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MARIN COUNTY'S NEWS
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Letters To the Editor
Help And Hope For HEP-C Victims
Carol, the kitchen manager at the free kitchen, St Vincent
DePaul's in
The unfortunate thing is that she should have never died from
HEP-C. Everyone should be tested yearly for the disease. If you test positive,
a simple pill a day will keep your HEP-C in remission, and Interferon can
actually cure you.
There are many people who do not realize there is hope.
After speaking with many patrons at St Vincents, many who have HEP-C, none of
them knew there was cure. Ignorance is not a virtue and education is
imparative. Needless death should not happen.
Please support St Vincent de Paul at www.vinnies.org
Jim Fox
San Anselmo
Terri Alvillar
Sonoma
Compliments
Best laugh for me in some time. But Burner left out the big
issue that make both Democrats (looking for another underclass to champion) and
Republicans (serving corporate beneficiaries of cheap, illegal labor) look
about as honorable as Dan Rather's producer: illegal immigration.
Tom Shuford
Lenoir, NC
No War Is First
No war is first is politics. The study of how dangerous obligated
emergency is, is important. Conscientious objection is active in the Bay Area.
It has difficulties to make sense. People here in Marin County even objected to
banking because money is used for military defense.
The Coastal Post is full of conscientious objection, an
inspiration to send to China. The Point Reyes Light is fair and decent. The
Hearsay News as I listed to Betty Storz believes the plebeian's mental
condition has merit but also since it is verbal reciprocation does not occur
like a writer would like and it is a joke on myself if I cannot communicate an
article really won't either.
Everything we say and everything we do is only for life because we
get sick and die. Science of social science, political science, medical and
psychology science (if you even accept the word science which I don't) is the
element to not kill in any consideration of fulfillment and happiness.
The poverty of the farm, the hospital, the orphanage, has more
substantiality people do not kill. You do not have to diagnose a person they
feel better, think better are stronger and healthier. An establishment like
yours only for life gives medical substantiality to air, water, food, TV.,
telephone and medical substantiality to free speech. Please accept the
phrases or slogan for your establishment, your right of life, for life, only
for life; I will only give you life.
Dakar (Jane Blethen)
Bolinas
No Computer Voting In Italy
Good morning/evening/night from Italy. My name is Emanuele
Lombardi and I'm very interested in electronic vote. I have read your very nice
"We the People Do Not Concede", and I would like to share with you my
opinion about the topic.
I think voting is one of the (few) human activities not suited to
be handled by computers. The basis of this statement is not technical but
theoretical and it is a consequence of the fact that votes MUST be kept secret
(I'm sure we all agree on that!).
The only way to ensure vote anonymity is to store votes without
any reference which could ever link any vote to its voter.
But if we have data without external entities we can check with,
we can decide to trust it or not to trust it, but for sure we are not able to
verify it.
Just as an example let's suppose to have some data telling that a
certain person is 20 years old. Obviously we could check such info only if we
had a reference to the person, but if data is anonymous we can't check it
(since we don't know who is he/she).
In whichever way we might record votes, they will always be
anonymous records and thus we'll never be able to verify each vote is actually
the same one expressed by the elector (since we don't know who is he/she). As
an obvious consequence, the final electoral results (being based on anonymous
electoral records) are unverifiable, too!
We can verify the number of anonymous objects, but we cannot
verify the correctness of anonymous records: believe it or not, we can verify
votes, but not vote records!
In traditional elections we keep and count the vote itself (the
ballot paper). That's why traditional election's result are verifiable!
In electronic elections we store and count record of the vote
(which vote is actually the pressing of a push button or the touching of a
certain screen area). That's why electronic election's can't be verified and
thus we must passively accept any result we are given!
Since the object of elections is giving the power to rule nations
with millions of people, we can't rely on the honesty of anybody (governments,
parties, lobbies, economical powers, foreign countries...), but we need
elections to be verifiable.
That's way electronic vote, being unverifiable, is not suitable
for democracy! I say e-vote is not only a technical problem but a social one!
If you feel the above ideas are not completely stupid please have a look to my
site "electronic vote & democracy" http.//www.electronic-vote.org
I'll be very glad to have any feedback from you.
Emanuele Lombardi
Somewhere in
No Torture Here
This nation does not and will not engage in torture. Besides, they
deserve it.
This seems to be the Bush Administrations policy on torture,
summed up in a single sentence as written by a letter to the NYTimes.
"Rendition". That's the word used. That word comes from
the slaughtering of animals. You've heard of "rendered" fat? It's not
music they're talking about here.
Yet both the authors of this policy are confirmed, with Joe Biden,
staunch defender of human rights who cares deeply about what the world thinks
of us, prefaced all his questions to Condoleeza Rice with "I"m going
to vote for you, but..."
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Barbara Boxer for being
the lone senator on 2 occasions, 2 of the most important issues facing us
today: the integrity of our vote in a "democracy", and that of
holding a mirror up to the tortured face of Dr. Rice facing confirmation as
Secretary of State. All Dr. Rice could think of as response was "don't
impugn my integrity". Maybe, just maybe the tide is turning. Maybe now
that one senator has stood up others may get a spinal transplant.
The Invasion of Iraq Sets Stage for a Hot Bed of Flesh Eating Virus Super
Bugs
With a War such as in
The military investigators in
Now scientists are saying that there is a drug resistant super bug
strain that spreads by skin contact is infecting thousands of people across the
Patricia Hellinger
(patricia@northerntel.net)
Flaws With Capital Punishment
The pending execution of Mr. Donald Beardslee once again
highlights the systemic flaws in the system of capital punishment. The refusal
of the original court to allow the jury to consider all the relevant evidence
is more than enough reason to consider reopening this case, or at the very
least allowing for a new penalty phase.
The time has come for a Republican to stand up and point out these
flaws. Other Republicans might be justified in hesitating to take a stance
against the death penalty because they are afraid of being made out to be wimps
in the eyes of the public, but Arnold Schwarzenegger will never have to worry
about that. He's the Terminator, for heaven's sake! If he were to take a
position against capital punishment, he would force the Republican Party to
listen, because the Republican party rank and file, for the most part, like
him. (It's sort of like the "Only Nixon could go to China" idea, i.e.
only a life long anti-Communist could have had the credibility to deal
effectively with Red China.)
Let's be honest, the rest of the civilized world is moving beyond
capital punishment, and although Governor Schwarzenegger might not be able to
become President because of an archaic 200 year old clause in the Constitution,
he can be the man who led
Ronald O. Richards
Fabulous Article
Please pass along to Carol Sterritt that her article "We The
People Do Not Concede" is fabulous! I'll be linking to it from my
website!
Kat L'Estrange
www.donotconcede.com
Sombody's Lying About Social Security
Bush and Republican cronies say Social Security is broken, in a
crisis. The nonpatisan Congressional Budget Office says: Social Security is
more financially sound today than it has been throughout its history and can
pay all benefits through 2042. Who are you going to believe? 40-50 million
Americans can and have counted on Social Security for 70 years. Do you want
George W. tinkering with it?
The Bush administration misled the nation into war in
A perfect example of what can happen with the privatization of
Social Security: Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, R-Tenn, had more than
$750,000 in his campaign fund after the 2000 election. He invested it in a
stock market index fund, much like a privatized Social Security would. His
reports to the Federal Election Commission show that he lost $460,000 of the
money in 2001 and 2002. Frist, or any politician can easily recoup his losses.
If you lose your money in a stock market/Social Secuity scheme, you're out of
luck.
* * *
The master prevaricator is at it again with his usual
menagerie of smoke and mirrors. Bush wants to redesign
The Social Security Trust Fund is not heading for an imminent
disaster as alluded to by George W. This is just more White House spin and
hype, playing on the fears of unsuspecting Americans. The President has
concocted the Social Security crisis in his own mind and he is pushing all
sorts of numbers around to justify the SS scheme. There is a disconnect in what
the President is saying and what is true.
Social Security privatization is another Bush boondoggle that the
American public has to accept on blind faith, and you can be sure the usual
Bush bravado, rhetoric and bullying will surface as this issue intensifies. The
President in one of his more honest moments said workers should be allowed to
share in the rewards and risks of the stock market. Social Security is not
meant to be a roller coaster ride.
People assume Bush/Republicans want to fix or reform Social
Security. They don't. They want to abolish it. This small sampling from Bush's Social
Security privatization petri dish is sure to expand.
* * *
Safer From Terrorism?
Are we any safer from terrorism than we were before Bush took
office?
The
We have traded a dictator for chaos in
The Bush administration has no time line or exit strategy from
You may approve or disapprove of the invasion and occupation of
Iraq, but it is clear beyond dispute that Iraq had no WMD's and had nothing to
do with 9/11.
The President started a war under false pretences and then claimed
the deceptions were sanctioned under God's will.
Ron Lowe
Nevada City
Make Condy President
The people liked Mel's movie.
Michael Savage has said there will be a revolution if nothing is
done about the border. AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE AGAINST US AND FOR THE
ILLEGALS! George Putnam said that statement was a stretch. Oh? 80-90% of
the people want the border closed to illegals. We pay our taxes but we are not
being represented. A revolution is against the government. Right now the
government is against us.
Michael Savage is considering a run for the presidency in '08. And
even though I'm apolitical, don't believe in democracy and know this country is
going down, I'd like to see him run just for the excitement alone. I'm tired of
blah and bah-ah-ah-ah-ah. I'm tired of blue Democrats and blue Republicans. I
want to see them squirm. I WANT TO SEE ANGST!
George Putnam also said that a man with the name of Savage could
not win. I say that's exactly what we need. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY
Condimenta Rice would not have been Savage's choice. She is now 4
steps away from the presidency. She's for affirmative action. That means she is
a black first. A woman second. What a combination for division and weakness!
Have the Islamic Fundamentalists considered that the best way to weaken
Harold Reimann
Help! Medical Coverage Disappearing For Elderly
Kaiser Permanente HMO has changed my coverage as of Jan. 1, 05. I
was a private pay with "Medical Financial Assistance Plan" (MFAP).
MFAP assisted me with Pharmacy and Co-pays. My MFAP was discontinued. Reason
given by Kaiser "You have had it long enough."
In addition the monthly premium costs rose to about $220,
including Delta Dental. Because of changes in my housing, out of my control,
that resulted in a 6 time increase of rent, I can not afford the $220 per
month, not to mention the pharmacy and co-pays for treatment. On the advice of
HICAP, County Medi-Cal eligibility workers and others I was advised to switch
to Medi-Cal and Kaiser Senior Advantage Plan. They said Medi-Cal would pick up
the costs of my Kaiser's premium for "Senior Advantage Plan" that I
was advised to join. I did. So in addition to my co-pays. I have had Medi-Cal
IHSS for about 15 years also.
I received a notice by mail from the County that I would have to
pay a Co-payment of $460 per month to Medi-Cal to be covered. I asked them if
$220 was out of my range, how was it figured I would be able to pay $460?
No answer, except to inform me that I will lose my IHSS Feb. 1. Medi-Cal did
say that if I had more medical expenses I perhaps would not have to pay the
co-pay. Perhaps I could go back on Kaiser private pay and my AARP supplement
plan, which Medi-Cal and HICAP said I would have to give up to get Medi-Cal
coverage. Of course I am not allowed to do that, per Kaiser and AARP (same
plans no longer available).
The $460 per month co-pay and my rent add up to more than my
Social Security Disability. If I become homeless again I could not avail
myself to IHSS as I would not have a residence. My Multiple Sclerosis has
exacerbated to the extent that I don't know how much longer I can hold
on.
I can not seek medical help --- no funds. I do not have the
money nor strength to move again so soon. It seems the "Expert"
advice was not so expert. Those in then know, should know before they lead
people off the cliff. It seems the medical system is as complicated and
difficult as the Tax Code. There is no damage done to those who give out
erroneous information, but great life threatening damage to those who rely on
the so called "Experts." What to do now??
Also, during this disastrous procedure I have had a County Social
Worker (IHSS) who has not had my best interest at hand. I feel she has shown
unimpressionable behavior in speaking out of turn to others about me and proves
she knows nothing about me personally, nor my MS condition and practicing
medicine with out a license by misinterpreting Multiple Sclerosis in general.
In my 15 years with IHSS, this is the first such unprofessional Social Worker I
have encountered.
Jerry R. Bakken
"dhammoja"
Not Optimistic About America
I am not optimistic about the future of
Marc Perkel
Badnarik Not Progressive
Your article Election Crime Scene-2004 "We the People Do Not
Concede" By Carol Sterritt called Michael Badnarik a Progressive. If
Ms. Sterritt were to do any research before she wrote her column, should would
have found that Mr. Badnarik is anything but conservative.
Making a claim such as this discredits your organization.
Ms. Sterritt wrote: "Within days after Kerry's Nov. 3rd
concession, both of the men who ran for president as progressives, Badnarik,
and Cobb, put into motion a chain of events leading to a vote recount in
Mr. Badnarik does not believe in taxation, gun laws, welfare,
environmentalism, public schools, Medicare/Medicaid, and he loves the death
penalty. This is not a progressive agenda, it is a libertarian one.
Please do not make this mistake again.
Denny Porto
Internet
Racism Is Alive And Well
I marched the biggest hood (8th ward New Orleans) in
Louisiana yesterday for MLK's birthday there were twenty white people out of
thousands, and I learned that at high school football games they still put
chains up at the 35 yard line to separate the whites in the middle, the
students on one third, and the blacks on one third, they are still burning
crosses around here and I want you to know RACISM is alive and not only doing
well it is strong as shit around here UNITED MY ASS truth to y'all
Dennis Kyne
www.denniskyne.com
Support the Truth
Corporate Communism
There is no crisis in Social Security. The way to eliminate the
problem looming in 2042 is to remove the current earnings cap so rich people
pay an equitable share of this country's future. Right now people who earn
above $85,000 a year pay no Social Security on earnings above that amount. Rich
people have profited enormously from the American System. It is their
obligation to give something back to the workers and consumers who make their
enormous profits possible. The issue here is redistribution of wealth in favor
of those honest workers who are not ruthless financial manipulators.
Most Wal-Mart workers make so little money they qualify for
foodstamps and Medicaid. When I was growing up we called that Communism-where
workers earned so little the government had to subsidize their food and healthcare.
Have we come full circle? Do we really need to subsidize the nation's
largest employer? Did we sacrifice for four decades to overcome the Soviets so
our very own rich people could institute a system of Corporate Communism on our
own continent? Time for the disappearing middle class to stand up. Remove the
Social Security cap.
Rich Zubaty
Kihei,
Stop Social Security Rip-off
I hope the citizens of
Do they actually think that the average citizen if given the money
on their paycheck is going to have the discipline to invest that money every
week into a 401K or some type of investment portfolio? They must be
DREAMING. The majority of people in this country are working poor. Living
paycheck to paycheck without any savings. Social Security was brought about to
help the working class retire. At least Social Security comes once a month and
you know how much you are going to get. People can't afford an annuity
that would pay out what they would collect on Social Security.
During Bush's first term his administration started talking about
privatizing Social Security. Once the recession hit they dropped it. They
must think we are all dumbed down. Social Security is guaranteed, once
you start collecting it you can count on that money every month. Not like
the people that invested in Enron and have now got to work for the rest of
their lives because they lost all their savings.
We don't have enough jobs now with the two family income. That is
all we need is to make it so you can't retire! The Feds have been raiding
Social Security Funds for sometime. How about allocating for pay
back. They can spend a billion dollars a week in
Bruce Carlton
Mill Valley
Learn From Swiss About Voting
I personally feel that if we can introduce even to a small state
the "Swiss Voting System," then I think we can help to sow the seed
that grows into monumental change for the better for all Americans, which is
what we all want to see.
The Swiss Voting System is very reliable, accessible, auditable,
easy to handle, well used in
We gave a presentation in
Please take a look at our website http://www.swissvs.org and I am
sure you will find a lot of answers to questions. If the site does not answer
all for you, then I am available by email or efax at all times and also by
telephone if you prefer.
We would welcome the opportunity to give presentations in the
areas that your paper is active. Please let me know if this interests you so
that we can make arrangements for such presentations.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and view our
website.
Kind regards,
Steven Butterworth
steven.butterworth@swissvs.org
Constitution Does Not Apply To Military
Many Americans, including most serving military members, are not
aware that the very United States Constitution they have sworn to serve and
defend does not apply to them.
There is a secret unconstitutional law that prohibits military
members from seeking final redress for wrongful actions taken upon them while
serving. These certain actions may include murder, reprisal, rape, human
experimentation, medical malpractice, gross and criminal negligence, etc.
The shameful law is called the Feres Doctrine, named after the
young Lt. Rudolph Feres, who died in a barracks fire caused by the negligence
of the Army. This doctrine bars constitutional redress of wrongful acts or
omissions resulting in injury or death arising from non-legitimate military
necessity or decisions.
The Feres doctrine law was not created by the United States
Congress, who makes laws and overseas the military, but judicially created.
This law has been in existence for over 54 years, however Congress and the
The attached is a Press Release from Veterans Equal Rights
Protection Advocacy. We are true American patriots seeking your support
to ensure Military Members and Veterans are afforded equal protection of the
United States Constitution.
Included in our recent press advisory explains VERPA's initiatives
to petition the United Nations (UN) and Organization of American States (OAS)
to seek abolishment of the Feres Doctrine, as we has exhausted all
constitutional redress means within our own government. Our Feres
Doctrine abolishment initiative seeks to restore constitutional rights to the
men and women serving in our military.
Please pass this information on to all Citizens you believe
might be interested in this information.
Leigh E. Wise
VERPA Assistant Public Relations Coordinator
Stand Up With Barbara Boxer
"This (inquiry into the voting irregularities, and stalling
of the
Let's be fair: Winners and losers alike should have confidence
that our elections are fair and accurate. Investigating the Ohio election
flaws, is to support our Democracy at large. Let's take that statement one step
further: Isn't it setting a dangerous precedent, NOT to investigate this
matter, NOT to stall the Electoral College vote? NOT to have a re-vote? (Not
even a proposed matter, as it really should be).
As OBama pointed out, this is "not" a partisan issue.
Thump, thump interrupted the judge's hammer, as OBama spoke those very words:
"Your time is up."
Brava to the courage of Barbara Boxer, standing alone as the one
Senator to sign her name in support of this election fraud inquiry. Bravo to
the Representatives, who did not fear committing political suicide, as they
staunchly spoke on behalf of Us, the People.
I now, as of "yesterday," want to see each and every
Republican politician ousted from public office. Election theft is good enough
cause for impeachment, of those who stand firmly and unswervingly behind it.
There ought to be citizen lawsuits: Let's get to work, People. WE are the
government, THEY are our EMPLOYEES! WE can fire them. WE CAN sue them! WE have
a strength which they do not have: Sheer numbers! Let's stand united, and press
charges against them, demanding that they work behalf of the people-or tell
them to get the hell out of public office!
Drina Brooke
Novato, Ca
Arnold's Special Butts
Arnold Schwarzenegger is correct calling Registered Nurses a
"special interest" group. These darn nurses are constantly fighting
for their special interests, their patients. Arnie, on the other hand, is only
beholden to his Billionaire Boy's Club buddies who give him money. For example,
members of the California hospital industry gave him "donations" and
asked that he stop the law setting a limit of five patients for each nurse.
Arnie dutifully delayed the 5:1 ratio law for three years.
Studies show that if we go from our current 6 patients to one
nurse ratio to a 4 to one ratio, patient deaths would drop by 14%.
Profits would drop by 5%, but with over $4 billion in profits last year,
California hospitals have plenty of room to improve. Simply put, this is a
battle between profits and lives. Is it any wonder that nurses always
rank among the most trusted professionals and politicians among the least
trusted?
We are all just a drunk driver away from our own hospital bed and
the complete reliance upon a nurse for our every need. Her patient load will
determine how quickly and how well our needs are met. Arnie and his Billionaire
Boy's Club buddies are unconcerned; knowing they'll always get the best care
money can buy.
For the next three years, whenever a patient complains of a delay
in getting pain medication, antibiotics, wound care, food, or even a bedpan,
his nurse should remind him that Arnie sold us out.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, you're the "girlie man." You're
too weak to resist being pumped-up with injections of special interest money
and too puny to fight the strings attached. You say you're kicking the special
interests' butts, but we all see you kissing them instead. Pity, we had all
hoped you were stronger.
Mike Kirchubel
Fairfield