December 30, 2014

Please Help: Applied for SSDI. Can work minimally. Can really use work-from-home suggestions.

I need to feel productive even though I can no longer work like I used to.

This community's suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Some Background: I have a chronic pain condition that leaves physical labor out, and my body is extremely sensitive to any pressure (it's called allodynia - imagine seams in a shirt or wrinkles in a sheet underneath you being enough to elicit pain). Though I have concentration issues, I do have a program management, writing, and education background and can probably do some very light short-term tasks.

December 13, 2014

Michele Bachmann's wacky Moses rant

BACHMANN FAREWELL ADDRESS

It starts pretty bad, and it just gets worse...

One lie followed by lie after lie. The House of Representatives is the strongest form of government, Michele? The House is the lower house in a bicameral legislature in a government with three branches. Unfortunately, the crazy only builds like the momentum a boulder gains when it is rolling down a hill.

She should have been forced out of the chamber kicking and screaming in a straitjacket. That would have been a fitting farewell for her

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, batshit.

November 26, 2014

(RI) Local Ferguson protesters and police clash on I-95

Not the best decision by the protesters. Unsafe and green lights the state police immediately.

http://www.turnto10.com/story/27483599/local-protesters-shut-down-portion-of-95-southbound-in-providence

November 16, 2014

UPDATED: Vote Deadline Extended to Name Our Populist Movement within Democratic Party

UPDATED: Poll Deadline Has Been Extended From 3 Days to 2 Weeks
Formerly Titled: Olympus Isn't All About Thunder - Time to Settle on a Name and Move On

Olympus in reference to the recent thread titled Stealing Thunder. Thunder represents the lightning to come. We need to concentrate on the lightning - the policies we want to see enacted, and how we want to best educate our fellow Americans so they are informed and motivated voters (I have suggested PSAs, mass e-mails, phone calls, etc.). We need to get beyond the thunder and get to the lightning - defining ourselves. Americans need to know everything from Social Security is solvent to we want Universal Healthcare (spelling out what that is), and "Obamacare" was a conservative think tank idea that does not go far enough because it leaves people without healthcare.

I have been open to discussion on naming, but at some point this discussion must end. Throughout this discussion I have supported the Roosevelt Party (represented by a blue rose and in honor of the three notable Roosevelts in our history), The Democratic Wing (represented by a blue wing), or the Party of Social Responsibility (symbol open to discussion). All have their strengths and weaknesses, and there have been other suggestions.

In an attempt to resolve this issue I have created a poll that gives everyone three days to vote on various name I have seen suggested. I would like consent to adopt whatever name wins in the end. If I neglected to add one of the many names suggested over the last days that can be resolved by write-in votes, which will be counted and compete against those listed.


THIS POLL IS TO NAME A NEW POPULIST MOVEMENT WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NOT TO RENAME THIS GROUP OR FORM A THIRD PARTY. WHAT FORM THIS MOVEMENT TAKES IS UP TO THE GROUP. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FOCUS MAINLY ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO VOTERS AND IDENTIFYING/SUPPORTING PROGRESSIVES IN THE PARTY WHILE EXPOSING REPUBLICANS IN DEMOCRATIC CLOTHING.

My vote is for The Roosevelt Party: The records of FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Teddy Roosevelt taken together cover many of the ideals liberals hold dear. While those ideals were limited by the era they lived in, the name Roosevelt can help us lead the Democratic Party back to the left through educating our fellow Americans how socialism is one of the things that makes America great. Liberals should be known as Roosevelt Democrats, as should politicians who have records in line with liberal ideals.

ManyGoldstein's Argument (Post 23):

Roosevelt Democrats

I think the name, like a good headline, should:

1. cut through the noise (make people say "huh?" when they first see it)
2. say something about what we're up to
3. be a good way to start a conversation with people
4. fulfill 1-3 in a way that they work for all Americans, not just political junkies

"Democratic Wing" would work great for political junkies, but I think it will confuse others (i.e., doesn't meet 4 above).

"Roosevelt Democrats" is great for 1-4. The Roosevelts in question did so many great things, great Progressive/Liberal things, and the results were fantastic: those are stories that I like to tell. "Why am I a Roosevelt Democrat? Do you know that in FDR's first term, because of Liberal policies, unemployment halved and the economy grew at three or four times the rate it's growing now? Let's talk about the policies that made this happen, and why we need them again today."

"They did X and it worked. Everytime X has been tried, it worked. Doesn't it make sense to do X?" Those are the arguments that win people's hearts and minds.

Both Teddy and Franklin were flawed, as are all people, and there will be some nitwits (even on DU!) that will fling poo at 'em. But both, as they aged, improved, and also one person's poison is another person's meat. For example, some people (not me) feel that the US developing atomic weapons was an awful thing, but to others it could be seen as a sign that Roosevelt Democrats will do what's needed, when needed.

And by including Teddy, Franklin, and Eleanor, it sends a great message about inclusion: Democrats and Republicans, men and women. They were not people of color, but did work hard to advance the ball for all Americans. Whatever we call ourselves, we'll not perfect America either, but we'll fight hard for all.

November 15, 2014

No third party, no third way.

We need to send enough progressives to the polls to overwhelm the defenses constructed against what most Americans want, against allowing democracy to play its course. The Republicans have only remained relevant due to unethical and often illegal tactics, which take full advantage of low-information American voters. The only way to break the back of the Republicans is to mobilize in every city in this country and educate. Educate by clearly communicating what we stand for and put the GOP on the defensive to force them to explain why the Republicans are against things like social programs, business regulations, and healthcare for all (some Democrats will need to account of their own records, as well).

I firmly believe this must be done under the banner of the Democratic Party, but as a new faction within the party dubbed the Roosevelt Party. We need to expose conservatism for its fear mongering and socially selfish ways, and remove Republicans in Democratic Party clothing from the party. No third way, no third party. If our history has taught us anything it is that both don't work. Roosevelt Democrats need to fight conservatives in whatever party they may be in, and be as tenacious as someone like Senator Bernie Sanders.

November 15, 2014

Death to the Robber Barons (Bruce Springsteen's Death to My Hometown)

The Robber Barons are back and need to be put back in their chains.

November 14, 2014

The Roosevelt Party - Branding and the Details

The records of FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Teddy Roosevelt taken together cover many of the ideals liberals hold dear. While those ideals were limited by the era they lived in, the name Roosevelt can help us lead the Democratic Party back to the left through educating our fellow Americans how socialism is one of the things that makes America great. Liberals should be known as Roosevelt Democrats, as should politicians who have records in line with liberal ideals.

What we need to do is make a clear platform of what liberalism offers to Americans, both in the present and in the future, so Roosevelt Democrats can be identified and ranked. On that subject, I recently found this site, which ranks members of Congress as liberal or conservative:

http://thatsmycongress.com/senate/index.html

Once we come up with a framework of what we want the Democratic Party to look like then we can decide how to get it done.

November 12, 2014

Eight Reasons to Stop Freaking Out About the Supreme Court's Next Obamacare Case

The New Republic:
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120231/king-v-burwell-supreme-court-case-shouldnt-worry-liberals-yet

I hope this optimism is well-founded. The Court is extremely pro-business and the law is making the healthcare industry a lot of money.

November 8, 2014

Democrats Duped by the Caucus Room Conspiracy

Democrats Duped by the Caucus Room Conspiracy



The Democrats never fight back and always play on the Republican Party's field. A defensive strategy is an ultimately self-defeating strategy. Where the fuck is Howard Dean?

November 8, 2014

The Roosevelt Party - a party within the Democratic Party that actually champions liberal ideas.

Whose candidates explain them clearly and are proud to stand by them during an election and once elected. And I can't think of a better name than the Roosevelt Party. Such a party should exist. It would force the Democratic Party to have a conversation about what its true principles are.

UPDATE:

demwing has created a poll in GD to test the water for a

Populist Reform Group:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025787284

Please go over to GD for a moment to give your feedback.