Fiscal and Economic Issues Discussion Group Meeting.
Update of the economy, jobs and GDP and continueing discussions of the economic recovery and policy issues
We will have our standard update of the economy, both jobs and GDP and continue our discussions of the economic recovery and policy issues that affect the recovery. I hope you can join us next week. Bring articles that you would like to toss onto the table for a lively debate and discussion.
Some economic highlights:
2nd quarter 2014 GDP growth reported at +4.0%
1st quarter 2014 GDP growth revised up from -2.9% to -2.1%
July employment reports:
53rd straight month of private sector job growth
6th straight month of <200,000 jobs added
5th straight month of record private sector employment (total)
3rd straight month of record total employment
As always this is a discussion group .. bring your articles and your wits to talk about all sides of the issues.
Click on Image to link to Video:Clean Power Plan Explained
NWSOFA
Climate Change
Thursday
August 14th, 2014
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Coffee Planet
1450 Golf Road
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Planning session for assigning volunteers to local farmers markets, public libraries, and community colleges in the Northwest suburbs, to gather petition signatures supporting the EPA Clean Power Plan Proposal released June 2.
No matter how much climate change deniers in Congress drag their feet, the science behind climate change is conclusive — it’s already happening, and it’s on all of us to fight back. President Obama’s proposed new carbon pollution standards are a huge step in the right direction — they’ve been called “the strongest action ever taken by an American president to tackle climate change” — and we’ve got to fight for them, because dirty special interests are going to be pushing back hard.
Everybody who cares about climate change should stand up in support of the President’s aggressive action today.If you do sign the petition, you will get a follow-up email asking you to forward the petition to family, friends and acquaintances.
Screening and Audience Discussion on Warren and Piketty’s Conversation on “Income Inequality in America”
Tuesday
August 19th, 2014
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Arlington Heights Library
500 N. Dunton
Arlington Heights, Il 60004
Please join us for a special Screening of the
Warren / Piketty
A Conversation on
Inequality in America
On Monday, June 2, 2014, a special conversation was held on income inequality with Senator Elizabeth Warren and acclaimed economist Thomas Piketty.
.With talk of progressive populism and the richest 1% now a deeper part of the national debate in America, the pairing of these two leaders was a moment whose time had come
Dr. Piketty, who authored Capital in the Twenty-First Century, and Sen. Warren, who authored A Fighting Chance, are two of the leading figures on economic inequality today. Their joint interview was moderated by Ryan Grim of the event host The Huffington Post and sponsored by the Patriotic Millionaires.
Throughout the discussion, Sen. Warren and Dr. Piketty answered questions submitted electronically and by the audience to compelling effect. 3,300 question were submitted touching on income inequality’s connection to every issue from Medicaid and the fossil billionaires David and Charles Koch to big money in politics and the wealthiest few embracing higher taxes as a reflection of their patriotism. Here are a few quotes:
On Dr. Piketty’s findings: “Wealth does not trickle down. It trickles up. It trickles from everyone else to those who are rich.” -Sen. Warren
“The problem is rising inequality, the fact that top wealth holders have been rising three times faster than the size of the economy.” -Dr. Piketty
“The game right now in America is rigged. It is rigged so that those at the top keep doing better and better, and everyone else is under increasing pressure, is under increasing economic strain. The rules don’t get better for America’s middle class. The rules are getting better for those who are a thin slice at the top. And that is the profound danger that we see from great inequality.” -Sen. Warren
One thing was clear from their questions and their enthusiastic reception of Sen. Warren and Dr. Piketty’s ideas: there is a tremendous hunger and energy to tackle the challenges posed by and the corrosive causes of income inequality in America.
By the House NOT passing CIR it is costing the US $37,000,000 per day in lost revenue.. That’s $13 billion a year.. Every Year until it’s passed
NWSOFA & OFA Nationally kicked off our August campaign with Community Action Planning Sessions, On August 1st, Friday night, we continued to build this movement for reform by telling the story of the campaign for reform over the past year, arming ourselves with an understanding of the benefits of reform, and the cost of a year of inaction by the House, and empowering ourselves and other members of our community with the tools we need to keep the fight going..
NWSOFA was at the ACA Celebration and President Obama’s Birthday Party
Downtown Headquarters .. What a Night!!!
NWSOFA Issue Team Leads & Top Volunteers Were There!
Jon Carson, Jan Schakowsky & Austan Goolsbee
A Huge Crowd from Across the US
NWSOFA / OFA Celebrating Success of the Affordable Care Act and President Obama’s Birthday
Chicago, IL – On Monday, August 4, 2014 Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (NWSOFA) celebrated the success of Healthcare Reform and President Obama’s Birthday at Organizing for Action (OFA) Headquarters downtown Chicago. Well over 100 supporters were in attendance at this great event. Featured guest speakers included Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL 9th District) a fiery defender and advocate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Austan Goolsbee, former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and a member of President Obama’s cabinet. Jon Carson, Executive Director of OFA was also present at the celebration.
Congresswoman Schakowsky was in attendance to meet and thank volunteers for their support of the ACA and let them know they need to take pride in their accomplishments. She stated the passing of ACA was one of the proudest days of her life, and Obama Care is working and on pace to meet numbers that doubters say could not be met. The congresswoman also stated that over 8 million people are covered but 30 million people still need healthcare in this country and we are not going to rest until women have access to family planning.
NWSOFA Chapter CO-Lead Bill Davis stated,”What a great night, inspiring to hear of the success of the ACA and how the President is fighting so hard for the middle class, the poor, and the immigrants. 8 million and growing still rings in my ears as the number of ACA now covered just through the Exchanges continues to grow plus 3 million on their parents plans till 26 plus the millions added on the expanded Medicaid insurance program. Awesome. Austan Goolsbee speech really highlighted how far the recovery had come.. Adding 9.7 million jobs.. 6.2 % unemployment… All after the worst recession anyone can remember when we lost over 8 million jobs and unemployment climbed north of 10%. Good to be reminded of how far we have come since the crash of 2008. Happy Birthday Mr. President & God Bless America!”
Chapter Co-Lead, Sara Salvato stated, “Our NWSOFA team was well represented and had a wonderful time with Rep. Schakowsky, Austan Goolsbee and Jon Carson. One of the highlights was the wall of history where all the 1000’s of volunteers’ names who helped make ACA a success were on display.”
NWSOFA Chapter Media Lead Kathy Carter stated, “It was an honor to celebrate the success of the Affordable Care Act, on President Obama’s birthday, with the other volunteers, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Austan Goolsbee, and Jon Carson, all who worked so very hard to get the law passed. Knowing that each of us has made a difference in the lives of Americans is emotionally moving.”
ACA Co-Lead Gayle Lewis stated, “Thank you so much for the wonderful evening celebrating the ACA and the Presidents birthday. What a pleasure it was to socialize with our OFA friends, meet others and have opportunity to hear from Jan Shakowski, Austan Goolsbee and Jon Carson. I am so happy and proud to be part of our team.”
Other groups in attendance included Enroll America, Enroll SEIU and Planned Parenthood.
Stand With Women Downtown Event at OFA HQ “Roe At Risk” Huge Success
This Last Thursday Night
Documentary Screening, Discussions with
National and Local Women’s leaders
Roe at Risk was about the facts of women’s reproductive health and to Stand With Women we watched this short documentary and engaged in proactive discussion.
Guest speakers included: Pam Sutherland, VP, Public Policy and Education – Planned Parenthood, Benita Ulisano, Co-Founder of Illinois Choice Action Team, Susan Danzig, OFA Chicago North ACA, Lead, Anna Wolfe, Columbia College, Actor and Activist and Joanna Snawder, Director of Woman’s Resource Center – NEIU.
NWSOFA July Events “In the News”
Look Here for your link for Special Reports on Past Events
Move To Amend, Greater Chicago North: Meeting Tuesday, 8/12/14, 7pm, Deerfield Public Library, Downstairs, 920 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, IL.
Agenda: Four Federal Resolutions and Amendments: S. J. Res. 19 Udall Amendment, H. J. Res 119 Deutch Amendment, H. R. 20 – Sarbane’s act to reform financing of House elections, S. 2023 – Durbin’s act to reform financing of Senate election) and a discussion on: T. P. P. – Trans Pacific Pact and fast track.
COACH A SCHOLAR. BE A HERO: One Million Degrees Scholars are low-income, highly motivated individuals pursuing their associate’s degrees. They have persisted through challenging situations and are striving to reach their full potential and become positive forces in their families and communities.
One Million Degrees at Harper college
link to the program website, it’s the same for all city colleges and Harper:
NWSOFA is a whole, diverse wonderful family of people who want to do more than talk about the social issues. We explore and dig deep on the facts and decide what actions we can take that can have an impact locally and nationally. NWSOFA members not only “talk the talk”, but we “walk the walk”.
All our teams have numerous events that will enlighten and inspire you and yes, challenge you to make the effort to make a difference.
We invite you to join us!
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Every 1st & 3rd Thursday
it’s 4C’s Night
“Coffee, Conversation, Cookies, Calls” & LTEs
Click on the above calendar to RSVP
Next 4C’s is 8/21
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday night NWSOFAer’s get together to relax, drink coffee, discuss current topics, enjoy cookies and make some important calls to other Progressives in the suburbs notifying them of our meetings
We call these the 4C’s and we need your help. Volunteer for an hour or two doing what we do best “organizing”!
NWSOFA
We Were Very Busy, Busy, Busy in July
NWSOFA Stand With Women Gathering Petitions on Supporting the Minimum Wage
Downtown HQ ACA Celebration and President Obama’s Birthday Party
It’s time to Act .. It Is Time To Get Involved
Over the years the American Citizens have lost their voices, believing that we can not make a difference. We have been beat down by the constant droning noise of the conservative right. This onslaught has made us like sheep .. afraid to express our views. Not anymore! OFA gives us back our voices and by working together we are making change one issue at a time. Together we can and will make a difference.
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2013 !!
Just Click on the Photo to link the NWSOFA e-magazines daily & archived articles
