Network of Spiritual Progressives
Madison Chapter
We believe that we need a deeper and more positive vision of the world we want to see. We see a world in which the “domination and control” strategy is replaced by a “generosity and caring” focus at every level of our society. Such a vision or strategy should also replace our Homeland Security and National Defense strategy.
Most briefly, the counter strategy that we are proposing would call for a “Global Marshall Plan (GMP),” which would have the United States and the other G-8 countries dedicate 5% of their GDP for the next twenty years toward eliminating global and domestic poverty, inadequate health care and education, all toward repairing our global infrastructure and environment.
Your local chapter believes that a GMP strategy will gain greater support of the American people and the world than our nation’s preemptive defense strategy. We believe that such a “defense” policy is merely a self-interest strategy that threatens world peace and ignores the peoples’ desire for world peace with justice.
In clear contrast, the GMP initiative is a challenge to all sides of the current debate about the war because it shows that peace can be coupled with real involvement in the world. We urge everyone to consider the Generosity and Caring strategy. If we want a world without war and sustainable we need a generous nation that treats all the peoples of the world with love, caring and respect.
We would like for you to consider celebrating with us on “tax” Sunday, April 15th, 2007, by inviting your neighbors in for a discussion of this issue. For more information go to nsp.madisonwi.us, www.spiritualprogresives.org and www.globalmarshallplan.org.
We encourage you to celebrate with us by beginning this dialogue on how we could better achieve security in our world.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
A vision for my children and grandchildren
I envision a world when a fine newspaper like the Wisconsin State Journal will no longer have a market for a columnist that weekly provides the op-ed reader with caustic political cynicism and bellicose support for war and domination versus peace and cooperation. This week (4/12/07) James Lileks ridicules the Quaker’s peace message and emasculates those European nations that prefer a foreign policy of peaceful cooperation and negotiation over military domination or intimidation. I envision a time when love and generosity will replace domination and selfishness.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
National Sunshine Week
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - National Sunshine Week was recently celebrated on March 11-17, 2007. Sunshine Week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why. Sunshine Week seeks to enlightened and empower ordinary citizens to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.
While celebrating this non-partisan event it is often the time that is used to recognize and honor local citizens who best represent the spirit of Sunshine Week. These are often ordinary citizens who take time out from their busy lives to help shine light on corporate secrecy and exploitation and use the occasion to rally their fellow citizens’ awareness to the need for more open and transparent government.
As a regular reader and subscriber of the local Brookville newspaper I want to take this occasion, albeit somewhat belatedly, to recognize and honor two such local Franklin County citizens---Monica Yane and Ruth Hughes. I also enthusiastically refer the reader to their recent “letters to the editor” in the March 28, 2007 issue of this newspaper.
Yane informed county residents of REK’s plans to run a dangerously thin 42” pipeline, through Franklin County, which if damaged, could produce a blast radius containing 29 acres of otherwise rich, pure, fertile and living earth. Such a blast would sulk out the oxygen from the atmosphere for miles around.
Hughes presented succinctly the ever present danger that such a gas pipeline presents not by using hypothetical scenarios, but by using a real toxic spill not more than a few miles south from this county seat. She urgently reminds the readers who reside in this beautiful and rich forested county that “topsoil is a delicate eco system all by itself. It takes years to happen. It can’t simply be trucked out and replaced.” She might have added that such land once contaminated is not expendable. Once lost, it is loss for ever.
Hughes goes on to warn us that, “REX does not want the general public to know what they are up to.” She points out the need for County Commission’s meetings to include both when they are meeting along with the agenda. Citizens who wish to speak at these public meetings must sign up ahead of time and therefore need to be made aware in advance of the Commission’s planned business agenda.
Again I commend Monica Yane and Ruth Hughes for their courageous investigative reporting, their heartbreaking defense of planet earth, their commitment to freedom of information, and to our freedom of the press. I would only also remind our readers that they have a right upon request to access the County Commissioner’s meeting minutes and any e-mails associated with such public meetings.
Finally, may I urge all residents of Franklin County that wish to hand down to their grand children and their children, a clean, safe and “living” environment, to contact their local and state representatives now before it is too late, and say, “We won’t take this anymore.”
While celebrating this non-partisan event it is often the time that is used to recognize and honor local citizens who best represent the spirit of Sunshine Week. These are often ordinary citizens who take time out from their busy lives to help shine light on corporate secrecy and exploitation and use the occasion to rally their fellow citizens’ awareness to the need for more open and transparent government.
As a regular reader and subscriber of the local Brookville newspaper I want to take this occasion, albeit somewhat belatedly, to recognize and honor two such local Franklin County citizens---Monica Yane and Ruth Hughes. I also enthusiastically refer the reader to their recent “letters to the editor” in the March 28, 2007 issue of this newspaper.
Yane informed county residents of REK’s plans to run a dangerously thin 42” pipeline, through Franklin County, which if damaged, could produce a blast radius containing 29 acres of otherwise rich, pure, fertile and living earth. Such a blast would sulk out the oxygen from the atmosphere for miles around.
Hughes presented succinctly the ever present danger that such a gas pipeline presents not by using hypothetical scenarios, but by using a real toxic spill not more than a few miles south from this county seat. She urgently reminds the readers who reside in this beautiful and rich forested county that “topsoil is a delicate eco system all by itself. It takes years to happen. It can’t simply be trucked out and replaced.” She might have added that such land once contaminated is not expendable. Once lost, it is loss for ever.
Hughes goes on to warn us that, “REX does not want the general public to know what they are up to.” She points out the need for County Commission’s meetings to include both when they are meeting along with the agenda. Citizens who wish to speak at these public meetings must sign up ahead of time and therefore need to be made aware in advance of the Commission’s planned business agenda.
Again I commend Monica Yane and Ruth Hughes for their courageous investigative reporting, their heartbreaking defense of planet earth, their commitment to freedom of information, and to our freedom of the press. I would only also remind our readers that they have a right upon request to access the County Commissioner’s meeting minutes and any e-mails associated with such public meetings.
Finally, may I urge all residents of Franklin County that wish to hand down to their grand children and their children, a clean, safe and “living” environment, to contact their local and state representatives now before it is too late, and say, “We won’t take this anymore.”
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
WE ARE THE ONES…
The time and opportunity to talk and share with one another has finally arrived. Your social justice council members want to warmly welcome each of you to this Lenten season’s seven week small group discussion meetings. We will be asking ourselves whether “We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For?” What is the role for the spiritually led person in the public arena? What do our five Unity principles have to say about this?
In their introduction, the authors of Spiritual Politics, ask the reader to trust their own intuition and to also draw from the worlds ageless moral values, including fairness, responsibility, hope, trust, optimism caring, generosity and compassion, to better discern their path. Our theme will include that Spirituality today must go beyond concern for personal salvation to help others in need, and to engage with others to address the crises on planet earth. How can Unity’s five basic principles guide and inform us into assuming a more vibrant and fulfilling citizen role in our public square?
This coming Wednesday’s focus will be on Unity principles One and Two which reminds us to energetically embrace one’s external life by simultaneously going within. Together we will consider how we can embrace and harness the power of our spiritual growth to better help us move forward toward greater peace and social justice for all.
During the next seven Wednesdays we will practice moving both inward and outward in order to gain greater clarity about what God expects of us in the public square as persons of Spirit and as servant leaders? As we grow into deeper community with one another through our small groups and meditation, our compassion for and understanding of others also will grow.
Having read the suggested readings and considering the discussion questions before these meetings is encouraged but in no way required or necessary. Your presence and love are all that is required. With both excitement and joy we are looking forward to meeting each of you and talking and praying with you.
Finally your Social Justice Council wants to take this opportunity to thank each of you for all your support and love as we journey for greater social justice for all.
Social Justice Council Members: Bill Benedict, Sue Brown, Carrie Cameron, Marj Kutsche, Pat O’Laughlin, Diane Pauly, Sandi Penzkover, Susan Sponeybarger and Sandy Strietelmeier and Deenah Givens and Rev. Marshall Norman.
In their introduction, the authors of Spiritual Politics, ask the reader to trust their own intuition and to also draw from the worlds ageless moral values, including fairness, responsibility, hope, trust, optimism caring, generosity and compassion, to better discern their path. Our theme will include that Spirituality today must go beyond concern for personal salvation to help others in need, and to engage with others to address the crises on planet earth. How can Unity’s five basic principles guide and inform us into assuming a more vibrant and fulfilling citizen role in our public square?
This coming Wednesday’s focus will be on Unity principles One and Two which reminds us to energetically embrace one’s external life by simultaneously going within. Together we will consider how we can embrace and harness the power of our spiritual growth to better help us move forward toward greater peace and social justice for all.
During the next seven Wednesdays we will practice moving both inward and outward in order to gain greater clarity about what God expects of us in the public square as persons of Spirit and as servant leaders? As we grow into deeper community with one another through our small groups and meditation, our compassion for and understanding of others also will grow.
Having read the suggested readings and considering the discussion questions before these meetings is encouraged but in no way required or necessary. Your presence and love are all that is required. With both excitement and joy we are looking forward to meeting each of you and talking and praying with you.
Finally your Social Justice Council wants to take this opportunity to thank each of you for all your support and love as we journey for greater social justice for all.
Social Justice Council Members: Bill Benedict, Sue Brown, Carrie Cameron, Marj Kutsche, Pat O’Laughlin, Diane Pauly, Sandi Penzkover, Susan Sponeybarger and Sandy Strietelmeier and Deenah Givens and Rev. Marshall Norman.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Payback for Tax Payer Funding Called For
Letter to the Editor
On February 13th of this year Governor Doyle will send his proposed $50 billion dollar budget to the legislature. In 2006 Doyle helped authorize $50 million in state funding for the University’s planned Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. This funding by our Wisconsin taxpayers was in part to further jump-start Wisconsin’s still fledgling stem cell research and development initiative.
During this same period Doyle also funded a $5 million plan to recruit and retain stem cell companies; $3 million has gone into Dr. James Thomson’s two companies---Cellular Dynamics, Inc. and Stem Cell Products, Inc. Steps were also taken to waive Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s (WARF) royalty fees for companies that conduct stem cell research in Wisconsin. All of this funding, mind you, without establishing any terms whatsoever for obtaining any returns on the tax payers’ investment.
Such blatant generosity has been hailed by Jim Haney, executive director, of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, as contributing to “a critical mass” that can only be compared to Silicon Valley. Such hyped-up support has also caused Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, to tout Dr. James Thomson as a possible candidate for the Nobel Prize.
The print media’s unceasing editorializing about Dr. James Thomson’s “research commercialization model” along with the imperative for ever more public funds to support this model “for a more robust job creation,” all suggest that much is going to be expected from you and I, the taxpayer in the years ahead.
All of this suggests to me that state funding for for-profit stem cell entities in Wisconsin will increase dramatically in the immediate years ahead. What is most surprising and disheartening is the fact that neither our public servants nor the media have yet shown any willingness whatsoever to assure accountability to the taxpayer for such public funding. If Wisconsin taxpayers are paying for this research they have the right to expect a reasonable share of the commercial profits and other benefits.
In addition to direct financial returns or commissions, for-profit entities that receive public funding should reasonably be expected to make their stem cell therapy products available to uninsured Wisconsin residents. They should also be expected to provide discounted prices to publicly fund health care plans, and to grant Wisconsin residents preference if their stem cell therapies are in short supply.
Wisconsin middle class taxpayers, the uninsured working poor and the sick should not continue to acquiesce and do nothing out of fear and trumped up accusations that such ethically sound taxpayer-centered accountability practices will somehow squash private competition and send our local scientist-entrepreneurs and in-state jobs packing.
Wisconsin needs to step up to the plate now and meet this responsibility to the taxpayers and to future generations who suffer from cell-based diseases. Now is the time to address and resolve these taxpayer inequities and assure more affordable health care to all of us.
Respectfully submitted
On February 13th of this year Governor Doyle will send his proposed $50 billion dollar budget to the legislature. In 2006 Doyle helped authorize $50 million in state funding for the University’s planned Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. This funding by our Wisconsin taxpayers was in part to further jump-start Wisconsin’s still fledgling stem cell research and development initiative.
During this same period Doyle also funded a $5 million plan to recruit and retain stem cell companies; $3 million has gone into Dr. James Thomson’s two companies---Cellular Dynamics, Inc. and Stem Cell Products, Inc. Steps were also taken to waive Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s (WARF) royalty fees for companies that conduct stem cell research in Wisconsin. All of this funding, mind you, without establishing any terms whatsoever for obtaining any returns on the tax payers’ investment.
Such blatant generosity has been hailed by Jim Haney, executive director, of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, as contributing to “a critical mass” that can only be compared to Silicon Valley. Such hyped-up support has also caused Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, to tout Dr. James Thomson as a possible candidate for the Nobel Prize.
The print media’s unceasing editorializing about Dr. James Thomson’s “research commercialization model” along with the imperative for ever more public funds to support this model “for a more robust job creation,” all suggest that much is going to be expected from you and I, the taxpayer in the years ahead.
All of this suggests to me that state funding for for-profit stem cell entities in Wisconsin will increase dramatically in the immediate years ahead. What is most surprising and disheartening is the fact that neither our public servants nor the media have yet shown any willingness whatsoever to assure accountability to the taxpayer for such public funding. If Wisconsin taxpayers are paying for this research they have the right to expect a reasonable share of the commercial profits and other benefits.
In addition to direct financial returns or commissions, for-profit entities that receive public funding should reasonably be expected to make their stem cell therapy products available to uninsured Wisconsin residents. They should also be expected to provide discounted prices to publicly fund health care plans, and to grant Wisconsin residents preference if their stem cell therapies are in short supply.
Wisconsin middle class taxpayers, the uninsured working poor and the sick should not continue to acquiesce and do nothing out of fear and trumped up accusations that such ethically sound taxpayer-centered accountability practices will somehow squash private competition and send our local scientist-entrepreneurs and in-state jobs packing.
Wisconsin needs to step up to the plate now and meet this responsibility to the taxpayers and to future generations who suffer from cell-based diseases. Now is the time to address and resolve these taxpayer inequities and assure more affordable health care to all of us.
Respectfully submitted
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Campaign Finance Reform Update
January 28 Sunday Social Justice Announcement for both services
If you were one of the sixty or more or less who attended Mike McCabe’s presentation or watched our video on campaign finance reform, the social justice council wants to thank you again for your support.
At both of these mtgs we promised to keep you informed on our progress, so here it is:
First I want to refer you to the Green Bulletin Project Update in your service bulletin.
Secondly, we want to alert all of you to our project link on the Unity of Madison website. For those who may have missed Mike’s talk there is a summary of its highlights on our new link, along with articles and our Project Plan. We would really be pleased if you were to read about our plan.
Thirdly, we are asking all of you to complete the Council’s “Interest and Gifts Survey” form and return it to us this morning by placing it on our table as you leave.
Most importantly however, the social justice council of Madison wants to thank all of you for your support. We are looking forward to seeing many of you during the Lenten season around the theme; We are the ones we have been waiting for. beginning Wednesday evening, February 7th.
Thanks again so very much!
If you were one of the sixty or more or less who attended Mike McCabe’s presentation or watched our video on campaign finance reform, the social justice council wants to thank you again for your support.
At both of these mtgs we promised to keep you informed on our progress, so here it is:
First I want to refer you to the Green Bulletin Project Update in your service bulletin.
Secondly, we want to alert all of you to our project link on the Unity of Madison website. For those who may have missed Mike’s talk there is a summary of its highlights on our new link, along with articles and our Project Plan. We would really be pleased if you were to read about our plan.
Thirdly, we are asking all of you to complete the Council’s “Interest and Gifts Survey” form and return it to us this morning by placing it on our table as you leave.
Most importantly however, the social justice council of Madison wants to thank all of you for your support. We are looking forward to seeing many of you during the Lenten season around the theme; We are the ones we have been waiting for. beginning Wednesday evening, February 7th.
Thanks again so very much!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Voter Owned Elections Event A Big Success
Mike McCabe, Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (wisdc@wisdc.org), spoke to over fifty Unity members and guests on Sunday, January 7, 2007. Mike’s “spell binding and most entertaining” presentation on the need for campaign and election reform held everyone’s rapt interest and attention. The extent of this interest was seen in the need for the moderator, Deenah Givens, to not once but three times, remind the audience that “we had run out of time for questions this morning,” and the number that stayed afterwards to talk with Mike further face to face.
Mike sketched the history of funding elections in the United States and those attending discovered that such gross corruption of the campaign process that is now taking place in Wisconsin is nothing new but is very similar to what happened during the turn of the twentieth century. Then it took our own United States Senator, Robert La Follette, to fight for the squeaky clean government that Wisconsin enjoyed right up to only about two decades ago. Then as now, the corporate elite, bought off legislators by paying for their political campaign expenses, and thus assuring that their own private interests would prevail. Those attending expressed both surprise and indignation at what is now called the “pay to play” arrangements that now exists our State legislature.
Mike also explained that along with cleaning up our election process, the citizens of Wisconsin also need to fight for election ethics reform, and against the corrupt practice of redistricting political divisions to assure the political allegiance of the voters. Perhaps though the thing that attendees found most fascinating was to learn that by paying only five to ten dollars per year when declaring your taxes, they could save nearly thirteen hundred dollars that is now spent by your legislator each year in special tax breaks, grants and other favors to the corporate elite.
Attendees were reminded that “citizen owned elections” is a special project of Unity’s Social Justice Council and that members who wish to get involved can contact any member of the Council or read the Council’s weekly green news bulletin. Members who would like to learn more about this particular project will find the Council’s Project Plan on Campaign Finance Reform on the Unity Website. Members were also asked to volunteer to serve on the special project committee as well. All were also encouraged to sign up for the special seven week Lenten Season study and meditation program which will consider the role of spirituality and being engaged in the political process. Please also note that the special video on campaign finance reform can be checked out through the Unity office.
For more information please contact the Council’s project liaison, Bill Benedict at 249-5672 or at bergentown@sbcglobal.net.
Mike sketched the history of funding elections in the United States and those attending discovered that such gross corruption of the campaign process that is now taking place in Wisconsin is nothing new but is very similar to what happened during the turn of the twentieth century. Then it took our own United States Senator, Robert La Follette, to fight for the squeaky clean government that Wisconsin enjoyed right up to only about two decades ago. Then as now, the corporate elite, bought off legislators by paying for their political campaign expenses, and thus assuring that their own private interests would prevail. Those attending expressed both surprise and indignation at what is now called the “pay to play” arrangements that now exists our State legislature.
Mike also explained that along with cleaning up our election process, the citizens of Wisconsin also need to fight for election ethics reform, and against the corrupt practice of redistricting political divisions to assure the political allegiance of the voters. Perhaps though the thing that attendees found most fascinating was to learn that by paying only five to ten dollars per year when declaring your taxes, they could save nearly thirteen hundred dollars that is now spent by your legislator each year in special tax breaks, grants and other favors to the corporate elite.
Attendees were reminded that “citizen owned elections” is a special project of Unity’s Social Justice Council and that members who wish to get involved can contact any member of the Council or read the Council’s weekly green news bulletin. Members who would like to learn more about this particular project will find the Council’s Project Plan on Campaign Finance Reform on the Unity Website. Members were also asked to volunteer to serve on the special project committee as well. All were also encouraged to sign up for the special seven week Lenten Season study and meditation program which will consider the role of spirituality and being engaged in the political process. Please also note that the special video on campaign finance reform can be checked out through the Unity office.
For more information please contact the Council’s project liaison, Bill Benedict at 249-5672 or at bergentown@sbcglobal.net.
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