The Topeka Capitol Journal has some great photos from Washington Days on their website this morning. None of them have captions, however. So since we didn’t do a Friday Funnies (indeed we haven’t in some time) I thought we might make a few captions of our own.
Following an adventurous Friday night, Skye Coleman was hitting back the water Saturday morning while friends looked on with pity.
Hawver prefers to do his interviews from above so he can look down the YD’s blouses…
Despite their retirement, the two couldn’t shake labels from their past.
Sen. Chris Steineger searches the top of his brain for answers to difficult questions on policy initiatives. He finds this works more effectively than fist fights.
Bombarded with branding, John struggles to find his own identity.
Despite your compassionate side, when you’re one of the most important leaders in Kansas, its hard to find time for hugs…
Despite lackluster speaker draws (compared to Governor Schweitzer or Barack Obama in 2006) the KDP’s annual convention Washington Days had one of the largest turnouts in recent years. Kansas Equality Coalition lobbyist Tom Witt and US Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee gave a special tribute to activist Steve Brown who passed away last week.
Witt said he first met Brown after the State Senate voted for the marriage amendment in 2005. Witt described how devastated they were after the party turned their backs on the LGBT community, but Brown quite simply asked “What’s next…” well prepared to look for the next progressive cause. Steve Brown wasn’t glamorous, he wasn’t wealthy, he didn’t attend flashy parties or fundraisers for the biggest and best politicians – he did the work, Witt said.
Greenlee said they are working with the KDP leaders to create a new Democratic Equality award in Brown’s honor and she looks forward to being back next year to present it to another great Kansas democratic activist who is working for equal rights for all people.
I recently came in contact with Veronica Hill, a Kansan involved with the United States Social Forum (USSF). After Veronica told me about USSF I did some additional research and it turned out to be something pretty cool.
The US Social Forum (USSF) is a movement building process. It is not a conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country and changes history.
We must declare what we want our world to look like and we must start planning the path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn from each other’s experiences and struggles, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, build relationships, and align with our international brothers and sisters to strategize how to reclaim our world.
Why am I writing about this?
I hope others will follow Veronica’s lead and get involved in this movement or a movement like this. The USSF, to me, seems to be the exact type of forum we should be engaged in. As youth, Kansans, and progressives we should be talking about how we want the world to shape around us and addressing the issues our communities face.
Here is some more info on the USSF.
Believe that there is a strategic need to unite the struggles of oppressed communities and peoples within the United States (particularly Black, Latino, Asian/ Pacific-Islander and Indigenous communities) to the struggles of oppressed nations in the Third World.
Believe the USSF should place the highest priority on groups that are actually doing grassroots organizing with working class people of color, who are training organizers, building long-term structures of resistance, and who can work well with other groups, seeing their participation in USSF as building the whole, not just their part of it.
Believe the USSF must be a place where the voices of those who are most marginalized and oppressed from Indigenous communities can be heard–a place that will recognize Indigenous peoples, their issues and struggles.
Believe the USSF must create space for the full and equal participation of undocumented migrants and their communities.
Believe the USSF should link US-based youth organizers, activists, and cultural workers to the struggles of their brothers and sisters abroad, drawing common connections and exploring the deeper meanings of solidarity.
Believe the USSF is important because we must have a clear and unified approach at dealing with social justice issues, and meaningful positions on global issues.
Believe that a USSF sends a message to other people’s movements around the world that there is an active movement in the United States opposing U.S. policies at home and abroad.
Believe that the USSF will help build national networks that will be better able to collaborate with international networks and movements.
We believe the USSF is more than an event. It is an ongoing process to contribute to strengthening the entire movement, bringing together the various sectors and issues that work for global justice.
This past weekend about 250 Young Democrats gathered in New Orleans for this years winter conference. The weekend was full of great trainings, discussion, the usual YDA drama, great food, and a ton of fun.
Here is my wrap up for the weekend. Thursday around 80 YD’s participated in a community service project in New Orleans, they helped work on a home that was devastated by Katrina. I didn’t get in until around noon Thursday so I instead got to roam the town and enjoy some of New Orleans great food and culture.
Thursday night there was a Hip Hop caucus event that many YD’s attended to talk about community and activism.
Friday the conference officially started. The State Presidents had two trainings that morning, one of campaigns and field work and the other was on finance. In the trainings we learned how to target and organize within our states, as well as how to raise money and budget on a campaign.
Then in the afternoon I had “the SPA business meeting” where we had an election for Vice Chair (Congrats to Melanie from TX) and discussed how we, as State Presidents, feel about issues within YDA and how they effect each of us.
Friday night we had the General opening session where we heard from speakers and highlighted a service project in each region. Saturday we started the morning with committee and caucus meetings. Then we had the great pleasure of having lunch with Lilly Ledbetter and DNC Secretary Alice Jermond. Lilly gave an awesome speech about her fight for equal pay in the workplace and about how we need to work together for equality. You can watch the video from the lunch here.
After lunch I attended the Rural Caucus meeting, where they had a Louisiana State Legislature as a speaker, he spoke about how to work in rural communities and methods that he used when campaigning. After the caucus meetings we had region recaps and then many of us went on a ghost tour of the French Quarter, which was really cool.
Sunday morning we finished up with a few meetings then General Session, after that we explored the town and left our YDA family.
Also I didn’t know how to fit this in the post so here it is, but I felt that I couldn’t leave it out. We frequented the famous Cafe Du Monde sometimes multiple times a day.
As young people in politics, we hear it all – we’re not experienced enough, we’re naive, we should listen to our elders, we shouldn’t show them the error of their ways. At the same time, we get the message that we’re the future, we’re bright, we’re innovative, changing the world doesn’t pay enough – we should drop the ideology and get a “real career”. We’ve all been there. But our current political system is good at disenfranchising young voters and young activists, and we need to do some serious changes to make political awareness, voting, discussion and engagement part of our national culture and young people will be at the forefront.
I know that my (non-political) friends look at me like I’m crazy when I mention I’m going to somewhere to rally for a candidate. “But politicians are all sleazy/corrupt/out of touch” is a common refrain. In this I challenge those young people who have seen the politics of older generations and become skeptical to go out and talk to your legislators. Some are genuinely nice, and caring. Some want the power, the money, the evening tv coverage. For those latter group, I challenge you again: take them out. Politics and attitudes will never change if you don’t take some interest in changing the system, and removing the corrupt players.
Changing the system is not that hard. Many people were energized by the Obama campaign, but I challenge you to start locally. A local school board race probably has much more impact on the daily lives of the young activists (after all, we’re the ones both in school and thinking about having children who will need these schools) and what is taught, from evolution to sex ed is decided by these local groups of people. These under-the-radar races can be changed by just a few votes – those that you can win by talking to your friends at the bar, your coworkers, or knocking a few doors in your neighborhood. A few hours and little to no money, and you’ve just influenced what you or your siblings are hearing in their classrooms. The presidential election may be sexier – but a school board election could be what’s standing between you and your classmates getting an education or a waste of time.
To the older party: listen to us! When everyone is pointing fingers between the state parties, the DCCC, the DSCC, the DNC – we’re holding out on missing a bigger point. There’s failures all around, between candidates saying the wrong thing, between lack of support and general political crap-flinging, we’re creating a younger generation that is extremely skeptical about politics. With the larger organizations, the ‘established’ organizations – youth are not a caucus to shuffle aside, not a radical generation who will be “tempered with age” – we’re living these issues just as much as anyone else, and our voices are just as important as anyone else. (In fact, with the rates of 20-somethings without health insurance, you could go so far as to say we’re living this particular issue more than anyone else!) Yes, it’s scary when someone challenges your established dogma/purpose statement/platform. But life is scary – and these organizations were not founded by people who were happy with being told “wait your turn”. Remember your beginning, your roots – it’s not about what “wave” people are, if they’re for or against marriage rights. Quit trying to score personal points when the details are irrelevant – we’re here to work together to make this world a better place for everyone: a cleaner environment, education, thriving instead of surviving, social justice. These aren’t buzz words, they aren’t talking points – they’re real issues that we’re facing every day, just as much as any other generation. So listen up. When we tell you that we can’t afford college, that we can’t afford health care, we’re sick of our friends and classmates dying in Iraq – take it seriously.
Instead of cable news and constantly running media streams and score keeping, let’s have a constructive national debate. Instead of pictures of fetuses and talking points of “condoms for kindergartners”, let’s talk about sex ed, contraception, and abortion. (Kids have sex. Even if they’ve taken abstinence pledges. Let’s make sure they’re healthy, safe, and in healthy relationships, and acknowledge their own bodily sovereignty and ability to make their own decisions.) Let’s talk about the environment, and the amount of revenue and jobs that could be created in our own state with wind farming. (If people put up with dangerous, dirty oil pumps on their land for extra revenue, I’m sure they can learn to live with a wind mill.) Let’s talk about health care, and our own friends who need it, our friends who are being shot at in wars abroad and in our own neighborhoods, our college education at the cost of a mortgaged future.
To my own generation: take a chance on politics. Work local, make a difference. To the older generations, to the political organizations: Listen to us! Take a chance, go outside your comfort zone, push politicians to take a stand. To everyone: Engage. Don’t get offended, be willing to listen, to explain, to not compromise but instead work together to find an innovative solution that meets everyone’s needs. We can’t continue with this current political system – we’re already broke, sick, and losing our jobs. We need to quit digging this hole and start climbing out. What’s your role going to be?
I applaud the fact that the State of Kansas will be cutting back its budget by $92 million. I think that most of us were thinking, “It’s about time.” Knowing that our state is in such a financial crisis while watching improvements being made to the state capitol at the same time seems unethical to me. I have not agreed with most of the cuts our legislators have made up to this point.
Cutting social services and trying to balance the states budget at the expense of children, the elderly, and the disabled is disgraceful. I believe if the state of Kansas is going to make more cuts it should be to everything but schools and services to the elderly and the disabled.
When the state first started cutting its budget the non-profit agencies that carry out the duties of social services were the first to get hit. These agencies employ numerous employees. I have heard stories of many agencies laying off employees, reducing hours, and giving thought to closing their doors for good. The negative economic impact of this is real and is happening right now.
Recently the non-profit that I work for had to reduce pay, and lay off employees. When you work for a non-profit agency the pay is usually lower then in the for-profit sector. However non-profit agency employees work because they love their jobs, and not for the money. I also know that currently there are people dieing on waiting lists for funding. On the states physical disability waiver there have been at least 58 people that we know of who have died on the waiting list. We can not cut social service agencies budgets any longer.
I don’t understand the resistance to a very small tax increase. In July of 2005 Sedgwick county had a half cent sales tax that lasted for 30 months to fund its new Intrust Bank Arena. As a Sedgwick county resident I did not even notice when the sales tax increased, nor did I notice when it stopped. Sedgwick County raised $206 million in that period of time. How much could be raised by a half cent sales tax in the entire state? Taxes in Kansas are not too high. It’s that our tax obligations are not fairly distributed.
As for the the anti-government, anti-tax groups that believe that social services should be run by charities. These people have no idea what they are talking about. I assume they are living in some kind of dream world. Any charity will tell you that the need far out weighs the supply. Most of the charities I work with run out of money far before the end of the year. They end up spending a good chunk of the year saying “Sorry I cant help you, we are out of funds. Call back next year.” Lets face facts here. Taxes are a part of living in a modern western society. They fund our schools and our roads. Taxes also fund desperately needed services for the disabled, and elderly.
I think we can all agree that this has been a dark period of time in our state. We all want our businesses to thrive and hire employees. I believe we all want to share in our responsibility to provide for our children, disabled, and elderly. We just disagree on how it should be done.
I’m glad they’re taking a stand on this. I can’t see how denying Kansans health insurance makes them more free. Such a problem to have; being all tied up with health insurance. Here’s the press release:
The Topeka Branch NAACP and the Kansas State Conference of Branches NAACP will hold a Press Conference on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 3:00pm at the Docking State Office Building opposing the Kansas “Health Care Freedom” Amendment. This proposed amendment would block the implementation of any Federal Health Care Reform legislation here in Kansas. With over 300,000 Kansans uninsured, we can’t afford to play these partisan games. Join us as we call on the legislature to reject this partisan anti-reform measure and to work for real health care reforms to provide quality and affordable health care for all.
For further information, please contact Rev. Ben Scott at the Topeka Branch NAACP, 26-NAACP (785-266-2227).
Today the Kansas legislature decided that we all apparently need to get married. And not divorced. And they’re claiming the moral high ground on this one, of course.
Two provisions today were passed that are intended to increase the marriage rate in our state – a highly debated amendment to HB 2667 promoting “covenant marriage“, which is a religiously-based sector or marriages where people agree to see marriage as a “covenant” (more than just an agreement between people) and is a very popular idea with most Christianity at the moment. While it requires pre-marital and pre-divorce counseling, the most frightening provision within these types of marriages is the control that it gives one party over another. If your spouse is being abusive, do you really think your relationship is at a healthy enough point that counseling would be effective, or that you would even be able to have the spouse show up at counseling sessions? (And if they don’t, you might not be allowed to divorce them.)
The second provision would waive the fee for a marriage license between lower-income people, as a way to encourage marriage. This type of program isn’t new, and a federal initiative of the sort was popular under the Bush administration. Too many single-parent births being reported? Set them up with a free and quick marriage, and those numbers fall! Forget healthy relationships and all that, if the kids have two (heterosexual) parents, it’s all good, right?
Not that marriage is necessarily a bad thing, and for a large part of our population, it’s definately seen as the ideal. The problem comes in when you encourage marriage instead of fixing the real issues in people’s lives. Instead of teaching people comprehensive sex ed that includes relationships, funneling people into getting married (“for the children’s sake!”) after those unplanned pregnancies and keeping women at home and pregnant is just one step in the ultimate far-right goal of keeping all us womenfolk at home, barefoot, and pregnant. Encourage healthy relationships, not necessarily marriage, and kids and adults will be healthier, happier, and more well-adjusted. If only our elected officals could learn that.
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