If you go to my profile page and click this pic, there is a flash movie well worth a look.
Posted on 01/20/2002 2:07:52 PM PST by Silvertip
Jewish community advocates expect another difficult year in Olympia Jewish community advocates expect another difficult year in Olympia By Donna Gordon Blankinship Transcript Editor Tax reform — read: raising taxes — may be the only way out of the state’s perpetual budget struggle, both advocates of the Jewish community in Olympia are saying as the Legislature prepares to get back to work on Monday. "It’s time to think about how to increase revenues instead of pitting all of the vulnerable programs against each other," said Sherry Appleton, lobbyist for the Coalition for a Jewish Voice. Although her Jewish Federation partner, Government Affairs Director Remy Trupin, says the federation probably won’t come out directly in favor of tax increases, it is likely to be a topic of discussion. The Jewish Federation sends Trupin to Olympia each year to guard the government money going to Jewish organizations and to the people who are helped by the Kline Galland Center, Jewish Family Service and other agencies. It’s highly likely the federation will hold some public forums on tax reform," Trupin said Wednesday, adding that these forums may not take place during the current 60-day legislative session. Both the Coalition for a Jewish Voice and the Jewish Federation are uttering the once unmentionable topic of tax increases because the Legislature is, once again, struggling to balance the state’s budget. The economic downturn combined with a series of costly ballot initiatives have swallowed up whatever surpluses the state once had. The state faces an expected shortfall of at least $1.25 billion to pay for the budget passed last year, according to Appleton. Although the biennial budget was approved last year and this is technically an "off-budget" session, the Legislature will have no choice but to address budget issues because of the economy and the initiatives. The governor’s proposed supplemental budget includes about $240 million in cuts to human services, according to Trupin. "We don’t believe that the budget should be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable people in our community, and we will resist that," Appleton said. She said the governor’s proposal eliminates some 30 programs including some like public health nursing and the state portion of Social Security that directly impact the poor. She also expects a possible fight over whether the government should keep programs that assist children or the elderly. "The only way out of that is to find ways of raising revenue," Appleton said. The coalition is considering advocating in favor of tax increases and closing up business tax exemptions. Trupin said that of the $240 million in cuts to human services in the governor’s proposal, $70 million would be cut from nursing homes. He estimates that the Kline Galland Center would stand to lose about $1 million a year if this proposal becomes law. He said Jewish Family Service is not really impacted by the governor’s proposal, but if the revenue the budget requires does not come in, the Legislature will have to look for other ways to cut the budget. "The programs for the poorest of the poor are always No. 1 on the chopping block," Trupin added. Other issues Jewish community advocates expect to focus on this session: • A proposed new statute that would make it a felony to train individuals or groups for militia or paramilitary activities. Trupin said the federation is working on this legislation on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League. • A bill to provide unemployment insurance benefits to victims of domestic violence. This proposal died in committee last year, but since this year’s Legislature does not have an equal tie between Democrats and Republicans in the House, Trupin expects the bill to have an easier time getting approved. Democrats gained a seat in the November election. • A housing bill to provide funds for a Housing Trust Fund also didn’t make it out of a House committee last year. • The coalition also will be watching terrorism legislation, to see if any bills would take away civil liberties. "We fought too many times to make sure we had civil liberties … that’s why people want to come here. People have to think twice about giving up civil liberties," Appleton said. The Coalition for a Jewish Voice is holding its annual Legislative Forum from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, at Temple Beth Am in Seattle. The meeting will focus on a preview of legislative issues, an analysis of proposed cuts in human services programs and a discussion of civil liberty issues. Speakers will be State Rep. Laura Ruderman; State Sen. Adam Kline; the government relations director of the Children’s Home Society, Laurie Lippold; and Brian Goldberg of the Seattle regional office of the Anti-Defamation League.
Not a bad idea, better yet start an authentic ADL. When addressing their only purpose for existing, combating anti-semitism, I think they've been effective, particularly in the past. But organizations like the ADL have no right to stray from their intended purpose. Their anti-gun, anti-school voucher, anti-faith based charity stand's accomplish nothing, other than to stereotype Jew's, the very thing they should be fighting. In that sense they are part of the problem. Though Foxman's actions re Marc Rich weren't criminal, the derision he brought upon the Jewish community required his immediate resignation.
Understood.
But while Jews (and I'm one) are a very small minority, they are always at the forefront of things detrimental to American society: Hollywood, the leftist media; commie orgs like ADL & ACLU, Academia & NEA brainwashing of children, the Trial Lawyers Association, etc. etc.
I'm not saying they control all these, just that this minority is overwhelmingly overepresented in complete disproportion to their population percentage.
That bugs this American Patriot Jew.
The fact that the ADL is tied heavily into the FBI, providing them with "intelligence" and "input" to the JTTF, and are now drafting law on "militias" should scare the crap out of everyone.
Yup. Very profitable - they have a $50 million a year budget.
I genuinely fear the day may come when a demogogue may arise, point his finger, and blame all the ills of society on Jews... as did Hitler
Yup and the ADL would have EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US UNARMED AND DEFENSELESS.
On American Jews and Politics:
Now, I’m Jewish, and quite conservative. Never-the-less, I've observed that the problem with 90% of Jews in America, is simple political stupidity. How a group so talented in sciences, academics, music, engineering, the arts and culture, could be so devastatingly stupid in politics, is a mystery for the ages. I am absolutely convinced that the blind, fanatical allegiance to liberalism by American Jews is the single greatest danger to that same group. This blindness also blinds them to the distrust, suspicion, and hostility their (American Jews) actions produce. American Jews are their own worst enemy.
These liberal Jews are "Jews" in name only. Secular "Jews-lite", following an ersatz, comic-book, bargain-basement Judaism. Picking and choosing a few tasty cultural morsels to abide by, they reject the true precepts of Judaism, as inconvenient, as "old-fashioned" as, "feh! too Jewish!".
They reject their heritage as an outdated, archaic. They seek a new, shiny, fashionable Judaism. And they call it Liberalism.
On the ADL:
As a conservative, Orthodox Jew, these liberal so-called Jews sicken me. By rejecting the true teachings of Judaism, they promote distrust of them by non-Jews. They have raised liberalism, and it's corrollary disdain for religion and religious Americans to a new orthodoxy. This bigotry and prejudice is evident and obvious to everyone but them. In so doing they bring upon themselve the very opprobrium and hate they seek to mitigate. They are worse than fools. They are blind fanatics lurching towards an ultimate cultural confrontation, which no one will win.
A couple of great articles on this subject:
On the Political Stupidity of the Jews and
Why I Am Ashamed of My Fellow Jews
There are more related articles at:
Secular Jews vs. Authentic Judaism
and finally, this Letter to the Editor which appeared in
___________________________________
The Jewish Press | Week of March 10, 2000
Letters To The Editor
Jewish Voters, 'Uninformed, Irrational'
In a recent Media Monitor, Jason Maoz discusses "Presidential Politics and Jewish Priorities" and comes to the conclusion that the Jews' "slavish devotion" to the liberal ideology will see them voting once again for a Democratic candidate.
American Jews, despite their enormous success economically, have shown themselves too be easily frightened and politically naïve. Every ethnic group stands up for their own people; the Jews stand up for others, in the (vain) hope that when the chips are down the others will stand up for them. Only they never do, and the Jews never learn. Of all the ethnic groups in the U.S. Jews alone vote consistently against their own best interests.
Jews still idolize Franklin Roosevelt even though he did nothing to help them during the Holocaust. If as a Democrat Roosevelt fought fascism, then ergo anyone the leftists fight must be fascists – and since the Democrats fight Republicans, simplistic Jewish thinking goes, the Republicans must be fascists.
Jews put themselves out front for quotas, affirmative action and multiculturalism… all detrimental to their own people. The Democratic Party is actively pushing the Jews of Israel to commit suicide so Clinton can be considered a peacemaker and not just a perjurer and womanizer when he leaves office, but Jews want to believe that because his advisers include people named Berger, Ross, Cohen, Indyk, and Rubin, Clinton really likes them.
James Baker once allegedly cursed the Jews because "they never vote for us anyway." Republican Al D'Amato got justice for the Jews in Crown Heights and compensation from Switzerland for Holocaust victims; in appreciation New York's Jews voted for Charles Schumer, who never did anything for them but pander to Hillary Clinton, who supports a Palestinian state that would replace Israel. Schumer's first act on being elected was to embrace Al Sharpton. Why did Baker's remark raise hackles while Sharpton's anti- Semitism and Hillary's anti-Israel remarks don't?
By condemning the Republicans as a party of bigots Jews risk turning the supporters of a strong Israel against them. They have chosen without rhyme or reason a Democratic party that has corrupted the system of government the made the U.S. safe for them and their children. The Jewish vote is an uninformed, irrational vote, based on hundred-year-old fears in long gone tyrannies.
Janice Wijnen
Rego Park, N.Y.
________________________________________________
The tide is turning. There are now quite a few Jewish organizations valiantly trying to stem this tide. One of the foremost is
Toward Tradition
"Fighting secular institutions that foster anti-religious bigotry,
harm families, and ultimately jeopardize the survival of America".
Alliance for Authentic Judaism
"Promoting Authentic Jewish Values and Concepts.
Modern Issues Viewed from a Jewish Perspective".
Jewish Union
Orthodox Jewish political activism
Jews for Life
"Enunciating Judaism's anti-abortion position".
And don't forget, JPFO - Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership
"America's Most Aggressive Defender of Firearms Ownership"
And finally, if you think all Jews are liberals, you have another think coming. Check out the Jewish Task Force home page. Decidedly the most right-wing Jewish organization going today. Caution - their web-page is not politically correct!
For a particulary glaring example of intolerant, liberal (sadly another example of) Jewish activity see Intolerance of the Seattle Jewish Establishment
Catholic cohort bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.