Elgin Township Democrats

Progressive Values in Kane County Illinois

Editorials and Opinions

20.1 million more people have health coverage with the ACA, let’s keep that going

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The Daily Kos has a great article about how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has improved healthcare for millions of Americans.

The Centers for Disease Control confirm that the Affordable Care Act is still a big fucking deal. Since 2010, 20.1 million people have gained health insurance.

That number will increase soon into the new year when Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah expand Medicaid. Expansion will help offset the thousands that Arkansas and other states are kicking off the program with work requirements. That’s a fight we can take on with a new Democratic House and in the next two years of fighting Trump. Clearly, Arkansas and other Republican states are having their last gasps against Medicaid.

Read the full article

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

This is the Foundation for Getting Our Democratic Candidates Elected

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Now Is The Time

  • to walk your precinct and really get acquainted with your constituents.
  • to make sure that their phone numbers and email addresses are correct.
  • to make sure that everyone in the household eligible to vote is registered.
  • to answer any questions they may have.
  • to offer them yard signs and ask if they willing to help phone bank
  • to invite them to our meetings and our website for current news.
  • to make sure they know that they can meet candidates and elected officials at our meetings.
  • to make sure that those who are disabled know how to get absentee ballots.
  • to ask if they are willing to hold an event in their home for their neighbors at some point in the future?
  • to inquire of they interested in being a poll watcher or election judge. (remember that judges are paid.)

You can become a deputy voter registrar. We can help get people registered to vote. We can help you learn to use Votebuilder.  We can help you update Votebuilder information.

Let’s start with each precinct committeeperson getting a list of strong Dems and visiting each and every one.  If they don’t answer the door the first time, go back as many times as it takes to talk to them one-on-one.  Can it be done in one month?

Next month move on to Leaning Dems and do the same. Beyond that, Independents, No Data, etc. voters can be contacted.  Even Leaning Republicans if you feel brave enough.

american flag

This is the foundation for getting our Democratic candidates elected.

Wayback Machine Chrome extension

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Many government sites are being changed rapidly and in dangerous ways. Entire critical sections of information are being removed.

…but what can you do?

Luckily the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine is there to help us maintain vital pieces of information. They have now released a Chrome browser extension to make finding the information that is missing from pages.

The Wayback Machine Chrome browser extension helps make the web more reliable by detecting dead web pages and offering to replay archived versions of them.

Internet Archive WayBack Machine

You can get more information about this Must Have browser extension here:
https://blog.archive.org/2017/01/13/wayback-machine-chrome-extension-now-available/

Install it now:

Indivisible Guide Video

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We will be discussing the Indivisible Guide at the next Elgin Township Democrats meeting. Many of our members have expressed an interest in officially joining the movement and we will be stronger if we do it together.

This video will give you a quick overview of what is involved.

We encourage all members to download the guide and read it before the next meeting so we can discuss it. https://www.indivisibleguide.com/

 

Trump is Dangerous

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According to Trump, the election was “rigged” until the Russian meddling and FBI Director Comey helped him win. Now the news about Putin’s involvement and the hacks are “fake” news and polls that show, at 37%, he has the lowest polling ratings of any incoming President are “rigged”.

Of course Rep John Lewis, that was almost killed on bridge marching for voting rights in Selma in 1964, is “all talk” according to Trump when he said he would boycott Trump’s inauguration because he was “illegitimate” due to Russian involvement.

Trump has already sided with Putin and criticized the unanimous report by the US intelligence community accusing the Russian of hacking the DNC, John Podesta, providing the info to Julian Assange at Wikileaks and spreading disinformation that tilted the election against Clinton. Now Putin is blaming Obama for trying to undermine Trump.

When will Americans understand that embracing a communist dictator that annexed Crimea, invaded Ukraine and help slaughter thousands of civilians in Aleppo while saying our CIA is “akin to Nazis” and that NATO is obsolete, is courting disaster!

Trump in the White House thretens our national security.

A Democrats Letter to Bruce Rauner from Raja Krishnamoorthi

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Published November 28, 2014 by the Daily Herald

Dear Mr. Rauner:

I’m a Democrat, and I supported Pat Quinn in the election. That said, I wish you the
best. To that end, I respectfully submit 10 thoughts for your consideration.

  1. Don’t mimic your Republican brethren. It will be tempting to employ the Republican playbook used by Scott Walker in Wisconsin or others to govern Illinois. Don’t do it. They created a toxic brew of partisanship that distracts their attention. You were elected to craft thoughtful economic solutions for the state, not to employ a right wing agenda in Illinois.
  2. Don’t demonize labor. One sixth of Illinois workers are covered by collective bargaining contracts, and an even higher proportion of households have union members. In my experience, union leaders are respected by their members. Sit down with them and attempt to find common ground where possible. Reach out with an open hand, not a clenched fist.
  3. Raise the minimum wage. Given your changing positions on this particular issue, the public wants to know whether you understood the recent referendum results in which Illinoisans spoke loud and clear (by a 21 margin) that they want an increase now. The vast majority of Illinoisans have spoken positively on this issue. Show them that you’re listening.
  4. Don’t engage in culture wars. Most Illinoisans are progressive on social issues. Defer to their wishes, avoid derogatory comments and focus on the economic challenges facing the state. That will keep you plenty busy.
  5. Work with local leaders. Toni Preckwinkle, Rahm Emanuel and most mayors face fiscal challenges that track many of your own. At the same time, many of them have found creative ways to cooperate, attract new businesses and cater to increasingly diverse populations. Help them, and copy what works.
  6. Work with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. The media will be following your relationship with these leaders very closely. Every missed phone call will receive outsized scrutiny (as you already know). In addition, while you won on Election Night, arguably so did both of these individuals; indeed, Madigan did not lose a single member of his caucus. Consult with them closely if you are to get anything done.
  7. Don’t obfuscate on the state’s finances. The fiscal problems facing the state are well known. That said, come clean on what needs to be done, and be specific. Your statements during the campaign were extremely vague. As governor you will have to be clear about your plans now so the public can weigh in and plan for the future.
  8. Work with the president and congressional delegation. Even though you won on Election Night, Dick Durbin won by a much larger margin. The same goes for various thoughtful congressional Democrats (such as my own congresswoman, Tammy Duckworth). The president is also well liked in Illinois, and he has two years left in office. Illinois is large, but we do not always receive our fair share of federal resources because our leadership is often divided. When we all row together, good things happen.
  9. Be Illinois’ cheerleader-in-chief. You must champion all things Illinois and help bolster our brand. That means talking up its workers, businesses, schools, farmers and culture. Talk up everything good about our state. We all win.
  10. Embrace the future. Illinois is becoming more diverse, more tolerant and even more green. For instance, in the solar sector, Illinois is viewed as a huge, untapped market for the solar revolution sweeping the world. These issues do not fit well within the Republican agenda; however, they do make Illinois a global destination for human capital and innovation.

Mr. Rauner, you have been given a grand responsibility. Observing the rules above will put us in a better state.

• Raja Krishnamoorthi is an engineer, tech company president and former deputy treasurer of Illinois. He lives in Hoffman Estates.