If One Party Puts Up a Candidate that is not “Bought and Paid For” the Other Party Better Do the Same

American people are at not only angry about the greedy 1%er’s and corporations but of politicians being bought and paid for, and elections being bought by the same. I google searched “American Greed in Politics” and chose this one, by Magnitsky Act | Voices from Russia.  This became my single image. My fear is that the one constant in all of the polls both Republican and Democratic is that they show, I believe, 70%+ of people don’t want an “establishment” candidate nor one who is indebted to the wealthiest 1% of people in the country, or corporations. They like people who can speak their mind or the truth and their own positions. Hence you get a Donald Trump who certainly fits the bill of saying anything he wants speaking his mind because he owes no one as far as he is not accepting donations from the rich or corporations. What astounds me is that people buy into things like “banning all Muslims” or any of the other racist, narcissistic, hateful, divisive, crap that comes out of his mouth. My real fear is that the DNC is trying to destroy any chance Bernie Sanders has of being the Democratic nominee who is the other candidate drawing large crowds. Hillary, an “establishment” candidate whom has many ties to Wall Street, 1%er’s, corporations, as well as support from Debbie Wassermann-Schultz and the DNC, Super Delegates, and more working to make her the Democratic nominee. Here’s the problem, 70%+ DO NOT WANT someone from the “establishment” or someone who is perceived to be, or actually is, “bought and paid for.” Therefore, if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination, which it now looks like he has a good chance of doing, and Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, which with “the fix” possibly being in, Trump will get the White House. People are so angry at “establishment” politicians and those who are indebted to the 1%er’s and corporations that they WILL NOT VOTE, or at least will not vote for Hillary Clinton. The Democrats best chance to win the White would be to nominate the person drawing 13,000 people to hear him speak in Arizona. I mention that because John McCain (R-AZ) was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, (I think it was) last night, and said that Bernie had drawn that many to an event in Arizona and that even though he’s been one of their politicians for 25 years HE could not draw 13,000 people to an event. If Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination then the Democrats better not put up a candidate that has been bought and paid for.  They better make the Republicans #FeelTheBern if they don't want to lose The White House.

We Can Block Fox News Affiliates From Renewing Their Broadcast Licenses - Part 2

Tuesday, August 4, 2015, John A. Smith, Author/Editor

Now Is The Time For You To Take Action To Stop Fox From Spreading Lies

If you haven't already please see "Part 1" of this article from Monday, July 15, 2015 by clicking or tapping this link:

We Can Block Fox News Affiliates From Renewing Their Broadcast Licenses - Part 1

Fox News Misleads, Lies, and Fabricates Information and Totally Takes Away Voters Ability To Make An "Informed Decision" At The Voting Booths

 

      Americans have a "Right" to vote in our democracy. But, as pointed out in part 1, in the Brave New Films 2004 Documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, that right is being taken away in many ways:

Citizens United has put our ELECTIONS and POLITICIANS up FOR SALE!

Money in Politics

The Koch Brothers, other 1%er's, corporation's lobbyists, are spending hugh amounts of their money to lie to you. And maybe most importantly, the lies, misinformation, and flat out fabrications, that are aired on TV, in print media, and radio, (sometimes in the disguise as "news") are confusing potential voters and taking away their ability to make "informed decisions." In addition to owning and controlling news media, networks, and cable stations, are inundated with ads bought with the sole intention of pushing the agenda of the wealthy and greedy. Ads paid for by the super rich, and corporations, are also the people buying our politicians and elections, which is why we need to get money out of politics.  These are all factors causing voters to be so confused when they get to the voting booth, IF they get to the voting booth. Many people are so fed up with voting in general because they hear such diabolically opposed statements they don't know what to believe. Then, once the politicians do get elected and get into office they have to pay back the people and corporations that bought them. Nothing changes for the people struggling and working to try to better their lives.  An example of people voting someone into office that promised he would do right by the people was Scott Walker (R-WI). Almost immediately after he took office he took away unions rights to engage in "collective bargaining." The residents of the state were shocked and angry. That motivated people to gather over 1,000,000 signatures (not an easy task) on a petition to "Recall" him and force a recall election. But when the recall election was held so much "Outside Money" (money contributed to him from people and corporations that don't even reside in the state!) was given to Walker's campaign in that recall election and he won! That is insane. It shows how people are mislead on what the truth is when a lot of money in spent in the media. Somehow because Walker's campaign was able to outspend his opponents (with that money that came in from OUT OF STATE) on TV ads that people believed what they kept seeing on TV over and over and voted for him! Let's not forget the most important thing that money in politics is doing, that is that it is buying our politicians, and, buying our elections. Fox News and Rupert Murdoch is a big player in the destruction of our democracy. Politicians and elections are being bought. One thing that has to happen to slow down money in politics is that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in "Citizen's United" has to be overturned. To do this a Constitutional Amendment has to be passed. So far 16 states have passed resolutions toward that end and in the meantime limit the damage from Citizen's United as much as they can. Does your state have a resolution to overturn Citizen's United? Contact your Representatives, look for groups in your area fighting for a state resolution to overturn Citizens United. We can also do something about the damage money in politics is doing. I will explain exactly what we can do later in this article. I hope you take part in taking back our democracy.

Gerrymandering:

 An example of Gerrymandering: In the above illustration you have an example of let's say a county, the county has 4 voting districts. The lines show how voting district lines may appear before and after gerrymandering, Before gerrymandering each of the 4 voting districts in the county on the left have 8 "Pink" neighborhoods, and 7 "Green" neighborhoods. Therefore the pink party would win all voting districts all of the electoral votes for the entire county would go to the pink party. On the right we have the same county, only the 4 voting district's lines have been "Redrawn" or "Gerrymandered." If you notice the "Green Party" will now win one of the districts, heavily in fact (14-2), and the "Pink" party would only win 3 voting districts. Therefore the "Green" party just stole a district, heavily, by gerrymandering, or, "redrawing" the lines. In this example none of the neighborhoods changed, just how the district lines were drawn changed. If you continued this process in hundreds of counties the green party would win a number of districts by gerrymandering, cheating. Right now there are 38 States that have Republican Governors and almost as many Republican State Legislatures. The State Legislatures are drawing the "Voting District" lines in many of those states, and that is where the gerrymandering is being done. The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided in favor of the "Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee" the defendant, in a case where the "Arizona State Legislature" the plaintiff, sued to have the right to have the State Legislature draw the lines and do away with the independent commission. The U.S. Supreme court said that having an independent commission drawing the voting district lines is constitutional. Now it's up to the states that don't have independent commissions drawing those lines to form one, and to vote on having an independent commission draw the voting district lines. So, the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for gerrymandering to end, but it's up to the voters in each of those states to do their jobs. Do you live in a state where a Republican State Legislature is drawing the voting district lines? Here is a complete list of states showing who is controlling YOUR State Legislature 2015 State Governors and Legislatures. The State Legislatures are made up of State Senators, and the State House of Representatives (Assemblymen). The "House" and "Senate" IS the State Legislature, who could be drawing the voting district lines. Click on the link above for the list of State Legislatures, if your state is shaded in gray on that list, you live in a state where the Republicans are controlling your State Legislature. You should contact your State Senators office, and your State Legislators (Assemblymen), and ask them if there is an "Independent Commission" in charge of drawing district voting lines. If not, tell them you want an independent commission in charge of drawing the voting district lines. Look for, or start, a petition to get an independent commission to draw the district voting lines in your state. Here is how you can find out who YOUR State Senators and Legislators are, AND how to contact them. Please do this NOW if you are in one of the gray shaded states on the list. Find YOUR State Assemblyman and State Senator by typing in your address HERE

Voter ID (Suppression) Laws

     In a March 2015 Huffington Post article "Colin Powell Has A Pretty Good Suggestion For Fixing Voter ID Laws" Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said that "black voters should vote for lawmakers who support voter ID restrictions out of office."

     Powell, who served as Secretary of State under George W. Bush, said that he was troubled by the voter ID laws, but that they were "hurdles that we can get over." "What I say to my friends in the African-American community, is whatever those states do, you meet the standards and then you make sure you register," Powell said during an interview on ABC's "This Week." "You make sure you vote. You make sure you vote for the people who tried to put these barriers, these hurdles in your way and then you vote them out."
     
Excerpt from an article in 2014, The American Prospect,
"Voter Suppression: How Bad? (Pretty Bad)

     "For the first time in decades, voters in nearly half the country will find it harder to cast a ballot in the upcoming elections. Voters in 22 states will face tougher rules than in the last midterms. In 15 states, 2014 is slated to be the first major election with new voting restrictions in place.
These changes are the product of a concerted push to restrict voting by legislative majorities that swept into office in 2010. They represent a sharp reversal for a country whose historical trajectory has been to expand voting rights and make the process more convenient and accessible."

     In fact, how bad is "Voter Impersonation at the Ballot Box" needing all these "Voter ID" laws? Well, when you take into account that the Republicans, who have actually pushed these laws through have spent a significant amount of money to investigate it, and only found thirty-one (31) cases out of over one billion 1,000,000,000 votes, I would say "Voter ID" laws are not needed at all, so they must be making the laws for another reason. Turns out they are, if you look at the actual laws and who they target, it is quite easy to see that they are "disenfranchising" certain voters. That is, making it harder for certain people to vote. How you ask? By demanding a State ID of which you need a birth certificate to get, it can be a problem, especially if you no longer live in the state you were born in. On average it costs about $30.00 to obtain that certificate, if you can find everything they require to get it in the first place. Some have said to me "States give you a free picture State ID." Nah, not true. In the last election cycle Pennsylvania was supposed to give out free State ID's at the DMV. But the State Legislature literally changed the rules needed on a daily basis for a 2 week period. It was so confusing that the employees at the DMV had no idea what do so they just told people they weren't giving out State ID's. This was shown in an investigative piece on 60 Minutes. When the legislator was interviewed about why the rules were changed so frequently, he said, that's the way it is.

     The ACLU says in an article "Fighting Voter ID Requirements" Since 2008, states across the country have passed measures to make it harder for Americans—particularly black people, the elderly, students, and people with disabilities—to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. Over 30 states have considered laws that would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Studies suggest that up to 11 percent of American citizens lack such an ID and would be required to navigate the administrative burdens to obtain one or forego the right to vote entirely.

     It was the  Washington Post in an August, 2014 article "A comprehensive investigation of voter impersonation finds 31 credible incidents out of one billion ballots cast" that actually investigated the number of actual cases that had been reported. Let's face it, the Republican Governors and Republican-controlled State Legislatures have created numerous laws for a non-problem so they could disenfranchise voters that they feel would not vote for them.

Finally, How Media Influences Voters

     So, if you read Part 1 of this article, and/or watch the Brave New Films documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism (link above)you already see how over 300 million Americans get the misinformation and lies that Fox News shows and prints in their empire. Other media outlets owned and controlled by people with an agenda, such as that of Rupert Murdoch add to the confusion to voters. This is why I decided to try to do something. That something, I found out was to Petition the FCC to not renew the licenses of Fox affiliates. I researched this possibility and found this:

     Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW) has already started this process in the Washington and Maryland areas. The process is spelled out in their Fox FCC Petition FAQ.   In their petition to the FCC CREW asked the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) not to renew the broadcast licenses of three Fox television stations, two in D.C. and one in Maryland. They asked for this based on this: "Under the law and FCC regulations, all broadcast licensees must be of good character. Two separate British inquiries have concluded both Rupert and James Murdoch turned a blind eye to the illicit activities at News Corp and one found Rupert Murdoch is not fit to run an international company. If the Murdoch's lack good character in Britain, they must lack it in the U.S. as well. Character doesn’t change on the other side of the Atlantic.You can read the evidence they produced in the link above (FAQ) which includes evidence of "Bad Character" in the United States "Conduct in the U.S. includes allegations of hacking phones of 9/11 victims and illegally gaining access to the password-protected system of a company News Corp. was trying to acquire."

     The next steps were: " In response to CREW’s petition, the FCC must determine (1) if facts alleged are true, could a reasonable fact finder conclude Fox lacks the requisite good character; and (2) does CREW’s petition present substantial and material questions? If the answer to both is yes, the FCC is required to hold an evidentiary hearing on whether Fox possesses the requisite character to continue to hold broadcast licenses. At that hearing, Fox will have the burden of proving it is entitled to renewal of its licenses, and CREW will have the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses to rebut that proof."

     If the FCC grant's CREW's petition in that case, Fox would lose three licenses in D.C. and Baltimore: WTTG, WDCA, and WUTB. In addition, CREW would have grounds to argue the licenses of all of Fox News Corp. subsidiaries in the U.S. should be revoked. If the FCC denied their petition in that case, CREW could file an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

     This is the actual "License Renewal Process for Television Broadcast Stations" from the FCC. To actually petition the FCC to deny the license of an affiliate, which is different than petitioning to deny a broadcast license, requires you to have legal standing. To have legal standing you have to say you are "a regular watcher" of the station.

     What I'm suggesting is that each of you start a petition online for the denial of the Fox affiliate's license for the area you are in. The basis will be that you have been damaged due to the Fox affiliate in your area has misrepresented and lied to you, the public, while calling their material "News." Rupert Murdoch admitted that what Fox produces is "entertainment", not news, when he called the watchers of Fox "Morons" and "White Trash," (see part 1 of this article.)

Fox News is "Entertainment" Says Rupert Murdoch- Problem? Many Fox News Watchers That He Called "Morons" and "White Trash" Take It As "Fair and Balanced" News

      Start today! Start a petition. Contact your Representatives and tell them you want the Fox affiliate's license in your area denied in it's renewal process! We especially need to reach the people in areas where all they hear is Bulls**t from Fox under the supervision of the Koch Brothers, the other 1%er's, and the corporations. Remember that in many areas the only "news" people see is produced by Fox and other conservative based media. Remember that 14 year old boy from New York that was kept in a coffin by his parents until someone found out and the reporter said to him "why didn't you tell anyone what your parents were doing to you? His answer, "I thought everyone's parents kept their kids in a coffin." 


To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR State Legislators enter your

​Address and ​

Zip Code at:

Open States: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR U.S. Congressmen/women enter your Zip Code at:

https://www.congress.gov/

To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR U.S. Senators enter your Zip Code at:

http://senate.gov/

     I have provided the links above to assist you in finding and contacting YOUR Representatives simply by typing in your zip code at those sites. By contacting them by phone or e-mail you will let them know that you ARE paying attention to what they are doing, and what YOU want them to do.

We Can Block Fox News Affiliates From Renewing Their Broadcast Licenses - Part 1

We Can Block Fox News Affiliates From Renewing Their Broadcast Licenses - Part 1  

  We Can Help Stop Lies Getting To Hundreds of Millions of People By Not Letting Fox Affiliates Renew Their Licenses

Why It's Important To Stop Spreading Misinformation

July 20, 2015, John A. Smith

   Some twenty years ago or so when I was a Paramedic in New York City, I saw a news report that portrayed a 14 year old boy whose parents were keeping him in a coffin, except for when he went to PUBLIC SCHOOL! The boy was forced by his parents to eat and defecate in the coffin. When it was finally discovered what his parents were doing to him the news reporter's first question was "Why didn't you tell anyone?" Take a guess at the boy's answer. wait. wait. "I thought everyone lived in a coffin." That's exactly how it is for millions of Americans who live where Politicians bought and paid for by the Koch Brothers, 1%'ers, and corporations. Their media is so overwhelmed with Republican propaganda that people like those in the South actually have almost no choice to believe what they see and hear. How do you think they (the Repuglicans) can convince the people in the states that have the most sick people, and the sickest people, that they don't need healthcare? How do they convince them that they're better off without Medicaid expansion, and without a healthcare exchange where they can buy affordable healthcare through "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (aka Obamacare)? People face a decision in this country when they go into the voting booth. Before they even make it to the voting booth though, they may have been disenfranchised by "Voter ID Laws" that have nothing to do with voter fraud and a lot to do with disenfranchising low income, minority, and other voters who don't have a state ID. 31 credible cases out of 1 Billion votes were found. This and gerrymandering will be discussed in Part 2. The decision people have is influenced by misinformation, outright lies, and fabrications, that are allowed to be broadcast on radio, TV, and in print media. In addition, politicians, backed by money from the richest people in the country who contribute money through campaign donations, Political Action Committees (PACS) and Super PACS, not to mention "Dark Money") lie to the American people to sell the agenda of the Koch Brothers, 1%'ers, and corporations, who are interested in nothing more than making money for themselves, not what is best for the American people. Once elected with the help of the big money they then go on to pass laws that will push those agendas. Sometimes with the help of organizations like the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, (A.L.E.C.) made up of global corporations and state politicians that vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. It's totally understandable that when all the misinformation, fabrications, and out right lies, to push the agenda flood the media that people make the wrong choice at the voting booth. Remember that in 2004 Rupert Murdoch's empire included his U.S. Television Stations (that were reaching 280 Million people), his Asian Satellite Network (reached 300 Million people), his Cable Channels (reached 300 Million homes), and his Magazines which reached 28 Million people. In 2004 that was 4.7 Billion people or 3/4 of the world population. His empire reaches even more today. Fox spreads far more misinformation and fabricated lies than any organization.  Fact Checker Finds 60% Of Fox News Statements To Either Be Mostly False Or A Lie  We can join together and try to slow the misinformation to low information voters. Will YOU help?

The Mission: Stop the FCC From Renewing Licenses to Fox Affiliates That Broadcast Fox News - Therefore Stop them From Spreading the Propaganda That Misleads Many Americans

     Because of the amount of material I have decided to publish this "Campaign," or, "Call to Action," in two parts, followed by updates.  My hopes is that between the parts being published that people will talk, share, tweet, and disseminate information about our "Call To Action" and it will gain traction. Obviously I will be publishing the articles on this blog. I will also "Tweet" @Medic3569 the posts, and post them on my Facebook page "Stop The Obstructionist Tea Party." Please check out my Facebook page and give us a "Like" and "Follow" me on Twitter.

     I have looked into how we can stop the lies, misrepresentations, and fabrications, that Fox News airs on their network and through affiliates. There is a way. We can petition the FCC to deny renewal licenses to TV stations that air Fox News based on the fact that they have been misleading, misrepresenting, and fabricating, material more than 51% of the time. However to have "Legal Standing" to petition the FCC we will have to have people in each of the regions that we target. Because to have legal standing the law says that you must be a regular watcher of that station. More on the legal aspects and map to stopping Fox later.

     Ten years ago, documentary maker Robert Greenwald released a film with a controversial premise: Fox News Channel is not a reliable media outlet but rather a partisan political operation.  Fox News network worked extremely hard to distinguish between its opinionated evening hosts and its fair and balanced correspondents and daytime anchors. Its reputation was policed by a ferocious public relations team that scoured the media for any references to Fox as right-leaning or conservative, demanding corrections or clarifications. Since 2004, Fox has dropped the pretense. “I want to elect the next president,” Fox News honcho Roger Ailes said in 2010.

Fox News is "Entertainment" Says Rupert Murdoch- Problem? Many Fox News Watchers That He Called "Morons" and "White Trash" Take It As "Fair and Balanced" News

New York, New York - In a conversation with Fox News celebrities, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity, that was picked up by an open microphone, Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO of News Corp., repeatedly referred to Fox News viewers as morons and white trash.

2004 Film Documentary By Brave New Films

 

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism

 

     Eleven years ago Brave New Films made a documentary film: "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism"  a 2004 documentary film by filmmaker Robert Greenwald that criticizes the Fox News Channel, and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, claiming that the channel is used to promote and advocate right-wing views. The film says this pervasive bias contradicts the channel's claim of being "Fair and Balanced". At the time the film was made Rupert Murdoch had acquired 9 Satellite Television Networks, 100 Cable Channels, 175 Newspapers, 40 Book Imprints, 40 Television Stations, and 1 Movie Studio. His U.S. Television reached 280 Million people, his Asian Satellite Network reached 300 Million people. His Cable Channels reached 300 Million Homes, and his Magazines reached 28 Million people. In 2004 that was 4.7 Billion people or 3/4 of the world population. 

     In the film David Brock, President/CEO of Media Matters for America says that "People face critical choices when they go into the voting booth and during the course of an election cycle I have been subject to false, distorted, caricatured, information that I might not even know where it came from because there is an echo effect off places like cable, radio and that wrong information is repeated over and over again so that by time it gets to me I don't even know where it came from." The documentary movie IS over 10 years old and I won't say that it applies today because today is much worse.

After Scandal Breaks Up Murdoch's American Multinational Mass Media the "New News Corporation" is Born

 

     NewsCorp was Murdoch's American multinational mass media corporation headquartered in New York City that existed from 1979 to 2013. On 28 June 2012, Rupert Murdoch announced that, after concerns from shareholders in response to its scandals and to "unlock even greater long-term shareholder value", News Corporation's assets would be split into two publicly traded companies, one oriented towards media, and the other towards publishing. (To see what holdings each part of the New News Corp had as of April 2014 see the Columbia Journalism Review from April 2014.) After the split caused by scandal the New News Corp.  (officially referred to as New News Corp; trading as News Corp) is an American multinational mass media company, formed as a spin-off of the former News Corporation (as founded by Rupert Murdoch in 1979) focusing on newspapers and publishing. It is one of two companies which succeeded the former News Corporation, alongside 21st Century Fox—which consists of the old News Corporation's broadcasting and media properties, such as Fox Entertainment Group. The spin out was structured so that 21st Century Fox would be the legal successor and continuation of the old News Corporation, with the new News Corp being an entirely new company formed by a stock split.

Seven Years After "Outfoxed"Murdoch's Empire Continues Corruption

 

      Seven years later a follow-up document film was made by Brave New Films: "Seven Years After Outfoxed, Murdoch’s Empire Continues Corruption" On the seventh anniversary of the film "Outfoxed..." the Murdoch investigation was in full swing and unveiling criminality, corruption, distortion and overall unethical behavior woven through the NewsCorp fabric. Seeing that Brave New Films has thoroughly examined how NewsCorp has long blurred the line between corporate interests and journalistic integrity the Outfoxed 7th anniversary event was a great opportunity to inform and inspire people across the spectrum.  Janeane Garofalo shared her memories of appearing on Fox News, and the form of bullying they would regular engage in with their progressive guests. Her thoughts follow a montage of the “shut up” O’Reilly clips — which are, as you might guess, where he tells his guests to “Shut Up.” See the "Outfoxed Live with Robert Greenwald: "Shut-Up!" with Janeane Garofalo video here.

In part 2 we will present more information and the steps it will take to fight against the Fox affiliates from renewing their licenses if they continue to air Fox News, Fox News Channel, 21st Century Fox, or Fox Entertainment Group.

Will YOU Help in Stopping Fox News From Helping the Right-Wing, the Richest Americans, and Corporations Agenda? Will YOU help Voters To Get Truthful Information and Make an "Informed Decision?

Another Way To Help Is Find and Contact Each of YOUR Representatives and Let Them Know What YOU Think and That You are Watching What They Do. 

The Links Below Will Give You Who YOUR Local, State, and United States Representatives Are Simply By Entering Your Zip Code. They Will Also Give You Their Contact Information i.e. Telephone Numbers, E-Mail Addresses So You Can Let Them Know THEY WORK FOR YOU!

 YOU Can let YOUR Representatives Know What YOU Think

To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR State Legislators enter your Zip Code at:

 OpenStates.org

To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR U.S. Congressmen/women enter your Zip Code at:

Congress.gov

To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR U.S. Senators enter your Zip Code at:

Senate.gov

     

WATCH FOR PART 2 OF THE "CALL TO ACTION" ARTICLE

S - 1737 Minimum Wage Fairness Act - NOW is the Time To Contact YOUR Senators

S - 1737 Minimum Wage Fairness Act

Photo by REUTERS/beawiharta

S 1737 -  Minimum Wage Fairness Act - In Senate

The Minimum Wage Fairness Act was "Introduced" to the Senate by Sen. Thomas "Tom" Harkin (for himself and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid) on November 19, 2013. S 1737 - Minimum Wage Fairness Act - GovTrack.us The bill was read to the committee on November 20, 2013. In general the bill reads:

Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1) ) is amended to read as follows:

(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than—

      (A) $8.20 an hour, beginning on the first day of the sixth month that begins after the

            date of enactment of the Minimum Wage Fairness Act ;

      (B) $9.15 an hour, beginning 1 year after that first day;

      (C) $10.10 an hour, beginning 2 years after that first day; and

      (D) beginning on the date that is 3 years after that first day, and annually thereafter,

            the amount determined by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (h);

 

 The bill is Co-Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the bill, according to GovTrack.us, only has a 20% chance of being enacted at this time. It is crucial that people contact their Senators immediately. Corporations, and the ultra-rich, have a good deal of influence on the Senators due to large campaign contributions made possible by the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010. If enough people call, or e-mail, their Senators it can, and will, effect them. Click on this link To TRACK this bill, FIND, and CALL YOUR SENATOR so that they hear our voices. 

 

Photo by SeattleTimes.com

 

Voter Initiative To Enact A $15hr Minimum Wage in a Suburb of Seattle Passes By Narrow Margin

Business Insider - A Town Near Seattle Voted To Raise The Minimum Wage To $15hr - The Highest In The Country - November 27, 2013

 OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - A voter initiative to enact a $15 minimum wage for thousands of workers in a Seattle suburb that houses the region's main international airport won a narrow victory on Tuesday that proponents hailed as a signal moment in the nationwide fight for livable wages.

 The measure mandates that some 6,300 workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and nearby hotels, car rental agencies and parking lots receive a minimum hourly wage more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

 "It shows that people are tired of waiting for corporate CEOs or Congress to deal with income inequality and that they can use democracy to make a change," said Heather Weiner, spokeswoman for the union-backed Yes For SeaTac campaign.
The measure won by a margin of 77 votes with about 6,000 ballots cast, and King County election officials certified the outcome on Tuesday after weeks of uncertainty.
Opponents who fear the measure will slow the region's economy and drive businesses away said they plan to request a manual recount, for which they will have to foot the bill unless the result is reversed.
 
Four major California airports operate under ordinances similar to the SeaTac measure, including one guaranteeing workers at San Jose airport $13.82 an hour plus health insurance, and another mandating that Los Angeles airport workers earn $10.91 per hour plus health benefits.

Meme by "Raise The Minimum Wage"

While The Purchasing Power Has Fallen Sharply - The Rich Have Grown Far Richer

The Minimum Wage Should Be Raised - Huffington Post - 11/10/2013

 Some 47 million Americans live in poverty, and a key reason is the decline of the minimum wage.
First established under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the nationwide minimum wage was designed to lift millions of American workers out of poverty and to stimulate the economy. Unfortunately, however, it was not indexed to inflation, and big businesses -- hostile from the start -- fought, often successfully, to prevent congressional action to raise it. As a result, over the past 40 years, the purchasing power of the minimum wage has fallen sharply. If Congress had kept the minimum wage in pace with inflation over this period, it would today be $10.74. But, in fact, it is $7.25 -- about two-thirds of its previous purchasing power.

A major consequence is that increasing numbers of workers and their families live in poverty. The annual salary of a full-time American worker employed at $7.25 per hour is $15,080 -- less than the official federal government poverty level for a family of two. The poverty level for a family of four is $23,550 -- considerably beyond what a minimum wage worker earns.

 At the same time, the rich have grown far richer. Between 1968 and 2012, as the minimum wage declined in value, the top 1 percent of households doubled their share of the nation's income. The typical CEO of a big business received a 16 percent raise in 2012 -- to $15.1 million. That year, the pay of Wal-Mart's CEO, Mike Duke, rose 14 percent, to $20.7 million. By contrast, Wal-Mart -- the largest employer in the United States - pays its sales associates an average wage of $8.81 an hour. It is much the same story at McDonald's, which employs large numbers of the nation's low wage workers. In 2012, the CEO of McDonald's was paid $27.7 million. Although his income roughly tripled in 2012, the income of McDonald's fast food workers remained abysmal. Thanks to this pattern, the United States now has the most unequal distribution of income in the industrialized world.

 

Costco CEO Craig Jelinek at the Costco store in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

 

 At Costco, we know that paying employees good wages makes good sense for business

 

COSTCO CEO "Raise Minimum Wage to $10 - March 2013 - Huffington Post

Costco CEO and President Craig Jelinek came out in support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, which aims to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, then adjust it after that for inflation.
"At Costco, we know that paying employees good wages makes good sense for business," Jelinek said in a statement. "We pay a starting hourly wage of $11.50 in all states where we do business, and we are still able to keep our overhead costs low."

"An important reason for the success of Costco’s business model is the attraction and retention of great employees," Jelinek added. "Instead of minimizing wages, we know it's a lot more profitable in the long term to minimize employee turnover and maximize employee productivity, commitment and loyalty. We support efforts to increase the federal minimum wage."

Photo by www.americansunitedforchange.org

Obama's $10.10 Minimum Wage Would Fundamentally Change America

Obama's $10.10 Minimum Wage Would Fundamentally Change America - Huffington Post - 11/08/2013

  President Barack Obama announced his support for legislation introduced by two Democratic senators that, if passed, would mark the first significant increase to the federal minimum wage in more than four years. Obama's statements showed that he's ready to go farther than his February proposal to push the minimum wage to $9, which many criticized as not a significant enough boost.
A leap to $10.10, however, could be enough to push a large number of the working poor -- a group defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as those who fall below the poverty line despite working (or searching for work) at least 27 weeks per year -- out of poverty.

Inequality For All – Must See Documentary (VIDEO)

Liberals Unite - Inequality For All - September 2013 

 A passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, 'Inequality For All' features Robert Reich-professor, best-selling author, and Clinton cabinet member—s he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy. The film is an intimate portrait of a man who's overcome a great deal of personal adversity and whose lifelong goal remains protecting those who are unable to protect themselves. Through his singular perspective, Reich explains how the massive consolidation of wealth by a precious few threatens the viability of the American workforce and the foundation of democracy itself. In this INCONVENIENT TRUTH for the economy, Reich uses humor and a wide array of facts to explain how the issue of economic inequality affects each and every one of us.