Walpole Peace Vigil on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 10-11AM, Walpole Common to support Budget for All

Please join us this coming Saturday, January 5, 2013 to stand for a Society that Values and Preserves a support system of vital services for all! ‘Stop the Cuts, Invest in Jobs, Tax the 1%, End the Wars, and Cut the Military Budget continues to be an urgent message. We will be standing at the corner of West and Main Street, across from Walpole Cooperative Bank, from 10 to 11 AM

We need to remind our representatives that voters in 91 cities and towns in Massachusetts spoke out clearly for the Massachusetts Budget For All. The budget deal as passed by the U.S. Senate and House does not raise enough revenue and makes it likely that Congress will still seek cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and vital social programs as long term solutions are debated.

Cuts to Social Security are unfair as Social Security is funded through its own trust fund, having no short term shortfall, and nothing to do with the current budget deficit. Both parties are discussing using the chained Consumer Price Index when computing inflation increases for Social Security which will effectively reduce benefitsby 7% after 20 years. Many people depend on Social Security as their major source of retirement income and we should not be penalizing them for a budget crisis that has nothing to do with Social Security.

The real problems with Medicare and Medicaid are rising medical costs. The answer is to control those costs rather than increase the Medicare eligibility age or cut Medicaid eligibility.It’s incomprehensible how the United States can be the only developed country without some form of single payer system that insures all people and eliminates the bureaucracy and overhead of the insurance companies. Most countries with single payer health care spend substantially less than ours on medical care yet are ranked higher in regard to people’s health.

Congress should not cut critical programs that provide a safety net and vital services to low-income people. It is unfair to shift the burden to poor and working families who have already borne a disproportionate share of the impact of the economic downturn that that they never caused. The wealthiest and corporations should pay their fair share, starting with ending tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent. Income tax revenue as a percentage of Gross National Product has been about the lowest since 1950. In December the House and Senate passed a $633 billion Defense Authorization Bill, only a little lower than what was appropriated last year. We should be cutting the defense budget before cutting our safety net programs as the United States spends more on defense that the next 13 highest spending counties.

Senator Harkin of Iowa has been very astute and direct in his assessment and opposition to compromises made in the fiscal cliff budget resolution. See Harkin’s statement at: http://www.harkin.senate.gov/press/release.cfm?i=338182

Vigil on Saturday, December 1, 10-11AM, Walpole Common, to support Budget for All and protest use of Drones

Please join us on Saturday, December 1, 2012 to stand in support of the Massachusetts Budget For All that calls for ‘Stop the Cuts, Invest in Jobs, Tax the 1%, End the Wars, and Cut the Military Budget. We will also speak out to protest widespread use of Drones by the US.  Come to the corner of West and Main Street, across from Walpole Cooperative Bank, from 10 to 11 AM.

We need to remind our representatives that voters in all 91 cities and towns in Massachusetts spoke out clearly for the Budget for All.  See the press release below.

You might also be interested in attending a talk on Drones in Natick on Monday, December 3, 2012.

STOP THE DRONES

Report Back from Members of the October CodePink Anti-Drone Peace Delegation to Pakistan

Presenters:

Lois Mastrangelo, member of United for Justice with Peace and CodePink of Greater Boston

Paki Wieland, an arrested Hancock AFB drone resister who engages in peacekeeping & nonviolent training and education.

Monday, December 3, 2012

7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Morse Institute Library

14 E. Central St. (Rt. 135) Natick

Sponsored by Pax Christi Metrowest and Metrowest Peace Action

Press Release on Budget For All Referendum:

Walpole Voters Urge Tax Fairness and Military Cuts

to Avoid “Fiscal Cliff” and Protect Vital Programs

     
            Walpole voters in precincts 1, 2, 6, and 7 sent a clear message to Washington on November 6, 2012 by voting 2  to 1 on the Budget for All ballot question, stating that they do not want Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other essential social programs to be cut. Besides voicing opposition to cuts in essential services, the ballot question also called for investment in useful jobs, an end to Bush tax cuts on high incomes and to corporate tax loopholes, and redirection of military spending to vital social programs. The Budget for All question was on the ballot for the Massachusetts12th Norfolk Representative district covering part of Walpole and all of Norwood and also on the ballot in 89 other Massachusetts cities and towns. The measure passed in every city or town where it was on the ballot, garnering a total vote of 661,033 in favor to 222,514.

            This vote is particularly important as Congress and the President engage in negotiations for a solution to the so called “fiscal cliff.” It has been reported that compromises being discussed would still cut Social Security, Medicare, etc while only making token tax increases on those who can afford it.  It would be unfair to cut these programs while not addressing the real causes of the budget deficit like spiraling health costs, inequitable taxes,  and a military budget out of proportion to what we need or can afford. The collapse of the economy was caused by the recklessness of Wall Street and the mortgage industry and not by Social Security and Medicare.  The proposed 2013 military budget is 57% of all discretionary spending and dwarfs spending for critical programs like transportation, veterans affairs, education, and housing.  Social Security shortfalls could be addressed by raising the maximum taxable income. Many programs, like SNAP and unemployment benefits will automatically decrease when the economy picks up.  It would be counterproductive to cut the services and programs that are critical to so many people and which will help stimulate the economy.

            The Walpole Peace and Justice Group was one of 80 community, peace, labor, and faith groups that supported the ballot question. It was also supported by State Treasurer Steve Grossman, State Auditor Suzanne Bump, and Representatives Barney Frank, Mike Capuano, Jim McGovern and Ed Markey, along with 10 State Senators and 18 State Representatives.  As the budget debate proceeds in Washington, this is an important time for all voters to contact the President and their Senators and Representatives, on both the state and federal levels, to express support for the Budget for All

The Facts about the U.S. Budget and Deficit

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is sponsoring a ‘fact checking’ informational meeting on the Federal budget and debt on October 30, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room at the Walpole Public Library. There is a wide range of debate in this election year over the best way to balance the budget.  Using sources like National Priorities Project and the Congressional Budget Office, this meeting will provide background information on the U.S. budget and debt to allow people to make their own informed decision in regard to resolving these issues. This session will be particularly helpful in regard to understanding Question 4 in Walpole and Question 5 in Norwood, which asks voters whether they support proposals to Protect Social Security, Medicare and other vital programs; Invest in useful jobs; End offshore tax havens and tax cuts on the highest incomes; Reduce  the military budget and bring all troops home safely from Afghanistan NOW: and Re-direct the savings into job creation and public services that our families need.

We will be holding signs on November 3. We may see if we have enough people for both Walpole and Norwood.

Vigil on Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10 to 11 AM, in Norwood in support for Non-binding Referendum Concerning Social Security, Taxes, Military Spending and Jobs

Please join us on Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10:00 - 11:00 AM to stand in support of the Massachusetts Budget For  All Referendum: Stop the Cuts, Invest in Jobs, Tax the 1%, End the Wars, and Cut the Military Budget. We will be meeting at 10:00 AM  in Norwood at the Norwood Common, on the corner of Route 1A and Nahatan Street, across from the Norwood Town Hall.

Residents of Norwood and  Walpole precincts 1, 2, 6 and 7 ( Massachusetts Twelfth Norfolk Representative District) will have the opportunity to send a message to congress on key issues that lie at the heart of the national election by voting, November 6, on a non-binding referendum question concerning social security, taxes, military spending, and jobs. The ballot question asks “Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a resolution calling upon the Congress and the President to: (1) prevent cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits, or to housing, food and unemployment assistance; (2) create and protect jobs by investing in manufacturing, schools, housing, renewable energy, transportation and other public services; (3) provide new revenues for these purposes and reduce the long-term federal deficit by closing corporate tax loopholes, ending offshore tax havens, and raising taxes on incomes over $250,000; and (4) redirect military spending to these domestic needs by reducing the military budget, ending the war in Afghanistan and bringing U.S. troops home safely now?”

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group joined a network of over 50 community and labor organizations and peace groups around the state to put the question on the ballot in 91 cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Walpole. About one million voters will have the opportunity to vote on these critical matters of national policy. Other towns in the Walpole-Norwood area that will have the opportunity to vote on the questions are Dedham, Dover, Millis (part), Natick, Needham, Newton, Sherborn, and Westwood.

We are holding an Information Session on the Budget for All Referendum on Tuesday, October 30, 7:00 PM at the Walpole Public Library.

Talk on 'What is Sikhism?' by Siri Karm Singh Khalsa, Thursday, Oct. 18, 7:00 pm, Walpole Library

Please join us for a talk on ‘What is Sikhism?’ by Siri Karm Singh Khalsa on Thursday, October 18th at 7:00 pm in the Community Room of The Walpole Public Library. Come learn about the believers of Sikhism, who recently have been subjected to hate crimes and religious intolerance. Siri Karm is a member of the Guru Ram Das Ashram, a Sikh spiritual community located in Millis. He is also founder & president of The Boston Language Institute and a teacher of Kundalini Yoga. He is looking forward to sharing his experiences and discussing Sikhism with all who come. Refreshments will be served. The Walpole Public Library is located at 143 School Street. This program is sponsored by the Walpole Peace & Justice Group.

Peace Vigil on Saturday

For those who can attend, we will meet in Walpole this week from 10 to 11 AM at the corner of Common and Main St, on the corner where the Gazebo. We have the new signs!

Peace Vigil on Saturday, October 6, at Walpole, 10-11 AM

We will hold the vigil in Walpole tomorrow 10-11 AM, with signs supporting the 4 issues on the ballot question. We will be on the Common across from the Walpole Coop Bank.

Sorry for the late notice.