It's the Economy, Stupid

Unemployment:

http://bit.ly/WorstUnemploymtSinceDepression_jul10

http://bit.ly/UI_Stims_econ - Pelosi is right, Unemployment Benes stim economy (economists agree) 

http://bit.ly/CEOPay_and_Layoffs - High CEO salaries in companies with deepest layoffs

Independents

 http://bit.ly/IndependentsDontExist

http://bit.ly/IndependentsNot editorial on same study as above

Deregulation

http://bit.ly/Reflections_on_Wrecking_Crew_2008-10_WSJ_Frank

The Deficit! The Deficit!

http://bit.ly/Obama_Stim_Bush_Deficits (Jun 2010) CBPP (ref'd by Clusterstock: http://bit.ly/Bushs_Fault )

http://bit.ly/Selective_Deficit_Disorder - spending that helps ppl is what makes them mad

http://bit.ly/Bush_Economists_on_Tax_Cuts (Bush economists say Bush Tax Cuts DID grow deficit. July 2010. Atlantic)

http://nyti.ms/What_GOP_Wants_Krugman (Jul '10: The GOP flipflops on Deficit spending)

http://bit.ly/What_Drives_the_Deficit_CBP (Jul 10: Bush tax cuts the lion's share of future deficits)

http://bit.ly/CBO_AusterityNow_No - CBO head says Stim Now not at odds with deficit reduction

http://bit.ly/VoodooEconomics_GHWBush - R Maddow, GHW Bush and voodoo economics: tax cuts do'nt pay for themselves 

"Clinton didn't balance budget--Republican Congress Did"

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/76709/who-created-the-1990s-surplus-clinton-or-the-gop

Spending!

http://bit.ly/Earmarks_in_Context_Nov2010  - Earmarks won't make a dent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTjSHKuOHds - Maddow clips: GOP using Stim $ for JOBS JOBS JOBS 2010

Big Government!

http://wapo.st/Myths_FedWorkforce - 5 myths abt "bloated" federal workforce (Dec 2010)

The Stimulus

http://bit.ly/Study_Stim_Ended_Recession - Princeton Econ prof and Moody economist: stim avoided fin disaster (jul10)

 http://nyti.ms/Stim_Averts_Econ_Disaster - NYT, Jul '10: 2 economists study: stim helped avoid financial disaster (report on the above)

http://nyti.ms/Stim_Opponents_Check_Context_Krugman - Krugman laments the state of economist profession (Jul 10)

http://bit.ly/Outline_Stim_Deficit_Debate_EK - summary of Deficit / Stimulus / Debt debate (Ezra Klein)

http://bit.ly/CBO_AusterityNow_No - CBO head says Stim Now not at odds with deficit reduction

http://bit.ly/TopEconomists_Stim_DB Daily Beast: TOP ECONOMISTS call for stimulus; no to "austerity" now Jul 2010

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200902060025  - Stimulus is Spending, Spending is Stimulus (good overview, MMFA)

Jobs

http://bit.ly/CBO_TaxCuts_Unemployment_2010-11 - CBO: tax cuts don't create jobs. (See page 18). Unemployment benefits MOST stimulative--tax cuts LEAST stimulative.

http://bit.ly/JobCreationGraph_Oct2010 - See trend of job creation, thru Oct 2010 (Dems do better)

http://bit.ly/CEOPay_and_Layoffs - High CEO salaries in companies with deepest layoffs

http://bit.ly/LackofDemandStupid - DEMAND--not rich tax cuts--create jobs. More stimulus.

http://bit.ly/BizDontCreateJobs - Businesses Don't Create Jobs -- DEMAND does

http://www.inthesetimes.org/working/entry/6726/why_tax_cuts_dontand_wontcreate_jobs/  = tax cuts don't  create jobs

Outsourcing

http://bit.ly/CorpJobs_Overseas - Corporations add more jobs overseas than they cut here!

Bailouts

http://bit.ly/Obama_Saved_Economy_WSJ_jun2010 (TARP good)

Derivatives

http://bit.ly/DerivativesExplained_EK - Ezra Klein tries to explain derivatives 

Obama's Raising My taxes

MA: http://bit.ly/Obama_Cuts_Taxes_for_Most_Working_Families_2009_MA

http://bit.ly/Taxes_Lowest_in_60yrs (Apr 2010)

http://bit.ly/Tea_Party_Wrong_About_Taxes_FORBES 

50% of the Country Doesn't Pay Taxes!

http://bit.ly/Do_Poor_Really_Not_Pay_Taxes (Ezra Klein)

http://bit.ly/The_Rich_Pay_More_Because_They_Have_More (Media Matters)

http://nyti.ms/47percent_Dont_Pay_Taxes

http://nyti.ms/Collins_Celebrate_Taxes

http://nyti.ms/Douthat_ClassWarfare (Ross Douthat agrees: Corporations, the rich get welfare!)

Wealth Inequality

http://bit.ly/Wealth_Redistribution (income gap >tripled in 30 years)

http://bit.ly/Increasing_Wealth_Concentration (see graphs at end)

http://bit.ly/Rich_Own_More_Recession_Reich (Rich controlling more of $$$ makes recession) 

http://bit.ly/CEOPay_and_Layoffs - High CEO salaries in companies with deepest layoffs

http://bit.ly/TheWealthyPoor - On People's Perceptions abt Wealth Equality in America (link to Harv/Duke study) Atlantic, 2010

http://bit.ly/WealthEquality_Study_Perceptions - Duke/HBS study on ppl's ideas of what wealth equality IS, and what it SHOULD be. Fascinating.

http://huff.to/FactsFigures_IncomeInequality -Huffpo Rant with LOTS Of good graphs/info on wealth/income

Blame the Poor, Blame the Unions

"Did the Poor Create teh Financial Collapse"? http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/johnson16/English 1/2011

Trickle Down

http://bit.ly/Layoffs_Increase_CEO_Salaries

http://nyti.ms/Against_Trickle_RFrank - 2008; economist Robert Frank argues against trickle down

http://bit.ly/Biz_Dont_Create_Jobs_Nov2010 - Truthout: "Businesses Don't Create Jobs"! So they don't need the tax cut

Bush Tax Cuts

http://bit.ly/TopTaxRates_Chart - Top marginal tax rates over time (GOOD!)

http://bit.ly/CBO_TaxCuts_Unemployment_2010-11 - CBO: tax cuts don't create jobs. (See page 18). Unemployment benefits MOST stimulative--tax cuts LEAST stimulative.

http://lat.ms/ImRich_TaxMeMore_LAT - Entrepreneur says: I need to be taxed more (LATimes, Sep 2010)

http://bit.ly/CBO_BushTaxCutsWillHurtEcon_EK - CBO dir Elmedorf says extending Bush Tax cuts will hurt economy, lower wages (Sep 2010)

http://nyti.ms/BushTaxCuts_EconGrowth_No_Nov2010 - Graphs/analysis that Bush Tax Cuts did not help growth - NYT

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=901335 - 5 Myths about Taxes (2010 apr)

Death Taxes / Estate Tax

http://bit.ly/Estate_Taxes_Sep2010 - ThinkProgress: Republicans block bill, "family farms" lie

http://bit.ly/WarrenBuffett_EstateTax  - Warren Buffett defends the estate tax

http://econ.st/EstateTaxes_FoundingFathers  - The Economist/Oct2010: Founding Fathers and Adam Smith luv Death Tax

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=901335 - 5 Myths about Taxes (2010 apr)

Republicans Deficit Strategies

http://bit.ly/Repubs_Starve_the_Beast_TNR (Strategy may backfire)
http://nyti.ms/Starve_the_Beast_Krugman (Repubs refuse Deficit Commission)

Strategies for ACTUALLY Reducing the Deficit

 http://bit.ly/Alternet_Deficit_Reduction_for_Rich_Ppl

The Pentagon / Defense Budget

http://bit.ly/PentagonBudget_and_GDP_Alternet (Oct 2010) The canard re: "defense spending as % of GDP"

The Stimulus

http://bit.ly/Stim_Working_or_Not_Analsyis (the atlantic) 

Watch this Space

I will use this space to update Needham/area volunteers about news/information and volunteer needs!

Right now--we need VOLUNTEERS -- any time you can give is very very helpful!

If you can volunteer any time between now and Tuesday 8PM, PLEASE contact one of us w/ the time you are available, and we will get back to you w/ where to go/what to do!

We especially need people to volunteer on TUESDAY, election day.

EMAIL: 
(replace (at) with @ (trying to defeat would-be spammers!)
harmonywu (at) gmail.com

AS OF RIGHT NOW--

on election day, Campaign HQ will be:
14 Hancock Road
(head there if you have time to spare, looking for a sign, etc.)


Phone banking and other materials will be operating out of HQ.



****
here's what I sent out via email

10/28/10

Important Election Countdown Information

1. THE CLIFF NOTES / SHORT AND SWEET
1. who, what, where, when
2. The plea: we need you to volunteer
1. Coordinating forces
2. Please ask your friends and family to volunteer for an hour or two!
3. Endorsements!
1. Deval Patrick endorsed by the Boston Globe
2. Denise Garlick endorsed by Needham Times
4. Ballot Questions 1, 2, 3:  please vote NO on all: http://onemassachusetts.org/
5. If you’re not in Needham area – here’s how to get plugged in
6. Attached: Coffee Party’s good reminders

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

THE SHORT/SWEET VERSION:  Good Candidates Need You! (Needham Edition)

Deval Patrick and other Dem candidates in the coordinated campaign for Needham need:

-          light help Friday (tomorrow) (Phoning to schedule volunteers who’ve already committed – easy!)

-          medium help Saturday morning/day and Monday evening (canvassing)

-          lotsa help all day Tuesday. (canvassing, poll watching, all kinds of stuff)

-          Need you to give whatever you can in time/effort, and be in touch with your availability!

NEEDHAM COORDINATORS: (tag team)

Jerry Wasserman:  jwass (at) aol.com  

Donna Vello: velbdbm (at) aol.com

Harmony Wu: harmonywu (at) gmail.com ;

Erica Kreuter (DP campaign): 401-486- 9166 erica@devalpatrick.com  

CAMPAIGN CENTRAL / HQ ON TUESDAY/ELECTION DAY:

Lida Harkins’s house, 14 Hawthorne Ave

LATEST UPDATES: http://YWCNeedham.blogspot.com/

I will post UPDATES to the plan (details, times, locations) as I know them, there.

Please bookmark it/check there first if you have questions/are looking for more info (and post in comments if you have updated info to share)

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

Volunteers—we need you!

Remember how hard we worked in 2008? 

The midterms, we are told, are all about the enthusiasm gap of the dispirited Obama voters. 

But every midterm sees losses in seats from the party in power.  That is not news. 

What might be new is grassroots volunteers coming back to do more work to INVEST in the change we STILL want. 

It wasn’t ever going to be easy.  We were always going to be disappointed.  But we are naïve and unrealistic if we let inevitable shortcomings make us give up on the hard work it takes to push the needle even just a little.

Let’s get to work.  Can you help Friday eve, Saturday morn/day, Monday eve and Tuesday?    

COORDINATED CAMPAIGN for DEVAL PATRICK and DENISE GARLICK

Please let us know what times over the next few days (through Tue 8PM!) you can give to campaign work, and let us know if you’re willing to do “whatever” or if there’s a particular activity you do or do not want to do.

Here’s the schedule in Needham so far:

Tomorrow, FRIDAY:

PHONE BANK! (late afternoon/early eve)

-          This is to call people who have ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO HELP and schedule them over the next few days—should be easy work, but we need your help to get to volume!

Time/place details emerging –check in with Jerry (jwass (at) aol.com)  

-          Also check in at http://ywcneedham.blogspot.com/ for any updates

SATURDAY MORNING/DAY

CANVASS!

Canvass!!  What won the election in 2008?  Talking to people. 

Doors doors doors. Can you help knock doors in Needham?

RSVP WITH ERICA KREUTER (401-486- 9166 erica@devalpatrick.com )

-          Also check in at http://ywcneedham.blogspot.com/ for any updates

MONDAY EVENING

LIT DROP!

No knocking doors required.  Hang literature on doors to remind people to vote on Tuesday!  Team up with friends or/and with your kids!

RSVP WITH DONNA VELLO (velbdbm (at) aol.com )

-          Also check in at http://ywcneedham.blogspot.com/ for any updates

TUESDAY

All day – poll checking, doors doors doors, and to a lesser extent, phones

As in Obama 08, the emphasis is going to be VOTER CONTACT, which means DOORS DOORS DOORS.  There will also be some phone calling, so bring your cell phone!

ANY TIME YOU HAVE IS USEFUL. 

Please RSVP with Donna, give her the times you are available!:  velbdbm (at) aol.com

-          Also check in at http://ywcneedham.blogspot.com/ for any updates

If you are already volunteering for Denise…

Will you please check in/touch base with Donna, Jerry or me and let us know—as part of the coordinated campaign effort, we are trying to combine volunteer work where it makes sense (for example, poll checking and holding signs). 

Jerry Wasserman:  jwass (at) aol.com  

Donna Vello: velbdbm (at) aol.com

Harmony Wu: harmonywu (at) gmail.com ;

Erica Kreuter (DP campaign): 401-486- 9166 erica (at) devalpatrick.com  

ENDORSEMENTS!

Denise Garlick was endorsed today by the NEEDHAM TIMES and Deval Patrick was endorsed by THE BOSTON GLOBE. 

Read!:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/10/28/vision_and_a_record_of_reform_patrick_deserves_second_term/?page=full

and

http://www.wickedlocal.com/needham/news/x1471834618/Needham-Times-endorsement-Denise-Garlick-for-state-Representative

Who we send to Beacon Hill matters very much. 

(for instance, check out what one of the more progressive legislators is doing on a state level to push back against the evil of Citizens United: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/10/state_senator_e.html )

BALLOT QUESTIONS

All are bad news.  Please vote NO on ALL ballot questions!

http://onemassachusetts.org/getinformed/revenue/2010BallotQuestions gives you a summary. 

IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE NEEDHAM AREA—

You are needed in YOUR town/community!  Please get plugged in to volunteer over the next 5 days!

You can sign up here: http://gotv2010.org/

And I can try to forward your availability too if you let me know where/when!

COFFEE PARTY

Even though I’m a proud member of the Beer Party, this email from the Coffee Party today has a lot of great reminders about what’s at stake and how to get more engaged.  Simple things, really. 

I think I’ve covered it all for now…

Check in at http://ywcneedham.blogspot.com/ for any additions/changes in detail

Go GOTV!

-Harmony