I joined the United Airline Pilots, Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Professional Airline Flight Control Association, and International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers on the picket line today.Their experience is a symptoms of what is happening to many workers throughout Colorado and the U.S. Are we watching the end of an era of any corporate Patriotism?

When United was going through bankruptcy, United’s workers were asked “share in sacrifice” for the survival of the company. So how has that sacrifice been “shared”?

WORKERS “SHARE”:

• Experienced a 50% cut in pay and benefits since 2003
• Lost more than $1.4 Billion annually from 2003 - 2010
• Had Health Insurance reduced by more than 20%
• Loss of Retirement Pensions

CEO / MANAGEMENT “SHARE”:

• 3,533% Compensation Increase for the CEO
• $40 Million paid to the CEO

The company posted a quarterly profit of $274 million.

When CEOs give themselves pay increases while cutting their workers wages and benefits, it doesn’t looking like “sharing the sacrifice” to me. My grandfather, was an airline pilot for United, and would be rolling over in his grave to see the fate of a company that used to make the American Dream come true.

In the modern era a CEO makes an average of 500 times his or her average worker (up from 40 times the average salary in the 1980’s).

You, and I, and our workers, are paying for this decadence in the form of higher prices, lower wages, reduced benefits, and reduced services.

Hats off to these workers who are doing their part to raise important issues that impact us all!

Come meet fellow Democrats, and learn how to participate in the upcoming caucus, county assembly and the National Convention!!!!  Candidates for US Congress have been invited!   This is a family friendly event!! Bring the kids and grandkids!!

When: August 12, 2007 Hamburger Fry and potluck start at 4:30pm Pool opens at 6:00pm

Where: Fort Morgan Riverside Park and Swimming Pool

Bring: a side dish, salad or dessert to share

Drinks, Hamburgers, Hotdogs and the trimmings will be provided. (Vegetarian and non red meat alternatives will be available)

This event is free but we are asking people to consider a donation if they can afford it so we can cover the cost of pool rental, etc. Suggested donation $5 per person or $10 per family.

RSVP on Partybuilder:

http://www.democrats.org/page/event/detail/4vctj

or contact Tom Proctor: tomproctor@bresnan.net, 970-867-8765; Lesle Bundy: lnbundy@yahoo.com, 970-867-0482; April Bowen: aprilmbowen@yahoo.com, 970-867-2236

Morgan County web site:  http://morgan.highplainsdems.org

CARROLL CANVASSING - WALKERS NEEDED

Come find out what folks are thinking and how we can better serve their needs.  Can you commit to 2 walk dates this year? We will be continuing our annual Listening Tour on:

Sat. Aug. 18, 2007 (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
15445 E. Iliff Ave, #C, Aurora 80013
Precinct 367 - No Chair
Precinct 368 - Chair, Niki Floyd
To RSVP, please Contact Bill Kaberlein at 720.240.7653 or wjk34@comcast.net.

Sun. Aug. 19, 2007 (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) Joint Canvass
Rep. Carroll & Sen. Williams
15445 E. Iliff Ave, #C, Aurora 80013
Precinct 336 - Chair, Sig Nelson
To RSVP, please Contact Bill Kaberlein at 720.240.7653 or wjk34@comcast.net.

Sat. Aug. 25, 2007 (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
15445 E. Iliff Ave, #C, Aurora 80013
Precinct 514 - No Chair
To RSVP, please Contact Bill Kaberlein at 720.240.7653 or wjk34@comcast.net.

Sun. Aug. 26, 2007 (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
15445 E. Iliff Ave, #C, Aurora 80013
Precinct 516 - Chairs, Don Gardner & Leann Root
To RSVP, please Contact Bill Kaberlein at 720.240.7653 or wjk34@comcast.net.

To volunteer for Rep. Morgan Carroll you can also sign up at www.repmorgancarroll.com/volunteer.

As Dan Slater observed in his latest Dem Notes, variety is the spice of Party picnics, and all Dem-friendly events. Rep. Morgan Carroll invites progressive performers of all types and talents to take to the stage at her variety show on September 15th. Showcase your support for one of the Party’s “rising stars” by sharing a song, poem, joke, magic act, or “Morgan story”…and spreading the word! Celebrate your freedom of expression—while it lasts—for a good cause. Details below (and attached):

Calling all Carrollers! Bring Act III to Aurora!

Join us at a variety show to support Rep. Morgan Carroll’s re-election campaign

The Aurora Hills are alive with music, comedy, poetry and politics on Saturday, September 15th 6:30 – 9:00pm

Tin Cup clubhouse at Aurora Hills Golf Course
50 S. Peoria St. Aurora, CO 80012

Suggested Donation: $20

To perform or attend, please RSVP to Karen@arapahoedems.org 720-234-5303

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

OK, I know its already Thursday, and I’ve been remiss in posting to DemNotes lately. I hope to get over that soon — next week, I’m leaving for the Northeast to attend the DNC and ASDC Executive Committee meetings in Burlington, Vermont, and I’ll be reporting from there more regularly (I hope).

I did go to Drinking Liberally here in Canon City last night, but I’m not going to write about that. And I did get to attend my very first concert at Red Rocks on Monday night, and was amazed by the venue, and could not help but think how we need to use it during the Convention a year from now — but I’m not going to write about that, either.

Instead, I want to write about my Saturday afternoon here in Canon City. The Fremont County Democrats held a great event to try to draw people and volunteers back into the Democratic Party. The “Democratic Reunion” was in conjunction with the DNC’s “Democratic Reunion” weekend, and it was really a lot of fun. Both Rep. Buffie McFadyen and I spoke, but the event was not really about speechifying — it was about getting together with like-minded souls and talking about issues important to Fremont Democrats. And about having fun.

There were volunteer boards set up for each of the six “areas” of the county, so people could write down issues important to them and volunteer to assist with organizing their precincts. There was a great silent auction for the Party’s scholarship fund, and there was a huge potluck spread of such a variety that pretty much any taste would be satisfied.

After all of that, there were games. Now, I must admit that I was a little skeptical of the games at first — my first reaction was to dismiss them as a bit corny. But I was wrong — the games were a great way to top off the day and build comaradarie among the local Dems. We had a three-legged race, a shoe race, an egg toss (I just barely missed getting egg all over myself), and a water balloon toss. County Party treasurer Brandy Johnson and her dad were clearly the athletic ones, as they dominated in both the egg toss and the water balloon toss.

The weather participated, and everybody I saw left with a great big smile on their face as storm clouds just started to roll in. It really was a great day to be a Democrat in Fremont County, and I’d encourage other counties to consider including a wide variety of activities at their picnics and potlucks coming up here in August.

PDC Presents

War Made Easy

How Presidents and Pundits Keep

Spinning Us to Death

Wednesday August 8, 2007

7 P.M.

The Public is Invited

Colorado State Democratic Headquarters

777 Santa Fe - Denver, Colorado

Norman Solomon has created a documentary which examines the role our mainstream
media played in helping the Bush administration sell our invasion and subsequent
occupation of Iraq. The documentary also explores other examples where our national
media has failed to critically examine the case presidents have made for taking
U.S. troops into war. A free, critical and independent press is essential for
maintaining a democracy and our national media has failed to fulfil that role.

PDC is planning to have Norman Solomon available for questions and discussion
after the documentary via phone in opportunity.

Please join us for an important look at our mainstream media, a discussion
of the film and some of the problems that exist with our national media and
its approach to covering news in America today.

Further information email mark@pdcolorado.org
or visit our web site www.pdcolorado.org

Our current health care “system” is in crisis. Colorado consumers have seen sky-rocketing premiums (82% increase 2000 – 2004 for families, 140% increase 2000 – 2005 for small employers) and plummeting benefits. So what has changed over the decades? Profit. We’ve seen a corporate take-over of healthcare and most people don’t know what hit them. Ever wonder what is really driving up the cost of our healthcare? I want to share with you my assessment of the problems and some of my thoughts on solutions.

• Pharmaceutical Advertising: Companies are spending billions per year on direct television advertising for prescriptions (a practice that used be illegal under federal law that is driving up the cost of prescription medicine.) Most are spending 4 or 5 times as much on marketing as on research.

Solution: Reinstate prior federal prohibition against direct TV advertising for prescription drugs (FEDERAL).

• Overcharging Insurance Premiums: Most states require a rate-review process before an insurance company can file rate increases. Colorado doesn’t. Colorado allows insurance companies to file rate increases in any amount, at any time, without any oversight. It works well for them ($$$), but not so well for consumers.

Solution: Implement insurance rate review for price gouging in Colorado (STATE).

• Cuts in Funding Public Research: As the states and federal government pulled back on funding public research there are fewer public medical patents. Private companies now own most of the patents, allowing monopolies over healthcare pricing, driving up the cost of healthcare.

Solution: Increase publicly funded research and therefore publicly held healthcare patents consider reducing duration of healthcare patents (STATE & FEDERAL).

(more…)

The Park County Democratic Party would like to invite everyone to our 2nd annual FREE PICNIC this Saturday, August 4. Come and enjoy free food and lively conversation; converse with neighbors and members of the Park County Democrats on Saturday from 12:30 to 5 pm. Follow the signs off Highway 285 near the top of Crow Hill to 1029 Crow Valley Road. For more information, visit http://www.parkcodems.org or call 303-816-1616. Hope to see you there!

Soren Frederiksen
1st Vice Chair
Park County Democrats

This past legislative session, State Senate Jennifer Veiga (Senate District 31, Denver) and House Majority Leader Alice Madden (House District 10, Boulder) sponsored a bill to prevent employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or religion. The bill, SB07-25, takes effect this Friday, August 3.

Senator Veiga has sponsored similar legislation every year since 2001, and it has twice passed the state legislature only to be vetoed by then-Governor Bill Owens.

“Such an important, basic human right as employment should never be based upon race, gender, age, country of origin, or in this case sexual orientation,” said. Senator Veiga.

To read the text of the bill, click here, or see:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csl.nsf/BillFoldersSenate?openFrameset