CA Assemblymember Loni Hancock is notable for (among other things) carrying AJR36, the resolution to bring California's National Guard home from Iraq. In answer to the audience question "What can we do to make our representatives get us out of Iraq?" Loni said "Your representatives will be as "there" on this issue as we make it safe for them to be."

Mark Leno spoke of the consolidation of corporate media and its negative effect on the public's ability to hear a range of viewpoints. On the bright side, the existence of the internet allows free communication on all subjects from all perspectives.

"We live in a warfare state. There is an enormous gap between the elites and the grassroots. We must change the social dynamic so that political opportunists choose to do what the grassroots want! --Norman Solomon, progressive pundit and media critic, speaking after the showing of "War Made Easy."

The documentary has an inspiring clip from 1964, showing Senator Wayne Morse, Senior Senator from Oregon, opposing President Johnson's policy in Viet Nam. (Morse was one of two senators who voted against the Gulf of Tonkin resolution that accelerated the Viet Nam war). In the clip, Morse responds to a T.V. interviewer who claims that foreign policy belongs to the President. "You couldn't be more wrong!" Morse exclaims, adding that under the U.S. Constitution, the President is only the administrator of the People's foreign policy."I have complete faith in the American people to follow the facts if you'll give them! My charge against my government is we're not giving the American people the facts!" A stirring statement when heard in total, and one we need to hear from our current Congressional leaders.

The showing of "War Made Easy" sponsored by Sacramento for Democracy, drew a large audience of Sacramento progressives. During Q & A, someone asked us to turn and look at the person next to us. I thought we would next be shaking hands and saying "Peace be with you," but no, we were supposed to observe that the neighboring seat was filled by "An Old Person." "Where are the youths?" the questioner decried.

A teacher from a school with a largely immigrant population answered that the youths at his school were trying hard to get through school and their parents were trying hard to put food on the table. A semi-youth (in her 30's) responded that the Youths of Today were graduating from school and getting jobs with no pensions and no health care, and thus could not easily take on issues beyond immediate survival.

Another questioner opined that our generation (Old Persons) had dropped the ball by not remembering the lessons of Viet Nam and immediately stopping the Iraq occupation. Norman Solomon objected to the "We" in "We dropped the ball," noting that there are many of our generation who protest U.S. policy in Iraq.

The outrages of Bush & Cheney are such that everyone should be out in the streets protesting, and yet most people are not. What will it take?

Karen, E-Board representative with Progressive Democrats of America, reported on the issues passed at a recent convention.

1) Bring home the troops.
2) Ban Blackwater Private Security Contracting Corp from CA.
3) De-fund the occupation in Iraq.

Her report inspired hope that the Democrats might finally rise to the occasion on the Iraq Occupation issue. Also, she appears to be a Young Person, which should reassure those who are concerned...

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