Author name: ghadmin

Single Payer Health Care in America NOW

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                                         An unpublished op/ed submitted to Binghamton Press 

                                                                By Richard Masters

Sick people are still dying in the U.S. for lack of medical care or going bankrupt from medical bills. Thirty Million have no insurance at all. Only in America! Every other industrialized country in the world – EXCEPT the U.S. – provides its citizens with health care as a right. Even some Central American countries and Mexico provide government funded Health care. Polls show that a majority of our people would prefer a single payer system, but both major parties say it can't be done. We can't afford it. At the same time, both parties voted to increase the pentagon budget by $160 billion over the next two years. It seems that there's always money for war, while programs like food stamps are being cut, and single payer is, of course, out of the question. Right now, there is only one major party in the U.S. – the MONEY party. One wing is the Democrats; the other is the Republicans. Both are responsive only to their big donors: corporations and the 1%. Don't expect the Money party to embrace Single payer. It doesn't benefit the donors. The Green Party endorses Single payer. Don't waste your vote on the Money party. Vote GREEN!

DAVID’S DEAD END IS DEAD: Thank you Council President Berg and Council Dems!

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(from https://halfmillionbinghamton.wordpress.com/)

David’s Dead End, the Mayor’s $500,000 plan to pave over the Metrocenter courtyard for ten parking spaces, is officially dead. We want to thank Council President Bill Berg, and Council members Lea Webb, Teri Rennia and Jerry Motsavage (all Democrats) for standing firm, blocking and burying for good this financially irresponsible project that was wrong for so many reasons and sparked a massive groundswell of opposition from residents and taxpayers.

Whereas the three Council Republicans were ready to rubber-stamp this absurd project and saddle local taxpayers with a $500,000 bill–simply to honor and fulfill a backroom handshake deal between the Mayor and one downtown business owner–the four Democrats recognized this project was wrong, wasteful, and not in the community’s best interests.

So thank you Council Democrats!

But the six of us here at Binghamton Advocates for Quality Spaces want to extend even bigger thanks to ALL OF YOU! We’ve been floored by your commitment to stay informed and engaged–and then to act when necessary. And you sure are a diverse lot! We’ve heard from Republicans and Democrats, artists and accountants, high school students and grandparents, business owners and retirees! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Let us celebrate this victory, but our work is not done. Now is when we shift from opposition to advocacy, because we all agree this underutilized space needs immediate attention and improvement. Yes, we stopped David’s Dead End, a dumb parking lot design that prioritized roads and cars. Now we need to work with the four Council Democrats on a creative, cost-effective design for the Metrocenter courtyard  that prioritizes public spaces and people.

You in? Share, share, share…..and stay tuned. Because we ain’t going anywhere.

Sustainability — Its Meaning and Lifestyle

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The Susquehanna Group of Sierra Club, on Tuesday, March 17, presents Aimee Heavey, to discuss “Sustainability, it’s true meaning and implications for the future.”
Heavey, a Binghamton native, is a former National Park Ranger who recently moved back to the area to pursue a life of sustainability. Her work focuses on educating communities and developing thriving, sustainable, local food systems and economies in order to address multiple global issues, including economic uncertainty, peak oil, and climate instability.
She will discuss how people are pursuing the sustainability movement on the ground, and how we can all strive to live more sustainably.
The meeting on Tues., March 17, at 7:30 p.m., will be held at Central United Methodist Church, 17 Nanticoke Ave., Endicott. The public is invited, free of charge. For more information, contact Scott Lauffer at lauffer.scott@gmail.com.

Holiday treat in store for you!

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When all the holiday parties are over, the scrumptious goodies eaten, the gifts enjoyed and stowed away, the Xmas tree put out at the curb, the New Year ushered in, and the New Year’s resolutions made, there’s one more holiday treat in store! The annual visit of Quickstep to the Cranberry Coffeehouse.

Quickstep, a.k.a. John Kirk, Trish Miller and Ed Lowman, perform at the Cranberry Coffeehouse on Sat., Jan. 17, 2015, 7:30-10 p.m., at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, 183 Riverside Dr., Binghamton. Admission is a suggested $8.

John, Trish and Ed entertain with a diverse repertoire of original and traditional music. Leading the way are John and Ed’s fine fiddle selections. John’s warm clear voice, Trish’s clog dancing or banjo playing and Steady Eddie’s singing, yodeling, guitar playing and bass round out the band’s sound. This trio, which has performed at the Cranberry since its inception decades ago, is from Saratoga County, NY, and for many years they’ve played for concerts, dances and workshops.
The group is in the process of recording a new CD with Ed. It will feature old-time music and some songs about living the good life in a rural setting.
Park behind the church or in front (for handicapped access).
The Middle Set is for you! The Cranberry Coffeehouse encourages all musicians, vocalists, storytellers, and dancers to share their talents in the middle set. Middle set performances are limited to 5 minutes.
Contact: email/cranberrycoffeehouse@yahoo.com or phone 607-754-9437 for more information.

Mayor Rich David wants to destroy Binghamton’s STAR PLAZA and put up a Parking Lot

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I have been recovering from this season's election-exhaustion-cold, a form of illness found only in the stuffy quarters of campaign offices nearing the dreaded daylight’s saving’s end. Here, volunteers and experts widdle down the wee hours of the night, gnawing on each passage of talking points, poll results and endless endless walking lists.

UN Vote Tuesday Could Create Global Bankruptcy Process, Deter Predatory Funds

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The UN General Assembly votes Tuesday at 3pm (EDT) on a resolution that could create a global bankruptcy mechanism. Such a process could protect poor countries from predatory funds and limit future defaults. Jubilee USA’s leadership, a group of religious leaders and financial experts sent a letter to United States UN Ambassador Samantha Power urging her to support the resolution.

“There’s global consensus to stop predatory behavior,” noted Eric LeCompte, Jubilee USA’s Executive Director who signed the letter. “This resolution is an opportunity to turn consensus into action. A process could begin that allows us to challenge inequality and have real stability.” LeCompte serves on UN expert groups developing a sovereign debt resolution process.

The resolution comes in the wake of Argentina’s legal dispute with predatory hedge funds and hold-out investors. During the course of that dispute, the International Monetary Fund, US Government, United Nations and World Bank all expressed concern that a legal victory for predatory funds would make debt restructurings more difficult. The UN action also follows a proposal from the International Capital Market Association to alter debt rules to curb predatory behavior.

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations, 400 faith communities and 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee’s mission is to build an economy that serves, protects and promotes participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA has won critical global financial reforms and more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world’s poorest people. www.jubileeusa.org

UN Vote Tuesday Could Create Global Bankruptcy Process, Deter Predatory Funds

By /

The UN General Assembly votes Tuesday at 3pm (EDT) on a resolution that could create a global bankruptcy mechanism. Such a process could protect poor countries from predatory funds and limit future defaults. Jubilee USA’s leadership, a group of religious leaders and financial experts sent a letter to United States UN Ambassador Samantha Power urging her to support the resolution.

“There’s global consensus to stop predatory behavior,” noted Eric LeCompte, Jubilee USA’s Executive Director who signed the letter. “This resolution is an opportunity to turn consensus into action. A process could begin that allows us to challenge inequality and have real stability.” LeCompte serves on UN expert groups developing a sovereign debt resolution process.

The resolution comes in the wake of Argentina’s legal dispute with predatory hedge funds and hold-out investors. During the course of that dispute, the International Monetary Fund, US Government, United Nations and World Bank all expressed concern that a legal victory for predatory funds would make debt restructurings more difficult. The UN action also follows a proposal from the International Capital Market Association to alter debt rules to curb predatory behavior.

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations, 400 faith communities and 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee’s mission is to build an economy that serves, protects and promotes participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA has won critical global financial reforms and more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world’s poorest people. www.jubileeusa.org

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