Voters voting. As it should be (apart from the bombs).

Below is an excerpt from a NYTimes blog reporting on today's Iraqi parliamentary elections as they unfolded. First, note that 62% of eligible voters in Iraq voted - despite today's and the past week's violence intended to suppress the vote. Second, note that women voters were right there, undeterred.

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"In Amariyat al-Fallujah, a rural region near the city of Fallujah, Anthony Shadid reports [for the NYTimes] that veiled women almost outnumbered men, as voting drew to a close at al-Iman Middle School. Electoral officials at the station said about 50 percent of people had turned out. Numbers were low in the morning as a series of bombings shook Fallujah, but grew through the day, said Osma Mohammed, on of the officials there." (emphasis added)

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The obvious observation is, of course, that we US voters don't need threatened or real physical risk to stay home from the polls. We succumb to the less dramatic but significantly more effective ennui. When next we hear from a fellow registered voter that they can't be bothered to thoughtfully consider their choices, mark a ballot, and get it to the Department of Elections (no more taxing than dropping a vote-by-mail envelope in a postal box), let's remind them of the courage demonstrated by the Iraqis who literally risk their lives, standing in line in open spaces, to cast their ballots. We'll be polite about it, of course.

Note that there is a statewide election on June 8. The San Francisco Department of Elections must receive requests for vote-by-mail ballots by June 1. The request form is located here, but hasn't been updated for the June election. Confirm your own registration is current here.

Amazing, those Iraqis. LLII.

ps. A recurring theme at election time in developing democracies is the crucial role of the election monitors. Something to think about incorporating here in the US. Lawyers and law students, as the November election approaches, be alert for volunteer opportunities with the non-partisan Election Protection.

Civics lessons (March forth on March 4th)

Welcome to the new activists! Pundits have been opining for years that the X, then Y, generation has no fire. Campuses have been quiet except on binge drinking night(s) and for the occasional sports event - though for the latter the alumni contribute significant noise. No longer. Students are alert and organizing. It's terrific training for the rest of their lives.

Tuition/fees are increasing, school budgets are being slashed, teachers are being surplussed (so to speak) then rehired as temporary workers. School facilities are falling into disrepair. It is a tragedy that society cannot invest in its future, but the germination of activists may be the one side effect that could, in the end, ensure society.2 with thoughtful, aware citizens who understand the value of speaking in ways that will be heard. That is, in thoughtful, rational ways.

For example, a group of UC students took a little trouble with their attire (suits! matching separates!) and visited legislators in Sacramento. Unfortunately, those people in Sacramento put in cameo appearances as themselves, but for the students, it was a priceless education. Let's hope they keep at it, and many, many of them see enough of our politicians that they decide (a) if those people can be politicians, anybody can be politicians and (b) they themselves should be politicians...of the public servant variety. Imagine.

We all can be new activists. We all can effect change. They teach us that in civics class, which might be revived once education funding is restored. Stand up for education. This Thursday join a Statewide Day of Action for education. Read up first, from this helpful data-rich page published by the California Teachers Association (the teachers like universal healthcare, too). You will be motivated, guaranteed.

Do this now. March forth on March 4th. LLII.

A government health system. Fine. California's SB 810.

It may be Congress will pass healthcare reform legislation sooner rather than not at all. I remain sceptical that it will happen, or that the resulting legislation will actually make meaningful health care, including preventive care, available to the increasing millions who currently do without.

One can be more confident about supporting a California opt-out from any federal program, bringing a single-payer system to the State as an alternative. The Physicians for a National Health Plan (PNHP) a pretty tweedy bunch by the look of them, advocates for the single-payer approach. PNHP, with California chapters, is another source of information regarding the single-payer approach, if the New York Times reporting is feeling old (it remains one of the most fact-based sources of information on the legislation pending in Congress and the human and economic benefits of universal health care).

California's pending legislation, SB 810, would deliver universal health care via a single-payer system. Check out the fact sheet here. We can see what SB 810 would provide. The State legislation isn't padded by nearly a thousand pages including limiting qualifiers and special giveaways to private interests. SB 810 has been vetted for some time now. Implementing the State system would be more manageable - and faster - than implementing whatever the federal program will be.

SB 810 is one government program we can get behind. We the people can see from the terribly disappointing past twelve months that those people in Congress aren't thinking about us. This may be one more case where buying local is the right choice. LLII.

California death spiral (Healthcare reform needed more than ever)

One of the saddest news pieces I have read in a very long time was about 911 emergency services in Tracy (a commuter's distance from San Francisco). The citizens of Tracy must pay a fee for 911 service. Their choice: $48/year or $300/call. Right. $300/call. And, honestly, not every household can afford $48/year. This system means people will be forced to think about whether to call 911. Someone having a stroke or a heart attack? Can you afford the call or should you try to get the suffering person to the hospital yourself? Do you hear your neighbor being physically abused? Will you call 911 if the response will be charged to you? Carry on with the possibilities. Nothing good comes from the fee structure, except that Tracy will be able to afford to provide the services (which, we acknowledge without hesitation, is not only good but essential for public safety and welfare). This is truly an indicator of California in a death spiral.

But I digress slightly. Paul Krugman had California on his mind last week in the wake of all the hubbub about the health insurance premium increases for privately purchased insurance coverage. Mr. Krugman devoted his February 16 column to what he termed the California Death Spiral. Privately purchased health insurance is a complete, predictable disaster: Premiums get higher so healthy people decide to chance going without coverage which makes the "pool" of insured persons more highly populated with the people who really need and use insurance coverage, which causes premiums to increase which forces more of the less terribly ill people out of that "pool." Etc. We know this spiral. And we are living it.

Who knows if Washington will manage healthcare reform that does anything meaningful. Every good wish to them. In the interim, in California, the legislature may do something. Believe it or not, the California Universal Healthcare Act, SB810, is showing signs of life! Let's remind ourselves of what a good idea this is, and start talking local progress that benefits California. Let's do our part to arrest the death spiral. LLII.

Yes! Fair Elections in California. February 21 Event.

More than 100 people participated in the local campaign kickoff for Prop 15 last Sunday, February 21. People are galvanized by the deadlock at all levels of government. The rallying cry: Getting lobbyists' money out of politics is the one reform that makes all other reforms possible. Visit the San Francisco Fair Elections website often for updates and to see what you can do. Every little bit helps. Remember, we will be fighting those threatened lobbyists, and we know they have $$$$$.

As background, Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections Act (CFEA), represents fundamental election reform that will allow candidates and elected officials to get out of the money game and get back to solving California’s problems by creating a pilot project for a voluntary Fair Elections public financing system of campaigns similar to that successfully used in seven other states. The League of Women Voters is a CFEA sponsor.

At Sunday's event, Senator Loni Hancock, author of the bill that put Prop 15 on the ballot, Senator Mark Leno, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, and California Nurses Association Co-President Deborah Burger, RN spoke with passion about why they support Prop 15 and why all Californians should. Trent Lange, Chair of Californians for Fair Elections, provided detail about how Prop 15 works and how it will change the way we finance election campaigns.

The meeting transitioned into a brainstorming and organizing session for the new local grassroots coalition to support the statewide campaign for Prop 15 by building support locally.

Imagine what California could be if our elected officials could focus on governing instead of fundraising! Be part of making it a reality. Check out Yes! Fair Elections. We can do this. LLII.

A debt worth incurring.

This month the San Francisco School Board approved funding for additional instruction and services related to gay and lesbian issues. The school district is facing a $113 million shortfall over the next two years. Some argue that increased allocations are going the wrong direction. Let's do a back-of-the-envelope cost/benefit analysis.

The allocation is for $120,000 per year. That is the approved allocation, or 0.03% of the district's $400 million annual operating budget.

For this $120,000 - salaries for two classroom teachers - the City's gay and lesbian students will have the attention of a district position to manage "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning" youth issues. The new resolution including the funding requires the district to monitor harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation. It's about time!

According to the SFGate article** states that approximately 13% of San Francisco's middle school students and 11% of high school students self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The article goes on to say these students are more likely to consider suicide.

It would be churlish to inquire where SFUSD has been on this issue of protection for the safety and dignity of our children. We rejoice in the district's action now, and urge the district to fill those appointments without delay for everyone's well-being. In fact, we would call this action a bargain. LLII.

** With apologies for the secondary source reference. The SFUSD site is data rich - so much that one can get lost. I simply didn't have the staying power to find the primary budget data reference. Nonetheless, if you have an interest in school funding by program, check out SFUSD's online resources. They are excellent. We understand the district's library, open to the public, also is first-rate.

2009 Lobbying of Members of Congress: $3,470,000,000 (That's Three Billion.)

The Center for Responsive Politics reports corporations and other interest groups spent a total of $3.47 billion to lobby members of Congress. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce led the top ten lobbying clients, spending approximately $144 million. Number two was Exon-Mobil, at $27.4 million. Analysis by OpenSecrets.org here.

The general business sector, which encompasses an array of industries from retail sales to manufacturing to business associations, experienced a nearly 19 percent increase in its 2008-to-2009 lobbying expenditures. The more than $558 million spent by the general business sector in 2009 is a record for any of the 13 broad sectors that the Center tracks.

It is followed closely in 2009 by the health sector, which includes a variety of health-related industries. In 2009, this sector spent nearly $544 million on federal lobbying efforts, up almost 12 percent from its 2008 total of about $487 million.

Money in politics. And what did it get us in 2009? Hmmm. Consider supporting Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections Act on the June ballot. Learn more this Sunday at a passion raiser starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Main branch of the City Library. Do something now toward achieving elections money can't buy. LLII.