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AZ, Tucson

Coffee Party of Central Tucson

Congress is Boring

Why is congress so low in opinion polls? Why do so few people vote? Why is congress predominately white male?

Congress is too professional.
Congress is too pretty, neat, and groomed.
Congress is too complex.
Congress is too connected.
Congress is too moneyed.
Congress is too busy.
Congress is too far away.
Congress is too out of touch.
Congress is too indifferent.
Congress is too formal.
Congress is too slick.
Congress is too educated.
Congress is too powerful.
Congress is too threatening.
Congress is too hard to talk to.

Starting more groups, editing current groups, etc...

 In two weeks time, Coffee Party USA will be releasing an internal Facebook type application specifically for members of the Coffee Party website.  Until then, we are asking that everyone make due with the tools they have currently.  This new platform will knock your socks off.

Please bear with us.  We built it, you came, we have to remodel.  

 

Comments

The Fair Tax

The Fair Tax

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

The fair tax is a consumption tax, not an income tax. The protestant ethic built America. Income tax is a protestant ethic tax and should go away.

Don’t tax me. Everyone wants this. The fair tax delivers. This tax is completely optional. Basics are not taxed. Food, housing, transportation, education, and investment are not taxed. A fair tax makes it possible to live a lifetime in America paying little or no taxes. The level of that existence might not be desirable. Thoreau, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thoreau/ , Emerson, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/emerson/ , the Amish, and other “frugal” lifestyles are tax free. This idea is already reflected with earned income and other tax credits for low income citizens.

The consumption tax is economically logical. Taxation diminishes enthusiasm. If income is taxed, people are less inclined to work. If investment is taxed, people are less inclined to invest. Consumption tax slows down consumption. This is positive economics. A strong economy thrives on work, savings, and investment. The fair tax encourages positive economic behavior.

The fair tax is not new. Huckabee talked of it in the last presidential election. He was the only major candidate talking this policy. Both parties in congress ignored proposals. The democrats have little history of tax reform. The republicans talk about it. Somehow, nothing changes.

The FairTax:
· Enables workers to keep their entire paychecks
· Enables retirees to keep their entire pensions
· Refunds, in advance, the tax on purchases of basic necessities
· Allows American products to compete fairly
· Brings transparency and accountability to tax policy
· Ensures Social Security and Medicare funding
· Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
· Abolishes the IRS
Read more at http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

Citizen is coach to team democracy. It’s your call, coach.
http://coach-1640280.newsvine.com/

Results are what matters

Tucson is a vertible media wasteland for the majority of the progressive citzenry. I am interested in communicating with other Lefties to explore ways to communicate with the broader community not only within our own circles.
For example, the AZStarNet has been co-opted by the Tea Party and the so-called mediator blocks any left leaning viewpoints. We need to let the larger community know we are here and we have a strong articulate voice.
Perhaps we could view the documentary "Orwell Rolls Over in His Grave" followed by a discussion of how we can change things here in Tucson.
While I completely agree that our discourse needs to be more civil, it is also important to give confidence to Progressive minded folks to speak up and get involved.
Please let me know if any existing coffee party groups are interesed in pursuing this.

media

I write a blog, "Medicare and More" at Tucsoncitzen.com. I'd be willing to write about anything to do with healthcare and Medicare (and more). Tucsoncitizen.com gets 100,000+ page views per month - not bad. Posts I've written about Medicare and healthcare reform come up at the top of Google searches because they are part of a bigger site. So it's a way to get people to find what you write, even if they don't know about tucsoncitizen.com

I attended a Coffee Part meeting on Saturday and can see that things are "percolating" but need to be stirred up to get a serious group organized and actually doing something besides talking.
-Denise Early

My blog is at http://tucsoncitizen.com/medicare

Thanks!

Thanks for the note and the link to the article Denise, awesome! Could you put up some links to your articles on the Tucson Coffee Party website? http://coffeepartytucson.ning.com/
We are in the initial stages of organisation and there is a great interest for this movement in the Tucson area. We are hoping that more people will step up and host events and share their interests on the issues with other groups so we can get working on where we stand.
Thanks again!

Try this...

JWilly are you a member of our local site? http://coffeepartytucson.ning.com/ We will be discussing the issues you brought up in this post.

I love the Coffee Party

I joined because of it's diversity for one thing. I feel if we can get the 32 Million new insured Americans to join the Coffee Party, President Obama won't have a problem getting things done for the people of this country.

You have a right to be as racist as you want in America, that's what makes her so great besides it's diversity.

I can't wait for the Republicans to tell my child, with asthma, that she can't have health insurance because it doesn't serve the insurance agencies bottom line i.e. her life has no value.

Another thing the tea baggers are fuming about is the Jobs Bill, I feel if people are punching a clock, guess what, they're also PAYING TAXES !!!!

Novel Idea.

The Coffee Party is like a submarine Silent yet Deadly meaning, if we all do something silly like vote and throw the Republiklans out, I feel we will have a better chance of OUR country surviving.

The ballot is more powerful than the bullet, but I keep my powder dry, just in case the tea baggers take my kindness for weakness.

Smith and Wesson is a great peacemaker.

I support Rudy Garcia for U.S. Senate to get Mr. Mccain out of office; is this a shameless plug?

YOU BETCHA !!!!

http://arizonaonthemove.com/

Open Letter to Sarah Palin

Dear Sarah Palin,

Thank you.

I attended the Searchlight event. I listened and took pictures. You and I have the same birthday. Thank you again for a great event.

It was an excellent speech. It reinforced important American values and aspirations. It separated force from democratic process. Everyone understands the potential of your leadership to improve America. This letter outlines an area of immense potential for your leadership.

We all know the pilgrims fled to America to escape religious persecution in Europe. The alliance of church and state tyrannized Europe for hundreds of years. It encouraged immigrations to America and the formation of our democracy, separating church and state.

Today a coalition of money and state tyrannizes America. It does it in the form of recessions, depressions, too big to fail, bailouts, and favoritisms. If unchecked, the alliance of money and state will destroy America by destroying the middle class and turning America into a third world economy.

The time has come for separation of money and state. This is best discussed in constitutional amendment form:

The rights of the people, extended in this constitution shall not be construed or implied to extend to legal military, economic, social, or political entities. Contributions to government campaign financing “of the people, by the people, and for the People” shall be made exclusively by the people, and limited by congress.

There are many fixes, along the way, that will alleviate the suffering caused by coalition of money and state. Term limits were mentioned. Better campaign finance laws will help. More transparency is useful. These are fixes and patches to a constitutional issue. Your leadership can take this issue to the level of repair required to confront it once and for all.

Your governor experience in Alaska was front line money vs state experience. You witnessed how money corrupts and misguides citizens. Money vs state is the greatest challenge our democracy faces today. It is your opportunity to do greatest good for America. Your leadership is needed for this great issue of our time. America needs Sarah Palin.

God speed, Sarah Palin, on your journey and destiny.

Coach-1640280
http://coach-1640280.newsvine.com/

"Let it be."

Sortitioned Leadership

You gotta have faith. You gotta believe in America. You gotta let go of fundamental rules of management, leadership, and government. You gotta go where no one’s gone before. You gotta have strength to break new ground and hold that ground.

Thomas Jefferson believed there are two natural political parties. One natural political party believes in the need for “leadership”, a republic, and representation to “guide” America. The other natural political party believes Americans can “guide” themselves. Jefferson saw these two parties as the existing overriding paradigm of his time. This paradigm still exists today. The constitution was a compromise between these “end point” perceptions.

Sortition is a grass roots finding tool. It mathematically and scientifically duplicates, in smaller populations, the larger America. It does not discriminate, period. That is to say it does not discriminate by gender, ethnic, economic, religious, or political viewpoint. It goes a big step further, a very big step further. It also doesn’t discriminate by “experience”, “education”, “intelligence”, “beauty”, or “charisma”. Sortition finds 100% grass roots America. Sortition finds the bottom line America, no holds barred.

Clearly, believers in sortition, fall into Jefferson’s second category. America can manage itself. It doesn’t need “representatives”, “managers”, “leaders”, “professionals”, “mentors”, or “cronies”. American needs empowerment to make its own decisions, its own future. Jefferson’s second category lets America be America, whatever that turns out to be.

“Let it be.”

coach-1640280
http://coach-1640280.newsvine.com/

What's your point?

What's your point?

"Let it be"

Go for it.

Tucson Coffee Party Website

There is a new website up for all! http://coffeepartytucson.ning.com/

March 27th meeting

Hey everyone,
we are having our next meeting on March 27th from 5 to 7 pm at Cactus Counseling's office space downtown. The address is 110 s. Church Ave. Suite 2070. That is on Church just south of Broadway in La Placita Village.

Leslie and I agreed to co- facilitate this meeting (Leslie please contact me)I think we will have a lot of fun Terry (the owner of Cactus Counseling) said he would provide coffee, we talked about having everyone bring a snack or a beverage to share, I am going to see if I can get some pizza's donated.

I look forward to seeing you all again and to meeting lots of new people.

My Coffee Party Article

Well my first of many Coffee Party articles has been published on Associated content, for those of you who would like to check it out it's at:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2789144/tucson_kicks_off_the_co...

Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think. I would like to do my part to expand our media coverage so that more people can be informed and help join our cause.

your article

hey there Iam, I'm really glad to see you stuck to your word and not only wrote and posted the wonderful article you mentioned at the meeting but you also started the process of creating a Coffee Party Tucson web-site, way to go!

Without action we are nothing. Remember that we left our meeting yesterday with a viable action plan and tangible goals, we have just under two weeks until our next meeting.

I would like to ask you to please don't forget to promote that meeting when you write articles and post about The Coffee Party.

We will be meeting on March 27th at 5pm. The location is Cactus Counseling 110 s. Church Ave. (in the La Placita Plaza) suite 2070. Please bring a snack or beverage to share and at least one friend.

See you soon,
Andy

Plan to

Thanx and your welcome. I will be posting much more today all over so check out this thread later on tonight for all the updates. I was planning on building the website, however due to my lack of self control it is in the works and will start posting as soon as 1:00 pm. I would encourage all Tucson members to check it out, join, and try out the features. I would love any comments and input you all could provide. Due to the slowness of communication on this site I have decided that we must be able to communicate in real time. This will be possible on our new sister site for Tucson members via the chat room. We will be able to chat with people in real time and even have cyber Coffee Parties as well. When the site is more filled out complete with at least ten members, I will schedual a cyber party, you will have to bring your own coffee though. A later posting, in about an hour will reveal the temporary site name as I don't have the domain name yet. Thank you all for giving me hope for the future, I hope I can return the favor.

Good article.

Thanks.

Coffee Party Organizational Structure

Sortition in Government
Change, not a dream.
A new democracy.

Ancient Greek democracy selected government officials by sortition. An elaborate “Las Vegas” style system of lottery was used to choose government office holders randomly from the general population. Ancient Athenians considered sortition a principal characteristic of democracy.

Sortition political assignment assures scientific and mathematically equal representation in government of all political fault-lines. That is, it scientifically and mathematically guarantees equal representation of gender, ethnic, economic, religious, and political viewpoints.

A current existing example of political movement towards sortition in government is the Newid party of Wales in Britain.

http://www.newidmeanschange.org

A sortitioned democracy is simple, scientific, and guarantees grass root governance. All more complex systems risk potential skew in government representation.

A simple sortition democracy has two governing branches, the sortitioned branch and the elected branch. Each government branch has equal power of decision. Policy requires the majority approval of both branches.

The size of the sortitioned and elected chambers are set by the most practical and mathematically proportioned sampling of current citizenry. Sortition and election districts are independently drawn by best statistical fit apportionment. These districts are automatically redrawn when the skew of apportionment becomes statistically significant. An independent committee maintains accurate scientific and mathematically correct district lines. (not political, by state, or gerrymander)

The sortitioned chamber is appointed by lottery. The elected chamber is chosen by ballot. Together is formed a new democracy guaranteeing 50% pure grass roots participation.

Elected leadership unavoidably and naturally introduces skew into government representation. Sortitioned leadership is 100% guaranteed grass roots.

The Coffee Party might consider a sortitioned chamber along with an elected chamber when establishing party organization. The Coffee Party can then claim the uniqueness of being the first party to guarantee 50% pure grass roots participation in its government.

Comments, suggestions, questions, and input welcome.

one problem

I think the only problem with this idea, although it looks good on paper, is that our system is so corrupt that the lottery would be fixed to make sure that the multi billion dollar special interest groups would be the only ones to benefit. You must realize that it is not only our government that is corrupt, but our society as a whole. Who is to say that once appointed, the people in question would not allow themselves to be bought. I do believe that what is need is a more fair system of appointment, however, I am skeptical that this is possible in a money motivated culture such as ours. We can keep dreaming though. As a final note, however, this may work well in our group, as long as all people entered into the lottery are willing and able to serve.

More than one problem!

I believe a fair lottery is manageable. Government officials are bought now, so what else is new?

The difference is that sortitioned officials are not career.

If you believe the whole society is corrupt, then there is no hope no matter what government plan.

I like your final note. There's hope.

Thanks for the reply.

Citizen is coach to team democracy. Coach is responsible for success. It's your call, coach.

Just back from the meetings

I went to both. There were a few of us that went to both. I think this has real potential. I'm very glad to see a sane alternative to the tea party.

Bentley's Coffee Party

I went to the 2:00 Coffee Party meeting, my first one, and was very impressed. I think this movement has a lot of potential. I will definitely be posting several articles on my many different outlet sites promoting our movement. I will post them as soon as they are published, hopefully I can get at least one done tonight. I would like some further feedback on an issue I brought up at the meeting. I would like to create a more localized website for those of us here in Tucson. Although I could just go ahead and create the social nwtworking site of my own accord, I would like the blessing of the party do do so. I would of course do it as a supplement to the nation wide site, including a blog, forum, chat room, local news updates, videos, and more. This would cost the party nothing, however I believe it would increase the parties over all exposure. As well as it would link back to the national, this, site for those who would like more general, or national, information. Please post your thoughts and feelings concerning this idea. I may however, decide to start my own coffee party, in which case I would promote it with a website anyway. more updates to come.

Website

That is wonderfully generous of you Iam! Can we discuss the details at the Sky Bar meeting, either on the 18th or 27th? Thanks for the offer!

Here it is!!!

Well it's been done. We now have a social networking site of our own. I encourage all of you to check it out and join. This site is designed for the user, i.e. you can post your content, articles, blogs, forums, videos, etc. There is also a chat room where we can communicate REAL TIME! and even schedual cyber parties! I am looking forward to seeing you all ther. I don not have a domain name yet so our site can be found at:

coffeepartytucson.ning.com

Please feel free to leave your comments so I can make this site what you want it to be,

Thank You All

New Site

Iam, the new site is great!

thanx

Am I to assume that is the 606 N. 4th Ave meeting? I will do my best to make it as i am anxious to get started. Although the national site is great for information, whoever designed it wasn't really thinking about social networking, face book is a pain in my rear, and this site is ancient in design. Right now there are 700 people on this site and I cant talk to any of them! Except in a forum type post which is confusing, I am lucky I found your response. Check out iamenigma.ning.com for an idea of what Im thinking of. I would splurge for the domain of course. The look and feel would be different to, but there would be so much more we could do with it. Chat rooms rule. Please respond once you have taken a look at the site and let me know what you think.

How are you defining this group?

I'm curious as to what you want to do with this Coffee Party? Is there any sense of parody here? Is there any sense that merely supporting wimpy ineffective Democratic strategies is NOT the way to go with this? An intelligent parody can have great impact... even here in Arizona. Why not try to use this platform to unite left of center outrage that National Party money controls our local races? Would Giffords have won without Rahm Emanuel and the DLC's interference when we had so many great truly home grown and lifelong Democrats running here?

If the Tea Party is about getting the right to go all Mavericky then the Coffee Party is inherently about getting the purported left to (using the 60s TV theme here) to go all Raw Hide on their A**es.

Move 'em on, head 'em up,
Head 'em up, move 'em out,
Move 'em on, head 'em out Rawhide!
Set 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide.

Ideal Subject Matter for the Meetings

Fellow Citizens,

I have authored a book that explains a specific strategy to regain control of our federal government. Though listening carefully, I’ve heard of no other solutions being offered so far. The book includes as yet unspoken analysis, entirely unique perspectives, a full explanation of the logic leading to my conclusions and a step-by-step plan that could enable the masses to re-establish control of our Federal government. Here's a sample

Votimate Our Politics

Our country needs a new way of doing business. Under the current system politicians have many motivations. This strategy could reduce their need for multiple motivations. This strategy could help create a system where politicians are:

Votimated

Politicians Motivated for Votes Only

PREFACE

We’ve heard from the Politicians, the Pundits, the Experts and from all of those who can buy a platform from which to speak, yet nary an answer for that which ails our country. Clearly it is getting worse with no end in sight. Perhaps it is time to hear from “Joe Public.”

I can’t say that I speak for the 99%, but I come from the 99% and after losing everything, perhaps even the bottom percent. How can the 1% get away with robbing and causing such harm to the 99% when the 99% of us control the vote? Armed only with the logic of a layman and the urgent need of a pauper I drilled down deep into this dilemma and made some discoveries that might be worth hearing.

The first several chapters offer unique, unspoken perspectives, intended to expose, categorize, organize and simplify the basic core issues within the bigger issue, our politics, or more specifically, our lack of effective governance for the 99%. The next several chapters offer unique comparative analysis, completely “out of the beltway” ideas and surprisingly possible solutions to the core problems. The final few chapters include stunning, previously undisclosed analysis exposing clearly why we must take action soon - and what the result of taking action could mean for us.

This is not just conceptual. I propose specific action. This is “nuts and bolts.” This is “what’s the next step”, a potential roadmap to restoring a government that works for us, the 99%. Restoring our democracy is the only issue worth talking about. Until we adapt and upgrade our political system, the 99% will continue to lose. Until we do, nothing else matters. Without a functioning government, we have nothing.

INTRODUCTION

I’m not experienced with politics and have no education in economics. Like many, I’ve lost everything and see little happening to bring me hope while watching our country implode seemingly like never before. This is saying a lot because at 54 years old, I survived the horrific Richard Nixon 30,000-dead-to-get-re-elected-war/impeach-a-crook-Watergate era.

Many of us are in need of hope. They say that need is the mother of invention. America is in need of solutions. While most solutions to complex issues include in-depth analysis and long explanations, true also in this case, like most straightforward arguments, mine too has a short answer. So I’ll cut to the chase and work my way backward.

In January 2010, while watching the disturbing display of the four “Too Big To Fail” banksters acting innocent and clueless in front of Congress, I found myself wondering, “How can our country become as successful as these corporations have become?” Even more to the point, how can we, Joe Public, benefit from our government like their shareholders benefit from their successful banking corporations? After all, who would argue that those corporations have pimped our system and punked us all? We know it. They know it. Everyone knows it.

Simply put, it is an industry licensed by, governed by and residing in the United States of America that has become more powerful than the Federal Government of The United States of America. That’s a mouthful. Other than two senseless wars, this is the worst realization of my lifetime. It’s huge. It cannot be overstated. It is bleeding us dry and I don’t see it changing on it’s own. It has stolen our Democracy. But what on earth can we do about it?

The status quo approach would be to peck away at it with legislation that will start with good intentions, but with powerful lobby bribes end up watered down, rendered ineffective and/or reversed by the next congress and administration. First, it is: our political/governing system needs an overhaul from the bottom up. It no longer works, which begs one of many questions, “which specific part is broken?”

To that purpose, I analyzed the differences between how the Wall Street banksters and health insurance providers do business from within their system – the free market corporate model – and compared it to the way the U.S. Government, does business from within our current political/governing system. I drilled down deep and what I found astounded me and might surprise you too. They are very different. Ergo, it’s the differences in the two structures/systems that allow the banksters and insurance providers to be so successful while operating from within theirs and what makes our government fail while operating from within ours, which allows private industry to dominate us.

By comparing the structures side-by-side it became obvious; the deficiencies in our system of governing are glaring and alarming when compared to their adapted, efficiently incentivized system. Upon identifying it the ultimate question arose, “how can we fix it?” The answer to fixing it is surprisingly obvious and has been readily apparent all along, despite the requisite in-depth analysis and long explanation disclosed herein.

My argument’s short answer is to propose applying elements of their successful free market corporate model to our system of politics and governance and we, Joe Public, should be rewarded like shareholders of a successful corporation. Once you go to this simple, logical perspective fantastic advantages naturally arise benefiting the citizens of America, not just the chosen few as it is now. On the following pages I will propose specific, step-by-step methods to reigning in the parasites.

Paradigm Shift

In my view, we can’t expect this type of “system overhaul” perspective and change to come from – or to be driven by – politicians fighting for their careers within our broken system. Ever since special interest groups have been counting profits in the billions, maybe even trillions, they’re far too powerful and already own our political/governing system.

If ever a “grass roots movement” were needed, it is for this “paradigm shift.” The 99% must conceive and drive this change and do it soon or our beloved country will implode from the unintended consequences of insatiable special interest capitalism. So let’s take a page from those who are doing it to us and make it work for us. With the strategy outlined herein, “we the shareholders” can take our government back from special interests.

United and armed with this plan, we can simply insist.

To find out more, visit votimate.com. I have lowered the cost for the “download” format to my cost only, $1.49, through Friday, March 12. You can find the “download” option just under the “Add to Cart” button on the right side of my publisher’s page. By Saturday, March 13th, the price will go back to $10 for the immediate download and Ebook versions. You won't be disappointed.

Best wishes, JP Sayles

Parity not Parody

Thanks Nerthus for getting involved and asking for answers!
The Tucson chapter will have the opportunity to define it's own direction based on a consensus of it's members. Hopefully we will be able to discuss important local issues and express our own experiences and ideas regarding the national ones. We can sit down together over a beverage and have a chinwag about whatever concerns the attendees and maybe even find some solutions.
It would be great to have you aboard!

Kickoff Meeting

Saturday the 13th meeting scheduled for the Coffee X Change 2443 N Campbell at 12 noon, see map and sign up on the CPM website.

Coffee Exchange isn't the best place

I am quite interested in the coffee party but considering the fact that the the coffee xchange is a blight on the neighborhood with constant drug dealing, 24 hour disturbance, and no security, it is, well not the best of places, and I cannot in good conscience frequent that place as a part of an outraged and ignored Samos neighborhood.

No one to just gripe, I put

No one to just gripe, I put forward an alternative..s

Bentley's House-Coffee & Tea (520) 795-0338 1730 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ

Meet Up

Any suggestions for a meeting place?

Issues?

I don't have any suggestions for a meeting place. I was just hoping that some more people could post their concerns about the political state in our community. The Giffords race is a good start, I think.

Great idea!

Sounds good Steven! Why don't you start the ball rolling? :)

District 8

One Republican candidate for Congress in Tucson that Coffee Party voters should be concerned with is Andy Goss running in the 8th District against Gabrielle Giffords.

More explanation needed if you don't follow links

Andy is raffling off an assault rifle in his campaign fund raising efforts. Goss is bat shit crazy.

Updates

Publish any updates for groups or meetings here!

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