Anti-Bush Demonstration Denver 11-29-05

I got two or three emails about this demonstration and I decided to try out my new extensible monopod. It's a single-leg support for the Sony VX2000 that can be raised up to 10' and with a lanc wire running back down to hand level, it makes for a steady above-most-heads platform. I'm looking for an inexpensive LCD panel at eye-level. Thanks to the effort of very good driver(s) the billboards on wheels seemed to be everywhere. I called them "fantactic" because I think they are a fantastic tactic. While Bush was inside giving an 18-minute speech, he raised $500,000 for Marilyn Musgrave, infamously anti-gay. Click here to watch 'Denver-Demonstration-11-29-05'

Seeing is Believing

"For many Coloradans, a tantalizing feature of Referendum C was restoration of the state's Senior Homestead Exemption, a valuable tax break for older homeowners that had been suspended because of state fiscal distress. The Homestead Exemption wasn't specifically mentioned in C, but supporters pledged to use revenues freed up by passage of the referendum to restore the program, which covers residents 65 or older who have owned their homes for at least 10 years. We were glad that state officials have quickly put the wheels in motion. The homestead law exempts 50 percent of the first $200,000 of the actual value of eligible homes. The savings won't mean much for the wealthy, but for other seniors, it could translate into extra groceries or needed medicine. The savings will average about $500 annually per property."

What Can You Do?

Bush is coming to Denver for a fundraising luncheon to support the candidacy of Marilyn Musgrave. How will we respond? LOUDLY! Join other groups from the peace & justice community, Tuesday November 29th at 10:45 in the morning. Bring pots & pans with wooden spoons, noisemakers, drums, whistles, and your loudest voice. WEAR EARPLUGS. Gather at the State Capitol Building at 10:45 AM. Another group is preparing sings to distribute that read: "WE ARE NOT SAFER, OCCUPATION BREEDS HATE" and BRING THE TROOPS HOME WHERE THEY BELONG". Please be prepared to pay $2 for a sign. At 11:00 AM we will begin the short walk to The Brown Palace. We want to be outside The Brown Palace from 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM. (Thanks to the groups and people that have planned this event.)

Keep The Change

As predicted, Colorado voters changed their minds about Referendum C from an initial 60% opposed to a 52% for under the influence of the thousands of trough-feeding groups and their media campaign. Happens every time. But in the big picture, the additional $600 million for the trough next year is merely a "tip" for the government, since they are already taking $16 billion. And I've heard hardly a whimper about Referred Question 1B, which gives the Denver government a 10-year break from TABOR. But since I-100 passed, I guess we can all start smoking pot and forget that our pockets have, once again, been picked.

Not One More

The proposed National Strike has morphed into 1100 demonstrations to protest the illegal war in Iraq and the death of 2000 US soldiers and over 30,000 Iraqis, to be held at a location near you. Click on title above to find one.

National Strike for Peace

Some are calling for a National Strike on the day after the death toll of American Soldiers in Iraq hits 2,000. The current tally is 1,996. We will probably reach 2,000 on Monday or Tuesday of this week. Are you ready? 1. Stay home from work. Call in and tell them you are out on a National Strike for Peace. 2. Stay home from school. Ditto. 3. Take to the streets. Carry a large sign. "National Strike for Peace." 4. Be disruptive - be creative. A stalled car can stop thousands. 5. Talk to your neighbors about stopping American global aggression. You probably have never seen a National Strike. I was in Peru once when a National Strike was called. All of the workers and students stayed home. They took over the streets. They dragged burning tires into the streets to stop the cars. They threw stones at commercial vehicles trying to drive on the streets. I am not giving any advice as to what you might do. Be peaceful - no violence. Use your imagination. This war must stop - now. "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,..."

From the Blue Book

Arguments Against 1) Referendum C is effectively a tax increase. It eliminates TABOR refunds for five years and reduces them each year thereafter. The state will spend roughly $3.743 billion that could be better used by Colorado's citizens and businesses. This reduction in private spending could dampen the economic recovery that began in 2003, making the state a less desirable place for business relocation. Not only are taxpayers giving up their sales tax refund, they are also voting to suspend 15 other refunds, such as a child care credit, lower motor vehicle fees, and capital gains credits. The estimated five-year total for all refund methods, including the sales tax refund, averages $1,106 per taxpayer. 2) Referendum C allows state spending to expand without being specific about the programs for which the money will be spent. The broad spending categories outlined in Referendum C cover 83 percent of state government. The new money could replace current spending on health care and public schools, essentially allowing the money to be spent for any purpose. The legislature can change the spending priorities anytime after the election. In addition, suspending the TABOR limit might lead to increases in fees and charges during the next five years because there is no limit on these increases and no requirement that these increases be approved by voters. 3) The perceived budget shortfall could be handled in other ways. TABOR allows government growth at inflation plus population, but it does not guarantee it. Government growth at a slower rate is acceptable and could encourage greater productivity and efficiency. Since TABOR passed in 1992, state spending has increased each year. Rather than spending more, the state could save money by eliminating inefficiencies, consolidating government functions, privatizing certain services, and reforming the state purchasing system.

Greedy Guts

It sure is hard to figure out the truth when you listen to all of the TV ads telling you that Colorado will crumble unless we give the government more of our money and vote yes on C and D. But I found a site that will give you every last detail of the whole debate (click on title). Ari Armstrong of The Colorado Freedom Report has all of the numbers and analysis you could want. I quote the final paragraph: "State government is expected to continue to grow every year into the future no matter what. Under Referendum C, state government would grow much more. If the growth of state spending is restrained under current rules, taxpayers will get back significant TABOR-related refunds -- a total of $3.6 billion over five years. Under Referendum C, taxpayers wouldn't get back any TABOR-related refunds over the next five years, but the legislature would be able to spend even more money."

C ollect and D istribute

I know eventually I'll have to write about the upcoming Colorado election and its so-called ballot issues know as referenda C and D. My problem is that I remember the results of similar votes over the last 34 years. Every time the Denver or Colorado voters are given a chance to hurt themselves by voting to increase their taxes in exchange for more "services" (or the threat of decreased "services"), we fall for the ads and vote against our own interests. Like letting 62,000 of us who voted for it create the monster that will be the new, world-class Denver Justice Center (Jail). This behemoth will provide us with problems for the next 5 years, and its already started with the land-swap to allow a 35-story building next to Larimer Square. Prediction: If it is actually built, the Final Tab on the Justice Center will top ONE BILLION DOLLARS! Since we gave them a blank check, this won't be a problem (for them). So I say, Go Ahead Colorado, vote yes on C and D and give them another blank check for THREE BILLION + (their estimate). Don't complain when you can't pay your heating bill (cost of natural gas is already set to double from last year) or fill up your tank on that $4.00 unleaded. Just start walking to keep warm!

Fencing on eBay

As noted below, the Denver Police had a "showing" of all of the recovered loot from the Prolific Burglar. None of my stuff was there. In talking with a couple of the cops there I learned that much of what he had stolen in the previous 3-4 years had been sold on eBay, probably including my laptop, camcorders, and jewelry. Ah...so that's were all of that stuff on eBay comes from. Maybe next time I'll look there first.