Yearly Archives: 2006

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

Please forward to friends who value the value of their money.:::

* In 1913 $20 bought an ounce of gold.:::* In the 1930s that ounce of gold cost $35 dollars.:::* In the late 60s and early 70s Nixon devalued the dollar relative to gold by 8% and then 10%:::* Then Nixon ended the dollar’s gold backing completely.:::

Two things happened . . .:::

Correcting my mistake + Babka’s letter to the New Hampshire Senate

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

URGENT ACTION NEEDED URGENTLY! (did we mention that this is urgent?)::::

The New Hampshire House has voted to NOT comply with the REAL ID Act! The governor has said he will sign this non-compliance bill if it comes to his desk! The matter now rests in the hands of the New Hampshire Senate — a mere 24 people! If New Hampshire rejects the REAL ID program it could pave the way for other states to do the same. And the pressure could grow for Congress to repeal the REAL ID Act! :::

The New Hampshire Senate is set to vote tomorrow!:::

What happens in New Hampshire tomorrow affects not only the people in that state, but potentially all of us. It could mark the beginning of the end for the REAL ID Act. So we’re going to do something a little different. Normally all of our efforts are aimed at the U.S. Congress. But now we want you to contact the New Hampshire Senate. We want you to encourage them NOT to comply with the REAL ID Act!:::

First FDA Censorship, Now FDA Lies

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

IN THIS ISSUE::::

* April results:::* Action item:::

APRIL RESULTS::::

We achieved more major milestones in April . . .:::

* We had our first victory in Congress, when the House voted to not regulate groups like Downsize DC:::* We passed 12,000 DC Downsizers recruited, and . . .:::* 300,000 messages to Congress:::

Our totals for April were . . .:::

* 745 new Downsizers recruited:::* 37,776 messages sent to Congress:::* 5 media interviews (down considerably from March, but one of these was on 400 stations!):::

None of these results are records, but it was still a strong showing. We had our 5th best month for recruitment and our 3rd best month for messages to Congress. Not only are we growing constantly, but DC Downsizers are participating more-and-more. :::

Constant growth makes it inevitable that we’ll eventually have an army large enough to overwhelm Congress and compel them to Downsize DC. So let’s keep growing in May!:::

We also got some important work done behind the scenes. We completed the programming for the online tools needed to manage the MeetUp groups for the “No Legislation Without Representation Conference” and the Congressional Invasion. We hope to launch this project next week. And we also made progress on our new “non-delegation bill,” which would prohibit Congress from delegating its legislative power to the Executive Branch bureaucracy. We hope to unveil this companion bill to RTBA soon. :::

Finally, we raised $10,221. This was $3,779 short of what we needed, so we’ll have to add it to our May goal, which will be $17,779. If you would like to contribute or start a monthly pledge you can do so here.:::

Thank you to Peter Ruhe for his recent contribution. :::

ACTION ITEM::::

DC Downsizers also helped to promote the work of our friends at “Free Talk Live.” This growing radio show promotes Downsize DC and runs our radio ads on a regular basis. They also have me on as a frequent guest. Thank you to everyone who voted in the Internet poll last month to promote “Free Talk Live” and get it heard on more stations. :::

Thanks to your help “Free Talk Live” exceeded 800 votes last month, which was good enough to keep them in 2nd place. To make it to 1st and continue to expose new people to Downsize DC, they’ll need 1,000 votes. Please vote now at www.vote.freetalklive.com, and then ask a friend to do the same. Voting is quick. All you need is an email address — you will not be spammed! To cast your vote for “Free Talk Live” click here.:::

REMINDER::::

Active campaigning begins again tomorrow, so get ready to grow in May!:::

Spread the word about Downsize DC by voting for “Free Talk Live” here.:::

Keep us moving forward by contributing or starting a monthly pledge here.:::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer!:::

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

Downsize DC Conference Call – April 30, 2006 edition

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

Today, on THE DOWNSIZE DC CONFERENCE CALL, Jim Babka will discuss the cost of the war on drugs, focusing on Rush Limbaugh’s latest arrest on drug charges, as well as a recording of drug war cops torturing a suspect in his home (Jim would play this tape for you, but cannot because of the anti-obscenity laws). He will also discuss the Cory Maye case, mandatory minimum sentencing and the children of politicians who have been caught with drugs.:::

You can hear the show at www.GCNLive.com. Click on Listen Live and choose one of the first two channels to get the free feed. You can also call-in to talk to Jim on the air at 1-800-259-9231 :::

The show is broadcast live at … :::Eastern: 5pm – 6pm :::Central: 4pm – 5pm :::Mountain: 3pm – 4pm :::Pacific: 2pm – 3pm :::Alaska: 1pm – 2pm :::Hawaii: Noon – 1pm :::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

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

Please check out Granite State ID, a site dedicated to the passage of HB1582, which will remove New Hampshire from participation in the federal REAL ID system. HB1582 already overwhelmingly passed the New Hampshire House, received a unanimous “Ought To Pass” recommendation from the Senate municipal affairs committee, and the promise of the Governor’s signature if passed by the Senate. But, it’s not a done deal. As Joel Winters has informed us, the Senate President “hates” the bill. The full New Hampshire Senate is taking it up next week, and we urge DC Downsizers who reside in that great state to tell your state Senators to pass HB1582, and to spread the word to your friends. This page will give you your Senator’s phone number and email address; all you have to do is click your town or district.::::::

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

THE SALVADOR DALI RULE::::

Yesterday we celebrated our first victory in the House — the passage of a rule about how Congress would vote on the so-called lobbying reform bill. This rule prevented amendments to the bill and gave us hope that Downsize DC could escape burdensome new regulations. But we couldn’t figure out the impact of the rule just by reading it. We needed people who understand Congress-speak to interpret it for us. :::

Yesterday we gave you a link to go read the rule for yourself, so you could see how convoluted and confusing it is. Predictably, given how Congress seems to do everything, the link didn’t work. So today, for your amusement, horror, befuddlement, and maybe even enlightenment, we provide the text of the rule here. :::

You will notice two things about it. 1) Readings of the bills are constantly waved (we need the Read the Bills Act!). 2) The language about amendments to the bill is extremely confusing, convoluted, and seemingly contradictory. Salvador Dali could have written it. See if you can understand it . . .:::

Check out this letter from Laura Richardson to the The Prairie Star. It raises many good questions about the awful National Animal Identification System. The letter shouldn’t be copied verbatim, but if you would like to write your newspaper or representatives about NAIS, it provides many good “talking points” to get you started. ::::::