Mole's Progressive Democrat: Progressive Democrat Newsletter Issue 292

I have been watching the disaster in Japan unfold as I put together this newsletter. Having lived in Japan (further South) it is really devastating to watch. If you want to get a good (and charming) feel for what regular life is like in Japan, watch Whisper of the Heart. Not normally my style of movie (almost a chic flick, in fact) but it captures Japanese life so perfectly that it makes me feel nostalgic. I highly recommend it.

To get a feel for what the exact same area featured in Whisper of the Heart was like before it was built up, watch My Neighbor Totoro. If you watch Totoro first you will better understand the "Country Roads"/"Concrete Roads" theme in Whisper of the Heart.

Wish I had something cheery to say about the Japanese disaster, but one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history followed by a tsunami and a nuclear disaster are just about as bad as you can get. For a good discussion of the risks of the nuclear plant, here is a good article from BBC.

Turning to politics, which goes merrily on no matter how bad things get...

Next time a conservative attacks collective bargaining, perhaps you should pull out this little quote:

"These are the values inspiring those brave workers in Poland … They remind us that where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." (Ronald Reagan 1980)

Why do modern Republicans hate Reagan so much?

And I LOVE this photo from a great Daily Kos photo diary of the recent protest in Madison:

Here is a little graphic someone posted on Daily Kos...really shows EXACTLY what the Republicans are up to.

Republicans are determined to kill the unions...and it will hurt us. But it will also be their downfall. People are angry now.

In Wisconsin a judge has blocked the Republican anti-worker law.

And the fight has expanded to Michigan now. Republicans in Michigan are trying to repeat the Wisconsin anti-union attack, Democrats are trying to block them, and Michigan unions are fighting back. There is even a recall effort brewing in Michigan as well.

I want to keep pushing my now expanded Union Solidarity Across FOUR States Act Blue Page, keeping the focus on Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana where the battle between pro-Billionaire Republicans and pro-union Democrats are going on right now. Most of the attention has been on Wisconsin and the Teabagger dirty tricks that have been going on there, but the battle in Ohio is just as fierce and in Indiana we have to keep pushing to keep the Republicans from doing what they did in Wisconsin. Please help out!

And for a more long-term strategy, check out my Liberals Strike Back 2012 Act Blue Page, which widens the focus beyond these key three states to other states that are crucial for taking back Congress in 2012.

And finally, let me suggest a donation to Heartland Revolution...you get a T-shirt if you donate $50:

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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Progressive Democrat Newsletter Issue 292

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