What People Are Saying About Chris Dodd's National Service Plan:
Text of the speech
"Chris Dodd's national service plan is bold and comprehensive. A million Americans in service would help unite our nation, address our communities most pressing unmet needs and instill a culture active citizenship in every generation."
--Alan Khazei, CoFounder City Year
"We applaud Senator Dodd for recognizing the powerful potential of tapping the skills and experience of alumni of national service to continue to serve their communities, especially in times of emergency."
--AmeriCorps Alums
"An ambitious and inspiring call to service"
--Hands On Network
"Senator Dodd's challenge comes at the right time--a time when our nation and the world are hungry for a strong rededication to the belief that everyone can make a difference and that we should all be asked to try."
--Tim Shriver
In a review of the plan, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Dodd’s American Community Initiative "a winner" and "a specific and strikingly ambitious national and international service agenda."
A New American Patriotism
Chris Dodd believes that with leadership that inspires a new sense of American community, we can face the challenges of the 21st Century with the boldness and optimism that have always been the hallmark of our nation. That is why he is calling for a new American Community Initiative – a comprehensive national service plan that will draw upon the very best of our character to call Americans to service. The Dodd plan will:
- Promote the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNS) to Cabinet level status.
- Mandate community service as a requirement for high school graduation.
- Double the size of the Peace Corps and create a Rapid Response Reserve Corps made up of all national service alumni, as well as retired military and National Guard personnel, to respond to disasters and emergencies in America, whenever and wherever they occur.
- Dramatically increase the number of AmeriCorps members to 1,000,000 and raise the education award to reflect the skyrocketing cost of tuition.
- Build corporate-community partnerships by offering tax credits to employers who provide their workers with paid time off to perform community service.
- Create a new Senior Heroes Program that will provide older Americans with a $1,000 education award to further their own education or that of a deserving child.
Comments
Why are you pushing for amnesty when 75-80% of the people in this country want them deported?
What polls are you reading that says nearly 80% of Americans want all illegals deported? I think you're a lunatic!!!
Amnesty is the only compassionate way to go about the issue. Anyone who seriously urges the forced deportation of several million people shows blatant disregard for humanity as a whole.
With regards to immigration issues in our country, granting amnesty to illegal immigrants is similar to that of giving a child a cookie for breaking the rules. Simply positive reinforcement for negative behaviors. Amnesty is similar to that of how our nation has dealt with illegal immigration in the past, simply avoiding the root causes of our very serious immigration problem, while politicians have continued to avoid the issues instead of dealing with them in a constructive bi-partisan manner. I feel that there is only one way to solve this very complex issue. Firstly, I feel that we as a nation need to agree on a humane and economically intelligent way to deal with illegal immigration. I think it's very positive that the citizens of our country are finally more willing to seek out to address the issue. In all honesty, doing anything somewhat constructive highly exceeds the lack of benefits associated with continuing to put our noses in the sand in complete denial. I feel that we should round up all illegal immigrants and encourage them to enter the country in a legal fashion, while strengthening the nation's border fences and adding a sufficient amount of manpower at the border for law enforcement. Further, I think immigrants entering the country should be required to learn English, at least as a second language, as this is crucial in ensuring that these particular individuals are given a fair chance of competing in our educational and job markets. Producing educated and employed immigrants will be a win-win for the country as a whole, as they will be individuals who pay taxes and contribute to the economical production in our American society. Wage levels will be steadier, while corporations are required to offer fair wages to all workers, including illegal immigrants. Immigrants also need to understand the English language so they can read road signs and other things necessary to ensure public safety with regards to themselves, as well as others on the road, etc. Also, we all need to remember that Mexico is a third-world country and its citizens come to America in order to feed their families back home. This leads me to my next point. I feel that the Mexican Government needs to be held equally accountable for our country's illegal immigration troubles, just as much as the American corporations who are hiring and exploiting immigrants who are coming to America illegally. Our next President needs to develop better foreign relations with the government in neighboring Mexico in order to combat illegal immigration successfully at the source of it all, in Mexico itself. I think Chris Dodd would be a great candidate for addressing this obstacle we are currently facing. Remember, all, this illegal immigration debacle is something the American public and its leadership has brought upon itself. We need to continue to come together on this in a bi-partisan fashion, and address it before it gets much worse overtime. Let's look at the bright side of all of this and reform immigration as it is today. This negative could really be turned into a positive overtime.
Are you willing to pay the untold millions of dollars it will cost to round up and deport all those illegal alliens?
illegals immigants are criminals and it is wrong for criminals to profit from their crimes - If we raise the fines and punishments on businesses and owner that hire ( abuse and take advantage of them ) they will go home on their own ( self - deport ) if they can't get work. No criminals should ever be offer citizenship. If they are caught here illegally they should be barred from ever becoming a citizen -I might allow them to be guest workers or permanent residents but not citizens. I would also disallow citizenship to anyone born here if either parent is not a permanent resident or citizen. I am very glad that I don't have to run for election in a big hispanic populated area. I do think that my views reflect the majority of non-hispanic voters.
Although I agree that fines on businesses that hire illegal immigrants is a good idea, I don't believe that the immigrants themselves are criminals. The majority of them pay taxes just like the rest of the population. They are not putting any undue strain on our economy, and are in fact, an asset to our country. Without them, food prices, especially fresh produce, would increase significantly. It is not likely that they will self-deport either. They have come here for a reason, to better their lives and that of their families. They want to provide a better life for their children. This would have been an impossible task had they remained in the countries of origins. These people are NOT criminals, they are human beings searching for just treatment and should not be harrassed by insensitive and racist people who do not know what they are talking about. Children who are born in the United States have every right to be a citizen, no matter where their parents are from. A child cannot choose where or when he/she is born, nor where he/she lives. Children who immigrate to the United States with their parents at a young age, should also be allowed at least permanent residency, if not citizenship. In many states, these children study for years in the schools, but when it comes to college, they cannot attend because of the high cost. Because they are not legal, a decision in which they had no participation or choice, they would end up having to pay international rates to attend college in the United States, which is alot to ask of a family.
I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR CAMPAIGN. ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO STAND UP AND STOP THE FREE RIDE CERTAINLY HAS MY ATTENTION. I AM TIRED OF GIVING THESE PEOPLE A FREE RIDE WHILE IT MAKES OUR WELL BEING A TOUGH ONE. VETERNS ARE SUFFERING FROM BAD HEALTH CARE AND NOW THEY MUST SURRENDER THERE HOMES AND STILL GET SUBSTANDARD CARE. WHILE THE ILLEGALS GET ALL TOP KNOTCH FOR FREE. CERTAINLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURES
Speeders are criminals and they profit from their crime by getting where they want to go sooner than they otherwise would've. It's horrible! We should do something about illegal drivers.
Oh wait, speeding is a civil offense.
Oh wait, so are most immigration violations.
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK. NO NEW LAWS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TILL THE OLD ONES ARE INFORCED. WE ARE ALLOWING OUR OWN TO GO WITH OUT WHILE WE SUPPORT THE ILLEGALS. JUST HEAVILY FINE THEN JAIL THOSE THAT EMPLOY THEM. THEY WILL SOON GO HOME. THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF GAS SHORTAGE, SOCIAL SERVICES,MEDICAL AND HELP SECURE OUR BORDERS. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE ABOUT THE MILES OF FENCING ALL READY VOTED IN. OF ALL OF OUR POLITITIONS YOU SEEM LIKE THE ONLY ONE WITH INTEGRETY. PLEASE HELP US GET OUR COUNTRY BACK BEFOR IT IS TOO LATE. THANK YOU
AGREED!!!
There has been so much emotion about immigration because people really do not understand the issue. There is so much nonsense. See my blog for detailed analysis.
randomabsurdities.wordpress.com
Narional Service Plan is a great idea!
I would like to be involved in this
Judy Gerdes
330 666-6577
I am solidly convinced through years of watching Senator Dodd rise to become a mainstay in preventing the radical rightwing from wholly taking over every aspect of government, and thus the very social fabric of this nation, that his greatest strength is having the nuts and bolts knowledge of just exactly how the machinery of government has been hi-jacked, overridden and circumvented by this group of zealots. Therefore, I believe as strongly he has the skill and tactical outlook required to unravel the damage that has already been done.
I say this because I don't think that "message" is getting out. I don't think that "Senator Dodd the governmental technician" is being made clear to the public. I know it may seem the voting public might find such things as becoming bogged down in detail, as it is said. Also, I can appreciate the difficulty a campaign might face in this era of multi-media extravaganza. One might consider the public is approaching saturation with multi-media, and a strong, verbal articulation (of which the good senator is immensely capable) might be the thing that makes him stand out from his competitors.
You have some months ahead, yet. It's obvious the senator needs something to force a breakout from the pack, or at least to propel him into the ranks of the top three viable candidates. Therefore, if I'm going to "hear" the senator discuss his "national service plan", I'd like to hear mixed in with that the nature of his actual national service - understanding the tactical and strategic problems involved when trying to hold the U.S. at least to a center line philosophically. (A bird with but one wing flies in ever tightening circles until it hits the ground.)
I think I can speak for the majority when I say that what the U.S. needs now is someone who understands the nature of this government and its dynamics in this present era, not just another personable face. Benign benevolence and smiling charm are at the saturation point with the public, as well. We're looking for not only someone who's willing to do something, but also someone who KNOWS WHAT TO DO. That's Senator Dodd's strength which surpasses all other candidates on both sides. LET'S SEE IT! Time is running out on this dog and pony show.
We have a true nightmare here in CT...We only have ONE Democratic Senator...Joe Lieberman is a traitor to LIFE, let alone our party. What does Senator Dodd have to say about it and please, please, skip the double talk. We need him out of office and I want Senator Dodd on board. Since we have no recall ability, surely he must know what can be done short of joining Professor Orman's movement?
Senator Dodd,
Thank you for being such a strong leader on this issue. Great work with the "Summer or Service" bill! Can you tell us what your 25 and 50 year vision is for national service in this country?
The question of "getting something back"--some amount of credit against basic health coverage in whatever system, Social Security credit, ??? We have a huge number of generous volunteers doing a significant part of the "Work" of the Commonweal, unpaid, while a group of very high earners do little but TAKE and TRY TO KEEP. That kind of individualism, "celebrating the individual," "crediting the individual," and disregarding all the shoulders past and present he or she builds on, however creatively, is dangerous to a stable and persisting civilization. There is a "natural" kind of integrity which seems fundamental to many realities, the Gaussian distribution. We need, widely, to think more about what that means or implies.
Why don't you all just come out and admit that you're socialists?
"No Nation is an island", to update John Donne. From many angles, the focus is already The Human Family, and perhaps the highest campaign slogan I can imagine is "Bring the FAMILY home--One Family, Sustainably, Justly, sharing its home on One Earth. So Service needs to reach very, very far. Perhaps this can also help redeem American values and repute in the world.
Chris, can you tell me where you stand on the tax (rate) the Hedge funds are currently paying.
What will you ask seniors to do to help the country?
How can you get the message out to seniors during the campaign that giving them opportunities to serve is a large part of your platform?
We threw Lieberman out on his ear because he was not listening to his constituents. The majority of the people who voted for you, myself included, do not want to offer Amnesty, and if you support it we will throw you out on your ear.
I also called your Hartford office the day I heard you were running for President and said you were going to embarrass yourself and the people who elected you. You have never had any poll that you achieved higher than single digit support.
R.J. We're all ears! PLEASE enlighten us! How are you going to handle the issue of 12 MILLION illegal immigrants? Do you have a big pick up truck and a lot of time and plan on rounding them all up? Perhaps you'll pretend to throw a party in Mexico, invite all the illegals and then when they show up, shout "Gotcha!" and close the borders. Chris Dodd running for President and working to offer solutions to this issue is LEADERSHIP. Your irrational fear of a group of people that want nothing more than what YOUR ancestors wanted when they came to America is what's embarrassing.
If the government had had the guts to enforce the immigration laws that they themselves had passed, the U.S. would not be a haven for drug traffickers and gang members from South America, not to mention the terrorists who are looking to harm us. Giving amnesty only exacerbates the problem. Back in 1986, Congress amnestied 2.1 million illegal aliens, today Congress is getting ready to amnesty up to 20 million illegal aliens. It is obvious that amnesty does not work. By the way, my ancestors immigrated here through Ellis Island which means they came here legally. What part of "illegal" don't you understand. If the illegal aliens weren't able to get jobs here, which is why most of them come, then mass deportation would be unnecessary because they would leave to look elsewhere for work. Securing the borders and strict employment measures to make sure illegal aliens don't find work is the right way to go. Since Dodd supports the insane so-called immigration reform bill, I would suggest that voters look elsewhere for a presidential candidate. The American taxpayers don't need to be strapped with a $2.4 trillion bill to pay for benefits for up to 20 million amnestied illegal aliens.
For starters, its 12 million NOT 20, there is a big difference. Also, the reason that amnesty didn't work the first time, was that the laws were not inforced. By sending illegal immigrants home, we would be destroying many families. Where do you propose they look for work? They need work and the United States needs laborers. It's a "you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" type of relationship. Immigrating to the United States legally is a long process. It is nearly impossible. If you had a choice to live in poverty or immigrate to a country in which you could make a decent living, which would you choose?
I have worked in service situations in 3 countries, and am currently living in Honduras and working with an NGO. In my experience, development work in other countries, for example, with the Peace Corps, has a mixed result. It is often a great experience for the person who is serving, yes. On the other hand, service often promotes the agenda of the sending country. Where this becomes a problem is this: here in Honduras, there are tons of agencies (including USAID and Peace Corp) promoting a neo liberal agenda, which is great for US companies. However, this lets out the poor people, and has not led to true development of the country. Instead it has led to increased immigration to the states. And then we wonder where all these illegal immigrants are coming from, and why.
Hi Chris,
In the fall of 1959, I was a Freshman (Third Form) at Georgetown Prep. I had trouble walking because of Cerebral Palsy. Getting into Prep was a big experiment for me and for the school. Fr. Dugan approached you as President of the Yard and asked you to carry my books from classroom to classroom or to arrange it so that my books would be carried to the appropriate classroom by upper classmen. I also needed help walking from Class to Class and you helped me a number of times by lending me an arm. You helped me several times until I made friends in my own home room. After a few weeks, my friends began helping me and you were excused by Father Dugan from your duties.
I have always remembered your kindness to me. I want to help you win this election because there is no more selfless human being on this earth in my opinion than Chris Dodd.
My son worked for the Democratic party in MD for several years and now he is an attorney in San Diego working for UCAN, a Ralph Nader type outfit. He too is actively promoting the Chris Dodd presidency. I would like to do more. Please let me know how I can help.
I welcome Senator Dodd's push for service and calling on RPCVs who know what that means. America needs to show the world again that we care and to serve others by helping them to learn and build rather than by destoying them. Send the Peace Corps, not the military!
A great model - not Peace Corps is the individual Greg Mortenson - see his book "Three Cups of Tea". He has been working for some years showing - not bombing - the Afhgans and and Pakistanis that real education is the way to go, not terrorism.
Do you ever feel frustrated with your status as a second-tier candidate?
I don't know how the Candidate feels, but I am certainly frustrated that the press only speaks of those who are front runners in the polls. This causes the others to get no recognition so the people do not support them in the next poll, and so it goes in a continuous loop.
It is a trap that would be so easy to break out of if the press would routinely speak of all the candidates.
Is it tough having a young child on the campaign trail?
Chris what will you do to help the US to become stronger in exporting our products? EXport means jobs for americans. As you may or may not know US Ex-IM Bank does not help a lot of the small to medium bussiness compete in the overseas market. Japan will approve buyers whereas the US Ex-Im Bank will not. Is it the leadership at US Ex-Im Bank?
Where do you stand on this travesty called the "comprehensive immigration" bill? When one thing tries to accomplish too much, usually NOTHING gets accomplished. Do you listen to over 70% of the American People who are against this trash?
I can't get on the live chat!
Too many people on server -- I'd like to watch.
Need to get easy things like this right Chris.
What is your favorite part of the plan?
Do you propose that your National Service Plan be mandatory?
do you think America is progressive enough to elect a gay President in the near future?
Do you support Dennis Kucinich in his call for impeachment of Cheney?
Sen Dodd
For us public servant types, national service is no big jump.
I was a Vietnam era Concientious Objector.
Now, however, this seems like a hard sell. How do you plan to sell this idea to a disaffected country who only wants to ask what America can do for them? How are you going to LEAD with this concept?
Dear Senator Dodd!
How do you think should the USA "repair" its relationship for example on security issues in Iraq or Darfur with some important European countries like Germany, France, Spain or some Central-East-European states? How do you want to cooperate with the European Union on this and other issues?
Best wishes for your campaign!
Excellent Q.
Stop the spam email, don't sling mud, don't focus on the other candidates' flaws...these are the kind of things that make me vote for the other lady!
How will you pay for them?
John F. Kennedy was an inspiration to you in your youth...what do you think of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the ideals/New Deal he promoted for young people in the thirties?
As part of the comprehensive immigration effort, would you support national service as a condition of citizenship? Those who wish to become US citizens should also commit themselves to service for this country.
Jim Kozera, any type of compromise will set a precedent. We are a country of laws, no one is above the laws. President Bush and his followers of this immigration charade, betray the trust of the American people and voided the rule of law, for only one reason and that is to contribute to the exploitation of cheap labor so their business partners can maximize their profits at the expenses of the American Working Class.
Nobody is above the law EXCEPT Bush, Cheney, Gonzales...the list goes on. Bush betrayed the American people long ago and not just on the immigration issue.
Interesting concept. Perhaps you might expand on your idea. If the United States were in reality assisting democratic movements in Latin and South America instead of providing military support for corrupt governments with the multinational corportations at the helm, the people who suffer from economic and political oppression would not need to find work in America. As for the criminal types they need to be deported to their country of origin. For over a year there has been a peoples democractic movement in Mexico that has been suppressed by the corporate sponsored media with the backing of the United States' FOX news. Go to www.democracynow.org to get independent, unimbedded, scholarly jounalism and an objective understanding of our serious challenges in the twenty-first century. Enjoy!
I appreciate your lifes' experiences, and foreign volunteer services however, truly we have very poor people here and people with less than 3rd grade education. What about those folks who are the lost Citizens of Louisana, or Bridgeport CT, don't you believe that experience is learned where you are and in your own country?
Let's concentrate on Connecticut- we have so many Poor here and disabled and single family homes where our own children have so little and have no HOPE - it's time to rejuvenate our own children and poor folks here. It's good to spend time in another country once we clean up our own mess. Spending should begin at home - then when we have cleaner streets, no crime, no murders, and hope for our youth and their families -then we can and should look to help others. Look around we have whites, chinese, blacks, Indians, Mexicans etc; you don't have to go far to see folks who need jobs and help. CT is a mess - let's help this budget and stop the high oil and food prices here and in the USA.
I feel bad that your state is ignoring its own citizens and rolling out the red carpet to illegal aliens who will only help to bankrupt your state even more because they will want benefits as well. Write to your state legislators and tell them to wake up!
why dont you see that citizens mean the people who are there? people name these illegal aliens as undocumented, but they buy homes, cell phones, get jobs. if they work, then why is it horrible that they want benefits? if i hop the border over to mexico or canada, and i work for my living, i damn well want health care for me, or at least my kids.
where is your sense of humanity?
and dont you tell me that this isnt about humanity, because we have never had a humanity issue bigger.
"why dont you see that citizens mean the people who are there?"
In the USA "citizens" refes to the people who pay taxes, follow the law and participate in our democracy. It does not refer those who come here to sponge off our system. I pay taxes and I suppose you do as well. I don't want one penny of my tax money going to those who don't pay into the system.
How dare people sneak ito our country, break our laws and then DEMAND privileges, welfare, access to hosptal care for free!
"and dont you tell me that this isnt about humanity, because we have never had a humanity issue bigger."
Sorry. If you believe that you are naive. It is about CORPORATE PROFITS and UNION BUSTING. If the market is flooded with cheap labor then wages go down. Think. It's all about profits and the global economy. It is NOT about humanity.
By the way, do you know what La Raza means? The Race! So much for their (illegals) humanity.
Listen, I hate to have to revisit something I've already attended to and please do forgive my "attitude" but after all, I've been living in bushworld along w/all of my citizens here and I am just damn fed up. Since I couldn't get on the live chat either, what I need you to know is that I can't POSSIBLY give consideration to new proposals at this moment and it comes from my underlying philosophy that you cannot build a mansion on swampland. THIS ADMINISTRATION IS THE SWAMP...IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW TO GET THEM OUT OF OFFICE, NONE OF YOUR PLANS WILL BE WORTH ONE DAMN OF ANYTHING! I hear NOTHING from you about impeachment (and don't DARE tell me it's a waste of time...OUR CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR THIS SITUATION we're now in and to dismiss it simply because elections are next year is as much of a high crime to me as was the DEBASEMENT of the Constitution for B.S. reasons during the Clinton era. Your platitudes are lovely - I support your overall ideas but for God sakes, who is the leader who is going to speak the ULTIMATE truth to power and restore the rule of law, end this fing war and return our DEMOCRACY BACK to the people? C'mon, Senator, let's start at the basics, ok? Healthcare, (and this is from an RN), hedge funds, the economy...you NAME it...NONE OF IT is going to matter if these criminals continue toward their own version of Armaggedon which quite frankly, I, nor my children are NOT interested in participating in. As a lifelong Dem, I cannot possibly articulate the level of disgust and disdain I have for leaders of BOTH parties so, Senator Dodd, I beg you..can you begin to talk turkey here? I do believe it's within you. I have to lest I begin to stick needles in my own eyes. Are you HEARING me??? Are you listening??? Is anyone??? And needless to say I hope, not one damn dime from me until I see some accountability. You are most welcome to call me or even appear at my door if it pleases you but as of this moment in time, not one of you will receive any support from me. You are a good man - that is not the issue...but it is LONG OVERDUE for ONE good man to come forth and do what is right and holy. I'm done.
Mary Fernandez, you are courageous to offer Impeachment as a priority. Dennis Kucinich is at the forefront with other brave representatives who are "staying the course" on this issue which would be the beginning of making America a true democracy by and for the people. Go to his web site and encourage all your representatives to support his articles of impeachment.
I'm glad you are supporting some type of amnesty and I'd like to hear more about it. I do not support a totally "clean" citizenship for people here illegally. I believe there should be some type of penalty fees they must pay, maybe some programs and tests they need to take (much like INS requires from immigrants now), and other basic things before allowed to become citizens. I believe families should not be separated if one or more child is a citizen and automatic deportation applies if they have committed violent crimes, are in jail or have a lengthy criminal record. Face it, the only people who aren't illegal immigrants are Native Americans, who's homes and lands a few generations ago were reduced to reservations scattered throughout the US, and Mexicans in the southwest. This country is made of immigrants. They have been coming here for years legally and illegally and to suddenly punish all is going to have bad repercussions on both people and the economy. Very much like Bush is having with trying to completely change the Iraqi people and economy with one "swift" war. It just doesn't happen in this day and age unless it's a totalitarian or fascist government. Even then, it's the 21st century. Sudden forceful actions against a people who have long been doing this type of immigration and these people, who I might add, help the economy (ask the farmers of the west US, construction companies and many others) are not wise choices. Think about the money it will cost to research illegal immigrants, round them up, process them, and transport them back. Don't forget the legal issues that will certainly come up and humaitarian organizations, home country sentiments, and world organizations will all play a part. The jobs that mostly all illegals have are jobs not being filled by Americans. And immigrants are not to blame for the poorly handled and cash deprived welfare and social systems. It's the government. Just as it's also the government who let this situation go on for decades and it is now the big mess that it is.
What I'd like to know is how exactly would you tackle the immigration issue if elected?
Senator Dodd - I,m concerned with the current proposed immigration
law that is before Congress. Amnesty should not be given to illegal
aliens, who entered this country illegally. There are many people
around the world, who have waited for years to legally emigrate to
the USA. I would propose that the illegal aliens that are here, be
denied the right to citizenship and be fined $3,000.00 to $5,000.00
They can remain here in the USA with Green cards, but they have
forfeited their right to citizenship. I recognize that it is impossible to deport 12 million illegal aliens, so this seems to be
a solution that might appease the NeoCons. We still need to secure
our borders (Fencing is ridiculous.Didn,t the Berlin wall teach us
anything.)with electronic surveillance and more Border guards. The
third leg of this problem is to enforce the 1986 immigration law regarding employers hiring illegal aliens by using fines and imprisonment. As long as industry and labor unions resist the tougher sanctions, the job magnet will continue to draw illegal
aliens from Mexico. We can never hope for the Mexican gov,t. to
take responsibility for providing education and jobs for its own
people, it's easier and cheaper to let millions of their citizens
come to the USA illegally. We wouldn,t want the upper 10% of Mexican society to improve their own country, God forbid.I live in
the Southwest and I have seen the economic impact illegal aliens
have had on blue collar industries. Enough is enough!
Frank Wajert
Senator Dodd: It appears that the Democratic Party won the November election for Congress, only to turn on the American voter and place a knife in our back!! Why can't Congress just support the view of America and get our troops home? Of course it cannot happen immediately, but each and every day our troops and innocent Iraqi citizens are dying, with no benefit to any known cause, just more twisted delays by this sick Administration!
It is a horror to know that these brave troops are dying, yet Americans at home are not being asked to sacrifice in any way!! This Administration continues to twist and turn to keep this "war for oil" going!! Democrats must keep their word, and find a sensible end to this horror as quickly as possible. Also, why are Democrats on the wrong side of the ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SITUATION? THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WANTS AN END TO THIS ATTEMPT AT AMNESTY FOR 12 MILLION ILLEGALS! THEY WANT CONGRESS TO PROTECT AND SECURE OUR BORDERS AND PORTS, AND TO SUPPORT AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS WORKERS! YET THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE SHOUTING VOICES OF AMERICA THAT IS REPEATING, "NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS IN ANY DISGUISE OR ANY ATTEMPTED METHOD!!!" SENATOR DODD, JUST HOW WILL YOU END THIS ATTEMPT AT GREAT INJUSTICE TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, WORKING AMERICA? STAND UP AND REPRESENT THE AMERICAN WORKER AND STOP THIS ATTEMPT FOR AMNESTY IN THIS CURRENT KENNEDY/MCCAIN BILL!!! STAND UP FOR AMERICA AND AMERICANS!! I AGREE WITH SO MANY OTHERS THAT CONTINUE TO SAY, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"
Re: EffectMeasure -- Pandemic planning tunnel vision
Howdy,
I'm a freelance transgenic pathogen research analyst who is more than a wee bit concerned with how various regional strains of H5N1 are recombining into forms easily transmissible between humans.
I'm wondering why federal and state governments don't even appear to be discussing "coordinated planning" around the few viable H5N1 treatment options available to ordinary folk!?!
Please read the following...
EffectMeasure -- Pandemic planning tunnel vision
Category: Pandemic preparedness
Posted on: June 19, 2007 7:16 AM, by revere
Link to full article...
Cheers:*) Jon
As evidenced by www.bishopaccountability.org the Roman Catholic Church headed by former Cardinal Ratzinger has conspired to move abusing priests. The president pardoned the pope for reasons of diplomatic immunity, because he is a head of state. Why, then, is the Roman Catholic Church allowed lobbiests. Where is the seperation of church and state and state and state?
What will you do to end our illegal occupation in Iraq?
Hopefully bring every one of our surviving troops home before they, too, die in vain from our immoral war.
I came here to make another comment but after reading some of the "no amnesty for illegals" messages, I feel the need to mention something about that topic.
1. Illegal aliens are here because the government didn't enforce the laws we have - for many years.
2. Illegal aliens continue to be here because companies give them a job. You can't tell me that companies can be fooled over and over again by false documents. A little research would catch 90% of all "illegals".
3. Companies hire illegals because they can pay them less. They will happily accept wages that others (citizens) won't.
4. As long as we allow the situation to continue, there are some very negative effects - employers can pay lower wages because they can find people who will work for lower wages. Many illegals are not paying taxes but still using our services. Many are not in stable living situations - 17 people in a two bedroom apartment, for example.
What to do?
1. Insist that employers only hire legal workers. Fine or punish those that don't.
2. Let the people who are here in a stable situation (comfortable permanent job) continue but with proper identification, paying taxes, and at a proper wage. That's not amnesty - its just common sense.
3. Spend the money that is being thrown around for a fence on an ID program. We need identification for everyone anyway. There has to be a way for me to say to you "this is who I am" and you can believe it. The cost of ID theft to all of us is staggering. To those who will cry that positive ID is an invasion of privacy, I say that you need to wake up - you just can't come up with logical arguments that come anywhere close to countering the need to have some way to know who you are dealing with.
4. If you have a way to offer more permanent status to "illegals", I think it is fine if you put proper demands on them. I think the current "amnesty" plans are asking "illegals" to jump through a number of hoops - pay fines, learn English, demonstrate a steady job history, etc. If employers are forced to pay them properly and they still choose to hire the former "illegal" over a regular citizen, then it must be because they are a good reliable worker that we would be glad to have in our community.
5. There is nothing wrong with controlling our borders but it will never be successful if you depend on fences and guns. If all of us have to prove who we are everytime we want to buy something, cash a check, open an account, and all of the other things legal citizens do, an illegal, whether a Mexican wanting to pick fruit or a terrorist looking to blow up a building, will stand out like a sore thumb.
It is hard to imagine that we have so many people that are so ready to get up in arms about an issue without giving any serious thought to what is really going on but, that's what democracy is all about.
you have good points, and even tho i dont do illegal things, often, BIG BROTHER doesnt need to know everything i do.. even tho they already know more than i wish to think they know...
o yea AND just like every other country in the world, we do need to establish a national language. and mean it. goto spain and try to speak Portuguese.
I agree that some form of national service is a good thing. The problem is we have created a society that honestly doesn't have the spare time to give. I see people struggling every day to find time for their families. We have come close to destroying our middle class. I know some single mothers trying to raise children on their salary with no help from the "deadbeat" dad. Others who we used to consider the middle class are working two jobs and unable to take the vacation they have earned because of the demands of the job. There is just no way they could find the time to participate in some sort of national service.
Find a way to give the average person some additional security and a little extra time and I think some sort of national service will be embraced. A good start would be to repeal the tax cuts for the rich and put some money into health care for all (not just those who can afford it), social security (so that average people don't have to constantly fear the age or health problem that might prevent them from working), and other social services that make life easier for the majority (not just the rich).
Corn produced in America annually is less than one percent of fuel demands for this country. The following system of farming would increase supply to meet the demand for fuel.
If you could put water on corn every day it would grow 30 feet tall with 25 inch ears, plant 6 inch rows & two crops a year = about 46 times more corn per acre.
Idea; build giant agricultural cisterns under corn fields to reservoir snow melt and spring rain so it can be irrigated on the crops during the growing season.
Grow corn on annual rain fall not just seasonal rain
This should increase yield greatly and prevent drought. 46 times 5 with ear corn
Cisterns would be 60’ x 60’ x 200’ long made out of galvanized steel beams
Approximately 200,000 lbs. Steel per cistern
Corn for live stock feed & gasohol, ETHANOL, BIO DIESEL
To industrialize world population
Irrigate south west & Mexico with Mississippi pipe line (flood water)
Corn belt 4 times bigger with cistern technology continental usa and some of Canada & Mexico
Use a pipe line like the Alaskan pipe line under ground with pumping stations to move flood water up To Texas & New Mexico & Mexico
Genetically add more ears and more leafs to a corn plant
Possibly 50 ear corn
Double crop of corn in all of North America - with seeds in a gum ball size seed emergence planting ball
This should increase yield greatly and prevent drought
End dependency on eastern oil
End world poverty
Provide jobs for every one in North America
Timothy Clay Smiley
512 se 5th st
Des moines, Iowa 50309
Ph 515 480-1620 day@ 282-1866
timothysmiley@worldnet.att.net
“I am the originator of this idea and would like financial compensation for this idea”
I’m looking for Financing to Construct These Cisterns, and patents
“I Confirm That This Proposal Is Non – Confidential And That I Have The Right To Submit It “
_________________________________________
TIMOTHY CLAY SMILEY SSN 334 50 8260
timothysmiley@worldnet.att.net
Record of Invention
Litman Law
Patent Law Building
3717 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
When the settlers came out to the prairie they were looking for good farm land, “the best farm land was high ground with its own water source, because you can make it rain.” High ground because when there is to much rain, water runs off and when there is not enough rain, which is most of the time one could apply water from a pond or creek. My grand father told me this when I was 4 years old. The impotent thing to realize is that a hundred years of technology has evolved since the settlers came out to the prairie. Technology like caterpillar trackers, steel production, pipe lines, reverses osmoses, genetics and so on. One does not have to look for good farm land any more, by human intervention we can make good farm land any where we want.
____________________________________________
Potential energy generators
If you took a motor driven generator and replaced the gas driven motor with a electric motor, than ran the wattage from the armature to the electric motor, we will have created a potential energy generator, that is, a generator that runs off it’s own electricity, how ever we will have used all the wattage to do this, so if we could reduce the friction in the motor and armature, the wattage consumption will be less and the difference is potential energy or a engine that runs on is own electricity with out consuming fuel. The idea is to replace the bearings with something like the mag lift train design, that is the motor and armature would float on magnetic fields producing less friction and consuming less wattage than bearings do, so providing excess wattage for the potential energy generator.
Used in power tools, appliances, cars, houses and remote areas like space, this could replace bulky solar arras. Or used to purify salt water to irrigate global land masses.
“I am the originator of this idea and would like financial compensation for this idea”
TIMOTHY CLAY SMILEY
512 SE 5 TH ST
DES MOINES, IOWA 50309
PH DAY 515 282-1866 FAX 515 282-2757
CELL 515 460-1620
timothysmiley@worldnet.att.net
Record of Invention
Litman Law
Patent Law Building
3717 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
_________________________________________________
SALT WATER PURIFICATION
Idea: run salt water on a hot plate or heavy steel bars, creating steam rising upward turning a turbine that provides electricity for the hot plate. The water than condenses on the domed roof and falls as purified water. The salt left on the hot plate can be periodically purged to a slower evaporation chamber leaving the salt for human, live stock an ice melting uses. The turbine should be engineered to provide electricity for the hot plate and the pumps for the water pipe line. Salt water could be pumped in land and purified at the town centers. Large versions of this could provide water to irrigate global land masses and grow commercial crops for food and fuel.
Second method could use a potential energy generator or wind turbines, turning salt water into steam and then retrieving the condensed water.
“I am the originator of this idea and would like financial compensation for this idea”
TIMOTHY CLAY SMILEY
512 SE 5 TH ST
DES MOINES, IOWA 50309
PH DAY 515 282-1866 FAX 515 282-2757
CELL 515 460-1620
Record of Invention
Litman Law
Patent Law Building
3717 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
Dear Senator Dodd,
My service on a small, beautiful island in the Caribbean changed my life for the better. How do you see the future of the Peace Corps? Would you increase the volunteer number to 15,000 worldwide and fund this drive?
Regards,
Albert
ALbert L. Wellstein, M CIW D
RPCV Jamaica, West Indies 81-83
Yay, slavery returns to America.
You should come to woden and visit our small town filled with registered voters. Did you know our sheriff is Sheriff Dodd? Good Luck.
Senator Dodd - Where does one begin with the Iraqi War? It was a
unjustified, preemptive attack on a sovereign nation. All of the
reasons the Bush administration put forward for invading Iraq, have
proven to have been LIES. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a murderous tyrant, but it is not our responsibility to remove every tyrant
from their positions of power. The only reason, I can put together
is this administration wanted to establish a military foothold in
the Middle East and control the flow of oil and political influence
in the area. We have already built four large military bases in Iraq and the worlds largest embassy. This does not seem like the
actions of a nation that wanted to only establish 'Democracy'. It is on the other hand the actions of imperialistic nation bent upon
Empire building. As it stands now, we don't have a clear exit
strategy. I have come to the conclusion, from listening to authors and commentators and reading numerous articles on the Iraqi
subject, that we will quite possibly be embroiled in Iraq for the
next 10 to 15 years with a troop level of 40 to 50 thousand. So much for 'Mission Accomplished'. We can not leave Iraq in good conscience, because when we leave they will be embroiled in a civil
war, that will decimate thousands of Iraqi citizens. George Bush
will and shall carry the burden and shame of this war. This is the
stark and unpleasant reality of warfare. We and the Iraqi people,
will carry the scars of this war for generations to come. I will
leave off with a poem from Hafiz, a Persian poet from the 14th
century.
HOW FASCINATING
How
Fascinating the idea of death
Can be
Too bad,though,
Because
It just isn,t
True.
Senator Dodd: What do you know about One World Governments?
Are you involved in the United Nations; European Union; Canada-US-Mexico National Highway funded by the USA and contracted to Australia and Spain (contractors) behind the Citizens backs here at home, and run by Giuliani Law firm? Are all Citizens expected to be Identified and numbered like cattle by May 2008 as Senator Biden expects will occur? Is the Digital Angel a program already to go and funded with our own Dollars? Is the Illuminati taking over the banking industry run by the Dutch and Netherlands and One World Order; and do Is Russia on our payroll -to the tune of 10/over 10 or Ten $Billion dollars for Ten years paid to Russia leaving the American citizen with no health insurances; no middleclass, and corporations telling our Politicians how they should vote on energy and food prices and Export and Import laws; and what about the environment - have to ruined America's beautiful landscape enough or will be go on laying pavement everywhere -so little green is left and our lakes and streams remain in ruin -you cannot even eat the fish out of CT rivers. Just a few questions - that pertain to CT and home --foreign services is commendable once we tackle our own sovereign nation.
Are you for reviving the Middle Class in America?
Can you say that life will be more prosperous for the Poor at home if you win your election? Are you interested in JOBS for Americans first?
Thanks for your honest answers.
For helping CT and for stopping illegal immigration.
Good Idea, a more universal national service opportunity. Bad idea, another government bureaucracy. I have always thought the AmeriCorps should have been folded into the time tested and proven Peace Corps. After all, the 'third world' is both internal and external to our borders.
Your campaign staff would do well to take a look at Joe Klein's ideas on this topic in the 25 Jun TIME magazine. As an officer with more than 20 years service in the U.S. Air Force I think he hits on some key components that you should consider in addition to what you've focused on to date.
As an alumni of AmeriCorps, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see a presidential candidate raising this issue. Serving in AmeriCorps was the most meaningful thing I did in my life and I saw the profound difference my teammates and I made for other people. If a plan like this were enacated, it would profoundly improve our country and world -- it's a great way to tackle tough problems at the local level, instill an ethic of citizenship and service, and help Americans learn about each other and the world. Plus in the case of the Peace Corps, it could improve others' views of America.
And a "Rapid Response Corps" for national service alumni is a fantastic idea. I would love to be able to put the skills I used in AmeriCorps to good use today.
Thank you Senator Dodd. You just earned a new fan.
(PS You should delete all the idiotic comments on here that aren't about national service)
Mr. Chris, think about it, if you actually get elected as President think of how much animosity seniors and future seniors would have against you. It is not any of your business to tell states how to run their public school and frankly I feel very sorry for you if you do indeed think that, that bill will actually pass in Congress! And even if it does pass, do not underestimate the willpower of teenagers.
i highly disagree with that. Everybody in some form or way does community service weather its recognized or not. Your going to make them feel like prisoners. I think there should be a different requirement like an extracurricular activity
Sir, what will you do about the blatent bureaucracy and micromanagement in higher education along with the misappropriation of public school funding? What will you do about the "no child left behind" mess and the funding based standardized testing that has lead to so called "teaching to the test" and where young children have had recesses taken away so that they can do practice problems? We have to start at home that's true but lack of service learning is not the immediate problem for education.
As our country ages. The ranks of our disabled citizens will swell. What is the Senator's stand on the issue of the rights of the disabled to equal and fair access. As a career Volunteer Administrator now disabled I see many disabled citizens ready and eager to serve.
US Senator Dodd! Before to run for president - you must perform your job and obligations as US Senator and support the Constitution of the USA. You don't do it and can't hold any office.
Copy:
US Senator Dodd Pavel Goberman - Candidate (D) for US Senator
"Stop Political Prostitution!",
P.O. Box 1664
Beaverton, OR 97075
(503)643-8348
www.getenergized.com/vote.html
allbefit@aol.com getfit@getenergized.com
SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE USA: 07/06/07
Senator Dodd, you are not my senator. My Senators are not convicted yet criminals R. Wyden and G. Smith. I wrote to you in the past as a Member of Committee on Rules and Administration with Complaint against US District Court Judge Panner, who did judicial misconduct, violated my civil and human rights: didn't allow me (I was ProSe without any court experience) to give to the Jury an articles in newspapers about me, refused to include in my the Verdict Form my Retaliation Claim.
US District Court Judge Panner dismissed TRI-MET's Report against me as a fraud. Why I was fired?
But you didn't answer. It is a violation of the Constitution of the USA, it is a crime: USC T 5 Section 2302. You do not support the Constitution, and on base of Amendment XIV, Section 3, you can't hold any office and must resign or must be fired.
Again: perform your job and obligation: must investigate federal crime, my Complaint against US District Court Judge Panner (he raped the Constitution of the USA) and I demand rehearing my case against TRI-MET.
Also my complain to you against US Senators R. Wyden and G. Smith: I many times complained them that the EEOC (now Chairwoman Earp) refused to investigate my Complaint of discrimination and my illegal termination by TRI-MET, but they did nothing. These morons violated the Constitution of the USA and the Code of Ethics for Government Employees and not qualify to hold any office (Amendm. XIV Sec. 3).
If you will not investigate these crimes - it would be crime again: USC T 5 Section 2302, and you can't hold any office and can't run for president. In all my campaign speeches in Oregon I will convince the Oregonians do not vote for you, I will destroy your reputation.
Pavel Goberman
P.S. Copy in File.
P.G.
Dear Senator Dodd,
There is a very important issue of subject that I wish to share with you. First, however, there is a question that I must pose to you. If you have a law . . . but that law is unenforceable, what is that law worth ? I think the answer is obvious, said law is quite worthless.
I was an Environmental Scientist with the U.S. Dept. of Energy [DOE] stationed at the DOE's permanent repository for nuclear waste in New Mexico. To make a long story short, I am just an honest scientist, and when I encountered safety dangers I made my best effort to fully identify them so corrections could be made. The agency and myself had our differences resulting with the DOE firing me. For the past ten years I have been seeking protection from the laws of the U.S. for proven and admitted improper actions taken against me by the agency. E.g.: the DOE has admitted-by-silence in court to pretext for my removal and subsequent blacklisting.
What I have experienced has alarmed me because it has exposed the fact that the Constitution of the U.S. has been rendered unenforceable. The documents that are attached to this message very clearly certify this fact. For example, the judicial misconduct that I complain of is far from being an isolated instance. Why else would a "New Commission on Judicial Misconduct" be formed ? See attached 198Encl1. There are many, many additional unfortunate Americans suffering injustices in federal courts besides myself. This results in another question that must be posed. If a nation has NO enforceable Constitution or Bill of Rights for its people . . . can such a nation claim to be a Democracy ? The answer to that question is cause for my alarm.
I do not have a large ego, and frankly I wish that I never got involved with all of this, but what I have identified is actually one of the greatest threats to the integrity of the Democracy of the United States that has ever existed in the nation's history. The damage that has been done, however, can be repaired. There IS something that Americans can do to repair this damage to the U.S. Democracy. E.g.: Introduction of a Bill Restoring the Right of Direct Appeal to the Supreme Court of the U.S. for Constitutional Violations. Such a law would most certainly curtail judicial misconduct of federal judges, while addressing each and every case concerned with constitutional violations restoring the strength of the nation's Democracy. Suffering and wrongdoing are not isolated only to Iraq these days. I pray that you agree with me on these very important points and inform American voters of such. I hope to hear from you soon. Most sincerely,
Tod N. Rockefeller
Carlsbad, New Mexico USA 88220
nohardrock@pvtnetworks.net
NOTE: if the referenced attachments are not accessible, I can provide them upon request.
The attachments include:
a) USConsti - relevant portion of my closed lawsuit [06-198] challenging the Public Laws that rendered the U.S. Constitution unenforceable, which also details a long history of many federal judges violating the Constitution;
b) 198Encl1 - Demand for a Bill Restoring the Right of Direct Appeal to the Supreme Court;
c) 198Encl2 - my Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the U.S., docket no. 05-290, which details to the Supreme Court the lawless activities of the district court along with the entire DC Circuit court. Petition denied [05-290 is but only 1 of 9 Petitions docketed].
I had some interest in you as a presidential canidate until I heard you were going to the LOON fest, the dailyKos event. You have been outted as a member of the far left. I don't want a President who is far out but in the middle where the average American lives.
You are insane.
Mike Ryan
Chris Dodd...what an idiot, what a liar!
This is one firefighter NOT supporting the Dodd camp. While Sen. Dodd has supported many issues concerning the IAFF, this candisdate is way too liberal on core issues for me.
The person who called me said you where against illegal immigration and amnesty.
As a 30 year democrat NOW AN INDEPENDENT I deplore the far left swing of the democratic party. I WILL NOT VOTE for an amnesty candidate period. For all you folks who feel sorry for illegals...give them your jobs, give them your childrens food, give them your home, or shut up! Because if you cannot control illegal immigration your children and grandchildren will be living in a third world country!
So make yourself clear...are you against illegal immigration and amnesty or NOT!
Do you, Chris Dodd, plan to swear on a bible to uphold the Constitution of the United States? If so read a copy of the constitution. "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion." Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.I believe our president, the one the citizens of the United States elect, is required to find a way to get the "illegals" out of the United States. The illegals are using the tax payers monies, getting free medical, living off our money by having children in the United States, selling drugs to our children, killing our citizens and police to mention a few things. Some illegals are filling jobs no one else will take, such as picking fruits and vegetables - I've heard that hogwash over and over; but if they are allowed to become citizens they will no longer fill those jobs. What do you propose doing then? Invite more "illegals" into our country to fill them??????? If a decent wage is paid to someone, the job will be filled. I believe we would be willing to pay more for fruit and vegetables when people are aware of the cost to our country each year by having these "illegals" here.
I volunteered because I wanted to do it. Why should we enslave our high school seniors to do work the community should be paying for? i.e. cleaning parks, feeding the poor, painting vandalized areas... If it is worth having done it is worth paying for it. Stop the enslavement of this kids in the name of doing good. If they are good hearted they are doing it already. I work with volunteers and the many of the seniors doing service hours only do their little bit and I never see them again. It is hardly worth my training them. Pay them or leave them alone. Give them a $10 scholarship for every hour worked. Then we will see the work get done.
As for immigration,I hope all the "go homers" were Native Americans, my family came here in 1848 and we are staying. The rest of you haters should take a good look at the "bread crumbs" you are fighting over and you will see the "great distraction". While you were sleeping someone bought and sold your country. It's in China getting a new coat of lead paint.
Yay