Thinking about running? You are not alone.

The National Women's Political Caucus has a goal of having 50/50 political participation gender parity by 2020. This means 50/50 at all levels of government. That's a goal whose achievement will have more impact than, dare I say it, seeing how much money we can burn in space. (What is that all about? I mean. Come on.)

Every day is a good day to think about running for something. There are resources to help. Here are just a few, located by googling/binging "women running for office." I'm not formally vouching for any or all of these organizations, mind you. But let's be realistic. You will need all sorts of support, including some from endorsing established organizations. Keep in mind that the League will not be one of them. In fact, the League will never endorse anyone since, to reinforce one of our most treasured and zealously guarded characteristics, the League is entirely neutral regarding candidates (our positions address issues). Still, I spent enough time on these sites to get the sense each could fan that spark of an idea you may have. Every good wish. LLII.

What does it take to run? Check She Should Run for practical, downloadable guides, provided by the Women's Campaign Forum (all party affiliations welcome).

California Women Lead has things going on in support of women in political office, also non-partisan.

The National Women's Political Caucus is quite active in supporting the objective of women "achieve[ing] a political power base," and has a California caucus based in Walnut Creek.

If you are already a bit down the road toward running for California State government, you probably know about California List, which bills itself as very like the well-known EMILY's List.

And, just to demonstrate we truly are non-partisan here at the SF League Chapter, our Republican friends with an interest in office probably already have bookmarked the National Federation of Republican Women. Theirs is a very robust site promoting a good many issues we can all get behind - including supporting more women in political office. There is a California federation, too.

Healthcare reform legislation in ~ five minutes (and compared to war funding).

Today's Times editorial page summarizes the healthcare legislation in its present form, including its impact on virtually everyone (even people who have coverage they don't want to give up). Reading the editorial takes about five minutes.

Putting things in perspective, approximately $668 billion has been allocated in the federal budget for the war in Iraq; $222 billion has been allocated for the war in Afghanistan. Disclosure about the numbers shown here. To state the obvious, our war costs expended in fewer than seven years nearly cover the worst case financial scenario for healthcare reform over ten years. One dares say the healthcare returns will be greater. LLII.

Lance & Livestrong.

Lance Armstrong, finishing third in the Tour de France, will be 38 in September. Places one and two are held by people ages 24 and 25. I have a friend, late 30s, who went back to school to retrain as a nurse, having been dislodged from her career by the recession. My friend comments frequently about her "advanced" age compared to the 20-year-olds in her classes. "Old" creeps into the conversation from time to time. I've texted her to consider Lance. Age really doesn't matter. Sure, talent, preparation, and commitment help (my friend has a bounty of all three). There may be many reasons to not do something. For most, it really isn't age. Let's get to it. For example, running for office or a commission or a board.

Speaking of Lance, another friend, Frank, rode with him on some annual Houston to Austin bike ride for a couple of years. Frank was incredibly fit as a runner, spinner, and cycler. He fought back cancer for five years before dying in 2003. Livestrong was starting up then. I'm checking out the Livestrong website while keeping an eye on the Tour's end this morning. How serious is Lance's cancer campaign?

Well. It's the real deal with real people. There must be photos of Lance somewhere but I haven't seen one. There are a number of references to him and his blog, but the site is all about everybody, as it says, affected by cancer. All these beautiful faces from walks, runs, volunteer posts, conferences, and, yes, bike rides. So many resources and connections, too! I wish Livestrong had been around for Frank. Frank had tremendous support from his Houston medical team, his amazing wife, Barbara and son, Rick, the rest of his family, and his devoted friends. Still, I think Livestrong would have made it easier for Frank to channel all that he wanted to give to the fight against cancer, for others affected by cancer. Check it out if you haven't. Good to know all this is available.

The race is over. All the adorable cyclists, young and "old," are now claiming their prizes, wearing ball caps to cover helmet hair. Back to real life for them and for us, living strong. LLII.

ps. so where are the women? Apparently there is a shorter bike race in France for women, but the men's Tour owner, a media company, doesn't support it. Not much money in women's cycling; therefore, little publicity. As always, one weakness propagates another. Columbia HTC, a US cycling organization and one of the powers in this year's Tour, sponsors a women's team. Let's see if Armstrong's new organization, under the sponsorship of Radio Shack, does.

Keep going!

I know this healthcare legislation was supposed to be written and voted on by now. Of course that schedule was entirely too aggressive. Nonetheless, reform appears to have momentum, which is important. Plus meaningful reform truly seems to have the hearty support of the president, based on tonight's speech. The opposing sides' fever pitch may mean we are closer than it seems. But it also means we citizens - the beneficiaries of universal healthcare - can't flag. Here's a click and send. Caution! This particular effort will publish names in newspaper ads. Names only, it says.

Now, as we enter the tense, emotional days leading up to a final healthcare bill and the Congressional votes, let's remind ourselves that the media reporting and advertising may not be the truth, the whole truth, and much entirely close to the truth (whatever that is). As an example, the good people at MediaMatters, who are more statisticians than commentators, are noticing some media slant toward fear-mongering about the progress of the reform debate. We'll need to keep an eyebrow arched as we read and listen. Good practice for the November election promotional blitz. (Yes! there will be a November election, involving San Francisco races and ballot measures. Stay tuned to the League space for more information.)

Speaking of local issues, when you ride muni, hold on!?! LLII

Quite a day.

In the news today we hear President Obama is stepping up his public advocacy for healthcare reform and California has a budget. Details of both remain to be seen. I am cautiously optimistic about the positive effect of the former and queasily anxious about the latter.

Focusing on the State budget, undoubtedly, there will be shared sacrifice. Ready, steady now as we prepare to pitch in to fill in gaps as we can for family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, even strangers who lose in the budget deal. We'll need every ounce of our naturally generous selves to see this through with integrity and decency.

We'll want to do something, but what? And when? What if there are only a few hours every so often. What are the options, so we can put more energy into the contribution rather than into the logistics. Reasonable questions. Tuck into the back of your mind that googling or binging 'san francisco volunteer' produces a very long list of organizations who act as conduits to people who need us.

Keep going! (click & send now!)

A better week for universal healthcare. Bills flying around. Naysayers abound. Finally, the normal signs of life for important legislation. The President weighed in today, suggesting courage is in order and even (finally) suggesting a bill of his people's design. Our voices can make a difference. The lobbyists are talking. Why, just Thursday morning Senator Dodd was on NPR assuring us Senator Kennedy was involved because, after all, Mr. Kennedy knows all the donors and campaign fund sources. You heard it, no? Republicans need have no envy because Mr. Dodd, in the next breath, noted Senator Orrin Hatch matched strokes with Mr. Kennedy in the money waters. Mr. Hatch, also on the program, had an aw, shucks response.

Our voices and votes are the counterweight to big money. Thursday I clicked and sent this. You can, too. The link is still live.

If you happen to have next Friday morning free, check out this event in San Jose: “Health Care Reform Update: Healing What Ails US. The keynote speaker is Dr. Claudia Chaufan speaking on “Learning from the International Experience: A Framework to Analyze Current Proposals for Health Care Reform.” There is an accompanying panel of heavyweights. It's sure to be time well spent, in the company of like-minded people. More information here. LLII

San Francisco's public access cable television (and startling healthcare update)

AccessSF lived up to its name for years - providing ready access to the local cable audience to the warp and woof of San Francisco. Among those benefiting from AccessSF's spirited production capabilities, studios, and airwaves was the League of Women Voters of San Francisco. The League regularly taped and aired pro's and con's of ballot measures. Viewers have long told us this programming is important to them when deciding how to vote.

AccessSF's work with the League and others was funded in large part by the City, as part of the station's mandate to serve the public. This funding was cut. The City requested proposals to act as a public access channel. Only those who would not be so dependent upon public money need apply. Bay Area Video Coalition seems to have succeeded in earning the opportunity to contract with the City to serve as its public access television outlet.

Check out BAVC's winning proposal. It goes into some depth, so have a sandwich and milk handy for the read. My take is that BAVC is a media engine with a commitment to the new programming. It seems particularly strong in leveraging all forms of new technology and internet-based media. BAVC offers training programs and involves masses of kids. All good now and going forward, in the way of increased skills and outlets for imagination. BAVC also makes a point of being financially sustainable. That's good, too, of course.

What isn't at all clear is what kind of access non-profits such as the League will have via BAVC. We'll be inquiring in advance of the November elections. More in this blogspot as we learn. In the interim, congratulations to BAVC, and we hope to be able to work with you!

More on healthcare:

Tucked into the article, "Pay or Play," on page 32 of this week's Economist is this sentence: "Rahm Emanuel, Mr. Obana's chief of staff, softened the president's previous insistence [on a public insurance plan to compete against private insurers]. He suggested that a public plan should come into force only if an initial attempt to reform private insurance market fails." What!!??!! And in whose lifetime??!!?? Of course Mr. Emanuel speaks for President Obama. We must speak to the President. Click here to jot a few convincing words, then send. Thanks. LLII




(BAVC calls them 'youth'), which is fabulous for the kids and San Francisco's future.

Sotomayor: Potentially doing for healthcare what MJ did for Governor Sanford

The hopelessly romantic Mark Sanford must have secretly rejoiced when Michael Jackson died, since MJ's sad demise pushed Sanford off the front pages. Similarly, the healthcare reformists (or not) must be delighted to have the cover of the Sotomayor hearings while they put the final touches on legislation. It certainly helps explains why people stopped complaining that the confirmation hearings were happening too soon.

There is still a public thread on the subject. Sowing doubt. How can we afford universal healthcare if unemployment hits 10%? Honestly, what could be more important than universal healthcare if unemployment is off the charts? The number of uninsured and under-insured will be higher than ever. What are the short and long-term costs to that?

This is all the more reason for us to stay vigilant and agitate for responsive legislation. As for me, I didn't have a new click&send today, so I forwarded the National Partnership for Women and Families "take action" info to a few people who may not have seen it, but I believe will act with a bit of a nudge. Please pass it along. LLII

ps. Every good wish to Judge Sotomayor!

Today's click & send for healthcare reform

Today's click & send happened courtesy of Democracy for America. It was letters to the editors of the Chron and the Examiner. I entered my zip code and I was presented the opportunity to email a letter to the local papers and the national press, too. It took a bit more effort, as I had to draft my letter. The site offered content tips on the side, though.


I kept the message short, as one is supposed to for effective letters to the editor. Clicking "send email" worked. I received a confirmation from the Chron almost immediately. Send your own email from here.

If you carry on following the email to the editor(s), however, be watchful. For me, the following page invited me to send a message to Congress supporting the President's healthcare priorities. Even though Obama has caved on a single payer system, he appears to be pressing for a public option so I was game. Two click & sends in one day. One ahead. Fine. Wellllllllllll. I couldn't complete that click & send to Congress without making a contribution. I guess, for Democracy for American, it's really pay, click & send.

Coming soon to a blog here, more about campaign finance reform. LLII.

Making good on the healthcare vigilante commitment

Reporting in on my commitment from the 7/9/09 blog, to remain as vigilant as big pharma, insurers, and everyone in favor of the healthcare status quo:

Today I clicked and sent a message to my Congressional representatives encouraging them to deliver healthcare legislation responsive to the need. An email from the National Partnership for Women & Families made this easy. The site has good healthcare reform info - and a click & send message under their Action tab.

Also, our thanks to a reader, who passes along www.defectivehealthcare.com, providing sobering information about the quality of our healthcare. Of course, no one wants deterioration as a companion to reform. We'll be vigilantes forever, perhaps.

Have you clicked & sent today?

Healthcare Reform - No letting up.

Did you hear NPR this morning? Senator Chris Dodd and another Congressional rep assured us that mixing fundraising from healthcare special interests while drafting healthcare legislation doesn't affect their decision-making, or distract them from keen advocacy for their constituents. All together now: eye-roll. Seriously: it's to be expected that all of Congress are booked for events with healthcare special interests (some may even have views we support), now through the date of the August vote on the legislation.

We know we need healthcare reform that gives us affordable care designed to both keep us healthy or restore us to good health. I for one am weary of the emails asking me to tell my representatives I still care about the subject. But last night at a LWVSF advocacy meeting, I heard an impassioned recitation of the systemic miseries defective healthcare creates. I was reminded that lobbying only gets more intense as a vote looms; the promises more lucrative and irresistible.

We voters, one voice becoming many, must provide balance. Most of us may not be able to substantially add to a campaign coffers but we can, one voice becoming many, firmly promise that disappointment will result in turning people out of office. Opening those emails, then clicking to send the messages to your reps actually works.

Over these next critical weeks, let's try to click and send in support of healthcare reform - whatever reform you believe to be best for your family and friends - at every opportunity. I will. If the money people can stay motivated, so must we. After all, we have more to lose, and to gain! LLII.

California education by the numbers

Someone I know with a young child in a San Francisco public school shared the factoids below. They are the tip of the education data iceberg, and present a mixed picture. Pitiful per-student spending and above-average teachers' salaries (btw, I have no objection to people being compensated). Total estimated 2008 - 2009 revenues from all sources: $71.9 billion.

My friend's primary question is whether the money reaches the students, or whether it is diluted in overhead and other spending with an attenuated impact on the students. Spending and spending decision making are opaque. If this interests you, the next time you are surfing cable and find the SF Board of Education meetings, or you are at a PTA meeting, listen for evidence funding actually reaches the kids. We're checking into it ourselves, through the SF League's Advocacy Committee. More in this space reporting what we learn.

Back to the data, most are sourced from the 9/08 EdSource Report, also the SF Board of Education, and the PTA Education Reports.

California...

**spent $614 less per pupil than the 2005 - 2006 national average.
**ranks last in total school staff per student.
**has far more K through 12 students than any other state (averaging 5.9 million children per day, 2008 - 2009).
**teachers' salaries are among the highest even when adjusted for the local cost of living.
**spent more on school facilities from 2003 to 2006 than any other state, after years of low investment.

More information:
EdSource 2009 Budget Action: www.edsource.org
San Francisco Board of Education: sfusd.edu
Second District of the California State PTA - San Francisco: sfpta.org
PTA Education Reports: capta.org

The rockets' red glare & red ink.

A quick note following the SF fireworks. No fog. Extraordinary display. The people behind us started talking about how the City is laying off teachers, while going ahead with the fireworks. "That's two janitors," one said, after an amazing burst. How do you balance exquisite escapism with the trauma affecting all of us caught in the recession? Does the commercial benefit of all those people in town create a tipping point in favor of the fireworks? LLII.

Happy birthday, FOIA!

The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) became effective 43 years ago today, July 4th. FOIA established the public's right to access government records. California's equivalent law is the California Public Records Act (Government Code sec. 6250 - 6276.48). These laws aren't perfect. It's been said that any law that requires the requestor to turn up at the agency holding the records to see them, which is California's preferred method for requests, hardly embodies reasonable access. Nonetheless, they establish the presumption that a citizen has the right to know what the government has done. We only need ask, without explaining why. Under FOIA, the burden is on the government to prove why records shouldn't be released. If a FOIA request is denied, judicial review is guaranteed. The courts don't always come down on the side of the citizen, but the government faces a high hurdle to justify its denial. Thank you, FOIA.

FOIA doesn't bring all government records into the cold, clear light of day. Unquestionably, some records must be protected. Attorney-client privilege. Secrets that might genuinely compromise national security. Judicial review is helpful here when there is a difference of opinion between citizen and governmental agency. Or the Executive. Of course, the presidential administration sets the tone for FOIA access. The last Administration successfully defended itself against ACLU FOIA requests for documents related to US-administered torture, and the courts cooperated. The Obama administration is somewhat more open, having released torture documents - but not all of them. More than 2,000 photographs in the ACLU's FOIA request were first promised by the Obama team, then refused because they could endanger the country's troops. Makes one wonder what those photos show, that they could be worse than we've seen. It's tempting to not wonder, since our torturous acts are beyond tragic. But since we imperfect humans obviously are capable of tremendous depravity, without transparency the likelihood of our imperfection manifesting itself increases. That's why the ACLU is continuing to press the government for a full response to its FOIA request,and the burden remains on the government to explain its position. Thank you, FOIA.

Closer to home, League-wise, state FOIA-equivalents can be engines driving audits of statewide elections where governmental officials are uncooperative. The League believes transparency helps imperfect humans be mindful of their responsibilities and accountabilities, and perform accordingly. Transparency increases confidence that every vote cast is counted as it was recorded by the voter. Ideally, citizen audits demonstrating proper governmental election procedures are conducted with the willing cooperation of all involved. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. We citizens then have a responsibility to pursue prescribed administrative remedies, providing the government the opportunity to perform nobly. If that fails, we have FOIA. Happy birthday, FOIA. Here's to another productive, constructive year of inquiry, under your protection. LLII

The Holiday Weekend

I just ran through today's Chron for inspiration for this posting. Not much cheery to be found, and I had a rough day so cheery is in order. Consequently, we'll go free-form.

Would you agree that this July holiday is becoming more of a family holiday? SFO last night was full of siblings and cousins holding welcoming signs, kids reaching to hug parents (my case), and vice versa. The resemblance made it impossible to mistake the connections as anything but familial. Today at work, people were preparing for daughters and dads to arrive. Elevators carried snippets of family picnic plans. Maybe we're all visiting the relatives because it can be less expensive. Or easier to justify that trip to glorious SF, leaving Dubuque behind for a few days. As in: it's a bit of splurge but you have to check in with the [relative category here] every once in a while or be ostracized. Whatever the reason, it presents opportunity.

While we're all together, let's talk. Ask about the mood back home. What's the energy level downtown and in the malls? Are their mayors and city council members making good on their election promises? Has anyone ever been asked to participate in those surveys always being reported in the papers? Who turns up for local commission meetings, or the PTA these days? Really ask. If there are stories to be told, really listen. Ask for details. If there are no stories, ask the table what keeps everyone from getting involved. We know it isn't because everything is cheery. Really ask, and really listen. Edge the conversation toward what might be done. Nothing major. Make mental notes of what people say they would like to do, and even might do, whatever it is, to be more involved in the community. Afterward, but before you forget, make notes on the November calendar page of what you heard. It will make for great table topics at Thanksgiving when we're all together again. You know. Follow up. Show you really listened, and want to really ask and really listen again. I'll bet the thread of conversation becomes contagious. And I'll bet it leads incrementally to more personal contribution to what is important to you and yours. That's progress. That's cheery! LLII