Yearly Archives: 2006

We at DownsizeDC.org can’t be everywhere at once. Except in extraordinay circumstances, it is not appropriate or poosible for us to get involved in state and local politics. As the name of our organization indicates, our focus is on reducing the size of the federal government in Washington, DC.::::::But we do applaud and cheer the “downsizing” of government at any level. In Maine, the citizens have succeeded in putting on the November ballot a referendum a “Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.” As the Portland Press Harold Reports,:::

The citizen-initiated referendum, commonly known by the acronym TABOR, would limit spending increases at all levels of government, generally tying them to formulas based on inflation and population, or inflation and school enrollment.::::::The ballot question also would make it harder for state, county and local governments to raise taxes and fees by creating a two-step process to do so. First, a lawmaking body, such as the state Legislature or a town council, would have to approve a tax or fee increase by a two-thirds vote. Then, voters would have to ratify that decision by majority vote.::::::The initiative includes provisions that would split excess government revenue between government savings accounts and tax relief.

:::The Press Harold suggests that this will be the biggest race in the fall – bigger than the governor and U.S. Senate races!::::::If your community or state is doing something to “downsize” spending, taxes, or regulations, we’d be happy to hear about it! Leave a comment on this post, or email me at jameswilson@downsizedc.org.::::::

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . . :::

We’re taking a little break from action items during the long holiday, but there is one we wanted to squeeze in. The radio show “Free Talk Live” is one of Downsize DC’s closest allies. They promote us and we promote them. The more listeners they have, the more people hear about Downsize DC. One of the ways they gain listeners is through a monthly Internet popularity poll. You can help them rank high in this poll. We’ll let the “Free Talk Live” host Ian Bernard give you the latest results and tell you how to help . . .:::

Downsizers,:::

Thanks to your help, last month we finished 4th on Podcast Alley’s Top Ten Podcasts. Now we need your vote again at FreeTalkLive.com. If you’ve never voted before, you won’t be spammed, and it takes less than a minute!:::

The number one show at Podcast Alley had over 1200 votes. We had over 700. (I know this list alone has over 20,000 recepients!) If we double our votes in July we can finish the month at number one. As you know, that means more new listeners discovering the Downsize DC message!:::

Will you tell a few friends or associates about Free Talk Live this month?:::

By the way, Free Talk Live finished last month at 2nd place on Itunes’ “Political” category. Thanks to everyone who subscribes through Itunes! To place your vote for “Free Talk Live” click here.:::

Thank you for your help!:::Ian Bernard:::Host, “Free Talk Live”

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

The Hinchey-Rohrbacher vote was yesterday. We lost, 163 to 259. But this was 2 votes better than last year, and 18 Republicans bucked the White House to vote yes. Republicans are the key to this issue. Just as it took Nixon to go to China, it will take the Republicans to end the war on the sick. The fact that 18 Republicans voted for Hinchey-Rohrbacher in an election year is a good sign of progress. :::

One point made during the debate is worth noting. A Republican Congressman claimed marijuana is not needed because there are plenty of other drugs to treat the problems marijuana addresses. This reflects the one-size-fits-all mentality that plagues the federal government. Not all drugs work on all people equally well. We are all different, and we need a multitude of substances to address those differences. This year’s vote provides cause to hope that Congress can learn, if only we keep repeating the message. We must always remember . . .:::

The world tends to change a step at a time. In increments, not leaps. Revolutions do occur, but evolution is more reliable. Constant pressure, constant progress, can get you where you’re going when “magic bullets” are nowhere to be found, or when those “magic bullets” turn out to be duds. :::

This is our mantra at Downsize DC. Always forward, one tiny step at a time.:::

We also took steps forward yesterday in our drive to pay for June and secure our annual funding so we can begin Operation Everywhere — our campaign of relentless advertising to recruit a large army of DC Downsizers. We moved past $1,000 a month in new monthly pledgers, and raised $1,300 total toward our June needs. $7,700 is still needed for June. You can make a contribution for this purpose here.:::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

Jim Babka:::President:::DownsizeDC.org, Inc. :::

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .:::

A quick update. One week ago today we had the largest increase ever in our monthly pledge support — nearly $1,000. We’ve made tremendous progress on pledges. This means that over $3,000 of the $14,000 a month it costs to run DownsizeDC.org is now secure. Thank you to everyone who made micro- and macro- pledges to achieve this big surge. :::

Today, with only 3 days left this month, we absolutely must shift our focus. We have no doubt that small monthly pledges will get us where we need to go in the long run. But while the value of our pledges mount, we still need to pay the bills that aren’t yet covered by those pledges. We’ve so-far raised $5,000 of the $14,000 we need for June. :::

Summer is always challenging. But we’re even further behind than I anticipated. Please help us pay for June. Any contribution between $10 and $9,000 would do the trick. The drive for monthly pledges also continues. You could make a micro-pledge of $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, or $9, or a macro-pledge of $10 or more. You can make your contribution or start your monthly pledge here.:::

We regularly post a roster of recent contributors in the Downsizer-Dispatch as our way of saying thanks. The team-member who does that just moved this past weekend and is playing catch-up. Samuel Johnson said, “Better two fires than one move.” But he’ll soon catch up and we’ll post the names of all the folks who’ve helped us build DownsizeDC.org. :::

You can choose whether or not to have your name listed in a future Dispatch when you make your contribution. Remember, you can make your contribution or monthly pledge here.:::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

Jim Babka:::President:::DownsizeDC.org, Inc. :::

P.S. If you prefer to mail a check, you can printout our webform and mail it to… :::

DownsizeDC.org:::1931 15th St. :::Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223

Ever had a Hinchey in your Rohrbacher? Sounds painful. Medical marijuana could be the treatment you need. :::

Hinchey-Rohrbacher sounds like a terrible disease syndrome, but it’s not. It’s an amendment that could cure federal interference in the private medical decisions of doctors and patients in states that permit the medical use of marijuana. :::

Hinchey-Rohrbacher will be voted on this week! For the only time in 2006! Now’s your chance to help those who need the help medical marijuana can provide. Urge your Representative to pass Hinchey-Rohrbacher! You can do so here.:::

Speaking of having a Hinchey in your Rohrbacher . . .:::

My father used to claim he had “a hitch in his get-along” whenever he was moving slow. It always made me laugh. And my Texas relatives were also fond of saying they were “fixing to start” something. Well, if you’ve had a hitch in your get-along that has kept you from using our electronic advocacy system, or if you’ve been fixing to start using it, now is the time to stop fixing and start starting. You never know when you’ll contract something terrible that sounds like Hinchey-Rohrbacher, or perhaps get a painful Hinchey in your sensitive Rohrbacher, so don’t let that hitch in your get-along leave you always fixing to start. Send your message to Congress now.:::

As a friend of mine is fond of saying, “I kid because I love.” But medical marijuana is a deadly serious business for many. They need our help. And Representatives Hinchey and Rohrbacher deserve our thanks and praise for giving that help a glimmer of a chance.:::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

Perry Willis:::Communications Director:::DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Many folks have asked if there was going to be a memorial service for Downsize DC co-founder Harry Browne. Yes, there will be. Details are below. ::::::But first…::::::Jim Babka will explain on tomorrow’s Downsize DC Conference Call (a radio show) how the Democrats are blowing their opportunity to recapture either the House or the Senate in November. ::::::And,

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

Sigmund Freud famously asked, “What does woman want?” He also famously asserted that “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” :::

Babka commits a hate crime?

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

Please forward this to interested friends . . .:::

The federal government has fallen in love with large, centralized, databases containing the personal information of millions of Americans. We’re told these databases will enhance our security, but anything that is large and highly centralized is also highly vulnerable, and an inviting target for terrorists. :::

The bigger they are, the harder they fall . . .:::

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

MAKE BABKA JUSTIFY HIMSELF::::

Why does Downsize DC do some things, and not others? Jim Babka is the man responsible for these decisions, and this is your chance to challenge him.:::