KCDW Newsletter

KCDW Official Monthly Newsletter

NEXT KCDW MEETING APR. 27TH Yacht Club Broiler – No host lunch – 11:30 am; Meeting – 12:30 pm. Our discussion this month will be about Charter Schools. NO RSVP required. Please bring canned goods for the food bank.

 

 

 I’M GOING TO MISS THIS MAN by Jo Fox Burr 

 

Before Lawrence O’Donnell’s interview with Jeffrey Goldberg about his article, ‘The Obama Doctrine,’ published in The Atlantic (4/8/2016), O’Donnell said, “If you read only one foreign policy article in your life, let it be this one.” So I read it. O’Donnell was right. 

 

This lengthy 72-page article is based on a series of interviews Goldberg has done with Obama spanning several years, starting in 2006 when he was still a US Senator. It spells out what could only be called a doctrine, as it delineates a foreign policy reorientation which definitely deviates from the path followed by past administrations. The basic long-term thrust being to move away from such a dominating focus on the Middle East toward a refocus on Asia, in particular China, Africa, and Latin America. There is also a greater focus on climate change and the resulting effects it will increasingly have on world economics and politics. What Goldberg details from his discussions with Obama, and a few others, are the ever more tremendous complexities involved in foreign policy these days. There is no way to summarize it all, but here are a few main points. 

 

You remember Einstein’s definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. While this is not explicit, reading this article makes me think this is how Obama views what we have been doing in the Middle East prior to his presidency, and he thinks it is time to do something different. When Syria’s Assad used sarin gas to kill over 1000 of his own people, he crossed a red line set by Obama. The world waited to see if Obama would fire missiles in retaliation, but at the last moment he pulled back. This, of course, resulted in a fair amount of criticism, both domestically and from abroad. However what Obama saw was that such an action would lead us into a trap set by both allies and adversaries, and more significantly by conventional expectations of what an American President should do. At the same time, it would not succeed in destroying the chemical weapons. So what did Obama do instead? He took Putin aside at the next G20 summit and told him if he got Assad to get rid of the chemical weapons, it would eliminate the need for the US to take military action. Ultimately, Assad agreed, so the weapons were destroyed and a war was avoided. Still, critics decry Obama’s credibility because he failed to use the military when he initially warned he would. Instead he used diplomacy. He knew it would cost him politically, but still he had the courage to take the personal sacrifice to follow what he considered a more rational course. 

 

Because of America’s energy revolution, Obama thinks the Middle East will soon be of little economic relevance to us. To him the Middle East seems like a problem we cannot solve, at least partially because of our past history in the region. Instead he would like to see the Middle East begin to try to solve its own problems. In particular, he thinks the Saudis should come to terms with sharing the neighborhood with Iran and settle on a kind of ‘cold peace.’ This is definitely a different approach. The problem is that ISIS and the like do pose a threat to us, so he cannot walk away just yet. The frustrating part of this to him is that it is getting in the way of the pursuits he considers to be more important objectives in the long term. 

 

Obama is very concerned about being careful to act only when our national security is threatened. He does not feel we can or should try to solve all problems. Libya is a case in point for him. He felt like they did everything right and it still did not work out. It is a lesson which he bears in mind when faced with similar situations. 

 

There is so much more to this article, but here’s the main takeaway. We have been very fortunate to have such an intelligent, thoughtful, selfless President managing our foreign policy for the last seven years. George W. Bush left a terrible mess. Obama is doing what he can to not leave a similar mess for the next president. Even if he succeeds in doing this, it is clear from this article that given the current complex world situation, there is no way that either Trump or Cruz could possibly keep us safe. For this reason alone, it is imperative to ensure we elect a Democrat to replace him. The world cannot afford to let the dysfunctional GOP take control of the US Presidency. 

 

Special Note: Normally after our May General Meeting, we have a picnic and take a break for the rest of the Summer. This year, because it is an election year, we will be holding a General Meeting in both May and June – followed by our picnic in July.

 

OTHER UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC MEETINGS AND EVENTS: (*GM designates a general membership meeting) 

Kitsap Co. Dem. Central Com: GM* Apr 18th (Monday); 6:30 pm Desserts; 7 pm meeting; Eagles Nest 

23rd Leg. District Democrats: GM* Jun 21st (Tuesday); 6:30 pm social time; 7 pm meeting; Poulsbo Library 

26th Leg. District Democrats: GM* May 5th (Thursday); 7-9 pm; Kitsap Rm, Givens Ctr 1026 Sidney Rd, Port Orchard 

35th Leg. District Democrats: GM* May 14th (Saturday); Noon – 2 pm; Olympic College Shelton, 937 Alpine Way

 

“[For America to be successful in leading the world] I believe that we have to avoid being simplistic. I think we have to build resilience and make sure that our political debates are grounded in reality. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the value of theater in political communications; it’s that the habits we – the media, politicians – have gotten into, and how we talk about these issues, are so detached so often from what we need to be doing that for me to satisfy the cable news hype-fest would lead to us making worse and worse decisions over time.” - President Barack Obama, taken from The Atlantic, 4/8/2016, The Obama Doctrine by Jeffrey Goldberg 

 

DON’T FORGET, THAT IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BAKELESS BAKE SALE!!!

Newsletter: 

NEXT KCDW MEETING JAN 28TH 
Location: Red Lobster in Silverdale. We will have a discussion about what Democrats need to focus on for the next two years. NO RSVP required. 

SOCIAL SECURITY ENDANGERED ANEW
 - by Jackie Williams 
 
In June 1934, FDR sent the following message to congress concerning Social Security: “Security was attained in the earlier days through the interdependence of members of families upon each other and of the families within a small community upon each other. The complexities of great communities and of organized industry make less real these simple means of security. Therefore, we are compelled to employ the active interest of the Nation as a whole through government in order to encourage a greater security for each individual who composes it…  This seeking for a greater measure of welfare and happiness does not indicate a change in values. It is rather a return to values lost in the course of our economic development and expansion.” 
 
The convening of the 114th Congress, filled with Republicans in numbers not seen since 1930, presents the return of the threat to Social Security. In each new congress the first bill brought to the floor each session establishes the rules by which legislation is made into law. This session’s first bill also contained the first hit against Social Security, specifically the benefits paid to the disabled. The small amount of money many exist on when the companies they worked for or insurance companies they depended on refused to cover the result of the injuries suffered on the job or in accidents, is now under threat. 

Social Security, arguably the most impactful piece of legislation to come out of the Roosevelt administration, has helped prevent the absolute destitution of millions. Initially the program was designed to provide income for the elderly, most of whom received no benefits from their employers and had lost their savings in the disaster of the Great Depression. The Republicans in congress then hated the idea that the Federal Government would provide for those who weren’t able to provide for themselves. The undercurrent of this destructive sentiment has remained for all these years. Each time a new program is added, benefits are increased or expanded or a funding shortfall looms, as now, the Republicans seize the opportunity to dismantle the entire program. 

George W. Bush made a serious attempt to alter the program by allowing individuals to invest in the stock market a portion of the amount withheld from their income for Social Security. This idea was presented in 2005, imagine what the benefits situation would have been during the 2008 period when the market fell precipitously and through the years of waiting for the market to recover. The people who depend on their small benefits income would have been at the mercy of their investments, without government guarantees and without a fixed amount paid each month on which to live. For those of us who are not far from receiving benefits, and for those who currently receive income from Social Security, this issue is important personally. For the millions who depend on their payments to raise families these benefits are crucial. Social Security is a program designed and implemented by Democrats, we should not stand silent while the Republicans try to dismantle the program.

Serious changes need to take place in how Social Security is funded, which programs should be expanded and how much is paid out in benefits according to cost of living increases. These issues are likely to be under consideration in this congress and in order to protect the viability and expand the impact of such an incredibly important program, awareness and involvement are crucial. 

Calls, letters and emails to ALL our representatives; Derek Kilmer and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, should begin now, not when the legislation is on the floor for a vote! For many of us, our future really does depend on this program!!!! 

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF: 
I have been involved in politics since 1966 when my father was sent to Vietnam. My mom moved us to Silverdale where I became convinced the U.S. was making a serious mistake. I took every opportunity to become as involved as possible without irritating my parents with my anti-war views. I worked when I could on the 26th amendment and was excited to vote when I turned 18. 

Although I’ve traveled and had to vote while living in foreign countries, I’ve always been a confirmed Democrat and an avid volunteer whenever possible. Military restrictions occasionally forced me to refrain from open campaigning but now I do all I am able to promote the liberal beliefs and policies for the election of Democratic candidates. 

I am always happy to meet with any members who would like to know more about me. Working as a team to move Democratic policies forward will serve to make the Kitsap County Democratic Women a strong influential force in local political success. I look forward to meeting with all of you and hearing any suggestions you may have about where our work will be most effective. 

Thank you and see you on the 28th! -Jackie Williams 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 
Kitsap County Democratic Women
Date: Jan 28th (Wednesday) 
Time: 11:30 a.m. lunch; 12:30 meeting. 
Place: Red Lobster 
Purpose: Discussion about Directions 

Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee 
Date: Jan 20th (Tuesday) 
Time: 6:30 p.m. Desserts; 7:00 p.m. mtg. 
Place: Eagles Nest 

23rd Legislative District Democrats 
Date: Jan 26th (Monday) 
Time: 6:30 p.m. social; 7:00 p.m. mtg. 
Place: Poulsbo Library 
Purpose: E-board Selection 

26th Legislative District Democrats 
Date: Feb 5th (Thursday) 
Time: 7-9 p.m. 
Place: Kitsap Rm, Givens Center 1026 Sidney Rd, Pt. Orch. 
Purpose: Reorganization 

35th Legislative District Democrats 
The next meeting is not yet set. Any questions can be directed to the new Chair, Irene Bowling (360-990-5302; irenerbowling@wavecable.com)

“This law… represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete. It is a structure intended to lessen the force of possible future depressions. It will act as a protection to future Administrations against the necessity of going deeply into debt to furnish relief to the needy. The law will flatten out the peaks and valleys of deflation and of inflation. It is, in short, a law that will take care of human needs and at the same time provide for the United States an economic structure of vastly greater soundness.” – Franklin Roosevelt on signing The Social Security Act

Newsletter: 

NEXT KCDW MEETING JAN 22
Hale's Alehouse will be our home for now. As done in previous January meetings, this one will be a discussion among ourselves. The topic will be "Why are you a Democrat?".  NO RSVP required.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

by Jo Fox Burr

When people are raised in one religion, some stray, but many stay with what they were taught as children. I was raised a Democrat, and I have remained one, so I understand the stayers. However, to misquote Will Rogers, I was not raised in any organized religion. I am a Unitarian/Universalist. In essence my parents let me sort out my own religious beliefs. During my youth, I did focus on it. Even read the bible under the tutelage of a very scholarly, but cynical, Universalist Minister. Ultimately, I gave up trying to figure it out and became agnostic. I take my values from the general Judeo-Christian society in which I grew up, added a bit of Buddhism, and decided to focus instead on making the best of the world I lived in. I am grateful that the freedom from religion allowed by our constitution gave me the space to do this. While my views about religion made it easier for me to make this decision, it is not the main reason I do not say \'93under God\'94 while reciting the pledge of allegiance.

The main reason is that I strongly feel the separation of church and state is a crucial element in the strength of our country. Saying "under God" to me bridges this separation. Last July 4th, the Freedom From Religion Foundation placed an ad in the Seattle Times featuring quotes from six of our most prominent founding fathers - Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. All of these quotes clearly demonstrated that contrary to what the far right religious revisionists say, the Christian religion was never intended to be a cornerstone of the constitution. As John Adams said, "The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."

While Henry VIII is most famous for his six wives, the important backdrop of his reign was the struggle between church and state. Prior to this, the Catholic Church dictated certain tenets to the state. When these tenets got in his way, Henry VIII created a new church with himself as its head. Thus he reversed the order of power, but the conflict between the two powers continued. After his death, his daughters fought to determine which religion would dominate the state run Church of England with Elizabeth as its head, or the Catholic Church with Mary as its ordained Queen. Whether it was a state run church or a church dominated state, though, as long as these powers stayed combined, religious persecutions persisted. Before our country was born, religion frequently caused wars between or within states. To quote George Washington, "Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony & irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause."  Many early settlers came to America seeking religious freedom, but in some cases they ended up trying to enforce their own. To ensure religious freedom endured, our founding fathers deliberately created the concept of separation of church and state. The model state they created was copied by many, because it worked.

U.S. minority populations are becoming more powerful. Obama's election served as a clarion call to resistance for certain elements of the white population. They use the cover of their religious convictions to justify their actions. The Koch brothers and their ilk use their money to enflame this religious fervor to try to capture control of the state for their own purposes. As Fox News attacks the left for what they call a war on Christmas to incite this fervor, I feel my right to agnosticism to be under attack. While this religiously enflamed conflict continues, our country has stagnated and even regressed - particularly concerning women's health. This fight to religiously control the state only divides us and takes our focus away from the common good. So you see, I'm more than willing to pause for those who wish to say "under God" - but it is my political, not religious, belief that this and all other religious choices must be an individual choice.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Kitsap County Democratic Women
Date: Jan. 22nd (Wednesday)
Time: 11:30 a.m. lunch; 12:30 meeting.
Place: Hale\'92s Alehouse
Topic: Why are you a Democrat?

Kitsap County Dem. Central Com.
Date: Jan. 21st (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30 p.m. Desserts; 7:00 p.m. mtg
Place: Eagles Nest

23rd Legislative District Democrats
Date: Jan. 28th (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30 social; 7:00 p.m. mtg.
Place: Poulsbo Library

26th Legislative District Democrats
Date: Feb. 4th (Tuesday)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Kitsap Rm, Givens Center, 1026 Sidney Rd, Pt. Orchard

35th Legislative District Democrats
Date: Jan. 25th (Saturday)
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Place: North Mason School District Office, 71 E. Campus Dr, Belfair

NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Linda Streissguth was selected by Commissioners Rob Gelder and Charlotte Garrido to complete Josh Brown's term. You can contact her by phone through the County Commissioners' Office at 360-337-7146 or by emailing her at lstreissguth@co.kitsap.wa.us.

"When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and professors are obliged to call for the help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend of its being a bad one." - Benjamin Franklin

 

 

Newsletter: 

NEXT KCDW MEETING FEB 26 We will continue to meet at Hale\'92s Alehouse. Our speaker will be Irene Bowling, Democratic candidate for the 35th Senate seat currently held by Tim Sheldon. NO RSVP required.

California Dreaming

by Jo Fox Burr

When applying for college, my worst nightmare was that I might not be accepted to the school of my dreams in northern California. It wasn't just the school that grabbed me, it was California, where everything was new and clean and alive. California was golden then. Fortunately, I was accepted and the years spent there bring back wonderful memories. That was when Pat Brown was Governor.


Now, to be honest, those were the early days of unrest at UC Berkeley which was just down the road and I remember vague hostile feelings about the way both Pat Brown and the UC President, Clark Kerr dealt with it. Perhaps I was justified, but the details of my angst have left me. What I do know now about Pat Brown, is that he was responsible for building a vast intra-state highway network that facilitated commerce, a gigantic aqueduct that brought water from the water-rich north to the parched south, and the University of California system. During his time, California's public schools were ranked among the 10 best in the country. Further, it was Clark Kerr who created what was called the "the Master Plan" which laid out a blanket commitment to enable all California students wanting to attend college to do so at UC colleges free of charge. Which particular school you attended depended only on academic standing, not economic status. When this bill was signed by Pat Brown, its greatest benefit was perhaps the facilitation of true class mobility. These achievements by both Brown and Kerr helped to make the prosperity California enjoyed for decades afterwards.


In 1966, Ronald Reagan defeated Pat Brown by vowing to clean up the mess in Berkeley and throwing the "bums" off welfare. He took office in 1967, the year I graduated. California has been in decline ever since. The Master Plan is a thing of the past, as tuitions were instituted and continue to grow. Jerry Brown, Pat's son, did succeed Reagan and tried to stem the tide some, but during his tenure Proposition 13 was passed. This put a lid on property taxes and resulted in severely limiting state and local government spending. It was also established that passing a state budget required a two-thirds majority which meant that even a Democratic controlled legislature had to yield to Republican demands for cuts to the safety net.


In an article posted 6/26/2009 by Huff Post Politics, entitled "Who Ruined California", Bob Burnett talked about how the California economy was hovering on the brink of ruin. Burnett wrote about Schwarzenegger's failure to provide adequate leadership to bring Democrats and Republicans together - thus creating a three party split where no one trusted the other two. Already K-12 schools had sunk to being ranked either 47th or 49th in the nation. The state was facing a $28 billion deficit which by necessity would force more draconian cuts to schools, as well as to parks, infrastructure repairs, and the general safety net. In other words, in 2009 the California fiscal situation seemed hopeless and Burnett primarily blamed the voters.

So in 2010, the voters finally woke up andelected Jerry Brown once again and also freed the state legislature from fiscal gridlock by approving a ballot measure eliminating the requirement that the budget needed a two-thirds majority to pass. Then in 2012, they voted in a super majority of Democrats in the legislature AND approved Proposition 30 raising sales taxes and income taxes on higher earners. Though Jerry Brown still has to make major cuts, California, under total Democratic control, now has a projected surplus of $1.2 to $4 billion. Any surplus Brown is willing to spend, he is funneling towards K-12 public schools with an emphasis on the poorer districts.

While he is still being very frugal in most areas of the budget - using his power of line item vetoes - Brown is following his father by taking a long term perspective in one particular area, high speed rail. He has used Federal stimulus money to get started. However, financing the rest of it will be tricky, but like his father, he knows in the long run it will save the state money as the population grows and decrease automobile emissions, thus helping to preserve the environment. The immediate cost seems astronomical, but without high speed rail, other forms of transportation such as new airports and runways would have to be built or the state would face total gridlock which, in the end, would impair financial growth. To do that, though, would ultimately add up to being even more astronomically expensive. Getting voters to understand long term gains, as opposed to short term cost, is an uphill battle these days. However, Jerry Brown has already managed what seemed to be the impossible task of creating a surplus, so perhaps he will be able to pull this off as well. California once again is giving me hope of what can be done, particularly when forward thinking Democrats take control. Let's see if we can take back control of the Washington State Senate and start dreaming about a more positive future here.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Kitsap County Democratic Women
Date: Feb. 26th (Wednesday)
Time: 11:30 a.m. lunch; 12:30 meeting.
Place: Hale\'92s Alehouse
Speaker: Irene Bowling, Candidate for State Senate from the 35th LD

Kitsap County Dem. Central Com.
Date: Feb. 18th (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30 p.m. Desserts; 7:00 p.m. mtg
Place: Eagles Nest

23rd Legislative District Democrats
Date: Mar 25th (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30 social; 7:00 p.m. mtg.
Place: Poulsbo Library

26th Legislative District Democrats
Date: March. 4th (Tuesday)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Kitsap Rm, Givens Center, 1026 Sidney Rd, Pt. Orchard

35th Legislative District Democrats
Date: May 3rd (Saturday)
Time: 1 \'96 2:30 p.m.
Place: TBD

Each year, our motor vehicles use more than 14 billion gallons of gasoline to travel over 330 billion miles. To put those numbers in perspective, the sun is [only] 93 million miles away. - California Governor Jerry Brown

 

 

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