Linkup

I missed this when it came out a couple weeks back, but it's still worth a read now. Dr. Rob Stone, director of Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan - who spoke to DFMC last year - made a statement at the Wellpoint Shareholders' Meeting that hits all the right points and frames the issue brilliantly. As he wrote on the HCHP blog:

Who recalls the poem “Ozymandias” by Shelley from high school English class? (you can Wikipedia it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozymandias) The poem tells the story of a traveler finding a broken statue in the desert, a forgotten wreckage. On the pedestal the words appear: ”My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” This was our message to the stockholders of WellPoint. Yes, you may seem high and mighty today, but soon you will be dust and wreckage in the desert. This is how we should be reframing the question when we hear, “But the insurance companies are so powerful. We will never be able to see real change. They will crush us.” The last lines of the poem:

“Nothing beside remains: round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

I've added the HCHP blog to our blogroll - stop by and read up on the great work that this group is doing.

Back in January, Greg Travis - President of the Monroe County Economic Development Commission - wrote a letter to local officials outlining a plan to try and create new opportunities out of the GE closing. Greg penned a column about his plan in the Bloomington Alternative, and spoke to a full crowd at our DFMC Linkup in March.

In his column, Travis outlined his plan:

* That the City of Bloomington annex the existing GE factory site
* That the City of Bloomington exercise the power of eminent domain over the factory site and the factory itself, taking by condemnation the land and building.

Our July Linkup will focus on GOTV efforts.

Program: The Impact of Early Voting

Guest Speaker: Rita Drescher, Democratic appointee

Rita spoke at length about many of the problems faced by the early voting workers, and especially about the satellite voting on campus. During the discussion that followed, Jim Allison pointed out that the Microvote Infinity machines used in Monroe County were de-certified by an Indiana judge a month before the election. The Herald-Times has printed no stories or letters on the topic. (Expect to hear more on this later topic from us very soon!)

Special Announcement: Bloomington Hospital merger & move

You have until June 10 to submit your $15 membership dues to the Local Council of Women - join now so you can vote on the merger. More information on this to come.

DFMC Bylaws

The new bylaws were unanimously approved by the members. The final bylaws will be posted online shortly.

Upcoming DFMC Events

• Road Cleanup: Saturday, June 7, 10am. We'll meet at the Burger King on South Walnut.

• DFMC Yard Sale: Saturday, June 14. Time and location TBA. Stay tuned for more details, or contact chair@d4mc.org.
• Next Linkup: July 3

Upcoming Community Events

• DWC Breakfast. June 6, 7:30 am at the Village Deli.
• (DFMC A-List Candidate) Elizabeth Cure press conference. June 6, Noon, County Courthouse.
• Indian Creek Pancake Breakfast. June 7, 7-11am.
• Jill Lesh Citizens Breakfast. June 12, 7:30am at the Village Deli.
• BTOP Livable Cities Series: Dr. Kumares Sinha. June 14, 9-11am in City Council Chambers.
• Juneteenth Celebration. June 14, all day at Bryan Park.
• Local Council of Women meeting: Bloomington Hospital merger. June 16, 7pm at Bloomington Hospital.
• Isabel Piedmont Constituent Meeting. June 28, 10am at Rachael's Cafe.
• MCDP Pancake Breakfast. June 28, 8-11am.

As you've probably heard, more than 10,000 residents of Monroe County cast an early or absentee ballot in the primary. What does that mean for the future of our electoral system? We'll host several guest speakers to discuss this - and we want to hear what you think.

Come early (6:30pm) to order food and share a meal with your fellow progressives.

PS - If you haven't already checked out the new look of democracyforamerica.com, do it when you RSVP!

At the Village Deli, as usual. Come early to order food.

Our April Linkup will focus on the issue of pharmaceuticals in our water supply. This topic has recently been the subject of national press attention, but DFMC has been exploring this issue locally since 2007. This issue is among the top DFMC legislative priorities for the year.

We will also vote on DFMC endorsements for 2008.

We will meet at the Village Deli, as usual. Come early to order food.