Save RIPTA, Public Transit in RI!!
By Alan Ginet | July 24, 2011
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=211465.0&dlv_id=181841
Click the link to find out more!
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Meeting Agenda 7/11/2011
By Alan Ginet | July 10, 2011
Agenda for RIPDA Meeting
July 11, 2011
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Introductions
1. Pass out copies of RIPDA By- laws for second review, additions and comments. Any further revisions will be posted on line before the next meeting. Final vote to accept will be taken at next meeting.
2. Update on open leadership positions. Anyone interested in running for the open positions that will be posted at the meeting should submit his/her name by the November meeting. Elections will be held at the January meeting.
3. Treasurer’s report
4. Event Planner’s report on possible upcoming events
5. Updates on local and national issues
6. Overview of PDA issue-oriented teams
7. Breakout groups of issue-oriented teams for planning and/or coordinating events.
8. Report back from groups
Schedule next meeting
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Meeting reminder
By Alan Ginet | July 6, 2011
RIPDA Statewide Meeting – July 11
By Alan Ginet | July 6, 2011
These are interesting times here in the Ocean State. We are still struggling to recover from an historic recession, and many of our neighbors are hurting. Progressives today are challenged to respond to calls for drastic cuts to state services, coupled with massive tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy. Restrictions on womens’ health, voting, and marriage rights may endanger all of our freedoms. On the national level we face similar obstacles, with a war-machine that consumes our national treasure. In short, we Rhode Island Progressives have much to do! Here at RIPDA, we have been working hard on issues of social justice, ending the wars, healthcare, the environment, and free and fair elections.
Please bring all your great ideas for bold, progressive actions!
Please come to our next meeting.
Monday, July 11
6:30 – 8:00
Weaver Library
41 Grove Avenue
East Providence, RI
RSVP here.
Topics: Anti-War / Peace, Economic Justice, Elections, Health Care, State Government | Edit | No Comments »
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Fight the NAFTA-style Korea Trade Deal
By BrianHull | June 28, 2011
No More Bad Trade Deals!
Say Yes to Workers’ Rights, Jobs, and Democracy!
Since NAFTA, the U.S. has lost 5 million good manufacturing jobs, and now the big banks and rich corporations are financing another attack on workers – the NAFTA style Korea Free Trade Agreement – which is moving its way into congress. The Korea FTA will put another 3.5 million jobs at risk and would cost at least 160,000 jobs nationwide, further devastating the U.S. economy. Just like NAFTA, the Korea trade deal continues a race to the bottom where corporations send jobs overseas to wherever workers’ rights and wages are the lowest. This leaves U.S. workers to suffer more job losses and hard economic times, while corporate profits soar. Enough is enough.
Now is the time to ramp up the pressure! Tell congress to vote NO on this horrible NAFTA-style Korea trade deal. We must stand up to protect our jobs and livelihood!
Call Congress Now!
- District 1: David Cicilline - (202) 225-3290
- District 2: Jim Langevin - (202) 225-2735
Demand congress defend the interests of working families and Vote NO on the Korea trade deal!
Not sure what to say… keep these facts in mind:
- In Rhode Island 13,520 jobs are at risk under the Korea FTA.
- Rhode Island has one of the highest unemployment rates in country – 10.9%. We can’t risk losing more good paying jobs.
- The U.S. has already lost 5 million good manufacturing jobs since NAFTA.
- Protect our jobs and take a stand against sweat shops in Korea.
- The Korea trade deal is bad for the environment because it attacks South Korea’s environmental regulations, lowering their standards and increasing pollution.
For more information – check out these links.
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Thanks to all who came to last night’s meeting!
By Alan Ginet | June 14, 2011
Our next statewide meeting will be on Monday, July 11. Details to follow. Our issue organizing teams are developing many bold actions. Please contact us if you would like to get involved!
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RIPDA Statewide Meeting – July 11
By Alan Ginet | May 23, 2011
These are interesting times here in the Ocean State. We are still struggling to recover from an historic recession, and many of our neighbors are hurting. Progressives today are challenged to respond to calls for drastic cuts to state services, coupled with massive tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy. Restrictions on womens’ health, voting, and marriage rights may endanger all of our freedoms. On the national level we face similar obstacles, with a war-machine that consumes our national treasure. In short, we Rhode Island Progressives have much to do! Here at RIPDA, we have been working hard on issues of social justice, ending the wars, healthcare, the environment, and free and fair elections.
Please come to our next meeting.
Monday, July 11
6:30 – 8:00
Weaver Library
41 Grove Avenue
East Providence, RI
RSVP here.
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April 14: Inside Job Movie Showing and Discussion
By BrianHull | April 10, 2011
On Thursday, April 14th at 7:00 pm, the American Friends Service Committee and the RI Progressive Democrats are showing the academy-winning award INSIDE JOB at the Beneficent Church Round top Hall at 300 Weybosset St. in Providence (just a block west of PPAC). It is a free event, open to the public, and refreshments will be served. There will be a question and answer period after the film featuring Brian Hull, Tom Sgouros, Ted Nesi, and Martha Yager.
If you want to get fired up and outraged over the injustice going on in this country just before paying your taxes, this is a film not to be missed!
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Rhode Island Progressive Democrats Healthcare Podcast
By BrianHull | February 26, 2011
Kate Brock and Chris Blazejewski talk with the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats about Health Care and the new Health Care Exchange in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Progressive Democrats Healthcare Podcast by RIPDA Media
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RIPDA Statewide Organizing Meeting – March 3rd
By BrianHull | February 15, 2011
The next statewide organizational meeting will be held on Thursday, March 3rd from 7 to 9pm. The meeting will take place at the SEIU office, 294 West Exchange St. in Providence.
The agenda for this meeting will be to review the progress of the working groups, and to develop new ideas for future actions and events.
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Next Statewide Organizational Meeting – December 14
By BrianHull | November 29, 2010
The next statewide organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 14th from 7-9pm at the RI Democratic Party HQ, 151 Broadway, Suite 310 in Providence.
The agenda for the meeting will be to discuss our 2011 strategy. All members are encouraged to attend to discuss how we should proceed in the coming months with a new Governor, several new Progressive members of the General Assembly, a new Congressman, and a new Progressive Mayor of Providence.
We have a great many opportunities to advance a progressive agenda in the state and beyond and we will work diligently in 2011 to actualize our agenda. But we NEED YOUR HELP!
If you can attend the meeting, RSVP here.
There have been several changes in leadership this year, and the transition team is hoping to get more people involved in the group, planning and organizing events and actions. With this in mind, the RIPDA will be holding elections for various leadership positions at our January meeting.
The following positions will be up for election:
- State Coordinator
- Deputy Coordinator
- Events Coordinator
- Liaison for Rep. Cicilline
- Liaison for Rep. Langevin
- Liaison for General Assembly
- Anti-War / Peace Organizer
- Health Care for All Organizer
- Economic and Social Justice Organizer
- Clean Elections Organizer
- Global Warming Organizer
The responsibilities for each of these positions will be better identified in the coming weeks and will be sent out shortly and listed on our website. If you are interested in being a candidate for any of these positions, email brianhull@ripda.org specifying which position you’d like to run for and include a short biography listing any experience you may have.
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Rhode Island Progressive Democrats Endorses Betsy Dennigan for Congress
By BrianHull | August 19, 2010
Today, the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats (RIPDA) announced their endorsement of Betsy Dennigan for Congressional District 2, the seat currently being held by incumbent James Langevin.
To earn the endorsement, candidates were required to complete a six- section questionnaire reflecting their positions on the Progressive Democrats’ core issues. Candidates were also required to appear at the endorsement meeting held at the William Hall library in Cranston on Monday, August 16, 2010 to answer additional questions regarding the questionnaire. The side-by-side comparison of Rep. Langevin and Ms. Dennigan provided the endorsement committee with the opportunity to scrutinize the perspectives of the two candidates on issues that are very important to progressive groups and to decide which person’s vision for the country most closely reflects that of progressives.
The two candidates had similar views on several issues; however, Ms. Dennigan stood resolutely against the escalation of the war in Afghanistan and stated that she would never vote for any supplemental funds to support that buildup. In contrast, while Congressman Langevin expressed some reservations against the war, he did vote in favor of the $37 billion dollar supplemental funding bill. He told the group of RI Progressives that he was giving General Petraeus “a grace period.”
Another significant distinction between the two opponents is their view on President Obama’s bi–partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform—a group which many progressives think will suggest major cuts in Social Security and MediCare while maintaining the military budget. Ms. Dennigan does not support any attempt to balance the budget by reducing the social services network while leaving the military budget completely intact.
Other differences between the two candidates included the candidates’ views on abortion and gay marriage. Dennigan is unequivocally in favor of a woman’s right to choose. Further, Ms. Dennigan is in favor of full marriage equality for the LGBT community.
Brian Hull, Interim State Coordinator of RI Progressive Democrats said that, “a strong commitment to progressive values is what the country needs moving forward. Ms. Dennigan has shown her commitment and it is with great pleasure that the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats throw their support behind her candidacy for Congress.”
In response to the endorsement, Mrs. Dennigan said, “in Congress, I will fight for progressive issues and stop the business of corporate influence taking priority over the public interest: campaign finance reform and fair elections, making sure our medicines and health care premiums are truly affordable, bringing our combat troops home, zealously protecting our environment, supporting women’s reproductive rights, marriage equality, and economic justice and easing the tax burden of the middle class are part of my progressive platform. I look forward to serving you in Congress.”
The endorsement committee of RIPDA is very enthusiastic about Betsy Dennigan’s candidacy, and is confident that the members of the RIPDA, as well as members of other like-minded organizations, will work hard to ensure her victory in the Democratic primary election on Sept. 14th and in the general election in November.
The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats is the state chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America. We strive for progressive change in the state of Rhode Island and this great nation both by working within the Democratic Party, reminding it that it is the party that represents the people not corporate elites, and by working outside the party through coalition building to collectively achieve mutually beneficial goals.
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RIPDA Congressional Candidate Endorsement Meeting – August 16
By BrianHull | August 12, 2010
An RIPDA endorsement meeting will be on Monday, August 16, from 5-7 pm at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad Street in Cranston, RI. The phone number for the library is 401-781-2450. This meeting will be to discuss who the RIPDA should endorse for Congressional District 2, the seat currently held by James Langevin. As many of you probably know, there are currently three Democrats running for this seat (the primary election will be on September 14).
The candidates (listed alphabetically) are:
- Elizabeth Dennigan
- Ernest Greco
- James Langevin (Incumbent)
An endorsement questionnaire was sent out to each candidate. Betsy Dennigan and James Langevin returned their questionnaires, therefore, only Dennigan and Langevin will be considered for the endorsement.
Please read the completed surveys:
At the August 16 endorsement meeting, the membership will hear from Betsy Dennigan at 5:30 pm and from James Langevin at 6:15pm as they present their case as to why they should receive the endorsement of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats. Members will have an opportunity to ask questions, although questions should be directly related to the issues covered in the endorsement questionnaire or their governing style.
After the candidates have spoken, the membership will discuss the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses and will vote on whom to endorse.
If you wish to attend this meeting, please RSVP here.
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Progressive Democrats of America Endorses David Segal for Congress
By BrianHull | July 30, 2010
Following the local endorsement by the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, Progressive Democrats of America national has also endorsed David Segal for the first Congressional district of Rhode Island.
“PDA is honored to join with Rhode Island PDA in endorsing David Segal in his race for Congress,” said Tim Carpenter, National Director of the Progressive Democrats of America. “David has a long track record speaking out on the issues that unite progressives. He has been out front calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and speaking in favor of ’Medicare-for-all’. David will be a strong leader fighting for heath care not warfare in Washington DC!”
The national PDA endorsement is added to a growing list of progressive activist organizations supporting Segal’s campaign: Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, Rhode Island chapter of Democracy for America, USAction Fund for a True Majority, Blue America PAC, and the Rhode Island chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals.
“I’m honored to receive the support of the Progressive Democrats of America,” David Segal said. “The members of PDA are leaders nationally in the fight for health care for all, for ending the wars, and for making sure that our elected officials represent the will of the people, not the corporations and very wealthy that fund their campaigns.”
“We have a chance to have RI represented in the House of Representatives by a nationally-recognized progressive voice, one which our country desperately needs,” said Pat Smith, East Bay organizer and Congressional District 1 point person. ”David would vote no to additional funding for the war in Afghanistan; he would work to really end the war in Iraq; he has pledged to take no money from corporations for his campaign; basically he has an enlightened and moral view on every issue.”
State Coordinator, Robert Malin added, “David is running on Progressive principles because these are his core values. While Patrick Kennedy was becoming more progressive over the course of his career, David will be an independent thinker moving a progressive agenda ahead while the other candidates represent more of the status quo inside the Democratic Party.”
We must now answer the call to action and ensure that a reliable progressive champion, David Segal, is elected to the 1st Congressional District. The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats will be hosting a “calling party” for David Segal on Tuesday, August 3rd from 6:00–8:30pm at the home of Pat & Sam Smith, 59 Governor Bradford Dr. in Barrington, RI.
Additionally, David Segal’s campaign for Congress is knocking on doors and calling voters every single day at the campaign headquarters, 38 Transit Street in Providence’s Fox Point Neighborhood (between Benefit St and South Main). Please sign up and volunteer.
For more info, email info@votesegal.com or call 401-274-6800.
To view David Segal’s completed questionnaire and endorsement meeting videos, visit the RIPDA website.
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RIPDA Endorses David Segal for Congress
By BrianHull | July 19, 2010
Today, the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats (RIPDA) announced their endorsement of David Segal for Congressional District 1, the seat being vacated by Patrick Kennedy.
“The endorsement vote went overwhelmingly for David Segal,” said Sam Smith, RIPDA member and moderator of the event. “Segal has a profound and thoughtful understanding of progressive issues and is committed to standing up for average Rhode Islanders, fighting for social and economic justice, protecting the environment, and working for peace in the Middle East.”
In response to the endorsement, Mr. Segal said, “I am honored to have earned the Rhode Island Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America’s support for our campaign, and your recognition that Rhode Islanders want a member of Congress they can trust to stand up to corporate interests and win real victories for working families.”
To earn the endorsement, candidates were required to complete a six section questionnaire reflecting their positions on the Progressive Democrats’ core issues. Candidates were also required to appear at the endorsement meeting held at Rochambeau Library in Providence on Thursday, July 15 to answer additional questions regarding the questionnaire.
Both Mr. Lynch and Mr. Segal sought the RIPDA endorsement and complied with the endorsement process. Mr. Gemma did not respond to two separate requests to seek the RIPDA endorsement. After multiple attempts to accommodate the Cicilline campaign, including extending the deadline for submitting the endorsement questionnaire twice, providing an opportunity to show a recorded statement at the endorsement meeting, and allowing for campaign staff to speak at the meeting, the Cicilline campaign chose not to participate in the endorsement process.
Robert Malin, State Coordinator for the RIPDA, commented, “many of Bill Lynch’s answers were consistent with the views of PDA, both on the questionnaire and at the meeting; however, Rep. Segal demonstrated that he was more committed to PDA’s progressive principles. It was unfortunate that Mayor Cicilline and Mr. Gemma chose not to return the questionnaire for consideration. The side by side comparison would have presented a unique opportunity to delve into the similarities and differences among these candidates.”
Both the Progressive Democrats of America and the RIPDA are very enthusiastic about Mr. Segal’s bold and reliably progressive candidacy, and are fully committed to ensuring his victory in the Democratic primary election on Sept. 14th and the general election in November.
In response to the endorsement, PDA national director Tim Carpenter said this, “We’ve had our eye on David Segal for a while and look forward to the July 29 meeting, where I have reason to believe, he will receive PDA’s national endorsement. Segal is exactly the right candidate at the right time to help address the worsening economic conditions for America’s working families.”
The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats is the state chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America. We strive for progressive change in the state of Rhode Island and this great nation by working within the Democratic Party, reminding them that they are the party that represents the people not corporate elites, and by working outside the party through coalition building to collectively achieve mutually beneficial goals.
You can view David Segal’s questionnaire here.
These are the videos of the endorsement meeting.
David Segal Part 1
David Segal Part 2
David Segal Part 3
Topics: Anti-War / Peace, Economic Justice, Elections, Health Care | 1 Comment »
How to Further Destroy the Economy in Two Easy Steps – A Tutorial Brought to You by Obama and the Democrats
By BrianHull | July 9, 2010
Step One: Form a “Fiscal Commission” tasked with developing a plan (with the end result of implementing the plan) to reduce the budget deficit during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. This will be done by slashing spending on social services, MediCare, Social Security, education, etc. (all the things that working folks depend on), but not the military budget, bailouts for banks, corporate subsidies to businesses sending jobs overseas, etc. Check!
Step Two: Ignore the growth of income inequality in the U.S. over the past 30+ years, which is actually at the root of the economic problems the country faces. Don’t even mention it, and especially don’t do anything about it. Check!
I have watched in shocked horror over the past couple weeks, as conservative deficit hawks enabled by the Democratic Party, have marched toward a fiscal austerity program that will take the depressed and down economy and pummel it to a bloody pulp. This is all being done in order to alleviate some mythical inflationary pressure that wealthy bankers are terrified of (remember, inflation is the biggest enemy of accumulated wealth).
Of course none of this really matters to the tens of millions of people who are looking for work, have had their hours cuts, have been forced into part-time work, or are in fear of losing their jobs (55% of all adults in the labor force have been affected by this recession in some way).
The real problem is that people aren’t spending money because of the recession, and that is directly related to the growth in income inequality, albeit in complicated ways. Since the 1970s, U.S. wages have largely remained stagnant. At the same time, the vast majority of all the wealth created in the country over the last 30 years has been flowing upward.
Because the super wealthy don’t actually work to generate their income, wages as a share of national income has been declining for just as long. What that means is less and less money is being earned by workers, and that’s bad for the economy because workers spending money is what fuels economic growth. Consumers earning more money means that they can buy more goods and services, increasing the effective demand in an economy. Seems pretty simple, right? Well, yes, it is.
But Brian, if wages have been stagnant for 30 years, then why has the economy been growing that whole time? I’m glad you asked. The economy didn’t tank sooner because people have been supplementing their stagnant or declining wage income with credit and debt. As a society, America took out more and more, and larger and larger, loans either through credit cards, home equity loans, mortgages, payday loans, and all the other delightful financial products offered by financial institutions intent on making money off of your debt. Notably, as fake housing wealth grew, people used their homes as ATMs – we’re currently seeing how good of an idea that was (and once the housing bubble burst, the $1 trillion of increased demand that was based on it vanished).
As a result of all this borrowing, middle class Americans tripled their debt over the last 30 years. As we all know, when debt rises, service on the debt rises. That is yet another mechanism that sucks dollars from a local economy and puts it in the bank account of CEOs, exacerbating the income inequality problem (always remember that when millions of people have been losing their jobs since 2007, Wall Street managed to find $145 billion to pay in bonuses in 2009 alone).
Yes, there’s more to the story, there always is. But here we are, discussing the budget deficit and the national debt when the real problem is that average workers are getting screwed, they haven’t been making enough money to keep pace with the increases in the cost of living, virtually all the wealth accumulates into the hands of the few, and Democrats and Republicans continue to let it happen.
We need to put more money in the hands of people who will spend it in the economy – that’s the only way jobs will come back. Why the federal government isn’t spending every waking moment developing a strategy for making this happen is beyond me. Instead we get bank bailouts and financial reform legislation that makes Wall Street happy.
We expect Republicans to screw workers – that’s what they do. But Democrats have, time and again, been complicit in the weakening of the middle class. And it’s no different now.
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