Thank You Ray!!!

Hi everyone,

I want to thank Ray for the last 18 months that he has been in the leadership of Democracy for Washington. We come a long way, baby! Don't go too far away, my friend, we're going to need your contacts and experience. But I fully appreciate the need to rebuild a personal foundation of family, work and life before reaching out to make a difference.

My hat is in the ring. I'm running for the position of Executive Director of Democracy for Washington. I've been contacting the DFA Linkup Hosts, and gotten some feedback on what they would like to see from DFW, and I'm looking forward to sharing that with everyone who can come on Saturday.

The biggest issue that people have pointed out is the lack of communication and cross-pollination of ideas between the Link-Ups around the state. Even groups as close as North Seattle DFA and Emerald City DFA have no way of knowing what we are doing less than 10 miles apart. We need to fix this, and we will.

We have a lot of other groups popping up around the state, trying to get people's attention while being focused on their own issues and goals. The Progressive Movement needs to find common ground and come together wherever possible. Right now we are as splintered as the Conservative talking heads accuse us of being. We need to fix this, and we will.

I'm going to see how we can coordinate with the Grassroots Democrats' Volunteer project and I want to revive the Democratic Volunteer Corps, a statewide group like DFA Corps and one of the original ideas that we came up with for DFW. We don't have a lot of visibility beyond the Linkups, so people who are not already clued in to what we are doing don't even know we are there. We need to fix that, and we will.

I'm going to introduce a new term. We have Mimes running our party, and running our government. They don't speak clearly about our values, and they put their hands against invisible walls that prevent them from reaching out to us in the grassroots. We need candidates and elected officials that are not afraid to be heard, and we need to show them that those walls don't exist and that we are the ones reaching out.

You all know me, but you don't know me that well. I need to fix that, and I will. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday if you plan to attend, otherwise I'm looking forward to working with you whether I win or lose. I didn't go away when Howard dropped out of the Presidential Primary; and neither did you. I didn't go away when John Kerry lost last November, and neither did you. I'm not going away now, and I hope neither will you. We have a lot of work to do between now and the '06 and '08 elections. Let's get it done, and let's get it done right so we don't have to do this again in another hundred years.

The Progressive Movement is the face at the base of the Democratic Party. For the last hundred years, we've been watching and waiting. We campaigned for Teddy Roosevelt in 1912. We fought for Suffrage. We voted for Franklin Roosevelt 4 times. We voted for JFK and LBJ, and we fought in the War on Poverty in pursuit of the Great Society. We stopped the Vietnam War. We stood by our African American brothers and sisters to grant them equality and civil rights. Some of us voted for Ross Perot in 1992 looking for someone who could balance the budget. Bill Clinton gave that to us in the 90's. Some of us voted for Nader in 2000 because we didn't like what we saw in the top two campaigns. This is the Progressive Movement that was engaged by Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich in 2003. In 2004, we couldn't gain the clout within the Democratic Party in time to get the nomination.

We are the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party. We've gotten a taste of making a difference in our Party and our Country. We're not going to quit, and we're not going to give up or get scared off. We're here to stay.

The Conservatives have been consciously fighting a war for the last 30 years. Against us. It's time we fought back. And we are.

Questions and comments welcome, as always. Here are some links to follow to learn more about me:

http://www.pcfw.org/chadlupkes.php

http://www.pcfw.org/declaration.php

http://www.seattlewebcrafters.com/chadlupkes/articles/soapbox.php


Chad Lupkes
Seattle, Washington

Progressives put the concerns of People and the Planet before Corporate Profits

Note to city: Give the people what they want

I am very frustrated about the future of the monorail in Seattle. It is cheaper per mile, more fun to ride, capable of going more places and just plain better than any of the other options that are being built with our tax dollars. The only problem with the monorail has been the lack of support from city, county and state elected officials, and the lack of competence within the leadership of the project, who all seem to have been appointed by the people who never supported the project to begin with.

I want the Green Line built. Mayor Greg Nickels is wrong to demand a fifth vote on the monorail; I do not support his re-election because of that and a number of other decisions he has made regarding construction and development in Seattle. He is putting the needs of the people behind the desires of developers and richer residents.

We don't need a new election for the monorail. There have been four elections, with each opposition campaign better and better funded throughout the years, and it has always passed. Seattleites want the monorail built. What the project needs is good leadership with the experience and drive to get the job done. With the new director, John Haley, we might have who we need to finish the project. Give us what we've wanted for 40+ years -- a monorail that actually goes places.

Chad Lupkes
Seattle

Talk about Backbone...

Text of Speech by President Hugo Chavez
at UN General Assembly
Thursday, September 15, 2005

Unofficial English translation by Néstor Sánchez
Edited by NY Transfer News

Your Excellencies, friends, good afternoon:

The original purpose of this meeting has been completely distorted. The
imposed center of debate has been a so-called reform process that
overshadows the most urgent issues, what the peoples of the world claim with
urgency: the adoption of measures that deal with the real problems that
block and sabotage the efforts made by our countries for real development
and life.

Five years after the Millennium Summit, the harsh reality is that the great
majority of estimated goals- which were very modest indeed- will not be met.

We pretended reducing by half the 842 million hungry people by the year
2015. At the current rate that goal will be achieved by the year 2215. Who
in this audience will be there to celebrate it? That is only if the human
race is able to survive the destruction that threats our natural
environment.

We had claimed the aspiration of achieving universal primary education by
the year 2015. At the current rate that goal will be reached after the year
2100. Let us prepare, then, to celebrate it.

Friends of the world, this takes us to a sad conclusion: The United Nations
has exhausted its model, and it is not all about reform. The 21st century
demands deep changes that will only be possible if a new organization is
founded. This UN does not work. We have to say it. It is the truth.

These transformations -- the ones Venezuela is referring to -- have,
according to us, two phases: The immediate phase and the aspiration phase, a
utopia. The first is framed by the agreements that were signed in the old
system. We do not run away from them. We even bring concrete proposals in
that model for the short term. But the dream of an ever-lasting world peace,
the dream of a world not [abased] by hunger, disease, illiteracy, extreme
necessity, needs -- apart from roots -- to spread its wings to fly. We need
to spread our wings and fly.

We are aware of a frightening neoliberal globalization, but there is also
the reality of an interconnected world that we have to face, not as a
problem but as a challenge. We could, on the basis of national realities,
exchange knowledge, integrate markets, interconnect, but at the same time we
must understand that there are problems that do not have a national
solution: radioactive clouds, world oil prices, diseases, warming of the
planet or the hole in the ozone layer. These are not domestic problems.

As we stride toward a new United Nations model that includes all of us when
they talk about the people, we are bringing four indispensable and urgent
reform proposals to this Assembly: The first: the expansion of the Security
Council in its permanent categories as well as the non permanent categories,
thus allowing new developed and developing countries as new permanent and
non permanent categories. The second: we need to assure the necessary
improvement of the work methodology in order to increase transparency, not
to diminish it. The third: we need to immediately suppress- we have said
this repeatedly in Venezuela for the past six years- the veto in the
decisions taken by the Security Council, that elitist trace is incompatible
with democracy, incompatible with the principles of equality and democracy.
And the fourth; we need to strengthen the role of the Secretary General;
his/her political functions regarding preventive diplomacy, that role must
be consolidated.

The seriousness of all problems calls for deep transformations. Mere reforms
are not enough to achieve all that we the peoples of the world are waiting
for. More than just reforms, we in Venezuela call for the foundation of a
new United Nations, or as the teacher of Simón Bolívar, Simón Rodríguez
said: "Either we invent or we err."

At the Porto Alegre World Social Forum last January different personalities
proposed that the United Nations move outside the United States if the [US]
repeated violations of international rule of law continue. Today we know
that there were never any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The people of
the United States have always been very rigorous in demanding the truth from
their leaders; the people of the world demand the same thing. There were
never any weapons of mass destruction; however, Iraq was bombed, occupied
and it is still occupied. All this happened over the United Nations
[objections].

That is why we propose to this Assembly that the United Nations should leave
a country that does not respect the resolutions taken by this same Assembly.
Some proposals have pointed to Jerusalem as an international city, as an
alternative. The proposal can provide an answer to the current conflict
affecting Palestine. Nonetheless, it poses problems that could make it very
difficult to become a reality. That is why we are bringing a proposal made
by Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of the South, in 1815. Bolívar
proposed then the creation of an international city that would host the idea
of unity.

We believe it is time to think about the creation of an international city
with its own sovereignty, with its own strength and morality to represent
all nations of the world. Such an international city has to balance five
centuries of unbalance. The headquarters of the United Nations must be in
the South.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are facing an unprecedented energy crisis in which
an unstoppable increase of energy is perilously reaching record highs, as
well as the incapacity of increase oil supply and the perspective of a
decline in the proven reserves of fuel worldwide. Oil is starting to become
exhausted.

For the year 2020 the daily demand for oil will be 120 million barrels. Such
demand, even without counting future increments- would consume in 20 years
what humanity has used up to now. This means that more carbon dioxide will
inevitably be increased, thus warming our planet even more.

Hurricane Katrina has been a painful example of the cost of ignoring such
realities. The warming of the oceans is the fundamental factor behind the
devastating increase in the strength of the hurricanes we have witnessed in
the last years. Let us use this occasion to send our deepest condolences to
the people of the United States. Those people are brothers and sisters of
all of us in the Americas and the rest of the world.

It is impractical and unethical to sacrifice the human race by appealing in
an insane manner to the validity of a socioeconomic model that has a
galloping destructive capacity. It would be suicidal to spread it and impose
it as an infallible remedy for the evils which are caused precisely by them.

Not too long ago, the President of the United States went to an Organization
of American States meeting to propose Latin America and the Caribbean to
increase market-oriented policies, open market policies -- that is
neoliberalism -- when it is precisely the fundamental cause of the great
evils and the great tragedies currently suffered by our people. The
neoliberal capitalism, the Washington Consensus. All this has generated is a
high degree of misery, inequality and infinite tragedy for all the peoples
on his continent.

What we need now more than ever, Mr. President, is a new international
order. Let us recall the United Nations General Assembly in its sixth
extraordinary session period in 1974, 31 years ago, where a new
International Economic Order action plan was adopted, as well as the States
Economic Rights and Duties Charter by an overwhelming majority, 120 votes
for the motion, 6 against and 10 abstentions.

This was the period when voting was possible at the United Nations. Now it
is impossible to vote. Now they approve documents such as this one which I
denounce on behalf of Venezuela as null, void and illegitimate. This
document was approved violating the current laws of the United Nations. This
document is invalid! This document should be discussed; the Venezuelan
government will make it public. We cannot accept an open and shameless
dictatorship in the United Nations. These matters should be discussed and
that is why I petition my colleagues, heads of states and heads of
governments, to discuss it.

I just came from a meeting with President Néstor Kirchner and well, I was
pulling this document out; this document was handed out five minutes before-
and only in English- to our delegation. This document was approved by a
dictatorial hammer which I am here denouncing as illegal, null, void and
illegitimate.

Hear this, Mr. President: if we accept this, we are indeed lost. Let us turn
off the lights, close all doors and windows! That would be unbelievable: us
accepting a dictatorship here in this hall.

Now more than ever- we were saying- we need to retake ideas that were left
on the road such as the proposal approved at this Assembly in 1974 regarding
a New International Economic Order. Article 2 of that text confirms the
right of states to nationalizing the property and natural resources that
belonged to foreign investors. It also proposed to create cartels of raw
material producers. In Resolution 3021, May, 1974, the Assembly expressed
its will to work with utmost urgency in the creation of a New International
Econimci Order based on- listen carefully, please- the equity, sovereign
equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all states
regardless of their economic and social systems, correcting the inequalities
and repairing the injustices among developed and developing countries, thus
assuring present and future generations, peace, justice and a social and
economic development that grows at a sustainable rate.

The main goal of the New Economic International Order was to modify the old
economic order conceived at Bretton Woods.

We the people now claim- this is the case of Venezuela- a new international
economic order. But it is also urgent a new international political order.
Let us not permit that a few countries try to reinterpret the principles of
International Law in order to impose new doctrines such as pre-emptive
warfare. Oh do they threaten us with that pre-emptive war! And what about
the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, we need to ask ourselves. Who is
going to protect us? How are they going to protect us?

I believe one of the countries that require protection is precisely the
United States. That was shown painfully with the tragedy caused by Hurricane
Katrina; they do not have a government that protects them from the announced
nature disasters. If we are going to talk about protecting each other, these
are very dangerous concepts that shape imperialism, interventionism as they
try to legalize the violation of the national sovereignty. The full respect
towards the principles of International Law and the United Nations Charter
must be, Mr. President, the keystone for international relations in today's
world and the basis for the new order we are currently proposing.

It is urgent to fight, in an efficient manner, international terrorism.
Nonetheless, we must not use it as an excuse to launch unjustified military
aggressions which violate international law. Such has been the doctrine
following September 11. Only a true and close cooperation and the end of the
double standards that some countries of the North apply regarding terrorism,
could end this terrible calamity.

In just seven years of Bolivarian Revolution, the people of Venezuela can
claim important social and economic advances. One million four hundred and
six thousand Venezuelans learned to read and write. We are 25 million total.
And the country will -- in a few weeks -- be declared illiteracy-free
territory. And three million Venezuelans, who had always been excluded
because of poverty, are now [benefiting from] primary, secondary and higher
studies.

Seventeen million Venezuelans -- almost 70% of the population -- are
receiving, and for the first time, universal health care, including the
medicine, and in a few years, all Venezuelans will have free access to an
excellent health-care service. More than a million seven hundred tons of
food are channeled to over 12 million people at subsidized prices, almost
half the population. One million gets them completely free, as they are in a
transition period. More than 700 thousand new jobs have been created, thus
reducing unemployment by 9 points.

All of this amid internal and external aggressions, including a coup d'etat
and an oil industry shutdown organized by Washington. Regardless of the
conspiracies, the lies, spread by powerful media outlets, and the permanent
threat of the empire and its allies -- they even call for the assassination
of a president. The only country where a person is able to call for the
assassination of a head of state is the United States. Such was the case of
a Reverend called Pat Robertson, very close to the White House: He called
for my assassination and he is a free person. That is international
terrorism!

We will fight for Venezuela, for Latin American integration and the world.
We reaffirm our infinite faith in humankind. We are thirsty for peace and
justice in order to survive as species. Simón Bolívar, founding father of
our country and guide of our revolution, swore to never allow his hands to
be idle or his soul to rest until he had broken the shackles which bound us
to the empire. Now is the time to not allow our hands to be idle or our
souls to rest until we save humanity.

Looking "Way Ahead"

Dear Morning Edition,

I just heard the announcer say that NPR was looking “ahead, WAY ahead, to the 2006 Congressional Elections”. This really offends me. If NPR has been absorbed into the mentality that reality works on individual 2-year election cycles or even 5-year business cycles, then we are in deep trouble. The only way that we are going to develop the society that we want to have, in the world that we want to live in, is if we start understanding that looking way ahead means looking at least 7 GENERATIONS. Given that a generation is 22 years, I’m talking 154 years. And I’m serious.

What kind of a world are we going to have in 2159? How many Hurricanes per year are we going to see in the Atlantic? What will the average temperature be? How much Depleted Uranium will be in the environment?

And if this sounds ridiculous, think about the past. What decisions were being made in 1851 that we still deal with today? How about the Denny Party landing at Alki Point in Washington State? Don’t forget about the opening of the first YMCA in Boston. Or the founding of The New York Times and Reuters.

I do believe that NPR should look “WAY ahead”. I just have a different definition of just what that means. Yes, the next Congressional Elections are important. But we can’t lose sight of the big picture, which includes the need to decide whether we want Peace or Perpetual World War. Whether we want to successfully deal with the End of Oil, or whether we want to return to the technology and mentality of the Middle Ages. Whether we want to conquer the diseases that plague our world, or let those diseases kill millions of our brothers and sisters around the world. Whether we want to focus on how our ideologies make us different and incompatible, or whether we will focus on the fact that we are all on this closed environment on a single planet.

Anyway, that single phrase got my mind churning, and I thought I would sound off on why.

Re: Dividers, Not Uniters

Senator Kerry,

You fail to see the point. Karl Rove said what he said because he does not care what we think, nor does he think the American people care. George Bush will support Karl Rove. The Republican Party will support the administration, just as the Talking Heads support it. This is a distraction for the Senate, the House and the Media. Dodge the distraction, and get on message. Stop caring what they think or what they say, and start caring about America.

You're right, they are dividing America. We are more divided now than we were in 1862. But now there is no Mason-Dixon line. Now the divisions are drawn through cities and towns, down streets and down the centers of dinner tables where our families sit down to eat dinner. The Civil War may have ended in the 1860's, but the issues were never resolved. That's why the Southern Strategy works. America is already divided, and we are weak because of it. We were strong before September 11th, we were stronger immediately after that tragedy, but we are weaker now than we have ever been before. And it's not because Liberals don't support America, nor is it because Conservatives think they do. It's because one side will not listen to the other side. There is no American understanding. There is no moderate stance. Not anymore. With him or against him was the choice that he laid on the table. There is no other option.

The budget for Human services that just passed the House points out one thing. The Republicans may say that they love America, but they hate Americans who need their help. And that hate will either be their undoing, or will cause this entire country to self-destruct.

Please get on message. National Health Care, Responsible Energy Policy, Education for All. Protect our children, our elderly and support our veterans. Don't bother to debate their distractions, don't listen to their lies. They hate Americans, and they don't care. They prove that with every speech and every vote. George Bush does not care about America. Say that on the Senate Floor, and you'll get more support than you can possibly imagine. I might even start supporting you again. But only if you tell the truth and refuse to apologize for it.

Chad Lupkes
Seattle

Don't let NASA's budget be cut!

Dear Rep. McDermott,

I just recieved a note from the National Space Society saying that the House Appropriations Subcommittee has proposed a cut of $3.1 billion to the NASA budget for 2006. I would like to express my opinion on this cut and NASA in general.

I dispise what George W. Bush is doing to this country. With one exception over the last 5 years, I have disagreed with everything that he has said, and everything he has done. That one exception is his support for NASA and the US Space Program.

I believe that fully funding a responsible space program will help build a prosperous America in the near and far future. Looking beyond the age of oil, we must do everything we can to increase our resource base for energy and other possibilities, including eventual colonies in Earth orbit, on the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Please help me support our US Space Program by ensuring that NASA gets the funding that they need to fulfill their mission, and help our children and grandchildren have hope for a better tomorrow.

Designing Healthy Communities

I have no problem with promoting self-interest. What I can't follow blindly is a pursuit of any economic model or goal without an understanding of the potential costs associated with reaching that goal. Some call this enlightened self-interest.

As individuals, we will always be pursuing our self-interest. It's in our nature, and there is no way to escape from the reality of our origins whether you believe that we evolved from the long path of evolution or listened to the words of our creator saying 'be fruitful and multiply'.

http://www.seattlewebcrafters.com/chadlupkes/pagan/matthew22.php

In the end, the differences between these two origin stories are moot when we look forward into the future and realize the costs of what we have been doing over the last 200 years to ourselves, our planet and our potential.

Let's define economics. Economics is the social science that studies the allocation of scare resources through measurable variables. The word was coined around 1870, right after the Civil War and after the publication of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species". The connection becomes clear when you read the book "Midwestern Progressive Politics" by Russell Nye.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0870130420

The origin of the modern corporation occured around the same time, with the invention the railroads and spread of the Trusts, Standard Oil, etc. But the war between the Conservative Movement and Progressive Movement goes back to the beginning of time. It is a struggle between two sides of the same coin. It is the Golden Rule vs. the Rule of Gold. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" vs. "he who has the gold, makes the rules". Think of the Neo-con movement as a
parasite on society. Bush is a host. Even Rove is a host. The parasite is a meme, which is a thought pattern based on the rule of gold. That is what the long term and eternal fight is about.

What I believe we need to do is add a level of decision maker to the decision making process for the corporations, non-profits and government. By designating "We the People" in the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson started this process. But it never caught on in the one economic entity that now needs it. The Corporation.

Right now, the decision makers for the corporation are the Board of Directors. These are people selected by the largest shareholders and confirmed via vote by the rest of the shareholders of the corporation. What we need to do is identify the other people who should have a voice in the decision making process. The Stakeholders of a corporation include everyone that does business with that entity, everyone who lives
in the community the corporation operates in, and everyone who is affected by the environmental changes the corporation creates. So, given that the corporation is driven exclusively by the pursuit of Profit, what we need to do is put two more measures of evaluation into the minds of the decision makers. Those two are Community and Environment.

In my mind, a Healthy Community is comprised of individuals and legal entities, meaning corporations, non-profits and governments, that recognize all three of these measures when making decisions.

Let's talk about how to make it happen.

Chad Lupkes
Seattle

It's a question of reponsibility

I am 100% pro-choice. It's not my choice, it's the woman's. I don't like Abortions. Who does. That's not the point.

When this government takes responsibility for the fact that 43 million people in this country don't have any Health Care at all, and 40 million more are in danger of losing it...

When this government takes responsibility for the fact that millions of people, including women and children, are homeless, jobless and hopeless...

When this government takes responsibility for the fact that most children are born into a country that provides almost no support for them or their parents until they are old enough to go to public schools...

When this government takes responsibility for the worst education system in the developed world...

When this government deals with all of these issues, then they can come to us and ask us to bring into this world more people that we can't afford to feed, clothe, house or educate.

And when the people who are demanding that all women carry all babies to full term are willing to pay the taxes to provide the food, clothes, housing and education to everyone who can't afford it on their own, then we'll listen to their arguments. Until then, they can bugger off.

End of life

Quick point in case it ever comes up. If I don't recover after something like that for a year, or doctors can show that my brain activity is toast, let me go.

Please

Speech for 4th CD Grassroots

4th Congressional District
Conference on Activism
Chad Lupkes
02/26/05

I want to start with some poetry.

The moose has left the wooded hill;
his call rings through the land.
It's a summons to the young and strong
to join with willing hand:
To fight for right and country;
to strike down a robber band,
And we'll go marching on.

Progressive Party Convention, June, 1912

Who am I.

I joined the efforts of the Democratic Party during the run up to the 2004 Precinct Caucuses supporting Howard Dean, and I was the elected Chair of my own caucus. I have been more and more active in the 46th Legislative District Democrats over the past year. I am currently the website manager for Democracy for Washington and the Progressive Democratic Caucuses of Washington, along with several County and LD organizations within Washington State including Kittitas County and the 13th LD, as well as some specific candidates like Tami Green and Jim Barnett. I am currently the newsletter editor for the 46th LD and an At-Large member of the Executive Board. And on and on... No rest for the willing it seems.

Democracy for Washington

History

When Howard Dean dropped out of the race on February 18th, many of the people who had been in leadership positions for his campaign in Washington State decided not to let the movement die. I asked them how I could help, and became their website developer. On March 18th, Gov. Dean came to Seattle to launch Democracy for America, and we launched the Democracy for Washington website the same day. We held a well attended Gubernatorial Candidate Forum, and all three Democratic candidates showed up to give their stump speeches and answer questions from the audience. It was a good start.

DFW Mission

We are a progressive citizen's organization that stands for fiscal responsibility and social responsibility. We support the grassroots on the frontlines of democracy, by encourging activists to get involved in local political organizations and targeted campaigns, by providing a network connection between activists and political leadership through technology, candidate forums, networking and social events such as Meetups, and by directing new candidates to professional training to help them compete and win.

DFW Actions in progress

The DFW Core is traveling the state in partnership with Progressive Majority to work with local activists on candidate recruitment, development and support. We've met in Bellingham, Olympia, Vancouver, and we'll be in Spokane on the 12th and Yakima on the 13th. Please go to our website, democracyforwashington.com, to RSVP. We have raised money for candidates including Don Barbieri, and have recruited volunteers for campaigns in the 2004 election, and will be more active in this and future cycles. We are also developing a series of social events to allow progressives to strengthen their network and meet political leaders who make decisions affecting them.

Progressive Democratic Caucuses of Washington

History

In 2004, some members of the 46th Legislative District Democrats had been meeting over the summer and early fall to discuss ways to make their local party organization more transparent and more responsive to the progressive platform and to grassroots concerns at the district level. We also wanted to work both inside and outside the party structure to engage candidates and work on issues.

After the Democratic National Convention in July, 2004 many delegates returned to Washington State energized by the newly-formed Progressive Democrats of America (www.pdamerica.org). The PDA is a union of the Dean and Kucinich campaigns, started by grassroots activists who understood that this fight would not be won or lost on November 2nd. Several of them wanted to form a Progressive Caucus within the Democratic Party here in Washington State. They put together a proposal for the Progressive Democratic Caucuses of Washington and shopped it around to former Kucinich and Dean supporters they had met during the 2004 Presidential Primary campaign.

They recieved somewhat contradictory feedback. Some people thought that the organization should function outside of any political party, and some believed that the organization should function as a caucus within the Democratic Party. The separation came from the difference between electoral politics and issue-based politics, and the fact that many of our members are so disillusioned with the Democratic Party that they wanted to stand back and let us work on it before they would be willing to join.

We did both. PDCW is the caucus within the Democratic Party, and Progressive Change for Washington is a non-partisan group working exclusively on issues. We'll see how that works.

PDCW Mission Statement

Political activists from the State of Washington are joining together to create Progressive Caucuses within their Democratic Legislative Districts.

The Caucus will work to implement the progressive platform of the district by educating members, articulating public policy, and holding our elected officials accountable for representing that platform.
The Caucus will work to maintain the new energy of the Democratic Party by encouraging transparency of Party processes, rapid and open communication with members, and continuing tolerance of diverse viewpoints.

We will promote policies and candidates that steadfastly support peaceful resolution to conflict, the protection of human rights, public infrastructure and natural spaces, as well as economic, racial, social and environmental justice.

WSDCC Caucus Meeting

On January 28th, the first meeting of the WSDCC Progressive Caucus met. We are still trying to figure out how long it has been since there was a Progressive Caucus here in Washington within the Democratic Party, or any party for that matter. My research so far says 1916. We elected officers, and those officers have formed a bylaws committee. We need this formal structure to have the most impact.

How the WSDCC Progressive Caucus works with the LD level caucuses.

We are committeed to developing our relationship and evolve into a formal caucus. Right now we are looking at the possible legal and financial structures to make sure that we can do what we set out to do.

To what end?

I am often asked what the Progressive Movement wants to accomplish. Will we try to get candidates into office? Will we draft legislation for our representatives to submit? Our actions need to be guided by a question. "What will this accomplish?" 90% of policy is decided on election day, because it gives certain people the authority to make decisions. So, supporting candidates is important. But so is writing legislation that actually accomplishes what we want. Always look forward to how you are affecting things. The journey is as important as the destination. The method of accomplishing change is as important as the change itself.

Engage, Educate, Empower

As activists, we need to engage, educate and empower.

To the grassroots, this means that we talk with our neighbors to find out what they care about and what we have in common. We need to educate them about what we think on those issues and come to a mutual understanding of how we can work together to accomplish something about upcoming decisions on a local, state and national level. Then we need to provide the tools so we can empower people to get their voice heard.

To our current elected officials, we need to engage them on the issues we care about, educate them on our positions on those issues, and empower them to make decisions in support of those positions. We grant them the power to make those decisions. We need to convince them to use that power to support us.

Message and Infrastructure, Yin and Yang

I believe that in any political organization, there are two things that are required to be successful. The first is the message itself, and the second is the infrastructure necessary to get that message out. One cannot succeed without the other.

What is Progressive?

One problem is that too many people see things on a single axis, Left vs. Right, Liberal vs. Conservative. They see a majority bump in the middle of the spectrum and spend all their time and effort trying to push the party line over in the direction of their opposition to try and get that extra single percentage point that will put them over the top. The Republicans have mastered that art. The Democratic Party has never been good at it. The Party seems to focus too much of it's energy trying to make that push for the 'center'. We are operating under an illusion, and will continue to lose until we break that illusion and refocus on what is really important. Progressive is not far left. Draw a line perpendicular to the Liberal/Conservative line, and put Progressive at one end, with those who put profit over the needs of our people and our planet on the other end. We are not the radicals. We are the people.

What does it mean to be Progressive?

This is my framing and it consists of four parts.

Grassroots, People-Powered Democracy

If a decision is being made on any level of government that affects you, your voice should be heard on that issue. I've recently read a book that made me realize how far we have come and how far we have to go. The Tao of Democracy is a description of how the evolution of our democratic processes is occurring all around the world. What we need in this country and around the world is a way for people to get directly involved in the way our government operates. Many opportunities exist now, but they are hidden behind a wall of secrecy and only the hard-core activists seem to be able to break through. We have to make the process of electoral and issue based politics transparent and open so everyone can get involved.

The Concept of WE

The Earth is a single environment. Everything that affects individuals affects groups, and the larger the subject, the larger the group that is affected. I'm tired of hearing people describe the world in terms of 'us versus them'. We're all on this planet together, and the more we understand that, the better we will be able to create a world that works for everyone. How can we get a better understanding of how everyone is linked together, and that something affecting one affects us all?

Understanding the Past

Where do our problems come from? How do they relate to each other? If we search for an understanding of our past mistakes, we gain a better understanding of how not to repeat them. Maybe we can even solve two problems with the same action.

Looking to the Future

It's not enough anymore to think and act for the moment. In the big picture, we are creating the world of the future by our actions today. I'm concerned about how my children are growing up, but I'm just as concerned about the kind of world their grandchildren will be living in. We should grant them the power to turn that world into whatever they wish it to be, with clean air and water, energy resources to explore their dreams, a peaceful world where people talk instead of fight with each other. What can we do now, either big decisions or small actions, that can help to create that world of opportunity?

Progressive Networking

The Conservative Movement did not start out in lock step, and they are not there now. What they have done is found a way to minimize the separations and appear united. We need to find out how to use our diversity as a strength instead of a way to keep us separated. United we stand, divided we fall. Diverse does not mean divided. Our network already exists, but it's not documented in a way that we can use effectively. The voter file hosted by the Washington State Democratic Party is a good first step. It will help us identify people in our precincts and districts that we can count on. We also need to connect with groups, identify issues and plan events. All four pieces of the networking puzzle need to be connected together.

How many progressive organizations do you think there are in Washington State? 25? 50? Actually the PDCW has identified over 200 different progressive groups that we have begun contacting. And that number is growing.

Paradigm Shift

The Progressive Movement is the face at the base of the Democratic Party. For the last hundred years, we've been watching and waiting. We campaigned for Teddy Roosevelt in 1912. We fought for Sufferage. We voted for Franklin Roosevelt 4 times. We voted for JFK and LBJ, and we fought in the War on Poverty in pursuit of the Great Society. We stood by our African American brothers and sisters to grant them equality and civil rights. Some of us voted for Ross Perot in 1992 looking for someone who could balance the budget. Bill Clinton gave that to us in the 90's. Some of us voted for Nader in 2000 because we didn't like what we saw in the top two campaigns. This is the Progressive Movement that was engaged by Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich in 2003. In 2004, we couldn't gain the clout within the Democratic Party in time to get the nomination. But what we have done is recognized what the illusion is and we're working on trying to break it. Think of the Parties as teams on a sports field, with the people in the stands supporting their teams. The problem is who owns the field and who pays the referees. It's time for the Progressive Movement to understand who we are and what we have to do. There are two major times in history that show us the way. 1932 and 1994. We must study and learn the lessons of both. We need a Roosevelt, and we need a Gingrich. Or do we? I think that we are the ones that we have been waiting for.

We are at war. Bush v. Gore was not the first shot. This has been going on for decades. The 2004 election was one of the first battles where we truly understood the stakes. We fought hard, and we almost won. The Conservative Movement won that battle. But the war goes on. And the only way we can lose this is if we stop fighting.

This is where we must recognize the change that needs to occur. In a standard business hierarchy, you have the President/CEO and the Board of Directors at the top, then the high level managers, divisional managers, low level managers and then the salespeople. At one point, Bruce Nordstrom was asked to draw out the heirarchy of the Nordstrom corporation. He drew the normal pyramid, then turned it upside down. The people on the front lines are the people who are the face of the company, and everyone in the chain from those front lines back to the President is there to support that front line, not the other way around.
In politics, the people on the front lines have been the political pundits and their guests on the TV in people's living rooms. Thanks to the 2004 campaign, now we know differently. The people on the front lines are the people who walk from house to house to talk to their neighbors. They invite people into their homes for meetups and social gatherings. And these are the people who are looking for support from the rest of the structure. We are turning politics upside down. As we do this, there will be holes that need to be filled. Maybe you need talking points on a particular issue. Maybe you want to support a candidate or an issue campaign and need some quick fundraising. Maybe you need to schedule, plan and execute a forum between two candidates for a local office. My local party organization, the 46th, has one general meeting per month, and one Executive Board meeting per month. The Democratic Party can't do everything. And this is where groups like DFW and the PDCW can step in to help. We need your help to find those holes, and we need your help to fill them. Remember, WE are the ones that WE have been waiting for.

The moose has left the wooded hill; his call rings through the land.
It's a summons to the young and strong to join with willing hand:
To fight for right and country; to strike down a robber band,
And we'll go marching on.

1912 Progressive Party Caucus Hymn.

WSDCC Technology Director Questionnaire

WSDCC TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Your Name: Chad Lupkes
Your Home Address: 11401 Roosevelt Way NE #12, Seattle, WA 98125
Your Telephone Number: 206-440-1592
Your E-mail Address: chadlupkes@earthlink.net



A. GENERAL QUESTIONS


1. Please explain the nature of your work with database design, training, and implementation. Be sure to reference the products you used.

I have taken Database Management classes at the University of Phoenix. They taught the basics of Database design, and had us create basic databases using Microsoft Access. This was familiar to me, as I had been using the software since 1999. I also have several databases (all in Access) that I manage at work for my own purposes, as well as several that were written by other people that I help maintain. The majority of my own work is using Queries to looking into multiple tables, but I know how to build Forms and Reports as well.

I am in the process of learning MySQL. I do understand the basics behind the SQL language, and I can use pre-existing databases built with MySQL for website design, specifically for the Drupal and CivicSpace website engines.

2. The Democratic Party is a fast-paced nonprofit organization made up of committed individuals, elected officials, and candidates from across the state. Please explain any interaction you've had with the Party, political candidates, or issue-based nonprofit organizations. What did you like, what did you not like, and what would be your expectations working for the Party? If you have ever managed a voter file before, please explain when and where.

I started paying attention to politics in May of 2003, when I attended my first meeting of the 46th District Democrats. I was encouraged to attend by an instructor at the University, and picked up a copy of the PCO Handbook. For one of my assignments in a website design class, I transcribed the entire PCO Handbook onto the web. That version of the document is currently on the Democracy for Washington website, although I have seen two versions come out since then with minor changes.

My main experience in campaigns came from a Mercer Island City Council race. Bob Gelb, a good friend of mine, decided to run for El Jahncke's seat. I signed on as his treasurer, and while we only gained 33% of the vote, we felt very good about what we had done, and he is thinking hard of running again in '05.

In December, 2003, I volunteered to take over the website for the 46th District Democrats. Scott brought me in as an interim Executive Board member, and I kept the website updated through the Caucus Cycle. I ran for and won a seat as an At Large member of the 46dems E-board at the Reorganization meeting on December 2nd, and I am working with the Legislative and Research Committee with Sarajane Siegfried as well as the Community Outreach Committee under Bev Marcus.

I am also volunteering as the website manager for the Rainier Institute, which is a non-partisan think tank based in Seattle.

I have used the Online Voter File, and the system seems like a good start. I would want to gather ideas from users at various levels from Party Chair down to PCO and come up with a plan for any modifications based on their needs and desires. The biggest problem that I had during the last election season was the lack of a quick way to update information and have it show up in the system. I understand that there are procedures that need to be followed before changes can be made, and I believe those procedures need to be reviewed. Specifically, there is nothing in the online users guide that explains what it takes to make a change permanent. (I also notice that I am still listed as a 'B'.)

3. This position requires interaction with individuals of varying computer and database knowledge, customer service, and training. Please explain what experience you have producing training materials, giving customer service to less technical individuals, and giving oral presentations.

I have been working with computers since 1983, mostly on a user level. Over those 21 years, I have spent a lot of time helping people learn tricks and bringing them up to speed in DOS, Windows, Office, and the World Wide Web. I have worked for Nordstrom in a support role for the past 5 years, where customer service is the first consideration in any interaction or transaction. The courses that I took at the University of Phoenix all required presentations at the end of each class, and I am very familiar with PowerPoint.

4. This position requires the utilization of several different databases, online content, IT, as well as internal and external support. Considering this level of multitasking, how do you foresee organizing yourself to accomplish all tasks? Have you had experience setting priorities and ensuring follow-through on those priorities?

One of the jobs I held at Nordstrom was doing Special Orders for the Menswear department. The salespeople would enter their request into an online database, and we would process the requests. I gained familiarity with the ordering procedures for about 40 different vendors, 92 stores and up to 10 sales people at each store. Every order received a purchase order, and whatever follow through was required to make sure that the right item was at the right store at the right time. For each request, we would get as far as we could, then send off for any missing information and go on to the next request until we heard back with an answer. The salespeople could check the status of their requests at any time. I would like to see something like that implemented for the requests for voterfile lists and PCO update requests.

5. Success in this position requires vision, the ability to assess what the state needs in a big-picture way and ensure that identified priorities get implemented. How would you illustrate your technical vision?

Something I see missing from what is visible to the Grassroots is the connection between Big-Picture and every day efforts. I know it exists, but it's not obvious beyond the platform. I hope to work within the 46th to gain a better understanding of the party caucuses and committees and how people can get involved. One of my goals for the position of Technical Director would be to increase the opportunities for people to get involved in the ongoing issue based campaigns in support of the Party platform and candidate campaigns for people wanting to run for office to support and push forward that platform. This would necessitate a way of listing those campaigns on the website, something that is not being done right now.

I have some big dreams and ideas on how I would like to do this, and I'm still gathering the skills to put these ideas forward.

6. This is a senior position in the Party that requires management of a small staff, as well as a large amount of indirect management. Do you have any experience managing staff? Have you managed volunteers? Regardless of whether you have direct management experience, what traits do you possess that make you feel you would be a good manager?

I owned and managed a bookstore in Everett for 3 years, with a few employees and several volunteers. I am also one of the rotating chairs of the Progressive Democratic Caucus of the 46th. At Nordstrom I work with the supervisors and managers to coordinate work flow for multiple projects.

I can identify the direction that I want a project to go, then listen to the people within the group that I am working with to find the best way of getting it done. This utilizies the skills from the people who have them, and develops those skills within the rest of the group. For example, I have been working with DFW and PDCW to find the best way of engaging the grassroots, and I am thrilled with the amount of effort that everyone is putting forth. The final result is always greater than what any one of us could have accomplished on our own.


B. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS


7. In which data management software systems are you able to work? What professional experience do you have in designing and/or managing databases?

Microsoft Access, Excel, and the basics of MySQL. Nordstrom uses an Oracle database with a Java front-end, and the Special Orders department uses a Web-based interface to a Microsoft SQL server, with reporting software in Access.

8. Do you have experience managing and building websites?

Several. I manage 17 domain names directly, with my base of online operations at seattlewebcrafters.com. Three of these domains are for candidates in the 2004 election, as well as for Democracy for Washington, the Metropolitan Democratic Club and the Washington State Success by Six effort. I currently manage the Democratic Party websites of the 39th, 46th, 13th and Kittitas County. I designed the website for Rep. Jim McIntire, the Progressive Demcratic Caucuses of Washington, Progressive Change for Washington and the Rainier Institute. The 23rd District has asked me to design a new site for them, as have the Island County Democrats. I know HTML very well, Javascript reasonably well and enough PHP to get the job done. Most of my larger sites use the Drupal or Civicspace Content Management System, usually alongside handcoded PHP pages. I am learning Perl as well, although that is a slow process with so much going on. I would like to learn more about XML and how it can be used to syncronize data among multiple sites. I have also set up a Wiki system for Democracy for Washington, which allows multiple users to edit content on the fly.

9. Please give an explanation of your technical skills or an anecdote that illustrates your ability to quickly learn new skills when needed.

I have been working with computers since 1983, following the evolution of DOS, Windows, Office and the World Wide Web. If I find a type of technology useful, I plug myself in until I understand how I can use it to my advantage, or to the advantage of the organization I am working with. I have no problem delegating specific technical problems to people with more experience, but I also have an intense curiosity about what they are doing so I can keep up with them and make suggestions for improvements. No system is ever perfect.

10. What do you think of the Web interface for this questionnaire? (Be honest!)

This is a very cool way of gathering input, and it's a heck of a time saver when compared with detailed forms. I've seen it used for writing letters to elected representatives on some websites, and I've been looking at creating this type of system on DFW or PDCW. Now I have extra motivation. (The 'n' variable must come from the email. Also a neat idea.)

Connolly trips

Re: In the Northwest: If Democratic Party lurches left, it may fare worse
(Seattle Times, January 31, 2005)

I appreciate Mr. Connelly's experience in politics, but I really have the impression that he is missing what is happening. George Bush won the election with 62 Million votes. John Kerry won with 59 million votes. #3 was Barbara Boxer, with 6.96 Million Votes.

The problem is that too many people see things on a single axis, Left vs. Right, Liberal vs. Conservative. They see a majority bump in the middle of the spectrum and spend all their time and effort trying to push the party line over in the direction of their opposition to try and get that extra single percentage point that will put them over the top. The Republicans have mastered that art. The Democratic Party has never been good at it, and it was only the advent of the Democratic Leadership Council that demanded that the Party focus all of it's energy trying to make that push for the 'center'. They are operating under an illusion, and will continue to lose until we break that illusion and refocus on what is really important.

The Progressive Movement was revived by Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich in 2003. But we couldn't gain the clout within the Democratic Party in time to get the nomination. But what we have done is recognized what their illusion is and we're working on trying to break it. The Democratic Party is not the source of the power any more than the Republican Party is the power on the other side. The Parties may think that they are the center of the universe. There are a large number of people on the Conservative side who laugh at that notion. The Republican Party is a tool of a much bigger coalition. It's time the opposition to the Conservatives came to understand who we are and what we have to do. It's our turn.

There are two major times in history that show us the way. 1932 and 1994. We must study the lessons of both. We need a Roosevelt, and we need a Gingrich. Any takers?

A comment on choice

From a religious perspective, I can understand the position that many people of faith take. The stance that I have heard is that any and all life is sacred, and must be protected at all costs. I happen to disagree. Before the advent of modern medical procedures like the C-section, premature births, and hospital emergency rooms, the birth of a child was a wonderous and terrifying time for the mother to be, the immediate family, and their surrounding community. Midwives worked hard and did their best to make sure the birth went smoothly and without too much complication. These wise women learned from their elders and their own experience the signs of distress and what it was possible to do to remedy bad situations. And without the magic of of X-rays, ultrasounds and thousand page medical journals, they brought into the world several thousand generations. But there were many mothers who died in childbirth, or had children that were stilborn. These were accepted as part of life, and the mother and child during the entire event was said to be 'in Gods hands'. It was done with great respect and reverence to the randomness of life. We seem to have taken much of that randomness out of the picture, and we struggle to bring into the world children who would not have survived even 50 years ago. I do believe that the children who were not born over all those thousands of years had souls. But I don't believe that they were lost. I believe that they were taken 'by Gods hands' and given another chance at life at a later time. God does not waste, and according to everything that I have learned about the teachings of Jesus and the Prophets before him, their fondest wish was that we all had the chance to live up to our potential, striving for what is best in life. I don't believe that they want us to simply live for the sake of life.

Power the future

Power the future:

"Monday, January 10, 2005

Power the future

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

We can't keep wasting energy. Across the political spectrum, Americans know that financial, environmental and even national security reasons dictate the need to be smarter about the energy choices we make.

But, even amid rising energy prices, we've stayed stuck in wasteful patterns for decades. An independent, bipartisan group of energy experts last month handed the country a promising blueprint of ideas on reducing foreign-oil dependence, addressing global warming and promoting a wider variety of energy sources.

The National Commission on Energy Policy's report has something for everyone to like and hate. It calls for strong action against greenhouse gases, which will drive many conservatives wild, and development of demonstration projects with advanced nuclear power plants, a taboo on the left.

The report should offer opportunities for those with creative energy ideas like U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., to push discussion forward. Inslee just joined the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Bush administration took office with Vice President Dick Cheney trying to create a national energy policy. The effort was tainted from the start by Cheney's secrecy and special-interest favoritism.

The administration and the country have a fresh chance on energy policy. The report should energize discussions that go beyond arguing to acting on the kinds of changes we all sense are needed.

On the Net: www.energycommission.org"

TWENTY-FIRST [CENTURY] PSALM

A fool is my shepherd. I shall not think. He maketh me to bog down in a quagmire. He leadeth me beside dirty waters. He destroyeth my ozone. He leadeth me down paths to the extreme right, for his lobbyists' sake.

Yea, though I walk through relatively safe streets, I do fear evil (the threat level is orange), for thou hast scared me. My assault rifle comforteth me. Thou anointest my car with oil. My deficit runneth over. Thou preparest my table with fast food in the presence of my television. Surely paranoia and resentment will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in this Empire of Fools till I die, uninsured.

--Lawrence Swan, Letters, The Nation

HeraldNet: Everett council races begin

HeraldNet: Everett council races begin: "Everett council races begin
At least three incumbents say they'll run again, and two other possible candidates emerge."

Zeus and Apollo

Z: So, what's the latest update?

A: She seems to be degenerating at an accelerating place. The cancer is continuing to find new places to expand, and the growths are consuming all of the resources that they can reach.

Z: What have we tried?

A: The natural antibodies have a limited effect, but the cells change and adapt just as quickly by isolating the antibodies in specific regions of the body to prevent them from spreading and having more of an effect. It's disturbing to watch, although I will admit it's fascinating.

So, we will need to continue to resort to drastic measures. We do have Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy working on the problem, but we may need to step up the dosage. The cells are generating enough waste material that it may be unnecessary to add anything external to the mix. However, I think an increase in radiation may be necessary. I'm afraid She might go into seizure sometime soon.

Z: Is there anything that we can do with the cells themselves to change the outcome?

A: We have been trying, but that is turning out to be more complicated than we thought. It's almost like they are outside the influence of the rest of the body. Maybe we need to select a small number of them and reconnect them to the overall patterns. Then we would have to support the growth of these cells and help to spread them around the entire body.

Z: That idea sounds like it has promise. How should we proceed?

A: Certain changes in the way cells interact with their environment would be encouraged. They can be modified to produce less waste, which would result in faster growth of these cells. The problem is that other cells may try to take advantage of their success.

Z: What if we made these changes in one of the clusters of cells that do the most damage? Then the cells would have more resources in the first place, and their growth might have more of an impact.

A: That might take a while, but I agree that it is worth trying. Let's try both. We can help cells in both situations. If we don’t do something soon, the entire body might start to fail. Let's start here…

The cancer is us. Pollution is the chemotherapy. Global warming is the radiation.
We have a chance to make a difference. Get active. Stay active. Vote.

A progressive position on Choice

The Conservative Movement started out by believing in specific things, like ending Communism, shrinking the size of government, etc. They gained strength by standing up for those positions. In the 70's and 80's, that changed to being against whatever the Liberals were for. They have been able to maintain their strength, but they're not making any more gains.

The Progressive Movement can't start out by simply being for whatever the Conservatives are against. We need to find a way to connect with the people who are anti-abortion, and get them to agree to help us move forward beyond the illusion that this issue is black and white. The Democratic Party has room for people on both sides of the argument, we just need to frame our position to get their support instead of their ire. Like Howard Dean says below, while we should not change our principles, we can change our vocabulary.

I don't like abortion. I wish it didn't have to happen. But that's not the same as outlawing it altogether. I see the position of Choice as the middle ground between two extremes, not an extreme by itself. The extremes I see are 1) no one may and 2) everyone must. The Christian right wing wants to create a world where no one may have an abortion and end a life before it has a chance to begin. China has created a world where abortions are mandated after the first child. I don't want to live in either one of these worlds, and I don't want to legislate it either way. I want us to create a environment where abortions are unnecessary, rather than illegal or mandated. So if the Christian right wing wants to reduce the number of abortions by promoting abstience as well as contraception, I can support and help with that. But if they want to push the abortions that do occur out of a sanitized medical facility and into the street, I will fight against it. That is what occured before Roe v. Wade, and I'm not interested in going backward.

I believe that this position is shared by Planned Parenthood, although we should contact their Public Relations office for the language that they use if we want to continue talking about them. I have heard that 2004 was one of the best years that Planned Parenthood Western Washington has had, both financially and by a few other measures. One of those measures was the number of abortion procedures performed. In 2004, that number went down for the first time in several years. Let's keep the number going down, safely.

DFA Veterans Phone Card Speech

This is a statement I prepared for the DFA Phone Card presentation on December 29th, 2004.

My name is Chad Lupkes, and I was born here in Seattle. I was in the US Navy from 1988 to 1994. I would like to speak about what being an American means to me. To do that, I want to review the colors on our flag. Those colors are red, white and blue.

Blue represents opportunity. The blue sky on the horizon, a horizon that we constantly strive to reach. We may be distracted by the treasures and comfort that we find, but we must continue to strive to achieve, to learn new things, and find new paths.

White represents fairness. The white paper that we use to vote, the paper that we use to write our laws. With the rainbow of ideas, ideology, race and culture, the law must be written to be fair to everyone. This helps to ensure that we leave nobody behind as we strive toward that horizon.

Red represents sacrifice. The red blood that is spilled on the battlefield, the tears that we shed in memory of those who have sacrificed everything. The sweat that comes from our efforts to regain what was lost. We must never forget those that we have lost, and we must be there to help the ones who have sacrificed for us.

This is why we are here today, to acknowledge and honor our veterans and active military. To provide them with the opportunity to reach out and reconnect to family and friends, and rejoin our community as we continue to strive toward that blue horizon, writing our laws to leave no one behind.

We've lost our Alibi

http://www.counterpunch.org/barghouti09252004.html

Well said.

speaking of transformative experiences

As soon as the Space Tourism becomes viable, I think all elected officials on a Federal Level should be required to see the curvature of the Earth. If they could understand that the political boundaries don't really exist and that the world is actually a very small place might be a positive step in government.

Chad Lupkes
chadlupkes@earthlink.net
http://www.DemocracyforWashington.com/
PCO - SEA-46-2324
Seattle, WA

We are the ones that we have been waiting for.

the reason why

Hi Ross,

You asked the first caller why we should care about going out into space because of all the problems here at home. The reason why, in my opinion, is because the amount of resources beyond earth are just waiting for us, and all we have to do is get to them. Imagine infinite free energy would free mankind from fighting over energy sources, building materials enough to build several thousand Earths to give everyone enough space to explore and explore the universe, and even our next stage of evolution. I would say that the investments and sacrifices are worth it.

Chad Lupkes
chadlupkes@earthlink.net
http://www.DemocracyforWashington.com/
PCO - SEA-46-2324
Seattle, WA

We are the ones that we have been waiting for.

Boy's diary, Sunday 6/20

Father's Day

Harry Potter Rocks on the IMAX! We got up early enough to get downtown by 11, and stood in line from 12:30 to 1:30. The boys were familiar enough with movie lines and Daniel found a friend to talk to. We had heard a lot of people say that the content of the movie might not be appropriate for Shea because of his age. He understood the movie almost as well as Daniel did, and they both knew that it was make-believe. Great movie!

We met Dad at the fountain, and had lunch in the Center House. Daniel found some juggling balls that he's practicing with, and then we went to a park to shoot some more archery. Sand Point is better than Gas Works for kites, so we'll be going back.

Boy's Diary, Saturday 6/19

A Day at Grandma's

Not to bad a day! We found my old bow and arrow set, and my mom brought down a smaller set for Daniel. He loves it, so we brought it home.

Mom did pretty well, except that everyone decided to go to Shrek 2 in the morning, but then later in the day decided that they couldn't do it for two reasons. First, because they couldn't afford it. Second, because they wanted Lowell to be able to spend time with the boys when he got home. The first reason I can understand, but that put the responsibility on me to fulfill the promise. The second reason I also understood, except that when Lowell got home all he did was eat dinner and lay on the couch. No energy after a full day of work, and I didn't really expect him to have much.

We'll see Shrek 2 sometime next week.

Boy's Diary, Thursday 6/17

What the heck is on Daniel's mind?! He likes games, obviously. Especially on the computer he likes Pinball. So, he asked Debi if he could play Pinball on her computer. He played for about 10 minutes, then realized he would not be able to beat her scores on the scoreboard. I don't think anyone could, she's at 7,500,000. So, what does he do? He clears the scores.

Debi exploded. She had been working on those scores for years! When we asked him why he would do such a thing, he said that he wanted to see his name on the scoreboard, and he wasn't able to beat her scores so he changed the rules so he could see his name. In other words, he cheated. He is now banned from Debi's computer until she can get those scores back to where they were.

When I spoke to him this morning about it, I discovered that he does this at home all the time. Instead of always trying to get better at the game, he would clear the scores so he didn't have to work so hard.

There are several concerns I have about this episode. First, that he would think about doing this kind of cheating at all. He's 8, and 8 year olds do things like this. But only if they are either shown that it is ok, and/or if they are not corrected when they do it. Or if they are not caught doing it. Daniel and Shea are the only players of the game on their home computers, and Shea doesn't care. So I can't say that I blame Sarah or Eric for not noticing what he was doing and correct it. Second, the fact that he was willing to erase the scores to make it easier on himself shows that he is not pushing himself to be better, and he's not being pushed as much as he could have by others.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Captain Kirk was talking about the Kobiashi Maru, and saying that he changed the rules so that there was a way out of an impossible situation. In the real world, he would have been kicked out of the Academy. Gene Roddenbury decided to use this as a positive aspect of the character. And it's now influencing our culture. Cheating is not acceptable in the real world, unless we allow it to be ok. Sure, we can set priorities and not care as much about the unimportant things, but we should always be teaching our children not to cheat.

Keep pushing for higher scores instead of starting at zero. Keep working on improving your skills in sports instead of changing the rules to make the sport easier. Keep learning and reading new books instead of books you have already read. Strive for higher standards, and keep reaching for the stars. Otherwise we'll never get there.

Another Lesson Learned: Don't try to drive to Greenlake Park. We could not find a parking spot, so we went to Roosevelt Park instead. It's close, familiar and there's actually parking!

Re: The Conversation "9-11 Commission Hearings"

Hi Heather,

 

These hearings are fascinating.  I believe that 9-11 was allowed to happen because of the assumptions that our government and military had regarding threats.  There was no possible way to prepare for what occurred, and the next attack will come in ways that are just as unpredictable.

 

These people hate America.  The only way to stop these attacks is to prevent them from occurring.  The only way to prevent them from occurring is to prevent people from wanting to do them in the first place.  My question to our government and all candidates for federal office is not how they are preparing for the next attack, but how they are working to prevent them.  What are we doing now and what will we do in the future to make people around the world STOP HATING AMERICA.

 

Chad Lupkes

chadlupkes@earthlink.net

http://www.DemocracyforWashington.com/

PCO - SEA-46-2324

Seattle, WA

 

We are the ones that we have been waiting for.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Dahl [mailto:hdahl@kuow.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2004 10:35
Subject: The Conversation "9-11 Commission Hearings"

 

9-11 Commission Hearings

 

Thursday, June 17, 2004

 

The Conversation with Ross Reynolds.

1 pm Pacific KUOW 94.9 fm Listen to past shows in The Conversation archive - http://www.kuow.org/TheConversation.asp   Call-in numbers 206 543 5869, toll free long distance 1-800-289-5869

 

The 9-11 Commission hearings which ended today let us know that Seattle was originally on the list of targets for a total of 10 hijacked airliners. There were intense internal struggles within the 9-11 terrorist cell that delayed and downsized the plot. The commission reported yesterday that there was 'no credible evidence' that Saddam Hussein helped al-Qaeda target the United States. President Bush today continued to reassert an al-Qaeda - Iraq link. Military and civilian aviation officials were not prepared for terrorists turning jet airliners into armed missiles. American Airlines flight 77, the flight that eventually hit the Pentagon, was lost by air traffic controllers for 36 minutes. In this hour we'll review the information uncovered by the Commission and try to sort out what it means. What did we learn about what happened and how to prevent it in the future? Call 206 543 5869 KUOW, long distance 1 800 289, 5869 KUOW, or write to us - conversation at KUOW.org.

 

RESOURCES: (Note: We do not review or control the content at the following Web sites, nor do we endorse any of the content.)

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission), http://www.9-11commission.gov/

Overview of the Enemy, 9-11 Commission http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/shoulders/CommissionStatement15.pdf

Outline of the 9-11 Plot, 9-11 Commission http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/shoulders/CommissionStatement15.pdf

Air Defenses Faltered on 9-11, Panel Finds,  Washington Post  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48471-2004Jun17.html

Bush reasserts Iraq Al Qaeda link, Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48970-2004Jun17.html

 

 

Boy's Diary, Wednesday 6/16

We took a day off from trips today. They liked spicy sausage, but it filled them up quick (probably the amount of juice and milk), and wow you should have seen the looks.

Shea put together his Power Ranger. He really showed off his intelligence and can read directions really well for a 6 year old. I'm looking forward to hearing about his design for the new moonbase.

Daniel played the 2nd Grade Reader Rabbit that we have. I think we need new games, maybe something for XP. I'll have to see what is available. He wanted to play Scrabble, but the kid version we have was a little too limiting, and then brought down the Monopoly game we have based on the National Parks. It was his "favorite game", just like all of his other favorites. This means he has always wanted to play it, but doesn't quite know how. We got distracted by the descriptions of the parks.

Boy's Diary, Tuesday 6/15

Daniel had mentioned that he doesn't get to a library very often. I don't know much about the truth of that, but we figured that the Seattle Central Library would be a neat choice for Tuesday. They loved it. Except..

Shea found some big blocks and toys, and Daniel found the computer games. I think they were rather overwhelmed with the books, so they found things they were familiar with. No big loss. Although it was interesting that Shea grabbed a Spanish children's book to check out. And could read the cover. Hmm. I think I need to pick him up some Spanish Language computer games.

Note to self: Don't take the 16 bus from downtown to Northgate. It's too long, and really boring after the first 15 minutes. And it's an hour and 15 minute trip. Lessons learned.

Boy's Diary

Their first day at school was great! And they really needed shoes, so we went to JC Penny. This was JC Penny at Northgate, and they've moved the childrens clothing and shoes section. They also have three or four cashier blocks per floor, with one person manning each one. Where are the other salespeople? Good question, since we couldn't find one. So, we went to Nordstrom.

What a difference! And with the Women's & Kids Half Yearly sale, and my 20% employee discount, we found a pair of velcro shoes for Shea that he can handle himself, and a new pair of shoes for Daniel that he loves! Why? Because they're Bionocle from Lego, and they look like golden robot boots! Here's hoping they last long enough. Sarah may think I'm spoiling them, but that wasn't the reason we bought shoes. They needed new ones, and Daniel actually tossed one pair of his old shoes in the trash when we got home.

The boys' first day

It was supposed to be yesterday, but Eric had the wrong date on his watch. He also had a migrane headache, and missed the day. Or something. Whatever.

Daniel is a little taller. After 2 years I expected that, but his mannerisms have not changed one bit. Neither has Shea, and while he is wearing a size 6 now instead of a size 4 like two years ago, he doesn't seem to have changed much. We went and explored a new park after lunch, came home and had some pizza, then went out to Roosevelt Park. There were some kids there with various balls and toys, and I discovered that Daniel had changed. He now knows how to play every sports game played, as well as several that have not been invented yet. Soccer is his favorite, and he's very good at it. He's very good at catch, although the ballfields were already being used. There were some people playing volleyball, and Daniel ran after their ball once, and tapped it back to them using perfect form. For Volleyball.

They had a rough day, so it was difficult to tell what his actual energy level is, but I have a feeling that while their schedule is solid and they get enough food, they'll both be able to run and play for hours at a time. Me, I start to sweat and breathe heavy after 10 minutes. But I'm having fun.

A note on Ronald Reagan's passing

On Saturday at the DFA/DFW information table at the Democratic State
Convention in Tacoma, Washington, Delegate Joseph Ruth received a
phone call from his brother saying that President Ronald Reagan had
died, and that it was all over the news. That announcement spread
like wildfire, with various reactions throughout the convention. Many
were saddened by the news, some were elated. I have had a similar
assortment and diversity of opinion on the email lists. I would like
to present my own thoughts to the group.

There have been a lot of books about Ronald Reagan, and I have not
read even one of them yet. I was 11 years old when Ronald Reagan won
the presidential election of 1980. I grew up watching his
administration change the face of the country in many ways, some
positive and immediate, some not so positive and long term. But I was
proud to be an American during those years, a position shared by most
people in the country at that time. I didn't know enough about
politics or the long term impacts of what was happening to be able to
decide how to react.

Ronald Reagan was a great leader for our country. Part of what made
him a great leader was that he energized everyone in the country to
work harder to get involved. He was a patriot, he loved the flag, and
he had an eternal optimism about our country and our future. People
from all sides should recognize that we owe a lot to Ronald Reagan.
The fall of the Soviet Union was as much due to the policies of the
Reagan administration as their own failing economic system. But what
I would like to focus on was not the President or his administration,
but the man. Here is a quote from his speech opening the Ronald
Reagan library in California:

"In my eighty years, I prefer to call that the forty-first anniversary
of my thirty ninth birthday, I've seen what men can do for each other
and do to each other, I've seen war and peace, feast and famine,
depression and prosperity, sickness and health. I've seen the depth of
suffering and the peaks of triumph and I know in my heart that man is
good, that what is right will always eventually triumph and that there
is purpose and worth to each and every life."

He was right. Mankind can be 'good', and we should remember how
Ronald Reagan won the election. "A new day has dawned". It dawned in
1980, and his passing marks the end of an era.

What that means is that this is the beginning of a new era!

President Reagan asked a question during his 1980 campaign; "Are you
better off now than you were 4 years ago." Congressman Jim McDermott
mentioned this phrase at a town meeting that he held in April.
According to McDermott, and I wholeheartedly agree with him, this
phrasing of the question empowered the American People to reverse the
course launched by John F. Kennedy in 1960. I have a different
question to ask, one asked by Howard Dean and many others during the
last year and a half.

Are WE better off now than we were 4 years ago?

This is the one of the questions the Democratic Party needs to ask the
people as they decide to support John Kerry for President in the
upcoming election. Are our children learning more now in school, and
are they better prepared to be workers in the evolving world economy?
Is health coverage available to more people, giving us the foundation
of life that lets them pursue liberty and happiness? Is our
relationship with our allies in the world community stronger now than
it was 4 years ago?

The ends do not justify the means. The means lead us to the result.
This is the underlying ideology that we should push forward into the
debate. But we have to stand on the foundations built by all of our
history, and Ronald Reagan was a vital piece of that foundation. He
helped to build the ship, and even though I am still coming to an
understanding of how much work we have to do to turn this ship of
state around to avoid the rocks, I have to thank Ronald Reagan for
helping to build the ship. There is only one more thing to say:

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter, June 2, 2004

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): At this point in your journey, Gemini, your free will is a more important factor in determining your fate than the constraints of karma or the whims of the gods. I won't waste your time, then, predicting what may or may not lie ahead. Instead, I'll invite you to formulate self-fulfilling prophecies about the beautiful future you want to create. To help tease out your brainstorms, I offer you a few of the laws of life articulated by Hawaiian shaman Serge Kahili King:

1. The world is what you think it is.
2. There are no limits; everything is possible.
3. Energy flows where attention goes.
4. Now is the moment of power.
5. To love is to be happy.
6. All power comes from within.