What's next ?

Last night a dentist shared his frustration with the dental health insurance environment that he must function within. He declared that his frustration is intense, but minor when compared to what his peer physicians must feel being squeezed between health insurers, malpractice premiums, and the government. For him, at times he feels like he should just conclude . . . “Close the doors. Turn out the lights. You’re done!”

Over thirty folks participated in a very lively program about health care coverage for every resident of Pennsylvania. Governor Rendell’s approach includes the health insurance companies as part of the solution and HELP Fund PA proposes removing those insurers from the solution because they have identified those very insurers as the root cause of the lack of affordability of health care coverage for us.

Great turnout, great event, exciting time had by all ! ! Thank you to all who participated and to Bob Kefauver for his assistance and his videotaping of the program for submission to our local public access tv folks.

Participants were asked what they’d like to experience in the future programs presented as the Grassroots Topics series at the Democratic Party of York County Headquarters. Their responses were exciting:

- Education Reform, including funding
- Fair Trade
- Consolidation of municipalities
- Immigration issues
- ACLU – the war on our civil rights – Patriot Act – Guantanamo
- Women’s issues
- Oil – money to the Middle East – oil pipeline
- How to run a tight, well organized campaign
- How to pick winning candidates
- Establishing a county-wide Human Relations Commission
- Joint meeting with all the other Democratic Party clubs, associations (Young Dems, Southern, etc.)
- Use the wall in there in the headquarters of the Party to provide photos and biographies of our leaders of the Democratic Party of York County
- Identify the elected positions that we need to recruit Democratic Party candidates for . . . in the current election cycle and the near future
- Defining ourselves and who we are and where we stand as the Democratic Party of York County for recruitment of Dem voters and candidates

Obviously, it was a fantastic night of lively interaction by your fellow Democrats and Progressives. Join your neighbors and your peers next month for the next Grassroots Topics program. Watch for details.

In the meantime, find a military service veteran (current service or years ago), his/her family members, and even those who grew up as military “brats” and thank them for their sacrifices and their loyal service to us all, to our great nation ! ! !

Join your fellow Dems ! !

Feeling like your Mondays
in York County are too dull, too quiet,
too ordinary?

Not this Monday, February 26th!


Event #1 - First DLA Luncheon of 2007
We want to remind you of our first Democratic Leadership Alliance luncheon of 2007;
at noon, Monday, 2/26/07, at the Harp and Fiddle Irish Pub (upstairs) on S. George Street in the city.

There will be a "State of the County" address by Mayor John Brenner, County Commissioner, Doug Kilgore and State Rep. Eugene DePasquale.

Cost is $25.

For reservations or more information, contact Mary Ann Bacas, 663 Madison Ave, York, PA 17404. or email her at: MA@Bacas.com

Event #2 –

“Health Care For Every Pennsylvanian”

is the topic of this month’s grassroots session

at 7PM on at the Democratic Party HQ in York City

at 275 W. Market Street.

Feb 26th The Democratic Party will have 2 speakers discussing Health Care in Pennsylvania.

• Chuck Pennacchio, the exciting and forward thinking US Senatorial candidate, is coming to York.
• Abe Amoros, or a representative from the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform (OHCR), is also coming to YORK!!

The speakers are presenting competing Bills on Health Care for Pennsylvanians.
This unique opportunity to hear and question BOTH Plans also means we can INFLUENCE how our Representatives vote! Each speaker will take 15 minutes to share their point. There will be a question and answer period after we have heard from both.

Please join us at 7PM on Feb 26 at the Democratic Party HQ, 275 W. Market Street.

Additional information:
OHCR is presenting a plan called the "Prescription for Pennsylvania" or "Rx for PA". This Plan is a series of 47 Bills that will hold down escalating costs such as the uninsured using Emergency Rooms as their primary care system. The Governor has been traveling the state seeking support for the Plan.

The competing Plan is a Single-Payer Bill. HELP Fund PA or the "Family and Business Healthcare Security Act of 2007". HELP Fund PA on Feb 27th (10 AM - Noon) is in Harrisburg making a presentation before Democratic legislators. HELP Fund PA is hoping for grassroots support from every citizen to pack the House Caucus room with more than one hundred supporters. Keep that in mind while listening and questioning the speakers on Monday night.

Overall Agenda for evening of Feb 26th:
7 PM: Welcome and Announcements by Jim Poland, Vice Chair Finance of the Democratic Party of York
1. Upcoming Training & Events
2. Deadlines for the Primary
3. Call for Volunteers
7:15: "Rx for PA" by Abe Amoros
7:40: "HELP Fund PA" by Chuck Pennachio

Q&A Time: 20 minutes

Announce Next Meeting

Social Time

Adjournment

York County Federation of Democratic Women set to grow

I just received a membership application from the York County Federation of Democratic Women. They have an upcoming meeting Saturday, March 31 at 2p.m., at a location to be announced.

The purpose of the organization is :

Dedicated to the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party and to the promotion of Democratic Women to leadership in government and in the Democratic Party. The YCFDW shall support the election of Democratic candidates throughout Pennsylvania.

Membership in YCFDW is open to any person who is registered in the Democratic Party, and annual dues are $10..

There are to be five committees:

SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE: This committee shall be responsible for the development of activities to promote the participation and election of Democratic women in York County. The committee shall also develop and recommend events and/or activities to increase voter registration and voter participation in York County.

WAYS AND MEANS: This committee shall be responsible for the development and implementation of events to fund club activities with the approval of the membership.

BUDGET AND FINANCE: This committee shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual club budget. The committee shall also review the financial records of the club annually

MEMBERSHIP: This committee shall be responsible for the recruitment of new members...
Political Action Committee: This committee shall make recommendations for the expenditures from the PAC fund.

Dues may be sent to Carol Downs Brady - Any questions call Colleen Burkett 600.0105 or email to colleen@burketts.org.

Interesting info on the impact of social networks on politics

Ben McConnell at the Church of the Customer Blog did a post titled Social networks and politics:

"Social networks are the new grassroots organizing force for politics.
The first-week numbers for Barack Obama's presidential campaign website illustrate why:
70,000 members signed up
4,000 blogs started
3,000 fundraising pages
started
2,400 groups started
Social networks for grassroots campaigns
give the true believers more of what they want: a voice, a vote and a vocation. "

Dentists with a heart

Thank them, today!

Reliable research shows that poor oral health . . . a.k.a. plaque build up . . . can cause heart disease. We all know that it is hard to look straight at someone we’re talking to who is missing one or more of their front teeth. Now, imagine interviewing and hiring a job applicant with mission teeth, Imagine that same toothless applicant who is finding it hard to get hired for a job paying a “survive & thrive” wage feels the pressure of knowing they are totally relied upon by one or more young children to provide the food, shelter, clothing, and health insurance.

Dental health is IMPORTANT ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

So, call these folks and thank them today for what they do for York: Steven, John, Ed, Jim, Rob, Sarah, Doug, Rina, Gary, Jim B., Jill, Jeff, and Joan.

These business owners and career professionals are providing
DENTAL CARE for FREE
FOR THOSE IN FINANCIAL NEED

Here in York, Pennsylvania.

You have to love that.

The York County Dental Society and these dentists are participating in the 21st annual “Dentists With A Heart”.

If you are avoiding oral care because of limited finances, then contact one of these folks right away to schedule an appointment for your children and yourself. If you know of a neighbor in this situation, print out this blog, give it to them and encourage them to get the care they or their kids need.

Even if you are not faced with severe limited financial means, remember to call one or more of these dentists to thank them and their staff for their loving, quality service to your neighbors. Better yet, mail them an honest-to-gosh handwritten thank you note as a nearby neighbor. If your dentist isn’t participating, consider mailing a copy of this blog commentary to them (email it to them if they have a website).

Honor Roll:
Feb. 14 Shrewsbury 888-287-6453 Dr. Steven Haywood
Feb. 15 Shrewsbury 227-9959 Dr. James Boyle
Feb. 16 Hanover 633-5874 Dr. Joan Werleman

Mar. 10 Spring Grdn 846-2900 Dr. James Coll & Associates
Already held their event and deserve a “thanks”:
Feb. 9 Dallastown 244-4094 Dr. Edward Roth
Feb. 9 Sprngtssbry 848-1463 Dr. Robert Bury & Dr. Sarah O’Sullivan
Feb. 9 Spring Grdn 854-9821 Dr. Douglas Schmitt, Dr. Rina Singh, Dr. Gary Kaplowitz
Feb. 10 New Salem 792-0484 Dr. John Blevins

Remember to floss daily
and brush your teeth for 2 minutes
at least twice every day.

Ding Dong redux

“Ding, dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch, the witch is dead. Ding, dong the wicked witch is dead.”

Every American baby boomer who faithfully watched the annual rerun of The Wizard Of Oz every Easter weekend in the 1960s remembers this refrain sung by the Munchkins of Munchkinland upon the arrival of Dorothy, her dog Toto, and her Kansas farmhouse that landed on top of the Wicked Witch of the East. So began the Technicolor portion of the epic tale of Dorothy’s quest to return to her home, family, and friends by conquering the Wicked Witch’s more wicked sister.

Recently the wicked witch of Iraq (and some of his henchmen) was finally put to death for his crimes against his own citizens. America overthrew this evil despot in order to free ourselves from the fear that he would supply weapons of mass destruction to our enemies. Weapons never found. We then justified the continued risks to our men and women, their deaths and maiming and the burgeoning expense of billions of taxpayer dollars because he was an evil dictator who committed despicable acts of murder upon his repressed masses and was destabilizing the entire Middle East. Next, we justified our bungling efforts by declaring that America was delivering the freedom of democracy to the peoples of Iraq (our Democracy came from our own internal revolution, by the way).

Well, the witch is dead . . . let’s go home to Kansas, Toto!

Oh no. It’s not that easy. Now we must tolerate our President hocking his and his Veep’s “Gird Your Loins” plan to send more of our women and men, America’s mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers into the Land Of Oz. Messrs. Rove, Bush, and Cheney propose to us that although we have achieved our Primary Goal of having the evil dictator and his evil sons deposed and/or dead, achieved our Secondary Goal of freeing Iraq’s repressed, tortured populace by introducing a Westerner’s edition of a free democratic government duly elected by confidential ballot that now we have to pull from their homes, their children 20,000 plus of our neighbors (perhaps your family members) to quelch the sectarian civil war and destroy the jihadists funded by Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Syria. The reasoning we are expected to tolerate is that America has “broken it, so we own it.”

Mr. President, like a good used car salesman asks us to join him in supporting the “winning of the war on terrorism” by massing more American citizens in the very killing fields that we created in Iraq for those extremists who have twisted their faithfulness into a justification to live as serial murderers. The advisers of Mr. President and those in the Houses of the Senate and Congress who support this “surge” are the flying monkeys of Oz. You know, the monkeys that deliver us to the Wicked Witch of the West who seeks revenge for our arrival in her land when we dropped that house on her wicked sister. Only this time there are no magic slippers protecting us. Nor is there a simple bucket of water that can be tossed on the wicked creature to cause the evilness to shrink away.

I suggest that you call and email your Pennsylvania Senators and your local Congressperson, Mr. Platts here in York, to CLEARLY STATE THAT AS THEIR CONSTITUENTS YOU DO NOT SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN COMBAT FORCES SPECIFICALLY IN IRAQ ! ! ! !

Then relax and contemplate the words of the Scarecrow
in L. Frank Baum’s original fairytale novel:

“There is only one thing in the world I am afraid of.” “What is that?” asked Dorothy. “The Munchkin farmer who made you?”

“No,” answered the Scarecrow. “It’s a lighted match.”

What's at stake in this year's elections

In the York County, PA community here is what is at stake for this year’s primary and general elections:

1 County Commissioner seat
3 York City Council seats
City Controller
City Treasurer
County Treasurer
County Sheriff
County Clerk of Courts
County Register of Wills
County Clerk of Orphans
County Prothonotary
District Justice 19-1-04 (in York)
District Justice 19-1-05 (in York)
Plus seats for various borough councils, township supervisor boards, and school boards throughout York County

So, how are you going to improve your community this election cycle ? ? ?

Sure, sure, sure - - - these local Democratic Party election opportunities are NOT going to directly change the course of the White House and Pentagon’s actions (or misguided actions) in Iraq. However, these officials will impact your moment-to-moment lifestyle in our lovely Central Pennsylvania community.

Supporting the election of grassroots Democrats will continue the momentum throughout our great nation that was evidenced by the November, 2006 Congressional and Senatorial election outcomes. Begin with your City, Borough, County, and School District offices and watch the influence grow toward the more sensible values and precepts of the Democratic Party’s members. . . you ! ! !

Click here to visit the local Democratic Party of York County website to learn how you can make the difference that leads the way.

Ask me how you can help in your immediate neighborhood and who you can reach out to in order to become involved. Email me at JimPoland@JimPoland.com or call #870-5070.

Don’t be shy, give it a try ! ! !

New group for teen Democrats forming

I'm so pleased to hear about the formation of a Teen Democrats chapter here in York. It's important for young eligible voters to become active in the process early on and to understand what's really going on so they can cast informed votes. Grooming energetic new Democrats is great for the vitality of our county party.

The first meeting of the Teen Democrats will be held February 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the Democratic Headquarters. For more information, contact Brittany Preston at flagchicbrit19@aim.com.

How to get involved in this election cycle

It's time for you to help the process of democracy. Consider running for office, or helping someone who is doing so by helping him or her obtain signatures on a petition. Visit the York County elections office for petition forms, and to find out any specific requirements for the office for which you're running.

You can start collecting signatures no earlier than February 13. The number of signatures required depends upon the office for which you want to be a candidate. It's recommended that you get extra signatures just in case some of your signers aren't eligible to sign for you (for example, if you're a Democrat and they are a Republican they are not eligible to sign for you.)

Your petition must be received by 4:30 p.m. March 6 - no exceptions - at the elections office. Candidates also have to submit a financial interest statement that details the sources of their money.

Even if you're not running and you're not helping someone else get their petition in you can help register voters in time for the May 15, 2007 primary. Go to http://www.pa.lwv.org/voting/votingfaqs.html#VR and follow the links to obtain a voter registration form. These must be received by April 16 for the voter to qualify to participate in this year's primary.

Kudos to Gov. Rendell on his Rx for Pennsylvania!

Kudos to Gov. Rendell !

It is time to bring some sanity into what is an otherwise insane system. The healthcare insurance system of our great nation is sick . . . a chronic disease that, like many, can be controlled and managed with proper treatment and routine consumption of a strong, beneficial prescription. Or, if left untreated to progress as it is, will very likely lead to the death of healthcare insurance coverage for all Pennsylvanians . . . all Americans.

Last night, I had the privilege of personally hearing Governor Rendell review the multiple causes of his patient’s chronic illness . . . of Pennsylvania residents’ health care cost crisis.

There are 767,000 adults in our commonwealth presently forced to go without healthcare insurance. And for those PA workers who are insured, the cost of continuing their coverage has risen 5.6 times faster than the increases in their wages between 2000 to the close of 2006. During the past six years the increase in median wages of Pennsylvania’s workforce has only been 13.3%, inflation drove up the prices we pay for goods and services by 17%, but health insurance premiums skyrocketed 75.6% ! ! ! !

Pennsylvania and York County families, employers, and the self-employed have all been sliding down a slippery slope of lower income and reduced quality of life due to this outrageous, insane, and inappropriate explosion in costs. Huge premium increases that are harming the bottom lines of our local businesses and leading those employers to share those cost increases with their workers or face the prospect of dropping their group-based health insurance policies entirely. Sharing the premium increases and redesigning health benefits plans to have much higher deductibles, coinsurance, and co-pays in order to reduce future premiums has led every employer in our community to feel significant demands for corresponding wage increases from even their most loyal employees. I personally know of an employer who received an 84% annual increase to their employees’ health insurance premiums (imagine a$12,000 annual family premium jumping to $22,080 just 13 months later) ! ! ! And so the chronic disease feeds itself through out of control costs.

Last night, I learned that 71% of the uninsured in PA are actually employed, with 77% of those uninsured earning less than 300% of the ’06 Federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four ($29,400 for individuals). The most scary data is that 27% of our uninsured Commonwealth residents have been WITHOUT INSURANCE FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS ! ! !

Governor Rendell and his team have proposed a sane Prescription for Pennsylvania . . .a prescription for improving affordability, quality, and access for all Pennsylvanians.

The RX for Pennsylvania sure sounds like a sane initiative for integrating practical strategies for improving health care and containing costs for York Countians and all our families and friends in Pennsylvania.

Tell your State Senator and State Representatives to engage in valid, mature, intelligent, and sane dialogue with Governor Rendell about quickly implementing the steps to properly manage this chronic health care cost illness in PA that is clearly ruining our economy and quality of life. Go to: York County’s legislators

Click here to learn more about your Governor’s Rx for Pennsylvania