> Thanks!
> Hi,
>
>
>
> Fracking is a dangerous practice that our government has failed to
> protect
>
> the public from. ???Stop fracking in California.
>
>
>
> That's why I created a petition to The California State House, The
> California State Senate, and Governor Jerry Brown, which says:
>
>
>
> "Fracking is bad for our Oceans, our farms and agriculture, our homes and
> the water we use for all domestic purposes. ???Science shows that more
> methane is released into the atmosphere with ???fracking for gas and oil
> than ???is released by burning coal. ???President Obama promised us a
> future that will address global warming, but Fracking is making that
> promise a
>
>
> mockery and ???helping ???create ???a dangerous rise in global warming.
>
> Fracking has caused an increase in the occurrence of earthquakes in
> Colorado and other states. We can't afford that here in California, with
> two nuclear power plants sitting on faultlines.
>
>
> ???There is enough energy available with wind energy and other sustainable
> sources to take care ???of most of Americas energy needs."
>
>
>
> Will you sign my petition? Click here to add your name:
>
>
>
> http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/ocean-protection-coalition?source=c.fwd&r_by=4961170
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
> ...........................
>
> To unsubscribe from this list send an email to opc-leave at lists.mcn.org
> To complete the process you must reply to the email you receive in
> response. 		 	   		  TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send an email to
> occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org put "Un-Subscribe me" in the Subject line.
> For listserv problems please contact: listmanager at mcn.or




From vjessielee at gmail.com  Tue Dec  3 14:07:26 2013
From: vjessielee at gmail.com (Jessie Lee VanSant)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 14:07:26 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Important Long email: PBI Newsletter - Stemming
	the Transfer of Wealth from Main Street to Wall Street with
	Publicly-Owned Banks
References: <2d0710975e6d9e441e255e659856575db77.20131203193333@mail24.us2.mcsv.net>
Message-ID: <574595D3-F7A1-4F2F-8625-A77CA2443DD8@gmail.com>

	

Stemming the Transfer of Wealth from Main Street to Wall Street with Publicly-Owned Banks

PBI Newsletter, November/December 2013
Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.
		
Stemming the Transfer of Wealth from Main Street to Wall Street with Publicly-Owned Banks
From the Editor:

As 2013 draws to a close, state, local, and federal governments are battling debt and interest burdens that are greater than ever. Their receipts are down and their bills are up. The only alternative has been to borrow ? at interest ? creating an exponentially growing debt. While "conservatives" express alarm at the ever-increasing debt levels and "liberals" denounce calls for austerity and cuts in essential services, there is one concern that should be shared by the 99%: Borrowing at interest increases costs and debt and transfers wealth out of our communities and into the pockets of Wall Street financiers, unless we borrow from our own publicly-owned banks. 

From 2000 to 2010, the total debt of state and local governments increased by a factor of 2.5 from $1.2 trillion to approximately $3 trillion. With burdening compound interest, this increased debt has put a strain on the budgets of states and local communities, which are required to balance their budgets, forcing states and communities to not only cut spending, but, in some cases, take on further debt. Some states, including Californiaand New York, have worked to curb their debt spending as their debt burdens had become increasingly unmanageable.


 

In 2011, according to the US Census Report, revenues for all state and local governments totaled $3.2 trillion, taxes totaled $1.3 trillion, and interest payments on debt totaled $124 billion, or 9.2% of tax receipts and 3.9% of the total revenues. This is bad enough but it is slated to get worse; and the federal situation is already worse.

According to the federal fiscal year 2013 budget report, the total federal budget was $3.5 trillion, personal income tax receipts were $1.3 trillion, and the interest on the debt was $416 billion, or 31.6% of tax receipts. ?Net interest? is often quoted, since some of the debt is held by Social Security and other government trust funds. For fiscal year 2013, the net interest payments on the debt totaled $223 billion, or 16.9% of personal income tax receipts, or 6.4% of the total budget.

Debt is an essential tool for financing public infrastructure, spreading the costs over several decades of use. The problem is interest. Interest, which is almost alwayscompounded, results in exponentially increasing interest and debt, as well as exponentially increasing bank assets and financial profits. Even in times of economic stability, typical levels of debt, at interest, increase costs unnecessarily and transfer huge wealth over time out of our local states and communities, enriching and empowering the Wall Street financiers.

In the article, It's the Interest, Stupid! Why Bankers Rule the World, Ellen Brown explains how we can eliminate the burden of interest by recapturing it with our own publicly-owned banks, at the state/local and federal levels. 

Borrowing from its own central bank interest-free might even allow a government to eliminate its national debt altogether. In Money and Sustainability: The Missing Link (at page 126), Bernard Lietaer and Christian Asperger, et al., cite the example of France.  The Treasury borrowed interest-free from the nationalized Banque de France from 1946 to 1973.  The law then changed to forbid this practice, requiring the Treasury to borrow instead from the private sector.  The authors include a chart showing what would have happened if the French government had continued to borrow interest-free versus what did happen.  Rather than dropping from 21% to 8.6% of GDP, the debt shot up from 21% to 78% of GDP.
?No ?spendthrift government? can be blamed in this case,? write the authors. ?Compound interest explains it all!?


In fact, one state, North Dakota, has done just that. It has stemmed the transfer of wealth via interest from the state -- by owning its own bank. Under state law, the bank is the State of North Dakota doing business as the Bank of North Dakota. The Bank of North Dakota holds the state's deposits and provides financing for the state and local economy, cutting out out-of-state financiers. The North Dakota 2013-2015 approvedstate budget has no interest listed as an outlay, but includes interest income instead. 

Publicly-owned banks, as shown by the example of the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, can eliminate debt-servicing costs given to out-of-state financiers, and use those savings to finance public projects themselves. Further, publicly-owned banks can provide a source of revenue for state and local communities, keeping state and municipal deposits local, feeding the local economy rather than feeding off of it.

Public banking advocates in Vermont, so far unsuccessful in their quest to get the Vermont Legislature to study the feasibility of setting up a state-owned bank, have taken the task upon themselves and released their own preliminary study. It is expected that public banking advocates in other states and communities will follow the example of those in Vermont and others and perform their own studies.

Protectors of the status quo argue that business as usual is acceptable and prudent. However, we know that compound interest increases costs and transfers wealth out of our communities, creating power centers in Wall Street that make a charade of our democracy. As Glen Edens, former HP executive, states: ?...a strong financial services industry is simply not good for society. Wall Street does not improve productivity, the model is parasitic, transferring huge resources out of the system...?

As we approach the 100th year anniversary of the Federal Reserve, established by theFederal Reserve Act of 1913, there are increasing calls to ?federalize? the private Federal Reserve -- to create a publicly-owned central bank that operates in the public interest. As Canada did from 1939 to 1974, and France from 1946 to 1973, the US government could borrow essentially interest-free from its own ?federalized? Fed, resulting in a sustainable economy and a manageably low (or no) federal debt. Even a Harvard professor at the very recent 2013 IMF conference has broached the idea ofopening the Fed to accounts for the general public, leading others to take off with the idea of the Fed as a real people's bank.

Assessing the unnecessary interest burden that Main Street endures, the evidence is clear: We the People need public banking for a sustainable and shared prosperity.

Ann Tulintseff
Member of the Board, Public Banking Institute

__________________

How America Can Replace Wall Street Financing with Public Banks

By Marc Armstrong
Executive Director, Public Banking Institute
This article was adapted from a speech Armstrong gave at the Progressive Festival in Petaluma, California, on Sept 15, 2013.
Occupy.com
 
Many of you have likely heard about public banking and how it is central to many developed economies in the world, and the dominant model in others. Germany has public banks funding much of their manufacturing sector as well as their rapid installation of renewable and distributed energy production systems.
New Zealand has a postal bank, which they use to provide convenient and low cost banking services to their people. China has the largest development bank in the world. Japan has the largest public bank by deposits in the world. India has the largest public bank, in terms of its number of branches, in the world. And Scotland has the largest public bank by assets.

And the United States? Our country is bereft of public banking and true public finance. Sure, we talk about public finance as if it serves the public, but the reality is that virtually all of our public finance has been co-opted by private banks. With the exception of North Dakota, all state treasurers deposit their state tax revenues and fees into private banks ? usually the ones on Wall Street, setting the stage for endless dependency on the private banking cartel.

We've been led to believe there is no alternative. Take, for example, the California Infrastructure Bank, or I Bank. An I Bank is a public entity that uses private money to fund public projects. On the face it it, this seems like a good approach ? not using taxes to fund public projects. But the reality is that the I Bank is another form of hidden taxation, in the form of interest payments, making wealthy people wealthier by teeing up safe, long-term investments in public projects like bridges and other infrastructure.

The San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge was initially funded with the I Bank. Ignoring the twists and turns of the planning process during the 90's and the last decade, the new bridge is a safe investment; the money will undoubtedly be paid back by tolls. The cost for this new bridge is $6.4 billion, a sum widely quoted in local papers. What is not said is that the interest and fees for this will be another $6 billion. $6 billion to be paid until the year 2049.

This is a good time to ask why we hold labor costs under the microscope and rarely do the same for debt servicing costs? Ask your local elected officials; do they know the debt servicing costs in their budget? I suspect that many of them know, to the penny, what the labor costs are.

This is now playing out in Detroit where pension plans are readily placed on the altar to be sacrificed, but what is due to the banks is sacrosanct. Yet North Dakota, the only state in our country with a public bank, does not have debt servicing costs because they "don't spend more than they take in," or so the locals like to say.

The reality is that North Dakota doesn't issue general obligation bonds because the state has its own bank to finance public infrastructure. Last year their public bank, the Bank of North Dakota, issued a $50 million loan to fund a new water pipeline. The paid interest on this loan is reported as profits to the bank and ? guess what ? it gets returned to the state general budget, benefiting the very same people who paid for the water.

Meanwhile, in California, public finance is being starved for funds. Earlier this year, California Watch published a study that showed that over the last six years over $9 billion in loans have been taken out as "capital appreciation bonds" by our school districts to fund school construction and improvements. The estimated cost in interest: over $26 billion. In other words, we are obligating future taxpayers, our sons and daughters, to pay $35 billion for our use of $9 billion today! What kind of legacy is that?

Elected officials cannot raise taxes; they've cut as much as they can cut, many districts are bonded out, they've reached their debt ceiling and are privatizing whatever they can for short-term gain. So, what options do they have other than to take out these toxic debt products peddled by Wall Street?

It does not have to be this way. Your treasurers at city, county and state levels can easily take public monies that are on deposit in Wall Street banks, deposit them in a public bank and use the bank credit for the public good.

If we had a state Bank of California, the state could have funded the entire $6.4 billion bridge construction cost simply with bank credit generated by state deposits. Think of that the next time you pay the $6 toll on the Bay Bridge ? knowing that over 55% of that money is going toward decades of interest payments to the big Wall Street banks.

A state public bank means the state gives itself a license to issue credit through use of deposits. The "bank" is simply a few cubicles staffed by people who understand credit and interest rate risk. But the heart of it is the license, issued by the California State Department of Financial Institutions. This can be done at the county or city level and can effectively eliminate debt servicing costs, a major line item in the budget.

Public banking is all about economic sovereignty and self sufficiency. It is about sharing the exclusive privilege that we, as a people, have given banks to use bank credit, issuing loans simply by writing them into their books.

We recognize that in a free market there are essential public utilities that exist side by side with well-regulated products. Tap water at low cost exists side by side with more expensive bottled water. Electricity provided over the wires exists side by side with power generators. Mass transit exists as an alternative to using expensive cars, and are complimentary. 44-cent first class postage through the US Postal Service exists side by side, for now at least, with $17 overnight delivery through FedEx.

We are so used to banks being the exclusive provider of bank credit that many of us don't even recognize that we can create an alternative. Fortunately, most other countries,have not been snookered the way we have. They are not paying FedEx prices for public finance.

The Public Banking Institute's vision is to see a network of public banks ? 50 state owned banks and scores of county and city owned banks, with the US Postal Service additionally providing core, low cost banking services to 10 million currently unbanked people and over 20 million who are underbanked ? established throughout the United States.

Not only can this network provide low cost banking services and affordable credit for infrastructure financing and to create jobs, but it can also provide LIBOR-like interest rate benchmarks that can be used instead of relying upon the private banking cartel for this important index.

Even more important, our vision is for the self sufficiency of our communities. Do you want your county to reduce its carbon footprint? Start a loan program to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Sonoma County in northern California did this a few years ago, but did it with tax assessments on property bills. The costs for the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) could have been much lower with a county owned bank. The Bank of North Dakota has 26 of these loan programs.

Do you want to see your county build or extend mass transit, clean water, clean energy, etc? Fund these projects with a county bank, and every one of these loans will be self liquidating ? paid back with the fees generated from the service provided.

So, if you're looking for one cause to take on that truly changes the way our society works, pick up public banking in your city or county. Austerity, the fiscal cliff, the dominating headlines that scream ?We're Broke!!? ? these are all myths, and they are being steadily, increasingly revealed as such. Challenge the Wall Street cartel of private banks and you will be contesting with the most well financed lobby the world has ever known.

But you will be acting as a citizen in the interest of your community and your country. And the great thing about it is: We, the People, can win.

__________________

Why Economic Democracy Now? The Reasons Keep Piling Up

by Matt Stannard
Development Director, Public Banking Institute
Editor, PoliticalContext.org
PoliticalContext.org
 
What do a recent analysis of the Detroit bankruptcy crisis, and recent revelations of wide-scale corporate spying on citizen activists, have in common? They both suggest that we need to revitalize the public sphere, democratize economic policy, and dismantle the hierarchy created by material inequality.
New reasons for building community power and dismantling the power of private capital are manifest every day.Wallace Turbeville?s November 20 report on the Detroit bankruptcy concludes that the exacerbating factor in that city?s financial problems?what is literally holding Detroit back from addressing the crisis?are the risky financial instruments with which Wall Street stuck Detroit. The ?complex financial deals Wall Street banks urged on the city over the last several years? included interest rate swaps containing provisions wildly favoring the banks, as well as devastating credit rating downgrades.

An important point in Turbeville?s conclusion is the contradiction in ethical duties present in private finance of public endeavors.

The banks and insurance companies were in a far better position to understand the magnitude of these risks and they had at least an ethical duty to forbear from providing the swaps under such precarious circumstances.

But, of course, as private corporations, the banks and insurance companies? main ethical duty was to their shareholders, private investors who stood to benefit from Detroit?s risky deal. This is, above all, a reason for democratically-run, public finance.

Meanwhile, it?s looking like private corporations are (as Walter Brasch once called them in the context of consumer spying) the new ?Big Brother.? Stuart Pfiefer covered this in the LA Times on November 20, and both Bill Moyers and Democracy Now! reported on it this morning as well. From Pfiefer?s article:

large companies employ former Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, FBI, military and police officers to monitor and in some cases infiltrate groups that have been critical of them, according to the report by Essential Information, which was founded by Ralph Nader in the 1980s.
?Many different types of nonprofits have been targeted with espionage, including environmental, anti-war, public interest, consumer, food safety, pesticide reform, nursing-home reform, gun control, social justice, animal rights and arms control groups,? the report said?

The conclusion of the report?s author is serious:

?Corporate espionage against nonprofit organizations is an egregious abuse of corporate power that is subverting democracy,? said Gary Ruskin, the report?s author.

Revelations of corporate spying highlight the material powers possessed by economic entities: political powers, powers over people?s lives, ?bio-power? as the Foucauldians call it. Fighting against statepolice power is hard enough. When corporate America practice police state tactics, that fight gets harder, because we can?t vote the violators out of office. We can subject them to tort actions, but not the kind of judicial review available when we?re fighting the oppressive arm of the state.

Building accountability into our political institutions is hard enough without the impunity and out-of-proportion power of our financial institutions. We need the same kinds of checks and balances in both.

__________________

Public Banks: Key to Freeing America From Wall Street?
Just one U.S. state currently has a public bank -- and it's trouncing the competition.

by Katie Rucke
MintPress News
In its continued fight for economic justice for the 99 percent, especially in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse, Occupy Wall Street recently shared a story detailing how America can replace Wall Street financing with public banks.

While the idea of a public bank may sound far too much like ?socialism? to occur in the U.S., conservative North Dakota has a public banking system, and studies have found that in addition to being less corrupt, the state?s public banks are more efficient and profitable than private banks.

Created in 1919 in the midst of economic woes for many of the state?s farmers, the Non-Partisan League, a populist organization, voted to implement public banks in the Midwestern state to free farmers from ?impoverishing debt dependence.?

Some 90 years later, the bank is still in existence in North Dakota and is reportedly thriving while it helps the state?s community banks, businesses, consumers and students obtain loans at a reasonable rate.

But it?s not just Occupy Wall Street advocates and ?socialists? who view public banks as a smart investment for the nation?s economic future ? some Wall Street economists also agree public banks are a better financial choice.

Take Michael Hudson for example. Hudson is a former Wall Street economist who says the private banking industry is ?cannibalizing the economy,? since private banks ?are supposed to make money? and engage in ?parasitic? behavior in order to do so. Public banks, on the other hand, ?would make loans for long-term purposes to serve the economy and help the economy grow.?

He said when the banks failed in 2008, the federal government should have taken over control of the banks and began to operate them as public banks:

?If the government would have taken over Citibank it would not have done the kind of things that Citibank did. The government would not have used depositors? money and borrowed money to gamble. It wouldn?t have gone down the casino capitalism route. It wouldn?t have played the derivatives market. It wouldn?t have made corporate takeover loans.

?None of these are productive from the vantage point of economic growth and raising productive powers and living standards. They would not be the proper behavior of a public bank.?

Ellen Brown is the president of the Public Banking Institute, a group that argues there is a need for a public bank in every state and major city in the U.S. She agreed with Hudson and said that if California had public banks, the state?s economic outlook would look much different right now:

?At the end of 2010, [California] had general obligation and revenue bond debt of $158 billion. Of this, $70 billion, or 44 percent, was owed for interest. If the state had incurred that debt to its own bank ? which then returned the profits to the state ? California could be $70 billion richer today. Instead of slashing services, selling off public assets, and laying off employees, it could be adding services and repairing its decaying infrastructure.?

Land of financial socialism

Formed in January 2011, the Public Banking Institute was started by financial writers, public finance experts and former bankers to ?further the understanding, explore the possibilities, and facilitate the implementation of public banking at all levels ? local, regional, state, and national.?

Public banks differ from private banks in that instead of public revenue from sales taxes or property taxes being invested in a Wall Street endeavor, a public bank reinvests that money by investing in small businesses, public infrastructure projects and student loans, among other things.

PBI often points to the Bank of North Dakota as an example of how public solutions exist as a way to end Wall Street?s grip on the U.S. economy, since it?s the nation?s sole state to have a public bank and has been for quite some time.

Though most states have struggled to avoid a budget deficit, North Dakota is the only state in the U.S. that continues to have record-setting surpluses.

According to a press release from May 2013, PBI reported that the BND had reported a record $81.6 million in profits in 2012, which is the bank?s 40th continuous year of profitability.

?Even though its Lending Services Portfolio balance increased from $2,996 million in 2011 to $3,274 million in 2012, credit losses shrunk from $52.9 million in 2011 to $52.3 million in 2012, indicating a healthy portfolio,? the release said.

?The commercial loan portfolio grew from 36 percent to 40 percent of the Lending Services portfolio, representing $1.273 billion in loans. Student loans and residential loans decreased proportionally from 35 percent and 19 percent, respectively, to 32 percent and 18 percent. Agriculture loans remained at the same relative percentage year-to-year at 10 percent, growing to $343 million in 2012 from $289 million in 2011.?

That?s not surprising for supporters of public banks, such as those at PBI. They said that if the some $1 trillion that is invested in Wall Street was instead given back to the public to support infrastructure projects, small businesses and education, about 10 million new jobs could be created throughout the U.S., which ?would effectively end our destructive unemployment crisis.?

?Public banks don?t speculate or gamble on high risk,?financial products,?? Brown said. ?They don?t pay outrageous salaries and bonuses to their management, who are instead salaried civil servants. The profits of the bank are all returned to the only shareholder ? the people.

?North Dakota is a small state,? she added. ?Imagine the returns to the people of larger states, with larger populations and a larger volume of economic activity.?

Coming soon: End of Wall Street?

Though North Dakota has been the sole state in the U.S. thus far to have public banks, about 20 states are currently considering legislation to create state banks. If more and more states start to implement such a financial structure, Sam Knight says Wall Street may fire back by filing a lawsuit against the banks ? and Wall Street may win.

Knight said that the activities of the BND and other state banks may be ruled illegal because ?foreign bankers could claim the BND stops them from lending to commercial banks throughout the state.?

But as Les Leopold wrote in an article forSalon, since the financial collapse activism against Wall Street has slowly been replaced by fatalism as many advocates began to feel Wall Street was too big and too powerful to change. However, ?this new public banking movement could have legs,? since most Americans are still furious about how much bigwigs in the financial industry profited from the crisis.

Brown agrees that the more people know about the public banks, the more likely it is they will begin to appear throughout the U.S. ?We need to get more information out there and develop a groundswell of popular support,? she said.

Ideally, Brown said PBI would like to see 50 state-owned banks and scores of county- and city-owned banks providing low-cost banking services to 10 million currently unbanked people and over 20 million who are underbanked throughout the United States.

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Public Banking in Costa Rica: A Remarkable Little-Known Model
by Ellen Brown
President, Public Banking Institute
Web of Debt Blog

In Costa Rica, publicly-owned banks have been available for so long and work so well that people take for granted that any country that knows how to run an economy has a public banking option. Costa Ricans are amazed to hear there is only one public depository bank in the United States (the Bank of North Dakota), and few people have private access to it.
So says political activist Scott Bidstrup, who writes:

For the last decade, I have resided in Costa Rica, where we have had a ?Public Option? for the last 64 years.

There are 29 licensed banks, mutual associations and credit unions in Costa Rica, of which four were established as national, publicly-owned banks in 1949. They have remained open and in public hands ever since?in spite of enormous pressure by the I.M.F. [International Monetary Fund] and the U.S. to privatize them along with other public assets. The Costa Ricans have resisted that pressure?because the value of a public banking option has become abundantly clear to everyone in this country.

During the last three decades, countless private banks, mutual associations (a kind of Savings and Loan) and credit unions have come and gone, and depositors in them have inevitably lost most of the value of their accounts.

But the four state banks, which compete fiercely with each other, just go on and on. Because they are stable and none have failed in 31 years, most Costa Ricans have moved the bulk of their money into them.  Those four banks now account for fully 80% of all retail deposits in Costa Rica, and the 25 private institutions share among themselves the rest.

According to a 2003 report by the World Bank, the public sector banks dominating Costa Rica?s onshore banking system include three state-owned commercial banks (Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, and Banco Cr?dito Agr?cola de Cartago) and a special-charter bank called Banco Popular,  which in principle is owned by all Costa Rican workers. These banks accounted for 75 percent of total banking deposits in 2003.

In Competition Policies in Emerging Economies: Lessons and Challenges from Central America and Mexico (2008), Claudia Schatan writes that Costa Rica nationalized all of its banks and imposed a monopoly on deposits in 1949. Effectively, only state-owned banks existed in the country after that.  The monopoly was loosened in the 1980s and was eliminated in 1995. But the extensive network of branches developed by the public banks and the existence of an unlimited state guarantee on their deposits has made Costa Rica the only country in the region in which public banking clearly predominates.

Scott Bidstrup comments:

By 1980, the Costa Rican economy had grown to the point where it was by far the richest nation in Latin America in per-capita terms. It was so much richer than its neighbors that Latin American economic statistics were routinely quoted with and without Costa Rica included. Growth rates were in the double digits for a generation and a half.  And the prosperity was broadly shared. Costa Rica?s middle class ? nonexistent before 1949 ? became the dominant part of the economy during this period.  Poverty was all but abolished, favelas [shanty towns] disappeared, and the economy was booming.

This was not because Costa Rica had natural resources or other natural advantages over its neighbors. To the contrary, says Bidstrup:

At the conclusion of the civil war of 1948 (which was brought on by the desperate social conditions of the masses), Costa Rica was desperately poor, the poorest nation in the hemisphere, as it had been since the Spanish Conquest.

The winner of the 1948 civil war, Jos? ?Pepe? Figueres, now a national hero, realized that it would happen again if nothing was done to relieve the crushing poverty and deprivation of the rural population.  He formulated a plan in which the public sector would be financed by profits from state-owned enterprises, and the private sector would be financed by state banking.

A large number of state-owned capitalist enterprises were founded. Their profits were returned to the national treasury, and they financed dozens of major infrastructure projects.  At one point, more than 240 state-owned corporations were providing so much money that Costa Rica was building infrastructure like mad and financing it largely with cash. Yet it still had the lowest taxes in the region, and it could still afford to spend 30% of its national income on health and education.

A provision of the Figueres constitution guaranteed a job to anyone who wanted one. At one point, 42% of the working population of Costa Rica was working for the government directly or in one of the state-owned corporations.  Most of the rest of the economy not involved in the coffee trade was working for small mom-and-pop companies that were suppliers to the larger state-owned firms?and it was state banking, offering credit on favorable terms, that made the founding and growth of those small firms possible.  Had they been forced to rely on private-sector banking, few of them would have been able to obtain the financing needed to become established and prosperous.  State banking was key to the private sector growth. Lending policy was government policy and was designed to facilitate national development, not bankers? wallets.  Virtually everything the country needed was locally produced.  Toilets, window glass, cement, rebar, roofing materials, window and door joinery, wire and cable, all were made by state-owned capitalist enterprises, most of them quite profitable. Costa Rica was the dominant player regionally in most consumer products and was on the move internationally.

Needless to say, this good example did not sit well with foreign business interests. It earned Figueres two coup attempts and one attempted assassination.  He responded by abolishing the military (except for the Coast Guard), leaving even more revenues for social services and infrastructure.

When attempted coups and assassination failed, says Bidstrup, Costa Rica was brought down with a form of economic warfare called the ?currency crisis? of 1982. Over just a few months, the cost of financing its external debt went from 3% to extremely high variable rates (27% at one point).  As a result, along with every other Latin American country, Costa Rica was facing default. Bidstrup writes:

That?s when the IMF and World Bank came to town.

Privatize everything in sight, we were told.  We had little choice, so we did.  End your employment guarantee, we were told.  So we did.  Open your markets to foreign competition, we were told.  So we did.  Most of the former state-owned firms were sold off, mostly to foreign corporations.  Many ended up shut down in a short time by foreigners who didn?t know how to run them, and unemployment appeared (and with it, poverty and crime) for the first time in a decade.  Many of the local firms went broke or sold out quickly in the face of ruinous foreign competition.  Very little of Costa Rica?s manufacturing economy is still locally owned. And so now, instead of earning forex [foreign exchange] through exporting locally produced goods and retaining profits locally, these firms are now forex liabilities, expatriating their profits and earning relatively little through exports.  Costa Ricans now darkly joke that their economy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the United States.

The dire effects of the IMF?s austerity measures were confirmed in a 1993 book excerpt by Karen Hansen-Kuhn  titled ?Structural Adjustment in Costa Rica: Sapping the Economy.? She noted that Costa Rica stood out in Central America because of its near half-century history of stable democracy and well-functioning government, featuring the region?s largest middle class and the absence of both an army and a guerrilla movement. Eliminating the military allowed the government to support a Scandinavian-type social-welfare system that still provides free health care and education, and has helped produce the lowest infant mortality rate and highest average life expectancy in all of Central America.

In the 1970s, however, the country fell into debt when coffee and other commodity prices suddenly fell, and oil prices shot up. To get the dollars to buy oil, Costa Rica had to resort to foreign borrowing; and in 1980, the U.S. Federal Reserve under Paul Volcker raised interest rates to unprecedented levels.

In The Gods of Money (2009), William Engdahl fills in the back story. In 1971, Richard Nixon took the U.S. dollar off the gold standard, causing it to drop precipitously in international markets. In 1972, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and President Nixon had a clandestine meeting with the Shah of Iran. In 1973, a group of powerful financiers and politicians met secretly in Sweden and discussed effectively ?backing? the dollar with oil. An arrangement was then finalized in which the oil-producing countries of OPEC would sell their oil only in U.S. dollars.  The quid pro quo was military protection and a strategic boost in oil prices.  The dollars would wind up in Wall Street and London banks, where they would fund the burgeoning U.S. debt. In 1974, an oil embargo conveniently caused the price of oil to quadruple.  Countries without sufficient dollar reserves had to borrow from Wall Street and London banks to buy the oil they needed.  Increased costs then drove up prices worldwide.

By late 1981, says Hansen-Kuhn, Costa Rica had one of the world?s highest levels of debt per capita, with debt-service payments amounting to 60 percent of export earnings. When the government had to choose between defending its stellar social-service system or bowing to its creditors, it chose the social services. It suspended debt payments to nearly all its creditors, predominately commercial banks. But that left it without foreign exchange. That was when it resorted to borrowing from the World Bank and IMF, which imposed ?austerity measures? as a required condition. The result was to increase poverty levels dramatically.

Bidstrup writes of subsequent developments:

Indebted to the IMF, the Costa Rican government had to sell off its state-owned enterprises, depriving it of most of its revenue, and the country has since been forced to eat its seed corn. No major infrastructure projects have been conceived and built to completion out of tax revenues, and maintenance of existing infrastructure built during that era must wait in line for funding, with predictable results.

About every year, there has been a closure of one of the private banks or major savings co?ps.  In every case, there has been a corruption or embezzlement scandal, proving the old saying that the best way to rob a bank is to own one.  This is why about 80% of retail deposits in Costa Rica are now held by the four state banks.  They?re trusted.

Costa Rica still has a robust economy, and is much less affected by the vicissitudes of rising and falling international economic tides than enterprises in neighboring countries, because local businesses can get money when they need it.  During the credit freezeup of 2009, things went on in Costa Rica pretty much as normal. Yes, there was a contraction in the economy, mostly as a result of a huge drop in foreign tourism, but it would have been far worse if local business had not been able to obtain financing when it was needed.  It was available because most lending activity is set by government policy, not by a local banker?s fear index.

Stability of the local economy is one of the reasons that Costa Rica has never had much difficulty in attracting direct foreign investment, and is still the leader in the region in that regard.  And it is clear to me that state banking is one of the principal reasons why.

The value and importance of a public banking sector to the overall stability and health of an economy has been well proven by the Costa Rican experience.  Meanwhile, our neighbors, with their fully privatized banking systems have, de facto, encouraged people to keep their money in Mattress First National, and as a result, the financial sectors in neighboring countries have not prospered.  Here, they have?because most money is kept in banks that carry the full faith and credit of the Republic of Costa Rica, so the money is in the banks and available for lending.  While our neighbors? financial systems lurch from crisis to crisis, and suffer frequent resulting bank failures, the Costa Rican public system just keeps chugging along.  And so does the Costa Rican economy.

He concludes:

My dream scenario for any third world country wishing to develop, is to do exactly what Costa Rica did so successfully for so many years. Invest in the Holy Trinity of national development?health, education and infrastructure.  Pay for it with the earnings of state capitalist enterprises that are profitable because they are protected from ruinous foreign competition; and help out local private enterprise get started and grow, and become major exporters, with stable state-owned banks that prioritize national development over making bankers rich.  It worked well for Costa Rica for a generation and a half.  It can work for any other country as well.  Including the United States.

The new Happy Planet Index, which rates countries based on how many long and happy lives they produce per unit of environmental output, has ranked Costa Rica #1 globally.  The Costa Rican model is particularly instructive at a time when US citizens are groaning under the twin burdens of taxes and increased health insurance costs. Like the Costa Ricans, we could reduce taxes while increasing social services and rebuilding infrastructure, if we were to allow the government to make some money itself; and a giant first step would be for it to establish some publicly-owned banks.

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The Bank Guarantee That Bankrupted Ireland
by Ellen Brown
President, Public Banking Institute
Web of Debt Blog
The Irish have a long history of being tyrannized, exploited, and oppressed?from the forced conversion to Christianity in the Dark Ages, to slave trading of the natives in the 15th and 16th centuries, to the mid-nineteenth century ?potato famine? that was really a holocaust. The British got Ireland?s food exports, while at least one million Irish died from starvation and related diseases, and another million or more emigrated.

Today, Ireland is under a different sort of tyranny, one imposed by the banks and the troika?the EU, ECB and IMF. The oppressors have demanded austerity and more austerity, forcing the public to pick up the tab for bills incurred by profligate private bankers.

The official unemployment rate is 13.5%?up from 5% in 2006?and this figure does not take into account the mass emigration of Ireland?s young people in search of better opportunities abroad. Job loss and a flood of foreclosures are leading to suicides. A raft of new taxes and charges has been sold as necessary to reduce the deficit, but they are simply a backdoor bailout of the banks.

At first, the Irish accepted the media explanation: these draconian measures were necessary to ?balance the budget? and were in their best interests. But after five years of belt-tightening in which unemployment and living conditions have not improved, the people are slowly waking up. They are realizing that their assets are being grabbed simply to pay for the mistakes of the financial sector.

Five years of austerity has not restored confidence in Ireland?s banks. In fact the banks themselves are packing up and leaving. On October 31st, RTE.ie reportedthat Danske Bank Ireland was closing its personal and business banking, only days after ACCBank announced it was handing back its banking license; and Ulster Bank?s future in Ireland remains unclear.

The field is ripe for some publicly-owned banks. Banks that have a mandate to serve the people, return the profits to the people, and refrain from speculating. Banks guaranteed by the state because they are the state, without resort to bailouts or bail-ins. Banks that aren?t going anywhere, because they are locally owned by the people themselves.

The Folly of Absorbing the Gambling Losses of the Banks

Ireland was the first European country to watch its entire banking system fail.  Unlike the Icelanders, who refused to bail out their bankrupt banks, in September 2008 the Irish government gave a blanket guarantee to all Irish banks, covering all their loans, deposits, bonds and other liabilities.

At the time, no one was aware of the huge scale of the banks? liabilities, or just how far the Irish property market would fall.

Within two years, the state bank guarantee had bankrupted Ireland.  The international money markets would no longer lend to the Irish government.

Before the bailout, the Irish budget was in surplus. By 2011, its deficit was 32% of the country?s GDP, the highest by far in the Eurozone. At that rate, bank losses would take every penny of Irish taxes for at least the next three years.

?This debt would probably be manageable,? wrote Morgan Kelly, Professor of Economics at University College Dublin, ?had the Irish government not casually committed itself to absorb all the gambling losses of its banking system.?

To avoid collapse, the government had to sign up for an ?85 billion bailout from the EU-IMF and enter a four year program of economic austerity, monitored every three months by an EU/IMF team sent to Dublin.

Public assets have also been put on the auction block. Assets currently under consideration include parts of Ireland?s power and gas companies and its 25% stake in the airline Aer Lingus.

At one time, Ireland could have followed the lead of Iceland and refused to bail out its bondholders or to bow to the demands for austerity. But that was before the Irish government used ECB money to pay off the foreign bondholders of Irish banks. Now its debt is to the troika, and the troika are tightening the screws.  In September 2013, they demanded another 3.1 billion euro reduction in spending.

Some ministers, however, are resisting such cuts, which they say are politically undeliverable.

In The Irish Times on October 31, 2013, a former IMF official warned that the austerity imposed on Ireland is self-defeating. Ashoka Mody, former IMF chief of mission to Ireland, said it had become ?orthodoxy that the only way to establish market credibility? was to pursue austerity policies. But five years of crisis and two recent years of no growth needed ?deep thinking? on whether this was the right course of action. He said there was ?not one single historical instance? where austerity policies have led to an exit from a heavy debt burden.

Austerity has not fixed Ireland?s debt problems. Belying the rosy picture painted by the media, in September 2013 Antonio Garcia Pascual, chief euro-zone economist at Barclays Investment Bank, warned that Ireland may soon need a second bailout.

According to John Spain, writing in Irish Central in September 2013:

The anger among ordinary Irish people about all this has been immense. . . . There has been great pressure here for answers. . . . Why is the ordinary Irish taxpayer left carrying the can for all the debts piled up by banks, developers and speculators? How come no one has been jailed for what happened? . . . [D]espite all the public anger, there has been no public inquiry into the disaster.

Bail-in by Super-tax or Economic Sovereignty?

 In many ways, Ireland is ground zero for the austerity-driven asset grab now sweeping the world. All Eurozone countries are mired in debt. The problem is systemic.

In October 2013, an IMF report discussed balancing the books of the Eurozone governments through a super-tax of 10% on all households in the Eurozone with positive net wealth. That would mean the confiscation of 10% of private savings to feed the insatiable banking casino.

The authors said the proposal was only theoretical, but that it appeared to be ?an efficient solution? for the debt problem. For a group of 15 European countries, the measure would bring the debt ratio to ?acceptable? levels, i.e. comparable to levels before the 2008 crisis.

A review posted on Gold Silver Worldsobserved:

[T]he report right away debunks the myth that politicians and main stream media try to sell, i.e. the crisis is contained and the positive economic outlook for 2014.

. . . Prepare yourself, the reality is that more bail-ins, confiscation and financial repression is coming, contrary to what the good news propaganda tries to tell.

A more sustainable solution was proposed by Dr Fadhel Kaboub, Assistant Professor of Economics at Denison University in Ohio. In a letter posted in The Financial Times titled ?What the Eurozone Needs Is Functional Finance,? he wrote:

The eurozone?s obsession with ?sound finance? is the root cause of today?s sovereign debt crisis. Austerity measures are not only incapable of solving the sovereign debt problem, but also a major obstacle to increasing aggregate demand in the eurozone. The Maastricht treaty?s ?no bail-out, no exit, no default? clauses essentially amount to a joint economic suicide pact for the eurozone countries.

. . . Unfortunately, the likelihood of a swift political solution to amend the EU treaty is highly improbable. Therefore, the most likely and least painful scenario for [the insolvent countries] is an exit from the eurozone combined with partial default and devaluation of a new national currency. . . .

The takeaway lesson is that financial sovereignty and adequate policy co-ordination between fiscal and monetary authorities are the prerequisites for economic prosperity.

Standing Up to Goliath

 Ireland could fix its budget problems by leaving the Eurozone, repudiating its blanket bank guarantee as ?odious? (obtained by fraud and under duress), and issuing its own national currency. The currency could then be used to fund infrastructure and restore social services, putting the Irish back to work.

Short of leaving the Eurozone, Ireland could reduce its interest burden and expand local credit by forming publicly-owned banks, on the model of the Bank of North Dakota. The newly-formed Public Banking Forum of Ireland is pursuing that option. In Wales, which has also been exploited for its coal, mobilizing for a public bank is being organized by the Arian Cymru ?BERW? (Banking and Economic Regeneration Wales).

Irish writer Barry Fitzgerald, author ofBuilding Cities of Gold, casts the challenge to his homeland in archetypal terms:

The Irish are mobilising and they are awakening. They hold the DNA memory of vastly ancient times, when all men and women obeyed the Golden rule of honouring themselves, one another and the planet. They recognize the value of this harmony as it relates to banking. They instantly intuit that public banking free from the soiled hands of usurious debt tyranny is part of the natural order.

In many ways they could lead the way in this unfolding, as their small country is so easily traversed to mobilise local communities.  They possess vast potential renewable energy generation and indeed could easily use a combination of public banking and bond issuance backed by the people to gain energy independence in a very short time.

When the indomitable Irish spirit is awakened, organized and mobilized, the country could become the poster child not for austerity, but for economic prosperity through financial sovereignty.

__________________

The Money Monopoly
by Mike Krauss
Member of the Board of Directors, Public Banking Institute
Chair, Pennsylvania Public Banking Project
www.papublicbankproject.org
OpEdNews
In a masterful study of the Federal Reserve, Secrets of the Temple , William Greider observed that the average American farmer in 1880 knew more about banking and money than most U.S. college graduates today.

Let me prove that.

Take a bill from your wallet or purse. Read the side with the portrait. It says very clearly at the top, "Federal Reserve Note."

The Federal Reserve is not a part of the federal government. It receives no appropriation from Congress. It is a private corporation and its stock is privately traded. The stockholders are the member banks of the regional Federal Reserve Banks, so its major stockholders are the largest banks and their owners.

Historically these have been the powerful Wall Street and European banking families: think Rothschild, Warburg, Morgan, Rockefeller.

All the bills and coins in circulation today are a tiny fraction of the supply of money in the American economy. All the rest is credit, created on the books of the banks "ex nilo" -- out of nothing.

This money comes into circulation at interest paid to the banks that create it. A central bank like the Federal Reserve creates the money supply of the United States, at interest.

The Bank of England was the first privately owned central bank to control a nation's currency. One of its owners, of the Rothschild family well understood what that meant and said: "Give me control of a nation's money, and I care not who makes the laws."

Big money.

The colony of Pennsylvania escaped the clutches of the Bank of England and its tax on money by printing its own. It was pure genius.

Writing in The Wealth of Nations in 1776, Adam Smith noted: "The government of Pennsylvania, without amassing any treasure [gold or silver] invented a method of lending, not money indeed, but what is equivalent to money. By advancing to private people at interest " paper bills of credit " legal tender in all payments " it raised a moderate revenue which went a considerable distance toward defraying the whole ordinary expense of that frugal and orderly government."

Until the mid 1750s there was broad prosperity in Pennsylvania. On a trip to London, Ben Franklin let the cat out of the bag. He noted the widespread poverty he saw there and explained how by printing their own money and avoiding the need for the notes of the Bank of England to conduct their commerce, the people of Pennsylvania insured their own prosperity.

The private owners of the Bank of England went the 1700s version of ballistic and lobbied King and Parliament (Sound familiar?) to outlaw this colonial "script." The depression that followed was the cause of the American Revolution.

Franklin wrote, "In one year the conditions were so reversed that the era of prosperity ended, and a depression set in, to such an extent that the streets of the Colonies were filled with unemployed."

He concluded, "The Colonies would gladly have borne the little tax on tea and other matters, had it not been the poverty caused by the bad influence of the English bankers on the Parliament [Again, sound familiar?]: which has caused in the Colonies hatred of England, and the Revolutionary War."

The bankers got control. Hamilton fronted for them in the young United States. Jefferson and Jackson fought them. Lincoln fought them. Lincoln was assassinated, the bankers once again had control and the war for control of the nation's supply of money raged on.
After decades of planning and massive PR and propaganda, having bought up the support of Ivy League scholars, journalists and the requisite number of votes in Congress, the Wall Street cartel and their foreign allies pushed creation of the Federal Reserve through Congress and got complete control of the nation's money and credit.

Before you pay your taxes, the money you pay with has already been taxed by the owners of the Federal Reserve, which for over 100 years have diverted trillions of dollars of interest payments on our money from the American people into their own pockets.

That is what "central banks" are designed to do: extract wealth from nations by monopolizing the supply and cost of money and credit.

The debt ceiling, sequestration, austerity and budget deficit are a diversion. The U.S. Congress can slash the debt by taking back control of our money from the Federal Reserve monopoly and returning it to the U.S. Treasury and the American people, as the Constitution (Article I, Section 8) wisely provided.



Featured in The Progressive!
Public Banking is the Answer
________________
In this Newsletter
Editor's Column
Featured Article:  How America Can Replace Wall Street Financing with Public Banks
Why Economic Democracy Now? The Reasons Keep Piling Up
Public Banks: Key to Freeing America from Wall Street?
Public Banking in Costa Rica: A Remarkable Little-Known Model
The Bank Guarantee That Bankrupted Ireland
The Money Monopoly
Upcoming Events (sidebar)
Public Banking in the News (sidebar)
Public Banking in Videos (sidebar)
Upcoming Interviews with Ellen Brown

 
Hot off the press!  Order your copy today!

Please support PBI by donating here. If you prefer to mail a check, send it to:

Public Banking Institute
PO Box 2195
Sonoma, CA  95476

Thank you!

Public Banking Coalition Update:

Join in on the new Public Banking Coalition monthly conference call series, Friday, December 6th, at 9am Pacific, and every second Friday of each month. This is a new series, so simply register here and you'll be sent the information.  If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and wish to be a part of getting a public bank started in any of the many chartered cities and counties, join the San Francisco Bay Area Public Banking Working Group for a 30-45 minute call at noon pacific on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month.  We'll be giving each other updates and coordinating as we work to create the first public bank in the SF Bay Area.  Register here.

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Upcoming Events

Dec 5, 11:30am PDT (every Thursday) -- Virginia Coalition call --Register here.
Dec 13, 9am PDT (Friday, monthly) -- Public Banking Coalition monthly conference call -- Register here.
Dec 3, noon PDT (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month) -- San Francisco Bay Area Public Banking Working Group call -- Register here.
For Ellen's schedule, please see her blog.

Public Banking in the News

Common Dreams, Why Cities Should Use Public Banks Instead of Big Banks, Matt Stannard, June 21, 2013

The People's Voice, Public Banking Avoids Today's Debacle, Stephen Lendman, October 4, 2013

VTDigger, Public banking campaign sparks controversy at Montpelier City Hall, Hilary Niles, October 24, 2013

VTDigger, Public banking advocates press for study, Hilary Niles, October 7, 2013

Oneness of Humanity, Wall Street Predators And Con Men... Or Public Banking, Jerry Alatalo, October 25, 2013

VTDigger, Public banking advocates release economic study, Hilary Niles, November 5, 2013

The Bridge, Public Banks and Public Accountabililty, Gwendolyn Hallsmith, November 7, 2013

Web of Debt Blog, Monsanto, the TPP, and Global Food Dominance, Ellen Brown, November 26, 2013
 
Costa Rica Star, Fiscal Observer Praises Banking System of Costa Rica, Jaime Lopez, November 26, 2013

The Progressive, Public Banking is the Answer, Ruth Conniff, December, 2013


Public Banking in Videos & Audio 

Positive Money, 10 year old explains the truth about where money comes from..., September 4, 2013

Al-Jazeerah: Cross-Cultural Understanding,Ellen Brown Re-Thinks Banking, Kevin Barrett's Truth Jihad Radio, September 30, 2013

Athlone Community TV, ?The Irish Debt Crisis: Time to Think Outside the Box?, Ellen Brown, October 25, 2013

Between the Lines, Struggle to Hold Big Banks Accountable Leads Group to Advocate for Public Banking, Ellen Brown, November 13, 2013

RT News, The trash trade economic indicator and the case for public banks, Ellen Brown, November 23, 2013

Interviews with Ellen Brown

Dec. 2, interview with Val Muchowski, Women's Voices, KZYX, 7 p.m. PST

Dec. 13, interview on All About Money, KZYX radio, 9 a.m. PST

Dec. 15, interview with Stephen Lendman, The Progressive Newshour, 10 a.m. PST

Dec. 26, interview Dr. Rima Truth Reports, with Dr. Rima Laibow and Ralph Fucetola,10 pm EST

More about the Public Banking Institute

The Public Banking Institute (PBI) was formed in January 2011 and is a national educational non-profit organization working to achieve the implementation of public banking at all levels of the American economy and government: local, regional, state, and national. 

We are part of the New Economy movement and are steadily advancing innovative short and long-term solutions to the damage caused by the Wall Street cartel and a dysfunctional banking system; and are regularly called on to provide expertise in subjects as diverse as bank capitalization, applicable banking regulation, governance, loan portfolio makeup, risk management and the newly proposed U.S. Postal Savings Bank.  

Our vision is a national network of public banks, administered as public utilities that serve the public interest, run by public servants, providing transparency and accountability to the public. 

Affordable and sustainable credit, locally generated and locally directed is the key to rebuilding a lasting and broadly shared prosperity for the American people.
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For more information on how BND operates, and how it partners with community banks instead of competing with them:

? Bank of North Dakota, banknd.nd.gov. 

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Fri Dec  6 00:02:26 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 00:02:26 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] KZYX Members for Change Meeting
References: <CAOSruDjC4xR5_V2u=Sg_DCbUya+ANxdU-2Br5S+1Q+dZv8XcRw@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <2C6E004D-97DB-4C09-B9F9-41F080E1B505@mcn.org>

> This is right after our Saturday meeting.
> Subject: KZYX Members for Change
> 
> Richard,
> 
> Just wanted to let the occupy people know about our meeting in Ft. Bragg at the MendocinoTV production studio behind the Company Store on Saturday 12/7 at 4:00pm.  
> 
> There will also be an inland meeting upstairs at the Ukaih Brewing Company on Sunday 12/8 also at 4:00pm.
> 
> Hope to see you there.
> 
> Doug Mckenty
> KZYX Members for Change



Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
                                       Tibetan Buddhist teaching

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From jessie at mac.com  Fri Dec  6 01:46:54 2013
From: jessie at mac.com (Jessie Lee VanSant)
Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2013 01:46:54 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] December OCCUPY First Friday TOMORROW!! 4 to 6 pm
	(dark)
Message-ID: <0DEFB486-3799-4EA1-9C1B-73F381966AD9@mac.com>

Hey Ho, Ho, Ho!!!

It's December First Friday OCCUPY Mendocino FIRST FRIDAY!!!  6 December on the corner of Alder and Main, Fort Bragg -- in front of the criminal business of Bank of America  and CHASE Bank -  recently charged with foreclosures FRAUD and fined billions of $$.  These banks and other too big to fail banks have criminally stolen HOMES from millions of families.

And another bubble like 2008 is building again!!!  We can make a difference!

Bring some kind of light(s) because we will be standing in near dark at the close of our rally.  Flashlights, glow lights, candles, lanterns - be creative!!

Dress WARMLY!!  gloves and scarves and hats - bring a chair, a blankie and hot beverages.

But most important BRING YOURSELF AND FRIENDS!!  Stand for CHANGE and ACTION!!

Iceland jailed the criminal bank CEO's and re-nationalized their banks; they have a political party named the PIRATE PARTY but it's not a joke, it's real and a member won election!!

We, the United States of North America, CAN do the same with the power of the people demanding JUSTICE!!                     
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From agnes at mcn.org  Fri Dec  6 09:36:04 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 09:36:04 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] agenda items
Message-ID: <c34c59a3fbbfbcac5e17a2d1396512b8.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

Occupy Agenda:
Planning for Ellen Brown Event at Crown Hall, doors open at 6:30pm. Jessie
will introduce Ellen Brown.
   Volunteers needed at 6:00pm .Please sign up for the following jobs.
    1. set up folding chairs for 80 - 100 people,
    2. volunteer pie and Brownie makers,
    3.Shopper for sm. paper plates and forks for pie portions, cups,
napkins for brownies, 3 water jugs with spigots for the bar.
    4. bar maids and men (clean up at end, take home garbage bag,
    5. Volunteer to bring a mike and sound system,
    6.crew to take down folding chairs,store them in drawers under stage. 
   7.volunteers to Check restrooms, clean up, sweep hall floor.

Agnes will lock up.



From rkarch at mcn.org  Fri Dec  6 14:25:03 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 14:25:03 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Jon Stewart and the Pope on the Minimum Wage
Message-ID: <ADA55B28-6F67-4447-9202-DD8A5A57D3D2@mcn.org>

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-5-2013/the-amazing-raise?xrs=eml_tds_120613

Two videos.

From sanutter at mcn.org  Sat Dec  7 09:30:11 2013
From: sanutter at mcn.org (susan nutter)
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2013 09:30:11 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] The Nation: Dec. 9,. 2013
Message-ID: <0883A6A3CB0F479CB0EBF777C8BA15E0@nutter>


  a.. b.. c.. d.. 
Meet the Mayor Who's Using Eminent Domain to Fight Foreclosure 
The fearless Gayle McLaughlin of Richmond, California, has taken on Chevron and big banks on behalf of taxpayers and underwater homeowners. 

Laura Flanders 
November 20, 2013   |    This article appeared in the December 9, 2013 edition of The Nation. 
  a.. 
 
Gayle McLaughlin is serving her second term as mayor of Richmond, California, the first Green Party official to represent a city of more than 100,000. Last year, after a fire at a local Chevron refinery sent 15,000 residents to the hospital, the city sued the company for damages. Now McLaughlin's advancing a plan to use the city's eminent domain power to acquire troubled loans so as to stop a new wave of foreclosures. This interview has been edited and condensed. -Laura Flanders

LAURA FLANDERS: You're just back from Ecuador, where you toured communities that, like Richmond, are in a struggle with Chevron. Isn't it enough to take on your city's biggest taxpayer? Why take on the big banks too?

GAYLE McLAUGHLIN: Chevron does pay a lot of taxes. We don't think it's nearly enough. We have a right to have safety for our community. That's why we put forth our lawsuit-to make sure they put our community before their profits. And that's why we've come up with our new program [to help underwater homeowners].

LF: An article in today's New York Times is headlined "Settlement Report Finds Banks Giving Timely Mortgage Relief." What's the problem? 

GM: Much of the so-called "relief" has come in the form of short sales, which means more families losing their housing and neighborhoods destabilized. We're working to keep more families in their homes! The settlement did lead to some more homeowners getting modifications with principal reduction, but the problem has been that the numbers are just too small compared with the scale of the problem. We need a broader market fix that resets mortgages to current home values.

LF: So what's your plan?

GM: The Richmond CARES program is focused on preventing foreclosures, keeping people in their homes and stabilizing neighborhoods.

LF: You tried to explain it in person to the CEO of Wells Fargo. What happened?

GM. I went with a whole coalition of community organizations to Wells Fargo's head office. We were making it clear that the banks should negotiate with Richmond. They shouldn't be taking us to court. The idea was to talk with him and invite him to come see our neighborhoods. They locked their doors and wouldn't meet.

LF: In addition to a lawsuit from Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank, the real estate lobby is working against you, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency has threatened sanctions against "any local or state action" that uses eminent domain to restructure mortgage loan contracts. Are you concerned?

GM: We have researched this very thoroughly. First, we have offered to buy the mortgages from the bond owners at fair market value. We'll have them appraised by a third party. We want to negotiate, but secondly, we have the right to use eminent domain for a public purpose. It's been used for all the wrong reasons, such as moving people out of their homes for big stores.

LF: What difference does it make that you have groups like the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment at your back?

GM: It makes all the difference in the world. We need homeowners involved in designing the program. That's how we built the movement in Richmond and how we're extending it to other cities. With all the misinformation put out there by Wall Street, it becomes imperative that we have people sharing the truth and overcoming the false messages put out by the opposition.

Please support our journalism. Get a digital subscription for just $9.50!

LF: Is it good that you're Green?

GM: It's the independent thinking that makes the difference. One party is moving us into a brick wall at 100 mph. The other is moving us there at 50 mph. We're still going in the wrong direction, in my view.

LF: Anything else?

GM: In Richmond we're solvent, we've reduced crime and we have a new General Plan based on sustainability and equity. I'm termed out, and next year we're going to have a battle on our hands. They're going to throw a mountain of money against the progressive candidates.

In August, Madeline Ostrander blogged about the protests in Richmond, California, against the Chevron oil refinery.

Laura Flanders 
November 20, 2013   |    This article appeared in the December 9, 2013 edition of The Nation. 
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From marksafron at att.net  Sat Dec  7 16:02:39 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2013 16:02:39 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] The sad truth.
Message-ID: <731FBA4F-9152-486D-908A-26D25259ECFF@att.net>

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Sat Dec  7 20:57:21 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2013 20:57:21 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] http://moneyandlifemovie.com/watch-now
Message-ID: <2EAF683B-80E4-4315-9CFC-248A2B493D5A@mcn.org>

The other address I gave didn't seem to work...
Check out the video. It might just be the trailer, but can give an example of what it is like.  

http://moneyandlifemovie.com/watch-now


HOW TO PUT ON A SCREENING
To set up your own public screening of the film, first of all please obtain a copy of the film (either the DVD or digital download).  With either of these orders you will automatically have the license to show the film. We are offering licensing at $1 for digital download or $17 for the cost of the DVD.  We are not charging traditional licensing fees to remove barriers to access though we strongly encourage you to gift back to the project (to help us recover production expenses) if you either charge for the event or ask for contributions.


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From marksafron at att.net  Sun Dec  8 12:17:02 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2013 12:17:02 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Working link to "Money & Life"
Message-ID: <C24EB1D8-C642-4534-BB9C-7C22DC66B6E7@att.net>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB5HOYdlGE8


From marksafron at att.net  Sun Dec  8 23:13:47 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2013 23:13:47 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Just what we need in California - more earthquakes
Message-ID: <9A4F4065-6C13-4202-BD46-339130DEC768@att.net>

Researchers Link Earthquakes In Texas To Fracking Process
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/12/06/3029951/texas-fracking-earthquakes/

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From marksafron at att.net  Mon Dec  9 18:08:17 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 18:08:17 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] =?windows-1252?q?There=92s_nasty_and_then_there?=
 =?windows-1252?q?=27s_just_plain_evil=2E?=
Message-ID: <47EEE137-9B68-4C35-A1A3-7E2FDF0F2541@att.net>

DEC 9, 2013
Chickens Coming Home To Roost
By Charles P. Pierce at 10:15am
WikiLeaks and The Huffington Post have raised all kinds of unshirted hell this morning by publishing a trove of documents relating to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the gigantic new trade agreement which was negotiated largely in secret -- unless, of course, you were a CEO or a lobbyist who worked for one -- and which the administration is seeking to "fast-track" through Congress so as to avoid the kind of public scrutiny to which deals like this rarely stand up. OK, that last part?s me, but you get the point.

One of the most controversial provisions in the talks includes new corporate empowerment language insisted upon by the U.S. government, which would allow foreign companies to challenge laws or regulations in a privately run international court. Under World Trade Organization treaties, this political power to contest government law is reserved for sovereign nations. The U.S. has endorsed some corporate political powers in prior trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, but the scope of what laws can be challenged appears to be much broader in TPP negotiations.

The documents say pretty much what you'd expect them to say -- that the provisions of the TPP grant multinational corporations vast new powers and that, among these, are virtual veto-powers over local environmental and labor laws, and that the agreement is a virtual Christmas tree on which corporations have hung all of their fondest individual wishes regarding future profiteering. (The drug companies seem particularly hopeful, which is to say incredibly greedy.) Large financial institutions seem happy, too.
The U.S. is also facing major resistance on bank regulation standards. The Obama administration is seeking to curtail the use of "capital controls" by foreign governments. These can include an extremely broad variety of financial tools, from restricting lending in overheated markets to denying mass international outflows of currency during a financial panic. The loss of these tools would dramatically limit the ability of governments to prevent and stem banking crises.

(Let us pause right here to acknowledge that any counter-argument based on what a schmuck you think Julian Assange is will be ruled out of order as immaterial and irrelevant to the matter at hand. Thank you.)

The TPP, which will materially affect the lives , in one way or another, of every American who works for a living, has been criminally undercovered in the United States media -- and I include the blog in this, as well -- while it has been negotiated in secrecy among a corporate class beyond the reach of democratic accountability, and a corporate class that most people around the world have no earthly reason to trust any more. The administration inexcusably is trying to short-circuit debate on what would be a massive reconfiguration of the relationship between the American government and the universe of international business and finance, which latter is acting in this matter very much the way a state would if it were negotiating a treaty -- or, say, the terms of a surrender, not that I'm negative on the whole business or anything. The lack of any kind of accountability, let alone transparency  -- in which I include the media, and in which I definitely include this blog -- on something of this magnitude seems so, well, transparently, unAmerican that it almost beggars argument. And if there is no official accountability, then, thank god, there is going to be unofficial accountability and renegade transparency, and that's just tough. I don't want to hear official blatherings about "outdated" documents. I want to know what deals my government is cutting with people from whom I, at this point, wouldn't buy an apple.
Tags: huffington post | Trans-Pacific Partnership | wikileaks


Read more: Trans-Pacific Partnership Documents Released - Chickens Coming Home To Roost - Esquire 
Follow us: @Esquiremag on Twitter | Esquire on Facebook 
Visit us at Esquire.com
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From marksafron at att.net  Tue Dec 10 13:24:39 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 13:24:39 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Fake Lobbyist Humiliates Congressman
Message-ID: <37EFD6DA-D83D-4335-ABFA-A6D0E8CCA68A@att.net>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWnJr_amf_A


From rkarch at mcn.org  Tue Dec 10 23:38:21 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 23:38:21 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Bernie Sanders Introduces S.1782 requires
	participating states to set up and administer a state single
	payer health program.
Message-ID: <34FB26F0-2D9E-4C7A-989B-85CF8D1EFBC8@mcn.org>

Hey, maybe Single Payer might yet become a reality! rk

Senator Bernie Sanders
S. 1782, The American Health Security Act of 2013
Introduced in the Senate, December 9, 2013


Summary of S. 1782, The American Health Security Act of 2013

The American Health Security Act of 2013 (S. 1782) provides every American with affordable and comprehensive health care services through the establishment of a national American Health Security Program (the Program) that requires each participating state to set up and administer a state single payer health program.  The Program provides universal health care coverage for the comprehensive services required under S. 1782 and incorporates Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE (the Department of Defense health care program), but maintains health care programs under the Veterans Affairs Administration.  Private health insurance sold by for-profit companies could only exist to provide supplemental coverage.
 
The cornerstones of the Program will be fixed, annual, and global budgets, public accountability, measures of quality based on outcomes data designed by providers and patients, a national data-collection system with uniform reporting by all providers, and a progressive financing system.  It will provide universal coverage, benefits emphasizing primary and preventive care, and free choice of providers.  Inpatient services, long term care, a broad range of services for mental illness and substance abuse, and care coordination services will also be covered.

A seven-member national board (the Board) appointed by the President will establish a national health budget specifying the total federal and state expenditures to be made for covered health care services. The Board will work together with similar boards in each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia to administer the Program.

A Quality Council will develop and disseminate practice guidelines based on outcomes research and will profile health care professionals? patterns of practice to identify outliers.  It will also develop standards of quality, performance measures, and medical review criteria and develop minimum competence criteria. A new Office of Primary Care and Prevention Research will be created within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The Program is designed to provide patient-centered care supported through adequate reimbursement for professionals, a wealth of evidence-based information, peer support, and financial incentives for better patient outcomes.  The Program seeks to ensure medical decisions are made by patients and their health care providers.

The Program amends the tax code to create the American Health Security Trust Fund and appropriates to the Fund specified tax revenues, current health program receipts, and tax credits and subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.  While the final structure of the financing component is still under consideration and is subject to change, the tax revenues in the draft include a new health care income tax, an employer payroll tax, a surcharge on high income individuals, and a tax on securities transactions.

The federal government would collect and distribute all funds to the states for the operation of the state programs to pay for the covered services. Budget increases would be limited to the rate of growth of the gross domestic product.  Each state?s budget for administrative expenses would be capped at three percent.

Each state would have the choice to administer its own program or have the federal Board administer it.  The state program could negotiate with providers and consult with its advisory boards to allocate funds.  The state program could also contract with private companies to provide administrative functions, as Medicare currently does through its administrative regions.  State programs could negotiate with providers to pay outpatient facilities and individual practitioners on a capitated, salaried, or other prospective basis or on a fee-for service basis according to a rate schedule.  Rates would be designed to incentivize primary and preventive care while maintaining a global budget, bringing provider, patients, and all stakeholders to the table to best determine value and reimbursement.

Finally, the Program also relieves businesses from the heavy administrative burdens of providing health care coverage, puts all businesses on an even playing field in terms of healthcare coverage, and increases the competitiveness of American companies in the global marketplace.  Every other industrialized nation has been able to use the power of a public authority to provide universal health care.  The American Health Security Act of 2013 seeks to do just that for all Americans and their businesses.

S. 1782, The American Health Security Act of 2013 (189 pages):

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/american-health-security-act-of-2013?inline=file


Comment:  Introduction of another single payer bill - S. 1782, The American Health Security Act of 2013 - is very timely. Here?s why.

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act is proceeding, and a handful of citizens are pleased to finally gain entrance to an insurance market that they?ve been locked out of. Nevertheless, dissatisfaction is widespread because of a mandate to purchase insurance products that are expensive, that leaves individuals exposed to excessive out-of-pocket costs should they need health care, and that reduces health care choices by reducing the number of providers allowed in the insurance networks. Those with employer-sponsored plans are beginning to see the same changes that reduce both financial security and choices of physicians and hospitals. People are not happy.

The rocky rollout of the exchanges created more smoke than fire, but it did cause people to think more about whether Obamacare is a wise solution to the problems with our health care financing system. On the left, there is a loud and clear call to move forward with enactment of a single payer system - an improved Medicare for all. On the right, there is a loud clamor that Obamacare is so bad that we might end up with a single payer system. By some on the right, that?s posed as a threat, but by others it seems to be a dispirited acknowledgement that Obamacare is so bad, and the proposed Republican reforms are so ineffective, that people will demand a system that works - single payer.

Because increased awareness of the flaws in Obamacare, and because of the intensification of the national dialogue on single payer, along with the recent endorsement of respected thought leaders, now is the perfect time to introduce a new single payer bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced S. 1782 in the Senate, and Rep. Jim McDermott is sponsoring the sister bill in the House.

Some might be concerned that introduction of another single payer bill into Congress when we already have Rep. John Conyers? single payer bill - H.R. 676 - could muddle the politics by diverting attention of potential supporters to the two bills, with a contest to decide which is the better legislation. There are differences in the bills, but it is crucial to understand that they are simply two expressions of the one single payer concept. The differences that we should be discussing in public are not the differences in these two bills, but rather the differences between an effective and efficient single payer model that achieves our goals, and our current highly inefficient, dysfunctional multi-payer model that falls far so short - the flawed model that Obamacare perpetuates.

When it becomes time to move the legislation forward, the details can be worked out. Proven single payer policies would be inviolate, but the markup would be directed more to crafting appropriate legislative language rather than to sabotaging beneficial single payer principles.

While there is a lot of noise and dissatisfaction, now is the time to push the single payer message. When we have people like Colin Powell, John Podesta, Steven Nissen and Donald Berwick willing to speak up, then we know it?s time for us to get to work.





Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
                                       Tibetan Buddhist teaching

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Thu Dec 12 00:01:20 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:01:20 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Robert
	Reich:jp-morgan-chase-and-the-corruption-of-america
Message-ID: <6948D1F0-549A-4E2B-9D45-55D5E955D385@mcn.org>

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/20883-jp-morgan-chase-and-the-corruption-of-america


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From rkarch at mcn.org  Thu Dec 12 13:25:14 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 13:25:14 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Friedman: Why Mandela Was Unique
Message-ID: <BFE10199-A45B-427E-A2EF-61ADFEBDF643@mcn.org>

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/11/opinion/friedman-why-mandela-was-unique.html
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From marksafron at att.net  Thu Dec 12 13:30:09 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 13:30:09 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Reminder: Senior Center Brunch and Silent Auction.
Message-ID: <457A92B3-116B-4C65-B224-3CC4A72D8082@att.net>

This Sat. (12/14) I hope to see many of you there.
Regards, Mark 


From agnes at mcn.org  Thu Dec 12 19:30:37 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:30:37 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Join the Maestro conference evry thurs. am,
	website below
Message-ID: <a0411e2edb213cde1ed6b0115cb84443.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

http://publicbankinginstitute.org/county-banks.htm
The Importance of County-owned Banks
?Washington and the regulators are there to serve
the banks.?
So said Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), the Wall Street crony who chairs the
House Financial Services Committee in
charge of banking policy.
If you ever needed justification for exerting a semblance of local control
over how credit is issued in the economy of
your city, county, or state, this may just be it. Any impartial observer
of this summer?s most recent bank scandals knows
that Wall Street does not have your interests in mind. Apparently, neither
does Congress.
Antidote to the Wall Street casino
This issue of PBI?s monthly newsletter is meant to showcase what some of
us are working on at the county level. Public
banking is not a difficult concept ? it?s just regular depository banking,
but with the owner being the people, as
represented by city, county and state governments. There are numerous
implications, however, which primarily involve
governance. And, yes, local governance may be messy, but it is far
superior to the existing corporate-controlled
governance coming out of D.C., which, instead of issuing debt-free money,
has handed to banks the monopolistic power
over money creation. At least citizens, using a public bank, have the
power to make affordable loans for the benefit of
their own city, county, or state.
And a few of us, from Berks County in Pennsylvania to Alameda County,
California, are doing just that. In Sonoma
County, a small team of us are putting into place the relationships needed
to create a county-owned bank. In addition to
leverage local tax dollars to support the local economy and
infrastructure, county banks hold the promise of being a
B2B mutual credit exchange, plus being able to issue local currency, much
like Citibank's frequent flier miles -- only to
aid local businesses in the circulation of goods and services. But there's
hard work to do: First, get a champion; second,
get the local university to commit resources; third, get business
associations and a few banks on board; fourth, expand
the coaltion; fifth, go for a vote with the county supervisors. In Sonoma
County, we?ll get to a vote sometime late winter
or spring.
Meanwhile, PBI has added a county bank section to its website. Be sure to
check it regularly or, better yet, make the
effort yourself to build consensus around your own county bank. If you are
interested in developing your own county
bank, be sure to join us every Thursday, from now through November 15th.
We'll have a county bank working group
conference call at 9am Pacific. You can register for the conference call
series at
http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/JL8L2E778XJP1RX
The time is now
With the demise of the Glass-Steagall Act, "boring? community banking of
the last century was replaced by too-big-to-fail investment banks, armed
with nuclear-tipped financial products, sold as fail-safe, that have led
directly to a  meltdown of our economy and America?s Descent into Poverty.
As described by Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant
Secretary of the US Treasury and Associate Editor of the Wall Street
Journal, ?cities, counties, states, and the federal
government (are) without a tax base, resulting in bankruptcies at the
state and local level and massive budget deficits at
the federal level that threaten the value of the dollar and its role as
reserve currency.?
Wall Street banks are too big to regulate. Not that it matters -- Congress
is their servant. Don't you think it's time to take
matters in your own hands and start a county-owned bank?
Marc Armstrong
marc at publicbankinginstitute.org
Executive Director
Public Banking Institute



From rkarch at mcn.org  Sat Dec 14 10:14:34 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2013 10:14:34 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Never Be Afraid
Message-ID: <99C5CAAF-334D-4410-966E-BC4401AB32C0@mcn.org>

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From edoberweiser at gmail.com  Wed Dec 11 15:44:29 2013
From: edoberweiser at gmail.com (edward Oberweiser)
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:44:29 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] upcoming community rights workshop
Message-ID: <CAFBwOQRvQiqSRER3B9vDEjuaDKUi2ZxLEAPB1_V3kkV4-P8H_A@mail.gmail.com>

Upcoming Event: Reasserting Community Rights -- Going Beyond Single Issue
Activism

Are you frustrated by the apparent inability of local communities to stop
corporate destruction of the natural world (unnecessary road building,
fracking, sludge dumping on farmland, bottling and removal of water from
local rivers, use of toxic pesticides in forests, oil drilling in pristine
areas, etc.)? Are you wondering why the public seems to be powerless to
stop these abuses of corporate power? This workshop will illuminate how and
why the law has been used to progressively expand corporate powers. It will
also provide a new and proven way to reestablish community rights, the
power of community self-determination, and the power to stop destructive
practices through local ordinance writing. Used in more than 160
communities in ten states across the USA, local ordinances are enabling
local communities to assert their right to protect themselves and nature
from corporate domination and control. In support of this, the California
Constitution says: "All political power is inherent in the people.
Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the
people; and they have the right to alter or reform the same, whenever the
public good may require it."

Well-known community rights organizer, and partner with the Community
Environmental Legal Defense Fund
(CELDF.org), Paul Cienfuegos will be leading this intensive two-day
workshop at the Community Center of Mendocino
(998 School St., in the town of Mendocino), on President?s Day weekend
-- February
15-16, 2014. This two full day event includes two potluck lunches. Paul is
the founder of Democracy Unlimited in Humboldt County, which models new
ways of working on a variety of ecological and social justice issues such
as forest clear-cutting, weakening organic food labeling standards, and big
box store take-over of local business. He also co-founded
CommunityRightsPDX.org, which is Portland
Oregon?s first community rights organization. More information about his 38
years of local activism, and the many workshops and presentations that he
has delivered across the country, can be found at PaulCienfuegos.com.

The last workshop delivered by Paul, a few months ago in Willits, was
over-subscribed and filled up fast. To make sure you have a place in this
one, you must register in advance. There is a sliding scale fee based on
income, ranging from $60 to $260. To sign-up, contact Charles Cresson Wood,
with Mendocino Coast Transition Towns, at ccwood at ix.netcom.com or
707-937-5572. This event is co-sponsored by the Alliance for Democracy, the
Mendocino Coast Chapter of Move to Amend, and Community Rights Organization
Willits (CROW).
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From rkarch at mcn.org  Sun Dec 15 10:24:37 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2013 10:24:37 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Lurid Subprime Loan Schemes Unveiled
Message-ID: <B3EB08EA-6006-43D1-AD27-09CA2D1482D8@mcn.org>

 Be sure to watch the short videos. rk
Lurid Subprime Scams Unveiled
By Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone
14 December 13
 
ost amid the hoopla over JP Morgan Chase's record-setting $13 billion settlement this fall was news of another monster court resolution - a $2.46 billion judgment, the largest ever awarded after trial in a securities fraud class action case, handed down in October against a HSBC acquisition calledHousehold International.

It's an old case, with the trial completed way back in 2009 and the fraud in question having all taken place between 1997 and 2002. But it has crucial ramifications for the present, for one key reason:

The evidence uncovered in the Household suit should put to lie once and for all the oft-repeated myth - spread by many of America's most notable dumb people, from Rush Limbaugh to New York City Mayor-unelect Mike Bloomberg - that the financial crisis was caused by the government "forcing" banks to lend to poor people...

story continues:

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/304-justice/20953-lurid-subprime-scams-unveiled





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From marksafron at att.net  Sun Dec 15 16:42:53 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2013 16:42:53 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] In case you needed another reason to ban fracking.
Message-ID: <51C6AD9D-0AEE-4F03-96E7-A5F2FF9C6FB9@att.net>

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-fracking-homeowners-analysis-idUSBRE9BB0GS20131212

Circulate this widely in Mendo. Co. please.
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From elained at mcn.org  Mon Dec 16 08:41:25 2013
From: elained at mcn.org (Elaine and Ed)
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:41:25 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] please sign this petition to ban fracking in
	Mendocino County
Message-ID: <86FE9DDD-FFCA-458B-9508-06294F170BD9@mcn.org>

http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/ban-fracking-in-mendocino-county-1
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From marksafron at att.net  Tue Dec 17 17:59:48 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:59:48 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Height of irony
Message-ID: <6D05A6F6-D371-4720-BC87-D3D9FDEBDA21@att.net>

Or, perhaps a new low.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Occupy-Wall-Street-protester-Zuccotti-Park-Lower-Manhattan-Manhattan-New-York-City-New-York-State-USA-Poster-Print-by-Panoramic-Images-27-x-9/32614654

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From marksafron at att.net  Tue Dec 17 18:10:45 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:10:45 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] But their company name includes "America."
Message-ID: <AE28A546-5EF5-4F4D-986A-784CD668A1A6@att.net>

How far would Bank of America go to screw distressed homeowners?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/16/1263148/-How-far-would-Bank-of-America-go-to-screw-distressed-nbsp-homeowners?detail=email

A Bloomberg investigation has uncovered a secret office created by Bank of America called "the Office of the CEO and President" set up ostensibly to handle complaints homeowners trying to refinance in the government?s Home Affordable Modification Program. But when frustrated homeowners, and members of Congress and regulators, finally reached what they thought was the pinnacle of BoA where something might just be done to help them, they were really being shuffled off to a contractor site, Urban Lending, whose primary job appears to have been delaying the process until the homeowners could be forced into foreclosure.
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From rkarch at mcn.org  Wed Dec 18 14:53:17 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:53:17 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] $94.11 Billion Wall Street Bonuses
Message-ID: <D682213D-2888-4B7A-BFFC-6890A67C9275@mcn.org>

http://other98.com/wall-street-give-your-bonuses-to-the-people-you-made-homeless/
Wall Street is about to give themselves $94.11 Billion ? with a B ? in holiday bonuses, even as they continue to dodge jail time for their ongoing crime spree!?1 HUH? Wall Street megabanks forced ten million people out of their homes due to the foreclosure crisis, while spending 2013 dodging the law for the blatant financial fraud that left folks homeless.2 HOW? Ten banks kicked off 2013 by paying $8.5 billion to settle complaints that they improperly foreclosed on homeowners3; in the summer, Bank of America was charged with rewarding employees who pushed the MOST people into foreclosure4; and then JPMorgan Chase rounded off the year by paying $13BN in fines to make fraud complaints go away.5 WHY? That $91.44 Billion a year could go a very long way towards undoing the vast damage done by Wall Street?s megabanks that have engaged in megafraud, not to mention go quite a long way towards curbing American homelessness in - See more at: http://other98.com/wall-street-give-your-bonuses-to-the-people-you-made-homeless/#sthash.8GBiuLQa.dpuf




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From marksafron at att.net  Thu Dec 19 22:19:02 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:19:02 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] The Rumored Chase-Madoff Settlement Is Another
	Bad Joke
Message-ID: <83A06C29-ED60-4639-88DA-E7932D2D833C@att.net>

There's only one thing to say about this "reluctance" to prosecute (and the "fear" and "concern" for lost jobs that allegedly drives it): It's a joke.  

Yes, you might very well lose some jobs if you go around indicting huge companies on criminal charges. You might even want to avoid doing so from time to time, if the company is worth saving.  

But individuals? There?s absolutely no reason why the state can't proceed against the actual people who are guilty of crimes.

Full story: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/the-rumored-chase-madoff-settlement-is-another-bad-joke-20131216#ixzz2njatgqbt
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From marksafron at att.net  Fri Dec 20 16:32:53 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2013 16:32:53 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Bill Moyers: The End of Democracy
Message-ID: <0E7641E0-4660-4F1D-8B4D-01A9C42478DF@att.net>

This is a GOOD 3 minute summary of what is wrong with this country. Please share it!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFYb4gKEFl4

So what got left out of the budget this year?
1.  Unemployment Extension
2. Real infrastructure development/work relief actions
3.  economy-stimulating alternative energy tax credits and subsidies
4.  removal of fossil fuel subsidies
5.  removal of tax loopholes for the ultra wealthy
6.  removal of protections for offshore tax havens
7.  Carbon tax and carbon reduction targets
8.  increases in school lunch programs, child-care programs, elderly care programs
9.  the increase of the social security ceiling to $500,000 annual income.
10.  Comprehensive work toward a Constitutional amendment prohibiting private campaign financing
11.  Comprehensive work toward a Constitutional amendment denying corporate personhood.

Anything else?
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From agnes at mcn.org  Fri Dec 20 21:11:04 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2013 21:11:04 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: letter to the Editor]
Message-ID: <2d9b47e58ee8c7873c08f593dbc91386.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: letter to the Editor
From:    agnes at mcn.org
Date:    Fri, December 20, 2013 9:10 pm
To:      editor at advocate-news.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Kate,

We,the Mendocino County Public Bank Coalition, Occupy Mendocino and
Transition Towns, wish to thank Joan and Paul Katzeff of Thanksgiving
Coffee for their generosity, Kevin Silva of the Village Florist for the
big screen and gratitude to Matt Rowlin for coming to our rescue with a
power point projector. Thanks to the Good Life Cafe and the many
volunteers who made baked goods, and to Richard Karch for the sound
system. Thanks to Jessie van Sant for information about the County Charter
which would authorize a public bank. We hope to get it on the ballot with
the help of the Board of Supervisors and our petitions.

Ellen Brown honored three North Coast communities with her well researched
presentation of her latest book:The Public Bank Solution. The Crown Hall
audience got a view of the private banking system which has to make
quarterly profits for their investors whereas a publicly owned bank is
mandated to serve the public, interest is returned to the city, county or
state that establishes it. North Dakota is the only state that has a
publicly owned bank. It does not gamble in derivatives as private big
banks do. The Bank of North Dakota  did not suffer in the 2008 crisis, has
3% unemployment and returned money to taxpayers from their profits.

To order her books and articles go to www.ellenbrown.com.

Sincerely,
Agnes Woolsey
937-2377
P.O. Box 163, Mendocino, CA






From marksafron at att.net  Sat Dec 21 09:16:34 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2013 09:16:34 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Somebody pulled Volcker's teeth.
Message-ID: <B1DE68EC-3183-4951-9369-10EF6B2865B4@att.net>

They say the devil is in the details. Regarding the Volcker Rule, the devil is in the details of its abundant exemptions. These include a laundry list of practices and businesses that mega-banks have performed under one roof, since the 1999 repeal of Glass-Steagall, as well as the myriad perks they won along the way to that power-consolidating event.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/volcker_rule_made_meaningless_by_abundant_exemptions_20131218




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From jupiter at mcn.org  Mon Dec 23 10:48:59 2013
From: jupiter at mcn.org (Linda Jupiter)
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 10:48:59 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Fwd: New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed
	homeowners
References: <E492A144-3391-4FEC-B239-BD2926042139@mcn.org>
Message-ID: <50335D45-9983-4C26-A106-B59891E412CD@mcn.org>

More towns are using their right of eminent domain to help save  
people's homes:

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/16/new-jersey-town-vowstorescueforeclosedhomeowners.html
Linda




Begin forwarded message:

> From: Carrie Durkee <cdurkee at mcn.org>
> Date: December 23, 2013 8:06:20 AM PST
> To: Linda Jupiter <jupiter at mcn.org>
> Subject: Fwd: New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>
> pass on to anyone you may think could benefit.
> Carrie
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: Annemarie <aweibel at mcn.org>
>> Subject: New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>> Date: December 22, 2013 7:54:22 PM PST
>> To: Carrie Durkee <cdurkee at mcn.org>
>>
>> Hi Carrie,
>> You probably saw these comments on mcn. If not, it is interesting  
>> to see that a New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners.
>> Annemarie
>>
>>
>>
>> Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 20:45:55 -0800
>> From: John Fremont <john at cypresshouse.com>
>> Subject: [MCN-Discussion]- eminent domain
>> To: discussion list <discussion at lists.mcn.org>
>> Message-ID: <52899B83.6010202 at cypresshouse.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>>
>> There are empty stores and buildings in Fort Bragg. Hundreds of
>> transients sleep in alleys and on the streets. It's getting colder.
>> Do any city/county leaders see a solution to these interrelated
>> problems? New Jersey has one idea:
>> SEARCH
>>
>>
>>
>>  New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>
>> by E. Tammy Kim <http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/k/e-tammy-kim.html 
>> >
>> @etammykim <http://www.twitter.com/etammykim>
>> November 16, 2013 9:00PM ET
>> Irvington may become second US city to use eminent domain to fight
>> foreclosures
>>
>> Topics:
>>    Housing <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/housing.html 
>> >
>>    U.S. <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/categories/ 
>> us.html>
>>    Bank of America
>>
>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/bank-of-america.html 
>> >
>>
>>
>> 	
>>
>> 	
>> 	
>>
>> 	
>> 	
>> 	
>>
>>
>> Irvington, N.J. homeowner facing foreclosure, Lavinia Curry (right),
>> with her daughter Paulette McQueen and two grandsons.E. Tammy Kim
>>
>> IRVINGTON, N.J. ? Their narrow, two-story house on Garwood Place, tan
>> with white trim, could use a fresh coat of paint and new plantings  
>> for
>> the sidewalk flowerbed. It sits in a quiet neighborhood not far from
>> Springfield Avenue, the retail thoroughfare connecting this
>> working-class township to nearby Newark.
>>
>> Paulette McQueen, 60, and her mother Lavinia Curry, 86, have lived in
>> this house since 2003. ?My mother always dreamed of having a home,?  
>> said
>> McQueen, a solidly built woman with blonde hair and dark brown  
>> skin. But
>> since 2010 their home has been a source of consternation as much as  
>> pride.
>>
>> ?We were one month behind, and I took [two payments] to Wells Fargo  
>> the
>> next month," said McQueen. "They told me they wouldn?t accept it.  
>> Ever
>> since then, they?re harassing my mother. They want me to sell her  
>> house.?
>>
>> A new program, though, could provide McQueen and Curry some relief.  
>> At a
>> press conference on Saturday, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith announced  
>> the
>> township <https://www.irvington.net/>?s plan to ?take? and revalue
>> foreclosed homes at market rates for the public?s benefit, using the
>> legal doctrine of ?eminent domain.? Should the plan move forward,
>> Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re- 
>> mortgage
>> foreclosed properties.
>>
>> ?When you hear (?eminent domain?), you usually think of people being
>> talked out of their homes (for corporate development), but what we?re
>> trying to do is recast it so that people can stay in their homes,?  
>> said
>> Smith.
>>
>>
>>    Experiment and backlash
>>
>> It?s a strategy spreading to cities and towns across the country. In
>> late July, for example, Richmond, Calif.
>> <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/in-a-shift-eminent-domain-saves-homes.html 
>> > made
>> national news when it notified a group of banks that, barring their
>> renegotiation of existing mortgages, the city would consider taking
>> foreclosed properties by eminent domain.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 10
>> Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 05:03:41 +0000
>> From: Penelope Ashe <cassandrapenelopeashe at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [MCN-Discussion]- eminent domain
>> To: discussion at lists.mcn.org
>> Message-ID:
>> 	<CAAZqs8WNt8hcJwiqfXJNAbAwua1cwQOhu8yUSsJpts2TOaav=w at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> What gave you the impression that the city or county was interested  
>> in
>> solving this problem?  FB is an inactivist agency. They are at the  
>> back of
>> the back of cities on modern efforts like localization and in fact,  
>> appear
>> opposed to it.  They dont even try to give any contracts to local
>> businesses. They had 10 years to prepare for the demolition of the  
>> mill
>> buidlings, had they wanted local involvement.  They dont, at least  
>> in my
>> opinion.
>>  The county is even more inactivst. They are not interested in any  
>> program
>> that takes staff time.  They don't want to provide mental health  
>> services.
>> They are in reverse on everything, apparently trying to undo mistakes
>> rather than do new things.
>> Many government agencies in many parts of the country are doing new  
>> things
>> to promote their local economies, not so here, from what I can  
>> tell.  We
>> have mysteriously given the city a progressive image... Huh?   
>> Where? When?
>> We were better off with Dominic running the town.  He's back with a  
>> chain
>> store that Linda Ruffing loved up in her column
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 18, 2013 at 4:45 AM, John Fremont  
>> <john at cypresshouse.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> There are empty stores and buildings in Fort Bragg. Hundreds of
>>> transients sleep in alleys and on the streets. It's getting colder.
>>> Do any city/county leaders see a solution to these interrelated
>>> problems? New Jersey has one idea:
>>> SEARCH
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>>
>>> by E. Tammy Kim
>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/k/e-tammy-kim.html>
>>> @etammykim <http://www.twitter.com/etammykim>
>>> November 16, 2013 9:00PM ET
>>> Irvington may become second US city to use eminent domain to fight
>>> foreclosures
>>>
>>> Topics:
>>>    Housing
>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/housing.html>
>>>    U.S. <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/categories/us.html 
>>> >
>>>    Bank of America
>>>    <
>>>
>> http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/bank-of-america.html
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Irvington, N.J. homeowner facing foreclosure, Lavinia Curry (right),
>>> with her daughter Paulette McQueen and two grandsons.E. Tammy Kim
>>>
>>> IRVINGTON, N.J. ? Their narrow, two-story house on Garwood Place,  
>>> tan
>>> with white trim, could use a fresh coat of paint and new plantings  
>>> for
>>> the sidewalk flowerbed. It sits in a quiet neighborhood not far from
>>> Springfield Avenue, the retail thoroughfare connecting this
>>> working-class township to nearby Newark.
>>>
>>> Paulette McQueen, 60, and her mother Lavinia Curry, 86, have lived  
>>> in
>>> this house since 2003. ?My mother always dreamed of having a  
>>> home,? said
>>> McQueen, a solidly built woman with blonde hair and dark brown  
>>> skin. But
>>> since 2010 their home has been a source of consternation as much as
>> pride.
>>>
>>> ?We were one month behind, and I took [two payments] to Wells  
>>> Fargo the
>>> next month," said McQueen. "They told me they wouldn?t accept it.  
>>> Ever
>>> since then, they?re harassing my mother. They want me to sell her  
>>> house.?
>>>
>>> A new program, though, could provide McQueen and Curry some  
>>> relief. At a
>>> press conference on Saturday, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith  
>>> announced the
>>> township <https://www.irvington.net/>?s plan to ?take? and revalue
>>> foreclosed homes at market rates for the public?s benefit, using the
>>> legal doctrine of ?eminent domain.? Should the plan move forward,
>>> Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re- 
>>> mortgage
>>> foreclosed properties.
>>>
>>> ?When you hear (?eminent domain?), you usually think of people being
>>> talked out of their homes (for corporate development), but what we? 
>>> re
>>> trying to do is recast it so that people can stay in their homes,?  
>>> said
>>> Smith.
>>>
>>>
>>>    Experiment and backlash
>>>
>>> It?s a strategy spreading to cities and towns across the country. In
>>> late July, for example, Richmond, Calif.
>>> <
>>>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/in-a-shift-eminent-domain-saves-homes.html 
>> >
>>> made
>>> national news when it notified a group of banks that, barring their
>>> renegotiation of existing mortgages, the city would consider taking
>>> foreclosed properties by eminent domain.
>>>
>>>
>>> __________________________________________________________
>>> __________________________________________________________
>>> The Mendocino Community Network (MCN) provides the MCN Discussion  
>>> list.
>>> Use of the list is subject to the terms of service at
>>> http://www.mcn.org/email/dtos.html
>>> TO UNSUBSCRIBE from this list send an email to
>>> discussion-leave at lists.mcn.org
>>> (To complete the process you must reply to the email you receive in
>>> response)
>>> For listserv technical problems please contact:  listmanager at mcn.org
>>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 11
>> Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 21:56:02 -0800
>> From: Marinela Miclea <marinela at alumni.ucla.edu>
>> Subject: Re: [MCN-Discussion]- eminent domain
>> To: discussion at lists.mcn.org
>> Message-ID: <E86C3AB4-911D-4EDB-9381-C52A97059927 at alumni.ucla.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>>
>> Why? Why would the city or the county not want to encourage local
>> businesses? Aren't they shooting themselves in the foot by their
>> inactivity? And why don't people w/ initiative run for city/county
>> office?
>>
>> Marinela
>>
>> On Nov 17, 2013, at 9:03 PM, Penelope Ashe wrote:
>>
>>> What gave you the impression that the city or county was  
>>> interested in
>>> solving this problem?  FB is an inactivist agency. They are at the
>>> back of
>>> the back of cities on modern efforts like localization and in fact,
>>> appear
>>> opposed to it.  They dont even try to give any contracts to local
>>> businesses. They had 10 years to prepare for the demolition of the
>>> mill
>>> buidlings, had they wanted local involvement.  They dont, at least
>>> in my
>>> opinion.
>>> The county is even more inactivst. They are not interested in any
>>> program
>>> that takes staff time.  They don't want to provide mental health
>>> services.
>>> They are in reverse on everything, apparently trying to undo  
>>> mistakes
>>> rather than do new things.
>>> Many government agencies in many parts of the country are doing new
>>> things
>>> to promote their local economies, not so here, from what I can
>>> tell.  We
>>> have mysteriously given the city a progressive image... Huh?  Where?
>>> When?
>>> We were better off with Dominic running the town.  He's back with a
>>> chain
>>> store that Linda Ruffing loved up in her column
>>>
>>> On Mon, Nov 18, 2013 at 4:45 AM, John Fremont
>>> <john at cypresshouse.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> There are empty stores and buildings in Fort Bragg. Hundreds of
>>>> transients sleep in alleys and on the streets. It's getting colder.
>>>> Do any city/county leaders see a solution to these interrelated
>>>> problems? New Jersey has one idea:
>>>> SEARCH
>>>>
>>>> New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>>>
>>>> by E. Tammy Kim
>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/k/e-tammy-kim.html
>>>>>
>>>> @etammykim <http://www.twitter.com/etammykim>
>>>> November 16, 2013 9:00PM ET
>>>> Irvington may become second US city to use eminent domain to fight
>>>> foreclosures
>>>>
>>>> Topics:
>>>>   Housing
>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/housing.html
>>>>>
>>>>   U.S. <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/categories/
>>>> us.html>
>>>>   Bank of America
>>>>   <
>>>>
>> http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/bank-of-america.html
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Irvington, N.J. homeowner facing foreclosure, Lavinia Curry  
>>>> (right),
>>>> with her daughter Paulette McQueen and two grandsons.E. Tammy Kim
>>>>
>>>> IRVINGTON, N.J. ? Their narrow, two-story house on Garwood Place,  
>>>> tan
>>>> with white trim, could use a fresh coat of paint and new plantings
>>>> for
>>>> the sidewalk flowerbed. It sits in a quiet neighborhood not far  
>>>> from
>>>> Springfield Avenue, the retail thoroughfare connecting this
>>>> working-class township to nearby Newark.
>>>>
>>>> Paulette McQueen, 60, and her mother Lavinia Curry, 86, have  
>>>> lived in
>>>> this house since 2003. ?My mother always dreamed of having a home,?
>>>> said
>>>> McQueen, a solidly built woman with blonde hair and dark brown
>>>> skin. But
>>>> since 2010 their home has been a source of consternation as much as
>>>> pride.
>>>>
>>>> ?We were one month behind, and I took [two payments] to Wells Fargo
>>>> the
>>>> next month," said McQueen. "They told me they wouldn?t accept it.
>>>> Ever
>>>> since then, they?re harassing my mother. They want me to sell her
>>>> house.?
>>>>
>>>> A new program, though, could provide McQueen and Curry some relief.
>>>> At a
>>>> press conference on Saturday, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith announced
>>>> the
>>>> township <https://www.irvington.net/>?s plan to ?take? and revalue
>>>> foreclosed homes at market rates for the public?s benefit, using  
>>>> the
>>>> legal doctrine of ?eminent domain.? Should the plan move forward,
>>>> Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re-
>>>> mortgage
>>>> foreclosed properties.
>>>>
>>>> ?When you hear (?eminent domain?), you usually think of people  
>>>> being
>>>> talked out of their homes (for corporate development), but what  
>>>> we?re
>>>> trying to do is recast it so that people can stay in their homes,?
>>>> said
>>>> Smith.
>>>>
>>>>   Experiment and backlash
>>>>
>>>> It?s a strategy spreading to cities and towns across the country.  
>>>> In
>>>> late July, for example, Richmond, Calif.
>>>> <
>>>>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/in-a-shift-eminent-domain-saves-homes.html
>>>>>
>>>> made
>>>> national news when it notified a group of banks that, barring their
>>>> renegotiation of existing mortgages, the city would consider taking
>>>> foreclosed properties by eminent domain.
>

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From vjessielee at gmail.com  Mon Dec 23 22:48:26 2013
From: vjessielee at gmail.com (Jessie VanSant)
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:48:26 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Fwd: New Jersey town vows to rescue
	foreclosed homeowners
In-Reply-To: <50335D45-9983-4C26-A106-B59891E412CD@mcn.org>
References: <E492A144-3391-4FEC-B239-BD2926042139@mcn.org>
	<50335D45-9983-4C26-A106-B59891E412CD@mcn.org>
Message-ID: <FDDB5968-E87C-423E-A93F-752112068062@gmail.com>

YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!
On Dec 23, 2013, at 10:48 AM, Linda Jupiter <jupiter at mcn.org> wrote:

> More towns are using their right of eminent domain to help save people's homes:
> 
> http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/16/new-jersey-town-vowstorescueforeclosedhomeowners.html
> Linda
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> From: Carrie Durkee <cdurkee at mcn.org>
>> Date: December 23, 2013 8:06:20 AM PST
>> To: Linda Jupiter <jupiter at mcn.org>
>> Subject: Fwd: New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>> 
>> pass on to anyone you may think could benefit. 
>> Carrie
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>>> From: Annemarie <aweibel at mcn.org>
>>> Subject: New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>> Date: December 22, 2013 7:54:22 PM PST
>>> To: Carrie Durkee <cdurkee at mcn.org>
>>> 
>>> Hi Carrie,
>>> You probably saw these comments on mcn. If not, it is interesting to see that a New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners.
>>> Annemarie
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 20:45:55 -0800
>>> From: John Fremont <john at cypresshouse.com>
>>> Subject: [MCN-Discussion]- eminent domain
>>> To: discussion list <discussion at lists.mcn.org>
>>> Message-ID: <52899B83.6010202 at cypresshouse.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>> 
>>> 
>>> There are empty stores and buildings in Fort Bragg. Hundreds of
>>> transients sleep in alleys and on the streets. It's getting colder.
>>> Do any city/county leaders see a solution to these interrelated
>>> problems? New Jersey has one idea:
>>> SEARCH
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>  New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>> 
>>> by E. Tammy Kim <http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/k/e-tammy-kim.html>
>>> @etammykim <http://www.twitter.com/etammykim>
>>> November 16, 2013 9:00PM ET
>>> Irvington may become second US city to use eminent domain to fight
>>> foreclosures
>>> 
>>> Topics:
>>>    Housing <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/housing.html>
>>>    U.S. <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/categories/us.html>
>>>    Bank of America
>>> 
>>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/bank-of-america.html>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 	
>>> 
>>> 	
>>> 	
>>> 
>>> 	
>>> 	
>>> 	
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Irvington, N.J. homeowner facing foreclosure, Lavinia Curry (right),
>>> with her daughter Paulette McQueen and two grandsons.E. Tammy Kim
>>> 
>>> IRVINGTON, N.J. ? Their narrow, two-story house on Garwood Place, tan
>>> with white trim, could use a fresh coat of paint and new plantings for
>>> the sidewalk flowerbed. It sits in a quiet neighborhood not far from
>>> Springfield Avenue, the retail thoroughfare connecting this
>>> working-class township to nearby Newark.
>>> 
>>> Paulette McQueen, 60, and her mother Lavinia Curry, 86, have lived in
>>> this house since 2003. ?My mother always dreamed of having a home,? said
>>> McQueen, a solidly built woman with blonde hair and dark brown skin. But
>>> since 2010 their home has been a source of consternation as much as pride.
>>> 
>>> ?We were one month behind, and I took [two payments] to Wells Fargo the
>>> next month," said McQueen. "They told me they wouldn?t accept it. Ever
>>> since then, they?re harassing my mother. They want me to sell her house.?
>>> 
>>> A new program, though, could provide McQueen and Curry some relief. At a
>>> press conference on Saturday, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith announced the
>>> township <https://www.irvington.net/>?s plan to ?take? and revalue
>>> foreclosed homes at market rates for the public?s benefit, using the
>>> legal doctrine of ?eminent domain.? Should the plan move forward,
>>> Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re-mortgage
>>> foreclosed properties.
>>> 
>>> ?When you hear (?eminent domain?), you usually think of people being
>>> talked out of their homes (for corporate development), but what we?re
>>> trying to do is recast it so that people can stay in their homes,? said
>>> Smith.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>    Experiment and backlash
>>> 
>>> It?s a strategy spreading to cities and towns across the country. In
>>> late July, for example, Richmond, Calif.
>>> <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/in-a-shift-eminent-domain-saves-homes.html> made
>>> national news when it notified a group of banks that, barring their
>>> renegotiation of existing mortgages, the city would consider taking
>>> foreclosed properties by eminent domain.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ------------------------------
>>> 
>>> Message: 10
>>> Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 05:03:41 +0000
>>> From: Penelope Ashe <cassandrapenelopeashe at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [MCN-Discussion]- eminent domain
>>> To: discussion at lists.mcn.org
>>> Message-ID:
>>> 	<CAAZqs8WNt8hcJwiqfXJNAbAwua1cwQOhu8yUSsJpts2TOaav=w at mail.gmail.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>> 
>>> What gave you the impression that the city or county was interested in
>>> solving this problem?  FB is an inactivist agency. They are at the back of
>>> the back of cities on modern efforts like localization and in fact, appear
>>> opposed to it.  They dont even try to give any contracts to local
>>> businesses. They had 10 years to prepare for the demolition of the mill
>>> buidlings, had they wanted local involvement.  They dont, at least in my
>>> opinion.
>>>  The county is even more inactivst. They are not interested in any program
>>> that takes staff time.  They don't want to provide mental health services.
>>> They are in reverse on everything, apparently trying to undo mistakes
>>> rather than do new things.
>>> Many government agencies in many parts of the country are doing new things
>>> to promote their local economies, not so here, from what I can tell.  We
>>> have mysteriously given the city a progressive image... Huh?  Where? When?
>>> We were better off with Dominic running the town.  He's back with a chain
>>> store that Linda Ruffing loved up in her column
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Nov 18, 2013 at 4:45 AM, John Fremont <john at cypresshouse.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> There are empty stores and buildings in Fort Bragg. Hundreds of
>>>> transients sleep in alleys and on the streets. It's getting colder.
>>>> Do any city/county leaders see a solution to these interrelated
>>>> problems? New Jersey has one idea:
>>>> SEARCH
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>  New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>>> 
>>>> by E. Tammy Kim
>>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/k/e-tammy-kim.html>
>>>> @etammykim <http://www.twitter.com/etammykim>
>>>> November 16, 2013 9:00PM ET
>>>> Irvington may become second US city to use eminent domain to fight
>>>> foreclosures
>>>> 
>>>> Topics:
>>>>    Housing
>>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/housing.html>
>>>>    U.S. <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/categories/us.html>
>>>>    Bank of America
>>>>    <
>>>> 
>>> http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/bank-of-america.html
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Irvington, N.J. homeowner facing foreclosure, Lavinia Curry (right),
>>>> with her daughter Paulette McQueen and two grandsons.E. Tammy Kim
>>>> 
>>>> IRVINGTON, N.J. ? Their narrow, two-story house on Garwood Place, tan
>>>> with white trim, could use a fresh coat of paint and new plantings for
>>>> the sidewalk flowerbed. It sits in a quiet neighborhood not far from
>>>> Springfield Avenue, the retail thoroughfare connecting this
>>>> working-class township to nearby Newark.
>>>> 
>>>> Paulette McQueen, 60, and her mother Lavinia Curry, 86, have lived in
>>>> this house since 2003. ?My mother always dreamed of having a home,? said
>>>> McQueen, a solidly built woman with blonde hair and dark brown skin. But
>>>> since 2010 their home has been a source of consternation as much as
>>> pride.
>>>> 
>>>> ?We were one month behind, and I took [two payments] to Wells Fargo the
>>>> next month," said McQueen. "They told me they wouldn?t accept it. Ever
>>>> since then, they?re harassing my mother. They want me to sell her house.?
>>>> 
>>>> A new program, though, could provide McQueen and Curry some relief. At a
>>>> press conference on Saturday, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith announced the
>>>> township <https://www.irvington.net/>?s plan to ?take? and revalue
>>>> foreclosed homes at market rates for the public?s benefit, using the
>>>> legal doctrine of ?eminent domain.? Should the plan move forward,
>>>> Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re-mortgage
>>>> foreclosed properties.
>>>> 
>>>> ?When you hear (?eminent domain?), you usually think of people being
>>>> talked out of their homes (for corporate development), but what we?re
>>>> trying to do is recast it so that people can stay in their homes,? said
>>>> Smith.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>    Experiment and backlash
>>>> 
>>>> It?s a strategy spreading to cities and towns across the country. In
>>>> late July, for example, Richmond, Calif.
>>>> <
>>>> 
>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/in-a-shift-eminent-domain-saves-homes.html>
>>>> made
>>>> national news when it notified a group of banks that, barring their
>>>> renegotiation of existing mortgages, the city would consider taking
>>>> foreclosed properties by eminent domain.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> __________________________________________________________
>>>> __________________________________________________________
>>>> The Mendocino Community Network (MCN) provides the MCN Discussion list.
>>>> Use of the list is subject to the terms of service at
>>>> http://www.mcn.org/email/dtos.html
>>>> TO UNSUBSCRIBE from this list send an email to
>>>> discussion-leave at lists.mcn.org
>>>> (To complete the process you must reply to the email you receive in
>>>> response)
>>>> For listserv technical problems please contact:  listmanager at mcn.org
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ------------------------------
>>> 
>>> Message: 11
>>> Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 21:56:02 -0800
>>> From: Marinela Miclea <marinela at alumni.ucla.edu>
>>> Subject: Re: [MCN-Discussion]- eminent domain
>>> To: discussion at lists.mcn.org
>>> Message-ID: <E86C3AB4-911D-4EDB-9381-C52A97059927 at alumni.ucla.edu>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>>> 
>>> Why? Why would the city or the county not want to encourage local
>>> businesses? Aren't they shooting themselves in the foot by their
>>> inactivity? And why don't people w/ initiative run for city/county
>>> office?
>>> 
>>> Marinela
>>> 
>>> On Nov 17, 2013, at 9:03 PM, Penelope Ashe wrote:
>>> 
>>>> What gave you the impression that the city or county was interested in
>>>> solving this problem?  FB is an inactivist agency. They are at the
>>>> back of
>>>> the back of cities on modern efforts like localization and in fact,
>>>> appear
>>>> opposed to it.  They dont even try to give any contracts to local
>>>> businesses. They had 10 years to prepare for the demolition of the
>>>> mill
>>>> buidlings, had they wanted local involvement.  They dont, at least
>>>> in my
>>>> opinion.
>>>> The county is even more inactivst. They are not interested in any
>>>> program
>>>> that takes staff time.  They don't want to provide mental health
>>>> services.
>>>> They are in reverse on everything, apparently trying to undo mistakes
>>>> rather than do new things.
>>>> Many government agencies in many parts of the country are doing new
>>>> things
>>>> to promote their local economies, not so here, from what I can
>>>> tell.  We
>>>> have mysteriously given the city a progressive image... Huh?  Where?
>>>> When?
>>>> We were better off with Dominic running the town.  He's back with a
>>>> chain
>>>> store that Linda Ruffing loved up in her column
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Nov 18, 2013 at 4:45 AM, John Fremont
>>>> <john at cypresshouse.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> There are empty stores and buildings in Fort Bragg. Hundreds of
>>>>> transients sleep in alleys and on the streets. It's getting colder.
>>>>> Do any city/county leaders see a solution to these interrelated
>>>>> problems? New Jersey has one idea:
>>>>> SEARCH
>>>>> 
>>>>> New Jersey town vows to rescue foreclosed homeowners
>>>>> 
>>>>> by E. Tammy Kim
>>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/k/e-tammy-kim.html
>>>>>> 
>>>>> @etammykim <http://www.twitter.com/etammykim>
>>>>> November 16, 2013 9:00PM ET
>>>>> Irvington may become second US city to use eminent domain to fight
>>>>> foreclosures
>>>>> 
>>>>> Topics:
>>>>>   Housing
>>> <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/housing.html
>>>>>> 
>>>>>   U.S. <http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/categories/
>>>>> us.html>
>>>>>   Bank of America
>>>>>   <
>>>>> 
>>> http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/bank-of-america.html
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Irvington, N.J. homeowner facing foreclosure, Lavinia Curry (right),
>>>>> with her daughter Paulette McQueen and two grandsons.E. Tammy Kim
>>>>> 
>>>>> IRVINGTON, N.J. ? Their narrow, two-story house on Garwood Place, tan
>>>>> with white trim, could use a fresh coat of paint and new plantings
>>>>> for
>>>>> the sidewalk flowerbed. It sits in a quiet neighborhood not far from
>>>>> Springfield Avenue, the retail thoroughfare connecting this
>>>>> working-class township to nearby Newark.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Paulette McQueen, 60, and her mother Lavinia Curry, 86, have lived in
>>>>> this house since 2003. ?My mother always dreamed of having a home,?
>>>>> said
>>>>> McQueen, a solidly built woman with blonde hair and dark brown
>>>>> skin. But
>>>>> since 2010 their home has been a source of consternation as much as
>>>>> pride.
>>>>> 
>>>>> ?We were one month behind, and I took [two payments] to Wells Fargo
>>>>> the
>>>>> next month," said McQueen. "They told me they wouldn?t accept it.
>>>>> Ever
>>>>> since then, they?re harassing my mother. They want me to sell her
>>>>> house.?
>>>>> 
>>>>> A new program, though, could provide McQueen and Curry some relief.
>>>>> At a
>>>>> press conference on Saturday, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith announced
>>>>> the
>>>>> township <https://www.irvington.net/>?s plan to ?take? and revalue
>>>>> foreclosed homes at market rates for the public?s benefit, using the
>>>>> legal doctrine of ?eminent domain.? Should the plan move forward,
>>>>> Irvington could become the first municipality to seize and re-
>>>>> mortgage
>>>>> foreclosed properties.
>>>>> 
>>>>> ?When you hear (?eminent domain?), you usually think of people being
>>>>> talked out of their homes (for corporate development), but what we?re
>>>>> trying to do is recast it so that people can stay in their homes,?
>>>>> said
>>>>> Smith.
>>>>> 
>>>>>   Experiment and backlash
>>>>> 
>>>>> It?s a strategy spreading to cities and towns across the country. In
>>>>> late July, for example, Richmond, Calif.
>>>>> <
>>>>> 
>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/business/in-a-shift-eminent-domain-saves-homes.html 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> made
>>>>> national news when it notified a group of banks that, barring their
>>>>> renegotiation of existing mortgages, the city would consider taking
>>>>> foreclosed properties by eminent domain.
>> 
> 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send an email to occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org put "Un-Subscribe me" in the Subject line.
> For listserv problems please contact: listmanager at mcn.or

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From marksafron at att.net  Tue Dec 24 08:55:30 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 08:55:30 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] A message...
Message-ID: <7B0AD332-9959-4540-85BA-043A5C877CCB@att.net>

It?s not Christmasy, but it?s definitely worth thinking about in this ?time of plenty.? As Charles Dickens said, ?It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, ..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x98KFcMJeo

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Tue Dec 24 15:38:03 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 15:38:03 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Fwd: "If the Risk Is Low,
	Let Them Go": Elderly Prison Population Skyrockets Despite Low Risk
	to Society
References: <4A9A20C7-8130-4261-A853-04E78629706F@mcn.org>
Message-ID: <CDDF8D8F-B111-488E-A38B-F39ABF281781@mcn.org>

> 
> http://truth-out.org/news/item/20825-if-the-risk-is-low-let-them-go-elderly-prison-population-skyrockets-despite-low-risk-to-society
> "If the Risk Is Low, Let Them Go": Elderly Prison Population Skyrockets Despite Low Risk to Society
> 
> 
> Even amidst a modest reduction in the U.S. prison population, the number of aging men and women expected to die behind bars has skyrocketed in a system ill prepared to handle them and still oriented toward mass incarceration. We speak about the problems facing aging prisoners with Mujahid Farid, who was released from a New York state prison in 2011 after serving 33 years. He is now lead organizer with RAPP, which stands for "Release Aging People in Prison." Their slogan is "If the risk is low, let them go." His campaign work is part of Soros Justice Fellowship and is housed at the Correctional Association of New York. We are also joined by Soffiyah Elijah, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York, which monitors conditions in state prisons. "The parole board routinely denies people based on the nature of the offense, the one thing that no one can change, just like we can?t change our height or our eye color," Elijah notes. "We need to look at that and say, if someone presents a low risk to recidivate, then we should be releasing them from prison. We?re wasting precious taxpayer dollars incarcerating people, and it?s much more expensive to incarcerate people who are older."
> 
> 
> Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
>                                        Tibetan Buddhist teaching
> 



Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
                                       Tibetan Buddhist teaching

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From agnes at mcn.org  Tue Dec 24 18:38:35 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 18:38:35 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: Green Party Makes 2014 Statewide
	Endorsements]
Message-ID: <842fdde65946b7f03f0e82a1d90bccee.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Green Party Makes 2014 Statewide Endorsements
BE sure to read the italics for public bank under Ellen Brown for State
Treasurer CA.
Agnes


From:    "BC Macdonald" <omni at mcn.org>
Date:    Tue, December 24, 2013 2:35 pm
To:      "Agnes Woolsey" <agnes at mcn.org>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.cagreens.org/news/gpca-endorses-2014-statewide-candidates

NEWS ADVISORY

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 23, 2013

Contact: Luis Rodriguez: Mark Lipman (media contact) (424) 250-5309
info at rodriguezforgovernor.org www.rodriguezforgovernor.org
Laura Wells (510) 225-4005 info at laurawells.org www.laurawells.org
Ellen Brown (805) 217-3109 ellenhbrown at gmail.com www.ellenbrown.com/treasurer
David Curtis (415) 317-4002 davidscurtis at earthlink.net
www.votedavidcurtis.org
Michael Feinstein, GPCA Spokesperson (310) 392-8450 mfeinstein at feinstein.org

The Green Party of California Announces Its Statewide Endorsements for
June 2014

LOS ANGELES, CA -- On the heels of a record number of California Greens
elected in an odd-numbered year (20), the Green Party of California (GPCA)
announces its official endorsements for the June 2014 primary: Luis
Rodriguez, Governor; Laura Wells, Controller; Ellen Brown, Treasurer; and
David Curtis, Secretary of State.

In 2012, the L.A. Weekly named Luis Rodriguez one of the 60 most
fascinating people in Los Angeles, citing his history of art, activism and
'fighting his way through the mean streets of East L.A."

???This campaign is an imaginal poetic journey,??? said Rodriguez in a
speech to the GPCA's recent state meeting in Santa Rosa. "But we also aim
to win."

"Winning is addressing poverty, justice and the environment," Rodriguez
told GPCA delegates. "Solutions come from aligning resources to meet human
needs, by providing livable and meaningful work or income, healthy and
clean communities and free quality health care for all. We must also
address the massive inequities of the criminal justice system, and ensure
arts, culture and expression outlets in every neighborhood."

Also solution-oriented, Laura Wells and Ellen Brown advocate "banking in
the public interest", to address the state's ongoing fiscal crisis and
infrastructure funding shortfalls, by establishing a publicly-owned state
bank for California.

"Our legislators pride themselves on balancing the budget, but they've
done it on the backs of the poor; by robbing Peter to pay Paul; and by
shoving a wall of debt into the future," says Brown, the GPCA's candidate
for Treasurer.

"There is another way to fund the state budget besides cutting services,
raising taxes and selling off assets. That's through a publicly-owned
state bank that generates new revenues for states, lowers debt costs for
local governments and public infrastructure, and creates new jobs and
spurs economic growth."

Wells adds, ???As a State Controller who takes no corporate money, I will
stand up to the Wall Street banks with the intention of replacing them
with a State Bank for California, a bank that will partner with local
banks and credit unions, and provide good loans to homeowners, students,
and small businesses. We will keep the interest low, and keep it here to
invest in California, not Wall Street.???

In a crowed field for Secretary of State, David Curtis is the lone voice
highlighting the negative effects of the new top two primary system upon
democracy.  "Fair elections are when voters can vote for and elect someone
who represents their views. The Top Two primary takes us in the opposite
direction, by reducing voter choice and political voice, while increasing
the cost of elections. The Top Two should be overturned and replaced with
a system of proportional representation within multi-seat districts, so
that California's great diversity can have a real voice in the decisions
that affect them."

Under the new Top Two system, Green candidates must each submit at least
10,000 nomination petition signatures from registered California voters to
appear on the June 2014 statewide ballot. Previously the total was only
150. The GPCA will launch its signature drive upon the opening of the
filing period on Friday, December 27, and provide a link on its state
website where anyone can download and print the petitions and gather
signatures (www.cagreens.org/elections/2014).

"Despite the unnecessary obstacles to democracy created by the Top Two
system, we believe voters definitely want to see a Green alternative on
the 2014 ballot," adds GPCA spokesperson Michael Feinstein. "The Green
Party rejects the austerity approach in fashion in Sacramento and
Washington. Another California and another United States is possible, and
our endorsed candidates will carry forth that message in 2014.

- 30 -


About the Green Party of California
The Green Party of California (GPCA) is guided by its Platform and the Ten
Key Values of the Green Movement: Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy,
Social Justice, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community Based Economics,
Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and
Sustainability.

The GPCA distinguishes itself from and provides an alternative to
traditionally entrenched parties, including by accepting no corporate
contributions.

The GPCA is affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS),
and through the GPUS to the Federacion de Partidos Verdes de las Americas
and the Global Greens.

Currently, 55 California Greens hold public office statewide.  Since the
GPCA's founding in 1990, 293 California Greens have been elected to public
office.

Stay connected with the Green Party of California
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/gpca
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/cagreens and www.facebook.com/groups/8071416222

Register Green. Run Green. Volunteer Green. Donate Green. Vote Green.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





-=-=-
Green Party of California ?? PO Box 417332 , Sacramento, CA 95841, United
States
This email was sent to gpca-forum at cagreens.org. To stop receiving emails,
click here.
-=-=-

Created with NationBuilder, the essential toolkit for leaders.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
gpca-forum mailing list
gpca-forum at cagreens.org
http://lists.cagreens.org/mailman/listinfo/gpca-forum
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From nlnelson at mcn.org  Tue Dec 24 18:58:48 2013
From: nlnelson at mcn.org (nlnelson at mcn.org)
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 18:58:48 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: Green Party Makes 2014 Statewide
 Endorsements]
In-Reply-To: <842fdde65946b7f03f0e82a1d90bccee.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>
References: <842fdde65946b7f03f0e82a1d90bccee.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>
Message-ID: <da16f420c4c4ce607ac6c08ddf0d2b69.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------

   Laura Wells was part of our election delegation to Venezuela last April
- I can also recommend her more than highly - one of the brightest -
and luminous bright not just smart bright  - people i have met.......
oh if this party could get a foothold....
Nancy


Subject: Green Party Makes 2014 Statewide Endorsements
> BE sure to read the italics for public bank under Ellen Brown for State
> Treasurer CA.
> Agnes
>
>
> From:    "BC Macdonald" <omni at mcn.org>
> Date:    Tue, December 24, 2013 2:35 pm
> To:      "Agnes Woolsey" <agnes at mcn.org>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.cagreens.org/news/gpca-endorses-2014-statewide-candidates
>
> NEWS ADVISORY
>
> GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> Monday, December 23, 2013
>
> Contact: Luis Rodriguez: Mark Lipman (media contact) (424) 250-5309
> info at rodriguezforgovernor.org www.rodriguezforgovernor.org
> Laura Wells (510) 225-4005 info at laurawells.org www.laurawells.org
> Ellen Brown (805) 217-3109 ellenhbrown at gmail.com
> www.ellenbrown.com/treasurer
> David Curtis (415) 317-4002 davidscurtis at earthlink.net
> www.votedavidcurtis.org
> Michael Feinstein, GPCA Spokesperson (310) 392-8450
> mfeinstein at feinstein.org
>
> The Green Party of California Announces Its Statewide Endorsements for
> June 2014
>
> LOS ANGELES, CA -- On the heels of a record number of California Greens
> elected in an odd-numbered year (20), the Green Party of California (GPCA)
> announces its official endorsements for the June 2014 primary: Luis
> Rodriguez, Governor; Laura Wells, Controller; Ellen Brown, Treasurer; and
> David Curtis, Secretary of State.
>
> In 2012, the L.A. Weekly named Luis Rodriguez one of the 60 most
> fascinating people in Los Angeles, citing his history of art, activism and
> 'fighting his way through the mean streets of East L.A."
>
> ???This campaign is an imaginal poetic journey,??? said Rodriguez in a
> speech to the GPCA's recent state meeting in Santa Rosa. "But we also aim
> to win."
>
> "Winning is addressing poverty, justice and the environment," Rodriguez
> told GPCA delegates. "Solutions come from aligning resources to meet human
> needs, by providing livable and meaningful work or income, healthy and
> clean communities and free quality health care for all. We must also
> address the massive inequities of the criminal justice system, and ensure
> arts, culture and expression outlets in every neighborhood."
>
> Also solution-oriented, Laura Wells and Ellen Brown advocate "banking in
> the public interest", to address the state's ongoing fiscal crisis and
> infrastructure funding shortfalls, by establishing a publicly-owned state
> bank for California.
>
> "Our legislators pride themselves on balancing the budget, but they've
> done it on the backs of the poor; by robbing Peter to pay Paul; and by
> shoving a wall of debt into the future," says Brown, the GPCA's candidate
> for Treasurer.
>
> "There is another way to fund the state budget besides cutting services,
> raising taxes and selling off assets. That's through a publicly-owned
> state bank that generates new revenues for states, lowers debt costs for
> local governments and public infrastructure, and creates new jobs and
> spurs economic growth."
>
> Wells adds, ???As a State Controller who takes no corporate money, I will
> stand up to the Wall Street banks with the intention of replacing them
> with a State Bank for California, a bank that will partner with local
> banks and credit unions, and provide good loans to homeowners, students,
> and small businesses. We will keep the interest low, and keep it here to
> invest in California, not Wall Street.???
>
> In a crowed field for Secretary of State, David Curtis is the lone voice
> highlighting the negative effects of the new top two primary system upon
> democracy.  "Fair elections are when voters can vote for and elect someone
> who represents their views. The Top Two primary takes us in the opposite
> direction, by reducing voter choice and political voice, while increasing
> the cost of elections. The Top Two should be overturned and replaced with
> a system of proportional representation within multi-seat districts, so
> that California's great diversity can have a real voice in the decisions
> that affect them."
>
> Under the new Top Two system, Green candidates must each submit at least
> 10,000 nomination petition signatures from registered California voters to
> appear on the June 2014 statewide ballot. Previously the total was only
> 150. The GPCA will launch its signature drive upon the opening of the
> filing period on Friday, December 27, and provide a link on its state
> website where anyone can download and print the petitions and gather
> signatures (www.cagreens.org/elections/2014).
>
> "Despite the unnecessary obstacles to democracy created by the Top Two
> system, we believe voters definitely want to see a Green alternative on
> the 2014 ballot," adds GPCA spokesperson Michael Feinstein. "The Green
> Party rejects the austerity approach in fashion in Sacramento and
> Washington. Another California and another United States is possible, and
> our endorsed candidates will carry forth that message in 2014.
>
> - 30 -
>
>
> About the Green Party of California
> The Green Party of California (GPCA) is guided by its Platform and the Ten
> Key Values of the Green Movement: Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy,
> Social Justice, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community Based Economics,
> Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and
> Sustainability.
>
> The GPCA distinguishes itself from and provides an alternative to
> traditionally entrenched parties, including by accepting no corporate
> contributions.
>
> The GPCA is affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS),
> and through the GPUS to the Federacion de Partidos Verdes de las Americas
> and the Global Greens.
>
> Currently, 55 California Greens hold public office statewide.  Since the
> GPCA's founding in 1990, 293 California Greens have been elected to public
> office.
>
> Stay connected with the Green Party of California
> On Twitter: www.twitter.com/gpca
> On Facebook: www.facebook.com/cagreens and
> www.facebook.com/groups/8071416222
>
> Register Green. Run Green. Volunteer Green. Donate Green. Vote Green.
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
> -=-=-
> Green Party of California ?? PO Box 417332 , Sacramento, CA 95841, United
> States
> This email was sent to gpca-forum at cagreens.org. To stop receiving emails,
> click here.
> -=-=-
>
> Created with NationBuilder, the essential toolkit for leaders.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> gpca-forum mailing list
> gpca-forum at cagreens.org
> http://lists.cagreens.org/mailman/listinfo/gpca-forum
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send an email to occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org put
> "Un-Subscribe me" in the Subject line.
> For listserv problems please contact: listmanager at mcn.or




From rkarch at mcn.org  Wed Dec 25 15:51:59 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2013 15:51:59 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Happy Rally on Friday !-3-14
Message-ID: <16C032BA-6961-428B-86DD-3F484FC4E925@mcn.org>

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Please send around, print and post!  (Note new starting time.)
See you there. 
Yes, one that John Chamberlin did for us back in 2011. 


From agnes at mcn.org  Thu Dec 26 09:45:01 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 09:45:01 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] The Federal Reserve Bank-make it a public utitlity
Message-ID: <76a197a79e49fc4389991d7d67c4d512.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

Join the movement to make the Fed a Public Utitlity.
Agnes


http://www.nationofchange.org/100-years-enough-time-make-fed-public-utility-



From rkarch at mcn.org  Fri Dec 27 10:03:58 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2013 10:03:58 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Health Law Cemented
Message-ID: <3C955EB7-BDE9-4335-BC0A-B51154129E0E@mcn.org>

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/27/us/politics/as-health-law-cements-its-place-gop-ponders-how-to-attack.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=politics&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1388167171-xUxgkm3tq5rG7p/2VDH3tA

By JONATHAN WEISMAN
Published: December 26, 2013 475 Comments
WASHINGTON ? With the first enrollment deadline now passed, Republicans who have made the repeal of President Obama?s health care law their central aim are confronting a new reality: More than two million Americans are expected to be getting their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act come Jan. 1...

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From jupiter at mcn.org  Fri Dec 27 16:01:31 2013
From: jupiter at mcn.org (Linda Jupiter)
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2013 16:01:31 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Happy New Year
References: <946B5F3C-DA44-4666-B111-0C10DA0A2C3A@mcn.org>
Message-ID: <A910C56C-0A34-4B70-8413-1E5F6775DEF6@mcn.org>

Dear friends,
Here's a good New Year's message for us all.
Love,
Linda

There  comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the  
drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who  
make you laugh. Forget the bad and focus on the good. Love the people  
who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to  
be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up  
is living."

Share the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has  
been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you  
are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones and allow your soul the  
freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and  
every one of us.





From marksafron at att.net  Sun Dec 29 00:00:01 2013
From: marksafron at att.net (Mark Safron)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2013 00:00:01 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] =?windows-1252?q?Philly=92s_New_Land_Bank=3A_Wi?=
 =?windows-1252?q?ll_It_Give_Blighted_Communities_a_Boost=3F?=
Message-ID: <27FFDCF2-B8F9-4C5F-B20F-6D6B8335C864@att.net>

The city is home to more than 40,000 vacant properties. Now neighborhoods are hoping a new public entity can help them bounce back from the post-industrial blues.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/commonomics/phillys-got-a-new-land-bank

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Sun Dec 29 09:27:20 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2013 09:27:20 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] MLK Quote
Message-ID: <F57FA104-FE98-4F9F-853E-9A25F3918E2B@mcn.org>

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This does not have a link. Make your own link.

From rkarch at mcn.org  Sun Dec 29 12:47:04 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2013 12:47:04 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Bernie Speaks
Message-ID: <240104AF-EAB1-4077-9DBD-3841D6DC4410@mcn.org>


Dear Richard,

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy new year.  I also want to express my gratitude to you for the political support that you have given to me, and for all of your efforts in trying to move our country and the world in the direction of peace, justice and environmental sanity.

As we survey our country at the end of 2013 I don't have to tell you that the problems facing us are monumental, that the Congress is dysfunctional and that more and more people (especially the young) are, understandably, giving up on the political process.  The people are hurting.  They look to Washington for help.  Nothing is happening.

The middle class continues to decline with median family income some $5,000 less than it was in 1999.
More Americans, 46.5 million, are now living in poverty than at any time in our nation's history. Child poverty, at 21.8 percent, is the highest of any major country.
Real unemployment is not 7 percent. If one includes those who have given up looking for work and those who want full-time work but are employed part-time, real unemployment is 13.2 percent -- and youth unemployment is much higher than that.
Most of the new jobs that are being created are part-time work at low wages, but the minimum wage remains at the starvation level of $7.25 per hour.
Millions of college students are leaving school deeply in debt, while many others have given up on their dream of a higher education because of the cost.
Meanwhile, as tens of millions of Americans struggle to survive economically, the wealthiest people are doing phenomenally well and corporate profits are at an all-time high. In fact, wealth and income inequality today is greater than at any time since just before the Great Depression. One family, the Walton family with its Wal-Mart fortune, now owns more wealth than the bottom 40 percent of Americans. In recent years, 95 percent of all new income has gone to the top 1 percent.
The scientific community has been very clear: Global warming is real, it is already causing massive problems and, if we don't significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the planet we leave to our kids and grandchildren will be less and less habitable.
Clearly, if we are going to save the middle class and protect our planet, we need to change the political dynamics of the nation. We can no longer allow the billionaires and their think tanks or the corporate media to set the agenda. We need to educate, organize and mobilize the working families of our country to stand up for their rights. We need to make government work for all the people, not just the 1 percent.

Before we talk about 2014, let me ask you a favor.  Do you know of friends, family or co-workers who might be interested in receiving our email newsletters and updates?  If you do, please forward this email and encourage them to sign-up for occasional updates. They can sign-up for our emails by clicking here.

When Congress reconvenes for the 2014 session, here are a few of the issues that I will be focusing on.   

WEALTH AND INCOME INEQUALITY: A nation will not survive morally or economically when so few have so much while so many have so little. It is simply not acceptable that the top 1 percent owns 38 percent of the financial wealth of the nation, while the bottom 60 percent owns all of 2.3 percent. We need to establish a progressive tax system which asks the wealthy to start paying their fair share of taxes, and which ends the outrageous loopholes that enable one out of four corporations to pay nothing in federal income taxes.

JOBS: We need to make significant investments in our crumbling infrastructure, in energy efficiency and sustainable energy, in early childhood education and in affordable housing. When we do that, we not only improve the quality of life in our country and combat global warming, we also create millions of decent paying new jobs.

WAGES: We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. We should pass the legislation which will soon be on the Senate floor which increases the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour, but we must raise that minimum wage even higher in the coming years. We also need to expand our efforts at worker-ownership. Employees will not be sending their jobs to China or Vietnam when they own the places in which they work.

RETIREMENT SECURITY: At a time when only one in five workers in the private sector has a defined benefit pension plan; half of Americans have less than $10,000 in savings; and two-thirds of seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their income we must expand Social Security and make sure that every American can retire with dignity.
 
WALL STREET: During the financial crisis, huge Wall Street banks received more than $700 billion in financial aid from the Treasury Department and more than $16 trillion from the Federal Reserve because they were "too big to fail." Yet today, the largest banks in this country are much bigger than they were before taxpayers bailed them out. It is time to break up these behemoths before they cause another global economic collapse.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM: We are not living in a real democracy when large corporations and a handful of billionaire families can spend unlimited sums of money to elect or defeat candidates. We must expand our efforts to overturn the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision and move this country to public funding of elections.

SOCIAL JUSTICE: While we have made progress in recent years in expanding the rights of minorities, women and gays, these advances are under constant attack from the right wing. If the United States is to become the non-discriminatory society we want it to be, we must fight to protect the rights of all Americans.

CIVIL LIBERTIES: Frankly, the National Security Agency (NSA) and some of the other intelligence agencies are out of control. We cannot talk about America as a "free country" when the government is collecting information on virtually every phone call we make, when they are intercepting our emails and monitoring the websites we visit. Clearly, we need to protect this country from terrorism, but we must do it in a way that does not undermine our constitutional rights.

WAR AND PEACE: With a large deficit and an enormous amount of unmet needs, it is absurd that the United States continues to spend almost as much on defense as the rest of the world combined. The U.S. must be a leader in the world in nuclear disarmament and efforts toward peace, not in the sale of weapons of destruction.

Let me conclude by once again wishing you a happy and healthy new year -- and by asking you to share this email with friends, family and co-workers.  They can sign-up for our occasional emails by clicking here.

This is a tough and historical moment in American history.  Despair is not an option.  Let us stand together as brothers and sisters and fight for the America our people deserve.  Thank you for your continued support.
 
Sincerely,





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From agnes at mcn.org  Mon Dec 30 14:32:49 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 14:32:49 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] the powr of social media
Message-ID: <56ab2297ab8d20079782c21621db610a.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

 click here to share our 2013 NoKXL accomplishments list.



From rkarch at mcn.org  Mon Dec 30 16:21:23 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 16:21:23 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Fwd: Leonard Peltier Rally on Tues or Wed
	afternoon?
References: <C74C074B-5618-4830-A4A2-66A9497A811E@mcn.org>
Message-ID: <0E3E4D57-D55C-4347-AA82-0C39777504F0@mcn.org>

> Phone Lily for info.
> 

Lily Pad	12:34pm Dec 30
Well yah phone would be good. 707-813-0455---- I understand his health is not good. Thats why I feel its timely. Thanks in advance....

> 	
> It.s Lily...I was wondering if anyone wants to demonstrate for Leonard Peltier with me tuesday or wednesday afternoon? Can u post on the wall and/or send out message? Maybe demonstrate from 2-3 pm? Thanks....
> 	
> Lily Pad
> 
> 



Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
                                       Tibetan Buddhist teaching

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From rkarch at mcn.org  Tue Dec 31 13:34:14 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 13:34:14 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Oppose TPP Here
Message-ID: <25762333-75FB-4ED7-9944-5D65F0FB45CB@mcn.org>

Join "Countdown to Coverage" Share TPP with your Daily Newspaper

CWA devised a simple plan for which they were united suited: drag TPP out of the shadows and into the light - one city at a time - using a medium they understand intimately: Daily Newspapers!

Two CWA members - Dave Felice in Denver, CO and Madelyn Elder in Portland, OR have started the ball rolling. We just need to keep up the momentum leading up to a big day of petition deliveries in January.



Step 1 is to send an Op-Ed to your Daily Newspaper.

Find Your Member of Congress

Click here to quickly find your member of Congress by putting in your home address. This site also features a one-click link to the same information in Spanish



Then call and ask them to oppose Fast Track on the Trans Pacific Partnership.

Sample script is below.

Script

?I'm a constituent, and I am strongly opposed to my representative giving away Congress? constitutional authority to control our trade policy. We send people to Congress to stand up for us, not give away their power to stop more American job offshoring and protect us from dangerous imported food that doesn?t meet our safety standards. This latest so-called trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), would not only do that - but also ban Buy American and increase our medicine prices. That?s why it?s crucial that Congress not give away its authority to make sure every provision of TPP is in our interest before this massive deal can be signed. Good trade deals don?t need to be railroaded through Congress using Fast Track. I hope my representative will commit to opposing this outrageous legislation.?

Email Your Senators and Rep - Say No On Fast Track and TPP

Send an email directly to your Senators and Representatives courtesy of our partners at CWA. Enter your zip code and your members are automatically selected.




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From agnes at mcn.org  Tue Dec 31 21:30:59 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 21:30:59 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Letter to the Editor
Message-ID: <29e0473dd7ee6b8d2725b0dd988efa2d.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

FTT
 After he spent a day on Wall Street, the father of organized crime,
gangster Lucky Luciano said," I suddenly realized I had joined the wrong
Mob."

During the past 15 years or so, Wall Street bankers have pulled off an
unprecedented,  heist in broad daylight. They've stolen the bulk of our
country's investment money. According to Jim Hightower, "Those once
respectable Wall Street investment houses have been converted into global
casinos  that churn trillions of dollars into an everchanging assortment 
of indecipherable  gaming devices with exotic names like "Synthetic
Collateralized Debt Obligations". These are not investments. They are
nothing but  bets between the banks that invent the games and the very
wealthy gamers who play them... The chief players in this  casino are
called High Frequency Traders (HFT)... They are rapidly scanning huge
arrays of market prices, looking for an obscure stock value that they
think could change this week, tomorrow morning or even the next minute.
Then they buy a mass of this stock or commodity, and if the price changes,
they instantly sell it -and cash in. It's all done with supercomputers,
controlled by super intelligence using algorithms to search millions of
prices at super speeds  and place the bets automatically.  Transaction
times are measured in miliseconds."
Hightower  says this is a global network of "trading robots" that never
sleep and whose sole function is to allow the wealthiest  speculators to
skim profits out of our markets. It empowers them to manipulate everything
from stock prices to oil prices." They pay no US taxes on this gambling, 
but seven countries in the EU have passed financial transaction taxes .

A financial transaction tax (FTT) is proposed calling for a  0.5 %
assessment on stock transactions.That's 50 cents on a $100. stock
transaction.This would net $300-$350 Billion a year. Half the country's
stock is owned by the 1 percenters and only a few  of  them are in the HFT
game. The  FTT is an uncomplicated way for us to get our money back. It's
the computerized churners of speculation who will pony up  the bulk of
revenue,and  not the "buy and hold"  ordinary folk investors. It's called
the "Robin Hood Tax".The National Nurses United and the Occupy Wall Street
movement  want to rally public suppoert, and push Congress to
act.www.RobinHoodTax.org.



From agnes at mcn.org  Tue Dec 31 11:33:15 2013
From: agnes at mcn.org (agnes at mcn.org)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 11:33:15 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] [Fwd: ! Time sensitive ! TPP-Fast Track JAN 1
 Twitter Storm SHARE WIDELY !!]
Message-ID: <36f1ee886f92abb14eb80e5179c99ac1.squirrel@webmail.mcn.org>

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: ! Time sensitive ! TPP-Fast Track JAN 1 Twitter Storm SHARE
WIDELY !!
From:    "StopFastTrackTPP Heidi" <montanaheidi at hotmail.com>
Date:    Mon, December 30, 2013 11:02 pm
To:      "A Heidi" <montanaheidi at hotmail.com>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Please share this Twitter Storm event set for Jan. 1 with all who may
TWEET by phone or computer.

We trended #2 in the nation on Dec. 27... #StopTPP. It is working!! We had
many more newbies join.

This Jan. 1 event is focused on STOPPING FAST TRACK BEFORE IT IS
INTRODUCED !!
____________________________________________________________________

Twitter Storm info here:  http://tinyurl.com/TwitterStormTPPJan1

 Nov 14 Wiki leeks of the TPP Text http://tinyurl.com/Nov14wikileaksVideo

Help in Your State: www.tinyurl.com/StateActionGroups


Thank you!
Heidi Wendell
Expose the TPP - USA

We are a non-partisan (national and international) coalition of grassroots
activists focused on stopping the TPP.  Expose the TPP-USA admires and
supports all like-minded initiatives. We especially appreciate the years
of expertise and fortitude of Lori Wallach with Citizen.org/Expose the
TPP.org (founded 25 yrs. ago by Ralph Nader). Most of us at Expose the
TPP-USA are not ego-driven and welcome support and partnership from
similar functioning activists.  We all win or we all loose.

LASER  FOCUS !  STOP FAST TRACK !

We need to
continually remind others to LASER FOCUS their energy and attention to
STOP FT, preferably before it is introduced into congress on Jan. 7/8
(by getting 40 more US HOUSE REPS to call Rep. Miller?s office to
sign-on to the DeLauro-Miller letter.) That would make our lives
significantly easier in regards to
stopping Fast Track and the TPP.  Should we fail and we allow FT to
become law.. we would have a hellish and urgent fight on our hands. Let's
shoot for relative easy
 yes?  WE ARE NOT WILLING TO GAMBLE WITH THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR NATION! We insist on leaving a legacy better than the
Third World existence that the corporate written TPP would create for our
heirs.

EVERYTHING WE DO RIGHT NOW needs support the END RESULT of STOPPING FAST
TRACK.

WHEN we stop Fast Track, we will be *severing the head from the tail of
this trans-national corporate driven monster.  Fast
 Track is the HEAD and TPP is the tail (as is TAFTA and all other
?trade? agreements the corps want to ram into law). Fast Track is KEY
to stopping this brazen attempt of a global corporate coup.

Stopping
 Fast Track is the first domino:  Knocking over this first domino will
start a chain reaction.  The next domino to go down will be the TPP,
then TAFTA, etc. Then, we start unwinding this whole global mess created
 by the corporate whores. (Yah, we can say that... we are "grassroots!" :-)
_________________________________________________________________________

Fast Track is KEY... we need everyone to realize this and remind ALL
others to LASER FOCUS!

The grassroots movement is building everyday. Below is a draft of our
coalitions' current strategy.
We invite you to share these with your colleagues. Laser focused efforts
carry great weight.

STRATEGY - LEVELS OF CURRENT NATIONAL ACTIONS

LEVEL 1:  SIMPLE CALLS:  ?Vote NO on FAST TRACK?
a) CALL:  202 . 224 . 3121
Everyone is to call US House Reps with this message.
Enter zip code here to find your US HOUSE REP:  www.contactingthecongress.org
(link here)

b) Rapid Response Calls/Tweets/Emails/Facebook, etc. after the TPA Bill is
dropped Jan. 7/8.

LEVEL 2:  BE THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN
http://tinyurl.com/BeTheMediaTPP

Get everyone in the USA to organize and strategize how to:

a) Canvass their communities thoroughly with flyers  
http://tinyurl.com/FTflyers  (Updated  soon.)
b) This will create awareness for:
c) Twitter and Internet Storms, Craig's List, etc.  
http://tinyurl.com/TwitterStormTPPJan1
d) Phone call Storms (link)
e) Storm local papers with LETTERS to the EDITORS & OP EDs. (Congress
reads these !)(link)
f)  Home parties, conference calls, etc. (link)
g) Get more activists in their state groups for strategic actions:  
www.tinyurl.com/StateActionGroups
h) Enlist the masses to call their US House Reps to demand #1:  ?VOTE NO
on FAST TRACK?

LEVEL 3:  GOAL:  40 MORE US HOUSE REPS SIGN DELAURO-MILLER LETTER BY JAN 7/8.
(link here: call scripts and inoculation to rebut ?push back?)

WE HAVE TWO WRITTEN CONFIRMATIONS from Rep. Miller's staff (shared with
Public Citizen) that Rep. Miller has opened the DeLauro-Miller Letter for
MORE to sign on... both Dems and Repubs.

We need the nation pressuring US HOUSE REPS to sign-on to Rep. Miller's
letter. (As per Lori Wallach, the HOUSE is where we WILL win this fight!
ALL attention needs to be focused on the HOUSE.)

LEVEL 4:  DO BIRD DOGGING...  (link here)
This ?unnerves? Congress members
 makes them think there are many more aware.
They do not like uncertainty
 and this pushes their ?comfort envelopes.?

LEVEL 5:  FACE-to-FACE with US HOUSE REP WHILE IN DISTRICT
http://tinyurl.com/HOWtoDoFace2Face
This is most powerful... and makes 1-4 actions even more potent.

LEVEL 6: PROTEST AT DISTRICT OFFICES

LEVEL 7: Let's focus on being successful so we need not escalate to this
level. :-)







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From rkarch at mcn.org  Mon Dec 30 12:21:24 2013
From: rkarch at mcn.org (Richard Karch)
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 12:21:24 -0800
Subject: [Occupymendocino] Photos from Ellen Brown's Presentation in
	Mendocino
References: <399BF1D4-FB65-4D9F-817D-B6CC1154B013@mcn.org>
Message-ID: <B8A218B4-DDAE-4B93-889D-4A202F9BFCD9@mcn.org>

PHOTOS FROM KEITH WYNER.  Any other photos out there?
rk
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> On Dec 29, 2013, at 12:51 PM, Richard Karch wrote:
> 
>> If you have any Ellen Brown pictures we could post on our
>> Occupy Mendocino Facebook site, it would be appreciated.
>> 
>> Thanks, 
>> 
>> Richard
>> <PastedGraphic-12.tiff>
>> 
>> Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
>>                                        Tibetan Buddhist teaching
>> 
> 



Reality is not what it seems to be, nor is it otherwise.   
                                       Tibetan Buddhist teaching

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